The Other Side of Fear, page 13
part #5 of Blood Red Series Series
Let’s face it, I can’t help but love him.
It wasn’t just the way he held himself, or the confidence he exuded. No, it was something in the way he held her gaze honestly and unafraid. It was in the way he respected her opinion enough to ask her questions...and then listen to the answers. Most people in her life had sheltered her from the truth, wanting to spare her feelings. She loved the gesture, but Caleb wasn’t afraid to give it to her straight. Not usually at least.
“I thought you’d become convinced,” Caleb stated, his eyebrows furrowed together as he stood next to her. Close enough that she could feel him there, a presence that left every nerve electrified in the most dangerous way. “What happened to change your mind?”
“It’s not that I changed my mind exactly,” Kallie began, shifting a little to put a hint of distance between them. She couldn’t think when he stood this close to her. She glanced up, smiling a little ruefully. “I’m just worried.”
“Don’t be. We’ve all talked about this,” Caleb assured her, his red eyes regarding her intently. “It’s the best course of action right now.”
“Okay, first of all, we didn’t all talk about this,” Kallie stated. “Most of us did. And I’m pretty sure Liam was half kidding when he offered his house as headquarters.”
Caleb snorted. “That sounds like his problem. He walked right into that one. Besides, he could’ve retracted the offer once he saw how serious we were.”
“No, he couldn’t have. His place does make sense, I know. His new place at least. It’s more of a mansion than a house.”
The Blues had combined their funds to tear down Liam’s house and build a new, bigger version of it. Of course they’d asked his permission first, but who would turn down that kind of offer? Even then, he’d been skeptical at first. The finished structure came out looking hundreds of years old, like something straight out of the old history books.
On the inside it was completely different.
The interior had been modernized, with state of the art security, a black out system for the whole house, and other bells and whistles to make it vampire safe for any ally. Kallie had been quite impressed, and with good reason. It was practically a fortress. Even so, she still didn’t see how it would work. There were a handful of Blues who already lived there, and if she factored in herself, her parents, and Caleb, that was four more people, not including Liam. She wondered just how many the house could hold comfortably before they started tripping over each other.
Poor guy. From the look on his face, he’d been kidding when he offered his house, but with the threat of Luna attacking again, Kallie’s family had taken him up on his offer without hesitation. Right now they were sitting ducks. Kallie doubted there was a Red out there that didn’t know where they live. At the same time, she’d let James and some of the other Blues slip through the cracks. Obviously she had no idea where the safe house was located.
In a way, it was ideal except for one thing. Kallie was a little intimidated by the idea of living with so many people in one house. Not so much because it made her claustrophobic, though it did. She was more worried about the fact that they would all be looking to her for guidance. She was their leader after all, something she still hadn’t gotten used to. Then, there was also the fact that Caleb and Liam would be forced into close proximity again. That hadn’t gone over too well the last time.
If only they could past it. They’d certainly started acting far more civil around each other, and they even exchanged pleasantries on occasion, but there was a still tension whenever they were together, a curt frostiness that Kallie wanted to get rid of. In a way it was kind of sad because Kallie had a feeling they could’ve been really good friends if it hadn’t been for her.
“You’re still hesitating. What’s wrong Kallie?” Caleb asked, studying her intently.
Kallie flushed. Sometimes he got a little intense the way he noticed everything about her. “Wouldn’t it feel like we’re sitting ducks more than anything else? Luna isn’t stupid. Once she sees that the house is abandoned, she’ll search everywhere, and it’ll only be a matter of time before she finds us,” Kallie said, her hands fluttering anxiously. Her injuries had completely healed but she still woke up in a cold sweat, dreaming of Luna’s face looming over her as her life slipped away. But those are just dreams. You’re not alone. You never were. They saved you, remember?
“It’s the best plan we’ve got right now,” Caleb said softly. “Maybe it’s not the best, but it’s all we’ve got. Besides, maybe she’ll think we went somewhere far away to recalibrate, lick our wounds or whatever. Wouldn’t the logical thing be to put some serious distance between us? She’ll never expect us to be only a few blocks away.”
Kallie shook her head. “She isn’t going to think that way, nice as it sounds. She’s been observing me, Caleb. She knows that I don’t run away from a fight, even if the odds are stacked against me. She also knows I wouldn’t leave this town unprotected, not while she’s around.”
“Well then I hope you’re a quick study. Besides, all of us together in one house gives us a better chance at fending her off. There’s a few Reds here too, remember, so between all of us, we should be able to figure something out.”
Kallie sighed, and her hands fell to her side as she picked up a box of stuff to transfer over to Liam’s house. “I hope you’re right.”
KALLIE GASPED AND STARED at her surrounding in awe. To say that Liam’s house was huge would be an understatement. It was enormous, and it was deep enough in the woods that no one would know where to look. Caleb had taken a few detours and they’d changed cars halfway through the transition. It was on the outskirts of the town, so it was further out than Kallie had anticipated, a good mile from his old place, but it was perfectly situated.
