by Emily Bex
55
Shade heard the electronic blinds go up. The sun had begun to set, but there was still light in the sky. The days were getting longer, and he loved the coming season. Although he couldn’t tolerate direct sunlight, the filtered light of early dawn and dusk was manageable. That gave him time to inspect the grounds in natural light and see what needed to be done. He loved sitting on the fence-line in the late evenings, watching the night emerge.
Opening his eyes, he knew bel was still asleep. She didn’t even budge and that was a bit unusual, but he’d felt her leave their bed during his death slumber. She’d been gone for some time before she returned to snuggle on his chest. He slid his hand through her crimson waves and down her back. He slipped his hand over her hip and rubbed the rising bump that was their bambino, growing healthy inside her. He closed his eyes and smiled as he let his hand rest there. Every day, their figlio grew inside her and she became more beautiful. The pregnancy was making her slender body more voluptuous, her skin glowed and he couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful in his world.
He felt her move as she turned her head on his chest, looking up at him. He kissed her gently on the forehead. “Mi amore, let me move you. I need to get up."
Kate yawned and stretched, as she felt him slide from beneath where her head rested on his broad shoulders. She realized as her belly swelled with their growing baby, this wasn’t a position she’d be able to sleep in much longer. She rolled from their bed and grabbed a light silk robe, wrapping it around her. "Shannon came for a visit today."
Shade stopped in his tracks on his way to the dresser as he asked, "A visit with whom?"
"Luca brought her here to visit with me. Did you feel me when I left our bed?"
Shade found a pair of jeans and slid them on, leaving them unzipped. He turned to face her. "Bel, whenever you are away from me, I feel it."
Kate followed him to his dresser and slid her arms around his waist. "I’m never really away from you, you know. You carry my heart."
Sliding his hands through her hair, rubbing her back, he laid his head atop hers. "Si, as you carry mine. So, has Luca's mortal accepted the feeding process? I need to know, mi amore. I need to know all four of us accept this and can remain intact. Talk to me."
"She has. She struggled with it, not unlike me. But she knows what’s in Luca's heart."
Shade released Kate from his arms and sat on the edge of the bed, his face in his hands and sighed. "He chose me over her, did he not? She is upset about his choice. I am glad she came to talk to you. I hope you told her this does not change their relationship."
Kate sat beside him on the bed, stroking his thigh. "Luca will always choose you. And I think she struggles with his choice. It made her feel like she was in second place. But we talked about it and the conflicts she and I have both faced as mortals. I think she understands now. Or, at least, is coming to understand."
Shade looked at her through his raven locks, still tossed from sleep. "I never meant to hurt her nor Luca, you know this, si? I want Luca to find love, especially now that I have found you. I want the same for him. I want him to be loved like this. He deserves it, mi amore. I need to speak with him, si? I want to know he is fine with all of this."
"Of course. Go to him. I'll take a quick shower, and then we can do whatever you have planned for the night."
As Kate stood, he grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. He took the silk sash of her robe in his hand and tugged it softly until her gown opened and he kissed the rise of her tummy.
"I love you, Kate. You know I love you. I will return once I am done speaking with Luca. We have made the final cuts in the camp. Those that remain will now be trained as Medici warriors. And this warrior inside you, the one we have created together, he will grow to become the most powerful Medici in history."
Kate ran her hand through his hair as his lips brushed the swell of her belly. "Well then, he better be strong, he’ll have big shoes to fill. Go, talk to Luca. Find the peace you seek. I'll be waiting for you."
Shade watched her walk to the shower, then finished dressing. He could feel Luca outside as he went down the stairs. He stepped outdoors to see the sun had almost set, but the sky was a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors and he raised his face to the skies and smiled. He never missed an opportunity to take advantage of that transition of day to night nor night into day, for it was a time of magnificent beauty to him and one he didn’t take for granted. He let his senses lead him and found Luca sitting against one of the trees along the main drive leading into Bel Rosso. It seemed both of them were contemplating much lately.
