Taste For Blood: Pour (Nephil-Vamp Series Book 2)

by Jenna Bernel

  "And by here, you mean the Gifted ones are somewhere else?" I urged him to elaborate.

  "The full-blooded Nephilim, live in a protected place, my home. We don't even know who carries the recessive gene out here anymore because the bloodlines are so diluted, we can't even sense they are anything, but human." Alec slowly pulled the car over for no apparent reason, and vehicles honked rudely as they whipped past us, but I barely noticed. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, and a sinking sensation hit me in the gut.

  "So why do I have Nephil Gifts?" My heart started to beat faster, and my palms began to sweat.

  "This is actually one subject I am forbidden to speak of. You'll know more when I take you to our home," he said, facing me in my seat, hoping I'd let it go, but I think we both knew better.

  "Forbidden to speak of, why? Tell me, Alec. Why do I have full-blooded Nephil Gifts?" I demanded, becoming more freaked out by the second.

  "I can't say, I am under orders." He slumped, looking disappointed.

  "Now you're all secrets again? I don't give a shit what your orders are. I have a right to know! This is my life, not anyone else’s, and I will not have it controlled on someone else’s timetable. Tell me right now, why do I have Nephil Gifts?!" I shouted, breathless.

  "I'm going to regret this…" Alec said, tilting his head back into the seat.

  "Tell me…" I pleaded, taking his hand.

  "You have to have at least one parent who is full-blooded in order for the Gifted Nephil gene to appear in the offspring," Alec began. The concept was totally beyond my reach, and he had to wait a second for me to catch up.

  "But my brothers don't have Gifts, so both my parents can't have the gene… Then how can I have Gifts if they..." I stopped short as the light bulb went off, and my insides churned as the ugly truth cut into me like a knife.

  "Are you telling me that those aren’t my parents?" I asked as bile began climbing up my throat.

  "Yes, of course they're your parents, Dani. They love you. It's just… one of them isn't technically your biological parent." Alec skirted around it, trying to soften the blow. It didn't work.

  "Are you saying I'm the product of another horrible affair my father had? And my mom raised me as her own?" I was on the verge of throwing up. I'd never speak to Bill Madison again, never.

  Alec blew out a long breath. "No, Dani. You're a product of love. Nineteen years ago, your mother fell in love with another man. Your father isn't who you think he is." Alec cleared up my assumption, which left me gasping for breath.

  "What? My mom had an affair first?!" I couldn’t breathe. I couldn't think. This was too much.

  "I know, I'm sorry I had to be the one to break the news," Alec said, clasping my hand tighter.

  "Let's go, I need to see my dad. Let's go to the restaurant right now!"

  "I don't think that's a good idea, Dani. You need some time to calm down before you blurt it out to your dad in middle of his restaurant that you know you're not really his," Alec said calmly.

  "Just drive!" I shrieked, and Alec put his foot to the floor, knowing I'd jump out and run at full super- speed if he didn't.

  *****

  Alec pulled up to Madison's, our family's most famous restaurant, the one I was practically raised in, although now, it just looked foreign to me. I wasn't a Madison like my father and my brothers. I was the random Nephil child of a full blood who lived in a protected city, whom I'd never met! I had to see my dad. I had to make it real, because I felt like I could slip out of existence, or never have existed in the human world in the first place. Maybe my whole life was only an illusion all along.

  I jumped out of the car as soon as it slowed down enough and didn't wait for Alec to give the keys to the valet. I threw the door open, taking the marble steps two at a time to the top of the staircase, where the restaurant opened into the dining room. My dad was leaning over a table of two guests, and laughing as he poured their wine, and I froze. He was there. That was my dad, and I wouldn't believe anyone telling me otherwise.

  How could I talk to him about it? How could I tell my own father that I knew I didn't belong to him after he spent most of his life taking care of me, and our whole family? He saw me at the stairs, and his face crumpled with worry when he caught my expression. He handed the wine to a waitress and ran over to me. My face must have really scared him because I never saw him run before in the restaurant in my life.

