Sounds of fighting penetrated my fogged senses: grunts and growls, metal on metal, feminine shouts. As I shook off the mental ickiness, I realized my hands were bound in front of me.
This night just kept getting better and better.
Though it just about killed me to do it, I managed to pry open my eyelids.
At first, I could see nothing but shadowy objects in the dark. But my nose was working just fine. The dank smell of earth, the crisp sting of pine needles, and the acrid odor of smoke filled my nostrils. Then, as my vamp vision cleared, I could see a glade. In the middle of it was a low-burning fire and scattered all over the place were implements used for camping.
At the far edge of the campfire, I could make out Durriken and a silver-haired man fighting two vampires I didn't recognize. Their eyes glowed red and their fangs looked sharp and scary. To the left of that melee, a dark-haired woman wielded a frying pan like it was Excalibur; she was shouting in an unknown language as she smacked a very large black wolf about the head and shoulders. Lucky? I couldn't be sure.
My injuries were healing even as I rolled onto my side and scrabbled to my knees, but I still felt bruised and sore from head to toe. I didn't know how I'd ended up bound and thrown on the ground, but I was semi-free now. I leaned against the tree that had arrested my fall and hoisted myself to my feet.
Regular rope bound my hands, so it took only a little pulling to break the hemp and toss it to the ground. Then I staggered toward the fighting Roma, still feeling groggy.
I arrived at the edge of the clearing in time to see the older man swing his odd weapon at the vampire's neck. The gleaming blade went through skin and bone as easily as a hot knife through a stick of butter.
Oh, yuck! My gorge rose as I watched the head bounce onto the ground and roll toward me. Its surprised expression was the last thing I saw before it—and the body—burst into ash.
After watching his companion literally bite the dust, the vampire fighting Durriken spun around and fled. The boy, looking sweaty and triumphant, turned with the older gentleman toward the woman and the wolf.
As far as I could tell, he was trying to protect himself while the woman bashed at him. He dodged and leapt, yowling pitifully. The woman reminded me of an angry bee buzzing around a limp flower. I couldn't understand her words, but I guessed their gist.
Unbelievably tired, I stumbled toward them. Durriken saw me first. He hurried to me, grabbing me around the waist just as I went down. What was wrong? I couldn't shake off whatever Charlie had slipped me in his blood.
"Tell her to stop," I whispered as I leaned heavily on the boy. "Please."
"Mama!" shouted Durriken. He added a few other words and his mother, though obviously displeased, backed away from the beast.
"Take me to him." I felt as though I was going to black out again.
The man, who I assumed was Durriken's father, put down his blade and grabbed me from the other side. They took me as far as they dared.
Lucky. He always seemed to show up when I needed him. Had he tried to save me again, only to stumble upon the Roma camp?
He looked at me and whined. Familiar, those eyes. I couldn't quite pinpoint why.
Thank you. I felt my mind gray; darkness edged my consciousness. Lucky…
He barked and edged closer.
"Don't hurt him," I begged the woman, who stared at me with dark, suspicious eyes. "Please…"
"I do not trust gadjikane," she said sharply. "You are not Roma."
"I am a mother." I smiled weakly. "Keep him… safe."
"Hmph!" she said. "And where do we keep you?"
I didn't have a chance to answer the question. As darkness consumed me utterly, I saw Lucky turn away and lope into the trees.
I fell softly into the opaque chasm.
Chapter 14
"She lives!" crowed Jessica as my eyes fluttered open. She leaned over my prone body and grinned. I couldn't stretch my lips to form an answering smile. Thirst clawed at me. My throat was so dry I could barely swallow.
As she straightened, I saw Patrick standing behind her, to the left.
"Where am I?" I asked. "What happened?"
"The short version: You were knocked out, kidnapped, rescued, and you passed out. Durriken came to the hospital and got us. We brought you here." Jessica gestured around the room. "This is one of the zillion rooms on the second floor of our house. You slept straight through the rest of the night and the day."
So it was the next evening. What had Charlie ingested that had managed to drug me so thoroughly and yet not affect him? Or had the drug affected him? "How's Tamara?"
