Dissension

by Adrienne Monson

  Leisha slowly became more aware of herself, the tension in her body eased, her mind was her own again. She could feel Tafari’s blood pouring down her throat, and it felt amazing. His blood was slightly cooler than a human’s, and a lot sweeter. There was less of a coppery taste and more of a rich flavor that almost reminded her of chocolate. His memories did not bombard her while she drank.

  Unknowingly, Leisha had been moaning in pleasure at the exquisite taste of Tafari’s blood. Even when she realized it, she still could not seem to immediately stop herself from moaning; it was just too good. She could feel the veins closing up, and finally the skin. His cut now healed, Leisha leisurely ran her tongue along it. Nothing was going to waste.

  When she finally looked up at Tafari, she saw that his eyes were filled with a look she was once familiar with, a look she had not seen in a long time—heated passion. His eyes shimmered with intense hunger and desire. Leisha’s stomach tightened. A wave of heat circulated through her body, and it had nothing to do with his blood.

  Reaching out, Tafari slowly pushed her hair off her face. Her cheek tingled where he touched; she shivered with desire, and Tafari’s body responded to it.

  His head moved in slow motion, taking his time before leaning down and touching her lips with his. She knew if they could just have one kiss, it would ignite the unyielding fire and passion they had once shared. Her heart fluttered at the thought. Parting her lips slightly, she was ready to receive the man she loved.

  Then, a little voice inside her brought her back to reality. She was a vampire, a demonic monster he was supposed to kill. If he was really going to kiss her, he needed to be aware of what she was and accept that.

  “Tafari,” she whispered.

  “Leisha,” he breathed.

  “Thank you for giving me your blood,” she said just as his lips were a hair away from hers, knowing that all it took was just one sentence to remind him of her true identity.

  He paused, hovering painstakingly close, his warm breath tickling her lips. But he did not get any closer. After a long moment of gazing into each other’s eyes, he straightened. She could feel a magnetic pull as he backed away from her, causing her body to ache and feel incredibly empty.

  “I am glad it worked,” he said, rather hoarsely. He cleared his throat, and then swallowed, a blank expression on his face. Leisha had an urge to wrap her arms around him in comfort, but that would only make him more confused. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed on her.

  “Do you have the ability to lure humans?” he asked, his voice abruptly cold.

  Startled by the rapid change, she only shook her head.

  “Is this something that all vampires can do? They make it feel pleasurable to their victims while they suck their blood?”

  “It felt good when I . . . drank?”

  He only nodded curtly.

  “That is very unusual. I mean . . . when I fed at the clubs, I know it didn’t hurt them, although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t gratifying either.”

  Tafari seemed to almost believe her as he leaned closer to her for a brief moment, but then closing his eyes, he sat back stiffly in a crouch. “Lying whore that you are, why should I ever believe you?” His voice became unguarded, raw. “Why should I believe you when you left me for him!” Standing in a fluid movement, he walked to the door. “It would probably be a good idea if you stayed here for the duration. No one really wants to deal with your presence.” With that, he was gone, the door falling closed behind him.

  Leisha blew out a breath at his exit. Tafari was not the only one feeling confusion at this turn of events, but Leisha decided to do her best not to dwell on it. Tafari was not one to follow impulses, and she doubted he would allow himself to be tempted by her again.

  The rest of the trip went by rather quickly. Leisha no longer needed to avoid Samantha and they had long talks to pass the time. Plus, it was quite entertaining vexing Tafari and the other immortals by going above to absorb the sun and feel the wind. When Tafari confronted her about it, she nonchalantly told him that since all she had to wear was her swimsuit, she had to make the best of it.

  The next day, he gave her a pair of his sweats and a white t-shirt that practically drowned her. She put them on and went above to sit with Samantha. Tafari glared at her with such intensity she thought he might actually force her to spontaneously combust.

