Damien was surprised. Cain had no idea who we were talking about so I elaborated.
“Human vampire hunters. This one we’ve dealt with before and in fact his father before him and his followers attacked us just last year.”
“What do we do about him?”
“I don’t know yet, maybe he can hunt Noctu.”
Damien shook his head. “I’ve seen that look before. You think you can turn an enemy into an ally.”
“I like to keep my options open. I can’t blame him for hating vampires. First his father was killed hunting them and then all of the hunters he traveled with were killed by fledglings.”
“So it’s just about him hunting the right vampires?”
“Yes and I have several in mind. Just be aware. He might be watching you Damien, because your name is familiar.”
“I didn’t sense anyone around last night when we spoke with those Belnovus, but if he was watching he would know more than we want him to know.”
“I definitely don’t want him to make any trouble for us. We have enough to deal with right now.”
“Well Cain, we have our marching orders let’s go and see what we can do.”
“You can contact Fredrik and I’ll get the invitations out,” Cain said.
“
You’ll
get the invitations out?” I asked.
“Damien’s Page at your service,” he said with an exaggerated gesture and bow. “We thought it would be a good idea to visit each of these invitees to see what we could sense and see, if one of us went in person.”
“Great idea. While you’re doing that, I have something that I’m going to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait you’re not going to tell us what it is?”
“No, now if you don’t mind…”
They looked at each other and shrugged as I walked past them.
“See you tomorrow then?”
“Yes, thank you so much, both of you.”
“No, thank you.”
They each came up and put an arm around my waist as I walked them to the door and kissed opposite cheeks before leaving.
“
Big, bad vampires
,” I thought as I turned to walk away.
A knock came at the door.
“Did you forget something…? Oh, I’m sorry I thought you were someone else.”
“Obviously. I was given this address by my brother Liridon. Is he here?”
“I’m afraid he’s not. Please come in, you must be his sister Yanna. Liridon told us that you were coming, welcome. I’m Suzette.”
She walked past me and I took in a new scent. She, being a shape-shifter, was born with a unique ability to change form. Each has forms that are as individual as the being. I found with my extreme scent sensitivity that hers were large animal forms. She was dressed in simple traveling clothes that were similar to what the rest of us wore when we trained. Leggings, long sleeved shirt and leather vest with high boots. Her long, curly brown hair was drawn back and simply tied at the back of her neck. She was very pretty. She looked around the hall and peeked into the parlor.
“Very nice. Now what?”
“I could show you to a room and get you settled in. If you’re hungry…”
“I hunted, thank you. I would like to wash up. Do you have any idea when Liridon will be back?”
“A couple of hours at the very least. I’m sure you are anxious to see him after all this time. Have you found out anything about the rest of your family?”
I guided her into the parlor and we took a seat.
“I heard the door,” Sarah said as she rushed in. “Oh, hello.”
“Sarah, this is Yanna, Liridon’s sister.”
“Welcome, your room has been prepared. Is there anything I can get you right now?”
“I am thirsty, water is just fine.”
“How about you, Suzette?”
“Some crimson, thank you.”
She left us alone and there was awkward silence.
“We really are glad that you’ve come, Yanna.”
“You might not be after I tell you that I’m here to convince Liridon to leave with me. When Liridon didn’t come back to us, we all left Sanctuary, my other brothers to look for him and I to find my own way in this world. I just now found out that my parents were so despondent when none of their children returned, that they went to search for their sons in the underworld and they haven’t been heard from since.” She met my eyes boldly. “And that was twenty five years ago. It was just fate that I happened to be in sanctuary when Liridon’s inquiry came. I left immediately to come to him and seek his aid in finding the rest of our family.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, we hoped you would have better news. Liridon spent a hundred years trapped in the underworld. Going back there now is going to be difficult for him. Listen, I have a powerful friend in the underworld, let me contract him. Actually, we have some time before anyone comes back, why don’t we go directly to him together. If your family is anywhere in the underworld he should be able to help us find them.”
“That would be very kind of you. Are you sure it’s not too much trouble? I mean, this isn’t about
your
family.”
“I had something to do, but it can wait.”
“Here we are,” Sarah said as she came in with a tray and set it down in front of us.
“We’re going to Althar to see Cathos. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
I gulped down my crimson and Yanna did the same with her water.
I took Yanna’s hand and called to Cathos.
