by Gayla Twist
“But I hate to impose,” Mom said.
“You’re not imposing,” Alice quickly insisted. “If anything, I feel responsible for Aurora. I assure you she is receiving excellent care. I’ve called in my private physician,” she said. “And she graduated top of her class at Harvard.”
Referring to her imaginary physician as a female was a brilliant piece of manipulation by Jessie’s mother. My mom had a poorly concealed suspicion of all male doctors. She felt they weren’t good enough at listening to actually hear a patient’s symptoms.
“I want to thank you for that,” Mom said. “You must allow me to reimburse you.”
“No, no.” Alice waved away her offer. “Doctor Wong is paid by the year, not by the patient. But as my son was saying, there’s no reason to risk Aurora’s health by moving her. I’m sure if she gets some good, solid rest for the next few weeks, then she’ll be right as rain.”
“Oh.” Mom frowned. “Do you think her recovery will take that long?”
“Hopefully not,” Mrs. Vanderlind said, “but I’d rather error on the side of caution. Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.” Mom nodded her head with conviction. “It’s just…”
“Yes?” Alice raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows. Jessie had obviously inherited his dark hair and good looks straight from her.
My mother shook her head. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”
“What is it, Mom?” I asked, sitting up a little more in my sick bed.
She took a seat at the foot of my bed. I could tell she desperately wanted to be closer to me and, the truth was, I desperately wanted a hug from my mommy. But then my stomach gave a lurch and I knew there was a good chance I might try to plunge my fangs into her neck.
“Here,” Jessie said, handing me a metallic water bottle. “The doctor said to make sure you stay hydrated.”
I grabbed the bottle from his hands and chugged the contents. Blood just tasted so damn good, it made my whole body shiver with pleasure.
“Aurora, I’ve had an amazing job offer,” Mom said, leaning in to direct her conversation solely to me. Jessie and his mother took their cue and moved discretely to the other end of the room, although I knew they could still hear every word we said.
“What is it?” I asked, infusing a small amount of excitement into my voice, but trying not to look too healthy.
“Some headhunter found me on the internet and set me up with this phone interview for this really great job,” she said, her words all tumbling out at once. “Well, I didn’t think I was going to get it and I wasn’t even sure I wanted it, but I guess I really nailed the interview because they offered me the position.”
“Position as?” I asked.
“As regional manager for an entire network of counsellors for at risk girls.” Mom’s eyes were glowing with the mere thought of the position. “But I wouldn’t have to give up one-on-one counselling altogether. I’d still get to see clients.”
“That’s great, Mom,” I said, reaching out to give her a hug, but then quickly dropping my arms. I could smell her scent and I didn’t need her any closer. “And I’m so glad you get to keep counselling.” The Vanderlinds had been busy, pulling strings so that my mom would receive an out-of-town job offer too tempting to refuse. I had warned them that she would never give up counselling, for any amount of money. And she shouldn’t. At risk girls needed people like my mom in their corner.
“It would have been great,” my mom said, a little sadly.
“What do you mean by would have?”
“They need the position filled right away,” she told me. “But it’s in Denver. And you’re sick. We would have to move immediately and I would never risk your health, no matter how much money they offered me.”
“Did they offer you a lot?” I asked. Mom nodded her head. “And what about Danny?”
My mom had a hot and heavy boyfriend who I had yet to meet, but I knew that they were intending to get engaged. “That’s the weirdest thing,” Mom said, her eyes round with the coincidence of it. “He got an offer too.”
“In Denver?” I asked. That seemed like an awfully big coincidence, but the Vanderlinds were short on time, so maybe it was the best they could do.
“No, Boulder,” she said, “but through the same organization.”
“Boulder to Denver? How long of a drive is that?” I knew they were both in Colorado, but that was the extent of my knowledge.
“Less than an hour,” Mom said.
“You definitely need to take this job,” I told her. “It would be stupid not to take it.”
“But what about you?” Mom asked, reaching for my hands.
“What about me?” I asked, grabbing her hands despite the risk. “I don’t want to leave Tiburon. Not until after I’ve graduated,” I told her between gritted teeth. It was that challenging being close to her.
“Oh.” Mom frowned a little. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“I’m sure I could ask to stay here at the castle,” I said. But then I saw the suspicious look in my mom’s eyes so I quickly added, “Or maybe I could stay with Blossom, once I’m feeling a little better.”
Mom nodded, thinking it over. “That might work. I can see how you would want to graduate with your class.”
“I know it sounds stupid, but I really do,” I told her.
Chewing on her lower lip, Mom said, “Well, I’d have to talk it over with Mrs. Costner.”
“Blossom’s mom likes me,” I reminded her. “She always says I’m a good influence.”
“And I always say that Blossom is a bad influence,” Mom said with a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”
It was true, Blossom had convinced me to go on numerous harebrained schemes over the years. As a matter of fact, her idea of us sneaking into the Vanderlind Castle was how I met Jessie. Although, there had been plenty of things that had happened since then to convince me that being with Jessie Vanderlind was my destiny.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright without me, sweetie?” Mom asked, leaning forward and then brushing a lock of her hair back over her shoulder.
