Bloodgifted

by Tima Maria Lacoba

  Alec strode over to the door and closed it.

  Mum leaned her head on the back of the chair. ‘That was the most nerve-wracking experience of my life.’ Her head suddenly shot forward ‘They’re not going to come back again, are they? Rethink what was said and want more of an explanation? What on earth would I say to them?’ Her frightened gaze went from me to Alec and then to Dad. ‘Oh, dear, I’m not going to sleep tonight for worrying!’ She sank her head into her hands.

  My mum was a gem, but the biggest worry-worm I ever knew. She could stress-out a meditating monk! Unless we could reassure her, she’d have to be sedated and poor Dad would spend the next couple of days calming her down.

  ‘Eilene,’ Alec said. ‘Everything’s going to be fine. They won’t come back. I promise. Rest easy.’

  She looked up into his face. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really.’ He gave her his best smile.

  Dad got up from his chair and came around to her side. ‘I think we both need a strong drink.’

  ‘A bit of brandy won’t harm you,’ Alec said.

  ‘There’s a nice little pub just down the street from here. C’mon Leeny,’ Dad said, and he helped Mum up from the chair.

  ‘I’m glad we could be here for you,’ she said as she hugged me goodbye.

  Dad kissed me on the forehead. ‘Goodbye, Baby.’ It felt so final, as if he were saying it for the last time.

  ‘I’ll come and visit, soon.’ I gave him a big squeeze. ‘Thanks for being the best dad a girl ever had!’

  He squeezed back and I felt his emotion.

  Alec escorted them to the door and we were alone again.

  Chapter 35

  Bonding

  LAURA

  When Mum and Dad left, a moment of sadness settled over me for I knew for certain a part of my life went with them—my old life. Alec sat on the edge of my bed and gazed at me with a half-smile.

  ‘You’ve got that faraway look. What are you thinking?’

  ‘Old parents, new parents,’ I said. ‘My changing life.’

  ‘It’s not over yet.’

  ‘I know.’

  Alec’s proposition for tonight lay like a invisible wall between us and my stomach clenched in anticipation. I suddenly felt uncomfortable in his company and when my mobile phone went off, I nearly jumped. I picked it up and checked the screen. It was Jen. After everything that had occurred over the past few days I’d forgotten about her. ‘It’s my best friend, Jen.’

  ‘I’ll leave you to talk then.’

  I waited till he left the room to answer it. ‘Hi Jen. It’s me,’

  ‘LAURA! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?’ she shouted.

  ‘Yes, yes, I’m okay. No need to yell—’

  ‘Where are you?’ She lowered her tone, just a fraction.

  ‘A private hospital in Rozelle, but I’m being discharged later today.’

  ‘It’s been on the news. That was your flat, wasn’t it, they were talking about?’

  ‘Um… yes.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Some burglars, the police think. We must have disturbed them. They were inside and knocked us out.’

  ‘You were lucky you weren’t killed!’ she said, a slight tremor in her voice. ‘Oh, Laura!’

  ‘I’m okay, honestly, Jen.’

  ‘Does your family know?’

  ‘Oh yeah. As a matter of fact they just left.’

  ‘How are you getting home? Don’t dare tell me you’re taking a bus or taxi or something. I’ll come and pick you up.’

  ‘No, no, it’s fine, Jen. Aunt Judy wants me to come and stay with her a few days. She’s on her way now.’

  ‘All right, then, as long as you’re not going back to your flat. Otherwise you could always come stay with me.’

  ‘Thanks, you’re a angel. But I promised Aunt Judy.’

  ‘Ring me when you get there so I don’t worry, okay?’

  I rolled my eyes. ‘Yes, Mum!’

  ‘You know what I mean, Laura Dantonville!’ She gave a light laugh. It was good to hear the anxiety had gone from her voice. ‘Have you heard how Matt is?’

  I swallowed. ‘Yeah. He’s still unconscious, but out of danger. They rammed his head pretty hard into the door frame.’

  ‘The shits!’ she exclaimed. ‘I hope they catch the lot and put ‘em away for life.’

