A Destined Death

by Rayns, Lisa

  Draven… Draven, can you hear me? Please, tell me you’re all right.

  No answer.

  If you can hear me, Draven…I love you.

  ****

  I insisted on taking Hecate to Washington. I took the first driving shift, but I couldn’t concentrate on the road. Draven’s image appeared every ten miles, and I slowed each time until I realized it was only my imagination. When Candy offered to drive for the third time, I let her.

  Ben had passed out in the back seat the minute we left. I, on the other hand, found sleep impossible with Candy speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. Instead, I found myself staring at the scabs on my knuckles, feeling a strange new sense of hope roll over me in one large wave. Lissa had seen the future. She told me I would have to go to France in order to save Draven! The letter finally made sense, and my spirits lifted at the new possibility of success.

  Feeling optimistic for the first time all day, I leaned forward enthusiastically. “I have a question, Tina.”

  “Yeah?”

  “How in the hell did you pull off the whole ‘I have virgin blood’ thing?”

  “I’m only a virgin because…Armando turned me down. Not that I’m a big fan of rejection,” she clarified needlessly, “but he said no because he wants to wait until we’re married. They’re so old-fashioned. I bet Draven rejected you too.”

  Candy giggled, and when I bit my bottom lip, Tina pouted and turned forward in her seat. Eventually, laughter filled the car, relieving a bit of tension.

  “So what’s the deal with you and Draven? Has he just been following you around since your birthday party two years ago or what?”

  The thought unsettled me and left me feeling unbalanced. Had it really been two years? It seemed like only days ago that he’d introduced himself as Interested and saved me from the helicopter. It was a day after that that he saved me from the kids with the knife, and then I made a wish and heard his beautiful voice. Then came the night he begged me not to go to college, to use my precious time to enjoy my life. I’d been so foolish then. I could have wished for him every night, and he would have been there––but I hadn’t. I would wish for him now if I didn’t think it would cause him pain to not be able to fulfill it.

  Candy finally broke my train of thought with a giggle. “Okay, I guess Armando didn’t tell her everything.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Will you tell her, Candy?” I asked as I gazed out the side window. “I don’t think I can right now.”

  “Yes, Milady. In 1944, Draven and Alicia planned to be married but she died on their wedding day. It was the same day that Draven became a vampire. He’s been chasing her soul ever since. Now she’s been born into Elizabeth, and they plan to finally make the reunion permanent.”

  Tina scowled. “Then why haven’t they done it yet? All of this would be a whole lot simpler if she was a vampire.”

  There it was. In one sentence, Tina had correctly placed the blame on me, and I felt sick again, knowing it was my fault. I should have married Draven the instant he asked me.

  Candy spoke up defensively, “Because they wanted Armando there and Armando wanted Coty. Thanks to Elizabeth, they’re finally a family again, and it’s important for everyone––”

  “All right! All right! Geez. What’s so dangerous about going to Paris anyway?”

  Candy glanced at me until I nodded. “We’re marks, meaning we’ve been bitten. Vampires can smell that, and our scent calls to them. Plus, being around other vampires makes us more conspicuous. We’ll stand out like a bright red apple in a group of oranges. We’ll be easy to find, and since we already know about vampires, they won’t think twice about attacking. Besides that, they have no trouble killing tourists, and Draven tells me that Paris is like Vampire Central. It doesn’t make for an easy situation.”

  Tina wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  “You can change your mind,” I offered. “You’re welcome to stay in Seattle at the mansion.”

  “I’m going,” she said softly.

  “I’m going to fix this,” I promised, even though I had no idea how yet. Lissa knew the answer, and she’d told me it lay in the eye of Osiris. All I needed to do was figure out what it was.

  Candy spent an hour sharing everything Armando told her about Coty, and we all memorized the details. She also called her “paper man” in Seattle who promised to have the papers ready in three days’ time.

