Even though leaving our conversation unfinished goes against every fiber of my being; I concede and allow Lucan to carry the bottle of wine and me upstairs. He’s purposefully blocking me as he hoists me over his shoulder. I can feel it like white noise in my head. Zaid and Amelia are hovering over a pot on the stove when we open the door.
“Lucan, my brother, I cannot believe how much food you have in this place! Everything I need to make my famous Italian stew. Abri, you’re going to love it,” Zaid exclaims as we walk into the kitchen. It smells wonderful.
Once we settle around the table, I take the opportunity to begin our dinner conversation. “So Amelia, Lucan was telling me about the Sodali ceremony earlier and I wanted to get your perspective on it.”
Lucan and Zaid’s spoons clang against their bowls and Zaid lets out a little choking cough. I have possibly just ruined the appetites of the two people at the table that don’t actually have appetites in the first place. But I don’t care. Amelia gives me a knowing smile. If I could read her thoughts I'm sure they would be along the lines of ‘you go girl’ for having the guts to hold Lucan’s feet to the fire in front of company. Amelia clears her throat and looks at Lucan. He shrugs in defeat, and goes back to his soup with a little smile that says he knows when he’s been bested.
“Well,” Amelia begins. “It is kind of like a wedding in that it is a joining of two people. There was a lot of chanting and ceremonial things that I didn’t understand at the time but it wasn’t painful or scary.”
Zaid joins in. “The ceremony itself is like a wedding, yes, but not all Sodali are in love or even of the opposite sex. Vampire tradition demands that a ceremony take place to bind the vampire’s soul back together. Vampires don’t have marriage, per se; although, they can avail themselves to human notions of marriage if they wish.”
My eyes wide and Zaid chastises, “Lucan, you haven’t told this poor girl crap!”
“Yeah, I, uh, well—” Lucan is stumbling to find the right words. After a deep breath, he continues where Zaid left off. “The act of creating a vampire causes a split in the person’s soul. The broken piece is cast back out into the universe and sometimes, hopefully, it becomes part of a new soul. If the vampire is lucky, he or she will eventually find the person who received that broken piece of soul in the making of their own. That is a Sodalis.”
It reminds me of something I learned in high school physics about matter being neither created or destroyed, just moving from one form to another. Like water evaporating into steam and then condensing down into rain. Science class aside, the whole idea is very romantic. Finding the lost piece of your soul and being rejoined with your predestined other half.
“If the vampire finds the other half of his soul the connection between them is incredibly strong, the two halves of the soul recognize each other. As I said before, when I heard your thoughts in the elevator that day it freaked me out. I actually went to the Enclave’s doctor that afternoon; I thought I was losing my mind. He told me that Sodali could sometimes hear each other’s thoughts. When I came to your office and actually talked to you, I was sure you were mine.” The word ‘mine’ sets my body on fire.
“So where does the blood come in?” I ask aloud, and then think to Lucan, “I’m glad I’m yours.”
He smiles. “If I were to take your blood before the ceremony is performed we would be bound but my soul would still be broken. A blood bond between Sodali prior to the ceremony prevents the souls from rejoining. The theory being that a little of the person’s soul leaves with the blood and gets joined with the vampire but without the proper send up. Or at least that’s my understanding of it all.” He slumps a little in his chair when he’s finished.
“Is that why you don’t like taking from a Patron, you were afraid that if you found your Sodalis and a bond was formed you would be out of luck?”
“A little, but mostly, I just don’t like taking something so personal, so vital, from someone like it was taken from me, even if they are willing. Don’t ask me why it makes it different when it’s neatly packaged in a plastic IV bag, it just does. I know, ultimately, it came from someone else.” Lucan looks down at the table, swirling his soup around with his spoon.
“I understand,” I say. Not really, but seems like the right thing to say. “You know I will do this for you, this ceremony. It’s not like I have to eat a live chicken or anything, right? Right?”
Amelia cuts in, trying to sound upbeat. “Abri, it sounds really complicated, and it is, but don’t worry about it right now. There is no rush to perform the ceremony until you’re comfortable. Zaid and I waited a few years.”
