by Claudy Conn
It could be because Rucker vampires have never experienced the taste or the effects of human blood in their system. We are all supernaturals on Rucker and supernatural blood makes Rucker vampires very ill. Hence, their blood consumption is confined to animal blood, and most of the Rucker vampires don’t kill for the blood. They simply take what they need. I have many friends amongst the vamps. One in particular.
I tease them and tell them it is disgusting that they have to drink blood, but they answer that they are more humane because they don’t kill to eat, and we do.
I suppose that is true.
In fact, quite disturbing when I think about it too much.
Gramps had paced a few feet away and said, “I enacted a cloaking spell around myself. No one other than Vampire Master Rollingwood and a few other trustworthy vampires know I am here.”
“Cloaked yourself?” I was amazed.
He smiled. “It is an old Fae trick that I was taught by a Fae prince—a dear friend, many years ago. I have often found the spell quite useful.”
Yeah, I guess so, leave it to Gramps to understate.
He walked back to where we stood and it occurred to me how odd it was that he didn’t look much older than I. If you looked closely, though, you could see ancient in his twinkling aqua eyes. Yes, Gramps had aged, but immortals rarely show age past their mid-twenties.
So, here is my wise old gramps looking like a hottie that doesn’t know he is one. The notion both made me smile and grossed me out.
“Indeed, my friend, Prince Breslyn taught me any number of tricks that have come in useful over the years.”
“I know all about your friendship with him—found out from another Fae prince, but, Gramps, isn’t this still dangerous, hanging out here with vampires when some of them had almost gone over to the dark side with Morlan?”
“You know about Breslyn—you found out from another Fae prince? Who?”
“Later, tell me why you are with the vamps.”
“Because we have always had loyal friends amongst the vampires and Rollingwood advised me that his clan and the other vampire clans have begun to see that our realm—that Rucker will turn dark and burn out under Morlan’s rule. They appreciate the realm as it is. They hunt their land and raise their families and have no wish to go dark. Morlan’s promises are no longer believed and those that considered his promises are no longer interested in going to war. They have come to see that our coven allowed us all to live in peace and everyone had what they needed. He is losing his followers in droves.”
“Yes, but…”
“Hush, child. We have been working on a plan to join with the werewolves and shifters and take Morlan down. Our numbers increase every single day. I was, in fact, just about to bring you and your mother here to be a part of that plan. However, a new development has stalled us.”
“What new development?” my mother asked.
“Ah, that is for later. Perhaps we should get you two to the cabin,” he answered.
Gramps keeps things to himself until he has a complete picture. That is his way and Mom and I are used to it.
I sank against him as he held me and said, “Now, your turn, Dilly. Why are the two of you together and how did you find me?”
I looked up into his aqua eyes, so much like my own. He didn’t look displeased, but he didn’t look pleased either.
“Kinda a long and complicated story.”
He reached over and took Mom’s hand as he put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “Fine. To the cabin, where we can be comfortable, have a cup of tea, and something to eat, and I will listen to your story.”
“What cabin—where?” Even as I asked the questions, he transported us in a cloud of white and gray.
He called it a cabin, but it was amazingly not just a cabin. It was made of cedar and was A-framed in style, huge with large panoramic windows, and hanging flowers at the covered front porch.
He led us inside and saw us comfortably seated at his reclining brown leather couches. I plopped and sighed to myself. My life was beyond messed up.
Kallem, my prince—the love of my life, was in Zelda’s hands.
She hadn’t looked well, the last I saw of her. Could she cure him? I had to believe she would cure him and in the end, we would find each other.
I tucked my legs under my butt and saw my arms. They were full of bruises, but, from the colors, I could see they were already healing.
One puncture wound, from the monster’s claw, still oozed blood. I licked it. Mom was in the kitchen with Gramps and returned with wintergreen and dabbed my open wounds before she attended to her own.
I looked at her. She was so brave. She and my dad had been inseparable. How was she going to cope? She had to go on living forever without him. How?
That was a wound that would never heal. I threw my arms around her. She patted me and whispered, “It will be all right. I feel your father everywhere I go.”
She feels him? What does that mean? She means spiritually, I’m sure. She had a grip, right?
Gramps handed us each a cup of tea and put down a platter of biscuits.
In response to my mom’s statement, he said, “You are meant to, dear.”
Like what?
Some of the time, my family speaks in puzzles and riddles and it just doesn’t make sense to me. My dad was gone. I knew him as well as any loving daughter could know her dad. I understood him, and like to think I know what he would want me to do in any given situation. But he had not come to me spiritually. I did not feel his aura or whatever and although I wished I could, I didn’t believe that was possible. Dead is dead. Dead is what I meant Morlan to be, but not, NOT before I tortured him excruciatingly before I allowed him to die.
Biscuits. That was real. Tea, real and needed. I dove in, and watched mom out of the corner of my eye. She sipped her tea, but she seemed to be in another world.
My dad looked almost like my grandfather’s twin. Could that be affecting her?
It was so obvious to me. Mom was trying to avoid thinking of her immortal life without her love. She was in pain. Aw fuck.
