by Chris Lange
“Really? So what happened?”
As though grieving the loss of a close relative or possibly a loved pet, Andrew parted his lips and sighed. “Life. We both grew up and life happened, bringing unavoidable duties and obligations in its wake. As I am the youngest son, I slipped through the net. Garrett never had that option. He’s the first-born, he represents the family name. Someday, the whole estate will be his to administer.”
Although loathe to accept the legitimate reasons for Garrett’s behavior toward her, she had to admit his life choices might not be as easy as hers. She was free, he was a prisoner. Sensing the scales would never tip in her favor, a lead weight fell on her shoulders.
To top it all, she perceived a deeper meaning to Andrew’s reference to ‘life happening.’ Garrett wouldn’t be allowed to choose her even if he wanted to. As her dad warned her, others would make sure Garrett didn’t stray from his path.
Her distress must have shown because Andrew took her hand in his. “Why the downhearted face, lovely lady?”
“No reason. I just feel sad for your brother.”
“I understand, Tracy, but I want to believe he’ll be fine. In the meantime, why don’t you tell me about the bad things happening here?”
Trapped in her newfound desperation, Jessica’s disappearance and vampires unleashed in the streets of this alternate London had slipped her mind. Andrew’s unexpected reminder pulled her out of her misery.
“This may take a while,” she said.
“Splendid. I could listen to you for hours. I like your accent and the way you speak, it’s rather refreshing.”
“I could return the compliment, your speech isn’t as stuffy as Garrett’s. He has me confused sometimes.”
“Don’t be fooled, my speech can be pompous when etiquette requires it. That bloody etiquette suffocates me. Dare I say I love driving Mother crazy with unorthodox verbal expressions.”
She wanted to ask more about his parents but the young man’s mischievous grin brought her back to reality. “I don’t think we have hours, Andrew. Look up.”
She pointed to cracks of light through the blinds. Kissing the morning goodbye, the sun had passed its peak, which meant night in her world was coming to an end. Springing into action, she stood.
“Shit, they’re coming. Hurry, Andrew, they can’t find me here.”
“Calm down. Who’s coming?”
“Garrett and Dad. They said they’d leave home before dawn.”
Luckily, Andrew showed an ability to react with efficiency. They let themselves out through the garden house back door and ran across the yard. In spite of abruptly finding herself out in the open, she took a good look at her surroundings. The grounds appeared vast, so ‘yard’ definitely wasn’t the right term. On the left side, she caught sight of a huge black shape behind tall trees.
The main house?
Having reached a white metallic gate built in the outer wall enclosing the property, Andrew used his key to unlock it. They stepped outside together and she blinked in surprise while he shut the gate.
The quiet morning, the garden house, the funny lantern, and the size of the Burnes’ land had led her to imagine the family lived in a residential suburb. Now seeing the street and the row of wealthy houses on the other side, she reappraised the situation. She stood in the heart of London 1900.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Mayfair. So, where would you like to go?”
Very good question. Panicked by the idea of running into Garrett and her father, she didn’t have time to come up with a strategy. Still, finding Jessica now seemed more relevant than ever.
With Andrew waiting for her answer, she rubbed her bottom lip. “Do you know where Gabriel Harring lives?”
“Of course. Mister Harring is the most famous vampire hunter.”
“Great, ‘cause that’s where we’re going. We might be able to get into his house and find a clue regarding Jessica’s disappearance.”
Andrew halted his step. A smug smile quirking the corners of his lips, he observed her for a few seconds. “Do you intend to enter the Harring’s house illegally?”
“I’m not sure, we’ll see how it goes. With any luck, we might find a window open. Listen, Andrew, I don’t want to get you into trouble and I’ll understand if you go back home. Honestly, it’s your call.”
“Lovely lady, I feel certain this expedition of ours shall prove to be my best entertainment of the year.”
He bobbed his head up and down and took a step, only to stop as if an afterthought just crossed his mind. “That, and Garrett’s face when he finds you here.”
Andrew grabbed her arm to lead her toward a bulky black shape parked by the sidewalk. She caught the name ‘Piccadilly’ when he gave an address to the coachman. Then Andrew came back to help her up in what looked like a four-wheel enclosed carriage drawn by two horses. Awesome ride.
On their way to Piccadilly, she filled him in on what recently transpired in London. He’d heard the rumors but hadn’t given them much consideration. While giving him the latest news, she couldn’t help thinking of Garrett. Had he really been a cheerful and devil-may-care youngster like his brother? The simple notion felt hard to grasp.
“I can’t believe you’ve met Jessica Harring,” Andrew said. “I’ve never been able to decide whether she’s a real person or a myth.”
“She’s real. She’s also a good friend of mine and a wonderful person.”
“My-my, I’m so glad we stumbled across each other. Thanks to you, my life is becoming rather eventful.”
His juvenile astonishment brought a smile to her lips. They weren’t on the move for very long. When the carriage halted with a lurch and the day took on a new light, she marveled at the beauty of the building in front of her.
