by Amber Lynn
“Do you want me to set you up in one of my offsite houses? I realize Sins probably isn't the place you want to live and I am fine with that. I have two house and three apartments that can be made available for you.”
“I may take you up on that. I haven't started packing yet, however. That won't start until you can give me a little advice,” I say.
“If you are wondering if you should really leave pea brains, then my advice is to go for it,” he says enthusiastically.
“No silly, that is probably a given with the advice I am really looking for. I am surprised your all-knowing self doesn't already know.”
“As I may have mentioned before, my clairvoyant tendencies are not always clear and with you I tend to have more trouble than most. You tend to change your mind so much that nothing is ever set in stone. So please, fill me in on what you need,” he says.
“Okay, so hypothetically, say you know someone who was just turned into a vampire,” I start.
“I thought I mentioned it would be best for you not to be around other vampires,” he says interrupting me. He knows I have occasional meetings with other sources, but I imagine he also has meetings with those sources to ensure my safety.
Ignoring him and continuing my thought. “And this person was having an argument and just after or during that argument they sprouted little adorable baby fangs, how would you suggest you teach them to put the fangs away?”
“Nyx,” Sebastian says in his serious voice. “Being around a baby vampire is not safe for you. You have my blood in you and they may not be able to control their hunger. I am on my way, but please lock yourself in a room to try to keep them away until I can get there.” I hear a whoosh and the call is dropped.
Crap I didn't handle that as well as I should of and now he is on his way over here. With our secret meetings, he has never actually been here, but he knows where I live, so I know he won't get lost. I hope I can keep his arrival as much of a secret as possible. To ease things along, I walk over to the front door and open it. I figure he isn't bothering with a car, since he can fly faster, so I might as well clear the runway.
Within a minute I find him standing in my pod and I shut the door behind him to give us some privacy.
“If you would have waited five more seconds I could have told you I wasn't in any danger,” I say crossing my arms over my chest and giving my best irritated look.
“Nyx you were talking about helping a baby vampire with their fangs out. Usually that indicates they are either ready to fight or are hungry. Either of those things might have been deadly to you if you weren't prepared,” he says crossing the room and taking me in his arms. “Now where is the vampire? I will help them and make sure they have a good, legal source of food lined up.”
“Well, so far the vampire isn't showing any signs of being hungry, and as far as location, I would say she is in your arms.”
Chapter 5
I am a freak, see picture in dictionary
“In my arms?” he asks stepping back to stare down at me. I just open my mouth wide to show off my new chompers. “How in the world did you manage to die from my place to here? You haven't even been gone a full hour. Not only that, it usually takes at least a full day for your body to make the conversion. How in the world are you up and moving already?”
“I told you they were cute, didn't I?” I ask ignoring all of his questions, mainly because I don't have an answer for any of them.
“Yes they are adorable, love. In fact, you should probably quit showing them to me because they are making me think naughty thoughts. Now please try to answer my questions as best as possible,” he says.
“Fine,” I say closing my mouth. “Pretty much the only thing I really know is that I didn't die. I drove straight home, no problems, and then arrived here and faced off with Ryan. He was really pissed that I smelled like I had been rolling around on a vampire. I figured it was just your blood in my system that was irritating him. When I finally kicked him out, I started to feel my new fangs popping through and went to the bathroom to check it out.”
“And you aren't thirsty? Usually babies are pretty hungry once they turn,” he states.
“I don't think I am. Should I try to find a bottle of blood or something to quench it, so I don't go all crazy when I move into my new place?” I question.
“We can quench your thirst if you want, but it won't be with a bottle of blood or some willing donor you find. It would seem that at least for the next few months, you cannot leave my side for more than an hour or two.”
I look at him trying to figure out what he is saying. The way he is looking back indicates I should have no problem reading in between the lines. He waits patiently as I think back to something he has said that would make sense in this situation. I, finally, remember earlier today when he mentioned that feeding on someone else would be like cheating on me.
“If we are both vampires that means I am not your cheeseburger anymore, right?” I ask.
“In most cases that would be the truth, but in ours it means I get to be your French Fries.”
“How is that even possible?” I ask. “I thought you had to have human blood to live.”
“Technically blood is blood to us. Usually vampire blood is not very appetizing to us and we don't feed from each other often. In the case of mates, as you would call it, they are only able to drink each other’s blood. I am sure you haven't run across many vampire ‘mates’ because they tend to be really rare, so you aren't equipped with that tidbit of information.”
