Red Moon (Vampire Files Trilogy Book 2)

by RK Close

  “Yeah, I get it. Let me know if you need help. Don’t hesitate to call me. Okay?” Russell urges.

  I smile to myself. “Sure. You know you’re my go-to guy. I couldn’t survive without you.”

  We say goodbye, and I sit in my car fishing through my bag in search of the thumb drive. Finally finding it, I put it in an easier-to-find location—my bra. I suddenly have something I can do. It isn’t related to Adam’s disappearance, but it might help with one problem. At least I’ll feel as though there’s something for me to sink my teeth into, rather than feeling useless.

  29

  Witch

  By the time I finish all the mundane but necessary errands on my list, it’s almost five o’clock when I walk into my condo. Even the busywork hasn’t helped keep Adam from my mind. He’s all I can think about. The longer he’s missing, the more worried I become.

  I grab the thumb drive from my bra and set it on the kitchen table next to my laptop. It feels lonely knowing Adam’s not upstairs or here with me. His absence is almost as tangible as his overbearing masculine presence when he is here.

  Where are you, Adam?

  I change into sweats and a t-shirt. As I’m pulling the shirt over my head, there’s a knock at my door. I trip over Wilbur as I run to answer it. I do remember to look through the peephole, before flinging the door wide.

  Jacob is standing in the hallway looking weary, his brows knotted in deep concentration.

  “Anything?” I ask, hopeful.

  He just glances at me as he walks past me, heading for the living room. We’re both feeling rather helpless now.

  Jacob walks through the patio doors and stares out into the night, as I’ve seen Adam do so many times. I wait patiently for him to respond but my dread is growing with each silent second.

  Finally, he faces me. “I’ve news, but it’s not positive.”

  We watch each other for a few moments in silence. Wilbur rubs up against my leg, and I pick him up as though he’s protection or comfort against whatever Jacob must say.

  “I’ve made a contact that led me to a coven. I managed to reach out to one of them.” He pauses as if in deep thought.

  My life was so simple when I thought I knew the rules.

  “When you say coven, are you referring to witches? Do I have something else to learn about? Because I don’t have all the notes on vampires and werewolves yet. There hasn’t been any downtime for me to have a Q and A with the right people,” I say, hoping to find Jacob’s smile again. He gives me a sympathetic glance instead.

  “Yes, I’m afraid you’ve been thrust into a world you know little about. I will say that you’ve managed well.” If I can only keep Jacob smiling, the world might keep turning.

  “Many things exist in our world that an ordinary person will never be aware of. Most will live and die without ever knowing anything beyond their everyday life,” he says.

  I sit riveted on the sofa as if I’m about to have all the secrets of the universe revealed to me.

  “Jacob, do you believe in God?” I ask when the random thought pops into my head. Sometimes I have no filter.

  He smiles again. “How could there not be a God, Sam?”

  I don’t ask this for myself—I’ve always believed in God—but I wonder about supernatural beings and where they fit in His plan. It seems that the one common thread is “choice.” We all have choices.

  “Sorry to distract you. Please continue about the coven. What do witches in Phoenix have to do with Adam?”

  “Maybe nothing, but possibly a great deal. You see, there are few ways to gain the upper hand on a vampire as old as Adam. Your blessed dagger could do the trick. It says a great deal that he wants you to have it, even around him. It’s one of the only weapons that can kill or wound a vampire. And after you managed to defeat Zachariah, we know you know how to use it.” He moves to take a seat across from me.

  “I never thought about that.” I remember that my dagger is next to my bed.

  Lately, I’ve become relaxed in my efforts at caution ever since Adam and Jacob moved into the building. “How do witches play into this situation? Are they a threat to vampires?”

  “Not usually, but they can be. Certain witches have the power to overcome a vampire. Few will use this power because to do so would mark them for death. There is a tenuous and delicate balance in our world. If witches began using their power to destroy vampires, we would rise up to remove the threat.” Jacob wears a cold look of determination on his face.

