Vampire - Child of Destiny (Vampire Series Book 2) (5 page)

What could I say?  I had no alternative, I needed to agree to his plan if I was to get my son back.

"Yes of course I agree.  Thank you, Louis."  A genuine smile lit his face and he pulled me into his arms, his mouth assaulting mine.  Inwardly I cringed, and I was sure that Louis felt me stiffen in his arms, because as he pulled away, I noticed that his eyes glittered with irritation.

After explaining that the nurse would meet me in the alcove at sunset in three days’ time, Louis took his leave.  Before leaving, he once more pulled me into his arms, whispering his love for me.  I accepted his declaration as graciously as I could and tried to muster a passion that I did not feel, and I knew I never would.

I do not know how I made it through the following days.  I rode Cesar like a demon, not bothering to waylay strangers, and although the days passed by in a blur, the nights were a different matter. 

The nights had a bittersweet quality for me.  I knew that these were the last hours of love I would spend with Robert, and so I put my heart and soul into every action.  I clung to him tighter, cherished his touch and kiss more than usual, and poured my soul into sharing my body with him.  I loved him, and always would, and I was ensuring that I would remember our time together for all time.

Robert, I was sure, noticed my desperation, and sometimes he would look at me, a puzzled expression on his face.  Nevertheless, he never said anything, and seemed to accept my sudden urgency to love him more intensely than usual.

The day of the abduction came quickly.  I was nervous and afraid, and very unsure of our future, and so I made my way to the alcove where I was to meet the young nurse.  Uncertainty flooded my mind, and several times I attempted to walk away and forget Louis' plan, but no sooner had I turned, than I would turn back to the alcove.  I knew that I would not and could not leave my son to the destiny Matilda and Robert had planned for him.

"Hello, are you Gwen?"  I swung around to face the small and nervous whisper.

Yes, yes I am," I replied, taking in the appearance of the owner of the voice.  The girl in front of me was no little more than a child.  She was tiny and frail, her skin the colour of a pan of milk.  Even her hair looked like the colour was faded, and from her appearance, I knew that she was currently dinner for several vampires.

"Follow me, please," she said turning from me, her eyes glazed, giving the impression that her soul had already vacated her body.

I followed her, knowing that I was changing not just my son’s destiny, but mine also.

Chapter Eight

I followed the young girl around the narrow stairs that led to the south tower.  I was nervous, and constantly looked behind me, afraid that I would suddenly see Matilda's form creeping up the stairs. 

The girl never once looked back, Louis had bewitched her well, and she was intent on delivering me to the nursery quickly.  When we reached Matilda's bedchamber the girl suddenly turned, she beckoned towards me, and then sped away from me through the room.

As I entered the bedchamber Matilda's familiar scent, a musky smell of cinnamon and some spice that I was unfamiliar with, attacked my senses. I halted, her scent causing me to rapidly gaze around the room to ensure she was not present.  Although the room was empty, I felt a threatening presence.  However, I could not see or hear anything or anyone, and so I put my hesitation down to the fact that I was shaking from nerves. 

I glanced towards the girl who was now beckoning violently me to the small doorway in which she stood.  Ignoring the threat I felt in Matilda's bedchamber, I followed the girl into the adjoining room. 

On entering the sound of my son's sweet chuckle drifted towards me.  I felt my stomach leap with feelings akin to love and anticipation, and I made my way, in a trance-like state, to the corner from which his voice came.

He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.  His eyes shone bright blue, just like my own, but when he smiled up at me, I saw Tom's sweet face glowing within.  The reflection from the fire made his hair shine like burnished copper, his little cheeks were pink and flushed, and when he held up his plump arms for me to hold him, I had such a fierce feeling of love that I thought I would burst from the sheer force of it.

His giggles echoed around the room as I swung him up tightly against my chest, and I laughed aloud at the sound.  I brushed his small button nose with my own, and kissed his angelic face repeatedly, breathing in his sweet baby smell as I did so.  I wanted to hold him and marvel at his perfection and beauty forever, but I knew that now was not the time for such actions, and with regret, pushed him into the young girl’s arms, as I bundled his clothing into a small cloth bag I had found for the purpose.

"Quickly, go through into Matilda's bedchamber," I whispered.  Motioning her towards the doorway, "I will follow."

I watched her disappear from the doorway and then turned around in a circle, scanning the room for a thick blanket in which to tie Henry to my body and keep him warm.  Snatching a blanket from his crib, I made my way through to Matilda's bedchamber.

"
Going somewhere, my love?
"  Robert's voice echoed around the spice-scented room.  Fear clasped my throat like a vice, and I looked to the girl holding Henry, trying to judge if I would be able to snatch him and escape before Robert could catch me.

"Do not try it, Gwen,
you cannot make it!”

He was right, I knew there was no escape, and so I searched my mind for something, anything, to convince him I had meant no harm.

"Don't try what, Robert?" I asked him, trying to inject humor into my voice, "I have no idea what you mean!  You've caught me out, I confess, I had hoped to spend an hour with my son; oh I know you're angry, but I only wanted an hour!"

His laughter and his clapping rang out around the room, causing Henry to cry out in fear.

"
Bravo, bravo
...
my love.
"  He walked over so that he was beside the girl and Henry as he spoke. 

"But I'm afraid, my love...that a strolling player you will never be!"  I tried to portray that I had no idea what he was talking about, a frown creasing my brow.

