Zero

by R. E. Carr

  “Please,” Paige begged. “I need to talk to him.”

  “He ran off from the dojo, out to the gardens I think, but I’m not sure. Hey, we’re roasting another pig. Maybe the scent will bring him back?” Maria offered.

  “I feel like I could eat that whole pig myself,” Paige muttered as her stomach growled. Maria responded instinctively by rushing to the counter and grabbing a basket of freshly-baked garlic knots. Paige shoved two into her mouth, chipmunk style, before snatching another pair and turning tail for the gardens.

  “I’ll see you at dinner then?” Maria called as Paige limped away.

  Paige managed to gulp down all four bread rolls and lick the tasty butter off her fingers by the time she made it to the gardens. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on aromas other than roasted garlic and yeast. Slowly, cautiously, she followed a familiar scent through rows of pungent herbs and rose trellises. She didn’t have to walk far to find Morgan stretched out on a section of grass, staring up at the moon and the feathery clouds that kept dancing around it.

  For the briefest of moments in the dim light, Paige could see a flash of green reflected in Morgan’s bright, blue eyes. She gasped. He didn’t even turn his head.

  “Morgan,” Paige said softy.

  “What is it, Mrs. Darcy?” he asked flatly.

  “Don’t call me that,” Paige growled.

  “It’s who you are now, isn’t it?” Morgan asked. “I was there for the wedding.”

  “I didn’t have a choice, Morgan!” she barked. “And I’m still Paige, no matter what happened. Can you give me that at least?”

  “And can you honestly tell me that you wouldn’t run off with Lorcan even if it wasn’t some vampire plot?” Morgan finally sat up and dared to look her way. “Honesty, please.”

  “Not then, maybe not ever,” Paige said softly. “But—”

  “But you love him, right? You can’t help it, but he has this hold over you. Something like that?” he asked with a little sniff. “God, you still stink like him, even now.”

  “Great talk,” she muttered. However, before she could limp away, Morgan was on his feet and blocking her way. “You’ve gotten faster.”

  “No, you’re just slow and broken right now,” he said flatly. “How does it feel to be like the rest of the pack for a change?”

  Paige snarled. Morgan almost laughed, but it came out more like a pathetic snort.

  “Yes,” Paige confessed. “Yes, I love him, and it’s weird and uncontrollable and probably due to all his damn blood I drank, but I can’t change it now.”

  “Yeah, I guess you can’t control who you love, can you?” Morgan asked softly, looking away.

  “Morgan—”

  “Look, I’m done, Paige. I get it. You’re never going to choose me, and I’m never going to be the big hero and save the day. I just want to get my sister far away from all these damned bloodsuckers, and maybe keep the pack safe for a little longer. Mostly, I want to get far away from here because . . . because I’ll never get over you otherwise. OK?”

  “Why did everything have to get so damn complicated?” Paige asked.

  “‘Cause . . . vampires,” Morgan said flatly. “I can’t stand all these damn bloodsuckers hanging about. One of them kept following me, and then he just sniffed me.”

  “Did he say anything else?” Paige asked, her stomach turning again.

  “Yeah,” Morgan growled as he headed back toward the house. “He said . . . that ‘I’d do’, or something like that.”

  “You’d do?” Paige asked, struggling to keep up with him.

  “Yeah, and then he giggled like some crazy old man. Damn bloodsuckers.”

  “You’re right,” Paige said softly. “We do need to get you out of here. Your sister too.”

  8

  “So, you say that you were adopted, Miss Sutherland?” Dr. Pang asked, conversationally, as he slipped back into Lorcan’s room.

  “Um, sorry,” she muttered as she snapped back to reality. She yawned and gave a little stretch. Her flimsy metal chair squeaked in protest and she almost toppled over. “Yeah, I’m adopted, but I’ve found my biological family. Most of them are just dead.”

  “Yes, I met the other one. Morgan, right?” Dr. Pang asked innocently. “I ran into him while getting breakfast. I see the resemblance, yes.”

