Blood Legacy: The House of Alexander (3 page)

A young woman and a small boy stepped from the doorway. The wind caught their red hair, tousling it in the breeze. The boy caught sight of Ryan and sprinted down the stairs.

“Ryan!” he squealed, running full-tilt at her. Ryan caught him in mid-leap and in an astonishing move, tossed him a good ten feet into the air, easily catching him before he hit the ground. He laughed with reckless abandon.

Dr. Susan Ryerson approached with a little more dignity. She glanced at her son, then at Ryan. “You know it scares me when you do that to him.”

Ryan gazed down at her, mischief in her eyes. “What’s the matter?

“You want your turn, too? I’m fairly certain I could toss you into the air, dear doctor, a good deal higher than that.”

Susan was a little nervous, never certain when Ryan was joking. “Uh, no thank you. I would be happy with just a hug.”

The pilot of the airplane watched the warm greeting with some incredulity. He had never seen his lordship demonstrate that kind of affection with anyone, let alone a human woman and child. He knew that few were invited to this estate, but he had been unaware of the caliber of his passengers. He was glad he had shown the two respect, both for the sake of his employment and the sake of his life.

Ryan glanced up and the pilot had the sudden, frightening thought that she could read his mind. But she merely nodded and he returned the gesture, then began easing the jet toward the sole hangar at the end of the runway.

A black limousine pulled up and Ryan opened the rear door. Jason scrambled inside and Susan moved to settle in beside him. Ryan paused, scanning the horizon, then the sky overhead. Satisfied, she climbed in behind them, and the limousine pulled smoothly away.

Once inside the sleek black car, Jason immediately began pressing every button he could find. Ryan watched him with some amusement, and Susan with much less.

“Jason, cut it out.”

“Ah, mom…”. He obeyed immediately, however, and began peering through the black window separating them from the driver. “Hey mom, I think the same guy is driving the limo that was flying the plane.”

Susan cleared her throat at the observation. Ryan’s “help” did have the same kind of eerie, nameless, faceless sort of persona, blending into the background as if they weren’t quite real.

Susan glanced over at Ryan. As much as she had been around the woman over the last few years, she still found Ryan’s presence overwhelming. Ryan, in typical fashion, was oblivious to the effect she had on those around her.

“Thank you for inviting us to your estate,” Susan said.

Ryan turned her attention to the red-head. “You are quite welcome. And you may stay as long as you wish.”

Susan glanced out the window, observing Ryan’s usual opulent surroundings. “If it weren’t for my research, you might not be able to get rid of me.”

Ryan smiled. “You know how I am, dear doctor. I don’t wish to separate you from your work.”

Susan was suspicious. “What are you saying?”

“Ah, there may be ‘facilities’ available to you during your stay. I hope they meet with your approval.”

Susan settled back into her seat, shaking her head in wonderment. She was certain the “facilities” would be more than adequate. The last time she had needed somewhere to work, Ryan had purchased an entire hospital.

Susan and her son had just settled into their suite when there was a knock on the door. A quiet, circumspect servant led them to the dining room, then disappeared. Jason settled into his high-backed chair a little nervously. “Mom, what is all this silverware for?”

Susan glanced down at the formal place setting, the crisp white tablecloth, the spotless crystal. It was as elegant as a five star restaurant.

“Most of it is pretty redundant,” Ryan said as she strolled into the room. “Especially for people who do not eat.”

Marilyn and Victor entered the room from the opposite side. Marilyn’s hand was on Victor’s arm as he showed her to her place. Marilyn settled into her seat. She heard Ryan’s comment and now addressed Victor. “Your child is a barbarian.”

Victor settled into his own seat at the head of the table. “Yes,” he said without the slightest misgiving, “I know.”

Ryan sat across from Marilyn on Victor’s right, next to Jason. Susan was across from Jason, and now uncomfortably close to Marilyn. Susan toyed with her napkin, smoothing it in her lap. She had not known that Marilyn would be joining them. Victor and Ryan created enough heat and light on their own. The intensity of the three of them together was unbearable. Susan understood how these creatures seduced lesser beings so easily. She glanced over at Jason, feeling strangely protective of her son at the moment.

Marilyn was aware of the doctor’s discomfiture, and true to her nature, was enjoying it. She poured Susan a glass of wine. “Here you are, Dr. Ryerson. Perhaps some wine will relax you.”

Victor glanced at Marilyn, but said nothing. He nodded to a servant in an alcove and food was quickly brought out for the two human guests. Jason began eating with relish, and as uneasy as Susan was, she realized she was more hungry than nervous. The fact that the food was delicious aided her appetite.

Ryan swirled wine in her glass, gazing deeply into the red liquid. Victor, too, was enjoying his spirit, but was also the perfect host.

“So Dr. Ryerson, how is your research progressing?”

Susan wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Excellent, thank you. Your patronage has been a godsend, and has relieved me of the burden of the public arena. There are few researchers who get to study whatever they want, and none so well-funded as I am. Thank you again.”

Victor nodded. “I am sure you are making wonderful progress.”

“So what exactly are you studying now?” Marilyn asked, swirling the red liquid in her own glass. “And are you managing to keep our Kind off the cover of Time Magazine?”

Susan folded her napkin. “I am keeping to the agreement. I haven’t published anything.”

“So what are you studying?” Ryan prompted, giving a sideways glance at Marilyn.

Susan unfolded the napkin, a trace of excitement evident. “I’ve been examining the cellular process of foreign DNA integration, testing new methods to prevent undesirable genomic alteration from nonhomologous DNA insertion.”

The silence at the table was loud, broken only by the clink of Jason’s fork on the plate. Marilyn nodded politely as did Victor.