  “Great, now we just need a brilliant plan, an incredible bargaining chip, and we’re off to Paris. Any ideas yet?” I asked hopefully.

  Candy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Well, I was going to bring this up later but I’m thinking about going to Johnny.”

  “Absolutely not,” I said, gaping at her. “He’ll kill you after what happened last time.”

  She shrugged. “I think he has too much fun playing with me to kill me. Besides, he’s the only vampire I know how to get a hold of. I know he’ll talk to me, and I know he’s had dealings with the Elders.”

  I shivered, remembering his cold turquoise eyes and the fear he instilled when he walked toward me. I rubbed my arms. “Let’s save that as a last resort.”

  “Well, maybe I can find something online. Um…what did Draven say?” Candy asked delicately.

  “He begged me not to try to find him.”

  “What are you two talking about?” Tina gasped. “When did you talk to him?”

  “Before he left.”

  “No you didn’t. I would have heard––”

  “Draven and Elizabeth have a special bond,” Candy explained. “They can talk with their minds, like telepathy.”

  “Then talk to him now!” Tina demanded. “Ask him what to use for a bargaining chip!”

  I returned my attention to the window, wiping away tear after tear.

  “What’s wrong with you? Why won’t you do it?”

  “I don’t think she can hear him right now,” Candy said softly. “They must have some way to block his communication.”

  “Beyond death,” Draven had said. “Our bond stretches beyond everything.” If that were true, then why couldn’t I hear him now? If he were already dead, I was putting more people in danger for nothing. Shaking my head, I quickly dismissed the idea. Lissa knew he was still alive. And if Draven were dead, I knew I would feel it. I would feel the world dissolving around me, and I wouldn’t be able to go on. He had to be alive.

  ****

  We finally arrived at Draven’s mansion around sunset, all of us exhausted. Candy led Ben and Tina to close rooms and retired herself only when I insisted. I felt drained too, but I had something important to do before I slept. In the French room, I dug out the letter that I’d hidden under the mattress and reread it before I slept on the floor in the Egyptian room.

  Two Lissa’s lifted me off the floor with the Egyptian rug. They tossed me up into the air like a child on a blanket. Both smiled happily like I was in the right place for a change.

  Charles woke me up at noon, wearing a scarf pulled as tight as his smile. “Brunch is served,” he said brusquely.

  When I made it to the marble table, Tina and Candy were already eating. Tina raved about the size of the mansion but I spent a moment recounting the moment when Draven had set me on the table nude. I smiled pleasantly until my eyes fell on an irritated gaze. “Thank you, Charles. I’m sorry we didn’t call first.”

  “Oh, I called,” Candy assured me.

  “What’s wrong then?”

  Charles glared at me and then excused himself.

  “Why’s he acting so weird?” I whispered.

  Candy shrugged as she cut up her pancake. “My guess is withdrawal. He hasn’t been bitten in a while. No worries, Milady.”

  Surprisingly, her usage of the ancient title actually felt reassuring but I didn’t smile. “Does he…know?”

  “I’ll tell him after brunch.”

  I nodded because he had a right to know but after he’d insinuated that I’d only hur
t Draven again, I was acutely aware of how unpleasant his response might be. “Has anyone seen Ben?”

  “He’s out mailing that cross necklace to a safe place,” Candy said. “Is he going to help us?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “What can I do to help?” Tina asked.

  I thought for a moment. “You can finish planning my wedding. Maybe we could do a double.”

  Tina’s eyes filled with delight. “Really?

  “If you want, but you’ll have to do all of your shopping online or by phone.”

  “Why?” she snapped.

  “Just trust me,” I replied harsher than I meant it to be.

  “Fine, but we should pick colors and dress styles together––”

  “Oh! So far the color is blood red, and I already have my dress. Is it still in the trunk of the car, Candy?”

  “Oh no, Milady! I hung it in your wardrobe immediately. It’s safe and sound.”

  I eyed her curiously. “So when you say my wardrobe…do you mean in the French room? Really, I could be looking all day.”

