Katrina, The Beginning (33 page)

“Come sit; have some tea
and relax for a moment. It doesn’t seem like we’ve had more than
five minutes alone together, since I came back.”

“There has been a lot going
on, hasn’t there?”

“Yes, and people will be
arriving in less than ten days for the Council meetings and your
birthday dinner.”

I had forgotten all about
the dinner.

“I think we should keep it
simple, under the circumstances. I don’t think any of us is in the
mood to celebrate.” I told her.

“Of course, whatever you
want, dear. Just close family and friends then.”

“There’s something else I
want to talk to you about, Mother.”

“Go ahead,” she said, as
she poured the tea.

“Father must have told you
we think Luena was behind this latest fledgling attack.”

“He did,” she said, as she
took a sip from her cup.

“Well, we’ve been trying to
sight her. We
have
to find her Mother,
before she succeeds in destroying us. Even with help from Rosa,
Letta, and El, Kate and I can’t ‘see’ her. The only thing I can
think of is she is blocking us somehow, keeping anyone from finding
her. Do you know about anything like that, and if so, is there any
way around it without her knowing?”

She smiled, “Well, is that
all?” She sighed. “Remember when I said I would get you each a
talisman to protect you from spells? She could have one that makes
her virtually invisible to those trying to find her, the way you
are. If Luena is in league with witches and they are using their
power to protect her, your task will be great indeed. I’ll speak to
my wizard friend again. If anyone knows how to circumvent their
powers, he’s the one.”

“Thanks again,
Mother.”

I relaxed a little then,
knowing we might get some help. I drank my tea and we had a
pleasant, simple mother-daughter talk about men, fashion, and the
like. Later, I headed back to the library to see if the others had
found anything there. They all were looking through scrolls and
books when I arrived.

“Find anything?” I
asked.

“Not anything for finding
Luena, but lots of other interesting things,” Kate said.

“I think we should all read
this book about fledglings—how to create them, how to control them,
about their training, even what goes on with their bodies and minds
as they change. This chapter.” Rosa pointed to the text, “on why
some are evil when they are turned and some aren’t. It may explain
how Eric survived for so long alone.”

“We do seem to keep coming
across them, that’s certain, but we don’t have time to do anything
but kill them,” I said.

“I, for one, want to know
more. We’ve all learned basic things, but what if we feel we have
to change someone?” El said.

Looking concerned, Letta
said, “You know it’s forbidden.”

“Except in special
circumstances. Moreover, it still happens; we’ve seen bad ones, but
then there’s Eric,” said El.

“Tell us what this really
is all about,” I said.

“What if a human we love
may not survive unless we change him?” she asked
cryptically

“Are you taking about what
happened to Cedrik and Gregor, or is this just about Thomas?” Rosa
said.

“I was thinking about
Cedrik and Gregor. If there were a way I could have saved them, I
want know about it, and if there is ever a next time, I want to be
prepared. As for Thomas, I love him, and if he were ever hurt
beyond my ability to heal him with my gift, I want the other
solution, as an option.”

“I do think that would fall
under special circumstances,” Rosa said, looking to me for
confirmation.

“Well, then, we’d need to
know how to care for them once they’re turned, just in case. You’re
right, El, every option should be available.”

“That’s far removed from
what we’re supposed to be finding out, but I agree,” Kate said,
gently prodding us back to the reason they had come to the
library.

“So do I,” Letta
agreed.

“Very well, that’s settled.
Now, Mother thinks Luena may have a talisman from a witch or wizard
protecting her, and that’s why we can’t find her.”

“They may be physically
hiding her as well, for all we know, which would make finding her
not only difficult, but even more dangerous than before,” suggested
Rosa as she blew the dust off a scroll.

“Did she have any ideas
about how to help us?” Kate asked.

“She’s going to ask the
same wizard who’s making our talismans. She said if anyone knows,
he would. Do you know anything about this wizard, Kate?”

“Only that he’s hundreds of
years old and very powerful. He’ll help us; I know he
will.”

We spent all afternoon
until finally, exhausted, decided there was time to take a nap
before dinner.

“Remember when our days
were filled with trivial pursuits, like chatting with friends,
shopping, parties, and walking in the garden with a nice young
man?” sighed Letta.

“Yes, but are you saying
you’d like to go back to those days, Letta?” Rosa said.

“No, but maybe one or two
dull days wouldn’t be bad,” she grinned.

We all laughed and agreed.
We got back to our rooms and Sarah had snacks and wine waiting. We
found we were all famished and ate everything, but the
tablecloth.

“Mother asked about our
birthday dinner today; I had completely forgotten about it. We
thought, if it’s all right with all of you, we should keep the
party very simple, with just close family and friends
attending.”

“I know I’m not in much of
a mood to celebrate,” agreed El solemnly.

“Are any of us?” Kate
asked.

The silence spoke for
itself.

“I know it’s still a couple
of weeks away, but I could really skip it all together,” Letta
spoke now. “I do look forward to seeing my family
though.”

“What’s happened definitely
makes one get one’s priorities in order,” El sniffed and wiped her
eye.

“We have the benefit of
time; living a very long time allows us live many different lives,
repeating them to accomplish great things. Humans have no such
luxury, which makes our Watchers’ dedication to us quite amazing,”
I said shaking my head in wonder.

“You’re right, and I don’t
think we appreciate them enough,” Letta said softly.

“Most of us have never been
as close to our Watchers as your family has, Kat,” Rosa pointed
out.

