The Legend of the Blue Eyes (22 page)

After Devin returned, Arianna had fed and
slept through the rest of the weekend. Turner stopped by several
times to check on her, but she had been sleeping.

“Mm hmm,” she said, nodding her reply. “Good
as new.” Arianna tipped her head and rested it on his shoulder. “I
guess not quite good as new. I’m still a little tired.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked, concerned.

“No, just tired,” she replied, still
watching outside. The scenery stopped as they entered another
tunnel.

“You can take a nap,” Turner suggested,
putting his arm around Arianna.

“But I slept on the way here. I want to
watch outside,” she answered. “This sure is a long tunnel,” she
added, as the windows were still dark.

“This is one of the longer ones,” Turner
added. “It’s a few miles long I think.”

Arianna quickly sat up and looked around.
She was sure she heard several thumps on the tops of the cars.

“What’s wrong?” Devin asked, instantly
putting his earphone on.

“It sounded like several thumps on the
ceiling,” she said. “Up at the front end of the train.” Turner
closed his eyes and listened. He opened his eyes and put his
earphone in just as fast.

Arianna heard the front door to the train
open. Listening carefully, she counted the set of footsteps.

“It sounds like there are two groups,” she
said. “One is moving down the cars this way and the other is
staying in place.”

“How many?” Devin asked, repeating Mori’s
question, as Molina entered the room.

“Eight in each group,” Arianna replied.
Arianna ignored the conversation between Mori and Devin while she
listened to the group approaching.

“It’s a purebred vamp,” Turner said,
suddenly pulling Arianna’s attention back to the people around her.
The group had moved close enough for Turner to find them. “Six cars
ahead.”

“How much further is the other group?” Devin
asked Arianna.

“I’m not sure how many cars, but it’s about
the same distance as the first group is to us right now,” Arianna
explained. Devin nodded with a quick, reassuring smile as he
relayed the information to Mori.

“Can you tell who it is?” Devin asked Turner
and Mori at the same time.

“No,” Turner replied. “He’s still too far
away for me to be certain.”

“Are you sure?” Devin asked Mori. Quickly
searching in his pocket, Devin removed a small vial. Popping the
lid, Arianna immediately recognized the scent: her grandfather’s
blood. “Arianna, can you give Turner a small drop of your blood?”
Devin asked.

“But grandfather said…” Arianna replied
staring at Molina.

“He won’t do anything to Turner now. You’ve
already announced he was going to be your custodian,” Devin
replied.

“I’ll be gentle,” he promised.

Turner gently picked up Arianna’s hand.
Pulling her finger to his mouth, he partially changed forms.
Arianna watched curiously, as she hadn’t seen his lycan form
before. His reddish brown hair slightly lengthened and small hairs
began to grow on the back of his neck. Arianna felt a slight prick
as he bit the tip of her finger. He changed back as soon as he let
go of her hand.

“Thank you,” he said softly, feeling the
strength of her blood rush through his.

“Turner, sit down beside Arianna,” Devin
directed. “Arianna, sit between Turner and the window and lean
against him. Close your eyes and pretend to be sleeping.” Arianna
followed his instructions. “It’s Michael Seeger,” Devin said to
Turner.

“But if he’s here, then that means…” Turner
trailed off.

Arianna lifted her head from his shoulder
and looked at the two exchanging glances.

“Arianna, pretend to sleep, or we’ll have to
make you actually sleep,” Devin replied.

Arianna pouted as she closed her eyes again.
She didn’t want to be left out of the conversation, but Devin was
serious. Placing her hand on Turner’s chest, Arianna suddenly had a
plan to be part of the conversation. Using her nail, Arianna cut
her own finger and Turner’s chest. Placing her bit finger over the
cut on Turner’s chest, she connected.

‘Can you hear me?’
Arianna asked Turner.

Turner smiled. “When did you learn how to do
that?” he asked. Devin stared at Arianna and Turner. Devin nodded,
as he understood.

“When Gabriel visited me,” she replied,
lifting her head and getting a stern look from Devin. “Okay, I got
it. Sleep.” Arianna laid her head back down and listened to the
group walking through the train cars toward the one she was in. As
the footsteps neared, she tried to relax and picture everything
without seeing it. Arianna listened to the slight clicking of
Molina’s shoes as she met up with the second group that was waiting
several cars away. Devin stood and opened the door.

“Welcome,” he said, bowing his head slightly
to the young man standing in the hallway.

‘Why is he being so
nice?’
Arianna asked.

‘Because even Devin has to
behave in front of purebreds,’
Turner
replied.

Arianna listened as the man entered and sat
down next to Turner.

“Been a while since I last saw you Michael,”
Turner said, also standing and bowing to the men. “You didn’t make
it down for her party.”

“No, father was too busy,” the young man
replied.

Arianna listened to Molina near the room. As
the door opened, Arianna wanted to open her eyes. She could smell
the same scent she had smelled on her grandfather on the man that
was with Molina.

“You found me,” the older gentleman said,
laughing as he entered. “Seems your skills are as good as normal,”
he added sitting beside Devin. “I didn’t expect to find you guys
all on the train today.”

‘He’s lying,’
Arianna said to Turner.

“I thought you were at school,” he
added.

‘More lies,’
she said.
‘Who is
he?’

‘Paul Seeger, head of the
Seeger family,’
Turner replied.
‘
One of few dearg-duls that like to cause
problems for your grandfather. He often times starts trouble, which
he leaves for Lord Randolph to clean up. Of all the dearg-dul
clans, he’s always the one voicing dissent to every choice your
grandfather makes.’

‘He smells like
grandfather,’
Arianna added.
‘
Sour.’

