Red Awakening: (Red Knight #2) (23 page)

I glare at Sara as she washes her hands, then takes off her shirt, so she’s standing there in her skin-tight trousers, and lacy white bra. Why the hell would she strip off? She has her stunning boobs out, and I’m holding this tiny sprog. It’s immoral on all levels. She quickly pulls a green t-shirt out of the washing machine, and threads it over her head.

I haven’t looked down yet. I’m apprehensive. A vampire baby. Human baby. Whatever it is, it’s too quiet. Come to think of it, it’s not made a single noise since it came out of Liz. That’s what babies do, cry.

“Nathan, he won’t bite… he has no teeth.”

I grumble and look down into my arms. No black eyes. No fangs. He’s a chunky little fella, and he’s staring at me with his mum’s eyes. I move toward the back of the couch with him. I’m looking for any signs of evil, but all I see is a warm, pink, cute little guy, with a tuft of light fine hair on his head. He clasps his tiny fingers together and sucks on them, blowing a raspberry. I smile with this light feeling. He’s melting me.

Sara catches me pulling one of those stupid baby faces, I thought I’d never pull. She slips her hand under the blanket, and takes him away for a feed. She perches on the couch and pops the teat of the bottle into his mouth. Wow, that is one hungry kid.

“Milk?” I ask again, confused.

She places the now empty bottle on the floor, sits him upright on her lap, and starts to rub his back.

“Yes Nathan, milk.”

“Not blood?” I drop down onto the sofa’s arm.

“He’s never to have blood.”

I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s sitting on her knee like a cute humpty dumpty on crack. Sorry, shit description. What I mean is, he’s so alert, taking everything in.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask.

“He’s a special little man, and will have special abilities when he grows up. Abilities Selene wants.”

I bite down the tension in my fangs. I’m angry, and actually really worried about this kid. I think it’s dawning on me that Daniel is an innocent in this. He’s Liz’s son.

“He needs to be kept safe. Away from Selene, and for now, Liz,” she says.

“Because you think she’ll feed on him?” I scowl. It’s unthinkable. She wouldn’t.

“A Sang awakening is very different from what you went through. Blood is all she’ll want.” She beams down into her arms. “So I’m going to take him.”

What a completely stupid idea that is. How the hell is Sara going to protect him from Selene, alone?

I nod my head in fury as Adrien emerges. I eye him up and down. Does he actually want this baby dead? Seems that way to me.

“You’re not seriously going to let her take him away?” I stride to Adrien, but he completely ignores me. “Are you listening?” I grab his arm.

“Do you think Elizabeth can just walk out of here with that baby?” He pushes me away. “I tell you what, why don’t we all go now, and I’ll drive… be like some big old family vacation eh.”

Sara moves, patting Daniel’s back over her shoulder. As she gets closer to Adrien, he shifts quickly, refusing to even look at his son. What an asshole.

“Selene will be watching,” Sara says. “We’re going to carry on like nothing has happened. She gets wind that Liz has been turned and given birth, we’re as good as dead.”

Screw this. I’m going to see Liz. What does she want? This is about her son after all. Awakening or not, I’m not going to let these idiots decide for her. I march toward the bedroom.

“She’s asleep,” Adrien barks.

“Try stop me,” I warn and carry on.

Adrien was right, she’s asleep. She’s been cleaned up and is wearing a white nighty. She is still chained to the bed, but looks peaceful. Still looks like my Liz. I hang my head. I should have stayed here. I should have never gone to France. I’m supposed to have her back; to protect and look out for her. I’m just as bad as Adrien. I should have dragged her away from him, kicking and screaming if I had to.

“Nathan.” I lift my head to see her sweet eyes half open.
God, this is so hard
. “Nathan,” her weak voice calls me again.

I slowly walk to the bed, and sit down by her feet. Her skin is so pale, and lips as red as the blood I drink.

“You could have told me Liz.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I should have been here. Too wrapped up in myself like always.”

“It all happened so fast…. Daniel?”

I smile because I’m proud of her. “He’s fine. Hungry. But fine. Look Liz, what do you want… you really want Sara to take him?”

“I have no choice Nathan… he’s not safe around me.”

“Liz, please think about this.”

