Preview: Warriors Blue - The second season of the Colors of Moonlight series

Theresa

She sat in the back seat of the taxi and picked a tissue nervously with her hands. Since the call, she felt helpless and overwhelmed. She didn't know what to do.

Why had she been that careless? How could this have happened? Her little daughter with vampires. Sold!

How had Miranda managed to get to her? How did she manage to convince the babysitter? What would she do now? Surely Miranda had received money from the vampires to keep Penelope with them. The money she didn't have to redeem her daughter.

They couldn't just take her away. What options did she have? The woman who had called her seemed nice and quiet, but what did that mean? No one knew what was going on in the vampires, no one, but the vampires themselves.

The taxi driver drove towards the coast. Theresa had just been able to give him the address she had received on the phone. She didn't even know where her little girl was right now.

»Ma'am, are you all right?« the text driver asked and looked closely at her.

Theresa breathed deeply and tightened her shoulders. She had to stay strong and keep her nerves. If she went mad, she couldn't help Penelope. »Yes, I'm fine,« she whispered and wiped the tears off her cheeks with the remains of the tissue in her hand.

»You don't look like you're doing well. And I know the area you want me to drive you to. That is the domain of the vampires.« The taxi driver seemed sincerely concerned about her.

For a second, Theresa thought about telling him everything. But that was probably not a good idea. »I just fought with my husband,« she lied and smiled in the rearview mirror. »This has nothing to do with the vampires.«

»May I ask what you have to do with the bloodsuckers?« He obviously didn't like vampires much.»You may, but I will not answer it.« Theresa knew how rude she seemed, but she couldn't tell him. No one was allowed to know what had happened to Penelope tonight. Otherwise, they might have taken her away. Provided she got her back from the vampires.

What would she do if they wanted to keep Penelope? What options did she have? None against vampires at all. No mortal had ever managed to do anything about them. And God knows there were enough organizations that tried to diminish the influence of the vampires.

Some did in public, with demonstrations and stuff like that. Theresa knew – like everyone else – how many organizations were acting out of the underground. But she had nothing to do with it. Nothing. All she wanted was her daughter.

The car turned into one of the villa districts that were right on the beach and slowed down. Theresa's gaze wandered over the many houses. She would never be able to afford an apartment in this locality. She could barely keep even the small apartment in the poorest part of the city with her sparse salary. Only sometimes there was still some money at her disposal at the end of the month. She used these special opportunities to do something for Penelope.

How did it all get out of control? She had only been a few hours away from home and sure to leave Penelope in safe hands. How did Miranda manage to kidnap her little daughter? She didn't even have to ask why. She was looking for money. The caller had clearly emphasized that Penelope had been sold to her vampire clan.

Finally, the car stopped, and Theresa started digging in her purse. In a rush, she completely forgot to have to pay the taxi driver. She took a nervous look at the taximeter and swallowed. She never carried that much money with her. How could she have known the trip would cost her almost a week's pay?

Just as she wants to confess the man how impossible it was for her to pay, there was a knock on the window. Frightened, Theresa looked up as the taxi driver rolled down the window, and a woman gazed suspiciously at her.

With a skillful movement, the woman stroked the blond curls off her face and urgently eyed Theresa out of her grey eyes.

»I suppose we spoke on the phone?« the vampire asked. Theresa nodded, frightened. How was she going to convince that woman to give her little girl back? The vampire also nodded and handed the taxi driver some bills. »Keep the change,« she said to him and then looked back at Theresa. »Would you get out? I think it'll be more comfortable to discuss everything else inside.«

Theresa nodded silently and then opened the door. She didn't know what to say. So she just followed the vampire while she heard the cab drive away.

Well, guess it wasn't that serious about the taxi driver's worries. He couldn't get out of here fast enough.

»You seem uneasy. There's no need for that. We have no intention of harming you. Your daughter is well, too,« the vampire promised.

They walked towards the huge villa, which was directly adjacent to the beach. The wall of the house was painted white, and blue shutters hung on each window. How many times had she dreamed of raising Penelope in an area like this? But these were just dreams. Unreachable.

»Please come in,« the vampire told her, and Theresa noticed that she had stopped to admire the house. Nervously, she entered the large entry hall of the house.

»Where ...?« Theresa started but immediately fell silent again. Could she dare ask about Penelope?

»Your daughter's asleep right now. She's not used to being awake at this hour,« the vampire explained. »Follow me, please.«

She left without assuring herself Theresa was following her. She didn't think of resisting the vampire's request anyway. After all, this was all about Penelope's safety.

They entered the room that could have been described as a vast living room. The whole place seemed to serve only to accommodate a seating group. Nothing else. Walls and the floor were covered with light wood, and the ceiling was decorated with elaborate stucco. The furniture seemed heavy yet inviting.

»Have a seat,« the vampire told her. »Do you want a drink while we wait for the others?«

»The others?« Theresa looked up in shock. Being around one vampire made her uncomfortable. And now there should be more?

»My brothers and sisters,« the vampire explained reassuringly while pointing at an armchair. »Please sit down. Nothing would happen to you. So why are you so scared?«

»My daughter ...« Theresa's voice broke off, and tears came to her eyes.

»Your daughter is well, and you will be able to take her back with you. We only have some questions.«

»Really? I can take her?« Relief flooded Theresa. They wouldn't take away Penelope.

»Of course. She's your daughter, isn't she? What happened was our fault, not yours.«

»I still don't understand how everything got this far,« Theresa confessed. Now that she knew they wouldn't take Penelope away, she felt much more relaxed. Maybe the vampires weren't as bad as it was told.

»This is something we want to find out. That's why we want to talk to you. But I forget the rules of courtesy. First of all, I should introduce myself. My name is Sara. I live here with my family.«

»It ... it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sara,« Theresa stuttered. She was familiar with the rules of dealing with vampires. Every mortal was. »Well, I doubt that under the circumstances, Theresa,« Sara replied. Before Theresa could respond, the door opened, and more vampires entered.

Tense and as unobtrusive as possible, Theresa looked at them. She always thought the vampires were threatening. But they are not.

One of them had his short, blond hair flying around his head in wild strands, and his gaze seemed amused. He was wearing tight jeans and a checkered shirt.

Sara walked up to him. »This is my brother Clay.« She pointed to the vampire woman standing right next to him. »Violett, our little sister. She beats a bit out of line, but we love her anyway.«

Violett hissed at Sara and then grinned. She was much smaller than the other vampires and could not have been older than fifteen when she died. Her hair had a strange color. It looked like the failed attempt to dye it.

»This is Marius. His transformation wasn't long ago, and he just recently joined our clan,« Sara continued.

Theresa wondered why she was introduced to all the vampires in the house. Marius was more like the kind of vampire Theresa was afraid of. He was dressed all in black and looked daringly at her. There was no emotion to suggest that he was alive. If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn to see a sculpture there.

»And lastly, my cousin Jonathan. He's usually a little stubborn.« Sara and Jonathan looked at each other with love. Theresa could see how close they were.

Jonathan seemed least of all present as a vampire. He was wearing jeans, just like Clay. But instead of a shirt, he wore a sweatshirt. His brown hair was a little longer than Clay's, but his eyes seemed more closed. He looked thoughtful and a little melancholic to her.

Theresa managed a formal greeting and then waited for what happened.