“Inanna, you mean Layla?” I stared into her eyes and she nodded. “Mistress Layla did this to me?”
Layla is one of Tamara’s oldest and dearest friends. We met the day before I married Tamara and she complained about not being worshipped as a Goddess anymore. If what Mother was saying was true, that meant Layla wasn’t the nut job I thought she was. What the hell kind of world was I living in with goddesses, vampires and werewolves running around. What was next, finding out that unicorns were real?
“Katherine was right, we are at the brink of war and even though it does not involve humans, Death will call many to his side. In the near future, Reamus, the soul-snatcher, will awaken. The thin lines that hold our two worlds apart will start to weaken and chaos will reign.”
I gave Mother a what-does-this-have-to-do-with-me look.
“You will soon seek revenge, child, and there are those that will not allow you to interfere with their plans. How do you say?” She raised her finger to her mouth, then opened it as if to say oh, but instead exclaimed, “From those who are bigger and badder than you.”
Her statement sounded more like a question, but I let it slide.
“You will need help if you plan on surviving. I offer you allies.”
I cocked my brows. I had no idea what she was talking about and from the sound of it, I didn’t want to know either.
“There are three things you must do as if your life depends on it. One, you must not destroy the one you seek. Two, you must save Tamara’s life at all costs and third, you must keep Abby close to you.”
“I will not fight in your war.” There I had said it. I had too much on my plate to mingle in someone else’s problems.
Mother smiled. “Child, you have already been recruited. The question is, whose side will you take?”
Then, everything went black.
“Izzy,” Stacia yelled. “Izzy. Are you all right?” She gave me the once over and rolled her eyes, “I thought you were going to follow me to the kitchen? Oh no…you didn’t feed from her again, did you?” she gasped, inspecting Abby for new bite marks.
“What are you talking about, didn’t you see her?” I asked, realizing that I still held Abby in my arms.
“No. There was no one here except you and Abby.” She looked away from me, inspecting the open grounds. “I made it to the kitchen before you, which surprised me. I waited a few minutes and when you didn’t show up, I came looking for you. I found you standing, motionless with Abby in your arms.”
Don’t tell me I’m the only one who saw Mother. Good God, I’d surely be branded as insane. How was I supposed to explain this?
“Come on,” grabbing my elbow, she led me to the kitchen.
Abby nestled her face into the crook of my neck and pressed her lips tightly against my skin, kissing me. “Choose your side wisely.”
I walked in with Abby in my arms and Viola shook her head, making a tisk, tisk sound. “Set her down, here.” She pulled a chair out and held it.
I gently placed Abby into it, letting her slump onto the table.
“Get her a glass of orange juice.” Viola slapped my arm. “At least you didn’t kill her…that’s a good start.”
“Warn you,” Abby whispered as Viola held the cup of orange juice to her lips.
“Drink child. You’ll see Izzy after you rest.” She then motioned for me to leave the kitchen.
Embrace your demon and choose wisely.
Abby’s voice rang through me as I left the kitchen, stopping me instantly. It’s possible she was delirious. Blood loss would do that to someone…I should know. There were plenty of times, when I was still human of course, that Tamara took a little too much from me and left me weirded out, but that wouldn’t explain my hallucination.
What if Abby’s blood sent me on some kind of freaked out hallucinogenic trip? I wouldn’t be able to feed from her again. I couldn’t take that chance. But what if she wasn’t delirious and actually came here to warn me about something? Was she warning me about Mother? That just didn’t seem like my problem.
I needed a plan. The first thing on my list was to talk to Jules and confront her about Kaley’s disappearance. Did she really think no one would find out that she injected Kaley with a magical concoction that Celeste brewed?
I found the library empty, plopped on the couch, and called Jules’s cell phone. Naturally, it went straight to her voicemail. Nothing was working out the way I had hoped, why would this? I left her a quick message, asking her to call me. Lying on the couch, cell phone in hand, I fell asleep.
