Days of Innocence (The Firsts Book 13)

by C. L. Quinn

  DAYS OF

  INNOCENCE

  C.L.Quinn

  Blak Kat Publishing

  December 2015

  All rights reserved

  The story of the First Bloods

  Continues…

  21 years later

  Readers, we’ve traveled through so many tales these past years, to help you with this story, I present a brief family tree to help you remember the children and their places within the families.

  Children of the Sun:

  Cairine- Bas and Park’s daughter

  Maccabee- Bas and Park’s son

  Caedmon- Eillia and Daniel’s son

  Bryson- Tamesine and Marc’s son

  Fia- Tamesine and Marc’s daughter, Bryson’s twin

  Children of the Moon:

  Eras- Ahmose and Starla’s son

  Shani- Ahmose and Starla’s daughter

  Ife- Ahmose and Starla’s daughter-introduced here

  Brigitte- Ahmose and Mal’s daughter

  Talib- Chione and Donovan’s son-introduced here

  And in Boston:

  Crezia- Mies and Sarah’s daughter

  One

  A ball of hot orange lingered at the edge of the horizon line, slowly leaking its brilliance over sparkling waters that rose to the occasion with scattered diamonds. Like long fingers of golden light, it crawled through the sea until it finally touched the lone girl sitting on cool sands. It lit up her strawberry blonde hair as she lifted her face to the warmth, eyes closed, immersed in the moment. She loved the sun, even more so because the time would come, and soon, when she would never see it again. Her joy was only slightly tinged with that looming sorrow. Today, there was no room for sadness.

  Then a squeal behind her made her smile. They were here. She’d known the moment that they landed, but now they were close enough to hug. It was going to be a spectacular visit.

  Cairine pushed up from the wet sands, immediately yanked against a broad chest.

  “Eras,” she whispered. His arms were thick, encasing her in them, and when she felt his knuckles on her scalp, she smiled and pulled away.

  “You’re a cad, Eras,” she spat at him, but he just grinned back.

  “What? You definitely needed a nuggie hug,” he said, moving aside as the owner of that squeal moment’s ago pushed him away aggressively and embraced Cairine next.

  “Cari,” the girl purred, an ear-to-ear smile as she held her friend. “I’m so happy to see you again! It’s been ages!”

  Pulling back, Cairine looked into Brigitte’s eyes, which glowed, even in the bright morning sunlight.

  “Stop it, my turn,” another soft voice interrupted, and Cairine shifted her gaze to Brigitte’s sister, the delicately lovely Shani.

  With eyes like shiny milk chocolate, Shani’s gaze always mesmerized Cairine at first. She felt as if Shani could see into her soul, and there were times she was sure that she could. Good thing Shani was the most gentle, loving girl she’d ever met. Otherwise, it might be a little frightening to have someone capable of that kind of access to one’s private thoughts and feelings. Cairine’s eyes moved back to Eras. No, she wouldn’t want Shani to know how she felt when she was near her brother. Even so, Cairine thought she might.

  Shani’s embrace always felt like you were suddenly wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold day. Her hands curved gently along Cairine’s neck, under her hair, where the heat followed. She leaned close and whispered into Cairine’s ear.

  “Someone’s heart is beating faster now.”

  Cairine pulled away, and, with her hands wrapped around Shani’s, green eyes sought brown. “Secrets, my sister,” she said, also on a whisper.

  Shani nodded. “Secrets, my sister,” she repeated in agreement.

  Behind the three siblings stood the fourth, the youngest, a delicate girl with bright white hair that stood out in any group, but especially with her brother and sisters who held the same swarthy coloring as their father.

  Cairine stepped closer and took Ife’s hands, then lowered her forehead to touch them. “My sweet fawn,” she said in greeting.

