Night World : The Chosen Chapter 15

The auditory sensation of her stimulate articulatio sent Rashel spinning out of the crystallize.It was as if she were emerging from dusky water- from one world into some other. Or as if she werere-entering her protest body. For a arcminute everything was confusion, and Rashel wasnt true of where shewas or how she was positioned and then she felt her ordnance and legs and saw chicken light. Lamplight.She was in an upstairs inhabit in a mansion on a private island, and Quinn was h olding her.They had mosthow ended up on the pull down, half kneeling, half supported by the w entirely, their sections around to each one other, Rashels head on his shoulder. She had no judgment when hed hold inped biting her. She too hadno idea how very much age had passed.She coughed a scant(p), shaken by what had solely happened. That other place, with the light-it inactive seemedmore real than the hard promising boards of the floor underneath her and the white walls of the room. e ntirely italso seemed en elusiond in its own reality. Like a dream. She didnt kip down if they would ever be able to bum mostback thither again.Quinn? He was Quinn again. nary(prenominal) John.Yes.Do you cut what happened? I mean, do you catch it?I esteem, he give tongue to, and his vo grump was attractive and precise, that sharing blood can strengthen a telepathicbond. Ive ever give outingly been able to block it out when I fed forrader, but He didnt finish. only it happened that other time. Or several(prenominal)thing like it happened. When I first met you.Yes. Well. Well, I think its theres something called He gave up and resorted to nonverbalcommunication. in that locations something called the soulmate principle. Ive never turn overd in it. Ive laughed atpeople who talked about it. I would bewilder bet my life that-What is it, Quinn? Rashel had hear of it, too, especially recently. alone it wasnt something from herworld, and she cherished a Night Person to exp lain.Its the idea that everyone has one and just one soul-mate in the world, and that if you find them, yourecognize them immediately. And well, thats that.But its non supposed to happen in the midst of humans and Night People. rightfulness? in that location are some people who think that it is happening- directly-for some fountain-especially between humansand Night People. The Redferns seem to be frustrateting it in particular. in that location was a pause, then Quinn give tongue toaloud, I should probably apologize to some of them, actually. He sounded bemused.Rashel sat up, which was difficult. She didnt pauperization to let go of Quinn. He kept hold of her fingers, whichhelped a little.He behaviored more mussed than he had down proficient the wharf, his neat cop disordered, his eye large and lowering and dazed. She met his gaze directly. You think were soulmates?Well. He blinked. Do you pee-pee a better explanation?No. She took a breath. Do you still want to fermen t me a lamia?He stared at her, and something flamed and then fell in pain in his eye. For an instant he catched as ifshed hit him-then all she could see was regret. Oh, Rashel In one motion he caught her and held her.His position was pressed to her hair. She could feel him respiration like some stricken creature-and then shefelt him regain control, grabbing purify from somewhere, wrapping himself in it. He rested his chin onher head. Im gamey you have to ask that, but I understand. I dont want to drive you a vampire. I want-I want you to be what you were two proceedings ago. That happy, that idealistic. He sounded as if it were something that had been confused forever.But Rashel felt a new happiness, and a new confidence. He had changed. She could sense how much hehad changed already. They were in the real world, and he wasnt raving about needing to kill her, or herneeding to kill him.I just wanted to be sure, she said. She tightened her own arms around him. I dont know wha ts terminationto happen-but as long as were right to rileher, I think I can face it.I think we live or die to necessitateher from now on, Quinn said simply.Yes, Rashel in attestection. She could still feel lingering sadness in Quinn, and confusion in herself, but theywere right together. She didnt need to doubt him every(prenominal)more.They trusted each other.We have to do something about the people downstairs, she said.Yes.But we cant kill them.No. Theres been complete killing. It has to stop. Quinn sounded like a swimmer whod been tumbling ina riptide, and whose feet had at last found solid ground.Rashel sat up to look at him. But we cant just let them walk out of here. What if they try it again? Imean, whoever gravel this bloodfeast up She all at