Blood Dreams 2: Hunter's Legacy

by Myln Hurn

  “Who is the happy bride-to-be?”

  Simon laughed, surprised at the other man’s perception. “Somebody’s second cousin or something. I can’t remember much about her except that her name reminds me of horses.”

  Iain laughed and refilled each glass. “What would you rather be doing?”

  “I want to visit the New World, America. I had even gotten so far as to book passage, when my father heard of my plans. Needless to say I don’t fancy life as a pauper.”

  Iain nodded his head slowly. “There are fates much worse than poverty, young friend.”

  “I’m not that much younger than you. Hell, if anything, you look several years less than I!”

  Iain smiled. “Years can come to mean nothing. It is the experiences that you survive which will age you faster than any slow passage of time. I rather like that idea of yours. America? It does sound promising, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, well, well. I wondered where you had disappeared to, Iain.”

  Simon turned and saw an older man was standing beside their secluded booth. He was quite tall, broad-shouldered and had a shock of red hair. His clothing spoke of wealth, as did his mannerisms. The older man held his hand out in greeting.

  “Hello, young stranger. I am Fauster Blue. I know it is a strange name, but then rarely do parents inquire as to our opinions before choosing one, eh?”

  * * * * *

  “Damn it all, Simon! I am cutting you off of the liquor cabinet!”

  Simon turned to look at the older man. He might not have aged a day, but he did look older after three hundred years. Iain had been the one to travel to the Brave New World and he had stayed behind, exchanging one father for a different kind. He had quickly discovered that being sired of Fauster Blue was a powerful thing in the vampire world. This was a family older than his own of noble birth. Of course, Simon had returned home and killed his family, including the pock-faced girl who had been his selected future bride. He had inherited the ancestral castle out of default and eventually established his own family.

  “I’d just go out and buy my own bottle,” Simon sniped back at him.

  “Ha! Maybe, but you’d have to wait until the sun went down!”

  Simon looked at the clock and acknowledged that there were still a number of hours left until darkness came once again. If he had his way, the hours of darkness would greatly outnumber those of light. “Anyway, how much longer do I have to stay over here?”

  “Since I’m the one you supposedly came to visit, I wouldn’t think that would be such a concern for you.”

  “Don’t get all insulted, Fauster. I just wondered when I could go back over to Lamenta’s and sleep.”

  Fauster turned from where he had assembled some odd looking things on the kitchen table. “I don’t know, damn it! Lamenta just said she needed her place back for a few hours.”

  “What’s she doing over there she couldn’t do over here?” Simon asked impatiently, refilling his glass.

  “I don’t know. Some kind of woman’s thing, I guess.” Fauster looked back down at his papers and then back to the odds and ends in front of him.

  “Woman’s stuff? I’d have thought she was past that, age-wise. You know, Fauster, I’ve never understood the attraction between the two of you.”

  Fauster stood up and spun around to face Simon. “Don’t even think about Lamenta, Simon! She is off limits to you. Got that?”

  * * * * *

  “Well, well, well, isn’t this cozy!”

  Simon and Fauster both turned at the other voice. Neither had heard a single noise indicating they were no longer alone. Hunter just stood beside Iain, watching the drama unfold in front of him. Iain had crossed the room to the kitchen and gotten out two glasses. He then squatted in front of Fauster’s sink cabinet, moved things around and came out with an expensive, nicely aged bottle of fine Kentucky whiskey. After pouring enough for the two glasses, he crossed to hand one to Hunter. As their eyes met, Iain smiled.

  “Trust me; you’ll need this whenever you spend any time around these two on the same continent.”

  Hunter choked back his laughter, enjoying the glaring look that Fauster cast toward Iain. Fauster turned and walked back to get the bottle out again. He poured himself a bigger glass before returning to the kitchen table.

  “The least you could have done if you insist on drinking my best whiskey is pour me a glass, too.”

  Simon got up off the sofa and walked into the kitchen. As he filled a glass he deliberately muttered loud enough to be heard, “Some hosts you Americans make!”

  Fauster hunched down in his chair. “You are not a guest, technically.”

