The Touch Series: Initiation (25 page)

              Perrie had already started going through a stack of paperwork on a dusty desk. “So, how exactly did that scroll come into your hands? It doesn't look like something you would pick up from the library, now does it?”

              I ignored the warning looks that Artie was shooting me, as I was prepared to say anything that would possibly matter in the circumstance to Perrie. And I didn't so much care about protecting Artie from any wrath he would receive from Josef for allowing me to poke around his house. It was honestly the least of my concerns. Plus, maybe Josef would let it go given our relationship status.

              “I took it from a member of the Constane family, Josef Constane. He doesn't know that I took it though, so if we could not talk about this with anyone outside of this room then that would be much appreciated.”

              Perrie quickly glanced up at me and frowned. “Josef Constane? Really? So, you just happened to have been in his grand Pine Glen manor and 'took it'.” She noticed Artie's strange manner as he started to peruse  her cabinets and ignore the conversation all together. “How do you know him, Quinn?”

              “Well he's Artie's friend and I joined this club of his where he employs girls to keep him company in exchange for whatever we want.” At the sight of her eyebrow rising, I quickly waved my hands up. “Oh no, it's not like that. We were pretty much just arm candies. Right, Artie?”

              He dropped a stack of scrolls he was looking at back into a cabinet and shut it. He turned to smile at me. “Yes, that's right. And that's enough talk now.”

              “I don't care what you do for recreational purposes or who you hang out with, but your connection to any Constane member is more than just a coincidence. Come on, there has to be more to it.” Perrie's tone was demanding and concerning at the same time. “A Constane just happens to move to the small town of Richmond that is famous for it's Banana Toffee Pie and you happen to live here too. You, the descendent of a species that family went psycho over losing in the first place. That doesn't strike you as, um, I don't know, freakishly odd?”

              I hadn't even thought about it that way before. Could she be right? Could Josef's presence in this town mean more than just settling for business? Could he have been on the hunt at that very minute for the descendant? Did he know it was me? Had he been playing me the whole time?

              Artie was shaking his head. “You don't know what you're talking about. That's ridiculous. Josef hasn't even been in contact with his family for decades. He hates what they planned to do to the mermaids and what they did to countless other innocent people simply to gain power for themselves. He would have nothing to do with this.”

              I looked him straight in the eye and my lips quivered at the fear of the truth. “Artie, why did he come here then? He could have set up his business anywhere? Why here?”

              Artie looked shocked at my question and shook his head in disbelief once again. “Quinn, he likes to travel and settle down in different places. Cities or small-towns. It doesn't matter. He doesn't even make those decisions. It has always been a group thing between him, me, Jacob, Sarah and Gwen. Always has been. Plus, Richmond is known to be one of the friendliest places for vampires to live in. That's a fact. This town made Expedia's 'Friends to Fangs' list, for goodness sakes.”

              My panic calmed slightly since he was right; Richmond was always a welcome place for vampires. The town really did have one of the highest percentages of vampire population in the Midwest. Hopefully, that was the real reason why Josef had relocated here. Anything else would not only be horrifying but heart-breaking as well. “Okay, I actually believe you. I'm sorry. I'm just freaking out.”             

              “I know it all sounds crazy and strange that you and Josef have this thing in common but he is a good guy Quinn, and you know that. So, now let's just start with finding a way to get out of this mess.” He glared at Perrie before situating himself against a shelf and rubbing his forehead out of frustration.

              “What exactly are we doing or looking for here?” It was time to act. There was no time to think about or deal with the matter between Josef and I.

              “I'm trying to find  any information that would help us protect you from the Constante's.” Perrie turned the pages in a thick and old book quickly without having to pause at a single page. “Found it.”

              Both me and Artie became more alert than we had been before and walked up closer to Perrie. “What does it say?” Was there even a way for me to get out of this...alive?

              Perrie mumbled to herself as she read a page that appeared to be written in Latin. “Just as I thought.”

              “What? What is it? What do we do?”

              Perrie looked up at Artie. “We would have to kill the entire Constane bloodline.”

                                                                                                  ***

              “What?” Artie snatched the book from Perrie's lap and went through it. “This is ridiculous. This obviously won't work. Try something else.”

              “There isn't anything else, not against a powerful family like that. The only way to stop them from coming for her is to kill them. And we have to kill them all together, otherwise it won't work just to kill them individually. Each ancient vampire family linked its bloodline magically, as a form of protection. So many vampire families, like the Constane's, have complete immortality. Even a stab to the heart won't kill just one of them.” Perrie furiously pointed to a section of the book. “It's all in here. Are you going to tell me that my witch ancestors wrote lies?”

              “We don't even know if it's really a Constane who is behind this! It could be one of their old enemies who took part in killing the mermaids.” His eyes turned black, and purple and black veins appeared just below his eyes. His anger was being pushed too far; his vampire side was overtaking him.

              Perrie took a step back. “Because the Constane family was known to be ruthless and would harm any human who got in their way of gaining power. And I still think it's not a coincidence that a Constane is here.”

