Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations Read online

  Letting the question hang in the air, Tiffany thought for a few minutes before answering, “No. Kenneth doesn’t see time as an enemy and blames himself for his family’s death. He wants to see them again, and if he turned, that would break the natural order for him.” Tiffany tried to explain how she perceived Kenneth’s point of view.

  “Yeah, that’s what I see as well,” Besseta admitted. “I’m his family now though. Shouldn’t he want to stay with me?”

  “He is,” Tiffany replied, “just not eons.”

  Besseta took a deep breath. “Then how could he leave me and hurt me?” she asked with a sense of pain and anger.

  “You’re thinking like a vampire, not a human,” Tiffany informed her. “He is willing to live his entire life with you, putting you before all and even willing to die for you. Can you really ask for more?”

  Feeling ashamed, Besseta mumbled, “No. I just don’t want to be without him.”

  “Unless Kenneth kills himself, ending your time together, you can’t hold his choice against him. He will never leave you, so death will be his only release from you,” Tiffany said with a catch in her voice.

  It was in that instant Besseta saw Tiffany resented her husband for leaving her by taking his own life. Quickly thinking of something to ask to get Tiffany’s mind off her husband, Besseta was shocked as Tiffany turned to her smiling. “You only need to look at Kenneth’s body to see what he’s willing to do for you,” Tiffany chuckled. “He wears those bruises with pride.”

  Besseta’s face instantly turned red. “I…uh…” she stuttered. “I really try not to hurt him,” she finally got out.

  Laughter erupted from Tiffany. “I’m surprised you can control yourself that much in the throes of passion.”

  Besseta turned her face away. “Shit you have no idea,” she confessed, trying to hide her blush. “When he…well never mind. I almost broke his neck and—” she stopped as the blush crept down her neck. “When I hurt him when…well you know. It makes me feel bad.”

  Tiffany only lowered the sound of her laughter as Besseta spoke then started laughing harder. “I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the throes of ecstasy, I can’t control my body. I once threw Herotho through a wall,” she howled.

  Hearing that, Besseta started laughing. “I almost had to stitch Kenneth’s back up the first time. It wasn’t until we paused we realized he was bleeding. I started freaking out, but he got a second wind and kept going. I had to throw the sheets and blankets away.”

  Laughing so hard Tiffany slid down in her seat under the seatbelt, she held her sides and shouted, “If Herotho had been human the first time, I would’ve broke his hips wrapping my legs around him!”

  “I almost did that,” Besseta admitted, making Tiffany laugh harder. Tiffany tried to bend and curl up, but the seatbelt was catching her neck.

  Pushing back up, Tiffany undid the seatbelt, holding her sides. “Well, from the looks of Kenneth, he makes you happy in bed,” Tiffany whimpered between laughs.

  “Shit, last night, I had an orgasm so big I convulsed off the bed through the overhead canopy. When I landed on the floor, Kenneth just moved off the bed,” Besseta laughed.

  They laughed for a while then slowly caught their breath. “You are a more restrained person than I,” Tiffany admitted, wiping tears off her face.

  “I’m restrained by necessity. I don’t want to break him,” Besseta sighed.

  Reaching over, Tiffany patted Besseta’s leg. “You won’t break him,” she assured her. “You treat him like he does you: china glass.”

  “He hasn’t put marks on me,” Besseta objected.

  “If you were human, I can guarantee you, Besseta, you would be sore,” Tiffany stated confidently, still smiling. Thinking of Kenneth, Besseta just smiled as she drove.

  “Besseta,” Tiffany broke the silence, “may I ask you now how you became stronger?”

  “How about on the way home?” Besseta offered, glancing over at Tiffany. “I know Maliki can see into the mind, and I don’t know who he’s going to bring. I don’t want to put you in unnecessary danger.”

  Burning with curiosity, Tiffany sighed. “Maliki is fair with his abilities, but I know how to handle him.”

  “I would say Maliki is more than fair. I can only hear what people are actively thinking. He can do that and hear memories,” Besseta mumbled.

