The Last Keeper

by Michelle Birbeck

  “Good morning,” I greeted Sam when I reached the kitchen.

  “Morning.” His voice was light, but his stare was hard. “You going to explain why you only need one horse today?”

  “I need to leave for a few days.” Ignoring him was easy given my light mood.

  “How long?” he asked, tucking in to his own breakfast.

  “A week, maybe more.”

  “How long have you been putting it off?”

  “The letter came just after I met Ray.” I winced, expecting a rebuttal.

  Instead of a lecture about letting things get out of hand, like Sam normally gave me, I was greeted with a heavy sigh. Nothing more.

  There were times when I felt as though I was barely older than the twenty or so years I appeared. Whenever I left things too long, because we were moving or had plans of some sort, Sam would remind me of the consequences.

  As if I needed to be reminded.

  “He’s your life now, Sere. He comes first.”

  Sam finished his breakfast and left to prepare Tara. I had a short time before I needed to change, so I began making breakfast for Helen and Jayne, a feat I rarely attempted. Despite my ability to cook, it wasn’t often that I found the time or the motivation to do so. As I would be leaving for a while, the least I could do was cook breakfast by way of an apology for the short notice.

  “Something smells good,” Helen commented when she came down. “Looks good, too. To what do we owe this pleasure?”

  I feigned hurt. “Can I not cook for my family without there being an occasion?”

  “You can, but you don’t.” Picking at the cut fruit, she stared at me.

  “I have to go away for a few days.” I ignored her as best I could, while setting the kitchen table.

  “And you would like me to keep Ray busy?”

  “Please. I’d stay, but I’m afraid I’ve put this off for too long.”

  “Of course.”

  We would have talked more about what I was dealing with, but Jayne was awake and chose that moment to join us.

  Some discussions we avoided when young ears were present.

  It was a grand affair when I cooked for my family. Every breakfast food we had was on the table. Fruit, toast, a little bacon, cereal—everything they could want and more. No one would need to eat until dinner by the time they were done. There would be plenty of leftovers for Sam if he was hungry again.

  I only had an hour or so before Ray arrived. There was something else I wanted to talk with them about first.

  “As you know, I need to go away for a few days,” I began once Jayne had gone to get dressed for the day. “I hope it will be a simple task; a few vampires near Lyon are causing trouble. It’s too close to William for comfort, and I should have dealt with this when I heard about it.”

  “Does he know?” she asked, meaning William.

  “No, and I plan to keep it that way. There’s no point in getting him upset over something I’m quite capable of handling.” He needed to concentrate on his family. “Besides, we agreed he would only help with troubles if I needed him.”

  “Did that not go out of the window when you found Ray?” Sam asked, giving me a pointed look.

  The agreement was that when William got married, I would take over everything. Updating the records. Actively dealing with any issues. Anything I could handle on my own, I did.

  “We never discussed it,” I said, avoiding Sam’s gaze. “There was something else I wanted to talk to you both about.”

  “Ray?”

  “Not yet. He doesn’t know I need to leave. What I wanted to discuss was what would happen to the records when William and I are gone.”

  “We have years before that happens,” Helen hissed, taking me by surprise.

  I’d been expecting a more rational response.

  “Perhaps we do, but there’s a chance we don’t have that long left. I’d like to put things in place for when the time comes,” I said as calmly as possible. “I need to discuss some things with William . . .”

  “Serenity, you have been my mother, my sister, my daughter, and my best friend. You will outlive me, so there’s nothing that needs doing now.”

  “Helen, please. It’s not much that I’m asking, but it is something I need to ask now, before anything happens. If the records we have kept over the years fell into the hands of the vampires, they could wipe us out. Every name of every descendant we have is in those records. I just want to ensure they’ll be protected and looked after by someone I trust, and I’ve trusted your family for longer than I care to remember.” I hadn’t expected her to argue the point at all, let alone so adamantly.

  “Helen, Serenity is only trying to prepare for the worst. You know how she is,” Sam said, attempting to soothe her.

  “Fine, I’ll listen, but I’m warning you now, you will outlive me and I will never need to put your plan into action.”

  Though I didn’t understand her anger, I was happy she’d agreed to listen.

  Sam ignored her. “What did you have planned?”

  “If the time comes, then I want all of the records in one safe location.” Preferably away from anyone who could use the information they contained. “In order to best protect them, I’d be grateful if your family looked after them. I’ll have a house specifically designed for the purpose, in the safest location I can find.”

  “One condition,” Helen said. “You are not to start construction on the house until necessary, which means years from now. If you want to draw up the plans, then fine, but I’ll only agree if you stop thinking about it now and leave it until you absolutely have to.”

  It was a fair compromise. “Agreed.”

  She analysed my reaction for a moment. “You already have them made.”

  “The initial plans have been drawn up, the location hasn’t been finalised, but it has been narrowed down. Land in each area has already been purchased.” It never did me any good to lie to Helen.

  “When?”

