JAVIER

by Miranda Jameson

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” asked Javier suddenly.

  “Bad dream. Very bad. I get them sometimes. They scare me; big, sometimes bad things always follow. You will be careful won’t you Javier?”

  His expression was suddenly deadly serious and he reached across the table for her hand, taking it in his before she could snatch it away. Cassia felt tears pricking her eyes and spilling over. Why had she told him? It was her dark little secret. The thing that terrified her so much she had never told anyone about it. Her fingers curled around his so tightly she was sure she would crush his hand.

  “You are an augur Cassia? My god, when did it start? Please, don’t cry. Talk to me.”

  “I started dreaming during my adolescence. Always before something big, an illness, a death, a birth, an accident. At first I thought it was coincidence, something to do with the transition into adulthood. You know, all those metabolic changes…all the pain. I never told anyone, things were bad enough in our household with my father’s nightmares.”

  “But they didn’t go away?”

  “No,” Cassia whispered, “It’s like a curse. They are rare thankfully but always come before some momentous event.”

  Now the tears were falling in earnest, dripping off her chin onto the table;

  “I dreamed my father’s death Javier. I watched him, day and night to try to stop him but I got so tired. So very, very tired and then, one day, I dozed off over a book I was reading. He killed himself and Flavia saw it. I blamed myself, secretly. If I hadn’t fallen asleep he might not have done it.”

  Javier had come round the table and now sat beside her, holding her face in his hands, brushing the tears away with his thumbs;

  “What you saw was going to happen, whatever you did. You know that Cass. Nothing you or anyone else could have done would have stopped it. Augurs see what they see. This dream you had, did you see a face?”

  “No. Sometimes I don’t. It isn’t always someone I know that well or care about but in this case it is. I woke up crying. It has been five years since this last happened Javier. I was beginning to hope it had gone away. What if it’s Flavia or my mother or Harry or…” Cassia stopped; she had been about to say “you”.

  Javier stroked her hair back and used his sleeve to dry her eyes;

  “Cass, you could talk to someone about the burden you carry. Someone right here, on the Island. Someone who could help you, who would understand.”

  “And who would that be Javier?” Cassia asked wearily

  “Hera. You could trust her. I trust her.”

  “The Empath? What would she know?”

  “Not just any old Empath Cassia. She is the last of the healing women. Born with unique powers, magical powers. I have seen them. She knows only too well about the duty, the burden and responsibility that comes with having a gift you were born with, that you never asked for. She is the kindest of women, she would listen, understand.”

  Cassia felt a piercing stab of jealousy;

  “You sound very fond of her, I must say! Close are you?”

  Javier’s expression darkened and he shook her slightly;

  “Don’t be ridiculous. She is Gabriel’s bonded consort; they belong to each other. She is my friend Cassia. I can’t believe you just said that, it’s not like you. You don’t hear me asking whether you had a good time with Rafe. He’s certainly got a way with women; you seem to lap it up. I bet the two of you made another date.”

  “Oh, now who’s being ridiculous?” Cassia asked furiously, “How on earth did our conversation degenerate into this childish, petty bickering?”

  “You started it I believe Cass when I was talking about a good friend. Did he kiss you?”

  “What?” They were suddenly glaring at each other aggressively and Cassia felt Javier’s hands wind into her hair and grip tightly; his eyes were almost black and she felt her mouth go dry.

  “Did. He. Kiss. You. Yes or no Cassia Mathrafal?” Javier whispered. Cassia couldn’t tear her eyes away from his as her hands reached up and held onto his arms, digging into the hard muscle.

  “None of your damned business Javier of Seville.” Her voice was a mere thread, the words breathed out.

  When Cassia ran through the moment later again and again in her head she still wasn’t sure who had moved first but suddenly her hands were fisted up in his hair and he had yanked her towards him and they were kissing; deep, desperate hungry kisses that bruised their mouths and stole their breath.

