Chapter Two
For the past couple of weeks, Khafil had noticed his Chief seemed distracted. Lately Sarim seemed as if he were elsewhere. One incident came to Khafil’s mind. During a crucial conversation in last week’s council meeting, Sarim had zoned out. The other tribal brothers were awaiting the Sarim’s response to a critical matter before the council. Khafil had to regain his Chief’s attention by sending him a mental summons. He had watched Sarim quietly drift in and out of conversations with members of the Soga Vampire Tribe. Khafil knew how to read his Chief’s every move and thought by scanning Sarim’s facial expressions.
Khafil had been Sarim’s protector since Khafil reached vaperty, the time when a vampire reached adulthood. He had been primed since birth to serve, counsel, and protect the Chief. His father had protected Sarim’s father, and the father before him had been protector to Sarim’s grandfather. Khafil came from a long line of protectors. His family took the responsibility very seriously and followed the principles exactly. His primary responsibility was to be his Abu’s virtual shadow. He traveled with Sarim everywhere. In every council meeting, every hiatus: basically, every encounter Sarim had, Khafil was there.He had the power to share thoughts with his Chief. When Sarim had supposedly “confidential” meetings or even when his leader had sexual relations, he was there. There was only one drawback to his lifestyle; no one could see him but Sarim and other blood descendants of the Chief’s family. No other vampire knew he existed. He did not have an existence outside of Sarim’s realm. When his Chief’s time ended, he was to become visible to other vampires and could resume a regular life.Khafil was in tune with all Sarim’s moods and emotions. Chiefs had to have protectors. Mothers were the first protector. After Chiefs reached vaperty, they were taken from their mothers. From that point on, the young Chief belonged to the fathers, or Vahantes, and the council. As the protector, he was the only one who could tell Sarim exactly what he thought. Khafil did not have to color his opinions in the hopes of not riling his superior. He always offered his opinions about Sarim’s plans, attitudes, and other relationships. Khafil’s primary duty in life was his Chief.He was not allowed to form a personal friendship with Sarim. Doing so could cost Khafil his life and the Abu’s. It would also bring great shame to his family’s name and honor. Developing a friendship would cause Khafil to lose his objectivity. He would not see things clearly for his ruler. His counsel and protection would be to please Sarim instead of protecting him. He was the only vampire Sarim could trust. Khafil was not allowed to betray his Chief. Sarim could read his thoughts if necessary, but Khafil could not directly read Sarim’s. Khafil could not hide intentions of betrayal from his Chief. Besides, he had no interest in killing Sarim. Although he sensed another vampire did. Clearing his head, Khafil watched as Sarim turned to him.“For the past two months,” Sarim began, “I’ve been experiencing something strange, something I’ve never dealt with before.” He turned and looked Khafil in the eyes. “Even though I know I have your confidence, I need to stress the importance of this remaining between you and me. Therefore, I must forbid you to tell your father or any other family members.” “Of course, Sarim. I will not speak of this to anyone,” Khafil answered. He barely struggled to hide the irritation in his voice from having his loyalty questioned.“I have smelled my child.” Sarim spoke so softly, Khafil barely heard him.Khafil’s mouth dropped open in shock. “How is this possible, Abu? When did this happen?”Sarim was expecting Khafil to respond as such. As his protector, he was in Sarim’s presence twenty-four hours, even while Sarim slept. A fact the Abu didn’t know.“I believe I impregnated a human female while I was in hiatus,” Sarim said, a fierce expression on his face. “I have smelled the scent of the Dalili ever since our winter migration to Varlancia. The scent haunts me, Khafil. It invades my nose even when I rest.”Kahfil had to keep his jaw from dropping open. How could Sarim have gotten a woman pregnant? He searched his mind. He’d never left Sarim alone ... except for that one night with the human he’d lived with over twenty years ago. Sarim turned abruptly and stared out the window. “I have one more thing for you to do, Khafil.”“Whatever you ask is my command, great one,” Khafil responded, hastening to his Abu’s side.“I am glad to hear that, Khafil. I knew your loyalty was uncontested. I must go to the origin of the smell. I can’t rest until I come face to face with this human I am haunted by. This scent could lead me to the solution of my not having an heir. If this person is a woman, she will have to become pregnant by a vampire, and she will have my grandchild. If this person is a male, the dilemma is solved automatically ...”“You are assuming this person is going to go along with your plan,” Khafil interrupted.“Their wishes are of no importance. My family needs an heir to continue our rule. An heir this person will be, or supply,” Sarim said. “That’s final.”