Changed

by Jean Booth

  “Sometimes anomalies skip generations. You must have had quite a few issues pop up over the millennia,” I observed.

  “You are right. Victoria was one of those anomalies. She was found by her maker four centuries ago, covered in the ash of her father’s barn, not a scratch or burn on her when she should have burned with her family, and no knowledge of what had happened. Her maker knew she was the product of a Pyro who had mated with a human, and converted her to vampire, a thing that was completely unnecessary. He was just entering his madness and turned her without consent. She was his prisoner for the first hundred years of her vampire life. When I destroyed her maker, I found her, along with a handful of others, chained in his basement.

  “Some had to be destroyed, having been driven mad by the years of torture. Victoria had been with him the longest and amazed me with her strength of mind. I sent the ones who could be saved to be trained by leaders of their rightful clan, or a clan that was similar, and took Victoria for my own.

  “In this bar, our safe haven, we can talk openly about what we are without fear of repercussion. Here, those who fear us, those who fear change, cannot hunt us.” His face grew dark and imposing.

  “Hunt?” I asked, knowing already that there were those that abhorred change—who would go to any lengths to prevent it. I shuddered again at the memory of my encounter with Stuart.

  “Certainly, in all the tales you’ve heard about vampires, you’ve also heard of the vampire hunter?”

  Vampires, Changers, necromancers, and hunters—it was all just so unbelievable. If Stephan had told me any of this three months ago, I’d have laughed in his face. Now that I’d changed, this world didn’t seem so unlikely.

  I lay in yet another lavish room, the last door on the right before Stephan’s, and contemplated everything we’d discussed. Tomorrow, he planned on teaching me about Changers. He’d promised to teach me, first and foremost, how to become one with my animal nature. It was an intimidating thought—to be trained by the most powerful being on earth. With all the events of the past few days swirling in my head, the floral canopy covering my bed eventually became a distraction that my eyes couldn’t handle anymore. I closed them, thinking it would be easier to follow my racing thoughts without the distraction of the ugly canopy top, and promptly fell asleep.

  The smell of Cleito’s garden filled my nose. Raif was sitting on the fountain’s bench, his head cradled in his hands. I walked toward him, my feet not making a sound on the soft grass. I didn’t want to disturb him, or interrupt the dream as I had last time. I wanted to hold him, to comfort him, and to be comforted in return. Every cell in my body hummed with the need to be in Raif’s arms. He looked up, his teal eyes staring straight into mine.

  “Raif,” I whispered, pain and desire making my voice thick. I was frustrated with the knowledge that he couldn’t hear or see me, but the way he started intently at the exact spot I was standing sent hope racing through my veins.

  “Natasha?” he whispered back. “Amada, I feel you.” Amazement coated his voice, an echo to the feelings I had at knowing he felt me there. He blinked and twin tears fell ‘from his eyes. My heart broke at his naked vulnerability. “I can’t see or hear you, but Atreyu thought you’d be back. He told me I’d just have to open myself to you, and I’d know when you were there. I still cannot believe he was right. I hope you can hear me. We haven’t had a Walker in our midst for a very long time, and Atreyu was uncertain as to what to expect with you. Amada, I’m so sorry.” His voice broke. “I never knew it would be like this, I swear.” His voice was so full of pain and regret; soft and thick as it was, I could barely hear him. He placed his head back in his hands, shoulders shaking as he wept.

  I closed the gap between us, kneeled at his feet, and rubbed his hair. I prayed with everything I had in me that somehow he could feel me and be comforted. I could feel the soft strands of his hair beneath my fingers, the resistance as my hand met his scalp, and the soft pressure as the strands flowed beneath my fingertips. He slowly looked up as my hand stroked down the long strands. His eyes swam with tears as he looked directly at me.

  “Natasha?”

  “I’m here. It’s okay. I love you. I’m not upset about what happened. I understand why you had to stay. What’s happening is bigger than the two of us. I’ll be fine until we’re together again. I love you.” I knew he couldn’t hear me; I spoke more to comfort myself. He smiled, the tears he was restraining released with the movement of his cheeks.

