Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2)

by Kunz, C. A.

  Sitting beside Ryan, Cat suddenly became nervous. She had only seen Lucien Bancroft from a distance. With his short black hair, his pale skin, and piercing green eyes, he reminded her of Isaac. She hoped he wasn’t as mean as his son, but more like his daughter. Ryan seemed to feel her tension as he reached across and took her hand in his, keeping his eyes on the road.

  “What’s he like?” Cat asked.

  “He’s cool, nothing like Isaac. Isaac may take after his dad in looks, but his personality is all his mom’s doing.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. My mom and Mrs. Bancroft don’t get along very well, and she just loves me to pieces,” Cat joked.

  “Well, don’t worry. Lucien said she won’t be home when we get there.”

  Cat sank back in the seat realizing she was holding herself so stiff and tense that her muscles had begun to ache. She had forgotten to show Ryan the journal that she had tucked away in her bag. She remembered it that morning while getting ready for school. Cat brought it with her to show Mr. Bancroft with the hope he might know who wrote it and what happened to them. Ryan had told her, though he was only seventeen, the vampire parents that lived in Astoria were each well over a hundred years old.

  Cat took a deep breath as Ryan pulled into his driveway and turned off the car. Before they could get out, the front door opened and Ryan’s mom walked to the end of the porch. Making their way up the stone path to the front door, Cat’s tension increased when she noticed the frown on Christine’s face.

  “Ryan, Mr. Bancroft is waiting in the living room. He said you were to meet with him at his house, but plans have changed. So, now he wants to talk to you and Catherine here. What’s this all about?” she asked, her eyes pinning her son’s.

  “Come inside, Mom, and we’ll tell you,” Ryan said, touching his mom’s arm, trying to soothe her nerves.

  “Hi, Mrs. Beckford,” Cat said, staying behind Ryan.

  “Oh, hello Catherine. Sorry I’m so rude, but it’s not every day that I’m kept in the dark about things I should know about,” she said, attempting to smile as Ryan put an arm around Cat’s shoulders.

  “Mom, you were gone this morning when I got up, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you,” he replied.

  “Well, I guess I’ll get us something to drink then. Go have a seat in the living room and entertain Lucien until I return,” she said and then hurried down the hallway to the kitchen.

  Cat followed Ryan into the living room, all the while focusing on the large A on the back of his letterman jacket, trying to ease herself. As Ryan stepped aside, she looked up. She watched as Lucien rose to greet them with a warm smile.

  “Miss Colvin, it’s my pleasure to finally meet you. My Hannah talks about you endlessly. And of course Ryan, I hear, is quite fond of you as well. I am sorry we haven’t met before now, but it seems that we should have. Please have a seat and let us talk.” Lucien beamed, pointing to the couch opposite the chair where he had been sitting in.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Bancroft, and I consider Hannah one of my best friends.”

  “Just Hannah, not Isaac?” Lucien chuckled at her discomfort. “You must excuse me, Catherine. I know my son is difficult, but deep down inside he is a good boy.” Cat smiled back, trying to envision Isaac being good.

  “Here are some refreshments. I know I’m thirsty, and I hope everyone else is too,” Christine said, placing the tray down on the coffee table. She passed out the tall glasses of lemonade, her hands were visibly shaking.

  “Now that we are settled, I think we should get your mother, how do you say, up to speed? Ryan you have the floor,” Lucien said and then leaned back in his chair, taking a long drink.

  Ryan proceeded to fill his mom in on everything up to that point. She gasped as Ryan said Cat was a Childe, and looked to Cat for her reaction. He told his mom that Cat already knew and continued. As Ryan finished, he looked anxiously at his mother, whose normally pale face had become shockingly white.

  “I think I need a drink,” Christine said, staring blankly.

  “You have a drink right there, Mom.”

  “I mean something a little harder than lemonade.”

  “Mr. Bancroft, the three girls mentioned a master. Would you by any chance know who it could be?” Lucien shook his head, dodging Cat’s stare. “Are you sure, Mr. Bancroft? This master is clearly after me because I’m a Childe. At least that’s what I’ve guessed from what I’ve heard and read.”

