Chapter 10

Back in the castle, Lorna tended to Beth's head. She had a minor gash on it from when she had hit the sink.

"What happened?" she asked Elaina.

"Coraline, Coraline happened" Elaina replied darkly "she attacked you in the bathroom and when I was protecting you, someone, probably a brother was protecting her. Mani and Shinola arrived in time to save us"

Beth watched her friend pace up and down up and down and up and down. Eventually she pulled her down onto the sofa next to her.

"What's wrong?" she asked. Elaina blew out her breath in frustration.

"I had her Beth. By the neck in a vice grip. All I needed to do was pinch and she was gone. And I could see every bad thing she had done to Mick, the trouble she has caused you, the things she took from me and I wanted to do it so badly but I couldn't. I just couldn't" Elaina explained

"And then when we were leaving, she caught my eye. And there was this feeling, like an underlying tension between us. I'm just frustrated because I don't understand it" Elaina continued.

Beth nodded sympathetically but unsure. She did not know what to say or do as this was something she had never come across with Mick or Josef or even heard them speak of.

"Maybe you should go and talk to Josef about it?" Beth suggested.

"We've both already had enough stress on this trip. I don't want to give him anymore, not when things are going so well what with him finding the new director and all" Elaina sighed.

Beth sighed with her; she could certainly see Elaina's point. Touching her head she winced. "You should probably lie down for a while" Elaina advised.

After Beth had gone, Elaina grabbed her phone and called Lorenza.

***

Coraline sat with her brother in the hotel room, completely shocked. She ran through the last few hours again and again in her head and it always came back to the same conclusion.

She had seen Mick's sister. She had been with Beth. Elaina was a vampire.

But for that to be true Coraline thought it would have been at my hand. She remembered the feeling when their eyes had met, like a dormant bond or such, something had passed between them.

Coraline shook her head. Mick's sister is dead she told herself soundly I killed her myself...

Anything else was simply impossible.

***

Elaina waited for Lorenza to answer. "Hello?"

"Is this a good time to talk?" Elaina asked.

"For you sister always" Lorenza replied a smile catching her voice.

"I need to tell you a story. And if you could help shed light on it, it'd help" Elaina said.

"Alright?" Lorenza replied confused, her curiosity piqued at the same time.

Elaina explained to her the meeting of the day with Coralline, about the want to kill her but not being able to do it and the moment their eyes caught.

Lorenza listened carefully and quietly until Elaina finished and then spoke "sounds like a sire/fledgling bond to me"

The phone almost fell out of Elaina's hand "huh?!"

"You heard me. That underlying tension you described, sire/fledgling bond" Lorenza confirmed

"But Hueilen is my sire. She looked after me, trained and taught me Coraline was like a blood donor" Elaina protested.

"Our sire is still our sire, good, bad or indifferent" Lorenza soothed "the connection is always there"

"Great" said Elaina flopping back on the pillows of the couch.

"Elaina you can handle this with a bit of guidance. I know you don't want to go to Hueilen with this one but you at least need to clue someone with some experience in the matter in on things, try telling Josef. You'll probably find that now you're over the initial meeting you'll be a lot more yourself the next time you see her" Lorenza advised.

Elaina sighed "guess you right"

"Remember, even as your true sire, she has no claim on you because you're not a fledgling anymore. In the eyes of the council, you were raised by Hueilen and that is the family with which you reside. Focus on that if you have to see her again" Lorenza said.

Elaina sighed again and thanking her friend hung up. Grabbing her keys, she decided to head to town to meet Josef.

***

"Sister" Henri tried gently. Coraline looked up from where she had been resting on the bed.

"The vampire we saw today...who protected the blonde haired girl...did you know her?" he asked hesitantly.

Coraline sighed "she looked so much like Mick's sister. But she is long dead so it can't be her"

"How can you be sure?" Henri asked puzzled.

"Because I killed her, drained her with my own two fangs" Coraline replied, running her tongue over her teeth.

"You're sure?" Henri questioned "I only asked because I saw the look that passed between the two of you...it was well, more than just a look"

Coraline paused, realising Henri had felt it too. Henri noted her pause and continued to speak "if it was Mick's sister she'd be yours right?"

