Eden's Charms

by Jaclyn Tracey

  Jacob clicked the safety on the gun and dropped it to his side.

  She took a deep breath and relaxed a notch. The longer she could prolong ending up in a cell, the better her chances of getting the hell out of there were, without killing anyone else.

  Savanah placed her hand on Jacob’s shoulder, her fingers played lightly with the hairs on his neck. “The other casket has a mummified vamp. Her carbon tested back two thousand years. She is perfectly preserved and put up one hell of a fight. The original stakes are still in her. Her fingers were severed, as were her feet. Her mouth was wired shut so she couldn’t bite anyone. Her eyes gouged out so she couldn’t see and her ears removed so she couldn’t hear. If we were to remove her stakes she’d come to life because her head and heart are intact.”

  Jacob added. “It’s awful, the things they do to us. I can’t believe I’m a one of us now. One week now.”

  Savanah noticed how uneasy Jacob appeared, nor could she blame him. “It must be hard, Jacob, being a normal teen, then your life is stolen from you and you’re given a whole new set of rules and values to live with. You were probably just settling into the ones your parents brought you up with. It’s not easy, but you’ll adjust. You see the cherry table with the books?”

  Jacob nodded.

  “The one with the flattened black rose trapped between the pages is Dracula, by Bram Stoker. It’s autographed by both the author and the vampire. Had that little treasure in my grasp for some time before I handed it over to the museum and then Xier, or as you call him Seamus, swiped it.” Savanah sighed.

  “What’s the gold cup all about? Seamus allows no one inside that room.”

  “Thank God.” Savanah let out another sigh thinking just maybe she wouldn’t be looking out from behind bars. “The golden cup has quite the history to it. It is Dracula’s. As ruler, his punishment for criminals, tyrants and armies against him, was to impale them with a long stake. Be it their heads or their entire bodies. He was known as Vlad the Impaler well before he became Dracula, the vampire. In his village crime was taken seriously. As a show of faith to all, Vlad left his gold cup in the town centre next to a well for anyone traveling or thirsty to drink from. Bacteria and viruses weren’t on the top ten list back then. It was the one thing that was never stolen. He swore whoever stole it would end up a human shish kabob.”

  “And you swiped it from him?” Jacob’s eyes went wide. “Do you have a death wish, lady?”

  “No! It was actually a gift. That was sent to me a few months ago with a note that said, ‘Have a drink with me some night you little witch of a thief.’”

  Jacob’s jaw dropped. “How did he know you stole all his stuff?”

  “Jacob, he’s the Godfather of vamps. I used to believe he was the procreator ’til I found my hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil mummy.” Savanah pointed to her mummified vamp. “He tried to blow me up in New Orleans last week. He knows where to find me.”

  “Think he’ll come here? Can I meet him?”

  Jacob had an unhealthy curiosity. “Let’s hope not. Would you willingly invite the devil into your home?”

  “Savanah, I think the guy I work for upstairs is the devil. His son changed my life last week and my girlfriend’s and then he disappeared without a trace. Haven’t seen Howdy Doody since.”

  “Does he have anyone else around that’s blood tied to him?”

  “Don’t know. Trying to figure me out first and worry about everyone else after.”

  “Smart thing to do. Ya know, Jacob, not all vampires are bloodthirsty.”

  “I thought we need blood to survive?”

  Savanah rolled her eyes. “Let me rephrase that. Not all vampires are murderous, leeches that get off torturing innocent people. Your new boss falls into the latter category. How would you like it if I got you out of here and showed you a better way of living with your new life?”

  “Tell me more. I’m beginning to feel like an indentured servant.”

  She didn’t bother to tell him he hit the nail on the head.

  ****

  After a loud crash and a series of thuds and cracks, Ethan lay limp at the bottom of the stairs like a lumpy welcome mat.

  “Oh, my little wolf. What am I to do with you? I’ve treated you better than any of my three sons and look how you repay my kindness.”

  If this was repaying kindness Ethan didn’t want to see him pissed. Certain he would hurl any second; he turned his head toward the voice. What’s a little body fluids between friends?

