Page 42 of Voyage of Death and Desire

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I may be old, but I’m not dumb. Now,” she props her hands on her hips, “who’s going to tell me what the hell is going on? It’s not a normal Monday to have two vampires and a lycan in your home. That’s usually more of a weekend thing.” She laughs as she speaks.

Thorne and I stare at our host, not sure what to say. “Come into the sitting room, and I’ll explain,” Luna says, pulling Francis with her. “You two coming?” she asks.

The look on Thorne’s face mirrors my own. I don’t know whether to run or join them for tea. Thorne laces his fingers through mine, and we enter the room, staying close to the door. “What makes you think we’re vampires?” I ask after a few minutes of awkward silence.

“For starters, you don’t eat human food. I’ve seen you try and found evidence in the trash can of what you don’t eat. Then there’s this.” She picks up a newspaper at her side, reading the headline out loud.

“Man found nearly drained of blood outside local nightclub.”

“I’m guessing that was you, Elsie.” I clear my throat, not sure how to answer.

“Are you afraid?” Thorne asks.

“Of you two? No. I’ve always been a bit sensitive to things other than the usual. I’ve known for a very long time that there are other creatures besides humans in this world. I just never thought I would house three of them in my home at once. I can’t explain how I know, but I know neither of you is a threat to me. However, I would love to hear the full story of who you are to each other.”

“Ooo, me. Pick me! Pick me!” Luna waves her hand from the other end of the couch.

“Nothing personal, dear. I think it might be better coming from one of them,” Francis says.

Thorne and I share a look. I know without asking, he’s unsure if he should tell her who he really is.

I take a deep breath. “You’re right. We are vampires, and the attack on the man at the nightclub was me.” I turn toward my fellow vampire. “Thorne had nothing to do with it. I was the one who injured him.”

Francis waves the paper toward me. “From what this says, he was not a model citizen anyway. After recuperating, he’s being arrested and charged with an entire list of crimes, stemming from sexual assault to robbery. Looks like you did everyone a favor with that one.”

She stands, moving toward one of the pictures I asked her about the first day. It’s a picture of aship very similar to the one Thorne captained. She takes it off the wall, holding it toward me. “I’m guessing by your questions about the history of the home and Captain Rex, you are from that period. Did you know him? Did you know my ancestor? Is that why you’re here?”

I’m not sure how to answer her questions. Thankfully, I don’t have to. Thorne moves toward the couch, sitting on a chair near his great-great-great-granddaughter.

“Francis, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it.Iam Captain Hawthorne Rex, and I built this home many years ago for my son and wife.”

Francis stares into the young face of her ancestor. “How is that possible?” Her voice is no louder than a whisper.

“You are right. I am a vampire. I was turned nearly three hundred years ago. It was my choice.”

“I…I don’t know what to say,” she admits.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Thorne answers. “I’m not here for anything other than to check on you and to find Elsie.”

“Check on me?”

“Aye. It’s something I’ve done since you were born. Always near, never seen. Just out of reach of human attention and eyes.”

A tear streams down Francis’s cheek. “You’re my grandfather?”

“Several times back, aye. I’m so proud of you, Francis.” I smile at his words. “You are an amazing woman.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, wiping a tear. “You’re not related to me somehow, are you?” she asks me with a smile.

“No,” I answer. “At least, I don’t think so.” Thorne nods, giving me permission to tell our story.

“My family and I set sail from Scotland, headed to Charles Town in the early 1700s. My father had recently died, and my mother wasn’t able to support our large family on her own. I was considered…unmarriable at that time, so the burden fell strictly on her.”

“Unmarriable?” she asks, wrinkling her forehead.

“I had epilepsy. At that time, no one really knew what it was. I was said to be demon-possessed and unable to bear children for that reason. No one in my village wanted a young woman who was prone to uncontrollable shaking and unable to provide an heir. For that reason, my mother had no choice but to leave.”

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