“Hadrian!” she shouted as loud as she could.
Pitiful. She could barely speak through the fire of her throat. Even her attempt at a shout ripped it open and poured sluggish, cool blood down her esophagus. She coughed on it and tried again. “HADRIAN!” Her voice echoed through the prison and the camp alike.
Not a soul stirred. Where had they all gone? Where had Hadrian gone? He couldn’t leave her here. He couldn’t have been one cell away and not saved her. Or had she just imagined it? Was she hallucinating now? Was she even still alive? Or was this truly hell?
Rene collapsed against the wall, sliding her back down it as she folded in on herself. Hopelessness clutched at her heart and she closed her eyes, resting her head against her knees. Time to face the facts: No one was coming for her. She was too weak and too alone to get herself out, and no one was coming for her. It shouldn’t come as such a surprise, but Rene thought Serena at least might have cared more.
Well, it just went to show: Karma really was a bigger bitch than Rene Kaplan. She was going to meet the final death in that cell. The only question was how long it would take.
Part 3
Winter
(of my discontent . . .)
Chapter 22
Tanner reached for her and she flinched so hard her shoulder hit the wall. He stopped moving, but didn’t lower his arm. “Rene?”
She took a deep breath through her nose, drawing the eyes of more than one vampire in the room. She couldn’t help it. All she could see as she looked at Tanner’s hand and arm was his hand and arm . . . reaching for her. The bruises his grip left. The places it took her. The horror it wreaked upon her very soul.
Tanner held his hand steady so long she was able to quiet her breathing, relax her shoulders. He waited until she raised her eyes to his. He didn’t make a face, no judgment or question crossed his expression. He simply waited.
“I—” What did she say? How did she explain that she couldn’t bear to let him touch her? Her sire? Her savior? The man who had taken the place of a father long dead and buried. The one she trusted beyond anyone else. She couldn’t let him take her arm in what she knew was a caring and gentle grip because the nightmare of the past was ever present. Her skin was stained, muscle and bone deep, with the memory of another. “I—can’t—”
“Shh,” Tanner dipped his head to catch her gaze. “Look at me.”
She did, but then glanced down the next second.
“Look at me,” he said again.
Rene clenched her jaw and raised her eyes once more, staring into his deep, sad hazel eyes.
“You never need to explain yourself to me, Rene.”
Her jaw trembled.
“Do you remember the night I saved you?”
Her head nodded jerkily.
“I held you, and I took you from that life.”
Another nod.
“Did I hurt you?”
The transformation had been painful, but everything Tanner had done was to comfort her. She shook her head.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Trust me not to hurt you.” His arm still raised toward her, he took a small half-step closer.
An involuntary sound left her throat.
“Rene.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, terrified.
“You can.” Resting his hand lightly against her shoulder, Tanner held it there for half a minute. Rene held herself still by the thinnest thread of self-control. She had to make herself trust him. Had to show him she would try. It was the most difficult thing she’d ever done. When he finally took his hand away, her entire body sagged in relief. “There, that’s better. We will practice.”
As he wandered off deeper into the room, Rene leaned against the wall and tried very hard not to wrap her arms about herself. She couldn’t afford to show weakness, not in this crowd of bloodsuckers. It was one thing for her, or even Tanner, to know she was broken. It was a whole other for her clan mates to see.
∞∞∞
Rene pressed her face against the wall and tried not to sob. So long she’d worked to avoid the memories, avoid the fact that her sire was gone. Left alone with nothing to occupy her mind, the past preyed on her. He’d brought her out of the daylight, out of the misery of human life, working tirelessly and patiently to rehabilitate her. And his life had been stolen from him. By werewolves.
Rage sparked, flowed sluggish in her tired, dry veins. If she ever got enough fresh blood in her system again, these wolves had better watch out. It was the last coherent thought before she fell asleep again. Sleep, beautiful, dreamless sleep was the only refuge she had left.
