Reclaimed

by Diane Alberts

  Tiptoeing, she crept silently past the empty tables and flickering lights to approach the pair and decide if she should leave. However, once she got close enough to hear them, she froze in her tracks, all thoughts of leaving gone.

  “I know Elijah is out there, and I’m positive he and Isaac have communicated. I’ve seen it in his head, and Sabrina’s. There’s no doubt,” Sheila said.

  Sabrina’s blood ran cold. They knew.

  “Sheila, you don’t know the whole circumstances.” Connor sighed.

  “I know he’s the enemy, and as such, should be killed.”

  “It’s his brother. It’s not so cut and dry,” Connor insisted. “He’s not a huge danger to humans. He mostly feeds off of animals. He uses blood banks, for Christ’s sake. He’s only lapsed a few times as a vampire. If Isaac wants to leave his brother alone, who are we to judge? I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same.”

  “His brother is a menace to humans because of what he is. And what about Sabrina? She’s in the middle of a love triangle. Isaac and Elijah fight over her like two dogs with a bone. They think she is their long-lost love, reincarnated.” Her voice held a tone of disgust.

  Sabrina’s fists tightened at her sides as anger rushed through her blood. She longed to jump out and defend Isaac against Sheila’s bitter words.

  “Sabrina loves Isaac, Sheila. Maybe Elijah has feelings for Sabrina, but I have no doubt Sabrina is loyal to Isaac.” He paused. “There were a few fights in the beginning, but they’re happy now.”

  “And what will he do about her?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s human, Connor. We all know relationships with humans don’t work. They get old and die, or they get killed. It’s not natural. We need to stick to our own kind.”

  “There are only two female Enforcers in existence, Sheila. It’s not a whole lot of women to throw around,” he said ironically.

  “There’s nothing wrong with dallying among humans,” Sheila insisted, “but to love one is disastrous.”

  “What makes you such an expert on the subject?”

  From Sabrina’s hiding spot, she saw Sheila blush and look away from Connor’s scrutiny. “I fell for a human once. I was so happy, I debated doing the forbidden by changing him myself.”

  “Sheila—” Connor began.

  “I know, I know. But we were going to do it, and run and hide. I had the perfect plan. We were going to run away to some exotic island while I changed him, and we would go to the United States via false ID, and hide in a big city there. We’ve always had such a hard time tracking down our enemies in big cities. I figured I’d use that.

  “So, we had our plane tickets bought, our bags packed. I sent him out to get some books for me to read on the flight. He never came back. He got hit by a car. Dead on impact. Isaac came and told me. He’d been there when it happened. I’ve often wondered if he’d somehow taken care of a sticky situation, if you know what I mean.”

  Connor shook his head as Sabrina stifled her gasp beneath her hand. “I don’t think Isaac would kill your boyfriend, Sheila. That’s crazy.”

  Sabrina paled, trembling at the force of her fury. She longed to jump out and slap Sheila for her accusations.

  “He looked at my bags, looked at my face, and said, ‘Sheila, I just saw Neil. He’d been crossing the street, and got hit by a car. He’s gone.’ He came over to me, and said, ‘I’m going to pretend I don’t see those bags over there, and I’m clueless to what you were going to do. Consider this your warning.’ Then, he turned around and left. No words of comfort, nothing except the news of Tony’s death.”

  Connor sighed and seemed to surrender. “Maybe he did take care of the situation, in the best way he knew. Maybe he didn’t want to have to have to punish you. You know the penalty for treason is death. For both you and your boyfriend.”

  “We’d have run, and hidden. I’m not an idiot.”

  “We would’ve found you. Don’t fool yourself,” Connor insisted.

  “He shouldn’t have killed him!” Sheila exclaimed. “He could’ve spoken to me—”

  “And you’d listen?”

  Sheila’s stubborn silence seemed answer enough.

  “Sheila, you have to understand he did what he thought best, as ruler. At least he didn’t kill you, too, even knowing you had planned to commit treason.”

