Broken (The Captive #5.5)(85)
"I see," his gaze drifted to the balcony and the night beyond. "And it is only between vampires?"
"Yes, the bond is sealed with sex and an exchange of blood between the vampires. It is a soul deep connection that allows them to know where the other is at all times. It would be impossible for a vampire to have that with a human." Atticus could feel Merle's gaze burning into him. He turned his eyes away from the balcony and back to his cousin. "It was the exchange of blood between vampires and the bond he spoke of that made me begin to believe that it was true. It reminded me of you, and… Genny." He hesitated before saying her name this time, as if he feared that Atticus would come at him again.
He flinched inwardly, but he managed to keep his exterior completely impassive while inside he was a seething mass of turmoil and heartache. "I considered it, you know," Atticus told him. "I considered following her that night. Considered walking into the fires spreading through the village, but then I discovered Camille and I knew I had to get her to safety." He'd become so adept at lying that it rolled easily off of his tongue now.
"And you did get her to safety."
"So I did and as you can see, I'm still alive and I'm not crazy. Perhaps this bloodlink does exist but it seems it has been exaggerated, as have most things throughout the years. Or maybe it is not what Genny and I shared." More lies woven over top of lies but as Merle continued to stare at him Atticus willed him to buy this lie. Merle finally dropped his gaze to the table.
"It's an interesting concept though," Merle murmured. "One that I think has effected you."
"Perhaps it has, but who is to know for certain." He almost reiterated that he was sane but he bit his tongue, there was such a thing as protesting too much. It would be safer to steer this conversation to a different topic. "How long will you be staying?"
Merle leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. "I don't think being so close to the woman that I am separating from is a good idea right now, even if it is under amicable terms," he said with a laugh.
"No I suppose not," Atticus agreed. "Where will you go now?"
"I think I shall return to Spain for a bit. I enjoy the weather there."
"Not England?" he inquired in a teasing tone that he didn't feel.
Merle snorted and finished off his wine. "Never again if I can help it."
"I must agree," Atticus said and clinked his goblet against Merle's.
Though I played it off Genny, I do believe that what he spoke of is true. That this mystical bloodlink is in fact what bonded the two of us together. We should have left for the new world sooner. If I had only known what was unfolding between us, if I'd only done more. We'd have been so happy together, our lives so different, our children so loved. Instead, you are gone and I have become a monstrosity.
***
January 31st, 1550
My dearest Genny,
Anna suffered another miscarriage today. I've grown tired of the charade. There is no reason for me to continue to touch the woman when it has become apparent that she is just as unable to provide children as her sister is. I've lost count of the children we've lost over the past years, perhaps she knows.
Unfortunately, though I would give anything to stop crawling into her bed, the pretense must be kept up. I need her family for my future plans. I need her for my future plans and there is no way to break free of her. Not now anyway, one day though, one day it will all be over.
CHAPTER 28
May, 1st, 1727,
My dearest Genny,
Yet again instead of standing up for ourselves, The Council has decided that the best course of action is for us to flee the continent during this time of bitter turmoil. Stray vampires, who have since been caught and punished for their perfidy, started a panic that has spread beyond the normal borders of the town, or even the country, where the main problem originated.
It started in seventeen twenty-one in East Prussia and though we thought that problem had been stamped out these foolish and pathetic humans worked themselves into a frenzy. Rumors spread like wild fire, villages have been burned, and most of them were not even vampire villages. Though they did succeed in taking three of our locations out.
What we thought was contained has now spread to the Habsburg Monarchy and invaded the land there. This time they succeeded in killing off at least fifty vampires and sending The Council and vampires throughout the continent into a tumult the likes of which I've never seen before. This is almost my opportunity. There are enough vampires that are incensed by the way we have been treated that they might make an attempt at a stand, but though I'm chomping at the bit to crush the throat of mankind, even I must admit that the time is still not right.
We are too scattered right now. Vampires are fleeing from all across the continent and the English Isles. They are running from Asia, India, Africa and Australia even though the human panic has not spread as far as those distant lands. They are not willing to take the chance that the panic won't spread through there and are abandoning their homes.
Thousands of vampires are boarding ships and heading to the new world, a place that will hopefully offer us some protection from the complete idiocy of the human race.
My ship leaves tomorrow; we will set sail in the morning. I'm curious to see what this new world will bring to our kind.