              “Find a different way.” Artie shoved the book into Perrie arms and started to pace the room.

              “Why are you trying to protect them? The Constane's have a bad name within the vampire community. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if they were completely wiped out?” Perrie muttered.

              “Not all of them are bad. Josef is not and he doesn't deserve this. And how do you expect to go up against  a powerful family like that? They would kill you at first sight before you even whispered a word.” Perrie fell silent as if she knew he was right.

              “But Josef was adopted. This wouldn't affect him even if we did somehow manage getting rid of them.” I didn't know what I was saying.
Killing!
How was this word and idea in my mind? How were we even contemplating and talking about killing anyone? And Josef?!

              “When they adopted him they turned him using their vampire blood. Their blood runs in him. So this can't work.” he whispered and his voice broke me more. “But, again, we have no evidence that a Constane is involved at all in this.” His eyes had turned back to normal.

              “Perrie, we can't do this. Can we try to find another way, please?

              She rolled her eyes and began to go through the book again.

              There had to be another way. There simply had to be.

              And maybe Artie was right, maybe the Constane family really had nothing to do with this.

                                                                      CHAPTER nineteen

              Hours passed. Groans and sighs were heard. The light in the room slowly diminished. Hopes dashed with every passing second. Artie helped Perrie go through all of her witch grimoires and random scrolls that had been passed down in her family.

              I, on the other hand, had spent –  what felt like hours –  playing with matches and contemplating how I had found myself in such a completely ridiculous and scary situation. I was normal yesterday and today my life had turned upside down and the only way to go back and survive was to kill Josef. He didn't deserve this. He shouldn't suffer for his family's actions. That could not be possible. I would not let that happen. Even if that meant putting my own life at risk –

              Artie dumped a book on the floor and threw his arms up in the air. “That's it. I think we need to find another witch.”

              Perrie snorted and dumped her book down, too. “The only witch that would help you against one of the first major vampire families would be a centuries old witch who has lived as long as they have and who acquired magical abilities that my entire bloodline could not even possibly dream of.”

              “Thanks.” I muttered in the corner of the room. They both turned to me and looked sad. “I don't need your pity. It is what it is. We live in a messed up world, right?”

              “Look, we will find someone or something to help.” Artie came up and kneeled next to me. “I have met many  witches in my lifetime. I just need to find them and see what they say. In the meantime, we will put a protective spell to mask your scent so that no one could ever sense that you're the descendant.”

              “Yes, we can do that. But it will only be a temporary solution.” Perrie shouted out, to which Artie hushed her.

              “And another thing,” Artie got up and walked around the room. “Perrie will be with you at all times, if and when possible.”

              I was going to argue against it but Perrie beat me to it. “Hell no! My family has been at her family's service and many vampires before you. I'm not going to be a babysitter now, too!”

              He shrugged casually. “If you don't then Quinn won't agree to end the link between your families. And you know that that would only happen if you help her.”

              I loved that Artie was so protective but I didn't feel it was right for Perrie to be dragged into this mess even more. “Artie, no. It's fine. And it would just look awkward going around with her hanging around me.”

              Artie shook his head in defiance. “You two will pretend to be BFF's or whatever. You'll go shopping together, go to parties, meet each other on campus between classes, share a milkshake, yada – yada. That's all. Just for a while until we figure this out more and I get more information.” He fixed his tie. “I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. You both need something from eachother so you both need to compromise.”

              Perrie stood up in a huff and pointed her finger at Artie. “Listen – ”

             
Thud.

             
The arguments stopped suddenly by the sound of something falling onto the floor from another room in the house. 

              Perrie frowned and looked puzzled. “Everyone left. And my grandmother is sleeping. Hold on, I need to check on her.”

              When she left, I was about to resume arguing with Artie who knew exactly what I was about to start saying since he waved me off. “I said that this isn't up for discussion.”

              Fast running footsteps approached the room. “She's gone. I think she wandered off again. I need to go out to the forest.” Perrie said apologetically.

              In a second, slow motioned footsteps were heard from above us. All three of us looked up and listened to the quiet circular motions.

              Artie clapped his hands. “She's upstairs. Case solved.”

              “No, that's not her.” Perrie whispered eerily and slowly backed out of the room.

              I felt that I needed to stay behind as it wasn't my place to get involved. But I ran out once Artie began to follow Perrie. We ended going up to the attic which was closed. Perrie knocked and slowly opened the door.

              Once the door was wide open, Artie stepped in front of us. It was a spacious room filled with clutter: furniture pieces stacked against one another and stacks of boxes up against a wall. It was an ordinary attic, with no one inside it. Where did the sound of the steps come from? All three of us could not have just imagined it.

              “Okay, what the hell was that?” My apparent look and sound of fear went unnoticed by both of them who looked stoic and looked around the floor of the room. “I have had enough of crazy today, so I would like to go home now. Come on, Artie.”