Julian's white shirt was soiled and stale. He smelled of mold and something sickly sweet. Waves of fear washed through Eleisha.
"Please, put me down," she said.
"No. My father must leave this place. I can't bring myself to kill him, but he has no place here."
"You want me to take him away?" Her heart rose slightly. Julian might have slipped over the edge with his mother, but he might let her take William and run. That was almost too much to hope for. "I'll take him far away, as far as you like. Just unlock the door and let him out."
"It isn't that simple," he whispered. His jaw twitched. "You'll die in one lifetime, and then what happens to him?"
He walked over against the wall and slid down, holding Eleisha in his lap with one tightened arm. "Whether you believe me or not, I find this regrettable. You aren't the right type any more than he is."
She sobbed once and tried pushing him away as he grasped a handful of loose hair to pull her head back. "I'm weak and tired," he whispered. "This will hurt."
The world exploded into white. Awareness waxed dull, and memories grew dim. Eleisha didn't feel his teeth, but thought his lips were burning, crisping the flesh on her neck. Pushing at his chest, too lost to cry, she grew light and faint until the ceiling seemed inches away. Perhaps it was.
Her eyelids fluttered. His white face looked down from directly above, teeth ripping at his own wrist. He forced it into her mouth. "Take it back. All of it."
Warm.
Rich.
Liquid flowed freely into her mouth, and when it stopped flowing, she bit down to draw more. Heaviness filled her again, then darkness.
Eleisha woke up in the crook of Julian's arm, lying on the dirt floor, stunned to find she had both wet and soiled her nightdress. Lady Katherine was gone. William whimpered from his cell. How much time had passed?
When she sat up, Julian stirred. She stared at him. "Your wrist is still bleeding."
"Get cleaned up and pack a bag. Then do the same for my father."
"Where are we going?"
"Just do it."
An hour later, the three of them were traveling in a carriage at top speed down the coast road. Eleisha feared Julian was going to kill the horses.
"You're driving them too hard."
"Quiet."
"Where are you taking us?"
"I've booked two tickets on a ship to America. It's an old cargo ship, and you can't feed on the sailors. Don't try to eat any real food, or you'll be no good to anyone. Just manage by draining rats or whatever else is available. I've heard we can last up to three months like that if necessary. You'll have to hunt for my father as well. Stay out of the sun completely, or you'll die. Are you listening to me?"
"Julian, I don't know what-"
"Just do as I say!"
She clutched tightly to William's shivering form and remained silent for the next two hours. When they pulled into a small wharf town, Julian hid the carriage in an alley and jumped out. "Stay here no matter what happens. I have to hunt."
Eleisha lost track of time. She sat, comforting William and waiting in terrified confusion. She almost sighed in relief when Julian's tall form slipped around the alley corner, and he climbed back up beside her. His face looked fuller, healthier.
"You have to feed before boarding. At least once." Using his own teeth, he tore at his wrist again. "Here, drink this."
"No."
He grabbed her head and forced his wrist in again. The warmth grew overwhelming. A hunger touched her mind, and she bit down again, this time consciously hating his closeness but unable to stop. He finally pushed her away.
"What am I?" she asked without emotion.
He didn't answer, but turned instead to William. "Open your mouth, Father."
William tried feeding, but spat and choked blood on the carriage seat.
Eleisha grasped his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," Julian answered, troubled, confused, but perhaps beyond caring. "That is your concern now. Besides sending you money, I wash my hands of this. He is your charge, your responsibility." He pushed a velvet bag into her hands. "This should see you to America. My banker will open an account for you in New York."
"I don't know anything about banks… I don't know anything about America."
"Come with me."
Helping William, she followed Julian down to the dock. A stocky man dressed in a blue uniform awaited them. "Yes, sir," he said nervously. "I've prepared a space in the hold, as you asked."
"The old man has a skin condition," Julian said. "He's not to be out during the day. His maid will stay with him at all times."
"Very good, sir."
Julian handed the man a pouch of money and walked away. He never looked back.
Three nights later, hunger struck. It was faint, uncomfortable at first. They had no rooms to speak of, only blankets laid on the ship's floor in the windowless cargo hold. William crawled around, sniffing the blankets like an animal.
"Lunchtime, yes, it is. Must be lunchtime."
Remembering Julian's last words, Eleisha cornered and caught a squealing rat, amazed at how swiftly her body worked and how easily she had sniffed the creature out.
