"See you bright and early."
"Don't remind me," I said, already anticipating how much my vampire body wouldn't want to be out all day long. I hung up the phone just as Aurora’s began to ring. She frowned and pulled it from her pocket.
“It’s Antonio,” she said as she answered, putting the call on speakerphone.
“Aurora,” Antonio said. “Did you make it home?”
“We just got back,” she said. “I’ve got you on speaker. Trey’s here with me. What’s going on?”
“I’m calling the brood together,” he said matter-of-factly. “Malena is on her way to my place. The Emissary are bringing her in now. Since her actions have affected the entire brood, especially the two of you, I think it’s only fitting that you have a chance to be present when we decide her fate.”
Aurora glanced up at me. Her face was calm, except for the severe look in her eyes. I only nodded.
“We’ll be there,” she told Antonio.
Chapter 50
Aurora
THE FIRST THING TREY and I noticed as we pulled up to Antonio’s was that Damir’s car was parked out front, along with several others that looked eerily similar to the cars the Emissary had used to tail us just last week. Mark’s car was also there. He and Beck had beaten us, probably because they’d already been on the road when Antonio had called them.
“You ready for this?” Trey asked me as we stepped onto the sidewalk. His footsteps paused, and I turned to face him.
“I’m ready,” I said. “What about you?” Trey gave what was supposed to look like a nonchalant shrug, but I knew he was boiling just under the surface. Even though my memory of what happened that night at Club Sanguin hadn’t returned fully, coming back in pieces, that wasn’t the case for Trey. He had a perfect recollection of everything Malena had said and done during our last encounter. I stepped up to him, putting my arms around his waist and leaning into him.
“This is what we wanted, technically,” I said. “We’ve been trying to track down the person who was responsible for Wes’s murder. Now we have her.”
“You’re right,” Trey said. “I’m just not used to the way things are run in this new world. I want to see her face what she’s done and pay for it,” he said. “I just don’t know what to expect when we walk in there.”
“I know what you mean,” I agreed. “This kind of thing is new for me, too.”
He bent down to kiss the top of my head, and let his lips linger on my hair for a little longer than usual before he straightened again. “There’s quite the crowd inside,” he observed, cocking his head to one side.
“I count at least eight heartbeats,” I said in agreement.
“I guess we should get in there. Lead the way.”
Beck opened Antonio’s front door as Trey and I reached the porch. “Hey. Long time no see,” he said, smiling to ease the tension.
I smiled at him, but my attention was already focused on what was going on behind him in Antonio’s living room.
“I deserve better than this,” Malena was saying as Trey and I stepped inside. Trey closed the door and took my hand in his. Antonio was standing not far from Malena, shaking his head in exasperation.
“Better than what?” I asked Antonio. I didn’t even want to give Malena the satisfaction of a glance.
Before Antonio could answer me, Damir got to his feet, clearing his throat. He’d been sitting in a recliner, unmoving. “I’ve just suggested that Malena be transferred to another brood,” he said.
“After all these years,” Melana said, pleading with Antonio. “Are you really just going to let them send me away? I’m your firstborn. You can’t let this happen.”
Antonio met her gaze but didn’t speak. I knew his silence wasn’t driven by guilt, but rather an inability to look at Malena with any trace of the respect he’d once had for her. Three Emissary vampires stood just behind Malena. They were her escort, no doubt. I wondered where Damir had found her. Had she even been smart enough to try and leave town? I almost felt bad for her. If she hadn’t become the bane of my existence, I probably would have.
“You chose banishment when you chose to betray your own brood,” I said to Malena, unable to bite my tongue any longer. “Your jealousy drove you to have an innocent human killed. You nearly succeeded in killing me. I think banishment is the best you can hope for at this point.”
“She’s right,” Damir said. “If you had succeeded in killing your intended target … ” Damir paused a moment, and I half expected him to turn his eyes on Trey for dramatic effect. “Killing a famous human wouldn’t go unnoticed,” he continued eventually. “Did you really believe the Synod could let something like that go unpunished?”