She’d loved studying history and architecture in college but seeing actual constructions with her own eyes was astonishing. She recognized free style Flemish Renaissance, her gaze traveling past an elaborate cornice to settle on the ground floor with arcaded openings and a corner entrance.
She glanced at Andrew. “Wow, are you sure this is Jessica’s house?”
“As certain as can be,” he replied. “Let’s survey the perimeter, shall we?”
She accepted his hand to get off the carriage. The street didn’t appear that busy. Left and right, rays of sun fell on silent frontages as far as the eye could see and the risk of being spotted might be ruled out. But she hesitated, suddenly shying from entering such an impressive house.
Before she could make up her mind, a clatter of approaching hooves cut the relative quietness of the elegant street. The noise soon revealed a somber red carriage that rounded the corner and halted right by their side. A familiar silhouette bolted out of it, dressed in a black, skin-tight leather outfit.
As soon as the woman set foot on the sidewalk, she threw her arms around Tracy’s neck. “I’m so happy to find you here.”
“Jessica? Oh, my God, I can’t believe it’s you.”
They hugged each other in the middle of the street and under Andrew’s watchful gaze. As a matter of fact, Tracy noted he had trouble taking his eyes off the beautiful vampire huntress.
“Come inside,” Jessica said. “I have so much to tell you.”
They followed Jessica into the house. She ushered them across an elegant hallway and into a sitting room before gesturing toward plush seats.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Tracy,” Jessica said with eagerness, “and it’s a real pleasure. What prompted you to come? Have you talked to Garrett? I slid out of his grasp, he must be mad at me. Where is he? Has he heard from Jake?”
Andrew sat by her side, his mouth about to fall open. Although bombarded with questions, Tracy realized he hadn’t even been introduced and was probably wondering about hi
s inappropriate position. Or maybe not, though Garrett would have been.
“Jessica, I’ll answer all your questions,” she said, “but first let me introduce Andrew Burnes, Garrett’s brother.”
“I’m sorry, Mister Burnes,” Jessica said with a contrite tone, “there’s been so much going on lately I’m forgetting my manners. Would you accept my apologies?”
“No need to apologize, Lady Huntress, meeting you is a genuine honor. Please, call me Andrew. I’m getting rather fond of . . . How should I name it? Futuristic etiquette?”
They smiled at each other while Tracy took advantage of the respite to resume their former conversation.
“By this time, my dad and Garrett should be home in Mayfair and I know Jake’s been contacted. We’ve all been worried about you, Jess. What the hell happened to you?”
Cheeks flushed from excitement, eyes sparkling, the huntress got out of her seat to pace the sitting room. “I found them, Tracy. I discovered the vampires’ lair.”
“What?”
Jessica nodded with vigor as she halted behind an armchair, grabbed the back, and took a deep breath. “I’ve been tracking the same three vampires for the past two days. Last night, they led me straight to their hide-out.”
“Gosh, they could have killed you.”
“They didn’t,” Jessica replied. “Actually, they never spotted me. I can be pretty much invisible when I choose. Anyway, I spent the night checking the place out and I can tell you something is very wrong with those blood suckers.”
“What do you mean?” Tracy asked.
“I’m not sure. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Standing up as well, maybe to remind them of his presence in the room, Andrew looked at them in turn. “Ladies, I wish to be of assistance. How may I help you?”
Jessica cocked her head to observe at length his eager stance then waved her hands with a negative gesture. “Right now, there’s nothing that can be done. I overheard two of them talking about a master vampire of some kind. We need to get information about him before we can wipe them all out.”
Andrew pressed his lips together. “That sounds sensible. What have you discovered so far?”
“I’m certain this master vampire will be in town tomorrow evening,” Jessica said, “so we have to stay put until then. In the meantime, The Circle needs to regroup, share information, and discuss strategies.”
The same way they regrouped seven months ago in Garrett’s mansion. Could she just grab a few hours’ sleep before throwing herself into battle?
Tiredness weighing on her, Tracy yawned. “It’s a great plan, Jess, but can we just bring it into play later? I’m so spent, I need to catch a wink.”
“Of course. I believe we’ve all had a sleepless night and we ought to rest prior to action.”
Andrew came up to Tracy to offer the crook of his arm and she took it with a smile.
Never at a loss, Jessica headed for the door. “Come with me, you two. I’ll show you the guest rooms.”
Exhaustion threatening to overcome her, Tracy gladly accepted her friend’s proposition. They all went upstairs, following Jessica into two separate bedrooms.
As they parted, the vampire huntress turned to Andrew. “I’ll send word to your brother. Garrett will be furious enough without worrying about you two. Sleep well now, I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed for a few hours.”
Andrew nodded. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Yeah, thanks Jess,” Tracy said, “sleep tight.”
She then closed the door, walked straight to the bed, took her shoes off, but didn’t bother with her clothes. Lying down, she sighed with contentment, her body molded to the soft mattress. She closed her eyes to wait for sleep, not expecting it right away despite her weariness.
