Evan, still amused: Oh my God this has really got to you, hasn’t it? It’s not just killing your pride, you’re -

Jared: Luther’s just told me there’ll be trouble ahead, he obviously meant you.

Evan, even more amused and singing: There may be trouble ahead...

Jared turned to me, all business but still friendly. “I need to update the recruits’ files. You done with them for today?”

“Yeah, they’re on my desk,” I replied in the same tone.

Evan, still singing: But while there’s moonlight and music and love and romance...

“Let’s face the music, and dance,” I finished, watching both of them gawp at me unattractively. “I’ll see you both later.” And then I strolled off whistling the tune of the song that might very well end up stuck in my head all night long. I could feel their glares still on me as I, called in by Antonio, advanced into the room that only a minute ago Jared had come out of.

“Alright,” I said to Antonio and Luther who offered me greeting smiles. I then nodded to the guards who nodded back, and then I was licked half to death by the dogs. Nero was especially attentive.

This room was absolutely huge and amazing. I’d been expecting another parlour room seen as Antonio seemed to love them, but this was different than anything I’d seen. In the centre was a large rectangular aviary; inside were canaries, rabbits, guinea pigs, and some other types of birds that I didn’t know the names to.

The aviary was made of glass and had a tiny little stream covering the perimeter of it. Antonio and Luther were standing side by side, staring through the glass of the aviary at the trees and animals and other plants. I was already thinking what Antonio was thinking before he said it.

“It’s such a peaceful place.” He was still staring through the glass. “I come here whenever an emotion overwhelms me. So I thought this would be an extremely good place for me to speak with you today. I can imagine you might be quite overwhelmed.”

As I reached his side I grumbled, “Not you as well.”

He laughed at that, as did Luther. “You know, if a number of people are interested in your emotional state, maybe you should consider this a good thing: it shows that you are finally accepted, and cared about.”

“It might be a good thing to someone else, but I’m not really a ‘let’s hold hands, cuddle and share all’ person.”

He laughed again. “Maybe one day you will learn that it is not a fault to care.” Turning to face me – his expression all business now – he continued, “My guards have never failed to protect me. They would have reached Victor before he was able to reach me.”

“I know.”

“And yet you intervened in spite of that.” It was half-question, half-statement.

“I did.”

“I would not go as far as to say that I owe you my life, because I do not believe that it was ever truly in danger. But your intervention was much appreciated, and I thank you for it.”

“You also have my appreciation,” said Luther. The guards mumbled something like ‘and ours’.

Sighing, I admitted, “I wouldn’t bother thanking me, I didn’t really think about it, if I’m honest. I just did it.”

“Do you not see that for this to be your natural reaction to my safety being jeopardised that this is a tremendous thing?” Antonio glared at me curiously. “There have only ever been three other people to intervene in such a way; Sebastian, and the brothers – and that was after decades of being under my wing, and none of them intervened by harming their Sires. You have known me for all of a few nights and yet you not only instinctually protected me, but you killed your own Sire in order to do so.”

I smiled. “Maybe you didn’t notice that he was a prick who I had no time or respect for.”

“He was still your Sire, Sam. And just like any human would have that small moment of doubt before harming either of their parents, any vampire experiences this before trying to harm their Sire. Most vampires never do it, no matter what the circumstances. A blood-bond is overpowering for the mind. And yet you did not experience that moment of hesitation.”

I bowed my head. “Cold-hearted, I suppose.”

“No,” he insisted but in a gentle voice. “You are not cold-hearted. Harsh at times, yes – but only if you believe it is necessary. Foul-mouthed on occasion, yes – but we don’t mind that so much. Capable of brutal honesty, oh yes – but sometimes the absolute truth is what people need to hear. You are not cold, Sam. Do not ever think that about yourself. Consider that an order.”

“Sir, yes, Sir,” I said light-heartedly, to which he rolled his eyes at.

“I did not call you here just to enquire about your well-being or to thank you.” He made his way to a bench beside on one of the walls – I hadn’t even noticed that before, the beauty of the aviary had taken up all of my focus – and invited me to sit beside him.

“Are you giving me a raise?” I teased.

“You could say that.” I wasn’t expecting for that to be his response. “I told you before that you are not the only individual to intervene to protect me. In each of those cases I called them to me just as I have called you now. I believe in thanking people with actions more than with words. Rewards, you might say.”

“Okay.” Did he mean, like, a medal or something?

“I am a Bestower, Sam – that is my vampiric gift. Have you ever encountered a Bestower before?”

“No, but I’ve heard of Bestowers. You can pass on gifts to other vampires.”

“Not exactly. I can impart power to a vampire, not energy, that is different. Power. It can only be done at my control, but I cannot control what reaction the power has to your own innate concentration of power. In other words, I do not know what gift you will then develop, but it will not be my own.”

Wow, I hadn’t seen this coming.

“It is your decision, Sam. I know that you already have a substantial gift to control, so it is understandable if you do not want another. But if you would like to accept my offer, I will be very happy to reward you as I wish to.”

The idea of having another gift was exciting. Even the idea that I’d have no idea what it would be was exciting. But it had taken me a while to have the control that I have now over my own gift...This wasn’t exactly the best time to be struggling with another gift seen as The Hollow’s walls would be attacked in a few weeks. “Will I be able to control it? I mean, I can control other vampires’ gifts easy enough because it’s just about channelling energy and I’m a master at that. But when I absorbed some of Jared’s energy” – Antonio raised his brows at that but didn’t comment – “I couldn’t get a grip on the teleporting thing.”

