“Agreed.”
Ryan looked as if he wanted to interject but kept silent, seeming to know he was only just making it on this quest with his father’s permission and there was nothing he was going to do to change that.
With that all three began to walk as Aries closed his eyes. Searching in some way that was unknown to Gavin for Rachel. As they did Ryan kept one hand on his sword, eyeing Gavin suspiciously. Having a satyr distrust him was nothing new, but it was different now that it was his own son.
They walked on in silence. “Are you getting anything?” Gavin asked Aries after a while.
“Not exactly. She’s close by. Where, however, I can’t be sure.” Aries sat down on a rock and turned his back on the other two, seeming to ignore him as he went into a state of meditation.
Gavin and Ryan sat down together nearby and stayed silent so as not to disturb Aries. There were so many things he wanted to say to the boy, so many things he wanted to ask. Travelling back in time in his mind Gavin saw an image of Ryan as a little boy. The shaggy haired skinny child who was always so full of life and so attached at the hip to him. The long walks they took together through the woods and the nights he tucked him in, reading him bedtime stories. The worrying about him, the protecting him. It all seemed like yesterday.
He looked him over, now grown and foreign to him and as his did something caught his eye. The silver edge of the sword glinted as the last remnants of daylight shone upon it and all at once Gavin realized this was it. This was his opportunity. Ryan might be twice his size now but there was no way he was faster. Not even a satyr could match a vampire for speed. He could have the sword out of its hilt and skewered through Aries’ large body before the boy would even know what had happened. For the moment any thought of finding Rachel was lost to him and Gavin was consumed by the rage and injustice of a night so long ago that he’d sworn revenge for.
No sooner had he made up his mind to see it through than Ryan spoke.
“He’s a great man,” he said.
Gavin had to shake off the cobwebs of his dark thoughts to truly hear what Ryan was saying. “What?”
“My father. He’s a great man.” Then, gently, Ryan placed his large hand on Gavin’s shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Have faith. He can find her.”
Gavin looked at Ryan directly and suddenly noticed something that had not changed. His eyes. He still had his mother’s eyes. Pools of the darkest brown stared back at him and for a moment it was as if he were looking at her. The realization brought him back to reality and he knew, in that moment, that killing Aries, as much as he wanted to, was never going to be a possibility.
“You have her eyes,” he said.
Ryan brightened and for a moment Gavin saw the curious child filled with wonder that he had once been. “My father has told me this,” he smiled. “Tell me of her. What kind of mother was she to me?”
Gavin had to look away. “Kind,” he said. “She was very kind, and brave and strong. She would have done anything to protect you.”
“And you would have as well, wouldn’t you?”
“I would,” he said looking back to meet his gaze.
“Thank you. Even though you are a stranger to me now I know you must have been an important part of my life until I could be with my father.”
“Are you happy?” Gavin blurted out. He hadn’t meant to ask such a question but was swept up in the moment. He had to know.
“Oh yes,” Ryan answered without hesitation. “I’m an important part of my tribe and one day when my father decides it, I’ll be leader.”
Gavin nodded. “You look like you’ll make a great leader, Ryan. I hope you don’t mind if I call you that.”
“Ryan,” he repeated as if the word were of a foreign language. “No, I don’t mind. You and mother may use it if you wish.”
“Thank you.”
Things between them grew silent again, but Gavin retained a sense of peace when he looked at Aries now. Almost twenty years of hate had vanished in mere moments and it felt as if a great weight had been lifted. Now all they had to do was find Rachel and everything would truly be all right.
Aries rose just then, turning slowly as they both stood up preparing themselves to hear what he was going to say. “I have her. She’s weak but she’s definitely there.”
“Thank god. Where is she? Why can’t I connect to her?”
“Like I said, she’s weak. On the verge of death itself. We must hurry. I believe she’s being drained slowly.”
Suddenly it all made sense. “The orphans,” Gavin said. “Of course. Aries, where is she?”
