by Loni Lynne
"You have traveled far these past few days, and I would like for you to settle in before I ask you to join me." He peered at his expensive Cartier watch. "It's early morning here in Cluj. Perhaps a rest to set you on schedule after a morning meal might be on order. My staff is at your disposal. They can prepare you a menu of your choosing and have it sent to your suite."
"Thank you. That would be wonderful."
Now she only hoped she wouldn't be drugged and left for a potential vampire meal in the meantime.
Aiden wondered if his dear brother knew that his CFO was MIA. Not that he gave a shit, but if his brother was going through serious difficulties then he'd love to lord it over him. Not only that, but it would cause chaos in the Delvante clan and make it easier for Aiden to send his people out on their missions without having to deal with Rick's "avengers" in the way.
"Rick Delvante please," Aiden said into the phone to the receptionist at the Dacian compound. "No, you may not ask who is calling. But if he needs to know, just tell him his long lost brother." Aiden studied his well manicured fingers as he waited. Would Rick pick up?
"What do you want, Aiden?"
"Ah, so you did pick up."
"It's better to know than to wonder where you are concerned," Rick said.
"Yes well, I will have you know that this has nothing to do with me, but I thought you might be interested…"
"Get on with it. What's so important that you would deem it worthy to tell me?"
Aiden didn't care for his brother's short-handed tone. They might share their father's blood, but Rick had been the bastard child. "Did you know your Chief Financial Officer is missing?"
"Diane?" There was a momentary shock to Rick's voice. "What do you mean, missing?"
"She's been out searching for her daughter for nearly a month."
"And how do you know this?"
Aiden didn't question Rick's thoughts. More than once had he tried to get to him on various levels using tactics of cunning and conning. It was a favorite pastime for him. But this time, for some reason, he had the upper hand.
"I know this because her daughter told me."
"Marilyn?"
"Yes. She's quite beautiful, witty, intelligent…a true delight." Aiden toyed to get another rise out of Rick.
"Where is she? Leave her alone."
"She is perfectly safe, dear brother—why so protective? What do you have for these simple human beings anyway? I never understood your fascination. They are born, live maybe a century if they are unlucky enough, and die. They're inferior to our kind, like cattle to humans—good for food but not much more."
"Where. Is. Marilyn?"
Intrigued by his enemy's curiosity he decided to play along. "She's with me. We had originally planned to meet and work together over a month ago, but it seems she was detoured by your beastly lackey. Really Rick, why are you trying to keep her away from me? We were only going to discuss her research project on Dacian folklore and antiquities. I found her thesis quite remarkable for an American university history student."
There was silence for awhile on the other end of the line. "What do you want, Aiden?"
"Want? Why nothing, dear brother. I was only concerned for the welfare of your CFO and trying to help her daughter locate her. I thought perhaps you knew of her whereabouts."
"I'll look into it on my end. In the meantime…"
"…yes?"
"I'll have one of my men come for Marilyn and take her somewhere safe."
"Like you did last time? Oh, I don't think so. I think I'm going to enjoy Miss Reddlin's company for awhile. I've been lonely without female companionship. We shall have a time talking history and literature, discussing worldly topics for a good thirty or forty years at least, unless she decides to become my beloved."
"When hell freezes over, Aiden. You will not harm a single hair on her head, and there will not be a drop of her blood shed to feed your gnarly hide." Rick's voice was so level, so calm, but the underlying tone of panic was definitely there.
"Did I say anything about harming her? Not a word. I intend to take very good care of her. I've never been so enthralled with a woman of auburn hair."
"You're a sick bastard, Aiden. I swear if any harm befalls her I will have your ass nailed to my wall as a trophy."
Aiden laughed. Oh, this was too much fun! He'd found a weak link in his brother's holier than thou armor. "Just make sure when you do that my ass faces up…so you can kiss it whenever the mood strikes."
He hung up the phone receiver because he loved having the last word. Now, on to some real fun.
