by Mary Abshire
Anthony's eyes lit up. "Half-demon? I have never heard of one before." His voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"I've been inside a few churches when I was young. I even attended a couple of services," I said.
"Did you have a similar reaction?" Anthony asked.
"Yeah, every time, but I never vomited."
"Have you ever touched a priest before?" he asked.
"No. I've been close, but never touched one."
"Well, that probably explains it." He leaned his elbow on the armrest and pressed two fingers to his temple. "I'm curious, how were you created?"
"Her mother was human. She made a deal with the devil, and had relations with a demon," Drake said.
"Really?" Anthony shook his head. "Such a shame." His gaze drifted to our locked hands. "And how did you two meet?"
Drake's eyes met mine and I smiled. "Go ahead, tell him you stalked me from Louisiana to my home in Indiana."
"I did not stalk you," he said with a playful grin.
"Uh huh." Still showing my happiness, I turned to Anthony. "He claims he found me."
"The VETOV sent me to destroy the vampire that ended my partner's existence," Drake said.
"Leo? He's gone?" Anthony said.
"Yes, for a while now," Drake replied.
"I am sorry. I recall you were close friends with him." Anthony crossed his legs. "Please, go on."
"While I was in Louisiana, I saw a ritual performed by a voodoo priestess. She punished men for their horrific crimes by killing them. Jessie sent their souls to Hell."
Anthony straightened in his chair while he locked his gaze on me. "A half-demon who can send souls to Hell? How interesting."
"I followed her to Indiana, then later offered her a job. I wanted justice. I wanted the vampire's soul to pay for all the lives he took, including Leo's immortality."
"And you took the job?" Anthony asked me.
I lowered the rag from my head, then held it in my lap. "Yeah, the vamp talked me into it."
Our initial meeting and the first several days together had been rocky, but over time we broke out of our shells. We grew acquainted with each other and fell madly in love.
Drake chuckled. My heart fluttered, hearing his soft laughter. I so loved it when he expressed amusement. He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it.
"How do you send the souls to Hell, if you don't mind me asking?"
I turned my attention to Anthony. "I get a strong burning sensation in my gut. When enough heated energy bubbles up inside me, I suck the spirit into me. Sometimes it fights back. The more evil ones hurt me the worst."
Over the last year, two souls I had sent on nearly brought me to my deathbed. Alexander, the vampire Drake and I had captured, refused to stay inside me. I nearly choked to death trying to keep him from escaping. Matthew, a rapist and murderer, was also a werewolf who challenged the Alpha in Phoenix. Matthew clawed at my insides after I sucked in his spirit. Other ones generally punched, poked, and prodded, leaving me sore for a day or so afterwards.
"You have a gate to Hell within you, and the devil is having you do his bidding," Anthony said.
I stared at him, wondering if I should run out before he decided to throw holy water on me. "His bidding?"
"You send the evil souls to Hell, where he wants them. In a way, you are a recruiter for him. The question you might ask is why does he need them?"
I gave him a puzzled look. Why should I care about the devil's reasons for needing evil souls? I thought sending them downstairs was the right thing to do, since they were evil, after all. Heck, some spirits were strong enough to possess people. Who would want them running around and possessing bodies? In a way, I protected mankind by sending the damned where they belonged. But Anthony had a valid question. Why would the devil want the souls I gave him? What were his plans?
Anthony uncrossed his legs, then leaned forward. He placed his hands over his kneecaps. "We know spirits who don't pass on to heaven are left behind."
"Yes, they have unfinished business, need to make amends, or wait until the devil calls them," I said.
"Right. And you, my dear, are calling them home early. Why?"
Bewildered, I turned to Drake. Had I been wrong to send souls to their eternal damnation?
"They belong in Hell, Anthony. She's doing us a favor by sending them," Drake said.
"I don't disagree with you, they do belong there," Anthony said. "I merely question if she should be sending them ahead of their time. Clearly, the devil wants the souls. But why? Why is he using her to call them?"
