I focused on a piece of furniture to keep back tears and shook my head. “I might be but Marie will not. I think Gregory will find a way to cover that up. Not many people even knew I had a daughter,” I answered. “The family kept it hushed. I had disgraced them by having her. They only wanted a son.”
< Good Marrow, > a voice said cheerfully. The only problem was, the message wasn’t actually said out loud. It was Jeffrey and I only heard it in my mind.
Startled yet again, my eyes flew back to Samuel for help. The other vampires were already answering the silent message. “It’s all right, Julia. It’s the mind to mind communication I mentioned last night,” he answered.
“How do you do it?” I asked puzzled. I felt left out and very naïve.
“You just think something to a person. You concentrate on one person and send the message. It’s like a push,” Mary Anne answered.
I frowned, not quite understanding, but decided to try anyway. < Good Marrow.> I said uncertainly.
“Well, she’s a quick learner,” Christy said, entering the room. “If only I had learned that fast ... things would have been much simpler.”
The other vampires in the room laughed. Mary Anne smiled. “She’s a natural. She’s even learned to keep everyone from reading her mind already.”
“It is instinct,” I muttered, ducking my head.
Samuel looked at me for a long minute then turned towards a closet. He took out a jacket and handed me a spare black cloak. “Enough, people. Are you ready to go, Julia?”
I nodded and put on the cloak. I walked towards the door and Samuel fell in step behind me. I reached for the doorknob when there was a knock and the door began to open. I jumped backwards in a sudden rush of fear. Samuel caught my hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
I looked at him then at the door. I watched as a young man with dark blond hair entered. “I hope Julia’s with you,” he said as he shut the door.
“She is,” Samuel answered.
“Damien?!” My voice was filled with utter disbelief. My brother–in–law … here? I could only come up with one conclusion. “You are a vampire?”
Damien looked at us. A brief smile touched his lips. “Hello Juliana. Nay, I’m not one of you. I’m human. I am just a friend of theirs.”
I looked between him and the other vampires. “I do not understand. How long have you all known each other?”
“A few years. Damien was the one who first made us aware of you,” Matthew said from the corner. I glanced at him, stunned. As I stared at him, I realized he seemed vaguely familiar. I wondered if he had been out once during one of my attempted escapes. I thought about asking, but didn’t have the courage to.
I looked at Damien. “Ever since I met you, you knew I could have been helped? Why didn’t you bring help earlier? Before my child died?” The tears that I had been fighting suddenly stung my eyes. I lifted my arm and wiped my eyes.
“Julia. I know you are upset but think for a second! I had to see if I could get you out on my own first. I knew that would have been better for you and your daughter if you were human to take care of her. But then I realized that the only way you could be free from your husband was if you became a vampire. If I had known he was going to kill your daughter, I would have acted sooner,” he finished.
I closed my eyes and didn’t answer. “What kind of story did he make up?” Samuel asked.
“He told the family that someone had broken in and murdered Marie when she – when she woke up. He said that Julia had found her dead and she took off in grief.” Damien looked at me. “They think you killed yourself. Of course, since the family has kept Marie a secret, the townspeople think you finally killed yourself after you found out that Adam and Ruth got engaged.”
“Adam got engaged?” I repeated dully. “I guess he’s found a new love.”
Damien looked disgusted. “Parents’ choice.”
“Oh,” I answered. “Even better.” I shrugged off my dark mood. “Be good to my sister. She’ll need you during this.” I turned to Samuel. “Can we go now?”
“I’m taking Julia out for a few hours. Take care, Damien.” He silently led me out of the house.
I gazed around in wonder, my grief temporarily forgotten. Everything was dark, yet I could see perfectly. I could see the bark on the trees next to the house. Curiously, I noticed what appeared to be a garden with vegetables growing next to the trees. It didn’t look overgrown. Why would Samuel and the others be tending to a garden of human food? Was it for Damien when he came to visit?
