Midnight Bite

by Hamilton, Sharon

  “Gosh, Lionel and I have never talked about vacations. I guess between the wedding and all the events both here and back home there just doesn’t seem to be any time.”

  “Yes, and it’s especially difficult now with a child. They are so precious. So vulnerable. Everywhere we go we are bringing with us armed guards. For Lucius’ soccer game this afternoon I have to make sure the security detail doesn’t look like Secret Service. He hates the attention, and the boys sometimes tease him about getting rides with big men in dark glasses and suits driving dark Suburbans. They think he’s a little rich kid. I’m just glad he enjoys soccer and is a damn good player. Otherwise, his world would be so small. And I worry about that.”

  Phoebe’s heart lurched, understanding how difficult it must be for a parent to raise a Golden child these days.

  “I suppose staying in one place for a longer period of time, where you can set up your protective detail, is the only way, really.”

  Cara nodded, yes.

  Phoebe approached Cara softly, beginning her real fact-finding mission. “You’ve always been so nice to me, Cara. You and Anne both have been so incredibly understanding. And your families have been so generous with their properties, their protection and everything else. I have some questions which I hope you can answer for me.”

  “Of course.”

  “You said I could ask you a question anytime, so I’m hoping this isn’t an imposition.”

  Cara deposited herself in a chair at the kitchen table and pointed across the Formica to an empty chair. “Sit, and let’s hear it.”

  “Can you explain to me about the fating process?”

  “I wasn’t built that way. As you know, my DNA is considerably different. But I wouldn’t call our early relationship a fated relationship, because I didn’t have the capacity for it, like I do now as a turned female.”

  “But would you have chosen it?”

  “Not if I hadn’t met Paolo. But I fell in love. You know how that goes, Phoebe.” Cara winked at her.

  Phoebe blushed. “I do indeed. Did you worry that some of your feelings toward him would change once you went through the journey?”

  Cara nodded, smiling, and then breaking out into a giggle. “Well you see, I wasn’t present for my own turning, due to the fact that I was unconscious. Nearly dead. I just remember waking up and there he was. Everything was made right. Things were done and I was saved. I’ve never thought about it, to be an honest.”

  Cara’s answer disturbed Phoebe. “But when you’ve talked to other women who’ve gone through the turning—other women such as myself who accept the turning, did anybody tell you that it changed them in some way?”

  Cara leaned forward on the table placing her hands clasped together in front of her. “Well, the answer to that question is it depends. I think some young lady such as yourself, in love when they do the turning, I would guess that attraction wouldn’t diminish. Sometimes they are lucky enough to have their husbands turn them when they get married. It’s all arranged you know. The families arrange it.”

  “And if they are in love before and think they have chosen someone because they feel they could be fated then does it ever happen that they won’t feel as strong toward their lover or their chosen partner as they did before the turning?”

  Cara angled her head and then squinted. “Why so many questions?”

  “I just wanted to know.”

  “I think that’s pretty impossible. What would make you think love is an automatic thing, having to do with just species, biology, and scientific hocus pocus. It’s love, Phoebe. Your heart does all the heavy lifting.”

  “But Rory, and some of the boys told me—”

  “Well if it’s you we’re discussing, Phoebe of course Rory and several of those boys might be considered suitors. They’re going to say something like that to you to eliminate the competition. And just for the record, we are talking about you and Lionel, correct?”

  Phoebe felt embarrassed.

  “Phoebe?”

  “Yes. And before we go much further, I need to reveal something to you, Cara. I’m falling in love with Lionel.”

  “You think?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Do you think that any of us in this household are so thick-headed that we wouldn’t have noticed the attraction between you two?”

  Phoebe blushed again.

  “Honestly, child, what kind of a rock did your parents raise you under. Did they not explain anything to you about all this? No mother-daughter talks?”

  “I wasn’t ready.”

