Meet the Clan (Vamp Tales Book 2) Page 2

  Chapter 4

  I moved through the cave-like rooms, letting my hand brush along the wall, feeling the texture and soft edges of the carved passageways. I’d always intended to take a tour of the Seattle Underground but pushed it off over and over until it was too late and my anxieties took hold, sequestering me in my own home almost constantly. Only my best friend, Mandy, gave me an excuse to venture out once in a while since I worked part-time from home.

  I wish I could’ve called Mandy before I left. How am I supposed to visit her when she has to stay in the hospital, or is bedridden and needs a movie partner? I’ve got to convince Kat to change her. She’s already lived much longer than the doctors estimated she would.

  Navigating the musty smelling passages, I caught up with Kat, nearly running into her when she halted in a thin, arched doorway. I couldn’t see past her, but light poured over her, creating a haloed silhouette effect. Her shoulder rose sharply as she took in a huge gasping breath before fading from sight.

  Stepping into the lit stone room, I saw Kat embraced in the lap of a distinguished older man with salt and pepper hair and a mustache that curled up on each side of his smiling mouth. Like Mr. Julius Hartfell, he wore a suit, but his looked a little looser and lacked a necktie.

  “Oh, Edgar, I’m so happy you’re safe.” Kat hugged him tight, kissing his cheek before leaning back to beam at him. Wow, she does have a heart under all that bitchiness. “I’ve been searching all over the Puget Sound for you.”

  Mr. Julius Hartfell slid around me and glided over to stand behind Edgar, beside a beautiful young woman with brown hair in a delicate pixie cut who I assumed to be the Seer, Danielle Rose. The way the two of them stood at Edgar’s back seemed to be a practiced stance, protective of the older man while staying close to each other. Mr. Julius Hartfell gave Danielle a peck on the cheek and she smiled demurely at him, her grass green eyes sparkling as she reached for his hand.

  A loud throat clearing drew my attention to a pale man seated on a weathered bench, his long black bangs hanging over one eye as if a wind had gusted from behind to blow his hair forward, leaving it to frame a strong face with high, rounded cheekbones and a square jawline.

  The room seemed to be furnished with old wooden furniture, quite uncomfortable looking. The only other person sitting on the rickety furniture was Edgar. The man unfolded his long body from the bench, stepping closer to tower over my mere five feet six inches. He held his head slightly tilted to the side his bangs hung.

  “I’m Benjamin Phillips,” he said in a deep, silky voice, winking a shiny silver eye at me while grabbing my hand, and raising it to his mouth, laying a soft kiss on the back. “Who might you be?”

  “Uh,” I said stuttering, feeling the hollow heat of a blush without blood to color it, “I’m, uh, Mercy, er, Mercedes Reyes.”

  A small smile played on his crimson lips. My eyes drifted down his body, noticing a lean form under a white dress shirt, black leather vest, and faded black jeans.

  “What brings you to our humble hideaway, Miss Reyes?”

  My head spun with the inability to blush at this flattery. “I’m with Kat.”

  The entire group turned to Kat, who managed a light blush. She slid out of Edgar’s embrace and stood to face him, her head drooping a moment before she took a deep breath and lifted her head, sticking her chin out.

  “Edgar, my love, I ran into some difficulties while searching for you.”

  “Please, explain.” Edgar put one leg over the other and rested his arms on it, crossed at the wrists.

  “Well, the hunters have gotten trickier. I can only assume Rowena is providing more funds to them, as they now have helicopters as well as access to the traffic cameras, wi-fi CCTV, and satellite. And, their weaponry seems to be getting more advanced each time I encounter them.”

  “Were you at the Den of Iniquity when they raided it this night?” His baritone voice reverberated through my core, and I realized that I felt two links, one vibrating with a mix of emotions and the other a little fainter yet calm and soothing.

  “Yes, we were there. We had a close call with Michael Anderle. He killed poor Lynn Sheridan.”

  Oh, now she cares! I clenched my teeth and held in a long-suffering sigh, glancing at Benjamin, who grinned at me as if this was business as usual.

  “That is unfortunate,” Edgar said, looking down at his hands, his glittering, sapphire eyes stern and calculating.

