by Judith Post
Enoch trailed Vlad’s retreat with Light, but never skewered him. Frustrated, he slammed his fists against his Land Rover, denting it more.
Voronika drifted down to the pavement and gently embraced him. “Is your car all right?”
“Screw the car!” At her startled look, he said, “I can get it fixed. It’s fine.” He pushed out of her arms. “Damn it, I was with you, and that was still too close of a call. I should have killed Vlad. I could have!” His fingers curled into fists, and she rubbed his arms. A war raged inside him. What was wrong with him? He had his chance, and he blew it, like he always did. But if he killed Vlad…
“Come on. We’ve put on enough of a show, people are going to notice. Let’s go inside.”
He took a deep breath and glanced around him. Thank God, it was freezing cold and no one was outside. People were bundled in their apartments with the curtains drawn against drafts. He let her lead him to the building. They didn’t talk until they were inside the penthouse with the door locked behind them.
“They almost got you! Again.” Enoch paced the floor. “And what did I do? I wounded Vlad. How stupid am I?”
Voronika stepped into his path and gripped both his arms, forcing him to look at her. “You said it yourself. You don't want to lose me."
Enoch swallowed hard. If he killed Vlad, he killed Voronika.
"I want you to promise me something.”
“That’s a bad opening line. I don’t like it.”
“If more vamps come and I can’t get away, I want you to shoot your light at all of us, including me.”
His face drained of color. “No.”
“Please. I want your promise, not an angel’s promise, a lover's. I’d rather be dust than spend another century with Vlad.”
“But I’d come for you. I wouldn’t give up. I’d hunt Vlad until I found you.”
“You’re one person. How long do you think that would take?”
“I’d search for him in my mind like I do Caleb.”
“But Caleb can block you. So will Vlad.”
“Not for long. Eventually they get tired and wear down.”
"Did you ever find the rogue you followed here?"
A trick question, but a valid one. "No, but I'd search for you twenty four hours a day."
“And when you got close, Vlad would move, and you’d have to track him again. I know. That’s what I’ve done for centuries.”
His shoulders sagged; his whole body seemed to droop. “You’re asking me to kill you.”
“I can’t live with Vlad again, not after I’ve been with you. It would change me. Not for the better.”
“But…”
“Please. Promise me.”
He held her and bent his head to bury it in her long silver hair. “I promise.”
Chapter 61
Bartoli Augustus, Bart to his friends, hunched on the roof of the restaurant across from Enoch's apartment. He'd watched Vlad dodge Enoch's blasts of Light. Every inch of him had wanted to enter the battle, to pin Vlad and help Enoch finish him, but he'd stayed where he was. Caleb's orders.
Enoch wasn't the only person to wonder why Caleb refused to see what a horrid, wretched creature his favorite was. Caleb had only meant to sip from Vlad when he first found him, but Vlad—being the impetuous, rancid human he was—enjoyed offering his neck. He made sipping an addiction until Caleb couldn't do without it. It was a triumph for Vlad. He wanted to be a vampire. He loved the dark pleasures Caleb had on offer. But once Caleb converted him, the idea of master and servant was moot. There was no saying "no" to his favorite. So Caleb looked for someone who could. And he found Bart.
Bart was a soldier, a centurion. He fought battles and won campaigns. Sometimes, after all these years, he had to remind himself of his former, human life. He'd defended Rome's borders and lifestyle. Barbarians invaded, only to be defeated and assimilated. In Bart's eyes, the Romans brought order and advancement to the world. Caleb brought chaos. But Caleb was his master. Three bites—long and painful—one battle that he couldn't win—had changed his life forever.
