“Mother,” he said quietly, as the first rays appeared over the mountains. “I really wanted you to meet her.” Turner squinted into the sun. “I finally asked her. I don’t know if she will say yes, but I asked her anyway. You always told me I’d know what love was when I finally found the right girl. I know now, Mom.” His mother would have been proud of his decision. Turner closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep too, as he didn’t want to return home. His father and brother would object to his decision to stay by Arianna, but he didn’t care. Neither found prestige in choosing to be someone’s servant and dinner. However, the only opinion that mattered was his mother’s, and she would be proud that he was following his heart in living his life.
SIXTEEN
“Time to get ready.” Molina was tapping at Arianna’s head.
Arianna groggily opened her eyes. She had actually been awake for several hours after she was placed in her bed—alone—but she didn’t feel like moving. There was too much to consider. Devin wasn’t there when they finally returned. She’d looked all over the house, but he wasn’t anywhere. Giving up, Arianna lost herself in her thoughts until Molina entered the room.
“Where did he go?” Arianna asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
“Devin had some business for Lord Randolph,” Molina replied. Arianna turned her head sideways as she stared at Molina. Closing her eyes, Arianna sensed the blood beating through Molina’s body. The beat remained constant. Molina wasn’t lying.
“How did you choose your keeper?” Arianna asked Molina, moving on to the second subject clouding her mind.
“I haven’t yet,” Molina replied. “Normally, we choose one around our twentieth birthday. Mine just passed, but I’ve been too busy to even worry about it. My parents pressured me to choose before Lord Randolph hired me, but now they’ve backed off. I think they’re actually hoping that I’ll ask Nixon or Jackson.”
“Oh,” Arianna replied, still not finding the answer she wanted to hear.
“Are you trying to decide on a keeper?” Molina asked, picking up on Arianna’s dissatisfaction with the answer. Arianna didn’t reply. “Well, I’ll give you the advice my mother gave me. The relationship between a custodian and a dearg-dul is a unique one. Unlike any other relationship ever formed, there’s a bond made that can never be broken. You must choose wisely, but not be afraid to choose at all.”
“I understand that. I just don’t know how to tell if it would be right—forever,” Arianna nodded.
“I know you’re afraid to choose someone, and then have complete control over them. So just ask yourself, even if you didn’t make them into a keeper, would this person, at any rate, always put you first? Follow your heart, and you should know the answer.” Molina patted Arianna’s hand before leaving the room. Molina felt like the big sister Arianna never had.
By the time Arianna finally dressed and was ready, they were going to be late. “Sorry,” she said, as she took Turner’s extended arm to lead her to the waiting car.
“Actually, I was hoping you would take more time,” Turner replied. “The later we are, the less time I have to wear this silly tux.” Turner fidgeted with his black bowtie. He was uncomfortable dressed up. “Maybe we should just ditch it and find somewhere else to go.”
“If we skip it altogether, your dad would be mad,” Arianna replied. “He’s just a proud father. Let him have his little happy moment.”
“But…” Turner complained.
“Come on,” she said, dragging Turner to the open door and car outside.
Turner fidgeted with the bowtie and cufflinks the whole ride to the banquet hall. Arianna tried to read his mood. He seemed to be a mixture of everything: excitement, fear, laziness, happiness, irritation, and shyness. Arianna wondered how one person could feel so much at one time. As the car door opened, Turner exited and helped Arianna from the car. With people arriving to the dinner alongside them, Turner became the model date. Arianna giggled at the sudden transformation.
“Hey, no giggling,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know you had it in you,” she replied, as they began to walk up the grand staircase and past all of the stares of the people milling around, waiting for her arrival. Arianna felt the wonder in the people.
“Is it really her?” a young lady asked her father.
“She’s so tiny,” an older lady commented to her gray-haired friend.
“It can’t be her, she doesn’t look sixteen,” a man said quietly to his wife.
“But she’s with the younger of Lord Winter’s sons,” his wife replied. “It must be her.”
Arianna felt Turner pull her closer. “I know you can hear everything being said. Ignore them. They all like to gossip too much.” Arianna nodded. No one knew how well she could hear, otherwise they’d all be quiet.
“Welcome,” Lord Winter called from across the room, as they entered, and he hurried towards them. “For a moment, I wondered if Turner was just going to whisk you away, especially after you didn’t return last night.”
Arianna poked Turner’s side, giving him an ‘I told you’ look. She could feel the genuine relief in Lord Winter’s voice that they actually arrived. Turner wasn’t just disobedient in school, obviously.
“Come this way, my dear.” Lord Winter took Arianna from Turner and led her to the large table on the platform in the front of the room. Lord Winter pulled out a seat and offered it to Arianna. “I’d like you to sit here, next to me. It’s such an honor to have you visit us. I want to learn more about you, and how you came to meet my son.” Arianna nodded as she sat down. Lord Winter remained standing as the guests around the room hurried to their seats. After everyone was seated, he greeted the crowd, and the wait staff began to bring out drinks and food.
