by Mary Abshire
He inhaled and lowered his gaze.
After a long silence, I asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Well…What if you said you would work with them, but you really wouldn't it? I could return to the States and get some friends—"
"No," I said strongly. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt or die from trying to help me. Let me put an end to this."
"But—"
"No, Shawn. They'll never stop looking for me. This has to end."
The plane started descending. Shawn turned to the window. Outside, the sun still shined. Clouds started to hide our view.
"Did I really sleep most of the flight?" I asked.
"Besides the time you woke up to use the bathroom, yeah," he said from over his shoulder.
The pilot spoke over the intercom. He announced we would be landing in Paris within fifteen minutes. My anxiety level rose slightly. Although I was ready to face the vamps and most likely my death, I still feared both.
Shawn and I stared out the window the rest of the way down until the plane landed. The shaking of the aircraft and quick stop on the ground amplified my nervousness. My hands even sweated.
After the pilot navigated the plane to the terminal, we had to remain in our seats a few minutes before we could exit. Waiting didn't help my unease. I couldn't stop fidgeting my knee.
From the gate, we walked down a wide, brightly lit hall until we found a monitor with flight information. Shawn located the data for our next, and my final, trip. Together, we walked at a casual pace.
"You still have time to change your mind," he said without meeting my gaze.
"I appreciate your concern. I can't thank you enough for helping me. But I have to do this."
He said nothing more while we went through the rest of the airport, down two escalators, and then to an area where the small aircraft was held. Memories of my last visit surfaced and I got a chill.
"I never thought I'd be here again," I said as we waited in a small line for the customs checkpoint.
"Let's hope they don't check these out very well," he said, holding up our passports.
"Gee, thanks. As if I didn't have enough stress."
He grinned, then we moved to the available attendant. Shawn handed our tickets and identification to the older man wearing a blue vest. He glanced over the documents, then stamped each book. He handed our items back without so much as a single word. Shawn grabbed everything, then strode past customs.
"That was easy," I said softly.
"Agreed. Keep walking."
We reached the exit to the hangar where the small planes were. Shawn, being the gentleman that he was, held the door for me. There were two planes parked just outside the wide hangar. A uniformed man stood in the middle of both. He spoke in French as we approached.
"Alderney," Shawn said.
The uniformed man pointed to the proper plane. Shawn gave him a nod.
I followed the demon up a short staircase, then onto the aircraft. Unlike the last small plane I'd ridden in, this one was narrow and thin with six seats in a single row. Shawn sat in the middle, then placed his bag on the floor between his feet.
"You can sit anywhere. There's no assignment on this flight. And, thankfully, it's only forty-five minutes," he said.
I sat in the chair behind him. While we waited for others, we stared out the windows. A few people walked into the hangar, but they were all directed to the other aircraft. After twenty minutes, the uniformed man sealed the door to the plane.
"I guess it's just us," I said.
His gaze never left the window as he nodded.
The engine hummed as it accelerated toward a runway. I'd never seen Paris during the daylight, so I scoped out the area as much as I could. Granted, I was only at the airport. Paris looked like a typical big city in America. I couldn't tell much of a difference except for the tall beacon in the distance.
The noise of the aircraft grew as it sped, then ascended into the air. Unlike the larger planes, the small ones were terribly bumpy. The shaking strengthened my anxiety and my stomach churned. As if that wasn't enough, I started to get massive cramps in my stomach. I took slow, deep breaths to calm myself. After a few minutes, I was sweating and gripping the armrests. I tried to avoid puking, but finally decided I couldn't hold back any longer. I got up, then headed toward the single restroom in the back.
Hurrying, I shut the door, then bent over the toilet. Bile gushed from within me. My stomach retched several times and I spilled everything I'd eaten that day. Tears rolled down my cheeks while sharp pain squeezed my intestines. I tried to get a breath of air to calm myself, but each time I did, the opposite happened. I vomited until there was nothing left.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Jessie?"
