“So he’s evil, and he killed my friend. I’m not going to piss myself like I did when I was twelve, Nyla.”
“I know that. You’re going to go after him, too mad to think, and get yourself killed!”
“No, I’m not!”
“Yes, you are,” she yelled. “I’ve already seen it happen!”
“What?” Jake asked, taken aback.
“It was just a feeling at first,” Nyla explained, lowering her voice to a normal tone, “but I’ve had a vision. You’re going to die if you go up against Demarcus.”
“Since when do you have visions?”
“Since the two of you started to form your bond,” the Dream Teller said from behind him.
Jake spun around to face the old witch. “It’s about time you showed. Why did you bring us here at a time like this? There are innocents in trouble, and they need us.”
“I brought you here because I promised Nyla I would explain some things to her when the time was right. That time is now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“During one of her visits, I told Nyla that the two of you would discover the truth here. Your destiny is written on these walls.” The witch snapped her fingers, and the torches blazed brighter, casting off enough light to show words etched into the walls of the cave.
Jake glanced at Nyla, noting the uneasiness in her stance and the fear in her eyes. “You’ve already read the walls, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What do they say that has you so frightened?”
“See for yourself,” the Dream Teller answered for her, drawing Jake’s attention to one of the walls.
The wall was covered in words from some ancient language, but as he stared at them, they transformed into English. The words may have been easier to read in English, but they were no easier to grasp.
“Three sets of immortals will produce children who will set forth a motion to save the world from the ultimate evil,” Jake read aloud, summarizing the lengthy passage the best he could. “One of these children will save the world from Lucifer’s wrath.” He glanced at the witch. “Vampires are going to have children?”
“Yes,” the Dream Teller said. “But as many before you have done, you have misunderstood the wording. There are other types of immortals besides pure vampires.”
“Like Nyla?”
“Yes.”
Unease coated Jake’s stomach, and he gave an anxious wave toward the wall. “Seta said I fit into this somehow.”
“You do. You and Nyla are one of the sets.”
“I’m not a vampire, and I’m not going to allow myself to be changed into one,” Jake said adamantly. “All other immortals are immortal from birth.”
“There are other ways to achieve immortality than birth.”
“He’s going to die,” Nyla said, anger making her voice rough. “He’s not immortal. He’s just a slayer, and he’s going to die! I’ve had the vision, and I’ve read the words. Read on, Jake.”
Jake glanced between the two women, feeling trapped inside the tension formed between them, and continued to read the writing on the wall. The words went on, covering each wall of the cave. He’d journeyed farther into the cave and had gone full circle by the time he found the part which had frightened Nyla.
To save the life of his mate, one of the chosen will have to die a mortal death at the hands of their enemy. The death will save his mate and their child.
“I’m the one who’s going to die?”
“Yes,” both women answered in unison.
Jake swallowed, feeling Nyla’s uneasiness creep inside him. He looked at the old woman. “If my death saves the life of our child, then that means . . .”
“Your child has already been created,” the Dream Teller finished.
Jake tried to breathe, but all the air seemed to have escaped the cave. Nyla was pregnant. The woman he’d attempted to kill was carrying his child inside her. “That’s impossible. We were only together two times.”
“Once is all it takes,” the Dream Teller said, a hint of laughter in her tone.
“You know what I mean,” he muttered irritably. “Both times were within the last twenty-four hours.”
“Pantherians have a difficult time getting pregnant, but once they do, their body has a way of letting the mother know about her condition immediately.”
Jake returned his gaze to Nyla. She stood and wrapped her arms around her midsection, looking back at him with a dozen different emotions shining from her eyes. Fear was the most prominent.
“I can’t shift,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “As soon as a pantherian becomes pregnant, we can’t shift, not until the child is born.”
“My child is growing inside you right now?”
“Yes.”
Awe and fear slammed into him at the same time. “Will it be a shifter?”
Nyla’s eyes narrowed, and her body faded in and out, like an electronic image dying.
“Nyla? What’s happening?”
“They’re waking me,” she explained, her body fading in and out again. “Don’t come for me, Jake. I’ll find a way out, despite what these walls say, and I’ll raise our child with love, something I don’t think you can do.”
“Nyla!” Jake ran to her, trying to hold on to her, but his hands went through her body.
“For what it’s worth, I’ll always love you,” she added, fresh tears streaming down her face before disappearing for good.
“What happened?” Jake asked, whirling around to face the Dream Teller. “Did you release her?”
“No. They awakened her.”
“Who awakened her? I left her alone at the motel.”
“She’s been captured. In her pregnant state, she can’t shift and escape, and she’s been drugged to diminish her physical strength.”
“Drugged?” Jake repeated, panic coursing through his veins. “By who? Where is she? What drugs? Will they harm the baby?”
“The baby will be safe—if you save him.”
“Him?”
“Nyla is carrying your son, Jacob. She will be the first pantherian to give birth to a male child, but then, she’s not your average pantherian, and your son won’t be an average child.”