The thought disappeared as I realized I could even make out the shapes of two horses grazing down the street. “This is amazing,” I whispered, looking around.
“Where do you want to go, Julia?”
“Let’s go into town,” I answered. “Will you teach me how to take blood . . . without hurting anyone?” There was a pain in my stomach, a lot like hunger pangs. I figured out it was probably because I needed blood.
“That’s the plan for tonight.” I nodded as we walked. A companionable silence fell between us. I was strangely comfortable around him, so I didn’t feel the need to fill the silence.
A little later, we entered town. I looked around at the mostly deserted streets. I was beginning to hunger for blood and I wanted a source of the nourishment. Samuel telepathically beckoned me over to where he was standing, watching a young couple walk down the street. I turned and glided over to where he was standing. “You’ll feed off the man after he takes the woman home,” Samuel said softly.
I nodded in response. We followed the two down the street and watched at a distance as the young man saw the woman inside. After a few moments the man came back out and continued on his way. “What are we going to do?” I asked. I had no idea how we were going to subdue this man.
“I’ll show you and you can help me,” Samuel answered, as he began to walk again. I followed. We quickly closed the distance. By the time the man turned down a smaller street we were only a foot or so away. Samuel suddenly reached out and spun the man around.
“Huh?! What is this? Do you think this is a game?” he asked angrily, looking at us. He tried to shake free of Samuel’s arm. It didn’t work.
“No game, my man,” Samuel replied. He held the guy easily with one hand and put his other hand over his mouth. “Come here, Julia.”
I quickly ran to him, curious. “Now what?” I asked.
“Now you are going to subdue him and feed.”
“Me? How?” I asked in surprise. I looked at our frightened victim, then up at my teacher. How on earth was Samuel expecting me to do this?
“Look into his eyes and think him to sleep. The same way you speak to us without sound,” Samuel replied patiently.
“Why?” I asked as I did as I was told. Suddenly, the young man went limp and his eyes seemed to glaze over.
Samuel handed him to me and then answered, “It sugarcoats the experience for innocent, non–resisting victims.”
I held the man in my arms and was amazed at how frail he seemed. It was only now that I understood that I could kill most mortals easily.
“Find the big artery in his neck. See, right here,” Samuel said, guiding one of my hands to a delicate place in the man’s throat. I could feel the throbbing of his heart. “Now bite. . .gently. Don’t rip,” Samuel continued.
I lowered my head and gently bit the area with my sharp teeth. Suddenly warm rich fluid started to drip down my throat. I began to suck at it intently. I wrapped myself up in the taste and smell of blood. The blood tasted metallic, like a metal. I suppose mortals would find the taste unpleasant, but to me it tasted sweet.
A few moments later, Samuel touched my shoulder. “That’s enough, Julia,” he said. I looked up and wiped a few drops of blood from my mouth. I looked back down in fear that I had killed the man. I was relieved to find he was still breathing. I laid him down on the side of the street and got up.
Samuel knelt down beside him
and smeared a small drop of his own blood on the small wounds I had made then started to walk away. I followed him uncertainly. “Will he be all right?” I asked.
He looked back at me. “Maybe. You cut it close. Don’t worry about it too much. It’s your first time Julia. It takes practice.”
I nodded but silently fretted to myself as we walked. I didn’t want to become my husband, a murdering fiend with no conscience, especially now that I was a vampire. It was my biggest fear besides my fear of being hurt.
Samuel turned and put a hand on my shoulder. “Do not be so hard on yourself. You are learning. You will make mistakes. It does not mean you are a bad person or that you’re like Gregory. All of us had problems at the beginning. Is there a place in town you would like to go for a while?” Seeing my bewildered look he said, “Don’t worry, you will not be recognized.”
I thought of Adam then pushed the thought from mind. Later, I promised myself. “Actually, I’m wondering about . . . learning to fight. I would like to learn before I really go out on my own,” I said, looking down the street. I looked back at him worriedly. “I need to learn. I don’t ever want to be hurt like this again,” I said in a trembling voice.
