Shadow's Light

by Nicola Claire

I really didn't need this complication in my life. But, I was responsible for Gigi, by Nut's request. I had to do what I thought was best and right now, keeping her secret seemed the way to go.

  “Can you guys give a us a moment of privacy please?” I asked my guards. I was going to go with the less-said-now-the-better path. They would speculate that Gigi was more than just a vampire, but they wouldn't know for sure. One slip of the tongue by me, was hardly enough to gossip over. Was it?

  They nodded, took their drinks and left the room. I waited for their signatures to arrive in the cellar, down by their rooms and the gym. Far enough away for Samson and I to talk without eavesdropping.

  I motioned Samson over to the couch, because there was more room there than where he had been sitting. I shifted the tray with my dinner plate on it, to a nearby table to make room. He sat down with a heavy thump.

  “Sorry about that, just slipped out.” I felt an apology was the best way to start. He just grunted in reply. “So, will the sun harm her?”

  “I guess so. She left before it rose. I told her it would, that she needed to stay indoors. I thought she'd accepted that and was just wanting some time alone in my room, to think. We'd been talking all night. She had been angry, but I just put it down to part of the process, you know. Like a grieving process. Grieving the loss of her old life. I didn't think she was that angry, that she'd walk right out the door and not tell me.”

  “Where would she go?” I asked, taking a sip of my wine just because it was still in my hands and I needed something to do.

  “To her home in the city. She lives near Sensations. Or maybe to her friend, Kara. I think she lives in Ponsonby somewhere. Both, I guess would be OK. I've been to her place, it's an apartment in Greys Ave. She'd be safe once she's inside, the curtains are quite thick.”

  “OK,” I said slowly. “You've tried to phone her?” It was said with an inflection on the end, a question. I was sure Samson would have tried everything to get in touch with her, but I needed to ask.

  “Yeah. It's going straight to voice-mail. On both her cell and home phone.”

  “She'll probably be hungry again once she rises,” I mused, more to myself than Samson.

  I shook my head, trying to think of a way to do this. A way that would cover all options. I couldn't really help. We would be flying out as soon as the sun set. But, I could go out in daylight. I could check on her before she rose for the night.

  “Tell me,” I asked, “do newbie vampires need to sleep the whole day? Or could she be awake?”

  Samson frowned in thought. “It's hard to say. She's just so different from the norm. Usually, they need to sleep. Some will even flake out as soon as the sun rises and not wake up until it sets. At least not until they've been around for a while. I really don't know with her though. She's not a full vampire.”

  No she wasn't, but she needed blood. That much we did know. And she was scared shitless and angry right now. Not a good combination for anyone, let alone a half vampire, half vampire hunter.

  “Look, I'm going to go check on her while it's still light.” Samson went to argue, but I cut him off with a raised hand. “Lutin has been caught. There are no other fairies who are specifically on my tail. If I avoid them, I should be OK. The only other creatures after my arse are vampires. And they're all restricted by the sun. If I go now, I can be there and back before the sun sets. It's the safest time and then you'll know where exactly she is and be able to go to her at sundown. Give me both addresses. I'll try her home first and then her friend's. But, I'll have to go now.”

  Samson didn't look happy, but his worry over Gigi won out. While he did an internet search on Gigi's friend Kara, I went into the office to open the safe and get my Svante sword and back sheath out. Slipping the sheath on under my jacket then placing the sword inside, I felt the familiar weight of the sword settle between my shoulder blades. A few quick practice draws and I felt reacquainted with my old and trusted friend.

  It was a beautiful piece of work. A gift from Michel. The hilt of the sword was decorated in a dancing dragon motif, the clasp made to fit my palm. I had been taught to use it by my friend Erika. She had been one of Michel's vampires. The vampire who had betrayed him to the American Families, in fact. I hadn't worn or used the sword since Erika had been killed by Jett at Michel's command. Too many memories. Too much heartache. But, now was the time to get past that, and use every weapon I had at my beck and call.

