Given their age difference, Marcus and Jacob posed as an undertaker and his apprentice. No one in the town would guess they were mates. Amaia had gathered that they detested feeding from living humans without killing them, so they had taken to drinking the blood of the dead who were delivered to them. She couldn’t fathom how that could be at all satisfying. Then again, she had survived for decades off of energy alone, so she couldn’t really pass judgment. She supposed, given the way they chose to live their lives, their cover as undertakers was quite ingenious.
“So you’re the one all the fuss is over. Perhaps we should kill you now and end all of this.” Marcus’s voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it contained a menacing undercurrent. He sat across from his guests in an armchair with Jacob standing slightly behind him. Amaia felt Michael tense beside her on the sofa. Meg sat on a footstool in front of Liam’s chair. The parlor above Marcus and Jacob’s business appeared perfectly normal and mundane.
“They’re just testing us, Michael. They wouldn’t attack all four of us.”
“They’d have no problem disposing of our bodies. I doubt people of their age have use for idle threats.”
“If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. Besides, I don’t take you as the type of men to follow orders from anyone, especially Zenas.”
Fire leapt in Jacob’s eyes. Amaia doubted he harbored any affection for his fellow ancient who had chosen such a different path from his own. However, he appeared content to let Marcus speak.
“Perhaps we want to kill you for our own amusement. That is, unless you plan to amuse us some other way. We’re not accustomed to welcoming clan members into our home. You’re here on the strength of our respect for Meg and Liam.”
“It’s good that you don’t lie directly. It’d be much harder to hide. Nevertheless, it isn’t wise to lie to me at all. Your energy gives you away. You respect me, or at least my reputation.” And she’d just demonstrated that her reputation was well founded.
Jacob broke his silence. “You make a lucky guess. Our energy is much too subtle to read such a thing from it.”
“Oh? You don’t respect me? Well, I can change that.” Amaia spoke with more boldness than she felt. She gambled with their lives by attempting this, and she’d never really manipulated a vampire’s aura much, but in theory, it couldn’t be that different from working with a human’s. She reached out with her own energy to the muted vibrations coming from the stolen life flowing through Jacob’s veins. He didn’t lie; their energy was more subtle than most. She wondered if it came from the fact that they drank blood from the dead. Perhaps that was why they did it.
Thankfully, she had been correct. Jacob did hold some respect for her. That made her job immeasurably easier. She would only have to amplify the feeling rather than create it from scratch. There was plenty of energy to work with, even if it was muted. After millennia spent together, his bond of love to Marcus had a strength she’d never felt before. With a little coaxing, she took some of that energy and fed it into the respect he already felt for her.
Jacob’s eyes widened. “The rumors about you are true.”
Amaia tried to keep her relief from showing. “Yes, they are.”
“That certainly changes things. I’ve never been one to indulge in idle gossip, but this is an entirely different matter.” Jacob slid into a chair next to his mate. “So tell us what brings you here.”
Liam stepped in at this point and outlined exactly what had occurred with Zenas and Lawrence and what the four of them wanted to do about it. Amaia was grateful for his explanation. The men clearly held a respect and admiration for him. She felt confidant they’d get further allowing Liam to take the lead. After he finished, less than a second passed before Marcus spoke.
“We don’t really care about the clans. They don’t bother us, and we don’t bother them.”
“But doesn’t the tribute system bother you?” Michael spoke for the first time. She hoped Marcus didn’t hear the note of desperation beneath the firm line of his voice, but she knew he could.
Marcus laughed. “Boy, we have never paid tribute to any clan and never will.”
“How is it that you don’t have to pay?” Michael asked.
“That would be due to my past with Zenas,” Jacob said. “I sired his sire. Zenas has always been headstrong and hungry for power. I advised my son to keep him on a tight leash. Zenas didn’t like that, so he killed his maker. Afterward, he approached me with an offer of friendship. I saw it for the lie it was and declined. In my refusal of friendship, I made it clear that he was dead to me, and he had better keep his distance if he didn’t want to be dead to the world as well. The other clan leaders fear any man Zenas does, so we’ve been left alone.”
“So the rumors about him are true as well.” Amaia had known they were true. Zenas, who always placed such a high premium on loyalty to a sire, had never even mentioned his.
“If there’s ever been a chance to disband the clan system, this is it. It could be millennia before another opportunity like this arises, and by then, there’s no telling how strong the clans will be.” Liam spoke with the same level practicality as always. No passion entered his voice.
“You speak about millennia casually for someone who has never lived even one. Perhaps this conversation would proceed better if you returned after surviving a few. The change you speak of won’t come. This time is no different than all the others that this has been attempted.” Jacob’s bored countenance made it seem as if he heard such proposals on a regular basis, but Amaia felt hope for something in his aura.
“This time is different, old friend. The difference is Amaia. She is a figure the nomads will rally around.”
“We don’t dispute that. She’s become something of a legend in her short life. Therein lies the problem. We will not trade Zenas’s clan for one ruled by one of his descendants. We hold no love for Zenas, but at least we know him. The great paradox of this matter is that the effort needed will require the loyalty of those fighting with you. That very loyalty will result in the creation of the very thing you’ll be fighting against.”