Chapter Four
Blood curling screams jolted me from my sleep and almost off the couch. I ran through the hallway, following its origin. Heading up the massive stairs, the shrieks grew louder. I must be getting closer. Turning down the hallway where the bedrooms were, I saw Viola leading against the wall, crying. Oh God! She was in front of Katherine’s room.
“She’s gone!” Viola cried.
My stomach sank. Was this, the beginning of the end I had seen? “Who?” I grabbed Viola by the shoulders. “Who’s gone?”
“Kaley’s gone again.”
“Jeez, you gave me a heart attack!” I snapped and she started crying harder. “I’m sorry.” I hugged her. “It’s all right, we’ll find her.”
Katherine appeared at the end of the hallway in her usual majestic stance. “Kaley is here. Shamana has spelled the grounds so she cannot leave.” Katherine glided toward us, her feet not touching the ground. “Izzy, we need to talk.”
“Of course.” I followed her down the hall and with a wave of her hand, a door I had never seen appeared. Entering the room, I saw that it was sparse except for two metal folding chairs, a phone, and several computer monitors that viewed every inch of the grounds. I looked around, taking in my surroundings and noticed that there were no windows. Of course! This was her safe room. Of all the clans out there, how did I get stuck with a minimalist Matriarch?
“Take a seat.” She pointed to the bare metal chair behind me. “We have a serious matter to discuss.”
I had the feeling I was going to get more information than I wanted, but I wasn’t going to tell Katherine that. No, I would hear what she had to say and be appreciative that she took me into her confidence. I also knew that no one in their right mind turned her down and lived to tell about it.
She scooted the chair in front of me where our knees barely touched. “I want to thank you for finding Kaley and bringing her home. You have served me well as a daughter-in-law.” She placed her hand on my thigh and gave a little squeeze. “But the truth is that the Kaley we all knew is gone. What remains is an empty shell of the person who used to be my daughter.” She leaned back and stared at the computer monitor, tracking Kaley across the grounds.
Not knowing what to say to that, I blurted, “I had a vision in which I saw Jules inject Kaley with a potion. Can’t Shamana find a way to reverse the damage?”
“We suspected as much,” she said, lowering her gaze. “Shamana and I have considered the possibility that Celeste was involved.” Then looking at the monitor, she whispered, “Kaley is beyond our reach now.” She lowered her head as bloody tears swelled in her eyes. “Her soul needs rest.”
“No!” I jumped out of my seat, protesting. “There has to be another way.”
“Don’t you think I would try anything to save my daughter?” she demanded. “We exhausted all of our options. She grows more dangerous by the hour and will soon start attacking her own kind. There is no other choice.”
Remembering what Abby and Rosalie told me about the werewolves Kaley had turned, I silently agreed as her sadness gushed through me, feeling the torment she carried. I knew she had pondered this possibility for months and when I brought Kaley home, it only confirmed the inevitable.
“Who will take her fledglings? Tamara is not strong enough to handle them right now.” I knew that I was corroborating her fear. Whoever took responsibility for Kaley’s fledglings would also end her existence. It was the
only way to acquire another vampire’s nest.
Katherine stared at the monitor, watching Kaley throw herself against the invisible barriers that Shamana put in place. Katherine’s blood-red tears flowed easily, staining her face and clothes. “I will take her burdens until Tamara is well enough for the task.”
“And when will that be?” I hissed. Quickly realizing my attitude toward Katherine, I dropped my head, showing my neck in a submissive manner. Even to my own ears, it sounded unbelievable that I had snapped at her. Silence filled the room.
“You must curb your emotions, child.”
That’s all she could say to me? I left Tamara’s side to go find Kaley and now that she’s back, Katherine acted as if we could put Tamara on the back burner. “Why? Because I’m the only one who cares?” I yelled.
She stood so fast, the chair toppled over. “Don’t ever presume to think I don’t care about both of my daughters. I’m faced with the burden of having to end Kaley’s life and you…you’re not ready to help Tamara.”
Katherine’s presence appeared larger than life as she scolded me. Every word rang through me, breaking down my momentary courage. I would willingly give my life for Tamara, how could Katherine say I wasn’t ready to help her?
