Eden glanced down at it. It was the
The girl nodded again. “Cool. You like
“Never listened to ‘em.”
“Oh, well I’ve got their albums. You should have a listen.”
“Sure, I’ll check them out.”
“Cool. You’re sharing my room anyway, so… cool.”
“Cool.”
Christopher cleared his throat, “I think we’ve established that everything is cool. October, let your nana meet Eden.”
October stood back and Eden turned as an older Neith stepped forward. She held herself regally, her hand clasped around an elegant cane. Her white hair was cut fashionably short, and her ocean-coloured eyes were amazingly bright and alert. Eden knew who this was. This was Mhairi Douglas — not Mary like Eden had thought when she saw her name written down on Cyrus’ notes. It was pronounced Vari — the Celts really liked to complicate life when it came to spelling and pronunciation. Mhairi was the eldest living member of the Douglas’ and the one who would be donating her blood to Eden’s cause. Unbelievably, Eden had been informed that Mhairi was eighty-eight years old. She didn’t look a day over sixty. But her age explained the cane. Neith were very resilient and healthful people. You had to be hitting the really elderly age bracket to be walking with a cane.
“Well let’s have a look at you.” Mhairi peered at her, those incredibly lively eyes running the length of her. She huffed as if disbelieving and turned to Cyrus. “You’re right, Princeps. This has to be one o’ mine. The hair, the skin, the shape o’ the eyes. Definitely one o’ mine. The surname fits.
Do you know I rather envy you it. Our family dropped the prefix Mac a few centuries ago when one o’ my great-great grandfathers married a Sassenach and she convinced him Douglas was more civilised sounding than MacDouglas. ”
“An Englishman,” Noah murmured in her ear, and she ignored the shiver that cascaded down her spine at the feel of his breath on her neck. She twisted around to frown at him. OK, she knew he was good at reading her, but how could he possibly read her when her back was to him?
“I could have changed it I suppose but I was too busy hunting, unlike my lazy ancestor.
Fortunately his son was a magnificent hunter and got our family legacy back on track. He had your colouring. Yes, aye,” she turned to Cyrus, “This one is definitely one o’ mine.” He nodded. “Thank you for doing this Ms Douglas.”
“Please call me Mhairi.” She shooed away his formality. “And I’m happy to do it. It’s a nice change o’ pace in fact.” Mhairi grinned at Eden. “The first time in this long life o’ mine that I’ll be getting rid o’ a soul eater without killing the bugger.”
Eden frowned. “Am I the bugger in that sentence?”
The old woman chuckled. “Only for the next twenty four hours.” She turned back to Cyrus. “Shall we begin?”
“Already?” Eden squeaked. She started to lose control of her heart rate. She hadn’t realised this would be happening so soon.
Cyrus nodded and she felt Val squeeze her hand. “We should get it over with, Eden.” She gulped and glanced back up into Mhairi’s eyes. “Are you sure you’re OK to do this?”
“I can get by without a pint o’ blood, don’t you be worrying about that.” Suddenly the room felt very warm as the hunger realised death was imminent. It burst into flames inside of her and began screaming at all those souls so close.
She shuddered and clutched harder to Val’s hand. “OK. Then let’s do this.”
Chapter Three. Leaving Your Ass in the Dust
The Douglas’ bathroom was a good size but it felt seriously diminished by the number of people inside of it.
Eden looked around at them with narrowed eyes, her teeth grinding together. She couldn’t believe she was going to have to do this in front of them. Was it really necessary? They were asking her to put someone else’s blood into her. Actual human blood?! And there was to be witnesses to this weirdness?
Valeria knelt beside Mhairi Douglas, a needle, tube and blood bag in hand. “Are you ready?” she asked the older woman quietly.
Mhairi gazed at Eden and her eyes sharpened. She tutted and turned to look up at the gathering.
“No one needs to see the girl do this.”
There was grumbling as Eden nodded gratefully, still too anxious to offer a smile of gratitude.
“Mhairi is correct. We will leave them in Valeria’s capable hands.” Cyrus began ushering them out. Noah was the last to leave. He stared down at Eden stonily, her skin prickling under his gaze.
Unwillingly, she lifted her chin to meet his suddenly expressive eyes.
A few weeks ago Eden would have jumped on the unspoken offer. She would have tugged on his hand and brought him down on the cold tile beside her and shimmied into his side to collect the warmth of his comforting nearness. But now, despite his continued attempts to ‘be there for her’, she was unsure of him. Was he just following orders still? She hated him for that, because not too long ago he had been the one thing in her life she was utterly sure about. Losing something like that was almost as bad as death taking it from you.
The pain of Noah’s betrayal sliced through her as it always did when she allowed herself time to dwell on it.
Noah flinched at the message in her eyes and allowed Cyrus to guide him from the room. The sight of her guardian leaving caused a knot of panic in her chest. “Cyrus!” She called out.
He stopped abruptly, his brow furrowing. “Yes?”
Eden felt silly all of a sudden. Would he laugh at her? Think her a child?
“Eden?”
She bit her lip and caught Valeria’s look. It was kind and understanding. Val nodded as if telling Eden to ask for what she wanted. With a heavy sigh, Eden shrugged. “Will you stay?” His eyes softened, something they hardly ever did, although they certainly did around Eden, which was in itself a small, special comfort to her. “Of course, if you would like me to.”
“Yes.”
The door shut quietly and Cyrus slid down it to sit on the floor, his eyes on Mhairi and Eden as he relaxed against the door.
“Well, is someone going to stick that needle in me before my arse falls asleep?” Mhairi grunted.
Cyrus sighed. “Definitely Merrit’s family.”
Eden grinned at that, suddenly feeling a sharp pang of longing for the mother she had never known. If she were anything like Mhairi she must have been quite the character.
It took a few minutes for Valeria to draw the pint of blood from the older woman. Once she was done, she wiped at the needle puncture gently and helped Mhairi rest against the bath, handing her some sweet lemonade.
Eden eyed the bag of blood and her stomach turned.
