Fateful 2-Fractured

by Cheri Schmidt

  “Tell me.”

  “I’ve never thought like this before, and I never thought I would. But sometimes I think it would be nice if we could just run away, just you and me, and leave all of the dangers, the war and threats behind.”

  “That is reckless. And it would never work.”

  “I know,” she agonized.

  “Though it is beginning to look more and more appealing as time goes on,” he said, surprising her. He felt the same?

  “Unfortunately, Uncle Nick would just call the police again. And you’re sure there isn’t anything we can do to defend ourselves?” Secretly Danielle hoped there was some defense, like a stake through the heart, or a spell of some sort, or a plant that was poisonous to them.

  Ethan groaned and then glanced at her while he drove, she didn’t like the hopeless look in his eyes. “Sorry, Danielle, there is no defense we can use against a vampire, unless we were lucky, or rather unlucky enough to come across one who happened to be weak with thirst. He’d need to be extremely frail with it. That is the only vampire who could be killed by a mortal, by the usual means—a gun, or knife, or anything like that—but he would also be much more dangerous. He’d fight ferociously to get his fangs into you.

  “That’s why you were able to break the skin when you bit me. I was so weak my body wouldn’t heal on its own. And ... I allowed you to bite me. Most vampires would never allow that. Ever.”

  “Figures,” she grumbled, then wanting to change the subject, she asked, “What do you have in here right now?” Without letting him answer, Danielle turned the stereo on.

  A rocking blend of electric guitar and drums filled the air. The measure wove through the car with a low beat that rumbled lower and harder, banging through a varying range of notes. Then the singer touched on a wide vibrato with his voice, which caused throbbing notes to linger in the air. The vocalist had an almost pretty voice that blended so well with the violent sounds coming from the instruments that it gave her chills, and she leaned back into the headrest to enjoy the ride without conversation.

  * * * * *

  The others were waiting for them in the drawing room. Cedric and Seth were also there.

  “We need to double up on your security. We can’t risk that ever happening again,” Beon said, unsmiling.

  “Danielle, I’m so sorry!” Cedric suddenly wailed. “He offered to trade shifts. I had no idea he was—”

  “Cedric, it’s okay. I’m fine,” she said, but hoped he didn’t see her shudder at the memory of a fanged Alex going for her neck.

  Beon continued, “Danielle, may I have your cell phone?” She fished it from her bag and passed it over. He flipped it open and began pressing buttons, saying, “I’m setting you up with an autodial to me directly. Just in case you need help again.”

  “Thank you,” she replied in a docile tone dropping her gaze to the material covering the sofa. She ran her hand across the textured fabric as guilt nudged at her senses. She was certain Beon and the others had better things to do than baby-sit her and Ethan. Plus, as she recalled the incident with Alex, she was fairly certain she wouldn’t have been able to call anyway.

  “I don’t believe this is going to get any better, only worse. I had heard that Celeste and Lucas fled the country fearing retaliation for Danielle’s death, so it seems they don’t yet pose a threat, but word is getting out about Ethan being cured. The other vampires are becoming even more of a problem. As I’d said before, some desperately want the cure and may try to force Danielle into giving it to them. But worse than that, however, are others who are deeply upset about this discovery and could pose a threat to either of you simply for bringing it about. This incident with Alex has brought this concern to light. And from what you said, it’s clear he wasn’t working alone,” Beon announced solemnly.

  Troubled by his words, Danielle realized that the number of vampires who wanted to harm either of them was growing at an alarming rate. The enormity of what she’d actually gotten herself into was sinking in, and walking away from it would never be an option. It’s true nothing had happened for a while, but now.... It wouldn’t matter if she broke it off with Ethan—which she could never do anyway—as the dangers would continue to creep along behind them because of what they’d done. The thought of running away with Ethan slid back into her mind, but she pushed it aside again. There was no guarantee that would solve their problems either.

  “The good news is that there are many good vampires who want to help us, and have volunteered to take guard shifts. We will have more help when it comes to keeping you two safe. There are many who want to protect the two who discovered the cure.”

  “What happened with Alex?” Ethan asked.

  “I gave Alexander a well deserved beating,” Max said. One side of his full mouth lifted into a crooked grin as he chortled. “He won’t bother Danielle again if he would like to continue breathing air.”

  * * * * *

  Curling up onto the settee in Ethan’s room, Danielle reached for the throw draped over the back of it, pulled it forward and around her legs. She got comfortable even knowing they didn’t have much time to spend together before she’d be sent home. “We opened up a can of worms when we cured you, didn’t we?”

  Ethan sat down and slipped under the throw with her. “Yes, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

  Danielle couldn’t help but wonder if he really meant that. Yes, he loved food but now he was in as much danger as she was in, with no way of defending himself except to rely on Order members for protection. Beon and Max said they could be trusted, but could a bunch of vampires who’d supposedly turned over a new leaf really be trusted? Deep down she knew she would trust Max, Beon, Cedric and even Seth with her life, but what of the others? What about the ones who had killed, who had tasted mortal blood? What if they turned sides like Celeste had or like Alex had? And forget privacy after this.... “It doesn’t look like the bodyguard situation is going to improve.”