  The nights were the longest, with Samantha sleeping peacefully and Leisha having nothing to do but smell the scent of Tafari on the clothes he’d lent her, reminiscing his warm breath tickling her lips.

  When they finally made port, there was a sigh of relief in everyone’s mind. Once the yacht docked, the next step was to make arrangements for the flight to England, to Leisha’s surprise. Though she wondered about the exact point of destination, she didn’t press Tafari on the subject. He only spoke to her when he had to, and she was not feeling too enthusiastic about seeing him much either.

  Leisha and Samantha went shopping, and were told to meet Tafari in a few hours at the airport. They were not worried Mason would find them—people don’t generally think of checking the docks for an escape route, but Leisha still remained alert to their surroundings while they picked out clothes and shoes.

  Still feeling incredibly energetic from drinking Tafari’s blood, she was amazed her high lasted so long. She thought her hunger pangs would return by the time they reached Puerto Rico. To be safe, she should probably visit a dance club upon arriving in England. She would never let Tafari see her in her weakened condition ever again, especially during her stay with the immortals—she must not allow any of them to see any sort of weakness, and not just because of her pride. Samantha’s safety was her priority.

  Leisha knew she would not be able to stay with the immortals for more than a few days—if that. The immortals would, of course, try to kill her; it was the only reason the counsel would even let her come with Tafari. Whatever came her way, she was ready for it. She’d escape. Knowing that she’d have to eventually report back to Ptah, she decided she wasn’t going to tell him much. After what Tafari had done to save her, she could not possibly betray him now.

  There could never be anything between Tafari and her again, but it didn’t mean she had to betray him. She might belong with her people, but she refused to do their dirty jobs—spying being one of them. Leisha was fully prepared to face Ptah. Her only concern was Samantha’s safety. It was crucial for Leisha to be able to leave the immortals with a certainty that they would protect her as their own, and that they would not make her an immortal. She wanted Samantha to have a full, mortal life filled with love and happiness.

  Her mind back in the present, Leisha was pleased to finally be wearing something else besides her swimsuit and Tafari’s baggy clothes. When they reached the airport, she was also very glad to finally be wearing something that looked a little more adult in front of Tafari. Her gray pinstripe slacks and hunter green blouse gave her the sophistication she wished to show him before.

  She walked with great confidence toward Tafari, Samantha in tow. Tafari handed her a ticket in lieu of a greeting.

  “You will want to check in your suitcases,” he said glancing down at their new luggage filled with newly purchased clothes.

  “Thanks,” Leisha said. She and Samantha did not have to wait very long to get their bags checked in; the airport was sparsely populated at the time.

  Glancing at her ticket as they walked back to Tafari, she noted that their flight was leaving in just over an hour. “Will the rest of your men get back here in time?”

  “Yes,” he said, unconcerned.

  As they sat waiting for the rest of the immortals to arrive, Leisha and Tafari barely spoke to each other. Samantha, on the other hand, was telling Tafari all about her new clothes Leisha had bought for her. The immortal seemed to listen with a certain enduring affection. He truly liked Samantha, which boosted Leisha’s mood considerably. Tafari was a hard man to penetrate, but once he allowed someone into his heart, he could be
incredibly protective over her. Maybe Leisha need not worry so much about Samantha’s welfare anymore.

  Ian and Sean arrived first, and they did not so much as glance in Leisha’s direction, which was an improvement compared to the looks of raging murder they had given her on the yacht. After assembling everyone, Tafari led them to the gate where they boarded the plane without incident. It seemed Tafari was not the only one who regarded Samantha with a bit of affection—it appeared the girl was already on her way to win over most of the men’s hearts.

  The flight was half full; the group spread out on the plane after takeoff. Leisha sat toward the front just to irritate the rest of the immortals—having to look at her was enough to offend them. She had nothing else to do on their long flight, and grating their nerves would help pass the time.

