Longest Days

by C. L. Quinn

  Eillia grimaced. “Well, I’m not sure I’m up to it. I’ve been having some nausea since I came back. You haven’t noticed, but I’ve cut back some on food. The past few days I’ve had mostly blood meals. I’m sure it’s stress.”

  Park and Burne exchanged glances.

  “Eillia,” Park said, “Have you ever been sick?”

  “No. But I’ve had such a lot of emotional pain this past year. My body has suffered along with my heart. For months, I barely ate anything, food or blood. I’ll be fine eventually.”

  Park crossed her arms and looked between Burne and Eillia. “Honey, this sounds familiar. When Cherise told me I was with child, I had the first nausea of my life. And remember, I had a horrid childhood. If anyone would have stress pains, it should have been me.”

  “Yes, well, I’m not pregnant. I’ve never conceived in over a thousand years. I’m certain I’m not going to start now. You know most of us are barren. I am, too. If I could have conceived, I would have before now.”

  “Not if you weren’t with someone who could impregnate you. Hamid was wonderful and you had a spectacular love affair, but maybe he couldn’t plant his seed in a first blood.” Park paused. “Maybe Daniel could.”

  Eillia was speechless. She’d already realized Daniel was someone she connected with on a spiritual level. Could it be possible he was one of the extremely rare humans who could breed with a first blood? Like Park’s mother, who bore this lovely daughter with Koen. She shook her head.

  “No, I think I’d know if I was with child. I’d feel it. I don’t. It’s an incredible idea, I wish it were true, but it isn’t. Maybe, though, I can make that shopping trip. How about in two nights?”

  “Okay. But…”

  “Park, honey, I wish it could be true. There are so few first bloods. I am not pregnant. But I am a little hungry now for something sinful. Do you have any of those American cookies? The chocolate cookie double icing ones?”

  Park let the subject drop. But she had a call to make.

  Later that night, Eillia stepped out of the villa alone and wandered into the surf. The air was nippy and the water sloshed against the shore in a gentle cadence that calmed her splintered mind. It was working, she realized, as she slipped her shoes off and waded into the receding tide. It felt incredible to be here in southern France, and warm and safe again.

  She still wasn’t ready to go home to her villa outside Paris. Reminders of her life with Hamid awaited her there. And although she had worked through the worst of the pain of his loss, she wasn’t ready yet to see the pieces of their lives together. The things he’d loved, abandoned now. The bed they’d slept in together for centuries, the places they’d loved to go. The ridiculous enormous television screen he’d insisted he must have two summers ago. He’d loved that state of the art screen that was almost large enough for a movie theater. And his dog. That ugly bulldog Eillia had told him more than once she believed he loved more than he loved her. Her butler assured her the staff had taken excellent care of him this past year.

  The time would come. Just…not yet.

  Koen and Park had been so gracious. Everyone had. It helped to feel loved and treasured. Out of all her centuries of life, all of her experiences, it really all came down to that very thing. To be needed and loved, and to love and need in return. Family. Friends who held the same place as family in the heart. That was what made it all worth it. That’s what mattered.

  Eillia took a deep breath and allowed her spirit amulet to open her up to the universe. It protected its wearer, but sometimes it was necessary to drop all barriers and just let everything in.

  The flood of feelings rushed in so quickly it felt like an assault. But she lifted her face to the sky and watched the universe sparkle. So much in their lives that was beyond amazing. Just the gift to sit here on a still night and behold this sight was a treasure of immeasurable worth. People were living out their lives, big and small, on this tiny world that spun through the darkness of distant glittering suns. And although first blood vampires were very different physically, they were all in this great journey from birth to death. First bloods may have a lot more time, but it didn’t mean their lives were any richer. Mortal humans could have extraordinary lives in their brief time here. Everyone has a chance to be hero in their own lives. Each person has the chance to find love and be happy. That was all this was.

  Just three rules to a life. Take care of each other. Do no harm. And make love on the beach in moonlight.

