by K. A. Tucker
“They met during the war. Bishop had just been turned and he was lost. It’s not a natural process, the transition to what we are. He likely would have been killed in the war, had Fiona not taken to him. She took him under her wing, helped him. They’ve been together ever since.”
“Wow. Seven hundred years? That’s a long time to be with one person.”
Caden smirked. “For a human, yes. Human desires change with age. People outgrow one another. It’s different with us. Every day with Fiona feels like the first day Bishop met her—the sparks, butterflies, all that.”
“Butterflies … I thought that was a chick thing,” I muttered.
“No, definitely not,” Caden murmured, glancing peculiarly at me before turning back to his rod.
“What about you and Amelie? Were you … turned in the war?”
Caden shook his head. “An attack about forty years before the war.” He paused. “I was twenty–four. Amelie was twenty–one. Our parents ran a horse ranch, thoroughbreds—The Jennings Resort for Horses, some called it. One night we heard this awful sound coming from the barn. My father grabbed his shotgun, expecting to scare off some thieves. When we hadn’t heard from him for too long, I grabbed another gun and headed out. Amelie and our mother followed with flashlights. We got to one of the barns and …” Caden’s voice fell; he stared out at the placid water. “There were rumors of strange things happening at cattle and horse farms but nothing could have prepared us … Every horse in that barn was dead, their throats torn out, blood sprayed over the walls, the hay—everything. Mom and Amelie ran to get the police while I checked out the other barns, looking for my father …” Caden’s voice drifted off and he sat for a moment, deep in thought. “I found him lying beside one of his prize–winning stallions. And that’s where they found me—I never even saw a face.”
I noticed the tip of his fishing rod dip, but Caden didn’t seem too concerned.
“They decided Amelie and I were too appealing to waste—we’d make good additions.” His voice was edged with bitterness.
“I’m so sorry, Caden,” I said softly. And I was. It pained me to know that he and Amelie had suffered so.
He gazed down at his hands, a haunted smile on his face. “Do you realize that’s the first time I’ve ever heard those words from anyone?”
My heart sank. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to comfort him, to take his grief away.
I glanced over to the others as Amelie leapt into the air, squealing with excitement about the fish dangling at the end of her hook.
“So … Caden Jennings,” I said aloud. Evangeline Jennings, the voice in my head said. I shook my head, feeling foolish.
He sighed. “In another time, yes. Amelie is all that’s left of my family. At least we found Bishop and Fiona.”
What about Rachel?
I noticed that the pile of fish had grown quickly as we talked. There was enough there to supply a supermarket. “So Bishop’s pet is going to eat all of those?” I nodded at the silvery mound. “How big is this pet, exactly?”
The end of my rod dipped, followed by a second, then a third tug—the last one sharp. “I think I caught something!” I whispered, as if speaking too loud would let the fish know he was ensnared on a sharp hook. Like he’s not already well aware of that.
“Reel it in!” Caden exclaimed. As if in response, the tugging became fierce and frantic. It was all I could do to grip the rod in my injured hand. Caden reached around me and placed his hands over mine, helping me wind the reel. “Almost,” he murmured, his mouth close enough that his voice tickled my ear.
I’m going to pass out, I thought, feeling a strange excitement ripple through my body. By the time the line was out of the water, I was too busy trying to stop my hands from trembling under his to notice a fish three times the size of the others dangling off my hook.
“Big Brown’s gonna love that one!” Bishop hollered.
“Who’s Big Brown?” I croaked, allowing myself to release the breath I’d unknowingly held during the entire ordeal.
“He is,” Bishop said, jerking his chin toward someone behind me.
I turned, expecting to see another cat. Instead, a grizzly bear with fur the color of milk chocolate lumbered toward us, equivalent in size to a young elephant I’d once seen at the Portland Zoo. It was eyeing the prize at the end of my rod—or me; I wasn’t exactly sure which yet. My mouth opened to scream but no sound came out.
