Death of Darkness

by Dianne Duvall

  Sean gently lowered Nicole to the ground and withdrew his touch. “Chasing half a dozen vampires who made a run for it.”

  Seth yanked the dagger out of Nicole’s shoulder, then rested his hand on the wound. Heat rose within him and rushed down his arm into her cool form, healing the damage.

  “There are too many energy signatures here,” Ami murmured. “I can’t figure out which one is hers.”

  Seth looked to Sean. “Which way did she go?”

  He pointed.

  “I’ll heal you when I return.” Crossing to Ami, Seth lifted her into his arms and took off in the direction the woman had run. This was the first time any of the missing gifted ones had made an appearance. He had to catch up with her, had to find her.

  Some distance away, Seth stopped and waited.

  Ami kept her eyes closed, tilting her head a bit.

  “Anything?” he asked, trying hard to be patient.

  “Maybe. There’s something. But it’s very faint.”

  Because the woman had been moving at preternatural speeds. “Can you follow it?”

  “I don’t know. Turn in a slow circle.”

  The breeze shifted as he pivoted, lifting Ami’s hair back from her face.

  “There.” She pointed in the direction from which the breeze came just as the scent of blood reached Seth.

  “Hold on.” He raced forward, excitement growing now that he had a scent to follow. The woman appeared to be losing a lot of blood. He reached out to Sean telepathically. How badly did you injure her? Though Sean wasn’t telepathic, Seth was powerful enough to read any response he thought.

  Silence ensued.

  Sean?

  She’s sporting a few cuts and multiple gunshot wounds. I’m sorry. She was kicking my ass.

  Since Sean didn’t carry guns, Seth guessed that Sean really had been getting his ass kicked and Nicole had come to his rescue. Sean simply didn’t want to subject her to Seth’s anger.

  Have Krysta and Étienne returned yet?

  Yes. Should I send them after you?

  No. Sit tight.

  “Wait,” Ami said suddenly.

  Seth skidded to a halt.

  She pointed. “That way.”

  “Are you sure?” The scent of blood was diminishing and the damned breeze kept shifting.

  “Yes.”

  Seth altered his direction and renewed his pursuit. Every once in a while, when the wind cooperated, he would catch the scent of blood. But the woman was smart. She changed her route frequently in an attempt to remain downwind of them.

  “Her energy signal is getting fainter.”

  And he was losing her scent. Damn it, how had he not caught up with her yet? Although she had gotten a significant head start before he had arrived, she was newly turned. Seth was far faster and should have found her by now.

  “I can’t feel her anymore,” Ami announced reluctantly.

  Nor could Seth smell her. He halted, turning in a circle. “Anything?”

  Her brow furrowed. “No.”

  Cursing, Seth backtracked a bit and again turned in a circle.

  Ami shook her head, her emerald eyes full of regret. “Nothing.”

  Seth carefully lowered her until her bare feet touched the cool grass. Since she was a good twenty inches shorter than him, his coat pooled around her on the ground and provided a shield from the breeze.

  Frustration battered him as he strode some distance away, tilted his head back, and drew in a deep breath. Grass. Weeds. Trees. Field mice. An owl. Opossums. A raccoon. Wood smoke from fires left burning in fireplaces. A couple of stray cats. Exhaust from the road in the distance beyond the trees. Nothing else. No hint of blood. No scent of woman. “Fuck.”

  Ami spoke softly behind him. “I’m sorry, Seth.”

  He shook his head. He had finally gotten a lead on the whereabouts of one of the missing immortals and hadn’t been able to do shit to help her.

  Grass rustled as Ami approached and rested small, cold fingers on his forearm. “I think I got a fairly decent fix on her energy signal. I can help you track her like I did Cliff when he was captured.”

  Ami was unique in this world. He and David had rescued her from a group that had subjected her to six months of torture under the guise of scientific study. He hadn’t learned until later that she had come to them from another planet and was the only member of her race on Earth. She was even more unique than Seth. And he loved Ami dearly.

