The Living Weapon (Davenport Manor Book 2)

by Melissa Zaroski

  Todd was filled with despair; not just for his own helplessness, but because there was nothing he could do to even try to warn Emma while he was tied up like this. His stomach felt sick, his mind was racing, and he tried in vain to send Emma a message telepathically.

  “If you kill Emma, I know there will be an army coming after you. After living under the same roof as the Queen I have come to realize how much the North American vampires respect her,” Todd pointed out, in a small attempt to change the boss’ mind. “She’s fair, kind, yet vicious. She’d put herself in front of anyone to defend them…even you.”

  The boss ignored Todd’s speech and knelt down next to the bed, knife in one hand, vile in the other. Todd closed his eyes tight, he knew what was coming and knew it was useless to try to wiggle and fight it. He felt the knife slice his arm, splitting the skin open and allowing his blood to freely flow from his arm. The boss carefully caught it in the vile and nodded at the female vampire, who bit her own arm.

  “Open your mouth, her blood will heal you up so you don’t bleed out,” the boss said.

  For a moment Todd kept his lips pursed shut figuring he would rather let himself bleed out and die rather than help these vampires overtake Emma. But, he knew they would just painfully pry his mouth open, so he obliged without a fight. Her cold blood dripped into his mouth, which brought back the memory of drinking Emma’s blood the night he found out she was a vampire. He felt the wound on his arm rapidly heal, the pain fading away as fast as it came on.

  “Thank you for cooperating, Todd,” the boss chuckled while capping the vile filled with the thick, red, and lethal liquid.

  Todd laid on the bed, his thoughts of Emma taking over his mind. He closed his eyes and recalled a day he had spent with her over the summer.

  Emma crept into Todd’s room one bright, summer morning and quietly snuck over to his bed. She jumped on all fours, causing his bed to shake him awake. “Wake up!” She exclaimed, giddy as a little girl.

  Startled, Todd rolled over to see her peering at him with big, bright eyes and a face void of any makeup. Even though her skin was extraordinarily white, she looked like perfection. Her long, raven hair was pulled into a high ponytail that bounced around her shoulders. She was wearing boy shorts and a tank top that left little to the imagination, her pajamas from the night before.

  “Good morning, love,” Todd croaked with his morning voice.

  “Get up, we’re going out today,” she said, leaning back and sitting on her legs folded under her.

  “Where are we going?” He asked while rubbing his eyes and looking at the clock that revealed it was already 10:00 am.

  “I’m taking you downtown. The Taste of Chicago is going on right now and then we can watch the Fourth of July fireworks from the lakefront tonight. I have the whole day planned!”

  “Taste of Chicago? What’s that?” He asked as he sat up to face her.

  “It’s basically a food festival for you breathers. You can try anything you want.”

  “Uh, news flash, darling…you don’t eat,” he replied with raised eyebrows.

  “True, but you do and I figured you might like to do this. Plus, we can take the water taxi on the Chicago River, do some shopping, maybe go up into the observatory of the Hancock building. Come on!” She hollered, shaking his thigh.

  “Fourth of July fireworks? That’s for your Independence Day right? From the Revolutionary War?”

  She nodded.

  “Oh cool…tell me what it was like during the war,” he smirked.

  “Shut up!” She giggled, lightly slapping his shoulder. “For your information I was born fourteen years after the war.”

  “Old lady,” he teased. “Better go get your cane for all the walking around today.”

  She hopped off the bed and told him to get dressed before leaving the room to get ready herself. She loved summertime and being able to wear long, billowy sundresses without people looking at her strangely. Of course, the temperature of the various seasons didn’t affect her, but she would look odd walking down the street in a skin-baring sundress in the middle of winter. She tidied up her ponytail and put on a bit of mascara and her trademark red lipstick. She put on a strappy pair of tan wedges to give herself some height next to Todd’s 6’3” frame. He came into her room just as she finished getting ready and she grabbed her oversized purse off of her desk.

