“No!” I said sharply. The fresh surge of fear snapped me awake. “No one else comes in or out of here.” I turned my gaze over to Michael and Gabriel, who were inspecting the room. “And you do not open the door for anyone besides Danaus. No one!” Both gave me a slight nod before resuming their inspection.
I hesitantly stepped inside and turned to face Danaus, who had moved back out of the room. He pulled the heavy iron key out of the door and handed it to me so I could lock the room from the inside. I didn’t ask him if it was the only copy. I didn’t want to know the answer or to see him lie to me if it wasn’t.
“Sweet dreams,” I said. I tried to smile but knew it never reached my eyes.
Danaus reached up and slowly moved a lock of hair from where it had fallen in front of my eyes. His beautiful sapphire eyes caressed my face as if he were trying to memorize my features. “You too,” he finally said before closing the door.
My hand was trembling when I put the cold key into the lock and turned it, the metal grinding against metal. It had been a while since anyone bothered to lock this door. Moving into the room, I tossed Gabriel the key. In one corner, Michael was already sifting through the large basket of food. It had been a long night already, and I hoped they could catch a little sleep in shifts, having no idea what tomorrow would bring for any of us.
On the opposite wall, Sadira and Tristan lay on the dusty floor, wrapped in each other’s arms. Their eyes were closed, already giving over to the daylight sleep. We could sleep at any time but had no choice when the sun rose. It was the tradeoff we all had to face. During the long night hours, we were practically gods among the humans, with abilities beyond their comprehension. But as the sun touched the earth, we were reduced to helpless husks, completely unable to protect ourselves. I sat on a crate against the wall and stretched out my legs. With my arms crossed over my chest, I waited, staring at the opposite wall. I didn’t want to close my eyes regardless of how tired I was. I didn’t want the dawn to come and take away my ability to defend myself.
But it came despite my protests. I could feel the night give one last feeble gasp, clawing at the earth as it finally shriveled up and died. The light crept steadily toward the horizon, the gray sky giving way to the warm yellows and pinks that I had watched paint the clouds in my youth. Despite the fact that I had not been reborn until I was twenty-five, all my memories of the dawn came from my youth. I could recall walking down to the shore to watch the sun lifting into the sky, its delicate rays jumping and dancing on the waves. The cries of the gulls filled the air as they left their nighttime perch.
As the light broke across the sky, my body clenched, struggling to hold my powers locked within this poor frame. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, still it slipped through my skin and down into the earth. As my eyes fell shut, the last thing I recalled was the feeling of Danaus. Strong and powerful, his warmth washed through me, protecting me as he stood guard outside the door. I tried to reach out with the last bit of my powers to touch his warmth. The hunter was still protecting. He could have so easily left Tristan and me in the woods, allowing me to slowly die while he returned to Themis to destroy Sadira. Despite his angry protests about my kind being the root of all evil, he had saved me twice from Rowe and now stood guarding me from his own people during my weakest moment.
Twenty-Three
A scream erupted from my throat as my eyes snapped open. Machu Picchu rose up around me and Nerian stood close with knife in hand. This time I had been lying on Intihuatana as he prepared to remove my heart. It took a moment for my vision to clear. Blinking again, I found Michael standing before me, his warm hands cradling my face. I pulled away, moving out of his grasp, and pressed my back into the cold stone wall. The weight of Sadira’s worried gaze pushed down on my tense shoulders. I couldn’t blame her for her fears. I was supposed to protect her, and I was slowly being driven mad by nightmares that I shouldn’t have had in the first place.
“I thought you had escaped the nightmares,” she said, her voice a soft caress that reminded me vaguely of flannel pajamas. She was standing near the door. Tristan hovered close by, his arm around her slim shoulders. His body and face had become as still and stiff as a marble statue as he tried to mentally remove himself from Sadira, but I saw a flicker of concern flash through his eyes before he could squash it.
