Blood Apprentice (Elemental Legacy Book 2)

Fantastic paranormal adventure from USA Today Bestselling Author, Elizabeth Hunter!

If you’re a human in a vampire’s world, nothing goes according to plan. When a map to the mysterious fortune of notorious privateer Miguel Enríquez falls in the lap of Ben and Tenzin, only one of them is jumping at the opportunity. Tenzin can’t wait to search for a secret cache of gold. Ben, on the other hand, couldn’t be less excited. All Ben knows about Puerto Rico is what he hears on the news and a few lingering memories of his human grandmother. Going back to his roots holds zero appeal for the carefully constructed man he’s become. In the end, the lure of hidden gold can’t be denied. Ben and Tenzin head to Puerto Rico where the immortal world is ruled by Los Tres, a trio of powerful vampires commanding the wind, the waves, and the mountains that make up this small island in the Caribbean. To find Enríquez’s treasure, they’ll have to walk a fine line between flattery and secrecy. To leave the island might mean a bigger fight than either one of them foresaw.

Blood Apprentice is the second novel in the Elemental Legacy, a paranormal mystery series by Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Irin Chronicles.

Chapter One

Ben Vecchio was a thief. Tenzin swung the saber diagonally, but the thief blocked her with his own blade, a Japanese-forged katana she’d trained him on. “You’re insane,” Ben shouted. “I didn’t eat your cannoli.” “Then where is it, Ben?” She parried, forcing him to back up. “Did it just disappear? Did a mouse break into the refrigerator?” A pink box that contained two cannoli and one cheese danish had occupied the refrigerator the night before. She’d risen from her meditation at nightfall. The danish had survived, but both cannoli were gone. Ben growled as he blocked her relentless blows. “I am not responsible for your food, woman.” Tenzin wasn’t a woman. She was a vampire. She didn’t survive solely on blood, but she also didn’t eat much. She’d been waiting for the cannoli, and now it was gone. He lunged right, tipping her off-balance and forcing her across the training mat. The first floor of their apartment contained a large training area, various weapons, and oddly enough, dance equipment for their new roommate. “I’m telling you, I had one. I don’t know what happened to the other one. Why don’t you just eat the danish if you’re hungry?” Tenzin’s eyes went wide. “The danish isn’t mine. The danish is Chloe’s. The cannoli was mine. Only one person loves cannoli more than me in this house.” She spun around and slapped the back of his thighs with the flat of her sword. “You didn’t even get rid of the evidence. You’re worse than a thief. You’re a bad thief.” Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Take it back.” “No.” He attacked. The room filled with the furious clashing blades of two enemies ignited by righteous fury. She forced herself to stay on the ground. Just because she could fly didn’t mean she would. Not when it would only draw complaints about the unfair advantages of being immortal. Oh no. Tenzin wanted vengeance, and she didn’t want to hear Ben whining about it. Blood or no blood? She decided she didn’t want to hear complaints from Chloe about cleaning up the training area, so she kept to slaps with the side of her blade. “You’re a bad thief.” She taunted him with a slap to the bicep. “Slow.” “Shut up.” He slapped back and her ass felt it. “I’m the fastest human you know.” He was the fastest human she knew, but Tenzin wasn’t going to admit it. Ben was a human in an immortal world, and he did everything possible to even the playing field. He practiced and trained relentlessly, carving his tall, lean body into a weapon as flexible and lethal as a rapier. He mastered martial arts from South America and Asia. He’d studied knife fighting with masters. He’d killed his first enemy at sixteen in defense of a friend, matched wits with emperors, and bargained with ancients. “If you’re so fast, maybe you should have run out and gotten another cannoli instead of stealing mine.” She darted to the side, just escaping the blade that would have slapped the back of her knee. Close. Tenzin narrowed her eyes. That was the closest he’d ever gotten without her allowing it. She jumped into the air and flew over his head, kneeing him in the right kidney and quickly punching her knuckle into the nerve above his elbow. Ben grunted and fumbled his blade. “Cheater.” “Thief.” He dropped his shoulder and flipped her over. “It is the height of hypocrisy for you to be calling me a thief!” Tenzin hit the ground and Ben was on her, straddling her hips with his knees and twisting her wrist until she loosened her grip on the weapon she carried. Did she notice how broad his shoulders had become? Perhaps. Did she notice how lean his hips were and how penetrating his gaze was? Yes. She’d have to be blind not to see what an attractive man he’d become. He still made her irrationally angry. “That was my cannoli.” “Enough.” His normally affable expression was gone. It had been gone for months. “Why would you buy me a treat and then take it for yourself?” she asked. “That makes no sense.” “Because I didn’t.” He rolled off her and lay flat on the mat. “Don’t pick up that fucking sword again, or I’m gonna lose my last nerve. I swear it.” She’d been hoping a good fight would perk him up, but it seemed to have only annoyed him. And his lip was bleeding. Oops. “What is wrong with you?” