Shivering at the finality in his voice, her hope he would tell her what he knew faded. “I’d better dress.”
When she finished, he took her hand and they walked up the hill. Her dogs raced ahead of them. Exiting the woods, she realized it was still early. “Rathe, what do you do during the night?”
“What?”
“What do you do when you are not feeding?”
“Oh. Usually we are on the road. We never stay in one place long.”
“Is that all Mina knows? Is running all she has had to learn to live?”
“No, we weren’t always on the run. When we lived in New York City, at the compound, before my father’s death, she attended school with others of our kind. Life was normal then.”
“What’s her life to be if the Damned are not stopped? Will she have to keep fighting and running, until the day she either loses her life or her soul? What future does Mina or my daughter have if we don’t fight?”
Near the house, Rathe stopped. “You’re right. We have no plans for a future. Nothing to live for. We are scavengers. We are what the Damned once were.”
She took his hand in hers. “No, Rathe, you are nothing like the Damned. Your father was wrong to have disbanded the Slayers and make peace with those monsters. It left the humans and the Borne vulnerable.”
“Honestly, I have no idea why he made the decisions he had. None of it makes sense.”
“You told me there was an epidemic of young Borne losing their souls, why? Has anyone investigated the cause?”
“When the case was presented to my father about how many had been slain, it was then my father disbanded the Slayers. Not long afterward, he was murdered.”
“Don’t you see? He must have known something was not right and refused to hunt the young down until the reason found out. Whoever wanted to keep it secret killed him to prevent anyone else from finding it out. You and your brothers should be out there hunting the demon vamps down, protecting people from the evil they spread.”
The front door opened, and Tereza stepped out, closing it behind her. “Mariah is right, Rathe. The Damned are spreading like the plague, and there is no one to stop the madness.” She took his hands in hers. “My son, you are the most lethal, most cunning of the Slayers. What Slayer would obey the Elders’ orders to kill you when they feel as we do about the Damned?”
“Mother, you and I both know the Elders would find a way to have me brought before them and executed. They will not tolerate disobedience. I know. I’ve witnessed it.”
“They are fools to have sought peace with the Damned. With him, especially after all he has done to the Borne!”
Pulling Tereza to him, Rathe kissed his mother’s forehead. “Where is everyone?”
“They are still at the Boardwalk. When it closes, they will return.” Tereza sighed. “I shall seek the earth early tonight. My heart is full of sorrow and loneliness. I am missing your father terribly.”
Sympathy smoothed his tense features. “I understand, Mother. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, my son.” She hesitated. Mariah met her dark gaze and saw her weariness was more than grief. Tereza had seen too much in her lifetime and it haunted her. “Mariah, I see you have made the decision to embrace the vampire rising in you. Watch out for your enemy. He is crafty and uses whatever means necessary to obtain his desires. Lies and tricks are his weapons. He’ll use love against you. Be wary. The leader of the Damned bears the Romulas name much hatred. If he knows you are with Rathe, he will seek to use you to kill my son.”
“He’ll die first before he harms Rathe or those we love. I swear it.”
A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth as Tereza nodded her approval. “I believe you will.” To her son, Tereza ordered, “Teach her how to defend herself against the Damned.”
“Mother?”
“Give Mariah either a gun or a knife.” To her, Tereza said, “Keep your weapon with you always.” She took her medallion in her hand and studied it. “Pure silver. Odd, two wolves guarding a cross. This medallion once belonged to an ancient family — the Iron Wolf’s crest. Strange that it was given to you, to protect you. Very puzzling.” Tereza peered at the pendent closer. “The runes are barely visible. One more blood exchange should see the spell broken. This medallion will still protect you, even if the spell should be broken.” Handing it back to her, Tereza gave her a small smile. “Goodnight, my dears.”
“Goodnight.” Left alone with Rathe, she was uncertain what to do next. When she saw he wore an amused smile, she relaxed. “I’d like a gun please.”
