Twice Bitten (58 page)

“Yes, I understand.”

“The attacks changed my carefree children into frightened babies, afraid of their own shadows,” she said, while she continued to shake in anger. “By then, I already knew about Racco’s immortality, and thought at some point he would move on from me when I got old and gray—despite his fervent promises to the contrary. As for our children, we knew that each one’s lifespan would run several hundred years because of his mutated blood. So, my biggest fear was how would they survive as the only two females with our birthmark after my earthly death?”

I knew exactly what she meant, and said nothing at that moment, hoping she could hear my thoughts and the tremendous love I felt for my daughter, Alaia. My potential crossroad bore so many strong similarities to hers.

“Gustav was my guardian, much in the same way that I’ve cared for you, Txema,” said Chanson. “I approached him with my fears, and since we had often talked about the decision I might be faced with, it was an easy recommendation to become a vampire. Despite serious protests from Racco—who had been Gustav’s close friend for more than a millennium by then—after I was attacked and drained almost to the point of death by a Parisian band of rogue vampires, he agreed to let me join the undead.

“I think he hoped that we would still be together, and forever in love,” she continued. “And, in truth, I have never stopped loving him, and never will stop loving him. But, I am no longer
in
love with him, and haven’t been for two hundred and sixty-three years.”

“I understand,” I told her.

But how could I truly understand the depth of her sacrifice, unless I lived it myself? I prepared to go back to the palace. There didn’t seem to be any point in talking further, as I felt totally numb from what she shared.

“Oh, but there is more, and I need to get this out now so that we never talk about it again!” she said, angrily, whirling around to face me. She had been weeping, and both cheeks were stained with tiny tributaries that fed two large crimson rivers. “After I became a vampire and had learned to control my desire to drink every human in reach bone dry, I returned to my daughter’s lives. Racco had by then taken another love into his life, and although it pained my heart, I understood. Not to mention—as I stated earlier—I no longer wanted him sexually. All of those desires were instead for my maker, Gustav, who, unfortunately for me, is the equivalent of an asexual man. He appreciates a woman—vampire or human—but after spending so many centuries in his vampire state, he has no desire for sexual contact with anyone or anything.”

I instinctively moved toward her, feeling the urge to cry myself.

“Give me another five minutes, and I should be done, Txema,” she said, after motioning for me to let her tears flow, and to not try to wipe them or comfort her as I wished to do. “My daughters learned to accept me in this state, and for the most part grew up to be wonderful women. However, Marissa suffered slight brain damage during one of the violent vampire feedings when she was young. Racco and I knew she’d never be suitable for marriage since she was given to violent fits, so we created a haven for her to live out her days in a remote village far away from France in Kazakhstan. I continued to keep an eye on Jacqueline in Perpignan, and she eventually married a fisherman.

“At that time, Jacqueline was the only fertile woman alive who carried the birthmark and who could produce children….”

Chanson couldn’t finish, and I again tried to approach her. But she refused my gesture again.

“Let me finish…I can do this!” she pleaded, to which I weakly nodded, too afraid to say anything as I feared whatever came out of my mouth would be the wrong thing. “I had never heard of Ralu, although obviously Gustav knew of his brother’s evil heart, and Racco had dealt with him from time to time over the centuries. He apparently also knew about our bloodline’s near extinction and had crept into the French Pyrenees with his small band of mongrel vampires. Unbeknownst to me, he had kept close watch on Jacqueline and waited until she was far along in her first pregnancy to strike. At dusk one night, and without warning, he and his band invaded her home. After savagely butchering and eating her husband in front of her, they tore my daughter and her unborn child to pieces. There was so much blood…and I knew that he and his warriors had not drunk a bit of it, for fear it would begin to turn them into vampires like us. The only blood they drank came from her husband’s corpse.”

“Then, how did the birthmark survive?” I wanted to hear her version of the miracle that kept our bloodline alive.

“It is true that a miracle did happen among my relatives—your direct ancestors,” said Chanson, wiping at her own eyes. “Several of them gave birth to baby girls and boys who bore the birthmark. Before Ralu could do anything about it, several more children were born that way. By then, Gustav had begun to put together his kingdom, and his vampires nearly wiped out Ralu’s small army. Gustav imprisoned Ralu for years in Transylvania. It wasn’t until the full onset of the Victorian age that he relented to Ralu’s pitiful promises to reform, and released him. I guarantee that my maker would never be so merciful again, if presented the opportunity to end his brother Ralu’s existence once and for all!”

And with that last statement, delivered with an angry snarl, Chanson finished her story of what brought her to the present. A little different from what Kazikli told me, but it rang true. And, yes, I’m sure she has much more that could be shared…but don’t hold your breath waiting for it.

She allowed me to embrace her, and I honestly believe we became even closer that night. She let me wipe away her tears on my shirt, despite her protests for ruining the lovely outfit our hosts had given to me to wear that day. I couldn’t have cared less about it—Chanson’s comfort was my only concern.

Afterward we walked and talked about the here and now, and she gave me her blessing to see Racco romantically if I so desired.

“Always remember that he will forever be young, and someday you won’t be.”

Chanson couldn’t have been more clear, and as for me maybe joining her someday as a vampire? I never asked. Honestly, I hope there’s some other way to protect my baby girl from the same fate that happened to my ancestors, Jacqueline and Marissa.

As the moon descended toward the ocean on the horizon, I sent a prayer heavenward in the tradition taught to me by Yangani just weeks earlier. A prayer for continued protection for my daughter and me, and for lasting peace and happiness for Chanson and the rest of my vampire friends.

Chapter 20

The next few weeks were good for all of us on Racco’s hidden island in the Maldives.

