A Shade of Vampire 14: A Dawn of Strength (2 page)

I
was smiling
as Caleb and I left the penthouse and stepped into the elevator. Although Ben’s departure was weighing heavily on my chest, I couldn’t help but feel relieved at how smoothly Caleb’s reintroduction to my parents had gone. I just had to have faith in my father’s words—that my brother would find a way back to us, just as I had. Driving myself insane with worry wouldn’t bring Ben back. Ben was resourceful, and now he was a vampire, he would be incredibly strong. From what my parents had described, he sounded like he was a match for even my father’s strength.

As we began to descend in the elevator, I looked up to catch a glimpse of Caleb’s face. He was staring through the glass at the branches as we approached closer and closer to the ground.

I moved closer to him and reached up to touch his cheek. “Caleb,” I said.

There was warmth in his eyes as he lowered his gaze to me. “Yes, Rose?”

“Are you okay?”

My parents had given him some blood as we sat talking for hours, but so much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, he looked like he was still in a daze. I could only imagine what a shock to his system it was to be back here in The Shade. An island he’d never thought he’d be able to set foot on again, much less contemplate living here with me.

He smiled and pressed his lips against my forehead. “I couldn’t be better,” he whispered.

My heart soared as his smile broadened.

“So you… you really are happy to be here?” I asked, leading him out of the elevator as we reached the ground.

“I think I’d be happy anywhere you are, princess.”

I felt my face growing red again. Of course, I didn’t feel any differently about him.

We began to walk hand in hand through the woods. As we passed through the Residences, I pointed up at the trees, listing the names of the vampires who lived in each one of them. It wasn’t until we arrived at the Port that panic gripped me.

“The ogress! We forgot about Bella.”

Caleb’s eyes widened. So much had happened, we’d both totally forgotten that we’d left her wandering along the beach before we ran off to try to figure out how to deal with the dragon. For all I knew, she could have come across a group of humans. Bella was a man-eater, and although I hadn’t given her permission to eat anybody, I suspected she would be starving by now and might not be able to resist swiping a human or two for herself.

Caleb bent down and helped me swing myself onto his back. He began racing along the beach in the direction I’d told her to walk in.

“Arabella!” I began yelling at the top of my lungs.

Caleb ran for what felt like miles, until I was met with a sight in the distance that soothed my nerves a little. Two bulging figures sat on opposite sides of a fire. As we drew closer, I spotted Brett’s cave, and Caleb stopped in front of the bonfire and set me down on my feet. I found myself staring at Bella and Brett, holding two large wooden bowls that I recognized as Brett’s handiwork. There was a pot of brown stew between them.

I stared from Brett to Bella. I was glad at least that the two had come across each other. That said, I didn’t like the color of the stew sitting between them…

I moved closer to the pot and peered into it. “I hope there are no humans in there,” I said, looking sternly at the two of them.

Brett shook his head vigorously. He looked offended that I would ask such a question. “Of course not, Princess Rose,” he said. “You know I don’t eat humans.”

Bella looked up at me innocently. “I didn’t cook it, Miss Rose. So you’re gonna have to trust what he says.” She pointed a fat finger at Brett.

I looked back at Brett. “Okay, I believe you… So I see you two have introduced yourselves already.”

Both Brett and Bella looked up at me and frowned. Brett shook his head. “I don’t know who this girl is,” he mumbled, casting a sideways glance at Bella. “Was just having my dinner out here and she came up. Asked if she could have some. So I said okay.”

“Oh.” I fought to stifle a giggle at the confused look on Brett’s face as Bella took another long slurp of her—or rather,
his
—stew. “Well, then, I ought to introduce you. Brett, this is Arabella—or Bella, as she likes to be called. And Bella, this is Brett.”

Bella held out a hand to Brett. He looked at it cautiously before slowly reaching out and shaking it. They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds before they both dipped down to their bowls of stew again.

“Bella,” I said. “You must never, ever, harm a human—or any other resident, for that matter—while you’re here. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Even if someone walks right up to you, you leave him or her alone. If you do touch anyone, you’ll be kicked right off this island… and then who knows what could happen to you?”

