by Tarah Knight
~Chapter Five~
Haven stared up at the ceiling of the very nice room she was given. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to paint a sunny sky with white fluffy clouds and birds with beautiful colored feathers in flight. It looked as though someone missed the sun. Haven could relate to that. She was a bona-fide sun worshiper before she was turned. It would figure, she didn’t fear getting skin cancer any more, but if she stepped one toe into the palest beam of sunlight she went up in smoke. That part of the vampire myths was very true, sort of. She had to actually be in direct sunlight to be scorched. She could go outside in the early morning hours or late in the evenings. Cloudy or rainy days were no problem either.
She bunched the pillow up under her head as she tried to get comfortable. It wasn’t the bed that was the problem, or even staying with Brooklyn and Verlon. They both made her feel very welcomed and at home. Her discomfort came from the inside. She was restless and edgy…needy. She tried closing her eyes and letting her memories take her home back when she was just a child.
She imagined she was lying in her bed in her old bedroom with her cocker spaniel Rascal lying at her feet. She imagined her mother was down stairs cleaning up after supper humming an old hymn as she washed up supper dishes. She could almost smell the scent of Downy fabric softener in her purple leopard print comforter, could almost hear the gentle rumbling snore of Rascal as he snoozed. The car crashing sounds of her little brother Kaden, playing in his room. If she could only concentrate just a little bit harder she could be back there once more. Usually this sent her right off to a deep peaceful sleep, but this time her mind wouldn’t stay focused. Two faces kept intruding two equally handsome faces one with a perpetual smirk and the other with a perpetual frown. She wished that the myth that vampires instantly slumbered once the sun rose was correct. But, unfortunately it wasn’t, and it looked like she would be facing a long night with no sleep.
“Good evening Haven, did you rest well my dear?” Brooklyn looked as ravishing as ever with her black as midnight hair and crystal blue eyes she was truly stunning. Haven felt like yesterdays crumpled newspaper compared to her.
“Yes, thank you I did.” She lied.
Brooklyn arched an eyebrow at her. “Has no one told you that you are a terrible liar? Now, why couldn’t you sleep? New surroundings? New bed?” Haven sat down at the table with a small smile. “The bed was fine and both you and Verlon have made me feel very welcome here. It was something more of a personal nature that kept me awake all day I’m afraid.” Brooklyn took a sip of red wine laced with blood. “Yes, I can certainly understand that. I would imagine being in your unique position would make your mind spin. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Haven smiled. “Sure my life is an open book. Ask away.”
“Well I admit to being curious about your turning. Who turned you my dear? Do you know?” Haven felt her face grow hard at Brooklyn’s question. “Hell, yes I know. His name was Byron De ‘Court, and he was my boyfriend, well he had actually asked me to marry him the night he changed me. I didn’t even know that your… that our… kind existed until he sank his fangs into my neck that night then left me to die.” The bitterness was clearly evident in her voice.
Brooklyn looked puzzled as she frowned. “When you say he was your boyfriend, what does that imply exactly? Where you intimate with him? Pardon my invasion into your privacy I promise I have a very valid reason for asking.”
Haven shrugged. “Byron was very old fashioned. He didn’t have actual sex until after marriage. We did engage in heavy petting once. Why do you ask?”
Brooklyn leaned forward “How much about the bonding have you been told?” Haven told her what she knew. “So I just have to wonder what one of our kind was doing courting a human? He didn’t leave you to die my dear, he knew you would turn, but what was his purpose behind it?”
Haven thought about it. “Maybe he thought I could be his? His Serah?” She jumped when Brooklyn slapped the table.
“That’s it! It has to be! He found you attractive and wanted to see if you could be his Serah so he turned you. When he felt nothing at your first breath he probably went on to another female. I would be willing to bet that you were not the first nor will you be the last. But he has to be stopped. This seriously goes against the Raya treaty! I must tell Verlon at once.” Brooklyn rose to leave but stopped when Haven placed her hand on her arm.
“Do you really think that I belong to both Deacon and Barron? Is it truly possible?”
