When Darkness Falls - Six Paranormal Novels in One Boxed Set

by Shalini Boland

  ‘There are no other conscious vampires in the world. As far as we know they all succumbed to this disease many years ago. I have so many questions to ask you, but the most important one is how you came to be awake. If you tell me this, I am sure I can help you to revive the others. We have a controlled environment and specialist equipment to ensure no harm comes to them. Will you at least consider enlightening me?’

  ‘I have to think,’ Alexandre said brusquely. He left Winston Blythe on the bench and travelled a mile or so along the ridge until he felt calmer. He reviewed the information in his mind.

  He had to ask himself, did he trust this man? Then he had to weigh up if giving this information to him could be dangerous in any way. But all he could think of was Isobel and the others. This could be a chance to safely revive them. He missed them so much. Winston said it was a disease that affected all of his kind. So those in Cappadocia must have contracted it. That would explain why they had all been half-asleep when they attacked. If they had been fully conscious the whole region would probably have been ravaged by now.

  He returned to Blythe who was still sitting on the bench.

  ‘I didn’t know if you were going to come back,’ the old man said. ‘I realise this is an awful lot of information to absorb. Do you wish to think on it and speak to me at a later date?’

  ‘I am sorry if I was a little rough with you before. But you took me aback and I am still getting used to my own strength. The others are everything to me and if I thought they were under threat …’

  ‘It is quite understandable. The others? Are they your family?’

  ‘Two are my siblings and two are my friends, Harold Swinton’s children.’

  ‘Aah, Madison Greene’s ancestors! How remarkable.’

  ‘How do you know for certain you could revive them? What makes you so sure?’

  ‘I do not know for certain. But I do know we would have an excellent shot at it. We have been researching this for decades and we have experts on hand, the best minds in the world. But I was never willing to try anything too risky to revive my great grandfather. I couldn’t take that chance with his life. I need more solid information.’

  ‘But this is how I feel about my family. I woke by chance, a pure accident and I am not prepared to recreate those conditions, for it may end up killing them. It is not my place to risk their lives. I suppose I hoped they would awaken naturally.’

  ‘I am sorry to inform you that will never happen. The disease runs through their bodies, keeping them unconscious, with just the occasional involuntary movement. If you do not intervene in some way, then I’m afraid they will stay that way forever.’

  ‘So tell me what you propose,’ Alexandre said, sitting next to Blythe and leaning forward.

  ‘I cannot propose anything without possessing all the facts. If and when you are ready to impart this information, perhaps you would contact me.’ Blythe stood up and handed Alexandre his card. ‘It was an interesting evening. Thank you for coming. I do appreciate you giving an old man some of your time.’ He began to walk back to his car.

  Alexandre had not expected him to leave so abruptly. ‘Wait!’

  Winston Blythe turned to look at him and Alexandre made a decision.

  ‘I will tell you what happened to revive me. I will tell you. If there is the smallest chance for the others then I must take it.’

  Alexandre told him everything.

  *

  ‘You did what?’ Madison asked. ‘I can’t believe you told a complete stranger all about yourself. It’s just not like you.’

  Alexandre had returned home to find Madison asleep in the lounge. He looked at her features, so calm in sleep and he felt a wash of love and desire for her. He also felt a twinge of guilt at the way he had abandoned her every night this week. He knew she had been sad at his disappearances and thought him paranoid and over-cautious. She had told him not to worry, that nobody was out to get him and in a way she had been right. He would make it up to her. He wanted to make it up to her, to spend time with her and do all those things they had planned. Once he had his family back, they could all be together and he and Madison would have all the time in the world to be in love.

  But when he told her about Winston Blythe, she looked at him as if he was completely mad.

  ‘Madison, if it were your brother, what would you have done?’ he asked, willing her to understand.

  ‘I know what I wouldn’t have done. I wouldn’t have told a nosy old git my business.’

  ‘You are being obtuse.’

  ‘Dunno what that means, but please don’t call me it again. All I’m doing is worrying about you. If that’s a crime then shoot me.’

  ‘I appreciate your worry and your concern, but it is unnecessary. You did not meet this man. His great grandfather is a vampire, which makes him sympathetic to us. Do you not see? This is my opportunity to try to revive them. I have to at least try. This is the safest option. The only option.’

  ‘Alex, I dunno what it was like when you were human, but nowadays, you can’t trust people. There are so many nutters and con merchants around, real scum, you know? People doing stuff you wouldn’t believe if you read about it. This bloke could be anyone. Even if he is who he says he is and he owns Hamilton Blythe, still doesn’t mean he’s straight up. Those rich blokes, they’re the biggest arseholes of the lot.’

  ‘Madison, stop. I know what you are saying and I love you for it, but I am doing this.’

  ‘Fine.’

  *

  Madison had gone to bed in the worst mood. She couldn’t believe Alexandre had trusted a stranger with his secrets. She had dozed on and off, feeling exhausted and slightly delirious from so many broken nights sleep. She now sat up in bed - knees bent, pillows propped up behind her - looking across at the open French windows and the stone balcony. She would have to close the shutters soon before the morning sun cast its rays into the room.

