Sanctuary; Book One: Bad Reception

By S.C Wright

Listening to your parents is hard work. As a teenager, you're always right, of course, but to them everything you do comes up short. Kana is nearing the end of her teenage years and is already a young woman. With no career prospects, no goals in life, she just can't seem to attain her family's expectations. On her nineteenth birthday, an accident caused by her own shortcomings causes a domino effect of chaos turning her life from boring and mundane to terrifying and supernatural. Kidnapped by a vampire and her chauffeur, she ends up the hostage of a host of strange creatures: Chloe, a mild mannered Cajun vampire. Vincent, a Welsh werewolf with a penchant for piracy and a history of drug abuse. Gabriella, a Spanish immortal who cannot die, and her daughter, a shapeshifter.

Will she finally find her way back home to her family? Or is family more than blood and kin?

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.C Wright
• Release date: Oct 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311998651

S.C Wright

Shan is an aspiring writer with a tale or two to tell. Her current mission is to get her series “Sanctuary” out there and thus currently in the process of doing so. Sometimes her muse runs off with her. Sometimes it runs off without her. She is currently in love with anything Piratical in nature and researching 1715 as well as sporting a great fascination with Tom Hiddleston, Vampires, and Assassin’s Creed because she is a proud nerd.

Book preview

Wright / BAD RECEPTION / 150

BAD RECEPTION

S. C. Wright

To Daniel, for his support and for listening to my constant babbling about the book.

And Hazel, without whom this story might not exist.

One

The carriage rumbled across the barren strip of wasteland, though the young brunette woman had no idea where about in the arid country she was. It was late. She was tired, hungry, and her child clung to her breast with a low whine in his chest and hunger the only thing in his belly. Unlike any of the other publicly breast feeding Mothers on that overcrowded train, his Mother had no milk for him. The girl was far too embarrassed. They eyed her with disdain, some more than others, so she remained quiet and curled in her corner, begging for some reprieve from the insistent crying of her beloved child.

She stood out from the other travellers. Her pale skin shone white enough to look ill. Her delicate build, perhaps malnourished, did not look starved but her child's did. His tiny fists beat at her clothing, an uncomfortable reminder that he had not been fed in far too long.

Come Michael. Please baby, hush... hush. She whispered at him. With a mysterious accent. British, or perhaps Scottish, but with a lilting trace of something else, something further North. Norway? No, Swedish. Just the tiniest hint of it in her voice. She spoke quietly, as though hiding, evidently afraid that if she spoke too loudly something terrible would happen.

She pursed her lips in thought and glanced towards the window again. Darkness slowly spread across the amber sky. Already she could see the ghost dust of stars. Not as many as there would be in the outskirts they would soon pass through, but enough to make her smile in recollection of a rather old memory. She missed home, of that there could be no doubt… but turning back could no longer be considered an option.

No luxury cruise, this; the car reeked of squalor. She had been blessed with the exceptional good fortune to find a place on an overturned bucket for a seat. This carriage housed nearly thirty huddled passengers and their clinging children; still, this carriage was the best of the available options at the time. Above them, rickety makeshift shelves on which lay dirty beds housed about ten more people in the tightly packed space.

The young woman's eyes were drawn to one passenger in particular; a young man, well groomed and well dressed, stood out in shocking contrast to the rest of the passengers, women and children all. He sat with a holdall and a metal flask of something hot and savoury that she could smell from where she sat. Her stomach growled.

What little colour there was in her cheeks drained as he caught her looking; yet he smiled pleasantly before returning his attention to the floor at his feet. The other women all huddled together, apparently pulling themselves communally away from him. The young girl could hardly blame them; it could be dangerous out here, in this area, for unaccompanied women.

Summoning her courage, she stood up, small and huddled, and picked her way towards him. She took that space between him and the rest of the carriage, and her previous space rapidly vanished under a shapeless woman and her four year old, who settled down and draped across her knee.