‘But he is nowhere near as
powerful,’
Tuner explained.
‘
He’s probably hoping to set his son up
with you so that he can finally get the power he wants.’

‘Too bad grandfather said
he would rather marry me himself than give me to any of the
purebreds alive,’
Arianna added.
‘He’s already received proposals and threw them
out.’

Turner chuckled accidentally causing
everyone to look at him.

“And this sleeping beauty must be Miss
Arianna,” Paul said examining Arianna like a prized specimen. “So
peaceful.”

‘If he comes near me, I’ll
bite him,’
Arianna threatened.
‘Arrrgh.’
Turner
chuckled more and tried to cover it with a laugh.

“It seems you found yourself quite a good
position.” Paul was staring at Turner, who kept laughing.

“I suppose, but she can be such a handful,”
he added, as Arianna pinched him.

“You would talk that way about the heir to
the Randolph name, and your new charge?” Paul replied.

“Why not? At least I don’t lie every time I
open my mouth,” Turner added. The man sat down across from him,
glaring, but Turner didn’t even flinch.

“You’re just a wolf. What would you know
about being able to tell if someone was lying?” Paul replied.

Devin smiled. He enjoyed seeing Lord Seeger,
the famed ‘stone man’ who never got angry, but he knew things had
to be calmed down for Arianna’s safety.

“Ari,” Devin said kneeling beside her. “Can
you please go to sleep now for real?”

Arianna opened her eyes and looked at Devin.
“But I’m not tired,” she complained. Arianna looked over Devin’s
shoulder at the older man. His keen eyes bore holes into her as he
stared. She could feel the delight he was feeling from just being
near her. Devin turned her face back towards him.

“Please,” Devin added.

“Fine,” she replied laying her head back
against Turner’s chest. Arianna looked up at Turner as he placed
his hand over her other ear.

‘Don’t worry,’
he added.
‘We will
protect you.’

Arianna smiled as she drifted off to
sleep.

The wind on the windows sounded different as
Arianna opened her eyes. Arianna woke to find herself no longer in
the train but in the rear seat of a car as it hurried toward the
Randolph estate. Devin and Turner were talking together facing
her.

“That was great,” Turner added. “Did you see
his face as I carried Arianna out into the sunlight, and he had to
sit in the train?”

“I couldn’t tell if he doubted we would take
her into sunlight, or that it wouldn’t matter,” Devin added with a
chuckle. Arianna could see the pain shoot over Devin’s face as he
began coughing. Concerned, she reached for his hand but was too
dizzy to make contact.

“Are you finally awake?” Turner asked, as
the car pulled into the driveway. Arianna nodded.

“Are you okay?” she asked Devin. Arianna
touched his skin. It felt cold, but he nodded his head yes.

Arianna, Devin, and Turner exited in front
of Randolph Manor. Arianna hurried to follow Devin and Turner. They
weaved their way between staff through the long hallways. As they
approached Lord Randolph’s study, Arianna began to worry slightly
about Turner as well. She could still smell the scent of her own
blood on Turner’s breath. Without knocking, Devin opened the
door.

“Uncle,” he called into the dimly-lit
room.

Lord Randolph placed his papers down behind
the large grand desk. Looking at Devin, Lord Randolph only needed a
moment before hurrying to the young man.

“You should have gone straight to the
infirmary,” he said, catching Devin as he fell to his knees.

“I’m fine,” Devin replied, steadying himself
on Lord Randolph.

“What did you do?” Lord Randolph asked,
escorting Devin to a chair. Arianna had never seen her grandfather
be so nice to someone before.

“I thought I’d be fine until we made it back
here, but we had some unexpected guests,” Devin explained. “We left
them on the train to get back here before them. Paul Seeger and his
son Michael are on their way to visit and discuss matters with
you.”

Lord Randolph strained a smile. “That old
fox thinks he can corner me into handing away my granddaughter now,
does he?” Devin nodded.

“I tried to explain to him that you were not
interested in taking proposals, but he didn’t seem to care,” Devin
replied. “We left them at the train. I thought you might want to
see Arianna safe in her apartment before he arrived.”

“That’s for sure,” Lord Randolph replied.
“Arianna, take Turner with you, and return to your apartment.”

“What’s going on?” she asked, looking from
Devin to her grandfather.

“Don’t worry about Devin; I’ll take him down
to the infirmary,” Lord Randolph replied.

“But why is he sick?” Arianna asked. Before
she had fallen asleep, Devin seemed to be perfectly healthy.

“This is what happens, when he uses up too
much blood,” Lord Randolph replied as Devin’s cheeks became red.
Obviously, Devin wasn’t about to tell Arianna the blunt truth.

“So, this is my fault?” Arianna asked.

“No, he would have been fine getting home if
it was just you feeding,” Lord Randolph added. “But he used some of
my blood. Humans can drink night human blood and gain extraordinary
powers. But to do so, the night human blood feeds on his own blood.
Since he was already low on blood from feeding you, he shouldn’t
have used my blood on top of it.”

“What choice did I have?” Devin tried to
defend himself. “We know his intent.”

Lord Randolph nodded, but he didn’t
elaborate further. “Turner, your things have been moved from your
dorm room to the apartment. Once you get upstairs, Mori will set
the security, so don’t leave your apartment until Devin or I come
for you.” Turner nodded. “Jackson, Nixon,” Lord Randolph called
into the hallway. “We will be in complete lockdown mode.” Both men
nodded also. Arianna wanted to ask more questions, but her
grandfather hugged her and turned her around to leave the room.

“What’s going on?” Arianna asked, as they
walked into her apartment.

“She’s in, Mori,” Nixon said into his
headphone. “Don’t try to leave here, please.” Nixon said, as he
shut the door behind him.