“That’s tempting, but I have to go away for a while.” Eve walked to the bathroom. From there, she called, “By the way, what is that beast in my driveway?”
“A poor substitute for the car you stole, but still a classic. I should have you arrested.”
She came back into the room and tossed a small bag into the suitcase. “And I should have you arrested for disturbing the peace. I heard that thing a million miles away.”
“Perfect! We’ll get arrested together. We can share the same cell, read nudey magazines, lift weights, join a gang, get—”
“Are you finished?” Eve asked and shook her head. “Lucien, you’re making this very difficult. Both Charlie and I agree that I need to leave as soon as possible. Even you thought this would be best.”
He knew Eve had to leave the city, but he didn’t like how rushed everything felt. They needed a plan.
“What about Henry?” he asked. “Does Henry think you should leave, too?”
“As a matter of fact, he does.”
“Really? Because he didn’t say anything to me when I saw him thirty minutes ago.”
“You spoke to him?”
“Briefly.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Isn’t he remarkable?”
“Remarkable is not the word I’d use.” He stood. “I’m coming with you. That was the arrangement.”
“Our arrangement has changed. I have a plan, and for it to work, I need to be alone.” She left the room and walked down the stairs.
Lucien pulled out the big guns. He called after her, “I thought you said we had this amazing connection and you can’t stand being away from me.”
“I admit it will be difficult, but I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. You could have died last night.”
Lucien hurried after her. “Can you just wait a few hours? One even? I just need to gather a few things.”
“No more waiting.”
He appeared in front of her.
“Please don’t go,” was all he could think of to say.
“I don’t want to play this game again.” She side stepped him and continued toward the door.
Lucien gave in. “At least tell me where you’re going?”
Keeping her back to him, she said, “Ireland.”
It was as if Lucien had been punched in the gut. “No!”
He was instantly in front of her again, grabbing her shoulders. “You can’t go there. Anywhere but there.”
“I’m going.”
“I won’t let you.” His grip tightened.
“You can’t stop me.”
“Yes, I can.”
A bright light flashed in her eyes, and before Lucien could react, Eve tossed him aside, sending him crashing on top of the stairs. The action made her stumble, but her hand moved to the doorframe to steady herself.
He struggled to get up.
“Eve,” he pleaded.
Before she stepped out the door, she looked back and said, “While I’m gone, fix the hole on my porch.”
The door slammed.
Lucien jumped up and rushed to open the door, but accidentally ripped off its hinges in the process. He knew without taking another step that Eve was gone—untraceable, despite both cars still visible. Not even her scent was left. Another stupid mystery he would have to solve. He slammed his fist through her house, right next to the other hole.
27
Lucien sat on the edge of Eve’s couch, staring at the wall, listening to a kitchen clock tick the seconds away. He groaned loudly. Why Ireland? Of all places, why did she have to go to Ireland? He swore he would never return there. He stood and paced the room. He could wait for her to return. It might not be that long. He groaned again. He didn’t want to wait! What if something happened?
He walked to her fridge and opened it, hoping to find some blood. There was none in there, but in the freezer he found a gallon of it frozen. He unscrewed the cap and squeezed the blood up, eating it as if it were an Otter Pop.
He slouched back into the couch, grumbling. He used to love Ireland and its lush green countryside and constant storms. He knew Ireland better than any other place as he had lived there for over a hundred years, but they were a hundred years of torture, and not necessarily his own.
. He didn’t want to go back to his life before Eve, so if there was even a small chance something might happen to her, he had to prevent it.
He would have to go to Ireland.
With his mind made up, Lucien thought about what he knew of the vampires who had attacked him at the hotel. There were four of them. They seemed to be newbies because they didn’t move nearly as fast as he did. They worked together and, for some reason, wanted Eve alive. They could have easily killed her if they’d wanted to, despite her being an immortal.
Why would they want her alive?
He crushed the plastic jug, forcing the last of the blood up.
Time was running out. He pulled out his cell phone and called Scott, asking him to book a private jet to Ireland and have clothes and money ready for him on the plane within the hour. He also needed a Dodge Viper waiting for him at the airport in Dublin. Scott recognized the unsaid compliment and told Lucien all his requests would be met.
On the way to the airport, Lucien called Charlie.
When he answered, Lucien asked, “Why did you send Eve to Ireland?”
“You think I had a choice? She was going whether I helped her or not.”
“What is she going to do there?”
“The last thing Michael told us before he died was the date for some big gathering of vampires. It’s tomorrow night. She was going to try and use her ability to find out what they are all doing there. Her gift won’t work far away. She has to be closer.”
“Do you know how dangerous that will be?”
Charlie was silent. Finally, he said, “Alana will be with her, and the Deific office promised as many guards as she’d like.”
“Where is she staying?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. Can’t you call her and ask her yourself?”
“Her phone’s shut off.”
“Did you make her mad?”
He gripped the phone tightly. “You better hope nothing happens to her.”
***
Other than the two pilots, Lucien was the only one on the small plane. Just the way he liked it, or used to anyway. Since his time with Eve, he’d grown to appreciate daily conversation with someone else. Eve, specifically.
