by Kira Hillins
It wasn’t fair. Tristan got to be with her day and night. He got to converse with her. Laugh with her. Make love to her and be the father of her child. Jack had wanted that with Anna more than anything.
Jack shook his head. Tristan didn’t deserve Anna. She was way too good for him. Too full of light. But looking at him now…the love in the man’s eyes, the agony he was in was prominent. He would search through hell to find her.
Maybe it was time to tell Tristan about her condition. But what would the difference make now when he couldn’t even sense her? Whatever that meant.
“How close does she need to be to…sense her?” Jack asked curiously.
Tristan closed his eyes, fingers pressed against his temple. “I should feel her emotions always, but I…I cannot. There is nothing.” He returned Jack’s gaze. “If I cannot sense anything from her that would mean she is gone.”
“Gone?” That didn’t sound good. Not good at all.
“If she is truly dead,” Tristan whispered between clenched teeth. “I will never forgive myself. I never should have left her alone.”
“You should be able to sense her now or she’s dead?”
“She would need to be on another plane of existence for me not to, or blocking me out. But she has not learned to push her thoughts away, for that is what drove me here. She was ill. In pain. She could not control her hunger.” He gave a short irritated sigh. “Why did I not stay with her?”
Jack refused to believe Anna was gone. Not dead and definitely not in some dimensional rift. “She’s not gone, Tristan. She’s just lost.” His heart sank. “There was a trail of blood that led to a tombstone outside the mausoleum. She must have taken off from there.”
“She was bleeding?” Tristan stood then paced again, a bit more restless than before. "Why? Jack. If you are a true friend of Anna, you will tell me what the hell is going on."
Jack bit his lower lip. "I…I’m not sure really." It wasn’t a lie. Yes, Anna was pregnant, but he had no idea how that was possible. Other than the cockamamie story he’d read in the journal about angels from Heaven.
Though he’d told Tristan the angels from Heaven story, and that Anna was a descendant of one, he was desperate to tell him about the baby. Tristan deserved to know that there was more at stake than just saving Anna. If only he could figure out the damn password, maybe he'd find a clue as to where she might have gone.
Jack stared at the screen. Tired, he closed the laptop. He folded it shut then set it down on the bed beside him.
"If you love her so much…” Jack swallowed apprehension, hoping Tristan didn’t not lose his temper and dislocate the other shoulder. "All she wanted was to have your attention, but you ignored her. You pushed her away. Why?"
Tristan sat on the recliner again. He covered his eyes with his hand. He drew in a deep breath then let it out as he lowered his hand to the arm of the chair.
"My body has stayed cold for centuries." Tristan spoke in a solemn tone. "The first time I felt her warmth, it was a wondrous sensation. She held my hand, and I was alive. My skin warmed with her touch. Vivid colors appeared before my eyes. I could not get enough. I desired her touch all the time."
"I can understand that.”
Tristan opened his hand. "Imagine having something on your palm, something you love more than anything. You can only hold it at certain times before it is taken away. Each time you hold it, it is more difficult to let go. Like an addiction. I did not want to make her feel like I only wanted to be near her because of her warmth."
“How can you say that? Anna loves you more than anything.” Though true, that was a hard thing to say let alone accept. Jack loved Anna and this creature didn’t deserve her. “Leaving her wasn't the right thing to do. It’s not what I would’ve done.”
“What would you have done, Jack?”
If Anna carried the same love for him, he’d have taken hold and never let go. Didn’t matter how many times he had to live and die, he’d stay with her for eternity. She would never have been afraid to tell him about the pregnancy. He’d make damn sure to give her everything she wanted without hesitation.
Jack shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what I think. You have her undying love and you pushed her away.”
"I realize my faults," Tristan replied. “I will have to live with what I have done.”
After a period of silence, Jack glanced at his watch. It was two in the afternoon. Exhausted, he lay back on the bed and yawned. "Do you ever sleep?"
