Plagued Sleep (Blood Guardians #2)

By Heidi Willard

Violet and Will’s adventures are only just beginning as they make their way to the home of Will’s Blood Guardian, Caleb Stewart. There they learn of those who seek their family and of mysterious rumors floating out of the west concerning an ailment which only afflicts vampires. Their questions lead them to New York City and the Council of vampires, where they must decide where their course lays and who they can trust.

The second part to the four-part New Adult paranormal romance Blood Guardians series. The second book is set in the eastern United States of the 1830s.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heidi Willard
• Release date: Sep 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301084746

Heidi Willard

Born near the last wilds of northeastern Washington state, Heidi Willard now resides in the lower state with her husband and insane cats. She writes in the paranormal and fantasy (and sometimes both) genres. She always enjoys a good chat with fans and book junkies, so feel free to drop her a line.Visit her at her website at heidiwillard.comSign up for her newsletter at eepurl.com/V3BhL

Book preview

Chapter 1

During the day the port of Albany, New York teemed with workers loading and unloading the packet boats. Passengers and crewmen alike came and went, a small part in the much larger wave of humanity in the world. These people hurried along through their concerns and daily lives, eking out a living along the wide, slow Hudson River. They toiled the day away and went home for a night's rest in their beds.

However, the night was for different creatures. There were those who stalked the old roads looking for some fun in one of the taverns and others who were looking to make an easy cent of those poor souls unfamiliar with the area. Those people were preyed on by the fiends who spoke in sweet tones, and carried knives and revolvers beneath their coats.

Two of the night's creatures stood on the pier close to the river. The sun set a few minutes before, and they were safe to step out of their carriage. They were Violet and Will, fledgling and guardian vampires. Their long trip along the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal was over, for Caleb's home lay just a few miles to the north away from the hub of the waterways.

A nice night we found to dock, aye? Captain Johnny commented to his passengers.

Yes, though there's been rain lately, Will pointed out. For Violet's part, she was glad to be keeping her feet on the ground for a greater time than a mere stop at some small canal town. The cat, too, scampered about her feet and enjoyed the stalking of mice along the docks. Will watched her carefully, for during their long journey she still hadn't shown signs of her potential as a vampire. The gifts were still locked inside her, hopefully to be released soon.

I'm sure you'll get through it. Your father's expecting you pretty eagerly, their stalwart captain informed them. He winked and tapped his temple. He's been watching real careful since we got close to Albany. Methinks he might be worried about the roads between here and there.

So am I. The carriage will have to cut through all that mud. Will gestured at the road just off the docks which sported mud a few inches deep.

I wish I could help you on that, but Caleb chose a bad place for a captain to go, Captain Johnny mused. The captain was obliged to take on cargo at the port, and the distance to Caleb's estate was close enough it would hardly be worth the journey to pull the packet boat up the Hudson. The Erie Canal also didn't extend that far up the river.

I'm sure we'll be fine, Will assured him. Even now their carriage was being taken off the packet boat and deposited on the road with the horses at the ready. Violet, I believe it's time for us to leave. We may need as much time as the night can spare if we find trouble with the mud.

We're coming. She scooped up her pet and the three moved to stand before the carriage.

Captain Johnny stopped a few feet from the vehicle while the two vampires stood in front of their carriage. His crew stood behind him to give their farewells. Though used to separations such as these, the weather-worn men felt themselves well up inside. The weeks the crew spent with the pair of vampires, and even their cat, had been enjoyable. The crew would most especially miss Violet and her smiling, cheerful face every night.

You two best keep out of trouble, Captain Johnny playfully ordered his two departing passengers. And you take care of this girl here, Will. She's too nice to be with you, and deserves better. His eyes twinkled and the corners of his mouth twitched up, all to show he was in jest.

I'll be careful to do that, Will gladly accepted, though he took the duty with a little more seriousness. After all, she was his charge, and they had run into enough danger to show his life as a guardian would not be easy. He had other worries on his mind. And I want you to keep your ears and eyes open for news of our attackers. In their long journey they had not met with any more problems since their fight with Hansen and his ilk, but Will was still troubled. Their inquiries into the assassins had come up empty, and without knowing their enemy their foe would retain the element of surprise.

I will certainly do that. Might save me some trouble in the future if I took care of them now, Captain Johnny replied, and he held up his flask. The man took a hearty drink and smacked his lips together. Blood mixed with whiskey made for a potent flavor. After all, I'll be a member of the family in a few months myself.

