BloodPledge

by Tima Maria Lacoba

  ‘If that’s meant to be a joke, it’s not funny.’ Kari. I’d forgotten she was asleep in one of the cabins. What if she woke up hungry? ‘She wont, you know...?’

  He pursed his lips. ‘We might get lucky.’

  ‘Papa!’

  He laughed and placed his arm around my shoulder. ‘Only kidding. Kari prefers the more expensive types – billionaires.’

  I wondered if he knew how she acquired extra “pocket-money.”

  We made our way back up the stairs to the top deck, and my gut churned all the way. At this rate, I risked getting an ulcer.

  Luc took me gently by the shoulders to face him. ‘Ma petite, you are not to be concerned. I forbid it.’ His face softened. ‘I want you to be happy. Alec and I will speak with Sommers and get him to see reason. If not, Alec will mesmerise him again and there it will end.’

  ‘And no brain damage?’

  He was silent a moment, his eyes serious. ‘It’s always a risk, but it’s my belief Alec could do it without causing him harm. Sommers is quite strong-minded.’

  Understatement. I nodded. What else could I do? Why couldn’t Matt just leave things alone?

  ‘Now, take a deep breath,’ Luc said. ‘Let it out. And again.’

  I did so and felt better.

  ‘Good. Go and relax in the spa.’ He kissed me on the brow and left.

  With my father’s assurances echoing in my head, I went to the towel room on the upper deck, retrieved my swimming costume and joined Jen. She was reclining against the edge, her dark hair piled on top of her head, her gaze focused on the harbour views as she sipped a cocktail. She appeared the picture of relaxation – just how I wanted to be.

  ‘Hey Laura.’ She spied me and raised her glass. ‘I could so get used to this.’

  ‘Move over; I’m joining you.’

  ‘Grab a drink. But, ah, ignore the cocktail recipes on the inside door of the bar.’ She pointed. ‘They’re not meant for us.’

  That comment took my mind off Matt. ‘Got blood in them?’

  ‘Uh huh. Check out the Bloody Cally. Think it refers to Cal?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ½ glass O+, ½ glass Smirnov was hand written on a sheet of paper stuck to the inside of the door. It was one of a list of other similar ‘cocktails.’

  ‘Saw Matt come up the jetty. Everything okay, hon?’ She gazed at me with concern.

  There was no way I could hide this latest development from her. ‘How open-minded are you?’ I poured myself a cold glass of chardonnay and slid into the water beside her.

  Chapter 31 - Chase

  ALEC

  I glanced at my watch – 8.15pm. The summer sun had set. I hid in the shadows of the McMillan house in Edgecliffe, one of those closest to the centre of the city, and the one I hoped Rasputin would visit first. I could feel the executioner’s sword strapped to my side, through the thin leather of my coat.

  Sam and Jake lay in wait at the Chu’s in Rose Bay; Terens and Cal were at the Beckmann’s, and Marcus had taken the Norssons in Potts Point. Should either Rasputin or Stockton and his gang show, they’d sense their presence and stay away and hopefully head here.

  Sam had sped back to the yacht to hack into Timur and Rasputin’s accounts and leave those incriminating messages before joining Terens. We’d know soon enough if the ruse worked.

  McMillan and his clan had just awoken.

  ‘Stay in the house, Eric,’ I told him. ‘Rasputin might be on his way here.’

  ‘I can help.’ McMillan’s clear voice rang in my ears.

  ‘Not this time. Rasputin can mesmerize you. Stay safe. The men and I’ve got this.’

  He swore. ‘Lord Marcus?’

  ‘Covering the Norssons.’

  He informed the other two with him. I sensed ripples of fear and anger course through them.

  ‘They’re coming out of the water now,’ Jake’s voice broke through the babble of voices around me. Rose Bay was roughly three miles from where I was, meaning not only could they sense him, but they’d hear our conversation. ‘It’s Stockton, and he’s got two females with him.’

  ‘Got four here. Came straight out of the waves. Rasputin’s not among them,’ Terens said from his position at Bondi Beach, his voice low with disappointment. There was a pause, then; ‘They know we’re here. They’re running.’

  ‘Don’t let them slip back into the water.’ Where was Rasputin? I extended my senses to my six-mile limit. Nothing. Had Timur already read Sam’s fake message and recalled him? I hoped so. Shutting my mind to the incessant flow of human conversations around me, I concentrated on detecting the Rebels’ conversation, Stockton in particular.

