"I am going to I promise. Theo hasn’t gone forever he needs to sort some things out and so do I."
Imogen led her to the sofa and sat her down "I don’t really know who or what I am at the minute, and I know that isn’t your problem, Vlad the vampire leader has offered to train me and help me work this out. I want to take him up on that offer if that’s okay with you."
"What does that mean?"
"I am going to go and stay with him for a while and I want you to stay here with Ben and Lucky."
Celia’s eyes widened "I didn’t mean to make you leave too, I just…"
"You are not making me leave, I am, I need to do this and I won’t be able to if I am worrying about you" Celia nodded "when?"
"I am all packed and heading out tonight unless you want me to stay" this time it was Celia who hugged Imogen "I love you Celia."
"I know you do, you are the best big sister ever."
"I doubt that very much."
"You are, I know what you did for me in that house, I know what you went through and I know that if it wasn’t for me, you would have fought harder, I am so sorry but I am grateful every day for how you protected me."
Imogen stilled, the silence filled the room, she was devastated; she didn’t want Celia to know what she went through. Didn’t want her to carry that burden, she had tried so hard to keep it all away from her, for what? "Please don’t look like that Imogen, it’s right I know what happened, what you sacrificed for me."
"I just wanted to leave you untouched, protect you."
"And you did" Celia had laid her head on Imogen’s lap and they stayed that way for some time, with Imogen stroking her hair, Celia closed her eyes, both enjoying the closeness.
Chapter 15
The last 2 days had been tiring, the Romany’s could fight but they didn’t have the knowledge to plan and prepare for an attack. Thankfully it was what he and Connor did best. He, Darius and Connor had stayed in the main house with Vodama, the twins and her grandmother. Both were seers and as such head of their clan. Darius and some of the older clan were making weapons including spears and stakes as well as collecting herbs for cleansing potions. Connor had scoped the land as a wolf looking for vulnerable areas, where the attacks would most like come from.
They had set up patrol rosters, taking five wolves and five Romani's each night, patrolling in pair’s. Theo had taken Lewis out with him today to help set some traps; each trap had a discreet violet painted on the tree closest to it, so patrols knew what to look for. Some of the traps were simple trip wires attached to a signal box, this way they would know if someone was on their way. Others had stakes attached that would release when the wire was tripped. They also had some remote detonated explosives, but these were the backup plan and would only be used if all else failed.
Even though Lewis and Liza were part vampires Theo had been surprised to learn that they were not affected by the sun, he wasn’t sure why. Darius had heard that born vampires seemed to have a much higher tolerance, but because these births were so rare he had never seen one. Darius on the other hand was outside from sunrise to sunset, he was causing a ruckus among the teenage girls and young women, he insisted on working with no top on, apparently he was determined to get a sun tan before he returned to New York.
Lewis was a fast learner, he had refused to be excluded from the training, he argued that it was he and his sister she was coming for so he needed to pull his weight, when Theo countered that one, he argued that he needed to know how to protect him and Liza if for some reason she or her men got too close, when Theo countered that, he argued that he may need to protect them from other risks in the future and that he needed protection skills, Theo couldn’t argue that one so now they were in the woods together.
He had noticed that Lewis was restless, fidgety,
"Theo, what happens when this is over?" They were wandering through the woods, it wasn’t as nice as Silver’s land but at least there were trees and enough space to run.
"In what way?"
"To me and Liza, I am pretty certain I can look after us both, but she, Liza I mean is worried so I said I would ask" from the look on his face Theo knew it wasn’t Liza’s question, he could understand their fears and insecurities.
"I live in a place called New York with the wolves there, if both of you agree I would like you to come home with me, go to school and have a normal life."
Although he could see relief on Lewis’ face, he could also see questions, he waited "won’t the wolves be pissed at us living with them, we aren’t wolves."
"Firstly, don’t curse it’s not good for Liza to hear and Sylvia will box your ears, secondly Darius lives with us and he’s a vampire, thirdly my Alpha already knows about you and you will both be welcomed."
"Really? That’s cool…Um Theo, Liza’s not here so why does the cursing matter" damn the boy had a point, um what to say, ah.
"Well it’s good to practice so you don’t slip up when you are with her" Lewis grinned "Sylvia really would box my ears, wouldn’t she?"
Laughing Theo replied "she certainly would and having been on the receiving end of boxed ears I can testify it’s not good."
Seeing the swirl’s round Lewis’ eye made Theo smiled, he knew War was close, now he knew her, he could sense when she was close "umm Theo, who is that woman, cos she looks scary" he turned knowing it was War.