“Amaia has never sought any power in the vampire world. Even now, we’re not suggesting she be any type of leader, just a standard-bearer. When this is over, all we want is to live in peace. That’s the whole reason we’re willing to fight.” Michael showed wisdom in not lying to them. To say that Amaia had never sought power at all would be misleading. As a mortal, she had sought power plenty of times, and as a vampire she had sought power in the mortal world. However, she had never desired to exercise any control over other vampires.
“Then why are you with her if this isn’t the start of a clan?” Marcus directed his question to Meg and Liam.
“I am with Amaia out of friendship. We enjoy our time together.”
“And I go where my mate goes. But make no mistake—this isn’t a clan. I hold no loyalty toward Amaia. I would protect her only to save my mate from the pain of her death, but I would not sacrifice or even risk my life for her.” Liam said what Meg truthfully couldn’t. Amaia was glad that Liam had always been clear about this point. It saved them in this instance.
“Of course, just as we have no objection to the clans, we also have no objection to their demise. We will have to choose our side in this matter based on self-interest. I’m tempted to sit back and watch this all happen from afar, but no doubt we will soon be getting more visits from nomads seeking our position on the matter. Perhaps if you had something of worth to give us for our support…” Jacob eyed Amaia. She felt a trap being laid, but it was Meg who triggered it.
“What could we possibly have that you’d want?”
“You? Nothing. Amaia, on the other hand, has something we very much desire.”
Her abilities. Lawrence had trained her never to teach or even reveal their full extent to anyone. He had no need to learn them because Amaia having them was the same as him having them. She’d only revealed them to Meg and Liam because
she knew they’d never have any desire to learn. Nothing good could come from others being able to manipulate energies. The only thing she could envision worse than the clan system for the vampire race was the havoc it would wreak if vampires could manipulate humans into doing their every whim.
Jacob had to know that. He’d lived too long to believe otherwise. She doubted he spoke out of his own selfishness, even though she could tell he didn’t lie about desiring them. Then again, he hadn’t explicitly said what he desired. A convenient omission.
“No.”
“I’m sorry?”
“No. I won’t teach anyone how to do what I do. The only reason anyone even knows is because Lawrence wanted it that way. No good can come of teaching others. My skills in the hands of someone who craves power could lead to unfathomable destruction. In exchange for your support, you get a realistic chance at the destruction of the clan system as it exists today. No more, no less.”
A smile slithered onto Jacob’s face. “Well done. You have our support. We’ll take care of this area and spread the word. You may return to the Continent and recruit there. Make no mistake, though, once Zenas hears of our involvement, he’ll know what you’re planning.” Jacob stood, and Marcus joined him.
Liam shook each of their hands. “Thank you.”
“That’s it?” Michael asked as the rest of them prepared to leave.
“What? You want to stay for tea?”
Once outside, Meg twirled around to face Amaia, her face alight with a smile. “That went well. We should eat before we head back.”
“Yes, but not here. We’ll eat closer to Dover.” Liam put his arm around Meg’s waist in an uncharacteristic display of affection. It was the first outward hint of how worried he had been during the meeting.
As they left Crawley, Amaia looked toward London. She longed to visit her old home. Nostalgia had never played a large role in her life, but after everything she’d been through with Lawrence and fighting for Michael, she found herself wanting to see where it had all started, to reminisce about her time there, to explore paths she might have taken. She could mask her aura, make herself appear to be human. No vampire would be able to find her.
But that wasn’t fair. She couldn’t place the others in danger, especially when they did so much for her and were willing to do yet more. Besides, she probably wouldn’t even recognize London with all the changes since she’d last lived there. The King’s Head, where she had first met Michael and fallen in love with him, was likely long gone. Hampton Court Palace, on the other hand, would remain.
She turned her face to Dover—toward the future—with Michael and friends by her side. She’d feel better after she’d eaten.
Chapter 25
“There’s a tavern up ahead.” Michael nodded to a sign with a red lion painted on it swaying in the wind. A storm had rolled in. While the clouds hadn’t opened yet, they darkened the sky. The smell of the coming rain hung thick in the air.
If there was one thing Michael loved about his native country, it was the ease with which one could always find a tavern. They still hadn’t eaten, and this would be their best opportunity. Taverns held a great selection for the others to feed from, and a high concentration of people meant there was a higher chance Michael would find someone with a suitably evil aura to kill.
Michael never simply fed, he always killed, and always men with evil auras. And after each one, he had the same feeling that he was fulfilling his part as an instrument of God. It gave him a sense of purpose.
Amaia didn’t allow herself such luxury, despite Michael’s encouragement. She said she didn’t want to tempt herself with the killing high. Since they’d been on the move, Amaia had taken to feeding normally. There was little risk since they didn’t stay in one place for any length of time, and the four of them together could defeat anyone who hunted them. Vampires didn’t travel in large enough groups to prove a threat. Unlike Michael, she had no moral objection to killing the innocent and worried that he would despise her if she strayed from simply killing the evil. While the idea of innocent people dying did turn his stomach, he didn’t think he could ever despise Amaia. Knowing what she had done in her past, he felt sure he already would if he were going to.
