The Way of Escape (23 page)

Thank you, God.

“I wanted to stare at the sky for hours after I became a vampire,” Augustus divulged. “Being able to truly see the beauty of this world is one of vampirism’s greatest gifts.”

“And yet some people aren’t content with that,” I breathed as the stench of death I’d awakened to became more potent thanks to a shift in the cool nighttime breeze. “Do you know if any coven members are still alive?”

“I’m not sure if any vampires survived, but I do know that the humans reached civilization.”

I whipped around to face Augustus, the sky immediately losing its hold on me.

“Do you know if Connor made it?”

“Yes, he is alive and well.”

I beamed and threw my arms around Augustus, not fighting the tears of joy that rolled down my cheeks. However, being that close to Augustus again and hearing his heart pounding reminded me of the craving I’d experienced when I first awakened. My gums ached slightly and I felt my canines begin to elongate into fangs, but I pulled away. Once I placed some distance between us, my thirst waned into nothingness and my teeth returned to their normal state just as the pulsating, oscillating sound of a helicopter reached my ears and provided a blessed distraction from Augustus’ heartbeat.

“Your self-control is remarkable,” he marveled, “but you
do
need to drink soon.”

“I know. I just don’t want to do it here.”

“Then let’s plan on you having your first drink when we board the plane in Haiti. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

I turned my eyes to the sea and watched The Vampire League’s helicopter approach … also keeping my eyes and ears open for any approaching survivors. While I wasn’t sure how much damage the house had sustained or how many vampires remained on the island, I seriously doubted that anyone would want to stay on Emmanuel’s island without a roof over his head or a warm human body in his bed. Thankfully, no snarling, unrecognizably burnt coven members broke through the tree line to board the helicopter when it finally landed.

Augustus grabbed my hand and we ducked down slightly as we ran beneath the rotating blades to the open door and climbed inside to join the two men who already sat in the cabin. An older black man was piloting the helicopter and the twenty-something white man with him immediately handed us what looked like heavy duty versions of the noise cancelling headphones I had back home. Even though my ears had adjusted to the roar of the rotating blades, I was still happy to have my newly sensitive albeit self-regulating ears further protected.

“Is this everyone, my lord,” the pilot asked.

“Yes, no one else will be joining us,” Augustus answered while the two of us strapped ourselves in.

The pilot took us up and I peered out my window, watching as Emmanuel’s devastated island and the smoldering remains of his home shrank with every foot we ascended into the fall sky.

“Clara, this is our pilot, Frantz Vidal, and Kieran Johnson. Both are vampires from my line,” Augustus said. “Gentleman, this is Clara Robinson.”

Frantz was preoccupied with his duties, so I shook hands with his younger counterpart, whose dark waves were just long enough in the front to fall into his brown eyes and add to his boyish appearance. He gave me a quick once over and smiled warmly as he leaned back and relaxed in his seat.

“This is your first night as a vampire, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, welcome to the family. It’ll be nice to have a younger sister of sorts.”

“If she’s your sister, that makes me her father. That’s not a title I’m comfortable with,” Augustus chuckled.

“I bet,” Kieran said. “So how was your first feeding?”

“I haven’t done it yet.”

“What?”

“Clara’s self-control is quite unprecedented,” Augustus explained. “She also doesn’t seem to be affected by the sire bond.”

“Well, unless she has another master that she answers to, she’s bound to you. Some vampires just need a little prodding to awaken it. Maybe she’s one of them.”

“Maybe.”

The two vampires began to discuss the sequence of events for the night, so I tuned them out as I mulled over what Kieran had said. While he’d made the statement about me having another master in jest, there was someone I had given my loyalty to and made the Lord over my heart and life. I couldn’t remember the exact wording or location, but a verse that talked about how no one could serve two masters was nestled somewhere in the New Testament. If you tried to serve and give yourself to two people, then you would hate one and love the other. Even though Jesus had said those words regarding serving God and money not God and a vampire, the sentiment was still relevant. Answering to only one authority figure meant that I wouldn’t have opposing loyalties dueling within me and tearing me apart.

