The Young Vampire Mate: The Airendell Chronicler Diaries - Book 1.5 (6 page)

I say nothing because I really don’t know if a vamp can father children or not.  But somehow I doubt it and fear and pain creep into my very soul that Damian may not be my mate after all.  Maybe I am not destined to ever have a true mate… Maybe it’s all just some fantasy I have created.  I hear Fionn sigh raggedly and it drags me back from my desolate musings.  “Fuck!  This is so messed up.  Those three bitches are really cruel sometimes.”

I chuckle at Fionn’s reference to the Greek fates.  According to Greek mythology there are three Fates. Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life of each soul.  Lachesis, the measurer, who selects one’s lot in life and decides the length of each soul’s existence. Atropos, ‘she who cannot be turned’, who uses her shears to snip the thread of life.  She’s basically the bringer of death. 

Fionn lived around New Orleans for a couple of hundred years and got in pretty tight with some of those other immortals around here.  Most of them are of Greek descent and his thinking over time was greatly influenced by their world.  We both know the Greek pantheon was powerful and one of the most influential in history.  They aren’t the be all, end all when it comes to powerful immortals but they can still make a real mess out folks’ lives when they are so inclined to do so.  Part of me wonders of that’s what is going on in my life.  Did I anger the Greek fates somehow?  Is someone just messing with me?

Fionn actually had some very unpleasant dealings with the Greek Fates many, many years back and he firmly believes they play with everyone’s lives.  I am not too sure about that, but I am forced to admit this does feel almost like a cruel practical joke that the man I am sure is destined to be my true mate is a Stone Cold vampire.  And a very young one to boot.  I rub my face tiredly and sigh.  That would be just about right, some so called Greek god playing with my life just for shits and giggles.

By the time we hang up Fionn has resolved to go home and check on his business and his partners before he comes back east to be near me and my sister.  “Baby, I got a feeling things are going to get really weird for all of us, really soon.  I plan on being close by in case you or Morna need a friend.”  I am nearly in tears as I thank my oldest and closest friend.  I know Fionn has a bit of the prophetic gift from his mother so if he says things are gonna get weird, hang on to your hair because things will get strange.

A few hours later I am forced to admit that Fionn’s words were indeed very prophetic when I realize that the second meeting Morna attended at her school was actually a meeting with two Elvish envoys, and it had nothing to do Morna‘s job in special education.  I get pretty pissed off when I realize the Elves are playing games with Morna’s memory.  A rumor I heard about Almeda, from way back when, resurfaces in my mind causing me to wonder at their motives.  But I had contacted Lord Albreich earlier and he had confirmed that he had sent trusted envoys to investigate after this latest attack on Morna‘s life, so I let my suspicions go, for now... 

But dealing with Elves always makes me antsy.  Spell Weavers are descended from them.  Actually, from one Elf; the original Ari.  He met and married a mortal named Almeda and granted her eternal life.  Together, they had fifty-two children in one year’s time.  Each of those children were gifted with a Gateway between the worlds and given the responsibility of guarding it.  They all started their own magical clan.  Spell Weavers are descended from Arthoe, son of the original Ari and Almeda, and a Celtic priestess named Lille. 

But dealing with Elves is not like dealing with humans or even most immortals.  They are highly advanced, possess very powerful magic and many are what we call true Eternals, meaning they can’t truly be killed unless they voluntarily give up their spirits.  They hold all of their emotions in check until they find their true mate.  They remind me of fucking Vulcans!  They even look like em.  I can’t help but wonder if Gene Roddenberry wasn’t an Immortal.  I chuckle at the thought.  Jeez, Bree! ADHD much?  I shake my head to clear it of my fanciful notions. 

Once an Elf finds their mate, they are worse than hormone driven teenagers for a couple of hundred years.  No one in their right mind comes between newly mated Elves.  I shudder thinking about dealing with Elves under any circumstances; Not my first choice of allies.  They are powerful, but something in me just never completely trusts them because I have had a run in or two with Elves who weren’t trustworthy. 

There are two kinds of Elves, Light and Dark.  Just like the names imply, one race stands for goodness and purity the other for evil and villainy.  That’s not to say the Light Elves don’t have their rotten apples and the Dark Elves sometimes spawn a truly decent and pure being.  But those are the exceptions, not the general rule. 