“But I didn’t have him killed,” Malena returned, turning her hard gaze on Trey.
“A technicality,” Damir said. “Your incompetence does not displace your guilt.”
“This is your last chance,” Antonio said to Malena without emotion. “You can start over in another brood and work to prove yourself worthy of the moon’s gifts, but you’ll have to take advantage of all the time you have left before your ten year mark, if you hope to be given any power as a full vampire.”
Malena opened her mouth to come back at Antonio, but Trey’s voice cut her off. He was speaking directly to Damir. “What makes you think that simply assigning her another brood is enough?”
“I’ve already spoken with the Emmisary in Georgia,” Damir said. “They are making arrangements to reassign her to a brood there.”
“Georgia?” Malena was beside herself. “I can’t go to Georgia.” She took several steps toward Damir who just watched her warily. “You don’t have to send me that far,” she said. The smile she wore, along with the raw desperation in her voice blended together to make one giant batch of crazy. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t make me leave the state.”
“I want nothing from you,” Damir said curtly. “I think that’s the point.”
“Surely, I could be of some use to you,” Malena said.
Damir’s jaw clenched, and with considerable effort he managed to keep his voice level when he spoke again. “You’re leaving Florida,” he said. “That much has been decided. Stop your groveling and accept your fate. Have you no pride?”
Malena looked as if Damir had stabbed her through the heart. I couldn’t help but feel some level of satisfaction at the look on her face. She deserved no less.
“Fine,” Melana said, trying to gather herself again. “If I’m not appreciated here, maybe it is best that I move on. Someone somewhere will appreciate my talents.” She looked at Damir again, icy hatred in her gaze now. “Someone more powerful and deserving than even you.”
Damir, looking bored as he gestured to the Emissary vampires with a slight wave of his hand. They came forward and escorted Malena out of the house. “It is best for everyone,” Damir said to Antonio once she was gone.
“I hope you’re right about that,” Trey said. “It doesn’t seem like enough.”
“You’re new to our world, fledgling,” Damir somehow managed to make the word sound like a curse as he turned to face Trey. “I’ll forgive your ignorance because of it, but in this matter today, I am judge and jury. You’ll have to accept my authority on the matter. It’s as simple as that.”
“If I’ve learned anything about this world,” Trey said. “It’s that nothing is ever simple.”
Damir watched him for a second and then turned away. He shook Antonio’s hand formally and then let himself out the front door.
“I’m glad that’s over,” Mark said from across the room. It was the first time he’d spoken since Trey and I had arrived.
“Me too,” I said. “I could really use a drink.”
Antonio forced a smile and said, “I couldn’t agree more.” He left the room, and Trey and I sat down on the loveseat while we waited for him to return. He brought each of us a glass of straight blood and then held his up for a toast. “To Trey,” he said. I smiled at the
surprised look on Trey’s face as we all raised our glasses to meet Antonio’s. “Since we’re all together,” Antonio continued. “It’s only right that we officially welcome you to the brood. It’s good to have you with us. Finally.”
Trey smiled and nodded as our glasses all clanked together before we sipped at the blood. “It’s good to be here,” he said. “There were days I wasn’t sure I was going to make it this far.”
“You’re right where you belong,” Mark said, and I wondered if he knew how much Trey appreciated the gesture.
“Actually, I have something I want to ask all of you while we’re here,” Trey said.
“Go on,” Antonio encouraged him.
“My band is releasing our new record tomorrow night. We’re having a launch party and I’d love it if you could all be there.”
“Are you kidding?” Beck said, grinning like an idiot. “Of course, we’ll come. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Bring Hana, of course,” Trey added for Mark’s sake.
“We’ll be there,” Mark said. He didn’t miss the grateful smile I threw his way.