Bart watched Enoch lead Voronika inside. His heart went out to his friend. He understood how he felt. If anyone threatened Claudia, Bart would kill him. He'd had to stand up to Caleb to wrest her from Vlad. Vlad created her, drank from her, and kept her as his own, but Bart had met her as a Vestal Virgin, was waiting until her duty to the Goddess was finished, and then he meant to come for her. Not to convert her, but to love her. If Caleb hadn't ordered Vlad to give her to him, Bart would have gone for her himself. He didn't think he could defeat Vlad, but they'd both die while he was trying. He hated watching Enoch, who'd fought beside him on one mission after another, chafe under Caleb's stupidity. Vlad could do no wrong in Caleb's eyes.
Bart clenched his fists and looked to the heavens. Great Zeus! He was bound to a master who was selfish and lazy. A battle waged inside him. How long could he watch Vlad swagger and mock while he went against everything that Bart believed in? But he couldn't interfere. Caleb would never forgive him. He didn't mind for himself. If Caleb snapped his neck and his long years of living as an undead were over, it would almost be a blessing. But who'd protect Claudia? And who'd hunt and destroy the rogues who preyed on mankind? Who'd control them?
He ground his teeth. Like Enoch, Bart was dancing to the steps of a tune he never chose. Like him, he fought for the things he believed in. And also like Enoch, he worked with handicaps that made his job nearly impossible.
Chapter 62
Just because he'd made Voronika a promise didn't mean he'd sit and wait until Vlad tried to take her again. “We’re going to make this apartment into a fortress," he told her. "We’re going back to my original plan. We’ll keep you safe here.”
“But the human shot the lock and got in.”
“Then we need a bigger lock. It’s time to get serious.”
She looked around at the expanse of windows that showed off the city's skyline. She looked at the patio doors. “How?”
“We only have to protect it from people. The only vampires that were invited in are dead, along with the mortal that came with them.”
She raised an eyebrow. She was beginning to follow his train of thought. “Your home's beautiful. You don’t want it to look like a prison.”
“It could look like a damn zoo and I’d live in a cage if it meant I could stay here with you.”
She shook her head. “You’re rich. Rich people can get all kinds of things done.”
“You’re right, and we can pay enough to get them done fast. Did you ever live in New York?”
She looked at him as if he were crazy. “What are you talking about?”
He went to the phone and started making calls. It took a while. When he hit the right person, he said, “I need it first thing in the morning. I’m willing to pay to make that happen.” When he hung up, he looked happy with himself.
Voronika carried two glasses of wine to his desk. She gave him one, then sat across from him and took a sip of the other. “Want to tell me what that was about?”
“A work crew’s coming in the morning. They’re going to install those rolling metal doors that shopkeepers use to protect their stores. You know, the ones that roll up in the mornings when they do business and roll down at night. Fancy cages for people.”
She stared. “You’re putting those in your apartment?”
“The workmen will build them into wooden valances. You won’t even notice them when they’re up, and they’ll keep you safe when they're down.”
She looked away, not meeting his eyes. “You’ve done too much for me.”
“I love you.”
She recoiled as if he'd hit her. "Love? We hardly know each other."
"I know I love you. You don't have to love me back."
She gulped. "The sad thing is, I do."
Those were the only words she said. He knew how hard it was for her to say that. She hadn't loved anyone since her mortal husband, Erik.
; She came to sit on his lap. “You’re too good to me. I’m not used to it. Even Erik didn't treat me this well.”
“I’m just happy I have you. I haven't been this happy for a long time.” Not since Grace. But this time, if he could protect her, Voronika could stay with him. She wouldn't grow old and die. They could share decades, centuries. She loved him. She'd said it. Happiness welled in Enoch’s chest; a rush of warmth and joy charged through him. It was followed by a crush of worry. He held her close. “I have to find a way to keep you safe.”
“If we can’t, though, you promised.”
“I know, but I won’t let that happen.” He couldn't even think about it.
They sat in the chair together, unwilling to part, until eventually Voronika fell asleep. Enoch tried to meditate, but his thoughts were too scattered. He had to keep Voronika safe. He had to.
He carried her to her bedroom near six in the morning. Then he called Danny and asked him to have someone watch Jenny’s shop until he could get there. "And be sure to have them watch for Mr. Camo." With that taken care of, Enoch waited and gave instructions to the work crew when they came. “I want every door and window protected.”
