I was disturbed by the idea of these vampire hunters taking Nicole and leaving me behind, but I didn’t see where there was much choice. We could take the first flight out of Rome when night returned.
“Okay,” I nodded.
“But what about the book you came for?” Father Rovati’s smile was hard, though not really malicious.
“It will have to wait for another time,” I told him.
Chapter Six
Sarah
Ending the call, I turned to Darrien. “We have to get to New Orleans as soon as possible.”
Darrien stared at me with wide-eyed amazement. “Who was that on the phone and what’s going on?”
“Something’s happened to my sister, and I need to get to her,” I explained, stepping closer to Darrien so I could wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’m still confused,” he said, shaking his head.
“She died for a short time, and during that time she came to me and asked for my help.” I got on my tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips “One of my talents is that I can communicate with the dead, fairly well.”
“You failed to mention it was like making a phone call,” Darrien frowned.
“We haven’t really talked much about it at all,” I told him with a sly smile.
“You should hurry.” Nicole interrupted the moment, but her voice was weaker now that part of her soul had returned to her body.
“I will. We’ll get there as soon as we can,” I said, turning away from Darrien.
“You are talking to her now?” he asked.
“Yes,” I nodded.
“But I thought she was in a coma?”
“She is, but when someone is in a coma, part of their soul can still separate from their body.” I was already walking away. “We should get some sleep so that we can get as far as possible tonight. I think we can make it all the way to New Orleans before sunrise.”
Darrien smiled. “For someone who’s never traveled until recently, you sure have become quite the expert.”
Entering the tomb, I grabbed the ragged blanket that we’d brought with us and curled up in a ball on the ground. Within moments, I was asleep.
Chapter Seven
Darrien
Disappointed that we wouldn’t be making love, I lay beside Sarah. Though I sought sleep, the memory of the night’s hunt still haunted me.
I hadn’t been feeding as much as I should be and I was growing weak. Tonight I’d been unable to resist my urges and I’d fed on a human for the first time in weeks.
I wasn’t troubled because I’d killed my victim because this time, I hadn’t taken it that far. The lady would live, as long as she didn’t have a reaction to the vampire venom. I was careful not to take too much from her, but I couldn’t banish the memory of her face or the horror in her eyes when she’d realized what I was.
The woman had pulled her car to the side of the highway. It was the emergency flashers that caught my attention. As soon as I approached the car, I saw that she had a flat. The right front tire was blown. The woman stood near the front of the car, wringing her hands anxiously.
That’s when I came out of the darkness. “Is there a problem?” I asked, giving the woman my most charming smile.
At first she’d been cautious, backing away. “Flat tire,” she explained in a small, uncertain voice.
The battle was won as soon as she peered into my eyes. I pulled her in, disarming her with little effort. The vampire’s eyes were the most useful of my weapons. With a simple glance, I could hypnotize my prey and they would be as compliant as a child. Like the deer staring into the headlights of an oncoming car, my prey became paralyzed, unable to run or even think.
In the past, this ability had served me well, and it did so again but I’d been reluctant to take her life. Instead, I’d taken only the blood I needed and then put the woman back in her car. With my conscience nagging at me, I’d hoped to ease it by changing the woman’s tire for her.
What good would that do in the end?
I’d broken yet another law of the Immortals. I’d fed on a human and then let her live to tell about it. Sure, many wouldn’t believe her, but some would. It would get the attention of the vampire hunters and Omar.
And some people would believe!
The vampire often disguised his victims by tearing out the throat to hide the marks left on the neck. The medical examiner would find it curious that there was little blood left in the victim. Ultimately, it would be determined that it was the work of a serial killer with a strange taste for blood. Every once in a while, a victim survived and they would rant about vampires. Of course no one believed, the marks were covered with other injuries.
The woman would still have her marks because I hadn’t added another injury to cover my tracks. Some would believe the marks were the work of a vampire.
My thoughts turned to Sarah. It would soon be time to say goodbye to her, but when that time came, could I do it?
I could no longer picture an existence without her and there was always the possibility that she would not let me leave. Sarah now had full possession of Caroline’s memories and emotions. She’d vowed not to be parted from me again.
Suddenly, I knew what I had to do. It was the only way I could save her from the pain that my love would bring her.
Wrapping my arms around her sleeping form, I spent a few moments simply enjoying the sound of her breathing. I was thankful that she’d returned as she had promised, but at the same time, the pain of what I must do was overwhelming. I would have much preferred a cold, emotionless existence to the agonizing torment of being separated from the one person who made it possible for me to feel anything at all.
Chapter Eight
Sarah
The small boy ran through the sprinklers, squealing with delight when the water sprayed his face. Like many children, for this boy a hot summer day was a day made just for playing in the water. Finding relief from the heat was just another way to enjoy life. His fair skin was burnt from the sun, but he didn’t seem to notice.
