Authors: Shirlee Lewis
“Do you still need to talk to father?”
“I’ll talk to him when he’s back from the blood bank. It can wait.”
“The limo is waiting for me. I’ll be back later than usual. Father and I have a ton of things to go over before we leave in the morning.”
“Hurry back to me,” I said as we walked to the front of the house.
Tony kissed me before he got into the limo. I watched the car drive down the driveway before I went to find Jason. Tony didn’t give any clue he suspected I didn’t want to talk to his father. If he did, he hid it well.
When the limo was out of sight, I went to find Jason.
Jason was in the first floor kitchen preparing lunch when I walked in. He glanced up at me and went back to making salads. I took a seat at the bar when Jennifer walked in.
“Hello dear, it’s a nice day out. Shall we have lunch on the patio?”
“The patio is fine.”
Jason glanced up at me.
“Shall we go and wait for Jason to bring our lunch,” Jennifer stated standing in the double doors leading to the terrace.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” I got off the bar stool and went to the cupboard. Grabbing a glass, I went to the refrigerator to pour a glass of tea.
“Don’t be too long,” Jennifer said and walked to the far end of the terrace.
I walked over to stand beside Jason. He put the salads on a tray then turned to me.
“What did you find in the basement?” he asked.
This shocked me when he spoke. I couldn’t remember what it was I needed to talk to him about. Jason was always so quiet.
“What did you find?” he asked again.
“This has to be kept secret.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“I’ll be in my room after lunch. I’ll let you know then. Jennifer is waiting.”
Jason nodded.
I went out to the patio to join Jennifer.
Chapter Six
Up in my bedroom I waited for Jason. Pacing back and forth wasn’t enough, so I went into the living room waited and watched the elevator. The arrow never moved to say it was heading to the first floor. Worried, Jason couldn’t get away, I started down the hall to the stairwell leading to the first floor kitchen. Before I got to the stairs, I heard the bell ring on the elevator. The doors opened and Jason stepped into the living room.
“Jason,” I said, heading back toward the living room.
“Ma’am,” Jason said in a deep voice.
I motioned to the high back chair for Jason to have a seat.
“Please have a seat,” I motioned with my hand extended.
“What’s this secret in the basement?” Jason asked, looking at me.
Jason apparently didn’t believe in small talk. He was straight to the point. No beating around the bush with him.
“Have you ever noticed a barred door along the east wall?”
“No, I only go to the west end to put things away or bring things up for Mrs. Mureaux.”
“Before you say anything, let me explain what I found.”
Jason nodded once. His eyes never left my face as I told him about the secret.
“Earlier today, I went into the room with the barred door. I found a girl. From what I understand, Charlotte took her there about four years ago and apparently turned her into a vampire.”
“A girl in the basement,” Jason said, shocked. “Charlotte? She’s a vampire?”
“Yes, she’s fifteen years old, but she thinks she’s nineteen—I want to know is there any way you would take her under your wing and care for her.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he said. “That’s something you need to discuss with Mrs. Mureaux. She could help her.”
I just knew Jason would be the best one to help Abigail. Maybe, I was asking too much from him, but I pressed on in hopes he would change his mind.
“I thought about Jennifer, but I don’t know how well she’ll react to humans.”
“You seem to be fine after being down there with her.”
“True, but I only talked to her for a few minutes. I didn’t tell her I was human.” I paused. “Jason, I have a feeling you will be the best for her. Persuade her to come out of the room and care for her until she is comfortable being around Victor and Jennifer.”
“Well, I guess I could try, but where will she stay?”
“Hum, I hadn’t thought of that.” I looked around the room and it hit me. “She could stay in one of the rooms on the third floor. Tony and I ar
e leaving in the morning and no one comes up here.”
“Is she still in the room?”
“Would you like to meet her?”
“How are we going to get around Mrs. Mureaux?”
“Follow me.”
Jason and I got up and he followed me to the stairwell. Halfway down the stairs, I stopped and felt for the door knob. I felt at ease going to the basement without the candle, maybe, because I knew what was down there and it didn’t bother me anymore. Opening the door, we descended the stairs to the bottom. I turned on the light and pointed to right.
“Wait here and let me talk to her. I’ll come get you when I’ve told her about you.”
“Okay.”
I went into the dark room.
“Abigail, it’s Jess,” I said opening the door.
“You did come back,” she said surprised.
“I told you I would. I brought someone to meet you that’s going to help.”
“Is it that woman who brought me here?”
“No, it isn’t her. It’s a man that understands what you are and will help you to live outside this room. I know you will like him.”
“Where is he? He didn’t come in with you.”
“He’s right outside the door waiting.”