“The sanctuary on Chapel Island, but not exactly in it.”
“On the grounds?”
“More like underneath.”
Chapter Four
Standing in the wooded area just outside of the Chapel Island sanctuary the three spoke in hushed tones. “You stay here,” Aries said.
“Not a chance. That’s my wife and I’m going in to get her.”
“You don’t have a pendant.”
“Then you’ll have to steal me one.”
“That’s a great way for us to get caught and killed before we even get a chance to assess the situation.”
Just then a female vampire crossed the perimeter, appearing out of thin air. Without thinking Gavin pounced on her, grabbing her by the neck. She had a youthful appearance with long black hair falling straight down her back and a slender figure accompanied by her rich dark skin. For a moment she was taken aback, surprised to see anyone at the perimeter but was strong and fought against him, reaching for Gavin’s arm and twisting it.
Breaking free she ran for the perimeter again but Gavin caught her just in time, this time restraining her with both hands as Aries put the sword to her chest, hovering the blade above her heart, ready to strike.
“I swear to the gods I’ll turn you to ashes if you move a millimetre,” Aries hissed.
“What do you want?” Although she was trembling ever so slightly her voice didn’t betray her. She spoke with a clear solid tone.
“We want to go inside. We want Rachel back,” Gavin said.
“Who’s Rachel?”
Gavin looked more closely at her and saw the ring around her eye was not fully complete. “You’re a young one, aren’t you? Who is your maker?”
“Ely himself,” she said, proudly.
“Well, I’m sure Ely wants you back in one piece so take us inside.”
“He’ll know I’m in danger, he’ll come for you.”
“He will, but by the time he gets here we’ll be long gone. With your help we’ll be inside.”
“And why should I help you?”
Gavin placed his mouth right next to her ear and spoke in a soft but menacing tone. “Because if you don’t I’m going to twist your head right off, and you know what happens when a vampire loses her head don’t you?”
Slowly she nodded. “Good,” he said. “Now let’s go.”
Gavin freed one of her hands so that she could grasp her pendant and as she did he shoved her forward. A moment later they were inside, Aries and Ryan followed.
Once again Gavin restrained her with both arms, forcing her to the side of the building as he looked around for guards. None were to be seen.
“What are you going to do to me?” she asked now, finally letting her fear show.
“Just relax. This will only hurt for a second.” And then with one swift motion he broke her neck, then lay her down on the ground gently and undid her pendant, placing it around his own neck.
“You killed her.” Ryan had obviously never seen a vampire die.
“No, she’ll heal. If she were dead she’d be nothing but dust.”
Ryan nodded in understanding. Now the three of them looked around not knowing what to do next. Rachel was somewhere under the sanctuary, but where he didn’t know and how to get to her was a mystery.
“What now?” Ryan said to Aries, looking for guidance.
“Gavin
we’ll keep watch while you try to contact her. Maybe it will work better now that you’re closer.”
It only made sense. Gavin nodded and closed his eyes, reaching out to Rachel with his mind.
Rachel…
For a long moment there was nothing and then very faintly he heard a soft, familiar voice.
Gavin? Gavin, I don’t know where I am. Two of the orphans and Ely are here somewhere. He’s been letting them feed off me. They’re going to kill me soon.
No he transmitted back. We’re here. We’re coming for you. Stay conscious ok? Can you do that for me? I know it’s hard.
Yes, I can, she said.
Good. I love you. I’ll have you in my arms soon.
“She doesn’t know where she is,” he said, breaking the connection. “We’ll have to look for some kind of room underground. I don’t think there’s any kind of entrance out here.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Aries agreed.
“But won’t we be seen? Aren’t there other vampires in there?”
“There are,” Aries said, taking Ryan by the shoulders to look him in the eye. “Now is the time to wear your courage. This is the first time you’ll face any kind of real danger. Doubt yourself not. You are my son and you can face anything that comes.”
