The Vampires of Soldiers Cove: Progeny

by Jessica MacIntyre

  Although he knew his maker by blood instinct he was still a little confused as to how it had all come about. “You?”

  “Yes, Leiv. I am your maker. I know you wanted Alexander to be your maker but under the circumstances it couldn’t be helped.”

  He nodded, seemingly with no emotion. “I understand,” he said. Then his eyes rolled back as if remembering something. “Jade. Kenzie took Jade. He ripped her right out of my hands. I couldn’t fight him, he came at me, bit me. Left me to die.”

  I nodded. “Yes, that’s what happened.”

  “Jade? What happened to her?”

  “She’s just fine. Everything is fine now. You’re going to be ok. I’m going to help you through your transformation. I can’t promise it will be easy but we’re all here to help you. You’re family now. You’re blood. My blood.”

  Leiv looked around as if processing that as well. “I’ve never really had a family before.”

  “Well,” I said taking his face in my hands. “Now you have a very big and very old one.” A swell of pride consumed my heart as I looked at him. He was as much my child as Ryan or Jade.

  He smiled as Alexander squeezed his hands.

  “Rachel,” Angus said breaking in. “Can I see you for a moment?”

  Gavin pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes at Angus. “Of course,” I said

  He stood to accompany me but Angus put his hand up, signaling that he wanted to talk to me alone.

  When we got to his room he motioned for me to sit down in one of the old leather chairs. This room always smelled like old books and freshly brewed tea. Normally that was a comfort, but as he sat across from me the stern look I was getting told me this conversation was going to be anything but. I wanted whatever was coming over with as soon as possible. “You’re going to punish me, aren’t you?”

  Angus leaned forward, his voice becoming solemn and official. “Yes,” said.

  “I understand. You’re not going to do anything to Leiv though, are you?”

  He smiled a little, but never lost his serious tone. “Listen to you. Your progeny has been awake for five minutes and already you are haggling with me to let you bear the brunt of whatever is coming. I have my doubts that you’re ready for it, seeing that you’re fairly young yourself and given that you have human children to protect. I doubt you thought about how you would serve both them and Leiv at the same time. You didn’t turn him with the best of intentions, you turned him to save your daughter, which as it turns out you didn’t need to do.”

  I lowered my head. “I know. I wasn’t thinking of Leiv, I was only thinking of myself. Despite that I’d like the chance to be a good guardian. Leiv and I have a lot in common and I think I can guide him well.”

  “I have no doubt that you’ll try, Rachel. You know a lot of clan leaders would just terminate him and be done with it. I’m not going to do that though. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, but if he starts to cause trouble I’ll end him without any hesitation. He won’t really be considered one of us by a lot of the clan you know.”

  I sighed. “Well, then, there’s something else we have in common isn’t it?”

  Angus nodded. “I suppose it is. But you’ve won a good number of us over. Let’s see if you can help the boy do the same.”

  “And what are you going to do with me?”

  “A year in the ground would be sufficient…”

  I cut him off. “A year? Angus I understand I need to be punished, but I have two young children to care for and I don’t possibly see how I can guide Leiv at all if I miss his entire transformative year.”

  His eyes hardened at the interruption and he leaned forward, folding his hands on the table like a judge. “Quiet and let me finish!” he boomed.

  I sunk back into the leather chair, startled at his reaction, swallowing hard, hoping I had not just made things worse. Now instead of one year maybe I’d get two.

  “I’ve decided on thirty days. Leiv can stay here for that amount of time. I’ll care for him personally. He won’t be permitted to see anyone until you’re exhumed, and then you can start your journey as maker and progeny, together.”

  “That will be hard on him,” I said, quietly.

  “Yes. His instincts will kick in and he’ll want to hunt. I’ll have to lock him up.”

  “Is that really necessary?” I said, remembering the time he’d spent ‘locked up’ during his last bout with schizophrenia. “Given his history it might do more harm than good.”

