Blood's Voice

by Aine Massie

  “Nothing. I just . . .” Star trailed off staring blankly for a moment.

  “He has to be trained and outfitted. I can tend to that,” Nicholas chimed in looking at Star oddly. “But Anya,” he continued shifting his gaze to me. “You are going to have to lessen the protective hold you have on him.”

  “Jonathan, are you certain of this?” I asked imploringly.

  “Yes, I am. Though,” he grimaced, “you and possibly Nicholas are the only ones that can bite him and not suffer.” I noticed then that he was breaking out in a light blood sweat, and his grimace worsened.

  “Jonathan, what’s wrong?” Dropping my voice just a little, “Nicholas, help him.”

  Through all the discussion, Declán had just been listening and absorbing everything. As Nicholas moved toward Jonathan with blinding speed Declán finally spoke. “What’s wrong with Jonathan? Did my blood hurt him somehow?”

  Nicholas was at Jonathan’s side by then, half holding him up as he guided him to a chair. “I’ve never seen him like this. Jonathan? What’s wrong?” Nicholas’s eyes were wild with panic though he managed to keep his voice under tighter control.

  Star spoke up first, not letting Jonathan respond. “Their blood is poison to a vampire. He will be weak for a little while.” Moving over to Jonathan now, she asked him directly, “How much did you taste? Please tell me that it was only the smallest of tastes, please.

  “Amber is going to be livid when she finds out.” Star continued quietly.

  “Mmm, only enough to say for certain that he was a Guardian. I’m not a complete fool,” Jonathan chided weakly.

  “Fool enough. You knew better than that! I know you did.” She was scowling, angry like I had never seen before.

  “You are not a vampire, Star. How do you know so much about the Guardians and Jonathan’s reaction?” Nicholas snapped. “Do you know how to help him?” His voice was so strained; I could see he was afraid for Jonathan.

  “As to how to help him, yes. Take him, probably with Amber or Geoff here, hunting. He needs to dilute the poison. It will help him get better, faster. And never let him do that again!

  “As to how I know so much, I have been friends with many a Guardian over the millennia. I had believed, just as Jonathan did, that they had died out. It never occurred to me that there might be one here much less that a Guardian would fall in love with a vampire. Befriended yes, love . . . no. No offence Declán but this is a first to even my knowledge and age.”

  “None taken, Star,” Declán softly murmured. He still sounded a little overwhelmed with all his new knowledge.

  “I’ll take Jonathan for now.” Nicholas continued looking at Geoff, “Help me?”

  “Sure.”

  With Nicholas on one side and Geoffrey on the other, they left with Jonathan.

  “I’ll be back later you two,” Nicholas called over his shoulder.

  “I didn’t mean for Jonathan to get hurt, I would never have agreed if I had known it might make him ill,” Declán whispered once they were gone.

  “I know that, love. You’re a good man, we all know that.”

  “Declán, he knew the risk he was taking. He’s old enough to know the stories and the dangers of biting one such as you. It makes what the one female did to you at the club just that much more curious. But, he will be fine soon. He didn’t take much right?” Star had a cross between pleasure and agony on her face as she spoke. Funny how some can have such mixed emotions so clearly shown at the same time.

  “No, I saw what he did. It was only a tiny sip. Still, I cannot believe he bit Declán knowing it could do him serious harm like that.” What was he thinking?

  Star looked Declán up and down for a moment, focusing hard on something. “You two spend some time together working out your new knowledge. I have some things I need to go do. I’ll . . . be back.”

  “Um, okay.”

  Declán had not let go of me for even a moment since I had healed his wounds. “A ghrá,” I began, “how are you doing with all this?” I could see the strain, just as I had before, in his eyes. I had to hope that he was accustomed enough to the world not being what he expected that he would stay conscious this time.

  “I think . . . I think I’m okay. I just wasn’t expecting so much to happen. I–I just wanted to be able to be more of a real partner to you.” Declán’s voice was strained but strong.