  One of the many gifts Ami had been born with was the ability to sense individual energy signals. Apparently every living thing possessed one that was as distinctive as fingerprints. It was why she could always alert him when Gershom was near. And it was how she had helped him track down Cliff and Joe when the two had been captured by mercenaries.

  But that scenario had been different from this one. Since Seth had known the mercenaries were based somewhere in North Carolina, all he’d had to do was teleport Ami to locations within the boundaries of the state in ever-growing circles until she located Cliff’s energy signal.

  This time he couldn’t narrow down the field. This time there were no boundaries. Gershom could teleport. So he could have taken the immortal woman Seth sought anywhere in the world and most likely had, rather than stationing her and the other missing immortals right in Seth’s backyard where he could more easily find them.

  The chill in Ami’s fingers finally reached him.

  Lifting her into his arms, he teleported back to Sean’s side.

  Nicole had regained consciousness and hovered next to Sean, who held a bag of blood to his teeth. Krysta and Étienne busied themselves with collecting the fallen vampires’ weapons and clothing now that the virus that infected them had devoured them from the inside out.

  Several beeps sounded at Seth and Ami’s abrupt appearance.

  Seth glanced down at Ami. “Can you stay a little longer in case she doubles back?”

  “Of course. I’ll stay as long as you need me to.”

  The three immortals all regarded him grimly.

  Nicole rose and faced him. Fear and dread tightened her features.

  Sean lowered the now-empty blood bag. “Did you find her?”

  “No.” Seth knelt beside Sean and placed a hand on his chest. Warmth poured from him into the younger immortal, healing his wounds. And all the while fury continued to pummel Seth.

  Once more he had failed.

  Clouds gathered overhead.

  The immortals shared a wary look.

  Seth rose. “Étienne. Krysta.”

  The couple crossed to his side.

  Krysta had made it through the battle without a scratch, but Étienne was pretty banged up.

  Seth healed Étienne’s wounds as thunder began to rumble.

  “Seth,” Ami said softly, “it wasn’t your fault.”

  Sean nodded as Nicole tugged him to his feet. “It was mine. I should’ve called you as soon as I saw her, but her eyes glowed green, so I thought she was a vampire. It caught me off guard.”

  Krysta frowned. “Are you sure she wasn’t a vampire? I thought our eyes all glowed amber. Except for Seth’s, Zach’s, and Jared’s, I mean.”

  Seth struggled to bring his emotions under control as the wind picked up and whipped the trees into a fury. “Sarah’s eyes are hazel and glow green.”

  “Oh. Right,” Krysta said. “I forgot.”

  Sean shifted. “There’s something else.”

  “Tell me,” Seth ordered.

  “She may be newly turned, but she fought like an elder immortal.”

  Nicole nodded. “She did. She was incredibly fast.”

  “And strong,” Sean said. “She was kicking my ass and probably would’ve succeeded in killing me if the bullets hadn’t slowed her down.”

  “I shot her,” Nicole blurted, wringing her hands. “A lot.”

  “No, she didn’t.” Sean stepped between her and Seth. “She’s trying to cover for me. I shot her.”

  “Bullshit.” Nicole m
oved to stand beside him. “She really was kicking his ass. And not just because she was stronger. Sean wouldn’t take the offensive because he wasn’t comfortable hitting a woman.”

  Étienne frowned. “Merde. I didn’t think of that. I wouldn’t feel comfortable striking a woman either.”

  “Well, I didn’t have a problem with it,” Nicole said. “No way in hell was I going to let her kill Sean. I shot her all to hell and would’ve kept it up if Sean hadn’t stopped me.” Straightening her shoulders, she looked Seth in the eye. “I know you want her and the others taken alive. But my first priority is to keep Sean safe, so… do whatever you have to do to punish me. I don’t regret it.”

  “Damn it, Nicole,” Sean ground out.

  Seth raised a hand to halt whatever else Sean intended to say. “There will be no punishment, Nicole. You kept Sean safe, and the woman didn’t die. Next time, however, call me before you begin shooting.”

  She relaxed a little. “I was actually reaching for my phone when the bitch threw a dagger at me. It hit me so hard I fell back into the building. The next thing I knew, I was waking up and she looked like she was about to decapitate Sean.”

