Mystic Embrace (16 page)

Sophia smiles, “I do, I always figured if you had a little girl you would need a name that starts with an E, you know to stick with tradition.”

“
Okay give it to us.”

“
Well, I have two actually, Emalia or Elyn.”

Matt and I look at each other and look at peanut and both say, “Elyn.”

“
I love it Sophia, thanks. Hi little Elyn, it is very nice to finally meet you. Welcome to the world.” I give her a little kiss.

“
Constance, I feel funny, I am hungry but the thought of food is making me sick.”

Florence takes my hand. “That is your bloodlust setting in I have something prepared for you and you can take small sips of it. This will lessen the feeling you are experiencing.”

“
Ebony, just make sure you only take small sips at a time. You are still transitioning and if you drink too fast you will get ill,” Elijah adds.

“
Does Eliza know what is going on?”

Sophia receives a text message and after reading it, she says, “Alexander and Matilda have gone to talk to her now. They should all be back here soon.”

“
I didn’t even notice them leave, I hope she is going to handle everything okay. We only have each other, and now…Well, now look at me.”

Chapter
Twenty-Two

New Home

Florence and Elijah have set up an entire wing of the house for me, Matt and Elyn. They need to keep me close to ensure I handle my Embrace. I spoke with them the other day about what is to come and it appears that I still maintain all my witch powers, they may even become heighten now. Eliza’s staying here too; we don’t want her to be alone. It’s great having so many people around to help with Elyn, but it is hard transitioning. I crave blood, I crave Matt’s, and Eliza’s and even Elyn’s blood. I want to drink my own family’s blood, I am just thankful that Alexander is keeping such a close eye on me. He keeps telepathic lines open at all times to ensure everyone’s safety.

I hear Eliza come up to the door. “Eliza I know it is you. I can tell by your footsteps.” I chuckle.

“
I just wanna come see that beautiful little niece of mine,” she says as she enters my room.

“
Of course, she loves her aunty.”

“
To be honest, I thought that I could watch Elyn for you, Elijah wants to do some training with you.”

“
That would be great, thanks.” I smile.

“
Anytime Sis, so, how are you handling your new life?” she asks.

“
I think I’m doing okay. It is hard at times though. I’m so lucky to have so many people here to help me,” I admit. “The best part is healing so fast; most women would still be in pain from surgery. I feel great physically, and look I don’t even have a scar.

“
I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

“
I miss the manor though. I’d like to go back there and pick up a few things. Since I was Embraced I haven’t been allowed to go anywhere,” I complain.

“
I know it must be hard, but I’m glad you have been keeping up on your school work while here.”

“
There isn’t much else I can do, I can hardly sleep.”

“
I think every new mother wishes she were like you and didn’t need sleep to function. Elyn waking for feedings doesn’t affect you the way it does others,” she jokes.

Since vampires don’t require much sleep, only a few hours rejuvenates me. Although most vampires tend to sleep during the day, to avoid being burned by the sun, the Pierce’s and I still sleep at night trying to keep up the mortal image. Of course they also have their magickal day crystals.

“
Yeah, yeah, but I think we are going to need to look through the book of shadows though and find some spells that will prevent me from harming or feeding on innocent people. I’m scared all the time of hurting you, Matt or Elyn and prom is in two weeks and I can’t miss it. Then we will have final exams and Graduation. This is my high school graduation and it is important.”

“
I think that is why Elijah wants to work with you, get you prepared for prom. He doesn’t have the time frame to work with you that he had with the others.”

“
Well I better go, but will you look through the book and see what you can find?”

“
Of course I will. Maybe we should contact Grams too. I think it may be time to let them in on everything. Of course assuming they don’t know yet,” Eliza suggests.

“
Good idea, I better go, take care of my little peanut,” I say as I run down the stairs.

***

I get down to the family room and the entire Pierce family is there waiting for me. I remember what their fight training is like from when we took on the Cerberus, but also know this is different. I need to learn how to handle my new increased senses, my thirst, and just normal daily living.

Elijah turns to me. “Hey kiddo, are you ready? Today we are going to work with your control. You never know when a mortal will get injured and bleed around you, so we will work around open human blood bags today. I want you to learn to control your response long enough to be removed from the situation.” A vampires reaction to blood is also called bloodlust, but I’ve only heard the Pierce’s refer to it that way once before. They try very hard to be civilized in every way.

“
This takes a long time to learn. I still struggle with it as you know from when Nathanial got injured and when his mom cut herself. You will not perfect it like Isaac or Constance, but you will learn to get out of there and fast, instead of feeding,” Sophia reassures.

Last year Nathanial’s mom cut herself and Sophia had to excuse herself from the situation. She blamed being sensitive around blood on the memories of Nathanial’s attack. Later that night she confessed everything to Nathanial.

“
Okay, I am ready.”

“
I have already talked to Eliza and Matt about this. Matt is at work and will not come home until he calls and we clear it for him. Eliza has placed a spell so none of us can get into the room her and Elyn are in,” Elijah adds.

“
That makes me feel a little better. In case something goes wrong, I can’t get to them.”

“
Exactly.”

They begin by putting a blind fold on me. Then bring out various items for me to smell. The goal is not only to control my reaction to blood but also to food. Eliza and I already made me a day crystal, with the
veneficus lamia sol solis partonus stone. This is the same black diamond Grams and her mother used to make day crystals for the Pierce family. When they returned to Wenham with Danika and needed one for her, Eliza and I helped Grams bless one. Now I have one of my own. Who would have ever suspected we would need to make one for one of us? Alexander has a talent for making jewelry and encrusted the stones in to a band that I wear as my wedding ring. Since Matt proposed with my mother’s ring and we did not feel the need to spend extra money on a band, this works out perfectly. The two rings fit together like a perfect set.

