Matthew sat back and sighed. “Soon.”
“How soon?” I asked. My internal clock was off; I couldn’t tell how far away it was.
“An hour at most, maybe sooner,” Matthew replied.
“We won’t be able to make it home before then, will we?”
Matthew shook his head. “No, neither of you will be healed in time. Damn, Mary Anne and the others have to be worried sick.”
Pain tightened Samuel’s features as he nodded. “I guess we’re stuck here for the day.”
I frowned. “None of us fed, either.”
“Well. I would have if Jeffrey hadn’t taken my dinner,” Matthew said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat, then said, “Wait a minute. We’re staying here?”
Samuel gave him an exasperated look. “Yes, I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows and glanced back toward Lane. “We all are staying here?” he repeated. He looked back at us.
Finally, I understood his meaning. I looked at Samuel, wondering what he thought. He met my gaze, then said, “Lane, are you going to stay here?”
I expected him to shake his head and leave. After all, he’d probably been here with us a lot longer than he wanted to. Lane looked at us uncertainly for a moment, then nodded. Samuel and I looked at each other in surprise. “There’s no close place to go,” he explained. He stepped away from the wall and walked into another room.
“That would be a reason to stay,” I said.
Samuel nodded thoughtfully. “I suggest we all get some sleep. We need it.”
I nodded and lay back down. “Best idea I’ve heard tonight,” I commented.
“Amen to that,” Matthew muttered, walking a few feet away and also lying down.
I shook my head and closed my eyes. In minutes, I was sound asleep.
***
When I awoke the next night, I saw Samuel standing in front of the only window in the room, staring out. The back of his shirt was covered in dried blood. Matthew was still sleeping and I didn’t see or sense Lane anywhere. “Samuel?”
“Yes,” he said, turning to face me.
I sat up. “Is Lane still here?” I asked, mostly out of curiosity.
Samuel walked to me and knelt down. “No,” he replied, un-bandaging my knee. He pulled off the bloody bandages and threw them in a corner. I flexed the knee a few times to ensure it had healed. It was a little stiff, but otherwise seemed fine. Whoever had bandaged it had done well, keeping it from moving and making the injury worse.
I wasn’t surprised to hear the answer, although in a way I was disappointed. “When did he leave?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. Probably right after sundown before I woke up.”
“Oh,” I replied. “I was hoping he would still be here. I mean, it’s not as if we’ll attack him in his sleep.”
Samuel sat back and shook his head. His expression was half-amused, half-exasperated. “You don’t understand, do you? Lane doesn’t trust anyone. What he did last night, sharing his resting place with us, is significant, even if he was in another room. When I first met Valerie I didn’t like the idea of sharing the same building as her and her group for a resting place. It was why I stayed in her room the first several nights; she had one of the single rooms.” Samuel paused reflectively. “That he did, even if he had no other choice, represents a basic level of trust.”
I looked at him thoughtfully. When I joined the group I barely trusted Samuel, let alone the others. I could kind of understand why Lane would have wanted to be gone as soon as possible. Getting to my feet, I said, “We need to get home, Samuel. I’m worried.”
He got back to his feet. “I’m sure they are fine,” he said and put his arm around my shoulders.
I shook my head. “Gregory threatened Kali’s life again. I’ll feel better if I’m home.”
Samuel nodded and looked down at Matthew. “Matthew, are you awake yet?”
Matthew grumbled an affirmative. Getting up, he questioned, “Are you two all right?”
“Yes,” I said as Samuel nodded.
“Where’s Lane?”
“Gone.”
Matthew nodded. “Samuel, can we get dinner on the way home?”
“We can try at least. Let’s go.”
We walked to the door. I opened it and stepped outside. They followed me out. Samuel put his arm around my waist and we started for home.
Matthew abruptly stopped and turned around. “What is it?” I asked, turning myself.
“Look up,” he said, his voice filled with confusion. We did so. Lane sat on the roof of the building, watching us. Matthew glanced at us. “What is he doing up there?”
Samuel shrugged. “I don’t know, Matthew.”
Matthew looked at me. I shrugged and asked, “Why are you looking at me?”
“You know him the best.”
“I do not,” I retorted and glanced at Samuel. He looked puzzled as well. If it had been any of us up there, I would have said the person was keeping watch. I was too hungry to figure this out. Instead, I waved at Lane and turned for home again. Samuel and Matthew followed me.
After finding some dinner, we bumped into Diego and the twins out searching for us. “We are glad to see you,” he called, even as his smile turned downward once he saw we were missing someone. “Hunters or Amita?” he questioned.
“Hunters,” Samuel replied.
Christina spotted the dried blood on my torn trousers and rushed over. “You’re hurt! How bad is it?”
“It’s healed, no reason to worry,” I said as I surveyed the search party. All three looked relieved to see us, although I wasn’t sure if the two men were happy to see me, or just Samuel and Matthew.
“We were concerned. We knew something had to be wrong when you didn’t return last night,” David said as we continued to the villa.
“You had good reason to be. If Lane hadn’t intervened, things might have been worse, even with Julia throwing Hunters into buildings,” Matthew replied.