It had running water, electricity, and a high-speed internet connection. It also housed a massive library, with one of the biggest archives according to James. He’d managed to uncover some of the old books, and he’d stored them in house, thinking that they would come in handy someday. Kallie was in a complete state of awe.
All around her, people were getting themselves settled, calling dibs on different rooms, jostling past her and her parents. Caleb had already gone ahead to help everyone get settled and Frank had excused himself to dive into the library.
“It is impressive, isn’t it?” Liz asked.
“It is,” Kallie agreed. “I’m surprised they’re able to hide it.”
“They’re using some kind of cloaking spell I think,” Liz said thoughtfully. “That’s what James said. They have a few witches here as well.”
“Really? I thought witches had nothing but distrust and contempt for vampires?”
“These ones don’t. Apparently, they’re more like us. It’s progress,” Liz said, brightly. “I guess it’s time we ushered in a new era.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Kallie responded, vaguely, turning in a slow circle, trying to take in the entire scope of the main room which someone had created with the Hogwarts Great Hall in mind.
“I know it’s a lot take on, honey, but I’m so proud of you,” Liz said, not seeming to notice Kallie’s surprise. She took Kallie in her arms and hugged her fiercely, just like she used to do when Kallie was a little kid, when the top of her head barely reached Liz’s midsection. Back then, her mom used to smell like cookies and pot roast. Kallie used to love closing her eyes and inhaling the scent, salivating in anticipation of dinner. Her mother had always managed to make their little house feel like a safe haven for anyone, and she had to remind herself that at least that much hadn’t changed. Having her here meant everything to Kallie even if things were slightly different now between them.
Liz pulled away and wiped away a stray tear that was making its way down Kallie’s cheek. “I hope those are happy tears.”
“I’m just glad you’re here. All of you,” Kallie said, sheepishly. “I’m sorry I get so emotional lately, but it’s been a lot.”
“I know.” Liz gave her a sympathetic smile. “And who would’ve thought we’d be here? All because you took a leap of faith.”
“Yeah, but so did Petra and look how that turned out,” Kallie muttered, gloomily. She couldn’t get it out of her mind. Petra had been good once and it was because of a noble cause that she’d turned her back on her family. Was Kallie similar to her in that regard? She told herself that there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her loved ones, even venture into the darkness. But what if she wasn’t able to walk out on the other side? What if deep down she was more like her mother than she thought? Kallie didn’t feel like she was all that strong, not by a long shot. It would take someone with an incredible amount of self-control and will power to succeed, not to mention an iron core. Without that, she might as well be fighting a losing battle.
Liz studied Kallie out of the corner of her eye before she took her hand and led her forward, weaving in and out of busy vampires until they reached a secluded couch underneath a big bay window. Kallie gratefully sank into the cushions, dropping her head to her hands and Liz perched on the edge next to her.
“Petra was seduced by the darkness long before you and your father came along. It has always been appealing to her. The fact that she lost to it wasn’t as surprising to me as it was to everybody else. Maybe because I saw it coming long before anyone else did. Either way, I knew it was something she would have to fight sooner or later,” Liz said, quietly, her eyes fixed on an obscure spot in the distance while recalling something in her mind’s eye. Kallie lifted her head and watched her mother, seeing a myriad of emotions playing out across her face. “Everybody has a darkness inside of them, Kallie, and we all have to face it whether it’s a small amount or big. In that regard, we are all alike. What sets us apart is how we fight the darkness. Petra thought the way to defeat the darkness was to become one with it.
Kallie sighed and dragged her hands through her hair in frustration. “She paid the price though.”
Liz’s gaze shifted to Kallie, a sad smile playing on her lips. “She continues to pay the price, Kallie. She’s only just realizing now what that means to her. I honestly think she doesn’t know how to cope now that you and Frank are back in her life.”
Kallie bit her lip, not wanting to talk about it. She glanced around the room instead, gesturing at the bustle of activity, the crowd of vampires both Blue and Red, working together in ways she couldn’t begin to imagine. “I never thought we’d be here,” Kallie whispered. “They’re all counting on me, and I don’t know if I can take on the Huntress, mom.”
“You will, with the right amount of training. You are more powerful than you know, Kallie. You just need time that’s all. And Liam’s house should be able to give us that.”
“House.” Kallie snorted. “Fortress maybe...”
Her mother smiled. “He really cares about you, you know.”
Kallie turned to face her mother, smiling despite her fears. “Yeah, I know.”
“Honey...You shouldn’t be so hard on him.”
Kallie snorted. “Believe me, it’s a lot more complicated than that. No, you don’t want to know. Dad already tried to pry it out of me but I don’t think either of you would be comfortable with the details, would you?”
Liz grimaced, her eyebrow raising. “You might be right about that. Let’s just deal with this for now, okay?”
Kallie shrugged. “That’s the plan. I think I’m going to go find Liam.” She stood up, stretched her arms, and gave her mom a distracted smile as she set out to search for the elusive vampire. She found him standing in front of a massive bookshelf in the library, with his arms crossed over his chest, a thoughtful look on his face.
His jeans were covered in dust and he had streaks of dirt all over his shirt.
“Knock knock,” Kallie called out, hovering at the doorway. “Can I come in?”
