“Bride?” Dora and May’s warning sunk in.
“Yes, Mariah. You were destined to be mine,” the raw power in his voice made her gasp as he ‘leaned' into her, making her head hurt as she struggled to force him out of her mind.
A wall went up in her mind, blocking Jarrod out. She felt Rathe’s strength flood through her body. “Mariah, get your ass out of there,” Rathe ordered. “He will kill you if he learns you are my woman!”
“Your woman? When did I—”
“Shut up and don’t argue. Jarrod thinks me dead, remember? If he learns I am not, he will kill you to make me pay for judging him. Leave now!”
Damn, she hadn’t thought of that. Before she could respond to Rathe, Jarrod said, “Mariah, it is time for us to leave.”
“Leave?”
“We have much to do in preparation of your turning.”
“You mean to make me Damned!”
“No, you will not lose your soul. You are the child of the Prophecy. Your blood will restore me and the others. We need to prepare for our wedding.”
Crap! Casually, she reached into her pocket and withdrew the silver cross she’d found in the duffle bag and held it out in front of her. The reflection of the silver flashed in the soft lights. Jarrod scramble to his feet, his eyes glowed red, fangs long.
“Mariah, what are you doing?”
“Jarrod, I swear before all that is holy, I will never be your bride. Sorry, but that’s just sick!” She reached into her coat and withdrew the bottle of Holy water, prepared to toss it on him.
Stumbling backward, Jarrod snarled, his beautiful features contorted. White skin darkened to gray tissue, his mouth filled with rows and rows of sharp teeth. Roaring his rage at her defiance, the glass windows shattered, exploding onto the street. Lydia entered the store and aimed her gun at Jarrod.
Forcing herself to be calm, she stood. “Stay away from me, Uncle Jarrod. I will not be a part of your master plan. I don’t want to kill you, but I will if you threaten me and those I love!” She walked to Lydia, keeping a wary eye on the pissed off vampire.
Outside, a horn honked repeatedly. May sat in the driver's seat of a yellow cab, honking the horn, and waving her hand for them to run to her. Dora held a gun aimed at the growling ghoul, who stood beside the white limo.
Dora shouted, “Girls, let's get the hell out of here!”
Mariah pushed Lydia out the door, running for the cab and climbed in. Dora waved a wooden cross at Jarrod when he exited the bookstore. “Get back, vamp,” she shouted. “You will not have Mariah, you sick prick!” She jumped in and barely slammed the door shut when May gassed it.
Slammed back in their seat, they held on for dear life. Her bluish-white hair standing on end, May was laughing and hollering as she sped down the road. Cars honked as she sped past them.
“Won't Jarrod follow us?” she asked, unable to turn around in her seat to see if he was coming after them.
“He can’t get in his car,” May replied. “Dora painted white crosses on it.”
“You need to leave San Francisco,” Dora told her when they turned into the hotel’s parking lot. May slammed on the brakes, the cab screeched to a halt in front of the hotel lobby.
“We are. You need to leave, too! Jarrod will hunt you down for helping us.” She followed Lydia as she got out of the taxi.
“Don’t worry about us. We’re good at disappearing. Go with God, Mariah.” Dora grinned. “Please give Rathe our love. We've missed the handsome devil!” They giggled as May stepped on the gas and the cab burned rubber.
“Let's get inside.” Jarrod was nowhere to be seen. Why hadn’t he followed them? Couldn’t he fly like Rathe?
Back in their hotel room, Lydia hooked the chain on the door and flipped the lock.
“Now what do we do?” Lydia rubbed her knuckled nervously. “Your uncle wants you and not in a wholesome way. That is all kinds of eeew!”
“Tell me about it. Sick. Just sick.” She placed her bottle of Holy water in the window, to ward off the Damned from entering in that direction. “Why don't you take a bath while I figure out what to do next?”
“Sure. Why not? We’re protected here. They can’t enter without our permission, like in the movies, right?”
“Yeah, sure,” she answered absently. But they could. Hotel rooms were public domain and had no boundaries.