  Eillia moaned. Oh, she wanted that again. It struck her she and Hamid had never made love on the beach. She wished on the stars to have him back, just for a few hours, so they could do that. But the stars blinked steadily and said no. This time is for the living. It is for you.

  An old Zen saying came back to her. You must let go, or be dragged.

  Eillia nodded. Yes, it was true. All the hurt, all the logic told her that she couldn’t go forward because of the pain was wrong. So she made a symbolic gesture. Lifting both her hands to the sky, closed, as if they held something, she spoke quietly to the celestial witnesses.

  “Hamid, I loved you. We had the most wonderful years together and I will never forget you. But I must let you go so that I may be free to move. I’ve trapped myself in what was. I must move forward to what will come. Thank you for sharing your journey with me.” She opened her right hand to let the pain of his loss escape.

  She began again. “Daniel. You came to me shattered while I was shattered too. We found each other because our spirits recognized we belonged together. I couldn’t let myself believe we could ever move beyond who we were. There is still a lot of healing to do. It is very human of us. But I see you. And if someday I am ready, I will come for you. Until then, I meant it when I said I wanted you to be happy.”

  The left hand opened now and she reached to the heavens with both hands. Receiving.

  “I love my life and I am ready to move forward. I am ready to be happy again, too.” She let her hands wander down to rest on her belly. Park. Such a dreamer. How wonderful if it had been possible that she was right and Eillia could have a child like the sweet little girl she’d held in her arms tonight. Sadly, she knew it wouldn’t be.

  Eillia drew a deep breath and filled her lungs with the cool sea air. She was okay. Everything was okay. She knew her friends and family were inside enjoying a final meal before retiring for the day. Scooping up her shoes, with a grateful glance at the shining moonlight, she headed back to the villa. Suddenly, she was ravenous.

  Bas and Koen were troubled. The cell for Tamesine was finished, but they just didn’t believe it was one hundred percent reliable. And it needed to be. She’d been held at an old manor house in an isolated city in the mountains by three first bloods anxious to get her into the cell as soon as possible. Park had kept her controlled much of that time, but they all knew she would find a way to overcome that eventually. They couldn’t have anyone near her who could be compelled or controlled or she would escape. So no humans or “made” vampires. Only first bloods. It made her lockdown challenging.

  Koen could see only one end to this circus. Tamesine would have to be euthanized. But he’d let his daughter and Eillia see what they could do for her. He didn’t have any faith it would work. He’d been there centuries ago when she’d first lost her mind.

  Now that the holding cell was done, she would arrive within the hour. Both Park and Eillia were here for back-up. No one still had any true idea of the extent of her abilities, but Koen knew they were considerable. He was really worried.

  An armored car pulled up, and all three first bloods in residence went to meet it. Bas remained back at the cell to close the door when they had their detainee settled inside. It was triple locked with security codes that were next to impossible to break, along with keyed entries, and impenetrable bolting mechanisms that were not dependent on power. In addition to all of that, all four walls were surrounded by rebar reinforced concrete, heavy titanium panels, also reinforced, and isolate
d from the rest of the research facility. The only ones with access to the room were the three first bloods in the house. He agreed with his father–in-law. This was a bad idea.

  They brought her in on a stretcher, unconscious. Only Park, with Eillia’s aid, could do that to her. The other first bloods, including Koen, could use their combined powers to handle her, but ultimately, this was going to fall to the strong mental control of the two women who held deep connections to each other. Together, their minds formed an extraordinary power.

  Tamesine’s breathing was labored, like she was fighting the mind control. Bas and Koen held M249’s, rapid fire rifles that would stop her long enough to behead her, should it become necessary. They both felt their trigger fingers flex the entire time Park and Eillia were in the cell.

  Once she was unbound, they all backed out of the cell and locked it down. Park and Eillia exchanged glances and nodded to each other. Hands touching, they sent the message to Tamesine to open her eyes.

  They waited. But she didn’t move. Everyone looked at each other in surprise.

