“After midnight then,” she said, already trying to figure out what excuse she would give Julian to quit work early. Whatever it was, it would have to be something that would keep him from coming up to her apartment after the bar closed.
Before she even disconnected the call, the thought of not seeing Julian tonight tightened her chest. As much as she hated to admit it, during all her sleepless hours after he left, she’d thought of little else but having sex with him again.
He’d promised that making love with him next time would be an even greater experience, that it would be even more intense, although she couldn’t for the life of her imagine how that could be possible. Their lovemaking last night was incredible, almost beyond comprehension. And the way she’d been spun through time . . . If she hadn’t experienced it herself, she would have never believed something like that was possible.
Suddenly, she remembered Michael telling her about Julian’s needs, and she let out a worried gasp. What if Julian wouldn’t let her go home when it was time for her to leave New Orleans? With all his extraordinary powers, could he somehow force her to stay against her will, maybe even turn her into a vampire like himself? The frightening possibility made her legs turn to rubber, and she stumbled across the room and sank down on the edge of the bed.
At the thought of becoming a vampire, of having to drink blood to survive, her heart pounded so hard the sound reverberated in her ears. She began to hyperventilate, something she had done only once—the time she’d rushed around her apartment gathering as many of her belongings as she could before her ex-husband came home in one of his wild rages.
What she was feeling now was the same kind of terror she’d felt then, only this time the fear and panic were worse. She gripped the edge of the mattress, closed her eyes and forced herself to take long, shallow breaths until she was breathing normally again. Then, she opened her eyes and looked around the small apartment.
Could—would—Julian imprison her here? Could he turn her into a vampire so he could have her as his mate? Her mind raced frantically for the answers, and she raised a hand to the pendant around her neck. The moment she touched it, her confusion ebbed.
She’d made love with Julian last night, and she was none the worse for it. There was no reason to have a panic attack. And when she found Dottie, Julian wouldn’t be able to hold her here. She was still Simone LeClerc, and she still had her free will. She could—and would—walk away from him when it was time.
The pep talk didn’t convince her completely, but she had more important things to do than sit here and worry about what Julian might or might not do. She had to meet with Deke Williams and his friend, and if what Deke said was true, his friend would give her solid information about Dottie’s disappearance. Hopefully that information would lead her to her stepsister.
Until it was time to meet Deke, she’d forget about Julian and put the hours until she had to report to work to the best use possible. She’d call her stepfather and do whatever she could to reassure him that there was still hope. Next, she’d call his doctor and give him the information he needed to supply the DNA in the event, God forbid, she didn’t find Dottie alive.
The decision to take some action made her feel more in control. She rose, went into the living room and found her cell phone. After debating a few seconds on who to call first, her stepfather or his doctor, she decided on the former and punched in her stepfather’s number.
AN HOUR AFTER his return from the Blood Bank Laboratory, Julian was wide awake even though it was daylight outside. Completely recovered from his injury, he enjoyed being able to stretch out again in his soft, king-size bed like mortal men.
Mortal men. If everything went right with Simone, he soon might be one of them again. He had to be one of them again soon. So much depended on it. Since the hurricane, not only was Zurik and his clan trying to claim New Orleans as their own, but there were signs of other vampire clans scouting the area.
And New Orleans was not the only vulnerable area of the country. He knew his brothers were dealing with the same problems on their home turfs. The safety of humankind rested in Simone’s hands, and she didn’t even know it. Worse, he couldn’t tell her—was physically incapable of telling her. The Legacy’s curse wouldn’t let him speak of it to anyone but Michael.
He closed his eyes, and his thoughts wandered from the great responsibility that lay ahead for him and his brothers, to Simone. He became instantly hard at the memory of the heart-stopping sex he’d had with her. It had been exactly as he’d known it would be. He couldn’t wait to crawl into her bed again and cover her body with his. He’d slide his cock into her slick, welcoming warmth and drive her crazy—drive them both crazy. And it would not only be enjoyable, but it would bring the fulfillment of the Legacy one step closer to reality.
A wide yawn caught him by surprise, and without warning, his body suddenly plummeted toward the edge of death. As his breathing and heartbeat slowed, he felt himself grow cold. Then, as he felt death overtake him, he knew that while he slept he’d dream of making love with Simone.
“IS EVERYTHING okay with you, Simone? You look fatigued.”
Simone looked up from the lemons and limes she’d just finished slicing. Julian stood so close their arms touched. She shivered. Just that slight contact with him shot a sexual thrill through her from head to toe. How could she possibly give up making love with him again tonight?
She really had no choice, she reminded herself. And Julian’s comment had given her the perfect opening she needed to put her plans into action.
“I am unusually tired tonight. I feel like I may be coming down with something.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She’d started feeling tired and achy around mid-afternoon and had put it down to lack of sleep. She’d been able to take a short nap, but when she awoke she’d felt worse than before. She was operating now on a double dose of aspirin.
Julian moved closer. “Perhaps last night was too much, too soon.”
