In the Beginning...

by Calle J. Brookes

  There were people in the hotel, a mix of what appeared to be guests and staff. Mickey and Mal didn’t bother stopping and speaking with anyone. And no one stopped them, just stared wide-eyed at them. Probably the blood on her sister’s clothes, her hair.

  Mickey was relatively clean. He’d bathed her sometime in the night. She remembered that. And knowing he’d touched her naked had her face flaming. At least he hadn’t seen her body, but it was only a small consolation.

  Mickey held her sister’s hand as they rounded the last corner of the hallway. It looked familiar, and when she saw the glass and gold doors ahead, the tension tightening her chest lessened just a bit.

  Someone stepped into her path and she crashed into a hard male body that she immediately recognized. Him.

  ***

  Theo felt a sense of rightness the moment the soft, feminine body rammed into his. Would it always be that way for them? His hands tightened on her arms, only to subdue, never to harm.

  “Let me go!”

  Her fear was so heavy in her words; Theo’s heart softened. His hands gentled on her waist. He pulled her to his chest, then raised one hand to cup the back of her head. Had any woman ever felt as soft, or as right to him as this one, his Rajni, did? “I will do you no more harm, love. This I have promised and I will remain true in my vows.” He brushed his lips against hers, ignoring how she stiffened in his arms. Her surrender would come with time. “If you and your sister have finished your walkabout, we must go to the king’s dining hall.”

  Her defeat was easy for him to sense on the air surrounding them. It was in the way she slumped in his arms. Theo frowned. He did not want her defeated–he wanted her safe and happy with him. How long would that take?

  “Walk about? We were escaping, you idiot!” The sister hissed the words at him through her own newly developed fangs.

  Theo smiled. “You cannot. We will not allow it. Aodhan? If you shall lead the way to the dining room? I am sure the others are waiting on us. My Rajni and I will join you in a moment.”

  She trembled against him when her sister was pulled away. Theo saw only the shadows of the other couple as they left. His woman’s tears landed on his arm.

  “Do not cry.” The order was soft, and against her hair. He whispered the rest of his words next to her ear. “It would please me greatly, my love, if you would wear the necklace. I cannot see it on you, but it is where the piece belongs from our very first day together. In fact, I must insist.”

  She stood still in his arms while he fastened the necklace around her neck. His hands tangled in her hair, and he tilted her head back. He pressed his lips against hers for a moment. “Thank you. Come. I know you will wish to see your cousins, as well.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After the meals they’d shared and after the long day was over, the man led her back to the suite without saying a single word. Not that Mickey wanted him to. She was too afraid of what was to come. When he had her alone in his room, what would he do? He thought she was some kind of mate, would he try to force her to have sex with him?

  She couldn’t fight him off; even with his blindness he was still quick and strong. And he’d already proven she couldn’t escape him, either. She’d spent all day studying him; he’d taken her with him to an office that looked eerily similar to her own, only the legal tomes were in a different language. Many were also in Braille. He’d told her to look around his office library as much as she’d liked, and she’d done just that, hoping to find something that would tell her where they were and how to get away.

  All she’d found was more information than she could ever hope to process. Legal briefs, some written in English, abounded. They were everywhere in his office, and as she saw him loading several pieces of typing paper into an ancient typewriter, she had a good inkling who was responsible for the writing.

  She’s read quite a few, ignoring the headache the slightly out of focus print caused—she needed her glasses for reading—and had been admittedly intrigued by the depth and complexity of the laws of these strange people. And by his rulings, as she’s easily determined that he was a judge of some sort. For these people. These Dardaptoans.

  And she’d admitted to herself several hours earlier that these kidnappers were of some sort of strange race. A race she’d definitely never seen before.

  But what did that mean for her and her sister, her cousins?

  She’d do whatever she had to in order to find that answer.

  He’d let her bring several of the books back to the suite, and had carried them for her. He’d offered with a blend of old-fashioned formality that unsettled her; he’d carried the books in one hand and held hers with the other.

  She’d let him; it hadn’t seemed worth the battle to fight something as simple as handholding. If she’d resisted, would he have forced her? Or perhaps flung her over his shoulder and carried her away, like the man Aodhan had done to her sister after the morning meal?

  Mickey hadn’t seen Mallory since, though the blind man had told her Mal was perfectly safe. Mickey didn’t believe him, but until another opportunity arose for her to sneak away, she knew she didn’t have any choice but to cooperate in whatever plans he had.

  “I have had the servants leave you out something to sleep in, whenever you wish to go to bed. I tend to sleep and rise early. What is your customary habit?”

  “To sleep in my own bed.”

  “Very well, then. We will just have to develop new habits, together. I’ll leave you to get ready, give you some privacy. I have a few more hours’ worth of writing to complete. You can sit with me, perhaps read a bit, if you like. Or you are free to head to bed, if you wish.”

  Mickey’s gaze flew toward the back of the suite, where his bed was visible through the opened door. Her, him, alone in there... “I’ll read. I’m not the least bit tired.”