  “Well, we’re not holding her now,” Park said.

  Koen and Bas raised their weapons.

  “Yeah, I don’t trust anything about her,” Koen remarked, and walked slightly closer to get a look at her face.

  With no notice, Tamesine shot upright and landed on her feet at the door of the enclosure. She grabbed it and shook hard. Koen was startled enough to step backward several paces, the barrel of the gun still aimed at her head.

  “This is my home? Are you serious? You can’t keep me here.” She said this calmly. “You’ll see. I’m hungry. Are you planning to starve me too?”

  Eillia sighed. Well, it was done. They had the homicidal vampire contained, at least for the moment, and they could get out of there for a little while. Tamesine wouldn’t know, but they planned to use a few powerful tranquilizers in her food and blood meals to keep her calm.

  Park shook her head. “Let’s go get some dinner. Tamesine, your meal will be dispensed with paper dishes through that opening over there. All of your facilities here are self-explanatory. The lavatory is quite nice and private. We’ve left you no good choices for weapons, although I know your talents are the most dangerous weapon you have. Please, think about this. You’ve wanted to return to your people for a long time now. We want you to have a normal life. If we can help you, we will. Is there a chance you will let us try without fighting us?”

  Tamesine paced back and forth at the front of the cell. Her eyes were glowing, which meant she was pissed and her power was very active.

  “Sure. You can mind-fuck me all you want. Doesn’t mean I’m going to break. Just makes it sweeter when I get out of here and kill you all.”

  Park stepped closer to the cell, Bas’s hand on her to keep her back enough for safety.

  “I think it’s your spirit amulet. I think something’s wrong. That’s where we’re going to start. Tamesine, think about it. I want you to surrender it to me. Let me see what’s going on with it. Please. You have to know we aren’t here to hurt you. We could have killed you by now, but we haven’t. Think about it. You have plenty of time. Your dinner will be here within the hour.”

  They all left, the outer door also triple locked, a first blood waiting at the entrance so no one at all could try to enter.

  The shopping trip was a great success. Eillia felt better than she had in a long time. Just being with these wonderful women and doing something so mundane and enjoyable as shopping and having lunch had gone a long way toward letting her relax into her life again.

  Packages in every color covered davenports in the parlor where Park, Burne, and Eillia were pulling their items out and showing them off to each other.

  “I’m so happy you got that nightgown. It’s perfect with your coloring. And sexy,” Burne said to Eillia.

  “Yes, I needed something of my own. Park’s been a doll, but I should have my own clothes again.”

  Park was holding up a little sundress when she stopped and laid it down on a chair.

  “Eillia, there’s someone here to see you,” she said.

  Turning, expecting someone from the household, she was surprised to see a face from the past.

  “Cherise, oh, my goodness. How nice to see you.”

  A petite woman with enormous eyes and full brunette hair came forward and hugged Eillia, then Park, then Burne.

  “I am so happy to see you all, too,” she said in a voice with a soft French accent. Her eyes landed on Park, and she nodded carefully. Park lowered her head and smiled.

  Eillia could feel a change in the air.

  “What’s happening?” she asked.

  “Eillia, I told you Cherise is an empath. And she’s one of the most powerful I’ve ever known. She’s married to David. Now that she’s vampire, her talent is even stronger. She’s the one who knew, before I had any clue, that I was pregnant.”

  Eillia shook her head. “No, you did not bring her all this way for that. It’s a crazy illusion in your mind, honey. I am just recovering from very painful life events. By next month, I’ll be back to normal.”

  But her eyes went to Cherise. The question in them was almost desperate.

  Cherise stepped forward and put her hands on Eillia’s belly. When she looked up at Eillia, her eyes sparkled.

  “You are with child. It is a boy, and he will be with you by end of summer.”

  Eillia dropped on the chair beside her, crushing boxes and tissue paper.

  She kept shaking her head. “How...I mean, I’m ancient. I’ve never even…” She couldn’t form thoughts. Other than the idea that, of all the surprises in her life, that she herself, over a thousand years on this planet, was going to have a baby. The one miracle she always knew would never happen for her.

