Amelia was quiet—her shyness seemed to have returned in the presence of their new friends. She had dressed in all black—black jeans, black tank top, a new necklace around her throat with some Asian charm, and a red scarf covering the scars Drew had left on her. She wore some kind of stockings on her arms that were striped red and black. Her dark brown hair was half pulled back. It was a far cry from the Amelia she had been in Sangre Valley. She was suddenly a representation of herself and not that of a classic 1950’s teenager. It was not a look or message that Valerie would have chosen for her daughter, but at least she could be herself now. She never would have been able to shine through in her old life, not like she could here. Though quiet, she smiled at Harry’s stories or Alessandro’s teasing. More than once Valerie caught her stealing glances at Ethan, but that was only because she was stealing glances too.
Only John was missing. He refused to leave his room, refused to eat. Valerie could tangibly feel his missing presence and it made her heart cringe. They weren’t a family without John. Or Charlie for that matter.
“Did you know that Thanatos is a connoisseur of blood?” Alessandro said as they ate on the patio, the sounds of the ocean in the background, a hint of salt and fish in the breeze, white tea lights brightening the palms and railing. Amelia had refused the donated blood but ate the meat.
“Meaning what?”
“He swears he can taste the differences between people. Not all blood tastes the same,” Alessandro said. “Personally they all taste the same to me. The pretty ones a little sweeter maybe,” he said with a wink.
Harry twisted in his seat. “You can really taste the difference? Mom thought I was nuts when I said I could taste the difference between the different types.”
Ethan looked at the boy. “I can’t do that,” he said without elaborating.
“Tell us what the dead taste like,” Alessandro said. “And the corrupt. And the innocent.”
Valerie had to admit that she was morbidly curious. Maybe her son wasn’t so strange after all.
“Maybe this isn’t an appropriate topic,” he said a little harshly.
“I’ve heard it all before,” Gabriella said. “Don’t worry about my feelings, Ethan.”
“I never do.” He may have been teasing. He may not have been.
“Please. I want to know,” Harry said. “I always liked females better.”
Ethan’s blue eyes briefly touched Valerie’s before he turned them to Amelia. “Is this okay with you?” he asked her daughter.
Amelia looked up at him surprised that he was concerned about her opinion on the matter. She hadn’t realized that he was aware of her strong feelings towards humans. Nonetheless, she nodded approval.
“Bitter. Metallic. More so than usual. Sometimes it’s volcanic if they’re feverish, sometimes downright arctic if they’re hypothermic. The blood has already begun to die so it’s slightly decayed, slightly rancid. You can . . . or at least I can taste death.”
“And that’s his preferred meal,” Alessandro said.
“Must you refer to them as meals?” Gabriella asked. “Is that how you see me?”
“Not at all my dear. I thought your feelings weren’t going to be hurt.”
“What about the corrupt?” Amelia asked, her voice noticeably louder than usual. Valerie wouldn’t have expected her to be asking questions on this subject. She was surprised that her daughter condoned this conversation at all.
“Fecal. But satisfying,” he said meeting her eyes. “The truly corrupt, the murderers and rapists, the pedophiles and child killers, you can taste the evil. It’s a tart, overpowering taste.”
“Poetic, isn’t he?” Alessandro said. “I believe given a century or two, he’ll be a poet.”
“What about girls, pretty ones?” Harry asked.
Jonathan took Gabriella’s hand and kissed it. “Like heaven.” She smiled at him.
“I don’t know about pretty girls, but I do know that the innocent taste like rain. Like the sky. Like refreshment after a famine.”
“Poetry,” Alessandro said softly.
“How many have you killed?” Valerie asked.
He stared at her before answering her. “I’ve been a vampire for over ninety years. My guess is as good as yours.”
“But in all fairness to Ethan, he’s been Thanatos for fifteen years or so now,” Alessandro said.
