Grave Illusions

by Lina Gardiner

  “Thick black coffee, the breakfast of champions,” Britt said jokingly and raised his mug, wondering how he was going to get the stuff down at this ungodly hour of the day. He liked coffee, but he’d swear this stuff had been brewing for a week.

  Griz took a long drink from his mug and swallowed hard. His eyes were still vapid.

  Everyone sensed Griz’s depression. They all tried to cheer him up, but nothing worked. In the end, Jess and Britt drove him home in Regent’s truck.

  “I’m not sure I can do that again,” he said when the three of them were alone in the truck. “It felt like I was killing a human being. There’s a hole inside me that’s growing bigger and bigger.”

  “But you weren’t killing a human being,” Britt said.

  “They’re just like, Jess.” Griz’s dull gaze captured Britt’s and made him squirm. “They’re just like Jess,” he repeated again, staring off into space. Thanks to Tat everyone knew Jess was a vampire. He’d blown her cover after he saw her take out the vamps with James in the alley. He’d told everyone on the team. Something Britt was sure Jess had wanted to do herself, in her own time.

  Britt swallowed hard. If anything happened to Jess … But nothing would happen to her. He wouldn’t let anything happen.

  He reached over and patted Griz’s shoulder. “They’re not one bit like Jess. They’re killers with no remorse. They’re like dozens of Charles Mansens. Jess is not like that. She’d never harm a living soul. She’s proven that over and over. She spends all her time trying to save humanity, not feed off of it. You do see the difference, don’t you?”

  “I guess so. But it still feels bad, Britt. It feels bad.”

  “Griz, you don’t have to do it again,” Jess said suddenly. “You can be the point man. You can be on watch, and monitor things from the van from now on. Just promise me one thing.”

  “Anything,” Griz said.

  “Promise me if a vampire finds you and it becomes a battle between you and him, you’ll fight for your own life even if it means killing again.”

  Griz hesitated, then said, “I can promise that. If I’m protecting myself, I think I can do it. Thanks, Jess.”

  After they dropped Griz off, Jess climbed out of the driver’s side and into the passenger seat of the truck.

  “I’m driving?” Britt said.

  “If you don’t mind. It’s been a stressful night.”

  Britt easily read between the lines. She was thinking about Griz’s comment that the vampires were just like her. “Jess, honey, you’re not like them! Don’t you dare think it for a minute.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. Apparently, she was more shaken up by Griz’s comment than she cared to admit because she allowed him to continue holding her hand without remark.

  “I try not to. But there’s a blood bond between vampires, a connection that sings through my veins that I can’t explain. In a way Griz is right. They are just like me.”

  “Not at all.”

  “A lot more than either of us cares to admit.”

  He caught her expression of despair and his gut twisted. “If it takes me decades, I’ll prove to you how wrong you are about that,” he said. “You’re the bravest, most caring woman I know.”

  “It’s easy to be brave when you’re dead. It’s not like anyone’s going to hurt me.”

  “You can be hurt. And killed, and you know it. You’re not that immortal.” He added emphasis at the end, knowing it would tweak her dark sense of humor.

  She laughed and the sound of happiness in her voice brought a new level of joy to his heart. He hated to see that look of hopelessness on her face and wanted to do something to help her. But he also understood Griz’s pain.

  They arrived at the rectory. He got out of the truck and opened her door, saying, “I’ll walk you in.” The sun was just beginning to send tiny rays of light above the horizon, and a bloom of pink lit the sky in the east.

  “Thanks.”

  “Do you think Regent will be up yet?”

  “Yes, he’s got early mass. He’ll have eaten his breakfast and will be practicing his sermon.

  Jess opened the door to Regent’s study and leaned in. He wasn’t at his desk. “That’s funny. He’s not here.”

  She searched through the downstairs rooms, then returned. “There’s no sign of him.” Frowning, she called, “Regent, where are you?”

