Immortal Embrace (18 page)

Chapter Forty Three

Tribulations

Ebony and I continue dancing the night away and making a few new friends until Alexander summons us to the library telepathically. He also asks for Ebony and her sister to join us. I’m concerned that this must be something big to call us away from the party. We sneak in one by one, trying to be discreet. Constance and Alexander are intent in their conversation, and it looks serious.

“What happened?” Isaac inquires.

“Alexander, Constance, we are all here. What is it?” Elijah demands to know.

Constance begins, “I was outside for some air and went for a quick run. I brushed by a tree and started having a vision that Alexander intercepted. It is bad, real bad! The decedents of the Cerberus cult have risen from their lairs in the wastelands and are on the hunt. Many mortals have been killed in the New York area, and they have moved south to the Boston area. This could turn into another war, a repeat of Tansy the Vampire War when the groups took sides.” She looks terrified.

“I think we need to be careful. We should also contact the Renata leaders to notify them of the Cerberus presence,” Isaac adds.

We all agree. Elijah and Isaac will stay behind to discuss the details, and the rest of us will return to the party. We do not all want to be absent at the same time or it may look suspicious. We will discuss everything after the party.

“I’m confused. What is the Tansy, Renata and the Cerberus?” Eliza asks.

“Back in the fifth century, a war called Tansy broke out, separating the vampiric clans. A group came together to create an organization called the Renata. They suppressed the anarchs and agreed to exist behind a façade called ‘The conspiracy of silence.’ The leaders, or ‘Lords’, of the Renata decreed ‘Never more shall vampires kill freely and openly, and they must hide amongst the mortals and conceal our true natures,” Elijah explains and adds, “Thus came the six laws, a sort of Vampire Bible.

Those who did not join the Renata were driven into the wastelands–that is, until they attacked the leaders for power, most recently, in 1882, when the vampire riots broke in New York and their numbers decreased once again. The Cerberus went into hiding again so as to increase their numbers. Because of the similarities to the original war, these riots are referred to as the ‘Wars of Tansy.’”

“Well okay then. I guess that explains a little, where is this Renata located are they worldwide or just here?” Eliza says with a little surprise.

“They are from Transylvania; you know some of the myths about us are real.” Isaac chuckles.

“Okay that is kinda funny but on the same note this might explain the bad feeling I have been having,” Ebony suggests.

“What bad feeling?” Elijah asks.

“I have had this awful feeling that something bad was going to happen, something evil. I told Sophia about it the other night when we went shopping.”

“Did I forget to mention it? Maybe seeing Caspian that night just overwhelmed me and took precedence. I am so sorry.”

“No worries. We know now and need to figure out some details. Knowing last week without any details would not have meant much. Now we know to trust Ebony’s feelings, as they may have more to them,” Elijah says in his comforting voice.

We need to hide our concerns for now and continue with our own façade, starting with returning to the party. It is almost midnight now, and everyone is preparing to ring in the New Year. The wait staff assures us that our guests all have champagne, with sparkling cider for the underaged guests.

The music stops, and everyone gathers around for the countdown.“Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one... HAPPY NEW

YEAR!” Balloons, streamers and confetti fall from the ceiling above, right on cue; Constance rigged it perfectly to fall in sync with the clock striking twelve. Everyone in attendance starts shouting, cheering, and singing off-key versions of “Auld Lang Syne.”

Then each guest turns to kiss the one they wish to spend the next year with. Of course Alexander and Matilda are hiding around the corner for a small kiss; they don’t want to raise any questions.

This tradition means so much more to me now. I have waited over a century to find someone special, someone worth a New Years kiss. I never expected to find him, and for once I feel extremely lucky, standing here in the moment of a new year, with the most amazing man I have ever known and completely in love. Nathanial takes me in his arms, and we kiss, sharing the perfection of the moment.

“Sophia, let’s go upstairs for some privacy and to talk. The party is winding down, and I don’t think anyone will notice us missing.” He knows me so well that he can tell something is bothering me.

“I think you’re right. Let’s go.”

Chapter Forty Four

Connections

“So I think the party is a success. What do you think?” Nathanial inquires.

“Yes, it is all very nice. I enjoyed meeting your friends instead of them just gawking at us,” I reply.

“So what is going on? You seem preoccupied,” he inquires with genuine concern.

“You can tell?” I ask.

“I feel like we have known each other forever, and I can sense when something is bothering you, I told you so earlier. Relax and tell me what is going on and what I can do to make it go away, sweetie.” He places his arm around my shoulder and gives me a little squeeze.

“I will, but tonight is not the night. Let’s enjoy our first New Year’s celebration together. I promise to tell you later,” I insist. I make an X over my heart with my index finger and smile.

“Alright, but only because you are so breathtaking that I can’t possibly argue with you,” he says with his goofy little crooked grin that I so adore.

“So then why don’t you come closer and give me another kiss?” He pulls me closer, and I allow it.

