58 - ‘Come gentle night…’

Trevor snorted. “Kemp, do you really think you could have hidden from Khalid?”

“He didn’t find me while I was gone. He didn’t come after me then.”

“Agreed, he didn’t. But why would he bother when he knew you’d come searching for Owen as soon as you could?”

“And because I did, Owen is dead. That makes it my fault. If I’d…I should have…” Kemp’s words and the sigh that followed were filled with pain and anguish.

Trevor gripped Kemp’s arms tightly, giving him a hard shake to get his full attention. “You can beat yourself up over what happened, hide away in some dark corner of your mind and just exist in this world. Or you can decide to do whatever it takes to make certain the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else.” When Kemp opened his mouth to protest Trevor overrode him. “You don’t have to make that decision right now. As a matter of fact you’re not capable of doing that at the moment. First you have to let go of your grief. And kid that ain’t happening as long as you sit here having a pity party for yourself.”

“I am not…”

“Oh yeah? Bet me. Right now you’re being a whiny little brat saying ‘Why me?’ like you’re the only one affected by what happened.”

“Fuck you,” Kemp growled. “I’m not doing that, I’m just…it was my fault…and…”

“Yeah, that’s right; it was all your fault that a bad-ass vampyre decided to go after your father and used innocents to try to get to him. Give me a break kid. If you’re to blame for anything, it’s that you didn’t learn to use your powers when they first surfaced. You are going to be more powerful than any dhampir I’ve ever met and that includes me.”

“If I had, could it have helped?” Kemp asked, almost afraid of what Trevor would reply. 

“Probably not. Owen was already destroyed by the time we found him. Even if you were as good at what we do as I am there was no saving him. And before you start thinking there could have been a different ending if you’d stayed in the city and Khalid got you instead, the operative words in what I said were that you’re ‘going to be’ more powerful than any dhampir I know of. Right now Khalid would have still chewed you up and spit you out. It took three of us to deal with him. He was that powerful. Well,” he smiled at Kemp, “four if you count the fact that you were a great distraction when we needed it, even if you didn’t intend to be.”

Suddenly it all became more than Kemp could handle. Tears welled in his eyes, flowing down his face as he began to sob. Tentatively Trevor pulled him close, rocking him gently. “I won’t say it’s all right,” he murmured, “but it will get better in time. There will always be an ache in your heart when you think of him. If there wasn’t, then what you felt wasn’t really love and I believe you did love him. As cliché as it sounds right now you have to remember the good times and bury the bad deep in your mind. Don’t forget them or you won’t have learned anything from all of this. But do not let them rule your life.”

“I’ll try, Trev,” Kemp said mournfully, wiping away his tears. “I will try.”

57 - ‘Come gentle night…’

Trevor woke to the sound of screams. Instantly he realized they were coming from his bedroom. Grabbing his sword he was there seconds later, dropping it when he realized that there was no attacker there. Instead Kemp was sitting up, staring blindly into space as his hands pulled at something only he could see.

“Hey, it’s all right, you’re safe,” Trevor said quietly as he neared the bed. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

Kemp’s eyes refocused. For a long moment he stared at Trevor before sinking back onto the pillow. “Nothing will ever be right again,” he moaned as the memory of everything that had happened returned. “Why didn’t you let him kill me?” He turned his agony filled gaze towards Trevor.

Sitting on the edge of the bed Trevor brushed a stand of hair from Kemp’s forehead. “Well, for starters, you have too much potential. Something neither I nor you father was willing to see wasted,” Trevor told him in a calm, practical tone of voice.

Kemp shook himself free of Trevor’s hand to stare at the far wall. “That’s over, it’s all over. There’s no reason to live now that…” He choked back a sob. “Now that Owen’s…Owen’s gone…oh gods he’s really…You should have let me die too.”

“And put your father and your family through what you’re feeling now? And of course there was always the chance that despite his threat to your father, Khalid would have turned you into another of his creatures the way he did Owen. Alive in name only, but dead and insane in reality. Is that what you would have wanted?”

