Christien is the first one to ask a question. “How are you really,
ma chatte
? This is a very big deal for you and it cannot be less than the miraculous event that it is. You should have said something immediately, but I understand why you did not. Is there anything else you would like to tell us?”
“As a vampire, you have the ability to do what many humans have always taken for granted. Roman told me that you are capable of creating a life. For that gift alone, many vampires would give everything they have as a vampire. The second gift a vampire loves is power. You have the ability to give that to any vampire forever. A vampire could rule the world with you by their side. That is why the Vampire Council has always killed angels once identified. Another gift you have is growing up a day walking vampire. You have never been restricted to the darkness. You never need to become vulnerable while in a coma-like sleep like other vampires must when they are fledglings.” He continues by changing the topic to Roman. “As an angel, you have most of the capabilities Weres have, with none of the restrictions, except color. No pain, multiple animals, no stress for an unborn child and no moon restrictions.” He finishes on a loud exhale as if admitting it is a hardship.
“This is not my fault. I did not ask for any of this. I want to be normal. My current life is a very lonely one. At least you both had parents, siblings, friends, or other loved ones in your lives. Someone cared. I’ve been a mixed breed all my life and my aunt hated me for it. If she could have killed me, I have no doubt in my mind that she would have.” I begin to cry.
“Shh,
ma chatte.
I did not mean to hurt your feelings.” Christien hands me a handkerchief out of his pocket to dry my tears.
I look down at the cloth in my hand and take a deep breath to calm my emotions. “I’ve been looking over my shoulder my entire life, including the day I was born. I have to hide who I really am from everyone, even the humans. No family, friends, or lovers; no one around that I can truly trust. I never know if the next vampire I run into will kill me by draining me dry. The only thing I am good at is taking lives. Trust me, I had a lot of practice with that being on my own at seventeen when the blood thirst rose out of control for the first time. I didn’t know what else to do. Unlike you, I never had anyone to teach me how to be a vampire. It wasn’t until I had a vampire enforcer sent after me to stop me from feeding that I found out that there are places all over the major cities for vampires to feed. All those people I killed unnecessarily…” I shake my head. “He took me to his master. Until then, I had never encountered another vampire before that I knew of. This lone vampire took pity on me. He taught me simple things about vampires and in exchange, used me to satisfy his boredom. Roman may think he knows me, but I don’t think he truly understands me. I didn’t ask to be a shape-shifting angel or vampire and I’m not going to sit here and be ashamed of who I am either!” I jump up, swipe the angry tears out of my eyes and walk out the bedroom door.
I walk down the hallway to Roman’s room and go inside without knocking. Roman is sitting on the side of the bed, sharpening a hunting knife. I put my hands on my hips and yell at him. “Okay, what the hell was that about?”
“Forget about it okay?” He says without looking up at me.
“I don’t have time to deal with one of your pity parties Roman. Hassan, Demetri, and Jacques are out there and we need to kill them before they kill me.” I soften my tone a little. “I didn’t ask to be a shape-shifting angel or vampire Roman. It is just who I am. I am sorry that the change hurts you so badly. I can’t change who I am and I need you to be there for me.” I sit down beside him. “You are my best friend and I don’t want you to resent me for who I am. I may be a shape-shifting angel, but I’ll never be the kick-ass werewolf you are.”
He looks up at me, smiling. “Finally you admit that I’m better than you.”
“Did you slip with that knife, cut yourself, lose a lot of blood, and become delirious? I
am
better than you.”
He laughs, shaking off his dark mood. “Let’s go get Christien, find these vampires and kick some ass.”
Chapter 31
Christien, Roman, and I are in the sitting room next to Christien’s bedroom making plans on how to find and kill Hassan and his vampires.
Roman looks over at Christien. “How many vampires do you think Hassan has?”
“I could not be certain. I have not been keeping track of his get for some years now. I am almost certain that Demetri and Jacques are his oldest, excluding myself, so any new vampires should be no more than 50 years undead and easily dispatched.” Christien replies.
“I can ask around for some assistance. There are always Weres spoiling for a good fight.” Roman offers.
“That may not be a bad idea. My own get will be coming to assist us in case he has more vampires than I imagine he does.” Christien replies.
“How many vampires do you have in your get?” I ask Christien.
“I have around 50 vampires here. That is not a lot by vampire standards, but the majority I have are old enough that they are not limited by sunlight.”
“Is there any way that I can help? Maybe if everyone from your line took a sip from me, they’d all have enough power.” I say half-joking.
Puzzled at my suggestion, Christien replies. “What do you mean? Only angel blood contains the property to give a vampire more power.”
“What if my blood is bagged?” An idea begins to form in my mind.
“That may work, but I am not going to harvest your blood. Plus, it would not be enough for 50 vampires.” Christien replies, dismissing my train of thought.
Roman is watching me closely. “I know that look Jess. You’ve just thought of something.”
I smile. “I think I have a solution.”
I explain that Tyler and I have been harvesting my blood for a while, but I am vague about how much blood I have stored, only saying that I have enough to execute my plan. I inform them of the unique properties of my blood and all of its capabilities, according to my mother. Knowing that my blood does not spoil, cool or change properties outside of my body, I explain that I have begun storing it away until I could find a way to sell it on the Black Market to cure diseases.