  Emma eyed him for a moment, relishing in how gorgeous he was even when dressed casually in shorts and a tank top. While the scorching summer sun wouldn’t affect her, it certainly would for him. After they got downstairs she put a bottle of water in her bag just in case he got thirsty and a bottle of sun block so his fair, British skin didn’t get sunburned.

  When they stepped out the back door the heat was almost smothering for Todd. Emma felt it against her skin, but it didn’t bother her at all. They climbed into her little Mercedes and she asked Todd if he preferred to have the air conditioning on. He adjusted it to a comfortable temperature and they headed for the train station in Deerfield. Driving downtown the day of the fireworks was sure to be a madhouse, so they opted for public transportation for once.

  Once they arrived at Union Station, they walked a short distance to the Adams Street water taxi on the Chicago River. Emma always opted for this mode of transportation in the summer; floating down the river and winding through the beautiful Chicago skyscrapers was the way to go. Todd hadn’t been downtown since his first time there, which happened to be the night he saw what Emma really was. After a group of six young men attacked them, Emma took them all down. Todd remembered how terrifying it was to watch Emma become a monster of folklore right before his eyes. Nonetheless, she saved his life that night by forcing him to drink her blood so he would heal rapidly.

  Todd had his camera phone out and snapped pictures of the intricate architecture that framed the river. They saw a group of adventure-seekers kayaking alongside them, enjoying the day out on the water. He snapped a few unsuspecting pictures of Emma, then pulled her in to take a few selfies together. The air was hot, but the breeze felt good to Todd while they were on the water. He held Emma’s hand, which actually felt somewhat warm for once, while they cruised along. The temperature of her skin would often adapt to the surrounding temperature; she wasn’t ice cold all of the time.

  They arrived at their dock at Michigan Avenue and climbed the stairs to get to the main street, which was bustling with people. They casually weaved through the crowd; Emma’s arm was hooked onto Todd’s as they walked a half mile to their next destination. They approached the Hancock building that loomed over them; its crisscross structure towered toward the sky.

  Todd looked straight up, snapped a shot of the view, and said, “So, we’re going to the top up there, huh?” He wasn’t a big fan of heights, but didn’t want to pass up the experience.

  “Ah, you’ll be fine,” Emma responded as she lightly nudged him.

  They bought their tickets to go up to the observatory and stepped into the elevator for the one minute ride up to the top. Anxious to get to the top, Todd’s ears popped as they ascended higher and higher. He didn’t realized how tight he was squeezing Emma’s hand until the doors opened and he felt a slight ache in his fingers.

  As they stepped off the elevator, Emma laughed, “I think your hand is permanently fused to mine now.”

  “Good thing you’re sturdy!” Todd sheepishly laughed.

  The view out the windows was breathtaking; even though the city had a hot, humid haze to it, they could see for miles in the distance. As they took in the view of the bustling city down below, Todd wrapped his arm around Emma’s waist and she responded by wrapping both of her arms around his torso.

  “This is amazing, Emma. Thank you,” Todd said quietly with affection in his voice.

  She craned her neck upward, wordlessly requesting a kiss. He leaned down slightly and turned to face her, pulling her into a gentle, yet passionate kiss. They felt as though they were on top of the world, kissing for th
eir audience below.

  Todd looked out at the sprawling city; buildings and populace as far as the eye could see. “You know what fascinates me?” He said, still keeping his eyes on the landscape. “The fact that you have seen all of this rise from the ground up. I wish I could just spend one day as you; to be able to remember all that you have seen through history.”

  Emma smiled as she recalled her memory of Chicago when it was just a little town with a population of two hundred people. “It was such a small town when it was first established, but within a few short years it grew. We loved coming to Marshall Fields when it was built, but of course travelling to Chicago wasn’t nearly as easy as it is now.”

  “Is there anything you miss about that time? The simplicity of everything?” Todd asked.

