Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 75
Claudia sighed. “That’s what you’re wearing, then? I suppose it’ll do.”
Suzette’s teeth ground together. “I made that dress for her.”
Claudia’s simpering smile was as fake as her nails. “Oh, well it’s just darling, Princess. You and your little doodles.”
Frederick frowned. “The girls look lovely, Claudia. Shall we?”
Mimosas were served in the first living room nearest to the formal dining room, which Blue had never been in, except to dust. Blue stood silently next to Sam while Frederick and the women chatted about current events and the upcoming wedding. Liam and his guards were off to the side, Brody trying to distract Liam from the surly attitude that was bound to make him speak out of turn if he could not harness it.
Blue tried to sneak behind Sam to further escape being so visible. Her mere presence offended the first lady, and Bonnie kept shooting her spiteful looks. Though Bernice was more genteel than the woman she was grooming herself after, there was an air of superiority she exuded over Blue once she observed Claudia’s disapproval of the unpolished girl.
When dinner was announced, Sam guided her with a reassuring hand on her hip to the table, pulling out a seat between his own and Liam’s that was across from Alec. The serious guard nodded when he caught Blue’s eye as her head darted up to catalog where everyone was seated. He knew she preferred Baird to watch her back, but he figured he was the next best thing.
She offered Alec a tense half-smile when it dawned on her why he sat himself there. By that small gesture, she realized that some small part of her did belong at the table with them. Perhaps not in a dress, and maybe not at such a formal occasion, but on a normal day she did fit in, however awkwardly, with the men at the table. A glow in her chest beamed when she realized that she’d even made a girlfriend in Suzette. She mouthed her gratitude to Alec, who nodded with a hint of a smile.
It was her last full day before leaving for the island. This would be her final dinner with the makeshift family that had finally begun to accept her eccentricities. Blue pursed her lips and stared down at her place setting to keep her presence from being too intrusive.
Frederick was playing the part of active listener to Claudia and Bernice’s chatter about the wedding they were planning. Every now and then Suzette would chime in, but it was clear the two women formed an exclusive club that no one was allowed to enter.
Sam ate with one hand, his other resting on Blue’s knee. He was not sure if it was there to reassure her or to keep her from running, but either way, it seemed to be helping them both.
Blue ate silently, enjoying the savory turkey, but not with as much vigor as Liam and Brody were. The men seemed to be in some sort of eating contest, vying to see which of them could consume the most poultry in one sitting. By the time Blue finished her one helping of the delicious food, Liam was starting on his third, and Brody was finishing the second drumstick. The gratuitous noises of pleasure that came from them with every bite made Frederick smile, for he knew that Josephine was listening from the kitchen to hear if her grand meal was a success.
Claudia complained once that the turkey was dry. It was a thing of luck that Liam’s mouth was full of food at the time, for he looked positively murderous. Josephine, despite her harsh demeanor, was precious to him, for she had filled the hole of mothering that Claudia left. Josephine’s turkey, and everything about her, for that matter, was sacred.
Once the lavish meal was finished, the diners stood and relaxed in the formal living room. Josephine brought out a tray of cocktails, which the boys all reached for in unison. Frederick settled for his favorite nightcap, which was scotch served neat in an ornately etched crystal goblet that his father had purchased in what used to be known as Scotland.
Blue did not partake of the alcohol, which was not missed by Claudia. “Your slim figure is the one thing you’ve got going for you, Louisa. Good thinking not to ruin it with unnecessary calories before your change.”
Bonnie sniggered, ignoring Suzette’s look of outrage.
“Enough, Claudia!” Sam threatened. His black eyes narrowed as he glared at the obnoxious woman. “She can eat or drink whatever she wants.”
“Very well, I’ll let you give the lady all the compliments, then. Goodness, Sammy. I was simply telling the girl she was thin. Most women would see that as praise, no?” She tipped her glass of O-Negative mixed with Merlot, allowing the potent liquid to stain her lips. “Incidentally, how old are you, Louisa?”