He thought again about what happened at her house. How had she disappeared like that? He was beginning to think that Eve was a lot more powerful than anyone suspected, including herself. She was something remarkable. And she loved him. His chest swelled with pride, an emotion he hadn’t felt for a very long time.
Several hours later, the small plane hit the runway in Ireland, its wheels screeching to a halt. Lucien’s foot tapped anxiously on the floor of the plane. At most, he could only be four hours behind Eve. If he was lucky, he might be able to pick up her scent at the airport.
Lucien, however, was not lucky. There wasn’t a trace of her. He approached a female airline employee who was typing on a computer behind a counter. He placed his hand over hers. She stopped typing and looked up. Her thin mouth dropped open, and her painted-on eyebrows lifted.
“I’m so sorry to trouble you,” his voice purred, “but I’m trying to find my sister. You see we took separate flights, and I’m afraid we’ve missed each other. I would be eternally in your debt if you could look her name up and let me know what time she arrived.”
The girl couldn’t answer, just stare.
“Are you all right, miss?” He removed his hand, hoping something would jolt her out of whatever trance she was in.
She finally stammered, “We’re not supposed to do that.”
“Oh, I know it’s a horrible thing I’m asking you to do, but I really must find her. Would you please check? Her name is Eve Andrews. Eve Andrews out
of Seattle.” He smiled warmly, knowing he would get what he wanted.
She flipped her straight brown hair over one shoulder. “I guess it would be okay this once.”
“Of course it will—” He looked down at her nametag. “—Debbie.”
Her eyes met his, and she sighed, dazzled again.
“Keep typing, dear,” he demanded gently.
After several more clicks, she said, “There was an Eve Andrews who arrived on Lufthansa two hours ago.”
Lucien walked away without saying another word.
So Eve had made it safely. He exhaled. Because locating her would be difficult and time consuming, he decided to put himself on the same mission she was on—finding out what this stupid convention was all about. Eventually their paths would have to cross.
After locating the Viper, he immediately headed toward the worst part of Dublin. There he hoped to find another vampire who might know something about the meeting.
Lucien ground his teeth together. He couldn’t believe he was seeking out another vampire. The thought repulsed him, especially in Ireland, but he didn’t know what else to do. If he could find out where they were meeting, then he might be able to find Eve, too.
Lucien barely recognized Dublin as he drove through the streets. The buildings were much taller and the roads narrower. All the stores and homes were painted a different color, giving a special charm to Dublin that Lucien didn’t remember the city ever having before. He remembered Dublin as being dirty and overcrowded. It was a dark time for Dublin in 1740 as the entire country was going through the biggest famine in its history. Thousands were dying, creating a vampire frenzy around the world. Just like a shark goes mad by the smell of blood in water, vampires flocked to natural disasters. They could kill whom they pleased with little adversity.
Vampire. Lucien slammed on his brakes, screeching to a stop. Behind him, a car swerved to miss his and honked loudly. He waited for it to pass before he turned the steering wheel and parked, one wheel on the sidewalk. He couldn’t believe he’d sensed a vampire this fast. It was unsettling.
Lucien got out of his car and looked around, trying to focus on the scent of the vampire. It was coming from a bar a few buildings down. He ducked inside, not bothering to take in his surroundings; as far as he was concerned, all bars looked the same. Even the customers were identical—except for one.
The vampire, sitting at a lone table, turned to face Lucien. He had long, shaggy blond hair like an unkempt sheep dog. His face matched the length of his hair, and his bulbous nose looked as though it had been glued crookedly between two narrow eyes. His eyes were eerily yellow in the darkness of the bar.
Lucien nodded. The vampire nodded back and turned around to face an untouched beer. Lucien pulled out an empty chair and sat next to him. He thought about the best words to use to get the most information, as vampires did not mince words.
“Will you be at the gathering?” he asked.
The vampire nodded.
Point for Lucien.
He tried again. “I just arrived in town. Do you mind telling me where?”
The vampire turned to him, eyeing him suspiciously. He turned back toward his beer. “Old warehouse on Clarion Street.”
Two points.
Lucien pressed his luck. “No one’s told me why we’re meeting other than it’s big and I shouldn’t miss it. Do you know why?”
The vampire didn’t acknowledge him in any way. Game over.
Lucien, not wanting to appear anxious, remained still for several minutes before leaving. And when he did, the vampire took no notice.
Lucien went back to his car and glanced at the time: 7:30 p.m. Most likely a meeting among vampires would start around midnight. He was surprised other vampires were allowing it. They typically didn’t like any type of organization, even amongst themselves.
He started the car and, without looking, pulled into traffic; several cars honked and swerved out of his way. He traveled toward Clarion Street and, hopefully, toward Eve.
Clarion Street reeked of tourists. All shapes and sizes hurried along the sidewalk, bumping into each other with their arms full of bags like little lemmings scurrying to find the next deal in identical souvenir shops. As if synchronized, they checked their watches—only twenty minutes left to shop before stores closed. Then the lemmings would return to their holes only to appear the next day and repeat the same shallow schedule.
