Riding the Storm (20 page)

Part of Eric wanted to see what happened to the men who’d
tortured him, but he was afraid of what he’d see Kendra do, and was so damned
tired, he knew he couldn’t stay.

Kendra had sat Eric on a towel, and Abbott moved him and the
towel together, as if he were on a flying carpet. He went across the room, out
the door, down a path, and to a huge hemlock tree, where Aaron Drake helped him
stand.

“Eric,” said Abbott, “meet Sophia Siyanko-Drake. She’s going
to get you safely home, but it’s important you do everything she tells you. If
all goes well, you’ll be in a safe place in less than two minutes. If there is
a problem and you get separated from them, don’t eat or drink anything, and
tell everyone you are the guest of the Swan Queen, and you demand to be taken
to her. If they say they can’t find her, ask for The Summer Queen. Understand?”

Eric nodded, and Abbott continued. “As bizarre as it seems,
Sophia is going to walk you into the tree. I trust Aaron and Sophia with my
life, and with your life.”

Sophia wrapped an arm around him, Aaron put his hand at the
middle of Eric’s back, and the three walked through the tree into another
world. They stepped out of a different tree, and were standing in front of a
loud waterfall.

“Okay Eric — now walk with us through the water. Easy
as pie.”

He took a few steps with them, through the falls, and they
ended up in a cool cave with a different waterfall at their back.

Another man was in the cave, waiting for them, and Eric
tensed until Sophia squeezed his hand and said, “He’s with us. It’s okay.”
Sophia looked to Aaron and said, “I’m going back long enough to move the
gateway, in case someone saw us use it as we left. I’ll take Jonathan.”

Aaron nodded, kissed her, and watched her go with Jonathan
without a word.

Turning to Eric, he said, “We brought you back to
Chattanooga in less than ten steps, but getting you into the house will take
another forty. I can’t levitate you as Abbott did, but I don’t mind carrying
you.”

No way was he suffering further humiliations, even from
someone trying to help. He shook his head and asked, “Can you help support me,
so I can walk?”

“Certainly.”

It took a while, but they made it to a hallway, and finally
a bedroom.

“This bathroom has a walk-in shower, without a lip to step
over. There’s a bench so you can sit and rest. You’ll find more sweatpants and
a clean t-shirt on the bathroom vanity, as well as a toothbrush and cup. Feel
free to use the toothpaste, mouthwash, soap — whatever you need. I’ll
have a basket of fruit brought down, as well as some fruit juices, and you look
like a bacon man… so a half pound of cooked bacon, as well. I have excellent
hearing, just say my name if you need or want anything else, including company.
My instincts tell me you wish to be alone for now, but if that changes, let me
know. There isn’t a phone in here, and I’ll ask you not to try to contact
anyone until Kendra can assess the security situation. However, I won’t keep
you from it, so if you insist then I’ll bring you a secure phone. You aren’t a
prisoner, but I hope you’ll help me keep you safe until Kendra and Abbott
arrive.”

As Aaron turned to leave, Eric said, “Thank you. If there’s
ever anything I can do to repay you…”

Aaron looked at him a few seconds before saying, “Abbott’s
my friend, and Ranger’s my employee. I stepped in for the two of them. I’ve
known Kendra a long time. We aren’t close friends, but we’re friends, and I’ve
been worried about her for the past couple of decades. Sometimes, the oldest
vampires grow bored with life, lose interest, and begin to make bad decisions
until one eventually gets them killed. Kendra wasn’t there yet, but she’d lost
her joy, her ability to face each day just… happy to be alive. You’ve brought
her back to life, filled her with joy again, given her a reason to live. You
can thank me by not hurting her. I know what happened was bad, and no one will
blame you if you turn your back on all supernaturals because of it, but I’m
asking you not to make any rash decisions.” He turned to go, but then rotated
back to add, “This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be true to yourself, it just
means you don’t walk away from her because you’re scared, or mad. If you care
for her, find a way to make it work.”

* * * *

When Kendra made it to Aaron’s house, Eric had showered,
changed into a shirt and different sweatpants, eaten, and was sound asleep. She
wanted to lick him all over, heal the wounds from the needles and clamps, but
he needed his sleep. Aaron had put him in a windowless, subterranean room, so
she showered again, dried her hair, and climbed into bed and lay with him,
holding him until dawn took her consciousness.