  “Come on love, come upstairs. You can rest in my room while we wait to hear back from Star and Nicholas.”

  Late that evening Star and Nicholas returned together. Odd. They both appeared at my door giggling. “Good, Declán is still here. I thought he would be,” crowed Star.

  “Told you I felt him here . . . I’m bound to him too, remember?” Nicholas joked.

  Declán sat up like a shot, smiling nervously as he took a more natural, sitting pose on the edge of my bed. “I’m still here, yes. I didn’t want to leave until I knew how Jonathan was doing, well that and I like spending time with Anya.” His eyes twinkled like they did when he said he loved me. We had spent nearly the entire time curled up together, not even talking really. Just happily holding each other.

  “Jonathan is fine, though I don’t think he will ever try that again,” Nicholas replied, shaking his head. “That was not one of my father’s finer moments, idiot.” He barked a short laugh. “You should hear Amber, she’s livid over him pulling such a stunt. Not at you, at him.

  “But, let’s get to the real issue at hand. Come, look.”

  He motioned to Star to move and then brought in a large trunk into my room, and set it down. Star was smiling with the same silly grin Nicholas was. “This is for you, Declán. Nicholas and I spent some time looking through the things we had to put this together for you. There are a few others that we will have to special order for you, sorry.” She gestured for him to open the trunk.

  “Um, okay. You missed my birthday by a little you know.” Declán was shaking his head, amused. He got up slowly from the bed and knelt down beside the chest carefully. “It won’t bite will it?” he teased.

  “Just open it silly boy,” Star chided gaily.

  Declán finally did as commanded, opening the top of the trunk carefully. Within he found boots, a few unusual weapons, and an interesting silver bracelet – there was a symbol on it that I had no memory of but somehow it still pulled at my mind mysteriously. He took out each piece separately, examining it closely. There were mid–shin boots with thick soles, similar to boots I had seen on some of the local bikers I’d seen – I believe they were executioner–style biker boots. Spiked brass knuckles coated in silver, silver spikes, and a strange bracer (looked as if it was spring–loaded, designed to fire objects).

  “What is all this?” Declán choked out finally.

  “This is the beginnings of your equipment. The boots may be a little big, I didn’t have your feet and well, these were not made for you.” Star shushed Declán when he started to speak. “No, no. These boots were a friend’s that did freelance hunting. He has several sets, so he said you could have these. I think they are right or at least close to your size. I will also order you ones that are an exact fit as soon as we can get you over there.” Star seemed so pleased, a great improvement over earlier.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kayla stayed with Skye at our picnic site on the lake, trying to talk to her quietly. Declán came over to me, wrapping me in his long, strong arms, while pulling me to him. “Are you upset because she’s not freaking out or because she doesn’t believe?” Declán whispered. “We shouldn’t have forced you to do this. I’m sorry.”

  I didn’t turn toward him or respond in any way. I wasn’t actually sure which annoyed me more. I had spent so much time and energy masking what I was, so that humans wouldn’t see me as monster, that when I needed one to believe, she refused to see the truth. Declán continued to hold me while I stood there, watching the waves and the ducks. I could hear Kayla trying to reason with her but Skye was so adamant that vampires were evil
– if we even existed – and that since I was not evil, we were all being ridiculous and should just fess up. Why did it bother me so much that she wouldn’t believe in vampires, or at least in good ones?

  “I guess the others are right, I am too tame. I can’t even convince a human of the truth. Damn it, I didn’t even want to tell her.” I didn’t want to be there anymore. It’s too dangerous for others to be near me when upset.

  “Here,” I said reaching into my pocket. “Take the keys. I will get the car later, I need to go for now.” I turned to quickly kiss him on the cheek and then I blurred out of sight, running faster that any, other than maybe Declán, could see.

