“May I ask a favor?” Curry says.
“Yes.”
“Gia and Lairah would be much more help if they were out searching with us so I’m going to ask Chansey’s grandmother to come take care of the babies. Can she ride back with you?”
He’ll be forced to tell her what’s happened. “You won’t be able to keep the truth from Anna if she comes here.”
“I’m pushed into a corner.” Curry shrugs. “I need her help with the babies. And she’s Chansey’s grandmother so I think she has the right to know what’s happened.”
“That’s probably best,” Lairah says. “Gia and I love these little guys to pieces but we weren’t made for staying up during the day to take care of them.”
“I know and I thank you for doing it today. Trust me when I say I know it isn’t easy. I don’t know how Chansey does it. She’s such a natural with them. She’s a wonderful mother and that’s why they need her back as soon as possible.”
Lairah places a supportive hand on Curry’s shoulder. “Go. We know you’re dying to get back out there and look again now that you have a starting place. We can take care of them until Anna arrives.”
“Thank you. You don’t know what it means to me and Sol,” Curry tells them.
“Don’t mention it,” Lairah takes her hand from his shoulder and gives him a hug. “All we want is the safe return of our sisters.”
Curry and I park on a side street off of Johnson Square. Built in seventeen thirty-three, it was the first square constructed in Savannah so it’s our starting point. It certainly fits the bill for being more than two hundred years old.
We take a quick look and Curry says, “The majority of these places don’t look like residences. Most are businesses.”
That’s a good thing and should speed up the process. “Then we should be able to rule them out quickly.”
We inspect every structure–both business and residential–for the sigil. No detail is left unobserved but our initial search at Johnson Square is unavailing so we move onto the next. The scenario is very much the same during our next quest but then we stumble upon something encouraging at a residence off of the main street.
“Look.” Curry points at the symbol above us. “It’s a sigil. Not the one we’re looking for but it supports the theory that we could be looking in the right place. It’s possible they might know Vincent’s whereabouts.”
“There’s at least four inside. Maybe five so we shouldn’t approach them alone.” Walking into a nest of unknown vampires is a huge risk. They reside in the city where the coven of Landra has built our newest compound yet they remain faceless and nameless to us. That means they don’t share our coven’s opinions and still drink directly from humans–probably willing and unwilling. “We’ll return tonight with the others and pay them a visit along with any other vampire residences we find.”
We complete the search through two more squares along with their surrounding streets and bring our total vampire residence discoveries to two. The day has been a total failure unless one of the groups of vampires have information that can lead us to Avery and Chansey.
On the way back to the compound, I pray to anyone that might hear my plea. Please bring my beloved Avery home to me safely. I willingly give my life in place of hers and the miracle inside her right now. Our child.
I’m certain there’s a baby growing in Avery and I marvel at how similar he already is to a vampire without considering my contribution of DNA. He resides in darkness with blood as his only nourishment and although I’d never want him to be like me, I pray he’s developing the strength of a vampire. He’ll need that resilience to survive if Vincent drains Avery near depletion like he did the night of the blood ceremony.
The thought makes me consider everything that could go wrong. Our child might not survive the things Vincent will do to Avery. He needs her rich blood supply to live. His mother’s blood is his only lifeline. It’s the one and only way he receives oxygenation and nourishment to grow so chances are good that this baby won’t make it if I don’t get her back soon.
It’s a thought that plagues my mind the whole ride back to the compound and that’s when I begin to worry that things may have already gone bad for Avery and the baby. “It’s been a quiet day with Avery. I haven’t felt much from her today.”
“I haven’t either but I’m sure it was a long night for her and Chansey so they’re probably sleeping. I’m guessing we’ll feel more than we’d like after Vincent and his nest are awake.”
The thought is almost enough to make me lose my mind. “My gut tells me Avery’s pregnant. Did you feel that way before you knew with Chansey?”
“No.” He shakes his head and laughs. “It was the complete opposite with us. She was the one with the suspicion while I was in denial.”
He probably thinks I’m insane. “I have nothing to base it on except a hunch. That’s insane, right? It’s only been a couple of days so maybe I’m just being hopeful.”
“You share a beautiful connection with Avery. A baby solidifies that bond in a way you can’t imagine until it happens. I didn’t feel anything until I accepted the reality of Chansey’s pregnancy.” He’s grinning as he drives. “Once I did … it was crazy good.”
“I feel like a frenzy of emotions has taken over. Love. Happiness. Excitement.” But what I was feeling wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. “Fear. Worry. Anxiety.”
“You’re not imagining any of this. It’s real. And trust me … it’s going to get worse. I was going out of my mind with worry about the next stunt Marsala would pull to get to Chansey. And then the babies came and I had them to worry about as well. Killing her was my only option. Even if it meant never knowing what a blood jewel was.”
Now I’m able to see why he didn’t hesitate. It didn’t matter what it meant to be a blood jewel if Marsala killed Chansey. “I didn’t let it show but I was very angry with you for a long time. When you killed Marsala, I thought you snuffed out my only lead for finding out what it meant for Avery to be a blood jewel . Now I understand why you had to do it and I’m sorry I didn’t trust your judgement or take Chansey’s safety into account.”
