At First Sight (Persephonii Waters Book 1)

by Melanie Brown

  Persephonii paused and took a deep breath in preparation. "Very well."

  "I've some understanding with Turnings, not first hand of course but a good deal of debate and discussion with Vampyres...friends that were willing to speak with me about their experiences. That along with seeing a few more recently Turned friends, I've noticed a certain energy about the new Chyldren." Nodding for her to continue, he seemed content to let her go at her own pace.

  "For a while after they are Turned, even a few years, they still contain various amounts of the warmth of their human auras, a kind of residual energy. I can even pin point the time, within a few years of when they were Turned." At this he looked surprised.

  "Such as Mr. Mikaelson, I would say he was Turned no more than a decade ago, closer to twelve or thirteen years, and that he has a very strong connection with his Maker." Though he chose to head back to Seattle to monitor the Fischer scene, the stoic Mr. Toma had shown great care for his Chylde, like a true father for his son.

  "I would even go so far as to guess that Mr. Toma had a hand in raising him." Bastian's laugh was one of astonishment.

  "You are correct...Kaleb has always been at Toma's side, a human shadow when he was younger. Impressive. But please, continue."

  "Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it. I have only Ms. Kunhe's case to go off of, but the energies around her, especially those left at her moment of.. " Here she hesitated at her own term and description.

  "Poof?" Now his expression and tone held outright amusement.

  "Yes... Poof. It sounds better than detonation at this point.... At any rate, her energies were quite unusual, hard, chaotic, but cold... a bitter cold that went way beyond age. I think it has something to do with the way they are Turned. The warmth exists, lingers enough that they appear human up until this break, this moment that pulls everything asunder, and then... then it is replaced by a bitter cold, as if they were Turned centuries ago." It was still confusing and she was having doubts just saying her findings out loud. Though the new Chyldren were reintroduced to humanity slowly, anywhere from a year to five years after their Turning, the warmth lingered. From experience she knew that humans could still 'feel' this warmth and were more comfortable around the newly Turned. In contrast, the auras of older Vampyres tended to repel humans, almost instinctually, as if they understood the vampyre was now truly a predator.

  "I've never felt anything like it. Yes, Vampyre's auras and energy cool as they age, but this is...not normal..but then again, what's normal?" It was a comment on how crazy the times had gotten. Lamia's, sightings of Wyr-Dragons, now a rise in pseudo-science was occurring in a strange pattern of events, that boded ill for all involved.

  Raising her head from inspecting the table top, she looked him in the eye.

  "I think the Maker is trying to recruit, to form a Kiss, perhaps these people; a retired teacher, an artist were trail runs, though I still doubt it. Either way, their Maker, left them... put them in a situation to not only lose themselves but kill others. This Rogue took away their lives and left them to pick up the pieces. That is why I want to find him. Because while the P.P.D is looking at these people as if they are merely violent killers, I am looking at the one who made them." Bastian's stillness was in a word, paranormal. The look in his dark eyes, intense after so heartfelt a declaration, stirred something in her, on top of the feelings of injustice, something much more personal.

  "You are a continual surprise, Persephonii." She stilled too, at the way he said her name, like he savored every syllable. She had never heard it pronounced as such. It was alluring, and sexy, and a complication that she was in no mind set to acknowledge at the moment. An immediate change of subject was in order.

  "I would recommended going to the Freedman scene soon, before what residual energies are left have gone. We can compare notes later, if you'd like." Speaking of notes, she had another issue on her list to discuss. The majority of her time was currently being taken up by researching everything from articles to doctor's notes on Turnings and the search for the suppliers and buyers of the medical equipment. Perhaps handing over a few of the more mundane searches might free up her time enough to work on the Wyr's case. After all, it wouldn't hurt to have another pair of eyes, combing the information out on the world-wide web.

  "Miklos was speaking earlier about Kaleb's finesse with a computer? Perhaps he can start a search for information on our Rogue Maker? I've made a list of search terms and parameters that I think would narrow down the playing field." She pushed one last sheet of paper across the table. Perhaps adding in a bit more explanation for the request was in order. After all Kaleb was needed to look for the Rogue just as much as the others.

  "Time and personnel are running thin. I'd have asked one of the F.B.I's analysts to do it, but it seems even though I'm on the case, my status is low on the totem pole."

  "Ms. Vaughn?" He asked as he continues to read the list, but looked up to see her do a endearing combination of nod and shrug.

  'Search Parameters:

  Male: Born between 1960-1990, in Washington State, focus on Lakewood and adjoining counties.

  Someone exhibiting high marks in school, perhaps a loner or outsider. Science or medical background. (Also look into Paranormal circles, would magic or the occult arts have drawn him?)

  "Your rather specific in some of these deductions..." His baritone voice broke the silence, she could imagine which part he was reading.

  'Look for parent's divorced or even lost at a younger age

  Affluent, but perhaps no longer so?'

  "I will have Kaleb start the search upon his return." Setting the paper down on the now cleared table, he studied Persephonii as she prepared to go.

  "The Wi-Fi password is on the table in the lower study. Let me know if he needs anything?" She rose, this time firmly placing the strap of her satchel over her shoulder.