“Nineteen, ma’am,” Blue answered quietly, face downward. She had nothing in her hands to distract her attention, so she reached out for Sam. His warm stroke of her flesh steadied her and kept her from running up the stairs.
“And where are you from?” Claudia asked, sounding bored already.
The lock on Liam’s lips began to loosen with the downing of his favorite beer. “First off, her name’s not Louisa. If you listened at all, you’d know that her name’s Blue. Like the color of her eyes, and the dress Suzette made for her, and, you know, pretty things like that. And it doesn’t matter where she’s from, because she belongs here with us. More than you do, so stop trying to intimidate her.”
“Liam!” Bonnie’s disapproving voice drew stares.
The prince’s eyes widened and then narrowed with disgust. “Really, Bon? Me? I’m the least of your problems.”
Frederick cleared his throat and stood, thankfully drawing the focus of the people in the lavish room. “Claudia, Blue is a guest in my home, as are you. You’ll do well to remember that, and leave the child alone.” He took a healthy sip from his glass, wincing as the burn reminded his throat to constrict.
Claudia let out a haughty laugh that was meant to lighten the atmosphere in the room, but just made her look awkward. “Such seriousness. Very well, I’ll not ask…Blue, is it? Charming.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ll not ask her where she’s from. I had no idea it was such a controversial question. Do sit down, Frederick, love. You look tired.” She reached her hand up to touch his elbow with her long, polished fingernails that never lost their hold on the man.
Blue was now visibly uncomfortable as she took her seat on the couch between Brody and Sam. Her hands were clasped in her lap, but Sam saw how tightly she was holding on to herself. He lifted his hand to place it atop hers, but before he could, Brody beat him to it. The boyfriend was about to say something nasty to his friend, but he paused to better assess the contact.
Brody leaned in to whisper something in her ear, which notably relaxed her shoulders. She nodded in response and rejoined the group with more confidence. The hint of fear and inadequacy was now gone from her eyes, and had been replaced with a cold, calculating fire that honed in on Claudia stealthily.
The woman was talking about herself again, and Sam cringed to think that this was the best he could do for Blue’s first Thanksgiving. He was used to the familial tension that christened the two major holidays, for he’d been an audience to them since he was a boy. He was beginning to realize how terrifying this all must be for her.
Brody spoke quietly again to Blue, further agitating Sam. This time, the guard drew a coveted smile from the girl’s lips. Sam turned and sipped his beverage, not noticing Brody’s surreptitious glance down to her slight bit of cleavage that the dress allowed.
Blue fingered her new necklace and brought the stone up to display to the Vemreaux shyly. Brody took it in his hand to examine it.
Sam debated how necessary it was for a bodyguard to possess hands.
Brody gave Sam an appreciative nod. “Nice. What kind of stone is that?” he asked, only just becoming aware that Sam was unhappy with the close contact. Brody dropped the necklace and sat back into the cushion.
“It’s a blue diamond,” Sam answered coolly.
Brody whistled his approval. “Wow. You know, Orange,” he began.
“Don’t call me Orange.”
Brody continued on as if she had not spoken. “That’s a pretty rare gem. Diamonds are literally the best you can get anymore, but blue diamonds are hard to find. Do you know what kind of stone they use for engagement rings?”
Blue shook her head, waiting for Brody to jump on the chance to make her feel stupid. He surprised her by smiling and pointing to her necklace. “They use diamonds. They’re pretty serious rocks. When a guy gives you a diamond, even when it’s on a necklace, it means he’s sticking around. It means he thinks you’re worth the best there is.” Brody took a sip of his drink without looking at her. “Sam’s wrong on a lot of things, but he’s right about that, Louisa.”
“Don’t call me Louisa.” Blue turned her head and looked up at Sam with her mouth open.
The wonder and appreciation for his gift and his love echoed out from her stunning eyes, washing away the frustration he felt towards Brody and the anger he harbored for Claudia. It amazed him how easily she could make or break his entire day with one look. He wrapped his arm around her, securing her to his side.