“They’re back.” I was only mildly surprised that she’d asked Jabari about me. I jumped down from my resting spot on top of the crates, wincing at the movement. My body was mostly healed, but I was still sore. “It’s nothing. It will pass. What time is it?”
“Two hours past sunset.”
I barely stifled the curse that had risen to my lips. I was a late sleeper, but I’d never slept that late. The nightmares combined with the injuries were draining me, forcing me to sleep later into the night. That left me vulnerable not only to humans and naturi, but also to other nightwalkers.
“Let’s get out of here.” I held my hand up and Gabriel tossed me the key. He looked rumpled and a little weary, but otherwise fine. Michael wasn’t wearing his homemade sling and seemed to move a bit easier. Both of my angels had also regained their color from my previous feedings. I unlocked the door and pushed it easily open, the metal hinges groaning in the silence. My little band trooped across the basement and up the stairs, where James met us. I was surprised to find him wearing a pair of jeans and a hunter green T-shirt. It was a little disconcerting to see him looking so casual, even though his hair was still perfectly arranged and his shirt neatly tucked into his pants. His brown belt even matched his dark brown shoes.
“Nice outfit,” I said with a half smile.
James flushed, his hand absently reaching for a tie that wasn’t there. “I had a feeling I was a bit overdressed for assisting you.”
“No doubt.”
“Are you leaving now?”
“Soon. Where’s Danaus?”
“Resting, I believe. He stood guard in the basement all day.” My stomach muscles twisted and knotted at the thought of him sitting outside my door while I lay helpless. Yet, instead of fear gripping me, I was surprised to feel my cheeks flush. I felt important…almost cherished. I hadn’t expected the hunter to stay all day.
“Do we need him anymore?” Sadira asked from behind me, shaking me from my thoughts and reminding me that she was the valuable commodity here, not me. I was just part of a game Rowe was playing.
I turned my head so I could see her out of the corner of my eye. “No, I guess not,” I said, disappointment threading itself through each syllable. I had become accustomed to having him there, someone protecting my back—even though he meant to stick a knife in it the first chance he got. “We need to find Jabari and a replacement for Tabor. We might as well stay while you search.”
“And then where?” Sadira’s soft voice was edged with fear and doubt.
“Back to London. My jet is still there, and we can take it to the Coven. If Jabari is not there, one of the other Elders will be. It’s also the safest place I can think of. You can stay there while I fetch Tabor’s replacement or search for the location of the next sacrifice.”
“I will show you to a comfortable room you may use,” James said, leading us down the hall. He opened the door and my two guardians entered first, sweeping the room, one hand always on the butt of one of their guns. They were good at what they did and I felt a small swell of pride as I watched them. I entered only after Gabriel gave a single nod, indicating that it was clear.
Sadira settled in an ornate chair in one corner of the room, allowing her to survey the entire room and keep her back to the wall. We hadn’t survived this long without learning to be cautious. Of course, in my case it also helped to be lucky.
I looked around the cozy room, taking in the pale yellow striped wallpaper and antique furniture with its slightly faded flower print. Lamps dotted the room, casting the area in a soft, warm glow while sweeping back the shadows to the far corners. There were a few landscape portraits and bookshelves
set into the walls.
“Is there anything I can get you?” James inquired, drawing my attention back to him. He was so eager to be involved, to help in some fashion, even if it was only fetching food, that I wanted to smile. By the sheer fact that we hadn’t drained him dry yet, he was willing to give me and my kind a chance. I wished more humans could view us with the same open-mindedness.
“Do you have any more hunters lying around?” I asked, knowing Danaus couldn’t be the only hunter lurking around this rambling old house. “I’d like at least a pair at the door.”
“Of course.”
“And a meal for my companions.”
“Food for Michael and Gabriel will not be a problem, but…” He hedged nervously, his gaze darting to Sadira, who smiled. While she would never admit to it, she was enjoying James’s discomfort.