A heart to heart talk with Racco the very next day after my conversation with Chanson led to the beginnings of courtship, although he agreed to take it slow. Long walks along the beaches would sometimes end with tender kisses, and he and I would discuss what a life together could be like. In a sense, we were more like good buddies who understood there was much more untapped beneath the surface. News of what was going on in the world of the escalating ‘vampire versus human problem’ became scarce, and I’m certain this was on purpose. Gustav made it clear that I wasn’t to worry about such things, unless the conflict spilled over into an outright war.

I prayed every day—fervently at morning and at night before I went to sleep—for peace. Peace that brought compassion to all living things and would be everlasting, as Yangani and Suddhodana had taught me to pray in Nepal.

I also prayed that Peter would be found alive and rescued from the demon Ralu, and that Garvan, Armando, Franz, and Kazikli would soon return to us in full health. Meanwhile, Chanson and my other female protectors continued their nightly forage into the surrounding islands. Tyreen had never looked happier, and even Raquel seemed more content than I’d seen her before.

I should also add that the bond between Chanson and I was definitely strengthened after our talk that night on the beach. If I could be sure my daughter would be safe and sound, I’d risk life and limb for my cousin if it ever became necessary. I had no doubt she’d do the same for me.

As for Alaia, she continued her miraculous growth rate, and by the time she was four weeks old, Racco and Chanson both confirmed she seemed at least three months along in her development—and maybe closer to her fourth month. I’m starting to wean her away from the formula, and she loves applesauce. Her hair is becoming thicker and longer, to where it curls in back just above the nape of her neck. And her eyes are starting to change…they seem a lot more hazel than brown these days.

Did I mention how every now and then I hear what sounds like ‘ma-ma’ coming out of her mouth?

It’s the kind of thing that gets me through the nights when she wakes up, more often lately from teething…. But, here I am boring everyone with details every parent experiences, I’m sure, even if not as quickly as with a child born from a Relance de sang union.

Perhaps you’re wondering when the drama I so loathe would start up again—correct? Well, as surely you can imagine, it didn’t take long for the illusion of ‘Pleasantville’ to go ‘poof’ again.

As our fourth week on the island began—three days ago—our long lost vampire brothers showed up at the palace. I didn’t even realize what was happening until Tyreen and Chanson shrieked in joy and flew over to where Armando stood beneath the reception area’s tall arched entrance. They threw their arms around him, and a moment later, Franz and Kazikli appeared next to him. I was about to ask where Garvan could be found, but he startled me by appearing at my side.

“Hello, Txema,” he said.

The soft aroma of cinnamon wafted toward me, and I suddenly realized that Chanson and the other girls’ aromas had been greatly muted—almost to where I was only faintly aware of their varied floral scents. Koimala and his brood of vampires didn’t even have an odor, other than perhaps a sea salt and sand smell when in vampire form and a humid cat fur scent when shape shifting.

“Garvan!”
I shouted, as I rose to meet him. I threw my arms around his neck, and held on as tightly as I could, despite the coolness and rock-hard frame that carried more density than Chanson’s vampire body.
“You’re finally back! Oh thank God!!”

He seemed tentative to squeeze me back, and from his skin’s paleness, I could tell he hadn’t fed—or perhaps not enough. His clothes were dusty and the edges torn, and after we pulled away from each other I realized he was wearing the exact same outfit he had on when I last saw him.

“You’re not well,” I said, worriedly. “Let me get Chanson over here, so she can take a look at you—”

“No!
...I mean, no, that’s not necessary,” he said, brooding despite my excitement to see him. “I’ll be fine for now. There’s something we need to take care of with you first.”

“Like what?” I was leery of his words and his tone. Something was terribly wrong, and I feared even more what had happened on their trip. His gauntness and tattered appearance further enforced this conclusion. “What could you possibly want with me….”

Suddenly, it hit me—like the proverbial anvil falling on my head.

Peter!!

“What we need to do is take you to him,” said Kazikli, who suddenly appeared on my right side. I had been sitting with Racco, who presently bounced Alaia upon his knee. Garvan eyed Racco angrily while Kazikli merely glanced at him before continuing with me. “He is resting in the shallow caves on the other side of the island.”

Immediately, Armando and Franz joined us. From their collective appearance, all of them looked tired, pale, and deeply worried. Not to mention they all were dressed in the same dingy clothing that had once been splendid attire when we first flew from Nepal to Nashville a month ago.

But Peter and his welfare were the only things I could focus on. My long lost love was resting somewhere in a cave system I had only glimpsed once or twice along the island’s northern beach.

“Take me to him—I’m ready to go!”

“Let us go with you, Txema,” said Mohini, who appeared next to Franz on my right. “We know the shortcuts there, which will save you time and keep you from cutting yourself on the sharper rocks inside the caves.”

I had quickly grown to love Mohini, and I should’ve mentioned sooner that she and the other girls in Koimala’s clan treated my daughter and me as if we were British royalty on an extended holiday in the Maldives. Kind and protective, we had witnessed several instances of her lioness nature guarding us like her cubs—especially as more and more European vampires arrived on the island each night.

“No…too many of us coming along with Txema would not be good,” said Kazikli. “Peter is a little confused, and he gets easily spooked.”

“He is a violent animal!” said Armando, shaking his head. I’m sure his disdain was directed at Kazikli’s sweetened description that I soon learned was highly inaccurate. “Like I said earlier, Kazikli, we should wait a day for him to settle down, and then arrange a meeting between him and our beloved child.”

Kazikli seemed to debate Armando’s request, silently, for a moment. Meanwhile, Racco mouthed to me if I’d like him to come along.

“Have you not done enough already by whisking her away from our protection in Nashville?!” seethed Garvan, bearing his fangs for a moment.