“It’s okay,” Caden whispered calmly, pulling me closer to him, his other arm slowly wrapping protectively around me. “No sudden movements and it’ll be okay.”
I couldn’t move if I wanted to. Caden’s arms were like a vise. “He’s big,” I managed to whisper. Big enough to slice me into six pieces with one swing of his paw. The ground shook as the bear neared us. I tasted bile in my throat. “I’m going to be sick,” I groaned, wanting to give Caden some warning. I turned my face, praying he was out of range. I’d rather be torn apart by this beast than puke on Caden.
Big Brown stooped to sniff the fish on my line and then, with one lightning–quick chomp, bit the thing right off the line and swallowed it whole—hook, leech, and all. He continued on to the pile of fish behind Amelie and devoured it in mere seconds. No one moved.
With that pile done, he ambled over to stand in front of Bishop, stooping so that their eyes were level. After a minute–long menacing stare–down, Big Brown simply turned and barreled away, disappearing within seconds.
“No signs of anyone coming,” Bishop said. “He can tell you’re not one of us,” he added, looking at me.
“So he’s like Scout. And Max,” I confirmed.
“Yes, only less predictable,” Caden answered, his arms dropping from their protective embrace around me.
I took that as my signal to slide away from him, to allow for the appropriate amount of space. I began inching away.
“You seem cold. If you’re warmer next to me, you should stay put.”
I bit my lower lip. Before catching the fish, I had been contemplating taking off my pink fleece hoody. Even in the shadows of the trees, the air was muggy. “I am a bit cold,” I lied, faking a shiver. Caden turned his attention back to the river, a knowing smirk on his face. Could he tell I’m lying? “So … that’s Big Brown,” I said, changing the topic.
Caden chuckled. “It’ll take some time before he lets you rub his belly.”
“And he eats fish? He’ll need a lot more than that pile.”
“That’s just it. He’s a bottomless pit. I think he’s devoured half the deer population around here in a few weeks; we’ll be fighting with him over food soon enough. Bishop didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He should have stuck with wolves; even a cougar would have been a wiser choice. This one’s a lot more work to feed and much more difficult to convert.”
“Really? Don’t you just have to bite them?”
Caden chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s the same process as converting a human—with venom—but grizzlies fight back and they’re vicious. More than likely, the animal will rip you to shreds before you can pump enough venom into him. You’ll heal, of course, but … It took Bishop three tries. You should have seen him.” Caden released another chuckle. “He was practically naked when he stumbled into the cave, his clothing bloody and shredded to pieces.”
My eyes went wide. “Well, why would he do it, then?”
Caden paused, choosing his words. “Cougars and wolves make fierce allies. They’re quick, fierce, and follow command like a programmed soldier. They usually travel in packs, making it easier to take down a vampire if they have to. Their teeth are strong enough to tear him or her apart and then carry the heart to us so we can burn it.” He stopped talking, a funny smirk on his face. “You’re looking at me like I have two heads,” he commented.
“I’m sorry … heart?”
He grinned. “Yes, we still do have hearts in here.” He thumped a fist against his chest. “All of our organs are still there. I gues
s they’re basically ornaments now, though. Useless. Except our heart.”
“Don’t forget to tell her about that other organ that still serves a useful purpose,” Bishop boomed. “You know, our—”
Fiona cut him off with a swift whack across the chest. “You’re a regular Casanova,” she muttered, shaking her head. Behind her, Amelie was giggling.
“So, your heart still works?” I blurted, getting flustered as I realized what Bishop was about to say.
Caden was shaking his head, eyes downcast, smiling to himself. I wasn’t sure if it was at my loss of composure or at Bishop’s brazenness. “Our heart,” he began again, glancing over at Bishop, who was grinning like the Cheshire cat, “still beats and pumps blood through our veins. As long as our heart remains within our bodies, we can regenerate. And it’s strong. Piercing it with a wooden stake or a sword won’t kill us, unless the weapon is on fire. That’s the only definite way to kill one of us—burn our heart, either with our body or on its own. If you can get it out of us, that is.”