“You’re taking too much for granted. What if they have a family and a life of their own? They are not going to leave that for you. This person obviously does not know our ways or we would have heard from them by now. This person owes you nothing, Sarim. I -”“ENOUGH!” Sarim roared as he stood up. “Are you my protector, or my conscience?”“I am merely pointing out to you very real possibilities. You can’t go dictating a humvansi, as if he or she owes you something. Even if this person might be the answer to your problems, understand, Sarim, they are not obligated to you at all,” Khafil continued, careful not to raise Sarim’s ire too much, but he had to hear the truth. “And if I were your conscience, you’d be a lot smarter.”“Knowing how you value your position, Khafil, I’ll overlook your last comment,” Sarim said, frowning. “This humvansi will serve me. That is not the issue now. The real issue is I need you to come on the journey with me. Tell your family that I am looking for possible sanctuaries. Can you do this, Khafil?”“Of course, Abu.” Khafil gave a thin smile. “I will prepare for us to leave in a week.” “Very well, Khafil. Leave me now. I am weary.” “As you wish, leader.” Khafil bowed and disappeared.As soon as Khafil disappeared, Sarim sat down and let out a frustrated sigh. Even though he hated to admit it, Khafil was right. The humvansi he was seeking owed him nothing. The heir could laugh in his face and send him on his merry way. If they did, there wasn’t anything he could do about it. Sarim did not like the way the odds were stacked against him. He was in a situation where he couldn’t use his influence or power to get what he wanted. It was against The Code of Ethics to use one’s powers against or to beguile another Taalib Duma, even if the Taalib Duma was the humvansi he created. Looking out the window, Sarim noticed the rays of light streaking across the sky. Daybreak was upon him. All his thoughts and questions would have to wait until tonight. He walked to the door to turn out the lights. As soon as he touched the light switch, his ever-efficient protector materialized beside him.“I assume you are ready, Abu?”“It would appear so.”Khafil opened the door for Sarim and followed him out. He would not trade places with his Chief for all the blood in China.Chapter Three Jumping up in alarm, Victoria woke up. How long have I been asleep? Sitting up in her seat, she looked around the bus in panic. It was empty and still. With heart racing, she shot out of her seat, running to the bus door. Practically flying from the bus steps, she landed on the sidewalk and looked up at what appeared to be a Bus Terminal. Where was she? Her heart leaped when she found the entrance and she quickly walked through it, scanning the area for a help desk. Seeing that no one was there, she briskly walked over to it and began ringing the bell insistently. A harried employee stuck his head around the corner. “May I help you?” “Yes, please, can you tell me what town is this?” “Sure, this is Battle Grove, Connecticut.” The clerk walked over to the counter, concern etched on his face. Fumbling through her bus tickets, Victoria did not see a ticket with Battle Grove listed. Sensing her panic, the clerk reached over and took the tickets from her. “Let’s see what
Sarim sat in his office, allowing the silence to clear his thoughts. Khafil remained in the shadows, unseen and unheard. Lately his office was the only place he could find solitude from the chaotic world around him. He should have been thinking of his upcoming journey to the human world, where he was headed later tonight. Instead, his thoughts were on the monthly meeting he’d just dismissed. Tonight, several members of the lesser Taalib Duma tribes were vocalizing concerns about Sarim’s successor. “Who is he?” “Where is he?” and “When is he coming?” Those were just a few of the questions asked. Even though Khafil had warned him the questions were coming, he should have been prepared. Instead, he was deeply unsettled. He had no answers. He’d managed to dissuade his brothers by explaining he still had a few years left and there was no need for the pressing concern. This was true, but Sarim knew it was customary for his successor to be introduced to the tribe by now. The new ruler had to
Zanhoden frowned. For the last hour he was contemplating where his dear Abu was really going. He and his men didn’t buy the “looking for another resting place” nonsense Sarim had hissed out during the meeting. However, Zanhoden would not speak on it publicly. If he did, it would look like pettiness on his part and it wouldn’t be taken seriously. It was a well-known fact that he and Sarim despised one another. Zanhoden’s tribe, the Imvura, had enough to deal with. He didn’t need to add to it by questioning the truthfulness of the Abu’s upcoming whereabouts. Leaning his back against the balcony wall, he smiled. He would soon find out exactly where Sarim was heading. He had an inside source. *** Leaning his lithe, six-foot-two frame against the wall of the dark entrance chamber of their resting lair, Khafil allowed his guard to drop. The entire resting area lay underground, right beneath their headquarters. The underground area equaled the size of two football fields, side-by-side, la