* * * *

Eric awoke starving and thirsty, and walked to the fruit
basket, replenished from last night. He’d eaten all the grapes and most of the
strawberries, and it was full of both once again.

A note said to come upstairs when he was ready, and offered
the promise of an actual meal.

The clock told him it was nearly five in the evening, and
Eric was still tired, but thought he might go upstairs, eat an actual meal, and
then go back to sleep. He needed to talk to Kendra eventually, but… damn, he
was tired.

He brushed his teeth again, rubbed his bald head, and went
upstairs.

Sophia met him at the top of the steps with an appraising
look before she said, “Come to the kitchen and tell the cook what you want. If
we don’t have ingredients for whatever you want, we can send someone out for
them.”

She followed him to the kitchen, and he took a seat at the
island she pointed him towards, and told the cook, “I’d love a whole pan of
fried potatoes, and a huge steak, if you have them.”

She laughed and turned to the refrigerator, pulling out a
plate of steaks marinating in a clear glass dish. “You’ll fit right in here,
Mister Eric. Steak and fried potatoes, coming up.”

Another man stepped into the kitchen, and Eric froze until
he recognized him from the cave last night.

“I’m Jonathan,” the man said. “I’m Sophia’s lead bodyguard.
Aaron is working, so I’m with her. We normally have four men on her, three
outside with one in the house, but because of last night’s events, we have two
in the house and six outside. You’re safe here, Eric.”

“Thanks,” Eric said, uncomfortable with the knowledge he’d
brought danger to Aaron’s house and wife. “I’m sorry for the disruption. When
Kendra awakens I’m sure we’ll get out of your hair.”

Sophia came back in from the pantry, her laughter a ray of
sunshine. “Oh, extra guards because of whatever issues have come up are pretty
much a weekly thing around here. Jonathan just bought a house a couple of miles
from here, so he can get here faster in the middle of the night. Aaron is my
primary bodyguard when he’s home, but if he’s called out in the middle of the
night…” she shrugged. “Anyway, really, don’t feel as if you’ve disrupted our routine.
We’re good.” She sobered. “Are you okay? I smell some damage, but without
looking, I’d say it’s mostly topical wounds and bruising? If it’s anything
more, we can get a doctor here to look you over.”

He shook his head. “No, doctor, but if you have some sports
drink? I feel like my electrolytes are off.”

The cook grabbed something from an upper cabinet as she
said, “Phooey on those sports drinks. I’ll make you some good Russian tea.”

Eric didn’t argue with her, the woman sounded like she knew
what she was talking about. He watched as she juiced an orange and a lemon, and
put cinnamon and cloves in the water to boil before pouring it over the tea bag
to steep. She added honey, as well as the orange juice and a little of the
lemon juice, and put the rest of the lemon juice in the refrigerator.

Turning, she asked him, “Do you want it hot or cold? I like
it cold, personally, though the ice will weaken it some.”

He smiled, “I’ll take your word for it, and drink it cold,
then, ma’am.”

Eric moaned as he took his first sip, and she chuckled as
she walked back to the stove. How she’d managed to keep the potatoes cooking,
an eye on the steak, and make the tea, Eric didn’t know, but she seemed to be
quite proficient at her job.

“Okay, now shoo. Take the boy into the front parlor to talk
and leave me to my kitchen. I’m cooking enough for all of you, and I’ll let you
know when it’s ready.”

As they entered what Eric assumed was the parlor, Sophia
said, “We can talk about the furniture Jonathan’s considering for the man-cave
in his new house, or I can try to answer any questions you may have. No
pressure.”

Eric shook his head. “Did you get a chance to talk to Kendra
last night? I was asleep when she arrived.”

“I did. She checked on you, gave us all a ten minute rushed
briefing, showered, and then climbed into bed with you. She didn’t think you’d
awaken, but wanted to be close, in case you did.”

“Can you tell me about the briefing? Tell me why those
people wanted me?”

