by Roh Morgon
“No. I’ll do this. You need to take it easy. I think we stayed out a bit longer than we should’ve.”
Her eyes have lost their earlier brightness and the dark circles beneath them show me she’s more tired than she’ll admit. I’m hoping I didn’t jeopardize her health with our shopping trip—again.
Sandy frowns, but says nothing more. She’s learning that it’s useless to argue with me.
She hands me the other sheet and, as I finish making the bed, brings over her new comforter. I open it up and spread it on the bed, smiling at the neon-colored flowers and butterflies that cover it. I don’t know about her taste, but she loves it, and that’s all that matters.
Smoothing out the final wrinkle, I look up at her slightly crooked grin, and grin back.
Yeah. Definitely worth it.
“Thanks!”
“No problem. The towels are in the dryer and should be done in another half hour, maybe forty minutes or so. You’re clear on where the laundry room is, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. Across the parking lot and around the corner, first door on the right.” Sandy rolls her eyes as she repeats my earlier directions.
I raise my eyebrows at her flippant tone.
“Sorry.” She offers me a wrinkle-nosed, toothy grin, and I instantly forgive her.
“Yeah, well, I need to go now. I don’t know if I’ll be back before morning. If not, I’ll see you sometime in the afternoon. We can go over your classes then if you want.”
“Danny said he’d help me. He’s enrolling for the fall semester, too.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you’ve found a friend.”
I just wish it was one that I didn’t want to sink my teeth into.
As I turn to leave, Sandy says, “Uh, Sunny? Can I ask you a question?”
“Depends on the question.”
“Well, where do you sleep when you’re not… here, or home, or whatever.”
Recalling her comment that I don’t seem the “tree-hugger” type, I smile.
“Trees.”
“What? Trees?”
I quietly laugh and head for the front door, grabbing my bag and keys on the way out.
MONDAY
CHAPTER 16
Despite my comment about trees to Sandy yesterday evening, I really do love the billowy softness of a bed, and am grateful to have beaten the rising sun back to the apartment earlier this morning after last night’s run on the mountain.
I flip back the covers and lazily stretch, then sit up and raise my shirt to look again at the pronghorn scar. It’s finally smoothed out and looks more like my other scars. The beast is calm and I haven’t felt the flames of hunger scorching my veins since my killing spree the night before last. The craving for human blood seems to be fading, and I can only hope that it will soon cease altogether as the last internal remnants of my wound finish healing.
Relieved that I seem to be regaining some control over my body, I glance at the clock. 11:07. Early enough that I should be able to finish getting Sandy settled in by the end of today.
Then I’ll be free to leave.
I quickly dress, anxious to get the day started. Just as I unlock the door, I remember my to-do list sitting on the nightstand and start back across the room.
And then I feel it.
A… pressure… in the air. Power. Energy.
Nicolas.
Nicolas.
He’s here.
Somewhere close by.
He’s here.
But he feels… different. And angry. Very angry.
A lightning bolt of fear strikes through me, and then the emptiness in my core rips through its bonds, seeking that which will fill it. I stagger as the pain and loneliness overwhelm me and a ragged gasp escapes my chest.
Oh God.
My door flies open and I spin in horror, the dread of him warring with the need of him.
“Sunny! What’s happening?!” Sandy’s voice reflects the anguish I’m feeling.
Sandy. Not Nicolas.
I look past her through the open door, but he is not there.
Yet I feel him so strongly.
And there is definitely something off about him.
“Sunny, are you all right?” Her voice trembles.
Sandy. Sandy.
I need to get away from here, from her. Lead him away from her.
The possibility that Sandy may be in danger galvanizes me into action. I release the hunter, who is tensely standing by, and grab her stillness, her coldness, her calculating action.
Glancing at Sandy, I walk past her into the living room to peer through the windows, but there’s no sign of him or his car. She follows me, then moves out of the way as I head back to the bedroom. I can feel her watching me from the doorway as I snap the latches on my suitcase and pick it up.
“You’re leaving.”
“Yes. Something’s come up and I need to go.” I grab my bag and keys and turn to go out the door.
Sandy’s blocking my way and I glare at her to move. She reluctantly steps back and I brush past her on my way to the front door.
“That’s it? We’re done? No goodbyes?”
The hurt in her voice penetrates the hunter’s detachment. I stop, and setting down the suitcase, turn to her.
“I’m sorry. I… didn’t intend to leave so abruptly. I hoped to spend at least another day with you to make sure you have everything you need and to prepare you to be on your own.” I watch as tears spill from her eyes and run down her cheeks.
“Oh… Sandy. Come here.”
She rushes across the room and throws her arms around me, sobbing. I give her a quick hug, then touching her shoulders, gently push her back.
Brushing kinky strands of hair from her wet eyes, I try to smile.
“This isn’t about you. In fact, I’m leaving because me being here may be putting you in danger. You’ll be fine. We’ll stay in touch by phone, but I don’t know when I’ll be back. It may not be for quite a while. The lease is paid up for the next six months and I can renew it if you want to continue to stay here.”
