by Judith Post
"In that case," Bart glanced around the kitchen at the others, "it's time to see if Enoch can get past us into his own house. What did you bring to shoot us with?"
“To shoot us?” Ulrich looked intrigued.
A game! Why not? If he couldn't smash a hunter, this might do as well. Enoch went to the hall closet and opened the door. A dozen paint guns lined the wall.
Ulrich eyed them skeptically.
Enoch explained how they worked, loaded one, and shot Bart with it. Bart wiped at the paint on his chest plate, then smiled. "I like these. Why so many?"
"There was a sale."
Nula grabbed a gun. Elijah quickly followed. Everyone was ready for action, eager for something to do.
"What are the rules?" Eva asked.
"Try to kill Enoch!" Bart said. "A point for each color that hits his head or heart."
Eva stood guard in a tree to watch for hunters and Voronika watched from the balcony while the others played. The paint gun war lasted until the early hours of the morning, with vampires switching and trading teams. When they finished, Bart knew exactly where to station vampires to stand guard around the property. Enoch's tee shirt was covered with several colors of paint, but every vampire's forehead wore yellow splatters from his gun. They walked into the house, laughing together, and Voronika came to meet them.
She pressed herself against Enoch’s chest. “It’s nice to see you laugh. It doesn’t happen often.”
Enoch stiffened, then wrapped his arms around her. “You can make me smile.”
“Not the same.”
Amado scowled and went to the refrigerator. He jerked it open to stare at its contents.
“We should shoot each other more often,” Ulrich announced. “It makes us all happy. We need more games.”
“Not just a game,” Bart said. “It was practice, but the hunters won’t come armed with paint guns. They’ll have stakes.”
“Mortals.” Amado’s voice dripped sarcasm.
Bart shrugged. “They can kill us, just the same. I know where to place people now. When the hunters come, we’ll be ready."
"I have to buy a few of these." Ulrich wiped at the yellow splotch on his face. "I charged Enoch. He should be dead."
"You don't charge a man with a gun," Elijah prompted.
"Or knock him flat after he shoots you," Enoch complained.
Ulrich grinned. "I've always wanted to do that, but never thought it was safe."
Bart glanced at the horizon. "Time to quit. We need our rest. The hunters will come tonight."
They gathered in the kitchen for a quick breakfast before they went to their beds. Steaks and eggs disappeared as quickly as Enoch could make them.
When the house was quiet, Enoch went to sit at his computer. He was halfway through writing an article when Amado and Voronika tiptoed down the stairs to begin their practice session. He stayed to watch Amado show her his first few moves, throwing her over his shoulder, then letting her throw him, until finally he'd seen enough. He stood to leave the house.
"Where are you going?" Voronika asked.
"Out."
"Would you like me to go with you?"
"No." He slammed out the door without any place to go. No matter. He drove to a Starbucks and drank coffee while he read the morning paper.
Chapter 29
Gino couldn't place the noise that repeated itself over and over again. He opened one eye and blinked at the darkness. Kandice was pressed against his back, and he gently slid away from her. He could barely make out the interior of the hotel room. The lights that shone in the parking lot squeezed past the edges of the drapes, and once his eyes adjusted, he walked toward the window. The tap, tap, tapping was coming from there.
Carefully, he pulled back the heavy drapery material. A vampire waited on the other side of the glass. Gino took a step backward before the strange thing motioned for him to come closer. Gino studied it, unsure. It didn't look like a monster. No fangs, no huge, distorted body, not even any wings. The man seemed to hover with no effort, waiting for him to understand that he was there to help.
Gino went to the big plate glass window and shrugged. What was he supposed to do? The windows didn't open. His muscles tightened, ready to run. This is just what happened in New York. A vamp came for Luigi when he was in a hotel room waiting for his mistress. Luigi must have thought he was safe, but the vamp knocked a hole in the window and grabbed him. End of story.
