I made a mental note to talk to Matthew about the dream confirmation tomorrow. If he wanted me to tell Samuel about Lane, I needed to do it before he drifted off again. I sighed. “Samuel?”
“What?” he asked as he stifled a yawn.
“Are you falling asleep on me?”
“Not yet.”
“Good, because we have something else to discuss.”
Samuel groaned. “Julia, if you’re looking for more on this issue you’re not getting it.”
“It’s not about that,” I said and recounted the same story I had told Matthew.
He interrupted me only once. “Are you hurt?”
“Gosh, Samuel, I didn’t think you would care,” I said, smiling.
Samuel gave me a sour look. “Don’t start.”
“Simply an observation.”
“Did Lane hurt you?” he repeated.
“No.”
Samuel stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. “Interesting.”
I stared at him in surprise. He was taking this much more calmly than Matthew had. “Matthew told me there’s an execution order out on him. That vampires are supposed to kill him on sight.”
“That’s what the order says,” he replied, curling his lip.
“You sound so enthused about it.”
Samuel’s voice turned cool. “I’m not much inclined to follow one of Valentino’s orders.”
“Matthew seems afraid of Lane.”
“Lane had been known to take on vampires at least twice his age and emerge unscathed. There are stories that he has even killed vampires who accidently cross him. Many fear him.”
I stared at him, trying to figure out if he was afraid of Lane as well. He did not seem eager to follow the order, but fear can make you do strange things. From the information I have gotten, logic would dictate that Lane was a threat to us and we should eliminate the threat or run; however that information was contradictory to my own encounter. “Lane’s supposed to be dangerous to all vampires but . . . hell, Samuel, he didn’t hurt me.”
“If you’re trying to tell me in a roundabout way to leave him alone, you needn’t bother. I have nothing personal against Lane. As long as he keeps his distance, I will be happy to pretend I don’t know he’s around here.” Samuel looked at me. “If you don’t mind, I would like to get some sleep.”
“Of course. I’m sure you’ll like some time alone to think.”
He nodded and shut his eyes again. I got up once more and hesitated. Finally, I reached up and unfastened the necklace he usually wore, the one he had left at the house in Florence. I pressed it into his hand, almost like a peace offering. “Sleep well, Samuel,” I whispered and left his room.
Chapter 6
I wandered out to the sitting room the next night a couple of hours after sundown. Matthew was already in there, hunched over the table with a couple of candles lit. A small rustling sound signaled the careful turning of an old page. The document he was reading appeared very fragile.
Where had he gotten it? I hadn’t inspected the villa, but I didn’t remember seeing any old books or parchments around. “What are you reading?”
Matthew looked up and studied me. “An extremely old journal. Well, you look pleased . . . so I guess the talk with Samuel last night went fairly well.”
I sat down across from him, being careful not to bump the candles on the table. “I think so. We made progress.” Leaning forward, I continued, “He confirmed having the same dream. She said we shared it and she was right.”
He looked back down at the worn journal and closed it, but not before I saw a small smile. “That certainly is interesting. Tell me everything you can remember about her visits.” Matthew listened intently until I finished. “It seems you have an ally, Julia.” He took a deep breath. “I cannot give you answers right this moment, but I am looking into things.” He lightly tapped on the closed book in front him.
“That has information about my alleged ability in it?”
He nodded. “It has been centuries since someone showed that particular talent, but you are not the first. There’s been documentation of others.” He reached down and gently placed the document back into one of his bags we had since we left Florence.
I stared at him in surprise. It was no wonder that I had not seen it in the villa. Matthew had had it the entire time. “You did talk to Kali before we set out, didn’t you?”
He sat back up and shook his head. “Kali and I have never spoken about you. I hadn’t known about her suspicions until you told me.”
My gaze drifted back to the bag. “Then why do you have . . .?” I lifted my head to stare at him. The candlelight cast hues of amber and gold in his dark hair and eyes. I thought back to the night when I had pleaded with him to help me search for Samuel. At the time, it had felt like it took me forever to convince him. In actuality, it had probably been only an hour. And he had provided me with weapons before we started our trip as well.
I struggled to form words as I tried to piece together my racing thoughts. “If she did not talk to – but you trusted me enough to give me weapons. You had this journal. I do not understand.” I trembled as my breath caught in my throat.
Matthew reached over and covered my hand with his. He looked concerned. “Breathe, Julia.” After I exhaled the breath I had been holding, he continued, “I reacquired this particular journal about a year ago. As I said before, I have been learning to improve my own ability. I knew this document contained information about elementals.” He paused before whispering, “It contained so much more than what I remembered.”
“You forgot what was written in there?” I asked incredulously.
The corner of his mouth quirked in amusement. “I was human the last time I had possession of it, so yes.”
“Human?” I repeated. “How did you have it while human?”
He waved his other hand dismissively. “That’s not really important right now. A couple months ago, I found the part about seers’ stories and there were a few that reminded me of something Samuel had told me during one of his drunken tirades. It made me wonder, but I had no idea Kali was thinking the same thing.”
