Samuel suddenly looked down at me. “Not here, Sunshine. You will be weak when you are done, so it’ll be prudent to change him at our place where it’ll be safer for you. And for him too.”
I nodded. “Come, let us be going,” I said. Matthew followed me. I looked back. “Adam? Samuel?”
Finally, Adam looked at me. “All right.”
When we arrived back at the house I led Adam into my room. Samuel followed me to the door. Adam sat down on the bed and stared at us. Samuel spoke quietly. “Julia, you start off the same way you usually feed.” He lowered his voice even more. “Unless you want him to be in pain,” he said so only I could hear. I frowned and shook my head.
“All right,’ I said. My gaze met Adam’s. Silently, I hypnotized him the way I usually do to my meal providers, and as Samuel had done to me. I slowly walked over and passed my hand in front of his face. He continued staring straight ahead. “Now what?” I asked Samuel. I needed him to guide me step by step. I had heard stories of vampires who had taken too much blood too fast and hadn’t been able to complete the change quickly enough, causing the person to die. I had never made another vampire before, and I was worried I might do the same thing.
“Feed. Slowly. Watch for signs of severe blood loss— cold hands, rapid breathing, complete loss of consciousness. I’ll warn you as well. Then you begin to feed him,” Samuel answered quietly.
I nodded and did as instructed. Adam jerked once. My hypnotic powers were nowhere near as powerful as Samuel’s were and Adam was very strong-willed. Uncertainly, I began to withdraw. This had never happened to me while feeding.
“It’s all right Julia. Go ahead. I’ve got him,” Samuel said. Resignation had entered his voice. His tone confused me but I didn’t stop to dwell on it. He spoke again. “I’ll watch from the hall.”
I nodded and began to drink again, losing myself in the rich coppery taste. A little later I heard him say telepathically,
I complied, somewhat reluctantly, until I remembered it was Adam I was feeding from. I looked down at him, lying still on the bed. Fear coiled around my stomach.
I nodded and cut open the vein in my right wrist. I slowly dripped blood down Adam’s throat. I was startled when he suddenly latched upon my wrist and began to suck hungrily. I gasped from the sharpness of the pain as Adam held my wrist against his mouth. < Is this good?> I asked terror filling my thoughts.
I fell back onto the bed beside Adam, holding my torn arm and cursing. I hadn’t felt this much pain since Samuel rescued me. I watched for a moment in amazement as the wound began to heal and some of the pain faded. I then closed my eyes. Once the pain diminished further I opened my eyes and looked at Adam. He was already asleep. “He’s sleeping. Is that good or bad?” I asked in a tight voice.
“It’s normal.”
“I did not sleep after you changed me.” I was worried and confused.
“No, you did not, Julia. But your situation was different. You had to reassure yourself that you were indeed safe. Adam, on the other hand, trusts you. He knows he‘s safe because you were the one doing the change. He knows you. You didn’t know any of us.”
“True. I’m so tired, Samuel.”
“Sleep Julia. Do not worry. I’ll stay with you until sunrise.” He took my hand and squeezed it gently.
“Thank you,” I said groggily and closed my eyes.
“It is the least I can do.”
I comforted me. Sleep overtook me in minutes.
***
I awoke slowly. I felt someone holding my hand. I wondered groggily if it was Samuel or someone else. I saw Adam sitting beside me, holding my hand. I was pleasantly surprised, and took a moment to really look at him. His brown hair was ruffled and his dark brown eyes were looking at me in concern. He saw my eyes were open and smiled. “Hello, Juliana.”
“Adam. How long have you been awake?”
“Only a little while. Are you all right?”
“Aye. I’m fine. Just a little weak.” I answered and slowly sat up. I gently pulled back my hand.
Adam let me. “This is remarkable,” he whispered.
I smiled. “Aye. It is.” I arose, walked across the room and began to brush my hair. I felt I needed to maintain some distance from him. Trying to hide my sudden awkwardness, I asked him if he had slept well.
It had been so long since anyone had given me any romantic attention that I wasn’t sure how to act. That kiss the night before had been so gentle, I wasn’t used to such tenderness.
Adam smiled. “I slept very well.” He stood then. Before I knew it, I had lowered the brush and was watching him warily. “Julia, what’s the matter? You suddenly went white. Are you all right?!”
Embarrassed, I turned away. What had I expected? That he would strike me?
“I am fine.” I said, setting down the brush. “This just seems strange. I have not seen you in so long . . .” This, of course, was not true, but I did not want him to suspect that I had watched him.
“Strange it definitely is.” Adam laughed briefly. “The last time I saw you, you were practically half dead.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Adam . . .”
Adam continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “You seem healthier now than you did as . . .” He seemed unable to bring himself to say it.
“As a human?” I finished for him. Once I was sure I was back in control I turned to face him with a smile.
Adam’s face was troubled. “Aye.”
“Adam,” I said softly, walking towards him. I touched his hand gently. “We are not evil. Please understand that.” I let go of his hand and walked a few feet away.
I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. Even now, he was looking at me like I was a monster. Could it be I rushed him? That he really did not want to be a vampire, but simply didn’t want to disappoint me?
