Daydream Believer

by C. L. Quinn

  The mood in the room shifted and everyone concentrated on their meals. When they were finished, Eillia invited all of the travelers to follow her down to the beach.

  “Let’s warm you up. It was sunny all day, so the sand will still be warm, and right now we’re getting a tropical southern breeze.”

  Most of the household agreed to join them, so Eillia packed several satchels filled with poo-poos and drinks and led them down to the seating area where the residents of the villa spent a lot of lazy nights.

  Tamesine came too. A few minutes after they arrived and got settled, she sent a message telepathically to Dez.

  May we speak? We need to find out what happened with you and this woman in Siberia.

  Surprised when both Dez and Olivia looked up at her, Tamesine remembered, Olivia was telepathic too.

  Yes, then, both of you, we must speak. And Dez, I have another amulet for you, if you wish to have it.

  Dez turned away from Tamesine to speak with Zach, then got up, took Olivia’s hand, and led her over to the other side of the seating area.

  “Let’s go back to the villa,” Dez suggested. “We need an uninterrupted place.”

  Tamesine hesitated, nodded, and led them up to a balcony similar to the one on Bas’s second story. It jutted out beyond the edge of the cliff, lit by solar lights in a pale blue that gave it a mystical ambience. Benches lined the edge of the balcony with fat cushions in seafoam green.

  “This is really lovely,” Olivia commented as they walked out, and wandered over to the railing. “I’d spend most of my time right here if this were my home.”

  “We often do. This part of the villa feels like family, and is more serene than anywhere I’ve ever been.”

  “Well, I appreciate you welcoming me into it. I know that I’m only a stranger to you.”

  Tamesine sat on one of the benches and pulled a leg up underneath her, her eyes on the slim woman facing her now as she leaned back against the railing.

  “Apparently, you are not.” Tamesine shifted her gaze to Dez. “You ladies want to fill me in? I understand you have something to tell me.”

  “Yup. If Sarah is right, and I kind of get the idea that she always is, this young woman is…” Dez paused.

  “Drumroll please.” She paused again, well aware that she had Tamesine’s breathless attention. “Olivia may be my granddaughter, therefore, your great-granddaughter, and a fourth-generation first blood.”

  No one spoke. Tamesine sat stunned, her eyes shot back to Olivia, who shrugged dramatically and smiled, and then to Dez, smiling widely, too, as she killed her glass of whisky.

  “My great-granddaughter…” Processing the surprise seemed ridiculous, she should have known. Not before her conversion, but afterward, she should have known.

  Tamesine walked slowly over to Olivia, her eyes searching the lovely vampire’s face. She could see it, now that she knew what to search for, the resemblance to Dez, to herself. A smile returned, and she touched Olivia softly on the cheek. Her great-granddaughter.

  “Why haven’t I felt your presence? I should have felt you once the spirit amulet manifested your first blood magics.”

  “Should you have? I don’t have any idea.” Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off Tamesine either. This woman, this vampire, had been here for a millennium, and was her own blood.

  Olivia felt her lifeforce reach for her kin. “Maybe I do. I’ll admit that this has been overwhelming and a part of me refused to believe it. I think I’ve thrown up a protection. I may have been blocking myself from everyone.”

  “Then you are powerful indeed, because as a first blood, and part of your bloodline, my magics would have reached for you. To be frank, and take this with all humility intended, I am very, very powerful. That you could block me, your magics are manifesting quite quickly.”

  “She’s fourth-generation,” Dez said behind them. “Sarah said that each generation has the potential to be even more powerful than the last. Behold our creation.”

  Tamesine took Olivia’s hand and led her back to the bench to sit beside her. Once again, she relaxed, tucked a leg up, and caught both Dez and Olivia’s eyes.

  “My daughter and great-granddaughter…the idea seems too impossible to be true. How could I have been gifted in such a way? I can’t imagine that the universe finds me worthy. But we learn as we move through the years that we have no idea why destiny chooses certain paths for those who feel undeserved, and for those who do. I accept this gift and that you are family and blood. More than anything, I hope that you will let me show you that.”

