We decide to meet in a neutral place: the cemetery. It seems appropriate since so much other craziness has gone down there. I've almost died there so many times, but still, I think of it as a peaceful place. My safe place.
Peter and I meet Tex and Viktor, and we all drive over together. Tex is twitching with apprehension, and Viktor isn't looking that great, either. My knee won't stop jiggling, but Peter seems to be doing okay. Every now and then his hand twitches, and I get little pricks of stress. He tries to hide them, but I feel them anyway.
Tex parks her car and we all sit there for a few moments. We're early; they're not supposed to be here for another few minutes.
“Is anyone else freaking out?” Tex says in a wavering voice.
“Me,” I say, raising my hand.
“It will be fine,” Viktor says, opening the door and then coming around to open the driver's side for Tex. Peter does the same for me.
In a sign of solidarity, Tex and I join hands with the guys on the outside, since Peter can't touch Tex, and Viktor can't touch me. They're the immortal bread of a human sandwich.
“Where did you tell them to meet us?” I say.
“They will find us,” Viktor says.
I try to imagine what they look like. They'll be beautiful, probably. I've only met a few, but all the noctali I've met are very good-looking. I've seen pictures of Peter, and he looks pretty much the same as he does now, so maybe they just pick attractive people to change. The jury is still out.
Tex grips my hand tightly, and I want to tell her to ease up, but I kind of need the pressure of her hand to help me focus.
“There they are,” Peter says in my ear. I squint, but even with my enhanced vision, I don't see them until they're close. They float across the uneven ground as if their feet aren't touching it. Yup, they're beautiful. Shocking.
The woman, Rasha, looks like she was peeled from the pages of a book about an Indian princess. Disney would be all over her. Her sari is bright pink and glitters in the sun. Her hair is so long it brushes her ankles and flows like black silk.
The man, Kamir, is barefoot and only has a pair of matching pink pants on. I don't know what the pants are supposed to be called. The pair of them looks like two beautiful tropical birds. I feel awkward and American in comparison.
“Wow,” Tex breathes. I'm sure they hear it.
“Viktor, Peter,” Kamir says when they are twenty feet away. I wait for something to explode or for them to rush at us. Clearly, I have crazy expectations.
Peter and Viktor bow their heads like they're saluting the king or something. They should have told us about noctalis etiquette. Is there noctalis etiquette? Peter's never said anything, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I tug on our connection to see if I'm missing something, but he just tugs gently back. Okie dokie.
“You have Claimed humans. Both of you,” he says, looking at me and Tex in turn. They are finally close enough for me to see that they share one dark eye and one hazel one. A matched pair.
“It is nice to meet you,” Rasha says. Her voice is deep and beautiful. God, everything about her is beautiful. “I am Rasha. This is my husband, Kamir.” She nods to me and to Tex.
I try to say something, but my big, clumsy words get stuck in my throat. I've never heard of a noctalis marriage before.
“This is Tex,” Viktor says, holding her hand up for them to see. Maybe it's a territorial thing. This is MY human.
“And this is my Ava,” Peter says for me. Rasha smiles, showing the most perfect teeth I've ever seen. A dentist’s dream.
“I too was once a Claimed before Kamir fell in love with me.”
“Yes, my love,” Kamir says, glancing at her. Their love is plain to see. As plain and lovely as the stars in the sky. They are not what I expected. Not at all.
“We have traveled long and far and left our children to see you. How may we help?” Rasha says, stepping forward in the same delicate movement I'm sure she had when she was human. The bindi on her forehead sparkles.
Peter defers to Viktor, since he's the oldest in both human and noctalis years. Guess you can never escape your age, even when you're immortal. Viktor explains our situation in the plainest words possible. Rasha and Kamir listen without moving, doing that stiller-than-still thing noctali do. I really hope no one decides to visit the graveside of their loved one today. That would be a fine how do you do.
“Humans do not like us. They will stay away,” Rasha says, interrupting Viktor. She did not just read my mind. “I can read it on your face. Some of you are easier to read than others. I have had years of practice. Please, continue.” She waves at Viktor to go on. I still don't know what to make of them.
When Viktor finishes our tragic tale, Kamir and Rasha share a wordless look.
“We will need a moment.” I think they're going to walk away, but all they do is stare at each other, as if they don't need words. I've seen Viktor and Peter do something similar, but I have the feeling these two can share every thought they had in one second.
It doesn't take long before Kamir speaks.
“We have heard of your mother, Di. The apple does not fall far from the tree, in this case. Her father also made reckless binds.”
“What?” The word slips out of my mouth. I've never heard anything about Di's noctalis parentage. I guess I've never really thought about it.
“Her father was a man who thirsted for power and reached too far for it. He enjoyed nearly killing humans and then turning them to noctali only to have them make a bind that would kill them or make them his slaves,” Rasha says.
How awful. Now we know where Di gets it from.
“Sounds familiar,” I mutter. I can't seem to keep my mouth shut. “Sorry,” I say.
Rasha's laugh ripples like bubbles in a stream.