"Right as rain, babe. Dr. Merrick gave her the thumbs-up and released her."
I nodded. "And Lucky? I mean, the wolf?"
Patrick and Jessica exchanged a look. "Helene—Durriken's mom—said he disappeared. She said he was the biggest wolf she'd ever seen. She didn't think he was Roma or lycanthrope."
Disappointment shot through me. I hoped he was okay. He hadn't responded to my mental telepathy. But he had responded to my emotions. And he had tried to rescue me.
"Jess, I'm really thirsty."
Once again, I found myself drinking from Jessica's wrist. When I was done, I grinned. "Champagne truffles?"
"Her favorite," said Patrick, chuckling. He stepped closer. His gaze was kind. "It appears Charlie ingested phenobarbital in large enough quantities to disable you. We think he took the pills just before he entered the hospital to feed you."
"Phenobarbital? That's a little nineteen sixties, isn't it?"
Jessica shrugged. "We found a pill bottle tossed in the bushes outside of the entrance. Stan said something about enzyme induction. Basically, the guy metabolizes chemicals really fast. We don't know why he did it and we can't ask his sorry ass because he's gone."
I nodded. Charlie had drugged me, then run away. Was he in cahoots with the Wraiths? Or had he hooked up with the rogue vamp lycans? Or was it all one group of crazy people?
"Who's manning the library?" I asked.
"Tamara is showing Ralph the ropes so he can take over your duties for a while."
"A while? As in: longer than a few hours?"
"As in: longer than a few days," said Jessica. "We have to protect you and Tamara."
"You are very valuable," added Patrick. "The mansion is nearly as secure as the compound and it is far more comfortable."
"You're saying that as a pet psychic, I'm in demand?" I tried to make it into a joke, but my voice cracked. I hadn't quite come to grips with the idea that I was in danger.
"Since only you and Koschei have the ability, then yes. You are very much in demand," said Patrick.
"You won't be safe until we find those Wraith bastards," groused Jessica. "That's why Damian and one of his teams are at the library watching Tamara. They'll escort her back to the house."
I was glad to know that Tamara was being protected, but I was still confused about why anyone would want to harm either me or Tamara. I was sure a mistake had been made. The idea of being away from the library, from my home, from the life I'd built as a human and then as a vampire disturbed me even more than being drugged and kidnapped.
"We think Ron and his idiots are skulking around town," answered Jess. "And we think he knows you can talk to the animals." She snickered as she hummed the theme song to the Rex Harrison version of Dr. Doolittle.
"Very funny, Jess." I rolled my eyes. "What am I supposed to do around here?"
"Housework?" suggested Jessica with a wide grin. Then she patted my hand. "Sorry, sweets. I know you'll miss your books, but Lor's taken over this wing of the house and he has more books than the library of Alexandria. In fact, I think he has books from the library of Alexandria. Besides, I've got a project for you."
Lor was a bigger bibliophile than I was. Although getting my hands on Lor's book collection appealed to me, I shuddered to think what kind of project Jessica had in mind. "I told you that sharp knives make me nervous. No more sword lessons."
"Can I help how slippery pure fairy gold is? I said I was sorry."
During my first and last lesson with Jessica's Ruadan swords, she had accidentally pinned me to a tree by my shoulder. Good thing vampires healed fast.
"What I have in mind doesn't involve pointy objects, okay?" Jessica grinned.
That wide smile and too innocent gaze made me really nervous.
"Quit torturing me," I said as I sat up. "What nefarious plan have you cooked up, Jess?"
Jessica's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want you to be Broken Heart's new schoolteacher."
My mind instantly spun with the possibilities—lessons and field trips and—wait a minute. "I can't."
Her excitement dimmed. "Why the hell not?"
"I don't have a degree. Not even a GED. I'm not qualified."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Who gives a shit about that? You're smart, you're enthusiastic, and you're a vampire. We won't have to bring in anyone from outside or try to glamour some poor human. You already do the Shakespeare Club for the teens, and you created that story program just for Ralph's twins. Plus, you know what a freaking centurion is and you say Latin words like they're fun. Let's not forget that I caught you reading the dictionary. Nobody reads the dictionary."