She froze and looked frightened just at the thought. “I-I promise, Miss Rose,” she stammered.

“And you should stick with Brett. He’s the only other ogre on this island. Brett, will you help Bella find somewhere suitable to sleep?” I looked around at the numerous caves in this area of the beach.

He shot another weary look at her before mumbling, “Yeah, all right.”

“Good.” Heaving a sigh, I stepped away from the ogres and snaked an arm around Caleb’s waist. “I’ll leave the two of you to your meal. See you later…”

“Bye,” they said together.

I tore my eyes away from them. As Caleb and I continued on our way, I couldn’t help but experience a sense of satisfaction at seeing the two ogres together. I’d made a promise to myself a while ago that I would find a solution to Brett’s loneliness. Although Brett had made it clear that he wasn’t keen on “girls”, Bella seemed different than the other ogresses I’d come across. Of course, I still had no idea if they’d get along… Only time would tell.

I was about to suggest we turn around so I could finish showing Caleb the parts of the island nearest to the Residences when I realized we were so close to the lighthouse, I might as well show it to him while we were here. I climbed onto Caleb’s back and guided him to the rocks where the building was perched.

He set me down at the foot of it. I rarely went up to my parents’ special place, and going up there with Caleb felt wrong, but I wanted to show it to him all the same. It felt like one of the main landmarks of the island. “That up there is my parents’ special place.”

He raised a brow. “Special place?”

“Yeah…” It was an open secret what my parents did whenever they retreated up there, and one I would rather not talk about now with Caleb.
Caleb and I need to find our own special place on this island.

We moved on swiftly from there and, with me traveling on Caleb’s back, it didn’t take long to finish the tour of the island. It was early morning now, and there weren’t many people about. Almost everyone was sleeping. Caleb had already heard my story when I was telling my parents, but I had yet to hear what had happened to him while we were apart. So this was a good opportunity for him to tell me. My blood boiled as he described Annora’s deceit, and I had to remind myself that she’d had her comeuppance already to avoid riling myself up into too much of a rage.

Once we’d finished traveling around all the major points of the island, it was beginning to be a struggle to keep my eyes open. I hadn’t slept properly for days, and although the excitement of having Caleb here in my home was still coursing through me, I couldn’t resist what my body was screaming for much longer. I guessed that Caleb was exhausted too—he’d been through trauma just as I had.

“Let’s return to the penthouse,” I said, although I had no intention of sleeping there with Caleb tonight, or any other night. My parents’ sense of hearing was much too acute for me to feel comfortable sharing my bedroom with Caleb.

We reached the foot of our tree and ascended in the elevator. As we opened the front door, I was both surprised and thrilled to see Griffin sitting on the living room couch. He sprang up as soon as he laid eyes on me.

“Griff!” I leapt into his arms and held him tight.

He kissed my cheek as we drew away from each other. And it was then that I realized how cold his skin felt. I eyed him more closely.

“Oh my God. You’re a vampire!”

He was grinning from ear to ear. “Well spotted.”

“How… Why?”

“I persuaded my father to turn me. I guess I just felt that it was time. And honestly, with everything that’s been going on around the island, I feel more comfortable as a vampire than a human.”

His eyes rested on Caleb, and I expected to see some flicker of jealousy or pain behind them, as I had before when Caleb had visited the island briefly. But I didn’t. Griffin just nodded casually in his direction and said, “Hi.”

“Hi,” Caleb replied.

“How has it been?” I asked. “Adjusting to it and all?”

Griffin shrugged. “It hurt like hell at first. But my parents were surprised how quickly I was able to gain control of myself.”

“So you’re not about to suck my blood?” I teased.

“I mean, I don’t feel like I’m in danger of attacking you now…” Griffin furrowed his brows. “But damn, girl. Your blood smells good. Just don’t tell Becky I said that.”

“Becky?” She was one of my human friends on the island.

Griffin winked. “Turns out being a vampire has other perks too. Even for a freckly red-headed one. It’s been hard keeping girls away recently.”

I laughed. “So Becky’s your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

My heart soared for him and I hugged him again. “Griff, I am thrilled for you.”