"Well, Robert, I have no idea what you mean."  Like a flash he was beside me, his hand clutched my hair in a painful hold.

"Oh really!  So why then have you clothes enough for a journey,
my love?
 
Moreover, why do you shake with fear?  And how would I know of a whisper that you intended to steal Henry...pray tell me,
my love?
"  I shuddered with fear, for I knew that he would never allow me to live, and that I would never see my son grow.

Pulling myself up to my full height, I looked him in the eye, and said, "So you know?  Well I have no excuse, other than I crave my son above anything, I need him...please, oh please understand, Robert."

"I do understand, Gwen,” He paused, running his finger slowly down my cheek.  He then beckoned to the girl, who moved as if in a dream towards him.  When she reached him, he gently took Henry from her arms, and then in a move so quick it was barely visible, he thrust his hand into her chest and withdrew her beating heart. 

Blood squirted in a wide pumping arc out of the girl’s chest, but she still stood for a second, even glanced down at the hole in her bosom, shock apparent on her face, and I watched, stunned, as life left her face and she fell gracefully to the floor.  Then Robert knelt and gently placed Henry on the floor beside the girl.  I watched in disgust, as he took the girl’s heart and handed it to my child, a soft chuckle signaling his approval as Henry hungrily chewed on the warm bloody organ.

Before me was the reason why I needed to get my son away from him, the man I loved was a monster, but I was not, if I was able, going to allow him to turn my son into one.  I opened my mouth to speak, but Robert held his hand up to silence me.  He still knelt beside Henry, laughing at his antics, but his voice, when he spoke, was for me alone.

"Leave, Gwen, leave before I kill you...Leave Vanike, me and your son; I want you gone by sunrise...
otherwise I will kill you!
Never return here, because the day I see you again, Gwen, is the day you will die!"

Chapter Nine

I had already packed all of my clothes and possessions, and had sewn all of my sovereigns into the hems of my dresses, in the days before the attempted abduction of Henry.  I therefore had no reason to linger, and although I thought about returning to Robert and begging him to allow me to stay, I was sure this time he would carry out his threat to kill me.  The thought of dying meant very little to me, but there was still Henry to consider, and while he was still human, there was still a chance that I could save him.

Tears flooded my eyes as I looked around my bedchamber, and so many memories and images tortured my mind.  The night of Henry's birth, Robert, and I sharing our love, memories that would linger with me until the end of my days, memories I would cherish.

I turned away from the images the bedchamber conjured up, and made my way out of the manor.  Cesar was ready and waiting for me, so I assumed that word of my attempted abduction of Henry had spread fast.  I called out to the stable lad to run to my room and collect my belongings, and told him that I would need a pack pony to transport my luggage.  The command was accomplished quickly and quietly, and within a very short time, I had no choice but to ride my horse away from Vanike Manor.  I wanted to run to Robert and beg for forgiveness, but I knew it would be a pointless exercise, I had, I guessed, used up all of his mercy quota, and I knew that I would never know his love again.

When I had reached the summit of the incline, I turned to survey what I was to leave behind, and vowed one day to return and save my son, even if it meant my death.  I never looked back again; it was time for me to move on.

Part Two

Chapter Ten

I made my way to the inn at the crossroads to meet Louis.  I had decided, because the abduction had failed, that I would no longer be leaving with him for France, and I would, instead, find my own way in the world from now on.  I had plenty of gold, in truth a vast fortune, and I was more than capable of looking after myself.

On reaching the inn, I jumped off Cesa
r’
s back and threw the reins to the stable hand, shouting to him to rub down and feed my horse, for I would be staying the night.  I had no sooner crossed the threshold than Louis was by my side, pulling me roughly into his arms.

"Louis...Louis!" I said in irritation, shoving him roughly from me.    "Please
stop!
"

"What is this, ma petite?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in anger.  "Why do you treat me so?"

"I don't know what you mean, Louis," I said.  "I am treating you the same as I always have."

He stepped away from me, his eyes still narrowed, his glance searching up and down my body.

"So where is the garçon, ma petite?" he asked.

His words hit me hard, reminding me of my failure in rescuing my child, and I fell back against a wooden table, dropping down onto the rough bench that ran alongside it.

"Robert was there, and, and... my son...my son, he is lost to me!"

Louis was concerned by my words, his face showed a worried frown, and his words were soft and persuading. "Come, ma petite, we will discuss this in private with a glass of wine."

His hand reached out to mine, and pulling me up from the bench, he said, "Come, ma petite."

With his hand still gripping mine tightly, I followed him into a small room at the back of the inn.  Glancing towards the rough wood table in the corner of the small room, I noticed that there was wine and two goblets sitting on the table.  Louis had, it seemed, already acquired the small room and had ordered wine for our use.  I sat heavily on one of the wooden chairs provided, and took a huge gulp of wine.

"What am I to do?" I asked Louis as I looked up into his face.  I noticed that his eyes glittered, and that he watched me intently as I drunk.

"I do not know, ma petite." He shrugged.  I felt instant irritation by his lack of concern, and decided that it was time to tell him that I would be making my own way and not joining him in France.

"I have decided to stay in England," I said, rising to my feet, but something was wrong.  My head swayed, and I felt faint, a feeling that I had not felt since becoming a vampire.  Falling back into the chair, I gripped the table with one hand and gripped my head with my other.