“But… can’t I come with you?” Tears are still streaming down her face.
“No, that’s not possible. It’s not safe right now. Besides, you need to start a new life for yourself. Go to college, get to know Danny, fall in love.” I can feel my own tears threatening, and focus once again on the stillness.
“But I really have to go now.” The power that I sense seems to be getting stronger, which means he is getting nearer.
Turning, I pick up my suitcase and head to the door.
“Oh, by the way, I put some money in the cookie jar for you. It should last you awhile if you don’t go ‘shopping’ too often.” Two thousand should hold her for a time. I can always wire her more.
I open the door and stop, checking the air. I don’t detect his scent anywhere. Hopefully I can get out of here before he can zero in on me.
Sandy starts to follow me out and, listening to her rapid heartbeats, I stop again.
“Sandy. Go back inside. No questions, just do as I ask. And please, stay inside for the rest of the day. For me.”
She doesn’t answer, but she does stop. I hear her step back into the doorway.
“If you’ll do something for me. Just one more thing.” The sorrow in her voice makes me cringe.
“What?”
“Go visit your daughter. Talk to her. Let her get to know you again. You’re not the… the monster you believe yourself to be.”
Oh, you have no idea.
Fighting to stay in control, I head to the car.
“Sunny! Please! For me. Do it for me!”
I keep walking and don’t look back.
CHAPTER 17
Pulling onto the street, I head in Nicolas’s direction, which seems to be somewhere near the highway. I stop several times and step out of the car, trying to focus on exactly where he is. Finally it seems like I’m getting nearer and my next stop confirms it. His energy is definitely strong
er now. My breath catches as I feel my body respond to it.
Soon. Very soon…
I stay outside the car for several minutes, hoping he’ll get a fix on my location. As I concentrate on him, I sense him drawing closer, which means he’s pinpointed me. Getting back in the car, I turn south, heading toward the mountains. I stop several times, get out and wait, and feel him getting closer and closer.
Too soon…
Satisfied that he’s now tracking me, I keep a steady pace as I leave the paved road and start up the mountain. I stop one more time and watch the dirt road behind me, fighting to keep my inner turmoil at bay. When I see the dust rising from his car, I jump back in mine and race up the road.
Whipping the car around the turn for one of my hunting areas, I slow a bit to be sure he makes the turn as well. The black car hesitates, then follows my dust. I hit the gas and race for the pullout. Sliding in, I jerk the car to a stop and bail out into a dead run for higher terrain and the trees.
Because whatever happens, I intend to meet him on ground of my choosing. The increasing anger I feel from him is spurring my own, and I don’t think our reunion is going to be a very peaceful one.
Halfway up the steep hillside, I leap into a tree and quickly scramble to the top. I turn and watch as his car pulls in behind mine. I wait.
But he doesn’t get out and my temper begins to succumb to my curiosity.
The door finally opens, and a slim leg steps out, followed by a slender shape. The fury emanating toward me is laced with a bewilderment that comes nowhere close to mine.
It’s not Nicolas.
It’s Éva.
Huh.
She feels just like him. Yet now that she’s nearby, I can detect the subtle differences that mark her own energy signature, which is somehow more powerful than it was before.
Maybe that’s it. Maybe it’s her power that’s fooling my senses.
But something else has changed as well, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“Sunny! Where the hell are you?” she bellows in rage. My own flares in response.
“Why don’t you come up here and find out?” I doubt Nicolas would actually kill me, but I don’t hold any such beliefs about her.
I can see her bristle as she steps across the road. She stops at the edge, her eyes searching upward for my location.
Hmm. I remember what Nicolas said about The Chosen being unwilling to “soil their clothing or muss their hair.” I’m suddenly very glad that I brought us up here. I might actually have a chance.
“What do you want, Éva?” I yell down the hill to her.
“We need to talk.” Her anger is edged with her typical impatience.
“Is that all you want? Because I’m pretty sure you want to do a lot more to me than just talk.”
“That’s quite astute for you. Bravo. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to learn anything about The Chosen.” The scorn drips from her voice.
Bitch. The red veil drops over my vision as the beast roars its defiance.
But I won’t let her bait me. I have the advantage out here and we both know it. I stay in my tree.
“So. Did Nicolas send you, his little messenger girl?”
I watch her go very still. Score.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.” Her voice is icy, and beneath her anger, I catch a glimmer of hatred that was never there before.
“I’m sorry about Dominic. Things just…” I don’t know what else to say. She was his sponsor, and I killed him.
“Yes, that was a complete waste. I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive you for that.” She pauses. “But not for what you did. It’s what you didn’t do.”
I didn’t take his lifespark. I didn’t complete the Change.
Her regret can’t be anywhere near mine.
“So what now?” I yell down at her.
“Come down here so we can talk. I promise not to kill you. Yet.”
I think about it for a moment, then silently climb down the tree. Working my way across the slope, I drop down into a deep ravine and quietly move downstream along the creek bed. When I reach the road, about six hundred feet from where the cars are parked, I peek out around the embankment. Éva is still standing at the road edge, her head slowly pivoting as she tries to locate me.
