6. That was when everyone thought you were male, rabid, and lived on the streets.
SIX
That was when everyone thought you were male, rabid, and lived on the streets.
My mother’s edict ushered in unadulterated chaos. Clarke went from calm to driven and ready to indulge in various acts of murder in the blink of an eye. Emerick scowled, but he knew better than to direct any of his displeasure my mother’s way.
My father laughed, as did my brothers.
The rest of the family, excluding Alheen and Darius, excused themselves and left, much to my relief.
“Ben? Can you make certain Annora and Gerry keep Edgar occupied through this? The last thing we need is him picking up on the excessive desire for violence just when we’re starting to contain his vampiric nature and restart his development,” Emerick requested.
“Perhaps my maker could invite them to Europe for a time?”
That caught Clarke’s attention. “Of course. Breckenan knows better than to venture to Europe. He has received numerous warnings that his stint as a vampire will come to an end should he step foot there. The established broods will not tolerate his ilk. They delivered the warning with the head of one of his vampires.”
That was news to me. “When did that happen?”
“That was when everyone thought you were male, rabid, and lived on the streets,” he replied.
Ah. “I still might be rabid. Nobody has actually tested me for rabies. Who knows what sorts of ailments I acquired from drinking all that bad blood. I might start frothing and take everyone out with me when I go.” I escaped Emerick’s hold and headed for the kitchen, where enough ingredients for one last lonely hot chicken sandwich waited for me.
“Perhaps we should host an engagement party in Europe, invite this woman, and lure Breckenan to where every vampire on the continent would be pleased to help us tear him to pieces. I wouldn’t complain about sharing the glory in that case. The more the merrier.”
Emerick sighed, shooed me away from the precious hot chicken sandwich ingredients, and went to work assembling my snack. “Mr. Francis, Breckenan has already demonstrated that he is more than capable of assaulting broods and doing a great deal of damage. How did he manage to kidnap Pepper?”
My father frowned. “Alheen?”
“She remembers nothing of being kidnapped,” he replied in a gentle tone. “But from my understanding, it was during daylight hours, right on the street with witnesses.”
“That’s correct,” my father confirmed.
I wondered how much worse life would have been for me if I had any memories of my ordeal.
On second thought, I didn’t want to know. To keep my morbid curiosity at bay, I focused on the future. “I am more than ready to get on with the rest of my life. How do we efficiently get rid of this menace and break down his operations?”
“We play his game,” my father informed me. “And we play it harder and better.”
“Elaborate, please.”
My father picked up one of the bottles of oil on the counter, lifted it up, and peered into the dark glass.
“We first sabotage his corporate efforts. I have played the game to make it appear as though I have been significantly inconvenienced by his efforts. In reality, that’s not the case.
I’ve been fortifying, making preparations, and am ready to become quite aggressive.
I have found many of his fiscal sins, and it’s a delivery or two from being exposed to the government.
Exposure will make the rest of his dealings significantly weaken, and then the true fun begins.
Other vampires, who find Breckenan distasteful at best, are ready to swoop in and take his holdings at far below market value.
He is young, inexperienced, and does not yet know how to handle being the prey. ”
That was something my father would do—and he would do it well.
But rather than natural ruthlessness, he had significant experience backing him, something I would need to get used to.
I sighed, tapping my foot while Emerick took his time.
“She reminds me of a starved beast, but she knows I’m not going to give her the sandwich until she has demonstrated some patience,” he commented with a grin. “She’s remarkably easy to dominate. All I have to do is tell her I will make her a turkey. She becomes clay in my hands.”
I really did. “You’re quite skilled at making turkey, and you turn the turkey you make into mashed potato volcanoes with gravy and meat. I am unashamed of my actions.”
“There is no shame in enjoying something,” Emerick reminded me. “But I am concerned over what would happen if I were to drive up to you in a rusty white van promising free food.”
“Are you the food? If so, I’m getting into the van.”
He laughed. “Pretend it’s a stranger in a rusty white van.”
“Are they bad vampires?”
“Sure. For this scenario, they are bad vampires.”
“I’m getting into the rusty white van, where they become my free food,” I reported.
Everyone sighed.
