Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations Read online

  “We’re not going to see her?” he asked, confused.

  “Baby, you don’t just run upon another vampire’s home. They kill first. Hesitation can get them killed,” she explained. “Especially one as powerful as Tiffany.”

  “What do we do?” he asked, getting nervous.

  “Wait till she comes to see.”

  “She does know your smell, right?”

  “Yes.” Besseta smiled. “She’s close and knows it’s me but doesn’t know your scent and is confused.”

  Kenneth started looking around in curiosity. “If she doesn’t like people, I hope I’m not intruding. She’s your friend and all; I’m just saying I don’t want to hurt her feelings,” he said, looking around, and he caught a flashing blur.

  “She won’t mind,” Besseta assured him, “after I explain.”

  Hearing that, Kenneth’s body became rigid, watching the blur dart from tree to tree toward them. “She’s not as fast as you are,” Kenneth said, and Besseta looked over at him.

  “You can see her running?” she asked, shocked.

  “Yes, I’ve been watching you and learned how to follow you,” he said as the blur got closer and stopped in front of them.

  “Besseta,” the figure cried and walked over holding out her arms. She wore a simple, long, white gown. Kenneth watched them hug and looked at who he hoped was Tiffany. She had an olive complexion with thick, straight, long, black hair. As they hugged, he noticed she was a head taller than Besseta, but since Besseta was tiny, that made Tiffany just short. Looking at her face, Kenneth grinned. Tiffany wasn’t really beautiful, but she was cute. If she were wearing black-rimmed glasses, he would think she was a nerd.

  “Tiffany, I’ve missed you,” Besseta said, hugging her tight, and Kenneth winced, knowing if his body was in there it would’ve been crushed.

  “How did you find me?” Tiffany asked, finally letting go.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Besseta giggled.

  Then like he just appeared, Tiffany looked over at him with a polite smile. “Besseta, wh—” she stopped and looked back at Besseta then back at Kenneth. “Oh my,” she said, taking a breath and placing her hand on her chest. “You fell in love,” Tiffany gasped, lunging at Besseta and wrapping her arms around her again.

  “Yes I did,” Besseta beamed.

  “I can see it on both of your faces,” Tiffany said, so excited.

  “That’s not all, Tiffany,” Besseta said, and Tiffany let her go as Besseta held up her left hand, showing the ring. Tiffany let out a wail and wrapped her up again. “I knew you would be happy.” Besseta smiled with tears in her eyes.

  “My little Besseta,” Tiffany wailed again, crying. Kenneth just watched the emotions, smiling.

  When they let go of each other, Tiffany walked over toward him with Besseta behind her. Kenneth started getting scared and did the only thing he could. Completely forgetting his man card, he held up his hands. “I’m fragile.”

  With his hands held out in front of him, they suddenly parted like they were pushed apart. “You must be a good man to get her,” Tiffany told him as she hugged him gently.

  Hesitantly, Kenneth returned the hug. “Actually, we just had this argument, and she is the best,” Kenneth replied.

  “We were still arguing,” Besseta snapped.

  “I was the last one to say it,” Kenneth told her.

  “We were here, so I got out,” she protested.

  Letting Tiffany go, Kenneth said proudly, “That doesn’t matter. I won the argument.”

  “If you two would like, we can go to my home, and you can continue. It would do my heart good to watch,” Tiffany interrupted with a big grin.

  Kenneth crossed his arms. “I don’t know; you may take her side,” he objected.

  “Well, if you spoke last, then the argument is yours,” Tiffany giggled.

  “Oh man, I like her,” Kenneth told Besseta, pointing at Tiffany.

  “Tiffany, that’s not fair,” Besseta complained.

  Shaking her head, Tiffany laughed, “Besseta, I’m sure you win most arguments. He is truly smitten with you.”

  Kenneth scoffed. “You better believe that. If I don’t give in, she won’t wear the shi—”

  “Kenneth!” Besseta shouted, stopping him as she blushed.

  “Well, you do,” he told her.

  “Come, you must tell me more,” Tiffany laughed. Besseta walked over and picked Kenneth up. “Oh allow me,” Tiffany said, and Kenneth floated out of Besseta’s arms. Breaking out in a cold sweat, Kenneth looked around, hovering several feet off the ground, as Besseta walked in front of him.