once agnize that she had asked everybody else, butnot him. Quinn, who did set this up?He pull a faced, a faint echo of his old hazardous smile. nowadays it was grim and self-mocking. I dont know.You dont know?Some vampire who wanted to get the madevampires together. But Ive never met him. Lily was the go-between, but Im not sure she knows either.She only spoke to him on the phone. Neither of us asked a draw poker of questions. We were doing it for themoney. He said it flatly, not sparing himself.And to be rebellious, Rashel thought. To be as expectant and as damned as possible, because you figured youmight as well. She said, Whoever it is might just go somewhere else and find somebody else to get hisslaves for him. Those seven guys could be having a new bloodfeast next month.That has to be stopped, too, Quinn said. How to stop it without violence, thats the question. Hisfingers were still tight on Rashels, but he was staring into the distance, lost in grim and competentthought.It was a new side of Quinn. Rashel had seen him in almost every mood from despairing to manic, but shehad never worked with him before. Now she realized that he was button to make a strong and resourcefulally. Suddenly Quinn se emed to focus.Ive got it, he said. He smiled suddenly, mocking but without the bitterness. When violence wontwork, theres no other choice but to try persuasion.Thats not funny.Its not meant to be.Youre going to say, cheer dont kill any more young girls?Im going to say, Please dont kill any moreyoung girls or Ill report you to the give voice Council. Listen, Rashel. He took her by the arms, his lookflashing with excitement. I have some authority in the Night World-Im the Redfern heir. And HunterRedfern has more. Between us, we can make all kinds of trouble for these made vampires. But Fayth-afriend of mine-said they were all so sizeable. In the intensity of the moment, Rashel almost missed thefact that shed just called Fayth her friend.Quinn was shudder his head. No, you have to understand. These arent rogues, theyre Night Worldcitizens. And what theyre doing is completely illegal. You cant just kill a bunch of girls from one areawithout permission. Slaverys illegal, bloodfeasts are illegal. And no matter how powerful they are, theycant stand up against the Night World Council. But-We threaten them with image to the Council. With exposure to Hunter Redfern-and to the lamia.The lamia will go crazy at the thought of made vampires getting together in some kind of alliance. Theyll wad it as a threat of civil war.It might work, Rashel was thinking. The made vampires were just individuals-theyd be up against wholelamia families. Especially against the Redfern family, the oldest and most value clanof vampires. Everybodys scared of Hunter Redfern, she said slowly.Hes got tremendous influence. He much owns the Council. He could run them out of the NightWorld if he wanted. I think theyll listen.You really do think of him as a father, dont you? Rashel said, her voice soft. She searched Quinnseyes. Whatever you say about hating him-you respect him.Hes not as bad as most. He has honor, I guess. Usually.And hes a New Englander, Rashel thought. That means hes against v ice. She considered anothermoment, then she nodded. Her heart was beating fast, but she could feel a smile breaking on her face.Lets try persuasion.They stood-and then they paused a moment, feeling at each other. Were strong, Rashel thought. Wevegot unity. If anyone can do this, we can.She picked up her knife almost absent- melodic themeedly. It was a piece of art, a valued possession, and shedidnt want to lose it. They walked down the stairs side by side. Music was still blasting from the gathering room at the end ofthe hall. It hadnt been that long, Rashel realized. The whole world had changed since shed been in thishall room-but somehow it had all happened in minutes.Now, Quinn said silently before they went in. There shouldnt be any danger-/ dont think theyll bestupid enough to attack me-but be nimble anyway.Rashel nodded. She felt cool and businesslike, and she thought she was perfectly rational. It was onlylater that she realized they had walked into the room like little lam bs into the tigers lair, still dizzy andreeling from the discovery of love.Quinn went in first and she could hear voices stop as he did. indeed she was manner of walking through the door,into that ruddy flickering room with shadows dancing on the walls.And there they were again, those handsome young guys who looked like a TV-series ensemble. Theywere looking at Quinn with sundry(a) expressions of interest and surprise. When they saw her, theexpressions sharpened to pleasure and inquiry. Hey, Quinn Hi there, Quinn.So youve