Darkness Bred (Chimney Rock)

by Stella Cameron

  Sean certainly knew of the scourge. Niles and Leigh had encountered them once.

  “Why aren’t you like them?” Elin said, and Sean began to wish he had taken hold of the conversation. “Or are you like them and pretending not to be?”

  “I can’t make you trust me simply by saying anything,” Saul said. “I will prove it to you, though. You will have to learn to curb your tongue if we are to win, Elin. Danger is ahead. It’s everywhere, and it is beyond anything you may have imagined. We’ll have to be subtle and very, very careful.”

  Undeterred, Elin said, “Show me your fangs. All vampires have fangs, don’t they? And why can you go out in daylight? You’re not supposed to be able to do that.”

  Saul raised his expressive brows. “You came to me for help,” he said. “Because you have been attacked by a vampire and you need to understand them better to arm yourself against them. To explain such a long history would take longer than any of us have. Should anything else occur, contact me at once. Meanwhile, I am puzzled that Colin felt free to enter the cottage without an invitation.”

  “I think at least one of Elin’s questions deserves an answer,” Sean interrupted. “Why would we believe you’re different from the rest of the scourge, from Colin and his sister, and all their kind? What could make us trust you?”

  “You don’t have a choice,” Saul said. “You say, ‘the rest of the scourge.’ I am no part of the scourge. My people are few and far away and nothing like these animals who have allowed themselves to sink into the depths.”

  “That’s a nice speech,” Elin said. “Sooner or later we’ll know if it’s all true.”

  Saul sat in a bright magenta chair. “I have been a vampire a long time—I think you know what I mean by a long time. My contacts are many and my influence reaches very far. I have followed the progress of the werehounds with interest. You are not like the wolves, Sean. They have no interest in regaining humanity. As you will learn, they are largely responsible for what has gone so dangerously wrong on Whidbey and what must be stopped.

  “What I know about the two of you I have learned from Sally. She is very wise. She is a friend, a good woman who has taught me a great deal, some of which has saved lives.”

  Sean wasn’t sure how comfortable he was with all of Saul’s “knowledge.” “I don’t understand your interest in any of this. Or your part.”

  “I’ll show you soon enough. First”—he paused as if searching for his next word—“as I’ve already said, Aldo suspects you are here.”

  Sean frowned. His stomach contracted. “Who is Aldo and what is he to me?” Damn the man—the hound.

  “You know that,” Saul said. He threw back his dark hair and glanced at Elin. “He wouldn’t have any idea where you are and I wouldn’t know your connection to him if things were not going badly. There are rumors and they reach far beyond San Francisco—and your last encounter with him. But I do have reports from there and how this Aldo caused…you know what he caused. There are always those who are willing to hunt for a bounty. You were found, Sean. Aldo still wants you, but the situation has changed as you will find out in time. Probably sooner than we’d like. In other circumstances he would come himself. In his mind he thinks he needs something from you.”

  “What does he mean?” Elin asked Sean, her voice a little shaky. “Who is Aldo?”

  “No one,” Sean said quickly. He wasn’t pleased with Saul bringing this up in front of her. “Well, yes, he is someone and I will explain in good time. Please let me decide when that is.”

  “My plan was to go to Niles with all this, but not until I had done more investigation,” Saul said. “You forced my hand. Now I believe the fewer we involve, the better—for now. If you feel you must go directly to Niles, I won’t attempt to stop you.”

  Sean didn’t respond. No way would he tell a vampire that he, a hound, would take orders from him one way or another.

  “Things have changed in our world, the paranormal world, and they will only go in a horrifying direction if we don’t manage to stop the one who wants to own us all,” Saul said. “The One on The Island.”

  “Where?” Elin said, her eyes huge. “What island? Who is he?”

  Sean put a hand on her arm. “Don’t be too quick to accept anything Saul says.”

