Blood Apprentice: An Elemental Legacy Novel

by Elizabeth Hunter

Giovanni met Ben in the front of the car and jerked him to a stop. His mouth set in a hard line, he jerked Ben’s chin to the side and inspected his neck in the glow of the headlights.

  Ben felt like he was fifteen again, his uncle inspecting him and Ben coming up short.

  “Gio—”

  “Shut up.” Giovanni turned Ben’s head to the other side and inspected the angry red marks on that side too. He put both hands on Ben’s neck, his thumbs resting on Ben’s pulse for a moment before he pulled Ben into a hug. “I’m very angry with her right now.”

  Ben let his shoulders relax in the fierce protectiveness of Giovanni’s embrace. “We were underground. There was a cave-in. You know how she gets when—”

  “She told me.” Giovanni pulled back. “Did you know she hadn’t fed?”

  Ben opened his mouth, then closed it.

  Giovanni must have seen the truth on his face. He pushed Ben back. “Non capisci una fava! Did I raise an idiot?”

  “Hey. We were trying to find the gold, and when she’d had a close call the day before, she was able to smell—”

  “This happened twice?” His uncle was incredulous. “You had a close call one day and you go underground with her the next day? And you knew she hadn’t fed?”

  Ben didn’t know what to say. In retrospect, it sounded exactly like the stupid idea it was. “We were underground. At the time—”

  “You’re as foolish about gold as she is,” Giovanni said bitterly. “And this will end in tragedy. And remember, Ben, when it ends in tragedy, it isn’t only the two of you who will be affected. Do you think I would ever be able to forgive her for killing my son?”

  Ben swallowed the lump in his throat and blinked back tears. “She’s not going to kill me.”

  Giovanni said nothing for a long time. They stood across from each other, mist falling around them in the glow of yellow headlights.

  “Get in the car,” Giovanni said quietly. “We’re driving back to San Juan tonight and we don’t have much time.”

  Ben climbed into the driver’s seat and buckled his seat belt. He waited for Giovanni to close his door before he put the Jeep in gear and started driving.

  His uncle was pissed. So pissed Ben could feel the heat from his skin across the car. It took a lot to make his tightly controlled uncle snap, but apparently he and Tenzin had managed.

  “I’ll be more careful,” Ben said quietly. “I’m sorry I worried you.”

  They drove through the muddy forest and reached the main road in under an hour. Once they were back on gravel, Ben picked up speed. By the time they were back on the highway, his uncle had cooled off enough that Ben risked a question.

  “Why are we going back to San Juan?”

  “Because you’ve overlooked something about the map. Something very obvious.”

  “But you’re not going to tell me what it is, are you?”

  “What would that teach you?” Giovanni glanced at him from the corner of his eye. “We’re going back to Camino’s flat. I’ve already called him. He’s expecting us tomorrow evening.”

  “Camino’s house?” What had Ben missed in the old man’s library? He’d studied the letters. Taken copies of correspondence. He’d tracked Tomás’s home to Arecibo and found the start of the map. Was there something the old man was hiding?

  “Tenzin is in San Juan,” Giovanni said. “You two need to talk.”

  “We need to,” Ben muttered, “but we won’t. She doesn’t do that. You should know that better than anyone.”

  “Because she doesn’t talk to me?” Giovanni crossed his arms. “You’re not me. Sometimes I think she treats you more like a peer than she treats me. Explain that one.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Neither can I.” His uncle paused as Ben passed a large truck heading east. The rain had grown heavier; it beat against the windshield and fell in sheets when they drove under overpasses.

  “It’s changing,” Giovanni said quietly. “It was always going to change, because people change. She’s not who she was, and neither are you. You’ve changed each other.”

  “I know.” Ben flashed to the memory of Tenzin above him. Her breasts pressed to his chest. Her mouth at his neck. His hands pulling her closer as she bit.

  Would he have let go if she’d released him? Or would he have pulled her closer still?