“Once,” Amelie spoke up, “I saw a vampire’s head get cut off and thrown aside. A few minutes later, the body stumbled around, looking for it. When it picked it up and ‘plugged’ it back in, all the flesh mended itself. Good as new.”
“Oh, come on!” I looked skeptically at her.
“Honest. Scout’s honor!” She held up two fingers.
I glanced at the others, expecting to see a hidden smirk or the crook of a smile.
“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Amelie chirped.
“Always burn them,” Fiona said in a serious tone. “That way, you know they can’t come back and hunt you down—because, believe me, they’ll be pissed.”
“As if any human would get a chance in the first place,” Bishop muttered sarcastically.
Caden nodded in concession. “Back to Big Brown. A pack of cats or wolves can’t match the ferocity of one grizzly. Having an animal that powerful at your command, especially in a situation like this, where we need all the protection we can get—that’s why Bishop did it. One of those things will rip a heart right out of a chest cavity and eat it … good luck trying to get that back.”
I glanced over at Bishop, lying precariously on a bed of rocks, flicking Fiona’s ear. He still looked like that easygoing, sometimes obtuse cool kid from high school. Not exactly someone who ever paid an ounce of attention to me, let alone willingly battled a two ton animal three times for my protection.
My heart swelled.
As the shadows lengthened and the dappled sunshine faded, the first pangs of hunger rumbled in my stomach. I was sure it was a mistake—I hadn’t been here that long, had I? It rumbled again, this time loud enough to attract Caden’s attention. He looked down at my stomach, then up at my face, concern sweeping over his. “Time to go!” he announced. “The human is hungry.”
I shrugged it off, not wanting to disrupt their fun. “I’m okay.”
“No you’re not. Come on!” He hopped to his feet, whistling.
“What am I, a pet?” I quipped.
Caden threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his chest, scratching behind my ear.
“Ha–ha,” I said sarcastically, hazarding a peek up to find those beautiful jade eyes gazing back, an inexplicable look in them. You are so unbelievably hot. My heart began thumping wildly in my chest. Thank God the pendant masks that.
“Ready to go?” Caden asked, chuckling.
I nodded dumbly. Anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you.
“Looks like chicken feed,” Bishop commented dryly, his nose scrunching up in disgust as I inhaled three nature bars. They had found me some figs and berries to snack on but the exertion of walking up the mountain drove my hunger to levels of starvation.
I good– humoredly elbowed him in the stomach, wincing as my funny bone cracked against his rock hard muscles. He bellowed laughter, earning an eye roll from Fiona.
“What a mess!” Amelie announced as she surveyed the stuff scattered all over the cave, though her childlike face wore an eager expression. Suddenly she shrieked, diving down to grab something small and black. She held it up. A bathing suit.
I frowned. Why would Sofie—that’s right. I had mentioned the oasis. I didn’t think she was paying attention though.
Amelie frantically rooted around until she found one for each of us. Trunks in hand, Bishop and Caden bolted, Caden covering his eyes dramatically to hide his view of his sister, who had already begun shamelessly peeling off her clothes.
Fiona handed me a black bikini. I swallowed, holding up the two–piece, trying to figure out top from bottom. There was more string than covering. “Is there something in there a little more … modest?”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Evangeline,” Fiona murmured, already adjusting her own skimpy hot pink bikini over her supermodel–like curves.
“Okay,” I grumbled, changing quietly, dreading standing next to these two. When I was done I felt naked, even though all my vitals were covered. The cold air wasn’t helping.
“What are you looking for?” Amelie asked, seeing my eyes darting over the piles of clothing.
“There was a big, fuzzy red blanket somewhere here.”
“Come on!” Fiona looped her arm through mine and dragged me down the tunnel, picking up speed until we were jogging. Amelie ran ahead of us, giggling hysterically, holding a giant flashlight that had come in the mountain bag.
I forced them to slow to a walk, out of breath. “So … when do you think Rachel will be back?” I asked casually.