Will wasn't sure what to think about this way of phrasing their future relationship. He respected the ragged captain, but having the man as a relation was an odd change. However, Violet covered her mouth to hide her smile. She had been without her last human family member for so many few years that she was glad to have a new relation who was as amusing as Captain Johnny Johnson.

Yes, well, if you should find something, I'm sure Caleb will make us aware of your discovery.

Indeed he will, the captain agreed with a nod. Now you two had better get along. The night isn't gonna wait for you, you know. Will assisted Violet into the carriage and jumped up into the box and took the reins in hand. With one last nod to the captain and his loyal crew, Will cracked the reins and once more they were off on the road.

Violet watched the scenery through the windows. On both sides the woods were thick with trees that crowded around the road, and the carriage kicked up mud from the wheels. Violet had been told the journey was hardly over seventy miles, a short distance compared to what they had already traversed, but the rain would bog their efforts to get to the estate in a single night.

The horses, well rested after so many long weeks aboard the packet boat and aching for a good run, proved up to the task. A few hours before sunrise the carriage and its occupants neared a clearing in the trees. It was the small town of Caldwell. Beyond the few houses lay Lake George. The entire landscape was so interesting to her not only for its natural beauty, but because she hoped to call this lovely place home. The estate of Will's guardian sounded wonderful and she was both eager and nervous in meeting this Caleb. Captain Johnny had spoken most fondly and reverently of him that she imagined he was a great sight to behold, and very stoic. They passed through the small town without pause, but Violet was able to catch a glimpse of the view from the main road.

The main thoroughfare had clapboard houses of one to two stories on both sides of the street. To protect the pedestrians from the deep mud, boardwalks were fitted in front of the homes. Beyond the main road she could see small farms with their chicken coops and gardens. A general store was also along the street, and lanterns lit up the interior.

The way up to the estate was less used than the entrance into town, and the carriage bounced and sloshed through great puddles and mud. Violet pulled back away from the window and held her hand against the side of the vehicle. Her old orange cat mewed its disapproval at the harsh road and extended its claws into the cushions. Will would not be pleased with the damage when he glimpsed those large holes.

The trip was only about ten miles from Caldwell to the estate, but it took nearly two hours, twice as long as it should have were the road in better condition. As reliable as the horses were and as sturdy as the carriage had been built, on the steepest part of the road the wheels slipped off into mud a foot deep. Will was forced to get down off the box and Violet, with her cat, glanced out the window to see what was the matter. Will stood at the front passenger wheel, the one which had sunk down, and found it needed only a few rocks for traction and a pull by the horses to get unstuck. The delay was only minor and they were out of the hole in a few minutes, though Will came out covered in mud over his arms and legs . By the time the road smoothed out and the trees departed from the edges of the travel way, they had less than an hour left until the sun rose. With the road less jolting Violet again risked looking out the window. What she saw dazzled her eyes.

Nestled in the center of a clearing atop one of the smaller mountains sat the estate of Caleb Stewart. The house was made in the Dutch colonial style which showed off a double-pitched roof and earthen walls. The home had two stories above the ground and had a full attic beneath the roof. The length was one hundred feet with a width of fifty feet. Because the building had been set on the slope of a hill, the side away from the driveway showed a daylight basement, making the home quite large and full of space. The walls had been white-washed with care and stood out amongst the green of the trees as Violet imagined a fairy would shine in the forest. The windows were few, as they had been placed several yards apart along the walls. The clapboard shutters added a quaintness she did not expect. There was also two panes side by side and each opened in, so there was still much natural light allowed to shine inside the home to allow the moonlight to shine inside the rooms. Two chimneys, made of the same rough rock as the walls, stuck out from the center of the home as though the entire building had been split into two living compartments.

Out in front of the wonderful home lay green glass cut short to avoid the mess of dry weeds and thus the danger of fires. At the very base of the house were rows of wonderful wild flowers, nurtured by superb gardeners to grow and thrive under their care. The drive was composed of gravel dug from the surrounding hills. It ran around the front of the home and turned in a loop in front of the entrance doors. Steps led up to those fine, thick wooden doors, of which the material no doubt was found in the very trees around them.

Violet was startled when a large beast ran up to her side of the carriage. The hound was a giant mastiff, as hound tall as her on its hind legs and with jaws that could snap bone. The ugly brute followed them down the road barking all the way, upsetting her cat. The feline pushed Violet out of the way and swiped at the beast whenever it grew close to the carriage.

