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He smiled in that slow way again that made her think that maybe he really could read her mind.

  She found her voice finally and asked, “I'm looking for the Dining Hall, could you point me in the right direction, please?”

  Moving quickly, he stepped up beside her causing her to turn, caught her arm and looped it inside of his.

  “It would be my honor to escort you there.” Oh, damn. That is one sexy voice he has there. What is that accent? He smiled at her again. He obviously knew the effect he was having on her. “This way.”

  She used the short time between the middle of the foyer and the door to the Dining Hall to assess whether he was using any sort of magic on her, to make her feel the warm and fuzzies toward him. She couldn't discern anything of the sort so then went on to feel embarrassed that she was so easily attracted to this stranger. Amazingly sexy stranger, she amended.

  Just before the door he stopped her and placing his hand on her shoulder, turned her towards him.

  “I'm no magician or witch or whatever name you put on it, so I could never use magic on you. However, what I am is something different entirely. Something that has a range of senses that humans could never understand, nor relate to. I cannot normally pick up on thoughts without prior, well, connection. But I can sense other things, rise in body heat, relaxation in posture, openness in body signals, increase in heart rate. And for some reason you are an easy read for me. I will have to meditate on that.”

  Before Rodelle could even think of a reply or demand to know just exactly WHAT he is, he turned back to the door and opened it, ushering her though.

  The smell of fresh baked bread and things more savory hit her nostrils like a brick, and she almost drooled. She looked back to see if the man was going to come in with her, but he had disappeared completely. Trying very hard not to be totally unnerved, she looked around the room and spotted a couple of people here and there. But it was a very large room littered with a lot of round tables and though the people looked up at her in curiosity, they quickly went back to their food or conversations.

  Just when she was completely lost as how to find the food she smelled, an older woman with long curly chestnut hair and sun darkened skin stood up and waved to her, beckoning Rodelle to come over to her table. There were two others at that table, both men. One with wide brown eyes, spiky hair and a perpetual scowl, and the other she couldn't see because his back was turned to her.

  As she came over to the table and the empty chair awaiting her, she was able to see the face of the guy who had whisked her away out of the woods the night before.

  “Oh! It's you! I was wondering if I would see you here. I wanted to thank you and I never even caught your name.” Rodelle bit her lower lip to stop herself from nervously rambling on and looked around the table.

  The man who had saved her smiled and gestured toward the empty chair between himself and the woman.

  “I never did offer my name. The situation demanded resolution rather than introductions. But now that we are comfortable and making acquaintances; my name is Alarin. The lady is Mistress Morgain, and the fella on her left is Dirk. Now please sit and join us, you must be famished.” Alarin finished his round of introductions and waved towards the back of the room.

  Almost immediately a small young man came from the back, through a swinging door Rodelle had not noticed before.

  “You all need refills or maybe some dessert?” He asked as he came over. “Oh, hey there, a new face! Would you like something to eat darlin'?”

  “Um, yes, I would love something to eat. Whatever is cooking back there smells delicious.” Rodelle replied.

  “It always smells delicious in here! Helena, that's our resident cook you see, she sure is magical in the kitchen if you know what I mean.” He winked at Rodelle and she just blinked back at him, not knowing what to say.

  “Oscar, Rodelle here just joined us in the House, and quite suddenly. She hasn’t had a chance to get to know how the place, and the people, work.” Morgain spoke up with a startlingly deep voice.

  “Well then, my apologies. I'll just grab you something good. You a vegan at all?” Oscar asked her, scrutinizing her with a lopsided brow.

  “Oh, um, no. But I don't mind eating vegetarian if that's what you have.”

  “Girl, I have great food back there. And I also have vegan. I'll get you something great.” Oscar winked at her again and whisked away back to the kitchen.

  “That was Oscar. We usually have all the folks in the House switch duties every week, but he loves the kitchen and I think Helena would be lost without him in there. He's a witch, like you.” Morgain stated matter-of-factually.

  “He's a ...you already know what I am?” Rodelle was a bit surprised. But she shouldn't have been, she could tell the woman next to her was also a witch. A very powerful one.

  “Of course, I can tell. I'm quite good at these things, I'll have you know. And Alarin did tell me all about your arrival, and how he came to find you.” Morgain placed her hand over Rodelle's. “I am gravely sorry for your friend. She was a good person and one we hoped to bring into the House as well. We weren't quick enough to save you both, and I will forever carry that in my heart.” Morgain's eyes were large and brown and full of sorrow and compassion.

  Rodelle blinked, but a couple of tears escaped anyway. She pulled her hand free to grab a napkin and dab at her eyes.

  “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means. I wish she was here.” Rodelle put down the napkin, just as Oscar bustled over to the table with a large platter in his hands.

  “Here ya go darlin'. It's a thick stew with venison and veggies, and a large chunk of French bread and butter. I brought you both milk and water. I wasn't sure which you'd want.” He set down the platter which held the bowl of stew and a piece of bread that took up half the platter.

  “Oh, I'm not sure I can eat this much.” She said as her stomach growled.

  “Well, eat what you can. We'll compost the rest. Enjoy!”

