Fighting Evil

by Mary Abshire

  "Is everything all right?" I asked.

  "Yes." His thumb glided over the screen. "There will be two members escorting us to the private plane for Alderney."

  "Should I be concerned?"

  "No, there is nothing to worry about. Since we are taking a private plane, two members decided to meet us early." He lowered the cell to his side.

  "Am I missing something?" Jeremy asked. He stood close to us with a cold gaze.

  "Drake let me know we'll have escorts to Alderney," I said.

  "Super. More vamps."

  A female flight attendant approached us. "The plane will be landing soon. You need to return to your seats," she said in a soft voice.

  Drake's eyes met mine. A wave of sadness rolled through me. Once again, we had to go our separate ways. Sure, we were close to each other, but it seemed as if we were miles away since we couldn't touch, kiss, or even hold hands.

  I placed my hand on his arm, unable to resist touching him for a brief moment. "Thanks for letting me know." I turned to Jeremy. "Let's go."

  Jeremy led the way to our seats. I held my hands behind me and stayed a few steps back. Drake touched one of my palms with his fingers. The light tickling sensation brought a smile to my face. When we reached our row, he removed his hand.

  Minutes later, the seatbelt light illuminated and the bell dinged twice. Through the intercom, the pilot announced we were landing soon. I strapped my belt across my lap, then tightened it.

  "What do you think about having escorts?" Jeremy asked.

  I lifted my shoulder. "Drake said it was nothing to worry about."

  "And what do you think?"

  The news made me a little nervous, but I knew Drake would protect me. "I think we need to be alert and act respectable."

  A grin tugged at his lips. "I always act respectable."

  I almost chuckled. "Jeremy, we don't need any trouble."

  "Darling, as long as they don't start any trouble, I won't."

  I rolled my eyes. Trouble was his middle name as much as it was Dani's, which meant I not only had to watch my back, I had to watch his.

  While the plane descended, I stared out the oval window. Bright lights glowed in the darkness, reminding me of the decorative lights at Christmas. I searched for the Eiffel Tower, but couldn't find it. One day, I would have to come back for a real visit.

  The plane landed with a few bumps, then raced down the runway before coming to a near stop. My stomach tightened. I was an ocean away from my home in Indiana and at the mercy of a bunch of vampires. Would I ever feel comfortable around them? Listening to my gut, I doubted I'd feel the least bit relaxed in their company.

  Yellow flashing lights guided the plane to the terminal. Once we reached it, the hum of the engines lessened. The second the pilot gave permission to unbuckle, passengers rushed to gather their belongings. I unlocked my seatbelt, then grabbed my purse.

  "Should we follow you?" I asked Drake.

  "Yes, we will have to go through customs."

  Since he had traveled the world for several centuries, I figured he would be up to speed on where to go and what to do. I'd always wanted to travel the world, but my funds were limited. I was a regular working girl and catching souls on the side hadn't made me wealthy enough to enjoy the finer things in life. If I survived the meeting and could go back to a normal life, I hoped Drake and I could start visiting places on my bucket list. It would be a dream come true, especially with him. Until then, I'd have to settle with another stamp in my empty book.

  Drake led us off the plane. Jeremy and I trailed at a small distance. Kuri walked behind us. His constant eye on us seemed ridiculous. Even if Jeremy and I tried to escape, we had no idea where to go. The vampire needed to loosen up.

  Inside the brightly illuminated terminal, a woman spoke in the native language over the intercom.

  "Do you understand French?" I asked Jeremy, leaning toward him.

  "I understand enough, but I don't speak it. Since we play hockey games every year in Canada, I can translate some words."

  "I know very little."

  "Don't worry, I can interpret for you." His hand splayed across my back. Warm heat branched out like a heating pad, comforting and easing some of my nervousness.

  We reached the line for customs and stopped. Kuri decided to move into the front. Surprise, surprise. Two agents sat behind tall mini desks. Each questioned the traveler standing in front of them. I glanced around. Passengers in front and behind us yawned and stared with glassy eyes, no doubt tired from the long flight or trying to wake up. While we waited, I retrieved my identification from the innards of my purse.

