The one holding the stake slapped my face. “Answer, woman, or die,” he snarled. “Are you Samuel’s fledgling?”
I winced in pain and then heard a sickening crack. “So what if she is? Who wants to know?” a familiar voice asked. I looked up just in time to see the man drop dead beside me and Samuel deliver a spin kick to one of the other attackers. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Matthew tackling one of Adam’s two still-standing attackers.
I smiled in spite of my condition. Help had finally arrived. Mary Anne arrived next and jumped my third assailant. She broke his arm instantly. “Now there’s something to tell your master,” she said with a sneer. The vampire hissed at her. Mary Anne dragged him to the ground and twisted the arm she broke. “Now, Michael, we are going to play twenty questions.”
“Now that is always entertaining,” Matthew replied, snapping his opponent’s neck. He went to help Adam. Working together they succeeded in staking the fourth assailant.
I got to my feet and looked towards Samuel. He calmly dropped the vampire he had been fighting to the ground with a stake drilled into his heart. He turned towards Mary Anne and me. I walked with shaky steps to Mary Anne’s side. Samuel and the others was there a second later. “Well, then. First question,” Mary Anne said gleefully. “Did Valentino send you?”
The vampire spit at her. He sneered despite his obvious pain. Samuel reached out and snapped his other arm. The man howled in pain and anger. “Answer the damn question, Michael. We greatly dislike people who attack us.”
“Aye, Valentino sent us!” the man blurted out.
Samuel twisted one of his arms. “Why?” he prodded coldly.
“He paid us to go after your Goddamned fledgling Samuel! He thinks you are training her to challenge him!”
Samuel smiled thinly. “I guess you didn’t count on dealing with us.”
The vampire shook his head. “Nay. We thought you were out of the area.”
“Wrong again, Michael.” Matthew snorted. “We do not leave our new fledglings without protection. Can I break his neck now, Samuel?”
I suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded. “Samuel?” I asked weakly. I swayed on my feet slightly.
Samuel instantly turned towards me as Adam whispered, “They attacked Julia and me. By all means, go ahead Matthew.” Matthew frowned at him. Samuel waved them off and came to my side.
“Sunshine?” he said, worry in his voice. He tried to steady me with a strong hand.
“The world keeps spinning. I have not fed. One of them slashed my arm . . . think it’s still bleeding . . . can’t tell . . .” I mumbled, too weak to finish my sentence. My legs gave out and I collapsed against him, barely conscious.
“Samuel!” Mary Anne said, clearly alarmed. “What shall we do?”
Samuel gently lowered me to the ground. He spoke, and his voice seemed to come from far away. “She needs human blood. Mary Anne, take Adam and go find Damien. I am taking Julia back to the house. Matthew, kill this lackey and then find our other four. Make sure they’re all right.”
This time no one, not even Adam, argued with him. “All right,” Mary Anne and Matthew said in unison. I heard footsteps start away and vaguely felt myself be picked up.
“It’s going to be all right, Julia.” I shut my eyes and didn’t answer. I was too exhausted and hungry.
When I awoke I was lying on Samuel’s bed, covered with a thin blanket. “Samuel?” I asked drowsily.
Samuel came into view and sat beside me. He looked sick with worry. “I’m here, Julia.”
“Is Adam here?” I asked, looking at him.
He smoothed back my hair. “Not yet. He’ll be here any minute,” he answered. “Just try to rest.”
My eyes slipped shut against my will. “I think that is all I can do,” I whispered. I struggled to speak again. “Samuel?”
“Aye, Sunshine?” He sounded surprised; he must have thought I had drifted off again.
I spoke with effort. “Thank you for coming. You probably saved both of our lives . . . my life for the second time.”
“No need to thank me, Sweetheart. I only wish I had gotten there sooner.” Samuel sighed. He picked up my hand and held it gently.
I could stay awake no longer. My awareness faded until all I sensed was Samuel holding my hand, until even that faded.
