Origins (A Black Novel, #1) (4 page)

“My mother was in love with a mortal. Don’t get me wrong, she loved my father too, but she wasn’t ‘in love’ with him. She married my dad and stayed with him because she didn’t trust herself with the mortal she fell in love with. She didn’t think she would be able to control herself and was afraid she would kill him. She left him to protect him, the same as your mother did. She wanted him to be safe and happy, to live. My mother gave up her chance at true happiness, true love, to protect a mortal. That made me realize mortals, all mortals, are worth fighting for. I have trained, for years, to resist the bloodlust and while some days it is infinitely harder than others, it is still worth every minute.” I sit, tongue-tied, unable to find the right thing to say. Thankfully, after a few moments, Dr. Thorne fills the silence. “Well, that was a bit heavy, I admit,” she says with a small smile. “Do you have any other questions?”

“A million,” I answer honestly. “But I think I’ll try to give my mind some time to process what it’s learned before I overload it.”

“Fair enough,” she responds with a wink.

The next two hours are spent mostly in silence, save for the few occasions of small talk when we pass by an interesting piece of scenery or landmark and when we stop at a rest stop to freshen up and eat. As we near the coast the fresh tang of salt water wafts into the car, overwhelming all my other senses. I am so giddy with anticipation that I literally have to sit on my hands to keep from bouncing around in the car. We arrive in Camden, Maine a few minutes past nine o’clock.

My hyperactivity lasts through the entire twenty minute ferry ride, up until the moment my feet hit the solid ground of the island. At least it doesn’t look like a place with an insane asylum…..unless the whole island is some kind of government experiment where they just drop the crazies off to fend for themselves in the wilderness. As soon as the boat captain announces, “Welcome to Black Island,” a bout of nausea threatens to bring me to my knees. What if my mom doesn’t want me? What if she is disappointed?

“I’ll need ten minutes to refuel then I’ll be ready to head back to the mainland,” the captain says to Dr. Thorne before sauntering off.

“You’re not staying?” I plead, desperate. I don’t think I can do this.

“No, Adelin. This is something you must do for yourself, you know that. Besides, I have work and someone will need to keep an eye on your father,” she says with a grin.

“Don’t you want to see your sister?” I ask, hoping to convince her to stay a little while longer.

“Moira and I do not get along,” she says with a laugh. “She has a different opinion of what my life should be like. I think I see your mom.” She grabs my luggage and briskly stalks across the dock, my bags thumping behind her. She pauses partway onto the grass to hug a woman who must be my mother.

Knowing I can only go forward, I take a deep steadying breath and slowly meander over to the two women. As soon as I’m near enough to clearly see the other woman, I am stunned at how much she resembles the woman in the photographs Dad keeps around the house. She looks exactly as she did twenty years ago when the pictures were taken, like she hasn’t aged a day.

Holy shit, maybe there is some truth in this ‘immortal’ thing after all.

Plus, she looks so normal- not at all as I would imagine someone who thinks they’re a vampire would look. The only difference I could tell was that her hair looked longer, shinier, and her expression was no longer the carefree one she had worn when photographed-instead it was replaced with a look of sorrow and defeat.

I continue forward, slowly, barely able to lift my feet completely off the ground. I have no idea what to expect when I reach my mother.

Should I hug her or pretend as though I haven’t dreamed of this moment every day of my life? The decision is made for me when she races towards me, quickly covering the few feet remaining between us, and folds me into her arms in a tight embrace. A few heartbeats later she pulls back to look at me, her wide, silvery-grey eyes searching every inch of my face, drinking me in all at once.

“Adelin, why are you crying? Aren’t you happy?” Her voice is soft, silky. It reminds me of the hammock Dad and I kept in the backyard at home and the way it would gently swing in the breeze.

“I
am
happy. That’s why I’m crying,” I respond before resting my head on her shoulder once more. I have hoped this moment would come more times than I could count and now that it is here I want to relish every second of it.

“I hate to interrupt,” Dr. Thorne cuts in from behind me, “but I have to get going or I’m going to be stuck here. Are you going to be all right, Adelin?” She places her hand gently on my shoulder.

