“But I didn’t quit then,” Solomon said. “I told her I couldn’t be in a relationship with her. I loved her, but I knew I would just be hurting her in the long run, because I could see no future in it. I chose to commit to becoming a priest. That was the last night I saw her. Maybe deep down I was really being selfish.”
“I don’t understand. I remember you telling me you were going to see her, and hearing you came in to the bishop the next day to quit. That was the last I heard of you. I assumed you were together.”
Solomon swallowed hard and let go of Father Thomas’ hand. “After I told her, she was angry. Raging. But hurt, too. She stormed out in the pouring rain. Got in her car.” Solomon leaned back as the scene played out in his mind. He had done so much to forget it, to put it behind him. Yet it flashed through like a movie scene. “I followed her. Had to really push the pedal to the floor to keep up with her. But she was going too fast. Missed a red light in an intersection. She was hit on the driver’s side by a huge SUV. She died in my arms on the side of the road.”
“That’s why you quit…”
“She died and it was my fault. What kind of just God would punish her instead of me? Or was that my punishment for sleeping with her? For not being devoted enough? I chose God over love, and she was killed in a stupid accident that she would never have been in if it hadn’t been for me. I caused it. I did it. I couldn’t go on in something I no longer believed in. I renounced God and all ties that night. I moved on. I moved on and devoted myself to becoming a cop. Using my hands to put to some use, working, not pressing them together wishing for the magic sky daddy.”
Solomon stopped, checked himself and raised his hand as an apology.
Father Thomas acknowledged it with a small shake of his head. “No, I understand. Well, that answers one part of my question, but not the other. Why have you come to me now?”
“After today, after the injuries to all the victims, the warning from the kid. I can’t help but wonder if I really am being punished.”
“You think you are why the city is in turmoil?”
“No, not that. But it does seem like I am in the middle of all this for a reason. What if this is bigger, greater than I ever thought? Even the sky is black. People are being murdered in something that seems like rituals. Times are terrible. Is there any way this could be the end of days? The rapture? Am I missing something? Or is it there and I just don’t see it?”
“Sol, I don’t think anything I say will put your mind at ease with this, but I can try. From what you’ve told me, your heart is heavy from years of guilt and resentment. You never truly let that go. You say you’ve moved on, but anyone who heard your tale tonight could see that you haven’t. You loved Megan and she was taken from you. You later found someone else and married, and had a beautiful daughter. But our hearts have room for more love, and true love never dies. We grow, we change, we love, but our hearts never forget those we loved before. I cannot possibly answer why Megan died. I do not believe it to be God’s fault, however, let alone yours. It was a tragedy. But in your grief, you looked for someone to blame, which is human nature. But you cannot do that in this situation. You know who is to blame. It is not your fault your daughter is in her predicament. You did what you thought was right, just like you did with Megan. It’s time to let that go, Solomon. This Shadow Killer must be stopped. Focus.”
“Easier said than done, Pops. Where the hell do I start?”
Father Thomas leaned back and turned, reaching into his desk drawer. “Sometimes in order to go forward, we must remember the past.”
Solomon looked down as Father Thomas slid a bible and purple stole across the desk to him. “Pops…I don’t believe in this anymore.”
Father Thomas replied gently. “Then what are you doing here? Do you not see this as being an opportunity? You turned away from him. Not the other way around. You said you have no other answer. You said your superiors have failed in their duty. Maybe it’s time to put your badge and your gun down.”
“I’m a father. I’m married.”
“You don’t need to be a priest to wield the power of God. You need to have a good, pure heart. And you have to have faith. In him and in yourself.”
Solomon felt a burning in his eyes and a wetness. “What if I can’t? What if I’m not enough? What if I can’t save her?”
“Would you do anything for her?”
“Of course.”
“Then you already are enough. You just need help.”
Chapter 30
The War Continues
“I haven’t been in the city for so long,” Nathaniel said, skipping along delightedly as he held Melina’s hand. She had taken him to the movies. Tickets in hand for the children’s feature, they used the darkness of the theatre to sneak into the latest popular vampire and werewolf picture. The blood, gore and general violence were said to be shocking, but both Nathaniel and Melina sniggered and giggled. Nathaniel even rolled his eyes and threw a handful of popcorn when the poor hapless victim fell prey to the cursed vampire bite.
“That’s not how you do it,” he’d muttered.
Alejandro had given them all the night off, which meant he would be entertaining the blonde. This didn’t cause her as much jealousy as she once thought it might. For one, he needed to feed. Two, if he finally got some, maybe he wouldn’t be such a sourpuss, and three, once he got it over with, he could get back to running his kingdom.
“Melina, I’m hungry.” Nathaniel patted his stomach after they left the cinema.
“You might have to wait till we get back home, darling”
Though even as she said that, she found she could go for a bite herself. She hadn’t been hunting in ages, and the idea appealed. She lowered herself so she could look at the child in the eyes. “Actually, what do you say we have a little look around, see if anyone takes our fancy.”
Nathaniel gave her a gleeful smile.