“There might be a reason to rush it along,” Zaid interjects. “If this Serge asshole is as intent on harming Abri as he seems to be.”
“Why?” I ask. “How will a rejoined soul stop a mad man from eating me?”
“Sodali confer certain benefits of their individual natures on each other, like the agelessness that Zaid and Amelia share,” Lucan starts before Zaid can answer, which is probably for the best if the answer is in need of a delicate explanation. “You won’t start to crave blood or weaken the sun, but you will become stronger and faster and your senses will be more acute. Our mental connection will be greater as well. You will be able to hear my thoughts without touching me. You get all the good stuff and none of the annoying bits.”
“Cool,” I say and I mean it. I rather like the idea of having superhuman hearing and being able to read Lucan’s thoughts might come in handy as well. “What good stuff of mine do you get?”
“I will be able to stay in the sun and go without blood for longer periods of time. The best thing is that Serge will not be able to harm you. The binding creates an invisible bubble of sorts around a human Sodalis that keeps other vampires from harming them as long as their vampire Sodalis is alive. It keeps the soul from resplitting.”
“Makes sense since a vampire caused the split in the first place. So basically I would be immortal?”
“Not exactly. The barrier only protects from vampire attacks, not every day accidents or fatal illness. There is still the risk of dying from a car wreck or getting cancer.”
“It’s like suspended animation,” Amelia chimes in again. “It sounds impossible and I’m not sure anyone really understands it completely. Since Sodali are so rare, no one really wants to put us under the microscope and figure out how it works. I’ve never heard of a Sodali dying from any human illnesses though. Actually, I’ve never heard of a Sodalis dying.”
“This is all so confusing and…wow.” I pause. “It’s a lot all at once again. I’m not freaking out or anything; trust me. But if it means that Serge will not be able to harm me, it does sound like a sooner rather than later kind of thing.”
“I will not rush you into this, love. It is a lot to ask of you.” Lucan assures me.
“Not really, I mean, unless there is something else you’re not telling me. I would be helping you and getting a lot of cool benefits on the side. It doesn’t sound like a single negative on my end.” I would do anything for Lucan. Even though we haven’t known each other very long, I know Lucan is a wonderful man who obviously cares deeply for me, and not just because I hold part of his soul.
“You hold all of my soul, love,” he whispers to me. “But, you are correct, that is not why I love you. I love you because you are brave and beautiful and smart.”
I’m blushing.
“Maybe it’s time we left, give you two lovebirds some privacy?” Zaid teases. Amelia playfully punches his arm.
“Nonsense!” I say. Lucan looks a little crestfallen. He is obviously ready to be alone. “I want to hear about your meeting at the Enclave. You talked to them about Mark and Serge, right?”
Zaid and Lucan explain their recent meetings with the Council. Zaid’s arrival is not a coincidence. The Council had suggested Zaid be summoned to track Mark and his maker in case they were planning to increase the vampire population in the city. Most vampires don’t like to c
reate newbies so when a new vampire surfaces it’s typically cause for concern. As for Serge, the Enclave has had its eye on him for a while now, especially given his trouble with sticking to their rules. So far all Zaid has found is that Serge hasn’t been spending much time in his apartment in Hell’s Kitchen because there was probably a month’s worth of mail in his mailbox and the place smelled of rotting trash. Zaid planned to follow him after his next shift to find out where he was hiding out.
“He was supposed to come into work today, but I think the beating Lucan gave him last night might have him lying low a few days.” Zaid slaps Lucan on the back in a congratulatory gesture.
“That bad?” I ask. “Good. Fucking bastard.”
Zaid lets out a whooping laugh. “She’s a fiery one, Lucan.”
Lucan nods and joins his friend’s laughter. “Aye, I’m proud.”
“Serge turned Mark didn’t he?” My question ends their laughter. “It just seems like the obvious connection, doesn’t it?”
Zaid and Lucan look at each other with raised eyebrows. They have obviously stumbled onto the same conclusion.