“Sadira and I will hunt outside of the Compound later this evening,” I said, then looked over at Tristan. He was still young and I had no doubt that last night’s confrontation had left him feeling like he could use a bite. I didn’t want a half-starved nightwalker on my hands when I was having trouble myself, particularly around this many humans. They were hell to control and extremely dangerous.
“I’ll feed later as well,” Tristan volunteered, his voice soft but firm.
“Very good,” James said with a quiet sigh of relief. “Anything else?”
“Yes, a shower.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Pushing him back out the door, I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m a vampire, James, not a self-cleaning oven,” I said. I turned my gaze to Sadira for a moment. “Find me another Tabor. I’ll be back soon.” Closing the door, I looked at James again, who was blushing.
“Forgive me, I just never thought…” he stammered, resettling his gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his narrow nose.
“Yeah, all us undead don’t need to bathe. Our magic keeps us clean.” Laying my hands on his shoulders, I gently turned him so he was pointed toward the main hall. “Find me a shower and then fetch the food. If you’re lucky, we’ll be out of your hair in less than an hour.”
James silently led me up the stairs to the second floor. Down the hall to the left, he opened the third door, revealing a beautiful bedroom decorated in mint green and gold. A large four-poster bed dominated the room, and a heavy walnut desk lounged against the far wall. The room was neat and clean, with its books properly arranged. I paused at the bureau to look at the row of pictures, all of smiling family and friends.
“This room belongs to Melanie Richards. She’s currently in the States visiting family,” James explained. “I would give you a spare room, but we’re a little crowded at the moment.”
“Had to call in reinforcements?” I teased. His mouth bobbed open and closed for a moment, but I had pity on him. There was something a little endearing about this poor human. Maybe it was just the fact that he didn’t resemble a librarian at the moment, like all the others. “I don’t blame you,” I whispered, with a secret little smile.
I turned my gaze back to the pictures, wondering if any of the females was the room’s owner. “I bet she’s going to be upset to discover she missed out on seeing the vampire circus sweep through.”
“That’s an understatement,” James muttered, earning a light chuckle from me.
“You’ll just have to tell her that I used her shower. Maybe that will placate her,” I said, feeling supremely absurd. I walked into the bathroom off the bedroom. It was small, with a set of green towels hanging on the towel rod. Most of the personal items had been removed, but I was relieved to find some shampoo and bath gel. I smelled of smoke and felt grimy, coated in a thick layer of my own blood.
“Is there anything else I can do?” he offered, his hand resting on the white marble sink.
“No, I can handle this, unless you want to stay and wash my back?”
This time James smiled and shook his head. I think he was beginning to catch on to my teasing. “I shall leave you and take care of the other items.” With that, he headed out of the room.
I closed the bathroom door and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a nightmare. My red hair hung about my face in matted clumps, filled with dried blood, leaves, and dirt. My face and body were streaked with blood and dirt. I looked like the hideous, blood-sucking monster vampires were proclaimed to be. And yet none of my own fear was showing beneath the blood and dirt. The world couldn’t see that I didn’t have a clue about what I was doing. Most of my decisions were made on the fly, and the fact that I was still alive was a testament to my own stupid luck.
Turning away from the mirror in disgust, I turned on only the hot water and stripped out of my clothes. I climbed into the tub and sighed as the steaming hot water heated my cold flesh and turned my complexion pink. It was the quickest way to gain warmth without feeding. The feeling was always short-lived, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. Relaxed again, I washed my hair and scrubbed off last night’s encounters at the pub, in the alley with Rowe, and in the woods.
With my hands braced against the tile wall, I let the hot water pour down on my head and over my body, rinsing off the dirt and soap. I closed my eyes and stretched out my senses. I started on the first floor, pausing for a second. While I couldn’t feel Sadira, I could pick up the swell of power emanating from her. So much for hiding. Hell, let her blame it on me. Jabari had plenty to be angry with me for. Why not add one more thing? I had a few things I was eager to discuss with the Elder.