  “I wasn’t born a vampire, dammit,” Saul said in the first show of temper Sean had ever seen from him. “I ended up here for two reasons. I was invited to The Island, and I don’t mean Whidbey. There is another island out there.” He waved a hand to the southwest. “And I discovered my host, known only as The One, although there is another name and I intend to learn what it is, The One was more dangerous than you can imagine. He is more dangerous than any you have encountered.

  “He has already tried to alter all of us with his blood meddling. And he has altered many—most into twisted forms of what they already were. He has infected a vast number in our world with his failed experiments. Instead of bringing them to him as docile slaves happy to entertain him, he has caused them to stop reproducing. And this mad creature must be eliminated before he manages to unleash an army of mutant monsters on all of us, including the humans.”

  Sean stiffened. “But if you are right, that would mean hounds were invited to this island. And they went.”

  “The contagion is strong, deadly, it would only take one of you let loose on all the others. There must have been at least one, perhaps more.”

  Saul held up a hand for silence.

  That silence went on and on and showed no sign of being broken by the vampire.

  When Elin couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “Sean?” forgetting to keep her voice down.

  “Hush,” Sean said.

  “I need to think,” Saul said.

  “This is too weird.” Elin felt her thoughts reaching out for Sean’s mind.

  Sean looked startled. “I’m hearing you telepathically,” he said into her mind. “We will practice, but we should wait until later. I dreamed this would happen for us.”

  Elin couldn’t help grinning. She wanted to hug him.

  “Perhaps we should continue this later,” Sean said to Saul, who might even have been asleep. “Elin has been through too much since yesterday.”

  Rather than argue, Elin bit her lip. She wanted to hear whatever Saul might reveal.

  “You are so protective of her, which is a good thing.” Saul wrapped his coat more tightly around him and glared at them. “The vampire attack will have shown you how serious your enemies are. Not that we know how many enemies you have or who they are. Haven’t you questioned how Colin was able to enter the cottage? I take it you didn’t invite him.”

  “No one did,” Elin said.

  “At some time he was invited in by someone other than a vampire. We need to find out who that was.”

  “I want to go home,” Elin said. If Saul had something else to tell them, later would do.

  Saul said, “I must ask you not to leave just yet. You are both aware that some of the local women have disappeared over the past few months.”

  “Of course,” Sean said while Elin nodded. “Less and less is said about it. And there haven’t been any more incidents lately.”

  “Not that anyone is aware of,” Saul said. “They are fooling everyone into thinking it’s all over. Most of the women who were taken have been returned, apparently with no memory of what happened to them. They have preferred to let the incidents drop. Without actual complaints, the authorities could do nothing—they could not have done anything regardless.” Saul appeared tired. “I believe the victims were taken to The Island, the place I’ve already spoken of, and that’s why their memories were wiped clean.”

  “Where is this island?” Elin whispered. “What is it called?”

  “It is called The Island, that’s all. It’s volcanic and rises from the sea under cover of invisibility, except to those who are allowed to see it. Only The One, he who orders everything there, can make it visible—to anyone—except for t
he few vampires of my lineage who can also reveal the place, not that we would do so if there were an alternative.

  “I was there because I was invited by The One. It sounded innocent enough, risky perhaps, but an opportunity for vampires to get together and discuss the progress of our world. Then I discovered he expected me to be one of his blood experiments before I went out to convince more vampires to come to him. He wanted all of us to serve him.

  “I am of a Parisian strain and we are different, not easily used by anyone. Since The One is also Parisian, he should have known about us. I left and have been working to get rid of this madman.”

  Elin shivered and was glad when Sean put an arm around her. “Why hasn’t this wizard, or whatever he is, come after you? I want to see him, and his island.”

  There was no mistaking the dangerous edge to what Sean said, or that he was letting Saul know he wanted proof of his accusations.

  “Unfortunately I’d be a fool to imagine that I’m not marked for destruction. And this is no wizard, Sean. Sorcerer, perhaps. Possibly living sorcerer vampire.”

