Sacrifice (Book 2)

Chapter 21 - Answering the Call

Could it really only have been forty-eight hours since Shrove Tuesday?  She tried to figure out how that was possible.  When had her feelings crossed the line?  They had gone from meeting, to conversation, to fondness, to...love.  How had that happened?  It wasn't love at first sight, but it might as well have been.  They hadn't left each other's side in two days.  The world around them was in chaos, but inside they had found peace.  And love.  This attraction, so deep-rooted and explosive, was more fierce than anything she had ever experienced.  Was it because he was a vampire too?

The phone rang and she listened as he answered.  Terra pulled the sheet around her and sat up in bed.  Tobia ended the call and rolled over to face her.  He placed a strand of hair behind her ear and trailed his fingers down her cheek.  "There's a problem, Bella.  Do you think you can get through to your mother?"

Her stomach cinched in a hard knot.  "Why?  What's happened?"  The possibilities flashed through her mind.  Ethan...Lizzie... were they okay?  She took a deep breath, calming herself.  They were fine.  She would know if they weren't.

"Your mother's friend Benjamin is in the hospital.  He's on life support.  He was shot and they don't think he'll live."

"Oh, no."  Madison would be crushed.  It took two seconds for concern to morph into anger.  It whipped through her like a raging fire.  "Do you know who did it?"

Tobia frowned, his eyes hardened and his brows slanted in fury.  She could tell he didn't want to answer.  "Yes, it was Erdo.  When he realized Mariposa was gone, he didn't take it well, amore mio."

Terra waited for him to continue.

"In our world, vampires are very possessive.  When you took Mariposa, you took something that belonged to him.  He's retaliating against your mother.  He sent men to find Mariposa and gave orders to kill both Benjamin and Cole.  They managed to hit one target but a crowd formed and they couldn't finish the job."

"We left Cole with Benjamin to protect him!"

Tobia wrapped his arms around Terra and pulled her close.  He kissed the top of her head.  "I know, Bella.  He tried.  Ben saved Cole's life by stepping in front of him."

"Oh, God."  Terra buried her head in Tobia's chest. 

"We have thirty-three days until your mother's coronation.  We can delay no more.  I fear things may happen quickly now.  It's time to step up the pace.  I need you to get through to your mother and ask her to meet with me.  Don't tell her about Benjamin yet.  We'll wait and see if he survives.  If the news is bad, I'd rather deliver it to her in person."

Terra understood his logic.  "I'll do that."

Tobia tilted her chin up.  "You enchant me, Bella.  How is it that you have captured my heart in such a short time?"

"I could ask the same of you, sir."

Tobia leaned over and claimed her lips.  She was caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and allowed it to carry her away. 

*

The doctor put the cuff away and handed her a bag of warm blood. It was an even exchange. A bag from her for a bag from him.

"It will go to someone worthy?" Madison asked in Italian.

"A baby with leukemia.  A very worthy cause," he answered.

Madison tipped the plastic in her hands back and forth, watching the crimson liquid slosh around and nodded her head.  "I'll be back in three days then."

"This is a wonderful thing you're doing, you know." 

"Thank you, Doctor.  It's the least I can do," she said standing to leave.