Rinwa waved her hand. “You can relax on that score. Sean’s been incommunicado for weeks. None of the other immortals know where you are.”
Leisha raised a brow. “I’m surprised you didn’t report my whereabouts the moment Samantha gave you our location.”
Her daughter forced a sweet smile. “But I don’t need all of them when I’ll be killing you with my bare hands.”
Tafari grunted a warning and Rinwa flattened her lips into a thin line.
Samantha glanced wide eyed at Leisha while her forehead wrinkled. Reading her friend’s pleading expression, Leisha changed the subject. “So how are you two doing?” she asked as pleasantly as she could.
Rinwa exchanged a grim glance with Tafari. After a few seconds, they looked back at Leisha. “We’re human, too,” Rinwa stated.
Leisha blinked a few times, uncertain if she’d heard correctly.
“What?” Samantha’s eyes looked like they were struggling to get free of their sockets.
Rinwa grimaced and nodded.
“From what Samantha told us last night,” Tafari said, “the immortals made the metamorphosis about the same time Leisha did.”
“Which means the rest of the vampires are probably human as well.” Leisha felt almost numb with the news. “That makes me feel a little better. I thought I was the only one.”
Samantha pulled out her phone. “I’ll email Nik right now for confirmation.”
Taking a breath, Leisha asked, “Does anyone know why we’ve become mortal again? Or if it’s permanent?”
Tafari answered. “We are looking into all the prophecies that have been recorded throughout our history. So far, there are no answers.”
Nodding, Leisha glanced from father to daughter. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but you could have told Samantha this over the phone. Why did you two fly all the way here from wherever you were?”
Rinwa took off her sunglasses, then rolled her stunning blue eyes. “Tafari wanted to make sure you were OK.”
Stiffening, Tafari added, “I also thought it would be a good time to meet, since neither of us have our powers.”
“So our lack of powers puts us on neutral ground.” Leisha finished for him. She forced herself not to be offended by the idea.
“Exactly.” He gave a hesitant smile but Leisha didn’t return it.
“So before our turning human, you weren’t planning to at least email me?” She tried to hide her anger beneath sarcasm. “Because after everything we’ve been through together I was simply lying in wait to destroy you.”
Frowning, Tafari shook his head. It looked like he was barely keeping his frustration in check. “I was going to contact you, but we have been busy trying to keep the immortals under control.”
Leisha’s eyebrows went up a notch. “And I suppose with the little surprise of turning human last night, things are looking quite dandy for the immortals now.”
“No, things are crazy. But…” Tafari seemed to be searching for the right words. “But the new council members are handling it, so Rinwa and I were able to sneak out here.”
Still upset, Leisha opened her mouth to argue further, but Rinwa interrupted her. “Really, Leisha? You’re getting your panties in a twist because Tafari didn’t call you? Stop throwing your little tantrum, and let’s focus on the important stuff.” The ex-immortal ignored her father’s glare and stared at her mother.
Blushing, Leisha clamped her mouth shut before she said something rude to her daughter.
Just then, Samantha’s phone buzzed, and she looked at the small screen. “Nik already replied. He says that all the vamps there are human, too. He also advises us to stay away until things have calmed down.” She looked up, concern on her face. “I guess things are pretty tense over there right now.”
“I’ll bet Annette has already ‘accidentally’ killed a few of the others,” Leisha muttered.
Rinwa made a sound with the back of her throat. “Saves me the trouble.”
No one else responded, and the silence became uncomfortable. Leisha shifted in her seat. Tafari and Rinwa glanced at each other as if they were having a silent conversation.
Finally, Samantha spoke. “So did you guys end up staying in England, or did the immortals uproot?”
“Sorry, but you know we cannot discuss that,” Tafari answered.
Leisha and Samantha nodded their understanding, and then it grew silent again. After a couple of minutes, Samantha stood. “Why don’t I show you two to your rooms?”