  Sheila glared at Connor, and finally sighed in dejection. “You’re right, of course. But if I even catch wind of him thinking of doing anything to make Sabrina immortal, I’ll bring it to the Council. I’d love to see how he would react. Would he run and try to hide, knowing we would find him, or would he kill her to save himself?”

  “Sheila, Isaac won’t change Sabrina, I assure you. He loves her too much.”

  Sheila remained silent for a brief time before she finally insisted, “Time will tell, Connor. Time will tell.”

  Sheila and Connor whirled, and their eyes widened.

  “Sabrina, how long have you been there? I didn’t sense you.” Connor rubbed the back of his neck and peeked at Sheila. They both stepped toward Sabrina. Connor looked apologetic; Sheila, triumphant.

  Sabrina shook her head, and held out her hands to stop the pair. “Just—just let me go.”

  Her hands trembled so badly it took her three attempts to open the door and slip away.

  She bolted to her car and pulled away from the tavern. She couldn’t believe all she’d heard. Sheila seemed convinced Isaac had killed her boyfriend. Would he have done such a thing?

  Would he have decided this man held too much of a risk to the Enforcers, that he could not lose Sheila? And in deciding this, had he removed said risk and warned Sheila to stay in line?

  It did not seem like it could be possible for Isaac to behave so coldly…so cruelly.

  Those are our rules. The rules I’ve been required to enforce over time. If we don’t follow the rules, the waters become murky, difficult to navigate.

  A chill ran down her back as she recalled the words he’d spoken to her the other day. Maybe he could be capable of murder—and if he was, this Isaac held no familiarity to her boyfriend. The Isaac she knew and loved had never once made her fear for her safety.

  Now, however, she wavered.

  Would he kill her to keep his place as ruler, to show he, as well, would always be held susceptible to the laws of the land, or would he fight the rules for her sake, damning them both?

  No, surely he couldn’t kill her. He loved her. Which led to another problem altogether. He was immortal; she never would be. In time, she would grow old, and he wouldn’t. What if he decided it worth the risk of death and damnation to change her so they could live together forever?

  She may have begged to become a monster yesterday, but she saw now why he’d refused to allow Elijah to change her. And for him to do it?

  Even worse.

  They were doomed, no matter what.

  Their love risked too much, for them both.

  Maybe, for the safety of Isaac, and the Enforcers he ruled, they shouldn’t be together at all.

  Maybe it would be best for everyone involved if she just left.

  Forever.

  ***

  When Sabrina arrived home, she moved quickly. She didn’t know how much time she had left for a successful escape, and urgency overcome her as she sprinted up the stairs. She winced as she thought of what would happen when Isaac discovered she’d left.

  There would most likely be a storm incomparable to any ever seen before.

  She only took the time to grab a few articles of clothing and the necessary toiletries. She spent too long deliberating over the note she knew she must write to Isaac.

  In the end, she wrote only four sentences.

  I love you, Isaac. I’m sorry I broke my promise, but it’s for the best. Please don’t follow me. It’s just not meant to be—you need one of your own kind to love.

  Love always, Sabrina

  She wiped a tear from her cheek, and left the hous
e, not bothering to lock the door. Isaac would get inside anyway, and she had no more energy left to care about anyone else entering, either.

  ***

  Anxiety crept up Isaac’s spine as he approached Sabrina’s house. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way, but he slammed his foot on the gas nonetheless. He’d learned long ago his instincts rarely failed him. He found himself wishing he’d run instead of driven, but tonight he planned on taking Sabrina out to dinner. He would provide plentiful amounts of wine and get her drunk.

  Because when she got drunk she got drowsy, among other things.

  He needed her sleepy tonight. Tonight, he and Elijah were going to conquer Louisa.

  Hopefully.

  He’d be gone all night, and he wanted to be sure she didn’t come anywhere near them when they fought. He’d also acquired a sleeping pill, should he find it necessary to use such methods. He’d rather not drug her, but he remained resolved to do so if he deemed it crucial.

