Chapter Three: The Vampire's Covenant, the Emotional Vampire Book Series To Sink Into.
It's day two in Evie and Kaden/Boston's journey toward victory and love.
In this chapter, Evie catches herself being a bit flirty, but she’s got no idea what’s coming next…
Day 2
Evie strode down the hallway inside the dark innards of the north apartment building. The corridor wasn’t very long, but because she and her dad inhabited this building by themselves, it often felt bigger. More lonely. As she walked, she glanced out through one of the square double-hung windows. Pink and blue colors wove across the cloudy heavens.
“That sky sure is something,” Evie mumbled. She stopped. The gray stone sill beneath her fingers felt flat, smooth, and comforting.
It’d be cold outside, but she wouldn’t be cold for very long. She’d feed and groom the horses in the stables, a short walk outside of the compound wall. That would warm her up, and then she would return to the north building and settle down at the office upstairs. She had a mountain of paperwork to do for the security patrols.
She had to keep track of who had done which patrol, whether there had been sightings of humans or rival vampire gangs, and weekly security reports for her dad. He insisted on those. The list went on and on. Boring as hell, but Evie hated feeling useless.
Originally, she’d taken on the tasks to keep busy after her mom had died. The grief was like an ache that wouldn’t go away. That whole period was one big blur. By now, if the rogue vampires had not attacked, Evie might have become a vet. Or at least, she would have half-finished her veterinary science degree.
Of course, when she, her father, and Elijah had been turned, the dream of becoming a horse vet died. She had to be satisfied with watching Paul, who had been a vampire for a while, but was also a practicing vet when he came to the coven. She didn’t know how long he’d been a vampire, but her dad had recruited Paul to look after the coven horses about a year after the compound was built.
Her dad and Boston often left the compound in search of new vampires to bring into the coven. They thought that they’d all be safer if they built a community, and the isolation wouldn’t be as bad. Her dad was thinking mostly about Elijah. The turning had been tough on her brother. He’d lost all his friends. She had too, but she was six years older than Elijah. Boston had his own reasons for bringing more young vampires into the coven. She never pried that hard, but she felt better about her father leaving the compound when Boston accompanied him.
Evie had hoped to become Paul’s apprentice at some point, but he didn’t have any inclination to teach her. He was more comfortable when she watched what he did, but never allowed her to help. So, Evie kept herself busy by looking after the horses’ basic needs and organizing the coven’s security. The activity kept her sane. Everyone had their tasks to do. Boston had become their spiritual teacher of sorts. And he had always been her dad’s confidant for as long as they had known him. Elijah looked after the technology like the phones and the intranet system. He’d even helped put up the telephone tower.
Everyone seemed to fall into their roles, but Evie took on the tasks she felt she could do. Together with the vampires they’d recruited, her father and Boston had managed to create a small self-sustaining community.
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Occasionally a bush tourist would stumble on them, even though the coven was hidden deep in the State Forest. A week ago, a couple had seen the stone walls and climbed a tree to see what was inside. The ward was transparent, so they could see into the compound from their vantage point in the tree. The four apartment buildings were set at northern, southern, eastern and western points inside the circle of the compound stone walls. The stadium, the stables, the five large exercise yards, an equestrian center, water exercise facilities for the horses, and bore water facilities rested outside of the compound. The ward covered ten acres around them and included Boston’s den on the cliff of the mountain. And the tourists had seen most of it, and they shouldn’t have.
If word got out to the rest of the world, they’d be inundated by both scientists and media, and there was no telling what might happen if one of the young vampires lost control and tried to feed from them. So Evie sent Boston outside the ward. He’d strolled up to the tourists and chatted casually, before he had wiped the tourists’ memories and set them walking in the opposite direction.
As Evie passed by another window, she thought of her horses, glad that she wouldn’t spend her entire day pushing a pen. And at least horses had a sense of humor. She’d fallen off a horse enough times to know that they would laugh if they could. Yeah, horses have a wicked sense of humor. Once, Millie—one of her mares—had sat down on her hind legs. She looked like a giant dog when she did that. Evie had scratched the horse’s neck and mane for about half an hour that day. Millie wouldn’t let her stop. So funny.