Nonni tilled her garden, pushing her mule hard to get the plow edge to cut into the frozen ground. It was still early spring but it wouldn't be long before she could plant a new harvest. She wished her boys were here to do this labor, but they were busy elsewhere.
Looking up at the murky gray sky she muttered, "I hope you know what you are doing. I am only your humble daughter."
A large, long black car pulled up outside of her fence line. Her old eyes peered at the ominous automobile. "I was only joking, father. I am not ready for death to take me."
The driver's door opened and a man wearing a black suit and cap got out, walked around to the passenger's side and ushered out a familiar looking man…one she hadn't seen face to face in many years, but she still knew him. He hadn't changed at all, except for his modern attire.
Tying the reigns around the yoke of the plow, she patted her old mule and walked to meet the man.
"Nonni." He nodded at her.
"I know who you are. I believe you go by the name, Rick Delvante now." She narrowed her gaze at him. "What do you want? Make it quick, I have work to do."
"I need your help."
"Oh, ho-ho! You need my help now, do ye?" She spit on the ground and waved him off. "I have no need for you—"
"Nonni, please. I'm begging you…"
"Begging? Begging? The great Delvante begs for my help? Wouldn't Zamolxis be proud…begging, indeed." She walked away, back to her work.
"It's not me I'm asking for—it's Marilyn Reddlin."
Nonni stopped and turned. Glancing up at the sky she gave a prayer. "What is wrong with her?"
"Aiden has her. He's keeping her prisoner and gods only know what else." He sighed, raking a nervous hand through his neatly kept hair.
"Why has she gone back to him? I thought Draylon protects her?"
"She somehow managed to turn herself over to Aiden."
"Why would she do such a foolish thing?"
"She was looking for her mother, Diane Reddlin, my chief financial officer. Aiden called to inform me that Marilyn came to him, looking for her after she'd been missing for nearly a month."
Nonni hung her head. "She is not missing. She is with Therron and Kurren."
"Where?"
"She went looking for Marilyn in the Hoia Forest, the last place her husband was when they lost touch with him years ago. She thought Marilyn might have gone in search of his remains."
The tic in Rick's jaw didn't bode well. But he had no room to be angry with her. This was all his fault. "Where is she now?" The deadly calm of his question didn't even linger on the air. The air wanted no part of his wrath.
"She is safe with Therron and Kurren. I told you that—"
"Where!" His voice raised in tenor, a vein popped out of his forehead.
Nonni swallowed hard, her hand went to her chest and a cold wave of nausea settled over her. "She is in Dacia."
If the man had the power of the gods, the earth would be trembling and quaking beneath her slippered feet. His silence spoke volumes.
"What is it you wish me to do?" Perhaps she could soothe his anger by placating his wishes.
"Send one of your wolves to fetch Marilyn Reddlin from Aiden's domicile before it's too late for her."
"As you wish, my lord." She bowed her old head. He may not have the power of the gods, but Rick Delvante had mo
re power than she did right now. She didn't want him to use it on her. Now would not be good…too much to do and so little time.
Chapter Sixteen
Draylon wasn't letting Kurren go into Vamier's compound alone. Marilyn was his responsibility and already he'd let Rick down by losing her—twice. He met Ren on the outskirts of the Hoia Forest, ready to take on Aiden to get to Marilyn.
"How did Rick sound?" Draylon asked the wolf pup as they made their way to the border of Vamier's property.
"I don't know. He went to Nonni for help. She only told me that this was a 'do not fail' order."
"Rick went to Nonni?"
Shit. That didn't sound good at all. Rick and Nonni had an understanding. Centuries ago Rick had wanted the woman killed for what she did to the Dacians. But Zamolxis was merciful. Nonni was spared along with her unborn child, but she was banished from Dacia. Rick still thought to this day that it was she who led the Roman Empire into Dacia as her way of getting even for being forced out of her homeland. Why Nonni had come back, no one knew. All she'd say was, "it is the will of the gods."
