Rising Son (The Juliana Lucio Series) (13 page)

“And he had the gall to accuse
me
of being a runner.” I said as I began to back away from the edge of the wall.

“What are you doing?” Ana asked me nervously.

“Fighting for what I love, dammit.” I said as I took a running leap off the side of the building and aimed for the one below us that William was on. I hit the roof with a thump, and rolled myself into a ball as I went skidding across the rooftop. William ran over to my side and pulled me up.

“What are you doing?”

“That seems to be the question of the night,” Ana answered for me as she came to a graceful landing next to me.

“Coming after you. Why are you running from me?”

William blew out a frustrated breath of air and ran his fingers through his hair, “Jules, we have been doing everything we can to make you feel safe, to keep your family safe. We only wanted you to tru
st us, and not join the Council–
for your own good.
Now the first opportunity you had, you joined up and have them detailing your family for protection?”

“You heard him before I left, he said if I didn’t agree to work with you guys in stopping the Coven then I couldn’t see Christian again, but that isn’t why I agreed. I actually told him no on our way back to the hotel because of my family, I didn’t want them to become a target. That’s when he offered to put a 24 hour guard on them, in exchange for my help. You knew this was going to happen. Why are you acting like this?”

“Because you don’t know what you’re doing. You should have said no and let me try to come up with another solution. Are you sure you aren’t doing this just to make Sebastian happy?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You say it was so horrible being there, but I don’t smell any other humans or vampires on you, but I do smell a whole lot of Sebastian. What exactly were you two doing, Jules?”

“He kept me from stopping what they were doing to that poor girl! That’s all. I almost used my compulsion I was so angry. I didn’t ‘do’ anything with him William. I thought you knew me better than that.”

His face softened a little as his anger slowly started to melt, “I do know you, and I don’t think you will be able to handle being undercover. The Coven will not allow you to go without participating for very long without becoming suspicious of you. You are to
o
kindhearted and
too quick to anger to handle
it.”

“Then I guess you will have to teach mor
e than just Christian won’t you?
”

“Speaking of which, you need to call and have Christian come over to the house. We must start training him immediately,” Ana said.

“We? I thought you hated the idea,” I said a little surprised.

“I do, but it seems I don’t have a choice, and if he is going to be involved than I am going to do everything I can to make sure he doesn’t get himself or you killed.”

“Thanks Ana, that really means a lot to me.”

“Don’t get all emotional
,
just tell him to be at our house in two nights as soon as the sun has set, and to bring all of his shoes and belts.”

“Ooo-kay.”

“He’ll also need to wear something comfortable, combat training starts that night as well. For both of you,” William added on.

The next night we made our way home to Chicago and began to prepare for both my and Christian’s training. Ana called the house telling him when and where to meet us. I didn’t want to risk Antonio answering the phone. For the first time since becoming a vampire I was looking forward to sunrise; I was going to sleep in my own bed with William wrapped around me, and when I rose at nightfall I would get to see my son without the threat of death hanging around us.

When I rose the night Christian was coming it was to find William staring at me, I was still wrapped in his arms the way I had been when we passed out the night before.

“Good morning –err night,” I said turning so I could see him better.

He just smiled and brushed my hair out of my face then leaned over to kiss me.

“I’m sorry for getting upset when we were in New York. I just don’t want to lose you, Jules, to another man or to the Coven. I couldn’t handle it if either one happened.”

“You aren’t going to lose me, trust me you have nothing to worry about. I really do think Sebastian’s intentions were good when he distracted me so I wouldn’t interfere, and even if his intentions weren’t good, mine are. I’m never leaving you again.” I pulled him closer to me just to emphasize my point, plus he was naked, I just wanted to be closer to him.

We started kissing more deeply and just as William was sliding his hands under my tank top  there was a knock on my bedroom door causing William to curse with frustration.

“What!” he yelled out.

“Christian’s here, we told him to be here as soon as the sun set,” Ana told us from the other side of the door.

“We’re coming down now. Thanks, Ana” I answered, not trusting William to reply.

She didn’t say anything else and I could hear her steps retreating down the stairs. I climbed out of bed and pulled off the tank top I usually slept in, as I turned to talk to William.

“Are you trying to kill me?” he asked before I could say anything.

“What are you talking about?”

I went to the dresser grabbing the first shirt and pair of yoga pants I could find. I pulled off my underwear and threw them into the hamper, turning to find William looking at me with fully black eyes as I stood there naked.