They followed her out of the living room, leaving Leisha to ponder things. And to let her temper grow. By the time Samantha returned, Leisha was ready to pounce.
“What the hell were you thinking?” she hissed.
The teenager crossed her arms. “Actually, I thought you might be glad to see them. I know I am.”
“Did you not see how awkward it was in here?” She took a calming breath. “How long are they staying, anyway?”
Samantha shrugged. “They didn’t say. I know it’s a little weird right now, but think about it. You can spend time with them. I know you’ve been pining for Tafari-”
“I haven’t been pining.”
“And you have a chance to get to know your daughter.”
“Who would like to see me dead, preferably by her own hand.”
Samantha threw her a sardonic look. “All families have their issues. Look what I have for a father!”
Leisha snorted derisively. “Yeah, but I don’t see you dropping everything to go visit him.”
“Well, excuse me for being scared of the man who kidnapped and tortured you!”
Sighing, Leisha sank back into the sofa. “Forget it. This is getting us nowhere, and they’re already here… for who knows how long.”
Samantha sat next to her and patted her knee. “It’ll be fine.”
Leisha grimaced. “I don’t know how to act around him. He’s always hated me, so I was always… defensive. He doesn’t seem to hate me anymore, but he doesn’t like me either.”
“So why not give me a chance to learn what I think about you?” queried a deep, male voice behind them.
Both the girls started.
“I hate not having my hearing anymore,” Leisha mumbled.
He grinned, showing off white teeth. Leisha’s heart sped up and she could feel her blood heating in lust. The effect of Tafari’s smile on her reminded Leisha why she fell in love with him in the first place.
“Rinwa has decided to nap, but I am not tired.” He shrugged as if to apologize.
“Then maybe you and Samantha can go to the store.” She brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “I know you have a refined palate, and I don’t think we have anything to accommodate it.”
Tafari gave her a hard stare. “Simply because I enjoy wines instead of beer does not make me a picky eater.”
“Oh?” Leisha countered. “How about you look through the cupboards and fridge before you decline the offer?” She pressed her lips together to hide the smile threatening.
Tafari shrugged and went to the kitchen. After a few minutes of rummaging around, he returned and asked Samantha to take him to the nearest grocery store.
Leisha couldn’t hold back the small chuckle, and Tafari’s lips twitched, his eyes warm.
Escorting them to the door, she thought it might be fun to have her husband around after all.
Chapter 4
After watching Tafari and Samantha drive away on the icy road, Leisha felt the pain meds kick in and decided to shower. The hot spray relaxed her sore muscles. The only inconvenience was holding her cast-covered arm out of the shower. She felt almost normal as she dried off and eased into her clothes.
However, when she raised her arm to do her hair, something in her right shoulder pulled. She sucked in her breath and held her shoulder for a few minutes as she waited for the ache to pass.
“Please. Are you such a wimp that you can’t even do your own hair?”
Leisha turned to see Rinwa leaning ag
ainst the doorjamb.
“You’re used to healing faster than me.” Leisha said. “I’m sure you’d be surprised at what it feels like to wait for the body to recover on its own.”
Rinwa scoffed, tossing her hair. “I think I’m perfectly capable of handling a little pain.” She pinned Leisha with a look. “After all, I got my first whipping when I was only four.”
Stomach clenching, Leisha’s initial reaction was to accept the guilt, but then decided she had allowed those emotions to rule her for too long now. She met her daughter’s gaze. “If not for me, it would have been a lot worse than one lash.”
Rinwa raised an eyebrow. “So you say.” She turned to leave.
Anger and hurt boiled inside. She had defended herself time and again, but no one believed her story of what happened the night she became a vampire. With her human exhaustion and aches, Leisha found that it was difficult to contain her emotions. Before she could think, she stepped forward and punched Rinwa in the shoulder with her good fist as hard as she could.
“Ow!” Her daughter clutched her arm and glared. “What did you do that for?”
