Chapter Eight

Adam preferred holding her hand rather than seeing it draped in the hands of a woman he didn’t trust.

“You’ve seen the Valentine then?” the medium asked. Adam tensed while Poppy nodded. “He’s quiet and bitter, that one. There is too much sorry crap going on in that head of his. He’s going to give all our problems a run for our money.”

“This is his son, Gertrude.” Poppy warned the older woman.

“I know, dear—just because he isn’t dead doesn’t mean I don’t know who he is. Adam Valentine, the quiet one. You’ve got a look of your father. Don’t know why they gave the oldest his name. Robert is nothing like his father. You are, though.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“Don’t say thank you, honey, until you can guarantee it’s a compliment.”

“I don’t understand.”

“A lot of people wandering around here are here because of the last battle the vampires and wolves had. Not a lot of love lost between these people and your father. You’d be best to tread carefully while you travel back and forth.”

“My dad was a great man,” Adam said A few of the other heads turned their way. “Are they…?”

“Dead souls, Adam,” Poppy said.

“I suggest you pack up the attitude, boy. Your dad was as selfish as they come back in the day. What I meant to say is you’ve got loyalty. Your father may not have always been right, but he was loyal to a cause. Don’t make your blindness fool you.”

Adam nodded and held his tongue. These people knew more about his father than he did.

“Right. Poppy, you know the drill.”

Adam watched Poppy nod and turn her head away. Gertrude pulled out a knife and pressed the tip of the blade against her flesh.

He shot out of his seat and held the older woman’s hand steady. “Do you want to tell me what you’re doing?”

“He’s got feelings for you, this one has.”

“Tell me or I’ll break you.” He applied pressure to the woman’s hand but Poppy yanked him back and forced him to sit down.

“I’ve got to pay the toll for the information we want. Blood is the best form of payment. Vampire blood among this realm is considered cheap. Do it, Gertrude.”

Under the table she caught his hand and held on tight as the blade sliced along her wrist. The medium gathered the blood in a small vial.

“That’s enough.”

Poppy pulled her arm away and Gertrude took a sip from the vial, closed her eyes and gathered both of their hands together.

“Focus on what you want.”

Poppy flashed in his mind. Gertrude chuckled and told him to try again.

There were the sounds similar to talking people rushing through his mind. Adam glanced between them. Poppy, Gertrude and he were travelling at the speed of light amongst the souls of the dead.

“Found her,” Gertrude said, letting go of their hands.

“I don’t get it. What have we found?” Adam asked.

“Finding an alpha isn’t easy. Poppy told you that. I’ve found you the first clue.”

“What is it?”

“The alpha’s mate.” Gertrude stood and addressed Poppy. “I don’t always know what shit you plan on getting yourself into and I know this is bad. A word to the wise—something is coming. Something bigger and far more frightening than anything we’ve ever faced. Be prepared, Poppy, as I feel in my stars this will be the last time we make contact.”

The woman disappeared, leaving Adam worried and Poppy pale.

“What just happened?”

Poppy started for the door.

“A warning.”

“How could she know something worse is coming?”

“Gertrude is a medium and she resides on another realm. They may not see, feel or be part of the human world, but they’re as connected to the afterlife as people in heaven, hell and limbo.”

It was like she spoke in riddles.

“So what do we do now?” he asked. They made it out onto the grey street. He’d never get use to the blankness of this world.

“We need to go and locate the mate. She’ll be able to lead us to either another clue or his body.”

“Why can’t you just find him in this realm?”

“He’s an alpha and his secret has been guarded. Come on,” Poppy said.

“Wait. I want to ask a question.”

“Every time we stop to talk we’re wasting time. I believe Gertrude and I sense the danger myself. This is more than the Beyer West wolves.”

“You’re going to believe an older woman who stole your blood?” he asked.

“You take people’s blood all the time.”

“Where are we going?”

“America.”

Poppy grabbed him and closed her eyes. Adam yelled, “I’m not ready.”

 

* * * *

 

Rose ran through the back door where Cook was waiting for her.

“I told you to be back by ten sharp,” she scolded.

Her teeth chattering, Rose smiled at the older woman. She accepted the warmth of the woman she’d come to love more like a parent than a cook.

“I was having so much fun,” she said. Each word was drawn out.

“Why are you freezing like this?”

“We went to a lake…” Rose couldn’t say any more—her shivers were out of control.

Cook ran off and brought a glass filled with dark red liquid. “Drink this,” Cook ordered.

“I can’t.” Rose pushed the goblet away already feeling the convulsions in her stomach.

“For heaven’s sakes, child, have I ever steered you wrong before?”

Rose shook her head.

“Then drink the blasted stuff.”

Not wanting to upset her friend any longer Rose drank down the dark fluid. She tried not to gag as the first taste of blood hit her taste buds. Rose moaned as a meaty flavour hit the back of her throat. It was unlike anything she’d ever tasted.

“How does it taste?” Cook asked.

“I’m sorry. This probably grosses you out.”

“Nothing with you, my dear, grosses me out. I enjoy something rare on occasion.”

Rose raised her eyebrows as she sipped her glass, careful not to gulp it down.

“I like ostrich on occasion. I know it’s not a great meat but I like it and it’s healthy for you.”

Rose chuckled. “I’ll have to take your word on that one.”

Her fingers no longer felt numb, the shivers ceased and for the first time in—well, since ever—Rose’s body hummed for activity.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Really good.”

“You sound shocked, dear.”

“I don’t know what you mixed together, but it worked a treat. Thank you so much.” Rose hugged Cook and moved out of the kitchen when the woman hurried her along. She danced and hummed to her room. Lewis was fixed on her mind. She wondered if he was thinking about her too.

 

Cook watched her charge walk away. She glanced down at the bag of blood in her hand. The bag shook in her grip.

When no one was looking she took the empty packet out and burnt it in an old metal dustbin. A hunch, a clue—something she couldn’t describe had made her go to the secluded club and obtain the forbidden blood. Maybe a message from God, she wasn’t sure.

There were secrets surrounding the youngest Valentine.

Dark secrets.

She watched the writing on the packet go up in flames.

The clearly typed words could not be mistaken— ‘Werewolf Blood’.