CHAPTER 2
AlL I need is a miracle
Emrys rapped lightly on the door and when we entered, standing at the foot of the giant bed, was Emrys’ sister, Amrita and her husband, Larkin. My heart leapt within my chest, and my head whirled as the horrifying truth slammed into my mind.
Emrys stopped me before I could get past them, saying, “Remember what I said; she will be alright.” I didn’t understand why he held me back. This was my sister, and I needed to see her! I yanked my hand free of his and ran to the bed.
Melinda was lying flat on her back, still wearing her red party dress. But it was wet, as was her hair. On the right side of her forehead was a large, purple, egg-shaped knob, the size of a small fist. Within the middle of this egg there was a gash that oozed blood, and her face was ashen and lifeless. Her eyes were closed, though a slight frown seemed set into her brows. She was motionless for the most part, but as I stared in disbelief, she started twitching as though she suffered from seizures.
Nearly hysterical, I cried out, “What happened to her?”
Emrys stood next to me as I sat on the edge of the bed and took Lindy’s cold hand in mine. Larkin spoke first saying, “Gavin found her in the outdoor pond. Apparently she slipped and hit her head, although we are not sure if the injury is causing her to remain unconscious, or if it’s from being under the water too long.”
“How long was she in the water?” I sobbed. I couldn’t lose her, not like this. Waiting for an answer, I felt like I couldn’t breathe; the dry, painful lump in my throat choked me.
Someone from behind spoke in a quiet but urgent whisper and said, “I only left her for a moment.”
I turned to see Gavin sitting at a chair in the semi-dark corner of the room.
“We went for a walk outdoors,” he continued. “She became chilly so I went inside to get her a coat. She insisted on waiting for me. She had been enjoying the night air so...” He paused briefly taking in a pained breath. “She could not get over how bright and beautiful the stars were and she didn’t want to come in just yet. I think she may have been looking up and not watching her footing.”
I looked down at her feet. She still wore her heels.
“Was she breathing when you found her?” Emrys asked.
“No…I had to give her CPR,” Gavin said. “It took a while, but she...” He paused again, obviously racked with guilt. “I don’t know if it was long enough to cause any brain damage… but I don’t believe we have time to get her to a hospital. It’s just too far away to take that chance, and as it is, she stopped breathing twice already. I cannot be sure if she has a concussion, or ...” His voice trailed off.
Panic swelling higher with every moment, I almost screamed, “What’re you saying; she’s going to just die here?” Twisting back to face Emrys, I cried out through my sobs, “You told me not to worry! I thought you said everything would be alright!”
“Elizabeth, please listen,” Emrys said, trying to calm me. “Look closely at Gavin. He has, all this time, been preparing himself for her.” Emrys took me by the shoulders and spun me toward Gavin’s dark corner. “See, even now, he is about ready.”
Searching into the darkness now, I could see that Gavin had a needle in his arm and was draining some of his blood into clear plastic bags.
“My sister doesn’t want to do this! How can you just take it upon yourselves to turn her without her permission?” Every nerve in my body screamed out and my hands clenched into tight fists.
Amrita came to me, put a soft hand on my shoulder, and quietly said, “Elizabeth, the choice is yours. We cannot do anything without your permission. Gavin took it upon himself to be prepared in the event you should say yes. That’s all.” Amrita’s wet-looking hair shone against her pale skin as she reached down, taking my hand, trying to reassure me. “We will do only as you instruct us.”
“What about kids? Melinda wants to have babies someday,” I sobbed. “Is it possible for a Raven to have children?” I knew what Lindy wanted and recalled her firm warning the day we decided to attend the party. She was quite adamant when she realized that our best friend, Fiona had already decided to become a vampire. Assuming that childbearing was impossible for vampires, Melinda wanted no part of becoming one.
Glancing down at Amrita’s hand as she stroked mine softly, her scorpion tattoo wiggled slightly, half mesmerizing me.
