Chapter 7
Eiko’s House, Monday, November 26, 2012
Zia’s intensive vampire boot camp proved easy for Ash. She adapted to her new abilities and limitations almost without effort, mastering all the lessons in their first week at the safe house. Sasha and Anya had started slowly when they ran drills with her, but Ash soon ran circles around the other two women, even when they were in dragon form and giving it everything they had. She also routinely bested Zia and every other opponent she faced while sparring at full strength.
Dani and Eiko watched from the sidelines, seeing Ash’s power and skill grow by the moment. The strength of the spell didn’t account for it. Eiko said the increased power must come from Ash’s lineage and insisted she had a powerful witch as an ancestor. Ash couldn’t remember if she’d told them about her potential connection to Maerlin, and it was not the right time to bring it up. She imagined her extra magic came from the spark that burned inside her. Mikhail had called her an arbiter of justice, though Ash didn’t yet understand what that meant.
Eiko worked flat out during their second week, but she’d hit a snag in the spell that would allow Ash and the other Therian-aligned vampires to walk in the sun. When it became apparent that she would need significantly more time than she’d originally thought, Eiko shifted her focus. She produced a dozen of the temporary sun-protection rings and told Ash to go home to see her parents. The new vampire’s agitation and worry had been plain, and until they were ready to begin going after Nadya’s vampires, there was little else Ash could do in Russia.
Zia promised to continue speaking with other vampires and recruit others like her if she found any. Nadya didn’t often turn good people, and Ash suspected there were no others like Zia, but only time would tell.
Ash was reluctant to be that far from Luca. He wasn’t thrilled about it either, but he’d told her to take the trip too. He’d offered to send whatever protection she wanted, from a single bodyguard to an armed battalion, but she’d declined.
Ash’s parents deserved to know she was no longer human and be brought up to date with the many twists and turns their daughters’ lives had taken since leaving weeks ago. Those conversations would be much easier without a supernatural entourage. Ash needed closure on the human part of her life before she could move forward, which included telling her parents that the daughter they knew didn’t exist anymore.
While Ash slept, Dani meticulously planned their journey, taking the longer route to stay ahead of the sun. Leaving was surprisingly difficult for both young women, although they hadn’t known any of these people for very long. However, they’d return in a week.
Enfield, New York, Sunday, December 9, 2012
When Ash and Dani reached America, the young vampire’s nerves were shot. Their trip had taken two days. Dani had planned everything flawlessly, but travel was exhausting at the best of times. Bursting into flames in the sun wasn’t the best of times.
Ash was sick with worry about her parents’ reactions to her new vampiric state, and she channeled her fear of rejection into stress about every detail of their trip. Neither enjoyed the journey.
Ash’s nausea grew as they approached the Mosiers’ home. Despite Dani’s reassurances, Ash was terrified. Her vampiric instincts told her something was different the moment they turned into her parents’ neighborhood.
When she took a deep breath, Ash caught an animal scent she didn’t recognize. Dani cursed and slammed on the brakes when someone walked in front of them and stopped in the middle of the road. She managed to halt the car in time to avoid hitting the man, who was tall and lean and had dark brown skin and black hair. His eyes flashed a menacing yellow when he came around the passenger side to confront Ash.
Ash rolled down the window and curiously sniffed the stranger, catching his Therian scent but not knowing what clan he was from.
“There is nothing for you here, vampire,” His accented voice was low and threatening. “Step out of the human’s vehicle and leave this place. I don’t want to cause a scene, but I will use violence if necessary. All the humans here are protected, and I won’t let you harm them.”
Understanding dawned on Ash. “You must be one of the panthers Luca sent. You’re here to protect the Mosiers?”
He looked confused. “Who are you?”
“Luca’s mate, Ash Mosier. You’re protecting my parents.” She gestured at Dani. “Our parents.”
The man looked into the car. “I don’t believe you. Luca’s mate is human. I can smell you, vampire. Now, get out of the car.”
Dani was tired and over this shit. She opened the door and got out, glaring at the panther across the hood. “Do you smell me, asshole?”
He looked at Dani, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled her human scent. His gaze traveled from her head to her toes and back before he nodded. “I do.” He turned his attention back to Ash. “I said, get out of the car. Do not make me repeat myself.” He opened the door.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!” Dani marched around the car.