  Ife lifted her head, kissed the top of Cairine’s, and raised pale blue eyes. “Child of the sun and sea,” she returned. Everything about Ahmose and Starla’s third child was gentle and quiet, even the way she moved; so effortlessly, she appeared to glide. Her parents, along with everyone else who met her, thought Ife was the definition of grace.

  Behind the lot of new arrivals on the beach, a slender man with hair like a raven’s wing in refractive colors of purple and blue, stayed his position and just smiled easily with a single wave. Talib, even now after years with his family in Africa and this second family of friends in France, maintained his distant, shy nature. Cairine loved the soft flowing pastels of his aura. He was gentleness embodied, just like his mother, Chione. When he did speak, which was not often, it was quiet and restrained.

  “Welcome back, Talib,” she said, with the same single wave. “Everyone, Grandfather’s chef has a feast prepared. You are hungry, oui?”

  “Now, little lady,” Eras barked. He pushed a long wisp of hair behind her ear after it fell forward to cover Cairine’s eye. “Since when don’t you feed vampires immediately upon arrival?”

  Pulling back, Cairine shot away from his fingers. “Yeah, well, you’re not vampire, are you?” Her gaze stayed off him as she turned to face the other members of his family. “Follow me, my friends.”

  Leading everyone back up the stone steps, it took a concerted effort to slow her respiration. He upended her calmness and rocked her balance. Why, she did not know, but for now, she wanted to keep her distance. Besides, she’d really missed her sisters from Africa. They had a lot to catch up on.

  “Girls night, okay?” she called back to the young women just behind her.

  “Hell, yeah!” Brigitte yelled out. Cairine knew that whatever Brigitte decided, the others always followed. The brash, brilliant girl had leader written all over her aura.

  She heard him move past the others and felt his heat when he came up behind her. Eras…his breath on her neck.

  “Where’s the dynamic duo? And my best bud?”

  Cairine slowed her step to answer his questions.

  “Caedmon is up the hill with my brother. And the twins should join us at our meal.”

  “Cool,” Eras commented, and dropped back.

  He was so arrogant! She didn’t know why she let him make her anxious.

  A hand on her shoulder pulled her up against another warm body. Brigitte whispered in her ear. “Yes, you do.”

  Cairine threw her a glance that she hoped would singe, and then grabbed Brigitte’s hand and yanked her quickly the rest of the way.

  “I don’t. Stop reading me.”

  “But you’re so easy. You wear your heart on your sleeve, my dear friend.”

  “That isn’t true! Come on, let’s get breakfast before I put all of you back on that plane!”

  “You know you love us!”

  As they reached the villa, Cairine laughed. “Yes, I do, with all of my sleeve-exposed heart!”

  Traveling across cool tile, Cairine pushed open double doors to lead the group into a large dining room on the second floor.

  “Let’s take the main table up front. There’s plenty of room for all of us.”

  Eras surged past his sisters and claimed the head of the table where Cairine’s grandfather, Koen, usually sat.

  Choosing the opposite side of the table, Cairine stood until the others took their places.

  “I know we’ve only gotten together twice a year until now, but we’ll see how it goes this year. Tamesine said that she senses changes in the air.” Cai
rine paused as her eyes roamed from one beautiful face to the next. “We do too. We’re still fully human, but we won’t be for long, so I want to welcome you to our home, and remind you that you are always welcome here.”

  Shani bowed her head and held a hand out. “It is the same for you and your siblings for Africa. It is home for the children of the sun too.”

  Cairine touched the women on each side of her. She was slowly approaching her thirtieth year, her sisters-in-spirit in their mid-twenties. Within the next few years, they would each gradually reach human maturity and then their vampire genes would kick in. These remaining human days were precious, and not to be wasted.

  Her eyes went to the oversized man at the head of the table. Eras was still fully human too, but the embedded vampire DNA already manifested in his size. He was bigger than any human twenty-five year old man she’d ever seen. And yes, Brigitte, she did know why he affected her so much. His masculine pheromones already touched her feminine sexuality. Around him these days, she could barely think. It was a good reason to limit close contact with him. For now.

