Immortal Blooded

It was hot and humid on the rooftop of the apartment building. The air hung thick and low, pushing the smog into every pore of Brooklyn.

Emery leaned against a small wooden shed used to house the building’s maintenance equipment. Its shade gave no relief from the heat. Still, it was better to be here and sitting in a pool of her own sweat than downstairs in the air-conditioned apartment.

She reached up and wiped the back of her neck. Her hair was twisted up in a messy knot at the back of her head. What she would give for a little breeze, but the air was still as death.

Emery watched with growing amusement as Adrienne trying to coax her puppy, Ajax, away from the roosting pigeons that lined the small half-wall encircling the roof.

Come back here, Ajax, Adrienne whispered harshly. I don’t want you killing any of those birds!

Ajax turned his pleading crystal blue eyes on her, begging for a little fun.

Emery absently stroked her own puppy’s hot head. Max turned toward her and licked her hand. She felt bad for him not being able to shed his thick gray fur on a day like this.

No one ever liked it when the dogs brought home their kills, but it had been two weeks since any of them had been able to leave the apartment, and she understood their need for exertion. The tension in their home was tangible, and Emery was climbing the walls with frustration. They had only been allowed up here because she had begged her mother until she finally gave in.

Emery looked up at the reddening sun trying to gauge what time it was, but the haze of smog and humidity made it impossible to tell. Still, Stephen should have been home by now. It had to be well past 6:00 p.m., and he had only gone out for a few groceries.

She sighed, picking up the foot-long piece of sanded wood that lay beside her and absentmindedly began pushing its sharp tip into the softening pitch of the roof.

Fine! Adrienne yelled as Ajax finally got around her to pounce on a particularly fat pigeon. Kill them all you, you dumb dog, but I’m not cleaning up after you this time!

Adrienne threw herself down next to Emery then yelped as the heat from the baking rooftop singed her exposed skin.

Emery smirked at her younger sister. He never listens to you, Adrienne. And Mom is going to make you clean it up.

Adrienne cut a dark look at Emery, her hazel eyes glinting. Dad’s going to kill you if you ruin another one of his blades, she said as if trying to even the score.

Emery pulled the wooden blade out of the black tar and examined the point.

It’ll still work, she said, but picked at the tar on the pointed end anyway.

Adrienne began fiddling with the dark brown braid that hung over her shoulder and then asked quietly, Why did you bring that up here?

Emery looked over at her, a little surprised. You know why.

Yeah, but…you don’t really think…I mean, nothing can get to us up here. We aren’t in danger now.

We’re always in danger, Adrienne…always.

The two of them had avoided any conversation about what had been going on at home for the past few weeks, but for some unknown reason, today felt different, like the way the air felt before a bad storm.

Are you scared? Adrienne asked, her hazel eyes meeting Emery’s blue ones hesitantly. Emery looked back at her sister. Adrienne might be two and half years younger than she, but the two had always been closer than most sisters, probably due to the fact they had moved around so much in their early years, and making friends had always been hard. Of course, it could be that other element, the one about her family being hunted by vampires, but who knows?

Was she scared? Yeah, I am. I guess, she finally said, taking hold of her necklace and holding the charm tightly in her hand, a habit when she needed comfort. Stephen had given it to her six months ago for her fifteenth birthday. The silver charm was the exact replica of her family’s Bonding Symbol. She loved it because it had been from him, and she refused to take it off. Emery tucked the necklace securely back under her shirt. I feel like everything’s somehow my fault. If I’d been more—

Emmy, it’s not your fault he left! Adrienne interrupted. You know that—no one blames you! Mark is just…he’s messed up, Emery, he really is.

Emery knew in her head that no one blamed her for Mark’s disappearance. He had never really wanted to be her Blood Guardian anyway. It had been put in place by both sets of their parents when they were young. Neither of them had asked for this life.

I know none of this is my fault. It’s just hard knowing he doesn’t want any part of my protection.

This subject always made her uncomfortable. She hated talking about this with Adrienne and was ashamed that she was jealous of her sister’s protector — her Blood Guardian. Though they were brothers, Stephen was completely different from Mark. He wanted the role of Blood Guardian and had been training for it since he’d been a child.