  “Too much excitement for one day, I expect. I’ll be at my desk, if you need me for anything. Or if you have any questions about what you are reading.”

  “Ok...thank you.”

  She stood in the center of the small sitting room, unsure what to do next, where to move to, while he made his way to the small desk in the corner. It was covered in books, and sheets of notes written in Braille. Everything was laid out in perfect order, where he could easily feel his way to the items he needed.

  She watched him for several long moments, studying the way his hair curled over his unusual eyes, the strength that was evident in his shoulders. Finally, she grabbed one of the books off the stack he’d carried back for her. The couch was close to the desk he occupied, so she settled down on the opposite end of the cushions. Putting as much distance between the two of them as possible.

  The book was heavy in her lap and quite a few moments passed before she dropped her eyes from him and turned them toward it.

  The cover was soft leather worn smooth. It was obviously well cared for. Gold was etched into the spine, and Mickey knew it was the real thing. This book belonged in a museum, not casually tucked into the far corner of the blind man’s office.

  Mickey darted a look at him. His hands ran carefully over the thick book in front of him. Braille. Was it in English? Three quarters of the books in his office had been in that strange language. Dardaptoan. But many had been in English, and he’d told her to take any that she wanted. She’d found two that were obvious English translations of Dardaptoan law, and she’d grabbed both of them, hoping there would be something in them to convince him to let her go.

  The third book she’d found was this small leather one. It was so obviously older than the others—she’d never seen one like this except in museums. Impulse had made her grab it as they were leaving the man’s office.

  She didn’t even know if it was in English, but somehow she suspected it was. It fit perfectly into her hands.

  “Are you settling in, my love? I can have the servants bring you something to drink if you wish it.”

  Mickey bit her lip, her hands clutching the book.
She forced herself to relax. No use antagonizing him. “I am as fine as I can be, considering.”

  “Considering how you got here? I know. And it is my sincere hope that one day...”

  “One day is a long, long time away.”

  “And we have that time now. Together. Before...we did not.” A momentarily contrite expression crossed his face. It was a handsome face,

  Mickey had to admit that. “I know you do not understand...”

  “So explain it to me then. Why did you do what you’ve done?” Mickey’s fingers clenched on the leather-bound book as she stared at the Dardaptoan. “I know you said it was because of my grandfather, but I never hurt you or any of your Kind. All I do is go to work and spend time with my family. In what little spare time I have, I volunteer at an animal shelter! It’s not like I go out hunting for your Kind!”

  “Our Kind, now, my love.” He sighed, and looked toward the glass doors leading to the gardens. Did he see anything, anything at all? Mickey studied his face closely. “And I know. I have always known you were innocent of your grandfather’s sins.”

  “Then why? Josey, Emily, Mal...me. None of us have hurt you or that king or that monster who hurt my sister. I just don’t understand!” Mickey took several deep breaths to calm herself down. “Just make me understand all of this!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Should he tell her? Would it frighten her too much? Would she even believe him? “First, you must understand something...”

  “What? Try me. I’ve studied human motivation throughout the last few years while in law school. And my undergraduate work was in psychology.

  Just tell me your reasons!”

  Theo pushed his notebook aside and stood. Made his way over to the couch where his Rajni sat. He knelt beside her, then covered her hands with one of his. Her skin was soft, the bones beneath delicate. So fragile, his little once-human Rajni. “I am a man of faith. Our Goddess, Kennera, has led me throughout the last several hundred years. When she gives me a vision, I do my best to heed it.”

  “Visions? I don’t believe in visions. I believe in evidence that I can see for myself.”

  “Did you believe in vampires, Michaela? Did you believe that a race of beings existed of which you knew nothing about?”

  “You know I didn’t.”

  “Yet here I am before you. I knew the moment I heard your voice on the night air that you were the female my Goddess had chosen for me some six hundred plus years ago.”

  “How did she choose me? I wasn’t even alive, and I’m pretty certain most of the Taniss family line didn’t exist back then.”

  “Legend has it that when a Dardaptoan is born, the Goddess whispers their name, followed by the name of the one individual that Dardaptoan is destined to be with. Most of the time it is another Dardaptoan. Sometimes, it’s a Lupoiux—what you would call a werewolf. Other times it is a witch. Even had a few Rajni pairs that I have seen involve Kinds from other realms, such as an Encantado halfling.”

  “That’s it? No thought put into who should be together, whether they will be compatible? This goddess just says Dick will be with Jane?”

  “In its simplest form, yes.”

  “And you all don’t have problems with that? Don’t you want the right to choose who you spend your life with?”

  How did he make her understand that the mere idea of having that one person you were meant to be with out there waiting for you somewhere was the only way most Dardaptoans were able to continue their existences? Existences that could last more than two or three thousand years? That finding their Rajni was what most Dardaptoans planned for and anticipated? “Don’t you want to spend your life with someone who is ordained for you, who is chosen to be the one being on the entire Earth who fits you better than anyone else?”

