4. I’ve decided you’re getting a cool mug, Dad. #2
“I was. I shared some of my blood with her, and it was I who put her in a shallow grave so she could claw her way free; had she not gotten herself out in a few days, I would have taken care of her. I left that bastard’s feeble claim on her in the hopes you would be able to track him, but it seems her suitor reached her first. I cannot sense his influence.
” My uncle’s attention turned to Emerick’s maker.
“While I have much respect for you, Master Clarke, your blood was not sufficient. She needed blood from her line for the best chance to rise unimpaired.”
Clarke waved off Alheen’s apology. “It explains a lot, especially that slight memory lapse after taking control of her.”
“That part was real; you were not much better off than her. And yes, Pepper, I meant for you to remember me when you saw me next. And yes, like I did with Clarke, I have erased some of your memories permanently. I felt no need for you to endure such trauma. While you settled, I have been hunting, and I come with news regarding our prey and his goals.”
“Please tell me you’ve actually gotten somewhere,” I replied, allowing myself a frustrated sigh. “All we’ve done is deal with the aftermath of his actions.”
“You did important work, and you’ve unwittingly foiled numerous of his plans.
But yes, we’ve made progress, and we have a better idea of his goals now.
He’s rather ambitious for such a young vampire, but he is incapable of separating fact and fiction.
I am of the opinion he has indulged in numerous flights of fantasy mixed with researching the past to concoct a rather dangerous plan to turn the world into his personal playground. ”
I wrinkled my nose. “That’s even worse than Father’s ancient evils.”
Emerick snickered at the complaint in my tone.
“She prefers clever villains, that way she does not feel inadequate for her failure to solve the mysteries flummoxing her. She’s quite adept at solving certain mysteries—and creating them.
” To make it clear he was less than pleased with my daring acts of independence, Emerick shot a glare my way.
“I would prefer if she notified me before going out and handling such matters personally.”
“You’re just upset we had to store that head in the freezer until the police came to pick it up,” I countered.
“I did have to clean the freezer. So unsanitary. And to steal my car?”
“She needs new clothes. I will not have our daughter bringing shame to our garage. She’ll be back in new clothes soon. You can take our other daughter on a drive if that will make you feel better.”
He sighed. “It might.”
“After we’re done with this mess, we’ll go take our new daughter on a drive. You can handle the driving, and I will be the princess of the passenger seat. It’ll be a date.”
“I do like our dates, especially when my wife doesn’t skip out on them.”
One day, I might understand why I enjoyed putting up with him.
“It was just one date. I’m sure, if you posture like you normally do, be yourself, and make it clear how saddened you were by my absolutely unacceptable displays of independence, these old vampires might even give you presents hoping you’ll feel better.
I am now confident my tendencies are genetic. ”
My mother laughed the loudest and the longest. “While I know this will ruin his fun, your father was relieved when you fell in with Emerick. No matter what happens, you’ll be with someone who loves and cherishes you.
I just wish we could have given you a kinder childhood.
I am sorry about all the lies we’d been forced to tell. ”
Hopefully, my mother would release her guilt.
Until then, I would do my best to convince her things had worked out for the best. “You did what was necessary to make certain I could survive through my childhood. And neither of you are to blame for my heart problems. That does remind me. Dad, can I meet my donor’s parents? ”
“Of course. We are still friends with them, and they know we’re vampires.
Your mother, after talking with me, went to see them.
I have extended an offer to turn both of them and bring them into my brood.
I will even pay a sum to a brides brood to assist with her turning and training.
” My father’s attention turned to Emerick.
“I would like to propose that this couple formally adopt young Edgar. They have made the decision to not attempt to have more children, not after what happened to their baby. However, they would be the ideal candidates for giving Edgar the family he needs—and the stability. Brittany is a teacher who specializes in working with special needs children, and she plans to retire upon being turned and become a private tutor. She will have the time needed to care for Edgar on a daily basis. He is a mechanic, and he will be able to do his work simply enough. Neither have need of money, of course. Brittany has the capacity to be as harsh as necessary to ensure Edgar’s growth.
While I have no doubt your brood is prepared to make the sacrifices needed, they will have the willingness to be harsh without a past history of gentle care.
Their hand will be as loving as yours, and it will be easier for Edgar to accept their authority.
With them, he will have everything needed for him to grow. ”
I marveled at my father, amazed at his strength.
If I judged solely from his words, tones, and actions, I would believe without doubt he would be incapable of being harsh to a child.
But he had, all to make certain I had a place in the world.
My life had been worth more than the entirety of his empire, something I hadn’t realized until after I learned the truth of my life. “Initially, you said I turned, but later you said it was more of a conversion, like what happened to you. What is the applicable difference?”
My entire herd of great uncles and cousins exchanged looks. In time, I would learn all their names, although Walden, who appeared as American as my father, would be the easiest of them for me to remember.
If I were to become a male, I suspected I’d be a great deal like my cousin except with slightly darker hair.
“Darius?” Alheen asked, glancing over at one of my father’s uncles.
From head to toe, Darius resembled some Greek god, his bronzed skin bearing a hearty tan, his dark eyes taking in everything, and a Roman nose closer to a beak than anything else.
Someone had broken his nose several times, and several scars crossed his brow, disconcertingly close to his right eye.
“Our father was mad with bloodlust during our turning, all violence and need to tame his thirst. We had no choice in what we became, and he took our first wives and many of our children from us. From that moment forward, we both loved and hated our father. But what he did to Charlie and his family went beyond the pale. Charlie’s father was our favorite brother, as kind and gentle a man as could be in our age.
His wife? She was a jewel, a rare beauty in body and spirit.
We all adored them—and we all adored Charlie, who was everything his father and mother were and more.
You’ll find your father has not changed much, although he has mastered the art of deceit so nobody realizes how bright his spirit is.
Where we were turned and raised in violence, ambition, and greed, Charlie endured none of that.
He never died, although the pain of loss surely held the same pain as death.
While your body failed and technically died, all your body did was accept your true nature.
View a conversion as a light switch. For the start of your life, the switch was turned off.
Upon your heart’s inability to sustain your life, the switch was flipped to on.
Your body recognized the need for you to be a vampire, and so you became a vampire.
It would have just happened during a moment of need. ”
One day, I might be able to scratch the surface of what my family endured. “So I was always a vampire? My father just didn’t know it?”
Darius exchanged looks with the rest of my family, sighed, and nodded.
“That is likely the closest to the truth. You were not a creation of greed and ambition, not like us. Our father did not turn us out of love for us but out of madness. And our brother, who was part of the attack that killed your father’s family, died during his madness.
None of us hold any delusions over our father.
He did accept responsibility for his actions, but that is not the same as love.
Charlie is why we are not like this Breckenan monster we hunt, and I would remember that if I were you in the days to come.
We grew up in a world where a harsh hand could hide a loving heart, but most fell prey to the power that came from wielding that harsh hand.
I certainly have, both before and after my turning.
I have the capacity of becoming a monster worse than even Breckenan.
Your father is why I have not—and why I do not wish to embrace such a dark legacy.
I recommend that we find a place to sit.
Breckenan’s story is long despite his short years as a vampire, and in order to conquer his madness, we must do our best to understand it. ”
We staged the talk in the sitting room, and Emerick rampaged through the penthouse, confiscating every pillow and blanket in the place so we could create comfortable nests.
Rather than take up a free spot on the floor, I made use of my husband’s lap, snuggled into my favorite blanket, and claimed every scrap of peace I could get my hands on.