  Candy giggled. “I’m sorry. It’s in yours and Draven’s room, Milady.”

  My interest peaked. “Show me!” I insisted, jumping out of my chair.

  I followed curiously as Candy led us to the room, and I gawked in awe at the largest custom-sized bed in the world. “It’s huge.”

  Tina giggled. “I don’t think that’s for sleeping.”

  Candy shook her head and opened the walk-in closet.

  Tina screamed in protest when she saw the dress. “That’s not a wedding dress!”

  “No, but it’s the dress I wanted.”

  “Well, try it on before I decide.”

  I gladly tried on the dress for the first time, and when I looked in the mirror, I imagined Draven by my side, smiling happily. He would like the dress. I smiled too, deciding it felt nice to think about something pleasant for a moment.

  “All right, so it’s perfect. I’ll get one like yours.”

  Candy and I glanced at each other.

  “We better put that order in today because they’ll have to make it.”

  “Wait. What about bridesmaids, groomsmen? I don’t know how much of anything to order. How many guests, for instance. These are things I need to know.”

  “Candy is the Maid of Honor, and Armando was supposed to be the best man. Maybe Charles will do it. Coty will be the ring bearer, and the color is red. The wedding will be wherever Draven wants it, and it will take place as soon as possible. Invite whoever you want. Anything else?”

  “Anywhere, any time? No problem. That should be easy to plan!” Tina ridiculed.

  “Good. Now help me out of this dress so we can get back to work.”

  “Fine,” Tina smirked, “but if you die on your wedding day this time, I’m going to kill you!”

  I locked myself in the Egyptian room and stared into the eye of Osiris one last time before I grabbed the corner of the rug and ripped it off the floor. The outlined floorboard came up easily since Lissa had pried all the way around it with some sharp object. I reached my hand inside the dark hole and pulled out a small, red velvet bag, which held a folded piece of paper and a large red, heart-shaped ruby necklace with a leather strap.

  Elizabeth,

  I see you reading this so I know you found The Forgiving Heart. My job is done, and that means two things. One, I have done absolutely everything I can do to save Draven, and two, I cannot see any further into the future. The rest is up to you. Wear it when you go to France, and you should make it safely to Draven.

  Good Luck, Elizabeth.

  All my Love,

  Lissa

  P.S. Don’t forget to have the house redecorated.

  Exasperated, I puffed a gust of air out of my lungs. “That’s it? Wear it when I go to France? That’s all you’re going to tell me? What the hell does it do?”

  “Are you all right, Milady?” Candy asked through the door.

  Getting off my knees, I opened the door. She looked in at the missing floorboard but didn’t say a word about it.

  “I’m fine. Did you find anything?”

  Candy bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Milady. Nothing.”

  “What about this?” I asked, holding up the necklace. “Do you know anything about gems?”

  “No, but it’s beautiful.”

  “It’s called The Forgiving Heart. See if you can find any literature online, please.”

  “Yes, Milady.” She curtseyed before she left.

  I doubted Candy would find anything. If it were a well-known piece, it would surely be in a museum somewhere. That made me wonder how Lissa had known about it. In the study, beside the witchcraft book, I found an even older book titled Mythical Egyptian Relics. On the bookmarked page, I found a drawing of the necklace but I couldn’t read the foreign text.

  “Candy?” I found her in the dining room working studiously on her laptop. “Can you by any chance read Egyptian?”

  “No, Milady, but I can have anything translated for you in a half an hour.”

  “You’re so cool,” I teased, making her blush.

  The translation came back with little information, saying only that the jewel was supposed to offer protection from vampires. I wondered if that was all Lissa knew about the necklace too. Maybe she hadn’t lived long enough to test it out.

  “I could talk to Johnny about the Elders. I mean, it’s worth a shot. I really don’t think he’ll kill me.”