“Owen was not a creature!” Kemp shouted. “He wasn’t,” he whispered.

Resting his hand on Kemp’s shoulder Trevor replied, “In the end he was and even your love couldn’t have saved him.”

“I don’t believe that. When you love someone…” Kemp’s voice faded out.

“Sometimes that’s still not enough.”

Kemp turned to glare at him. “How would you know? You’ve never lost someone you loved.” 

“I have,” Trevor replied softly, “too many times. I know it hurts. Gut deep it hurts. Your heart becomes an aching hole in your chest and in your mind you blame yourself that it happened.”

“It was my fault. If I’d come back earlier. If I hadn’t let Leif drag me away. If I’d taken Owen away from here before…before…”

“Kemp, it was not your fault. Nothing would have stopped Khalid from taking Owen. I think you know that. He had an agenda and Owen was part of that. If you had been here, Khalid would have taken you as well.”

“No,” Kemp spat out, “if I had been here he would have taken me instead and Owen would still be alive. He only picked Owen because we were, because we loved each other. If we had run away like we should have…”

56 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“Wait a minute, why would things be interesting for me?” I looked at Marston and then shook my head in denial. “No. No way are you leaving Kemp here in my charge for longer than it takes him to heal. He needs his family despite what you said, not … not me.”

“I beg to differ, Trevor. What he needs is a friend who understands what he’s going through, as well as someone to mentor him. Which you have done very well so far.”

“I’ve taught him all that I know.”

And I have, at least about how to fight a vampyre and win. Sure I have life experiences that might come in useful to him but now is not the time for that. I pointed that out to the vampyre king.

Apparently Marston disagreed.

“I know much about you Trevor, what you’ve been through in your life.” Marston studied me with thoughtful eyes. “You lost your unborn child and that forced you almost to the brink of insanity.”

I felt deep anger that he knew about that. Before I could say anything however he held up his hand to stop me. “I know that that is not the same as loosing someone you love but at least you will know what Kemp is going to go through and can help him. That is more than I can do.”

I looked at him in surprise. “You’ve never lost someone you loved?”

He smiled sadly. “Several times, but that was long in the past. Besides, what child will really listen to advice on such things from a parent? Especially a parent who has been more absent than present in his life? No, you are the one he’ll need right now and I am leaving him in your charge.”

“Gee thanks.” I wanted to protest but deep inside I could understand his reasoning. I didn’t have to like it but I did understand. “Are you at least going to remain here until he’s awake again?”

“I will. But only to say good-bye and let him know that I love him. He knows where to find me should he want to.”

I smiled wryly. “Information that a lot of dhampirs would like to have.”

“Not that it would be of any use to them. I am well protected on many levels, as I’m quite certain you are aware.”

“Not personally,” I told him. “But rumor has it some have tried and failed to take you out. I’ll take that under advisement if I decide to try to be the one who does.” I laughed to let him know I was kidding.

He smiled in return. “Please do. I find you quite amusing and would hate to be responsible for your quick demise.”

“So not happening. I may be foolhardy but I’m not stupid.”

We continued to talk for a while longer. Then Marston left after asking me to notify him when Kemp finally woke.

55 - ‘Come gentle night…’

As Marston put his son down on Trevor’s bed---which the dhampir was willing to give up for the time being---Trevor had a thought and then shook his head, dismissing it.

“What?” Marston asked while he began stripping Kemp of the rest of his torn and bloody clothing.

“Just a passing idea that I knew immediately was stupid.”

“If I had to guess I’d say you were wondering why I don’t erase the memory of what happened tonight from his mind the way Rikard did with the girl.”

“Exactly, but that would only compound the problem because then Kemp would want to continue searching for Owen. Oh, and speaking of Rikard, I thought he was going to join us.”

“He planned to, but I suggested that he deal with the loss of his Child in his own way first.” When Trevor gave him a questioning look, Marston smiled and tapped his forehead.

