The Vampire Legacy III; Familiar Souls

by Dawn Gray

  I opened my eyes and blinked a few times to help focus on the red block numbers in front of me. All of Justin’s windows were draped with heavy black material, so no light would get in, and I had lost all track of time. I turned, slowly, my body sore in spots, and I looked at Justin’s sleeping form beside me. I smiled, moved closer to him, and put my head on his chest. Justin wiggled a bit, then grabbed the covers and covered both of us as he, then, wrapped his arms around

  “When do you need to leave?” He whispered as he opened his eyes and turned to me. I sighed and stretched.

  “Within the hour.” I replied. “I’m sure Cristian is there by now, probably telling Michael about the dangerous men I’ve chosen to get involved with.”

  “That kid needs to get over it.” Justin smiled. I sat up and threw the covers off. Justin watched my naked body move as I grabbed the shirt and shorts that I had been wearing. “Do you really need to put that on?”

  “Would you rather I went out naked?” I questioned. He looked at me then down at the bed, and back up, shrugging.

  “I’d rather you didn’t go at all.” He replied. I stopped, standing there with just shorts on, and was ready to respond, but he put his hand up. “I know you have to go.”

  “Come with me?” I asked him. Justin smiled, and then shook his head.

  “He doesn’t want me there.” He replied.

  “I do.” Justin stretched and then sat up.

  “I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you love me?”

  “That’s just a stupid question.” I said as I buttoned my shirt.

  “Do you?”

  “Of course, I do. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Then, if you want to continue to do so, without your father interfering, then you’ll understand why I can’t go with you.”

  “My father, if that’s what you want to call him, can’t tell me who to love and who not to, just like my friends can’t. Michael has no hold over me.” I said and sat by Justin on the bed.

  “With your blood ties to him, I’m afraid he does.” Justin sighed. “I know about this.”

  “I love you.” I whispered to him and put my hand on his chest. “But, I have to go.” I watched him turn his head to look away. “Last night tied us together, Justin. Please, tell me it wasn’t a one night thing.” I waited for him to move, but he didn’t look at me, and didn’t speak. “I have to go now.” Still, he said nothing. I stood up from the bed and walked over to the door.

  Glancing at him one last time, I turned and walked out the door.

  Cristian looked up at as I came closer to the car. Annoyed, I shook my head and sighed, trying to hold in the tears, not to show him that I was hurt.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I asked him.

  “Come with me.” Cristian asked. “We’re going to the same place, Sage, why not take one car.”

  “Okay!” I said and got the bag out of the car. “I’m not in any mood to argue, let’s just go.”

  * * * * *

  Voices whispered in her ears, several different voices, all telling her the same thing. There was danger, she shouldn’t be going home, and death was coming, again. Cristian watched Sage as she slept, he could hear her dreams, almost see what she might be experiencing, and he hoped that she woke up soon. The ride wasn’t long, but Sage had fallen asleep only minutes after they had left. She yelled aloud, and then her eyes flew open and she sat up more in her seat.

  Cristian reached over to touch her, but she moved away. She didn’t look at him, but he could see that she was upset.

  “How long have they been talking to you?” He asked her softly. She shrugged and then slowly turned her head to look in his direction.

  “Most of my life.” She replied. “They’re usually right, which is the problem. They told me that you were coming, which is why this is so hard for me.”

  “What’s hard about it?” He questioned.

  “They told me things about you, about how you were made, and they told me about the future.” She whispered and looked out her window. “It just hard to trust you.”

  “Have they always told you when things were going to happen?”

  “They never mentioned Justin to me.” She looked at him. “If that’s what you mean.”

  “I would think that they’d warn you about him first.” Cristian said and shook his head.

  “What has he done that makes you think that he’s a danger to me? He’s never hurt me, or anyone around me.” Sage questioned.

  “In the past, when we were younger, he did things to girls that would make your stomach turn.”

  “I’ve seen his past; I’ve known what he’s done.”

  “You knew and you still associate with him?” Cristian asked quickly.

  “I felt him that first night, Cristian.”

  “Look, you have a different view of my brother than I do, but you still know what he’s capable of. Why would you risk everything to be with him?” He looked at her as if he couldn’t grasp her reasoning.

  “How well do you know him?” Sage said turning in her seat to look at him. “Do you think you know what his heart feels; do you believe you can see his soul by looking in his eyes?”

  “Our blood is connected, Sage. For the last two hundred years, I’ve seen what his soul is like, whenever he killed, he sent it out for me to witness. Nothing can change that kind of darkness.” Cristian replied and shook his head.

  “I think; no I know that I love him.” She whispered.

  “I hope you don’t expect him to love you back.”

  “The darkness around him is fading, almost gone, and I know he loves me, Cristian. I felt it last night when. .“ She stopped as he looked at her, then she looked away. “It doesn’t matter how you feel about your brother, or what you think he’s become. What matters is that he’s connected to Michael and you, and whatever threatens your existence also threatens his.”

  “Why didn’t he come then?” Cristian asked. “Is it because he knows who’s after us?”

  “I don’t think so. I think he’s afraid of the way he feels. He’s afraid that Michael won’t want him, just like you don’t.”

