Stefan looked away. He had spent a good portion of his life with this man, yet the reality of Aidan’s existence was almost too much for him to accept. He knew in his heart that Aidan would never harm the woman, yet to see her like that, so still and lifeless, after she had displayed so much courage…
“Clean the car, Stefan. I will go to ground for a day or two. It will be up to you to field any questions if the police come around. You must protect the child and Marie from any intruders. Remember, no harm can come to you in this house at night, but vampires can use humans to do their bidding.” Stefan helped Aidan from the car, watching as he reached into the back seat to lift Alexandria’s limp body into his arms. “I know what they and their minions can do, Aidan. I will be alert for an attack,” he assured him gruffly.
“Place blood inside the chamber for me this night, and then leave and stay away. Keep Marie and the child far from the chamber. It will not be safe for any of you until I replace the volume I have lost.” He said it tersely, his strength already waning. Alexandria was a small woman, and he had taken all the nourishment he safely could from her, then had placed her in the deep sleep of his people to keep her alive until he could replace her blood loss.
He allowed Stefan to assist him through the house. Marie came running, crying out when she saw him. He heard the boy’s feet on the hardwood floor. Aidan swung around, his golden eyes flaming with warning. “Keep the child away from me,” he snapped, beating down his voracious hunger.
Marie stopped in her tracks, one hand pressed to her throat. Aidan was covered in blood and dirt, Alexandria lifeless, cradled in his arms. Blood and soil littered the hardwood floor on a trail from the door. Aidan’s eyes were flaming red, his white teeth sharp and gleaming like a predator’s.
“Marie!” Stefan’s voice propelled her into action. She rushed to intercept Joshua before he could witness the horror of this night. Tears were pouring down her face as she caught the child up and began to run down the hallway toward the stairs.
Joshua touched the tears on her face. “Don’t cry, Marie. Did someone hurt your feelings?”
She made an effort to gain control of herself. The house would have to be cleaned before the boy could come downstairs, so somehow she had to get him to sleep. “It’s nothing, Joshua. I had a bad dream. Don’t you ever have bad dreams?”
“Alexandria says if you say a prayer and think about really good things, you know, things you like, you’ll have good dreams.” Joshua rubbed his cheek against hers. “It always works when she does it with me. I’ll say prayers with you like she does, and you won’t have bad dreams ever again.”
Marie found herself smiling at the simplicity and innocence in Joshua. She had three children, now grown, and Joshua brought back memories of the sweetness of childhood. She hugged him close. “Thank you, Joshua. Your sister is a very smart woman. You’re lucky to have her.” She stifled a sob. “And what are you doing out of bed at this time of night anyway? It’s nearly four in the morning. Shame on you, young man.”
“I thought Alexandria was in her bedroom, but she wasn’t. I was looking for her.” Joshua’s eyes betrayed his fear of losing his sister.
“Aidan had to take her to a special place of healing. She’s still sick, Joshua, so we have to have patience until he makes her better.”
“Will she be all right?” he asked anxiously.
“Of course. Aidan would never let anything happen to her. He’ll watch over her very closely. You know that.”
“Can I talk to her on the phone?”
Marie laid him in the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. “Not for a while. She’s sleeping, just like you should be. I’ll stay with you until you’re sound asleep.”
He smiled, a sweet, angelic smile that put warmth back into Marie. “I can teach you the prayer.”