The Eyes of the Sun: The Complete Trilogy

by Christina McMullen

  Lucy turned her attention to the others in the room. Miles, she remembered, had already told her that he was thirty-six and if anything, looked several years older. Lona, on the other hand…

  “I’m not a vampire, Luce.” The petite shopkeeper met her gaze with uncertain eyes. “But I’m not exactly normal either.”

  “One thing at a time,” Evan interrupted. “Yes, all three of us submitted our own DNA for testing and we discovered that Dara fell into the vampire category, as did a handful of other folks that I knew well enough to vouch for the fact that they weren’t lurking around in back alleys looking to drink the blood of some hapless victim. Because of this, Dara and Abe went back to the drawing board, so to speak, and compared our dead girl’s DNA with all the others who were marked as homo salveo. What they found was astonishing and almost unbelievable. Everything about her appeared to be modified, and by modified I mean genetic tampering that goes well beyond what even the top geneticists of the world today are capable of recreating.

  “Now it may interest you, Lucy, to know that we have seen plenty more genetically modified vampire DNA in the last twenty years. We have been able to detect certain patterns that coincide with popular vampire lore. What do you consider the most common myths about vampires?”

  “Um...” Lucy paused at the unexpected question. “They’re usually undead…immortal, but they can be killed by certain things, like a stake through the heart or sunlight. They drink blood, obviously. Usually, they’re really strong, I guess, at least Dracula was. I’m not really sure of much else because, I have to admit, I’m not that into the vampire craze.”

  Evan chuckled. “You’ll find most of the people you meet here aren’t either, but the ones who are might surprise you.” He cast an amused glance at Dara, who narrowed her eyes. “But you’ve got a good start, so let’s go over what you mentioned. Real vampires are not undead or immortal. Like I said, they tend to have better health, so they do live long lives. Modified vampires, on the other hand, have unnaturally long life spans. We’ve encountered some who were over one hundred fifty years old and we’re not certain they are the oldest. As Dara mentioned, vampires require a high protein diet and modified vampires apparently believe the best way to achieve this is through drinking human blood. Naturally, or should I say unnaturally given their genetic modifications, they also have astounding healing capabilities and tend to be a lot stronger than they look. They might survive an accident that would otherwise be fatal, say…falling out of a third story window and breaking a few dozen bones, but they can be killed just like anyone else, no wooden stake required. Now as far as sunlight goes, vampires, modified or not, have no problem walking around in daylight. But one of the side effects of all the genetic tampering seems to be a high propensity for light sensitivity. As Miles has indicated, you understand firsthand what that entails.”

  Lucy felt a weight drop in her stomach. “Apparently,” she reached for her neck and pulled off the bandage, running a trembling finger over the now smooth skin, “I’m also a really quick healer.” She shook her head and exhaled loudly. “No, that’s ridiculous. Obviously, I don’t have fangs, and I don’t drink blood. You can’t possibly think I’m a vampire.”

  Evan smiled sympathetically. “Honestly, Lucy, if that were all I had to reveal to you tonight, I’d say you most certainly are a vampire, a modified vampire at that. However, let me throw a new twist at you.”

  “Why not?” Lucy threw up her hands in exasperation. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you’re a werewolf and Lona here really is the queen of the fairies.”

  The corners of Evan's mouth ticked upward with amusement. “Not exactly, but I’m not without my own genetic quirks. As I mentioned, I was the first person to survive a vampire attack and consequently, my attacker died. These were not unrelated events. Abe found an enzyme present in my blood that he’d never seen before. This enzyme proved to be toxic when introduced into the bloodstream of vampires.”

  “I take it you’re now going to tell me that was why Tim…” Lucy swallowed hard. “He did die, right?”

  Evan nodded. “He did, and yes, for the same reason. It’s a rare trait, but definitely not unique to me. Miles has it as well, as do many of my employees. You, on the other hand,” Evan opened the folder and glanced down at the papers inside, “tested off the charts. When I was attacked, I nearly died before the enzyme had any effect on the vampire who attacked me. Tim didn’t even have time to do more than tear through some muscle before he succumbed to blood poisoning. You have roughly ten times the enzyme in your bloodstream than I do.”

