Dawn Caravan

by Elizabeth Hunter

  Vano was among the vampire guests, but he wasn’t a part of them. In fact, if Ben hadn’t been paying attention, Vano would have melted into the background.

  It was quite the skill, and Ben realized that Tenzin was right.

  Vano was very, very sneaky.

  An hour before sunrise as the nightly party wound down, Ben retreated to his secure caravan and called Chloe. “Hey, stranger.”

  “Hey.” She answered the video call on her phone. She was in the middle of a crowd, and the raucous sounds of a party surrounded her. “Where are you?”

  “No idea. Ukraine maybe? Where are you?”

  “We went back to Monte Carlo.” Chloe’s face glowed. She walked away from the crowd and found a quieter place with red velvet draperies behind her. “We’ve been so many places. Oh my God, Ben, you cannot even imagine. Nice, Capri, Portofino—that was probably my favorite.”

  “Portofino is gorgeous.” Ben picked at his shirt, which had ashes from the bonfire on it. “The boats are amazing. You need to go to Rome though. You have Fabi’s number, right?”

  “Yeah, totally. I think we’re kind of heading that direction, but just taking the lazy route since Gavin doesn’t have a club there.”

  “Doesn’t he?”

  “No, he’s got one in Naples though. Something about the VIC being more easygoing?”

  Ben laughed. “Naples is bonkers. Great, but bonkers.”

  “Sounds like our kind of place.” She leaned against a corner. “Miss you. I got used to having you around.”

  “I know. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Don’t you mean we?”

  Ben looked down and traced the marbling in the table. “Nothing between me and Tenzin is settled yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I need time.”

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Make good choices,” she sang.

  Ben stared at Chloe.

  “What?” she asked.

  “You said, ‘make good choices.’”

  “It’s simple but good advice.”

  So you lost one choice and gained a thousand others. I didn’t choose this life either; that is the nature of the world. We make the best of it, Ben Vecchio.

  Chloe was right. Tatyana was right. And Ben was a stubborn idiot.

  He’d lost one choice and gained a thousand. He could be with his friends. He could be a big brother to Sadia and a son to Giovanni and Beatrice. He could live a life that would make them proud. He could guard Chloe and keep watch over all his human friends.

  And someday he would have to say goodbye. But everyone faced that, human and immortal both. Humans survived it, and he would too.

  He would meet new friends, extraordinary people who hadn’t even been born yet. He would explore all the places he’d ever dreamed and others he didn’t have the imagination to conceive of. He would watch Sadia grow up, and he’d see the world change and evolve before his eyes.

  And he’d see all of it in a darkness that wasn’t so dark anymore.

  “Chloe?”

  “Hmm?”

  It was a new feeling, delicate as a freshly healed bone. But it was there. “I think I’m glad.”

  “For what?”

  Ben swallowed hard. “Just to be alive.”

  Chloe’s smile was incandescent. “Me too.”

  He put a hand over his eyes until he could steady his wildly careening emotions. “You knew I’d get here.”

  Her smile turned soft. “Yeah, I did. So did she.”

  “But I’m still angry.” He cleared his throat. “And I don’t know… How do you forgive someone when they’re not sorry for what they did?”

  Chloe blew out a long breath. “Okay, related question. How can someone be sorry for what they did if they truly believe they did the right thing?”

  “Sometimes I really don’t like you much.”

  “I know. I love you too.”

  30

  Ben rose from bed the following night after a restless day of sleep. Something had disturbed him all night—some itching, aching feeling in the pit of his stomach nagged him like a pebble in his shoe. He checked all the email he could access, grabbed a thermos of blood left in the trailer, and looked at his most recent to-do list from Chloe.

  Nothing was out of sorts. Nothing was on metaphorical or actual fire. His family was fine. His business was as expected.

  What was wrong?

  He called Tenzin. She answered after three rings.

  “What?”

  “How are you?”