“Could she have known you had already discovered the information yourself when she said to talk to you? She told me time may have given you a different perspective. ”
He shrugged. “It is Kali. Who knows, maybe she did.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “She seemed convinced that you could help me, teach me. She said you were different than Samuel – said it as if that was important. When do you think you’ll have answers for me? Do you think she’s right? Can you help me?”
Matthew squeezed my hand. “Julia, you’re babbling again. I am not sure when I will have those answers, but I know what the first step is to help you.”
“What is that?”
“To heal, physically and emotionally.” I stared at him blankly. Before I could question it, he slid his hand up until it rested against my left wrist. A dull throbbing sensation followed as the pressure rubbed against the healing cuts. “You have caused yourself a great deal of harm by doing this and not feeding.” He moved his hand back and continued, “And emotionally you are crippled.”
“I am not crippled. Emotionally I am –” I started.
“A wreck. The cuts on your arms are simply a physical manifestation of your anguish. Julia, our powers are a part of us the same as our speed or strength. If we are weakened, how can we expect our other abilities to remain strong? How can a young vampire learn to understand and control them if they are impaired as well?”
I gaped at him, at a loss for words. Could that be why my ability to foretell the future seemed to have failed me five years ago? Could it really be that simple? I shook my head. “I guess it would be silly to think that.”
Matthew jumped up and said, “Let’s play a game of darts.”
�
��Pray tell, how is a game of darts supposed to help? Besides, we have no target board or darts to play with,” I questioned.
Undeterred, he crouched down next to the fireplace and scooped up soot onto his finger. Standing, he drew a large circle on the wall next to the fireplace, followed by two slightly smaller circles. He turned back to the fireplace with a metal poker and sifted through both uncharred and charred wood. I watched in growing curiosity as he poked and prodded the pieces until he got into the ash. I tilted my head and was about to ask him what he was looking for when I saw a tiny red coal buried in the debris.
Moments later, I watched it burst into yellow and orange flame, showering the room with a warm glow. The two candles on the table extinguished themselves simultaneously. Matthew never missed a beat as he moved past me and knelt beside his supplies. “Appearances, Julia. Humans don’t let their home fires go out unless absolutely necessary. We also do not want to set the place on fire by accidently knocking over one of the candles.”
“And what would we knock them over with?”
“These,” Matthew replied, standing with two small knives in his hand. “In lieu of darts, my lady. You may go first.”
I was smiling before I had realized my lips had curved. As I joined him, I marveled that it was the first smile that I did not have to force or think about in a long time. I took my knife, aimed, and threw it at the circle he had drawn on the wall. It planted itself just barely inside the largest circle.
Matthew threw his. It landed well within the second circle. Turning, he raised an eyebrow at me. “A little out of practice, dare I say? That throw was terrible, Julia.”
I walked forward and pulled out both knives. “I haven’t trained in years, so I would agree.”
Matthew took his makeshift dart and gestured for me to go again. “Even a talented swordsman will lose his skill if he doesn’t practice,” he commented.
I concentrated on the target in front of me before launching the projectile again. “I wasn’t allowed to. I guess the others didn’t trust me enough to spar or leave weapons in my possession.”
“Mmm,” Matthew grunted as he completed his turn. “Shall we do best out of five rounds?”
“That sounds fun,” I replied, surprised he didn’t question me more.
“Excellent!” He smiled as we lined up for another turn. As we played, the conversation revolved around rather frivolous subjects such as the weather and a few parties Matthew had attended over the years. A few jokes and tips were speckled in, and although there were times when the conversation turned awkward, it was quite enjoyable.
Matthew winced as I hurled my knife at the drawn target. As with my last three tries, it remained within the large circle, although closer to the center each time. A moment later, his graceful movement landed his in the center of the smallest circle.
“You make it seem so easy,” I grumbled as I pulled my knife back out. He retrieved his as well, and turned to me as I got ready to make my last throw.
A second later he stopped me before I could release it. “Why are you clenching the muscles? There is no need to force it. The knife should be an extension of your hand just as much as any other weapon.” His hand touched my arm in several places, lightly massaging my tight muscles. “Relax. Close your eyes and trust me.” I glared at him a second before doing so. I felt him raise my arm as he continued, “Light and loose. Extra tension only tires you and doesn’t allow aim to be true.” He coached my arm through a few practice throws. “Now try.”
I opened my eyes, sighted the target, and followed the motions from a moment ago. The knife embedded center in the second ring. I turned to Matthew with a smile. “The best all night,” I said.
“It’s easier when you simply do not force it,” he answered and also took his turn. Before I could congratulate him, I heard footsteps in the hall.
“If you damage my walls, I’m going to damage you.”
Both Matthew and I turned toward the sound. “Samuel,” I said, surprised.