Though Augustus was my maker, he wasn’t my
master.
God was. My unusual level of restraint was also a testament to that since self-control was one of the fruits of the Spirit I’d developed during my time as a believer. A grin graced my lips as I looked down at the water below. While I couldn’t wait to tell Augustus what I’d realized, part of me worried that he wouldn’t be as excited as I was. Yes, he said that he would be interested in learning more about my faith if my hypothesis about keeping my salvation and being myself was true, but what if he’d been secretly hoping for the sire bond to take effect? Would Augustus feel threatened by the fact that it wasn’t present?

For that reason, I kept my mouth shut about the topic and silently enjoyed the view of the moonlit Caribbean Sea as we headed back to civilization. That was one bridge I was perfectly content with crossing later.

♦              ♦              ♦

After we landed in Haiti, Augustus, Kieran, Frantz, and I piled into a private jet and began our flight to Dallas. Once we were in the air, I unbuckled my seatbelt and went into one of the bathrooms to change out of my dress. Kieran had brought a change of clothes for both of us with him, and I was happy to pull on the nondescript sweats even though my outfit of choice was far from fashionable. I also took a few minutes to wash my face, wipe off the sand that clung to my limbs, and wet my hair. If I arrived in Dallas with perfectly coiffed, straight hair and expertly applied makeup, people would definitely be suspicious.

Once I finished shedding my glamorous paint job, I noticed that every blemish and imperfection on my skin had disappeared, giving me a flawless complexion and radiance that most women had to spend a fortune on products and procedures to achieve. My skin was also softer, smoother, and a bit lighter than it had been before my transformation. As an added bonus, the few fine lines I’d had on my forehead and flanking my mouth were completely gone and my pores had shrunk into near nonexistence. The unsightly tan lines I’d gained during village time in Haiti also had disappeared.

Hopefully no one back home will notice that I look like I’ve gotten the facial to end all facials,
I mused.

While my newly perfect skin probably wouldn’t set off any alarm bells, the fact that I was returning at all and pleading the fifth about what had happened by claiming amnesia definitely could. I wasn’t a great liar, but I knew that Augustus would help me exert my supernatural influence over the police and anyone else who questioned my disappearance. Even though having to manipulate men and women who were just trying to do their jobs didn’t appeal to me, I had to remind myself that the monsters who had taken me and enslaved countless humans were dead.

As I reflected on my impending encounters with the authorities, I also thought about the lies I would have to tell my friends and family. The girls in my community group were always pushing one another to be open and honest about their struggles, and my mysterious disappearance and drastic life change would be an elephant in the room for quite some time. Realizing that my dishonesty could potentially drive a huge wedge between us, I prayed that it wouldn’t be a permanent, insurmountable one. Considering what I’d just gone through, I needed them more than ever.

Once I finished praying and cleaning up, I joined Augustus in the cabin only to see that he had freshened up and opted for a more casual ensemble. Seeing him in cuffed skinny jeans and a plaid button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up was jarring both because I’d grown accustomed to seeing him in the formal attire he’d worn at the coven house and because he was dressed in the borderline hipster style that I found most attractive for men.

Thank goodness I’m immune to the sire bond,
I thought as I pushed my feelings aside and took my seat across from him.

“I asked Kieran to step into the front cabin so we could be alone for your first feeding,” Augustus explained. “There are also a few matters we need to discuss in private before we reach our destination.”

“Okay. Should we talk before or after I feed?”

“After. I want to see how you react before we have this conversation.”

“That’s fine with me.”

Augustus stood up and I did the same. His shirt was already partially undone, but my thirst didn’t reemerge until he moved his hair and exposed his neck. When I came closer and my fangs extended yet again, I didn’t fight my new instincts like I had on the island. Though I leaned in as if to whisper something in his ear or kiss his cheek, my touch wasn’t going to be that tender. The instant I pierced his flesh and finally tasted his blood, every muscle in my body relaxed and warmed. I let out a soft sigh as I pulled Augustus into my arms and crushed him against me with my newfound strength, listening to his heartbeat and savoring the way his cologne mingled with the decadent scent of his sweet yet pleasantly tart blood.

If I had my way, that moment never would have ended, but I didn’t want to hurt Augustus with my unchecked gluttony. Once I had my fill, I pulled away and licked the last traces of blood from my lips as I watched his neck return to its unblemished alabaster glory. My fangs retracted and I was able to focus my attention on the man in front of me instead of the delectable liquid flowing in his veins. When I made eye contact with Augustus, he studied my disposition for a few wordless moments and I searched my heart as well. While I still felt the tranquility and refreshment that I’d experienced during my change, neither desire nor devotion accompanied that serenity.