  I sat down in a chair beside her, remembering the last time we ran into him. Candy seemed to have taken care of him easily enough to get away but he would be ready for her tricks this time. Still, I felt like we needed to know what the necklace did before we went to France, and I doubted we’d get a better opportunity.

  “Do you think you could get him alone?”

  “I know I can.”

  “All right. Then we’ll both go.”

  Candy stiffened in her chair as her eyes expanded with fear. “Oh no, Milady. I can’t put you in danger on purpose. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you, and Draven would rightfully kill me!”

  “Draven isn’t here,” I reminded her.

  After minutes of what looked like a powerful internal argument, she finally agreed. I tried not to appear shocked that she knew Johnny’s personal cell phone number, and when we arrived in a large, abandoned garage, I tried not to notice the way the corners of her mouth turned up. The door closed behind us, blocking out the sun, and then Johnny showed up alone, true to his word.

  “You brought me two snacks, Candy? Is that your way of apologizing? I accept,” he said, walking toward us with an eerie grin.

  She opened her door and stood, resting one arm on the top of the car. “No.”

  “Yes,” I argued.

  Candy ducked and scowled at me.

  Johnny shrugged and licked his top lip. His eyes jumped between the two of us before he moved toward Candy.

  “Wait!” she begged, holding up her hand. “Let me ask my questions first. I might not have the strength after.”

  Johnny laughed but sat down on the hood of the Camaro. “I suppose you have a point, and I am curious about what you could possibly have to ask me.”

  “We need to know about the Elders.”

  “What about them?” He sounded bored.

  “Is there anything they want? I’m looking for a bargaining chip.”

  Johnny kicked back his head and chuckled loudly. “You think two human women can go to them and bargain?”

  Candy frowned. “Do you know of anything or not?”

  He rolled his eyes. “All they want is anonymity for vampires.”

  She shook her head and scrunched up her face. “Do you have any idea why would they send three bounty hunters to pick up Draven?”

  Johnny cocked his head curiously. “They didn’t.”

  “What do you mean? How do you know?”

  “By law, bounty hunters have to announce that they are there by
orders of the Elders and express the reason they are being taken in for judgment. Most times that reduces resistance anyway. If they didn’t give you a reason, then it wasn’t the Elders who called them in.”

  “Then who––”

  “I’ve answered your question about the Elders,” Johnny interrupted, looking thirsty as he walked around the car door to Candy. “My turn.”

  “Wait,” I pleaded. I threw my door open and stepped out of the car. “Can I go first?”

  Johnny snickered. “Do bring your anxious friends more often, Candy.”

  In an instant, Johnny moved around the car, sniffing my neck. I bared it freely and closed my eyes. I felt tingling as he healed the old wound, and then I felt nothing before he pushed me into the car.

  He stared angrily at Candy. “What the fuck is this? She could have chipped a fang!”

  “I don’t know.” When I reached out my hand, Candy took it and sat down in the driver’s seat.

  “Never mind. You’ll do.” Johnny moved like lightning around the car and tried to bite Candy with the same results. “You tricked me! I swear, the next time I meet you––”

  “What do you mean? You couldn’t bite me?”

  “Your skin is like stone.” His fingers traced his fangs as if to make sure they were still intact. “And why do you no longer smell like a mark?”

  Candy let go of my hand and walked over to him. She put her arms around his neck and lifted her head. “Try now.”

  He sniffed her and then grabbed her neck wildly, sinking his teeth into her soft, virgin flesh. She gasped in pain but he let her go after a minute and healed her old and new wounds. He appeared conflicted when his turquoise eyes appraised her.

  “Damn, it was more fun when you ran from me. Don’t mess with the Elders, Candy. They won’t take kindly to a human trying to deal with them, and they sure as hell won’t have a problem killing you. I don’t know how you two pulled off what you just did, but they’re the strongest vampires in the world. It might not hold up with them.”

  “Thanks.” She cast her eyes downward when she withdrew from his grasp, but then slowly tilted her head up to meet his. “We’re square?”