Emery had to admit that it wasn’t all about who guarded whom, but it was that her feelings for Stephen had been changing. She, of course, would never tell him, but it was still hard to see Adrienne and Stephen together all the time. Stephen was closer to her age, but despite that Emery knew why she had been paired up with Mark. He was the oldest, and she was the oldest. It made sense, it followed a pattern.

So when she finally responded, she tried to sound sincere. I’m just glad you have Stephen. You will always be safe with him.

She smiled at Adrienne, who relaxed and leaned back against the nook.

Mark will be back, Emmy. She sounded confident. You’ll see. He probably just needed to get away for a while, blow off some steam. You know how he gets.

Emery looked over at her sister and bit her lip nervously.

What? Adrienne asked, her brow furrowing.

Emery dropped her eyes and continued to gnaw on her lip. Could she tell Adrienne? Tell her that Mark wasn’t coming back. Tell her that she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was…dead.

Emery? Adrienne’s tone was laced with worry. What is it?

She was going to tell her, she had to tell someone. Adrienne, I— Emery stopped and Adrienne suddenly gasped as an icy chill slammed into them both, a warning that only meant one thing…vampire.

Emery leapt to her feet, pulling Adrienne up with her, gripping the wooden blade tightly.

What do we do? Adrienne looked petrified, but before Emery could answer, the roof door blew open, and Stephen burst through. His blue eyes were frantic. Vampire! Run, Em!

Emery hesitated only a moment, then grabbed her shocked sister by the arm and bolted toward the fire escape stairs with Stephan, Ajax, and Max close behind them.

She urged Adrienne on in front of her trying not to panic as they made their way quickly down the six stories of the fire escape. When they finally hit pavement, Stephen grabbed Emery and Adrienne, urging them west down the street before taking the lead. Ajax and Max followed close behind.

Confused pedestrians jumped out of their way, yelling insults. Adrienne was lagging; Emery grabbed her hand and pulled her on. For the first time, Emery noticed her dad’s crossbow flung over Stephen’s shoulder, and her heart clenched.

They ran up the street into the growing darkness. Stephen kept glancing behind them and urging them to run faster. The adrenaline rush was starting to wear off, and Emery didn’t think she could run at such a grueling pace much longer. Adrienne’s hand was slick with sweat and kept slipping from hers. Finally, she saw St. Paul’s Catholic Church up the street, a silhouette against the sinking sun, and knew, with a flood of relief, that this was where they were headed.

As they charged up the stone steps, Stephen flung the heavy door open, pulling them both inside along with the puppies who had kept pace the whole time despite their small legs. He then yanked the door shut and bolted it. They all stood panting in the entryway.

What's happened? Emery gasped. You said vampire! Where are Mom and Dad? Where are your parents?

Stephen, breathing hard, just looked at her, and suddenly she didn’t think she wanted her questions answered. Adrienne slid down the wall and started to cry in breathless, jerking sobs. Max and Ajax paced in front of the heavy bolted doors, growling.

Without a word, Stephen walked over to Adrienne and effortlessly picked her up, which was incredible considering he had just run flat-out for eight blocks. He looked at Emery and jerked his head to the right.

Follow me, he whispered.

Emery's stomach was in a tight knot as Stephen led them through the quiet sanctuary. Their feet slapped on the stone floor. Even in their state of panic and fear, this quiet and holy room brought a small bit of peace with its familiarity. Emery had walked this stone aisle almost every Sunday for the past five years.

The soft glow of the candles silhouetted a familiar shape slung over Stephen’s back. The breath caught in Emery’s chest and she froze. Her father’s Go Bag was slung over Stephen’s shoulder. Her dad had put that bag together years ago, nicknaming it the Go Bag. It had hung behind every front door in every house or apartment or town home they had ever lived in. It held everything of true value to her and her family and all the absolute essentials any of them would need to make an immediate escape. They had never needed it though.

Wait, she cried, her voice echoing off the stone walls and floor.

Stephen jerked around. What?

Why do you have the Go Bag, Stephen? Her voice sounded faint and small even in this room.