  As I laid on the roof of my house later, staring at the beautiful night sky – the sky was filled with the most wondrous patterns, ones that poor humans needed powerful telescopes to have even a chance of viewing – I thought over how things had gone so wrong. Geoff had teasingly, I assumed, offered to go scare Skye for me, so she would believe, sigh. Amazingly, Declán hadn’t immediately followed me home or started with me through the phone. I didn’t want to talk to anyone right then.

  “You may not want to talk, but you need to,” Nicholas chimed as he landed next to me lightly.

  “Go away, Nicholas,” I groaned, not moving to look at him. I didn’t use my voice so he, of course, ignored me.

  ‘Nope. You are going to have to be a big girl today,” Nicholas said, completely unruffled by my lack of interest in communication.

  I just sighed, not bothering to reply. How could I talk about why I was upset when I couldn’t even explain it to myself?

  “I thought it only fair to warn you that I may have scared Skye tonight.” Nicholas waited – letting that sink in – hoping I would finally respond, I assumed.

  “Fine, I’ll bite. What did you do to Skye and why?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know, but it seemed like the right response.

  “Well, I had wanted to talk to you so, knowing that you were supposed to tell Skye about us, I went to find you by tracking Declán. I kinda did my pop in out of nowhere thing, and she kinda freaked out. Declán said that you had done the opposite when she had laughed at the idea of you being a vampire – which, by the way, is only because she thinks too much of you. She believes in the mystical but can’t come to terms with the idea of you being something that she has always believed was pure evil. She is too convinced of your goodness. It might be better to just leave it at ‘immortal’ with special voice abilities for now.”

  “I am a liar because I’m too good? You do realize that has multiple flaws right?”

  “Yes, I do. But, you fulfilled your promise to Declán and Kayla by revealing yourself. It’s not your fault she can’t believe it yet. Skye just needs time to internalize it; to come to terms with the idea that vampire does not always mean evil or murderer.” He was obviously pleased with his assessment and plan for how to deal with Skye.

  I should’ve been pleased, but somehow I was still annoyed. All I managed was a sigh.

  “You don’t see yourself the way she does, love. She sees an angel, and you see a tainted, not–quite–human . . .” He sighed as he pulled me up into a sitting position in his lap. “You need to let this go. Declán needs you and Kayla is worried you won’t want to be around anymore.”

  “I know I shouldn’t be so aggravated, it’s just . . . There is so much going on right now. I am supposed to help Declán learn how to kill our kind – while not going insane with fear and guilt – be moving all the vamps and humans to a new area, lead, protect . . . and now I cannot get Skye to take me seriously.” I knew it was irrational, but I could not seem to get a handle on the nagging pain it drew out of me.

  “You know, I only have memories of one other human in my life, and he was murdered in an attempt to ‘cure’ me of my deranged fascination with humans. I am terrified for them!”

  “I know, but it will be alright in the end,” Nicholas said, hugging me tighter for a moment. Eventually he continued, “There’s an issue though, one that needs your immediate attention.” His voice had dropped slightly and had an abnormal, almost nervous tenor to it. Peculiar.

  “What’s wrong, a mhuirnín? What was it that you needed me for in the first place?” Something was obviously bothering him, other than my little fit, but what?

  “Well, Jonathan and Amber have been talking, at great length, with a few of their friends that are more tolerant. They would like to speak to you as soon as possible.”

  I felt my body go rigid at his words. What would they be discussing with others that he required me speak with them immediately? My words came out a bit sharper than I had meant them to, “Why, Nicholas?”

  “I will let them explain, but keep an open mind. Please?” Nicholas’s face was fierce with fear. What could be worrying him?

  “Nicholas,” I said gently, moving to take his face in my hands. “I’ll always keep an open mind and heart with you; you should know that. I’ll go speak with them but are you sure this is the right time?”

  “Yes, it’s very important that it be sooner, not later. No need to fret though, I’ll be with you, to help with your voice control.”

  “Thank you, a mhuirnín. You are always too good to me.”

