Bliss (The Custos) (17 page)

              He called the tow company that AAA had referred and smiled when he took a seat at the table. "The tow truck should be here soon, about fifteen minutes."

              "So did I read your license plate right? You’re from Wisconsin?"

              "Yea, born and raised. I just turned twenty one last month and I couldn’t wait to see the bright lights of Vegas."

              I smiled. "Me too, only I cheated and came when I was eighteen."

              He laughed and we fell into small talk. "Where are you from?" he asked me.

              "Texas, but I am actually moving on, not sure where Next but I know I’m not going back." It was true. Even though Cash and I spoke every day, a few times every day we still hadn’t discussed what we were doing once the threat with this Conlin guy was over.

              "Any siblings?" he asked and looked at his watch.

              "No, only child." As I answered his question a look of amusement crossed his face.

              "Oh my God, are you London Chase,
the
London Chase only daughter of Walter Chase?" He said my name like he was saying porn star and I cringed inside but kept my smile in place.

              "One in the same."

              "Holy shit, this is out of control. Me and my friends are huge fans of yours."

              Was this kid serious? Granted my antics had my name plastered on magazines and newspapers, but this was a first. I actually had a fan. "Thanks, I guess."

              "You’re like that Hotel Heiress but like ten times hotter."

              I really liked this kid; he was smart and had remarkable taste in the ladies. "Well now you know my name, what’s yours?"

              "Jerry, sorry my manners are off. Jerry Freebold." He put his hand out and I accepted as we shook but the chill down my spine was real. In all my life I had never met a Freebold. I only knew of one and she was dead, it was my Mother Regina Freebold.

              Before I could ask if there was any relation I heard a loud horn honk and seen the orange flashing lights of the tow truck. "Thanks again for everything London and whatever happens with your move.... I’m certain that life has a lot in store for you."

              He left and I locked up behind him, shaking off the feeling of discomfort I couldn’t place I sat on the couch and found reruns of America's Next top model.

              My buzz from smoking with Preacher must have had some remaining affects because I fell asleep before the opening credits.

*

Lo
ndon

             
I woke up to Cash shaking me on the couch. In my dream state I didn’t have the wits to bitch at him for waking me so rude, instead my excitement in seeing him was back in full force and I flew my arms around his neck. I breathed him in and let the fresh rain scent smother me as it always did. God I really missed him and my memory did me no justice because he was way better in real life. "I missed you...." I whispered into his neck as he held me tighter.

              "I've never been more scared in my long life as I was just now. Are you ok? What happened and how did he get in here?" His raspy voice was like a lullaby to a newborn and I could have swayed to it had he not just confused the hell out of me.

              "Who? What are you talking about?" Now more awake I sat up and looked at him, he looked terrified.

              "There was a Vampire here, not long ago I can smell it." He stood and walked around the room checking locks and other busy body things to keep from screaming. He was wound so tight I was actually nervous. But even then I knew I was safe and I couldn’t help but let my eyes drink him in while he paced back and forth.  He was so tall, and so defined. Even in a simple black T shirt and his tell tell faded worn out jeans he looked as devastating as he always did.

              "Focus Princess, I missed you too but I need to know what happened." He came and sat beside me, his fingers in my hair he pulled me to him and breathed me in as I had done with him moments before.

              "The only Vampire that was here tonight was Preacher." I said looking at him.

              "No, I know Preacher and this vampire was young, a few weeks old maybe more and cologne too, heavy on the cologne."

              My mind immediately went to the kid from earlier, Jerry but he was human. It was impossible that he was a Vampire. "A kid came by earlier, his car broke down and I let him use the phone, but he was not a Vampire."

              I actually cringed when Cash looked at me, he was furious. "Where is Preacher?" He asked standing up and going to the phone to smell the receiver.

              I stood because I wasn’t about to sit like a child on time out while my dad yelled at me. No. Way. "He went to feed and I asked him to bring me back Ice cream. And to answer you from earlier, unless a Vampire came in while we were gone, only humans crossed that threshold tonight." I said pointing at the front doorway.

              "Tell me Princess what the hell made you so damn sure that this kid wasn’t a Vampire?" He said kid like fuck you and I was getting a little pissed off. This is so not how I planned our reunion.

              "Well for starters he practically showered in cologne; I felt nothing but sympathy for the kid, no infatuation no attraction what so ever and he made no attempt to seduce me or bite me and left the second the tow truck showed." I didn’t bother telling him that the kid was a huge fan of mine. By the way he looked I might be taking that one to the grave.

              "What was the wipper snappers name?" Cash asked pointedly.

              "Jerry, Jerry Freebold." If it were possible for a Vampire to lose color Cash did. "What? Why?"