  Her brain seemed to shut down as her body took over completely, answering his. She felt him lift her up and set her down on the edge of the table then hold her tightly against him as if he wanted every bit of himself to be in contact with her. Heat radiated from him and the scent of him filled her senses. They were kissing so deep and so hard she suddenly felt the taste of her own blood in her mouth. Abruptly Javier pulled away and stilled against her and she felt him tighten up all over;

  “Cass.” he whispered as her eyes flickered open, trying to focus.

  He was gazing at her, the pupils hugely dilated in his golden brown eyes and, as he leaned forward to kiss her again she saw his canines descend into his mouth. This time as he kissed her gently, tasting her, she heard him moan, deep and low in his throat. Something was suddenly different; she felt his body tremble slightly and all his muscles were tensed under the gentle caress of her hands.

  His mouth moved along her jaw and then he pushed her robe urgently out of the way as his tongue trailed down the side of her neck till it rested on the spot where her pulse hammered. She felt his teeth graze her skin, sending tiny shock waves shooting through her body.

  “Eres mia, solo mia…” the words were breathed against her neck as he bent her head to one side and centred his mouth over her vein. Cassia tipped her head back and arched against him.

  Javier pulled away from her so suddenly she almost lost her balance, gripping the edge of the table to hold herself upright; her eyes flying open in shock and confusion.

  “Javier? Javier, what…?” her voice cracked and she raised a shaking hand to her mouth;

  He had his back to her and was propped against the kitchen counter holding onto it with trembling hands as if it was the only thing keeping him from falling.

  “Javier? Please look at me. What is it? Please.” Cassia leaned against the table, her legs shaking so badly she doubted they’d hold her up.

  Javier turned slowly to face her, his face drained of colour and his eyes hollow and dazed;

  “This can’t be happening. It cannot happen. How can this be happening with you?”

  Cassia felt misery twist inside her so sharp, so agonizing, it was as though he had stabbed her with his knife then slowly turned it round and round. She heard herself speak as if from a great distance; her voice harsh and grating.

  “You’re right. I’m not Charlotte, I’m just a thief. How could someone like you possibly want someone like me? Don’t worry Javier of Seville, I’m sure it’ll pass. Let’s be grown-ups, let’s just pretend this didn’t happen. Excuse me, I’m leaving. I’m sure Madame Lemond and her staff will be in here soon, you’d better pull yourself together.”

  Rage, disappointment and humiliation were slowly mingling with the misery giving her strength to move. Pushing herself away from the table she walked numbly out of the kitchen, straightening her clothes and hair as she went.

  Cassia moved like an automaton, trudging up the stairs and along the corridor back to her room. If she was quick she could get straight into the shower and avoid awkward searching questions from Flavia. Her sister had an uncanny knack for gauging people’s feelings in an odd Empath like way. She was dimly aware that she passed someone, that someone had spoken her name but she carried on silently; if she stopped, she was lost.

  Javier let go of the counter and lurching across the room almost collapsed onto a chair, burying his face in his hands. Cassia; she was his, only his, he knew it, how could that be? He’d known it in his blood from the minute he’d watched her gazing u
p at that Chagall in the hall; her expression rapt and defenceless. Just now, the craving had hit him so hot and so hard he would have taken her right here, against that table and then he would have taken her blood at that sweet spot on her neck. Claimed her as his alone.

  He had never expected to feel this again. Different from the first time; sharper, hungrier, more desperate. This couldn’t happen, could it? You couldn’t love someone straight away; it wasn’t possible, was it? Anyway, he couldn’t love her, he loved Charlotte.

  What the hell had he done? He thought about the shock and pain in Cassia’s face. She’d never forgive him, never. He didn’t blame her.

  Hauling himself to his feet he picked up the metal box housing the daggers. He needed to return it to the vault. As he headed back across the hall towards the underground corridor he knew he was lying to himself. The body couldn’t lie, blood couldn’t lie. This was the most primal instinct of his kind. No, he wouldn’t betray Charlotte, he’d fight it. Why Cassia? Why not all those other infinitely less troublesome women he had met and bedded in the last few years? Cassia wasn’t even anything like Charlotte.

