Havermouth, Present Time
“That’s like… a thing? Like a real thing?” Aislen looked between her two mates.
“It is,” Talen replied placing his hand on the small of her back and encouraging her gently forward.
The alley and carpark had taken them through the square of the town, depositing them on the street where Rhett’s shop was located, bypassing the blocked off, soldier filled main street. It was a route that someone who had grown up in the town knew, but that people new to the area would not.
They crossed the road, pausing on the corner to look up towards the main crossroads of the town as yells broke out, Heath tensing. A group of men dragged a woman, fighting, clawing, her hair wild and her blue suit covered in blood, out of a building and into a van, leaving behind one designer high heel on the pavement. The van shook, and the passenger within shrieked, the sound carrying as the van pulled away from the curb.
“Was that…?” Aislen trailed off remembering Dr James and the bite mark on her arm.
“Dr James,” Heath finished for her staring up the street, his expression shocked into blankness.
“I wonder who she ate,” Aislen murmured under her breath. “I hope that they’re okay, but from the amount of blood on her, I’m guessing that they’re not.”
“We should continue to the Ute,” Talen murmured breaking their reverie. “Hunters have always existed,” he continued, keeping his voice low and his head bowed towards Aislen as they headed towards the rear of Rhett’s shop. “Humans have always feared those unlike themselves, and although the supernatural world guards its existence well, it has not always been so. Between the occasional mistake and the continuance of the story of them, enough humans have continued to believe, and those who lose loved ones to us, often spend the remainder of their lives hunting us down in vengeance.
Talen unlocked the Ute and opened the front passenger door for Aislen, before walking around the car to the driver’s side. “But with the arrival of the One God, the priests created an order devoted to hunting. Over the eras they have targeted different species of supernatural with different levels of success.”
“Witches in the Medieval period,” Heath said from the backseat. He was angling his phone in different directions testing for reception.
“Vampires in the seventeenth century,” Talen said darkly as he pulled out onto the street. “I lost many friends to their efforts during that time.”
“I wonder who they are targeting now,” Aislen murmured. “I didn’t get that from Toby’s mind, just flashes of information, enough to make me look at that bunker under the river house and think that it seems very cosy, and we should absolutely make our way there just as soon as we find Rhett and Cameron, which brings me to the other thing, Heath.”
“Other thing?” Heath asked with dread. “Damn it, I think the phone connections are getting worse!”
“I think I know where Jessica is,” Aislen told him. “I had a dream, about the men in black at Haven farm, and Charlotte holding a baby, but it wasn’t until I was standing in the hall again, that I remembered how Charlotte had looked at Jessica during the presentation. I think Charlotte has Jessica.”
“Why would Charlotte have Jessica?” Heath wondered.
“I don’t know. Maybe Jessica wandered out into the storm and crossed Charlotte’s path?” Aislen avoided saying that she suspected that somehow Charlotte had known Jessica was Rhett’s. There was no other explanation, she thought, and was the only connection between Charlotte and Jessica. She didn’t know how Charlotte had known, or why she would take another child sired by Rhett – but it made sense of her dream, of the baby that Charlotte had been holding.
“Why would Charlotte even be in Havermouth…?”
“She was here for the presentation the other night, remember?” She prompted gently.
“Still, why would that bring her anywhere near Lauren’s house and Jessica…? Ah, f-k,” Heath groaned, closing his eyes as he, too, made the connection. “How would she know though?” He asked himself. “We didn’t know.”
“Maybe I’m wrong,” Aislen said softly. “It is a bit crazy sounding. We didn’t know that Jessica is Rhett’s so how would Charlotte know? Why would she take Jessica just because she’s Rhett’s daughter? And in the middle of the storm like that, too. I must admit though, I am hoping that is what happened, because if it did, then Jessica will be safe with Charlotte. I don’t see Charlotte harming her, do you?”
“No,” Heath frowned. “With the NES holding the roads closed on this epidemic lock down, I don’t know how we can get to Haven Farm in order to find out whether you are right, Aislen.”
“You can’t, like, wave your mayoral flag and get us through the roadblocks?” Aislen suggested.
“Not really,” he shook his head.
Talen slowed down, drawing their attention to the world outside the car. The suburban street was thick with soldiers, moving from house to house, knocking at the doors. One homeowner was arguing, pointing to his door angrily. A green cross had been painted at face level.
“Red for infected, green for not?” Talen murmured.
As Talen pulled up at Lillian and Rohan’s pretty house, Aislen saw Lillian in the front door, wrestling with a screaming baby, and shaking her head, her expression furious and her wolf in her eyes. Rhett’s son’s wide whiskey-colored eyes peered around her hip. The group turned to look at the Ute as Heath, Talen and Aislen got out.
“We are advising residents to stay at home,” one of the soldiers said as they approached.
“Yeah, yeah,” Aislen replied. “We’ve been told several times. Go home, stay home.”
“This is Mayor Gale,” Lillian told the soldiers with satisfaction. “Tell them Heath, that they’ve got no right to come into our homes and scare the children.” Aislen saw that there was blood on the baby’s top, and her heart picked up pace. Lillian wasn’t preventing the soldiers from entering her house out of obstinacy, but rather because she had something to hide.