“Marsala had no limits when it came to wanting me and the babies. I didn’t want to kill her but she gave me no choice. She was evil in its purest form. I knew Chansey and the twins would never be safe as long as she lived.”
He didn’t have to explain. “It was the right decision. Just like it’ll be the right choice to kill Vincent and anyone associated with him when we find them.”
“Agreed.”
Chapter Thirteen
We stand at the door of the first vampire residence and wait for someone to answer. A young human girl not more than a day over sixteen swings it open. The whites of her eyes almost glow in the moonlight from the excessive black kohl smudged around them. Her make-up is overdone, just like the drugstore black hair dye covering her natural blond locks. “Who are you and what do you want?”
I feel like I should be asking if her mommy and daddy are home. “We’d like to see the owner of the house.”
She crosses her arms and appears annoyed. “He’s busy.”
We didn’t have time for games. “Maybe I should rephrase. Take us to the leader of this coven. Now.”
“Show them in Kaiden,” I hear a calm, male voice call out. We follow the young girl to a room at the back of the house where four young male vampires surround a television. All of them are consumed by the video game they’re playing. “I’m in the middle of something. What do you want?”
I watch his eyes so I can gage any reaction he might display. “We’re looking for a brother and sister living in the Savannah area. Vincent and Gloriana Godfrey.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Never heard of ‘em.” I see no reaction so I believe he’s telling the truth.
“Has there been any talk in the community about some special kind of blood?”
“Yeah. I heard something about that a few months ago. Got invited to some
big party where they were sharing but I didn’t go.” He takes his eyes from the television for a brief moment and gestures toward the young girl. “I’ve got my blood doll.” He puckers his lips and makes a kissing sound at the girl. “I don’t need their blood when I have my own personal supply anytime I want it. Ain’t that right, Kaiden?”
The girl is pleased by this vampire’s show of affection for her. Too bad it’s a fake endearment to make her think he cares about her and not her blood. “That’s right, baby. Anytime.”
He is using her as a meal ticket. Hadn’t I seen this done a thousand times before? But who was I to judge? Hadn’t I done the same thing? We all had at some point. Hell … I hadn’t realized it at the time but I’d agree to it not so long ago with my own agápe.
Curry appears annoyed and steps between the vampires and the flat screen. “Do you know of any other vampires living within the Savannah Squares?”
One of them pauses the game. “The only ones I know of live in the Victorian District over by Forsyth Park but we don’t hang. They’re not really into the same kind of things we are.”
Curry laughs but not because he’s amused. “Which would be teenage girls and video games?”
“Dude, don’t judge me.” He tosses the controller onto the couch. “I was seventeen when I was turned so I’m never going to grow up. This is it for me. I’ve achieved my maximum level of maturity.” He barely looks fifteen. His voice hadn’t even matured yet. Whoever did this to him should rot in hell. Forever.
“I’m gonna leave my number.” I take one of my cards from my wallet to give to him. “Please call if you hear any word circulating on that special blood again.”
He tosses it on the coffee table. “Will do.”
We leave the house of teen vamps and walk toward our next destination. “That was … I don’t even know what I think that was.” Weird? Strange? Freaky? All of those words are fitting.
“What about the girl?” Curry asks. “Should we do something about that?”
Kaiden’s presence is consensual. There isn’t anything to be done. “She is there of her own free will. Those guys are too wrapped up in their video game to stop her from leaving if she wants.”
“But she’s so young.” Curry has always had a soft place in his heart for any girl that reminded him of his sister. “Can a girl her age possibly have the mental capacity to make that kind of decision?”
She’s likely looking for affection because she doesn’t get any at home. This little creep is probably the first guy to come along and tell her she’s special. “It’s not for us to say. She didn’t appear harmed and they aren’t out of control so it isn’t a Landra issue.”
We knock on the door of the second residence and wait. I’m afraid but it has nothing to do with the vampires we’re about to become acquainted with. I’m terrified they will know nothing about Vincent or his whereabouts and we’ll be no better off than we were last night if they have no information for us.
A male vampire answers the door. He’s older than me–at least four hundred–despite his midtwenties appearance and modern clothing. He’s blond with bright blue eyes and a narrow nose. I’d guess he’s Northern European–or at least his ancestors were.
“Hello.” He still has an accent after four centuries but I can’t quite put my finger on its origin.
After I introduce myself and the others, the vampire identifies himself as Giermund–definitely a viking name–and invites us inside his home. “This is my mate, Runa.”
“Hello.” Her appearance is similar to Giermund’s–blond with light eyes and a narrow bridge of her nose. I suspect they are human siblings–quite possibly with the same maker–since that wouldn’t have been an unusual practice several centuries ago.
“We won’t take much of your time.” I tell the couple about our search for Vincent. I even confide our reason why, minus the part about the blood jewel. It’s a risk but one I’m willing to take at this point because this pair would be familiar with the agápe legend. And also because I feel my desperation growing. These vampires are mates so I take a chance hoping they will understand our urgent desire to rescue our beloveds from their captor.