This vamp came closer to the window and motioned for Gino to do the same. Gino leaned his ear close to the glass, and the vamp said, "I've found their hiding spot. They're at a big, stone house, and there are several vampires working together. One of your hunters went there, but they chased him away. They know you're after them. The angel's with them."
"An angel?" Gino stood up, staring his incredulity.
"Enoch, Caleb's friend. He who cannot be killed."
The damned psychic. Gino would put money on it. He'd watched him pull a stake from his chest like it was a toothpick. "So what am I supposed to do?" Manny had sent two more recruits to take Donato and Carlo's places, but Gino wasn't so sure that was enough.
"Kill the others, his vampire friends. But you'll need more men. These are generals. They don't die easily."
Gino stared at his messenger. Other than floating in midair and wearing clothes that were centuries out of fashion, the man looked normal. "You're not so scary. You look normal. Are you a vampire?"
In answer, the man sprouted razor sharp fangs and long, leathery wings. His face and body contorted into grotesque strength. Just as quickly, he reverted back to his mortal form. "Don't ever underestimate us. The generals are bigger and older than I am. The odds are against you. You’ll need an army to succeed." Then he sprang away.
Gino blinked at the empty air where the vampire had just been. The thing moved so quickly, his gaze couldn't follow him. He'd been so strong, he couldn't fight him. Shivering, he made his way back to the bed. It was close to dawn. The vampires would be sleeping during the day. He'd call Manny and talk tactics then. But for now, he needed the warmth of his bed, the warmth of Kandice's body next to his. And he needed to stop trembling when the room was overly warm and muggy.
Chapter 30
It was late afternoon by the time Enoch returned home. He poured himself a glass of wine and went to the back patio to relax. He sat there a long time, losing himself in meditation. Shadows were creeping across the back lot and tree frogs started their evening songs. A blue heron flew overhead on its way to the wetlands, and cardinals flitted to the bird feeders. Doves pecked at seeds that had fallen to the ground. He was lost in thought when someone tapped at the kitchen window. He turned to see Bart looking at him.
Enoch went inside to greet Bart, Claudia, and Voronika.
"They'll probably come tonight," Bart said.
Enoch nodded. "That's what I'm hoping for. Then we'll see how the hunters start the war."
Voronika frowned at Enoch. "Where did you go today?"
"I wanted cappucino."
"You've never wanted it before."
He shrugged. "A quick craving."
She shook her head. "Tonight, Claudia and I are cooking you something special."
"You?" Enoch tried for a conciliatory tone. "I'm fine."
"Claudia's teaching me to cook."
"Now?" Bart glanced at the steps that led upstairs. "Who'll stand guard?"
"You two. Go up and sit on the balcony," Claudia said. "We'll bring you your suppers when they're ready."
Enoch trudged upstairs, with Bart close behind him, while the women got busy in the kitchen.
"Have you thought you might be making matters worse with her?" Bart asked, when they settled in to keep watch.
Enoch swept night vision goggles back and forth across the yard, scanning the tree line. "I wish I had your vision. I almost always end up standing watch when it's pitch dark."
Bart gave a thin smile. "You don't want to talk about it?"
"No
."
"You could lose her, you know."
Enoch was surprised by the harshness of his own voice. "Better now than later."
Bart shrugged. "You don't think she's going to stay with you, do you?"
"If she's bored now, when everything's new, what will it be like a few years from now?"
Bart scanned the back yard and tree line. "I think she loves you as much as she's ever loved anyone."
"I do too, but maybe that's not enough." Enoch's stomach growled as the aroma of seafood wafted to them.
Bart inhaled slowly. "Lobster." Another sniff. "Squid—my favorite."
Enoch knew that squid was a popular Mediterranean dish, but shrimp, scallops, and lobster were his idea of manna from heaven. He was trying to decide the exact entrée the women were making when he lifted the goggles and nudged Bart. Donato's Buick, still missing its back bumper, was parked in a turn-off to a farm field farther down the road. "What do you think?"
"Worth looking into." When Bart started for the stairs, Enoch said, "No, I'll go. We need you. No use taking chances."
