Silenced by the Grave

by Lina Gardiner

  “For now,” Jess whispered. “But what happens if I turn down their recruitment scheme? Will they hurt him then? Are they even from the same group?”

  “We’ll make sure nothing happens to Regent,” Britt said in a calm voice.

  She loved him for saying that, even though it wasn’t possible to keep her brother safe without dogging his every footstep. It felt like ages before they turned back and began their approach to Regent’s apartment. Jess climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.

  He opened the door quickly, without checking who it was. She gritted her teeth against chastising him for being careless, but he was obviously still overcoming the effects of being compelled.

  “Hello, you two,” he said, extending an arm for both of them to come in. Sampson was sitting at the table with a cup of tea and wearing his pjs and slippers, which was unusual since he worked nights.

  Regent shared a glance with Sampson, who nodded. Obviously, he wanted Regent to tell them what had happened to him. He’d remember from the point they’d released him.

  “You don’t have to tell us about tonight,” Jess said. “We already know.”

  “How do you know?” Regent asked.

  “We were doing our nightly city crawl when we spotted you walking down the sidewalk. When you didn’t acknowledge us, we followed you into the building where we monitored you from the hallway.”

  Regent folded his hands in a penitent way and looked heavenward. “Thank you, Lord, for sending me protection.”

  Jess opened her mouth to argue that, but realized he might be right. It was very lucky they’d spotted him.

  “How do you feel?” Britt asked. “Any residual effects?”

  Regent ran a hand across the back of his neck. It still seemed strange to Jess that his white hair was now brown, and his faded eyes were so blue. Hands that once shook with palsy had become calm with regained youth. Did she actually miss the older version of her brother? That would truly be selfish of her, especially if becoming young had given him a longer lease on life.

  “I think everything that’s happened lately has had to do with that raven symbol,” Jess said. Her dream surfaced and faded away again.

  Regent’s expression brightened. “I told you I was led to that old book.”

  “Here’s hoping your book can give us an advantage,” she said.

  “We’ll find out soon enough,” Regent said.

  “We did learn something tonight. The vampires want to steal all of my so-called secrets for their own nefarious purposes.”

  “They’ll be disappointed to learn there are no secrets. You actually told them everything when they interrogated, you, Regent,” Britt said.

  “What did I say?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

  “You told them I got my abilities from God.”

  He instantly looked guilty. “True.”

  “And you told them Britt was an angel.”

  “Oh dear,” he said, running his hand across the back of his neck again.

  “No, it was perfect,” Britt said. “They didn’t believe a word of it. They thought you were a bit delusional.” He looked a little guilty at saying that. “Sorry. Since you didn’t give them anything they needed, they decided to cut you loose.”

  “I know one thing that might help us,” she said. “Since Diesel is most likely a member of the group in question, we know whom we can get information from, and we won’t have to enthrall him to get it. He’s not the bravest vampire in the world.”

  “I know you’re thinking Regent’s safe now, but what if they take him again?” Sampson said. He stirred his cup of tea. “How do we stop that?”

  “I don’t think they will bother Regent, at least, not for information. That said, dear brother, they might kidnap you and use you to make me comply.”

  Britt drummed his fingers on the table. “We could always go home.”

  “No way,” Regent said. He rarely looked ruffled but tonight’s misadventure had left him frayed at the edges.

  “I agree,” she said. “We don’t turn tail and run from a challenge. We face our problems head on. That’s how we’ve survived all these years.”

  Britt looked torn. “I don’t like to run either, but holy hell, these vampires are sophisticated. And they have a large network that might be impossible for the four of us to combat alone.”

  “What about Morana? Maybe she’ll help?” Regent said, ever the optimist.

  Jess shook her head. “I don’t think we should involve her in any of this. She’s more than interested in joining this group herself, according to Diesel. If she learns they want me, she’ll hate me even more, and it’ll drive a stake deeper into our relationship.”

  “I don’t even like to hear you use the words driving a stake into anything,” Regent said. “I’m really glad you want to safeguard our relationship with Morana, though. I think she’s worth salvaging.”

  “If you say so,” Jess said.

  MORANA PUT ON her makeup and got ready for work. She hadn’t seen Jess or Regent for a few days, and she didn’t care. Merde! Her finger slipped, and her lipstick created a line to her cheek. She wiped it away with a tissue. Some days the red lipstick that reminded her of her vampirism was the only thing that made sense to her.

  Sinclair had returned home from the hospital. His injuries were healing at an incredible pace. If she didn’t know better, she’d believe him to be a vampire, too. There’d always been something uber-human about him. He could withstand her hissy fits and temper, where most human bodies would have failed.

  What did being a Watcher really mean? Maybe it was time she found out. As a Watcher, had Sinclair been charged with her upbringing? Was that why he’d adopted her? Otherwise, why would he care? But he’d proven time and time again, he cared—he cared deeply.

  “Why did you raise me, old man?” she said, confronting him in the living room, forcing herself not to sound too cold.

  Sinclair had just hobbled from his bedroom to his favorite chair near the fireplace. He’d poured himself a glass of brandy and took a sip before he turned his attention to her. At first, she almost respected him. His pause made her think he hated her for what she’d done—finally. But no, the adoring look he finally cast her way made her taste bile.

