by J. L. Myers
A small memory teased the edge of my subconscious as I studied the photo. It had been the week before my mom’s auction. She’d been in her office on the phone, sourcing a special item. Strong suspicion bled into my mind. “Mom, the item you had to specially pick up before the auction, what was it?”
Mom didn’t make a move or utter a word. She just stood there like a statue, poised and perfect in her stillness. Under my best friend’s compulsion she couldn’t.
Kendrick squeezed her shoulder. “Answer the question, Ms. Lamont. What item did you pick up before the auction?”
Mom blinked mechanically, her lips parting. “It was the gold jewelry box with purple stones,” she said, her tone expressionless.
Ask her why that item was so important, I sent my silent words to Kendrick. The compulsion seemed to work better if he did the questioning.
“Ms. Lamont,” Kendrick said in a strong but calm voice, “why that item? Who had you source it?”
“It was a family heirloom,” Mom said in monotone. “The auctioneer was told it was from the 1700s. That was false. It was much older than that. Its location was discovered at a curator’s private residence in Hungary. The curator had been a descendant of one of Erzsebet Bathory’s nannies. It had taken him centuries to find it.”
“Taken who centuries to find it?” I couldn’t help blurting out.
Mom frowned but remained under Kendrick’s compulsion. “Your uncle Caius.”
More than one thing didn’t add up. “Then why auction it? Why not just give him the item?”
Locked under Kendrick’s gaze, Mom spoke without looking my way. “He wanted to know if anyone else was searching for it.”
“Why was it so important to him?” Kendrick pushed.
“The item belonged to her only living offspring. Her son, Paul Caius Bathory.”
I stood frozen for a long shell-shocked moment, my thoughts running a hundred miles a second. Caius was Erzsebet’s son, her one and only son. The jewelry box was implicit to his plans in some way. It had to be. And all this time I’d had the clue within reach.
I vaulted up to my room, causing my motorbike posters to flap with the wind my entrance stirred up. Kendrick remained downstairs, erasing our encounter from my mom’s memory. In seconds the jewelry box was off my white, antique bedside table and clutched in my hands. I turned it over, studying its cool gold surface. Seeing nothing unusual I lifted the stiff lid. There had to be something, anything that could give us a clue. Its walls were lined with pillowy satin that was in great condition for its age. I removed Madam Rosalie’s card and saw the key beneath it. Nothing unusual there. My gaze lifted. There. I zoned in on the carved flower pattern that continued inside the lid. Inscribed on one delicate petal was E.B. This had without doubt belonged to Caius’s mother.
Kendrick appeared in the doorway then, focus locked on the printed photo in his hands. “Hey, did you notice this?”
We met at the foot of my bed. My fingers curled tighter around the jewelry box. On the photo inside the box was a dark smudge with an almost invisible line coming off one side of the smudge. I sucked in my breath. The object was familiar, and something I could never forget. “I know what it is.”
Fingers tickled my brain as Kendrick lifted the picture to his nose. “That’s the vial?”
I nodded. “Maybe even the same one Caius drugged me with.” I plucked the small key from the jewelry box and twirled it between my fingers. The clang I’d heard when I first saw the item resurfaced. Later that night I’d found the key inside the box. Back then I’d assumed the clang was the key hidden inside. But what if I was wrong? “What if the vial had been hidden in the jewelry box at the auction?”
“That would explain why Caius was hell bent on winning the thing.”
I slumped down onto my bed, staring at the pretty jewelry box in my hands. Caius had already been plotting to take my life to steal my so-called ‘gift’ back then. The one he’d imposed on me at birth. Finding the vial had been a necessary step to achieving his goal. According to his confession, its contents alone could complete the conversion in my blood, so that my death would pass my immortality onto him. “I was drawn to the vial. That’s why the connection was gone by the time he left the piece for me. He’d already taken it out.”
Anger that I’d shoved down with every new challenge that had plagued me and the people I loved began to rise. Caius may have been doing this to save his family, like his mother had done to save her daughters. But that didn’t make ruining my family and friends’ lives okay. Murder was still murder.
