“Because he was weak, succumbing to the bully on multiple occasions as you can see.” He moved his hand over the other boy’s body, like one of those game show models presenting a new car. “Now, if there are no other questions, I will continue.
“I want you to know, as our future leader, that it is better to be feared than loved. I know that this is something with which you will have much difficulty in believing. There will those under you that will, in their minds and hearts, plot against you, but who will be kept at bay by fear of punishment or death. Love is, in itself, death. If you believe that those beneath you will not rise against you out of love for you, you are already dead. It is also prudent to be cruel, when necessary. For those that do have the courage to stand up should be made example of, so that others who also plan will quickly entertain their minds with other thoughts. Do not, however, inspire hatred, for that emotion will spread among others and no amount of fear will save you.
“Now for one of the most important teachings to remember—while you are a werewolf, it is important to emulate two other animals, as well. One is the fox, to understand its cleverness at discovering the deceptions of others; the other is the lion, for the sheer brute force. When I wrote the original book, I advised that these two should be valued in order to defend against wolves. Ironic, I know. All a part of my deception, for you see, being the wolf, they must never see me coming, believing always that I am a friend.”
“What do you mean the wolf?” Jamie asked.
“More on that later. My point is that deception, like lying, is an art. Appearances are everything. I originally wrote that a prince should appear to be merciful, faithful, humane, upright, and religious while being ready at any time to act in contradiction, if necessary.
“Lastly, and pay attention here for I will say it only once, as a direct quote from the original: a prince who is not wise himself will never take good advice, unless by chance he has yielded his affairs entirely to one person who happens to be a prudent man.
In this case indeed he may be well governed, but it would not be for long, because such a governor would in a short time take away his state from him.” Jamie felt more confused than ever as he watched Nicholas scribe the last few lines in Jamie’s personal manual, then kick the bodies, unfettered, back into the water.
The teen looked around at the sea of gold and green that stretched from the river to the house. He imagined what it might be like for other kids who grew up around a similar rural environment. Images of children walking through their other fields with their fathers, hand in hand, listening to the tall tales of how their dads once caught a fish this big in the nearby river.
Or maybe they spent an hour outside tossing a ball around while their moms made dinner, probably country-fried steak and mashed potatoes, in the country-style kitchen.
Jamie then realized that he’d never played catch with anyone, even when growing up with Hank as his father. He tried to imagine playing catch with Landon, but an image of Nicholas kept invading his mind, morphing over Landon. Then, instead of tossing a football or baseball, Nicholas was throwing the head of one of the bodies from the river toward Jamie’s hands.
Like a deep, empty canyon, Jamie had been shaped by the outside forces in his life. His heart had been weathered into a cold, hard, rough stone. There was no one that offered hours of playing catch or a desire to impart words of wisdom on topics like slow dancing with girls, driving over the speed limit without getting caught, or which team might win this year’s World Series. Life categories that Jamie felt were important to being a man. Instead, he was taking in all he could from Nicholas about how to rule, kill, lie, and trust no one. He felt what was left of the little boy inside, what remained of his innocence, die more and more each day.
Then another strange feeling came over him as he stood there, watching Nicholas make notes in the little black book with the blood from the victims that floated to the bottom of the river—he was okay with everything. He realized that, though he was imagining what things might have been like, could have been like, may be like for someone else, all he was really doing was using his imagination. He’d never experienced any of those things before, so he didn’t really know what he was missing. His life was unique. Nicholas was the only true father figure he’d ever known, the one that believed in him more than any other person, next to his mother.
Mom, he thought. He wondered what his mom would think about the direction, and the lives, he was taking. As long as he knew her, and he figured even before that, she had never hurt another living thing. She didn’t even fight back against the one that hurt her most. She was a kind, church-going soul. But, now, that’s all she was—a soul. That’s where all her kindness and church-going got her. He was here, and she was gone and wasn’t coming back. No one comes back. Except for Nicholas. And if he were going to follow anyone, it was going to be the one who came back from the dead. Even if there was a fear of him slowly creeping up within himself.