  “Sure, mum.” Dez’s tone was snide. “You’re ready to play mummy now, are you?”

  “So far, this relationship between the three of us comes only from the speculation of an ordinary human. Come, please, and we will find out precisely who we all are,” Tamesine stood, walked to the center of the balcony, and dropped down onto the stone.

  When neither woman did so, Olivia taking her cue from Dez, who did not move, Tamesine lifted her hands and the air began to stir. It twirled around the balcony like a tiny funnel, tugging on all three women, their hair lifting and clothes flapping.

  “If you two want to feel our link, our lineage, the blood that binds us, I need to take us into the spiritual world. It is there that we will know, absolutely, if we belong together. Please, will you take this journey with me?”

  Olivia shot off the bench and plopped beside Tamesine. “Yes, I will. I need to know if this is really true, if we are family.”

  “Once we make this journey, you will know without doubt. Dez?”

  Reclining, her eyes on the surf, Dez answered brusquely. “Been there, done that.”

  “Not like this, not with your granddaughter.”

  “Don’t see the point. I accept that she’s likely exactly what Sarah says she is. Don’t change things, though, we both still have our separate lives.”

  “Dez, could you do this for me?”

  Dez sat up and looked at Tamesine. Like she owed her mother any kind of anything? Bullshit.

  With no forethought, though, she slid off the bench and formed the third in Tamesine’s little triangle. “All right, mummy.” She looked at Olivia. “Remember, anything you see, I’ve had a wild life. Just look at your grandmother as a cautionary tale.”

  Olivia grinned. “This is going to be outrageous, I feel it.”

  “Welcome to the family,” Dez snorted. “Okay, mother, let’s ride.”

  “Olivia, have you ever taken a spiritual journey before?”

  “I never have. I’m not really certain what it entails.”

  “You know, but you don’t realize it. The place that your mind went while you merged with your spirit amulet, it’s where we will travel now, but this will be guided, will be controlled. I’ll keep you both by my side and we’ll just ask the questions that we need answers to. The spiritual plane is a place where we go to seek truth. To connect with the divine that, while it is around us every day in every tree and bloom, often we do not see it. There, we will.”

  Tamesine reached for Dez’s right hand, and for Olivia’s left. “Clear your minds, and calm your breath. Eyes closed, let everything slip away into silence. Try to imagine a room, all white, no images, no sound, nothing but total serenity.”

  Tamesine’s voice was like a line drawn to each of the three in the circle, but the bond had already been made with just their touch.

  Tamesine knew immediately, once past all mundane concerns, once connected to her magics in the most pure form possible, that this young woman there with her and Dez was absolutely hers. In the spirit realm, where a landscape of endless summer grasses waved in gentle breezes under liquid sunshine spread as far as her eye could see, the three women faced each other.

  “Where are we?” Dez demanded.

  “The spirit realm creates a place of safety for us when we arrive. Usually it’s a place of safety. Sometimes, it’s a lesson. But look around. There is peace and protection here. This is a place of
joy.” Tamesine paused.

  “Dez, look at me. Here, you can see that I am your mother and that I claim and love you. Look at Olivia.”

  Slowly, Dez let her eyes roam to Olivia.

  “You can see, yes?” Tamesine asked of Dez.

  Without responding, Dez did the same and let her eyes slide over Olivia once again. There was no doubt. Her heart tugged at her and her eyes misted. This beautiful child came from her, no doubt whatsoever, yes, Olivia was her blood. Feelings as ancient and primal as anything on this earth ballooned in Dez and she acknowledged that these women were blood.

  In this realm, the women stood close, but no longer held hands. Tamesine needed touch, though, so she stepped forward and drew each of her daughters close, a hand on the shoulder of each.

  “Blood of my blood, heart of my heart, you two are a part of me, made from me, and made from the magics of the universe and the living planet beneath us. We are one, my darlings. Please, accept me as mother, too, and let me share in your lives. I know that it will not be easy, but what in this world ever has been?”