  “It’s true.” His voice held such awe. “I can feel your touch. I can even see your shimmer. You are so beautiful, even as a shade. Oh Amada, do you know what a treasure this is?” I nodded. I knew what a treasure it was to me to be able to see him; it calmed my soul. I could only assume he felt the same.

  “Can you hear me?” I asked, hope echoing from my heart and shattering as he shook his head.

  “I can’t hear you, my love, I can only see you. It’s enough, though, that I am able to look upon you for a moment. You need to know that I love you. I always will.” I returned his smile. Mine less haunted, I hoped.

  “I,” I said as I pointed to my eye. “Love.” I made a heart with my hands. “You,” I finished, pointing to him. The smile I was rewarded with was worth feeling like a total besotted idiot. We sat, grinning like lovesick fools, for an eternity, content just to be close to one another for the first time in months. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t physically there; we could see one another, feel the other’s touch. It was enough. I could have stayed locked like that forever. I didn’t care that it was only a dream, until he started frowning.

  “You’re fading,” he whispered. “I hope you’ve found someone to train with, someone who can teach you the things I cannot. I’m sorry it couldn’t be me. I honestly thought it would be better this way, that it wouldn’t hurt as much. Please find happiness in this life. All I want—”

  He disappeared suddenly. Everything disappeared. One second we were sitting in a lavish garden, the next: nothing. I was kneeling in a black void. I couldn’t even see the hand I waved in front of my face, or feel the currents of air I knew it should be displacing as I waved it back and forth.

  “Hello?” I called, my voice echoing and muted at the same time. I could hear other muted voices but couldn’t see or understand anything they were saying. I couldn’t even tell how close they were, or if they were dangerous. I could feel my heart thudding in my chest as I strained my eyes to see something—anything—in the darkness.

  I didn’t know how I’d ended up in this place, or even where it was. I had the desire to run, but was frozen, crouched on my knees as I had been with Raif. Closing my eyes didn’t help; it was just as dark as when they were open. I felt as if there were things all around, not quite living, but not quite dead.

  I wrapped my arms around my body, cursing myself and desperately wishing I could wake up. A keening noise started in the back of my throat, and I tried to stop the scream I could feel trying to escape. Through the muted, echoing noises, I could hear a faint voice.

  “Tasha? Tasha. Follow me. Hear my voice. Dear Poseidon, let her hear me! Tasha!” The familiar voice paused, waiting. A few curses sprang forth from his lips; then he paused again. I could visualize him gathering his thoughts before resuming his chant. I leapt from my crouch, running blindly toward the voice, ignoring all the other noises that were starting to grow in intensity and volume.

  “Stephan?” My eyes flew open. His magnesium irises were inches from my face, concern pouring off him in waves.

  “Thank Poseidon!” His arms wrapped around me, crushing me against his chest, his heart thundering beneath the thin cotton of his shirt.

  “What happened? What are you doing here?” My voice rasped against his firm chest, overused as if I’d been screaming for a very long time.

  “How long have you been Dream-Walking? Did you even know what you were doing?” His voice held anger, concern, and a hint of fear, all mixed with awe. I knew he felt my shrug yet did
n’t release me from his embrace. “You, my darling, must be one of the most powerful Dream-Walkers I’ve ever encountered. It explains how you were able to find Atlantis and why you’re such a strong Changer. John came to get me when you started screaming and he couldn’t wake you. Has this happened before?” He leaned away from me, placing my shoulders firmly back against my pillows, relief etched on the planes of his face. His excitement at discovering I had another ability almost masked the tightness of his muscles, but I could smell his concern permeating the room. His muscles were slowly relaxing now that I was awake and talking.

  I noticed John in the corner of the room. His face was as white as the sheet he was clutching in his hands. He had a tentative grin on his face. He, too, was trying to hide his stress from me. Something bad must have almost happened for them to be so afraid. I tried to ignore the delicious smell of fear they were so desperately trying to cover.

