Rising Son (The Juliana Lucio Series) (7 page)

“I never did catch your name, it seems a little rude to ask after the fact.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” he said starting to get up.

“What is your name?” I said more firmly putting some compulsion behind it.

“Mark, Ma’am. Mark Hamilton,” he replied with a Southern drawl. He had stopped his retreat to the door. William was watching the exchange taking place, but he knew enough not to interrupt.

“How did you find us here Mark Hamilton? Who sent you?”

“No one Ma’am. Ms. Chase said she needed some feeders, and Lucy and I was in the area so we said we could come on by. That’s all.”

I had no way of knowing who I saw in the vision, or when the vision was, but I felt it was related to his being here. I couldn’t let him know that. Especially if he was spying on us for the Council.

“Mark,” I stepped closer looking him directly in the eye, “I want you to forget everything that happened here tonight expect for you feeding me. All that happened tonight, was you came here and introduced yourself, sat in a chair and I drank from your wrist. Nothing else. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“I release you Mark.” He shook his head a little, but otherwise gave no indication he realized anything had just happened.

“Goodnight, Ma’am.”

“Goodnight, Mark. Thank you.” He looked a little taken aback that I had thanked him, but then he left as ordered.

As soon as he was out of the room William looked at me, “What was that about?”

“I think he’s a spy.”

“What? For who?”

“I don’t know yet?”

“I’m going to go check on my family, do either of you want to come with?”

William and Ana were sitting at the kitchen table looking at the screen on one of their touch pads. When I came into the room William tapped the corner of the screen closing whatever it was they were looking at. I could make out that it was a list and map, but that was it. Really, I didn’t care what they were doing. I didn’t want to know anything about vampire business that could get me into any more trouble than I had already gotten myself into. The only thing I did know, from over-hearing snippets of conversations, is that they were looking for someone. Ana had been mentioning an increase of vampire attacks coming in to the ER that she had diagnosed as animal attacks, but that was all I knew.

“Look, guys, I know you are busy and under a lot of pressure. I just need to see them at least once before we go to New York. I won’t be out long. You can keep working, and won’t have to keep trying to hide that you’re working,” I told them with a smile.

“No, let’s all go. We could use the break,” William said grabbing his keys for the Range Rover.

“Fine.” I grabbed my bag and followed him out to the garage, Ana trailing behind me.

“Why do you insist on walking behind me, Ana, are you afraid I’m going to run?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Very funny, it’s like you guys are my own personal guard or something. I used to go home alone all the time, what’s going on?”

Neither one answered, but they both stopped and looked around before going into the garage. William climbed into the driver’s seat and Ana waited to get in until the car was started, and I was securely in the car. We all sat there in silence as William pulled out of the drive and headed toward my house. Surprisingly it was Ana who broke the silence.

“I have been seeing more and more attacks coming in to the hospital, and the morgue is reporting multiple deaths per night. We still can’t locate a single one of our contacts within the Coven. Even with William’s connections they just disappeared, even though they are still here in the city somewhere.”

William had pulled into my neighborhood and parked just around the corner from my house where we wouldn’t be noticed. He turned sideways so he could see us both as we spoke.

“We need to be extra cautious; we didn’t think they would go underground for this long.”

“It’s only been a few weeks,” I replied.

“Yeah, well when you’re trying to recruit an army for a war two weeks is a hell of a long time.”

We all climbed out of the SUV and took to the shadows making our way to my house. We took the usual route taking the street directly behind mine, and leaping over the dividing wall in one seamless bound. Normally the house was empty except for a time or two when I was supposed to be missing when my neighbor Talia had come over. Tonight however I was surprised to find there were a few children running around playing, and several adults gathered in the kitchen talking and sharing a bottle of wine.

“What the hell is this?” I asked angrily to myself.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; there was a stack of birthday presents on the kitchen table and an elaborately decorated cake off to the side. No other indication there was a birthday going on.

“This isn’t a child’s birthday party. There isn’t a single decoration anywhere in sight, no games, no theme, there are more adults than children, and why is it at night and not during the day when his friends can come?”