Smiling, I slip across the road and circle around through the trees to the cars. I creep up to the passenger side of the BMW and watch her a moment longer on the other side of the road.
“I’m here. What do you want to talk about?”
She whirls in my direction, unable to hide her surprise.
I smile, and both the hunter and the beast smile with me.
“Well. Nicolas said you had adapted quite well to this rather… barbaric type of life. I will be sure not to underestimate you again.”
Then she is gone.
And she whispers in my ear, “But don’t underestimate me either.”
I swallow and look at her as she steps back, her smile no less deathly than mine had been.
“So. Here we are. Each ready to tear the other apart over the next insult. I hope you harbor no illusions about who would win.” She stiffens as her smile fades and the red blossoms in her eyes.
“No, I do not. I don’t even know if you keep your promises. Yet, here I am.”
“So you are.” Her eyes shift back to a dark amber and some of her tension eases.
She takes a deep breath, crosses her arms, and turns to stare back up the hill.
Her silence is matched by that of the forest around us as everything stops to watch our Game unfold.
“I don’t understand how you could choose that,” she gestures toward the slope, “that wild existence, over him.” She turns back to face me. Her eyes are filled with unshed blood.
My own fill as well. I clench my jaw as the empty chasm inside me yawns and threatens to swallow me down. Thoughts spinning, I try to figure out how to respond to her accusation, but fail to find words that will make any difference to her.
“Do you realize that you have utterly destroyed him?” Her lip curls. “And by destroying him, you’ve almost destroyed all of us? We’ve been nearly incapacitated with his pain since the night you left. And that leaves us vulnerable to our enemies at a time when tensions between the lineages are the highest in three centuries.”
I don’t even know what to say. But I understand the pain. I live and breathe that pain on a level she will never comprehend.
“I should kill you where you stand, because of what you did to us, what you did to him. But I promised not to… for now. Whether or not I do so in the future is up to you.”
There is nothing I can say in my defense. The last thing any of The Chosen, including Nicolas, can know is that I have a human family. Because once they understand the source of my reluctance to Change, they will swiftly eliminate that which is most precious to me.
“I tracked you down to deliver a warning. And I do this not as Nicolas’s second-in-command, or his ‘messenger girl,’ as you so eloquently put it, but as the head of our lineage.”
Head of the lineage?
As she registers the shock on my face, she nods.
“Yes. Though I did not wish to, I had to take over the lineage to ensure our survival. Nicolas did not fight much. In fact, I believe he was relieved to give up his responsibilities. You really did not leave us any other option when you chose to abandon him.”
Took his lineage? He didn’t fight much?
Oh God, Nicolas, what have they done to you? What have I done to you?
My chest tightens, but the black emptiness is quickly overshadowed by burning red rage. I scream inside as I struggle to maintain my sanity.
Nicolas…
The bloodtears spill over and begin streaming down my face. Éva looks at me, shaking her head, and continues.
“Because Nicolas has led us so well over the centuries, and, until meeting you, had spoken of retiring, I did not kill him as is customary. And I do
ubt I could do it anyway. Our histories are too… intertwined.” Anguish flits across her face, but is quickly erased by frozen calm. She continues.
“Unfortunately, with you gone and his rule overthrown, he has nothing left but his regrets. In retrospect, it might have been kinder to end him.”
My sanity explodes, and the beast and the hunter take over. I launch at her, thrusting one dagger-nailed hand at her face, the other at her throat. We go down in a snarling, whirling frenzy, nails and teeth flashing. I feel my skin ripping in dozens of places as I try to slice her throat open.
But she is too fast and too strong. I suddenly find myself on my stomach, one arm wrenched behind my back, her cold breath below my ear.
“Stupid little fool.” And she sinks her fangs into my neck, and draws. Hard. And again, and again.
Icy terror races through my veins as they feel the life being drained from them. I struggle, trying to twist out of her sharp hold, but she just growls and draws again. I lie there helpless as she steals away my blood, the growing lassitude in my body matched only by my escalating fear.
She releases my throat, but not her grip on the rest of me. Not that it matters—I can no longer summon the strength to move.
“I should re-Make you, right here and now. You would be completely obedient to my every wish, including killing any human I so desired. And I know how you hate even the thought.” She rakes her fangs across the side of my face. “But I don’t want you and your defects anywhere near my lineage, let alone part of it. I’d rather you suffer the isolation of an outsider and the eternal loneliness that goes with it.”
My back and arm are abruptly free of her weight and painful grasp. I fight to move, to get up, but my empty body refuses to respond.
Surprise pierces my stupor as she retches, again and again, and my precious blood splatters onto the ground.
“You can keep that cesspool of pathetic emotions to yourself—I had enough of them through Nicolas.” She spits, and a red, sticky glob slides down my face. “Stay away from Colorado—and stay away from him. We are done with you. Have a nice, long, lonely life.”
Her heels grind against the hard-packed dirt as she walks to her car, gets in, and drives off.