  She was quiet for a long time. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’m not trying to be complicated. I just have a weird feeling, and I’m checking on everyone.”

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Right.” Ben tried to think of the right words to tell Tenzin the realization he’d come to the night before with Chloe. That he was more than content with his immortal life. That he was glad to be alive. Glad that they had a chance to be more than they had been. That he wanted to find a way to forgive her. “Tenzin, I was thinking—”

  “Wait.” She moved away from the speaker and her voice was muffled. “Not now.”

  “Is that him?” René DuPont’s voice was unmistakable. “Tell him we’re busy.”

  “What the fuck is René doing in your trailer at this hour?” Ben roared.

  He threw his tablet across the room and rushed out the door, only to feel a hand throttling his throat as soon as he stepped outside.

  The blow came without warning or preamble. A fist to the temple followed the hand at the throat. Ben felt himself lifted into the air and tossed into the side of the bus before he managed to speak a word.

  His fangs fell and he caught himself from falling to the ground, but no sooner had he lifted his head than two burly vampires gripped his shoulders and locked their legs around his, forcing him back against the bus.

  A pale, familiar face floated in front of him.

  “Hello, Mr. Vecchio,” Vano said. “I thought it would be a good idea to speak to you.”

  Ben bared his teeth. “Your men will let me go now,” he forced past the hands at his throat.

  Vano looked at him, and Ben began gathering the air to himself. He could feel it, like a great waiting storm over his head. Vano’s men might have had the element of surprise, might even be faster, but Ben was elementally stronger than all three of them and Vano knew it, even if Ben’s control wasn’t ironclad.

  Vano jerked his head to the side, and the Hazar guards released Ben. They floated to their master’s side, flanking him in the air while Vano considered Ben from the ground.

  “This aggression,” Vano said. “It is unfortunate. But what could I do? When I see the hired help following me around my own brother’s camp like a gnat, it irritates me. I try to speak to a friend, I see you from the corner of my eye. I try to conduct some business, you are there. What do you want, Benjamin Vecchio?” Vano kept his hands in his pockets. “Or should I call you Benjamin Rios?”

  “Do you think you’re shocking? I remember you from Kashgar.” Ben rubbed his throat. He cut his eyes at the two vampires. “I thought the Hazar protected guests of the kamvasa.”

  “Ah, but you are not a guest,” Vano said. “As I said before, you are hired help. A servant. An errand boy for my brother.”

  “Sure.” Ben knew Vano was trying to goad him by pricking his ego. “Whatever you say. I was also invited. Poshani hospitality doesn’t extend to those invited to travel with them?”

  The vampires with Vano looked uncomfortable.

  Vano ignored the question completely. “Why were you following me?”

  Ben frowned. “I haven’t been following you.”

  It was clear Vano hadn’t expected Ben to lie through his teeth.

  The iron control on his face faltered. “You have been.”

  Ben laughed a little. “I mean… it’s a pretty small camp. It’s hard not to run into people.”

&nb
sp; “I saw you following me.”

  “Dude, a few days ago I didn’t even know who you were.” Over many years of being bullied by stronger opponents, Ben had realized that antagonists who attacked his ego usually had the most fragile egos themselves. “Just ’cause you saw me around doesn’t mean I was following you.”

  “I saw you last night.”

  “I was around, but I wasn’t following you.” Ben glanced between the two vampires with Vano as if to say “Are you hearing this too?”

  “When I was close by, you were watching,” he said. “Waiting.”

  “For what?” Ben scratched the beard he’d been growing out. “I mean… wait, there’s a thing happening, right?”

  “A thing?”

  “The festival?” Ben stepped forward and leaned into his Southern California surfer voice a little. It nearly guaranteed whoever was talking with him would dismiss him and think he was an idiot. “Like, that’s why everyone is here, right?” Ben looked between all three of them. “You and Kezia and Radu. There’s like a party or something, right?”