  Britt saw the instant look of concern of Jess’s face. He felt concerned too. “Maybe he’s in his bedroom or in the church getting ready for mass?”

  “I’ll go upstairs and check his bedroom. You wait here.” She took the stairs at lightning speed. He could tell by her panicked expression when she returned to the kitchen that Regent wasn’t in his bedroom either. It didn’t take her long to notice the same thing he did. She gasped. A bowl of oatmeal sat on the table—untouched. Cold. Now that Regent was nowhere to be found, his untouched cereal was a bad sign.

  She turned to Britt, with a worried look. “He’s not in the house and his breakfast hasn’t been eaten. He never leaves the house without his breakfast because his blood sugar has a tendency to drop if he doesn’t eat.”

  “Maybe he’s in the church.”

  “Let’s go see.” Britt practically ran behind her long, loping steps. She jerked the church door open as if it was featherlight. When she ran inside, he grabbed the door so it wouldn’t smash into the church wall and spring back at him.

  Going straight to the confessional, she checked each box. Britt watched her, feeling useless. Even if he could keep up with her, there was no sense following her to the sacristy. He had a gut feeling she wasn’t going to find Regent. The vamps knew Regent was Jess’s Achilles’ heel. If they had Regent, they had her.

  She left the sacristy and scaled the steps to the roof, where they’d found the bodies, faster than Britt could imagine possible.

  She returned, teeth extended.

  He stood in the aisle with his leather coat draped over his arm. His heart went out to her. She loved her brother dearly and he vowed before God to help Jess find Regent.

  “Let’s calm down and think rationally about what might have happened.” He’d never seen her like this. She was always the image of control, but not right now.

  “They’ve got him. I know it.” Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

  “I think you may be right. But that doesn’t mean they’ll hurt him. He’s probably okay. I’d wager they’re just holding him hostage to get at you.” Britt took two steps closer to her.

  “Why?” Her pained expression cut into him and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her. But he could tell she was a little out of control in the vampire sense, and he didn’t want to push his luck right now. She’d never forgive him for that.

  “Maybe it’s because we’re getting too close. It’s possible they think that if they have Regent, you’ll back off.”

  “He’s old, Britt. He’s feeble. I don’t know if he can take any rough treatment. I should’ve been here to protect him, just like he’s always protected me.” Her hands flew to her throat and she swallowed hard as she tipped her head back and closed her eyes.

  “He’s stronger than you think, Jess, and he wouldn’t want you to do anything without thinking it through,” Britt said moving his jacket from one hand to the other.

  She moaned and looked heavenward. “Keep him safe! You keep him safe!” she ranted opening her eyes and staring at the crucifix on the wall. “He’s been your lamb, your right hand, all these years, so you make sure he doesn’t come to any harm.”

  She switched her attention to Britt. “Prometheus did this, and when I get through with him, he’s going to wish he’d never gone near Regent.” Her hands fisted tightly at her sides.

  She started to turn toward the door, but Britt took a chance and grabbed her arm, saying, “Jess, I’m with you on this one hundred percent. I’ll help you find Regent. But you have to stop and think. Why are they doing this? Maybe the whole idea is to keep you busy looking fo
r your brother so you can’t continue with your raids. Regent would be furious with you if you let other people die while trying to save him. Let’s sit down and figure this out.” Britt pointed to the pew on their right.

  She cast a mournful look at him that made his heart wrench. That one look told him all he needed to know about her humanity. She might be a vampire, but she felt for her brother in the same way any sister would. Her humanity was very much intact.

  “If that’s their goal then they’ve succeeded, because nothing is going to keep me from rescuing Regent. I’ll find Prometheus and make him talk. I hurt him that night in the graveyard. If I injured him then, I can do it again.”

  “But, if you remember, you were hurt too. You didn’t come out of that fight unscathed.” He hated to point that out, but it was true. She needed to realize it.

  “But I’m smarter. I can take him. He just got lucky last time.”