  I sensed surprise. Stockton wasn’t expecting Luc’s men to be there, and now he was desperate to shake them. And there was something else – he was afraid of Rasputin.

  ‘Did one of you tell him I was disloyal?’ I heard anger in his voice.

  The two women with him denied it vehemently.

  They ran and argued, Jake and Cal hot on their heels. Meanwhile, in the house behind me, I sensed the need for the McMillans to feed. I glanced at the ring. The serpent’s eyes were red – all clear.

  ‘Eric, I’ll escort your household to Amanda’s. I know you need to feed.’

  ‘What about Rasputin?’

  ‘Can’t sense him anywhere near.’

  The front door opened and all three came to my side – Eric, his wife, Alexandra, and their daughter, Catherine. From what I knew they’d all been transformed at the same time, saved from a cholera epidemic in London in the early 1830s. Eric and Alexandra had been in their late thirties; Catherine had only just turned eighteen. Rumour had it, she’d persuaded her parents to immigrate to Australia, due to her supposed crush on Sam. He’d never mentioned it.

  ‘Let’s run,’ I said.

  With the two women between us, we sped through the dark streets of Edgecliffe, past the string of embassies and consulates that dominated the suburb and to Amanda’s, three miles away. It was faster than using a car, and traffic lights wouldn’t stop us. No one spoke for fear of being overheard by the Rebels, and the serpent ring effectively provided a sensory shield none of our kind could penetrate. I doubted even Rasputin could break through it.

  Past the spreading branches of the horse-chestnut trees that lined the street, we slowed as we neared the Bondi house – a street back from the main corso, it was an imposing 1930s, two level brick house on one-acre. The air was scented with sea salt, coconut oil and frangipani; and white-oak. I could see where the bullets left an imprint in the brick from the drive-by shooting a few days earlier. Coloured-glass splinters from what was left of the windows lay scattered on the ground. The shutters had been lowered, concealing the extent of the damage.

  The door opened. ‘Princeps, please come in.’ Amanda stepped aside, and I ushered the McMillans in.

  ‘Can’t stay. Spread the word – no one is to approach Rasputin in case he mesmerizes us.’

  ‘I’ll get the word out.’

  I nodded my thanks, turned and left. It was then that I sensed him, somewhere in the city. He was being careful, as a wanted man should be.

  ‘We need to talk, princeps,’ he said. The Brethren inside the house would hear, as Rasputin surely intended. ‘My master has recalled me.’ There was a raw, angry edge to his voice.

  Seems Timur got Sam’s fake message. I chuckled and sped away from the safe house, in the direction of his voice. Keep talking. I’ll find you.

  ‘Why should he do that? He’s always trusted me. You’re responsible.’

  Oh yes, he was enraged. Even at this distance, I could sense that. Good. It might cause him to make a mistake. He was just out of reach, and since he couldn’t sense my presence, he was guessing where I was. So far, he was lucky. Not for long.

  ‘The only way I can prove my loyalty to my master is to bring him a remarkable gift. What do you suggest?’ He sniggered.

  Gift? The hair on the back of my neck prickled. I inhaled, y
et couldn’t pick up his scent. He had to be either in, or on, the water. But where? If two groups came out of the water at Rose Bay and Bondi, then somewhere between?

  I heard Jake’s grunt of satisfaction. ‘Got three. One’s still on the loose. Cal’s after him.’

  ‘The bodies?’ I asked.

  ‘We’ll dispose of them.’

  Our collection was growing.

  Terens swore. ‘The women have been terminated, but Stockton got away.’

  ‘Which way is he headed?’ My guess was he’d go for the nearest heavily populated area – slow us down. Stockton’s cunning enough to know we’d avoid endangering humans.

  ‘Westfield, Bondi Junction,’ Terens answered.

  Damn! I was right. It was one of the biggest shopping centres in the southern hemisphere. Even at this time of night, it would be teeming with tourists and locals at the Boxing Day sales. I could hear Terens cursing as he trailed Stockton through the streets. ‘Bastard’s just gone in, and he’s got two mates.’

  ‘On my way.’ I sped there as fast as I could. ‘Sam?’

  ‘Getting rid of the bodies,’ he said.

  The Junction wasn’t far. I sensed Marcus close by. ‘Terens, stay on Stockton. Alec and I will take the other two,’ he said.

