by Janet Jones
Jenny took her hands away from Sean's head and slumped back against the wall. Adrienne scooted closer and held her.
"Is he ready?” Ellory asked.
Meical nodded. “Most definitely."
Then this was what Sean really wanted. Talisen took the boy's hand. He'd never see the sun again. He'd never watch Saturday morning cartoons with Shelby again. He was so young. Could she watch it happen?
The moment Ellory gathered Sean into his arms, she felt riveted to the spot, not by horror, but by the tenderness and compassion in her mate. He smoothed Sean's matted hair away from his eyes, his face rigid with anger. He seemed to waver.
"Ellory,” Jenny whispered, “Shelby was his only concern. Now that he knows Talisen will look after her, he's free."
Ellory looked sick with remorse. He just held Sean.
Talisen touched his shoulder. “Honey, you have to do this. It's the only way he can be with Shelby, and she needs him."
He sighed. After another moment passed, he tilted Sean's head back, lifted him as though he were merely a child and fastened his mouth on his throat.
Talisen held her breath.
At first Sean was still. Then his body jerked. His chest rose and fell sporadically, and a cough of air that sounded like a moan escaped him. His fingers curled, and then he began to convulse. Ellory held him down and kept drinking.
Talisen fought the compulsion to run. Sean had given his life for her. The least she could do was be here for him, no matter how hard it was.
At last Ellory lifted his head, breathing hard. His face was flushed and his eyes red hot. “He'll need a lot."
"I'm ready,” murmured Meical.
Ellory bit into his wrist, pressed his wrist against Sean's mouth and cradled his head in his free hand, while Jenny massaged Sean's throat.
Talisen shook her head in disbelief. She didn't know what shocked her more—the sight of Ellory bleeding so profusely all over Sean's face, or the fact that Sean, who should be dead, started to make noises deep down in his throat.
A moment passed, and his skin began to lose its dead-white color. It looked pink like a baby's, then red, as though he were feverish. Suddenly he groaned, flexed his hands weakly, and felt for Ellory's arm. When he found it, he crammed Ellory's wrist deeper into his mouth.
Everyone expelled a collective sigh of relief, but Talisen could hardly breathe. Awe made her shiver.
Sean curled his legs up and turned his whole body toward Ellory, then unerringly found Jenny's knee and tweaked it, making her squeal.
Ellory lifted his glistening gaze to look at Talisen. His face was pale now, but in his eyes she saw joy.
Meical reached for Sean. “Clear off, Ellory, and go feed your face. Here, Sean. I'm your back-up teat. Open up, boy."
Ellory slipped his wrist out of Sean's mouth, and Meical replaced it with his own so quickly that their new creation scarcely missed a swallow. Ellory ran his tongue over his wrist to stop the bleeding, and Talisen helped him to his feet, drawing him away down the hallway.
The instant they were out of sight, he backed her against the wall in the hallway and kissed her hard. The feel of Ellory alive and safe in her arms where he belonged, and the taste of Sean's blood on his tongue, made Talisen throb all over. He was already nuzzling her throat. They made it as far as his room.
He took her straight down to the rug in front of the fire, canines nipping along her collarbone, while she tried to fill her arms with as much of him as she could hold.
* * * *
Two hours later, Ellory lay listening to Talisen's steady breath while she dozed. It fanned the hair on his chest, warm and moist and sweet. He ran his hand over her round bottom and smiled when she moved against him with little aftershocks of what they had just shared. She'd unleashed herself on him like a summer squall, holding nothing back.
He laughed contentedly, then soothed her back to sleep when she moaned in protest.
Hate to be a bother at such a tender moment, but I thought you'd like to know, you're the proud father of a bouncing, baby vampire. Remarkable how fast he's changing. Sound asleep in his little vixen's arms, he looks quite harmless. Rather favors Michelangelo's David. I think he's very much improved.
Ellory grinned. Has someone replenished you?
Christophe offered, but I felt like dining out tonight. Your inn is most convenient.
Remind me to get rid of you at the earliest opportunity. You're a bad influence on my children.