I spit in the toilet, then sniffled. "I'll be out in a few."
My stomach convulsed again, but nothing came out of me. For several minutes, I knelt over the toilet with the dry heaves. My intestines ached fiercely and I shook, but at least the retching was slowing down. I rose to the sink. After wiping my face with water, I rinsed my mouth. Spitting didn't help, but I had to get the taste of vomit out.
Still shaking and stomach revolting, I left the bathroom and returned to my seat.
"You don't look good," Shawn said as I sat. He was leaning over the armrest of his seat, facing me.
I sniffled. "I guess reality caught up with me and kicked me in my gut."
"Can we go home now?"
"You can," I said, then another spasm hit me. I pressed my lips together. Nothing came up.
"Would you like some gum?" he asked.
"That would be the most wonderful thing ever if you have any."
He twisted around, then dug inside his bag. In little time, he was facing me with a stick of gum between his fingers.
"You're the best," I said as I took it from him.
"Mint, too."
The demon earned a relieved smile from me.
Since I'd spent most of the time in the bathroom, the rest of the flight wasn't long. From above, the island looked peaceful, surrounded by miles of sea. My intestinal convulsions had lessened, but for some reason, I hadn't stopped shaking.
The aircraft landed on a small runway on the island. The sun was setting and casting a wicked glare off the sea. When the plane came to a halt near a hangar, a tsunami of trepidation hit me. I wanted to save Drake, but I knew something horrible was going to happen. Was my fear because of the vision about a fire or was it about confronting the VETOV? I didn't have the answer.
The pilot opened the door for us. Shawn exited first. He stopped a few feet from the aircraft, then dug inside his bag. After I descended the small stairs, I stood next to him and gazed at the sunset. Shades of pink and orange colored the sky. A breeze blew my hair in front of my eyes.
"Here," he said, handing me some cash. "You may need this."
"Thanks," I said as I took the bills. I shoved them my vest pocket. "I'm going to miss you."
He set his bag on the ground, then reached for me. "Give me some lovin'."
I squeezed my arms around him. "You are an amazing friend. I owe you a lot, and I will repay you, be it in this life or the next."
"I'll hold you to that," he said.
Sadness weighed on my heart. "I hope you have a happy life, Shawn. Make the most of it." I slackened my arms.
"I always do," he said.
Trembling, and eyes filling with tears, I stepped back from him. "Don't stay here too long. It's not safe."
"I'll be fine."
Lips quivering, I backed away. "Thank you for everything."
Before he could get out another word, I turned and headed for the road.
Grief consumed me as I walked along the paved path. I tried to forget about all the people I'd lost, but the tears fell anyway. I couldn't change the past, but I could put an end to potential future casualties. That and freeing Drake was what drove me to continue to the Fort.
After about half a mile, I made it into th
e town. The island was only a mile and a half wide and three and a half miles long. Why bother with a taxi when I could enjoy my last bit of freedom viewing the tranquil town? I needed to calm my nerves anyway. I strolled on the cobblestone streets. A few cars had parked on the side, but mostly bicycles were left near the roads. The buildings were quaint and colorful. Had I not been on a mission, I would've loved to stop in each shop.
I proceed to the outskirts of town, heading for Fort Clonque. Salty air filled my lungs while seagulls flew in the sky. The wind soothed my heated flesh. Darkness was settling in. The vampires would venture out to play soon.
I strode down the gravel road leading to the Fort. It's tall concrete walls looked intimidating, even in the twenty-first century. The tide was rising. Spray from the sea fell on me the closer I got. I didn't look behind me, but I was willing to bet the sea was spilling over the road.
My heart was thumping rapidly by the time I reached the gate. A small office was located off to the side. Inside, a young man faced a window. He saw me through the glass, then stepped outside. He spoke in French and I couldn't understand a word.
