Warriors Blue - XXL - Preview by Jeanette Peters (best way to read books .TXT) 📕

»That’s a problem, of course«, Jonathan muttered and then took a long look at Sara. When she looked into his eyes, she knew what was going on inside him. There was compassion in him too. She barely nodded noticeably and then they both looked back at Theresa.

»Well, Theresa, your older daughter sold Penelope to us tonight«, Jonathan started slowly and Theresa flinched violently. »Don’t worry, we have no claim on your child. Miranda had no right to sell her to us. However, your older daughter is our first real lead when it comes to the mystery of SinTex. This drug is very dangerous and we don’t like how quickly it spreads. I’m sure when your daughter realizes Penelope’s back with you, she’ll try to get to her again. This, in turn, is our chance to get to her. That’s why I have a proposition for you.«

Theresa looked at him with big eyes. Sara felt the panic of the human, but she just waited. She tried not to let her fear show. And that was truly impressive, since her little daughter was still in the care of the vampires. Jonathan seemed relaxed.

»We’re offering you a job. You can work for us. We’ll hire you as our day messenger, which means you’ll be home at night. We’ll pay you like any other of our employees. In return, you will notify us as soon as you hear or see something from your older daughter. And even if Penelope mentions something like that.«

»You ... You’re offering me a job?«, Theresa asked in astonishment. Sara wasn’t particularly surprised. It suited Jonathan to turn grievances in his favor.

»We do. Of course you’re gonna sign a non-disclosure agreement. We must be sure of your loyalty. You will see or hear many things here that must stay in this house.«

»Of course.« Theresa’s voice trembled excitedly. But all the fear and tension had suddenly disappeared from her. Sara nodded to her cousin, impressed. You couldn’t have come up with a better solution to this misery. This was the best way for them all and they could keep an eye on the child.

Jonathan was right. This little girl was her connection to the people behind SinTex. But it remains to be seen how far the older daughter’s relationships have gone.

»You’re very busy with the drugs thing, aren’t you?« The voice of Zacharias tore Jonathan out of his thoughts. You got here as soon as you could. Zacharias and his companion were with them to represent the entire clan. Jonathan nodded and looked further into the ocean where the moonlight was reflected. »This is one of the things that occupies me«, he replied after a while and then turned to his friend’s vampire. He leaned against the wooden railing that surrounded the entire roof terrace.

»What’s on your mind?« Zacharias seemed seriously interested. He shared Jonathan’s opinion about SinTex.

»You. And your mate«, Jonathan confessed. When Zacharias bared his teeth and his eyes briefly lit red, Jonathan noticed how wrong his choice of words must have gone to Zacharias. Soothingly, he raised his hands. »I didn’t mean it like that. Calm down.«

»I haven’t forgotten what you said back then«, Zacharias returned growling.

»Really? After over a hundred years, how can you still hold that little joke against me?«

»Joleen is mine!« Now Zacharias almost hissed.

»I’m aware of that. And I never had any serious interest in her. I was just teasing you a little then. But I admit I envy you and your brother a little. And Fayn, too. You seem to have found what we are all unconsciously looking for.«

Zacharias frowned as the last red glow disappeared from his eyes. »What do you mean?«

»Someone to love and be loved by. Someone who makes eternity not only bearable but worth living.«

»Is that what you’re looking for?« Zacharias seemed completely calm again. Jonathan nodded and then shrugged his shoulders. Was that what he longed for? Was he really looking for it? He didn’t know. He had been missing something for a long time - his existence tired him increasingly. When he saw Zacharias and Joleen together tonight ...

Yeah, maybe that’s what he wished for.

»I don’t know. But yes. Don’t we all wish for what you found in Joleen?«

»I think so. At least I can’t imagine my life without her.« The confession astonished Jonathan. Zacharias had always been very secretive. The time he spent with Joleen seemed to make him gentler. More accessible.

»Well, whatever you’re looking for, I hope you find it,« Zacharias explained, patting him on the shoulder amicably. »And as long as you keep your hands off my mate, we will continue to get along wonderfully, my friend.«

Now Jonathan had to smile. Joleen wasn’t his type anyway. She was too gentle, too delicate. He always picked the bloodwhores who were a little prickly. He wouldn’t really enjoy Joleen.