  “I know what he is, Sage, and if you would just open your eyes you would see what he is too.”

  “My eyes are open, Cristian, and all I see is a man with tainted blood, that’s trying to make up for what he’s done, and I also see a brother who won’t except the fact that people can change.”

  Cristian exhaled loudly, and then looked at the road in front of him. “Did you ask him to come?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t he?”

  “He believes that Michael will influence me and make me stop loving him. He believes that his brother doesn’t want him there. It’s just as simple as that.” Sage watched as they pulled into the long driveway of the large three-story house that Michael lived in. Cristian stopped at the guardhouse and rolled down the window. A young man looked in the car and smiled.

  “Can I help you?” He asked.

  “We were asked to come here to see Michael De Polyneices.” Cristian said.

  “Just a minute.” The guard walked into the house and talked on the phone for just a minute, then came out and nodded. “You’re expected, just pull up to the house, they’ll meet you there.”

  “Thank you.” Cristian said and pulled away. Sage almost held her breath as the house drew nearer, then Cristian made his way around the oval driveway to stop in front of the door.

  Sage looked at him, his long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, his face still as young as she remembered. He looked anxious, as he shifted his weight. The girl beside him, a dark haired woman with bright blue eyes, touched his shoulder, trying to calm him. Cristian stopped the car, put it in park and looked at her. Sage drew in a deep breath, glanced at Cristian and pulled on the door handle.

  The door opened slowly and Sage climbed out, standing up and stepping aside to shut the door. She looked at him, didn’t
dare to move, and listened to the sound of her pounding heart. He stepped closer, but stopped suddenly and looked quickly at Cristian, then back at her.

  “Sage?” He asked as if he didn’t know who he was looking at.

  “Michael.” She whispered as the sudden realization that she was home hit her, and she fainted.

  Chapter 8

  Michael seemed to be the last thing out of my mouth when I fainted and the first person asked for when I woke up. I looked around the room, at the black haired girl that had been holding Michael’s arm, and at another girl with blond hair that kept walking in and out of the room.

  “Sage, can you tell me how you feel?” The black haired girl asked. I looked at her and shook my head. “My name is Ashley Wolf; I’m a friend of your father’s.”

  “He’s not really my father.” I whispered.

  Ashley smiled. “Yes, I know, it slipped, I’m sorry if I offended you.”

  “It was not offensive. I’d like it if he was, but he’s not.” I replied. “You feel like him, though.”

  “What do you mean?” She questioned and handed me a glass of water.

  “Thank you.” I whispered and took the glass. “You’re a vampire, aren’t you?” I watched her pause, and then she nodded. “Michael and you are, uh, family. By that, I mean, did he make you?”

  “Yes, if you put it that way, we are family.” Ashley smiled. “You don’t have to be afraid of the people in this house.” She whispered. “Some may come off as mean, like Quinn, but he won’t harm you, and Julian’s very helpful.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” I asked softly. Ashley nodded as she grabbed a wet washcloth and patted my forehead. “Is everyone here a vampire?”

  “No. Lauren isn’t, and you’re not. The maids and the cooks are mortal. My son, Jack, is also mortal.” She smiled. “Do you know Cristian well?”

  “We met about nine months ago, and since that point he’s been trying to keep me away from this one person.” I said and thought of Justin, closed my eyes, and then opened them to look at Ashley.

  “Is this person dangerous?”

  “Cristian thinks so, but he’s never touched me, to hurt me anyway.” I shook my head. “I think that Cristian believes that he is dangerous just because of what he’s done in the past.”

  “Do you think he has reasons, I mean, the kind that you don’t doubt, to want to keep you from this man?” Ashley walked over and sat near me once again, as I shrugged.

  “He’s very dark, or he was when we met, but, since then, the darkness around him has begun to disappear. Cristian doesn’t see it, but I can feel it, I know that it has.”

  “So, who is this intriguing young man that we’re talking about?” Michael asked as he walked into the room, a wide smile on his child like face. My face turned a bit white and then I shook my head.

  “No one of any great importance.” I whispered, knowing that Ashley had caught on to this change and made a note of it. “You haven’t changed a bit.” I said, perking up, but then laughed at this. “Of course, you haven’t changed. You’re a vampire.”

  “So, what do you think of my home?” Michael smiled and sat next to me on the bed.

  “So far, the driveway and the bedroom are magnificent. I’m sure the rest of it is just marvelous.” I smiled and Michael helped me off the bed. I slipped on my shoes and walked down the hallway with Michael by my side. “Is this where you’ve been all this time?”

  “Yes.” He whispered. “I’ve wanted to contact you.”

  “I know.” I smiled. He looked at me for an explanation.

  “When you think about me, I can feel it, and when you talk to me, I can hear that, well, some of it.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” He questioned.

  “I didn’t want to make my Aunt and Uncle think that I was flipping out on them, besides, I kind of like the fact that I could listen to you babble about things without you knowing.” I smiled at him. “Where’s Cristian?”

  “He’s outside, walking the grounds.” Michael replied as we stepped down from the stairway and walked through the house to the sitting room. “He’s worried about you.”