  His head, he was positive, was about to hatch the world’s largest egg. After that, a quick body part check seemed in order. He touched his face, and his fingers came away warm and sticky. Something was cracked open. Explained the headache. He wiggled his toes. They worked so he figured his legs weren’t in pieces even if they hurt like he’d been run over by a truck.

  About to say something, he instead spit a few teeth out. “Maestro, my two front teeth are missing. Could you get me a glass of milk to put them in until I get to a dentist?”

  “Ethan, if I allow you to live you’ll know what to ask Chris Cringle for Christmas now, won’t you.”

  “If it’s all the same to you, humor me?” Rancor saturated his words.

  “That’s what I love about you, Ethan, your optimistic view on life even when the glass has a gaping hole in the bottom. All right. What type of dog does Dracula have?”

  Ethan gave him a blank gaze.

  The Maestro laughed. “A blood hound, Ethan. What? Lose a few teeth and you lose your sense of humor too?”

  “Maestro, let the women go, and I’ll stay. Whatever you want. Please don’t hurt them.”

  “The love-struck martyr. Ethan, we have a predicament here, son. I send you after a baby and you come home with a babe. Not quite the same thing now is it?” Seated two steps up from Ethan, the Maestro put his feet atop his body, then dug his heels into Ethan’s ribs. “Tell me where my grandchild is. Xanti may be a moron, but I know for a fact I’m a grandfather. I can feel the lifeline calling me. You will tell me, Ethan, and would you like to know why?”

  “Waiting with baited breath.”

  “Yes, it is rancid. I met a woman a week ago in Saratoga. She came looking for you. Gorgeous creature really. Tall, thin, long, curly, blonde hair, a tattoo of a Celtic cross with yellow roses entwined on her mid back and the greenest eyes I’ve seen since yours.”

  Ethan vomited.

  The Maestro rubbed his palms together. “I see I’ve hit a nerve or two.”

  “Where is she? I’ll kill you myself if you’ve hurt her.”

  “She looks exactly like you, Ethan except she’s got a pussy instead of a prick. I didn’t know you had a twin.”

  “Where’s Edan? What have you done to her?” Ethan’s leg snapped when he tried to stand.

  “Shift to heal your leg, boy, and I’ll skin you alive. You had every intention of staking me. Did you forget that I still can read your infantile mind?”

  “Where is she?” he screamed until his voice withered to nothing.

  “Safe for now. Scout’s honor.” Maestro made an “X” across his heart as he chuckled. “Cross my heart and hope to die. Oh dingle berries, Been there and done that. Ethan you slept with the enemy, boy. How am I to trust you now?”

  “I’ll tell you where the kid is. Just let the women go. All of them. Savanah, Raven and Edan.”

  “You are precious. Pick one, Ethan. Pick only one and I’ll allow her freedom.”

  “I’m no one’s judge and jury. Neither are you.”

  “Then by not choosing you condemn them all.” The tall, distinguished vamp stood, smoothed out his linen pants and motioned Dylan to him. “Get rid of the trash.” He pointed to Ethan.

  ****

  Ethan, can you hear me? We are outside the restaurant, but there’s a hitch, literally, on the door. We’re locked out and you’re locked in.

  Not a good time, André. Place is bugged, especially me. Anything you say can and will be use
d against you. Case and point—the babies.

  Does he know where they are?

  Not yet, but I’ll give them up in a heartbeat if it gets the women out. How come I can hear you, but Savanah can’t?

  Wards have been placed. Guess they didn’t realize you and I would be allies. What’s happening?

  André, we’re buried in a load of manure and no one’s coming out smelling like roses. It was his last thought before getting conked on the head.

  ****

  Olivia entered the maternity ward, acting as if she belonged to someone there; the doting grandmother. She smiled as she passed new parents. She told them they had the most beautiful babies. No need to burst their bubbles or tell them Elyza was indeed the most beautiful baby. It just went without saying. Tapping an impatient well-manicured nail on the nurse’s counter she asked, “Jovan St. James, please?”

