The Vampire Legacy III; Familiar Souls (9 page)

He picked his head up, after being
flung to the ground by the blast, and was sitting on a chair at the
burial of his two closest mortal friends. Their small, but powerful
child, holding his hand tightly as she sat to his left. She looked
over the two mahogany coffins with a straight face, and then she
looked up at Michael.

“
Are you going to be my
daddy, now?” She whispered to him. Michael looked at her and hugged
her close to him as they watched the caskets being lowered, he
wished he could, but from what the police had told him, Sage’s
parents were dead before the fire started and that meant that Sage
would be in trouble. Sage’s aunt and uncle agreed to take her, care
for her as long as they could. Michael agreed to help them with the
expenses and sent them money for her clothing and school, and paid
them some for living expenses.

He visited her often, but mostly at
night and away from her family. She knew who he was and what he
meant to her, and her to him, but it had been six years ago that he
stopped talking to her, verbally, because there was a threat to her
existence if he didn’t leave her be. Now, he needed her there so
that he could protect her, and he prayed that she returned to him,
safely.

Michael rolled over on the grass and
looked at bare toes, dirty bare toes. He looked up and smiled at
Jack, who smiled down at him. The two year old seemed full of
mischief and touched Michael on the head, then ran off to chase the
small birds that lived off the land there. Michael sat up and
looked at Ashley as she walked towards him. She smiled and sat down
on the grass beside him, then looked over the water.

“
Thinking about her?” She
asked. Michael nodded.

“
She’s all I have left of
Douglas and Yvette.” Michael sighed. He looked up at the sky and
sighed.

“
So, why would they be
after her if she’s just a normal girl?” Ashley
questioned.

“
She’s not normal.”
Michael smiled and thought of how she used to overpower him, just
by a look. “She’s part of me.”

“
In what way?” Ashley
asked. Michael looked at her and shook his head. “What did you
do?”

“
The doctor called it a
blood interlace.” Michael sighed. “And, it was the only way to save
her life.”

“
How?”

“
When Yvette, her mother,
was 33 weeks pregnant, they were in a massive car crash, involving
a tracker trailer and a bus. Yvette was in a coma, Douglas, her
husband, was almost in a complete body cast. They weren’t sure if
either of them was going to live, but Sage’s heart was beating
normally, so they kept Yvette alive for the baby’s sake. I had
legal custody of Sage if either of them should die, so she wasn’t
without a family. When Yvette woke up, two weeks later, Sage’s
heart rate dropped, and the doctor knew that there was internal
bleeding in the womb.”

“
Why didn’t they just take
her out?”

“
It wasn’t that easy,
because Sage was the one that was bleeding. Michael closed his eyes
and breathed in deeply. “The doctor wasn’t easy to convince when I
told him that I could save her. He thought I was nuts, but I showed
him just what I was. He was very professional about it. He’d never
done it before, any kind of procedure that involved a blood
transfusion in the uterus. He told Douglas and Yvette what would be
involved and explained the risks and I explained the risks to them
of tying their daughter to me that closely.

“
They didn’t seem to care
about the dangers. This child meant everything to them and whatever
had to be done was going to be done.” Michael looked at Ashley and
smiled. “The whole procedure took almost seven hours, but we
watched as the bleeding stopped, and the doctor kept me up to date
about how the transfusion worked. It seemed that when my blood was
introduced to Sage’s, they didn’t want to work together, so what
happened was that my blood cells wove together with hers, creating
something very powerful. A mortal with vampire blood unlike
anything that anyone’s ever seen. She had the power to heal herself
the way we do, without even knowing it.

“
I waited another six
weeks to see that little girl. They didn’t induce Yvette, thinking
that the longer Sage stayed in that blood enriched atmosphere the
better. Her weight went up quickly after the procedure, and she
arrived perfectly healthy and without one shred of vampire evidence
on her. Her blood, if looked at closely would give her away. The
doctor was kind enough to destroy all of the samples taken from
Sage and myself during this.”

“
So, if you think about
it, she’s like a daughter.” Ashley smiled. Michael looked at her
and nodded. “She’s your daughter, Mike.”

“
I know and that blood tie
itself could get her killed.” Michael sighed and shook his head,
then turned and looked at Jack who was holding a small bird in his
hand. “How has Jack been for you?”

“
The effects of Victor’s
tinkering with his blood seem to have worn off; they started too
shortly after we left. It’s just good to be home. I can’t tell you
just how much I missed this place while I was gone.” Ashley smiled
and took his hand. “Did you ever tell Julian about our
visits?”

“
No, there was so much
that happened. Angel. Jason and Issac, the triangle that the three
of them created was almost too much for Julian to keep up with.
Quinn’s granddaughter has a lot of fire in her, just like you did
when you came back to us.” Michael said and smiled.

“
So, where are they
now?”

“
Oh, last I heard Jason
and Angel were just about to leave for Egypt. Apparently, Louis
invited them to stay for a bit.” Michael smiled. “Imagine seeing a
family that you thought you never had, meeting blood relatives
after so long. She thought she was the last.”

“
So, who are you thinking
about?”

“
Justin.” Michael sighed.
“I was wondering where he might be, what kind of trouble he was
causing and for whom.”

“
IS he really that
bad?”

“
Cristian thinks so, but,
I think something went wrong with him during the transformation.”
Michael shook his head. “If I knew where he was, I’d ask him to
come here too, not that he would.”

“
So, ask Cristian when he
gets here, maybe he’s seen him.” Ashley smiled and lay back on the
grass. Michael looked down at her and then lay down beside
her.

“
There’s going to be
trouble, isn’t there?” Michael questioned as he looked up at the
clouds. “So many different people in this house once
again.