  Lucy shuddered. Despite the fact that it appeared Tim had intended to kill her, the fact that she was responsible for his death still didn’t sit well with her. “I don’t get it…” She trailed off. Outside, the sky was starting to lighten and Lucy realized that she had been up for nearly twenty-four hours.

  “I don’t get it either,” Evan admitted.

  “So according to you, I’m not just a vampire, but the offspring of a genetically modified vampire, but I have a rare blood type that kills vampires? I admit that I don’t know a damned thing about my father, but I knew my mother and she wasn’t a vampire. I’m sure you know who my grandmother was. All political jokes aside, she wasn’t a vampire either. Hell, I think my mom was a vegetarian.”

  Evan glanced again at the folder in his hands. “Your grandmother was definitely not a vampire, Lucy. She carried the same enzyme I have. Presumably, your mother had it as well. What this would indicate is that your father was a vampire, as unlikely as that may be.”

  “Unlikely?” Lucy mentally rolled her eyes. Nothing she had learned this evening began to border on likely.

  Dara cleared her throat. “A few years ago we did a study on infertility. In nearly eighty percent of the couples who couldn’t conceive, the reason was that one partner was human while the other was vampire.”

  “We can’t say for certain that it’s not possible,” Abe interjected. “In fact, we’re pretty sure us ‘normal’ folk were the result of the vampires and enzyme carriers intermixing long ago. But we have yet to run into a mixed species couple who could naturally conceive successfully. Now, in a couple where one is a vampire and the other carries the anomalous enzyme, well, that has additional complications.”

  “Like what?” Lucy asked.

  “Trace amounts of the enzyme appear in all bodily fluids,” Dara explained. “While they aren’t enough to necessarily kill, at least not right away, something as simple as a kiss can cause the vampire to feel ill.”

  “So what you’re saying is that by all rights, I shouldn’t exist.” Lucy’s exhaustion was testing her patience.

  Evan nodded slowly. “In simple terms, yes. But obviously you do exist-”

  “And obviously I’m not a vampire!” Lucy roared, half out of her chair. “I can’t even believe I’m listening to this!”

  “I’m sorry Lucy.” Dara smiled sympathetically. “I realize that you’ve probably been up for twenty-four hours. We should probably continue this conversation after we’ve all had some sleep. “

  “You expect me to sleep after telling me that?”

  Lucy’s mind was wide-awake with even more questions than she had at the beginning of their meeting, but she had to admit, her body was protesting. She hadn’t pulled an all-nighter since her first year at college. And after nearly failing the exam she had stayed up to study for, she never did so again.

  “We’ll continue our discussion tomorrow evening,” Evan promised.

  Lucy looked at the clock and then at Lona. “Don’t I need to be at work in three hours?”

  Lona gave her a weak smile. “You actually think I’m fit to open the store today? Call it a holiday, now let’s go. Remember those comfy looking beds? I don’t care what you do, but I’m falling into one and passing out for at least eight hours.”

  Lucy had to admit that the beds did appear to be very comfortable and the lure of sleep was strong. She followed Lona back to thei
r room and fell into bed, hoping that in the morning she would wake up to find that this was all just a very strange dream.

  Chapter 5

  Lucy awoke in an unfamiliar bed to the sound of someone knocking on the door.

  “Just a minute!”

  She slid off the bed and looked around for her bathrobe, which wasn’t there. Shrugging on the jeans she had discarded the night before, Lucy opened the door to find an elderly woman holding what looked like a picnic basket in one hand and Gumbo in the other.

  “I believe this adorable nightmare belongs to you.” She thrust the kitten gently in Lucy’s direction and angled herself into the room. Lucy took Gumbo, closed the door, and followed the woman into the sitting room.

  “Yes, she’s my responsibility. I’m sorry if she caused any trouble.”