“You shouldn’t be this composed right now,” Augustus said. “The fact that you aren’t increasingly drawn to me even after your first feeding means that you’re not bound to me at all.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“A little, but I am mostly intrigued. I didn’t anticipate this little … quirk.”

“Neither did I,” I admitted. “Do you remember when I was trying to figure out whether or not I’d still have my salvation after becoming a vampire?”

“Yes.”

“Well, one recurring concept in the New Testament is that we were purchased for God through Christ’s death and resurrection and don’t belong to ourselves,” I explained. “I think the reason I’m not connected to you is because I already belong to God. There isn’t a single bond or claim stronger than that.”

“I guess the basis for your faith is more real than I thought. I’ve never heard of someone being immune to their maker’s influence.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Were you
trying
to influence me?”

“No, but under normal circumstances, you would have responded to the desire I felt while you were feeding. It would have inspired lust if you weren’t already aroused or amplified any existing arousal you felt,” he explained. “Instead you’re standing before me perfectly composed and coherent. I’d be insulted if I wasn’t so fascinated.”

“Self-control
is
one of the benefits of having the Holy Spirit,” I half-joked.

“We should keep this little development to ourselves for the time being. I’m not sure how The Vampire League would react to the knowledge that you’re not subject to the sire bond.”

“What about Kieran and Frantz?”

“They are both my progeny. They’d never betray me.”

“Are you worried that I would since I’m not tied to you like they are?”

“No, of course not. You’ve proven to be a woman of honor, so I trust you. This just means that our relationship will have to be based on old fashioned trust instead of magic, which I’m not opposed to.”

“Well, our friendship already has a good head start after the past several days.”

“Yes, it does.”

Augustus glanced at his watch.

“I need to call my contact at the league and give him a report about what transpired with Emmanuel’s coven. Are you alright spending a little time alone?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Augustus gave me a brief smile and joined Kieran in the front cabin, leaving me alone to enjoy what I suspected would be a rare opportunity to relax and let my guard down as I waited to re-enter human society.

♦              ♦              ♦

CHAPTER 7

My two travel companions joined me after holing themselves up in the front cabin for an hour, and we passed the remainder of our flight enjoying the reading material on the plane between casual conversations. Our plane landed at a private airfield in Far North Dallas just before four o’clock in the morning. Once we were on solid ground, Augustus insisted that we go over our plan again.

“Do you remember your cover story,” he asked.

“Yes, I’ll say that the last thing I remember is going to sleep at the Gospel Gateway campus in Manonette. Then, I came to floating in the sea and you found me while you were on your boat,” I recited. “You brought me back to Haiti where a doctor gave me a clean bill of health at the hospital. After the police interviewed me, the hospital discharged me and gave me the green light to go home.”

“Correct. When we leave here, we will go to the FBI’s Dallas office. They are expecting us to check in with a local agent, who will take down your statement for their own records.”

“And no one will ever look into any of this?”

“Anyone who does will be met by closed doors and dead ends at every turn.”

I nodded, briefly praying that his cover up was as ironclad as he claimed. When Augustus saw my thinly veiled uncertainty, he leaned forward and grasped my hand.

“I have done and will continue to do everything in my power to keep you safe. You can trust me.”

“Thank you,” I said with a smile.

Augustus returned my grin and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before standing up.

“Now, let’s go see our friends on Justice Way and make sure we’re behind closed doors before dawn.”

I vacated my cushy leather seat and Augustus and I said goodbye to his loyal offspring. Kieran would be continuing on to his home in Atlanta once the plane refueled and Frantz would return to New Orleans after dropping him off. After we exited the plane, a young man handed Augustus the keys to the sleek sports car that was waiting for us on the tarmac. Within minutes, we were flying down the Dallas North Tollway to meet with a man who would soon hear and forcibly believe one of the strangest statements of his career.

♦              ♦              ♦

One hour and one fabricated testimony later, Augustus and I sat across from an incredulous federal agent. Christopher Hayes, who was at least twenty years my senior, tapped his pen on the pad of paper he’d been taking notes on as he fixed me with a steely blue stare from across the table. Augustus hadn’t exerted his influence over the sullen agent yet, so his unhindered thoughts and doubts were churning freely in his graying head.

I wouldn’t believe this story either,
I sympathized.

“And you’re sure you don’t remember anything?”