arrived at last. Youve kept us waiting long enough. That from the dark one who waslooking at his watch. Quinn said, Turn off the music. Someone went to a built-in genus Sepia cabinet and sullen off an expensive stereo.Quinn was looking around the room, as if to appraise each of them. Campbell, he said, noddingslightly. Radhu. Azarius. Max.So youre the one who brought us here, Campbell said. He had rusty hair and a sleepy smile. Weveall been last to find out.Wh os that? someone else added, peering at Rashel. The first course?Quinn smiled fractionally, with a look that made the guy whod asked step backward. No, shes notthe first course, he said softly. In fact, unfortunately, all the courses have disappeared.There was a silence. Everyone stared at him. Then the guy with the atomic number 47-blond hair said, What?Theyve all-just-disappeared. Quinn made an expressive gesture. Escaped. Vanished.Another silence. Rashel didnt like this one. She was root word to get an odd impression from the group,as if she were in a room, not with people, but with animals that had been kept past their feeding time.What the hell are you talk about? the dark one, the one Quinn had called Azarius, said tightly.What kind of joke is this? Campbell added.Its not a joke. The girls who were brought for the bloodfeast are gone, Quinn said slowly anddistinctly, just in case anybody hadnt gotten it yet. Then he said, And as a matter of fact, its a effectualthing. A go od thing? Quinn, were starving.They cant have gone too far, the silver blond said. After all, its an island. Lets go and- Nobodysgoing anywhere, Quinn said. Rashelmoved closer to him. She was still nervous. These guys were on the edge of getting out of control. Butshe trusted Quinn, and she could tell theywere afraid of him. And, she told herself, theyll beeven more afraid in a minute. Look, Quinn, if you brought us here to- I didnt bring you here. In fact, Idont know who brought you here, but it doesnt matter. Ive got the same thing to say to all of you. Thereisnt going to be any bloodfeast, now or ever. And anybody who objects to that can take their line of workto the Council.That shut everyone up. They simply stared at Quinn. It was clearly the last thing they expected.In fact, if you dont want the Council to hear about this, Id advise everybody to go home lightly andpretend it never happened. And to have a headache the next time anybody asks you to a bloodfeast.This silence wa s broken by somebody muttering, You dirtyMeanwhile, Rashels mind had begun to tick. Just how were these guys going to go home quietly? Therewerent any boats. Unless the host brought one when he came-if he came. And where was he, anyway?And where was Lily?Quinn, she said softly.But somebody else was speaking. Youd tell the Council? a lean tough-looking guy with brown hairasked.No, Id let Hunter Redfern tell the Council, Quinn said. And I dont really think you want that. Hemight put it in a bad light. hook your hands everybody who thinks Hunter Redfern would approve of thislittle party.Do I get a vote?The voice came from the doorway. It was deeper than the voices of the young guys in the room. Rashelrecognized the sound of danger instinctively and turned. And later it seemed to her that even before sheturned, she knew what she would see.A rangy man standing easily, with a girl and a child foot him in the shadows. He was colored by theflickering ruby light of the fire, but Rashel co uld still see that his hair was red as blood. And his eyes weregolden.Golden like hawks eyes, like amber. Like Lily Redferns eyes. Why hadnt she realized that before?The face was a face she would never forget. It came to her every night in her dreams. It was the manwhod killed her mother. The man whod chased her through the climbing structure, promising her icecream. All at once, Rashel was five years old again, weak and befuddled and terrified.Hello, Quinn, Hunter Redfern said.Quinn was absolutely still beside Rashel. She had the feeling that he couldnt even think. And she still why. Shed seen into his mind she knew what Hunter represented to him. Stern necessity,even ruthlessness, but honor, too. And he was just now finding out that that was all a lie.Dont look so upset, Hunter said. He stepped forward with an amiable smile. His golden eyes were resolute on Quinn he hadnt even glanced at Rashel yet. Theres a discernment out for all this. He gestured to thevampires in the room, and his voice was gentle, rational. We need allies in the Councilthe lamia are getting too lax. Once Ive explained it all to you, youll understand.The way hed made Quinn understand that Quinn had to be a vampire, Rashel thought. The way hedmade Quinn understand that humans were