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Were you just bored? I was trying to wrap my brain around this fucking Bucharest job, and you’re busting my balls about cannoli, for fuck’s sake.” “Is it wrong that I kind of like it when your New Yorker comes out?” “What the fuck are you talking about?” Tenzin couldn’t stop the smile. Ben stood, reaching a hand out to help her up before he grabbed the katana and the dao they’d been fighting with, walked to the long racks at the edge of the training area, and put both weapons in their place. Then he grabbed a towel from the bench nearby. Just one. Tenzin didn’t sweat. She crossed her arms over her chest. “The Bucharest job is vexing you because Radu hasn’t given you all the information yet. You still don’t know who his sire is, so you don’t know if he has any siblings, so you don’t know if anyone else has a claim on that icon. Until you find out if he’s the only one with a claim, you’re not going to feel comfortable bending the rules necessary for this job. Conscience, Ben. It’s your greatest weakness.” “I’m so glad you think so,” Ben muttered. “Radu’s not going to tell me who his sire is.” “Then tell him you can’t help him.” He wiped the towel across his forehead. “This would be our first job in Eastern Europe. And Radu knows every vampire between Prague and Tbilisi.” “Radu is a pain in the ass,” Tenzin said. “Every vampire between Prague and Tbilisi knows Radu is a pain in the ass. We’re not going to lose face if we tell him we don’t want the job.” “The finder’s fee on this one is healthy. Giovanni encouraged me to say yes. He’s not officially my boss…” “But he’s kind of your boss,” Tenzin replied. The jobs that she and Ben took were closer to the art world than the historical-documents world that Ben’s adopted uncle, Giovanni Vecchio, had worked in for centuries. But the concept was the same. If you were an immortal who’d lost something, they could help you find it. Ancient Tibetan scroll? Giovanni was your man. Medieval Russian icon? That was Ben and Tenzin’s department. “And Gio probably considers a job for Radu character building. He’s self-righteous like that.” “But is he right?” “Maybe. Do you really need your character built more?” “According to my uncle”—Ben raised a familiar eyebrow—“character is a construction of eternity, an endless striving of the self to be subsumed to the greater good.” Tenzin rolled her eyes, partly because Ben’s imitation of her old friend was just that good. “Ancestors, save me from philosophers.” Ben almost cracked a smile. Almost. “Right now I’m more motivated by Radu’s bank account.” “Neither of us needs the money.” She eyed the new construction next to the training area. “But the money would be nice.” She could smell plaster dust in the air from the workmen who were finishing the bathroom attached to the new bedroom they’d added. Chloe had overseen the construction, just like she was now overseeing most human aspects of their business. She answered mail and ran errands. She kept track of various accounts and helped Ben move money when it was necessary. Tenzin didn’t need to move money from banks. She kept all her earnings in gold. She liked gold. Radu was offering to pay in gold. “He’s been missing that icon for a hundred and fifty years,” Tenzin said. “And bitching about it for at least a century. Send him something by courier and tell the courier to get lost. You can put him off for at least another year with that trick.” “Really?” Ben looked skeptical. “Trust me. I’ve used it many times. Especially if my father summons me.” “Good to know.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “Did you eat that cannoli?” Ben tapped her forehead. “Fucking one-track mind. No. I did not eat your cannoli. And I’m ending this conversation before it gets more ridiculous. I’m hungry. I’m going to make dinner.” “Fattoush?” “I made that last night. Chloe is picking up some lamb. Figured I’d try making polo if you want.” “Well, if there’s no cannoli…” The edge of his mouth barely tilted up. “I’ll make enough for three.” Tenzin followed Ben up the stairs. “You should put ice on that lip.” “Thanks for the tip.” He peeled off his shirt, which was covered in sweat, and tossed it over his head, hitting her smack in the face. Tenzin wrinkled her nose and held the shirt with two fingers. “But you should shower first. You stink.” “Yeah, I got ambushed before I could clean up. I wonder how that happened?” “I consider cannoli theft between partners a serious offense.” They made it up the stairs, and Tenzin heard Chloe humming in the kitchen. “Hello, Chloe.” “Hey, guys!” The cheerful human—the only one in the house these days—waved at them. She must have just come from rehearsal because she was wearing leggings and a loose top. Her dark spirals of hair were pulled up into a giant ponytail, and her light brown skin glowed with health. She’d made vast progress since she’d left her abusive boyfriend and moved in with them. Tenzin was definitely going to keep her. “Ben, the lamb you wanted is in the fridge.” Chloe looked up. “What did you do to your lip?” Ben turned and glared at Tenzin. “Ask Tiny.” “Sparring?” Chloe turned to the fridge. “Oh! Tenzin, before I forget. I ate that cannoli Ben brought home yesterday because a chocolate craving hit hard before rehearsal, but I got you another one from Masseria.” “Thank you.” Tenzin walked to the fridge. Excellent. A fresh cannoli was even better than a day-old one, though Masseria’s cannoli crust always held up well, even overnight. Ben’s mouth was open. “That’s it?” Tenzin opened the refrigerator and removed the pastry from the box before she answered. “What?” She took a bite and sighed in happiness. Ben walked across the kitchen, slammed the refrigerator door shut, and towered over her. “You ambush me, give me a bloody lip and a bruise in my fucking hamstring because you think I took your cannoli, and Chloe waltzes in, admits to stealing the thing, and all she gets is an ‘okay, cool’?” Tenzin held up the crusty pastry tube of deliciousness. “But she got me another one.” “Unbelievable.” He stormed