Memories of Envy Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  chapter 1

  chapter 2

  chapter 3

  chapter 4

  chapter 5

  chapter 6

  chapter 7

  chapter 8

  chapter 9

  chapter 10

  chapter 11

  chapter 12

  chapter 13

  chapter 14

  chapter 15

  chapter 16

  chapter 17

  chapter 18

  chapter 19

  chapter 20

  Praise for the Vampire Memories Series

  Hunting Memories

  “A gripping tale. The action moves the story along while the characters, with their skills and secrets, keep the reader’s full attention. Hunting Memories is a must read in the series, and it provides many answers in the overall story line. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the Vampire Memories.

  —Darque Reviews

  “One of the year’s better vampire novels . . . with realistic characters, including ghosts and vampires, who have plausible problems; an intriguing, if standard, plot; historical literacy; and a style of writing that encourages turning pages. Both fantasy and romance fans should enjoy Hendee’s commendable effort.”

  —Booklist

  “Filled with action, a bit of politics, and plenty of character-building interactions, this is a strong addition to the series. . . . Those looking for an alternative to Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews won’t be disappointed with Hendee’s newest series.”

  —Monsters and Critics

  “An enjoyable and creative (not just of new vampires) cocktail cleverly blending urban fantasy mixed with strong horror elements . . . a thriller of a vampire tale.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  Blood Memories

  “A satisfying story line coupled with engaging characters, fast action, and a hint of things to come make this a winner.”

  —Monsters and Critic

  “A good vampire story for the Halloween holiday; the story is fast-paced and intriguing.”

  —News and Sentinel (Parkersburg, WV)

  “Well written . . . a fascinating tale with wonderful characters and delicious villains who solicit the readers into loathing them. The story line is character driven, although there is plenty of action throughout. . . . [Fans of] the vampire subgenre will enjoy this work as an exhilarating tale of death visiting the undead.”

  —SFRevu

  “A terrific vampire stand-alone thriller that fans will enjoy . . . the story is filled with action, but also contains a strong cast who ensure vampirism in the Northwest seems real. . . . The heroine especially is an intriguing person. . . . This [is] a fine tale that the vampire crowd will appreciate.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “Intriguing. . . . Ms. Hendee’s fans will be gratified to know she writes just as well on her own as she does in tandem.”

  —Huntress Book Reviews

  “A blend of fantasy and horror mixed with the story of one young woman’s path to independence and true knowledge of self, Blood Memories is a unique story guaranteed to intrigue. . . . Readers won’t be able to resist Eleisha’s charm. . . . If you enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer but were far more interested in where the older vamps came from than in the human heroine herself, this story should certainly catch your fancy. Cunning, stealth, guile, sheer evil, and a surprising amount of goodness make all of these characters alive and unique. A story line that travels from modern-day Portland, Oregon, to England in the 1800s adds interest as well. If you like vampires, then you’re certain to enjoy Eleisha’s story. Don’t miss Blood Memories, the first in what promises to be a fantastic new series.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “I personally liked Blood Memories quite a bit. I am pleased to say that it is in no way a Buffy clone, nor is it anything like the goofy paranormal romances that turn vampires into some kind of harmless nonmonster with strange eating habits. I like how Hendee explores the personalities of her characters.”

  —Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ Book Reviews

  “An engrossing tale of vampire death and evolution.”

  —Patricia’s Vampire Notes

  By Barb Hendee

  The Vampire Memories Series

  Blood Memories

  Hunting Memories

  Memories of Envy

  By Barb and J. C. Hendee

  The Noble Dead Saga—Series One

  Dhampir

  Thief of Lives

  Sister of the Dead

  Traitor to the Blood

  Rebel Fay

  Child of a Dead God

  The Noble Dead Saga—Series Two

  In Shade and Shadow

  Through Stone and Sea

  ROC

  Published by New American Library, a division of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

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  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

  80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  First Printing, October 2010

  Copyright © Barb Hendee, 2010

  All rights reserved

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  LIBRARY OFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

  Hendee, Barb.

  Memories of envy: a vampire memories novel/Barb Hendee. p. cm.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-46450-2

  1. Vampires—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3608.E525M46 2010

  813’.6—dc22 2010022363

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

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m

  Again ... for Jaclyn and Susan.