There was such concern in his voice that she felt a twinge of guilt for her planned meeting with Deke. Maybe she should tell Julian what was going on.
But she couldn’t. Deke had been clear. Either she came alone or his friend would disappear. She couldn’t lose a clue to Dottie’s whereabouts because of her feelings for Julian.
“Maybe it was too much too soon,” she said, bending down to place the bowl of sliced fruit in the under-the-bar refrigerator, “but I really think I’m coming down with a cold or the flu.” She straightened and backed away from him. “You should keep your distance for the time being,” she warned, covering her mouth with her hand and following her statement with a couple of deep, wheezing coughs. She knew they sounded real. She’d been the best fake cougher in grade school and had managed to finagle several sick days a year that way.
Catching Julian’s eye, she deliberately caused her eyelids to droop. It wasn’t difficult since her lids already felt heavy. “Do you think I could end my shift early and go upstairs? I think I have a temperature, and suddenly I’m very sleepy.”
There was a degree of truth in that statement as well. She did feel feverish. She always did when she was seriously fatigued. And making love with Julian last night, followed by her bout of insomnia, had definitely wiped her out.
Julian’s brows creased with concern and he touched her gently on the shoulder. “Go up to bed now. I’ll check on you later.”
“No,” she said a little too quickly. “Please. I’ll be fine. If you come up you’ll probably wake me and then I’ll be up all night again.”
Julian gave her a seductive smile, and she realized he thought she meant that if he checked on her, they’d wind up having sex again. She felt herself flush. Oh, if only he knew how she wished that was the case!
“If you think that’s best, of course I’ll stay away. But suppose you need something?”
“If I need any
thing, I promise I’ll let you know. Besides, didn’t you tell me you can tell when I’m really upset?”
Julian nodded, his expression serious. “Go, then. Get some sleep.” As she turned to leave, he said, “If you should wake before dawn—”
“I’ll call you,” she interrupted, blowing him a kiss as she ducked behind the privacy wall and headed upstairs.
An hour later, Simone’s stomach clenched as she crept down the apartment’s outside stairs. By the time she reached the sidewalk she felt as though her knees might give way.
What if Julian decided to ignore her request and go upstairs to check on her? It had been obvious he was genuinely concerned about her so it was certainly something he might do. In fact, he probably would do it, and when he found her gone . . .
She had to take the risk. She had to meet Deke and his friend. She would find out what they knew and then get back to the apartment as fast as possible. With luck, she’d get a bona fide lead that she could pass on to Julian, and he and Michael could take it from there. If the meeting was a bust, she’d be no worse off than she was now and Julian would never know she had gone against his wishes. Unless he caught her.
It took her longer to reach The Next Level than it had the first time she’d gone there. Her step definitely wasn’t as quick as usual. No doubt her lack of sleep, combined with her apprehension about what she might learn about Dottie, not to mention her guilt about Julian, was taking its toll. And she felt even more feverish. She should have taken another dose of aspirin before she’d set out for The Next Level.
Wearily, she pushed open the door to the bar and stepped inside. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the dark, smoky interior before she spotted Deke at a back table. Her heart sank. He was alone.
Where was his friend? Had she lied to Julian for nothing?
By the time she made her way to Deke’s table, she was so exhausted she felt ready to collapse. She sat without waiting for an invitation, looked at Deke Williams, and weakly asked, “Where’s your friend?”
“He couldn’t make it tonight after all. He said he’ll be in touch with you later.”
“You told me he would be here,” she said, her temper flaring. She wanted to reach across the table and throttle him, and probably would have if she could have found the strength.
Deke’s stone-faced expression didn’t change. “Something came up at the last minute that he couldn’t get out of.”
An uneasy feeling settled over Simone, and she studied the man sitting across the table from her. He looked like Deke Williams, but there was something not quite right about him—something about his voice.
Suddenly, she broke into a cold sweat. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. She shouldn’t have come here.
She stopped herself. Shouldn’t haves wouldn’t accomplish anything. She had to get out of here.
Grabbing the edge of the table she pushed herself up from the chair. “I think my coming here was a mistake.”
Deke reached into the pocket of his shirt. Simone felt the blood drain from her face when he opened his hand to reveal the gold clasp through which Dottie always threaded her scarf. There was no doubt it belonged to her stepsister. Simone had had it specially made last year for Dottie’s birthday. The initial “D” was centered in a silver and gold rope design.
The room started to spin and she forced herself to sit again, fearing if she didn’t, she’d fall to the floor. “Where did you get this?”
She reached for the clasp, but Deke closed his fingers around it. “It belongs to my friend.”
“Who is this friend of yours? What’s his name? And how did he get Dottie’s clasp?”
“He’ll tell you everything when you see him,” Deke said, then slid the clasp across the table toward her. “He told me to give it to you. He doesn’t need it anymore.”
She was chilled by the implication that if Deke’s friend no longer needed Dottie’s clasp, it could mean it was already too late to save her. Simone snatched up the clasp before he could change his mind and stood so fast she felt faint again.