Arianna felt a slight pain in the pit of her stomach as the servers began bringing drinks to the table. The overwhelming smell of blood easily caught her attention. They carefully placed glasses before specific guests. Watching each, she began to see that each guest with a glass of blood was a night human. As the waiter neared her, Arianna pondered how to decline without insulting Lord Winter. To her surprise, Turner stopped the waiter before she could say a word.
“Just water for Arianna,” Turner said, and the waiter quickly placed a glass of water in front of Arianna instead of the blood-filled glass. “She’s not to drink any blood unless it comes from Devin,” Turner explained to his confused father.
“How did you know that?” Arianna whispered.
“I got my orders from Devin yesterday on the train while you slept. Man, can he be strict,” Turner replied. Relieved, Arianna watched as the food began being served. As a raw piece of meat was placed before Turner, Arianna wrinkled her nose at him.
“You like blood, I like raw meat,” he replied, cutting a piece and holding it to her. “Want to try?”
“I don’t think so,” she responded, and he laughed. As she sat through dinner, she couldn’t help but periodically giggle between answering Lord Winter’s questions while Turner constantly added his piece to every answer or question. Even though he had been so serious the night before, no matter what her answer to his question, nothing would change. As the meal finished, and the tables moved, a small orchestra began to set up in the corner of the room. Arianna tried not to move, as she could feel the dull pain beginning in the pit of her stomach. How long would it take before she got sick?
“Are you feeling okay?” Turner asked quietly. With a strained smile, Arianna nodded her head yes.
“I’m just a little tired,” she lied, though Turner wasn’t about to believe her.
Turner crossed the room to Molina, who was standing watch over Arianna at the party. Devin was nowhere around. Arianna already knew that much, but his absence made her a bit sad. Arianna strained to listen to the conversation between Turner and Molina, but her increased hearing was slowly fading. She easily picked up the conversations of the people seated between her and Turner, but she couldn’t focus to his conversation.
> Arianna resolved to sit and watch his movements. His large hands gently messing with his hair as he talked. He’s upset about something, Arianna thought. He impatiently turned his face from Arianna so that she couldn’t see his expression as he continued to talk. Molina gave no clue to the discussion, as her own expression didn’t change. Turner finished talking and returned to Arianna’s side. All his worry was carefully hidden.
“How about I have the first dance with you, then?” Turner asked, as he offered her his hand.
“I dunno. Is it safe to dance with you?” she shot back.
“I guess you’ll just have to test your luck and see,” Turner grinned. “I think you lead. Right?”
Standing in the middle of the dance floor, Arianna heard the soft music begin. A bit self-conscious as everyone in the room stared at her with Turner. Arianna could feel her face flush. Turner gently placed his hand around her waist while taking her other hand in his. Pulling her close to him, he whispered in her ear.
“Since they are already staring, let’s give them a show.” Turner winked at Arianna as he stood back tall.
“Easy for you to say,” Arianna complained, as he began to lead her around the dance floor. “You grew up going to these parties.” Arianna followed his lead, happy to find he could actually dance as well as Devin. Arianna felt the pain return as she thought of Devin momentarily.
“I sent Molina to find him, but no one knows where he is,” Turner explained as the song finished, and he led her back to her seat.
“He wasn’t in town anymore, the last time I found him,” Arianna explained. “I’m fine. I just need to rest a little bit,” she tried to reassure the worried man beside her. Arianna patted his hand. “Really,” she added, and he gave a weak smile. Turner relaxed a little bit as he watched her carefully. To him, Arianna was the most important person in the world. Sitting helplessly and watching her in pain, was hard to do.
“Do you know everyone here?” Arianna asked, trying to change the subject, and relieve her mind from thinking about the growing pain.
“Unfortunately,” Turner replied, looking over the crowd. “When you grow up in a family like this, you’re often at these parties.” Two young boys weaved in an out of the dance floor. “You just kind of get used to it.” Turner nonchalantly put his arm on the back of Arianna’s chair. Arianna tried to ignore it as her heart beat faster.
Arianna studied Turner as he talked. She could see the distant look as he remembered his past. His gray eyes blurred over, not noticing her staring. Arianna easily compared Turner to Devin. He was much more open and outgoing. He never weighed the consequences of his actions, he just acted. The past few days, Arianna felt as though everything was so much more exciting in her new life. The more she learned about him, the more she was intrigued. How could he always be so happy when he had such a sad past? It didn’t take any extra ability to know he was very close to his mother. Arianna never knew her own parents, so she had no memories. It must be bittersweet, she thought, to have known your parents and then no longer have them beside you. Though he often broke rules, and tested everyone’s limits, Turner was a good man.
“Devin made things easier, being a kid in this world. That was us ten years ago,” he explained, pointing to the two boys. Turner sat calmly beside her as they continued to watch the people dance. Every so often, he would smile as the two boys played. Turner didn’t explain more, but just watched.
“Yes,” she said, leaning near Turner and whispering in his ear. Molina was right. No matter if Turner was her keeper or not, he was always trying to protect her, just like Devin. Stunned at the realization to what she was saying, Turner sat still. “The answer to your question last night is yes,” Arianna explained. “Sometime in the future,” she quickly added. “I want to get used to this world first before I make anyone into one officially.”