~ Two ~
A KNOCK SOUNDED AT the cabin door and Gramps put one finger up. I had just finished telling him everything that had happened from the moment I had landed on my butt in Zelda’s attic to when Morlan’s Dark Magic claw abducted me, with Mom hanging on.
The front door was made of stained glass and cedar and I studied it, thinking that if Kallem and I ever got lucky enough to live together, I wanted a front door like that.
Gramps flung open the door and said, “Rollingwood!” The two large males, Gramps a warlock, Rollingwood the Vampire King of Rucker, embraced one another.
Jack Rollingwood was a longtime family friend.
The large and ancient vampire came inside and bowed his blond head of curls respectfully to my mother and then to me before he said, “My dear ones. I am very sorry for your loss. He was a good friend to me and our clan over the years.”
I felt the tears well up. Just like that.
I closed my eyes and got control for Mom’s sake.
She remained seated with her crocheting. Mom loves to crochet, she makes the most beautiful coverlets. She smiled sweetly and thanked him, but looked down at her work, taking herself out of any future conversation. It seemed a little odd. She liked Rollingwood and she had always been social.
“Come in, Jack…come in and sit with us.” Gramps ushered him towards a chair. “What news have you for me?”
“Morlan is on a savage rampage.” He glanced at me. “No doubt because Dilly here, thankfully, escaped him once again.” A slight curve lifted the corner of his thin lips.
I arched a brow. “Ha, let him rampage on!”
“Is he aware that his forces are dwindling?” Gramps asked.
“Indeed, we believe he must be.” Rollingwood smiled at the thought.
“What news have you from Ballad?” Gramps asked.
“Ballad? You can’t be seriou
s!” I stuck in, infuriated at the sound of his name. “You can’t be working with Ballad, Gramps.”
“We aren’t, but, Dilly, the traitor thinks we are. It allows us to get false information back to Morlan,” Jack answered.
“He is worse than a traitor,” I answered. “If not for him, Morlan would never have found out…”
Rollingwood inclined his head and interrupted me, “Agreed. It is because of him, my dear friend, your father…” He looked at my mother. “…your husband is dead. I mean to pay him back for that, myself.”
“Okay, Ballad is yours, but Morlan is mine!” I said, and felt the angst constrict my throat.
“In the meantime, the Mandrinis Coven has dissenters. Not everyone is happy with Morlan’s style, and that will be a help to us,” Rollingwood told my grandfather. “It is coming together exactly as you predicted.”
“What of the Lady Sanguin? Where does she stand, do you know?” Gramps asked.
I like Olivia Sanguin. She was, at one time not so long ago, a friend of my mother’s. She is an extremely powerful witch and always had a hand in the Council business of the Mandrinis Coven.
“Again, you were correct. Her dislike of Morlan and her many friendships within the coven have allowed her to undermine his influence. She is working behind the scenes to convert those who had unwisely chosen to follow him,” Jack said.
“Good. How far along are we…?” Gramps handed him a shot of very good brandy.
Rollingwood threw it back and planted the shot glass on the side table at his elbow. “Apparently, and I know this because her servant was instructed to get word to us, the Mandrinis council members had a secret meeting and mean to take arms against Morlan as soon as they get word from us.”
“And you gave my word that their place on the Council will continue as it always did once we oust Morlan?” Gramps’ voice was low, meaningful.
Jack nodded. “You know how I feel about that, but that is your county, and your decision. I think the leaders that sided with Morlan should be punished, but you have proven right too many times for me to do more than voice my lowly vampire opinion.”
Gramps leaned forward and said, “Jack, I may not punish, but you can be certain those that stood against me, will never do so again.” He put a finger to his nose in an age old sign.
I got up and went and threw my arms around Jack’s neck. “You are not lowly. You are a king amongst your own and you are a king in my eyes.”
“Well then, a king I most certainly am.” Jack chuckled and flicked my nose with his finger before turning back to my grandfather. “I have sent word both to the Shifter and the Werewolf colonies to be ready for a revolt. I have no doubts as to their loyalty to you, but I do have my doubts regarding the Demon Colony. Some of them see this as a way to gain more territory and power.”
“I mean to visit with them very soon,” Gramps said.
“No, Gramps, you can’t. Morlan…he will find out. It only takes one of them to squeal…” I moved to clutch his arm.
“I don’t mean to make my visit known to any but their leader, Allbot. Allbot and I have been friends a very long time. He may not agree with or follow me to this victory we mean to have, but he would never betray me.”
Things were falling into place. I started to feel a glimmer of hope. I glanced at Mom. She was in a different world. It was as though she hadn’t heard a word. I looked at Gramps and his eyes smiled and said to leave her be. So I did.
Gramps seemed to have matters under control.
Rollingwood got to his feet, moved over to my mother and bent over her outstretched hand. Huh, so she was back with us?
“I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I am here for you, Rhonda,” he said.
“Thank you.” She inclined her head.
We watched the king of the vampires exit and while Mom went off into another world, Gramps began to pace.