He finally turned his attention back to Nicholas.
“I know it’s a lot of information to digest at one time,” said Nicholas, “which is why I said you will put what you learn here today into practice, applying it to our goal.
Do you at least understand that?”
“Yeah, that much I get.”
“Good,” Nicholas said, smiling. “Now come, it’s time for us to make a phone call.”
He handed the book to Jamie, and walked back toward the little house in the middle of nowhere.
Chapter 10
Bianca kept a close eye on the children. Since yesterday’s storm, she had barely let them out of her sight. She heard the others talk about how she was too close to Liam and Mara, everyone but Nicholas. He hadn’t said a word either to, or about, her.
She also wondered about Gabriel and Serinda. Since arriving in Savannah, they’d barely spoken to her. They seemed to hold her relationship with the children in contempt.
Then there was Jamie. One of the three she came to Savannah to save, the one she would always cross the Atlantic for, hardly looked at her. He paid more attention to her sister. Even though Jamie wasn’t with Serinda, Bianca still felt like a third wheel, like she was coming in between them.
So she stayed with the children as much as possible, away from everyone else, both for their safety, and her sanity. She still wondered why they were in Savannah in the first place, why Nicholas and Jamie had brought them there, but never asked.
There Bianca sat, on the front porch steps, keeping a close eye on the children as they played on the tire swing. She also watched Gabriel and Serinda stand at the end of the porch, whispering as Nicholas and Jamie returned through the field. She could have made out what they were saying but, she felt, that would be rude.
“Are you two just going to stand there, staring at them?” she asked.
“It’s better than staring at those two spinning round and round on an old tire,” said Serinda, motioning her head toward the kids.
“How come you don’t want to have anything to do with them?”
“How come you do when you know this isn’t going to end well for them?” Gabriel turned and assumed his usual stoic, master and commander posture, arms crossed. “You know, Bianca, that they’re here for a reason. You know that Nicholas does not have good intentions, regardless of him searching for the girl yesterday. And you know that them being Jamie’s half-siblings only furthers their purpose and speeds them to their deaths, and that he’ll be more than willing to help. It’s true that we don’t care much for kids but, even if we did, there’s no point getting close to them.” Uncrossing his arms, Gabriel walked inside, the storm door slamming itself behind him, the spring having rusted and loosened years ago.
Serinda looked at her sister and, for the first time since their arrival in Savannah, seemed to convey an expression that said I’m sorry. She followed Gabriel into the house.
Bianca turned back toward the children, who were laughing in a high pitched scream as they playe
d, tears dropping on her knees. She knew Gabriel was right. All the more reason for me to be here, she thought. She refocused on the kids as Jamie and Nicholas walked past her, up the steps, and into the house.
“Get your phone out,” Nicholas told Jamie, as they entered the living room.
Gabriel and Serinda sat on the sofa.
“Who am I calling?” asked Jamie.
“Someone at Burghausen. We’re sending a message, actually a message within a message, to someone at Burghausen. And you never know when someone else may have a call transcribed. We’re giving the Consuls our location while relaying a hidden message to someone else.”
“I don’t understand. Why do we want them to know where we are? Aren’t we hiding?”
“No. Not anymore. I will explain it to you as you explain it to the person we’re calling.”
“Okay. Who am I calling?”
“Her name is Tsukiko.” Jamie saw Gabriel’s mouth drop open as Nicholas said her name. He also saw Serinda give her boyfriend a hard elbow to the ribs. “She’s a member of the Senate, a werewolf, and an ally,” Nicholas continued. “Tsukiko is Japanese, and she’s good at…persuasion. Especially with the male members of the Senate. But also some female—from time to time. Here’s the number, and what I want you to say.”
