The Vampire Book Two, page 1
The Vampire Book Two
SANDRINE GENIER
Published by SANDRINE GENIER, 2017.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
THE VAMPIRE BOOK TWO
First edition. December 6, 2017.
Copyright © 2017 SANDRINE GENIER.
ISBN: 978-1386624899
Written by SANDRINE GENIER.
For Vatel Vartan
And all broken hearts everywhere
The Vampire
Book Two
Sandrine Genier
© 2016 by Sandrine Genier
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, nor used in any manner whatsoever without the permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations or short excerpts in a book review.
This book is intended as a work of fiction.
Printed in the United States.
First Printing: 2016
Interior Design by Penoaks Publishing, http://penoaks.com
Praise For The Vampire: Book One:
“First of a prospective series The Vampire is a poignant, emotional saga about misplaced trust, shattered fallout, and the enduring connections between kindred souls. Author Sandrine Genier has crafted a novel with complex, three-dimensional characters, and dilemmas that transcend the veil between life, death, and undeath. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of cerebral vampire literature.”
—Small Press Bookwatch: June 2016
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review
For Vatel Vartan
And all broken hearts
everywhere
Contents
January Idyll
Chapter 1 — Touching the Realm
New Orleans
Chapter 2 – The Journals
Chapter 3 – New Orleans
Chapter 4 – 1842
Chapter 5 – The Coup
Chapter 6 – Sequel
The Birthday Gift
Chapter 7 – Anniversary
Chapter 8 – Contretemps
Chapter 9 – The Birthday Gift
Chapter 10 – Recess
Chapter 11 – Fleurdelise Aveline
Chapter 12 – Secret Tableau
Perspective
Chapter 13 – Strange Journeys. Unusual Discoveries
Chapter 14 – La Mort
Chapter 15 – The Portrait
Chapter 16 – Terrance
Chapter 17 – Intermezzo
Chapter 18 – Requiescat
Chapter 19 – Carrie’s Lament
Chapter 20 – Conscience
Chapter 21 – Denouement
I am the Strength and the Light
I am the Guider and the Protector
– words from the Darkness
January Idyll
Chapter 1
Touching the Realm
Since their fateful trip to Europe together last November, when Jason Sterling came to believe he had stumbled onto a secret he was never meant to know, there had been little doubt that his employer Augere was in fact truly Vampire.
The occurrences which had brought this truth to light had also brought unwelcome consequences which had caused Jason emotional upheaval. An intense fear for his life gave way to feelings of deep loss and regret, followed by a hopeless search and new depths of despair.
After an unexpected joyful turn of events allowed Jason to return to his cherished life as Augere’s assistant, an impromptu visit by Jason’s younger sister, to the home in Boston Jason shared with Augere, brought new strife and misunderstandings ensued between him and his sibling, as well as with the vampire.
Although he believed he had now fully accepted the truth about Augere’s nature, any fresh realization of the fact still brought him wonder, caused him to feel a degree of frustration, and if he was willing to admit it, stirred fear and dread in him as well.
While still trying to regain equilibrium from all his recent emotional turmoil, Jason had returned to New Orleans with Augere in December to celebrate the Christmas holidays and enjoy the traditions of the Genier family whose close partnership with Augere had begun before the civil war, and had lasted generations through to the present day.
As if further proof of Augere’s status as supernatural being was required, while in New Orleans Jason heard details, from Augere himself, of the dramatic events which had occurred more than 200 years ago, specifically the event which had brought about Augere’s transformation to Vampire: an encounter with a being that seemed neither human nor animal; a being of nebulous physical substance, one seemingly made up of light and energy. This creature had attacked Augere, leaving him with a mortal wound which had not killed him, but had left him forever changed. And even before the telling of that mystifying occurrence, while staying at a hotel in the French Quarter, Augere’s energy field had brought forth ghostly entities which Jason had personally witnessed, much to his surprise, delight and amazement.
Now as the two gathered in Augere’s sumptuous library at their home in Boston on New Year’s Eve, Jason looked forward to a peaceful interlude in the days and weeks ahead; one that would allow him time to reflect on all he’d recently learned, while offering a chance to acquire more details about the alluring Augere, all hopefully without added strife to challenge him further.
Earlier in the day Jason had called his girlfriend Zavi, who was still in England visiting family between semesters at Boston University. She was just about to depart with her family for a holiday in Spain. He wished her a happy New Year and a safe return back to him. She hoped he was “missing me as madly as I miss you.” They wouldn’t see each other until her next university semester began.
Then he had called his family in Minnesota, and had spoken to each in turn, catching up with news about the Caribbean cruise three of them had taken over Christmas, a trip that had come about through a misunderstanding for which Jason was partly responsible. He tried to spend more time on the phone with his sister Carrie. They had not parted on good terms after her recent unexpected visit to Boston, mainly because her first meeting with Augere left her infatuated with him, an undesirable situation that still greatly distressed Jason. And not just for the falling out this had caused with his adored sister; Jason feared she would come to learn the truth about Augere, an occurrence which would expose both of them to danger. At 16 she had her whole life ahead of her, and he felt he had to protect her, while protecting Augere’s secret as well. That had been made abundantly clear to him: absolutely no one could know that secret.
