The Vampires of Soldiers Cove: Progeny

by Jessica MacIntyre

  “You have?” I said.

  “Oh yes. If they can get their hands on a newly turned vampire they certainly will, as I’m sure you know. Some have given them many children. Our sister vampires have tried to turn their sons before transformation as well, with little to no success. In fact, in most cases it only ended up making things worse.”

  “Worse?” Gavin’s tone said he was trying to contain his disappointment. His brow drew down with worry.

  “Yes. I’m afraid the attempts were unsuccessful. At best the boys took ill with the turning fever and had to be given over to their fathers anyway.”

  “And at worst?” I said.

  “At worst they died. Either from having waited too long to relinquish them, or having been poisoned in the attempt.”

  “Poisoned?”

  “Yes. I’m afraid these children don’t usually take well to the vampire blood. Neither do the vampires who’ve tried to save them. It’s similar to taking the blood of an animal. In some cases both the boys and the ones trying to save them died.”

  “What about the rest of the cases?” Gavin said. “You said in most cases, but not all?”

  Kenzie and Duncan both fell silent for a moment, looking at each other in some sort of mute debate. “What are you not telling us?” I said.

  “Don’t get your hopes up, dear girl,” Duncan said. “It has worked, but only once I’m afraid.”

  “Well,” Kenzie spoke up. “It both worked and didn’t work.”

  I stared at them. “What do you mean?”

  “The one time it did work, the boy’s mother turned him the traditional way, but he was sick. So sick after the turning that he almost died.”

  “But he didn’t? What saved him Duncan? We’ll do anything,” Gavin said.

  Another long silence. “Gavin,” Duncan said. “I’m afraid it’s not something most people or even vampires would do.”

  “His mother,” Kenzie began slowly. “Was not just mother to him. She was mother to quite a few others. She had a mix of human children that she had conceived with vampire mates, and satyr boys that she’d conceived with the creatures. She began experimenting every time one of them turned. She discovered there was a certain type of blood that would save them.”

  A chill ran down my spine as he spoke. I could tell he was dancing around something I knew I wasn’t going to like hearing. “She gave him the blood of one of his human siblings, a sister. She had tried regular human blood but it didn’t work. There was something…is something…different about the blood of a girl child born to vampires. That was the method that enabled her to turn him into a full blooded vampire.”

  “How much blood did he need?” Gavin asked, his voice reduced to a low whisper.

  Kenzie balled his fist up on the kitchen table, gritting his teeth as he spoke again. “All of it.”

  Gavin let go of my hand and went to the kitchen window, staring out into the blackness. “You mean to tell me that she allowed her son to feed on his sister until he drained her and that it turned him into a fully-fledged vampire? He’s alive today?”

  “I met him myself,” Duncan spoke up. “He’s over three hundred years old, but looks every bit like the fifteen year old he was when he was turned. He’s haunted by his transformation though. He says of all the horrors he’s committed since becoming vampire, murdering his sister at the behest of his mother was the worst thing he’s ever done. I’m sorry, both of you, I know this isn’t the answer you wanted, but at least now, well, we know.”

  Gavin stood and went to the counter spreading his arms out with his back to us, lowering his head as if he was going to be sick. “Far be it from me to stick my nose in family business,” Kenzie said. “But you might just want to consider handing him over to his father when the time comes. The boy is what he is.”

  Gavin nodded and turned back to Kenzie. “Thank you for coming,” he said. Gavin glanced at the door and I knew what was happening. He was overwhelmed with emotion and had to get away. He looked at me for approval and I nodded. “Would you excuse me? I have to get some air.” With that he headed for the door. I didn’t have to see him shift to know that he did. I felt it instinctually. We had been practising with our mental connection for years, keeping it alive, honing it in case we needed it. I always felt Gavin’s presence in some way, except for when he shifted. It was like the turning off of a radio now. A click and he was gone.

