She kept running, then leapt off the last house and onto the ground. She couldn’t fly, but this was pretty damn close.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She jumped at the accusation. When she spun around she wasn’t surprised to see Alaric, staring at her, hands on hips and a little out of breath.
“What are you doing?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but found she had no excuse. “I wanted to see what I can do.”
“Murder somebody, that’s what you can do.”
“Come on! If you were me, you’re telling me you wouldn’t be a little curious to see what you were capable of now? You’d just sit in your house and not wonder at all?”
Running a hand through his hair, he shook his head. “I wouldn’t run off. You say you’re not hungry, and that’s fine, but have you forgotten about Saul? You may be stronger and faster than you were in your previous life, but you’re still no match for him. He’s centuries old and the very blood within you that makes you strong is his blood. But in him it’s un-distilled. He could be anywhere waiting for you…waiting for us.”
The thought that she may have put Alaric in danger touched her as nothing else could have in that moment.
“Okay, you’re right. I shouldn’t have run off. I didn’t think you’d follow me, either. I thought you were patrolling.”
“Trina called me when she saw you weren’t in the house. I didn’t know what to think.”
She looked down at her sneakers and exhaled. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see what I could do. That’s all. I didn’t mean any harm.”
He approached, was about to clasp her chin, but let his hand fall to his side instead. “The world is a different place for you then it was a few nights ago. You have to remember that. You can’t just go outside and assume nothing bad is going to happen to you. And you can’t assume that just because you’re not hungry one moment, you won’t be hungry the next. You have to be more careful.”
“I know. You’re right.”
“After we figure out what Saul is doing here and get rid of him, and we get a handle on how you’ve changed, you can do things like this. Or at the motherhouse. We have acres at the motherhouse so you’ll be free to run to your heart’s contentment. There, you can learn everything you need to learn about being a vampire.”
“There are others like me there?”
“Our historians have studied vampires and all creatures.”
She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to learn about what she was from people who hunted her kind and killed it. What good could she possibly learn from those who would kill her? Would a Talhari motherhouse be safe for her?
“Will I be safe there?” she asked.
“Of course. No one will harm you. You have my word.”
“But Talhari kill my kind. And I’m not sure what I can learn from a race of people who see me as something that should be exterminated. Who see me as a monster, as you called me.”
He flinched, as though she’d struck him. “You’re the offspring of Saul. You’re dangerous.” Alaric turned away from her. “We need to head back.”
“A monster,” she said again.
When he didn’t respond, she asked, “And what if I get hungry while at the motherhouse? Will they put me down? Will you be the one to put me down?”
He whirled on her. “Don’t you dare say that to me.”
His anger had her stepping back in surprise.
“Sydney, I am a vampire. My entire team consists of vampires. The Talhari are vampires who don’t murder. We drink but we do not kill. Killing is forbidden to the Talhari.”
She stared at him. “You…you’re a vampire?”
“Not like Saul.”
“And you didn’t tell me. Not even tonight when you’d seen that I’d turned. Instead you called me a monster. How is it that I’m a monster and you’re not?”
“Because you belong to Saul.”
“I do not belong to Saul.”
I leave you and you’re human, I come back and you’re feverish with the change. I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t see Saul coming. I have no idea what’s going on. He’s ten steps ahead of me.”
They stood in the middle of the street, the cool night air brushing the hair back from her face as she continued to stare at him.
“Would you say something?” he demanded.
“I’m just like you.”
He sighed. “You’re not like me. Saul is the first, that makes you different. You’ve been sired by the most powerful vampire in existence. You will become like him. The thirst, it’s a terrible burden.”
“But your motherhouse has to take me in, they have to help me.”
“They don’t have to, but they will. They won’t want you to become a bloodsucker, they’ll want you to be Talhari.”
She looked down at the ground, a humorless laugh slipping from her lips. “You were bitten, weren’t you? When you were a boy? The night your parents were murdered?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s why they took you in and trained you. You could either go the way of Saul or the way of the Talhari and they wanted you to be Talhari. They want every vampire to be Talhari.”
Again he nodded. “Yes.”
She breathed in the crisp air, noticing that even this felt different as a vampire. The world itself was a different place.
“I’m still just me, Alaric. Why can’t you see that?” Then she remembered what he’d said, and what Saul had admitted to. “Saul is the one you’ve been hunting.”
“He is.”
And then it all became clear. “He killed her.”
“A monster killed her.”
“What monster?”
“Wanna run back? Over the rooftops?” he asked, not quite meeting her eyes.
She waited for him to answer her question. When she saw he wouldn’t, she nodded. “Yes. But I don’t think I’m as fast as you.”
“You’re fast.” He looked at her long enough to say, “It took me forever to catch up to you. And I only caught you because you stopped.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Most take years to reach that kind of speed, but Saul’s blood is powerful.”
And they were back to Saul.
Had she really run as fast as he had the night he’d rescued her; the night Cora had died? She could remember the wind whipping past her face, the feel of everything rushing past her in a blur.