“Haven, when I said you were in a unique position I meant exactly that. This has never happened before, not with other sets of twins or single birthed males. I would guess that there must be something very special about you my dear. But try not to let it worry you too much. We will solve this mystery, I assure you. Now please make yourself at home. Feel free to explore the house, however I would advise against leaving it. I don’t feel that Deacon will pose much of a problem, but his twin? I put nothing past him including taking you by force. So for your safety please remain within the walls of our estate.” After getting her promise that she wouldn’t venture outside the estate walls Brooklyn hurried off to speak with her mate.
Haven spent the next several hours exploring the property. Brooklyn and Verlon had a lovely home with an outdoor garden that was green and lush despite the lack of rain and the unbearable heat of a Texas summer. She walked the paths that wound through the thick foliage stopping here and there to sniff the blooms that dangled from the vines. She couldn’t identify most of the plants that grew in such a thick canopy overhead that it shaded the majority of the large yard. Large tropical looking flowers in brilliant colors grew in abundance and hung heavy from the vines that were supported by tall cane poles. Even the grass was thick and green and looked so inviting she slipped off her shoes sighing as she sank her feet into the cool green carpet.
The entire yard was surrounded by a very tall privacy fence that served a dual purpose of insuring their privacy, and helped to support more flowering vines. In the center of the yard she discovered a deep pool that was set against a man made waterfall of stacked boulders. The water splashed down the boulders and into the deep pool making ripples that lapped against the sides. Lily pads with white flowers grew on one end of the pool but the rest was clear of any vegetation. Unable to resist and praying there wasn’t any creepy crawlies hidden in the dark water, Haven sat on the edge and slipped her feet in up to mid-calf. Sighing blissfully she leaned back in the grass and stared up at the evening sky that was starting to grow dim. This had become her favorite time of night. Right before the night claimed the day, twilight was what her granny called it. It seemed almost magical the feeling in the air, as the sky started to darken. Then she saw the stars appear one by one. She could have gotten lost out here and forgotten where she was or why she was even here except her tummy chose that moment to growl loudly in a very un-lady like manner. She sat up placing her hand on her rumbling stomach.
She didn’t think anything worse could ever happen to her after she was turned. Being forced to prey on her fellow humans was revolting to her, but she dealt with it. She was careful not to take too much, and she always left them with a pleasant memory. She refused to dine on the weak or on children. She would starve first. The only exception she made was snacking on the passed out homeless man, but he didn’t even know she was there and she wasn’t able to take enough to hurt him, so she figured that didn’t count.
But something worse did happen. Now she couldn’t even feed herself! She was totally dependent on someone else and that made her stomach burn more than the hunger pains! She wondered who would show up first tonight. She really hoped it was Deacon, because his twin worked her last nerve, and she still might smack him again for stabbing his brother! Getting to her feet she didn’t bother putting her shoes back on, instead she slipped her fingers through the straps of her sandals and let them dangle as she made her way slowly to the back door. She was nearly to the door when Deacon stepped out of the shadows.
&n
bsp; “Good evening my Serah, did you rest well?” He bowed slightly at the waist really telling off on his age by the old world move.
Haven smiled. “Well, I would say yes, but Brooklyn informed me that I was a terrible liar.” She turned and gestured to the yard. “I can’t get over how beautiful it is out here. They must pay their gardener a fortune!” Deacon grinned. “No gardener is needed. The plants obey our orders. We tell them to grow beautiful and lush and they do so.” Arching her brow at that incredible statement Haven turned back to face him. “Come again?”
Deacon cocked his head. “You really have no idea how powerful you are do you?” He bent down and scooped up some soil in to the palm of his hand then he plucked a cherry from a nearby tree. He pulled the pit from the center of the cherry and planted it in the soil that he held in his hand. Then he leaned down and whispered something to it. He looked up at Haven with a smile. “Watch!”
Haven leaned closer and saw dirt in his palm started to stir, she gasped as a tiny green shoot emerged and starting to grow rapidly. Deacon dropped to his knees and planted the tiny shoot into the ground by the pool. It continued to grow until it reached full size in less than ten minutes. She stared in amazement as grew, bloomed, and bore fruit in under twenty minutes.
