Free Immortal Love by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban Page B

from his neck and used it to clean Bécquer’s cut. After retrieving several shards, he stopped and looked up.
    “We need a bigger cloth to dress his wound,” he explained as his eyes took in the room. “Perfect,” he said, pointing beyond my head.
    Faster than my eyes could follow, he left and returned holding a scarf, Beatriz’s scarf I must have dropped when she attacked me. While I held Bécquer, Federico wrapped it around the wound.
    “You should go, Carla,” Federico told me when he finished.
    “Go? But you said Bécquer needs blood.”
    Federico frowned, and then, as a spark of understanding lit his eyes, he shook his head. “My blood, Carla. Not yours. How could you think I would take yours?”
    “I thought he needed human blood.”
    “No. Mine will do.” Kneeling, he cut his own wrist with a knife and held the wound to Bécquer’s lips.
    I watched Bécquer, looking desperately for some sign of life, for although he had made Beatriz an immortal —
    You’re wrong. Bécquer’s voice resonated inside my mind, and so relieved I was that he was still alive, I didn’t fight his intrusion this time. Not even when his memories came rushing in. A fuzzy memory of Beatriz dragging a reluctant Bécquer through the library, of Beatriz drinking blood from him, of Beatriz, her eyes glowing red, staring at him with wild desire.
    Good heavens, Federico yelled, moving back. You made Beatriz immortal!
    Bécquer sat up. I didn’t. She stole my blood. Give me some credit, for Carla’s sake.
    Federico stared at me. You can hear us?
    “Yes,” I said, aloud now. For only then, I realized the previous conversation had taken place inside my head.
    Federico turned to Bécquer. “You gave Carla your blood?”
    “What if I did?”
    “Really, Bécquer. No wonder Beatriz attacked you.”
    “Glad to hear you approve.”
    “You knew Beatriz was concerned about Carla taking her place,” Federico continued, ignoring Bécquer’s sarcastic retort, “yet you give her your blood. What did you expect?”
    “Certainly not that you’d condone her attack.”
    “I do not condone her action. But this wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t use humans.”
    “I don’t use humans, Federico. You know quite well that Beatriz asked me to take her as my blood giver. As for Carla, you don’t have to worry: she doesn’t want my blood. You can ask her. When I’m gone.”
    Setting his hands firmly on the sofa, Bécquer stood.
    Federico blocked his way. “Where are you going?”
    “To find Beatriz. I must stop her before she kills someone.”
    “You are not serious. You cannot stop Beatriz. She’s stronger than you are right now. She will kill you.”
    Bécquer groaned. “Thanks for your vote of confidence. But I’ve no choice.”
    “Be my guest.” Bowing mockingly at him, Federico stepped aside.
    I looked on, bemused by Federico’s reaction, for Bécquer was shaking badly and I couldn’t imagine how he was going to make it to the door, let alone confront Beatriz, this new immortal Beatriz who had lifted me with the ease of a tornado uprooting a tree.
    As I feared, Bécquer didn’t make it far. He took a step, then stumbled and would have fallen if Federico had not held him and helped him back to the sofa.
    “I need more blood,” Bécquer’s voice was low, demanding. “I must reach Beatriz tonight.”
    “Beatriz is beyond your help, Bécquer. She stole immortality. The Elders will kill her. You know the law.”
    “Yes, I know the law. I sired her, thus she is my responsibility. If she kills tonight, the Elders will blame me for her digressions and kill me too.”
    Federico’s face turned ashen. “Then I’ll do it. I’ll find her and kill her before she kills somebody.”
    “I don’t want her dead. I want to stop her before it’s too late.”
    “You can’t, Bécquer. You have lost too much blood and she’s driven by the unquenchable thirst of the newborn. Even if I’d give you blood, you won’t be a match for