“Julia, I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to think.”
“Adam, are you angry at me?” I shifted nervously. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“I want to be with you. I just don’t know what to think about . . . vampires. I wish you hadn’t become one.”
I did not know what to say to those comments. “I wish you would stop looking at me as a vampire and start looking at me as Julia,” I muttered.
“Come on. Maybe you’ll understand better when you meet the others.” I tried to sound cheerful. Adam followed me out without a word.
We entered the main room which was also still Samuel’s room. Mary Anne rose and met us. “Julia, are you all right?” she asked, hugging me.
“Aye. I’m fine,” I said stepping away. I looked back at Adam. “Adam, this is Mary Anne. Mary Anne, Adam.”
Mary Anne nodded. She looked at Adam almost, but not quite, as critically as Samuel had. “Hello Adam,” she finally said with a smile.
“Hello.” He looked past her towards the other six. Mary Anne followed his gaze.
“That’s Jeffrey and Robert. Christy is standing there, Sharon is the woman sitting on the bed, and the other two are Matthew and Samuel.”
“I have already me those two,” Adam said, his tone dry.
Mary Anne didn’t seem to notice it, or perhaps she just chose to ignore it. “Come join us,” she invited and turned to sit down again. Adam and I followed her and sat at the table with her, Matthew, and Samuel. Adam chose the seat furthest away from Samuel.
“Are you feeling better, Julia?” Samuel asked quietly.
“Aye. I am just a bit weak. Thanks for helping me last night.”
Samuel nodded
and looked at Adam. “So, you have become a vampire to join Julia.”
“I love her.”
Samuel nodded pensively. “It has been about two years since you last saw her,” he said quietly.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Just that I don’t want her hurt.”
His comment, and the bluntness of it, stunned me. Yet, I also found his concern comforting. This was the first time in a long time someone cared about me this much, and it touched me deeply. I looked up at him, smiled, and dropped my gaze without a word.
“I’m not going to hurt her, Samuel,” Adam answered tightly. “I just want to be with her. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked. I looked up at him and saw his eyes were dark.
Samuel leaned back and smiled. “No. No problem,” he said mildly.
Adam looked at him for a long moment. “Good. I’m glad you don’t have one.” There was a long silence and then Matthew stood and made a chopping motion with his hand.
“What are you doing?” I asked, looking up.
“Cutting the tension. It’s thick in here,” he answered with a thin smile.
Mary Anne laughed a little and looked at Adam and Samuel. Adam looked annoyed but a faint smile touched Samuel’s lips.
All at once the other four got up and left the house. We watched as they left and then we looked at each other. “So. what can vampires do?” Adam asked.
“Lots of things,” Samuel replied, standing up. He smiled in sardonic amusement when he saw Adam tense. “We have much greater strength than we had as mortals. When you get stronger you can hypnotize and influence mortals.” He smiled. < And you can communicate from mind to mind,> he finished silently.
Adam jerked back and looked both surprised and angry at hearing Samuel’s voice in his head. I had been startled the first time someone had used it with me, but at least I had been warned about it beforehand.
He hissed through his teeth. “You are the most infuriating lecher I have ever met!”
I grabbed his hand. “Adam, stop it!”
Adam answered without looking at me. “I didn’t start it Julia.”
Matthew leaned back, looking interested. Samuel was still smiling at nothing in particular. He was very relaxed. I looked at Mary Anne. She rose to her feet and touched his hand. “Samuel, quit antagonizing the young man.”
Samuel and Mary Anne looked at each other but said nothing. Adam stepped away from me and faced them. “Would you just take my word on why I decided to become a vampire?”
Samuel stared at him. “Why should I? All I know about you is what little Julia has told me.”
Mary Anne glanced towards me. “Men. It doesn’t matter how old they are, whether they are vampires or not, in some ways they never change,” she said.
I tilted my head and furrowed my brow, not fully understanding. Samuel glared at her, the expression almost one of warning. Mary Anne sighed and pulled him away.
Matthew smiled. “You all are the best entertainment I’ve had in a long time.”
“Be quiet, Matthew,” Samuel said mildly. He turned back to Mary Anne. “What?”
She lowered her voice when she answered but I still heard part of what she said. “. . . do not be a fool . . . know very well you cannot come between soul mates.”
Adam looked at me quizzically. “Do you know what she’s talking about, Julia?”
I shook my head. “Not in the faintest,” I replied, looking back at Samuel and Mary Anne. Samuel said something to her harshly, which puzzled me as it was so unlike him. Mary Anne shook her head and sat down.
I decided to take charge of the situation. I was hungry, and Samuel and Adam were about to come to blows over something I have yet to understand or even recognize. Indeed, this entire incident baffled me. I had had such little experience with love.
Before anyone else could speak, I rose. “I want to take a walk with Adam. May I do that?” I asked sarcastically, knowing very well I was going to walk out whether they wanted me to or not.
Samuel stared at me intently. “I’m not going to prevent you,” he replied in a voice that was a little too calm.