"She is scary Lewis but not to us, she’s a strong and good woman, I didn’t realise it but she has been my guardian angel for a long time, she is also the woman who gave you that mark on your eye."
Lewis walked over to her, he wasn’t afraid of anything for long "did you really?" She nodded; as usual she was dressed in leather’s with her spear over her back. She was taken back when Lewis beamed at her.
"Thank you for that and for being Theo’s guardian angel. But now he’s all grown up can you be Liza’s guardian angel, cos it’s hard being a big brother and I do worry about her?"
War bent down so she met his eye level "what about you young man, don’t you need a guardian angel?"
He shrugged, "I did but I got lucky and found a big brother so not anymore, but it will be hard for Theo to teach me to be a warrior and teach Liza to be a girl, in fact I don’t think Theo knows much about being a girl so you would probably be better. Did you know we are going to go and live with the wolves?" Theo watched in amazement as War sat on the floor among the leaves and twigs, Lewis followed her.
"I think you got very lucky, your big brother is one of a kind, he is an excellent warrior, however I am not much of a girl so I might not be able to teach Liza much. But how about we make a deal, I will be Liza’s guardian angel until you go live the wolves because I am pretty certain that when you get there, you will find someone who can be her guardian angel and teach her to be a girl."
"Deal" Lewis jumped in eager to ask another question.
"Now hold on, I hadn’t finished. Where was I, yes there, I will do this on one condition, that condition is that you accept a gift from me and then allow me to teach you how to use it."
"Deal" Lewis was so excited, he was fidgeting and getting ready to jump up, however when War moved her spear from her back he stopped turned to Theo with a look of fear on his face, when Theo smiled at him he turned back and instantly became mesmerised, eagerly watching as she took a twig and pointed the spear at it, another smaller spear formed from the twig.
"Wow."
"Wow indeed, this is a spear made from the wood of the land, this will give you the protection of the trees, now I expect you to meet me here every day at sunrise to be taught how to use this spear, now do you agree?"
"That is definitely a deal" he jumped up and ran to Theo to show him his spear, Theo looked to War who stood, winked and then disappeared.
"Did you see that Theo, look what she gave me, I have never had a present before, I will look after it, can I come for the lessons please, please, oh and isn’t it great that she will look after Liza?"
"It is, I t
old you she was special, now if you feel on your back she has given you a sheath for that spear" as he felt, Theo was overjoyed at his squeal of delight, for the first time since he had left Imogen he really considered that this might be good for him. Now he had to head back and start teaching the Romany’s how to track, he just wondered what Imogen was doing and if she missed him as much as he missed her, he wasn’t sure that would be possible.
Chapter 16
Imogen literally fell into the bed, it felt so soft, she needed a shower but her feet protested at the thought of carrying her weight to the bathroom. Two days, she had only been here two days but it felt like an eternity. Vlad kept his word, his men were training her, she was quick, quicker than them, so they were coming at her two or three at a time. So far she had not been taken down by them, but damn they had just about hurt her all over.
Every morning Shaun would meet her in the gym and take her through a gruelling work out, never would she complain at Theo’s work outs again, and then they would have breakfast. Vlad had a group of nine elite warriors, these were the strongest and most loyal of his men, they were all men. These warriors commanded Vlads army, warriors numbering over a hundred, all vampires loyal to him. Between them they ensured the vampires of New York City upheld the laws, both the human ones and the ones set by Vlad. If someone broke these laws the army went in to arrest them, if they were older and stronger vampire’s the Elite went in. Imogen was being trained by the Elite, and they were strong.
Without doubt Vlad looked after his Elite; each had a room and ensuite in the main house, a shared kitchen and lounge room. Separate to the house was a large gym and training room. Behind the house was a fenced off compound, where Vlad’s Army trained, when she was taken for the tour she was surprised that Vlad offered his soldiers a good standard of living here. Only half of the soldiers lived in the compound the rest had families and lived separately, but still trained here and collected their rosters there. Even though Imogen had seen their facilities, the soldiers hadn’t seen her train; Vlad was still maintaining her secret. So far he had announced her as a new member of the Elite giving some basic details but stated she had come from out of the state.
She had finished her hour reprieve, she knew it was an honour to train with the Elite and as she made her way back to the gym, still aching well there was only so much a shower could do, she yet again questioned her own sanity. The Elite had treated her like an equal but she was still exhausted and sore. She had been warned that this afternoon's session was with the head of the Elite Warriors, a vampire named Ice who just plain scared her. He was bigger than Theo, he did not smile, did not laugh just fought, which is probably where the name Ice came from. She had watched him spar with some of the other Elite, so far he had just watched her train and spar with his fellow comrades, now he was waiting for her with a baton in hand, which he threw at her as she walked in the door, lifting her weary hand she just managed to catch it.