“I’m afraid not.” Her words woke me out of my trance. “All female Ravens are sterile; no one understands why it’s possible for the males to father children. We can’t exactly go to the doctor for any tests. I’m sure that science is not quite ready to explore the physical aspects of vampires.” She gave me a thin smile. “But there are other ways to have children, Elizabeth.”
Emrys nodded his head. “Perhaps this discussion could continue another day. But right now, a decision must be made.”
Confusion filled my mind, and so many questions; questions about children, permanent brain damage, and Gavin’s feelings about Lindy. After all, they had just met, and even though I could see their mutual attraction, I had no way of knowing how deep it went. My thoughts were garbled, and too many even for Emrys to decipher into anything coherent. I saw confusion on his face as he attempted to read my mind.
“One question at a time, my sweet wife, one at a time. If there is any brain damage, Gavin’s blood shall heal her. Her heart will be like new. Her forehead shall be fine; there will not even be a scar. And the rest, only Gavin can answer.”
“Gavin, did you and Lindy talk about any of this at all?” I asked, peering into the corner.
“We did, but only from a theoretical standpoint. If she had asked me to turn her, I would have gladly done it in a moment. To be perfectly honest, it would have been wonderful if she had been my chosen one. I did not, however, receive any sign to make myself available for the Signatus before this gathering. We did talk about a lot of things, but her main concern was you, and her sadness at the prospect of separating from you.” He sounded sincere.
“What was the surprise she mentioned, do you know?” I felt horrible, thinking of myself, but if nothing else it was a diversion for the moment. She had told me there was something she wanted to share with me later.
“Yes, I do,” he said in a somber tone.
“Did she swear you to secrecy or something?” I asked, anxious and hopeful.
“No, she planned on telling you herself, but it does concern me,” he said, glancing down at the full bag of blood. I watched him while he switched to the final bag. His white hair stood out against the darkness of the corner he sat in, and his eyes appeared pensive as he concentrated on the task at hand.
“Since Melinda wasn’t ready to be turned yet and since we felt a mutual attraction, she decided to stay on with us as a donor,” he said and then added, “my personal donor.”
His misty gray eyes softened. “My hope was that, in time, we would become mated, I could give her the children she desired, and then she could decide about joining with us permanently.”
“You mean you would marry her?”
“Most definitely, yes; I was smitten with her the moment we met.” He then became even more serious as he said, “Elizabeth, I know this is your decision since she is your sister, but I must encourage you to make a wise choice. You see, even though I did not have the blessing of the Signatus, and Melinda was not chosen specifically for me, I truly believe we would make a compatible and loving couple...but if she dies here tonight...I don’t know what I will do....” his voice fractured and he closed his eyes, shaking his head.
I turned back and stared into Lindy’s pale face. Her breathing was shallow and irregular. “I…just…don’t…know.” The tears returned. No matter what choice I made, someone would suffer.
If we were selfish and gave Lindy eternal life, she would never have children; if we gave her over to whatever may happen; I took the chance of losing her forever. Amrita stepped aside and motioned to her brother.
Emrys came to me and
held my head to his chest for a moment. I looked up at him as the hot tears rolled down my cheeks.
“What should I do?” I whispered. My heart ached and felt like it was ripped apart and shredded to pieces. I could not lose my twin.
He brushed the tears away with one finger, a soft gentle smile appeared on his face, and he said, “You already know the answer, Elizabeth. Your sister will forgive you.”
Then I remembered my very first vision and knew he was right. In my mind’s eye, I had seen Gavin biting Melinda. I had not noticed the purple bump on her head though, and the only explanation I could come up with was that my eyes were on Gavin just before the vision. Maybe this had more to do with him than Lindy. But right now, that didn’t matter. Gavin now stood next to the bed peering first at Lindy and then at me: determination on his face one moment, a question the next.
At that exact moment, Amrita gasped and all of our eyes went back to Melinda. She’d stopped breathing again and her face had taken on a bluish tint.
“Is it too late?” I yelled out, as panic scorched through me like a hot iron.
Gavin was crouched down, ready and waiting - I knew he would spring into action at my very word.
“Elizabeth, he needs your answer, now,” Emrys said, pulling me out of the way.
