Blood's Voice

by Aine Massie

  Declán, of course not understanding the issue, reached out and touched my face. Not helpful! His intoxicating scent was going to overwhelm me if I didn’t . . .

  “Excuse me,” I cried. I rose swiftly and sprinted outside, hoping to clear my head.

  Why is this so hard? Louie and Simon, who do actually feed on humans, sit chatting calmly with Declán. I know from what they and others have said before that ‘traditional’ vampires often intermingle with humans, even have some close to them. So why was I so easily overpowered? It did not help that I could still so vividly remember what his blood tasted like. So powerful . . . exquisite . . . no, no, no.

  I was struggling so hard with my internal dramas that I missed the approach of someone. I only realized he there when a slender hand was suddenly on my shoulder. I spun around already commanding, “Stop!”

  Poor Louie, he was shaking as he stuttered, “It–It’s j–j–ju . . .”

  “Oh Gods, sorry. Relax, please.” What is wrong with me! “Louie? Calm, calm please.”

  It took him a full minute to regain enough composure to stop shaking. His voice wasn’t completely steady when he spoke, “Anya, sorry. I just came to check on you. You flew out of there leaving your – leaving Declán alone and confused. We didn’t mean to upset you. I just find it fascinating, this strange triad relationship of yours. Please, are you okay?”

  “I am so sorry! I’m a menace, I swear. I may be a lot better, but I struggle with being with Declán, already, because his scent overwhelms me too easily. Since this illness issue, it’s only become worse, like my biting him the other day. He insists that I wouldn’t have actually done him any real harm, but if that were true Nicholas wouldn’t have felt him in danger and come bursting in with Geoff.” I caught my hand absent–mindedly rubbing at my throat where he had crushed me. “I couldn’t even force myself to kill a human on my initial hunt, much to Gabriel’s frustration I imagine. And yet, my boyfriend is safer with you and Simon than with me.” I could feel the blood tears spilling over, tainting my skin.

  “Child, you are looking at this all wrong. You have not fed since taking from me which means that, as of right now, your body has something it never has, at least not in your memory. Plus, most of us spend a time revelling in the power and taste of humans and through that learn control. I know that sounds odd, but it’s true.”

  “So you’re telling me that because I love and cherish humans, I am less able to resist them? That makes no sense.”

  “Yes and no.” Louie could see me wanting to argue and put up his hand to stop me from speaking. “You did not have such a hard time before, though you don’t remember that fact. If you relaxed some and let yourself feel what you feel, you would find that you could control a lot more than you realize. You try to control so much that you lose focus and control in lesser increments all the time.”

  “Nicholas lectures me on the same concept regularly.”

  Chapter Twenty–Three

  “We’ve got company!” Simon called. “Anya!”

  Company? Who would just drop by? “Human or one of us?” I asked as Louie and I returned to the front room. Declán was looking out the curtains.

  “One of us. I wouldn’t bother your discussion for a human,” Simon said with a sigh. “I don’t know this one though, he’s screaming at the top of his mental lungs that he needs to see you, now.”

  Me? “Oh no, that sounds like something Thomas would do. Please let it not be him.”

  “Why,” asked Declán. “He’s on your side so–”

  “Simple,” I interrupted. “If he’s approaching the house it means something’s wrong. He only approaches me outside the grounds otherwise.

  “Come on, I’m going to need you on this one, a ghrá,” I continued.

  I headed out to see if I was right, and what he wanted from me. They all came with me – Declán, Louie, and Simon. I immediately began searching for the source of the disturbance, and after only a moment, I found it. It was Thomas! He looked panicked and as if he might bolt any second.

  “Thomas? What’s wrong?” I did not like the way he was acting. It was making the others even twitchier, and I didn’t want this turning into more nonsense like before with Nicholas and Jonathan.

  “Anya! I didn’t know, please believe me.” Thomas choked. “They have Nicholas. They took him while he was out hunting.” He was literally vibrating he was so terrified.

