Silenced by the Grave

by Lina Gardiner

  “Me?” he said.

  “Yes, you, did you use your abilities to block them from finding us?”

  “Not consciously, but I might have. It couldn’t have been angel fire, though. We would have seen it.” Even when he used the words angel fire, he looked uncomfortable. It didn’t take a superior intellect to know that he still hadn’t come to terms with what he’d become.

  “Then, I bet you’ve just developed another skill,” she said. “You created an invisible smokescreen so we could get away. That’s why you’re suddenly tired. Using your abilities is the only thing that can fatigue you that much.”

  “I guess, but how did I create a smokescreen without knowing it?” he said, scratching his head and looking back.

  “How could you sprout wings and fly without knowing it?” Jess said.

  Cringing visibly now, Britt said, “I need a guidebook to my abilities and the sooner the better.”

  Jess shook her head. “Most likely you’re going to have to wing it.”

  One of his eyebrows rose ironically, and she bit back a grin. “Sorry, it popped out.”

  He chose to ignore her bad pun. “If Veronique is on the level, why hasn’t she told us what she’s up to with Vlad?” Britt said suddenly.

  “I don’t know. Hopefully, she has her reasons.”

  “At least in New York, we knew what we were dealing with,” he said, his lips pursed. Jess knew he was berating himself for not having control of his own body.

  “Are you forgetting about Lazarus and Drago Vaslov? They weren’t your run-of-the-mill psycho vampires in New York before we cut them down.”

  He nodded. “That’s true. In fact, every year since I joined the team, we’ve had a new type of vampire overlord take over. Was it always that way, I mean before I came along?”

  Jess frowned. “No, it wasn’t. In fact, for decades it was just Regent and I hunting singular vampires who were killing street people. Until that one night when I saved a cop from a vampire, who just happened to be the chief of the police at the precinct where we now work. After that, the vampire hunting unit was initiated, and we hunted vampires on the streets at night as a team.” She paused and gazed over the bridge at the moving water reflecting the colorful lights of the city. “Do you think our vampires will eventually be like the vampires here in Europe, wanting a stake in society?”

  “I’m not looking forward to that happening. Maybe we can slow their progress somehow. It’d help if we can keep them from forming groups,” Britt said.

  “It might already be happening. We just didn’t know it until we came to Paris.”

  “But how did vampires in New York suddenly understand they’d be better in associations?” he said.

  “Who knows? Maybe it’s just a natural progression from solitary vampires to working in groups? Maybe, the fact that the police force joined a coalition against them, made them realize they had to do the same thing? Maybe we instigated the change. Our world is changing. Maybe this trip to Paris has been an important enlightenment for us. We’re going to have to be a lot more savvy about how we battle vampires in the future. We thought Lazarus, Vaslov, and Tadai were anomalies. Now, we realize they might have been part of the new world order. They were the ones who knew they had to change to survive, and I was too blind to figure it out,” she said.

  “Hey, don’t put the blame on yourself, Jess. We had no way of realizing what was happening. Now we do.”

  She shoved one hand into her leather jacket pocket. “We don’t know why the vampires back there feel the older ones are threatening their well-being, either. Is this another step in their evolution? And if so, is it good or bad?”

  Britt scowled.

  “We can’t just come out and ask Veronique what’s going on because she’s going against her own government to meet with Vlad.” She paced to the other side of the bridge and stared down at the water again, as if the reflections would be different here. “But we can continue to work with her and watch her. Try to figure out what she’s up to.”

  Britt leaned his hip against the side of the bridge. “She might be a pawn in Vlad’s scheme, and then again, maybe she’s working with him.”

  “Either way,” Jess said. “For now, let’s give her enough rope to hang herself. I just hope she doesn’t. I want to think she’s doing the right thing for the right reason. Deep down in my gut, I trust her.”

  “Here’s hoping your gut sense is dead-on,” Britt said.

  Jess shook her head. “Funny, Britt. Maybe a little better than my pun.”

  “Why don’t we drop into LaCave and see what your sister is up to? The night’s still young.”