The next hour was both draining and humiliating, Ice had taken her apart slowly, she had fought back for three quarters of the hour but the last 15 minutes had seen her get her ass kicked, badly, before returning to her room. She limped to the bathroom, and was about to take her top off when there was a knock at the door, she opened it to Shaun, sympathy was etched in his sea green eyes, he handed her a jar of cream.
"Rub it on after your shower, it will help" she managed a weak and pathetic smile.
"Don’t look dejected, you did good, Vlad wants to see you in an hour, he will be in his office" she groaned out loud before she realised prompting another laugh from Shaun.
"Sorry the other side of the house seems a long way off right now," he was still laughing when he walked away.
Fifty minutes later she was making her way to Vlad’s office, Shaun was right the cream was wonderful, she felt so much better, it smelled of coconut which she was certain cheered the men no end, she didn’t care she liked it.
As she knocked on Vlad’s door she fully expected to be sent packing, after all she had gotten an ass whooping in the space of two days, so when she saw Vlad and Ice waiting for her she was both surprised and worried, Albert was in the corner smiling at her, that was a little reassuring, but Ice’s tone was both sharp and abrupt.
"Don’t hesitate at doors, it is a sign of weakness, before you enter any room you stand tall and confident, what you feel inside is immaterial." That was the most she had heard him say since she arrived two days ago, in fact she had wondered whether Ice was a mute, she stood tall, squared her shoulders "much better".
"Imogen please joins us," Vlad handed her a glass but when she went to take a sip of it Ice took it from her grasp.
"For someone who has been burned twice you trust too easily" Ice took the glass off of her and set it on a tray with 6 glasses.
"Take each one and smell them, breathe them in and tell me which two shouldn’t be there" she felt herself shrink backwards.
"Stand tall" this time Ice commanded her and damn it she did as she was told.
She stood tall and picked each glass up individually; she smelled each one but couldn’t tell the difference.
"Close your eyes and try" Vlad’s voice was the opposite of Ice, calm and relaxed, she closed her eyes, now she could smell slight and subtle difference in each glass. She set two glasses down and then two more and then the final two, after which she started the process again.
"The first two are from three day old bottles, the second two are strange, they smell like they have a sort of chalk in them, the last two are fresh and warm" she held her breath while they looked to Albert, who had stood to one side.
"She is correct about the age of the blood" Albert really looked pleased with her.
Ice took the second two glasses and sniffed, "well done, you need to ensure your senses are finely tuned, if you had drank from any of these two you would have been knocked out for the next twelve hours, now you can drink." she went to pick up the drugged glass, Ice watched her but it was Vlad who stopped her
"Imogen what are you doing?"
"Right now twelve hours unconscious sounds good" but Ice took it off of her.
"You could only wish, sit down" he did however pass her a glass of the fresh blood.
Vlad sat at the head of the table "my Elite have been impressed with your skills, I have heard many positive things about you. You have surpassed even my expectations" she sat open mouthed.
"I got my ass kicked today, badly, in fact if it wasn’t for that cream Shaun dropped off I would have had to drag myself here."
Ice growled "I told them no cream."
Vlad laughed, "you are too harsh, you should be happy you had to push yourself today" then he turned to face her.
"You may have taken a beating, however you took a beating from my fiercest warrior, I have known only one person who can best him in a fight so the fact that you lasted 45 minutes is phenomenal."
"I am going to reduce the numbers of your Elite if they keep running to you with tales Vlad."
"Hush Ice, they enjoyed watching it, in fact Imogen I would say you have some new friends" this room, in fact the house reminded her of how Theo's house used to be, it was stark and cold and this was one of the nicer rooms. Actually it was unfair to say they were not nice they were. They just weren’t to her taste.
She was dumbstruck for a few minutes, then "wait a minute, who is the person who can beat you Ice?" Ice didn’t answer, but Vlad did.
"Me of course." Oh that is impressive was all her brain could muster.
As Ice stood, she looked up to him it was automatic, the man was a mountain "tomorrow we start on your other training, you are the only female we will use that to our advantage. I have a high society female coming in to provide 2 hours per day training in eloquence."
She gulped her drink "why?"
The Kiss of a Vampire, the Heart of a Wolf (The Silver Series) Page 12
