Soul Breather (21st Century Sirens Book 1)

by T Stedman

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a noise that started as a rumble, and then began to sound like heavy boots – a lot of them. There also seemed to be a lot of activity with the staff. Should she hide? She decided to pick up a magazine and look inconspicuous, in the same way a child hides under the covers. She sat cross-legged and pretended she was reading.

  Her thumping heart was as loud as their boots when they marched into the room she was in. A pair stopped right in front of her. She was too frightened to look up.

  “Tia!”

  She recognised that voice. Slowly she let her eyes rise up the huge black-fatigued legs, muscular, black t-shirted stomach, chest, and then face. “Keenan,” she breathed in relief, and jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.

  He leant down slightly to allow her to reach him, but put her away from him shyly a moment later. He obviously wanted to get on with the business of why he was there.

  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a clear vial. “Please Tia, give this to Jay. Speed is essential.”

  She took it from him quickly, and went to take it into Jay’s room but her progress was halted when a nurse came over to protest. Keenan and another guard barred the nurse’s way with an arm. She started to threaten to call security and got really annoyed when Keenan just smiled without even bothering to reply.

  Tia took the opportunity to rush into the room and shut the door. She uncorked the vial and went up to the bed and felt Jay’s head. She wasn’t sure if it was wishful thinking but she could have sworn he felt cooler.

  She slid her hand behind his head and tilted it forward slightly. She put the tiny vial next to his lips and was about to trickle it into his mouth, being really careful she didn’t lose any of the precious liquid, when his arm came up lightening-fast and grabbed her by the wrist. She yelped in fright at the sudden move. “Jay, it’s okay. Keenan brought this for you,” she coaxed.

  He stared at her then allowed her to feed him. She wasn’t sure if he was aware or not, but he took down the whole vial.

  The door had opened and closed behind her as Keenan came into the room. “Is he okay? Fuck! He’s awake. Did he take it all?”

  “Yes,” she replied.

  Jay slowly closed his eyes again.

  Keenan gave her another vial. “Give him this in twelve hours time. He must be very strong.”

  What do we do now?” she asked, looking up at Keenan.

  “We wait.”

  ***

  The night wore on and Jay appeared to be sleeping peacefully. His fever had broken at long last and the doctors were confident that he was out of the woods.

  Cash and Sean had come and gone again, safe in the knowledge that four of the Guard, including Keenan, remained.

  Tia hadn’t moved from Jay’s bedside. Keenan nudged her shoulder and handed her a cup of hot chocolate from the machine in the waiting room. Then he went and sat in an armchair in the far corner of the room. The lights were dim and made him look menacing in the half-light. “You love him very much?”

  “Yes,” she sighed. “I never thought it was possible to care for someone so much.”

  “And Dante? That must be really difficult for all of you?’

  “Yes it is.” She looked away from him so he couldn’t see the emotion on her face.

  “What about you?” she said, changing the subject. “Any news?”

  “She has turned up.”

  “That’s great.” Then, reading the look on his face, “Isn’t it?’

  He shook his head then leant forward with his elbows on his knees. “She has no memory of me.”

  “What? How can …”

  “I don’t know. But she has no clue who I am.” And he shut his eyes and shook his head as if in pain.

  “Bloody hell Keenan, I’m so sorry. Doesn’t anyone have any ideas?”

  He sat back in his chair in a ‘fuck knows’ pose. “Some say a strong vampire could have erased her memories. Some have said an alchemist could have given her something. Either way, without knowing her connection to me, she could be taken by anyone.” He stood and walked to her side of the bed. Sitting still was too uncomfortable.

  Tia picked up his hand and gave it a squeeze. “And you came here to help us despite having all that to deal with? Thank you.”

  “Hey!” he said, looking past her at the patient.

  She turned her head and saw that Jay was blinking and trying to sit up. “Easy,” she said, passing him a glass of water from the bedside table.

  He made short work of it but dropped the empty glass on the bed, and pointed his index finger at Keenan. “Get the fuck away from her.”

  “Jay!” Tia scolded, shocked at his outburst. “He’s here to help. He brought the Elixir for you.”

  “I don’t fucking care. Step back!” Venom dripped from every word and hatred sprang from his bloodshot eyes.

  Tia was gobsmacked. “Jay. What’s the matter?”

  Jay fumbled in the sheets and found the glass he’d just dropped with his other hand. He smashed it on the corner of the bedside table and held the piece of glass in his hand like a weapon.

  “Easy tiger!” Keenan said, half laughing with incomprehension, his hands up in submission.

  “Jay, you must still be delirious!” She reasoned.

  “No I’m not.” And he pointed the shard at Keenan. “He’s got his woman back … he knows where you all are. He’s here to snatch you.”

  “Where on earth did you get that from? He’s been with me ages waiting for you to get better … alone!” she said, shaking her head.

  Keenan grinned. “I’m going to ignore that insult and put it down to post-traumatic paranoia.” He laughed. “If I didn’t know better I’d think that slippery cousin of mine had been putting ideas in your head.” He turned to Tia. “I’ll be outside. Give you some time.” He grinned at Jay again and shook his head as he walked out of the room.

