Connor wondered if the other Ravens would come looking for Dirk. It was a question that nagged at him. Dirk was not a true vampire, Connor could feel that in the little bit of Dirk's mind that he had been able to invade. It frustrated Connor that he couldn't get full access to Dirk's thoughts but he knew that, thanks to the tinge of vampire blood running through the Fledgling's system, Dirk could guard his mind almost as well as a full-blown vampire.
Now there was a thought. Connor considered changing his plan. What would happen if he took it upon himself to turn the Raven? Make young Dirk a true vampire? Would the other Ravens sense it and then come to rescue their wayward relative? Or would the Ravens set out to destroy one of their own who had fallen to the dark side? A traitor to the Raven name.
Oh yes, Connor thought. That would be even sweeter. For the Ravens to hunt one of their own blood with the intention of destroying Dirk. Then, Casey would become his own. There would be no other to compete with him and Connor could drink of the Raven essence to his heart's content. This was a much better plan. One that pleased Connor to no end. And to be truthful, there was not much pleasure of this magnitude in Connor's never-ending life. His fever for violence was barely satisfied when he attacked some worthless human. But a Raven … a couple of Ravens…
It would be Connor's own form of Heaven.
As he lay in the cold darkness, his mind raced, working out the details.
One thing Connor was sure of—Dirk would fight him when Connor attacked. He would fight against the change. Connor would have to pick the right time. Dirk would have to be lulled into a sense that he wasn't threatened.
Casey could be the key to the whole plan. If Connor allowed Dirk to spend all the time that he wanted with the virgin, maybe Dirk would think that Connor no longer yearned for her. Surely Dirk would not turn Casey himself. Connor would make sure that Dirk suffered a full blood drain and then, he would turn his attention to Casey. He didn't want to unleash a new vampire, knowing that there was a virgin in the vicinity. A virgin that the new vampire already had an attachment to.
But how to convince Dirk that he was not such a big threat?
A hunt.
In his mind, Connor smiled widely. His lips were frozen in stasis but his mind was euphoric. He would take his pets, along with Dirk and Casey, on a hunt tonight. Give them free rein of the mountain. Tell them to flush out whatever they could. Make sure that all of the humans nearby were silenced, either by death, draining or both. For the safety of the Clutch. That's the reason he would use. He would allow Dirk and Casey to forage on their own, giving them the sense that he trusted them not to escape. But Connor would watch. Keeping an eye on them shouldn't be a problem.
It would also tell Connor just how much Dirk wanted to destroy this Clutch. If Dirk was a real Raven, then that was why he was here. To destroy them. Ravens were hunters. That was their mission.
And Connor hoped that within a limited amount of time, the Raven would be put out of commission. Satisfied with his new plan, Connor drifted into what was deemed as sleep by his body. His mind was never totally unconscious, but dimmed to allow him to rest. His plan was in the making. He was confident that it would work. He was really looking forward to the game.
* * * *
The bright sun speared John Raven's eyes, causing a sharp pain to join the dull ache that had taken over his head in the night. He turned from the window, drawing the curtains against the offensive light. John wondered if he had been hunting vampires for too long. Even the sun bothered him now. And not only because he already had a headache and was worried sick that his little brother had still not checked in. Dirk's silence boded danger. John needed to know what they were dealing with down in Kentucky. And he needed to know now.
John whipped his waist length hair over his shoulder and crossed the bedroom. Bumping the bed on his way past, he froze. Madison, his beloved and aggravating wife, moaned in her sleep. He let his eyes travel over her, hesitating on the swell of her belly, still in awe that he had found this sensual sprite of a woman. It astounded him that she had agreed to spend the rest of her life with the likes of him.
Damn, he didn't know what he would do if anything ever happened to her.