“When the Council gets bored of watching vampires bludgeon each other nearly to death, only to heal and do it over again,” Fiona answered. I cringed in horror as she elaborated: “A gladiator tournament.”
“She’s a Council member and, as such, must keep up appearances,” Amelie added in a haughty voice in snide imitation of Rachel.
“Where did she go?”
“To New Shore. It was the capital city when this was a country. Most of it has crumbled and grown over now. She wouldn’t have gone if she had known you would be here—you’re so early! She won’t be back for another week, at least,” Fiona answered.
I exhaled loudly, earning a laugh from them. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met,” I said, wrinkling my nose.
Fiona snorted. “Evangeline, you’re too polite. She’s a cold–hearted, vicious bitch!” Her violet eyes flashed with anger.
I looked at her, not prepared for the blatant loathing in her normally serene voice. “Yes, well, she is also drop–dead gorgeous. I guess all guys are the same.”
“What?” Amelie asked, her face twisting with confusion. “Ohhh, you mean Caden. Believe me, their ‘relationship’—and I use that term loosely—has nothing to do with her looks,” Amelie said. “But she is madly in love with him—crazy, fanatical, psychopath love.”
“But he doesn’t love her?” A spark of hope—a glimmer of the impossible—ignited within me.
Fiona held her finger up to her lips as we rounded the corner and entered the oasis, ending the conversation before I could get an answer.
“Wow,” I mumbled, taking in the scene. Steam rose from the water, swirling in the chilly mountain air that stirred the countless flames around the cavern to create a beautiful, dreamlike mist.
We found Bishop and Caden relaxing in a small, circular alcove. The water lapped just below their chests, the precise height to adequately show off Caden’s strong shoulders and neck. He had the perfect curves and ridges around his frame, the perfect amount of flesh and muscle to make him look neither beefy nor lanky. Perfect. I heard myself groan wistfully before I could control myself.
They stopped talking and turned, Caden’s eyes immediately landing on me. My shoulders hunched inward as I instinctively wanted to hide, wishing I could cocoon myself in that red blanket. Maybe the mist will blur his vision, I hoped. Highly doubtful. I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to cover my entire upper body—a justifiable action,
considering the chill in the air.
Fiona trotted over and slithered in beside Bishop, wrapping her arms around him before resting her head on his broad shoulder. Amelie was no less confident about her body as she jumped in beside Fiona, taking enough space for herself that I was forced to squeeze in beside Caden.
Next to those two, I probably resembled a rodent, scurrying to the edge and gracelessly clambering down, half tumbling in my hurry to find concealment in the water. Caden offered his hand and I took it, knowing I would likely end up falling on top of him otherwise. I didn’t know what was wrong with me lately. I wasn’t so physically inept anywhere else but near them and their superpowers.
When the warm water covered my flesh, I was able to relax and breathe again.
“Ah, the good old days: hot tubs, girls in bikinis …” Bishop reminisced, leaning back with his arms stretched lazily to either side of him, displaying his muscular biceps. “Eve—next time back, surfboards and a keg, ‘kay?” He waited for my giggle and nod of assent before his head fell back and he closed his eyes, resting peacefully.
“So, you all used to be human, right? Do you forget all of your skills when you … convert?” I asked cautiously. “I mean, why couldn’t you pick up where humans left off, with all the manufacturing, electricity—all that stuff?”
“Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?” Caden laughed without mirth. “Because we’re narcissistic, selfish creatures who want all the luxuries with none of the hard work behind it.” He paused. “Think of Viggo and Mortimer. The ‘good vampires.’” I caught the sarcasm. “Where do they get their money? Do you see them working? Earning a living?” Caden’s Adam’s apple protruded as he dropped his head back against the rock ledge. I had the urge to run my finger along it, but I resisted. He chuckled. “They rob their victims. They go after the ones whose wallets are thick, and whose illicit activities make their death unsurprising and welcomed. I’d bet my life on it. It’s what I used to do.”
I shuddered at his blunt admission. But was he right? I had wondered where they earned their money.