Stepping on the sidewalk, Victoria took a deep breath of fresh, southern air. This was her first day outside since the ice storm had hit Tabor Ridge. Smiling, she lifted her arms upward, stretching them as far as they could go. She didn’t mind that the cold air burned her nose or that it stung her eyes. Happiness made her light on her feet. Feeling hope for the first time in weeks, she was glad to finally be out of her efficiency. Since arriving, she had spent the last few days watching TV, reading books, watching the ice storm from her window, and devising a plan to locate her father. According to her mother’s notes, this small town was his birthplace. Walking along the idyllic street outside her motel, she felt warm vibes from the picturesque town. She stopped in front of a building, which emanated wonderful smells. Looking up, she saw it was some sort of eatery named McGrady’s. An eatery usually had a lot of people. People who may have knew her father. Shading her eyes from the su
Smiling, Sarim hastened through the airport, glad the long, uneventful flight was over. Stopping mid stride, he sniffed the air, uncaring that he’d caused several people walking behind him to trip and drop their luggage. Yes, the scent was indeed strong in North Carolina. The blood connection he shared with the heir had led him there, and he could feel the heir’s presence. He, or she, was close at hand. Time was running out, and he could not afford to make any mistakes. His life and his position depended on it. Hands on his hips, he surveyed the airport, watching the humans walking about like cattle, distracted and completely unaware of what had just landed in their city. Feeling his fangs grow longer, he ran his tongue around them. A hand landed on his shoulder. “Abu, we must get you in a safe place. These humans are a distraction you do not need now.” Sarim stiffened at the reproach in Ivan’s tone. “I don’t need you telling me what I need to be doing,” he snapped. “Once again, yo
Sitting cross-legged on the hotel floor, Khafil closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The second his body had completely relaxed, he became mist. He traveled through the hotel room, under the door, then down the hall to the basement room Sarim occupied. Once there, he floated under Sarim’s door and materialized. Walking silently through the cold, dark room, he stopped beside Sarim’s bed, then placed a hand over Sarim’s forehead. Thoughts of the heir dominated Sarim’s thoughts. He wondered if it was male or female and if they would follow his plans willingly. Astrong thought made Khafil pause. Seemed Sarim had plans to make the heir agreeable. He would kidnap the heir, if it was female, holding her hostage in his quarters while getting another Taalib Duma to impregnate her. Taking a deep breath, Khafil forced himself to focus through the waves of repulsion coursing through his body. The bastard already had several Taalib Dumas in mind for the task. He was going to
“Victoria?”“Yes?”“The next train doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning at 7:45.”“Okay.” What else could she say? It was her fault she’d missed the train.A few minutes later and she had new train ticket. “Hungry?” Ivan asked.“I’ve already eaten,” she answered, shaking her head. “If you can call processed meat with cheese from a can a Philly cheese steak?”“How about you join me while I eat? You might find something to nibble on.”Was it her imagination, or had he intended the sexual innuendo? Shrugging, she answered, “Sure!”“How about Luigi’s? It’s right across the street.”“Why not? I don’t have anywhere else I have to be, and I’d love to catch up with you.” Had she just said love? She glanced at his face, but he seemed intent on getting out of there.He grabbed her luggage and led her outside to his fancy car; his very new, obviously expensive car. He popped the trunk and placed her bags inside. He curled her arm inside his as they walked across to the street to Luigi’s. Once th
Sitting, Victoria took a few seconds to allow the last dredges of sleep to leave her brain. She still couldn’t believe she had changed her mind and had agreed to spend the night at Ivan’s. Once outside the parking garage, the cold air did the trick and she felt on high alert, although she remained quiet as she followed Ivan to his apartment. His place was nice, very nice, the ultimate bachelor pad. She followed him across a plush carpet to the living room where a fifty-inch flat screen televisiondominated the far wall. “Have a seat,” he said, nodding toward the sofa. “I’m going to put your luggage in the guest room.” He vanished down the hallway. She sat on the black sectional, then placed her purse on the glass table and surveyed the room. Paintings of all kinds decorated the other three walls. Some were modern with splashes of colors. Others landscapes, and the ones the wall closest to her were portraits. Her eyes rested on a rather formal picture drawing of a man who looked qui