She took a few deep breaths. "You scared the shhhhhttuff out of me!" she said, fumbling over her words when the curse nearly spilled from her mouth. Somehow, she didn't feel comfortable saying it in front of him. Her mother had always taught her that ladies did not curse. As old as he was, she was sure that he could agree.
Camden smiled. "Just checking to make sure the accommodations are to your liking," he said, putting on an air of sophistication and a horrible British accent.
"Yes, wonderful. Thank you." She smiled.
He strode toward her and looked up at the painting.
"It's amazing," she said quietly, and only realized that she'd said it out loud when he responded.
He nodded. "I thought so too."
Turning to face her, he crossed his arms over his chest and rested his shoulder against the bedpost. He had a serious look on his face
"I know there is still a lot to talk about, and questions that you have every right to ask, but there's something I want to show you first."
Rayne nodded. She didn't just have a few questions, she had millions of them. She wanted to know everything and what all of it had to do with her. She needed to know exactly what was going on so she could prepare mentally for what was to come. She needed some sort of game plan to go by, and the only way that could happen was with answers.
Camden nodded toward the door and pushed away from the bed. She followed him into the hall and down the second hallway she'd seen earlier. They turned the corner to the right and stopped at the only door on that stretch of wall.
Camden paused with his hand on the handle. "This was your grandfather's study."
Rayne's mouth dropped. "He lived here with you?"
He nodded. "He's been dead for twenty years, remember, and had people after him. This was the safest place. That's why there is so much security.”
"For how long? How did you know him?"
Camden held up his hand to stop her, and she snapped her mouth shut mid-sentence before any more could come pouring out of its own free will. He stood motionless for a moment and then slowly turned the handle.
She held her breath and gave him a nervous glance as the door swung open. She stared at the ground, steeling her resolve before she stepped inside to look around.
It was a large, ordinary room, with bookshelves covering every inch of every wall, and they all were loaded to the max. There was one large window on the far wall that allowed the afternoon sun to shine in on top of a large wooden desk.
Rayne bit her lower lip as her eyes roved. It reminded her of him. In fact, it looked very similar to the same one that she'd seen as a child, the one where he'd read, “The Aeneid,” to her. He was such a classic literature fan, and loved telling her the story of the Trojan Horse nearly as much as she enjoyed hearing it. The only thing this room was missing was the large, straight-backed chair they always sat in.
Her hand reached out of its own accord and gently rested on a row of books. Her fingers drifted over each spine, most of which were worn and tattered, and she slowly made her way around the room. She saw the famous classics, like “Frankenstein,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Odyssey,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Moby Dick,” “Tom Sawyer,” and so many more. She couldn't even begin to imagine trying to count all the books this room held.
A single tear welled up and threatened to fall. She missed him. He may have been gone for twenty years, but she still missed him just the same. What she wouldn't give to have been able to have known him for all these years.
She made it around to the window and stopped to stare at the desk. There were four frames, all shiny metal, each holding a photo of her at different points throughout her life. She stood motionless, brows furrowed and lips pressed together in a determined fight with her emotions.
Rayne stepped closer, her hand resting on the smooth wood. The first frame held a picture of her before the sickness, when she was just four or five, smiling happily up at the camera. Next to that was one of her and her mother gardening in the front yard. She looked about eleven or twelve. Where was it taken from? Across the street from my house?
Her mother sat on her knees in the grass, resting back on her heels and smiling down at a dirt-covered Rayne. They both wore ridiculously large straw hats and gloves. She remembered days like that. They would laugh for hours on end at how goofy each other looked.
A tiny smile pulled at the corner of her mouth and she moved on to the third. It was about ten years ago, and she and her mother were at the fair, eating cotton candy and laughing. Layla was there too, just part of her profile visible, but Rayne would recognize those black ringlets anywhere.
The last photo was of Rayne by herself, sitting at the cafe as usual and reading a book, maybe three or four years ago. It was snapped just as she was taking a sip of her coffee, her eyes closed and the wind gently whisking her hair.
It was the story of her life, happy and carefree at the beginning, growing up with a wonderful mother and best friend, and then alone. It had been tough, but she'd come through it ok and was a better, stronger person because of it. Life was not, nor had it ever been, fair. She knew that and ran with the hand she was dealt. Everything happens for a reason, and she was beginning to think that her current situation was it. Had her mother still been alive, she was almost certain she would not have agreed to fly across the country with a stranger. She wouldn't even have considered it. It was the same with her grandfather. If she'd known he was really alive all these years, then there would be no reason for her to be there now.
As crazy as it all sounded, she knew that she was meant to be there. She wasn't sure if she should call it fate, destiny, or maybe even doom, but it was comforting to think that there might be a bigger picture she just wasn't seeing yet.
Rayne was only vaguely aware that Camden had come to stand behind her, watching her closely as if trying to decipher her thoughts. She smiled and wiped the tear from the corner of her eye. "Sorry," she said, laughing awkwardly so she wouldn't cry.
Camden's hand came to rest at the small of her back. "There's nothing to apologize for."