  I wanted to say that’s already been done; that they won’t be bothering me or anyone ever again. How I longed to tell her everything, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

  I heard the clip-clop of Judy’s high heels on the floor as she came through the door. ‘Jen, my aunt’s here. Can I ring you later?’

  ‘Fine. Give me her address and I’ll pop over while you’re there, if that’s okay?’

  ‘I’ll check with her. Should be all right, though. I’ll text you the address,’ I said as Judy came in and dropped a light kiss on my cheek.

  ‘Talk to you later, then. I’m so glad you’re okay, hon. Bye.’

  I put the phone back on the bedside table. ‘I can’t keep this from her for too long,’ I said to Judy.

  ‘We’ll work it out, dear. How are you feeling?’

  ‘Better, thanks.’ I smiled up at her.

  ‘Ready to come home?’

  Home. That was something else I was going to have to get used to. Until now it was a little one bedroom flat in Rozelle, but if my parents had their way I was sure I’d soon be calling their massive mansion in Vaucluse, aka Vampire Central, home. Still, anywhere was better than here.

  I threw back the covers only to realise all I had for clothing was the hospital gown and the shorts I‘d been wearing when Alec brought me in. Oh, and the shoes. If I put those on, I made a real fashion statement!

  ‘Don’t worry, dear. You’re not going out like that. I came prepared,’ Judy said and she lifted the small luggage bag she brought with her onto the bed and unzipped it. She must have gone through the closet of my room at Luc’s before coming here for I didn’t recognise any of the pieces of clothing she pulled out of there.

  ‘Your father and I went shopping for clothes for you to celebrate your homecoming,’ she said. ‘We hoped you’d stay for a while. At least for some part of the holidays.’

  ‘Of course I will. We have a lot to catch up on!’

  Her smile widened and I found myself looking forward to spending time with them both. There were questions I wanted answers to, particularly from Luc.

  As I threw off the drab hospital gown and slipped into a pale green, knee-length shirtdress from the bag Judy brought, I peppered her with questions.

  ‘Mother?’ I had to say it. Calling her “Judy” seemed wrong to me and the affectionate look she gave in return confirmed it. But something had been niggling at me since witnessing my parents closeness.

  ‘Yes, dear?’ She sat on the edge of the bed and elegantly crossed one leg over the other.

  ‘Have…’ I swallowed and tried again. ‘Have you ever considered becoming… like Luc, a vampire? That way you’d always be together.’

  Her eyes widened in surprise.

  ‘I mean,’ I began quickly. ‘You love each other so much and knowing that you will eventually… um, die—’

  ‘Laura dear,’ she held up her hand. ‘If only that were possible. We did discuss it early in our relationship. Unfortunately the very gene that blesses the Ingenii with youth and longevity, prevents our transformation into vampire form. It’s been tried.’

  I sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, not knowing what to say. Two people who I was beginning to love as my parents, and who undeniably belonged together, were doubly doomed; to not only carry the cursed gene which drew vampires like bees to blossom flowers, but to stand by and helplessly watch as one of them slowly succumbed to the inevitability of old age and death while the other remained forever young. I wanted to yell at the unfairness of it.

  Judy patted my hand. ‘I’ve accepted it, dear. Your father and I have made… arrangements… when the time comes.’
>
  She spoke calmly and a small smile hovered at the corners of her mouth, yet I felt that was for my benefit. Beneath the surface her emotions must have been churning. Mine were.

  ‘Arrangements?’ I didn’t like the sound of that. Was it some sort of suicide pact or something? How would they do it? Most vampires, apart from Alec and Luc, would simply walk out into the sunlight and wait for their own personal Armageddon. A wooden stake through the heart? Would my mother have the mental strength to do that to him? And then what? Take poison or something?

  ‘Laura?’ Her voice dragged me away from my morbid thoughts.

  ‘I’m here.’

  ‘For a while you weren’t.’ She sighed. ‘There’s nothing for you to worry about, so don’t dwell on it, dear.’

  ‘You think? After opening a Pandora’s box in my mind with that word?’

  ‘Put the lid back on it. It’s nothing drastic or tragic as I believe you’re imagining. And besides, it’s still a long way off. I intend being here for at least another fifty or so years. To see my grandchildren.’ She smiled.