The foreman looked surprised. “You live in a penthouse. Who's going to climb in your windows?" He looked around at the large expanses of glass. "Every single one?”
"Come look at this." Enoch led him to the balcony and pointed down to his Land Rover. "That's my car." The roof was dented up and down its length and the side windows were broken out. Thankfully, it was another gloomy day, or Voronika couldn’t ride in it. “I’ve had some problems, and I want them taken care of.”
The man stared. “Holy shit. Who did you make mad?”
“No one important, but I’m tired of dealing with him. I don’t want anyone or anything to be able to get in here. And I want this place to look good, like there’s no security at all.”
“Gotcha.” The man gave him an odd look. "You paid up front, right?"
Enoch smiled and handed him a wad of bills. "If I walk out the door and get offed, you don't have to worry. Your work's covered. There’s beer and pop in the refrigerator. Deli meat and cheese too. Help yourselves. I appreciate how fast you got here.”
“Did we have a choice?”
“No, but I still appreciate it.”
Enoch and Voronika were walking to his Land Rover when his cell phone rang. Enoch flipped it open and frowned. When they got in the car, he said, “We have to go to Maggie’s house before we do anything else. We have a problem.”
“Is she all right?”
“Jason took care of it, but she’s a mess. Danny can’t get there right now. He’s in court. She needs us.”
Enoch cranked the heat up in the Land Rover, but it was still frigid inside the car with the windows broken out. When he parked at Maggie’s curb, she ran out of the house, tears streaming down her face, and yanked on his hand. "Hurry! Get in the house!" She tugged on him and motioned for Voronika to follow them. "Run for cover!"
“Are you all right?” Enoch had never seen her like this.
Maggie looked up and around, crouched, and kept running toward her front door, dragging them behind her. "No time. In the house! Get in the house!"
She pushed them inside and slammed the door after them. Then she threw herself into Enoch's arms and couldn't stop sobbing. "It was horrible. A nightmare."
Enoch held her until the shaking lessened. When the tears slowed, the hiccups started.
"First things, first." Voronika led her to the kitchen table while Enoch poured them all coffee. "Drink something. Hold your breath and give yourself a little time. Enoch's here. Nothing will happen to you."
Maggie gulped down her hot drink, then took deep breaths. “You’re not allowed to yell at me,” she told Enoch, squeezing her eyes shut.
Voronika looked at him in surprise. “Have you yelled at her before?”
“I don’t think so.”
Maggie squirmed. “I was so stupid! I did exactly what you told me not to do.”
Enoch grimaced. “You opened your door without looking, didn’t you?”
“I did look. I really did. But who would have thought of looking up?" The tears came again.
“It's okay. It really is. He won’t say a thing, will you?” Voronika gave Enoch the look.
Maggie held her hands out in a helpless gesture. "You're not going to believe me anyway. Who would?" Her voice rose with a touch of hysteria.
“Try us," Voronika said.
Maggie shook her head. "I can't believe it myself. It all happened so fast, and I don't even know exactly what I saw."
Enoch kept his voice low and calm. "Just start at the beginning. We're friends. We're listening."
Maggie took a deep breath to steady herself. “Someone knocked on the front door. I went to the window and looked out like you told me to. I didn’t see anyone, but when I started to walk away, someone knocked again. This time, I opened the inside door, but I didn’t unlock the storm. No one was there, so then I started to worry that my neighbor, Rusty, had knocked and I didn’t get there fast enough. I went out on the front stoop to look for him, and this…. thing….swooped down and grabbed me. I screamed, and the next thing I knew, another one came.”
“And?”
“They started fighting over me. It was awful.” She put her hand over her mouth. “It was like the scene in the King Kong movie, when the ape fights the Tyrannosaurus Rex to see which got the girl. I was so scared. I ran in the house and locked the door, but they were so big, so strong. I didn't know what to do."
