“A drink?” Katrina turned to the sideboard that was fully stocked with a wide variety of excellent alcoholic beverages. “Whiskey, wine…beer?” God, she hoped this one wasn’t a beer drinker. The beverage always seemed to take them down a common path that she didn’t care for and removed the luster from an otherwise shiny toy. Not to mention that the smell of it made her gag.
“Wine.” The woman’s voice trembled. “Please.”
“Excellent choice. Wine it is.” She poured from an open and waiting bottle of merlot, then handed the woman the glass. No white wine in her world. Only bold and red. She noticed that her hand shook a little as she took the glass Katrina offered. She smiled and let her gaze wander over her full breasts and flat stomach. Oh yes, she was going to do just fine. Kudos, Eli.
“Drink up,” she encouraged her. If the woman noticed that Katrina didn’t join her in a drink, she didn’t say anything. That was good, for it signaled she was catching on to the rules of the game.
Her hands were shaking even harder as she brought the wine to her lips. “It’s very good,” she murmured.
Katrina smiled. “Yes, it is. A favorite of mine from a local winery. It’s a special stock they bring in for me.”
She sipped again, and this time, the shaking seemed to lessen. Good. She liked it better when they were relaxed. Not that she minded a bit of spunk now and again. A little fear to add flavor to the game.
Katrina gave her a warm smile. It was less about the woman and more about anticipation. “Why don’t we take this to the bedroom? Bring your wine.”
Chapter Nine
This time, Sasha left her vehicle in an area even farther away from the entrance to Rodney’s bunker than she had last time. She wasn’t going to risk anyone following her, or at least following her easily. She’d pulled off on a rough service road that didn’t appear to have been used for some time and drove down it for about a quarter of a mile until she spotted a stand of trees with a gap just big enough for her to tuck in. No one would be able to see it without also driving in all the way. She also left no identification in it, so without serious digging no one would be able to trace the vehicle to her company.
She stood outside and thought about what had happened. It was surreal that after all this time, it was finally here. All their preparation and planning would be put to the test. She hoped they’d done enough. Her body buzzed, and her thoughts were fast though focused. She’d been preparing both physically and mentally since the day she’d been turned. One always wished for more time, yet she knew she was truly ready.
The forest was quiet and, at the same time, not. Subtle sounds wafted through the air—the tiny feet of a rabbit scurrying through the underbrush and an owl alighting on a strong overhead branch. Like her world, behind the veil of darkness it was alive and vivid. Deep shadows embraced the forest, broken only by slivers of moonlight through the boughs of the pines. Her step was light, almost silent, as she moved through the trees. Despite having left her vehicle a significant distance away, she covered the ground from her car to the entrance as quickly as a deer fleeing from a cougar. She had no time to waste and feared that, despite all her precautions, she would be detected.
Once again she found herself at the tree. She was about to reach out and touch the bark when she paused. A slight rustle to her left, so slight most would never have noticed, made her pull back behind a massive nearby pine. It occurred to her as she stood motionless that she’d made a critical error. Though she’d been certain no one was behind her when she’d sped away from the remains of her building, she’d made that drive in an Imperial Investigations vehicle. If someone was very clever, they would be able to pick her up and tail her to these woods. Another quiet snap of a twig told her someone was, indeed, very clever. She waited, but not long.
His young face was framed by long blond hair and eyes so blue they glowed even in the darkness. She gave him credit for being good because she hadn’t detected either his tail on her vehicle or his presence in the dark woods until now. His bad luck was that he just wasn’t good enough. From here it was hard to tell if he was old or new. Though he moved with the grace of an old one, the glee clearly visible from where she studied him behind the tree made her believe he was newly turned. Too often the youngsters were so enamored by the enhanced abilities their preternatural senses gave them that they lacked control. They couldn’t embrace constraint, and this inability cost a great many of them their chance at immortality.
Old or new, this vampire was soon to discover that very lesson. Her breath was light enough that he would never hear her, while his was heavy and filled the air around her with the acrid scent of excitement. He was obviously anticipating not just killing her but also feeding on the humans he must know she’d come here to meet. She was angry at herself for allowing a tail. How long had he been tracking her? That he had been able to do that at all made her ill. She was better than that.
She couldn’t do much about her misstep now. All she could do was stop this one before he did any damage. Or was it really a misstep? It might, in fact, work to her advantage. She just had to take care of this vampire, and the next one, and each one after that until she found herself face-to-face with the one she’d been searching for all these years. She liked that she was seen as a threat, and she liked that her new situation was going to open a door that had been closed to her for a century.
Every dark cloud had a silver lining.
The subtle hiss of his breath brought an unmistakable new wave of stench on the night air. Yes, her suspicions were accurate. He was but a child and, judging by the smell on his breath, had recently fed. Undoubtedly, he’d killed someone on the way here because his urges had been too great to control. Now he was filled with something akin to adrenaline, the rush any vampire got when blood was warm, fresh, and human. It was why so many couldn’t break free of the desire to feed on people.
