17

he could have killed me! The thought, coupled with the phantom vision of her eventual death, brought the fear to the forefront yet again.
Jayda found herself sitting by the window, her hand locked onto the curtain and knees to her chest. She slept on and off, waking briefly to roll her head to the other side and ease the building tension in her muscles. On the bed, Lori lay next to Arden, both trapped in sleep. Plenty of times the half-breed shown signs of a caring nature, but in the flip of a switch, she could be a selfish, blood thirsty creature just like the drugged vampire at her side. And to apologize for what she did? Jayda had a hard time believing her words. Then to assume that she wouldn’t understand? Lori gave no reason to be trusted. She was as dangerous as any monster that dwelled in the night.
The mattress springs groaned at the shifting weight. Jayda’s eyes shot to the bed and saw Arden sitting up, his long hair concealing his face. As he left the bed, Jayda slowly pulled herself to stand, her back to the window and hand still holding the curtain. Arden finally noticed her. He lifted his head, those same frightening eyes meeting hers.
Jayda gripped the curtain tight and pulled. The cold light from the hotel’s sign entered the room, reaching Arden and harmlessly landing on his skin. Jayda looked out the window and saw the dark sky and street lights.
“Lori,” she whispered, “wake up!”
Arden’s eyes stayed on her but he remained where he stood. Jayda inched closer to the door, mentally plotting where she would run once she made it outside.
Lori finally awoke. Seeing that the bed was empty she whipped around to look for Arden. She found him standing in the middle of the room, staring at a trembling Jayda. Lori saw the girl’s hand reach for the doorknob.
“Don’t!” she said, raising her hand at Jayda. “Just stay there.”
Arden looked back at Lori, giving her the same odd stare.
“Say something,” she begged.
The vampire spoke, his voice becoming lost in his dry throat. “Where are we?”
Lori let out the breath she was holding. “It worked.”
“Are you sure?” said Jayda.
Leaving the bed, Lori continued to keep her words and actions passive as she addressed Arden once more. “What do you remember last?”
His eyes went from her to Jayda, as though he tried to piece together the puzzle. “Hell,” he said, looking back at Lori.
Her body relaxed. “It worked.”
“Where’s Nicholas?”
Going for her bag, Lori answered as she began to repack. “They took him.”
Arden headed for the door still blocked by Jayda. Lori moved in front of him, hands on his chest.
“You’re in no condition to go out there on your own,” she explained. “We don’t even know where they took him.”
“I’ll find him.”
“No you won’t. Any blood bond you had with him is now gone. They have ways of severing that connection. And with what you’ve just been through, if they haven’t already severed the link, then my blood has.”
Arden looked down at her and backed away as he yielded to her command.
“Where’s the nearest haven?” Lori asked.
“Where are we?” Arden replied.
“Thirty miles south of the Oregon border.”
“There’s a haven near Redding.”
“Who’s the elder?”
He fought through his foggy mind to recall the name. “Miguel, Child of Rhune.”
“Rhune,” Lori scoffed. “Great. Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Let’s hurry up and get on the road. The sooner we can get there, the sooner we can start looking for him.”

Lori’s car stopped before a large, iron gate. On either side of the road stood large trees planted seventy years ago when the haven was first built. Many havens had gated entries that seemed more fitting of a private community rather than a single residence. Lori didn’t know much about this haven’s history, but it was obvious from the history of the area, the building was less than a century old.
In the back seat, Jayda saw a human step out from the guardhouse and approach the driver side window. The tinted glass lowered to reveal Lori flashing a friendly smile.
The guard ignored the small gesture as he spoke. “I need to see some identification.”
“This is new,” she replied, a look of confusion taking over.
“It’s been the procedure for the last six months.”
Digging through the middle console, Lori handed him a driver’s license. The man glanced at the card then at the woman.
“Laurel Jones,” he said, “what’s your business here?”
Answering fast, she replied, “A bit of R&R.”
The guard’s lips contorted as he looked her over, ending as he handed her the card. “I’m afraid I can’t let you in.”
The passenger side door opened as Arden got out and walked around the car toward the guardhouse. The guard noticed the vampire’s clothing and dropped the tough-man routine.
“I’m sorry,” he quickly said, “I didn’t know.”
Arden opened the gate from within the guardhouse, then returned to the car, never once acknowledging the guard’s apology or presence. The guard continued his newly found generous behavior as he spoke to Lori.
“To avoid this in the future, the answer is ‘rest’.”
