Ben placed his hand on the knife he wore at his waist and walked to the door, but before he reached it, the door opened and a tall figure wearing a heavy cloak stepped through. It closed behind her, as if moved by an invisible hand. The stranger lifted her hands and pushed back the hood of her cloak as Beatrice gasped.
She was Saba. Beatrice knew it without question. She was earth and life. Her dark brown eyes were round and thickly lashed. Her black skin pulsed with energy, and her wide lips spread in a gentle smile. She was the most beautiful woman Beatrice had ever seen.
Beatrice couldn’t stop the rush of joyful tears that came to her eyes as she looked up and whispered, “Mother.”
Ben stepped back, even his weak human senses telling him that this was a creature of immense power. Saba stepped farther into the room and knelt down, placing a hand on Lucien’s forehead.
“My son,” she said. “My lovely child, what have you done?”
Beatrice was frozen as Saba gently lifted Lucien from her arms. The vampire rose and spoke to Ben. “Boy, you will show me where he may rest.”
Ben looked at Beatrice, then back to Saba in confusion. “Um… yeah, okay. His room is up the stairs and down the hall.”
Saba turned her eyes to Beatrice. “Daughter, you will follow me.”
Beatrice rose without question, following them to Lucien’s room where she saw Saba lay Lucien down on the bed before she came back to the door.
“Daughter, you will wait.”
She shut the door, and Beatrice sat down in the hall just outside. Ben slid down to the floor next to her and asked, “B, who is that?”
“Saba,” she whispered.
“How can she be out during the day? She wasn’t burned at all.”
Beatrice only shook her head. “Because she’s Saba.”
Ben frowned at her, then turned back to stare at the wall. Beatrice relaxed. For the first time in months, she felt complete and utter peace.
An hour or two later, Ben was slumped against her shoulder, napping. She heard the crack of the door; then Saba entered the hall. Beatrice quickly stood. Ben roused when his pillow moved and looked around, blinking like an owl. Saba smiled at him in amusement.
“Boy, you are faithful. Few know such strength so young. Go to sleep. Your time is not now.”
Ben blinked again and stood up, stretching his lanky frame. He sniffed and rubbed his eyes. “Okay. B, you need me?”
She shook her head and placed a hand on his cheek. “Not right now. Go to bed, Ben.”
He rubbed his eyes again, then turned and walked down the hall. Beatrice looked back at Saba, who was watching her.
“Daughter, where is your mate?”
Beatrice felt tears come to her eyes again, but she was not ashamed. Saba held out her hand and Beatrice took it, climbing the stairs to the third floor where Giovanni rested, cold and motionless in their bed.
The ancient healer entered the room and walked to him as Beatrice sat at the foot of the bed.
“Do you know what’s wrong with him?”
Saba stroked his face and placed a hand at his temple. “He is tired.”
Beatrice choked back a sob. “Will he wake up?”
“Do not be uneasy. He has earned this healing, Daughter.”
Beatrice blinked and wiped the tears from her eyes as Saba sat next to Giovanni. She bit her wrist and held it to his lips. Immediately, he latched on and began to drink. Beatrice had to stifle a joyful laugh.
“How—”
“I use my power to make him drink.”
“You can do that?”
Amusement colored the ancient’s eyes. “Oh yes.”
Beatrice stretched out next to him and put an arm around his waist, watching in fascination as Giovanni’s lips moved. “I didn’t think I would ever see him move again.”
Saba’s other hand stroked along her forehead. “Of course you will. I can feel your blood in him. Do not worry; he will come back to you, Daughter.”
Beatrice stared up into her beautiful face. “Am I your daughter?”
“Of course you are.”
“I’ve never had a mother.”
The ancient smiled. “Now you do.”
Beatrice watched Giovanni as he continued to drink from Saba’s wrist. “Are you really the oldest of us?”
“I think so.”
“Where do we come from, Mother?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes,” Beatrice whispered as she watched her mate. “It matters. The past matters.”
She heard Saba draw a deep breath. “I have spent thousands of years searching for wisdom. I know enough now to know that I will never know everything.”
“Does that mean you’ll stop looking?”
She chuckled. “Of course not. And neither will you.”
For the first time in weeks, she felt Giovanni’s heart give a quiet thump. Saba withdrew her wrist, then paused, looking at Beatrice. She held it out. “Daughter, do you need to be healed?”
Beatrice looked at her, then at Giovanni. His amnis was faint, but it was slowly creeping over his skin. She put her hand to his neck and felt the warmth return. His green eyes flickered open for a second, met hers, then shut as he gave a great sigh and fell into sleep again.
Beatrice smiled. “You’ve already healed me.”
Saba nodded with a smile. “I will rest with Lucien today. Your mate will wake at nightfall.”
“Thank you, Mother.”