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Soborgne dropped into sleep before the night had even begun for Matteo and Jenda. Jenda leapt up and began checking her friend for some unknown wound. Panic filled her voice as she spoke to Matteo in breathless little gasps of anxiety. Laughing quietly, Matteo reached for her and pulled the worrisome girl into his arms. “It’s the time change dear. I didn’t want Soborgne to know but it is already daylight where we are going. I was afraid my little solution might bother her a bit.”
Confused and still worried, Jenda pulled as far away as Matteo would allow and looked up into his eyes. Maybe she was searching for reassurance; maybe she was searching for malice. Whatever she was looking for all she could find was love, concern, and gentle humor. “Okay darling, what is it that you have planned that my adventurous, comatose friend here wouldn’t approve of?” Though she tried to hide it, the panic still added a sharp edge to her voice.
Matteo kissed her forehead and smiled wickedly, showing all of his sparkling white teeth. Even now, after the change, his tiny fangs still sent shivers down Jenda’s spine. Before it was fear but now, something else lay just beneath the natural instincts. Something she couldn’t explain and didn’t want to think about. A little electric charge that made her automatically moisten her lips with her tongue and tilt her head up to receive a kiss, or a bite.
“My dear little Baobhan Sith, we have to transport our friend through the sun without injury.” Matteo put a definite emphasis on the words our friend, trying to illustrate to Jenda that he was now as much of an ally to Soborgne as she herself was. “Now can you think of anything that we could do to transport a seemingly dead body from an aircraft to a car without notice?”
“Oh no! No, absolutely not! You can’t mean it, Matteo!” Jenda’s high-pitched refusals drew the lovely little flight attendant into the room.
With an unkind look to Jenda and a much friendlier smile to Matteo she said, “Shall I bring it in now, sir? We shall be landing within the hour.”
Jenda stood wide-eyed and mouth agape. He couldn’t be serious. She could not endure this, allow this, or even consider this. He was being absurd. There must be another way. There just had to be. Soborgne, sadly, would have probably gotten a kick out of it. She would have loved the idea of playing dead for real but Jenda could feel her stomach churn as the pint of blood she had consumed threatened to resurface all over the lush burgundy carpet of the jet.
Matteo still held Jenda within the unbreakable circle of his arms while she struggled to tell him how wrong, how very wrong, this was. He merely smiled indulgently at her. “Sweetheart, you must calm down and think this through. It is the only way to transport her safely. She will not awaken until the sun sets so there is no fear of her being afraid. Even if the plane crashed, she would merely awaken at dusk, throw off the lid, and walk away. In fact, she would be safer than you and I because fire could not reach her.”
Jenda was calming down but she still felt uneasy about consigning her friend to such a thing. Her stomach felt as if it was churning faster than the jet engines. Looking into Matteo’s eyes and hearing his soothing voice finally did the trick. “Fine, if you think it’s best then you can do it. I will not watch and I will not help in anyway.” She managed to squirm free of his embrace and went to the farthest corner and spun the captains chair to face the windows where she could see that the sky indeed had begun to show the signs of dawn.
Despite her refusal to watch Jenda couldn’t help but peek out the corner of her eye to see Matteo removing a sheet from the top of a long rectangle shape. It had been there the entire night but in their excitement and frenzy, no one had noticed. Jenda said a small thanks for the fact that it was black and not silver like Soborgne’s original coffin had been. She couldn’t have taken seeing that again.
Matteo gently lifted Soborgne’s body into the casket and shut the lid quietly. His mind was on a million things. He had not meant to upset Jenda so badly, he would need her faith, strength, and loyalty at its strongest if his fears were confirmed. He wished he could remember the words to the prophecy. It had been years ago that he had heard them. In a foreign land, he had stumbled through darkness until he had been given hope. He had known no fear when the Ancient One had spoken the words to him before being claimed by the fire. Now in just a few short hours he hoped to learn the truth.