He found a parking spot in a small alley off Clarion. It stunk of rotten bananas and urine. A cold drizzle fell from the sky as dark, menacing clouds threatened to attack at the city’s edge. The weather was perfect. He remembered at that moment why he’d stayed in Ireland for so long. The constant rain was like a cleansing baptism, purging his iniquities.
Lucien walked down Clarion Street toward the dark horizon, eagerly awaiting the black invader. People eventually thinned out as the buildings became scarce. Off to his right, three vampires leaned against a brick building. One of them tapped his toe nervously on the uneven sidewalk. Lucien walked over.
The nervous one spoke first. “You here for the gathering?”
“Seems so,” Lucien said, leaning against the wall next to him.
“I’m Rick, this is Seamus, and the quiet one on the end is Sean. I hope the meeting goes well.”
Rick was just the sort of vampire Lucien needed to find—one who craved attention and needed a lot of validation: a vampire with a low self-esteem.
Lucien didn’t introduce himself. He kept quiet knowing that Rick would say everything he wanted him to.
“I can’t wait for the meeting to start, can you?” Rick said. His hand went up to his bright orange hair to swat at an invisible insect.
“Yes,” Lucien answered.
“I sure can’t. All of us together in one room. Can you imagine the power?”
Silence.
Rick continued, “And how about all the friends we’re going to make?”
On the end, Sean walked away, clearly disgusted.
Rick called after him, “See you at the meeting, Sean!”
“Anyway,” Rick said. “It’s about time we all get together. I hate being alone.”
“What are we meeting about?” Lucien asked.
“Seamus has a theory about that. Tell him what you told me, Seamus.”
Seamus was short and stocky with dark brown hair. “I think we’re going to create a community of vampires in Antarctica or somewhere isolated. You know, just to get away from the stupid humans.”
Lucien tried not to laugh. “Where will we get our blood?”
Rick looked anxiously at Seamus.
Seamus shrugged. “There’s walruses and stuff up there. We could get by on that.”
Rick laughed a high pitch giggle.
“Any other theories?” Lucien asked.
“I heard we’re going to take over the world. Wouldn’t that be great?” Rick squealed.
“No,” Lucien said. “Who’s in charge?”
“A really old vampire. We don’t know his name, but we hear he’s the meanest and baddest vampire ever!” Rick exclaimed.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Lucien said, his voice full of sarcasm.
Seamus looked at him curiously, but Rick didn’t notice.
“Really? Me too! It’s going to be awesome!” Rick said.
“Later,” Lucien said and walked away. He’d heard enough.
Lucien didn’t have to walk far to find the abandoned warehouse where the meeting was supposed to take place. Inside, a few vampires were already there, talking quietly to each other. Dozens of wooden crates were stacked up against gray cinderblock walls, and long metal pipes were spread unevenly over the floor. In the center of the room, several crates had been built up to create a stage; wide plywood slats had been placed over their tops.
Lucien left the warehouse and walked back the way he came. He needed to find a place where he could observe those going to the meeting without being seen himself. Two blocks away on a side street
off Clarion, he found what he was looking for—a cemetery next to an old church.
He turned down a cobblestone path, leading toward the church, and then veered off into the graveyard. He sat on an iron bench that seemed to be placed directly on top of someone’s grave. Most of the old headstones were uprooted and leaned angrily to their sides—even the earth gave them no rest.
Tall, gnarly trees and thick bushes lined the cemetery’s property, but Lucien had situated himself in such a way that a small divide in the shrubbery gave him a clear view to those walking toward the warehouse.
A thunderous roar from above announced the storm’s arrival. The sky cracked and poured water all at once. Like other intruders in Ireland’s past, the storm had its way with Dublin.
Lucien closed his eyes, tilted his head up to the moisture, and inhaled deeply. The air smelled pure and untainted with a hint of—lilacs. He jumped to his feet and whirled around. In the deepest corner of the graveyard, next to a tall, cross-shaped headstone, stood Eve.
28
Eve wore a white, knee-length cotton dress; one shoulder strap had fallen from her bare shoulder. Rain covered every inch of her, drenching her entirely, but she took no notice. Water poured from the tips of her hair and down her arms. The droplets found their course, running in tiny rivers all the way to her fingertips and to the ground below as if she were giving nourishment to the dead below.
The angel in the graveyard smiled.
Lucien didn’t dare move. The sight of her in this place, meant only for the dead, entirely collapsed the world he had so carefully created.
It was Eve who broke the spell first. She walked gracefully among the graves, never lowering her eyes from his. Stopping only inches from him, she took his hand in hers and moved it to her parted lips. She kissed it tenderly.
Lucien moaned in anguish. He couldn’t fight the attraction between them any longer.
Eve kissed his hand again, igniting his skin with a fire that warmed the rain.
Lucien raised his free hands and cradled her face. He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed. Eve nuzzled his face with the side of her cheek, but when her breath warmed the skin near his mouth, he turned his head slightly to let his lips touch hers. Slowly, at first. Hesitantly.
The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2) Page 17
