Darkest Whispers (Eternal Shadows Book 2)

by Kate Martin

  I drew my knees up on the stonewall and set my chin on them. I really hated being a vampire sometimes.

  Other times it proved useful. Off to my left, trashcans clattered and tumbled, accented with a high-pitched yelp and a string of colorful curse words that would've made the General blush, or at least pause. The night air carried no breeze, but the unfamiliar scent of a lightning storm and clean laundry, accompanied by wet dog, reached my nose as easily as if the source had been right next to me. Vampire, not human.

  I considered going home, running at top-speed to Rhys and never going out on my own again. But whoever this was, they weren’t exactly stealthy with all the crashing and cursing. And no phantom chill ran up and down my neck. Amazing how reliant I was becoming on that strange sixth sense, but so far it had served me well. No point in running away like a scared little kid if I wasn’t even scared.

  So I stayed exactly where I was. Sara’s dark window didn’t change.

  The new scent grew closer, and I counted the footsteps as they came towards me. I hoped the stranger would just move along, take his panting dog, and be on his way.

  No such luck. The footsteps stopped just behind me. The silence lingered for some time, grating on my nerves. I chewed my thumbnail, waiting either for some ill-attempted greeting, question, or threat, but nothing came. When I had counted the number of bricks lining the front of Sara’s house for a second time, my patience snapped.

  “What do you want?” Though I wanted to scream, I kept my voice low enough not to wake the entire street. My jaw and teeth ached from clenching in frustration. I forced myself to stop.

  “What are we looking at?” The voice was young, male. Inquisitive in an innocent, yet needling, way.

  “We aren’t looking at anything,” I said, reaching down to touch the dagger strapped to my thigh. I didn’t go anywhere without it these days. I took a deep breath when my fingers touched the leather grip, then spun around as I let the breath out.

  The vampire was of average height, and as I had thought from the sound of his voice, physically young. He couldn’t possibly have been much older than I was when he'd been turned. His clothes were worn-in but had the look of being bought that way. His jeans were ripped, and the T-shirt beneath the weathered leather jacket was faded. I began to get a feeling about this guy, and it wasn’t my usual chill. “Who are you?”

  He grinned, white teeth flashing in the dark night. “Solo.” He said it with so much pride that it dripped from each syllable.

  “Solo?”

  “Yup.”

  “Not much of a name.”

  The grin slipped away in favor of his forehead pulling down in confusion and probably insult. “Why? I’m my own man. My own master. I take care of myself. Solo.”

  “Uh huh.” My intuition was shaping up rather nicely. Good to know I could predict more than just doom. Stupidity was also within my realm of expertise. Aurelia would be so pleased. I dropped my feet from the ledge. “So who’s that?” I gestured to the scruffy-looking mutt sitting patiently at his feet. “Duo?”

  Solo snorted. “No way. That’s Buddy.”

  “How thoroughly unimaginative of you.”

  “No, Duo would have been unimaginative.”

  I needed to stop playing along. “What do you want? I was in the middle of something.”

  “Actually, I wanted to know what was so interesting about that house.” He scratched behind the dog’s ear.

  “None of your business.”

  “Wow, testy.”

  “Look, I’m really not up for this right now, so why don’t you just go away?”

  Heaving a sigh, he ran a hand through his unkempt hair. “Buddy and I were just looking for some company.”

  I spun around again, putting my back to him. Probably not the best idea I’d ever had, but that thought didn’t kick in until I had already started moving, and at that point, I had to look committed. “Yeah, well, I’m not in the mood for company, so don’t—I said don’t!” A moment too late. He plunked down on the wall next to me, still smirking like a kid about to get sent to the principal’s office. Buddy hopped up beside him, tongue lolling out in a sort of grin that matched his vampire owner.

  Solo took a moment to get comfortable, bouncing around on the stone. “So, let’s start over.” He held out his hand. “I’m Solo.”