“Why a gun?”
“Because I don’t want to get close to another demon vampire, like I had at the truck stop, that’s why!”
For the rest of the night, she spent learning how to shoot the gun she had found in the car. Rathe called it a modified Beretta 92FS. He switched out the clip with another one and handed the gun to her, the muzzle aimed at the ground.
Taking the gun, she found it was easy to handle, spooking her how right it felt in her hands. Aiming at the target he had set on an old log, he took her right arm and had her steady the gun with her left. Firing one round, the bullet flew harmlessly past the target. Irritated, she tried again. Missed.
“Don’t aim for the center. You’ll miss every time. Just concentrate on the whole target and shoot.”
Missed again.
Frustrated, she focused on the paper, seeing the dot in the center and squeezed off several rounds. Dead center!
“Impressive, except you allowed your emotions to interfere.”
“Why is that bad? When I’m shooting at someone who is trying to kill me, I think it’s gonna get pretty emotional.”
“Emotion can leave you open to attack mentally. The vampire seeking to kill you will use all he has in his arsenal, mental and physical, to bring you down before you can him.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s try again.”
Around one a.m., Mina, Faeroes, and Anya returned and joined in the practice. It was disconcerting when a sixteen-year-old girl could out shoot her! Hell, Mina even impressed her brothers with her accuracy. When Mariah changed out the empty clip, she saw the bullets were regular ones.
“I thought you said the Damned were allergic to silver. Why aren’t we using silver bullets?”
Rathe took the gun and clip from her. “We don’t waste silver on practice. Mariah, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Nothing different?”
“I’m not changing, am I?” Defeated, she was never going to be normal again.
“No, I’m sorry.” He seemed to be genuinely sincere. “Since dawn is closing in us, I’ll walk you back to your room.” Rathe reloaded the gun and put on the safety. “Let’s put you to bed, shall we?”
“Where do you sleep?”
“Anya, Faeroes, and I sleep outside the house. Mother, Simon, and Mina rest in the ground, down in the basement.”
“Oh.” She smiled at Anya and Faeroes. “Goodnight.”
“Night,” they said. Faeroes opened the ground with the sweep of his hand. He and Anya floated down into the grave, holding each other as they prepared to sleep. The dirt swept back, covering them. She was amazed how the ground held the appearance of not being disturbed.
“Wow. So that’s what you meant by going ‘to ground’.”
“Yes. Our bodies shut down completely. The earth restores our strength, just like blood gives us life.”
Mina slipped her arm through Mariah’s as they walked back to the house. Headlights made them freeze. Rathe pointed out, “It’s only Simon and Lydia.”
The SUV parked near the house, and the two climbed out. “Morning,” Simon said as he shut the car door.
Amused, Rathe replied, “Morning. Ready to sleep?”
“Yeah. Lydia, will you stay here?” Simon asked her.
“If it’s okay with you?” Lydia asked shyly.
Simon grinned. “Yes, it’s fine with us. You c
an use my room again.” He asked Mina, “Ready, kiddo?”
“Sure.” Mina hugged her. “See you later.” She went with them into the house.
Rathe stared after his siblings. “Mina has taken quite a liking to you.”
“I like her, too.”
When they were in her room, Mariah found herself in his arms as he yanked her to him. Kissing her hard and deep, she rose on her toes, taking and giving as much as he did. With great reluctance, she put her hands on his chest, feeling the pounding of his heart under her palms.
“Time for you to sleep, Mr. Romulas.”
Closing his eyes briefly, he opened them with a mocking smile. “Now who has bad timing?”
“Payback for the times you tormented me.”
“Keep the gun within easy reach, okay?”
“I will.”
He kissed her one last time and left her.
Walking to the window, she waited to see him cross the lawn where she’d seen Anya and Faeroes had gone to ground. When he reached the huge tree, he opened a grave and floated backward into it. Lydia knocked on the open door, startling her.
“Sorry! Are we still leaving for San Francisco today?”