  Kuri passed through customs first. The guard didn't ask him any questions. Drake approached the counter next. The agent questioned him. He answered in French and I stared at him in amazement. The words slid off his tongue so fluent, calm, and natural. My desire rose as I imagined him sweet-talking me in French with his velvety voice. After the agent handed the passport back, Drake turned to me.

  "I didn't know you could speak in French." What else did I not know about him? Probably plenty.

  "I speak several languages." His lips teased me with a smile. Oh, how I wanted to kiss them.

  "Passport," the customs agent said with a thick accent.

  I handed my identification to him. As he looked it over, I waited for him to ask me a question. He never did. He stamped my book, then I headed for Drake who waited a few feet away. Kuri had disappeared and I didn't care to ask where he'd gone. I was certain he'd show up soon enough.

  "Your heart is beating faster than usual," Drake said softly.

  I met his gaze and saw a spark in his eyes that made my heart work even harder. "I love the way you speak French," I said in an equally low voice, then turned to check on Jeremy.

  Drake placed his hand on my back. A small quiver spread through me. "I will make it a point to speak it more often when we are alone." His seductive voice gave rise to my temperature. I couldn't wait for time alone with him.

  Drake's hand slid away from me as Jeremy approached with his passport in hand.

  I looked at Drake. "Where we do we go now?"

  "Follow me."

  We did. Drake guided us down a long hall with windows on both sides. Kuri stood in a corner at the end of the walkway, talking on his cell. When we reached him, he quickly ended the call.

  "Sophia and Dimitry are waiting for us by the plane," the Asian vampire said. "I told Dimitry we were on our way."

  Hearing Dimitry's name revved my pulse. He was one of the vamps I needed to convince I wasn't a threat. I needed to make a good first impression.

  Drake responded with silence, turned a corner, then led us through another hall with glass on both sides. Kuri walked with an arrogant stride next to Drake. I truly despised the Asian vamp. If Sophia or Dimitry were anything like him, I was in deep shit.

  Drake led us through the rest of the large airport, down two escalators, to an area that was quiet and almost bare. One man with a blue vest stood behind a tall desk. He greeted us in his home language. The only word I understood was bonjour. As Drake gave him our tickets and spoke to him in French, my insides tingled with desire. Damn, I loved how the French language sounded rolling off his tongue. After the man reviewed the tickets, he opened the door for us.

  We stepped outside and headed toward a small plane. The night felt cool against my skin and a slight breeze pushed strands of my hair across my face. Fumes from the plane hung thick in the air. A man dressed in a suit stood on the side of a small plane. A thin woman wearing dress pants and a blouse waited next to the man. Approaching them, a chill rushed through me like a tidal wave. Goose flesh sprouted on my arms.

  "Glad to see you made it," the man said. His voice was deep and rich with a foreign accent—Russian, if I guessed right. He had long dark hair to match his dark eyes. Dark facial hair covered the lower part of his face.

  "Dimitry," Drake said, and gave him a nod.

  I stood at Drake's
side, clutching my purse under my arm. Jeremy stood near me. Heated energy radiated from him and helped prevent me from freezing.

  "This is Jessie and Jeremy," Drake said.

  I extended my hand. "Nice to meet you." Though I didn't want to touch him, I thought it best to adhere to formal manners.

  "Jessie," Dimitry said with a twisted grin. "A pleasure to finally meet you."

  My stomach knotted as we shook hands. More chills rose within me. Not even Jeremy's energy could keep me warm. The signs were a warning. The vamp was evil.

  He let go of my hand. "And Jeremy."

  The two held stony faces as they shook hands briefly.

  "Hi, I'm Sophia," the tall and thin woman said as she extended her hand. Her long brown hair floated in the breeze.

  "Nice to meet you," I said as we shook. Her cool touch crawled up my arm similar to the way Drake's had. Our hands slipped apart, then she reached to greet Jeremy.

  "Welcome to Europe," she said.

  "Thanks," Jeremy said.

  "The baggage has already been loaded. Shall we go?" Dimitry extended his arm.

  Kuri raced up the short flight of steps. I followed behind Sophia. Jeremy stayed near my heels. Inside, a man sat near the door. He gave me a nod as I passed.