  Getting comfortable in her seat, Tiffany put her seatbelt back on. “No, I’ve seen others who can touch someone, and it’s like they copy the memories in a split second. Maliki’s advantage is he doesn’t have to touch, but both kinds of telepaths can be blocked though those with touch are harder.”

  Besseta turned to Tiffany. “You are studying the powers of others?”

  “Yes, I have since I turned. A surprising number of us have some ability. I would say half, maybe as many as three quarters,” Tiffany told her.

  “What have you noticed about me?” Besseta asked.

  “Well for one, you are three times faster than the last time I saw you and at least twice as strong. You used to have to feed much more often. I’ve been able to gradually make that change, but I think you can go longer than I can now. I don’t think you would waste the time to train yourself to do that since you feed on your quest,” Tiffany told Besseta, who was impressed that Tiffany had observed so much.

  She gave a nod. “Not bad observations.”

  Tiffany looked at Besseta for a minute then turned away. “Somehow, you developed an ability very similar to William’s. If you have been exposed to someone’s scent, you can link yourself telepathically and know relatively where they are.”

  Astonished, Besseta almost shouted, “How the hell did you figure that out?”

  Tiffany grinned. “The map you have down in the basement you and Kenneth have been tracking where several members of the League are. I know the League wouldn’t make the mistake of being tracked electronically because they would change modes of transportation. Even if you could, they wouldn’t make contact every day, so that only leaves a special ability. I’ve met one who could concentrate and locate someone she had met. I’ve noticed the pin marking their locations only move after you go outside. I’m making a leap, but I think you have found out how to develop abilities of others,” Tiffany finished.

  “Whoa,” Besseta gasped, very impressed. “I promise when we leave the meeting, I will tell you. You might be a little shocked and disappointed with me,” she warned.

  “Nonsense,” Tiffany scoffed.

  Hoping Tiffany was right, Besseta shrugged. “Do you think humans will be able to make the virus less lethal?” Besseta asked.

  “No,” Tiffany replied immediately.

  Relieved and surprised that Tiffany answered so quickly, Besseta said, “Well, you sound certain.”

  “Oh I am,” Tiffany said without doubt. “I’ve tried. The virus for one must stay in living blood. When the blood cells die, so does the virus.”

  “Wow, you really have studied the virus,” Besseta said.

  Tiffany nodded. “I set up a lab in northern Canada. It’s very remote. The closest road is a logging road two hundred miles to the east. It did take some time to get all the equipment there and set up,” she explained.

  “Why did you go through all that effort?” Besseta asked.

  “I wanted to understand the virus for one, and for that, I had to study. Second, I wanted to see if I could help mankind,” Tiffany admitted.

  Besseta smiled at her friend. “I think you would’ve made an excellent doctor.”

  “No, a scientist.”

  Seeing a longing on Tiffany’s face, Besseta asked again, “So the virus can’t be made less lethal?”

  “Like I said, no,” Tiffany repeated. “It is the most complicated virus ever. That is what makes it so lethal. It is nothing like any virus known. In fact, it really needs its own classification.”

  Feeling much better about that, Besseta settled in her seat. “Tiffany,” she said in a low voice. �
�You seem to know better than most who can survive the change,” Besseta stated.

  “I studied the effects of the virus long before technology allowed me to study the actual virus,” Tiffany told her.

  Ashamed of what she was about to ask, Besseta turned her face away. “Do you think Kenneth would survive the change?”

  Knowing it took a lot for Besseta to even ask, Tiffany reached over, grasping Besseta’s shoulder in a gentle grip. “From what I’ve gathered from him and my observations, Kenneth would stand a very good chance of surviving, but do you think he would forgive the one who did it?” she asked.

  Not able to answer, Besseta just drove in silence.

  Chapter 8

  It was after midnight when they reached Chicago. Besseta drove them to the hotel, and Tiffany was speechless at the opulence. “Besseta, we could find a more subdued inn,” Tiffany suggested.

  “I’m not in the mood to go through several inns to find one that’s neat and clean,” Besseta replied as Tiffany looked out the widow over the city.