  One woman, with dark hair hanging in her eyes, looked solemnly at her. “Are you her mother?” she asked.

  Olivia pictured Jovan’s mother rolling over in her grave with her answer and for that she sincerely apologized. “Yes. Can I please see my daughter? How are the babies?”

  “Her contractions have gotten stronger. If they don’t stop you’ll be a grandmother in a few hours and your grandchildren will have one hell of a fight for their lives on their hands.”

  Heartsick tears filled her eyes.

  I did not spend two days in that woman’s body humped over her bed with no food nor rest to have these babies die. Now…do I tell her the truth about the book and my powers or do I plead the fifth? Thinking back to the fateful moment Julian thought he’d taken her powers, she certainly had done her best acting job to date.

  “Give me your dominant hand,” he’d said. She gave him her right hand and with no further ado, he took her powers away. Or so he thought. She mumbled, “I’m a south paw, Julian. You should do your homework better.”

  Olivia stuck her head in the room. Jovan’s casual elegance had been replaced by raw adrenaline and fear.

  “Jovan?” Olivia tiptoed past Molly.

  “How did you know where to find me? Did you hear me call to Serina for help?”

  “Yes, for a lack of a better explanation.” The truth be known she’d felt the babies distress. Going into their mother and saving all their lives earlier left her with a direct tie to the twins and Jovan. She didn’t bother telling any of them that little tidbit. “Look, Jovan…”

  Jovan cut her off, “I know you are left-handed, Olivia.”

  “Call me Livvy? Please? I believe we are past formalities.”

  “Livvy, if I’d thought you were seriously still capable of evil I’d have told Julian the second you placed your hand in his. Can you save my children?”

  “Only one way to find out. Wake Molly and have her stand guard. If the nurses come in and see me slumped over your bed they’ll either cart me up to intensive care or the morgue, where I by all rights should’ve been many moons past.” Olivia grabbed Jovan’s hand. “My word to you. My heart for theirs.”

  Jovan frowned. “Isn’t that what Julian said to you?”

  “Semantics, dear. Let’s get to work.”

  ****

  Serina? I need to speak with you immediately. Get home.

  Mum? What’s happened? We just landed at Albany Airport,

  Serina, get home. Yes, there’s trouble. Get Lucian and his entourage to Sinsations and you need to get to the hospital.

  Why?

  Jovan is in labor. I’m attempting to calm the twins down and stop this process, but I need help.

  Serina grabbed Lucian’s arm. “Lucian, when you evanesce can you take people with you? How fast can you get me home?”

  “Fill me in on the way.”

  ****

  “Jacob, we need to get my family out of here. Can you get the keys to the cells?”

  With a simple nod Jacob disappeared.

  Without him glued to her side, Savanah realized she didn’t like being alone. Hidden in a tiny alcove, she watched Devon drag Ethan into the cell next to Raven. She wanted to run to Ethan in the worst way, but she needed a plan. Running in blindly would only make their situation worse. Could things get much worse? Her father’s favorite line came back to haunt her. Don’t ask if you really don’t want to know.

  Peering in through a trap-hole on another door, Savanah noticed a woman with blonde hair face down on a cot. Her wrists and ankles were bound by zip-ties. Her hands and feet were deep purple and she wasn’t moving. Savanah wasn’t certain she was even breathing. Behind her Jacob gave a little jingle of the keys. She jumped.

  “Sorry,” he said earnestly.

  “Not your fault. I should be more aware of my surroundings.” Pointing to the door she asked, “Can you get it open? Do you know her?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Savanah looked at him blankly. “Huh?”

  “Door’s open. Go in and I’ll stand watch.”

  Savanah stopped in between the door and the hallway; the mouthy voice in her head screamed, set-up. If she went in to check on the lady all Jacob had to do was slam the door behind her. She motioned him in first.

  Hands thrown in the air, he barked, “You don’t trust me. I don’t believe it. Look, Savanah, if I wanted you dead you’d look like her.” Jacob pointed to the blonde. “I want the hell out of here and you’re my ticket.”

