Liar's Moon

by Kate Sweeney

  “I can be very scary if the situation warrants. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “I agree. Tell me about this serum. I understand you now can stay in the light of day.”

  “Not indefinitely. It has its limits.”

  “What’s it like?” Neala asked.

  “The serum or being the undead?”

  “That sounds so sad to say it that way.”

  “Perhaps it is sad,” Sebastian said, watching her. Neala was indeed a beautiful woman. She could see the attraction Grayson had for her. “It is not an existence I would choose.”

  “Now you sound like Grayson.”

  “We have that in common.”

  “You must have a feeling of power, knowing you can have anyone you want.”

  Sebastian noticed her staring at her lips, so she grinned ever so slightly, allowing her fangs to protrude. Yes, there is a great deal of power, Sebastian thought as she watched the artery in Neala’s neck throb. She took a step closer to Neala, whose breath caught in her throat as she backed up. “Power takes many forms, Neala. I thought I had infinite power until I met Dr. Alex Taylor.”

  “Who is she?” Neala whispered.

  “My savior. The one who discovered the serum.”

  “And you’re in love with her? She’s human, correct?”

  “Yes, on both counts. She is beautiful, much like you. Grayson is a lucky woman.”

  “Grayson and I are not—”

  Sebastian closed the distance between them. “Then Grayson is a foolish immortal.”

  Sebastian saw the crimson color rise from Neala’s neck to her cheeks. “Thank you.” She walked away; Sebastian grinned and followed her as they left the exhibit room. “It was very sad about your assistant. I wonder what she was doing.”

  “I don’t know, and yes, it was very sad. She was a friend, as well as a colleague. And I miss her.”

  Sebastian glanced at Neala, who looked deep in thought. “She must have known something for this Phelan to kill her.”

  “I know, but I can’t think what it was. I don’t know why she was going to see Grayson.”

  “What makes you think she was going to see Grayson?”

  Neala stopped. “I don’t know what other reason she would be in that area. Grayson lives there, Corky. The monastery is there. I suppose I just assumed it had to be one of those reasons. She had some information, something.”

  Sebastian could see the frustration within Neala. “What’s your take on this liar’s moon?”

  “Again, I don’t know. It’s annoying. But we think Tatiana knew that you and Grayson have some connection. I wish everything wasn’t so cryptic.”

  “I agree. Nothing is easy. However, we are very fortunate to have Corky,” Sebastian said as they walked into Neala’s office.

  Sebastian looked around while Neala leafed through some papers on her desk. Neala looked up to see Sebastian watching her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong? Nothing, really. I just find it odd that I can’t read you.”

  “Read me? What do you mean?” Neala sat and signed a few papers. “I’m an open book. What would ya like to know?”

  Sebastian leaned against the file cabinet. “How is it that you came to know Grayson and her mother?”

  “I knew Maeve for a few years. We shared a love of Irish history and mythology. We also believed the Tuatha De Danann was not a myth, just as Corky believes. Grayson is a little slow in that department.” She laughed while she concentrated on her work. “I met Grayson in Chicago. We had the exhibit there. One of the women who guarded their portion of the stone was killed by Phelan. Grayson suspected I was involved somehow.”

  “And you were,” Sebastian said, watching her.

  Neala looked up. “Yes, I was.”

  Their gazes locked for a moment. The soft knock at her door had Neala looking away. “Come in.” She groaned audibly when Inspector Gaffney walked in.

  Sebastian grinned once again. “Inspector. How nice to see you. May I call you Megan?”

  “No,” Megan said and looked at Neala. “Is this a bad time? I just have a few nagging questions about the victim.”

  “She has a name, Inspector.” Neala angrily shuffled the papers on her desk.

  “I’m sorry. Would you like me to come back?” Megan asked. Sebastian heard the softer tone.

  “No, no. Please sit down.” Neala offered the chair in front of her desk.

  “Should I leave?” Sebastian asked.

  “Please stay.” Megan flipped open the small notebook. “Have you given any thought as to why Ms. Moore would drive across the country when she lived in Dublin? You say you had just given her the afternoon off, and it was Friday. If it were me, I suppose the first thing I would do is go home. Did she have friends or relatives in Clare?”

