"Why do you keep saying that? He explained to me that you were raised outside of our society, but you're still one of us, and we protect our own. I can help you adjust to our way of life. Things will probably be much easier for you once you learn to let us help you. Really, Dani, you know I'm a friend, right?" he reasoned.
Dani chuckled. "I may be putting that theory to the test very soon. We'll see how accepting you really are, eventually. I gotta go, but I'll call you when I get back into town."
"You know you're cryptic and crazy, right?" he joked.
"Yes, I am, but would you have me any other way?" She couldn't help smiling. Kayden was just so easy to talk to.
"I'd be willing to give it a go." They both laughed. "I'm serious, girl. You can trust me. I'll protect you and your personal issues that make you feel the need to manipulate others."
"Thanks, Kayden. I guess maybe we could be friends," she said in a teasing tone. "I'll call you when I get home." She hung up before he asked where she was.
Next, she needed to get to the reason for her long drive south. Her mom had some explaining to do, and she wouldn't be dancing around the truth anymore. Dani needed to know exactly what and whom she would be dealing with.
There was a black BMW parked out front, so she figured their guest was already there. She thought she'd have a day to grill her mom privately before he arrived, but maybe she'd get more answers if she were on the spot.
Dani parked and climbed out of her car. As she crossed the lawn, a feeling of betrayal crept over her. Her mother should have told her about her father. She should have prepared her for this madness. She slammed the front door behind her so Tessa would know she was pissed. She'd never slammed a door or yelled in her life. This seemed like a good time to start.
She stalked into the living room, where a man stood to greet her. "Soleil?" he asked. She had no idea who he was or what a soleil was, so she kept walking.
Her mother was in the kitchen making tea, but she didn't turn around to look at Dani. "Would you like a cup of tea, sweetheart?" she stalled.
"Yes, I would like some tea, with a side of, What the hell is going on!" The attitude was out of character for Dani and not polite for a stranger to witness, but she'd had enough.
The man stood in the doorway. "Maybe we should sit down, and your mother and I can calmly explain the situation to you, Soleil." His manner was smooth and irritating.
"Who are you and what is a soleil?" Dani snapped.
"I'm Mason, your godfather, and I am sorry for calling you Soleil. That has been your name in my mind since you were born, and I'm having trouble adjusting to your other name. Maybe I should say your real name," he explained. He was handsome, and his voice had a calming effect.
Dani looked at her mom. "Are you trying to tell me even my name is a lie? I can't believe this shit!" She threw her keys across the room and went back into the living room to plop down in a chair sideways with her head hanging off one arm and legs over the other. Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself and stared at the ceiling, waiting for them to join her.
"I didn't think you'd be here until tomorrow," Dani told the man in a much more civil tone when he sat across from her on the sofa.
"It seems we have some very serious problems at home. I need to get back tonight," he explained.
"I guess you're talking about the crazy vampire snatcher?" she asked sharply.
He and Tessa looked at each other. "Yes, that's the problem I'm speaking of. Why don't we start with you telling us what you already know about that, and we'll fill in the blanks for you, Soleil. I mean, Danielle. I'm sorry."
"So that is my real name? Why was it changed, and why didn't you change our last name, too?" she asked Tessa.
"That's the name your father gave you. It is a unique name, so I changed it in order to make you harder to find, but I had trouble letting go of my married name. I was only trying to protect you."
"Alright then, I will tell you what I have figured out the hard way and from piecing together our past discussion about my father." She paused to gather her thoughts. "I know that my father is a vampire whose family didn't approve of him marrying a human. Something bad must have happened after I was born, because you let them believe we both died so they wouldn't kill us, or whatever. Griffin believed we were dead, too. So he married and started a new family." When she said his name, Tessa cringed.
"I guess I was a normal kid, until I came of age. Griffin explained to me that it is not unusual for abilities to be unknown until then. I guess when my abilities made an appearance, so did my need for blood. He wants me protected because my awesome power might fall into the wrong hands and put his people in danger. Does that about sum it up?" she finished sarcastically. By the looks on their faces, she'd just told them something they didn't know. Good-at least she wasn't the only one in the dark.
"Did your father recognize you?" Tessa asked slowly.
"I don't think so. He looked at me really hard. My eyes caught him off guard, and he made a comment about my scent, so it's probably just a matter of time. I thought his wife would pass out when she saw me. I look just like him and their son."
"Sweetheart, you have no idea how sorry I am you had to find out this way. I really did believe that you were mostly human and this wouldn't be a problem." Tessa and Mason went into an explanation of the events that led to them hiding from her father. Her mother cried through most of it, which made Dani feel like a heel for yelling at her. She didn't blame her for running after he agreed to remarry-or bond, as they say-less than a day after hearing of their deaths. What a slap in the face. Dani could feel her mother's sorrow from across the room. She still loved him. It made Dani furious with him and his family all over again.
"So many things make sense now. You never dated or married. The necklace and the story you told me. The lack of any family and your unwillingness to talk about my father is understandable. I just wish I had known before I started to think I was going crazy. I really did think I was insane when I started to dream about biting people and liking it." It was a weak apology, but an apology nonetheless.
"Tell me about the power you were referring to. Griffin said you're unusual?" Mason prompted.
"Yes, he was impressed and said I need to be under council protection until the kidnapper is found."
Tessa looked at Mason, obviously confused.
Mason addressed her. "Do you remember the story Griffin told you about his sister and my brother?" Tessa nodded. "It's happening again."
She gasped and went into the kitchen to hyperventilate. They could hear her pacing and panting. When she returned she'd calmed and pasted on a neutral face.
"Let's talk about why Griffin thinks you need protection. Show us what you showed him," Mason suggested.
Without saying anything, she lifted the coffee table, turned it in the air, and set it back down. They both laughed then. "You got that from your dad," Mason said. "He's been known to move people's cars and hide them as a prank."
They were both watching her. Without moving her lips she said mentally, I know. He lifted my chair off the ground with me in it to demonstrate.
"Holy shit!" her mother yelped, and Mason laughed again.
"I seem to be projecting some of my thoughts, but it's usually not on purpose. It takes effort to do it on command," Dani explained.
"That is a little more common among telepaths. I do agree that you should be protected, but as for having awesome power, I'm not convinced."
"Oh, I'm not done yet. Let me show you something." She went around to Mason and put her hand on his. "I can do it without touching, but it is clearer if I touch you. Close your eyes." Then she showed him the same thing she'd shown Griffin-all the events of the night she was attacked, in fast-forward.
Trying not to look shocked, he said, "So you have fed." He commented on the scene with Nathan. "That is quite a telepathic talent indeed. I don't think I even have a name for it."
Her mom cringed again at the mention of her feeding. "How many times have you fed?" she asked.
"Twice, and both times I got a little stronger. You might as well know too." She touched Tessa and gave her a tour of the memory as well. "I can also read thoughts, but it mostly comes to me in pictures. I did it to Lucas that day in the kitchen, Mom, and I did it to Griffin today. I think Griffin's major concern is my ability to control other vampires."
Both of them looked at her as if she had a third eye. Dani didn't know what to say, so she opted to show them again. Without touching either one of them, she reached out with her mind and replayed for both at the same time how she'd frozen Griffin and Kayden and made Kayden do silly pet tricks before that. Neither one of them seemed to be able to speak.