by Suzy Shearer
“Don’t some other Hunters have grey hair?” Charlotte asked through her laughter.
“No. Our hair reverts to its natural colouring when we change without any streaks of grey. No Hunter has any grey. This old man will stand out like a sore thumb when Hunters get together.”
Michael then spoke seriously. “It is the mark of the ritual. No other carries it. Sorry, old friend, but you will be looked on in awe from this time onward.”
Matei shook his head. “If they knew the truth of what it meant then they would look at me as a fool.”
“Never that, my brother, never that.” He grinned at his friend, “You have now become a legend.”
Matei groaned. There would be no escaping. By now, the fact he had invoked the ritual would have spread through the globe and grown with each telling.
“Matei, how did the vampire take me? How did he know so much?”
“Are you sure you want to speak of this now, Cara?”
Charlotte nodded. “I need to know.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“I can remember him bragging and rambling on about tricking you.”
Matei spoke. “It seems he was smarter than we gave him credit for. The bodies were his, he drained them and planted them in the area so I would travel there.”
“But how did he know where I lived?”
“When he took you the first time, he planted a marker in your mind, he could trace you with it.” Charlotte nodded, remembering Matei had told her about it. “When I repaired your body and removed the toxins, the marker was the last thing I removed. I was a fool, I should have removed it first but you needed blood. Vasilecu must have followed us almost immediately and marked where you lived.”
“Once he found you, he must have spied on us while planning his revenge.”
Charlotte shivered. “He said he heard you last night when you said you would leave early to track him.”
Suddenly Charlotte recalled something. “I remember when I locked the door before we went to bed. I felt uneasy, I felt something unclean but it disappeared as quickly as it came and I thought no more of it.”
“He must have been lurking outside at the time, Matei,” Michael said. “He certainly tricked us both.”
“By planting the bodies so far away, it gave him time to take you. He knew if he rendered you unconscious, I would not be able to enter your mind. He thought he would be able to torture you before he killed you, long before I traced him. He figured he would have plenty of time to escape.”
Louisa spoke up. “He didn’t count on Harley.”
At the sound of his name, the dog lifted his head from his bed where he had been laying all night.
“Harley? I don’t understand, what did Harley do?”
“Saved you.”
Matei spoke bluntly. “He attacked the vampire, bit its leg, and Vasilecu did not even know he had been bitten. We were able to follow the blood trail directly to where he had taken you. Without it we may have never found you.”
Solemnly he added, “Actually that isn’t quite true, we would have been able to find you if you were alive. But in all probability you would have been dead.”
Charlotte looked over the bed to the dog. He thumped his tail but did not get up. Louisa told her what had happened to him and how she had repaired his broken bones. She had inserted a command for him not to get out of bed unless she spoke. She told Charlotte that he would be able to run about tomorrow.
“He has the courage of a mighty Hunter. Not many would take on a strigoi.” Matei leant to rub the dog’s head. “He deserves many accolades, much more than I will ever merit. He is a wolf in this dog’s form.”
“I reported to the Council that Vasilecu is destroyed, although they knew already. Many Hunters had contacted them. All wanted to be first to tell of you invoking the ritual.” Matei grimaced as Michael spoke. “They didn’t succeed as several Council members had followed your battle and added their support. You’ll have to report to them fully. I imagine they’ll want to honour you.”
Matei suddenly stood and stalked from the room, and Charlotte could feel his distress.
“He will calm soon, Charlotte. Once he realises that what he did was nothing short of a miracle. I know others have tried but none succeeded in my lifetime, they all died trying. He blames himself for nearly losing you but when he settles, he’ll not be as harsh on himself.”
“Matei, come back, I miss the warmth of your body, my love.”
“I am sorry, Cara, It is not an honour to me, it is proof I failed.”
“I am alive. The vampire is dead, that should count for something. Come back to me.” She whispered, “I fear being alone.”
He returned immediately, gathering her in his arms, and kissed her.
Louisa and Michael began to talk of their daughter, guessing that too much talk this night had been of horrors. Charlotte leant back onto Matei. She was feeling so tired she lay quiet and listened to the others. Slowly she drifted off to sleep, wrapped in Matei’s arm, knowing she was safe.
* * * *
“Cara, wake. Sorry but we need you. Wake.”
Charlotte slowly surface from her sleep to find herself and Matei alone in the room. “I’m sorry to wake you, Iubită. It is only one thirty in the morning but my sister has arrived and we can’t give her entrance.”
He gathered her in his arms before gently holding her upright. “Slowly put weight on your leg. If there is pain you must tell me and stop.”
Tentatively Charlotte stood. Matei’s arm was around her waist bearing her weight. Slowly she put more weight onto her leg. “It doesn’t hurt but it feels a little weird.”
“We will walk together.” He kept his arm around her waist as she took a few hesitant steps. She looked down and saw she was only wearing a short skimpy nightie. “Matei, I can’t let people see me dressed like this. I need some jeans and a shirt.”
He laughed at her. “Cara, Louisa and Michael have seen you like this, and in even less, since we returned.” He grabbed a dressing gown hanging behind the door and helped her into it.
