Amanda Ashley - [Children of the Night 02]

by Night's Touch

  “That’s my plan.”

  “The hospital first, then,” she said.

  With a nod, he closed her door, then went to his own car.

  When they arrived at the hospital, they learned that Frank had signed himself out earlier that day.

  “I guess he’s feeling better,” Cara said as they walked back to the parking lot.

  Vince grunted softly, wondering what kind of effect Roshan’s blood would have on the bodyguard. It wouldn’t make him a vampire, but it might increase his strength and his longevity.

  He followed Cara home and pulled into the driveway after her, only then realizing that she already had company. Her mother and father were waiting for them on the front porch. As usual, her father was attired in black from head to foot. Her mother wore a gauzy white blouse, a colorful skirt, and suede boots. A necklace of amber and jet circled her throat.

  Cara felt a twinge of unease as she climbed the stairs. “Mom, Dad, is something wrong?”

  “No, dear,” her mother said, smiling. “We were just worried about you, that’s all.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I can see that,” Brenna said, “but after last night…we just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Oh.” Cara glanced at Vince, then unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Vince followed her.

  Roshan and Brenna remained on the porch.

  When Cara realized her parents were still outside, she turned back toward the door. “Aren’t you two coming in?”

  “We can’t enter without an invitation,” her father said. “Remember?”

  “Oh, right,” she said, recalling that vampires needed an invitation. “So, you really can’t come in unless I invite you?”

  Her father nodded. “Exactly.”

  Cara grinned, thinking how odd that was. “What happens if you try?”

  “The threshold repels us.”

  “I don’t believe it.”

  “Would you like a demonstration?”

  “Sure.”

  Cara stepped back and her father moved forward. As soon as he reached the threshold and tried to cross, it was like he ran into an invisible barrier.

  “Are you doing that on purpose?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Amazing. Well, come on in, both of you.”

  Although he was standing a few feet behind Cara, Vince felt the ripple of preternatural power as her mother and father crossed the threshold into the house. He glanced at Cara, but she seemed unaware of it. It was probably a good thing, he mused. If she didn’t sense her father’s power, then she probably hadn’t sensed his, either, though her father’s power was so strong, Vince wondered how she could remain oblivious. But then, most mortals were completely ignorant of the supernatural world.

  Cara smiled at her parents. “Do you need an invitation to sit down, too?” she asked, thinking Sarah Beth would never believe any of this. Not that she would ever tell her!

  “No, dear,” Brenna said, taking a seat on the sofa, “but it is good manners.”

  Roshan sat on the sofa beside his wife. Cara sat beside her father, leaving Vince to take the chair.

  “Is there anything else I need to know about your…uh, lifestyle?” Cara asked. She frowned, thinking about all the old vampire movies she had seen. Her parents didn’t seem anything like the ravening monsters portrayed on film.

  Her mother and father exchanged glances. Cara wondered if they were communicating with each other somehow, saying things only they could hear. She had a feeling they were deciding how much to tell her and how much to keep secret.

  After a moment, her father said, “Most of what people believe about vampires is false. The truths are that silver burns our skin, we can pass unnoticed among humans if we wish, we are capable of changing our shapes, and we cast no reflection in a mirror.”

  Cara stared at her father. Funny she’d never noticed that the only mirrors in her parents home had been the ones in her own room. Now that she thought of it, she realized that the drapes had always been drawn across the windows, as well. Her mother loved jewelry, but none of it was silver.

  Cara glanced at Vince. Did he find this conversation as bizarre as she did? He smiled at her, his expression impassive.

  She took a deep breath. She didn’t want to talk about vampires anymore, so, to change the subject, she said, “We went to the hospital to see Frank, but they said he’d gone home.”

  Her mother and father exchanged looks again. It was obvious they understood why she had changed the subject.

  “Frank’s resting comfortably,” her father said. “He asked me to thank you for the flowers and the candy, and to tell you that he would be back on the job on Monday.”

  Now you see why we wanted you to have a bodyguard. Though her father didn’t say the words aloud, Cara could almost hear them hanging, unspoken, in the air.

  “I’m glad he’s going to be all right,” she said, “though I can’t understand how he could recover so quickly.”

  Vince glanced at Roshan, but said nothing.

  “Some people have remarkable recuperative powers,” Brenna said to fill the silence. She glanced around. “I love what you’ve done with your new place. It suits you.”

  Cara smiled, thinking Vince had said the same thing. “Would you like to see the rest? It’s not very big, but I like it.”

  “Of course,” Brenna said. “Are you coming, Roshan?”

  “In a minute, love.” He waited until his wife and daughter had left the room, then focused his attention on the other man. “Just how serious are you about my daughter?”

  Chapter 25

  Vince stared at Cara’s father. It was all he could do to keep from laughing. They were vampires, both of them, yet DeLongpre glared at him like a character out of a gothic novel, asking the hero about his intentions—except that Vince was no hero, and he had no right to court DeLongpre’s daughter. Other than the sizzling physical attraction between them, they had nothing in common and no hope for a future together. He knew it, and so did DeLongpre.

