Beneath my shock, I felt a twinge of jealousy at his continual mention of my mother. He had known the mother I could barely remember. The mother who had kept his existence from me.
I closed my eyes, a gnawing frustration tearing at my stomach. When I’d left London, I thought my ignorance was only relegated to vampires. But now it included my own family.
“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Seward asked suspiciously.
“You don’t. But I have no reason to lie.” Gabriel’s tone was firm with sincerity. “I–I wish I could have known life as a human. But I have always been this way. This . . . creature,” he added, looking down at himself, his revulsion plain now.
“Did my father know of your existence?” I asked abruptly, both dreading and anticipating his answer.
“He knew Mother had another child prior to marrying him,” Gabriel said, after a long moment of hesitation, and I saw concern in his eyes as he studied my taut features. “But he didn’t know anything beyond that. He didn’t know Mother still came to see me. He certainly didn’t know that I’m vampire,” Gabriel added quickly, as if trying to reassure me.
His words did nothing to quell the surge of renewed hurt and anger I felt towards Father. This was yet another vital thing he’d kept from me.
“Are there others like you?” Abe asked. His horror had been replaced by his insatiable scientific curiosity, and I could practically see his mind churning. “How have you gone undetected for so long? What are your abilities?”
“Yes, there are many like me. We can remain undetected because we look human. I can see and hear exceptionally well, especially in the dark. And I can move quickly. Doctor Van Helsing, I will tell you more—much more,” he said, as Abe opened his mouth to barrage him with more questions. “But you all must be exhausted. It’s imperative that you sleep so that we can leave at first light. The authorities will soon arrive on the site of the train derailment. I assume you don’t want to bring attention to yourselves by being questioned. We need to get Mina and you both back to England. These forests are not safe,” he continued, addressing Abe and Seward.
“What do you mean, back to England?” I demanded, my astonishment shifting to anger. It pulled me from my shock, and I glared at Gabriel. “You’re aware that I’m rescuing my fiancé from your murderous brethren. I will not return to England without him.”
“I gave Mother my word that I’d keep you safe,” Gabriel replied, his eyes hard with determination as he got to his feet, pulling himself to his intimidating height. “I thought I could keep you safe by shadowing you, but the vampires in these parts are ferocious. You all could have been killed tonight.”
“We’re aware of the danger,” I returned. “I’m telling you that I will not return to England without Jonathan.”
“I could easily overpower all three of you and force you back to England,” Gabriel said, his tone turning dangerously soft, his silver eyes seeming to darken. I stiffened in spite of myself, but kept my eyes locked with his, not wanting to show him my trepidation. “But I’m giving you a choice,” he continued, softening. “I know you’re concerned about your fiancé. I can make inquiries, and see if I can—”
“Inquiries?” I snapped. “He was abducted by your kind. I will not abandon him. Even—even if you were to overpower us,” I continued, hating how my voice quivered at the thought. “I will return. And keep returning.”
Behind me, Abe and Seward kept quiet as Gabriel and I faced off. It was unnerving to stare into those familiar eyes, so much like my mother’s, but I held my ground. Gabriel’s existence was an earth-shattering revelation, but I would not be dissuaded from rescuing Jonathan.
“If you will not be persuaded to abandon this venture, then I am coming with you,” Gabriel said.
Abe, Seward and I responded all at once.
“No.” I snapped.
“That would be excellent.” Abe said.
“Can you protect us from other vampires?” Seward asked.
Annoyed, I turned to glare at Abe and Seward. Seward flushed guiltily, but Abe held my eyes.
“Please leave us, Gabriel. I want to discuss this with my friends.”
“You don’t have a choice. I will follow you whether you agree or not,” Gabriel said calmly, but he moved out of the cellar, ascending the stairs as quietly as he had come down them.
Once he was gone, Abe took a step towards me, grunting painfully as he moved, and I was pierced by a stab of guilt. With all the emotional chaos of Gabriel’s revelations, I’d nearly forgotten about Abe’s injury.