  Annoyed, I figured maybe if I played along he would think I was boring and leave. I took the offered hand and gave it a shake that would have made Cade proud. Solo winced at the pressure. “Kassandra.”

  “Like the one from Troy?”

  If one more person brought that up I was going to make it my eternal goal to hunt down every record of the Trojan War and destroy it. Would the wrath of the historical community be worth it? Probably. They would all die eventually anyway, then I would be left in peace. Yeah. I liked that idea. “No. I’m the original.”

  Solo laughed. “Good for you. So, what’s fun to do around here? Other than sit and stare at houses?”

  Oh, for crying out loud. “It’s my friend’s house,” I snapped.

  “Oh.” He drummed his fingers on the stone wall for a few seconds. “Does she know you stalk her?”

  “I am not stalking her!”

  “What would you like to call it then?”

  “I am waiting for the chance to talk to her.”

  “The whole house smells human, and it’s barely midnight. You have a long wait.”

  “Thank you for that kind demonstration of your clearly impressive intellect.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “What will it take to make you go away?”

  “Ah, my favorite question.” He leaned back, hands behind his head as if there were something to recline against. “Well, it has been a while since I’ve met a girl as pretty as you. You could agree to go on a date with me. Then I would leave you alone for the rest of the night.”

  “But I would just have to see you again later.”

  “You can pick the place and the fun. That should make it bearable, right? Besides, after ten minutes you’re just going to fall in love with me anyway.” He looked at me, brown bangs falling into his eyes.

  I snorted so hard it hurt. “Not likely.”

  “Why not?” He looked completely unrepentant. No need to spare feelings here.

  “Other than the fact that you’re obnoxious?”

  “Yeah, other than that.”

  “I’ve already spent ten minutes with you and I can’t even say I like you. And furthermore, I have a boyfriend.”

  “Well, damn.” He sat up again. “That sucks.”

  “Not really. He’s handsome, intelligent, and charming. None of which you can boast.”

  “I think I’m charming.”

  “I think that’s the problem.”

  “I’m worldly, too. Travel a lot. Want to hear about where I’ve been?”

  “Can’t say that I do.” In truth, I was a little curious. Maybe. But not enough to sit and listen to him. I would just ask Rhys to take me somewhere later. He would be up for that. A vacation was what both of us needed.

  Solo went blissfully quiet for a moment, but it didn’t last long. Apparently he had only been thinking. “Let me tell you about Rome. I first went there in 1994. I had put it off because—”

  Maybe I could kill him and get away with it. “How old are you?” The younger, the better my chances. He couldn’t possibly be ancient and still so immature.

  That stopped him short. “How old?” That stupid grin returned. “A grand one hundred and forty. Yesterday.”

  So glad I asked. “Happy Birthday.” I made sure it sounded more like, “Go stake yourself.”

  “Bet your boyfriend can’t boast that many.”

  Oh, this would be fun. The breeze had shifted, and the scent that washed over me was heaven. “Actually, he's over five hundred, and standing right behind you.”

  Solo went completely blank-faced. Buddy’s ears perked, and his nose twitched. They both sniffed the a
ir at the same time. The mutt sprang off the stone wall, padded feet pacing back and forth as he looked off into the distance. Solo grumbled and cursed briefly, then slumped forward, arms slack between his legs as he looked at me. “Good one, Kassandra. Very smooth.” What the hell did that mean? Turning so slowly he could have been in a scene in a very melodramatic movie, he swung his legs around and looked exactly where Buddy’s nose pointed. “Hey, Rhys.”

  “Hello, Solo.”

  Rhys stepped out of the shadows—very cliché—hands casually stuffed in his jean pockets. I smiled instantly. Couldn’t help it. Of course, my brain couldn’t stop shuffling through all known facts, trying to determine why the perpetually annoying stranger and my handsome, ancient boyfriend knew one another. It was like someone had told me two plus two equaled five. I couldn’t make it add up.

