Of Breath And Soul

by Jennifer Snyder

  “How well did your wound heal?” Anna asked. I knew it was an attempt to change the subject, but I went along with it anyway. If she wasn’t comfortable talking about her feelings for my brother, I was okay with it. “I’ve always heard ancient vampire blood can heal wounds fast, but I’ve never seen it in action.”

  I bent to lift my pant leg and show her. It was strange to know less than forty-eight hours ago I had a gaping hole in my thigh and now the entire area was smooth and clear of any traces of the wound.

  “That is absolutely amazing,” Anna said as she bent to get a better look at the area. “Do you feel any side effects from it?”

  “Not anymore. At first I felt sick, like I was coming down with the flu. Then I was fine. It only lasted a few minutes.” The microwave beeped, and I hurried to get our mugs.

  “What about Tristan, has he woken yet?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “He’s moaned a few times and rolled around in his sleep, but he hasn’t woken since Kenna gave him the blood.”

  “Vampire blood is tricky. Even humans who are given it to turn sometimes die.” Her gaze must have fallen on me, witnessing my frightened expression, because she backtracked quickly. “He’ll make it though, Piper. Supernaturals are different from humans, much different. Our bodies are able to handle magic without issue. Most of the time.” Her last words were soft and unconvincing. They caused my throat to constrict.

  I hoped she was right, but I didn’t say so. Instead, I reached for my muffin and took another large bite. Now I understood why Jasper had been so worried about me while I was unconscious; he thought the vampire blood might do more harm than good. Why hadn’t anyone warned me about this before I allowed Kenna to give a dose to Tristan?

  The front door opened and Meili stepped inside. She closed the door behind her and headed straight for us in the kitchen. Her eyes seemed focused on one thing—the muffins on the counter.

  “This one is Jasper’s, but you’re welcome to any of the others,” Anna said.

  “Thank you.” Meili eyed her. I wondered if she didn’t like Anna, or if this was how she acted around new people. Maybe she had trust issues. It would explain why she was so quick to accuse Liam of drugging her when she fell asleep the other night. I hated people who always blamed others for their actions.

  “Why is everyone so famished? Is there no food in this house?” Anna asked with a chuckle.

  “You know us well enough to answer that question on your own,” I said, finishing off my muffin.

  “Some things never change.” She shook her head. “I’ll come back later tonight with some groceries.”

  “You don’t have to,” I insisted.

  “I know, but I want to.”

  I used to love it when Anna went grocery shopping for us. It was always a surprise to see what she bought, because it was never the same twice.

  “Is there anything in particular you’d like me to get?” she asked.

  I shook my head. I didn’t care what she got; anything would be better than nothing.

  “Pineapple,” Meili said. “I would like a pineapple. Fresh.”

  While I enjoyed pineapple as much as the next person, I found only asking for it to be odd. “Why pineapple?”

  “Because it’s good for you. It’s full of vitamins and minerals. Good for the body.” She took a bite of the cranberry muffin she’d snatched off the counter. Once she was finished chewing, she shifted her stare to Anna again. “And bananas. Some coconut milk and spinach too. One green apple. And two cucumbers.”

  Jesus, she was asking Anna to make a freaking list.

  “Okay, hold on.” Anna pulled out her cell and typed. “Pineapple, bananas, coconut milk, spinach, and one green apple. Anything else?”

  “A pizza.” Tristan surprised us all by saying. He was still lying on the couch, but he was clearly awake. His voice had sounded scratchy and rough, but at least he was alive and awake.

  “Pizza. Okay. I can pick one up.” Anna continued to tap on her cell. “Anything else?”

  When no one said a word, I said, “I think we’re good.”

  “You sure you don’t want anything specific?” she asked me.

  I held up my banana nut muffin wrapper. “I’m good.”

  “I’ll be back around six or seven, then.”

  “All right, thanks.”

  “Can I take this with me?” Anna asked, holding up her mug of tea.

