Tears spilled endlessly down her cheeks. The implication of the message was staggering. The Seeker wanted her to know she was responsible for not only the woman’s death, but the fashion in which she died.
Great racking sobs poured from her as flashes of the victim’s nude body tormented her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it out, to no avail. “Oh God.”
“Easy, baby.” Clay scooped her up into his arms until her face rested against his neck. “Do not let him do this to you. This is exactly what he wants, to feed your guilt. Don’t allow him into your mind, Ember…or he wins.”
She tried to nod, but he held her too tight, and she couldn’t be more grateful. His embrace was all that kept her from splintering apart.
Rain droplets began to touch her skin seconds before they reached his car. He unlocked the door and gently set her on the seat. “Will you be all right here for just a minute?” He started the engine, switched on the air-conditioning, and hesitated before bending down to kiss her on top of her head.
“Yes,” she whispered, attempting a watery smile.
“I’ll hurry.” He shut the door and jogged off as Ember huddled in the seat. That woman endured unimaginable pain because of me. More tears slid down her cheeks as she thought of the family who would never stop grieving her loss.
Angel, her parents, Laura, and Shon passed through her mind with their smiling faces, loving words, and caring ways. One of them will be next because of me. She knew this as surely as she knew the Seeker wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.
Ember slowly sat up and spotted Clay talking to the investigators with his back to her. She eased the door open and got out without closing it all the way behind her.
A nearby officer ran over with an umbrella and held it over her head. “Can I help you, ma’am?”
Ember glanced at Clay. He hadn’t noticed her yet. “I’m just going to run in the store and use the restroom.”
“Sure. Here, take this.” He offered her the umbrella.
She accepted with a smile, flicking her gaze to his name tag. “Thank you, Mr. Jones.”
“Call me Todd.” He winked before sauntering back to his vehicle.
Ember walked as casually as she could, hoping no one paid her any attention. It didn’t take her long to round the building to the front of the store. She propped the officer’s umbrella up against the wall and stood there briefly, making sure she wasn’t followed, and sprinted off down a side street. She had no plan in mind, only that she had to get as far away from the ones she cared about before one of them became the next victim.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d been running before it became safe to walk. After zigzagging through neighborhoods, streets and alleys for thirty minutes, she felt certain no one would find her. She had enough money in savings to hide out for a while. At least until she could figure out how to stop the Seeker before someone else lost their life.
The rain began to fall harder, and lightning struck too close for comfort. She crossed the street to a nearby park where covered picnic tables resided. She broke into a jog, hoping the run would warm her up. Night would be upon her soon, and the last thing she needed was chills.
Ember briskly rubbed her arms as images of the strangled women she’d photographed in the past year tormented her. Their faces ran through her mind one by one in a slideshow of horror she’d never forget.
Darkness began to fall, and the storm had arrived, bringing with it, hail along with strong winds. She shivered and climbed on top of the table, drawing her knees to her chest for warmth.
The hair stood up on the back of her neck. She strained to see through the gray sheets of rain whipping in a crisscross pattern as a shadow moved in the distance. Her eyes were huge in her face, watching for anything that moved.
It’s just debris blowing in the wind, she told herself, keeping her gaze trained ahead.
Something sharp pressed against her throat, and she froze. Terror spread through her so fast her teeth began to chatter. She opened her mouth to scream as the sickening feel of a blade penetrated her skin. Warmth ran down her neck to mix with the rain an instant before fire followed in its wake. It took her a second to realize her throat had been sliced open.
Ember’s eyes rolled back in her head as darkness claimed her. Angel…
To be continued…
The Seeker
EMBER DISCERNS
Book Four
By
Ditter Kellen
Chapter One
Angel jerked awake an hour before he normally arose. Something was wrong. Anxiety tightened his gut, twisting his insides into knots. He staggered from the bed with one destination in mind. Ember.
Where are you, baby girl? He began opening drawers, grabbing the first thing his fingers touched on. Jeans and a T-shirt would do just fine, he decided, bypassing his boots for running shoes. Ember was in danger; he needed all the speed he could get.
Without bothering to check her condo first, Angel rushed out the glass sliding door and vaulted over the balcony. He knew she wasn’t there as surely as he knew a storm would arrive soon, making finding her more difficult.
Dark, angry clouds adorned the sky in billowy clusters of gray and black. At any other time, Angel would glory in it. Not today.
With fear blanketing him like a second skin, he began to run. If anything happened to Ember before he reached her, he would never forgive himself.
He shot across the road, entering the woods faster than the human eye could track. Wildlife remained oblivious to his presence as he blurred through their territory undetected. Trees and plants melded together in brilliant shades of color, creating a mosaic effect in his peripheral vision.
A drop of water splashed his cheek only seconds before Mother Nature unleashed her fury. Thunder boomed, lightning cracked, and rain poured down in sheets of undisciplined drops of precipitation.
Angel prayed his link to Ember would be stronger than the violent disturbance that had just swallowed him up.
An overwhelming feeling of doom snaked through him as he came to a stop just outside town. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on his surroundings. Talk to me, Ember. Where are you?