During the course of their conversation, I realize that the Elves are aware that I am connected with Morna.  It occurs to me that they can probably tell us how to break the connection, but I decide to just leave it in place, hoping to get to see Damian again.  You are so pathetic, Breena Glynn!  You are willing to snoop on your sister just so you can get a glimpse your potential honey.  I ignore my own inner voice that’s chiding me and focus on what all this might mean for the Spell Weavers.

After the Elves depart and I calm my rampant imagination and call Morna.  Luca tells us that he had been told years ago, right after Morna’s first death that she would continue to come back, over and over, until she was strong enough to take over as First Spell Weaver of Airendell. 

Well, no duh!  It’s been obvious since we were kids that Morna was destined for that role.  We just assumed the witch and her stupid curse had robbed our Guild of Morna’s leadership.  In fact, a while back the Elders summoned Elias O’Toole, Bronwyn and Brian’s youngest son, to inform him that he had been chosen for replace Magdrid as First Spell Weaver at some unspecified time in the future.  I never really bought it.  Elias would make a great leader, but he’s not Morna Glynn.

But Morna doesn’t take this news well.  She’s scared and doesn’t think she’s up to job that destiny seems to be dumping in her lap.  She just doesn’t remember who is.  Or what she is.  Not really. Oh Crap!  This is going to be tough for my sister.  Fionn nailed it when he said things were really going to change for all of us. 

Morna and Luca have decided to go to Chicago tonight, so I go online and book a flight for myself.  I have avoided being with my sister and her mate for too long.  Obviously my mate’s life it closely tied to them so I refuse to stay away any longer.  Honestly I don’t know if I am rushing into Morna’s life to be with her or to have a chance to get to know my Damian.  Either way, I am taking the plunge.

There was another close call when Luca joined Morna in their bedroom while she was supposed to be getting dressed.  I was overwhelmed by Morna’s need for her man and I would have truly forgiven her if they had given into that need and made love.  Fortunately for me though, Luca told Morna that someone else was connected to her like I am.  So Morna didn’t push it.  I am relieved she let it go.  Luca could never deny Morna anything she truly needed or wanted desperately and I would have been left hot and bothered and not damned thing I could do about it. 

I blush when I think of my failed attempts at masturbation over the centuries.  For some reason, it just doesn’t work out for me.  I have no idea if I don’t know how to do or if I am only wired to come for my partner.  Either way, I never experienced an orgasm until last night.  And then I have two of them!  Jeez, I am so fucked up!  I so need to hook up with my own man.

My heart breaks a little later when Morna looks into her bathroom mirror and calls herself a coward.  I hate to know that Aideen is seeing all of this.  She has always been so harsh in her judgments of her mother.  I can’t help but think that her seeing Morna so vulnerable is just fuel for the fire.  I was Aideen’s lore mother and I love the child dearly, but she has a bit of a harsh, judgmental streak to her and is very possessive of her Daddy.  She is always jealous when Luca finds Morna and his world revolves around his mate instead of his daughter.

I end up calling Morna, again.  I tell her I am on a later flight and will see her in Chicago.  I also assure her I would not have minded if she and Luca had gotten busy earlier.  Hell, I would have found some way to distract myself.  But Morna is definitely rattled by everything hitting her so fast with so little of her memories intact.  I encourage her to go smoke the cigarette she has been craving all day.  Trying to quit smoking is a challenge I can totally relate to.   Smoking pot and tobacco are both indulgences that I have allowed myself over the years.

I hear Damian call upstairs to Morna and my heart races erratically at the sound.  I try to play it cool and make some flip remark about robbing the cradle.  I am not comfortable telling Morna the truth about Damian and me.  Not that you are actually certain what the truth is, I remind myself.  It might all be some wild fantasy I have concocted, but I seriously doubt it.  I really believe he is my true mate.  I have never felt a connection like I feel towards him and I have certainly never had visions like I have had about him for several centuries.  He’s mine!  My possessive feelings towards him surprise me but I can’t shake the way I feel.

I am so moved as I watch Damian interact with Morna.  He’s very fond of her and Morna’s feelings towards him are very maternal.  I can’t help but smile at that because Morna has always adopted strays and helped them become the strong, solid folks they were meant to be.  I have no doubt she will have the same influence on Damian. 