  “Has that sort of thing ever happened before?”

  “Yes, a few times, and it’s always a bloody battle with no real victors.” His gaze is distant.

  “Have you and Adam ever fought witches?”

  He returns his focus to me. “Yes, once. I believed we were victorious in destroying the offending coven, but now I’m not sure.” Something is bothering Jacob.

  “Why are you not sure, now?”

  Jacob stands and walks over to the patio doors again and looks out.

  “Because I believe I may have seen one of them last night.” He doesn’t look at me but stares outside, lost in thought.

  This is like pulling teeth. Jacob’s so preoccupied with his thoughts.

  “Jacob, what does any of this have to do with Adam? Do you think a witch is to blame for his disappearance?”

  He turns to me. “I’m confident that only magic could keep Adam away for this long. And spotting Giselle in a club last night strengthens that conviction. If she is alive and somehow survived our attack, she’d want vengeance.”

  “What were you doing in a club? Weren’t you looking for Adam last night?”

  “I went to this particular club because I learned that it’s a social hot-spot for young witches. I didn’t expect to find an old enemy that I believed long dead.” His eyes flash that brilliant blue that I associate with Adam. “When I tried to get close enough to confirm it was her, she disappeared.”

  “She disappeared? Literally or figuratively?”

  If they can do that, I’m certainly scared out of my mind. It might be better to face a ferocious wolf or a bloodthirsty vampire than someone who can appear or disappear at will.

  “I’ve not studied magic extensively, but witches do use illusion heavily and save the stronger physical magic for more significant times since it comes at a great cost. She may have used a cloaking spell, and I walked right past her,” he says.

  “What do you mean by ‘physical magic’?” I’m equal parts horrified and fascinated by the concept of magic.

  “I don’t have time to go into any more detail, but you should know there is something special about Giselle.”

  She’s a witch with a vendetta—how could it be worse?

  “She is also a vampire, which makes her lethal and a threat to all. Vampires, werewolves, and even other witches are in danger by her presence. The combination is so powerful that it’s forbidden. If Giselle survived, then she’s kept a low profile from all. She would have often moved. Staying with any group for too long would risk her secret being discovered. She must have moved from one coven to the next without her vampirism being noticed.”

  I’d say it just got worse.

  “Who made her a vampire?” I ask. I’m afraid he’s going to say Adam.

  “Zachariah turned Giselle.”

  I know that my mouth is forming a perfect “O” as his words ring home. Possibilities are flying through my mind in rapid succession. “Why would he do that?” I ask.

  “Who could comprehend the thoughts of a madman? I believe she was in love with him and somehow convinced him to do the unthinkable. As for Zachariah, I did not know him as Adam did, but I believe he grew bored with Giselle or a bit fearful when he realized her power. It seems Zachariah chased death. He was too competitive by nature to give up, but he did everything in his power to make himself the most hunted and despised vampire known.

  I wonder if he could be right. I never viewed Zac as anything but a killer. Never visualiz
ed him as a human caught in a love triangle, or even capable of emotion. He was like a dead thing without remorse or any redeeming characteristics—soulless.

  “I must seek out some of the younger witches from this coven to determine if Giselle is among them and if so, where she’s been staying. Make certain you are wearing the charm. It may be your greatest defense against her if she is the one behind this,” Jacob warns. “I’m sending Dayna to stay with her mother for a couple of days. I’ve asked for help from a friend, but he is still a couple days from Phoenix. I can’t search for Adam, protect you and her without help.”

  “Oh, Jacob. If you make Dayna miss her monthly sales quota you will have more than Giselle to worry about,” I say, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

  It must have worked because Jacob smiles at me as he walks toward the front door.

  “She’s already made her quota for the month, Sam. She’ll be fine visiting her mother in Palm Springs.”

  “Ha! You obviously don’t understand Dayna’s relationship with her mother. She’d rather face a room full of Giselles,” I say, laughing. Their relationship is full of love but it also has that volatile mother-daughter aspect to it.