Chapter 10
A sweet warm liquid trickled into my mouth, my first conscious sensation since falling asleep after the attack. I sucked it in greedily.
“She’s drinking the blood. That is good, is it not?”
“Aye. You must be very happy to be a blood donor, Damien,” Matthew said quietly.
“It doesn’t bother me. She’s my sister-in-law, whether alive or undead.” Damien replied.
“You knew about them . . . knew all this time Julia was a vampire?” Adam muttered in disbelief.
“Aye.” Damien offered no further information.
I was groggy, but managed to push his arm away weakly. I didn’t want to harm him by drinking too much. I felt him move his arm until it was on my lips again. Once more, I tried to push it away. “Julia, stop it! Take a little more. You need it!” Damien snapped.
I gave up and resumed drinking. A couple of seconds later I shoved his arm from me, violently this time. “No more,” I whispered hoarsely. “It will kill you if I drink any more. I won’t be able to stop.”
A moment later I opened my eyes. The room gradually came into focus. Adam was sitting on my right and Damien on my left, carefully wrapping his arm. Jeffrey and Robert sat at the table nursing what I thought were minor wounds. Sharon sat next to them with her head down, her dark blonde hair spread out around her like a fan. Matthew stood behind her, examining something on her neck. A wound I supposed.
Samuel stood in the hall, looking back at one of the bedrooms. He turned towards us, and his eyes were dark with fury. Never had I seen him so angry. I flinched. For most of my life, if a man was that angry in my presence, his anger was likely directed towards me. I wondered what I had done wrong.
Damien touched my shoulder and then looked at Samuel as well. “Matthew, Mary Anne wants to see you,” Samuel said flatly. He didn’t seem to notice anyone else.
Matthew looked up after murmuring something to Sharon. There was a few moments of silence and then he asked, “How’s Christy?”
“Not good,” Samuel replied tersely. “Mary Anne thinks it’s best if you go in now.”
Matthew jumped up, sprinted past everyone, and disappeared into one of the bedrooms.
Confused and fearful, I continued to stare at Samuel. His body was tense, and through the telepathy I could sense his rage build. I had not seen any of the vampires this angry before. It frightened me; I didn’t understand what was happening. An involuntary whimper escaped me.
Samuel turned towards me at the sound and the emotion in his eyes changed to embarrassment … maybe even shame. He obviously hadn’t wanted me to see how upset he was. Before I could say anything he murmured something like an apology and whirled around. Within seconds, he had disappeared out the door.
I looked at Adam and Damien. “What happened?”
Adam was the one who answered. “While Mary Anne and I went to get Damien, Matthew searched for Christy and the other three. He found them a ways outside of London. They had been ambushed, not long before we were, by a few other vampires. They didn’t even have a chance to call for help or send out an alarm. Christy was badly hurt, more hurt than you.” He touched my shoulder tenderly.
“Oh no!” Suddenly, I understood why Samuel had seemed so angry. I struggled upright. “I’m going after Samuel.”
“Julia, are you sure you’re strong enough?” Adam asked.
“I am. Help me up Adam. Please.”
Adam nodded. “All right, but I do not think you should go anywhere yet. I wish you will not.” I pulled off the blanket covering me and used Adam and Damien’s support to stand up slowly. When I was on my feet Damien walked towards the room Christy and M
atthew were in.
“Are you all right so far?” Adam asked.
I nodded and leaned against him until I got my balance. I stepped away and made my way outside. Adam followed me out with a sigh. I knew he wanted me to rest more, and maybe he was right, but I needed to do something before I began to feel sorry for myself again. I felt so bad for misjudging the reason for Samuel’s anger, automatically assuming I had done something wrong even though logically I knew that wasn’t possible under the circumstances.
We found Samuel a few feet to our right, leaning against a fence we had put up a few months ago. He was facing the spot where, in a few hours, the sun would rise.
“Samuel?” I said as Adam and I approached. I was still a little shaky on my feet but I already felt much better. I can walk, at least, I thought with gratitude.