“What time should we be there?” Antonio asked.
“I’ll send a car for you at seven,” Trey said.
“A car?” Beck laughed. “My friends back home would never believe this.”
Chapter 51
Aurora
“ARE YOU SURE YOU want to come?" Trey asked me, looking at me in concern.
"I'm sure," I insisted. "I've been looking forward to watching you rehearse. I'm not missing it."
"It's just that I'll understand if you feel like resting."
"Trey," I said, smiling at him. "I'm one-hundred percent again. Besides, I was hoping to paint a little today. How do you expect me to get any painting done without my source of inspiration?"
"If you're sure," he said, though he still didn't look completely convinced.
"I'll be sitting around and painting," I clarified. "It doesn't get more restful than that, anyway."
He nodded slowly. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right," I said with a grin, making him smile. I knew I’d never convince him to feed from me before we left, which would have been the best thing for him, but I did get him to down a big glass of blood from the stash first. I wondered how long it would take for him to feel like I was strong again. He was the new vampire, but he’d been taking care of me instead of the other way around. I’d just have to be patient and work to show him I was okay now.
"Now, we just have to stop by The Waking Moon to get my supplies," I said as Trey opened the door to the garage and we got into my car. He'd already loaded three of his guitars into the trunk, so when we reached The Waking Moon, we put my portable easel and my painting supplies into the backseat. Trey insisted on loading all of it for me, which I let him do to make him feel better. I was standing in the loft, looking down over the small gallery. It was nine in the morning, an hour before Kacie would be here to open shop.
I took a moment to look around and appreciate just how good it was to be standing back in this place after everything that had happened. I hadn't set foot in here since before the wedding. That had been just over a week ago, but it seemed like it had been longer. My sense of the time that had passed was still skewed, thanks to the chunk of it I had spent unconscious and battling an otherworldly fog. Rather than call up to me that we were good to go, Trey quietly climbed the stairs to the loft and came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle. I leaned my head back against his shoulder and rested my hands on his as we looked out at the gallery together.
"You okay?" he said softly.
"Yeah," I answered. "It just feels good to be back here. That's all."
He kissed the top of my head and squeezed me gently. "We'll be back soon," he said casually.
"We will?"
"Sure. You're going to paint another masterpiece while I rehearse. Then we're going to bring it back here soon, and you're going to sit back and sip a Root Beer while I varnish it for you."
I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. "It's a deal."
We made one more stop to grab coffee and doughnuts for the guys before we reached Ken's place a half an hour later. I could tell Trey was hesitating when he didn’t open the car door and jump right out after parking at the studio. It only took me a second to realize why. This was the first time he’d seen any of the guys since becoming a vampire.
“What if they can tell that something’s … different?” he asked me.
“They might,” I said. “They’ll wonder if marriage and some time off looks this good on everyone.”
Trey smiled and shook his head. “I’m being stupid.”
“No,” I said, reaching for his hand. “It’s not stupid. It’s just that the truth is so farfetched their imaginations will never go there.”
“You’re right.” He gave me a resolute nod and then opened the car door and stepped out.
I had known the guys wouldn’t be more than mildly curious about the subtle changes in Trey’s appearance, but I didn’t know I’d be the cause of the diversion. They all seemed more than a little surprised to see me walk in the door with Trey.
"Aurora," Chase said when he saw me. "You're back!"
I smiled, handing him the box of doughnuts. "You didn't think I would miss this?" I asked, incredulous. Cowboy ran up to Trey just then, pawing at his pant leg eagerly. Trey laughed and picked him up, telling him what a good boy he was.
"It's good to see you," O'Shea added, stepping up to give me one of his increasingly familiar hugs.
"It's good to see you, too," I answered into the material of his T- shirt while he squeezed me.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, releasing me to get a better look.
"Much better," I said. "Luckily those insane antibiotics did the trick. Thank you."