  “But, I would feel him, wouldn’t I?”

  “Not yet,” Cherise said. “You are still traumatized, and he is still very young. I think your spirit amulet is protecting him and you at this time. Now, it will let you know him. Now, you will both be well together. He will help you heal. It is true, Eillia. The boy sleeps and grows inside you and cannot wait to see the world. You are to be a mother. I am so happy for you.”

  Eillia still couldn’t move, but Park came over and knelt in front of her to give her a gentle hug. Tears slipped down her cheeks, too.

  “Oh, the way the universe works! It takes sometimes, but it gives back, too. I know how much you love my little Cairine. I cannot wait to meet your son!”

  Koen and Bas came into the room to the group of teary eyed women.

  “What the hell? Cherise, when did you get here? Is something wrong? Did something happen to David?”

  “No, my friend. Something wonderful is happening here, though.”

  Eillia came forward and held Koen tightly. She whispered into his ear. “I’m having a first blood child.”

  Koen pulled back to look at her face. It was wet and radiant. He dropped to his knees and encircled her waist with his hands.

  “This is true?”

  Cherise and Park nodded while Eillia brushed his hair back with her hands.

  “I don’t know how long it will take me to believe it myself.”

  “Tonight,” Cherise said. “I think your spirit amulet is ready to unmask his presence. You will feel him tonight. I think a celebration must be prepared.”

  “Absolutely!”

  Everyone gathered around Eillia and gave her heartfelt congratulations.

  They had a wonderful dinner and impromptu celebration that went most of the night.

  But later that night, just before sunrise, on a reclining chair on the sand, Eillia sat alone as she felt the little baby inside her moving around. An alien feeling that was the most beautiful moment of her life. A child. Hers. Daniels.

  A miracle at a time when it seemed there was none left in this world. Cherise said he was healthy and that he would look just like his father, with clearwater blue eyes. Eillia couldn’t imagine how she could know t
his, but Park had told her that everything Cherise had prophesized for her baby had been true.

  Soon she would have to go back inside, the rising sun would make her seek shelter.

  And there was a decision to make about her child’s father.

  Well, enough for one day. She’d consider the future tomorrow night when it arrived after a deeply needed rest. For now, it was enough to know that she would be a mother before this year ended. Thank you, karma, she whispered to the sky.

  Surveillance showed that Bas’s woman and the beautiful Asian woman were often in a large warehouse-type building about five minutes from the villa where all the vampires lived. He had stayed at the airport and followed them home from Alaska. And watched and waited. His plan was simple and he was ready to proceed. First, the love of Bas’s life would die. It was convenient that she was in this building with the other woman who should have died last year along with everyone else.

  And Tamesine. That crazy bitch was there too. He’d laughed his ass off at his fortune when he saw them bring her in a few days ago. Easier and easier, he thought.

  Alvin wanted to get Bas and the child. But that would be impossible if he went after Park first. He would die in that attempt. But if he could kill her, he would at least accomplish the goal of robbing Bas of the love of his life. The same fate he brought to Alvin over fifty years ago when he’d changed Alvin, but would not change Lucille at her request. He’d said he must honor her decision not to be changed. Like vampires had any honor! They were monsters. Superhuman monsters who were no longer human at all. Honestly, he just wanted it over. But on his terms. Park, the Asian, and Tamesine would die. That was a good way to go out. Taking three powerful original vampires with him.

  He carefully placed the bomb he’d built in a heavy-duty backpack with a smile. A good days work. One last final good days work.

  He knew security would be tight. If they had the nutcase trapped here, it had to be nearly impenetrable. First blood talents would not be able to gain access. Or egress. Sometimes, though, smart people over-think things. An old-fashioned bomb would work. All he had to do was get it inside, detonate it, go in, slice off some heads, and let nature take its course. If he survived, and that was very unlikely, he’d scatter, fast, and try to find a way someday to finish his mission.