You seem to have found the wrong carriage. The brunette whispered to him, still holding her wriggling child tightly. She glanced apologetically at the young man, who immediately furrowed his brows as he reached for his bag.

Wait. Please? Her hand reached for his wrist, grabbing the fabric of his warm jacket with a force more rough that she intended, and more panic in her voice that she had hoped. She could not let him leave yet. You're like me, right? A tourist?

Yeah, all the way from New York. The man’s Brooklyn accent was unmistakable. It immediately drew a nervous smile from the brunette. He recoiled from her icy touch regardless. My name's Theodore, Theodore Schmidt, but everyone just calls me Theo. I'm out here for a year outta school. College, y'know.

The brunette gave another smile and nodded. He seemed safe, but there was no telling with some people; he could just as easily have a gun in his bag as not. I'm Kana. I'm from Scotland originally, you know, above England? Nice to meet you.

Pleasure, miss. You been in India long?

No, no, um... a few days at best. You?

The American shook his head. 'Bout a week. Heading to Kanyakumari. My idiot friend said it'd be a fun train ride. he waved his hand, bringing a strained giggle from the Brit. Whoop dee do.

Kana nodded, shuffled her jean-clad legs into a tight cross-legged position, the denim taut but worn and dusty. She shifted her child up. The American's eyes linger on her child.

Um, ‘scuse me for asking but... how old are you, miss?

Kana inwardly sighed and rolled her eyes. Every time. In lesser developed countries, usually it was for travelling without a man; in more developed countries, it was how old she looked carrying a child. At least her instincts weren't off.

Old enough to have a one and a half year old legally. She said with a bite to her voice. Sorry. I just get that a lot. I'm twenty-five, I just look young. A practised lie, but she gave a contrite look and cast her gaze downwards. So much for playing it coy.

Yeah, I could see that. Theodore nodded. You look young for your age, many girls do. It's all that make up.

Oh, definitely. Kana's eyes rolled in the darkness, unseen. Or so she thought. Theodore's chuckle brought the blue orbs back down to his. Brown, she noted.

What?

You just rolled your eyes at me.

She blinked, embarrassed, and then: What's in your flask?

Soup. It's just lentil though, nothing fancy. He shrugged. Why, you hungry?

Starving. she admitted, still eyeballing the flask. But not for me, for Michael. Thing is, I didn't think to bring him something, and the wee guy is starving. As if on cue, the tiny bundle turned from his Mother's chest to peer with equally blue eyes at Theodore. The American hesitated, winced, and pushed the flask at Kana. Without hesitation, she grabbed it, whip-quick, before the stranger could change his mind. Pouring a little into the attached cup, she swirled it slowly, blowing to cool the scalding liquid. The sweet smell of the lentils permeated the acrid scent of body odour in the carriage.

Aren't you scared out here on your own, just you and the kid?

Nah. Kana shook her head, still blowing. She flexed her left index finger. On it sat a soft blue sapphire, almost black in colour. It looked like a wedding band, but with no engagement ring beneath it.

You're married? The disappointment dripped from his words. Kana barely hid the mirth from her face and shook her head as she shifted her child so she could tilt the soup into his mouth slower. His pink lips moved and twisted, eager for more.

No, no, Kana's voice brimmed with amusement, her eyes still trained on Michael. Just an illusion. It makes things easier. She grinned at Theodore. It fooled you, didn't it?

Clever. You seem pretty smart. Aside from the whole forgetting to feed your kid thing.

Kana narrowed her eyes and glared at him. The urge to launch herself at him almost pulled her to her feet.

Oh, ay, no need for that look! I was just... hey, y’know what, never min —

You have no idea what I've been through for Michael! The girl interrupted. I'm really grateful for the soup for him, thank you so much. But please keep comments like that to yourself. She hissed the words, despite trying to keep her tone polite. Michael, of course, gave not one damn for the nattering grown-ups; his focus was on swallowing the proffered soup. Guilt panged in Kana's own empty stomach. How long had she let him do without? His hands pulled at the cup, trying to guzzle faster, but Kana held it still. With no prospects for more in the immediate future, this would have to satiate him.