Ryan nodded and Gavin could see that he was determined to quash his fear and make his father proud. He just hoped that they could get in and out of the place before anything even remotely bad were to happen. Now that he had a line on her they might be able to flit in and out without being caught.
The old wooden door creaked open as Gavin lead the way and when they were all inside he shut it quietly behind them. No sooner had they entered when Gavin felt the pull. Finally, after not having any connection to her physically for some time, he felt her. Underneath a large flight of stairs was a door. It looked like the door to a storage closet of some sort, but Gavin made his way to it and opened it up, revealing another staircase, this time one that led down, deep into the underbelly of the sanctuary. The three of them crept down as quietly as they could and when they got to the bottom spotted another door which they opened right away to reveal a battered Rachel laying on the floor, barely able to speak or move.
Gavin went to her right away and offered her his wrist. She drank heavily, her eyes closed in relief.
“I don’t like this,” Aries said. No sooner had he spoken than Gavin felt the sensation of icy fingers crawling up his spine. “It was too easy.”
He was right. Gavin picked up Rachel, carrying her in his arms and was about to head for the door once again. “You’re right. Let’s get…”
Before Gavin could complete his sentence a piercing scream filled the air of the tiny windowless room. Rachel’s eyes flew open as if instinctively knowing what had happened. Turning, Gavin saw Ryan lying on the hard packed dirt floor of the cavernous enclosure. Blood was pooling under his back as he stared up at the ceiling, a fatal wound through his stomach. Audrey was standing over him, sword in hand, laughing.
Gavin lay Rachel down on the floor gently and she quickly got to her knees, crawling over to her son, taking his face in her hands, tears falling onto his cheeks.
“Ryan…”
“Mother,” he whispered back to her, then closed his eyes, heaving his final breath.
Sobbing, Rachel lay her head on the dead boy’s chest and closed her eyes, lost in her grief.
In the same moment Aries, whose eyes had also filled with tears, seemingly more of anger than grief, drew his sword and went after Audrey, ready to strike her down.
Audrey was too fast for him however and came toward him, her sword raised to block his thrust. Gavin used his speed and got between them, hoping to get Audrey for himself.
Aries flew across the room with a slight push from Gavin and hit his head, hard enough to stun him but not hard enough to knock him out. He grabbed the still laughing vampire by the throat and before she realized what he was doing, Gavin had her down on the ground taking his bare hand and removing her heart from its chest. Audrey was dust before she even had a chance to scream.
Turning back he saw Rachel and Aries, both now crouched over Ryan, their grief consuming them each in their own way. Rachel’s tears still fell and Aries was whispering what Gavin assumed to be prayers as he reached down, closing the boy’s blank and lifeless eyes.
Gavin wanted to fall apart too. Wanted to join them on the ground, but at the moment his instinct to save Rachel was stronger. “We have to get out of here,” he said. “If Audrey knew we were here it’s just a matter of time before someone else is on us.”
Aries nodded in agreement and moved to pick up Ryan in his large steady arms.
“No,” Rachel cried, throwing herself over his chest. This was the moment they had feared. The moment they lost him. It had come twice and although it had not come as they’d expected, it hurt fiercely nonetheless.
Aries reached down and stroked Rachel’s back. “We have to get him back. He must have a proper ceremony with his people.”
“No,” she cried again, her grief consuming her now. Aries looked at Gavin as if lost. Gavin in return scooped up a weakened and sobbing Rachel in his arms, tearing her away from her child.
“Shh,” he whispered. She was falling apart and he wanted to fall apart as well, but if he would allow himself that now it could spell disaster for them all.
Quietly he carried Rachel out ahead of Aries, who had picked up Ryan, and got about halfway up the stairs before Rachel said, “It’s all right. I can walk.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
He placed her protectively behind him and still holding her hand made it to the top of the stairs and out into the light of the sanctuary’s main floor.
