Worse, if it had been burned, I had no idea how to replace any of it. Kaitlin might have a camera she could loan me for a while, but I couldn’t take advantage of her forever.
One problem at a time, I told myself. Somehow, I had to explain to Frank why I hadn’t delivered the pictures, and that they might have been destroyed. Just an average, everyday vampire attack. No big deal. He would understand. They happened all the time, at least to me. At least, lately.
Suddenly, I sat bolt upright, my eyes popping with realization. I knew who the vampire was.
32
WHEN FRANK HAD WALKED INTO my office earlier that week, I had thought he was crazy for filing a lawsuit against Belinda. The old witch would curse him, surely, but then, I reasoned, he had some ace up his sleeve. Perhaps he did. A bigger one than I could have imagined at the time. But the real flaw in my thinking was that Belinda would curse him. Whatever she was, Belinda wasn’t her mother, and her preferred poison came in the form of love potions. How could he dare to sue her, if he believed he loved her?
Well, he had gone through with the lawsuit, which complicated things. And he had asked me to serve a subpoena to Belinda on Monday. So had she been alive on Monday? I started second guessing my theory, until I remembered how difficult it was to pin down the time of death for a vampire. Jason might have been able to do it, with trade secrets, but he hadn’t gotten access to her body.
But tonight, Frank had wanted me to send him those pictures. Why? He couldn’t file anything in court over the weekend. It just didn’t strike me as that urgent, but he had asked, and I had told him I would swing by my office to e-mail them.
A few minutes later, another vampire had attacked, heading straight for me. He had barely noticed Nicolas when my brother set him on fire. He had come for me, and, somehow, known exactly where I would be. It wasn’t as if I could normally be found in my office on a Friday night.
Was there another explanation for his actions? Someone else who knew where I would be? A mad coincidence? I didn’t know, but my instincts told me I had it right, even if I didn’t understand all the details. I remembered Evan’s assertion that I had a touch of intuition, and for once, instead of denying the possibility out of hand, I prayed he was right.
With trembling fingers, I found Kaitlin’s phone (the state of my cell phone being as dubious as that of my camera), and dialed Frank’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“Frank Lloyd here.”
“Hi, it’s Cassie.”
“Cassie, I was expecting those pictures an hour ago. I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer your phone.”
“I’m sorry, but there was some trouble at my office when I got there. A, um, vampire attacked me.”
“Another one? You’ve been having a hard week.” He sounded so sincere, so sympathetic, and so human. But he wasn’t. Even Angie didn’t remember my other vampire attack that week, and she had been there.
“That’s an understatement,” I said, hoping my fear didn’t sound in my voice. “Also, there was a fire, so I’m not even sure if my camera is still okay.”
“Is the fire out? Can you go check?”
“It’s kind of late, and like I said, there was a vampire. I’d like to stay safe until morning.” I hoped that would throw him off, thinking I didn’t know of his special abilities, or, indeed, about him, but something felt wrong. I don’t know if it was him or me, but the tenor of the conversation had changed, and all I wanted to do was get off that phone as quickly as possible.
“I suppose it can wait until morning,” Frank said.
“That’s great, So I’ll see you tomorrow morning, first thing.”
“First thing after you check on your camera,” Frank reminded me.
“Right. Second thing, then.”
“Good-bye, Cassie.”
“Bye.” I hit the off button but didn’t otherwise move. I simply sat there, with the phone in my lap, staring at it, and wondering if, in an attempt to uncover the truth about Frank, I had let him in on my discovery as well. I hoped not. I hadn’t said anything to give it away. Quickly, I reviewed the conversation in my mind, replaying it over and over again, trying to find anything I might have said wrong. I couldn’t, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. Not that it meant anything, since I had no gift, intuition or otherwise. I would know if I did, right?
Kaitlin’s bedroom door squeaked open and I jerked my head around so fast I nearly got whiplash. Jason stepped out, quietly at first, but when he saw me awake and staring, he abandoned the pretense.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“The vampire we’re looking for is Frank Lloyd.”
