Free We Shall Rise by J.E. Hopkins Page B

Grotaon appeared with three goblets of perfectly chilled O negative blood, a rare and tasty delicacy. “Only the best for Reysa and her friends.”
    Diamonde motioned for them to sit while they drank. Kaden was too tempted to say something, but this was Maddie’s mother-father. Out of respect for her alone, he would behave, even though silence might kill him.
    “Thanks for your generosity,” Kaden spoke as he raised his cup in appreciation to a beaming Diamonde. Reysa’s puzzled look was priceless. She was just waiting for him to do something stupid. He would surprise her for once.
    “You are so welcome. You must be the vampire known as Kaden. Reysa described your physical appearance well.” Diamonde noted as her eyes carefully perused Kaden, “Very well indeed. However, you seem much kinder than she described.” Diamonde turned to Julian. “You are just as Reysa described, Julian. Your kind nature radiates from you. I believe my Yasmine would be quite fond of you.”
    “Thank you. I look forward to meeting her. She sounds like a remarkable woman. No doubt much of that attributable to how well she was raised.”
    Kaden’s stomach lurched. Julian was a natural charmer. He was the one parents wanted their daughters to date while Kaden was the one they would bribe their daughters to avoid.
    “You are too kind. I wish I could take full credit for Yasmine, but she was born with an untainted, uncomplicated heart. She was an easy child. She spent time with me here as well as with her mother in Rabat. Yasmine loved growing up in Morocco. She gravitated toward that spiritual world. I did not quite belong there or in my native land of Egypt. I was a little too much for my country. They were not ready for the likes of me.”
    Kaden resented the way Diamonde gushed over Yasmine, but seemed to have very little words for Madeira. “What about Maddie? Where was she from?” he questioned his tone a little harsher than he intended although Diamonde did not seem to notice. Reysa did and shot him a look of reproach.
    “You cannot guess. She is named for where she was born, Madeira, Portugal. Her mother was a Turkish belly dancer who moved from Ephesus to Funchal. We met, had a brief torrid affair and Madeira was conceived. Her mother and I did not last as a couple and she moved back to Ephesus. I spent as much time with Maddie as I could, but it was difficult. Her mother was so very angry about our relationship and turned Maddie against me. Maddie and I never really bonded like father and daughter.”
    “Maybe that’s because you looked more like her mother than father.” Kaden regretted the words as soon as he said them, but it was too late to take them back. Reysa looked mortified while Diamonde sat there calmly as she urged her pets to heel. They didn’t like their master being insulted as they bore their remarkably sharp teeth preparing to strike. “I shouldn’t have said that,” Kaden admitted. “That was very inconsiderate.” Kaden looked over at Reysa who didn’t seem too impressed with his apology attempt. She knew he would screw up and like always, he put his foot in his mouth.
    “No need to apologize when you speak the truth. Maddie much preferred me dressed like a man. She preferred me as Damon. The man I was born as not the woman I chose to become a century ago. Most people prefer Damon I suppose, but I don’t. I spent 380 years being Damon to please everyone around me while a little piece of my soul died each day from living a lie. Finally, I decided to embrace who I was no matter the consequence. I know I am an embarrassment to my children, but I can’t be a good parent to them if I hate myself every day. Most of my children have learned to accept the craziness that is Diamonde. Maddie could not ever. I never blamed her. It’s a lot to ask. I wish I could have given her what she needed rather than disappointing her in so many ways. But you have to be true to yourself no matter the consequence. I want