“Hello, darlings,” I greeted softly, gaining the unwavering protective stare of the little girl. “My name is Lavinia, and this is Jameson. We promise you’re safe now.”
The boy peered at me from behind his sister.
“My name is Maggie,” the girl offered, her bright eyes meeting mine. “My brother’s name is Timothy.”
“You both have very lovely names,” I complimented. “Would you like to come up with us? We’ve got food and some warm beds just your size.”
Timothy peaked around Maggie’s dress at the mention of food, and I could hear his little stomach growl with hunger, making me wonder how long it had been since he had eaten anything.
“Ma warned us before the bad people showed that if we were ever bitten, then we couldn’t eat what we wanted, no matter how bad we wanted it,” Maggie confessed, and my heart broke.
“I know of something that you can eat.” Jameson’s voice was deep and full of concern.
Maggie shook her head at us. “Ma said that if I ate, I would hurt people. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Her lower lip trembled.
“Jameson is like you, Maggie,” I offered, trying to think of what would ease her mind. “He’s found something to eat that doesn’t hurt anyone.”
Hunger flitted across her face as she showed her teeth, and I worried for Timothy, but she somehow managed to push the hunger aside. It happened so fast, I wondered if I had seen it at all.
I held my hand out to her. “Come with us. We’ll get you cleaned up and into new clothes. Then, we’ll find some food.”
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking between Jameson and me. When her lower lip trembled, I knew that she was trying hard to be strong, to be the big sister and protect her brother. She was too young to have such a burden placed on her, but her strength and bravery spoke to me.
Maggie could have given in to her hunger and attacked her brother, but her love for him was greater than her hunger. Finally, she placed her small hand in mine, and we led the way out of there and into the cool night air. I took them onto our ship, while Jameson left to get the little girl some animal blood.
A short time later, he knocked on the door of the room I had chosen for them. He had a canteen in his hand, and Solomon stood behind him holding another one. I moved out of the way to let them into the room. Maggie and Timothy were sitting beside each other on the bed, dressed in sleep clothes that Alice had pillaged from one of the empty houses. Solomon paused in the doorway as he took in Maggie’s red eyes.
Alice arrived before I could shut the door, holding a plate of food and a cup of water for Timothy. After taking it from her, I thanked her, shut the door, and returned to my previous spot on the bed. We didn’t want her to stay in the room until Maggie had fed properly; otherwise, she’d be a temptation too hard to resist.
When I handed Timothy the food, he crawled to the other corner of the bed and began to eat. I hated that he was so afraid, but I understood and wouldn’t push him.
Jameson knelt in front of Maggie, whispering softly to her before handing her the canteen. She unscrewed the lid and smelled it. Her face scrunched in repulsion, but she took a sip anyway. After the first taste, she drained the contents with several deep swallows. Once it was empty, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, accepting the second canteen from Solomon, which she drank considerably slower.
“Maggie, my name is Solomon, and I want to ask you a couple questions.”
Maggie finished her mouthful before turning her red eyes to him.
“I know who you are. The scary man said I might meet you,” she whispered, and my heart rose to my throat. “He said if I got the chance to see you, I should tell you that he knows where you are. He’s getting closer.”
Chapter Thirteen
Once Maggie and Timothy were asleep, I slipped into the hall where Jameson and Solomon waited for me. Jameson wrapped an arm around my shoulder, but it did little to stem the emotions warring inside me. I was horrified that Prime would turn a child and kill innocent people. Yet, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
My stomach turned at what the kids must have witnessed on the ship, as their family and friends were turned or murdered. I hadn’t believed Prime to be that dreadful of a person, but I wondered if believing I was dead had snapped something inside of him. My body shuddered as I let the blame sink in, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
“The vampires on the beach confirmed it was Prime who attacked their ship,” Solomon offered, running a hand through his hair.
“The older boy who spoke to you said the kids stayed locked in the room we found them in. Maggie wouldn’t let any of them enter,” Jameson added.
Drying the remaining tears from my face, I straightened. “She’s a strong girl. My heart hurts for the life she’ll have to live now, forever a child, but Prime will pay for this.”
Solomon leaned against the wall. “I’ve been a thorn in Prime’s side for years now, but he’s never tried this hard to find me before, because everything I’ve done thus far has been insignificant. Something must have happened for him to react this way.”
More guilt assaulted me at Solomon’s words. It aligned with my previous thoughts that Prime was acting out because of our escape. “He thinks I’m dead. Whatever his plans were, they’ve changed. Maybe we should let him know I didn’t die.”
“Absolutely not,” Jameson snarled.
“He’s right. We have the upper hand right now. Our team is growing, and there is no reason for you to be near him until we’re ready to act. Prime doesn’t know I spent weeks with these people. It is why Maggie’s mom knew how to keep her child from feeding, and how the seven others have contained their thirst. We can use them against Prime.”
I wasn’t sure that was a great idea. There was only so much Solomon could have taught them in those weeks leading up to their departure. I didn’t trust the men and wasn’t ready to team up with them just yet.