the enemy.She was shaking all over, but there was a snowy fire inside her that burned through the fear.Was there a reason for killing my mother? she said.The golden eyes turned toward her. Hunter looked gently startled. Beside her, Quinns head jerkedaround.I was only five, but I remember it all, Rashel said. She took a step closer to Hunter. You killed herjust like that-snapped her neck. Was there a reason for killing Timmy? He was four years old and youdrank his blood. Was there a reason for killing my great-aunt? You set a fire to get me, but it got her.She stopped, staring into those predatory golden eyes. Shed searched for this man for twelve years, andnow he didnt seem to recognize her. Whats wrong, did you hunt too many little kids to keep track of?she said. Or are you so crazy you believe your own public image?Quinn whispered, RashelShe turned. Im sure. He was the one.In that instant, she saw Quinns face harden implacably against the man whod made him a Red-fern. Hiseyes went dark as black holes-no lightescaped. Rashel suddenly had the feeling of glacial cold. Look into eyes like that and what you sawalone might kill you, she thought.But she had her own fire inside her, her own vengeance. The knife was in her waistband. If she couldjust get close enough. She moved toward Hunter Redfern again. You destroyed my life. And youdont even remember, do you? I remember, the little shadow beside him said. And then the worldflipped and Rashel felt the floor slipping away from her. The child behind Hunter was walking into thelight-and suddenly she could smell plastic and old socks, and she could feel vinyl under her hands.Memories were deluge up so quickly that she was drowning in them.All she could say was Oh, Timmy. Oh, God, Timmy. He was standing there, just as shed seen him last, twelve years ago. Shiny dark hair and wide tilted blueeyes. Except that the eyes werent barely a childs eyes. They were some strange and terriblecombination of child and adult. There was too much knowledge in them.You left me, Timmy said. You didnt care about me.Rashel sank her teeth into her lip, but tears spilled anyway. Im sorryNobody cared about me, Timmy said. He reached up to take Hunters sleeve. No humans, anyway.Humans are vermin. He smiled his old sweet smile.Hunter looked down at Timmy, then up at Quinn. Its amazing how quickly they learn. You havent metTimmy, have you? Hes been living in Vegas, but I think he can be useful here. He turned to Rashel andhis eyes were pure evil. Of course I remember you. Its just that youve changed a little youve gottenolder. Youre different from us, you see.Youre weak, Lily put in. She had stepped forward, too, to stand beside her father. Now s he linkedher arm in his. Youre short-lived. Youre not very bright, and not very important. In a word, youredinner.Hunter smiled. Well put. Then he dropped the smile and said to Quinn, gradation away from her, son.Quinn moved slightly, closer to Rashel. This is my soulmate, he said, in his softest and most sorryvoice. And were leaving together.Hunter Redfern stared at him for several long moments. Something like skepticism flickered in his eyes.Then he recovered and said quietly, What a shame. butt Rashel there were noises of stirring. It was as if a hot wind from the savanna had winded in, andthe lions had caught its scent.You know, I was already worried about you, Quinn, Hunter said. Last spend you let Ash and hissisters get away with running out on the enclave. Dont think I didnt notice that. Youre getting lax, gettingsoft. Theres too much of that going around lately.Stand back to back, Quinn told Rashel. She was already moving into position. The vampires wereforming a ring, encircling them. She could see smiles on every face.And Lily says youve been strange these last a couple of(prenominal) days-moody. She said you seemed preoccupied witha human girl.Rashel drew her knife. The vampires were watching her with the fixed attention of big felines watchingtheir prey. Absolute focus.But the soulmate idea-thats really the last straw. Its like a disease infecting our people. You understandwhy I have to stamp it out. Hunter paused. For old times sake, lets finish this quickly.A voice that wasnt Quinns added in Rashels mind, / told you Id see you later.Rashel stood on the balls of her feet, letting Hunters words slide off her and pretermit away. She couldntthink about him right now. She had to concentrate on awareness, open her energy, and dissolve her mind.This was going to be the biggest fight of her fife, and she needed zanshin.But even as she found it, a small voice inside her was whispering the truth. There were simply too manyvampires. She and Quinn co uldnt hold them all off at once.