∞∞∞
The wolf that met Kendra at the outskirts of the camp did not look inviting. Staring down at her grimly, his deep green eyes both assessed her as a challenger then dismissed her as a threat a second later. She didn’t recognize him from the previous times her sire had brought her to the camp. Still, it appeared he knew to expect her, even if he didn’t welcome the vampiric presence.
“State your business, leech.”
Squaring her shoulders, Kendra glared right back at him. “I have a message for Silas.”
“Hand it over then, and be on your way.”
She rolled her eyes. “I am to hand it only to Silas.”
The wolf sucked his teeth and shrugged. “I guess you’ll just have to leave then. Silas doesn’t have time to be at the beck and call of shadow-lurkers.”
Kendra tried not to be offended, but he never would have spoken to her sire or master like that. It wasn’t always a good thing to be so small and innocent looking.
“Easy, Malik. I’m here.” Out of the shadow came a hulking figure with a thick black beard and hair tied back away from his face. Golden brown eyes glinted in the moonlight. Kendra had met Silas a few times before; each time she expected him to be less imposing, less terrifying. He never was. And this time she didn’t have her sire to hide behind. “What is your message, leech?”
Raising her chin, Kendra fished the sealed envelope from her pocket and held it out to him. Silas took it and opened it right there in front of her. Scanning the contents, he smirked. “You may tell your master that what we do with our prisoners is our own affair. Further, he should know that this concludes our business.”
Her master had anticipated the answer. “In that case, he asked me to remind you that he, not you, will determine when your business is concluded. You would do well to remember his own prisoners.”
Silas shook his head with a rueful smile. “You recite well, little one. I could almost imagine I hear his voice, but recall that messengers with ill tidings are often killed and eaten. Begone, leech. I will deal with your master how I see fit.”
Having delivered the only messages her master had given her, Kendra shrugged and turned away. She didn’t even know what the messages meant, to be honest. That wasn’t a requirement of her master. Silas was correct to comment on her reciting the words. Her master had said them to her once, then asked her to repeat them until he was sure she would say exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it.
“Hi, Kendra,” an exuberant voice interrupted her stalking away back into the forest.
She slowed, turning to see a young wolf she’d met briefly a few times before. In his human form, Serafin was a gangly youth probably in his late teens or very early twenties. She wasn’t sure how werewolves aged, but his demeanor always made her think of the Labrador puppy a friend had during her human life. He bounced when he walked, said everything with exclamation points, and was nearly constantly smiling. Far too young to know better, Fin treated her like his newest playmate. Every other werewolf she’d met had been menacing and short with her. A clear warning from the start. They didn’t trust her, never would, and she’d best not forget it.
“Hi, Fin.” She couldn’t help but be nice to him. So young herself, she still didn’t quite understand the hatred between their species. As far as she could tell, everyone she met in the im
mortal world was on their own side. Why vampires and werewolves were expected to hate each other, she didn’t know.
“You leaving already?” His brown eyes crinkled at the corners with his smiles. He would have a million wrinkles when he was older, but they would be the beautiful kind.
“Yeah, gotta get back to work.”
“Come on. Why don’t you hang out a while? You can keep me company on patrol tonight.”
She shook her head, looking around the camp at the few wolves awake that evening. Most of them were standing very still, watching her carefully and waiting for her to make a wrong move. “I really don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Well, maybe you’re right.” Fin glanced around and rolled his eyes. “Old people, am I right?”
That surprised a laugh out of her.
“See you around then, K.”
“Bye, Fin.” Kendra trudged away from the werewolves’ camp with the smile still on her face.
After a few minutes, it melted into a frown. Idiot wolf. Fin was naive. Young and very naive. He had to be smarter, more wary, if he was going to survive. She hoped his Alpha would keep a close eye on him, keep him away from dangerous assignments until he was a little older. Yes, Kendra was perfectly aware that she was in fact the pot and he was a kettle she called black, but she was being more careful. Had more experience with the dark side of life from when she was still human. Fin had been sheltered as a young wolf, otherwise he’d never have spoken so openly with her.