  "Dani? What is it? What's wrong? Is it Conner?" my dad asked, hugging me protectively, and I almost started to cry. I was speechless as he pulled away. He looked at me, sick with worry if I didn't tell him what was going on, and all I could do was shake my head that it wasn't what he thought. The way he looked at me showed genuine care and love in his eyes. Would he ever look at me the same way if he knew what I knew? Would he disown me and kick me out of the house for a mistake my mother made so long ago? I couldn't believe I'd spent so many years, verbally punishing him for his misdoings, when all the while, he was raising a child from my mother's secret affair, and he didn't even know it.

  "Come on, let's go to the chef's table and talk," he said gently, guiding me down the hall. We came into the private room I swore I would never enter again, not after catching him in there making out with Missy, but I didn't try to resist. I still couldn't speak, or even look at him. I felt so ashamed. How could my mother do that? I had always been on her side, but this only proved further that I belonged nowhere, not even in my own family. He sat me down at the table, facing the beautiful view of the lake. The orange and caramel light was quickly disappearing like melting candy behind the glowing water. He sat down across from me and took my hands.

  "Dani, are you okay? Look at me please," he said, and I brought my eyes to his, just now realizing how little I looked like him or my mother. I must look like… I couldn't finish the thought. Right then, I felt Alec's presence in the room.

  "Hello? Can I help you? I'm with my daughter right now," Bill said, miffed that a diner would wander back here uninvited, and Bill was never rude to costumers. Hearing the words my daughter so proudly uttered through his lips was like another twist of the knife.

  "Sorry to interrupt. I'm Alec, Dani's friend from school. I brought her here, but I can wait in the car," Alec said, and I turned from the table to look at him. He gave me a warm smile that told me, do what you think is best. I sighed, feeling calmer with his support, which I suddenly didn't need. I wasn't ready to ruin my dad's life too. Mine was already messed up enough, and our family had been through more than their fair share of turmoil as it was. Alec exited and I returned my attention to my dad.

  "Who is that boy, Alec? I don't recognize him," Bill said, eyeing him as he walked away, just like any father would if his daughter brought around an unknown male. I couldn’t bear the thought of him thinking of me any other way. I spent so much time shutting him out, and now all I wanted was to claim him as mine. He was my dad and no one could take that away from me.

  "He's new at school, but we're just friends," I assured him, my throat still scratchy with emotion.

  "Are you going to tell me what's the matter? Does that boy have something to do with it?" my dad asked with trepidation. I wondered if he thought I might be knocked-up or something, and I smiled, squeezing our clasped hands with reassurance.

  "No, I'm just… I was worried. I didn't want you to think I was mad at you and charged up the credit card to get back at you for dating Missy," I said with a half-smile.

  "I always think you're mad at me, Daniella, but I'm glad to hear otherwise. Why? What did you buy that will keep me from retiring early?" he asked sweetly, and my heart sunk. He may not have been father of the year, but I certainly wasn't winning any "Greatest Daughter in the World" title either.

  "I bought my Homecoming dress at this designer couture shop, and I didn't want you to get the bill, thinking I did it out of spite," I confessed. I conveniently left out the part about skipping school to shop most of the day. It was well past five, so he wouldn't
know it took all day to find the gown of my dreams.

  "Designer, couture… I don't know a lot about fashion, but I do know that means dollar signs. Do you love it?" he asked, smiling.

  "Yes, it's the most amazing dress I've ever seen," I said shyly.

  "Then I can't wait to see it. Thanks for the heads-up about the bill, though. I don't get to the gym as often as I'd like, and I don't want to give the ol’ ticker any unexpected shocks," he joked. I froze, my face falling again. Yeah, I definitely wasn't going to bring this up right now, or maybe ever. I stood up and went around the table, giving him a bone-crushing hug.

  "Thanks, Dad," I said into his shoulder while squeezing him tighter.

  “Are you sure you're okay? You usually don't let me buy your affection with clothes. Should I still be worried?" he questioned half-joking, and I laughed a little into his hug.