“Yes, I am.”

Christopher set down his pen and crossed his arms as he shook his head.

“You’re the third person to come through this office in the past few days with absolutely no recollection of their abduction,” he said. “Either you’re all protecting someone or whoever kidnapped you is very good at covering their tracks.”

“Agent Hayes,” Augustus said in the startlingly authentic American accent he’d adopted for our interview.

“Yes, Mr. Hawkins,” he asked.

The instant Christopher shifted his scrutiny from me to Augustus, the vampire’s eyes bled from green to black and the hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention as the room hummed with energy. Despite Augustus’ unsettling change in appearance, the agent didn’t react at all … His gaze had rendered the doubting agent completely docile. Christopher’s pulse decelerated from a rate of about eighty beats per minute to under fifty and his breaths became deeper and more relaxed while his blue eyes glazed over and lost their focus.

Augustus had used his powers on some of the slaves to help them remember our plan on the island, but I’d been too busy talking to the others and learning more about their stories to pay attention. While seeing him in action was a little scary, it was also surprisingly impressive.

“How did you do that,” I asked after Augustus shut off the agent’s recording device.

“When humans gaze into a vampire’s eyes, they fall under our spell until our next blink,” he explained. “All you have to do is release the power within you and catch someone’s gaze. Would you like to try?”

I hesitated.

“No thanks.”

“If you insist.”

Augustus turned back to Agent Hayes.

“You are not going to question the two of us or anyone else regarding Clara’s disappearance and reappearance. You will close any open investigations you have about the other men and women who reappeared in Haiti this week and tell anyone who asks that you will leave their cases in the hands of the Haitian authorities,” he instructed in a serene, even tone. “You will not discuss the details of their cases with the media or any other interested parties. If any new evidence concerning these incidents surfaces, you will dismiss it and you will ensure that no one looks into it. If your colleagues attempt to reopen the investigation, you will do everything in your power to thwart their efforts. When I release you, you will let Clara and I leave in peace. Do you understand?”

Christopher nodded so slightly that I almost missed the small movement. After that subtle acknowledgement, Augustus finally blinked and the agent returned to his original surly disposition and rigid posture without skipping a beat.

“Alright. That’s all I have for you tonight. I’ll follow up with you later this week if I have any more questions,” he said. “I’ll walk you out.”

We all rose from our seats and the clueless agent escorted us to the front desk. He shook our hands and reiterated that he would contact us later, but I knew that it was all for show. The supernaturally placated detective would never call me with additional questions in an attempt to learn more about the slaves’ abductions or my own mysterious kidnapping.

While that was mildly comforting, I still had a host of friends and family members whose curiosity and concern would give rise to endless inquiries. If they didn’t buy my amnesia claim, then my new powers would be getting quite a workout. Augustus must have been thinking the same thing because he broached the subject again as soon as we were back in his car.

“I understand why you weren’t comfortable influencing our federal friend back there, but you need to learn how to use your new gifts as soon as possible,” he reminded me, reverting to his normal accent. “Would you like to work on that tomorrow night?”

“Maybe. Let’s just see how I’m feeling tomorrow.”

While I knew that I couldn’t drink blood without influencing the people I’d be drinking from, something about it still didn’t sit right with me. That turmoil inspired a quick prayer to God for a way out of having to manipulate and exploit people to get the sustenance I needed. After all, wasn’t that the very thing I’d condemned Emmanuel and his coven for?

Augustus entered my address into his GPS, and we were on our way once the system configured a route. It normally would have taken twenty minutes to get to my apartment from the FBI’s office, but we made it to my complex in under fifteen thanks to Augustus’ blatant disregard for the speed limit.

Stepping into my apartment that morning was so strange. Even though I’d only been away for less than two weeks, I felt like I’d been gone for months. As we walked into my living room, I caught a glimpse of my queen-sized bed through my half-open bedroom door and smiled at the prospect of finally being able to crawl under the covers and rest my head on my pillow. As comfortable as the beds in Emmanuel’s house had been, nothing beat sleeping alone in my own home with a clean conscience and feeling safe.

When we entered my living room, I was surprised to see that the luggage I’d taken with me to Gospel Gateway was sitting by my couch. I also noticed that someone had hung a new set of heavy black curtains over the sliding glass door that led to my balcony. If I had actually ventured into my room, I probably would have seen the same drapery over my bedroom windows as well.