  “I don’t know,” Neala said.

  Megan glanced at Sebastian, who said, “I never met the woman.”

  “Dr. Rourke, you said there were personnel files and files on your contributors. But you found nothing missing?”

  “No. All the files are there. But to be honest, we’ve had so many contributors and employees that have come and gone, it truly is hard to keep track. And I don’t work in that department. I’m curator, not human resources.”

  Sebastian listened to Megan’s calm voice and couldn’t blame Neala for sounding irritated. She watched both women—Neala, the fiery redhead, and Megan Gaffney, the cool, collected brunette. Grayson had two women in proximity. Sebastian fought the primal sexual arousal.

  “Well, I think I’ll be going,” Sebastian said quickly and headed for the door. She noticed the stunned look from Neala and the smug curious look from Megan. “Good day, ladies.”

  “What are you doing, vampire?”

  Sebastian saw Elinora at least a hundred yards away from her. In a flash, Sebastian was at her side. “What do you mean?”

  “I observed you with the doctor and the inspector. Your sexual appetite hasn’t changed over the centuries.”

  Sebastian nearly laughed. “I wondered if you remembered. Your name was not Elinora back then, Melaina.”

  “That was long ago, Sebastian. We were both much, much younger then and our time together fleeting. We are as ancient as Greece.”

  “We’re not that old.”

  “Do you remember?”

  “Yes. I remember.”

  “You were persistent,” Elinora said.

  “You were desirous.”

  “I can see your ego tells you our time together is the reason for my celibacy.”

  Sebastian heard the sarcasm in Elinora’s voice. “It is not?”

  “No, it is not. Now onto my previous question. What were you doing with the doctor?”

  “There’s something about her and I cannot figure it out. It’s unusual, as if…”

  “As if what? You seem disconcerted, and that is unlike an immortal, with the exception of Grayson MacCarthaigh, who seems constantly unsettled. Perhaps if you get your insatiable libido out of the way, you can figure it out.”

  Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “My libido is just fine. But I appreciate the interest.”

  “Is your human Dr. Alex Taylor as interested?”

  “I had forgotten for a moment you were immortal. Reading minds is very invasive, Melaina. Oh, pardon me, Elinora.”

  “I love my powers. I hope to help Grayson with hers, as well. She is a good choice to be the keeper of their power and magic. It flows through her now, though she is so reluctant to accept it.”

  “Perhaps she just wishes to be human,” Sebastian said.

  “As you know, that cannot be. As much as you wish it so,” Elinora said in a soft voice. “We all have our destiny.”

  Sebastian scowled but nodded in agreement. Elinora smiled and gently touched her cheek. “You fight it, as well, vampire. I know of your place in your world and what you must do.”

  “How much do you know?”

  Elinora swiped the dark hair from her face as
the wind blew across the green hills. “Much.” She looked at Sebastian then. “And you must keep your distance for now. As much as you want your book deciphered, you must not interfere.”

  “Interfere with what?”

  “With Grayson’s destiny under the liar’s moon.”

  “What will happen to Grayson?”

  “Is that affection I hear in a vampire’s voice?”

  “No.”

  Elinora laughed. “You care for this mortal. It is good. But you must not interfere.”

  “If I can help—”

  “It is not your destiny. And I will stop you.”

  “If you are able.”

  Elinora grew serious. “I am here for one purpose, and I will see it through.”

  “If you harm Grayson or anyone else…”

  “You know better than to threaten me. I will not succumb to you or anyone. I know my purpose here.”

  “You are being purposely vague. It’s because of this that I don’t trust you.”

  “I do not care if you trust me or not. This is not about you, remember that.”

  They regarded each other for a long moment before Sebastian spoke. “You know who this liar is. You are not being forthcoming. Another reason for my distrust. Perhaps you are the liar. Should I or Grayson believe her gods sent you to aid her? Or someone else to stop her?”

  Elinora showed no signs of emotion. “Be warned, vampire.”