  “Okay, now I’m freaking out,” Kenneth called out as the world again sat on his chest then got right back off. He looked back and could tell they were miles away as he floated in the air behind the two when they came to a stop. “You know, I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I’m about to lose bowel and bladder control floating up here.”

  Tiffany turned around. “Oh forgive me,” she said as he floated down, and his body straightened up so his feet touched the ground.

  Besseta ran up to him. “She’s good, isn’t she, and see I told you how nice she is.”

  “Yes, she’s very nice, but I really need to check my pants,” Kenneth told her truthfully. “Besseta, I just defied gravity, hovering off the ground, then shot through the air at what I’m sure was warp speed.”

  “I told you she had telekinesis,” Besseta said, surprised.

  Reaching out, Kenneth grabbed her shoulders. “Besseta, that’s like telling someone they won the lottery and showing them the money. It’s two totally different things,” he told her.

  They heard laughter erupt and looked over at Tiffany sitting on the ground, laughing. “This is the best,” she wailed.

  Kenneth looked down at Besseta. “You realize if she lived with us and she laughs at that, she would wet her pants at least twice a day,” Kenneth predicted.

  Tiffany struggled to her feet then led them to a rock face with a boulder in the middle of it. She walked over and with little effort pushed the boulder, which was taller than Kenneth and almost as wide as it was tall. As it moved, it revealed a large opening. Tiffany waved her hand for them to enter. As Kenneth walked through the entrance, he could tell this wasn’t a natural cave.

  As Tiffany closed the opening behind them, the light slowly left, leaving them in darkness. Like a statue, Kenneth stood in place as Tiffany and Besseta started talking, and he could hear their voices moving around, proving they were walking.

  “Yeah, I just want you to know I can’t see the end of my nose,” Kenneth informed everyone.

  “Again, Kenneth, I’m sorry, but I’m just happy to see Besseta and find her happily married,” Tiffany called back to him.

  Hearing a lighter striking, he sighed. “That’s fine,” he said as the lighter caught, ejecting a flame. Smiling as the lighter moved toward a nine-candle candelabra, he started getting happy as it lit the first candle, and then he realized the lighter was floating and lighting candles like it was its own entity.

  With his hands trembling, Kenneth just ran toward the voices of Besseta and Tiffany to get away from the possessed lighter. Making out their shapes in front of him, Kenneth stopped some yards behind them, breathing heavily, and noticed the room getting brighter to his right. Turning as he stopped, he found the lighter lighting more candles on its own.

  “Tiffany,” he called out, running toward the two. Tiffany turned with a smile. “Tiffany, sorry to interrupt again, but can I trouble you for a glass of wine, hard liquor, beer, I’ll even settle for paint thinner right now,” he begged with his face white as a sheet, trying not to look at the lighter.

  “Certainly,” she said and disappeared.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Besseta asked, moving over to him.

  Grabbing her shoulder, Kenneth pulled her close. “Don’t look, but a possessed lighter is following me because I’m scared of the dark,” he told her, trying
to swallow, but his throat was parched.

  “Baby, it’s just Tiffany—”

  “I know what you said, baby,” he snapped. “You aren’t listening to me. A possessed zippo lighter is following me because I’m scared of the dark,” he explained slowly. “Oh my God, it’s coming over here!” Kenneth shouted and spun around, refusing to let the lighter know he saw it.

  Besseta giggled as she reached out to comfort him. When her hand brushed his arm, Kenneth screamed and jumped. Shocked, Besseta just stood there as she saw Kenneth’s shoes even with her eyes until gravity pulled him back to Earth.

  “Shit, it’s right behind you!” he shouted, pointing. Tiffany appeared beside them. Kenneth didn’t take that very well and let out a piercing scream, backing away and moving across the room as he did a cootie dance.

  Totally at a loss, Tiffany looked at Besseta. “He seems a little high strung,” she offered.

  “He’s handled everything fine so far. I think I pushed him a little too hard too fast,” Besseta considered.

  “THE GODDAMN LIGHTER IS FUCKING FOLLOWING ME!” a blood-curdling scream erupted behind them. They turned to see Kenneth in a dead run at them. Before he reached them, he dropped to his knees and slid right between them then jumped to his feet, turning around in midair. Grabbing both of them, he spun them toward the lighter that was still working its way around the room, lighting candles.