  “Didn’t you think the surveillance at the soap factory was exhilarating enough?” She bit her bottom lip when she thought about that horrendous odor.

  “Was it because we could have been caught? You’ve got me a little worried, doll.” Grabbing her arm and locking it in his, they strode toward the entrance to the catacombs.

  “Maybe I just miss New York. We mattered back there. Our jobs were important to the safety of society, and it made me feel worthwhile, even if I am a soul damned to perdition.”

  “You’re not. We’ll figure a way to save you, Jess. I did it once before. I saved Terry, James, and Sephina. There’s always the chance I can save you, too.”

  Jess nodded but didn’t meet his hopeful gaze. He couldn’t save her—she knew it. But he needed to believe he could, or he’d lose faith in himself and in the possibilities of his angelic heritage.

  “We can always look forward to that day,” she said and forced a smile onto her cold, dead face.

  Britt’s hand tightened on her arm. “Never give up.”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I’d ever given up,” she said softly, realizing that it was true. “Between Regent and you, I’ve already been saved, my love. Don’t worry if you can’t make me truly human again. You make me have humanity inside. That’s more important.”

  BRITT SWALLOWED hard. Jess considered herself to be a soulless vampire, but someone without a soul couldn’t have just said that. As good as she’d just made him feel, he also felt the frustration of not being able to save her. Damn it, if he’d been allowed to save three other vampires, why not her?

  Get a grip, Brittain! He had to rein in his emotions before Jess noticed.

  “It’s strange Morana’s satisfied with working at a bar every night, isn’t it?” Jess said as they approached the opening to the catacombs. “But then, maybe it gives her a sense of purpose and stops her vampiric urges.”

  “Maybe.” He didn’t think Jess’s sister had any redeeming qualities. She was dark, inside and out. Even so, he tried not to make negative comments in front of Jess. He couldn’t imagine Jess’s turmoil about having a twin she’d never met until now. Somewhere deep down, there had to be some sibling bond, although he wasn’t sure Jess had found it yet. It seemed Regent had, though.

  Vibrations rumbled through the tunnel coming from LaCave. Live bands were always a popular draw, and the club was packed when they entered. The fact that women were being murdered down here hadn’t seemed to deter anyone—the crowd had doubled, at least. That meant Morana had lied to them.

  “What’s wrong with these women?” he said, scanning the crowd. “There are at least fifteen or twenty young blondes on the dance floor alone. Don’t they realize they could be next?”

  “Hopefully, it’s too soon for another kill. But I agree. Our perp could be here picking out his next victim right now.”

  Given his height, Britt could see over the majority of the crowd. “Oh My God!” he said.

  “What do you see?” Jess asked.

  “Morana.”

  Jess made her way toward the bar so she could see for herself. She stopped in her tracks, looking pained when she saw her sister. “Good thing Regent isn’t here tonight. He’d never believe she could look like that.”

  Because she looked exactly like Jess. She wore a wig the same as Jess’s hairstyle, and she’
d donned a very similar looking leather outfit.

  She caught sight of them and cast an evil leer their way. She mocked Jess, rubbing the fact that they were identical in her face.

  Bitch!

  “It’s going to be a long night,” Jess said.

  After gloating over their shocked expressions, Morana waved them closer. Her long brown hair swirled over her shoulders, and she wore virtually no makeup. Jess’s style—not hers. Britt’s gut swirled. This woman was even more dangerous than he realized.

  Diesel worked next to her, mixing several drinks at a time. His multitude of facial piercings—lip ring included—and dark black and burgundy eye shadow gave him a sullen look tonight.

  Diesel visually compared the two of them and looked disgusted at Morana’s attempt to copy her sister.

  When Jess stood in front of Morana, it pained Britt to realize she could be looking into a mirror—they were that much alike. He’d remind Jess later that the similarity was superficial only. Morana couldn’t hold a candle to her character and strength.

  “Evening, Sister,” Morana said. “Want a drink?”

  “No, thanks.” Jess stared hard at Morana. “I guess there’s no denying we’re twins tonight,” she said in a dull tone that was unlike her.