  “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. My mother sat me down when I was twelve and gave me an explanation about everything, and what she expected of me. From then on, I was pretty clear where I stood. Your parents sound like they have no common sense. Like royalty. Everything was handed to them. Am I correct?”

  “They’ve lived in the past, yes. Our rules have always kept us safe.”

  “Except when they don’t.” Cara patted her arm and started to chuckle. “Lionel must really have his hands full.”

  Phoebe wondered if she’d revealed too much. “Please don’t—”

  “Oh, for Heaven’s sakes, stop asking that. We’re real world here. Maybe sometimes too real, or too frank. But that’s the way things work here. You must be frustrated as Hell.”

  Phoebe knew she was right.

  “You learn to take your shots, Phoebe. Go for it. Grab what you can.”

  “So that’s why I’ve not gotten the lecture, then?”

  “What lecture?”

  “The one about saving myself for my true fated Golden male.”

  “Oh Jeez. You’re all in with the questions today, aren’t you? So, here’s my answer on that one. It’s a matter between you and your parents and Lionel, although God help you figure all that out. But generally, I don’t think there’s anyone in this household who would disagree. You make a suitable match for each other. Perhaps not in the classic sense of it, but these are strange times. For instance, my husband had three mortal wives before he chose me. And he swears that we are fated. It wasn’t like some bolt of lightning thing for me. I just loved him, and I feel a much stronger attraction for him now than I did before. That’s why I said I think it’s impossible for that not to happen. But I didn’t grow up vampire, did I?”

  “And here I thought Lionel and I were being so discreet.” Phoebe was irritated with herself for being so blind. But after she thought about it, she was happy that the burden of her feelings was now lifted.

  “You do have the issue of the promise that Lionel has made to your parents. Everyone in the community has heard him take that oath. So, you must be careful, Phoebe, not to do anything that would jeopardize his position. I think it’s awkward. But all I can say is, please be careful, but go for it with all you’ve got. We don’t get a lot of second chances.”

  “We will. And in case you’re wondering, he has kept his word.” Despite her will she be felt the hot tears trickle down her cheeks. Cara reached over and grabbed one hand.

  “Sweetie. How difficult this must be for you. Caught between two worlds, aren’t you? And all these men telling you what to do? I’d go out of my mind.”

  Phoebe looked up at her cousin and saw the true face of a friend. Another ally. “Thank you, Cara. Please just keep this between the two of us?”

  “You didn’t even have to ask. This family has a lot of bottled-up drama. I’ve managed to stay pretty much clear of all that. That’s good advice for you, too, dear.”

  At that moment Anne entered the kitchen. “Have you seen any of them yet?”

  “Them, as in the men,” Cara barked. She stole a wink at Phoebe.

  “A fire could go off in our room and Lionel would not awaken. He got in very late last night,” Phoebe answered. “But you know that’s the way he is.”

  Cara glanced up at Anne. “Is Marcus gone already?”

  “Yes. I don’t think he went to bed at all last night.”

 
“Oh dear. Do you think he’s OK?” Cara pressed.

  “He left me a note, and said he needed to do some inspections in the Vineyard. He has a new crew coming in to do trimming. I know that working in the vineyard is good for him because it helps him think. I’m also sure he didn’t want to be pestered with my questions. But I heard last night’s meeting was very contentious and didn’t exactly go the way he wanted it to.”

  With her disheveled auburn hair cascading down around her shoulders, and even with the lack of makeup, barefoot and padding about the kitchen in her nighty and robe, she was still one of the most beautiful women Phoebe had ever seen. Her brilliance and elegance shone through, in spite of her lack of preparation.

  Cara quipped, “Paulo told me there were demands made by Carmine. Things about the Book. I know we’re not supposed to talk about it, but there it is. He begged off any further questions.”

  “I did hear Marcus on the phone with the Council. Carmine is being watched very closely, and he might be stripped of his voting rights. Marcus may have to produce the book for the elders, but they’re still making up their minds. Things take forever,” Anne said, sighing.

