Read Seta's Fall: A Blood Revelation Prequel Page 8
“Who are they?” Rialto asked as they neared the two men standing at the end of the path.
“The men who saved my life,” Seta answered, bracing for a stern lecture, maybe something worse. She could imagine the thoughts going through Eron and Christian’s minds as they saw her and her son approaching them, covered in blood. “They are vampires, and in a way, family.”
Eron stepped forward. Christian remained where he was, shaking his head and looking anywhere but at them.
“We found Garibaldi’s body,” Eron said, looking between the two of them.
“He ran a sword through his own son’s back,” Seta informed him. “He left him to die.”
Eron nodded. “I felt the moment a new vampire was born in my line.”
“Are you going to curse us? Send me away again?”
“No, Seta. You saved your son’s life as you were always meant to do. You killed a murderer. There is no punishment for that. I never did punish you. I am sorry if it felt that I did.”
She looked into the eyes of the man who had saved her life nearly three decades before and remembered looking into them the first night she rose as a vampire. She remembered the instant attraction to him as well as the fear of what danger he posed to her. Both were still there. Her gaze wandered down to his mouth and she remembered the feel of those lips on hers. She ached to taste him once more, but her son still had the blood of the last man she’d foolishly believed in on his clothes, a reminder of what happened when you fell for a lie.
“Why are you here?”
Eron turned toward Rialto. “We are here to welcome you to The Order, Rialto. You have much to learn about your new life and we are here to assist you. There are rules. We are not monsters. We are protectors. As long as you remember that and protect the innocent, we will have no problems.”
Rialto looked down at her. “My mother is a good person. She would not allow me to harm an innocent.”
Eron looked at her and she could practically see the night she’d killed the guard’s brothers play through his mind. He was her sire. He could project his thoughts to her.
I know what I did was wrong, Eron, she thought to him. You were right. I have remembered that moment many times over the years and it fills me with guilt.
I know, Seta. I only wish you had believed in me enough then to listen to me. You could have avoided such pain. I know you do not trust easily, and I understand why. I hope one day you will realize I have never lied to you and I never will hurt you.
“Guards will soon be hunting you as the bodies are discovered,” Eron said out loud, withdrawing from her mind. “It is not safe here. We move now.”
He turned and started walking down the path, Christian at his side. Seta took her son’s hand and walked behind them.
A mile out, she felt Rialto’s gaze on her.
“What is it, my son?”
“I do not want to lose you again. Can we trust these men?”
“You will never lose me, and Eron is my sire. He saved my life.” She smiled despite her fear and placed her hand over her heart. “No matter where I go he will always be here, as I have always been with you.”
Ahead of them, Eron turned his head and met her gaze. He nodded and she knew he felt what was in her traitorous heart because she felt what was in his. Whether she could trust it or not, only time would tell, and they had all the time in the world.