  “You’re right,” I said to Duncan. “I don’t think that’s something either one of us is willing to consider.”

  “Well it’s just a theory for you two at this point anyway, since Ryan is still your only child.”

  “Do you plan to have more?” Kenzie asked.

  I didn’t know what to say. The answer as of last night was of course yes, but now instead of hoping I was pregnant I was dreading it. I didn’t want to think I’d be capable of something so evil, but then again, grief can drive a person to do strange things. One mother was so desperate to save one child that she murdered another. It was inconceivable to me and I prayed that it wasn’t too late. If that was the only way to save Ryan I didn’t want that temptation anywhere near Gavin or I when the time came.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “We’ll see.”

  Chapter four

  Duncan had made his way upstairs to see Ryan before heading out. He spent a few minutes with him, promising he’d be back soon, and then he and Kenzie were on their way. “It was good of you to come,” I said to Kenzie before they left.

  He gave a cursory nod. “Of course. I just wish I’d had better news for you.”

  “It’s not your fault,” I said, feeling the lump in my throat. Duncan gave me a hug goodbye and told me he’d be back soon. Kenzie planned to stay in Nova Scotia a few weeks since he hadn’t ever seen this ‘new world’ people talked about, and they were on their way to the sanctuary to pay a visit to Angus so they could ask for temporary accommodations.

  I put Ryan to bed, read him a story and lay with him until he fell asleep. I usually didn’t do that but on this night I had a need to be close to him. I held him until his breathing became steady and rhythmic. His innocent and peaceful expression in the glow of the night light filled me with a sense of sorrow. As much as I didn’t want to face it, I might have to let him go. A life with Aries as part of the herd and no memory of us might be something we’d have to accept.

  I stroked his thick wavy hair and kissed his chubby cheek, then crept out of bed and headed downstairs. The proverbial click of the radio sounded in my head just then and I knew that Gavin, wherever he was, had shifted back into his human form.

  I crept out onto the deck and made my way to the rear of the house. It was a clear and beautiful late spring night and Gavin was sitting on the edge of the steps looking up at the stars. I sat next to him and we stayed there, silently for a long while.

  “What kind of name is Kenzie McKenzie anyway?” he said after a time.

  “Said his parents weren’t very creative.”

  Gavin huffed. “I think he’s full of shit,” he said, his anger becoming apparent.

  “Gavin, we don’t even know him. I don’t see why he’d come all this way just to lie to us.”

  “I don’t know, Rachel…”

  “Look, I know it was the last thing we wanted to hear but there still has to be some hope, right? We’ll keep looking and searching. There has to be another way, another answer. It’s just a matter of finding it.”

  “Yeah,” he said absently, putting his arm around me. “We’ll keep looking for sure. I’m not stopping until I get the answer I want.”

  ***

  Gavin had long given up his seat on the council due to the huge disgust he still carried for Angus. Even though he understood the reasons why Angus had to go along with almost having him staked, he still hadn’t forgiven him and said that he never would. The only reason we went to the sanctuary now was either to visit Holly, or for the mandatory meetings that were occasionally called. One had just been held a litt
le over a week ago and so we were all surprised to be standing there again so soon. A murmur ran through the crowd that gathered as people mused about what could be going on. Angus was usually in the room to greet everyone as they entered but as we all stood, looking at the empty platform, he was nowhere to be found.

  Margie and John sat with Holly in one corner. She was looking better but tonight she seemed tired. She sat, head lowered, her hands folded in her lap. I made my way over and sat down next to her, gently touching her on the shoulder. “How are you doing girl?”

  She forced a smile. “A little better every day,” she said. “It’s still hard though.”