  Vince blew out a deep breath. “I love her.”

  “Does she know what you are?”

  “Only what you told her.”

  “Except that she didn’t believe me.”

  Vince shrugged. “Is that my fault?”

  “Your whole relationship is built on a lie.”

  “I know that. Don’t you think I know that? I want to tell her, but…”

  “You’re afraid you’ll lose her.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you can’t exist without her.”

  Vince nodded. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve been down this road yourself?”

  “I loved Brenna the moment I saw her, but I never pretended to be anything other than what I am. If you love Cara, you owe her the truth before things go any further.”

  Vince swore softly.

  DeLongpre’s eyes burned into him. “You know I’m right, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So you’ll tell her?”

  “When the time is right.”

  Anger rolled off the other vampire. “And just when will that be?”

  “How the hell should I know? I don’t like…” Vince cut his words off in midsentence as Cara and her mother reentered the room.

  “What don’t you like?” Cara asked, sitting beside her father.

  “The way the playoffs are going,” Vince lied smoothly. “My team’s losing.”

  Brenna looked at Vince sharply as she sat down, her expression telling him she had heard the entire conversation between Vince and her husband, and that she agreed with Roshan.

  Cara glanced at her father and then at Vince. “All right, what’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Vince shook his head. “Nothing, darlin’.”

  “We should go,” DeLongpre said, rising. “We didn’t mean to intrude.”

  “You’re not intruding,” Cara said. “You’re my parents. You’re welcome here
anytime.”

  “Thanks, sweetie,” Brenna said, also rising, “but I think your father’s right. We just wanted to come by and make sure you were okay, and you are, so we’ll see you Monday night, all right?” She took her husband by the hand. “Come on, Roshan, I think we’ve interrupted their date long enough.”

  Cara walked her parents to the door and kissed them good night. She watched them walk down the path and disappear into the darkness, then closed the door behind them. “All right,” she said, returning to the living room where Vince waited, “what’s going on?”

  “Nothing, darlin’. Your father just wanted to know what my intentions are.”

  “Your intentions toward what…oh!” Embarrassment flooded her cheeks. “You don’t mean he was asking about your intentions toward me?” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “How could he?”

  “He’s just worried about you,” Vince said, drawing her down onto his lap. “Nothing for you to be upset about.”

  She glared at him. “You can’t be serious! He’s always trying to…to…”

  “To what?”

  “Run my life!” She wriggled off Vince’s lap, too upset to sit still. “Honestly, I’m twenty-two years old and they treat me like I’m two! Do you realize this is the first time in my life that I haven’t had a bodyguard parked outside my door? Of course, all that will change on Monday.”

  “I think you’re forgetting something here,” Vince said mildly. “That bodyguard saved your life.”

  “You saved my life. And his!”

  “Hold on now. He was in action before I got there.”

  “Now you’re taking their side? I don’t believe it!”

  Rising, Vince pulled Cara into his arms. “Calm down, darlin’. They just worry about you, that’s all. You can’t blame them, you know. They can’t be there for you during the day. It’s only natural that they’d take steps to protect you.”

  She looked up at him curiously. “You accepted the fact that my parents are vampires mighty quick, didn’t you?” she asked, frowning. “I remember when I told you, you didn’t even seem surprised.”

  “Didn’t I?”

  “No. Why weren’t you?”

  Vince cleared his throat. “You seemed so convinced, I thought it would just make it worse if I doubted you, that’s all.”

  She regarded him for several moments. “Why did my dad think you were a vampire?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he saw me at The Nocturne.”

  Cara shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, if that was true, wouldn’t he think all the people at The Nocturne were vampires?”

  “I don’t know, darlin’.” He caressed the last word, hoping to divert her thoughts to something else, something more intimate.

  “You wear a lot of black, just like my dad,” she remarked, her brow furrowed. “And I’ve never seen you eat.”

  Vince swore silently. She was getting close to the truth. Too close. He tightened his arm around her waist, drawing her body up against his. “Speaking of eating,” he murmured, “you’re looking mighty tasty.”

  “Not now, Vince.”

  “No?” Lowering his head, he kissed her, long and slow and deep, until she sagged against him, breathless. Her hands slid under his shirt, her nails lightly raking his back.

  She didn’t protest when he swung her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Knowing it might be for the last time, he made love to her tenderly, drawing out each touch, each caress, pleasuring her until he ached inside, until, with a low growl, he buried himself deep within her.

  Later, on his way home, Vince cursed himself for his cowardice. He should have told her the truth. Hell, if he had just let her keep talking, she would have figured it out for herself. Instead, he’d kissed her until she was hungry for his touch.

  It had been a despicable thing to do, and he had no excuse except that he loved her and couldn’t bear the idea of existing without her. He knew he would have to let her go sooner or later, but, dammit, he didn’t have to like it.

  Every time he saw her, he told himself it would be the last time, even though he knew it was a lie.

  And yet, how much longer could he go on deceiving her now that she was asking questions? And what was he going to do about going to Sarah Beth’s house? He couldn’t very well go to the woman’s house for dinner and then not eat!