“Sit down,” I urged, helping him to the floor and propping him gently against the wall. Abe leaned back against the wall, clutching his side before meeting my eyes, resolute.
“You must look past your emotions, Mina. Gabriel is vampire. He can—” he began.
“Exactly!” I interrupted.
“He knows their weaknesses. He is strong. He can help us,” Abe continued, unwavering.
“He’s saved our lives twice now. Do you believe he’s your brother?” Seward asked.
I thought of Gabriel’s familiar eyes. The locket. The tender way he spoke of my mother. The absolute sincerity in his tone. Despite my hatred of his kind, I could admit that there was something different about him—something almost human. And he was half human, impossible as it seemed.
“Yes,” I grudgingly replied. “He has my mother’s eyes. I know those eyes well. And I–I don’t think he’s lying. I don’t know how it’s possible, but he’s of my blood.”
“Then I’m with Abe. We need as much help as possible.”
Gabriel had saved our lives twice now. He could help us. But I was still hesitant. Though my instincts told me that Gabriel wouldn’t harm us, he was still part vampire. How could I ever bring myself to truly trust such a creature?
“You still have the wolfsbane, yes?” Gabriel’s soft inquiry came from behind us, and we all turned. He had once again slipped noiselessly back into the cellar. I scowled at him.
“How do you manage to come and go so unobtrusively? Is that how you were able to follow us?” Abe asked, fascinated, studying Gabriel as if he were a new life form he had discovered in his laboratory.
“We asked for time alone,” I said crossly, before Gabriel could respond.
“I can hear every word upstairs. I told you I hear exceptionally well. There was no point in my absence,” Gabriel replied. “I have trained myself to move quite carefully, Doctor Van Helsing. Do you have the wolfsbane?” he repeated to me. “And your other weapons?”
“Yes,” I replied, after a moment of hesitation. “Why?”
“Arm yourselves. Always have your weapons on hand. If that is what’s necessary to make you feel safe around me, then very well,” he said, betraying no emotion as he met our eyes.
“I do not think that—” Abe began.
“All right,” I interjected. “If at any time we feel threatened by you—”
“You can stake me,” he said, his face stoic as granite. “Moments ago, you almost did. I could have easily escaped—or harmed you—but I didn’t. I think I have proven that I mean you no harm. I only want to honor Mother’s wishes and keep you safe.”
Abe and Seward nodded, looking thoroughly convinced. Gabriel gave me an inquiring look. I finally gave him a hasty nod of agreement. I would have to put my anxiety about him aside if I wanted to rescue Jonathan.
“There is a nearby town—Andorf—where we can collect horses and ride to the train station in Wels . . . it will take us in the direction of Transylvania,” Gabriel said.
“How’d you know where we were going?” Seward asked, sounding more curious than suspicious now.
“I overheard you on the train.” Gabriel replied.
“You were not seated anywhere near us,” Abe breathed, even more fascinated. “You will have to tell me more about your hearing.”
“In time,” Gabriel said, and despite the tense circumstances, I detected a slight trace of humor in his tone
at Abe’s transparent fascination with him. “I do want to suggest that we stop in Budapest for help before continuing on to Klausenburgh. I have friends there who may be able to help you.”
“Friends?” I echoed, with an uneasy chill.
“Vampires,” Gabriel said, once again reading my mind. “Before you protest, who are you looking for? The creature who took Jonathan, correct?”
“Of course,” I said shortly.
“But you don’t know who that is.”
“We–we’ll find out exactly who he is as we—” I hedged.
“My friends have lived in this region for some time. They may very well know the creature you’re looking for, and perhaps even offer their assistance.”
I looked at him, shaken. I barely trusted Gabriel, who was my blood and had saved our lives. But other vampires? I thought of the vampires I had encountered earlier in the clearing, with their bared fangs and black eyes. I shivered.