“Adrien knows what he’s doing. I have to trust him, now more than ever.”

She begins to shake violently, like every muscle in her body is conducting electricity. Her arms fling back against the bedposts as her eyes change to vamp black. I jump up and lean down to her face as she reddens and cries in pain. As I hold her head, to prevent her banging it further, Adrien rushes into the room, holding a syringe. He flicks her bicep, then injects her. She drops back and calms, breathing deeply as her eyes roll into the back of her head.

“See now,” he says to her, stroking her hair. “I’m here Elizabeth.”

My mind is made. I’m not going to run away this time. Fuck the Vigore council. I can’t let Sara leave alone with Daniel. I have to do something. And if I can’t be here for Liz, I can sure as hell make sure her son is safe.

“I’m going with Sara,” I say, adamantly.

His eyes narrow on me, wondering whether to trust me or not. It’s a mutual feeling, because I certainly don’t trust that he has Liz’s best interest at heart.

“Fine… Sara will brief you.” He storms out of the room.

Nathan

Well that was bizarre. I’ve never had to pretend to be wasted before, and I can tell you, it was by no means the perfect performance. I had to stagger out of Liz’s apartment while Sara kept Daniel covered by my jacket. To put a bit of authenticity into the act, she also stuck her tongue down my throat before we got into a cab.

This is no place for a baby. Out on a dark night in a scruffy taxi that smells like rotten garlic. But Daniel seems happy enough, sitting on my knee, watching the lights go by.

Sara tells the driver to pull up down a dark backstreet. She pays the driver extra, telling him that this fare never happened. As she steps outside, I frown. There’s nothing here but a row of old lockups. She opens my door and gestures her head for me to get a move on.

“This is the plan?” I ask.

She puffs out, her patience with me at zero. “Just get out.” 

The cab drives away, as I kind of juggle to hold a wriggly Daniel. He’s blowing raspberries again, gazing around this shithole in wonder, while kicking his legs. I’m already understanding that this kid is special. He’s strong, and way too perceptive. He’s just one day old, holding up his head, aware of everything around him. And not once has he cried for attention.

Sara opens one of the garage doors as I balance Daniel on my hip. He’s messing with this string around his neck, dribbling. I’m no safety expert, but whatever it is, it’s a choking hazard.

“What is this anyway? I don’t think he should have it around his neck.” I hold Daniel out to an arms-length, looking at the coin on the string. “It might choke him.”

“He keeps it on, at least until we’re out of the country. That’s the one thing that is keeping Selene in the dark.”

She enters the damp garage and I follow. She pulls on a silver cover, to reveal a black 14 plate Ford Focus. It has tinted windows, fancy alloys, with a white racing stripe over the bonnet, roof, and hood. It looks like a teen racers first car. I scowl at it. How the hell are we not going to draw attention to ourselves in this piece of junk?

“Can you see Adrien driving this?” Sara asks, noticing the disapproval on my face, opening the door so I catch a whiff of cannabis. “No… and that’s the point.”

She trots to the boot and opens the lid. I stand at her back and peer inside. There’s a suitcase, diapers, milk, and bottles. She unzips a smaller black case. Shit. Money. There’s got to be over a hundred grand in there.

She walks to the back passenger door, and takes out a baby seat. I squat down to carefully place Daniel inside. I examine the straps and tug to loosen them, but it’s no good, I can’t fasten the stupid fiddly thing.

Sara pushes me aside. She hands me a passport and a new mobile phone, then like she’s done this a thousand times before, she secures Daniel into the car seat. My brow tenses as I open to see my new identity.

“Are you taking the piss?” I utter. “My name is Mike Rotch.”

“Yes and?”

Oh god, she hasn’t got one ounce of humour in her. She’s been a vamp too long, every wisecrack just flies over her head. This is Adrien, has to be. Prick. I’m the one putting my ass on the line for his kid.

“My crotch!” Her eyes roll at me. Yep, right over her head that went. “What’s your name?” I ask her.

She flips open her fake passport. “Lisa Rotch.”

“So we’re married now… fan-frigging-tastic!” I toss the passport inside the boot. “And the kid?”

“Daniel Rotch.” She slams the boot lid shut. “Right come on. Our plane leaves in ninety minutes.”