She caught a glimpse of the morning meditation class as she descended the three cement stairs to follow the pebbled pathway. Konner was out there with the group again. Evie smiled. Good for him. He was a nice enough kid, but like her dad, she worried about him. She would watch him, but she didn’t want to interrupt Boston’s class as she had yesterday.
Evie turned and kept walking, remembering what had happened. She’d sat next to Boston and whispered into his ear about Konner. She’d already interrupted enough. It seemed whispering was appropriate under the circumstances, but she had leaned very close to him to whisper.
She’d seen the scars near his ear. She’d leaned so close her chest had lightly touched his arm, and she could smell his cologne. He was wearing something woody with a hint of citrus. And as she whispered, she watched him tense and frown, as though she’d done something wrong. Perhaps, it hadn’t been the right time to ask about Konner, but once Boston finished his classes, he often transported directly back to his den or to her dad’s office. They had an easy relationship, but he’d always maintained a distance from everyone, with the exception of her dad. So yesterday, she took the opportunity to speak to him while she could.
And after she’d started walking back to the northern apartments, she had thought she should thank Boston. She’d turned and winked, to keep things light and to say thank you. But, she couldn’t ignore the fact that her stomach had tightened. She had no idea why Boston made her react like that. Her nipples had hardened when she saw his expression. When he had examined her like that yesterday, a buzz reverberated around her body. She’d only meant to keep an eye on Konner, like she’d promised her dad, but perhaps she’d given Boston the wrong impression. When she thought about it, she wasn’t sure that she hadn’t meant to flirt. Frick, maybe subconsciously, she had. Maybe it was some stupid schoolgirl thing, because sometimes, Boston made her feel like a schoolgirl.
Down the pathway, Evie stopped at the iron gate at the stone wall and opened it, then continued on her way toward the stables. She didn’t dare look over at the class. Instead she turned the corner and headed for the stables, out of the line of sight of the group.
“Hello, Evie.” An image of a glowing man flickered in front of her. It almost looked as though an old-fashioned projector was conveying his image, except the figure appeared in color.
She was only a few yards away from the stables. Her fangs elongated, grazing the skin of her bottom lip. “Who are you?”
What are you? And how did you get in here?
The figure gave an easy smile. Too easy. “I’m really glad you asked that question. My name is Haborim.”
The blue suit he wore clothed his physique, but his body screamed come here and fuck me now. His silver eyes pierced the dull morning light as did the aura that surrounded him.
“Haborim.” Every muscle in her body tightened. “What are you?”
“Well.” His smirk widened. “I’m a friend of your father’s—and Kaden’s. Here to offer you a chance to see your mother again.”
The hair on her nape rose, tingles rushing down her spine. How did he know about her mother?
She eyed him. He was obviously not her dad’s friend. “You didn’t answer my question. What are you?”
He kept grinning. “I’m cut from the same stone as Kaden. Would you like to see your mother or not?”
What did he mean? Same stone as Boston? “In return for what?”
He stepped forward to take her hand, but his hand passed right through hers.
He frowned and sighed. “I need your help. Becoming a god is hard work, after all.”
“What? Becoming a god?” she asked, alarm bells ringing inside her head. “You want to become a god?”
“Yes, my dear. I need you to collect the ingredients for an ancient mixture, and then use it. It will protect you as you ascend so that you can see your mother again. When my followers—”
“Your followers!” This was going from bad to worse.
Haborim smirked. “Do not worry, darling.” He tried to touch her chin, but his finger passed through her face. It was as though he were a ghost.
“Once I have moved to the next plane, I won’t forget you. You will be my most favored follower. The mixture you will make is very beneficial. It not only protects you but also symbolizes your … allegiance to me, shall we say. It will be a living, breathing link.”
The more she listened, the less she wanted to hear.
“And afterward,” he said, expectantly, “you shall join me.”
This vampire book series goes from flirty to intense pretty quick. And I’m starting to hate Haborim.