“If you want to finish training them, you’re more than welcome to, but I don’t trust them. Their first instinct when they saw us was to attack. Jameson can train me while you work with them.”
“Very well.” Solomon nodded, then walked away.
It occurred to me then that I might have upset him, but I didn’t dwell on it. Too many people I had encountered had other agendas, and if Prime had a hand in turning those men, I wouldn’t put it past any of them to think Prime was the better bet, which meant they could be working against us.
Opening the door, I checked in on the kids. They were still asleep, and I let out a relieved sigh. When I closed it and turned back to Jameson, Alice and Henry had joined him.
“How are they doing?” Henry asked.
“All things considered, they’re doing well,” Jameson answered. “The boy is skittish, but the girl is handling the transition better than any adult I’ve seen. Her heart is full of love for her brother, and that will go a long way in making sure she can resist hurting another.”
“If you think Maggie would be comfortable with it, we can take them in,” Alice offered. “The two of you don’t exactly have time to care for them, and I wouldn’t mind something more to do than being in the galley or training.”
Henry nodded, his eyes staying on Alice as his face softened. It was clear he would do anything for her, and it made me so happy that they had each other.
“That would help out a lot,” Jameson admitted.
“Yes, thank you both. Just be careful, and don’t hesitate to restrain Maggie if needed. She can handle being locked up for a short period. We can’t handle losing either of you.”
I hated thinking about a child that way, but she was no longer just a child. She was also a vampire, and we needed to remember that. I would protect Maggie just as I would Nettie, but I wouldn’t put others I loved in danger.
“Lavinia is right. We can’t be too cautious with anyone who came off that ship. We don’t know what Prime threatened them with, or if they have plans other than running from
the monster who turned them.” Jameson’s hold tightened on my hand.
Alice and Henry decided to stay in the room with the kids for the night, while Jameson and I headed back to the deck. The sky had cleared, letting the moon shine brightly over the ocean. Leaning against the rail, I took a moment to myself while Jameson spoke with the crew.
After he was done, Jameson made his way to me. We stood there in silence, enjoying the calm of the night. Even though things weren’t going as planned, we still had each other, and that was all that mattered.
My feelings for Jameson had blossomed from heart flutters to overwhelming need in the last couple of months. I knew I would do anything for him and him for me. As my mind and heart sorted through the emotions, I knew exactly what I wanted to do next. We weren’t promised tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure Jameson knew exactly how I felt. I had already admitted it to myself, and it was time to say it out loud.
I turned around and pressed my hands to Jameson’s chest as he gazed down at me. His azure eyes pierced mine, making me feel like he could already see what I wanted to say. His fingers stroked my cheek as he leaned down to press his lips to mine.
I kissed him back briefly before pulling back. If I didn’t say it now, then I might not get the chance.
“I love you, Jameson. I have for a while now, and you probably already know, but I needed to say it, so there was no doubt.”
His smile melted my heart even further. “I love you, too. We don’t need words to know how we feel. Your actions speak louder than anything else. I would have said it sooner, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I knew it in my heart, and that’s all that mattered.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I let Jameson pick me up and carry me back to our room. He was partially right. We may not need words to know how we feel, but after hearing him say he loved me, I was happier than ever. I would cherish that moment for the rest of my life.
The following morning, Jameson and I checked in on Alice and Henry. The kids had already been fed and were doing well. Maggie had to be calmed down in the middle of the night when she woke up in a strange place, but apparently Henry handled it like a seasoned parent. Thankfully, she was still in early transition, and we didn’t have to deal with the full affects. I wasn’t sure how we would handle it when that time came, though.
After that, we went in search of Solomon. I was curious to know what else he had discovered from the new vampires, and if any of it would be helpful or believable. When Jameson had been with them the day before, none of them were very forthcoming except the older boy who didn’t seem to know a whole lot. He was mostly concerned with the children.
Solomon was already headed our way when we found him, walking through town with a stormy face.
“What happened?” Jameson asked.
“Prime threatened each of them with fates worse than death if they told me anything other than he was the one to turn them. None of them wanted to talk, since there are so few of us and a lot more pirates and vampires with Prime, but I finally convinced them that I would continue to train the group and teach them how to protect themselves.”
“What did they say after that?” I asked, impatient for Solomon to get to the point. He was visibly upset, and I needed to know why.
“Prime is going to chase after the other ships, and then he is headed here. We have three, maybe four, days to flee in the opposite direction, or prepare for a fight.”
I was hesitant to believe the information, but it sounded a lot like something Prime would do. We couldn’t ignore the threat, but running away didn’t sit right with me. The stronger my vampire side became, the more I felt the need to act. I no longer wanted to find safety and hide away. I wanted to stop the evil from spreading.
My eyes met Jameson’s and he nodded. He knew what I wanted without me needing to say the words, and I was grateful to have his support.