He sat next to me on the couch while I quickly ran through what I knew, what I suspected, and most importantly, our recent phone conversation.
“I didn’t give anything away, did I?” I asked.
“Probably not,” Jason said, “but I need to move on this tonight. You should be safe here, behind a threshold.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked. “You weren’t planning to go up against him alone?”
Jason shook his head. “I’m not crazy. I came in alone to do the ID because we’re stretched thin, but there are two other hunters no more than three hours from here.”
With that, Jason took his cell phone from his pocket and started making calls. When he disappeared into the kitchen for a little privacy, I noticed Kaitlin, wearing a bathrobe, framed in her doorway. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling, and a tiny smile played at the corner of her mouth.
“Are you stocked up on crosses and holy water?” I asked.
“I only have the one cross,” Kaitlin said, fingering the one around her neck, “but I’ve got a five-gallon drum of holy water in the pantry.”
“You do?”
Kaitlin’s smile widened. “Of course I do. You told me there were vampires, so I bought a big thing of water and stopped by the Catholic Church on the way home to have Father Owens bless it.”
“That was smart,” I said.
“I have my moments.”
“So, have any water guns to go with them?”
Her smile faltered. “I should have thought of that.”
“We’ll make do.”
“The team’s on its way,” Jason said, shoving his phone back into his pocket as he strode into the living room. “Now, I just need to do some prep work. I’m low on holy water-”
“Kaitlin has a five-gallon drum of it in the pantry,” I said.
“Really?” Jason arched an eyebrow at Kaitlin and winked. “Great. And I don’t suppose there’s something to eat around here? I missed breakfast this evening.”
“This evening?” Kaitlin asked.
“I usually wake up around five p.m.”
“All right, eggs and pancakes it is. Cassie, you want any?”
I remembered the only meal I’d had that day–also eggs and pancakes–and my stomach gave a loud growl. “Sounds great.”
While Kaitlin worked, Jason ran to his car and returned with a gym bag full of water guns ranging from pistols to super soakers. Quickly, he began filling them with the holy water, his back to us, but at one point, I could have sworn I saw him fill his own flask from the jug.
“Does holy water kill a vampire?” Kaitlin asked as she cracked eggs into a frying pan.
“Mostly it does surface damage,” Jason said. “If you drench them in the stuff, you may be able to cause lethal damage. More likely, though, you’ll just cause enough agony that they can’t attack you while you stake them. The water burns them, but it evaporates.”
“What if they drink it?” I asked.
Jason quirked an eyebrow. “Now, that’s an interesting question. It’s even more interesting to watch happen.”
“I don’t think I’d want to watch it,” Kaitlin said.
He shrugged. “When enough vampires try to kill you, you start enjoying watching them writhe in agony a bit.”
For the first time since I had tried the holy water, I
gave serious thought to trying it again. I was afraid, because my parents had disowned me right after I had taken the sacrilegious drink, but my parents had been planning that for days, so the events couldn’t have been related?
Mustering my courage, I took an empty glass from a pantry shelf and filled it from the jug. Jason saw, but didn’t comment, either to encourage me or discourage me, which I took as a good sign. Closing my eyes, I chugged the glass of water in a matter of seconds, before I could change my mind.
A few minutes later, Kaitlin served eggs, pancakes, and peaches while we talked about mundane things. I think we were all a bit afraid, and trying, in some small way, to push the feelings aside. Kaitlin and Jason did most of the talking.
It was a little disgusting to watch Kaitlin exaggerate and lie to try to impress Jason. It’s not like I went out on dates with her, but if she hid her true nature like that with other men, then it was no wonder she never had any luck in her relationships.
When Kaitlin told Jason she planned to return to school when she had enough money, so she could become a nurse, I excused myself and sauntered into the living room. I didn’t think I would be able to sleep, so I didn’t bother to try, but I did lie down on my side and stare at the blank television screen.