  That suited me.

  Careful to keep my sword concealed, I strode into the crowded mall and was at once hit by a battery of senses – sharp lights, cacophony of sounds pumping from every store, and the enticing smell of blood drumming through human veins. The last mingled with the aromas from the food court, cosmetics and perfume counters and human emotions – all masking the ones I was trying to locate.

  If my senses were strained, then the Rebels’ would be even worse; they’d be almost blind, but they’d be safe. They knew we wouldn’t try anything here and expose our world to humans. But they couldn’t remain here for long; eventually the mall would close for the night. Perhaps they planned to hide till then, or hoped to lose us in the sensory overload. That made more sense.

  Several people gave me a passing look – my long, leather coat wasn’t exactly summer wear.

  ‘Security,’ I said as I pushed through the crowds. It seemed to work.

  It was difficult to concentrate on Marcus and Terens’s voices amidst the human babble. Then I spotted him, weaving his way through a group of people standing around a juice bar. Terens wasn’t far behind. Stockton momentarily stopped and looked behind. His eyes narrowed as he spied him, but he didn’t seem to notice me. His companions left him, scattering in separate directions.

  I signalled Terens to trail one. Stockton was mine. If the situation had allowed, I would’ve smiled at the gaggle of teenage girls who stared after him as he passed.

  Stockton edged closer to one of the exits that led to the underground car parking. Glancing behind again, he went through the sliding glass doors and into the dark.

  I touched the sword at my side and followed.

  Chapter 32 - Complications

  LAURA

  Jenny let out a high-pitched giggle, a trait of hers when she was nervous or didn’t know what to say. Hmmm, not a good sign. Nothing much shocked Jen, but my story about Luc knocking Matt out and locking him in one of the guest rooms did.

  ‘He’s a cop, Laura.’

  ‘I know. I dated him four months, remember?’

  She stared at me a moment longer before climbing out of the water and going to the bar. ‘Maybe if I get drunk enough the police’ll see me as incompetent and they won’t arrest me.’

  ‘You’re safe; you had nothing to do with it. Besides, he doesn’t know you’re on board. It’s me they’ll haul away.’ I gulped down the rest of my cocktail and wondered how many years I’d get for being complicit in knocking out and holding a detective captive.

  ‘Why did Luc do that?’

  ‘Matt wants to arrest Alec.’

  ‘Whaaat? Why?’

  I took a deep breath – it was time for Jenny to know about Jean-Philippe. She sat quietly when I explained our meeting in Italy, and then no contact till the Ritual, last week. Her face paled when I described what he later tried to do to me. When I finished, she shook her head, her breath rapid. Next minute she was in the water, arms around me in a fierce hug. ‘Oh, hon!’

  ‘I didn’t know how to tell you sooner. And there was so much going on, you know?’

  ‘It’s okay, it’s okay,’ she repeated, rubbing my back. ‘That son-of-a-bitch! Alec was right to kill him; he was crazy.’

  ‘Yeah, but look at the mess it’s created. My picture’s in the paper, he’s missing, and all because he sent a portrait of me to some contest. And now Matt’s onto it like some bloody hound on a scent—’

  ‘He’s jealous, hon.’

  I pulled back, looked at her and nodded. ‘I know that. But what can I do about it?’

  She thought a moment, a slight frown crossing her face. ‘Luc wouldn’t, you know, kill him?’

  I shook my head. ‘I’d never forgive him. He promised.’

  ‘Well, hon, looks like mesmerisation’s the way to go. I read vampires, um, I mean Brethren, are good at that. If Matt’s memory can be wiped and nobody comes looking for that Philippe guy ... I mean, some people go missing because they want to, and the police don’t bother to follow it up.’

  ‘That we should be so lucky.’ There was a note of despair in my voice, and just as I said it, I heard banging and Matt bellowing, ‘Laura! Open this door!’

  I closed my eyes and groaned.

  ‘What is it?’ Jenny asked.

  ‘You didn’t hear that?’

  ‘Hear what?’

  ‘Matt’s banging on the door and yelling to be let out.’

  ‘Didn’t hear a thing.’ She looked at me closely. ‘If I can’t hear that and you can....’

  We gazed at each other as the scary implication dawned on me. Vampire hearing? Was this the start of my coming-of-age? I swallowed. What else could I expect? I ran my tongue along my top teeth and sighed in relief. No fangs—yet.

