As he neared the beach he heard voices and loud happy laughter. That sounded like his Beatriz. Speeding up, he rounded the bend then stood taking in the scene. Beatriz threw herself into a series of cartwheels along the sand then turned and called to Cassia who was standing barefoot in the surf, her trousers rolled up to her knees. He saw that she had unfastened her hair from that chic chignon and the light sea breeze blew it around her head in a dark cloud.
“I bet you can’t do that Cassia.” Beatriz sang out;
“What do you bet?”
“One of Madame Lemond’s chocolate eclairs, they’re the best.”
Javier crossed his arms and watched as Cassia jogged back to the far side of the beach and limbered up. Then she called out;
“In that case, watch this, my little artist friend.”
She then proceeded to execute a series of graceful perfect cartwheels all along the edge of the sand until she lost her balance on the final one and fell over laughing into the surf. Beatriz ran across and hauled her to her feet as she exclaimed delightedly;
“That was brilliant! Most adults are far too dignified. Oh, I’m so glad you’re here, you’re such fun. I’ll get you an extra big éclair from Madame.”
Javier strolled onto the beach;
“I think she deserves it Bee. You two look like you’re having fun.”
He watched in amusement as Cassia tried to smooth down her hair and tug her clothes into some sort of order; a difficult task when she was wet and sandy. She looked gorgeous and the sea had moulded her clothes to her body in a way that made his blood drum.
“Oh, Javier, where did you sneak up from? Beatriz and I were just letting off some steam, she’s been doing some drawing.”
The words all came out in a rush and he saw her cheeks flush red.
“Papa, Cassia thinks I could be an artist, she likes my drawings. She knows loads about art and we’ve been talking about painters and some of the pictures she’s seen. Cassia, can you sit back down, I want to finish that drawing of you.”
Javier had rarely seen his daughter so animated with anyone but him. She positively glowed with excitement. Clearly these two had hit it off immediately. Following Cassia he sat down on the sand next to her as Beatriz opened her sketchbook and called;
“Push your hair back Cassia, it was more over that shoulder.”
Cassia arranged herself to Beatriz’s satisfaction then cast a sideways look at Javier;
“Javier, your Beatriz has a rare talent and puts her heart into her work.”
“You two seem to have become friends.” said Javier, “It’s good to see, I sometimes think she’s too quiet.”
“She has a wise little head on her. She worries about you.” There was a brief silence, “You saved my life tonight. I owe you.”
“Just doing my job. Anyway, I promised Harry I would keep you safe. You realize of course that he is in love with you.”
Javier watched Cassia’s lovely profile as she stared ahead. She was silent for so long he began to wonder if she had heard him. At long last she sighed;
“I would have given anything to be able to love him like he wanted. Once, I even considered pretending but it would have been such a lie and he deserved better than that. No one else has loved me like he has, like he does. I do believe I’m too much of a pain. Either that or I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist.”
“And what is that?” Javier asked quietly.
“What my parents had. To love someone, to be bonded. To belong to someone and have him belong only to me. Does that exist Javier?”
“You won’t find that amongst your Human friends Cass, only amongst your own kind. And yes, it exists. Blood calls to blood, heart to heart; an irresistible physical and emotional impulse. It is the way we all wish to mate if we are lucky. It happened with Charlotte, Bee’s mother.”
“You still love her don’t you?” Cassia regretted the question the moment she asked it. This was none of her business. She turned to look at Javier quickly then resumed her pose as Beatriz called out. She didn’t need his answer, she had seen the truth in his eyes. She felt a dull ache settle in the pit of her stomach.
“I am considering arranging a protection team for Harry Marshal. If they know where you live, they may also know about Harry. I am still not completely sure about why they are interested in you unless it’s simply because you are a Vampire.”
Okay, she got the message, thought Cassia. His dead consort was off limits.
“Do you think he is in danger? Should we warn him?” she asked.
“Again, we don’t know Cass. We’ll keep an eye on him but as to warning him…the less he knows about our world the better.”
They sat in silence for a moment then Javier said abruptly;
“When Charlotte died I wished I had died too. For a long time it felt as if I had. But that was then Cass; many years have passed since.”
Eight years thought Cassia, nothing at all when you lived for many hundreds of years. She must have been a very special woman, his Charlotte, and a very lucky one too.
“As I said before, if you had, little Beatriz would have been alone; I cannot think her mother would have wanted that.” Cassia said gently.
“No, she wouldn’t. To be honest Cass, it was only that thought that kept me from putting a bullet through my head in the months following.”
He was so matter of fact about it that Cassia felt tears start in her eyes and blinked them back quickly;
“Good thing you didn’t. Suicide is a hard legacy for children to live with.”
She was staring straight ahead and Javier regretted reminding her about her father. He had never told anyone about the many times he had sat at the table following Charlotte’s death and just stared at his gun knowing he could put an end to his pain in seconds. It had been LaSalle’s mother Reine who reminded him that he was still a father, that he had another person to live for just as she had stayed alive for her young son when LaSalle’s father had been killed.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to remind you about your father.” he said
Cassia smiled, “It’s alright. It happened, we just have to get on with it. What’s our next move Javier? Anything from Chronus yet?”
