Eight
The sun had barely sent fingers of light into the sky when Jack slid through the door at Donovan’s beach house. Behind the door, quickly pushed closed, Ife waited safely as Jack locked it and turned into her to press her against the wall. “Sorry. A lot to do when you’re deconstructing a life.”
“Don’t be sad. We’re righting a wrong that has been going on for a hundred years; both in the mistaken idea that vampires are monsters, and in the blooming cult of murderous vampires that should never have happened. Jack, I promise you, when we are finished, that subgroup of vampires who think it’s okay to kill will be gone.”
“That’s what we all want. I am completely onboard with you. In fact, I told one of my team a little bit about you and Cari and the guy coming from France. She wants to meet you again, suss you out on her own, and see if she believes in you. Sanquinetta is amazing, Ife.”
“Oh, the beautiful exotic girl I met at the diner? I know. I have an ability to read people and I liked her instantly. Yes, you may bring her here when we rise.”
“Thanks, I already talked to her about that.”
Jack’s hand wandered along Ife’s side. “Speaking of rising…”
“Yes?” Ife’s hand dropped to Jack’s crotch. “I do see what you mean. Perhaps we should retire to my room?”
“Perhaps.”
Fascinated this time, Jack watched Ife’s odd hand movement as she walked away from the door. “So what does that do?”
“First bloods have the ability to spell a place, room, building, almost anything, so that it remains unseen or untouchable by anyone other than first blood. If you walked on this beach right now, you wouldn’t even know this house was here.”
“So someone would walk right into it?”
“No. The magic instinctively keeps others away from the spelled area. It’s only one of our many abilities. If you stick around, you’ll see that.”
Jack, surprising himself, pulled Ife to him, his hands sliding inside the loose tee shirt she wore to bed.
“I plan to stick around.”
Tickles of joy invaded Ife’s spirit as she led this man to her bedroom once again.
“Let me help.”
Fourteen hours later at dusk, Ben reached for a second tray perched on top of the one Cairine carried. He’d already learned so much about the life he would lead now that he was no longer just human. First meal was certainly his favorite.
“Thank you. They aren’t heavy, but the top one was tippy and we don’t want to lose the bacon.”
“Hell no. You’re sure I won’t get fat eating this way?”
“Ben, look at the evidence. Ife and I eat like this twice every day.”
His eyes slid over each perfectly curved body. Yes, there was strong evidence to support the theory. He filled his plate to heaping.
“Now remember,” Jack joined Ben, Ife and Cairine, already on the balcony with full plates. “San will be here soon. We need to go easy on her, she’s skittish.”
Snatching a piece of buttered toast from Ife’s plate, he dropped into a chair beside her. “I need her. I don’t want to do this without my right hand.”
“She’ll be here. San is devoted to you and the cause.”
“Ben, she wants out, too. It’s been a long hard life, and she dreams of a normal one without all this crazy shit.”
“She won’t walk away, though.”
“You don’t think so?”
San’s voice answered Ben’s comment. All four on the balcony turned toward the wood stairwell.
Sanquinetta, colorful in brilliant hues, long coiled hair pulled up in controlled disarray, knee high boots with chunky heels, and her usual dagger at her side, stood at the little gate that separated the steps from the balcony.
“Can I come up?”
Ife lifted from her seat and hurried to the gate, opened it and clasped Sanquinetta’s hands to pull her through. The warm welcome surprised the hunter, who looked up to Jack, then Ben, and back to Ife’s smiling eyes.
“I’m so happy you came. Please, we’re just beginning our first meal and you must join us. We set quite the table.”
Drawing her new guest across the deck, Ife placed her in the seat she’d just vacated next to Jack.
“Hey, buddy. Grab a plate. I guarantee you’ll like what you see.”
Silent, her eyes bouncing from each face on the deck, lingering on the woman she’d never seen before, then to three large trays on a big round table between two benches and four chairs, Sanquinetta took the plate offered.
“Um, thanks.”
After carefully choosing a few items, sampling one, she went back to the trays and added several more before she returned to the seat. “We’re gonna get fat, eating like this, Jack.” Tilting her head, she scanned Ben, heartily killing his overladen plate. “You look good, Ben. You doin’ okay?”
“San, you wouldn’t believe how well. I’m okay, really. Better than okay. You can trust Ife and Cari. Listen with your heart as well as your mind.”
“That’s what I came for.”
First meal lasted over an hour, the conversation lively and friendly, which surprised Sanquinetta.