“Yes,” Victor said, “Sounds interesting.”

Ryan was thoughtful. “So you are trying to find a way to insert DNA that’s dissimilar to its host.” Both Victor and Marilyn turned to her, eyebrows raised.

Susan nodded excitedly. “I’m actually examining DNA that apparently has mutated from a nonhomologous insertion into the genome, resulting in extremely favorable genomic alteration.”

Victor’s expression was suddenly impassive and Marilyn cocked her head slightly, also understanding. Ryan, it seemed, was the only one still in the dark.

“Really,” she said, puzzled, “How interesting.”

Susan leaned across the table slightly. “It’s yours, Ryan. It’s your DNA. I was waiting for a good time when I could share some of what I’ve found.”

Silence again settled on the table. Marilyn gazed into her glass of wine, twirling the stem in her fingers. The motion caused the liquid to swirl, creating patterns of red light on the crisp tablecloth. She finally spoke. “You realize, Dr. Ryerson, that you continue to cover very dangerous ground. There are many who would go to almost any length to acquire the knowledge you possess. Perhaps it would be wise for you to seek another area of study.”

Heat rose in her cheeks and Susan felt the need to defend herself. “I will stop if Ryan wishes me to, or if her father thinks it best I not continue.”

Jason sensed his mother’s agitation and stopped eating. He glanced at Ryan.

Ryan was watching Victor. He gazed at her impassively, in a way infuriating her. Even possessing his deepest Memories did not give her access to his thoughts when he was shielding them, as he was now. Ryan turned her attention to Marilyn.

“Dr. Ryerson is under my protection. Even now, Edward is covering her tracks from her journey here. If there are those who want knowledge of me, I suggest they come find me themselves.”

Marilyn was not dissuaded. “At the risk of stating the obvious,” she said, her sarcasm evident, “It will be easier finding Dr. Ryerson.”

Ryan felt the heat rise in her own face, and it was certainly warmer than Susan’s. But before her anger could peak, something caught her attention that abruptly stayed her reply. It was a slight movement, a motion that she could barely see out of the corner of her eye, but it was enough to send another shock of ice through her veins.

Victor winced, the gesture again nearly imperceptible. But Ryan felt it as clearly as she saw it, and her sense of time and field of vision both expanded. Time slowed to a stop as microsecond events occurred over hours. Ryan saw Susan slowly, painstakingly begin her turn towards Victor, a puzzled look on her face.

Impossibly, the table’s human occupant was becoming aware of something that an inhuman occupant was not. Perhaps it was because she was a trained physician, but Susan was definitely noticing Victor’s malady when Marilyn had not.

Yet, Ryan thought to herself, not yet. Marilyn would not read it from Victor and would not sense it from her, but she would surely pick it up from Susan. A disaster was in the making.

“Ouch,” Ryan said aloud. All attention at the table was suddenly riveted on the thin line of blood that appeared on the knuckle she had apparently cut while brushing a crumb from her mouth. It was quite easy to do. Although her skin was incredibly resilient, her teeth were sharper than cut diamonds.

“Hmmm,” Ryan said thoughtfully, “After 700 years you’d think I’d be used to these teeth.”

Marilyn was not fooled, knowing the mishap was not accidental. But she mistook Ryan’s motives. “You could simply disagree with me, my dear,” she said, her eyes drawn to the blood, “You don’t have to win an argument unfairly.”

Faster than even preternatural eyes could see, Marilyn’s hand flashed across the table, snatching Ryan’s wrist. She snapped Ryan forward until Ryan was pressed against the edge of the table, instantly reminding her how incredibly fast and strong Marilyn was.

The abrupt action startled both Susan and Jason, and Jason looked fearfully towards his mother. Susan herself could not look away from the unfolding drama. But in the back of her mind, she knew there had been no crumb to brush away.

Victor looked on, still impassive. The drawing of blood had increased the tension at the table a hundredfold, and his internal tension by equal degree. The sight of Ryan’s blood created an ache that could be removed in only one way; he knew Marilyn felt the agony as well. But because he fully understood Ryan’s deception, he could not intervene.

Marilyn’s eyes never left Ryan’s, and she held the wrist between them. Very slowly she turned the wrist, putting an obvious strain on Ryan’s arm. The cut was now centered over Marilyn’s wine glass, and the small stream of blood ran from Ryan’s knuckle down her wrist. It was suspended as a droplet for an eternal instance, then gravity overcame it and it plopped into Marilyn’s wine glass.

Marilyn released Ryan’s arm, and Ryan leaned back rubbing her wrist in a distinctly human gesture. Marilyn raised the glass, swirling the blood into the little wine remaining.

“To you, my dear,” she said, raising the glass to Ryan. She held Ryan’s gaze as she finished the drink.

Ryan felt the sensation ripple through her and Marilyn smiled. Susan swallowed heavily as Jason sat across from her, his eyes nearly the size of his plate. Ryan glanced down at the wound, which was already healing.

Victor regained his composure, although outwardly it was not apparent he had lost it. He glanced over at Ryan, who was still staring at the healing cut.

“Perhaps I could give you some first aid with that?” he said somewhat sarcastically.

He rose from the table, nodding to Susan. “I know you and your son are tired from your journey.” He motioned and a servant materialized. “Please escort Dr. Ryerson to her suite.” He turned to Marilyn, “I will discuss more with you later.”

Marilyn dabbed her mouth with a napkin, making no attempt to disguise her delight at the situation. “I live to serve you, my lord.”

Ryan gave Marilyn a baleful look as she got up from the table and followed her father, feeling as if she were suddenly twelve years old again.