He prepared to go and did in fact leave, but was back within another couple of seconds. Edwardo hesitated before the poor last victim of the attack, looked both ways and then pierced the poor magistrate’s neck. Edwardo’s draw was distasteful of luke-warm coagulated blood. In a flash though, the vampire saw the dead man’s life, and searched through the years to find where his last hours were stored. Then, Edwardo could see the trained army, the vampire killers and Desmondo Milan.
Suddenly, Edwardo felt the stings of many bees and he withdrew from his blood-search to comprehend what was going on. Arrows were knifing into him in abundance. It made standing difficult and he was confused. Normally, he would shake off such puny things but there were too many and well-aimed. Here came a second volley. The precision of their flight made Edwardo draw in his breath. He needed to go. He needed to warn Lucido and the others, but an arrow struck one eye and protruded outward. He was becoming confused. It was difficult to move in the fluid manner vampires are accustomed. Here strode Bevin toward him, and Edwardo had been too busy with the blood-reading of the town magistrate that he had let his guard down.
“B-B-Bevin, Wh-Where is your beautiful she-devil.?” Edwardo asked.
Bevin took hold of Edwardo’s head in both hands. “I haven’t seen her. I was hoping you’d know something. But you will never know anything ever again.”
Bevin’s foot came to Edwardo’s chest and stomped down as he yanked the arrow infested vampire’s head off and held it aloft to show the troops.
47
I felt don Lucido moving away from our perch on the cliff and at the same time I saw Veria approaching.
“You’ve been talking about me.” She said, after don Lucido had withdrawn. She was bedazzling and soft and a smile sprung freely onto her face, looking like it belonged. Mostly in the time that I had known Veria, smiles slid from her face all too soon.
I said, “I am furious with you. You deceived me…all day and then led me into the heart of trouble. Everyone was waiting for me inside the house and you knew it.”
“You came in under your own power. I wasn’t pushing you or pulling. I didn’t make you.”
“You put me under your enchantment. I really had no choice.”
“I seem to remember that you asked Lucido to make you a vampire, peasant boy.
We all heard you. He did, too. And so, it is done. You are now more vampire than human and ever shall it remain.”
My raging body was adjusting to this transition. Tears came to my eyes. I had alternately felt intense pleasure and unbelievable pain. Crying was a process of this.
“Are those tears of joy or tears of remorse?” Veria asked softly.
“Both.”
“I know. But you can make it something horrid or something wonderful. You have been given a gift or a curse. You decide what it is by how you live it.”
“I have wanted this and feared it for a long time.”
“Unlike most we encounter, you were given every opportunity to escape this fate. And you wouldn’t have needed to run as if you were escaping or sneak away in the night. We would have helped you pack and made sure you arrived at your destination. It turns out your destination was to remain with us, as one of us. Can you not tell that the house of Del Rio is proud to have you?”
“Not everyone in the house is happy about it, Veria.”
“I am happy about it, Michael. Is that what you are looking for?”
“It is sweet music to hear if what you say is true.”
“It is true, Michael. I am glad for it. We have shared many experiences, some while hanging on to the last strands of a rope, while dangling over dark, dark danger. Like any family we squabble, roar and bare our fangs. All of us have moods and tirades. You’re being watched over. You are part of the House of Del Rio now. Don’t let family quarrels upset you. You are in, they know it and you know it. Soon you will get your legs and feel your power. Then you’ll roar like everyone else.”
“Veria, I am overflowing here. I can’t keep myself together… stretching and crunching…. I eat and it comes back up. And it’s not just my body turning inside-out, it’s my thoughts, my emotions too. My heart shatters and yet it grows bigger.”
Veria smiled at my description. Her eyes trailed half-way down my body, and rested there, but after a few seconds, did a slow blink and then fixed on me a smoldering look. “…not just your heart.”
“I want you. I’ve wanted you for years.” I said. “I want to tell you everything, do everything, give you everything…take everything you have…forcefully.”
“And I want to be taken beyond what I can provide, take beyond taking, give beyond giving….” Her voice went almost to a whisper. “…And love beyond loving. This is the hunger that claws within. It rages and torments inside every vampire and every human too. But vampires feel so much more, need so much more and we can take it if we want. Yet this comes at a cost to others or to ourselves. This is the utter victory or defeat in a vampire life. Any archer can loosen an arrow in haste or wildly in anger. Any swordsman can hack. To be an effective hunter, soldier, killer or …lover, you have to find sanity within your madness and hone the skills you have. You are in no shape at this moment to do these things you wish. You can hardly manage to sit up.”
We sat there, our legs hanging over the ledge, a shelf on a sheer cliff. Below us yawned a deep canyon.
“You sound like don Lucido.” I said.
“I cannot imagine why.” She teased, nudging me, her body in brief collision with mine. This was unnerving but her hands held to my arm. “I think he will not let you call him don Lucido much longer.”
“What about don Luc…cido and you?” I asked.
“What about it?”
