The Blood and Light Series (Six Books Boxed Set)

by Rue Volley

  I walked down the hallway slowly and saw the door at the end. It looked as if it may lead to something and that it did. I opened it up and looked around the heart of this vessel, a large open room, bubbled on both sides, allowing the thousands of gallons of heavy water to be seen on either side. I stopped, feeling a bit scared for a moment… like I might drown, like it may just suddenly crack and let all the darkness in. I took a deep breath and decided to face my fear…my fear of water that is. In fact I am still shocked that I agreed to do this, but something in me would not allow us to fly…like a bird. I didn’t want it, and to my own shock I chose to allow myself to taken to the deepest part of my fear… surrounded by my old enemy… water. I must have been desperate, had to be. I would never ever do it freely, I just know it.

  I walked slowly to the middle of the large room and looked up. A beautiful light hung over head, many candle bright lights, wrapped in the same metal that the huge fish consisted of. It looked like a sphere… suspended by several metal poles coming from all around it. I grinned at its craftsmanship, it was truly beautiful and fit the room perfectly. I looked to my right and watched the water rush past the ship. It looked dark and daunting, but for some reason I was drawn to it. I guess that was the way life is. We always want to mess with what we fear the most, maybe just morbid curiosity. I didn’t know. Maybe it was a little bit of pride too, the pride that pushes us to face all the things that tend to try to drag us down.

  I stepped up to thick glass and stared out into the darkness. I couldn’t see anything and we are moving so quickly that even if we did pass something I don’t know if I would actually notice it or not. Perhaps it would just be a blur, kind of like memories, just flashing by without notice. Or better yet, to Johnathan and I… like time itself. I leaned up and cautiously placed my hand to the glass and to my surprise, it did not feel cold at all. It felt warm, like Johnathan. I felt the same vibration… but much, much stronger as I held my hand there and tempted anything to approach me. Then it happened. A huge beast suddenly appeared, I sucked in my breath and stumbled backward as it swam alongside the glass. I tilted my head and focused in on it… it was a whale… huge and ghostly white, beautiful really. It swam as fast as we moved… and I would guess that we were moving quite fast although you could not feel it with the atmospheric controls inside the ship. I stepped up to the glass and I swear it was looking at me. I leaned in and it kept its eye on me, not looking at me like dinner as much as just curious as to what I was. Perhaps I alerted it to my presence when I touched the glass… I don’t know, but as I started to relax and stared at its beautiful body and white skin I felt it, something shifts in me as to how I felt about water. I mean here is this huge thing, looking at me like a friend and for the first time I felt not so much a freak of nature as maybe just one part of it, something small that helped all the wheels turn. Nice to be reminded that you are not the only thing on the planet.

  I turned when a reflection came into view in the glass and there he was. The boy who had suggested that we swim like fish to shore. The tall, dark haired… overly pretty creature that for some reason made me kind of nervous. He grinned at me and I turned back as the white whale left me. I placed my hand on the glass and sighed. I will probably never experience that again…not in the forever that I have to live.

  “You are a whale charmer.” He said.

  I took a breath and turned back to him as I straightened my shoulders and tried to look relaxed.

  “He just appeared.” I said.

  The boy smiled and walked up to the glass and looked out at all the blackness passing by us and I looked at his face. His jawline was defined, his lips a bit pouty, but he looked like a boy, not feminine in any way. He glanced at me and I looked back out the glass to avoid his stare.

  “My name is Josh.” He said.

  “Rue.” I said as I stepped back from him.

  “Like the basis of a stew?” he asked me.

  “Sure, I guess.” I said.

  “Well Rue… basis of a stew, what else can you do, besides charm whales?” he asked me.

  “It’s just Rue.” I said as I took another step back from him.

  Josh leaned forward and grinned, exposing white teeth, his canines crooked in the most adorable way. I caught myself staring at them for a moment and then I blinked.

  “I was just kidding.” He said.

  “Oh… okay.” I said.