  I had to bite my tongue at his use of the same word for the werebear’s demise.

  “How many times have you encountered them?” I asked, getting two sets of glaring eyes in return.

  “Twice before,” Kat said with a haughty sniff. “But, we’re already familiar with Michael.”

  “Yeah, I could tell you two were like BFF’s out there.” I rolled my eyes and looked away.

  “How did you come about having another fledgling, Katherine? After Alejandro, you swore to never turn another.”

  “With you being underground, our connection was weakened and I couldn’t pinpoint your location. I had to resort to searching each of the surrounding neighborhoods and towns, hoping to feel our bond pull me to you. I slept in abandoned houses when my strength waned each time the hunters got close and I had to fade long enough to lose them.”

  Kat began pacing, all eyes following her around the small room. “Unfortunately, I was unable to find an empty house the night before last, and my strength was completely drained with the hunters only blocks behind me. Mercy’s home was the only one with a light on in the early morning hours, so I coerced her to let me in only to have the hunger take control, forcing me to—”

  She jerked her thumb at me and scowled, then turned to Edgar, dropping to her knees and laying her head in his lap to sob quietly.

  “Oh, Edgar, this is a nightmare!”

  “Excuse me!” I gasped, my skin itching as rage bubbled up my throat. “If anything, this is a nightmare for me, Kat. You did this to me. You made me a vampire, bonded me to you, took me away from my life, and dragged me all over this damn city. And, you got me shot! Don’t sit there and go all ‘woe is me’ now that we’re here with your family, people I don’t know. I don’t even know what the hell is going to happen now that you’ve brought me to meet the clan. You don’t tell me shit!”

  Kat glared daggers at me from where she kneeled. Edgar narrowed his eyes, Danielle gasped, Mr. Julius damn Hartfell stiffened in his pristine suit, and Benjamin touched my shoulder. I spun on him ready to tell him to fuck off, but his eyes held a kindness and understanding that melted my anger.

  “Mercy!” Kat’s anger zapped through our connection mixed with a separate sensation of annoyance, making me look at Edgar.

  “Ms. Reyes—”

  “Just call me Mercy, please,” I said through clenched teeth, my fingernails biting into my palms.

  “Mercy,” Edgar said. “We have all been in your situation. We all know how disorienting it is to be a fledgling, other than Julius, of course.”

  “You were all turned against your will?” I asked, looking at each of them in turn. “You gave none of them a choice?” I focused back on Edgar. “That’s how it works, right? You turned them all or something like that?”

  “Benjamin was the only one here changed without a choice, and I regret my inability to give him that choice.”

  “Edgar, you know I don’t begrudge—”

  “Be that as it may, Benjamin, it’s still a regret I will have until the end of eternity.”

  “So, you’re telling me that everyone else, besides Mr. Julius Hartfell, had a choice to have this kind of life?”

  “Yes,” he said with a small nod, his mouth held in a stern line. “They all have their reasons for joining my clan. I know that Katherine will hold the same regret as I hold for Benjamin, doubly so now.”

  “What does that mean? Who’s Alejandro?” I crossed my arms under my ample breasts, adopting Kat’s signature bitchy stance.

  “Alejandro was her one an
d only fledgling, until now, but that is a story for her to tell you when she is ready. I imagine now is not that time.” He reached for Kat, petting her long, raven hair, his hard eyes softening as he peered down at her. “Benjamin, would you please show Mercy to one of the empty rooms. I believe we have had enough stress for now. Our donor delivery will be here soon. We will reconvene after we have fed, and we can discuss our next move.”

  “Yes, sire.” Benjamin bowed his head, then turned to hold his elbow out for me, which I took even though I knew I was being dismissed like a child. Just great. Now, I’m the red-headed stepchild that neither parent wants to claim.

  Chapter 5

  “Is it just me, or do they hate me?” I whined at Benjamin once he’d led me through a cramped rock tunnel, and into an empty cave room with seats carved out of the walls.

  “No,” he said, guiding me into a stone seat, “they don’t hate you. We’re vampires, with long lives. We don’t handle sudden change well, sometimes, especially within our own clans. There haven’t been any additions to our clan in a very long time.”