I lift up the car seat. I’ve seen these before, parents’ effing and jeffing in carparks, trying to fasten them in.

“Here, I’ll let you.” I hand Daniel over and get into the backseat. “Jeez, it reeks in here. Is he going to be alright breathing?”

She pulls the seatbelt behind the car seat and clips it in, all while giving me the sexy evil eyes.

“If we’re traveling all the way to Canada together, will you try not to speak,” she snaps.

I smirk. “Well sweetheart, it’s what us married folk do isn’t it?”

“Just shut the hell up.” She slams the door in response.

                                                           ***

We abandoned the shitty Focus in the airport carpark. Sara even left the doors open. If it gets lifted, whoever does it, will be doing us a favour.

I have a nappy bag on one arm, and Daniel in the other as we board the plane. The flight attendants coo over Daniel as I shuffle through. I guess that’s a pro of having a baby. Babies attract babes.

I sit by the porthole window near the back of the plane. My head hurts as I try to block out the constant annoying thoughts of excited and stressed passengers. I thought I had a good control over it, but in this confined space full of people, the jabber is causing a powerful static.

“What’s up?” Sara asks.

I close my eyes and give my head a wobble. “Nothing… I’m fine.”

Daniel tugs the zipper on my jacket. How the hell am I going to entertain this little man for nine long hours?

Sara drops down into the seat next to me, and the cheeky cow puts her earphones in.

“Hey!” I hiss. “I’m no damn super nanny.”

“He’s fine,” she says casually. “He won’t cry. Just get him to relax and he might doze off.”

She goes to close her eyes, so I nudge her arm. “Sara, in case you haven’t noticed, this kid hasn’t slept yet.”

“So…” she blows out. “This is the perfect opportunity for him to catch up.”

“So I’m stuck babysitting?”

“Yes… he likes you.” She shuts her eyes. “What’s the problem?”

“You, that’s my problem.”

Four hours in and he’s still awake. He’s not particularly doing much. Just sitting on my knee all mellow, watching the clouds go by outside. Strange kid. It’s as though he’s aware of my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to childcare, and is on his best behaviour.

Sara has gone to stretch her legs. So it’s just me, Daniel, and some sweet old dear sitting in front of us, who keeps commenting on how well behaved my son is.

Daniel starts to wiggle, his little feet are springing up and down like a rabbit. I rotate him to face me as he starts to blow out spit bubbles.

“Hey, what’s wrong little man?” His big green eyes widen, and his face turns beet red. “Oh you better not… you are aren’t you.”

Oh great, this is just fantastic. Shitty diaper on a stuffy plane full of people. Where the hell is Sara?

Someone in the seat behind me prods my head. Rule one: If you want to speak to someone, use your damn manners. A prod on the head, equals a smack in the face. Rule two: Don’t piss-off a vampire who is already pissed-off.

I turn my head slowly to see some spotty grease-ball with bushy eyebrows, peering through the gap between the headrests.

“Dude, you going to change him, or stink us all out?” he says.

If Sara had hold of Daniel right now, this guy would be toast. What room has he got to go on about smells? I’ve had to put up with his nasty body odour since I got on this damn plane.

“Well?” he continues to push me.

Maybe I should read his mind. He looks like a shady dick, but if I open the wall, then the entire plane will be able to get in there. I look out for Sara. A last-ditch attempt to get out of this, but there’s no sign. Fuckin typical.

I thrust myself up from my seat, holding Daniel, and angrily pull down the diaper bag from the hand luggage above. Cursing under my breath, I stomp down the aisle toward the toilet, hoping to find Sara before I get there.

                                                       ***

It’s so small in here. I’ve pulled down the baby changing table, and my thighs keep hitting the damn sink.

I lie Daniel down carefully. Okay, I’ve erected several buildings in London over the years, so this shouldn’t be that complicated, surely.

I pull a diaper out of the changing bag and study it. Front, back, and fasten things on each side.

“Kid, this is just as awkward for me as it is for you, so… so just bear with me.”

He kicks his feet and I see my nightmare. It’s seeping through the damn sides of the diaper. I was wrong, this is complicated. Too complicated for me. This situation is so screwed up. This kid needs an antibacterial shower to get all this crap off him.

There’s a tap on the door.