  “He probably did. This time though, we’re going to take enough time to figure out where we stand before we charge in. That way we’ll have a better chance of saving Regent, right?”

  Jess’s blood pounded through her veins, and her heart beat harder than she knew possible. He was right, she had to calm herself. She needed to be able to think rationally. She sucked in a quick breath and looked at him from the corner of her eye. Then she lowered her head and forced her breathing to slow down. “Okay. You’re right.”

  What had she done to deserve someone like Britt? He’d been able to soothe her and make her see reason. If Regent were here he’d be ecstatic. Britt didn’t realize it took a special person to calm an agitated vampire.

  “Normally I’d be the one laying the groundwork, but to be honest, right now I know I’m not thinking straight. Why don’t you suggest what our next step might be.” she said, turning her back on him and taking a deep breath. She hunched her shoulders and felt her teeth aching again with the need to attack. Could she wait to find Regent? She had the nose and the tracking abilities to find him. But Britt was right. They had to come up with a plan.

  She’d never handed the responsibilities over to another human being other than her brother. Never trusted anyone enough to take the first step.

  Britt might be green when it came to vampires, but he was a cop. And a good one. She’d allow him a small concession to prove himself. But he only had a short window of time. If his ideas didn’t gel with her, she was going after her baby brother no matter what Britt said.

  “We’re going to look around. This church seems to be a hot spot of vampire activity. Maybe there’s a reason.”

  “Maybe it was just a show of strength and there’s absolutely no reason. We can’t afford to waste precious time,” she said impatiently.

  “Is there a basement?”

  “Yes, the door’s through the sacristy and to the left,” Jess said. “You go there and I’ll check the balcony overlooking the church.”

  A short time later they met at the front door.

  “Nothing,” she told Britt. “You?”

  “Nothing.” He looked at his watch and adjusted it on his wrist. “It’s almost morning. Don’t you have to rest? It’s been a long night. We’re both tired. If we get some rest, we’ll be better able to find Regent at dusk.”

  Jess wanted to argue, but she could feel the lethargy that oozed into her bones, insisting she sleep. Damn! This was the worst thing about being a vampire. Especially at such a critical time. But she needed to regenerate whether or not she wanted to. And this time she’d have to do it without a protector to watch over her. She’d never been completely alone before when she slept. She’d always had Regent.

  Maybe that’s what the vampires had in mind. Snatch her brother so they could kill her in her sleep.

  She didn’t care what they did to her, as long as they didn’t hurt Regent.

  “What if we’re wrong and they kill him?” she said, everything in her fighting against logic.

  “I’m betting they won’t risk it. I think they’re using him as bait.” His eyebrows rose. “Unless they want him for his clerical ability, want him to give them your capabilities.”

  Even as he made the comment, he shook his head. “That doesn’t feel right. It’s too coincidental that it would happen when you’re closing in on them. I’m going back to my first scenario. They’re using Regent to get to you.”

  “Okay, let’s say you’re right and they’re using him as bait. What happens if we don’t show up right away?”

  “They’ll probably be disappointed that you took time to regroup. But if I’m right, they’ll keep him alive, if for no other reason than to draw you in to whatever trap they’re setting.”

  She chewed on the corner of her lip.

  “If you don’t agree and want to go after him now, I’m more than willing to do that. I’m just not sure it’s the best thing for you.” He gave her a once over. “You look like you’re about to fall over. If you want, I can go after him and you can stay here and rest.”

  He was right. She was about to fall over. Her limbs felt leaden. It would be suicide to go after Regent like this, and if she died, what hope would Regent have? She had no choice but to wait. And there was no way she’d let Britt go looking for Regent without her. Even if he could find her brother, Britt wouldn’t stand a chance alone.

  “What do you say?” Britt edged her toward the entrance.

  “As much as I want to go after Regent, you’re right. I need sleep. So do you.”