  “I raised you because I love you, my child.”

  “I am not your child. I am not even human. Why would you want to raise a vampire? Why didn’t you just kill me?”

  He inhaled sharply. “I would never harm a hair on your head.”

  If he thought that would make her squirm, he’d been wrong. The only thing that made her uncomfortable was the look he’d just given her—one of pure love. The man was crazy!

  She suddenly realized he’d become a lot more open to discussion about her than he’d ever been before. Had she knocked some sense into him? Scared him?

  He didn’t appear to be afraid. Rather, he appeared more determined than ever.

  “What exactly is a Watcher?”

  He appeared uncomfortable with that question, and the glow of love skittered away from his expression. Thank the devil himself.

  “I can’t tell you that.” He downed his brandy and poured another glass. “We’ve had this discussion before.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him, and for the first time, she decided she’d force him to tell her. She’d compel him with her vampire mind-bending abilities. She sent out the thought.

  It bounced back.

  What the hell?

  “That won’t work,” he said. Maybe she hadn’t scrambled his marbles when she’d beaten him up, after all.

  She felt no shame. “Why not?”

  “Actually, I’m quite surprised you’ve never tried this on me before. Especially, back when you were a headstrong teenager.” He rolled his eyes and rubbed the wrist she’d broken one night when she couldn’t control her fourteen-year-old anger. “I know you want to know more, but I can’t tell you, or I’ll risk losing my abilities. And, right now, you need my abilities more
than you realize. I can tell you that Watchers are a group that has been around for longer than you can imagine. We have ancient knowledge, and we take our jobs very seriously. Everything we do has a greater purpose to the whole of the universe.”

  “So you raised me for the greater good of the universe?” She laughed. “I think not.”

  “No. You’re right. You are not part of that agenda. I took you from your cradle, so you would not be destroyed. I fell in love with you and wanted to raise you as my own child, even though I knew you were destined for a dark, difficult life.” He smiled into the burning fire in front of him. “I’ll always remember those little black eyes and eyeteeth flashing at me. Imagine how pleased I was to be able to help you grow, to create a way for you to quench that inconsolable thirst of yours. Together, we’ve overcome quite a lot.”

  She gritted her teeth. In essence, she had been his experiment. How fricking lovely. “I’m afraid I’ve been a constant disappointment to you, then,” she said. Somewhere in her black heart she might be experiencing the slightest twinge of decency, otherwise why would she want to understand what this man had done for her? Most of the time, she was too self-possessed to think of anything else. After all, at one time or another, she’d cracked his skull, broken his leg and wrist and three ribs, and she almost killed him this time. His complexion was still gray tonight, and his pupils were dilated from the medicine he had to take. Watcher or not, he was still obviously in significant pain.

  She told herself that she didn’t give a crap. The only thing she cared about was not being able to get the special concoction he’d created for her.

  “You should cut me loose. I’m not worthy of your attempts at being a father to me. Surely, you’ve suffered enough at my hands,” she said, forcing herself to sound empathetic.

  Again he smiled but wasn’t fooled by her words. “I haven’t done this for your benefit alone, my dear daughter. I’ve always known the type of abilities you would have some day, and I knew if we joined forces, we’d accomplish much together.”

  She suddenly felt ill. They’d never be a team, no matter what he thought. She’d used him, and he loved every second of it.

  His own deluded problem.

  But now the truth was coming out—he had his own agenda. That made the most sense of all.

  Maybe she should tell him how addictive his concoction had become for her? Maybe he could counteract that need somehow? As soon as she had the thought, she shoved it away. The thrill of that final sup of the blood from the last beat of a dying heart mixed with his herbs was better than anything else in her life, and she wanted more. Much more. And she’d do anything to get it.

  She could probably trick some information out of him since he was on his fourth glass of brandy already, but if she waited until later, she’d learn more. He often drank through the night. She’d play the waiting game. She’d become a pro at that, knowing only too well that when she got home in the morning, he’d still be sitting here swilling his own addictive cocktail—if he didn’t overdose from drinking too much while taking painkillers.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I HAVE A SUSPICION Diesel might be the killer,” Jess said to Britt while they staked out the catacombs from a rooftop across the street. “If it’s Diesel, he has access to humans. He has the perfect job to find his victims, and maybe he’s more devious that we thought. That innocent act about being low-man in that secret vampire cult? I’m not buying it.”

  “Cult?”

  “Maybe not a cult, but given that they’re vampires, they’re not the PTA.”

  Britt’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “Have you considered, given this kind of logic, that the killer could also be your sister? She also has access to the victims, and she’s not exactly the kind of vampire we’d befriend if she wasn’t your sibling.”

  Jess felt an unbidden pinch in the area of her heart. Yes, she’d thought about it. “I suppose so. But what would be her motive?”

  “Wouldn’t it be the same as Diesel’s?” he asked. “After all, how do we know she only drinks blood from government approved sources? And, didn’t Diesel say she wanted into that illustrious vampire group, as well? Maybe she’d do just about anything to make that happen.”

