by Rayns, Lisa
He made a large sweeping bow before he disappeared.
“So the necklace changes our smell and makes our skin like stone to vampires,” Candy stated on the way back to the mansion, “and if we’re touching the person wearing it, it will protect us all?”
“It appears so,” I said flatly, unable to get excited. We knew what the necklace did but now we had no idea where Draven and Armando were. If the Elders hadn’t called Draven in, then it could’ve been anyone who put a bounty on his head.
“We’ll find them,” she said.
“We have to.”
Candy nodded. “The documents will arrive in the morning, and I’ll schedule a jet to leave after that.”
“I’ll let Tina know.”
When we returned to the mansion, Ben stood in the middle of driveway, an irritated gaze pointed at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked when I stepped out of the car.
He shook his head. “I thought I’d wait out here. That man’s climbing the walls waiting for you.”
My stomach churned as I prepared for the expected confrontation with Charles. “Did he say anything?”
“Nope.”
After an accepting sigh, I headed for the front door. Candy and Ben followed.
“Milady, may I speak with you?” Charles asked anxiously when I stepped inside.
“Of course.” I laid a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him.
He frowned at my hand and delicately worked his way out from under it as if he didn’t like to be touched. “I think I might know where Milord is,” he disclosed.
“What? Where?”
He took a couple of deep breaths until his color returned to normal. “The man he went to visit when you were young, the man he asked to kill him if he didn’t turn you. His name is Damion. Damion Kern. Does that help?”
I threw my arms around him and hugged him until he wriggled himself out of the hold and stepped away. Unshaken, I turned to Candy, my eyes aglow. “That makes sense! That’s why they wanted Draven, and that’s why they asked if I was his wife. They were checking to make sure he wasn’t married yet!”
She hugged me, and we jumped in place like teenagers.
“He lives outside of Paris,” Charles continued. “You should go right away.”
I squinted at him curiously. Didn’t Candy tell him that part? “We are. We’re leaving for Paris in the morning.”
“Oh. That’s good!” he said awkwardly. He half-turned to walk away but then stopped. “Do…do you think I should go? I mean, in case Milord needs me. Maybe I can help.”
I shrugged and glanced at Candy.
She nodded. “He could accompany Tina and Coty and make sure they get home safely.”
“Yes, and I can stay with the jet until they arrive,” he offered, “to make sure no unwanted vampires get on board.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said, suddenly feeling uneasy because Candy hadn’t thought of it. “All right. We leave in the morning then.”
I waited for Candy and Charles to leave before I lowered my voice to speak to Ben. “Do you know anything about a vampire named Damion Kern?”
“Nah. I don’t know any of them by name. I haven’t learned to speak French yet, and that’s been inhibiting my strong powers of persuasion. It does no good to sweet talk the ladies if I can’t understand what the hell they’re saying. I keep meaning to learn but this job keeps me busy.”
“Will you help us?”
“Point the way, darling.” His dimple peeked at me. “Killing those bastards is what I do best.”
“Oh no. Draven considers him a friend. I just want you close by in case I need help or in case he’s not as good of a friend as Draven thinks he is.”
After a deep breath, he exhaled slowly. “You know I heard that story Candy told in the car about you and that vampire.”
“His name’s Draven,” I clarified.
“Right,” he said with a nod. “Anyway, it sort of… Well, I’ll help you but I don’t have to like it.”
I almost giggled at the way the tough vampire hunter stammered, but I bit my tongue and gave him a hug. “Thank you! And for the record, you know one by name now.”
Ben scowled and walked out the door.
****
The moment the jet set down in Paris, I heard Draven’s melodious voice. Even tired and worn, it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
“Elizabeth, are you there? I’m so sorry for everything. I’m sorry that monster bit you. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Draven! I can hear you! Tell me you’re all right! Please, tell me you’re unharmed.
“We’re not harmed, just weakened. Armando and I will straighten this out, and we’ll be together again before you know it.”
I sighed. You’re an optimist.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Elizabeth. I’ve had a good feeling since yesterday afternoon. I miss you.”
Just hang on, Draven. We’ll be there soon.
“What?” he screamed into my head, his voice filled with alarm. “You can’t come to France! Oh my God, you’re here already, aren’t you? That’s why you can hear me. No! I can’t believe this is happening, and it’s my fault. Again, you will die at the hands of fate!”
When he started slinging what I was sure were French cuss words, I sent him an image of myself in the wedding dress. I heard him suck in a breath. I love you, Draven, but I need you to trust me this once. The vampires can’t hurt us.
“Us?” he asked, sounding anxious again. “Who else came?”
Charles, Tina, Ben, and Candy are all here. They insisted.
His silence rang louder than his words, and I again regretted putting them in danger. “Ben?” he finally asked. “He’s the man you were screaming at near the barn, the one who shot me?”
Yes. He arrived in time to––
“Thank him for me,” he said quickly as if he couldn’t bear to have me finish my sentence.
I will. Please trust me, Draven. I’m going to marry you if it’s the last thing I do.
Draven released a pained chuckle. “If you marry me, I will swear to you, it will be the last thing you do.”
