Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations Read online

  Giving a small laugh, Tiffany said, “You’re the first I’ve ever seen evolve past the turning.”

  Holding Kenneth tight, Besseta managed to open the back door and lay him in the backseat. Kenneth clutched the bottle and never stirred as she slid back out and helped Tiffany put her bags in the trunk.

  “Since he’s asleep, we could just run,” Tiffany offered.

  Shaking her head adamantly, Besseta said, “No. He would freak out if I just left the car here.”

  “Yes, that would be a needless waste,” Tiffany agreed. “I take it you know how to drive?”

  “Oh yes, Kenneth taught me,” Besseta said with a smile. “It seems it’s very un-American to not drive.”

  Besseta walked around and opened the door for Tiffany, who was just looking at it. “Thank you,” Tiffany said as she hesitantly climbed inside. Besseta closed the door then flashed to the driver’s door and climbed in.

  Seeing Tiffany looking around in wonder, Besseta asked, “You’ve been in a car before, right?”

  “Of course I have,” Tiffany told her. “Right before I saw you last time.”

  “That was over fifty years ago. They’ve improved some since then.” Besseta smiled and started the engine.

  Watching Besseta put on a seatbelt, Tiffany turned and struggled with hers. “Well, the time before that, you had to turn a handle on the front to make a car go,” Tiffany told her, locking the seatbelt. “Why do we have to strap in? They go that fast now?”

  “No, we can still move much faster than a car, but Kenneth gets upset if I don’t wear it,” Besseta replied as she backed out and drove back down the road. “Don’t get me wrong; they can go fast, but the local rulers put up speed limits that must be followed.”

  “They make you drive them slower than a car can actually go?”

  “Yes,” Besseta told her. “Kenneth said it was for the safety of everyone.”

  “Why not have everyone drive better?”

  Besseta shrugged. “I asked that, and he said with as many stupid people licensed to drive, it would be impossible.”

  Liking that answer, Tiffany nodded. “So I take it your quest is still going well?”

  “It was until this new crap started.”

  They rode in silence as the night started to fall. “It was bound to happen sooner or later, you know,” Tiffany finally said.

  “I guess, but if the Leagues are supposed to keep our existence a secret, I’m still surprised,” Besseta admitted.

  “Surely you aren’t that naïve,” Tiffany said. “Besseta, in that last big war, everyone knew about us.”

  “Just one side,” Besseta stated.

  “No, they all knew,” Tiffany corrected, shaking her head. “When the European League joined the twisted cross people, everyone knew. In England, I found an area that was listening to every coded message the twisted cross people sent.”

  “Well, we destroyed the records at that fort.”

  “No, we didn’t get them all.”

  Glancing over, Besseta asked, “Are you sure? We destroyed everything there.”

  “Besseta, the church alone has a whole archive of what they’ve gathered over the centuries about us.”

  “Whatever,” Besseta said, flipping her wrist.

  “It is a rather remarkable collection,” Tiffany said and noticed Besseta slowing and pulling off at a store. “Is the car broke?”

  “No, we need fuel,” Besseta told her, coasting next to a gas pump.

  “We’ve only been traveling for few hundred miles, and it needs fuel?”

  “Yes, the cars love to flash this light at you to remind you they are hungry.” Besseta turned off the car.

  “Amazing, it can tell you when it’s hungry,” Tiffany said, looking over the instrument panel in wonder.

  The bright lights overhead shined in the car on Kenneth’s eyelids. Thinking the zippo was near, he shot upright, wide awake. “What?” he shouted, looking around, and saw the gas pumps. Then he noticed it was dark. “How long have I been out?” he mumbled, looking at his watch.

  “Not long, baby,” Besseta smiled, unlocking her seatbelt.

  “Humph, six hours is a long time for me,” he corrected, putting the empty wine bottle down. “I’ll fill us up,” he said, opening the back door.

  Besseta looked at him in the rearview mirror. “Baby, I can do it. Why don’t you just rest?” she asked as he climbed out.

  “Nah, I got it. You need anything from inside?” he asked.

  Shaking her head, she said, “No, but you need to eat.”