A part of him wished for this to all be over. He had walked the earth for a very long time searching for his love and his destiny. He would have little chance of surviving the battle but even dying would be better than waiting. Especially now that he had met Jenda, and he knew that she was the one true love he had always awaited. He had followed the Ancient One’s instructions blindly, out of loyalty to a self-proclaimed martyr. He had held such beliefs in life so he would do the same in death. When they reached Budapest, he knew he would have to share all these secrets with Soborgne and Jenda and he could only hope that they could believe in him as he once believed in his creator.
Turning away from dark thoughts and a worrisome future, Matteo sought out his little, red headed beauty. She was still curled up like a child in the chair, facing the window with the most delicate and sumptuous pout. The way her tiny rosebud mouth pursed and the full lower lip stuck out just a bit made him swarm with desire. He wanted to kiss her until her lips were swollen, wanted to take her in his arms and crush her body to his own. Unfortunately, this was neither the time nor the place. Sighing a heavy sigh and wondering if he would ever be able to pledge himself to this woman/child that he loved, Matteo settled for taking her hand in his and watching the sun rise from the little window.
Jenda squeezed his hand lightly. He could tell she was still upset but he was mistaken at what the reasons were. When she looked at him, there was coldness to her usually warm green eyes and he could sense that she was concentrating on him very hard. To his surprise, when he tried to scan her mind, an image there was very familiar. The image of the chain and cuff that had tied her to the bed was imprinted over a black door. Her words shattered his concentration and he nearly jerked away when she asked, “Matteo, why did you help Belle kidnap us?”
He hung his head and took a deep breath. He had known this would come and he was surprised it had not come sooner. He could not tell her now. He must wait until they arrived in Budapest. His questions must be answered before he could tell Jenda the truth about himself and his reasons for assisting Belle. “Darling, I know what you must think. I know how it may seem. Please, please trust in me. I know I have not given you much reason to do so but I swear to you that I will explain once we have reached our destination. If you do not forgive me my misdeeds after we have had that chance to talk, I will leave you to better company and I will go. Just please give me that one favor and wait to ask those questions for when I can answer them properly.” His eyes were pleading and pain distorted his handsome face. He clutched at Jenda’s hand if it were the only thing real in the world.
Jenda looked dismayed. Her mouth turned down slightly at the corners and her eyes softened a little though the coldness did not fade completely. Her voice was low but all the sweetness was gone from it. She never raised it beyond the quiet calmness that her whole body seemed to take on but that was possibly the most disconcerting part. “You wouldn’t dare leave us. How could you, you boorish, evil monster? How could you even think that is what I would want? What is wrong with you?” The harsh questions battered him one right after another. “You would think that I was so shallow, so childish, so much of a bitch. I am in love with you Matteo. No matter what brought us together or how it comes to be nothing, I mean nothing, will ever make me want you to walk away from me. I don’t even know your last name, or where you come from, or what you were like before you became a vampire but I know I love you.”
By the time she reached the last words, she was in his arms. Matteo kissed her repeatedly and she met each kiss with one of her own. They both cried and the tears meshed, they were united by their own fears, joy, and love. Matteo whispered softly, �
�Angelleti. My name is Matteo Valente Angelleti.”
Jenda began to laugh. It was a soft and joyous sound. “You silly vampire, I couldn’t care less if your name was Matteo Smith. I love you!”
Matteo began to laugh as well; he knew that somehow things would be okay. “And I love you too, Jenda Myer, I love you too.”
Reborn
Requiem of Humanity—Book Two
Catherine Stovall
1
Jenda sat back in her seat, watching the seat belt sign flash repeatedly in the front of the plane. Outside her window, the first sight of Budapest came into view. She contemplated the events of the last few months. She could hardly believe she and Soborgne were once carefree, just two girls enjoying their senior year. She thought juggling boys, homework, and shopping sprees was hard to maintain. That was all before she became a vampire.
