Derrick glanced at Victoria, feeling horrible, but he had no choice. He was in love with Kristina, and he finally understood that he’d been in love with her for the last few years, the reason he could never fall for another woman.
As if she’d read his mind, Vic’s eyes smoldered with hatred. “How could you? You’re supposed to protect us. As the overseer, you’re supposed to keep the humans away, not bring them inside.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Careful, Victoria. My mother happens to be one of those humans.”
“Your mother’s not a drunk!”
Derrick sprang across the barn floor, landing in front of her, fuming. “Back off.”
Michael bounded between them, both hands held at arm’s length. He turned to address Victoria, “Vic, he’s fallen. End of story. Nothing you can say or do will change that. You need to set your sights on someone else for once.”
“You’re right, Michael. But the only other man I had an interest in left. Maybe I’ll hunt down Jonas.”
“Vic,” Derrick cautioned. “You know better than that.”
She glared at him. “Really? Why shouldn’t I, Derrick? You don’t like anyone around who questions your rules.”
“They’re not my rules—” Derrick shook his head, not wanting to revisit this same argument. A woman scorned was a woman scorned; it didn’t matter if she was a human or creatus evidently. “Do what you want, Vic. Just stay away from Kristina. She’s one of us now.”
“She’ll never be one of us,” she sneered.
Derrick decided he’d better leave before he did anything he’d regret. “We’ll discuss this, along with your appearance last night, at the meeting. He charged toward the door, needing to get as far away from her as possible. He’d always cared deeply for Victoria, but the moment she’d threatened Kristina, he felt as if he could kill her without a second thought. As he’d told Kristina repeatedly, nothing could ever come between them after they’ve fallen. Not even a lifelong friend.
He stepped outside again to get away from her and his brother.
The moment he saw his mother’s arm draped around Kristina’s shoulder, introducing her to everyone, his irritation moved to the recesses of his mind. Kristina did the obligatory nodding and smiling, but he could tell it was forced. She was rightly nervous. All of his assurances that she was safe and she’d nearly been attacked within seconds after their arrival.
He darted to the other side of her, kissing her cheek. “Hi. Sorry about that.”
Kristina turned her head, glaring at him. “You should have told me,” she hissed in a low whisper.
He didn’t want to embarrass her, but he had to remind her. “Um, Kristina, just so you know… Everyone heard you. There’s no such thing as whispering in my world.”
Kristina’s eyes widened. As she looked around the property, her eyes filled with tears, but she lifted her head to restrain them. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s a lot to take in, I know. And you’re right; I should have told you. We’ll talk about it later though, okay?” He wiped away a tear. Knowing Victoria could hear him, he stated clearly, “Vic won’t bother you again, I promise.”
He heard Victoria harrumph from inside the barn, but suppressed a snarl in front of Kristina, since she obviously couldn’t hear her. He never imagined that Vic would turn violent. Upset, yes, he assumed that. But if Michael hadn’t restrained her when he did and she’d launched across the lawn, she could have killed Kristina with one blow, and then his life would be over. Creatus didn’t recover after losing a partner. They usually ended up moving away from the family, wishing for death. Suicide wasn’t common, but they begged death to take them.
Kristina nodded and attempted a smile. “Your mom has been introducing me to everyone. How come you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t want to influence your decision in any way.” He picked up his mother’s hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to introduce you properly. Mom, this is Kristina Heskin.”
His mother released an airy laugh, squeezing her arms around Kristina’s shoulder. “Sabrina Ashton, as you already know.”
“Actually…” Kristina laughed, pink tinting her cheeks. “I didn’t know your last name was Ashton. I like that.”
“Oops.” Derrick shrugged as his mother glared at him. As a distraction, he glanced over his shoulder for his father, who stepped toward him immediately, a smile on his face. He didn’t think his father would be upset once he saw Kristina. Their only concern was her drinking, but he assured them she’d want to clean up. Derrick knew she wasn’t an alcoholic; she’d just been looking for a means of escape. And if she hadn’t said anything about him all these years, why would she start now? “And my father Lynford Ashton, but everyone calls him Lyn.”