  The streetlights cast shadows over Rhys’s face, and with Solo’s back to the light his face was entirely obscured. The artificial light stretched out between them, almost daring one of them to make a move. Buddy’s low growl rumbled against the quiet of the night. I couldn’t help but think of all those vampire movies again. This would be the part where the old vampire spoke in low tones, schooling the younger in the proper protocols of the night world. It would end either with the older vanishing in plain sight, or in violence. The movies were always wrong. I had already figured that out. But if the movies and reality were nothing alike, then why did my life keep reminding me of them?

  Solo fidgeted, then cleared his throat. “Your, ah . . . Your brother ain’t with ya, is he?”

  “No.” The movement was so quick, so fluid, it was as if it hadn’t happened. But suddenly Rhys’s cell phone was in his hand. “But I could call him for you,” he said, thumb poised over the screen.

  “No, no. That’s okay.” Solo hopped off the wall. “We’ll, ah, we’ll just be going now. Come on, Buddy.” The clap of his hand against his thigh had the dog trotting along as his heels.

  Again Rhys moved so quickly I missed the action. Solo stopped short when Rhys appeared, blocking his path. “What brings you here, Solo?”

  Buddy growled again, the deep undertone accenting Solo’s searching, “uh.” “Just passing through. Trust me, if I'd known you were all in town, I wouldn’t have come.”

  “You must be sleeping under a rock if you didn’t know this is our current home.”

  “I heard you were all hiding away at the General’s private residence.”

  “We came back.”

  “I can see that. So, I’m leaving.” He stepped around, mutt at his side. Rhys let him.

  “Be careful who you ally yourself with,” Rhys said, “as well as who you don’t. We’re at war. Sides need to be chosen. Strays are under careful watch.”

  Solo held his arms up in surrender, but didn’t bother to turn around. “Hey, I’m not looking for any trouble. I’m neutral. You won’t see me again.” He dropped one arm, and waved the other. “See ya around, Kassandra.”

  I didn’t say goodbye, just watched until he was out of sight, smell, and most likely earshot, then gave Rhys my full attention. “What the hell was that about?”

  “Which part? I could ask you the same.”

  “I was just sitting here when he showed up. I told him to go away, but he wouldn’t listen. Your turn.”

  “I was coming to check on you when I picked up his scent.”

  I waited, but he didn’t offer any more. “This doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth, Rhys. You know him. He knows you. You called him a stray. Elaborate.”

  Rhys sighed. “I met him briefly about seventy years ago, when he killed his sire.”

  “I thought that wasn’t a crime.”

  “It’s not. But he was barely thirty years old at the time. Killing a sire while still so young is almost unheard of. The action put him on the Council’s Watch List. He could grow to be very strong one day.”

  “And that’s a problem?”

  “For a stray, yes.”

  I gestured in a reeling motion. “And that means?”

  “A stray is a vampire so far down the line of succession that generation cannot be determined. If he ever decided to act upon the power he will most likely have, he would have no basis for starting a clan, no pedigree, so to speak. He could start one, but it would be illegitimate, unrespected. Bloodlines are important to most of the older and more powerful vampires. They do not like to deal with those whom they deem unworthy.”

  “Wow. Talk about stuck-up.”

  “It is simply the way things are.”

  “And why is he so afraid of Cade?”

  Rhys cocked his head at me. “You have met Cade before, haven’t you?”

  “True. He’s a big bad scary vampire, yes, but still.”

  Rhys turned on his heel and began walking towards home. “Cade has certain responsibilities, and a reputation that goes with them.”

  “Okay, new rule,” I said, skittering after him, accepting that I was apparently finished not-stalking Sara. “Answer or don’t answer. Cryptic vampire-speak no longer counts.”

  “Then you are going to have a lot of unanswered questions.”