Meical laughed, but his humor faded. Ellory, you know none of you will be safe until we bring Dylan down. Face it. You need the Alchemist's protection.
Ellory nearly snarled. Easing Talisen onto their piled-up clothing, he floated to his feet, yanked a blanket off the bed and draped it over her. By all means, let's waltz right in on the beast and present him with my healthy, happy brood of guinea pigs for his experiments. Not a chance, Meical.
But Sean needs a safe place to recuperate from his coming-over, and Meinrad's not up to full strength yet.
Ellory stalked to his wardrobe but, lacking patience, waved his hand and clothed himself in jeans and a red flannel shirt.
He hated it when Meical was right. Dylan would spend this night gorging and, before morning, would create a revenant that might succeed where Emerson had failed. Where had Dylan gotten his power?
Meical beseeched him. You can't put Ms. Davies and Shelby through another day like they had today and call yourself their protector. Go to the Alchemist. Accept his protection.
As much as Ellory hated to admit it, there seemed no other way. He sighed harshly in the darkness. And just how do you propose we locate the Alchemist?
"Actually, people rarely want to find me. I find it's better to spare them the trouble and show up when they're not expecting me."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Fifteen
At the sound of the Alchemist's voice, Talisen came awake with a yelp, wrapped the blanket around her up to her chin and clamored to her feet.
He smiled and gave her a courtly bow, but there was as much appraisal in his gaze as apology. He looked way too dangerous in black Levis and a trench coat to be charming. “I do sincerely beg your pardon, madam."
She backed closer to Ellory. “What do you want?"
"I'm here to reiterate my offer of asylum. Nothing more."
That meant they had a hope. Yes! Talisen turned and searched Ellory's face. “Please?"
He rubbed his eyes and sighed again. Finally, he nodded. “Can you get Shelby ready? Sean won't be much help to you. He'll have his hands full trying to deal with himself. I regret that he won't have the luxury of sleeping through the rest of his transformation."
Talisen smiled, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him. She turned and shared her smile with the Alchemist.
His eyes glinted, and he looked away. “Meet me at least three hours before dawn where Fenston's lighthouse used to be."
Talisen heard Ellory's soft intake of breath behind her.
"Fenston's lighthouse? You must be joking."
"You know the place?"
"Like it was yesterday."
"Feed your young ones first. My provisions are limited."
Talisen could guess what he meant by “provisions.” A shiver ran through her. “Is it safe for them to be out?"
The Alchemist still didn't look at her. “For tonight."
He bowed like Old World nobility and vanished.
Talisen turned and wrapped her arms around Ellory again, and they held each other in the quiet dark. “You've done the right thing."
"Let us hope so. I've just placed all that is most precious to me in the hands of the devil's own son."
* * * *
Ellory's decision drew a mixed reaction from the children. No surprise there. But of course no one argued with him.
When he and Meical took them out to feed, Talisen packed Shelby's backpack. Ellory had reworked the little girl's memories so she would accept Sean's new situation. He h
ad also blurred her memory of their experience with Mrs. Emerson.
Talisen went into Georgina's room and woke Shelby with a gentle kiss on the forehead. When the little girl opened her eyes, her familiar, impish smile made Talisen's heart soar.
She lifted Shelby into her lap. “Hi, pumpkin."
"Where's Sean?"
"Hanging out with Jenny."
"I had a bad dream about a lady chasing us."
"Yeah, Ellory told me. But it was just a dream."
Shelby yawned. “I gotta potty really bad."
"Okay. Come on."
Talisen took Shelby to the bathroom, then fixed her a late supper upstairs in the kitchen. With a full tummy, Shelby started yawning again. Talisen took her back down to the cellar and sat on the sofa with her. By the time the others returned, Shelby was asleep again.
"I've got her packed up,” Talisen whispered to Ellory.
He nodded. “Then we'll fetch Jenny and Sean and be off."
They gathered in the cellar living room and waited while Ellory sent a silent summons to the twosome. Talisen could still feel a lingering regret in him over Sean.