“Juliana, who are you talking about?” Ana asked “What’s going on?”

“Evan, it’s his 10
th
birthday today.” I told them pointing to a little boy sitting by himself on the couch.

He was sitting by himself as the other children ran through the house chasing each other around. He was twirling a string bracelet around on his wrist, and just looked like he would rather be any other place than where he was. Evan was always small for his age, with sandy blond hair and light green eyes.  He was clumsy like me, and had a heart of gold which always meant he had tons of friends. Birthdays were always a big deal in our family and I couldn’t believe Antonio was having what looked like an adult get together and calling it a birthday party.

“He doesn’t even want to be there, why would Antonio do this? That isn’t like him at all.” Just as I said the words out loud Evan got up from the couch and climbed the stairs to his room, without anyone even noticing the birthday boy was gone.

“Jules, I’m sure it isn’t like it seems. Perhaps this is a second gathering, don’t get upset,” William tried comforting me, but I wouldn’t have it.

I looked around to find Antonio, and found him with Talia glued to his side. I was easily able to overhear what was being said.

“Yes, it has been a very difficult past few months,” Antonio was telling some man I had never seen before, “but with Talia’s help it is becoming easier. She has been wonderful with the boys, and threw this great party for Evan.”

“Great party?” I practically yelled out “Evan isn’t even around, open your eyes.”

“Juliana, calm down. It is just a party; you can’t let them know you are here by getting excited,” Ana was saying again.

I dropped to my knees still keeping myself in the shadows of the yard, and dug my hands deep into the grass. I tried to focus my thoughts on the feel of the cold wet grass between my fingers and the grittiness of the dirt. I was trying not to run away like William had accused me of.

“Yes, it is just a party,” I shot my eyes to Ana knowing they were as black as the night, “a party I should be giving my youngest son. A party where I should be standing by my husband’s side not some other woman.”

I felt my compulsion come to me quicker, and stronger than it ever had in the past, singing through me like lightning. “You will never tell me to ‘not get excited’ about my human life again. The life you ripped away from me. Understood?”

Ana didn’t have any other choice but to agree, she was under my command. I did it so quickly and strongly she couldn’t even have attempted to put up a fight. Not that it would have mattered anyway.

“Get the Hell away from her!” I looked up to see Christian come flying through the air with his bat raised high above his head. He must have been in the tree house, and with so many other humans around, we didn’t take notice.

“Christian! Stop!”

He swung at William who quickly ducked and easily avoided Christian’s swing. Ana snapped out of her trance when I yelled, but not quickly enough and was hit on the shoulder. She turned on Christian baring her fangs, not understanding what was going on.

“Ana, that’s my son! Christian, stop it!”

Christian had stumbled backward when his bat glanced against Ana’s shoulder and was now regaining his footing and cocking his bat behind him like he was readying up for another swing. William flashed his hand out grabbing the bat from Christian’s hands and put himself in between him and Ana stopping her from attacking him.

Finally everyone was standing still and looking at each other, waiting for the other to speak first.

“What are you doing to my Mom? Don’t touch her or I’ll kill you,” Christian said stepping toward William.

I stood up and moved around William, “Christian, what are you doing? They aren’t trying to hurt me.”

“I saw her standing over you, and then felt you suddenly compel her, like you did at the fire station to Victoria’s dad. What was I supposed to think?”

Ana started cursing under her breath and began pacing. William had gotten a thoughtful look on his face, and seemed to take Christian a bit more seriously.

“Did you know what we were when you attacked?”

“Don’t even think about it, William,” I said moving between Christian and William.

He just raised his eyebrows at me in a questioning sort of way. I told him under my breath making sure Christian wouldn’t be able to hear me, “That’s exactly what Ana asked me the instant before she attacked me.”

“Wouldn’t think of it, Love,” he responded.

“Of course I knew what you were. How could I not, but I still wasn’t about to stand by and watch you attack my mom.”