  “I’ll tell you what I don’t miss,” Emma started. “I certainly don’t miss corsets! Even as a vampire, those things were terribly uncomfortable!” They both laughed and she continued, “And it wasn’t always simple. The day-to-day things we take for granted now were big projects back then. Not just travelling from here to there, but something small like doing the laundry was a big ordeal. Sewing was by hand. When I was still human, illness and injuries were always a threat to life.”

  Todd listening in awe, wishing he could see everything she had in her lifetime.

  She added, “But, I do miss the manners of people back then. People were cordial to one another for the most part, children respected their parents, and there was a lot more etiquette in general. I miss those days,” she shrugged. “But, I could be a vampire that is stuck in the era I came from or be one that goes along with the changing times. I try to balance a little of both.”

  Todd didn’t know how to respond, he was so entranced by her life and in an odd way jealous of all the history she had seen unfold right before her very eyes.

  “I wish your memories could be put on a movie screen directly from your brain,” he said.

  She chuckled, “Doesn’t everyone wish that of their own memories?”

  “Tell me about some of your memories,” Todd suggested.

  “Well, back when I was younger we did things quite differently. We never spent the day lounging around in our pajamas and didn’t dare come downstairs in the morning before being fully dressed. Getting ready for dinner was a big deal; we always wore our finest attire regardless if we were entertaining or not. My parents would frequently have dinner parties and allowed us children to attend once we were older. Of course, after I ‘died’, I had to stay hidden away in my bedroom until everyone went home for the evening,” Emma explained with a hint of sadness. “Usually I didn’t stay hidden; instead I would leave. You see, back then, we didn’t have access to bottled blood like we do now. When I got thirsty, I would literally run to the next town over to find someone to drink. I would do that during their dinner parties to keep myself occupied and away from the house.”

  “Tell me about when you met Zachariah,” Todd said. He knew that they had met when Zachariah was a stable boy, but he actually knew very little to the story.

  Emma’s eyes drifted off to another time as she smiled, remembering the day she met him. “My brother, Christopher knew Zachariah and his parents from town and would often see them at church. Zachariah’s father had a store in town that sold horse supplies…kind of like a modern day auto parts store!” Emma laughed. “Zachariah was left an orphan after both of his parents died. He was struggling trying to run his father’s store since he was just sixteen years old. However, Zachariah had an immense amount of knowledge about horses and Christopher offered him a job as our stable boy, giving him room and board on the property.

  “Since Zachariah was born after my tragic ‘death’ and had no idea who I was, Christopher told him I was his cousin. I went out to the stable one day, it was his first day working in the barn, and I saw him grooming my horse. He took my breath away…he was so beautiful and tenderhearted, speaking to my horse is if she were a dear friend of his. I remember he looked up at me and our eyes locked, his heart started pounding, which made me smile.”

  She stopped there knowing Todd wouldn’t want to hear the rest of the details of their love affair. However, she held those memories very close to her heart.

  “And that’s it?” Todd asked, shrugging his shoulders.

  Emma shrugged her shoulders and replied, “I’ll spare you the rest of the gory details.” With a sly smile she tugged at his arm, pulling him to continue walking around the observatory.

  When they were finished taking in the view of the extraordinary city, they made their way to the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park where a plethora of food awaited Todd. All kinds of ethnic foods made it hard for him to choose! He opted for some true, Chicago-style pizza first from a well-known establishment.

  After Todd placed his order, the jovial Italian man behind the counter said, “And for the lady?”

  Emma waved her hand in front of her and declined, “None for me, thanks!”

  “Oh, come on, pretty lady! You can’t watch your figure at the ‘Taste’!” He teased in a thick Chicago accent.

  Emma laughed and lied, “I just filled up on chicken wings! Trust me, I’m the kind of girl who likes to eat…and even more so, drink!” Todd chuckled at the hidden meaning of her comment.

  “That’s my kind of girl! Well darlin’, you come on back here when you’re ready to be amazed by the best pizza in town!”

  Emma smiled and gave him a ‘thumbs up’, “Will do, sir!”