At first Samuel did not respond. Eventually he turned towards us slowly. “Julia? What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you still be in bed?” he asked, his tone gentle.
I walked over to him. “I came out to check on you. I was worried.”
Samuel looked away. Adam put his hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Samuel. You did the best you could.”
I continued, “You did not know they were in trouble, and even if you had known, you could not be in two different places at the same time. Either way someone would have lost out.”
After a second Samuel looked back at us. “True,” he reluctantly admitted.
“So why are you being so hard on yourself?”
Samuel stared at me for a second. “One day, Julia, you will understand,” he answered, but there was no anger in his voice. Samuel paused. “Maybe you already do,” he said in an afterthought. He glanced at Adam and a faint hint of respect entered his eyes.
I was momentarily confused by his words, but then I realized that his turmoil reflected anger at himself. He was our leader and felt responsible for us, and it pained him greatly that he hadn’t been able to protect us— the way I had felt when Marie’s life was cruelly torn away from her in front of my eyes.
“I do understand,” I said finally.
Samuel nodded. “I guess we better go back inside.”
“All right,” I said, and walked back towards the house. Adam walked beside me and held my hand. Samuel followed us.
Jeffrey looked at us as we entered. He was the only one left in the room. “Sharon just went to bed,” he said to Samuel.
Samuel nodded. “Is everyone else in the ladies’ bedroom?”
Jeffrey nodded. “Aye. Sharon sleeping, the others at Christy’s side.”
We nodded. Samuel turned towards us. “Do you want to see her before sunrise?”
I nodded and the three of us walked to the bedroom. Samuel knocked on the door lightly and opened it. Damien was leaning against the dresser, Robert was sitting on Mary Anne’s bed; Mary Anne herself, and Matthew, were sitting on the floor on either side of Christy.
Mary Anne looked up, worry etched clearly across her face. “Julia, how fare thee?”
“I feel better,” I answered quietly. Adam and I followed Samuel in.
Christy lay limp on the bed, covered with a blanket. Her right arm was swathed with bandages and so was her head. Her eyes were closed and she looked shockingly pale.
Mary Anne looked down at her and then up at me. “That’s good to hear, Julia. I was worried about both of you.”
I smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Mary Anne.”
Matthew was holding Christy’s hand. He looked up at us. “She is barely healing, Samuel. Even with Damien’s help.”
Damien frowned. “I could —”
“No, you will not. No more blood giving tonight, Damien,” Samuel said sharply. “You’ve done enough for us already.”
I walked over and knelt beside Mary Anne at Christy’s bedside. Adam moved to stand beside Matthew, and Samuel stood on my other side. “Christy?”
Samuel reached out and touched her face. After a second, he looked up. “I think you all had better get to bed, especially you, Julia, and Damien.”
I looked up at him, a protest dying on my lips. “All right,” I agreed. “Come on Adam. We’ll be back in tomorrow.”
The others nodded. We went back into my room. Soon after entering, weariness hit me like a carriage drawn by out-of-control horses.
“Are you all right?” Adam asked.
I turned back the covers and took off my shoes. “Aye. I just realized the others were right. I am tired. I think deep sleep will overtake me the moment I lie down.”
Adam took off his boots. “I guess I will go to sleep as well.”
“Adam, you do not have to. There is at least one whole hour before sunrise. You can read if you prefer,” I protested quietly.
“Nay, I don’t want to wake you later.”
“How sweet,” I said dryly and climbed into my warm bed. I lay back and then sat up as Adam sat beside me. I was suddenly hit with the realization that we were going to share this bedroom together. Did I really want to give up the freedom of having a room to myself? Did I really want to share my room with a man? Even Adam?
“Are you going to sleep in this bed too? Oh, never mind. Silly question,” I said, seeing his perplexed look. “Don’t mind me Adam. I make no sense when I am this tired.”
He nodded but continued to stare at me thoughtfully. “You have been acting odd since you appeared at my house. Are you sure you’re all right? You seem so different, so evasive.”