  “What do you mean read?” Lucien’s penetrating stare made Cat shudder.

  “I have this journal about a Childe,” Cat stated, fumbling with her bag, oblivious to the look of devastation on Lucien’s face.

  “I’m home. Where is everyone?” A voice came from the foyer. Christine jumped up from her chair and met the tall good-looking man standing in the doorway.

  “Hello Lucien, what brings you by this afternoon?” Ivan Beckford asked, not looking at Lucien, but instead fixing his ice blue eyes on the two young people sitting on the couch.

  “Dad, this is Cat, Catherine Colvin,” Ryan announced, relieved when he saw his father smile.

  He laughed. “I know who she is, son. And might I say it is an honor to have you in our home. What am I missing? Was I supposed to be here for this? I’m sorry I forgot if I was.”

  “No, good friend, this was hastily planned. In fact, we were supposed to meet at my residence, but Ulla came home and this is not a matter I want her involved in.”

  “What matter? And why does everyone look so stressed? Honey, I must say you look ill. And if I may say Lucien, you also look worse for the wear.” Ivan’s puzzled eyes met theirs.

  With everyone’s attention on Ivan, Cat was the only one that noticed Lucien glancing over to her lap where she held the little brown journal. Why are his hands shaking? And are those tears in his eyes? She thought. “Is something wrong Mr. Bancroft?” Cat asked quietly, breaking the silence that had fallen on the room.

  “Um, it seems Lucien is upset at what you have sitting in your lap. Right, old friend?” Ivan asked. Lucien sighed and looked around the room at its occupants.

  “I am afraid you are dead-on Ivan. I wondered where it had gotten to,” Lucien said, pointing at the journal. “I thought I had misplaced it, but how it came into your possession is beyond me.” Lucien’s head fell forward and he covered his face with his hands. Cat was the first to respond. She stood and walked to the obviously distraught man and put her hand on his shoulder.

  “This belongs to you? So you know who wrote it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lucien nodded.

  “It was my daughter’s,” he choked out.

  “Your daughter’s? Hannah wrote this? But she couldn’t have, she’s as old as I am. This was written more than over a hundred years ago.” Cat’s forehead creased deeply as she tried to wrap her mind around the situation.

  “No, no my dear. My first daughter wrote it. Her name was also Hannah, and that was her journal. May I hold it?” Lucien’s voice shook slightly. Cat took the book and placed it in his outstretched hands. He raised his head and Cat’s heart sank as she saw the despair and sadness in his eyes. Tears made their way down his handsome face, and without thinking, she bent down to his ear.

  “It might help if you talk about it.” Her gentle voice seemed to calm his trembling and he wiped at his tears, giving her a slight smile.

  “Thank you, Catherine. It is just that it has been buried so long, and the pain of it has sometimes been too much for me to bear.” Lucien cleared his throat, his hands tightly clutching the journal as if it might disappear again. “A long time ago I fell in love with a mortal, as did many of our kind. Our leader, Cain, was immensely displeased by the actions of his brethren. Even more so after offspring were miraculously produced from these unions. Cain sought the advice of a seer to find an answer for how this was possible. The seer told him of a prophecy that your kind, Cat, would bring ruin upon us,” he explained. Cat’s eyes narrowed, staring intently at Lucien.
Just as Cat was about to speak, “Wait, before you judge me harshly because of what you read in the journal, let me tell you my side of the story. I, along with Ivan, and your real father,” Lucien said pointing to Cat, “were all prominent figures within the Parliament, the governing body of the vampire world. We were in charge of implementing our leader’s orders. Though we didn’t agree with the prophecy, and felt there were inconsistencies, we could never disobey the words of our leader. And thus the Cleansing began. Even though my daughter was a Childe, I loved her unconditionally. Your father, Ivan, and myself all devised a plan to save her life and the lives of many others, but it failed. We tried to trick our leader, and I ended up paying the ultimate price.” Lucien’s mind became haunted with visions of the past.

