The Bonded (14 page)

“Why would you leave?”

“We all belong to tribes so that there can be order, control, and survival. When, or I should say if, a vampire reaches the age of 1,300 years, then he or she is given the option to be beholden by no tribe. This is really quite an honor, as no one can demand your services and no tribe can force their restrictions upon you. That leads me to reason number four; I have earned the right to be free from supervision. In reality, it is wise because we get stronger and, if honest, more belligerent.” He cracks a smile, but continues. “Not many of us reach this age due to wars, suicide, or genetics. Some of us live longer, just as some humans live to be centurions, some of us live to be 1,500.”

“Did you know Seth?”

“Know him? I trained him. He was my brightest pupil. A true prodigy with a weapon and perhaps one of the greatest Weapons Masters we have ever known. You would be wise to pay attention during your training sessions.”

Mildly shocked, I decide to move on. “How long have you known Cassius?”

He considers this for a while and proceeds. “Percy will be here soon, but it appears that our conversation has naturally led to the reason you are here. Besides, she has heard it all before.” Another one of those mischievous expressions lights his face. “Before I begin, I must inquire about your hunger. You have obviously been ‘roughed up’ as you Americans say, and it appears as though you have not fed to replenish your strength. Your eyes are sunken and I see the residual effects of blood loss. Will you be comfortable or would you like for me to bring a human in for you? It is quiet and no one will suspect.”

“I’m fine. Not a hundred percent, but I can last another couple of hours before I start to decapitate your patrons.” I say it with sarcastic fun.

He relents with a laugh. “Very well. I have known Cassius for my entire life, as I was born from a member of the Council of War. He was already over a hundred years my elder, but had risen quickly amongst the vampire ranks due to his uncanny skills as a warrior and his depth of knowledge concerning our history. He possessed information that none of the elders had ever known and held it close to ensure it was advantageous to his political aspirations. I was already well established when he negotiated the treaty with the waers in 1353 AD and quickly became a global hero as myths grew. There were always rumors of secret information and conspiracies, but no one was brave enough to investigate, as he was also feared for his ruthlessness. As time passed, he became obsessed with a quest or a search for something. He would disappear for days, even weeks at a time, often to the neglect of his positions on the council. Yet, as I said, even the elders shared a healthy fear for Cassius. He is the only one left who can trace his line back to our progenitor, Anu. His family has always been in rule and has always been a force to be reckoned with.”

I interrupt with haste. “Why is Cassius the only one left? Didn’t he have children?”

“Ahhh, excellent question. First, you must understand that children to us are not like children to humans. We pass on our genes, but never parent our offspring. They are raised in a tribe that specializes in training and educating them before the Resurrectio occurs. Once the Resurrectio occurs, they are relocated to other tribes to continue their training. The young ones are informed of their lineage, but the ‘parents’ have no obligation to them. Cassius chose not to procreate. No one really knows the reasons, but most suspect that he did not want to share the throne or be challenged by the next in line. As I said, he comes from powerful stock, and his offspring would be powerful as well once they developed. The vampire tribes are not immune to assassinations and subversive takeovers.”

From a small speaker embedded in the ceiling, we hear his bodyguard. “Sir, there is a Percy here, requesting to visit with you.”

Bryn casually stretches his fingers over the chair and presses and camouflaged button, replying, “Let her in.”

I’m awakened from Bryn’s trance as she moves through the door with the music following like an entrance song. She is distracting with black leather pants, black halter-top, red leather jacket, and flat leather boots to match. I realize my own leather jacket with tank top and black jeans were her doing as well. Okay, she has a wild side or some rock-god fantasy. Either way, I’m in.

She gives me a serious look and, without polite conversation, says, “Where are you with the story?”

Bryn, standing gentlemanly, says, “I guess we don’t have time for civility, Percy? Would you like a drink?”

“I’m sorry, Bryn. We are at the crossroads and decisions will need to be made this night. Normally, I am not this rude, but I am worried.” She scans me over. “Why have you not fed?”