“We try not to judge other vampires’ way of life,” Jonathan said. “It is against our nature not to kill. We hope to evolve, but evolution is time. Thankfully, that’s one thing we vampires have.”
“And Alessandro seducing young girls is evolution?” Ethan asked. Though his tone was sarcastic, this time there was no doubt that he was teasing.
Alessandro smiled. “And young men. That is progressive.”
“Oh Mom!” Harry said as if he just remembered something. He wiped the blood off his upper lip. “Gabriella said she owns every vampire movie ever made. Can we do a vampire movie marathon tonight? Gabriella said she wouldn’t mind.”
“I thought it might be fun,” Gabriella said.
“Yeah. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Why don’t you get the movie going?” Jonathan suggested rising from the table. “Alessandro and I have something to discuss with Valerie.”
“What will it be? Dracula? Interview with a Vampire? Or Twilight?” Gabriella asked taking Harry and Amelia inside. “Should we see if John wants to join us?”
Once the kids were out of hearing range, “Alessandro and I have been working out a plan to rescue Charlie. We’d like to show you what we have,” Jonathan said.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Human Lovers
John refused to dine with the human. They belonged on the dinner plate and not in the seat next to you. He did not care that his mother had caved in and would allow them to drink human blood from packets. Who the hell was she to tell him what he could drink? It would be just like home, she said. He knew better though. Nothing would ever be like home. He would never have a home again. That he was certain of. So he spent the day with the music blasting in hopes that it would piss off his hosts and laid on his bed tossing the football his dad gave him.
He had the phone in his hand a half dozen times ready to call Lisa. But he still had no plan. He had no money, no transportation, no way of getting back to Sangre Valley. He just wanted his father back. If Charlie was here, everything would be different. Everything would be okay. If he could just talk to Lisa, he could get it together, figure things out.
There was a soft knock on his door and Amelia entered carrying a shopping bag full of clothes and a glass of blood. He turned down the music.
“These are for you,” she said quietly.
“Don’t want them. They reek of human.”
“What is your problem? These people are helping us.”
“They’re human lovers. I don’t want anything to do with them. Or you.”
His sister glared at him. “Since when do you have such a problem with humans? You know, we all miss Dad. We all want him back and safe at home with us.”
“Bullshit,” he said sitting up. “She doesn’t. While you were out on your little shopping spree with the human, did you know that she was in his bedroom wearing just a robe? I saw her.”
“Well, if you saw her then apparently the door was open so not too much could have happened. If you had come downstairs for dinner, you would have realized she is working with Alessandro and Jonathan on a plan to get Dad home.”
“You do realize that they want to use us the same way Venjamin did, right? Venjamin who is a filthy human. It’s no different.”
“No, they’ll ask our permission. We can say yes or we can say no and they’ll respect it. Venjamin never asked.”
“Whatever. You’re too infatuated with Ethan to see the truth. Well, I see the truth and I won’t have anything to do with them!”
“You know what John, be this way. You’re only hurting yourself. I’m done
trying to make you understand. Be selfish and only see things through your own eyes. Piss off the only people who love you and that are trying to help us. I’m done. Enjoy your blood!” She slammed the glass down on the nightstand then slammed the door behind her.
John threw the football at the door. “Fine!” he yelled. “I don’t need you! I don’t need any of you!”
Amelia had taken human loving to a whole new height. She was choosing humans and strangers over her own brother. She was willing to let herself be used again. They would treat her like a freak, a science experiment. They were all freaks, everyone in his family. Well, let them make her their freak. They weren’t going to make him one. Screw her.
He picked up the phone. He didn’t allow himself to hesitate and dialed Lisa’s phone number. He still didn’t have a plan but at least he’d have Lisa’s voice. With his breath held he waited for a sound on the other end of the phone. This time it rang.
Chapter Thirty-eight
The Call of Love
“Sir, the phone call came,” Ms. Pines told him.