“How good of you to join us,” Matthew added. “Sorry, I believe I have poured out all the alcohol.”
Samuel scowled. “Did you really have to put so many knife marks in the wall?” he grumbled and walked over to one of the chairs. He collapsed into it and stared vacantly at the fire.
As I took out my knife, I asked, “Samuel, when was the last time you went out hunting?” I studied him. He was still very pale. And right before he dropped into the chair, I saw a fine tremor run through him.
He looked at me. “Awhile.”
Matthew retrieved his knife. “How long ago was ‘awhile?’”
“Over two weeks,” Samuel elaborated.
“I’m sorry I asked. You need to feed, especially now that you tried committing suicide.”
Samuel stared at him, then looked at the knife in my hand with a small frown.
I put the knife down on the table before he could say anything. “Matthew, didn’t you say that Rome is controlled by Loyalists?” Silence answered me. “Matthew?”
“Uh – yes.” I glanced over and saw him staring at the knife I had discarded.
“Not allowed weapons, remember?” I muttered.
Matthew rolled his eyes. I thought he was going to breach the subject, but Samuel spoke first. “Should we pester Rome’s group?”
I bit my lip and coughed so laughter couldn’t escape. It sounded like something Matthew would say, and Matthew’s own expression melted into something like mixed apprehension and confusion. “Why would you even ask that? We’re a little outnumbered here, Samuel, remember? Even if everyone were here, I’m not sure if we would survive a confrontation.”
“They have a large one?” I asked.
“Rome is a large city,” he countered. “Besides, neither of you would be ready for any sort of fight. You both need to hunt and we should leave as soon as we can.”
Samuel glared at him. “I am not leaving. You two can go whenever you wish.”
Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose. “I realize you have some personal matters you are trying to deal with, but it isn’t very safe here.”
“I have been here for days without any problems.”
Matthew scowled at Samuel, but he remained unmoved by words or actions. “Fine. One problem at a time. You and Julia need to feed.”
“He’s right, Samuel,” I said. “We can go together.”
Samuel stared at me, then leaned back and shook his head.
I sighed. “All right, I didn’t say I had to go. Matthew, go with Samuel. I’ll be fine alone.” I cut him off before he could protest. “Do it. If Samuel doesn’t want to hunt with me around, that’s all right. I’m not going to rush things.”
He looked over at Samuel, appealing to him to say something different. Samuel stood. “Sounds good to me. Let’s go, Matthew.”
Matthew looked between us. “This is not the wisest way to do this.”
I shrugged. “Maybe not but you know as well as I do that Samuel,” I glanced at him as I spoke, “doesn’t exactly want me around.”
Matthew hissed under his breath. “I thought you two worked this out.”
“We did. You don’t see us at each other’s throats screaming, do you?” I asked, looking away. I did my best to hide the pain that was still in my voice.
“Uh . . .around. I’m planning on going a little east of here to feed. That is a different direction from where I ran into Lane last night.”
He nodded and walked out. Samuel followed him but paused at the door. “Be careful,” he said. I looked up, startled, but he was alr
eady gone.
I stared after them for a minute. I hadn’t expected to hear Samuel tell me that. I looked back at the knife on the table. I hesitated, not sure whether to obey the rules I had been given or listen to Matthew’s private advice. Sighing, I retrieved my dagger and some stakes from where we had stashed our weapons. I did not think he would have advocated it if he believed simply cloaking would be enough.
I headed east, following the muffled sounds coming from a local tavern. As I walked, I couldn’t help but scrunch up my face a little. The city before me was beautiful to look at, but the stench was the same as any other. At least when I got close enough to my destination, the smell of alcohol and blood diluted the putrid scents.
I stood in the shadows a few doors down from the tavern, patiently waiting for patrons to head out. At this time of the night, it would be the drunken stragglers headed for home. I scanned the street at regular intervals, but it seemed I was the only soul out at the moment, human or otherwise.
I was becoming bored and impatient when a middle-aged man with a loud laugh came stumbling out the door. He headed toward me, swaying from side to side as he did so. He didn’t notice me until he was almost on top of my toes. I smiled as he stumbled back a step, looking confused. I didn’t give him time to speak, instead hypnotized and led him down an alley. There I bit into his neck.
As the first drops of blood hit my tongue, I savored the taste. The normal coppery taste was tinged with exquisite sweetness. I had to admit Italians seemed to have a richer tang to their blood than the English. I speculated it had to do with all the vineyards in the area.
About halfway home, I sensed a group of seven vampires approaching from two different directions. Four were approaching from the left and in front of me; the last three were directly behind me. “I hate my luck,” I complained, turning right on the next street I came to. It was my hope that none of those behind me had gotten a good look and I could lose them. In any case, I did not want to take chances and lead them to the villa.
Footsteps quickened behind me, proof they were still following. One of them must have seen my face since I was still cloaked. With a sigh, I concluded that I must not have been as careful as I thought I had been as I started home. Moments later, the group closed in on me.
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