  “And that’s what you think I am? I just can’t believe that.” Her hands were taut under his. Clenched around the book she still held. “If you were destined for me, you would have known that above all things I respect choices. And respect people being responsible for their own actions. I don’t respect someone who hurts someone else because of something a family member did!”

  “Because of what happened to your sister. I know. And I can understand that.”

  “How did you know about that? No one knows what happened to Mal but our family. And my father made sure of that.”

  “Sometimes, when I touch someone, I can feel strong events that have happened to them. Or that will happen to them. When I touched your sister earlier, I saw what had happened to her. Could see her in my mind as she lay there on the pavement beside your uncle’s green sedan. See the red and mauve team sweatshirt your sister was carrying before she was attacked. I am sorry that had to happen to her, and even sorrier still that she had to meet her Rajni this way. That Aodhan had to take her choices from her as I have done the same to you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mickey felt her breath back up in her throat. That sweatshirt would haunt her for the rest of her life. She’d recognized it the moment she and Josey had stepped out of the stairwell in the Taniss Industries parking garage almost nine years ago. It had been hers, her sweatshirt that she wore after swim team practice every day. Mal had borrowed it that morning because it had started raining and she’d been in a hurry. Mal hadn’t wanted to be late for her classes at the university a county over from where they’d lived.

  The sweatshirt had been covered in her sister’s blood, and tossed forgotten in the middle of the parking lot floor. Mickey had bent down to pick it up before she’d seen her sister lying broken on the pavement by their Uncle Jason’s car. His green car.

  “How did you know? About the car? About the sweatshirt?”

  “I saw it. Just as I saw that you and I were for one another in this life.”

  Did she believe him? Could she? “And what does that mean, exactly? That I should give up who I am to spend my life here doing nothing? I can’t do that. I have a family, I have a plan, goals for my life that don’t include lazing around a hotel somewhere in the middle of I-don’t-know-where.”

  “In time...”

  “If you are such a big proponent of ‘in time’ why did you...make me what you are? Couldn’t you have given me some of your precious time, to make the decision myself?”

  “I...couldn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if I didn’t there would be great danger to you coming.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I saw a danger to you if you remained as a human for any longer. Danger you would not have survived. The Goddess led me to know that for your safety I had to initiate the conversion. I never would have taken that choice from you otherwise.” He shook his head as he spoke. He believed it. Meant it. What did that mean for her?

  “You shouldn’t have taken it from me to begin with.”

  “Michaela, I...have waited for you for hundreds of years. I could not face the knowledge or threat that I would lose you so soon after finding you. I hope one day you will forgive me.”

  “I’m tired. Where am I sleeping tonight?” She would never forgive him.

  How could she?

  “In my bed, of course.”

  “No. I won’t sleep with you.” Ever.

  “I will sleep here on the couch, then. I will neither force nor pressure you. When we are together as Rajnis it will be because you wish it.”

  “Another one of your vows? Why should I trust anything you have to say? May I go to bed now, please? I need to be alone.” Needed to escape him for a while, even if only by being in another room.

  “Of course, but Michaela? You should know that the entire security staff for this hotel has been alerted to the situation. Your sister, cousins, you—all are safe here, but you cannot leave. You are free to explore the hotel as you wish, but you cannot leave the building. Except for the inner garden, which you’ve already explored some.”

  “A gilded cage, I understand. At least until my brother and uncle find us. And they will.
My brother will not stop until he finds us.”

  The man’s expression tightened, turned contemplative. Odd for the longest moment. Then he smiled. “Your brother will find more here among the Dardaptoans than he would ever have expected.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I will introduce you to the woman your older brother will marry. I think you will like her. You have much in common.”

  “You really are crazy, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe just a bit. I am 643 years old, after all.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure you are.”

  Mickey walked away, toward the room where she could see a large, antique bed dominating the space. It was a beautiful bed, hand carved with gold inlay. The design on the headboard was the same as that on the cover of the book she still held. Why was she so reluctant to let go of the book? She didn’t know, but she was. This book was hers, now.

  A change of clothing was laid out on the bed right where he had said it would be. Mickey placed the book on the nightstand reluctantly and grabbed the clothes, before slipping into the bathroom. Would he make good on his vow? Or would he wait until she was asleep and slip into the bed with her? She shivered at that thought. How would she stop him if he did?

  She knew she wouldn’t be getting much sleep. She hurried through a shower, not really knowing what to do next. What did most hostages do? Other than try to escape, that is?

  She slipped into the white pajamas and brushed out her hair with the comb she’d found in the first drawer by the bathroom mirror. The rubies were still around her neck. She fingered the first stone. It was beautiful. Old. Warm against her skin.

  It looked strange around her neck, clashed with her hair a little. She leaned closer to the mirror. Slipped the jewelry aside. Two small puncture wounds, not nearly as large as those she’d seen on her sister or cousins earlier, were all that remained of the night he’d made her a vampire. A Dardaptoan. The marks were so small she could almost believe the whole thing hadn’t even happened. Could believe that this was all a dream.