  Chapter 2

  As Rodelle ate, the conversation at the table was mainly between the three other folks sitting with her. They spoke mostly of House business, keeping the conversation light and casual at first.

  “Well Helena spoke of our meat supplies getting low when I checked in with her last night. We should think of taking the pups hunting this time. Have a couple of the older wolves teach them. I can have Luna escort them.” Dirk was saying.

  “You have wolves? Do you breed them?” Rodelle asked him.

  Morgain chuckled while Dirk continued to look serious.

  “She truly doesn't know? Alarin did you not tell her anything of our House?” Dirk demanded.

  “She had enough to deal with last night, and since she just awoke a short time ago I do not believe anyone has had the chance to speak with her about it.” Alarin replied.

  “Well since you two are just going to avoid it, I will tell her.” Morgain said. “Rodelle, of course you have noticed that there is something different about the people in this house. You can tell those of us who are witches, right?

  “Yes, I can tell with a certainty those who are. But some others are different, and I can't quite figure out how.” Rodelle replied, glancing over at Dirk.

  “Well you see, Hartman House was designed to hold all manner of magical and mystical person or creature. For safekeeping, and protection from the outside world. Hunters have been tracking down our kinds for centuries and the Hartman's have always made it their job to get in their way. The last generations of the Hartman's built this house, and with the help of several witches spelled it to contain the magical creatures they protected for so long. Rendering them practically invisible to the outside world.” Explained Morgain.

  “So then, what exactly are we talking about? Do you mean like, werewolves? Is that what Dirk meant?”

  “It is, indeed, what Dirk meant, and what Dirk is. Werewolves are very serious creatures, but they have spent their entire history being openly hunted. Which has resulted in the n
umbers of living wolves being extremely low.” Morgain said.

  “Yes, they are low. Which is why we should prioritize our searches on my kind for a while.” Dirk stated.

  Alarin sighed. “Yes, we still have to discuss that. Later.” He turned to Rodelle. “My dear, wolves aren't the only other creatures that reside in this old house. What did you think of Dreven when you met him earlier?”

  “I'm sorry, who is Dreven?”

  “Dreven is that devilishly handsome young fellow who escorted you to the dining hall.” Morgain smiled at her.

  “The one with bad manners, since he didn't seem to be able to introduce himself to you. I will have to speak with him about that.” Alarin added.

  Rodelle blushed fiercely. She couldn't help herself. Dreven... what a naughty sounding name. Catching her thoughts, she cleared her throat. “Um, well, he was very nice to escort me here. He was intense, though. Dark aura. He said I was an easy read. Yeah... he's intense.”

  Alarin stared at her thoughtfully. “Yes, he is intense. I guess it comes from his being from much, much different times than ours. But his story is his to tell. I am interested though, he said you were an easy read for him?”

  “Yeah, he did. Said he had no idea why and was going to meditate on it.”

  “Well, that is certainly a bold statement.” Alarin continued to look over her face, like he was trying to find something there.

  “Well Dreven is not a werewolf. Now that I am seeing Dirk's aura, it doesn't even begin to compare. Dirk has a natural, wild but earthy feel to his aura. Like the girl who brought me towels earlier. Dreven's seemed... well almost like negative space. Like if you weren't careful you would get sucked in. Kind of how it felt when I met you last night.” Rodelle stated to Alarin.

  “You can feel auras?” Morgain exclaimed, eyebrows raised.

  “I have never heard it put that way before, but it makes complete sense.” Alarin spoke over Morgain. “You see Dreven isn't really alive, so you wouldn't get the same kind of um, feel, to his aura as you would other beings. He also isn't very careful at masking his nature. Like I am. But you would have been able to feel it when I rescued you last night. But anyway, you see, Dreven is a vampire. As am I. But he is still very young, as far as experience goes, and very double natured.”

  “Oh wow.” Rodelle had no idea what to say. This was beyond anything she had ever even thought of before. Running from small town to small town, living in forests and caves, she hadn't much experience outside of her own kind. It was like she was just dropped into the middle of some fantasy story.

  “Vampires have a bad stigma. Most think of them, us, as inherently evil. Most of us are just hungry. Unfortunately, it's that very nature that gives us the bad reputation, because it is so very hard for some to control the hunger. But before you go putting an iron collar around your neck at night, please understand that the spells over this house keep the hunger abated in my kind. And there is a residual effect when we leave the house as well, keeping us from feeling the hunger for many days. So, do not fear us for that. But do understand that just like you witches, and like the werewolves, we are very powerful. And all of us are minimal in numbers. Which is why we reach out to bring others like us here, for protection not only from Hunters but from themselves.” Alarin stated.

  “I see. I take it there is a lot to this spell, then? It must have been meticulously crafted. I've never had the chance to craft such a powerful thing.” Rodelle was becoming very curious about the magic over the House. More curious than she was about the thought of bloodsucking vamps or wolves running the halls.

  “There was no record laid down of the spell that was cast. It was a secret that was taken to the grave.” Morgain pointed out.

  “Is there a Nexus point where the spell was cast?” Rodelle asked her.