  “He should stop worrying about me and worry about himself. I’m fine. I just wish he would leave me alone.” I said and shook my head. “He’s the world’s biggest pain in the ass, Michael.”

  “He’s always been.” Michael smiled. “Sage, it might become a bit crazy around here in the next few weeks.”

  “I know that troubles coming.” I whispered to him. “I’ve known for months that things were going to get a bit weird.”

  “How did you know?”

  “The voices in my head.” I said. Michael nodded, knowing I had been hearing the voices since my parents died, but they were never wrong. “I have a question, though.” I glanced at him, stopping near the door to the patio. “Do you think that there can be unexpected events? I mean, you know they’ve always warned me about danger and new people in my life, but do you think that something, or someone, might be able to get passed them?”

  “Has someone come into your life?” Michael asked. He looked at the way my eyes suddenly sparkled and the look on my face. “You’re in love?”

  “Yes, but it was totally unexpected.” I said and spoke up.

  “With the man that Cristian is trying to keep you away from?”

  “That would be the one.” I sat down and looked at him. He was so young looking, but I knew he was much older. “Have you ever experienced a power, inside yourself, that seems so totally unstoppable when you’re near a certain person? I mean have you ever felt a bond to a person that just makes your powers explode?”

  “Does this young man do this to you?”

  “The third time we saw each other was the night of a full moon, in January. He could have hurt me, killed me actually, but he didn’t. He tried to defend me, but I put myself between him and Cristian, and then it just exploded and I did something I don’t remember doing ever before. A wall of blue flame just ignited in front of me, keeping Cristian out. However, it was too much and I couldn’t hold it. The flame died and just became a wall. Of course, that faded when I fainted.”

  “A force field type of thing?” Michael asked. I nodded, and watched him smile. “I’ve seen that only once in my life.”

  “When?”

  “When you were seven, the house was on fire and I ran in to get you. You were sitting on the bed, surrounded by this blue light and nothing could touch you. I think you were reading a book. It lasted until I called to you and you realized what was going on. Don’t you remember?” Michael questioned.

  “I don’t remember anything about the fire; except that a candle had started it and that you were holding me when I woke up.” I said and shrugged.

  “That is a power that can only be brought to the surface when you’re really emotional, I guess.” Michael shrugged. “I don’t know much about your powers, but I’m sure that Julian can help find something that might help you.” Michael smiled at me as I stood up and walked over to him, wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes as he hugged me, tightly. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’m just glad to see you.” I whispered.

  “I don’t mean to break up this little reunion...” a voice interrupted. Michael and I turned to look at the tall man with shoulder length black hair and green eyes. I looked at him and smiled. His eyes held a bit of mischief in them, and I noted the strong feeling of darkness that surrounded him also. As I said, there wasn’t such thing as a perfectly good vampire. “Michael, who is this charming young woman?”

  “This, my friend, Quinn, is Sage Owens and she’s totally off limits to you.” Michael said and smiled. Quinn walked a bit closer and I gave him an evil look.

  “Yes, she’s definitely part of you.” Quinn said and stepped back. “I can read your mind, young lady, and your thoughts aren’t very nice.”

  “Well, I was just about to say the same about yours.” I smiled and nodded. “And, I belie
ve “off limits” means hands and fangs too.”

  “Oh, my.” Quinn said and smiled. He looked quickly at Michael and pointed at me. “I like her all ready.”

  Michael smiled and looked at me when Quinn walked out of the room. “You can’t read minds, can you?”

  “No, but he’s a man, and a vampire, and they all think alike, so I thought I’d take a shot.” I smiled back. “What do you think?”

  “Well, you’re on his good side, that’s a start, but I’m not real comfortable with the fact that he actually likes you.” Michael said and put his arm around my shoulder.

  “So, where’s the other one?” I asked as walked through the hallway again.

  “Julian’s here somewhere.”

  “Did I hear my name?” A sexy male voice interrupted us once again.

  I turned to look at the man who was stepping down to meet us. He looked much like Quinn, except that his hair was back in a ponytail, his green eyes were lighter, and goodness surrounded him, but the darkness was still there. He looked at me as if to size me up, then he moved closer. “You are Sage, I presume.”

  “And, you’re Julian?” I questioned. He nodded. “You’re not quite what I pictured.”

  “But, you’re just how I pictured you to be.” His face seemed to grow serious and Michael noticed the connection between us. He suddenly looked at Michael, confusion on his face, and he stepped back. “I’ve never met a mortal so powerful before.” Julian said softly, his voice telling his awe about me. “Tell me, who were your parents?”

  “Douglas and Yvette Owens.” I whispered and they looked at Michael who seemed to be confused about this himself. “You seem a bit confused. What’s wrong?”

  “You’re one of us, but not. Exactly how is that?” He asked. I understood then. He felt me, just as I did him, as a presence that seemed familiar, but at the same time, different.

  “I’m part of Michael. He’s also my parent.” I whispered, trying to make him understand. Julian still looked baffled. “My blood is his blood.”

  Julian straightened up, his face seemed in shock and he looked from Michael to me at first, completely speechless, but then he turned to Michael.