Before I finished saying yes, the familiar clicking of his emerging fangs echoed in the silence and I watched as Gavin lurched toward Melinda’s neck. I stood there in awe witnessing the exact same view that I had seen in my vision. From this angle, I couldn’t see the large bump; only her closed eyes and her black hair spread out over the pillow, and the back of Gavin’s head. His white hair fell forward mixing with hers as he drained her life force in rapid gulps.
I whispered to Emrys, “How can it work if she’s already dead?” I clung to him with both arms.
“It will. There have been many accounts of Ravens saving people at the brink of death.”
“But she already stopped breathing, Emrys. Are you sure it will work?” I couldn’t understand any of this and for one brief moment I wondered if we should have come to the damn gathering at all.
I felt Emrys tense up and was immediately sorry for my thoughts. But this situation was grave, and I was more freaked out than ever. Just because I wanted this life didn’t mean I had to drag my sister into it too.
As Gavin continued in his unplanned feast I sensed him growing stronger, and as I watched Lindy’s bluish skin begin to fade into a pale white, suddenly my own personal television screen flickered on in my mind’s eye – and I had my second vision.
I saw Lindy sitting outside in a yard, surrounded by three children. The children were no older than 3 or 4 years; two girls and a boy. The girls had long curly blonde hair, the boy’s - short brown curls, and they laughed and giggled as they ran in circles around Lindy. Her face was radiant and she laughed along with them, tossing her head back and forth and pretending to reach out and grab them one by one. Just beyond this grassy area there was a garden and a large patio where two men sat together at a table. One of them had to be Gavin, his white hair unmistakable, but I didn’t recognize the other man. It all happened in a flash, but all at once I knew this was my sign. I knew without a doubt, not only would my sister be all right, but that her future included three children. I had no idea how this could come about, but I had faith that it would, and more than anything, I believed these children were hers.
Still holding me in his arms, Emrys said in a quiet voice, “I told you she would be alright.” He squeezed me tight, and I finally relaxed in his warm embrace.
Gavin stood and went directly to the table where he had left his blood. He poured a small amount into a goblet and brought it over to Melinda. Carefully tipping up the cup, he let a few drops fall through her lips and almost immediately, she gasped, taking in a huge breath. Gavin held the goblet to her mouth and she drank a few sips, though her eyes remained closed. The color in her face went from white to pale pink, and I finally let out the breath I had been holding. And then she drank even more.
I saw the strangest thing then. Melinda’s wet hair suddenly looked dry, and her dress seemed to have steam coming off it as though it dried from the inside out. I remembered the burning sensation I had felt during my own transition, and thought that the heat her body generated must be the cause of it. Gavin gave her a few more sips of his blood and then laid her head back down on the pillow, and I knew she’d be dreaming of Gavin’s life now. I hoped he had a good one. She at least deserved that.
Amrita and Larkin drew closer to us and Larkin spoke just above a whisper, “Now that the crisis has passed, we shall leave you.”
“Please let us know when she has finished transforming, Elizabeth,” Amrita said. “If you feel you need moral support, we will be glad to be witnesses for you when you explain the situation to Melinda. I really do not think there was any other way to alleviate the situation.” Amrita put her hand on my shoulder and kissed my cheek. “You did the right thing for your sister.” A small smile adorned her face and she sounded as relieved as I felt. And then they glided silently out of the room.
Gavin promised to send for us the minute Lindy awoke, and a short time later, Emrys and I walked hand in hand back to our suite. Neither of us spoke; I felt like I’d been run over by a truck and just wanted to rest. Yet as exhausted as I was, there was no way I could sleep, wondering how Melinda was doing.
We sat together on the sofa for a while, chatting quietly. We then decided to watch the sunrise, and to my great delight, I found we wouldn’t have to run indoors the minute it made its appearance.
“I always thought vampires were supposed to melt, or explode once the sun hit their skin,” I quipped.