His footsteps had slowed, and she knew he was sniffing the air himself, searching for his prize. What was the bounty on her head? Or was he someone’s soldier sent for her? Either way, it was a major mistake on their part because now she knew they were looking for her. Why her own traitorous people hadn’t taken her head was a mystery. They had most certainly turned on her, their betrayal something she’d never recover from, but they had let her live, and she seriously wondered why. This one, however, didn’t intend to; she could sense that truth in every step he took.
The stench grew so strong it made her gag. He was getting very close, even though he moved in silence. She was ready when he stepped past. His mistake, as his eyes were on a spot in the distance and his back was to her. He was tall, with broad shoulders and hair that hung down nearly to his waist. A pretty boy, but not for long. Had he been older, more experienced, he’d have known where she waited for him. He would have quieted in order to feel her spirit and catch her scent. Instead, he was too caught up in the game to use all that was available to him as a vampire.
By the time he was close, Sasha had already slipped her hand into an inside pocket of her jacket where her fingers curled around the handle of a weapon. Silently she said a “thank God” for taking extra minutes to change before her home was blown apart. It had seemed important at the time to arm herself, and now she understood why. She was prepared for a fight with more than her wits.
She stepped into her swing, her movement silent, save for the whoosh of her tantō as she separated his head from his neck. Blond hair fluttered through the air like a beautiful scarf catching on the wind.
***
“We got company.” Rodney jumped up and headed to the security door. “Ain’t this a night?” he muttered as he went. “It’s like I have a neon Vacancy sign hanging up out there.”
“This can’t be good.” Prima looked over at the monitor that showed the tree and the hidden entrance.
Dee saw her for only a few minutes, yet she recognized the figure in the monitor. “It’s her.”
“It is, and I repeat, it’s not good.”
Rodney came back a moment later with the woman—correction—vampire who’d left earlier. Sasha. Once more Dee was struck by how lovely she was. Staring at her was rude, and she knew it, but she couldn’t help her intense focus on her intriguing face. It didn’t seem possible that she was anything different from Dee. She was beautiful and her eyes captivating, and if she wasn’t covered in blood splatter, she’d be a real vision. It was as if someone had dipped a paint brush in red paint and then flung it at her. Only this paint was the kind that came right out of someone’s veins. Not good. Not good at all.
“What is going on?” She couldn’t help her outburst. Really, it was bad enough that Prima had dragged her out to prove her point that vampires were real and lived among them. Point made, and then some.
Now the world she thought she knew was falling to pieces right before her eyes. Or rather right before her eyes on the monitors of a guy who lived underground like a mole, a really smart mole with a whole lot of impressive technology. This was taking proving a point way above and beyond.
Sasha’s eyes met Dee’s. They were dark and intense, sending a shiver through her. “Nothing that concerns you, writer.”
The effect of those eyes was momentary. Dee’s shoulders came up. “Sort of does when you’re standing right in front of me. And the name’s Dee, not writer.”
“Drop it, Sasha and Dee.” Rodney pulled the door shut with a loud snap. “If you’re here, you’re all friends. Period. If you can’t be civil, get out.”
Dee got it and zipped it. He was right, especially about her, given this was the first time she’d even met the man or the vampire. “Sorry,” she said quietly, and she meant it. She was not fond of those who used their power and success as an excuse to be assholes.
Sasha gave her a slight nod. “As am I.” The intensity in her eyes dulled a fraction. “It does concern you. It concerns us all.”
Prima rushed to Sasha and took her by the shoulders. “Are you all right? What happened? What can I do?”
Sasha waved a hand. “It’s not my blood.”
“There’s an awful lot of it.” Dee was looking at her too, searching for a wound. With that much blood, she’d been hurt somewhere. Had to be.
Sasha’s eyes met hers and the stare shook her once again. No one had ever given her such an intense look. “It’s not mine and I’m not hurt. I was followed. I handled it.”
Rodney, who’d dropped back into his chair, whirled around. “Damn it, they followed you? They know I’m here? I can’t afford the breach, Sasha. None of us can afford that kind of thing.”
“Not they. Him. I told you, Rodney, it’s handled. No trace, and you’re not compromised.”
“You’re sure?”
Her voice was sharp. “Do you think I’d come down here if I wasn’t?”
He didn’t appear to take offense. If she used that voice on Dee, she’d probably start crying, and she didn’t consider herself an overly sensitive woman. He looked at her, shrugged, and whirled back to his monitors. “Good point.”
Dee studied Sasha more closely this time and noticed some subtle things she hadn’t earlier. All she’d focused on before in their brief encounter was how pretty the woman was. Now she caught the paleness of her skin that looked as though sunlight hadn’t whispered over it for a very long time. She caught the haunted look in her intense eyes that couldn’t quite be covered up by intensity. She felt the strength that she possessed wash over her. So many layers to this woman, and yes, she realized she was more than that, but the female part of her called to Dee.
“They blew up my house.” The words seemed to fall out of Dee’s mouth. Well, now wasn’t that lame? What on earth had possessed her to pop off like that? Sasha was really going to think that she was a certifiable loser. So much for being a cool best-selling author. She was, and always would be, that gawky, uncool kid from middle school with an unrequited crush on Sue Ford. Some things never changed.