His expression softened and his eyes turned sad. It’s just a precaution. Come on, Em. And he turned back around and continued down the aisle.

She followed him…somehow, she did.

Stephen led them to a stairwell hidden to the far right of the pulpit. They walked down it and he nodded at Emery to knock on the door.

Father Andrew answered almost at once, as if he was expecting them. His face was grave and pale as he ushered them inside. Stephen laid Adrienne on the worn blue couch. Emery cautiously sat down next to her and put an arm around her sister. Adrienne had stopped crying, but the look of terror was still all over her young face.

Father Andrew was more than their priest; he was a friend and a part of the Sovranus, a secret organization that helped in the protection of her kind.

Emery looked around the small room. She found it odd to see his humble living space…well, of course he had his own home. What did she expect? He certainly didn’t sleep in a pew.

She jerked herself back to the present. What was the matter with her? For all she knew, her parents might be dead, yet she was thinking about Father Andrew’s tattered blue couch and the funny looking red vase sitting up on the mantle.

Stephen, what happened? Father Andrew asked.

Stephen walked over to the small window and looked out, rubbing his face with his hands. Then he started to talk in a calm and almost dead voice.

We knew something was wrong. As you knew already, Mark left two weeks ago, and we hadn’t heard from him since. My dad and Patrick— Emery’s heart tightened at the sound of her father’s name. —have been out looking for him every day, but could find no trace of where he had gone. Stephen paused and turned to look at Father Andrew. He became one of them. A vampire. He said this so calmly, so matter of fact that it took a second to absorb.

What? Her own Blood Guardian a vampire? Emery gripped her right wrist where her Bonding mark had been. The mark had turned scar-white the other day, and she had known immediately that Mark was dead, but she had been too afraid to tell anyone.

Adrienne was sobbing with her face hidden in her hands and was mumbling incoherently. Emery just stared at Stephen, the nails of her left hand digging into the wrist of her right. It was the only pain she felt right now. The rest of her was totally numb.

Father Andrew had put a hand to his heart. Oh, Lord God, help us, he said as he slowly sank into the red stuffed chair near him.

I think they're all dead, Stephen whispered, his voice cracking. He finally looked over at Emery and Adrienne, tears in his eyes. I am so sorry. It all happened so fast. I tried to save them, I really did.

Adrienne shook with quiet sobs and had practically crawled into Emery’s lap. Stephen dropped down in front of Emery and grabbed her free hand, holding it tightly in his own. Tears streamed down his checks and dripping onto her bare legs. He wiped at his face.

I was supposed to protect them. I am so sorry, Em. His intense blue eyes pleaded for understanding and forgiveness.

She should say something…feel something, but all she could do was absently rub Adrienne’s back. The truth would not go in…there was no place for something like this to go. Dead? All of them…dead? Why wasn’t she crying? Why didn’t she feel anything? She just stared at Stephen.

After a long moment Father Andrew finally spoke. Tell me what happened, Stephen. Stephen continued to look in Emery’s eyes, then reluctantly released her hand and stood up, running a shaking hand through his hair.

I had just gotten home. Rowen and Lady, gave us our first warning, he said, speaking of Ajax and Max’s parents. He glanced at the puppies, who stood guard at the door, a rumble still in their throats. And then my dad, Patrick, and I felt them too. Stephen said, putting a hand to his chest. We thought we had at least ten to fifteen minutes. That’s the time frame we usually have, but suddenly… he was there… walking through the door. Stephen shook his head.

Adrienne was quiet now as she lay curled up next to Emery clutching her shirt. Emery tightened her hold on her sister.

He looked different…so strange… Stephen continued. And the dogs were confused. I think they smelled the Blood Guardian scent still on him or something, and it caused them to hesitate just long enough for Mark to kill both of them.

At this Adrienne let out a small cry and covered her ears. Emery sat stone still, listening to Stephen’s story. My dad attacked him next, but his heart wasn’t in it. Vampire or not, Mark was still his son, but Mark, he… ripped out his throat. Then he went for our mothers, but Patrick got in between them and they began to fight. Mark just laughed at him. I tried to help Patrick, but he yelled at me to get to the roof to save the girls. I was so torn, but my first responsibility is to protect my girls, so I ran. Stephen glanced at Emery and Adrienne with clenched fists.

