Isaac nodded, experience told him it was best to remain calm.
Over the years, Catherine had occasionally lapsed into an irrational state under duress. It was his job, as her husband, to ensure she stayed focused. He would not allow Steven to ruin what they had spent years protecting. Saying that, he was sympathetic, he did understand Steven’s dilemma. If Emily was telling the truth, which he had trouble believing, Steven had actually changed someone. He had become just like a fictional vampire. Funny, he had never considered his kind to be vampires. This development led to a grey, obscured future. In the wrong hands, this knowledge could be very dangerous indeed.
‘What do you think?’
Isaac knew the silent treatment would not keep Catherine happy for long. ‘That’s a great idea. We’ll head for the university.’
Catherine stopped unpacking and stood up straight. ‘What’s on your mind? I know you too well, Isaac. You’re telling me what I want to hear.’
Isaac had been busted. Catherine was far too shrewd. ‘I’m just thinking about what Emily said. I never considered any of us to be vampires. But, if we can actually change humans with blood, it changes things.’
Catherine sat down on the edge of the bed. ‘It certainly does.’
Isaac took a seat next to her and held her hand. ‘You’re sure Emily is telling the truth?’
‘She’s not lying, I wish she was. But, it’s all true. I think Mum tried to tell me once. I remember now. She told me she was different to the rest of us, I just never thought much of it,’ Catherine said, as she leant her head on Isaac’s shoulder.
Isaac cuddled her and kissed her head. ‘We’ll sort it out. Try not to worry, my love.’
‘You know me.’ Catherine nuzzled for a minute, before she eased out of his arms, stood up again and continued to unpack.
Isaac gave a half-smile. He knew she found it hard to keep still when she had something on her mind. ‘Tell you what, I’ll go and find Eilif and bounce off ideas.’
Catherine gave him an absentminded glance, and mumbled, ‘Good idea.’
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Chapter 7
Confrontation
Isaac ran his hand along the banister as he made his way down the stairs. He loved the house. It had a certain quality about it, something indefinable. And he loved the pictures that remained on the walls. His wife’s interesting past, a fragment of who she was. Over the years she had born him many children, their youngest was now eighteen years old. It was interesting she had not got pregnant since. They had twelve children; it was enough by anyone’s standard.
Since the recent developments, Isaac was beginning to wonder if Catherine was unable to conceive, regardless of her youthful features. He had realised that some of the older women had stopped having children, but they never thought the women were actually aging. Not until Judith died, and death became a sudden possibility. By the sounds of things, they were all ageing. As natural as it was, the thought made him apprehensive. He was nearly 100 years old, would he be next to die? Would Catherine die first? It was not a thought he wanted to consider.
Isaac made his way into the lounge and found Eilif, who appeared to be perusing the books on display. ‘Anything of interest?’
Eilif turned around. ‘Plenty, actually. But, take a look at this. I found this copy of Dracula on the table. Someone has been reading it recently.’
‘Doing some research then?’ Isaac could not help adopting a sarcastic tone.
‘Would not exactly help now, would it?’ Eilif smiled. ‘Anyway, what’s the plan? What do you want me to do, I’m here to help.’
‘Catherine wants to go to the university to look for them, although she suspects they might be in the apartment. We could just call Steven, but Catherine would like to see if we can catch them unawares. To find out whether he is with someone else.’
‘Well, there I can help. Remember, we abducted Caitlin the first place. I can find out about her recent developments. Why don’t I head to the university with Ingrid, and you head for the apartment. Works better that way. Ingrid knows where things are at the university. She can help me.’
Isaac did not like the idea of Eilif and Ingrid meeting Steven first, but he could not deny the logic of the argument. ‘Sounds like a great plan.’
‘What does?’ Ingrid casually walked into the room.
‘Fancy a trip into the university with me?’ Eilif asked. ‘I need you to do some research.’
Ingrid smiled, as the words tripped out of her mouth, ‘You know me. I’m always up for research.’
‘I’ll go and tell Catherine and let you both head off.’ Isaac tried to ignore the feeling of unease. ‘Remember, keep a low profile. Watch, but don’t be seen.’
Ingrid grinned, ‘Of course.’
Isaac had always liked Ingrid, but he suspected her interest in Steven went a lot deeper than to help the community. The question was how much deeper?
***
As the university came into view, Eilif stopped the car to allow some students to cross at the pelican crossing.
Ingrid tensed, and grasped the edge of her seat.
It was Steven – with a redhead, besotted by the looks of it. Their proximity, the way they held hands.
Her mind raced as a flashback reminded her she had seen this girl before, with Steven. It had been the second time she had ever set eyes on him. When they were searching for a victim in Southampton. The first time she had glanced at Steven had been in the students union and he had ignored her, which surprised her at the time.
She breathed deeply as the realisation hit her. Steven had probably met the girl already. She had been wrong all along. She had not got to him first, someone else had. That girl.
She did everything she could to suppress her emotions.
Eilif nodded. ‘It’s Steven.’
‘Let me go after them.’ Ingrid had to see him up close.