“
So, how exactly does my day crystal work? I ask as they wave the unappealing food in front of me and I pull away from the god awful stench that makes me gag.

I hear Florence crack a smile, telling by the sound of her lips moving against her teeth and the saliva from her mouth. I have learned specific sounds everyone makes, the increase in my hearing has been the most difficult to deal with. I am glad that was the first thing we worked on.

“
Well my dear, your day crystal helps with many things. The first and most important is you are able to go in the sunlight. It also helps with controlling your cravings to a point. Another important fact is you can eat regular food; this helps decrease suspicion among the mortals. Normally human food causes vampires immense distress, severe stomach pain and it is not pleasant,” Florence explains.

“
Okay, now back to work, I want you to tell me what you smell and try to keep a straight face,” Elijah instructs.

“
Okay, well this one is bacon, that’s easy, and it smells revolting. It is so strong.” I wince and turn my head.

“
Yes bacon is one of the stronger scents. Now don’t turn away, just try to get used to it,” Elijah encourages.

I sit as Danika waves the plate of bacon in my face. I get a sick feeling almost as though I’m going to throw up. I can tell it is Danika by the tapping of her foot.

“
You can do it Eb. The next one isn’t as bad,” Sophia encourages.

I try to fight through the smell, and it doesn’t take long before I am used to it. Just to be a smart ass I reach out and grab a piece throwing it in my mouth and eating.

“
Very good Ebony, I still can’t eat bacon,” Danika
confesses.

They continue on with a few different scents, including flowers, perfume, food, and cleaning products. Then they bring out the blood, first animal then donated bags of human blood.

Isaac walks behind me and unties the blindfold. “Let’s remove the blindfold. Now that you know how to fight through when you can’t see and what you smell; you need to learn how to fight through the smell and sight of blood.”

I can feel the burning in my eyes and throat. My chest feels as though someone poured acid on it. The human blood is so much harder to control myself around. I feel the ripping in my mouth as my fangs descend.

“
It’s okay Ebony, when you feel this happening try your meditation techniques. Try to think of Elyn, anything to take your mind away from the blood and your thirst,” Constance encourages.

Almost as soon as she says Elyn, I feel everything retract. I just think of my beautiful little girl and how I never want her to see me as a monster.

“
I think I’ve found my calming tool,” I say with excitement.

“
That you have,” Sophia agrees. “I still have nothing that works that good. You have only been a vampire for a few weeks, and I have been one for over a hundred years. You amaze me Ebony Triggs…ah excuse me, Ebony Barton.”

“
Well I kinda thought it would be Triggs-Barton-Pierce now,” I joke.

“
You have always been and will always be a member of this family, whether you have our last name or not,” Florence says as she hands me a drink.

“
Maybe we should take it a step further,” Elijah suggests.

“
What do you mean?” I ask.

“
Matt called a few moments ago, I told him it was safe to come home. We can try to have the open blood with a mortal in the room.”

“
But…but…what if…?”

“
We are all here to make sure he doesn’t get hurt. You have a mortal husband and daughter, I think it is important. Little kids get cuts and scratches, you need to be prepared. For the safety of those you love,” Elijah insists.

“
I understand, but I am scared.” I look as Matt walks through the door.

I watch as my husband, the father of my child, enters the room and I try to remain calm. The temptation from the blood is still in me, I can still smell it. The sound of Matt’s heart pumping pounds through my head. I can hear the blood passing through each chamber. Picturing our wedding, and our daughter, I fight the temptation as Matt comes closer.

“
Hey there baby, how is your training going?”

I try to meditate in order to relax as he gets even closer. I raise my hand signaling for him to stop, and see Alexander reach out his arm preventing Matt from getting closer.

“
She’s doing great, but you have to watch her closely. Make sure you react based only on her signals, and no quick movements. We’re all here to ensure your safety,” Alexander explains.

“
Ebony, can I come say hello and maybe give you a kiss?” Matt questions.

I nod, “Yeah, I’m okay. How was your day?

“
Better now that I get to come home to my girls. So, how can I help with training?” He moves very cautiously.

“
You’re helping just by being here.” I smile, and stand for a kiss. Everyone’s eyes are glued to us waiting to ensure I can handle the close contact.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Another Milestone

It’s hard to believe that Graduation is finally here. Elijah says I’m ready to go. Only one month after becoming a vampire, I’m ready to go out in public. We can only guess that I’m progressing so fast because of my magickal powers. I’m really getting used to the new me, and am so glad that Eliza and Matt don’t care or treat me differently. I know Grams, Mom, and Dad were all a little shocked, but they took it better than I expected them to. Being a vampire has halted my magick training. I just hope to resume soon, and I am even more determined to get rid of Naberius. We wanted to banish him in my second trimester, but so much was going on and time just flew by. I’m glad he hasn’t made an attempt on us or Elyn, but we do have to deal with him soon. I can’t deal with that now, I need to get ready for Grad.

“
Sophia, you look beautiful!”

“
Thanks Ebony, are you almost ready?”

“
Yeah, just gotta put on my dress.”

“
I’m so proud of you, with everything you’ve been through this year you are still graduating at the top of our class.”

“
It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve had great friends and family to help me.”