by S. L. Baum
“Lizzy, my girl,” Cozmo murmured as he slid to her side.
It was odd, looking around the room. I was so used to the three of us – James, Catherine and I. But now there were four seemingly perfectly matched couples. I had found my counterpart. Cozmo, possibly had as well. It felt good – and it almost made me forget my worries about the changes that were taking place in Link - and in me.
“Someone’s on the property,” Catherine interrupted my train of thought.
“Yes,” James agreed, “a Dark One – a male.”
“Do you know him?” Eve asked. Her brow furrowed with worry.
“What’s a Dark One?” Link sighed, shaking his head.
“A Vamp,” Cozmo offered, as Lizabelle positioned herself directly behind her newfound mate’s back.
She began to tremble.
“A Vampire is... is... is coming in here,” Link stammered.
“It’s a familiar scent,” James noted.
“Yes,” said Catherine.
“I agree,” I nodded. I inhaled deeply through my nose, absorbing the scent, trying to identify its owner. It came to me clearly then. “It’s Lulach,” I smiled. “He’s a friend, Link, don’t worry.”
I bounded up the stairs to open the front door. He had been patiently waiting outside, to be sensed and invited in.
“Lulach, welcome to our new home,” I gestured for him to enter.
“Charity my dear, you look as lovely as ever,” he nodded his head in greeting. He spoke with a slight trace of an ancient Scottish accent – somewhat similar to Catherine’s.
Lulach is a striking being. He stands over six feet tall. He has deep rust colored hair that just barely grazes his shoulder blades. His eyes are a piercing green color and his skin is quite pale – even more so than James, Catherine, and I. I think he began his Vampire life in the dead of winter, when his flesh hadn’t known the warmth of the sun in months. Time had simply erased any traces of color that had remained from his human days. He probably looked, to the human world, like a man in his early thirties. But he had hinted once that he was close to three hundred.
The Dark One glided into the room, his movements so smooth that he seemed to almost drift along the surface of the floor without touching it - which he actually does. As with the Witches, Vampires are not able to fly.
My Link detector got an immediate rise in action as soon as Lulach entered the house. I reached behind me, to grab onto his hand. After a moment I could sense his pulse slowing just a little. I leaned back into his chest, “It’ll be okay,” I whispered.
“James, Catherine, it has been a long time,” Lulach tilted his head for another brief nod. He ended most of his sentences this way.
“About twenty years... if memory serves. You have a new driver I see,” James remarked.
“Seumas passed on, a few years ago. This is his grandson Christopher. They are a loyal family,” he said.
As James moved to close the door to the house, I peered through the severely darkened windows of the sleek black limo that was now parked in our driveway. Sitting in the front seat, keeping his eyes diverted from the house, was Christopher. This twenty-something mortal man, who belonged to the family that had faithfully been in the employ of Lulach for many generations, appeared to be the soul of discretion. He was obviously well aware that the occupants of this house would never want to be identified.
“These Witches are your friends?” the Vampire questioned.
“Yes. May we introduce Marcus, Eve, and Cozmo. The shy one behind him is Lizabelle,” Catherine smiled.
“She is a Shape-Shifter,” Lulach stated matter-of-factly. “What can you shift into my dear?”
“Eagle and fox,” Lizabelle answered quietly, peering around Cozmo’s shoulder, maintaining her distance.
“And who is your companion?” he settled his gaze on Link.
“I’m Lincoln Knight,” Link started to extend his hand and then quickly returned it to his side, sensing that Lulach wasn’t one for shaking hands.
“Your heart rate is elevated. Don’t fret Mr. Knight. There is no thirst in this ancient body... at the moment,” the corners of his mouth twitched slightly – Lulach’s version of a smile.
Link gave a small sigh. “Good to know,” he replied.
“I’m afraid I have come out of necessity, this isn’t a social call. I have been keeping a secret from you my dear,” Lulach gazed at me. “I never deemed it necessary to tell. But last night I was made aware of something that prompts me to now divulge some truths that you have been kept unaware of.”
I glanced uneasily from James to Catherine.
“They know nothing of it my dear,” Lulach nodded. “You were in quite a predicament last night. Which concluded with a sizeable quantity of your blood being passed to Mr. Knight it seems,” he continued.
“How do you know that?” I asked, incredulously.
“That is why I am here... to enlighten you. Let’s sit.”
We moved to the living room. Lulach stood by the fireplace. Link and I sat down. I waited.
“Do you remember when you met me, for the first time?” Lulach asked.
“I was about twenty-three, I guess. It was a few years after I came to live with James and Catherine,” I looked to them for confirmation.
“That sounds about right,” Catherine said.
“That is the first time I visited you at their home. However, there was another time. Do you still have no earlier memory of our acquaintance?” Lulach pressed.
“How could I have met you before I met them?” I shook my head, suddenly confused.
“You never regained memory of the accident then it seems - the one that killed your parents. That is the night that I first laid eyes on you,” Lulach said with his small nod.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” I shook my head again.
“I was on my way to visit with James and Catherine that night, traveling through the trees. It was a night to be out in nature, thick with mist, perfect conditions for a Dark One passing through alone. But not so perfect for a mortal family to be out driving.