He pulls me right onto his lap. Now up on my knees with one on either side of his lap, straddling him. I begin pressing my hands against his perfectly shaped pectorals and lean in closer. I kiss his soft, gentle lips. Our lips moving together in perfect sync, becoming more and more passionate. He softly runs his hands down my sides and rests them on my hips. Things are getting intense. I have never felt passion like this before. It is obvious we have both forgotten about the house full of guests. It is as though only the two of us exist. Nathanial’s hands move around the back of my hips, gently caressing my buttocks. I press in even closer, and he grabs even harder. He turns me so that my back is flat on the couch and he’s half on top of me. Still kissing, I never imagined passion like this existed.

Just then, we hear a knock at the door, and we both jump to our feet. I answer the door, and it is Luke.

“Hey, bro. Sorry to interrupt, but Mom and Dad are ready to go. Can I catch a ride home with you? I’m kinda digging this girl named Eliza.” He winks at Nathanial.

“Sure, no problem. Whenever you are ready.” He laughs.

The three of us go back downstairs and say our goodbyes. This is yet another amazing evening spent with Nathanial McCord that I shall never forget! I’m so excited to see what the following months shall bring us. I only hope it is half as good as Christmas and New Years has been.
This is better than any dream or movie
, I think to myself. I know it’s not movie though, because this will not have a happy ending, but for now, I’ve decided to just go with it and enjoy it while I can. I don’t ever want this to end, but I do not ever want anything to harm Nathanial. I vow to protect him for as long as I am near, for as long as he will allow me continue to be a part of his life.

***

“Luke and Eliza really are growing close. They have been talking for hours,”

Nathanial notes.

“I know. Everyone else has left. They’re locked eye to eye and don’t even notice the cleaning crew working around them,” I reply.

Matilda gives me a look that I know; they have a special bond. I only wonder if things can continue to grow once Luke returns to school this week.

“I’ve never seen my brother this interested in anyone before.”

“Do you think it could go somewhere? Mati believes they are a perfect match,” I whisper.

“It could. Luke is very dedicated to everything he’s passionate about, and he looks pretty passionate to me.”

I watch the two kindred spirits bond. “I hope he can handle her secret as well as you’ve handled mine.”

“I think he will. Mom and Dad always raised us to not judge others based on their circumstances, race, or beliefs. Luke is the fairest person I know, always ready to stand up for the outcast.”

After a little longer, Nathanial interrupts Luke and Eliza’s conversation. “Luke, I’m sorry, man, but even the staff has left. I think it may be time to let Eliza go home with her sister. I bet Mom and Dad are wondering what’s taking us so long.”

“You’re probably right.” Luke turns back to Eliza. “I am so glad we met tonight. I hope we can spend more time together before I go back to school.”

“I would like that. Thank you for keeping me company.” Eliza smiles and Luke leans in for a small kiss on the cheek before leaving.

The boys are the last of the mortals to leave. The family invites the sisters to stay and brush up on our vampire history. We get our journals out and look for all notes regarding the Cerberus.

Elijah has spent most of the night researching the murders from the New York area and trying to figure out which ones and how many could be attributed to the Cerberus.

He also spoke at length to the Renata. Elijah has agreed to work with them to keep the peace and protect the secret. He explains to us, “Isaac, Florence, Constance, and I have faced them before in the previous New York riots, before we found you kids. When we found you, everything changed for us. We were living differently than most of our kind, but with you came responsibilities. You have heard some of the stories, but you have never been involved firsthand before. This is not the kind of fight our family is used to. Our fights are usually within ourselves, fighting our natural urges to feed off the mortals. Our biggest fight has always been our civility. Now we were opening up things that have been dormant in us for over a century. We must all be prepared.”

We all agree that something needs to be done to stop the Cerberus; for human sacrifice is not something we can just sit idly by and watch. We’ve only been in Wenham for less than six months but have never had such a life before. We have never found so many mortals to care about. The townspeople are not only the civilians of Wenham, but they are also our friends, and some are like family to us.

We decide in this moment that it’s not an option to allow the Cerberus to come anywhere near Wenham on their killing spree. We know the only option is to prepare for battle, fight them, and win. This will be difficult and training needs to begin immediately. We’ll need help, but we may not be lucky enough to find it. When things become difficult like this is when I miss Caspian the most. He was always a great fighter and protector. I can feel our entire family longing for him now. I possibly yearn for his return even more since I saw him in the area only a few short days ago. I just don’t believe anything can bring him back, not even the danger that is upon his family.

We are his family and will always be. I hope one day soon he will realize we can help him and that he will join us again.

“We must begin training and preparing. I think Danika is in the most danger here.

Wait...where is she? Does anyone know where Danika is?” Isaac questions.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t recall seeing her when we gathered in the library before midnight. Actually, the last I remember seeing her was when she was greeting our guests,” Matilda says with a hint of panic.

“I cannot reach her. I do not sense her anywhere near us. She must be far if I am not able to link with her mind,” Alexander confirms.

“You don’t think….?” Florence begins to panic.

Once again that girl is driving me batty. We need to find her and begin our training, to ensure our battle is won and Wenham remains safe forever. We finally have a life and I intend on living it to the fullest, for as long as I can. After more than a century, I have found friendship, and love. I have found my other half and am finally complete.

Coming September 2011