  She saw the outline of the trees and thin wisps of pale clouds against a black sky. Thank goodness Ben didn’t know about all this. He was happy in summer-holiday mode, unaware of any drama or tension. That was the benefit of living at different ends of the day.

  And what about her and Alex? Only days ago, they’d been so close and now they were at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Why couldn’t he see how dangerous this was? For all of them. She wondered if Vasey-Smith was involved. She had half a mind to call him, but what would she even say?

  And then she suddenly realised something that outraged her – Hamilton Blythe had known about the vampires in the house but they’d still allowed a sixteen-year-old girl and a twelve-year-old boy to move in here by themselves! Didn’t that say something about the type of people they were? I mean, who in their right mind would let that happen? It made no difference that the vampires were unconscious; it was just an outrageous thing to do.

  Madison was also troubled by something else. She didn’t like to admit it, but as well as being concerned for Alexandre’s safety, she was also scared at the prospect of meeting his family and friends - her ancestors. She was terrified in fact. What if they woke up and didn’t like her? What if they didn’t get along and they wanted to leave and take Alexandre with them? Or if they kicked her and Ben out? Everything would change and she could very well lose him.

  She didn’t know what she’d do if he left her. She wouldn’t be able to carry on with her life. It would have no meaning. Any which way she looked at things, it could all turn to shit. Yes, she was scared of a lot of things, but losing Alexandre was the worst. She tried to rationalise it all in her mind but there was so much going on in there, she thought her brain might melt. Well, that would solve everything. Then at least I wouldn’t have to think about anything anymore.

  Would her life ever follow a steady pattern? She had been allowed a glimpse of heaven for a few precious days. She and Alex were in love, were still in love, but their bliss had been stolen by bloody Winston effing Blythe. She kicked at her covers like a child and folde
d her arms.

  Please God let her be wrong about everything. Let Blythe be the kindest, nicest man on earth. Let him restore Alexandre’s family to him and revive her relatives. Let the other vampires be as wonderful as Alexandre and then they could all live happily ever after. But Madison no longer believed in fairytales. She only believed in promises broken, dreams shattered and shit hitting fans. She could see her life disintegrating like a wet tissue. Please let her be wrong. She slid down under the covers, closed her eyes and tried again to sleep.

  *

  He would allow her to calm down. He would leave her to sleep tonight and maybe tomorrow she would see he was following the only course of action he could. He needed her to be on his side, to understand why he had trusted this stranger.

  Sitting outside on a cane chair with his feet up on a low glass-topped table, Alexandre was on the back terrace below Madison’s bedroom. He looked up at her balcony and smiled as he thought of Romeo and Juliet. The smile left his lips as he remembered how that tale had ended.

  Alexandre remained there for the rest of the night, letting his mind drift over everything without really touching upon the details. He had already made up his mind and so there was no point in thinking too deeply. And now sunrise was almost here and the darkness would scatter. He looked out across the ornamental garden to the woods beyond, where a faint glow could be anticipated.

  He always felt melancholy as night ended and dawn approached, like he was clinging desperately onto the remnants of something he didn’t even want.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  *

  The following morning, Alexandre inched opened Madison’s door. Good, the shutters were closed and all lay in darkness. He climbed into bed without a noise and stared at her; his fiery modern girl. He loved her spirit even though it sometimes exasperated him. At least he knew exactly what she thought. She did not play silly games or make him guess at what she wanted from him. She told him in a straightforward manner. She was his equal. And yet here, asleep, she looked so sweet and mild-mannered, so ...

  ‘Are you staring at me again while I’m asleep, Alex?’ she asked, her eyes still closed.

  ‘And if I am?’

  She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily.

  ‘I apologise,’ he said. ‘I did not mean to wake you. You must be tired.’

  ‘I’m okay. Still a bit mad at you though.’ She launched straight into what was on her mind. ‘You do realise that Blythe geezer let me and Ben move in here, knowing you vampires were down in the cellar.’ She propped herself up on one elbow.

  ‘But we were hidden away and unconscious.’

  ‘Yeah, but so what? You’re still vampires. He didn’t know you weren’t like those other ones.’

  ‘Madison, I thought that was all in the past. Are you not glad we found each other? Do you wish I were not here?’

  ‘Of course not! I love you, Alex. All I’m saying is he’s the type of bloke who doesn’t care about me or Ben or you. He just thinks about what he wants and you better hope it don’t clash with what you want.’

  ‘I see you are still as much against this idea as you were last night.’

  ‘What? Did you think I’d sleep on it and come round to your way of thinking in the morning? Sorry to disappoint.’

  ‘Oh, I cannot talk to you. This is impossible.’ He stood up and strode towards the door.

  ‘So you’re leaving now are you?’ She sat up. ‘Just because you don’t want to hear what I’ve got to say.’

  He turned to look at her and Madison thought for the millionth time how his face could make her weak with wanting. Why on earth was she fighting with him?

  ‘It is not your decision, Madison. It is mine and it was not an easy one to make. I just want your support.’