I screamed and squeezed both hands around the jewelry box, delighting in the creak as it bent under the pressure. In a twisted mess, I tore the lid free and scratched the satin away. I lifted my hand to pelt it at the wall.
“Amelia, wait!” Kendrick caught my wrist and brought my hand down.
And that’s when I saw it. Inscribed on the inside base of the now warped and satin-free gold box was a symbol. A circle surrounding a jagged bolt that was crossed through the middle. It was the same symbol Caius had painted on the dank ground in the cell. The same symbol he’d held me inside while he drained me to death. “The symbol was part of Caius’s ritual. A step to becoming immortal.”
“What do you think it means?”
“I don’t know.” I pulled my iPhone from my jeans. “But I know who does.”
Minutes later I’d spoken to Ty and updated him on everything we’d found. He was hanging out with Vanessa, so I texted a photo of the symbol to his phone for her to see.
Now we waited. Kendrick perched on the windowsill, his back against the glass while I stuffed another choc-mint cookie from my bedside into my mouth. I fell back on my bed and stared at my phone again. Each passing second made the devoured cookies feel like bricks in my stomach.
When the phone finally rang I jumped up and fumbled to put it on loudspeaker. “Ty, hello. What did she say?”
“It’s Vanessa.” There was a loud sigh. “And I haven’t seen that exact symbol before.”
My heart sank, at the news and because she was calling instead of Ty. After failing at bond-blocking progress this morning I felt even more separated from him.
“But,” Vanessa added, “I know what parts of it mean. The line through the center can be used for different things, mainly blocking. Though it can also transfer.”
“Like taking an aspect from one person and moving it to another?” Kendrick asked, now beside me.
“Oh hey, Kendrick,” Vanessa said. “And you’re right. The circle around the symbol is a binding. It locks whatever is being transferred into place.”
My disappointment ebbed as understanding settled in. “So the jagged bolt must stand for immortality or something, right?”
“No.” There was no doubt in Vanessa’s voice. “That’s the one part I haven’t seen before, but it’s not the sign for immortality.”
“What about visions?” Kendrick curled an arm around my bed’s mauve-wrapped corner post.
“Or blood bond?” I added.
“No.” The turning of pages sounded before Vanessa spoke again. “The symbol for The Sight is an eye. And I can’t find one for the blood bond, but I don’t think it’s that.”
“But you’re not sure?” I remembered the glorious light that had exploded as our minds and souls intertwined. That had been the light Madam Rosalie had been talking about, hadn’t it?
“Not completely, but I’ll keep digging. It’ll take time though. There’s so many symbols and I don’t even have them all in books.” There was a slight pause through the speaker. “I’ll let you know what I come up with.”
“Okay, thanks.” I hung up and placed the wrecked jewelry box in my bedside drawer, then fell back onto the comforter. It felt like for every step we’d taken forward today, we’d taken one back. Christmas was two days away now, and I had no idea what to do next.
Kendrick fell back onto the bed beside me. “Bond block practice?”
I couldn’t h
elp the tiny smile that curved my lips. “Distraction and progress? You know me too well.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Through the windshield the sky was a dark shade of slate, as messy clouds swirled in threat. Soon it would be pouring down, and I shivered at the thought of more lightning. In the past I could have watched an electrical storm for hours. But after my too-close-for-comfort encounters, hanging around now put me on edge.
After braving the rush of shoppers at the mall in Manchester—on the day before Christmas—and managing to find gifts for everyone except Kendrick and Ty, I was home. I drove Dorian’s and my Cabriolet into the driveway, right behind a delivery van. Remembering my brother’s guidelines on driving the car without him, I left the engine running. God forbid I not allow her to cool down properly. Even at the shops I’d had to find the most remote parking spot to avoid anyone accidentally denting the car. And the Manchester mall’s parking lot was huge. No, this would not do. I needed my own wheels. I committed for the second time today to begging my mom for my own ride. A Ducati, my favorite bike, would do just fine.