  “Nit picker,” Simon said as he walked back to the sofa.

  “Free loader!” Fauster spit the words at the other man as he passed by.

  “Enough already! Stop!” Iain held his hands up. “I should be sleeping, not over here trying to figure out what the hell you’ve gone and done now, Fauster.”

  Fauster smiled slightly. “Oh, yes, that’s right. Welcome home, Iain. How is my lovely niece?”

  Simon grinned. “Yes, indeed. How is the lovely AnnaBelle? Still as beautiful as always?”

  Iain glared at Simon. The man was an incorrigible flirt at times. Hunter was surprised the three of them had lived as long they had, period!

  “My wife is quite well, thank you.”

  Simon lifted his glass toward Iain. “I toast you once again on your taste. Now, I’d like to learn more about the black-haired temptress who called Lamenta ‘aunt’ the other day.”

  “Keep the hell away from that child, damn it!” Fauster shouted first, followed quickly by Hunter.

  “She is none of your damned business!” Hunter stepped forward, ready to do battle if need be.

  “Now, now, young Hunter. No need for you to be looking to settle down any time soon; whereas I could use the companionship of a lovely, warm body to keep me nice and toasty during those long wintry days asleep in my coffin, so to speak.”

  * * * * *

  “Hello, my dears! Come straight in! I’ll only be a few more minutes with this anyway.”

  AnnaBelle, Tatiana and Blue entered Lamenta’s kitchen reluctantly. There was a multi-colored smoke coming from a pot on the stove and the smell was pungent, to say the least.

  “Welcome home, AnnaBelle darling! I hope you had a lovely time. I had such fun with Tatiana and Blue. I think you will be quite impressed as to how far your daughter has progressed.”

  “Yes, indeed. I had rainbow hair,” Tatiana added softly.

  AnnaBelle covered her mouth to hide her grin as her daughter spoke up. “It was so pretty, Mommy. Maybe I could give you rainbow hair!”

  Tatiana grinned widely at Blue’s suggestion. “Now there is an idea with merit.”

  AnnaBelle looked from her daughter’s hopeful expression to the knowing grins on the other women’s faces. Teaching her daughter the fine art of casting spells had obviously progressed into some interesting things while she was gone. Picking Blue up in her arms, she hugged her tightly.

  “Your daddy likes my hair this color, darling, but we can ask him, all right?”

  Blue nodded. “Can I play with the puppies? Is it time yet, Lam?”

  Lamenta smiled at the little girl. “Soon, my love, soon. Now go say hello to all your friends. I’m afraid that all of my animals are suffering with Simon here. He just isn’t as nurturing as we are.”

  Blue stopped in the doorway and looked back at Lamenta. “I could teach him!” She turned before anyone could speak.

  AnnaBelle looked at Lamenta. “Why is Simon here? I swear, if he’s come to do mischief I just might have to stake him!”

  “Now, now, AnnaBelle. Everything will be fine. There is nothing to fret over. Simon is a lot of wind, but very little bite most of the time. But he does like maintaining that ‘dark lord of the night’ persona. I assure you, he is not here to harm you or your family, AnnaBelle. Now, if you’ll pass me those flowers.”

>   Tatiana picked up the four fresh-cut flowers. She watched as Lamenta dipped the flowers into her concoction and then lightly shook them. She turned the light out beneath her brew.

  “These will dry on the way,” Lamenta announced as she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

  Tatiana looked at AnnaBelle. “Do you have the slightest idea what she is going on about today?”

  AnnaBelle shook her head. “Not a clue, but it should be interesting.”

  Tatiana laughed and followed AnnaBelle to find Blue and Lamenta.

  Chapter 18

  Hunter saw Blue walking down the short hall that led from the elevator into the main living area of the loft. He was sure that she wasn’t here alone, but she had been sent into the area on her own. Surely three grown women weren’t sending this innocent babe in to beard the lion in his den? She was carrying a handful of flowers and appeared to be on a mission. He walked over to her, offering to pick her up.