Deacon smiled as her face lit up in wonder at the most simple of Legend abilities. When she turned the full force of her smile on him he felt the impact more so than Barron’s dagger. She had to be his he knew it with every fiber of his being! He would be glad when Barron finally realized this and moved on to find his own true Serah.
“That’s the most remarkable thing I have ever seen! Can I do this too?” He nodded. “Yes, pick out what you would like to grow. I’ll show you.” Haven wondered around the garden until she spotted a purple and cream colored, orchid that was simply exquisite. She pointed then watched as he gathered up a handful of soil and placed it in her palm. Then he dusted some of the fragile pollen from one flower then another sprinkling it in the dirt that she held. He reached carefully inside the flower and brought out a tiny black seed not much bigger than a grain of sand and planted in the center of the dirt. “Now whisper to it.” He instructed.
Haven looked at him completely lost. “Whisper what exactly?” She laughed nervously as she looked at the pile of dirt in her hand. “Tell it what you want it to do. That you want it grow strong and healthy and produce a beautiful flower.”
“That’s it? I don’t need to say abracadabra over it or anything?” He chuckled and shook his head no. “Well, darn I had hoped this would be the perfect time to say it. I’ve always wanted to.”
“You can say whatever you like after you give the seed its directions.” Deacon commented. Haven smiled then brought her hand close to her face and whispered her instructions to her little dirt pile. Then she straightened back up and waved her hand over it smiling as she said “Abracadabra and bibbity bobbity boo too!” She felt the magic in her palm almost instantly! The tingles and the vibrations as the seed exploded with life! Within moments a green shoot shot up through the dirt and starting reaching for the sky.
“Plant it here quickly or it will grow through your hand!” Deacon had dug out a small hole for the plant and Haven quickly planted the shoot then stepped back in pure joy as the green shoot grew taller unfurling its new leaves. The bud appeared next deepening in color growing until it sprang out the most perfect orchid she had ever seen! Haven laughed in delight!
“I want to grow something else!” She ran around the garden choosing this flower and that flower. This fruit tree and that fruit tree whispering and growing them until the garden was fairly bursting with new life! She then stood back and stared at all of her creations in awe! “This is so cool!” She exclaimed. But then she sobered, looking down at her hand flexing her fingers.
“How can this be Deacon? How can we create life? Only God can do that.” Deacon closed his hand over her fingers. “Humans have been creating life for thousands of years Haven. What is having children? Isn’t that creating life? God has given the human body the remarkable ability to create life and give birth to another of its kind. The entire universe is made by that same standard each kind reproducing it’s own. Every living thing has been given that spark of life from our Creator. We just have the ability to hurry the process along is all.”
Feeling a little better after Deacon had explained it Haven asked him another question. “So you believe in God?”
Again he nodded as he took a seat next to her on the back step. “I do. I believe we all came from someone much greater than us. It doesn’t make sense to me for their not to be a divine being. I have seen much of this world in my long life and the longer I live the more certain I become that He does exist.”
Haven sat down next to him and voiced a fear she had ever since being turned. “So where does our kind fit in? I was raised that vampires, if they existed, were children of the dark born of Satan and all of that. Is that true?” Deacon chuckled softly. “I don’t feel evil. I don’t go around doing evil things. I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them. I try to help when and where I can. I didn’t have choice about what I was born to be. I didn’t have a choice about how I survive, by drinking blood. This is what I am. I have a hard time accepting that God would send someone to hell or deny entrance into heaven, for something they had no choice in. Is that what you’re worried about?”
Haven nodded as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “My mama died right after I was turned. I was too unstable to trust myself around my family, so I didn’t attend her funeral. But I made myself feel better by telling myself that I would see her again in heaven. But then I got scared that our kind wouldn’t be allowed in.” Deacon reached over and took her hand. “We are all His creations Haven. You will see you mother again.” They both turned their heads when they heard footsteps coming toward them.