  There are times when you just can’t find the right words to comfort someone and I had realized over the last few years that Holly’s situation was one of them. Sometimes the best thing you can do for those you love is to simply be there. I squeezed Holly’s shoulder and took her hand, silently offering her my support. She knew that if she ever needed me for anything all she had to do was ask. As much as she’d improved, her eyes still had a faraway look. She was with us, and yet she wasn’t. None of us had any doubts as to where she wanted to be as she’d expressed it to us many times, saying she wished she was dead. She had lost her love and wanted desperately to be with him in the afterlife. Whether or not vampires had the privilege of an afterlife was something nobody seemed to have the answer to, but at times Holly, consumed by her grief, was more than ready to find out.

  Just then Angus entered, taking the stage. The room came to order and everyone stood. Holly made the effort to stand as well but had to sit back down quickly. Her frailty at failing to do something so simple saddened me and I could see on the faces of her parents that it troubled them as well. At times she seemed as helpless as an infant. Most vampires didn’t survive the loss of a blood bond without someone to care for them and protect them from themselves. Holly’s family sat vigil day and night.

  Turning my attention back to the stage I noticed there was someone directly behind Angus, hands folded in front of him as if waiting for his turn to speak. It was Kenzie. Gavin came to stand next to me and we exchanged a worried look. Nobody in the clan aside from Duncan, John and Margie had any idea that we were searching for a way to turn Ryan before his transition, and so both of us were worried our little secret might be on the verge of exposition. We were especially worried that Angus would find out. There were strict rules in place about turning anyone under the age of eighteen for various reasons and if he knew what we were doing he would most certainly order us to stop until the council could discuss it. A direct order from him wouldn’t actually stop us but it could sure complicate things and slow the whole process down if we were being scrutinized. Gavin and I had debated it and decided that if he were ever to order us to stop we would abandon the clan instead and take refuge on Kelly’s Mountain with Duncan.

  “Thank you for coming everyone,” he said, his voice echoing off the walls of the candle lit room. “I know this is short notice and typically I wouldn’t call you all here with no warning unless I had a very serious reason, but tonight I come before you with something a little more lighthearted.” Angus motioned for Kenzie to come forward. “This is Kenzie McKenzie,” he said gesturing to the man who was a stranger to everyone else. Gavin rolled his eyes at the name, shaking his head. I took his hand and gave him a stern look and he quickly fell back in line with everyone else. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had someone petition to join our clan. Our brother Kenzie has come from Scotland and wants to be with us here in the new world. He seems a good soul and comes with a verification from Duncan himself. I want to get the process started right away, so tonight he’ll plead his case. Over the next few weeks we’ll all get to know him and then we can make our decision. He already has my vote and I have good faith that he will have all of yours.” Everyone knew a verification from Duncan along with Angus’ approval made the likelihood very high that we’d accept him, but procedure still had to be followed.

  Angus stepped aside and Kenzie came forward, addressing the crowd. “Brothers, sisters, I would firstly like to thank you for your consideration. I am in need of a new start. I have lived in Scotland for all of my five hundred and ninety one years. About ten years ago I lost my mate and my children over there are grown and don’t need me. Nothing is left for me now but reminders of my past. Many of you are very old yourselves and know what it means to start over. I throw myself on your mercy and ask you to let me stay and join you.”

  The crowd was silent as he stepped back, bowing his head with solemnity. Angus came forward once again. “Let us all welcome our brother, Kenzie. He’s making himself available to you to answer any questions you might have.” With that Kenzie and Angus left the stage as the inquiries began. The room took on the air of a reception now, more so than a formal meeting. Everyone, including Gavin’s parents, were milling about either talking to Kenzie or waiting for their turn to meet him. Everyone except Gavin, myself, and Holly, who was staring off into space, lost in her own little world.

  “How long do we have to stand here and watch this?” Gavin grumbled.

  “Gavin, come on. We can’t hold it against him that he couldn’t tell us what we wanted to hear.”

  His eyes hardened as he thought about that for a moment. “It isn’t that,” he said. “Something else. I can’t quiet put my finger on it Rachel, but something feels wrong. There’s something I just don’t like about him.”