Clarke shook his head. “I wish you the best of luck with her, boy. At least offering yourself as dessert should bring her home most nights.”
“It’s most days I’m worried about now that she has figured out how to stay up past her bedtime,” Emerick complained.
Clarke smirked, and I interpreted his expression as a warning he had no intention of teaching my mother how to resist the sun anytime soon.
“I plan to preserve my quiet mornings for as long as possible. When she wishes to learn how to resist the sun, she will. Until then, I will enjoy being her pillow when it’s time for her to get her rest. After caring for an infant vampire for so long, I figure she’ll get tired of sleeping the day away in ten or so years. ”
“I’m thinking fifteen unless I want to work on one of my projects, then I’ll think about resisting the sun,” my mother replied, and she smiled at her new partner.
It sank in that I had two fathers to contend with.
One had been difficult enough.
With luck, Clarke would be busy keeping my mother happy and forget I existed most of the time. I could work with being forgotten unless the situation demanded it. Determined to hide my discomfort, I focused on getting my hands on my food, which Emerick continued to prepare.
Making a run at the mashed potatoes earned me a slap to the hand.
I scowled at my husband, and to make it clear I needed to be fed sooner than later, I hissed at him.
“Now imagine this except she’s seven years old. Instead of a mashed potato volcano, she was after my steak. Her next step is to bite.”
“Should she bite, she will surely become distracted from her mundane meal in favor of dessert. Then I kindly ask you all to leave, and my evening becomes quite nice. I do not mind where this progression takes me.”
I grinned over Emerick’s commentary. “I believe my mother is correct. Until this Breckenan bastard falls, we should stay focused, and that means we simply do not have time to attend to bedroom activities. I’m sure we will be forgiven when we vanish off for a few nights following his demise.
” I leaned towards my husband and whispered, “I’ll even wear a particularly little dress you pick out to celebrate. ”
“Ben, put together a team to help Darius secure this woman Breckenan is interested in. Maybe we can save her from a bad end, unlike the other victims. Work with my maker to get Annora, Gerry, and Edgar over to Europe, and see if you can reach out to the hunting broods about making certain Breckenan’s days are numbered.
The brood that brings us Breckenan’s head will receive an invitation to the wedding, of course.
Mr. Francis, how many uncles of yours do you think I can sacrifice to the broods? ”
“That depends entirely on what you mean by sacrifice,” my father admitted. “Also, you can call me Charlie. It was amusing testing your nerve, but you’ve earned it. I will also accept Dad, Father, or Papa.”
“Use Papa when you know you’re up to your neck in shit with him,” Benoit advised. “That usually pleases him enough he will at least consider the reasoning for your poor behavior before issuing a punishment.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll use Charlie in private and Mr. Francis to maintain exterior appearances.”
“Good. So, how do you wish to sacrifice my family?”
“In Europe, many broods have unwed daughters of vampires; they were conceived prior to their turning or made use of sperm banks to preserve their chance to have female offspring. Some of these daughters are interested in being turned and are in their mid forties or older. Should I be able to secure a potential courtship with one of your uncles…”
My father raised a brow and turned to Darius. “Well?”
“I must applaud that level of cunning ruthlessness, young Emerick. It’s a good plan, and it will bring out every vampire with a daughter to give her the best chance of turning.
However, we will also offer to oversee the turnings of all women in the victorious brood, prioritizing those who are older to make certain they have the best chance possible.
Blood donors will be an issue, however.”
My husband waved off the concern before putting the final touches on my hot chicken sandwich and sliding it across the counter my way.
“It will be no issue. That will be part of our offer; the Lowrance brood will provide the blood needed to aid in their rising. We are becoming quite adept at handling newly turned women, and we can get the support of the brides broods as well.”
I fell upon my snack, pausing long enough to snatch a fork, knife, and spoon.
“Had I not witnessed her eat yesterday, I would be accusing you of starving my daughter,” my mother admitted. “However, I question this level of hunger.”
I considered growling to show my mother how I felt about her comment, but I worried about chewing without choking.
My father chuckled. “I am sure it’s fine. We all have a case of the nerves, and if eating helps her conquer them, then let her eat. It’s not as though she’ll be at any real risk of gaining weight. Just rein her in should she start trying to gnaw on you.”