Second Life

by Emily Reese

  “I do,” Marcus said from beside me, and fifty pairs of eyes swiveled to him. “It’s the Council’s switchboard number. It shows up on every outbound call.”

  “This your friend?” Mike asked me out of the corner of his mouth, and I nodded. “Any way we can trace it back to who made the call?”

  “I’m not sure. I should have someone who can work on it here in...” Marcus checked his watch, “about ninety minutes.”

  “Cool.” Mike moved to stand behind me and Khale took the floor once again.

  “Before we depart, there is one final item of importance. Starting this evening, we will have mandatory check-ins for everyone, including companions.” There were a few groans that quickly dried up with Khale’s withering stare. “If you live in the city, a text message will suffice. If you are staying with us, your keycard will do.”

  “That seems a bit extreme, don’t you think?” a voice I recognized called from somewhere in the back. As the crowd parted with a few hushed whispers, I looked around in confusion. How could they even move? Because the second I heard those smug words, I was sure the floor dropped out from under me.

  Standing in the middle of our sanctuary, surrounded by an entourage of armed guards, was Ari Regulus

  “I would hear why you enter my home armed, and I would hear it now.” Khale’s deep growl made my bones vibrate and I could feel the pinpricks of his flaring rage.

  “Dangerous times,” Regulus responded. The crowd continued to separate and reform around him as he walked to the front, the glint in his eye confirming how much he enjoyed the attention.

  I looked around, feeling as if time had slowed down. Everyone remained silent, their stares locked on the intruder... everyone except for Marcus.

  What? I asked, the pained look on his face filling me with dread. What is it?

  I will get you through this, he told me, I promise you. It was then that I took a closer look at Regulus’s guards; two of them were part of Marcus’s family, Amir and another I recognized from the train car. Amir appeared disgusted.

  You know why he’s here don’t you? Don’t you, Marcus? Instead of an answer, he took my hand and squeezed. No answer could’ve been worse.

  “Still, as a courtesy, and because of our long, long friendship, I thought it best that I made the delivery.” I doubted Regulus’s false sincerity fooled anyone; an actor the man was not.

  “Delivery?” Khale asked with only the smallest bit of emotion in his voice. Retrieving it from one of his retinue, Regulus turned presented Khale with a small gilded box.

  “The remains of Benjamin, your second.”

  Screams burst forth and were quickly shushed, followed by gasps and hushed crying.

  “You lie,” I hissed.

  Head swinging like a snake, Regulus gave me his full attention, his face somber, yet his eyes shining with glee.

  “I’m afraid not, Sweet Claire. I was there when he left this world... taking your punishment as his own.”

  I had the briefest moment when all my emotions seemed to flare at once, and then... nothing.

  I’ve got you. Marcus’s voice was a gentle caress in my mind. He wants to see you broken. If you’ll let me, I’ll make sure he won’t get the satisfaction.

  Okay. My inner voice sounded as dead as I felt, as dead as...

  Focus, Claire! He’s speaking to you.

  “... and convinced the Council he was the responsible party,” Regulus informed the room, eyes always coming back to me. “I agreed to the transfer of blame and then witnessed the sentence carried out. I bring you his remains as a peace offering, to show you that all is settled between us.”

  “You son of a —” Mike’s words were cut off at once. Turning, I saw him breathing heavily, eyes bugged out and unable to move. Khale gripped his shoulder, and still Mike looked ready to lunge for the Roman’s throat.

  “Better watch that one, Khaleme” Regulus joked with a mock shiver. “He’s feisty.”

  Silently, with measured steps, Khale walked towards the arrogant Elder vampire, eyes never leaving Ben’s box. Following a step behind, Sera held her hand out to me, fingers trembling as much as the tears shining in her eyes.

  Take it, Marcus told me. These are your people. They need you to show strength, solidarity.

  Like watching a movie, I saw my hand take the one that was extended. We followed behind our Elder and stopped when he did.

  “Go,” Khale said quietly as he took the box from our enemy. “Leave us to our grief.”

  “Of course.” Regulus bowed ever so slightly, eyes meeting mine on the way up. So fast others may not have caught it, disappointment and anger flitted across the Roman’s face, immediately replaced with a mask of smug superiority. Turning, he left the way he came, all but Amir and the other Jumper following in his wake.

  No one moved, no one made a sound, until we heard the quiet shush as the elevator closed. Then all hell broke loose.

  “It’s not him, is it?”

  “Elder, what will we do?”

  “What charges was he talking about?”

  “Ben died for her?”

  That last one did it for me.

  “Quiet!” I yelled over the cacophony of panicked vampires, bringing everyone to a full stop. “Go to your quarters. Everyone is staying here. Further information will be forthcoming.” I looked around at the mass of vampire males and their human companions.

  “This is because of you,” Sera’s human Gina hissed.

  “Càllate, Gina! You will keep your mouth shut.” The look the other female vampire gave her partner was murderous, and the human backed down immediately into a sulk. The look she shot me a moment later dripped with venom.