Uncertain herself, Leisha waved her hand unrepentantly. “You said you could handle pain. I guess it’ll be no big deal to have a bruise for the next few days.”
“You gave me a dead arm!”
“I’m sure you’ll make do, Adanne.”
Rinwa froze and looked up. “My name is Rinwa.”
Leisha bit her lip, wishing her daughter could understand the devastation she felt from being separated all those years ago. “You’ll always be my Adanne. Nothing will change that.”
It was very quiet, with only the hiss of the heater to pour over them. Her daughter pursed her full lips to the side, as if she were about to say something. After a moment, however, she shook her head and disappeared through the door.
Leisha forced herself not to follow Rinwa. I can’t talk to her when she’s not ready to hear me. Instead, she turned back to the counter to brush through her wet tangles. . She was ready when Samantha and Tafari got back, stomping the snow off their shoes before closing the door. They plopped nearly a dozen plastic grocery bags down onto the kitchen counters.
Leisha went into the kitchen to help put the food away, but as she reached into one of the bags, Tafari placed his hand over hers. “You should be resting. We can take care of this, and I will cook dinner tonight.”
Trying to ignore the heat of his hand, she cleared her throat. “When did you learn to cook?” Leisha asked.
Removing his fingers from hers, Tafari shrugged. “We have been alive a long time, Leisha. I have learned many new things over the years.”
Rinwa came in then. “You mean when we weren’t out slaughtering her kind,” she sniped.
Samantha threw her a warning scowl and Leisha rolled her eyes and retreated to the den. She could hear Rinwa and Samantha setting the table while the sounds of Tafari cooking drifted out from the kitchen. Leisha plopped down on the couch, flipping through channels with the remote. It sounded as if Rinwa and Samantha were talking to each other like close friends. It was difficult for Leisha to not feel jealous, especially because she wasn’t entirely sure which one to be jealous of. Rinwa obviously liked Samantha, even after everything that had happened. It seemed that Rinwa could forgive well enough, as long as it wasn’t her mother. She wished she could kill Ptah again. The bastard had tortured her daughter until she agreed to become a vampire, and then had sent her home before she knew what The Hunger was. It had taken over and she’d come so close to devouring her father, the shaman, and daughter that night. Fortunately, she’d been able to tear herself away at the last minute, but she’d killed someone else in their place.
Pushing away that thought, she went into the dining room when the food was ready.
Tafari was removing an apron as Leisha sat. She couldn’t help smirking, seeing him look so domestic.
They ate mostly in silence. By the way Tafari sent surreptitious glances in her direction, Leisha knew he expected a comment about his cooking, but she still couldn’t taste or smell the way she used to. It was like when a human spent so much time in the bright sunlight that everything was dark when they went inside. Except the darkness extended to all of her senses, and even though it had been more than a day, they still hadn’t adjusted yet. So she mentioned how he had cooked the chicken and veggies to perfection.
Her estranged husband smiled at the compliment. The grin softened his hard features, exactly the same way it did in her memories from so many centuries before.
After dinner, everyone was tired enough to turn in early. When saying goodnight, Tafari reached his hand toward Leisha. She thought he wanted to hug her or maybe pat her on the back, but he hesitated, then lowered his arm and walked up the stairs to his room.
She wasn’t sure what she would have done if he hadn’t retreated.
Throughout the next two days, tensions slowly began to ease. Leisha forced Samantha to go back to school. The girl only gave a half-hearted protest before giving in.
She and Tafari were becoming a little more comfortable with each other, but they could only make small talk. Whenever the conversation turned toward them or what might happen between them, one or the other would find a reason to leave. Leisha noticed that Tafari also found excuses to touch her throughout the day. Just little brushes of their shoulders, or grabbing some lint from her hair. Leisha realized she was looking forward to what he would do next and what the explanation would be. Maybe it would get creative.