Lightning struck nearby, shaking the ground beneath his feet. Ember’s face flashed behind his closed lids, terrified and haunted. With his senses expanded, he called to his own blood now flowing through her veins. Ember!
Angel…
Angel’s eyes snapped open. Someone is hurting her, he thought as rage consumed him. An image of a park surfaced in his mind, and he raced toward it with the hounds of hell riding his back.
* * * * *
It seemed an eternity had passed by the time Angel arrived at the park. His gaze scanned the area in rapid succession before coming to rest on a lone figure draped across the top of a cemented picnic table. “Ember!”
With his heart seizing in dread, he vaulted over the scattered playground equipment, landing lithely on his feet next to her still form. The smell of her blood blasted his senses, confirming his worst fear.
A howl burst from his chest as he gently turned her over to find her throat cut open. “Son of a bitch.” Angel cradled her head in his arms and pressed his palm against her throat to try to slow the bleeding. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and her mouth moved without sound.
“Don’t try to talk. Save your strength.” Angel’s mind spun with panic as he softy shushed her, murmuring reassuring words he didn’t feel.
Ember’s heartbeat slowed to a crawl, and a gurgling noise came from within her throat until she stopped breathing altogether.
“No,” Angel bit out through clenched teeth. “I won’t fucking let you go.” In all his life, he’d never felt desperation or fear as he did in this moment. It damn near crippled him.
He brought his wrist to his mouth and sank his fangs deep. His hand shook so bad he ripped the skin open into a long, jagged gash that would be slow to heal after w
hat he was about to do. It didn’t matter. He’d cut out his heart if it would save Ember.
Angel removed his palm from her neck and laid his bleeding wrist against her injury. He became hypnotized as he watched his blood mix with hers in a swirl of morbidly beautiful crimson.
Time slowed to a crawl while Angel stared helplessly at Ember’s pale face. If he lost her now, the sun wouldn’t rise fast enough to satisfy him. He would sit right there, holding her precious body until his own turned to ash.
“Please, God.” Angel pulled her high against his chest, pleading with a being that had doubtless forsaken him centuries ago. He’d never prayed before, but he vowed to do it daily if it meant Ember’s survival.
Pinching her nose closed, he covered her lips with his, forcing air into her lungs again and again. Breathe, baby. Breathe.
Seconds ticked by in slow motion as he fought against the clock to no avail. With a roar, he laid her flat on the table, placed his palms over her chest, and began to pump. “Don’t you die on me, goddammit.”
The sound of a rib cracking beneath his hands tore another howl from his throat. This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t lose her now, not like this, and not today.
A small sound escaped her parted lips, and Angel’s legs went weak. He jerked his hands from her chest and pressed his wrist against her mouth. “Drink, baby. Come on, you have to drink,” he demanded massaging her throat. “You can do it, love. Fight, keep fighting.”
The feel of her lips closing over his skin was a balm to his tortured heart. Relief poured through him in a tidal wave of emotion he couldn’t seem to process. Angel had never cried before, but there he stood in the middle of a storm, blinking back the sting of unshed tears.
He had to get her home before they were seen by the police, or worse. If the Seeker caught Angel in such a weakened state, he could kill him and Ember both.
Angel didn’t have Shon’s number, and Gina, Stone Age bitch that she was, didn’t believe in carrying a cell phone. He knew of only one other person who lived close enough to call on for help, one soul he could trust with Ember.
Laura Donovan was Ember’s closest friend and had been there for her through her long nightmare with the Seeker. Angel hated like hell to involve her, but as far as options went he was fresh out. Besides, she was the only one he had a number for.
With a quick scan of the park, he gathered Ember in his arms and ran toward the public restrooms. She continued to feed as he burst through the door and sped to the farthest stall.
Dropping the toilet lid, he sat with her on his lap. “Help is coming, baby. Keep drinking. You need more.”
Angel could feel his strength fading by the seconds. He fished out his cell from his pocket and scrolled down until he located Laura’s number. She picked up on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“It’s Angel. Ember is in trouble. I don’t have time to explain, but I need you to come immediately.” He rattled off the name of the park. “Tell no one and come alone. We’re in the restroom.” He ended the call.
Chapter Two
Laura Donovan found herself on the freeway, driving like a lunatic once again. Angel had just dropped the mother of all bombs on her, relaying that Ember was in trouble, yet he’d neglected the details, leaving Laura to run through every scenario known to man on her bat-out-of-hell rescue attempt.
She darted onto the correct exit without bothering with a blinker. No one seemed brave enough to drive behind her anyhow, and who could blame them? Hell, she couldn’t half see after dark as it was. The rain made her night blindness worse, leaving little doubt she’d likely crossed the center line several times.
The park came into view a couple minutes later. Laura pulled up close to the restrooms, put the car in park, and jumped out with the engine still running. Wrenching the door open, she peered inside. “Ember?”
“We’re back here.” Angel’s hoarse voice raised the hair on her arms. Something was definitely wrong.
