Shadows Strike

by Dianne Duvall

  Richart and Ethan suddenly appeared.

  Heather jumped. Her heart lodged itself in her throat when she saw the blood that coated Ethan and how many cuts and tears and bullet holes his clothing sported.

  Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she hurried forward.

  Ethan took a quick step back and raised his hands. “Let me get cleaned up first.”

  Stopping short, she nodded.

  Ethan dashed out of the room.

  Richart vanished.

  Heather crossed her arms and turned to face the others.

  The tapping of computer keys ceased as they all leaned back, faces grim, and waited.

  Ethan returned in an amazingly short time. His fresh clothing bore a few damp patches, indicating that he hadn’t taken the time to dry off properly. His hair looked as though he had just finger-combed it and slicked it back.

  But he appeared undamaged, she was relieved to see. Undamaged and beyond weary.

  As soon as he opened his arms, she rushed into them and hugged him tight.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “I’m fine. Your dad is, too.” His arms tightened. “I can’t stay. I just knew you would be worried and wanted to reassure you.”

  “I was worried,” she admitted, not wanting to let him go. But cold water drip-drip-dripped from his hair onto hers.

  Stepping back, she reached for one of the towels on the dining table.

  “Thank you.” Ethan produced a tired smile as he took the towel and dried his hair.

  Darnell stood. “The other immortals?”

  The rest of the Seconds stood.

  “All good,” Ethan assured them. “Except for Seth and Zach. Gershom put in an appearance. I didn’t see him myself. But Ami said he was there and showed Seth where. Both Seth and Zach took off after him, and . . . we haven’t heard anything from them since.”

  “Has David?” Darnell asked with a frown.

  “No.”

  “What about Ami?”

  “She hasn’t heard anything either. Richart is taking her and Marcus to the network to be with Adira and will have Aidan help him start teleporting the other immortals here.”

  “What about Lisette?” Tanner asked. “I thought she and Zach were pretty much always in contact telepathically.”

  Ethan shook his head, lips tight. “She tried contacting him and got no response.”

  “How’s she holding up?”

  “She’s worried as hell. We all are.”

  “What’s the body count at the base?” Darnell asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but it’s high.” Ethan looked at Heather. “Your father and David are on the phone right now, talking with Chris, trying to help him concoct a cover story the military and government will accept.”

  Her dad was helping them? Working with them? What an incredible relief.

  “Chris has conferenced in the heads of all the Russian branches of the network,” Ethan went on, glancing at the others. “Every one of the vampires wore a Russian uniform.”

  Somber silence.

  “Were they really Russian?” Darnell asked.

  Ethan sighed. “I don’t know, but whatever they spoke sounded Russian to me.”

  Heather didn’t know how they could keep something so huge—so international—like this from hitting the news. “What about the other soldiers at the base? How are they handling it?”

  “As well as can be expected. They saw us save enough of their buddies that they’re cooperating and seem to be accepting us. David is having the toughest time of it, I think. He’s being pulled in three directions and has to divide his time between helping Chris, listening to the soldiers’ thoughts for anything that might bring more trouble, and listening for Seth. Lisette and Imhotep are helping him, but he has his hands full.”

  Ethan tossed his damp towel over a chair and gave Heather a look of regret. “I’m going to head back and see what I can do to help. Your dad and the other soldiers seem more comfortable around me, so . . .”

  Heather didn’t want him to go. She wanted to hug him tightly for at least twenty-four hours straight to assure herself he was really okay. But she understood duty. One couldn’t have a father in the army without learning that very quickly.

  Turning to the table, she grabbed a towel and tucked some sandwiches into it. “Here.”

  Ethan took it, a genuine smile dawning at last. “Thank you.” Leaning down, he pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips.

  Richart appeared, Jenna in tow. Aidan appeared beside them a moment later with Étienne and Krysta. All but Aidan were coated in blood and looked exhausted.

  Richart eyed Ethan. “Ready?”

  Ethan nodded.

  Aidan stopped Richart when the latter took a step toward Ethan. “Go get cleaned up. Infuse yourself. Get something to eat. I’ve got this.”

  Richart nodded, curling an arm around his wife. “Thank you.”

  Aidan crossed to Ethan. “You ready?”

  Heather stole another quick kiss before the duo disappeared, and wondered how long it would be before she saw them again.

  Ethan checked the clock on his phone, confirming that the sun had risen.

  Aidan had teleported all of the immortals save Ethan, David, Lisette, and Imhotep to David’s place. According to the latest text from Darnell, most were bunking there for the day.

  Ethan glanced at Lisette. Brow furrowed, she conferred with David.

  Neither one of them had heard from Seth or Zach. It scared the hell out of Ethan.

  Seth must know how concerned they all would be. He wasn’t one to ignore that. And Zach sure as hell wouldn’t want to worry Lisette. What had happened?

  They would all know it, wouldn’t they, if something had . . . if the two had been . . . ?

  He couldn’t even finish the thought. But they would’ve felt something, right?

  Unsettled, relieved that Lisette couldn’t read his thoughts and the anxiety housed within them, he looked around for a distraction.