“I’ve never heard of Vincent Godfrey or his coven but Runa and I don’t agree with the practices of most vampires so we choose to not socialize with them.”
I give Giermund my card. “Thank you for your time and please call if you hear anything you think might aid in finding our mates. Even if seems unimportant.”
He looks at the card and then back to me. “You’re with the Coven of Landra?”
“Yes. I’m head of the Savannah compound.”
“Runa and I have lived by Landra standards for more than a century and we feel we have a calling to help other vampires. Would you mind talking to us about joining once the problem with your mates is resolved?”
Allowing others into our circle would mean them knowing the truth about Avery and Chansey. I had no basis other than gut instinct alone but it told me an interview with Giermund and Runa was worth exploring. “We would love to talk with you further. We’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Fourteen
Last night’s search was fruitless. Tonight’s has been as well so Curry will be forced to tell Anna the bad news when she arrives at the compound within the hour. “What did you tell Chansey’s grandmother when you called?”
“That Chansey was overwhelmed with the twins but too stubborn to ask for her help. I played the part of the dumb vampire husband that didn’t know what to do.”
“The part about you being dumb isn’t that far from the truth.”
He laughs at my wisecrack. It’s been too long since I’ve taken a cheap shot at him and I look forward to getting our agápes home so we can return to normal. “It’s true. I was ignorant when it came to taking care of babies. But in my defense, I’ve never had a reason to learn. I think I’ve caught on pretty quickly.”
Curry is a pro at being a father to his twins. “You know I’m joking. You look like you know exactly what you’re doing with your kiddos.”
“I couldn’t do any of it without Chansey. She taught me everything.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “And Avery will teach you when the time comes.”
I’ve smiling inside because I’m thinking of happier times–a future that includes me, Avery, and our child. Or children. Twins are a definite possibility.
My happy thoughts end because I’m unexpectedly engulfed by a sudden wave of weakness from Avery. And then I feel … abyss. There hasn’t been a time when I felt an emptiness like this from her. Something has definitely gone wrong.
My expression paints a picture of worry. “What is it, Sol?”
“Something has happened to Avery. Everything felt fine one minute and then she suddenly weakened. Now I feel nothing from her.” I’m panicking as I imagine the worst–that Vincent has killed her.
“Don’t freak out. Even if you’re not feeling her, Avery isn’t dead. It doesn’t work like that because Sebastian is still able to feel Ella through death. She must be unconscious.” I’m not sure if this should make me feel better or not.
“That means he took too much of her blood if she has passed out.” And that’s a danger to our baby.
“Or maybe she fainted because she’s pregnant. A lot of women do that when they’re expecting and it doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with them or the baby.”
Side effects this early don’t seem likely. “If Avery’s pregnant, it’s only a few days. It seems entirely too soon for something like that to happen.”
“Chansey’s pregnancy didn’t progress at a normal rate and Avery’s won’t either so who’s to say it’s too soon?”
I wanted to believe in Curry’s theory–and I appreciate him trying to encourage me–but my heart was telling me Avery was in trouble. The only solace I could find was in knowing she wasn’t dead. But how long could she last with Vincent if I didn’t find her soon? “I’m going to inflict so much pain on that bastard when I find h
im.”
“As much as I’d love to be the one to take him down, your beef with him is much larger than mine so I’ll happily stand aside and watch as you kill him slowly.”
A wooden stake through the heart was far too compassionate for him. He deserved something much slower and more painful. “Have you ever seen a vampire die in the sun?”
“Yes and it looks like an excruciating way to go. You hear this sound that can only be compared to food being dropped into frying oil. And the smell … it’s intolerable. A vampire’s decaying flesh releases a putrid stench as it burns in the sun. The odor is well beyond that of a human’s body as it burns by fire.”
Good. That sounds like the perfect way for Vincent and Gloriana Godfrey to die.
A week passes and then another. Two weeks. That’s how long I’ve been separated from my agápe and and I’m losing my mind.
Avery’s menstrual cycle is due today. It will come or it won’t. If it doesn’t, she’ll know she’s pregnant but I won’t be by her side to share in the joy. I’ll remain in the dark–unknowing if I’m to become a father or not until we find them. And then I remember how quickly Chansey’s pregnancy progressed once the first two months were behind her. What if we don’t find them soon enough and Avery gives birth while she remains with Vincent? That would be a disaster.
“You’re in deep thought. What’s on your mind?” I turn toward the voice calling upon my attention but I don’t respond because I’m not quite sure what to say. I don’t know Anna well enough to confide my feelings. “Don’t worry. You’re going to get Avery back. And my granddaughter will be returned as well.” She looks down at her great-grandson in her arms and then reaches over to stroke the head of her great-granddaughter lying on the couch next to her. “And these two will be reunited with their mother very soon.”
This woman has led a dynamic life. She was once a blood swan and then later became the grandmother of an agápe because her daughter was one of Anteros’s chosen few. Is it possible for that to be a coincidence? “Do you mind me asking how you became a blood swan?”
Blood Doll (The Vampire Agape Series Book #3) (The Vampire Agape Series #3) Page 10
