Once again, special thanks to Willie for correcting my Aussie references. Thanks to TaFace for editing spelling, grammar and content and returning the chapter so quickly.
*
Nola sat in her room. Alone. Joshua was a gentleman and she was not sure if that was a good thing or not. She was accustomed to being alone. Although Lord Melchiorre had treated her as well as he had all of his employees, Nola knew that she was a second class citizen in his world.
The New Kingdom had admirable rules regarding humans. No human was to be assaulted by a vampire and blood could only be taken by a willing donor over the age of twenty-one years old. Because she was only eighteen, she had never been asked to share her personal stock of O-Negative.
Once again, she had been reminded that she was not quite up to the vampires' skills. When Abigail was taken, Nola had been escorted to her rooms and placed under guarded watch. Not to be ungrateful, she appreciated the protection but she resented the fact that she was not able to assist the others in finding Abigail. There was something to be said for immortality and inhuman strength.
Since the others had left, Joshua had only visited her once to make sure that she had everything she needed. He had instructed her to call the staff for food or anything else she desired.
"So, should I call the staff if I desire you?" she smiled at the thought.
Immediately she scolded herself. Joshua had been so distraught when he had seen his sister taken. Now he was angry because he was not able to join the search parties. When he had checked on Nola earlier, he had barely contained the worry evident on his face. His eyes were dark with deep circles beneath. She had wanted to comfort him but he had immediately withdrawn returning to his room.
More than twenty four hours had passed since Abigail had been taken. Nola could only imagine how worried Joshua would be. Maybe he just needed a friend right now. Wrapping her robe close to her body, she stepped from her room and told the guards where she was going. Since Joshua's room was just across the hall, they would still be able to guard her.
She opened the door to the suite he shared with his sister and stopped. The room was in shambles. Cushions that had once graced the sofa and chairs were now shredded throughout the living room. Several empty bottles and glasses were discarded as though left from a wild party. She had worked for Lord Melchiorre long enough to recognize the scarlet liquid as blood. Had Joshua drank this much since she had seen him?
"Josh?" she asked hesitantly. "It's Nola. Are you ok?"
"Nola, please go to your room," his horse voice replied from another room.
She slowly walked towards the sound of his voice and found a door separating them.
"Please let me in," she said. "You don't sound well."
"Please," he said breaking into a sob, "please leave. I don't want to hurt you."
"Hurt me?" she asked with a nervous laugh and reached for the door knob. "You would never hurt me."
"Not intentionally," he said from the dark room. "But I'm losing control."
Nola barely suppressed her shriek when he stepped toward her. She had witnessed his radical growth spurt but had always felt safe with the guy who had quickly grown from boy to man. Sometime during the last few hours, he had changed again.
"J...Josh," she stammered, "What happened?"
"I broke a promise to my father," he answered quietly. "I thought it would help. It had made me stronger but now I thought it might numb the pain."
"What pain?"
"Abby. It feels different when she's gone. We've never been separated."
"Come to my room. Stay with me," she offered and then stopped when he stepped into the lit room.
The last time she had seen him, he was the average height of an adult man. But now he stood as tall as his father and his hair and eyes were darker. He resembled the boy she knew. He was just an older version of him.
"What do you need, Josh?"
"You," he answered and pulled her close.
***
She was either dreaming or remembering. Emma had no way of knowing. She could see things that she thought were true but were impossible for an infant to remember. Nevertheless, throughout her dreams one thing remained constant.
She felt the care given to her at birth; the blood that had nurtured her in those first days; and the special delivery to her aunt's home. Questions from her past were finally answered as she felt her direction being steered towards classical arts even as a young girl. There was a piano. Where did that come from? She became agitated with her blurred memories but calmed when she felt the gentle stroke of familiar fingers. Her one constant had always been Antony.
"Quiet, love," he whispered near her temple. "You have so much to understand and a lifetime to do that."
***
Alex put the final touches to his makeshift shelter and crawled beneath the barricade to join Abigail. She was still sleeping. He had lost consciousness sometime while she fed from his wrist but not due to blood loss. He was more than a little uncomfortable with the reaction he had felt when her lips touched his skin.
He had woken to find her sleeping snuggled against his body. Her eyes were no longer shadowed by blue circles but she had drastically changed. Her body was slightly longer with more curves. Softer curves he reminded himself. The sun was moving fast across the sky and he knew they would be easy prey.
When he had lifted her body, determined to struggle with her weight, he was surprised to find he was mostly healed. It was better than healed. It was renewed. Old scars were gone and his muscles were strong. For a fleeting moment, Alex feared that he had been changed.
Lifting Abigail in his arms, he was able to carry her and search for a suitable shelter for them. The lean-to was hardly comfortable but it was dry and easy to exit. He had managed to build an area secluded behind small saplings obscuring them as easy targets.