Carefully, he began to back out of the room, hoping that she didn't come fully awake. He didn't want to deal with her quick tongue at the moment, because he knew what she would say. She would say that Dirk was a grown man. That Dirk knew what he was doing. That Dirk had spent his life in the shadow of the vampire and that John should allow him to be the fearless man that he was. Madison would never agree to what John was considering at the moment to find Dirk. John didn't want to argue with her about it. Mostly because it was extremely hard to win an argument with Ms. Madison Woods-Raven. Especially now, with her hormones raging from her pregnancy. The thought of the baby brought an immediate smile to John's lips. A son. How he would love a son. But a daughter, with her mother's cinnamon colored hair and emerald green eyes would be just as special. The thought of the impending birth made John nervous and that frustrated him. He was not used to being nervous. He was always in control.
And now it seemed things had spun completely off kilter. With a slow breath, he moved out of the bedroom and into the hall of the third floor, closing the door silently behind him. He moved quietly down to the main level of the huge house, his thoughts centered on just what he was going to do about his wayward brother. When he turned the corner to head for his office, he stopped dead in his tracks.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.
“Well, that's a nice welcome home,” Drake Raven replied, a glass of orange juice in his hand. “I can tell you haven't had your first cup of coffee yet.”
“Hmph,” John said, entering the office.
Drake trailed behind him. “So, how's the home front?” he asked, plopping his long, lean body down in the chair in front of the desk. He threw one leg over the arm of the chair, leaning sideways and looking very comfortable for someone just returning from a vampire hunt. Drake sipped his orange juice, his light brown eyes bright and alert.
John sat down at his desk and appraised his cousin's appearance.
The wildest of the five Ravens left of the Unkindness, Drake Raven was always 'out there.' Drake loved a fight, never tried to conceal his fangs and more or less, loved being himself. With the trademark black hair of the Raven line and the height of his father Paine, Drake had no trouble finding a willing female whenever the mood struck him. He wore his hair short and spiked and, like John, usually wore leather. But Drake's leather was accentuated with studs and spikes that glinted like steel teeth when he walked. This morning was no different. Wearing a ripped black T-shirt and black leather pants with studs down the outside seam, Drake had accessorized his outfit with leather cuffs on both wrists that were decorated with five rows of metal spikes. John thought he looked like any mother's nightmare but there was a gentleness in Drake's light brown eyes that seduced women into trusting him even though he looked like the roughest game in town. Drake's eyes were large, flecked with gold and the thick black lashes surrounding them looked almost fake.
But his grin, eagerly showing long, sharp fangs, was pure devil.
“You don't look any worse for wear,” John said, leaning back in his chair. “Things turn out okay?”
Drake gulped the last of his juice down and smacked his lips. “Piece of cake. What's next? I hear you sent Dirk down to the hills on his own. What's up with that?”
John scowled, his headache adding a drumming thump to his thoughts. “I should have never allowed him to go on his own.”
Drake dropped his leg that was swung over the arm of the chair to the floor and leaned forward. “Sounds like trouble. Has he checked in?”
John shook his head. “No. And I don't like this feeling I have about the whole thing. I'm thinking of going down there myself.”
“Somebody needs to go,” a baritone voice said from the doorway.
John looked up to find his other
cousin, Holt, leaning against the doorframe.
“I managed to gain some information from one of the monsters that we just dispatched before I sent him to Hell. It's about the Kentucky Clutch,” Holt said. His face was made of stone, giving away the fact that what he was saying was serious.
“So…” John said, “…what do you know?”
Holt pushed off of the doorframe and entered the room. John could feel Holt's footfalls reverberating through the floor as he walked to the desk and perched on the edge of it.
“I know who the leader of the Kentucky Clutch is.” Holt stared levelly at John.
If Holt weren't John's cousin, he would feel very intimidated by the huge man. Holt was the largest of them all. Proud of his body, he worked to maintain his immense muscles. His face was always serious. John couldn't remember the last time he had seen Holt smile. Holt kept his shoulder length hair, slick and blue-black, tied at the nape of his neck in the tight band. It served to make his face, though handsome, look harsh.