My head throbbed. Anthony's questions had me analyzing my purpose in life. All along, I thought ridding the Earth of evil spirits was the right thing to do. Now, I feared I was providing the devil with means for building an army for something horrific like the Apocalypse.
I lowered my gaze and shook my head. "I don't know anything anymore."
Anthony leaned back in his chair. "I'm afraid I don't have any answers, but I can contact a few sources and see if they have opinions. I think you are an extraordinary creature. I'm sure you believed you were doing the right thing."
"Please, do not give out her name or where she is. We came here to hide for a while," Drake said.
"From vampires?"
Drake gave a single nod. "From the VETOV, yes."
Anthony rubbed his forehead. "Why would they… " He veered his eyes to me, then back to Drake. "Do they fear her?"
"They wanted to use me—send me out with one of their investigators and get rid of the bad vamps wandering around. I thought I would be working with Drake, so I agreed. As it turned out, they wanted us separated. And if I didn't agree to their offer, they were going to hold me hostage on a remote island until I changed my mind."
"I don't mean to pry, but am I to believe you two have a relationship? I have never seen a vampire with a demon before," Anthony said.
I looked at Drake, waiting for him to explain. The two species didn't get along because vamps craved demon blood. They loved our hot blood as much as humans adored chocolate or alcohol. From what Drake had told me, demon blood gave them enhanced energy, like a vitamin drink.
"Jessie means the world to me," Drake said, gripping my hand. "She is a good and honest person with a warm and caring heart. I have never in my existence met a woman like her, and I plan to keep her, even if I have to fight every vampire, demon, werewolf, or other creature on Earth."
And if I had minty clean breath, I would have planted a big kiss on his lips. Damn, he made my heart flutter and insides burn with desire.
"Well then, we better keep her well hidden. You have my word, I won't tell anyone." Anthony smiled as he rose from the recliner. "I'll get your keys."
As he took off down the hall, I grabbed the glass of water from the coffee table. Besides the nasty taste in my mouth, my damp clothes really bothered me. I hoped we'd leave soon. I looked forward to brushing my teeth and cleaning up. Then maybe, we could spend some quality time together.
Drake watched as I drank the tasteless liquid. "Anthony might be able to help you find a job."
I set the empty glass back on the table. "I'll ask another time when I'm not feeling so pukey."
"Good idea."
"Are you going to ask him about the murders?"
Anthony strolled into the living room, jingling keys. "The maid cleans the home every Monday and Thursday. Fresh linens are on the beds and in the bathrooms." He stopped at Drake's side, then handed the keys to him. Turning to me, he said, "I'm afraid there isn't much food in the pantry at the house. I can give you some canned goods and frozen entrees to take with you."
"That would be nice," I said, nodding.
He smiled and stepped around the table.
"Anthony," Drake said, stopping him. "Are you aware of any murders around here?"
"In Eagle River?"
"On our way here, we passed several police vehicles. I spoke with one of the officers and he said someone from the neighborhood had been murdered."
>
"Really?" He rubbed a hand over his mouth, then down his chin. "I'll have to check for it in the morning."
"When I was in the officer's head, I heard him say there had been others," Drake said.
"Was the person stabbed?" Anthony asked.
"Yes, multiple times."
Anthony slid his hands into the pockets of his robe. "There have been several stabbings in Anchorage and the surrounding towns. If the one you stumbled across is similar, it would make the sixth one in the last three months."
"That is a high murder count for such a short time," I said.
Anthony nodded. "In Eagle River, it is."
"Can you tell us about the other five victims?" Drake asked.
"From what I have seen on the news, all the victims were adults."
"Any drug dealers or prostitutes?" I asked.
"No, every victim was your average working class person."
"Have you heard anything from the communities?" Drake asked.
"No, but I haven't been as involved with them since I retired five years ago. In my experience, people in the communities tend to stay to themselves. They handle their own problems."
