“But you hardly know me. Why would you do that?”
“Because you’re…you’re like me,” he said. “You and I we’re the same. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you lass, and I know the trouble you have the potential to get into and how you might not be able to stop it from happening no matter how hard you’ll try. You’re like old Duncan Archie, but with a wild streak.”
Duncan was beginning to frighten me. Saying I was a wilder version of him was like saying someone was a wilder version of any of the well-known serial killers you’d see on TV. A wilder version of a Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy was a hellish concept.
“You could come with me now if you like. Come back to the mountain and I’ll pack and then we’ll go. We’ll get away from here and you can start over somewhere. Someplace calmer where nobody knows you. You’ll have an easier time containing yourself there.”
“I haven’t had a problem containing myself here.” Getting into a fight with the old vampire would be an incredibly stupid move, but I could feel myself getting agitated none the less. “This is my home, I’ve lived here all my life. I’m not leaving it.”
“All your life is only twenty-four years my sweet Rachel. You are going to live for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. You could live so long that you barely even remember this place. Listen,” he said softening, “I know what it’s like to have someone you love turn into some kind of monstrosity. To have them come at you with hate and evil. I’ve lived long enough that I’ve watched the faces of loved ones be taken over by power and desperation, even though they had the best of intensions. Everyone here has the best intentions for you I’m sure, but they know…”
“Know what?”
“They know what you are, and they know what they have to do if things go wrong.”
All of this was exhausting. I put my head down on the table covering my eyes and wishing that I could just will myself to sleep for a hundred years to try and escape the oncoming pain I was sure to feel when Gavin would be killed. I knew I had unique abilities, but they weren’t dangerous ones and as far as I was concerned Duncan was over exaggerating. Sure a vampire with these kinds of talents would be a real menace if she decided to run loose, but that wasn’t me. Duncan had only met me twice and was making the assumption that I’d do something evil if given the chance. I couldn’t help but feeling a little insulted.
I felt the old vampire stroke my hair. “It’s alright girl. This will all be a memory someday. After your fella dies you’ll feel the blood bond break. You’ll feel it so strongly that you might think of ending it all, or you might lash out at the wrong people. You should be safe and with me when that happens. I can help you. I’ve been through everything. I can see you through it. I’ll keep you safe until the pain ends, however long that may be.”
“Is it going to be that bad? I know a maker losing a child is bad, but is it really that bad in reverse?”
“Maker or child, tis a pain like you’ve never felt before. A pain so deep and dark that only the devil himself punishing you in the fiery pits of hell would be worse. It won’t start right away though so you’ll be ok to travel if we leave now. We could make it some place before the worst of it hits you. Come back to the mountain with me and we can leave by morning. I’ll have you somewhere safe when the sickness comes.”
“Sickness?”
“Yes girl. Terrible, terrible sickness. Long days and nights of screaming in agony, followed by days or weeks of not being able to move or speak. It can last for months or years, sometimes it never fully goes away.”
“Have you had it?” I asked, finally giving Duncan’s elderly face another look. His expression grew pained and he closed his fist, digging his nails into his palms, remembering.
“Yes, I have. And ‘tis a miracle I survived it. I was all alone and almost ended it all. That’s why you need to come with me, Rachel. You need to let me help you.”
“Duncan, I can’t leave. I need to find out what’s going on here. I need answers. I can’t leave until I find out why this is happening. Gavin had Blood Bond Syndrome before he started doing this. It doesn’t make sense that someone who was so intent on protecting me would try to kill me now.”
“It’s a strange one I’ll grant you that, but sometimes in this life we don’t always get answers. Sticking around here for an answer might get you killed.”
“None of these people are going to hurt me,” I said.
Duncan gave me a doubtful look. “Would you not have said the same about your husband a short time ago?” He had me there. “Things are changing fast and you need to learn to adapt quickly as a vampire or you’ll never survive.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Duncan sprang up and flew across the room to the door. Between one heartbeat and the next he threw it open and was across the yard tackling someone to the ground. Whoever it was made an attempt to get away, but Duncan had effortlessly picked him up and held him by the neck, legs dangling in the air, kicking in an attempt to run.
Ian was choking. “Duncan,” he croaked, “put me down.”
Through darkened eyes the old vampire looked at Ian and growled. “What are you doing back here? You’re supposed to be on another continent aren’t you? And why the fuck are you in my girl’s yard?” With his accent the ‘fuck’ came out sounding like ‘fook’. Duncan was squeezing Ian’s neck so hard that I was afraid he’d pop it right off his shoulders.
“Duncan, it’s ok,” I said taking the old vampire by the shoulder, forcing him to face me instead of Ian. I wasn’t sure if it was a gesture that would get me killed or not, seeing as how Duncan was suddenly in the mood for a fight, but I did it anyway. I was scared to death but spoke as calmly as I could. “It’s ok. He’s been staying here since Gavin tried to kill me. I didn’t want to be alone.”
Instead of listening to me Duncan squeezed his hand tighter around Ian’s neck, drawing blood this time and backing him into a tree.