“I see.” Trevor watched as Marston pulled the sheet over Kemp and bent to kiss his forehead. Then Marston nodded towards the living room and Trevor followed him, saying when they settled there, “I know something about you, but not much. You are beyond ancient aren’t you?”

Marston chuckled. “Older than dirt is the saying I believe. I’m not quite that old but I have been around for a very long time.”

“Which means as Kemp matures his abilities as a dhampir should well surpass mine and those of any one I have heard of.”

“I would suspect so. The fact that he was able to keep them locked down because he did not want to accept his birthright speaks to his potential.”

“I have a feeling things are going to be very interesting then for both you and him.”

Marston’s smile was almost evil as he said, “And for you Trevor, and for you.”

54 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“My only regret is that I did not kill Khalid myself for what he did to Owen,” Rikard said, his voice filled with pain and anger.

Marston looked up from where he was ministering to Kemp. “Without you and our friend Trevor keeping his attention, he might have known I had arrived. You did you fair share in seeing to his demise.”

“How is he doing?” Trevor asked as he knelt down beside the father and son.

“He’ll live.” Marston smiled wryly. “If he were a full vampyre this would be easier, as between us we could replace the blood he’s lost. As it is I’ve healed his wounds, at least the physical ones. Those in his mind will, I’m afraid, take much longer.”

Rikard nodded as he turned to look at the young woman who still huddled in the far corner of the room. Her eyes were glazed with terror while she trembled uncontrollably. He crossed, kneeling down in front of her, cupping her chin in his hand as he gazed at her. “None of this happened,” he told her softly as he took control of her mind. With a thought he wiped her memory of the last few hours, replacing it with thoughts of a beautiful young man, his Child, dancing with her until dawn at one of the clubs before taking her home. Once he had done that and then found her address he sent her into a deep sleep. He released her from the ropes that held her, removing the dirty rag that had gagged her, and then picked her up. “I’ll be back shortly,” he told the others before vanishing.

Marston touched Kemp’s chest and sighed in relief as he felt the strong beating of his heart. “It will be safe for me to take him home soon.”

“I’m not certain that’s a good idea,” Trevor said.

Looking at him the vampyre frowned. “Home is where he belongs until he’s fully healed.”

“Take it from one who knows, he won’t find the kind of healing he needs if he is being coddled, even if that’s done by loving parents. And before you deny it, you know that his mother most certainly will do that and probably you as well.”

“Then what do you suggest? That I leave him to fend on his own?” Marston hissed.

“Not hardly.” Trevor shot him a look of exasperation. “Leave him with me. And before you try to argue with me, remember that he and I are alike in what we are for starters.”

“Hardly a reason to think you know how to care for him better than I.”

“I did say for starters. I’ve been through what he has—been responsible for the death of someone I though I loved and killed a vampyre who didn’t deserve to die.” Trevor’s eyes darkened with emotion.

“Tell me.”

And Trevor did. While he talked Marston looked long and hard at him, judging the truth of his words and emotions. The vampyre nodded slowly when Trevor finished, obviously deep in thought. Finally he smiled in acceptance.

“I designate you his guardian.”

“Hey now! That’s not quite what I had in mind. Care and feeding, yeah, and making sure he doesn’t go off the deep end if I can help it. But his guardian?”

Marston chuckled. “I didn’t mean in a legal sense. Perhaps I should have said protector until he is able to face what happened and accept that none of it was his fault. You are correct; you will be much more able to do that than either his mother or me, or his brother as far as that goes. They love each other but I’m not certain that Kemp doesn’t still hold Leif partly responsible for him and Owen being separated in the first place.”

“I agree. Alright, for the near future at least I’ll, umm, babysit your whelp.”

“Son, not whelp,” Marston replied with a snort. “I am not a shifter, well, not in the way that ‘whelp’ implies.”

“You do have a few damned good tricks up you sleeve though. Ones I’ll have to remember are possible if I run into a vampyre in the future who tries to pull them on me.”