  “I’ll get something, love,” Kenneth promised, closing the door, he pulled a credit card out of his wallet and slid it in the gas pump.

  Tiffany smiled and turned to look at Besseta. “It’s so cute how he treats you as fragile,” she observed.

  “At times,” Besseta told her. “Other times, it’s very nerve-grating.”

  Tiffany reached over and gently grabbed her hand. “I’m so happy for you. You found someone to love and love you. I was worried that you would always be alone. Life isn’t meant to be lived alone.”

  “Hah,” Besseta scoffed. “What about you? I’ve never seen you with another.”

  With a gentle smile and sad eyes, Tiffany told her, “My love died long ago.”

  Feeling bad Besseta placed her other hand on Tiffany’s. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know.”

  “It’s of no bother,” Tiffany replied. “You’ve never asked.”

  Besseta looked at the outside mirror at Kenneth. “You never offered and never seemed to want to talk about your past.”

  “I asked about your past; you could’ve asked about mine,” Tiffany said, watching Besseta stare at Kenneth in the mirror. “May I ask why?”

  Turning back to look at Tiffany, Besseta flipped her head to get her hair off her face. “You never seemed to want to talk about it. When I asked, you just briefly answered, so I always thought you didn’t want to talk about your past.”

  “I’m sorry if that is the way you perceived it, but I don’t mind,” Tiffany corrected as Kenneth put the nozzle back in the pump.

  As her door opened, Besseta looked up at Kenneth. “You two want to come in?” he asked. Besseta looked over at Tiffany and saw a look of panic appear on her face then quickly disappear.

  She turned to Kenneth. “No, we’ll wait for you. You get some food and then go back to sleep. I’ll drive us home,” she told him with a smile. He closed her door, and she looked back at Tiffany. “When was the last time you fed?”

  Sheepishly looking at Besseta, Tiffany admitted, “Several weeks ago.”

  “Tiffany, you can’t do that,” Besseta told her with a worried tone.

  Reaching over, Tiffany patted Besseta’s cheek. “I’m still good. I’ve always been able to control the thirst. Kenneth is in no danger. I would die before I ever hurt or allow someone to hurt your beloved.”

  “You always were a good friend,” Besseta replied.

  Tiffany looked away at the store. “It never ceases to amaze me how far humanity has come in the last few hundred years.” She let go of Besseta’s hand. “You are the only person I’ve ever considered as a friend. I consider you what I think others would call a sister, a member of my family.”

  Chuckling, Besseta admitted, “Hell, you’re the only vampire I’ve met and really liked.”

  “I know, and that truly honors me,” Tiffany told her. “You aren’t mad that I know about your house on the island?”

  “No, you’re the only one other than Kenneth I trust,” Besseta assured her. “How did you find it?”

  “Like I told you, I try to always keep up with you. One day, I know your task will lead you to kill other edimmu, and you will become outcast. When that happens, I will stand beside you,” Tiffany told her.

  “That will be a long time,” Besseta admitted. “There are still many evil humans that must be dealt with.”

  Nodding, Tiffany said, “True, but that time will come, and I wanted to
make sure I knew where you would run so I could help.”

  Staring at the side of Tiffany’s face, Besseta noticed how tranquil her presence was. “How many of my other homes do you know about?” she asked.

  “Most,” Tiffany admitted in a low voice.

  Somewhat alarmed, Besseta asked, “How? I was very careful when I set them up.”

  Hearing alarm in Besseta’s voice, Tiffany turned and patted her leg. “Yes you were, and to my knowledge, no others of our kind, including the Leagues, know about them. Well, the ones you seem to want hidden.” Besseta just looked at Tiffany, still alarmed. “Don’t worry; I’ve followed you off and on over the years.”

  “I never smelled you or heard your thoughts,” Besseta told her.

  “I never came closer than a mile, and I was always a hundred or so feet up so my scent wouldn’t stay on the ground,” Tiffany told her, smiling. “Please don’t be mad,” she begged.

  “Oh, I’m not,” Besseta sighed with relief. “I was just worried others could do it,” she assured her. “Why haven’t you paid your tribute?”