Sighing, I looked at Drake and offered a flat smile. He had said Anthony was actively involved, but apparently he'd made a mistake. Maybe he should've stayed in better contact with his friend.
Drake turned to Anthony. "Do you still have connections with them?"
"Of course I do. Would you like me to contact them?"
Drake met my gaze. "Are you curious?"
The flat line between my lips lifted. I wanted to find the person responsible for killing. Therefore, I was definitely interested in any kind of tip-offs. Did the person deserve to go to Hell? Yes. Would I send them? Maybe. After the conversation with Anthony, I questioned if I should send any additional souls to the fiery south. "I'd like to know more."
Anthony headed for the kitchen. "I will contact them as well as my colleagues at the church and see if they have any information. Stay right there. I'll get your supplies." He disappeared past the open entryway.
Drake tucked the keys in his coat pocket. In the kitchen, bags rustled and a door squeaked.
Drake stood. "Do you need any help, Anthony?" He snatched his hat and gloves from the table.
"No, no. I'm fine. I'll be done in a minute."
I rose slowly, not wanting to disturb my already sensitive stomach. "How far away is your house?"
"Seven to ten miles. Not too far."
Relief and excitement danced within me. I desperately wanted a bath and clean teeth. Not only were my clothes clinging to my sweaty body, but my hair was sticking to my neck. Thankfully, I had rolled on plenty of deodorant.
Anthony walked out of the kitchen carrying two grocery bags. "This should help you get through the day." He handed the goods to Drake.
I reached for the supplies before Drake could get them. "Here, I'll take them." Glancing inside, I saw more than enough canned food to last a couple days. "This is very generous of you."
"The storm should pass by noon tomorrow. I don't know if there are shovels in the garage. I can call you with the numbers of some people who plow."
Drake slid his hat over his head. The top of his cap stood up. God, he looked cute.
"Do you need to give him your number?" I asked Drake.
"Hold on." Anthony lifted his finger. He headed back into the kitchen.
Drake followed him while I waited by the door, holding a bag in each hand. Outside, the wind whistled and the snow flew by at an angle. I inhaled a deep breath. All we had to do was plow through ten miles at the most.
"Ready?" Drake came to stand near me.
Oh, I was more than geared up and anxious. "Ready if you are." I peered around him to Anthony. "Forgive me if I don't shake your hand again. It was nice to meet you."
"Jessie, it was a pleasure to meet you. If you need anything, or if I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to call me. Drake has the number."
"Thank you again, and for the food," I said.
Drake opened the door to the winter wonderland. A gust of air blew inside, cooling me in an instant. I stepped past him onto the porch.
"Take care of yourself, Anthony," Drake said.
"I will call the moment I have information for you," the old man replied.
The snow fell fast and furious. Ten miles? Good lord, it might take an hour to cover ten miles. Not waiting a second longer, I dashed to the car. How difficult could it be to drive through a blizzard?
Chapter Three
Seven miles and thirty minutes later, my bladder called to me. The GPS on the dashboard showed we were within two miles of our destination. On top of the mounting pressure on my bladder, I was sick of staring at all the snow. I simply wanted to get to our new home, pee, bathe, brush my teeth, and then enjoy a little sex with my vampire lover. I didn't think my needs were too outrageous.
Muscles stiff, I leaned back in my seat to stretch my legs in front of me. The nausea I'd felt at Anthony's had disappeared within a minute of leaving his home. In place of flulike symptoms, I acquired an abundance of nervous energy as Drake steered through the bad weather. The whiteout conditions along with the lack of traction worried me, even though I wasn't the one driving. To relieve some of the anxiety, I counted numbers in my head, patted my leg, and jiggled my foot under the dashboard. None of which relieved the growing urgency to use the bathroom.
I twisted to face Drake. "I need to run in once we get there."
He removed his gaze from the window and gave me a curious look, brows arched.