  She pushed the church door open and led the way back to the rectory. Outside the kitchen, she slowed and put one hand on the door casing. “I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done. What happened tonight wasn’t in the job description. Calming down an agitated woman is hard enough, but when she’s a vampire it’s a dangerous combination.” She was able to smile, just a little. “You’ve proven yourself an A-1 vampire hunter and friend.”

  Britt’s jaw tightened. “Jess, I have to tell you I’m glad you recruited me. That you decided I was worthwhile to have on the team. Without you, without the training, I’d have been a sitting duck for whatever those vampires had in mind for me.”

  She felt the blackness approaching. Knew she had to get to her room. “You should go home, Britt. Get some sleep and be back here at dusk.”

  His head jerked around and he stared at her. “I’m not leaving you alone. Unprotected while you’re…” He hesitated. Not quite sure what to say. “Incapacitated.”

  She began making her way to the basement door. He could follow her, but there was no way she’d let him in her room. No way she’d let him see her in her deathlike state.

  “I don’t have the time to argue. But I insist you go home.”

  “I’m staying. You can rest knowing that I’ll be here looking out for you. And when you wake, we’ll be ready to find Regent. Who knows, maybe when this whole thing is over, if Randy truly is a vampire, I might be able to look at myself in the mirror again.”

  She spluttered cynically. “Wish I could do that. Look in the mirror, I mean.”

  He looked shocked and opened his mouth as if to speak, but then slammed it shut without saying a word.

  She gave him a playful shove. “I’m kidding. I can see myself in the mirror.” Then her features crumpled and she covered her face with her hands. “What am I doing, cracking a joke at a time like this?”

  Britt pulled her close and pressed his chin against the top of her head. “Regent would be happy if he knew you’d done that.”

  “I’m just tired. And worried about Regent. I’m saying silly things to try to forget what’s going on.”

  How was it possible, at this dark moment, that she wanted him to take her into his arms and just hold on? Sometimes she thought being stuck in a half-life between vampire and human was harder than just being a big, bad vampire. At least then she wouldn’t have these feelings of vulnerability and need.

  “Understandable. You need rest,” he said.

  “Until dusk,” she said waiting a
t the door to her sanctuary. “Lock the door on your way out.”

  She knew he’d ignore her, but she had to try. Right now, more than ever in her existence, she hated being a vampire. She should be out looking for Regent. The sun was rising and within minutes she’d be useless to everyone. Being able to go out in the daylight did her no good in this crisis. She needed hours to prepare. Time to meditate and pray beforehand. Without that, she became one of the undead and nothing could stop the process. Not even Regent’s disappearance. She’d never hated what she’d become more than she did at this moment.

  She looked at her bed and wondered if this would be the night her existence as a vampire ended. If they were coming for her, there was nothing she could do. Once she went to sleep, there was no waking her until the sun rose. She had no choice. It was either sleep here or become comatose somewhere else where she’d be even more vulnerable.

  With one last thought of how much she loved Regent, she crawled into bed and closed her eyes.

  She lay on the bed and waited. The black void approached. She couldn’t move now, her limbs were like lead. For the fraction of a second before she succumbed to the nothingness, she heard a creak on one particular floorboard in Regent’s office. The floors were old, and normally those sounds gave her comfort, knowing Regent was in the room.

  But seconds ago she’d left Britt outside her door. Could that sound be him in Regent’s office? Would he have had time to go into that room and stand on that old floorboard?

  Dread filled her. She tried to fight sleep. But it was too late.

  Britt stood outside the door to the basement. The night Jess had been burned by the holy water Regent had told him where they kept the spare key. Regent had also told him how vulnerable Jess was when she was asleep. And how important it was to have someone protect her during that vulnerable time.

  He sat down in the living room, flipped on the television, and surfed through a couple of channels before realizing he was hungry. He wandered into the kitchen, emptied Regent’s cold breakfast into the garbage and put the bowl in the dishwasher. Then found a TV dinner in the freezer. It was a diet frozen dinner, but it would have to do.