  But as she looked at these friends who were family through race, choice, and destiny, her heart thudded because they had so much to do and so much was riding on their actions in the future. They needed to enjoy their young human lives first.

  “We must plan some excursions this coming year. We know our future, and the importance of our mission for this world, so I say we get out and discover her between now and then. What do you think? Want to hit the skies with me this year?”

  “Anywhere, anytime, my sister. If Father will let us,” Brigitte agreed without delay.

  “He won’t,” came a comment from the usually silent Ife.

  “No. But he isn’t always around, is he? Vampires gotta stay in at night,” Brigitte countered.

  “Brigitte!” Shani yelled, shocked. But she was smiling.

  Eras laughed. “You girls own the old man. You’re right, he won’t approve of us leaving the village without him before we have all our vampire powers, but…”

  While he spoke, he’d made his way to the buffet table where two blood-bonds had started to bring out trays of food. “He’ll forgive you anything. Me, he’ll be fully pissed at. But I’m in anyway.”

  “Moonbabies!” A deep voice called out from the entrance of the room. All heads turned as a man nearly as big as Eras, and a small woman just behind him, hurried up to the table. It was obvious that they were twins, both with hair the color of the sun’s late morning rays, shining pale yellow, both worn long and pulled back with leather ties. Bryson’s hair was nearly as long as his sister’s.

  “Fia, Bry!”

  Brigitte raced to embrace them as her family joined her. The next few moments involved more greetings and hugs.

  A quick peck on Brigitte’s cheeks from Bryson made her blush, which Cairine noticed. Yes, they were all adults now and feelings were changing.

  “Everybody, get a plate, enjoy!” Cairine led the way by joining Eras at the buffet table, her eyes on his plate, nearly as stacked as a full-blooded vampire’s.

  “Hungry?” she asked.

  Eras moved close, picked up a biscuit and licked it slowly around the edge. His eyes didn’t leave hers the entire time. “Very,” he said, his voice deeper than usual.

  Turning away without responding, warmth invading her cheeks, Cairine moved down the table to the desserts. And she’d thought that Brigitte’s cheeks were red!

  Fia moved about the room quickly, stopping to make sure she personally welcomed everyone who had flown in from Africa today. A behavior she’d inherited from her mother, she offered warm hugs and enchanting smiles, then finished with Eras. A good nine inches taller than she, Eras, showing off, Cairine thought, lifted the small woman and held her as she hugged him.

  Once back on the ground, Fia pulled her short dress back over her bum that had been in danger of exposure from the unexpected embrace. “Well, you keep getting bigger and stronger, don’t you, Eras?”

  Was Fia embarrassed at the sudden close contact? Did she like it? Cairine couldn’t tell how her friend felt. Fia was generous with her affections. Suddenly Cairine closed her eyes. Was this jealousy? Shit! That wouldn’t do.

  Fia pushed back a stray strand of hair and reached for a plate. “Bry, would you mind calling Caedmon and Mac to let them know everyone is here?”

  “Sure,” Bryson said and reached into the pocket of his shorts.

  Eras held up a hand. “Don’t. I’ll go get them. How is Caed doing?”

  Fia nodded. “All right. I mean, he’s not worse, but he isn’t improving either. Mother thinks that when we receive our full powers, he’ll be fine.”

  “Hope so. I’m going to head up the hill. See you guys in a while.”

  Cairine watched Eras as he rolled a pancake up and munched on it on the way out the door. He might be an overconfident brat at times, but he did have a big heart.

  From almost the first visit two decades ago, Eras had bonded with the little boy who had health problems no one had ever been able to understand. Even her mother’s full medical lab up the road from their villa, which had run all kinds of tests over the years, had shown no medical basis for his problems. He was first blood vampire, and although he hadn’t reached maturity, he should have been perfectly healthy. And yet he had a stutter, lost his balance easily, and had developed a noticeable limp over the past few years.