But during their phone conversation Carrie was coldly cordial and barely concealing her...disappointment...? Or anger...? Both, probably, he thought, suppressing these just so she might learn some new info about Augere. When he provided no comment about his charismatic boss and she got a cool reception from him when she mentioned once again a possible Boston trip over her school recess in February, the rift between them seemed to widen. He couldn’t help that. He feared a reunion between her and his employer was too risky. Her keen sense of perception—she hadn’t earned the nickname ‘ferret’ for nothing—would soon put her on to the truth about Augere. He felt sure of that. Jason was at a loss as to how to keep her off the subject, much less avoid her visits—maybe forever. She was going to have to get over this and accept that another meeting with Augere was not ever going to happen.
As midnight on New Year’s Eve approached, snow fell lightly over the city of Boston. Jason opened a chilled bottle of one of Augere’s preferred wines. They stood in the centerpiece of that beautiful home Jason loved, in the comfort of the huge library and salon, enjoying what was to be a quiet evening for both of them. Jason had set aside some elaborately done hors d’oeurves for later to celebrate when he was alone, but he wanted to spend time with Augere first. Happily he found Augere willing to put his usual reticence aside and join him.
“I imagine the New Year’s ritual is pretty old for you,” Jason expressed, after savoring a sip of the Viognier. Jason knew Augere had already experienced more than two centuries of New Year’s eves, a fact which still stunned him.
“It brings me no particular pleasure if that is what you mean.” Augere seemed to be enjoying the wine however.
“Well thank you for joining me to mark the occasion.” Jason reflected for a moment. “If you had to choose, what would you say—”
“1926.”
“How did you know that I was going to ask...” Jason paused, with a surprised laugh. “...what your favorite year was?”
“All of you ask me the same thing.”
Jason laughed again. “Nothing unique about me compared to your previous assistants then.”
“I would not phrase it that way.”
“And why is 1926 your favorite year, out of so many?”
“No reason.” Augere shrugged. “Nothing happened.”
“I don’t understand—nothing happened?”
“What is there to understand.”
Jason shrugged. “Where were you living then?”
“In Paris.”
“And nothing happened, in Paris, that entire year—that stands out...? I find that hard to believe.”
“I do as well. But so it was.”
As the month of January advanced they settled into an idyll unlike anything Jason had experienced so far. This was just what he felt he needed and it brought a new contentment that had not been present or seemed possible before. Augere was not only pleasant, he seemed more accessible; more amenable to conversation. Still, Jason took it slowly. He did not want to jinx whatever was making things go so smoothly. He just wanted to enjoy the moments as they came.
Jason privately speculated on the reasons for this somewhat improved, slightly more comfortable rapport and he thought it stemmed from an unprecedented level of closeness after all that they had experienced together in New Orleans during the holidays with the Geniers. Some of the emotional barriers that had existed between them appeared to have disappeared. At least, that was his perception.
Learning the details of Augere’s transformation had been a breakthrough—definitely. Jason had briefly seen a different side of Augere on that night—a vulnerability he had not expected to find—and this had deeply touched him. That whole experience in New Orleans had been a revelation. There was definitely much more to learn about Augere in what was already his long existence. But Jason could only learn as much as Augere was willing to share, which was still minimal. What Jason had learned of him and what they had experienced so far in itself didn’t seem to account for the relaxed change between them now. He could only attribute this detente to Augere feeling more relaxed around him. Hopefully that was so.
Whatever the reason, Jason was enjoying the benefit of it. Each day brought more certainty not only of Augere’s company, but a chance to hear new revelations about him.
Despite his new confidence about their relationship, Jason still acknowledged feeling somewhat unsettled. He couldn’t deny some awkwardness did still exist between them; their conversations, though slightly more frequent, continued to be stilted and sometimes felt superficial. Often the topics continued to remain neutral ones: books, movies, sometimes current events, which Augere either paid much attention to, or none at all. A fresh pattern emerged in their relationship though: now Augere approached Jason with questions, more often seeming to have his own agenda. Jason was delighted with this change in their interaction. Sometimes Augere was confident in his questions, as if he could anticipate certain answers; at other times his almost childlike curiosity would surface. It was a frequent surprise to realize the things that Augere had only a rudimentary knowledge of. Some things he got wrong altogether. The contrast of erudite and innocence was, Jason felt, a part of Augere’s charm and one of the things that made him endearing. These were words Jason would never have thought one would come to use in conjunction with the concept of Vampire. Even that word, and fresh realization of the fact of it, still seemed to sneak up on him unexpectedly.