  "No, I'm fine, Dad," I said, sighing. It was a huge lie because I was not fine at all, but I considered this just more pain and secrets I'd have to keep tucked away. I stepped out of the hug, trying to muster up a smile.

  "And you're calling me Dad again, without sarcasm? All right! Take it all," he said in jest, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket to hand to me, and I smirked. I couldn't remember the last time he joked like that with me. Was it me all along? Could we have been a happy dad and daughter team, if I could have just forgiven his affair and moved on like the rest of my family?

  I pushed his wallet back toward him, "I'm going to say hi to Will, and then I'm leaving. I'll see you at home." I gave him a kiss on the cheek as I passed, to test the theory, and he slapped his hand up to the spot like he couldn't believe it.

  "That's it. I'm checking your mattress for drugs when I get home," he teased as I walked out of the room. Then, turning back, I gave him my best doped-up face before waving goodbye, and he laughed again.

  I felt disgusted with myself. Was I really the cause of all my misery? And spreading it to whomever I thought deserved it? In a two-minute conversation with a man I had written off years ago, it now felt like our whole relationship changed with the shift of my perception. Maybe there really was something wrong with me.

  I popped my head into the kitchen to see Will rushing around as the dinner crowd filtered in. It wouldn't get really busy for another hour or two, so I thought there was still enough time to bug him for a minute. I stopped short before I said hello, realizing he was only my half-brother now. What was it with my life and the halves? Half-Madison spawn, half-vamp, half-Nephil: why was life so complicated?

  "Hey," I said, trying to camouflage the sadness in my voice.

  "Hey, what's wrong with you?" Will asked, looking up from chopping. "Fire, twenty-two," he shouted out before I could answer.

  "What do you mean? I'm fine," I said defensively.

  "You sound weird," he corrected himself, and my heart pinched a little. He knew me too well.

  "It's nothing, just boy troubles." I lied. Well, technically not a lie, but the realization that family would never mean the same thing again was much more devastating than your average relationship woes.

  "Yeah, Leaha and I broke it off," he countered, like he was feeling my pain.

  "There's a surprise," I said sarcastically, and he pointed his knife at me in a "watch it" manner, but I caught his smile. We both knew he was into playing the field and never got very attached to his lady of the month.

  "You staying for dinner?" he asked, stopping his task to look at me.

  "No, I should get going," I said, making no attempt to leave. I wanted to hug him and tell him I loved him, and that he would always be my brother, but if I did, my dad really would ransack my room for drugs.

  "Here, take a plate with you," he said, putting some food in a container for me and handing it over. I gave him a hug, stifling a tear before turning to leave.

  "Did you tell him?" Alec asked as I sat in the car idling at the curb with the container of food sitting on my lap, and I shook my head dishonorably.

  "I couldn't…" I trailed off, looking out the window as we pulled away.

  "I'm here if you want to talk, or ask more questions," Alec offered. I shook my head again.

  "I need some time alone with this..." I said, mostly to myself. I thought I was still in shock. I sat back and stared out the window as snowy sleet began pelting down on the glass. The gloom was fitting, it was comfortable, and I remained mentally in the fog the whole way home.

  Chapter 11: Waving the White Flag

  Hey do you mind if I come over? Evan texted me while I was lying in bed, staring at the wall, wishing I could switch lives with someone else for just one day.

  Sure, I texted back, looking forward to the distraction.

  Alec dropped me off so I could be alone and get some rest before he met me in my dreams, keeping up his end of the deal to teach me about my Nephil Gift. Apparently, one of the side effects in Cloud Crashing is that you're too conscious to get real REM sleep, so you lose that sleep time, even though you're not technically awake. After Roman appeared in my dreams all last week, it explained why I felt so tired and drained, like I hadn't slept at all.

  Inevitably though, as soon as I lay down, the thoughts started to drift in about who my real father was. After that, I couldn’t get a wink of rest. I didn't ask Alec who he was. I didn't really care, even though my mind was previously obsessing over it. I had a father. I didn't need to know about the one who had had an affair with my mom only to knock her up and leave her to lie to her husband and children. I heard the door of my balcony open, but I didn't need to look up to know that it was Evan. He always smelled of freshly cut grass like the baseball fields he spent so much time in.