  “It can’t be helped. You as his maker, and I as his clan leader, are the only ones who can rein him in if he starts to lose it before his transformation is complete. We can’t have him running around. You wouldn’t let your toddler play in the street and you can’t let a new vampire roam the earth unsupervised. We’ll keep him as calm as we can. This is the way it has to be, Rachel. You also don’t want anyone else influencing him. He’s your responsibility, and as such, you need to be his biggest influence. Being with anyone else might taint that. It’s you that needs to teach him.”

  As much as I hated the thought of a month in the ground I had to admit that as far as vampire punishments went I was getting off easy. I’d be deep in death sleep, but he would be awake. Alone and confused, being cared for by a strangers, not even able to see Alexander.

  I stood, wanting to go back and see Leiv, to explain things to him and also to talk to Gavin. “When?” I asked.

  “Tomorrow. You have twenty-four hours to get everything in order and then you are to report here to be prepared.”

  Gavin was pacing the hallway just down from Angus’ room. I ran into him on my way back to see Leiv. “What’s going on?”

  “He gave me thirty days for turning Leiv.”

  Gavin gave a small nod. “Ok,” he said, putting his arms around me. “That’s not so bad. We’ll get through it.”

  “I have twenty four hours. I need to see Ryan. I want to spend the night at home with you guys. And before I do that I have to see Leiv.”

  “Don’t worry about Leiv, Rachel. We’ll take care of him. He’ll be just fine.”

  “Gavin, Angus says he has to stay here at the sanctuary. He’s going to care for him. He’s not allowed to see anyone. Not even Alexander.”

  A look of disgust crossed Gavin’s handsome features. “That seems a little heavy handed.”

  “I know. But it’s thirty days.”

  “Ok,” he said, conceding. “You’re right. The decision is made and there’s nothing we can do. We all have to do the best we can.”

  Both of us stood there for a moment. Finally Gavin pulled me away so he could look at me. He gave me a weak smile. “You threw me out a window,” I said.

  “Oh, yeah, sorry. Are you angry?”

  I laughed and reached up, pulling his lips down to mine to plant a long sweet kiss on them. “It’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for me, and that’s really saying something.” I pressed my forehead against his. “I’m grateful. I’m lucky to have you.”

  He laughed quietly. “I assure you, it’s quite the opposite.”

  “We better go relay the news I guess.”

  Gavin grabbed my hand and we walked in silence back to Leiv’s room. Only he and Alexander remained.

  Alexander tried to remain calm while I told them both what was going to happen, but he was quietly communicating with me, asking all sorts of questions. I told him that I would answer them all before tomorrow. Alex decided to stay the night and Gavin and I headed home. I wanted to prepare Ryan for the long month ahead and hold my little girl as tightly as I could for the next twenty four hours.

  Chapter Twenty two

  The night passed all too quickly. Ryan slept in the bed with us and Jade in her playpen nearby. I didn’t sleep. Neither did Gavin. We hardly said a word to each other. We didn’t have to. The next morning we dropped the kids off with Margie and John, I said my goodbyes and left before I thought I’d start crying. I told Ryan I was going to see a sick relative in another pr
ovince and I would be back as soon as I could. I hated lying to him, but it couldn’t be helped.

  I kissed his warm little cheek taking in the scent of him one last time, and he hugged me tight, then skipped off to play. He didn’t even seem fazed. I, however, felt like I was being smothered. A feeling that as the day wore on would only get worse. Gavin and I parked the car in the yard and went into the empty house, sitting together on the couch.

  “You’re going to have your hands full all by yourself,” I said, trying to make conversation.

  “Alexander said he’d come stay. He wants to be in Soldiers Cove where Leiv is, even if he can’t see him. I’m sure he won’t go far. I’m still looking,” he said. “I’m not giving up.”

  “I know you won’t. Dear god Gavin, I don’t know what kind of world we’ve brought that little girl into. If Kenzie was willing to kill her to get her blood, there may be others.”