“We’re not all monsters,” Gabriel said. “I loathe creatures who attack innocents,” he added, his eyes growing cold with hatred. “As do my friends. I trust them with my life. They have no interest in harming humans . . . they only wish to live in peace. The hour is late. Take the night to consider. But if you want to find and destroy the monster who took your fiancé, it will only be to your benefit to speak with them. They may have the answers you need.”
There were an increasing number of questions that I needed answers to, but the thought of conversing with a group of vampires, or getting assistance from them, made me feel ill.
“Sleep. I think it’s best for you all to remain in the cellar lest there are any more prowling vampires,” Gabriel said, turning to move towards the cellar door. “I’ll be outside.”
He left us alone, and Seward and I gathered blankets from upstairs and prepared makeshift beds for Abe and ourselves in the cellar. I took the time to change out of my stained dress and into a clean one in an empty bedroom upstairs.
“You both realize that we must meet these other vampires,” Abe said, when I returned, his eyes drooping with fatigue as he made himself comfortable on the blankets. “We do need answers.”
“We’ll discuss this tomorrow,” I said. “Please get some rest. Call out if you are in any pain, or if you need anything at all.”
Despite my fatigue, it took me a long while to drift to sleep as multiple questions raced through my mind about Gabriel. How had my mother come to give birth to a vampire? Why didn’t she tell me or my Father of his existence? Would things have been different had I known?
When I finally slept, my dreams were filled with dark images of my mother, smiling lovingly at me until her lips curled back to reveal the sharp fangs of a vampire.
20
The Silent War
We awoke just after dawn the next morning, and Gabriel soon entered the cellar, politely informing us that he’d already brought over horses from Andorf, and they were waiting for us in the stables. Still reeling from the previous night’s revelations, I was unable to meet Gabriel’s eyes as I nodded my thanks.
“You traveled to Andorf and back quite expeditiously,” Abe said, impressed, as he sat up.
I was relieve to see that Abe looked much better than he had the night before, though he was still slightly pale. His eagerness over having a real life vampire test subject seemed to outweigh any thought of his injury, and I practically had to order him to let me inspect his wound.
“I’m not as fast as full-fledged vampires, but I can move more quickly than humans. Andorf is not far from here, Doctor Van Helsing,” Gabriel replied modestly, as I cleaned Abe’s wound and applied the fresh bandages Gabriel had brought back from town.
“You have helped save my life twice. I insist that you call me by my Christian name,” Abe said, giving Gabriel a kind smile, which he shyly returned.
I finished applying the bandages, slightly irritated at how quickly Abe had taken to Gabriel. We had decided that that we’d take his advice and stop in Budapest for more information from Gabriel’s friends, but I felt that we still needed to be on our guard around him.
Once Abe’s wound was tended to, we ate the fresh bread that Gabriel had also brought with him. Gabriel didn’t eat with us and hovered in the doorway as we ate. I wondered with a chill when he had last feasted on blood. Had he recently drained some poor villager?
I made myself push the disturbing thought away. It was best if I kept my thoughts away from his diet.
We moved to the upstairs rooms to wash and change into fresh clothes. My aches from the derailment had now dulled to soreness, and I grimaced as I changed into a grey traveling dress.
Abe was still too weak to ride on his own, so he shared a horse with me, leaning heavily against me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I had to focus on riding and ignored the familiar warmth of his body against mine as we rode away from the farmhouse.
Abe’s full concentration was on Gabriel, who rode directly at our side. Abe must have shared my silent musings about Gabriel’s diet, as he immediately began to pepper him with questions about what he ate. Dreading Gabriel’s response, I tightened my grip on the reigns.
“I have never taken blood from a human,” Gabriel replied, and I sensed a hint of pride in his tone. “I find the act as deplorable as I’m sure you do. I do eat food, but I don’t need as much and I don’t find it satiating, unfortunately. My adoptive father was a butcher. He would bring home animal blood for me to consume. By the time I was twelve, a vampire I only knew as Uncle Quincy began to visit me regularly. He trained me to hunt and feed on animals. He also taught me how to abstain from consuming blood for up to two weeks.”