  Ed, Sheldon, and Tracy had elected to remain at the base and had worked wonders as far as easing the soldiers’ fears. Ethan surmised that seeing the human men and women treat the immortals the same way they did each other went a long way toward making the immortals seems less intimidating. The Seconds did a damned fine job, too, of skirting the soldiers’ questions in order to avoid disclosing information David would just have to bury later.

  David went quiet and looked toward the ceiling. “The network is here.”

  Ethan ambled down to the surveillance room, deserted on General Lane’s orders, and watched helos arrive and land within the base’s walls. A massive cleanup crew disembarked, all the faces unfamiliar to Ethan. Chris Reordon’s crew had been too far away, so they had enlisted the aid of the network nearest the island. Ethan recognized the network head who arrived in one of the helicopters. A tall, rugged Latino man, Alejandro bore the same air of authority and command that Chris did.

  Aidan suddenly appeared in the men’s midst, Chris at his side.

  Lucky bastard. Because he was so old, Aidan could withstand exposure to direct sunlight for a time. Since dark clouds had rolled in with the dawn, Aidan could probably remain outside for a couple of hours or more. And did, teleporting equipment and people in and out at the network leaders’ commands.

  The two network leaders worked well together. There was no butting of heads. No stepping on toes. No pissing contest. No resentment on either man’s part regarding the other’s presence the way Ethan expected there would’ve been had they instead headed different human law enforcement agencies. Ego never came into play, he was pleased to see. Efficiency reigned supreme as the two parties worked together to keep the vampire attack a secret from the rest of the world, to put a plausible cover story into play, and to ensure that the soldiers who had lost their lives would receive the honorable burials they deserved.

  Ethan returned to the cafeteria or mess hall in which everyone in the base, save the prisoners, had g
athered. General Lane nodded to Ethan, then ordered the soldiers to turn in and get some much-needed rest.

  For the first time, Ethan thought the soldiers would defy the general. Every man present wanted to stay and ensure their fallen friends were taken care of, the bodies handled with respect.

  Then they all yawned and began to weave where they stood.

  As one, they shuffled off down a hallway Ethan hadn’t explored.

  Even General Lane appeared surprised.

  “Thank you,” David said, looking at Imhotep.

  The powerful telepath nodded.

  General Lane looked back and forth between them. “What did he do?”

  Imhotep answered. “I commanded them to sleep. It will be easier for David to alter their memories if they aren’t conscious, and doing it himself would have just taxed him further.”

  “You really think this will work?” General Lane asked, his expression skeptical.

  “It should,” David said. “Chris has never failed us.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Ethan asked. He had been so distracted helping Ed and the other Seconds put the soldiers at ease that he had missed it.

  “All evidence will point to one of two theories,” David said. “A terrorist cell hacked into the mainframes of both this compound and the information hub Seth shut down earlier. On this one, however, they managed to gain control over the utilities as well and sparked several natural gas explosions, killing the soldiers whose lives were lost tonight.”

  “Who will be blamed?” Ethan asked.

  “That has yet to be decided.”

  “And the second explanation?”

  “Hackers attacked the mainframes to prove such weaknesses exist in order to force the government to take action. The gas explosions were a repercussion they neither foresaw nor planned.”

  “And who will take the fall for that one if investigators should pursue that avenue?” Ethan asked.

  “Chris has a fall guy in mind. I didn’t have time to get the who and why. But I trust his judgment.”

  As did Ethan.

  David turned to Heather’s father. “General Lane, would you mind joining the men above? You know more about the military and how they will interpret things than we do, so we would appreciate your input.”

  The general nodded. “I’ll head up there now.”

  “Ethan, would you go with him and introduce him to Alejandro and the others?”

  “Of course.”

  “Once you’ve done that, you’re free to leave if you wish. Aidan can teleport you to David’s. Lisette, you, Ed, Sheldon, and Tracy can leave, too. I’m sure you’re all exhausted. Imhotep will stay with me and ensure the soldiers remain asleep while I alter their memories.”

  Lisette nodded, face grave.

  Ethan left the room with General Lane and headed through the labyrinth of hallways toward the only entry/exit. “How are you holding up?” he asked, thinking the general had done well so far.

  General Lane cut him a glance. “Better now that I know my daughter’s boyfriend won’t die from his injuries.”

  Ethan smiled.

  Heather’s father arched a brow. “You are her boyfriend, aren’t you? I saw the way she clung to you before the battle.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m her boyfriend.” At least, he thought he was. He wanted to be.

  But how odd did it sound to say that, as if they were teenagers embroiled in their first crush and he had just given Heather his letterman jacket?

  “We really do appreciate all of your help, General,” Ethan said. “I don’t think tonight would have gone as well as it did if you hadn’t taken control of things down here and backed us up.” Ethan had gained a healthy respect for Heather’s father. A hell of a lot had been thrown at him in the past forty-eight hours. He had handled it well.

  General Lane nodded, his expression troubled. “I can’t say I’m comfortable with lying about how the soldiers died tonight.”

  “I know. But you understand the necessity of it, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” He sighed. “Good men and bad men can be found in every profession. The military is no exception. There are those who, if they learned the truth, would want to jump on the bandwagon and create a vampire army of their own. If they were to learn of immortals, too, and the special gifts you possess . . .” He shook his head, needing to say no more.

