Blood Hunter (The Grandor Descendant Series) (5 page)

“At first I told them that I was the gran-son of my parents. They could see the family resemblance, and I knew all of my family history, so they didn’t question my heritage. But I could hardly keep the rouse for long. I wasn’t aging and so when Bramond’s father died, I confided in Bramond my true nature.”

“And he didn’t care?” she asked, hoping her question was not too insensitive.

“He was surprised, but like I said in the car, Bramond’s family and mine have been linked for generations. And I didn’t tell him what I was exactly, just that-”

“-that you couldn’t die,” supplied Ari, laughing lightly.

“Yea, something along those lines.”

Chapter 2- New Year’s Eve

It was well and truly nightfall when Ari and Ragon had finally unpacked and settled in. Ryder and Patrick had gone to extreme lengths to requisition fireworks from a local store, and the pair had set up Ragon’s courtyard so that it vaguely resembled a New Year’s party. Small silver streamers hung from the columns supporting the house, while an old gramophone played Auld Lang Syne; a slow Scottish song that twanged with notes of melancholy and left a sombre feeling in the air. Next to the water fountain was a large table, where champagne poured glasses stood waiting, as did a bowl of poppers and whistles. Overseeing the celebration was Bramond, who eyed the decorations suspiciously, as if he did not approve the use of his master’s house for such frivolities.    

“Oh good, you’re here,” said Patrick, racing over to Ragon and Ari and placing silver conical hats on their head.

Ari, who was still lost in the melody of the music, watched as Sandra mouthed the words to the lyrics.

“
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind
,” sung Sandra, in a barely audible whisper.

Though Ari had never heard the song before, she couldn’t help but be swamped with thoughts of Larissa. There was something sad and final about the tune, and even though the song sounded as if it had been written centuries ago and she couldn’t fully understand the words, it was impossible not to miss the meaning. This was music that spoke of loss or times gone by, and she knew that in this moment, Sandra was thinking of Larissa also, and the friendship they had shared for so many decades.   

“We were just about to send a search party,” said Clyde, catching both Ari’s and Sandra’s attention, when he moved over to the gramophone and ripped the record out. “And how can you listen to that? I thought this was supposed to be a party, not a funeral.”

Patrick frowned and Ari turned to stare at Sandra, certain she was would unleash hell and scream at Clyde, but she merely sighed, moving silently away from the group.   

“But that’s my favourite New Year’s Eve song,” said Patrick, looking at the gramophone mournfully.

Clyde was just about to rebut when there was a noise from the front of the property; someone was banging on the front door. Immediately Bramond made to waddle back inside but Ragon raced past him, blurring into the house and out of view.

A few minutes later he reappeared, two tall girls walking closely behind him. Ari’s mouth fell open when she saw just how stunning they were. Both had dark skin, the colour of warm chocolate, and they carried themselves with such confidence that Ari felt herself shrink in their wake. Despite the near freezing weather, the girls wore short skirts and large fluffy white jumpers, revealing two of the longest, most shapely pairs of legs, Ari thought she had ever seen.

Immediately Clyde raced to one of the girls and bowed, reaching for her hand.

“You’re not selling cookies are you?” he asked, smiling wickedly as he eyed the two beauties.

“There’s no need for pleasantries,” said Ragon, “Astel sent them as a welcoming gift.” Suddenly Ragon turned to the girl nearest him and added, “Tell them what you told me.”

“Astel welcomes you to the UK and offers us up in tribute to celebrate the New Year in her region,” said the girl, sounding just like a recording device.

Clyde moved away from the girls and narrowed his eyes, as if he thought they might be infectious.

“What!” said Thomas, reaching for Sandra’s hand, but she shooed him away.

“Surely Astel wouldn’t have poisoned them though,” said Clyde, inching closer to one of the girls; clearly his restraint was being tested.

“After what you did?” said Ragon, laughing once as Clyde put his hands on his hips. “We’ll be lucky if they aren’t strapped with a sunlight bomb.”

“What I did?” said Clyde, still eyeing the girls hesitantly. “She’s the one who left me.”

“Yea, but only because you-”

“-let’s not drag up the past,” Clyde said quickly, speaking over Ragon.

“Um,” said Ari, “who is Astel? What’s going on?”  

As was common, Ari’s eyes rested on Sandra, hoping she would explain everything as she always did. Sandra however turned around and reached for a glass of champagne. Sighing loudly, Ari turned to face Ragon expectantly.  

“Astel is the Elder of this region. She must have sources keeping an eye on the airports, looking out for large groups of vampires. She has never before offered me a present such as this though,” said Ragon, indicating the two girls. “I think she means to make it plain that she knows we are here and in her territory.”

Slowly Ari nodded and then said, “But why would she care? I mean, this is your family home and you said that you visit it regularly.”

Thomas, who had watched as Sandra finished her glass of champagne and was now reaching for another, turned to face Ari.

“We are a large coven; any group this big attracts attention. She probably just wants to make certain that we keep in line, don’t go killing a heap of people; that and the fact that Clyde and Astel have a rather sordid past.”

Ari shook her head; was there anyone Clyde hadn’t slept with?

Clyde shrugged, already moving over to one of the dark beauties as he said, “Well, I see no reason to waste them.” He then shooed Ragon away and directed the girl’s towards the make shift drink table. “Would you like a drink my dears?” Both girls nodded, just as Clyde whispered under his breath, “Because I would.”

