Vampyre | Book I of Bloodlines | Free on Inkitt & Kindle Unlimited
Mind Link

Viola

Zoning in on Elliott, I scan every inch of his exposed skin, looking for any nicks, cuts, or bruises—from what I can see, he looks to be fine.

Mr. Dixon smiles at me, revealing more human blood staining his pointed teeth as I cross the street to approach him.

I feel my heart threatening to race in my chest, but I take a deep breath and calm myself. Time seems to slow down with each step that I take toward him, giving me plenty of time to think.

I’ve never felt a fear like this before, it grips my very being and squeezes. Why is he here? My mind races with all the possibilities about whose blood is on Mr. Dixon’s lips and why he could possibly be here with Elliott.

To look at, Elliott doesn’t seem to be afraid; his heart is beating normally, but something isn’t right—he looks placid.

I don’t know what to do with this fury that suddenly barrels through me. It’s as if something within me has awakened, something sinister that pleads for me to split Mr. Dixon’s head open and see his brains splattered all over the pavement for touching my beautiful little boy.

Darius’s words echo through my mind, reminding me not to let anger control my actions, though when it comes to Elliott, all sense of reason might go flying out the blasted window.

I step up onto the curb and stand before them.

“See? I told you we’d replace her here,” Mr. Dixon looks at me, “Elliott has been so distressed at home without you, cousin.”

Elliott tries to pull his hand out of Mr. Dixon’s grip, but he holds him firmly by his side.

“Did you just eat, Mr. Dixon?” I ask.

“Why, yes, did I spill?” He checks his clean shirt, but there’s not a drop of blood to be found.

“What’s going on, Mr. Dixon? Why is Elliott here?”

“Indeed, what is going on here, Lady Spencer?” Mr. Dixon’s eyes seem to roam where they please, from my face to my throat, before slowly drifting back up to meet my eyes.

“Something about you has changed, but I can’t quite seem to put my finger on it,” Mr. Dixon taps his chin as he pretends to think. It’s a bit of a conundrum. Maybe you can assist me with figuring it out.”

“All I can do is try,” I mutter, unamused.

“The first time I met you, you smelled of rotten flesh. At least, I thought it was you, but it turned out to be that old French witch you were with, casting some repellent spell. I found it curious: why would a witch cast such a costly spell for a simple girl? Then, of course, you spoke of that other Vampyre, and I must say, you piqued my interest.”

Mr. Dixon leans in a little closer, his blue eyes flashing with a red light within, much like Darius.

“I suspected you were different somehow, and when I visited you, my suspicions were confirmed. You smell absolutely delightful…” Mr. Dixon sniffs the air, leaning in that little bit closer, “of strawberries warmed by the sun, so sweet and clean. I love strawberries.”

I feel my brows raise. “Is that why you’ve come? To discuss strawberries?”

Mr. Dixon leans in closer, inhaling my scent. “Are you human?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Dixon. Now, please release my son into my care.”

Mr. Dixon pulls back, his gaze lingering on my lips. I recognize the desire for the forbidden in his eyes, the same look William wore before he took me.

Kneeling before Elliott, I extend my hand. “Come, my darling.”

Elliott rushes into my arms, tightly wrapping his little arms around my neck.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper into his ear.

When I rise, Mr. Dixon has vanished.

I scan my surroundings, but his incredible speed eludes me. Perhaps speed is his gift.

With Elliott safe in my arms, relief washes over me, and I can finally breathe.

“Elliott darling, what happened?” I look into his beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, but he remains silent. I hope he’s not traumatized.

Out of nowhere, a strange sensation pierces my mind and radiates deep within my head. Initially sharp like a searing hot needle, it soon subsides. It reminds me of the pain I felt in the library when I heard Darius urgently instructing me to hide, yet this feels distinctly different.

I close my eyes, focusing on the sensation. In the darkness of my mind, I encounter a glowing red light and sense Darius’s presence within—it’s as if he’s requesting access, knocking on a closed window. Is he attempting to peer through my eyes as he does with William?

Now that he has fed off me, theoretically, he could control me the way he controls William, but I know Darius would never invade my mind without my consent.

“Darius?” I whisper into my thoughts.

I visualize opening the window in my mind’s eye, and Darius’s voice echoes loud and clear in my head.

“Viola, what’s happened?” His voice is filled with concern.