“Do you want to die?” he growled at Ian. “I could kill you in half a second, influencer. What kind of tricks are you using on her to get her to want you here?” Ian was desperately trying to pry Duncan’s hand from around his neck. “Talk!” he screamed at him. “What’s the matter? Lost your tongue? Maybe I can rip it out for you a few times. That would give you an excuse to be silent. Tell me what you’re doing here?”
I’d had enough. The others had always said how mentally unstable Duncan was and he was becoming unglued right before my very eyes. I had to do something before he killed Ian in a fit of unwarranted rage. Focusing on the tree branch above the two of them I sparked and set it on fire. The branch burned so hard and fast that it cracked and broke from the tree. Duncan let go of Ian just in time to avoid being hit. Like all vampires, Duncan had a healthy respect and fear of fire. He hadn’t lived for a thousand years just to get taken out by a burning branch.
Getting to his feet he pulled me aside. “Didn’t take hardly any effort at all for you to do that did it?” I had been expecting him to lecture me at the very least, but he merely seemed curious. Most vampires were afraid of Duncan, but for some reason I couldn’t grasp, I felt he’d never hurt me.
“Not really,” I said. “Not when I’m upset.”
Duncan gave his head a shake that said, ‘of course’ and turned to address Ian, more calmly this time. “You. Not a word. Do you understand? Not a bloody word.” Ian nodded and Duncan turned his attention to me once more. “I want you to promise me girl, that you’ll call on me in times of trouble.
Remember what I said. It has to be me you look to for help and no one else. Promise me,” he said.
I didn’t know if I wanted to make that promise, but as with the night I had been transformed I didn’t really feel that I had the option of saying no.
“I promise,” I said. Duncan turned and gave Ian one more stern look of warning before planting a small kiss on my cheek and zipping off through the trees. The branches swooshed as he took off into the woods and we watched as they gra
dually came to a standstill once the current passed. Once again the nocturnal air was filled with the familiar silence of Solders Cove at night.
“Does he visit you often?” Ian said still watching the spot where Duncan had disappeared and wiggling his neck around as it healed.
“What? Why would he?”
“No reason, just wondering. He seems to be a bit, um, attached is all.”
“Yeah, it’s the first time he’s come here. I’ve only met him twice before. Once when Gavin and I went to see him, and once at my wedding. He gave me away.”
Ian smirked. “He did?”
“Yeah, he just showed up.”
“Ha. Of course he did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Listen Rach, I’m really sorry about tonight. That was…very inappropriate of me.”
“You didn’t twist my arm. I’m a big girl.”
“I know you are,” he said smiling again. “And you’ve been through a lot, with still more to come. I just lost my head. The blood in the air, and you. It was just too much. You’re so…” he trailed off.
“So what?”
“So unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” I could tell he wanted to say more but he reined himself in, biting his lip and crossing his arms. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I know you think you played a part too but I could have stopped it. I just didn’t. I just wanted you and I didn’t think of how that would affect you. I’m sorry Rachel. I’ll leave if you want me to.”
The thought of being alone in that house still frightened the hell out of me. “No, I want you to stay. We can just go back to the way things were. We don’t ever have to talk about it again. Just don’t go. Be my friend.”
“I am your friend,” he said, laying his hand gently on my shoulder.
Relief flooded over me. Being alone was not something I was going to be able to deal with. “Good,” I said. “I have a feeling I’m going to need one.”
Chapter Sixteen
It was early in the morning. Much too early for anyone to be calling but the phone was ringing none the less. I saw by the call display that it was Gavin’s mother. I let it ring four or five times trying to decide if I really wanted to pick it up. Perhaps I’d just let it go to voicemail. I wanted to be alone when someone finally told me that my husband had been captured or killed, or both. At the last second, feeling guilty for not considering her feelings, I picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hi Rachel,” she said. She sounded like I felt, exhausted and edgy. It had been three weeks since the hunters were sent out, and so far they had come up empty handed. It was highly unusual and perplexed everyone involved. The night they had been awakened Ian assured me they’d have Gavin within twenty four hours.
“Is there any news?” I said cutting right to the chase. I didn’t want to make small talk, not today.
“No,” she said, “I just wanted to make sure you were still coming to Alexander’s turning tonight.” Alexander’s turning. I had forgotten all about it. The MacDonald’s had selected their nineteen year old son to become a vampire. He had the perfect temperament. Sweet, gentile, and soft spoken. A straight A student who always did what he was told, there would be no creation of a monster with this one, that they were sure of.
He had accepted willingly. A month ago when they asked us to come I thought it would be interesting to see a proper turning, considering mine had been anything but. Gavin had looked forward to it as well since his turning was not what was considered normal either. We’d hoped to have children of our own, and when the time came to perhaps turn one, we were curious about how it would happen. My heart wasn’t in it anymore but I couldn’t turn her down.
“Of course,” I said.
“Good, it will be a happy night. We could use a little distraction I think. Make sure Ian knows about it too ok?”