Candles blazed in most of the windows as they drove up to the front. Will stopped the carriage and alighted just as a servant came out the closed doors to grab the reins. Another came to restrain the dog, but the beast gave a few more barks and galloped off into the night.

Good evening, Master Will, the first man, an older gentleman with a white-powdered wig, greeted. He glanced down at the young man's muddy clothing. The Master has your rooms prepared and hot water for your bath after your delay.

Has he, Collins? That's very precise of him, Will wondered. He opened the carriage door and helped Violet alight from the vehicle. The old cat jumped down itself and sat on the bottom step to preen itself. Since the dog had run off, the feline believed it had mastered its foe.

What a wonderful place. Her voice was hardly above a whisper, for she feared the beautiful view would fade away if she spoke too loud. Her eyes couldn't stop wandering over the lovely grounds and the magnificent home.

Yes, and quite large. Caleb owns a great deal of the woods you saw around Caldwell as well as around the manor, as he purchased many acres in the area when we first arrived.

And such a large home for only you two? she wondered. Will led her up the stone steps and through the open front doors.

Well, Caleb doesn't care to appear rich by building such a large house. Rather, it's to hold all the items he's acquired over the years. Will sighed and shook his head. He's very sentimental.

Chapter 2

Violet could easily see what Will meant in regards to items. The entrance hall was spacious, but every inch of the walls were covered in ancient trinkets of war and peace. Weapons such as sharp battle axes and broadswords were cluttered along the walls while fine furniture, which included horsehair sitting chairs and a mahogany side table, sat against the walls. A simple, wide staircase lay on their right and part of the hallway to the second floor was open to the entrance hall. There were entrance ways on both the right and left sides the lobby in which there were no doubt more rooms filled with more fantastic and wonderful things to see.

Finally back, Will? a loud, delighted voice called out from the room to their right. Out of the area stepped a man, slim and tall with a pale complexion. He had black hair sprinkled with gray, and long, thin hands. His face had a short, neatly kept beard that was as black as his hair, and his movements were fluid and most elegant. His looked about forty, but she could see in the man's eyes that he was much older than he appeared. He smiled at the two of them, and particularly laid keen, mischievous eyes on the young woman. She wondered how terrible he would look if that smile was ever to change into a frown.

This must be the fine young woman you've brought to comfort this old man in his great age, Caleb spoke, for he was indeed the master of the estate. He stepped over to her and held out his hands for her to take. She smiled and took the invitation, and he had another, closer glance over her small frame. He must have seen something which greatly pleased him, because he nodded his head and his eyes twinkled. Yes, I don't believe you could have chosen a better companion. She's a wonderful addition to the family. Violet profusely blushed at the compliment, and she was glad when he released her hands so she could press them against herself

Will appeared honored by the man's kind appraisal, and he respectfully bowed. There was a stiffness to his posture which did not please Caleb, though, and the man noted it.

You're worrying about those troubles? he asked, and Will nodded. Caleb smiled and shook his head. Then he wrapped an arm around Will's shoulders and led him toward the stairs. Perhaps a nice, soothing bath would clear your mind some.

I would rather we speak about the pressing matters first, Will argued.

Well, I suppose I could let you into the drawing room, but be mindful not to get mud on the furniture and carpets, Caleb teased. He steered his companions into the room he had just exited. Through Captain Johnny I was informed of what had taken place on the Ohio River and up to your parting at Albany, but perhaps we can have our minds as one and come up with an explanation.

You were not worried about the remainder of our journey? Will asked him. Violet wasn't sure, but she thought she heard some suspicion in her guardian's voice.

Well, at my age you tend to take no news as good news, Caleb returned. And since I hadn't heard that your carriage had been upset in all this blasted mud, I needn't have worried. But what do you make of those vampires?

Dangerous and persistent, and willing to take lives and give out their blood to suit their needs, Will replied.

Violet followed the two men into the adjoining room, and she was in for another shock. They left the grand old English-style entrance hall and stepped into the world of the Orient. Heavy curtains made from the softest fabric she had ever seen hung about the walls. The patterns showed small, intricate lines etched in gold which wound through geometric shapes of squares and triangles. Others were more simple, merely dark colors of blue and red with an extra layer of fabric that ran across the top that symmetrically dipped down over itself. The designs on the wood had more geometric shapes, this time with diamonds repeated along the fronts and tops of the tables. They seated themselves upon low, wooden chairs with Will seated opposite Caleb and Violet at the oldest vampire's side, at his insistence.

