Carwyn rose and pulled her up by the arm, tugging her into the house. They pulled on clothes as he ran his fingers through his hair, thinking. “The elixir was made by plant alchemy developed in the Middle East during the ninth century. I’ll bet you that one of the main ingredients is pomegranate.”
“What’s so special about pomegranates?”
“I have no idea.” He stopped in the living room, scanning her bookcases. “Do you have any books about gardening? Botanical… mythology?”
She blinked at him. “Do I look like a gardener?”
“Aargh! Why don’t I have Gio or Beatrice here? They’re both walking encyclopedias about things like this.”
“Can you call them?”
He cocked his head. “I can try. What time is it?”
“Four in the morning.”
“They’ll be awake. Phone?”
She pointed toward the kitchen where her phone lived. She followed Carwyn and sat at the table as he paced and tried to connect. She could hear the ringing on the other line before a woman picked up.
“Hello?”
He punched the button for the speakerphone. “B! How are you, darling girl? I need your help with something.”
“Carwyn… where are you?” The voice was American. This had to be Giovanni’s wife, Beatrice. Brigid felt strangely nervous. She’d met much of Carwyn’s family, but these were his friends.
“I’m in Dublin, and you’re on speaker phone.”
“Who else is there? Is it Deirdre? Hi, Deirdre!”
“No…” Carwyn rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s… um, it’s Brigid.”
The woman’s excited yelp traveled across the Atlantic, and Brigid’s eyes widened.
“Brigid! You’re with Brigid? Gio!”
She could hear the sound of something being thrown across the room. It sounded like fluttering. A book? A low voice with an Italian accent came over the line.
“Why are you throwing paperbacks, Tesoro?”
“It’s Carwyn! He’s on the phone… with Brigid.”
“The mysterious Brigid? Father, you have some explaining to do. She’s been going on and on about this for months now.”
She hid her face in her hands. What had he told them about her? She could hear her husband snickering across the room and she picked up an apple and tossed it at his head. He ducked and burst into laughter.
“What did you say about me?” she hissed.
Beatrice’s voiced jumped out. “He didn’t say anything about you! I tried and tried—once, he let your name slip, but—”
“Brigid, by any chance, was Carwyn writing you letters last fall? Because he was being very secretive about—”
“Hush! Both of you.” Carwyn chuckled and dodged another apple that almost tagged him in the ear. “Gio, does your wife throw things at you? Because mine throws fruit with amazing accuracy, and I just want to know if this is typical behavior.”
Stunned silence filled the room, and Brigid felt the almost irresistible urge to hide under the table.
“Um… she tends to throw books at me. Mass market paperbacks, mostly. And I avoid her when she’s reading Tolstoy.”
“Good to know.”
Another long silence filled the room, until Brigid heard sniffing. She looked around in alarm. “Who’s crying?”
He closed his eyes and bit his lip to keep from laughing. “It’s B,” he whispered. “Don’t worry. She’s a bit of a weeper.”
“Oh, no.” These were some of Carwyn’s closest friends, and they were probably going to hate her for—
“You got married? I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to meet her. When are you coming to America? We have to meet her! Why isn’t she talking? Is she still there?” A quick pause… “I can’t believe you didn’t even tell us, Carwyn!”
He leaned toward the phone. “Turnabout is fair play, Mrs. Vecchio. Besides, we just got married. And it’s not actually the reason we were calling. We need your brains, please.”
Someone cleared their throat on the other line. “So… what? You were just going to skip over this little bit of news until the next time we—”
“Beatrice…” The low murmur came from Giovanni. “Later,” he whispered. “Carwyn, Brigid, what can we help you with?”
Brigid took a deep breath, pleased to be talking about murderous plots and conspiracies again. “What can you tell us about pomegranates?”
“Pomegranates?”
“Yes, we think the elixir may be produced using pomegranates, and we might be able to detect it in humans using the scent.”