“I don’t know about this
, Jess. You’re the only one I’ve talk to for so long. Will he hurt me?” Abigail asked.
“I promise you, Abigail, he won’t hurt you.
“Okay, I guess. You will stay with me while he’s here?”
“I won’t leave you alone until you are comfortable. Besides, he’s like me and can’t see you in the dark. May I turn on the light?”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I’ve been used to the dark for so long, I don’t know if my eyes will work in the light.”
This girl had absolutely no idea what
all
she was capable of. Jason was going to have his hands full teaching her. In a way, I regretted having to go back to Oregon in the morning since I discovered Abigail because it would be
so
interesting to see how she did cope and all the powers she did possess as a vampire. And then it hit me. Maybe, we could stay longer. But then again the blood bank’s grand opening was Monday and we did need to get back to Oregon.
“We’ll leave the light off. I’ll be right back.”
I left the room. Jason was standing by the stairs when I went to tell him Abigail was waiting.
“She’s waiting for you, but you’ll be able to see a small white light.”
Jason nodded and walked to the door.
Before I opened the door I asked, “Ready?”
Jason nodded and in the room we went.
I didn’t see Abigail when we entered the room.
“Abigail?”
“Yes.”
“He’s in the room with me. His name is Jason.”
Abigail slowly turned toward us. A small white light radiated in the darkness.
“
It’s okay, Abigail. Jason wants to help you.”
“Abigail,” Jason said.
She didn’t say anything.
“Jess is right. I do want to help. Will you let me?”
Abigail was still quiet. The small white light disappeared.
“Jess explained your situation. If you will let me, I will stay with you and help you cope with any and everything you need. You won’t have to stay here. There’s a place for you upstairs.”
Finally Abigail spoke, “But how will I eat?”
I forgot to inform Jason of her diet.
“Abigail,” I said softly. “Jason, will provide your food or you both can find food together.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?” Jason asked.
“I’m sorry Jason; I forgot to mention her food source. But I’m sure you will help her with something other than what she’s been eating down here.”
“And that would be?” Jason asked.
“Rats,” Abigail softly said.
Jason didn’t say anything for a long minute. Finally he said, “Abigail, I will help with food.”
I wanted to leave so Jason and Abigail could talk, get to know each other and begin to trust him. “How about I leave for a bit and let you two...”
“Don’t go,” Abigail interrupted.
“Abigail, you need to talk with Jason, okay.”
“Jess, if she’s not comfortable...”
“The only way for her to be comfortable is to talk with you.”
“Jess,” Abigail said. “Will you please stay until I know for sure Jason won’t hurt me?”
“Where’s the crate?” I asked.
Abigail pushed the crate to me. This time it stopped at my shoe. I adjusted it and sat down.
“We don’t want Tony coming down here to find us,” I muttered.
“No
, we don’t,” Jason added.
“Who’s Tony?” Abigail asked.
“He’s my soon-to-be husband. We don’t want him down here, but I’ll stay.”
“Thank you,” was all Abigail said.
Jason sat on the cold, hard floor with his legs crossed beside me.
“Abigail, I promise I will not hurt you. I have lived here my whole life and there are no better people in this world than Mr. and Mrs. Mureaux. Once you are comfortable with me, then I will introduce you to Mrs. Mureaux.”
“I know who she is,” Abigail said.
“Mrs. Mureaux is a very loving and understanding lady. Once you get to know her, you will love her. But until then, I need for you to trust me. So, what I’m going to do is give you freedom of the entire basement. No one comes down here except me, so you can be comfortable getting used to freedom here before I move you upstairs.”
As Jason talked to Abigail, I had a thought about her diet.
Jason could introduce her to human blood. The same way he consumes it and as Tony.
“Excuse me Jason. May I say something about her diet?”
“Sure, what did you have in mind?”
“You and Tony are used to blood like Abigail. Do you think it would be a good idea to introduce her to the way you drink it?”
“What do you mean
, Jess?” Abigail asked.
“Tony and Jason drink blood, but not animal blood. They drink from a flask, human blood.”
“Oh!” Abigail paused. “Are they vampires too?”
“Yes and no,” I said. “They are half-vampire and half-human, but they drink blood like you.”
“Oh!” Abigail said again. “Are you a vampire, Jessica?”
“No, I’m not. I’m human.”
Jason cleared his throat.
“That’s why you said Jason would be the best to help me?”
“That’s right, Abigail. Jenn….Mrs. Mureaux will be very understanding like Jason said. She is human also.”
“Mr. Mureaux?” Abigail asked.
“He’s a vampire,” Jason added. “He owns a blood bank and provides me my blood.”