  And then she was gone.

  Chapter 22

  Elinora stood on the edge of the cliff. With her head lifted skyward, she closed her eyes and flexed her neck and shoulders. Gaining strength from the wind and the earth beneath her feet, Elinora smiled as she floated from the ground and rose higher and higher. Her outstretched arms became wings and her body now that of a hawk soared above the trees.

  In this state, she had felt no other feeling of freedom than this. She felt the wind through her wings as the world below her drifted by while she traveled inland from the shore. With the monastery below, the green sloping hills of this ancient country beckoned to her free spirit of a hawk in flight. In all the other forms she had been, nothing appealed to her more than this.

  She was free, if only for a few moments, before she was once again bound to the earth and to the duty at hand. Elinora did not like this part of being immortal; however, the decision was not hers. It was out of her hands.

  Trying to ignore what she had to do, she soared higher and farther out to sea, leaving the monastery far behind. Elinora allowed her mind to drift to another time. And now she remembered Sebastian. Although she told the vampire it was not because of their time together Elinora chose to no longer have relations with anyone, she knew it was a lie. Though their time was a mere grain of sand in this universe, it changed Elinora’s existence completely.

  “You want this,” Sebastian whispered against her neck.

  Melaina shuddered. “As do you, Sebastian. You have waited long enough.”

  Sebastian pulled back and ran her fingertips across the top of Melaina’s shoulders, then down her arms. On the way, she slipped the straps of her white gown down her arms. Melaina sighed as Sebastian easily stripped the silken material from her, her olive skin glistening in the moonlight. Melaina stepped out of the gown and lay back against the pillows. The summer breeze blew the long sheer curtains; Sebastian gazed as she shivered. “You are beautiful, Melaina. Your gods have favored you and me.”

  “You are unlike any immortal I have known, though my life as an immortal is relatively new.”

  Sebastian slowly undressed as she gazed at Melaina, who raised her arms above her head. She quickly slipped beside Melaina, kissing her neck, feeling the pulsating artery against her lips. “Beautiful,” she mumbled and sensually licked the area with the tip of her tongue.

  “I was advised not to have sexual relations,” Melaina whispered. She sighed as Sebastian lips traveled down her neck to the top of her breast.

  “Why is that?” Sebastian lightly placed kisses up and down the valley between her breasts.

  “It is a distraction.” Melaina ran her fingers through Sebastian’s long dark hair.

  Sebastian shivered when she felt Melaina’s nails scraping her scalp. “A most sought-after distraction.”

  “Yes, but a distraction nonetheless.” Melaina laughed, then gasped when Sebastian’s fingers traveled across her breast, toying with her nipple.

  Sebastian’s hand wandered down to her belly, her fingers dancing through Melaina’s arousal. “You do indeed want this.”

  Melaina said nothing as she parted her legs. Sebastian took the offering and slipped her fingers inside. Melaina arched her back, her inner muscles contracting around Sebastian’s insistent fingers.

  As Sebastian brought Melaina over the edge, her fangs dropped; she plunged them into the soft olive flesh just above Melaina’s right breast. Melaina cried out as the pleasure and the pain swirled around her. She heard the vampire snarl and move over her, dominating her completely, and Melaina welcomed the possessive posture. It was a surreal feeling for her; never had she felt so vulnerable and out of control. In the back of her mind, Melaina knew this is what the goddesses advised her against. An immortal could not lose control at anytime.

  When Sebastian pulled back, Melaina saw the blood on her lips. Though she was completely sated, Melaina shook her head. “This cannot happen again.”

  Sebastian licked her lips. “An immortal with a conscience. This is my luck.” She rolled away and lay on her back, breathing heavily.

  Melaina walked over to the table and poured water from the ornate pitcher into the bowl. Taking the towel, she gently washed the blood away from her neck and shoulder. She did not move when she felt the towel taken from her hands; she stood still while Sebastian bathed her. The vampire’s touch was exquisitely gentle, causing Melaina nearly to forget her own words, as she leaned back into the strong body behind her.