“I had someone bring your belongings back from Haiti and install these blackout curtains,” Augustus explained. “I know they’re a bit jarring, but tomorrow night we can find a set of decorative drapes to cover them.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you mind if I check and make sure they were installed properly in your bedroom as well?”

I gave Augustus a nod and he disappeared into my room. I opened my purse and took out my cell phone, which was completely dead. As I hooked it up to the charger attached to my laptop, I wondered what I would find after it was back in commission. I suspected that my team leaders probably would have called or texted me a few times to see where I was after the fire broke out and they couldn’t find me, but they would have stopped as soon as they realized that my phone was buried at the bottom of my backpack and that I was truly gone.

My eyes locked on my closed laptop and I remembered that I also had to contend with the beast known as social media. My friends were forever reposting information about missing persons, and I cringed at the thought of people doing the same about me. Guilt settled in as I imagined them shouting into the void of the internet to ask for prayers and tips about my whereabouts while I had been eating gourmet meals, wearing designer clothes, and getting way too close to Augustus. If they knew his true nature instead of the fabricated story of him rescuing me and us becoming friends that I was going to tell them, they probably would have chased him out of Dallas with stakes and not-so concealed handguns … and me along with him.

This is going to be very tricky.

“Clara.”

I looked up at Augustus and squared my slumped shoulders as I tried to mentally shake off the worry and guilt that had begun to invade my mind.

“Yeah?”

“Beginning your new life is going to be incredibly challenging, and most of your struggles will come from assimilating into your human life as a vampire,” he reiterated. “However, the scheming and evasion that you’ll master in these coming months benefits your loved ones as well. If they knew what you were and started trouble for our kind, the league would consider them liabilities and their lives would be forfeit. You understand that, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“While spending the last six days with Emmanuel’s coven was difficult, the fact that you were missing in the world’s eyes gives you a unique excuse for making some drastic changes to your life. If you use that to your advantage, you will avoid a lot of the scrutiny that most new vampires have to contend with in the beginning and you won’t have to abandon the life you’ve built here.”

“My head knows all of that, but my heart just needs a little time to catch up,” I said. “Thanks for the reminder though.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied with a consoling smile. “Now, will you be alright here by yourself for the day?”

“Well, I’ll just be sleeping until sundown, so I’ll be fine.”

Augustus took a piece of scrap paper from the coffee table and scribbled his number on it before placing it in my hand and taking out his phone.

“This is my number. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything,” he offered. “What’s your number?”

I recited my number and Augustus entered it in his phone before slipping the sleek device back in his pocket.

“I’ll be back shortly after dusk.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.”

As I walked Augustus to the door, I experienced a brief internal dilemma, struggling to figure out how I should send him off. A kiss was out of the question. A handshake was too formal. A one armed hug was just plain silly after everything we’d been through, but would a two-armed hug reignite my thirst?

Why does everything have to be so complicated?

Thankfully, he had no problem figuring out how to part ways. When we reached the door, he simply took my hand in his and dropped a light kiss on it instead of initiating one of the parting gestures I’d overanalyzed in the last few seconds.

“Sleep well, Clara.”

“You too.”

Then, Augustus left my modest home and I locked the door behind him. The moment I walked back into my living room, my phone buzzed back to life and a seemingly never-ending list of notifications came up on the lock screen. Instead of diving back into the digital world, I turned the phone on airplane mode and went into my bedroom. I pulled off the sweats Kieran had given me and traded them for a pair of beloved flannel pajamas that I’d bought in college after taking a quick shower. Within a few minutes of curling up between my lavender sheets, I slipped into the blessed simplicity of a dreamless, peaceful day of sleep.

♦              ♦              ♦

Awakening to the familiar sight of my old television sitting atop my dresser and a few discarded outfits strewn across a chair in the corner of my room that evening immediately brought a smile to my face.

I’m home. I’m really home.

I let that pleasant reality sink in for a few silent minutes before bounding out of bed and getting ready for the night. I took a nice, long bath and washed my hair while I listened to the most upbeat playlist I could find on my MP3 player. Then, I took the time to change my chipped nail polish and to style my noticeably silkier hair. My nighttime primping brought Amber to mind, which lifted my spirits because she and the others were no doubt reuniting with their loved ones. The beautician’s newfound freedom also made me think of Leah and Connor.