  Frowning, Sean reached out and touched the blood that coated one side of her face. “You must have hit your head on the side of the building.”

  She shrugged. “I guess so.”

  He sighed as he turned back to Seth. “How could that woman be so strong if she’s newly turned?”

  Seth drew out his phone. Opening the Photos app, he scrolled past the many pictures he’d taken of Ami and Adira until he reached the ones he had snapped of the headshots Chris Reordon had assembled of the missing gifted ones. He held the phone out to Sean. “Which one was she?”

  Sean wiped his crimson-coated hands on his pants, then swore when both came away more bloody.

  “Here.” Nicole turned away from him.

  “Thanks.” Sean wiped both hands on the back of her jacket, then took the phone. A few swipes of his finger later, he paused. “This is her.” He glanced at Nicole. “Don’t you think?”

  She leaned in close. “Yeah. That’s her.” She sent Seth a look of remorse. “I’m sorry I called her a bitch. It isn’t her fault Gershom is fucking with her head.”

  Seth took the phone and studied the picture. “Tessa Hayes.” Closing his eyes, he reached out to her via that internal network of connections he shared with all gifted ones and immortals. The tie was usually much stronger with immortals. But once more he found only an empty void. Gershom had discovered some way to block him.

  Thunder again rumbled overhead. Lightning streaked through the thickening clouds as he opened his eyes.

  Nicole and the immortals all cast the sky a wary look.

  Ami rested cold fingers on his arm. “Seth?”

  Tucking his phone away, he touched her shoulder. “You’re shivering. I need to get you home.”

  He teleported to her bedroom.

  Marcus leaned back against the headboard while Adira slumbered beside him. He’d donned his hunting togs in their absence, ready to join them at a moment’s notice if needed.

  Seth gently removed his coat from Ami’s shoulders. “Thank you.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

  He shook his head. “The fault is mine.”

  Marcus rose and approached his wife.

  Seth retrieved his phone and dialed a number.

  “Yes?” a baritone voice answered.

  “Are you alone?”

  “One moment.” Wind buffeted the phone. “Yes.”

  Seth teleported to the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal.

  A beep sounded.

  Imhotep stepped from the shadows, his skin as dark as the night sky above them.

  “I need your postcognitive ability,” Seth said.

  Imhotep dipped his chin. “I am always at your service, my friend.”

  Seth clasped the warrior’s shoulder and teleported back to the scene of Sean’s battle.

  Several beeps sounded. The others were still there, waiting for Chris’s cleanup crew to arrive. The network employees would swiftly make the blood that coated the sidewalk and grass disappear, then ensure that no surveillance cameras had captured footage of the paranormal fight.

  The vampires Nicole had tranqed were now rapidly shriveling up. Étienne must have read their thoughts and found no information on Gershom, as well as nothing that would indicate the vamps were worth saving, then delivered them swift deaths.

  Imhotep nodded a greeting to the others.

  Though all nodded back, they didn’t speak. None of them knew the ancient immortal well. He was currently stationed overseas and only came to North Carolina when they needed backup.

  “One of Gershom’s immortals attacked Sean, Krysta, and Étienne with a couple dozen vampires,” Seth informed the Egyptian warrior. “The vampires were either slain or tranqed. The immortal got away. Ami helped me track her to the southeast, but I lost her scent and Ami could no longer feel her energy signal. Can you tell me where she went?”

  Sheathing the long sword he held, Imhotep strolled over to a patch of blood-soaked grass.

  Everyone remained silent as he walked in a slow circle, studying the ground. He closed his eyes. Seconds ticked past. He turned his head to the west, then opened his eyes and looked at Krysta. “Yours took you to the west.”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes.”

  Imhotep directed his gaze at the ground once more. Turning, he took a few steps to the southeast. He knelt and touched his fingers to the grass. “This is her blood.”

  Seth glanced at Sean.

  He nodded. “Yes, it is.”

  “She fights like an elder,” Imhotep murmured.

  “She really does,” Sean agreed.