  “No humor, huh? That’s okay, some people have it, some don’t,” he said.

  I bit my lip and looked at him as I crinkled my eyebrows.

  “I have a sense of humor.” I said but thinking maybe I didn’t.

  “Mmm, no… I don’t think so. I think you are all business.” He said.

  “Well I don’t know how you would know that, you don’t even know me.” I said.

  He leaned in and I felt a slight vibration in my hands.

  “I would like too.” He said.

  I swallowed hard. I mean he was not hitting on me, was he? I mean no way. I was so not cute enough to warrant a “hit on” and besides that he is human… big no no. I shook my head and grinned, last thing I wanted to do, but I did it anyway.

  “I have a boyfriend.” I said, almost choking on those words. I couldn’t believe that I said that, but then again I think I did it because he is dinner, not a potential date.

  “Really? Okay then, sorry.” Josh said as he took a step back from me and I should have said Goodnight and left but something held me in place. Something about his face and how quickly he annoyed me.

  “Well… it’s complicated.” I said.

  He lit up a little, like someone who just realized that there was a small window of opportunity.

  “That’s bullshit.” He said to me.

  “What?”

  “Bullshit… everything is complicated in truth, but relationships are either on or off.”

  I crossed my arms on my chest and stared at him.

  “It isn’t bullshit, it is what it is.” I said to him.

  “Sounds like you don’t love him.” Josh said.

  “I do, but just in a different way.” I said.

  “What?... like a brother?” he asked me.

  I looked around the room, suddenly realizing that an exit would probably be my best bet.

  “Umm.” I said.

  “So… is it the kid?” Josh asked me.

  I tilted my head.

  “Umm, Elijah is Johnathan’s son.” I said.

  “Oh.” He said, like there was more, but he stopped, just letting that irritating “oh” linger in the air.

  “It isn’t like that.” I said.

  “Well… what is it like then?” he asked me.

  “I think that you are nosey.” I said, suddenly feeling like I needed to take control of this conversation.

  “I just find it funny.” He said as he walked from me and too the bar, he jumped it with little effort and grabbed a bottle from the wall. I stared at him and glanced at the door. I should have left right then and let it go… but he turned and placed two glasses on the bar and looked at me. He poured wine into both glasses and lifted one to his lips and sipped it. I started to walk towards him thinking “Run Rue, basis of a stew… get out now and ignore this boy.”… But no, I walked to the bar and popped up on the stool and looked at my glass.

  “Find what funny?” I said as I touched my glass.

  “Girls.” He said.

  “Oh?” I said as I looked up at him.

  “Yeah… seems you all think that you have to stay, even when you know that you shouldn’t,” he said.

  I rubbed my hand through my hair.

  “I love him, and Elijah needs a Mother.” I said, shocked that I just let that fall out of me.

  “Where is his Mother?” Josh asked me.

  “Dead.” I said.

  “Oh… messy.” Josh said as he drank his glass down and grabbed the bottle.

  “Just a little.” I said.

  “Tell me… what do you want t
o do?” he asked.

  I laughed; I mean that is a loaded question.

  “What?” I said as I smiled.

  “You know… in life.” He added.

  I guess that is a little easier and yet hard at the same time.

  “I umm, I don’t know.” I said.

  “Sad.” Josh said as he grinned at me and leaned on the bar.

  “What do you mean by sad?” I asked him.

  “You are young, you should have some sort of plan… or do you just follow him around and let him decide what you do?” he asked me.

  That’s when it hit me, he was making fun of me and my lack of strength. I stood up quickly and knocked my glass over… it feel to the floor and shattered. I looked down at it and he was to me quicker than I expected him to be. He leaned down and picked up the bottom of the glass and it cut into his finger. He didn’t flinch but I did because I smelled it… the blood that is. It immediately sent a shock wave through my teeth and gums and I turned away from him quickly. He grinned and leaned up into my ear.

  “Does blood make you feel sick?” he asked me.