  ‘Let’s try something?’ Jenny suggested.

  I nodded. My throat had developed a tight knot.

  ‘Listen for anything else, apart from you-know-who down in you-know-where.’ I frowned. ‘What else can you hear? Just on the boat for starters.’

  I concentrated. Judy talking to someone, but not Luc. Was she on the phone? Then Luc’s voice – he was talking to someone too; about it being time to use the stores in the blood vault. I sucked in a breath when Antonius replied. My father and grandfather were having a conversation that I could hear, and Antonius was not on the yacht.

  A jolt of fear mixed with exhilaration shot through me. Hadn’t I wished for vampire hearing? What if it was really happening? A faint, regular thumping came from somewhere close – Jenny’s heartbeat. ‘I can hear everyone on the boat, Jen, even your heartbeat, I think.’

  ‘Shoooot!’ She folded her arms over her stomach. ‘You sure?’ The thumping increased.

  ‘Uh huh.’ Luc needed to know. My legs were shaky as I climbed out of the hot tub, grabbed a towel and raced to Luc’s office, Jenny right behind me. I wasn’t exactly sure where it was, but it was the room from where he’d entered the smaller dining room on the main deck.

  ‘Luc, I need to see you now. Something’s happening to me.’

  I’d barely reached the bottom of the stairs when Luc appeared, brow creased. ‘Ma petite, are you hurt?’

  ‘No, nothing like that. I can hear ... I mean, I could hear you talking to Antonius and him answering you. I know he’s not on the yacht – is he?’ He shook his head. ‘I think I’m developing vampire hearing.’

  His eyebrows shot up. ‘First time?’

  ‘Just now. I can hear Jen’s heartbeat and,’ I listened carefully, ‘Judy’s. She’s in there.’ I pointed to a door off the dining room. ‘On the phone to someone.’

  ‘She’s on Skype to friends in Britain.’ Luc looked at me and stroked his chin. ‘I wonder.’ He turned me to face the win
dow and pointed. ‘Other side of the bay. Tell me what you see.’

  Everything seemed clearer and closer. ‘A few large houses; a road leading up from the wharf, and a few shops.’

  ‘Can you read the shop signs?’

  ‘There’s one outside a café, and a chalkboard that reads, “Devonshire Teas $8.99, Smoothies $5.99—’

  ‘Good,’ Luc said.

  Next to me Jenny gasped. ‘You can see that?’

  Luc turned to her. ‘How about you?’

  ‘Nothing like that. Houses mostly, between the bush, but I can’t even see the shops, let alone the signs. It’s too far away.’ She gazed at me in awe. ‘That’s freaky, Laura.’

  That raised another issue – what if vampire hearing wasn’t the only new thing I could expect? What if my appetite began to change as well? Could I develop into a blood drinker?

  I must have had a panicky look on my face for Luc placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘It’s only natural that you’re beginning to manifest these signs, ma petite. Your coming-of-age is your vampire-puberty, but that does not mean you’re transforming into one – the Ingenii gene prevents that.’

  ‘Positive?’

  He smiled. ‘You’ll have the best of both worlds without any of the drawbacks.’

  I had a feeling he was referring to the blood drinking bit. ‘You miss it? Food, the aromas?’ Imagine not being able to eat chocolate or mangoes, custard, apple strudel or potato pancakes. My mouth watered as all my favourite foods skipped through my mind. I could almost smell them.

  He took a deep breath and released it. ‘I can smell the ham and cheese croissants over in that café,’ he tilted his chin in the direction of the window, ‘and it’s enough to turn my stomach. No, ma petite, I don’t miss it. Only the scent of blood entices me.’

  Jenny nodded. ‘Makes sense. Imagine craving food and not being able to eat it because it makes you sick. Awful.’

  ‘Exactly. It’s a small mercy in compensation,’ Luc replied.

  In those seconds, I became aware of other sounds, like an insect buzzing nearby. When I looked around to locate the source, I was shocked to see it came from the bar-b-que table in the park, at least five-hundred metres from the jetty where we were moored. Then more sounds – the clanging of metal rings against boats, people speaking although they were nowhere in sight, the lapping of water against the boat, even the sudden swish as if a large fish had swum beneath us – a jumble of noises swamped me all at once; every sound magnified a thousand times. I didn’t know where to look first.