“
Bring us to you, Cathos.”
“Need help again already,” he said as we appeared in front of him. “And who is this?”
“Cathos, this is Liridon’s sister Yanna and yes, I need your help again.”
He smiled and again I realized how mesmerizing he was.
Yanna broke my focus by asking, “I need to know if my parents and brothers are still here in the underworld, can you help me?”
“Right to the point. I like that,” Cathos said turning his gaze from me to her, giving her the ‘once over’ as only he could do.
He walked towards Yanna, causing her to back away.
“Don’t be afraid. I need to see them in your memory in order to be able to feel their presence here in the underworld.”
After placing his hand on Yanna’s head, Cathos closed his eyes for a few moments, concentrating on Yanna’s memories.
“This is going to be difficult. The memories that you have are very old. The fact that you are shape-shifters also adds difficulty. With Liridon it was like it was yesterday that I had seen him, even though it had been over a hundred years.”
He closed his eyes again and a frown soon formed on his face and color came over his handsome face. This was obviously taking some real effort on his part.
“I am sorry to say that I can’t find them. That may mean that they aren’t here. But I suspect it’s more likely that I just don’t have enough information to be able to find them. Your race is complex and your brothers’ essences would have changed as they got older and found their true forms. The memories are just too weak. I am sorry.”
“I’m sorry too, Yanna. What are you going to do now?”
“I need to talk to Liridon. I don’t want to give up, but I have no idea where to start.”
“I’ll make inquiries for you. In the mean time why don’t you do what you can to help the Protectors? I can feel that your unique gifts will be a great asset. I’ll contact you as soon as I find anything.”
“Thank you. I am so disappointed. I never should have left them.”
“That’s exactly what Liridon said not long ago. No one knows where their path will lead them. Your path has led you and Liridon to us. There is a reason for that, one we will no doubt find together. I guess you can send us back Cathos.”
“I will see you Friday, if you don’t need me sooner,” he laughed.
The next thing we knew we were standing in the parlor again.
Before we could say anything we heard a voice coming from the back parlor.
“Someone, please help!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Y
anna and I ran to the portal room to find Amparah bending over Charmaine’s seemingly lifeless body.
“What happened?” I said as I knelt beside her.
“I don’t know. When we got to the chateau she insisted on trying to get by the protections. Some kind of power struck her down and I brought us back before someone else could get to her.”
“Someone was coming?” I said in a panic. “Quick, lock the portal! Someone that powerful could follow it here!”
Amparah waved her right hand wildly, sealing the portal from our side. We would have to keep it sealed and have a new one formed.
“We can all use our own powers to portal back and forth for now. It will be safer anyway. Charmaine is breathing - barely. I need to try to heal her. Help me, both of you,” Amparah pleaded.
“Put your hands on her Yanna. Amparah will use all of our collective power to try to heal her.”
“Kate something has happened. The portal has been sealed use your own power to get back here, we may need all of you
.”
I didn’t wait for an answer. We placed our hands on Charmaine and let Amparah do what she could to help her.
Amparah shook and we felt the power surge and then the room went black.
I woke up to see Cathos standing over me.
“What happened?”
“A very powerful entity must be living in Paris and I mean to find out what or who it is. It almost killed you. I’m sorry to tell you that even I couldn’t save your Belnovus friend, I’m sorry.”
“Charmaine is dead?” I said as I tried to sit up. “Oh my head.”
“Rest easy. Yes, I’m sorry. There is something else I have to tell you.”
“She’s awake!” Kate called to the others as she opened the door and rushed to my bedside. “You’ve been unconscious for days.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I was so worried. If it wasn’t for Cathos we would have lost you. Amparah is still not awake, she may never be and Yanna is awake, but…”
“But what? What’s wrong with her?”
“The power that was used to kill Charmaine caused her to change form and now she can’t turn back. She may stay a wolf forever.”
“It more likely is just temporary. We have no way of knowing,” Cathos said.
Everyone else started to file in then; Damien in the lead.
“Oh thank God,” El said as the girls pushed past Damien.
My gaze never left him as they all hugged me, tears freely flowing from all of us now. I noticed a single tear cascade down Damien’s right cheek. He made no attempt to wipe it away. Sarah came in and stood next to Damien, wringing her hands. Damien put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
“Cathos, can I speak with you alone, please,” Damien said still not breaking our gaze.