  Just staring at the urban sprawl before her, Tiffany shook her head at how much it had changed. “You do realize dirt and germs don’t really apply to you, right?” Tiffany asked.

  “Maybe, but if I can avoid it, I refuse to stay in squalor. I’ve done that and don’t plan on repeating it unless I have to,” Besseta stated, looking down at her phone. “We need to go to the restaurant. Your IDs are here.”

  Tiffany gave a big sigh. “Very well,” she said, turning away from the window. “That is the only downfall of advancement of civilization; it gets harder to move around.”

  They left the room and headed for the elevator. “Yes, but it also makes it easier to find those that prey on the weak,” Besseta said, pushing the button for the ground floor.

  “Besseta,” Tiffany whispered. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe we need to move further from your home before contacting Maliki.”

  Thinking about that, Besseta said, “Tiffany, I’ve always contacted him hundreds of miles away from home.”

  “I was just thinking in case someone is tracking if we showed up a thousand miles away, it would seem your locations are more random and less likely connected to staying close to an area like the big lakes,” Tiffany offered. “Kenneth seems to put a lot of concern in the Strong Hands’ ability to monitor for stuff like that.”

  As the elevator stopped, they walked out, and Besseta continued to think about what Tiffany had said. Walking into the restaurant, Besseta told the hostess the name of her party. After checking the registry, the hostess led them to a table.

  An older man was sitting there. Besseta and Tiffany each took seats as the hostess put down menus and left. “The sun has been awful bright lately,” the man said, looking out the window at the night sky.

  “It’s always bright for me,” Besseta answered, letting the man know she was the one he was looking for.

  Nodding, the man turned to the chair beside him and pulled out a small leather satchel and passed it over. “You lost this,” he said.

  “I’ve been looking for it.” Besseta smiled, taking the satchel.

  Pushing his chair back, the man stood up. “You seem a little young for this,” the man told her. “You be careful,” he said and looked at Tiffany, acknowledged her with a nod, then walked off.

  When the man was gone, Tiffany leaned over. “He seemed rather odd,” she whispered.

  Besseta shook her head. “No, he is just a private eye that my law firm hired to deliver this. He doesn’t know what he delivered. He thinks it’s drugs.” She smiled. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about contacting Maliki from further away, and it couldn’t really hurt.”

  “I just don’t want anyone to locate your home,” Tiffany said. She wasn’t about to suggest her fears, which she kept buried in her mind, that they would find the home with Kenneth alone. Tiffany had lived around Besseta enough to know how to keep the thoughts she wanted private, buried.

  Digging in her pocket, Besseta pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and placed it on the table as she stood. “Let’s go and check these out, then I’ll call Kenneth and talk to him about that. Then, we will get you outfitted.”

  “Okay,” Tiffany said without enthusiasm.

  Besseta carefully inspected all the IDs for Tiffany and explained what to look for. Satisfied and amazed that Besseta knew as much as she did, Tiffany took one as Besseta called Kenneth. After talking with him, he agreed it wouldn’t hurt anything to contact Maliki further away. Hearing Kenneth’s voice, Besseta almost ran home but noticed the sky was getting brighter.

  “I love you, baby,” Besseta said.

  “Love you too,” Kenneth said. “I miss you.”

  “I know. I really want to run back home, but I can’t make it there before the sun rises,” Besseta admitted.

  Kenneth laughed. “You have to help Tiffany shop, baby. Otherwise, she will buy those druid dresses.”

  “I heard that, Kenneth,” Tiffany said from across the room.

  Laughing harder, he said, “Hey, tell her it was meant as a compliment, but the druids aren’t around anymore, so she would stand out. Not that she isn’t pretty enough to stand out on her own.”

  Tiffany stood. “Tell him thank you.” She smiled. “How are Bonnie and Clyde?” she asked.

  “Tell Tiffany, Bonnie and Clyde are fine and waiting on you two to get home,” Kenneth said.

  “She heard, baby. Like me, Tiffany’s hearing is really good.” Besseta giggled. “What are you going to do while we are gone?”

  “Get some work done around here.”

