Outside in the courtyard, Sidney, the Changer who would carry Jerome to Albuquerque, was waiting for him and Gordon.
“Ready?” Sidney asked.
“Ready,” Jerome answered, pushing down his apprehension at the unusual mode of transportation. As a vampire he had always transported himself from one location to another. But as Julian had told him during one of their conversations, many things would change after his transformation. He was more human now than vampire and there would be many new ways of doing things to which he would have to adapt.
After Sidney shed his clothes and morphed into a beautiful, unusually large, black-plumed condor, Jerome followed the wave of Gordon’s hand and straddled the condor’s back. Even with his knowledge of the vampire’s extraordinary abilities he was still amazed at the capabilities of other supernatural beings.
“See you in Albuquerque,” Gordon shouted, as the condor took to the air.
Later, when they landed in an isolated area of Albuquerque, Gordon was waiting to begin the last leg of the journey. When they touched down in a heavily timbered area on the outskirts of San Francisco a few hours later, dawn was about to break.
“How are you feeling?” Gordon asked, once he had resumed his human form.
“Not too bad, but I’ll feel one hell of a lot better when that bastard Zurik is taken care of and I know Thea is safe.”
“Good, because we have a little walk ahead of us. Dennis picked the Corvette up from the airport and drove it to a parking lot about a mile from here.”
While they walked to the car, Jerome absorbed everything that had happened in the past eight hours. In spite of his prior resistance to regaining his humanity, he was now fully aware of the rewards awaiting him. He looked up at the sky. A thrill of anticipation ran through him. In a very short time he would experience his first sunrise in almost a century. That realization, however, brought forth a less pleasant one. “Zurik will be well underground by the time we reach his hiding place.” His chest constricted painfully at the thought that followed. “What do you suppose he will have done with Thea?”
Gordon slowed his pace and waited for Jerome to catch up to him. “We can only hope—”
“Hope isn’t enough,” Jerome interrupted, hurrying forward. “How much farther is the car?”
Gordon pointed straight ahead. “Just over that hill.”
“How far is it to where Thea is?”
“About thirty miles.”
Jerome let out a stream of curses and walked even faster.
When they reached the Corvette, Gordon took the wheel and for once Jerome didn’t object. As they sped to Zurik’s hideout Jerome’s only thought was of Thea. Of finding her alive.
Chapter Sixteen
THEA HUDDLED in the corner of the cave where she had been since her capture. She wrapped her arms around herself more to ward off her vulnerability than to keep warm.
Tears welled up behind her eyes despite an earlier promise not to let that happen. Crying would only reinforce the helplessness she was trying so hard to deny. Instead of wallowing in fear and self-pity she needed to turn her thoughts to her loved ones for strength.
Simone, Angela, her beautiful daughter, Casey. Their faces swam around in her head in a constant whirl. And spinning out in front of them all was the face of the man she had come to love beyond anything she would have thought possible.
Should she feel guilt that her child seemed to have been temporarily upstaged by a man—a vampire—she had known a mere couple of weeks? Perhaps she might if she weren’t certain her daughter would never be shortchanged when it came to love. She knew absolutely that Simone and Angela loved Casey as much as she did. That her child had thrived these past months without her was proof of that.
It was different with Jerome. Although he had two brothers, he rarely saw them. And as far as she could tell, aside from Dennis and Ella and his manager, Gordon, he had no one in his life on a daily basis who cared for him. Certainly no one who cared for him as much as she did.
A sudden sound yanked Simone from her thoughts. For all the hours she had been underground, she had gone so deep within herself she had grown unaware of her surroundings. Now, she forced an inner calm so she could focus on the sound inside the cave. When she heard it clearly enough to identify it she was gripped by a chilling fear. The sound was Zurik’s shrill, evil laugh. The laugh grew closer and closer until the monster himself stood before her.
Despite the overwhelming desire to look away, Simone’s gaze was drawn to the two fiery eyes so close they almost blinded her. She wanted to look away, to shield her eyes, but the two round globes of fire held her in their grip.
The monster’s grating, rasping laugh filled the cave. “What do I do with you now, my dear Dottie Crawford? It seems I am always waiting for you to be rescued.”
Dottie struggled against the mesmerizing effect of Zurik’s eyes, but her strength was no match for his power.
Zurik moved closer. “I obviously misjudged the affection Jerome Whitcombe had for you. I expected him to be here by now.”
Dottie’s throat ached as she forced words past the tight muscles in her throat. “What is it you want?”
“The same as I’ve always wanted, my dear. To exterminate the Whitcombes. I was not successful in New Orleans with the eldest of them, and if I am not successful here, I will find the youngest no matter where he is. Make no mistake, whatever the cost, I will be victorious.”
Dottie forced herself to make some sense of Zurik’s words. He had been using her as bait. First in New Orleans because of Simone’s relationship to Julian, and now in San Francisco because he thought Jerome cared for her. So why hadn’t Jerome come after her?
She remembered then that Jerome had probably gone to New Orleans. Had his transformation worked? Was he human now? And if he was, would he try to save her? Did he know where she was? Did he even care?