  I gritted my teeth and turned back to him, slowly opening up my eyes.

  “Yes…it does.” I said as I tried to control myself.

  He smiled and rubbed his fingers together, the blood ran down the side of his finger and I looked at it as my heartbeat shot up. He tilted his head and took a step back from me.

  “Rue?” he asked me as he wiped his fingers on his jeans.

  I looked down at the blood on his jeans and tried to hold my breath.

  “Yes?” I asked him.

  “How long have you been a vampire?” he asked and I looked up at him and my heart stopped in my chest.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” I said as I laughed and backed away from him. He took a step towards me and my stomach growled.

  “I can see it.” He said as he lifted his hand and blood still flowing from the cut on his finger made me grit my teeth.

  “You are crazy.” I said as I turned away from him and started heading for the door.

  He flashed in front of me and it was then I knew, I knew that Johnathan and I were not the only ones in the world as he had told me. Josh stood there and reached for my hand. I pulled it behind me and looked at the floor.

  “There isn’t reason for you to be scared of me, I am just like you.” He said as he placed his finger in his mouth and sucked on it. I looked up at him and my mind was swimming. If he was, how many more are there in the world? And, more importantly… did Johnathan know? I mean, he had told me that we are it, well… now there is Elijah, but I didn’t know exactly what he was as yet. He felt different, but he should, I mean he has Brooke’s blood in him too.

  “How...?” I said to him.

  Josh grinned at me, and if it wasn’t for the ever growing knot in my stomach at this new possibility I would get lost in him… strange and exciting in the most disturbing way.

  “The whale.” He said as he pointed to the large window.

  “The whale?” I said.

  “Yes, you called him to you… I felt it, which is why I came. I felt you in here.” He said.

  “So you felt me? Like my energy, right?” I asked him.

  “Well… yes, we all do. The energy in everything.” He said.

  I stood there feeling so stupid, so unaware of anything. I mean if he and I are truly the same creature, why didn’t I feel him? I should have right? Maybe it is the fact that I have never felt anything but humans, because they are my diet. Dumb… very dumb way to be.

  “I feel humans.” I said as I started to fidget with my hands. He looked down and rubbed his forehead. He narrowed his eyes and I looked up at him.

  “What?” I asked him.

  “You fidget with your hands.” He muttered.

  “Yes… it’s habit.” I said.

  Josh stared at me and I at him, for some reason it felt like deja vu and then the door swung open and Johnathan came in, he stopped and stared at me.

  “Rue… why are you wandering around the ship?”

  I looked at him and shook my head as Josh clinched his fists and turned to face him.

  “Does she need permission from you?” he asked him.

  I stepped up and looked at Johnathan.

  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t sleep.” I said, hoping to defuse the situation.

  “Go back to the room, now.” He said.

  I felt my feet start to move and then Josh did the strangest thing. He held his arm up and stopped me, like he was protecting me. I stopped and looked at him.

  “It’s okay… I need to go back to the room now.” I said under my breath.

  He looked at me and then back to Johnathan.

  “She can do whatever she wants.” He said.

  I sighed, obviously this is not going to be pleasant in anyway. Johnathan stepped towards us and looked past him to me.

  “Elijah needs you.” He said.

  That pulled at my heart. It really did. The fact that I had this growing distrust for Johnathan, did not change the fact that Elijah was in need. I stepped to my right and Josh shifted with me. I looked at him and raised my eyebrows.

  “Excuse me…” I said.

  “Stay put.” Josh said as he stepped towards Johnathan and stared him down.

  “Let me ask you something… do you get off on controlling people?” Josh asked.

  Johnathan grinned and lowered his head, keeping his eyes on Josh.

  “Rue… now.” He said as he raised his hand.

  I looked at Josh and then to Johnathan…I didn’t want a fight, I really don’t. Johnathan didn’t know that he is just like us, and I should have told him, I really should… but something deep in me would like for the situation to just correct itself and for things to settle down.