“What do you mean?” I respond mentally.

“I felt your fear, Viola. Please tell me you’re safe and unharmed.”

I begin to walk slowly toward the park, Elliott still clinging to me like a koala clinging to its mother. “I’m a little shaken, Darius. Something happened at home. I saw Mr. Dixon with Elliott. I have Elliott now, and Mr. Dixon disappeared, but I could smell blood on him.”

Darius remains silent for a long moment, but I can feel his presence and inspiring stillness with me.

As I enter the park, I spot Dr. Gibbons strolling with a woman on his arm. He nods at me in acknowledgment, then looks back with a puzzled expression. After exchanging words with the woman, presumably his wife, he approaches me.

“Lady Spencer,” he greets me with the tip of his hat, “this is my wife, Gloria Gibbons.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gibbons.”

“Pleasure, milady,” she says politely.

Dr. Gibbons studies my face. “Goodness, your eye has healed remarkably fast. How wonderful.” His gaze shifts to Elliott. “Well, well, is this little Master Elliott Spencer? My, you’ve grown.”

Elliott turns his face away from Dr. Gibbons, who doesn’t seem to take being snubbed by a three-year-old too personally and chuckles warmly.

“Dr. Gibbons, Mrs. Gibbons, I hate to be rude, but I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a hurry to meet with my husband,” I say as politely as possible.

“Of course, we won’t keep you. I’m so glad to see you’re doing so well,” Dr. Gibbons says with a reassuring smile.

“Thank you, Dr. Gibbons.”

As I turn to leave, a sudden thought crashes into my mind, shaking the ground beneath me.

“Wait, Dr. Gibbons, the printer’s daughter, has she returned home yet? Is she recovering well?” I inquire.

His expression falters, and I already anticipate his answer. “I’m afraid she passed this morning. I can’t say more than that.”

“I understand. Good day, Doctor, Mrs. Gibbons.”

Hurrying deeper into the park, I replace a secluded spot in the rose garden. As I sit on the grass with Elliott on my lap, the connection Darius opened up to my mind still remains linked to him.

When I close my eyes, I can almost feel him, as if he were sitting right next to me.

The idea that he might always be linked with me like this brings me comfort.

I reach out to him through my mind. “Darius?”

“Yes, my darling.”

“Now that you’ve fed from me, does that mean you can control me like you do, William?”

“It seems that whatever magic you possess does not allow me to access any part of your mind without your consent,” he says in my mind.

When Darius speaks again, I hear him clearly behind me. “It must be a witch thing.”

I turn around to see Darius standing amongst the roses. He kneels down behind me, enveloping me and Elliott in his arms. The warmth and love he radiates slowly dissolve my worries.

“I was so worried,” Darius says quietly, “I could feel your fear as if it were my own, and I was powerless to do anything about it.”

“You’re here now, and we’re safe,” I say into his chest and breathe in his wonderful scent.

Darius guides me to look up at him—the way he holds my neck makes me imagine how easily he could snap it with his large hand.

“Viola, would you let me into your memories to see this Dixon for myself?”

I don’t even hesitate. “Yes, of course.”

“Keep your eyes on mine, my darling.”

I smile. “Easy.”

Darius grunts playfully in approval and kisses me lightly on my lips before I gaze into his loving eyes.

His fingertips touch my neck so gently that one could question whether he even did it. Warmth radiates in my mind as he searches my memories, and I can see exactly what he’s seeing. Darius stops when he replaces the moment Mr. Dixon declares his love of strawberries while smelling me.

A rage fills my core, and when Darius releases my mind, I realize it’s not my fury I’m feeling—it’s his. This link he has created between us is a two-way street for our minds and emotions, and the deeper I allow Darius into my mind, the more I can see and feel his.

Darius is obviously vexed by what he saw. He covers his mouth as he thinks, his mind clearly racing. I wait for him to speak, knowing he’ll tell me everything once his anger and jealousy subsides. Finally, Elliott lets go of me and goes to rip some of the roses apart.

“This is a problem, darling. I’m afraid we may be out of time here. That Vampyre concealed his true identity from you,” Darius starts.

He lets out a long, controlled breath.

“His name is not Dixon; it’s van de Berg, Stefan van de Berg, my maker. And what’s more alarming is that he has William’s protection charm.”