John tapped a finger on the desktop. “Who?”
“Connor Fagan.”
John's heart lurched. Connor Fagan. The monster who had almost destroyed their family. And John had sent Dirk by himself to deal with the most powerful vampire on the face of the Earth.
“I'll go,” John said. He got up from his chair. “I'll leave in an hour.”
“Who's going where and why?” Eric had entered the office, sleepy-eyed and barely awake. “What's going on?” He looked around at the faces. “Drake. Holt. Glad you're back in one piece.”
“Holt just dropped a bombshell,” Drake said rising from his chair. He gestured toward John. “And Johnny-boy here thinks he's going to run off to kill him a big vampy.”
“Huh? I'm lost,” Eric said, shuffling to the chair Drake had just vacated.
“Holt just let us know that the mission that I sent Dirk on … alone … involves Connor Fagan,” John said.
Eric blinked. “I'm in then. When do we leave?”
“Now wait just a damn minute,” Drake said, his voice rising. “Neither one of you are going.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” John asked, anger filling him. It was his fault that Dirk was in danger and he was going to help him.
“You and Eric both now have wives to think about. Did you forget that?” Drake said.
“Of course not,” John countered.
“Holt and I will go. You two stay here. Especially you, John. That baby of yours could show his face any minute,” Holt said.
John stormed forward. “I will decide who goes and who stays.” He pointed a finger at Drake. “Do you forget who's in charge here?”
Drake smiled widely and took a step closer to John. “You may be in charge, cousin, but think about it. What's more important? Your thirst for revenge to destroy the vampire who killed your father? Or being here with your wife when your child is born? Do you really want to take a chance on getting yourself killed, or worse, when Madison needs you? When your baby needs you?”
John gritted his teeth. Drake was right. Even though he desperately wanted to confront Connor Fagan face to face, John knew that Madison needed him. And Lydia needed Eric. John was letting his emotions get in the way of making the right decision. It was the most logical choice to send Holt and Drake to back up Dirk. They were unattached and were strong as oxen. He looked between Holt and Drake. “Are you two rested enough from the last job?”
Holt nodded. Drake folded his arms across his chest. “I told you,” he said, “it was a piece of cake.”
“What do you think?” John asked Eric.
Eric swiped a hand through his hair. “I don't think our wives would appreciate us going out on a job. At least not both of us at the same time. If Drake and Holt are ready, they should go.”
John took a deep breath. This wasn't something he wanted to do. Send his cousins in his place. He still felt that he should be the one to go. After all, he was the one who had put Dirk in danger by letting him go off by himself. But … he had to decide with his head, not his heart.
“How soon will you two be ready to leave?” He looked at Drake.
“Now.” Holt said, standing up from his perch on the desk. He shook himself, straightening his massive shoulders.
“Alright then. Get ready. Take off. Call in when you get there. And when you locate Dirk,” John said.
Holt exited the office, moving like a mass of granite. Drake followed.
John moved to the window and flung back the drape. The sun seared its way into the room, driving spikes into John's eyes. He squinted against the glare but forced himself not to let the curtain fall. He needed the sun on his face to remind him of their purpose. The purpose of the Unkindness.
To keep the world in the light.
God, I hope I'm doing the right thing, he thought, letting his face warm in the sun.
Chapter Six
Dirk awoke with a start. He jerked, sitting up in one jarring motion. It took him a few moments to orient himself and realize where he was.
In a coal mine, occupied by vampires.
With the love of his life, Casey Delaney, still sleeping soundly beside him.
Dirk watched her for a moment, surprised that his quick movements hadn't awakened her. The only sounds were the echoing drip of water and the soft sigh of Casey's breathing. Her breath was shallow, the paleness of her skin a telling reminder that she had been out of the sunlight for too long. Dirk brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek. He noticed the curl of her long eyelashes, the fullness of her lips that still carried a blush of their escapade earlier.
