Giver of Light

by Nicola Claire

  They didn't muck around once he was on board, God knows if they had clearance to taxi out yet, but Michel would have commanded the pilots to move regardless, for me, probably even for him. The plane slid smoothly along the tarmac, off into the distance and within less than two minutes had left the ground. I stifled an almost hysterical laugh at the thought that the commercial flights all gave way to the Master of the City and then slowly slid down the side of the Land Rover, to land in an undignified heap on the ground.

  My M & M buddies didn't say a word, just stood by in formation, backs to me, fronts facing any threats and let me have my moment of utter loss alone.

  Five minutes later and I was done. I stood up and brushed myself down - useless, I still looked like a woman who'd had way too much sex in the back of a car - and cleared my throat.

  “I'm going for a drive.”

  They just nodded, Matthias walking beside me to my car, Marcus starting the Land Rover. Then once I slipped in to the familiar seat and brought the engine to life, Matthias flashed away and they followed me out of the airport.

  I had no idea where I would head or what distance I would travel, but after making it as far as Orewa, just North of Auckland and realising I still had a couple of vamps faithfully following behind some distance, regardless of the approaching sun, I did an illegal U-Turn and high tailed it home.

  It was time to face the music, or at the very least, the impossibly long and painful wait for news.

  Oh God, I missed him so much.

  Chapter 31

  Family

  The house was quiet, really quiet. No Erika. No Michel. Only the two personal guards who flashed in the door behind me, beating the first of the sun's rays. And hopefully somewhere Amisi. Oh, and Samson. I could feel Samson downstairs, not like I sense vamps normally, more of an awareness, a connection I still wasn't quite used to. When I tested that connection, I got a surprising answer back, kind of like an acknowledgement of my tug on the line that spread between me and my vampire. Freaky.

  I shook it off and said good night to Marcus and Matthias, who looked like they could do with a breather, the race against the light along Tamaki Drive having frayed the last of their nerves and then I went in search of Amisi. I could certainly do with a friend.

  I found her in the office, on-line, using Michel's computer. He wouldn't have minded, it was more of a communal computer anyway, we all tended to use it.

  “Hey,” I said and threw myself into the chair opposite the desk.

  “Hey, yourself. How'd it go?” She sat back and ignored what was on her screen, giving me her full attention. That was Amisi, she always made you feel like you were the most important person in her world, regardless of any interruption you might have caused.

  “Mum and dad freaked, then got won over by Michel's superior parent wrangling skills and I found out a bit more about my biological parents and came away feeling pretty centred.” I paused, gathering myself. “And now I need a distraction.” It was the best I could do. I just couldn't put into words the loss I was feeling having just watched Michel leave - and truth be told, I really thought the best approach was to just ignore it altogether and get on with day to day life. At least until we started getting reports back from America.

  “I understand,” she said, switching the computer off. “I was just catching Citysider up on what was happening. There's not much he can do from where he is, but his kindred has offered support if it's needed. Michel seemed to think it wasn't.”

  I agreed, from what Michel had said, he had the numbers, it was just a matter of handling whatever tricks Jonathan threw their way.

  Amisi shifted in her seat and suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. I had a bad feeling she was about to drop a bomb. It never rains but it pours, that's for sure.

  “OK. Spit it out,” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest in preparation. She really did look uncomfortable.

  “Gregor phoned.”

  “He didn't go to America with the others?” I'd just assumed all the first level masters had gone. Enrique and Alessandra had definitely gone, as had Michel of course.

  “No, he stayed behind so there was a Master of the City in New Zealand. A safeguard, I think. He and Michel must have planned it that way.”

  It made sense, like the American Families, Michel and Gregor wouldn't want to throw everything into the call to arms, leaving a core contingency here for protection of their territories was a prudent move. And it's not like Michel could have stayed behind, the call to arms was directed towards him.

  “Yeah, so he's still in Wellington and he's got a bit of a problem. There's been an influx of rogue vamps, three Norms so far have been killed, he fears there's going to be more.”

  Shit, that wasn't good. Amisi had been going down to Wellington at least once a week, for there to have been that many attacks since her last visit was unheard of. It needed investigation and it needed a Nosferatin.

  “You gotta go,” I said, making it easier on her. She had no choice, she had to go when Gregor asked, she was officially his city's Nosferatin, despite living with me here in Auckland. Her staying was only a temporary measure, as soon as the Prophesy was fulfilled, she'd be gone for good.

  “I'm sorry. I know you need me right now. I wish I didn't have to go.”

  I held my hand up to stop her. Yeah, I needed a friend, but we also had responsibilities and maybe it was for the best. I'd probably lean on her too much if she was here, now I'll just have to get my mojo on and deal with the separation by myself. The power of one.

  “Nah. It's all right, Amisi. You have to go and I'll be fine. When do you leave?”

  “I'm heading out to the airport now. Gregor's jet has just returned from dropping off some of his line in America and swung by here to pick me up on the way down the line. It's either hitch a lift with them or go Air New Zealand domestic. I'm kind of strapped for cash right now.”