  “Do as she says,” Khale all but whispered, thumbs tracing the edge of the tiny urn. With his words the common room emptied save for the Jumpers, Mike, Khale, Sera, and I.

  “I need to speak to Amir and Finn before they leave,” Marcus told me, stepping into my field of vision. “I’m going to let go now, leave you and your family to your grief.”

  “Don’t!” I grabbed his arm before he could move away. “Don’t let me feel this. I don’t ever want to feel this, please.”

  “I’m sorry, Buttercup.” He gently removed my hand from his arm. “I told you, even my powers have limits. This is one of them.” He turned and left, the floating numbness waning, gone the moment he shut the door

  Falling to my knees I screamed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Mike and I slept in the same bed that day. I forgot all about my usual inhibitions; neither one of us could bear to be alone in our grief. When the sun went down I woke to find him on his side, watching me.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” I answered and turned to face him.

  “Do you think it could just be a really, really bad dream?” he asked, the childlike request in contrast to his appearance. “Like maybe if we close our eyes again, we’ll both wake up and he’ll be here?”

  “No,” I tried to smile through my tears, for his sake. “No matter how hard we wish it.” Mike nodded and rolled to his back. I watched his chest expand while he took in huge gasps of air, trying to fight the tears away.

  “I don’t want to get out of bed today. I feel like an orphan all over again.”

  Unsure of what to say, I rubbed his arm and got up.

  “I’ll get us some breakfast.” I shuffled to the door and left, closing it quietly behind me. On my way to our kitchen I passed others in the same state I was in, now more zombie than vampire.

  Ben would laugh at that.

  At the mere mention of his name, pain sliced through me nearly bringing me to my knees. By some miracle, I stayed upright and kept walking.

  When I entered the kitchen, there were a few others inside, milling about. Abruptly all conversation stopped and I felt their accusing eyes follow me; I didn’t have it in me to care.

  Dinner for Mike and I in hand, task complete, I
made to return to my room, only to bump into someone on the way.

  “Hey, Buttercup.” Marcus held my arms to steady me, his dreaded pity finally making an appearance. I couldn’t decide if I hated him or not. He’d always have my thanks for keeping me together this morning when it counted, but... he’d also let the pain in.

  “I hope you don’t always see it that way,” he said in response to my thoughts. Dropping his arms, he stepped back only to produce two envelopes, which he extended to me. “Amir brought these with him. Ben asked him to bring them home, before he... they’re for you and Mike.”

  “Thank you,” I said and took them, leaving him standing in the hallway.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Khale stared at the box on his desk, using his considerable will to force his brain to accept the fact that his oldest friend was no more.

  The grief would come soon, and the rage at those responsible; timing was all that remained to be seen.

  He wished like hell Lana was here. Her absence was a constant pain, the organ quite possibly stowing away in her suitcase when he’d sent his heart away. He knew now more than ever it had been the right call. The smart call. The last thing he wanted was for Ari Regulus to know the identity of his mate, know the total command she had on his soul.

  Yet still what he wouldn’t give to see her sweet face now.

  Fingers ticked the corner of an expensive envelope bearing his name. The Council’s Jumper, Marcus he was called now, delivered it a few minutes ago without a word.

  His weighed his decision carefully, whether or not to read that letter. He knew the handwriting, knew it held Ben’s last words to him; and yet... what could it contain that would make his death acceptable? What reasoning could there be to explain the pain at the loss of one so dear?

  He’d shared the man’s company for the better part of a millennia. Now there was only the letter and the godforsaken box.

  For no other reason than to honor their many years of friendship, Khale ripped open the envelope to read Ben’s final thoughts for him:

  My friend,

  Words fail me.

  At this point, I doubt you are even surprised. Claire is, has always been, the love of my long life, despite our difficulties. You would do no less for Lana.

  I wish to thank you for the gift of my Second Life. Know I do not discard it easily.

  Your companionship these long years has been the fuel that kept me going, kept me honest, kept me sane, kept me from many regrets, and even kept me smiling.

  The knowledge you shared with me would need a library to contain. I humbly ask that you extend young Monroe the same courtesy. He is, and will continue to be a good man. I believe that in time, he can fill my position at your side, such as it is.

  I ask that you forgive me, my brother of these past centuries, for not sharing my plans with you. I only wished to spare you any guilt or conflict. This choice, and its consequences, are mine alone to bear.

  And so I shall.

  I would beg you to watch over Claire for me, but I know you will, even before I ask. So instead, I have another favor.

  The years you’ve seen have been filled with sorrow, none would deny it. But they are also full of laughter. When you think of me, I ask that you remember those times. Remember the drunk Dutchman we met back in Madrid. Remember the day you introduced Seraphina and I, and the ensuing bath I required. Remember our arguments over the versatility of pigs… and every time you see one of the foul creatures on a leash, remember that I won.

  Do this for the both of us, my friend.

  I will never truly be far,

  Ben

  Folding the letter carefully, Khale released a ragged breath. Lana. He needed to call Lana; not only to break the news, but for the soothing balm of her kind words.

  Just a few moments to collect himself…

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Finally, she fell asleep.