The Therian turned back to Dani. “Is there something you wanted to say, human?”
“You bet your ass there is!” she snarled. “Ash is not the problem. She is a vampire, but she’s not trying to hide that. She is not like the other vampires you’ve met, and before you ask, no, I’m not compelled. I am her fucking sister, and you are not hauling the high king’s mate off to wherever the fuck.”
His eyes widened in shock, but he smirked at her. “How are you going to stop me?”
Dani rolled her eyes and pulled out her cell phone. “I will call Luca, and he can rip you a new asshole from the palace in Russia. We have just spent two exhausting days traveling from there, and if she was going to chomp on me, I’d be drained. Can you just cut the shit and let us through?”
He laughed without amusement. “All vampires are evil.”
“Including the one who sacrificed her humanity to save your people?” Dani asked coldly.
He looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
Dani groaned. “Listen, what’s your name? I don’t want to fight, and calling you asshole or Captain Sassy Pants doesn’t seem as productive as it is funny. Let me call Luca and clear this up.”
The panther did not look less confused. “What is ‘Captain Sassy Pants?’”
“Shut up! That’s an awesome cat name,” Dani grumbled.
Things were rapidly sliding out of control. “Dani, get Luca on the phone. I’m Ash, and this is Dani. Our parents are Brian and Melinda Mosier, the people you protect.”
The Therian nodded. “I am Uuka, the leader of my pack, and regardless of what you say, I will not betray my orders. We have given our sacred vow to protect these people.”
“Not from us, asshat!” Dani growled.
“Dani, shut up and call Luca!” Ash hissed, then turned back to the panther. “Uuka, I’m guessing you’ve never met a vampire who wasn’t a shitshow. That’s fair, but I’m not like them. I’m not Nadya’s child. I was turned by the witch Eiko so I could save Luca. A lot has happened since we left. Please, just let us explain. If you aren’t satisfied, we will leave.”
Uuka nodded. “I will listen, but you will not move one step closer to that house.”
With multiple starts and stops and a lot of talking over each other, Ash and Dani summarized the major events of the past few weeks. They explained how Luca had been captured, how and why Ash had been turned, and how the fight with Nikoli had ended. Their story didn’t alleviate Uuka’s suspicions, but he was no longer openly hostile.
“What if I give you access to my mind?” Ash asked. “I have nothing to hide, and you can see the truth in my memories.”
Uuka nodded. “That would go a long way toward convincing me that your motives are pure.” He moved closer, his eyes flashing.
Ash didn’t resist when she felt the Therian’s telepathic probing. It was the quickest way to prove her innocence, and after two days of travel, she was jetlagged and terrified about what her parents would say. She was even more sensitive to telepathy as a vampire. As Uuka rifled through her memories, the scenes played out in reverse chronological order.
Her tearful goodbye to Luca. The soul-wrenching funeral. Saving Luca and her part in defeating Nikoli. Giving up her humanity to save him. The mating bond. The beginnings of their relationship. The recent fight with James Preston. Her childhood and the attack by Paul Preston when she and her father had nearly died and Dani’s mother was murdered.
Uuka eventually pulled his consciousness back and took a knee. “I was wrong. Please forgive me. You gave up everything for our people. Even knowing what could happen, you did it to save him. No, not just him. All of us.”
Ash nodded. “Well, I wasn’t going to let him die. Nikoli would never have stopped, and his rage would have destroyed the empire. Maybe not right away, but it got really bad really fast.”
Dani couldn’t get through to Luca, so she called Viktorija, who answered on the second ring.
“Da?”
“Viktorija! Thank God. We made it most of the way home, but a panther won’t let us through. Please explain who we are and that it’s not breaking their word to let Ash and me see our parents,” Dani requested.
She handed the phone to Uuka, who stood to take it. Ash was several feet away but could hear the conversation.
“This is Viktorija Nablyudatel. Let them through. The blonde became a vampire to save your king, so the entire empire is in her debt. Protect them with your life, and I will be in yours.”
Uuka’s eyes reflected his newfound respect for Ash. “She allowed me access to her mind. I have no doubts. It will be as you say, Princess.”