I giggled. Sweet talker.
“I may pass out again,” he warned as his voice grew softer.
Don’t worry, Draven. Conserve your strength and dream sweet dreams about our wedding day.
“What are you going to do?”
It’s my turn to save you.
He didn’t reply, but I suddenly became aware of Tina, Candy, and the stewardess. They stood in the aisle of the jet, staring at me. I smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, I had to make a call.”
“Will she be all right?” the stewardess asked.
“Oh yes,” Candy assured her. “She’ll be much better now.”
After we made it through airport security, Ben led the way while I held Candy and Tina’s hand to share the necklaces protection. The sun had just risen but my new fear of the country hadn’t waned.
Once inside the limousine Candy had commissioned, she immediately rolled up the privacy glass. “Two stops and then Coty.”
I didn’t ask. I marveled at Candy’s cleverness and trusted implicitly that she would always be three steps ahead of any enemy. When the car pulled into a large warehouse, she exchanged a black duffle bag for a thick envelope. She waited until we were back on the road to explain. “Just in case, Milady.”
Tina, who hadn’t said anything since we left, suddenly burst out in tears. “I wish I could talk to him like you do. I wish I could hear his voice so I know he’s all right.”
“I swear he’s all right. Concentrate now, Tina. Coty’s first. The monks have to believe that we’re relatives and believe the papers we give them are real.”
She nodded and resigned again to silence.
At our next stop, a motel room, Candy gathered up the free cups and sat down at a small round table. She went to work immediately, pulling bullets and small vials of chemicals out of the black bag she’d bough
t. “You guys can watch TV or something. This will take a while.”
“Tell her the green liquid goes on first.”
Draven’s specific comment startled me for a second, making me stop to think in confusion. You can see what I’m seeing?
“Sometimes. I think your image opened up a whole new channel for us. Please be careful, Elizabeth.”
“Draven said the green liquid goes on first.”
“Thanks,” Candy replied. “For a minute I was afraid I was going to have to wing it.”
“Explain this to me,” Ben said as he sat down with her. “What’s the purpose and what do these do?”
Candy grinned proudly and went into a detailed explanation of the methods Draven had taught her.
“I don’t understand.” Ben’s face filled with confusion. “Why go through all this trouble when you can just kill them?” He pulled a wooden stake out of his coat. “Wood, Candy, think wood. Carry a steak, hit them in the heart, and they’re ash.”
“They’re not all bad,” she said lightly.
With a grumble, Ben returned the stake to his coat and walked the length of the room. He leaned against the far way appearing deep in thought when Tina let out a wail.
“I have to know he’s all right!”
I rolled my eyes and spoke out loud to Draven, “Is Armando all right, Draven?”
“Same as me, weak, but determined. He’s as worried about Tina as I am about you, and he isn’t pleased that you brought her with you.”
But I…
“Relax. He knows you couldn’t have stopped her if you tried.”
I turned to Tina. “Draven says he’s fine, and he’s thinking about you.”
Tina beamed happily.
“That’s not exactly what I said but it’ll do.”
Draven, is it possible that Damion Kern is the man who put out the bounty and not the Elders at all? Could that be why those men asked if I was your wife?
“I think so. This room looks familiar but I can’t say for sure. We haven’t seen anyone since they put us in here.”
We’re going to get Coty today, and then Tina and Charles will take him back to the mansion first. So if anyone shows up, you have to stall them, okay?
“I’ll do my best.”
Then I’ll find you, and we’ll prove to that Damion that I’m here and alive, and we can get married right in front of him if we have to.
“Just stay safe, Elizabeth. If something happens to you…well, I guess I’m in the right place,” he said lightly.
Don’t talk like that. I’m going to marry you!
“Relax. It was only a joke.”
Okay. All my love, Draven.
“And all mine.”
Tina laughed. “You look funny when you do that. Your face squishes up like you have a headache.”
“Well, at least I can do it,” I mocked.
“Ouch,” Tina shot out. “Did he really say Armando was all right or are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
“He said it.”
“That’s it! I’ve had it!” Ben huffed. “I can’t take this any more of this shit.” In three long strides, he opened the door and walked out, slamming it behind him.
After the reverberation, I stared at Tina and Candy, wondering what just happened. When they shook their heads, I rushed outside to catch him. “Ben,” I called, catching his arm before he made it two doors down. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re all crazy! Candy doesn’t believe in killing vampires, two of you think you’re in love with those things, and now you let him into your head? I can’t stay here and watch this. It goes against everything I’ve been working toward for years.” His blue eyes pierced mine. “Don’t you see how hard this is for me?”
My mouth fell open to respond but nothing came out. When I closed my eyes in defeat, his hands gripped my cheeks before his lips pressed against mine, and his tongue entered my mouth angrily. My heart beat faster from the shock, and in the quickness of the moment, all I could think about was keeping my eyes closed for fear that Draven would see.
Ben pulled away from me, but held onto my cheeks. “It’s not right, Elizabeth. You can’t marry him, he doesn’t have a heart.”