"I'm here to see Nassar. My name is Jessie Garrett," I told the young man.
He returned inside, then lifted the receiver of a phone. A gust of wind brushed over me and I shook. Was I afraid? I was petrified, but I couldn't turn back now if I wanted to.
A change in the climate sparked my awareness. Seconds later, the gate squealed as it opened. My stomach cramped as I took one step after another toward the entrance. Ready or not, I was going to face the evil fucks who'd kept my lover from me.
Chapter Eighteen
I came to a halt inside the Fort, a few feet from the entrance. A tall male figure approached with a confident stride. Arms at my sides, I stood composed, but I felt exactly the opposite. My heart raced while my body shivered. Yes, there was a chill in the air because of the vampire, but he wasn't the sole reason I shook.
The man's face became clearer to me as he came closer. He had almond eyes and short dark hair. The tall Asian was over twelve hundred years old if I remembered correctly. And he had not been in favor of me living when I was at the Fort the last time.
He stopped in front of me. "Nice to see you again."
"Where's Drake?" I asked.
"If you come with me, I'm sure we can find him for you."
After a nod, I followed him back the way he came. I rubbed my hands to ease the icy energy flowing around me, but my efforts held no value. He led me past the main building where they held their meetings underground and where Sean had died. The memory of his death squeezed my heart. Too many people had died for me. I'd made the right choice to sacrifice myself so no more lives would be harmed.
Quon twisted to face me. "Did you travel here alone?"
"Yes."
He continued along the dirt path to a building in the back of the Fort, near cliffs looking out over the sea. A single steel door was built within the stone structure. There were windows, but they looked covered from the inside. Quon opened the door, then entered. The frost in the air increased as I strode inside behind him.
Another vampire appeared from the down the hall. The young vamp with curly brown hair looked familiar. His eyes darted from me to Quon before he met up with his fellow VETOV member.
"She said she came alone. Check out her story," Quon said.
The vamp stepped around Quon, then approached me. He stared deep into my eyes and, for a brief second, I thought I saw a hint of sorrow.
"Constantine, go," Quon said.
Constantine walked past me before he left.
"Come, Jessie," Quon said, then proceeded forward.
The dimly lit hallway had stone walls similar to the outside of the building. I'd once been told the old Fort had undergone renovations several times to accommodate the servants and guests who sometimes rented the Fort. Clearly, parts hadn't changed much. The solid structures looked just as strong as they had when they were first built.
We reached a door near the end of the hall. Quon pushed on the handle, then descended the stairs. I left the door open as I followed him. The concrete steps took us on a straight path down, then led us to another hallway. The musty air made my nose twitch. On one side, the walls were made of more stones. Drywall stood in place of hard rocks on the other side. Someone had actually hung oil paintings.
The hallway ended with a door. Quon pushed it open, then proceeded down another staircase. The taps of his shoes echoed slightly on the metal steps. I doubted the stairs were part of the original structure since they didn't appear rusty or heavily worn. Midway on a landing, before the stairs shifted in a different direction, Quon glanced up at me. Did he think I'd turn tail and run? If so, he didn't know me well.
My stomach cramped horribly as we reached solid ground. I came to a halt to ride out the wave of misery. There were two metal doors on the left. To the right, I counted three barred doors and a steel one. Seeing the bars encouraged my rapid pulse. The steel walls on the same side didn't offer to calm my anxiety either. Quon stopped a few feet away, then turned to face me.
A man stepped from the second room on the left before Quon could speak. He had shoulder-length black hair and wore a suit. I didn't recognize him, but the feral look in his eyes and the chill he was sending my way gave me pause for alarm. My stomach pained me again. I clenched my fists to help deal with the unease.
The vamp passed Quon and approached me.
"Is this the infamous half-demon?" he asked with a thick Russian accent.
Quon came to stand next to the vamp. "Yes. Let me introduce you. Jessie, this is Viktor. He replaced his dear friend, Dimitry. Viktor, this is Jessie Garrett, the half-demon who can send souls to Hell."