At this point, I don’t know what happened to Patrick or to our mothers. I am assuming the worst, but if any of them survived, they will come here. Stephen took a shaky breath.. What do we do now? he whispered, looking at Father Andrew.

Father Andrew rose from his chair and walked over to Stephen and laid his hands on the younger man’s shoulders. We wait for at least a little while. Then I’ll contact the Sovranus and we’ll go from there. You have done well, Stephen. You’re only seventeen, yet your actions were that of a much older and experienced Blood Guardian. Your father would have been proud, very proud.

Stephen nodded and looked down at the worn carpet.

Father Andrew squeezed Stephen’s shoulders. You can all stay here until we figure out a safe place for you to go. He then walked briskly to his tattered desk that was piled high with books and papers, and continued in a strained voice. I fear we must assume the worst. I don’t understand how this could have happened. I should have seen the signs. Mark had always been troubled, but I would never have thought… I’m afraid to think it let alone say it, but we might have to assume that Mark is immortal now.

What? Emery burst out, finally finding her voice. You’re just going to assume that easy? You don’t know that my dad is dead! You don’t know anything yet! He could have made it out of there! He’s a well-trained Immortal Blooded. He’s fought vampires his whole life and killed every one of them! She jumped up and walked over to Stephen.

You know my dad, Stephen! she continued, her eyes pleading with his. He’s not going to go down that easy and if he knew he was beaten…if it came to that. Emery could hardly finish, but she pulled all her resolve together. There’s no way he would let Mark…let Mark…he’d kill himself before he’d let Mark immortalize himself with his blood.

I know, Em. Stephen reached out and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. I haven’t given up, okay? If any of them made it out, they will come here. It’s always been the plan, right? He pulled her toward him and hugged her close. She nodded into his shoulder, his familiar scent calming her pounding heart.

We’ll wait, Stephen whispered and glanced over at Father Andrew. The two of them shared a look full of meaning.

Emery pulled away from Stephen and looked over at Adrienne. Her sister sat curled up, looking much younger than her thirteen years.

They’re scaring her. Emery glared at Father Andrew, who looked back at her with kind yet pitying eyes, which only made her bristle more. She hated him for giving up already. Where was his faith?

Emery went back and sat back down on the couch. She reached over and hugged Adrienne again, which is how they stayed for the next hour. Stephen finally sat down in a straight-backed chair near the fireplace, putting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Father Andrew sat with his eyes closed in his faded red chair. Emery thought he might be praying, or she hoped he was. The ticking clock above the mantle was loud in her ears. It seemed to mock her with every tick and every tock as time slipped away.

Suddenly, Ajax and Max jumped up, fur bristling and teeth bared once again. Stephen raised his head slowly looking at Father Andrew. Emery jumped up and made for the door,

Dad! she cried. It had to be her father! She knew he wasn’t dead!

Stephen jumped up and grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

Wait, Em! Something’s not right. Don’t you feel that? he asked, searching her eyes. Emery’s hopeful determination had masked all other warnings. From past training, her father’s urgent voice echoed in her head, Emery, your emotions mask your instinct. You need to be able to quiet them so you can feel what’s around you or you’re going to get yourself into trouble…

She took a deep breath, and sure enough, she felt the deep chill creeping through her veins that only meant one thing…vampire. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It was as if it were breathing down her neck, and she shuddered.

Ajax and Max began to whine and pace in front of the door, ready to do their part against the vampire seeking their Immortal Blooded. She knew what this feeling meant.

Mark had also known their long standing plan to seek refuge here if something happened; he had been her Blood Guardian after all. She knew that her parents would have sacrificed everything to get here if they were still alive. Mark, the newly created vampire, was outside. They all knew it.

Emery clutched at Stephen. What are we going to do? the panic in her voice catching in her throat. Then, as if Mark could hear them talking, Stephen’s phone began to ring. He slowly pulled the phone out of his pocket and held it a short distance from himself, as if it were poisoned. He looked at Father Andrew as the phone continued to ring. Father Andrew nodded and Stephen pushed the talk button and slowly brought it to his ear.