As her spirits sank to their lowest level since her abduction she felt the familiar stirring in her mind. Her first impulse was to deny it was real, but the brush against her mind grew stronger. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. Was it really Jerome? Or was this another of Zurik’s tricks? Time was running out for her. She had to take the chance. She opened her mind to the link.
Thea. Can you hear me, Thea?
It was Jerome. He was the only one who called her Thea. Her heart thumped so hard against her ribs her chest hurt. Jerome? Where are you?
I’m on my way to you. Is Zurik there?
Yes.
Has he harmed you in any way?
No.
But just as she gave Jerome her answer, Zurik moved toward her, his eyes glowing brighter than ever, his fangs bared. His clawed fingers reached for her, but before they made contact with her body, he staggered backward, lowered his head and shielded his eyes with his arm. “I have no time left today, Dottie Crawford,” he snarled. “And I have no more need of you.”
Dottie’s heart clenched in fear as Zurik lunged forward and grabbed her, his foul breath filling her nostrils with his evil stench. He lowered his fangs to her neck. She froze. And then, as if guided by something outside herself, her hand went instinctively into her pocket. Her fingers curled around the bracelet Jerome had given her. At the instant Zurik’s fangs touched her flesh, she pulled the bracelet from her pocket and pressed it hard against the side of Zurik’s face.
Zurik hurled her to the dirt floor, his agonizing screams ringing in her ears as he fled.
“FASTER,” JEROME shouted from the passenger side of the Corvette.
Gordon gave him a sideways scowl. “I’m already over the speed limit. Do you want us hauled off to jail?”
“No, of course not. But Thea is in trouble. She needs help now.”
This time Gordon’s glance was more questioning than critical. “How d
o you know?”
Jerome touched a finger to his forehead.
“You’re linked to her?”
Jerome didn’t answer.
“I suspect you’ve grown much closer to her than you’ve let on.”
More silence.
Jerome closed his eyes and went deeply into the part of his mind that could touch Thea’s.
Thea.
Silence.
Thea, can you hear me?
Still nothing, not even a faint whisper to indicate she heard him but, for some reason, was not able to answer. Damn. Of all times he needed his ability to transport himself. Then he remembered his movements had been restricted by the magnetic shift even before his transformation. But, he reminded himself, the change was permanent now. There would be no going back to performing supernatural feats as he had once been able to do. His change from immortal to human had come with a price. And this seemed to be his first payment.
He needed to adjust to working as a human, and he needed to make the adjustment fast because Gordon had just stopped the car at the foot of a steep hill.
The sun had risen when Jerome and Gordon climbed out of the Corvette. Gordon went immediately to the trunk and returned with Jerome’s sword.
“It’s unlikely Zurik will be inside waiting for us. He undoubtedly has gone deeper underground now that it’s light.”
Jerome strapped on the sheath and dagger. What would it be like to wield the weapon as a mortal? How much power did it possess now? He had to believe the power would be strong enough for him to vanquish any enemy. Why else would the Goddess have set this elaborate plan in motion if he and his brothers were to be ineffective as humans?
Since most of the distance separating him and Thea had been shortened, he called to her again with his mind, hoping she would now be able to hear him. But still there was only silence.
His heart knocked hard against his ribs. What if Zurik had taken her with him? Or what if he had . . . No. He would not believe that. He could not believe that. She had to be alive. He had to be able to take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her.
Gordon pointed out the entrance to the cave and they headed in that direction. With Gordon in the lead, they crawled through a small opening and started cautiously down a long, narrow corridor.
“Thea!” Jerome abandoned the mental link and cupped his hands around his mouth to enhance the volume of his voice. After they had walked a few feet, he stopped and put a hand on Gordon’s arm. “Did you hear that?”
“I heard something, but I don’t think you should—”
Jerome cut off Gordon and pushed ahead of him. He cupped his hands around his mouth again. “Thea. Can you hear me? Thea?” His voice echoed in the tomb-like darkness.
He heard the sound again. His name, weak, barely more than a whisper. He ran forward, his hand on his dagger. It was possible he was being led into a trap set by Zurik. Even though the day had dawned it was dark enough in the cave that Zurik might have risked a few extra minutes for a chance to engage him in battle.
The possibility of danger waiting around a corner ramped up the adrenaline in his body. He sensed they were close to their destination and he prepared himself for whatever he might find at its end.
And then, straight ahead, against the back wall of the dark tunnel, he saw her—he saw his Thea—crumpled like a rag doll on the earthen floor.
STRONG ARMS wrapped around her and Thea knew it was Jerome before she opened her eyes.
“Thea, my love, are you all right?”
She tried to answer but tears of joy and relief clogged her throat. It was almost too much to believe that Jerome had found her.
He helped her to her feet. When her throat cleared enough for her to speak she wound her arms around him and sobbed against his chest. “I wondered if you would come.”
Jerome hugged her so tight she couldn’t breathe without gasping. “I would have been here hours ago,” he said, “but there was something I had to do first. Something that was more important than even my love for you.”