She rolled the word around in her head with all the other strangeness. The reality of her new life made Jenda feel as if she were free falling from a high cliff with no lifeline. She felt no revulsion for the blood she drank, of being the heir to a morbid legacy, or for her sharp canines. She did fear what the future would bring, and the questions that were still unanswered.
The sound of Matteo murmuring softly into a cell phone reached her ears and broke into her thoughts. She listened as he told the human that he and his young wife would be bringing the body of her little sister to rest in the blessed earth of their ancestors. As he tried to ensure her that every aspect of their journey would be covered, his jaw clenched and unclenched with stress. The simplest mistake could end in death for them.
Jenda’s eyes drifted to rest on the black coffin where her best friend’s body lay. Her eyes stung and a painful knot formed in her throat as she fought away the memories. She knew her friend would rise with the moon, but having thought the girl dead once before, Jenda could not withhold her emotions. After everything they’d endured, she could not bear to lose Soborgne again.
During their long night, Matteo instructed her on the risks they would face. “The Roma will not think you suffer from a medical parody if you display your true nature. Most of the people will not bother us, but some see themselves as soldiers of God. They call themselves the Chovihano; these select few hold close to the old beliefs. They will easily recognize you as a vampire and kill us all in the name of their religion. Jenda, we must be very careful not reveal our true nature, or all of our lives will end in the heart of Budapest.”
The plane circled lazily before beginning its descent into the strange new land. Within minutes, they were off the plane and out into the mix of travelers. Jenda tried to listen to Matteo’s urgent whispers as he instructed her behavior. His voice was a rapid breath in her ear as they moved through the mix of strangers, “Do not remove your sunglasses. Try not to speak to anyone. Remember to breathe. Don’t stand perfectly still. Humans can sense us more when we are immobile.”
As two men in white shirts loaded the coffin into the back of a hearse, Jenda shook with real fear and turmoil. She wanted to rip open the casket and shake Soborgne awake. She felt as if everyone’s eyes were on her, and the Chovihano lurked behind every glance. Matteo gently helped her into the car as she whispered to him of the wrongness of what they were doing. She hid her face against his shoulder and finally released the tears that had threatened to fall since they left the plane.
Jenda’s apparent dismay fueled the chauffer’s human capacity to overlook certain oddities. His sympathy for the young American who looked as if she might shatter blinded him. The driver gave a cursory glance and raised the divider between the seats. He wholeheartedly believed their cover story and sent a prayer to Del for the girl.
Matteo did not tell her where they were going, yet another precaution. If either the Roma or the Dracul captured them, he could not put their only ally in danger as well. Jenda’s curiosity peaked as they drove through the throngs of people. They rode in silence, staring out the black tinted windows at a foreign and frightening place.
Jenda could vaguely remember learning about the twenty-three districts of Budapest. Some of them were legendary for their culture, others for their architecture, and others for their criminal atmosphere. She recalled discussing persecution and prejudice against the Roma and the terrible reputation of the Eighth District. She hoped beyond hope that this was not their destination.
Matteo didn’t mean to listen in, but he couldn’t help wanting to know what she was thinking. He smoothed Jenda’s hair and whispered to her, “But who amongst them could hurt you now my dear? You are strong, beautiful, and deadlier than they are.” He meant the words as a comfort, but they caused a fierce reaction from Jenda.
Her mind slammed closed to him with a force so powerful that it could be physically felt—not a hard blow, but a mental pulse against his own presence. Her eyes narrowed as she calmly spoke. “Don’t do that.”
Leaving no room for excuses, reasons, or argument, Jenda stared into Matteo’s eyes. “I am yours, body and soul, but my mind is my own. Please do not invade it that way.” She kissed his lips lightly and turned to stare back out the window. The lock on her mind stood strong against him.
Matteo simply stroked her cheek with his knuckles, “As you wish, my love.” Seeing the streets of Budapest again sent chills of excitement through him. Playfully nipping an earlobe, Matteo pulled Jenda into his embrace and growled into her ear.