“Ok,” I said. Having Ian around had been an enormous comfort. He listened to me talk about Gavin for hours, and shared his grief with me over his brother as well. He had been a very good friend, as well as hunting partner. In a short time he taught me a lot. We had even fed together on a pair of tourists who were parked by the lighthouse in town late one night. It had become somewhat of a regular spot.
He continued to look for his brother along with the hunters. It was never said, but I got the impression that if it came right down to it he wouldn’t kill him. He loved Gavin as much as I did and he’d try to bring him under his control so he could take him away from here. Ian had travelled the world and had said to me, “Rach, not every place is like this one. These clans cower in fear. Vampires here are hiding, and not really living. There are hunting grounds in the world where there are not so many rules, and people go missing all the time, nobody even looks for them, so you can feed freely. Maybe Gavin is just a different vampire from the rest of us. He would be happy in a place like that. Why should he have to suffer for the old rules Angus wants us to follow?”
The more he talked the better it sounded. “See you tonight then,” she said interrupting my thoughts. I bid her goodbye and hung up.
Ian came in from outside where he’d been chopping wood. He seemed to enjoy doing that a little too much. I had enough wood now to get me through the next three winters, perhaps more considering I didn’t feel temperature anymore. I’d have to keep the house somewhat warm for the animals when the weather got colder however. Winters in Cape Breton can be harsh and a person could be stuck at home for days at a time if it got really bad.
“Your mother wants us to come to Alexander’s turning tonight,” I said.
Ian raised his eyebrows in surprise and threw his hands up. “They’re still going through with that?” he said, “Life goes on I guess.”
“I guess it does.”
He let out a long sigh. “Well I guess we have to be there. I wonder if Alexander really knows what he’s getting himself into.”
“I can’t see how anyone can possibly know.” We let our silence fill the space between us for a few moments. “The hunters don’t seem to be having much luck,” I said finally.
“No, no they don’t.” Ian plunked down at the table and traced the pattern on the table cloth with his finger as he tried to think of something else to say. His eyes reddened and a tear slipped down his cheek.
“I know,” I said, taking his hand, stopping it from tracing the pattern in endless circles. My gesture was meant to comfort, but instead it seemed to compound his sadness. For the first time I saw him break down. His whole body became racked with sobs and he covered his face with his hands.
Bending down, I took his hands away from his face, then took his head and placed it gently on my shoulder. He cried more softly now, and I stroked his soft, cropped hair. He felt so different in my arms from Gavin. He was solid and muscular, with strong arms that now were reaching out to hold me close. After a few moments he quieted down. I pulled away slightly intending to move, but he gripped me tightly.
“Don’t,” he whispered. He kept his head on my shoulder and pulled me onto his lap as I sat, cradling him. His breathing changed and I knew he was holding back. I didn’t know if I wanted him to make a move or not. My heart was racing as we sat, frozen for a few moments, both of us knowing what was happening, but wondering if doing it would be right or wrong.
His mouth was slightly brushing my neck. I felt the tiny movement in his lips, and the hesitation as he wrestled with himself. Making a snap decision I placed my hand on the back of his head and pushed him slightly closer, letting him know it was ok. He was so close that I heard as his fangs emerge and I bit my lip, waiting for him to prod through my skin.
Then, ever so gently, he pressed down and I felt his sharp bite. He sucked very gently as the blood flowed. It stopped a second later and he bit again, harder this time. I gasped and put both my arms around him pulling him tightly to me. A moment later his hands were running up and down my body, exploring my legs, and gently caressing my breasts.
All those weeks o
f pent up anger, sorrow and grief were coming out now with a fevered intensity that was building by the second. The sensation of being bitten and touched was too much, and my fangs ran out as well. He pulled away from my neck and we kissed long and hard pausing only for a second as he lifted my shirt up over my head. I removed his shirt as well and then my bra was pushed down, leaving my breasts exposed to him.
He picked me up, carried me to the bed and gently laid me down. Placing all his weight on top of me, he kissed me again as he teased and stroked my nipples. I pushed his head down toward them and he took one in his mouth biting and sucking hard. As he did that he undid and removed the rest of my clothing, leaving me completely naked underneath him.
Soon he was naked as well and he rolled me over so that I was on top. I lowered myself onto him, and gently, took him inside me as I dropped my head to his chest. I bit him as hard as I could just below the nipple and drank deeply, taking in his sweet warm blood.
He moaned as he grabbed my hair pulling it hard. Slowly and rhythmically we thrust against each other. He pulled my face to his and kissed me again rolling me over one more time. He was on top now and kept the same steady rhythm with his body. Taking my wrist to his mouth he bit down, and I felt the intensity build between us.
We climaxed heavily together, shuddering and moaning, until it was over. He pulled me into his arms and we lay quietly together, side by side, for a long time.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I whispered as he stroked my hair. “I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.” Before he could respond there was a loud panicked banging at the door.
The Vampires of Soldiers Cove: One Crow Sorrow Page 10