The luxurious oak table was cleared of all traces of the amazing dinner and set for dessert. At each place there was a piece of pumpkin pie with an artfully cut scoop of homemade ginger ice cream. Blood wine filled the goblets of the changed Vemreaux, red wine in the crystal of Liam and Bernice, and a pink bubbly drink for Blue, which Sam later informed her was a Shirley Temple. After assuring the girl several times that the pink beverage contained no alcohol whatsoever, Blue brought the sweet liquid to her lips. Never had she tasted anything so delicious in a glass. The unfamiliar carbonation tickled her tongue as it slid oddly down her throat, coating her mouth with a candied cherry flavor she had never before been introduced to.
Josephine topped off all of their glasses for the grand tradition of the night. From the time Frederick was a small child, his father had insisted upon a post-dessert toast. He reasoned this was the best time to give a speech on thankfulness, for everyone would be so grateful for the food in their bellies.
The emperor stood with his glass of blood wine. “Family and friends, we are so blessed to be together today.” The strain in his voice began to seep through. “Our hearts feel the absence of our beloved Julia and Killian. I’m sure that the heir to the throne, the missing piece to our family will be at the table with us for Christmas. Until then, we are not whole.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m thankful for my children, wherever life leads them.” He looked up at Blue and met her eyes. “There is the family you were born into, and there’s the one you make for yourself. I’m grateful for those at this table who have found a home of sorts here with me. May you always share my table and my infinite gratitude.” He raised his glass, encouraging the others to do the same. “To Killian’s safe return,” he announced.
“To Killian’s safe return,” the table echoed, lifting their drinks and toasting the missing prince.
Claudia broke the reverie almost immediately by spouting off some nonsense about the oaky tones of O-Positive wine compared to that of her preferred O-Negative. Liam glared across the table at his mother as if he’d very much like to spew out the things he’d been storing up since last Christmas.
Blue knew Liam was about to say something he would regret when he pointed his fork at the woman seconds before opening his mouth. Blue reached over and touched her pointer finger to the prince’s elbow, reminding him who he was. Instead of exploding in anger, Liam exhaled out his hatred of the woman who dared speak of such insignificant things as blood tastes when her eldest child was missing. The long stream of air that came from him served its purpose of keeping him somewhat steady and under Claudia’s radar of self-involvement. He lowered the utensil to his plate and reached down to grasp Blue’s small hand, grateful for the girl who loved him, even when he did not have it in him to smile.
34
Liam’s Doll
Frederick did not seem to be present anymore, though his body remained at the head of the long table. His vacant stare rested on his glass, which was half full of liquid he no longer had a thirst for. Now that the festive night was nearing its end, the gravity of the next day’s events began to weigh heavily on his shoulders.
One by one, the men excused themselves from the table. Alec, Brody, Liam, Blue and Sam retreated to the kitchen, where the air was much easier to breathe.
Frederick excused himself a few moments later and followed his son into the next room. The sight that greeted him he knew would stick in his memory for the duration of his one hundred twenty years.
Liam was sitting on a stool at the counter with his head lowered into his hands, elbows resting on the clean surface. His shoulders shook as Josephine patted them. Her thin lips placed a maternal kiss to his temple that forced the controlled sobs to put barely audible volume behind them.
Brody sat on the stool next to him with his head downward. “We’ll find him, Liam. I promise. We’ll search that entire island until we bring him home.”
“Josephine, do you remember your confidentiality agreement?” Liam choked out, taking several steadying breaths between every few words.
The older woman nodded. “I knew about Blue before your father did.” She smiled as Blue moaned and shook her head. “While you boys were gone, I walked in on her lifting the edge of the refrigerator so she could wash under it. Hard to clean, that spot is. I do appreciate it, young lady.” Josephine composed herself before looking at the girl. “I haven’t said a word this entire time, and I don’t intend to. I signed a piece of paper that keeps what goes on under this roof confined to the house.” She paused, and a shadow of misery crossed her usually composed face. “I just want both of my boys home.”
