by C. L. Quinn
Eillia was dead calm and still. Her eyes moved from Koen, to Bas, to Park. She struggled to stand, and Koen came to help her.
“You can’t go after him. You’re ripped to shreds. You need blood and time to heal.”
“I’m not going after him. Neither are you.” She paused and started limping forward. “Help me, Koen.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sending the dogs. We can’t find him like she can.”
“Eillia, no.”
“Yes. Tamesine is our best chance. We had a breakthrough tonight. I don’t know that we can trust her. But I know she wants him dead. I know she can track him when we can’t. Help me, Koen, or I’ll crawl in there on my hands and knees.”
He shook his head and picked her up in his arms. Eillia looked at Bas.
“Bas, Burne is in there somewhere. Please check on her.”
He nodded and disappeared with Park in his arms. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight again until that asshole was dead.
Eillia unlocked the outer door to Tamesine’s cell so Koen could carry her inside.
A frantic Tamesine was still pressed against the front of the cell.
“Oh, thank god. You’re okay. The baby is okay.”
Koen looked sideways at her.
“What do you care that they are?”
“I know you don’t believe me, but I do.” She told him earnestly.
Eillia limped painfully to the Plexiglas barrier and put her hand up against it just opposite of Tamesine’s.
“He’s going to continue to try to kill us. And my child. And you. Are you willing to help us?”
Tamesine nodded vigorously, her wild curls flying. “Let me. I’ll have him back here in minutes. Torn into pieces.”
“I don’t care how. Just bring him back. Please.”
Tears began to pour down Tamesine’s cheeks.
“I will. And I want to come home. Your baby boy. He spoke to me. He told me to come back. He told me to trust his mother. I will, Eillia. Okay??”
Eillia stared into her eyes. “I don’t know if you’re crazier than ever…or if you can actually connect with my unborn child. But. I think I’m going to trust that you can. I can feel you, Tamesine. I know how lonely you are. And I know you mean it when you say you want to come home. So, I’m letting you out. I’m trusting that you’ll bring that bastard back. If you betray me, well, then we’ll know forever. You won’t ever be able to come back.”
Tamesine didn’t speak, but Eillia didn’t need her to. Words didn’t matter now. Actions did. So she keyed in the codes, the Plexiglas wall separated at a point that previously had looked solid, and Tamesine was standing right in front of her as if she just appeared there. Koen was on defensive, ready to attack.
And then Tamesine disappeared.
Eillia looked at Koen with moist eyes.
“I hope I got that right. Let’s go home, my friend.”
With Koen’s blood racing strongly through her veins, Eillia welcomed her soft bed beneath her broken body.
Bas brought two more beds into her large room, and placed Park in one and Burne in the other. Both were dead. But not permanently. Bas gave blood to Burne, who he had sired back at his home in Vancouver at his wife’s request.
Koen gave his first blood to his daughter as well. It would be a little while before their life signs would return. They would both be very miserable for some time while their bodies healed from their fatal injuries. He closed his mobile phone and threw it on a table beside him.
“Logan’s family will come for him tonight. I cannot believe that fuck got another one of us. I cannot believe we didn’t get him! And I cannot believe we sent that madwoman after him.”
Eillia’s eyes were closed, both her hands lay against her son, who slept safely inside her. She sighed.
“It’s going to be okay. At least she’s never killed one of us.”
“We don’t know that! She’s a greater mystery now than she ever was.” Koen did not believe she’d be back.
“Makes life interesting. It was our only shot. None of us are safe with him alive.”
Bas laid down full length against his wife and buried his face in her hair. “If she doesn’t come back, I’m going for him. I won’t stop until I find him. He’s dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Oh, yes he does.”
Tamesine’s voice interrupted from the doorway. Everyone alive in the room looked up to see her standing there with Alvin dangling from her hand by his leg.
Bas and Koen shot upright.
Eillia smiled. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Thank you, Tamesine. Koen, do what you need to with him.”
Koen walked slowly forward and grabbed Alvin by the neck.
“Not here.”
Bas followed him and they walked out of the room, Alvin dragging against the floor like a shabby ragdoll.
Looking around the room uneasily, Tamesine walked up to Eillia.
“Um. Can I…” She knelt on the floor beside Eillia’s bed. “Can I…touch you? There?”
She pointed to the area Eillia covered protectively with her hands. Eillia hesitated. But, if there was ever going to be a moment of trust for them…
She nodded.
Tamesine smiled and moved forward. Her hand hovered above Eillia’s belly for a moment until Eillia slowly slipped them down to her side.
With the greatest of care, as if she were holding something immeasurably fragile, she placed her hand on Eillia.
At that moment, Eillia felt her. Through him.
Tamesine was so damaged. More than any of them had imagined. And he wanted her to be well. Tamesine felt it too.
Tamesine looked up into Eillia’s eyes with a tremulous smile.
“He’s so beautiful. I’m going to do what he wants. I’m going to get well.”
“You are,” Eillia agreed.