  The small plane contained six passenger seats in the back, three on each side. I sat in the middle, away from Kuri, who sat in the front on the opposite side from me. Jeremy took the seat across from mine. Dimitry walked by, claiming the seat behind me. Sophia and Drake sat up front. The attendant shut the door, then the engine revved.

  Minutes later, the plane lifted into the air. The dark sky seemed to swallow us. Lights below slowly disappeared. Time passed with only the engine noise. The lack of verbal communication troubled me. I glanced at Jeremy. He touched his fingers to his temple. Yeah, he thought the same thing I did. The vamps were using telepathy so we couldn't hear them. I'd ask Drake later.

  The plane ride was short and, by the time we landed, I needed a hot bath to warm me. Sitting so close to Dimitry chilled my flesh. I had to rub my arms to ease the nippiness.

  From the plane, two limos waited. The drivers, both young men, stood near the cars. In a guard-type stance, they held their hands behind their backs.

  "Is everyone at the fort a vampire?" I asked Drake before we reached the vehicle.

  "No," he said. "The servants are humans and they willingly show up to the meetings."

  The driver opened the back door as we neared the vehicle.

  "Why would humans willing want to serve a vampire?" I asked, thinking there was only one thing his kind would want—blood.

  "They are paid very well," Drake said in a calm and casual manner.

  I should have guessed. Pay a person the right amount of money and they would do just about anything. "Have you…?"

  "I have, but I never harmed the person."

  My first reaction was revulsion. Then I thought about it more. Drake didn't kill people. In fact, he believed in saving lives. If humans were willing to donate blood to satisfy his needs, then so be it. I couldn't be angry about it. But I wondered if the other vamps were as concerned about human lives as Drake was. Sophia? Maybe. Dimitry? I doubted he cared, given his icy cold energy. So why was Dimitry even a member of the so-called ethical organization?

  "I need to talk to you," I said to Drake when we reached the vehicle and stopped.

  Dimitry came to a halt next to us. His frame was slightly larger than Drake's and he was an inch or two taller, but not nearly as robust as Jeremy. "Drake, why don't you ride with Kuri and Sophia? I would like to ride with Jessie and Jeremy."

  Drake turned to me, frowning. I didn't have to be a mind reader to see that he disapproved of Dimitry's request. I disliked it too. The chills Dimitry gave me were bright red warning signs.

  Dimitry placed his hand on Drake's shoulder. "They will be fine. I assure you."

  Drake held a calm demeanor. "As you wish." He strode past us and headed for the other vehicle.

  "If you are ready." Dimitry pointed toward the open door.

  I crawled into the back as someone closed the trunk with a loud thump. Jeremy scooted across, taking the seat next to me. Dimitry settled across from us, then the driver shut the door.

  Dimitry clicked on the light on the roof. His gaze pierced me in a way that made me feel like a criminal. "We can't read the mind of a demon," he said in his thick Russian accent. "Apparently, the same is true for half-demons."

  Thank God for that because I didn't like the creep. I wrapped my hands around my arms, trying to ease the icy feeling chilling me. "Is there something you want to ask me?"

  "I have many questions, but they can wait for the meeting."

  Good. The less I had to speak to him, the better.

  A few minutes into the drive, I began to shiver. Jeremy examined me with a curious gaze. He placed his hand on top of mine and heat penetrated my skin, warming me instantly. "You're cold."

  I nodded and glanced at Dimitry. His dark eyes stayed on us like a hawk's would, waiting to catch his next meal.

  "Drake spoke highly of you." Dimitry's gaze jumped to Jeremy's hand touching me, then back to mine. "I can tell he cares for you. Do you care for him?"

  "Drake is a good man. Of course I care for him."

  "Yet you are close to this demon." His upper lip curled slightly.

  Jeremy's energy flared, sending a wave of heat out as if he were the sun. He glared at Dimitry.

  "Jeremy is a good friend. Drake knows this," I said in a calm yet firm voice. "I hide nothing from him."

  Dimitry grinned. "Good." He reached into his pocket and withdrew his phone. His fingers worked fast over the keys.