It occurred to me that I shouldn’t be standing in front of this boy’s house to begin with. I was asleep, somewhere on the road to New Orleans. But here I was, watching as the boy soaked himself with the spray of the sprinkler.
Suddenly he seemed to notice me watching him. With a lopsided grin, he walked to where I stood on the sidewalk.
“Thanks for saving my sister.”
Confused, I shook my head. “Who’s your sister?”
“Nicole.”
“Oh, she’s my sister too,” I told him, reaching down to ruffle his wet hair.
“I know.”
“But she’s still very sick.” I frowned.
“You know what to do,” he said with a wink.
I laughed, but then a deep sadness came over me. What happened to this small boy that he should be among the dead? I realized that I was dreaming and that it was no ordinary dream. Nicole’s brother was communicating with me through my dream.
Suddenly, she felt a tingling sensation. When I looked down, I could see the boy’s hand resting on my arm.
“Nikki is so sad. She thinks it was her fault but it wasn’t. You’ll help her feel better, won’t you?”
In that instant, I was consumed with a grief so crushing that nothing I’d ever felt before even compared. I was feeling my sister’s pain, and her loss.
“Won’t you?” he asked again.
“Yes, I will do what I can,” I told him, my heart crying out in pain. More than anything, I wanted to wrap my arms around this child and bring him back into the world of the living.
“Tell Nikki that the tangled serpent represents the truth that she searches for.” The boy’s words echoed through my head before dying away.
I jumped up, my heart racing so fast that I could hear the blood pounding in my ears.
“A bad dream?” Darrien asked, pulling me into his arms.
“No not really, but it was a strange dream.”
> “You should try to get some more sleep. Nightfall is still an hour or more away.”
“Does the term tangled serpent mean anything to you?” I asked.
“No, should it?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.”
I didn’t really believe what I was saying. When I had these kinds of dreams, it was for a reason. But until I knew more, I thought it might be better to keep the dream to myself.
Chapter Nine
Father Rovati
The weather was miserable. I swatted at an insect that persisted in buzzing around my face. Though the sun was setting, the humidity and heat of Louisiana was unbearable for anyone not accustomed to it.
Pulling a handkerchief from my pocket, I wiped the perspiration from my forehead. Now I knew why New Orleans was infested with vampires. These creatures needed heat. They had no way of regulating their body temperature. The cold wouldn’t kill them, but it would slow them down. It was the reason you would find many more vampires in warmer climates and so few in places like Alaska.
Contrary to popular belief, there were not all that many vampires in Romania, at least not during the cold season. Not that they wouldn’t go to colder regions, they just preferred the warmth. The vampire hated extreme temperatures, cold or hot.
The ride from the airport was comfortable, thanks to the limousine I’d prearranged before leaving Rome. But as soon as I left the air-conditioned limo, I was blasted with heat.
I wasn’t surprised by the elegance of the Garden District house. It was just like Donovan to set up his base of operation in such luxurious surroundings. I’d known the vampire for decades. I’d actually tried to kill him once. What I discovered was like Alec, Donovan was different.
A vampire was a vampire, there was no doubt about that, but I knew that a few sought redemption, a different way. Though Donovan accepted what he was as the natural order of things, he had a conscience. This was something that I found to be different.
It was after my encounter with Donovan that I’d gone in search of the truth, the beginning of the vampire’s curse.
What I’d discovered shook the very foundation of my faith. At first, I was devastated, but then he realized that nothing was simply black and white, not even the creations of God. There were always shades of gray between black and white. There had to be negative if there was to be a positive. There were those that lived in the light, and then there were those of darkness, the night breed. It was the law of the universe, the law of God.
From behind me, I heard the two men preparing to move Nicole into the house. One of them would carry her while the other held the IV bag. She was no longer getting blood, but it was necessary to give her liquids to keep her from becoming dehydrated.
At first my companions were hesitated to come with me, but I’d managed to convince them that helping these vampires was for the greater good. Vampire hunters could help control the death that was being spread by these creatures, but we couldn’t cure the problem. That would come from within the ranks of the vampires themselves. I felt that this girl would be part of that.
The walk to the front porch took us through a stunning garden of flowers and fountains. A shiver slid down my spine. I couldn’t help but feel revulsion when I thought of the darkness within, and how such a beautiful garden could so easily mask such darkness.
After climbing the large, covered porch, I rang the doorbell. A short time later, a blond woman answered the door. Right away I recognized her as human. Before I could introduce myself and explain my visit, the woman’s eyes strayed to the limp body that one of the men behind me was holding in his arms.
“Nicole!” she screamed, rushing out the door.
“She is ill,” I explained. “We must get her inside and into a bed.”
“Of course,” she said, motioning for us to follow her.
“Who are you?” I asked the woman.
“Vicky Trenton,” she said. “Nicole is my daughter.”
Vicky Trenton led us into a foyer and then to a small bedroom on the main floor.
Nicole was placed on a twin bed with an old fashion patchwork quilt. I then checked her vitals and changed her IV.