  “Well, Kat’s been a grade A bitch ever since I woke up a vamp.” I cringed as my eyes got huge and my face attempted to flush, looking up at Benjamin, expecting him to be pissed at me too. “I mean… uh… sorry. Ever since I changed, I can’t seem to keep my big mouth shut! I’m not normally like this.”

  I slumped in my hard seat, wishing I could melt into the wall.

  “It’s okay, Mercy. You don’t need to be scared. I understand what you’re going through, although it has been a long time. Your body is still changing, as well as your personality. It’s only been what? Two days since she turned you?”

  “Not quite two full days…”

  “You’re a baby,” Benjamin said with a wide grin, flinging his arms out. “Roll with it. Kat will come around. Don’t let her get to you. She’s just feeling the guilt of losing control.”

  “But she’s my sire.” I shook my head, pleading with my eyes for him to understand. “I can feel her anger through our connection, and she feels like a cornered tiger, ready to attack.”

  “She’ll calm down soon,” a sweet voice said from the room’s entrance. “Edgar will help her accept what she’s done, and accept her responsibility to you.” Danielle strode in, her head held high, and a genuine smile on her face. A feeling of warmth and kindness seemed to flow from her, filling the room and soothing my frazzled nerves.

  “I hope so,” I mumbled. “Everything inside me feels so confused, like a lost child in a room full of pissy teachers. I can’t control my emotions very well… It’s as if I’m a hormonal teenager! I’m so mad at her for yanking me away from my life, my job… my friend.”

  Benjamin leaned against the wall, crossing his black, pointed boots at the ankle, looking like a goth cowboy. With his hands stuck in his pockets, the only things he was missing were a Stetson and a piece of straw to chew on. I smirked at him as his eyelids drooped, even as his silver eyes still watched me.

  “I can sense your discomfort, Mercy.” Danielle sat nearby, the radiant warmth of her essence growing stronger. She gave me a soft smile. “You will adapt to this new situation, and our clan members will adapt to your presence. You can always come to me or Benjamin when you need an ear to listen or a shoulder to lean on. I promise the others will warm up to you soon.”

  “Seer Rose, that warmth I feel coming from you,” I said, mesmerized by her serene tone and bright green eyes, “is it one of your powers?”

  “That,” Mr. Julius Hartfell said as he sauntered into the room, “is my darling’s natural ability of Aura Projection. Comes in handy in a room full of skittish kin.”

  “Aura Projection? Kin?” My head spun, but I let that calming glow flow through me, settling my rising anxiety. I wonder if Kat’s feelings are feeding into my emotions, keeping me on the knife’s edge?

  “Please, Mercy, just call me Danielle. Seer Rose is so formal, and only used by kin outside our clan.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’m so nervous I’m going to say the wrong thing.”

  “That’s all right, sweetie,” Danielle said. “How about we explain some things to you so you don’t feel so lost in the dark?”

  “Please!” I blurted, slapping my hand over my mouth when the word echoed off the walls. “Sorry about that.” I gave them a nervous laugh, trying to shrug off my discomfort.

  “Mercy,” Mr. Julius Hartfell said, grabbing my attention. “May I call you Mercy, or do you prefer Miss Reyes?”

  “It would be Ms. Reyes, Mr. Julius Hartfell,” I said, “but please just call me Mercy.”

  He cocked his head to the side and furrowed his elegant brow. “Why on earth are you saying my full name?”

  “Uh, isn’t… er… Kat said… fuck! That woman is so frustrating.” I growled and banged my head against the wall behind me. “Kat said that I should call you by your full name or else I’d offend you and that I’d have to wait for you to give me permission to call you anything else, which would take years, if ever.” I let out a deep, irritated sigh.

  Mr. Julius Hartfell chuckled, Danielle giggled melodically, and Benjamin guffawed, startling me since I’d nearly forgotten his presence as he leaned against the wall, perfectly still and silent.

  “Mercy dear, you may call me Julius,” he said, his gold eyes glittering with mirth. “Our Kat has always had an odd sense of humor, which tends to present itself at the strangest moments. I apologize for the confusion, but in our clan, you may call all of us by our given name. We are not so formal as Kat may have made us out to be.”