“Yes,” I grin as I detach myself from my mother’s embrace. “I am.”

“I thought so. Now, come over here and give me a quick hug. I’ll keep you posted on your dad so you don’t worry. Good-bye, Adelin,” she says as she releases me and moves over to quickly hug my mom. “Sera, take care. Talk to you soon.”

“Are you ready to see my home? Our home?” Mom asks, picking up my bags with a wide smile, after Dr. Thorne climbs back onto the ferry. I nod and follow after her, wondering all the while if I was really dreaming or if this was actually happening.

“
S
o, Vraiden...”

“What, Galen?” I ask perturbed. As if anything this fuck face had say will make any difference to me. I wouldn't so much as bat an eyelash if he were to drop dead at my feet. On the other hand though, having connections did have its upside.

“How was that girl last night? The blonde…what was her name?”

“I don't know. Krista, Kristen, Kiersten... Something along those lines,” I say, smiling vaguely at the memory of the previous night and the unknowing, petite blonde I had met at Galen’s club. She had been fun. Very perky, right up until she figured it out. Then she'd been more fun. An image of her lying on the floor, covered in blood, tugs at the edge of my consciousness and I grin.

“Uh-oh,” Quinton voices from behind me, interrupting my thoughts.

“Vraiden’s got that look. She must have been fun.”

“You have no idea,” I say, nonchalantly.

“Was she a screamer?” Galen questions, happy anticipation etching his face.

“Better,” I tease. “A crier….right up until the end.”

“You know, V,” Quinton starts. “I really do admire your gift. It's so much better than mine.”

“It's not that mine is better, it's just more useful. Yours can have its perks too.”

“Sure, I can easily tell everything about someone just by touching them, but I can't influence anyone. That's where the real fun is.”

“Stop your whining, Quin,” Galen snaps.

I really could just snap his neck and keep going on with my day like nothing ever happened. Besides, it's not like it would kill him, unfortunately. In the end he'd get over it, I think smugly. Aloud I say,

“What did you two do last night?”

“Twins,” Galen replies. “It makes it so much more fun when one watches you kill the other. The look on her pretty little face as I sucked her sister dry was priceless. You guys should have been there.”

“Mine passed out before I could enjoy it. I always pick the weak ones,” Quinton says grimly.

“We are what we eat my friend,” Galen quips.

Looking at Quinton now, I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. He has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. His parents and mine are friends and we were born within mere months of each other. Growing up he had been like a brother to me, only better. We have done everything together; from our first kill, to honing our gifts. Then I remember that there's no room in my life for pity, or weakness - survival of the fittest. If Quinton is going to last, he will have to toughen up.

“So, what's the plan for tonight?” Quinton inquires, breaking through my thoughts.

Mentally shrugging away the clinging remains of my youth, I turn towards him, saying, “Galen's club, of course.” Hours later find us lounging in the VIP section of Galen's nightclub sipping drinks and replaying the football game that had aired last night. Across the room a sudden movement catches my eye, and I glance up in time to see a tall brunette checking me out from across the dance floor. Catching my eye, she winks and motions for me to join her.

“Later, boys,” I say mischievously, putting my drink down and standing. “I think I just found dinner.”

“Good luck,” says Galen as I stroll away.

“Luck, I don't need,” I call back over my shoulder.

Striding forward, I smile as charmingly as I can muster, all the while thinking how this girl has no idea what she has just set in motion. As I near her, a look of shock registers across her pretty face and I know she had just gotten her first clear look at me. I flash her a sexy smile and step close. “Hello. I'm Vraiden.”

“Um, Juel,” she stammers, quickly trying to recover her cool.

I flash a wicked smile, noting with pleasure the way her eyes light up. “Well, Juel, what do you say we get out of here?”

“Sure thing,” she says anxiously, as we head toward the exit.

“Oh. My. God.” she breathes. “That's your car?!”

“Yep,” I reply, slyly patting the cherry red hood.

“A Porsche? This is just too good to be true. You're gorgeous, you're rich...You live with your parents, don't you?” she questions, wide eyed.