Amid the surprised cries and gasps, I muttered, “You’re giving me far too much credit. They were more afraid of you and Lane than me.”
“You bought us time, which is everything during a fight,” he replied.
Mary Anne met us at the door and hugged each of us in turn. “Thank God you’re all right! I was worried when you didn’t come home last night. Where’s Jeffrey?” She asked this question hesitantly, as if she already knew the answer, but needed it confirmed.
Matthew closed the door and rested his head against it. “He’s dead, Mary Anne. One of the Hunters killed him.”
Mary Anne burst into tears. Samuel reached out and drew her to him. He gently rubbed her back and mumbled soothing words.
Christina looked at us. “Where the hell did you spend the day?”
Matthew looked at her. “An abandoned house on the outskirts of town. Lane helped me move Julia and Samuel there. They were both unconscious at the time. He even stayed while I waited for them to wake up.”
Her brother David looked amazed. “Lane did that?” he asked.
Samuel nodded, as Mary Anne stepped back, sniffling. “He remained with us through the daylight hours.” He walked away from all of us and stared out the window.
“So?” Christina asked, puzzled.
“He’s been hunted for years. He doesn’t trust anyone, but sharing your resting place with others takes faith because you’re weakened during that time.”
“That’s a paradox. He doesn’t trust anyone, yet he stayed with you. I’m sorry, I don’t understand it,” Mary Anne said wearily.
Matthew said, “He didn’t have a place to go that close to sunrise. That’s all it was.”
“You don’t understand,” Samuel sighed and left the room.
Matthew turned to me. “What did I do wrong?” he asked, bewildered.
“Nothing, Matthew. He just has a lot on his mind,” I replied, staring after Samuel.
I turned to inquire about Kali�
��s whereabouts when Diego spoke up. “Julia, do you have a few minutes? The twins and I wish to talk to you.”
I exchanged a look with Matthew before nodding and leading them to my room. Closing the door behind us, I gestured to the bed and chair. “Please sit. What do you want to speak to me about?”
Diego sat in the chair while the other two sat on the bed. I turned to face them, but stayed near the door. “You asked a question a couple days back. After some debate, we agreed you deserved to know the answer.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised Sandro would let you tell me. Let me save you the trouble. From his reaction last night, I assume your group came to spy on me.”
“Sandro thinks he’s the one in charge, but we do not answer to him,” David said. “And yes, you were partially correct on your assumption.”
“Who do you answer to then?”
David nodded at Diego. “I answer to him, Cain, Rab, Elizabeth, and others on the Council. They have grown increasingly worried about the rest of your group.”
I looked at them in confusion. Diego chuckled. “Your inexperience is showing, Julia.” I scowled at him and he continued, “Consider what the past five years’ events look like to other Resistance members. Their successor appeared to go insane and became a traitor. Known traitor remained with the inner circle of the Resistance, and Samuel stopped attending meetings. Finally, his group starts disappearing into hostile territory without explanation.”
The implication sank in immediately and I slumped against the wall. “The Resistance thinks I turned my entire ka-tet into turncoats.”
“Many began to suspect that, but not all. Elizabeth and her group were concerned about Samuel’s emotional state. They planned on coming here themselves when the first reports about teaming up with Lane surfaced,” David said. “A delegation was sent to figure out what the bloody hell is going on around here.”
I glanced up and frowned. “Who is Elizabeth? Why would she have come to that conclusion?”
Christina smiled. “She leads the only Resistance group in France. They are in Marseilles.”
“Where have I heard that name before?” I asked.
“She leads Valerie’s former group,” Diego replied.
“Valerie’s . . . you mean Samuel’s original group?”
He nodded. “Several original members of that group remain. They are some of our best eyes and ears when it comes to Valentino.”
“Ah,” I said, remembering where I had heard the name. Matthew had mentioned it when discussing how they had met. They knew better than anyone why Samuel would return here at this time. I looked at Christina. “You have been very nice to me. Why? Was it simply a ruse to get me to divulge information?”
She shook her head, looking slightly hurt. “I can judge people’s personalities pretty accurately. The events a few years ago didn’t fit with what I sensed of you when we met. I thought something must have caused that disaster. Since seeing you again, you haven’t given me a reason not to be nice.”
“I’m sorry if I upset you,” I replied. “I’m not used to someone I don’t know well being so kind.”
Diego stared at me. “I’m leaving in a day or two to report back to the rest of the Council. I have a difficult question to ask you.”
“Just ask,” I replied with a sigh.
“Do you believe you truly have power to communicate with the dead? If so, do you think you can control it enough that there won’t be a repeat of what occurred?”
I pondered his question, then nodded. “Yes, I believe I do. Matthew thinks he found proof. He’s waiting to show Samuel. I also believe with knowledge and the right training I can prevent a similar incident.”
They looked at each other for a moment. “I believe her,” Christina said.
David shrugged and Diego answered, “Very well. Christina and David will remain here to help your group. Thank you, Julia.”
As they got up, I looked at him as a thought crossed mind. “You said you were leaving in a day or two. Do you think you can take Kali with you?”
He looked confused. “Why?”
“The leader of the Hunters threatened to kill her. I would like to get her to safety.”