  “Yeah, you want me to pour it into a travel mug for you?”

  “If you’ve got one that would be great.”

  As I shifted to grab one out of the cabinet, I couldn’t help notice Tristan walking into the kitchen. His movements were slow and lethargic. I knew how he felt—like he’d been hit by a bus. Whatever the vampire blood did as it healed a person wasn’t nearly as magical as it was portrayed to be. I allowed my eyes to graze over Tristan while I poured Anna’s tea into the travel mug I’d gotten Jasper for his birthday. Tristan rolled his head around, popping his neck with his eyes closed. I licked my lips, unable to keep thoughts of how good he looked from entering my mind.

  “What does that mug say?” Anna asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Oh, um.” I ripped my eyes away from Tristan and handed the travel mug to Anna. There was a shit-eating grin plastered on her face. Either she’d witnessed my moment of weakness over Tristan’s presence, or she knew the saying printed across the mug would be funny.

  “Thanks.” She turned the mug around in her hand to read it. “To My Asshole Brother With Love, really?” She arched a brow at me.

  I shrugged. “It was on sale and fit him perfectly.”

  Anna shook her head and started toward the front door.

  “Gotta admit, that is a sweet mug.” Tristan grinned. “Funny. And, definitely something I can see you picking out.”

  Meili either didn’t see the humor in it, or didn’t care, because she was out the front door right on Anna’s heels, eager to make her next safety check.

  “Where’s she off to? I thought she was your shadow.” Tristan nodded toward Meili.

  “Security check. She does that about every ten minutes.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing, considering I’m not sure the knife did the trick with that madwoman. She could seriously take a damn hit.”

  “I know.” I nodded and took a sip of my tea. It was warm now, bordering on cold. “Are you hungry? There are muffins, or I’m sure I can find you something else.” Maybe.

  “That’s fine.” He scrunched up his face. “I’m not really a breakfast person. By the way, how long was I out for?”

  “About a day.”

  “Guess that explains why I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I knew that lady beat the piss out of me, but man I’m sore.”

  “Actually, that would be because of the vampire blood coursing through your veins.”

  “The what?” His mouth dropped open.

  “Vampire blood,” I repeated, hoping he wasn’t about to blow a gasket on me. I hadn’t thought about the possibility of him not being okay with receiving the blood.

  “I heard you the first time. I just don’t understand. How do I have vampire blood in my system?”

  “Jasper called in a favor for me.” I placed my mug to my lips. “And it extended it to you, thanks to a succubus with a conscience.”

  “I’m totally lost.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “That didn’t hurt the way I thought it would. Why didn’t that hurt? I should have knots the size of my fist and bruises that cover my entire face from that crazy woman.” He rubbed even harder.

  “You’re all healed. It’s why you woke up.” While I wasn’t one hundred percent sure that was how the vampire blood worked, it was close enough. “Ancient vampire blood can heal wounds and stuff without turning you into a vampire.”

  “How do you turn into a vampire then? Refresh my memory.”

  “You have to be nearly drained of your blood or knocking on death’s door, I guess.” As I said the wor
ds, fear propelled through me. Maybe my brother cashing in his favor from Randal wasn’t the best thing he could have done. Hadn’t I been nearly drained of my blood after all? And there was a good chance I could be knocking on death’s door soon with the way things were going with the Vodun witches.

  My heart hammered against my rib cage as my mind ran wild. I did not want to turn into a vampire!

  Chapter 12

  I couldn’t become a vampire. There was no way I could become one of those monsters. I’d rather die.

  Tristan’s arms snaked around my waist. “Hey, what’s with the look?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Something is bothering you. I can tell.” He gave me a gentle squeeze. “Are you worried about becoming a vampire?” There was a teasing lit to his voice.

  “Would you think I was being melodramatic if I said yes?” I took a sip of my tea, hoping to force the bile rising up my throat down. My nerves were going haywire as thoughts barreled through my head.