  Vano was clearly irritated. His smooth face was wrinkled into an expression that said he’d caught a whiff of something foul. “Stay out of my business and keep to the silly amusements my brother plans for his guests. The festival is not for you.”

  “Interesting.”

  “What is?”

  Ben stepped closer and used his height to subtly look down on Vano. “My uncle said you were smart.”

  Vano’s men laughed and Vano smirked. “You should run along now, young Vecchio. Listen to your uncle.”

  Ben returned the smile and let the “surfer dude” fall from his voice. “Yes, very interesting.”

  Vano’s gaze sharpened. “If I were you, I’d be careful to not become involved in things that could get you or your friends killed.”

  Ben had been keeping a strict leash on his amnis, but he allowed it to break free and the wind went wild. It knocked both of Vano’s men off their feet and made his own ears pop.

  Vano stood in place, but Ben saw him leaning. It was taking effort for the other vampire to remain standing.

  “Right.” Ben walked past Vano. “You really think my friends are afraid of you? That’s a take. Not a good one, but it’s a take.”

  Ben strode away from the scheming little asshole vampire, giving the man his back. He’d observed enough vampire body language to know that Vano would take it as the insult it was. You worry me so little, I’ll turn my back to you.

  Ben wasn’t afraid, but he was irritated. Not only did he have a red spot on his neck, he thought he might be bleeding.

  It didn’t matter; he was focused on one thing: René in Tenzin’s trailer minutes after sunset, clearly in the middle of something Ben had interrupted.

  What. The. Fuck?

  Ben nearly ran into René when he turned the corner. He brought himself up short, and it took every ounce of control he had not to twist René’s head from his neck.

  Pop. It would come off like a champagne cork. He could even throw it into the air in celebration. Look, everyone! The annoying little bastard is finally, really dead.

  “Before you say anything—”

  Ben’s fist shot out and slammed into René’s smug mouth.

  “What the hell is wrong with you, Vecchio?” René’s lip was bloody, but he wasn’t on the ground. “You think this is going to impress her?”

  “I don’t care,” Ben said. “I really don’t. I’ve been wanting to do this for years.” His left fist curled up and into René’s solar plexus.

  The vampire’s breath collapsed and his body folded in two. He flew through the air, fifty yards from the clearing, and crashed into a large oak tree.

  That felt good. Ben cocked his neck from one side to the other, releasing the tension that had gripped him since he’d heard René’s voice on the other end of the line. “You just don’t get it, do you?” He flew over and landed into a walk. “She thinks you’re annoying.”

  René snarled and pressed his hands to the ground.

  The earth reached up and tossed Ben from his feet. He stumbled for a second before he picked his legs up and floated through the air. “Nice trick.”

  “Yes, I have a few. Make sure you ask Tenzin about the rest.”

  Ben wasn’t in reach of René, but he forced the heel of his hand out, aiming for the chin, and the air speared out and snapped René’s neck back. Ben heard the crack and smiled.

  “You idiot!” René snarled. “I am trying to help you.”

  “Yeah? How’s that? You going to confess to being the thief?”

  “I’m not the thief.” René’s lip curled. “You think I’d be helping you if I was?”

  “I would not put it past you.” Ben hovered a few inches off the ground. “Why are you here?”

  He cocked his head at Ben as if to say Really?

  “Don’t tell me you don’t have a theory,” René said. “Tenzin—”

  “Tenzin thinks you’re amusing.”

  “I thought you said she thought I was annoying.”

  “That too.” Ben crossed his arms over his chest. “She has a soft spot for thieves.”

  René rolled his eyes. “Clearly.”

  “I’m not talking about me.”

  “No? You should be. Don’t pretend you’re anything more than a thief, Vecchio. A thief who comes from thieves. You think your uncle trades for the manuscripts he finds? You think he buys them from auctions? You think Tenzin gained her wealth through honest means and the pittance of an assassin’s wages?”

  “What does that have to do with—?”