She backpedaled and bumped into the iron gate. There was no way she was going to make any such link with him or join with him. Evie didn’t like the look of this asshole at all, and she didn’t like being alone with him. His grin gave her the creeps.
Evie pushed off the gate and split herself in two, creating a copy of herself. She’d create as many clones as she needed to make sure this guy knew what he was dealing with.
She’d retained her storm gifts after she’d been turned. She was capable of dividing herself, as a storm cell divides to cover more area and to create more electrical interactions. If necessary, she’d call the sky to rain bolts of electricity on him. She could collect the energy from the atmosphere and make electric bolts herself, or she could call it from the sky, depending on what she thought was necessary. Like Elijah, she could call the wind, but she could summon the rain and the electricity too. In this case, she only wanted to warn this asshole to be careful.
“I knew you were the one,” he said, acknowledging that she’d created a copy of herself. “Very good, Evie. You’ve grown stronger.” He didn’t seem worried at all. “I know you think that linking with me would be a mistake. That’s understandable, I guess. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s very simple. I give you something you want, and you give me something that I want. It’s not so unheard of. After all, I’ve paid my dues. I’ve done the menial work that the other gods have put before me, Evie. Now after hundreds of years of service to them, it is time to better myself and take my place as a god of equal power. You’d be a fool to turn me down. One day, I will be a god.”
Evie’s clone circled the intruder in a clockwise fashion, while Evie herself circled him in the other direction. “Oookay. I don’t know who you are or how you managed to get in here, but I know better than to take candy from strangers. And I sure as hell know better than to take it from someone who wants to be a god.”
Haborim smiled playfully, reaching into his suit. “I suppose this feels frightening for you. And you probably think I have evil intentions and delusions of grandeur. That’s open to interpretation. Don’t let Kaden tell you any different.” When he turned back, he revealed an object in his left hand. “Would this help to earn your trust? Or … at least provide evidence as to the veracity of my offer.” He opened his hand, revealing a locket.
Evie gaped at it. It was the locket that her mom had worn the day they were all attacked. The day she died. They’d buried her with that locket. Had he exhumed her body? “Where did you get that? Who are you?” She lunged for the locket, but as Haborim could not physically touch her, she also could not touch him or the piece of jewelry.
The figure flew up into the air but landed nimbly. He strode with long steps around both Evie and her copy. “You see, I told you who I am, Evie. Where do you think I got the locket? I can take you to your mother. She’s not dead. Not entirely.”
She scrutinized each step he took as he circled her. Whoever or whatever this thing was, he didn’t look deterred by Evie’s ability to split herself. She called the clone back and absorbed it, similar to the way a storm cell sucks energy into itself.
Fuck off, asshole.
Evie looked around for a makeshift weapon. But anything she threw at him would pass right through his body.
I would, but I’m not really here, Evie!
Evie swallowed. Haborim’s thought had shoved its way into her head. He’d heard her thought and responded to it with his own. “How did you do that?”
“Do what, Evie?” he asked, still circling.
“You know what! Speak inside my head. Get the fuck out!” She clenched her fists, but she knew it would be useless to hit him.
Evie felt his presence halt at her back. He whispered at her ear, “Don’t fight me.”
The tone in his voice gave her the same sensation as seeing roaches crawling on the kitchen bench.
He continued, “We could be good together. The future is uncertain. Will you hide behind Kaden forever? Isn’t it time your clan formed alliances that secured a position of power, rather than hiding from the human world? You need me. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”
She swiveled, expecting to find Haborim. Instead, she was alone, leaning on the gate. “Haborim?”
The temperature plummeted. Her fingers suddenly felt like ice cubes as she rubbed her shoulders. Not since she’d been turned had she felt this cold. She blew on her fingertips, intending to warm them, but of course, she didn’t breathe anymore. She often had moments where she’d forgotten what she’d become. Had she imagined this whole thing? Had she suddenly felt cold because she was standing outside? Imagined Haborim and their conversation?
No, Evie. I’m real, and I can help you. This is not the last time you will hear from me.