“Certainly not that you’d condone her attack.”
“I do not condone her action. But this wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t use humans.”
“I don’t use humans, Federico. You know quite well that Beatriz asked me to take her as my blood giver. As for Carla, you don’t have to worry: she doesn’t want my blood. You can ask her. When I’m gone.”
Setting his hands firmly on the sofa, Becquer stood.
Federico blocked his way. “Where are you going?”
“To find Beatriz. I must stop her before she kills someone.”
“You are not serious. You cannot stop Beatriz. She’s stronger than you are right now. She will kill you.”
Becquer groaned. “Thanks for your vote of confidence. But I’ve no choice.”
“Be my guest.” Bowing mockingly at him, Federico stepped aside.
I looked on, bemused by Federico’s reaction, for Becquer was shaking badly and I couldn’t imagine how he was going to make it to the door, let alone confront Beatriz, this new immortal Beatriz who had lifted me with the ease of a tornado uprooting a tree.
As I feared, Becquer didn’t make it far. He took a step, then stumbled and would have fallen if Federico had not held him and helped him back to the sofa.
“I need more blood,” Becquer’s voice was low, demanding. “I must reach Beatriz tonight.”
“Beatriz is beyond your help, Becquer. She stole immortality. The Elders will kill her. You know the law.”
“Yes, I know the law. I sired her, thus she is my responsibility. If she kills tonight, the Elders will blame me for her digressions and kill me too.”
Federico’s face turned ashen. “Then I’ll do it. I’ll find her and kill her before she kills somebody.”
“I don’t want her dead. I want to stop her before it’s too late.”
“You can’t, Becquer. You have lost too much blood and she’s driven by the unquenchable thirst of the newborn. Even if I’d give you blood, you won’t be a match for her.”
After a rapid nod in my direction, Federico started toward the door. But before he reached it, I heard in my mind Becquer’s voice calling his name. His silent cry, a compelling order that, even though it was not directed at me, overcame my will and sent me to my knees. Federico stopped.
Through half closed eyes, I watched him walk back to Becquer’s side, and sitting on the sofa pull down the collar of his shirt to reveal his naked throat. I looked away.
I could feel the battle raging between their minds, flashes of anger storming back and forth, hurting as if a hammer was pounding my brain.
“Enough,” I shouted, not really expecting them to hear me. But immediately the voices stopped and, for a moment, only Becquer’s remained, a soothing whisper.
I tried and failed. I tried again, until the wall remained, cold and forbidding between their minds and mine. And there was silence. A silence broken soon by the steps of someone running, getting closer and closer. Behind the sofa to my left, a door I hadn’t noticed before opened and Matt stood in the doorway.
He was panting which didn’t surprise me for I had heard him running, but despite his obvious hurry, he stood on the threshold, blinking, and didn’t come in. The library, I realized then, was lit only by the moonlight coming through the glass wall, and for a human eye, the room would be almost in darkness. The fact that I could see clearly was, I guessed, another side effect of having taken Becquer’s blood.
While Matt waited at the door, Becquer came to my side and helped me to my feet. “Sorry, Carla,” he whispered, his fingers pushing back a stray lock of my hair. “I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
Before I could as much as nod, he had already reached the open door, and was inviting Matt to come inside.
Matt didn’t move. “Where is Federico?” he asked, and there was fear in his voice.
Becquer pointed at the sofa. “Right there.”
“Is he hurt?”
“No. Why would you think that?”
“My mother … She’s immortal.”
“Yes. I know.”
Becquer’s voice was even. But Matt’s snapped. “Why? Why did you do it?”
“He didn’t,” Federico said, walking to them. “Your mother stole Becquer’s blood.”
“You have to find her.”
“I was just going — ”
“To kill her,” Becquer finished Federico’s sentence.
Matt stared at Federico, eyes open wide with horror. “You can’t kill her. She’s my mother.”
“He won’t,” Becquer said while Federico glowered at him. “Federico is staying here. To attend to the party,” he added, shooting a warning look at his friend. Then he turned to Matt, “And I won’t harm your mother. You have my word. But you must tell me where she is.”
“I don’t know. She came to my room and demanded I go with her. When I refused, she got furious. We were still arguing when, without warning, she turned and exited through the window. I heard the screech of tires and when I looked down, I saw her standing before Ryan’s Prius. She moved as I watched, opened the driver’s door and dragged Ryan from inside. I didn’t see what happened next for I rushed down the stairs, but her car is gone and I couldn’t find Ryan.”
“She took Ryan?” I screamed and rushed to him. “Where did your mother go?”
“He doesn’t know,” Becquer repeated. “But, don’t worry, I can track her.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Gently, Becquer grabbed my arms. “No, Carla. Your presence will provoke Beatriz, make her still more unpredictable, and hinder me. Ask Matt to drive you home and wait for me there. I’ll bring Ryan back to you. I promise.”
He stared at me for a moment, his mind willfully dominating mine, while his fingers traced my cheek. Then he moved back, called his thanks to Federico for giving him the blood he had stolen, and left swiftly through the glass door.
Chapter Nine: Kidnapped
When I looked back into the room, my mind aflutter with feelings I had thought long dead, Matt was confronting Federico.
“Is it true you were going to kill my mother?” he asked, his voice raw with anger and fear.
Federico didn’t flinch. “Your mother stole Becquer’s blood. Among immortals, that is an unforgivable crime. Even if I don’t kill her, the Elders will.”
“The Elders?”
“The Elders are our rulers. They implement the law and have the ultimate saying on who is to become immortal.”
As he spoke, Federico walked somewhat unsteadily to the sofa and sat down. Matt followed him. “But Becquer promised not to kill her.”
“And he won’t, Matt. But if your mother kills tonight, not even Becquer will be able to save her.”
Looming over Federico, Matt screamed, “My mother is not a killer!”
“Tonight, your mother has transcended her human nature. She has instincts she has yet to master and, until she does, her thirst for blood will dominate her actions. I’m sorry, Matt; but, tonight, your mother is a killer.”
Matt moaned.