  Samantha and Tafari sat six rows back, and Leisha caught the tail end of Samantha relaying her mother’s death to Tafari. Leisha was glad Samantha could see Tafari as someone to confide in.

  They were silent for a time. Leisha assumed Samantha was trying not to cry after speaking of her bereavement. Then, Samantha spoke up, sounding just fine.

  “Why do you hate Leisha so much?” she asked Tafari.

  “Why do you love her so much?” he countered.

  “That’s easy. It’s because even though she has been surrounded by death and darkness, and even though she lost everything she ever loved, she came out on top. I just can’t believe how strong she is to survive so much. I thought I would never be able to recover from losing my mom, but when I see what Leisha has been through, I know that life will go on for me, too.”

  Leisha felt her heart stir at Samantha’s praise.

  “You do not see her as you should,” Tafari was saying. “She did not lose everything she loved, she gave it up. And of course she is surrounded by death because she brings death to those around her. She is no longer human, Samantha, and you need to remember that.”

  Samantha huffed. “You’re not human, either, Tafari, and I still trust you to do the right thing. Why does Leisha have to be so different?”

  “I may not exactly be human, but I still have my soul. I will not go to hell when I leave this earth.”

  “Leisha has a soul, too,” she said hotly without raising her voice. “You know she does believe she’s going to hell, don’t you? She knew that when she decided to become a vampire, but she didn’t care because of what she was saving.”

  There was a lengthy pause before Tafari spoke again. “Just what exactly did she think she was saving?” Every syllable was greatly enunciated.

  It was Samantha’s turn to hesitate. “It’s not my story to tell,” she finally said. “Maybe you should ask her sometime.”

  Tafari sighed. “I did not need any explanation. My little girl told me, through a lot of tears, every detail of what happened. She had vivid nightmares about that night for years. It took her a long time to overcome the terror, and the grief.”

  “I don’t understand. If Adanne told you what happened, then why are you condemning Leisha for it?”

  “Excuse me? Why would I not be? She made a choice and when she made it Adanne lost her mother, and I lost my wife, forever. There is not even any hope that I will get to see my Leisha in the next life!” Leisha heard him stand up and walk toward the bathrooms in the back.

  She shook her head. Now she was glad she had never tried to explain herself to Tafari. He knew the whole story already. Tafari and Adanne might hate her for what she did, but she stood by her actions, not regretting a single thing. What she did had saved her daughter, and that was all that mattered.

  Pressing her lips together at the thought, Leisha felt hard pressed to keep tears from sprouting. The truth was, she was tired of having to stay practical in the face of grief and pain, feeling bitter resentment for all the sacrifices she had to make.

  CHAPTER 21

  It was an hour’s drive from the airport, and Leisha saw all the signs pointing to Oxford University, but she still did not believe it.

  When they finally pulled into a parking lot near some of the dorms on the very south side of campus, her jaw dropped. “The immortals are staying in dorms on the campus of Oxford?” she asked.

  Tafari smiled. “I know. The perfect place to hide. No one ever thinks to look out in the open, do they?”

  “How long have you been here?” Samantha asked.

  Tafari thought briefly about it before answering, “We have been here for about four hundred years. We contribute quite a handsome sum every year in exchange for our accommodations. Plus, each of us attends every fifty years, just so we can keep up on the latest studies. Some of us have even been professors here.”

  “Were you a professor?”

  Tafari smiled again. “Why, yes. I taught history.”

  They both laughed and got out of the car. It still blew Leisha’s mind that the immortals had been there for so long “hiding out in the open,” as Tafari had said, all these years.

  They walked through the lobby of the first dorm building closest to the parking lot. Tafari motioned for Leisha to put the suitcases down on the floor by the stairs before leading them left toward the double sliding doors.

  There were a few immortals sitting around on the couches of the lobby when they came in. They stopped whatever they were doing to stare at the intruders. Samantha looked around nervously, her face a little on the pink side. Leisha stood tall with a stoic expression.