  He pulled up to her house and cursed when he saw her missing car. He jumped out of his TVR Cerbera. His heart pounded in his ears as he sprinted to her door.

  Where the hell did she go? Is she insane?

  “Sabrina?” he called. Even as he searched for her, he knew he wasted his time. He couldn’t sense her presence.

  He searched the house, observing a few articles of clothing thrown about, and she’d taken her toothbrush. He growled and bolted down the stairs, only to stop when he noticed the white sheet of paper on the foyer table.

  He scanned it and threw his head back and yelled her name. Thunder crashed overhead, and the wind howled so strongly that the door banged against the wall with a loud crack. In a rage, Isaac flipped a table across the room. It banged against the wall, shattering upon impact. The sight of it breaking into pieces sobered him, and he sank to the steps. His emotions were whirling unleashed, and it showed in the weather outside. A tree blew over from the sheer force of the wind, and it crashed onto the Sabrina’s roof. The house shuddered under the impact, and he wished it would fall down on him, and put him out of his misery.

  If only he weren’t freaking immortal.

  She’d left him after promising always to remain by his side. Now she was alone, and he couldn’t protect her from Louisa. He needed to find her; he needed to protect her from herself, because she’d created the perfect opportunity for Louisa to kill her.

  She’d just signed her bloody death warrant.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Elijah awaited Louisa by the cliff’s edge. They had one chance, and one chance only, to get her.

  He inexplicably felt guilty for using her desire for him against her in such a way. He hated her more than anyone had ever hated anyone, or anything. But she had created him, and in doing so, she’d connected them for all eternity. He’d always feel an odd sense of loyalty toward her, as well as a grudging affection. And it killed him.

  He needed to end this twisted cat–and-mouse game they’d been playing for over one hundred years. He’d finally be free of her power. About damn time, too.

  He whirled in shock, his nostrils flaring when he smelled Isaac. “What are you doing here?” he hissed. “Louisa will see you, and know it’s a trap. Get out of here.” When he saw the pain and worry echoing in Isaac’s eyes, he questioned, “What is it? What happened?”

  “Sabrina’s gone. She’s left me. She’s obviously trying to keep me safe, and she thinks it’s the only way to save me. And in doing so, she’s now—”

  “Easy to get to. Son of a bitch.”

  “I’m going to find her. I can only hope she’s still in the area, maybe in a hotel. So our plan tonight’s off. Louisa will live to see another day. Unless, God help us, we’re too late.”

  “I’ll help you search,” Elijah whispered. Images of Sabrina being broken like Amelia ran through his head in a disturbing montage.

  Isaac hesitated before nodding briskly. “You can check the airlines, see if she booked a flight. I’m off to search hotels.”

  They both headed off in separate directions, but Isaac froze. Had a shadow rushed past him? No, it must have been Elijah. He ran toward the city and tried to block the images of what could be happening to Sabrina even now.

  ***

  Sabrina glowered out the window in her hotel room as she watched the ocean’s turbulent swirl. A horrible storm had hit England and unleashed a tornado, of all things, upon the innocent citizens. She winced as she thought of it, grateful no one had been hurt. Isaac obviously discovered her absence, and his anger swept over the country. No, anger would be putting it mildly.

  He felt fury, devastation, betrayal.

  It hurt to even think of him.

  The tears welled up in her eyes again, and she wanted to scream out of sheer frustration. How could she have any tears left? Sabrina had done nothing but cry since she’d left him. She’d even needed to pull the car over to the side of the road after leaving her house. She couldn’t see well enough to drive through the steady gushing of tears. She’d broken into tears in front of the receptionist as she had checked into her hotel, and had sobbed into the phone as she had booked a flight out of England for tomorrow morning.

  She was a wreck. A weeping, snotty, red-eyed wreck.

  Ugh.