“No way,” said Ragon, pulling the girls out of Clyde’s hands and pushing them so that they stood at the edge of the courtyard, just out of reach. “We can’t lay a fang on them; we have to get out of here, now. If Astel knows we’re here, how long do you think it will take Shok or the Ancients to find us? She’s an Elder for Christ sake; it’s Astel’s job to report anything strange to the Ancients, and clearly she thinks it strange that we are all here.”

Clyde stared back moodily.

“He’s right,” said Thomas, moving over and placing a heavy hand on Clyde’s shoulder. “I know we just got settled and that you are starving, but we have to avoid Shok at all costs. He’s the same age as me and though we are evenly matched, the Ancients have other much more powerful allies that they might send against us. We would do far better to stay hidden and on the run, than to meet them in open battle.”

“All we need to do is get a hold of the rest of Ari’s family tree,” said Ragon, now scanning the courtyard before taking in a deep breath and yelling, “Bramond!”

“Yes master,” said Bramond, wheezing as he raced back outside, his hands clutched to his chest as he caught his breath.

“Did you find the information I requested?”  

“Yes sir. The Lan-” Bramond began to say, but Ragon cut him off. 

“-not now,” Ragon said quickly, interrupting him and gesturing to the dark-haired beauties. “Bramond, please go and get the car, and pack yourself a bag and don’t forget your passport; you’re going on a little holiday.”

Bramond looked as if were about to argue, but Ragon waved his hand casually and so he moved slowly back inside, his shoulders dropped as he mumbled things under his breath about not trusting foreigners, and missing the three lions play.

The moment Bramond was out of sight, Ragon moved over to the nearest girl, took her hand and asked, “Tell me; where does Astel feel from you?”

Ari’s mouth fell open; she watched as the girl enthusiastically removed a small silver bracelet, where two fresh puncture marks were just visible.

Ragon smiled, pulling the girl’s hand up to his mouth and carefully biting at the exact same place she had already been bitten. Ari watched in disgust as the girl’s eyes became large and round, and then closed a little as a small smile spread across her face. Though Ari had been certain that she would feel revolted, she was surprised to find that what she actually felt was jealous. There was something intimate about the way that Ragon held onto this girl, the way his lips met her skin, almost lovingly; it felt as if he were cheating on her.

“
Go back to Astel and tell her that when you got here we were just stopping over for a few hours. Tell her that we were honoured by her gesture but that we are leaving for Germany tonight and that we didn’t want her present to go to waste
,” Ragon commanded, his harsh tone snapping Ari from her thoughts.

“Oh no,” said Clyde, racing for the next girl before Ragon could reach her, “I’ve got this one.

“Make sure you don’t leave a mark! And only take a drop; just enough to lull her or Astel will know.”

“Alright, alright,” said Clyde, pulling the second black beauty forwards and searching her body for any obvious bites, albeit a little too enthusiastically. 

After commanding Astel’s sources, Ari and the rest of the coven re-packed their bags and clambered into the antique limousine, yet again. At the same time Ragon phoned Bert, requesting that he meet them back at the airport. Ragon told Bert that he would make it worth his while to get up out of bed, and after promising that the compensation would be outrageous and that he could smoke on the plane, hung up and leaned forwards so as to address Bramond.

“Bramond, as you have no doubt realised, I am trying to keep our presence in England un-noticed. I told some people who I don’t want to know where we are or what we are doing, that we are on our way to Germany. But I can’t very well tell them that and leave you behind. Someone might be sent to check we have left and they are obviously watching the airports. But if you take my plane and go to Germany, they will be none the wiser and you will be kept out of harm’s way.”

“But,” stammered Bramond, “but… wot bout da house? Who is gonna look after it while I is away?”

“Oh, Young Manor will manage without you for a few weeks. Besides, you deserve a holiday.”

“A… a few weeks?” croaked Bramond, clearly not thrilled by the idea.

Ari, who was moved by Ragon’s thoughtfulness, found it odd that Bramond seemed so reluctant to leave.

“Don’t worry, I will make sure you have plenty of spending money,” said Ragon.

“You could buy some new driving gloves,” Clyde suggested, laughing to himself, despite the look of horror on Bramond’s face.

When they arrived at the airport, Bramond left the car sulkily, moving with his single bag towards the terminal as his long jowls quivered in the night breeze.

“Sandra, Thomas, Ryder and Patrick,” said Ragon, recalling their attention from inside the car. “Can you wait with him for the plane? Bert should be here in a few hours. When he gets here, give him this,” he added, handing over another yellow envelope, though this one was much larger than the first. “I need you to find a girl and a boy, anyone will be fine. Lull them and then get them to board the plane also. Make sure you board the plane with them and jump out after it has taken off. Then come find us at the Lancaster Titles Offices. Make sure you aren’t seen.”

“They’re going to jump out of a plane?” asked Ari, looking at Ryder and the rest of the coven sceptically.

“Not from a huge height,” Ragon reassured her. “We need to make sure that Astel believes we have left for Germany. I am hoping that her sources won’t be watching too carefully to notice that you, Clyde and I aren’t there, and only see that seven people arrived and that seven people are leaving. They will be fine,” he added, seeing the still worried look on Ari’s face.

One by one the four of them left the car while Ragon moved to the driver’s seat.

“What are you going to do?” asked Patrick, craning his head through the window and staring at Ragon expectantly.

“We’re going to find the rest of Ari’s family tree at the Lancaster Titles Office. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can leave England and go back to Australia.”  

“And you’re sure you don’t want me or Thomas to come with you?” Patrick added, looking at Clyde doubtfully.

“Oh that’s ok,” said Clyde, smiling as he leant forward and began winding up the window, so that Patrick’s head was forced away. “I don’t really fancy jumping out of a plane tonight; I just bought this shirt.”