Suddenly, Dirk froze. His eyes traveled around the cavern-like room. A stinging pain began in his stomach, the sourness of fear boiling in him. Quickly, he stood.
He could see in the dark. Clearly. Not just shadowy images but as clearly if there was a candle lit. There was no lit candle. That only meant one thing. Dirk's blood was morphing. The taint of the vampire DNA was invading his body and starting to take over. This was not good. Not good at all. Dirk raked his fingers through his hair. He shrugged his shoulders, stretching the chill out of his muscles. He needed to find a way to get to his car and his cell. He needed to contact the Unkindness before things got even more dangerous.
Dirk wondered what time it was. He didn't wear a watch. No self-respecting vampire needed to wear a watch. They instinctively knew what time the sun set and rose and that was all that mattered. Time had no meaning to a creature that was immortal. Right now, Dirk's internal body clock told him that it must be late evening. He had slept far too long. He should have been awake long ago and doing research on the Clutch. It must have been the 'attention' that Casey had shown him earlier. Just the thought of her mouth closing over him, hot and wet, made him twitch with lust.
Now was not the time for such thoughts.
He needed to formulate some sort of plan. One to get to his car without raising questions from the others. And another one to figure out the best way to destroy the monsters and save Casey in the bargain.
Why is this so hard? he thought as he began to pace. I can't get my thoughts straight. Can't seem to focus on the matters that are most serious.
Dirk glanced over at the sleeping Casey. She moaned, turning over. Then her hand patted the place where he had lain, searching. Her eyes fluttered open.
“Dirk?”
He smiled softly. “I'm here.” He crossed to her and knelt down. “How are you feeling?”
Casey grimaced. “I'm feeling a desperate need for a hot shower and a massage,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand. “I can barely see you. Is there a candle somewhere?”
Dirk looked around, not wanting to share with her the fact that he could see her clearly. “I don't see one. Do you want to head back out to the main chamber? There are candles there.”
Casey rose from the pile of canvas and stretched her arms over her head. Dirk stood. “I guess we might as well,” Casey said, dropping her arms from her stretch
and draping them around Dirk's neck. She moved closer, pressing against him. “If we don't go, they'll just come looking.”
Dirk wanted to claim her mouth with his right then and there but he knew if he did, there would be no turning back. Instead, he smiled down at her upturned face and took her by the wrists, lowering her arms down to her sides. “Let's show our faces then,” he said, keeping one of her small hands wrapped in his.
An odd look crossed her face but she didn't pull out of his grasp. Dirk, holding Casey's hand, started for the opening to their private chamber.
* * * *
Connor Fagan had been awake for an hour, listening.
He roamed the corridors of the mine, concentrating intently on Casey. She had been dreaming. Connor could see ghostly images pulled from her psyche.
Images of cemeteries and headstones. His own face, first handsome, then monstrous. Flickers of scenery flying by, as if she were running. Then … the Fledgling. Dirk's features were glowing in her mind. Connor frowned, realizing that Casey was already entranced by the young one. He could tell by the way she pictured him in her dreams. By the things that she dreamed of him doing to her.
Connor walked, head down, his long white hair flowing behind him like he was walking against the wind. What is more important? he asked himself in his thoughts. The woman, one of many that he could have if he truly wanted? Or Raven blood, rich and heady? The blood of Ravens. That's what was more important. And if things worked out for the better, Connor could have both. Suck the Ravens dry, then lure Casey into his web by pure thought. Connor could do it, of that he was sure.
Connor stopped and cocked his head. She was awake now. And she was close. He braced his hand against the rock, digging his nails into the coal dust that had settled into a crevice there. Casey was awake and she was searching for Dirk. Dirk had left her bed and it had made Casey feel bereft. So, Connor thought, she is already attached to him. He shoved off the wall and started in the direction of the main entrance chamber. Time to start the night. Connor shook off the feelings of jealousy, so alien to him, and began to figure out the final details to his plan.
Dirk The Savior - Book 3 of the Raven Series Page 7