Any new information Augere revealed only made Jason curious to know more. He readily recalled James Genier’s words: “even after all these years of knowing and working closely with him, Mr. Augere still manages to surprise and shock me; there is always some mystery to him still.” It seemed that James, among the extensive Genier family which included lawyers, bankers, real estate brokers, and entrepreneurs, seemed the closest to Augere. Somehow that family had forged a relationship with the vampire more than 170 years ago. This fact currently intrigued Jason the most and he longed to know the details of just how and why that arrangement had come about.
In private moments, Jason leisurely pondered all he had learned and experienced with Augere. He had started jotting notes in a journal to keep track of any new details. In the back of his mind was a nagging reminder—he had been told not to keep any kind of journal related to Augere; but he saw no harm in this. This was for his own use and convenience. In his paranormal studies and investigations he had become used to recording findings in a journal. He saw his notes on Augere as nothing more than his own musings and speculations, solely for his own purpose, personal and private. Jason remained simply fascinated by Augere. Though it was still quite early in their relationship—not quite a year had gone by since they had begun working together—he already wondered if there were depths to Augere he might never get to know, even as decades passed.
His preoccupation with his mysterious employer still managed to leave him time to enjoy his own pursuits. But he had decided not to sign up for courses again at the University in the coming semester; he felt he had Augere now to provide enough diversion. The courses he had begun over the late summer and fall had been to fill in some of his free time and take his mind off his burgeoning obsession with the enigmatic Augere. And he had thoroughly enjoyed those cinema related courses. He had even been able to share much of the class experiences with Augere, finally bringing a common interest and focus the two could share.
Now Jason once again acquired a routine to keep himself healthy and provide structure to his otherwise desultory days. He had dedicated reading days, which afforded a chance to catch up with his neglected interests. He had bought a bike and looked forward to milder weather again to be able to enjoy leisurely rides around the city, something he had never had the time to do before, even back home in Minnesota. Occasionally he took day trips, or week-end outings to indulge in his love of paranormal investigations by attending conferences and visiting nearby haunted locations, sometimes as part of a team of local paranormal investigators, some of whom had become new friends.
He continued to approach Augere cautiously with questions about his life. Augere could be moody and distant and Jason had learned that he risked being shut out if the timing, or even the wording, wasn’t quite right. Now that Augere had already shared how his transformation in New Orleans had occurred, Jason wanted to know: what then? When did the blood taking and killing come into it—and just when and how had the realization that he was now something totally other occur? These were not topics easily handled in casual conversation. It seemed he had to approach such subjects in the right way and at just the right moment. As if there is ever really a right moment to ask such things.
“After you had changed,” Jason tentatively began one evening, when he perceived Augere to be in a mellow mood, “how did you know exactly what you had become? How did you figure out what had really happened to you? ” Jason’s hesitant words, once spoken, now seemed far too forward even to him.
Augere initially viewed him with a blank look. Jason was slowly acquiring the ability to interpret some of Augere’s impassive expressions. Though often seemingly blank, there were
subtle differences. This one, with just the barest hint of a frown, he believed usually meant, within such context “phrase the question better.”
“You began to realize...that you needed blood to survive? How did you know it exactly? And—I thought you needed to have the blood of another vampire to change though—’’ Nope... He realized this wasn’t working. He was met with the same frown, the same intent stare.
“Did you learn that from the television?”
Jason was sure he detected a hint of derision in the tone that accompanied Augere’s deadpan expression. Jason shook his head after reflecting for a moment. “It seems like I’ve just always known that,” Jason shrugged in reply.
“I have not always known.” A deeper frown accompanied this statement. On such a note, Jason had learned, conversations could come swiftly to an end.
Now there was a long pause. Jason had learned to wait these silences out, to not be so impatient. Tact and patience usually equaled positive results. Well, sometimes.
“I was grateful to be alive after the ordeal of being attacked. Each day brought me more strength, and I began to feel healthier than I had before. I was looking forward to returning home to France...but then, I began to notice subtle changes. In many ways, I became quite unlike myself. Foreign to my knowledge of who I am.” Augere remained quiet for several moments without making eye contact. Jason waited as he concealed his exuberance; Augere seemed practically loquacious this evening.
“I began to crave—everything—in large quantities. Food and drink and...women; there was never enough. My appetites for all things became voracious and insatiable. All of the foods I might have enjoyed before were immeasurably more delectable to me, more than I had ever remembered them to be. Further, every taste and scent, every texture and sensation was immensely richer and fuller than one could imagine. I recall that I had no inhibitions, and I behaved in ways quite contrary to my nature...ways that were unthinkable and out of character to me, and this caused me much difficulty and remorse. There was a loathing that came with this behavior, but I seemed to have no power to alter my actions or deny those needs. I took what I pleased when and where it suited me. No excess of any pleasure seemed too extreme, and I denied myself nothing. My passions dominated my will and my daily existence, and I gave in to those passions freely.”