Samuel turned back to look at me. “I understand.” He reached out to take my hand but I stepped out of reach. I turned back towards the way we came. Samuel didn’t seem affected by my sudden hesitation. He just walked beside me without another word.
I suddenly didn’t want to be touched. I looked back and forth in paranoia. I could almost see Gregory’s sneering face in the shadows. Relax! He cannot hurt you anymore.
I let out a shaky breath. I was also afraid that the other male vampires would hurt me as well. It wasn’t a logical fear; they hadn’t done anything to suggest they wanted to hurt me, but the fear was there nevertheless. I didn’t want to be this scared for the rest of my life. I suppose the others might find it a touch amusing. A vampire who would probably jump at her own shadow. The more I thought about it, the more bitter I felt. I found myself wondering if I would ever be whole again.
When we arrived back at the house, Mary Anne and Matthew were the only ones there. Mary Anne was sewing some clothes and Matthew was writing a letter. “How did she do?” he asked, looking up.
Samuel walked over to a dresser and started rummaging around. “She did well for her first night out,” he answered.
Matthew nodded and looked up at me. “Not bad,” he said with a smile. “I did poorly my first time. Of course I had a horrible teacher.” He grinned at Samuel.
Samuel threw a vase at him and turned back to the dresser.
Matthew snickered. “I was awful,” he said, seeing my bewildered look, “But it was my own fault. Samuel did teach me well; I just chose not to listen for the first three years.”
“You still don’t listen,” Samuel replied and turned around. “Here, Julia, you can put these on. They should fit.”
I took the clothes from him and looked at them. A dark shirt ... and dark pants. I looked up in startled disbelief. “ Wear th– this? You have to be jesting!”
Samuel shook his head. “I told you, you cannot wear a dress while fighting. At least not if you want to fight well.”
I took off the cloak and hung it up. I continued to stare at the outfit. I hadn’t dreamed about wearing pants since I was a very small child. I couldn’t help but think this was a joke. “But it is not –” I started. My voice gave out in shock. This idea was inconceivable to me.
“It’s not proper, Julia? We know. We do things differently. We teach everyone how to fight so they can defend themselves. Even women,” he said with a smile.
I looked at Mary Anne sitting so serenely, doing her sewing. “I know how. After I joined this group they taught me. You have to learn. There’s people that hunt vampires.”
“Differently? This is madness!” I exclaimed. I stared at Samuel again. “You do not honestly expect me to wear this do you?”
Samuel laughed slightly. He looked at Mary Anne. “I suppose it’s time we have ‘The Discussion,’ eh, Mary Anne?”
“Aye, I think we should,” Mary Anne replied with an amused smile. Matthew coughed from his position across the room, then rolled his eyes.
“What ‘Discussion’ Samuel?” I asked suspiciously.
Samuel walked over to the table and sat down. “Julia . . . I know how this must seem to you. Ever since you were born, you have been taught that men are superior to women in every way: physically, intellectually, and emotionally. And yes, males are born to be physically stronger than females. However, women can rival men in every other way. Women can be as intelligent as men and are just as emotionally capable as they are, if not more so.”
I shook my head silently.
“Aye. You can see the truth of it here.” Samuel stared up at me. “At one time, everyone here believed as you do. As a human, I believed women were weak and pitiful creatures.”
“So did I,” Matthew said and laughed ruefully. “After I became a vampire, I still foolishly thought women, even vampires, were too weak to hurt me. I will only say that a beautiful delicate–looking female vampire corrected me on my assumptions.”
Samuel grinned at him. “We were both knocked senseless by female vampires, Matthew.”
I stared at the three, struggling to comprehend this odd idea. “Why? Why is it that you treat women differently than humans do? And why do humans treat us like . . . like they do?”
Samuel stared at me evenly. “Why do we treat women differently than mortals? Only because we have lived longer and we’ve seen much more than they have.”