  She then turned around. Taking the wet cloth from Sebastian, she gently bathed her face and neck. “A vampire with a romantic, sensual touch. Just my luck.”

  Sebastian scowled. “I am not romantic.”

  “And I have no conscience.”

  Sebastian sported a toothy grin. “One more go?”

  Melaina laughed openly and wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s neck. “Your Tatiana was correct. You are the devil.”

  Elinora would never let the egotistical vampire know she was the reason for many changes in her existence—many changes.

  Chapter 23

  “Neala is on her way. She left nearly an hour ago,” Corky said to Grayson. “And she had another go around with Inspector Gaffney.”

  “Damn it,” Grayson whispered. “Why don’t you start, Cork? It’ll take Neala a while to get here.”

  “Right then.” Corky put on his glasses as he leafed through the book. He waited until the young nun wheeled the teacart in, poured the tea, and left. “From the beginning. I’ll give you the short version and expand on it when needed, right?” When both nuns nodded, he started, “You both know a little Irish mythology, I hope. The Tuatha De Danann?”

  “Yes, Corky, we’re familiar with them,” Sister Michael said.

  “Well, in a nutshell, when Danu, the goddess of them all, realized their existence in the real world was about to end with the battle of Teltown, she instructed the druids to encase all the power and magic they possessed in a stone marked with the Ogham alphabet. The marking depicted the exact time when the true descendant would be called upon, if need be, to claim the power and protect it and Ireland. The stone was then broken in three and each piece given to someone different—a sorcerer, an alchemist, and a healer, so no one entity had all the power. They were to protect their section of the stone throughout the centuries until that time. Figol, a wizard, was the sorcerer. Unfortunately, he was an ancient wizard of evil and decided he should have all the power. On the night of the ritual, he murdered the ancient ones and gave his section to his son, who stayed in the real world
in quest of the other two sections of the stone. When he found the other two sections, he would reunite all three sections under the residual moon and capture all the power and magic.

  “From the prophecy I had been working on for years, I ascertained the exact time when all this would happen, but I never found who the true descendant was.” He stopped and glanced at Grayson. “Until I met Grayson. You see in the prophecy, the true descendant was marked with a crescent shape. Grayson has such a mark on her palm, which she thought was a scar. The crescent shape is also on the stone. According to the prophecy, Niamh, daughter of Manannan, Celtic god of the sea, had a child with a mortal. In future generations, Grayson proved to be the true descendant.” He stopped to get the reaction from both nuns.

  Sister Michael was enthralled but disbelieving, Grayson could tell. Sister Gabriel seemed more open-minded. When neither nun said a word, Corky continued.

  “Grayson had been investigating the murder of three Irish women in Chicago. Neala was in Chicago at the time with the latest exhibit. A triangular stone with ancient markings on it. It was to be the final section of stone from the Tuatha De Danann. Neala safely transported it back to Ireland where it was subsequently stolen by—”

  “Phelan Tynan,” Sister Gabriel whispered.

  “You cannot believe all of this, Sister Gabriel,” Sister Michael exclaimed. “This is pure nonsense. Whoever heard…?”

  Sister Gabriel reached over and placed her hand on Sister Michael’s forearm. “Let him finish, Sister.”

  Corky cleared his throat and glanced again at Grayson who smiled. “Go on, Corky.”

  “Right then. Yes, Sister, it was indeed Phelan Tynan who took the stone from the museum. He killed Maeve, thinking she was the true descendant, thus Maeve fulfilling her part of the prophecy, as well. Her destiny was to give her life for Grayson.” He looked at Grayson.

  Grayson raised her left hand, presenting her palm to both nuns to examine. “It’s true, as much as I would like it not to be. Sister Daniel showed me the ancient rock dwelling. Upon entering it, I had a visitation for lack of a better word. It was my mother and my wife.” She looked down at the three wedding bands on her ring finger. “They showed me all those who had lived and died to bring me to this point. I had visions of Phelan throughout his existence, lying, cheating, and killing anyone to get the stones. I saw ancient rituals that I still don’t understand. But I now had what Sister Daniel called the knowing.”