  “I have come to peace with this.” I slipped my hand into his as we walked. “So, next question. Why did you come to get me?”

  “You are needed at home.”

  “Home? Why?” No one ever needed me at home. Cade was needed. Rhys was needed. Kassandra was . . . there.

  “Julius has arrived, and he has asked to see everyone.”

  Finally. Maybe now I could get some real answers. The General was never one for cryptic. Straight, blunt facts were his game. Even when hard to hear.

  The General’s booming laughter filled the house. Even after a summer of living with him, I still found that sound hard to reconcile with his image, with what he represented. One of the oldest living vampires, someone who had seen nearly the whole of history—and he laughed like Santa Claus.

  Strange though it was, it always made me smile.

  We found him in the study, occupying the entirety of the largest arm chair, Millie and Madge perched on each of his knees, laughing right along with him. He had a thickly muscled arm wrapped around each of them, making the two former flappers look even more petite than usual. The Twins were a delight for him—always had been. More than once I had encountered similar scenes, but I always felt on the outside of it all. I wondered if there would ever come a time when I would feel comfortable enough to call him Julius like the rest of the family did.

  As if sensing my discomfort, Rhys gave my hand a small squeeze. I smiled at him, thankful. The day would come, his gesture seemed to say, and I believed him.

  “Kassandra.” Aurelia glided towards us, ever the Roman goddess. I hadn’t seen her since last night's battle, and so the long gash along her perfectly sculpted cheek shocked me. The healing had begun, but an ugly red line still remained, bisecting her upper and lower cheek. I couldn't imagine what kind of wound took so long to heal. No, maybe I could. I shivered. “I would like to speak to you once we are through here," she said. "I have something I would like you to try. Rhys tells me your memories mostly still return as dreams.”

  Traitor. “Ah, yeah. Sure thing.”

  Once she had glided away, I glared at Rhys, elbowing him in the side. He just shrugged and smiled guiltily.

  “Kassandra!” This time my name was said as an exuberant exclamation, rather than the shadowy beckoning Aurelia always made it. The General plucked Millie and Madge from his lap, setting them both back in his chair once he had stood. Then he came towards me. “There you are. You look more grown up every time I see you.”

  That was impossible. My growth had been arrested, on his orders. I would forever be eighteen. Never a grown up.

  “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” the General continued. “There is still growth to be had in this life. You’ll understand one day. Where do you think this grey came from?” He brushed the hair at his temples with his fingers.

  Guess I
sucked at keeping my face neutral. “Raising immature baby vampires like me?” I ventured a guess.

  His laughter filled the room once more. Score one point for me? The General clapped a hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “She’s quick, Rhys. Very quick.”

  “Sometimes too quick,” Rhys said.

  Something passed between them. A silent moment that seemed filled with five hundred years of secrets—or just one. One secret large enough to make the mirth drain from the General’s eyes.

  “And you are sometimes too serious, my boy,” the General said, shaking his head. “But, speaking of serious, we have things to discuss.”

  Playtime apparently over, I took a moment to really look over the room. “Cade isn’t here.” In fact, his scent was missing from the house altogether. However, Isaac stood at the far corner of the room, exchanging fleeting glances with Madge.

  “Cade is taking care of something for me,” the General said. Folding his arms behind his back, he went to a nearby table covered in numerous papers held down by knives and small boxes. “I know you all have things of your own to get to, but in light of last night’s events, I felt it important to make one thing known.”

  Millie and Madge went still in the armchair they now shared. Both had cleaned up, but now, with the battle as the subject of the discussion, I could see the still healing marks on both of them. Madge’s lip had swelled, and when Millie tucked her hair behind her ear I saw what looked like fang marks along her jaw. It gave me a very human chill. One that reminded me that my new immortal family was not really indestructible. Rhys was not indestructible. Holding his hand, I could feel the many raised scars along his palm and fingers. We healed, sometimes perfectly, sometimes not. Centuries added up.