Something moved in the corner of her eye and as she turned to see it better, a hand came out of the darkness to spin her around and crash her into a tree trunk. She growled even as the tree cracked and groaned from her impact. The hand holding her was firm and crushing, and accompanied by a Goliath she recognized.
“What the hell are you doing, Kendra?” Faber’s normally warm voice rolled over her like thunder and filled her with dread. He didn’t even give her a chance to answer. “What is this place? There are werewolves here. What are you up to?” His friendly face, mostly obscured by darkness, was twisted with disbelief and anger.
“I—it’s not what you—” It was exactly what he thought, and she was having a much harder time lying to him in the face of overwhelming evidence. Except, he couldn’t know all. Maybe she could lie to him. What had he seen? Heard? “I’m just—”
Her attempt was cut off by a flying ball of fur and teeth. Faber was caught off guard. Knocked sideways by the growling, clawing creature, he shouted in anger and raised his massive hands to grab the thing.
“No!” Kendra yelled. She recognized that deep brown fur and small wolf body. Faber was much bigger, much stronger, and understandably angry. He would crush Fin. Her yell made Faber hesitate—too long—and his shout became a pained growl as Fin latched onto him. “Fin, stop, get off him!”
Faber grabbed the small wolf and ripped the creature off, tossing him back as if he weighed no more than a stuffed toy. Blood spattered the forest floor. Thick, dark, vampire blood. Faber’s shirt was torn, as well as his side. Bone and muscle just below his ribs was exposed. He staggered backward, but righted quickly, preparing for the wolf to come at him again.
The young werewolf hit the ground hard and seemed to be briefly stunned. Kendra took advantage of the situation to throw herself between the two of them. “Stop! Both of you, stop. Please.”
Fin blinked his deep brown eyes as his breathing took a minute to restart after the hit. Behind her, the other vampire was growling and cursing. Kendra glanced back at Faber and winced at the rage and distrust there. She’d considered Faber a friend, knowing all along that if he found out what she was doing for her clan he would never trust her again. Seeing the evidence of her fears in his face hit harder than she was prepared for. Her throat tightened, the muscles behind her eyes pinching as if they would call tears up.
“Please,” she said again. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Don’t hurt him?” Faber ground out, glancing down at his side, incredulous.
“He was protecting me.” She looked back at Fin, relieved to see him struggle to his feet. The hair on his back was raised, his eyes flicked between Kendra and Faber even as his teeth bared. “Fin, stop, you’re making this worse. Go home, I’m fine.”
“The hell you are.” Faber made a movement at her back and immediately Fin growled and advanced.
“Stop.” Kendra turned so she could see both of them, suddenly nervous to have Faber at her back. She glanced at Fin again though. “Can’t you see you’re making this worse? Go home, before you draw more attention.” The werewolf encampment was at least a quarter mile away, but that didn’t mean no one would hear them. She needed to get Faber away from there, and fast.
Fin’s head moved back and forth between the two vampires and he didn’t back down for long moments. Next to her, Faber was starting to sag. The wolf had taken a good chunk out of him, and he was losing a lot of blood. “Fin, go. Please.”
Apparently deciding that Faber wasn’t enough of a threat to her anymore, his eyes narrowed and he turned back toward the camp, trotting off into the darkness. Kendra sighed with relief and faced Faber again. The enormous man was glaring straight down at her.
“I can explain.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Sort of.” She sighed again. “At least let me get you home. I don’t think you can shimmer in that condition.“ Kendra reached for him, but he took a step back, staggering slightly. “Faber—”
“Explain first.”
“You need medical attention.”
He set his jaw and waited.
“Men,” she muttered, thinking as fast as she could. “I’m on assignment from Ignatius. He heard about Rene, he wants me to find her. I thought . . .” God, she hoped Fin really had left and didn’t hear this, “I thought befriending a young wolf might get me access to where they took her.”