His love for her. Jerome loved her! Her heart felt about to burst. She leaned back so she could see his face. That was when she saw Gordon and everything came rushing back.
“Zurik tricked me, Jerome. I was at Fisherman’s Wharf and he sent someone to find me. Someone who looked just like Gordon . . .”
“It was a Changer who took on Gordon’s persona, but it’s over now. I’m just thankful you’re alive and unharmed. But what happened a few minutes ago? I heard you call and then all of a sudden I couldn’t hear you anymore. I thought . . .”
The bracelet was still clutched in her hand and she lifted it so he could see it. “He . . . he tried to . . . his mouth . . . I had to fight. And then I remembered I had taken the bracelet with me. It was in my pocket. I pressed it against his face and I just kept pressing harder and harder. He started screaming and then he suddenly let go of me and ran. That way,” she added, pointing over her shoulder toward the back of the cave.” She sank heavily against him as the full impact of what had happened hit her.
Gordon walked in the direction Dottie had pointed out. He was gone a few minutes. When he returned, he told Jerome, “There was a cave-in about half mile back. If we’re lucky, the bastard is buried under the rubble.”
She felt dizzy with relief. Was Zurik really gone? Was she rid of him forever? Jerome tightened his hold on her, laid his cheek against her forehead and moved his hands gently up and down her back to comfort her. When she began to relax, she looked up at him again. “What about you? What about Jerome? Did you get to him in time? Did everything turn out okay in New Orleans?”
Jerome smiled and laid a few soft kisses across her brow. “Everything went exactly as it was supposed to. I’m as human as a Whitcombe can be.” Their gazes locked and she saw within his beautiful blue and gray eyes that his thoughts mirrored her own. They didn’t want to dwell on the past. They wanted to consider the future. They wanted to be alone.
Jerome lifted her into his arms and she wound her arms around his neck. “There’s nothing more to be done here now,” he whispered. “It’s time we went home.”
JEROME KICKED Thea’s bedroom door closed behind him. “Make no mistake, my love, I am still angry with you for leaving the house after I warned you not to.”
Thea was still in his arms, her lovely body stirring up the same physical emotions she had when he was a vampire. He wanted nothing more at the moment than to sink himself deep inside her, but he restrained himself. She had just been through another horrific ordeal at the hands of the same monster who had imprisoned her in New Orleans. She would no doubt need some time to compose herself.
He laid her across the bed and sat on the edge next to her, his head filled with erotic images, his pulse racing, his heart overflowing with love. What if something had happened to her? What if she had never come into his life? He brushed a lock of hair back from her brow. “Thea—”
“I’m sorry I disobeyed you when all you had in mind was my safety, but I . . . You hurt me so much, and I was trying to fill my mind with anything to help me forget you until the time came for me to leave.” Thea held out her arms to him and he forgot everything but the desire to be as close to her as possible as he took her into his arms. “Make love to me,” she whispered, her eyes searching his, her hands moving over his body.
He leaned down to kiss her and was stunned by a terrible thought. Would he be able to make love now as a mortal? Was the need for blood really a thing of his past life?
“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” Thea asked, a taunting smile on her lips.
“Yes.” He nearly choked on the word. Fear of making love to a woman had never entered his mind. Until now. Until Thea.
“Don’t be. I’m not afraid at all. You could never hurt me as a vampire. I’m certain you won’t as
a human.”
He arched his brows. “Oh? And what makes you so sure of that?”
Thea shifted her hips and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and held it out to Jerome. “This.”
Jerome smoothed the creases from the paper and smiled. It was the note he had given Gordon in the event he found Thea alive while Jerome was still in New Orleans.
Thea, my love. Only something much greater than my love for you could have forced me to leave you behind. Please forgive me.
Forever yours, Jerome
He lifted an eyebrow. “So Gordon managed to slip this to you behind my back.”
She looked into his eyes and smiled. “Literally. While you carried me out of the cave he slipped the note into my hand.”
He nipped the tip of her nose. “You sneak.”
Thea touched his face tenderly. “There was no need to ask for my forgiveness. You did what you had to do. The important thing is you knew you loved me even then. You’ve probably loved me, as I’ve loved you, from the moment we met. Although we’ve only known each other a very short time, I feel as if I’ve known you forever.”
He placed the note on the bedside table and turned back to the woman at his side. Morning sunlight, filtering through the curtained window, set Thea’s face aglow. The love he saw in her eyes humbled him.
“Time is irrelevant, my love. No one knows that better than I. We have each other now,” he said softly as he began to undress her, “and that’s all that really matters.”
Thea opened her body and her heart to him like he had never known it possible for one person to do for another. The experience was nothing like he had known in the vampire realm. This time when the world spun out of control around him and he heard a chorus of voices, he was grounded in Thea’s world and the voices were their own, exchanging moans of pleasure and vows of eternal love.
It was after their own tremors had subsided that the bed trembled beneath them. Thea’s arms tightened around his neck.
The Vampire Jerome Page 17