First blood vampires had been on this world for millennia. No one knew exactly where they came from. Many thought they were always here, just like their cousins, homo-sapiens. But Eillia knew their connection to each other was deeper and stronger than anything or anyone. That was why the idea of slaughtering Tamesine had seemed so horrible. That is why both she and Park had felt an overwhelming need to try to save her. And this proved their instincts had been right all along.
And it showed Eillia one more thing. There might just be a universal plan after all. Now she knew what she needed to do. Survival and hope were nothing without love.
In a basement cell, Koen looked at Bas. “This is yours. He murdered someone dear to you. Destroyed your home. And tried to take your wife and unborn child last year. Badly hurt her tonight. It’s up to you whether you make it quick or slow.”
Bas stepped forward, the ax in his hand, turning the head around and around. Alvin knelt beneath him, frozen in place by Koen. Bas stared at the miserable thing he’d created half a century ago.
Alvin lifted his head and tried to act courageous. He knew this was the moment he would die.
Taking a deep breath, Bas finally spoke. “Well, here we are. You stupid asshole. I gave you the gift of a beautiful long life. For the woman you loved. She wanted you to have a chance to live. You’ve disrespected her. You’ve destroyed her gift. You claim you’ve done this for her. She would have been bitterly disappointed in you.”
“Shut up!” Alvin spat at him. “You can’t speak for her!”
“Actually I can. The last words she said to me before she died were how overjoyed it made her that you would survive. She considered it her last kind act on this earth. You fucking moron. I wish I had let you die then. But here we are.”
Alvin raised his head, his anger intense. God, he wanted Bas’s head. He didn’t mind dying, he just wanted to take Bas with him.
“So, the question is how you die. You don’t deserve mercy. I don’t feel like giving you any. I should let you linger, unfed, buried, and suffering. But I’m not going to.”
Koen nodded.
&n
bsp; “Your punishment is much deeper. I’m going to thank you.”
Koen raised his eyebrows.
“Your war brought Park to me. Literally, my soul mate. If it hadn’t been for your attacks, I would likely have let her go after we had our little problem. Or never have met her at all. Because of you, I have the greatest miracle a man could ever find in any life. The woman I love more than my own life. A child who I thought could never have existed. Family. My perfect life. And you are responsible. Somehow, I think I couldn’t have a better revenge. So, before you die, think about the wonderful life you have given me. Think about your epic failure. This is justice. And its sting is sharp. I’m not a vicious man. But for Maggie. For Hamid. For so many others. For how you destroyed Eillia. For Logan. This is for them.”
Bas swung the ax hard and true. Alvin’s body fell slowly, his head rolling useless onto the floor to rest against the door. It was over. The war was done.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Three weeks had passed since Koen’s household returned to normal. All the residents finally felt safe, while calmness and peace returned.
Park and Burne recovered from their deaths with almost no problems. Burne still had a slight limp but they knew she would eventually be completely normal again.
Tamesine had been granted a bedroom on the third floor of the villa and was quiet most of the time. Eillia spent a lot of time with her, because Tamesine seemed to need to be near her and the rapidly growing child. She didn’t know how or why, but Eillia had to admit there was some kind of bond there between the still unstable woman and her son. She accepted it as providence. She was learning that sometimes things are meant to be. So she let Tamesine into her life. Still, she was cautious, and noticed that Koen and Park kept close tabs on Tamesine too.
Through a few sessions of mental exploration, very careful, not invasive, just tentative journeys into Tamesine’s mind, Park and Eillia had begun the merge that should ultimately lead them to the break that started all the lunacy. It would be a long process. But at least now, Tamesine was calm and cooperative.
A few times she returned to her childlike response to things, but they were always able to calm her down and reason with her. It was a big breakthrough. At one point Park teased Eillia that, effectively, they had taken on another child.
It was just after sunset on a gentle Saturday night when Eillia told Koen she needed a car.
“Sure, baby. Do you need me to drive you somewhere?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, I need to borrow your jet, too.”
“Why?” he asked suspiciously.
“There’s just something I need to do. I have no idea how it’s going to turn out, but, trust me, I have to go.”
He knew. He cocked his head and groaned.
“Really?”
Eillia smiled softly. “Really, my friend.”
The jet landed with no problems, and Eillia stopped at a little shop after she compelled a silver convertible from a rental agency. She’d always loved sports cars. The air was warm and delicious tonight on the lush tropical island of Bali.
Leaving the shop, Eillia caught her image in a full length mirrored window. She looked so pretty in the frilly pale yellow sundress and white ankle strap sandals. More than pretty. She glowed. Her hands slipped to her belly as they did so often these days. Her son was growing quickly, already pushing her flat belly into a lovely little mound. She was happier than she’d ever been in all her life. The only thing that would make it perfect would be if tonight went well. Before she left the shop, she snapped a pink bloom off a flower and tucked it into her hair.
She loved this island. With its stunning mountain and coastal views, it truly was paradise. Plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Indonesian islands had been one of her favorite spots for centuries. Sadly this one was almost unrecognizable now. Humans had found it and its face was completely changed. Eillia felt a moment of sadness and nostalgia for the untouched beauty that was gone forever.