Reading between the lines, he just told me that we are mates. I didn't know they were rare amongst vampires. I thought they were just like the wolves and everyone eventually ended up paired. That is kind of cool for me to actually have one after I have been on the edge of society so long because it was thought that I never would be able to mate. As I was thinking earlier, he would be the mate I would choose, if I got to do the choosing, so I am actually pretty excited about this revelation. Evidently, so excited that I am rambling in my mind.
“So we are mates and that is awesome news, how in the world did I go from being human to becoming a vampire? I keep having people tell me I am a fricken werewolf. It doesn't make a lot of sense,” I say trying to work it out in my head.
“Do you know anything about your father?” he asks. This is kind of a delicate subject for me. I am not supposed to know about my father, but I have found a little bit of the information the Collective has been hiding from me on that subject.
“I know he exists and is probably alive. Aside from that, I don't know much,” I tell him.
“Okay from what I can gather, you have both recessive vampire and wolf genes. I have known from the moment I first inhaled your scent that you were not fully human. You believed yourself to be, though and I wasn't sure if there was a reason for that or not, so I never said anything. I mean you didn't mention the traits, but I thought having grown up in the Collective they would have mentioned it. I am sure you had a blood test some time in your twenty plus years. Taking my blood today must have triggered your vampire genes,” he explains. “I really didn't know it would cause this. I would have been more careful otherwise.”
“Wait a second. I am some sort of wolf vampire hybrid? How is that even possible? Those two species cannot breed together,” I counter.
“True they cannot and if they could, they wouldn't. Our species get along well enough inside the Collective, but we really dislike each other when it comes down to it. Werewolves, even though they claim otherwise, do not have a great sense of smell in their humanoid form. They are good with genders, but other than being able to smell another wolf on you, they cannot determine species. I imagine, unless they had access to your blood test they would think you to be a really weak wolf because of the human and vampire genes that also make up your being.
“If they tell you they smell a vampire, they are really just guessing. Pea for brains probably just smells a male on you in general and knows it isn't another werewo
lf. As far as he was concerned, it could have just as likely been a human, but since you aren't known to hang with that crowd, or demons or witches, he made an educated guess that you probably confirmed.
“Back to your genetics, I have a feeling your father was actually a werewolf,” he says and I do know that is a true statement, but I don’t verbalize it. “I have to believe your mother was a human, otherwise this just isn't possible. She had to have been attacked by a vampire late in her pregnancy and was either turned and then still gave birth to you or she died and you were cut out of her with vampire blood somehow still in your veins.”
That part of the story I haven't heard. I only know for sure the paternal side of the equation. I was told that him being a werewolf was not enough to pass the gene down to me, so the thought that my mother was human makes a lot of sense.
“I guess I can understand that. I am a little hurt you didn't tell me we were mates sooner, though. That might have been more fun in the bedroom for you,” I say with a little wink.
“As I have said, I don't want to influence your choices. You are only part vampire. You are also part werewolf and if those genes were ever triggered you may feel more of a connection with your werewolf mate than you do me,” he says.
“But now that I have my vampire mate, I don't have to worry about my werewolf one, right? Those genes cannot be triggered, can they?” I ask.
“You are one of a kind, love. I don't know if they can be triggered or not now that you have sprouted your little fangs,” he says with a laugh.
“But I can't be both and you better hope Ryan hasn't really been my mate all these years and he just never figured it out. If so, I think you are going to have a fight on your hands,” I tell him while I ponder the possibilities.
“I don't think the wee lad will be much of a challenge for the twelve hundred year old vampire. The poor boy won't know what hit him if he tries to take me on,” he states with a cockiness that makes me want to take him on just to knock him down a peg.
“Are you really that old?” I ask. This is the first time he has actually given me an age and it is much older than I thought. I had guessed maybe four hundred. Most of the vampires I have met that are willing to give an age are under two hundred.
“I was born in 743 A.D., so yes I am twelve hundred and sixty nine years old. I hope you don't mind being stuck with a cradle robber.”
“You don't look a day over two hundred, so I am sure no one will notice the age difference,” I say laughing. He joins me and then puts his palm to my cheek.
“Love, your fangs have gone away. I know how much you liked them, but for now it is best that they stay hidden,” he says.
I put my fingers up to my teeth and sure enough, they are back to normal. Cool. Now I just need to pack and then I can figure out living arrangements.
“Let me pack a few days’ worth of clothes and then we can leave. Anything else, I can just pick up at the store. It isn't like I have a ton a keepsakes,” I run to the bedroom and get out my duffel bag.
After I throw in an assortment of pants and tops, I grab the few weapons I have in the house. Since I just got back from an execution, most of my main gear is still in the Suburban. With my clothes and weapons packed, I am ready to go.
“Are you riding with me, or are you going to fly back?” I ask.