“I came upon your parent’s car, sometime after it had rolled down an embankment. On impulse, I stopped to investigate. I found your parents first. They were gone, bled out, of no use to me. Excuse me. That was a bit cold wasn’t it? But you had been thrown from the vehicle. I found you quite injured, but still alive. You had several broken bones, bruises, and a deep cut to your head. It was bleeding. You smelled delicious... and I’m sorry to say... I immediately wanted to drain you. I bit into your neck my dear, and started to drink. You tasted as exquisite as I knew you would. But something stopped me. I stared into your lovely face and found myself compelled to try to heal you instead.
“I bit into my wrist and put it to your lips. Vampire blood is quite healing, as you know, much more so than Immortal blood. I would either heal you, or turn you, depending on how much your supply had been depleted. I truly wasn’t sure what would happen. But I was willing to take the gamble,” Lulach paused, with a nod.
“I drank from you?” I whispered, with a shake of my head.
“Yes my dear. I realized, as you were drinking my blood, that yours – though delicious – had a tinge of the supernatural. It was then that it struck me, you were an Immortal One. My blood had quickened the process, but you would have healed yourself shortly,” Lulach paused again. “You received a large portion of my blood, my dear girl.”
“Am I connected to you? Do you feel my heart beat? Do you hear my pulse race, the blood flow through my body?” I demanded.
“Why yes, my dear, your pulse is quickening as we speak. I can hear you from miles away, across continents. My blood still flows in you. If it had been a mortal that I’d healed, the Vampire blood would have found its way out of the mortal body. The effect would have worn off. But the opposite happened, somehow my blood found a way to combine with your blood. I always know where you are... how you are.
“It was that connection th
at made me aware of your deep distress last night. I sensed the danger and made arrangements to come to you. Soon after departure, I became aware of another presence. It was faint, but it was there. You had shared your blood, and in turn had shared mine,” Lulach nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before? Why don’t I remember?” I wanted answers.
“At the time of the accident, you didn’t seem to be aware of your situation. I stayed with you all night, and found shelter during the day. When I came back the next evening you were still sleeping. Your body was working hard to recover from all of your injuries. Your blood and my blood labored together, to repair internal damage, and slowly you regained consciousness. But you wouldn’t remain awake for long, and you seemed frightened of me each time you woke.
“I didn’t want to scare you, my dear. But most importantly, you had no blood-lust when you woke. So instead of keeping you with me, I found a way to leave clues to your whereabouts. I picked up a few parts from the car and left them on the highway. Soon, you were discovered, and I continued on,” he told me.
“You showed up at our home right after that then,” James said. “I remember a conversation about human frailty and Immortal strength. You said you had met another Immortal, but you never gave me any details.”
“Discretion is of utmost importance, is it not? The visit you remember Charity, is when I came back a few years later to check up on you. I was pleasantly surprised to find you sharing a home with my friends. But you still had no memory of the event, and I didn’t see the need to force it,” Lulach nodded.
“Well that explains the two visits so close together. I’m pretty sure that it was the one and only time you didn’t allow fifteen to twenty years to lapse between visits,” Catherine remarked.
“I was following my connection to Charity and ended up at your home. It was a lovely discovery,” Lulach’s mouth twitched into a small smile.
“I feel that connection to you Link. I’ve been going crazy since I woke up from my sleep. I can hear you... I can feel you... I can almost see you... even when you are not in the same room as me,” I gasped and turned back to Lulach. “But I never changed from your blood. I don’t have Vampire strength. I’m not swift, definitely not agile. My eyes do not burn from the sunlight. Link is going through all sorts of changes today. I didn’t change at all?”
“That is not entirely true. I agree with the lack of agility, you break too many bones, and the strength and speed. However, your hearing is sharper and more precise than either James or Catherine. I have put it to several tests throughout the years. Vampires can command their body’s pace of healing. That is how we are able to allow others to drink from us. You too have that ability. I think you have more within you, Charity. You just need to channel the power that is locked within my blood and bring it out,” Lucach explained.
“Vampire’s eyes burn in the sunlight,” Link exhaled. A light bulb had gone off in his head. “My eyes...”
“...have been extremely sensitive to sunlight all day,” I finished his sentence.
“I’m fast. I’m strong. My vision, my aim, my hearing... have all heightened. I’m not becoming like you. I’m becoming like him,” Link shuddered.
“You are not a Dark One, young man. I could tell in an instant that you had traits, but you are not one of us. When I gave Charity my blood it fused with hers. So, what you received is something that is entirely unique. There is no other blood like it in this world,” Lulach nodded.
“I’m a hybrid car - part gas powered, part electric,” Link smirked.
“May I?” Lulach spoke, and then was at Link’s side as if he had been there all along. The quickness of the movement was startling. Without waiting for permission, Lulach raised Link’s hand, pierced his palm with one fingernail, then licked the blood away, and the wound shut. “There are three elements to your blood, young man. The taste of mortal is faint. You had lost the majority of your blood I assume. Charity’s Immortal blood is in you, I remember that intoxicating flavor so well. Since my blood is fused with Charity’s, Vampire blood is also present.”