  "Though I have not had any personal contact with the Waters in a very long while, you are everything your references say and more. You do your family proud." Not sure what exactly compelled him to offer her the reassurance, he never the less, thought the acknowledgment true.

  "A bold statement considering this is the only the first officially day I am working as your Liaison. Please hold any estimations of my skill until further into this... But thank you, it's good to hear it occasionally." Nodding her head in thanks, she paused at the threshold to the hallway. Something personal was trying to emerge between them, but she was cautious. It felt like neither the time or the place for...whatever this was.

  "Even as a Waters, your instincts are very astute, you have fleshed out the Rogue's character much more than the F.B.I's profiler. I think it is not just because you have a little more information. With each piece of the puzzle you gain more insight... it is remarkable."

  “My Aunt’s like to misquote Albert Einstein... 'You cannot solve problems with the same thinking used to create them.' I supposed my thinking is far enough out in left field that it either seems crazy or genius. I suppose only time will tell which one it is." With that she turned to head back to the elevators.

  Chapter 13: Cabal:

  Refers to a Para under protection of a legal Guardian.

  The Warehouse. Lakewood, WA. 7:05pm PST.

  Persephonii left the basement, Bastian deciding to 'escort' her up in the elevator. Getting off at the first floor they parted, she heading to her office to see how things were going. And he out the back and into the night, wanting to take a look at Mr. Freedman's home first hand. Stepping into the foyer of Argent Waters, was stepping into chaos and the first scenes of what could have very well been the beginning of a tragic night.

  Quickly pulling at the wards, she energized the farthest outer barriers, just enough to give the Enforcers lingering at its edge a good jolt of a warning. The dark figures growled as they stayed out of the circles of illumination coming from both the exterior street lights and the light flooding out from the large glass windows of the lobby. Perse
phonii meant to send a clear message, they could not enter the premises, nor were they welcome to return. Looking over at a distraught Autumn, a panicking Lindsey and the Alpha surrounded by his men growling from the shadows of the building interior, she wondered how the day could have degraded so quickly... And more importantly, how had the Enforcers found the sequestered pack?

  Earlier that week it had taken little convincing for Autumn to talk her older brother into letting her walk around the building, and 'hang out' in the lower levels. Persephonii was somewhat impressed with the young woman's logical debate. However, she was sure that the real reason behind his conceding was the fact that she had him wrapped around her little finger. That and the fact that she would be staying within the wards at all times. After introducing her and Lindsey, her shadow, to Chase and Aaren, the two had explored the lower floors and garage, finding a place in one of the back rooms reading Para-texts and chatting with Aaren.

  It wasn't a day or two after that, that Aaren came to her while she was in her office and suggested a compromise of sorts. With Persephonii handling the Rogue Chyldren/Maker cases, and Chase taking on clients around that, Aaren was swamped with managing even basic tasks. Juggling everything, including; answering phones, filing, checking on bills or contracts with some of their clients and contractors, like those providing the blood packets for the new guests. Apparently, Aaren and Autumn had been talking quite a bit in the last few days and had come up with an idea, to alleviate both Aaren's work load and Autumn's boredom. Autumn would answer the phones and handle the front desk, while Lindsey would help file and clear out some of the paperwork that had piled up in wake of their busy schedules.

  The argument had touted a few lines like, 'earning their keep' and 'will look good on her resume.' While Autumn had worked in a small veterinarian's office answering phones and doing similar work, it was Lindsey who, though lacking the references, seemed to need something to do, to keep his mind off unpleasant thoughts.

  Persephonii thought it a wonderful idea, Chase was not so sure. Aaren in turn, sat down with the two of them and rehashed his plan, once again, but this time with Persephonii as back up. Chase was hesitant to let the unspoken 'guests' down from their hideout on the top floors. But relented after much griping and finally a small acknowledgement that they needed the help, and... 'free labor was good labor.' She could tell from his meeting with both Autumn and Lindsey that he was relieved it was the young ones, and not Harker himself that had come down.

  Thankfully, Chase had not been there for the altercation, but Aaren had. So while Persephonii and Aaren ''closed up shop early,' she told them about her hunches, about Harker being wanted for questioning, and their officially unofficial 'guest' status. It was easy to see that Aaren was developing feelings for the younger Donovan, and took the whole story with a sympathetic look. Sure that he would state his opinion, he had told her flat out, that he would 'trust her hunches any day of the week' and that her unorthodox methods had saved many lives. Suggesting that perhaps Aaren should leave before sunset for the unforeseeable future and if need be take a little work home, though now that they had help, his load was significantly lightened. She asked the Pack to watch out for Aaren and to a degree Chase, though the later could take care of himself. North ended up following Aaren out as he walked to his car parked on the side of the building and made sure that he got home safely.

  With Aaren gone home, the warehouse locked up tight, and everyone back upstairs, it was time to find out exactly what had happened and perhaps why these Enforcers seemed so dogged.

  Tea was what was needed, Persephonii had decided on her way to the top floor. Tea and perhaps a long talk, if she could get them to open up about whatever this thing with the Enforcers was. She could tell there was a history and it was likely not a pretty one.