Deke had risen with her, and he kicked his chair back. “I’ll walk you home.”
She didn’t want him to walk her home. She didn’t know what was going on, but this definitely wasn’t the same kind, grieving man she had met the other day. She didn’t trust him to walk her to the club’s door let alone all the way to Mikes.
“I can get home by myself,” she said, and turning away from him, she walked unsteadily to the entrance.
Deke was right behind her when she stepped out onto the sidewalk. She breathed in a greedy gulp of air. After a few more deep breaths, her head cleared a little, but her legs were getting shakier by the second. She had to get home. And fast.
“You don’t look good,” Deke told her, closing the distance between them.
She wasn’t about to let him know just how bad she felt. “I’m just angry that your friend stood me up.”
She had slipped the clasp into her jeans pocket, and she touched it to reassure herself it was still there as she started walking down the sidewalk.
There were more people on the street tonight than she’d seen since the hurricane. Obviously, most of them were drinking their way through the few bars and lounges that were open, she decided, as she sidestepped a drunk who slipped and almost fell into the gutter.
A sudden wave of weakness hit her hard. Instinctively, she reached out for one of the black iron posts that had tethered horses a century ago.
“Let me help you,” Deke insisted.
This time she didn’t resist when he took her arm. It took less energy to accept his help than it did to fend him off. Her only thought now was to get home as fast as she could and crawl into bed.
She stumbled and staggered the couple of blocks to Mike’s. When she finally reached the entrance that led to the upstairs apartment, she went weak with relief.
She reached for the knob on the gate and was just about to reluctantly thank Deke for accompanying her when a large black animal leaped out of the shadows. Its dagger-sharp teeth were bared as it charged toward her. She screamed. Then her legs folded beneath her and she fell into blessed darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
MICHAEL STOOD on the opposite side of the bed from where Julian sat holding Simone’s limp hand between both of his.
Julian looked up. “How is she?”
Having just drawn a vial of Simone’s blood, Michael answered as honestly as he could. “She’s burning up with fever and her heart is laboring.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with her?”
He had a very good idea what was wrong with her, but he needed to run a couple of tests before he could answer Julian’s question with certainty.
“I need to do some work in the lab before I know for sure,” he told Julian, trying to impart the seriousness of Simone’s condition without adding to his friend’s already grave concern.
He’d gained enough medical knowledge and training throughout the centuries to qualify him for a medical degree anywhere in the world. During the many years of his unconventional medical practices, he’d often had to isolate and treat serious diseases in the vampire community that did not affect the human population. And this, he felt, looking down at Simone, might well be the most deadly of them all.
When Simone came down to work tonight he’d noticed that she didn’t have her usual spark. However, it wasn’t until he’d caught sight of the nearly invisible mark on her neck, so faint it would be missed by anyone with normal vision, that he became concerned. Rather than mention his immediate suspicion to Julian and cause him undue worry, he’d gone up to Simone’s apartment soon after she left work to check on her. When there was no answer to his knock, he’d used his master key and found the apartment empty.
When he’d told Julian about her disappea
rance, Julian was beside himself. “That damned note,” he had exclaimed angrily, “it must have contained something to make her leave.” Julian had struck the wall with his fist. “I told her not to go anyplace alone, that it wasn’t safe.”
“Telling her was one thing, expecting her to listen was something else,” Michael had told Julian. “Do you have any idea what was in the note?”
Julian struck the wall again. “No. I didn’t read it. I figured it was her private business, but now I could kick myself back into the last century for not reading it. Damn it all. How are we going to find her?”
Michael knew if the same atmospheric conditions were present tonight as had existed the night he went out looking for Simone’s stepsister, he would have the same negative result. But, luckily, the air hadn’t been so polluted all day, so he should have a much better chance for success tonight.
He’d told as much to Julian, and then he’d gone into the bathroom, lifted Simone’s still damp bath towel to his nose, and a few minutes later he was outside The Next Level. He knew the lounge often harbored vampires of Zurik’s clan and, on occasion, even Zurik himself.
He’d waited outside until Simone and a strange man came out. After one whiff he knew the man was associated with Zurik. He’d followed them back to Mike’s, shifted, and taken care of the man at the outside gate. Then he’d turned the man over to a couple of Julian’s watchers while he’d carried an unconscious Simone upstairs.
Michael lifted Simone’s hand, felt her pulse and put a hand to her forehead. “I need to get down to the lab and run the tests on her blood to be certain my initial diagnosis is correct,” he told Julian, who was watching him intently.
“You’re pretty sure what it is already though, aren’t you?” Julian continued to stare at him, no doubt looking for some uncertainty in Michael’s answer.
“I’ve seen the symptoms only twice before, and the last time was in the fifteenth century. I hardly think I have enough experience to make a definite diagnosis on observation alone, but I’m still betting on my original assumption.”
The Vampire Julian Page 13