Whaling City Vampires: Love Beyond Death by Alison Fish

  Chapter 37

  Ruthie was the first to rise that evening. Instead of her usual bible study after the candles were lit, she immediately carried one of the candles out into the open church cellar where the two guards were posted per Robert's orders. They both turned to make certain that Ruthie wasn't an intruder or a potential danger to their master. When they recognized Ruthie as a non-threatening presence they returned their attention back to guarding the two entrances into the cellar.

  Ruthie situated herself directly in front of Michael and stared sadly into his strange emotionless eyes that had once looked so lovingly and longingly into her own.

  "You'll be free again soon, Michael," Ruthie reassured him. "Strange that I could have made you evil like me or made you my guard but I wanted you to be free, but somebody else took your freedom away anyway."

  Michael barely acknowledged Ruthie as he kept watch to protect Robert. After a few more seconds of looking into his vacant eyes, Ruthie sighed and returned to the lair to wait for the others to rise.

  Joyous laughter preceded Amy and Robert as the lid opened and the two vampire lovers rose from Robert's coffin. Ruthie looked up from her bible as Amy and Robert joined her at the table. Robert, standing behind Amy, picked up her hairbrush and began to carefully caress and brush her long hair.

  "Oh, my darling, how I've dreamt of finding you again and touching your hair the way I used to do," Robert murmured as he bent to kiss the top of Amy's head.

  "She kept it the way you like faithfully every day," Ruthie smiled.

  "That's right, Robert," Amy added, "Ruthie would help me make certain it was just so."

  "Ah," Robert replied, "Ruthie's been a very good friend in my enforced absence."

  "My best friend," Amy smiled lovingly at Ruthie who returned the smile.

  "Perhaps, my dear," Robert pulled Amy's hair up the way he preferred, "you'll tell me just how you and Ruthie and Susie met and became such good friends. I was so worried imagining you here all alone. I'm so glad you weren't."

  "Oh!" Amy exclaimed, "how silly of me! Of course, Robert. With all the excitement over Reverend Williams and your returning to me, I completely forgot that you know nothing of what I endured and the friends I acquired after your horrible disappearance."

  By the time Amy and Ruthie filled Robert in on everything that transpired while he was away, Susie had risen for the evening. They left nothing out including the violent aggressive acts committed by Susie and Susie's discovery of flight.

  "I was very surprised to find you had mastered our ability to fly without having been shown," Robert said.

  "Why did you withhold that from Amy?" Susie asked accusingly, "and what other powers are you keeping from her?"

  "My, you are a bold one, aren't you?" Robert asked, "Amy has filled me in on your adventures, but I had hoped she exaggerated. Now, I fear, she has not."

  "I'm stronger than any man on earth," Susie replied defensively, "I'm more powerful than any man on earth. Why shouldn't I be bold and make full use of my powers?"

  "Because it's very dangerous," Robert sternly replied, "if anyone became aware of your extraordinary powers he would know at once what you are and would seek to destroy you. You mustn't do anything that might allow anyone to discover what you are. It would mean death for us all."

  "Yes, yes," Susie said impatiently, "so I've been told many times. Even though we are supremely powerful we must hide in cellars and attics always in fear of being discovered."

  "That is true," Robert said, "this is simply the way it is."

  Ruthie took advantage of the pause in the conversation to raise her subject, "Will you free Michael now?"

  Susie's attitude changed from one of exasperation and frustration to anticipation when Ruthie asked the question. Both Susie and Ruthie looked hopefully toward Robert.

  "Yes, of course," he replied, "but we must leave the lair first. We can't anticipate his reaction and we don't want him guessing what we are and knowing where we sleep."

  "What do you mean by his reaction?" Ruthie asked, "you said last night that he won't have any memory of being your guard."

  "No, but we don't want him being released in the lair and have him guess what we are."

  "Where shall we go?" Amy asked.

  Susie smirked at Amy, "Now you can have Robert do all your thinking for you again and make all the decisions."

  Amy, not comprehending Susie's sarcasm replied with a smile, "Isn't it wonderful!"

  Robert smiled and patted Amy's hand, "We will take him to the wharves where it will be familiar ground for him from what Ruthie says. Once Michael is released, we will feed and then make plans to remove ourselves from New London. We must be gone from here when my brother Raul arrives."