A Bloody London Tale (Book 2): The Epidemic Read online

  Respect filled his eyes. “You aren’t the person I thought you were, Gareth.”

  “Giving myself time always helps. I regret what I did, but regretting it might not stop me from doing it again. Getting used to be a vampire will. I want to be able to walk along the street without doing what I did last night. I want to feel like I have the freedom to be what I am.” I shrugged. “If we’re going to keep hiding away that’s not possible. We need to show everyone we aren’t all dangerous.”

  “Yes, we do.” We started walking further away from the house. “Some vampires are dangerous, but I think this is going to change everything for everyone. The human in this world have to get used to the fact they’re sharing it with us and that we were once one of them.” He sighed. “I don’t feel like it sometimes. I feel like my life before, my life when I was human, is disconnected from this life. Maybe it’s because of what I did.”

  “I don’t think it is. I think… becoming a vampire does mean we can’t be around the people we loved any longer. It’s not safe for them, so the best thing we can do is create new lives, which does mean there is a disconnection between that life and this life.” I didn’t realise I felt that way until I started speaking. “I want to go back and see them, but I don’t think I will. I think I’m going to build myself a new life with the vampires I meet, because I don’t know how I’m going to be able to explain to them… it’s hard, Tom, to put this into words. I know what I’m thinking. I know what I’m feeling.”

  “How do you explain to someone what it’s like to be a vampire? How do you explain how much stronger your senses are? How do you explain why you need to drink blood?” Tom sighed. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been thinking about this a lot the last couple of days and I’ve come to the conclusion it’s not going to be possible for me to live my old life. All I can do is live the life I’ve been… given, for want of a better phrase. This is my gift from Romania and I have no option but to accept it.”

  “Lovely gift. I would have preferred to meet Dracula.”

  Tom shook his head, laughing. “How do you know you didn’t?”

  Lena

  There was a knock on the door. I knew who it was going to be, so I didn’t go to answer it, but there were other people in the flat who were more than willing to let Remus in. When I watched Marie I couldn’t stop myself thinking she had a crush on him that wasn’t going to get her anywhere. “Lena?”

  “What do you want, Remus?”

  “I think I need to apologise to you.”

  “An apology isn’t going to change anything. You killed my parents.”

  “Yes, I did.” He stepped into the flat. “I should have asked Sori what she was doing, but I was angry. I was furious. I thought it was all her fault. Why else would Tereza have done what she did?” Our eyes met. “The woman in this letter… she isn’t the woman I loved. I don’t know what happened in the nine months she was pregnant with you, but the woman I loved wouldn’t have given up her life for any reason, let alone a man.” He shook his head. “Tereza was strong. She was one of the strongest people I’d ever met and I was certain she’d be able to cope without me. I wasn’t certain I’d be able to cope without her, however, which was why I made the decision I did. Living without her… I understand what she’s saying. Every day is difficult, but that doesn’t mean she should have given up. I can’t understand why she did. I can’t understand why she threw herself in the river.”

  “Of course you couldn’t. You’ve never been alone with a young baby.” I’d been looking into things and I was beginning to think I understood why Tereza made the choice she did. “Can I ask you a question?” Remus nodded. “Did you feed from Tereza?”

  “A few times.”

  “Did you think to go back and make sure she was dead?”

  “You’re a clever girl.” No one had closed the door and a woman who looked almost identical to me stepped into the flat. She did close the door behind her. “He didn’t come back to check I was dead. I’m not certain if it’s because he didn’t know what could happen or if it’s because he didn’t care.” She shook her head. “Would you care to explain to me why you didn’t come back to check on me?”

  “When I last saw you we had a very long conversation about how you didn’t want to be a vampire.” He sounded confused. “Why would I have come back to check on you?”

  “I didn’t. Unfortunately I didn’t realise until it was too late I was going to become a vampire no matter what I did. You had fed from me too many times, Remus, and when I threw myself in the river I died, but I rose again. After this many years you should have realised I was going to to rise again. You should know how these things work.”

  “Obviously he doesn’t.” I stood, looking between my biological parents, wishing I wasn’t in a flat in the middle of London with my flat mates watching everything. “To be honest I don’t either. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to become a vampire that way.”

  “Neither did I, until it happened to me, and I was lucky enough to come across a vampire who was willing to teach me what I needed to know. Remus fed from me a lot of times before I told him about you, Lena. I think I was around four months pregnant. The pregnancy was changing me, the chemicals in Remus’ saliva were changing me, but I would have been fine if I hadn’t chosen to end my life when I had, because all of that would have faded away. It’s different for a blood donor as well. After several months their body begin to accept the vampire chemicals as a part of who they are, so it doesn’t have the same effect as it did on me.” Tereza brushed a hand though her hair. “Had I let everything fade from my body before ending my life I would have died. Had I lived a full life I would have died. Neither of those things happened, so I woke up in my lovely coffin.