I'm sorry. Look, forget I mentioned it. Sometimes I start to feel all… clever. It’s meant to be funny, but it doesn’t always come off that way.

An uneasy silence settled over the pair. The rattling of the train and clatter of the rails rocked the pair together but Theo sighed, pulled off his jacket and slung it over Kana's rail thin shoulders. She looked up and frowned.

What's that for?

You gotta be freezing. I can feel you through the jacket. Keep it on till you get off the train, huh? Theo insisted, and Kana's smile returned with intensity. The garment wouldn't help in the slightest, but that didn't mean the gesture wasn't appreciated. She pulled it tighter regardless, and said a brief thank you. Michael had finished the soup and gave a tiny gurgle of a burp. Kana giggled, and readjusted him. Almost instantly, he settled off into sleep while the brunette rummaged through her bag, pulling out a wet wipe.

You had time to pack wet wipes but not food?

Kana clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and dabbed Michael's mouth. His hand clung against her t-shirt, tugging it down by a fraction. Theodore's eyes bee-lined for the now slightly available cleavage, until the jacket pulled around both girl and the babe.

It wasn’t a matter of time, it was a matter of what was there to be had. Well, and… aye, time, too. I had a lot of things on my mind and not much in the house. She explained. Guilt washed her insides at having to explain herself to him. Baby fed, civility was no longer a priority; but for the sake of future meals for Michael, she wanted him to stay amicable. And yet, she couldn’t bite back, If raising a baby was easy, maybe they'd let men do it.

Hey wow, jeez! Sexist much, lady?

Tell me this, Theodore: how many babies have you raised?

None, but —

Oh, but! But! But keep your comments to yourself.

I used to babysit my brother a lot though, he was a handful.

Most children are. Done speaking to him, she turned her full attention to Michael once again. Cute or no, a little bit funny, and generous with his food. All this aside, his words annoyed her. Again that awkward silence descended on them like a musty blanket.

Okay, maybe he'd given her a loan of his jacket too. With a quiet sigh, she turned back to him.

So… why India? Small talk. They were back to small talk. In return, Theo gave a small shrug and tugged the flask back towards him, clicking it back together.

Well, I’ll tell ya, it was either here or China, right? And I'm not really a big fan of the food there. We got an army of take out back home, so why bother, right? I thought there'd be better curry here. I like spice, know what I’m sayin’?

Isn't that racist? Kana quirked a brow.

Is it? Another shrug. What about you? Why did you come all the way out here? I mean, is that a good idea to vacation out here with a little kid?

Kana nodded in agreement. She reached up to brush a stray downy blonde hair from Michael’s eyes. Had it been her call, she’d never have had to put them on a train at all. They’d have been at home from the beginning.

But why tell this man the real reason she and Michael had stepped onto a train in the middle of nowhere? She considered, mulling over the lengthy explanation it would take. The train would take hours, she reasoned. Five, six, more maybe, and sleeping would be the only other option to pass the time. Kana, herself, could not sleep, but Michael probably would.

The clucking of chickens from makeshift rooms echoed throughout the carriage.

I'm not on holiday, she admitted with a snort of laughter. I'm running away from home.

It took a few seconds for the American to react, but his eyebrows knotted together, mouth parting. Seriously? You’re running away from home, and you ran all the way to China? Whadda you, crazy?

Kana could hear panic in his voice, and felt relief wash over her. Theo turned to sympathy and worry; maybe not quite the threat she had imagined. In fact, she had already earned sympathy, clothing, and food from him. She had an inkling that if she asked for money he would give her to it without a fuss.

It's not like that. It's a matter of life and death. She simply shook her head, and offered him an echo of the same shrug he'd given her. I did something stupid. Something stupid and dangerous, and I just... I had to leave, for my sake and theirs.

Theirs? Whose?

My family’s. Well… one of them. It’s a bit hard to explain quickly.