  Gavin had spent the last night and day pacing about the house, unable to focus on anything even research related. He tinkered with the sink, which wasn’t even broken. Took the lawnmower apart and put it back together again and went through every item in all of the drawers asking, ‘Do we really need this? Can we throw that out?’ He had just about driven me crazy. When he’d found the meat thermometer he’d said: “Hey, what the heck is this thing?”

  “It’s a meat thermometer.”

  “Why does meat need a thermometer?”

  “It’s to make sure meat is cooked to the right temperature. It prevents humans from becoming sick.”

  He’d scrunched up his face and held the item out as if it confused and disgusted him. “I don’t remember my mother ever using one. Are you sure we really need it?”

  “Oh god. Have we reached the point in our relationship where you compare me to your mother? Get out of those drawers and leave my kitchen gadgets in peace, would you?”

  He placed the object back in the drawer and closed it, throwing me an embarrassed look. “Sorry,” he’d said.

  Looking at him now he was glaring openly at Kenzie. I gave his arm a subtle swat and said, “Gavin, you’re not thinking clearly and you’re driving me crazy. I know what you’re thinking and Duncan likes Kenzie. We owe it to him to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s get to know him a little bit before we officially decide we hate his guts.”

  Gavin scrunched up his face. “I guess,” was all came back with. For a moment he looked as if he were going to join the crowd, but then changed his mind and turned back to Holly, sitting and putting his arm around her shoulders. She didn’t even seem to notice. “Hey,” he said, “How are you doing?” Her expression had changed from a few moments ago. She had been able to force a smile with me but now her vacant eyes shifted to the floor. She shook her head ‘no’ and simply continued to sit, staring down. “It’s ok,” he whispered. “You’re getting there. We’ll all get there.” It wasn’t clear in that moment who he was trying to convince. Holly or himself.

  Gavin’s parents sauntered over with Kenzie in tow just then and introduced him. I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to act like we knew him already and so I simply shook his hand and nodded. Gavin stood doing the same and John began to ask questions. “How many children do you have Kenzie?”

  “I have only about ten still living out of over sixty.”

  “If you don’t mind my saying that’s not very many for someone as old as you are,” John said.

  “I understand. My wife…”
he said lowering his eyes for a moment, “she wanted more but we just never got there. Something always seemed to get in the way.”

  “Well it is a big commitment, even for a vampire,” Margie said.

  “Yes it is,” he agreed.

  “These two here have a little one, about four years old now,” John said. “He’s a handful. Ah, but he’s a good little boy though. Very sweet.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Kenzie said. Then turning to me he asked, “Do you plan to have any more?”

  I was at a loss for words for a moment. Luckily Gavin jumped to my rescue. “When the time is right we will,” he said, putting his arm around me.

  “Yes,” Kenzie smiled. “The timing has to be just right. Kenzie’s eyes drifted around the room and beyond where I was standing until he spotted Holly. “And who is this?” he said quietly.

  John lowered his voice as well. “That’s our daughter, Holly. She’s having a rough go at the moment I’m afraid.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes. It’s the sickness. She had to stake her own progeny about four years ago. She’s been ill, but is starting to get well again, thanks be to god.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Kenzie stared at her for a moment in quiet fascination. “I too have experienced the sickness. I’m sure most of you here have as well. May I say hello to her?”

  Gavin’s mother didn’t look as though she enjoyed that idea. John paid her no mind and extended his arm to Kenzie to lead him toward where Holly sat. “I don’t see why not,” he smiled.

  Kenzie approached quietly, as if coming upon a timid animal, and sat down next to her, speaking very softly. “Hello,” he said. “My name is Kenzie. I’m pleased to meet you, Holly.”

  Holly came out of her trance for just a moment upon hearing a stranger say her name and took the hand he offered. Instead of shaking it, he kissed it very gently. “Your parents tell me you’ve suffered a loss. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Please accept my sympathy.”