  I was about to close the safe again when a thought struck me. Reaching in I pulled out a small wooden box. Inside lay two silver stakes. I have a couple of these spare boxes in the safe. You never know when you'll need a replacement stake. Hand crafted in Egypt by Nero's Nosferatin kin, they were perfectly balanced and practically indestructible. The ideal vampire staking tool.

  And a nice 'welcome to the ranks' gift for Gigi. I didn't have time to teach her, that would have to come later. But at least she could be armed if she felt the pull and couldn't fight it. God only knew if she would, but she felt like a Nosferatin to me and that's just what we do.

  When I came back out of the office, Samson was waiting by the door to the garage. He handed me the scribbled addresses, with directions should I need them. I knew where Greys Ave was, but the one in Ponsonby was unfamiliar. A little too far from the usual vampire hunting grounds.

  “Thanks,” I said as I turned to the garage door.

  “Luce. I should come with you. I can cover up in the back of the Land Rover. I can stay hidden from the sun. You shouldn't be alone. Sergei will kill me if he knows you've headed out and God knows what Michel would say.”

  “Hey. I'm my own woman. I can look after myself too, you know. I'll be quick. There's no need for anyone to get a sunburn over this. We just need to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. Trust me.” I rested my hand on his arm as I said that, hoping to calm the panic that had started to show in his words.

  He just nodded, but didn't say anything further. Which in itself told me just how much this girl meant to him. How much he was prepared to let me walk out that door alone, without a guard. I didn't hold it against him. I would have sold my soul to help Michel if I could have. Luckily Samson didn't need to do that now.

  I'd made it halfway to the city when my cellphone rang. One look and I knew I was in for an earful.

  “Mistress, what the hell are you doing going out on your own?” If the name on the display hadn't given him away, his thick Russian accent sure as hell did.

  “Sergei, I'll be fine. I'm just checking on Gigi. I'll be back before it's dark.”

  “I do not like this.” Yeah I could tell. “Why would you risk your safety for a newbie?”

  I sighed, unlike Marcus and Matthias, Sergei is mine. “Sergei, Gigi is different. She is my responsibility. She may not be of my line, but she is as important to me as you all are. Trust me. I know what I'm doing and I promise I will explain it all as soon as I can. Just look after Samson for me. He's stretched pretty thin right now.”

  There was silence for a moment and then a deep sigh. “As you wish, Mistress. At least you have your cellphone with you this time.”

  I smiled. “Yeah and my big, bad don't-mess-with-me sword.”

  “Ah, now that makes it all so much more bearable.” The sarcasm wasn't lost on me, but I didn't have time to reply, as he had hung up.

  I was turning into Greys Ave when the phone rang again. This time I knew instantly who it was, even though the ringtone told me nothing and I hadn't glanced at the screen. I pulled over into a free car park and turned the car engine off, trying to decide why I was so sure that Michel was on the other end of the phone. I shook my head, unable to get a handle on the feeling and picked up the phone, pressing the call button as I did it.

  “Michel,” I said a little breathlessly.

  “Ma douce,” came his sexy, deep purr. “I gather you are flying solo today. Is that wise?”

  “Oh, not you too. You know, I can take care of myself. You guys all think I am some sort of
fragile damsel in distress. I'll have you know, I can stake a level one Sanguis Vitam vampire in my sleep. I have two silver stakes, a silver knife and Svante sword on me. Plus, I am not stupid. The sun is up and I have a couple of hours before any of my vampire enemies come out to play. By then, I'll be back at the house or on the jet. Either way, I can do this.”

  “I know you can.” What? “I just asked if it was wise. One of your guard could have gone in the back of the car, shielded from the sun. Close enough should things go wrong, but allowing you to handle things on your own in the interim. Is it not too much to ask for a back-up plan?”

  I didn't say anything. Mainly because that was exactly what Samson had offered to do and I had shot him down. Hearing Michel say it made me realise how much of a good idea it had actually been. But, to be honest, I was sick of feeling molly-coddled. I wanted to go back to the days when I hunted Dark vampires alone and returned to my apartment on my own.