His next move had not been enjoyable but had proven to have a dual purpose. The carcass of the animal lay outside of their shelter decomposing in the afternoon sun. The stench would evade the hunters and the meat that had been roasted in a distance would serve as their dinner.
Alex stretch out beside Abigail and waited. He alternated his glance between the temporary structure and her sleeping face. His body might feel great but his mind was struggling with everything. When Abigail moaned, he turned to watch her face. He prayed his girl was ok.
Groaning, Alex wondered when she had become his girl.
***
"Gabriel," Edward said, "I've given Antony an update. Everyone is here waiting for your orders."
Gabriel turned to look at his brother and the others that had joined his search team to find Abigail. They were tired, frustrated and growing weak from hunger. Showing his hand would not be a wise tactic because everyone expected him to be in control and have all the answers. All the correct answers.
Before Edward could continue, Gabriel asked, "How is Emma?"
"Good. Progressing as normal which is almost abnormal for any of our mates, but what the hell, it's good news."
"Did you tell him that he doesn't need to join us?"
"Yes," Edward answered and waited silently.
"I don't know."
"What?"
"I don't know what the hell is happening. Isn't that the question you were about to ask?"
Edward laughed and shook his head. Turning toward the growing number of vampires in the search party, he quickly sought his mate and willed her to turn to him. With a suggestive wink, he sent her a smile and then turned back to Gabriel.
"We are beyond that, Gabe. I just want this to be over. It's amazing how well we've adjusted to our lot. I only want to know if we pursue them and drag her back against her will or move ahead with her crazy plan."
"I'm sorry. I just don't know. I honestly don't understand her motives and why she's so passionate while Josh seems to not care."
"I have no advice so I'll support your decision."
"Then we camp here tonight," Gabriel stated flatly. "Tell the others to spread out around the base of the mountain but be on guard. Can you feel them?"
"Oh yeah. I wonder if they have any clue who is waiting for them when they wake. Taking prisoners?"
"No."
"How about any who surrender?"
"Definitely not," Gabriel answered and added, "Abigail will just need to deal with it later."
"Somehow, I don't think she would disagree with you," Edward said before walking to the others.
Gabriel closed his eyes and reached out with his mind searching for anything he could find. The vampires hiding in the caves were obvious to everyone in his group. Alex's blood left a trail to Abigail that disappeared several miles to the east. Joshua's emotions had surged through him momentarily screaming for help but now were silence in sated bliss. Gabriel contemplated the reasons for his children's erratic behavior and the people who had satisfied their cravings. Once again, he regretted that he had never trained them properly.
He knew Alena had approached him before she wrapped her arms around his waist. Pulling her close, he rested his cheek against her hair and savored the fact that she was his mate. He could feel her love for their children and the trust she had in his judgment. Her strength strengthened him.
"Have you found this other child?" she mumbled against his chest.
"No and I'm not sure he's a child. Remember that he was raised by the Panthralges so he may be young but not a child."
"Gabe, are you sure that everyone has shared everything they know about this?"
"Yes, Conlaoch was honest and, now that Alex is out here, he is extremely anxious that we succeed."
"I, uh, wasn't talking about Conlaoch," she said hesitating.
"Who?"
"I'm sorry, Gabe, but Heron knew about Abigail and Joshua and how they were being used. I thought maybe he would know something about ...."
She stopped when he abruptly pulled away and approached the brother in question. Heron had deceived them once and although he had repented of that deception, Alena had no confidence that he had been completely honest with his brothers.
****
Emma moaned in her sleep. She had been restless for the past several hours causing Anthony concern over his mate's change. He could hear her heart, smell her blood, and feel their link. Certainly she would be healthy.
If so, then why was he worried? He had witnessed many changes but he had never known one to occur like Emma's. There were no signs of failure. Her human body had died and her vampire body had rapidly grabbed on to its new life. Her heart raced to the unique rhythm of his own. Her face, body and hair had altered to a magnificent form of perfection. Emma's perfection. He stretched out beside her and watched closely. Her eyelids continued fluttering as she apparently dreamed. When she moaned again, Antony wondered what thoughts or memories were holding on to his mate during her change.
***
"Hey," Abigail murmured.
"Hey," Alex returned.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked sitting up from the makeshift pallet. "Where are we? Oh my god, Alex, are you ok?"
"About ten hours. It will be dark soon. In a cave where I hope we will be safe for the night. And I'm fine. Better than fine, actually."
"I mean...did I, uh, when I....why are you laughing?"
"You're cute when you're nervous."
"Then I must be cute the entire time I'm with you!" she snapped. "I'm only trying to find out if I hurt you."
