Mikaine

Chapter Three

“Influence?” Jessica asked.

“A nice word for mind control,” Gabriel explained.

“I don’t want to take away from someone’s freewill,” she protested.

“I’m very glad to hear that but knowing how is essential. If a human were to stumble upon you feeding and you can’t make them forget you’d have to kill them.” Jessica’s eyes widened, unable to believe that she’d be capable of killing someone. “That’s why you stay with me for fifty years, to prevent that from happening. That’s why I protect and take care of you until you’re strong enough on your own.”

“Fifty years? Why so long?”

“There’s a lot to learn. Plus, you need to be financially stable as well.”

She bit back a comment that being able to finish college would have helped that. “And how do I do that?”

“I’ll help to some degree as will Vaultine.”

“I don’t like the idea of living off of someone else.”

“We’re like family now,” he told her. “Therefore it’s my job to take care of you. We use the word childe for a reason.”

“I don’t even take my mother’s money.”

“I was planning on finding you a job,” he told her. He drove them into town, which was an hour and a half drive. He led her into a café. “Now let’s see who’s here tonight…” He looked around. “Okay, see that man in corner? Jessica turned and saw an elderly man sitting by himself. “That’s Vincent. Over by the window is Elaine. The two have been skirting there was around getting together for a few years now. Help them along.”

Jessica looked at both of the people in question before turning back to Gabriel. “What do I do?”

“Close your eyes.” She obeyed. “This isn’t necessary but it’s very helpful when you’re just learning. Concentrate on Vincent. Now imagine a door to his mind. Can you see it?”

“Yes.”

“Open the door.”

“Gabriel…”

“Are you in?”

“I don’t think I’m in his mind.”

“That’s normal,” he assured her. “You probably just got your wires crossed.”

“No, Gabriel, I feel violence.”

Alarmed, Gabriel grabbed her hand to strengthen their connection and melded his mind with hers. “Shit. Shut the door, and pull away.” She opened her eyes and the sensation was gone.

“What happened?”

“Let’s go.” He tossed some money on the table for two coffees that they hadn’t even gotten yet.

“What is it?”

“I’ll explain once we’re on the road.” She followed him out to the car and got in. “Remember Abraham Van Helsing?”

“Yes.”

“A vampire’s worst enemy is…”

“A vampire hunter.”

“Bingo. That’s what you felt in there, Jessica. I don’t know how they could have found us. We’ve all been so careful.” He shook his head, baffled. “We need to go home and pack. Well, I need to pack, we’ll be leaving tomorrow night.”

“Why are we waiting?”

“Unfortunately, we have no choice. By the time we get everything together it’ll be too late to go anywhere. We’ll be fine, though. I touch their minds, they only know that we’re in town, not where we are.” She must not have looked convinced because he continued. “I’ll keep you safe, Jessica. I promise.”

They arrived at the mansion and a woman met them at the door. Jessica balked; the woman was beyond stunning. Her hair was such a deep shade of red it was almost the color of blood. It fell in wild curls around her pale face and down her back. She smiled at the two as they approached. While the smile had every appearance of being friendly, something cold lurked in her blue eyes.

“What is it?” she asked seeing the expression on Gabriel’s face.

“Jessica, meet Vaultine,” Gabriel introduced rapidly. Jessica didn’t even have a chance to greet the other woman before Gabriel was continuing. “We need everyone to get packed. You talk to the vampires, I’ll make arrangements for the humans.”

“Of course,” Vaultine said, taken aback by Gabriel handing out orders. “But what’s wrong?”

“Hunters. Jessica felt them in the café when I was teaching her to influence.”

“Did you check?”

“Do you really think I’d be uprooting everyone if I weren’t sure?” Gabriel asked. Vaultine blinked. “Get the others and yourself out, Jessica and I will follow tomorrow evening, when the humans are safe.”

“I could take you new protégé with me,” Vaultine offered.

“Thank you, but as you told me, she’s my responsibility,” he said with a smile. “Come on, Jessica.” Jessica followed him, feeling grateful. She got the feeling that Vaultine didn’t like her much.

“What girls?” Jessica asked.

