Unbound (14 page)

He’d returned Tessa’s call the previous night and was surprised to hear her account of the recent events in Soleil’s life. She’d made it to nineteen years old before her father’s genes made themselves known. Mason was on his way to meet Tessa. They had to decide the best way to help Soliel make the transition. Their home was about five hours from his home so they decided to meet half way.

As he pulled up to the restaurant, Tessa was crossing the parking lot. She was still absolutely perfect, still slight and curvy in all the right places. Her hair was shorter but still the same glossy dark blonde. She didn’t look to be any more than three years older than the last time he saw her, much less her actual forty-one years. The vampire blood she’d ingested years ago was responsible for her agelessness. Griffin had chosen his first mate well, Mason had to admit. He was actually very interested to a
sk her how Griffin’s bond to Sarah affected Tessa
. As he entered the dining room, she saw him and came to wrap him in an embrace. Her sorrow immediately overwhelmed him. Mason was blessed, or cursed depending on your point of view, with an extra sensorial gift. All vampires have certain abilities like strength, speed, mind control of humans, incredible eyesight and hearing, but a few have extra abilities. Some are able to read minds, predict the future or, in Griffin’s cas
e, had telekinesis. Mason was
empath
ic
. He could read the emotions or manner of a person or vampire with a touch. Say a person was a cold-blooded killer, he could feel their evil and anger with a touch. If they’re a humanitarian, he could feel their love of others and a giving nature, as well as their current emotions. It was very difficult to lie to Mason if he was touching you.

When he touched Tessa, he realized that she’d been in mournful sorrow this whole time, and his heart felt the pain of her daily struggle. He pulled back and looked her in the eyes. He thought he would cry at the pain and the rawness of it, as if it was that day he told her of Griffin’s engagement and no time had passed.

She smiled weakly and said, “Oh now, don’t you do that. I’m fine, Mason. It’s been a long time and I’ve learned to deal with it just fine.”

“My God, Tessa, how do you breathe? It’s stifling.” He was suddenly angry at Griffin and regretted going along with this plan so many years ago.

“I said I’m fine and that’s not what I’ve dragged you out here for. I’m very sorry about having to involve you in this situation.” She was trying not to show her pain, and apparently had become a pro at it. As they took their seats, she handed him the most recent picture of Danielle she had. It was from the day she left for college. She was leaning against her car, wearing a University t-shirt. He stared at the picture appraisingly.

“She looks so much like Griffin with that hair. It’s unreal. She has your eyes and figure and the rest is all him. It’s actually surprising this hasn’t happened sooner given the resemblance. She is a breathtaking beauty.”

“Thank you. Does she look anything like her siblings?” She looked at the table with that.

“Yes, she looks like her little brother. JR is also the spitting image of his father.” Mason looked at her cautiously. “How did you know she has siblings?”

“I know heirs were very important to his House
, but I also felt his joy when his kids were born. It was the same as when Danielle was born. Overwhelming pride and adoration is the only way I can describe it. I believe one child was born slightly more than a year after Danielle and another maybe ten years ago.” She still couldn’t look at him. He understood completely. He had also felt it when he hugged his best friend after their births. The emotions came rushing into his body at the contact with Griffin.

“You can still feel him?” the thought made his stomach sick.

“I feel him every day,” she whispered.

“You are correct. He had twin girls a couple of months after your daughter’s first birthday and a son who is now ten.” Pausing Mason thought about the fact that Tessa was not calling the girl Soleil. “You called her Danielle?” Mason had noticed twice she’d used the new name.

“Her name was changed. I thought leaving her with the unusual name her father gave her would make it easier to find her, but we both kept his last name,” she explained.

“You never remarried?”

“I’m still bonded, Mason. When he broke his bond to me, it didn’t change mine to him. I still feel him, even if he doesn’t feel me. I can’t even look at another man. I’m sure if you considered leaving Deborah for another woman you’d see what I mean. I’m still his mate.” Tears began to well in her sad eyes. “Even if I forced myself to move on, it wouldn’t sever our bond. Humans don’t bond the way vampires do. We don’t share blood and there is no soul connection. I suppose if I bonded to another vampire it might break it, but there aren’t many of those that are willing to do more than feed on my kind.”

“I see your point. Has Soleil… I mean Danielle, ever asked any questions? How much does she know already?”

“She’s been asking questions about her father since she was old enough to understand she should have one. I never gave her any answers until a couple of years ago, and even then I didn’t tell her anything other than his family didn’t approve of me and that he had married someone else. She asked me yesterday if her condition had anything to do with her Dad. I told her it had everything to do with him, and then she ran out.”

“Do you know if she has fed yet?” Mason was pondering her state of mind if she had bitten someone with no idea what was happening to her. He also believed she would need to feed soon and once she did, her abilities
would make themselves known. The poor kid
probably did believe sh
e was going crazy.

“No, I don’t think so. I haven’t been able to reach her since she left yesterday.” She was watching Mason stare at Danielle’s picture.

“Is this the school she attends?” he asked pointing at her shirt.

“Yes, this is her first year.”

“That university is no more than forty five minutes from my home. It shouldn’t be too difficult to keep an eye on her, but we’re going to have to figure out how to break this news to her. She’ll likely need a little vampire 101. We can’t have her out there breaking laws she isn’t aware of yet. The sooner the better I think.” Mason hesitated before asking, “Do you want Griffin to know?”

“Not if he doesn’t need to know. I’m afraid of what his family’s opinion will do to her. I can just imagine the slurs other vampires will fling at her. Not to mention the displeasure he will have with you if he discovers your part in our disappearance.” Tessa was speaking with her head in her hands. She lifted it when the waiter came to the table. She ordered a martini and a salad.