Faber stared at her. “Why does Ignatius want to find Rene?”
Kendra swallowed. She had to be so careful, but what would he even believe? “I know he isn’t exactly known for warmth and caring, but Rene was Fraccas before she and Tanner left for the Acrien. I think in his mind, we still have some loyalty ties to one another.”
That was the biggest load of crap she’d ever attempted to pile on someone. Luckily, blood loss seemed to be on her side. And the fact that Faber was not only a good, friendly person, but a Venaygo. If she tried to feed that line to a Risqueen vampire, they would have laughed in her face. Then killed her.
He closed his eyes and swayed, then nodded. Kendra didn’t wait. Stepping forward, she grabbed his arm and shimmered him directly home to his apartment in Genocide. “Do you have your phone?” she asked. When he pulled it from his jeans pocket, she grabbed it from him and searched the contacts for one of his leaders. “Faber, I’m sorry, but I need you to lie for me. If it gets around what I’m up to, it’ll scare off the wolf, and I won’t be able to find her.” She hated lying to him like this. But the truth was, she was terrified of what her master would do to her if he found out about this. And then there was Hadrian Catane to think of. Kendra shuddered.
“I don’t think anyone will believe this is a result of anything other than a werewolf, Kendra.” His voice was tight with pain as he leaned against the wall for support.
“No, I know, but if you could just say it was a random attack, and leave out that I was there. Please.”
He opened one dark eye to examine her again. Most of his suspicion was gone, his initial distrust outweighed by the friendship they’d shared and the fact that he wanted to believe in her.
“Please,” she said again, looking him in the eye even as it meant craning her neck up to a ninety-degree angle.
Faber sighed gustily, but nodded once.
“Thank you.” She bit her lip, feeling like crying again, and dialed the vampires’ version of 9-1-1.
The voice that picked up was deep, steady, and commanding. “Hadrian Catane.”
∞∞∞
&nb
sp; “I’m sorry that I can’t help more.” Hadrian’s words still rang in Will’s mind. He’d been so sure the vampire leader would help him, help Rene, but no, he would look the other way just as everyone else.
The forest was cold and quiet as Will searched silently through it, examining the animal tracks and breathing deeply the damp, piney air.
Estrada too had been a letdown. Not that he’d had as much faith in her help. While there was no doubt that she would protect her clan like a mother tiger, Rene was another story entirely. Not only did she belong to a rival clan that Estrada barely tolerated, but Rene herself had done everything to offend the Risqueen leader she could think of. Literally. On purpose. Will smiled grimly to himself at the memories. He loved that about her, but it was time to pay the piper and Estrada saw no reason to lend a penny or two.
So Will found himself back in the forest, following the trail of the werewolves they had come across weeks before, praying that when he found them, they could somehow lead him to Rene. It was the only idea he had, so he pursued it with a single-minded determination. Alone in the woods, he was left too close to the desperation threatening to overwhelm every aspect of his life.
Laying a hand against a tree trunk to steady himself, Will tried not to dwell on it. Tried not to realize that the damp cold air reminded him of sitting in a giant refrigerator, holding the woman he loved for the first time. Maybe the last time.
No. No, it would not be the last time. He opened his eyes and glared out at the forest. If there was a wolf in this forest that could lead him to Rene, he would find it, and he would make it do so.
As if called by his thought, the scent of damp fur and moonlight tickled his nose. His fingers dug into the tree trunk as Will straightened and turned his head slowly, eyes scanning the forest, pulling apart every branch and bush until he found it. Eyes glinting reflective in the moonlight, staring back at him, just as still and silent and lonely. They stared at each other for a long moment, waiting on the other to move. Will knew he had to be careful, alone as he was; one vampire against a wolf pack was not good odds. He needed to be sure the wolf was alone too, then he might have a chance to capture it and get the information he needed.
Weaken the Knees (The Immortal World Book 6) Page 19