  Or did I? My vampires were my family. I loved being with them for more than just protection. They made me feel balanced, happy and content. Still, couldn't I have a few moments to do things on my own? I didn't have to have them with me every second of every day. Surely I was allowed a bit of freedom now and then.

  “This has nothing to do with your freedom, Lucinda.” Ah crap, he was receiving my thoughts and we'd progressed to Lucinda. Never a good sign. “This is all about timing. Right now, being alone is not a good idea. There are too many high players in this game and they all want you. Once this is all settled, you can go off and do whatever you need to do on your own with my blessing. But until we get this resolved, please think of more than just your independent and selfish desires.”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it for a moment. Unbelievable. Selfish indeed. Who the hell did he think he was to boss me around like this?

  “Fine,” I said curtly, before he had a chance to counter my thoughts with more insensitive arguments. “I'm at Gigi's address now, I have to check on her and time is running out. So, we'll catch up with this conversation later, shall we?” I hung up before he could answer.

  Very mature, ma douce, came his dry thoughts in my head. Can I not be concerned for your safety at all?

  I didn't bother to reply, just built some sturdy shields in my mind and forced his thoughts back out. I wasn't trying to be childish, really. But, I just didn't have time to soothe his ruffled feathers. I had never been good at emotional confrontations. An argument with Michel, whilst not being the scariest of confrontations I could imagine, still fell into the category of 'later'.

  I slammed the door to my BMW closed behind me and pocketed my cellphone. Now I was irate and not in the best mood to approach a newly turned, reluctant vampire. I took a couple of deep breaths, in an effort to calm myself, counted to ten and then tried to loosen my shoulders and stiff back. None of it worked. Bloody men and their completely reasonable demands.

  And bugger, wasn't that just it? Even though I felt smothered by all the attention to my safety, it was only made because it was needed. There were a hell of a lot of people after me and not all of them were restricted to the dark.

  I pushed those thoughts aside and strode up the steps to Gigi's building. Samson had given me the code to get in the front door and I was soon climbing stairs to the third floor. It was a well maintained complex. No doorman, but who in New Zealand has one of those? Still, it was clean, nicely decorated in pristine white and black. Potted plants and tiled floors, with a gleaming handrail and bright lights helping the visually impaired.

  In no time at all I was in front of her apartment and the familiar signature of a vampire met me from the other side of the door. Gigi. To my face she was a Nosferatin. To my senses a Nosferatu. I knew her signature, even though I didn't know her.

  I knocked, thinking I may as well try, but not expecting an answer even though it was now late afternoon. The door swung open, but she wasn't standing across the threshold waiting. I guess the light on the landing from a window down one end put paid to that. I walked in and shut the door behind me, taking a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dim glow in her main room. She had a nicely furnished home. Everything neat and tidy and in bright modern colours.

  Abstract artwork on the walls, up-to-date electronics in the form of a large plasma screen TV, surround sound speakers and stereo. And a laptop sitting on the dining room table, which was just between the lounge and the small kitchen off to the side. A door led into a bedroom where I could see a bright blue, green, yellow and red duvet with a plethora of cushions and stuffed toys. On closer inspection the toys looked like the department store Farmer's, Santa Bears. Maybe a decade or two worth of the white furred, red and gold vested, cuddly teddies.

  “Hey,” I said turning to face her. She was curled up in an armchair in the corner. Knees under her chin, arms around her legs. Bright blue eyes watching my every move.

  I walked over to the couch and placed the box with the stakes in it on the coffee table, then sat down.

  “We were worried about you.” I thought I'd go with the combined approach, in case mentioning Samson straight off made her fangs elongate.

  “I needed time to think things through. He was smothering me.”

  I laughed. “I know that feeling.” Then ran a hand over my face and sighed. “Gigi, this whole thing sucks, I get it. Your life as you know it is over. Or that's at least how it feels. You have these new abilities, new powers and strength and your body doesn't feel like it's really yours. But your mind keeps trying to convince you it is. The world is upside down and spiralling out of control, and you can barely keep yourself from being sucked away.”

