The Fledgling (6 page)

“Why are you driving like a maniac?”

He slowed down slightly. “Misha tells me I drive too fast all the time, but I never take him seriously. He can be a bit dramatic.”

She loosened her death grip on the handle. “In this case, he’s not exaggerating.”

Jean Luc slowed down some more, and they rode for a few minutes until the silence threatened to choke her. “Listen. I’m…sorry about last night. I might have overreacted, but I’m used to taking care of myself.”

“After what you have been through, it is understandable.”

He kept his eyes on the road, so she couldn’t read his expression. She cleared her throat before changing the subject. “Are there questions I should avoid asking these vampires?”

“I would not start off with, ‘Are you ripping the throats out of humans?’” He turned then, his eyes crinkled.

“I’m serious.”

“You would speak to them much as you would a human. The only difference is the oldest vampire normally takes command of the situation. Based on Misha’s research, I assume both vampires are younger than I am.” Jean Luc pulled into the driveway. “So let me lead,
s’il vous plait
.”

“Since you asked in French, how can I refuse?”

When they reached the townhouse, Jean Luc rang the bell, and moments later, a female vampire opened the door. She was blond, with delicate features and blue eyes. Her expression suggested she was expecting someone, but it definitely was not them. Talia watched her closely, as Jean Luc had taught her. Her energy was light and her heartbeat sped up a bit when she glanced at Jean Luc. She lowered her eyes in deference.

“Are you Susanna?” he asked.

“Yes. How may I help you?”

“I am Jean Luc Delacroix, and this is my colleague, Talia Walker. We are from the BSR and would like to speak with you for a moment.”

She stepped back and gestured them into the house. “Of course, please come in.”

Jean Luc glanced around the room. “You live with another vampire?”

“Yes.”

“We would like to speak with him as well.”

Her heart sped up even faster. Why was she upset?

Jean Luc narrowed his eyes on the female. “Is he home?”

“Yes. I’ll…go get Adam.”

“It’s okay, Susanna. I’m right here.”

The male vamp walked into the room. He had stopped aging in his mid-thirties and had brown curly hair, which he left long and scruffy around his ears. His eyes were a light blue. So light they were almost silver. He stood next to Susanna and placed his arm around her shoulders. Her heart beat slowed down immediately.

Talia stared at him for a moment. There was something about him…but she couldn’t put a finger on it. It was as though his energy was muted. Like when she masked her energy, but in his case, powerful waves leaked around the edges. Talia concentrated, but she couldn’t hear his heartbeat at all.

Then Jean Luc tensed.

Adam leaned over and kissed Susanna on the cheek. “I think the jig is up.” He closed his eyes for a moment and the floodgates opened. Energy burst from him in a tidal wave, so vast and strong it took Talia’s breath away.

Jean Luc dropped his eyes and actually bent his head forward, as if bowing to the vampire in front of them.

Talia’s mouth fell open as she literally goggled.

“Talia!” Jean Luc hissed.

Adam chuckled softly. “Do not be concerned. At her age, she is like a kitten, and her curiosity will often win out over etiquette.”

Talia frowned. Why was he comparing her to a kitten? And
what
was he?

As if he could hear her thoughts, he spoke, “I am an ancient, pet.”

“A founding vampire?”

Jean Luc opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated until Adam nodded. “He is actually a sire of the founding vampires.”

God, how old
was
he? “Why are you listed as Adam Murphy age two-hundred and eight-five in our database?” Talia asked.

Jean Luc cringed next to her.

Adam smiled. “I like you, kitten. And you are right to ask the question. I try to keep a low profile. I left vampire politics behind centuries ago. Politics are for the young.” He pulled Susanna closer, and she beamed up at him. “I am quite happy living in obscurity.”

“And you wanted him to turn you?” Talia blurted.

Susanna’s eyes widened. “Of course, it is our way.”

Adam frowned slightly. “Who is your sire, Talia?”

Jean Luc spoke then. “She was turned against her will.”

Adam’s eyes tightened and he muttered in some language Talia didn’t understand. He stared hard at her, his silver eyes almost mesmerizing. “I’m sorry. This is difficult for you to believe, after what happened to you, but we’re not all bad.”

Talia wanted to believe him, a hard lump forming in her throat and choking her slightly.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to converse with Jean Luc. May I leave you with Susanna for a moment?”

Talia was confused by the quick change of subject, but she agreed.

Jean Luc and Adam walked out of the room, and Susanna gestured to the couch. “We’ll be more relaxed over here.” They sat down, and she smiled at Talia. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No thank you.”

“Would you like to ask me any questions?”

Talia hesitated, but Susanna’s eyes were kind and her open expression genuine. “Why did you want to be a vampire?”

“I had a very hard life when I was human. No family, and those I thought were friends turned their backs on me when my husband threw me out of the house. Women were property then, and I had few options which would allow me to survive. I finally found work in a bordello, cooking and cleaning for the women there. Women who were in the same situation.

“One night, the madam came to me and said a very rich customer had seen me and wished me to spend the night with him.”

Talia leaned forward slightly. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t know what to do. The madam insisted I must speak with him at least. When I walked into the parlor that night, Adam was waiting for me.”

“And he swept you off your feet?”

“Hardly. He was a bitter, sarcastic ass.”

Talia laughed. “What happened?”

“He acted like he was God’s gift to women, and after a few minutes, I told him as much. I will never forget the look on his face. Shock, followed by indignation, and then he smiled wickedly and walked out of the room without saying another word. What had I done? I was hysterical, terrified I would lose my job.