  Phoebe inhaled and tried to inch closer to her real question, her burning question, which now was more appropriate than ever. “So, this brings me to another query, if you two don’t mind.”

  “You still have questions?”

  Anne whipped around to face her as she added cream to her coffee. Her forehead sported a slight crease of worry. “You know you can ask me anything, Phoebe. You must consider me your sister, not a stranger. You can trust me with all your questions.”

  Cara chuckled and crossed her arms. “You may regret being so generous, Anne. Phoebe and I have had quite a little discussion already.” Cara’s face lit up in a wide smile. “About love!” she said as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

  “Oh, that,” whispered Anne. She brought her coffee to the table and joined the other two. “Have you told your parents?”

  “I’m trying to figure it all out,” said Phoebe. “I don’t know where I stand right now. I feel like I want to be in one place and yet I find myself behind locked doors in another. I hate waiting. I don’t want to seem ungrateful but there is a part of my situation that surely I must be able to control. And yet, I’m told that I must wait—wait for answers I fear might never come.”

  “Well it won’t be for lack of trying. You should hear her questions, Anne.”

  In spite of Cara’s comment, Phoebe could tell that Anne understood what she was talking about. She was considering an answer, when Phoebe’s impatience burst forth.

  “Here it is. Cara and I have just been discussing this, too. Don’t the women in this family make any decisions at all?” she asked.

  Nobody moved at first. Then, Anne and Cara exchanged a long glance, before Anne began her answer.

  “I’m not sure what I’m able to tell you, Phoebe. But I will say that the Monteleone brothers, my husband probably being the instigator of this, are very set in their ways.”

  “Stubborn,” added Cara.

  “Rigid.” Anne covered her mouth and rolled her eyes at Cara. “And I don’t mean that to be a sexual term. Sorry, Phoebe.”

  Phoebe blushed in spite of herself. “I think some rigidity is a sign of a healthy marriage, Anne. Not that I would know, of course.” She felt her cheeks burn.

  All three women burst out laughing.

  “Honest to God, there are days, Phoebe, when I want to run Paulo over with his own tractor,” said Cara.

  “Trace him to the bottom of the ocean,” said Anne.

  “Stick them in the fermentation tank and throw away the key!” added Cara.

  Phoebe giggled so hard she nearly wet her pants. “So, I guess my observation is accurate, then.”

  “We love them, but sometimes we hate them,” moaned Anne. “I mean I really do get angry with them. They can be so pig-headed sometimes, when a little softness or kindness would do. They love to be in control.”

  Cara piped up, “Always. Even when they’re wrong, too.”

  “So how do you handle it?” asked Phoebe.

  “Honestly, I go have my nails done. Or I go work in the garden—I just need some alone time.”

  “That’s more difficult with a little one.” said Cara. “I try to help out, when we’re in California.”

  Anne nodded, scanning the large picture window in the kitchen overlooking the vineyard. “I think every woman finds certain aspects of her society difficult from time to time. The men, they mean well. They love passionately. They are hard on themselves in their devotion, their dedication to family and to their businesses. At least the Monteleones are. Not all the families work that hard or take on such a heavy burden. But then they are leaders.”

  “So, if they could share the burden, perhaps some other responsibilities with their wives, wouldn’t that make things easier?” Phoebe asked what she hoped would be the obvious.

  Anne’s eyes grew near the size of hard-boiled eggs. “Are you kidding?”

  “Think about it, Anne. It’s difficult for us to see them struggle so much, when some of the help could come from us, the people they love and trust.” Phoebe was adamant the two women would see her point.

  Cara grinned. “That would be the day. I had difficulty just keeping my teaching position when I married Paolo. He didn’t want me going anywhere, he was so protective.”