Jamie dialed the number Nicholas had written, and took a prepared script from his teacher’s hand. A moment later, Jamie could have sworn he’d accidentally dialed a phone sex hotline, because the alluring voice that came from the other end had him melting at the knees. He looked wide-eyed at Nicholas.
“I told you,” the elder werewolf said, giving a rare smile. “Now read.”
“This is Jamie Murphy,” he began, leering at Nicholas for having to use Landon’s last name. “I want you to know that I am safe, as are my brother and sister. Nicholas is alive, though he fears for his life after the vicious assaults he suffered at the hands of my father.” More leering. My father, he thought.
He continued, “I say assaults because, while everyone knows about the horrendous act committed a few months ago which was condoned based on lies, another grievous assault took place only several nights ago. While my siblings, Nicholas, and myself barely escaped, two innocent vampires that were assisting in Nicholas’s recovery were slaughtered. Because of this, we have fled to Savannah, Georgia, assisted by our dear friends, Gabriel, Serinda, and Bianca.” He watched Gabriel mouth, What the fuck?
“We fear, though,” Jamie continued, “that further attacks may be near and worry that these may also be condoned by the Consuls. It is also our concern that this will become an explosive situation for everyone at Burghausen resulting in further bloodshed and loss of life based on our belief that certain individuals have gone rogue.
“Please, take precautions to guard yourself against any dangers that may be lurking sight unseen. As a sign of good faith, we are placing the children on the next flight to Germany. Please make preparations to receive them.” Jamie heard Serinda and Gabriel gasp as he read the last two lines. He then listened for a response on the other end of the phone, but heard only a click as Tsukiko hung up.
“She said nothing, correct?” asked Nicholas.
“Yeah,” responded Jamie with a curious expression.
“Good. She got the message.”
“What message? What did she hear that everyone else won’t? We’re letting the kids go?”
“Yeah, you’re letting them go?” asked Gabriel.
“Yes. They were never part of the larger plan. And let’s just say, things are about to blow up in their faces. Now, Gabriel, it’s your turn.” Nicholas took the phone from Jamie, and handed it to the vampire.
“Who am I calling?” asked Gabriel.
“Austria. A couple of vampires there. Some, hired muscle, if you will.”
“What am I supposed to say to them? Why aren’t you making these calls?”
“Tell them to cross the border; they’ll understand what you’re talking about. And I’m not making the calls, because I want distance.”
“I get it—plausible deniability. Why can’t Serinda do it?”
“Serinda can’t do it, because these vampires would not follow the orders of a woman. They have no love for Burghausen, women, or werewolves, therefore, you are the bridge.”
“You ask too many questions,” said Jamie.
Everyone turned toward the teen. Nicholas took a step back as Gabriel stepped forward.
“What did you say?”
“I said you ask too many questions. Actually, you talk too much, in general.”
“And you stare at my girlfriend too much, you little shit. I don’t care who you’re with, Nicholas, Landon, or the damn Consuls, I’ll knock those fucking werewolf genes right out of you. You know,” Gabriel continued, poking Jamie in the chest, “I never liked you from the beginning. I’m only here because Nicholas wants me to be; because there’s something in it for me.”
“Don’t touch me.” Jamie pulled out the red, white, and silver Marlboro Zippo lighter he used to set Andrews High School ablaze. He repeatedly flipped it open and closed.
“Or what?”
Jamie said nothing. His eyes began to burn red as he watched Gabriel’s turned blue. Bianca ran in the house and jumped in between them.
“Guys, knock it off. I heard everything out there. Don’t do this. There are kids outside.”
“You’re a dick, Gabriel,” said Jamie. “And sooner or later, you’re gonna get yours.”
Gabriel backed up toward Serinda and took her hand. “Oh yeah, well it won’t be by you. You’re so stupid, Jamie. Bianca’s been after you all this time, and all you want is her sister. You’re an ass. That’s okay, though. I don’t need to hurt you physically, because it pisses you off even more that I’ve got what you can’t have.” Jamie looked at Bianca’s blushing face. Her eyes turned away from his as she walked back toward the door.