“If you do run into such a one, even you will be way over-matched, my friend. Now, shall we get my son to your place so his healing can continue? I’d prefer he not wake up here, surrounded by the reminders of what happened.”

53 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“A prettier picture will be you, dead by my hand,” Rikard hissed as he appeared at Khalid’s side.

“Or mine,” Trevor said, stepping into the room, his sword held at the ready in one hand.

Khalid merely shook his head in amusement as he seized Kemp’s arm to pull him erect. “Touch me and the baby dhampir dies. He is already close to it, thanks to my young pet. If I don’t heal him he will expire before your eyes. Leave him to me and he will replace Owen as my favorite until such time as his father takes his place.”

“Your ‘favorite’?” Rikard growled, watching Khalid but making no move towards him for the moment. “To be driven insane by your rape and torture of him?”

“One man’s rape is another man’s pleasure. You Child quite enjoyed what I did to him, once I had him trained. He forgot this one,” Khalid dug his claws into Kemp’s arm until Kemp cried out in pain, “very soon after I took him and made him mine. My only regret in losing him is that I’ll have no one to keep me company while I hunt.”

“You bastard,” Trevor spat out.

Khalid laughed. “Indeed I am.” He wrapped his arm around Kemp to keep him standing when his knees started to buckle. “A bastard with a treasure worth more than the Child of Rikard could ever be.” His glance raked over his enemies. “I will give you twenty-four hours to notify his father that I have him. If he has not arrived to rescue his son by then—well I’m certain you can envision what tortures I will inflict on my new pet. Now, since you see the wisdom of not attacking me, I shall bid you fond farewell until this time tomorrow.”

“I think not.” The deep voice resonated in the small room, seeming to fill it with an anger so intense even Rikard and Trevor were afraid.

Khalid looked frantically around, seeking its source. “Where are you, Rian,” he shouted as he brought one clawed hand up to grip Kemp’s throat. “How can you hide from me? Show yourself before your son dies.”

“I’m here.” Rian Marston appeared in front of Khalid. “And here.” He was beside Khalid too. “And behind you. I am all around you. The question is, which one is me?”

Khalid’s hand tightened on Kemp’s throat viciously and thin trails of blood ran down over the young man’s chest and shoulder. “Which ever one it is, watch your son die, slowly, in agony.”

“I do not think so.”

From all sides the vampyre king’s hands reached out to touch Khalid, and each touch burned deeply into his flesh. He screamed in agony, his writhing movements as he tried to escape the searing touches causing him to release his hold on Kemp. In a flash Rikard was there to catch the young dhampir’s falling body. He cradled him in his arms to carry him across the room and gently lay him on the floor.

“You,” Rian Marston said, as his forms coalesced into the vampyre himself, “will never again destroy that which is not yours.” He whispered two words in an ancient language and flames enveloped Khalid. In seconds the vampyre was no more.

52 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“Owen!” Kemp spoke with gentle intensity as he pulled the young vampyre he loved into his arms. “I came back for you the way I promised I would.”

Owen stared at him, his delicate features filled with confusion. “Came back?”

“Yes. Remember. Try to remember, love.” He cupped Owen’s face in one hand, stroking the pad of his thumb over the soft lips he had loved to kiss. Lips now covered with the blood of the girl Owen had just fed from.

“Who are you?” Owen hissed as he pulled back, “A new toy for me to play with?”

“No.” Kemp shook his head in denial. “No, Owen. I’m here to free you from that bastard.”

Raising one hand, Owen pressed its claws against Kemp’s throat while licking his lips in anticipation. “I believe you’ll taste exquisite...here.” A claw dug in and he leaned forward to lap at the drops of blood that welled out. “And here.” His hand dropped, the claws tearing at the waistband of Kemp’s jeans, ripping them open.

Kemp grabbed his wrist, trying to twist Owen’s hand away. The vampyre hissed, sudden rage turning his eyes blood red. With one vicious swipe his claws tore through Kemp’s shirt leaving four deep, bloody gashes down his chest. “My plaything. You do as I command,” he said, his voice filled with anger and domination.

