Barb Hendee - Blood Memories

Philip dropped to the ground. "I'll race you."

"No, if you really want to go that far, we should saddle the horses."

"All right, but my horse is faster than yours."

Wrestling match forgotten, they were soon flying through the icy air down the road toward Harfleur proper. Angelo's winter home stood four miles away from the city, giving him easy access without being too close. The muscles of Philip's horse felt solid yet fluid beneath his knees. He liked his bay mare, Kayli. The trip from Gascony would have been lonely without her. He didn't function well without company.

"Slow down," John called.

Reining Kayli down to a walk, Philip swiveled his head back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's still early and a crisp night. I thought we might talk awhile."

"Talk?"

Their horses fell into step along the snow-packed road. "I was just watching you ride," John said. "Strange how you remember things like riding and where to grow the best grapes, how to speak both French and English, yet you don't recall anything of your mortal life."

Philip shifted in his saddle, bored already. "That's old hat."

"You couldn't even speak at first, not at all. Frightened Angelo pale. You were like a newborn babe. Did you know I met you once, before he turned you?"

"You did?" Philip was suddenly interested. "What was I like?"

"Different than you are now. Almost timid. The idea of filling your father's shoes as marquis seemed a death sentence. When Angelo offered you a way out, you jumped on it."

"Angelo asked me?"

"Of course he did. It was Julian's idea. Angelo wanted three sons, you know."

Philip did know. In fact, he knew more than his brothers suspected. Not that they would have minded; they simply viewed him as mentally deficient. John had been turned in 1801, Julian in 1818, both emerging into the undead world exactly as Angelo wanted them.

But Philip woke up in darkness, unable to communicate, yet terrified to be alone for fear that without someone else in the room to prove his existence, he might disappear. Then Angelo showed him how to hunt, and he found purpose. Language came back to him slowly, and the memory of a face, ivory with brown eyes and chocolate hair.

"Why did you turn Edward?" Philip asked suddenly.

"To see if I could," John answered. "And because he's the right type."

"Did Angelo mind?"

"No."

"Then why was he so angry when I turned Maggie?"

"Because you were too young and incapable of teaching her. And you might have damaged yourself. You aren't like the rest of us, you know." John's broad face clouded slightly. "Promise not to laugh if I tell you something?"

"I'd never laugh, just kick you in the face."

"No… listen. I've been having dreams lately."

"Dreams? Have you told Angelo?"

"No, but they might not be dreams, more like premonitions. Something dark hides on the edge of my vision. I can almost see it, but not quite."

The switch in topics disturbed Philip. John shouldn't be discussing this with him. He knew nothing of dreams or visions. And anyway, this psychic nonsense bored him beyond words. They ought to race again.

"Something is coming," John said with his eyes fixed on empty space. "I don't know what, and I can't stop it. But it is coming."

Too much. Philip kneed Kayli into motion. She leapt forward, kicking up small clods of loose snow. A second later, he heard John coming up behind, and he smiled into the wind.

At the Wayside Inn, Philip reveled in the scent of pipe smoke along with the pleasant aroma of warmth and life. A human smorgasbord to choose from. After they had stabled their horses, John's dark mood passed away, leaving his usual good-natured self in its wake.

Indoor hunting was best for winter nights. Inns like the Wayside teemed with customers who sought out company, wine, and hot food. Round barmaids with reddened cheeks maneuvered trays of cups and tin plates among sweat-scented bodies and laughing faces.

"This is a fine tavern," John commented. "See the woodwork on that door?" He leaned back in contentment. "I like the scents and the wine and the way everyone tolerates each other because there's nowhere else to go in this weather."

Philip nodded. "Good hunting."

"Oh, will you look around?" John said. "Listen with your mind. Most of these people haven't two francs to their name, and everyone's still excited about Christmas."

"What is that?"

"You don't remember?"

"No."

"It's a celebration, a religious holiday. Perhaps your family didn't practice such things. I wouldn't be surprised. Your father is the coldest man I've ever met."

"My father?"

"He's a bastard. I saw your shoulder once. Those burns. You panicked a few nights after being turned. I tried to hold you down and your shirt ripped. Angelo thinks you're such a mystery, but I told him to use his mind. You don't remember anything because it's too black."

"Do you think I care? None of that matters. Let us hunt now. We have forever to talk."

"Can you feel anything? Anything at all?"

The din around them grew louder. Philip leaned forward. "I feel like hunting."

A bit of light left John's eyes. He nodded with a sad smile. "Of course. Who have you picked out this time?"

"Those two whores by the bar. See them? I want the one in the green dress. She's been staring at me."

"How strange," John whispered in a cynical tone, "that she should be staring at you. I've often wondered how someone with your face can think only of blood."

"What would you do if you had my face?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Well, for one, I wouldn't have joined with Angelo. I'd have lived on as a mortal searching the world for that one perfect love, who adored me for myself, yet thought herself lucky that my soul and mind were housed in such a form."

"Sickening. You would not."

"Oh, yes, I would."

"I'm sorry I asked you."

Philip used his beauty at every opportunity, and then despised those who succumbed to it. Fools. If women were taken in by long, red-brown hair, a tall form, and ivory skin, that was their weakness-part of the game.

"Here they come," he said.

The woman in green looked about twenty-four, with dull brown hair and too much rouge. Her companion was a dark blonde in cheap blue velvet. Philip knew a lot about prostitutes. Many of them were alcoholics. Most of them had several children they couldn't afford to feed, and nearly all of them hated men no matter how much they smiled. He liked them because they were easy to draw off alone.

"Buy us a drink?" the blonde asked.

"Depends," John answered. "How much will it cost me?"

"No need to worry about that yet." She flashed him an almost genuine smile and sat down. John wasn't handsome, but Philip always marveled at the number of women who fell into comfortable conversation with the oversized Scotsman. This was John's gift. In his presence, all worries faded and vanished. He put everyone's mind at ease.

Philip, on the other hand, was no master with words, and used his foot to push a chair out for the woman in green.

"You asking me to sit down?" she said.

"If you like."

She had eyes like glass and a false laugh, but not many wrinkles from wear and no visible scars. "What's a fine gentleman like you doing here?"

"Getting out of the cold. Our horses were tired, so we decided to stop."

"Travelers?"

"Yes, on our way to Nantes."

"Staying the night?"

"Looks like we'll have to."

This was an old game, one she'd played a thousand times. "I have a warm place where you can sleep. Won't cost you much."

"Will you wait outside for a moment?" He pushed a small pouch into her hand. "I need to speak with my friend."

Surprised at her own good fortune, landing a generous young man so easily, she nodded and stepped out the door. Philip waited a bit, then went out after her. Being seen leaving with her might cause him problems later. Her companion wasn't a concern since she'd be dead within the hour as well. He had been ordered to play by Angelo's rules when it came to hunting.