“General,” Viktorija corrected. “See that it is. They are both precious to us.”
Uuka hung up and passed the phone back to Ash. He gave a slight bow. “I am sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Ash replied. “You were protecting our parents, and we can’t be mad about that. We just want to see them and sleep in our own beds tonight.”
Uuka nodded. “I do not know how you retained your humanity, but I would like to hear that tale sometime. Please.” He gestured at the Mosiers’ home. “Go see your parents. They miss you very much, and they have been worried.”
“Sure. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk again before we leave,” Ash told him. “I would love to learn more about your clan.”
Ash and Dani got back into the car and continued down the street. Uuka didn’t leave his sentry post, but she felt his eyes on her the whole way. His expression said he was confused, awestruck, and hopeful.
Ash couldn’t blame him. She was new to the hidden world, but every vampire she’d met had earned their evil reputation except Zia, who was badass but had a heart of gold.
Dani parked in the driveway and shut the car off, though neither woman moved right away. She took Ash’s hand and squeezed gently. “It’s going to be fine, dude. Stop freaking out. Seriously.”
Ash took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I know that. I really do. I’m just…scared.”
Dani nudged her shoulder. “They won’t love you any less because you have to snack on the occasional blood bag.”
Ash laughed. She couldn’t help it. Dani made any situation brighter with perfectly timed comedic relief and unflinching compassion. “Okay. Eye check. No red?”
“No red. You’re good. Let’s do this.”
They got out of the car and made their way to the front door. Melinda Mosier was sitting at the kitchen table, and she squealed with delight when she rounded the corner and saw them.
“Brian! Oh, my God, it’s the girls! Come quick! They’re home!” she cried.
Ash froze, her gaze glued to the floor, and let Dani rush forward into their mother’s arms. Brian barreled around the corner with Harley on his heels, and his face broke into a wide smile when he saw his daughters.
The Great Dane charged down the stairs, her tail wagging wildly when she caught Ash’s scent. Harley tackled Ash, unconcerned with the changes her person had undergone. Harley’s joy left Ash on the floor, fending off the aggressive love of a hundred-and-fifty-pound behemoth.
“Welcome home,” Brian called in his familiar booming voice. Ash turned Harley toward Dani and ran into her father’s arms. He wrapped her in a hug. “Hi, baby girl.”
Ash buried her face in his shoulder. The prickling sensations that accompanied her bloody tears stung her eyes.
Well, shit. I guess we’re getting right to it. No hiding the truth after this.
Brian pulled back and gasped when he saw her face. “Oh, honey. What happened to you?”
Ash gestured at the living room. “Why don’t we go sit down? We’ve got a hell of a story to tell you.”
Melinda ignored the bloody tears, and her face was full of compassion as she pulled Ash into a hug. “That sounds good, but first, I want to hug both my babies.”
The family moved into the living room and sat down so Ash and Dani could tell their story. When they sat, Harley climbed onto the couch and stretched her large body over Ash’s lap. They started with the events just after they left the country and continued through Ash’s vampire boot camp. When Ash’s voice broke, Dani picked up the tale.
Brian and Melinda listened with open minds and slack jaws. As Dani had predicted, their primary concern was for Ash’s well-being. Their love remained unconditional. They reeled as they processed the change, but they’d seen the news reports and knew something big was happening in the hidden world.
“Sweetheart, how could you think we would love you less?” Melinda kneeled in front of her daughter. “I don’t care what you become. You will always be my child, with the same beautiful heart and soul you’ve always had.”
Ash wiped her eyes and tried to speak past the lump in her throat. “Everything is so different now. I’m so different. I wasn’t sure if you’d think I was still your daughter. I didn’t get the glowing red eyes, bloodlust, and pointy teeth from you.”
“You won’t scare us off that easily, young lady.” Brian aimed a stern look at her. “We’ve stared evil down together before. I’m not saying we don’t have concerns. Of course we do, and I’m still in shock, but you will always be our daughters. Nothing can change that.”
The small family sat up until dawn, telling stories and reassuring themselves that everyone was okay. It was an emotional evening, but it meant everything to Ash. Coming home to the love and acceptance she’d always known was an enormous relief. Some things never changed, and thank all the gods for that.