  My head started to spin before I had even processed all of what he said. “Be very clear, Thomas. Who has Nicholas?” Please don’t mean what I think you mean – please.

  “Who has Nic,” Declán echoed. I couldn’t focus enough to turn and see how he was dealing.

  “The others . . . my House. They took him from Amber, Anya! I don’t know what they want him for other than to force you to come back.”

  “No!” I bawled. “You’re wrong! You have to be!” This is not happening, it can’t be. Not Nicholas, not Nicholas.

  Simon suddenly had a restraining hand on Declán, much like Louie’s was on me. “Anya, calm down so we can get information from him,” came Louie’s voice – strained as it was.

  “Fine! Inside, Thomas, and then talk.” For once my focus was precise. He would give me exactly what I needed to go destroy those that took Nicholas from us!

  We all moved inside quickly. Declán didn’t move from my side. I could feel the violence radiating, waiting to break free, from him. He wasn’t going to let this slide either.

  “Now, exactly what do you mean they took him? Where? How many? Details,” I demanded, careful not to overdo my voice – I wanted answers not paralysis.

  “Five from the House, part of the inner guard, attacked him. I thought he was stronger, but they took him so easily. I don’t understand. And the woman with him? They restrained her with silver coiling wire. She tried to get free but couldn’t. Caria is leading Jonathan to her now.

  “We couldn’t stop them as we didn’t know. It seems that there is more than one faction after you. But, I don’t understand how they took him so easily. I’ve seen him in form before, he should have given them much more of a fight.” Poor Thomas looked scared but confused as well. He did not know about the poisoning, obviously.

  “Silver poisoning, that’s how. Thomas, you do realize that I’m going to destroy as many as I can, right? You have to make a decision, now,” I demanded.

  “Anya, you’re in no condition–” Louie started to interject.

  “Don’t talk to me about conditions,” I hissed. “If I have to use their own blood to strengthen as I go, so be it. They will pay, and I will have Nicholas back!” For once the blood lust in my voice didn’t bother me; I could feel my face twisting into a cruel mockery of a smile.

  I turned to Declán to tell him that he was going to have to protect the others while I was gone, but his face halted my words before they could form. His face did not look much saner than mine. “You’re not going to listen to me tell you to stay here, are you?” The thought of his going in there was terrifying but at the same time having him at my side, and getting our beloved one back, was enticing.

  “Not bloody likely! I’m going too, period,” he snarled.

  ‘Louie, Simon, I–”

  “Save it, child. They are not after us, we’re in no danger. They want you, to keep. Declán they will want to destroy, and Nicholas is just a tool to get to you. But you aren’t well enough to take them on, not yet.” Louie began pacing as he continued, “It will take a day or two to gather everything you two will need, and in that time I will do what I can to strengthen you, but–”

  “There is no but to this discussion Louie! I can’t leave him there; you don’t know what it’s like.” The memory of the silver room caused my body to convulse slightly as I beat back the memory from engulfing my mind again. “No, I have to get him out of there.

  “Declán, call Geoff and Peony, tell them to get home, now.” Turning back to Thomas who was still standing against the wall, shaking, I continued,
“You know where they are and the layout of your House. You are going to help us plan this out.” I had no conflict about using my voice, though he may have agreed to help without it. I wasn’t going to risk his loyalty to them kicking in.

  Thomas reflexively swallowed, nodding his head weakly.

  “Geoff said they would be home in just a few minutes, Anya. But, what about Jonathan, Amber, and Star? I don’t have their numbers or anything. And are the girls safe?” His worry was making his focus jump around too much.

  “Focus!” I commanded him, and was mildly pleased as I watched his mind self correct. “I will call Star and Jonathan, though I would imagine he will bring Amber straight back without the call. As for the girls . . . um . . .”

  “They are not interested in them, Anya. If they were going to do something to one of your humans it would be this one,” Thomas murmured, fear still thick in his voice. “They would only bother with them if they wanted him,” he mumbled gesturing to Declán. “But, he is only wanted dead, not captured.”