Javier shook his head, “No, early days. He will find out though. LaSalle doesn’t want to move against the Humans until we know exactly who is behind them. Who this Dion is and what his motives are.”
He called out to Beatriz;
“Tesoro, are you finished? It will be dawn soon and Cassia and I still have work to do.”
“Two minutes papa.”
“What work?” asked Cassia, “Can we eat first? I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry. Work first, food afterwards. Come on, you must be cold, you are quite wet.”
“Done!” called Beatriz as Javier jumped to his feet, took Cassia’s hand and hauled her up.
The two of them walked back to the chateau in comfortable silence while Beatriz kept up a cheerful monologue as she skipped along ahead of them.
Javier watched as Beatriz raced down the hall to find her friends.
“Get changed and meet me here in ten minutes.” he said abruptly.
“Yes sir! Right away sir.”
Cassia gave him a mock salute and her most insolent look before running lightly up the stairs fuming to herself in Welsh. One day, thought Javier, he’d find out exactly what she was calling him.
Exactly ten minutes later she was back downstairs in dry clothes.
“I want you to be able to protect yourself Cassia. From now on till this is over you are going to carry a gun. Come with me.”
Her face lost its mocking expression and paled slightly, her big eyes widening before she nodded once sharply;
“If you think that’s necessary Javier.”
Cassia followed him down to the underground corridor she had seen before, past the armoury and through another security controlled door. This place was as watertight as the Bank of England,
she thought; probably more secure actually. They were in a huge complex that was part gym, part firing range. Javier waved a greeting to four foot soldiers who were working out then directed her through an internal sound-proofed door into the range. Reaching behind him he pulled out a small, lethal looking gun.
“Have you ever used a gun before?”
Cassia shook her head and Javier smiled slightly;
“Funny, I hoped you would say that. I chose this one for you because it’ll be a good fit for your hand. I hope it is not needed but I like to be prepared. Now, pay attention; hold it like this, release that like this then lift and press this.”
He was calm and efficient as he demonstrated how to use the gun and Cassia followed his every move intently. Javier handed her the weapon and ear protection then put on a pair of earphones himself. Cassia faced the target and carefully went through the steps he had shown her then fired.
The target zoomed forward on its mechanism and Javier smiled;
“Not bad Cass. You’re a very quick learner. Now try it again like this, excuse me, I’ll just get your line right.”
Standing behind her he corrected her stance and her arms. Cassia forced herself to concentrate. His body was warm against hers and she felt his breath on her cheek as he raised her ear protection and spoke quietly;
“Don’t jerk the gun. Keep it steady and just press gently. Look at your target, not at the gun. Now, try again.”
Dear God, he smelled heavenly. How was it possible to smell that good? Taking a deep breath Cassia focused on the target; he was being completely professional and she was not going to make herself look like an idiot. Stilling her mind and body she fired. Again the target whirred forwards, this time Javier whistled softly;
“Very good indeed. I hope this doesn’t give you any ideas about going into armed robbery Cassia Mathrafal, I have a horrible suspicion you would be pretty good at it.”
Cassia was just about to answer rudely when she saw that he was teasing her. She shook her head ruefully;
“I’m not sure I could kill anyone Javier.”
This time his smile was bleak and he took out his own gun and fired three shots in rapid succession. As the target whirred up to the front Cassia saw that all three shots had gone straight into the centre of the target’s forehead, between the eyes.
“Sometimes Cassia, you do not have a choice. Kill or be killed. I hope you don’t have to do it, ever. Now, show me how you engage the safety.”
Cassia did as she was told and felt a small glow of satisfaction as Javier nodded his approval.
“We come in here and practise again tomorrow.”
He took the gun from her and led her out of the complex. The four guys were still sweating it out in the gym as they left.
As they ascended into the hall there was a low rumble as the shutters rolled down;
“Dawn.” Javier murmured, “Everyone has already eaten. Madame Lemond has probably left us something in the kitchen, I hope that ...”
“Cassia! You poor girl, Max filled me in about your close shave. Darling let’s have a good look at you.”
Rafe crossed the hall and took hold of Cassia, holding her at arm’s length and checking her over;
“I’m fine Rafe, Javier’s been teaching me how to shoot. We were just going to have a bite to eat.”
“Well, you’ve got a good teacher; he’s a damn good shot. Now, come with me, I got Madame Lemond to make up a tray of goodies for you and I’ve raided LaSalle’s cellar for something really special. You don’t mind do you Javier? I assume lessons are over for the day?”
Javier shook his head; “Go ahead; I’ll catch up with you at breakfast Cass.”
Cassia opened her mouth to speak but was swept away by Rafe as he wound his arm round her waist and propelled her towards the dining room. Javier watched them go, fighting the wave of aggression sweeping through him. He had absolutely no claim on her. So why did he want to launch himself at Rafe and rip him to pieces?