His voice was the sound of a bass rhythm as he teased, “So my little love, how is it you have discovered the secret to blocking your thoughts when your gifted friend couldn’t?” While waiting for her answer, he nibbled lightly at the tender spot above her collarbone.
Jenda couldn’t possibly feign being angry with him. His teeth grazing slightly against her skin sent a shiver of pleasurable agony across her flesh. She giggled softly and turned to face him. First, she let her lips brush his, and then she deepened the kiss until they both pulled away gasping.
She told him in her matter-of-fact manner, “Soborgne asked you about it the night I changed, while we were in the car. I decided to try it. I was wondering if it worked.”
“Yes, my darling, it is working well. You are quite the independent one, aren’t you?” He loved that about her as well. Jenda was strong, intelligent, and mature. He feared young Soborgne would require many more lessons to control her already raging powers. “Now we are almost there, so for just a little longer, you must play the part of the bereaved.”
Jenda couldn’t contain her surprise at the world outside the car. To her relief, they did not have to pass through the Eighth District. The drive was pleasant and the culture shock was a nice distraction. She saw an array of clothing ranging from typical American style to the traditional Hungarian outfits. The brightly colored skirts swishing amongst the more plainly dressed pedestrians created a mix of both the familiar and strange.
The men looked like those in any other big city. They hurried along in flip-flops and jeans, business suits, and casual wear. The women were more diverse than Jenda could have imagined. Matteo explained the long sleeved white shirts, colorful skirts, and heavily embroidered aprons were the traditional dress for Hungarian women. Jenda instantly wanted one and noted that many of the shops they passed had the style in their windows. She hoped Matteo would stick to his promise to take them shopping soon. Her heart lifted when she thought of the fun they would have wearing the costumes.
The car sped through the twisting streets and the scenery shifted. Dirty and unkempt buildings shadowed the people as they walked with their heads down. Jenda noticed that the women here dressed quite differently. Nearby, some barely legal teens were dressed as if they had just walked out of a rap video. Cleavage and skin showed abundantly around the thin strips of cloth they wore as clothing. Budapest was definitely going to be an adventure.
Matteo spoke quietly so he wouldn’t destroy the hold the city had on Jenda. He explained things to her about the country and its people. “The Hungarian government is not kind to its own pe
ople, and they treat the Roma as vermin because of a long-lived life of hardship.”
She nearly forgot the Roma people were her potential enemy when he explained their plight to her. As he spoke, her eyes wandered to a group of young girls dressed in rags and filth playing in an alley full of boxes and mattresses. Jenda wanted to sweep through the streets, collecting their children to her and protecting them from the horrible life they led.
Again, the city changed. The busy streets gave way to beautiful and more natural surroundings. The strangely colored high rises still peeked out over the trees here and there, but the overall feel became earthy. Still the dedicated and adoring tour guide, Matteo explained that they were entering Városliget, the city park. The simplistic beauty of the park awed Jenda, and the people she saw enjoying the chilly October weather seemed so carefree.
People stared at the ostentatious car creeping along the winding road, but Jenda was too captivated to notice. They came upon a large frozen lake where dozens of people in brightly colored clothing skated on its surface. Entranced with the picturesque sight, Jenda didn’t notice the spires and grand balustrades standing proudly above the treetops.
Matteo sighed quietly and clasped Jenda’s hand in his own. “We are here, my pet.” His voice held no trepidation. He looked up at the towering building with love, respect, and relief in his eyes. “Welcome to the Castle Vajdahunyad.”
Jenda couldn’t manage to take the whole thing in. Its beauty besieged her. The Vajdahunyad Castle loomed up beyond them. As they passed before the main gate, a shiver of déjà vu crept through her. The familiarity she felt for the walls of stone caused her to tingle, and the hairs on her arms rose as goose bumps appeared. She felt as if she were seeing something from a dream.
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