Enoch laid a hand over hers. He'd wanted to keep Maggie out of this. Maybe he'd been wrong. If he'd told her… "What happened?" he asked.
She rubbed her eyes, trying to rub away the image. "The second one snapped the first one's neck." Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to go on. "Then there was dust. I sort of freaked out. I thought for sure the winner would break through the walls to get me, but it didn't. It jumped in the air and disappeared, and I didn't know what to do, so I called Danny." Her whole body trembled, and her teeth chattered. "What were those things? Where did they come from? Do you even believe me?"
Enoch sighed. "I believe you, but you might think I'm the crazy one."
She stared. "You know what they are?"
"They're vampires."
Her eyes grew wider, and then she laughed. There was a tinge of mania about the sound that worried Enoch. He hurried to explain. "The first vampire is a rogue, a worthless, cruel bully. The second was sent here to watch over you."
Maggie shook her head. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "You're trying to use psychology to calm me down, aren't you? But what I saw was real. I swear it was."
"I know they're real," Enoch said. "I came here to fight the bad vampires."
Her eyes flashed. She pushed herself to her feet, furious. "You don't have to make fun of me!"
"He's not. He knows vampires are real because I'm one of them," Voronika said.
Enoch wasn't going to say that. He wanted to guard Voronika's secret, but Maggie's suffering was too much for her. When Maggie turned on her too, Voronika hissed and fangs sprang past her lips. Just as quickly, they disappeared.
Maggie staggered backward, hit the edge of the refrigerator, and almost fell. Enoch scooped her up and steadied her.
"She's a good vampire," Enoch told Maggie. "So is Jason, the one who rescued you."
Maggie put both hands on the sides of her head. "No, no, no! This isn't happening to me."
Enoch wished to hell she was right. "It's my fault. They can't hurt me, so they went after Danny. Claudia's guarding him, so they came for you."
"Vampires." Her voice was hollow.
"I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say.
Maggie's eyes narrowed and she studied Voronika. "How did you do that?"
"Don't make me do it again. I'm not proud of it. None of us are. At least, none of the good ones."
Maggie reached out a hand
and touched her, then yanked her hand away. "You're cold."
"I'm undead."
"And you're here….?"
"I'm running, trying to hide. Or I was trying to hide until I met Enoch."
Maggie walked shakily to the table and sagged back onto her chair. "And you won't drink my blood because…?"
"Good vampires don't do that."
Maggie looked dazed. "One more time. Just do it one more time, so that I know I'm not losing it."
Voronika's fangs came and went.
Maggie put her fingers to her lips, thinking. Then she turned on Enoch, furious. "Does Danny know?"
"Yes."
"And neither of you thought you might want to tell me?"
It was Enoch's turn to lose patience. Not with Maggie, with himself. "No matter what I do, it doesn't work. If I tell people, they think I'm crazy. If I don't tell them, they get mad. I…we…Danny and I thought we were doing you a favor, so that you wouldn't have to deal with any of this. Jason was keeping watch over you, so we knew you were safe."
Her face worked, her expressions changing faster than he could keep up. "I..you should have…" Then she slumped against the back of her chair, the fight gone out of her, and said, "Oh, hell, I don't know. Damn it, this is just all too much!"
He'd never heard her cuss before. This seemed a fitting time for it, though. Enoch nodded. He had to agree.
Voronika said, "I've never met two men who try so hard to keep people safe and do the right thing when the odds are always against them."
Maggie thought about that. Her face was set. She wasn't ready to forgive them, but she wasn't quite as angry either. She shrugged. "I don't know what to think."Voronika gave a quick nod. "It takes a while."
"Do you guard someone too?"
"No, she's the one in trouble," Enoch said.
Maggie tossed up her hands in defeat. "How can a vampire be in trouble?"
"When the bad vampires come to get her."
Maggie's face went pale. "They grab each other?"
"It's all too complicated," Voronika said. "One thing at a time. You've had enough to process for one day."