  Once again seated around the dining table, warm cups in hand, Persephonii watched as both Harker and Blake tried to console Autumn. Though the young woman had not been harmed, or even touched, she seemed to find the mere presence of the Enforcers extremely distressing. Looking over at Lindsey, huddled in on himself at the end of the table, she could tell he was taking their appearance equally hard.

  "I'm sorry if this brings up some bad memories, but it appears that your location has been discovered." As tentatively as she could she started the conversation, not sure if her newly found Liaison skills covered distraught teenagers. Sometimes she wished she was as skilled in communication as her eldest sister Cassiopeia, who was a fierce Para-legal lawyer. "I wouldn't say from any of your expressions that this encounter was the first with these Enforcers." Leaning into the table she looked at the group.

  "We told you about Mason's sudden turn against Harker...well from what we have found out it started at least a month or two even before that." Maxwell spoke over the whispered reassurances, determined to spare Autumn from recounting an obviously painful episode.

  "I can do it..." Autumn's voice was quite but firm. She seemed to collect herself, gathering courage to speak. Her effort seemed to touch Lindsey enough to pull him from his own thoughts.

  "I told you I worked at the Vet clinic as a kind of receptionist." It was not a question but Persephonii nodded in response anyway. "I didn't tell you why I left."

  "About six months ago, I was riding my bike back from the clinic one night... usually it's just me, no one on the road. It's a quiet road with little traffic, heck, the whole town is pack so it's usually quite." Here she took a deep breath as if fortifying herself for the rest of it. "I didn't notice anyone around, it was the usual... until it wasn't. Suddenly this vehicle, blinds me with its headlights, screeching to a halt next to me... then I'm waking up in some basement in the woods. I could tell we were out of town because the smell of the earth is so much richer the deeper into the forest you go....We..." But that seemed to be the end of Autumn's strength, the ordeal still to fresh, to tell without breaking down.

  At the 'we' a light bulb went off in Persephonii's brain, her gaze swung toward Lindsey, watching his shoulder hunch in further then straighten a bit as he seemed to feel her eyes upon him.

  "It was days before we found them. It ended up being a tip from the vet's cameras, it was just the right break for us to hunt them down. Harker and... Mason... lead the team. They were shaken, and Lindsey suffered some extensive beatings, the two were relatively left alone... Though we freed Autumn and Lindsey, we could never find out who or why they were taken. With no leads, we all tried to put the incident behind us." Harker's voice clearly said the incident didn't want to oblige by staying in the past, nor was he content to let it stay there.

  "It wasn't until Mason's started to bring in his 'friends' that we suspected some of them were part of the kidnapping." Cain, seemed more than willing to paint a bad picture of Mason. 'Friends' was obviously not the word he wanted to use to describe the Enforcers. But Persephonii's attention had moved back to Harker... What was it like to know that the very people you welcomed into your Pack, your family, were the ones who had captured your sister and were now hunting you down? She guessed something like realizing your cousin, who you thought of as a brother, betrayed you and wanted you dead.

  "It wasn't until Mason's coupe that he brought in the Enforcer's you just saw... Autumn and I... recognized them from the start." Lindsey's voice drifted over the table, his gaze a million miles away.

  "Their intentions towards you are far from helpful, and the wards gave them a pretty good zap for it. Try as they might, they will not make it into this warehouse by any traditional means...nor very many magical ones. Though they are not completely impenetrable; nothing is. I want you to know you are safe inside them." The first words she wanted to say were 'I'm sorry' and 'I can't imagine,' but what good would they do? Instead she could say only what she knew.

  "Your...The Wards , they worked exactly as you said they would. I've never...I've never seen anything like it." Lindsey's voice sounded firmer, lifting his head to look at her as if she were some kind of miracle. At this they a
ll seemed to stare at her, impressed with the level of magic and perhaps safety her warehouse afforded them. Previously, she had been hoping that their continued stay would allow them a little more freedom in the area, perhaps to get out and see more of the sights. But now... now they would be locked up tight within the warehouse, fearing stepping foot outside the wards.

  "They aren't standard issue, that is for sure. But they will hold against most onslaughts, though your location has been discovered you are safe inside the wards." Though concerned, she could see the measure of relief in their eyes; they would not have to move again. Out of the group, Harker seemed concerned for her well being. Looking into his eyes, she could tell that he understood the danger they were putting her in, that he was putting her in. She wished that she could tell him that she was used to danger, used to this sort of intrigue, but did someone ever get used to this violent, often tragic world?

  Shaking her head to clear it of the morose thoughts, she took the last sip of her tea and spoke again. "I have thought about this sort of situation coming up. Granted it was sooner than all of us would have preferred, but we cannot assume that Mr. Donovan or his Enforcers will leave your location unmentioned." It appeared that few of them thought that Mason would take this information to the police, but Persephonii wouldn't put it past him.

  Harker stood abruptly from the table, nearly toppling his chair. Pacing back and forth along the length of the room, long strides eating up the distance with ease, she watched him stalk and think.

  "Then I will leave." Harker's quite statement sent the room into an uproar. Voices quickly raised in argument as Harker tried to take the noble way out.