Luca heard him approach and started to stand up. "Master?"
"Relax. I just woke up and spoke with Kate. Sit down." Shade sat down next to him, stretching his long legs out in the fresh grass. He pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Luca. "Go on, you know you need it, probably more than I do at this point."
Luca took a cigarette and they both lit up.
"Luca, I need to say something to you. Just hear me out. You know I love you. I have loved you like familia and that is never going to change. I rely on you and put a lot on your shoulders because I trust you like no other. It is a heavy burden to carry. But I understand love now. I understand what it feels like to have that love returned to me one hundred times over. I want you to have that love, find it for yourself. I know Shannon was here today and talked to Kate. So, I am going to assume the two of you have talked as well. I’m not asking you to share what you have with her, just tell me where we stand right now."
Luca took a deep drag on the cigarette and exhaled, as he watched the smoke being carried away in the light evening breeze.
"Master, I knew when I accepted this role as protector that I’d be bound to you in a completely different way. I’ve pledged my loyalty to you, and to Kate, and for me that must always come first. But I do love Shannon. In time, I hope to have her feed from me, to have her mated to me, but I feel the need for that to move slowly, for both of us. It’s not a question of how deeply I love her or her me. It’s more a matter of giving her time to adjust to our world, to accept those things that seem so foreign to the mortals. I understand Shannon's conflict, but my decision was made before I ever approached her about this. She was torn, I won’t lie. But we’ve talked, and I brought her here today to talk to Kate. I can't tell you she is completely on-board. But she understands and has accepted my decision. She’ll come to grips with this in time. I can tell you, it’s not something that will drive a wedge between us. Shannon and I are in a good place. And I remain committed to you, as always."
Shade pulled Luca to his chest and kissed the top of his head. "Good. I do not ever wish for you to lose her because of me. Mortal women are hard to deal with. But I think we both fell in love with two extraordinary mortal women. Cazzo, Luca, I never thought I would have been in this position five years ago. Now I am mated, have a bambino coming, have a new camp, and my responsibilities just keep growing. Sometimes, I worry I cannot be all I need to be to everyone. How the hell did my padre deal with all of this?"
Luca laughed as he put the cigarette out. "He didn't. His mate was immortal and didn’t have these struggles with our customs, and he had one small camp, not two large ones. The coven was much smaller. In many ways, it was a simpler time, although they had their challenges, for sure. But you’ll manage. Your padre kept Portia on a pedestal. He didn’t seek her council. You rule your coven with Kate at your side, and I think she’ll bring you great strength and power. We have yet to see what she’s capable of achieving with her gifts. And we’ve both seen first-hand how stubborn she is. She won't be one to let you carry these burdens alone."
Shade howled laughing. "Oh, she is stubborn, damn is she ever! I think it is fate that I chose a mate that keeps me in line because she is so stubborn. But Madre had a lot of power as well, although it was never shown to the outside world, she kept Padre in line. He probably was never aware of just how much at the time. I miss her. Sometimes,
I wish she could be here to see the things I have now, to see how beautiful it is here. I think she would have loved it here, to have grandchildren to hold."
Shade sighed and stood up. "Come, let us walk back to the house. Kate should be done with her shower and I believe she has something in mind for me tonight. I just hope to hell it is not another damn driving lesson!"
56
Cory was nervous and excited. He’d driven to the Charlottesville Airport to pick up his mom in his new truck. She was arriving this afternoon. Marcello had gone with him to buy the truck. He picked out a red Ford F-150. While they were in town, Marcello directed him around Charlottesville, helping him get familiar with the area. Charlottesville was nothing like Florence, or San Francisco. He’d have no trouble finding his way around here, navigating the narrow streets of this small town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Heading to the airport, he used the trucks’ GPS system to guide him. He pulled into the parking lot and went directly to the terminal to wait for her. He was pleased to see the flight was on time. He spotted her as she entered looking around, confused, and nervous. He waved at her and her face lit up when she saw him.