Kemp fought against the pull of it, biting down hard on his lip to keep from crying out in pain. When a second lash of Owen’s claws raked down his arm, pure instinct took over. He brought the silver blade up, plunging it into Owen’s chest. The vampyre screamed, arching away from the deadly knife. Kemp drove it home once more before stopping, staring at his handiwork in horror.

“Owen, no! I didn’t mean to…” he said with a sob as he pulled the young vampyre he loved into his arms again.

Owen looked at him and something deep inside arose, lighting his eyes with emotion as he whispered, “You did come back. But too late, too late.”

“No, not too late,” Kemp begged as he crushed his lips to Owen’s, kissing him in desperation.

“There’s no saving me now,” Owen covered Kemp’s hand with his own, bringing the blade of the knife up to press the tip against his own chest over his heart. “I think, once, I loved you,” he said softly as he pulled Kemp tightly to him, forcing the blade to pierce his heart. “I think…I know I still do.”

Kemp screamed in horror as Owen’s body turned to ashes. Falling to his knees he rocked back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably.

He wasn’t even aware when the gloating voice behind him said, “Now isn’t this a pretty picture.”

51 - ‘Come gentle night…’

The room Kemp entered was vacant except for two terrified young women huddled together in one corner. They were gagged, their wrists and ankles bound with thick rope.

And yet, like Trevor, Kemp sensed the presence of Khalid. He pressed his back to the door as he tried to locate him. A soft noise drew his attention back to the girls and as he watched Owen materialized in front of them.

The young vampyre barely turned his head when Kemp gasped out his name, but it was enough for Kemp to see the dark insanity in his eyes before he looked back at the girls. Owen grabbing one, pulling her up to hold her against his chest with one arm as his fangs lengthened. With his free hand he yanked her head back by her long blonde hair to expose her throat.

“No Owen,” Kemp shouted as he started towards him.

Something seized his arm with brutal force and a deep, resonate voice seemed to fill the room with its malevolence. “Well now, look what I’ve caught. The bait to draw my enemies to me.”

Ignoring the invisible Khalid, Kemp focused all his attention on Owen. “You don’t have to do this, love,” he said, his voice filled with pleading. “Let her go. You’re better than this.” He stretched out his hand. “Come with me.”

Owen turned slowly, the woman still held firmly in his grasp. Crazed, feral eyes stared at Kemp before he bent his head, plunging his fangs into the girl’s throat.

“No!” Kemp struggled to free himself from Khalid’s grip.

“Oh yes,” the older vampyre said as he too materialized. “You’re too late, young dhampir. He is mine, body and soul. Once he is sated he will kneel before me to worship of that which he desires.” Khalid twisted Kemp around, all the while stroking the enormous bulge under his tight leather pants.

“How stereotypical,” Kemp sneered even as he heart began beating faster with fear and loathing.

Khalid looked down at him, an evil grin twisting his lips up. “You have gumption and a certain fire about you. I shall enjoy destroying that part of you before I turn you over to your father. Unless of course he wishes to show himself now, in which case your death will be quick and painless. His however won’t be.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. My father is at his home in Europe. He has no idea what I’m doing, or why.”

“Oh really now?” Khalid’s dark eyebrows arched up in amusement. “Well someone accompanied you here, I can feel them. Owen’s Sire perhaps? I’m sure he’ll be willing to take my message to Rian, along with a bit of you as proof that I have you. Now lets see, what would make him come and quickly? One of these?” His sharp claws bit into one of Kemp’s fingers before he shook his head. “Too, as you put it, stereotypical. Perhaps…” His hand slid down to Kemp’s groin.

“Fuck you,” Kemp growled as he carefully moved his free hand to the waistband of his jeans while Khalid’s concentration was focused on stroking his cock.

“Oh no,” Khalid laughed. “I’m going to fuck you, and then Owen will, and then…well you get the picture.”