There was a long pause; then Beatrice’s somber voice filled the room. “They’re still making it, aren’t they?”
Carwyn said, “Yes.”
Brigid heard two sighs.
“After everything we did…”
Giovanni said quietly, “We tried to tell the truth about it. Why didn’t they listen?”
“Greed,” Brigid said. “A willingness to exploit the weakness of others. They’ll justify it to themselves any way they can.”
“It’s a poison.”
“It’s a drug. And when I was human, I took drugs even though I knew they could kill me. Never underestimate the power of delusion.”
“We’re not going to stop it,” Carwyn said. “Our best bet is to learn how to detect it and hopefully find a cure.”
“And you think pomegranates might have something to do with it?”
“With detection, at least. We know of two elixired humans who both smelled distinctly of pomegranates.”
There was a pause, then the sound of movement on the other line. Giovanni spoke. “I believe that one of the ingredients in the elixir was pomegranate. Beatrice and Dez have the manuscript, and Dez has been trying to find someone here who might be able to research it further. Unfortunately, there aren’t many experienced alchemists in Southern California.”
“Brigid,” Beatrice said. “There’s a lot of mythology and symbolism related to pomegranates, so I’ll just give you the highlights. They’re Persian. Very ancient. Some think the fruit Adam and Eve ate in the Garden of Eden was actually a pomegranate.”
“Not an apple?” Carwyn chuckled and bit into one of the fruits she’d tossed at him.
“No. In Greek mythology, they’re associated with death. Persephone was tricked into eating pomegranate by Hades and doomed to live in the Underworld. There are lots of stories, but there are health benefits, too.”
“Oh?”
“Pomegranates have been used in medieval remedies and folk medicine throughout Asia and the Mediterranean for hundreds—maybe thousands—of years.”
“And now they’re being used to weaken vampires and kill humans,” Brigid whispered. “Like Emily.”
Another silence filled the room, and Carwyn walked to her, lifting her up and cradling her in his arms.
“I’m so sorry, love.”
She blinked back tears and nodded. “Beatrice, Gio, thank you so much for the help. Carwyn’s right. You two really are walking encyclopedias.”
Brigid heard Giovanni’s low laugh. “You’re more than welcome. It sounds like you two are busy, but keep in touch. And whenever you’re able, please, come visit. We’d love to meet you, Brigid. And we’ll even put up with Carwyn if we must.”
Brigid snorted. “Thanks. It was nice to speak to you both.”
“It’s nice to finally know who Carwyn’s mystery woman is,” Beatrice shouted.
Carwyn sat at the table and she perched in his lap. “I’m never going to hear the end of this, am I?”
“Give me a couple hundred years, and I’ll think about letting you off the hook. Bye, Father!”
“Um…” Didn’t they know? She had assumed that Carwyn would tell them. “Carwyn, did you…”
There was a scuffle of voices on the other end.
“You know he’s not a—”
“I forgot! I’ve called him that the entire time I’ve known—”
“It might bother his wif
e to hear him called ‘Father.’ If I can get out of the habit—”
“Don’t use the professor voice on me, Gio.”
Carwyn interrupted the quietly escalating argument. “Good-bye, both of you. We’ll talk to you soon.” Then he clicked off the phone without another word.
“So…” he said, leaning back in his chair.
“They seem nice.”
He grinned. “They’re going to love you.”
“You really didn’t tell anyone about me?” She didn’t know how to feel about that.
“Oh,” he said. “I let your name slip once and B grabbed onto it. But… I didn’t know where we stood then, and I didn’t… I didn’t know.”
Her heart hurt at his rare show of vulnerability, and she leaned on his shoulder. “I’m sorry we separated without you knowing how I felt.”
Carwyn hugged her tightly. “I know now.”