Jenny led Sean out, holding his hand as though he were a little boy. Even in the dim light of the hallway, he squinted and shielded his eyes with his arm for a moment.
Talisen couldn't help but smile. It was like looking at a more robust, more beautiful Sean Mackleroy. Was he even taller? Yes, by at least a couple of inches. No. He was floating!
Jenny looked like she was trying not to laugh. “Uhm, we're having a little aerodynamics problem."
Sean bobbed like a balloon and squinted at them. “Don't anybody run off screaming or anything. Do I look that bad?"
His brothers and sisters laughed, gathered around him, and pulled him down so that his feet touched the floor.
Talisen put a hand on his shoulder. “How do you feel?"
He ran a hand over his middle. “Like I could blow away if the wind's right."
Ellory circled him, rubbing his chin in thought. “Imagine you're wearing lead-lined shoes."
Sean closed his eyes. “Okay, lemme go."
The fledglings released him. His feet stayed on the floor.
Ellory nodded. “Good boy. Just hold that thought."
"Maybe you should tie a rope around me or something."
Jenny wrapped an arm around him. “That's what I'm for."
Sean smiled and bent to kiss her. The moment their lips met, he jerked back and clapped a hand over his mouth. “Owww!"
Ellory moved Sean's hand out of the way and lifted the boy's upper lip. He whistled softly. “That kiss must've done it. Look, Meical."
Grabian looked over Ellory's shoulder and grinned. “What can I say? We do good work."
Sean fidgeted, trying to talk around Ellory's fingers. “Vis vit vy vangs? Vare vey vig?"
"Big enough,” murmured Ellory.
Talisen took a look. “Yikes, Sean. You're very well endowed for a baby."
The corners of Sean's mouth turned up. “Vanks."
Meical nodded. “That's what comes from throwing your whole heart into your transformation."
Ellory let Sean go, and the new-made vampire turned to show the others his canines. Suddenly he went motionless. Talisen followed his gaze. Shelby. Asleep on the couch.
Ellory patted Sean's back. “Go wake her up, and we'll go."
He shook his head. “What if she can tell?"
"I've taken care of that already, just as I said I would."
Sean looked down at his hands, curling and uncurling his fingers. “I can feel how out of control my body is. Like it's not mine yet. What if I hurt her?"
"There's nothing wrong with your instincts, boy. Hold her."
Ellory lifted Shelby from the couch and placed her in her brother's arms. Sean looked down at her face with an expression of absolute wonder, as though he were seeing her for the first time.
"She smells so good. Like cotton candy and Mr. Bubbles. But ... I can hear her heart ... it's so loud...."
At the sound of Sean's voice, Shelby woke. She looked up at her brother with a frown.
Talisen clasped her hands together, hopeful, fearful, spellbound. What if Shelby did sense the difference in him?
But Shelby hugged him. “Where you been?"
He held her close, eyes closed. “Right here, honey, the whole time you've been sleeping. Guess what? We're all going to go hang out with a friend of Ellory's. Wanna come?"
She nodded and yawned again. Lifting her head, she reached out for Ellory. “I get to go with the big kids this time?"
Ellory kissed her cheek. “Yes, and it's a sleepover."
"Cool.” She yawned again, laid her head back down on Sean's shoulder, and closed her eyes. “Can I sleep on the way there?"
They all laughed.
Ellory murmured something in her ear, and the child went limp. Everyone followed him out into the moonlit yard.
"Stay together,” he commanded. “Jenny, you'll have to get your supper on the way. Meical will stay with you and Sean."
Sean gasped when Jenny shot into the sky, dragging him along like a dog on a leash. Meical laughed, bounced ten feet into the air, flipped like an acrobat, and flew after them. Ellory picked Talisen up and rose gently into the air, with the rest of the fledglings close behind.
Talisen watched the sleepy town of Camden pass beneath her. She could have flown on like that for hours, straight out to sea, with the wind in her hair and Ellory's warmth wrapped around her. Moments later, Jenny, Sean and Meical dove into the shadowy yards of a trailer park on the outskirts of town. The rest of them went on, but by the time they descended, the threesome had rejoined them.