“I am with you, of course. I did mention that it is probably best that we don't separate for a little while. Since you weren't actually turned and were born with the trait, you may not experience the baby hunger pains, but I am going to be there if you do. No feeding on anyone else,” he says sternly as we walk towards the door.
When I open the door, it is only to be faced with Ryan whose hand is raised getting ready to knock. He looks at my bag and then looks up at me sadly, right before he noticed Sebby standing behind me. As soon as he sees him, his eyes light up as if he is going to shift.
Son of a sea faring walrus, and here I thought my day was finally looking up. Obviously, my life has become one huge joke to whoever is out there controlling the cosmos.
Chapter 6
My new home sweet home
“What is he doing here?” Ryan yells practically foaming at his mouth.
“Shh. You don't have to shout. We all have very good hearing,” I tell him.
I hope that is a true statement. I have always thought werewolves had good hearing, but since Sebastian brought up their sense of smell not really being as good as they pretend, it makes me wonder. Either way, I am still happy I had my privacy button hit during me and Sebastian's conversation.
“I know for a fact that Sebastian deYork is not your little vampire informant, so why would he be here helping you pack a bag?” Ryan asks. “He doesn't seem like the kind of person you would be hanging around with. In fact, if the rumors are right, he isn't the type of person any Collective agent hangs around with unless they want to become deceased.”
“You are right. Sebastian is not an informant that would be idiotic on his part. He is, however, someone I have met and consider to be on friendly enough standings that I am going to move into one of his available apartments until I can think about things,” I tell him.
Standing in between a pissed off werewolf and vampire is actually a little exciting for me. I guess it just goes to prove that I am always going to be an adrenaline junky.
“You are just going to up and abandon your kind for a vampire?” Ryan asks harshly.
“Last time I checked, I was human Ryan. I haven't been among my kind since the day I was dropped off,” I say not wanting him to find out I am actually a vampire now or the fact that I am aware there might be a little werewolf in me.
“I wasn't being literal,” he says back pedaling. For the first time, I realize that he actually knew I wasn't a plain, ordinary human. I wonder if he has known all along. Sebastian said that the wolves would have thought I was a weaker version of them, so he must have. It hurts more knowing that he kept that information away from me than me losing him as a friend because he thinks I am having some crazy vampire affair.
“No, of course not,” Sebastian pipes in for the first time. “Needless to say it isn't that far from dawn and I would like to get Nyx settled before I have to retire for the day.”
“You don't have to go Nyxie,” Ryan says. “We can work this out. It was just a little lovers’ quarrel. You cannot just walk out on what we have.”
Part of me is a little bit happy that if I had to go one way or the other, that vampire was the side I landed on. I am starting to think werewolves are not all that mentally sound.
“Ryan, to have a lovers’ quarrel I am pretty sure you have to be sleeping together and everyone here knows I have never slept with anyone. You have always been a great friend, but lately there has been something wrong and until we can both figure out what that is, I think it is best if I move away,” I reach for his hand, but he jerks it away.
“As I told you earlier, this talk isn't over. I don't really want to discuss this in front of your 'friend', so why don't you come back when he takes his nap for the day. Then we can figure out where things have gone wrong and work to fix them,” he says. Done with his speech he runs off shifting as he goes and heads for the woods.
Sebastian spins me around real quick and makes a zipper motion with his lips. I nod, understanding that the werewolf hearing thing must be true because he doesn't want us to talk about what just happened.
“So, do you know which apartment you would prefer me to stay in?” I ask as we make our way to my vehicle. “I don't want to be too much trouble. Oh and thanks again, for letting me use it until I can find a place of my own.”
“Not a problem Nyx, and yes, I have an idea of which one to put you in. It is the one I use the least, so there is no problem with you staying as long as you need,” he replies. “When you exit the drive take a left.”
We get buckled in and I follow his directions out of the Collective. As I leave, I wonder if I will actually come back. Any assignments
they have for me, I can pick up on my phone, so there isn't really a reason to come around. After finding out they have lied to me all my life, I am leaning towards striking out on my own.
Although, I think if they still offer me the assignment that had Sebby worried, I will take it. At first, I was hesitant, but now I am really curious to find out what this target could say to sever our bond.
“They are following. This will make things interesting. Head towards Park Street. That is where I want you to stay. You will have plenty of space to yourself and there is even a gym, so you can train. If you ever need a partner to practice with, just give me a call. I am usually not far,” he says putting his hand on my thigh.
“Sounds good and thanks again for allowing me to use the space. Hopefully it won't be for too long, just let me know what kind of compensation you need for me using the place,” I say knowing that if I wanted it, he would probably just give me the apartment.