Rinwa continued to make jabs at Leisha anytime she could, but Leisha began to suspect her aggressive attitude was likely a defense mechanism. It was to prevent people, especially Leisha, from getting close to her. So she tried to take the insults in stride. Besides, although Rinwa worked to push her buttons, she’d taken much worse abuse from Ptah, so it wasn’t too hard to brush off.
On the third day of their visit, they were sitting together at dinner. Samantha’s cell rang and she answered it.
“Sorry, Spencer,” Samantha was saying. “Remember how I told you some of Angela’s friends are staying with us? Well, they’re still here and I’ve got to stick around.” The girl waved a hand even though Spencer couldn’t see her. “You know, the whole hostess kind of gig.”
Apparently the boy said something amusing because Samantha listened, then grinned. “Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Leisha and Samantha continued to eat. It took both of them a moment to realize that the immortals were staring at Samantha.
“What?” she asked around a mouthful of potatoes.
Tafari swallowed some water before asking his own question. “How close are you and this Spencer?”
Giving a half shrug, Samantha answered honestly. “He wants there to be more between us. I’m sure you guys can imagine why I don’t really want to date, though. It’s hard enough keeping up this front with regular friends. And if I had a boyfriend, it would feel like a whole new level of deception.”
Rinwa and Tafari nodded. “You have wisdom beyond your years,” Tafari said with a soft smile. “I am not saying that you should not have friends and date. But you are right to realize that getting close to regular humans does put you at risk.”
Leisha could see from the way Samantha twirled her fingers through her hair that the discussion was making her uncomfortable. Leisha cleared her throat. “Sam, why don’t you tell Rinwa and Tafari what we’ve been doing to find the prophecy child?”
The younger woman straightened in her seat, looking relieved at the change of subject. “Well, as you know, the prophecies about the child are pretty vague. So I’ve been searching online about stories of pregnancies that might spark something in my mind or trigger another vision, but nothing has grabbed my attention.” She shrugged. “Leisha studied all the prophecies about him, but nothing hints at where we can find the parents or predict where he’ll be born.” Samantha concluded, “It looks like all our efforts are leading us nowhere.”
T
afari bit into the grilled asparagus. “I thought in your vision you were there to witness his birth.”
“That’s true, which is why we haven’t given up hope yet.”
Rinwa wiped her mouth with a napkin. “So what’s your big plan? You put in all this effort to find him. Then what?”
Leisha shrugged. “We’re not too positive ourselves. We do want to protect him and the mother from the vampires. They’re working to hunt him down and slaughter him.”
“You could bring him to us,” Tafari said casually. “We are more than equipped to deal with the vampires.”
Spine stiffening, Leisha narrowed her eyes. “And what would you do with him?”
“We’d use him to defeat the vampires,” Rinwa said, as if it were obvious.
Leisha and Samantha exchanged glances.
“Wouldn’t that be exploiting him?” Samantha asked softly.
Rinwa gave a half shrug. “That’s what his purpose is.”
Leisha could feel her expression turn grim. “How would you know that?”
Tafari looked directly at her, his demeanor also becoming serious. “Obviously, we do not know for certain. But the prophecies give the impression that he will change the course of both of our species. The vampires cannot have him, so we will take him and use him to purge the world of evil.”
Leisha watched Tafari’s eyes for any flicker of emotion as he talked. Disappointment fluttered in her chest when she could see none. “And what of the mother?”
Shrugging, he answered, “She will be welcome to come with us. If she supports us, we may even turn her into an immortal.”
“What if she doesn’t, Tafari?” Leisha asked, frustration lacing her words. “What if she doesn’t want to go with you at all?”
Tafari looked at her calmly, but didn’t answer.
“If she doesn’t want to let him go or come with us, we’ll have no choice,” said Rinwa. “We must have the baby. Besides, he’s better off with us than with the vampires.”
Too upset to sit still, Leisha slowly stood, her muscles protesting only a little. “There could be a third option.”
Defiance Page 3