  “Perhaps,” he said, “but they must be very few. Look at all the searching we’ve done. Up until Kenzie came and we went to Greece nobody seemed to know anything. There’s a good chance that anyone in our situation wouldn’t know anything more than we do.”

  He was right, but still, it didn’t stop me from worrying. “Are you ready?” he said.

  “Is anyone ever ready to be buried alive?”

  He stood, extending his hand to me. “It’s time.”

  I placed my hand inside his and stood as well, then we made our way outside for the long walk to the sanctuary.

  ***

  I said my goodbye to Leiv as he was being taken to another part of the old structure. “Don’t be frightened. I’ll be back for you in thirty days and then we’ll be together.” I put my arms around him, holding him close. My hands trembled with fear as I let him go. It just felt wrong.

  “Will you be ok, Rachel?”

  “I’ll be just fine. You sit tight and I’ll be back for you. I promise.”

  He nodded and was led off. Something about his lack of emotion disturbed me. In my first few days I had been very emotional and full of questions. Leiv seemed to be taking his transformation with a very matter of fact acceptance.

  “Gavin…” was all I had to say. I could see in his face as he watched Liev walk away that our thoughts were similar.

  “I know,” was all he said, clenching his jaw.

  Holly joined us as we made our way to the preparation room to wait for what was coming next. When the door closed behind us and it was just us three sitting there, alone, as an awkward silence filled the air. Holly had lost her mate for the second time in just a few short years. Although there would be no breaking of a blood bond this time, it was still painful. The misery showed on her face just as plainly as the large protrusion of her stomach, which she always seemed to be rubbing distractedly.

  I at least had to try. “Holly…” I began.

  “The best thing to do, is to go into death sleep right away. Don’t wait. When they wrap you up it’s going to hurt. Just will yourself down into it. It’s like willing yourself to sleep the way you always do, but once you are asleep you have to realize you are sleeping, and will yourself even further. If you don’t do that right away you’ll suffer.” After a moment of silence she spoke, seemingly to no one. She talked as if she were simply thinking aloud. “I can’t understand why Kenzie would take Jade.”

  From the way Holly spoke I could tell she’d had a turn or two in the ground herself, although she’d never talked about it. “Holly, I hope that we can…”

  “I have to go,” she said abruptly. “I have somewhere I have to be. I’ll see you in thirty days, Rachel.”

  She left the room, opening and closing the door quicker than I could stand up to catch her. “Let her go,” Gavin said, resting his hand on my shoulder.

  I hung my head. “She hates me again. We were doing so well.”

  “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just hurting. She’ll come around. There’s nothing Holly loves more than being a mother. At least this time she has that. She’ll be a different person once that baby is born, mark my words.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  The door opened just then and two female vampires came in, covered from head to foot in black rubber outfits that looked similar to a nun’s habit. Every part of their body was protected and sealed. Only their eyes showed, glaring intensely, and they cut a frightening figure, standing with folded white sheets and three large plastic jugs of what could only be holy water. I shuddered as fear gripped my core.

  “It’s time,” one of them said. Then, motioning to Gavin she added, “You’ll have to wait outside.”

  Gavin hugged me close one last time, whispering in my ear as I felt tears began to form. I tried to control my emotions but they came quickly and silently. “I’ll be right outside. I’ll be there when they take you out and I’ll be the first person you see when you wake up.” Gavin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and I took comfort in his strength. I nodded.

  “I love you,” I said.

  “I love you too.”

  He kissed me once more, squeezed my hand and then reluctantly left the room, turning back once more before exiting.

  “Take your clothes off please,” one of them said sternly from beneath the fearsome garb.

  My heart quickened but I did as I was told. I folded my clothes, putting them on a chair next to the bed and stood there, my arms crossed over my chest. One of the women lay a white blanket down on the floor, opening up one of the containers and completely saturating the blanket with it. “Lay down, please,” she said.