Sasha gave her a curt nod. Funny, though, that it seemed to her more like an acknowledgment than a dismissal. Made Dee feel a little better. Maybe she wasn’t still quite as gawky as she’d been back in middle school.
Pointing to various screens on Rodney’s impressive control panel, Sasha directed her comment to Dee. “You, me, and who knows how many others. The bastards have hidden for years, waiting and planning for their chance to strike. Tonight is their night and they’re going for it. Only God knows what all they have in store for us. They’re beginning to tear down our city, and they started with me.”
“Why here?” It didn’t make sense that Spokane would be a hotbed of activity. Why not Seattle? Portland? San Francisco?
“Three good reasons that I can come up with, and I’m pretty sure Rodney will agree.” Sasha kept her gaze on the monitors. “Spokane is a big enough city to have impact, and it has a military base…”
They all watched her for a moment. Dee could see something was going on inside her, and it was personal. She waited, thinking Sasha would continue. When she didn’t, Dee asked, “What’s the third reason?”
At first Dee didn’t think she intended to answer. Slowly Sasha turned, and her deep, dark eyes met hers once more. “Me.”
***
Even after all these years, Katrina still loved that ever-so-energizing feeling that came from rough sex and fresh blood. The combination was explosive and irresistible. Showered and changed, she was ready for the rest of the night’s activities. So much had already taken place it was like one of those epic vacations that humans seemed to be quite fond of. She’d been charged up before they arrived in the city, but now she was, as the old saying went, on fire.
As were the headquarters of Imperial Investigations and a certain successful writer’s home. The boys had done an excellent job on those two fronts, and the smile she couldn’t suppress matched the glow in her eyes. Her earlier annoyance with the boys was fading. Anyone who saw her now would think something wonderful had just happened to her. They’d be right too, and there was more to come.
Eli knocked once and entered her room. She should be angry at his impertinence, but she wasn’t. His timing was perfect and it wasn’t an accident. He knew her habits well, her likes and dislikes. Besides being an assistant extraordinaire, he was the A-team when it came to cleanup. In no more than an hour, the room would be as pristine as the moment they’d stepped inside. If he was a superhero, this would be his super power.
He glanced at the bed, and only a tiny twitch at the corner of one eye gave a clue as to his real thoughts. Those he would keep to himself. Kudos again. She didn’t need to know what he thought and would never care. The only opinions that held value were hers, and he knew it.
“You have a call.” He handed her a sleek black smartphone. “Mix.”
Her smile disappeared. Jared Mixell, Mix for short, was one of her best scouts. He’d been with her for about sixty years, and like Eli, he was incredibly reliable. He was part of the reason they were in their current, most excellent position. The thing was, he worked with an independence that didn’t require checking in unless there was an issue.
She put the phone to her ear. “Talk to me.” Behind her she could hear Eli moving about. It wasn’t necessary to turn around to see what he was doing. He’d be doing what he did best. Problem solving.
When Mix finished, she was smiling. The bad news she feared he’d be relaying didn’t come. On the contrary, it was excellent information. “Everything is in motion, then?”
“Of course. We’ve been getting ready for the offensive long enough. The results are beginning to show. By this time tomorrow, we’ll have this stupid city under our total control. Same in the other major cities.”
“Very good.” She’d say excellent, but it wouldn’t do to give them too much praise. It went to their heads, and she didn’t need that.
“Thank you.”
“And what about her?”
He didn’t hesitate before answering. “I’ve got one of my best on her.”
“Don’t screw this up.”
“Not my first rodeo.”
“Others have failed me. Don’t be another one.”
“I don’t do failure.”
“Good. Call me the second you have her.” She ended the call and walked into the other room. She didn’t care to be around when Eli was tidying up. Her role was to have fun and make the mess. She didn’t do cleanup. As one grew older, the benefits became greater. Once, when she was very young, that would have been her job. Not for a very long time. It was up to the Elis of the world now.
Eli had set her laptop on the desk, and now she pulled a chair in front of it. Once it was powered up and connected to the hotel’s network, she logged onto a secure site. Her fingers zipped over the keys. She loved technology and appreciated how much easier communication was these days. It was hard to even imagine what she used to have to do before the era of instant messaging.
She had a dozen incoming messages and was pleased by what was being sent. All the years of planning were bearing fruit. There were occasional moments over the years when she wondered if it would actually come to pass or if, like the others of the preternatural fraternity, she would be relegated to second-class-citizen status for her entire existence. It wasn’t right and never had been. They were the true torchbearers of power and intelligence, and to always have to hide in the shadows was wrong in too many ways.
Well, that was about to end. There would be second-class citizens, and they would be called humans. That alone was worth everything. That she would eliminate the problem writer was a bonus. That she would destroy the one who had betrayed her was priceless.
She grabbed the remote control and clicked on the massive television mounted on the wall over the fireplace. As she expected, the channels were all broadcasting special news reports. No one could quite figure out what was happening on the streets of major cities, Spokane included. People were collapsing everywhere, many displaying puncture marks on their necks. Panic was taking hold. Emergency crews were unable to keep up with the calls.
Drawing Down the Mist Page 10