“
They’ll learn to get
along.” Ashley said and glanced at him. “You worry too
much.”

“
Ah, I always have. Old
habits die hard.” He smiled and closed his eyes.

“
This isn’t going to hurt
that much, right?” Cristian’s voice invaded his thoughts, as
memories rose to the surface. He saw himself, Cristian, and Justin
all sitting on the roof of Charles’s home, looking over the forest,
listening to the sounds of the war that wasn’t so far
off.

“
Don’t be such a baby.”
Justin said as he pulled out his knife from his boot. “You’re such
a child. Be a man, take the pain.”

“
Let him be, Justin.”
Michael smiled at the two of them. “Come on, let’s get on with it.
Charles will be here soon.”

“
So, how do we do this?”
Cristian asked. Justin rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Well,
I’ve never done this before, have you?”

“
You cut your hand, like
this.” Justin said and slid the knife across his palm, slicing it
open. He watched the blood bubble out then handed the knife to
Michael, who did the same. Michael looked at Cristian, who
hesitated, then took the knife and cut his own palm. “Now.” Justin
instructed. “We have to shake hands.”

“
That’s easy.” Michael
said and shook his hand, suddenly feeling the overwhelming
pulsating feeling as their blood mingled. When Michael pulled away,
Justin turned and grabbed Cristian’s hand and shook it. He watched
the expression on Cristian’s face as he too felt the strange
feeling that Justin seemed to be passing to them. Cristian let go
of Justin’s hand then turned and looked at Michael. Slowly,
cautiously, their hands connected and they looked at each other as
the pulse passed between them also. Michael let him go, and then
looked at Justin. “My blood is your blood.”

“
And mine is
yours.”

“
And mine to both of you.”
Cristian added. Justin looked at him and smiled “So, now it is
done. We’re blood brothers, linked for the rest of our
lives.”

“
Our blood ties us to one
another.” Justin said and smiled. He got up, grabbed the knife and
walked away. Michael looked at Cristian, and then at his own blood
stained hand.

“
Did you feel it?”
Cristian asked.

“
I thought it was Justin.”
Michael said and looked away.

“
I did too, but then it
happened to us.”

“
After we touched him
though.” Michael shook his head, “Maybe that was a
mistake.”

“
Why are you always so
skeptical about Justin?”

“
There’s just something in
his eyes.”

“
Darkness?”

“
Yes, you see it
too?”

“
Only when he looks at me
when I say something stupid.” Cristian replied. “He’s not all bad.
He saved a girl from a fire once.”

“
When was
this?”

“
Just before he came to
live with us. Charles thought he was courageous. I think he was
robbing the place and set the fire himself.”

“
You’ve got an overactive
imagination.” Michael smiled and then looked out at the night. “I
think he’s just a loner.”

“
Yeah, that could be it
to. Do you think he felt the pulse?”

“
He must have, unless he
was the one doing it.”

“
Michael.” Cristian smiled
and patted him on the shoulder with his clean hand. “Grow up. You
can’t fight demons your whole life, now can you?”

“
I guess you’re right.”
Michael said and jumped down. The two of them walked away from that
spot and went down the ladder, off the roof.

Michael opened his eyes and looked over
at Ashley, who was standing up watching Jack. He closed his eyes
and went back to the darkness behind his eyelids, except that there
was no darkness at all, but a sudden flash of bright light. When
the light cleared, he saw himself standing there, looking back at
him.

“
It’s only a mirror,
Michael, don’t look so baffled.” Justin’s voice laughed at him.
Michael looked away from his reflection, over at his blood
brothers, and then walked towards them. “What happened? You were
standing there admiring yourself for almost five
minutes.”

“
I was just thinking.” he
replied as the three of them walked away from the mirrors. “Do you
think we should be here, you know how Charles feels about these
gypsy fairs.”

“
Who cares what Charles
thinks? He’s out of town.” Cristian laughed Michael nodded and
watched as Justin disappeared into the crowd. “Now, where do you
think he’s going?”

“
Probably saw some girl
and decided to get acquainted.” Michael said and walked beside
Cristian.

“
Do you think girls really
go for that dark and mysterious act that he puts on?” Cristian
asked. Michael stopped him and pointed to a spot between the tents.
They both looked at Justin, who was kissing some gypsy
girl.

“
I guess that would be
your answer.” Michael replied.

“
How does he do that?”
Cristian smiled and the two of them walked away.

There was a knock on the door later
that evening. Michael sat up and put down the book, then looked at
Cristian, who did the same. Joseph, the butler stepped in the room
and looked at them.

“
What is it?” Michael
asked.

“
There’s a gentleman here
who says he’s the Sheriff and would like to speak with you two.”
Joseph replied.

“
Well, show him in.”
Cristian replied. The two of them stood up as the Sheriff and two
of his deputies walked in. Michael looked quickly at Cristian, then
back at them. “Can we help you?”

“
You boys home alone,
tonight?” Sheriff William Brody asked.

“
Yes, sir.” Michael
replied. “Charles, urn, Mr. Creekson is out of town until tomorrow.
Is there a problem?’

“
Actually, yes.” He
replied and Michael watched as one of the deputies handed the
sheriff a piece of paper. Sheriff Brody handed it to Michael who
looked at the sketch of the girl. “This young woman disappeared
from the fair earlier today and we were told that the last person
she was seen with was Justin Tudorian. Is he home?”

Michael scanned the house, searching
for Justin’s presence. He found him, up on the second floor, in his
bedroom, sleeping. Michael looked quickly at Cristian, who gave a
quick glance to him, and then both of them looked at the
sheriff.

“
He’s upstairs, sir.
Sleeping.” Michael replied.