Forbidden Days (The Firsts)

by C. L. Quinn

  She wanted to know him… this person who mourned her. Who had wanted her. She could feel herself reaching out to him now, she couldn’t help it…couldn’t stop it. She loved Bas and her child, but she needed her father, too. If she let him go, would she ever have enough courage to find him again? Her heart ached, and she wrapped her hands around her belly. She wanted her child to know her grandfather, too.

  She had never had a family. People who loved each other because they belonged to each other. She hoped she was building this with Bas, she knew her own child she carried would know that it was cherished and loved every day. But she had never had it. Koen looked at her with a love and need she had always wanted as a confused little girl growing up so very alone.

  Hamid led Eillia through the upper corridors of the household which led out to a path that disappeared into the trees, and then out to Bas’s runway where the helicopter had landed. They weren’t moving vampire-fast, but quicker than normal. Eillia passed her companion. “He’s going to be so pissed,” she said to him.

  “Yep,” he said, and although he sounded flippant, she knew he wasn’t. Koen had never been overly fond of Hamid, so he didn’t feel particularly safe from a raging fit by the oversized, overpowered old one. But he wasn’t a match for a first blood.

  “You nervous?”

  “Yep.”

  “Don’t be. He won’t kill you. He knows you mean the world to me.”

  “He might hurt me a lot.”

  “It’s going to be okay.”

  Her voice trailed off as a large man walked into view from under the cover of heavy pine branches. Hamid was tall…Koen topped him by another eight inches. His chest was wide, arms heavily muscled, dark hair spilling over brilliant deep green eyes. He was as handsome as Eillia was beautiful. He always caused her to hold her breath for a few moments when she saw him. First blood was just so stirring. He was smiling, grabbed her and swung her around. Hamid had to step back and bite his tongue as the man handled his woman. He wanted to knock him down and call him out. But jealousy was ugly, Eillia couldn’t bear it. And there was the fact that Koen would wipe the floor with his shattered body.

  “You’re okay,” Koen whispered to Eillia, then sat her back on the ground. “You had me wondering.”

  “No, Koen, I told you, you shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Your battle is of no concern to me. I needed your help. These headaches…they…”

  He trailed off, his expression changed. His eyes went wide. Eillia stood still, and knew he was feeling her…reading her. Reading Park.

  “What the hell….!” He yelled explosively.

  “Koen…Koen, listen to me. There’s something I should have told you, but I couldn’t. I promised…”

  “Is that…am I…who am I feeling?!”

  “It’s…it’s your daughter.”

  He looked beyond shocked, and then he was gone. Eillia could move as fast as he could, but Hamid couldn’t. She glanced at Hamid with a pained look, and disappeared, too.

  A cautious group had just sat down to finish the evenings breakfast when the door splintered into shards that flew into the room in every direction. A huge beast of a man came in, although no one saw him do so. He was just there, wild dark hair flying around his head, his eyes searching the room…and stopped on the redhead who stood up and stared at him. He started walking toward her, and she started toward him, pushing Bas’s hands away as he tried to grab her. Bas was shocked at how strong she was, able to dislodge him like he was a child. He still tried to move toward her, but suddenly he was pinned, right where he was. Arms, legs, body…he couldn’t move. He looked around. Neither could anyone else.

  But Park continued toward the intense large man. Their eyes were locked on each other.

  “You…” The big ancient vampire stammered. “You’re my daughter?” He said it like a question although he already knew it to be true. He felt her.

  She answered him, as if she didn’t already know he knew the answer. “I am.”

  For ancient vampires who could move at a speed that seemed as fast as that of light, they were walking like they were infirmed. When they finally came up to each other, they stopped four feet apart, green eyes recognizing the same green eyes.

  It was Parks turn to state the obvious.

  “You’re my father.”

  Bas couldn’t believe it. The object of all their terror was standing there with pooled tears in his eyes. This was the monster they feared?

  “I am your father,” he said. “I felt you sending to me.”

  “I didn’t mean to, but…I needed to see you, to meet you. To know you. I never thought I’d ever know my father.”

  He stepped forward and lifted her up, gently, into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, and curled one large hand around the back of her head.

  “I never thought I’d know my daughter. I didn’t think I had one. I thought I lost you.”

  Eillia stood in the threshold of the wrecked door. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move, just watched the scene unfold with the young woman she had come to love and the man she had always loved.

  Koen kept his head buried against Park. He was reluctant to let her go, afraid it was a dream and he’d only imagined her. She smelled like lavender and jasmine and he thought he’d never smelled anything more lovely in all his years. His daughter. The dream that had been lost. It seemed she didn’t want to let go either. He could feel her…she’d needed him as much as he’d needed her for all these years. And to think yesterday he’d been ready to…

  Park lifted her head. Her eyes were shiny and a little red. She gently pushed back and looked from Koen to Eillia. She started to speak and couldn’t.

  Eillia swept forward and took Park and Koen’s arms.

  “We’re going to the garden. Please, finish your breakfast.” When no one moved, Eillia looked at Koen.

  He shrugged. “I didn’t do it.”

  Eillia looked at Park, surprised. “You?”