  “Just because he said it, that doesn’t make it true,” Jess said.

  She leaned back on her hands and stretched her legs out until they dangled over the side of the building. She could only imagine what someone would think if they saw leather pants and high-heeled boots up here. It was dark though. Only a vampire would be able to spot her.

  Britt let his legs hang over the edge of the building, too, and tried to link his fingers with hers. She pulled her hand away a little too quickly. She was a bitch, but she just couldn’t be touchy-feely tonight.

  He stared off in a dejected way but didn’t comment.

  “We should maintain our focus,” she said softly.

  “If we have to,” he replied, glancing at the street below. “Did I tell you that Veronique hasn’t been giving me much intel on the latest murder? I think she might be about to end my consultation with her department. Maybe it’s because I haven’t done a damned thing to help her solve anything.”

  Jess ran a hand over her thigh. “You’ve done every bit as much as she has, Britt. Maybe they’re stumped and haven’t come up with anything new to discuss?”

  “No. It’s not that. I don’t think she likes the fact that we know about her and Vlad. She might be cutting us out to eliminate any risk of that kind of information getting out.”

  Jess nodded. “Very possible.”

  He eyed her seriously. “Ever make out on a rooftop, babe?”

  She shook her head in exasperation. Talk about a major change of subject. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  His eyes bulged. “Holy hell, no. I don’t want to know if it wasn’t with me. Now you’ve killed the mood,” he joked.

  “Exactly what I was attempting to do,” she said just as footsteps sounded on the sidewalk below. Jess quietly pulled her legs back.

  Morana stood below them with her hands on her hips. She’d dressed like Jess again tonight, and that instantly irked Jess.

  Jess had always considered herself as being unique. Having a look-alike sister was embarrassingly irritating.

  “Hey you two, what’re you doing up there?” Morana asked.

  Britt was still fingering Jess’s hair. He stopped instantly and looked down. “Just watching the stars,” he said.

  “No, you’re not.” Morana sounded miffed. “But I understand why you’re not telling the truth.” There was a long pause. “I’ve come to make amends. To try to show you I’m not the monster you believe me to be. I want to help you find the serial killer who’s preying on my patrons.”

  “Really?” Jess said, flicking a quick glance at Britt, then squeezing his hand when he started to speak. He’d never willingly accept her sister’s help.

  “Britt, we can give her a chance to help us, can’t we?”

  “I’m not sure how Veronique will take it,” he said, mouthing no way in hell. Which, of course, Morana would realize. She maintained silence, though. Kudos to her.

  “But if we all work together to find the killer, things might improve,” Jess said.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.” His voice lowered. He sounded as if he’d been talking with clenched teeth.

  “I can still hear you,” Morana said from below them.

  “I know you can,” he said, and even though he didn’t utter it, the word bitch hung in the air as he pushed to his feet and headed for the stairs. Jess took the easier way down. She dropped to the ground with barely a sound.

  “Why are you saying you want to help us? Do you have any ideas?” Jess asked her sister while she eyed her up and down. “Where’d you get your outfit, by the way?”

  Morana looked down and ran her hands over the soft leather so similar to Jess’s outfit. “Do you like it? I had my designer whip it up for me.”

 
; Jess sighed. Designer fighting leathers. What next.

  Britt burst through the door to their left and hurried toward them as if he didn’t think Jess would be safe with her sister.

  Morana scowled at him.

  He stopped with his arms planted on his chest, his feet apart, and his expression set on tough, as if waiting for Morana to make a move.

  “Why the change of heart?” he asked with a voice that held undeniable contempt.

  “I had a talk with Sinclair the other night. Something he said made me realize I should try to get to know you before you go back to America. What better way than helping you solve this serial killer problem?”

  Jess would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that talk with Sinclair. According to Morana, he’d never been very forthcoming about her history.

  Before Britt turned the offer down, Jess stepped in front of him and pressed herself against his back. Hopefully, that would stop him from jumping in with a negative comment.

  “What can you do to help us?” she asked.

  “Actually, as much as I hate to point fingers, I have an idea about who might be involved in these killings.”

  Jess gritted her teeth. Morana would throw anyone under the bus. Why pretend otherwise?

  “I think I might know how this killer is luring women to their doom.”

  “Who is it?” Britt asked in a tight voice.

  Morana smiled at him, a flirty smile that stilled Jess’s breathing and made her heart twist. She couldn’t believe Morana had the gall to do that after betraying her and sending a video of it. Her hands fisted at her sides while she stared hard at her sister.

  “I think he’s using mind control,” Morana said.

  “You’re saying the killer is a vampire?”

  Morana nodded. “I think so.”

  “If so, he would have to spend time with them to do that,” Jess reminded her. “We haven’t spotted any vampires chatting up the blondes.”

  “No one?” she asked cynically, as if they were both stupid.

  “Whom do you mean?” Jess asked.

  “Do I really have to spell it out? It’s Diesel,” Morana said. “He’s able to spend as much time as he likes with the women when they approach the bar, and I’m sure you’ve noticed he sometimes delivers the drinks. More often than not, to blondes.”