I am practically drooling on myself.  And when Morna starts looking at him from a non-maternal point of view to see what it is that I find so attractive I become angry at my sister.  Jeez, irrational jealousy, much?  This isn’t going to be easy.

I am bewitched looking at Damian through Morna’s eyes.  He’s gorgeous, no two ways about it.  He’s not quite as tall as Luca, or as powerfully built, but he’s dangerous just the same.  Long, lean muscles are obvious on every inch of his powerful body and I know he was fast and powerful even before he was changed into a vampire.  He is an Adonis.  Male beauty personified.

I am almost reluctant to shift my focus from his perfect body to his even more perfect face.  A face that is classically handsome and I am surprised by that because I am rarely attracted to the pretty ones.  Damian’s eyes are huge, bright amber, fringed with thick, long sooty lashes and widely spaced.  I shiver at the secrets I suspect those eyes reveal.  I see a lot of pain, regret and sorrow in those gorgeous eyes.  I want to reach out to him and soothe him.  His lips are full and pale, leaving me to crave a taste of them.  His long inky black hair is straight and looks so silky that my fingers are itching to wind up in it. 

I blush when I recall winding my fingers in Fionn’s hair when I thought it was Damian’s face between my legs in the wee hours of this morning.  Oh God!  I am so messed up over this man and I have never met him.  I am going to make a total fool out of myself when I finally get to meet him. I sigh in frustration and try to focus on what they are talking about. 

Finally I realize it’s hopeless.  My hormones have my brains scattered so I decide to go to pack my bag and finalize my arrangements with my personal assistant, Jenny, to take care of my place while I am away.  Jenny’s a mortal, but she’s one of those rare mortals that is very aware that the world is not made up of entirely of things that are logical or natural.  She’s very tuned in to the supernatural.  In fact, she’s a demon hunter.  I never can get over her bravery.  It blows me away that a fragile mortal would take up the job of hunting demons.  Despite being mortal, she’s deadly as a demon hunter.

Jenny Paris was drawn to me when she first met me the day she interviewed for the job as my personal assistant.  She’s is also pretty plainspoken, which I always appreciate.  You don’t have to wonder what Jenny thinks about any given situation or person… she will bluntly tell you exactly what is on her mind.  And her courage humbles me.  She took a huge risk when she told me she knew I wasn’t an ordinary human being.  She still doesn’t know exactly what I am ten years later, but she knows I am a so called Immortal and that I am magic.  It comes in handy having a helper around who isn’t too surprised when something that defies explanation happens.  She never asks a bunch a questions that I am unable to explain.  It’s basically an unwritten rule that Immortals remain a secret from mortal humans.  She just loves me as her friend and accepts that I am very different from her.

My attention is drawn back to Morna when I realize that Luca has brought some girl back with him from dropping off Damian’s little sister, Mackenzie, at the halfway house for safekeeping.  The new girl’s name is Samantha and she’s a lovely little thing, but very promiscuous from the memories that are going through Morna’s mind.  But as I listen to their conversation as they drive out to meet up with the Elves again I am startled to realize that she is a seer, and undoubtedly she is Morna’s personal seer.  All down through history the most powerful Spell Weavers of the First Order have had personal seers, often more than one.  This only confirms my belief that Morna is destined to take over the leadership our Guild.

By this point the pain I feeling from Morna is practically paralyzing me.  Her head throbs unmercifully and her mouth has this foul taste in it that makes me want to vomit from experiencing it through our connection.  Empathy for my sister nearly drowns me.  This really sucks!  How is my sister coping with all of this?  My admiration for my little sister swells along with my love and empathy for her situation.

The meeting with the Elves brings some joyous news to my sister, well for all of us.  Her children are alive!  Morna’s joy is so sweet to experience.  She loves her children so much it nearly overwhelms me.  But on the other hand the meeting fills me with dread.  Morna has to regain her memories and her power in a very short time.  The Elves are convinced that Magdrid is behind Luca being attacked by the ancient vampire almost six hundred years ago and the subsequent curse by the witch on their lives.  I have suspected our mother of evil intentions for centuries, but hearing it confirmed by these Elves is very unsettling.  Part of me wonders, again, how much we can trust these Elves.  But I am grateful to them for news about my nephews and niece.  I am also relieved that Ari did something to lessen the physical pain Morna had been enduring.