The Legacy of Kilkenny (27 page)

“It’s a complicated situation with them.
 
They blame your great-grandfather Patrick for the death of their family.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.
 
They would be just as guilty, because they left too.”
 
I stood up and started pacing the room.

“True, they did leave.
 
They claim Patrick had promised to find a safe place for them to hide.
 
It is said that he told them he worked out a deal with one of the vamps and were told if they stayed away and didn’t bother the vampires they would respect their Pack.”
 
He shook his head.
 
“Patrick traveled back to Louisiana to tell his family of the treaty that had been agreed upon.
 
He traveled for days trying to find them when he learned of their death.
 
The vampire that had made the agreement had been staked, the other vampires believed the werewolves had staked him because it happened in his nest.
 
It is unknown if they had anything to do with
Audric’s
staking.
 
That was his name
Audric
, he was from Paris and apparently was a very old vampire.”

“I don’t get it; that means the family could have had something to do with the staking of
Audric
, so they are the guilty ones.”
 

“Yes, you’re right love, but they don’t feel that way.
 
They think Patrick had more information and he didn’t share it with them.
 
They blame him for not traveling up to Maine and telling them of the demise of their family.
 
It was mid-winter, not the best travel in the 1800s winter time to Maine.”
 
He grabbed a beer out of the bar taking a big drink.
 
“It is the Jackson Pack, that’s their name, Jackson.”

“Is Parker related to them?
 
There’s always such mystery surrounding him, is he one of them?”
 
I demanded.

“Yes, he is a Jackson.
 
Before you get all mighty and righteous, he left with his mother when he was just eight years old.
 
His mother died on their journey across the country, he knew she was trying to find
us
and after a few years it was brought to our attention there was a young
were
without any guidance traveling alone, so we searched for him and he was brought in.
 
He is loyal to us, I assure you of that.”
 
He finished off his beer and opened another.
 
“Prudence, this is classified information and I trust you won’t confront Parker.
 
You are not to contact them. They will not be receptive to you.
 
They would be very dangerous to Abel until he shifts, so don’t go looking for trouble.
 
That is a direct order, just in case you weren’t aware.”

I rolled my eyes, another one of those attributes that wouldn’t be tolerated from another member of the Pack.
 
“Yes dad, I am fully aware.
 
I don’t like it, and I don’t trust Parker but I’ll leave it.”
 
I kissed his forehead and picked up my jean jacket.
 
“I have to get to bed. I love you, just in case you were unaware.”
 
I winked at him.

“I love you too, Prudence.
 
I thought you were spending the night tonight.”
 
He looked at me skeptically.

“I
was
but I have a feeling I’ll need a long run and won’t get much sleep.
 
I better just drive back tonight that way I won’t have to worry about the long drive and being super tired.
 
I’ll let you know how things go tomorrow night.”
 
I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

“Good night honey.”
 
He hugged me.

“Good night daddy.”
 
I squeezed him back.

As planned I went to Stillwater to meet up with Allie.
 
I knocked on her apartment door and was literally absent of breath when Arien answered.
 
He was not the least bit surprised I was there.
 
“Hi Arien, is Allie here?”
 
I tried my best to sound cheerful and not let on about my surprise.

“She should be back any minute. I’m just sitting here with her mother Natalie.
 
Please come in.” He smirked at me.

“Hi Nat” I leaned over and gave her a hug trying to smell any indication of Arien biting her.
 
“I didn’t know you were coming out here.
 
We could’ve car pooled.”
 
My brain was scrambling to figure out why she was here alone.

“I’m sorry Pru, it was the funniest thing, I was in my car driving and missed my exit. Somehow I ended up headed this way.
 
I was already half way here when I realized what had happened and thought I’d come on out anyway.”
 
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled at me with her perfectly
lipsticked
lips.
 
“I knew you girls were going to do a trial run for prom and I thought it would be a good girl’s night in.
 
I can’t wait to see what you’re wearing.
 
Arien was here when I got here, he is such a delightful story teller.”
 
She patted the seat on the couch next to her signaling for me to sit down.

I sat down without hesitation, trying to reach Oakley or anyone from the Pack telepathically to no avail.
 
“I’m sure he
is
a delightful story teller.
 
Arien what story were you telling, I’d love to hear it too.”
 
I tried my hardest not to sound snarky, but sometimes snarky is called for, this was one of those times when a
were
has to entertain a
vampire.

“Oh, he was telling me this idea for a book he had regarding werewolves and vampires.
 
I guess the vampires are the victims and the werewolves are some type of devil creature that must be erased from civilization.
 
He thought it would be great to include Louisiana and Oklahoma.
 
You know how those Anne Rice books had the vampires in Louisiana?
 
He would just play off of that.
 
Do I have the story right Arien?”
 
She looks over to him, obviously smitten with his vampire charm.