“I’m ready,” she said.
And they ran.
Chapter Ten
She was in a narrow corridor. The sound of fighting, of some sort of battle, sounded in the hall behind her. She didn’t know where she was or how she’d gotten there, but she hoped all would be revealed soon.
The hall was ancient. The walls were made of coarse stone, the only light came from torches set in sconces on the wall. The flames flickered, making the corridor seem to go in and out of focus.
She was pleased that the further down the hall she went, the further away the fighting sounded. She just wished she knew where she was going.
She continued on, walking cautiously, trying to see what was around the next bend, disappointed when only more darkness greeted her. But then, warm orange light glimmered from somewhere in the near distance.
Seeing the light, the warm welcome it provided, she sped up. She jogged forward, eager to see where this light would lead her.
She reached a bend in the hall, turned with it, then gasped.
She’d stepped into a massive room. A huge stone fireplace dominated the far wall, a fur carpet thrown on the floor in front of it. There were high backed wing chairs and chaise lounges situated around the room. A few book cases were on the wall nearest her, some of the books scattered on another fur rug laid before the bookcases. All of these things appealed to her, but none as much as the oversized bed set at the center of the room. Overstuffed comforters and pillows were scattered across the bed. Centered on this structure was a large, shirtless m
an. Saul. Clad in leather pants, boots, and nothing else, he reclined on the pillows, gazing at her.
“Well are you going to come in or are you just going to stand there gaping?” he asked.
She continued to stare and gape a moment longer, then finally managed to ask, “Where am I?”
“Asleep.”
“If I’m asleep, how are you in my dream? How did I even create this place?”
“You didn’t create it. It’s mine, from one of the many houses I own. To answer your first question, I am your sire, I can be anywhere I want to be where you are concerned.” He motioned her inside with the flick of a finger.
She didn’t think she should go. He looked far too alluring on that bed and she was sure he knew it. She didn’t think for a minute that he’d invited her here……well, she had no idea why he’d invited her here. “What do you want?”
“I want you to come closer.”
“I think I’m fine where I’m at.”
“I can make you come to me, but why do that? Such behavior is tedious and archaic.” He paused to look at her. “I made you so of course I don’t want to hurt you.”
“There are so many things you could do to hurt me.”
He inclined his head at this. “True. But I’ve no desire to hurt you. Rather, I thought you’d have questions.”
“You bought me here so I could ask you questions?”
“Again, I’m your sire. Obviously I don’t want you to fail. Especially after you’ve survived where few others have. So come, ask what you will.”
She stepped into the room. Despite herself, she was drawn in by the hearth and books and the cozy feel. Even the bed looked inviting. And it’s inhabitant, curse his black heart.
He sat up straight and pointed to the floor beside him. “Come. I want to see how you’ve handled the transition.”
Swallowing, she did as requested.
When she got to him he ran fingers over her face, making her shiver with unwanted pleasure. He felt her skin, prodded her muscles, and ran his fingers through her hair.
“Outstanding,” he decided. “I knew you’d be magnificent. But you’re not truly transformed yet. Why haven’t you fed?”
“Because I don’t want to be what you are. I want to keep my humanity.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I suppose they told you if you fed you’d become a monster.”
She didn’t answer.
“You aren’t human anymore, Sydney, you’re a vampire. Drinking blood is your nature. It’s not wrong, it’s not a sin, it’s what you are. Does the lion apologize to the zebra when it eats it? No, because a lion is doing what lions do. There’s no sin in that.”
“But what you are is a sin. You were created from sin.”
“Ah, the Talhari and their supposed wisdom. Why would God let me exist if I were something evil? Why not destroy me utterly and allow His humans to remain safe.”
“I’m not God. I can’t answer that.”
“And Alaric has proposed to take you to the motherhouse so you can learn about what you are.” Again, he threw his head back and laughed. “Learn about who you are from the very people whose existence it is to wipe our kind out.”
“I’m not your kind, I’m like them.”
“Oh, but you are like me. I made you and you are part of me now. Like it or not.”
He shifted in the bed so his legs dangled from the side. He set his booted feet on the floor, one on either side of her. Suddenly, she was caught between his thighs.
Power radiated off of him as did strength.
“Like it or not, Sydney, you are mine. Not Alaric’s.”
“I belong to no man.”
He moved forward, catching her in his arms and pulling her to him. His lips were on her skin, at her throat, and then his fangs were sinking into her.
He drank deeply until she was faint from blood loss. Then he lifted her and settled her on the bed.
“You will drink from me now,” he said, levering himself on top of her. “And remember it is my blood that flows through your veins, not Alaric’s.”
Again, she found herself pinned beneath the weight of his body, surrounded by the scent of him.
“No,” she said. “I won’t.”
He gazed at her for a few moments. “But you will.”
He slashed his own throat with a nail then bent low until his throat was against her mouth. She didn’t want to drink, but the taste of his blood dripping between her lips was too much to refuse. It was liquid gold, hot and cold at the same time. It made her feel strong, invincible. And maybe if she drank more of him she’d be able to stave off the hunger for another few days.