  Phoebe smiled. “It just seems like women are doing so much now. There are heads of large corporations, and leaders in business, careers, positions in government, leading scientists and experts in all fields. We see this in the human world, but I don’t see any of this in our families—our families plural.” Phoebe searched both Cara and Ann’s faces for a trace of recognition, or agreement.

  “You have a point,” sighed Anne.” Let me think about this a bit,” she added.

  It was Phoebe’s turn to lean into the table. “So, here’s another thing I’ve thought of. It concerns the Book of Spawn.”

  “If you bring up that book, that’s a sure-fire way to get your cousin Marcus on your bad side, Phoebe,” said Anne sternly. Her eyebrows were still raised when Phoebe gave her an answer.

  “But this is not for the general public. This is just between us, the women who live in this house, and who love the men in it. It’s not for anyone outside the small group.”

  “So, what’s your question about the book?” asked Cara.

  Phoebe knew she had to be careful when she said the words. “I was thinking that we all should attempt to read it, as well as the men. I was thinking that with your studies, Cara, your experiences being once mortal women, new to the clan, that you could see the Book with a set of fresh eyes. And I want to explore it as well. Like I said earlier I’m frustrated with the waiting. I want answers. I want to know why it is I feel something more than just some kind of mortal love for my husband. Although he says he’s satisfied with this, I want to know if it ever would be possible for us to be a true partnership. And I think the book will help tell me this.”

  “Boy, Phoebe, this is dangerous territory,” Anne whispered. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. Don’t get your hopes up.”

  “But you’ve seen the book right, Anne?” Phoebe asked.

  “I have. I’ve seen Marcus hold it open, and I’ve seen him put it away in his safe. It travels with us wherever we go, so I know it is of great importance. But as far as allowing me to read it, I have asked, but he’s never been willing.”

  Cara tapped her fingers on the table “Well, I have read parts of the book. And I think Phoebe is right.”

  Ann’s head shot up, listening to Cara’s reveal.

  “You don’t mean that, surely.”

  “I most certainly do.”

  “What’s it like?” Phoebe asked. “I mean the parts that you’ve read, what did they say?”

  “They talk about histories of people, and then there are pages and pages of rules. But mostly it’s a story told by multip
le people, points of view.”

  Cara studied Ann’s face and then gave Phoebe a gentle wink.

  “What?” Phoebe asked.

  “The book is not like any other I’ve ever seen,” said Cara. “It is a database, a pool of knowledge, but unlike an ordinary book, this book controls the reading experience.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” said Anne.

  “It’s like the book gets to decide what information it releases, depending on the reader. So you might read it for instance, Phoebe, and come away with different information than if Lionel or Marcus read it.”

  Both Phoebe and Anne waited for her to continue. She wondered if Cara had ever divulged any of this information to her husband, and Phoebe presumed that she hadn’t.

  “That’s why it would do no good to copy the book,” Cara told them. “I don’t even know if the pages would copy. Some of the words appear when the reader puts their eyes on them. So you are quite correct Phoebe. Depending on who is doing the study, the information in the book will be different.”

  Anne put her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God. They could be leading us right off a cliff.”

  The three women looked at each other. Phoebe knew they had come to an important milestone. And, unlike what they’d been told, their input was not only important, it might spell the difference between success and failure in preserving the lives of their families.

  Before Phoebe went upstairs, Cara pulled her aside.

  “Hey, I just want to say welcome to the family, such as it is.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You follow your intuition, Phoebe. That’s the way out. Remember what I said, grab what you can. Don’t wait for your happiness, and for God’s sake, get rid of all the questions!”

  Phoebe chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She leaned closer and whispered. “Does Lionel know what he’s in for?”

  “I don’t think so, Cara.”

  “Oh, what a lucky boy. I can hardly wait to see the fireworks.”

  Chapter 12

  When Lionel usually awoke, the bedroom would be completely dark. But today there was a golden light in the air that shown through his closed eyelids, making him wonder if he was still dreaming.