Eager to get inside, I climbed out of the car and met the delivery man at the door. “Can I help you?”
The man turned to me, holding an express post envelope in his hand. For a moment I was surprised not to see the old delivery man who’d dropped off the test results for the vial. This man was middle aged and seemed much more the part. “Are you Miss Amelia Lamont?”
“Uh, yeah.” I glanced around, my paranoia growing. Kendrick wasn’t home, I knew that much. I could also tell that his mind was shut off from mine. I was completely alone. “Is that for me?”
The man handed me an electronic device to sign, then as I handed it back, he gave me the envelope. “Merry Christmas.”
He tipped his head and strolled back to his van. This one was blue, not black, and printed with the company’s logo. A minute later he was gone.
I looked the envelope over. Printed in block letters on the back was Marcus Vladimir. Breath I didn’t realized I’d been holding whistled from my lips. My lungs ached at the release. Anything unexpected these days sent a bolt of fear through me, the expectation of something horrible to come. I tore into the envelope and slid free two sheets of paper. The first was a confirmation booking for Kendrick and Dorian to spend a week at a snow resort. The second made my eyes bug. “A 5-night cruise for two around the South Pacific Islands, departing Brisbane Australia!”
Even more shocking than the cruise and pre-booked flights was who the cruise was booked for. Me and one Ty Malau. I dug back into the envelope and slid out a printed white card. It read:
Amelia,
Caius is planning something. I’m not sure exactly what. You all need to lay low for a while, and what better way than this?
Enjoy the gift,
Marcus
P.S. Your mom will be fine, but don’t call me until you’re back. He’s watching.
I tugged my iPhone from my jeans and texted Ty. ‘Can u meet me?’
‘Can’t. Brother home. Dreamscape tonight?’
While I was locked away at the Armaya, Ty’s induced dreamscape had been the only way we’d been able to see each other. A plane of existence between sleep and awake where Ty controlled everything, including when I could leave. It was as close to reality as possible without being in a physical location. In this case it was better than relaying my surprise over the phone.
‘Tonight it is. Can’t w8.’
I glanced back to the still-idling car and froze. Two figures were walking up the paved driveway. Through the fear I registered who it was and sighed. Dorian and Kendrick. “Hey, you’ll never believe this…”
After showing them the bookings and card, Kendrick called Marcus, ignoring his warning. The call went to voicemail and his face hardened. “Call me ASAP.” Then he hung up. “I don’t like this.”
“What’s not to like?” Dorian snatched the papers, looking like he wanted to scream hooray! “White Mountains. Layers of thick snow. And we’re lodging at Wildcat. They’ve got the biggest continual vertical track out there!”
Dorian’s enthusiasm didn’t surprise me. His biggest love, apart from girls, was any and all sports, plus any competition that came with it. On the flip side Kendrick’s reluctance wasn’t a mystery. “You still don’t think I’m safe with Ty?”
A muscle ticked in Kendrick’s jaw. “I’m not prepared to risk your safety with anyone. Besides, this whole scenario screams suspicious. Why would Marcus send you across the world with Ty and keep us in New Hampshire?”
“Well, I’m glad,” Dorian said. “The sun and me? We’re not such great friends, but Amelia has no reaction to it. It’s summer across the world, if you didn’t know.”
That made sense to me. Because of what Caius had done to him, Dorian—like any royal—was made uncomfortable and weak from direct exposure to sunlight. I on the other hand had no such affliction. So with Caius and whatever vampire minions he had coming for us, a sun-drenched ship was the safest place for me.
I caught Kendrick’s hand. “Marcus knows about Ty. He knows I trust him completely.”
Kendrick freed his hand, expression turning smug as he leaned against a porch pillar. “You think your mom’s going to allow this?” He laughed. “Fat bloody chance.”
“She will allow it.” Dorian smiled, a devious glimmer to his silver-blue eyes. “Whether she likes it or not.”