  Hell, I hadn't even thought about that. I was no longer pulling a salary from the bank, having taken extended leave, but I did have a little bit tucked away. Amisi, on the other hand, had never had a job and although her parents sent her money, I knew it wasn't much. Both she and I had been living a fair bit off Michel's good grace, not that he would have had it any other way. Still, I think Amisi was of the same mind as me. As soon as this Prophesy shit was over, we were both going out to work.

  “You need anything?” I asked, knowing she wouldn't take money, but maybe there was something I could help her with.

  “Nah. Gregor's putting me up, I get a free flight, I think I'm set.”

  “You're staying with Gregor?” Now that would have been entertaining to watch.

  She gave me a good hard glare. “Purely professional.”

  “If you say so,” I said, getting up from my chair and dodging the pen she threw at my head just in time. “Hey! I'm just saying.”

  “Whatever!” She retorted, but I could see the smile. She was amping to get down to Wellington, I could tell.

  I let her off lightly though, with just a few taunts before she headed out the door. She'd called a cab before I had made it home, not sure if I was going to make it in time, so refused my offer of a lift. That meant, within half an hour of getting back in the house I was, in essence, alone.

  Marcus and Matthias and Samson, all out for the count, or as much as vampires do during daylight hours and I was left to rumble about the house in silence. After a few rounds of pacing, unable to settle enough for a sleep, I opted for a workout in the gym downstairs. No point wasting the day away.

  An hour and a half later, covered in sweat and just winding down on the treadmill, Samson walked in.

  “Mistress,” he acknowledged quietly, standing just inside the doorway, a little uncertain, I think, of how to proceed.

  I switched the treadmill off and grabbed my towel to wipe away some sweat.

  “You know, you can call me Luce.”

  He looked at me for a moment and then nodded. I was kind of relieved. I th
ought he might argue with me on that, vampires tend to like hierarchy and formalities, but at least this meant he had some self respect as well. I so did not want a hanger-on with confidence issues. I had enough of those on my own.

  “Do you like coffee?” I asked, throwing the towel in the hamper for the house cleaner.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Follow me then. We have the King of coffee machines upstairs. Let's go have a cuppa.”

  It was actually not nearly as uncomfortable as I had thought it would be. Samson took half a cup of Long Black a la Lucinda style to unwind and finally we were into a more casual form of communicating. He was still a little formal, but I was guessing that was just all him. He was about 150 years old, meaning he grew up in Victorian London, some things are hard to change. I got the impression that Samson would open doors and rush to the aid of all women at the drop of a hat.

  But then again, his previous existence since being turned had not been a bed of roses, nor had he been the gentleman vampire. With all that Dark, I could see why.

  “Do you want to go back to London?” I asked, making a second coffee for us both.

  “I would like to return one day. I have a debt to pay.”

  I raised my eyebrows in a question, but he purposely avoided eye contact. Okaay. Personal issue, I could relate.

  “Do you need to go back now?” I'd be happy to let him go, it's not like I wanted to be his keeper. We could remain in touch, but he's a big boy. I didn't want him to feel tied to me like a slave.

  “I would prefer to stay here and be of assistance.”

  “You don't have to, you know. You can come and go as you please, as long as you don't get into any mischief that's going to come back and bite me on the arse, I'm happy for you to do whatever pleases.”

  He watched me finish off the coffees for a moment and when I pushed his second Long Black towards him he nodded, slowly. “That is kind. But for now I will stay.”

  “Because you think I'm not strong, just like Shane said?” I did not want this vampire to think I couldn't handle myself. He might have been in my line now, but I still didn't know him from Jack. Michel had said that it would be impossible for him to harm me, his sole goal would be to please and protect. I kind of understood what he was saying, but truthfully, I still didn't really get it. It was all bit too mystical and magical to make sense.

  “Not at all. I know you are the strongest Nosferatin in the world and I am honoured to have joined your line. I thank you for rescuing me. I stay because I want to.” He paused and looked around the room as if seeking divine inspiration or guidance. Finally he must have organised his thoughts enough, because he added, “I feel at peace when I am near you.”

  All right then. Good to know.

  “OK. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, but it's your life, you don't serve me. Obviously you have to answer to me, but only in so much as your actions reflect on me. You are welcome to spend your hours as you please within Michel's guidelines for the city.”

  “I understand,” he replied, still a little formally. “I will seek a role within Michel's business structure. I may have skills that suit his need.”

  I liked that idea. A vampire who wanted to make himself useful. I also liked how comfortable I was beginning to feel around Samson, even though his language was still stilted, I could see he was completely at ease too. In a short amount of time we had formed, if not a friendship, a bond.

  “Sounds good to me. Now I gotta get some sleep.” All this talking had finally worn me out. The coffee didn't do it. The exercise didn't do it. But talking to my first vampire child wore the shit out of me. Not because it had been hard, but just because it was so new.

  I trundled off to the shower in our ensuite bathroom with thoughts of vampire lines and the responsibilities of heads of those families ringing through my mind. No matter which way I looked at it, my life had turned upside down. But, like Michel had said, it wasn't that bad. Sure I was having to open my door and to a certain extent my heart, to these strange vampires – even though there had only been Samson so far, I knew there would be more – but, their connection to me made it seem so much easier. I wanted Samson to be happy and safe and feel welcome and not bound to me like a servant, but content enough to stay for his own reasons.