“I have to.”
“Why? Rathe told you he would protect us.”
“He’s planning to kill the only person alive who can tell me who I am and why I am the way I am.”
“God, Mariah, you’re planning on talking to the leader of the Damned, aren’t you?”
“According to him, I’m his family.”
“Shit!”
“Yep.” Mariah kicked off her shoes.
“What if you are? What then?”
“If I am, I’ve got to stay away from Rathe. If the Damned should learn Rathe is still alive, they’ll hunt him and his family down and take their revenge.”
Lydia pressed her hand to her mouth and slowly let it fall to her side. She peered at her closely. “That’s the real reason you’re leaving, isn’t it? To protect him?”
Striving to hold back the pain when she thought about being separated from Rathe, she nodded. “Too many people have died trying to protect me. I can’t let him or his wonderful family get hurt or killed because of me.”
“Together, we can protect them,” Lydia said firmly.
Smiling at the brave girl, although she could see the fear Lydia tried to hide, Mariah told her, “Better catch a few hours of sleep. Today is gonna be a busy one.”
“Well, I guess it won’t be boring,” Lydia said on her way out.
“No, no, it won’t be boring. Not at all,” she replied softly, looking out the window as dawn broke the dark horizon. She didn’t know how she’d find the leader of the Damned, but something in her gut told her she didn’t have to worry.
He would find her.
Chapter Nine
God, it felt like her blood was on fire!
Sweating, Mariah made it across the room and into the bathroom, stripping her clothes off on her way. Skin itching, flushed in color, she felt like she was morphing into another person. Turning on the shower, she sat down on the tub floor, clutching the silver medallion in her hand. She closed her eyes, praying for the strength to get through it with her soul intact.
Drinking Rathe’s blood is like a high with some serious repercussions. Feeling as if she were ‘coming down’, and like an addict, she wanted more. The thirst for his blood held her in its powerful grip, making her mouth dry and stomach hurt with the hunger.
“I have to be strong. To face him, I can’t show weakness. I am strong!” She forced herself onto her feet and shut off the shower.
She dried and dressed, quickly combing out her hair. As she brushed her teeth, she glared at her sallow complexion reflected in the mirror. Putting her toothbrush back in the bag she’d carried it in, she took it and retrieved her gun off the night table. Her dogs sat on their haunches, watching her.
“Let’s go.”
Stepping outside, she recoiled when sunlight touched her skin, burning her. Where was her sweater? Squinting, she saw Lydia hurrying toward her, holding a jean jacket and a pair of black sunglasses in her hands.
“Thank you!” The relief was instant as soon as she put on the items.
“Mariah, I'd better drive. You don’t look good.”
“Do you have a driver's license?”
“I am nineteen!” The arched glare she shot her had Lydia pulling out her wallet and producing a driver’s license. “See, it's valid, too.”
“Good, because I can't drive today.” Hurrying to the car, when she and the dogs were in, she groaned. “Crap, I forgot their food.”
“I didn’t. It’s in the back.” Lydia started the SUV. “You exchanged blood with Rathe, didn't you?”
“Had to. Can’t be weak. Can’t be human to face the Damned.” She leaned her head against the window. Tears burned her eyes as she tried to shake off the mind-numbing depression.
Why was she feeling so emotional?
Rathe’s handsome face floated before her eyes, and it hit her why she was feeling like she was. Separation. Somewhere between killing vampires, blood exchanges, and awesome sex, he’d become important to her. Steeling herself against the desire to run back to him, she focused on the reason why she was leaving him and why she was risking her life to meet the leader of the Damned.
When they reached town, Lydia pulled into a grocery store parking lot. “Are you hungry?”
“Orange juice, please,” Mariah croaked out, her throat parched and sore. She petted Salish's head, reassuring the wolf she was okay.
Lydia returned in a short time and handed her the orange juice carton. Twisting off the lip, she downed the entire contents. “Good thing I bought two.” She gave the other one to her.