  “You Vecchios think you are so noble.” René curled his lip. “You all think you’re better than the rest of us. You’re not.” René spat out his name. “Benjamin Vecchio, warrior of Penglai, Master of Iron in blah, blah, blah.” René lifted his hands and the earth rose under him. “What are you but another immortal’s creation? At least I make my own way in life and don’t trade on my family’s name.”

  “Because they’re sick of you?”

  “Because I have my own identity!” René thumped a fist against his chest. “Not theirs! Mine.”

  It was clearly a sore subject, but Ben still felt like making René bleed. “How attached are you to your left hand? Not your right—I know you’re right-handed—but just your left one?”

  One finger. Maybe two.

  A thumb? Ben felt the edge of the dagger sewn into his pants.

  “You think I’m the one who has the goblet?” René asked. “How naive are you? There is one master thief in this camp. One!” He laughed. “And it’s not me, Vecchio. It’s not you and it’s not me.”

  Okay, René probably had a point. The only master thief in the camp was Tenzin. Ben kept his hands in his pockets. “You think she stole it?”

  “Of course I do, and so do you. You’ve been holding her at arm’s length the entire time you’ve been here. Why?” René sneered. “Because you know the truth. You know Radu is right. If the temptation was there, she would take it. She’s playing with you! Tenzin plays by no rules but her own. She cares for none but her own. If the goblet was in front of her” —René reached out and made a grabbing motion— “she would take it without hesitation.”

  Hadn’t she said it the night before?

  I will never be human. I will never be tame.

  “You keep trying to make her an ordinary woman,” René said. “God knows why. She’s not ordinary, Vecchio. She’s a glorious monster, and she will never apologize for it. Why the hell do you think you’re in love with her?”

  “Fuck you.” Ben flew away, leaving René in the shadow of the oak tree. He wanted to punch René’s teeth in, but in his gut, he knew it wasn’t because the man was annoying or grating on his nerves.

  It was because he was right.

  31

  Ben was waiting in her caravan when Tenzin returned from the dinner hour in the clearing.

  “Hello.” She hadn’t been expecting him af
ter she heard him fighting with René, had instead assumed he’d brood for some time.

  “Hey.” Ben stretched his neck back and forth. “Ran into René on the way over here. Got sidetracked.”

  “Yes, I heard. Does he still have all his limbs?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “I did not have sex with him.” She was distracted, disturbed by the scent of Vano on Ben and the faint scent of Ben’s blood. Had he been wounded in his argument with René? Why did he smell like Vano? “René did stay in my trailer. He was telling me what he knows about Fynn, and the sunrise caught him.”

  “Yeah.” Ben wrinkled his nose. “I can smell him in here.”

  “He was in the bed.” She sat across from him at the table. “I haven’t slept in a while.”

  “Stating the obvious,” he muttered.

  He didn’t know. Ben could have no idea that she had been sleeping nearly an hour each day the first six months after they’d exchanged blood. Then it had faded away like a beautiful, forgotten dream. “Why are you here?”

  “You losing patience with me?” His shoulders were tense.

  “Is that what you’re trying to provoke?” Tenzin wasn’t losing patience, but she was mentally tired. “You want to fight.”

  She hadn’t been able to fully meditate with René in her trailer. She didn’t trust him that much, even if he was young and seemingly dead to the world. She knew she could rouse him if she needed him to be useful, which was the only reason she’d allowed him there in the first place.

  Meanwhile, her emotional parries with Ben had been trying. He frustrated her because he had no idea what he wanted. Normally that wouldn’t bother her, but for the first time in centuries—a thousand years, perhaps—she didn’t know what she wanted either.

  There was no balance between them anymore. Neither one could anchor the other, and she had come to depend on that anchor.

  She was a creature of the moment, trying to imagine a future that depended on another person’s whims. Ben could embrace her, offer his love again, and agree to pursue this strange new adventure with her. Tenzin was ready for that.