  He ducked behind both of them. “It’s coming over here; kill it,” he begged.

  They both just stared at the lighter as Tiffany barely shook her head. “Besseta, I…erm, I don’t know what to say,” she confessed.

  Besseta just shook her head. “Don’t. Don’t even try,” she said as the lighter floated over to rest on the table, and the top flipped closed. Besseta slowly turned to face Kenneth, who was hiding behind both of them. Seeing it was okay, Tiffany turned around with her.

  Noticing they were facing him, Kenneth looked over their shoulders and didn’t see Satan’s zippo any more. Throwing his arms out, Kenneth wrapped them in a hug. “Oh my God thank you for killing that thing,” he almost cried out.

  Pointing at the table, Tiffany started, “It’s—”

  “Tiffany,” Besseta snapped, “don’t. He’s not ready for you to tell him.”

  “Kenneth, I have the wine you requested,” Tiffany said, holding a bottle in one hand.

  Releasing them from his embrace, he stepped back, taking the bottle, and looked down at it. “Ah, Tiffany, this is an 1880 Château,” he informed her.

  “Yes it is,” she replied.

  “Ahm,” he stuttered. “Ah, this is a seven-thousand-dollar bottle.”

  Tiffany just looked at him, not comprehending. “Yes, is that much?” she asked hesitantly.

  Kenneth just started blinking and opening and closing his mouth with nothing coming out. “Don’t say anything else. He’s very worrisome about money and wants to always think about it,” Besseta told her.

  “How remarkable,” Tiffany said, turning to her with a huge smile.

  “No, it’s tiresome,” Besseta corrected as she looked at Kenneth, who was in total shock.

  Tiffany looked at Besseta. “May I try to help,” she glanced out of the corner of her eye at Kenneth, “someone understand?” Tiffany asked, not wanting to upset Besseta’s husband any more.

  “Yes, that may work,” Besseta said and cut her eyes to the zippo on the table, “but not with that.”

  “No, I think that would be a bit much,” Tiffany agreed and turned to face Kenneth, who was still staring ahead with wide eyes and moving his mouth, but nothing was coming out as he cradled the expensive wine bottle. “Kenneth,” she said with a big smile, but he didn’t acknowledge her. “Kenneth,” she snapped, and he shifted his gaze to her. “Will you hold out your right hand?” she asked.

  Closing his eyes, Kenneth tried to remember his right from his left. Almost messing it up, he pulled the bottle of wine tight to his body with his left arm and slowly put his right hand out. “Thank you,” Tiffany said, smiling, and some tension left his body as he smiled back. “You are going to feel my touch in the center of your palm like I was touching you with a finger,” she explained, and he nodded. “But it won’t be my finger,” she added, and the tension returned, bringing apprehension along for the ride.

  Feeling a fingertip touch the palm of his hand, Kenneth looked down. He could see a dimple in his palm like a finger was there. Then the dimple moved around his palm like a finger was drawing on it.

  Visibly trembling now, Kenneth jerked his head up, looking at both of them, and spoke in a breathless whisper, “Bathroom.” Then he gave them a forced, terrified smile.

  Tiffany raised her hand, pointing. “The door on the wall behind you,” she said, not sure if Kenneth was doing okay. Humans were very easily damaged.

  “Thank you,” he croaked and turned, walking to the door. Seeing the zippo on the table was too much. “HOLY HELL, it’s back!” he screeched, breaking into a dead run and almost taking the door out as he slammed it shut.

  They both stood speechless and stared at the door. Tiffany finally broke the silence. “I think you are correct. He just had to take in so much. Most humans don’t react well when they find out they fell in love with an edimmu.”

  “He fell in love with me knowing I was different and didn’t care. He’s tried to protect me.”

  “Oh, he is special,” Tiffany said, grabbing her arm. “Will he be fine alone?” she asked.

  Unsure, she said, “He should be. Let’s leave him alone for a while.”

  “You must tell me everything,” Tiffany said excitedly.