  “I do not know. I imagine there would have to be. But again, with no record of the spell it would be hard to figure out. And I've always been too busy to look for it.” Morgain pushed her chair back and stood up. “I hate to leave you now dear, but we will have many more opportunities to speak, and soon. We are tracking a few potential rescues and we need to go meet with the Search team and formulate our mission plan. Several of the witches do a meditation in the back gardens around now, if you would like to join them.” Morgain bowed her head to Rodelle and then walked gracefully out of the room. Dirk grunted in her direction and followed Morgain out the door.

  Alarin stood and looked her over once more. “Do please be careful here. Even though you are like others in this House, there is still a danger in a place with so many powerful beings all together. And be careful around Dreven. His recognition of your soul may prove dangerous for him.” Alarin held her eyes for a moment, then turned and swept out of the room.

  Recognition of her soul? What does that even mean? At that moment Oscar bustled out of the kitchen door, grabbed up her empty tray, winked at her, and walked off. With nothing in front of her at the table, she felt ridiculous just sitting there. So, she stood up, brushed down her skirt, and left the dining hall.

  Chapter 3

  Dreven stayed in the foyer after he escorted the mesmerizing young lady to the dining hall. He now stood back across the room, in the shadows of the stairway where he wouldn't be seen. But he had a good view of the dining hall door.

  His vigilance was finally rewarded with the woman coming through the door, then standing and looking about the room after the door swung shut. She didn't seem to know where to go but was obviously trying to get somewhere specific.

  He thought maybe he should go help her to find her way but didn't want to just keep showing up. He had been told that was creepy. He thought it was being helpful, but times had changed much since his last actual life.

  In the short several seconds that she stood there, Dreven studied her intently. She had high cheekbones, with full cheeks. Her eyes were wide and very vibrant, a brown that seemed liquid somehow. Like her moods were changing their color constantly, but subtly. The dark circles under her eyes gave them a haunted quality, like she had been through something traumatic. She was taller than the women from his original time, and he found that very attractive. Along with the power and strength she exuded but didn't seem to know she had.

  Like it was still hidden from her, waiting to be fully discovered.

  She was a complete mystery to Dreven. Yet she felt as familiar as his own skin. It was quite perplexing and somewhat intoxicating, and the reason why he had stayed to wait for her to emerge.

  Making up her mind she turned to her left and made her way to the back of the house, towards the back gardens. There were a group of magic users who meditated in the gardens in the afternoon. She must be looking to join them.

  Dreven was almost tempted to follow her out there, but sunlight still made him nervous after so many years buried alive. Well not technically alive, as he was undead, but after spending over five hundred years in a tomb he was quite used to the dark.

  One of the unique qualities to the spell over the Hartman House was that all the vampires within the grounds of the house could walk outside in the daylight, so long as they didn't cross the borders of the property. He had ventured out quite often in the late day to watch the sunsets. But bright daylight still made him skittish.

  Skittish for Dreven was not good. He still fought down the urge to backhand those folks who spoke out of line, which was often in this day and age. In his former life he was personal guard to an emperor and had the freedom to immediately punish outspoken and unruly guests in the emperor’s home and homeland.

  He battled with his darker side every day.

  He was the oldest vampire in the Hartman House and could very well be the strongest if he could master his emotions and urges. He heard it quite often from Alarin, who was constant in his preaching of self-control and strength. Which is how he came to be placed on the Search team as well, to practice these things.

  He was quite good at the tracking and searching, not as good at the rescue p
ortion. His lack of people skills he supposed. Newer vampires didn't connect with him well, he was too aloof and generally uncaring of their fates to want to help them. Which is why Alarin or Morgain usually accompanied him.

  Dreven couldn't help but to think that this new young lady would be good at rescuing others of her kind. She was very captivating.

  Or maybe it was just him that thought that.

  And he found the fact that he cared at all very interesting.

  A small boy had entered the foyer and was looking about, trying to find something or someone. Dreven knew the boy and knew that Alarin and Dirk liked to use the young one's energy in running errands and messages. Since the Leaders were in their meeting now the boy was most likely looking for him. He stepped out of the shadows and made his way towards the boy.

  The boy let out a dog-like yelp at seeing Dreven appear so suddenly. “Sir, you scared me! That's not nice. Master Dirk and Master Alarin are looking for you. Want you to join them in their office.”

  The boy scampered off quickly, his message delivered. Dreven followed the young wolf boy’s scent toward the large outer office where the Leaders and Search team met to plan their searches and strategies.

  He could hear Dirk long before he got to the office door. That was normal. The man was short worded but very loud when he had his mind set on something.

  “I'm not saying that the Hampton wolf village isn't a priority, Dirk. I'm simply stating that our current Search and Rescue teams aren't large enough to pull it off completely. We simply wouldn't be able to get them all out of there at the same time.” Morgain was explaining in her patient voice as Dreven walked in.

  “Even if we bring our current trainees we will only be able to grab about three quarters of the population. Some would be left behind.” Alarin voiced.

  “So, we just wait?!” Dirk demanded.

  “Either that or initiate some contact with them now and see if anyone is willing to stay behind until we can come back.” Alarin countered.