  “You have to decide what you want,” Giovanni said. “And so does she.”

  They parked the car in a paid lot a few blocks away from the house and walked through the streets of Old San Juan an hour or two before dawn.

  “I have your keys.” Giovanni tossed them in his direction. “I’m not sure how much of your gear is left at the caves. Most of it, I think. Tenzin just grabbed what she thought was most valuable.”

  “So God knows what’s actually here and what’s been left?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Ben glanced at him. “Did you go?”

  “To the cave? No. I’m angry as hell at her, and I don’t want to push it.”

  Ben thought about telling his uncle not to be angry, but he didn’t think it would make much difference. And he was mad at Tenzin too. Not for biting him during the cave-in, but for leaving him alone in the forest.

  He unlocked the door and entered the house, which smelled like lamb polo and saffron tea.

  She made your favorite dinner.

  “Tenzin?” Ben set his keys on the counter and walked through the house. She was nowhere to be found. He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

  “Typical.” Giovanni crossed his arms over his chest. “She’ll be back before dawn.”

  “Right. I’m going to take a shower,” Ben said. “Then I’m going to eat and go to sleep. There’s an extra light-safe room down the hall on the left.”

  “Is there a dead bolt?”

  “I installed dead bolts and alarms on all the bedrooms as soon as I got here.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Ben knew his uncle wasn’t being paranoid. As unlikely as it was that anyone would come into their home during the day when Tenzin was awake, Giovanni lived a life of caution, and he was vulnerable during daylight.

  “Good night, Benjamin.” His uncle clasped him by the neck again and kissed his cheek. “I am phenomenally relieved you are healthy and I don’t have to kill anyone.”

  “Good night.” Ben swallowed that familiar lump. He didn’t deserve having anyone care about him that much.

  You’re a little bastard.

  He shut the door of his memory and walked to his bedroom. He stripped off his muddy clothes and started the shower, turning the water as hot as he could stand. For the first time he looked in the mirror and understood why his uncle was so angry.

  His neck looked like it had been gnawed on. The fang marks had healed over—vampire blood could seal wounds—but broad, angry welts were left on both sides of his neck. There would be bruises. Fairly massive ones if he had to guess. Probably no scarring though. He flipped off the lights in the bathroom. The fluorescent was too bright. Darkness was far more comfortable to his eyes.

  Her fangs in his neck. His cock between her legs. Hunger so acute it was painful. One sated, the other still raging.

  Ben stepped into the shower, trying to ignore the reaction of his body to the memory, but in the dark warmth of the shower, it was all he could think about. It was the single most erotic encounter in his life, and it had nearly killed him.

  He gripped his erection as the water poured over him, reliving every moment.

  Her breast in his hand. Her nipple hard under his thumb when she bit his tongue and swallowed his blood. His cock hard between her legs.

  When he climaxed, a near-silent groan left his throat. He could feel her teeth in his neck.

  Ben pressed his forehead to the cool tile and let out a long breath, then he washed himself from head to toe, rinsed off, and dried himself with the soft cotton towels hanging in the bathroom, wincing a little when he had to touch his neck.<
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  He left the bedroom and slipped on a pair of sweatpants he’d left in San Juan. Most of his clothes were in Quebradillas, but he’d been careful to leave a few things there. You never knew when you’d need to stop by a safe house. He walked shirtless out to the kitchen, served himself some polo from the pan on the stove, and ate on the patio, looking up at the stars breaking through the clouds.

  He was nearly asleep on the lounge chair when he sensed her. She was perched on the roof, hidden by the palms.

  “You left me alone in the forest,” he said quietly.

  “I left you with a human. One I knew was safe.”

  Ben didn’t say anything.

  “She took care of you. If you needed human medical care, she would have known. Rangers are trained in that sort of thing.”

  “You left me.”

  Tenzin was silent for a long time. “You needed to be with humans.”

  I needed you. He didn’t say it. “Did you go back to the cave?”

  “I needed Cara to call Giovanni.”