  “Oh, I will, and there is much more you need to know,” Besseta told her, pulling her to a couch. Tiffany sat with her as Besseta started talking, and Tiffany noticed the oddest behavior. Besseta kept looking at her wrist at a timepiece as she talked. Four hours later, Besseta finished, “and that’s where we are.”

  “Oh, this is not good,” Tiffany said, pinching her lip. “Humans have never wanted to take the virus and develop it to conform to the many. But to use our kind against us is most troublesome.”

  “That’s why I was wanting you to be informed and on our team,” Besseta told her.

  Tiffany let out an excited gasp. “You want me to stay with you?” she almost shouted with a smile.

  Caught off guard, Besseta nodded. “If you wish.”

  “In your house on the island?” Tiffany asked, clapping her hands.

  “You knew about that?” Besseta asked in shock.

  “Oh yes,” she nodded and saw her friend’s expression. “I’m sorry if I intruded, but I try to keep an eye on you in case you need help.”

  “I thought you wanted to be alone,” Besseta confessed.

  “From most, but I enjoy you and always have. I kept my distance because you seemed to want to face the world alone, but as your friend, I felt compelled to keep a watch for you.” Tiffany nodded with conviction.

  “Thank you,” Besseta said, smiling. “I just have to make sure Kenneth doesn’t mind.”

  “Of course; you two are bound.” Tiffany smiled.

  Besseta hugged her and walked over to try to open the door, but it was locked. Then she wondered why Tiffany even had a lock on her bathroom door. Lightly knocking, she called out, “Kenneth, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” he slightly slurred.

  “Would you mind if Tiffany moved in with us?” she asked, cringing.

  Silence answered her, and she cringed more. Then she heard movement coming toward the door and stop, but the door didn’t open. “Is, ah, that demonic lighter coming?” he asked in a low voice.

  “No, it is gone for good,” Besseta assured him and turned around to see the lighter float off.

  “Damn right she can move in then,” he said in a sturdy voice.

  Besseta smiled and waited on him to come out, but the door remained closed. “Kenneth, aren’t you coming out? We need to go,” she told him.

  “Go ahea
d and get ready. I’ll come out when we leave. I know for a damn fact that lighter isn’t in here,” he informed her.

  Besseta looked over at Tiffany, who blurred around the room then stopped back by the couch with two large bags beside her. “We’re ready,” Besseta called out.

  “Besseta, baby, will you move that big rock out of the way for me pretty please?” he groveled. Besseta turned to do it as the boulder slid to the side, and Tiffany smiled at her.

  “It’s open, baby,” she told him, and the bathroom door exploded open, and Kenneth was in a dead sprint, running for the light. Once again, Besseta was impressed with his speed for a human. Kenneth dove out of the cave entrance and rolled on the ground, coming up on his knees with his arms held out, praising the dark, sunlit clouds and holding an empty bottle of wine.

  Besseta walked toward the door, bewildered, as Kenneth called out praises to the light filtering through the dark clouds. Tiffany picked up her bags and walked beside her. “I don’t think he should see a lighter for some time. At least till he comes to terms with the world of edimmu,” she told Besseta, and Besseta nodded in agreement and stopped beside Kenneth, who had tears of joy on his face.

  She picked him up, rocking him, as Tiffany stood beside her, and the boulder slid back. “I can carry him if you wish,” Tiffany offered.

  “No, I don’t think he’s ready for that yet, but thank you,” Besseta told her.

  “I will follow you then,” Tiffany said, throwing her bags across her shoulder. Besseta nodded and took off, shocking Tiffany with her speed. Kenneth didn’t care as he buried his face in Besseta’s chest, so overjoyed to be away from that demonic zippo and sinister cave.

  Realizing Tiffany wasn’t keeping up, Besseta slowed down. Well, for her it was slow; to Tiffany, it was as fast as she could move.

  When they reached the car an hour later, Tiffany was winded. Dropping her bags, she shook her head. “Besseta, I have never seen anyone move that fast. How have you gotten faster?”

  Turning around, Besseta could see Tiffany was exhausted. She smiled and looked down to see Kenneth asleep or passed out. The way Kenneth was cradling the empty wine bottle, she was leaning toward passed out. “Just have,” Besseta finally said, not wanting to tell Tiffany how she came upon these new powers. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Tiffany; Besseta didn’t want her to get in trouble with the knowledge.