  “I thought you might be interested to see how identical we’d be if we dressed alike,” she said.

  “Interested, my ass,” Britt said, his jaw muscles tightening.

  Jess elbowed him in the ribs at the same time Diesel rolled his eyes in disgust.

  Diesel obviously liked his own version of Morana, not the Jess look-alike. Britt had the feeling Morana didn’t realize her co-worker was in lust with her. After all, she was incredibly self-absorbed.

  Morana sniffed the air then wrinkled her nose. “You both need to try a different brand of soap. It smells like you rolled in it before you got here. What have the two of you been up to tonight?”

  “The usual,” Jess said, not giving anything away. “Just walking around and enjoying the sights of Paris.”

  “That’ll get tiresome after a while.”

  Morana had plenty to be jealous of in Britt’s mind. She’d never come up to her sister’s standards. His gaze swept slowly over Jess in appreciation.

  When he looked back, Morana was giving him the evil eye. He returned her expression. Sometimes, his internal reaction to her was so visceral, he couldn’t stop himself from letting his dislike for her show.

  A patron approached the bar. “Is Morana here tonight?” he asked. “My group of eight would like a round of Longina Iced Teas.”

  Morana smiled wickedly in Britt’s direction. It was as if, until this very moment, she hadn’t realized the power of her new persona. “She’s out back. I’ll ask her to get your drinks,” she said, ignoring the gaping stare from Diesel.

  “Thanks.” The man left.

  “Why’d you say that?” Diesel asked. He’d stopped wiping and started scrubbing the bar. If he continued, he’d wear off the finish. “Why didn’t you tell him who you were?”

  “Because I found it quite freeing that he didn’t know,” she said. “I wonder what my life would be like if I moved to New York City?”

  That comment sent a slick of cold dread up Britt’s spine. Fear? Yes, it was fear that had rocked him to the core.

  Even Jess’s body had tightened at that comment. “I hadn’t truly considered the downside to being a twin,” Jess said, only for Britt’s ears.

  It didn’t matter. Morana heard her anyway. “You’re just realizing that now, Jess Vandermire? I wonder who was born first? Maybe you’re the younger sister.” She talked while mixing the drinks and setting them on a tray.

  Did that mean she’d have power over Jess? In vampire physiology, the older ones were the leaders.

  Diesel tossed his head back and sniffed in irritation at her latest comment.

  “Hey, what’s wrong with you tonight, Diesel?” Morana shouted then sent an ice-cold look at him that Jess could never carry off, no matter how hard she tried.

  Diesel stopped scrubbing and stared back at Morana, mirroring her derision.

  For a second, Britt thought Diesel might go vampiric. But this was between them. Britt didn’t really care how they acted.

  He pointed to a table on the other side of the room. “Let’s grab that one, Jess.”

  Jess glanced from Morana to Diesel, measuring their state of rage. She must’ve figured it was safe to leave them to their own devices because she nodded.

  It actually took Britt several seconds for his anger to calm after walking away from Jess’s evil twin. If Morana became a permanent part of their lives, it would be a challenge for him to hold his tongue.

  Jess didn’t mention Morana again, thank God. Hell, maybe she had been disturbed, too.

  “Do you suppose Vlad will be here tonight?” Jess said a little louder than normal so Britt could hear her over the music.

  “I doubt it,” he said, shifting his gaze to the entry. “Then again, I could be wrong about that.” Vlad had just entered the place.

  Jess followed his gaze. “Do you think Vlad knows it was us at the factory earlier?” She leaned very close to Britt’s ear so she wouldn’t be overheard by her sister.

  “No way. I think you’re right about me being able to create a smokescreen. It feels right.”

  “Speaking of that, are you still tired?”

  “No. My energy is returning. It didn’t sap me for long. It’s a cool trick though, isn’t it?” He forced a grin, as if that made him feel any better about having abilities he couldn’t control. “That parlor trick might come in handy at home if I can figure out how to do it again.”