“Not so fast, Bianca,” said Nicholas. “After Gabriel’s call, there is one other to make, and you’re making it.”
“Who am I calling?” she asked, her hand on the doorknob.
“Annelise. Gabriel, make the call to this number, like I said.” He handed the vampire a note. Gabriel did as instructed. A moment later, Bianca read from her note while speaking with Annelise. After she hung up, Nicholas retrieved both pieces of paper.
“Now, Jamie,” said Nicholas, “you and I are going out for the evening.”
“What about us?” asked Serinda. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Well,” said Nicholas, “you could serve your purpose as a girlfriend and get your man something to eat. Maybe a nice plump woman, or something.” Nicholas walked out the door, as Jamie stood there looking at Serinda’s shocked expression. He guessed she was probably most perturbed at the do-your-womanly-duty remark. Gabriel had a big grin on his face, the kind that can only make things worse when such statements are made.
“That’s right, run along puppy,” Serinda said to Jamie as he followed Nicholas outside, letting the storm door slam shut behind him. Jamie heard her, but paid no attention. Nicholas had already taken the twins in each hand, walking down the gravel road.
“Jamie, where are you going?” asked Bianca, almost panicked. “Why’s he taking the kids? Is he really releasing them, or is this a ploy?”
“Out,” said Jamie. “Not sure where. And yes, they’re really on the next plane out.”
“Yes, they are really going to Germany, alive and safe,” yelled Nicholas, yards away, not waiting for Bianca’s response. “But you are staying here. Jamie and I will return later.”
The sun had long set by the time Jamie and Nicholas made their way into town, having put the children on a private plane to Burghausen. It hadn’t taken them as long to walk the distance as the teen had expected. Walking along the cobblestoned path of River Street, Jamie watched the sub-humans stumble in and out of various bars and restaurants, drinks in hand, as he and Nicholas passed along the historic avenue.
&n
bsp; “Ah, Savannah,” sighed Nicholas. “One of my favorite cities in the world. So much history, beauty, entertainment, and some of the best meat to be found anywhere, if you know what I mean.”
“Not really.”
“Oh, my dear boy, there’s nothing like Southern cuisine—both human and vampire. And the American South is full of vampires. There’s a reason so many contemporary Stokers base their novels here. Vamps truly love Dixie—especially the Big Three: Charleston, New Orleans, and Savannah. Perhaps you’ll get to savor some of the latter’s world famous flavor tonight.”
“That’s what we’re doing here? Eating?”
“Yes. I like the hunt as much as the next werewolf, but there’s a restaurant in town that offers some of the best local fine dining. In other words, vampires are its primary patrons. Now, don’t misunderstand, it’s not like the cooks are going to just serve up vamps on a plate. No. We have to kill our dinner ourselves, so there’s still some fun in it.”
“Who are you?” Jamie played with his lighter.
“All in good time.” Nicholas examined the Marlboro logo on Jamie’s lighter more closely. “Veni, vidi, vici.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll tell you another time. Get rid of that lighter—I’m not comfortable with fire.” Nicholas said nothing more and Jamie asked nothing else. They soon reached a corner on River Street and stood facing the Pirates’ House.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” asked Jamie, seeing that Nicholas was making no move toward the building. A slight electrical charge tinged the teen’s body.
“We’re not going that way.” Nicholas turned around and advanced toward the river.
Following, Jamie saw his mentor leap over a rail. Startled, he rushed to the same spot, expecting Nicholas to be swimming in the Savannah River. Instead, he found him motioning from what appeared to be a sewer exit below. Jamie jumped.
“What the hell is this?” The scent of countless layers of blood on the curved walls filled the teens nose.
“A tunnel. It leads to the Pirates’ House.”
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