“But remember what we talked about? Alejandro’s rule?”
“No killing.”
“That’s right.”
Shouting erupted at the bar a few steps away. A man and his girlfriend stood in front of the Three Wise Monkeys pub and argued. The man growled something, and whatever it was caused an uproar of shouts, screams and curses. The woman made to leave, and the man angrily grabbed her arm to halt her. She tried to shake him free but ultimately struck him in the face. Once she realised, she attempted to apologize, but the alcohol mixed with his already apparent anger lit a fuse. He lunged for her throat with outstretched hands, bringing them both down to the sidewalk. The bouncers leapt to aid the woman, as did several other patrons, pulling him off and helping her up.
They made a protective barrier around her and eventually he walked away, though he carried on yelling at them that she was a bitch.
Nathaniel gripped her hand as he whispered. “Don’t forget my rule too. I only feed off boys.”
Melina watched the drunk walk away and turn into a side street. “How could I forget?”
Melina and Nathaniel followed the drunk in using stealth that had been perfected over thousands of years. Even completely sober, the man would never have heard or seen them until they wanted him to. Nathaniel darted ahead and Melina saw him plant himself down, roughly twenty yards ahead of the staggering man. The alley was pitch black, the perfect place and spot for their meal. As the man closed the distance on Nathaniel, Melina struck, sinking her fangs into the back of his neck, clamping her hand over his mouth. Nathaniel leapt up and bit him on the opposite side, holding on to him.
Melina startled as a thunderous gun shot rang out and Nathaniel fell away with a yelp. Melina let the man drop from her as another shot rang out, straight through his head.
“Dammit!” a voice called. Melina spun around and saw nothing, hearing only what must be a rifle being reloaded. She tilted her head, listening, pinpointing the heartbeat and the click of the bullets. She moved to the shooter in an instant, snapping his neck. Alejandro’s no-killing rule didn’
t say anything about self-defence. Melina moved across to Nathaniel’s whimpering form. The bullet had lodged in his hip. She shushed him and tried to comfort him as best she could as she dug it out.
She became aware they were not alone. She slowed her movements, straining to hear. There were footsteps above her. She did not look up, but heard the blade sing through the air and ducked as it stuck into a wooden door behind her. Her attacker leapt down from a window pane. An older man, about sixty, the stench of him indicating he had been living rough for some time, possibly homeless.
“Whatever you think this is, I’d quit,” Melina warned.
The man held in a breath and charged. “For the Night Mother!”
Melina took him down with ease, placing her knee on his throat and keeping his hands at bay.
“Do whatever you want to me. The Night Mother watches over us all. My brothers in arms will avenge me. We won’t stop until all of you are dust.”
“Fuck the Night Mother and the Forgotten. See if she protects you from this.”
With a twist of her knee, Melina felt several vertebrae crack, and the man moved no more. Melina picked up Nathaniel in her arms. “Let’s go, darling. Off to Clive’s.”
“I wanna see Dante…”
“So do I…” Melina said gravely before pepping up for his benefit. “But Clive has the good medicine. Let’s go get you fixed up.”
Chapter 31
A Mark of Protection
Koha looked at the little girl. The hospital was quiet, visiting hours well and truly over. He was on a mission, though, and he’d eased his way past the nurses and ward staff, on a mission for the Night Mother. He closed the door silently and stepped further into the room of Abigail Crane. The Night Mother’s magic was vast, as was her knowledge. She knew exactly where the girl would be, and what her name was: Abigail Crane. Who she consulted, or how she knew, Koha didn’t ask. He figured if he was meant to know, she’d tell him.
For now, his instructions were clear. If he could do anything to save the little girl, he would. Nothing would stop him.
She was hooked up to various machines, giving readings and clicks and beeps. Koha shook his head at the sight of her. A feeding tube in her nose, chest rising and falling erratically. Her hair clung to her forehead where sweat beads glistened under the light over her bed.
The girl was asleep. He gently tapped her head with his hand, and pulled out a red marker. He drew a mark under her table, on the underside of her wristband and on the opposite side of the lowest bar of the bed. Hopefully no one would see them. He paused a moment, and then lifted the plastic cup she would drink from and drew on the bottom.
Just to be safe.
Koha left the room having marked everything he could possibly think of. She was protected, but from what Koha could see, the damage might already be too much. Plus he was still no nearer finding this thing. And that had to change. Soon.
Chapter 32
Why?
“Thanks.” Alex smiled as Dante refilled her wine glass.
They were on the rooftop of his apartment, which had been saved from the recent fire damage. It was a large area, complete with a pool and jacuzzi, and a small bar. But the best bit was the breathtaking view of Sydney Harbour.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why? Why now, after all this time? We’ve been physically intimate while feeding, and yet you always kept me at an emotional distance. I even tried to force the issue last year, and you rejected me. But now…you asked me out. You’ve got me here in the most beautiful spot, plying me with wine, looking at me with what really looks like ravenous eyes, and I can’t help but wonder…”
“If it’s real?” Dante finished.