“She’s a quick one too, mate,” Zaid appraises. “That’s what we think at least. Do you have anything to add to the theory?”
“No, it’s just that Max blurted it out today when we were talking about last night.” Zaid looks uncomfortable but lets me finish. “Max is my assistant and he used to be a Patron so it’s okay that he knows about this.”
“Did Serge say anything to you about it—” Lucan pauses and I catch the blue of his eyes heading towards violet. “Mark wasn’t there was he?”
“No, he wasn’t there and Serge didn’t say anything about it, or at least I don’t remember him saying anything before he knocked me out.”
Zaid and Lucan exchange a few uneasy looks before Lucan begins again. “We think Serge created Mark too, but the why doesn’t add up. Neither of them knew you existed at that point so it’s not as if Serge created Mark to get to you. Surely it can’t be just coincidence.”
“Why not? Stranger things have happened. Serge created Mark, and Mark is married to Sarah, who turned up in my office needing divorce from her Halfling husband. That part is pretty straight forward, I think. The question is why he created Mark in the first place. I didn’t have anything to do with it until that shithead saw me with you at the Enclave, so I'm pretty sure I’m a bonus kill at this point.”
Lucan’s eyes flare red and he growls. “He will not live.”
“I agree, brother.” Zaid chimes in. “And I think it is all the more reason to hurry the ceremony. Dealing with a Halfling is bad enough but his psychotic maker up our asses is more than the two of you want to handle unprotected. You should speak to the Council about it soon.”
“Now boys,” Amelia cautions. “Abri’s had a long twenty four hours and you two are not helping a thing. We’ve dumped a lot on her plate. Serge needs to be stopped, I agree. But let’s give this some time to sink in, shall we.” She must have noticed the decidedly green shade my face has taken on. “Until then, the Council and Lucan will see that she’s safe.”
“Thanks,” I say to no one in particular. “Say, do you think that maybe Serge is living with Mark?”
“Abri, love, you are wonderful! Why didn’t we think of that?” Lucan exclaims. “Where does Mark live?”
“I don’t know. Sarah hasn’t talked to him since I filed the papers and I served those on him at work. But I should know after court on Monday. Mark will have to take the stand and I’ll ask him if Hicks doesn’t.”
“Good. Then it’s decided,” Zaid pronounces with a mischievous glint in his eye. Amelia looks uneasy and I am sure they are speaking telepathically. “Why don’t you ladies go relax on the couch while Luke and I clean up this mess?”
Well that conversation was over abruptly. It is obvious that Zaid is accustomed to people doing as he commands. Zaid is obviously one man I do not want to piss off.
Lucan and Zaid move into the kitchen to clean up and mutter quietly to each other where Amelia and I cannot hear. Or at least I can’t hear with my normal human ears. I take my wine and follow Amelia to the couch. She tries to make polite conversation about non-vampire things but it doesn’t work.
“Can I ask you something personal,” I whisper, scooting closer to Amelia on the couch. She looks at me with wide eyes, but after a few seconds, she takes a sip of her wine and nods so I continue. “Does Zaid drink from you?”
“Now, yes. Before, no.” She looks relieved, like my question was not the one she was expecting. She sets her glass down on the table and curls her legs underneath her body before she continues. “As for Lucan, I wouldn’t worry about where he’s drinking from. I know he uses the reserves at the Enclave, not a Patron.”
“That’s what he’s said, and I believe him. What does it feel like?” The heat rushes into my face. This is on par with asking my mother to describe what sex is like.
“I can’t really describe it, but it doesn’t hurt any worse than when they draw blood at the doctor. It’s actually quite pleasurable in the right circumstances, if you know what I mean.” Amelia lifts her hair from her shoulder to show me two faint pink circles on her neck. “That’s from this morning.”
“Oh,” is all I can say.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Abri you’re going to be late!” Lucan shakes me while the window shades whir up into the ceiling. “I made coffee. Get up!”
“Mmm, ok,” I mumble and turn over away from the early light that’s streaming in from the east. “What’s the hurry?”
“Court. Sarah. Monday.” He punctuates each word with a nudge on my ass. The blankets keep the amps from penetrating me.