out of the kitchen and down the stairs. A few minutes later, Tenzin heard the water in the shower switch on. Chloe pursed her lips. “He’s so tense right now.” “I know. I keep trying to think of ways for him to relax, but nothing is working.” Chloe cut her eyes toward Tenzin. “I can think of one thing.” “Wrestling?” “I suppose some people might call it that.” “You’re right. He hasn’t had a good jiujitsu match in ages. We should research facilities in the neighborhood. There have to be some options.” “Jiujitsu.” Chloe smiled. “Sure. That’s exactly what I was thinking.” “Yes, you’re very smart for a human.” “Well, I’m glad one of us is.” Tenzin bit her lip to keep from laughing. She wasn’t as clueless about the tension between her and Ben as they all liked to think. She just didn’t know what she wanted to do about it yet. He lived most of his life at night. He slept when the sun was at its zenith and came to life with the stars. If workmen filled the house, he sometimes took refuge in the library, sleeping in a dark corner on the pallet Tenzin used for meditating. When he was tired, he slept, and it could be anywhere in the loft that had become home to the strange little family of human, vampire, and whatever hybrid Ben had become. He was in the library that night, searching for more information on a medieval Russian icon. Though Chloe had gone to sleep, Ben remained awake. He was lithe and silent, his body trained to move in ways that avoided attention. Tenzin watched him from her perch in the sheltered loft he’d designed with her in mind. It was sun-safe, no matter the hour of the day. It was plain but spacious. Most importantly, only Tenzin had access to it. Though Ben occasionally dragged a ladder over if he was feeling ornery. He wasn’t particularly tall for a modern human, though he was far larger than Tenzin. His features were a blend of the blood that had made him, half from the Old World and half from the New. His human father had been Puerto Rican. His mother, Lebanese. The blood of every continent flowed in his veins. But his eyes—those dark, watchful eyes—came from the vampire who had made him the man he was. Ben moved silently in the library, opening one reference book after another, jumping between his laptop computer and the books. He was following a trail of some kind, slowly narrowing his search area. He had become a fine hunter. It was an odd thing, Tenzin thought as she watched him, to see the slow transformation of a novice. Ben had never been a child to her. She’d met him when he was a teenager who looked no older than she did, but he had never been a child. Life had taught him early that fate was not kind to the young. While he remained human, he would grow older every year. Unlike Tenzin, whose face hadn’t changed in five millennia, Ben’s features grew more rugged. His beard became thicker. His expression more solemn. While he remained human… “I don’t want it, Tiny. You know I don’t. I’m too familiar with vampire life to idealize immortality.” He knew nothing. “Promise me.” Tenzin had made many promises over the years. She’d broken most of them. She spotted the map he’d been avoiding for a year. It was sitting in a clear plastic sleeve on the edge of a bookshelf. Tenzin cocked her head and thought about the map to the rumored treasure of the famed privateer Miguel Enríquez, about an island still ravaged by a hurricane and an old woman who carried Ben’s last true link to the human world. “I don’t want it.” And yet…. Are you truly human anymore, my Benjamin? Tenzin flew down to him, grabbing the map from the bookshelf before she sat next to him on the table. Ben looked up from his computer and spotted what she was holding. “Not this again.” “It’s been a year.” His expression was carefully neutral. “And we only got a letter back from the island a couple of months ago.” “We didn’t need to wait for a letter. You know that.” “We did. Giovanni—” “This isn’t about protocol, Benjamin.” She put the map in front of him and bent down. “This isn’t about appeasing the current vampire in charge of—” “Three, actually. There are three vampires in charge of Puerto Rico.” She kept talking and ignored the way the Spanish name rolled off his tongue. Ben was annoyingly attractive when he spoke Spanish. “This is about you avoiding your past. Avoiding a place that might still have some hold on you.” “You think so?” His eyes were heated. “Don’t pretend this is about me. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico. It has no hold on me. I wanted nothing to do with this map. You want to hunt pirate treasure, Tenzin. You don’t care what the island had been through or what conditions people are living in.” “Yes, I want to find the treasure. Other people are not my problem. And I was right to think we should have gone earlier. The chaos directly after the hurricane would have cloaked our movements. And there was almost no electricity. You know I love that.” Ben closed his eyes. “Could you at least pretend to care?” “Why? I thought this wasn’t about your family, Ben. Why would I care about strangers?” He had no answer for that. “You care,” she said. “And that’s fine. Your empathy doesn’t bother me. Maybe when we go down, you can do more than send money anonymously to your grandmother. All I care about is following this map and finding treasure. You are delaying for personal reasons that don’t have anything to do with business.” He opened his eyes and glared at her. “Fine. You want to hunt pirate treasure, we’ll hunt. But we’re doing this in a respectful way, and we’re not charging down there without an introduction.” “Excellent.” She sat up. “Then you’ll be happy to know I made a date for you and Novia to have drinks tomorrow night.” Why was Spanish so effective? She even found it attractive when he was cursing.