  “She’ll be safer.” Jacob stops before he reaches the front hall. “You should call in any favor you may have with your friends from the Luna and Mojave packs.”

  “Been there, done that. But I don’t know if you can call either pack my friends. I think I have one friend in that bunch—maybe. I’ll notify both about Giselle. You don’t know for sure, right?” I ask, hopefully.

  “No, the more thought I give it, the more confident I feel. It was Giselle that I saw. Her being here is cause for alarm.” He’s gone before I can respond.

  Once again, I’m alone with my troubled thoughts. The walls are closing in on me. I’ve got werewolves ready to eat me, vampires willing to drain me, dreams that haunt me, Adam is missing, and now a witch with a vendetta is after my boyfriend—oh, I can’t forget a case that’s growing colder by the second.

  Holy crap!

  I’ve still got some surveillance video to watch. I walk into the bedroom, slip the pendant around my neck, and strap on the sheath that holds the dagger. Once it’s secured, I slide the sharp blade into its leather holder. I may look paranoid, but I know they work.

  After discovering there’s nothing in the fridge to eat, I grab my cell phone from my bag and order a pizza. Watching time-lapse surveillance tapes can be tedious and a time suck. I grab a glass of wine before moving my laptop to the sofa.

  I’m ten boring minutes into the tape of various people entering and exiting Madison’s building. It’s a split screen of the inside lobby and the front entrance. There’s a firm knock on my door, and I wonder if the bell is broken. Nobody seems to be using it lately. I’m expecting the pizza, so I open the door without checking who it is.

  Too late. Cian stands in my hall holding a pizza box and wearing a smile. With my hands on my hips, I give him an annoyed look. His demeanor is disarming, but I’ll never forget what he is underneath. Those sorts of naïve notions are in the past.

  “I tipped the driver, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Cian says, grinning at me.

  “I left a note for you to call me, not stop by. Why are you here?”

  “Are you going to invite me in? This pizza is getting cold and I’m hungry.”

  “I’m working, so you can’t stay. You didn’t need to come see me. I could have met you tomorrow,” I say, taking the pizza box from Cian.

  I step back and Cian saunters into my condo like he belongs. One thing I’ve noticed about werewolves; they are very comfortable in their own skin. Of course, all my experience has been with alphas or their offspring. Maybe it’s just their bloodline or pecking order in the pack. Simply another question I’d like answered one of these days. I’ll add it to the list.

  Cian not only makes himself at home but sits down on the sofa and starts looking at my laptop screen of the surveillance video. I walk over and snap it closed, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

  “Don’t make yourself too comfortable,” I say, walking to the kitchen.

  Gathering some napkins, I reach for another wine glass, but stop and look at Cian.

  “How old are you again?” He has such a baby-face.

  Cian smiles and says, “I’m legal, Sam. Remember that I manage a bar. It’s just my boyish charm that’s throwing you off.” He winks at me with the confidence of a much older man.

  “Just barely. How long have you managed the bar, anyway?” I ask, pouring another glass of wine.

  “Since before I was legal.” He grins.

  I balance the pizza box and napkins in one hand and his glass of wine in the other.

  Cian takes the wine from me. We help ourselves to some pizza and silence ensues while we finish off our first piece.

  I’m not concerned with manners, and I’m starving by this point.

  “So, what’s up, Sam? What can I do for you? Or better yet, do you have information about Madison?” Cian says, sitting back with his wine glass in his hand.

  For a second, I forgot that he’s madly in love with a young woman who has cheated on him with half the town. And hopes of her being alive are slim to none at this point. I feel a sting of guilt. Do I tell him about her or let someone else do it? He won’t listen to his own brother. Sean figured out what Madison was, and stepped out of her grasp. Cian fell hard.

  “No, I’m sorry, Cian, but I’m still working the case…”

  “I can tell by your voice that you don’t believe she’s alive. It’s okay, Sam. I don’t believe she’s alive either. She wouldn’t be gone this long if she were.” He seemed sad but resigned to his statement.