Turner smiled as he tipped his head onto her shoulder. “I didn’t think you would actually say yes.” Relived, he sat with his eyes closed, leaning on her shoulder.
“And what could you have done to make my son so happy?” Lord Winter asked, approaching Arianna and Turner. Arianna smiled as Turner’s smiled faded into hesitation.
“I told him I’d like him to become my custodian some day,” Arianna replied before Turner could stop her. Turner waited in silence for his father to become angry, but was surprised to find the man heartily laughing.
“I knew he was up to something when he begged to go to school. Everyone knew he didn’t need to go to any school,” Lord Winter wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. Even with her senses dulled, Arianna felt how proud Lord Winter was.
“You’re not disappointed?” Turner asked quietly. “You always said it was beneath our family.” Arianna hadn’t ever seen him be so quiet and reserved.
“Disappointed?” Lord Winter asked. “That you want to devote your life to this precious girl sitting beside you? I’d have thought you a fool if you didn’t want to, after meeting her. Contrary to what some people say, there’s nothing wrong in dedicating your life to someone, especially someone as significant as Miss Arianna. More importantly, I should wish Arianna good luck with you. I’ve put up with this child for seventeen years. You see all the white hairs I have? They are all due to him.” Arianna laughed at Lord Winters head of almost white hair.
“But he just keeps life interesting,” Arianna replied.
“Interesting? That’s a good way of putting it,” Lord Winter stood, scanning the crowd. Turner moved closer to Arianna as she cringed from the pain.
“We need to find Devin for you,” he said only to her. Lord Winter waved to Turner, and Turner hurried to him, his eyes darting around the room looking for Molina.
Lord Winter tapped his glass to get the attention of the crowd milling around the dance floor. Everyone turned to the head table and quieted down.
“I just wanted to give everyone the great news. My youngest son here, whom we have worried about for years over what he would do with his life, has finally decided to become a man and make a decision.” Turner’s cheeks reddened at his father’s words. “Turner had decided to become Miss Arianna’s custodian.” Cheers erupted from the crowd, and everyone happily yelled their congratulations. Turner was the youngest of the Winter children, and therefore, was not in line to follow his father in running the city. He was much stronger and cunning than his older brother, but tradition made it clear, his brother was the next in line to the position.
Surprised by the reaction of everyone attending the party, Turner joined his father in shaking hands and receiving congratulations from the people individually. As a new face appeared before him to tell his own story of how proud he was of Turner, Turner continued to steal glances at Arianna, who sat alone, distracted by the pain. Not waiting for Molina to return to Arianna’s side, Turner quickly moved to the head table only moments before her.
“We can’t find him,” Molina said. “He must have turned off all his electronics, and no one knows where he went. Lord Randolph said he should have returned by now from his assignment. We need to get you some blood soon.”
“But he said not to take any blood from anyone. He made me promise,” Arianna replied as her eyes began to haze over. Around her, people were beginning to smell enticing. “Can you take me back to my room?” Arianna asked, as Turner neared them. “It smells like blood everywhere.”
“Turner, we need to move her now,” Molina ordered. Molina could see Arianna was slowly changing, not by her own will. Any person in the room would gladly give their blood to Arianna, but Arianna didn’t want to attack anyone. “Is your uncle around?” Molina asked, as Turner helped Arianna stand.
“No, he left yesterday for some reason,” Arianna replied, taking Turner’s arm, trying not to show the pain she was feeling.
As they finally reached her room, Turner carefully placed her on the couch. Touching her face gently, he winced; it was hard to watch her in pain.
“She needs to feed,” Turner angrily told Mol
ina.
“We can’t go against Devin’s decision. His orders come from Lord Randolph,” Molina said. Arianna curled up in pain. “Right now, we need to wait. She still has enough blood for the time being. It would take hours, if not days, to die from lack of blood at this point.”
“But she’s in pain,” Turner replied. “We can’t just let her suffer like this.”
Arianna sat back up as she caught her breath in a low moment of pain. “It’s fine.” Turner sat down beside her.
“Take my blood,” he offered, pulling his bowtie off and exposing his neck.
“I can’t,” she replied, watching the vein in his neck throb.
“Part of being your custodian is that you can have my blood whenever you want,” Turner explained. “If you take even just a little, the pain will stop.” Arianna closed her eyes as the pain shot through her body. Opening them as it subsided again, she shook her head no. “Then how about this, take some blood so that you can find Devin. You said you can smell him no matter where he goes. Then, take a little, tell us where to find him, and I’ll personally drag his butt back here.” Arianna smiled slightly at Turner’s agitation.
“He does have a point,” Molina added, thinking over Turner’s plan. Molina knew that going against Devin’s word was as good as going against Lord Randolph, but if Arianna took the blood to locate Devin, he might overlook it this time.
“But I promised,” Arianna added, sulking that Molina was now agreeing with Turner. Turner gently picked up Arianna’s hand and placed it on his chest. Her sense of hearing was beginning to return to day human level, but the skin-to-skin contact brought the sound of Turner’s blood swishing through his veins loud into her ears.
“Take a little bit,” he begged. “Please.”