  Park looked surprised, too. “Me? I froze everyone?”

  “Well, you must have. You are a powerful woman, Park. All it takes with many of our talents is to think it.”

  “Oh. I just didn’t want anyone to stop me from meeting my father.”

  “And you froze them. Just think about letting them go.”

  Park looked at her friends who’d become family and thought how sorry she was that she’d frozen them and that they should be released to move again. It took a few moments, but then they could.

  Bas hurried to up to her. “She isn’t going anywhere without me. I’m coming.”

  Koen’s eyes burned into Bas. “I don’t think so, little vampire.”

  Park though how ridiculous it was to call Bas “little” and then realized this could escalate into trouble.

  She turned to Bas, a hand on his chest. “Please. I’ll be okay. I can feel him, his intentions. He would never hurt me.”

  “I believe that. I still think he’ll try to take you.” Bas came up to Koen and faced him.

  “I’ll fight you. You won’t take her. I ask you to honor this household and leave.”

  “Not happening.” Then Bas flew backward and crashed into the wall, the wallboard crumbling under the assault. He’d hit so hard, it knocked the air out of him and he was struggling with unconsciousness.

  Park was on her knees now next to him, holding his head in her hands. He could taste the blood in his mouth that was bleeding along his forehead.

  “Bas, you must trust me. I will be safe.”

  Eillia came forward and caught Bas’s eyes with her. “Dear friend, trust me, I won’t leave them alone. But she is in no danger here. He’s…” She searched for the word. “Just…different, is all I can say. I think it’s going to be okay.”

  Bas knew when a battle was lost. He trusted Eillia and Park. And it was clear…Park’s father had enough power to kill him with barely a thought, and he would take her anyway. He nodded, but gave Koen a look that terrified Park
. If Koen took offense…

  Instead, he took Park’s hand and pulled her out of the room. Eillia followed on their heels.

  Below, in the gardens filled with night blooming Texas primrose, they sat on elaborately carved wooden benches. Eillia sat across from Koen and Park. Koen couldn’t take his eyes off of his new found daughter.

  “Well, you’re beautiful. But you would be…my daughter and all.” He looked at Eillia. “Someone needs to catch me up.”

  Park and Eillia exchanged glances, but Park smiled. “I will.” She turned back to the stunning man who had fathered her. She knew she had to be careful. “I…um… I didn’t have any idea who or what I was until just recently. Well, you know my mother took off with me…”

  She saw the muscles in his jaw tighten in anger. Ookkaayy, that would never be a safe subject. “We kind of lived all over. I don’t know, maybe twenty different places, maybe more. Eillia thinks I must have put a block on my life signs since no one could find me. I couldn’t know better, I was a baby.”

  Eillia elaborated. “In utero, actually. He should have been able to find you before you were born.”

  Park looked at her, incredulous. “Really? I could have done that before I was even born?”

  Eillia smiled and nodded. “We’re very powerful.”

  “Okay. Well, so, guess the short version is, we moved a lot, you looked for me, but couldn’t find me. Eillia says you looked a long time, and I’m sorry. If I’d had any idea, if I was old enough to realize, I would never have blocked you.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. Your power kicked in to protect you. You must have felt threatened. Although, I’m surprised that you could focus it so young.”

  “She had her amulet, “ Eillia said.

  “Ah. I never could find it. I assumed it had either gotten lost in the manic search, or the breeder had taken it. I figured if she had, it would have been pawned long ago.”

  “I heard she was afraid to, “ Park said.

  “How did you come to be here, amongst our kind?”

  “Bas tried to compel me and when he couldn’t, he said that I was something different, something special. We became…” Careful, Park… “…close. And then a seer told me what I was. Eillia came and filled me in the rest of the way. When I got the amulet back from my mother, I knew then. And now, there’s you. That’s it.”

  “No, it’s not. Someone should have let me know immediately.” And he stared at Eillia, who glanced down and started to speak. Park cut her off.

  “No. It isn’t her fault. If you fault her for anything, then it should be for becoming family to me when I’d never really had any. For teaching me who I am and how amazing first bloods are. I asked her not to let you know.”

  He shook his head. “Why?”

  “We were given to understand you are an…intense man…not just by Eillia. It was realized that when you knew I was alive, you would come for me.”

  “Absolutely, I would. No fucking doubt.”

  “Well, I wanted to meet you. I did, but…I can’t leave here. Bas and I…we’re together. I love him, and I couldn’t risk you taking me away.”

  “You don’t belong here. You belong with me. You will forget him when I take you to the life you should always have had.”

  “See, that’s what I mean. I won’t go. That’s why I wanted to remain a secret. Bas is my life, now. I…I never had any choice in my life until I left my mother. I won’t let anyone again tell me how I will live it.”

  “You belong with the first bloods. This vampire, you won’t miss him when you meet your own kind.”

  “He is my kind. Until a few weeks ago I didn’t know anything about this supernatural world. He gave me confidence, love, a family…that I have never had.”

  “Your mother will answer for that. I will hang her from a hook until every drop of her blood drips onto the ground. It will be very painful.”