Cory was anxious for his mom to see where he lived now, what he’d done with his skills and how he’d made something of his life. He’d been given a chance and he wanted her to meet the man that made this all possible for him. He’d always felt drawn to Shade, back when he used to come in the clubs in San Francisco. He was one of the few who’d ever shown him any kindness. Cory looked up to him, respected him and now that he’d given him this opportunity to change his life, Cory felt deep gratitude for him.
***
Rachael stepped into the terminal to see her son, looking healthier than she’d ever seen him. He’d gained weight, and his color was good. There was a gleam in his eyes she couldn’t remember ever seeing before. For so many years, Cory had been lost to her. She knew his life on the streets had been slowly killing him, and yet, her pleading with him was to no avail. She’d been cautiously happy when he’d called her, almost a year ago now, to tell her about the vampire who was giving him a home and a job.
When she’d discovered she was pregnant those long nineteen years ago, she’d gone back to the club in search of the man she’d spent several weeks with, but she never saw him there again. She had a difficult pregnancy, but feared seeking medical care, knowing she’d sought out the adventures and sexual exploits offered by the vamps in that club. When Cory was born, she wondered if he’d even survive. As he grew, it became clear to her he wasn’t entirely human, and not entirely vampire. When she went back to the club seeking advice, she was shunned by the vamps there and Cory even more so. He didn't fit in her world, and he didn't fit in theirs.
Once Cory moved to Europe, she’d heard from him several times while he lived in Florence, but now he was living back in the States, she’d get to see him again. Their bond had always been a strained one, him blaming her for his life, and rightly so. She walked toward him, dragging her luggage behind her, and stopped, holding out her arms to him, hoping with a mother's hope that he’d welcome her.
Cory saw his mom dragging the heavy piece of luggage through the crowd, she seemed older than her years and very frail. She had lived a hard life too and he hadn’t been of much help. He’d always had so much anger inside. Maybe now they could start over. He’d finally found a family of sorts, someplace he was accepted, and he was making money. As she held out her arms to him, he hesitated, but then scooped her up in a hug. Shade had shown him family was important, and she was really all he had. Hugging her quickly, he took her luggage in hand.
"Have a good flight?"
Rachael took his face in her hands, this beautiful boy with the delicate features. "I did. You’ve never looked better! Are you happy?"
"Yes, I’m happy. I’m doing well, make good money. I make custom leather clothing and I really like what I do. I want you to see where I live and meet the man who’s responsible for this. He’s given me a chance to make a better life. I’m accepted there, Mom. My truck is parked outside, home isn’t far. I hope you’ll be proud of me."
Rachael walked along beside her son as he carried her luggage. She could feel his sense of pride, something she believed he never felt before.
"Cory, I’m so happy for you. I tried so hard to find a place where you fit in. I can't even count the number of nights I laid awake, worrying about you. But look at you! This man, this master, he is respectful of you? He doesn’t take...advantage?"
Cory stopped and glared at her. "No, he doesn’t take advantage! He took me away from the hell I was living in, and gave me a chance to work, improve my life, learn, and grow. He’s amazing and honorable. He’s a great master. He pays me well for the work I do for him and his warriors. I was living in Florence, and now he has brought me here, to live at his home. I knew you wouldn’t understand."
"Cory! Please, I don't mean to upset you. I know how you lived on the streets. I couldn’t be happier that you’ve found a benefactor. I’m grateful someone in a position to make a difference in your life, was able to step in. I went to many in the vampire community after you were born, but I was turned away. I want to see where you live, where you work. I want to meet these people. I only hope they’ll be as accepting of me, as they clearly are of you. Nothing has made me happier than knowing you’ve found a home and found acceptance. Please, don't let our old wounds spoil this reunion."
Cory calmed down, trying hard not to let the patterns of their past intrude. "Let’s just go, maybe if you meet him and his wife, see where I live and what I do, it will help you understand everything is very respectable, and I have friends there."
Leading her out to his truck, he opened the door and helped her to step inside. Throwing her luggage in the back, he headed back to Bel Rosso.