  “What, do you want to dissect werewolves as well as vamps?” Georgia asked. Before Dr. Pang could answer, the werewolf doctor decided to make his entrance. Dr. Pang made certain Georgia could see his eye roll as Kyle burst in and immediately started reviewing data on a tablet he had snatched from one of the other vampire doctors.

  “Hey now, this is still an infirmary,” Dr. Pang chided. “You can’t just barge in here!”

  “His white cell count is up again,” Kyle said curtly. “I need to take a few more tissue samples to see the extent of the revivification. I also want to know if you’ve tried the full protein infusion that seemed to work for the young Lord Pendragon.”

  “Mr. Lambley’s case was in the early stages. This body is shot and you know it, Doctor,” Dr. Pang said angrily. “I’ve already started looking for suitable donors.”

  “Donors! We need to save Lorcan, not—”

  “Excuse me,” Georgia said, trying to make her escape. To her surprise, Dr. Pang followed her and gave a dismissive wave to Kyle.

  “Take your samples Dr. O’Hara. You’ll come to the same conclusion I did, unless you are a complete idiot,” he called back. The doctor then shoved his way in front of Georgia. “Tell me, is your brother like you?”

  “What do you mean?” Georgia asked suspiciously.

  “Is he annoying, and not able to be controlled by vampires, girl?” Dr. Pang asked, exasperated. He sighed. “I swear you should be smarter than this.”

  “It’s not something that’s come up in conversation, but I don’t think so. Mina was able to stop him at the Solstice Ball when he was all wolf-y and trying to kill us. Why?”

  Dr. Pang’s lip twitched as he seemed lost in thought. “Hmm, must get more data. Do you mind if I take some samples from you in the meantime?”

  “Yes, yes I do mind. If you want them, ask the Jaeger,” she snapped before turning on her heel and walking away.

  “I will do that!” Dr. Pang called after her.

  Georgia slipped into the gardens that engulfed Klaus’s villa. She snaked her way through some overgrown hedges until she found a rose arbor with a little bench under it. “What is it about vampires and rose arbors?” Georgia asked. She settled down and let some fresh air blow over her face. The hazy moon gave the whole garden an ethereal glow.

  She closed her eyes and just sat there, taking in the sounds, the smells, and the heady aura of a Tuscan villa. Just as the tension left her shoulders, she picked up a new smell, the distinct, toasty aroma of espresso.

  “So, is it gardens, or specifically roses that bring you to a place like this?” she heard from the shadows.

  “I was trying to be alone, Bob,” Georgia sighed. “Now is not a good time for coffee.”

  “Now is an excellent time for coffee, Florida,” Bam-Yin replied as he faded into view. He set a tiny porcelain cup on the bench beside her, while he took deep swigs from a flask. “Come on, I haven’t seen you since your daring escape, indulge me. I’ve had to spend hours listening to my family complain. You are much more interesting.”

  “Are you here to spy for Arthur?” Georgia asked flatly.

  “I was. I might still be, but when push comes to shove, family always comes first. I’m old-fashioned like that.” He stared up at the sky, his eyes bright aqua this time. “I had forgotten how beautiful it was here. Times change, empires come and go, but Italy always finds a way to be beautiful.”

  “Is this another weird attempt to seduce me?” Georgia asked.

  “Is it working?” he asked, a smug, fangy smile curling on his lips. “Cause if it is, I have so much more I can say.”

  “I hope the espresso work
s,” she muttered, rubbing her tired eyes. “I haven’t been sleeping too well.”

  Bam-Yin mercifully resisted the urge to quip. Instead he quietly watched her sip her coffee. He slid his hand into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a fat black envelope.

  “I rescued these for you. Sorry it’s so crinkled, but I honestly figured you’d be caught sooner,” he said.

  Georgia gulped as she slid it open to find a passport and a large stack of bills. As she tilted it to grab the cash, a small metal object fell to the ground. Georgia’s lip quivered as the moonlight glinted off a diamond. Bam-Yin leaned over and picked it up. He dropped to one knee and gave her a wink before handing her the engagement band.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked.

  “There are advantages to being an invisible vampire, my friend,” Bam-Yin said with a grin. His smile softened slightly. “The king has not been himself. He doesn’t seem to remember everything that he should, but he kept that ring by his bed, always sets it next to the one he likes to wear – the one that looks like a wedding band.”