“He’ll be a shifter too?”
“Does it really matter?” Her tone sounded disapproving.
Jake thought about it. He was going to have a child, a son. Pride swelled in his chest, but then he imagined the boy shifting into a panther, and his emotions became a jumble of confusion.
But confused or not, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to Nyla or the child. “Time’s wasting. Tell me where she is and let me go, Dream Teller, or pretty soon the answer to that question won’t even matter.”
“I haven’t been given her location, and she doesn’t know, either. She was unconscious when Peewee took her from the motel.”
“Peewee? That son of a—”
“He had to do it, Jacob. His own life was on the line, and this was fate’s design.”
“Whatever. I’ve had about all I can stomach of this fate and destiny crap.” He threw his hands into the air. “Let me out of here so I can find Demarcus.”
“There is one thing you must know first. You must not kill Curtis Dunn.”
“Are you serious? If he hadn’t survived the first time, none of this would be happening.”
“He is just a puppet for Demarcus. And Alfred, the demon that possesses him, killed the girls, not Curtis.”
“They’re the same person,” he reminded her.
“No, they are two entirely different people sharing the same body. Alfred is the killer. Curtis tried to tell you what was going on by carving the letters on the bodies. It wasn’t much, but he did try to help. I’ve shown
him a better way to help. You must let him live so he can do it.”
“And what about Alfred? If Curtis lives, Alfred lives.”
“Alfred will be dealt with. You must remember that you cannot harm Curtis.”
“Fine, whatever.” He’d agree to anything if it got him to Nyla quicker. “Just let me go.”
“All you have to do is leave the cave.”
“Now you tell me.” Jake turned for the exit, quickly making his way out. He paused at the entrance of the narrow tunnel and turned to face the old witch. “Am I really going to die?”
“Only if you truly love Nyla,” the witch answered.
FIFTEEN MINUTES later, the Malibu skidded to a stop outside the motel, and Jake jumped out, gun loaded and ready. The door to his and Nyla’s room was ajar, and although he knew the Dream Teller hadn’t lied to him, he checked inside the room anyway. He’d hoped his time in the dream realm had been just a dream, not reality, but his hopes were dashed when he called Nyla’s name and received no response.
He ran to the next room and banged on the door. “Marilee, it’s Jake. Let me in.”
He heard a muffled cry from beyond the door.
“Marilee?”
The muffled cry came again, louder, and was joined by another. Maybelline.
Jake kicked in the door to find the willowy, blond teenager and Maybelline gagged and bound together in chairs whose backs had been placed together.
“Where’s Bobby?” he asked, removing Marilee’s gag.
“Peewee took him,” she blurted, eyes wide and wet-rimmed. “He said to tell you Demarcus said it would be just like old times. I’m sorry, Jake. I didn’t think Peewee would do this!”
Jake tried to restrain his anger enough to keep his head clear. He had to think of a plan, and quick. Demarcus would be stronger when night fell, and now there was another innocent victim to protect—another victim whose chances of survival diminished with every second.
Maybelline threw herself into his arms and screamed in anguish when he released her from her bindings, intensifying the guilt inside him. He could not let another mother lose her son.
“Take care of her,” he instructed Marilee, turning Maybelline so she fell into the girl’s arms. He couldn’t deal with the emotional woman right now. He needed to think. “Did Peewee say where they were holding Nyla and Bobby, or did you see in what direction they went?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head while rubbing Maybelline’s back in a consoling manner, allowing the other woman to cling to her while she keened for her son.
Jake bit out a curse, then paused as something clicked inside his mind. “At the sheriff’s office you told Peewee your grandparents were missing, and that the windows of their house are boarded up?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s where they are. That’s Demarcus’s lair.”
“I’m coming with you,” she said determinedly as she eased Maybelline onto the bed.
“No, you stay here and take care of Maybelline.”
“No, dammit! They killed my grandparents!”
“And they’ll kill you. This isn’t child’s play, Marilee. These freaks are monsters.”
“And my grandparents were decent, innocent people. With or without you, I’m going.”
Jake stared at the young girl, noted the determination in the set of her jaw, and sighed. “Fine, but you follow my command,” he said. “Get Maybelline calmed down, and I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m calling in backup.”
Jake reentered the room he’d shared with Nyla and pulled out his cell phone. He pushed the button to connect him to Christian.
“Hello, Jacob,” the vampire said, answering the phone on the first ring.
“You were expecting my call?”
“Yes. Seta’s here, and she had a vision of you calling.”
“She’s there already?”
“She teleported back after speaking with you. Unfortunately, coming back used the last of her strength.”
“When will she be able to come back?” he asked, heart sinking.
“She said she can’t help you,” Christian advised apologetically. “You and Nyla must fulfill your own destiny.”
“Damn. I guess that means you won’t help either.”
“The great Jacob Porter is actually asking for my help?” At this, the vampire seemed a little amused.