“What’s the matter with you, we need to get dressed.”

I bent over pulling on my pants, then slid into a bra, and quickly pulled my shirt over my head.

“Will, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about before we go downstairs,” I told him while I was looking around the room for my running shoes, and I knelt on the floor to look under the bed. He was still sitting exactly where he was before, frozen yet watching me like a hawk with eyes just as black.

I popped up from the floor after pulling out my shoes from under the bed and sat next to him while I put them on, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for Christian to know about us yet. It was sudden for me, and I think it will be really sudden for him to take in. Can we keep things quiet when he’s around? Just for now?”

“Yeah, sure, I understand.” William said with a slight strain to his voice.

“Are you going to get dressed and come downstairs or what?” I asked him standing up.

“Um, I think I’m just gonna take a quick shower first, preferably a cold one.”

“Whatever. I’m going down.”

“That’s part of the problem, I don’t think you are.”

He finally got out of bed and headed into the bathroom naked as could be
,
revealing why he needed that cold shower as I was walking out the door.

I ran down the stairs to find Christian holding a garbage bag full of shoes and belts. He was standing facing Ana keeping the kitchen table conspicuously between them. I didn’t slow my momentum any and came running to him, pulling him into a hug I was sure was just a little too tight.

“Uh, hi Mom.”

“Christian, did you find it okay? How’s Evan, did he like the truck?”

“Yeah, he loved it. You can let go now.”

“Oh, sorry,” I reluctantly let him go and just looked him over. I know I had just seen him a few days ago, but that had been too quick, and we were at the risk of someone finding out. Now it was safe, we could shout it out to the world, well to the vampire world, that he was my son and he would still be safe. Again, sort of.

“It’s just so great to see you. I miss you so much. I miss you all so much.” I couldn’t help it I grabbed it him into another hug and held him tight. I don’t think I was going to let him go home at all.

“Geez Mom, I think it’s a good thing none of my friends can know about this,” Christian joked, but he still hugged me back just as tight.

“If you want to just leave your shoes and belts with me, I’ll leave you guys alone,” Ana said trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.

I pulled away from Christian to find Ana and William standing there watching us, they looked like they wanted to give us privacy, yet at the same time didn’t want to leave. They were getting a glimpse of something they had probably not truly witnessed since they were human. Having to always remain on the outskirts of human society and hide what they really were they only got to see human families from a distance, not be a part of one themselves.

“No, I’m sorry. I was being rude; I don’t think Christian has formally met you two. Christian this is Ana and William, I live here with them, and they are both going to help train you.”

“What’s up,” he said with a head nod, and I elbowed him in the side, “Uh, I mean, it’s nice to meet you both . . . and I’m sorry for attacking you guys with that bat.”

“Not a problem, I’d expect no less from someone that comes from your mother,” William said with an amused smile, “and never apologize for protecting her. That is your job now, after all.”

“Yes, my shoulder felt better in seconds. It was fine,” Ana told him a bit more stiffly. I did appreciate the effort she was giving though and gave her a smile.

“So, what’s with all my shoes? Do I have to go home barefoot?” Christian asked the three of us.

“We are turning you into a weapon Christian. That means everything about you must act like one. The way you think, the way you move and react. You aren’t going to be able to walk around carrying a silver stake in your back pocket. Not only are we turning you into a weapon, but everything you could possibly wear will be turned into one as well. While William teaches you martial arts and combat training, I’ll be working on weapons,” Ana told him very seriously.

“Wow, intense.”

“It is, Christian, it’s more intense than you realize. Before we do anything we need to explain to you how intense it is.”

We left his bag of stuff in the kitchen and went to sit in the library, Ana sat in the single chair and William took up his usual post near the fireplace.

“Dang Mom! This place is amazing, Dad and Evan would both love this.” He started for the book shelf letting his fingers roam along the books’ bindings as he read them. I cringed a little as he said the words, even though I was trying not to let it show. Ana started to open her mouth, but I held up my hand stopping her.
William’s eyes were glued to me,
wanting to see my reaction at the mention of my husband I was sure.

“Christian sit down. Do you remember what we talked about at the hospital? About Dad and Evan knowing what I am?”

He grew silent and looked away
.
I would normally demand he answer me and stop ignoring me, but this was too vital to everyone’s continued existence. I had to make sure he understood the magnitude of what was going on.

“Yeah, I remember. They can’t know anything or that council guy might come after you,” he mumbled in a sort of stubborn way.