Their destination was a little outcropping of beach. The full moon gave its soft, eerie glow to the place. They milled around, silent and nervous. The wind changed directions, curling in on itself to create a gentle whirlwind in their midst. The Alchemist materialized before them in a pool of red and silver.
On instinct, Talisen moved closer to Ellory. She studied the ancient vampire while he eyed them. Was he sizing them up? Her mouth went dry. Hopefully this wasn't a mistake.
When the Alchemist's gaze lit on Shelby, his expression softened minutely. Talisen watched his eyes gleam as he stared at the little girl. Maybe it was her humanity that enabled her to see it for what it was, or maybe she was too softhearted for her own good. But she recognized that look. Pain.
What was his story?
A warning growl rumbled in the back of Sean's throat when he noticed the vampire's scrutiny of his little sister.
The Alchemist smiled blandly at him and then said to all of them, “If you'll kindly focus on the image I'm placing in your minds, you'll see where we're going."
Ellory nodded his approval, turned to Talisen without preface and picked her up again. “Talisen, close your eyes."
"Why?"
He put his hand over her mouth and nose. Before she could protest, they sank straight down into the ground. The prickle of her skin turned to a mind-numbing daze. For a moment, she couldn't get her breath. Then everything went black.
She came to with his big, dark eyes filling her vision and coughed, gasped and squirmed against him. “What was that?"
He gave her a rueful grin. “Not the scenic route, I'm afraid. We're about a half-mile underground. Are you okay?"
She waited until she got her breath before answering. “I'll live. Put me down."
He set her on her feet so she could take stock of where they'd ended up. They were in a cool, quiet, damp corridor. She could make out their surroundings by the light of torches jabbed into the rock walls around them. The fact that the torches were burning reassured her there was air to breathe.
Rubbing her clammy hands on her sweatpants, she eyed the low ceiling of dirt and rock. At least Alice had a rabbit hole. As far as she could tell, they'd just teleported through solid rock. She shivered.
There was only one corridor ahead. The Alchemist motioned the
m to follow him. She and Ellory went first, the fledglings followed, and Meical brought up the rear.
The corridor wormed its way ahead of them, a little smoother than the cavern they'd started in, as though a giant hand had stuck its fingers in and carved out spaces. The Alchemist had added a flagstone floor, which lent the whole place a bizarre half-finished look.
Talisen noticed that she was the only one whose feet made a sound. It was a hollow, scuffling, forlorn sound that made her feel colder. The torches gave the air an acrid smell that stung her eyes and nose. For a moment, the corridor reminded her of another one she'd seen, because this one had doors on either side of it, too. But these doors, unlike those in the hallway Freya had shown her, all stood open.
One, two, three, four smaller caves, all bare rock and dirt inside. Each housed a worn cot, smelled like an outdoor toilet, and made her very anxious, though she didn't know why. The last door on the left was closed, but as Talisen was passing it, she heard a sound from inside. She stopped in her tracks and listened. Moans, then a sob. The girl sounded young.
"Ellory, someone's in there,” she whispered.
He caught her by the hand and pulled her onward. “I know. I'm sorry."
She hung back. “Aren't you going to do something?"
"I can't, love."
"Well, I can, if you won't."
"You really mustn't."
"I'm going to."
The Alchemist stopped and turned slowly to look at Talisen. His mouth twitched. He retraced his steps until he stood beside the door. Ellory's arms enveloped her in a protective embrace, but the Ancient ignored him.
Talisen flinched under the Alchemist's gaze. If looks could kill, she'd be pea gravel. She managed to glower back at him and jerked her head at the sound of the crying woman. “Your provisions?"
With unwavering eyes, the Alchemist lifted one hand and touched the door. In that instant, the moans ceased.
"As we age, our hunger increases to a ravening that plagues us from hour to hour, rather than from night to night. I keep my sustenance close at hand. I will free her eventually, and she will remember nothing of this experience."