Eilif frowned. ‘Let’s go together.’
‘No, I’m going.’ Before Eilif had a chance to move the car forward Ingrid opened the door. ‘Meet me inside the library – that’s where they’re headed.’
In a flash, she was concealed behind the bushes. She watched Eilif drive off and panicked, she had made a rash decision. Without time to consider her options, she walked in the direction they had gone.
She remembered the library did not allow access unless you had a student card, but luckily the entrance was empty. She walked towards the guard and gave him her most alluring smile.
The guard looked bored and unimpressed, but he approached her anyway. ‘Can I help you?’
‘I left my card behind at home. Can you let me in?’ She kept her eyes fixed on his and concentrated.
‘No problem, come on in,’ he replied, his expression robotic, as he swiped his card to let her in.
‘Thank you.’
She smiled as she heard a boy come up behind her giving the same line.
The guard replied sternly, ‘You’ll have to sign in.’
The boy complained, ‘You let that girl in without her having to sign in.’
‘No I didn’t,’ the guard replied, confused.
Ingrid moved away quickly before the guard called her back. The opportunity to see Steven again beckoned.
The library was huge with many areas to choose from so it was difficult to decide where they could have gone. Hedging her bets, she made her way towards the mathematics area. Catherine had mentioned the subject he had decided to study. The area was quiet with many students working either independently or in groups around neatly organised tables. She scanned the nearby vicinity. He was nowhere in sight.
In a bid to remain inconspicuous, she disappeared into one of the long corridors stacked with books. She glanced over a shelf, pulled out a book and pretended to look interested. Book in hand, she made her way back to an empty seat and sat down to peruse it whilst keeping a lookout. After five minutes, she contemplated getting up to look elsewhere.
She closed t
he book and nearly jumped out of her seat as a bitter voice whispered behind her ear, ‘What’re you doing here?’
Ingrid turned around to face him and held her breath. He left her giddy just by staring at her, even if his expression was one of loathing. She miraculously made a comeback, ‘What do you mean? I’m just reading.’ She held up the book.
‘Right,’ he replied, his tone sarcastic. ‘So, why are you really here?’
Ingrid shrugged her shoulders. ‘Can we talk?’
‘Do I have a choice?’ he huffed, ‘so much for Catherine coming alone.’
The extent of his aversion towards her stung, but she would not let him see it. She folded her arms over her chest, and then gave a confident stare. ‘Catherine needed help.’
Steven arched an eyebrow. ‘Your help? Something tells me you volunteered.’
‘It’s none of your business why I choose to do things. Look, I haven’t come here to argue, you have some explaining to do. I mean, it looked to us like you left Emily to die.’
‘Us? Who else is here?’
Ingrid’s shoulders slumped. ‘It’s easier to meet up. You don’t have to be so defensive. We only want to help you.’
‘Whatever, I’ll meet you back at the house. I’ll be there tonight.’ He turned and walked away at a brisk pace.
It was tempting to follow him but she decided to be patient. If he meant it, they would get answers very soon.
***
Eilif debated whether to go into the library. The last thing he wanted to do was draw any unnecessary attention. In the end, it seemed like a better idea to wait in hiding.
As he checked the exit, he saw Steven coming out.
His jaw dropped as he saw Caitlin, the girl whose memory he had erased, next to him. He could recognise that pretty redhead anywhere. She had her hand entwined in his arm, carefree.
Steven’s face looked sombre. Eilif suspected Ingrid had crossed his path.
As they walked away, hand in hand, a simple explanation revealed itself. They were a couple, a pair.
A newspaper article he had read flashed across his mind. A couple had been seen leaving the scene of the suicide in Southampton. He had discounted it at the time because Steven was supposed to be alone. But now, he wondered if Caitlin had been with him. Why would she do that? Unless, and this seemed unbelievable, she knew what he was.
It seemed impossible that Caitlin would accept Steven for what he was, or even that she would remember him. The options swirled in his mind. Steven might have got to know her again, or, and this seemed impossible, he might have found a way to get her memory back. He remembered Steven was a good student when it came to mind manipulation and control.
But, either way, the idea that any human could act that normal around one of them was mind-boggling. And yet, Emily had managed to deceive a human, so it was not impossible for Steven to do the same.
The solitary figure lingering at the entrance to the library caught his attention. Ingrid’s face said it all.
Eilif made his way over and put his arm around her shoulders. Ingrid thrust her face into his chest and started to cry. As her gasps eased, Eilif coaxed her towards the main pavement and they headed away from the university. Eilif figured she would want to talk, he wished her mother, Lana, was here. She was better than him at dealing with emotions.
After a few minutes, Eilif asked, ‘Shall we go and get something to eat?’
‘So long as it contains chocolate,’ Ingrid sighed.
‘That can easily be arranged.’
Ingrid straightened up and wiped the tears away from her eyes. ‘I don’t get it, what’s he doing with that girl?’
‘I don’t know, but I don’t like it,’ Eilif replied, ‘something’s not right, and we’re going to find out what it is.’