  Olivia answered Tamesine immediately.

  “I do accept you, both of you. My human mother, who loved me so much, would have been overjoyed to meet you. She would be so proud of me and of who I’ve become. I wish she could see this moment and know how happy I am.”

  Tamesine, tear-filled eyes turned to Dez, watched her daughter pull back and walk into the fields, her hands skirting the tops of the waist high grasses.

  “Dez.” Tamesine tried again.

  “I hear you.” Dez continued wandering. It was pretty here, as peaceful a place as she’d ever been. “We’ll see.”

  Aware that even those words were a victory with Dez, Tamesine accepted the possibility that Dez may yet someday let her in.

  “I’m pulling us out, taking us back to our minds. Then, we’ll work on finding out about my grandson.”

  Dez felt dizzy, the waving sea of green grew fuzzy, she lost consciousness, then woke roughly. She opened her eyes and saw dim light, felt cool air, and heard distant voices. She knew immediately she was back on the balcony.

  Pushing back up, she realized that she’d fallen backwards, her head on the cold stone flooring. Olivia and Tamesine were rousing, but they, too, were lying as if they’d been blown backward.

  “Crazy shit, mom,” Dez snapped, and realized how disrespectful she sounded. Shoving away from the floor, she walked off the balcony.

  Olivia looked at Tamesine. “So...”

  Tamesine smiled softly. “So.”

  “May I hug you?”

  Sighing, Tamesine held her arms out. “I wish you would.”

  Olivia went into the arms of her great-grandmother, the connection begun in the spirit walk complete now in the real world. Her spirit amulet had been a shock, the revelation of the first bloods and that she was one of them, more so. But this, being here in Tamesine’s arms, home at last with someone who loved her because they were family and belonged together, this was all she ever had hoped for.

  Tamesine leaned back and brushed Olivia’s hair with her hand.

  “I was upset and confused when Dez told me that the amulet that I’d prepared for her was bonding with a stranger. Another reminder that destiny makes plans for us and reveals them only when it sees fit. You were always meant to come to me.”

  “Is it okay if I stay for a while? I’d like to get to know you.”

  “My dear, you can stay as long as you wish. You are my child, as much as Dez is, and you belong with me and Marc. I will have Koen’s staff prepare chambers for you if you would like.”

  After a brief pause, Olivia nodded. “I think I would.”

  “It is done, then. Now, all I need is for your grandmother to come around.”

  “She’s tough. I’ve seen guarded people in my life, but her barriers are high and wide. But she let me in, I know that, because she tried desperately to help me when I lost consciousness after I put on the amulet. She may struggle for distance, but in the end, I think she’ll come around.”

  “I see that patience and wisdom runs in the family. Come, let’s let the rest of the family know what we’ve discovered.”

  Hand in hand, Tamesine led Olivia through the house, her eyes moving in search of Dez, but she never saw her. The determination stood, though, that she would finally get inside her stubborn daughter’s closed heart, and bring her home too. For now, this delightful woman whose hand she held was a legacy never before imagined.

  Fourth-generation? They’d seen what the third-generation Cairine could do, so if the generational power increase held, what might they expect from the recently empowered Olivia? Particularly since she bore Tamesine’s blood? The future looked more and more exciting each day.

  Tamesine sobered when she thought of the trouble at Park’s lab. The never-before-seen virus had claimed a vampire life, and now sickened a second one. Another trial for her people after several years with enemies who threatened their welfare. They needed a time of peace.

  At that moment, Tamesine glanced at Olivia’s smiling face and her collected family laughing below them, gathered around a safe and warm place. That was her goal for this year, to create that safe and peaceful life. It would mean defeating this virus, finding and killing Claude, who was now vampire and more dangerous than ever, and ultimately securing secrecy again.

  As she and Olivia spanned the final steps from the villa to the beach, she looked up and saw Marc wave, a fat baby in one arm. She knew who held the other twin. Alisa had claimed co-parenting rights and she loved her for it.