She was sitting here with two vampire hunters she’d known most of her life and two vampires. The most bizarre part was that she felt the camaraderie, the gentleness, of the strangely connected group of five on this balcony.
Trust came hard for her, but her instincts, and her heart, were leading her to accept that what Jack told her might be true. Vampires were not monsters.
“San.” Ife had taken a chair on the other side of Jack.
“Your coloring and features are lovely. What is your background?”
“I’m from Louisiana. My mother was Creole, dark-skinned, beautiful. My father was Latino, so that’s the reason for my coffee with cream coloring.”
“The genes blend perfectly. You’re a striking combination of your parents.”
“They would bow their heads in thanks for that compliment. Me, I just make it through the day hoping to stay healthy.”
“With the life you all have led it’s no wonder. We are here to change that. We want to help you finish what you’ve started so that you can go on with your life, safe, happy, live as you would choose to do, not as you have been trained to do.”
“I told Jack that sounds good to me. We’ll see how I feel after I hear what you have to say.”
“So we really have been wrong all this time?”
There was no other response. Jack nodded.
“I’ve always been bothered by the singular focus on killing vampires, but we all believed they were monsters, and they killed. God. And that Elias tried to kill Ben…I feel like I’m going to pitch that entire breakfast.”
“Take it easy, San. Breathe. I felt the same way, but we can’t go back and fix what we did. What we believed in at the time. But we can go forward and make sure it stops. I need you at my side, though, I can’t do it alone.”
She didn’t answer right away. Taking a break on the beach so she could digest everything, she walked to the shoreline to wade into the water. Even in the low light, he could see her shaking her head.
“Seriously, lady, I need a lieutenant I can trust without question who knows me and how I work.”
Kicking the moving water, she spoke, but Jack couldn’t understand what she said.
“What was that?”
Sanquinetta’s silhouette lifted its head. “Of course. Not only do you need me, but I need to be part of the solution. Restitution beckons me. But when we’re done, I think I’ll just disappear. Go somewhere with a beach and mai-tais and forget about my act one.”
“I may do the same.”
He heard her soft laugh. “You’re welcome on my beach anytime, Jack Remington. But I warn you, it’s going to be clothing optional.”
“Jack. San. Xavier has arrived.”
Ife’s voice floated to them across the mild night air.
“Thanks. We’re coming.” Jack turned to Sanquinetta.
“This should be interesting. He’s supposed to be this huge vampire from Paris. Ife says he’s kind of an alpha’s alpha. Super sexy.”
“Ummm. That sounds interesting.”
“He’s a vampire, San. You ready to go there?”
“You have.”
“I didn’t know it when we were first together, and when I found out, I was pissed, I admit it. Now, I wouldn’t change that night for anything.”
“If you hadn’t met her, if she and her friend hadn’t interfered, Ben would be dead, and we would be fighting harder than ever to kill vampires. It appears that destiny has put us back on track.”
“Destiny. You’re a romantic that believes in magic. I’m a hands-on pragmatic. Still, you’re right, this seems like it happened as it should have.”
Grabbing Jack’s arm, Sanquinetta leaned heavily on her best friend. “So let’s go right our wrongs and let me get an eyeful of this superhot vampire.”
Entering the balcony where it seemed Ife spent most of her time, Jack and San stopped as they stepped past the threshold.
“Fuck…” San hissed loud enough for only Jack to hear.
“You can say that again.”
“Fuck…”
“He’s huge. Talk about intimidation.”
“Well, if you’re going to go up against a bunch of well-trained, dedicated hunters, intimidation is a good way to start.”
Surging forward, Sanquinetta confronted the largest man she’d ever seen. Ripped muscles showed under a white patterned tee shirt and snug jeans. Long hair tied back surrounded an uber-masculine face with a mischievous smile.
“I’m Sanquinetta, but everyone calls me San.”
The big man grinned wider and took her hand to kiss the back, his eyes dancing. “Bonsoir, San. Ye can call me Xavier. And if I weren’t mated, ye could call me anytime ya felt frisky. Ye’re a lovely thing.”
Approaching the vampire, Jack nearly laughed when he saw San’s flushed cheeks. Her bold move had paid off, but nothing would come of her interest. Ife had told him that mates were sacred for vampires. If San ever wanted to try out vampire sex, and he highly recommended it, it wouldn’t be with this one.
The Scottish accent surprised him since he’d come from Paris. For all purposes now, Jack would be working for Xavier. The obvious casual attitude and humor would make it easier.
Ife came up behind Jack. “Hey. Let me introduce you two. Xavier, this is Jack Remington. He’ll be your liaison within the hunter community. As I told you, it’s pretty widespread.”