She twisted their fingers together as she glanced out the window. The sky was starting to lighten. They’d spent the whole night either making love or talking about a deadly elixir. Brigid had a sneaking suspicion that she’d just had a glimpse of her foreseeable future. “There’s no telling where all this is leading. And it’s going to be impossible to stop it.”
“I know.”
She sighed. “And if my time with Murphy has taught me anything, it’s that immortals aren’t the most cooperative bunch. Your friends excepted, of course.”
“No, you’re right. We’re stubborn, secretive, territorial—”
“Violent. Cunning.”
“We move in a world that runs a lot like the human world did in the Middle Ages. Everyone is their own small kingdom, and there’s no central government or authority. This problem is going to be impossible to contain.”
“True.”
“Still…” He paused. “I suppose with my contacts and connections…”
She nodded. “Which are extensive.”
“And your innate ass-kicking abilities and penchant for pyrotechnics…”
“You say the sweetest things…”
They both trailed off, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Carwyn laughed ruefully. “I told you we wouldn’t be bored.”
Brigid groaned. “This is a nightmare.”
“It’s very serious, but we do know a few things now.” He held up fingers as he counted off. “We know that humans who take it smell like pomegranates, which is a distinctive smell. We know that vampires who take it have increased strength and amnis—”
“At least at first.”
“And we also believe—not sure on this one—that the blood of your sire or your direct line can heal an immortal from the effects of amnis.”
“So earth vampires…”
“Are actually some of the most protected, considering we tend to have large clans and close ties. You’re protected as long as Deirdre is, and even my blood could help you.”
“Since you’re Deirdre’s sire.”
He frowned. “Is it too strange?”
She shrugged. “You’re a former priest who likes beer, professional wrestling, and ugly Hawaiian shirts. You gave up the priesthood after a thousand years and paid two dozen sheep and a draft horse so you could marry a slightly crazy fire vampire who’ll probably burn you every night.”
“Only if I’m very well-behaved,” he said with grin.
She rolled her eyes and elbowed him as he roared in laughter. “Carwyn, the fact that you sired Deirdre is hardly the strangest thing about our relationship.”
He tugged on her ear. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“You have.” She snuggled into his side and stared at the growing light. She was already starting to feel sluggish. “You know what?” she murmured as her body began to tire.
“What?” He stroked her hair absently.
“I didn’t even call into work tonight.” She snorted. “I’m surprised Murphy isn’t banging on the door wondering where I am.”
Carwyn grunted. “If he has any questions, he can ask me. Besides, as soon as we’re able, we’re going to take a proper honeymoon.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. We may have had an unconventional wedding—”
“You could definitely say that.”
“But the honeymoon is non-negotiable. Beaches in moonlight.” He nibbled on her neck. “And making love in the waves.”
She smiled. “That will keep me cool. And hot. At the same time.”
“Ideas. I have many, many ideas…” He paused and she could feel his tension ratchet up. “Someone is coming toward the house.”
She froze, her senses reaching out cautiously for a moment before she relaxed. “It’s fine,” she said as she rose and walked toward the door. “Just one of the boys from work.”
“Not Murphy?”
“No, not Murphy.”
She was still smiling as she opened the door. She laughed for a moment, not even the sight of Jack dampening her happy mood. “Jack,” she said. “You’re never going to believe what I did earlier tonight.”
“Oh?” Jack smirked, and Brigid’s eyes widened when she saw a vampire step out from the bushes at the street. His amnis must have been weak, but then, Axel had been drinking from Emily for over a year. “Do tell, Brigid. I’m ever so eager to catch up on news.
She blinked and a scene flashed before her eyes.
A dark alley. Two vampires, one blond, one sandy-haired. Red frosted glass passing from hand to hand. A wicked laugh and a bright flash.
“It was you… Of course,” she murmured as Axel stepped closer. “There were always too many dead ends.”
Her head was swimming with exhaustion and shock when she heard a shout and a crash as windows shattered in her house. A loud buzzing sound came from behind her, and the ground beneath her feet rocked as she fell to her knees. Arms caught her as she fell and someone threw her over a shoulder.