“Thanks.” She took it and drank it.
Driving down the Interstate, Lydia kept glancing at her worriedly. Mariah grabbed the blanket in back and covered her head with it. Sleep beckoned her. Unable to resist the siren call, she fell asleep.
✝✝✝
“Hey, Mariah, wake up. We’re here.”
Peeking out under the blanket, she saw the Golden Gate Bridge. Lydia asked her, “Where’s our hotel?”
“It's down by Pier 39, called the Towers.”
Lydia negotiated the heavy traffic to their hotel, parking at the entrance. A car attendant waited patiently while Mariah leashed the dogs and led them around the back of the SUV. Lydia handed him the keys, distracting him so she could put her gun into the black duffle bag. Stiffing in the dog food and bowls inside the duffle bag, she zipped it and slung it over her shoulder. She walked the dogs to an area marked for pets and left them Lydia's care.
“Wait here. I’ll check us in.”
Setting her bag on the polished floor, Mariah smoothed her wild hair and waited for the desk clerk, a snooty woman with immaculate hair and suit to match, to notice her. By the time the woman finally turned a stuck-up nose in her direction, she wanted to slap her.
“May I be of assistance?” Eyeing her with distain, the hotel clerk’s gaze traveled from her tennis shoes to her wrinkled t-shirt.
“Hi, I’m Mariah Jordan. My agent prepaid a room for me and my assistant a month ago.” She pulled out her driver’s license and put it on the marble counter. “Has a fax arrived from Maggie Harrison addressed to me?” She used the same tone as the uppity woman, who eyed her suspiciously. The hotel clerk went to check, returning with it.
“Did we have some trouble, Miss Jordan?” the woman politely asked, handing her the registration to sign.
“You could say that.”
“Mariah Jordan?” a woman asked behind her.
She turned around at the question, and the woman issued a high-pitched scream that made her jump back, alarmed. Reaching for the duffle bag at her feet, she saw the woman had one of her books in her hand. A fan!
“Miss. Jordan, can you sign my book? Please, make it out to Jeannie. I’m Jeannie.”
“Sure! Sorry, been a crazy couple of da
ys.” She took the woman’s book and signed it.
“I heard it on the news. I’m so glad they had it wrong. I love you books! They take me to another world. An adventure I wish I could really go on.”
“I’m happy my books affected you in a positive way.”
Two older women, who had bluish-silver colored hair, held out their copies of her latest novel. The taller one gushed, “I'm so glad we didn't go home when we heard last night that you were … well, we’re just glad you’re fine.”
“I'm glad you stayed, too.” Mariah accepted the card key the hotel clerk handed her.
“I’m Dora. My sister, May.” Dora whispered, “Be careful, Miss Jordan, there are strange things happening lately in San Francisco. Bad things.”
They left her and entered the elevators when the doors opened. Lydia joined her, staring at the women before the doors closed.
“That’s so weird,” Lydia said, frowning.
“What is?” She picked up the duffle bag.
“I couldn't read their minds.”
“Really? Dora warned me to be careful. Bad things in San Francisco.”
“Great. Little old ladies are warning us now. We should just leave and head back before we really find trouble.”
“I can’t leave. If you want to, take the SUV.”
“No, I said I’d stick with you, and I will. Wow, this place is fancy. I feel out of place here.”
“Me, too.” Mariah admitted as they walked toward the elevators. “Let's take the dogs to our room. We need to do some shopping.”
When they had the dogs settled, fed, and watered, they left them in the room, returning to the lobby. Walking down the street, they found a hair salon and went in. It turned out the hairstylists were fans of her writing. The girls were fantastic and offered to do their makeup, as well. After she paid, she invited them to come to the book signing and offered them each a free copy of her latest novel. The women suggested a clothing store a couple blocks down, and that was their next stop.
“May we help you?” A tall, curvy clerk asked when she and Lydia entered the retro clothing store.
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