Samantha Young: Blood Past

She suddenly wished she’d had time to change into a clean shirt or something.

“Good.” Cyrus nodded, satisfied he had put the fear of the gods into them. “Now on to the pleasantries. I am pleased to meet all of you and I thank you for graciously opening your homes to us, and for giving us your time. This,” he turned now to Eden, “is my daughter, Eden MacDouglas. As you are aware, Eden is here to become Ankh, and to seek aid from her mother’s mortal family. We thank you in advance for that aid.” He looked beyond Eden now. “With me is Valeria of Corsica-Well that’s a new one, Eden gave her a bemused questioning smile that Valeria returned with a wink. Suddenly Eden wondered what Cyrus was? Cyrus of…

“Who, I’m sure you know, is of The Circle, and Noah Valois, Alain Valois’ son and Eden’s escort.”

What?? Noah was her what? She scowled at him and he winked at her too. I’m gonna punch you, Valois . She tried to telepath the threat, and he seemed to get it because his mouth widened into a mischievous grin.

McLeish strode past them to stand before the group. “Princeps, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Carol, and my two sons, James and Ryan.” Eden tried not to flinch at the name. Instead she watched as Cyrus graciously shook the hands of McLeish’s short but strong-looking wife and their two teenage sons. As Eden’s eyes wandered, she felt the potent strength of this collective. They were all athletic-looking, capable, their eyes intelligent, from young to old. “This is my sister, Mary.” McLeish pulled an attractive looking woman forward from the group, as well as a young man perhaps a little older than Eden. “And my nephew, Cameron.” Mary smiled brightly at Cyrus, blushing a little as she took his hand. Eden smirked. Since she saw him as a father figure she tended to see Cyrus’ attractiveness as a fact rather than an affect. The Neith woman did not. To Eden’s surprise, Mary also reached for Eden’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Eden,” she greeted her, all friendly and smiles. Bemused, Eden shook her hand.

Taking his mother’s cue, Cameron first shook Cyrus’ hand and then smiled warmly at Eden, taking her hand rather than waiting for her to extend it. He grinned down at her. “Nice to meet you, Eden.”

His lilting accent made her smile. “And you.”

“Uncle Neil tells me you’ll be training here. I’d be happy to assist.” His grin turned wicked and his green eyes sparkled playfully.

Eden laughed inwardly, grateful to this boy, whose flirtatiousness made her feel less of a freak.

“I’d like that.”

Cyrus nodded approvingly at Mary and Cameron as they backed away after greeting Val and Noah, pleased with their more than friendly response, especially in contrast to the Councilman’s. Neil frowned at his sister, who shot him a look. Eden decided right there and then that she liked Mary immensely. There was something defiant in her body language when faced with her big brother that appealed to Eden.

Clearing his throat, McLeish introduced more of his family, cousins and two men from his council he considered brothers: John MacDonald and Richard Liddle. Both men appraised Eden in the exact same manner McLeish had. Their obvious contention was making Eden more than a little uneasy. As if sensing it, a throb of energy hummed out into the room from Cyrus’ direction and the group grew more hushed and reverent. Liddle dropped his gaze, the gaze that had been boring into Eden with suspicion. Understanding dawned on the group and from then on their greetings were warmer, like Mary’s and Cameron’s.

And then finally… what Eden had been waiting for.

She was introduced to Merrit’s bloodline. As a group, it was a small one. Only four of them remaining.

Before McLeish could do the introductions, a broad-shouldered dark-haired man of average height strode forward to grasp Cyrus’ hand. He looked somewhere in his forties and had a strong face and body; his eyes were sharp and intelligent, and there was an aura of safety and calm about him.

“Princeps, it is an honour to meet you. I’m Christopher Douglas, and we’re pleased to be of any help that we can be with your daughter’s situation.”

She knew by the relaxing of Cyrus’ body that her guardian liked this man immediately. Eden understood. Call it intuition but there was something innately honourable about him.

Why couldn’t he have been the damn Councilman?

“Miss MacDouglas.” Christopher was reaching a hand out to her now. “‘Tis a pleasure.”

“Good to meet you, too.” And for once she actually meant it.

Once he was done shaking Val and Noah’s hand, Christopher turned and gestured to a willowy woman with blonde hair. “This is my wife, Alison.”

Alison was very pretty with golden blonde hair and wide amber eyes. She shook all of their hands, smiling brightly the whole time. Like Christopher, Eden found her presence very soothing.

“And this is our daughter, October,” Christopher said softly, nudging a teenage girl forward.

October had her father’s colouring. In fact… she looked a little like Eden with her midnight hair and tip-tilted eyes. When she grinned, it was a sharp smile with attitude and confidence.

When she grinned she and Eden looked like family. There was no questioning it.

October blushed when Cyrus shook her hand and it diminished her bravado a little. However, it came back in full force as soon as she turned in Eden’s direction. October walked over to her, eyeing her, a pleased quirk on her lips. Unlike Eden, October’s hair was cut sleek and short to suit her delicate features. She was dressed in tight black jeans with a neon pink belt and neon pink Converse.

Her tight black t-shirt had the words ‘ Born This Way’ scrawled across the chest. Eden smirked back at October as she drew to a stop in front of her. They were almost the same height.

“Hi.” October nodded casually, appraising Eden. “I like your shirt. Didn’t know they were big in the US.”

Eden glanced down at it. It was the Biffy Clyro shirt she’d bought off eBay. “Uh, well they are with me.”

The girl nodded again. “Cool. You like The Kooks ?”

“Never listened to ‘em.”

“Oh, well I’ve got their albums. You should have a listen.”

“Sure, I’ll check them out.”

“Cool. You’re sharing my room anyway, so… cool.”

“Cool.”

Christopher cleared his throat, “I think we’ve established that everything is cool. October, let your nana meet Eden.”

October stood back and Eden turned as an older Neith stepped forward. She held herself regally, her hand clasped around an elegant cane. Her white hair was cut fashionably short, and her ocean-coloured eyes were amazingly bright and alert. Eden knew who this was. This was Mhairi Douglas — not Mary like Eden had thought when she saw her name written down on Cyrus’ notes. It was pronounced Vari — the Celts really liked to complicate life when it came to spelling and pronunciation. Mhairi was the eldest living member of the Douglas’ and the one who would be donating her blood to Eden’s cause. Unbelievably, Eden had been informed that Mhairi was eighty-eight years old. She didn’t look a day over sixty. But her age explained the cane. Neith were very resilient and healthful people. You had to be hitting the really elderly age bracket to be walking with a cane.

“Well let’s have a look at you.” Mhairi peered at her, those incredibly lively eyes running the length of her. She huffed as if disbelieving and turned to Cyrus. “You’re right, Princeps. This has to be one o’ mine. The hair, the skin, the shape o’ the eyes. Definitely one o’ mine. The surname fits.

Do you know I rather envy you it. Our family dropped the prefix Mac a few centuries ago when one o’ my great-great grandfathers married a Sassenach and she convinced him Douglas was more civilised sounding than MacDouglas. ”