  I hesitated for a moment, knowing what was coming. “You must lay down,” she repeated, unsympathetically. Taking a deep breath I did as she ordered. The instant I lay down the burning began. Quickly they folded the sheet around as tightly as they could. Swaddling me the same way a mother swaddles a newborn baby. After a moment the sheets were secure, my legs pinned together, my arms crossed and forced over my chest as they would be for the next thirty days. They lay another blanket down on the floor, completely saturated that one, and lifted me on top of it, wrapping me in it as well.

  My first instinct was to burst out of the confinement that had been imposed. To open my arms and push away, tearing out of the sheets. As much as I wanted to break free I was truthfully unable to move a muscle, weakened by the holy water.

  My skin felt like it was on fire, and then felt as though it was beginning to melt. The shroud finally made its way to my face, covering it entirely and obscuring my vision. All I could see in front of me now was a sea of white. I closed my eyes, trying to keep myself conscious, not wanting to give in to the pain, but the darkness called.

  I rose into the air, and was placed onto a long flat board by two sets of strong hands, and then the board was raised into the air as well. The door creaked open and the footsteps of the women carrying me echoed through the hallways of the ancient sanctuary. It was all I could do to keep from screaming as my flesh seared against the wet sheets, burning me alive.

  I’m here I heard inside my mind a moment later. Gavin was using his connection to talk to me.

  It hurts so much, I thought back.

  I know. You’re strong though, Rachel. Close your eyes, breathe. I’m right here, walking beside you.

  There were some voices, but I was in too much pain to determine who they were and what they were saying. I closed my eyes, breathing as Gavin had instructed, trying to block out the agony. It was taking everything I had not to scream, to cry out, to panic.

  After a time I was lowered onto the cold hard ground and assumed that we had come outside, arriving at the burial plot that would serve as my tomb for the next thirty days.

  We’re here, Gavin communicated. This is it. Almost done.

  I wanted to link back to him, but found it took too much energy and effort. I was as weak now as if I hadn’t slept or eaten in weeks. A few more words were said and then I felt myself being let down, gently, into a dark, damp place. A moment later a smattering of someth
ing hit my lower body. Then it hit me again, and again. Raining down on my legs, my arms, my face. The more the substance pelted me, the darker it became. Finally it covered me and total darkness was my only companion. The sound of the shovels flinging the dirt finally stopped and then I was alone. In the darkness, in the silence, blanketed in fire. I closed my eyes and began the process of willing myself to sleep. As I felt myself let go, the pain subsided a little and through the haze of numbness and sleep I heard Gavin’s voice.

  I’m still here, he said. I’ll always be here…

  Chapter Twenty three

  The light was burning my eyes. Scorching them with as much intensity as it had the first time I’d looked into the sun as a newborn. Taking a deep breath my lungs burned as well. Each breath hurt as I felt the expansion and contraction in my chest, my ribcage protesting at the effort. Coughing and wheezing I realized that I was awake. Finally, after thirty days and nights in the ground, they had come for me, dug me out, and now I was coming back to life.

  Soft lips kissed me. I didn’t need to open my eyes to see who it was. I knew him by feel, by smell, by touch and instinct. My maker, my lover, my best friend was there with me, taking my hand and guiding me out of the darkness once more.

  “Welcome back,” I heard him whisper, his mouth next to my ear. I opened my eyes for a moment despite the pain. I had to. I longed to see him. He looked down at me, exhausted and pale but smiling. I knew he had performed the deed of waking me up. He looked the part, and besides, there was no way he would have let anyone else do it.

  “I survived,” I croaked out, my voice raw and hoarse.

  “Of course you did. You’re made of steel, baby. You make me proud.”

  He put his arms around me and I did the same. “Is everyone ok? How are the kids?”

  “Everyone is fine. We all missed you. It’s been a long month.”

  I heard the exhaustion in his voice as he spoke, but for me, it seemed like it had only been moments ago that I was feeling the dirt get thrown on top of me, now I was awake and anxious to see everyone. My eyes adjusted slowly and Gavin helped me sit up, being careful not to disconnect the tube protruding from his arm. Blood was running into his system which was probably why he hadn’t passed out completely.