by Dale Mayer
The village was still a ways off in front of her. She angled her body off to the left, where a meadow sprawled in the distance. Maybe she could come down there.
How? She tried to stretch out, hoping to extend the angle of descent. Damn, she could use a set of brakes. Cody made it look so easy. But then, he had wings for brakes. She was the idiot. She'd thrown herself off the cliff and never even considered what kind of landing that would result in.
Now her father could probably pull this off. But as for her… irritation and frustration warred with her lack of confidence. She'd done so much this last week, accomplished so much. She'd be damned if a super-long jump would knock her out…or down.
She could do this. She wasn't a motorized vehicle with an engine, she was a vamp, and she could do…stuff.
She almost laughed.
Almost. Instead, she pulled her legs forward and instinctively straightened up.
That slowed her descent – a little, but not enough.
She hit the ground running, literally.
*.*.*
Cody slipped out the hallway and down the corner. He had no idea where they were, outside of the fact that the building appeared identical to the old blood farm. It had a similar long white hallway, with doors leading to who knows what. But that place should be crawling with people right now. It didn't make sense. Unless this was the mountain place Tessa had been held captive in before escaping.
That she could be in a different room gave him hope. She had to be close by. He could almost sense her, and he swore he'd heard her voice in his head earlier.
The others followed behind him. So far, they'd seen nothing and no one. Maybe that was a good thing.
Jewel's voice stopped him. "Do you think we're in the same blood farm?"
David wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. "It's possible."
Cody shook his head. "Possible, but not likely. Think about it. That place was crawling with people by the time we left. I'm actually wondering if we've been taken to the same place that Tessa was held captive in."
"Up the mountainside? That actually does make sense," Ian said. "I wonder if we were the only ones taken. Many of us left at the same time. Why did we get singled out?"
"Maybe we weren't." David said. "If they've got the manpower, they could have swooped down and taken us all out. They were making those oddball vamps. For all we know they have this huge army and we don't know anything about it. We thought everything had been solved."
"This really sucks." Jewel stepped a little away from David, wrapping her arms around her chest so tightly that her fingers turned white.
Cody watched her carefully. She was taking this hard – even her eyes had turned to huge liquid pools of fear. "Given that, I think we need to check every room and free every prisoner we find."
The others nodded.
"I hope Tessa is here. I hate to think of her off alone again," Cody said.
David frowned, as if remembering what his kid sister had already been through. "You and me both."
Cody led the way to the first door. With Ian flanking him on the other side, he pushed it open and stepped inside. Empty. But the beds had been disturbed, as if they'd been full and people had gotten up and left in a rush. He didn't like the thought of that. There were poles and tubing all over the place. The room was a mess. Damn.
"That doesn't look good."
Ian's voice was faint and indistinct. "Oh, boy, I hope this doesn't mean there are a lot more people in here."
"I think it does," Jewel muttered. "I'm really starting to hate these vamps."
"They could have been moved first, with us next on their list to deal with as soon as they could get to us," Ian said. "If they snatched a lot of people at once, they could have a space issue."
"If so, they are likely to be injecting their new captives with the mind-altering drugs like they gave Rhia. That appears to turn the vamps into instant allies."
Ian paled. "That's not good."
"There's a door in the back." David headed toward the door. "Let's check it out. Doing something constructive is better than voicing worse-case scenarios."
Cody was closest. Jewel stayed behind David, with Ian bringing up the rear. They'd almost reached the second door when the first door slammed shut.
Shit.
*.*.*
Jared's eyes flashed open and he froze. A normal-looking ceiling stared down at him; normal-looking blankets covered him. A normal-looking room surrounded him. His shoulders sagged. Thank God.
He wasn't at the blood farm. He'd fought going to a hospital last night in the worst way. He couldn't stand to be in the same environment as needles and white coats. Ugh. This had been the compromise; a group home for kids with medical issues. The doctors had taken blood and were running tests to determine what drugs he'd been given, and why.
He'd mentioned the abnormality in his blood. Outside of noting it in his chart, the doctor had said nothing. Jared just hoped these doctors would tell him what they'd found. He didn't understand the drop of vampire blood in his genetics, but wasn't bothered by it any longer. Not after realizing that it gave him something in common with Tessa.
And what the hell was with her?
She was freakin' unbelievable. He'd thought her mother had been hot until he'd realized who she was, but the younger, perfect version, Tessa, was jaw dropping. He'd been stunned when she'd run into his arms, barely recognizing who she was…no matter what she was. Only with the other vamps surrounding her, there was no way to not know what she was. In school, he'd had no idea. She did that whole sunshine thing so well; she'd fitted in like the other girls. He'd seen what he was supposed to see.
Did he feel a little taken in? Yes, maybe. Did he feel happy that she'd gone out with him before this mess? Yes, a little. And did he feel special to know her as she really was? Hell yeah!
"Hey, Jared. There's someone here to see you," called the voice from down the hallway.
Jared's insides froze. Who? No one knew he was here. He searched the room, wondering if he could hide.