“I’m limited in what I can say, but I can give you some information.
Why don’t you begin by telling me what you know, so I can gauge how much I can
add to your knowledge?”

 “There’s a supernatural group who makes sure the real facts
about ya’ll don’t get out. I asked Abbott if I could put some of what I knew in
a video game, and when he went to the group for permission, they realized there
was a huge hole in their scrutiny, as they’d never considered the storylines in
video games. Apparently, I came to their attention, and because of some other
politics going on that I’m not aware of…” he shook his head. “Based on what I
heard from the assholes who took me, I’d say I was used as some sort of sick
pawn.”

“This is good, you know enough I can tell you just about
everything. You put in the security system at the coterie house, and you’ve
worked with Abbott, so you know how powerful he is?”

“I heard people calling him The Abbott, with reverence. I
know he’s Master Vampire of a large territory.”

She nodded. “Most of the southeast, with the exception of
South Carolina, which, due in large part to my family, Abbott’s left alone,
despite the fact it’s full of really bad people.” She shook her head. “Why he
left it alone isn’t important for this story, but now that my father’s no
longer in control of the Swans, and I am, Aaron and I are in a position to help
Abbott clean up the state.”

“Wait, so
you’re
the Swan Queen?”

She rolled her eyes and shrugged. “I’m only royalty to other
swans, though. Please don’t treat me any differently than you have been, okay?
I’m just Sophia, Aaron’s wife, as far as you’re concerned.”

Eric tilted his head and reconsidered this tiny woman who
was apparently so powerful politically, as he remembered her basically
teleporting them from some faraway mountain to the basement of her home in less
than a minute.

“There’s a Master Vampire of South Carolina,” she continued,
“and he’s an evil man, with evil vampires who choose to follow him. His second
in command is on the Media Council, with enough clout she’s pretty much ran it
the way she wanted. Once you were brought to her attention, she misused her
authority as a Media Council member to take possession of you even though she
knew you were under Abbott’s protection. So, yeah, you were a pawn. Abbott and
his people had a meeting with her last night, and no one expected her to make a
move until after the meeting but Natalia jumped the gun by taking you. Kendra
and Abbott filed legal documents that kept you as safe as they could until they
got to you — it’s why you weren’t seriously injured when they tortured you.
They also sent Natalia to the coast, and had her arrive just before dawn, so
she couldn’t get to you, as she’d have bitten you and turned you into her
slave, no matter the legal documents. She’s about to be at war with Abbott and
his people, in her eyes, hurting a human they were attached to would give her
leverage in the war, instead of a reason to fear them.”

Sophia’s phone buzzed and she glanced at it and looked back
up with a grin. “I’m going to bring Ranger in real quick. He’s on the other
side of the world, but I have permission to bring him in the way I did you last
night. Werewolves have to get special permission to enter that world, but I
have it for him, and he’s ready. I’ll be back with him in a few minutes. He’ll
probably only have an hour before I have to take him back, but he wants to see
you… talk to you. He needs assurance you’re okay.”

When Ranger arrived, his concern was a palpable thing, and
he made Eric stand up and move around, tried to make him take his shirt off,
but Eric refused.

“I’m fine, Uncle Todd.”

Eric hadn’t used the title he’d called his uncle as a child
in years, and it made Ranger stop and look at him a few seconds, long enough
Eric could talk.

“You don’t make it as close to the summit of Everest as I
did without going through some serious pain. Same with a lot of the other
mountains I’ve climbed, as well as the ones I’ve skied or snowboarded down. I
can handle pain, and thanks to Kendra and Abbott doing what they could as soon
as they found out who’d taken me, I wasn’t permanently harmed.”

Ranger shook his head. “Did you break up with her? Is that
why she didn’t heal the puncture wounds? You have to know I can smell them, and
there are so fucking
many
.”

Eric shook his head. “She asked me for permission to look
through my memories of what happened, and sent me here with Sophia and Aaron so
she could stay behind and… I don’t know what she did to them. She said she
needed to know who was responsible for the worst of it, so she could make what
they’d done balance with what she did.”

Ranger tilted his head, looked to Jonathan and Sophia. “From
what I’ve learned of Kendra, I doubt it balanced.”