“Yes, but I have not in a few weeks."
“Don’t worry,” Jack said. “We’ll find her. Then, I promise I'll help you guys with anything you need.”
The room grew quiet. Jack’s eyes drooped. He hadn’t slept in a few days. Couldn’t imagine going two weeks without it. He shrugged off the fear of falling asleep in the room with a killer then closed his eyes.
***
As Tristan shut his eyes, his phone buzzed. A text message from Gerard. He’d taken off to find Madeline after they reached land this morning.
Gerard: Madeline’s safe with me. We’ve taken refuge in the mausoleum next to hers. Once night comes, we’ll go to the castle in England. Meet us there when you can.
Gerard: Madeline asked if you found Anna. She said she was pretty sick when she left for Jack’s help. She’s worried.
Like hell Madeline worried about Anna. The evil witch had no heart, no mind, but only ulterior motives. Anna’s disappearance was her fault. But he couldn’t tell Gerard that. The man still had hope his wife would someday come to her senses.
: I did not find her. I cannot sense her.
Gerard: I’m sorry lad. We’ll do what we can to help.
: Thank you.
Gerard: Elric put Javon in charge during his leave. Javon’s on a witch hunt to find Anna and Madeline. He’s ordered your capture as well. Be careful, son. Don’t trust anyone. Let me know when you find Anna. We’ll deal with this together.
: I will take care and so should you.
Gerard: You know me. Nobody takes Gerard down without a fight. LOL Madeline’s changed. She’s my sane wife again. Says it’s because of Anna’s healing powers. Not sure what that means yet, but I’m grateful. Talk soon.
Tristan set his phone on the arm of the chair. Healing powers? Now Madeline knows Anna’s more of something else than vampire. How could anyone not with all that warmth radiating through Anna’s body?
Damn. He missed her so much it hurt. His gut ached to be near her. To touch her and tell her how sorry he was for driving her away. If he could go back in time and tell Elric to get someone else to do his work, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
If he could only link with her, he’d wrap up in a blanket and fly out into the sunlight to find her. It didn’t matter if he burned to his bones, as long as she was safe.
Tristan caught Jack’s gaze. Jack quickly shut his eyes, but then opened them again. What had driven them to free Madeline? Jack had said Anna had a good reason, but it wasn’t because she was dying. That was an obvious lie Jack had told to keep him from leaving. No. Something else was going on, something Jack would not reveal.
“Why were you and Anna in Scotland?” Though he’d like to rip the answer from Jack’s tongue, Tristan kept his calm. “Why did she need you to come with her?”
“Madeline hid her father’s secret journal in the library,” Jack said in a quiet voice. “She said she’d give it to us if we helped her come back here.” He opened the laptop case and retrieved a thin leather bound book. As he handed it to Tristan, he shrugged. “I read through it already. I told you about the angels, but I’ll give you the other highlights. This Geoffrey talked about Madeline and her love for the dark arts.”
“I know of Geoffrey. He was Madeline’s father.”
“Actually, according to the journal, Madeline wasn’t even a real member of their household. She and Geoffrey’s real daughter, Anna, were childhood friends. He and his wife adopted Madeline after her parents’ bodies were found torn apart in
the woods near their home.” Jack gave a heavy sigh. “I guess I can’t blame her for losing her mind.”
Tristan arched his brows. Madeline had never spoken a word about this. It was no wonder she had so much hate flowing through her. It made sense of why she never carried healing powers.
Tristan opened the book to the first page. Someone had drawn an image of two young women standing together. One had long midnight hair and dark eyes. Dressed in black, she hunched over, hands clasped together before her, evil smile drawn on her ashen face. The other woman stood with perfect posture in a long flowing gown. A golden halo had been drawn over her head of white hair. An angel. Anna.
Pain rushed up Tristan’s back and around to his sides. He dropped the book from his hands and hunched over. Blood oozed beneath him. It drenched the recliner and dripped onto the floor. The puddle formed into a river that flowed through a forest. A shriek echoed around him. Loud. Frightening. A woman cried out as if she felt the agony in his body.