  “It might change,” Ethan said, leaning back into the cushion.

  “For the worse you mean?”

  He leaned forward, his elbows braced on his knees. “No. For the better.”

  She studied his calm expression. “I don’t understand.”

  Gently, he dragged the backs of his fingers along her cheek. She looked at him, wondering if he was going to answer her question. His eyes darkened with soberness before he asked, “Do you want to be with me forever, even with the problems surrounding our relationship? Do you love me?”

  Unsettled by the fact that he even had to ask that question, she twisted further to face him more straight on. Of course she realized she hadn’t expressed her love for him as much as he’d said those words to her, but she didn’t want him to doubt how she felt about him. “Of course I love you! You’re everything to me.” She slung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and because of that, I’ll face this with you.”

  Just as Danielle finished her ramblings she realized, with panic, that she didn’t know why he was bringing up this line of questioning. What if he’d changed his mind about them and hoped she had the same doubts? What if he thought it was too dangerous for them to be together? Feeling color leave her face as fear washed over her, her shoulders slumped.

  A finger came up to her chin and Ethan inspected her expression, the depths of her eyes. She realized that he’d sensed the shift in her mood, as usual. And his response made it clear he understood enough of what was going on in her head. “Danielle, I feel the same. I love you, I adore you ... you’re more valuable to me than anything in this world.” The finger holding her face dropped to the pearl necklace around her neck as he spoke. “I don’t want you to worry about the guards or anyone else, because,” one corner of his mouth lifted, “I have a plan.”

  A gasp from her stirred his hair. “Tell me!”

  “Nope, it’s a surprise.” Looking away, Ethan hesitated before adding, “I do need to go away for a coupl
e days to prepare for it, though.”

  Danielle’s lips twitched into a pout. “You’re not going to Benjamin again, are you? Please tell me it’s not that.” Because that hadn’t worked out so well.

  He chuckled. “Relax. I’m not going to visit any vampires this time, and I’ll have two bodyguards with me. I have no worries that I’ll be safe. I just need you to be patient and trust me.”

  “You do remember that patience isn’t one of my stronger points, don’t you?”

  “I’m fully aware of that,” he said while laughing. “Come here.” With fingers curling around her nape, he pulled her closer, and left a trail of kisses all over her face and lips. “You said you love me, but do you trust me?”

  “I trust you. But ... I still worry about your safety, even more so, now that you’re mortal like me.”

  Frowning at that comment, he moved the kisses to her neck, and she laughed uncontrollably as he found that ticklish spot. “That’s payback for calling me weak.” When his mouth moved away from the place that drew giggles from her, he said, “Have faith in me.”

  “But— When are you leaving? How long will you be? Will you actually answer your phone this time? And will you call me?”

  Again he matched his eyes with hers, “I leave tomorrow. I’ll only be gone for two days. And yes, I’ll answer my phone, and yes, I’ll call several times a day.”

  “But you said that last time,” she complained, shifting so her legs crossed over his.

  His fingers curled around her knee. “This time will be different, and it’s just two days.”

  “Is that two days and three nights, or two days and one night or—” Ethan gently placed a hand over her mouth to shut her up.

  She tried to scowl at him with just her eyes, but all that earned her was a bit of soft chuckling which she could feel vibrating through his whole torso.

  Mumbling under his hand she tried a narrow-eyed look.

  Smirking, Ethan sighed and lifted his hand.

  “Take me with you,” she said.

  “Absolutely not! That would spoil the surprise!”

  She groaned. “But I’m not ready for you to leave tomorrow.”

  He raised an eyebrow and let his love for her smolder in his blue gaze, showing her the Ethan from her forgotten spirit-life. His thumb landed on her lower lip as he encouraged her lips to part with gentle pressure. Aligning his mouth with hers, he blew into her face like a vampire, like Alex had. Closing her eyes, she drew it in. Obviously he knew exactly what he was doing, the scoundrel. Would he ever play fair?

  “Feeling better?” he asked.

  The spellbound smile on her face was replaced with her returning pout as she remembered that he still meant to leave. “Not really. You’re still leaving.”

  “Yes, but it will be worth it.”

  That determination of his was written in every line of his face, and she knew she couldn’t talk him out of it. “All right.” She gathered his face between her hands, noting the stubble scraping at her fingers. “You’d better kiss me. I need something to hold me over.”

  Triumphant mirth sparkled in his eyes and he angled his mouth over hers. Those blond whiskers shadowing his face rasped against her cheeks and chin.

  They would have kept feasting on the delectable caress if someone hadn’t knocked on the door—again interrupting them whenever they moved this from quiet chatting to kissing. These vampires had uncanny timing and she wondered if it was planned or coincidence.

  Ethan lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “It’s time to get you home.”

  “No…” She grabbed his arm to see for herself. It was eight-thirty. They’d allowed them to stay after dark. “How did we not notice the sun had set?”

  “My curtains are shut, and I guess we were too involved in our conversation.”

  “Right, I guess so.”