I rolled over and pulled up the covers. For a short moment I was tempted to tell him everything that happened during my marriage, the whole truth, not the lies I told him before. But my courage failed. I did not want him to know I had a child, and certainly didn’t want him to know the reason I had always been so bruised.
“It’s just your imagination. Now go to sleep, Adam. Some of us are tired,” I said with a weak laugh.
Adam also slid under the covers. “Good night, Julia,” he said, his voice curt.
“Good morning, Adam,” I replied and snickered at my joke. I turned my head away and concentrated on sleep. Having him here with me was distracting in more ways than one. I wanted to touch him, to recapture that feeling I had last night, but I was afraid. Afraid that I was going to be hurt. Tonight the fear won out.
***
Adam and I awoke at about the same time the next night. I stared at the wall for a second and then rolled over towards him when I heard him stir. “Adam, are you awake?” I asked sleepily.
“Aye Julia,” he replied. He rolled over and pressed his lips gently against mine. He drew back and smiled mischievously. “How was that?”
A smile began to creep up on my face. “Good,” I murmured. Adam reached for me again and our lips met. Passion flared in me for the first time in years. I returned his kiss fervently.
Adam put his arm across my stomach as he deepened the kiss, parting my lips slightly. I gasped involuntarily, a soft, timid sound. I was amazed by the sensations running through me, but alarmed as well. I had never felt anything like this before. This was too fast; I needed to slow down.
“Adam, have I ever told you how much I missed you these past few years?” I asked, breaking the kiss. I rested my right hand on his shoulder, my finger making little circles.
“I do not think you did.” He sat up and pushed away my hair. He kissed me again then reached up open-handed towards my face. That unexpected movement, harmless and gentle as it seemed, revived in me a memory. In the past, such a movement had always signified a threat. Overwhelmed by the violent remembrance, I jumped away and fell off the bed.
“Julia! What is it?”
On the floor, I closed my eyes and steepled my fingers until the pain bought me back to reality. I had to tell him something, lest he think me insane.
“It is . . . it is memories,” I managed to whisper.
Adam came and sat beside me on the floor. “Memories of what, Juliana?” he asked tenderly.
I remembered a lie Crystal told
me about years ago after he had spotted me, bruised after one of Gregory’s beatings, at the market. Caught off guard by his questions about my injuries, she told him that my servant and I had been accosted on the way home from the market.
“Of the time I was attacked . . .” Adam’s compassion towards me, his patient understanding in that moment, filled me with wonder. I felt ashamed and sad for lying to him.
He lightly rested his hands on his thighs. “I am sorry, Julia. I had no idea anything from the past still bothered you this much. You seemed so content being a vampire. I’m sorry if I caused you distress.”
“This has not bothered me for some time. I suppose being attacked yesterday brought it back. I am sorry,” I said wiping my eyes. “I did not mean to scare you.”
“It’s all right. I was just worried about you, Julia. Speaking of last night . . . where did you learn to fight so well? You did well— much better than I thought you would. I wouldn’t have thought you would know how to defend yourself at all, actually.”
Adam hesitantly reached for my hand. After a moment, I took his. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, then let go.
“They taught me. Samuel and the others. Thank you for the compliment,” I said with a faint smile. “I thought you would be surprised.” I slowly got to my feet. “I need to talk to Samuel for a few minutes.”
Adam looked up at me. “Do you want me to go with you?”
I shook my head firmly. “Nay. Why don’t you see if one of the other men has some clothes you can borrow? We’ll have to have Mary Anne make you some clothes soon.” When Adam left his house to come with me, he took nothing but the clothes he was wearing.
“All right,” he replied quietly. I smiled and turned for the door.
“Thank you,” I called and hurried out of the room. The second I got into the hall the silence of the house crashed over me. I silently tiptoed to Samuel’s part of the main room. Damien was asleep on the bed, but Samuel was nowhere in sight.
I sighed and then walked towards Christy’s and the other ladies’ room. My composure was shattered by the time I got there. I gently eased the door partway open and peered in. “Sam . . . Samuel?” I stammered.
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