  “As soon as I saw the reply from William.”

  She glared at me for a long moment before shaking her head and leaving the room. There was silence as I stared after her, until Sam broke it by laughing loudly.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You two are two-of-a-kind. Both as stubborn as the other, though I think you have the edge,” he told me. “I’ll finish preparing Tara.”

  “Thank you.”

  There wasn’t much I needed to do to get ready. Dark trousers and a thick shirt were all I planned on wearing, accompanied by a decent pair of boots, suitable for riding Tara and running. An extra set of clothes and a small bag was all I needed. The spare clothing was essential; travelling while dressed as a woman could cause problems. Not every country I ended up in treated women the same. Money was the other necessity. I could get anything I needed with enough of it.

  I was descending the stairs, changed and bag ready, when there was a knock on the front door. Ray had arrived.

  Sprinting down the last few steps, I eagerly opened the door, forgetting I was dressed completely different.

  I almost laughed when his eyes grew wide at the sight of me. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, you look . . . different,” he said, eyes travelling up and down my body.

  “Yes, I need to talk to you about something,” I stepped to the side so he could come in.

  Helen was already in the sitting room, all trace of our earlier disagreement gone as she greeted Ray.

  “Good morning, Helen. How are you?” he asked, taking a seat next to me.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “You seem worried,” I told Ray, shifting closer to him.

  “I am. You said you needed to talk?”

  “Yes. I need to go away for a few days.” Why was this so hard? “There’s something I have to deal with.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “A week, maybe more.” Less if I could. “I was supposed to leave after the auction, but thi
ngs didn’t go as planned.”

  “Have you been putting this off because of me?”

  “Perhaps, but that isn’t the point. I’d like to put certain measures in place for you whilst I’m away.”

  “To protect me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Whatever you need to do.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “Would it be possible for you to spend your days here? Or at least let Helen know where you’ll be?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’d also prefer it if you didn’t walk anywhere alone, especially in the evening. Sam will have the carriage if you need it, as well as any of the cars.”

  I was somewhat happier about leaving once we’d finished talking. Helen suggested they all take a trip out to one of the summer fairs. Jayne would love it, and Ray’s face lit up when I mentioned one of the other cars I had. His eyes grew so wide I almost thought it was Christmas morning when I told him I had a Rolls-Royce Wraith. I’d need to ask Helen for details of his reaction when he actually saw the car. His face did fall some, when I said Sam was the only person allowed to drive and the only reason Sam was allowed was because I’d taught him myself. Helen still didn’t like the car, but Sam was comfortable behind the wheel.

  “You have to go, Serenity,” Ray said as we walked down to the stable.

  “I know. It doesn’t change the fact I don’t want to leave you.”

  He gave me a bright, teasing smile. “May I ask a question before you leave?”

  I chuckled. “Always so polite.”

  “Why are you dressed like . . . well, as you are?” He gestured to my clothes. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  “It’s more convenient in case anything . . . happens. Also, travelling like this is much easier.”

  “Well, I must say, they’re very becoming on you.”

  “You’re only saying that because you can see more of me than if I were wearing a dress.” Smirking, I gave him a little twirl.

  “That may be so, but you look beautiful, regardless,” he said, making me smile even brighter.

  We fell into an uneasy silence as I prepared to leave. There were no signs that anything would go wrong while I was away. Everything I could do to protect Ray in my absence had been done. No one besides my family and William knew I’d found my partner. There was nothing stopping me . . . except I didn’t want to be apart from him.

  “I wish there were another way.” I leaned into his one-armed embrace.

  “You have to, Serenity,” he said, all the playfulness gone.

  “I know.” I pulled away and looked up at him. “As soon as I’m able, I’ll be back.”

  “I’ll miss you.” He brushed his hand through my hair, smiling just a touch as he spoke.

  “I’ll miss you, too.”

  “May I kiss you goodbye?”

  “No, not goodbye, but I would like it if you kissed me.” Goodbye wasn’t something I was willing to say to him, or have him say to me, even if I were only going to be gone for a few days.

  He smiled briefly before lowering his head, his hand still in my hair. Every second away was too much. He’d kissed me mere hours before, but it didn’t compare to the sensations that were running through me now.

  “I’ll be back soon,” I whispered against his lips. “As soon as I can.”

  “Be safe. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Always.”

  With one last, all too brief kiss, I mounted Tara and kicked her into a gallop. When I reached the gates at the bottom of the garden, I turned back for a moment. Ray stood watching me. There was a smile on his face and his arm was raised, waving, but even from a distance, I saw the worry in his eyes.

  I’d left things too long, and there was a chance that the nearest Seat had already stepped in. If they were there when I arrived in Lyon, things could get . . . interesting.

  Running into any member of The Seats while I was away caused many problems. There may not have been anything physically different about me, but I was sure they would be able to tell I’d found my mate. They had a knack for knowing such things.