  “Thanks, John. I don’t quite know where I was for a minute there.” My voice was still scratchy and soft. I cleared it as I smiled at him, hoping to further ease his tension before turning back to Stephan. “I used to have strange dreams as a kid that would seem real, but I could never quite remember them until later when I would have a strong case of déjà vu. I always ignored them, and eventually, they went away. When I was flying in yesterday, I had another strange dream. I can’t really remember it, but I remember that it was unlike any dream I’ve had before. Just now, though, I was in Cleito’s garden with Raif.” Stephan’s molten eyes raged at the mention of Raif’s name. “You know, you don’t have to be such a jerk. He hurts just as badly as I do. He could feel me while I was there! He talked to me—begged for my forgiveness. He and I both know I’m not a delicate flower to be broken by the things I’ve encountered. So, I think it’s time you tell me what it is that you two are keeping from me.” He tried to turn away from me, but I took his face in my hands. My head spun with the effort it took to lean forward. I ignored it.

  “No! You’ve told me so much already, and I think I deserve to hear the rest. Spill it.” I fell back against my pillows, arms crossed in frustration. I felt awful. My entire body was weak and sore. I didn’t understand why I felt so miserable, but I’d be damned if I asked him that before I found out the secret he didn’t want to tell me. He glared back at me, testing my resolve. Our gazes were locked in silent battle until he finally relented. His whole body slumped in defeat. I saw a brief burst of pain cross his eyes a second before he turned his head away from me. His voice was tight when he finally spoke.

  “It should not be my place to speak of this to you.” Anger crept into his tone but never reached his eyes as he continued, “I will tell you, but now is not the time. Give me this next month to teach you what is necessary for your survival, and I will tell you what Raifuku should have told you before you agreed to mating. You have my word that on the night of the Hunter’s Moon, I will tell you.” He looked back at me, unable to completely hide the pain under his mask of indifference. I nodded. It was the whispered, pain-filled voice that had me agreeing to his terms, not the words. “Now, perhaps we should eat. You look so pale I’m uncertain how you’re still able to sit upright.” I allowed him to change the subject, mostly because I really was starving. He turned to John, who was so quiet I’d forgotten he was even there. “Please bring something full of protein for our guest and the usual for me.”

  John scampered out of the room, leaving me with an ancient vampire sitting on my bed. I felt my face redden at the thought of what could happen if we were free to explore the undercurrents of tension between us. I remembered the stolen bite when we first met and felt my entire body join my face in a flush. He turned back to me, his silver eyes crinkled slightly, almost as if he was amused by my wandering mind. I had a horrible thought.

  “Please tell me you can’t read minds,” I whispered. It was his turn to blush.

  “Not all are able, but those who have honed the talent can pick a stray vibration, thought, or feeling from others. It isn’t so much reading your thoughts as being highly perceptive. Scents alter with each emotion. There are small vibrations and color changes that can alert one to certain thoughts. If you were around your mate longer than you were able to be, you’d have been able to project thoughts just as you do emotions. It’s like you’re hearing what they’re thinking; you’re so in tune with each other. I cannot believe you’re a Walker.” His change of subject was abrupt, but the awe in his voice was intriguing.

  “Why?”

  “When the islands sank there were few survivors from Melic. Dream-Walking is truly a rare gift. Those who possess it have an easier time with telepathy. Dream-Walking is performed by using mental pathways that are still mostly undiscovered by the scientists of today; we’d always just accepted the fact that it could be done, not worried at the hows or whys of it. As you age and fine-tune this ability, you’ll discover variations of ways it can be used. You must be careful though. The Dream-Walkers of old spoke of the thrill of experiences they had achieved while Walking. The incessant desire to know everything, coupled with the actual ability to achieve that knowledge through the dreams of others is heady. During our training, the elders stressed upon Atreyu and myself to beware the Void.” I shuddered involuntarily.