  Blue shook her head vigorously, setting her curls bouncing. She handed one of the flowers to her uncle, telling him in a loud whisper, “Smell it!”

  Hunter inhaled deeply as she walked over to her father, repeating the directions. Next she went to Fauster and lastly to Simon, still on the sofa. Simon, since he’d already caught the drift of what was expected of him because he was fourth in line, inhaled deeply from the center of the flower before thanking the small child.

  “Thank you, Blue. This is very nice of you.”

  “I know.” Blue nodded. She turned and walked back to her father, who picked her up. Iain walked over and sat at the kitchen table beside Fauster. He inhaled deeply several times before he spoke again.

  “The flowers are beautiful, sweetheart. Where did you get them?”

  “Lam made them.”

  The four men all laughed at the notion of Lamenta actually making the flowers.

  Fauster laughed the loudest. “I don’t think Lamenta knows how to grow flowers!”

  Blue nodded her head but looked up at her father. “Sorry is ready to come home with us soon, Daddy.”

  Iain lounged casually in the chair, smiling at his pretty daughter. “Sorry about what, Blue?”

  Hunter strolled over to the table, bringing the glass Iain had left behind when he picked Blue up. Taking the third chair at the table, he sipped his whiskey, pondering Blue’s words.

  “I don’t think it is ‘sorry’ for something in particular.”

  Fauster nodded, finishing his glass of whiskey first. “Nope. Sorry is something, if I remember correctly.”

  Simon got up off the sofa and walked to the kitchen. He returned to the table a few moments later bringing the bottle with him. Generously refilling all the glasses, he set the bottle in the middle of the table and sat down. Reaching out to where Blue was seated on her daddy’s lap, he twirled a red curl around one finger.

  “Fauster is right. No, wait…he’s wrong. You can be sorry for doing something, although I guess something could be sorry for an action it performed, theoretically, of course.”

  Hunter looked around the table, surprised at how affable they all were. He wouldn’t have thought a shot of whiskey could have that much effect on four vampires, but then again, maybe he was wrong. No, he was right about the sorry thing. “No, I’m sure that I am right,” he spoke up suddenly.

  Iain turned to look at his brother-in-law. “Right about what? You haven’t expressed an opinion yet.”

  Fauster laid his head down on his crossed forearms on the table. “I hate riddles.”

  Simon smiled. “I am really quite good at riddles, and I believe I know the answer to this one. Now, let’s review all the facts once again.”

  “Good Lord, Simon!” Fauster mumbled from between his folded arms. “What facts? There are no facts. What you need are witnesses.”

  Iain smiled, looking at Blue. “Are you a witness, punkin?”

  Blue squirmed until her father set her down. “I’m gonna get Mommy. She knows who sorry is.”

  Hunter shook his head, leaning over to pat Iain’s forearm. “Poor kid. It’s just bad word etiquette and phonetics. School could help.”

  Fauster spoke from his folded arm position again. “I thought she was in school already.”

  “She is.” Hunter nodded sagely. “Play school. I’ve been there.”

  Simon grinned ear to ear. “Did you learn anything?”

  “Yeah!”

  Iain shook his head. “Pre-school, Hunter. There is a big difference.”

  “Enough already! How much have you all been drinking over here? I thought you would all be fighting, not sharing old drinking stories!”

  “Lamenta!” Fauster lifted his head when he heard her voice. He turned around and watched as she walked toward him. “Hello, dear. Perhaps you could solve this riddle. How can ‘sorry’ come home?”

  Lamenta smiled, glancing over her shoulder at AnnaBelle and Tatiana, who held Blue’s hands between them. “It isn’t ‘sorry’ but Sari. That is your new puppy, Iain. She can go home in a few days.”

  Three men around the table laughed quite loudly at the joke. Only Iain remained silent. His eyes met AnnaBelle’s across the room. Hunter watched the interchange and was jealous of their closeness. Not that he wished to be in Iain’s place with AnnaBelle. He wanted to have the same kind of relationship, except that he wanted it to be with Tatiana. Slowly he turned his head and looked at Tatiana. A jolt of sheer joy shot through him as he found her looking at him, smiling. The look in her eyes warmed him more than he had felt in years. Abruptly he stood up.