Venjamin looked up from the work on his desk. He did not look well. His complexion had only grown more cadaverous. The pain in his abdomen had increased but Venjamin was a man of great will power, he would fight to the very end. This good news was just what he needed. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”
“We couldn’t trace the number and he wouldn’t say where he was, but wherever he is, they’re high tech. We do have a transcript.” Dutifully she handed him the papers and ignored his sickly complexion.
Lisa answered the phone as she was instructed to do at all times. The Cummings had been given the story that Valerie and Charlie had a huge fight and that she had taken the children out of Sangre Valley as punishment. Charlie was heartbroken. Venjamin just wanted to reunite this family, help them work through their difficulties.
John Murray: Lisa? Oh my God, is that really you?
Lisa Cummings: John! Oh my gosh! Where are you? Are you okay? I miss you so much! (crying)
John Murray: I miss you. I’m so sorry I didn’t say goodbye. I wasn’t given a choice. Everything is so messed up.
Lisa Cummings: I know. I know. Dr. Venjamin explained. He says your dad is heartbroken. He wants you guys home.
John Murray: My Dad? Have you talked to him? Have you seen him? Is he alright? He’s still alive?
Lisa Cummings: Of course, he’s still alive. I haven’t talked to him. Just Dr. Venjamin. John, when are you coming home? Where are you?
John Murray: Lisa, you have to get out of Sangre Valley. It’s not safe there.
Lisa Cummings: Not safe? What are you talking about? It’s Sangre Valley. Nothing ever happens here. You know that.
John Murray: (deep breath) I love you. And when I get my dad out, I’ll get you out too. If you see him or talk to him tell him that.
Lisa Cummings: So you’re coming home? When?
John Murray: I don’t know. Soon. Don’t tell Dr. Venjamin that I called. Under no circumstance can you tell him, okay? It’s life or death.
Lisa Cummings: I won’t. I’d do anything for you. I love you, John. Please come home soon.
John Murray: I will. Soon as I can. I’ll call you again tomorrow. Same time. I’ve got to go. Love you.
Well, it was a short conversation. He honestly didn’t think the boy would be coming to Sangre Valley anytime soon. Once he had the boy on the phone, he would get his location out of him one way or another. In two nights the family should be back in his possession. He would have his singing blood.
“Do you think we’ll be able to trace the call tomorrow night?” he asked Ms. Pines.
“Tech is working on a new device to unscramble the location, but they can’t guarantee anything.”
Venjamin nodded and stood up. “Thank you, Ms. Pines.”
Venjamin left his office and rode the elevator to the top floor to pay Charlie Murray a visit. Still chained to his chair, the vampire was slumped over, his clothing brown and stiff with blood. He had once been a handsome vampire. No more. His bruises had healed for the most part, but the lacerations across his face and left eye would not be healing anytime soon. In fact, his eye would probably have to be amputated in the near future. The venom had done its job marring that pretty face. Charlie should be thankful that he wouldn’t have to suffer the indignation of deformity for much longer.
“We got a phone call from your son tonight, Charlie.”
He raised his head.
“John called Lisa. Couldn’t get his location though. He wanted you to know that he’s coming to get you.”
“No.”
“Don’t worry, I think it was all teenage bravado. He’s calling her again tomorrow night, but I was thinking of intercepting that call so I could chat with the boy myself.”
“No.”
“I was thinking that we could reunite father and son, at least over the telephone. Don’t you want to talk to your son one last time, Charlie?”
“No.”
“I think the three of us are going to have a chat, and you’re going to help me get his location. Because if you don’t, when I do find your family, they’re all going to look like you. They’re going to feel the same pain, the same anguish. They’re going to wish to die just as you wish to die. But the difference is going to be that you will die and they won’t.”
“No.”
“Yes. But if you get John to tell me where they are hiding, I will spare them your torture.”
“No.”