“Do not worry about offending us. We have lived many years and encountered many humans. You are not any better or worse than the rest of them.”
Her smile is kind, and it makes me feel warm and gooey inside. I'm surprised Tex hasn't said anything yet. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and she seems mesmerized. Well, so am I.
“This is why we never make binds with our children. It creates resentment, and we do not wish to control them. Only to guide them. I am sorry it is not the same for you, Viktor, Peter. But your Claimed will have a better life than yours, I should think.”
“We have not made that decision yet,” Peter says.
Rasha steps forward and puts her hand on Peter's cheek. A little thrill goes through him and reaches me. He is in awe of her. Join the club.
“Can you help us?”
“Perhaps,” Rasha says.
Is that a yes or a no? I can't help the frustrated sigh that I let out. Yup, I'm reckless. If I could get something concrete, that would be fabulous.
“Do not fret, it will work out,” Rasha says, singling me out.
“How do you know that?” I say.
“If it is meant to be, then it will be.” She spreads her hands out, as if that answers it. I wish it was that easy.
“You are young,” Kamir says, coming to join his wife and taking her hand. “You will see that although we are immortal there is one thing that can outlast us.”
“What's that?”
“Love,” he says with a smile at Rasha. They look like two love-struck teenagers, even after so many years.
“But what if you can't love?”
“Everyone can love. You just have to find a way,” Rasha says, leaning on Kamir.
“What do you know about binds?” I say, throwing caution to the wind.
“Enough not to make them,” Rasha says.
“Do you know how to break them?”
“The only way is to get rid of one of the noctali who made the bond.”
“There is no other way?” There has got to be another way. I can tell Rasha and Kamir are having a silent conversation in their heads.
“If the bond is between parent and child, the parent can retrac
t the bind.” No shit. No one ever said that before. I want to smack Peter on the arm. How could he not know that?
“They can?” It's the first time I've ever heard shock in Peter's voice.
“They can. They just choose not to.”
Well, duh. I look at Peter and I can tell we're both thinking the same thing. That there is no way that Di is ever going to remove the bind. Not unless they make a better one, but that would just be two steps backward, and also pointless. So we're back to square one. Still, it is good to know.
“Do you mind if we explore this town? We have not traveled in many years, and it is nice to have a break. This is a lovely place.” So now they want to hang out before they help us? It's true; you can't get anything for free. I hope they don't want to massacre the entire town. That would be too steep a price to pay.
“Go ahead,” I say. “Just, um, be careful who you, you know.” I can't say be careful who you feed on.
“We fed before we left. Kamir and I only need to feed once a month, and only from willing donors.” Well, doesn't that sound lovely?
“Willing donors?” Tex finally squeaks.
“Yes,” Rasha says, looking at her. “We support the village, and in turn they give us blood. It is only a very little, and they take turns. We reward them for their sacrifice. They have something we need, and we have something they need.” Still seems kind of icky, but if it works, then who was I to judge?
“Sounds like a win-win,” Tex says. Seems she's out from under the spell Rasha and Kamir initially had on her.
Rasha smiles at Tex as if she doesn't know what to make of her.
“It works for us, does it not, my love?”
“Yes, it does. We will not harm anyone in your town. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” I say. At least I didn't have to worry about a bunch of noctali loose in Sussex. That would have been one more thing to worry about on top of an already teetering pile of worries.
“So that's it? You came all the way from India for nothing?” Tex says.
If I could have stomped on Tex's foot I would have, but she moves out of my way. I squeeze her hand as hard as I can and wait for the hammer to fall. They've got to have some kind of threshold.
I resist the urge to dive behind Peter. Really, they can't touch us, but that doesn't make me feel any better. I wait for the shit-storm to start.
“You should change her soon, Viktor. She would make a wonderful noctalis,” Rasha says, smiling. I wait for the 'but.' “So impatient, you humans. Did you not think that we might want to visit first?”
“Yeah, I'm not buying that. You came for a reason,” Tex says, pulling her hand out of my grasp and crossing her arms. Dear God, we've created a monster.
“You are smart, young one,” Rasha says, pointing at Tex. Nothing seems to faze her. Unlike Di who would go ballistic at the drop of a hat. Well, Di is a special case. Insane and special.
Rasha looks at Kamir and they have another silent chat.
So there is more to the story. I look at Tex, and she has a satisfied smirk on her face. 'Told you so,' she mouths at me. I want to punch her now.
“My brother was Di's father,” Kamir says.
Ten
Peter
Tex and Ava gasp, and Ava's shock runs though me, causing my shock to intensify.
“We were not sure if we should tell you or not, since we have little knowledge that would help you,” Kamir says, stepping forward. He is a noctalis of few words.
“He was my younger brother, and he was first turned by the one who turned me. I never knew his name or why he changed us. It was a very long time ago, you see.”
He continues with his story, telling us that he was twenty-four and his brother only sixteen when they were changed. His brother took to the change more readily than he did and had no qualms about killing for sport. As soon as he found out about the binds, he used them to his advantage. He even stole a princess and made her a slave to his whims.