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Chapter 8
Revelation
Caitlin stroked the underside of Steven’s hand in a slow caress as they walked. Something was on his mind. She could be patient. The past week had been surreal, she had adapted too easily.
Once they got back to the apartment, Caitlin removed her long burgundy coat and shook out her curly red hair. Then she made her way over to the kettle, checked it had enough water, and flicked the switch. As it started to boil, she turned to face Steven. ‘Are you alright?’
Steven had taken a seat. He glanced up and gave her a fleeting smile. It was unconvincing.
‘You’re not, are you?’ She sat next to him on the sofa. ‘What’s up? You can tell me anything. You know you can.’
‘They’re here.’
Caitlin leant her elbows on her knees and pursed her lips. ‘Right.’
‘The girl I told you about, the one who found me, Ingrid, she was in the library just now.’
‘Now?’ Caitlin stood up, surprised at her unexpected resentment. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She had no reason to hate the girl. She actually felt sorry for her after Steven had told her how he had rejected her advances.
‘I don’t know,’ he murmured.
Silence ensued, as they both considered the implications of the visitors.
A moment later, Steven eased his hand into Caitlin’s and gave it a squeeze. ‘We have to go to see them tonight.’
‘Tonight?’ It seemed too soon. She knew they would arrive but now it all seemed too fast.
Steven leant in and kissed her nose.
‘That tickles,’ Caitlin said, as she broke out into a broad smile.
‘Just wanted to see you smile.’
‘What are we going to tell them?’ Caitlin could not help being scared. A part of her wondered if they would be angry with them.
Steven ran a hand over his hair. ‘We can only tell them the truth, no point trying to make anything up. Can you handle it? Otherwise, you can stay here if you like. I’ll break the ice first.’
Caitlin shook her head and then tucked her hair behind her ears. ‘No, I’ll come with you. The sooner we get this out of the way, the better.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Absolutely, let’s get some things together and head back to the house.’ A part of her felt guilty for the way they’d left his mother. But, Steven had insisted he did not care what happened to Emily. Caitlin could not blame him after what Emily had done. She would never forgive anyone who killed someone from her family.
‘I’m sorry, Caitlin.’
Caitlin frowned. ‘Sorry for what?’
‘For this mess I’ve got you into. I don’t think I’ve made you a better person at all. I mean, don’t you feel bad about what we did the other night?’
‘You mean, Adam?’
Steven nodded and avoided eye contact.
Caitlin knew she should feel bad about killing Adam, but she just didn’t. Adam had made her friend, Sally, miserable. From the moment Caitlin had met Adam he had made lecherous advances and showered her with inappropriate comments. He deserved what he got.
‘I’m sorry about Adam,’ she lied.
She was sorry for Steven, Adam had been his friend. But, she was not sorry they had killed him. In fact, it had been really satisfying to lure him into a false sense of security. The idiot probably thought he finally stood a chance with her. It was laughable. It was ironic Steven seemed to feel bad about her killing Adam, and yet, he could not be bothered about his own mother.
‘It’s okay, you needed to feed. And after I saw how he looked at you, he seemed like a good choice. I wish you could have resisted human blood, I guess we really need to talk to the others. They might be able to help you control your thirst.’
‘You worry too much about my need for control. We are what we are, accept it – I have.’ It surprised her that she accepted what she had become so easily, but she did. It made her feel powerful. She loved everything that came with the change. Intelligence, speed, extra strength, and youth. What was there not to like? She didn’t think it was that much of a sacrifice to have to drink blood, human or otherwise.
‘I know
you accept it. That’s what worries me. I don’t accept what we are. I don’t want to kill anyone else to ensure my survival.’ Steven clenched his hands into fists and pursed his lips.
Caitlin bridged the gap between them and wrapped her arms around him, then stroked his hair, ‘We’ll look after each other. Stop worrying.’ She let her hands wander along the curve of his spine as her nails lightly caressed his body. She loved the fact he reacted to her touch every time. She pulled away and found his lips. There was still enough time for close contact before they had to face the others. She knew just what to do to make him relax.
***
Steven did not know what to make of this new, empowered Caitlin. Ever since he had changed her she had lost all of her insecurities. She seemed so sure of herself, assertive even. And she was firmly in control, even when they made love. She was still Caitlin, but there was something about her that unnerved him. It was probably the fact she appeared to have lost her conscience where certain issues where concerned. He still could not believe she had killed Adam. He had watched her do it and done nothing. He had never considered himself to be a coward since he had never had trouble in the past standing up to people. He just could not go against Caitlin. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly. He wanted to make her happy at whatever cost.
‘We’re nearly there. You’re sure we should go in together?’
He blinked a couple of times, then turned to face Caitlin and gave the best smile he could muster. ‘We go in together.’
The sight of the house on top of the hill made him wince slightly. He wondered if Emily was still alive. He was loath to admit he hoped her dead. He had never hated anyone as much.
‘Time to face the music, I’ve got to admit I’m curious about Ingrid, the girl you resisted.’ Caitlin gave a confident chuckle.
The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return Page 68