“For generations our
personal Watchers have all come from Gunter’s family, and that
doesn’t happen very often,” I agreed.

Kate sighed and then stood,
“If we’re going to rest, we had better do it.”

“I think I was more hungry
than tired. I’m going to go see Eric,” I decided, getting
up.

Rosa laughed, “And if you
just happen to see Damien, I guess that would be all right with you
too?”

“You don’t think I’d have
an ulterior motive for visiting Eric, do you?”

“No, of course not,” Rosa
said. “Say hello for us.”

“I will. Have a good rest,”
I said as opened the door.

I felt better than I had
for days, so I took a small detour through the gardens, which was
abloom with roses and lilies, passion vines and gardenia—their
scent mingled together, rivaling the finest Paris
perfumes.

“The lilies suit you;
beautiful, sweet, yet spicy.”

“Hello, Damien.” I smiled
as my heart skipped a beat.

He had his arms crossed and
was leaning up against an ivy-covered archway at the north end of
the garden.

“How are you?” he said as
we started walking towards each other.

“Better today, thank you,
and you?”

“Better, now that you’re
here.”

He was right in front of me
now. I ran my hands over his chest and up around his neck. He was
just what I needed, and just what I wanted.

“I missed
you,”
I said without speaking.

“I’m
right here,”
he replied.

These phrases were
something comforting to say to each other and still gave my stomach
butterflies. We kissed then, a gentle loving kiss, and we held each
other as close as we could, but still not as close as I wanted.
When the kiss ended, we continued to hold each other. He kissed my
neck and I kissed his.

“You know what I’d like?” I
said looking into his dark eyes.

“What’s that?”

“I’d like to have a whole
night alone, just you and I.”

“So you’d like to wine and
dine me so you can have your way with me? What kind of a man do you
think I am?”

“My kind,” I said as I
kissed him once again, this time more hungrily. When the kiss ended
we embraced, nuzzling into each other’s necks. This time my only
thought was the one I spoke to Damien’s mind,
“Drink?”
I asked. I could feel his body tense, and
then I felt the moan along the side of my neck, I never wanted
anything more.

“Please,”
I pleaded with my mind.

“I love
you,”
was his only reply, Then sweet pain came as he pierced
the throbbing vein in my neck. While he drank, I felt nothing but
euphoria, my head falling to the side as I begged him to drink
more. It hurt much worse when he stopped, leaving me wanting, and
then I heard…

“Your turn.”

My eyes popped open in
shock, but his eyes were filled with such passion, my fear
subsided. He kissed me and I could taste my blood on his lips. The
moan I heard this time was mine. As the kiss ended and he leaned
his head to the right to expose his neck to me, my heart was
pounding.

I took my hand from his
back and ran my thumb the entire length of the vein, which made him
tremble slightly. I kissed the base of his neck and then sank my
teeth into the vein that lay pulsing just beneath the surface. When
the blood covered my tongue, like sweet salty wine, I could feel
his energy flowing into me, a current of blood’s pure pleasure. I
didn’t want it to end, but I knew it had to, so I pulled away,
licking the last trickle of blood from his neck, knowing he would
heal in seconds without any trace. When I looked up into his face,
his eyes were closed, and he looked so peaceful. Feeling
invigorated, I kissed his lips gently and then his ear and he
sighed and squeezed me closer.

“I’m going to come to this
garden more often.”

“Good idea.”

“Were you just visiting the
gardens or were you headed somewhere?”

“I was going to visit Eric,
but I admit I was hoping to see you.”

“I’m sure Eric would love a
visit. Why don’t you go over there now and meet me back here at
sunset for a private dinner.”

“Sounds wonderful; it’s a
date.”

After one quick final kiss,
we parted. I practically floated down the path, after having one
the most amazing experiences ever.

Soon I was at Eric’s door,
hardly remembering how I got there. “
Compose
yourself,”
I thought as I knocked on his door, I was shocked
when Eric opened it. He looked so different; smiling, the pallor
gone and looking stronger, so unlike the gaunt, lifeless man we’d
rescued only days before.

“It’s so good to see you,
Katrina; come in.”

His shoulder-length blond
hair, now clean, wavy and vibrant, was the color of wheat
shimmering in the morning sun, not the matted, dull straw from
before. His skin was smooth, color had returned to his cheeks, and
his blue eyes were bright and full of life.

“I hope you feel as good as
you look.”

“Well, thank you, I do, and
if it weren’t for all of you I’m sure I’d be dead. Now, with all
your support and kindness, I feel hope for the first time. Damien
thinks I’ll be fully recovered soon, and then I can venture out.
I’m hoping you’ll have time to show me around.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll
have any shortage of people willing to show you around, Eric. Do
you have any idea what your plans might be once you’re healthy
again?”

“Not really. Damien has
mentioned his expedition to the Americas, and although my training
won’t be completed in time for this trip, the thought of going next
time is exhilarating.”

“Well, I think you should
stay and train with us. We have everything here to help you fulfill
whatever dreams you have. I have no doubt you’ll be a tremendous
asset to all of us.”

“That’s a very generous
offer, and if everyone else shares your opinion, I’d love to
stay.”

“It’s settled, then. I’m
glad.”

He smiled at me, and I
thought to myself, “
He’s
gorgeous”.

“Has Damien been able to
answer all your questions?”

“All the ones I could think
of, and some I never knew to ask.” He smiled then. “He’s been very
kind, and he’s a good instructor.”