  “Look.” Hunter took a deep breath. “We came over here to find out two things. First, why are you here, Simon? And second, why did you call me, Fauster?”

  Simon shrugged, picked up his drink and his flower, and returned to the sofa. Flopping down, he gestured with the flower. “I don’t know what is up Fauster’s…bum, but I came here to see someone else. I just decided to stop in and see my old friend Fauster. Nothing wrong with that, is there poppet?” Simon winked at Blue, wiggling the flower in her direction.

  Fauster cleared his throat. “I wanted my film.”

  “It sounded a lot more urgent over the phone, Fauster.” Hunter crossed his arms. Something still didn’t feel completely right. “What else have you been cooking up in that lab of yours?”

  Simon sat up quickly. “Yes, indeed. Please tell us what you are making in that little mad scientist laboratory of yours.”

  “Nothing, Simon. Now, if everyone will get out of my apartment—”

  “The sun is still out, Fauster.” Simon reminded him quite quickly of his need to remain inside.

  Iain stood and pushed his chair back into place. “We’ll take off and that should cut out a major part of the intrusion, Fauster. Come on, crew!” Iain picked his daughter up, glancing at AnnaBelle, Tatiana and then Hunter as he walked past them on his way to the elevator.

  Lamenta smiled at AnnaBelle and Tatiana. “Run along, girls. I’ll see you in a few days for our next class. Welcome home.”

  As the elevator doors closed, they could hear Lamenta telling Fauster to come back to her apartment until it was dark. The four adults smiled at one another. Hunter spoke first, though.

  “Did we learn anything by coming over here?”

  “Simon’s nice.”

  Again all four adults looked from one to the other at Blue’s announcement. Deciding that ignoring the statement was the best course, Iain replied. “Well, if we are to believe Simon, then he was here to see someone. God only knows who that might be!”

  AnnaBelle nodded, easily shifting into her hunter mode once again. Her detection skills might be a little rusty in ferreting out a vampire, but she was still one of the best. Hunter smiled as he watched the wheels inside her head turning. His sister was here and he couldn’t believe how good he felt to be with both of the women he cared for more than anyone else in the world. Of course, he still loved AnnaBelle’s mother, the woman who had brought him up, loving and caring for him. For the
first time, he considered moving here to be close to his sister and her new family, and of course, be near Tatiana.

  AnnaBelle reached over and ran her fingers down the side of her daughter’s cheek. “Besides, who in the world could Simon possibly know in New York City?”

  “Dame.”

  Everyone looked at Blue. Iain spoke first. “Oh great, Fauster has her cursing now!”

  “Are you sure, Iain? It sounded like—”

  “Let’s all agree to not repeat it, and hopefully she’ll let it drop. Okay?”

  With a shrug, the others showed their compliance with a nod of their heads. They finished the elevator ride in silence, and in the car they decided to eat out and save any cleaning up when they got home.

  * * * * *

  Hunter was lying on his back on the airbed in Iain’s den. The house above him had been silent for nearly an hour. Returning to the house, it was obvious Blue was desperate for a nap, so Tatiana and AnnaBelle took her into the master bedroom and all three got under the covers. Hunter wasn’t at all surprised when Iain crept upstairs to see what was happening and discovered all three females asleep in his bed.

  Sitting around the kitchen table Iain had talked briefly about their visit, filling Hunter in on his in-laws. It wasn’t the first time Iain had met with AnnaBelle’s parents, but it was the first time since Blue had been born.

  Hunter sipped the iced tea Tatiana had made for them all upon their return, enjoying the quiet moment. “I’m not surprised Tatiana fell asleep. She’s been napping every day since I came.” He stopped abruptly, wondering if he’d said too much. He was intently aware of the flush staining the back of his neck.

  Iain grinned, shrugging in response. “We often take advantage of ‘nap time.’ I’m not surprised AnnaBelle dozed off, either. She was really tired and I know she was aching to return. We both missed Blue and Tatiana. We’ve formed a nice little family.”