  Elin clutched at Sean. “No one can fight such a thing,” she told him. “How does he stay alive? On what?” she asked Saul, terrified of his answer.

  The vampire’s eyes were black with no visible pupils. “I can’t be completely certain but I don’t think he needs to eat often. Perhaps even as rarely as every few weeks—unless he is ill and I think he may be.” A thin red rim formed around the black of those eyes. “He eats human parts. Living human parts.”

  “Enough,” Sean said through clenched teeth. “Save your speculation. How did he get those who disappeared?”

  “He didn’t get them. Your friends the werewolves decided to circumvent him by trying an experiment of their own. The infection enters the blood. They have suffered the same fate as so many. They were infected and their females died during pregnancy. But the wolves are undisciplined and think they can take control of anything. They took the victims they stole to The Island because they knew they would not be discovered. They have also speculated that the volcanic vein The One tends may have magical qualities that would help them.”

  Faintness started a buzzing in Elin’s head.

  “I don’t believe any of this,” Sean said, starting to pull Elin toward the stairs.

  Saul cut them off. “If you don’t believe, we’ll all be lost. The wolves took women and transfused them with blood to match their own. It was their own blood they used. They think if they can change women who aren’t part wolf, they will reproduce for them.”

  “Let’s go,” Elin said.

  “What they did—if they did it—didn’t work,” Sean said. “The women are all back and involved in their former lives, just as they were.”

  “You know that’s not true,” Saul said. “Come with me.” He walked to a corridor that led into darkness, and from the way he moved, he seemed to assume they would follow.

  “What does he mean?” Elin asked. “We know it’s not true that those women came back?”

  Sean pulled her into an embrace. “Just go with this. If we need help, I can get it here in moments. But I don’t believe he intends to harm either of us.”

  “Are you strong, Elin?” Saul asked. He didn’t turn to look at them. “Let me know if you faint easily.”

  “Perhaps you should stay—”

  “No,” she cut Sean off. “I don’t faint at my own shadow if that’s what you mean, Saul. We’re right behind you.”

  “Those other women show no sign of harm,” Sean said.

  Saul did glance over his shoulder then and his smile was more a grimace. “It’s what we can’t see that should worry us. Who knows what they are now, or what they are capable of becoming? Or if there are others we don’t know about.”

  Elin’s skin was clammy and cool. She was rarely aware of temperature and the sensation scared her.

  Saul held a swinging door open for them. Bright, white light shone in a large room where stainless steel glittered from sinks and tables.

  “I think you should wait here,” Sean said under his breath.

  Elin entered with him.

  Along one short wall was what Elin recognized as a bank of refrigerated compartments. “This is a mortuary,” she said, deliberately steady and clear. “I’d forgotten you’re also the medical examiner when the usual one isn’t available.”

  “I’m glad to do what I can for the people here,” Saul said. “Every service is necessary and should be performed with respect. Sean, you will know the reasons for my concern soon enough.”

  He slid open a drawer in the refrigeration unit and Sean immediately moved in close.

  Saul looked questioningly at Elin. “You don’t need to do this,” he said.

  If she were honest, she would admit she didn’t want to be there but she stood beside Sean and nodded.

  When Saul peeled back the sheet covering a small adult body, he revealed a woman with pale, matted hair. Her discolored face was peaceful.

  “Rose?” Sean sounded disbelieving. “She’s still here? She died months ago. I understood…” He stopped and glanced at Elin, then shook his head.

  “Yes, Rose,” Saul said. “She is the only link I have. I know she was transfused. I know it did not go well, and as with a lot of The One’s specimens, she was allergic to the blood she got from the wolves. But that isn’t enough to kill in most cases. She had returned here and eventually might have done as well as the others—or as well as they seem to have done. Her body has already helped me immeasurably.”