“You’re going into people’s houses?” Heath demanded. Aislen saw him inhale, his nostrils flaring, scenting the blood.
“We are verifying that there are no infected within the property. As we explained to Mrs Marriot, Havermouth is in the grip of an epidemic. It is important that we contain and prevent the spread amongst the population as resources are already strained. If everyone would stay at home, let us check to make sure there are no infected within, mark the house to show that it’s been inspected, then we can better track the spread of the illness.”
“As I said to him,” Lillian replied on a snarl. “There’s no one within who is infected, and he has no right to enter my home or to paint my door blue.” She gestured angrily at the door which had an ugly blue cross still running drips towards the ground.
“Go inside Lillian,” Heath said to her. “We’ll take care of this.”
“Okay Heath. Come on, nap time boys,” she said with false brightness to the baby and little boy.
“No nap, wanna see daddy,” the little boy argued as they stepped into the house and Lillian pulled the door shut behind her cutting off further protests.
“I understand what you’re doing,” Heath said to the soldiers as they turned from the house. “And I support your intentions. However, you cannot force your way into people’s homes. Why do you think they would lie about whether someone in the house is infected or not? Just ask the question at the door and move on, please.”
“We are following orders,” the soldier replied in annoyance. “And cannot change the process for a civilian.”
“He is the mayor,” Talen growled.
“I am the mayor,” Heath repeated, nodding in agreement. “And I am also a lawyer, so I know that private armies do not have the right, even in an emergency such as we are currently facing, to force their way into people’s homes. I will speak to Joseph Lennon, tomorrow, when I return to the town hall, but I’m sure that you can radio the information through to him, and to your units, so if I see any more soldiers trying to gain access to houses, I will begin taking details in preparation for launching a lawsuit against your company once this emergency is over. Do you understand?”
“We will report to headquarters,” the second soldier spoke for the first time. “And see what our Captain says.”
“Do that. Now, if you will excuse me. I am, as discussed with Joseph Lennon, reassuring my constituents that your men are operating for their best interests, and to follow your requests to stay within their houses,” Heath stepped past them and opened the front door, gesturing for Aislen and Talen to proceed him into the house. “Have a good day,” he said closing the door in the face of the soldiers.
“What the f-k is going on?” Aislen whispered to him. “Lillian’s baby had blood on him.”
“Heath,” Lillian said from the other end of the hall. “In here, quickly.”
They hurried down the hall into the kitchen, where Rohan, Scott and Cameron were tying Nathan Lowe into a seat. Nathan hissed and spat, foaming pinkly at the corners of his mouth, red dripping down his chin onto his chest. His shirt was torn open and stuck wetly to where chunks had been bitten out of his chest. Fingernails had shredded the skin of his forearms, and blood dripped steadily onto the tiles.
“Where’s Rhett?” Aislen asked anxiously, searching the room for him.
Lillian opened a door against the other door to reveal a powder room, and Rhett, wearing nothing but his own skin, his hand clasped to his forearm, blood leaking between his fingers into the sink. A first aid box was open beside him. He met Aislen’s eyes in the vanity mirror, his expression shocked.
“F-ker bit me.”
Havermouth, A Year Before“She’s a beauty,” Cameron leaned against the fence and admired Jules’ new mare, Aria, who was grazing in the field nearest to the house.“She is, sired by Maverick James, and out of Soprano Siren, fourteen point two hands, she needs a bit more work, but she has a sweet, gentle nature,” Jules was pleased by his purchase. “I’ll take her out to ride the fences later today and see how she does.”“Chester will be jealous.”Jules slid his eyes to Cameron and then away. “Sometimes we have to make choices, Cam, and no matter how much we love a horse, sometimes a new one is needed, right?”Jules wasn’t talking about horses, Cameron thought grimly, but about women. “Sometimes, there only is one horse,” he replied softly. “And you can’t replace it.”“I’m sorry for that,” Jules murmured. “I am, Cam.” They watched the mare graze in silence before Jules gave a slight restless gesture. “You should go see your mum before you head off, have a cup of tea. She’s leaving again f
The Concordia, Twelve Hundred Years Before (Give or Take a Century)Thaelen watched Sigrid chase the waves with the slave children, her skirts held to mid-thigh, and her braids bouncing as she laughed and splashed through the shallows. The day was bright, and the sky clear of cloud, and the weather had encouraged the slaves to the water. They searched the sand and the shallows for fish, took boats out deeper to cast their nets and strung drying frames around the fires, to smoke and dry their catch for the winter.Thaelen had not come to the beach for food. He searched the sand, to see what treasures of the deep the tide had brought in.“What are you doing?” Sigrid asked as she returned to him, the sand crusting her wet legs with salt.“Preparing offerings for the gods. In a few days, we will travel into the mountains, see there,” he pointed to the shadow on the horizon. “There is a temple there. It will take many days to walk there, and we will stay with the strongholds we encounter o