She laughed and turned away from the desk. "Yeah, because this is exactly what you need, to console a crying woman when there is a murderer to be caught."
He laughed at her sarcasm.
There was a silent pause before Rayne gestured to the photos. "Where did he get these?"
Camden inhaled deeply and ran his hand through his hair. "Every few years he would send someone to check on you and your mom, just to make sure you were both doing well."
Rayne bit her lower lip and met his deep blue eyes. "Did you take any of them?"
He hesitated a moment before pointing to the most recent one. She nodded. It didn't even bother her to think that she'd been followed and watched by her grandfather's men. At least his intentions were among the best, unlike tall, dark, and creepy who had been lurking around her recently. Oddly enough, it was almost a secure feeling to know that she hadn't been alone all that time.
"Do you want me to give you some time in here?" he asked softly.
Rayne pushed herself away from the desk and shook her head. "No. I've had enough sentiment for one day."
Camden gave her that dreamy smile of his and reached down to grab her hand. She could feel the familiar flush that crept to her cheeks every time they touched and made her giddy. This time it was different. It was gentle and sweet, not the fiery sparks that usually ignited her skin. She let him lead her down the hall.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, looking back at her over his shoulder.
She hadn't been, but somehow just thinking about food started her stomach growling.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said smiling. "You know, I might not eat regular food anymore, but I can still cook a mean meal."
She furrowed her eyebrows as she was dragged along. “I thought you had some things to take care of?”
He glanced back at her over his shoulder and his smile reached all the way up to his blue ey
es. “It can wait.”
Chapter 9
Rayne stood at the massive island in the middle of the kitchen, staring down at the amazing omelet Camden had made her. It was absolutely delicious! She hadn't eaten that well in a while. She took another bite and watched as he used a hand towel to dry the dishes he'd just washed.
It felt right. Two people, friends, hanging out in the kitchen, bantering back and forth with sarcastic remarks and comebacks. They joked and laughed. There was no awkwardness at all.
She didn’t know what was different. Maybe it was the peace of mind after realizing that she was meant to be there for whatever reason. Things were going to happen as they were meant to, one way or another. She wasn't going to worry or avoid certain circumstances or situations that may or may not ever happen. Life as she knew it was already over, anyway. There was no going back to normalcy once you had learned the things she had.
She was just going to run with whatever she felt like doing. If it turned out badly, well, then she would be a better person for it. Rayne popped the last bit of her eggs into her mouth and pushed the plate toward him. "So, when are you going to answer my questions?" she asked, coming around the counter to grab the sponge to wash her plate.
"Ask away," he said, and turned to place a pan in the cabinet. He came back to the counter and crossed his sculpted arms over his chest, leaning against the island as he watched her.
"Ok. How did you meet my grandfather?"
Camden inhaled deeply and thought for a moment. "Remember when I told you that some of us vampires feed by getting close to people or places that have access to blood?"
She nodded and began rinsing the plate. She kept her focus on the dish, unsure of what answers she was going to get and whether or not she was going to like them. She had this image of her grandfather in her mind, and she didn't want it to change because she learned of some inside deals with the wrong crowd. But she wasn't going to let it stop her. She clenched her teeth and prepared herself.
"Well, that's what I did. A few years before all of the stuff with the formula, I heard about an opening at a pharmaceuticals lab for a night guard. I figured that would be a good place to get blood samples, so I took it."
Rayne raised an eyebrow at him as she turned off the water and grabbed the towel. She dried the plate and handed it to him. She shook her head. "If you had all this money, why didn't you just buy blood from someone? I'm sure there are people out there who would gladly sell blood for a handful of cash. Just seems like that would be easier. Why take a job if you didn't need the money?"
Camden shrugged and moved to put the plate away. "Remember, this was almost thirty years ago. Vampires are still hush-hush now, but it was even worse then, not nearly as many knew about us." He shrugged. "Now it's not a problem. I've paid lots of money for blood."
She cringed. Just the thought of the metallic taste in her mouth made her stomach churn. How could anyone ever actually crave the stuff? Rayne leaned against the island where he’d just been, and Camden moved to the counter across from her, mimicking the cross-armed pose. He was silent for a moment, as if debating the best way to tell her.
"I happened to be the guard on duty the night Martin took the serum from Dr. Schultz. It had been a while since I'd eaten, and was getting desperate and afraid that I might lose control if I didn't get something soon."
Lose control? What had he meant by that? Rayne made a mental note to ask him later. She didn't want to interrupt and risk losing the chance to learn a few things.
"I was around the corner from the lab when I overheard them talking in the hall. At first, I hadn't thought much about it, wasn't really interested. The only thing I cared about, was food."
She nodded in understanding to let him know that she was following.
"After they left, I ran into the lab and grabbed the first container of blood that I could find. I didn't know or care that it was blood that had been treated by the formula. I drank it all."
Rayne made a face, acting as though she were gagging, then smiled at him. In return, he laughed and shook his head.
