He wondered at the mystery person who could cause such a reaction from a soulless of Adam’s caliber. Well, none of his business, but then he realized he hadn’t gotten a chance to tell Adam about the fire at Wilhelmina’s store and her being missing. Somehow, he knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to go back to tell him. Either Wilhelmina got caught in the explosion or she escaped, but right now Thalya remained his primary concern. He had to figure out what the hell Adam meant by opening himself up to Thalya.
Not sure what else to do, he headed back to Thalya’s place. Maybe being around her things would help him connect to her and find her. It took him awhile to get back to the city. He did call Ray on the way in and gave him Adam’s address. He wanted to see if they could find Adam’s phone number. He needed to call and leave him a message about Wilhelmina.
The sun sat in the sky by the time he made his way to Thalya’s penthouse and picked her lock. He smiled but no mirth lay behind it. He’d been breaking into homes a lot lately. Good thing she had no alarm system. Thank goodness, another of those quirks among the soulless with modern technology. But when you’re immortal, there isn’t much to fear.
Even though there were no lights on, he could see perfectly. Thalya had all the curtains pulled back so ambient light from outside filtered in. He walked into her bedroom, a room he’d made it a point to stay out of the other night. The painting over the bed dominated the room and stopped him in his tracks. Yet, his blood pumped through his body and his heart pounded a staccato beat like he’d been running a race and made it through alive. He took a step closer to the bed, his entire focus on the canvas holding so much more than her likeness. It called him to approach it. Samuel wanted to kill who ever had painted her like this, seen her like this, made love to her like this.
She lay naked on her side, her honeyed complexion perfectly complementing the blood red silk sheets, one hand held up her head. The other arm rested against her hip. She seemed to be staring just beyond his shoulder. The artist’s love for her obvious in every brush stroke, he’d captured her essence, her beauty as only a lover could. Most startling of all, he’d painted her with brown eyes and a touch of gold in their depths. He’d portrayed her with her soul reflected from those eyes.
The cell vibrating in his pocket effectively broke the trance of the painting. After taking it out, he looked down at the screen. A text from Ray with Adam’s phone number. It took him a minute to remember why he needed it and he stepped out of the room to the living room to concentrate. He couldn’t be in her bedroom and not get lost in the painting the way he got lost in the woman. He called the number Ray had texted him, and not surprisingly, got Adam’s voicemail. After telling him about the fire and a missing Wilhelmina, he hung up, satisfied he’d done what he could. Now he could focus on finding Thalya.
He started to sit on the couch but stopped. The darker colors in her living room made it seem more functional. However, she didn’t spend much time in here. He knew in which room he could connect with her. Not this one. He didn’t even have to go through her things; he only had to stare at her painting. Going back into the bedroom, he lay across the bed with the glimmering blue gray cover so he faced the headboard, her absence his only regret. Her scent, however, blanketed the air. He grabbed one of her pillows and inhaled the fragrance uniquely Thalya. Surrounded by her essence, he raised his gaze to her portrait and opened himself to her. This time, from the angle where he lay, she stared back at him with warmth in her eyes and he, the lover for whom she’d waited.
“Where are you?” he whispered. “I’ve waited for you too. I can’t lose you now. Come on, babe, where are you?” He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent again.
Samuel? Help me!
He’d heard her voice. Thalya?
Help me. He’s got me confined.
He had heard her. He focused inward. Where are you?
I don’t know.
Like someone calling to him from the next room, Samuel felt the direction her thoughts came from. He knew exactly which direction to take. Wait, I think I do. I feel you. Yes. Hang on.
Hurry!
Samuel opened his eyes and looked at the painting again. “I’m coming for you.”
He ran out of the room but halted as soon as he saw the daylight streaming in the uncovered balcony doors. Not wanting to take a chance with how much of the daylight Thalya could handle, he found her closet, which looked like an efficiency apartment and he spotted her section of long coats. He found a long black hooded evening cape, grabbed it, and then headed for his car. Pulling away from the curb, he did a U-turn.
Samuel felt like a human compass and his north pointed to Thalya. He could find her, but he wasn’t stupid. If the soulless, Abel, held her, he might need help. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he called Ray. He’d pick him up on the way. “Ray, lock and load up, bro. I think I know where Thalya is.”
“I’m ready. Devlin is here. Do you want him to come with us?”
“Yes, I could use the help as I’m not sure what I’ll find. Tell him to load up. Be there in five.”
The men waited for him on the sidewalk. Samuel slowed only long enough to open the door and for them to jump in. The car already moving before the passenger door shut.
“So, where is she?” Ray asked, riding shotgun.
“Don’t exactly know.”
“Then were we going?” Devlin asked from the back.
“We’re just heading in this direction until we don’t or until we get to where we’re going.” Samuel couldn’t seem to explain it any better than that. He only knew the direction he needed to go and like a human compass followed it.
“Man, you know you’re not making a rats ass worth of sense,” Ray offered.
“You’re linked?” Devlin asked.
“Something like that,” Samuel muttered, not wanting to talk about what went on between him and Thalya. Not even sure himself.
“So, the stories about you are true?” Devlin said.