As they walked down the hallway together, she could hear Michael and Louisa on the front veranda talking to Ştefania. She was nervous to meet someone in Matei’s family.
He smiled at her. “She will love you as I do, Cara.”
Together they went to the door and Charlotte opened it. Ştefania had her back to Charlotte and she turned as Charlotte said, “Please come in.”
“May I enter your home? May you give me permission to enter?”
“Of course, please do.”
Ştefania, Louisa and Michael entered. Holding onto Matei for support, Charlotte led them into the family room before turning to look at her new guest.
It was easy to see she and Matei were sister and brother. She had the same vivid green eyes and blue-black hair. She was tall for a woman, at least six feet, her features striking. Full lips gave her face a sensuous look. She was lithe with small breasts. Typical of Hunters, she wore her hair long and was dressed in dark clothing with a long duster over the top.
Charlotte felt old and heavy when she looked at her. Ştefania came to her and kissed both her cheeks then took her hands.
“I’m so glad to finally meet you in person. My heart was filled with joy when my brother told me he had found you. Then when we all thought you gone, my grief was almost as great as Matei’s. I’m so happy.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she squeezed Charlotte’s hands. Charlotte realised this woman meant every word she said and she pulled her forward to hug her.
“I’m very glad to meet you also.”
“Cara, come you must sit. You don’t want to strain your leg or your heart.”
“Great, Mr. Bossy is back,” she mumbled to herself and everyone laughed. She had to admit, if only to herself, that she did feel tired from standing and the short distance she had walked but she would not tell Matei.
He burst out laughing. “We all heard that!”
&nbs
p; “Get out of my head, Hotshot! Louisa, you have to teach me to block!”
Louisa held her hands up. “No, don’t ask me. It took me ages to do until I converted then it just happened. Ask Ştefania, her mother told me she learnt to do it much quicker than Matei.” She laughed.
Louisa looked at Ştefania, who nodded and said, “It’s true. Mother told me that Matei was a terrible student as a child and everyone could hear his thoughts.”
“Ştefania, please!” Matei begged his sister, “Don’t tell her this. Already she refuses to obey me.”
“Ignore him, Ştefania. Tell me more.”
Matei groaned and shook his head. “Why did I think seeing my sister would be a good thing.”
“Hotshot, you’re just frightened she’ll give away all your secrets. Anyway, you wouldn’t like me to be subservient.”
“Hotshot?”
Ştefania looked confused as she looked from one person to the other.
Michael roared in laughter. “Matei’s nickname. I, for one, think it is perfect.”
Matei held his face in his hands. “I’m never going to escape this, am I?”
Charlotte sat on Matei’s lap. Ştefania perched alongside him and took one of his hands.
“I really am glad to see you, brother. I have missed you and you scared me so much last night.” She shuddered. “I thought I would lose you all.”
He leant across and kissed her cheek.
“Listen,” Louisa said with a smile, and they all heard Harley whimpering, “Harley thinks he is missing things. I’ll check on him and see if it is safe for him to come out.”
She left the room.
“Harley is Charlotte’s dog,” Michael explained to Ştefania. “He was badly hurt when he attacked the strigoi last night.”
“He attacked the strigoi!”
Louisa returned with Harley following her, walking carefully. “I have warned him he is not to jump about but he may greet you all.”
The dog was so excited to be walking again. His tail wagged so fast it was a blur as he walked to each person and laid his head on their knees in greeting. When he reached Charlotte, he licked her, looking adoringly at her and Matei. He then moved on to Ştefania. It was easy to see he really wanted to jump about and play.
Ştefania knelt on the ground beside him and wrapped her arms around the dog. “You are the bravest dog ever. Few wolves would take on an ancient strigoi. I honour you.”
Harley looked up into her face then licked her across the nose. She settled on the ground and he lay down beside her with his head on her lap. Whenever she stopped rubbing him, he would push his head under her hand.
“I think you’ll have a permanent job if you ever decide to stop hunting, my sister.”
It felt so comfortable and natural to sit with these people, already Charlotte felt like she belonged as she rested her head on Matei’s shoulder. Ştefania was telling him about their parents. She was travelling to see them after her visit with him. She was due for a new assignment and the four of them were discussing posting they had been given over the years.
Once more Charlotte felt herself drifting away. The voices were soothing, she felt safe, relaxed, and still very tired.
* * * *
Michael pointed Charlotte out to Matei. “She needs to sleep, my friend. Why don’t you take her to your home? It will be peaceful for her and it’ll give her a chance to heal fully without a houseful of guests. We’ll look after the dog.”
Matei thought that a good idea. She certainly needed to rest. He shook her gently to wake her. “Cara, you are tired, you need sleep after all that has happened. I’m going to take you to my home, away from any stress. It’ll only take a short while by car, I doubt you are ready for me to fly you there.”
“But that would be rude to your sister, she has only just arrived.”
“Don’t fret, Charlotte, we’ll spend some time together once you have fully healed,” Ştefania assured her.
Matei bundled her up and carried her to the car. He thought she would fall asleep long before they reached his house and he was right. They had barely been in the car for five minutes when she was asleep.