“Runaways,” he said calmly. “I’ve taken in some teenagers who were living on the streets. I’ve found permanent homes for some of them but two still live with me.” He led her up the stairs and knocked on the door. “Ladies, I need to talk to you.” The door opened and a girl let him in. “I need you guys to pack.”

“Pack?” the girl who had opened the door asked. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Family issues,” he told them. “I have a friend who will pick you two up in the morning.”

“Is there anything we can do?” the second girl asked.

“Graduate high school and take care of yourselves,” Gabriel told her. “My friend will be here at nine. Be ready by then.”

“We will,” the first girl promised. He started to leave. The two girls stopped him by hugging him. “Thank you, Gabriel.”

“Yeah, we don’t know where we’d be if… Thank you,” the second girl said. Gabriel smiled faintly.

“Take care of yourselves. You have my number if you need it and I’ll send you my new address. I need to go pack myself. I’ll keep in touch.”

“So will we.” Gabriel left. Jessica followed him feeling overwhelmed.

“You’re a wonderful man,” she commented.

“Technically speaking, I’m not a man,” he told her. “And really keeping them here is dangerous. I didn’t realize how much until tonight. It’s funny, I’ve been alive as long as I have and have never had a problem with hunters.”

“I guess I’m just bad luck.”

He smiled. “If it weren’t for you I’d know nothing about them being here.” He led her to his room and grabbed a bag. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any clothes for you, but we’ll go shopping once we’re settled. How are you holding up?”

“I think pretty good, considering.”

“I guess I’m not doing a very good job of showing you that being a vampire isn’t that bad, am I?”

“No,” she said honestly, “but it’s not like you intended for all of this to happen.”

“True.” She sat with him as he packed.

“Vaultine doesn’t like me,” she said suddenly.

Gabriel looked up with a frown. “What do you mean? She’s the one who gave me permission to turn you.”

“She just really doesn’t seem to like me. I don’t know why, but I have this feeling.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said but frowned. “I mean, she wouldn’t have given me permission to turn you if she didn’t like you.” Jessica nodded but wasn’t a hundred percent sure. He did the remainder of his packing in silence digesting what Jessica had said. Why would Vaultine let him turn her if she didn’t like her?

“Are you packed?” Vaultine asked coming in.

“I am, I was just saying goodbye first.” Gabriel stood as they sashayed over. She kissed him, plying her body against his. Gabriel growled softly, returning the kiss passionately before remembering that Jessica was still sitting on his bed. He broke the kiss breathing raggedly. “We’ll be in Ireland,” Vaultine told him. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

“We’ll be there,” Gabriel promised. Vaultine vanished and Gabriel turned to Jessica. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” Jessica said but her cheeks were red.

“It’s late, and the first day is the hardest,” Gabriel said. “Go ahead back to your room and get some rest.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Gabriel.”

“Goodnight, Jessica,” he said watching her leave. For the first time in a very long time he wished that he were single. She was a beautiful creature and so sweet. Jessica went to her room and laid down, not bothering to get dressed, she had nothing to wear anyhow. She stayed awake for hours just thinking. It was around three that she felt the familiar tug on her mind telling her to sleep. She tried to fight it but it grew stronger and stronger until she succumbed.

Gabriel awoke to the smell of smoke. He bolted out of bed and rushed into the hall. The entire house was becoming engulfed in flames. He needed to get the girls to safety and get to Jessica. He just prayed they were both okay.

He teleported to the girls’ room. They were both still asleep. He made sure they’d stay that way before teleporting both them and their bags to the safe house he was going to have them driven to. How could the hunters have found them so quickly? He teleported back to Jessica’s room feeling weak.

Her room was completely engulfed, but she wasn’t in it. He looked around frantically. “Jessica!” he called in vain. He knew she wasn’t there. If she had been caught in the fire there wouldn’t be any trace of her either.

He teleported outside, searching and calling for her. There was still no response. He felt for her but by this time he was too weak to get an accurate feel. The sun would be up soon, he needed to get to the safe house before he collapsed. He only had the energy for one more teleport.

He looked for a few minutes more, before giving up with a heavy heart. There was nothing more that he could do now. He’d return in the evening but he knew deep down that she must be dead. No one could have survived that fire. He teleported out; singed, exhausted, and miserable.