  What had Anna said about supernaturals and vampire blood? It was something about us being able to handle it differently and without issue, but what had she meant? I thought on it for a second before deciding I had to believe that was what happened. I hadn’t been turned into a vampire while near death and devoid of some blood because I was a strong witch. That had to be it. I couldn’t have the fear of transitioning into a vampire hanging over my head on top of everything else going on in my life right now.

  “No. It’s a valid fear in this situation,” Tristan said.

  I wiggled free from his grasp. “Okay, you’re totally not helping any. Besides, why aren’t you freaked out about it? I mean, we were attacked by some crazy lady the other night. She could attack again. Anyone of the Vodun could. Dying is a real possibility, which means becoming a vampire could be too.”

  “I’m not saying it’s not, just that I don’t think that way. I can’t. Haven’t you ever heard the saying ‘thoughts are things’?” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Think positive.”

  “Where did you hear that, a fortune cookie?” I snapped, angry with him for dismissing the situation.

  “It’s possible.” He grinned.

  I hated seeing him grin. I hated he wasn’t as worried about this as I was. The same risk plagued us both. Didn’t that scare him at all? My stomach churned as thoughts of turning into a vampire and having to drink blood in order to stay alive clouded my brain.

  The front door opened and Meili stepped in, followed by Paxton and Reese.

  “I see prince charming has finally awoken,” Reese taunted. While her tone might have come off as teasing, I knew her well enough to catch the disgust hidden within.

  At least she acknowledged him though. Paxton didn’t. Instead, he set a stack of books and papers on the kitchen counter. “Here are both your homework and lesson plans for the last couple of days.”

  I eyed the stack. “I would say thanks, but you know how much I hate homework, so I’m not gonna even pretend.”

  “What does everyone at school think we’re out for?” Tristan asked.

  “Mono,” Paxton said.

  “What?” I hadn’t thought to ask what reason Jasper had given the school for my absence.

  “Mono,” Paxton repeated. “Jasper told the school you have mono. I’m assuming the same lie was used for you too.” He eyed Tristan.

  “Clever.” Tristan grinned. “The kissing disease.”

  “I thought it was a good choice too. It buys you both more time to recoup,” Reese said. “Plus, I’m guessing you’ll be leaving soon, right?”

  “At dusk,” Meili answered for us.

  We’d been prepared to leave over spring break, which was next week, but with the attack, things had been pushed forward.

  “Are you sure we’re set to leave so soon?” I couldn’t believe my brother had prepared things that quickly for us. He wasn’t a procrastinator, but he did enjoy loads of research on places he visited before nailing down anything. He liked to read a good portion of reviews for places and familiarize himself with the area first.

  “Yes.” Meili nodded. “Arrangements have been made for us to stay downtown and a rental car has been acquired. It should be delivered within the hour.”

  Now I knew Jasper hadn’t been the one to make the arrangements; he never would have gotten a rental car. While my brother wasn’t the most financially conscious person, he did know how save money when necessary and renting a vehicle when his truck was able to make the trip was not something he would have done.

  “Who set all that up?” Reese asked as though she’d read my mind.

  “The tribe,” Meili answered. She hoisted herself on the counter and grabbed a knife from inside her boot. I stared at her as she reached for the knife sharpener from in the butcher block on the counter.

  The room fell into silence as we watched her sharpen her knife in swift movements. Every few seconds her eyes would lift from what she was doing and gaze out the windows in the kitchen. She was always on guard. I wondered if it was because she felt she had to prove herself since my attack, or if she was trying to not screw up again. I could only imagine how angry the tribe was with her for what happened. While she hadn’t mentioned any ramifications from her falling asleep, I was sure there had to be something. My life, my blood, meant too much to them for her to only receive a slap on the wrist. I glanced at Tristan, wondering if anything would fall on him as well. I hoped not. He hadn’t agreed to be my shadow. She had. Plus, he’d done everything he could to help get me out of there alive.

  Maybe that was why his father hadn’t been by to check on him. I wondered if he was embarrassed or upset by his son’s role in everything.