The Concordia, Twelve Hundred Years Before (Give or Take a Century)The pilgrimage towards the mountains took several days as it was traditionally made on foot. Many vampires chose to make the pilgrimage each year, and so Thorarin and Thaelen were accompanied by a number of vampires, slaves, and wagons ladened with supplies for the humans and gifts for both the lords of the Concordia who would host them along their path and to sacrifice to the gods.The days were filled with the slow trudge towards the mountains on the horizon, and the nights with stories told by firelight, the storyteller’s throats lubricated by blood mixed with mead or beer. When they reached a stronghold, the entire caravan would be absorbed into the homes of their hosts, and they would stay for two days, in order for Thorarin to spend time with the lords and ladies of the Concordia, with Thaelen at his side learning how to negotiate and resolve the concerns of his future kingdom.As they passed through the strongh
The Concordia, Twelve Hundred Years Before (Give or Take a Century) The Temple of the Gods was perched high in the mountains, and it took most of the day to guide the wagons up the steep and narrow roads to where, around a jutting point of rock, the way suddenly widened into a generous courtyard and the temple appeared, cunningly carved into the mountain. The temple was as large as a stronghold, the chambers uncounted, with many layers of openings and balconies looking down into the courtyard it framed on three sides. The stone-smiths who had carved it were artist vampires, and their efforts were still ongoing, with scaffolding built against one side showing the newest renovations. The arrival of the pilgrimage was anticipated, and the courtyard was filled with acolytes, priests and priestesses of the various gods, and their blood slaves. Thaelen and Thorarin were guided through into the great hall, lined with the altars of the gods, and began the slow progression from altar to al
Kabramatta, One Year Before Aislen dreamed of Rhett, dressed formally in a black suit and shirt, standing on the balcony of the river house with the wind trying to suck his hair free of its tie as he gazed out over the river. His hands were in his pockets, the suit jacket riding up around his wrists, and he was clean shaven. His cheekbones were sharper, his jaw more defined, youth faded into manhood. Heath walked up behind him, wearing charcoal grey to match his eyes. His hair was closely and severely cut. He placed his hand on Rhett’s shoulder and they both stood, grimly looking out at the flowing water, before turning together as Cameron stepped out of the river house. Like Rhett, Cameron wore a black suit, his shirt crisply white. He was weeping and shook his head as both Rhett and Heath started forwards. “Don’t,” his lips shaped the word though there was no sound. He turned and walked around the corner of the house. Aislen woke and lay awake gazing at the ceiling, her heart rac
The Concordia, Twelve Hundred Years Before (Give or Take a Century)Thaelen admired the way that the moonlight played over Akaus’ skin, his muscles flexing as he thrusted into Besafora, his fingers gripping her hips so tightly that the skin dimpled beneath his fingertips, but it did not seem to hurt her at all.“You can be rough,” Akaus grunted. “Rougher than you think, faster than you think. You have been raised to be careful with your vampire strength but have trust that Besafora will let you know if it is too much. With some practice, you will learn to read your partner’s response.” He withdrew and moved to the side. “Try it.”Thaelen’s heart pounded as he moved between the human woman’s legs and Akaus curved over his back, confident that his weight would not affect Thaelen, his hand stroking over Thaelen’s stomach, guiding Thaelen’s c-ck into the human woman.Thaelen groaned dark and gritty. “Ah, by the goddess,” he sobbed out.“Yes,” Akaus enjoyed Thaelen’s pleasure. “She feels w
Havermouth, Present TimeAislen pried Rhett’s hand away from the wound and cried out. Nathan Lowe had more than bitten Rhett, he had almost torn a chunk of his forearm away, only a section of skin holding it into place. Rhett made a wet sound in the back of his throat, looking away. “F-k.”“Talen!” Aislen’s call was a panicked wail.“Let me in, little demon,” the vampire picked her up by the waist, lifting her off her feet, and setting her to the floor outside the small powder room so that he could see. “Hmm, that is… unfortunate. I can try to lick it, but I suspect that saliva alone will be insufficient. Better, I think, Rhett, for you to take some blood. Let’s bandage this and sit upon the couch, as a powder room is no place for such things.”Heath put his arm around Aislen as they both watched Talen bandage the wound on Rhett’s arm. Through the touch, Heath’s thoughts spilled into Aislen’s mind in a rapid fire of worry. (Talen hadn’t wanted to lick the wound) Heath thought, (becaus
The Concordia, Twelve Hundred Years Before (Give or Take a Century)The room grew hot as the moonlight was replaced by sunshine, and their bodies were slick with sweat and caked in come, the periods of time between their sex longer as all three tired, and the men struggled to grow hard again swiftly. For a time, all three slept, entangled, and Thaelen woke to the sun setting when Akaus and Besafora rose from the bed.“It is time to bathe, my prince. Our time is up,” Akaus told him gently.“Thank you,” Thaelen said as he waded into the water and washed the slime of oil, sweat, and come off his skin and hair. “I had not known what to expect of the full sacrifice, but it… I will remember this time for the remainder of my life.”“You honor us, my prince,” Besafora smiled happily. “We hope that we will see you again on other pilgrimages.”“Will it be allowed?” Thaelen wondered. “This is my first, I do not know of the rules for priests and priestesses.”“Of course, it will be allowed,” Akau