When I finish explaining everything to them and reassure them that I have enough bags stored for all Christien’s vampires, Christien jumps from his seat and roars.
“Have you lost all sense of self-preservation? What were you thinking storing your blood? Do you understand how dangerous it is to have your blood just lying around for a vampire to take?” Christien scolds me animatedly.
I cross my arms stubbornly. “Look, no one knows anything about it, except Tyler because he’s been drawing my blood. Tyler and I could not figure out how to get it on to the Black Market anonymously, so for now, I just store it until we do. I can’t dispose of it like normal blood. What else am I supposed to do with it? It’s in a safe and secure place that no one knows about except me. Eventually we will find a way to sell it and make billions. Rich people will pay obscene amounts of money for cure-all diseases.”
Christien takes a few steps around the room to cool his temper while trying to get me to understand his point. “Tyler knows about your blood. If Demetri, Jacques, or Hassan search his mind and find this out, they will stop at nothing to get your blood. Where is your friend Tyler now?”
“Do you think he’s really in danger?” I ask nervously. “He doesn’t know where I keep it. He only knows that I do.”
Ignoring my question, Christien repeats his question more directly. “Do you know where Tyler is right now? Roman and I will go pick him up and bring him back here for his safety. Regardless, if he is in danger or not, he is human and knows about you. That makes him a liability.”
Wringing my hands nervously, my worry for Tyler skyrockets. “He is probably at work right now. He works at the American Heart Blood Bank, downtown. I am going with you. I put him in danger. I should be the one responsible for keeping him safe.”
“You are the one they are after. If they find out about the blood from reading his mind, they will need you to get it for them. It would be reckless and unwise for you to go out until we find out where Hassan and his vampires are hiding.” Christien pulls me into his arms and places several firm kisses on my mouth. He pulls back from me, holding my head between his hands and pleads with me using his eyes and words. “Please wait here Jessica. We will return shortly with your friend. Then we will talk about finding Hassan when your friend is safe under our protection.”
I concede to Christien’s request to remain behind. After a short discussion, Roman suggests that I call Tyler to inform him that he’s in danger. Using Roman’s cell phone, I call Tyler and inform him that Christien and Roman are on their way to pick him up. Once he is here and safe, I will explain everything to him in further detail.
Chapter 32
Roman and Christien arrive at the blood bank in less than a half hour. They drive around to the back entrance as I suggest and park in the alley. When they open the car doors, they pause. Blood is thick in the air. The night is devoid of noise so they walk slowly to the back door where Tyler agreed to meet them. They are scanning the immediate area, including the sky and on top of buildings as they approach the door. Just before they get to the door, they hear a small moan coming from behind the dumpster on the right side of the alley. They exchange knowing glances. Hoping the sound is an inebriated transient moaning in their sleep, they approach the sound cautiously, keeping their senses on high alert. The scent of blood gets stronger as they approach the crumpled figure lying in the midst of black trash bags and cardboard boxes. As they suspect, Tyler is lying behind the dumpster.
They carefully move his body to the middle of the alley in the beams of the headlights from the car so they can view his injuries in the light. Tyler has cuts, bruises, and vampire bites all over his body. He has been bitten a multitude of times, but not drained. The vampires that did this must have already fed earlier that evening or they could have drained him. Perhaps they wanted to leave him barely alive as a warning or message of some kind.
They recheck the surrounding area and do not find any vampires. Unfortunately, there is no way to be certain exactly how long ago the vampires attacked so they return to Tyler in the middle of the alley to see what they can do for him.
Tyler coughs, spitting up blood. His heartbeat is slowing. A small pool of blood is gathering under his body from the countless wounds he has received.
“It is now or not at all. I cannot make this decision because I do not know him.” Christien tells Roman, knowing Roman will understand what he is asking.
Roman nods. “Do it.”
Christien cradles Tyler in his lap and pierces the exposed vein in his neck with his fangs.
Christien listens to the slowing beats of Tyler’s heart while he feeds. He waits until Tyler’s heart starts to stutter before accepting the knife Roman is offering him.
Christien slices a deep wound on his wrist, keeping the silver knife in the cut to keep it from closing. He raises his wrist over Tyler’s mouth and unleashes the power that makes him a master vampire.
Cool energy flows outward from Christien like static electricity, causing the air around them to thicken with power. Roman holds Tyler’s mouth open as Christien moves his wrist over Tyler’s mouth so blood falls into it. Seconds later, Tyler’s body convulses and he swallows the blood in his mouth. Keeping his wrist against Tyler’s mouth, Christien pushes his power into Tyler’s body, searching for the connection all master vampires have with every vampire they make. He finds the connection and stops Tyler’s convulsions. Tyler’s body settles enough to swallow more of Christien’s blood.
Christien begins to chant in a ritualistic tone. “I drank your blood as you now drink mine. My blood is now your blood. With my blood in you, I become your master, your sire. With your blood in me, you become my fledgling, my vampire. You are now mine. You are mine to protect, mine to guide, and mine to command. Taking my blood, you give me your oath of loyalty. You give me your oath to protect me and mine, your oath to serve me and mine, and your oath to die for me and mine.”