Katrina, The Beginning (14 page)

“You’ve done this for me
before, haven’t you?” I said with shock.

“Yes,” he said sheepishly.
“The other time you were in danger of going into dormancy; there
was not a moment to waste. I know it’s forbidden, but both times it
been necessary.”

I stood, renewed strength
filling my body. I was amazed how quickly it had happened, and I
could also see why it was forbidden. It was like a drug, and a
vampire could get thoroughly addicted. I went over to him, put my
arms around his neck and kissed him, exactly what I had wanted to
do the last time. As we kissed I could tell he was as aroused as I
was.

“I want to ask you
something,” It embarrassed me, but I wanted to know. “How does
feeding me like that, make you feel?”

Now it was his turn to be
embarrassed.

“Heavenly,” he looked down,
his face began to change color. “It’s very erotic. You?” he asked
still not looking up.

“The same.”

He kissed me again, and
then we both jumped when we heard someone try to open the door,
then knock.

“Katrina?” Sarah’s voice
sounded worried.

I walked over and opened
the door.

“Are you all
right?”

“That’s the question of the
hour. I’m better, thank you. Did you bring a change of
clothes?”

“Of course, and combs and
some fruit,” she sounded put out, clearing resenting the
implication she’d forgotten anything.

“Out with you, Mr. Quinn, I
have a job to do. She’ll see you later,” Sarah pushed him out the
door. She had brought me a lovely, but simple dress of yellow
cotton. As she combed my hair she told me just what I had
predicted, my mother and sister’s; arrival had touched off a round
of rumor and gossip that would be unrivaled by any other council
gathering. As I left the room, I was still feeling overwhelmed by
the knowledge this direct feeding had not been the first, by the
gut-wrenching emotion it brought, and by all I had seen and been
told regarding my sister and mother. Entering the hallway, I could
hear the loud buzz of voices coming from the Council
room.

“Well,
here we go,”
I said to myself. I entered the Council chamber
just as Father was calling the meeting to order.

“We are here today to
finish the business of this special session, answer any questions
you may have and hopefully solve any problems brought to this
Council,” he stated with authority. “Let us finish any old business
first.”

Then he went over new laws
to be enacted, elections to be held in each territory, four council
positions to be filled, and a list of minor and mundane subjects.
As the hours passed, the chamber took on a restless, bored
atmosphere, until the agenda came to the subject everyone had
thought the special session had been called for in the first
place.

“Now let us discuss new
business. We have consulted the Vikings on news of the New World;
the Americas to be exact. They are experts on the subject and they
advise me we should soon send an envoy of senior council members.
This envoy will make a tour of cities already established there, to
help us decide the most advantageous places to establish clans and
how to best infiltrate the ruling governments and upper classes,
just as we have in all the territories where we reside today. It
has always been in our best interest to be well established in an
area, before moving full force into any situation. This way, we
always know local and regional information ahead of time, and can
influence and take advantage of trends. It is imperative we choose
the correct locations, as well as the best positions in business,
government, and society. We will send our envoy this very summer.
We have been informed the Americas have recently ended a four-year
war, and we believe this is a fine opportunity for us to begin to
establish our presence there. The envoy’s survey of the situation
should be complete by early next spring, and will allow us to make
final plans at that time. Are there any questions on this
subject?”

“Yes,” said someone in
front, whom I could hear but not see. “Who is to go on this first
expedition?”

“Not everyone wants to be
away for almost a year,” Father told him, “so I will consider
volunteers.”

After much discussion it
was decided. Philepe agreed to go, since Gerhardt could manage his
estate; and since their daughters would be staying with us anyway,
Ricardo, Edward, and Michael also agreed to go. Others with
expertise in banking, law, and accounting would also be going.
Assignments were given and accepted, final business was discussed
further, questions were answered and disputes were settled, after
which the meeting was adjourned and all were invited to the dinner
and ball. Departures would begin the following morning for the long
journeys home.

I was relieved no one had
brought up the new arrivals, even though their visit really was no
one else’s business. My mother - the thought still shocked me - and
sister - that thought shocked me more - had wisely stayed out of
sight so far that afternoon.

“Katrina,” called out three
voices together. They rushed toward me, pushing through the crowd
that was leaving the opposite way.

“We were so worried. Sarah
told us you fainted! You
look
recovered.
In fact you look… glowing,”  El eyed me
suspiciously.

“Physically, I’m fine. I’m
just still in shock from learning I have a Mother I thought all
these years was dead, twin sister I didn’t know existed, both of
whom showed up this morning. It’s a bit overwhelming that’s
all.”

They gave me a hug and I
told them I would tell them all about it as we got ready for the
festivities to be held that night, but I had to go over to Father’s
and spend some time with my newly enlarged family.

Thomas was waiting outside,
looking concerned.

“I’m all right,” I said
before he could ask.

“I knew you would be.
You’re strong, Katrina, and if you can handle yourself in battle
you can handle this,” he said with conviction.

“You’re right, Thomas,
thank you.”

He
was
right. I
could and would be fine; I had no choice, I decided. I nodded to
Thomas, shrugged my shoulders, and we continued on. My apprehension
was gone by the time we reached Father’s quarters. As Thomas opened
the door for me, I took a deep breath and walked in. Father wasn’t
there yet; I knew that because Gunter wasn’t outside. Mother and
Katherine were out on the balcony and I saw them turn as they heard
the door open.