It took less than an hour to reach the house. It was set in the midst of bush land and a large security gate prevented any unwanted sightseers. Matei unlocked it using a code and drove through the winding road to the house. He wished Charlotte was awake to see it but knew she needed to rest more.
He carried her inside and placed her in the middle of the king-sized bed. The master bedroom, as all bedrooms was fitted with shutters that were on a timer so he knew he would be safe if he fell asleep. The room was large but sparsely furnished. The front and one side were glass sliding doors that opened onto a large covered deck, overlooking the water. Matei never tired of lying in bed and watching the changing conditions of the surf as it crashed onto the beach and rocks.
Settling alongside Charlotte, he wrapped her in his arms and breathed in the scent of her. When he thought back over the events of last night he felt his agony rise. She meant the world to him and it frightened him to recall how close he had come to losing this precious woman.
* * * *
He had her by the throat, she could feel his other hand clawing at her breast. She screamed, calling for Matei. The vampire laughed and threw her across the floor shouting her name.
“Charlotte! Charlotte!”
He was shaking her, “No!” she screamed, “No!”
“Cara, wake, Cara. You are safe, Cara, wake up!”
Voices in her head and in her ears were calling to her. Finally, through the mists of her dream, she surfaced to find Matei cradling her, all the while calling her name. The others were in her mind calling to her also.
“Hush, my Cara, hush. It was a dream. You are safe.”
Charlotte clung to him sobbing. She was sure the vampire had taken her again, it had felt so real.
“I’m here, Iubită, the strigoi is dead, he can never harm you again.” He took her hand. “It was a dream, that’s all. You are safe with me.”
Gradually, her sobs subsided and she was able to accept the fact that she had been dreaming.
“It was so real. I thought…I really thought I was back with him.”
“All is well, Iubită, you are safe, and none can take you from my arms.”
Matei reassured her and she made herself lean into his arms. It had been so vivid, so real.
“Would you like some tea? Maybe it will soothe. Louisa insists it helps,” he said.
Charlotte nodded her thanks. She felt a fool.
“Never that, Cara, never think that. What you endured would cause any one of us to fear. It’s still fresh in your mind. The horrors will fade. I’ll ease them from your mind so they are not so raw.”
She felt Matei begin rubbing her temples and she slowly settled back against his chest. As he gently entered Charlotte’s mind and eased the horrors, pushing them into memories, taking away their power, she felt him push a tiny command that she rest and sleep. Slowly she felt herself relax and fall into a more natural sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Charlotte woke to find herself in bed alongside Matei. She was confused for a moment. Obviously, she had fallen asleep in the car and Matei must have carried her in. Then she remembered the nightmare and Matei holding her until the horror passed. She recalled him massaging her forehead and pushing the bad dreams away, sending her to sleep. She looked across the room but all was in darkness and she remembered Matei telling her the house was fitted with shutters in the bedrooms.
She could hear the waves pounding on the beach and wanted to feel the sand on her feet. Early this morning when Matei suggested bringing her here, she was hesitant but now she was glad. While he slept, she intended to explore both the house and the immediate area.
Glancing at a clock beside the bed, she saw it was close to eleven in the morning. She knew he had given her a command to sleep but she was grateful for it after her dream last evening. Ly
ing quietly, she examined her memories of the horrid night and discovered that, although they were still there, they no longer had the power to hurt her. Matei must have eased them further back into her mind when he was soothing her and made her more accepting.
For once, she would not complain, she was glad they had lost their power over her.
Carefully she stretched and sat up. Gingerly she stood but felt no pain from her leg. She glanced at Matei, hoping she had not woken him, but he was still in slumber, his naked body sprawled across the bed, his hair a tangled mess across the pillows.
There was a soft light coming from a doorway to the left of the bed, and she looked around the room. There was the bed she was in and a large couch but no other furniture. There was also a fireplace. Tiptoeing across the room, she was relieved when the doorway led to a bathroom with a separate toilet on one side. Matei must have left the light on in case she woke.
Walking into the bathroom, she smiled in delight when she discovered it had wonderful views across the water. She could imagine herself lying in the tub just taking it all in.
She looked at her leg and noticed only a tiny thin line where the bone had protruded. She was amazed that her body could heal so quickly, that Matei, Louisa and Michael had been able to repair her wounds. She had died and yet here she was two days later completely healthy.
Charlotte stripped off her nightie. She looked at her body in the full-length mirror. Apart from a few bruises, there was nothing showing of her ordeal. She looked carefully, she didn’t want to see any mark there to remind her.
Too eager to explore she decided against the spa and jumped in the shower. Charlotte felt the warm water washing away the last of the horrors. She thought she would still have some moments when what had happened threatened to overwhelm her, but standing in the shower and looking out over the water made it seem like a distant memory.
Stepping out of the shower and wrapped in a soft towel, she realised she would have to put her nightgown back on, that they had forgotten to bring her clothes, until she saw a neat pile with jeans, shirt, jumper and underwear. They looked new. Obviously Matei must have conjured them, knowing she would need something comfortable to wear. Her heart gave a little somersault at the things he did for her.