“Nope.”

“A mass murderer, then,” she jokes.

“You have no idea,” I whisper as I jog around to my side. I hop in and take off toward my nearest apartment.

“Why?” she asks, tears spilling from her wide, dark eyes and down her cheeks. Her once pretty brown hair is matted to her forehead and she is frantically clutching at the remains of her torn shirt.

“Because I can,” I reply simply.

“Please don't do this,” she begs, eyeing me wildly. “Please. I won't tell anyone, I promise. Please! I’m only nineteen! I have my whole life ahead of me!”

“Correction: you
had
your whole life in front of you. That was before you walked into that bar and met me. Now you have about ten minutes left, maybe more if I decide to drag it out. I haven't made up my mind just yet.”

“No,” she whimpers while curling up into a ball in the corner.

“Please. My mom.. Please, God. No...”

“Your God can't save you,” I say, inching closer, baring my teeth.

“No one can.” Boy, this is going to be fun. It’s so much better when they cry. At least then I don't have to worry about them alerting the neighbors with their screams.

Within seconds I am in front of her; crouching down I take her chin in my palm and ease it up. “Are you ready?” I ask when her tear filled eyes reach mine.

“No. Please, you don't have to do this. I promise no one will find out about you.”

“Like I care about any of that,” I spit, my face mere inches from hers.

I can practically smell her blood flowing in her delicate veins.

“No...” she whimpers, still desperately trying to plead with me.

“I won't lie to you, this is going to hurt...a lot,” I breathe as I lean in, my mouth watering in anticipation. As I sink my teeth in I am overcome with the delicious taste of fresh, warm blood. I know she is desperately trying to scratch and kick her way free, but I am too lost in the taste of her to feel anything. A few moments later she goes limp and I know that she has simply fainted and that she is not quite dead yet. Grasping her back delicately to hold her in place, I deepen the flow of blood to my mouth until I finally feel her heart stop beating. Straightening up, I release her with a soft thump and stand, wiping the tell-tale signs from my face with the back of my hand.

Much better. Now, time to get rid of the body.

“
H
ome,” as my mother calls it, is bigger than most buildings I have set foot in- and that includes the town hall and the high school. Granted, I live in a small town and the buildings there aren’t very big but still, her house is massive - a four-story sandstone made up of what appears to be more windows than walls. The first and second floors have wrap-around balconies and the third floor sports smaller, more private ones. I stare at it, mesmerized, as we climb out of the car in the front drive.

“Do you like it?” she asks quietly.

“Like it?” I repeat, shaking off my stupor to glance around. Off to the opposite side from the way we had driven up is a path leading down to a private boat dock and beyond that lay the vast expanse of ocean. “I love it!”

“Good. I’m glad. You can have your pick of any of the rooms on the third floor,” she says as she turns and begins making her way toward the house. I follow her through the back door and into the house, stopping in an overly large kitchen. “Adelin, I know this must be hard for you, not to mention confusing, so until you feel more comfortable I would prefer if you call me Sera.” She turns to face me, an unreadable expression on her face. “I can only imagine how weird this all must be for you and to expect you to call me ‘mom’, or even think of me as such right now, would be too much. Why don’t you go upstairs, unpack and get some rest? I have some things I need to take care of in the morning but when I get back how about the two of us sit down and catch up? I feel I owe you an explanation at the very least and I’m sure you have some questions for me.”

“Okay. Night…Sera.” I say, weighing her name on my tongue.

Strangely, it feels right, like I have always known her.

“The stairs are just through that door and down the hall,” she says, pointing. “Feel free to explore the house- and the island- all you want. Good night Adelin.” She hugs me briefly, sighing as she releases me.

Grabbing my bags, I head off in the direction she had pointed. I lumber up the stairs and stop, out of breath from carrying my luggage, at the third floor landing. I turn down the hallway to search out a suitable room, quickly rejecting the first few doors I come across. I choose one near the end of the dimly lit hallway where I feel more comfortable. Easing the heavy door open I grope along the wall for a light switch. A gasp escapes me as my fingers make purchase and the room is illuminated before me.