“Katrina, I’m so glad
you’re here at last. Katherine, come, let’s sit and get acquainted.
How was the talk with your father? Do you have any questions for
us?” as she spoke I noticed the look of concern on her
face.

It was so odd to look into
the faces of two people who looked so much like me. Of course, as I
looked at Katherine I realized she looked
exactly
like me, except our hair naturally parted on
opposite sides. She was my mirror image, which would mean she was
left-handed while I was right-handed.

“He explained why you left
and why he didn’t tell me. I know he kept the secret because he
thought he was protecting me. And while I understand his reasons, I
have a question for you. Didn’t you ever wonder how I was
doing?”

“Oh Katrina, of course I
did, but I had my spies,” a conspiratorial smile flashed and she
patted my hand. “They told me you were doing well. Besides, I knew
your father loved you so much, he would make sure you
thrived.”

I looked to Katherine, “He
also said that you were the main reason you came back. Is that
true?”

“Yes, I wanted a chance to
know both you and Father, as I’m sure you would like to know
Mother. I felt this was the time, Mother recognized and took my
urgency seriously, and well, here we are.”

“Well, as I thought Mother
had died, I often wished I’d had the chance to know her. Now I know
you exist, I can’t wait to know you better. How long are you going
to stay Katherine?” Although, I addressed my sister, I looked to my
mother for the answer.

“We haven’t decided yet,”
Mother said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes. Seeing your
father again brings back wonderful memories for me, and I realize
the two of you deserve a chance to have the closeness most other
twins have, Katrina.” She took my hand, a range of emotion played
across her face as she continued, “What seemed like the right
decision all those years ago just makes me sad now.” The emotional
moment drew out and then she brightened. “But what’s done is done;
I can’t take it back, so I’ll concentrate on what we have now. We
have time, and as you know, time is on our side. We live for
centuries, after all.”

Father came through the
door then. “Oh, good, you’re all here; my family as it should
be.”

He seemed as happy as I’d
ever seen him. Could it be? Would they reconcile? Too much to ask
for, I supposed. Still, Mother was right, time
was
on our
side. When I looked at her, she was beaming. Katherine and I
exchanged a look, realizing it really could be true. We grinned at
each other and I motioned for us to leave and give them some
privacy.

“Father, I’m going to take
Katherine to meet the girls. May we take her things, so we can all
get ready together, Mother?”

“Mother, that sounds
delightful. May I, please?” Katherine asked politely.

“Of course you may, but
come back here when you’re dressed, and we’ll all go together. The
others will want to enter with their fathers too.”

“Very well,” we said in
unison, then laughed and walked out.

“Is it as strange to you as
it is to me, to have another person that looks just like you?” I
asked Katherine as we walked down the corridor. I had to laugh as I
saw the double-takes from the people we passed.

“Not really, because I
lived with Mother and she looks so much like me—like
us.
I
suppose I’m used to it.”

“Hmmm, I never thought of
that. Where are your trunks?”

“Downstairs, I
think.”

As we headed down the
stairs we could see Thomas and Gunter talking near the bottom. They
stopped and looked over as we approached.

“Well, fancy that. And we
thought one was a handful,” Gunter said, and we all
laughed.

“Katherine this is my
Watcher, Thomas, and his brother, Gunter.”

“Do you have Watchers with
you my Lady?”  Thomas asked.

“No, we don’t. We only have
vampire guards.”

“Well, you will need a
personal Watcher while you’re here. I’ll see to it myself,” Gunter
resolved.

“As you wish.”

Katherine pointed out her
trunks and we pulled out her things for the night’s ball. They were
beautiful –“just purchased in Paris”, she told me as we set out for
the common room. She couldn’t tell us where they had traveled from,
only it had been a long trip and she was tired. When we got to our
complex, I saw Quinn standing by the door and I felt my spirits
soar.

“Nice to see you feeling
better, Kat,” he said, his eyes softened.

Then he looked at my
companion.

“Katherine, this is my
friend Quinn; Thomas and Gunter’s brother.”

“I am pleased to meet you,
Quinn, and you may call me Kate.”

“I’m stunned. I had no idea
you were identical twins.”

“Mirror twins,” we said
again in unison and then giggled.

“What does that mean?” he
looked shocked.

“It means she’s left-handed
and…” I began.

“. . . she’s right-handed,
and our hair naturally parts on the opposite side, that’s all,”
Katherine finished.

“I see. Well, at least we
can tell you apart that way. I wanted to let you know your father
has arranged for Vampire guards to be on duty tonight, so my
brothers and I can attend the ball, except for Gunter, of course.
He even kindly arranged formal attire for all of us. You’re going
to love him, Katherine.”

“I already do.”

“That’s great news, Quinn.
Wait until you meet the rest of the brothers Kate, one of whom will
become your Watcher, and another one will be Mother’s.”

“If they’re anything like
these two, I can’t wait,” she bit her lip in a smile.

Thomas laughed, “Double
trouble.”

“Indeed,” Quinn
added.

“Let’s go meet the other
girls and tell them the news. We’ll see you both later.”

Then I clasped Kate’s hand
and we rushed up the stairs together.

“Watch the dress,” I
ordered, and in we went.

“Greetings, everyone! I
want you to meet my sister, Katherine. Katherine, may I present
Rosalinda, Arletta, and Eleanor.”

“She’s…
you,”
gasped Eleanor.

“I know. Isn’t it
eerie?”

“Gracious, this is going to
take some getting used to,” Arletta was intrigued but her shock was
apparent.

Rosa added, “That’s an
understatement.”