“Aye. It’ll be good workin’ with ya. Now, I’ve been apprised by the ladies here about what’s been happenin’ and while I usually patrol Europe, I know of no one located in the U.S. who controls vampire activity here. In fact, I suspect that’s why this has gotten so out of hand, that they had free reign and no accountability all these years.”
Cari and Ben arrived with trays filled with snacks.
“Aw, me darlin’ niece. Ye remember how to keep me docile. Now, everyone, take a seat and we’ll go over basics of how this will work.”
Once everyone was settled, Xavier, a bowl filled with chips in his hand, paced back and forth between the two benches set apart for this meeting.
“Our task is twofold. We must find and break down the hunter networks ye’ve worked with so long. This will be easier with ye beside me and I am assured that ye’ve decided to stay here and help my team. Am I right, Jack?”
“You are. Sanquinetta will also stay to support me, so we can offer you all we know, which is a lot.”
“Splendid. Now the second part is the dangerous part, and other than ye’re aid in helpin’ us track them down, neither of ya or any of the humans that may work with ya will be involved in takin’ them. It’s vampire responsibility. Our sacred promise to the world to do no harm where we can. This is my job.”
“We’re here for you, sir.”
“Ach. Xavier, if ya will. We’re on the same footin’, ya need to know that. We don’t consider ourselves superior to humans. Shite, me own mate was human just before I converted her.”
“So your mate was human?” asked a curious Sanquinetta.
“Aye, very much so. She transformed me life. We’re all in this big cosmic mess together, little one. We may be stronger, faster, sometimes prettier, but we’re all here to survive and thrive. Now.” Xavier turned to face Ben.
“Ye’re the hunter turned vampire. Bit o’ bad luck there, eh? Except that ye’ll find it isn’t. However, I want to begin with ya. Cairine here, with Ife’s aid, will be able to trace the whereabouts of ye’re sire. If he’s one of the rogues, I’ll be able to put my hands on the first thread of many I shall unravel in our comin’ journeys.”
“How can you do that?”
“Young man, ye have such an education comin’. Sit back and enjoy the show.” Xavier turned to Ife. “Ye can do it, aye?”
“I think so, yes. Cari and I, combining our talents, should be able to follow the blood trail.”
“Then tonight, we’ll do just that. Is this location good?”
“Yes, close to the earth and sky, the magic will ride on the wind.”
Cairine smiled. “You’ve always been such a poet. Yes, Xavier. Do you want to do it now?”
“We’re here, we’re fed, ye’ve some serious Scotch waitin’, aye, now will do perfectly.”
Xavier walked up to Ben. “Come, boy, sit on this bench. Ye’ll have a beautiful woman on each side of ya. It’s a nice perk, eh?”
Ben did exactly as asked, his awe and respect for this enormous supernatural obvious. Ife sat on his left, Cairine on his right, as each took one of his hands.
Ife glanced at Jack and Sanquinetta, both forward in their seats, concern in their faces. “Don’t worry, this is painless.” Facing Ben, she squeezed his hand.
“It’s easy, Ben. All you have to do is clear your mind and let us enter. We’re quite easy on the spirit. What we’re going to do is search for the location of your sire.”
“Saul? You can find Saul?”
“I believe so, yes. We’re not as experienced at this kind of magic as some in our family, but we have twice the power with two of us here. Now, Ben, relax.”
His eyes closed, Ben was able to reach a calm state fairly quickly considering the oddness of this action, and when he suddenly felt himself floating, he also felt Ife and Cairine in his mind. At first, their presences were unsettling, but then he acclimated and enjoyed the connection, a warmth, he’d never felt.
Moments passed as he languished, felt himself tethered, then pulled away, almost as if his mind were traveling. So much so, he imagined he felt racing wind on his cheeks. Then it was over and the floatiness subsided, Ife and Cari gone as he felt his body drop back from space. After more time passed, he had no idea how long, he opened his eyes to everyone watching him.
“Um, did we get it? Did you find Saul?”
Cairine smiled. “We did. He’s in Canada. Quebec.”
Smacking his heavy thighs with his hands, Xavier stood. “So we know where we’re goin’ now.”
He turned to Jack and Sanquinetta. “Now ye two, I’ve assignments for ya both. Within yer own organization here in Oregon, how many of those ya work with do ya trust?”
“All of them, but if we’re going to take apart the hunter network, I’d like to start with a few of our own. My father, I don’t think he’s capable of adapting to the idea that vampires are good. We should purge him and give him a new life. If that’s how you’re going to do it.”
