“What happened?” Lines appeared across his skin for a brief second, pain of thousands of years showing for a moment before disappearing. I almost regretted my question.
“That is not a story you need to hear just yet. Just know that while my people were excellent warriors, there was a limit to the amount of bloodshed even we could live with. Those of us that remain have had to learn to deal with the death we have caused.”
“Do you have to kill each time you feed?” I could barely hear my own voice, I wasn’t certain I wanted to know that answer. I liked Stephan. I didn’t want to know that he killed nightly to survive.
“No. There was a time when we didn’t know this, but we now mostly live off donors and excess blood from blood banks. There are also people who think they know about us, but believe we’re figments of their fantasies. They come to the clubs to feed us.”
I was at a loss for words. My disbelief and anger quickly faded with the intensity of his pain. His story was filled with loss and grief. I didn’t want him to continue, but there was still so much I wanted to know. There’d been too much heartache in recent days, I just couldn’t add to it. My questions could wait. I had a lifetime to figure out my new family, I didn’t have to peel the Band-Aid away so quickly.
“So, why a bar?”
“Excuse me?” He looked up at me, trying to gather control.
“You’ve been here for quite a while, so why a bar? Why even work at all? I’m sure you’re loaded. You should be, for living as long as you have. I’m curious as to why you’d choose to own a bar.” He looked at me for a few minutes gauging the sincerity in my change of subject.
“I like human interaction,” he finally said. I knew there was more, so I leaned back with an eyebrow raised, waiting for him to continue. “With my affliction, it’s easier to find willing donors in a public place where people are comfortable and slightly inebriated. This is also a haven for those that share the Atlantean bloodline. I am sure you’re aware that we all possess gifts of some kind?” I nodded. “Well, some handle it better than others. We also have discovered, quite by accident, that these gifts can occasionally be given to others. There are other places like this bar, set up by the remaining twenty. Here we can come and be accepted for the things that make us different. Here we cannot be hunted. Here we are welcomed, loved, and free.” I had thought to lighten the mood, but he was insisting on bringing things down.
“So, Victoria is one that you shared your gift with?”
“No, Victoria’s maker was cruel. The madness of being away from our people finally controlled his mind completely. He made dozens of half-breeds before he was stopped. I inherited most of them, as I am the oldest and strongest of us all. Victoria was one of the few that showed promise. It’s her choice to tell you of what happened, just know that she shares my hopes for the future.”
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“Whatever you wish, but know that you are always welcome here. We will train you as we try to protect you, or you can go back to your people and wait for Atlantis to rise. Whatever you choose, you must know that you cannot speak of Atlantis to anyone who has not been there or does not share one of our gifts. It is part of the curse of us being on the surface.
“Being alone here is difficult. If you decide that it is too burdensome, know that you will always have a home here. May the gods bless you with clear skies and strong winds at your back.” With those parting words he stood, gathered me in an embrace, and left me to decide what I wanted to do.
Without a clear idea of what I should do, or where I should go, I made my way back to my hotel room. Of all the things I didn’t know, one thing was clear. My life was completely different now. I already had enhanced vision and hearing, who knew what else might happen. Was I now considered a pure blood because I was mated to an Atlantean warrior? Would I be able to change too? Would the constant ache in my chest ever diminish? I wondered for the thousandth time what Raif was doing, and when we’d be together again.
Keith was happy during the whole flight, chatting about all the things we would do when we got back. It had been years since he’d been back to see his family and it appeared he was really going to try to give this friendship thing a shot. I tried to share his enthusiasm. It was difficult to be excited with him because I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I got home. All I knew was I was very excited to see Ashlyn and Katie—I missed them both terribly.
I also wasn’t feeling very well. I’d woken up feeling distracted and not like myself. I half-listened to Keith’s rant about the changes he was going to make to his parent’s company as I tried to pinpoint exactly why I felt so strange.
“It’s gone!” I hadn’t meant to exclaim out loud.
“What’s gone? Did you lose the bracelet I gave you? I can get you another one if you want.” He