Okay, now, what I needed to do was get back to Zelda’s place and my Kallem! “Gramps…?” I started to say.
“No,” he interrupted me, and there was no compromise on his face or in his tone. “I know what you are going to ask and my answer is no. Matters have changed. Morlan knows about your human hideaway. You can’t return there, even for a fraction of a moment. By doing so, you would endanger us all. He will capture and hold you hostage. I would be forced to abandon my plans to save you. Dilly, you have to behave responsibly in this.” He shook his head. “And the subject is not open for discussion.”
I adore my gramps, however, I am my own person—all grown up here. I am not in the military and not taking orders.
“Not a little girl, Gramps. I am not going to just do what I am told,” I said as calmly as I could, because I really hate to bump heads with my grandfather.
“In this, I am afraid you don’t have a choice,” he said.
He actually said that to me?
I grew up under his twinkling watchful eyes. He must know better.
“I respectfully must tell you, that while I love you and understand your need to protect me and secure your mission to save our world from Morlan, I have priorities that I won’t forgo. Period, end of story. I involved others in my problems and because of that, one in particular was hurt and I owe it to him to return and make certain…”
“No,” Gramps interrupted me again. “This isn’t just about keeping you safe. This is about Morlan getting his hands on you and because you are the key, you must think of the greater…”
My turn to interrupt. “I can do both, Gramps. I can look out for my interests…and keep out of Morlan’s reach.”
“Dilly Crescent, you cannot be selfish…”
“Selfish? I haven’t behaved selfishly since this all began. I didn’t ask to inherit this ‘key’ thing. I am doing the best I can, but I will not forsake those I care about!” I was fuming now and glaring at him.
“Dilly…this is not the time,” he said softly.
I stared at him for a long moment before I formulated my response. “Fine,” I said, but had no intention of following his instructions. I was going to quietly withdraw and use myself—the key as he pointed out, to get to Zelda’s attic and Kallem.
Boom! An explosion outside sent us flying for the door.
Everywhere vampires were running around cursing and putting out small fires from the debris of the explosion.
Gramps went into action immediately.
“What is this? Is Morlan bombarding Vamp County with bombs? To what purpose?” I was astonished.
“He has been doing this on a daily basis, hoping to break our resolve. As of now, he merely thinks the vampires have decided not to join him. He doesn’t yet know, they are strengthening their forces to take him on,” Gramps explained as he flicked a finger and put out several small fires.
I did the same and within a short space of time, which was amazing, considering the chaos that had reigned just moments ago, the fires were extinguished and everyone began returning to whatever they had been doing before.
Rollingwood approached us and shook hands with Gramps.
Gramps went with him, and with his awesome magic, repaired a few homes and buildings that had been damaged by shrapnel.
I was so proud of him.
I followed suit, repairing fences, returning flowers to their former glory, and exchanging quips with a few of my old friends.
When we were finished and I looked around, I asked Gramps, “Won’t Morlan wonder how the vamps are rebuilding so quickly?”
“No, they have witches in their clan…mixed unions. One or two have the skill to help in this regard, but not as quickly as the two of us. Morlan doesn’t care about the destruction. He just wants to cause havoc and remind the vamps how powerful he is, even from a distance.”
I sighed.
All was well. Time for me to get to Kallem.
Rollingwood said, “I must go. We are holding a secret meeting at our underground offices with the shifters and I have a little diplomacy matter that needs taking
care of first.” He eyed Gramps. “You will be the first speaker tonight.”
“Indeed,” Gramps said.
Jack nodded and left us. I turned to find my mother, who had come out and helped with her gentle magic, now staring into nothingness. I watched her. She seemed to speak to someone, but I couldn’t see anyone there. No doubt whoever it was, was out of my sight.
I frowned and followed her into the house. “Mom?”
“What baby-girl?”
Something was off. Something was really off with her. My mother is an altogether, steady person, but now, she wasn’t here. She just wasn’t really here with me.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” I asked. “What were you thinking?”
She took my hands and squeezed them. “Nothing, Dilly. There is nothing to worry about.”
I studied her and for a moment, only a moment, it gave me the oddest feeling. I shook it off, but complained to her, “Mom, you are never open with me. I am an adult and it’s time we shared. It shouldn’t just always be me coming to you with my problems. If you need to talk…you should talk to me—no?”
“Of course, but right now, I have nothing to share.” She smiled absently and went to the back room and closed the door.
Gramps entered the cabin, snapped his fingers and said, “Ah, your mother off taking a nap? Good, she needs rest. You have a choice of bedrooms, my dear. I thought you might like the one in the loft at the far end. It is private and overlooks the woods.”
I had a plan. I would go to Kallem when Gramps was busy at his meeting. Sneaky, yes. I should just stand up to him and go, but I honestly didn’t want a confrontation with him. Gramps had so much to do and so much on his mind.
I had about an hour to kill before he would leave, and I was famished, so I tweaked his sleeve and said, “What? No dinner? I don’t know about you, Gramps, but I am starving. I can’t even remember when I ate last.” It was the truth. My stomach was pleading for food. Tea and biscuits just hadn’t done it.