Kristina flashed a genuine smile. “Nice to meet you. Both of you. And didn’t you mention you had a brother?” Kristina asked.
“Yes, well… Michael’s—”
“Right here, Bro,” Michael called, landing in front of Kristina, not concerned with showing his ability, which most of the group rarely demonstrated. Of course, Derrick had shown off the previous evening too.
“Oh!” She recoiled, but then seemed to catch her bearings. “Um… is everything all right? I didn’t mean to cause derision in the family,” Kristina offered, beaming at his younger brother. Derrick felt a pang of jealousy surge through him because of her words about being with another of his kind yesterday, even though he knew nothing could ever come between them. But his brother was a good-looking, and younger, man. He actually looked the same age as Kristina, since he was five years younger than Derrick was. And he looked more human with his slightly rounder cheeks and lighter shade of hair with just a hint of curl. More natural anyway than the hard sculpted faces and raven straight hair most creatus had.
Michael lifted her hand to his lips. “Everything is fine, Kris. Welcome to the family. I hate to do this to you, but Derrick and I have to talk. Do you mind if I steal him away for a moment?”
Kristina retracted her hand, subconsciously wiping it on her jeans. Derrick couldn’t help the laugh that threatened to escape. Michael would be devastated that his charms hadn’t worked on her. He was obviously testing whether she’d actually fallen. Few women were able to resist his brother’s magnetism. Even though he supposedly didn’t like their species, he had no problem taking what he wanted from a human woman.
“Kristina, why don’t you and mom take a tour of the house and get to know each other while I talk with the family?” Her face dropped. “We’ll be fifteen minutes at best,” he rushed his weak explanation.
She inhaled a breath, turning to Sabrina. “Okay, I guess. I would actually love a tour of the house. It’s lovely.”
Sabrina wrapped her arm around Kristina again and strolled off toward the house.
Derrick walked toward the barn. “Let’s get this over with,” he called to the rest of the group.
His father, brother, and every other creatus, men and women, except those who remained with young children, followed Derrick inside the barn. The barn, which was actually an office, served as the center for all their meetings.
Victoria balanced on a rafter, but dropped when he rolled his eyes. She made a wide loop around him, plopping down on one of the chairs closest to the door. “First off, Derrick, what is it you keep accusing me of?”
Derrick ignored her while everyone found a chair or an empty railing to sit on or leaned up against a post. Derrick perched on the edge of his brother’s desk, while Michael stood beside him.
Every eye focused on Derrick. Even though they knew Michael would discuss news of a possible rogue, it seemed they all had more interest in a new human family member. “So, I assume you all met Kristina,” he started. Heads nodded, most respectful, a few not so much. “This should come as no surprise as I’ve discussed her with you several times.”
“You also said you’d wait until she was older, more mature,” Dean, an elder he’d always thought of as an Uncle,
reproached. “She’s a liability, Derrick. You should have talked with us before bringing her here. If you want to endanger yourself and your family, that’s one thing. To have her see us without our consent is another.”
Derrick pursed his lips, nodding in assent. “Fair comment, Dean. And I apologize. In hindsight, I guess I should have met you alone.”
The group glanced around, nodding in agreement, and Derrick noticed the overconfident grin spread across Vic’s face. Did she think they’d banish him or Kristina because of it? That wouldn’t help matters. He’d always gone with the idea that it was better to beg forgiveness than to plead for mercy.
Dean leaned back in his chair and jutted his chin in Derrick’s direction. “That said… Kristina seems like a wonderful girl. If she hasn’t mentioned any of your peculiar antics in fourteen years, I’m certain she won’t start now.”
Victoria’s arrogance fell flat and she twisted in her chair as if wanting to make her escape.