The train gave another heavy lurch and Michael shifted in his sleep. Theo eyed him warily. He opened his mouth to speak but Kana cut him off.

It's nothing to do with Michael, before you ask, though he was a result of doing something stupid. Figuratively and literally. Another snort of dry laughter.

What? Theo asked warily, but his curiosity was growing, she could see it in his eyes and they way he leaned towards her.

Kana debated it a few moments longer. How could she trust him with this information? Complete strangers, having barely met, did not reveal themselves to one another. Not to mention the danger if Theo turned out to be more than he admitted to.

It's a really long story, and I'd have to start pretty far back. Are you sure you want to hear it? She pushed for time.

Theo pointed around him and out the tiny, half obscured window. They had left civilization and now the train chugged along open countryside. Hey, look, what else are we gonna do, uh? So maybe you’re a whackaloon, so who cares. Tell me a story.

Well, I... A compromise struck her. Okay, fine, but you have to let me have the rest of your soup for Michael.

He nodded his assent.

Perhaps it would help her solidify things in her mind, and rationalise what to do. Besides, if he reacted badly, she could always kill him.

Reaching out and pulling the canteen back to herself, Kana shifted her weight towards the wall, effectively making herself comfortable. She twisted the cap a little, sniffed the contents and brought the mixture to her lips as if to drink the concoction, before wrinkling her nose and quickly replacing the cap. She lifted her hand to cover her mouth, and hide the nausea the smell brought. Maybe she'd try some later.

Alright, well, it started when I was nineteen. She said, her eyes upwards as she thought back over the facts. You see, I met some monsters...

Two

"When I was just a little girl, no older than six or seven, my mum used to tell me stories before bedtime.

My favourite story was about the cursed monster.

She used to tell me about this scary monster who used to run around being mean and bad and terrible and scare all the people in village with his bad, terrifying deeds.

So this good witch put a curse on him and sentenced him to live forever, losing those he loved just like the families had.

She said,

"Because of what you've done, because you've hurt so many people and ripped many families apart... you will suffer the pain of all these families and suffer just as much as them."

I used to cheer at that bit, thinking the monster deserved it.

And then I got a little older, and thought about it more... about how the monster must be in so much pain, must be suffering awfully, must surely have learned his lesson by now?

So I made up my own stories after dad left.

I imagined how sometimes the monster under my bed would get tired of being scary and cry himself to sleep sometimes. He would get lonely or sad or scared too and he wouldn't want to be a monster anymore. So he stopped.

But his fellow monsters laughed at him and made him feel worse.

So he ran away.

But it would be okay because that monster that was cursed is still around, hiding in plain sight, trying to make the best of a bad deal, trying to make himself happy and trying to make a friend.

So the Original Monster had made a little house out in the city where he could gather other monsters who were tired of being monsters and make a family for himself. The monster from under my bed could stay with him and be safe!

When I got older, life became more complicated and I didn't have time for stories anymore, the Original Monster was forgotten about. I experienced life. I learned life wasn't as clear cut as monsters and heroes.

And then, when I was nineteen years old.

I met the original monster and I ended up going home with her..."

I don't know why you go out your way to ruin everything I plan for you! Her mother’s disappointed sigh from the front seat of the small car reached Kana, who slumped in the back seat. It was audible even over the wheezing of the old family car. A sturdy and reliable old machine, it had served them reasonably well for the past five years, despite a few complaints.

Yeah, Kana. The surly tone of her younger sister intoned from the front seat. It would have literally took you five minutes to put your things away. I put my clothes away the second I was told.

Kana closed her eyes and turned her head to focus on the world outside the car. The dim light cast from the sleepy lampposts called up echoes of itself from the wet tarmac. She stifled a yawn. Some of the lights faded away to nothing; beginning to rest now as the world woke from sleep.

I do so much for you. Why don't you ever appreciate it?

"Yeah, Kana. Mum has gone out of her way. You could have at least tried to get into college or something by now, instead of sponging off her