  Tiffany chuckled. “I refuse to pay for the right to live where I choose. If the League wants to try me, they may.”

  “No, I took care of it,” Besseta told her. “Your past debt is forgiven, and neither of us owe again forever to this League.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Tiffany scolded.

  “It had to be done,” Besseta assured her, quickly describing what she did for the League.

  Thinking about it, Tiffany agreed, “Yes, that had to be done. I wish you would’ve come to me before you did it.”

  “Well, I just found out where you were,” Besseta said, looking out the window and seeing Kenneth carrying several bags.

  “Just how did you find me?” Tiffany asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “Smelled you,” Besseta said, watching Kenneth walk toward them.

  “I figured as much, but how did you know where to start?” Tiffany asked.

  Looking back at Tiffany, Besseta grinned. “You wouldn’t believe me, but I will tell you in time. It’s not that I don’t trust you; when I tell you, Tiffany, you will become hunted if others find out.”

  Tiffany let out a laugh. “Hah, like I’d worry,” she snickered as Kenneth opened the back door and climbed in. The smell of food flooded the car as he set the bags down and put on his seatbelt.

  “I got each of you a hamburger and fries,” he said as he started digging in the bags.

  “Baby,” Besseta whined and looked up in the rearview mirror to see Kenneth just giving her a blank stare. “Fine,” she huffed.

  “Just a few bites,” Kenneth said, passing up the food and a bottle of water. “I know you don’t need a lot of food, but you still need food.” Tiffany smiled as Kenneth passed the food for both of them forward. Besseta started the car and pulled back on the road.

  Unwrapping her burger, Tiffany looked at it in shock. It smelled really good, but the look left a lot to be desired. “This is edible?” she asked.

  “Yes, they aren’t that bad,” Besseta said, taking a nibble, and looked over her shoulder at Kenneth and gave him a smile. She wasn’t really hungry but couldn’t tell him no.

  Tentatively, Tiffany tested the burger and gave a nod. It was alright even though there was no way she could eat the whole thing. “Yes, it is good.” She smiled and noticed Besseta eating a French fry. Looking down at her box of fries, Tiffany grabbed one and admitted she liked that as well.

  “Tiffany, do you have any identification?” Besseta asked.

  “Like what?” she asked, confused. Besseta knew who she was.

  “Like passport, license, credit card, any of those?” Besseta asked.

  “No, why would I need them?”

  “To get across the border,” Besseta told her.

  Tiffany took another nibble. “I’ve never needed them before,” she admitted.

  After four small bites, Besseta folded her burger up. “If you move around close to humans, you must have had some,” she said, looking over.

  “No, though I rarely stay close to the human world unless I need something,” Tiffany responded.

  “We’ll have to get you some,” Besseta told her. “When we get to the border, you’ll have to cross and wait for us.”

  “It’s not like they can stop us,” Tiffany pointed out.

  “True, but we don’t want attention,” Besseta said. “The others after us will know we were here.”

  Tiffany thought about that and liked the reasoning. “You are a natural tactician.”

  “Fight in enough wars, and it just rubs off,” Besseta told her as Kenneth sat back, listening.

  “Never knew you to really fight in the wars, just punished those that were fighting who hurt the civilians. Well, with the exception of joining Jeanne’s army,” Tiffany said and took another bite.

  Just staring as she drove, Besseta had small smile on her face. “Jeanne was nice and a good person. I really liked her,” Besseta admitted.

  “Are you still mad about me agreeing with the League for not allowing you to rescue her?” Tiffany asked but turned to look away.

  Shaking her head, Besseta said in a low voice, “No, you were right. If I would’ve tried, they would’ve killed me, and even if I managed to get her out, the church would have condemned her and her family,” Besseta said.

  Leaning forward, Kenneth asked, “Jeanne’s army?”

  “Jeanne d’Arc,” Besseta said over her shoulder.

  “JOAN OF ARC!” Kenneth shouted, making both startle.

  “Baby, please don’t shout,” Besseta said over her shoulder.