Strangely, Garrett’s adoring gaze caressed her face. His tender fingers stroked her cheek, tracing a warm, sensual line across it. His loving and erotic touch felt so wonderful she wanted to keep it forever, to lie under his hand for the rest of her life. Could this cherished instant be real?
“Wake up!”
Chapter 8
Garrett’s harsh voice cut through her like a cold blade slicing her heart. Shaking off tendrils of sleep, she opened her eyes to look at the looming man. He stood right by the bed, tall and magnificent, hands behind his back.
She must have been dreaming because however long he’d been standing there, this stony-faced man didn’t lovingly caress her cheek. Not with the frigid expression hanging over his features.
“Hi, Garrett, what time is it?”
“Late afternoon.”
So she’d slept for three or four hours. She sat up, her body feeling rested, her mind fresh to see which way the cat would jump. As Garrett just kept on staring at her, she swung her legs over the bed to put her sneakers on.
Tying her laces, she couldn’t help wondering when the storm would strike her. She disobeyed him, disregarded his plans, and by now he must be so mad at her. Maybe he needed a little coaxing?
“Come on,” she said, “get it off your chest.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know, the whole ‘How in heavens dare you slip away?’ Let’s have it now and be done with it.”
“William is expecting you downstairs.”
Garrett didn’t respond to her allurement. Holy shit, had he lost his hoity-toity personality in the telepod? His dark gaze unruffled, he turned his straight back on her, walked to the door, and left the room without another word or a backward glance.
Yet she perceived with certainty that something pleased him. But what? Damn, that man had a flair for fooling her.
When she arrived downstairs, the sitting room seemed crowded. Garrett and his brother stood by one of the luxurious armchairs, and Jessica talked in whispers to Jake.
Her father rounded on her as soon as she appeared at the door. Halting inches from her face, he growled more than said, “Tracy, you shouldn’t be here.”
She was though, and he’d better deal with it. She dodged the issue by ignoring him and walking straight to the happy couple. His left arm coiled around Jessica’s waist, Jake Cooper smiled at her.
As handsome as ever in tight blue pants, short jacket, and colts hanging from his belt, the roguish bad boy from the Old West reached for her hand to kiss, his clear blue eyes glinting with amusement. “It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Tracy. How are you?”
“I’m good, Jake, thanks for asking.”
She glanced toward Garrett and her father before she looked at the gunslinger and mustered her most purposeful tone. “And I’m glad someone is happy to see me. It makes a change.”
The atmosphere in the room seemed to go down below freezing temperatures.
Unimpressed by her caustic tone and oblivious of the people around them, her father waved an accusing hand at her. “Well, whose fault is that? I don’t recall inviting you to London.”
Oh yeah, Dad, don’t start me on this!
Anticipated retaliation gripped her stomach as she confronted him. “And I don’t remember you inviting Garrett to our world yesterday, yet you welcomed him like a long-lost son. Why is that?”
Her muscles taut, her voice heavy with sarcasm, she stared hard at her father while she snapped her fingers.
“Oh, sure,” she continued, “because Garrett’s a good boy. He listens to his elders, doesn’t he? He isn’t a useless, spoiled brat like me, is he now?”
As she let loose her frustration, her dad narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care for that tone, young lady.”
Silence fell while people around them seemed to be holding their breaths. As if not breathing would lighten the awkwardness of the squabble, they stared at father and daughter in complete silence.
Suddenly very conscious th
at all eyes were on her, she felt sick of having to justify her every action. She made it to London all by herself and nobody had the power to send her back home.
“Whatever you say, Dad,” she said. “Let’s not argue in front of everyone, I think we have better things to do.”
Not leaving him a chance to react, Jake Cooper seized the opportunity and took a step forward. “Tracy is right. We need to focus and discuss our options.”
He pulled Jessica toward the nearest armchair and gestured his desire to sit. Everybody followed suit except Andrew who looked somewhat hesitant, as though he might be intruding on a private party.
Noticing his uncomfortable look, Tracy scooted over to make room for him on the couch, only to find herself pressed against Garrett. She heard his sharp intake of breath when she touched his arm and leg.
Whatever their issues, Garrett couldn’t help feeling sexually attracted to her. Still he wouldn’t even glance at her, so she called his brother.
“Andrew, come sit with me.”
The young man complied, gluing her against Garrett in the process. Their bodies connected and she felt like an electric shock coursing through her lover. Looking straight ahead as if he didn’t sense it, he nonetheless gripped the arm of the couch, knuckles whitening from his inner strain.
A surge of satisfaction sent a shiver up her spine when she perceived his strong, out of control physical reaction.
Yeah, baby. Can’t take the pressure, can you?
What would happen if she inadvertently dropped her hand on his lap? Grinning, she turned her attention to Jake.
“So, Jake, how did you come across Dad and Garrett?”
“Well, I arrived in San Francisco at the break of dawn. From Garrett’s message, I assumed the matter to be urgent, thus I went directly to his mansion. As it happens, I found our two friends about to depart to London.”