“Well, I was half right,” she said, certain that the man didn’t pick up on her snide undertone.
He gave a nod. “Enjoy your stay.”
Jayda watched as the tall gates passed them on either side, closing slowly once they entered. Lori expressed how safe havens were and how relieved she would feel once they were within one. But Jayda saw it differently. As she looked back at the closed gates, she felt trapped. The feeling was greater than the one she knew at Nicholas’ house. Nothing good would come from this place.
The car slowed before a fork in the road, one on the left remaining paved and the one on the right covered in gravel.
“Right or left?” asked Lori.
Arden replied, “Right.”
“Gravel it is.”
The car continued on, the gravel popping and crunching under the tires. The road was lined with more trees to conceal its existence from the paved road. Jayda mentally mapped the road and traced the large loop it made around the property. As the car rounded a second bend, a large opening to a tunnel rested before them. The road dipped inside and ended within a spacious cavern. The place reminded Jayda of a single level parking garage. A dozen cars were parked, scattered throughout the level, including some that looked as though they belonged to the government.
Lori spoke, her words aimed at a clueless Jayda. “The parking up top is for nightly visitors. Underground parking is for the VIPs and guests staying longer than a night.”
Jayda nodded at the delivery truck where workers placed boxes onto a flatbed dolly. “What’s that for?”
“Food,” she answered as she parked the car and turned off the engine. “Humans live here, too. These places are like privately owned hotels. You have to keep the humans and vampires happy.” She turned in her seat to face Jayda and continued to explain. “Each haven is ruled over by an elder. First thing we have to do once we get inside is to speak with him. It’s required. Just keep your eyes down and don’t speak. To everyone in there, you and I are regular humans, and we can’t let them think otherwise. This haven is controlled by Rhune’s Court, and they are known to be sticklers for the rules.” Lori then looked at Arden and added, “We’ll follow your lead.”
The knot in Jayda’s stomach tightened as they exited the car and headed for the double, wooden doors. A man dressed in a white shirt, black blazer and slacks, and polished dress shoes stood within the hall, as though he knew of their arrival. With a slow, deep nod, he addressed Arden.
“My name is Mark,” he began, sounding like a well-rehearsed tour guide, “and I will be your nighttime liaison. If you need anything during the day, ask for Shauna. She is our daytime liaison. Please, follow me to the orientation room where you will be briefed on the rules.”
Arden remained steadfast. “I wish to speak with Miguel.”
The curtness of his demand caused Mark to stumble over his reply. “Well, yes, you will be able to speak with him after the orientation.” He gave another nod, his fractured composure fully recovered. “This way, please.”
Mark led them to the stairs and down several flights until they reached the lowest level. The further they walked, the heavier the pressure grew around Jayda. There was no certainty within this place, no assurance she would emerge to see daylight once more. The knowledge that would accompany the sensation was absent. A numbness trickled in from her fingers and toes, working inward until her whole body felt foreign to her. She took in a slow breath to combat the feeling and root herself back into reality. Where am I? Why am I walking? Why do I smell metal?
Jayda’s spinning head whirled back into focus as she followed Lori into a large room set up like an formal office. Behind the oak desk sat a woman with hazel eyes and brown hair swept up in a loose bun. She looked up from her paperwork and studied the trio brought in by Mark. With fluid movements, she left the desk and approached the new guests.
“My name is Rebecca,” she said, her focused aimed at Arden. “What is the reason for your stay here?”
Lori gripped the back of Arden’s coat, the small gesture unseen by Mark or Rebecca. Jayda, however, could see the simple gesture and what it truly meant. Arden belonged to the half-breed now. He was hers to command, just as Nicholas once held his reins.
Rebecca crossed her arms as she waited. “I need an answer.”
Arden kept his eyes forward and mouth shut.
The woman’s cordial nature yielded to her short temper before this vampire. “As a guardian,” she began, trying to stare through his tough, outer shell, “I would expect more compliance from you. Who do you serve?”
Still following Lori’s silent order, Arden didn’t reply.
A smug look found Rebecca. “Fine,” she said, turning to Mark. “Tell Miguel that he has new guests to meet.” Mark accepted the order with a small bow and left the room.