  “What’s the Void?” I whispered. I wanted to be able to see Raif without having to worry about being sucked into that vacuum of nothingness again.

  “No one was ever certain what it was exactly. We only know that of those who entered, few ever returned. The pull it has on a Walker is akin to the need I have for blood. Yet, it’s a place of death. Many Walkers of the past became lost in the Void, leaving soulless empty shells of people at home. Eventually, the body died, but we have no idea what happens to the lost souls. It’s very important for you to only Dream-Walk when I’m with you. I can help you travel and return before you reach the Void.” His hand was caressing mine absentmindedly giving me comfort against the terror of his words.

  I could have told him what happens to the lost souls. They’re trapped forever in the emptiness, calling out to others who enter after them. I was afraid to tell him I knew, that I’d been to the void and returned. I kept shocking him with my abilities, I wasn’t certain either one of us could handle another shock.

  We were interrupted by a soft knock on the door followed by John entering with the most delicious breakfast I’d ever smelled. My beast rose with the succulent scents wafting toward us. I salivated, growling in anticipation. Stephan grinned at me.

  “I see it’s been a while since you were fed properly. That changes now. As a Changer your body needs more protein. The more you eat, the less likely you will change at inopportune times.”

  I was barely paying attention to his lecture. All thought of conversation left with the introduction of those delicious smells. There was a platter of eggs, bacon, and half a honey baked ham, glazed to perfection. There was enough food to feed four healthy men, and I could have eaten it all. Stephan took the tray from John and chuckled as he placed it on my lap.

  “Enjoy, miña mascota.” He raised his goblet to me in salutation and together, we ate.

  Two hours later, I was clean, stuffed, and waiting by the bar for Stephan to teach me all about changing. It was almost dark, seeing as I’d slept the night and most of the day away. While I waited, my mind wandered to the man I was waiting for. Stephan didn’t seem like any vampire I’d read about; he seemed almost normal. His manner of speaking sometimes reverted to a time before now, a subtle reminder to me that he’d been alive for centuries. To anyone who didn’t know, his manner of speaking was just an endearing quirk.

  A sudden image of Victoria on the boat when we went diving came to me. She’d been covered by layers of fabric that effectively hid her from the sun. I wondered if Stephan would have more or fewer limitations than Victoria since he was so much older than her. I wondered if being a pure-blooded Atlantean made any difference from the vampires who are created.

  I closed my eyes and tried
to clear my head before my first lesson. I breathed deeply, meditating on my beast’s anticipation.

  “Calming yourself before the hunt, miña mascota?” Stephan whispered behind me. I jumped and, much to my embarrassment, squealed. He chuckled in response, his hand finding mine easily, leading me out of the club to his car.

  He had a sleek silver convertible that matched his eyes perfectly. The top was down, revealing a beige leather interior that still smelled new. He held the door open for me as I slid into the soft bucket seats. I practically purred with contentment. I love convertibles.

  He slid into the driver’s seat and sped off into the Miami traffic toward the Everglades. The roads were completely dark by the time we reached the glades, civilization lost miles ago with the setting sun. My beast and I were in heaven. The sounds and smells intrigued our senses, and the wind whipped my hair into a tornado of tangles. My laughter rang out, the only sound of humanity next to the purr of the engine.

  He pulled off onto a small dirt road that was almost completely hidden by the foliage. The road twisted, winding almost upon itself at various times, the branches of the trees missing the car by inches. When we finally pulled to a stop, I could only gape at the scene in front of me.

  Ivy scaled the grand old house in front of us. The white paint had peeled back in spots from years of neglect, and the hurricane shutters flopped haphazardly about the windows. The broad, round pillars were faded in misery. I felt a chill run down my spine at the ancient atmosphere in this small clearing.

  “What is this place?” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze from the beauty before me. Moonlight filtered through the branches surrounding us, giving the mansion an eerie glow. Crickets and frogs chirped their nightly songs around the corner where I could barely make out a pond. I could smell the pungent water through the misty night air. It was heaven.