Just one more reason Marilyn Reddlin might be more than Rick let on. He wouldn't go to all this trouble, especially calling on Nonni, for anyone—not even him.
"Yep." Ren held up his hands. "Hey, don't look at me. I wasn't there. Though it would have been interesting to see. You think those two were lovers at one time?"
"No. They definitely were not lovers."
"What do you know about her? You were around back then."
"I was unconscious from my injuries during the Zmei massacre. All I was told was she'd been a young pregnant woman seeking shelter from an abusive relationship."
"And?"
"There's more to it, I'm sure, but all I know is Rick banished her from Dacia for doing something evil."
"Well, she is a witch. But I can't see Rick having an issue with witchcraft—unless she tried to usurp power from him and the gods."
Draylon shrugged. "I don't know. And Rick isn't saying. I can tell you this, never ask. You'll regret it."
"Good to know."
They made their way to a good starting point, checking out their game plan. "I've never had to infiltrate Vamier's actual home. This may be tricky," Draylon whispered.
"Where do we start?"
"Damned if I know." He thought about his situation for a few minutes. Could he get a mental picture of where Marilyn might be? Trying to connect with her, he came up empty. She wasn't receptive right now. Double damn.
"I want you to go in through the side entrance. I'm heading around back. If you get to Marilyn before me, get her the hell out of there. I don't care how, just do it."
"What about you? Where do you want to meet?"
"We'll meet back here in say an hour and a half. Wait for me no more than ten minutes if you can. If not just book it back to Dacia, to Rick's place."
"You want me to take her there? But…"
"I don't care. I'll deal with the legality of the issues later. Right now, that will be the safest place for her, away from Vamier."
Three days later Marilyn still hadn't heard anything about her mother's whereabouts. It was disheartening to say the least. Each night she'd ask Aiden, as she was told to call him, and he'd sadly tell her he still hadn't received any word from his connections.
In the meantime, he'd been nothing but kind to her. It was difficult to believe that this man could be the enemy Draylon had warned her about. They'd spent their nights discussing ancient Dacian lore and history but instead of the Zmei being benevolent beings helping them in battle, they'd been deceiving, hideous beasts bent on stealing the Dacians' women, destroying their lands and only seeking more power to take over Dacia. He painted quite the ugly picture of them, and Marilyn had doubts about what she'd been taught in the past. History, unfortunately was based on varying perceptions.
Taking tea with Aiden as they discussed, he'd given her free reign to question everything. "No offense, but I'd been under the impression that you were the one to overthrow the Zmei by destroying them because you were in love with the maiden who'd been promised to them."
Aiden snorted. "We were to have been married and the damn beast turned into flame, snuck into her bedchambers, seduced her and carried her away with him to his lair. If that is being promised then I had other ideas of what that meant." He put down his delicate china cup. "No, it had been a hideous plan of attack. Sariana was kidnapped and raped by those bastards. I gathered my closest allies, and we attacked the Zmei cavern to rescue her. We were met with opposition, but we fought gallantly, slaughtering every one of them. We made sure that no other woman would be used for their purpose, ever again."
"All except the one…right?"
"I beg your pardon? What do you mean, 'all except one'?"
Had she let an unknown secret out of the bag? She swallowed her tea and tried to play it off. "I'd heard rumors that one survived, nursed back to health by Zamolxis and a young prophet."
Aiden's blue eyes narrowed into slits, his angular jaw forming more ridges. "And where did you read this?"
"I…um…I'm not sure where I read it. Perhaps in one of the books I picked up on-line on the religions of Eastern Europe or something."
He templed his fingers under his chin. "Fascinating. I thought I'd read every book there was on our history. Or written them," he teased. "You'll have to find this book. I'd love to read more on this theory."
The studious curiosity in his eyes and face had Marilyn sweating and edgy. Had she revealed too much? Had he not known? Was the last Zmeu a secret from his world?