“There was no time. We can feed when this is over. Deal?”

She relents. “Okay. Bryn, thank you. I know this puts you at risk, but it must be done. I need your direction.”

He replies. “Relax, we are safe here, at least for a while. In the interest of time, I need to complete the highlights of my part in this story.” She sits down in the extra chair, holding on to a thread of anxiety. “It was 1949 and Cassius began to take leaves of absence for months at a time with no one fully aware of his location. It was during this time that Quilici, the waer you met a month ago, approached me through sources off the grid. Since the treaty, he and I had dealings concerning rogues or territory disputes and spent a lot of time in each other’s company. I grew to respect him for his ethics and sharp intellect, but mostly for his compassionate heart. Our relationship nurtured into a friendship that I value to this night.

“So, we met and he informed me that he was with Cassius on the mission that eventually spurred the treaty. Quilici is wise with his secrets and gives only what is necessary. Of course, he does benefit from it, but mostly he holds them for others, as some information can lead to the most unfortunate of circumstances. He spoke vaguely of Cassius and his unyielding quest for something that could possibly hurt all of our species. He would not intimate the details of the quest, but shared enough to convince me that Cassius was indeed maniacally driven to find an object that would have drastic consequences for us all.

“Now, Adriel, I did not enter into that relationship lightly. I was on the Council of War; I could have been… could
be
tried as a traitor and most certainly executed for just having that conversation. Yet there was something in his story that rang true. I knew Quilici and I knew Cassius. It is a cruel twist of fate that we are led by such a tyrant when our enemies have a leader that serves his kind with heart. After much thought, I made the decision to form an alliance with Quilici, something beyond friendship, as this was a deadly game to play.

“Quilici had a network of informants that had located a house that Cassius used during his absences, guarded and permanently occupied by a vampire scientist. He could not interfere due to his new position as leader of their pack. He is actually Cassius’s equivalent to the waers. I could not either because of my position, so I was forced to pull in someone I trusted.” He turned and looked directly at Percy.

I interrupt. “This is an incredible story, and I want to hear all of it, but I have a few questions that need answering.”

He says, “Adriel, your questions will be answered.”

“Listen, Bryn. I like you, I really do, but I’ve heard that for a month now. I’ve been patient with both of you, but this ends now or I’ll walk away and both of you can play spy by yourselves.”

There is an awkward silence and Percy says, “What are your specific questions?”

“What does Cassius ‘know?’ How and why are we connected? Why am I different from all of you, yet accepted as the same?”

Percy looks to Bryn for approval and receives a nod. “Adriel, I will not avoid your questions, but if you will allow me to continue, the story will answer them naturally.”

I huff through my nose, but yield.

“It was then, nearly four decades ago and after years of gentle probing from that new alliance, when Bryn approached me about this… potential threat. I did not offer my allegiance with immediacy, obviously. Bryn is more my father than my actual father, but to commit treason is a life-changing request. After several evenings of thought and a little personal investigation, I made the choice to join Bryn and Quilici.

“Quilici and I never really communicated in the beginning and Bryn served as the mediator. We were very cautious and did not want anyone to be able to connect the dots. Bryn and I met one evening and he supplied me with a location that Quilici’s informants had discovered. I was asked to find the house, get a head count, learn of their defense surveillance, and gain all the usual information that happens within a strategized mission. During this time we did not live in Frederick County, but had residence in Charleston, South Carolina. So, it was within driving distance to the northern part of Georgia on the outskirts of a small town named Dahlonega.”

I excitedly interrupted. “I know that place. When I lived in Georgia, I passed through there a couple of times. It was beautiful during the winters—covered in white and nestled between mountains.”

She darted her eyes to Bryn and returned them to me. “I’m glad you like it there. It was the place of your birth.”

I am unable to hide my shock. “What?”