  Feeling apprehensive, Besseta almost begged, “Just don’t do anything that could hurt you.”

  “Hey, you are the one that needs to be careful, but I won’t be doing anything major,” Kenneth assured her.

  Besseta sighed with relief. “Thank you.”

  “I love and miss you. If you need me, just call.”

  “I will, and I love and miss you more,” Besseta replied.

  “No, I’m bigger; that means I can generate more love, and you’re smaller, so my love for you is more concentrated, leaving my heart longing for more, so I win,” Kenneth explained.

  Flabbergasted and unsure how to respond, Besseta was left speechless. “Somehow, that doesn’t make sense,” she finally said, sending Kenneth into a fit of laughter.

  “All I know is you’re my everything,” he finally said when he quit laughing.

  “As you’re mine,” Besseta replied, “always.”

  “Always,” Kenneth responded.

  When Besseta hung up, Tiffany sat down next to her. “You two have it bad.”

  Besseta gave a gentle smile. “Yeah we do,” she acknowledged. “I just wish I could’ve outdone him on the, ‘I love you more,’ part. His reasoning caught me way off guard.”

  Tiffany laughed. “Oh, I can give you some good ones for that.”

  Thankful, Besseta leaned over and hugged Tiffany. “I would appreciate that.”

  Returning the hug, Tiffany said, “Six hundred years of marriage taught me much that I’m willing to share.”

  Besseta leaned back. “Just because my husband thinks you’re hot, don’t try and steal him.” She grinned.

  Tiffany grinned back. “I just want Bonnie and Clyde.”

  “Well, you’re already their aunt,” Besseta pointed out.

  “Well, then I’m happy.” Tiffany smiled.

  The two left and spent the day shopping. Late that afternoon, they were both carrying an armload of stuff from the last store. All through the day, Besseta had the stores deliver what was bought to the motel. What they couldn’t get in the car, Besseta was going to have delivered to the house.

  When they walked in the room, they found stacks of the shopping spree around it. Tiffany dropped her load on the bed. “My God, Besseta,” she declared. “I can only wear one outfit at a time. You bought me more clothes in one day then I think I’ve owned in my entire life.”

  Grabbing t
he stuff on hangers, Besseta started hanging them in the closet. “I’ve noticed humans remember clothes more than a person’s face. Whenever we do something we might be remembered for, we destroy the clothes. I’ve always tried to destroy what I was wearing when I attacked my targets,” Besseta explained.

  Thinking about that, Tiffany nodded, impressed. “Okay, I can understand that.”

  “At least you don’t complain about the money,” Besseta huffed.

  “Did you spend a lot today?” Tiffany asked. “I have gold nearby and can pay you back.”

  “Please,” Besseta exclaimed, waving her hand at Tiffany.

  “So do I need to get some gold for you?” Tiffany asked. “I’ll get you enough for what you bought Kenneth as well.”

  “No you’re not,” Besseta snapped. “It wasn’t that much.”

  “So I can tell Kenneth how much we bought?” she asked with an evil grin.

  With a small gasp, Besseta’s eyes got wide. “You better not,” she almost begged. “He doesn’t understand it’s just money, and I have a lot of it. Money doesn’t do me any good just sitting there.”

  Walking over, Tiffany hugged Besseta. “I won’t say anything, but I like to help,” Tiffany explained.

  “Well, the next shopping trip, you can buy stuff,” Besseta offered.

  “Deal,” Tiffany grinned.

  When the closet was full, Besseta looked at Tiffany. “Get two changes of clothes, and put them in your pack. Also one pair of hiking boots,” Besseta told her.

  “I’m wearing hiking boots now,” Tiffany said, holding up one leg and pointing at her foot.

  “I know, but we’re going to feed before leaving, and if we get messy, we might need to change,” Besseta explained.

  “Messy?” Tiffany asked, almost offended. “I don’t dismember before, after, or during when I feed.”

  Shoving her clothes in her small pack, Besseta paused. “Well yeah, I forget if you don’t pull arms off, there’s very little blood,” she admitted.

  “I take it you already have targets since you were just in Chicago?” Tiffany asked.