  Jay flopped back on the pillows.

  “You owe him an apology Jay.”

  Jay looked troubled, like he was trying to work something out. Then he looked at her square in the eyes. “The Elixir didn’t save me Tia …” he said, coming to a conclusion. “It was Dante.”

  Chapter 27

  The concentration needed to think project the distance to Jay was exhausting, but he daren’t leave to go to America, not now.

  Dante had come to the conclusion that his life was in a cement mixer; loads of crap and more being chucked in the mix all the time.

  He’d thought it was weird when Stephan turned up at home bold as brass, with no shame whatsoever after their last altercation. The next thing he knew he was being summoned to his father’s study. It felt the same as it did when it had happened umpteen times as a kid. His father had beaten him down physically and emotionally time and time again, until Dante grew enough in size and temper that he didn’t dare. Most of the time Dante was off his head on drink or drugs or both anyway, so his father just ignored him.

  He thought they’d turned a corner since he’d become king and taken over the family business, and started making them some real money. But hope of that quickly evaporated when he walked in and his father engaged his usual sneer of disgust.

  His father threw a bundle on the desk of what looked like letters tied together with a red ribbon.

  Dante looked at them and then his father and waited for him to get to the point.

  “They are letters to your mother.” Christian said.

  Dante shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  “From her lover.”

  “What’s that got to do with …?”

  “From your father.” Christian drooled the words.

  Dante was left opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

  “Duke Ormond Delissi … my first cousin.”

  “How did …? Why now?”

  “Your brothers found them playing billiards. Bashed the wall next to the fireplace, and out they dropped. She couldn’t have removed them before she
died,” he said, absently, as if lost in a memory long gone.

  Dante’s mind was racing a mile a minute. “What do you want me to do?” Dante asked, simply. What else could he say? There must be some point to his father – scratch, Christian –bringing him here, and it wasn’t just to chew the fat.

  His father stood up behind his desk, like an old-fashioned judge about to put his black cap on and pronounce the death sentence. “You will leave my house with only the clothes you stand up in, and never return. You are not, nor ever have been, my son.” And he flopped down in his chair as if the air had been sucked out of him.

  Dante wasted no time with recriminations. He reached towards the desk and picked up the letters, stuffing them into his jacket pocket. He decided that further words were pointless, and he walked out of the room and out of the house without a backwards glance.

  “The great king has fallen,” Marco scoffed as Dante strode past, but Dante was too preoccupied to hear, let alone rise to the bait.

  ***

  Dante trudged for two and a half hours in the pouring rain to reach Ballygowan Castle – home of the Bonaci.

  He didn’t know where else to go with not a penny to his name and his mind still reeling. He knocked on the big old oak, porch door, and hoped to God someone would hear, as they lived below ground.

  It was nearly dark and he didn’t know what he would do if Sebastian, Tia’s father, didn’t take him in.

  His mind kept going over all the implications; whether or not he was still king; whether Tia was still his wife; where he stood legally with Royal Dubonnetti Industries; whether the Bonaci would turn their backs on him – that he decided was pivotal.

  He knocked again. Then he remembered his mobile phone and took it out of his jacket. Thank God he had it on him. He dialled Alfonzo, who answered quickly. “Let me in, Alfonzo. I’m at the door.”

  A few minutes later a butler opened the door. Dante didn’t wait for any pleasantries and pushed passed him.

  “Master is below, sir.”

  Dante nodded and pushed the lift button.

  ***

  Dante stood dripping in front of Sebastian, Tia’s father, and Alfonzo, her uncle. He explained the story as far as he knew it and took the letters out of the inside pocket of his soggy jacket.

  Sebastian said nothing but rang for a servant. Shit, he was going to get shown the door.

  The servant came immediately. “Please get his Royal Highness a towel, and make a room ready for him.”

  The servant bowed and left the room. Dante breathed a sigh of relief and closed his eyes in thanks. It appeared they were prepared to take him in.

  “We will have to consult the ancient tomes on this, but I think the fact that a Siren has pledged to you is still a position of strength,” Alfonzo explained.

  Although Dante was relieved, he was still confused. “What about me not now being one of five sons?”

  Sebastian looked surprised that Dante knew anything of what the prophecies said. “But you are,” Sebastian said, “on your mother’s side. And she was as royal as Dubonnetti.”

  “As is your father, Delissi,” Alfonzo added, and Sebastian conceded a nod.

  “Have you heard anything from Tia?” Dante asked, anxious to know whether she and Jay were okay.

  “She is well.” Sebastian said, smiling. “Keenan is with her. He telephoned recently to say that Jay had regained consciousness.” He stifled a titter into his hand. “So much so that he threatened Keenan with a makeshift weapon minutes after waking up in his sickbed.

  Dante couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “Really?” I bet he fucking did as well. God, what he wouldn’t do to be with him right now. “He was probably worried Keenan would take Tia now he has his own Siren back. He may have got wind of what was going on over here,” he said, trying to sound more serious.

  “Possibly, but Keenan is loyal, as is all the Guard. He also has his own problems.” And Alfonzo explained to Dante the troubling revelations related to Keenan’s Siren’s lack of memory.