  Light brightened the end of the corridor, where the two doors had been forced open.

  Ethan squinted as they approached it. “You did a good thing, sir, protecting Heather and helping her hide her gift all these years.” Just thinking of Heather made Ethan feel warmer inside. “I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but . . . thank you for keeping her safe.”

  General Lane studied him a long moment, then nodded. “Call me Milton.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ethan said, then grimaced. “Sorry. Habit. My mother may have had her hands full raising five boys, but she drummed good manners into every one of us.”

  They had nearly reached the open doors when General Lane grabbed Ethan’s arm and brought him to a halt. A couple more steps and sunlight, muted by clouds, would embrace them.

  “Won’t going out in daylight hurt you?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Ethan admitted. “The clouds will help, but I’ll only be able to stay aboveground for a few minutes.”

  General Lane released his arm and clapped him on the back. “Then let’s do this quickly.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ethan jerked awake, his heart pounding.

  He looked down. Heather slept soundly, curled up against him in bed, her bare flesh soft and warm.

  As soon as he had returned to David’s, Ethan and Heather had retired to one of the quiet rooms in David’s home. He would’ve preferred to return to Lisette’s house, but thought Seth would probably want them to have the protection of David and the other elders.

  He glanced around, wondering what had startled him awake.

  A sound he would not have heard had he been mortal drew his attention to the door and the doorknob that slowly turned.

  Ethan reached for the dagger he had placed on the bedside table.

  The door swung inward on silent hinges.

  Lisette stood silhouetted in the doorway.

  Returning the dagger to the table, Ethan disentangled himself from Heather as carefully as he could and slipped naked from the bed. He snagged a pair of boxer shorts from the chair in the corner and slipped them on as he crossed to the doorway. “What’s up?” he whispered.

  Lisette entered and closed the door behind her. She wore a satiny robe, belted at the waist. Her neatly combed hair indicated that she hadn’t slept.

  As Ethan drew nearer, he noticed tears glistening in her eyes. “Oh shit. What happened? Is it Zach?”

  Her lips turned up in a tremulous smile even as moisture spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks. “He’s okay,” she said, her voice choked. “They both are.”

  “Are they back?”

  She shook her head. “No.” Then she burst into tears, sobbing as if her heart were breaking.

  Ethan wrapped his arms around her and gathered her close. “Shh. It’s okay.” He had never seen Lisette cry before. Not even from the pain of severe wounds. He wasn’t sure what to do or say. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”

  Lisette buried her face in his chest, sobbing so hard she couldn’t speak.

  Ethan drew his hands up and down her back and kept making soft shushing noises that seemed ridiculously inadequate.

  “Ethan?” Heather asked.

  Maneuvering them around so Lisette’s back was to the bed, he peered over her head at Heather.

  Heather sat up with a frown and reached for the T-shirt he had discarded earlier. As she hastily drew it over her head and pulled it down to cover her bare body, her gaze flitted from him to Lisette and back again.

  Ethan stopped rubbing Lisette’s back long enough to hold his arms out, palms facing the ceiling, and mouth, What do I d
o?

  She motioned him over to the bed.

  “Why don’t we sit down for a bit?” he murmured, guiding Lisette over to the bed and sitting beside her on the edge.

  “What happened?” Heather whispered, edging forward on her knees and reaching out to touch Lisette’s back.

  “She must have heard something from Zach. I think he and Seth are both okay.”

  Lisette nodded and eased away from him, wiping her eyes.

  Heather jumped out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. A second later, she returned with a roll of toilet paper. “I couldn’t find any Kleenex.”

  Ethan shrugged. “We never catch colds and don’t have allergies.”

  “Lucky you.” Folding up some tissue, she handed it to Lisette. “Here.”

  Thanking her, Lisette dried her eyes and wiped her red nose. “I’m sorry,” she said, the words ending on a hiccupped sob. “I’ve just been so w-worried.” Her French accent thickened.

  Heather sat on the other side of Lisette and touched her shoulder. “You don’t have to apologize. We understand.”

  Ethan nodded.

  “It’s just . . .” Lisette shook her head. “Zach’s life was so l-lacking in warmth and affection before we met. He said n-now that he’s gotten a taste for it, he craves it c-constantly.”

  Heather nodded and offered Ethan a smile. “I can understand that.”

  Ethan returned the smile, falling a little more in love with her.

  “I don’t know w-when it started,” Lisette continued, “but Zach gradually became a constant presence in my mind. N-Not necessarily listening to my thoughts, just . . . I don’t know . . . being with me.”

  Ethan couldn’t imagine that kind of closeness. To have the person you loved most always with you. To always feel their presence inside you. If his mind weren’t wired so differently, preventing others from reading his thoughts, he could have had that with Heather.

  “I didn’t realize how much a part of me he had become until he v-vanished last night,” Lisette said, tears welling once more, “and I couldn’t feel him anymore. I thought . . . I was afraid it meant . . .”

  Heather eased closer and wrapped an arm around her. “But you said he’s okay, right?”