  ‘You have got my support. You’ll always have my support. It’s because I support you that I don’t want you to make the biggest mistake of your life. If I didn’t care, I’d just say, ‘do what you want’.’ She took a breath and continued speaking, trying to calm down. ‘What is it you’re actually going to do next anyway? What does Blythe want you to do?’

  Alexandre turned back from the door and came and sat on the end of the bed. He put his fingers to the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

  ‘I do not yet know. I told him how I was accidentally revived and he said he would take this information back with him. They will consider the best way to proceed and contact me when they have a safe way to awaken the others.’

  ‘So we’re just waiting then?’ She suddenly wanted to end their disagreement.

  ‘Yes, just waiting.’

  ‘So,’ she smiled and tilted her head to one side. ‘What on earth could we do while we’re waiting?’

  He looked at her, puzzled.

  ‘I mean,’ she continued. ‘We could just sit here twiddling our thumbs or ...’

  Alexandre smiled. He stood up and came round to where she sat up in bed. He slipped down the strap to her vest top and kissed her bare shoulder. Then he lifted her onto his lap while she wrapped herself around him. They smiled a truce and kissed, and for a short while they forgot about everything else.

  Later that morning Alexandre received a telephone call from Winston Blythe.

  ‘We have decided how it shall be done,’ Blythe said to Alexandre without preamble.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘We can revive your family with ultraviolet light. We can control the exact quantities they are exposed to and can instantly switch it off if it appears to be harming them in any way.’

  ‘Ultraviolet?’ Alexandre had never heard of it.

  ‘In your time you may have known it as Chemical Rays emitted by the sun. Nowadays we are able to recreate them using a black light otherwise known as a UV light or ultraviolet.’

  ‘So this will have the same effect as daylight?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And when can we do this?’

  ‘Whenever you are ready.’

  ‘I am ready. I miss my family. I want them back.’

  ‘Perfect. You and the others must come to our laboratories in London. We can arrange safe transportation for you.’

  ‘Yes. Good. Tonight.’

  There was a short pause on the other end of the line before Blythe spoke again. ‘Very well. I will send someone to collect you just after sundown.’

  ‘Good. Mr Blythe, I am trusting you with their lives and they are more precious to me than all the treasure in the world. Please only do this if you are confident of a successful outcome.’

  ‘Do not worry, Alexandre. I am more than confident.’

  Alexandre put the receiver back in its cradle and walked into the lounge where Madison sat in a deep armchair looking worried. Her face told him she had heard at least part, if not all of his conversation. She felt sick when he confirmed it was going to happen that night.

  ‘I’m coming with you.’

  ‘You most certainly are not.’

  ‘I am. I’ll be going out of my head if I have to wait here.’

  ‘I do not think Winston Blythe will be ...’

  ‘Stuff Winston Blythe. I have to come.’

  ‘If you come, I shall be too worried about you. I will not be able to properly concentrate on what is happening.’

  ‘Why would you have to worry about me? I thought you said it would be safe, that you could trust him.’

  ‘I do trust him, but if anything goes wrong I need to be fully focused so I can act quickly if necessary.’

  ‘Exactly! And I can help you. I could ...’

  ‘Madison, no. I am sorry, but no.’

  ‘Alex …’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Fine.’ She hugged her knees to her chest and stared into the middle distance. She angrily wiped a tear from her cheek and tried to stop thinking of all the things that could go wrong.

  ‘Please, do not cry.’ Alexandre knelt in front of her and brushed away a second tear that had dripped onto her other cheek. ‘This time tomorrow I will b
e home and you can meet Isobel, Jacques, Leonora and Freddie. It will be wonderful, Madison. Please, just try not to worry.’

  ‘How many times do I have to listen to you say that to me?’

  ‘This will be the last. After this, our families will be reunited. We will be together and there will be no need to involve anyone from outside. We will be able to relax and to enjoy each other’s company.’

  ‘Well I’m not happy about it.’

  At this last statement, Alexandre gave her a look designed to make her laugh, but she wouldn’t be drawn.

  ‘It’s not funny, Alex. I’m not laughing.’

  ‘I know it is not funny, Madison, but I am just trying to make you feel better.’

  ‘I’ll only feel better if you let me come with you.’

  Alexandre did not reply.

  Downstairs in his rooms, they readied the others for their journey. Madison paused to study Leonora. She looked so statue-like it was hard to believe she might soon be walking and talking, that she would be alive. And then she and Ben would have proper family of their own. It was a nerve-wracking thought.

  She’d heard Leonora was independent and quite formidable. What would she make of Madison and her way of life? She would probably disapprove of a lot of things. It would be like having an eighteen-year-old great-great-great-aunt – weird. And Freddie and Jacques? Well they sounded like a good laugh. Ben would love to have them here. They’d be like older brothers.

  She hadn’t told Ben anything of what had been going on. She didn’t want to worry him or raise his hopes. He was better off enjoying his summer holidays without complications. She decided she would only tell him if and when anything happened.

  And what about Isobel? Madison got the impression she was quite a girly girl, which was fine. But then she kept forgetting they were all powerful vampires which was more than a bit intimidating. Madison’s sick feeling returned.