“We never got along, my brother and I, but I ignored his behavior until I met Rasha. We tried to stop him, but it was his own greed that brought him down. He made a binding promise that backfired. One day he was there, and the next he wasn't. Many of his children died, but a few found us. We adopted them and helped them, but it was no use. The binds he made destroyed all but two of them. Our daughters, Helena and Di.”
“Helena?” Ava says. I glance at her. I have never heard of Helena.
“Yes, Di has a sister.”
“Shut the front door,” Texas says.
Rasha giggles. “That is not an expression I am familiar with. Is it new?”
“Uh, yeah. I guess,” Texas says, taken aback.
“Di has a sister? As in present tense?” Ava says.
“Yes. Would you like to meet her?” I have not smelled her, so she must be farther away. Or else she is very good at hiding her scent.
“Depends on if she's like Di or not,” Ava mutters.
“They have a complicated history,” Rasha says, whistling like a bird. A whistle sounds back and moments later a girl steps from the woods. Her hair is long, past her waist, and very light. She walks at human speed, and a smile spreads on her face as if it is natural for her.
“Hello, I'm Helena.” She stands beside Rasha, her hands tucked behind her back. She is the same height as Ava, but more delicate. Her skin is crystal clear, and it is easy to see her veins.
“This is Peter and Viktor and their Claimed, Ava and Tex.” Rasha nods to each of us. I bow my head, as does Viktor.
“You all look like I'm going to bite you,” Helena says, laughing.
Rasha smiles at her. I can see she is a favorite. Helena could not have been very old when she changed, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. She speaks the modern language with an ease that makes me wish I could be the same.
“You can all stop worrying,” she says, putting her hands up. “I come in peace.”
Ava and Texas laugh, albeit nervously. The tension from Ava slams into me, and I try to pump some calm toward her.
“Live long and prosper,” Texas says, splitting her fingers in a strange hand gesture I do not understand. Helena duplicates it and smiles. She has dimples in both cheeks. I glance at Ava to see her reaction. From our connection, I am now getting confusion and uncertainty. Her face tells me the same thing.
“What the what?” she whispers to me.
“Nobody minds if I get some sun, do you?” Helena glances around, waiting for someone to say something. I do not know what to say, nor does anyone else.
“I usually do this naked, but not in a group.”
Ava's face goes red and she looks at the grass. So modest, my girl.
“We will leave you to talk,” Rasha says, taking Kamir's hand.
They vanish into the woods. I hope they stick to their word about not feeding from anyone in Sussex, for Ava's sake.
Helena looks around at us. “So, Di.”
Ava glances at me.
“Are you going to talk about her, or...” Ava says.
“Oh yeah. I've got lots of Di stories.” Helena strips her shirt off and slides her shorts down, revealing a hot pink bathing suit that does not quite fit her and I'm sure is stolen. She lies on her back and speaks to the sky.
“Di is older than me, but not by much. She turned two years before me, I think. She was actually the one that found me and brought me to Akash. That's our father. He used his children as scouts to find more. Told them he was building an army, but really he just wanted more noctali because he was losing so many so quickly. He was insane.
“I was sitting outside with my mother; I think we were spinning wool. I remember the sun on my face and the soft ocean breeze. I remember I was thinking about the boy who lived up the road and how much my youngest sister annoyed me. Somehow I remember so much from that day.” She puts her arms under her head.
I glance at Ava, who is watching Helena, hanging on every word.
“Di came up to us, pretending to admire our
work. My mother was friendly, asking her what her name was and where she was from. Her Greek was flawless; we couldn't tell she wasn't a native speaker. She told us a story about traveling with her family, not giving us much information, and asked me if I would take a walk with her. I was eager to get out of my mother's sight and dazzled by my new friend. Her hair was such a rare color. I watched it glitter in the sun. Di took my hand and we walked down the road. I chattered at her, telling her about my family and our small school. I asked her if she would attend. She said she would.
“Di smiled at me, and I couldn't help but smile back. There was something about her eyes. I had never seen someone with two different-colored eyes. I thought she had been blessed by the gods. She started laughing at nothing in particular and I couldn't help but join in. She pulled me into the bushes and started kissing me. I had never kissed anyone before, but I couldn't help myself. Di was strong and pulled me to the ground, kissing me harder. It was only then that I felt the bite on the back of my neck.” Helena pauses.
I think back to my own transformation, and what a confusing time that was. I did not want to remember it.
“I woke up three days later like this,” she says, gesturing to herself. “Except I had a mermaid tail.”
“No freaking way,” Texas says.
“Way. I'll show you sometime. I have to get naked from the waist down to do it, and it's more impressive if I do it in the water.”
Texas' jaw hangs open.
“So there I was. It was dark and I was alone, or so I thought. The first face I saw when I woke up was Di's. She smiled at me and called me sister. It wasn't until three days later that I met Akash. We were in Romania, I believe.”
Texas snorts a laugh. “What? Vampires, Romania? Oh, come on.”
“We understand the reference, Tex,” Ava says, turning her attention back to Helena.
“Anyway, we went on a killing rampage and had a lot of sex and caused mayhem,” Helena says.