"So tell me, Marilyn, what was it about our history that intrigued you enough to want to make it your major thesis?"
"I suppose my father. He immigrated to the United States from Romania when he was in his early twenties. He was an archeologist and collector of rare Dacian antiquities. His love for the history and pre-history of his country seeped into the fascinating papers he wrote. I started reading them when I was sixteen."
"Hmmm. What was your father's name, I may have worked with him on some projects."
"Richard Reddlin." Marilyn took a sip of her tea. "He died before I was born. Or at least that is what the reports said. The last report was he went on an expedition into the Hoia Forest. So truthfully, I don't know."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Aiden paused. "Richard Reddlin…Richard Reddlin…no, the name doesn't sound familiar, and I thought I knew every scholar on our history. After all, I am the Director of Romanian History."
Marilyn smiled uneasily. She felt like an idiot. He didn't know her father? But her father had been such a well-known Dacian historian. That is what he'd done on his trips to Romania—work on sites and lecture about the past…surely Aiden would've heard of him?
Gerlich came in, silently motioning to Aiden.
"Excuse me, Marilyn, but something has just come up. Would you give me a moment?" He rose from his chair and followed Gerlich out of the study, leaving her alone to her own thoughts. Nothing made sense anymore. Self-consciously she touched the medallion she wore just under her blouse. That was real. It had to be. It was the only real thing she had of her father's memory, if it was from him. She questioned that now, too.
The side door burst open and she gave a startled gasp. A dark-haired, six foot something man stood there. He looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on where they'd met.
"Thank God you are okay." He gasped. "Come on, I need to get you out of here, now!"
"Who are you? What are you talking about?"
"I'm Kurren. We met at Nonni's a few weeks ago…we don't have much time, come on."
She shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere with you…"
"We have your mother. She's safe with my brother Therron," he explained. "Draylon and I were sent to rescue you. This is a dangerous place for you." He glanced around. "I don't have all day to discuss this. Just come on."
"You have my
mother? She's safe?"
Kurren nodded briskly.
"Where's Draylon?"
He looked at his watch. "We are to meet him at a rendezvous point in ten minutes. But we need to hurry before Aiden comes back."
Unsure what to do, Marilyn nibbled her lip. Okay, she'd go, but only because she was to meet up with Draylon. She didn't know this guy, even though he seemed familiar.
She followed Kurren out through a side hallway made of rock that appeared to meander through the ancient mansion like a labyrinth maze. As they moved they came upon various dead end walls.
"Did you not leave a trail of bread crumbs or a spool of thread behind you on your way in?"
"Didn't think about it at the time. It took me long enough to find you as it was."
They finally made their way into a larger more modern hallway. "This way." He pulled her along.
Their escape route was cut short as a pack of blond, anorexic looking groupies stepped into their path.
"Shit," Kurren said under his breath as he flipped his arm and shot a nasty looking blade out of the sleeve of his jacket. "Stay behind me."
The first attacked in a flying leap with fangs bared and razor sharp claws emerging from the fingers. Kurren managed to slice its head off.
Marilyn placed a hand to her mouth to keep from gagging at the site and smell before the decapitated head and body turned to ash before their eyes.
One down, a dozen more to go. They were definitely out numbered, and she had nothing on her. Two more went at Kurren and one came at her. With nothing to fight with, she held out her hand. When her assailant's chest came in contact with her palm, the creature turned to dust within seconds.
Shocked, Marilyn wasn't sure what happened. So when another pounced to take its buddy's place and the same thing happened, she knew it had to be something she did. Kurren noticed her ability and gave her an odd stare as another attacked him. He casually sliced its throat, too.
When they had a clear path littered with piles of ashy remains, he pulled her onward. Still coming to terms with what she could do, she tried to speak, but her conversation was interrupted by another band of the blond brotherhood. Again, they managed to defeat them within moments and moved on.