“You can wait for me outside,” I told my two companions.
“Are you some kind of doctor? What’s wrong with her? What’s wrong with my daughter?” Vicky asked as she held her hands together in an effort to keep them from trembling.
“Yes, at one time I was a doctor,” I said.
Her question brought forth troubling memories. I’d been working at the hospital and a girl was brought in. She was on the verge of death, dying from loss of blood, as well as some kind of poisoning that I couldn’t identify.
There were fang marks on her neck. In the beginning, I thought the wounds were inflicted by a snake but found the loss of blood confusing. Then the girl died.
The other medical personnel left the room, but I stayed behind to update the girl’s medical charts. That’s when I heard a noise and looked up. The girl started moving, coming back to life. I thought it was a miracle. But that changed when she came at me like a rabid animal.
Zombie was the first thing that crossed my mind, as unbelievable as it was. Then I saw her fangs. In that instant, I knew the vampire myth was true. The mutation was too much for her body, and as quickly as she reanimated, she fell to the floor dead for the second time.
This incident led me to the church and my mission to rid the world of vampires. That was a long time ago. Now I knew that it wasn’t some hellish curse. No, it was much more complicated than that.
“Father!” Vicky tried to get my attention.
The woman’s voice chased the memory away. “She has lost a lot of blood and is comatose,” I finally answered.
“Oh no! They got to her, didn’t they?” Now Vicky’s worry had turned into full-blown panic.
I hesitated only a moment before nodding. “I must speak with Donovan Ashe.”
Vicky’s mouth fell open.
“Yes, I know him and I know he’s here,” I told her, my lips twitched as I tried to smile.
Vicky nodded. “Wait here and I’ll ask him if he’ll see you. What’s your name?”
“Father Rovati,” I told her.
After the woman left, I studied the room. It appeared so normal, but that was just like Donovan Ashe. It was also like him to take a human mate and sire a daughter. I knew now that was the reason Alec’s blood hadn’t turned her. Nicole was the daughter of an ancient. The blood of the ancients ran through her veins and that gave her a built-in immunity to the poison. That wasn’t always the way it worked. Some born vampires were very sensitive to the vampire’s poison, and could turn quickly. That didn’t seem to be the case with Nicole Ashe.
Stepping to the window, I gazed out at the garden. Though the sun was gone, the gardens were beautifully lit, the walkway illuminated by small lanterns. The scent of roses drifted in the open window.
“Well, it’s my old enemy the holy slayer. He has come right into the vampire’s lair.”
I turned around at the sound of Donovan’s voice. While I’d aged, the vampire’s sinister good looks remained the same. I wasn’t surprised. Donovan still possessed the same dark charisma so useful to the vampire when it came to snaring victims.
“Thank you for returning my daughter, and for not killing her,” Donovan added, his lips spreading into a cold smile.
“I also did not kill the two vampires that were with her. They will be along shortly.”
“Again, I must thank you for such an unusually generous act.” Donovan took a step in my direction.
I backed away, still not trusting Donovan completely. “They were searching for the Book of Anu when they were attacked by other vampires, but it was Alec Norwood that fed on her.”
Donovan frowned but said nothing.
“They deprived him of blood and then locked her in with him. It was strangely cruel and personal.”
“I’m afraid this
is the work of my brother, Omar,” Donovan said.
“What is going on Donovan?” I asked, frowning. “They were looking for the Book of Anu, your daughter, and that Alec Norwood. You know how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands.”
Smiling, Donovan lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I am afraid she is a wayward child. We have been searching for her since she disappeared. I had no idea she’d left the country.”
“And Omar?”
“My brother and his followers have disappeared from New Orleans. I have no way of knowing where he’s at, but you should be aware that he plans a slaughter like none you have ever seen before, and it will happen soon,” Donovan added.
“But why? What does he hope to gain?” I was confused. I’d come to know the vampire as a dark creature, but one that only fed to survive. Their nature was changing, and I couldn’t understand why.
Donovan shrugged. “To rule the Immortals. To rule the humans. Maybe he is seeking retribution for the power given to the wolves? I cannot tell you what’s in my brother’s mind.”
“What do you plan to do about it?” I asked.
“Nothing. I cannot go against my own brother, my own kind.” Donovan turned away to gaze on the still form of his daughter.
“So you plan to let him slaughter a multitude of innocent people?” I asked, astounded by Donovan’s seeming indifference.
“That is not what I said,” Donovan’s voice turned hard. “It will be up to the Light Seekers and the wolves to bring order back to our world. I help by not impeding their efforts.”
“Even after what they’ve done to your daughter?” My voice shook with anger.
Donovan’s eyes rested on Nicole’s pale face. “My daughter knew the possible consequence of loving an Immortal, but she will come out of this okay. Her destiny was foretold to me by a higher source.”
Dark Hunger (Immortal Legacy Book 5) Page 2