"I stationed Eva and Amado in the shed at the back of the property and Nula and Elijah in the garage," Bart said. "If hunters try to sneak up to the house, we can catch them in a squeeze play."
"Ulrich and Gunther?"
Bart shook his head. "Drinking your beer in the basement."
Enoch smiled. "Someone should be enjoying themselves." He slipped out the front door and walked down the street. When he reached the black Buick, he looked in its windows and saw a bag of spare wooden stakes spilled across the back seat. That's all he needed to know. Pulling on gloves so that he wouldn't leave fingerprints, he lifted the hood. He yanked all of its spark plug wires. Halfway back to his property, he heard footsteps running through the high weeds that bordered the woods. Enoch turned to watch a man race to the car and jump inside.
Eva and Amado flew behind him. The man turned the ignition and nothing happened. He tried again. Eva and Amado dropped down on each side of the car. Eva broke the glass of the driver's window and grabbed onto the window frame.
"I don't invite you inside!" the man screamed. "You can't come in."
Amado followed her lead on the passenger side of the car, and the two of them lifted the Buick off the ground and flew off with it. Enoch ran after them on foot. By the time he reached the lake in the nature preserve, they'd dropped the car in its center and were watching it sink.
The hunter unrolled what was left of his window and struggled out of the car, trying to aim his crossbow as he balanced on the vehicle's roof. Eva swooped down, picked him up, and snapped his neck. Then she flew to the lake's beach and dropped him there. She landed close to Enoch. "Touch him. See which one of us he was after."
"It doesn't work like that. I'll only see which hunter you'll kill after him."
Amado curled his lips in scorn. "We might as well go back to our posts then. We've done all that we can."
Eva looked at Enoch. "His car wouldn't start. Was that because of you?"
"Maybe. I played around under the hood."
She smiled and tossed Amado a look that said stupid. "We wouldn't have caught him without you. Thanks. Let's hope the next hunter's this easy."
"You know better than that."
She laughed and flew off with Amado. Enoch went back to the house. On his way, he flicked open his cell phone to call Danny.
"There's a dead body on the beach of the nature preserve. Snapped neck. Nice and tidy. His car's sinking in the lake."
"Should I send someone to pick him up?" Danny asked. "Or would it be safer to wait?"
Enoch considered. "I'd wait. Come in the morning, after the sun's up."
"Right. Are your people okay?"
"So far, so good."
"Try to keep it that way."
After Danny hung up, Enoch went inside to find Voronika and Claudia trekking upstairs with their supper.
"You left without telling us." Voronika sounded angry.
"We spotted a hunter."
She waited, but Enoch didn't elaborate. She sighed. "There's a table and chairs on the balcony. We can keep watch while we eat."
Enoch grabbed two bottles of wine and followed her up. The lobsters were delicious, along with black pasta with squid sauce and crostini topped with shrimp butter. A seafood smorgasbord.
Enoch smiled at Claudia. "This is delicious."
"Voronika helped."
"It's wonderful!" Bart popped the last crostini into his mouth. "Heaven." He pulled Claudia to him and gave her a squeeze.
Voronika started to scoot close to Enoch, but he stiffened, so she stayed where she was. "Things have been so busy that I've gotten sidetracked from Maggie and Danny's wedding. Cooking reminded me. I want to start experimenting with one appetizer a day to see which ones I like. What did you think of the crostini?" she asked. "Is that something you could make for their reception?"
"If Danny likes it."
She raised an eybrow and started gathering up dishes to take to the kitchen when Enoch's cell phone rang.
Enoch gave a silent sigh as he listened to Danny. "I'll be there." He looked at the others. "Gino and Kandice are leaving the nightclub. Andy called Danny to let him know—I guess they have an agreement now. I'm going to go to keep track of them."
"I'm coming too." Voronika shoved the dirty dishes toward Bart.
"No need to." Enoch started down the stairs.
