Unraveling Mordecai by Marisa Maichel (types of ebook readers txt) 📕

My grandfather had been transformed into a human almost completely. His heart was beating again, and he was extremely wrinkled and his red hair was gone, replaced by white strands barely sticking on. He was blind in both eyes, but he heard just as well as he'd ever had.
"Hello, Reese," he croaked, finally sounding like the thousands-of-years-old vampire that he was.
"Hello, Grandfather," I said. "How are you doing?"
"As well as can be expected. How are you?"
"I'm...not so great, Grandfather. There's been some...developments."
"What kind of developments?"
"Sarah finally punched Nales in the face, and I told her to stop. But before that, Mitra's daughter, Cholena, showed up. Then Satira-"
"Satira's back?!"
"Yes, Grandfather. She's back, and she wants mine and Selena's souls. No doubt for some dark purpose."
"Satira has always been practiced in black magic. I never much liked her, anyway. She's a whore and a bitch. And she's horrible to her daughters, especially Marina. I always liked that nose of your mother's, but Satira makes fun of it. As for getting your soul, I wouldn't let her go within a hundred yards of you or the other children."
"And, ah, there's something else."
"What is it, Reese?"
"No, I shouldn't be the one to tell you, Dad should."
"I know about David, Reese."
I was taken aback. "You do?"
"Yes. Mordecai even introduced me while you were away at the Nicolai house, abandoning me for your absent mother."
"Grandfather, Sarah's pregnant with twins. I had to stay with her, and she's more safe there than here. More guards posted, plus Zie's keeping her well-fed and watered."
"Twins? Oh, be still my heart. Boys or girls?"
"One of each. We've already picked out the names. The boy will be called Joseph, after the Earthly father of Jesus Christ, as a reference to Sarah's Christian half, and the other will be called Caitlin Juniper. With an I instead of a Y between the L and the N. Sarah likes it that way. And Juniper, because, well, you know what junipers are."
"Yes, I used to own a bit of wood that had quite a few juniper trees. Those are good names, my grandson." He coughed dryly. "I hope I get to see you married before I die."
"Grandfather, you're not going to die. We'll find a cure."
"No, Reese, I will die. One way or the other, soon, very soon, I will die."
Tears came into my eyes. "But you can't die! You're my grandfather!"
He smiled gently in my general direction-not at me.
"Almost everyone except gods die. Even vampires."
I reached out for his hand, and he grabbed mine-his was covered in wrinkles and liver spots and was bony. I cried for a long time.

"Shhh, they're both asleep."
"Has Reese been here the whole time?"
"Yes. Try not to wake him up."
My father's and uncle's voices hit my ears. My dreams were vague-something about a hotel and my cat and a flood and greasy human food.
I slowly stirred and rubbed my eyes. I realized I was still holding Grandfather's hand, and eased out of it. My father was starting to cradle me in his arms and purr. The only thing more important than a mate to a vampire is their parent or creator. Fledglings are not considered as important because so many are made-the ones who are born the normal way are considered much more valuable. It's rare for female vampires to carry a child to term, especially twins or triplets. Even human-borns like my mother often have long and difficult pregnancies.
Vampire babies are naturally stronger than human babies, and they like to kick-hard. My mother already had bruises on her stomach due to my siblings' antics. I missed her now, even as my father held me. There's nothing quite like a parent's loving touch. The closest example is that of a mate. Except that my mate was still angry with me for my insensitive comment earlier.
My father's purring increased as I started to purr.
"I wish my son loved me as much as yours loves you," Uncle Soren sighed. I squirmed a bit, and Father growled and tightened his grip.
"I need to talk to Sarah," I protested. He mumbled, but relented, letting me go so I could talk to her.