  She walked away from the window and curled up on the bed in a fetal position. It hurt too much to sit anymore. The ache in her heart overpowered her every sense. It throbbed constantly and gave her no rest. She didn’t know how she’d get through the trip home tomorrow—let alone live the rest of her life—without him. The tears rolled down her cheeks and she closed her eyes.

  Please God, let me sleep.

  ***

  Elijah finally discovered some useful news. Sabrina had booked a flight the next morning at ten. He’d needed to use vast amounts of charm upon a numberless amount of hapless booking agents, but it had paid off. But now that he had news to share, he realized he and Isaac hadn’t set a meeting point at which to rendezvous. So, while his search had indeed borne fruit, it would be useless unless he could locate his brother.

  He stood outside Heathrow, trying to pick up Isaac’s scent. He found him easily and ran almost full-speed toward him. He paused when he saw a family staring at him. The pretty mother had wide eyes, as if she sensed something was wrong, and the husband glared at him, probably because his wife stared at him. The little girl clutched her mother’s fingers and smiled at him cheerfully, and he felt a responding grin come to his moth. He’d always wanted children, children who had curly brown hair and bright green eyes….

  Another impossible dream.

  He forced himself to walk calmly away from the crowds of people surrounding him and stopped in his tracks. He flared his nostrils at the familiar stench. Louisa definitely hid close by.

  Did she somehow know Sabrina had run? Did she know she was unprotected?

  Blast it all to Hell.

  He hesitated as he agonized over which direction to take. If he went after Louisa, he could try to stop her and lose. If he went after Isaac, they could save Sabrina and later band together and defeat Louisa.

  His decision made, he headed in Isaac’s direction.

  ***

  Isaac already tried three hotels and stood inside the fourth of the evening. He had four people in front of him in line, waiting impatiently, when Elijah found him.

  “Louisa’s here.”

  He blanched and gripped Elijah’s arm. “In this hotel, you mean?”

  Elijah shook his head, and reiterated, “No, but she’s in the city. I don’t know why, but I’m scared she’s doing the same thing we are.”

  “Shit.”

  “We have to find her first, Isaac.”

  “I’m trying, Elijah. I’m hardly twiddling my thumbs here. Did you discover anything?”

  “She has a flight at ten in the morning.”

  “Can you smell her? I know my senses are stronger than a human’s, but they are nothing compared to yours,” he whispered so quiet it would be ina
udible to the human ear. It killed him to ask Elijah to search for her, but he needed to brush jealousy aside tonight. Saving Sabrina won out over his petty feelings, and his sense of smell got ruined by the crush of people in the city. He hated cities.

  “I can smell her, but it’s hard to tell if she’s here. I think she’s very close by, however.”

  “You found me…can’t you find her the same way?” Isaac asked somewhat impatiently. He gave an irritated sigh and stepped forward another place in line.

  “It’s not the same. I’ve tracked your scent for over a hundred years. Sabrina’s, I’ve only known a few days,” Elijah snapped.

  This statement came out a bit too loudly, and earned them both an odd look from the couple in front of them. Isaac gritted his teeth and glared at them, until they turned around and whispered fervently to each other. They took a step farther away from them, and he grunted in satisfaction.

  Nosy humans.

  “Oh,” Isaac said with some surprise. He hadn’t realized a vampire could sense people better once they were better acquainted with their scent, so to speak. He wondered fleetingly how often Elijah had tracked him, as he’d never seen him until Sabrina appeared. “Well, at least she’s still local,” he exclaimed while he ran a hand through his hair. He barely resisted the urge to reach in front of him and throw the people out of his way as they laughed in front of him in line.

  “How about if I help out by checking some of the other hotels? Where have you gone?”

  Though he didn’t want Elijah to be the one to discover Sabrina, he also knew time was of the essence, more so than ever before. Reluctantly, he named the hotels he’d visited and watched as Elijah ran off to aid him in his quest for Sabrina. For once, he didn’t feel jealousy rip through him at the thought of Sabrina being brought back to him in his brother’s arms. He needed to find her too badly to care how she it got accomplished.