  “She is so vulnerable,” Elin said, wanting to cry for the sad, broken little body. “This can’t be right to keep her here. She should be treated with respect.”

  “I have more respect for this body than you can know,” Saul said. “It is our answer, if only we can find it. I have to be certain why she suddenly died when the others didn’t.”

  “Certain?” Sean said. “You mean you think you know?”

  Saul turned Rose’s head to one side and lifted her hair away from her neck to reveal the base of her skull. “There,” he said, pointing.

  Elin’s skin grew tight. It prickled, but she got closer. Behind the left ear, on the bone, a mark shone. It almost glowed. A tiny, brilliant red O.

  Shaking, Elin reached out and touched the mark.

  “I think it is the mark of The One,” Saul said. “His initial, perhaps. And I believe she died when that was put there. I’m searching for what makes the mark.”

  “A deadly poison?” Sean peered very closely. “Is it an O? Or a Q?”

  Saul also bent to reexamine the patch. “There could be a tail,” he said.

  Elin couldn’t stop her fingers from returning to the spot. She heard high-pitched wailing and felt herself begin to fade.

  “He knows Whidbey well,” Saul said. “The One. We don’t know who he is, but he has an agent working for him here. I believe we look into his eyes, talk to him—too bad we don’t know who he is when he comes.”

  chapter NINE

  So, what’s the deal with barging in on Elin and me?” Leigh said, finding Niles at work in the addition to the back of Gabriel’s. “You gave me a headache with all those orders. Don’t ignore me. I know you can hear. It’s important for Elin to leave now. No pressure, hm?” She was darned if she’d resort to mind talk when they were only feet apart.

  Niles kept right on stapling wallboard in what was to become her enlarged office, making a noise like an assault weapon on steroids.

  He wore an industrial headset and goggles.

  Leigh made do with her fingers pushed in her ears and shouted, “Niles.”

  Niles didn’t hear her and pretended he also didn’t know she was there, which was dopey since there was no way to creep up on the man.

  She wasn’t a woman to waste an unfair advantage. With both hands above his head, one holding the wallboard, the other aiming the staple gun, Niles was an irresistible target.

  For a few wonderfully wicked moments, sh
e took in the torn, paint-spattered T-shirt that didn’t hide much of his tanned body and none of his taut, muscular midsection. Speaking of paint, his faded old jeans might have been applied with a brush. Surrounded by the scent of new cedar shavings, she closed her eyes, tried to steady her pounding heart and the rush of blood to her head and other places.

  That was a wasted effort.

  Leigh moved in, wrapped her arms around him, rested her face on his back, and wormed her fingers under the front of his shirt.

  He jumped but at least he stopped stapling, even if she was glad she couldn’t make out everything he muttered under his breath.

  His belly sucked in tight and her little fingers slid so easily under the waistband of his jeans.

  “I asked what was so important that I had to interrupt my visit with Elin?” she said.

  “Sean needed her. Do you know how dangerous it is to attack a man who is using a staple gun?”

  “Nope. Never did it before. And when did you start caring about Sean and Elin?”

  “I try to be an understanding man.”

  She let that go. “Have I told you lately what your chest does to me? What every sexy inch of you does to me?”

  “Remind me.”

  “Mmm.” Leigh ran her fingers up, rib after rib, until she reached his instantly tensed nipples. “Is it coming back to you?” Hugging him with all the strength she had, she clung to him.

  “Not sure yet.” But he sounded a little short of breath. He braced his arms against the wall and made no move to stop her. “Give it time, though.”

  “How come the rest of the guys left right after Sean and Elin? And how come Innes made a big deal of stopping by to let me know you gave them the rest of the day off?”

  “They’ve been at it since early this morning.”

  “If they worked twenty-four out of every twenty-four, they wouldn’t suffer too badly.”

  Niles’s breathing got heavier with every stroke and probe of her fingers. “Maybe I wanted to be alone,” he said, his voice taking on the low, husky quality she understood so well.