“No wonder you’re still so thin.” Mason smiled and ordered the same martini and a steak with potatoes.

“When can you talk to her?” Tessa asked as she pulled out her cell.

“Can you get her home on Saturday? I think we should do it as soon as possible. Tell her to call you if she has any trouble. I’ll go get her sooner if necessary.” Tessa nodded her head in acknowledgement and pressed send. She got Dani’s voice mail again. Then she called the number Danielle gave her for Olivia in case of emergency. It was an emergency at this point. She answered, “Hello?”

“Olivia, this is Danielle’s mother Tessa. Have you seen her? I haven’t been able to reach her since she left home yesterday.” Tessa asked and began to worry her lower lip.

“No ma’am. I haven’t talked to her since Saturday morning when she left campus.” Olivia’s concern frightened Tessa.

Looking at Mason she replied, “You’re telling me she never made it back to school?”

“I haven’t seen her. She didn’t come back to our room if she did get back. I’ll call around to everyone else and see if she’s been spotted and call you back.” Olivia disconnected.

“She should have been there no later than four o’clock last night.” Tessa downed the martini the waiter had just sat in front of her and asked for another. “I shouldn’t have let her go.”

Brandi was visiting her grandparents with her brother JR when a disturbing call came in. Several young vampires had gone missing over the last few weeks and one of them recovered. The boy had been found dead of complete consumption. Brandi was listening intently from the dining room while her grandparents spoke with other members of the
Council
over the speakerphone in the study.

“We can’t let this happen again, Lloyd. We need to f
ind these kids and their captor,
” Someone on the phone pleaded.

“We don’t know that this situation has anything to do with what
happened in the past, Alexander,
” Grandpa replied, sounding agitated.

“Adele, will you please reason with him. This cannot be a coincidence,” A female voice said. “The Davis boy was gifted and so was one of the other missing youths. The fact that he was found completely drained should be a clear sign.”

“I realize this is a sensitive subject for your family but we can’t let this situation get out of hand. I’m going to go examine the body to see if I can get a scent. I wish you would come with me,” Alexander pleaded.

Brandi stepped into the kitchen, holding her stomach as if she would be sick. She was a friend of Shane Davis and knew he had been missing. To hear of his death made her heartsick. Shane was an outgoing guy she had attended school with. He had the extra sensory ability of being able to sense the gifts of other vampires. He didn’t like it because when babies were born their parents would call his parents to have him come see the newborn. They just couldn’t wait until they were older to see if their child was gifted.

He said it was the stupidest talent ever. He wanted telekinesis or telepathy. After gathering herself and calling Samantha to inform her of Shane’s tragic death, she went to see if she could ascertain anything else from the meeting, but it was over, and Grandpa already headed out the door with her father. Brandi entered the study where her Grandma was still sitting at the desk in deep concentration. “What’s wrong, Gran? Can I help you with anything? Grandpa looked upset.”

“Don’t
worry about anything, Sweeting. Everything is fine. Grandpa had some business to attend.” Adele tried to comfort Brandi.

“Does it have to do with the missing kids? I know two of them. I would be glad to help search.” Brandi was digging. She knew she wouldn’t get far with Grandma but tried anyway.

“I do think there is something you can do to help. I don’t want you or your sister going anywhere alone until we find the missing children. You girls need to watch each other’s back and keep your eyes open for danger. Don’t be surprised if your father gives you a curfew until this is all straightened out.” Adele turned and raised one eyebrow at Brandi, “Did you overhear our conversation?”

Brandi couldn’t hold back the tears. She nodded as her lower lip trembled. “Shane was my friend. We went to school together and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt such a nice guy.” Gran stood and came to put her arms around Brandi. It was a little weird because she’d never been the comforting sort, but Brandi was glad for the open show of affection and support.

“I’m sure you and your siblings will be safe, given none of you has an extra ability, but I still want you to stick together for the time being.”

Brandi didn’t understand this statement until the phone rang again. Her father called to inform Gran of the recovery of another child. Melinda Prince was the other kid Brandi and her sister knew that was missing. She was found drugged
, but still alive on her parent
s
’
lawn. Doc Stevens was on the way to examine her and assess her injuries. Her dad was hopeful they’d be able to get some information from the girl once she was well enough to speak to them.

Now things were making a little more sense to Brandi. Melinda was an athlete but she didn’t have an extra sensory ability. Shane, on the other hand, had a special touch. Melinda came home but Shane didn’t make it back alive. Someone was hunting for gifted young vampires. Brandi was sickened and horrified.

SEVEN~

Chase paced nervously up and down the hall leading to the closed door of his bedroom. Doc Stevens was back to examine Danielle again. He’d been there earlier to have a look at her but had to leave for an emergency once he was sure she was stable. Chase sat bedside and watched for any movement the whole time Doc was gone. It’d been four hours since he laid her in his bed and she hadn’t moved a muscle. Chase stared at her beautiful face and all that gorgeous mahogany hair spilling over his pillows. Her peaches and cream skin, so soft and pale against the slate gray of his satin sheets, made his fingers itch to touch her. He could imagine her there every night for the rest of his existence. She looked like she belonged there with him. It took all of his will power to keep his hands to himself. He decided that he wanted her to remember the next time they touched that way, so he wasn’t about to crawl in bed with her. It was a good thing Doc came back when he did because Chase’s resolve was beginning to thin. Cayden watched from the sofa down the hall while Chase wore a hole in the carpet.

“Dude, you look like you’re waiting for that chick to have your baby or something. What’s the deal with you?”

“Shut up or leave, Cayden.” Chase glared at him.