“You’re going to compel her?” This was becoming too regular an occurrence for my liking. “This can’t be our go-to all the time. And using it on pointless things, like girls, is not okay.”
“Hey, when I started doing that I didn’t even realize I was compelling Mom. When I did, I stopped. Since then I’ve only used it to find out information to protect us.” Dorian handed me back the papers and went to retrieve the keys from our car. “According to Marcus, we’re in danger. If Mom says no, then for our own good I’ll make her change her mind.”
“Amelia, I still don’t like this.” Worry streamed through the bond, matching the bleak look on Kendrick’s face. “What about blood? And how can I keep you safe? What if something—”
“Nothing bad will happen, and I’ll stash enough baggies in my suitcase to last.” I wanted to hug him but held back. “Plus I need this. We both do. And whether you’re physically with me or not, you’ll always be able to reach me. We’ll never be truly apart.”
The darkness across his face lifted. “And don’t you forget it.”
~
That night I awoke at the lookout, standing against the railing and overlooking the town of Portsmouth. Excitement had my heart fluttering as a set of unforgettable warm hands rested on my arms. “Hey, beautiful,” Ty breathed against my neck, making me shiver.
I spun to wrap my arms around his heated body. His chest was bare. Being in cotton pajama shorts, his sweatpants were soft against my legs. His scent was intoxicating. It made my head light and airy, and my mouth water. Even though I’d seen him yesterday morning, it felt like so long ago. I hugged him harder. “I’ve missed you.”
Ty smiled down at me, the most genuine smile that caused my heart to skip a beat. He dipped his head to press a hot kiss to my lips.
I drew away and spun back to the city lights that beamed up at me, reflecting colorful prisms across sheeted snow. My body and mind braced for Kendrick’s intruding emotions.
But there was nothing. No nudging inside my brain. No disgust. No revulsion. There were just my own thoughts and emotions. It was weird. This was my first dreamscape since being bound to Kendrick, and I wasn’t blocking him in any way. Still the evidence was there—Kendrick wasn’t here.
I stood on my toes and twirled, catching the back of Ty’s neck with one hand. Our lips connected and I parted his, tongue brushing over his again and again. My free hand ran over his chest, while his covered my hips and pulled me close. Our lip action grew hotter by the second. When the scenery began to spin from lack of oxygen, I broke free, gasping.
“What,” Ty struggled for breath, “was that for?”
“We’re alone…”
Ty peered around the lookout’s empty parking lot. “Were you expecting me to bring someone else to our dream?”
I smiled. “No. I mean he’s not here. Kendrick’s not in my head.”
“Are you sure?”
I took Ty’s hand and led him up the gravel path to a quaint gazebo siding the parking lot. The metal and wood structure didn’t exist at the real lookout, but it was a nice touch. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but I’m sure. He’s not here. I can’t feel him.”
Ty sat next to me on the bench and smiled. “That’s huge.”
He wasn’t wrong. Since returning from the Armaya, any and all moments we’d had together had been shared with Kendrick, or should I say marred by. Apart from my dwindling success with blocking, we’d hardly had a single private moment. This revelation was more than huge, it was monumental. Kendrick couldn’t share my mind during a dreamscape. Without knowing it, I had grown accustomed to his continued negative thoughts and persistent interruptions. And now he wasn’t here. It was just Ty and me.
Sudden nerves washed over me in waves. With Kendrick’s expected interruptions I had gotten used to restraining myself around Ty. To holding back my animalistic need to feel, kiss, and drink him.
“I—I have a Christmas present for you,” I said suddenly. His naked chest, full mouth, and scent were too much of a temptation. If I didn’t change the mood I’d be all over him like a rash. “It’s a vacation to the South Pacific Islands. A 5-night cruise. The flight leaves in two days.”
“You’re serious? Just us?” Ty rocked back against the bench. “What about your mom? She can’t possibly be allowing you to go. Not if she knows it’s with me.”