»Don’t worry. As I said before, I have never taken a serious interest in her.« The two vampires looked at each other for a long time before they both began to grin at the same moment and then went back into the house together.

While the members of his clan were still enjoying the company of friendly vampires, Jonathan already retired. He didn’t feel the need for company.

For a moment he thought about calling in one of the bloodwhores. But even after that he was not. He already knew that feeling. In recent years this restlessness has plagued him many times.

He left the house through the back door and went straight to the beach. Only here, when he looked at the infinity of the sea, did he find few moments of perfect peace.

»Hello.« A soft voice made him pull together. He had been fascinated by the sight of the sea, which is why he had not noticed anyone approaching him. Astonished, he turned around.

A child stood in front of him and looked at him happily. He knew the girl. A few days ago, he had explored her thoughts for clues about Miranda’s whereabouts.

»Penelope, what are you doing out here?«

The girl giggled and then quickly put her finger on her lips. »But you mustn’t tell anyone. Mom brought me today because she has to work. I’m supposed to be asleep, but I love the water.«

»And you snuck out?«, Jonathan suspected and smiled against his will. Since he could see and live through all of Penelope’s thoughts, he knew her quite well. She wasn’t a disobedient child. But she loved to keep little secrets from her mother.

»Yes«, she confessed quietly. »Will you betray me?«

»No, probably not. But you should still go to sleep«, he replied. He sat in the sand and let his gaze wander across the ocean again. From the corners of his eyes he saw Penelope sitting next to him trying to imitate his posture.

»The moon looks great«, said the child after a while. »It’s nice when it’s reflected on the water. This looks like magic.«

»There is no such thing as magic«, Jonathan explained calmly. But there was one point on which she was right: the picture that presented itself to them was beautiful.

»But maybe there is. And we just can’t see them because we don’t want to see it«, Penelope mused. Jonathan looked at the girl in surprise. She was only six, but when you heard her talk, you could think she was many times older. »Why would you think that?«

Penelope shrugged his shoulders and then looked at him as well. She reached out to him. »Have you ever eavesdropped on a shell?« she asked. When he looked at the palm of her hand, there was a spiral mussel. It wasn’t very big and there was sand all over it, just like Penelope’s fingers. But that didn’t seem to bother her when she held the shell to her ear and closed her eyes. »When you listen to a shell, you can hear the sea rustle. My mama once told me that. And that’s right. I think clams are a spell, too. They store the sound that the sea makes. So people who can’t go to the sea can hear that.«

She opened her eyes again and held out the shell to Jonathan. Her eyes were full of expectation and it was clear what she wanted: He too should now listen to the sea.

He sighed, but then did her a favor. Penelope waited a while while holding the conch to his ear.

»Can you hear it?« she asked excitedly and then took the shell out of his hand again. Jonathan nodded. It would not be fair to deprive the child of his illusion by explaining to her how this hissing really came about. »Yes, I can.«

»When I was little...« Jonathan laughed because that statement from the mouth of a six-year-old sounded a little strange. Penelope looked at him angrily and pinched her blue eyes together. »When I was even smaller than I am now«, she rectified, »I always wanted to go to the sea. But my mama never had enough money. On my birthday she gave me a shell and said that we can’t go to the sea, but I can always hear it with the shell if I want.«

»That was very nice by her.«

»Yes, my mama always does nice things for me. And she promised me that we could really go to the sea now and then. Because she works for you«, Penelope kept babbling.

»Well, that’s nice. Then why do you sneak out of the house at night to go to the sea?«

Penelope giggled again and then looked at the water washing around her naked feet.

»Because Mama’s always so scared. She thinks I can get hurt. If she’s not there, I can do things that are fun and a little dangerous. And Mama won’t have to worry because she doesn’t know I’m doing these things.«

Again Jonathan had to laugh. He liked Penelope’s view of things, even if she would probably lose them at some point.

»Still, we should go back in«, he decided, »When your mama finds your orphaned bed, it doesn’t make sense to sneak out secretly anymore. Because then she’ll know.«

Penelope looked for a moment as if she wanted to contradict him, but then she sighed and nodded.

»All right«, she said and jumped up. Jonathan had to grin again and then followed her back into the house. His restlessness had disappeared for the moment.

She silently opened the door to avoid waking Penelope. She immediately turned her eyes to the bed in which her sleeping daughter was lying. Since she was