“That is not because you couldn’t control it,” explained Antonio. “Teleporting is not as simple as people might think. It is a lot like being a satellite. Your mind picks up and commits to memory the signals and coordinates of places or even people – on a totally subconscious level. For Jared, his initial struggles were due to his inexperience at channelling energy. For you, the problem was obviously that you obviously did not absorb the amount of his energy required to receive enough of the concentration of that power. As such, you were, through no fault of your own, an uncompleted satellite.”

“Oh. Right.” Well that was good news.

“So, do you wish to accept my offer?” He was eager, I could tell. Probably curious as to what gift I’d end up with. I had to admit I was extremely curious myself, and curiosity killed this kitten in this instance.

“What do I have to do?”

Antonio smiled pleasantly and exchanged a pleased expression with Luther before returning his attention to me. “You will need to join your forehead to mine. It might feel a little strange, sort of like a sizzling sensation, but do not withdraw from it. The process is not something I can control; it depends on the reaction that the power I impart has on you. It can take anything from thirty seconds to an entire minute.”

I nodded. “Okay.” Although I was a little hesitant due to the shock and weirdness of it all, I didn’t let it show.

Antonio closed his eyes. Seconds later he spoke, “I am ready for you.”

I almost laughed seen as that unintentionally sounded a little kinky. Slowly I leant in. When my forehead met his there was the strangest bang inside my body, I guessed that Antonio felt it too because he gasped also.

“Antonio?” said Luther, sounding concerned.

“All is well, Luther,” he assured him. I took it that the bang wasn’t normal. “Sam, do not fear, be still.”

Remaining still had to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was the freakiest thing. It felt as though bugs were crawling under the skin of Antonio’s forehead and bursting out and then scraping their way through the skin of my own. Then there was this almost unbearable feeling of bubbles bursting inside my skull. My limbs burned. My heart went ten to the dozen. My lungs pained. My stomach ached, and God I was so thirsty all of a sudden.

It felt like forever before all of it, as abruptly as it started, ended with one more bang which made us break apart.

“Oh. My. God. What was all that?” I was wheezing. Luther thrust NSTs in mine and Antonio’s hands. So efficient. I’d gulped it down so quick that I didn’t even taste it. My throat stopped aching then.

“It would be fair to say that my power has never had such an enthusiastic reaction before to the process of bestowing,” explained Antonio after reservedly drinking his NST.

“That was enthusiastic?”

“The pain and the discomfort are normal. The explosion-type sensation we had at the beginning is not....That was my power literally bursting with enthusiasm to enter you.”

“Why so enthusiastic?”

Antonio looked to Luther who, for once, had no answer.

Eventually Antonio theorised, “Perhaps because your own concentration of power was so great it massively attracted my own.”

I took an inventory of my entire self. “I don’t feel any different.”

“It may actually a few weeks for the gift to manifest itself, just as it does for a vampire’s natural gift to emerge,” said Luther. “I must say I am eager to see what it will be.”

“As am I,” giggled Antonio. “Do you feel able to return to work this evening?”

“That’s where I’m going now,” I said as I rose from the bench. “Hopefully the gift doesn’t pop up then or God knows what I might end up doing to the boys.” An evil smile surfaced. “That would be the most perfect excuse to beat them senseless though, wouldn’t it?”

“Oh and Sam, there is one last thing before you go,” called Antonio casually as I reached the door.

“What’s that?”

“When the attack happens on The Hollow, I’d like for you and Jared to lead the recruits together.”

I spun on the spot. “Say again?”

Chapter Seven

(Sam)

Entering the training arena, I almost dropped dead with shock – which would be a hard thing for an immortal to do. Inside, stretching and gabbing and laughing at dirty jokes, was every single one of the recruits. No sulky or irritated expressions. No lazy postures. No yawns or groans. Not even any signs that they were angry with me after I dug into their past and hit them with it. In fact, they all seemed eager and rearing to start.

I giggled, which made them all turn. “Did someone mistakenly tell you lot that I’ll be doing this topless or something?”

“Naked, I heard,” joked one of them. It might have been Harvey.

Max flashed me his usual smile – no hint of last night’s flirtatiousness in it, which was good. Like most people, I wanted my personal life and work life separate as far as possible. “We’re big boys, we can admit that we were wrong about you.”

Chico nodded and gave me look that was both apologetic and respectful. “If you’re someone who can kill your Sire to protect Antonio, then there are things we can learn from you. And you’re the kind of person I would listen to.”

There were murmurs of agreement from Denny, David, Salem and Reuben.

“Plus, you got a great body and I’m starting to get sexually confused being around guys all the time,” said Damien, appreciating my navy jeans and pink top that came attached to a white vest so covered my cl**vage a little better. Needless to say, I’d picked this when Fletcher and I went shopping. He had begged me not to buy it.

“And you were right,” said Butch, “we let ourselves get caught up in the high of being picked for the legion and thought we were the best thing since sliced bread.”

“So, where do you want us and what do you want us to do?” asked Stuart.

I snorted. “Well first of all the lot of you can stop the friendliness and flirting. I’m not your mate, I’m not here for you to ogle at, and I’m not here to joke with you. I’m here to coach you.”

They all nodded and, in unison, said, “Yes, Commander.” Was I dreaming?

“Oh no, you can drop the ‘Commander’, I can’t stand it.” But I wasn’t going to let them call me by the first name either.

“How about Coach?” suggested Denny. The others seemed to approve of that.

I considered that for a moment. In terms of being someone who people would listen to, it was kind of the middle ground. People tended to respect coaches or trainers and have better relationships with them than what they did with people who marched around and barked orders.