Rebecca stared at Arden once more, undefeated by his silence. She took a daring step closer toward him and spoke, her voice softer, yet carrying a heavy trace of hate. “Let’s see… I have never seen you before, so I know you don’t belong to Rhune. That leaves me with five more guesses.” She stopped to read any reaction from him, then continued. “Is it the coward Mehdar? How about the bumbling idiot Jharell? Not him? Could it be the loose-cannon Saros? Nah, you’re too disciplined to be hers. What about the freak show that’s Gysai? That leaves ol’ pompous Nauvia. Yeah, Nauvia, sitting in her ivory palace, pretending to be some goddess, when we all know she’s more like a typical fledgling, feasting on anything that slithers into her path, and giving her blood to anyone willing to mount her ancient, dusty ass.”
Arden shown no reaction to woman’s bait.
Stepping even closer, Rebecca pressed further. “Come on, guardian. Are you going to let me talk about your momma like that?” She studied the vampire’s blank expression, then laughed. “She’s trained you well.”
Jayda noticed the woman’s teeth. Her two canine teeth looked sharper than the rest. It was a subtle difference, one she would have overlooked if she didn’t know vampires were real. Even upon seeing Rebecca for the first time, she assumed she were human. Nothing about her seemed threatening, not like how she felt around Arden. If this were the case with all vampires, then how many did she meet in life and not know what they really were? The same thought occurred to her when she learned about the existence of werewolves.
Rebecca’s laughter died down as the side door opened and Mark entered, followed by a haven guardian, dressed similar to Arden. The final person to enter was a man wearing nice clothes and with a handsome look to match. This wasn’t how Jayda envisioned the elder to look. She expected a vampire far more intimidating than Arden. But he seemed as approachable as any human. Was there something her prey-like mind wasn’t picking up on?
There was something, however, that didn’t escape her attention: Lori. Upon seeing the elder, she lowered her head, avoiding eye contact and slowly inching behind Arden. This once confident half-breed was acting more like a terrified human. What was it about this elder that frightened her?
Lori’s hand gently tugged on the back of Arden’s coat. There was no command with this simple action, but rather a plea. Though she didn’t recognize his name, it was his face she remembered. Miguel wasn’t an elder the first time she met him, but he was on his way to secure the title through his strong connections. Age was a major role in deciding an elder; however, in the modern times, politics also played an important part. It was one of the reasons that led to their first meeting in a haven near New York City.
The haven was celebrating its tenth year after being established in 1887, around the time Lori was beginning to learn how to live on her own. She no longer wished to be shadowed by obedient servants or guardians. The last person she traveled with was a vampire, one who kept her attention for twenty years. But Lori held onto her selfish nature and left him without a reason why. He did nothing to upset her or push her away, but Lori believed he secretly wished for his old, nomadic life, untethered by a responsibility to protect someone in his keep.
Finally on her own, Lori headed east to live under the guise of a human. She took up residence in the haven near New York City and worked as nurse for the doctor there. She was, as the position called for, “off the menu.” She was being paid for medical services and not for her blood. This was the only way she allowed herself to stay at havens. But the position didn’t offer ironclad security. As with any human in a haven, they were still vulnerable to the creatures they lived among.
Three weeks into Lori’s stay at the haven, the party celebrating the tenth year anniversary was underway. Not only was it a time to relax and have fun, it attracted the more important figures of the vampire political pyramid. The haven was under the control of Rhune’s Court and was peppered with vampires seeking to better themselves. Lori knew of these precise, woven games, and amused herself by watching them work. On the balcony surrounding the open ballroom, she stood, wine glass in hand and eyes stalking the games below. To advance yourself in this arena, the correct connections needed to be made. Lori kept her own connections as limited as possible. Her safety depended on it. But her taste in fashion, especially on this night, refused to heed the warning.
Dressed as fine as any female vampire at the celebration, Lori’s dark green dress plunged daringly over her chest and back, hugging her form before cascading down to her matching slippers. Even her arms and hands were adorn with bracelets over top of her long white, gloves. With hair swept up, secured with pearl and silver combs, she knew her appearance wouldn’t go unnoticed. And this was another reason she remained in the balcony.
Lori took another sip from her glass, and in that small moment realized she was no longer the one observing, but rather the one being observed. Looking to the side she saw a handsome vampire with short, brown hair slicked back and wearing a suit that perhaps cost three months of her wages. Certain she noticed him, the vampire walked towards her.
“Not enjoying the festivities?” he asked.
“I believe I’ve had my fill for this evening,” Lori replied quietly before taking another drink.
“Why haven’t I seen you here before?”
“I haven’t been here long. I work for Dr. Weirton.” She tried her hardest to avoid eye contact.
“A nurse,” he said, amused at the title. “I was certain you were here for other reasons.”
“I am sorry you came to the conclusion that I was here for my enjoyment.”