"Lor does," interjected Patrick.
"Okay, nobody except Eva and Lor read the dictionary."
"Jessica, I'm really not qualified." I couldn't believe how badly I suddenly wanted the job. Teaching the kids of Broken Heart would be nearly as wonderful as discovering Shakespeare's lost plays. I could create different curriculums—one for high school, one for elementary, one for preschool. We could do grade ranges instead of forcing the kids into specific grades. I swallowed the sigh. I hadn't known I could want something more than what I already had. My life was full of blessings. Still…
Looking at the patchwork quilt that covered me, I shook my head.
"Aw, c'mon," said Jessica. "We need you. Hey! How about I take this up with the Consortium? I'll talk ol' Ivan into it. Would you go for it then?"
A little flame of hope flickered. "If the Consortium agrees to it, Jess, then, yeah—I'd love to do it."
"Sweet! Okay, babe, we gotta go figure out what's stinking up our house," said Jess cheerfully. "The third floor reeks like a dead guy's bad breath." She fluttered her eyelashes at Patrick. "No offense, honey."
"Hmm. I suppose a breath check is in order," he said. The look he shot her left no doubt that tongue and lips would be involved with the process. "Why don't we reconnoiter upstairs and begin the procedure?"
Grinning, Jess waved good-bye to me and left. Patrick took a seat near the bed.
"She's trying to make me feel better," I said. "But we've got problems, don't we?"
"Yes, Eva." He sighed. "Through our network of informants, we've found that the Wraiths are disbanded. No one has seen Ron in weeks."
"The hybrids didn't just show up. Someone led them here."
He nodded. "The experiments done on tainted vampires and captured lycans now are very much the same as those done during World War Two."
"You're saying it's no coincidence Nefertiti has revealed herself." Realization dawned and fear chilled me. "Her reinforcements have arrived."
"And they are quite good at avoiding detection. Other than the three lycans chasing you, one of them Faustus, there are no signs of outsiders." Patrick leaned forward and patted my hand. "If there is a war coming, you will be very much in demand."
"Just because I can talk to them and hear their thoughts doesn't mean I'll be of any use. I can't control them."
"Have you tried?"
I shook my head. I was reminded of my dream where the wolf cowered at my command. I looked at Patrick and saw the speculation in his eyes. "You think I can."
"For some reason the powers of Turn-bloods bitten by Lorcan are increasing exponentially. Jessica is quite good with her swords and with flight. She is also able, with some limitations, to appear and reappear. Usually it takes centuries to progress that far."
"I can see why I would be of interest." Damian and Johnny could use me to control Nefertiti. The Consortium could use me to hear the thoughts of the lycanthropes and Roma, maybe even to control unruly prisoners. And the bad guys could use me to control their experiments.
Nausea roiled and I pressed my hand against my stomach. Oh, God. I was in trouble.
"I know it's a lot to grasp," soothed Patrick. "Take a moment, if you need it. Your daughter is waiting to see you."
He rose from the chair; his smile was reassuring.
I sat up slowly and felt somewhat normal. The door popped open and there was Tamara.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Hi, honey. Your lips are doing something weird," I said. "Are you aware they're curling up at the corners?"
"Ha, ha. I can smile, y'know."
Since when? Had I worried her so much that she was trying to be nice? I preferred my darling sarcast (one who uses sarcasm) to this… this… "Jollier."
"Ah, better a jollier than a persifleur." She chuckled. "Nice one, Mom. Ten points for you." She sat next to me and patted my leg. "You gonna live, so to speak?"
"Yeah. How about you?"
"Think so."
A knock sounded. My daughter skittered off the bed, hurried to the door, and flung it open.
Durriken waited on the other side. He bowed to me, but his gaze never strayed from Tamara. "Hello, Miss LeRoy. Are you well?"
"Yes. Thanks."