“Do not play these games with me, Veria!” I chastened. “You know what I mean.
“I do. But you have lusted for me through these years and suddenly you ask about Lucido’s feelings in all of this?”
“Yes I do. I am new to the world of vampires. I fear I might make a misstep with those I love, not just lust after, as you have called it.”
“Michael, your senses will increase many fold, as will your strength and your love and your burning desires. You are asking about loyalty. Are we loyal in love? Many of us are, but remember that we live extraordinarily long lives and know so many intimately. Drinking another’s blood is very intimate…very erotic. Some of us have but one love, still some take many partners or just someone for the night. But here is one thing we don’t do, we don’t judge others for the love choices they make. We are powerful creatures. We can take what we want. I am loyal to Lucido but I am not exclusive to him nor is he with me. He is not responsible for my happiness, I am. And you are responsible for yours.”
48
Charlotte had fallen asleep. There was little to do in this room, inside which she was confined so sleep was one of the best options. Just outside the door a turning was going on. Watching it happen would be spectacular. Watching someone you knew and loved going through it was irresistible for many reasons. Yet she knew that her ability to remain in the room was being tested and she would have to find a way to endure. Charlotte had once had their trust, even fought against it oh, so long ago when she was more rebellious. She would give nearly anything to have it back now. If it came, it would come like it did so long ago, parceled out piece by piece.
She would go back to sleep except…. There was just the slightest rustle of noise. Someone was in the room with her and she bolted upright. Desmondo Milan stood at the foot of her bed.
“I cannot believe you are here.” Charlotte said. “How can you be here with so many keeping the house secure?”
“I’m not, you idiot, but I would like to be and will be soon. I cannot penetrate the security so I have had to wait until you came to me. Have you noticed your dream deeply colored and your ability to stay in them much easier?”
Charlotte, who was viewing her hands and taking in the surroundings, looked up and slowly nodded. I had the
widow give you something…let’s call it a spell.” Milan laughed. “Something that makes your dreams as they have been, deeper, and more addicting. I had met with you in your dreams every day and every time, you tell me what is happening and then you forget until the next time we meet with no memory of our last talk. And because our little meetings in your dreams are delicate, yet ever so important to our plans, we have given you an elixir that will destroy you in a long excruciatingly painful death if you should breathe a word of them to anyone. The Del Rio clan may be watching you closely, but they are far too busy to follow the tracks of your dreams. So here is where you can help me, my pretty little trinket. Tell me, why are you sleeping when the sun is down and it’s time to hunt?”
“No, I…I was just tired, I….”
“Charlotte, you were banished from the group, not trusted and not allowed to take part. Poor little rag doll, nobody wants you. Yet, you keep their secrets from me. Well, I may as well use the threats I always use, even though for you they will be like new.
Would you like to see your little child ever again? It cries for its mother each night, longing for her soft, reassuring arms? Would you like me to keep your beloved Michael alive? Tell me quick now, or I promise your little monster will eat its daddy for breakfast…and you for dinner. Or is it, I will feed you Michael for breakfast and your child for dinner. I can’t remember exactly which I fancied when I threatened you last. But you will tell me what I need to know, or events within my control will come between you and the ones you love. That would be such a shame, and so preventable.”
“I hate you!” Charlotte spat.
Milan nodded his head in a manner intended to convey understanding and compassion but it felt counterfeit and patronizing. Even in dreams, the Lorn reached out and jabbed.
“I know. You say that every time.” He squinted as he read her and then grabbed the clothing at her chest and pulled her close. His foul breath clouded into her face. “Now, tell me what is happening or I will hurt you more than you can possibly imagine.”
49
The small but lethal army of men had stolen into the city by ones and twos over a period of time. Along with drills and target practice, the way they were to assemble had been planned and rehearsed. Lorn had fought battles through those they infected, for as long as they could remember. Never in their history had they struggled to keep their existence secret. Not ever had the various beings they inhabited been aware they were being used to further the Lorn agenda. Now, their efforts were mounted against enemies who could see them and at the same time they were hunting down inferior water-based entities who could cloud as Lorn could. But were not as wonderful or as organized as the dust-based Lorn, but none-the-less knew of their existence. To have one species be aware of the Lorn had never happened and yet on this island, Earth, there were two. Many of their enemies had collected within the lodging, now surrounded by trained warriors under Lorn command. The early hints of a new day began a slight glow on the horizon.
Diego Garza was on his way back to the garrison from his sunset rounds when he discovered he was being followed. Whether this was by design or by accident was yet to be determined, but the course he was taking left him less doubt with each step, that the man who was behind him was headed to the same place he was. He had only slight apprehension about the follower. People could go where they wanted. They had their purposes. Still, the unease in the community was high. Even as a constable, he had to be watchful, scanning where he was headed and looking over his shoulder. The appearance of the ghost ship in the harbor was on everyone’s lips, and after the harbormaster made a visit to the neglected ship as it moored without line or anchor, the community really had something to talk about. Not much was known about what he found, but after his return he was never seen again and his home had been destroyed during the night. It put la Coruna on edge. Strangers were suspiciously eyed. Curch attendance was up and reports of strange disturbances which needed investigation kept his unit busy. People were scared.