“Not in this lifetime.” Kemp slashed the silver blade of his knife across the hand that held him, twisting away as Khalid shouted in pain. Knowing he probably had only moments before Khalid came after him, Kemp raced to Owen’s side.

50 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“Nothing yet,” Trevor said softly to Kemp, knowing Marston and Rikard could hear him as well. He and Kemp were walking the perimeter of the park at the moment, preparatory to going through it once that was done. He knew of several places in the park that Khalid and Owen could be using as their home base. In fact one of the buildings had been used for that a couple of years ago by a pair of vampyres, before he’d eliminated them.

“I still think we should split up,” Kemp muttered. “We’d cover more area that way.”

“Do you think you could take him on by yourself if you found him?”

“Of course not. I’d come back and get you; I’m not a total idiot.”

Trevor chuckled. “Nope, only a partial one for suggesting that. OK, this is where we began so let’s go through the park now. We’ll start with the museum and then the other buildings. Be fast but thorough. We want to get as much covered tonight as possible.”

“Yeah, I know. We discussed that already. I’m not…”

Trevor cut him off with a finger to his lips as they approached the museum. Sensing nothing they moved on. Twenty minutes later Trevor stopped suddenly, tilting his head as he stared at a small green structure with blue pillars, the marks of the devastation wrought by Katrina still marring its exterior.  

“One of them is in there now, as well as two humans,” Trevor murmured so softly Kemp barely heard him.

Kemp nodded, asking just as quietly, “Which one?”

“Khalid. The emanations are too strong to be your Owen.”

“It could be a trap.” Marston’s words echoed in their heads and Trevor knew he was close by even though he couldn’t sense him—which was what they had planned. Rikard he could feel, barely, and he knew he was much further away, acting as a lure if they needed one.

“You stay were you are,” Trevor told Kemp with a look that brooked no argument.

Kemp nodded once as he watched Trevor move stealthily toward the far side of the building. Without thinking twice, because if he had he knew he wouldn’t be able to do what he had planned, Kemp waited until Trevor was out of sight and then sped towards the front door of the small building.

49 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“Interesting choice of venue,” Trevor commented as he looked around.

Sinclair chuckled. “Only the best, for friends and new acquaintances. It’s one of my safe houses believe it or not. Abandoned after Katrina, with no plans so far to do anything but demolish it, if and when the property itself sells. Might sell faster if the house was gone but for now it’s best left the way it is. Nobody looks twice at it.”

Marston sniffed as he glanced at a dilapidated sofa that had obviously been there since before the flooding. “If nothing else the mold will keep humans away. I presume there are resting accommodations here that are cleaner.”

“Yes,” Sinclair replied and left it at that. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Trevor, but with his well earned reputation for killing vampyres Sinclair had been loath to even have him here. It was however the safest place he could think of for all of them to meet away from prying eyes of any sort.

“Shall we get down to business,” Rikard said. “The sooner we do, the sooner we can go after Khalid and end this farce.”

Kemp had to agree, although he’d have called it a tragedy more than a farce. But he supposed to vampyres as old as his father and Rikard, who had seen more than enough of both in their lifetimes, one description was probably as good as the other.

“It would help if we could narrow things down somewhat,” Rikard continued. “You’re not going to be able to cover the whole city Mr Wallace, not on your own. I have some of my people keeping an ear to the ground, I have for the past two months, but to no avail.”

“Then you need better ‘people’,” Trevor replied. “There’s been a rash of violent attacks in and around the City Park area. Now it may not be your Khalid but every indication is that there are a pair of vampyres involved.”

“Then why haven’t you been dealing with it?” Marston barked out.

 “Because dhampirs are a territorial as vampyres. The three of us have the city sectioned off so that we can cover as much as possible without stepping on each others toes.”

“But we’re going there to check it out. Right?” Kemp said.

“Right. Parker is quite willing to make a trade for a couple of nights. As I said, there’s no guarantee it is Khalid but it’s worth finding out.”