  I’d managed to keep my family safe for centuries, and I would continue to do so for as long as possible. It meant I needed to be more cautious than I would normally be. There was no guarantee any of The Seats would be there, but there was always a chance. They all knew who I was, or what I looked like, at least. None of them knew what I was truly called.

  They had a different name for me: Azrael, the Angel of Death.

  Why they called me that was a mystery. I was no angel, and certainly no angel of death. Yet I preferred they call me that rather than know my real name.

  If they wanted to find me, that would be all they would need.

  It was only a matter of time. As long as they believed I hadn’t yet found my partner, I’d be left alone. Reasonably. There would always be the odd confrontation that I found myself in.

  I hope this won’t be one of them.

  Despite the war, traversing the Channel proved easy. It helped that I saw well enough to avoid other ships, and there were several places I could dock my boat relatively undetected. It wasn’t a big boat, just enough space for a couple of people and a horse or two. For the longer journeys I had my plane, not that I knew how to fly the thing.

  By the time I was halfway to Lyon, slipping by on the outskirts of war ravaged towns and cities, it was past midnight. Travelling at night always took more time, but there was little time to waste and no point in stopping. With Ray waiting for me, I wanted this over as soon as possible. No stopping, as little rest as I could manage, and the quickest work I’d ever done.

  From the information in the letter, it appeared to be a relatively simple job. Just a few vampires in the area, numerous unexplained deaths, and a few other rumours that confirmed their presence. One thing all of our descendants were good at was spotting vampires.

  There were a number of subtle differences humans almost always missed. The slight predatory grace with which they carried themselves. The way they would occasionally breathe a little too deeply when in close contact with someone. Their fangs were never seen, unless they were buried in someone’s neck, of course.

  Sometime before dawn, I found a place for Tara to have a brief break. I’d give her a proper rest when I dropped her off at Laura’s house. Laura was my cousin, or rather Helen’s cousin. Helen descended from one of Lona’s twin girls; Laura descended from the other.

  She currently lived on the outskirts of Lyon. The place where I was going was only a couple of hours outside of the city, but I’d stay with Laura until nightfall.

  As the sun rose above the horizon, I mounted Tara once more and set off on the final leg of the journey. It would be early when I arrived at Laura’s, but she would be there. Her home doubled as a small bed and breakfast.

  I arrived after breakfast time. I didn’t think to change out of my men’s clothing.

  An unfamiliar young man greeted me at the door. “Bonjour. Est-ce que je peux vous aider?”

  “Ou est Laura?” Another advantage of living in so many places, and for so long, was the many languages I’d learned. Though I was not polite enough to ask anything more than “where is Laura.”

  He looked confused for a moment, before ducking inside and leaving me standing in front of the wide open door. I could hear his hurried footsteps as he went to fetch Laura. I almost laughed when I heard the conversation. Perhaps I should’ve changed into a dress before appearing on Laura’s doorstep.

  “Laura? There’s a man at the door for you. Only I’m not sure he is . . . a he,” the boy said, surprising me. I hadn’t expected him to speak in English.

  “Did you get a name?” Laura asked.

  “No, I’m sorry. Would you like me to?”

  “No, never mind.” From the sound of things this was a regular occurrence. “Go and help that daughter of mine clear the table.”

  With my hat pulled down, most of my face was hidden from view until she was standing right
in front of me.

  “Que puis-je faire pour—” she began, pausing as she recognised me. “Serenity!”

  “The one and only.”

  “Well, this is a surprise.” She smiled brightly as she opened her arms. “How is my dearest aunt these days?”

  “Busy, as always.” I held her tight for a moment.

  “I take it you’re here on business then.” Her smile faded as she let me into her home.

  “It seems like all I do.”

  “Are The Seats slipping again?”

  “No, not at all. They do their job wonderfully. I’m afraid it’s me who’s slipping,” I whispered.

  “Why would—”

  “Aunt Sere!” A short brunette, Laura’s only daughter, interrupted us.

  “Annie.” I smiled brightly at the young woman. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “You, as well. You seem . . . different.”

  “Trousers and a shirt will do that to you.” It was a nervous joke.

  I hoped it was only my clothes that had thrown her. If a sixteen-year-old child could tell that I’d found my partner, then the vampires would spot it immediately.

  “I was about to ask why you were the one slipping, but I think I know.”

  “Is it that obvious?” I asked, wincing.

  “Only if you know what you’re looking for. That same smile was on Annie’s face not two months ago.” So that was the young man I had seen. Annie had found her partner.

  “Tell me about him,” Laura ordered, directing me to the sitting room.

  There was little point in resisting. Laura always did have a way of getting information. A person could talk to her for hours about anything and nothing. She always listened.

  So we sat in her sitting room and talked all morning. I described my first kiss to her, and the way I’d felt when he wrapped his arms around me. We spent an entire hour discussing the beauty of his eyes and how they shined whenever he was excited or happy. How I could get lost in them forever.

  “You miss him.”

  “I missed him as soon as he was out of my sight.”