              "Because we found out tonight that Conlin, your determined and creative stalker is your brother, your birth mother, Regina Freebold’s son. Congratulations, it’s a boy and he is riled the fuck up." Leushus said as he walked in the room, his movements not matching his tone. He walked with purpose, but at his own speed, while his tone was laced with anger and disgust.

              I wanted to throw up, I wanted to pass out and I wanted to slap Leushus for telling me because damit, I just didn’t want to know. "I’m sorry London, I am. I can’t imagine this is easy for you." Leushus said shocking me with his kindness.

              "Thank you." I croaked and sat on the couch. Cash came over and pulled me back up so that I stood, but in his embrace.

              "Leush can we have some privacy please?" Cash asked, even though it was his home.

              "Of course, make sure she gets some sleep. All of this can’t be fixed tonight. I'll come by at sundown tomorrow but call me if anything happens." He said with utter sincerity and dematerialized from the room.

              "Come on Princess, off to bed we go." Cash said and walked me to the stairs, down the hall and into the room that I had been sharing with him, though alone these last three weeks. The fact he was here now was completely tainted by all of this crap.

              In that second I knew I could kill my Father, literally kill him. Why did he need to take such a drastic measure? Why, if he wanted me gone so badly, did he not ask me to leave? I would have, without a fight. To kill me seemed so....mean. And at the risk of sounding spoiled, hello? I was an only child and I was so not pumped about having a baby brother.

              Well I refused to wallow, if he wanted me dead he would have to fight for my life. I could feel Cash's arms around me and I noticed I was in his lap, on the bed. He held me so tight, and I knew that he was so desperate to keep me safe. "Cash...." I whispered; my shaky voice angered me.

              "Ssssh, Princess. I have you your safe." He said and kissed me on top of my head.

              I moved so fast to straddle his lap. "I’m not afraid, I’m pissed and I hate him." I said, my voice sounding more like me. I pulled the hem of my tank top down and looked him in the eye. "Turn me Cash, make me a Vampire."

              "What? No!" He said, way to quickly for my liking.

              "Why? If you turn me then they lose and they have to find some other lab rat." I felt bad for saying that but it was survival one oh one and I would rather someone else be my Father and Brothers pawn.

              "Princess, even if I were toying with the notion to turn you, which I’m not." He gave me a leveled stare before continuing. "I wouldn’t do it out of fear or rebellion."

              That set me off; I pulled back from his lap and stood before him. "First of all I don’t do fear ok? You and me, we are alike in that sense because I am never one for a pity party. They may have spooked me a little but I would never back down, even if they had a knife at my fucking throat, I would never back down out of fear." I took a deep breath before continuing. "Second, I am a rebellious person Cash, I have been my entire life but becoming a Vampire isn’t on my list of adventures, it's a means of survival and I am more than willing to do what it takes."

              Cash stood and walked to me taking my hands into his. "I know your strong Princess, never doubt that but what you’re asking...." He paused as if to sigh but lack of breathing. "You don’t know what you’re asking. This is a decision that can’t be taken back, it's not shoes that don’t fit London, immortality...... its forever."

              That did it. I snapped my head back and pointed a finger at him. "Did you really just compare
my
decision
,
my
choice
to become a Vampire, to a bad pair of shoes and buyer’s remorse? Do you honestly think me that shallow?"

              "No I think you’re afraid to admit that you’re afraid, as you should be and have every right."

              "Don’t tell me what I feel ok?" I almost yelled.

              "Look if you want to pick a fight fine but I
will
win." He stepped closer his height towering over me caging me in only now I felt threatened not safe. "But I will not turn you."

              Calmness and resolution rested over my body. Cash wasn’t the only Vampire I knew. "Fine I'll have Preacher do it."

              I went to move passed him but found myself back into a wall and his arm rested against the wall so I couldn’t pass. "No. He. Won’t." He hissed. "I'll make sure of it."

              "Why are you so against this?" I asked, my voice pleading.

              "You can’t guess?" He asked and looked at me pointedly. "Regardless of the obvious."

              "It's not the same as your son Cash." I said keeping my tone mild.

              He relaxed at my tone and dropped his arm, but remained close, too close. "It's forever London and you can’t fathom what that means."

              Then it hit me. I can’t believe I didn’t catch on before but I had to laugh, though hurt I could see his point. "Look you can turn me and then leave when this is over. We may have a fling going here but I never expected it to amount to much."
Liar
. I was such a liar. I spoke in a flippant tone but the words cut me deep.

              "I know forever is a big deal and I’m not asking you to make me yours, I’m asking you to make me a Vampire. No commitments, no promises." It hurt to say those words because the truth, for me, was that forever was the appealing part, but only with him. How could I be so stupid to think that in all his years, a silly human woman that drove him mad would ever compare to the women of his past. I was such a fool to think that I was anything more than a warm body.