  I could not write these books without you.

  prologue

  PORTLAND, OREGON: EARLYSUMMER

  Eleisha Clevon sat in the garden outside the church. She was cross-legged on the ground, right beside Robert’s grave.

  The moon was nearly full.

  “I wrote down all four of the laws,” she told him, holding a sheet of ivory paper toward the granite headstone. “But I still think only the first one applies.”

  Of course, she hadn’t been able to bring his body home, only some of his ashes that she’d carried in his sword case. But at least he had a proper grave, and she’d wanted his headstone to be clean and straightforward—like him.

  It read:ROBERTBRIGHTON

  PROTECTOR

  1491 TO2008

  Strangers never came into the churchyard, but even if they did, she didn’t care who saw the dates. His existence required recognition.

  “We haven’t found anyone else yet,” she said. “But we will soon, and when we do, I promise to teach them the laws.” She pointed back toward the redbrick church. “And Rose is settling in nicely.”

  She knew that her companions, who lived with her at the church, found it odd when she sat outside sometimes, talking to Robert, but she couldn’t just leave him all alone. He had opened her eyes to the history of her own kind, to what they once had been and could be again, and she would not allow him to be forgotten.

  “I hope I worded these correctly,” she said, drawing the sheet back and looking down at it. “I tried to remember exactly what you showed me.”

  First Law: No vampire shall kill to feed. This ensures our safety and secrecy.

  Second Law: No vampire shall make another until reaching the age of one hundred years as an undead, and no vampire shall ever make more than one companion within the span of one hundred years. The physical and mental energy required is so great that any breach of this law will produce flawed results.

  Third Law: No vampire shall make another without the consent of the mortal.

  Fourth Law: The maker must teach the new vampire all methods of proper survival and all four of the laws in order to protect the secrecy of our kind.

  She finished her scan and then read them to him aloud.

  Lowering the paper, she looked at the headstone. “I promise to teach them, Robert. I promise you didn’t die for nothing.”

  She reached out and put her hand on his grave, thinking she should plant a white rosebush beside it. He’d never talked about anything so trivial as flowers, but something told her that he would like white roses.

  chapter 1

  PORTLAND, OREGON: TWO MONTHSLATER

  “Remember to look for cars parked in the shadows of columns or trees,” Eleisha said, glancing around the Lloyd

  Center parking lot.

  “I know,” Rose answered—rather shortly. “But I fed only a week ago. I don’t see why we keep going back out so soon.”

  Eleisha looked away and didn’t answer, as they should not be having a chat about feeding practices in the open.

  They stood on the sidewalk near a theater complex with a warm night breeze blowing past, both of them appearing to be typical Portland citizens. Eleisha looked about seventeen, dressed in jeans and a tank top, her dark blond hair in a loose braid.

  Rose de Spenser looked about thirty, an elegant lady, tall and slender in a linen dress. Though her face was smooth, she had several streaks of white running through her long brown hair.

  Yes, the two of them appeared quite normal.

  But Eleisha was beginning to wonder whether these training sessions would ever get any easier.

  “I can’t see Philip,” Rose said, looking across the street toward the nearest light-rail stop. “Is he still watching us?”

  “Yes, he’s watching.”

  And that was another thing. Due to recent encroaching dangers, Eleisha couldn’t go hunting alone—not without a guardian—as if she were a child instead of a two-hundred-year-old telepathic member of the undead. She gritted her teeth.

  Things would improve.

  They had to.

  However, right now she faced the daunting task of teaching Rose to feed without killing. Eleisha had learned that vampires were latent telepaths—they could replace the memories of their victims, and in centuries past had always fed without killing.

  She was determined to reinstate this practice.

  “Okay, the movie’s getting out,” she said, watching people pour from the main theater doors. “Just let the crowd thin and then look for someone alone.”

  Watching the flow of human traffic, she was tempted to point out a few good prospects, but she wanted Rose to learn on her own. This drastic change of hunting methods hadn’t been easy on any of them, as they’d all fallen into deeply set patterns decades ago, relying on the power of their gifts to draw victims away . . . and then drain them and hide the bodies.