  “Javier! Javier stop…” Hera called from the staircase, hurrying down to intercept him as he crossed the hall.

  Javier groaned inwardly. Of all the people to run into when you were desperately trying to hang onto your composure; she was the worst. He turned slowly, trying to keep his expression blank.

  “Hera. You are down early querida. What’s going on?”

  She moved closer; her turquoise eyes searching his face;

  “Good question Javier, I just passed Cassia in the corridor. She looked like a ghost and as for her emotions…”

  “Did she speak to you?”

  Hera looked distressed;

  “No, I doubt she even saw me. Her emotions surrounded her like a black cloud. Hurt, misery, anger…Javier, what’s happened?”

  She stepped forward and put her hand on his arm then gasped and snatched it back as if she had been burnt. Javier turned away, unable to bear the dawning comprehension and compassion in her eyes. Powerful Empaths like her were able to sense all your emotions with one touch if they wanted to.

  “Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it Hera. Speak to her though, she could do with your help.”

  “I’m your friend Javier. I’ll be here if you need me.” Hera called after him.

  Javier ignored her and headed down to the vault to secure the daggers. Then he went to the gym, changed into his kit and spent the next hour and a half pounding the treadmill then whacking the hell out of the punch bag until his muscles protested and sweat dripped off him. He stayed down in the gym to shave then stood with his eyes shut under the shower for twenty minutes before changing into clean clothes from his locker and heading back up into the chateau. He needed to apologize to Bee; he had promised to have breakfast with her and look at her latest drawings.

  Madame Lemond supplied him with a substantial sandwich after scolding him gently for missing breakfast. As he wandered into the hall sandwich in hand, Gabriel emerged from the underground corridor and gave him an exasperated look;

  “Damn it Javier, there you are. I have been looking all over for you. Where’s your phone? Chronus is back, did you forget we were supposed to be meeting half an hour ago?”

  Dios, he had completely forgotten. His mobile still sat on his bedside table along with his watch and LaSalle’s pet hate was to be kept waiting. This night just kept getting worse, Javier thought bitterly. He followed Gabriel into the study; he’d go in search of Bee as soon as the meeting was over.

  Things continued their downward spiral. As he entered the room he saw that Cassia was in there as well. She glanced at him dismissively then continued the conversation she had been having with Rafe. Chronus lounged in an armchair sipping coffee and talking to LaSalle who was drumming the fingers of one hand impatiently on his desk. As soon as he saw Javier he jumped to his feet;

  “Fuck, Javier! Where the hell have you been? We have all been twiddling our thumbs here for the last half hour and your beautiful little Beatriz is worried because you didn’t show up for breakfast and she doesn’t know where you are.”

  Javier muttered his apologies and helped himself to coffee as LaSalle glowered at him. It was hitting below the belt for LaSalle to use his daughter against him. Actually, he thought as he sipped his coffee; he was the one being unfair. LaSalle had a soft spot for his little Bee as did his son, Phillipe.

  “Javier, are you alright? Do you need to visit the Donor?” LaSalle asked sharply with genuine concern.

  Javier forced himself into alertness; if he carried on like this LaSalle would be having a private word with him and suggesting a holiday.

  “Sorry, absolutely fine. Didn’t get much sleep, this slayer business was on my mind. I cannot seem to find any logic in what’s happened so far…”

  His eyes slid to where Cassia sat dressed all in black, one foot tapping impatiently in its biker boot. Yes, he needed blood alright, his body was screaming for it. Just not the Donor’s.

  “Chronus…what have you found out? There is something, you look concerned.” Gabriel said.

  Chronus brushed an imaginary speck off his already impeccable suit. It looked like a Tom Ford this time thought Javier; he was obviously branching out from his usual Italian designers.

  “The house we raided belongs, as Cassia said, to an Empath called Erebus. There are four brothers in the House of Erebus. This particular Erebus was calling himself Iason but is in fact an Elder called Draco Erebus.”