  “You told on us.”

  “We need his help. He said there’s something on the map we’re not seeing.”

  “Yeah, he told me the same thing.”

  With the safer topic of treasure hunting between them, Tenzin floated down from the roof and sat across from Ben on a lounger. “What did we miss?”

  He drank in the sight of her. She was wearing a floating black tunic and skintight leggings. Her lips were red and her cheeks flushed. This time he knew it was from his own blood. Ben took a deep breath and willed his body not to react.

  You’re acting like a horny teenager.

  “I don’t know, but we’re going to Camino’s library tomorrow night.” The sky was turning pearl grey. “You should get inside.”

  “Are you angry with me?”

  Ben let out a hard laugh. “Yeah.”

  “Because I bit you?”

  “I know what you are, Tenzin.” He locked his eyes with her. “We were both being reckless. I’m not angry about that.”

  “You’re angry because I left.”

  “Yes.”

  He couldn’t read her expression. It was carefully and deliberately blank.

  “How much do you remember from the cave?” she asked.

  Ben weighed his options. “I remember waking up in a strange house without my partner.”

  “And that’s all?”

  His voice dropped. “Is there something else I should remember?”

  Her eyes gave nothing away. She had to know he wasn’t telling her everything, but she wouldn’t be the one to say it, and she’d never know unless he told her.

  Let her wonder. Ben knew it was the only satisfaction he’d get. Wondering might just make her a fraction as crazy as she made him.

  “I need to go inside.” Tenzin stood. “The sun is about to rise. I’ll see you at nightfall.”

  She walked inside. Ben could hear the door to her room shut and the lock turn.

  And that was that.

  Tenzin didn’t go to Camino’s library with them the next night. Giovanni wouldn’t let her. “Stay here,” he said. “Don’t bite anyone.”

  Tenzin’s mouth dropped open in indignation, but a look at Ben shut her up. He shrugged and followed Giovanni out the door.

  “Is that because you’re still pissed at her?”

  “Not really,” Giovanni said. “Camino is afraid of her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he knows who she is.”

  They walked the few blocks to August Camino’s apartment, waiting after they’d rung the bell. A familiar shuffling behind the front door. A crack opened, and a familiar face greeted them.

  “August,” Giovanni said. “It’s good to see you.”

  Camino laughed and opened the door wide. “Giovanni Vecchio.” He opened his arms and the two old friends embraced. “It’s good to see you, my friend. And young Mr. Vecchio, welcome back. I have more bread for you.”

  “Thank you, Señor Camino.”

  He waved both Ben and Giovanni into the house. Warm lamps lit the whole of the library room, but they followed Camino back to the kitchen.

  The old man looked over his shoulder. “You’re looking good for your age, Vecchio.”

  “So are you.”

  Camino cackled and opened the door where the chirping song of his lovebirds greeted them. Ben walked over and greeted them, picking up a sunflower seed and offering it to the female. She gave a flirtatious head bob and snatched it away.

  “Sit,” Camino said. “It’s not too late for coffee, is it?”

  “Never. After all”—Giovanni glanced at Ben—“we’re just starting our day.”

  Camino must have noticed the red marks on Ben’s neck, but he said nothing about them. “I understand you have more questions about Enríquez.”

  “Of a sort,” Giovanni said. “I’d really just like to examine some of his letters.”

  “The priest’s or Enríquez’s?”

  “You know, I think we should see both.” Giovanni glanced at Ben. “Don’t you, Ben?”

  “Is this going to be a valuable learning experience?” Ben asked.

  “Isn’t everything?” Camino said.

  Ben lifted the cup of coffee Camino had poured. “I can see why you two are friends.”

  Giovanni smiled. “Did he tell you what he was looking for?”

  “No,” Camino said. “But I can guess, of course. There is a look treasure hunters have.”

  “And who else is that interested in Miguel Enríquez?”

  “These days?” Camino rose. “You’d be surprised.”

  Ben and Giovanni exchanged glances.