Blocking out everyone, including Lydia, from entering her mind, she wrote a quick note to Lydia and left it on the bed, explaining what she was doing and why. Putting her clothes in the duffle bag, she slung it over her shoulder and leashed the dogs. Opening the door quietly, Mariah urged the dogs out and closed the door behind her. She hung the silver cross on the doorknob, hoping it would prevent the vamps from coming in. If ghouls were sent … she shied away the possibility, sensing Rathe was on his way and would protect Lydia.
Down in the lobby, she requested her car brought to her. When it was, she kept her hand on her gun and a wary eye about her as she led her dogs to the SUV. Putting the duffle bag in the front seat, she opened the back passenger door and urged the dogs in. Around the car, she paused with her hand on the door handle.
Why wasn’t there anyone coming after her? Why hadn’t Jarrod attempted to stop her? He knew where she was staying, why wasn’t he here, trying to capture her?
Searching the parking lot, she stretched out her senses, using sight, smell, and hearing. Not a single vampire or a ghoul could be located. She got in the car and drove back to the freeway.
Was this prophecy Jarrod spoke of real?
If it was, her daughter was in grave danger, too. If Jarrod got his hands on Kai, he would have in his possession a girl barely sixteen who could read people’s minds and make people do as she willed.
A telepath, who was Gypsy and vampire descended.
✝✝✝
Why did Mariah shut him out?
Simon rushed to his side. “Rathe, what happened?”
“Speak with Lydia and ask her which hotel they are staying at.”
“The Towers, down at the Pier.” Simon rubbed his knuckles, worried. “Lydia says the Damned hasn’t followed them.”
“Tell her we’re on our way.” Rathe said to Faeroes, “Take Mother and Mina, head out. Seek a safe place to hide.”
Faeroes nodded. “Rathe, grab Mariah and Lydia, and get your asses out of San Francisco fast before the Damned organize a hunting party.”
Mother asked, “Where shall we hide? The Damned are everywhere.”
To their surprise, Mina spoke up. “Rathe, if Jarrod wants her bad enough, he’ll try to find out all he can about her, to make her obey him. We must protect her daughter. Mariah told me she has a place in Idaho. I bet that’s where her daughter is now. If we leave now, we can get there before Jarrod finds out Mariah has a daughter.”
Struck by her adult-like, take charge actions, Rathe grinned and grasped her shoulders, proud of her. “Do you know the town’s name?”
“Coeur d’Alene.”
“Faeroes, we’ll meet you there. Once I have the address, I’ll tell you.”
“Idaho?” Anya protested. “No self-respecting vampire would be caught dead in Idaho!”
Chuckling, Faeroes bent to kiss his wife’s pouting lips. “At least we will have no worries encountering another vampire, correct?” His smile faded. “Mariah is family. We protect our family, even if it means breaking the rules to do so.” He faced Rathe and Simon. “Do what you must to save her and Lydia. To hell with the Laws.”
Rathe jerked his head in agreement. “Simon, let’s fly!”
✝✝✝
Above Mariah’s hotel, Rathe searched for Jarrod and any sign of his men. Seeing no danger, they landed on the roof and entered the building. Walking stealthily down the stairwell to her and Lydia’s floor, he nearly stumbled when a scream resounded in his head.
“Lydia!” Simon ran ahead of him. Rathe raced after him.
When they found the right floor, he stopped Simon before he rush
ed out into the hallway. Placing a hand on his brother’s chest, Rathe opened the door wide enough where he could peer out into the hallway. Empty. Cautious, they left the stairwell and drew their swords. There was a crossroad of hallways. Men shouting made Rathe and Simon cautious. Checking around the corner, he saw two ghouls — one had a shaved head and facial piercings, the other was huge and had tattoos down his arms.
Baldy called out, “Come out, pretties. Master just wants a word with you. I promise it won't hurt. Much.” He laughed as his friend slammed his shoulder into the door, trying to break it down.
“Not tonight, boys.” Rathe swung his sword and beheaded the kid. Simon killed the other one.