  She stared at me. “Is that supposed to be a pep talk? Because it sucks.”

  I shrugged. “I'm not going to tell you it's all going to be OK. I think it will be, but me saying it means jack shit right now. What I will tell you, is I have been through something similar. Not the same. But, like you, I am a little unique myself. And I have been where you are now. Trying to deal with so much change and not having any control over any of it at all. Sometimes, if I'm honest, I still don't have all the control I would like in my life.” I thought of my last conversation with Michel outside this building. Quietly, I added, “It's still a daily battle some days to make them understand I can look after myself. But, their concern, my friends' concern, is not there to annoy me. Or frustrate me. Or hinder me in any way. It's there because they care. They love me and they care.”

  I looked up and held her gaze. “You can do this on your own, but you don't have to. And you do have to follow some rules. I'm not sure if Samson managed to get them all out last night. I'm guessing, even though it felt like he was holding court and reading from a twenty foot scroll, he held back. The only thing I ask is you allow him to tell you the rules. Then you can decide what you want to do." I watched her for a reaction, when none came, I asked tentatively, "Is that OK?"

  She sat motionless for several seconds and then shrugged an agreement. It was the best I was going to get from the girl.

  “I have to head overseas tonight," I went on, "so I won't be around. I wish I could help you more, but I'm guessing you need time to adjust anyway.” I stood up then and headed towards the door. “Just know this, there are three people in this city you will answer to. Jett, the Master Vampire of Auckland City. Me, Auckland's Nosferatin and your sponsor. And yourself. Everyone else can go the fuck to hell for all I care, as long as you follow the rules.”

  My hand was on the door handle when she spoke.

  “What's in the box?”

  I turned back to her, slowly. “Your new best friends. Why don't you open it up and see if they work."

  I held my breath as she reached for the box on her coffee table. This was going to go one of two ways. Either she couldn't touch silver, despite appearing as a Nosferatin to me. Or she could. Of course, if she could, I might be in for a battle. The temptation to stake me may be too big for the Nothus to ignore.

  She stared
at the two silver stakes for quite some time, then finally reached in and pulled one free. I saw it, the moment the stake rested in her palm. That sense of completion. She may not have realised that something was missing until that very second, but the moment she touched that stake she felt complete.

  Gigi was a Nosferatin through and through. With a little vampire thrown into the mix.

  She didn't look back up at me, I may as well have not been there at all. So, I turned away and walked out the door. Maybe it was a bit remiss of me. Dropping a set of stakes in her lap and strolling out the door. But, part of me recognised something in Gigi. Something familiar.

  She was a loner, like I had once been. It would take time to pull her into the fold.

  Good thing I had other issues to deal with right now. I'm not necessarily known for my patience. And something told me Gigi was going to take an awful lot of patience.

  Poor Samson. He was in for a long, rough ride.

  Chapter 33

  Reunited

  I made it back to the house at St. Helier's Bay before the sun dipped below the horizon. And without issue I might add. All four vampires were waiting for me in the hallway off the internal door to the garage. Marcus, Matthias and Sergei had their arms crossed over their beefy chests, biceps bulging. Samson was pacing. He was doing a lot of that lately.

  “She's at her place and waiting for you to turn up at sundown to go through the rules,” I said to Samson, before the three angry musketeers could start in on me. “She's going to require kid gloves,” I added and Samson snorted. The others continued to glare. “But, I know you'll have her best interests at heart. Introduce her to Jett tonight. They need to meet. And keep an eye out for any...” I stopped mid sentence, realising I was again about to divulge her secrets. This was frustrating, but until I could guarantee Marcus and Matthias weren't going to sell her out, I had to bite my tongue.

  “I got it,” Samson answered, giving me a look that said he did. Not just her vampire side, but her hunter side too. He'd been around me long enough to know what it involved. He'd make sure she had an explanation if the pull decided to manifest between now and when I would get back from Europe and could train her up.