  Javier felt a frisson of shock as there was a chorus of exclamations and curses from LaSalle, Gabriel and Rafe.

  “I thought that bastard was dead.” LaSalle said; “The story given out by your lot in Venice was that he had been tried and executed.”

  “Not my lot LaSalle; four decades before I took over the office. There were at least five interim heads in that time; none of them was quite right for the post. Anyway, not executed but discreetly retired. Allowed to live as long as he never set foot in the public arena again. Exiled to England; a country he always hated. You have no idea how deeply this information was buried; it took Aries Achilles’ personal intervention to unlock the records. Even I didn’t have high enough clearance for god’s sake.” Chronus looked seriously rattled.

  “But how could that have been allowed to happen?” asked Javier;

  “He obviously had powerful ammunition. Dirty little secrets people did not want revealed. It is the only answer.” Chronus’s tone was bitter.

  “Sorry, excuse the interruption but who is this Draco Erebus and why are you all so shocked that he wasn’t executed? What did he do?” Cassia was leaning forward in her chair as she looked round at the men in the room.

  Javier met her eyes as she turned to him. He would be the one to tell her;

  “Draco Erebus was head of Intelligence for the Empath High Council during the great conflict and in the three decades following. He made that office feared by Empaths and Vampires alike. Even Humans did not escape his reach. His name became a by-word for torture, death, terror and disappearance. Even their High Councillor at the time did not dare depose him.”

  Cassia’s eyes widened as the colour drained from her face;

  “So he would have been responsible for what was done to my father?”

  “I am afraid so Cassia. Your father and hundreds like him. I am sorry.” Chronus said gently.

  “But… I was in his house. I stole his damned Goya. Flavia was a prisoner there for weeks. And all the time it was the man who destroyed my father, destroyed our family. If I had only known…” Her voice tailed off as she stared unseeing at Chronus, hands clasped tightly together.

  She looked so lost that Javier ached to take her in his arms and soothe the hurt. Instead it was Rafe who leaned over and patted her arm;

  “Don’t think about it Cassia. What could you have done?”

  “I don’t know Rafe. Ripped him to pieces? Snapped his neck? Tor
n out his throat with my fangs? I’ve imagined doing all those things to him from the day my poor father came home.” Cassia’s voice reverberated harshly through the room as she hugged herself.

  “Mademoiselle Cassia, do you wish to withdraw from this business? It would be perfectly understandable given the painful memories that are being stirred up.” LaSalle asked.

  Javier knew what her answer would be even before Cassia sat up straight, her eyes fierce and determined;

  “No. No LaSalle. I’ll see this through to the end, whatever it takes.”

  LaSalle smiled approvingly; “Bien. I thought so. Chronus, what else?”

  “Draco Erebus has a son, Dion. A bit of a disappointment by all accounts. It is unusual for an Alpha Empath to sire a Beta but it did not end there.”

  “Sorry, Alpha Empath…?” Javier asked;

  Chronus laughed dryly;

  “Oh, it is not very politically correct nowadays but for millennia we Empaths have classified ourselves according to the level of our powers. The most powerful are Alphas, all the rest are Betas. Historically, Alphas have always sat at the top of the feeding chain. There was a great deal of snobbery involved. There used to be a handful of rare Super-Alphas. Empaths with magical powers. Now there is only one left…your Hera, Gabriel.”

  “Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about you Empaths…” LaSalle said, “Did you know about this Gabriel? Yes, I see that you did, thanks for sharing. Chronus, what else disappointed Draco about his son apart from his lower level of power?”

  “Drugs, prostitution, racketeering, trafficking, I could go on.” Javier said suddenly;

  “Dion Erebus, now it comes to me. My team and I broke up his operation amongst the Vampire community in this country about a decade ago. He was heading a pretty nasty gang based in Marseilles. It ended in a bloodbath. I lost two warriors and he lost his whole gang and millions of Euros worth of business. The bastard put a bullet through my shoulder. I wonder if he still holds a grudge.”

  “So this may be less to do with slayers and magical daggers and more to do with common crime.” Rafe mused.