He followed the sound to a woman lying on the shore soaked in blood. Her blond hair was matted against her pale face. Her bluish lips parted as if the last thing she’d witnessed had scared her to death.
“Anna,” he whispered between clenched teeth.
The vision ended. The pain subsided. Tristan stood fast. He pulled the blanket off the bed then wrapped it around his body. If this vision was true, then Anna needed his help. Now. She was dying.
“Where are you going?” Jack followed him to the door. “It’s not dark yet.”
“I sensed her. She is east of us. I need to go after her now. She is in pain. Bleeding. Dying.”
“You won’t be any help to her if you burn up in the sun.”
“I will be fine.” Tristan opened the door.
“Take me with you.”
Tristan strode down the hallway toward the exit with Jack on his heels. “It is best that you go home. I will stay in touch.”
“Wait.” Jack stepped in front of him. Tristan scowled. As much as he’d begun to like Jack, he didn’t have time to put up with him anymore. “If…I mean when you find her, bring her to my house. I’ve fixed the basement up to where both of you can be comfortable. But, Anna’s going to need my help.”
“You keep saying that. Why?”
“I’m sorry. It’s Anna’s place to tell you, not me.” Jack sighed. “Just trust me.”
“Fine.” Tristan shook his head. “Now get out of my way.”
Jack stepped aside. “Be careful.”
Tristan covered his head with the blanket then strode out into the light. Though overcast, the sun still burned his skin. Like the sharp point of a knife, the light stabbed his eyes.
Blinded, he ran fast into the woods. He bound over logs and through small streams. He stumbled, but never fell. There was no time to make any more mistakes. It didn’t matter how long it took him, he would find Anna and bring her home.
Chapter Fourteen
“Do you know your name?” A man’s soft tenor brushed her ear.
She could barely find the strength to open her eyes as she whispered her answer, “Anna.”
Light blinded her. Her eyes hurt as if they'd been flushed with water, but she fought against it, wanting to see, desperate to find out what bed she slept in.
“Don’t worry, Love,” his voice came again. “You are safe here.”
A dark form stood at her bedside—a man dressed in black. His face was blurry as he leaned over her. He swiped a stray lock of hair from her cheek. His cool touch sent a chill straight through her.
“Where am I?” She shivered. The memory of golden light in the graveyard rushed back. It had enveloped her while she crawled through the grass to get away from something. Madeline. Fear had made her run away, but not a fear of Madeline. She was afraid she’d learn about the baby.
Anna gasped. She tried to sit up, but couldn't move. Her wrists and ankles were tied down with leather restraints. She struggled to break free, but her muscles were too weak. This wasn’t good. Had she been kidnapped and become this man’s prisoner?
"I’m sorry,” the man said with empathy. “We strapped you in for your safety.”
"My safety?" She glared as the dark-haired man came into focus. By the white collar around the throat of his black robe, he was a priest, maybe in his late thirties. His smooth pale skin reminded her of a vampire, but his green eyes were human. “Release me now.”
He gave a short nod. “I apologize.” He unbuckled the belt around her wrist. “You have a tendency to thrash about while you sleep. It must be a side effect of your disease.”
“Disease?” She lifted her free hand. Her arm ached, asleep from lack of movement for God knew how long. “I don’t have a disease.”
He worked on the other strap. “You are allergic to the sun, are you not? Your skin was burned when they brought you to us.” He released her ankles then leaned back on his heels. “My, but you are a fast healer. Two weeks and there is no sign of your wounds, not even a scar.”
Two weeks? She sat up. Her entire body ached. Pain crawled across her abdomen as memories flooded her mind. The blood, the hemorrhaging, she’d made her way out of Madeline’s crypt. She’d stumbled through the cemetery. A light had surrounded her and then all went black.