"I have to use the bathroom."
His lips twitched, hinting at a grin on his pallid face.
"You're lucky you don't have to deal with the need to use the restroom," I said. Many times I wished I had that trait, especially now.
"Sometimes I forget about…" His eyes glided down my body. "Things of that nature."
I chuckled. "Are you telling me you don't miss having to release your bladder?"
"It matters not one way or the other."
Really? My mind wandered. Was there any human trait he wished he could've kept after Thomas made him a vampire eight-hundred and forty-two years ago? Did he ever wish he could be human again? Did he ever regret what he was? He had told me the first century was difficult for him and that he decided to change. The killer vampire born into the world as Adrian became Drake, defender of human life.
"Drake," I said softly. "In the seven centuries after you changed to a good vampire, did you ever regret being a vampire?"
"No. Well…" He paused and took a quick glimpse at me. "Sometimes I regret not doing more to help people."
I could relate. Countless times I had thought I could do more.
"Do you ever wish you weren't a vampire?"
The windshield wipers swished across the glass, leaving streaks of melted snow.
Drake met my gaze. "No, because I never would have met you."
If we had never met, I wouldn't be on the run from vampires. I would be leading a normal life in Indianapolis. But if we had never met, I wouldn't have fallen in love with the man who took my breath away, who made my heart race with excitement, and who loved the real me. I never would have experienced such happiness in life.
Life. Drake was immortal. I wasn't. One day, I'd die and he'd still be around, walking the Earth. The thought saddened me.
"Do you miss the friends that have come and gone during your existence?" I asked.
He scrunched his brows together. "Of course I miss them. I never forget them."
"Will you miss me?" It seemed odd to ask since I knew he loved me so deeply, but I wanted to hear his words.
"Jessie, I have every intention of keeping you for eternity."
Eternity? Was he planning to turn me into a bloodsucker? What if I didn't want to change?
I crossed my arms under my breasts. "What makes you think I want to live forever? Maybe I don't."
His expression was a mixture of
gloom and surprise. "I assumed you would want to…one day, when you were ready."
In all honesty, I hadn't considered becoming a vamp. I was content living, breathing, eating, and…okay, some of the other functions could go. Would I rather eat regular food than drink blood? You bet.
"Maybe I want to go wherever I'm supposed to go instead of living century after century. Maybe I don't want to see people I care about die."
The natural course of life was to grow old and then die. Did I really want to watch my friends pass on? Though I hadn't seen them since last July, I missed them dearly and still cared about them. Sure, I'd start over and make new friends. But I would be stuck in the same situation. Did I want to witness them growing old and disappearing?
"Are you saying you would rather die than spend eternity with me?"
Well, that was one way of looking at the situation—not exactly the same way as mine. "No, that's not what I'm saying."
He tapped the brakes, slowing the car. "What are you saying?"
I released a deep sigh while Drake steered the car through the slippery snow.
"I don't know."
My mind was a mixture of thoughts. What did I want? I had believed I was useful when I caught evil souls. I took pleasure in knowing they were going where they belonged. But after talking to Anthony, I questioned if I had been doing the right thing. If I couldn't send souls to Hell, what good was I? As for being a vampire…I couldn't decide, but I knew with certainty I didn't want to live without the love of my life.
"Can demons even become vampires?" I asked.
Drake spun the steering wheel as the car skidded from left to right. I tensed and grabbed the handle on the door. The GPS on the dashboard showed a circle flashing. Outside, I saw nothing but darkness and snow. If there was a house nearby, I couldn't see it.
"Are you sure we're at the right address?" I asked.
He gripped the wheel tightly. "The driveway is long."
"Oh."
Slowly, a building appeared in the vehicle's beams. The house had multiple levels with an attached garage on the side. I couldn't make out many other details.
"Do you want me to run in and lift the garage door?" I asked as we drew near.
"I can do it." He stopped the car within inches of the home.