Oh, crap. Apparently, my teenage daughter had met her hero. I felt a little deflated that her smile and emotional buoyancy weren't the result of seeing that I was okay. Tamara had never shown much interest in boys or in dating. Her sixteenth birthday was two months away. I suppose I hadn't thought much about her hanging out with people her own age, since she so rarely showed interest in doing so.
When Durriken offered his arm to her as if he were about to escort a princess to the ball, my daughter wrapped her arm around his and walked to my bedside. I tried to handle this turn of events with aplomb, but I felt kinda jealous. Even though I'd had every intention of introducing Durriken to Tamara, I hadn't thought they'd become peas in a pod.
"When did you two meet?" I asked.
"Last night," said Tamara. "He and his parents brought you to the hospital and he came to check on me."
"Wow. That's great." I tried to infuse enthusiasm in my voice, but I failed miserably. Tamara looked at me with raised brows. I didn't want to embarrass her or myself by turning into a suspicious, lecturing mother. "So, what're you doing now?"
"We're going to explore the house. This place is huge." She grinned at Durriken and he looked flummoxed. He grinned back at her. Gak! They were already in the moon-eyed stage.
"Be careful. Avoid dark, small places, and check in. Often. Don't… uh, do anything silly. Because I'm sure Jess has this place decked out with video cameras. Lots of them."
"Whatever you say, Mom."
Tamara and I had talked about the birds and the bees many times. Granted, my mother had done the same for me, and it hadn't stopped me from losing my virginity and getting pregnant.
However, I didn't think Tamara would run off and do anything sexual (gasp, blech, aah!) with Durriken. And his mother seemed the type to hack off genitalia if she thought 'em used inappropriately. All the same, I felt worried.
"Your daughter will be safe with me," said Durriken. "I will protect Tam."
"Yeah, Mom. Nothing bad will happen to me while I'm with Durry."
Ugh. Cute-name phase had been initiated. I knew kissing and… and touching wouldn't be far behind. Tam leaned down to buss my cheek. Oh, my God. Parental affection. Who was this girl?
I smiled bravely. "Have a good time." But not too good of a time, gosh darn it!
They waved good-bye, and then off they went to explore Silverstone mansion. As the door clicked shut behind them, I felt very lonely. It had always been me and Tamara. She valued her independence, but she'd never been away from me.
I knew that one day she'd go off on her own, but I wasn't quite ready to let her go. I didn't want her to explore the world without me.
You never have to cut the apron strings, baby. You just make 'em as long and as strong as your child needs. Then they have something to hold on to when they fall and they can follow those strings all the way home, if need be. The hardest thing to do is not hold on to the strings, to stop yourself from yanking on 'em to save your child from bad decisions. Your job as a mother is to be there with open arms. It's up to the one you raised to decide whether or not to step into your embrace.
My mother was a wise woman. Whenever I was feeling lonely for Tamara—when she went off to school or to spend the night with a friend—my mother got out the Ben & Jerry's pints and the Apron-String Lecture. She knew a thing or three about letting go—as a mother watching her child find independence and as a human being taking the journey to the next life. God, I missed her.
But I guessed it was time to start lengthening the apron strings.
When I left the room, I wandered down the hallway. I wondered where Lorcan was and what he was doing. Then I wondered where Durriken and Tamara were… and hoped they weren't doing anything.
The Silverstone mansion was huge and sprawling. It was no surprise to me that Lorcan had a whole wing to himself. The library was at the end of the hallway. Double doors opened to reveal the dim and dusty confines of the original library. A second, smaller one was located downstairs. That was where Jessica showed me Lor's books as well as a cache from the Consortium's traveling library.
I paused on the threshold. Wow. Ever see that scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast where the Beast shows Belle the palace library? That's the way I felt when I entered this wondrous place.
The room was large and circular. Book-filled shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. A walkway about fifteen feet up followed the curve of the room. In the middle of the room, the shelves curved toward a tall stained-glass window. Below it, I saw a dark alcove and the shadowy outline of the staircase that led to the second "floor" of the library.
Broken Heart Town 2 - Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire Page 10