  “Have you had company, August?” Giovanni asked, following the old man back to the library.

  “Ah, my friend. I have to respect confidences, do I not?” He looked over his shoulder. “If I do not respect others, how can you know I’ll keep your business private?”

  Ben gave Giovanni a look that said he has a point.

  Giovanni frowned a little. “All we need is Enríquez’s letters along with the priest’s.”

  “And so you will have them.” Camino lifted a box from below the library table. “The priest’s.” He turned and wandered into the bookcases and came back with a much smaller box. “And Miguel’s own hand.”

  Giovanni took a copy of the map out and laid it on the table between the two boxes.

  Ben glanced at his uncle. “So you kept a copy for yourself too?”

  The corner of Giovanni’s mouth turned up. “Of course I did. So, August, did my nephew share this little treasure with you?”

  Camino’s eyes went wide, and he lifted reading glasses to his nose. “He didn’t. Selfish boy. How very interesting.”

  “What was that you were saying about secrets and confidences?” Ben asked, leaning over the map to pull the chain on the table lamp, flooding the area with light. “Gio, are you sure—?”

  “It’s fine.” Camino waved his hand. “Your uncle knows he can trust me.”

  “Look at the map, August. Do you see where he went wrong?”

  “Possibly,” Camino muttered. “Was he under the impression that the priest—”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, so he’s never seen any original writing from—?”

  “I don’t think so. I was assuming he’d ask if you had any here, but I obviously shouldn’t have assumed.” Giovanni glanced at Ben.

  “Are you going to tell me what you’re talking about?” Ben asked. “Or just talk about me like I’m not here?”

  His uncle waved Ben over and opened the two boxes. He carefully lifted a clear plastic sleeve with a yellowed letter from the priest’s box. Ben had seen those before. Then Gio opened the smaller box and brought out a compact, leather-bound journal. Placing it on foam wedges Camino set out, Giovanni stepped back.

  “Look,” he said. “Here is the journal of Miguel Enríquez.”

  Ben bent over and started to read. It was more of
a ledger than a journal. It detailed names and had small figures next to each. Ben turned the page. Supplies for the trip. Precise amounts of water and dried fish. Line after line of—

  “Oh damn.” It was a distinctive capital L that caught him. Ben’s eyes darted from the journal to the map and back to the journal. Back to the map.

  He was an idiot.

  He leaned on the library table, his head in his hands. “The priest didn’t draw the map.”

  “No,” Giovanni said. “Enríquez did. He gave the map to the priest, but Enríquez himself drew that map.”

  “Which means… the priest never had the treasure.” Ben’s mind whirled. What did it mean?

  “I don’t think we can assume either way. We know Father Tomás had the map; that doesn’t mean he had the treasure. Of course, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have it either.”

  “But he disappeared from the church records shortly after Enríquez died. If he didn’t have the treasure, if he just had the map, then why—?”

  “At least now you’re asking the right questions,” Giovanni said. “This is why you never ignore original documents, Ben. I assumed you’d ask to see a sample of Enríquez’s writing when I sent you to August, but you were chasing the chasers, not looking for the source.” He turned to Camino. “Thank you, August. I think that’s all we need.”

  “You are welcome anytime.”

  What did it mean? What did it mean? As Giovanni bid their farewells to the old man, Ben’s mind whirled.

  Did Tomás ever find the treasure? Was it in the caves anymore? Had anyone else seen the map and sent someone after it? They had to have been in the right cave. A gold guinea like the one they found wasn’t going to just randomly show up in a cave in Puerto Rico. But maybe the coin they’d found was just a remnant of something already gone?

  “Come on.” Giovanni clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get Tenzin and go out to eat. We need a crowd. You always think better in a crowd.”

  18

  They returned to the restaurant in Old San Juan with live music on the patio. A different band was playing, one with a faster beat, but the atmosphere was the same. Humans in the courtyard, vampires on the balcony, and a few mixed with the crowd.