I was greeted with dog kisses and jumps when I stepped through the door. Both the new dogs and the old dogs congregated on me, especially Spunk and Jasmine. I almost didn't see Shadowfang until I accidentally stepped on his tail, and he yowled.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I apologized profusely.
"Reese?" Sarah sat up on the couch and rubbed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, baby, did I wake you?" I asked.
"It's okay; I waited for you. I wanted to say I'm sorry if I've been a bitch to you lately. I'm not making excuses, but pregnancy hormones and all that."
"It's okay, lover," I said, leaning over the couch and taking her face in my hands. "And no, you haven't been a bitch to me. I've been dealing with my own shit lately, and I took some of it out on you. I should be the one apologizing, not you."
I kissed her lips, and looked out at the spread before her. Decaffeinated tea, a magazine, a book, the TV remote.
I told her about the strange new vampire, Kole, and and mentioned her strange behavior around Cholena.
"They seemed to know each other," I said. "And then we heard Satira calling for Cholena. I have my suspicions."
"It is odd," she said. "Why do all these vampires come to you? And then David and Cholena show up? And then Satira? It's weird."
"It's a mystery," I agreed. I updated her on Grandfather's condition, and then she fell asleep. I carried her upstairs to our new bed-a king size. It dwarfed her when she laid in it. I preened her while she slept, stroking her hair and admiring her collarbone and her cleavage. I looked around. I decided to clean up a bit-dirty clothes in the hamper, books on shelves or on the side table, notebooks and laptops on the desk, shoes in the closet, makeup put away...and then I saw her purse.
I'd gone through her purse before, and I always hated myself afterwards for invading her privacy. A woman's purse is sacred. This week's edition was a Louis Vuitton Speedy in 35, so Sarah had told me when she pulled it out of the closet. Her purses always were bigger than she seemed to need them to be.
Just a peek.
I took in a deep gulp of air, then opened the mouth of the bag. I saw all the usuals-her wallet, her makeup bag, and...was that a gun?!
It was, it was a gun. A Glock. I opened it up. No bullets. But there was a box of bullets in her purse. Why did she have this? She was surrounded by vampires, people who would protect her, gladly give their lives for her. Maybe she needed this for extra security?
I knew she carried a small knife around, but I'd never have thought of her as a gun carrier. I kept looking. Old water bottles, extra keys, lipstick, lotion, hand sanitizer, extra cash, movie tickets...movie tickets? Huh. I hadn't gone to the movies with her, and we hadn't seen any of our friends from school since we graduated.
I kept looking for any sign, any evidence. I found one other odd thing: a flip cell phone, the old kind that was used twenty years ago. Stomach twisting into a knot, I carefully put everything back where I'd found it and got ready for bed.

CHAPTER FIVE - SUSPICION
She was up before me. I woke up around noon, feeling refreshed. I hissed slightly at the bright sun streaming in from the cracks in the blinds. Sarah was sitting in her reading chair, playing on her regular phone.
I was thirsty, but she was more important. I crawled out of bed and slowly slid along the carpet on my belly. When I reached her toes, I nibbled them, and she giggled.
"Don't chip the paint, Reese," she gently chided.
"What color are we this week?" I teased, looking at her toes. "Oh, gold and silver? Gold on one toe, silver on the others?"
"I couldn't decide which color I wanted to paint them," she explained. "And I was sick of red polish."
"How are the babies?" I asked.
"They want greasy food. Hash browns, bacon, eggs with cheese and peppers."
"You're half-Jewish," I noted.
"I meant turkey bacon. I'm not the type to cheat at anything, except tests and sales."
My heart wrenched at that. I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to sit up beside her. She noticed there was something amiss.
"Reese? What's wrong?" she asked, her pretty brows furrowed.
"Sarah, I...I...I can't...I found your gun."
She blinked. "Oh."
"I smelled the gunpowder and I just..."
"You went through my purse."
"Yes."
She sighed. "Well, I can understand that. I should have been more careful where I left it."
"Sarah, why do you have that gun? You have more protection than anyone in the world."
"I can't let anyone else die. Not without a reason."
"Protecting you is not a good enough reason?"
"Definitely not. I won't have more people die because of me or Sabine."
"Sweet, lovely, angelic Sarah, it's not your fault. None of it is."
She sniffled. "I read Mom's diary after...well...I'm cursed."
I couldn't move at that. "C-cursed?"
She nodded. "I was supposed to die on my sixteenth birthday, but Daddy died instead. He pretended to have cancer so there was a sensible reason for his death. No one else should have to die because of me."
"Sarah...." I swallowed. I looked down at my hands, then her. "Who?"
"Who, what?"
"Who cursed you?"
"I don't know. I know that I was betrothed to Caden when we were younger, but now, I have you. I would rather die than have anyone else."
I was touched by her devotion and selflessness. She continued.
"You protected me. You avenged me. You kept me safe when no one else could or would. You loved me even though I'm not perfect. I adore and love you, Reese. I have for a long time."
I wrapped my arms around her in a fantastic embrace and kissed her roughly. Eventually, she needed to breathe, and I pulled away.
"Sarah, you don't need to be perfect to be loved. Just be yourself. Anyone would love you then. Even serial killers have their multiple admirers."
She smiled weakly at that, and hugged me tighter. Then she winced.
"Ow, my back," she complained.
"Is it your wings?" I asked, cautiously.
"More between my shoulder blades. Oh crap." She ran to the bathroom,