Any characters you recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton or the members of this group. I’m just doing this for fun. It’s rated PG so far but that may change.

 

Camden’s Story: Part Six

 

Camden stared at Zach for what seemed like an eternity. He wasn't sure that he had heard his statement right, so he asked. “You're a what?”

 

“I'm not what you think of a vampire in general terms. I am very different.” Camden didn't react so Zach explained further. “I do not take blood from humans. In fact, because of my powers, I don't need it… only when I'm injured.”

 

“How do you survive?” His son asked.

 

“I eat like you do. I drink. I just can't be out in the sun for very long.”

 

“Like Blade.” Zach chuckled at the boy’s movie analogy. “Am I going to change?  To become a werewolf?”

 

“I… don't know.” David's eyes widened at the older man’s reply. “Delia was a natural wolf. The gene was passed on from her father's side.  It lay dormant for generations. It may never affect you.”

 

“Did you know this before we took him?” Camden didn't like his father's tone in asking about him. “That he may change someday?”

 

Zach nodded. “I knew that the gene was dormant. I hoped to be reunited with Camden before he changed.  We were hoping that the gene would skip him altogether because of me.”

 

Cam’s adopted dad bristled. “You should have told me about the possibility. What if something had happened to you? We wouldn't have known until it was too late.”

 

Camden stared at the man that had reared him. “Oh so now I'm a threat?  Some freak that you don't want to call son anymore?”

 

“That wasn't what I meant.” He reached out to the young man but he backed away. “You know I love you.”

 

Cam shook his head. “You did before now.”

 

Camden left the room quickly. By the time David followed, he was gone. They heard the motorcycle rev just before Camden pulled away from the curve. 

 

Tears stung his eyes as he sped out of town. He couldn't believe that the man he had called dad all these years would react like he had. Still, would he have reacted any differently? Knowing that his adopted son could turn into a monster at any moment.

 

He headed out of town. His parents... ‘No’ he thought, ‘scratch that. The Daniels had a cabin on a lake about an hour out of town.’ He wanted the solitude.  He had to think. He knew that the cabin was stocked with food and water. So he didn't need to stop for anything. It was also stocked with something else… alcohol and plenty of it. Camden was going to get plastered, his fathers be damned.

 

Back at Zach's shop the two men were silent for a time. Finally David spoke up. “I screwed up.”

 

“I can understand your misgivings.”

 

He shook his head. “I shouldn't have responded that way. I hurt him.”

 

“David, I don't know if Camden has inherited the gene or not. If he has, the changes will start to show in his mid-twenties. That's how it worked with Delia.”

 

Mr. Daniels sighed. “Then if that's the case I think we should ignore it as best we can.”

 

“If that's how you want it.” The vampire pulled out his cell phone and hit the pound sign and the number three. Someone on the other end picked up immediately. “Annie, Camden is out on his motorcycle. Not sure where he's going. He's upset.” He listened. “If you can find him, call me.” He smiled. “Thank you.” He ended the conversation.

 

“Can't you just flash yourself to him?”

 

“Not while he's on the move.”

 

David gave the older man a questioning look. “This Annie? You trust her?”

 

“With my life and his. If anyone can find him, she can.”

 

“He's probably heading for the trails.”

 

Zach shook his head. “He's on his street bike but he probably will go somewhere familiar… That feels safe.”

 

Camden's mind was racing. Maybe he shouldn't go to the lake. They'd find him there. He just wanted to be by himself and think. The trails were out of the question too. The one place they wouldn't look for him was the old cemetery.

 

He and his friends used to go there on hot summer nights and role-play. Camden hadn't been there in a long time, mainly because the friends he had hung out with had left town or were too wrapped up in their own lives.

 

It was still daylight when he rode through the huge wrought iron gates and headed for the back of the cemetery where all of the oldest graves and crypts were. It was a little eerie being there alone but it was quiet.

 

He parked his bike and walked along the path through the trees. There was a large fountain about three hundred yards off the path. People came to reflect on their lives or lives lost. In the middle of the fountain was a sculpture of an angel. Around the fountain were three stone benches. Camden sat down on the bench directly in front of the angel.

 

All the times he had come here, he'd never noticed how beautiful the statue was. They'd usually come around dusk or just before dawn, when the mist was rising. It had been surreal.