  “He doesn’t remember me,” Georgia said, her voice breaking slightly. “Steve really made him forget. He could just forget me. That’s what you mean, right?”

  “He didn’t even know your name,” Bam-Yin said softly. “I thought it was a joke at first, but neither the Matsuoka nor the Pendragon lords are known for their humor. It seems that Steve is more powerful than anyone ever gave him credit for. Fucking little runt.”

  The cup trembled in Georgia’s hands. “It’s funny, he can make everybody forget, but me, and right now I really don’t want to remember any of this nightmare,” she muttered before taking a reassuring sip.

  Bam-Yin leaned back and stared at the moon. “He kept that ring next to his bed, and he’s having trouble sleeping. He hides it well in public, but when he’s alone, he talks to himself a lot. It’s like he argues with himself – one half in English, the other in Japanese. He’s crazy, but then again, all the Undying are. Trust me, you don’t want to be anywhere near him, Florida.”

  “Thanks for the advice,” she said with a bitter laugh. “And thanks for the coffee.”

  They sat for a while, staring at the moon, until Bam-Yin finally hopped to his feet and gave her a little salute. Georgia raised a brow at him.

  “You’ve got two hundred grand in there and a clean passport, Florida. Why don’t you let me sneak you off to Okinawa? There is a really nice treaty there and absolutely guaranteed to have no vampires around for the next, oh, two thousand years before they renew.”

  Georgia let out a deep sigh. “I already tried that one, Bob. It didn’t quite work out how I planned, so I sort of made a promise, and it won’t be good for anyone I care about if I don’t keep it. Thanks though.”

  Bam-Yin gave her a pained smile and saluted again. “Hey, at least you didn’t find out that you have an obnoxious little brother that you have to look out for, and get roped into a conspiracy that will most likely get you killed,” he said as he faded into the hedges.

  “The night’s still young!” she called after him. She slumped against the trellis and sighed. “The night is still young.”

  Georgia waited, transfixed by the beautiful night and lost in thought. She flipped through her wad of cash and slid open her passport. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw the name ‘Gwyneth Lee’ next to her picture. “Damn it,” she muttered.

  Her melancholy quickly transformed into anger as she heard footsteps coming up the path. She gritted her teeth and gathered her cup and saucer. “My luck is just bad enough that . . .” she trailed off as she saw Steve stumbling through the garden, a bottle in hand. “I am cursed,” she muttered, as Steve whirled around and noticed her.

  “I am cursed,” Steve muttered as he saw Georgia.

  She tried to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm. Georgia jerked away violently. “I’m not in the mood, Steve,” she snapped.

  “I’m not in the mood either. I just want to talk,” Steve replied.

  “I don’t.”

  “Sweetheart, please,” he begged.

  “I managed to avoid you on a boat with only two rooms and a pack of werewolves. I thought you got the hint. Go away!”

  “No, not this time,” He said. The liquor and blood on his breath finally wafted over to Georgia.

  “You know it’s technically before noon to a vampire,” she said bitterly. “And I’m too sober to deal with you anyway.”

  Steve handed her the bottle. “That one is the whiskey.”

  Georgia took a quick sniff and then a gulp. She winced as it burned in her throat.

  “You shouldn’t drink it straight,” she said, a little softer. “You wanna stand and yell at each other, or go back to my little seat?”

  “You’re really going to talk to me, Sweetheart?” he asked, staring at her with bloodshot eyes. “You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had.”

  “I just want to get this over with,” Georgia muttered before taking another drink. She shoved the bottle back into his hand and returned to her hidey-hole. She quickly tucked her parcel and cup under the bench, before crossing her arms and glaring at Steve. The vampire took a drink and then whistled at her.

  “I forgot how cute you were when you were pissed,” he said with his most annoying smirk. She responded by slapping him across the face. His smile only broadened. “And you still hit like a truck. Are you sure you’re not a werewolf too?”

  “Fuck you, Steve,” she snapped.

  He levelled his big, brown eyes at her. “I told you I wasn’t in the mood. Give me a little time though,” he said, dropping into his horrid eurotrash accent.