Footsteps approached. He had no time. Knuckles rapped hard on the door. "Hey, Jared. Wake up. There's someone to see you and boy, is she a looker!"
Jared sat up and grinned.
Tessa? Maybe. Hopefully!
*.*.*
Serus finally closed his phone, weary beyond belief. Goran stood at his side, still making calls.
He stared down at his wife and wondered if he should try to tell her about the latest development. He didn't want to slow down her healing. She'd been slowly waking up after the doctor's purification stuff had cleansed her blood. Everyone expected her to be back to normal when she came to.
Everyone but him. Nothing had turned out as expected in this mess yet. Why would it turn out in his favor now?
"Serus. We've got big problems. Councilman Tondjent hasn't been heard from since leaving the blood farm, and neither has his driver."
"He had the kids." Serus's fingers stretched out, then curled up tightly. He glared at his friend. "Damn it. Their car must have been hijacked. And if it was, how many of the others have been taken, too?"
"I have the council staff calling every member to locate their whereabouts. If this has gone south to the extent we're assuming, we need to know who is missing and who isn't."
"Contact Taz," Serus said. "He's still at the blood farm. There're a dozen of them working up there. He'll be able to give us a list of those still there with him – humans and vamps."
"I remember a couple of the men that were there. I'll write them down, too." Goran's face turned grim. "At this point, I don't trust any of the information we're getting."
"We need more help. Sian saw a lot of those who were there. She should be part of this."
"Have her contact the humans' police. See if Jared made it."
Serus opened his phone. "Ah, hell. I hadn't even considered the humans. What if the damn assholes picked them up f
or fresh blood for the farm at the same time?"
"Don't go there yet." Goran moved over to the window. "We have to stop this from happening again. We had those damn kids saved. I even stayed behind to make sure they all got out before coming straight here."
At that, Serus glanced over at his friend. "And you didn't pass their vehicle?"
There was an odd silence. Goran shrugged. "I didn't look. I'd come out hours later. They should have all been home safe. I didn't see any vehicles, but I wasn't looking for any either. I flew straight here." He pounded his fist into his other hand. "Damn it, we didn't have a chance to get them new cell phones. They still can't contact us."
"I was trying not to focus on that. Let's remain positive."
Rhia shifted in the bed, then raised an arm and rubbed her eyes. "Serus…"
"Honey?" Serus reached over and captured her hand. He held it close. "How are you feeling?"
She tried to open her eyes, but gasped with pain. "Hurts."
There were no lights on in the room. This was a vampire center, after all.
"It's probably the drugs," murmured Goran.
Serus nodded. "You've been hurt. Don't try to move yet."
"Hmmm." She rolled over onto her side. "Don't feel so good."
"No. But you're going to be fine now." Serus cradled her hand in his, watching as she yawned and snuggled deeper and then went back to sleep.
"At least she sounded better." Goran said from the other side of the bed. "Normal, even."
"Compared to her behavior at the blood farm, yes. But is she truly back to normal? She wasn't awake enough for me to be sure."
A heavy sigh gusted from Goran's barrel chest. "What do you want to do?"
"Find the kids." Serus stared down at Rhia's pale face. "But I hate leaving her. Who can we trust?"
A commotion at the door had them both turning. At the raised voice, Serus rolled his eyes. Gittora. "Shit." Rhia's oldest sister had heard the news. Trust that bitch to come.
"Maybe she can sit with Rhia?"
"Or maybe she'd poison Rhia herself."
Goran snorted in agreement. "Then who?"
With a quick glance at the still empty door, Serus quickly opened his phone and called. "Sian, can you come to the hospital to guard Rhia? Gittora has arrived, but—"
Sian immediately said, "I'll be there in ten. Don't leave Gittora alone with Rhia."
Serus nodded, relief washing over him. "Right." He hung up the phone, quickly relaying the conversation to Goran just as the scratchy voice slammed at him from the doorway.
"You didn't even call me, Serus. Rhia is my sister, after all. I should have been told first, not your crony here," she said, her scathing voice slicing into both of them.
Goran straightened up. "Wow, I'll have to talk to security about letting you in."
"Your security could never keep me out." She glared at him as she stalked over to Rhia's bedside.
"As Rhia is doing fine, there was no need to worry you," Serus said smoothly. He stroked Rhia's hand and kept a firm position on that side of the bed, refusing to give Gittora his spot. Gittora walked around to the other side and glared Goran away. Serus almost smiled. Those two had had a major hate thing going on for centuries.
But then, everyone hated Gittora. Like Rosha, Rhia's other sister, Gittora made enemies and kept them.
"I heard wild rumors of drugs and blood farms and various attacks on our young vampires. I also heard that several of our people are missing." She lifted her cold gaze to pin Serus in place. "What do you know about that?"
Serus was no fool. He hadn't survived this long without understanding that the females of his species were the more vicious. His beloved Rhia was different. But the rest of her line were the worst he'd ever met. This sister topped the cake.