“Tonight,” Marston said forcefully.

Trevor nodded. “If we get a plan together. We are not going to walk in there blind and stupid.”

“Then let’s get to it.”

Woke up today to two wonderful reviews.

One for 'Wrong Side of the Law'
http://upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com/2015/01/nanees-review-of-wrong-side-of-law-by.html








and the other for

'L'Histoire de Francois - Vampire'
http://www.ggr-review.com/lhistoire-de-francois-vampire/









Needless to say, I'm stoked. *G*

48 - ‘Come gentle night…’

Trevor shot Kemp a look that said ‘You’re out of your every loving mind’ but kept his thoughts to himself as he listened to Kemp relate what had happened and why he needed his help. When Kemp had finished, he looked up at Trevor. The dhampir rubbed his forehead between his fingers and thumb while muttering under his breath, “Why me?”

“Because you’re the only one I know who can help me,” Kemp replied, even though he knew that was a rhetorical question.

“So I’m supposed to go looking for a vampyre who has powers even stronger than Rikard’s and take him down while saving Owen. Who the hell do you think I am? Superman?”

Kemp nodded, flashing him a tiny grin. “Superdhampir? But seriously Trev you’re the only one I can think of who can do this. I’m not nearly strong enough. There’s no way I could hide what I am from Khalid even if he didn’t know who I was.”

Pressing his fingertips against the bridge of his nose Trevor thought about all that could go wrong, but knew that despite that he’d do the best he could to find this Khalid—if for no other reason than to rid the city of him.

“I want a meet with your father and Rikard. The problem is we have to find somewhere safe to do it that’s not connected with any of the three of you which means not here, Rikard’s place or the club.

“I bet Sinclair knows someplace.”

Trevor nodded. “He might. The question is do we trust him?”

“My father does.”

“Alright, talk with him and set things up. And fast. If Khalid is going after your father, he’s going to want to move quickly before your father has a chance to leave town.”

Out today! 'Talbot and the Enforcers'

Talbot and the Enforcers

A crossover story of Sui Generis and The Housemate

http://firebornpublishing.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=5&products_id=62&zenid=668447b510671c549fa6f7524384f56e

Talbot is a hybrid werewolf/dhampir. The only one of his kind, he thinks. A loner, he hires out to eliminate rogue vampires. When Antton, a head Enforcer, asks for his help to find a turncoat within the group, Talbot reluctantly agrees. The turncoat uses rogues to trap and kill Enforcers, sometimes finishing the job himself when necessary.

Talbot meets the team he'll be working with to go after a rogue werewolf that Antton is certain is being used by the turncoat. The other men on the team are Dante, a vampire, and Ulrik, a werewolf. When Talbot saves Ulrik from a vampire, they realize that Ulrik's home has been compromised, so Ulrik stays with Talbot until the team leaves for New Orleans to try to complete their mission. Although Talbot is attracted to Ulrik, he resists his feelings, believing that it is one-sided at best.

Will Talbot find out that he's right, or will Ulrik reciprocate? And will it matter if the turncoat manages to kill them both before they can stop him?

47 - ‘Come gentle night…’

“He goes by the name Khalid Odol, an affectation as that translates to eternal blood. As to who he once was, I don’t know, but I have no doubt he was evil even before he was turned,” Rikard said in answer to Marston’s question.

“He was extremely evil when he lived,” Marston said angrily. “I though … Apparently rumors of his death were exaggerated. Why would he have taken up with Owen?” Marston shot a look at Rikard. “What do you have that he wants?”

Rikard smiled tightly as he looked at Kemp and then back at Marston. “Perhaps it’s not what I have but what you have. A son that you love so much you will ignore the fact that he is a dhampir.”

Kemp’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You’re saying this is all because of me?”

“I’m saying it’s a strong possibility that he knew you’d come back looking for my Child. That your father is here because of that will make things easier for him I suspect. If he gets his hands on you he won’t have to wait too long for your father to come to the rescue.”