“I’m a tri-brid then,” Link sighed.
Cozmo, who had been silently listening - along with Marcus, Eve, and Lizabelle - gave a snort. “A tri-brid,” he repeated.
That brought back the twitch of a smile to Lulach’s lips. “Observe him well, James. He is the only one of his kind... that I know of. Be aware of your body’s needs Mr. Knight. Although Charity’s body never desired blood, yours may. Don’t deny it what it wants, or it may lead to involuntary actions that you will later regret.”
Lizabelle gave a visible shudder to that last statement.
“I wish I had known some of this earlier. I wish I could remember that night. I guess I need to thank you for staying with me and for making sure that I was found,” I smiled.
“I should not have waited so long to tell you the truth. But would the knowledge have changed anything? Would you still have shared your blood with this man?” Lulach asked.
“I would have done... I will do... anything to save him. He was dying, right before my eyes. But now I have changed him in so many ways,” I covered my face with my hands, ashamed.
“Charity, don’t. I accept the changes, whatever they may be, as long as they keep me with you. I love you,” Link tugged at my hands, lowered them from my face, and pushed back my hair.
“But you had no choice. I did this to you,” I worried.
“I had a choice. I chose to be with you, even after I found out what you were. I choose you,” Link’s voice was calm and steady. There was no hint of regret. But that could still come. He might wake up one day in the desperate throes of blood-lust and lament my actions. As if reading my thought, though I know he couldn’t, Link cradled my face in his hands. “Charity, you are everything to me. I will never grieve the loss of a purely mortal life,” he whispered, and brushed my lips with his own.
“I love you,” I smiled.
Lulach departed very soon after that. He blamed his abrupt exodus on a newly acquired lead on a murderer, in Cortez. He wasn’t sure how long the offender would remain in the city, and he wanted to capture him while his trail was still warm. He promised to come back as soon as the deed was done.
That’s how it has been with Lulach for as long as I’ve known him. He gets a lead on a vicious murderer from somewhere, and hunts that person down. He said the hunt was best part. The blood of the wicked, that is the only blood he permitted himself anymore. Before he left, he told me that I was the last drink of innocent blood he had taken. Taken being the key word. He still allowed himself the innocent, but willing, donor. There are many people who will gladly bare their neck for a Dark One, especially one as striking as Lulach.
How we managed to regain composure, sit down to a Christmas dinner, and then continue with the opening of presents, still amazes me. But we did it, and it was a wonderful night.
Catherine loved the yards of antique material that I had acquired for her. And, James was equally pleased with the books. I always keep presents stashed away for the Witches. This year I gave each of them a tiny MP3 player that I had pre-loaded with tons of their favorite music – a different color, and a different selection of songs for each. Catherine had thoughtfully wrapped a gorgeous dress, and had presented it to Lizabelle – who accepted the gift with a sincere smile.
That is my favorite part of Christmas... watching the smile appear. To me, the joy is in the giving.
At Twelve-oh-one, I know this because I looked at the clock, Link and I went back up to my room. It had been a long two days. Perhaps, the longest in my life. I was exhausted and simply wanted to sleep in my favorite place – wrapped in Link’s loving arms.
“There is still one more present to open,” Link flashed that brilliant smile. There was a touch of devilishness behind it this time. It was a knowing smile, a secretive one.
“It’s after midnight. It’s not Christmas anymore,” I reminded him.
“Ah, but t
he night belongs to the day it follows. So technically... still Christmas. Open,” he commanded and placed a large square red foil wrapped present, with gold and silver ribbon adorning the paper, on my lap.
“It’s so pretty,” I smiled, “I almost don’t want to open it.”
“Please do,” he whispered.
I pulled at the ribbon, loosening the bow, and then slipping it off. Next, I tore at the red foil wrapping, discarding it to the floor. Then, I closed my eyes, and lifted off the lid.
I paused there for a moment, eyes closed, a smile on my face.
“Well aren’t you gonna look?” Link quietly asked.
I glanced down and spied that inside the box, nestled in a cloud of white cotton, was a shiny silver throwing star - Link’s Charity – was engraved around the center circle.
“See, you are not the only one that can give a weapon as a present,” he smiled. “Lift it up, see how it fits in your hand,” he coaxed.
I reached into the box and carefully lifted out my present. It was then that I noticed a thin, transparent string – like fishing line – was tied to one point of the star. As I lifted the star up higher, a shiny bauble was suspended in air. A white gold ring with three glittering diamonds hung from the star. The center stone was slightly larger, with a smaller one on each side of it.
“Marry me, Charity. You are my past, my present, and my future – forever,” Link had slid down to the floor in front of me, perched on one knee. It was a true old fashioned proposal.
I sat motionless, one hand raised high in the air, holding the star so that the ring was suspended in front of my eyes. I just stared at it.
“Well,” Link smiled as the tears streamed down my face.
“Are you sure, Link? You really haven’t known me that long. It’s only been a couple of months,” I questioned him, unable to believe this was happening to me.
“You’re it, baby, the one I’ve been waiting for.”
“Yes, Lincoln, my love, I will marry you,” I beamed through the tears.