  “If I hadn’t been hungry I think I would have stayed there. If it hadn’t been for Sori realising what would happen to me there wouldn’t have been a vampire waiting for me. Fortunately I was hungry and Sori was one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, so I rose from my grave to a mentor who was willing to teach me how to be a good vampire.” She looked at Remus. “How could you have hurt Sori?” She shook her head. “You are an idiot. Why would you think she stole our baby?”

  “Could you have saved them?”

  “No, Lena, I couldn’t. I wasn’t in Romania at the time. I was travelling with my mentor, to give myself time to come to terms with what had happened to me, so I didn’t find out until later what Remus had done, and there was nothing I could do to stop it then. Had I been there I would have stopped him. I would have told him about the choice I made, because it was what I thought was best for you. Having a mother who’d… honestly, now I look back, I think I had post-natal depression, but at the time I had no idea what they actually was, which is what led to me making the decision it would be best for me to throw myself into a river.”

  That made a lot of sense. I looked between her and Remus. “I’m not saying I’m going to forgive the two of you for the choices you made, because they were terrible, but I wouldn’t be against getting to know you both better.”

  Tereza smiled. “You’re a very kind young woman, and I’m pleased to have finally met you. I don’t expect us to have a relationship. I know I did make some terrible choices in the past, choices I wish I hadn’t made, and those choices mean you’ve led a far more difficult life than I wanted you to.”

  “You should have found me, Tereza.” When I looked at Remus I could see there was no emotion in his eyes and I remembered them being like that when he’d hurt my parents. “You should have told me you were still alive a long time ago. I hurt Sori.”

  “Don’t you dare blame me for that, Remus.” I gestured to Tallulah behind my back and she started getting everyone out of the living room. “You made the choice. You should have known Sori hadn’t stolen Lena from me. What sort of logic is that?” Tereza shook her head. “If Sori had our baby you should have known I’d asked her to take Lena and look after her.”

  “Wh
y should I have known that?”

  “She was my best friend. She would never have stolen my baby. She asked me more times than I can remember if I was certain about taking Lena. I told her every time I wanted her to have Lena, to look after her the way she would have done her own baby, and she did. The couple of times I checked in on them they were doing exactly what I asked them to. You didn’t even stop to ask Sori why she had Lena. You just acted. You took the life of one of our closest friends for no reason.”

  “I had a reason, Tereza. She had my daughter. You had no right making the decision you did without talking to me about it first.”

  Stakes are almost entirely useless against vampires. Knives, on the other hand, are quite useful weapons. When Remus lunged at Tereza I was in front of her before he knew what was happening. “No.” I shook my head. “You aren’t going to be having this fight in my flat.”

  Remus stared at me in such a way I thought he might stop caring I was his daughter. “You shouldn’t get in the middle of this, Lena. Walk away now.”

  Amalia

  Isabella was on the phone to someone she knew in London. I looked over at her, watching as she wrapped the cord around her finger. She was going to be paying a lot for telling them what our theories were, but we both thought they needed to know, and they needed to know as soon as possible. When she realised I was looking at her she glanced over and smiled. “You already knew Isabella?” Papa put his hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t think she’d come home recently.”

  “She probably didn’t want you worrying. As she was talking to me and she had no idea if I truly believed the same thing you do she would have kept it from you.” I shrugged. “I like her. She’s a good person. I look forward to going out hunting with her in the future.”

  “Her going hunting is probably the reason she didn’t say anything. I worry enough about you going out there. Knowing both of you were…” He sighed. “Promise me you’ll do everything you can to protect her from the other hunters. She’s my only sister and I love her. I always have done. I always will do.”

  “Of course I will, Papa.”

  I turned and our eyes met. One of the young vampires moved them, lunging for Papa, but I was there before she could put her hands on him. Instead she grabbed hold of me and buried her fangs into my neck. Fortunately it wasn’t the first time something like that had happened, so I relaxed within her arms, knowing that was the best thing I could do, as it would make it easier to free me from her grip. A couple of the older vampires grabbed each of us, pulling me free carefully. At least it seemed like they knew what they were doing as well. If they’d pulled me too quickly they would have torn my neck. “You okay?” It was one of Isabella’s friends, but I couldn’t remember her name. “It’s good to see you know how to react to something like that happening.”

  “Give me some orange juice and I’ll be fine. I’ve been grabbed a couple of times in the past, always young vampires, so I know how the best way to get out of that is to relax. Either they’re going to think you’re already dead or it’s going to make someone else freeing you far easier.”

  Arms wrapped around me. “I don’t want you hunting anymore.” Someone else wiped the bite and put some wrapping over it. “Seeing you hurt like that…” I could hear the tears in Papa’s voice. “I can’t believe how brave you were, Lia.”

  “Papa, I’m fine.” Gently I freed myself and turned to look at him. “I’m young, so I can cope with a bite far better than you can.” I kissed his cheek. “I’m not going to stop hunting. I know what I’m doing. I promise you I am always careful. There are just time when young vampires move far faster than you expect them to. That time she woke far sooner than I expected and no one’s going to bite you while I’m about.”

  “She did well, Ciprian.” Isabella was behind me, her hand on my shoulder, and it was nice to know my aunt was proud of me. “Lia moved faster than we could in order to protect you and she is right - young people deal with bites far better than someone of your advancing age.”