  Todd ate his food as they walked around the festival, planning the rest of his menu as he passed by vendors. They walked to Buckingham Fountain and sat on a nearby bench, taking in the city’s beautiful skyline and lakefront. Emma pulled her wallet out and grabbed two pennies; one for the each of them.

  “Come on,” she said as she stood up and pulled on his hand. “We have to go make a wish at the fountain!”

  They walked to the fountain after Todd finished eating, the gravel crunching under their flip-flops with each step. They stood with their backs to the fountain, each holding a penny in their hand. They closed their eyes to think of the wish they each wanted to make.

  I wish I could give Todd the things he desires in life, Emma thought to herself. She tossed her penny over her shoulder, hearing it plop in the water.

  I wish Emma could be ‘The One’, Todd thought before he flicked his penny behind him into the water.

  Todd drifted to sleep as he lay on the old bed, recalling one of the best dates he had with Emma the previous summer. His second experience downtown was drama-free and a memory that he held dear to his heart.

  Chapter 4

  Emma’s phone rang and it was the director for the new action film that Todd was due to begin shooting the following week in downtown Chicago. He called to see if Emma knew where Todd was as he didn’t show up for the table reading. Emma took a deep breath and shuddered, now getting a confirmation that something had happened to him. He had been missing for close to a week and all the while they thought he was having the time of his life with a new, human girl.

  “I knew it!” Emma yelled in frustration as she hung up. She buried her face in her hands and began to cry.

  Zachariah appeared in the parlor after hearing her. “What’s the matter, love?”

  She shook her head, angry at herself for not listening to her gut the entire time. “Todd didn’t show up for the table reading today,” she explained, casting a blank stare through the room. “Something’s happened to him, I knew something was wrong.”

  “Where the hell did he go? Do you think he would have taken off?” He asked while running a hand through his hair in frustration.

  “I don’t think he took off without telling us,” she replied.

  “But, didn’t you guys kind of break up that night at the after party? Maybe that was his cue to leave altogether.”

  “I still don’t think he would have just up and left without saying anything, it was an amicable break up. Plus, if he was going to ru
n away, why would he do it then? All of his belongings are here; he left everything behind. Something happened, I know it,” Emma said in frustration.

  “Should we call the police?” Zachariah asked, trying to come up with ideas.

  She thought about it for a moment and replied, “No. We would have to deal with their questions and we may even be implicated for being involved in his disappearance. Then, the media would be up our asses…” she trailed off with a huff.

  Zachariah plopped down on the couch beside her, tipping his head back while trying to think of where they should start. “Call Aidan.”

  Emma nodded, “I was thinking the same thing. I’ll ask him to stop by Todd’s parents’ house just to see if he catches his scent there. Plus, he needs to know that we have lost our living weapon…oh damn, he’s going to be pissed. I’m never going to hear the end of this,” she stated while scrolling through her phone, looking for Aidan’s contact. She hit the “call” button, put the phone to her ear, and closed her eyes tightly, knowing there was going to be wrath on the other end.

  Emma explained everything that had happened to Aidan and asked him to casually stop by Todd’s parents’ house in London to see if Todd was there. However, she insisted that if he spoke to his parents to charm them to forget and if Todd was there, not to hurt him. No one was to be hurt during this process.

  Aidan was remarkably calm, but couldn’t resist giving her a short I-Told-You-So speech. He happened to be doing business in London at the time, so he was in the general vicinity to pay Todd’s parents a quick visit. After hanging up with him, Emma ran upstairs to Todd’s room to dig up his parents’ address to text to Aidan.

  “What’s our next plan of action if he’s not there?” Zachariah asked when she came back downstairs.

  “I’m already in the process of getting a hold of the production company for Ticking Through Time. I just sent an email asking for the guest list—those girls, Kelly and Jenny should be on there. Once we get last names, then we can start our own private investigation to find them, especially that Kelly girl. If they don’t send it to me I will just have to send someone over to their office to charm it out of them,” she said matter-of-factly.