  “No trouble at all, doll,” she replied and began unpacking a load of freshly baked pastries and a carafe of coffee from the basket. “At least that kitty of yours appreciates fine cookin’, unlike the oaf that dumped her in my kitchen this morning. I’m Ida, by the way, chief cook and troublemaker. You must be Lucy. Bellona’s briefed me a little this morning. She had to run off and meet the movie folks, so she asked me to look in on you.” Lucy’s stomach gave an audible grumble when Ida poured a cup of coffee. “Looks like I got here just in time. Trade you?” She held out a mug of coffee.

  “That’s okay. I don’t think she can get into too much trouble here.” Lucy set Gumbo down on the sofa next to her and took the cup of coffee. “Thank you.” She took a sip of coffee and gasped.

  “Too hot?” Ida gave her a concerned stare.

  “Not at all!” Lucy said breathlessly. “Ida, this is the best coffee I’ve ever had!”

  “Honestly!” Ida waved her hand dismissively, but did not try to hide the pleased grin on her face. “You’d think no one but me knows the secret to a good cup o’ Joe. It’s simple, fresh beans, filtered water, and a clean pot.”

  “And a touch of magic?” Lucy squinted at the woman, realizing where she’d seen her face before. “You’re Gilly, aren’t you?”

  Ida raised her eyebrows. “You discovered my secret identity! You don’t look old enough to remember Gilly’s.” Gilly’s had been a famous coffee house in New Orleans from the fifties to the early nineties, when Ida Gillman, the sole proprietor, finally decided to retire.

  Lucy smiled. “My mother kept my lunch money in a Gilly’s coffee mug by the door when I was a kid. She bragged that it was the second best souvenir she brought back from New Orleans.”

  “And the first?” Ida inquired.

  “Me,” Lucy said quietly, “though she never actually came out and said it. I only found out recently that New Orleans is where my parents met. It was what brought me here, actually. Ha!” Lucy chuckled mirthlessly. “I didn’t expect to find anything about my father and now I’m not sure if I even believe what I’ve been told.”

  Ida cocked her head to the side. “That your father was a vampire? I know it’s a bit much to swallow, but they ain’t all bad.”

  “I’ve heard,” Lucy sighed, still unsure exactly what she believed. “But did Lona tell you my father is supposed to be some kind of genetically modified vampire? From what Evan told me last night they’re as bad as it gets.”

  “Most of ‘em,” Ida agreed. “Okay something like ninety-nine point nine percent, but not all. One of my very favorite people was a mod. In fact, he helped me start up an outreach program to try to acclimate other mods to normal life. I can’t claim a one hundred percent success rate, but I’ve saved a few from the fate Evan and company’s slated them to.”

  Lucy frowned. “I’m not sure how I feel about that, or what all I believe for that matter.”

  Ida reached over and gave her a friendly pat on the hand. “Believe what you want, Lucy, but keep an open mind. After all, this is New Orleans. Vampires are just the tip of the iceberg for strange happenings ‘round here. Now,” she said and stood up slowly, “I believe Lona should be coming back soon and I’ve left you with about half a pot of coffee and enough pastry for both you and your furry monster there. I’ve got to get started on dinner before the troops start waking up and all I have time to do is refill those coffee pots!” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I’ve never seen anyone go through as much coffee as Miles. Anyway Lucy, my kitchen’s always open, whether you’re hungry or just need a friendly ear.”

  “Thank you. I’ll probably hold you to that.”

  An hour and a half later, Lona had yet to return and Lucy was beginning to go stir crazy. She had finished her coffee, played with Gumbo, and took a long shower. Not even the luxury of 160 channels of high definition television was enough to distract her from the fact that she still had hundreds of unanswered questions. She had even left the room intending to find the kitchen in order to offer Ida some help, but found that the elevator was unresponsive to her touch. Luckily, the door to her room was more yielding. Otherwise, she would have been stuck in the hallway.

  Eventually she gave up, curled up on the sofa, and tried to immerse herself in the plot of a mindless comedy. She didn’t ordinarily watch comedies, but weekday afternoon television left her with few options, even with 160 channels. Just as the movie was ending, and Lucy feared she would have to sit through the next feature, a zombie film, Lona breezed into the room.