  “I think the important thing to do next is to consult our lawyers regarding your fortune and your access to finances tied up in Dubonnetti business dealings. He cannot leave you penniless. Your mother was a rich woman in her own right. Then we’ll summon Keenan with my niece as soon as he’s comfortable about it. If we can pledge a second Siren to you, the other family heads will capitulate, provided we offer an incentive.”

  Dante nodded, grateful for everything they were prepared to do for him. “Thank you …Thank you both.” And he meant it with his whole being. They had shown belief in him where his former family never had. “And for helping my friend, and my wife.”

  “No need to thank us, dear boy. They are a son and a daughter of this house, as you are now, through marriage. The rightful king; one of five, first pledged to a Siren.” Dante swallowed back a lump in his throat and nodded.

  “Now you are away from the poor influence of Dubonnetti, we would like to start your real education to be a great king – one worthy of Atlas – if you accept us as mentors?”

  Dante closed his eyes, filled with emotion and gratitude, and then looked at them earnestly. “I’m ready.”

  ***

  Jay was kept in hospital for another day and then was discharged. In fact, the staff were amazed at how quickly he had bounced back after being so gravely ill. But he hadn’t just bounced back, he felt different, stronger, quicker and more alert. He couldn’t explain it.

  More good news was that his body temperature for a Human was now low – very low. He tested out his theory the first night he was back at Cash’s ranch.

  Tia was busy arranging their bed as she normally did so they could both get some sleep, when he leant down and stilled her arm. “Don’t do that tonight.”

  “What … Why?” she said, not understanding.

  “How would you normally sleep if I wasn’t in the bed?”

  “Naked. Just with a sheet.”

  “Then I want us to try it like that tonight.”

  “But?”

  He smiled at her. “Humour me?”

  She did as she was asked and they both slid between the sheets after undressing. She lay on her side with her head on her pillow and he on the other facing back at her.

  “Come here,” he said.

  “But we …”

  He leant over and pulled her to him. Then he arranged her under his arm, tucked in with her head on his chest and leg across his.

  She looked up at him. He kissed her forehead. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel fine.”

  “Not too hot?”

  “No,” she said, obviously surprised.

  “It’s what I suspected.”

  They snuggled together and he nuzzled her hair.

  “I’m sorry for making you sick, Jay. I’ll never do it again. I promise.”

  He lifted her chin so he could look into her face. “But you must Tia.”

  She shook her head and tried to move away from him. “I can’t risk losing you. I could live without anyone except you.”

  He was touched at what she said and smiled and pulled her back to him. “I know it made me sick, Tia, but what it gave me was … indescribable. I believe if we’re careful, I could get stronger every time, as my body gets used to it.”

  “Can we just get you better first?”

  He held her tight and relished the novelty of it. “I warn you Tia, I’m getting better very fast.” And he squeezed her.

  ***

  Tia made sure she got up very early to do the horses, the next morning. She didn’t want to take any chances with Jay, sexy and naked, waking up next to her.

  She was having breakfast in the kitchen with Cash. Sean was jiggling the baby in his arms waiting for some formula to warm up, when Jay walked in wearing worn jeans, no top and bare feet. I can’t look, Tia thought, and crossed her legs.

  He walked straight over to where she was sitting on the breakfast stool, put his arms around her waist
from behind her and kissed her neck.

  Heat flashed into her cheeks. She tried to put her hands up to her face to hide it.

  “Hey Sean,” Jay said. “Congratulations man. What’s his name?”

  “Ronnie.”

  Jay smiled and nodded. “Nice.”

  “He’s been a little toe-rag all night though.”

  “Fancy a spar in a minute … wear some of that stress off?’ Jay asked, with raised eyebrows.

  “Yes.” Sean said emphatically. “Yes, I bloody do. Give me five.” And he hurried off with the baby’s bottle to find Sarah.

  “Can we use your barn Cash?” Jay asked.

  He nodded. “Sure.”

  “Jay!” Tia scolded, swivelling around in her chair.

  He smiled his shy smile.

  Irresistible. “Aagh.” Realising that there was no point in her saying anything else, she turned back around.

  “Come with us. You can put some music on while we work out.”

  “You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

  “And I will. I promise not to break Sean’s nose.”

  Cash barked a laugh. “Stop trying to turn him into a sissy Tia.”

  She looked daggers at Cash, which made him laugh all the more.

  “Okay, I give up.” And she held her hands up in surrender.

  They all trooped into the barn. Tia went over to her decks, still set up from her last visit. She fired them up. “What do you want then?” she shouted.

  “Plug in my MP3. I fancy something aggressive,” Jay said, smiling at Sean.

  Tia went to Jay’s collection of drum ‘n’ base.

  Jay paced like a panther while Sean took off his t-shirt. Tia was trying not to look. She knew Jay was capable but he was only twenty-four hours out of hospital. Sean was a soldier and fully trained in hand-to-hand combat.

  “I’ll umpire.” Cash said. “But I want to spar the winner.”

  “Okay by me.” Jay said, already low in his stance, circling with Sean.