Hello, brother, he said in a quiet and deadly calm voice. Emery was still holding onto his arm, and now she searched his face, trying to get a clue as to what Mark was saying. Stephen stood stone still, keeping his eyes on the floor. His jaw was a tight line. He didn’t say anything, just listened. He did, however, take hold of Emery’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and held on tightly. On a normal day, maybe back on the roof of their apartment complex, this would have filled Emery with joy, but now…now it only filled her with dread. What was Mark saying on the other end? What kind of deal was he proposing? Emery couldn’t take her eyes from Stephen’s face.

If I do this, the girls and Father Andrew get to leave this place unharmed, and you will not pursue them, Stephen said. It wasn’t a question but a statement. Emery’s heart started to pound in her chest. She turned to look at Father Andrew with pleading eyes. Father Andrew had a defeated and sad look on his face as he gazed back at her.

Fine, give me thirty minutes, Stephen said in a flat tone and hung up the phone slipping it back into his pocket. He still held Emery’s hand tightly as he led her back to the couch. It seemed he had aged thirty years in a matter of minutes. He sat down next to Adrienne and pulled Emery down on the other side of him. He grabbed Adrienne’s hand with his free one. There were big tears sliding down his cheeks. He seemed to be gathering strength to talk.

He… His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat and tried again. He killed them all. He wasn’t alone. He… he wants me to join him, and if I do he’ll let you all go

What? No! Absolutely not! Emery and Adrienne yelled out at the same time. Emery’s body went numb with the truth of their parents’ death, but she wasn’t just going to give Stephen away too. Both girls turned to Father Andrew for support, but he put his hand up for silence.

What did he say, Stephen? What does he want from you? he asked.

You know what he wants from me, Stephen whispered, looking at the priest. It’s the only way. There are over a dozen vampires out there right now. There is no way we can get out.

But we can just stay here! They can’t come into the church, Adrienne cried, and swallowed hard, looking from Stephen to Father Andrew through tear-filled eyes.

That’s true. We can just stay here until sunrise and we can leave then! Emery struggled to maintain a glimmer of hope.

They have hostages out there, Stephen said, releasing the girls’ hands and standing up again. People we all know. If I don’t walk out that front door in thirty minutes, they are going to start killing. I have to go; it is the only way of stopping him. Stephen got up and walked across the room. He gripped his hair by the roots and leaned his forehead against the wall, shoulders hunched and knuckles white.

What does he want? Adrienne asked.

It doesn’t matter, Stephen murmured into the wall.

Of course it matters! Emery cried.

No, it doesn’t, Stephen snapped, straightening and looking around at her. I have to go.

No! Adrienne shook her head definitely. Father Andrew, tell him he can’t!

Father Andrew frowned. Stephen, I understand your resolve to give up your life willingly, but I can’t condone you giving up your soul, my son.

I’m not asking your permission, Stephen murmured and before Father Andrew could push the point Stephen continued. We are running out of time. We need to figure out what is going to happen with you two and where you are going to go. Emery and Adrienne made every attempt to interrupt, but Stephen held up his hand as the deep pain he was experiencing flickered across his face for an instant before he went deadly calm…alarmingly calm. This is how it has to be. My job is to keep you both safe, and I will do what I have to do to make sure you two get a fighting chance at a normal life. He paused and glanced at the floor, I had hoped I was going to be a part of that life, but…

He swallowed hard and looked back up at them with new determination in his eyes.

I knew this might happen when I signed up to be your Blood Guardian, he said, looking at Adrienne. I would lay down my life over and over again for either of you if I had to. He was looking between them both when he said this, though his eyes rested a little longer on Emery. There was such pain there that the tears she’d withheld at the beginning of the night came in a hot rush now. They streamed down her face unheeded and unnoticed. Father Andrew’s eyes were wet too.

Stephen, however, seemed to have detached from his emotions; he began to talk urgently of a plan to get the girls out of the state and out of the country if needed. It all was happening so quickly that Emery couldn’t keep up, but at that moment, she really didn’t care what happened tomorrow. In one night, she had lost almost her whole family. Suddenly, all she wanted to do was sleep. She wanted to just stand up and say, Time out! to her life. But then it was happening.