Something in my pocket kept jabbing me in the side. Sitting up, I pulled the crystal Evan had given me from my pocket and clutched it in my hand. I had promised to let him know when I figured things out, and somehow, despite everything, a part of me wanted the comfort of his presence on what I expected to be a very, very long night.
“Evan,” I whispered, holding the crystal in my hand. I didn’t know if speech was necessary, since he had said all I needed to do was think of him, but I didn’t think it could hurt. As I spoke, the crystal grew warm, almost hot, and I smiled in satisfaction before putting it back in my pocket.
That’s when the building’s fire alarms went off.
Jason stood bolt upright, knocking aside the wooden chair with such force it splintered. Without apologizing, or even seeming to notice, he made a mad dash for the kitchen window and looked out.
“Oh shit,” he said.
I stared out the window, though I couldn’t see anything from the couch, as the implications slowly settled in. I think it took a while because fire was somewhat normal in my life. My father and brother were both fire starters and, apparently, my newest brother or sister would be as well. Accidental fires were fairly normal, and the house was always fully stocked with burn ointment and flame resistance potions. The walls themselves had woven protections against fire, and we normally had either Dad or Nicolas on hand before things got out of control. Fires were just not a big deal in my life, or hadn’t been.
Who’s protecting you? Evan had asked. Magical protection.
We had to leave the building, or we would burn alive, but if we left, I had no doubt that a powerful sorcerer-vampire awaited us. It was too convenient to be anything else. Too much of a coincidence.
When Jason turned from the window, I knew he saw the truth as well.
“What do we do?” Kaitlin asked, pale-faced and trembling, twisting the belt of her robe around her finger in a tight knot.
Jason and I made a move for the pile of super soakers and water guns at the same time. We each grabbed a super soaker, Jason throwing his at Kaitlin. Then, he pocketed several smaller guns.
“Kaitlin,” I said, lifting my voice to be heard over the shriek of the fire alarm, “doesn’t your mom live a few blocks from here?”
“Yes.”
“Then keep that cross around your neck and run for it,” I said.
She started for the door, pausing to slip her feet into a pair of sandals but otherwise taking nothing from the apartment. Beneath us, I felt the floor begin to grow warm.
“Kaitlin,” I added as she moved out.
“What?” She threw a glance over her shoulder.
“Don’t wait for me, and don’t look back.” I had a feeling she would be okay, as long as no one associated her with me. I hoped.
She swallowed, hard, and nodded. Then, wordlessly, she fled through the door.
33
THERE WERE EIGHT APARTMENTS IN Kaitlin’s building, four on the ground floor, four on top. I raced down the stairs, away from Kaitlin’s second floor corner apartment, my eyes flying left and right to see the evacuation of the other apartments well underway. Smoke billowed up from directly beneath us, and as I flew down the rickety outside stairs to the ground, I saw flames dancing and licking their way up the outside of the building.
I spotted a woman carrying a screaming toddler from a downstairs apartment, and my heart lurched, wondering if everyone had gotten out. It had all begun so quickly, and spread so quickly. A faint smell of gasoline lingered in the air, confirming my suspicion that this was not at all natural.
“Go with Kaitlin,” Jason called from just behind me.
I hesitated, wondering if doing so might put Kaitlin in more danger, but here I would probably just get in Jason’s way as he hunted the vampire, so I nodded and sprinted after her retreating form. It had been a few years since I had visited Kaitlin at her mother’s place, but I thought I still remembered where to find it, so I stayed a few yards back, letting her get a head start, so that no one who saw us would necessarily think we were together.
Ahead of me, a scream rent the air, shrill and piercing. Kaitlin’s scream. She slid to a stop, but I couldn’t immediately see what had frozen her in place. Then, Frank Lloyd stepped from between two buildings.