"Replaced?" The one word was the first one that came to mind.
"When a member of the VETOV ceases to exist, his or her survivor will fill the vacancy," Quon said.
Viktor's lips tugged to the side to reveal a spiteful grin. "Dimitry was a close friend of mine. I'm glad I finally get to meet you."
In a flash, he swung the back of his hand at my face. The force of the blow surprised me and I tumbled sideways. I hit my head on the solid metal wall, then coldness and darkness swallowed me.
* * *
The sound of male voices kindled my consciousness. I opened my eyes and found myself lying on my back. My head ached and my vision spun. I closed my eyes and waited for the dizziness to fade.
"I will speak with her," said a familiar male voice.
"Fine," Quon said.
Slowly, I pried my eyelids up and pushed myself upright. The cushion bed underneath me took up most of the space in the small room. There were no windows. The only other furniture was a small table and a metal folding chair on the opposite side of where I was. Nassar stood near the door made of bars. He wore dark dress pants and a maroon button-down shirt with long sleeves. His tanned skin and attire gave him a classy appeal. The ancient Arabic vamp's energy didn't chill me the way the others had.
"How is your head?" he asked as he stepped closer.
"It hurts a bit." I pressed my palms against the thin metal frame of the bed.
He stopped in front of me. "I'm sure you can understand Viktor's disapproval of you."
"I guess. I hope I don't see too much more of him."
"When a vampire joins the VETOV, he or she must designate a survivor should anything happen to him or her. Dimitry chose an old comrade of his. Dimitry changed him into a vampire over six centuries ago. They fought in many battles together and shared the same…appetites."
I lowered my gaze from the disparaging news. Dimitry was a ruthless, evil vampire who’d threatened to kill everyone I cared about if I didn't agree to offer him sex and my blood. I had to believe Viktor was equally cruel, if not more so since I was the reason why Dimitry ceased to exist.
"You should try to rest," Nassar said. "You'll need your strength."
I looked into his eyes and sensed compassion. The ancient vamp had tried
to help save me after a gypsy dancer had stabbed me the last time I was at the Fort. But I reserved any trust in him. If he was here and knew Drake was too, then he supported his group's plan to lure me back.
I patted my vest pockets and found them empty.
"I have your phone and passport. You won't need them," he said, and I wasn't surprised.
I looked at my hands. "My ring. Where's my ring?"
"You won't need that either."
Agony started to swallow me. Drake had given me the ring when he proposed in Alaska. I fought the tears trying to build in my eyes.
"Where's Drake?" I asked.
"You'll see him tomorrow. One of the servants will bring you food. Should you need to relieve yourself, press the call button." He pointed to a small box on the wall near the bars. "The other members should arrive by sunrise the following day. We'll meet to decide your fate."
"My fate? What about Drake? I want to know he's okay. I want him freed."
"You really should get some rest. I'll send someone to check on your wound."
He stepped toward the barred exit. The fact he wouldn't answer my questions and kept insisting I take it easy left me fearful. What were they planning? Why didn't he let me see Drake now? Why did I have to wait for the others?
"How many of you are here?" I asked before he made it outside my prison cell.
"Quon and I have been here since you left. Constantine has visited many times. He returned about a month ago, after news of your appearance in Indianapolis."
If they knew about me showing up in Indiana, I wondered if they'd received the latest news regarding Anton.
"Have you heard from Anton recently?" I asked.
He stared directly into my eyes. "We lost contact with him."
"Did you know he was trying to capture me?"
"Yes, I was aware of his plan."
"Then you should know he won't be coming back. Don't bother waiting for him." I resisted informing the ancient that I'd sent Anton's soul to Hell. I figured the tiny detail might spark some anger, if not with him then definitely with the others.
He pressed his lips together and looked away. "Rest, Jessie. You'll need it."