“That is no way to speak to our Katie, Anya.”
Her rage is gone as fast as it appeared. Shame has her turning away from them. “I know, I am sorry, Katie girl. Please forgive me,” she whispers.
“There is nothing to forgive. I’m sorry, I thought that if I gave him the book, he would save Chris, it was stupid of me.” Katie’s mind fills with images of death, Chris, Morgan and the people on her tour. “So much death…” she whispers.
“All will be well, Katie girl.” Keane hugs her and offers what comfort he can.
“Why do you say that, Da?” Looking at Christian Anya asks, “Nothing will ever be the same again. I thought I could help him and for a moment I felt something, but then it was gone. Am I not worthy of the other gifts you spoke of Da?”
“Of course, you are, but we don’t have the luxury of feeling sorry for ourselves right now.”
“How do I release my gifts, before someone else pays for the crime of my birth?” Anya asks with tear filled eyes still glowing with unshed rage.
“You are a gift to this world, daughter. Don’t you ever think anything else,” Keane snaps.
“If only I could believe it, Da.” Anya drops to Christian’s side once more and takes his hand in hers. She presses his palm to her wet cheek and whispers the prayer of protection she remembers from her childhood.
“May the light of God surround you, May the love of God enfold you, May the power of God protect you, may God place his healing hands upon you quickly, May the presence of God watch over you,” Christians hand begins to warm up against her cheek. Anya’s eyes fly open wide and this time, when the power flows through her, she finds her entire being aflame with the glory of heaven. Her voice grows stronger as she repeats the prayer again.
“May the light of God surround you,” Christians body begins to glow “May the love of God enfold you,” a holy beam of brilliant light, shoots down from the night sky and surrounds him, lifting him from the earth, “may the presence of God watch over you, May God place his healing hands upon you and heal you quickly,” Anya falls away from him as his entire being turns to stardust in front of their eyes. Keane and Katie fall to the ground in awe, as Anya finishes, “Wherever you are, God is.” Tears stream down her cheeks and the light fades, taking him with it.
“Amen,” Katie whispers.
In a quiet trembling voice Anya looks at the only father she knows, “Da, I think I’m ready to listen now.”
Chapter 12
“There’s a newborn causing havoc, Sebastian. Her actions are chaotic, juvenile, and somewhat illegal,” Magdalene reports. She is an archive keeper. For generations, the Fourie family has kept records on all vampires, natural born and those created by other means.
Sebastian does not bother to glance up from the computer, but she knows her brother well enough to sense his frustration. “Who is the master?” He demands with his fingers flying over the keyboard.
“Caius,” she replies softly.
The clicking stops and he looks up and she sees the rage flickering in the depths of his hazel eyes. A red flame dances, threatening to take over even as his fangs lengthen and the strength of his blood lust forces him to his feet.
“Go Mags,” he growls out. Fear has her spinning at full speed, and she doesn’t hesitate to leave, locking him inside of his vault. When the crashing starts, Magdalene sighs and runs a hand through her long dark hair. She moves to the phone in her office and dials.
“I need you to go to the Lasair Mill club, clean up the mess and interview the witnesses. Make sure to send a cleanup crew before the Hunter’s Guild shows up.” Her hazel eyes are worried as she glances back to his office. It isn’t unusual for him to lose his temper like this. In fact, since Lailah left him, he is constantly on the edge of a blood lust. Born sixty years apart, they are similar in build, tall, elegant, and beautiful with the same complexion and coloring, but that is where the similarities end.
Sebastian is content to work under the council as an archive keeper. Magdalene has to work hard at not showing her contempt for the work they do. As a newborn, she was wild and uncontrollable, but under Sebastian’s loving guidance she was able to contain her blood lust and focus on her job. What she does, and who she does it with in her private time, is hers, and hers alone.
When the knock comes twenty minutes later, Magdalene hurries to unlock the vault. She’s not shocked at his appearance, nor the mess he left behind. “Sebastian, this has to stop. You can’t keep trashing the vault every time his name is mentioned.”
“I’ve spent centuries trying to prevent a war between the immortals and the Twelve. A war he seems hell bent on causing.” Sebastian walks to his office down the hall from the vault. He removes a picture from his wall, revealing a biometric safe. It is only accessible through a handprint match. Attempting to quiet the touch of madness raging through his body, he presses his trembling left hand to the safe panel. A hiss and release of pressure and the door pops open.
“Are you still drinking that? Fresh blood is much better for you brother,” Mags asks from the doorway.
“Yes, well, this works for me.” He pours a small amount into a goblet and drinks it with a sigh. Relief rushes through his system as the ancient blood fuels his starving body. At eight hundred years old, he does not require blood daily, the way most newborns do. He can