  They surreptitiously watched Vlad wander around the club, stopping to talk to patrons here and there. As usual, a couple of women followed in his wake. He seemed to have the kind of charisma vampires in movies had over women.

  He slowly worked his way toward them, making it obvious that he’d spotted them when he’d first entered the club.

  He shooed the two blondes off just before he stopped at their table.

  “You two must really like this place.” He grabbed an empty chair and took a seat without being asked.

  Jess said, “Just getting to know my sister a little more.”

  Vlad looked at Morana serving drinks behind the bar, and his gaze narrowed. He eyed Jess again. “It’s uncanny how much you two look alike now that Morana’s not wearing her usual attire.”

  Britt’s gut twisted. “Yeah, uncanny,” he said in a cynical voice.

  Jess glanced sharply at him, and he cursed himself again for giving his feelings away. What was wrong with him? Normally he played the role of enigmatic cop to the letter. Lately though, he seemed on the edge of giving too much away, particularly when it came to Morana.

  “How did Morana come to live in Paris, when you and your brother were in New York?” Vlad asked.

  Britt didn’t cross gazes with Jess—he didn’t have to. Vlad knew too much about their lives. That probably meant he knew all about Regent, as well. It was strange that he let his knowledge slip, though. Or had it been a slip?

  “No idea, whatsoever. Neither of us knew the other existed until Regent happened to run into her,” she said.

  Vlad looked at Morana again. “What a stroke of luck, huh?”

  A waiter approached. “Your usual, sir?” Vlad nodded, and the waiter scurried off. That meant Morana had lied about him not going there.

  Vlad eyed Britt’s beer and then Jess. “You’re not drinking?”

  “No. I don’t like to drink outside of my own supply,” she said.

  His eyebrows rose just slightly. “How do you get your supply, if you don’t mind me asking? I mean, do you use—hosts?”

  Since it was illegal in Paris to drink from a host, the question was inappropriate. Or, maybe he’d offer up a source of his own. Either way, Britt didn’t like the direction this conversation was going, and Jess wouldn’t either.

  “I only u
se supplied blood from a bank,” she answered quietly so no one else could hear. “I never drink from a host.”

  Jess was more forthcoming than he would have been. He chewed his lip and narrowed his gaze on Vlad.

  “Never?” Vlad asked, while he looked from her to Britt.

  Jess didn’t flinch. They’d only done it twice, but it had taken their sexual pleasure to new heights. That didn’t make it right.

  Britt changed the subject. “I’m surprised to see you here when you have a bar of your own on the other side of the city.”

  Vlad gave him a knowing look, a ghost of a smile that showed the tips of his eyeteeth. It seemed Vlad’s lengthened eyeteeth were always present. Maybe that came with age? Britt wasn’t sure.

  “I like to monitor other clubs, see what brings in new customers.”

  Blatant lie! Why was he really here? Scoping out more blondes?

  “You seem to attract young women wherever you go,” Jess said, possibly considering the same thing as Britt.

  Vlad nodded. “I believe it’s the danger element. Even though they don’t know why I’m dangerous, they sense it just the same. It gets tiresome sometimes, but I’m usually quite amused by it.”

  “Have you seen Veronique tonight?” Britt asked, not afraid to hint that he knew Vlad had more than a casual friendship with the woman.

  “No. Should I have?”

  VLAD’S SMOOTH VOICE washed over Jess, adding that buzz that older vampires used to recruit younger vampires. “Have you formed much of a bond with your sister?” he asked, searching.

  “Not really.” She focused on putting a wall between their minds.

  He tipped his head and drilled further into her mind. “She’s a woman who dances to her own tune,” he said, accepting the drink in a smoky glass that hid its contents quite well. He drank it down quickly, and as soon as it was empty, the waiter removed it. Thankfully, that got him out of her head.

  “Is there a reason you’re asking about our relationship?”

  He shrugged. “I’m just curious. I’ve never seen twin vampires before. It’s rather incomprehensible to think that you’re both vampires when you were raised thousands of miles apart. Assuming you weren’t born vampires, that is.”