My breath came in pants when I shook my head and opened my eyes. “He has more heart than any human I’ve ever met. You said you heard the story. You heard what he’s done for me so how can you say that?”
Ben dropped his hands and handed me a card from his inside jacket pocket. “If you need a vampire killed, darling, I’m only a call away,” he said before he walked toward the street.
Pocketing his vampire hunter business card, I sighed and leaned against the building with my arms crossed.
“What’s wrong?”
I let someone kiss me, Draven. I’m so sorry.
He chuckled. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”
No, I feel horrible!
“Elizabeth, we are one soul and no one will come between us, but honestly, I’m more worried about you dying. Please be careful after sunset.”
I will.
“Was it Ben?”
How did you know?
“He’s a vampire hunter. Consider it his way of trying to protect you from me. Besides, did you really think he traveled all the way to South Dakota to hunt vampires?”
I was just about to explain the information Ben had found about the cross necklace when Candy peeked her head out the door and waved me into the room. I have to go Draven.
“Stay safe. I love you.”
Tell me you forgive me so I can concentrate.
“It was only a kiss, Elizabeth. It changes nothing.”
With a sigh of relief, I turned. The curtains moved in the room next to me, and a blond head appeared for only a split second. I thought it looked like Johnny. Curiously, I knocked on the door but no one answered. Shaking my head, I returned to my own room to find Tina sitting on the bed, her arms crossed and a pout on her face.
“I’m done,” Candy announced before she stood beside the table full of upright bullets. “They’ll have to dry until we return from the monastery, but like I told Tina, I don’t think she should go.”
“Why?”
“Her wound isn’t healed, it might look suspicious.”
I sat down beside Tina. “It’ll be okay.”
“That’s not really why I’m upset. I…I was just thinking that I’ve never been good with kids. Even the couple of times I tried babysitting, the kids hated me. If Coty hates me, Armando will see that, and then he’ll hate me. The engagement will be over.”
“Tina Tarkson,” I started sternly. “When have you ever doubted yourself?”
She sighed and put her hand over her eyes. “Every minute for the last three days. I had it, Elizabeth.” She peeked over her hand. “I had everything I’ve ever wanted, and I was happy. Even if it was only for a day, I’ve never been that happy before.”
I squeezed her hand. “I bet you’ll feel the same way when you meet Coty.”
Her eyes watered, but a slow smile touched her mouth before she returned to her private thoughts.
“We’ll be back before sunset,” I hoped out loud.
****
“Le Nuit Motel, room 156,” the informant whispered into the phone.
“My my, aren’t you an eager little snitch all of a sudden?” Fate asked suspiciously.
“The stakes have risen.”
“How so?”
“A dress was ordered from his residence in Seattle.”
“What else?”
“She possesses a necklace which gives her protection from vampires.”
Fate smirked as she hung up the phone. “That won’t save her.”
The closer we got to the monastery, the more nervous I became. “Tell me how to act like an aunt.”
“Don’t act,” Candy said. “Just be yourself. You love him even though you’ve never met him, and they’ll pick up on that.”
“I hope it’s that easy.”
“It will be.”
Repeated symbols of a cross inside of a circle, both painted on and burnt in, covered every inch of the three-story church, including the roof. Green tank-like devices surrounded the building, forming a wide perimeter around the grounds. On the top level of the monastery walls, I noted large star shaped blades sticking out of the wood––misses, apparently.
A pleasant man wearing a long, black robe greeted us at the door. “Good afternoon,” he said in English, though his French accent was very strong.
“Hi. I believe you’re expecting us,” Candy said with her confident businesswoman personality. “Elizabeth Tarkson is here to finally be reunited with her nephew. As his only living relative, she wishes to take him back to the United States to live with her at her estate. We’ve brought all the necessary paperwork.”
His smile held while he gestured us in. “Come in, friends. We’ve been expecting you, but if you do not mind, the abbot has requested a word with Miss Tarkson first.”
“Of course,” I agreed, trying not to appear distressed.
Inside, I was greeted by the scent of vanilla and the sight of more plain wood than any building should show; hard wood floors, paneled walls, and plank ceilings. Wooden picture frames encased large photos of monks from different eras.
He led us down the long hallway. Pausing at a bench, he asked Candy to sit and opened an adjacent door. When I didn’t move, he pushed me into an office and closed the door behind me.
Jarred from the quickness of the act, I found myself standing uneasily in front of another man. His robe matched the monk’s but he wore a small hat on top of his head. He appeared much gentler than the militant commander I expected.
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Tarkson. I’m Abbot Randall,” he said, sounding less French than the monk. He held our handshake for a moment as if he were checking to make sure it was warm. “Coty was lucky to have gotten a letter to you right before his foster parents died. He tells us that a friend helped him. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to locate this friend, but I can assure you, we’ve taken good care of him in your absence.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I’m very anxious to meet him.”
“Of course, but there are a couple of matters I’d like to address with you first.” He took a seat behind the desk and motioned for me to sit across from him. “Forgive my abruptness but I noticed that you weren’t married, and I wonder if you’ve considered the consequences of taking on a child in your position. There are financial responsibilities and having a child around can be––”