“Mortals. Even though they fascinate me and I love them, they are so backwards,” Mary Anne said with a sigh. “Mortals treat women the way they do because that’s what they have done for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. No one has ever really tried to change it … or even question it. And . . . some mortals are just evil.”
Matthew’s dark brown eyes were sparkling. “Besides, Julia, do you know how ridiculous you sound? You go around drinking other people’s blood . . . and you’re resisting wearing a pair of trousers?”
It was all the reassurance I needed to be persuaded that this wasn’t a joke. I made a face at Matthew and looked at Mary Anne again. “Could you help me put these on? I have no idea how to,” I said, blushing. She nodded and we turned and left the room to help me get changed. I was thoroughly amazed by how comfortable trousers were. I kept my hair down and returned to the main room which was divided into Samuel’s room. Mary Anne followed me back out and resumed her seat. “Now what?” I asked curiously.
“Come on,” Samuel said and led me out to the backyard. “Now go ahead and punch,” he said once we were settled.
“All right,” I said, making a clumsy fist. I jabbed it out the way I’ve seen men do sometimes.
Samuel walked up to me and gently tucked my thumb in against my fingers. “Try again,” he said tightening my fingers.
I punched again. And then another time. “Am I doing this right?”
“Good. Yes, you are. The other hand now, Julia.”
I punched using my other hand. Samuel made several corrections and I tried again.
A little later we moved on to kicking. Samuel showed me examples of several different kicks, including roundhouse, side, and front snap kicks. In a roundhouse kick, you spin and use the instep or front of your foot to make contact. In a side kick you turn and use the heel of your foot to hit someone. In a font snap kick you bend your knee and kick straight out in front of you, using the ball of your foot to strike. I practiced for over an hour on these basics alone.
He showed me several different techniques in case I was grabbed or attacked and I put all my anger and grief into learning how to take him down. If Adam saw me now, he wouldn’t have recognized me. Samuel rolled over and got to his feet after I threw him. “Now do what you have to, to get me off,” he said and put his arm against my throat.
Anger and fear welled up inside of me and I had to
remember that he was not really going to hurt me. I immediately turned my head to the side so I could breathe. My hands flew up and grabbed his arm. My leg moved back against his and I kicked back with bent knees. Samuel flipped over my head several feet and landed hard on the ground.
“Sweet Jesu. Are you sure you have never fought before?” Samuel groaned rolling over. He looked up at me with pale blue eyes and a smile touched his lips. He coughed and then added, “That was very good, Julia.”
I was surprised to find I was calmer and more at peace now then I had been in years. It had felt good to release my anger. I even offered a hand to Samuel to help him up. “I think I should do this more often,” I answered, pulling him to his feet.
“If you did, we’ll all be playing harps,” Samuel joked good–naturedly. “We’ll do some real fighting and grappling tomorrow.”
I nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are,” Samuel answered. The other vampires had just returned and were filing into the house. “Come on. Let’s see if they did anything interesting,” Samuel muttered.
“All right,” I answered. I followed him into the house. The other six vampires were in the middle of an intense conversation.
Samuel perched on the table and I joined him there. “What’s going on everyone?” he asked quietly.
Christy brushed a few strands of blondish brown hair out of her eyes and turned to him. “Jeffrey and I ran into another group of vampires. Some of Valentino’s friends. They’re looking for information. Seems as if they think we’re up to something, Samuel.”
Samuel spread his hands. “We have nothing to hide. I made another vampire, so what? There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“He thinks everything you do is suspect, Samuel,” Mary Anne said mildly.
Matthew leaned forward. “He cannot do anything. Neither can these vampires. We’re not breaking any laws – that they know of. We made Julia a vampire and they don’t know about Damien.”
“You hope. They may not wait for a legitimate reason to attack. Everyone needs to be on their guard,” Robert finished.
Lost Soul Page 9