The members of Themis were still anxious, running about the large mansion like a hive of angry bees. There was a large group meeting at the opposite end of the second floor. I didn’t pause to hear what they were discussing. I didn’t care. We’d be gone soon and I’d never have to deal with these people again.
On the third floor, I located Danaus. He was so calm and at peace, I could only guess he was asleep. He was more difficult to read than humans and other nightwalkers. Much like most magic users, his powers seemed to muddy things. I could pick up on emotions but not specific thoughts. I lingered over him, soaking in his calm the same way I had soaked in the warmth of his powers. Reluctantly, I moved on and was about to pull away when I picked up on the other strong magic user in the house. He was on the third floor in what felt like a large room. He was calm as well, but there was a deeper sense of concern and anticipation curling around him. This had to be the illustrious Ryan.
With a shake of my head, I closed the connection and turned off the shower. Wiping off the excess water, I towel-dried my hair as best as I could. Reluctantly, I pulled on my pants, shoes, and bra. The shirt was ruined. I would have to borrow something from Miss Richards for now. If we had time, I hoped to stop at the hotel in London and pick up my things before we flew out. Locating a brush under the sink, I ran it through my hair, getting rid of the tangles as best as I could. When finished, I at least felt like I carried the semblance of average humanity.
Reaching for the doorknob, I suddenly stopped. Michael was waiting for me in the bedroom, his heart thudding fast in worry. I jerked open the door to find him pacing the room, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded in a harsh voice, making him jump.
“Nothing,” he quickly answered, his hand automatically reaching for his gun in his surprise. A spastic smile jumped across his lips as his hands returned to his sides.
“What are you doing up here?”
“I didn’t think you should be here unprotected.”
“I’m fine. Your job right now is to protect Sadira. I can manage,” I reassured him, running my fingers through my damp hair. Fear unknotted in my stomach, leaving the muscles trembling for a moment.
“Do you need anything?” His eyes were wide as he watched me.
“No, I’m fine.”
Something about him was making me ill at ease. He seemed nervous and extremely tense. I could only guess that it was the constant traveling and the threat of the naturi. Whi
le I’m not sure he completely understood the danger, he’d overheard enough conversations to catch a solid glimpse.
He walked over to me and placed a trembling hand on my cheek. “I’m worried about you. You nearly died last night and you’re still in danger here,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “This place is wall-to-wall vampire hunters and God only knows what else. You know I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, but…” His strong voice drifted off, suffocated by his doubts.
“But you and Gabriel are outgunned,” I finished, running my hands up his strong chest. Lacing my fingers behind his neck, I pulled him down so his forehead touched mine. Michael wrapped his arm around my waist, enveloping me his warmth. “Right now, these hunters are not the threat that concerns me. Besides, they seem to follow Danaus, and he needs me alive.”
He pulled away so that he could look me in the eye. “He tried to have you killed in Egypt,” he reminded me, with barely caged anger.
“He claims it was a misunderstanding. They were trying to rescue him.”
“And you believe him?”
“No.” I laughed, pulling his head down to capture his soft lips in a quick kiss that lasted a bit longer than I initially intended. Michael’s arms tightened, pressing me against his strong body. His skin was warm and his heart pounded against my breast, proclaiming his life and strength to my own cold form. I started to break off the kiss, telling myself that I had too many things to take care of, when Michael deepened it, running the tip of his tongue along the seam of my lips. My own body instantly responded, my mouth opening so his tongue could dart in, tasting me.
French kissing a vampire was an art form that Michael had mastered during our years together. He could kiss me without pricking his tongue on my fangs, but there was never anything hesitant or careful about it. He explored my mouth, opening up senses and feelings within me I hadn’t realized were laying dormant, waiting for him and his touch. In his hands, I felt almost human again.
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