  “Sorry,” Kenneth said, feeling bad. “But the Joan of Arc?”

  Besseta nodded. “Yes.”

  Blowing out a huff, Kenneth dropped back against his seat. “My history is a little rough, but wasn’t she fighting the English?”

  “Yes and their allies,” Besseta answered.

  Grabbing his bottle of water, Kenneth drained it then shook his head. “I think anyone who fought the English, you joined them,” he pointed out, and Tiffany giggled.

  “You can say that and be very close to accurate,” Besseta said with a hint of steel in her voice.

  Holding his hands up, Kenneth pleaded, “Hey, don’t get mad at me. I was just making an observation.”

  “A good one,” Tiffany chuckled.

  Besseta looked over her shoulder at both of them. “I’ve fought with the English once, and that was fighting the Nazis.”

  “Hey, you didn’t like the Spanish or Moors much better,” Tiffany snickered. “Let’s not forget the Holy Roman Empire.”

  Hearing that, Kenneth turned to look at the side of Besseta’s face. She just looked ahead with the instrument panel lighting her face. He stared at her for over an hour as they rode in silence. Hoping she would clarify in time, Kenneth finished eating, never looking away.

  “I don’t like rulers who control through fear and murder,” she finally said. “They have different rules that apply to them. That is why I fell in love with America.”

  “What about America now?” Kenneth asked.

  “It’s not what it was a hundred years ago,” she answered. “The powerful families have once again taken power and do as they wish.”

  Nodding, Kenneth cleaned up his wrappers and put them in a bag. “You do know if they crack the code of how to infect the ruling class with the vampire virus, the world is theirs,” he said.

  “Yes,” Besseta mumbled. “That is why I will fight this war.”

  Chapter 5

  Late the next morning, Besseta pulled up to the dock. They climbed out, and Kenneth went to the trunk and tried to grab Tiffany’s bags. “Shit,” he mumbled, struggling to lift them. Finally giving up, he struggled with one at a time to get them out. Sweating, he looked up to see both women staring at him.

  “I’ll get them,” he said, wiping the sweat off his brow.

  “Kenneth,” Tiffany said as she stepped
forward, “each one weighs more than you do.”

  He took a step back. “Damn, no wonder,” he mumbled. “It’ll just take me a little longer,” he replied with a grin.

  Bouncing over, Besseta kissed his cheek. “We’ll get them, baby. Why don’t you get the boat ready?” she offered.

  Feeling down, he mumbled, “Okay,” gave her a kiss, and trotted away.

  “He is truly remarkable. You made a good choice on him,” Tiffany said when Kenneth reached the boat. She bent down and grabbed the bags with seemingly no effort.

  “Yes I did.” Besseta smiled, taking one of the bags from Tiffany, and they headed down to the boat.

  They climbed on as Kenneth started the motor and backed out. Besseta and Tiffany just looked around as Kenneth drove them to the island. When he pulled up to the dock, Kenneth shut down the motor. “Tiffany, let us go in the house first,” Kenneth said, tying the boat off.

  “Kenneth, I assure you along with Besseta no one is here,” Tiffany said, picking up her bags. “Even if they were, I could handle them easier than Besseta could.”

  Hearing that, Kenneth raised his eyebrows. “No, I don’t want the babies freaking out,” he told her, and Besseta gasped.

  “Oh my gosh, you’re right,” she cried out.

  “Babies?” Tiffany stopped in shock.

  Besseta bounced on her toes. “You won’t believe it,” she cried out and took off. Kenneth smiled and followed. A thousand questions flooded Tiffany’s mind as the two headed for the house.

  “Babies,” Tiffany mumbled as she stood rooted to the dock while Kenneth and Besseta walked into the house. Then she heard barks not of alarm but of joy. “No,” she gasped and took off at a run.

  Stopping at the front door, Tiffany saw Besseta lying on the floor as the two pugs crawled over her, kissing her. Dropping her bags, Tiffany fell to her knees with tears in her eyes, watching the dogs love all over Besseta, and Kenneth laid on the floor, and they loved on him. “How?” she mumbled in a broken voice with tears on her face.