  “Fair enough, but Jacob, if you trick me so help me, I’ll make payback worth my while. One more dead vamp or mutant won’t tarnish my soul.” Savanah covered the distance to the woman and put her fingers on her neck praying to find a pulse. “Holy mother of God. Her neck is sliced open better than something some ex-pigskin tosser could have done, might have done, probably did do and bloody well got away with!” Shaking the blood from her hand, Savanah looked at Jacob with fury controlling her deep blue eyes. “Is there anyone else trapped down here?”

  “One more woman. Savanah, I hear footsteps. I’m going out into the hallway and looking like I’m doing my job. I swear to you I’ll unlock the door.”

  “No!” Savanah pleaded as she lunged for the door. “Please don’t lock me—” The door latched shut. Her fingers through the bars she rattled the door and with defiance whispered, “—in. Jacob, I’m going to kill you when I get out of here. This is the second time today I’ve been locked up with a dead woman. If she comes back with a disposition more pissed off than me, it’ll be your misfortune because I’m telling her you did this to her.” Savanah sat in the far corner hoping against the odds Jacob would keep his promise and more important, that her roommate stayed put.

  “Jacob!” Dylan approached. “What are you doing?” Dylan moved to look into the cell, but Jacob turned and stood in front of the door.

  “Just locking up.” Jacob dangled the keys at her.

  “Where’s the too tall St. James chick? What cell is she in?”

  About to scream in her defense that she wasn’t too tall, Savanah bit her lip and allowed Jacob the opportunity to either sink or swim with her trust.

  “She’s back up on the second level by the dungeon. You look like crap Dylan. Why?”

  “Devon got thirsty, and I looked like a cool glass of tomato juice. Devon wants the St. James bimbo. Wanna go watch her die?”

  “No.”

  “Coward!” With a sharp turn and whip of her hand through her hair, Dylan disappeared down the corridor.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Footsteps approached. Raven sat up. “Savvy?”

  “Not quite, Beauty.”

  Raven did a double take. She rubbed her eyes to clear the image. “What happened to you—Donovan? You know, other than my attempt at your life.” Raven gave the man a heinous grin.

  “Not quite what you’re used to seeing is it? Not quite the same man.”

  “Oh, you could say that again—but don’t. Spare me the halitosis.” Raven walked a half circle around Donovan and as she took in his new appearance she found her heart beating ridiculously fast.

>   “It’s time you and I had a chat. A real heart to heart.”

  “The conversation shall be lopsided then since only one of us has a heart. What exactly happened to you after I staked you today? You don’t look well.” Raven sat down on the lumpy cot.

  “You ran a steel blade through me, Raven.” He snarled. “A direct blow. What did you expect? You’ve seen the movies after a vamp gets his due. He fizzles away and goes out screaming.” Donovan did a slow spin and showed Raven what he looked like without all his glamour and magic he’d used each and every time he’d bedded her.

  “I’m going to be sick. You look exactly like—” Raven leaned over and heaved.

  “Were you about to say Xavier? Didn’t he ever mention me? Not once? Your brother was his roommate in college for four years, Ray. Really? Not once?” Donovan sighed as he sat beside her.

  Raven couldn’t talk if she wanted to. “Ha-how? Why?”

  “Let me tell you a story, Raven. It began a long, long time ago in a land far away. My identical twin brother met a gal and fell for her. She pretended he was dirt and walked all over him. When he tried to tell her he loved her she ripped out an eye and tore off one of his balls. “You’re a little rough in the sack, Ray.”

  “He raped me then tried to eat me alive.”

  “Everyone has different ways of showing their love. How’s André and his new change of life these days?”

  Realizing what she’d done she was certain God would strike her down any moment. “Oh no! I handed my brother over to you on a silver platter. And you killed him. You freaking killed my brother.” Guilt left her heart bleeding better than a hacksaw could have.

  “That’s the face I wanted to see. Thank you. Yes, he was a delicacy…succulent and juicy. You’ve just made the past one hundred years of my life worth every dreadful second. You’re about to get a makeover, Raven. Here,” Donovan shot her a manila envelope. “Think quick.”