She allows me a short moment to absorb this new revelation and then continues as if it wasn’t mentioned. “I spent a couple of nights memorizing security guards, perimeter alarm systems, and the nocturnal feeding habits of the scientist as he came and went. As one would expect, he was very methodical with his routine and it was quite easy to slip in and out unnoticed. There was only one sentry and the security system was primitive. Cassius was back in Charleston participating in council meetings that were unavoidable, so I decided to modify my mission and infiltrate the cabin. It was rather easy getting inside. Of course the sentry didn’t appreciate it when he awoke a night later. I had to scout the cabin quickly because the scientist fed locally and never left for more than an hour.

“I found the basement entrance hidden under the area rug, as it usually is, and followed its path. The stairs led directly to a hallway with drywall painted sterile white and large windows on each side that allowed one to see each room in detail. One was quite impressive with Bunsen burners, large refrigerator units filled with multi-colored vials, and several rooms appeared to be dedicated to research. The basement was at least three times the size of the façade house above. The environment was eerily silent with the soft glow of lighting. At the very end of the hallway was a windowless white door made of metal that looked like a decompression chamber one would find on a ship. It was completely soundproof to ensure no unannounced visitors would hear whatever experiments were being pursued. I knew that was the room that needed my attention. The door was vacuum sealed, like this one, really.” She gives a knowing look to Bryn and shakes her head.

Bryn replies with, “What? Can’t a vampire have a little fun without others listening?”

She gives him a warm smile and resumes the story. “The door handle was more like a steering wheel that no human could have moved. It was designed so that only one of our kind could enter—only our kind has the strength needed to turn the lock. I recall the sound of pressure being released and air righting itself, but most of all, I remember a child crying.” She pauses for a moment, reliving the night. “Against the wall, on the left side of the room, was a hospital bed with one of the most tragic and beautiful creatures I have ever seen. Her arms were littered with needles and tubes feeding her constant sedatives so that her metabolism could not burn. She was frail and emaciated from hunger, but her cavernous black eyes radiated power. Her scent was unfamiliar, not a human, not a waer, and not one of us, either. She was thin and tall; her bare feet hung slightly over the bed. Her skin hinted of a sunlit tan lost over years hidden in the earth. As I was processing the moment it dawned on me that the child was not crying; it was her. They were tears brought on by relief and hope as she looked into me and found empathy. I cautiously walked over to her and noticed the child’s resemblance to his mother.” She looks at me with blazing intensity. “They both shared snow-white hair, but the newborn had near-transparent eyes with only a hint of green.”

I feel the pressure build and fight for control as I scan all my memories for a remnant of an image of her and have no success. The emotions leak from my tight grip and I hold back the flood. “You knew my mother? You know who I am? You knew all this time and never said a word?”

Percy stares at me pleadingly. “Adriel, you were aware that I knew your name and that I had some information concerning your history. If I had shared this with you, Cassius would have found out.”

I calm myself and search for objectivity. “Alright, I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand. So, Cassius never knew it was you who broke in? You said that he
knows
now; what happened to change all of it?”

She relaxes her tense shoulders and releases a breath, easing her tension. Bryn takes this moment to touch her knee, silently encouraging her. I decide now is the perfect opportunity to finish my scotch and drink in every strong scent and taste it offers. My head tingles with gratitude and my body reacts with soothing delight as it runs through my system. I take an extra moment, closing my eyes and disappearing in a childish game of peek-a-boo. When they open, the room seems more pleasant and tranquility has stabilized for the moment.

She says, “He never found out, although he removed any potential I had from being on the Council of War due to his reservations. It was when he was asking you about your travels. You gave a list of places you had visited or lived for the last twenty years:

‘I played safe at first, working my way from New Orleans to Atlanta. After a year or so, I developed the confidence to spend the next two decades experiencing the world. I cashed in a paycheck and bought a ticket to Frankfurt. After several months, I felt something pulling me to Munich, then Paris, and on to Venice, Russia, Spain, finally resting in Africa, with several stops on the way back home.’