Anna swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I need to go.” She glanced down her front. Someone had dressed her in a white gown. “Where are my clothes?”
She rose to her feet, but the muscles in her legs wouldn’t allow it. Dizziness swept through her and she collapsed in the man’s arms.
“Hold on, young lady. You’re in no shape to go anywhere.” He helped her lay back in bed. "Rest for a little while longer then we'll discuss your release.”
When her head hit the pillow, the pain subsided. Tears worked into her eyes. What had she got herself into? Where the hell was she?
Desperate to hear Tristan’s voice, she scanned the room. “Where’s my phone?”
“I don’t know.” The man sighed. “Maybe it was lost in the river.”
“May I use yours then?”
“We have no phones here.”
“Where am I?” She felt tired as if she'd spent two weeks on her feet and not in bed. “How did I get here?”
“A hunter and his son found you on the shore not far from here. They brought you to us so we may tend to your wounds. We have all taken turns watching over you. And I admit we’re rather attached. The sisters will be excited to see you’re finally awake.”
“I’m in a convent?” Well, it could be worse. She could’ve ended up in some crazy cult camp.
“I am father Ivan Duress.” He gave a short nod. “Welcome to the Sisters of the Path of Romania.”
“Romania?” She shook her head. How was that possible? She’d passed out in Scotland. How the hell did she get here? “Father, I don’t—”
“—please, call me Ivan.”
"Ivan." If the tears would leave her eyes, she could see him better. “I shouldn’t be here. I don’t belong here. It’s too dangerous.”
“Well, you are too weak to go anywhere else," he said with a chuckle. "The sun is shining today.”
“You don’t understand. It’s not safe.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I assure you, you are completely safe here. Whatever you’re running from can never find its way to you now.”
“I didn’t mean safe for me.” This was a religious, peaceful place. Her demon would need to stay dormant while here. That’s all she needed was to torment or kill after they’d taken her in. “I meant for you and the sisters. Your lives are in danger with me here.”
“Why do you believe such a thing? Is there someone after you? Are you afraid they’ll find their way here then kill us for providing you shelter and care?”
“This condition I have isn’t an allergy to the sun. I shouldn’t be here at all because I’m not…” Oh God, how was she to explain what she was without him thinking she was cr
azy? He wouldn’t understand.
He sat at the edge of the bed then took her gently by the hand. “Your skin is warm and soft,” he said in a low voice. “If you were a demon of the night, your face would be pale and not a beautiful shade of pink. Your hair is like sunlight, rich in blonde. You glow like a pregnant woman should.”
Her hair stood on end. The man knew about the baby. How? “You don’t understand.”
“My dear Anna.” He brushed his lips across the back of her palm then released it to her side. “I believe all things on this earth have a purpose whether they are human or not. You may carry darkness inside you, but you’re still a child of God. He brought you to me for a reason. I will not turn you or anyone away because of fear.”
“How do you know God brought me here?” There were vampires in the world, and she was a very temperamental one. “Maybe the devil sent me to destroy your perfect safe haven you’ve made here.”
A grin crept across his face. “I do not fear the devil. And I am not afraid to die. My soul is ready. I will care for yours as much as you will allow. And if you like, I will pray with you to help you through this troublesome time.”
“But I don’t have a soul anymore.” Not one of light anyways.
“Oh but you do have a soul. One that’s brighter than any of your kind.” He slid the back of his hand across her cheek then rose from the bed. “I’ve seen the dark ones. I’ve spoken with them on many occasions. I’ve helped those who have passed through looking for a place to stay for the day.” He clasped his hands together in front of him. “But you my dear child are very different. Your body is in turmoil, as if it can’t figure out who or what you are. It doesn’t know where to turn. That’s why God brought you here.” He strode toward the door. “I may not have all the answers you seek, but I will certainly do what I can to steer you in the right direction. I invite you to stay. Learn the ways of the light and find that you truly are an angel sent from God.”