Liam craned his neck and his face transformed into a smile as he gestured for her to join him. “Yeah, sure. I just spaced out.”
“Your house is –”
“Humongous?” Liam supplied, his tone sounding a little awed. “Yeah, I was surprised too. You can’t imagine how it felt to come home and find that my house didn’t exist anymore and that they’d moved me out here. I know it was really small, but it was mine, you know. Still, I understood the necessity of a place like this and they did ask me first. But they kind of downplayed just what they’d intended.”
A faint smile crossed Kallie’s face. “I can’t imagine. How are they even hiding it? According to my mom, James mentioned witches.”
“Yes, in exchange for protection,” Liam explained. “A fair exchange, I think. We should be safe here from Luna for a while.”
Kallie nodded, turning her attention to the rows upon rows of books. The bindings were very old on some of them, old leather cracked and worn and wearing away. “Were you just staring at the titles or looking for something in particular?”
Liam scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Most of the archive is downstairs. I think they’ve been dumping the new acquisitions in here. James and the others haven’t quite gotten around to organizing everything. I thought I might be able to find something on the Huntress in here.”
There it was, that sharp mind that drew her to him in the first place. Sometimes, she forgot that Liam was a detective before he got dragged into this mess, and a pretty good one at that. He’d solved a lot of cold cases, mostly because they were attacks by vampires, and he recognized the telltale signs. But also because he was a hunter with heightened abilities. To the police force, he was invaluable, but he was also a notorious recluse.
It had broken Kallie’s heart to watch him quit his job, but he knew that he needed to help her, or there would be no job to come back to. He’d understood the loss of his career as a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. On the other hand, half of what they were doing was taking out the supernatural predator element in the area, with the result that the crime rate had gone down in their town. Kallie was grateful for that and knew it helped soften the blow for Liam of having to give up his career.
So far the infestation of killer vampires had been nearly brought under control in this part of the state. As far as Kallie could tell, there were only a handful of Rogue Reds still hiding out in the forest, and the Blues so far had been able to handle them. It was only when the Huntress had stepped in that things got chaotic.
Now it was Kallie’s turn to balance things out yet again.
Liam pushed a strand of hair out of his face. “James is going to train you.”
Kallie’s eyebrows shot up. “James? Why him of all people?”
“He’s the oldest, and the most experienced.”
“He also likes me the least,” Kallie pointed out, ruefully, remembering all too well what his version of training had looked like back when her powers hadn’t fully awakened yet.
“He doesn’t have to like you to train you,” Liam pointed out.
“If he wants to keep me alive, I should hope he likes me a little, at least,” Kallie joked.
Liam threw his head back and laughed, drawing Kallie away from the books and over to the couch. “C’mon, maybe you can help me sort through these,” he said, nodding at the stack of books already waiting there.
The task looked daunting. Kallie was almost relieved when James poked his head in moment later. She looked up, surprised, thinking it was as if they’d summoned him through sheer will, the way his eyebrows were knotted together as though he wasn’t altogether sure why he was there. He gave Liam a cursory glance before his blue eyes focused on Kallie.
She had the feeling she was being evaluated but had no idea what the criterion was.
“I’m glad I found you,” James began, scratching the back of his neck. “I have some news.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach. “What is it?”
“It’s not bad news.” James hesitated. “Not exactly. It could be good news depending on how you look at it.”
“You’re being very cryptic,” Liam commented. James glanced behind him, a faint line of worry appearing between his brows before he beckoned them to follow him deeper into the library. They stood at the far end, illuminated by a pair of fluorescent lights hanging overhead. Kallie glanced uneasily at James, not liking the way he kept rubbing his hands on his pants as though he were nervous.
“Is this about you training me? Have you changed your mind?” Kallie asked, hopefully.
Liam elbowed her and shot her a dirty look. James shook his head, one corner of his mouth turning upwards into a half smile. “I see you aren’t too excited about the concept. I understand why, but it’s in our best interest. Anyway, no that’s not it. I was researching something in the archive, and I came across a prophecy.”
“A prophecy?” Kallie echoed, shaking her head. “I’m not sure what an ancient psychic has to do with our current situation.”
James gave her a long look. “It has everything to do with it, I think. The prophecy states that there is someone who will be made into a vampire who possesses immense power, more than your usual vampire. And while that’s happened before, they list other supernatural powers that have not been seen before. Or only rarely seen...”
“I don’t understand,” Liam responded. “Is this prophecy about Petra?”
“She does have immense powers, so it could be, but there’s more. The prophecy also states that this person will either end the war between Reds and Blues for good, or start a much bigger one.”
“How can it possibly get bigger?” Kallie queried. “They’re already trying to kill each other, so unless the humans get caught in the middle ...”
Kallie trailed off, the implication of her words clear.
“Yes, exactly,” James said, somberly. “The problem is trying to decipher the prophecy. The language is very old, and the meaning of several words has shifted over the years. Language is a fluid thing after all. So far what we understand is this: Once this vampire unlocks his or her other powers, they will be unstoppable. But they will have to pay a heavy price in order to get what they want.”