“The next day, he came back to the house and asked permission to court me. When he finally told me what he was, I was surprised but not afraid of him. It was then that I knew I loved him, and he asked me if I wanted to be turned.”

“And he taught you how to be a vampire?”

Susanna shook her head. “No one can teach you how to be a vampire. They can explain our ways and help you assimilate, but you are a vampire the moment you are turned. Each one of us has strengths and weaknesses as humans and as vampires. We just need to embrace our strengths and work with them.”

“Jean Luc said something similar to me.”

Susanna grinned. “Jean Luc is a powerful vampire in his own right. I could feel his strength the moment I opened the door. He is helping you?”

“Yes.”

“And you like him?”

Talia hesitated.

“Of course you’re being cautious, but Adam was right earlier. Not all vampires are bad. Has Jean Luc been good to you?”

“Very much.”

“Listen to what he has to say. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he is very good looking and toe-curling sexy.”

Talia’s mouth dropped open. “It’s a good thing Adam isn’t here.”

Susanna giggled. “Oh, Adam knows he is my true love. But it doesn’t hurt to look. And he can hear everything I’m saying to you even from the other room. He has ears like a bat…don’t you, dear?”

* * *

Adam tilted his head to the side and smiled slightly, as if he found something amusing, before returning his attention to Jean Luc. They were in Adam’s office, which was full of enough antiquities to rival any museum’s prized collections.

He motioned for Jean Luc to take a seat at the mahogany desk. “Let’s talk about why you’re here.”

“There is a supernatural killing humans. One of the humans who was killed worked at the gym where you and Susanna are members, and the other was a customer there.”

“I heard Nicholas recently assigned members of the BSR to work in the city.”

“I thought you were no longer involved in politics.”

“That is indeed the case, but it doesn’t mean I keep my head in the sand. Information is power, even more than the sword. You are interrogating the supernatural clients at the gym?”

“Yes. Had I known you were an ancient…”

“What would you have done differently? Both Susanna and I could have killed those humans easily.”

“But you did not.”

“No, my inclination for bloodlust died a millennia ago. Is there any way I might help you?”

“You could give me your impressions of the other supernaturals at the gym, and if you feel one of them would be capable of this.”

“Of course.” Adam picked up a brass compass from his desk and studied it for a moment. “If I remember correctly, you were quite instrumental in the passing of certain laws during the Tribunal.”

“Yes.”

“Many wanted you to run for council, but you vanished.”

“I was not interested in politics.”

Adam narrowed his eyes. “I certainly understand. And now you work for Nicholas.”

Jean Luc shrugged. “I thought it better to serve our people by helping keep our secret. The consequences of exposure are too dire.”

“So you are a male of action, then. I respect that. Who was your sire?”

Now they had arrived at the real question. “Pierre LeBlanc.”

Adam’s fingers tightened around the compass. “You were turned during The Wars.” His eyes tightened on Jean Luc. “Were you forced?”

“Yes. Pierre needed more soldiers for his army. He was losing, and the other vampires who had supported him fled.”

“Like rats from a sinking ship. So you are well equipped to teach Talia of our kind.”

“I believe so, yes. Is this why you wished to speak alone?”

“I wanted to give Talia the opportunity to spend time with Susanna. Sometimes a female needs the ear of another female to help her heal. Talia will not let you close until she releases her feelings of hurt and betrayal.”

Jean Luc shook his head. “I would not take advantage of her in such a way.”

“It is not taking advantage if she wants you as well. Don’t deny your feelings, Jean Luc. I spent too many centuries thinking I was better off isolated from others. When I met Susanna, I realized I had been an idiot. Human or supernatural, we’re not meant to be alone.”

Chapter 9

Jean Luc drove toward the gym, and Talia sat in silence, letting her thoughts percolate. She and Susanna had discussed quite a few things during their short time together, and Talia was still trying to process it. But she couldn’t hope to make sense of it all now, especially since she was more concerned about why Jean Luc appeared as contemplative as she did.

“What did you and Adam talk about?”

He glanced over at her then just as quickly went back to watching the road. “We spoke of the murders, and I asked for his opinion of who the killer might be.”

“And?”

“And he agreed with Misha. The two demons, Cassandra Williams and David Townsend, are the most likely culprits. He said they both behave strangely from time to time, as if they have a secret.”

Talia shrugged. “Isn’t it true for all of us? We don’t tell humans what we are. We all lead double lives.”

Jean Luc slowed and pulled to the side of the road. “Yes, we do. But we do not have to hide from other supernaturals. These past five years have been even more difficult for you because you have hidden from us as well. You do not need to do so any longer.”

She nodded, turning away to blink back the tears.
Damn, she wouldn’t cry.

“Talia, look at me.”

She swiveled slowly in the seat.

“I, too, was turned against my will.”

She sucked in a sharp breath but remained silent, sensing that if she said anything he might not continue. He stared at his hands for a moment, seeming to collect himself. When he met her gaze again, his dark eyes were bleak and almost black with pain.

“Do you know any vampire history?”

“Only what you have told me.”

“Vampires have been around for millennia. For the most part, they have avoided exposure to humans. It is less messy that way. But there was a time when discord amongst the vampire elite sparked a civil war. Fighting was brutal, and humans became collateral damage.” He swallowed hard. “My small village was destroyed.”

Her chest tightened. “Your family?”