It wasn’t like she’d tossed her hair, or anything, but that small movement caused the air in the room to circulate differently and my nostrils were filled with her scent. “I’ll be fine, Mom,” I assured her while clutching at the duvet.
“Well, you might be fine without me, but what am I going to do without you?” she asked, leaning in for a hug.
I was losing it. She was just too close and she just smelled so delicious. My stomach growled and I felt myself starting to drool. I closed my eyes and tried to prevent my fangs from coming out. If they came out, then I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself; I would feed from my mother.
“Oh, sweetie,” Mom said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty. Of course you want to stay here and graduate with your friends.”
As I looked up at her, I felt the points of my fangs in my mouth. The idea of hurting my mother terrified me, but I knew there was no way I could stop.
“Time for your medicine, Aurora,” Jessie said, practically flying across the room. “Remember, Dr. Wong said you need to stay hydrated.” He pressed a mug of blood to my lips and forced me to drink.
“It’s getting late,” Alice said, all but pulling my mother from the foot of my bed. “Aurora really should go to bed soon.” She hooked an arm around Mom’s shoulder. “And I’m sure you’re tired too. You probably want to go home and get something to eat.”
Chapter 3
As soon as my mom left, I burst into tears. I didn’t mean to, but I just couldn’t stop myself. It was just so weird; loving my mom and missing her, but also wanting to rip out her throat and drink her blood.
“Oh, darling,” Jessie said, gathering me into his arms. “I know that must have been difficult. Do you want more to eat?”
“No,” I sobbed. “That’s not it. I mean, that’s part of it but…”
“What?” he asked, conc
ern etched across his handsome face.
“But I love her so much. And we can never be close again,” I wailed. “I’m going to have to hurt my mom really badly and she’ll never even know why.” I sucked in a ragged breath. “And then, in only a few years, I’ll never be able to see her again. Not even when she was old and frail and really needs me.”
“I know,” Jessie whispered.
“No, you don’t know,” I said, shoving away from him, suddenly irrationally angry with everyone that owned a set of fangs. “You can’t know because your mom is a vampire. You’ll never have to give her up. You’ll never have to say goodbye.”
“I know,” Jessie said again, his voice plaintive. “I just… I’m just…” He ran his fingers through his hair several times, leaving the dark waves tousled. He shook his head. “I don’t even know what I can say to make you feel better.”
“Just hold me,” I said in a small voice. The only consolation I would find was the knowledge of Jessie’s love. Being angry with him would change anything.
“Your mother will be hurt,” Mrs. Vanderlind said from the other side of the room. I hadn’t even realized she was still there. “But it will be nothing to the pain she would have felt if you’d died.” She was clutching her hands together. “Losing a child is the worst pain a person can ever feel. It doesn’t matter how old the child is, or if…” Her voice came out in a ragged sob. “Or even if he...” Expressing her thoughts became too much for her, so she turned and hurried from the room.
I stared after her, unable to wrench my eyes from the door. I wanted to be with Alice. I wanted her to sit with me and hold my hand. I wanted it almost more than I wanted to be with my own mom. Or at least I wanted it in a different way. It felt almost like a compulsion; like a persistent longing for something I could never have. Even when I tried not to think about her, I found myself thinking of her and wondering how I could please her.
“Why does your mother hate me?” I asked, finally breaking my gaze from the door.
“I’ve told you, she doesn’t hate you,” Jessie insisted. This wasn’t the first time in the last few days that we’d had this conversation.
I shook my head, blinking back any remaining tears. Jessie’s mom had always been kind to me when I was a mortal, but ever since she’d turned me, she acted like she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me. I thought about the words she’d just said, about losing a child. “It’s because of Daniel. Isn’t it?”
Jessie shook his head, all too quickly. “No, it’s…”
“I’m feeling much stronger now,” I said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “You can tell me the truth.”
Jessie sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. “It is Daniel,” he admitted. “She’s…” He frowned and crinkled his eyes, trying to think of what to say. “She turned you so that I wouldn’t be heartbroken again, but…”
“He was a psycho,” I said, interrupting him. Daniel was Jessie’s brother. He’d hated me since before I was even born because of the love Jessie felt for me. Daniel had killed me once before. Or at least he’d killed my great, grand aunt. I wasn’t sure how to refer to myself in a past life. And then he’d tried to kill me again. He would have succeeded too, if Alice hadn’t turned me.
“He was still her child,” Jessie insisted, his voice calm, but firm. “She still loved him with a mother’s love.”
“Did you love him?” I asked. Daniel was, after all, his brother.
Jessie’s lips pinched together in a tight line as he thought it over. “I’m not sure,” he eventually admitted. “He caused me the worst pain I could ever feel when he killed you. I mean,” he amended, “when he killed Colette. But I’m used to loving him, in that weird family-obligation sort of way.” With a sigh, he added, “He was never very kind to me. Not even when we were mortal. But still…” He shook his head a few times. “If given a choice between losing you and losing him, then I’m glad he’s gone. But as far as my mother…” His words trailed away.
