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From the Heart Excerpt |
From the Heart was born out of the character Jaeger. He needed support, others like him, to fully show his world and his kind. Baris moved into his world, and involved him in more adventures. Although this is Baris' story, Jaeger still plays a vital part in it. ISBN: 192097296X PRICE: $4.95
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Baris lowered himself to the boulder in the meadow. He
stared out over the vast expanse of grass and flowers, taking in the
riot of colors that tumbled down the slopes toward the river. Sunlight
caught the wild rapids, sparkling like golden flames. It was a scene he
had longed to be a part of, had been until now. Now, everything he
loved, everything he held dear, was threatened by something he could not
explain and didn't want to accept. A cool breeze played over his cheeks and hands, and his
dark gaze wandered to the small village nestled near the river's edge.
Smoke curled from several chimneys, lazing into the morning air. Sheep
and goats grazed nearby, tended by several sleepy clan members. Most of
the village children were still asleep, snug in their beds, safe and
secure under their parents' watchful eyes. But not his son. If Baris
knew Thale, the boy was already up and investigating his world as only a
two-year-old could. Thale, with Anika's blue eyes and pale complexion
and his father's penchant for introspective moodiness. Mere thoughts of
the energetic toddler broadened Baris' smile and, at the same time,
drove pain deep into his soul. With a wistful sigh, he rose. He was an imposing
figure, lithe, well over six feet tall, with the pale skin, dark eyes
and raven-black hair of the true Vector. His appearance set him apart,
so it was rare for a Vector to be able to retain a true appearance in
public. Instead, they usually shapeshifted to something a little more
humanlike. Yet, this was one of the reasons Baris felt so
comfortable in this village. Here, he was allowed to be himself, to
appear as he wanted, without repercussions. And, more importantly, here
he was allowed to satisfy his requirement for human blood without having
to either seduce victims or hunt them down. And he owed it to Jaeger and
his wife, Rhiannon. Four years earlier, Rhiannon, and by extension her
entire clan, and the Vectors had established a relationship. The clan
were Bleeders; their bodies produced abnormally high levels of iron that
could prove fatal if it were not bled off. But they were also witches,
which proved a hazardous combination. Use of their magic only increased
the already high content of iron in their blood, making the need to be
bled even stronger. Many witches had died trying to bleed themselves. A
partnership with the Vectors had been sought in desperation. Vectors
needed blood. Bleeders had the blood to give. It was an equitable
situation for both parties. However, falling in love with Anika had been a
delightful bonus. Baris had never expected more than a business
relationship. In fact, he had never expected to find love in the true
meaning of the word at all. Like most Vectors, Baris was a product of careful
planning. His father had been the Vector Sovereign; his mother had done
nothing more than donate her egg. The embryo they created was given into
the care of a Chosen, one of a special kind of Vector that carried, then
implanted fertile embryos in human women. The one who carried, then
bore, Baris had not survived long after his birth. Her sacrificial blood
belonged to the Chosen who had impregnated her. And to the child she had
carried. As a child, Baris was raised in the Vector's Lair, a
vast underground system of caverns nestled deep within a towering
mountain range. He had many guardians and teachers but no true parents.
It was the Vector way and Baris had accepted it. At least, he had until
he had finally ventured from the Lair. It was then that he had seen the
way humans related, how they paired and mated. Eventually, he had
witnessed the deep love and commitment between Rhiannon and Jaeger, her
husband. He couldn't explain the yearning that witnessing such love and
devotion between two people had created in him. It was something he
decided he wanted for himself. Yet, he had never allowed himself to expect that it
could happen to him. It was a part of his heart that he had shut off.
Until Anika. In fact, she had first approached him. He had tried to
be professional, businesslike, although he was at once taken with her
beauty. Her eyes in particular. While his were the almost black of a
pure Vector, hers were the most incredible blue he had ever seen. They
reminded him of the summer sky, something he had come to love after so
many years in the Lair. And she was like a breath of summer herself, a
new life that beckoned to him, called to him. Still, he held her away,
sure that her interest in him was only one of business. He told himself
repeatedly that she could never have any other interest in him. Then she
began coming about more frequently, sought him out over other Vectors
when she needed to be bled, and slowly chipped away at his resolve. It
was a monumental, and frightening, day for Baris when he realized that
he indeed loved her. He was terrified that his love would not be
returned. But Anika had assuaged that worry with one, long, lingering,
passionate kiss. A kiss Baris had returned with his heart. The last four
years had been filled with happiness and contentment such that he had
never experienced before. Now-- A movement caught his eye and he turned toward the
young, brown-haired woman climbing the slopes toward him. He moved to
meet her as she reached him with a smile. "You wanted to see me?" she asked, dark eyes
glowing. Baris studied her for a moment before nodding. He had
known her for only a short time. She had returned to the village six
months earlier after living for many years in a neighboring city. She
had been a great support to him in the last several months while his
life fell apart around him, and although the words were painful to say,
Baris felt she should know what he had planned. "Yes, Deirdre. I wanted to say goodbye." "Goodbye?" She looked up at him in surprise.
"You're leaving? Why?" "Anika has asked me to leave," he said
quietly. The words drove daggers of hurt through his heart. A small gasp escaped the woman and she laid one hand on
his arm. "Oh, Baris, I'm so sorry. Did she say why?" "No. I questioned her but she didn't seem to have
any reason." He paused, trying to quiet the tremor in his voice.