Samuel shrugged. “’Fraid so.”
“You know only about half the hunters believe it. But after meeting you and seeing what you did back at the warehouse? Yeah, I do believe it.”
“Well, I think there’s another reason you believe too.”
Devlin had known who the soulless were in the warehouse. Samuel had also noticed back at the warehouse how Devlin had landed on his feet right beside him and Thalya. Definitely not the kind of jump a human could make and remain standing straight. He’d probed Devlin, but hadn’t been sure.
“Huh?” Ray said. “What are you talking about?”
Samuel met Devlin’s gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded, subtly letting him know he could answer the question.
“I’m a hybrid too, although less of one. My grandfather, my mother’s father, was soulless.”
Ray turned around in his seat and stared at Devlin. “No shit!”
“Yes. It’s a well kept secret. Or it was.”
“So, how old are you?” Ray asked.
“Oh, I’m thirty.”
“A youngun.” Samuel grinned.
“Yep.”
“Until I’d met Wilhelmina and read the chronicles, I always thought my father was the only one to get his soul back,” Samuel said. “I’d never met another hybrid. Is your mother still alive or her parents?”
“All dead. My father died in an accident five years ago and my mother couldn’t live without him. Their bond was too strong.”
“What about your grandfather? Did you know him?”
“Unfortunately no, both my grandparents were killed by hunters. Ironically, it’s one of the reasons I became a hunter. One of the men there that night almost immediately realized they’d made a mistake. My grandfather did not appear to be soulless. His eyes were not black, but no one wanted to listen. They’d been tracking my grandfather for years. The man who protested the killing couldn’t stop the rest of the hunters. He found my mother and hid her, eventually taking her to safety. She’d only been a chi
ld then, but there was no doubt in his mind, if the others had found her, they’d have killed her too. He’d saved her life. After hearing rumors about you, he came to the States and for a time, I think he worked with you.”
“Was his name? Powel McGillicutty?”
Devlin nodded.
“I knew him. That was some forty years ago.”
“Powel’s dead now, but from you he learned a better way to hunt. One that wouldn’t involve killing innocents. He kept tabs on my mother and eventually, tracked me down, explained who he was, how he knew what I was and about the hunters. He wanted to make sure what happened to my grandparents wouldn’t happen to me. He taught me everything, and in time, I led the group he’d founded up in Canada.”
“Wow!” Ray exclaimed. “So, can you do any cool stuff too?”
“I’m faster and stronger than most, can sense the soulless, never get sick and heal a little quicker than normal but that’s about it. I’m nowhere near Samuel’s caliber.”
“I knew there was a reason I always liked you. We’re getting closer,” Samuel said, changing the subject. They’d driven out of the city and crossed the bridge into New Jersey. His senses guided them off the freeway, through neighborhoods he’d never been to before. With each turn of the wheel, their connection unerringly guided him closer to Thalya.
By late afternoon, they arrived at a neighborhood on the lower end of the financial spectrum, but not bad exactly. A type of middle-class, two-story boxed shaped homes with small front yards, both parents working and not many people out and about during the day.
Samuel kept driving until he came to a pipe stem off a residential road. One house sat all the way at the end, set a considerable distance from the others. “She’s in there.” He reversed back down the road to the street to park the car. “I think it’s best we approach on foot and get a look inside. I’ll help block you both from any soulless sensing you. Try to see how many we’re dealing with. It’s also still daylight, so some of the soulless may be asleep in there. But any oldens won’t necessarily be, so keep alert.” Samuel grabbed the cape from the back seat he’d taken for Thalya.
Then he and Ray approached the house from opposite sides of the road, while Devlin made his way around back to a neighbor’s and approached from the rear. Samuel motioned for Ray to check the one car garage to see if they could go in through there.
He walked up the brick front steps and looked in the window beside the door. The curtains were heavy and drawn tight. He placed his ear to the door and opened his enhanced senses. There were at least two humans in there and they were terrified. He didn’t sense any soulless except for Thalya. But at this time of day, if any were asleep in there he might not sense them. Thalya seemed separated from the humans, maybe in a different part of the house.
He gazed over at Ray who already moved in his direction.
Ray mirrored his outfit, of all black leather from head to toe but Ray held a gun at his side, a silencer on the end and also carried a blade strapped to the inside of his jacket. Shaking his head, Ray indicated no entry through the garage.
Samuel put his hand on the doorknob. It turned but didn’t open. He stepped aside.
Ray took his place in front of the door. Then, he pulled a wallet sized leather case out of his pocket and opened it up.
Samuel glanced around at the closest houses, projecting an aura for anyone watching to turn away, just in case someone glanced in their direction.
Ray was now opening up the small case with several tools. Without a word, he pulled out the one he wanted and went to work on the lock.
“There may be an alarm in there, so we may not have much time. There are two humans up on the second floor. You and Devlin find them. I’m not sensing any soulless, but doesn’t mean they’re not there. Stay alert. I think Thalya is down in the basement. I’ll take care of her,” Samuel said.
In minutes, he heard the click of the door unlocking.
Ray moved to the side of the doorframe, positioning his body to make a smaller target.