I nodded my head. “You’re not sure that she would have made the same decision.”
“I’m sorry,” Jessie said, squeezing my hand. “She’d just having a hard time dealing with it.”
“Great,” I said with a sigh, leaning back into the pile of pillows behind my head. “My maker hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you.” Jessie was adamant. “She’s just having trouble adjusting to Daniel being gone.”
There was a knock at the door. I could tell from its force and from how high up the sound emanated from the wood that it had to be Viggo. — I was still adjusting to my super-sonic vampire hearing and the sudden noise made me flinch. — Jessie must have drawn the same conclusion about who was standing behind the door because he called out, “What is it, Viggo?”
The door swung open and Viggo’s massive figure filled the frame. “There is a letter for you, Mr. Wanderlind,” he said, the envelope looking like a business card in his giant mitt. And then, to clear away any follow-up questions Jessie might have had, he added, “From Budapest.”
I felt my stomach instantly clench. Jessie frowned and immediately go to his feet. For Viggo to interrupt us, then the communication must have been from the Bishops. They were the oldest vampire family and also functioned as a governing body. There had been a point in time when the Bishops had considered grooming Jessie for a position in their government. But that was before he had fallen in love with a human; namely me. There was a chance that the Bishops were considering Jessie for a leadership role again, since I’d been turned into a member of the undead. But I’d only been a vampire for few nights. It would probably take decades before the Bishops would forget about the troubles Jessie had caused the undead world while protecting the mortal me.
Taking the letter from his manservant, Jessie read it quickly, frowned and then tucked the paper quickly into the pocket of his pants.
“What is it?” I asked, getting out of bed. I wasn’t actually sick, after all. That was just a ploy to fool my poor mom.
“It’s nothing,” he told me, shaking his head slightly, as if to wash away the memory of the communication.
“Jessie,” I said, fixing him with a glare. “You can tell me. I’m not a fragile, little mortal, anymore.”
“Oh, that’s right,” He gave me a smirk. “You’re a big, bad vampire now.”
I folded my arms and gave him a cross look. “You know what I mean.” When he still hesitated, I added, “Jessie, I know you’re in the habit of protecting me. And I loved you for that. Seriously, I do. But I’m a vampire now. There’s no reason to conceal the undead world from me anymore.”
“A fledgling vampire,” Jessie pointed out. “And one who can’t even fly.”
“Well, you don’t know how to cook a pot roast,” I said, firing back at him.
Jessie gave me a confused look and then ran his fingers through his hair several times. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I just wanted you to be aware that there are plenty of things in this world that you do not know how to do,” I informed him. “And I will learn how to fly. I just need a little more practice.”
“I believe you,” he said laughing and holding up both hands in mock surrender.
“So tell me about the letter,” I insisted.
Jessie sighed and then shook his head, a bit ruefully. “I must always remember what a determined person you are.” I raised my eyebrows at him and he finally fished the paper back out of his pocket. “It’s a summons, so to speak,” he said, unfolding the paper and glaring at it, his brow drawn down into a sharp V.
“Are we being summoned to Budapest, again?” I asked, my own eyes growing wide with the dread of it. We’d had to go there only a few months earlier to convince the Bishops that Jessie was justified in killing a vampire named Viktor to save my life. I’d had to lie to my mother and I’d nearly been killed by the mafia, not to mention sucked dry by one or two vampires. In general, it had been a pretty stressful experience for my first time
overseas.
“No,” Jessie said, all too quickly, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m just…” His words stalled. After a moment he tried again with, “They… It’s just... They have a few questions for me,” he finally managed to say. “About Daniel’s death. And my grandfather’s.”
The Bishops have very strong feelings about vampires who staked other vampires. “Oh, God.” I buried my face against his chest.
“Don’t worry, darling,” he whispered. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. I mean, they’re not even asking to see you, so how bad could it be?”
“They’re not?” I felt a glimmer of hope ignite in my belly. I didn’t want to be left behind, but maybe it wasn’t so terrible.
“No,” Jessie assured me, shaking his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing too urgent, but I’ll have to leave very soon to go make my plea in front of them.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “And then I guess we’ll hear what they have to say.”
Righting myself so I could look in his face, I asked, “What do you think they’ll do to you? I mean, if they blame you for… you know...” I hesitated to even finish my sentence.
Jessie looked away from me. “If I’m found guilty of murdering my brother to save a mortal?” He couldn’t even meet my eye. “I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
“What about what happened to your maker?” I asked. Jessie’s grandfather had turned everyone in their family.
He shrugged. “I don’t even know.”
Truth be told, I was the one who had staked Jessie’s grandfather. But I didn’t believe anyone could hold me accountable for what happened. The man had been running wild through the streets of Tiburon, kidnapping teenagers and using them to feed. I couldn’t imagine the Bishops would blame Jessie or me for Mr. Vanderlind’s death. It was more like putting down a rabid dog than murdering a fellow vampire. The man was completely insane. Daniel, on the other hand, was a slightly different story.