  Two men outside of the double doors searched everyone, including Tafari, before admitting them. Inside, ten men sat at a round table. They were dressed in various styles, most of them in suits of one kind or another, although a few of them wore jeans or slacks with casual shirts.

  The ominous council looked very ordinary, indeed, but Leisha knew all too well that looks could be deceiving. Each one of them glared at Leisha for a long time. She met their stares defiantly, realizing she was as close to death as she had ever been, surrounded by her enemies. She would not let them intimidate her, and she would not die without a fight.

  But they did nothing. After the “stare-down,” the members of the council turned their attention to Samantha, and then to Tafari.

  Tafari bowed his head in respect, Samantha following suit. Leisha just stood, waiting.

  One man seated in the middle nodded his head to Tafari. “We’re glad to see you and your men have returned home in safety. It appears that you have proven your word.” He spoke in a British accent, though he looked like he was of Spanish descent, with his long dark hair and dark brown eyes. His build was slight, but his frame powerful when he shifted in his seat.

  “Thank you, Esteban. You already have my word that they will be no trouble while they stay with us.”

  Another man with light brown hair and hazel-green eyes spoke up. “That is not all that concerns us, Tafari. We cannot be sure that all of our people will leave them be. The human child should be safe enough, but we do not know if that vampire should even leave her assigned room while she is here. There are many here who wish to see her die painfully, and to be honest, I do not have much incentive to stop them.”

  Tafari nodded. “It is a valid concern, Arthur, and I agree, Leisha should not leave her room for the duration of her stay. My men have already grown fond of the girl during our trip, and I believe they will help the others know that she is to be protected.”

  Arthur nodded as if he had already known that. “Show them to their room, and then report back to us. We have much to discuss.”

  Their room was on the third floor, toward the back of the building. It did not look like anyone else was staying on this floor. Leisha was sure they had arranged it like that. The room had two small beds, a dresser, and a desk. It felt small and cramped, with hardly enough space for anything else. There was a bathroom attached to the bedroom, which was unusual for a college dorm room, but she was grateful.

  Leisha let out a sigh as she dropped the suitcases to the floor.

  “I think it would be best if you
two stayed here for the rest of the evening. I will bring dinner up to you later.” With that, Tafari closed the door after them to rejoin his meeting with the council.

  “I don’t know if I can stay in here all night,” Samantha complained.

  Leisha shrugged. “So, go out,” she suggested. Samantha would be safe around here, and Leisha did not mind unpacking for the both of them.

  Samantha gave a halfhearted protest as she made for the door. “I really should stay in here with you.”

  Leisha grinned. “But you’re not going to. Just don’t wonder off too far, though,” she called after her.

  Samantha enjoyed her walk, even though a small part of her felt guilty for not heeding Tafari. But being in the plane for so long—not to mention the sailboat before that—made her feel restless. Just the thought of walking around the beautiful campus was too tempting to ignore.

  The campus was extensive and beautiful. Large trees surrounded the grass and walkways, with the leaves changing colors in anticipation of the fall weather. Even the vines that covered a good portion of the dorms were turning vibrant shades of red, orange, and brown, yet the grass was still green from all the moisture in the air. The brick buildings were old—she didn’t know exactly how old—but they looked like they had been standing there for centuries, enhancing their character through each generation they housed.

  She should have been in school by that time, and wondered if she would ever have the chance to go back. But would she want that? To try and live a normal life with normal kids her age while she held all this knowledge of an entirely different reality?

  Looking around the Oxford campus made her realize that, yes, a part of her did want to go back to school. She wanted to go to prom, graduate, and dance ballet. She wanted to be able to go to college, too. As of now, all she could do was hope, at least.

  A few raindrops splattered on her forehead; it was time to go inside. Not paying close attention to where she had wandered, Samantha was not exactly sure how to get back to her room. The building closest to her was unlocked, so she walked in, hoping to find someone to give her directions.