Samuel moved to the other side and turned the knob. At the same time, he withdrew his sword and pushed the door open.
Ray crouched down, his gun aimed into the dark interior of the house.
When nothing happened, Samuel went in first, motioning for Ray to follow.
They’d entered into a small sparsely furnished living room. A cold fireplace, a single lumpy couch, and a television set on a stand made up the furniture. There were stairs on the right. Samuel silently indicated for Ray to take them. He draped the cape he carried for Thalya that he’d grabbed from her condo, over the couch and continued on into the kitchen area, looking for a back door. He unlocked it, and found Devlin waiting for him. They made their way back to the living room and to the stairs. He signaled for Devlin to go up. He put up two fingers and mouthed the words “human.”
Devlin nodded his head in understanding, then he Devlin took the stairs.
Samuel looked around then checked the only door off the living room and found an empty closet. Backtracking, he returned to the kitchen and saw another door on the other side of the refrigerator. He made his way to it, but paused when he heard the distinctive sound of a silencer going off several times. Tempted to rush upstairs, he stopped himself. He had to trust Ray and Devlin to take care of whatever happened.
The woman in the basement silently called to him and he had to answer. Bringing all of his training to bear and extending his senses out before him, he slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door. A dark stairwell lay before him, the wooden steps unfinished. They led straight down to a small stone landing so he couldn’t see what might sit in wait around the corner.
He had no choice. He had to go down those stairs. Thalya was down there. Samuel didn’t bother going back outside to look for a window. He suspected there wouldn’t be any. None of the other houses in the neighborhood had them. They were all underground basements with the stairs the only way in or out.
Silently, he withdrew a knife from his boot. Holding both the sword and knife in defensive positions, he cautiously descended.
The quickening in her stomach made Thalya’s head snap up. As he had promised, he’d come. Samuel had come for her. His shadow rose against the wall first before a heavy boot appeared, followed by a dark jean covered pants leg. The sensation in her guts intensified to one she’d been unfamiliar with a few days ago. A sensation of pleasure, of happiness traveled through her consciousness. He rounded the bend on the stairs and she knew the moment he saw her.
His eyes lit in relief and anger as he hurried across the room to her side.
“Took you long enough,” she said.
He put the knife in his sword hand and with his now free hand, he wrapped it around her neck, drawing her to him. Samuel kissed her like a starving man and his kiss filled all the empty places inside her.
“Hurry,” she said when he pulled back. “There are others upstairs.”
“I know. It’s been taken care of. Let me get you out of this.” Using his sword, he cut the handcuff links connecting her wrists and those around her ankles. He held up her hand to examine the cuffs still attached to her wrists. “I don’t understand. How could these hold you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. They should not have been able to, but for some reason I could not break them.”
He rubbed his thumb over her hand. “Well we’re not going to worry about this right now. Let’s get out of here.”
She nodded in agreement. “Fine with me. Where’s Abel?”
“Don’t know. I haven’t seen him,” he replied.
“Then he must not be here. Trust me, if he were we’d see him,” she stated.
“We still have to get out of here. Come on. I can’t cut these cuffs without hurting you. We’ll have to get them off later.” He gave her his knife and with his sword in his hand, he led the way back up the stairs. They saw Devlin and Ray helping a man and a woman out the front door. The same man she’d seen earlier. She smi
led to find him still alive.
“Here,” Samuel said, picking up a familiar looking garment. “I wasn’t sure if you’d need this or not but it’s still a few hours before the sun sets.” He held the garment open for her to step into.
“Wait,” she said. She’d seen her swords lying on the mantle of the fireplace. She changed direction and picked them up, tucking them into their empty sheaths still at her sides. She gave him back his knife then slipped her arms into the sleeves of the cape. One of the cuffs snagged.
Samuel tugged it free then pulled the hood over her head.
“Okay, now let’s go.”
“You’re sure you’ll be okay like this?” Samuel asked.
“Of course. I’ll be fine.”
“Just one thing.” He took off his shades and put them on her.
She smiled.
When they got outside they found Ray still held the woman around the waist, she seemed too weak to stand on her own and the man stood propped up against the side of the door. Devlin just jogged away.
“Devlin went to get the car,” Ray said by way of explanation. “I’m not sure these two can make it up to the road.”
“Good thought,” Samuel said. “We don’t know who’s around. I heard shots. Problems?”
“Just a minor one we took care of. Glad to see you’re okay, Thalya.” Ray winked at her.
She smiled. “Good to see you too, Ray.”
Devlin backed down the pipe stem and they piled into the car. One person too many made it a tight fit, but Thalya sat on Samuel’s lap, her back to the window. No way were they leaving anyone behind.
“Do you think we should take them to the hospital?” Devlin asked. “I think they’ve both been sucked on.”
“And terrorized,” Thalya added.
The man beside her looked at her and said, “Thank you.” Then he looked at the men in the car and said, “Thanks all of you. I don’t know who the hell you are or what the hell those men were, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Devlin replied.
“Listen, we’re not going to take you to the hospital. It would do no good. Unfortunately, you got caught up in something that you shouldn’t have,” Samuel said.
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