The Voice of the Dead

Night out

*Lea POV*

I was woken up brutally by my phone ringing. I groaned and tapped around the bed, searching for the source of the sound.

With my eyes still closed, I brought the phone to my ear.

"Yes?" I answered, half asleep.

"Morning Firefly!" Uncle Jonathan cheerfully screeched into my ear.

I sighed and moved the phone away.

"What time is it?" I asked with a yawn, stretching in my hotel bed.

"Past 10AM. So what's the plan for today?"

"I don't know. I barely slept through the night so I think I'll stay in Montreal for today's night as well. See the town or something."

"Aww, can't sleep away from home?"

I rolled my eyes. He was mocking me, but he wasn't wrong.

"Yeah. It's my first night away from my family. I'll get used to it. Especially sleeping in a room like this. When I told dad that I'm planning to stay in a smaller hotel, he instantly made a reservation for me in this Boujee place." I said with a small giggle, my eyes finally fully open as I looked around my room.

Fancy, indeed.

"If you need any money, call me." Jonathan laughed

"Trust me, I don't. I have more than enough."

"The call got stronger?"

"Barely, I feel like I'm going in the right direction, but my mate is still far away."

"You'll find him, I'm sure. Remember to call us often."

"I will, uncle J. Thank you."

I hung up and closed my eyes again with a smile.

I feel safe, I may be going further away but the feeling of being cared for is still here.

I'll go around Montreal tonight. See if someone needs my gift's help.

But first…

5 more minutes.

***

I decided to go out in the evening. It's my last night in Canada so I may as well go out for a drink. When I pass the border, I will no longer be allowed.

I stood in front of a nice looking bar and I sighed, thinking about this whole situation. I'm moving blindly, I'm not sure where I should go, I just drive in the direction my heart dictates.

I just hope I won't end up falling from a cliff with my car.

I should trust my gut more. It brought me to my parents after all.

The bouncer checked my ID and let me inside. The music was nice, rock songs played in a dim lighted bar. The atmosphere was calm and inviting.

I sat behind a bar and ordered whiskey sour, my favorite drink. The bartender was nice and a little flirty but it didn't do anything to me. How could it, when I can feel my mate waiting for me? I just smiled at him politely and talked with a friendly manner.

Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned towards it. Next to me, on a stool, sat a handsome, young looking man, smirking.

I looked him up and down.

"Vampyr?" I asked, quiet enough for only him to hear.

He grinned.

"Sorceress?" He asked and I nodded with a small smile.

"Among other things. I'm Lea." I gave him my hand and he shook it.

"Verne. Not often I encounter a person who can properly address our kind." Verne smirked, sipping his wine.

"Yeah, I know a few older Vampyrs. I was raised well." I sighed, thinking about Horatio and Darius. I'm going to be in New York state, maybe I could visit them?

"Have I heard of them?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I chuckled. I'm pretty sure he does.

"Maybe." I smirked.

Suddenly a cold shiver went down my spine, I looked around, knowing what I am looking for.

A spirit. Nearby, trying to make a connection with a living.

"You okay?" Verne asked and I nodded looking back at him and then I saw it.

A shadowy figure, leaning over Verne, his hands upon vampyr's shoulders.

When my gift just started to develop when I was a child, I could only feel and hear the ghosts, but after training with Persephone, I could also see them now.

I sighed.

"I'm fine. So, Verne. What made you talk to me?" I asked, looking from him to the shadow next to his face.

The spirit noticed that I could feel and see him and covered his mouth with hands.

*You can see me! You are a soul-speaker!* The ghost gasped, his voice faint, ethereal.

I simply nodded.

"I don't know. You sat here all alone, I wanted to keep you company." Verne shrugged, looking at me closely. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"

"I was hoping for a relaxing evening with a few drinks." I raised my eyebrow at the spirit.

If he had a material body, I'm pretty sure he would be blushing.

*I'm sorry.* He said shyly and I chuckled.

"It's okay." I winked at him and looked back at the confused Verne. "I'm on the journey to find my mate. I just had my 19th birthday a couple of days ago and I felt the need to go. A mate pull, if you will."

"Mate, huh?" Verne visibly saddened, downing his glass and lifting it up for a refill.

I looked from him to the ghost who looked at the Vampyr with fondness.

"Do you have a mate, Verne?" I asked, although I knew the answer already.

The Vampyr shook his head, a single, bloody tear escaping his eyes.

"I had. My fated mate died almost a century ago."

"I'm sorry for your loss." I said sincerely.

*I'm his first mate, my name is Lucas. He has a second chance mate but he refuses to accept him!* Lucas' ghost said, looking at his beloved with both pain and affection. *I want him to accept the bond, I want him to be happy again!"

I sighed and nodded. I can see what my mission is here now.

"Verne, why did you reject your second chance mate?" I asked.

Vampyr looked at me with shock, his eyes wide.

"What? How…" He stuttered.

"Lucas told me. I'm a soul-speaker, your mate is here, next to you." I said calmly, putting my hand onto vampyr's.

"I…" The Vampyr stuttered again, shocked beyond his mind.

I waited a few seconds before he gained his ability to speak again.

"You can hear him? He is really here?" Verne looked around.

"I can see the spirits as well. He is standing next to you, his hands upon your shoulders."

Verne absent-mindedly touched his shoulders, as if trying to touch his dead loved one.

*His second chance mate's name is Arthur, I like him. I know he will take care of Verne.* Lucas smiled, looking lovingly at his mate.

"Your second chance mate's name is Arthur, right?" I asked and Verne nodded. "Is he a Vampyr as well?"

"He is. But a much younger one. I'm over 300 hundred years old, he became one of us barely 20 years ago, at 25." The Vampyr said with a sigh, hiding his face in hands.

"Were you the one who turned him?"

"No, I met him a couple of months ago." He sighed and then looked up at me, hurt. "Why is Lucas following me? Why hasn't he moved on?"

*I wanted to be sure he would live on. I need him to know that my death was not his fault, he can't keep blaming himself. Verne needs to move on, he needs to accept the bond. I know he is falling for Arthur but he is fighting it. I want him to be happy.* Lucas said, almost crying, his eyes fixated onto his beloved.

"He has unfinished matters here, he can't move on until it's done." I said enigmatically.

I raised my drink to signal I want a refill. The bartender quickly made me a new one and passed it to me.

"Why are you fighting the new bond? You don't like Arthur?" I asked the Vampyr and he shook his head.

"I… no. I enjoy his company, I'm attracted to him, I… I'm…"

"You're in love with him?" I asked or more like I stated.

Verne's expression turned into a pained one, he hung his head.

"... yes." He whispered.

"Why do you feel guilty about it? Arthur doesn't want you?"

"He do. He wants us to bond. But I can't. I…" Verne stuttered.

"You feel guilty? You think it would mean you betrayed Lucas?" I said calmly and Verne nodded. "He wants you to accept the bond. Lucas is here because he wants you to be happy. He doesn't want you to keep on blaming yourself."

"He wants me to have a second mate?" Verne asked, a little confused.

*How could I not? He always cared for me so much, it's time for me to take care of him. Even in my death.* Lucas smiled, wiping his tears.