“We need to stay and fight. They might have the numbers, but Prime will be thrown off when he sees me alive. It could be just the distraction we need to beat him.” My chest tightened as I waited for Solomon to respond.
“Are you sure?” he asked, speaking more to Jameson than me, which made me want to punch him for the slight. I didn’t need men to make decisions for me. I was perfectly capable of knowing what was best for myself.
“If that’s what Lavinia wants, then yes, we’re sure. She has good intuition, and I trust her to make the right call. If you’d rather run, then we understand and won’t try to stop you.”
Jameson wrapped his arm around my waist, and I smiled at Solomon, once again waiting for his response as he glanced between the two of us. He thought Jameson would want to protect me, but it backfired. Jameson believed in me, and that meant more to me than anything in the world.
“If that’s what you both want, then we will stay. I’ll give the group of vampires the choice to leave in the same boat they arrived in, or train with us and fight. We won’t force anyone to face Prime and his men, so I expect you to give your crew the same courtesy.”
“Of course,” I responded. “We will begin training this afternoon, once we have spoken with our group.”
After finalizing the time and place, Jameson and I parted ways from Solomon. I raced Jameson back to the ship, but he won by less than a second.
“One day, I’ll beat you,” I heaved as we walked back onto the deck.
“I have no doubt about that.” He winked at me and it stole my breath.
We found Alice and Henry first, informing them of what we had learned once we got them outside of the room and away from the kids.
“What about Maggie and Timothy? We don’t want to leave you, but we can’t risk them being caught in the crossfire again. It’s not fair to them,” Henry said. The kids already had him wrapped around their fingers. It was sweet, and I completely understood his concerns.
“You are right, and as soon as we speak with the crew, we shall decide who will leave and when. We wanted to let the two of you know first, before the news traveled.”
Alice nodded. “We appreciate that. We’ll catch up tonight and decide then. Count us in for the training while we’re here. Henry and I can take turns being out there with you guys and staying here with the children. They might even want to come out and watch if that’s fine. I can tell Timothy is getting antsy being cooped up.”
I glanced at Jameson, wondering if it was a good idea, and let him make the decision.
“Once we’re all set up, I don’t see why they can’t join us. Maggie has done well with the two of you. If she was going to have any problems containing herself, I think it would have already surfaced. Just make sure to bring blood with you when you leave the room, in case she needs it.”
Alice beamed at Jameson’s words. When we finished with them, we called a crew meeting. Some members of the night shift were still sleeping, so we only met with half of them, but the responses were what we expected. These were Ruth’s people; they were hunters at heart even if they didn’t all have daggers.
“We’re in this together,” Robert assured. “They might have more numbers, but those pirates have no proper training. They can’t best us, no matter how many they bring.”
“I agree, we can handle this,” William added.
My gaze traveled to the others in the room, and nods went all around the table. “Very well. We’ll get things ready, and when the night crew wakes, we can fill them in. You guys can join us first.”
Jameson stood from the table, and I followed. There had been a small part of me that feared some of them might not want to stay, but now our problem would be letting some of them know they would have to leave. We couldn’t send Alice and Henry away with the kids without a team. A few of them would have to go as well.
There was a clearing beyond the forest that Solomon told us to use. We collected swords and daggers, along with the few guns we had on the ship. Jameson set up the fighting area and marked the space off with oversized rocks. While he did that, I found targets and set t
hem up on a fallen log.
Once the training space was situated, we headed back into town. Everything went quickly with my increased speed and strength, and I realized Jameson had been holding back for months. I had thought that maybe because he hadn’t drunk human blood, he wasn’t as fast as the other vampires we had encountered. Yet, now that I was his equal, he showed me what he was capable of. He tossed the boulders around the field as if they were nothing more than sacks of potatoes.
When we arrived back at the ship to check on the crew, Solomon met us out front. His face was grim, and I wanted to scream. We didn’t need more bad news.
“Is something wrong?” Jameson asked.
“The vampires aren’t doing as good as I hoped. None of them want to leave yet, but I don’t know that they’ll be much help against Prime. They can’t control their thirst without growing angry. Animal blood isn’t soothing the monsters inside, and they don’t seem to have a desire to be pure. Most of them lost loved ones on that ship, and they don’t have anything to fight for like you two do.”
I wanted to say, “I told you so”, but I refrained. Solomon didn’t need that, nor did he deserve it. He was doing his best, and I couldn’t fault him for Prime’s undertaking.
“What if I speak with them? It’s been a while since you’ve been in their shoes, and I might be able to relate to them more. Maybe help them find something worth fighting for,” Jameson offered.
My eyes bulged. “Absolutely not. I don’t like that idea.”
Jameson’s face softened. “They can’t hurt me, Lavinia. I promise it will be fine. If we can’t get them to calm down and help us, then we might as well leave now. Would you rather do that?”
I shook my head in frustration. I didn’t like those options: leave or put Jameson at risk. “If one of them puts a scratch on you, I can’t be held responsible for what my vampire side decides to do in retaliation.”
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