  “Well, that’s a relief.” I smoothed a lock of hair behind my ear, hoping my nervous shaking wasn’t too obvious. “Please, tell me about the supernatural world.”

  Chapter 6

  “Vampires are Nightkin.” Julius took on an official stance with his arms clasped behind his straight back, and his head held high as he slowly paced the room. “All other earthbound creatures fall under the general term of Otherkin, which include shapeshifters like myself. We are Kin because we were all once human or are descendants of a human and a supernatural creature of some sort. The Fae, dragons, water dwellers, demons, angels, and spirits do not consider themselves Kin, seldom venturing out of their own realms or dimensions, although the demons and spirits like to stir up trouble at times in our world.”

  “Damn! How does the world not know about all these other creatures? That’s insane. I thought all this stuff was just made up for storybooks, movies, and TV shows.” I thought back to all my favorite shows, and how I’d imagined living in those make-believe worlds. Look at me now!

  “Much of fiction is based on reality,” Danielle said, smiling sweetly at Julius, “and there are humans out there that know of us, of course. We wouldn’t have donors if they didn’t.”

  “Oh, right, duh.” I nodded at her as if I completely understood. I did, sort of. My many hours of binge-watching had prepared me for just this situation. I snorted and laughed at my own joke, garnering some confused looks from my clanmates. “Sorry. Um, why are vampires not also Otherkin?”

  “Because before we evolved enough to tolerate sunlight,” Benjamin said, startling me again, “we were forced to hide until nightfall, hence Nightkin. The shifters didn’t have those kind of limitations, and their species types are so varied, they became known as Otherkin. Since we’re all different from the one species that rules this planet, humans, we consider ourselves one big family, or Kin. Although, at times, it’s more like feuding cousins than a happy family.” He gave me a crooked grin.

  I smiled back at him, feeling comforted by his gentle, accepting nature. “So, this—” Red filled my eyes, coloring the room and its inhabitants, as my stomach lurched, hunger gripping my body, drowning my mind. The decadent scent of blood wafted through the room, pulling me towards the door, my limbs moving of their own accord. Many strong hands latched onto my arms and shoulders, halting me before I could take off running.

  A blurry face appeared in
front of mine, but I couldn’t—wouldn’t—focus on it as the blood called to me, whispering promises of euphoria. The hands shook me, and the face yelled incoherent words. Every inch of my soul ached for the taste of sweet, mouth-watering blood.

  “Mercy!”

  “Don’t let her go! Her eyes have turned solid red. The hunger is too much for her!”

  “Danielle, go get Kat!”

  Arms wrapped around me, hugging me, and pulling me away from the door I struggled to get to. An animalistic snarl scratched its way out of my throat as I pushed against my bonds. My skin seemed to breathe in the smell as need overwhelmed me, the hunger raging inside me.

  A wave of tranquility flowed into me, accompanied by a sliver of frustration that quickly dissipated. The blinding red hue painting my vision faded until it only tinted the edges of my sight. Kat’s scowling face came into focus as I blinked several times. My body began to relax as hands and arms carefully released me.

  “Fuck!” I shook my head, hating this demanding need that felt like a controlling presence in my mind, sharing space in my brain with Kat. “What the hell happened? I was just fine one second—”

  “The donors have arrived,” Kat said, cutting me off with her sharp tone. “I apologize for not thinking of you until it was too late.”

  I rolled my eyes and huffed. “I’m not surprised you forgot about me, now that you’re back with your precious Edgar.”

  “What did you say to me?” Kat stabbed me with a pointy fingernail. “I am your sire,” she hissed. “You will watch what you say to me or I’ll make you regret—”

  “Kat,” Benjamin said, pushing his body between us, “there’s no need to get so upset. She can’t control herself, you know that.”

  “Katherine,” Edgar said with a stern voice, his presence filling the room, making it hard to breathe, “you will need to learn to be patient with your fledgling. You are responsible for her life now and must take care. The hunger is a demon that must be kept in hand, but Mercy is too young to handle it on her own.”