Derrick tore his eyes away from the woman who used to be his best friend. He’d told Victoria everything, had always been upfront with her. They’d shared stories, experimented with life and love. He shook the thoughts from his head, feeling as if he’d been using her. “Kristina won’t talk to anyone. She has fallen for me, as I have for her.”
A few surprised gapes and audible grunts traveled throughout the barn, echoing in the rafters.
His father stood up and approached the front. “It’s over. You all act as if this doesn’t happen. Might I remind you I married a human. Sabrina has lived beside you, prepared food for you, adjusted her entire life to be one of us.” Lyn glared at his youngest son. “And still, we treat humans as though they are a subspecies. Just because we are stronger, doesn’t make us better.” He shrugged. “Besides, we have more important things to discuss than my son’s love life. According to Michael, we have a rogue on the loose. And that, my friends, is more dangerous to our way of life than one young girl.” Lyn walked back to his chair and plopped down, crossing his arms in finality.
At a hundred years old, his father was still a force to be reckoned with. No creatus, himself and Michael included, would dare challenge him. Yes, Derrick was stronger, but his father had seen more life. He’d met his mother when she was twenty-two and had fallen within days, he’d said, ignoring his parents’ concerns. Now his mother was seventy-three, and his father looked to be in his early fifties. His father would live another fifty years. But more than likely, his mother would survive another twenty at best. The creatus’ diet of all whole and natural foods made her appear younger than her years, but facts were facts. And nothing they could do would change the reality that his father would spend roughly thirty years alone, something he’d admitted on numerous occasions that he accepted fully.
Derrick knew he too would be in the same situation, but also identified with his father’s avowal. Nothing would cause him to regret his decision to spend his life with Kristina.
Michael stepped forward and took his father’s place at the front of the room. “I’m sure you know the reason we asked for you to be here today.”
Nods and sniffs among the family assured they understood, even though there were no comments.
“The police are being careful,” Michael continued. “Nothing has been leaked to the press, which is unusual. They’re keeping a tight lid on this one, as they are baffled.”
Derrick scanned the room, watching for any indication that someone they knew could be committing the crimes. If it were someone in the family, they’d still come to the meeting he was certain. The news Derrick had watched last night revealed nothing that hinted at a creatus attack, but if Michael believed it was true, that was good enough for him. And he always had an inside track on this sort of stuff.
Ryan, a younger member of their family who’d just returned home from England a few years ago, stood up. He was smaller than Derrick, but strong as an ox. They’d wrestled a few times in fun, and Derrick had always liked him, thinking he’d be someone they could bring into their inner circle of leaders. He was forty-two now, the perfect age. But lately he’d been spending a lot of time with Michael, frequenting places they shouldn’t, looking for quick hook-ups. Ryan looked to the family and then back at Michael. “I’ve been watching the news, and I don’t get it. How do you know it’s a creatus?”
Michael sighed. He didn’t like anyone to question him. He may only be forty-four, but he was a born leader. “I’ve studied our past, that’s how,” he said, no inflection of his irritation, which Derrick sensed was teetering just below the surface. His brother also had a temper. “Creatus are smart, as we all know.” Michael looked to his father, as if challenging his earlier assessment. “Even the so-called crazy ones. One of the signs of a rogue kill is separating the body so the authorities won’t have any identifying marks. They take what they want and leave the rest. Unlike an animal that rips a human to shreds and leaves the carcass, a creatus will pull the human apart with his bare hands and take the parts he wants.”
Collective gasps filled the room.
“Okay, Michael,” Derrick interrupted. “I think we get the point.” Derrick, as he assumed a few others felt, was glad he hadn’t eaten lunch yet. He didn’t like to think that there were animals that would do such a thing.
“He asked,” Michael defended his repugnant answer. “But here’s the part that baffles me. Whoever this is, they want us to know.”
“How’s that?” Dean spoke up again, curiosity lighting in his eyes.