Liam pulled Blue from Sam’s side into his. Even with him sitting down on the stool, she was still shorter than him. Only due to the prince’s distraught state did Sam consent to Liam lifting Blue onto his lap so he could better hug the girl. Her dress was indiscreet, given her awkward position, but she made do.
Liam cried into Blue’s hair, muffling his words in the tresses. “Some of the bodies…they come back skinned. Filleted. Missing whole organs. Who does that? I keep seeing Killy washing up all mangled, like those pictures. It’s driving me mad!”
Liam sobbed unabashedly into Blue’s auburn curls while she stroked his cheek tenderly. “Shh. Don’t think about that, Liam.” She pressed her cheek to his shoulder, deepening the embrace. “Don’t think on it another second. I’ll find him, little brother. I’ll find him and bring him home.”
Blue closed her eyes and pretended that he was her brother in her imaginary family – the brother she’d always wished Baird could be. To her knowledge, Baird had never cried. When Griffin would spout off angry tears, he was usually so embarrassed by them that he lashed out and would allow no one to comfort him. Liam cried righteous tears of unimaginable grief for his brother.
When his blubbering began to collect into less painful inhalations, he held Blue closer. “I’m so sorry about Claudia.”
Blue shrugged. “It’s okay. None of that matters.”
“It’s not okay.” He stiffened, pulling away from her hair to stare at her.
She dabbed at his cheeks with her small fingers to erase his tears. The wetness clung to her skin and made it feel that, in some strange way, he was a part of her. She was accepting him at his most exposed, taking what little she could of his pain away, so he did not have to bear it alone.
“This might be your last night with us, and you don’t deserve to spend it being talked down to like that.” He sniffed miserably. His Original Vemreaux blue eyes now had an edge of anger to their sadness. “You’re already doing so much for us.”
“You’d do the same thing,” she countered, embarrassed at the compliment. “If it was A-bloods that needed to be freed from tyranny and you were the one who could do it, I’m sure you would. You’re a good man, Liam.”
Liam sobered at the irony of her statement. The swinging door nearly hit Frederick from behind as Suzette stomped in. It looked like she very much wanted to express her rage, but her desire for her mother to one day love her stayed her tongue. “Is Blue okay?” she asked her father.
“I’m sure that’s exactly what she’ll say she is.” The sight of his son’s tears stung Frederick’s heart, exposing wounds he’d had to cover up in order to keep his country running smoothly. Despite the years that threatened to mature Liam, Frederick could still see the goofy, carefree child in him.
When the man was young, no more than three, he would wake up in the middle of the night and cry for his absent mother. Josephine, Frederick or Alec would rock him and hand him his teddy bear, cooing reassuring words to the boy until he fell back asleep. Now in the kitchen, Liam was clutching his new comfort object, and the doll hugged his neck tenderly.
Frederick’s obsidian eyes hardened. It was his fault that the wretched woman was allowed to carry on the way she did. He invited her mouth into his home with the useless hope that she could ever again be the woman he had married before her change. Frederick kissed the crown of his daughter’s head and gave her a brief hug. “Did you do Blue’s hair and dress her up for tonight?”
“Yeah, and I don’t care what Mum says. She looks great.” It was a rare occasion for Suzette to say anything even remotely disparaging against her mother.
“Did you make that beautiful dress?”
“Yeah. You really like it?”
“So talented.” Frederick squeezed his daughter once more before releasing her. “You are a good woman, Suzette. You were kind to Blue today and treated her like she was your own sister. Now it’s your turn to be there for your brother.” He gave her the best smile he could manage. “I have something to take care of.”
The emperor rejoined the table that held only Bonnie, Claudia and Bernice. The three were enjoying their libations perhaps a bit too much. Josephine had left them the bottle of wine, which they took no shame in downing as much as they could.
Frederick drank a sip of his scotch as he took his seat at the head of the table. He sifted through the visual of Liam crying on Josephine’s shoulder, and then of Blue sitting at the table with her head down in quiet submission. Then he thought of Suzette’s need for the condescending woman’s approval. He replayed the pictures over and over in his head, punctuating them with Killian’s empty seat at the opposite end of the table.