“Hold on,” I yell in panic. “Shit… hold on.” I shuffle around and open the door to see Sara.

“Nathan, what the hell are you doing? People are queuing out here.”

“Oh thank god,” I blow out, dragging her inside.

She snatches the diaper from me, pulls a pack of wet wipes out from the bag, and pushes me through the door. I gladly shove my way through the impatient passengers, to get back to my seat.

                                                     ***

Finally, after the flight from hell, we’re making our way to the car rental kiosk at Vancouver International Airport. After Sara hands in her fake passport and papers, we’re given the keys to a rental car Adrien has leased.

I step out into the muggy thick air. It’s still and the sky is grey. Sara opens the central locking of a blue Fiat as I stand there, unimpressed. Economy flights, and the smallest cheapest crappiest rental car there is. I bet Mr Prick isn’t travelling on a damn budget. I bite my tongue on the matter. There’s no point voicing my opinions. I know exactly what Sara will say. Mr Knight wants us off the radar, blah-blah-blah.

                                                      ***

We’ve been on the road for just over an hour. I watch as buildings and concrete structures give way to snow peaked mountains and trees. I turn to see Daniel in the backseat. My eyes widen, watching as he starts to doze off. His tiny eyes roll then expand as though he’s fighting it. I give him this, apart from the diaper incident, he’s been no problem. He’s busy, soaking everything he sees up like a sponge.

I flick the switch on the radio, to hear some guy going on about air pollution. I change the channel, searching for any decent music stations, only to have Sara switch it off in a huff.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I say, sarcastically.

She is one moody cow. Why the hell did I sleep with her? Oh yes, that’s right. She may have the personality of a plank of wood, but she’s a sex demon between the sheets. I smirk, silently reminiscing. The things she did to me, I never knew existed. She had power over me and I have to admit, she’s the best I’ve ever had. She forgets what I know about her.

“What the hell are you smiling about?” she snaps.

“Oh, nothing.”

Her view switches from me back to the road. “Look Nathan, I know you think I’m being a bitch about… well everything.”

“Not at all,” I smirk.

“If you’re going to be like that about it.” Her tone has become almost congenial. I’m actually intrigued.

“I’m not being like anything Sara,” I say. “It’s been a tough day.”

“I need to make sure we follow the plan. I allowed all of this to happen,” she says in frustration.

“What?”

“I should have stopped Adrien. He should have never gone near Liz,” she sighs. “I knew it would result in something terrible.”

“You could say we all knew, Sara. If I’d have been there for Liz, not been such an asshole, then who knows.”

“You really do love her still don’t you?”

I swallow down, glancing briefly outside. “I think I always will… but it’s different now. Seeing her happy is all that matters. I hate Adrien for what he’s done, but Liz will never see me in the same light. She’ll do anything for that dick. That’s why I’m here, to make sure whatever happens, I can bring her back.”

“Wow, Nathan, I never knew you had such depth.” Her smile hits my side vision, and it’s contagious. “I think you’re brave to come here, and it’s sweet.”

“Sweet, no. It’s necessary, Sara. She has a kid to him, and they’re both in danger.”

I glance over the headrest. Finally, after near on forty eight hours, he has his eyes closed. His little podgy face is all scrunched up as though he’s annoyed he’s sleeping.

“What will happen to him?” I ask.

Sara peers at Daniel in the rear-view mirror then looks back to the road. “I don’t know… all we can do is wait, and make sure he’s protected.”

“You believe Adrien can stop Selene?” I ask, doubtful.

“Not one vampire would ever believe that possible. The days of blood wars ended centuries ago.” She bites briefly on her cheek. “Adrien will figure it out.”

I laugh out. “Yeah, I’ve seen how he figures things out that night Laurie nearly killed you and Liz. He did a good job there.” I grow angry talking about him, but can’t help myself. “I was told he used to be some kind of assassin for The Order. All I see in him is a weak fuck-up, who likes to pull others down with him.”

“You need to shut up.”

“Well, look at us,” I say. “I’m a Vigore, and you follow him into the shit willingly. Liz has had her life ripped from her, and now this little guy in the back, faces a life on the run.” I check to see if he’s still sleeping. “When are you all going to conclude, that Adrien Knight should be avoided at all cost?”