  How the hell was that possible? Gershom wasn’t infected with the virus, so he couldn’t have turned her himself. And immortals transformed with vampire blood were always weaker than those who came before them. Sean had only transformed a few years ago, so he and Tessa should be relative equals in terms of strength and speed.

  Imhotep rose and met Seth’s gaze. “Come.” He raced away with preternatural speed.

  Seth glanced at the others. “Go home once everything here is cleared up. No more hunting tonight.” He raced after Imhotep, unsurprised to realize the Egyptian immortal was following the exact same path he and Ami had trodden earlier. Except Imhotep didn’t stop where Seth and Ami had. He kept going, taking them on a zigzag route that doubled back on itself more than once.

  At last he held up a hand and halted.

  Seth waited quietly while Imhotep closed his eyes.

  When the dark warrior lifted his lids, his brown eyes glowed amber with anger. “Gershom met her here and teleported her away.”

  Seth swore. He could feel no lingering tendrils of power, so no path remained for him to follow.

  “She called him on her cell phone,” Imhotep told him. “And it pains me to tell you, my friend, that she does not like you very much.”

  Pacing away, Seth ground his teeth. Thunder rumbled anew overhead. No doubt Gershom had filled her head with lies.

  “How much did Sean tell you about his encounter with her?” Imhotep asked.

  Sighing, Seth rubbed his forehead. “Just that she fought like an elder and was kicking his ass until Nicole shot her all to hell.”

  “Did he tell you she spoke to him?”

  Seth faced him with a frown. “No. What did she say?”

  Imhotep extended a hand. “See for yourself.”

  Closing the distance between them, Seth clasped his forearm and watched the battle replay in Imhotep’s mind.

  Seth? Tessa snarled, such contempt twisting her features. You tell that bastard I’m coming for him.

  Lips clamping together, Seth released his friend.

  “Gershom has poisoned her mind against you,” Imhotep warned softly.

  Seth’s stomach burned as though he’d swallowed acid. “I assumed he would.”
But he hadn’t braced himself well enough to keep her hatred from piercing him like a knife. “I’m sure he has done the same with the rest.”

  “You can win her over, Seth,” Imhotep said with complete confidence. “Just show her your memories of Gershom being a dick.”

  He found a smile. “There are so many.”

  Imhotep chuckled.

  “Thank you.”

  The warrior clapped him on the back. “I’m glad I could help you this time.”

  Using postcognitive ability was a little like investigating a crime scene. The longer the scene had to grow cold, the harder it was to see anything. And if others cluttered that scene and disturbed the evidence… Uncovering the truth could prove impossible.

  When Seth and his Immortal Guardians had descended upon Shadow River’s mercenary compound two years earlier, utter chaos had ensued. One of his immortals—Yuri—had been slain. It had been a wholly unexpected and devastating blow from which Seth had still been reeling when the compound’s armory exploded. The battle had continued to rage. And it had been some time before he and the other immortals realized that Stanislav was gone, too, presumably taken by the blast.

  Seth had searched the rubble, unwilling to believe he had lost both immortals. Though the nature of the virus that infected him would’ve left nothing of Stanislav’s body behind to identify, they had found ragged pieces of his protective suit and his broken sword. It had been enough to convince most of the Immortal Guardians that Stanislav was dead. But Seth had refused to accept it and had called in Imhotep.

  Much to his dismay, Imhotep had been unable to divine Stanislav’s fate. He had seen the blast hit the Russian immortal. But thick smoke had obscured the area afterward. And between the mayhem that followed and the time that had passed, Imhotep—like the others—had only been able to guess that Stanislav had indeed died in the blast.

  Seth wished that his own postcognitive abilities hadn’t weakened over the millennia. He had been born with all of the abilities the other Immortal Guardians possessed combined. But those abilities were like muscles. If one didn’t exercise them regularly, they weakened and withered.

  For many years, Seth had focused on strengthening the gifts he thought would aid him most in defeating the Others when their fury over his defection drove them to attack. Those and the gifts he’d believed would best serve the Immortal Guardians he had chosen to shepherd. The rest of his gifts had diminished from disuse.