“Who were your adoptive parents? How did they know about the existence of your kind?” Abe asked, his curiosity seeming to grow with the more answers that Gabriel gave him.
“Percy and Winifred Harris. They told me they had always known about vampires, but they never explained how. I don’t know why my mother chose them, but I know they weren’t able to have children of their own. They treated me—and loved me—as if I were their own,” Gabriel said, his voice briefly catching as grief flickered across his features. “They died several years ago. My parents—and my mother—left me a small inheritance. It’s been enough for me to travel and live without the risk of detection. Whenever I’m in England, I stay in their home.”
Abe and Seward continued to ask Gabriel about his travels and abilities, while I remained silent, though I had a multitude of my own questions. I wanted to know more about my mother and how often she had visited him, what he knew about others of his kind, how long he had watched me. While he answered Abe and Seward’s questions, I could feel his curious gaze slide periodically towards me, possibly wondering why I was so silent.
I needed time to come to terms with the knowledge that I had a half-brother who was a vampire; that there was so much about my own family I knew nothing about. My ignorance now seemed to form a great abyss, and every time I bridged a small gap, it grew even greater still.
“We’ve a theory, though we hope we’re wrong,” Seward said, his words cutting into my bleak reverie. “That the many vampire attacks throughout Europe—including the one last night—are due to some sort of invasion.”
“I’m afraid you may be correct,” Gabriel replied. “From what I have learned from my friends in Budapest, there has been a civil war amongst vampires for generations. I used to hear my parents whispering about it at night. The silent war, they called it. When Mother visited, I would hear her talk with them about it,” he added, casting a sideways glance at me.
“My mother?”
I spoke in spite of myself, stunned. While it was quite obvious that she knew about vampires, how much more did she know? Exactly how much had she been involved in their world?
“Yes. But she never spoke of it to me,” Gabriel replied. I could see a subtle relief in his eyes that I had finally spoken. “I know that though our numbers are low, there are many vampires who want to rule over humans.”
“The vampire who took Jonathan,” I began, gripped by a renewed fear. “Is he one of these vampires? Their leader, perhaps?”
“I don’t know,” Gabriel said, regretful. “Had I known anything of him, I would have come forward sooner. You have my word.”
He met my eyes, and once again I saw nothing but truthfulness in his eyes. There was something unnerving about his sincerity. I thought of the revulsion I had seen on his face the night before, the self-hatred he’d tried unsuccessfully to hide. He’d been raised by humans, born to a human mother. Was it possible that he despised his own kind?
We soon arrived at Wels, where we were able to send post. Abe sent a letter to Greta, while I sent Clara a brief letter informing her that I was safely en route to Budapest. I briefly wondered if she knew of Gabriel’s existence. Though there were secrets she had kept from me as well, I quickly dismissed the thought. Clara constantly worried about my chosen solitude and lack of friends in London. She would have eagerly welcomed a brother, even one that was vampire. In spite of myself, my lips twitched at the thought. Clara could always find the best qualities in anyone, and I had no doubt she would take an instant liking to Gabriel.
But would she ever meet him? When I returned to London, what role would Gabriel play in my life? Could I handle having a vampire as a permanent part of it?
Gabriel’s intense gaze settled on me, as if he were reading my thoughts, and I turned away from him as we left the post office. There was no point in thinking of such things now. I had to focus on rescuing Jonathan.
We made a brief stop at a telegraph office. Peter Hawkins had responded to my wire. He informed me that he’d pulled Jonathan aside to inform him there had been yet another break in at their office only a few hours prior to the ball. Nothing had been taken, but it appeared the thief was looking for something. He urged me to keep him posted about my search for Jonathan as he was quite worried about him.
The Beast of London: Book 1 of the Mina Murray series Page 16