The town of Seminyak in southern Bali was the heart of tourism, with incredible hotels and villas everywhere she looked. In spite of all the glitter and lights, she could feel him. Daniel was here.
As Eillia walked along the private beach, she lifted her face to the sea air. Her hair blew back, the breeze from the sea lifted her skirt, and cooled her thighs. She stopped for a moment to slip off the heeled sandals when she felt him.
Eillia looked up to see his silhouette against the pale soft lights glowing from a small house just off the sand. He hadn’t moved.
She swallowed and walked toward him, sandals now swinging from her hand. He watched her walk up to him without moving.
“Hi,” she said softly.
God. He was wearing lightweight white pants, rolled up from the bottom where it looked like he’d been walking on the beach. And no shirt. He carried a tall stemmed glass with some kind of rose colored drink.
It had been over six weeks since she’d seen him and it was immediately apparent…she was deeply in love with him. She could finally admit it. Her heart pounded and her breath quickened. And she wanted to jump on him right that moment.
But since she was a complete stranger to him, it might be a bad idea.
Daniel had finished his walk on the beach early tonight. It had become routine. A cool alcoholic drink, didn’t really matter what, and a relaxing walk to listen to the waves and enjoy the peace he’d made here. Finally, peace. He was happy for the first time in his life.
Well, this was an interesting surprise.
He’d looked up from his quiet thoughts to see a woman coming up to him from his private beach.
He’d never seen her before, but he could say with no hesitation that this woman was easily the most stunning he’d ever seen in his life. He had an overwhelming desire to kiss her and throw her onto the sand immediately. But he fought the urge that would likely get him arrested.
“Hi,” he returned the greeting. “This is my private beach. Were you lost? Did you need something? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound unwelcoming. It’s okay if you just want to walk on the beach.”
She was staring at him. Then she tilted her head and smiled.
“Your hair is longer. I like it.”
So she knew him? Well, he sure the hell didn’t know her.
“Longer than what? You know me from somewhere? I know I don’t know you because you are definitely unforgettable.”
The smile widened.
“Yes, I know you, Daniel. Can we sit down? Over here on these rocks?”
He nodded and walked over to a stack of local stone that lined the bottom of his property. She chose one to perch on that was slightly higher than him, her feet swinging back and forth.
“So, how do you know me?”
He’d had quite a few female conquests since he’d been here. And he’d been drunk much of that time. Even so, he still knew he wouldn’t have forgotten this woman.
“We were lovers. Not so long ago.”
He stared into her eyes. Even in the low light that reached them from his landscape lighting, he could see they were an unusual color.
“That’s not true. I couldn’t have forgotten you. Not someone like you. I don’t dispute that there have been forgotten, uh, sexual encounters. But I wouldn’t have forgotten if I’d been with you.”
“That’s lovely to hear. I haven’t forgotten a moment with you, either. But, you actually haven’t forgotten me so much as been compelled not to remember.”
Daniel squinted at her. “What?”
“If you will let me, I can clear this up,” she said and slid off her rock, came forward and knelt at his feet.
“I love you, Daniel. Remember that while it all comes back to you.”
The stunning woman looked into his eyes and wrapped her hands around his wrists.
His head exploded in lights and sounds, forcing him to close his eyes. He wanted to grab his head with his hands, but she held them, and he could feel her fingers slipping between his. Suddenly, he felt c
alm working through him as images and feelings continued to race into his mind. He knew her. What the hell? You fucking bet he knew her! They had a history. A terrible history!
Death, betrayal, and dishonor. Incredible lovemaking like he’d never known in his life. A beautiful life he’d destroyed, her life. And others. Oh, god. He was a monster.
He could feel tears sliding down his cheeks.
“You should have killed me when you found out what I was.” He could barely speak.
She was holding him now. And crying too.
“Daniel, that isn’t true. We’ve been through this before, and I know it’s only coming back to you now, but I came for you because I need you in my life. You deserve to be happy. That’s why I gave you peace of mind when you came here. But something’s happened and I’m so sorry, but I had to come and talk to you about this. You need to know.”
He shook his head, trying to get hold of himself. Trying to find balance again. Did he remember she was something not…human? And others like her. Bad-ass, homicidal…vampires? Oh, man, this whole thing was crazy.
And yet he had distinct memories of events, of people, of attacks. Even more distinct memories of before that, with her. Sex that blew his mind. Like nothing he’d ever experienced in his life.
He looked at her, sitting in front of him, kneeling there with tears in her eyes and holding his hands.
Daniel slid off the rock and took her in his arms. Nothing had ever felt more right than holding this woman who, amazingly, he did not remember only a few minutes ago. Something strange was going on here, but for some crazy reason, he felt he knew the score. He loved her, whatever she was, and had an overwhelming need to make love to her right at that moment. His body reacted and because he held her so close, she felt him.
Eillia pulled back, and wiped her eyes with shaking fingers.
“That’s the Daniel I’ve grown to know and love. You need me as much as I need you. I’m pretty sure you’ve had quite a few lovers since I saw you last, but I’ve been starved for you.”