Laura rushed across the dirty tile, careful of the water puddles on the floor. The clicking of her heels could be heard over the downpour of rain pelting the roof. She would never forget the sight that greeted her when Ember and Angel came into view. It would remain with her for the rest of her life.
“Oh, my God.” Laura could only stare in shock as Ember lay across Angel’s lap, sucking on his wrist. Blood stained her blouse and dripped off the wet strands of her hair to pool at Angel’s feet.
Laura recoiled, staggering back against the wall. Words escaped her as the reality of the situation sank in. Her mouth opened, but words seemed to fail her. She lifted her stunned gaze to find Angel staring back at her in desperation.
“She needs you, Laura. There was no one else to call. Help me get her to the car.”
His words registered in her mind but made little sense. She slapped a hand over her mouth as more of Ember’s blood dripped onto the floor.
“She’s going to fucking die if we don’t get her out of here,” Angel barked.
Laura stumbled forward. “Oh, God, her throat is cut.”
This couldn’t be happening. Laura’s mind rebelled as her stomach lurched. But it was, and if she didn’t do something quick, her best friend would bleed out before her eyes.
Squeezing inside the cramped space, Laura ducked under Angel’s free arm. She straightened, taking as much weight as she could while he held Ember tight against his chest. They maneuvered their way out of the stall and hobbled across the floor to the exit.
Once outside, the duo nearly fell against the car in their unsteady dash through the rain. Laura opened the door and helped them into the front seat before circling around and climbing behind the wheel.
“We need to get her to a hospital,” Laura demanded as she threw the car in gear and sped out of the park toward the main road.
“No hospital. Take us back to my place.” Angel’s head fell back against the seat.
“I’m taking her to a doctor,” she argued.
His hand shot out, locking onto her arm with a grip that bordered on painful. “I need you to trust me. I’ll explain everything when we get home. If you take her to a hospital, she will die. Do you understand?”
“Why-” Her voice broke, and she tried again. “Why is she eating blood?”
He let go of her arm. “Because she needs it to heal.”
Laura had never heard anything so insane in all her life. “She needs stitches, Angel.”
She glanced over to find him watching her. His skin appeared pasty white and dark circles shadowed his eyes. He and Ember both were going to keel over in her car if she didn’t listen to her gut and get some help.
He raised his hand and raked his teeth across the skin on top.
Laura’s mouth dropped open. “Jesus. Are you crazy? Why did you do that?”
“I need you to understand.” He held his arm up for her inspection. “Look at it.”
She watched in shock as the small cut closed before her eyes. Her breathing became painful, and her hands trembled on the steering wheel.
“That’s impossible. How did… Why would… What are you?” she stuttered, trying to wrap her mind around what she’d just witnessed.
“Don’t fear me, Laura. I will not harm you.”
“Answer me.”
He hesitated so long she thought he wouldn’t answer. “Vampire.”
A hysterical laugh bubbled up. “You’re insane.”
“Am I?” He curled his lip back to reveal beautiful white teeth equipped with a pair of fangs.
Laura’s vision blurred. She was going to faint and kill them all if she didn’t change the subject to something she could understand. “Who did this to Ember?”
“The Seeker.”
“Who?”
“You know him as the Watcher. We will talk about this once Ember is safe at home. Keep your eyes on the road.”
Laura’s mind spun with questions. She had to be dreaming and would wake at any moment on her couch, droolin
g on some important document she was late to turn in.
They drove for a while in silence with Laura’s hands squeezing the wheel as reassurance she was actually driving and not in some episode of Creature Feature.
Ember no longer sucked on Angel’s wrist. Her head lolled against his chest with an occasional moan coming from her parted lips.
“Do you have Shon’s number?” Angel’s voice was barely audible.
“Yes.”
“Call him. Now.”
Laura snatched up her phone and dialed Ember’s cousin. Voicemail picked up on the fifth ring. She waited for the beep before blurting, “Shon, it’s Laura. Meet me at Angel’s condo ASAP. Ember’s hurt.”
“Subtle,” Angel mumbled with his eyes closed.
“Well, excuse me, Hannibal Lecter. I’m about to piss myself in fear. How about cutting me some slack?”
He made a soft noise in the back of his throat. “Shon has met his match.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
Laura pulled into the condo parking lot ten minutes later. Parking behind Angel’s car, she shut off the engine. “Hang on, and I’ll—“
The passenger side door was suddenly yanked open, admitting a disheveled Shon. “Son of a bitch.”
“Take her,” Angel slurred.
Shon gently lifted Ember into his arms before locking gazes with Angel. “Can you walk?”
Angel gave a half nod and rolled out of the car onto his knees.
“Damn it, Dimitrov. Stay there. I’ll come back for you.”
Laura jumped out of the car and ran around to help Angel.
“I can make it,” he growled, staggering to his feet.
“Then give me the damn keys so I can unlock the door,” she snapped back at him.
He dug out his key and handed it to her before following her up the stairs. She would prefer to walk behind him in case he lost his balance, but figured his stubborn ass wouldn’t hear of it.
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