No, no! Her stomach roiled. She fought to stay awake, but the last sight she caught was the roof of her house falling in as her eyelids fell shut.
Chapter Thirty
Dublin
January 2013
Carwyn could hear before he could see.
“…realize what’s happening to you, Axel.”
“Jack said I shouldn’t talk to you.”
It was Brigid’s voice, but it echoed. Where were they? He kept his eyes closed, trying to remember.
“Someone is coming toward the house.”
“It’s fine… Just one of the boys from work.”
“Not Murphy?”
“No, not Murphy.”
“Jack, you’re never going to believe what I did earlier tonight.”
Shattering glass and a sharp pinch on his neck. He’d been so occupied trying to sense who was approaching from the front that he’d forgotten to check the back. He’d been entirely focused on Brigid. A bright flash of light followed by blackness. What had hit him? Had he actually been… unconscious?
“Axel, we were friends. I know you didn’t mean to hurt Emily, but she’s dying now. And you’re ill. You must know that something is wrong. You must know that he’s lied to you.”
She continued speaking calmly. She didn’t sound hurt, so he kept his eyes closed and tried to sense around him, slowly filling with dread when he realized where they were.
Under water.
Of course they were. Jack and Axel were both water vampires. Brigid and Carwyn were definitely not. A ship? A freighter, perhaps. Surrounded in a chamber that echoed like metal. They were probably in a cargo hold of some kind. His amnis creeped out, looking for some trace of his element to connect with, but he could feel nothing. They were far from land. The only energy he felt was Brigid’s warm fire across the chamber and the rippling, unsteady energy of their captor.
Why wasn’t she attacking him? If she could get away, he could tear a hole in the belly of the ship and escape.
Carwyn finally opened his eyes, still keeping them lowered to avoid notice. He caught movement from the corn
er. In the corner Brigid was tied up with what looked like wire, her arms, legs, and neck secured by a thin gauge metal cutting into her skin. A line of blood trickled down her throat every time she spoke and a long electric cattle prod was pointed at the base of her neck. He stifled the growl that rumbled in his chest and concentrated on his own surroundings.
“Jack says he knows how to cure me. He says that the condition is only temporary. He watches out for me.”
“Think, Axel, have you ever seen him drink from a human who had taken the elixir? Did he ever use it on himself? Think about human drugs. Did the dealers—the smart ones—ever use? No, because they knew not to use the shit they sold, Axel. Why do you think Jack’s never taken it? Think.”
From what Brigid had told him, Axel thinking before the elixir was hit or miss. After was going to be practically impossible. Still, he would let her reason with him while he tried to get his bearings.
How the hell had they taken him? Nothing had ever knocked him out before, but Carwyn had a feeling the electric gadget that was pointed at his mate had something to do with it. Normally, any electronics would short out in close proximity to them. But a contraption made to electrocute? Well, that might be an entirely different thing. It didn’t matter. Whatever the reasons, it was keeping Brigid from fighting back, which meant she was afraid, which made him furious.
He could feel his anger mounting and Brigid started to talk faster. “Axel, I don’t want you to get hurt. Think. That vampire you have locked in the corner is going to get out, no matter what kind of cage Jack has put him in, and he is far more powerful than either of us. After all, the metal’s not very thick and there appears to be a distinct gap in the frame that connects it to the freighter hull. If he happened to pull it open, we would both be at his mercy, even though he’d need to be very careful to not rip open the hull of this leaking old bucket whose rivets appear weak from age and probable past structural damage.”
Axel sounded even more confused than before. “What are you talking about, Brigid?”
Of course, she could sense him now. Carwyn kept his eyes closed and stifled a smile.
“And if he gets out or you poke me with that cattle prod, then I would feel threatened, which would make me burst into flames in a small space, killing all of us. I don’t think any of us wants that to happen, do we?”