I didn’t stop to ponder it. “Good. I’ll see you all in an hour or two. Come on, Adam,” I said, heading for the door. I didn’t bother with a cloak.
After a long second Adam followed me out the door. We both breathed sighs of relief. “So this is how everything looks as a vampire living in the night.” There was awe in his voice.
I looked back at him and smiled. “Aye.” I reached out and gently took his hand. “Come on, I have to teach you to hunt before you start starving. Especially since it seems no one wants to help.” I did not understand the others’ behavior.
Adam suddenly swung me around. “It doesn’t matter, Julia. We do not need them.” He reached up and touched my hair.
I flashed fangs. “We do need them. There are many things going on that you do not know about yet.” I leaned on tiptoe and kissed him lightly. I then turned and walked into town.
I broke away from him to follow a man down an alley. “Julia!” Adam hissed from behind me, sounding horrified.
I whirled and raised a finger to my lips. < Be quiet for a few minutes, Adam! You have to be silent.> I thought at him and continued to stalk our prey.
Finally, I made my move. I swung him around and grabbed him. Putting my hand over the man’s mouth, I ordered, “Get over here, Adam.”
Adam came to my side and I slowly coached him through the process. It was difficult to teach but I made do. He didn’t kill him, for which I was grateful; since I had never taught this to anyone before, I was worried I might not know when to stop him. Adam wiped blood from his mouth and looked at me. I began to walk again. “Now what are you doing, Julia?”
“Now that you’re satisfied, I need to find someone to sate my hunger,” I replied with a faint smile. We moved farther into town and I lost my smile. I was very hungry — changing Adam had sapped my strength more than I had realized. Yet, I refused to double back for Adam’s victim. If I fed from him too, he would surely die.
I looked around frantically. The streets seemed strangely more deserted than usual. Usually people were still out at this hour of the night. I forced myself to calm down and continue walking. Several minutes later I stopped. I sensed the presence nearby of six other vampires but knew instinctively that they were not our group. “Damn,” I whispered and turned to face the darkness on my right.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think we have a problem,” I answered without looking at Adam.
“What problem is that?”
“Other vampires.”
“And that’s a problem?”
I raised my finger to my lips again. I had no time to answer his questions at the moment. I hoped that the other vampires wouldn’t notice us, but considering the group I was a part of, I figured that was probably as likely as jumping over the moon. Finally I nodded. “It could be,” I whispered. I edged to the right, trying to see the six. I saw one and that’s when another flew at me. The others followed.
I whirled away from my first assailant and parried the stake he was holding. But the other five were fast closing in.
Fear raced through me but I struggled to stay calm and remember what I was taught. This was the first time I had been attacked since I becoming a vampire. In seconds, I weighed our situation. We were outnumbered, Adam was new and had no idea how to use any of his powers, and I was weak and inexperienced myself. I hadn’t felt this vulnerable in months . . . almost a full year.
A few feet from me Adam tensed. “Not good, is it?”
“Not good,” I agreed, watching the six. They attacked again, three going after Adam, the other three after me. I had never seen any of them before. I parried my first attacker and dragged him down to the ground. I turned just in time to fight off my second attacker. The third man came at me seconds later. I had barely managed to fight him off when the other two came at me again. After I threw a punch, and one
of them kicked me in the ribs hard enough to crack a couple of them, I doubled up cursing. As surprisingly well as I was fighting, I knew I didn’t have the strength left to fight off three attackers on my own.
I threw another punch, and as I did so, suddenly recalled with startling clarity something Samuel had told me the first night I had gone out alone. “If you need help all you have to do is scream out to us with your mind.” When we left earlier; he, Mary Anne, and Matthew were still at the house. The other four had gone out—hunting, I assumed. Weakly fending off another blow, I screamed out telepathically to my housemates. < Samuel! Christy!> I shouted out a name from both groups not knowing which was closer.
I glanced at Adam, holding up fairly well— or at least as well as one could expect from a newborn vampire—and then immediately returned my attention to my own fight. As I fought I looked for an escape route as well. I saw several openings but couldn’t get to them.
Presently, one of my attackers pulled out a knife as well. “Wonderful. The insane pointy teeth people have knives as well as stakes,” I grunted to myself. He launched himself at me in a move I hadn’t expected. His stab slashed open my arm, and I weakened further.
I cradled my hurt arm against my body and continued to fight. I had no choice. I knocked a stake from a tall man’s hands. I dodged another assailant and picked up the stake. I turned and threw it at one of Adam’s attackers. It went right through his heart. I turned again just to be hit square in the face. I staggered and fell.
This cannot be my fate, I told myself. To forsake human life and become a vampire only to die now? No! I dragged myself to my knees. I looked up and saw three men form a tight circle around me. The one directly in front of me held a stake.
For the first time, he spoke. “Are you Samuel’s fledgling?” My lips formed a tight line and I did not reply. I struggled to get to my feet.
One of the others kicked me and I collapsed again. “Damn it, woman, answer! Answer like a blasted woman should.”
I shook my head and heard Adam scream my name. “Scoundrel,” I muttered.
Lost Soul (War of Destiny Book 1) Page 12