  He came by my bedside and looked down at me. "Are you really sick? Kate said you just ditched school to get a dress for Homecoming." Evan hovered over me with a scrunched forehead since I must’ve looked like a depressed puddle, huddled under my covers.

  "No, I'm not sick, just tired. But I did get a dress," I said, snuggling deeper into my pillow, trying to pretend like this whole day didn't happen.

  "Oh, that's great," Evan said, taking off his wet fleece and shoes. I heard the pattering of the sleet hitting my windows; and knew it must be really nasty outside.

  "The whole group is going together on Saturday. Dale got the limo, but I didn't ask how," he quipped, starting to sit down on my bed. He hesitated as if he weren’t sure if that was okay now. I pulled back my blanket to let him know he could climb in. Maybe this forgiveness stuff wasn't so much about saying the words, and more about actions. Just like the act of apologizing means more when you do something to make it right, and not just saying you’re sorry. At least, I was trying. Evan smiled, lying down beside me and pulling the covers over us.

  "By the whole group, would that include Harper and Alec?" I asked, reaching out to comb through his dampened hair that looked black when it was wet. It had a striking effect this way, contrasting with his warm chocolate eyes.

  "Yes," he said, scooting in closer and taking my gesture as a sign.

  "Great," I grumbled, laying my head on his chest. He dipped his cheek to rest on top of it. And there we were, right back where we started in middle school, when Evan Clark first started climbing up my balcony. Except now, it felt much more intimate than it ever did when we were younger.

  "I know. Harper is acting totally weird, almost nice. Do you think she's going to go all Carrie on us at the dance and just snap?" Evan asked into my hair, and I tilted my head up to look at him.

  "I'm not worried. You're the one who has to dance with her when you're both crowned," I said, smiling. The Homecoming king and queen always shared a dance after the crowning. He locked his arm around my neck and gave me a fake noogie.

  "Hey!" I said, batting at him, and he laughed, hugging me tighter, while smoothing my hair back, so he could rest his cheek there again. I could tell he was relieved to be back here with me.

  "We don’t know if I'll be king. Here's hopin' Jake gets it," Evan said, settli
ng back into our relaxed hug.

  "It'll probably be Dale, after all of the parties he's been hosting to claim the title this year," I suggested, and we both laughed, knowing that wasn't going to happen.

  "As long as I get to dance with you too, I'll be happy to suffer the consequences."

  "We're going together. I think you're entitled to a couple of dances," I replied casually, trying to ignore the intensity building between us.

  "Good," he said in a sigh, rubbing his hand in soothing circles on the small of my back. It was something he had done many times before, but it felt different now, closer somehow, and butterflies started to flutter in my stomach. I pulled away to look at him, to see if he felt it too. He smiled, and his eyes filled with warmth and caring, those milk chocolate eyes that had tiny flecks of green, if you looked really close. I wondered if anyone but me ever looked that closely into his eyes.

  He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, but this time, let it lie on my cheek. "Do you mind if I stay tonight?" he asked quietly, as if he were afraid I'd say no.

  I wanted to say no, in my mind, but my brain didn't speak up and, "I want you to stay," escaped hoarsely from my throat, with my heart ruling my words. I had a rough day; I was no longer my father's daughter. Evan, more than anyone else, understood that part of my life. He related to having a family who caused resentment and pain, and more than anything, I really did want him here tonight, making it okay again, reassuring me that I was part of his family, if nothing else.

  He smiled at my answer and picked up my hand, kissing the top, and letting his mouth trail over my fingers as he let go. A spike of adrenaline coursed through me at his touch. He looked at me for a moment to see how I reacted. There was something much more than friendly about it, and we both knew it.

  I didn't say anything. I didn't move, I just looked at him, realizing our relationship was changing. Was it he or I changing it? I wasn't sure. I swallowed, the butterflies now taking over my insides, and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I was even ready for this.