  “Advancing age?” Papa shook his head, but I could see the twinkle in his eyes. “Just because you’re going to be young and beautiful for the rest of time.”

  “I did offer to change you.”

  “How could I have accepted when I knew I had to protect you from Papa?” He looked at me and then back at Isabella. “I don’t regret the choice I made, Bella. By living my life I’ve had two wonderful children, no matter what Miron thinks, and I will also be glad I had that chance. Not being able to do that… I would have regretted it.”

  “Do you want to know something interesting? I never wanted children. Being an aunt makes me happy, but having children of my own… I didn’t think I was going to be a good parent. I was too selfish back then. I only really thought about myself. If I could make the decision now, after living for twenty years, I think I might change my mind. As I know I can’t have children it’s not something I think about. I’m happy with who I am, and what I am, and with the fact I will be living for eternity, which means I will be able to make this world a place where vampires and humans can live happily together.” I smiled at the thought. “For now, though, we’re going to have to deal with the problems caused by the mad vampire, even though none of this is technically his fault.”

  “How can you say that?” One of the bitten girls stepped forward. “He turned me into a vampire.”

  “Yes, he did, but he didn’t have a choice in the matter. He was locked in a cage and turned into something he can’t possibly want to be. Can you imagine what it must be like for him?”

  The girl’s anger faded away. “I didn’t know.”

  “There was no way you could have done. We only found out recently. I just want you to remember that when you’re feeling angry with the vampire who created you - he’s not someone who can control what he does. My creator could, but he wanted me. He thought I was beautiful and that was enough of a reason to turn me into a vampire. My brother tried to rescue me. Unfortunately he wasn’t in time, so I’m going to be a vampire for the rest of eternity, unless I’m unlucky enough to come across the wrong hunter.”

  “Can we help?” One of the other girls looked at me. “Amalia?”

  I shook my head. “For the moment the best thing you can do is learn how to be a good vampire. Everyone here is here to help you. We don’t think you should die purely because you’ve been unlucky.”

  A nurse stuck her head into the room. “Get out through the back. The hunters are on their way up here.”

  Nodding, I looked around the room. Everyone was already moving, because we knew it was going to happen eventually, so we’d planned for it. I was going to be the last to leave. I doubted they’d be willing to kill another hunter, even one who was soft on vampires, but there was no way of knowing for certain until they were there. Papa had just gone when Miron, followed by almost all the hunters I’d ever met, walked into the room - to find I was the only one there.

  “What have you done?” Miron glared at me. “This should be a room full of vampires?”

  “Like I always do I looked after those who need it.” I shook my head. “You can’t expect me to accept a group of you coming in here to hurt a group of people who never asked for this.” I looked at each of the hunters in turn. None of them were pleased, but I knew a couple of them were slowly coming to listen to what I was saying. “The best thing you can do is leave.”

  “One of them attacked you.”

  “A newly awake vampire is going to do that. It takes them a little time, but they do learn how to feed more carefully.” I shrugged. “I wasn’t badly hurt. It’s little more than a scratch and I know they already regret what they did, which is more than enough for me.” My eyes met with Miron’s. “I don’t believe all vampires should be hunted down. There are vampires who deserve to die, so you should all be out there hunting them, rather than hurting innocent people.”

  “No vampire is innocent.”

  “Go away, Miron.”

  “You�
��re a vampire sympathiser. Do we want this woman in our town?”

  For a moment I was worried, but then someone started laughing. “Stop it, Miron. Lia made the right choice, even though it wasn’t the one I would have made, because the people in this room were innocent. We knew them. Becoming a vampire isn’t going to turn any of them into someone evil straight away.”

  “Wasn’t your girlfriend bitten, Miron?” I didn’t even know my brother had a boyfriend. “Surely you’d want to give her a chance to live a relatively normal life.”

  Gareth

  Jack wasn’t pleased. I could feel the anger coming off him in waves, which was interesting. “You were supposed to ring me when you found Tom.” He shook his head. “Three hours I’ve been waiting for that phone call.”

  “That’s because we don’t need you to treat us like idiots.” Tom didn’t seem at all bothered by Jack’s anger. “I understand you’re an older vampire and you’re doing what you can to look out for us, but I don’t want to be trapped in this house all the time. We need our freedom, as much as possible, because our lives have changed in ways we could never have imagined. Gareth and I were talking about that while we were out.”

  “Why did you come back?”

  “Both of us were beginning to feel hungry and we didn’t want to do anything stupid.”

  Slowly the anger faded away. “At least you were sensible enough to do that.” He brushed a hand through his hair. “I can understand why you want your freedom, but the thing we have to be most careful of at the moment is hunters. There have been hunter for as long as there have been vampires and that’s something we do need to talk about. A hunter, if he comes across you, is most likely to attack first and ask questions later. He’s not going to care if you’re a vampire trying to live alongside humans or if you’re a vampire who views humans as nothing more than a food source. To them the best vampire is a dead vampire. Fortunately there are a few hunters out there who do what they can to look out for us, but they are few and far between.”