"Glad to have you back," Jonas added, giving me an awkward little side-hug.
"It's good to be back," I admitted.
"I missed you guys, too." Trey said in an exaggerated tone. His fears before walking in had been completely unfounded. Then he scratched Cowboy’s ear and said, “At least someone missed me.”
O'Shea lightly slugged him on his good shoulder, still wary of Trey's former injury from the car accident. "Don't feel bad. We missed your ugly mug, too." Trey gave him a sarcastic smile and set Cowboy down. “You look good, man,” O’Shea said, eyeing him more carefully. I had to bite back a smile as Trey’s heart sped up a little under his friend’s scrutinizing gaze. “Did you cut your hair or something?”
Trey grinned. “A haircut. Yeah.”
As the guys downed their breakfast, they fell right into talk of the live show. Neon showed up a few minutes later, and things got down to business quickly. Before the last doughnut was gone, they had knocked out a set list for tomorrow’s party, and Jonas was copying it down on four other sheets of paper so they could all have one. As he did so, Neon left the building and came back in a few minutes later carrying a large box. He sat it down nearby and pulled out a pocket knife to cut the tape open.
“Before you get started,” Neon said, standing up to get everyone’s attention. “I want to go over what’s happening at tomorrow’s album launch party.”
“Sounds good,” O’Shea said. “Give us the scoop.”
“All the fans that come to the party will be there because they won tickets through the fan club,” Neon said. “As for everyone else, the live set will be streaming online for the rest of your fans to enjoy. From what we’re hearing, there are fan-organized parties all across the country where fans are gathering together to watch the live stream and celebrate in big groups. The label tried to get promotional material out to all of them that we know about.”
“That’s amazing,” I whispered to Trey, seeing the smile on his face.
“We have the best fans in the world,” he whispered back.
“We’ll have a merchandise booth at the party so people can get the new record and a
ny of the old ones. I want you guys to get there in time to at least sign copies of the new CD before the party starts.”
“Don’t let me forget we have to leave early,” Trey whispered to me as Neon leaned down and pulled a black T-shirt out of his cardboard box. He held it up so we could see the design on the front. It was the guys all dressed in their zombie garb.
“Ooh, that one’s mine,” Chase called out. Neon tossed it to him and then started throwing everyone else a shirt, including me.
“The coolest part is that your eyes glow in the dark,” Neon said. Trey and I shared a knowing look and chuckled as we studied the T-shirts.
“I’m wearing mine,” I said, putting it on over my other shirt.
“You totally pull off the zombie look,” Trey said, admiring it on me.
“Didn’t you hear? Zombie is the new black,” I said as Cowboy climbed onto my lap.
“And here are the new Until Sanity shirts.” He tossed another shirt to everyone. These were charcoal grey and had the album cover I had painted on the front of them. It was crazy seeing my work on a T-shirt. Definitely a first for me.
“These look amazing,” Trey said happily, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
“Way to go, Aurora,” O’Shea added, clapping.
Chase let out a loud whistle and I grinned while they cheered for a minute.
“Back to work,” I finally said, waving a dismissive hand despite the fact that I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face.
Chapter 52
Aurora
TREY BROUGHT MY STUFF in from the car while he unloaded his guitars. It wasn't long before the guys were all set up in the live room at the back of the studio. I was sitting in a corner with my easel, mixing colors together to get the right shade to match the soil at Vidic Vineyards.
Neon spent a lot of time on his phone while the guys rehearsed, which meant he was in and out of the live room every ten or fifteen minutes. I was starting to understand that having your phone attached to your ear was a requirement, if you wanted to be a good band manager. Roger, on the other hand, stayed in the live room, taking notes and calling out ideas in between songs. When the guys finally took a break a few hours later for lunch, which consisted of a pizza delivery in the lounge, Trey borrowed some of my charcoals and sketched a stage design for the live show.
Immortals And Melodies (Blood And Guitars #2) Page 26