“I swear if this is another dream, I’m going to go postal on someone.” She half meant it too. Long had she imagined what dating Dante would be like. Even in her mind she knew there would be challenges. That it wouldn’t come easy. Yet here they were. A candlelight dinner, having a wonderful night. They laughed with each other. He had told her of his fight with Nightingale and the troubles he and the others had had because of the escaped vampire. He shared the state of Sydney with her, of his stint thus far as their current king. She told him of the service for Nicholas, of the weird sicknesses and the bites from Tiffany. Dante and she both agreed that with their shared timeline, it was a good bet Tiffany was the one Melina and Lauren had seen outside T, and that Nightingale was likely the biter. Alex agreed that a rogue vampire like that was extremely dangerous. And yet Tiffany’s words of being fucked by a rhino or something, came back to her, and coupled with Dante’s explanations of Nightingale’s outrageousness, Alex had to suppress the bizarre desire to laugh.
But the whole evening, the date, the conversation… It all felt too easy. Too comfortable. Too good.
“Alexandra, there is something you ought to know, before we potentially…take things further.”
Alex felt a jolt in her stomach. Both good and bad. What could that possibly mean?
“You know your mother would never approve of us. And I understand if you do not care at this particular moment. But I believe it is only fair to be up front. Being with you will break a vow I made to her. I need your permission to break it.”
“What vow?”
“To never cross the line with you.”
“That’s it? That’s what you agreed to? Why?”
“At the time, you were a child. And this was the time I promised to always protect you. It put her at ease. I thought at the time that not crossing the line meant not turning you. But if I am being honest, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think you would captivate me so much that I would even question it. This is the reason I have kept you at a distance. My hesitancy. I did the same to Michelle and I realise now that wasn’t fair. I did not take her feelings seriously, nor mine for her for that matter. That was a mistake. One I do not want to make here. But you are not a little girl anymore, and haven’t been for some time. You deserve to make your own decisions, and so I ask you now. Apart from the promise I made your mother, a vampire-human relationship is risky. There will be consequences, of that I have no doubt. And though it isn’t an issue yet, eventually we will have to discuss the possibility of turning you.”
Alex dropped her fork with a clatter, leaning forward, unsure she heard him correctly. “You’d turn me?”
Dante looked uncomfortable. It took an age for him to answer. “If you asked me to.”
Alex sat back and stared at the table. Holy shit. This was real. Dante. A life with him. An immortal life. He was willing to turn her one day. If she wanted. That’s how much he wanted her.
Again a wave of reality hit her. One day, she could become a vampire. Alex couldn’t help but think of Lauren. Could they be friends again? And what about Michelle, who would have given just about anything to be in this position. Would this break her best friend’s heart?
Alex had never made vows with Michelle the way Dante and Margaret had, but she and Michelle were closer than ever before. And Alex knew how she felt about Dante. But Michelle had said she was glad it was Alex and not someone else. Feelings of guilt and a sense of betraying her friend ate at the edges of her thoughts. She would talk to Michelle when she got back about everything. If she accepted the situation, maybe she’d have advice on the potential turning. But right now, Dante was here. Her desire and deep emotional love for him was more pressing. And he had a question he needed answered.
Alex leaned forward and grabbed his shirt collar, pulling him toward her. As he leaned forward, an inch away from her face, she opened her mouth slightly and kissed him, flicking his tongue with her own. She needed this. She wanted this.
“I give you permission to break the promise to my mother. You’re not beholden to her anymore. I’m a grown woman, you’re right. I make my own choices. I choose this.”
Alex rose from the table. “Give me ten minutes, then come find me.”
She walked towards the st
airs leading down to the main building as Dante called out, “Find you?”
Alex put her hand on the door. “Don’t worry. I won’t make it hard for you.” She turned and took a long look at him, the striking features she had fantasised about for the longest time, the tip of her tongue between her teeth. “Not yet anyway.”
Chapter 33
With You, it’s like the First Time
Dante gave her longer than she asked for, but not by much. If she had something planned, or if it was a spur of the moment thing to set something up away from him, he understood. He wanted Alex to feel comfortable, especially after the last few days.
Am I really going to do this? I want to. I want her. But what will it mean? Does it have to mean something? Yes. Yes it does. It’s Alex. It means everything. She means everything.
It didn’t take him long to sense where she was. Her lavender trail led him straight to her. He found his bedroom door slightly ajar and eased himself in. The room was lit by candles, reminding him of what he had done for her the first night he bit her. To relax her. To make it special.
Alex smiled and beckoned him closer with a finger. He kicked off his loafers as he made his way toward her. Alex looked completely at ease and radiant in the candlelight. He watched her expressions as she took a few seconds to slowly unbutton his dress shirt. Dante let her continue with the rest of his clothes, never breaking eye contact save for blinking. They had seen each other naked before, but both knew this was different.
She wore her shirt undone, braless and nothing more than her lace, boy-short underwear. Her red underwear.
“That colour looks good on you.”
Shadow Chaser (Undeadly Secrets Book 3) Page 19