She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You must bleed her.”
Okay, maybe she was right. I would do anything except bring death directly to her door. I can see it now, Gee honey, I love you, but I’m going to bleed you—not.
“Until you are ready to trust yourself and what you have become, Tamara will remain as she is. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions about the ones we love. Remember that the next time you start thinking that I don’t care about my daughters.”
Katherine’s gaze quickly snapped to the monitor in front of her.
Kaley had found Abby and was dragging her across the open field toward the wooded area behind the mansion. Abby tripped, sending her to the ground face-first. Kaley grabbed her by the hair, lifting her effortlessly. Abby placed her hand on Kaley’s chest, mumbling something and Kaley went flying backward, pulling Abby with her. The two of them hit the ground, rolling, then Kaley was back on her feet, yanking Abby up and carting her off. Damn, her magic wasn’t strong enough to ward off Kaley.
“Oh shit!” I barked, stunned at the scene unfolding.
“We will continue this later.” Katherine’s voice echoed as she disappeared down the hall.
I knew where Kaley was and took off after her, too. As I hit the back door, the brisk night air chilled against my skin. I took off running as fast as I could. The estate’s wooded grounds were hazardous to travel, especially for a vampire avoiding pointed wooden objects. The last Hurricane we had, mangled much of the two hundred year old trees, breaking limbs and splintering branches. Breaching into the wooded area, the fear of a tree branch impaling me, struck me, but I quickly brushed it off as I heard Abby’s ear piercing scream. I glided over fallen branches without missing a step, surprised at how light I felt on my feet, and arrived at the clear landing moments after Katherine.
Kaley’s firm grip around a now limp and bluish-colored Abby, would choke her to death.
We’ll get you out of this, I promise. I prayed, she could still read my mind.
Katherine slowly approached Kaley with her arms outstretched. Kaley hissed. Carrying Abby with her, she took a step back, trying to regain the space Katherine had claimed. Katherine stopped, waiting for Kaley to settle. Then crouching on her left knee, she stretched her right leg out, ready to catapult toward Kaley and let out a long, deep hiss. Katherine had summoned the power she held over her vampire children, me being one of them by default, and ordered Kaley to release Abby. The command was so great that even I felt her orders vibrate through me and my body wanted to comply.
Kaley dropped Abby’s unconscious body, her torso landed on the ground with a thud. Katherine continued hissing and Kaley took a few more steps back before she totally lost her mind, strengthened her shoulders and hissed back, holding her ground.
Three feet of clearance stood between Abby and Kaley. I would have liked more, but I’ve learned I can’t always get what I want. The moment Kaley challenged Katherine, I knew I wouldn’t get another chance and without a second thought, I ran in amid the two dueling Hightowers, scooped up Abby’s lifeless body and ran like hell back to the Mansion. “Viola,” I yelled, clearing the backdoor, resting Abby on the table. “Viola!”
“Yes…yes I know.” She limped into the kitchen holding a bloody rag against her forehead.
“What happened!” I had a feeling Kaley had found Viola and took Abby from her.
“Leave her with me,” she whimpered as she threw the rag in the sink, grabbed a handful of paper towels, and pressed them against the open gash on her forehead. “Go.” She shushed me out of the kitchen.
This night was already too long. I couldn’t wait for the sun to bring in a new day so I could get some rest. Looking forward to climbing in bed next to Tamara and spooning with her until I fell asleep, I headed upstairs.
The bedroom door creaked open and I stood staring at her, peacefully sleeping. Her long hair draped across part of her face and neck, hid her beauty. Eager to feel her nakedness, I threw my clothes on the floor and quietly slipped into bed next to my sleeping beauty. I wrapped my arm around her waist and maneuvered myself closely against her warm back. Yeah, regulating body temperature—something else to remind me of Tamara’s humanness. Placing my head on the pillow, I closed my eyes.
Tamara stretched, stirring to life. She rolled over, placing her chin on my chest, mumbling, “Good morning, sleepy head.”