“That’s precisely what we do. Jack, we’re not aimin’ to hurt anyone. Ya understand that, eh? It’s just that, what they do, they canna keep doin’.”
“All right then. Elias Remington needs to be removed from the office. Also, we have two newer members, one brand new, who might as well go, too. And Barkley. He’s too sensitive for this work, always has been. San will stay, and one other, a big guy named Plato, has the gentle nature of a puppy, yet he fights like a warrior. He’ll be a valuable asset.”
“Then ya got yer team. Call them in tonight and we’ll begin to clean house on yer location. My team and I’ll set up there for our base of operations. When we acquire Ben’s sire, we’ll bring him there.”
“We don’t have adequate facilities to restrain a vampire.”
“Lad, we won’t need one.”
An hour later at Hunter HQ
Ben hugged Elias Remington for what he figured would be the last time. Once he stepped back, he tugged at Jack’s wrist. “This is surreal.”
“It is. My heart aches, Ben, because although we’re giving Dad a chance at a good life, we’re blowing up everything we’ve ever known.”
“For the right reasons.”
“Yes. Doesn’t make it hurt less.”
“No. It doesn’t.”
Xavier wandered back into the room. “Are ye finished? I’ve only a few more commands, then when the beautiful Cajun is finished, my team will take him home.”
“I guess we are.” Jack dropped into the chair that Elias Remington had used for over a decade as his personal station in front of an enormous computer vidscreen.
Ben and Sanquinetta had accompanied four vampires from Xavier’s team to Elias’s apartment upstairs to relocate him to an apartment in downtown Eugene. They would purge anything that related to vampires, to the family history, any weapons, all photos of Jack and Ben, all to erase his background as a vampire hunter. There would be missed items, errors that they couldn’t anticipate, but the compulsion was built to accept unidentified glitches. The memory redesign allowed the person’s mind to adjust around those pieces that didn’t fit.
Elias would be happy. He would live peacefully for the rest of his life, and that was a lot more than he would have had if he’d died as a hunter.
Jack was okay with these choices. He had to be. While Elias and he had never found a way to be close, he loved his father and, as he’d told Ben, he thought his father loved his sons. It might have been the nature of the life they led, that they had to be hard mercenaries in their world, that few ever hugged or said I love you within hunter ranks. Even so, he would miss the old man.
Kurt and Jimbo hadn’t been raised as hunters. Plato and San, yes, they’d been raised in the life, but the other two members of their team, this was the time to let them go as well. Barkley would finally be at peace. Before this aberration of their life got going, those three would be settled in new lives as well. Jack got the idea that Xavier’s team was good at this, that this wasn’t their first time building new lives for someone. He had to trust that it would go well.
“Jack?”
Ife. The voice of his angel. The one thing in all of this that he felt absolutely sure of.
When she came up behind him, he spun in the chair and pulled her belly to him, his lips near her breasts. They wanted to head straight for her nipples, but he glanced past her to where Xavier was using one of the other computers in the room.
“Are you doing all right?” Concern in her voice showed she was reading his melancholy mood.
“I will be. For now, my very human emotions are pretty raw. It’s not something a rugged hunter would often admit, keep that in mind.”
“You can tell me anything. In fact, I wish you would.”
Her arms tightened and she leaned down to drop a kiss on his forehead, chaste, gentle, but worry about the future faded.
As Ben followed her, Sanquinetta stopped in front of Elias, her hand on his thick head of white hair.
“Go easy into this new life, old friend. Find a nice lady and spend your days by a lake fishing, or go see some of the world’s special places. You’ve been a good leader, a good teacher. I’ll miss our late-night chats.”
Elias’s eyes moved from Sanquinetta to Jack to Ben.
“My kids. All of you, my legacies. Keep fighting the good fight, eh? Don’t let anyone dissuade you that your cause isn’t noble. It’s a brutal life, but you’re saving people. After I’m gone, my sons, you must carry on. San, I’ve thought of you as a daughter. All I can hope is that you all find peace when you are done.”
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Sanquinetta turned into Ben’s arms.
“I’m finished,” she called out, her voice breaking, muffled as she burrowed into Ben’s shirt.
“Aye, lass. It’s goin’ to be fine, I promise. I’ll take him from here and issue my final commands. We’re done for tonight. This was likely the hardest. Tomorrow, we’ll do the others. Why don’t ya all go home and get some rest? And Ben, after we finish here, we’ll go get yer sire.”