  Standing quickly, pulling me to my feet along with him, Nicholas continued, “Come on, they await our return.” He was grinning again so whatever his parents needed mustn’t be bad. Right?

  As we bounded up to their door a few minutes later, I could both hear and smell the visitors inside. Other blood drinkers! Pulling Nicholas to a sharp halt, I demanded, “Who else is here?” It was hard to control my voice or my movements for a moment as I fretted about others being here.

  “Relax, relax, dear. They’re friends, I promise. I told you that Jonathan and Amber were talking to friends. I meant literally. They mean us no harm.” Nicholas’s voice was straining under the force of mine. “They will not hunt here either. Please . . .” His eyes were frightened, but not of the visitors – of me!

  Struggling to rein in my fear and anger, I tried again to speak, more carefully this time. “Calm. I’m trying Nicholas but springing others on me, especially right now, is not one of your finer choices. I’ll speak with your family and their friends but don’t do this again.”

  The panic in Nicholas’s eyes slowly subsided, allowing him to speak more naturally, thankfully. “I am sorry about that, I wasn’t thinking. But, please, come,” he said pulling me forward.

  I could tell immediately that everyone inside had heard our little discussion. Jonathan and Amber were standing in front of two others; both holding a slightly defensive stance. Sigh. The visitors were both male and looked like they might have been related in their previous life, or were just a lot alike, maybe. I simply nodded toward Jonathan, not taking my eyes off the two.

  “Greetings, Anya,” Jonathan murmured nervously. “Please, come in.”

  “Hello, Jonathan, Amber,” I said nodding stiffly toward each of them. “Nicholas said you needed with speak to me.” I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes off the two visitors for long. They were both approximately six–feet tall with spiky black hair. Both obviously traditional vampires, as well. I could feel my eyes tighten slightly as I took in their appearance.

  “Yes, we do. Our friends here, Simon and Louie, have brought some concerns to our attention. Concerns that we would like to discuss with you.” Jonathan took a deep breath to steady himself, it seemed, before he continued. “Anya, they are not here to hurt you or your humans. However, they are here because of dangerous murmurs travelling through the different Houses about you and to a lesser extent us.”

  “Fine, I will listen to all you have to say. Please, share what you need.” I worked hard to soothe and assure as I said this. I watched as the five vampires with me calmed and relaxed their stances.

  Nicholas motioned for us to sit. They had the chairs already arranged oddly in the living room; one seemed to dominate more than the others did, which is where Nicholas now led me. “Pleas
e sit, love. I know this has been a rough night for you, but truly, I think this is a good thing if you’ll just hear everyone out.” He looked at me with a strange light in his eyes, that same weird reverence – nearly awe – look that he’d gotten when I destroyed Ashley.

  “I said I would listen and I will. Now, could someone please explain to me why I am here and why they are as well?”

  Jonathan spoke up, meaningfully looking between his visitors. “Simon, Louie, this is Anya, the one you have heard about so much. As you can hear, her voice is very powerful, but she’s far more than even you have heard.” Jonathan turned to face me as he continued. “And Anya, they are both here to help. They have heard many things about you and those you protect. They came to me worried as they remembered that Nicholas was looking for you before.”

  For a moment, I lost control of my careful façade and showed my confusion. “You two came here because you were worried that someone important to Nicholas might be in danger?”

  “Yes,” the one named Louie replied. Looking him over more carefully, he appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties and slightly more muscularly built that the one named Simon. “Nicholas and his family are friends to us. We would not feel right, not protecting them if we could, and since he is so attached to you, that means you as well. You are extended family, of sorts.” He looked oddly curious, appraising me carefully with his eyes as he spoke. He also felt oddly . . . comforting.

  “And what does that mean in this case? I appreciate that you want to protect them – us – but how?” What could they think would help? I had an Elder House out to control me and possibly hurt all those around me to get me. And that didn’t even bring into focus the issue of Declán being a Guardian . . .

  “A Guardian? You have a Guardian as part of your House?” Simon nearly shrieked.