  “I don’t want that! She had her life stolen, too! I don’t have any use for her, but she’s out of my life. I’m okay now, and I do want you in my life. But you can’t take me away.”

  “I’ve just found you after searching desperately and losing you. My daughter, you will adjust. You will be happy with me. It isn’t up for discussion. He may visit if you like.”

  Eillia started to stand when she saw Park’s face. Park stood first. “I will not be controlled. I choose my life.”

  Koen stood and the three faced off. The wind began to swirl around them and Koen started forward. But he couldn’t move. The shock on his face almost made Eillia laugh.

  “You did not freeze me.”

  “I learn fast.”

  “But you should not have been able to freeze me.”

  “You know, people keep telling me what I can not do. I just have to keep proving you all wrong. Now, do you want to get to know me?”

  “More than anything.”

  “Then you will be reasonable and you will not try to control me? You won’t hurt anyone here?”

  “I…” He hesitated, his eyes rolling toward Eillia. “She’s stubborn.”

  “She’s your daughter. She’s first blood. Of course she is.”

  He looked back at Park. “I will not take you from here. I will not hurt anyone in this household. I promise.”

  Since he was leaning forward when she put him on pause, Koen stumbled forward a little, but recovered and stood there smiling.

  “You’re going to be ridiculously powerful when you learn to control your talents. And they will grow with time. You are definitely my daughter.”

  Park stepped toward him, took Koen’s hand and laid it against her belly. “I have your grandchild growing inside me. So you have found not only your daughter, but your granddaughter. You see why I won’t leave. It will not happen.”

  Koen spread his hands over her belly, their largeness spanning around to her back. He didn’t speak, his eyes closed. He knelt down and laid his cheek against her.

  “A grandchild.” He sighed deeply. “What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I was ready to…well, never mind.” He stood up and took Parks hand, reached for Eillia. “I never thought to feel this again. I know I have been a bastard these past years. Park, my life has not gone well since you were stolen for me. I am whole again, and life has purpose again. Even an old man can learn new tricks. Okay, take me to meet your vampire.”

  Eillia released a slow, long held breath. It happened. Park’s father was here and they would all survive. Miracles do happen, she thought.

  Bas was in the situation room with Jake and Vaz, watching Koen and Park on one of Tim’s new high def surveillance cameras. It seemed to be going well, at least they were quietly talking. It was video only, so he had no idea what they were saying. They were all standing now and he hoped they were coming back in. It pissed him off to feel helpless. He’d never actually felt powerless before, and he didn’t want it to happen again. And Parks new skill…holy shit! It was beginning to look like he really didn’t need to worry about her self-defense anymore. Telekinesis, not a common vampire skill. Not something he could defend against. It was real. He was in love with a super-vampire first blood who could kick his ass. And all because he stubbornly refused to go out and look for a different ride when he met a feisty redhead who he couldn’t compel. Lesson learned. He wouldn’t change a thing.

  He glanced back at the screen and they were gone. A moment of panic set in when Tim pointed to an interior camera down a corridor leading to the kitchen. He felt Park’s mind touch his, pushing a thought through…join us for lunch. He knew she’d been able to connect with Dez telepathically, but now she was linking to him across a distance of this great house. Her powers were certainly growing. He wondered briefly how far they would go. Which made him hesitate at the request. He loved her, and he hoped he would continue to be enough for her.

  “Tim, thanks. I guess I’ll join them. You’ve been a real asset.”

  Tim smiled, appreciating the compliment. He’d been such a valuable asset, Bas ha
d brought him over to blood-bond. He anticipated needing him for many years to come and it was the easiest way to protect him.

  Bas walked slowly toward the kitchen. He dreaded the face to face with Park’s father, a powerful vampire that, no matter what he’d agreed to with his daughter, likely wanted to kill Bas. He wasn’t looking forward to this.

  Bas told himself the whole way there, keep it calm, keep it calm, keep it calm…for Park’s sake. The big vampire was, by far, the greatest physical threat Bas had ever known. Yet the stakes had never been higher. It shocked him to suddenly realize that, for the first time in his very long life, there was something he would die for. Someone. It still stunned him how his life had changed so completely so quickly.

  He walked into the breakfast room with his head high and a look on his face that he hoped showed he was a man to be reckoned with. When the huge vampire turned to look at him with a smile, he almost stumbled. What? Okay…

  Park came up to him and threaded her arm through his. “Bas, my father is anxious to get to know you. Us, actually. He’s willing to be reasonable. Eillia says finding me has improved his attitude.”

  Bas didn’t know what to say so he remained silent.

  Park brought him up to Koen. “This man brought me to my life…and ultimately to you. You owe him a debt of gratitude, because, if not for Bas, I would never have known what I was. And you would never have known I survived.”

  Koen looked at Bas, who, if he admitted it, wasn’t really much smaller than he was. He sized him up quickly, and approved. This man would protect his daughter with his last breath. It sucked that he couldn’t take her home with him, but he did understand why. It wasn’t easy for him to accept her decline, but it was not a time to build walls. He put out his hand in greeting.

  Bas hesitated, then took Koen’s offering, returned a very firm grip with a very firm grip. Bas refused to let him intimidate him. Koen smiled. He’d do.