I turned around and faced Christian, “They weren’t attacking me, they came with me to make sure I was safe. These two helped rescue you and patch you back up again. Besides, what happened to acting like you know nothing of vampires in the first place?”

“Yeah, about that, I want to come work for you. Dad is making me get a job, so why don’t you guys teach me to fight or something. I can even like run daytime errands for you or something -- whatever you want.”

“No.”

“That’s a good idea.” William said at the same time.

“How can you say bringing another human into the mix is a good idea?” Ana asked. “And one we just risked everything to protect, it’s idiotic.”

“He can be taught to fight, he won’t have to fight vampires during the day, and he already knows about us. Who would be more motivated to protect Jules's secret than him?” William responded back to Ana.

“I don’t like it,” I told them.

“I’m in,” Christian said.

“What ‘errands’ is he going to run for us William? Is he going to go out for a gallon of milk,” Ana asked dripping with sarcasm.

“Look we aren’t doing this right now. Christian I’m going to be out of town, but will come see you again as soon as it’s safe.” I looked over at the house still not seeing Evan.

“Is Evan doing okay? He looked miserable in there.”

“He’s having a hard time, but is doing better. I’m doing the best I can to try and help him through it. This stupid party was Talia’s idea, why Dad went along with it I have no idea.”

“Will you do me a favor, I was going to just leave it somehow, but this will be better. Can you give this to him for me? Tell him I bought it a few months ago, and told you about it.” I pulled the present out of my bag and handed it to Christian. It was a remote control car any ten year-old boy would dream of having. Attached was a card and letter I had written to him telling him all the things I wish I could say in person, but no longer could.

“Sure thing Mom,” he said taking the package from me.

“Thanks babe. I love you.” I gave him a quick hug and told him we needed to go. We could have stayed longer, but I didn’t trust myself and my emotions to be there any longer.
 

The next night as soon as we had risen, we left to head to the airport boarding a private jet headed to New York. Our only pit stop along the way was stopping so I could feed before we made it there. William and Ana had made me feed twice a day since the basement debacle, rather than my normal once every other day routine. I thought what happened in the basement went horribly, they both were ecstatic I didn’t attempt to kill anyone.

They were making me feed so much, practically gorging myself because we were betting on the idea that if Sebastian put me in a same sort of situation Ana did, I would be repulsed by the thought of more blood instead of reacting with bloodlust. I have to say at this point, I agree with them. If anyone so much as gets a paper cut on this trip I think I might vomit.
             
             

It didn’t take us long to get to New York and I was anxious to make it to the hotel. We had a chauffeured limo waiting for us at the airport to take us there. I was looking forward to finally having some alone time with William, and thought this would be our chance. We hadn’t had any time alone together since making up.

“Where are we meeting Sebastian exactly?”

 
“It’s a club called Charlie’s. You can only get in if you’re a vampire.”

William had been reading non-stop since we’d met Mark, the feeder; he’d been going through all the books at the house reading them continuously. First at vampiric speed, then once again a bit slower if they held something that was interesting to him, as though he was afraid he’d miss something. He left the house a few times then came back with more books.

 
“Will, when are you going to put that book away? You’ve been reading it non-stop, how many times are you going to look at it?”

“This is a different book; they just have the same cover, they're books on vampire history and law. I think I might have found something to help us, Mark being at the house and working for the Council reminded me of them.”

“Are you keeping something from me again? What is going to happen tonight that has you scouring vampire law?”

“I have no idea what Sebastian wants, he might just want to meet you given that Ana and I are part of the Council, and Sub-Rosa, but if he tries to pull you into the Council you have to say no, Jules. No matter what.”

I looked to Ana, to see what her reaction to this was, “Do you have any idea what’s going to happen tonight?”

“Nothing more than I’ve already told you, but I agree with Will. Do not agree to work for the Council, for any cost,” she turned to face out the window looking like she was remembering her cost for joining the Council.

“These are the good guys?”

“Yeah, so they say,” Ana replied unconcerned.

“Yet, you two are adamant I don’t work for them.”

“Yes, you are not allowed to work for them,” she replied.