He stepped in closer, his voice lowering. “All women seek these places out for their enjoyment. We offer them what their mundane lives lack. I imagine you are no different.”
Lori gulped down the last of her wine. “You, sir, have no idea what I want in life.”
The sharpness in her tongue, unleashed by her third glass of wine, made this woman a greater challenge and prize for the vampire. She seemed unafraid to anger him, alcohol or not. “What do you want in life,” he repeated, playfully feeding into her offensiveness. “You want to better your station in life. You want to be respected as any man who is seen as your superior. You want to be the leader others answer to. But in the end, removed from ranks and accomplishments, you are still a woman.”
Lori finally looked at him, his face so close to hers she could see the details in the irises of his green eyes. “If you believe you are right, then why have you restrained yourself this long? Are you trying to prove a point that all women will act the same once they are in your presence? The fanciest of roosters trying to bed any hen it sees is just another cock to the hens.” Delivering her last biting statement, Lori brushed past him to walk away, but the vampire grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back, pressing her against the wall and placing a hand to her neck. His firm grip kept her from looking away.
“Restrain myself?” He loosened his hand as he continued to speak. “It is you who needs to learn restraint.” With softening movements, his thumb glided along her jaw and settled on her lips, sliding her lower lip down as he leaned in, his mouth taking over in a light kiss. His hand left her neck as it slid to her backside, pulling her closer as he pressed inward.
Under his eagerness, Lori entertained many ideas as to how she could play this to her benefit. Sharing his bed offered him a sense of accomplishment, while she was left with a compromised self-worth. This idea fueled her rage to kill him afterwards. But if his fangs were to break her skin before they left the balcony, he would know there was something different about her.
As their kissing continued, his lips moved onto her neck and teeth scraping against her. Lori felt the gums around her own fangs ache as they wanted to release and spill his blood. She held them back, the pain increasing as her body wanted to give in to the vampire’s taunting actions. His hand move down to her thigh, lifting it up as his hips dug into hers, the force of the quick movement causing Lori to gasp and heart to race. He was unknowingly tempting both sides of her nature, and she wasn’t sure if either side had the strength to push him away.
The touch of his fangs against her skin cleared her foggy mind. Loosening her hand, Lori dropped the wine glass. It struck the floor, shattering. The sudden sound sent the vampire away from her neck, giving Lori the opportunity to wiggle from his hold. He grabbed her again, but this time she stopped him with a hand to his chest.
“No,” she said. “This ends here.” Stepping back, Lori turned and headed for Dr. Weirton’s office, the only place she felt safe within the haven. But the incident played over and over in her mind. The days that followed she feared another run-in with the vampire. So without telling her boss or anyone within the haven, she left to work at another haven, hopefully learning from her mistakes.
And now, over a century later, she found herself in the same room with the vampire.
“What is your reason to break procedure?” the elder, Miguel, asked.
“I request sanctuary,” replied Arden.
“That much I gathered,” he said, annoyed. “Anything else?”
“No one is to touch the humans in my keep.”
“Request granted. What are your names?”
The elder seemed uninterested in the formalities, but the rules were the rules. Rebecca went to the desk and, with pen in hand, readied the guest log.
“The human names are Jayda and Laurel. My name is Arden.”
Miguel perked up upon hearing the guardian’s name. “Arden, from Nauvia’s Court. I’ve heard of you before. What brought you across the Atlantic?”
Arden didn’t answer.
Miguel shook his head and spoke to Rebecca. “Put in an order for two rooms. The humans will stay upstairs and the guardian—”
“They stay with me,” Arden interrupted.
“Humans stay upstairs,” Miguel firmly stated.
Lori rose onto the balls of her feet to whisper to Arden, “We’ll be fine. I’ll watch over her.”
The elder narrowed his eyes at the human. “You. Step forward.”
Lori dropped back in behind Arden before stepping to his side, head low and eyes to the floor.
Miguel gained a new interest with this group as he eyed the meek human. “I’m very good with faces,” he began, reading her reaction to his words, “and right now something isn’t adding up.”
“I do not know what you mean,” she softly replied.
“I never forget a face or a scent. You’re a human who doesn’t age.”
Arden’s arm shot out before Lori as he guided her back behind him.
Miguel smiled. “A dhampir.” The other guardian in the room went for the knife he kept in his belt, but stopped as the elder waved a hand at him. “I’ve never known a dhampir to live this long. Then again, we never let them live long enough to know what they’re capable of. I’m truly sorry, Arden, but you of all creatures know the rules.”