Michael moved backward toward the desk, resting on the edge as though he was a professor addressing his students. “Even though a creatus is smart enough not to give any indication of how the person was killed, they usually hide the victim, bury them. These victims have been left for authorities to find.” Michael paused for effect. “The rogue wants us to know.”
“So, as Michael and I discussed earlier, there’s only one answer,” Derrick cut in. “We need to start watching again.”
Vic burst to her feet. “What? What happened to ‘the rules’? Isn’t that why you banished Jonas?”
Derrick shook his head, casting a glance in Ryan and his mother’s direction, wondering if they had thought the same thing too.
Michael also stared in the direction of Ry and Margaret and then hopped off the desk to answer. “We didn’t banish Jonas; he left on his own. Jonas was a good friend of mine, but he used watching as an excuse to fight. He didn’t care about humans any more than you or I, Vic. He was only looking for a fight. And he was sloppy.”
“So we’re supposed to put our existence in jeopardy because a few humans are dying.” Vic raised her hands in the air and paced. “Derrick’s just worried about his new precious human.”
“Sit down, Victoria, or leave,” Derrick ordered. “Your choice.”
Vic inhaled a deep breath as though she would argue, but then flopped down in her chair again.
Derrick held up his hands in a silent request to the rest of the group. No one as much as breathed. “They are the rules, and I intend to keep them. As for Kristina, she’s my concern.” He leveled his eyes on Victoria. “No one will get near her; I will make certain of that. As for the rest of you, we will set up a perimeter around Boston where the killings have occurred.” Derrick glanced around to see if anyone else dared to question him. “Per ‘the rules’, as Vic pointed out, I do not want you to get involved with a crime; we’re only looking for the rogue. Only interfere if the rogue is involved. And make sure you are always dressed in black with a knit ski mask you can shield your face if need be; we don’t need to start any vigilante investigations again.”
His father stood up again. “So, if we see a human getting attacked, you want us to stand by?”
Derrick’s stomach plummeted. No, he didn’t want that. What would Kristina think of him saying such a thing? But, it was the only way. “We don’t have a choice, Dad. It’s not like it was when you were protecting the streets. Humans are busy 24-7. They never sleep, it seems.
Also, everyone has a video camera on their cell phone. We’d be on the front page of The National Enquirer the next day.”
Chapter Twelve
After Michael presented the map and the schedules of where he wanted everyone stationed, the barn cleared.
“Hang on a second, Vic,” Derrick called as she made her way toward the massive doors that were big enough a tank could fit through.
She threw her head back in disgust, acting like a spoiled child. He almost expected her to stomp her feet and stick out her tongue at this point. “Now what?” she whined.
Michael stopped his departure as well, which was probably a good thing. With Vic’s attitude, no telling what they’d end up saying to each other. Besides, Derrick needed to question his brother as well.
So as not to accuse just Vic, he addressed both of them with a razor-sharp scowl, “Which one of you were outside Kristina’s window last night?” he asked pointblank.
Vic rolled her eyes and Michael’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, clearly digesting this information.
Smoothing her hair with her hands, sending him the image of a cat preening herself, Vic laughed. “That was fast, Derrick. Didn’t waste any time getting with the human, did you?”
Derrick huffed out a breath. What a one-eighty her personality had taken. Again, he hated to keep thinking she was the typical scorned woman, but he now understood all the colloquialisms. There clearly was a thin line between love and hate. “You didn’t answer my question, Victoria?”
“I have better things to do with my time than spy on your little girlfriend. Besides, I didn’t know you’d decided to bring her into our humble family until you showed up with her on your arm.” Vic bit her lip, her tough façade seemingly melting. He knew she was heartbroken, understood that her antagonism was directed at the situation, not him. She had to know he’d tried to make it work with her. “Thanks for that by the way,” she said sharply, attempting to hold onto her anger. “You could have warned me instead of blindsiding me, making me look like a fool.”
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