Once Diego stepped inside, he moved away from the entry to create some distance from the one who would follow him in. Workmates were startled when someone else appeared after their commander.
Being that Diego was closest to the entryway, he did the inquiring. “Buenos tardes, senior. How may we help you?”
Pulling back a hood from his head, the man said. “My name is Constantine, Constantine the Vampire Hunter. I was solicited to visit your fair city by your harbormaster. Where is he?”
Diego was put off by the attitude of importance that seemed to flow from the man standing before him. Sure, he had heard of Constantine the Vampire Hunter, and if this was him, it was reassuring that he had arrived during these troubled times. But there were reports that he had visited the city a few weeks ago to see the harbormaster. Why was he asking about him when no doubt he already knew about the man’s disappearance?
“I think you already know the answer to your question, senior. You were here once before, just about the time that harbormaster disappeared.” Diego returned.
“I wish I had arrived sooner. I might have helped his situation. You are right. In fact, I had arrived here with my men and had the vampire captured and ready to burn…to uh, turn over to you, but others of his kind arrived unexpectedly. My men were killed and devoured.”
“How is it that you survived, Senior Constantine?”
Constantine closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “I would like to tell you how I fought valiantly and slew many vampires, but the truth is that I was spared by the very vampires I meant to kill. They put me on a ship after hiring me to hunt another vampire for them, an enemy of theirs. I was to go to the new world and hunt this vampire, Desmondo Milan. I was to kill him.”
“But it cannot be that you have made your visit there already and come back? It has only been a few weeks.”
“When I was spared, I had wished I had died with my men but I knew it would be better to live and come back to do what we had set out to do. This way I could avenge my friends as well.”
There was a certain insincerity in his voice, Diego thought. Constantine was talking but not really owning the words. Diego had heard words from many crime suspects in his line of work, and the words coming out of the man standing in front of him seemed like someone else’s. It sounded planned, smooth and polished. It felt as if Constantine’s answers were rehearsed.
“I left because to remain would have been to die. Once I was beyond where they were watching me, out to sea, I changed ships, in the middle of the ocean, mind you, and came back to secretly gather and train more men to come back and rid la Coruna of its vampire menace.
“And how do you propose to do this?” Diego asked.
“I would ask you to stay out of the way and allow us to do this dangerous work. Few know how to do it. Vampires are very clever”
“We are the peacekeepers in la Coruna, senior Constantine. Many is the number of people who take the law into their own hands. We cannot disturb the peace of the city just because someone is thought to be a vampire.”
Constantine stared at Diego, looking through him for long seconds, considering his thoughts and responses. “How many people come crying to you about loved ones lost to vampires, or suffer the curses placed on them through vampire witchcraft? Does this not disturb and endanger the peace in this city.”
Where are these vampires you are hunting, senior Constantine?”
“They reside at the estate of don Michael Ro`dan. Surely this isn’t news to you?”
“And where are your men?”
“We have come into your city in a manner that would cause no notice or alarm. Some have accompanied me here. The streets are not safe and the grip of a vampire’s influence can be far-reaching.”
“The Ro`dans are fine people, generous with the neighborhoods, churches and healings, and important to the commerce of the city.” Diego argued.
“These are wonderful things, no doubt, but are these gifts designed to have eyes look
the other way while vampires feed off of la Coruna’s citizens? These are the ways of vampires. But tell me, have you ever seen members of the Ro`dan family during daylight hours?” Constantine asked
“Yes, I have, standing for lengthy times in direct sunlight.”
Constantine was momentarily puzzled. “I do not understand the sorcery used to bring this about. I have seen them. They are vampires. I watched them devour my troops. Yet you say you have seen them out in the daylight. Then this is how we shall determine their guilt or innocence. We shall ask each one at the Ro`dan estate to step out into the full sunlight, my sharp shooters will remain hidden and poised with arrows ready, in case they try to leap to the shadows.”
Diego had heard enough. “I wish it would be as simple as that, but we are the authority here and we won’t be marching some of our richest and most influential citizens out into danger or embarrass them in this way, even if you are who you claim to be. So take your trained archers, if you really have any, and leave this city without causing a disturbance. You are wasting your time here…and ours.”
The vampire hunter glanced around at the faces who had been witnessing the discussion and saw them attempting to have serious looks upon them. Humiliated, Constantine turned and went outside only to reappear several seconds later. “Come quickly” He said. “One of your own men has been attacked.”
The night crew poured out of the building to see Constantine bending over a fallen comrade and rushed to help, only to discover that Constantine was actually crouching to make himself small. The rustle of the arrows in flight did not arrive in time to make this brief warning of any benefit and not one them missed their target.
The Blood In Between (The Safe Haven Trilogy Book 3) Page 26