  Mike tilted his body, carefully removing his arm from beneath Claire’s head and replacing it with a pillow. He closed his eyes in thanks when she rolled away from him and didn’t wake. Leaning his head back against the wall he tried to make sense of it all.

  And did a lousy job.

  The truth was, with a loss like this, there was no sense. And now, things would never be the same.

  Since he was being honest, Mike also had to admit how much he would miss that asshole.

  Sure, he and Ben had got into it on many an occasion; that was just their dynamic. All that aside though, it was Ben who’d been there from the first. It was Ben who introduced him to his new life, and, despite Mike’s stubbornness, did everything in his power to give him a good start at immortality. It was Ben who’d sat silently in the elevator while Mike lost his mind at what had become of his sister. Ben was his mentor during his first foray back into the world; he’d educated Mike, healed him, and when it was in Mike’s best interest, stepped away.

  Turning his head, he looked at the biggest thing they had in common... and their biggest point of contention.

  Would she run? Would she fall apart, never to resemble the fiery angel he remembered from his human life? Would any of them recover from the loss of one who was the stubborn, prickly, snarky glue to their little family?

  Getting up quietly, Mike went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, hoping the sound of the water would drown out his thoughts, if only for a little while.

  While he waited for steam to coat the mirrors, he went around the room, picking a few things up, trying to give Claire some stability and a clean floor when she woke next. When he went to fold her bathrobe over a chair, a little flutter caught his eye.

  Reaching down, he discovered two envelopes had fallen out of her pocket. One was addressed to her, and the other... to him.

  Robe and shower forgotten, Mike lowered himself slowly into the chair, tearing into the envelope with shaking hands.

  Michael,

  It seems once again you are being shouldered with responsibility before your time. For this I apologize.

  We may not always agree, but there has always been one person with whom we could find common ground.

  She will need you now more than ever.

  Despite my behavior to the contrary, I am proud of the vampire you have become. Not only that, but I am supremely confident of the man the centuries will make of you. My faith in you is the only reason I can follow this course to the end.

  Many in our little family will have trouble with my somewhat sudden departure. They will not understand, nor will they think they can get along without me. I look to you to show them otherwise.

  Know that I go to my Second Death in peace, and that you are in large part responsible for that. I will be forever in your debt.

  To you, to me, and to the ages,

  Ben

  “Me? You’re asking me to fix this?” Mike muttered to a mentor who could no longer hear him. Skimming the letter again for at least some clarification, the only thing he found besides more questions was a little scribble beneath his thumb. Moving it aside, he read the last thing Ben would ever convey to him:

  P.S. Levi and Roger know what to look for. They will help you find her.

  Shaking his head, Mike sent a silent prayer of thanks to wherever vampires end up when they’re gone for good. Her secret was still safe, and Ben left him with two allies to help him find his sister.

  Turning, he focused on the problem at hand, examining Claire’s face. Even in sleep, she was not at peace. Her eyes remained puffy from her tears, her brow still creased. How long would it take, he wondered, before she would do more than eat and sleep, barely functioning? He recalled the sound of her scream; it would stay with him forever. Only a few quick words from Khale kept him from chasing down the Jumper who caused it… whatever the hell that guy was.

  Feeling a thousand years old, Mike rose. Turning off the shower, he crept out of the room and headed for Ben’s office. As much as he hated it to ad
mit it, keeping things moving when everyone else fell to pieces was his forte. He would keep the ship afloat, so that Claire and the others could mourn. Grief was a luxury, suitable for a more stable situation.

  Mike Monroe had work to do.

  EPILOGUE

  “Well! That was supremely entertaining!” Regulus threw his coat to the side, knowing Reave would catch it. That or be forced to regrow a hand.

  “Yes, Lord.” There was no sound of material meeting carpet as the servant followed his master into his office. Regulus flopped into the chair behind his desk and twirled, reliving the highlights: the disbelief on his enemy’s face, the shocked gasps of the sheep surrounding them… the woman’s scream he caught as the elevator ascended. If only he’d thought to record it. Returning from his reverie, he found Reave staring a hole in the floor, Regulus’s coat still draped over one arm.

  “Speak,” the Elder snapped irritably.

  “I do not understand, My Lord.”

  “Do not understand what, Reave?”

  “If you wanted the female dead, why did you not kill her? My men and I were there, we had her twice when she breached your borders. If you had but let me —”

  “Do you think it your place to know my will?” Reave’s cringe was all the answer he needed, and the reaction pleased him. “Still, I can humor you I suppose. The female is remarkable in only one aspect; she has raised my ire.” Regulus began opening his mail, using his dagger shaped letter opener while he spoke.

  “As you know, one female of our kind is much like another; they come in different varieties, colors, shapes, what have you, but their purpose remains the same.”

  Rip.

  “They are a means to reproduction, and, if we so desire it, a source of entertainment. Nothing more.”

  Rip.

  “Interchangeable, yet necessary.”

  Rip.

  “Yet this female, Claire Wallace, desires to rise above her station.”

  Rip.