“Don’t be a wise-ass,” Jake snapped, lowering himself onto the bed. Nyla’s scent wafted up from the sheets, and as he inhaled it, his heart ached with regret. “Seta was hurt by hellfire which means Demarcus is obviously one of Lucifer’s toadies. He’s going to be a hard vampire to slay, even for me. I saw you take out a devil-worshiping psycho with prayer alone. I . . . I need you.”
“I didn’t destroy Carter with prayer alone,” Christian said. “I had faith as well, which strengthened my prayer. You can do the same thing.”
“No, I can’t.” Jake didn’t know the first thing about faith.
“Yes, you can. You believe evil exists. You only have to believe that goodness does also.”
“I’ve seen evil, Christian. I’ve never seen goodness.”
“Yes, you have. You fell in love with her, too.”
Jake closed his eyes as the reminder of what he’d lost burned through him like a hot lance. “Christian, please.”
“I’m truly sorry, Jake, but I can’t help you, either. This is your fate, your destiny.”
“Dammit, my fate is to die!”
“Just believe, Jacob.”
“In what? What am I supposed to do?” He couldn’t believe it. He was whining, and he never whined.
“I’m not the one you should be asking for guidance. I’ve pointed you in the right direction. The rest is up to you,” the vampire said before disconnecting the line.
Jake threw the phone across the room, letting out a growl of rage before rising to pace the floor. The lives of Nyla, Bobby, and his unborn child were resting on his shoulders, and no one would help him.
God listens, Christian’s voice said inside Jake’s mind. Jake stopped pacing, recalling the conversation he’d had with the vampire in his Baltimore church. Some darkness is so evil we can’t possibly understand it. We aren’t supposed to. We merely believe, keep our hearts true, and know deep within our soul that everything is for a reason, and if we only ask, He will not give us more than we can handle.
Jake reflected on those words while recalling the night Carter Dunn had been destroyed. Christian believed in those words, and it was his faith which had saved their lives that night. If a vampire, a creature not even human, could do it . . .
Jake fell to his knees, bowing his head as he placed his hands together. It made sense. If there was going to be a supernatural war, and Lucifer led one of the armies, there was only one being he could imagine leading the other. “It’s been a long time,” he started, “and I know I’ve done wrong over the years. I also know I’m unworthy, but I really need your help.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
NYLA OPENED HER eyes, feeling as if she were drowning in grogginess and trying to swim through it. Her heart ached with sorrow, remembering the frightened look in Jake’s eyes when he’d asked if their child would be a shifter. She’d once thought she could reach Jake, help him to understand that not all immortals and shifters were evil, but his prejudice ran deeper than she’d realized. Still, she loved him. He couldn’t help his ignorance. He was a slayer and it was inborn.
But she’d worry about all that later. Right now she had to save her own life, and the life of her unborn child, and by doing so save Jake’s life. She couldn’t allow Jake to die out of revenge for Bobby, the friend he’d lost over a decade ago, and thereby fulfilling the prophecy written o
n the dream realm’s cave walls. He might not love her the same way she loved him, but she’d never be able to live with the knowledge that his death had saved her life.
“Nyla.”
She struggled to focus, blinking away the blurriness clouding her vision. A thin, redheaded man with piercing green eyes stood before her, an empty syringe in his hand.
“Curtis Dunn, or should I call you Alfred?”
“Curtis would be preferred,” he whispered, wincing. “I don’t care much for Alfred.”
“Why are we whispering, Curtis? You’re one of my enemies. Remember?”
“I tried to warn you.”
“Right before whipping up the drugs Peewee injected into my system, I suppose.”
His cheeks reddened. “I had to. The drugs I’ve used won’t hurt the baby.”
“How did you know I’m pregnant?” she gasped.
“Demarcus felt new life inside you when he possessed your body. He knew you wouldn’t be able to shift, and that your metabolism would be slower, allowing the drugs to work in your system.”
Nyla studied her surroundings. She was bound to a wooden pole, her wrists tied together above her head, both ankles secured. To her right, Bobby was strapped to another pole in the same manner. Peewee lay on the ground before him, bound at the wrists and ankles. They seemed to be inside some type of underground earthen cave—earth which appeared to have been freshly dug.
“Where is this place?”
Dunn looked around the area. “Demarcus killed an old couple and took their home. The first few days here, he had the vampires he’d created dig out this area under it.”
“So the couple’s house is a cover for this underground prison.”
“Yes. He knows your man will come for you, and he hopes his minions will catch him inside the house before he ever finds the entrance to the tunnels.”
“Why does he think Jake would come for me after what happened this morning? Jake knows what I am now.”
“That’s why he took the boy.”
“Smart move,” Nyla commented, looking at the boy. His eyes were full of fear, but to his credit he wasn’t crying. She had to respect the boy’s toughness, even while her heart skipped a beat with fear for his life. “So why did you kill the girls?”
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