  I tried smiling back but that uneasy feeling didn’t leave me, so I decided to be circumspect about it. Since whatever they planned lay in the distant future and I couldn’t do anything about it anyway, I took her advice and shelved it—for the present.

  Chapter 36

  The Pledge

  ALEC

  I left Laura in Judith’s care and went back to my office. It gave me the opportunity to look over the blood supply list. Why hadn’t Delaney questioned me about the time? There had been at least a good two-hour delay between the time when l brought her here and when she received blood. He was too good a detective to miss something like that.

  Scanning down the column, the vacant time entry stared up at me. Carol had forgotten to fill it in! In her hurry, she’d left that unrecorded. Everything else was there—date, number of units, blood type and the requesting doctor—except the time.

  The woman deserved a bonus.

  I filed it back into the folder and headed to my office. There were emails to reply to and conference dates to confirm.

  The phone rang. It was Luc. ‘Alec, I’ve been in contact with the other Elders and we’re thinking of holding the Pledge, but you’ve got the final say in this. Is it yea or nay?’

  ‘You’ve got my yea. No argument on that one. As long as this rogue’s at large, Laura’s not safe. Only the Pledge will guarantee that.’

  ‘That’s what I thought. We could hold the ceremony in the pavilion again, although the ballroom would be better. This ceremony needs to be conducted away from prying human eyes.’

  He was right. It’d be perfect. The idea of holding the Pledge in the garden seemed impractical, especially as a public recitation by several hundred vampires could attract unwanted attention.

  ‘My sentiments exactly. Anything on Jean?’ I asked as I rifled through several papers on my desk.

  ‘I’ve just spoken to him. He’s on his way. Reluctantly, I may add. He doesn’t trust me.’

  ‘Can you blame him?’

  ‘You know my reasons. I did what was necessary to keep them apart. What if the DNA test proves positive?’

  ‘I’m not accusing you Luc. In your situation I may have done the same. I don’t know.’ And since coming to know Laura, I thought, I can understand why.

  ‘No, I believe you would have acted very differently.’

  Neither of us spoke for a moment.

  ‘As long as Laura’s with me I doubt he’ll try to make contact.’ But what if he was desperate enough to? My mind raced ahead already putting a plan into action to avert that very situation. I was sure Luc was doing the same.

  ‘That’s good. Tie her to your side if you have to.’

  I couldn’t tell if he was serious. ‘I don’t think that’ll be necessary. Besides, she’s with Judith right now.’

  ‘She’s been waiting a long time to be a mother, mon ami.’ I could almost hear the smile at the other end of those words.

  ‘That’s why I left them together for a while. They’ve got a lot to talk about. And don’t worry—’ I heard his sharp intake of breath ‘—it’s daylight.’

  ‘Still, whoever our rebel is may have minions.’

  I extended my senses and even though I promised not to listen in, I homed in on their voices to check that everything was all right. Just as quickly I withdrew and glanced at my ring. It glowed a healthy scarlet. ‘Everything’s fine, Luc. They’re getting to know each other.’

  ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ he said. ‘Bring her here as soon as she’s ready.’ He rung off.

  I got up from my desk and headed back to Laura’s room.

  It was time to take her home.

  Chapter 37

  Coming Home

  LAURA

  We sat in my mother’s favourite part of the house; her sitting room, she called it, situated opposite the dining room at the end of the hall. It was as feminine in decor as Luc’s study was masculine; cream walls and beige sisal rugs blended with the plush softness of two linen covered sofas, whose muted sage greens complemented the lichen coloured, glass-topped wicker coffee table, the centre of which held a crystal pitcher filled with fresh garden roses.

  A vintage wrought-iron chandelier, entwined with green enamel leaves, hung from the stuccoed ivory ceiling, and various botanical prints vied for attention with framed photos of my mother as a young woman. White wrought-iron bookshelves filled with pot plants and mismatched pieces of English china lined the walls, while expansive French doors opened to reveal another view of the garden beyond.

  Judy settled herself in one of the sofas after making sure I was comfortably reclined in one of the armchairs.