  I knew it would take time to get to know him and any others that came my way, but for some strange reason it didn't seem so hard. Not a mammoth task after all.

  I have never been one to have lots of friends around me, I spent my younger years occupying myself on the farm with the lambs for mates. And as a teenager, I had a few girlfriends and later even a couple of boyfriends, but never a bevy of chums surrounding me at any one time. I had thought that was just the way I was, a bit of a loner. But, I'm not so sure now. I have a lot of vampire friends. A lot of Nosferatin friends too. Even a couple of ghouls. And I was once very close to the local Taniwha Hapū. All of which I befriended with ease. I was beginning to see that my lack of friends as a youngster had nothing to do with any inability to connect with another person, but more my natural instinct to avoid Norms at all costs.

  With Samson, I understood him. I felt connected to him, not just because we shared a Master/Vampire Bond, but because he was a part of my world. A world that was not normal, nor was it full of normal people. It was different and supernatural and hey, just fine by me.

  I had long ago felt like I had come home when I was near Michel. Even before we joined, I felt at ease. Sure, I was still crazy scared of his fangs and his power, but inside, deep down, I was home. Samson, somehow, gave me that sense too.

  I crawled under the covers of the bed, pulling Michel's pillow in close to hug and smell. I felt a little sad and lonely, I missed him, like a hole in my heart, but I also felt OK. I could feel Samson downstairs and that connection to someone so a part of me settled my stomach and pulled me back down to Earth. I hadn't expected to be able to draw on Samson so closely. I tried not to analyse it too much and just accept that right now with Michel gone, it was a lifeline I could use.

  Surprisingly, or not, it didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep and I'm sure I would have slept the rest of the day away and all of the night, but despite my heavy lids my stomach had other thoughts.

  At 7pm, just a half hour before sunset, I woke to a loud grumble. The realisation that Amisi wouldn't be in the kitchen fixing me a delectable treat had me rolling over to try for a few more minutes slumber, but nothing worked to stem the noise. So, washing my face and teeth and quickly dressing in my normal hunter gear, I fled downstairs to whip something up.

  It ended up being a sandwich, kind of like the ones Michel makes, piled high with protein and salad and scrummy dressing. I'd made it through most of it when the phone in the kitchen rang. Swallowing the last bite in a mad rush, I picked the handset up before any of the vamps in the house could, expecting Amisi or maybe even Michel, telling me he'd landed and he missed me already.

  But it wasn't. It wasn't anyone I had expected at all.

  It was him. The one vampire I didn't want to talk to. The one man I never wanted to entertain in any way, shape, or form again.

  Jonathan.

  And he wasn't on an international call.

  Chapter 32

  I Just Called, To Say...

  “Sweetheart. Did you miss me? I missed you.”

  I couldn't answer. I couldn't think. Panic washed through me like a tsunami, slamming into my chest and paralysing my body. The phone shook against the side of my head and I could feel my palm, where it held the receiver tightly, become moist and wet with sweat. I knew my breathing had hitched and that, no doubt, Jonathan could hear it. I was playing into his hands to perfection and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it at all.

  “I like your city, sweetheart. So many lovely hidden spots for my men to find entertainment. They are looking forward to becoming more familiar with the local sights this evening. I hope you don't mind, but they intend to have some fun. As do I.”
>
  The threat to innocents in my city helped settle my confused and frantic mind, I squashed the almost unbearable sense of panic and sucked in a deep breath. He already knew I was off guard, I didn't care that he heard me trying to rally myself, it was more important to just get some semblance of logical thought processing through my head. I needed to think this through. Where was he? What did he want? What could I do to prevent it?

  And most importantly. If he was here, what did that mean for Michel?

  “This is a strange way to battle a call to arms, Jonathan. Leaving it to the other Families left in America to honour your reputation?”

  He hissed down the line in response. If he had thought I was going to be that drugged out weakling he had held captive for a month, he had another thought coming. I was on familiar territory and I was a Nosferatin by birth. I had already headed into Michel's home office and unlocked the safe, bringing out my stake box and grabbing a couple of extra silver knives and my Svante sword. I hadn't been wearing it lately, just two stakes and one knife inside my jacket, but now I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder and strapped on the extra daggers in thigh sheaths on both sides and began to get into the back sheath that would hold my Svante out of sight. If he wanted a battle, he would get one.

  Jonathan pulled himself together quickly and managed a laconic reply. “Sweetheart. I am King, they do what I command.”

  “So, how many did you leave behind? How many did you think would be sufficient to hold Michel?” If I could get him do divulge some tactical information, it could prove helpful to either Michel or me. Either way, I wanted to keep him talking. I had already left the office and gone back upstairs to the bedroom to retrieve my cell phone from beside the bed. I needed to let everyone know what was happening and quickly. A mass text would do the trick.

  He laughed in response. “Never fear, my love. There are more than enough of my kin to occupy your kindred. He shall be well involved before we even conclude this conversation. What were you thinking sending him away? You know how weak you are when separated.”