  “Hey Luce, sorry, I expected to be back a lot sooner.”

  “No worries,” Lucy lied. “Everything okay at the shop?”

  “Uh huh.” Lona found the bag of pastries that Ida had left. “Ida stopped by, good, I’m starved.”

  “I like her. She’s...I don’t know…”

  “Enigmatic?” Lona supplied, dislodging a cinnamon roll from the bag. “Ida’s cooking is pure magic. I think half the reason most people take the job here is to eat her food.”

  “What job is that exactly?”

  “Sorry.” Lona swallowed a lump of cinnamon roll. “You probably have a million questions. That’s why I felt bad about leaving. I figure we don’t have much time until Evan will have a chance to scoop you up again and I’m sure you’re already overwhelmed.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Lucy sighed heavily. “I’m still trying to figure out how much of last night was real and how much I dreamed.”

  “All real and then some,” Lona looked uncomfortable. “Evan gave you the background, but he didn’t get into the team at all, or what they do.”

  “I’m guessing they’re vampire hunters from all the clues everyone’s been dropping,” Lucy said, still skeptical of everything she had been told. “I still can’t get over the fact that we’re discussing this as if it’s normal.”

  “It’s not normal, Lucy, but it’s not as farfetched as you think. I mean look at you. Yesterday you were just like everyone else you knew, right?”

  “In the broadest and most general sense, sure, I guess,” Lucy acknowledged. “But today?”

  “And today you’re still the same person you were yesterday. Think about it, other than coming as a complete shock, did finding out you’re half vampire change you? Uh-uh. Do you suddenly have an urge to run around in the shadows and bite people for dinner?”

  “Of course not!” Lucy protested. “But seriously, just because I am what I always was technically doesn’t change me, it does change other people’s perspective, which ultimately does change me, don’t you see?”

  Lona gave her an exasperated look. “How very philosophical of you Lucy, but no. I mean, yeah, sure, some people may not understand, but that’s neither here nor there because you don’t have to tell those people. Right now the only folks who know that you’re different are also different, so none of us have room to talk.”

  Lucy eyed Lona suspiciously. “I’ll believe it when I see it, but last night I saw a different story. I noticed everyone’s reactions when Evan announced my unique condition, you included.”

  Lona grimaced. “Sorry Lucy, you’re right, I probably did. But not for the reasons you’re thinki
ng.”

  “Does this have anything to do with what you said about being not quite human?”

  Lona paused for a moment before she spoke. “It’s a bit complicated, but yes. I’m not a vampire, but I have a bit of a history with the ES.”

  “The ES?”

  “Eyes of the Sun,” Lona explained. “That’s the name of the organization of genetically modified vampires. Remember when I took you on the Haunted History tour and they told us the story about Delphine Lalaurie?”

  Lucy shuddered. She vividly remembered the tale of the socialite who had tortured her slaves by performing barbaric experiments on them. “I remember.”

  “We have reason to believe that she was one of the first generations of vampires to experiment with genetic modifications. We also have reason to believe that she didn’t die in Paris in 1842, or the nineteenth century at all, for that matter.”

  “What do you mean?” Lucy asked.

  “The ES are a centuries old organization. Their goal is immortality. Well, immortality first, then I expect they want to take over the world, or at least a part of it. They already have a very strong presence in France and would have here, but Evan’s organization is doing a pretty good job of stopping them.”

  “So this whole research company has just been a front for vampire hunters?” Lucy thought that was a bit extravagant.

  “No, Evan was telling the truth. He only discovered their existence twenty years ago, but ever since then, he has dedicated his life to trying to bring them down. Likewise, the ES obviously haven’t achieved immortality or world domination yet, so they continue to experiment, cruelly, on children.” Lona paused and looked out the window with a deep frown. “I was one of their experiments. Evan’s group found and rescued me seventeen years ago. Chronologically, I was thirty-five.”