~Chapter Six~
“How very sweet, Deacon. Telling her that she will one day see her mother again.” Barron stepped out of the shadows looking like sin himself in his low-slung jeans and unbuttoned dark silk shirt. He smiled at Haven. “If I may I see your hand, I will do you one better.” He held out his hand and after looking at Deacon, who just shrugged, Haven placed her hand in his. “I want you to close your eyes and remember your most cherished memory of your mother when I say open your eyes, open them.” She closed her eyes and thought about the day her mother had surprised her with Rascal for her fifth birthday. She nodded. “Ok.” Barron placed his warm hand on her forehead then whispered. “Open your eyes sweet Haven.”
Haven opened her eyes then gasped! Her mother was walking right toward her holding a squirming wiggling Rascal. “Mama!” She started to go to her but Deacon stopped her. “It’s only a memory projected from your mind, Haven. She isn’t really here. She can’t respond to you.”
As she continued to watch through blurry eyes, her mother turned and handed the pup to someone. Smiling at someone that Haven couldn’t see. She realized it was her. She wasn’t able to see herself in the memory because it was her memory! Haven turned away closing her eyes. “Make it stop… please.”
When she looked up again the image was gone. Barron placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry Serah, I truly only sought to bring you comfort. Forgive me for causing you distress.” Barron looked truly remorseful, which was a look she had yet to see upon his handsome face. Gone was the smug, self-satisfied look she was accustomed to. “It’s ok, Barron. There is nothing to forgive. I know your intentions were good… mostly. I also know you were looking to upstage Deacon. But considering the circumstances I can understand that too.” Her empty tummy chose that time to growl loudly. She placed her hand over it looking from one twin to the other thinking this couldn’t get more awkward, when of course, it did! Both men immediately bit into their wrists and offered them to her. Haven’s face turned as crimson as the rich blood that dripped from their arms as she wondered how in the world to handle this? The thought of putting her lips on t
heir warm flesh and having the uncontrollable reaction to the bond terrified her! Fortunately she was rescued when Brooklyn appeared by her side with a beautiful blue goblet in her hand.
“Good evening everyone. I thought you two would be showing up about now. Haven, darling just so you know exactly how this works, the blood must come from your Serah, however you don’t have to take it directly from them. So here boys, fill it up. Half each please.” She handed the goblet to Deacon who filled it halfway up under the careful watch of Brooklyn who nodded when it was time to pass it to Barron who did the same. Haven was so grateful to have a more dignified way to eat she could cry! She raised the goblet her lips to take a sip when she saw how intently both men were watching her. Suddenly she was very uncomfortable under their close scrutiny. Once more Brooklyn was her hero!
“Gentlemen, if you don’t mind I think Haven would dine more comfortably without your stares.” She looked at each twin pointedly until they both nodded then vanished. Haven breathed a huge sigh of relief when they poofed out of view. She sat down on the steps again and started drinking her dinner. Brooklyn wondered around her garden looking at all the new plants that Haven had grown. “I see that someone has been teaching you some new skills, Deacon, I would guess?”
Haven smiled. “Yes, Sorry if I got a little carried away. It’s just so cool! My feelings won’t be hurt if you want to chop them down. I know it’s really crowded in here now.” Brooklyn smiled then waved her hand. “Nonsense, you did a beautiful job. Very well done for your first time.” She paused then continued. “You know each flower and plant has its own strengths and weaknesses. They all have good points and bad points, but they all deserve a place in the garden. Don’t you agree?” Haven nodded in agreement, but she had a feeling that Brooklyn was speaking about more than plants.
“Barron is the eldest, by four minutes. He is head strong, quick tempered, and stubborn. He often does outrageous things to watch people’s reactions. However, he is also loyal and dependable. If he gives you his word you can count on it. He protects fiercely those that he considers friend or family. Barron feels things much deeper than what you would otherwise think. He tries to hide behind his sarcasm and smug expression. I would recommend that you learn to see past them if you truly want to know the man he keeps hidden away. Don’t judge him by what he presents to the world.” Haven finished her meal and sat the goblet down. “And Deacon? I feel like he is pretty much an open book or am I wrong?”