  “Josh… maybe I should just…”

  Josh interrupted me. “He doesn’t own you.” He said.

  That echoed in my ears for some reason, like it had been sent through a loud speaker… straight to my brain. I shook my head and looked at Johnathan.

  “I want to stay here for a while.” I said, and it felt good to say it. It really did.

  “Rue… I am not asking you.” Johnathan said and that made Josh laugh, almost making me laugh too.

  Johnathan relaxed his hands at his sides and moved his fingers slowly.

  “I know what you are Joshua.” Johnathan said.

  I tilted my head at looked at Johnathan.

  “You what?” I said. He ignored me like I wasn’t even there.

  “Then you know that when I say that she can do what she wants too… that she will.” He said.

  Johnathan took a deep breath and I stared him down. I stepped out in front of Josh and placed my hand on my hip.

  “I asked you a question.” I said.

  “Shut up and go back to the room, I won’t be long.” He said.

  I bit my lip and decided that I didn’t like that at all, his constant dismissal of me, the way he just assumed that he can tell me what to do… nope, not one bit. I felt some anger rising in me… something that I never really felt. It was so similar to what I felt when I rolled out of the car… which was another not like me moment. I mean I had tantrums of sorts, but it was never to the extreme. I honestly cannot remember the last time I stood up to him, and as these feelings started to rise Johnathan stared past me and to Josh. I looked back at Josh and turned back to Johnathan.

  “I think that you should stop acting like an ass… go back to bed and mind you own damn business.”

  Josh laughed behind me, Johnathan did not.

  “What did you say?” he asked me.

  “You… go back to bed and shut the fuck up.” I said, feeling like I should of said that a million years ago.

  “Really?” Johnathan said as he flashed to me and hit me so hard across the face I swear he broke my jaw. I flew from him and hit the bar, another cracking nose ringing out as my spine felt the blow. I cried out and rolled to my side as the
pain welled up, not only in my jaw but also all the way down my spine.

  “Rue!” Josh yelled out as he looked at me and I would

  have warned him about Johnathan charging him but I could not speak, the pain had me pinned to the floor.

  Johnathan flashed around to the left side of Josh and clotheslined him, knocking him onto his back, but just as fast as Josh hit the floor he popped back up, coolest thing I had ever seen really. His body arched all the way back… his head almost touching the floor and he simply pulled himself back up with his legs. I took my first breath since having it knocked out of me and coughed. It did not feel good in anyway, in fact I really think that I am hurt.

  Josh spun on his one foot so quickly that I almost lost sight of him. He raised his hand to block yet another blow from Johnathan and caught his arm, slipping behind him and bending it back beyond the point of breaking. I was surprised that it didn’t because even a vampire can get injured, it was just that we heal… always do. But the bones in his arms should have snapped from the pressure, instead he twisted, his arm too… I heard it pop as his shoulder dislocated and he didn’t even cry out, he just flashed in one huge jump back from Josh and then calmly jerked on his arm and popped it back into place. Josh stared at him and shook his head.

  “Your pain meter broken?” he asked him.

  Johnathan cracked his neck and came at him again. This time Josh pulled out two glowing blades and sliced them through the air, color trailing behind both of them. I watched as my head started to hurt so bad I thought I would cry out from the pain. The color whipped behind his blade as he sliced it in a circle to his side, raising the other over his head. Johnathan pulled out his blades and crossed them in front of him as Josh charged him. Johnathan looked calm, as if nothing really fazed him at all. Josh raised his blade and as he reached him Johnathan uncrossed his blades and they hit, light pulsated in the room. I covered my eyes and tried to pull myself up, my ribs ached and my head hurt so badly I blinked because of the pain. I grabbed the chair leg and jerked myself up, sucking in air as I held my other arm against my chest. I heard someone cry out and looked to see who it had been. Right then I was finding myself on Team Josh… seeing that not only was Johnathan rude, but he had lied and then injured me so badly, I wasn’t sure if I would heal anytime soon.