“Then I’ll leave,” Kemp stated flatly, “I won’t have my father or any of my family endangered because of me.” He collapsed in one of the chairs, running a hand through his hair. “But if I do then what becomes of Owen?”

“I’d venture a guess that the damage is already done,” Marston told him, squeezing his shoulder. “Kahlid is undoubtedly already aware that I am in the city.”

“Then we let him find me, you take care of him, and I get Owen back,” Kemp said with all the faith of a son in his parent. Marston looked at Rikard and shook his head, something that did not escape Kemp’s notice. “Why couldn’t that work?”

“Khalid is too wily to fall for any trick like that. We have to find him.”

“And he could be here or anywhere in the world,” Kemp murmured morosely.

“Oh I suspect he’s right here in the city. His plan, if we’re correct, revolves around your coming back here. If he’d wanted you somewhere else he would have made certain Owen ‘contacted’ you to tell you where.”

Rikard nodded in agreement with Marston’s words. “I hate to admit it, but even though you are young and untrained, Kemp, you may be our only hope. As a dhampir you can find him, sense him, and then mask your presence from him—perhaps—if your ability to do that is strong enough.”

“Couldn’t one of you shield me, presuming I…we actually get a bead on him?”

“He knows I’ve been searching for Owen," Rikard replied, "which of course means for him as well. Whatever power he has that broke my link with my Child has also hidden Khalid from me. Whether he’s strong enough to remain hidden from your father as well has yet to be seen.”

Kemp chewed on his lip pensively before telling the two vampyres, “I may know someone who can help us, if he is willing. But I can’t tell you who until I talk to him.”

46 - ‘Come gentle night…’

As dawn began to lighten the sky to a pale dusty pink, Kemp and his father stood in the shadows of the portico at the house the dead vampyre had said belonged to Rikard.

“He has to come back soon,” Kemp said in desperation. They had been there for the last hour and his nerves were frayed to the breaking point from his need to know where Owen was. As Owen’s Sire, Rikard would know or could use his link to his Child to find him no matter where he had vanished to.

Marston nodded. “Rikard is old, but not ancient, so indeed he should be returning soon. Once he safely inside we should have at least an hour to talk to him before his need for sleep overcomes him.”

“Where is the bastard,” Kemp muttered, trying to sense if Rikard was perhaps already in the house.

“I presume I am the bastard,” Rikard said as he appeared on the portico. He turned to Marston and bowed his head deferentially. “Your Highness, I am honored that you deign to pay me a visit.”

Marston chuckled softly. “Lay off the servility my friend. Had I known precisely where you lived I might have visited sooner. I really do have to start paying more attention to the colonies I suppose.”

Kemp looked at Marston in shock. He’d know that his father was an ancient, and powerful, but a vampyre king… “Holy hell,” he muttered under his breath.

“It’s not really you know. ‘Damned hell’ would be a better term,” Marston said as an aside to Kemp before turning his attention back to Rikard. “I might suggest we go inside,” he told the other vampyre, glancing at the brightening sky.

“I suppose the boy is coming in too. I am not happy that he knows where I reside. That means I shall have to move and I rather like this house.”

“If you will help me I swear I won’t tell anyone,” Kemp said, crossing his heart as he used to when he was a kid making a promise.

Rikard looked at Kemp, his expression partly pity, partly concern, before nodding as he opened the door. “Come.”

Once they were inside Rikard led them to the parlor and drew the dark curtains over the windows. “Now, how can I help you, Kemp? Presuming I can.”

“Tell me where Owen is.”

“I think I would, if I knew for certain.” Rikard paused, carefully considering his next words. “I made a mistake, separating the two of you,” he admitted finally. “If I hadn’t he would not have fallen into the clutches of the bastard he’s with now.”

“Then get him away from him!”

“It’s not that easily done, Kemp. The vampyre is powerful and has my Child in his thrall. Owen’s link to me has been severed. How, I’m not quite certain, but it has.”

“Who is this vampyre?” Marston asked.