“All quiet,” he said to the rest of them, purposely not looking back. The sight of Aries carrying his dead son in his arms would have been too much to bear.
“Too quiet,” Aries added. “I don’t like this.”
“I don’t understand why they’re doing this,” Rachel said, her voice trembling as she tried to control her tears. “I haven’t come after the orphans and as far as I know it’s only Audrey and Rose who are left.”
“Well, personally, it’s all about revenge,” a female voice said from the top of the large staircase. Rose was standing there. She had no weapons but was a vicious and challenging figure just the same. Her eyes were blackened and teeth bared. Gavin and Rachel did the same in response.
“Revenge for what?” Rachel said without missing a beat. “I’ve not come after you, though god knows I could have, and now I see that I should have.”
“Revenge for what? Are you mad? You killed every single orphan that Ely couldn’t protect. Or have you forgotten? Did their lives mean so little to you?”
Rachel’s face dropped and Gavin suspected that she was silently agreeing with her.
“You’re right,” Rachel said. “But we can’t change it now. Take me,” she said, climbing halfway up the grand staircase. “Take me but spare my maker. Spare my family and spare my clan.”
“If only you’d made that offer to me years ago Rachel,” a voice said from behind Rose. Ely came forward. “Perhaps your son could have been spared, but it’s too late for that now.”
“Whatever you plan to do Ely, Aries has nothing to do with it. Let him take our son’s body and give him a proper ceremony. You of all people should know how important that is and they’re of no threat or consequence to you.”
“Very well,” he agreed.
Rose, however, was not of the same mind. “No!”
“Her son is dead,” Ely boomed.
“But it’s not enough. We can’t kill her own progeny because she already did that herself. What about the daughter? We can’t let them go in exchange for nothing.”
Gavin’s heart was suddenly filled with even more fear than it already had been. Jade was only a child and innocent in all of this.
“We have her, that’s all we need. I refuse t
o harm a blameless child.”
Rose stomped her feet like a two year old but kept silent.
“If you’re taking her, you’ll have to go through me first. I won’t let you harm her. She’s not only my mate but she’s my own progeny. Ely, did we not used to be friends?”
“We did. More than that I considered you a brother of sorts, but no more. That’s in the past now and you can’t change what she did all those years ago. Her rage and destruction was uncalled for. God only knows what she is capable of if provoked that way again. We can’t have her next to us and your clan is blind in keeping her as leader.”
“Isn’t that our decision and not yours? She’s not come near you to harm at any time.”
“I am the leader here and I don’t have to justify my decision to you.”
“No you don’t but it doesn’t sound like you have a good reason.”
“Take your leave creature,” Ely said, motioning to Aries and ignoring Gavin’s statement. The conflict in Aries eyes was painful. He wanted to stay and help Rachel but he also had a desperate need to leave with his only son’s body.
“It’s fine, Aries,” Rachel said. “We won’t see each other again.” Rachel gave him one last look, then came forward, bent and kissed her son’s forehead and turned back toward the staircase. Gavin watched as Aries slowly trod to the main door and make his way out into the sunlit day.
Gavin stepped forward in front of Rachel. “I can see you aren’t going to let her go without a fight,” Ely said.
Rose leaned forward, licking her lips as if hungry. “If he wants a fight we’ll give him one, won’t we?”
Although it was obvious that Ely was ready for a fight if it came down to it, it wasn’t in his nature to be violent and Rachel seemed to know it because she said, “Can’t we reach some sort of compromise?”
“No!” Rose screamed
Ely motioned for her to be quiet. “What did you have in mind?”
“Burry me. Burry me and take control of my clan. Merge them as you wish.”
Gavin was stunned. “What?”
“You know I’m not a threat to you if I’m buried underground. Take me and let me serve a sentence. My clan will be forced then to take a new leader. How many years do you think is fair?”
The Vampires of Soldiers Cove: Sacrificial Children Page 17