  Damn! He hadn’t eaten solid food in a year. He supposed he could plant the suggestion in their minds that he had eaten dinner with them, but he hated to deceive Cara and her friends that way. He swore a vile oath. Letting her believe he was human was a far bigger deception.

  Disgusted with himself and his own company, he drove on past his place and headed for The Nocturne.

  Late as it was, the club was in full swing. Vince took a seat at the end of the bar, his gaze sweeping the couples on the dance floor. As usual, most everyone in the place, including himself, was wearing black.

  The thought made him frown. He hadn’t started wearing black until he’d been made, and then it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. He supposed he gravitated toward it unconsciously. He was a creature of the night now. How better to blend into the darkness that was so much a part of him than to dress in black? He wondered if it would throw Cara off the scent if he started wearing brighter colors again.

  He glanced at the woman beside him. She was eating a chili cheeseburger and fries. Curious to see what would happen if he ate solid food, Vince ordered a hamburger, even though the smell of cooked meat made his stomach churn.

  When his order arrived, he stared at it for several moments before taking a bite. It seemed odd to be chewing solid food. He swallowed quickly and knew he’d made a huge mistake.

  Bolting out the club’s back door, he ducked into the bushes. The burger tasted far worse coming back up than it had going down.

  He was wiping his mouth when he heard the sound of merry laughter behind him. Turning slowly, he came face to face with Mara.

  She shook her head in astonishment. “What are you doing? Have you learned nothing since I brought you across?”

  Vince shrugged sheepishly. “I had to try.”

  “Whatever for? I know you don’t have any desire for food.”

  “I’ve been invited to dinner.”

  “Ah. I take it you still haven’t told your little mortal what you are.”

  He shook his head. “No, but she’s starting to get suspicious.”

  “You can’t hide the truth forever,” Mara said, slipping her arm through his. “Come, I know just the thing to take that awful taste out of your mouth.”

  Chapter 26

  Serafina stood in the doorway of the room in the basement of the laboratory, admiring her handiwork. Everything was as ready as she could make it.

  Anthony’s crypt rested in the corner.

  Two metal operating tables stood in the center of the room. One had been refitted with solid silver restraints to hold the vampire, restraints far stronger than the ones Anthony had once used. As much as she loved Anthony, she didn’t intend to underestimate DeLongpre’s strength the way her beloved had. She had bought a portable crib to hold the infant until she needed it, prepared a second table with leather restraints to hold DeLongpre’s daughter, and obtained the necessary equipment to draw blood.

  She had considered many ways to wreak vengeance against Roshan DeLongpre, but using DeLongpre’s blood and that of his daughter to resurrect her beloved was far superior to any of the others. Letting Anthony destroy DeLongpre once and for all would be the coup de grâce. As for DeLongpre’s daughter, once Serafina was through with her, Anton could decide whether the chit should live or die.

  Even though she had kept all of Anthony’s old shoes and clothes, Serafina had bought him a whole new wardrobe, including underwear, socks, and handkerchiefs. He had always been a little vain, and she didn’t want him to appear in public in clothes that had been out of style for over twenty years.

  She had purchased his favo
rite blend of coffee, as well as his favorite wine and whiskey. When the day for his return grew closer, she would stock her pantry with his favorite foods. She made a mental note to pick up a bottle of his favorite cologne, a new toothbrush, a new wallet, a new comb, and a razor.

  She smiled, thinking how wonderful it had been to shop for him, to fill her dresser drawers with his things.

  She had bought new sheets and pillows for her bed, wanting everything to be perfect for their new life together.

  She ran her hand over the metal table. If only there was a way to test the spell before she tried it on her beloved.

  If only she could make the days and hours pass more quickly!

  If only her beloved were there beside her.

  “Soon.” The word had become her mantra. “Soon.”

  Chapter 27

  The next two weeks passed quickly. Cara saw Vince every night after work and sometimes during her break, and the more she saw him, the more she loved him. He was kind, patient, and fun to be with. And their lovemaking…each time seemed better than the last. Sometimes they made slow, sweet love in her bed, sometimes on the floor of the living room in front of the fire, sometimes in the bathtub, and once in the kitchen on the table.

  The Monday night her parents had come to visit, they had hinted several times that she should move back home, but Cara refused to consider it. Now that she’d had a taste of living on her own, there was no way she was moving back in with Mom and Dad.

  She continued buying odds and ends for her house—a full-length mirror for the bathroom door, a lacy fern in an earthenware pot, a painting for over the fireplace, a new lamp for the living room.

  Frank had fully recovered. There were still times when she felt a twinge of resentment when she looked in her rearview mirror and saw his Lexus trailing a short distance behind her, but for the most part, she found his presence vastly reassuring.

  Now it was Monday night and she and Vince were going to Sarah Beth’s house for dinner and then to a movie. She was surprised at how excited she was to be going to Bethy’s for dinner, or maybe it was Vince who had unleashed the butterflies in her stomach. Or maybe it was just the fact that it was the first time she and Vince would be going to visit one of her friends as a couple.