Cory pointed out a few places of interest to her as they drove and talked. "The estate where I live is called Bel Rosso. That’s Italian for beautiful red. The master’s wife has long red hair and he named it after her. She’s very nice to us. There’s a building for staff quarters to house those that work for him and a barracks for the warriors in the camp. He lives in the main house. There are horses and a lot of fields and mountains, way off the main road."
"It sounds beautiful. I can't wait to see it. Did he loan you the truck to come pick me up?"
Cory drove away from Charlottesville and headed west to White Hall. "No, Mom, this truck is mine. It was a reward for all of my hard work. I earned it, fair and square. He’s very giving. He recognizes how far I’ve come, and how much I do for his coven and his warriors."
Rachael looked at him with surprise. "Yours? Cory, that’s wonderful! This truck is brand new. I’ve never owned a new car in my life. It sounds like you’ve made quite an impression."
Rachael reached across the console that separated their seats and brushed back his long, dark brown hair. Hair not quite as dark as the man who fathered him. He really bore little resemblance to that man. That vampire was tall and dark-skinned, with intense blue eyes that left her paralyzed. Cory was of average height for a mortal, his eyes brown like her own, and his frame was slight, his features delicate, almost feminine.
"I'm proud of you, Cory. You’ve come such a long way. It’s one thing to be given an opportunity but quite another to take advantage of it. Clearly, you’ve made the most of this opportunity, and made this master proud as well."
Cory tilted his head to the side, uncomfortable with her touching him, but he understood she cared about him. His anger had never allowed her to get too close to him. He’d always held her at bay. He knew he was the result of some affair she’d had with a vampire she met at one of the clubs. He knew she was abandoned by him, and he’d always been torn between wanting to meet the man who was his father and wishing him dead.
As they pulled into the long drive leading to Bel Rosso, he couldn’t wait for her to meet Shade and see what a master vampire was supposed to be like. "I respect a
nd admire him. I want to be like him. He notices me, is always encouraging me to do more and be more. Look, there’s the main house where he lives, further down this lane is where I live in the warrior camp. He’s a great vampire and warrior, but I’m too weak and small to be one. So, instead, I make the leathers they wear. We’ll go to the camp first and you can see my quarters and my shop."
Rachael's mouth was hanging open with shock, as he pulled into the long private drive that led to a beautiful Italian-style villa, visible from the private road. It was the kind of house you’d see in a high-end magazine like Architectural Digest. The grounds were breathtaking. The property covered acres of rolling green hills, with the mountain range on the horizon. As Cory took the fork in the driveway that led away from the house, she could see sections of the property included large vineyards, and another section was dedicated to stables, with fenced in fields for several magnificent horses that grazed in the pastures. This land looked like something out of a fairy-tale. He drove down the private drive toward a stone wall and two massive wooden doors. Two men, that Rachael clearly recognized to be vampire, smiled at him and opened the gates. Inside the compound was another house that looked even larger than the main house but styled in a very similar Italian villa design.
"Is this the camp, Cory? This looks like a giant house?"
"Yes, Mom. This is the warrior camp. The house is really a barracks where we all live and bunk down."
Cory pulled around to the side and parked. Walking around the vehicle, he opened the door for his mom and helped her down from the truck. The sun had gone down and the outside lights had begun to come on. There was noise coming from the barracks as the warriors were preparing to get out on the training field, so Cory decided to take his mom into the shop first and show her where he worked.
"Let’s go into my shop, I’ll show you some of my work and what I do here."
Rachael followed her son into the large building. She’d never encountered vampires in their world. As a teenager, she’d been into the Goth sub-culture, and used to seek them out in the underground clubs of San Francisco. But she knew of no mortal who ever mingled with them outside of the clubs. Mortals went to the clubs for the thrill of the sex and to be fed upon, and they were clearly seen as disposable. But she noticed the warm smiles Cory received from the warriors who called this camp home. They gave them both a warm welcome, even though they looked imposing enough to rip them both to shreds without breaking a sweat.