“Christian pay attention!” This time I did yell at him and his head snapped around facing me. Even Ana and William straightened up a little.

“Our trip to New York this weekend wasn’t a fun little vacation, it was a meeting with that ‘council guy’ and he is allowing us to train you as a Day Guardian. It is a privileged position, one that hasn’t been used in over three centuries. He wanted us to stress upon you the importance of not revealing the existence of vampirekind to the human world. Because you will be my Guardian you and I will not be subject to the normal punishment that comes from revealing or discovering vampire kind.”

“What’s the punishment again?”

“Look at me, and you’ll see the punishment. It’s this or death,” I told him. Ana stiffened in her chair, but didn’t say anything.

“Before we left
,
Sebastian told me personally if you even insinuate anything about the vampire world to anyone you will be killed, along with whomever you talk to. I wasn’t willing to risk it, but I can’t compel you to forget either. You know the consequences, and he won’t be lenient.”

As I stressed the enormity of the situation to him the full realization of what I had agreed to just hit me. Christian’s life really depended on him keeping quite.

“I can keep it quite Mom. You know I can. I get it.”

I was just nodding my head, I couldn’t answer him. My heart had dropped to the floor and I couldn’t find the strength to speak.

“Hey, Christian, what do you say I give you a tour of the weapons room huh?” William said coming to my rescue. He walked around the back of the couch and pulled out the book triggering the hidden door to the room below the house.

“No way! Secret rooms, this is gonna be sweet,” Christian said jumping over the back of the couch following William.

“What have I done? Oh, God what have I done?” Ana came over and sat next to me on the couch, as I kept repeating myself over and over. She put her arms around me and pulled me close to her as I had a sort of nervous breakdown.

“You didn’t have a choice; it was the only way of protecting what he already knew, Juliana. You know that. We just have to make sure he can keep his mouth shut, that’s all.”

Ana pulled back from me a little so she could look me in the eye as she spoke, “You made the hardest decision possible for a mother, and the best one possible to protect him. You did the right thing,” she told me with a small smile.

“Thank you, Ana,” I said hugging her tightly again. We sat like that for a few minutes longer before I finally convinced myself she was right and I let her go.

“So, do you need help with his shoes?”

“No, I think you should go get some training in before he has to leave. Besides I’m sure he can’t stay all night, and I’m willing to bet as cool as he thinks that room is down there, he wants to spend time with you.”

This time I had a genuine smile that lit up my face, “Thanks, Ana.” I gave her another quick hug before I ran down the stairs to find William and Christian.

I came down the stairs leading to the weapons room to find Christian standing blindfolded in the middle of the room.

“. . .  you will never be able to out run or out last a vampire.” William was in the middle of telling Christian from the other side of the room.

“This is why you need to hone all of your senses, not just your sight and hearing,” William suddenly came to a halt next to Christian and starting speaking again, “you need to be using all of your senses in order to figure out where the enemy is.” Christian jumped at William’s sudden closeness, but still stood his ground. 

William came over to stand next to me near the stairs, “You must learn to “see” where vampires are without using your eyes.” William leaned over and gave me a kiss taking advantage of Christian’s blindfold before instantly going back to Christian’s side again. The instant he got near him Christian swung his arm out, and if William was human he would have hit him square on the jaw, but William was able to duck out of the way before being hit. William reached out and yanked off the blindfold from Christian.

“How were you able to do that so quickly?” he demanded obviously not expecting Christian to have made such progress.

“I don’t know, I could tell you were there just like I could always tell my Mom was watching us at night,” he said pointing at me as I came over to stand next to him.

“I didn’t know what the sensation was at first, but once I finally placed it, it was easy to figure out.”

“What about with Victoria and Nathaniel, could you sense them?”

“I don’t know, I mean, I felt drawn to Victoria, I didn’t know what she was though. Now I might be able to tell, if I focus enough.”

“This skill of yours will be incredibly useful when it comes to protecting yourself. Your Mom can pinpoint where other vampires are, but if you can somehow do the same it will only give you an advantage.”

He was giving Christian a considering look then turned to me, “Do you think his ability to notice us so easily has to do with your heritage perhaps? He might be easier to train than even I had thought.”

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think we should let Sebastian or Martin know he can sense vampires. I don’t want them knowing any more about him than they already do.”

We both turned our gazes back on Christian as he bore the full weight of the responsibility being thrust upon him.

“I agree,” William said.

“Christian when do you have to be home?” I asked him changing the subject.