Page 49 of Addicted in Blood
Colantha nodded.“Probably a doozy, and it will get worse over the next twenty-four hours.She’s going through withdrawals.”
“From the juice?”My throat was so raw it felt like I swallowed a quarter of the Sahara Desert then crunched on a few rocks for shit and giggles.Sergi handed me a glass of water but took it away from me after a couple of sips.
“Frederick lowered the additives sometime in the evening and has weaned you off of them.”
“The juice didn’t taste any different.”
“No.It wouldn’t.”
Of course not.So much easier to drug a person when they couldn’t taste it.
“Don’t pout.It was nothing more than an herb to strengthen your psychic powers, as I said before.The extended training sessions required the herbs for stamina.You’ll get to the point where you won’t need it except for the intense training we’ve been through.It’s also impacting your core body temperature, which explains the shivering.Try to eat something.You won’t want to, but you’ll improve faster with nourishment.”
I picked at the beignet, wondering if there was any place in Santiga Bay that made them this good.Conversation was light as everyone ate lunch, and I picked at random pieces of food only to stop the glaring from Colantha and Sergi.
The shakes increased to the point I had to give up trying to eat anything, afraid the piece of food would end up flying across the room.I sensed Sergi’s desire to leave.
“Is there anything the House Trelane can do for you to compensate you for your time?”
I shot a glance to Colantha, curious if she’d find the offer offensive.But she was already giving it some consideration.
“If you don’t mind listening to an old woman weave a story.”Interesting that she considered herself old since she didn’t look a day over thirty-five.She took a long sip of coffee before settling back.“There was once a powerful dreamwalker.Strong enough that we believed he might be the one to mend the fracture between our species.But he moved too quickly, showed his hand too soon.He was meant to find another as powerful as he.One with whom their combined strength could shield us all.But he was young, rash, and fell in love with a vampire.Perhaps if he hadn’t discovered the ancient text, things would have turned out different.
“It was prophesied the ancient text would one day be discovered and dreamwalkers would once again walk free across the earth.As it turned out, he didn’t have the experience, and he caught the eye of a powerful vampire who had much to lose if the truth was revealed to the Council and Houses.The text, his love for another, and his inexperience were a bad combination with no one to guide him.There are nights when I still hear him calling, but I can’t reach him.”
“What happened to him?”I could barely keep up with the story, but I’d come to know this woman, and she wouldn’t be sharing it if it didn’t mean something.
“He was believed to have burned in a fire.”
I grimaced.A horrible way to die.
“It wasn’t proven?”Sergi always picked up on those little details.
Her smile was grim.“No.”
“The House Trelane appreciates the story and will heed its importance.”Sergi stood and helped me up.
Before I could ask for help to pack, I noticed my duffel and backpack by the door.Jamison nodded at me, and I hoped he checked the room twice before closing up my bags.I reached for my necklace and found it safely hanging around my neck.
Colantha stood and took my arms.“You should put that away while you heal.Then you should be able to wear it when you want, but it should always remain hidden.Remember…”
“Security, secrecy, and solidarity.I remember.”Why was I tearing up?I’d barely met this woman, and she’d put me through hell.But I’d learned a great deal during the lessons with no way to thank her.“I appreciate your time.I know I set difficult parameters.”
“Don’t forget your promise to me.”
I nodded.“Once my mission is complete.”
Colantha, along with Jamison and Frederick, followed us out to the car.Sergi helped me into the front seat then stowed my bags.I waved as he pulled away, but when I turned around the three of them had already disappeared into the building.
The heat was running with fans on full, but I couldn’t stop shivering.I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, I was being helped up the stairs to the plane and guided to one of the plush seats.
“You can lay down as soon as we’re in the air.”Sergi covered me with several blankets.Then he hovered over me until I drank a glass of orange juice and ate a hard-boiled egg.By then, we were in the air, and he helped me to the couch, ensuring the covers were back in place.
“What did Colantha mean by that story?”Between the headache and overall achy feeling, I wasn’t sure I’d heard it all correctly.
“I’m not sure.It’s something I’ll need to think about.”
“All right.”Before the call to sleep took me down, I remembered something else.Colantha never said anything more about my father or my prescient abilities.I guess there was no question I’d have to go back.
