Page 96 of Benjamin and the Thief

She heard the words clearly in her mind, even though she knew Benjamin couldn’t have spoken. His fangs were still inside her, just as she was still drinking from him.

Benjamin? What’s happening?

It’s our bond. We’re one now.

She realized it then: the blood-bond had created a connection that was stronger and deeper than anything she could have ever imagined. All of the pain and heartache she’d gone through in the past few weeks just melted away, making space for a new life. An eternal life with Benjamin.

I love you, Benjamin.

I’m yours now, he replied.

And the world was right again.

42

Ten days later

“Is it time?” Catalina asked.

Benjamin looked up from the computer.

“They just texted to be ready for the video call,” he replied.

Catalina joined him on the couch.

“You still look a little pale. You need to drink more blood before you get too weak. You donated a lot of blood over the last week,” he said.

“So did you.” She put her hand on his arm. “I’m fine, baby. Don’t worry about me. I’m just anxious to find out if it will work.”

“It’ll work. Vampire blood has healing properties. Your blood will heal her.”

The computer chimed, and he looked at the monitor. It was the video call they’d been expecting. He answered it. A window popped up. Buffy’s face and torso filled the screen. She wore a doctor’s coat and a stethoscope hung around her neck.

“Hey, guys,” Buffy said cheerfully.

He and Catalina greeted her.

“How is she doing?” Catalina asked immediately.

“We’re halfway through giving her the first transfusion,” Buffy reported. “I’ll let you talk to her.”

Buffy stepped aside to reveal Catalina’s mother sitting in a large, comfortable treatment chair hooked up to an IV that infused her with vampire blood. Santiago and Catalina had told her that they’d found a doctor in the United States who was willing to travel to Mexico to give her an experimental treatment for her cancer.

Catalina had donated most of the blood over the past week, and Amaury had donated a couple of pints too. Benjamin had wanted to contribute too, but since he was Catalina’s only source of nourishment and she needed more blood from him while she was donating hers, giving blood would have endangered him.

“Lina,” her mother said, using her nickname, while smiling into the laptop camera.

Her husband and Santiago were at her side. She looked different today, more vibrant, most likely because Santiago was visiting, and because she had hope again that the new treatment would help her. Santiago and Buffy would stay in Mexico until the treatment was finished.

Catalina and Santiago had spoken via video call to their parents almost every day since Catalina had awoken as a vampire. Her parents knew nothing of her transformation. And she planned to keep it that way.

“Oh Mom, it’s so good to see you,” Catalina said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come.”

They’d told her that Catalina was in witness protection after testifying against a dangerous criminal. Her parents hadn’t questioned her. They were happy that Santiago was out of prison, and they were proud of Catalina for having proven Santiago’s innocence.

Benjamin looked at her with affection and pride as she spoke to her parents and assured them that the cost of the treatment was covered entirely by a charitable foundation. It was a white lie. In reality, he’d had a discussion with Samson, Amaury, and Gabriel to get their approval for treating Catalina’s mother with vampire blood before he even informed her that it was possible. Catalina had jumped at the chance without hesitation. He and his colleagues knew it would work, because Scanguards had once treated a stage four pancreatic cancer patient.

As he looked at Santiago next to his parents, he remembered something.