Christmas Healing Read Free

good.
    The ride to the Hever house, just outside of town, was uneventful and Annalise was prepared for a routine lesson of explaining why people got so upset over comments left on their Facebook page. However, when they entered the house, something was entirely different. There was a stranger standing in the hallway, well dressed and handsome, although slightly weather beaten. Dr. Hever and Mrs. Hever were deep in conversation, and turned when the kids entered.
    Annalise heard a strangled gasp come out of Zachary, and was confused when all of a sudden, she was in the center of four kneeling vampires. She looked to Tony, who met her eyes before casting his glance downwards again.
    “Here she is,” Dr. Hever said, kindly. But under his voice, Annalise could hear a tremor. Something wasn’t right.
    “You may rise,” the stranger said, his voice lilted with an accent that she couldn’t place. She had heard it before, a strange mix of accents that came in older vampire’s voice s, an indication of living for centuries in many different places. The other four rose and Tony reached out to pull Annalise back.
    “My Lord, to what do we owe this hono r?” he asked formally, although Annalise could hear the disagreement in his voice. Because Tony was part witchcraft, he was often a rebel among vampires, not respecting authority as much as he should. In school, he was known as a troublesome student, and she knew that he only tolerated the façade of a normal life because of Arianne. He was the one gone all night to keggers and parties. He was the one who experimented with drugs, and stumbled in the door at 7 am, drunk off some poor teenager’s intoxicated blood. Annalise found it all terribly exciting and yet, sad. She missed her old life the most when Tony left the house for yet another party.
    “I haven’t seen you in quite some time, Tony,” the stranger said. “How have you been?”
    “Fine,” Tony replied, his grip on Annalise’s wrist tightening. “What can we do for you?”
    “ Tony,” Dr. Hever scolded him. “Gregory is here to ask a favor of us.”
    The others seemed to be staring in awe, and Annalise cocked her head in confusion.
    “Sorry, I’m lost. I’m Annalise,” she said with a smile on her face. Gregory shook it.
    “Yes, I’ve heard great things about you my dear. That you’ve gotten this family into such good shape, blending in perfectly with the human world.”
    “I uh, sure…” she said. “Sorry, who are you?”
    “My apologies, I haven’t properly introduced myself. My name is Gregory Bugresson. I am the oldest of the Initials.”
    Annalise gasped. She hadn’t placed the name until now, but she finally understood. This was the vampire king, standing in their hallway. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out, and so Gregory continued.
    “And Dr. Hever is right. I have come to ask a favor of you. You are the best in the business, so the word is. My family and I require your services.”
    “I’m sorry?” she replied, confused.
    Gregory cleared his throat, looking around.
    “I suppose I should tell you, as it will get out soon enough. Most of you know my brother Brock was recently awakened from Torpor. Two days ago, my brother Arthur awoke as well.”
    “ Arthur?” Tony said, startled. “I didn’t even know he still existed.”
    Gregory smiled slightly.
    “ Arthur exists, and is very much alive these days. However, he is very outdated. And so that’s why we need to borrow Annalise for awhile.”
    “No!” Tony was quick to snap.
    “ Tony!” His adoptive father gave him a harsh look.
    “Seriously, no!” Tony wasn’t daunted by the discipline. “Are you crazy? These are the Initials, Father. Their reputation precedes them as dangerous. And Annalise is in treatment here, you can’t just …”
    “Ahem,” Gregory cleared his throat, his voice remaining calm. “I appreciate your concern, Tony, but we are in need of your culture teacher, and no more shall be said on the