Essence (Nectar 3)

Sam nodded and agreed, “Alright.”

His sister poked her head out from the boat that Sam was in front of and gave a little wave.

Kyla waved at her. Tristan tipped her chin to meet his gaze. She was pretty out of it and just responding to the wave as, probably, a matter of reflex.

Sam jogged over to his sister and they spoke for a few minutes. Tristan could read them both, despite being a few hundred feet away. He sensed nothing deceitful. Sasha was rigid, slightly concerned, but Sam was giving her placations.

Tristan waited, stroking Kyla’s forearm, which was linked with his arm. She was swaying a little, staring out at the water. But there was a little smile on her face.

Sam returned and gave him a nod.

“Anything happens, Sam; I get the slightest inkling of any sort of ploy…”

“Tristan, I’m telling you…”

“I’m supposed to believe you towed the line all this time and you’re suddenly on my side completely? On your twin’s side at the same time but won’t double cross me if she turns out to have a hidden agenda? Yeah, right.”

“You’ve already programmed me to be on your side,” Sam said, “You’re the strongest programming talent I’ve come across. It’s probably unbreakable. Stronger than a twin bond. But I’m telling you, Tris bro, something about this patch…” Sam shook his head, “When I help get you two squared away and know I’ve done all I can to redeem myself with you and you’re set with your happily ever after? I’m going off to get my own. I want a different life. I want to be your friend but I will be asking that you release me from my current duties. My sister and I got drunk last night and spent hours talking. Today I can’t stop thinking about how my story will end. I’m 78 years old, brother, and I look like I’m 28. I’m gonna find me a sweet young thing with sweet blood and buy a little place on the beach somewhere tropical. I’m gonna enjoy her a few years and then if she suits me, turn that sweet thing into a vampire and my sister will de-bitchify her, if all goes well with her research and ability to replicate a synthetic version of whatever is in Kyla’s brother’s blood that makes female vamps even-steven and then I’m gonna spend the rest of my days fucking my she-vamp under the stars with an occasional sexy human vixen on the menu between us. You know how fuckin’ awesomely wild vamp on vamp sex is, right? You, yourself know wild a vamp-vamp-human female threesome is. Anyway, maybe have a coupla kids. We’ll see.”

Tristan half smiled. It was a good story. Time would tell if it’d turn out that way.

“I have a feeling you’ll get her back. And never know, my sister could help you get her turned and de-bitchified so that she’ll live maybe as long as you.”

“I hope to God you’re right, Sam but I don’t want her to be a vamp. I just want her.” Tristan didn’t ever wanna show weakness but this was the honest truth just spilling from his lips like verbal diarrhea.

“I’m sure you want her for more than the next 50-60 odd years though, man…”

“One hurdle at a time.”-5-Tristan dismissed several of the men who were on the boat he’d chartered, some who were there as decoys. They went off in different directions, two in a small speedboat, a few in a canoe, and a few on jet skis. One was a co-pilot heading to a nearby parked amphibious helicopter where a pilot would scan the island, get him a report, and then wait on standby.

Tristan had also grabbed a satellite phone, as he didn’t know what sort of signal would be available at the island. He’d be able to get them to swoop in if things went awry and something happened to the boat.

He had Kyla on deck during the boat ride. She smiled through the whole ride, looking under the weather but yet pretty, hair floating in the breeze as she gazed out at the waves.

He kept her close. He reached into the duffle bag and handed her a sports drink.

“Drink that, baby. Slowly. Small sips until you’re done. We’ll be there soon.”

Within a short time, they were docking on a small island with a beachy front.

Sam helped one of the two remaining guys on the charter tie off and Tristan told Kyla to stay put a second while he spoke briefly to the captain to confirm his directions to be anchored within five minutes of the island until further notice.

Tristan grabbed their luggage, her hand, and they got off the boat. She stumbled over the rocky beach and seemed unsteady on her feet so he scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way.