  Cairine had always loved Caed as a brother. All of her life, the boy had been family and would be so until their last breaths. She’d decided that her aunt had to be right, that full conversion would solve all of his problems. If it didn’t, she would find a way or make a way, but she determined that the young man she loved so much would be well again.

  With Eras gone, Cairine relaxed, able to really enjoy her friends. Breakfast continued, as noisy as it always was when they got together.

  Well-fed, Cairine sat back and just absorbed the moment. Friends and family, a time of peace, and rest in the community. For nearly twenty years, there had been no troubles or threats, and for that, they were all grateful. She looked around at each smiling face and nodded to the universe.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, and slowly stood.

  “We have a warm sea outside waiting for us. Shall we go back down to the beach?”

  A wave of “yeahs” and “uh-huhs” moved through the group.

  “I’ll have Francisco show you all to your rooms and when you’re changed, just come on down.” Cairine nodded and turned.

  Fia swung up next to Cairine as she started toward the door. “I’ll come down with you. Cari, Mother said that she would take all of us to Paris tomorrow night. Are you up for it?”

  “If that’s what everyone wants to do, sure. I’d love to see the new display at the Musaic. They just finished an exhibit of early technology, accompanied by a view of future tech.”

  “Fascinating. I was actually thinking about the shopping and nightclubs, but we can do your museum thing too.”

  Cairine grinned. “I know you were. I think the other girls would love those too.”

  “Eras would.”

  Rolling her eyes, Cairine pushed Fia back. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Fia’s eyes sparkled. “He gets handsomer every time we see him.”

  “He’s a first blood, of course he does.”

  “But you don’t really notice anything special about him?”

  “No. Let’s go hit the water.”

  “Okay, ‘nough said. I need the sunshine. I’ve just finished two weeks of study and I’ve missed the sea air.”

  “You’re dedicated. You’ll join my mother in the lab this summer?”

  “That’s the plan. Of course, I got to get some play time in somewhere. So, I was thinking. Why don’t we go to America?”

  Cairine turned to her friend. The idea had been on her mind, too. Before the daylight was taken from them, she wanted to see the world, all sides of it, and especially the American contin
ent where her mother had been born. She wanted to see L.A., to see if the Pacific Ocean was different than the one outside her own door.

  “Fia, I’ve been thinking about that for the past few months. Yes, I really want to. If our parents will allow us to go without escort.”

  “They won’t. So we’ll just have to use some of our vampire mojo to slip away from them when we get there.”

  No, that wouldn’t work. Cairine was a rule follower, not a rule breaker like Fia, who had a devilish streak that often frustrated her parents. Yet right now, she thought she’d follow her friend to the ends of the earth, because they were no longer children, she was restless, and sometimes felt directless. The future that loomed for the first bloods of this generation waited on the other side of this century, which would come sooner than they wanted. In no time, they would be vampire and this beautiful human life that she loved would be a memory.

  Still, she couldn’t bring herself to admit it yet. “We’ll see.”

  Up the hill, Eras worked his ass off to climb the incline to Cairine’s villa at a faster pace than normal humans, but much, much, slower than a vampire’s. He waited with supreme impatience for the day he would become fully vampire, and although he would miss the daylight, he felt a restlessness inside, a need to touch the magics that he already felt stirring. Along with the other first blood children, he’d had limited access to his abilities even as a toddler, but he knew what waited when his body and spirit made the change someday. It was going to be epic. He would be epic.

  The emotions that raged inside him burned some days. At home in Zambia, where his life and days were normal, ordinary, it had been easier to deal with them. Here, once again in the company of those he would fight beside someday, away from his home, out in this big world, he felt electricity scatter along his skin. There were moments when he touched something, or someone, and could feel the crackle of his power surging up from where it tried to lay dormant. He was on fire. He needed something, what he did not know, but…more. And it seemed like his body couldn’t wait.