As they approached, Amaia said, “It feels like there will be someone there for you.” She still had a greater range and sensitivity to energies than he did.
“Even if there’s not, you all can feed, and then I can hunt if need be.”
The first stinging raindrops fell as they entered the tavern. A large fire roared in the fireplace at the far end. Rough-hewn tables and chairs filled the floor. Almost every seat was taken. Even a human would be able to hear the raucous chatter and laughter from outside. This was a factory town, and apparently the Red Lion was the preferred place for the workers to relax after a hard day’s work. Families gathered together, children and mothers meeting their men for some socializing with the rest of the town.
Meg and Liam dispersed, as did Amaia, searching for easy targets. It’d be difficult to convince anyone to go out in the rain, so they’d have to be even more subtle. A drink could be had before and after leaning in to whisper in someone’s ear. Kissing the neck was the preferred method, so that would involve some seduction. It would take time before the others got their fill. For Michael, the process was straightforward. He’d lure the person away and remove them from the building by force, killing them outside. No need for nearly as much subtlety.
Michael felt an undeniably evil aura. He scanned the room for his target. In a space with so many people, it would take a moment. His eyes immediately went to some of the rougher-looking men, but he didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary from them.
He grabbed one of the few empty seats to continue his search without blocking the doorway. One by one, he eliminated each person down the rows of chairs. He got to one man who he thought might be the source, but his aura passed his check. He was close though. Must be the man’s wife. No, she passed as well. He moved on to the next man but couldn’t help feeling that he drifted farther from the target. Perhaps he’d missed someone.
His eyes traveled back to the man and his wife. The evil definitely came from around them. The man looked down, and Michael followed his gaze to their little girl sitting between them, bright blue eyes shining and golden ringlets bouncing as she laughed while her father tickled her.
“No.”
“What, Michael?”
Michael’s heart stopped from the shock. It took a second for him to remember to command it to beat again. The evil aura belonged to the little girl. There was no mistaking it. She appeared no more than nine years old. He’d never encountered this before. “It’s a child.”
“Yes, so? She’s as evil as they come.”
Michael didn’t know why Amaia’s matter-of-fact tone surprised him. Of course the human being a child wouldn’t bother her. It wouldn’t bother any vampire. Or if it did for some reason, any other vampire would simply move on to another human. Humans were food. Animals to feed from.
Except Michael had never felt that way. Something in his transformation must have gone wrong. Perhaps having the memories of living all those reincarnated lives had done something to permanently affect the way he viewed humans. He didn’t know, but the thought of killing that little girl made him sick. “I can’t do it.”
“Why not?”
Michael looked to where Amaia currently flirted with a patron. As he watched, she leaned in and kissed his neck. Only Michael knew it wasn’t a kiss. The man didn’t even know. At the end of the night, when he stumbled home drunk and drowsy, all he’d have was the memory of a beautiful woman who had kissed him. Was that so bad? He wouldn’t miss the blood she took. When he woke in the morning, it would be as if it had never happened. Surely what Amaia did was more moral than Michael killing a child, no matter how evil. “It’s wrong.”
“I thought you believed this is what God wants you to do.”
Her voice didn’t mock him. She
only reminded him of his beliefs. The simple statement hit him hard enough that he couldn’t ignore it. He did believe God had given him this purpose, to slay the wicked to protect others from their evil. It was the only way he had to reconcile what he had become when he transformed into a vampire. Amaia had never believed in God or any deity, but Michael always had. That belief had only grown the more lives he’d lived. Every time he and Amaia had reconnected, Michael knew it was God’s hand directing his life. He had to believe. At the time, he would have gone insane if he let himself believe that everything played out according to random chance. For the first time, Michael envied Amaia’s unbelief.
Perhaps this was a trial, a test. God had done something similar with Abraham. He had ordered the death of a child then. Plenty of times in the Bible, God had ordered that children be slain in times of war or to purge wickedness. God wanted him to kill this child, but he couldn’t do it. Any time he let himself begin to think of how he would get her away from her parents, his stomach went sour. Michael knew guilt would torment him afterward, which only made him question his devotion. If it was God’s will, nothing else should matter. One little girl had completely turned his world on its head.
The child wiggled down from between her parents. She slipped under the table and crawled out the other end giggling. Michael watched as she ran to a corner of the room. She knelt down on the floor, as if she had found a toy to play with. Curiosity kept his gaze on her. When she moved and he could get a clear look at what held her attention, the sight of a mouse with its tail caught in a trap surprised him. His experience with little girls was limited, but he didn’t recall ever seeing one interested in playing with a mouse.
The girl picked up the trap and released the mouse, tenderly holding the rodent. Her actions were at odds with her aura. How could this sweet child be evil? Michael’s stomach churned. What if he had been wrong all along? What if a person could defy their aura?
Immortal Echoes (Haunting Echoes Book 2) Page 15