“Think about it Charlie. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Chapter Thirty-nine
Mug Shots
Her hosts led her to a secured room on the first floor. Jonathan punched in a code then had his eye scanned and hand print read before the metal door slid open. The room was windowless, an anomaly in this house. There were a lot of computers and monitors, a couple of which surveyed the perimeter and inside of the house. Others showed DNA’s spiral strands and sequencings. The metal walls were thick and housed bookcases loaded with medical and technical manuals. One counter had a very fancy microscope on it, some kind of freezer, and other machinery Valerie did not recognized. In the center of the room was a stainless steel table with blue prints laid out across it. As she stepped up to the table she recognized the top blue print as a layout of Sangre Valley, every house and store labeled—the kids’ school, the Blood Market, her old house, and of course St. Vladimir Hospital on the rim overlooking it all. She had never realized that Sangre Valley was a circle before. The streets ran perpendicular to each other, but the edges of the town formed a near perfect circle. About a half mile outside of town there was a ring marked landmines and a fence with five guard stands, one stationed at the end of Redemption Road, the only way in or out of town. Also on the table was a census of every vampire in Sangre Valley, each identified by name, relative age, and as made, born, or crossbreed. Her and her children’s names were on the list.
“Jacob, the vampire we had on the inside, your old bloodman, this is all thanks to him,” Jonathan said. “We also have this.” He pulled another blue print out. It was not nearly as detailed as the first. It was of St. Vladimir.
“The most difficult portion of Sangre Valley to penetrate has been the hospital for obvious reasons,” Alessandro said. “Our most important spy is MaryAnne. She is the receptionist at the front desk. We met her at a blood drive. She was an open minded, kindhearted woman who wanted to help anyway possible. She has given us a list of all the employees. Mostly scientists. Neurologists, geneticists, chemists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, anthropologists, men of religious orders. She has also given us a loose layout. The first two floors are dedicated to treating the citizens of Sangre Valley, the second floor completely dedicated to fertility, as you surely know.”
Valerie nodded. She spent countless hours there before Harry was conceived.
“From MaryAnne we also learned that the floors extend underground where your husband was employed—where all made
-vampire had their offices. Floors three to fourteen all have their designated field of study. We do not, however, know exactly what takes place underground or on the top floor. Has Charlie ever mentioned the underground levels to you or the top floor?” Jonathan asked.
She shook her head. “How big is your organization? How much support will we have in getting Charlie out?”
Both vampires wore grim expressions. “We have fifteen vampires—including Ethan—that patrol the town or keep watch on Venjamin’s vampires when he lets them out to hunt gleaming any information they can. Given Ethan’s taste in blood, he has an eye for spotting their slaughter parties—when vampires gather humans for the town’s food supply. With a tip to the police, we have been able to stop some of the slaughter parties without alerting Venjamin to our cause. We have dozens of consultants all over the world when it comes to decoding the science and technology that we have accumulated—well, the little we’ve gotten our hands on. Inside the hospital we have a half dozen humans that pass on information. But to get Charlie out,” Jonathan said, “we only have the people in this room.”
“We can’t risk the lives of the humans helping us. And the vampires who do surveillance for us are too familiar with Tobar to cross him. They have seen what he is capable of,” Alessandro said. “So our numbers will be few. After Charlie escaped with you, the guards at each station doubled and now there are vampires who patrol the perimeter. We do not know what floor Charlie is being held on. There are only humans at the hospital during the day which would make it easier to penetrate except—“
“Daylight would kill us,” Jonathan finished. “We have special weapons—guns loaded with silver bullets, silver daggers, wooden arrows, torch guns, but we’ll be vastly out numbered.”
“Unless we can create some kind of diversion that would clear the building out. MaryAnne has told us about different codes the hospital has—intruders, police, vampire riot. In case one of these events should arise, the facility locks down meaning that we won’t have to worry about vampires coming to Venjamin’s aid, but we’ll still have to contend with the humans and vampires within the hospital.”
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