 

Camden took off his helmet and laid it beside him. Running a hand through his hair, he felt like he'd grown a set of horns. David's reaction had thrown him. It had hurt too.

 

He pictured the photo of himself and his parents in his head. They had both been smiling. She had been really pretty. He wondered what her wolf form had looked like. Maybe he would ask his… father.

 

He wanted to talk to Zach some more without David being there. He took out his cell phone, called information and asked for the bookstore's number. Then he called. Tiffany picked up. She gave him grief about taking off and said that his two dads were worried. Camden laughed at the “two dads” statement. Tiffany was not amused. He apologized and asked to speak to Zach. A minute or less later his father came on.

 

Camden told him where he was and that he wanted to talk to him, alone. He said that he would come back to the shop if David wouldn't be there. Zach told Camden that he would come to him. He thought for a moment and then agreed.

 

Then something occurred to the young man and he asked, “What about the sunlight?”

 

“I told you. I'm not your typical vamp. Besides I know it's well shaded in that area. Wait for me.”

 

“I'll be here.” Camden told him then hung up.

 

At the shop Zach filled David in. He would go to see Camden alone.

 

Mr. Daniels looked worried. “Tell him I'm sorry.”

 

“He'll get over the anger. It'll be all right.”

 

“I wish I had your confidence.  Call me.” He told the vampire.

 

“Cam will call you.” David looked unsure but left. Zach called out. “Tiff?!” Tiffany walked into the back. “I'm leaving for awhile. Will you close up?”

 

“Sure.”

 

He gave her a hug. “Be careful.” She nodded and smiled.

 

Zach pulled on his leather jacket, helmet and gloves before leaving the shop. He would wait to call Annie when he reached Camden, if she hadn't found him already.

 

She had. Camden sat on the stone bench staring at the large silver wolf. It was a beautiful female. He cautiously held out his hand and to his surprise the wolf licked his fingers before jumping up on the bench and lying down beside him.

 

Zach parked his Valkyrie beside Camden's Ninja and started down the path. He paused when he reached the fountain.

 

The wolf’s head was lying in Camden's lap as he stroked her fur and talked quietly to her. “I wonder if she was anything like you. What color she was?”

 

“She was a deep brown.” Camden looked up as his father continued. “And she was very beautiful.” He leaned down and nuzzled the wolf. “Thanks Annie.”

 

The wolf nipped his chin, sat up, and licked Camden's face before she bounded off. Zach sat down next to his son.

 

“Friend of yours?” Cam asked.

 

“Yes and of yours. Annie has been watching over you for me, until the time was right for us to meet.” Cam nodded. “You need to call David. He's worried.”

 

Camden snorted. “Yeah. Worried that I'll eat him someday.”

 

“He's worried that he has hurt you.” Camden didn't answer. “His reaction was typical.”

 

“He raised me. He thinks I would turn on him… Hurt my brothers.”

 

“If the tables were reversed. How would you have taken the news?”

 

Camden thought for a moment, then opened up his cell phone and called David. His voice was steady but unemotional. After a few minutes he ended the conversation. They were quiet for sometime.

 

The young man finally spoke. “I want to know all about her… About my other family, both sides.”

 

Zach smiled and nodded. “Where would you like me to start?”

 

“How did you meet her?”

 

“I was on vacation with my family in the British Isles. We were in London. I was sixteen. I went to one of the bookstores. I needed something to read. She was there with some of her friends. She the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. I was drawn to her for some reason.”

 

“Was it love at first sight?” His son asked.

 

“Oh no. She thought I was just another tourist, especially when I tripped on a mat and almost up ended a rack of books. She didn't laugh but her friends did. That was enough to send me the other direction.”

 

“You should have zapped 'em.”

 

Zach laughed. “I hadn't come into my powers yet but even so, I don't use my gift on the innocent.”

 

“So how did you finally meet?”

 

“On one of those big red double-decker buses a couple of days later. I was just riding around, looking at different things. She got on at one of the tourist stops. I didn't think she'd remember me but she sat down beside me and asked me if I had knocked over any more books. That's how it had started. We were together constantly after that. When I left we kept in touch. I even thought about going to college over there but she ended up here instead.”

 

“Sounds like an ideal start.” His son smiled.

 

“It was. We got married after college. Then one night we were talking and her eyes changed. They turned so pale blue that they looked clear. She was shivering but it was over seventy. Then without warning, she shuddered, and changed into wolf form.”