"The next morning, driving home, some idiot rear-ended me at a red light.” He paused and sighed. “I knew that I still had a chance to make it home before the sun came up, but I was worried about upholding my human appearance. I couldn’t very well just run off at incredible speeds and leave my truck. It would have raised too much suspicion.” He shrugged. “So I waited it out.”
Rayne nodded.
“By the time the police were finished filing the report, the sun was almost up. I sped the rest of the way home.”
"I was finally almost to the front door when the sun first peeked over the trees and hit my skin." He laughed and ran his hand through his messy black hair. "I was only a few steps from the porch, and I was prepared for the excruciating burn, but it never came. In fact, it was little more than a tingle."
Rayne's eyebrow creased in question.
"That's when I realized what was happening." He flashed his devilishly handsome smile at her again and watched as her cheeks went rosy. "Rayne, the serum your grandfather gave you somehow bonded with my body and allowed me to walk in the sun without burning."
Rayne's eyes widened. "That's how you do it. You're using a secret formula." Her mind was reeling. How can all of this be true? First vampires, and now some magic potion that protects them from sunlight? Where were the cameras hidden? This had to be a joke on some TV show.
Camden unfurled his arms and began using his hands animatedly as he continued the story. "I couldn't believe what was happening, and I knew that this could change everything for humans and vampires alike. So, I approached Dr. Schultz with a business proposal," he shrugged. "I had plenty of money to invest, and if I was right, then there would be plenty more to come, so I offered to fund his entire operation and lab if he would come work for me, producing the same formula. Of course, to get him to fully understand my true motives for his work, I had to tell him everything."
He shrugged once again and resumed his cross-armed position. “But apparently, Schultz wanted more than my offer. Somehow, word got around to some very old and not-too-happy vampires. And well, the result was none too good for Schultz. Within a week, he was dead, and any evidence of his research was nowhere to be found. It's either very well-hidden, or he may have even had it destroyed."
Camden pushed away from the counter. "I'm betting that it was Schultz himself who hid it and not a vampire that took it."
Rayne held up her hand. "What makes you think that?" she asked.
"Think about it. Vampires have been in hiding for thousands of years. We can't always eat when we want to; if anyone finds out, we are hunted if they even really believe it, and it goes on and on, never ending until we are killed. It gets old after the first hundred years or so. There are plenty of vampires out there that are looking for any way and any excuse to make their existence known and enslave the human race. If a vampire had it, after twenty-five years, I'm sure we would both know it." He paused again. “Not to mention the lengths they are going to just to get their hands on it.”
Rayne nodded. Ok, I get it. Vampires are real. She was sick and was given an experimental drug that could somehow let those very real vampires walk in the daylight. Check, got it.
Every person who ever knew anything of how it was made and what it contained was dead. Horrible, but check. Those very real vampires are after her because she was given the drug and they think she knows about it. Yay me.
Wow, even she couldn't believe how crazy it sounded when she sifted through everything in her head. She couldn't imagine what it would sound like if she actually said it out loud. Staring at the floor with her lower lip caught between her teeth in thought, there was a long pause. "So what would normally happen if a vampire went out into the sun?" she asked, trying to think of anything to break the awkward silence.
"Instant severe burns, to the point that within minutes, we are dead. Sort of like a deadly sun allergy."
She p
ut on a show of mock disappointment. "What, no ball-of-fire, turn-to-ash type stuff?"
He laughed and shifted his position. "Oh, we'll turn into ash alright. Leave us out in it long enough and it'll just burn, burn, burn until there is nothing but dust left."
She cringed. "Yikes."
Camden nodded. "If you think it sounds bad, you should feel it." He laughed.
Rayne picked up her glass of water and took a drink. "So how does all of this tie into me, again?"
He pressed his lips into a thin line. "After Schultz sought out other venues, I figured my only other option was to find your grandfather. I found him right after your mother took you and left. I wanted to see what he knew about the formula, and as expected, he had questions." He shrugged. "I had to tell him everything in order to get what I wanted. It had only been a few days since Schultz was killed. We didn't know what or how much was known about him, so we assumed the worst and assumed he was next." He paused for a moment. "So we faked his death."
Rayne nodded. She was following, but she was still confused. "So why did they wait twenty years to do anything about it?"
"He was pretty well-hidden and usually very cautious. Martin never left the property, and very seldom did he ever go outside. He stayed in his study most days. The only thing we could come up with was that someone had to have seen him and Schultz together at some point, or Schultz revealed his name as a 'successful client' when pitching his drug to others. Someone had to have recognized him and eventually found us out. That's the only way."
She cocked her head to the side, just slightly. “So, wait, if the only people that knew about the formula are dead, then how are you getting treated blood?”
Camden pressed his lips into a thin line. “There is still someone out there who has it and knows how to make it. Martin wouldn’t tell any of us, and was very secretive about it. He said that he would provide us with it if we didn’t snoop or pry. He thought that something like this was too dangerous in any vampire’s hand, even one with good intentions.”
Dying To Be Heard (Book 1): Outcry Page 9