  I winced as he said that. Was I wrong to let Declán join me?

  “Thomas is right; they only want his death, no second chances for Guardians,” Simon added. “But, you can’t do this alone, and he’s bonded with Nicholas too. You won’t be able to keep him out of this. Love makes humans nearly as insane as it does us.”

  Geoff came bursting in with Peony right behind him. He caught sight of Thomas and had him pinned to the wall before any of us could really even register what he was doing.

  “Let. Go. Of. Him,” I demanded as I flashed forward, grabbing his shoulder and yanking sharply.

  Geoff turned to look at me directly, “But, he’s one of them.”

  “I know full well who he is, thank you. He was just preparing to help us formulate our assault on his House.”

  Declán had Geoff’s other arm and was pulling him away from Thomas. “We need him functional and coherent if he’s going to help us get to Nicholas. Back off!”

  “Get Nicholas back? I don’t understand,” Geoff mumbled vaguely looking lost.

  “How about if we wait until the others are back, so we don’t have to repeat this,” Declán requested.

  “No one else is coming. I don’t like that Declán is insisting on helping as it is. I will not risk the rest of you!” Declán shouldn’t be going, but I hadn’t found a way to get him to stay short of using my voice, which I did not want to do in this case. It would be distracting to have to worry about his safety on top of everything else.

  “You can’t really expect us to sit here and do nothing, Anya,” Jonathan demanded. “He’s mine, and after what they did to Amber to take him–” he seethed. His normal façade was completely shattered thanks to this.

  “I can and do Jonathan. This isn’t up for debate. I know you’re his father and sire, but he is my beloved and they only did this to get to me. I cannot allow this.” I wasn’t going to keep arguing with them. Geoff was nearly as bad, trying to demand that he go with me instead of Declán or in addition.

  Thomas had helped me plan out how to get to him and where they would have him. They won’t know that I was better. The only things they could pull from his mind would be how I was when he had left – before Jonathan had his epiphany, or we had Louie’s help. They would not know that I could do this, not yet! Surprise was on my side and would be their undoing.

  “What I need to know is can you all hold things together here while we get Nicholas back? They may try to hit the House thinking that I’m still weak, although they know I have you to protect me.”

  “No, no worrying about us, dear one. I don’t like that you won’t take more help, but we will be fine.” Jonathan wanted to go help get Nicholas back, but the fewer risked the better. Besides, Amber couldn’t handle him in danger too. She was already devastated about them taking Nicholas from her.

  “Um, I hate to bring this up, but we have company again,” Peony interrupted. “Your sister and her girlfriend,” she continued looking at Declán.

  “Kayla and Skye are here? Why?” Declán mused. He did not look happy about this turn. I, on the other hand, was ecstatic, though I didn’t show it. They were supposed to be making it where he couldn’t go with me. They only knew I needed to go help Nicholas with something and Declán was being stubborn. They didn’t want him in danger, though they didn’t realize how serious it was. Geoff had set this up with them. Thank the Gods for strange favours. Their bond born out of the attack on Skye was strange but helpful.

  § § §

  Stepping out into the rain, I carefully looked back and forth between the large brick mansion and the smaller maintenance shed that Thomas said held the entrance to their secure retraining area. Well, one of them, but he was sure it would be this one. The others weren’t on the grounds, and since they wanted to keep me, it would mean bringing me closer.

  Dropping into as low a crouch as I could manage, I began to move forward, always keeping my eyes roving, knowing that there was no true way to sneak up on them, not with the fact too many can scan the thoughts of those near them. But, oh well, so be it. I had managed to arrange for Declán not to be able to go, thank you Kayla. But, being alone was worrisome as well. What if . . . No, no what if’s. This was the only option, period. Focus.