  “So, I guess it was your idea after all,” Georgia said, nodding angrily. “I should have known. How long did you plan it, and how the hell did you get the Jaeger involved?”

  Steve’s douchebag grin melted into a look of pure confusion. He shook his head and asked, “Excuse me?”

  “How far back does it go? Did you help them turn Ren into Arthur, or was it just convenient?”

  Steve raised his hands in surrender. “Whoa, Sweetheart. I’m a little bit lost. I have just spent the better part of my day learning that everything in my life is pretty much a lie.”

  “Welcome to the club,” Georgia said flatly. She narrowed her eyes at Steve, but had to look away quickly as tears welled up again.

  Steven leaned forward and gingerly reached out a hand. Georgia slapped it away.

  “How could you?” she asked, the tears finally rolling over her lashes. “How could you just erase me from his memories, and then . . .”

  “Sweetheart—”

  “Don’t you dare call me that anymore!” Georgia spat. “I don’t care if I have to wake up every night for the rest of my life next to you, I will never be your sweetheart. You never get that again.”

  Georgia took advantage of his shock, grabbed her things, and made a beeline for the kitchen. The vampire rushed to catch up, but Georgia could only smile as she heard a thud and saw a streak out of the corner of her eye. She just caught the winking face of Bam-Yin as he dashed by. Steve landed hard on the ground, giving Georgia a chance to escape. She snagged an apple on the way to her room and slammed the door shut so she could cry in peace. Unfortunately for her, her window slid open a few minutes later. She looked over to see Steve flopped over her windowsill. All the anger drained from his face as he saw the tears running down her cheeks. He dropped to his knees at the foot of her bed.

  “That thing wasn’t Ren, not anymore,” Steve said, back to his earnest Brooklyn accent. “I wasn’t going to let some Pendragon bastard just take him over and have you too. I’m sorry. You hear that? I am sorry!”

  “Sorry?” Georgia asked. “Sorry! You wipe my existence from the man I love, and then you honestly have the gall . . . There isn’t sorry, Steve. There just isn’t . . . and now I have to . . . I actually have to—”

  Steve remained oblivious. He tugged at his hair and scowled as he violently fough
t to find the right words to say. Finally, he just let out a deep sigh.

  “Sweet— Georgia,” he choked out. “I didn’t just do it to save you. I did it for Ren. I owed him that.”

  Georgia glared at him. “No, you—”

  Steve hopped to his feet and stared Georgia right back down. “Yes, I did! Can you imagine the horror of being trapped inside your own body, watching someone you love be with someone else? Arthur would use that to torture Ren, torture him for eternity. So I’m sorry, Sweetheart, I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

  “You don’t have a heartbeat, and you sure as hell don’t have a heart,” Georgia growled. “How long did you wait before you concocted this ridiculous scheme to get me back?”

  “Georgia, what the hell are you talking about?” Steve barked. Georgia pointed to the scroll still on her vanity.

  The vampire only stared at her in confusion. Georgia pointed again.

  “I must admit, it’s low . . . even for you, but that’s how vampires are, I guess,” Georgia sniffed as she wiped the tears from her face.

  Steve finally walked over and picked up the scroll. He stared at the Jaeger seal, and then gave Georgia one more confused look. At last he popped it open and stared, unblinking, for a few moments at the neat script on the page.

  “Read it,” Georgia said coldly.

  Steve nodded quickly and mouthed the first few formalities. All the color drained from his face, however, as he reached the final few lines.

  “‘By order of this contract, and in the interest of fostering better relations between our Pendragon allies, the Jaeger clan hereby issues a writ of . . .’” Steve trailed off and stared at Georgia in pure horror.

  “I swear, this is the first I’m hearing of this,” he stammered. “Georgia, please, I had nothing to do with this.”

  “Oh sure, you didn’t! The Jaeger just came up with the bright idea to give me to you only to piss the Pendragons off. News Flash, Arthur doesn’t even remember me, so the only thing I can think of is that you asked for a little family favor, and they are spinning it into some big insult,” Georgia said. “Of all the lowlife—”