  Eleisha knew that Rose was still struggling with this new way of hunting.

  “There,” Rose said softly, her brown eyes following a young man moving toward the far edge of the parking lot.

  She had a tendency to choose men.

  But Eleisha didn’t care as long as the potential victim was alone and moving toward a car in the shadows.

  Without a word, she and Rose fell into step about ten feet behind him. A row of willow trees lined the edge of the lot, and Eleisha was beginning to think Rose had chosen well, until the young man took out his keys and pressed a button to unlock a green Toyota pickup.

  Trucks weren’t the best option.

  But Rose didn’t stop.

  “Excuse me,” she said, letting the power of her gift flow outward. “Could you assist us?”

  Within a few nights of becoming undead, a specific element of their previous personality developed into an overwhelming aura that could be turned on and off at will. Rose’s gift was an aura of wisdom. When she used her gift and spoke, her victims fell under a spell of the absolute sense and truth of her words.

  The young man stopped and turned around. He was clean shaven and wearing a Mariners baseball cap.

  “My friend and I have been out walking, and we must have taken a wrong turn,” Rose went on. “We hoped you could direct us to the Doubletree Hotel on Multnomah Street.”

  He stared at her, listening. Eleisha found this to be a poor opening on Rose’s part, as she was asking for something instead of making a suggestion.

  “Yeah,” he said, still moving his eyes up and down Rose’s face. “It’s not far—just a few blocks.”

  “It’s so dark out now,” Rose said. “We would not be safe. It would be best if you drove us.”

  Oh, well, that’s better, Eleisha thought. She’d been half tempted to turn on her own gift but changed her mind. The young man’s expression shifted to concern, and Eleisha could see his mind working under the influence of Rose’s suggestion. Of course it was too dark now. Of course the only wise choice was for him to drive them back to their hotel.

  As if letting two strangers into his truck was the most natural thing in the world, he hurried over to the passenger door and opened it. “Here, I’ll take you.”

  “I am Rose,” she said, smiling.

  “Jason,” he said, holding the door open.

  Eleisha shook her head slightly to clear it. The problem with hunting in teams was that they were not immune to each other’s gifts, so when Rose spoke and let her aura of wisdom flow, Eleisha could be seduced by an absolute belief in Rose’s words as well. She needed to keep sharp and focused.

  Rose climbed in first, so that she would be in the middle, and Eleisha climbed in afterward, pressed up against the passenger-side door.

  As Jason ran around the back of the truck, Rose whispered, “This is difficult! I’m not hungry yet.”

  “We can’t wait until you’re starving again,” Eleisha whispered back, and then fell silent as Jason opened the driver’s-side door.

  Thi
s was an issue Rose had not been able to overcome. Since being turned in the early nineteenth century, she’d regretted killing so much that she always pushed herself to the very edge of starvation before leaving her house to go out and feed. So, while a part of her seemed to welcome Eleisha’s training, another part found using her powers to hunt nearly impossible unless she was hungry to the point of weakness. But . . . when she was that starved, she also had a tendency to lose control and drain blood too quickly.

  Put him to sleep, Eleisha flashed telepathically. You know what to do.

  Though Rose was skilled with her gift of wisdom, her telepathic abilities were coming along more slowly. She was just beginning to master putting a victim into a deep sleep and holding him there.

  The truck was covered by shadows and the parking lot was nearly empty. Jason reached over to put his key in the ignition, but Rose touched his hand.

  “Wait,” she said softly. “You’re tired. You need to rest first.”

  He blinked slowly, looking at her face, and then he closed his eyes, his head lolling back against the seat.

  The action was faster and smoother than Rose had managed in the past, so at least she was gaining better control.

  She had the rest of the routine down fairly well. She simply lacked drive and motivation unless she was starving.

  Lifting Jason’s wrist to her mouth, she punctured his skin carefully with her teeth and began sucking in mouthfuls of his blood. Eleisha slipped inside Rose’s mind, tasting the blood, seeing images of Jason’s recent memories as Rose consumed some of his life force. . . . His father had cancer, and his mother was a doctor; they lived in a sky blue house on the outskirts of the city; he’d come to the movies alone because of a stupid fight with his girlfriend, Patricia. . . .