The door opened, and Lydia flew into Simon’s arms. She had a letter in her hand as she held onto Simon. Rathe walked past them and looked around the room, finding it empty.
“Lydia, where is Mariah?”
“Rathe, she’s gone.”
“What?”
Biting her lip, Lydia handed him the letter. Taking it, he read the contents, his anger deflated. Mina was right. Mariah’s daughter was in danger, and she was heading home to protect her.
“Lydia, gather your things. When you are ready, you and Simon meet me in the lobby.” Rathe left them and went to the elevator. Reaching out to Mariah, he couldn’t speak with her, but he could feel her fear and panic.
Why was she running when he could protect her? Didn’t she trust him?
The elevator doors opened, and he went to speak to the hotel clerk, instructing the woman to send for a car, a fast one. When Simon and Lydia exited the elevator, the red sports car arrived. Taking the keys the deliveryman held out, Rathe tossed them to Simon.
Confused, Simon asked, “Aren’t you driving?”
“I figured I owed you an adventure. Don’t tell me what route you’ll take. No contact, unless you’re in trouble and need help. Remember, use your mind to seek out your enemies, or in case you want to extend the speed limit.” Rathe winked at his brother and handed him a wad of cash. “Watch your backs!”
Simon opened the car door for Lydia and closed it when she was in. “Watch your back, too.” In the driver’s seat, Simon started the powerful engine and burned rubber as he punched the gas.
Back in the elevator, he took it to the roof. As the red sports car sped away, he saw no one followed Simon and Lydia. Shifting, feathers grew as changed into a giant eagle. His talons stretched, digging in with terrifying strength into the cement, crushing it into powder and chunks of rock. Extending his enormous wings, he took flight. With great sweeps, he flew north, searching for Mariah.
Worry didn’t come close to the anxiety he experienced as he searched for her. Jarrod would send everyone he had to bring her back to him. He would not leave a stone unturned to capture her and force her to take his blood, binding her to him — to force Mariah to give him her soul!
He flew faster.
✝✝✝
“Son-of-a-bitch!”
Jarrod grinded his teeth, trying to rein in his desire to kill each human who dared to stare at him curiously while, he, who was the leader of the Damned, was forced to wait like a damn commoner while another car was sent to collect him.
Curse those old bitches! The gall they had to paint crosses on his brand new limousine! Seething, he vowed when he found them, he would strip their skin and force them to watch him feed their flesh to his ghouls. Death would be denied them until he was satisfied they had suffered for the defamation of his car!
Twisting his neck, he struggled to keep his glamor in place. Fortunately, the white Rolls Royce had pulled alongside him. The ghoul driving it jumped out and opened the back door for him. Alexander waited in the backseat.
When he was in and the door closed, Alexander asked him, “My lord, were you hurt?”
“No, just my pride. I want those bitches found and brought to me.”
“Who, my lord?”
“Those women who helped Mariah escape me. I want them and Mariah found!” Surprise marked Alexander’s usually passive features. “Yes, Alexander, I found her at last.” Closing his eyes, he was amazed at how much she resembled her mother. “I almost had her.”
“Were you able to exchange blood with her?”
“No, and finding her will take considerable effort now.” He had missed his only chance to take her blood, a clear mind path for him to find and control her. She was now only a distant echo.
Mariah was very clever indeed, blocking his mental search for her. Power radiated from her. The force of her determination concerned him. Hadn’t he handled her with care? Shown her he was not the monster he’d been accused of being?
There was another matter troubling him. A vampire had an excellent sense of smell and wafting under hers was a familiar scent.
“Alexander, you are certain Rathe Romulas is dead?”
Looking at him, Alexander met his stare unwavering. “Yes, my lord. His ashes were there. Why do you ask, my lord?”
“She reeks of the Romulas clan. One of them has exchanged blood with her. Several times, I sense.”
“Is she vampire, my lord?”
“No, she is mostly human. She’s strong, but not vampire strength yet. Another exchange will see her turned, and she’ll be a vampire with a blasted soul, unless I get to her first!”