What were the chances that she would wake up as I finally got into bed? Wait…don’t answer that, it’s obvious that I was the brunt of the Goddess’s sense of humor. “Hello, my love,” I muttered. “How did you sleep?”
“Too long, I think.” She kissed my cheek. “I’m stiff.”
“Maybe you need a little more sleep?” I snuggled into her arms.
“No, we have plans today.” She caressed my naked side. “Come on, we need to get up and get moving.”
“We do?” I asked, closing my eyes.
Tamara slid out of bed, pulling all the covers with her. “Yep.”
I heard the bathroom door close and snuggled with her pillow.
“Come on, get out of bed. I’ll have coffee waiting for you downstairs,” she said, pulling her pillow away from me.
I sat up, hoping this was a bad dream and that I was truly laying naked next Tamara. I was so tired that when she came back into the room, she found me sitting up, asleep.
“Come on. No excuses. Get up,” she demanded, putting a cup of coffee in my hand. “We’ll be late. Stacia is already on her way there.” She found a pair of jeans and a tee shirt and dressed me while I nursed the coffee.
I was grumpy to say the least, but I followed Tamara outside with my large portable coffee cup and headed for the Lexus. She smiled, kicked the motorcycle to life and waved for me to join her.
“I can’t get on that thing,” I complained, while cuddling the coffee cup to my chest.
“It’s a Hog, and why can’t you get on?” she asked, opening the dark plastic mask on the deep purple helmet.
“I’ll spill my coffee. Can’t we take the car?” I knew my priorities and coffee was on the top of my list. Not to mention, that I would save myself a few heart attacks if I could convince her to take the car. I didn’t mind motorcycles, but with Tamara’s condition deteriorating, I didn’t want to take a chance on her getting seriously injured. Especially on a bike called a pig.
“I’ll buy you a new cup,” she yelled over the roar of the engine. “Here, put this on.” She handed me a half-helmet. You’ve seen them. Imagine a full helmet, then cutting the bottom half off like a bad Bob haircut, only shorter. I gulped down the coffee and put the retched medieval contraption on.
“Swing your leg over,” she shouted, patting the six inches of cushion behind her.
I had never ridden a motorcycle, but I knew how to get on one. I’d seen it on TV. Per her instructions, I swung my leg over, accidentally kicking her in the ribs as I maneuvered my butt onto the sorry excuse for a backseat. The bike bounced as I landed my weight on it and that was the beginning of my mini-nervous breakdown.
“Wrap your arms around me and hang on.” She smacked down the plastic face guard, revved the engine and we were on our way.
I was fine on the driveway and I was even starting to enjoy the ride. Then she turned onto the main street and gunned it. I tightened my grip around her waist, leaning into her and closed my eyes. My fear revved as fast as the motorcycle. I was afraid Tamara would get hurt and I’m highly allergic to pain. I’ve seen the medical shows where they dig out road rash from your raw flesh and treat exhaust burns. I knew I would that wasn’t the issue. The point was that I would feel the pain before I healed and I’d rather suck blood from a sewer rat than to go through the pain of a motorcycle accident.
After ten minutes of swerving, speeding up, slowing down, and losing my stomach back near the estate, we arrived at the Lake Worthington Marina. Tamara turned the engine off, hung her helmet on the handlebars, and offered me a hand off the bike, of which, I was appreciative because my butt had fallen asleep.
“I have a surprise for you,” she proudly announced, pulling me down the long wooden dock.
We passed several large boats with occupants that Tamara waved back to as she bee-lined me to the end of the dock.
“She’s a beauty, huh?” She pointed, to a large, sleek, black boat with the name Izmara painted on the back end. “I came up with the name myself.”
The sheer size of it took me by surprise. Good Gods, it was larger than the houses where I grew up. The black sleekness shined in the sunlight, giving the three stories an awe-inspiring sparkle. The open back area had two fishing chairs bolted to the floor with pole holders and seatbelt straps attached. The rest of the area was large enough to park a small car on it, equipped with a mini-refrigerator, a bar, and couches.
Dying to Live Page 6