Emrys came back with a slight chuckle. “That is a myth, my sweet. For the first few days after transitioning, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. You may find you burn a bit easier, but once your body is accustomed to your new blood flow, you will be fine. Although one would suppose that the myth originated in the small percentage of vampires who do, on rare occasion, experience sun-sickness. But even those who succumb to the sickness only experience slight headaches and eye irritations, a general weakness or loss of energy, and only if they have not remained hydrated.”
He didn’t have to explain what was used to stay hydrated. I understood immediately that he meant blood.
We stepped out onto the veranda with blankets and glasses of champagne, and after turning the lounge chairs to face the eastern sky, we made ourselves comfortable. The air was a bit chilly in the pre-dawn glow of morning. I wrapped myself up in my blanket; Emrys draped his over his legs. Silent and reflective, we sipped our wine, watching the horizon change.
Beyond the tree line the dark blue sky began to lighten - first a lighter shade of blue, and then violet. As the sun climbed bit by bit, the colors appeared like an artist’s canvas: streaks of blues, purples, pinks and finally yellow. The thin wispy clouds, at first faint and white, slowly grew to be outlined in bright pink. The transformation of the sky from darkness to daybreak was spectacular and absolutely breathtaking and it felt like I was seeing it for the first time.
When the sun finally became visible over the tree line, it glowed with rays of bright yellow, lighting up the veranda in an amber gold. Glancing around, I now realized the porch was a lot larger than I had thought. There was another set of lounge chairs to the left side of the doorway, and two glass tables with four straight chairs around them. Each table had a hurricane lamp for a centerpiece, and up above us on the wooden slats, hung two ceiling fans. I could picture coming here in the summer time and eating breakfast outdoors, surrounded by sunshine and flowers.
When the sun climbed high enough to cast shadows it started to feel warmer. I became so warm in fact, that I had to unwrap myself from the blanket, and within minutes my skin was uncomfortable. I pushed my chair farther back into the shade and draped the blanket over the arms of the chair leaving a space between my skin and the sunlight, hoping the canopy would b
e enough protection.
Emrys smiled. “We can go inside now, if you like, my love. Perhaps you are hungry. Would you like me to order some breakfast?” he asked. In the sunlight, his sleek hair shone smooth as black satin. I gave him a smile while shaking my head.
“No thanks. I think I’ll just have some more fruit. Are you hungry?”
“Only for you,” he said raising an eyebrow and grinning suggestively.
Although the thought intrigued me, I knew Lindy would be waking soon, and I wanted to be there to explain what happened and hopefully to help her understand.
“I am not serious, my love,” he said in a soft voice. “I know that once Melinda is awake, you wish to see her. If you like, we can go check on her now.”
I had lost all track of real time, and couldn’t remember seeing a clock in ages. I was amazed to even remember it was Saturday.
“Alright,” I said, throwing off the blanket and standing half in the daylight. I suddenly felt the blazing sun sear my left hand and jumped back into the shadow. “Ooh! That is hot!”
“This is but a temporary effect,” Emrys said, standing to open the door, and putting a hand on my arm. “You shall see in time; the sun may feel warm right now, but it will not always burn like this.” I understood now how the myth originated.
He followed me inside and, before heading downstairs, I took a detour into the bathroom. While standing before the sink washing my hands, I glanced into the mirror and chuckled. I had to admit, it made me happy to see my reflection; debunking yet another myth. I’d hate not being able to see how I looked. Running my fingers through my hair, which amazingly, still looked great since my last shower, I thought:
I wonder when I’ll be thirsty for more...blood…?
When I opened the bathroom door, Emrys stood there holding a glass out to me with a bright smile on his face. “Here, this ought to hold you for a bit longer.” He kissed me once on my mouth and then took his turn in the bathroom.
I waited downstairs on one of the large sofas, munching on some leftover grapes and sipping the half glass of Ambrosia. This donor blood wasn’t anything like Emrys’ blood. Not even close. His was rich and sweet. It was amazing to me that I even remembered what the Ravens called their donor blood. After all, I had barely read the pamphlet they’d given us on the yacht.
The Ravenswynd Series - Boxed Set Page 26