“Think you it is Faeroes protecting her?”
“Not likely. Anya Romulas would have his head on a pike and his balls stuffed down his throat, if he touched another woman. No, it could be Simon. Why would she need blood? Dammit, she had to have been injured in the fire, and Simon saved her.” He forced himself to relax in his seat. “All is not lost. Mariah will return to her hotel and think she’s safe with her crosses and Holy water. Send ghouls to retrieve them. I will force her to exchange blood with me and destroy that damn spell, once and for all. See to it personally for me.”
“Yes, my lord.”
His phone pulsed in his pocket. Answering it, he saw it was one of his ghouls working in the FBI. “Smith, I have an assignment for you. I want you to investigate Mariah Jordan. Everything from tax returns, old boyfriends, down to what her favorite color is, and I want it now!”
Pushing the end call button, Jarrod saw Alexander was staring at him, his green eyes hard as stone. “Alexander, have you a problem?”
“Why are you digging into her past when we will have her in half an hour?”
“Because, Alexander, she’s proven she is quite resourceful, and I’ll not make the mistake of underestimating Mariah Jordan again!”
Chapter Ten
Should she risk making a phone call?
If Murphy really had been an FBI agent, it would go to reason Jarrod would have others in the Bureau as well. They’d easily find out who and where her family was … her daughter. She had to risk it to warn them. Punching in Rona’s number, she waited while it rang.
“Hello?” Rona answered sleepily.
“Hey, Rona, it’s me. Sorry waking you—”
“You should have called me sooner, you shit!”
“I know, but things are a … a bit screwed to say the least.”
“You on your way?”
“Yep. Boy, do I have lots to tell you when I get there!”
“What’s going on? What’s this that we’re to supposed to watch out for strangers?”
“I need you all to be careful. It’s not safe for us.”
“Is it some fan turned stalker?”
“That’s one way to look at it. Just keep watch, okay? You still wearing your grandmother’s silver cross necklace?”
“Uh, yeah, I am. Why?”
“Just checking. Silver’s good. Silver protects.”
“Okay, you are officially freaking me out. You want me to go get Kai and bring her here?”
“No, she’s safe with Joe. Where are you?”
“We’re at the lake house. David wanted a little time away from work, I hope you don't mind.”
“Not all. Remember to activate the alarms.�
�� She yawned. Dawn was approaching, and it was making it darn hard to keep her eyes open!
“Get a hotel room and sleep. We can't lose you again,” Rona ordered, joking as she always did, except this time she was pretty sure she meant it.
“See ya soon.”
Ten miles down the road, she sighed in relief when she found a motel. Checked in and had her key in hand, she dragged out the duffle bag and let the dogs run around. When they were finished, she ushered the dogs inside the room. After feeding them and gave them a bowl of water, Mariah set up the crosses in the window for protection. Lying on the bed, she went straight to sleep.
✝✝✝
Salish nudged her hand. Opening one eye, she found her wolf staring back at her. “I’m awake, hold on.”
She checked the time. Damn, six o’clock. Upset at sleeping so late, she hurried to wash her face and brushed her teeth. Taking down the crosses off the windows and put them in the duffle bag. Slipping the bag over her shoulder, she opened the door.
Sundown.
At her car, she opened the rear gate, tossing in the duffle bag. She stiffened, feeling eyes were watching her. Could feel the hate boring into her. Slipping the knife she found in the duffle bag into her boot, she kept the gun in her hand, at her side. She shut the gate and went to start the engine. Taking a good scout around her, she saw a man standing across the street, staring at her. Focusing, she saw he had bloodshot eyes and pasty, gray complexion. No doubt about it, he was a ghoul.
Where was his master?
The dogs barked, running toward her. The awful stench made her eyes water as the wind blew around her. “Ah, crap,” she said softly, searching for the vamp’s whereabouts. Pushing the safety off her gun, she placed both hands on the handle grip, ready to fire.
“Rathe, I know you’re following me. Are you close to me? I’ve got a demon vamp here, just can’t find the prick.”
Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) Page 15