Stephen stood up and hugged Father Andrew, who hugged him tightly back and promised he would do all he could to keep them safe. Stephen just nodded curtly clearly trying to keep it together. Then he went to Adrienne and pulled her close, whispering soothingly in her ear. She just cried harder and nodded a few times, her face buried in his shirt and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. After several moments, Stephen handed her off to Father Andrew.

When he turned to Emery she stood up and began to back away shaking her head. No, no, no! Tears were streaming down her face and she couldn’t meet his eyes. Stephen walked to her and cupped her face tilting it up to his. He gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs and stepped even closer to her.

Hey you, don’t cry, he whispered as he gazed down at her.

Please don’t go. We need you with us. Emery pleaded.

He closed his eyes as if in pain, Don’t, Em.

Shame filled her. He was being so brave, so selfless. She couldn’t make this harder than it already was. With a small nod she reached up and with trembling hands she unclasped her necklace, then reached up and secured it around Stephen’s neck. He looked down at it in surprise.

I want you to keep this to remember who you are. You have to remember Her voice cracked with emotion, but she got the words out.

Em, I can’t take this.

I want you to have it, she assured him. Then you won’t forget me either.

I could never forget you, he said softly as he tucked her necklace under his shirt, his hand resting over it for a moment. Then he pulled her into a gentle hug and whispered in her ear, Don’t let this break you, Em. No matter what happens to me…no matter what I become. Stay alive. I love you. I always have and I always will. And before she could wrap her head around what he had just said, he gripped both sides of her face and pulled it to his, kissing her tenderly, their tears mingling together. Then he was gone.

Chapter 2

Two years later

Emery stood with her back against the wall of her dingy Colorado apartment, her head still foggy from interrupted sleep. She had no idea what time it was, but the moon was still high, casting a dim glow through the room. She knew the vampire was close, probably in the hallway or in one of the adjacent apartments. The icy warning triggered by his presence pulsed painfully through her veins with every beat of her heart. She would have been more prepared if she hadn't taken that sleep aid before she went to bed. The nightmares were just par for the course, but they had been worse as of late. While she needed to get used to them, she desperately craved a dreamless sleep. If it hadn’t been for Max and Ajax, her faithful Laelaps, who had finally been able to wake her, she might be dead already.

She gripped her crossbow tighter and made sure her 9mm was securely tucked into the back of her waistband as she quietly edged to the front door of the apartment. This was one of those times when it would be better to walk out and face the inevitable threat head-on rather than being cornered in here. She knew it would be drawn to her eventually anyway.

Ajax and Max were right next to her, their bodies tensed for a fight. She put her hand on the door knob and slowly opened it a crack. She peered out into the hallway. It should have been well lit, but like most things in this apartment complex, the mandatory lighting was not up to code.

There was a small amount of moonlight shining through a tiny, filthy window at the end of the hallway. Its dull glow silhouetted a hunched figure hovering over something sprawled and still on the grungy floor. A sick mix of slurping and sucking noises assaulted her ears, and her stomach turned over at the scent of blood, fresh and potent. He had already attacked someone. Emery cursed inwardly wondering who it had been, but now was not the time to think about that.

She opened the door fully and slipped out into the darkness, flanked by Ajax and Max. As far as she could sense, there was only one vampire, and he had not noticed her, apparently lost in the blood lust for his victim. Probably about fifteen to twenty feet separated them. He was distracted, so Emery knew that now was the time to act. She glanced down at Ajax and Max who stood ready. Emery jerked her head to the side and they bolted past her down the hall, their huge paws impossibly silent on the tile floor. Emery followed close behind at a run with her crossbow raised.

The vampire jerked his head up at the last second, but had no time to react as Max leapt through the air, slamming into him and forcing him to the ground. Ajax retreated a bit to place himself between the vampire and Emery. The vampire snarled, his fangs both long and glistening in the moonlight. He grabbed Max around the throat, but the Laelap whipped his head around, clamping his powerful jaws around the vampire’s wrist and crushing it. The bones broke with an audible crunch. The vampire howled in pain, the sound echoing down the