"She just demanded that I leave. Now. I am abiding by her
wishes." "But where will you go?" "I have thought hard about that. I am going to
seek out Vail. He may have an answer to this change in behavior. I must
know what I have done to cause this." "Perhaps it was not you at all, Baris,"
Deirdre said. "You have been nothing but kind and gentle with Anika.
I would place the blame on her and her alone." Baris looked down at the slight woman before him. Dark
curls fell in tangles well past her shoulders, framing a face the color
of moonlight. Her brown eyes were almond-shaped, ringed with long dark
lashes that brushed her cheeks when she looked down. She was emotional,
warm, caring and genuinely concerned about him. Perhaps more so then she
should have been. She was beautiful in every way but she did nothing for
his heart. That belonged to Anika. He had to find out what had caused
her change in affection and Vail might have the answer. The problem was
finding him. Baris clearly remembered his last visit with Anika's
young cousin. It had been on this very spot, where just six months ago
he had felt firsthand Vail's own pain at a failed relationship. * * * "So, you're leaving?" Vail shrugged. "What point is there in staying?
It's clear that Rachael isn't interested." "I'm sorry that things didn't work out." Again, Vail shrugged. "That's life, Baris. I
could use the Vector 'charm' Jaeger gave me, but, like he once said, I
would rather that she come to me on her own." Baris smiled. He remembered how Jaeger had given
Vail some of his own blood to save the young man's life. And he
remembered Jaeger's anguish over what it would mean to Vail.
"You're a wise man, Vail." He lifted his head as another young
man arrived in the meadow. "Ah, Baul. You are accompanying Vail on
his travels then?" The young Vector nodded. "We can keep each
other company. And keep each other healthy as well." Baris laughed and clapped Baul on the shoulder then
shot a sidelong glance at Vail. "Are you sure you're all right with
this?" Vail blushed. "I am. I realize that I will
still need to be bled and Baul here is very good at doing so. Besides,
he's great company. And we have a lot in common." "Oh?" Baris looked at the two young men in
turn. One was a Vector, one a human. One six feet tall, the other barely
over five. "How so?" They grinned together. "We both like
women!" they answered in unison. Baris laughed again. "I see. And that's what
you'll be searching for on this great journey?" "Of course," Vail replied. "What
better?" "What better, indeed," Baris answered.
"Well, take with you my blessings and good wishes for a happy
outcome." "Thank you," Vail said. "Time to do
that shapeshifting bit, Baul. I don't intend to walk." "Oh, perfect," Baul grumbled. "You
have just enough Vector blood in you to seduce the women, but not enough
to share the rigors of the journey." Vail grinned. "Blame Jaeger for that.
He's the one who gave me the blood in the first place." Baul scowled teasingly at Vail and shapeshifted to a
horse. Vail groaned. "A horse! I was hoping for a dragon or
something like that. I'll be too sore to seduce anyone if I have to ride
half the country on horseback." Baul snorted and tossed his head. Baris chuckled. "I think you'd better be happy
he's doing this much," he told Vail. "Keep complaining and
you'll be walking." Vail grimaced. "Fine, fine. This will
do." "You take good care of yourselves,"
Baris said. "And be careful. There are those who do not take kindly
to Vectors. Or witches." Vail nodded, swung astride the horse and they rode
off. * * * Now, Baris wished Vail hadn't gone at all. He didn't
feel comfortable talking to other members of the clan about his
floundering relationship with Anika. Except for Deirdre. For some
reason, she brought out the words, the emotions, the pain he was
harboring. She had become a safe haven for him lately, although he had
not really gone looking. He still couldn't fathom why he seemed so
loose-lipped with her. It was as if he had known her all of his life.
And yet, they had met only six months ago. "What do you think Vail could do?" Deirdre
asked him, interrupting his moody thoughts. Baris shook his head. "I don't know. But I'm not
willing to simply walk away from Anika, or my son. I need to know what
has happened to her...to us." Deirdre tightened her grip on his arm, her gaze wistful
pleading. "I could come with you." He started. "Why? Your family is here, Deirdre.
You just returned to them. Why would you leave them so soon?" "My family? They wouldn't stand in my way. I know
that much. Besides, you're going to need a--helper. I can do that.
Please, Baris, let me come along." Baris considered. What she said was true. As a Vector,
he needed blood daily. Still, since his marriage to Anika, he had tasted
no other but her. He didn't know if he could. Feeding was linked to a
sexual response in him at his age. He had only come into his Growth
three years ago and he still hadn't adjusted completely. There were very
few times that he didn't become sexually aroused when he fed.
Thankfully, Anika didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Baris was not
willing to risk a sexual arousal with Deirdre even though he knew it
would be a purely physical reaction. He shook his head. "It might be too dangerous,
Deirdre. You'd be better off staying here." "I have nothing here, Baris. I would love to see
the world but I probably never will just because I'm a woman. I feel so
tied down here." Baris couldn't help but smile. "From what Anika
told me, you've spent the last ten years exploring the world." Deirdre pouted. "Not really. I was but a child
when I was sent to the city. I wasn't allowed to do much of anything
except attend my schooling. But, Baris, I want to see new things, go new
places, meet different and exciting people. I'll never get the chance to
do that the way things are going. If you're going to travel, I would
like to join you. We could help each other along the way. Please, at
least say you'll consider it. Please?"
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