"Nothing," he answered smoothly. "Rhia isn't dying. I'd have called both you and Rosha if she were." He gave her a hard look. "Not sure that you'd show if she were anyway. You're not close. So why are you here now?"
Goran sucked in his breath, his wary gaze switching from one to the other.
Gittora smiled. It was all Serus could do to hide the shudder wafting across his skin. She was so cold, so cutting, so without a care. Utterly soulless.
At that, everything went on alert. Could she be mixed up in this mess?
But Gittora settled back slightly. "I came because I heard Rhia was in the hospital," she snapped. "As I can't remember the last time that happened, I figured it must be serious."
Her words were correct. The delivery of them made his skin crawl. But that was nothing new. He'd tolerated Rhia's family for centuries, but there was no love lost between them. It was that alone that made him want her to be part of this blood farm mess. But just wanting it didn't make it true. And he'd hate for Gittora to be behind Rhia's drugging. The two sisters had their differences over the years, but this would be a monumental betrayal.
Yet it was something the bitch was perfectly capable of…
"Oomph!" Smash. Tumble. Groan. Tessa cried out in panic as her legs pumped hard, trying to keep her on her feet as the force propelled her forward.
"Ah, shit." Again, she wasn't thinking. She should have landed and lifted off immediately. And then suddenly she found herself airborne again…and how she soared! The energetic force propelled her way further than she could have guessed.
"Yes!" she laughed as her jump crossed half the field and removed much of the force from her fall. She landed, a little hard, but immediately lifted off again and soared another amazing distance. Finally, she could slow enough to land and walk a few feet before finally coming to a dead stop.
She took several more steps, then crouched to rest and catch her breath. That had been a rush. Not one she really wanted to repeat any time soon, but if that's how fliers felt every time they flew…wow. What an incredible feeling.
With her nerves steady again and her breathing more or less normal, Tessa walked toward the small village off to the left.
She slipped behind the first set of trees and surveyed the cluster of buildings. The windows were covered to almost black. So, it was a vampire holding.
Where the hell was she, anyway? And how come there were so many vampire holdings hidden away? The very concept of a hidden holding made her think again of the assholes who had been screwing her life up lately.
There was no sign of anyone out of the buildings. But the windows were a dead giveaway.
Time was running out. It was getting harder to see the trail and, with the sunlight, the rest of the energy would be even harder to see. She jumped to the top of the nearest tree, picked out her next spot and glided across, keeping as low a profile as possible. Now, if she could land as smoothly as her father, she'd barely disturb the trees. Instead, the tops swayed and shook with her erratic movements. It took time, but she eventually worked her way around the small village to the far side. And then she found the house where the energy stream dissipated.
So, whoever had been at the vehicle had landed here. She studied the area, searching for any other energy patterns but found none. If the vamps had come here, they were either still here or had left by a different method.
Shifting her gaze slightly, she could barely see the shimmer of other energies melting into the mix. Cody's shone – weak, but threaded through the stream.
Her heart lightened.
He was here. She could sense him. Her gaze widened as she realized the truth of that. She couldn't actually hear him or see him, but there was a feeling of connectedness. She closed her eyes and focused as hard as she could. Cody?
There was nothing except…maybe a warming sensation. But then, maybe there wasn’t either.
She didn't dare worry about all the reasons why Cody might not be able to answer her. If she did, the fear would drop her to her knees.
She shivered in the tree. Why didn't she have a cell phone? Well, she did, but…the damn battery was dead. She needed to be able to call her
father at least. Did he have any idea that they were missing yet? And what about her mother? Had those damn drugs left her system yet?
Still, it was David, Jewel, Ian, and Cody who worried her the most right now. They'd been with her when they'd left the blood farm. They should be with her now. She was damn tired of waking up alone.
Her eyes widened. And then she grinned.
And didn't that bring up a whole slew of possibilities? Damn Cody for taking over her thoughts and stirring up her hormones. She'd believed Jared was the love of her life until Cody flew in and stole a piece of her heart – or maybe the whole thing.
He'd gone from being the irritating friend of her older brother to being a cohort in this mess, and then to something…so much more. She just didn't know how much more. And what was with that whole mind link thing? She could almost fool herself into thinking it had been her imagination. Almost…
For all she knew the mind link had been an aberration. It wasn't something she could control. And if she couldn't control it, then maybe it had been caused by something other than her own actions.
And didn't that thought almost stop her in her tracks.
Had Cody brought the mind link into existence? No way! He wouldn't do that. He didn't care. Not like that.
Or did he?
She gulped and tried to turn the issue around and examine it from as many perspectives as she could. That she was looking for confirmation of something she couldn't possibly confirm didn't matter.
Besides, hadn't she heard something about Cody having a girlfriend? Her mind went into overdrive, trying to pull every little word she'd heard back out of her holey brain. No, now she remembered. He'd had a girlfriend. Xani…Xana, that was it! A redhead. "'A stunning redhead"' was how David had put it once, a long time ago. Of course, she would have to be stunning. In the way of vamps, all women were stunning. And there was no way Cody would bother with anyone who wasn't as gorgeous, as…perfect as he was himself.