“Yes,” he said, his voice as sweet as a lullaby. “Yes, drink me.”
She lapped at his skin, sucked in the richness of his blood. She nearly swooned at the pleasure of it. Nearly lost herself to it.
The world shifted, he surroundings began to change. Alaric was leaning over her, shaking her. The taste of Saul’s blood remained on her tongue. It was so sweet, so…
Alaric shook her again. “Wake up.”
The bedroom door flew open. Joshua and Rhonda rushed in.
“What’s going on?” Joshua asked.
Alaric looked up from the bed. “He was here. Somehow, he was here. He fed on her, then she on him.”
Rhonda came closer. As she studied Sydney, her eyes widened. “The blood on her lips?”
“Not mine.” Alaric answered.
Trina came through the door. “What’s going on?”
“Saul,” said Rhonda.
Trina looked at Sydney. “I should have guessed this would happen.” She came forward. As she walked, she pulled a chain over her head. It was a cross. “Put this on.”
Confused, Sydney managed to sit forward so Trina could slip the chain and cross over her head.
“He won’t be able to get at you in dreams anymore. This will protect you.”
Sydney wasn’t sure she wanted to be protected from him. Some of the things he’d said to her made sense. And the taste of his blood.
“What did he say to you?” Alaric demanded.
Sydney swallowed. “He said he brought me there because he figured I’d have questions. Questions Talhari, who live to kill my kind, can’t answer.”
“Your kind?” Alaric asked, eyebrow raised.
She shrugged. “Like you he insists I’m like him, not like the Talhari. But he doesn’t think I’m a monster.”
“You told her?” Rhonda asked.
Alaric nodded.
“No,” Trina corrected, “you’re Talhari. There’s a huge difference between what you are and what Saul is.”
“He’s gonna try to get inside your head,” said Paul. “He doesn’t want you to join us. Expect that this won’t be the last time he makes contact with you. If he can’t get to you when you’re asleep, the next time will be when you’re awake.”
“He may talk a good game,” Trina added, “but he’s evil. Remember how he became what he is. There’s nothing appealing about Saul, although he will try to convince you that he’s a victim. He’s evil and he’s a killer. Period.”
Sydney nodded. “I know. You’re right. But I want to understand what I am.”
“He doesn’t have the answers you’re looking for.”
They left the room, leaving her alone with Alaric.
She looked down at the chain.
“You need to sleep. It’s been a long night,” Alaric said.
“I’ll keep sleeping at night?”
“There’s no reason why you won’t. You won’t be harmed by daylight.”
Sliding under the covers, she nodded.
“Stay with me.”
“I can’t. I’m working.”
He stepped away from the bed, walked to the door, and left.
Chapter Eleven
She was mildly surprised when she awoke in the morning as usual. She had expected to remain in a coma like state.
Sydney slid out of bed a
nd went into the bathroom to look at herself. She was startled by what she saw. Her hair shimmered with health, her skin looked vibrant, her eyes were bright. She seemed enhanced. She was pleased that the basic color of her skin hadn’t changed. She could only imagine that had happened to Saul because the concentration of his transformation. But she looked like herself, just an enhanced version.
Should she go to work today, like usual, or call in? What does one do when one becomes a vampire? But it was Sunday, she remembered. Work was a problem she could leave for another day.
She tiptoed into the office where Trina and Rhonda were sleeping and retrieved her laptop. She booted up, wondering if coffee was a no-no now. She didn’t feel like drinking coffee, or orange juice, or anything else for that matter. No hunger, either, so far. Having more of Saul’s blood probably gave her more time before she had to worry about that.
She sat in her backyard on a chaise lounge and tried to figure out why Saul was in Lynchburg. She lost track of how much time passed as she plugged into libraries, searched the net, and read local papers, but she couldn’t find anything relevant. When Alaric appeared in the doorway leading to her kitchen, she was surprised to see she’d been out there for well over an hour.
“Get dressed,” he said simply.
This got her attention. “Am I off house arrest?”
“The motherhouse has given me the okay to bring you today. As soon as you’re dressed we’re taking you over.”
In the foyer of the motherhouse, Alaric slipped a wristband over Sydney’s wrist. It was the first time he’d touched her since last night, but the touch held no warmth.
“This tells everyone that you’re an approved visitor.”
She nodded, then swallowed down her nervousness. She was so tense, but she wasn’t sure why. Well, for one thing, she had a much different perspective on this place than she had the first time she’d been here. Now she knew that all of the inhabitants were vampires; that Talhari simply meant a vampire who doesn’t murder.
They walked into the main vestibule, then into a room so large it boggled her mind. The room was open to the fourth floor, each floor enclosed by a wrought iron railing. There were books on every level. Thousands and thousands of books. This was a historian’s dream library.
Taboo (A Tale of the Talhari Book 1) Page 9