Well, and they very much had a grudge against you, at least according to what I discerned through the captain, Caleb mused. He leaned back and stroked his short beard. A very troubling mess if I ever saw one, and I believe we'll see other such problems in the future.

Do you have your suspicions? Will asked him.

Yes, and they concern Caldwell and the estate grounds. Strangers traveled through the town not more than a fortnight ago and I haven't been able to discern where they went, Caleb told him.

Vampires?

Could be, but the townspeople were only able to glimpse the driver for a moment as they passed through. Hardly enough time to discern whether they were human or our kind.

Excuse me, Violet spoke up. She hated to interrupt their conversation with her naive questions, but she wanted to know more about her vampire brethren. But how does one tell whether a person is a vampire or a human?

Sometimes that isn't easy for humans to perceive, but our heightened sense of sight allows us to discern the different with greater ease, Caleb told her. I'm sure you've noticed your skin is very pale? She nodded. No amount of blood will give it back the color it once held when you were human. That pallor is one sign, though not completely reliable. A sickly human may be mistaken for a vampire but for their eyes.

Their eyes? she repeated.

Yes. He leaned toward her so they were hardly more than a foot away from each other, and his dark eyes steadily gazed into her own. You see how mine are? That there is something not quite right about them around the pupils? She nodded when she beheld what he was getting at. In the area around the iris there was a solid color rather than speckles of different colors mixed together. She hadn't noticed before because her eyesight was not yet on par with other vampires and Will hadn't given her a chance to study his own for any great length of time. All vampires have a solid color to their eyes. When we are angered the color may change, but that color will still completely cover our eyes. That is the most proven way to show our kind.

And if they have their eyes covered? she asked him.

Then you have a problem, or they are very foolish, Caleb replied with a laugh. For anyone who wears glasses in the dark is either a fool or a vampire, and you should treat them with suspicion.

And speaking of suspicion, I found something very strange in how Collins greeted us, Will spoke up. Caleb leaned back and turned to his former charge.

Oh? Did he offend or venture to make a joke? Those two would be quite suspicious, and I would assume he had gotten into the drink. Caleb winked at Violet to show he was kidding.

Actually, Collins mentioned you knew about the trouble we had on the road coming up from Albany. How did you find out this information? Caleb smiled and glanced down at the floor in some embarrassment.

I see the cat is out of the bag, as they say, the older gentleman mused. He looked to Violet's feet where her cat lay quietly as though listening to the conversation. I'm afraid this little cat is not as innocent as he appears.

I would hardly call him innocent in the best of times, Will retorted. But what makes him so unique?

To be perfectly honest, this isn't the first time I have met this particular feline. Will frowned.

Explain yourself.

The cat wasn't some stray you found wandering the woods. He once resided on the estate, and I had the feline shipped to Jim's home without his knowing. I left explicit instructions on the care of the cat, and that it should be released at his home during the night. Captain Johnny himself was kind enough to take the cargo as far south as he could manage, and from there it traveled by coach to the nearby town.

What thought would induce you to perform such a strange act? Will questioned him.

I wished to have a pair of eyes on our old friend. I was fortunate that the miles between us was just at the limits I could keep in contact with a Watcher. Control at that distance, however, was impossible. Violet was very confused by this, but Will was riled enough to jump to his feet.

You fed this cat some of your blood? Will sharply asked his guardian and Caleb didn't deny the accusation. This was the second case in a short matter of time of his guardian freely offering his blood, or in this case forcing his blood, on humans and animals alike. Do you intend to populate the entirety country with our blood? Is that your intention while you share your existence with whatever poor or dying creature you find?

Violet covered her mouth with one hand in shock and horror at the revelation. Her small, old kitty would end its natural life not as a normal feline, but as a creature such as herself. It was a strange and terrifying enough existence that she would not wish upon anyone else, especially her friendly feline.

Jealousy suits no one, my lad, Caleb countered. His eyes were no longer full of humor, but were rather darker. Something is coming, and we must be prepared with all the allies we can gather.

You believe this cat, this worthless animal, is an ally? Will gestured to the small feline. At his threatening tone, Violet picked up the cat and protectively held it against her chest. The feline purred at her show of affection,