As he slammed into the kitchen and raided Madame Lemond’s larder he tried to ignore the words repeating in his head in an endless loop;
Ella es mia, mia, mia, mia…
CHAPTER 10
Cassia sat up in bed, wildly pushing off the covers. Her heart was hammering and her breath was coming in gasps. Rubbing her eyes with her hands she felt the wetness on her face; she had been crying in her sleep. Grabbing her watch off the side table she peered at it; almost two hours till it was a decent hour to awaken. Flavia slept quietly in the other bed, buried in her blankets as always.
She tried to remember the dream. Violent, it had been violent. Someone had died. There had been blood and noise and someone crying, pleading. Cassia sipped some water and sat on the edge of her bed staring at the tall shuttered windows. She refused to believe the nightmares were back. No doubt it was simply an anxiety dream; after all, it wasn’t every day that someone tried to shoot you in the head. She was wide awake now. She got up silently, slipped on her robe and let herself quietly out of the room. She would go down to the kitchen and make herself a hot drink.
Cassia padded down the corridor through the sleeping household; the carpet thick and comfortable under her bare feet. She hadn’t seen Javier again after Rafe had swept her off to dinner. She had enjoyed Rafe’s company; he was charming and intelligent and witty and she had felt herself relax completely as she had eaten the delicious food and drank more than her fair share of LaSalle’s vintage Bordeaux. They had made a date to go across to the mainland to a club he knew. Cassia couldn’t remember the last time she had gone on a date with one of her own kind. Perhaps Javier was right, she wouldn’t find what she was looking for amongst the Humans. What she wanted was more than the romantic Human notions of love; it was the visceral, fierce possessive impulse, the unbreakable bond that joined couples together body and soul. She had seen it in her parents and she had seen it right here with LaSalle and his countess, Max and Katie, Gabriel and Hera.
Crossing the cool marble of the hall she pushed open the kitchen door and stopped. Javier stood at the stove stirring hot chocolate in a pan; its rich aroma filled the kitchen.
“Couldn’t sleep either? Come on in Cass, I’ve made more than I can drink.” Javier spoke without turning around. How did he know it was her? Of course, another indication that she spent too much time with Humans; he had caught her scent.
Cassia hesitated then pulled up a chair at the massive old scrubbed table. Javier brought over two steaming cups of chocolate then went and rummaged in a large cupboard emerging triumphantly with a battered tin;
“Breton biscuits; Madame Lemond’s secret recipe. She tries to hide them from me but I always find them. Try one.”
He sat opposite her, prised off the lid and pushed the tin across the table. Cassia took one and fiddled with her cup, blowing on the chocolate to cool it. It helped her to have a distraction from him. He had stubble on his face and his hair was all over the place; there were shadows under those beautiful eyes and why couldn’t he tie his robe tighter? It gapped, giving her a clear view of golden skin and tightly toned muscle. Lust, that was all she was feeling, pure lust. Well, that was easily controlled.
“Is Madame Lemond another one of the trail of women who fall for your smile and those eyes? I’ve seen you in action remember? In that club in London with the blonde and the redhead. You are a master of the art Javier of Seville. Well, it doesn’t work on me. Why couldn’t you sleep? You look awful.”
Javier laughed so hard he almost choked then wiped his eyes and sighed. Suddenly he was completely serious;
“Well, you certainly know how to make a man feel good Cassia. I was thinking about this situation, slayers, bikers, daggers, rogue Empaths, it just doesn’t make sense. Have a look, have you ever seen one of these?”
He lifted the lid of the flat grey metal box she had noticed on the table. Inside, resting on the plush lining were four ornate black daggers. They gleamed glassily side by side and Cassia reached for one of them
only for Javier to grab her wrist and push her hand away;
“No, do not touch them. It’s too risky. Believe me, they are lethal to our kind. That one there, that is the one that Ferenc Bathory used to kill Gabriel’s brother Andras. Ironically, it was also the dagger that was used to kill Ferenc this summer. I don’t know why we keep them; they should be destroyed.”
“Where did they come from? How old are they?” Cassia stared in fascination. The whole Vampire world had heard of the death of the renegade Ferenc Bathory. It was strange to be here, at the heart of the powerbase that governed their world. The High Council might be their political leaders but everyone knew that without the backing of the warriors on this Island they were powerless.
“Nobody knows for certain. They are magical items. Perhaps more than three thousand years old. The Empaths made them. Legend has it that there were six, made in the Empaths’ old base in ancient Greece. The Warrior’s Council captured these at great cost over the centuries.”
Cassia stared at the gleaming obsidian daggers. They were beautiful objects, works of art. It was hard to believe they were so deadly. Why did they look so familiar?
“So they’re all identical?” she asked
“Yes, why? You look puzzled.”
“Reading me like an Empath again Javier? I think I’ve seen one of these before. Lying somewhere, innocent and innocuous.”
“Well you saw the empty box from Erebus’s safe. Could that be it?” Javier asked.
Cassia shook her head then gave a frustrated sigh and took another biscuit, munching at it absently. Looking up she saw Javier watching her and felt her cheeks flush;
“What? They’re delicious. I just can’t remember but those daggers seem so familiar, as if I’ve seen one before. It’ll come to me. I never forget anything.”
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