“I take that to mean you do know what I am,” Frank said, smoothly, stalking toward Kaitlin’s quivering form like a hunter scenting prey.
“Leave her alone,” I said, hoping I sounded braver than I felt. My knees quaked, and my breath came out in shallow pants.
“Cassandra, how nice to see you.”
I strode forward, super soaker in hand, aiming it at him. “She’s got a cross, and this is loaded with holy water. Too many people know what you are now, so you may as well leave town while you can.”
“I will,” Frank said, “but I wanted to thank this town properly for uncovering me.”
“I uncovered you. Leave the rest of the town out of it.”
He laughed. “Wow, barely a tremor of fear in your voice, although your legs are a bit wobbly. You know I’m going to kill you, right?”
“I had a feeling.” But if I kept him talking, Jason might get there in time.
“Go,” Frank said to Kaitlin, “before I change my mind.”
Kaitlin turned back to look at me, her eyes wide and staring, and I saw in them the reluctance to leave me behind.
“Go,” I urged her. “Please. There’s nothing you can do.”
She hesitated for a few more seconds, and I saw tears glistening in her eyes before she nodded, stiffly, and fled the scene. Maybe she could get help. At least she could get away.
“I am armed,” I said, waving my super soaker in his direction. He seemed supremely unconcerned, and an instant later, I knew why. He moved, faster than thought, grabbing the feeble weapon from me before I had a chance to pull the trigger, and tossing it harmlessly aside. Then, in a single, smooth motion, he hoisted me over his shoulder and took off.
At those speeds, the wind cut into me, biting me with its intensity, and I couldn’t see a thing. If there was a blur of colors, I couldn’t even see it, because I had my eyes closed against the wind. I’m not sure how long he ran, seconds or minutes, but they were the most terrifying moments of my life, including the moments I spent in the pool with Luke. Then, at least, I had hope. Now, I had nothing. Maybe the holy water I had drunk would poison him and maybe not, but either way, I wouldn’t live to find out. He’d tear me apart first. The best I could hope for was to take him down with me.
When I blinked open my eyes, we stood in the last place I expected–the burnt out shell of my office. The larger furniture, like the desk and filing cabinets, had more or less survived, though they were blackened husks. The f
loor, ceiling, and walls were blackened as well, reminding me a little of my fortress of solitude, painted all in black. Strangely, it gave me renewed courage.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
“I figured this would be about the last place anyone would look for us.” Frank took a step away from me, reaching his hand deep into the pocket of his suit coat. “I have a proposition for you.”
He withdrew a clear glass vial, containing some blue liquid that sparkled in the moonlight streaming through the broken window.
“P-proposition?”
“If I bite you now, you’ll die,” Frank said. “If you drink this first, you won’t.”
My stomach twisted. “Is that the same stuff you forced Belinda to drink?”
“You guessed that, did you? Yes, for a couple of unsettling days, I couldn’t bear the thought of life–such as it is–without her. It wore off quickly. By Monday morning, I could think straight again. It must have been in the chocolates. I don’t usually eat, but at the time, it seemed useful to maintain a pretense.”
“Why did you kill her?” I asked.
“She wasn’t stable. I don’t think she ever was. When I found out she’d killed the Hastings girl, I knew I had to end it, but by then it was too late. I’ve hidden in this town long enough to know which lines not to cross. Somehow, she had never figured it out. That, or the bloodlust overwhelmed her. First kill and all.”
I took a step back, bumping against the desk. “Why do you want me to take that stuff?”
He lifted the potion, studying its contents, letting them swirl a bit, almost hypnotically. “Belinda made me think a companion would be nice, but not someone like her. Someone more stable. Someone I can control.”
I swallowed, hard.
“I’ve been watching you all week. You’re clever and determined, and I like that. Plus, I like the fact that turning you would be a parting shot to nearly everyone in town. They’re not as strong as they think they are.”
“I won’t take the potion,” I said, softly.
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective Page 24