He snatches the covers off me. The cold rush of air has me scrambling. “Shit! That’s playing dirty.” I shoot out of bed like lightening and put on my glasses to read the clock next to the bed. “Lucan, it’s only seven. Court’s not until eleven. I have time. Besides, I'm taking the car.”
“Oh, sorry.” He looks sheepish. “I just assumed you had to be there the same time as work.”
“Nah, that’s why I like Court days, get to sleep in. But since I'm up, let’s talk about that coffee.”
Lucan heads for the kitchen and I follow, my socks with the rubber grippy things making little scuffling noises on the floor. I hate the socks but they are a necessity on the cold, slippery marble floors. He pours my cup as I look over the paper. This is so Town and County suburban, sitting in the kitchen with my man, reading the paper over coffee. All we need is a dog and 2.5 kiddos to round it out. Well it should probably be me in the kitchen pouring the coffee and Lucan at the table with the paper, but who’s counting, right? Lucan is laughing to himself as he walks over with my coffee.
“Inner monologue humor, sorry,” I defend as he hands me my cup.
“I'm not going to court with you today,” he says matter-of-factly.
“What? Why? I mean, not that I’m upset by that, just surprised,” I fumble. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Well, you’re a big girl and it is a public place and people have to go through metal detectors to get in there,” he replies, not looking sincere.
“Right, but it’s not like Serge needs to smuggle in a metal object to hurt me. He’s permanently packing heat, ya know,” I say, tapping a nail on my incisor. I am trying to call Lucan’s bluff. This makes no sense, especially since he’s kept me holed up in this apartment all weekend, barely letting me go to the bathroom alone. Very annoying since it is the only place I can be truly alone with him around.
“It wasn’t that bad and no, I'm not bluffing,” he chides. He is right; we did spend much of Sunday in bed.
“So who are you sending in your place?” I ask, ignoring his attempt to distract me with thoughts of yesterday afternoon.
“Zaid.” He tries to looks innocent and fails.
“Bluff called,” I shout, pounding the table. “I’ll see your bullshit and raise you fifty.”
<
br /> “Fifty what?” He is trying to distract me again. “Kisses? Hugs? Minutes in the tub?”
“Arg!” I huff. “Can he at least not look like a contract killer when he gets there? He kinda sticks out as, well, different. And he can’t come up to us unless it’s an emergency. Sarah doesn’t know anything and I don’t want her thinking I have a hot foreign stalker on top of a hot boyfriend.” There were going to be more supernatural beings in that courtroom today than any one person had a right to experience. Of course, only Mr. Hicks and I would know that, but it is still enough to make me nervous.
“You think Zaid’s hot?” Lucan asks, trying to look incredulous. “Maybe I should go instead; I don’t want you wooed by his charms.”
“Ugh!” I huff again. “I give up. You come, he comes. I don’t care. I’m getting in the shower.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Sarah and I walk up to the courtroom at the same time. She’s dressed just as I asked her to be: in a demure dress that says more Macy’s than Versace, and a knee-length wool coat instead of her fur. Max joins us a few seconds later looking very dapper in his new suit. I give him a little nudge when he starts looking around nervously. I know he’s searching for anything vampire that might be lurking nearby. We find a little corner at the end of the hall and give her a heads up about today’s hearing. I stand with my back to the wall to keep an eye out for Zaid and Lucan. I see nothing but figure that doesn’t mean I’m alone. Both of them are skilled enough to evade my detection, if they want to.
“So you’re pretty clear on what we are going to do today?” I ask, scanning the throngs of people milling about in the halls.
“Yeah. You okay, Abri? You look nervous,” Sarah asks.
“Oh! No. I'm just looking for opposing counsel,” I half lie. I am keeping an eye out for Hicks and Mark, but mostly because they are my link to Serge, or at least that’s the theory. “Max, I looked over your summaries. Good work. Basically, what we need to do is get the judge to order Mark to stay out of the apartment and to pay you a monthly stipend while the case is pending because he can well afford it. Is there anything else you want today?”
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