His dark eyes softened. “Julia, I will be traveling alone. What if they see her with me? They might attack simply because she was there. She would be in more danger with me than with your group.”
“I understand. Thank you,” I said as I followed them out of my room. Mary Anne was sitting at the table with Matthew. “Where’s Kali?” I asked.
“In her room, meditating I think,” Mary Anne answered.
I nodded and headed for her bedroom. She sat on a blanket spread across the floor with a candle lit in front of her. She didn’t turn but said, “Hello, Julia.”
I walked over and knelt beside her. “Kali, promise me you won’t go out alone.”
“Why?” she asked, never turning her attention away from the candle.
“Because Gregory’s threatened to kill you, that’s why!”
Finally, she looked at me. “And you’re afraid he’ll do it.”
“Yes, damn it! Kali, he doesn’t make idle threats,” I said angrily.
She stared at me, her expression calm. “Yes, I know.”
“Could you please look a little concerned?”
She shrugged. “So what have I done to make him interested in killing me?”
I glanced at the flickering flame. “He wants to kill you just to hurt me. And for your resemblance to my dead daughter.”
She studied me with knowing gray eyes. “You think of me as a daughter.”
I looked back at her. “Yes, although the illusion is kind of ruined when you can tell me things I don’t know, when you sound wiser than me.”
Kali laughed softly. “Now you know why my parents were scared of me, why they didn’t care that I left with strangers. They were happy to be rid of me.”
“Please promise me you won’t do anything reckless. If he hurts
you . . . I don’t know what I’ll do,” I answered, bowing my head.
“What if I want to go talk to Lane again?”
“Kali!” I said in an agonized whisper.
“Well? What if I want to?”
I sighed. “You’re sounding like a child.”
“In your eyes, I am a child,” Kali replied. “I am serious, Julia. What if I want to talk to Lane? Because I will go.”
“Then don’t go alone,” I said, the words sounding hollow. I knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Take one of us with you.”
Kali shrugged. “And who would willingly go with me? Most still fear him.”
“I would. Samuel probably would too if you asked him.”
Kali glanced over at me and got to her feet. She leaned down and blew out her candle, her eyes suddenly looking infinitely sad. “Good night, Julia,” she said and left her room.
I stared after her, confused by the sadness on her face. Had she seen something, something she didn’t want me to know? Knowing Kali, that was likely. But what?
I shook my head and returned to my room to think. I changed my bloodied clothing, opting for a simple blue gown, and lay back on the bed. There were still several hours to dawn and I had nothing better to do. I never told Kali I saw Lane yesterday; she didn’t give me the chance to. She’d hear about it from one of the others if she didn’t already know.
Lane. Now, there was a living puzzle. Samuel was sure when he woke up that Lane had been long gone. However, when we left the building he was sitting on the roof, probably had been there the entire time. And the burning question on my mind was why? Why was he still there? It wasn’t as if he owed us anything, certainly not favors. If anything, we were the ones who owed him. It really seemed as if he had taken on guard duty. He couldn’t have been happy trapped with us all day. So why would he take on that responsibility for a group he barely knew?
Abruptly, I sat up as a thought crossed my mind. Had he stayed just because I was there?
With the exception of Kali’s visit with him in the woods which I intruded upon, I had been there every time the ka-tet encountered him. Coincidence? I wondered if he would interact with one of the others if I wasn’t there.
Was he seeking me or the group out of curiosity? Loneliness? Did he feel drawn to us? I felt some kind of kinship with him, though I didn’t know exactly why. Samuel and Kali both have more in common with him than I did, yet I felt there was some connection between us. Why else would I have been so fortunate as not to have been attacked by him the first time we met? Lane himself said he had been distracted. I had taken him by surprise, something that rarely happened.
Considering how he could cloak, he must have been purposefully interacting with us. If he wanted to evade us, using that ability would ensure we would never know he was there. I could understand why. Presumably we were the first vampires in years that hadn’t treated him like a mad animal. We might have been the closest thing to “friends” he’d had in decades.
I glanced at the door when I heard shouting from elsewhere in the villa. “Who’s arguing about what now?” I muttered. With a sigh, I left my room to investigate. Matthew and Stephen sat at the table in the sitting room, staring down the hall at Samuel’s closed door. Christina stood at the top of the ladder leading to the room above, peering down as well. “Are they all quarreling in Samuel’s room again?” I asked, looking at Matthew.
“The members of our Council and its delegates are having a meeting,” he replied.
Walking over, I said, “I thought you were a member of the Resistance’s Council, Matthew. Why are you out here?”
He frowned and the fire behind them blazed slightly higher. “I am. Or at least I’m supposed to be. I wasn’t allowed to be in there because of how close I am to you.”
Christina finished descending the stairs and joined us. “Same here, Matthew. David and I are delegates from Marcus, but only he’s allowed to attend.”
I looked at her in confusion. “We talked earlier. I thought Diego made his decision. What can they possibly be discussing now that they wouldn’t let you or Matthew in there?”
“I have an idea,” Matthew muttered.
“I know you are upset, but can you tone that fire down a bit?” Stephen asked. “My back is getting very hot.”
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