  Alec had taken the small luggage bag she had brought with her to the hospital and deposited it in my bedroom. Then he joined us.

  ‘Laura, I believe we may have come up with a solution to end your present danger,’ Luc said. He was seated next to Judy. ‘It’s the Blood Pledge.’

  ‘What’s that?’ I asked.

  ‘A sacred oath taken by all the Brethren to protect the Ingenii and Guardian. Sworn on the Serpent Ring, any who break it, die,’ he answered.

  ‘You mean, they’re—executed?’

  ‘Not by any living being. The ring strikes them down. The eyes of the serpents erupt fire and they are destroyed.’

  My gaze automatically drifted down to the ring on my hand. Here was yet another thing I would have to add to the list of other things in this strange, new world I had to accept. Magic. Who believed such stuff in the twenty-first century? Yet how could I deny it. The serpent’s eyes gave off a subtle glow. It gave a completely new twist to the old saying, if looks could kill!

  ‘Luc…’ I started then changed my mind. He said it would please him if I could call him Papa. I thought I’d give it a try. Would it feel strange?

  ‘Papa, have you ever seen it happen?’

  His face beamed. ‘Merci, ma petite,’ he said, but the smile faded as he told me about the first two rebellions and how they were dealt with; how one of those who had taken the Pledge broke his oath and fire flared from the serpents’ eyes. Since then, there had been peace. ‘Many are still alive who remember, but the newly transformed, like those who attacked you, have never seen it happen.’

  ‘Maybe it’s time they did,’ Alec said. He was leaning against the wall by the French doors. I noticed it gave him a direct view of me.

  He and Luc started to discuss the logistics of summoning all the Brethren to swear allegiance to the two of us.

  ‘We’ll begin the Summons. Before this year ends I want every last of the Brethren to take the Blood Pledge,’ Luc said.

  Alec nodded in affirmation. ‘Prefects only?’

  ‘Best way, since they’re responsible for the Brethren in their respective territories. Any breach of the Pledge will be a reflection of their own loyalty and they will be liable. Much more effective than individual oath taking and—’ he emphasised t
hat last word ‘—it’ll be faster. It can also be accomplished in one night.’

  ‘What about those who don’t show?’ I asked.

  There was a dangerous gleam in Luc’s eyes. ‘Stripped of their offices and reacquainted with the sun.’

  I swallowed. It was hard getting used to vampire politics. A compassionate democracy it was not. Yet I couldn’t deny Luc’s harsh judgement, having experienced first hand the cruelty of those who hated the Princeps. Still, it was too frightening a thought for me dwell on now. From their conversation, I assumed the “Prefects” were similar to magistrates who dealt with the vampires in their respective cities or countries. Therefore a pledge taken by them would be binding on all under their power. And if it could all be done in just one night, even better.

  ‘Laura, I know that’s not what you’re used to, but we have no choice,’ Alec said.

  ‘It’s okay. I’m beginning to understand.’ Deep down I hoped there’d be no dissenters, so no one would have to be killed on my account. I’d seen too much of that already. At least now I knew they didn’t go “whoosh” in the sunlight, as I once laughingly expressed to Judy. They kind of… sizzled!

  ‘How about this coming Sunday night?’ Luc asked. His eyes ranged between Alec, Judy and myself.

  We all agreed. I certainly didn’t have anything planned. My soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend was in hospital in a coma and my unit was off limits until Russell’s killer was caught.

  ‘Good, then that’s settled,’ Alec said.

  The way his gaze locked onto mine resurrected images of the two of us together, linked in the most intimate ways, and once again I looked away and tried to think of something else.

  ‘We better start contacting the Prefects,’ Luc said.

  ‘I can send the necessary emails. Let me know to whom,’ Alec said.

  ‘I’ll send you the list,’ Luc replied, after which he leaned down and kissed Judy. ‘I’ll see you later tonight, ma cherie.’ Then coming over to me, he said, ‘Get some rest, ma petite,’ and he dropped a light kiss on the top of my head before strolling from the room.

  Just as I began to relax, confident everything would be okay, my injured arm began to throb. Whatever Alec had given me earlier to ease the pain had worn off. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.