  They arrived to the group, not surprised to see everyone stare at them.

  Always impatient, and drunk as usual, Xavier stood.

  “Well, is it true, then? Ye’re related, aye?”

  “This beautiful woman is indeed my great grand-daughter.”

  “Aye! We’ve a party to plan!”

  Koen shoved his brother back into his seat. “Settle, bro. I agree, we’ll have a celebration. For now, Olivia, welcome to the family.”

  Olivia, in spite of her attempt not to, glowed.

  Zach walked away quietly after giving her a beaming smile and a thumb’s up. He wondered where his troubled Amazon had wandered off to.

  Nikolai answered a knock at the door to his room. When he opened it, Sarah waited outside. Smiling, he invited her in, but when he noticed her expression, he winced. “They’re sending me home, aren’t they?”

  Sarah shook her head. “It isn’t safe for you here, Nikolai. The virus is dangerous, and they don’t want to risk it spreading beyond this area. My research will begin when I get back to Paris eventually, but for now, it is best that you go home. They want you to continue working on the site, and keep me informed about your progress. I’m sorry Nikolai, I know that you were excited about working with me and meeting the rest of the clan. Perhaps someday. Right now, though, you are more important in Siberia working on the site. I will keep in touch with you, all right? Again, I’m so sorry.”

  When they were told about this contagion, he was afraid that this would happen. And somewhat relieved.

  Nodding, Nikolai turned to pack.

  Dez sat alone at the top of a cliff with a 90 degree drop, her legs swinging aggressively, drawing on a thick cigar she’d found in the living area. She heard the crack of brush before she saw him, but she’d already known that he was there.

  Without looking behind her, she said, “Hi, Zach.”

  He dropped carefully beside her. “Oh, fuck, and me without my wingsuit.”

  “It won’t kill you if you fall.”

  “It’ll fuck up my hair.”

  Dez looked at Zach, every hair in place, beside her, ready to support her, no matter what came. “It would at that. How’s the party now that we know who Olivia really is?”

  “People are happy for her. For Tamesine, for you. It seems you might have some misgivings.”

  Seconds passed and seconds more as Dez silently smoked and looked out to the
sea. After a long sigh, she looked at Zach again.

  “No, I don’t. That spirit shit is a trip. I know who I am now, who Olivia is, and I know that Tamesine really wants to bond with me. I have you back in my life, never wanted anything more than that, so I’m happy to the moon. But it’s taking everything I have to let go of myself, to…to love you the way that you deserve, the way that I really do.”

  Another long pause, another lengthy draw on the cigar, the smoke curling elegantly into the air, before she cleared her throat to continue.

  “I just can’t handle the emotions involved in accepting a granddaughter I didn’t know existed, a mother that showed up after all these year, and, Zach, I might have a son out there in the world. That baby that I really fucking grieved over losing, that baby that I thought I’d buried, lived and had a child. He may be alive still, and if he is, he’s probably as fucked up as I always was. Talk about divine fucking justice!”

  “I’ve always said that karma had a sense of humor.”

  They sat in silence a little longer as Dez finished the cigar. She turned to Zach. “Shit. Well, let’s roll the credits on this bad drama and get back. I guess I have some things to say to mommy dearest and Olivia.”

  Zach pulled her up and they slowly started back to Koen’s villa downhill from the cliff.

  Suddenly Dez stopped and touched Zach’s arm.

  “Do I look like a grandmother?”

  “Hottest grandma ever. Vampire genes kick ass.”

  “Mmmm. Not always. Not at Park’s house right now. I need to check in with her. I met Burne and it’s dreadful that she’s ill.”

  “I love that little waitress. When Koen told us about the quarantine, I called Park. I want to see Burne, but she told me to stay away. I have half a mind to go anyway.”

  “Don’t. Why don’t we call and see how things are going first?”

  “I plan to. Tonight, though, I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

  Stopping in her tracks, Dez reached for Zach, and yanked him against her. The kiss she started had been gentle at first, but it sizzled into sparks and heat.