She’s likely looking for affection because she doesn’t get any at home. This little creep is probably the first guy to come along and tell her she’s special. “It’s not for us to say. She didn’t appear harmed and they aren’t out of control so it isn’t a Landra issue.”
We knock on the door of the second residence and wait. I’m afraid but it has nothing to do with the vampires we’re about to become acquainted with. I’m terrified they will know nothing about Vincent or his whereabouts and we’ll be no better off than we were last night if they have no information for us.
A male vampire answers the door. He’s older than me–at least four hundred–despite his midtwenties appearance and modern clothing. He’s blond with bright blue eyes and a narrow nose. I’d guess he’s Northern European–or at least his ancestors were.
“Hello.” He still has an accent after four centuries but I can’t quite put my finger on its origin.
After I introduce myself and the others, the vampire identifies himself as Giermund–definitely a viking name–and invites us inside his home. “This is my mate, Runa.”
“Hello.” Her appearance is similar to Giermund’s–blond with light eyes and a narrow bridge of her nose. I suspect they are human siblings–quite possibly with the same maker–since that wouldn’t have been an unusual practice several centuries ago.
“We won’t take much of your time.” I tell the couple about our search for Vincent. I even confide our reason why, minus the part about the blood jewel. It’s a risk but one I’m willing to take at this point because this pair would be familiar with the agápe legend. And also because I feel my desperation growing. These vampires are mates so I take a chance hoping they will understand our urgent desire to rescue our beloveds from their captor.
“I’ve never heard of Vincent Godfrey or his coven but Runa and I don’t agree with the practices of most vampires so we choose to not socialize with them.”
I give Giermund my card. “Thank you for your time and please call if you hear anything you think might aid in finding our mates. Even if seems unimportant.”
He looks at the card and then back to me. “You’re with the Coven of Landra?”
“Yes. I’m head of the Savannah compound.”
“Runa and I have lived by Landra standards for more than a century and we feel we have a calling to help other vampires. Would you mind talking to us about joining once the problem with your mates is resolved?”
Allowing others into our circle would mean them knowing the truth about Avery and Chansey. I had no basis other than gut instinct alone but it told me an interview with Giermund and Runa was worth exploring. “We would love to talk with you further. We’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Fourteen
Last night’s search was fruitless. Tonight’s has been as well so Curry will be forced to tell Anna the bad news when she arrives at the compound within the hour. “What did you tell Chansey’s grandmother when you called?”
“That Chansey was overwhelmed with the twins but too stubborn to ask for her help. I played the part of the dumb vampire husband that didn’t know what to do.”
“The part about you being dumb isn’t that far from the truth.”
He laughs at my wisecrack. It’s been too long since I’ve taken a cheap shot at him and I look forward to getting our agápes home so we can return to normal. “It’s true. I was ignorant when it came to taking care of babies. But in my defense, I’ve never had a reason to learn. I think I’ve caught on pretty quickly.”
Curry is a pro at being a father to his twins. “You know I’m joking. You look like you know exactly what you’re doing with your kiddos.”
“I couldn’t do any of it without Chansey. She taught me everything.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “And Avery will teach you when the time comes.”
I’ve smiling inside because I’m thinking of happier times–a future that includes me, Avery, and our child. Or children. Twins are a definite possibility.
My happy thoughts end because I’m unexpectedly engulfed by a sudden wave of weakness from Avery. And then I feel … abyss. There hasn’t been a time when I felt an emptiness like this from her. Something has definitely gone wrong.
My expression paints a picture of worry. “What is it, Sol?”
“Something has happened to Avery. Everything felt fine one minute and then she suddenly weakened. Now I feel nothing from her.” I’m panicking as I imagine the worst–that Vincent has killed her.
“Don’t freak out. Even if you’re not feeling her, Avery isn’t dead. It doesn’t work like that because Sebastian is still able to feel Ella through death. She must be unconscious.” I’m not sure if this should make me feel better or not.
“That means he took too much of her blood if she has passed out.” And that’s a danger to our baby.
“Or maybe she fainted because she’s pregnant. A lot of women do that when they’re expecting and it doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with them or the baby.”
Side effects this early don’t seem likely. “If Avery’s pregnant, it’s only a few days. It seems entirely too soon for something like that to happen.”
“Chansey’s pregnancy didn’t progress at a normal rate and Avery’s won’t either so who’s to say it’s too soon?”
I wanted to believe in Curry’s theory–and I appreciate him trying to encourage me–but my heart was telling me Avery was in trouble. The only solace I could find was in knowing she wasn’t dead. But how long could she last with Vincent if I didn’t find her soon? “I’m going to inflict so much pain on that bastard when I find him.”
“As much as I’d love to be the one to take him down, your beef with him is much larger than mine so I’ll happily stand aside and watch as you kill him slowly.”
A wooden stake through the heart was far too compassionate for him. He deserved something much slower and more painful. “Have you ever seen a vampire die in the sun?”
“Yes and it looks like an excruciating way to go. You hear this sound that can only be compared to food being dropped into frying oil. And the smell … it’s intolerable. A vampire’s decaying flesh releases a putrid stench as it burns in the sun. The odor is well beyond that of a human’s body as it burns by fire.”