"How have you done this, Gavin?" I shook my head sadly. "How have you watched things change around you daily while you don't change? How have you watched people you love die in front of you? How do you handle that?" I was sitting beside him, his arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"You worry for Greg." His words were a statement and not a question.
"And Franklin," I nodded.
"You have had much pain in your life already," he sighed, ruffling my hair with his breath. "You do not look forward to the grief coming because of this." I nodded at his words. "You cannot choose for everyone, Lissa," he pointed out. "They must make their own decisions in this respect. Some do not desire this immortality. They do not want the restrictions this existence imposes. They know the pain is coming and they are preparing themselves for it. All we can do is support them in their decisions and be grateful for the time we have."
"Gavin, I want you to know now, and for you to let Merrill know, that if anyone ever tells you I've walked into the sun and am dying as a result, then they are lying," I said. I remembered how Aurelius had died—he'd been lured into a trap with the lie that one of his vampire children had been injured by the sun. "When I went to Refizan, they put something beneath the skin on the back of my neck," I explained as Gavin stared at me in confusion. "It's technology from another planet that shields me from the sun. It's supposed to last a hundred years."
"It will keep you from dying in the sun?" Dark brown eyes raked my face, searching for verification. He was shocked, I could tell.
"Yeah. You should see the Larentii who put it there," I said, smiling. I was thinking about Pheligar's sky-blue skin.
"Larentii?"
"He's eight and a half feet tall, has blue skin, blue eyes and hair the color of wheat," I said. "He placed the disc beneath my skin and I didn't even feel it."
"The idea of other worlds is not new," Gavin sighed as his arms tightened about me. "I was in the Council chamber four years ago when the female Saa Thalarr was brought in. That was the last time I saw Chessman; he was with her, as was Merrill." Gavin's gaze was now turned toward the night sky; it was mostly clear and I could see a few stars shining overhead.
"I met them," I said. "Adam and Kiarra have a child, now. His name is Justin." Gavin drew in a breath at my words. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"When Chessman was turned, he had a younger brother named Justin. Long dead now, of course. The Council considered taking him after Adam was turned. Merrill prevented it."
"Adam lowered his shields and I got his scent," I said. "He has Bright Elemaiyan blood—I know that now."
"He was a mister," Gavin nodded.
"Gavin, Tony has Elemaiyan blood, too. That's why he can mindspeak," I added. "Does Wlodek know this?"
"René has informed him," Gavin shifted uncomfortably at the admission. "That is a part of what the meeting was about earlier. Wlodek has given permission for Tony's training to be accelerated because he has so much experience in security and law enforcement. Wlodek wants him groomed to take Sebastian's place."
"I thought that might happen," I said. Gavin and I sat in silence after that, until I saw three vans rolling up the long drive to the manor. "Are we expecting company?" I asked, standing up to get a better look.
"Wlodek, Charles and Rolfe are moving in until the threat Xenides presents has been eliminated," Gavin stood up and stretched beside me. "Merrill's property is warded for two miles in every direction. Merrill tells me that Griffin does this for him, and that none who mean harm can cross the boundary he has set. This is the only safe place for the Honored One to stay. Come, we will see to their comfort; they are taking over the basement."
Warded? The property was warded? What had Merrill done for Griffin, that he merited such preferential treatment? And Merrill had a basement? That was a surprise, though it shouldn't have been. I misted off the roof; Gavin floated down. Not only were there three vehicles now parking on the wide drive in front of Merrill's manor, but each van was towing a trailer. Wlodek had been busy, looked like. Tons of records had to be moved, with all of Charles's computer equipment. It made me wonder what Wlodek had done with all his priceless antiques, in case Xenides and his remaining horde showed up again.
Merrill came out, as did Deryn and Paul, and we pitched in to unload trailers. Charles grinned at me; I realized he was looking forward to this. Russell and Radomir were there, too, helping.
Merrill had six bedrooms in his basement, complete with private baths. Color me stunned. A locked door was hidden inside the butler's pantry, and that's why I'd never seen it before. I hadn't gone in there very often and the doorway was located behind the last shelf of canned goods. That shelf was shoved aside, revealing the wide entrance downstairs.
Everything in the basement was clean; Franklin must have kept it that way. Charles and Wlodek were moved in and set up first, Rolfe was set up last. Rolfe was just as happy as Charles was with their change of venue. Wlodek had the usual, unreadable expression on his face, so I couldn't tell how he felt about the move.
"We have a Council meeting tomorrow evening," Charles informed me later as we were getting the last of his things put away and his computers connected. "Wlodek wants you there; we have two vampires you need to check."
"Are we giving baseball signals so he'll know what I find?" I was doing my best impression of a third base coach. Charles stared at me for a minute before bursting into laughter.
"If we bring Brock, he'll know exactly what you're doing," Charles snickered. "He's a huge baseball fan."
"You will touch your hair when each prisoner is led before me, to let me know if they are Saxom's," Wlodek appeared from nowhere, I think. I had to keep myself from jumping at his sudden appearance.
"All right," I nodded. I was about to get the hell out of the basement. Things just weren't that comfortable between Wlodek and me at the moment, and in all honesty, he still scared the bejeezus out of me.
"Charles, do you have all the paperwork copied?" Wlodek asked. One of the things carried into the basement earlier was a portable copy machine.
"All done, Honored One," Charles nodded. I turned to go; they had work to do.
Chapter 2
When I woke the following evening, I found Roff and Giff in bed with me. Roff was curled up at my back; Giff snuggled against my chest. Both of them were about five-five or so, with honey brown eyes and thin builds. Both were still dressed, but they'd taken their shoes off to climb into bed with me.