“Yes, that is pretty much the story in a nutshell.”
 
He looked over at me and winked.

For the love of all things sacred, just what I need, him telling stories to Abel’s mom.
 
Fantastic!
 
“I’m not really good with
those
type of stories, the gory stuff creeps me out.
 
I prefer a love story.”

Natalie patted my leg saying. “Oh this is a love’s lost story and how the girl turns into a vampire spending the rest of eternity with her love.
 
There was the gory part about how the vampire did kill her whole family but they did try to interfere with his destiny.
 
It gives me
goosebumps
just talking about it.
 
Arien, I think you really have something there.” She practically swooned.
 
I’m not 100% sure what swooning is, but I’m sure Natalie was all over Arien, and he knew it too.

Really?
 
This is how my day is going to go?
 
I’ve got a
psychotic vampire
telling fables to the Great Wolf’s mother, her being hoodwinked into believing it is all make believe and that he is writing a book about it.
 
I wish someone would just put me out of my misery.

“Yeah, that sounds a little farfetched for me.”
 
I look at Arien without an expression.
 
I knew he wanted me to go into panic mode and make a mistake.
 
I was damned if he was going to see me falter.

“I’ve always enjoyed a little bit of gore with my love stories.
 
I’ve never really liked the whole werewolf thing, they’re so disgusting but you can’t have vampires without werewolves.
 
You’d be surprised what people will do for love, vampires are lovers and fighters.
 
Nasty old werewolves are just dogs with glowing eyes.
 
Definitely not lover materiel.”
 
Arien stood and went to the kitchen.
 
“Would either of you ladies like a little drink?
 
There is some V8 in here, oh and some diet cokes, I don’t know why women insist on drinking that nastiness, but it’s your choice.”

“I’m fine.”
 
I said.
 
“I’m going to run down to the drug store for some eyeliner.
 
Nat would you like to ride with me.” Please
please
please
say yes.
 
I can’t leave her alone with a vampire that apparently has some type of spell over her.

“No dear, I think I’ll just sit here and talk with Arien.
 
Allie should be here any minute. I just sent her a text message to tell her we are here.”
 
She turned and looked at Arien “Allie was surprised to hear you were over. I didn’t understand her text but she didn’t think she would see you until tomorrow.”

He smiled at Natalie “Oh that’s true, I wanted to bring over these flowers for her to liven up the place.
 
I left a gift box on her bed; it’s a dress she was admiring in one of those silly fashion magazines she likes so much.
 
Natalie, as much as I’d love to stay and talk, I do have an important meeting to get too.”
 
He bowed his head at me. “Pru, it was delightful seeing you as always.”
 
He bowed towards Nat. “It was a pure pleasure meeting you Natalie, the beautiful Alyssa’s mom.”

He and I walked out of the house at the same time.
 
I’d love to know how he is out on a sunny day without sunglasses, very interesting.

“The beautiful Prudence Phelan, just having the opportunity to watch you squirm makes my heart smile.”
 

Oh I wanted to drop kick him.
 
“What is your game Arien?”
 
I remotely started my car.

“No game dear, trust me, I’m a champion when it comes to games.
 
If you have the Great Wolf and you turn him over to me, I’ll let Allie go, pretty simple.”
 

So they don’t know who the Great Wolf is.
 
Yay
, we score a point.
 
“That is all a fable Arien, one to keep weres optimistic about their existence.
  
What does Allie have to do with any of it anyway?”

“Well since your little pack of dogs is harder to infiltrate than expected, we decided a family friend would be just as good.
 
A bargaining chip as some would say.” He points to Allie’s car as she is pulling in.
 
“You should see your face, isn’t it lovely how she revels in the richness and extravagance?
 
Her last heartbeat will be soon and she will live as a nightwalker if you don’t tell us where the Great Wolf is.
 
I’ll personally go to Ireland and talk to the mutts there if I have too.
 
Your call.
 
By the way, keep those witches away.”

I waved at Allie and mouthed to her that I’ll be right back.
 
I called my dad to let him know we had to boost our security immediately.
 
I told him later I’d come out and we can all meet in his private room.
 

Dammit
, why can’t anything just go as planned.
 
I’m really tired of thinking I’ve got a good grasp of the situation just to have the rug pulled out from under me.

ABEL

I answer the door on the second buzz of the doorbell.
 
“Hey Oak, Bryon and I are just about to cook some burgers out on the grill with my dad.
 
Come on in.
 
How many burgers do you want, I’ll make up some patties.”

“I’ll take a couple, thanks.
 
I never get a chance to see your dad, this’ll be cool.”
 
He tosses his jacket on the back of the couch.
 
Everything he does, always comes across as cool, I’d like to learn
that.

“All the pretty women are out of the house, you aren’t here to see my ugly mug are you?”
 
I like the idea of a guy night; Pru is fun but I need to burp and be a guy sometimes.