  The sudden roar of traffic was disturbing. Everything was suddenly in sharper focus, the rain, the sounds and smells, the vibrations of the limo that was now approaching the House. I was far enough away that they shouldn’t be able to scan my thoughts, but it wasn’t overly encouraging that there were others moving about, out here with me. I needed to move quickly and succinctly toward the door I now sought. Once the traffic was gone, I began my approach of the side access, hoping that Thomas was right. He’d better be right!

  The door, simple enough looking, was guarded by two large creatures. They were dressed identically; in black leather much as Star and Nicholas had begun dressing Declán in for his Guardian’s training. They were talking softly, so there was no concern that they might be protected from my voice. Of course, they believe me to be incapacitated from poisoning so why would they protect against me?

  I continued to move closer, keeping careful watch so no one else could surprise me now. Playtime! “You boys don’t see anything unusual. Open the door without acknowledging me.” The one on the left turned to the door and keyed in the code that would allow me inside. Neither of them so much as glanced at me as I quickly slid past them and into the area that I hoped to find Nicholas.

  I was instantly uneasy there. The area pulled at my memories and made my head swim and my skin crawl. Proceeding carefully, I watched for both others and for any cameras that might be in use to monitor this area. The corridor was long with two doors on the left wall and three on the right. There was also what looked like an elevator door at the very end. “T” has said that Nicholas wouldn’t be kept in the upper area but that he wasn’t sure how deep. I wonder how deep this place goes?

  The next level was more detention and torture areas but the lower levels were reserved for where I had been kept before. I had to hope that he wasn’t there. I was unsure how well my mind would hold up if I had to re–enter that place.

  I checked each door as I went, even with what “T” had said, just in case. They would be expecting something more on the lines of half the House splitting to come after him since the others would have to stay behind and protect me, so there would be no reason to expect just one lone rescuer. Nor would they be expecting it to be me of all creatures.

  The elevator dinged notifying me that the doors would open in a moment. I had just checked door two on the right side and knew it was empty, seemed like a good place to draw them. I could hear only one person, thankfully. I had brought myself a small arsenal to help all this, looked as if I would get a chance to find out how well stocked we were.

  A young boy came sauntering into the room, smiling as if nothing was amiss. He looked to be the equivalent of fifteen or so, with spun gold hair, hanging in ringlet
s to his shoulders. He looked like many of the teens I had just finished going to school with, he even had shades on inside at night, only more beautiful – of course. Funny. I knew that he wasn’t just some innocent child though, especially not in this place. His apparent youth wouldn’t gain him anything with me.

  “Ah, you? You come yourself to retrieve Nicholas?” He looked me up and down as if trying to appraise me, possibly looking for my health status.

  Using the force of my voice, I began, “Yes, I am here to collect Nicholas. He does not belong here with you. I won’t cause any more harm or destruction than necessary. Do you understand?” I was trying for light, no need to attack if not necessary. They couldn’t all be insane, evil monsters. Maybe.

  “Oh, I understand, though why you insist on seeing us as monsters is curious.” His voice rang with near laughter.

  “You kidnapped me, tortured me, and now have taken my Nicholas, and yet you wonder at my assessment of you. Interesting but not a point right now. I’m not going to sit here and debate with you while others converge and try to stop me. Get out of my way and report this to no one.”

  “You are a strange little creature, aren’t you?” he mused towards me. “I won’t report you, but you should know that his capture was not sanctioned by the head of this House.” The doll of a boy moved quietly from in front of the door and gestured for me to continue. “You should also know that he has not been harmed, yet. But you should know, they already know you’re here.”

  “In that case, I should hurry.” I blew past him, worried about who all knew, and how long I had until I had to fight my way through. The less fighting to get in the better.

  I manoeuvred down a floor to the level that “T” thought I would find Nicholas, hoping he was right. It was larger here; the hall turned to the left at the end and had two doors on each side of the hall. I couldn’t feel Nicholas like I could Declán, sadly. This would be so much easier if I could just feel him. Declán could find him . . . if he were here.