  When Tristan caught me staring at him, I glanced away. My eyes fell to the TV. “You guys want to watch some TV?”

  “Sure.” Reese was the first to speak up. Paxton seemed mesmerized by the sight of Meili sharpening her knife, and Tristan looked as though he’d noticed something bothering me again. I started toward the living room without giving him time to ask.

  “How are you feeling?” Reese asked as she followed me to the living room.

  “I’m okay.” I shrugged.

  “No, you’re not. You can’t lie to me. What’s up?” she demanded.

  “She’s afraid she’s going to die with vampire blood in her system and become one,” Tristan said before I could answer. I shot him a nasty look over my shoulder.

  Even though Reese and Paxton were my best friends, it didn’t mean I wanted them to know how freaked out I was about the possibility of such a thing happening. I’d intended for it to be a personal conversation between the two of us, not something for him to broadcast.

  “It’ll be out of your system by tonight,” Paxton said. “I wouldn’t worry.”

  My eyes snapped to him. Was he serious? He looked serious. “You’re sure?”

  Paxton nodded. “If everything I’ve read about the subject is true.”

  Since I knew how thorough he was when he got in to one of his phases, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and relaxed. Paxton didn’t do anything half-ass. If he said the vampire blood would be out of my system by tonight, I believed him.

  I situated myself in the center of the couch. Reese sat on one side of me, and I prayed Paxton would let Tristan sit in the other spot. When he did, settling in the recliner, I was grateful to him. He caught my eye and winked. Even though he might not agree with everything Tristan related, at least he wasn’t an ass to me about it. Jasper could learn a lot from him.

  I switched on the TV and found something I assumed everyone might enjoy. It was a comedy movie I hadn’t seen in a while. There was nothing better than watching something hilarious to help take your mind off crazy crap happening in your life. I watched a lot of comedies when my parents died. Laughing was healing.

  Thirty minutes into the show, the sound of a vehicle pulling into the driveway captured my attention. I thought it was Jasper, but when he never came inside, I grew s
uspicious.

  “Sounds like someone swapping vehicles out,” Reese said, using her werewolf hearing.

  “It’s the rental company,” Meili said. She’d moved to the window beside the door with such ease that I was surprised she wasn’t a cat shifter like Paxton. He had always been able to sneak around so well because of his shifting abilities. There were many times when I was jealous of his abilities. “They’re dropping off the vehicle the tribe secured for our trip.”

  Curiosity got the best of me. I stood and headed to the window to see what we’d be taking on the eleven-hour road trip. When I glanced through the slats of the mini blinds, what I saw was not what I expected. Also, I knew it wouldn’t be something Jasper would like. Chances are we’d be taking two vehicles, because there was no way in hell he would be caught driving that thing.

  “What is it?” Paxton asked, noticing the way my face scrunched up at the sight. “Not something you would have chosen?”

  “Not at all.” I glanced at Meili. “My brother won’t drive that,” I assured her.

  “He doesn’t have to come then.” She was firm in her words, but it was her eyes that told me she wasn’t screwing around.

  I swallowed hard. I wasn’t going anywhere with her, and whoever else the tribe decided to let tag along, alone. Jasper was coming, even if he did happen to drive his own vehicle. Maybe it would be for the best anyway. Then, we could leave the second everything was over without having to wait around for anyone to take us.

  “Now you’ve got me curious.” Tristan stood and walked to stand behind me so he could see out the window as well. “What? That thing’s sweet. Looks roomy.”

  I couldn’t tell if he was joking. While the minivan wasn’t the sportiest ride I’d ever seen, it was probably the most practical for a trip of this length. Comfort would be necessary, and I didn’t think vehicles got any more comfortable than a minivan.

  Reese was the next one to step to the window for a glimpse. “Oh, man, a minivan! I can’t wait to see Jasper behind the wheel.” There was a chuckle embedded in her words, letting everyone know how amused she was by the idea.