Coraline nodded.

"And you have sworn to our sire to have only sired one, Mick without permission?" Henri continued.

Coraline nodded again and her eyes grew wide at the realisation. If she had sired again, their sire would not be pleased, and if he thought that she had lied, there would be consequences to pay. She grabbed Henri's arm "he'll de-fang me!"

Henri caught the shaking frame of his sister in his arms and rocked her, trying to soothe her. "You will not lose your fangs sister. I will look into this matter and see if there are any messes which need clearing up. Our sire need never know what happened"

Coraline lay down, sniffing. Leon brought her some blood which she gulped back. After she had fed, Henri left giving orders to Leon to look after her. He had some digging to do.

***

Elaina strolled into Josef's office. She found the new managing director and the board there. Josef was just finishing outlining the targets he wanted met in the next year to them. Failure he claimed was not an option.

As the meeting closed, Elaina stepped forward and kissed him "aren't you the big boss man?"

He smiled "i have to keep them on their toes. How was fashion week?"

"Interesting" replied Elaina neutrally "I have good news and bad news about it"

"What's the good?" Josef asked, running his hands up and down her arms. He could feel some underlying tension in the muscles there.

"Mychael Knight wants to collaborate with me in LA" Elaina said her eyes lighting up at the memory.

"Isn't he that designer you really like the work of?" Josef recalled "that's great, you're collection will be boosted sky high with his expertise"

Elaina nodded again "fashion week has really opened my eyes to lots of things. I have enough ideas for two collections I think"

Josef smiled than grew serious "so what is the bad news?"

Elaina darkened and looked at him sadly "Coraline"

Josef took her hand and led her to the couch "tell me what happened"

Elaina launched into the story from the start. She explained being unable to finish Coraline, the arrival of the man to protect her and the tension she had felt when their eyes met.

Josef looked thoughtful for a second and then replied "my guess is you met Henri, the youngest brother. If you had met him under any other circumstances, you would really like him I think. I guess the asshole gene ran out before they got to him."

Elaina nodded "and the other stuff?"

Josef blew out a breath "Lorenza's right, the tension you described is an unused sire/fledgling bond. It'll always exist but you're probably too old now for it to be able to come into play and control you. You'll probably just never be able to kill her"

"Well that just spoils all my fun" Elaina snorted sarcastically.

"The one thing we'll need to watch for is if the family is informed of your existence, and what they decide to do. Hopefully they'll decide to watch you from a far and leave you to live your immortal life" Josef said

Snuggling into his arms, Elaina secured her head in the crook under his chin. She didn't' like the ring of the situation and it worried her that Josef didn't either. For now though, all they could do was wait and see.

***

Henri arrived at Edward's town house to find the elder just returning home. Edward was very surprised to see him.

"Goodness, Lord Henri, old boy! What are you doing here? It certainly is a star studded week in my little city!" Edward said, ushering him inside.

"What do you mean?" Henri inquired.

"Why the guardian and elder from LA are here! You'll remember Josef the elder I presume. From the house of Kamf, went by Aleixandre while he lived over here" Edward explained pouring some blood into glasses.

"I do remember him vaguely" Henri continued pleasantly "you do have a lot going on"

"Yes" nodded Edward with a dramatic sigh "we're to have a ball for them tomorrow night. You and all travelling with you must attend" Henri nodded his acceptance.

"So what can I do for you?" Edward asked settling back on the cushions and twirling his moustache.

"Well its actually about the LA guardian. You see, we had a bit of an argument due to my sister at fashion week. Two of your guardians stepped in and ran interference but I feel I need to apologise to her directly. She had seemed upset on leaving and being a gentleman of good manners I do not wish to leave her with ill feeling towards me" Henri explained solemnly. He was laying it on thick to get the information he needed out of the elder.

Edward believing Henri nodded gravely "such good manners young Henri. Kostan can probably point you in her direction. I'll give you his business address."

"Thank you sir" Henri said as Edward scribbled the address down "in all the confusion I missed her name. Do you know it?"

"Why yes" replied Edward, feeling important "its Elaina. Elaina St john"