  “I loathed the Parliament and Cain for what they made me do, but they did show me mercy and allowed my leave. So I decided to move my coven here to Astoria. I have lived with the guilt ever since.” Lucien looked at Cat and Ryan who both sat stunned by his story. Ivan moved and put his hand on Lucien’s shoulder. He looked up and attempted a smile. “If it hadn’t been for my good friends, I don’t know if I would still be here today.”

  “It’s true, every single word of it,” Ivan said.

  “Mr. Bancroft, I’m so sorry for your loss, but it wasn’t your fault, it was your leader who ordered this!” Cat blurted out, startling herself by doing so.

  “So kind of you to say. Unfortunately, my heart doesn’t seem to agree.” Lucien paused, and then stared directly into Cat’s eyes. “Catherine Colvin, I pledge that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

  “Why would you do that? You don’t even know me,” Cat replied.

  “I must right the wrongs of my previous life and protect you as I failed to do with my dear Hannah and your father.”

  Cat sat silent for a moment, overcome with emotion, before she spoke again. “Do you think Cain is this master the girls told me about?” Cat asked.

  “No, these actions here do not reflect Cain’s style. I feel someone else is responsible for this. We shall have another meeting between our groups to discuss our strategy since we have a better understanding of what we are dealing with here.”

  “I guess I better tell my family before you do, Mr. Bancroft. I’m afraid they don’t know about my little adventure last night,” Cat stated. She felt Ryan’s warmth as he moved closer to her.

  “Yes, I think that would be wise, young lady. Knowing all about your family now, you must realize they have powers too,” Lucien said kindly.

  “I swear, did everyone know about them? I mean, was I the last to know? Like I’d freak out or something? Give me a break, I’m Robert Craven’s biggest fan after all,” Cat rambled on missing the exchange of looks between Lucien, Ivan, and Christine at the mention of that name.

  “Well, I believe this meeting should be adjourned for now. I will get in touch with Aldon. But first I will give you some time to speak with your parents, Catherine,” Lucien stated.

  “Thank you, Mr. Bancroft,” she said, returning his smile.

  “And if it is alright with you,” Lucien said, looking to the Beckfords, “I believe Ryan should stay close to Cat until we get this settled.”

  “I think his mother and I would be in total agreement with that.” Ivan looked to his wife who nodded her head.

  “Catherine, thank you once again for your kind words,” Lucien said, holding the journal out to her. Cat shook her head, keeping her hands at her side.

  “It belongs to you,” she said quietly.

  Cat’s talk with her parents went smoother than expected, especially with all the secrets she had been keeping. Instead of tears, Rachel shocked everyone by becoming a wild woman, swearing she would tear this “master” limb from limb when she got her hands on him. Sam tried to calm her but failed. He then tried to convince Ryan that Cat would be fine until the morning and that he could pick her up for school, to which Ryan grudgingly agreed.

  Later that evening, the Colvin household was rudely awakened by a loud deafening bang that came from the front door. Sam, Cat, and Rachel were stunned to see Taylor lying in the foyer on his back, breathing heavily.

  “Son, what in the world is the matter? Are you drunk?” Sam asked in a stern voice.

  “No, but you aren’t going to believe what I just saw!” Taylor looked up at the three who were staring at him intently.

  “Well, why don’t you enlighten us?” Rachel said, sniffing the air to see if she smelled alcohol.

  “Mom, stop, I’m not drunk. I just ran into those missing girls! They came out of nowhere and tried to bite me! They’re vampires!” Taylor yelled, looking back at the open front door. “As I ran into the house, they were blown back when they tried to follow me! It was like they hit a force field or something!”

  “I guess Miss Amaya’s sealing spell worked,” Cat commented.

  “Sorry, Mom, I think I gave them the finger, but you’ve got to let me go on that one. First, I was happy I wasn’t vampire bait, and second, I did own up to it, right?” Taylor rambled, but then stopped as he realized they weren’t surprised by what happened. “Hey, wait! What sealing spell? What have you been keeping from me?” Taylor asked, looking bewildered.

  “Come on, big bro, let’s go into Dad’s study. We need to have a little chat with you. I don’t think you’re going to like what we have to say,” Cat said, leaning down and helping him rise to his feet. He’s going to be so pissed when he finds out those girls were behind Trish’s attack.