"I'm coming." She wasn't going to take no for an answer, Enoch could tell.
He drove toward town and Gino's hotel. They got there just as Gino and Kandice entered the lobby and went up to Gino's room. The lights went on and Voronika put a hand on Enoch's thigh.
"I'm not in the mood. We have a job to do." Enoch's voice was steel.
"I never get to be alone with you."
"We've both been busy."
She stared. “What's your problem? Why are you acting like this just because I'm training with Amado?”
"It's not just that, and you know it."
She squirmed in her seat. "It's too soon. I'm not ready for commitment yet."
He nodded. "Some people are never ready."
"And you think that's me?"
"We've been in too big of a rush. It's time to slow things down a little."
Her lips protruded in a pout. "But we make great housemates."
"Maybe, or maybe we only make great friends. Let's give it time and find out." He resisted the urge to discuss it further. Now wasn’t the time, and he was glad he stayed vigilant, because soon after the lights went out in the hotel room, Gino and a new hunter left the building. Enoch followed Gino's Audi at a distance as they drove across town to the exact spot that Donato's Buick had been parked.
"Bet they don't think to look in the park's lake," Voronika said smugly.
Head lights off, Enoch pulled the Land Rover into his driveway and cut the engine before watching the men climb out of their car. "These guys thought they could grab stakes and crossbows and wipe out generals. It’s not that easy."
Armed and nervous, they started looking around. Enoch took a picture of the new hunter with his cell phone and sent it to Danny. Finally, frustrated, Gino flipped open his cell. Probably calling their friend. When no one answered, they drove up and down the road before they gave up and returned to their car.
The sun was beginning to color the horizon, and Enoch glanced at Voronika. "Time to call it a night." He hurried her under the portico just as the sun burst above the horizon.
She turned and lifted herself on tiptoe, brushing her lips against his. "I miss your company, angel."
"I miss yours too."
She ran a finger along his jaw line. "We don't have to argue."
He sighed. "You're used to using your beauty to get what you want. It doesn't always work that way."
She pulled back to stare at him. "I know you want me."
"I don't always get what I want."
"Like returning to Heaven?"
"I
'm not sure where that is on my wish list right now." He surprised himself with the thought. If he could have Voronika, how could he leave her? Or all of the mortals and vampires whom he admired and respected?
Chapter 31
When Enoch heard Voronika's bedroom door close, he headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and was surprised to find Bart's image shimmer before him.
"There's too much sun for me to come downstairs," Bart's vision said. "But you should know Bridget never made it out of England. Roald just contacted me. He
went for her last night and found a stake and dust where she hides to sleep."
"I'm sorry." Enoch ran a hand through his hair. Damn, he was sick of hunters!
"We're changing tactics, having generals nest together in pairs. One will leave and lead the rogue back to the nest. When a hunter comes to kill him, the other general will eliminate the bastard. And then they can go after the spy."
A good plan. Enoch nodded. He was tired of this hide and seek. He was ready for the damn war to start.
Bart's image began to fade. "Take heart, friend. I know this bothers you as much as it does me."
Take heart hell! Enoch poured his coffee and carried it onto the back patio. The world was just waking. The earth smelled musky and rich with night time secrets. Birds twittered their good mornings. He took a deep breath before sending a mental message for Caleb. His friend's image swam before him on the third try.
"You called?" Caleb's golden aura vibrated with vitality. He radiated joy. Party sounds filled the background.
Enoch swallowed his frustration. How could Caleb breeze through life, worry free, when he and Bart were sick with fear about how many good vampires would die? "I just wanted to update you on your generals. Six of them are dead now."
"Six?" Caleb sounded genuinely surprised. "How can that be?"
"You'd know if you contacted Bart or Claudia even once to check on how things are going." He snapped the words. He couldn't hide how angry he felt.
"No one could kill six of them."
Enoch glared. "Why didn't you tell them they were up against Ragnar, Okon, and Yerik? They've sent vampire spies to find their nests. The spies tell humans where to find them during the day."