“And I’m thrilled you’re back,” he said. “I won’t keep you long now though. You look tired. I’ll catch up with you another time, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

He smiled again and took his leave.

I caught Caleb’s hand and walked with him to the kitchen, where my parents were sitting and having a conversation.

“Mom. Dad. We’ve finished our tour for now. Caleb and I are going to get some rest.” I paused, gauging my parents’ reaction, then continued before the silence could become too uncomfortable. “My room feels a little too, uh, claustrophobic for the two of us.”

“Uh, Rose… before the two of you go running off, I’d like to have a word in private…” My mother’s voice trailed off as she looked from me to my father. He quickly took the cue and stood up. As he passed me, he planted a kiss on my head and gave me a half-serious, half-joking glare, before leaving the room.

Of course, if he really wanted to listen, it wouldn’t take much effort. He’d hear most of what we said even if he went to the other end of the apartment and we spoke in whispers. But I trusted him to occupy himself with something and give us privacy.

Caleb also stepped outside the front door. I watched him walk up to the end of the verandah and stare out at the dark sky.

I turned my focus back on my mom. Even though it was just us in the room, I still felt my cheeks beginning to burn.

“Just in case you were wondering,” I said, wincing with embarrassment at every word, “Caleb brought me back with my, uh…
virtue
intact. And I suspect it might stay that way for some time… He’s not your typical nineteen-year-old. He was born, like, over a hundred years ago.”

She smiled. “It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t wondering, but I wasn’t about to ask. I just wanted to give you the space to ask me about any questions you might have, about… starting a relationship with a vampire.”

“Oh… No. I can’t think of any questions,” I said, relieved that she wasn’t about to hit me with a barrage of questions herself. I also realized that it was the truth—I felt so at ease around Caleb. I never felt awkward or uncomfortable. Even though we hadn’t met all that long ago, it felt like I’d known him for ages.

She moved closer and, cupping my face in her hands, kissed my cheeks. She had tears in her eyes when she said, “Okay, Rose. I just felt the need to ask… and I want you to know I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about anything.”

“I know you’re here for me, Mom.” I hugged her tight.

“Where do you want to stay?” she asked.

“There’s at least one mountain cabin that’s empty, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll just pack my toiletry bag and some clothes, and Caleb… I guess he can borrow some of Ben’s clothes. They’ll probably fit.”

We embraced for another minute or so before she loosened her grip on me. She had a mischievous, almost bashful, look on her face. “You know… you and Caleb are better behaved than your father and I were.”

“Ugh, Mom.” I pulled away from her. “Too much information.”

She laughed as I left the room. I headed straight for my room where I packed up underwear, pajamas and a set of clean clothes for tomorrow into a duffle bag. I went into the bathroom next door and, rummaging in the closet beneath the sink, found two unopened toothbrushes. I stuffed them into my bag along with body wash and shampoo.

Caleb was waiting outside the bathroom door as I exited. I smiled up at him. “I’m just going to pack some clothes for you and we can leave.”

I headed next into my brother’s room a few doors away. My gut clenched as I swung the door open and looked around his messy room.

I made it halfway across the room toward his cupboard before I broke down. Falling to my knees, I choked up, unable to hold back the tears. I clutched his schoolbag against my chest, my whole body trembling.

Ben. Why did you have to leave? I haven’t seen you in so long…

Caleb’s arms slipped around my waist as he crouched down on the floor next to me. I held my brother’s bag closer to me, breathing in deeply, taking in his scent.

“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I just miss him so much.”

“Hey,” Caleb said softly. “It’s okay.”

I leaned back against his chest and buried my head against his neck, closing my eyes and hugging Ben’s satchel like it was a teddy bear. Only once my breathing became steadier did I open my eyes again. Caleb’s warm eyes were looking down at me as he cradled me in his arms. He pressed his lips against my forehead.

I cleared my throat and sat up. “We should go,” I said, drawing in a deep breath. “It’s been a long night.”

I wiped my tears against the back of my sleeve as Caleb and I stood up. I walked with him to Ben’s wardrobe and opened the doors.