Arden stared at him, meeting his words with a bold order of his own. “You will bow down before her.”
A boisterous laugh left Miguel. “You’re giving me orders?”
“She is protected by her father, Jharell, and husband, Demetrius. She has appointed me as her protector.”
Rebecca stood up from the desk and circled around to lean against it, her arms crossed. “That fragile thing is the once feared Dianthia?” She began to laugh, as well. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but you should’ve picked a better myth.”
Jayda saw Lori’s hand lightly touch Arden’s back. The guardian moved to the side as the half-breed’s composure went from subservient to monstrous, the same Lori she saw doused in the van’s headlights the night before. The vampire, Rebecca, didn’t see the attack heading for her, but she felt the hand striking her face and the strength behind it sending her to the ground. Before she could recover, Lori had her hand around the vampire’s neck, lifting her into the air. Rebecca could barely touch the floor with the tips of her high-heels.
“That was for calling my father a bumbling idiot,” hissed Lori. She then threw Rebecca into the wall, smashing the back of her head into decorative sconce. Lori held the vampire by the neck once more as she continued to speak. “And that was for calling Gysai a freak show.” Still keeping her a hold of the vampire, she looked at Miguel. “We will be staying in one room, underground and away from any fledglings. If you refuse to comply, you will allow us to leave in peace.”
The guardian stood by Miguel, ready to fight. The elder, however, had no intention of giving the order. His new amusement with the dhampir was just beginning, picked up where they left off more than a century prior.
“Your sway in this world died with your brief reign,” he said, coldly. “I don’t see anything before me worthy of a bended knee.”
Arden spoke, words just as cold. “Your grudge isn’t in this room, it resides half a world away with the one who appointed you this haven. Smile in his presence, but curse his existence for keeping you away from the lights of Los Angeles.”
Miguel’s eyebrows raised at the observant guardian. “So it is the quiet ones you have to look out for. Negative words must certainly travel further than those of humble beginnings.” He addressed Mark who stood off to the side, awaiting orders. “Please, show them to their room.”
Opening the door, Mark nodded at their guests. “This way, please.”
Slowly, Lori released Rebecca and backed away toward Arden, then headed from the room with Jayda following. After the door closed, Miguel’s friendly exterior flipped to reveal his anger. He looked at Rebecca and the guardian, each one familiar with his current tone.
“Keep an eye on them,” he ordered. “I want to know why they’re really here.”
“What about the dhampir?” the guardian asked.
“Kill her,” Rebecca said, touching the deep cut on the back of her head.
“No,” said Miguel. “Sanctuary has already been granted. But there is another reason they came here. If she is Dianthia, then we need to tread carefully. She has too many big guns on her side to tick off.”
“Including the one in her control now.”
“I’m not worried about the guardian. It’s the others she could bring here with just one command.”
Rebecca felt the stress this was beginning to place on him. “Then why let them stay?”
“Curiosity. The other human with them seemed out of place. I want to know more about her, as well.”
Accepting his orders with a single nod and a grin, Rebecca answered. “Yes, sir.”

The door closed as Mark left them within their room.
“So much for keeping a low profile,” Jayda said.
“I’m sorry,” Lori replied, “but she pissed me off.”
The room was a nice upgrade from a basic motel. It has its own bathroom, a king sized bed, table, and widescreen TV on the wall. The theme of the room was reminiscent of high-end hotels that offered an ocean view and a private beach access. But they were far from the coast, trapped outside Redding, California.
Lori stepped further into their new quarters and began exploring the room. She flipped on the light to the bathroom. “You can finally take your shower,” she said, glancing at Jayda. “I can have the doctor here take a proper look at your arm if you want.”
Jayda sat on the bed, hands between her knees. “Are you sure it’s safe here for me?”
“You worry too much.”
Arden spoke as he remained by the door. “What is your plan?”
Lori took a seat at the small table. “I’m going to wait till it’s daylight before contacting my source.”
“Who is this source of yours?” asked Jayda. “And should we even trust him?”
“If we want to have any chance at finding Nicholas, then we’ll need his help.” She paused, debating on what information to tell them. “He use to work for The Brotherhood. He didn’t agree with what they were moving towards and left. He’s been in hiding ever since. The Brotherhood doesn’t fire people or just let them leave. They take the whole termination thing literally.”
“Do you think he’ll help us find him?”
Lori understood the real uncertainty of it all and gave a weak shrug,. “It’s worth a try.”