  When I glance at him, his eyes appear glossy with an amber glow. My heart breaks for him.

  “I’m sorry, Cian. I really am.” I place my hand over his and give a gentle squeeze.

  He gives me a weak smile in return.

  “I do have a favor to ask. Adam has been missing for a couple of days, and I’m worried for him. He’s in trouble, and a witch could be involved.”

  “A witch, you say? We steer clear of witches. You can’t trust them,” he says warily.

  So much discrimination in the supernatural communities.

  “So I’ve heard. This witch is extra dangerous. Jacob also believes she’s a vampire.”

  He gets a look of disgust, mixed with what may be fear. Cian shifts away from me a bit.

  “Sam, what you’re saying doesn’t happen, and for a good reason. I’ve always been told those stories were myths to scare kids. I didn’t believe it was possible. Are you sure this Jacob knows what he’s talking about?”

  “I’d bet my life on it. If Jacob says there’s a threat, then it’s true.” I take another swig of wine.

  Cian’s reaction is making me more nervous than I already was. Could life slow down, so I can catch my breath?

  “And speaking of threats, you wouldn’t happen to know which wolf tried to kill me the other night, would you?” I raise my eyebrows at him expectantly.

  Cian gives me one of those “you’re joking” looks, but when I don’t respond, his look turns skeptical.

  “Sam, you wouldn’t be here to tell me about it if a werewolf attacked you. People don’t survive that. Ever.” He still looks like he’s waiting for the punch line.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that reaction a lot. I would keep you guessing, but I’ve survived a vampire and now a werewolf because one special guardian angel gave me a super wicked pointy blade that wounds or kills both.” I pull back my jacket to reveal the dagger sheathed under my left arm.

  Cian’s eyes are wide. He looks from the dagger to me with a look I can’t read—shock or maybe admiration. I seem to have that effect on people lately.

  “I wouldn’t tell anyone you have that.” Cian picks up my pizza crust and starts eating it.

  “That’s funny. Your brother said the same thing. I’ll keep it secret, if you will,” I t
ease.

  He seems to relax a bit, and so do I.

  “You’ve got some connections. I’ll say that for you. Are you saying you killed one of my kind with that?”

  “No, I think I injured its left-front leg. It seemed to be enough to do the trick. My number one concern now is Adam. I’ve got to find him. He’s in danger; I’m sure of it. If you hear anything that you think might help me, please let me know right away.” I feel myself sinking into the sofa with an invisible weight on my shoulders.

  “I will. Was that surveillance video of Madison’s place you were looking at when I arrived?” he asks, jerking his head toward my computer, now covered by the pizza box.

  “Yes, it was. I’m only ten minutes into the day we’ve determined she went missing. It’s one of my last hopes of finding something—anything, to find her.”

  “Could I watch it with you? I don’t need to go back to the bar tonight, and it would help me not feel so useless,” he says, looking lost.

  I am such a sucker, but I know how he’s feeling. “It’s really tedious and could be hours of nothing. You really have no idea how tiring and unentertaining this is,” I say, trying to dissuade him from staying.

  When he doesn’t protest, I move the pizza box and open my laptop. Positioning myself directly in front of the computer, I’m only a little surprised when Cian practically glues himself to my left side to have an equally good view of the screen. It’s a bit too close for me, but it feels more like what I believe having a younger brother would feel like—annoying and safe at the same time.

  We settle in and begin silently watching strangers coming and going from Madison’s building for a long time.

  ***

  After a couple of hours of tape and finding nothing of significance, I’m ready to send Cian on his way when something catches my eye. Cian fell asleep with his head on my shoulder forty minutes ago, and my neck is getting stiff from trying not to wake him.

  But when I spot Madison entering her building with another woman, I bolt forward to stop the film and Cian’s head falls behind me, as he jerks awake. I lean forward with my eyes glued to the screen, and Cian leans forward as well, his face next to mine as we stare at the frozen screen. Neither of us says a word for several moments. Instead, we sit motionlessly watching the laptop.