 

“Did you know? What she was?”

 

His father shook his head. “No. Neither did she and I could tell that she was as scared as I was. I reached out and touched her. She didn't attack me. So we lay there all night not knowing what to do. Who to call.”

 

Zach told Camden that Delia had stayed in wolf form until dawn. She had been so weak when she had changed back that he drew her a warm bath and bathed her before putting her to bed. She didn't remember anything but waking up naked on the floor with Zach stretched out beside her. When he told her what had happened she thought he had gone mad. Then she remembered what her mother had told her. ‘Come home before you decide to have children.’ Delia had called and told her mother what Zach had said. They were on the next available flight out.

 

“And that's when we found out.” Zach explained. 

 

The air crackled behind them causing Camden to jump. “What was that?”

 

“We have to go. Get on your bike and follow me. If we get separated head to the District. Go to the Circus of the Damned. Tell them that I sent you.”

 

“But...”

 

“Don't argue. Go.”

 

The two men took off up the path towards the bikes. Camden could feel the air around him was full of electricity. He had his helmet on before they cleared the trees. The silence of the cemetery was replaced by the noise of the motorcycles starting. Camden followed Zach down the main road. They were almost to the gates when something knocked Zach off his bike. Camden skidded to a stop and reached out to his father.

 

“Go! Do what I told you!” The man ordered his son.

 

“No! Come on!” He looked up to see Trisha coming out of the trees. She had four men with her. “Come on! Dad!”

 

“Camden go! Hurry! I'll be there soon.”

 

Camden rode off. Zach waited until his son was out of sight before he shimmered and faded.

 

Camden sped toward the District. He wasn't sure what was happening but he had a feeling that the farther away he was from Trisha the better.

 

At the cemetery, Trisha and the other men were looking for Zach. His bike was still lying on the road. Zach wasn't far. He was still invisible to them but he could sense them and hear everything. He recognized the men. It was Mick and three of the other members of All Seek. He wondered where Taylor was.

 

“So where is he?” Mick asked the woman.

 

“He's shielding. He can't hold it long.” Zach almost laughed out loud at her reply.

 

Mick cautioned, “You know. If Taylor finds out about this, we're toast.”

 

“Then make sure he doesn't find out until I have the kid and Zach is dead.” She snapped then walked off down the road.

 

Tim, another band member, spoke up. “I don't like this Mick. Zach has never done anything to any of us.”

 

Brett added. “Yeah and neither has his son. What the hell aren't you telling us?”

 

Mick grimaced at the pair. “Someone wants to talk to Camden and it's someone you don't want to cross. Let's get back to the club.”

 

Zach waited until he was sure they were gone before calling Jean Claude and alerting him to Camden's imminent arrival. Jean Claude would have someone waiting for Camden. Zach thanked the Master of the City before hanging up. He cautiously approached his bike and set it upright.

Getting on, he started the engine and rode off.

 

Camden pulled up outside the Circus of the Damned. He looked at the clowns and noticed they had fangs. He so did not want to be here but there were plenty of people who did judging by the crowd waiting to get in.

 

He was just about ready to turn around and leave when someone tapped his shoulder. Camden jumped a foot, which caused great amusement for the other man. He introduced himself as Jason and told Camden that he would escort him inside. Camden looked at him. Jason was dressed in tight black leather pants and a vest to match. He wasn't much older than Camden.

 

“Escort huh? Is that what you do?” The young man asked.

 

Jason just grinned. “Actually, no. I'm a stripper.” Camden shook his head. “Zach's on his way.” Jason noticed relief in the young man’s eyes. “Come on in.”

 

Camden shut down the bike and got off. He followed Jason up the steps and into the establishment. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he checked out the place… Tents and rings, it really was a circus but he had the feeling it was far from normal. Jason led him past the spectacle that was the Circus, into a building and down below through a maze of sorts until they reached a door that read office. Jason knocked and pushed the door open, motioning for Camden to follow.

 

Jean Claude was sitting behind his desk. He looked up as the two men entered. Camden took off his helmet.

 

“Mon Dieu!” The master exclaimed. “There is no denying who you are. Thank you Jason. Send Zachary here the instant he arrives.” Jason nodded and left. “Please sit. We have so much to talk about.”

 

“We do?” The young man asked. Jean Claude nodded and Camden wished with all his might for Zach to please hurry.