  20

  Trouble A Brewing

  As Cat and Ryan drove home from school the next day, she filled him in on Taylor’s attack. “I thought Taylor was going to have to be restrained after we told him everything. He went totally berserk, I could swear he was growling.”

  “Well, he is a Varulv after all,” Ryan joked.

  “You know what I mean,” Cat replied, giving him a love tap.

  “So, I guess the big meeting is tonight,” Ryan said, glancing over to her.

  “I just hope something comes of it. I’m kind of tired of this whole “let’s protect Cat” game,” she laughed, but it sounded hollow. “You know, I’m really worried about Linda, even after all that’s happened.”

  “I know. It must be hard to have your best friend become an enemy like this.”

  “That’s just it, though, I don’t think she’s like the other two. I know there’s still good in her, I can feel it,” Cat replied quietly, looking down at her twiddling thumbs. She sighed and Ryan reached his head over to smack a kiss on her cheek while they waited at a red light.

  “Things will work out. The grown-ups will handle it, and this will all just have been a bad dream.” Cat stared out the window and watched as fat raindrops fell from the sky, hoping he was right.

  Several hours after the final school bell rang, Miss Amaya was still sitting at her desk watching the sunset. She was exhausted. She had lost track of how many spells she and Gretchen had cast over the last couple of days. Now she was waiting to finish the last one, a complicated binding spell. One that if done correctly, would suppress the power of the three rogue vampire girls. Miss Amaya was more determined than ever to end this and get Melvin back.

  “Miss Amaya?” a voice at the side of her made her jump in her seat.

  “Oh Julie, it’s you. What are you doing here at this time of night?”

  “Sorry I startled you. I just wanted to ask-” Julie stopped, seeing movement outside of the classroom windows. “We need to leave now!” Julie said firmly, grabbing her teacher’s arm and pulling her to her feet.

  “What is it?” Miss Amaya asked, noticing the earnest look on Julie’s face.

  “Trouble,” Julie replied tersely, dragging her teacher behind her toward the doorway.

  “Okay, I get that, but what, or who?”

  “The threesome, I saw them outside the window. We’ve got to go,” Julie said, moving her along down the semi-dark empty hallway.

  “Julie, what
threesome?”

  “Shhh! I think I heard something,” Julie replied, hearing a door open from behind them.

  “Where oh where is the witch? That wicked witch, oh where has she gone? We want to show you our gratitude for the spells you’ve been casting on us,” an eerie voice echoed in the corridor.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find you. And soon you’ll be reunited with your honey bear, Melvie. He’s sooo delish! We just can’t seem to get enough of him.” Another voice giggled wickedly from somewhere in front of them.

  Seeing the door to the janitor’s closet, Julie rushed over and was relieved when it opened. After the pair slipped inside, Julie closed the door quietly behind them.

  “I need to put an invisibility spell on us, so please stand still,” Miss Amaya commanded, closing her eyes, and mumbling words from an ancient language. Julie began to feel a tingling sensation throughout her body as she stood still listening.

  “Miss Amaya? I’m beginning to think this whole spell thing was a bad idea.”

  Miss Amaya’s eyes opened. “What do you mean?” she asked and then noticed Julie wasn’t in front of her.

  “Uh, down here,” Julie said.

  Dropping her eyes, Miss Amaya looked at her feet. “Oh my, Julie. I’m so sorry. I must’ve used the wrong spell. You’re all furry,” she apologized, seeing a cat that resembled a golden miniature lioness in front of her.

  “No, your spell worked. It just revealed my true form in the process.”

  “True form?”

  “Yeah, I’m a familiar. Cat’s familiar to be exact,” Julie meowed.

  “Cat’s familiar? Wait, you’re Jewels? Her stray cat friend? Interesting, you know I always felt there was something special about you.”

  “Yep, this is my secret. Wait…shhh. I think they’re just outside,” she whispered. The door to the janitor’s closet was suddenly flung open and the three girls burst into the room.

  “Wrong again, Becca! She’s obviously not in here. You and Linda were right behind her. Tell me again how you lost her? I swear if I want something done right I have to do it myself.”