  Jeremy and I turned to each other. He blinked and shook his head. His instincts and my cold flesh were in tune with each other. Neither one of us trusted the vamp sitting across from us.

  I stared out the window, trying to see any signs of buildings, shops, cars, anything that showed civilization existed on the island. The streets were as dark as the night, and rough. The limo shook from each hole it drove over, and there were plenty. Dim lights revealed old structures that looked deserted. With the thick darkness, I couldn't determine if other people lived on the island or not.

  The vehicle slowed as we traveled over an even bumpier part of the road. I peered closer to the window and saw the ground moving.

  "Are we near water?" I asked.

  Dimitry slid his phone back into his pocket. "Yes. The fort is an extension of the island. During high tides, the fort is cut off from the mainland."

  "And when is high tide?"

  "In a few hours."

  My pulse quickened. Not only were we stuck on an island, we were also stuck in a fort cut off from the mainland. The knot in my stomach tightened. I wondered if I was walking into a trap.

  We passed an open gate, then the vehicle veered to the right. A short distance later, the car stopped. I inhaled a deep breath and glanced at Jeremy.

  "Welcome to Hell," he said.

  I gritted my teeth and glared. Was he trying to start trouble? It was too soon. We had just arrived.

  "This fort is not your typical one. Do you know anything about it?" Dimitry asked.

  "No," I said.

  "The fort was built in the eighteen hundreds and left to waste until Hitler found it in the nineteen forties. People left it abandoned for many years after the war. We purchased the property, renovated it, and use it on occasion. You will be staying in the Officer's Quarters. I think you’ll find the accommodations to your liking."

  I held my breath for a few seconds. Sharing a room with Jeremy? Oh no. No-no-no.

  "We don't have separate rooms?" I asked.

  "No. Every building is filled to capacity in their current state."

  The rate of my heartbeat accelerated again. Could my time in Europe get any worse? Stuck sharing a room with Jeremy was not my idea of fun. And I was certain Drake would not approve of the situation.

  The doo
r opened and a rush of air blew inside. A brief quiver shot through me as I followed Jeremy out of the vehicle. I really needed to warm up.

  Ambling toward the trunk, I searched the distance. "Where's the other car?"

  "They stopped at the front. Drake will be staying in the Guardroom with Sophia."

  My heart sank. I wanted Drake nearby in the event something bad happened.

  "And where will you be staying?" I asked.

  Dimitry pointed out at the opposite side of the fort. "In the German Casement."

  I denied the smile wanting to form on my lips. A miniscule bit of happiness filled me, knowing he would be at the opposite end of the fort.

  Dimitry turned and directed his arm to a closer building. "The servants will be staying in the Soldiers Quarters over here."

  Lights around the buildings made it easy to detect the differences in the dark. The Soldiers Quarters was by far the largest of all the buildings.

  "Come, let's go inside." Dimitry started walking toward one of the buildings.

  We followed the driver and Dimitry into the Officer's Quarters. The main room had a sofa, two recliners, a fireplace, and oil paintings hanging on the walls. The setting looked European and cozy. I dropped my purse in one of the recliners.

  "The bedroom is down the hall to your left," Dimitry said. "The restroom facility is down the opposite end of the hall."

  The driver set our luggage near a recliner, then left without a word.

  Dimitry stood near the door. "If you need anything, feel free to ask one of the servants."

  "Are we free to roam around the island during the day?" Jeremy asked.

  "You are free to wander around the fort."

  My gaze jumped to Jeremy. His cold glare spoke volumes. Our freedom didn't extend beyond the walls of the fort.

  "Enjoy your day." Dimitry headed toward the door. "We will meet again at the gathering tomorrow night."

  Gathering? What kind of gathering? The meeting didn't start until Monday, according to what Drake had told me. Before I could question, Dimitry had left, taking his frosty energy with him.

  "He's a nice fellow," Jeremy said.

  "What do you think he meant by gathering?"

  Jeremy shrugged and my heart felt heavy. I wanted to drop to my knees and cry. Stuck at a fort with a bunch of vampires and sharing a room with Jeremy was enough to break my good spirits. This was hell—a living hell. What did I do to deserve this?