  Chapter 4

  Two Days

  Danielle spent more time with Brianna than she had recently, and her cousin complained about their emotional distance as she’d grown closer to Ethan. Brianna and William were close of course, but their relationship wasn’t as intense as hers seemed with Ethan. Ethan had a stronger pull on her, and their feelings clearly ran deeper, or maybe it was longer. She considered the connection their souls had—that feeling of knowing each other before they ever actually met. Somehow Danielle doubted Brianna had that with Will.

  Still, she really needed to stop obsessing over Ethan and just deal normally with this time apart. At least she didn’t feel like she had last time with that fearful premonition plaguing her. It seemed like he would be safe this time, and that helped.

  After chasing an almond on her plate, Danielle scooped up a bite of her salad and mentally committed to keeping her mind off Ethan. She could be independent of him for just a couple of days.... This is why she was eating lunch with Brianna at Little Betty’s, one of her cousin’s favorite restaurants.

  “You’re really smitten with Ethan, aren’t you?” Brianna asked.

  Ah, so eagerly her thoughts wandered right back to him, she thought as the forkful of lettuce paused halfway to her mouth. The change in momentum caused the almond to fall back to her plate. She lowered it down the rest of the way because it just wasn’t the same unless she had a nice mix of lettuce, Asian dressing, mandarin orange and almond. She fished for the nut again as she replied to the unexpected change in topic, “Very.” She may as well admit defeat now, only a day after he left on his mysterious little trip and she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

  “Do you think you’ll get married?”

  Her eyes widened and shot to her cousin’s. “Oh, Um…” Of course she secretly wanted that, but they hadn’t actually discussed it. “I don’t know. He hasn’t asked, and my parents wouldn’t like that at all.” And the realization of that truth felt like a rock settling in her stomach.

  Brianna’s gaze shifted. It appeared as though she was distracted from their conversation. “Who are those men over there? They’ve been watching you,” she abruptly asked.

  Danielle turned, knowing exactly what she was going to see—her bodyguards. It was Seth and Cedric, incognito as two business men. They were seated at a table eating a lunch they didn’t really need, while they remained vigilant in manning their post for Danielle’s safety.

  Cedric winked when she looked at them, but Seth elbowed him for it.

  “Did he just wink at you?” Brianna exclaimed with an appalled tone to her youthful British accent.

  Danielle turned back to face her cousin, and a moment of brilliance hit her. “I think he’s looking at you, not me,” she replied, knowing it was a slightly devious thing to do. But how else was she supposed to cover for the bodyguards who were apparently not being elusive enough?

  “Really?” Brianna blushed. “He’s hot … but, uh … I have Will, I’d better just ignore him,” she said, displaying integrity.

  Danielle coughed to hide her snicker.

  They were almost finished with their meal when an unfamiliar man walked up to them. Facing her, he said, “Miss Darcey, I beg your pardon, could I please speak with you in private for just a moment?” From the look of him and from the eloquence that oozed from his old-world cadence—Danielle knew at once—he was a vampire.

  She paused, and her lips parted with shock, but Brianna cut in, “Danielle, who—?”

  “Um.” She had to think quickly. “Uh, this is one of my professors,” she said, uncertain of how she should really handle this.

  “Oh,” her expression brightened, “Do you know my dad?”

  The man rudely ignored Brianna and maintained his focus on Danielle. “Miss Darcey, simply a short moment, I assure you.” After repeating his request, the man grasped her hand in a way that appeared to be gentle outwardly, but felt painfully forceful to her. She attempted to resist but didn’t want to distress Brianna with another kidnapping attempt, so she refrained from causing the drama needed to embarrass this man enough to escape him and stood. He didn’t loo
sen his crushing grip on her fingers, and she was forced to clench her teeth, fighting the need to grimace with the pain.

  Fortunately for her, she knew she had two vampires right behind her with the sole task of keeping her safe from vampires like this one. Covertly she turned to lift her purse from the back of her chair, knowing that as she took the strap she’d be able to make eye contact with her guards.

  They were watching the man, not her, probably making certain he didn’t notice them. Seth quickly flashed his eyes to her and nodded. They then behaved as if they didn’t know her or what was happening. But Danielle had confidence they would take care of her.

  Attempting to sound calm she said, “I’ll be back in a minute, Bri.” She went with the man as he led her to a more secluded location outside of the restaurant, and away from Brianna’s line of vision. He lessened the pressure of his hold, but kept her hand firmly in his when they got to a spot that was apparently satisfactory to him.

  “Thank you. My dear, I will not waste time with pleasantries and get right to the point. I have been a vampire for many years. I’ve lived a happy, but terribly long life. And I am weary. I am requesting that you give me the cure to this curse.”

  Danielle stared at him. She didn’t really want to bite this man. He was a little frightening, and she sensed that he had to be much older than Beon or even Seth. Biting Ethan had been an intimate experience, and she couldn’t imagine doing it to just any stranger. Not to mention, she understood how dangerous it was for her. Her eyes widened with panic when she realized that he was slowly towing her toward a black car parked next to the sidewalk. He meant to kidnap her, and force her to cure him, though she knew he’d probably kill her in the process.

  “No, sir. It’s not that simple. Please let go. I can’t go with you.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t take no for an answer.”