Chapter 39
Picking up Santiago from jail when he was released in the early evening was a somber affair.
Santiago’s eyes were puffy, evidence that he’d been informed of Catalina’s death.
Benjamin felt his heart clench painfully, wishing he could tell him that it wasn’t true.
But he had to keep this secret for a few more hours.
He didn’t return to headquarters; instead, he offered Santiago Damian’s old room to stay in until after the funeral. He wanted to keep an eye on Santiago while he was grieving.
As they sat down over pizza and beer, Benjamin filled him in on what the Prestons had done, and how he and Catalina, with the help of his friends at Scanguards, had been able to uncover their evil scheme.
“She did all this for me,” Santiago murmured. “I wish she hadn’t. Because then she would still be alive.”
“And you would still be in jail,” he replied.
Santiago shrugged. “I would gladly have stayed in there if that meant she would be alive. It’s my fault that this happened to her.”
He saw the pain in his eyes. There was such love, such devotion between the siblings.
“No, it’s the Prestons’ fault. They did all this. They are guilty. And they will pay for it. I promise you that.”
“You cared about her, didn’t you?”
Benjamin gave a slow nod. “I still do. I love her. And that will never change.”
“So we both lost her.”
“You never truly lose somebody as long as you still love them. One day you’ll see her again.”
One day very soon.
“My parents,” Santiago suddenly said, shooting up from the couch. “I have to call them.”
“Not tonight. You can talk to them tomorrow.”
He knew from Amaury that he’d already arranged for a Scanguards contact in Mexico to talk to Santiago and Catalina’s parents.
By now they would be aware that whatever the press was reporting about Catalina wasn’t true, but that they could not talk to anybody about it, because it would endanger her.
Sometime after the funeral, Scanguards would arrange a video call for the Vargas family to assuage all their fears.
“You should get a good night’s sleep,” Benjamin suggested. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”
“The funeral. I can’t deal with people, and I don’t have any money to pay for it.” He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wide. “Oh God, what about a casket? What am I gonna do? I don’t even know where to start.”
Benjamin put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s all arranged.
You don’t have to do anything. You just need to be there.
I’ll be there with you. It’ll be small, but the press will be there.
It can’t be avoided. They will want to speak to you, but you don’t have to say anything to them.
You don’t have to answer any questions. Okay? ”
“Okay.”
“And I got you a black suit. You had nothing suitable in the closet in your flat.”
“I…” Tears welled up in his eyes again, and he choked up.
“It’s alright. You don’t have to say anything.”
There were only a few real mourners at the grave where the minister spoke a prayer.
Benjamin was certain that the rest were looky-loos.
The press was easy to spot with their cameras and microphones at the ready.
It was overcast and cool. The casket was simple and covered with white lilies.
His mother, Nina, had arranged everything.
She wore black pants and a thick black jacket, sunglasses covering her eyes despite the lack of sunshine.
They flanked Santiago, who stood there, sobbing uncontrollably.
Benjamin couldn’t wait for the short service to be over, because he didn’t want Santiago to suffer any longer than absolutely necessary.
Therefore, he’d spoken to the minister earlier and let him know that there would be no eulogies, just a lowering of the casket into the already dug grave and a prayer.
When the last word was finally spoken, Benjamin took Santiago by his elbow, steering him toward his Porsche.
“Come,” he said gently.
The members of the press immediately stalked toward them, but Nina stepped in.
“Santiago won’t be answering any questions. Please respect his privacy,” she demanded.
Quickly, Benjamin opened the passenger door of the Porsche and ushered Santiago inside. He motioned to his mother, indicating that they would see each other later. She’d driven in her own car.
Before the press could beleaguer the car, Benjamin drove off. For a few minutes, he didn’t speak. He knew now was the time to tell Santiago the truth about Catalina. But this wasn’t an easy conversation to start.
“Now that the funeral is over, there’s something I need to tell you,” he finally started.
Santiago looked out of the passenger side window, his slim frame sunken in as if he’d given up on himself. “Mmm?”
“Catalina wasn’t in that casket.”
Santiago whirled his head to him, staring at him in disbelief.
“She didn’t die from the gunshot wound.”
Santiago gasped. “What? What is this? Why are you saying this?”
He pointed back in the direction they were coming from. “We were at her funeral.”
“That was for the press and the public. They can’t ever find out that she survived.”
“But I don’t understand…”
“There is something that will be very hard for you to accept. She is alive, I swear. But she’s different now.”
“What do you mean by different?”
“Fuck!” Benjamin cursed. “This isn’t easy to explain.”
“You’d better, cause now I’m getting worried. What’s wrong with her? Is she paralyzed?”
“Paralyzed?” For a fraction of a second, he didn’t understand what Santiago meant. “No, she’s not. She’s perfect. She’s completely healed. She’s not in pain.”
“Then what the fuck are you talking about? I wanna see her for myself.”
“We’re on our way to her.”
“This is not the way to the flat.”
“She isn’t at the flat. She can’t live there anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because she would be exposed to sunlight there. And that would turn her into dust.”
There, it was out. He’d finally said it. For a few seconds there was silence.
“Are you trying to tell me that she’s a vampire? What sick joke is that supposed to be? Stop the fucking car! You’re obviously a raving lunatic!”
He yanked at the door, but it was locked.
Benjamin turned into the entrance to the Scanguards underground garage and used his keycard to gain access.
“I assure you I’m not. What I am is a vampire hybrid.
I’m half vampire, half human. When your sister was shot by the Prestons, she was bleeding out.
The bullet hit an artery close to her heart.
She had only seconds left. The injury was too severe for me to simply heal her.
I had no choice but to turn her into a vampire.
It was the only way for her to survive.”
Benjamin let out a breath. He pulled the car into his assigned spot and switched off the engine.
Santiago stared at him in utter disbelief, but remained silent.
“I know it sounds incredible. But it’s the truth. I love your sister. I couldn’t let her die.”
Santiago shook his head, his mouth gaping open.
“I would never hurt her,” Benjamin assured him.
“Nor you. Nor anybody else in your family. You’re a brother to me now.
And I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you right away, but the public has to think that she’s dead.
And had I told you before now, you would have behaved differently at the funeral. I couldn’t risk that.”
“If this is true, and I’m not saying that I believe you, why on earth would you have to pretend that she’s dead when she survived? That makes no fucking sense.”
“It’s the only way for the Prestons to pay for what they did to you and to her. They can never be allowed to be free. And with murder, they’ll die in prison.” He sighed. “And they did murder her. Her old life is gone. I had to make this decision for her, and I think she hates me for it.”
He felt tears well up in his eyes and didn’t bother pushing them back. Instead, he looked straight at Santiago.
“I turned her into a creature she fears, because I couldn’t let her die. I wanted her to live because I love her. And even if that means that I’ve lost her, knowing that she has a chance at a new life has to be enough. So, I beg you, don’t turn away from her. She needs you now.”
Santiago stretched his hand toward him. “Your tears. They are red.”
“A vampire’s tears are made of blood.”
Santiago nodded to himself. “I guess I have nothing to lose by believing you. Where is she?”
“I’ll take you to her.”