by Tonya Nagle
Laura immediately got a good feeling from this man, if that's what he was. She had no way of telling what he was really. "Excuse me. Are you all right?"
The man slightly turned toward her with a large, cheerful smile. "I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
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"What are you doing here?" asked David, always suspicious of outward appearances.
"I'm doing my job. I'm here to show the way to others that are lost."
Laura smiled. "Who sent you?"
"I can't tell you that." He turned completely around on the rock to look at them more directly with his bright blue eyes.
Laura chewed her lower lip in thought. "Do you know the door to our world?"
He nodded. "Yes. There are three doors leading to your world. One is birth and the other is death."
"What is the third?" asked David.
The man turned to him. "You'll have to find that out for yourself."
"Do you know anything else?" asked Donovan.
The man got off the stone and stood with them. "I know you're Donovan Dupre, filled with regret and wonder. Let go of the regret and hold on to the wonder. You're David Hilliard, strong of heart. Nothing can touch you unless you let it." Turning to Laura, he said, "You're Laura Cordelais, one of the few souls in any world who really knows why the wind blows. Your gift is still expanding."
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Zak."
Donovan looked extremely tired. "Zak, is there somewhere we can sleep safely?"
"On the top of the mountain, you'll find an abandoned temple. It is safe to stay there for a while, but I caution you to stay within sight of each other."
"Thanks." He offered his hand, and Zak shook it. David couldn't read the man's thoughts but the feeling that coursed through him the moment they clasped hands, filled 220
him with trust and a little admiration. David didn't know why he felt this way but he did. Laura's eyebrows went up when she read this in her husband's mind.
"Would you like to come with us? It isn't safe to be out here alone," David offered.
"Why, thank you. I am touched by your offer, but I'll be fine. I have to keep watch for others who may be lost. Now the easier path is just beyond that ridge. It'll take you all the way to the top."
They said goodbye to Zak and hurried up to the summit. The temple was right where he said it was. Its fine carved, white stones shimmered even in the gray air. From that vantage point, they could see the surrounding countryside in three directions, the fourth being obscured by higher mountains. Columns supported a wide terrace. They went into an interior area. From there many doors went into other chambers. They stayed together as they explored. One wall slid open revealing carved, granite stone steps going down but brilliant with light.
"I hate to put the kibosh on this quest for knowledge, but can we choose a place to sleep?" asked Donovan.
"Sure, Papa. Let's sleep in the first room." With the solid construction of the place, they wanted plenty of choices for escape just in case.
The three sat together with their backs against the wall. Donovan scratched his head. "I was thinking."
"What about?" she asked.
"You said that the man that was killed by the Keres on the beach behind Brilla's house—his name was Adam?"
"Yes."
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"I think I met him once before."
"Where?" asked David.
"Several years back in my attempts to come home, I tried all the voodoo practitioners in Florida. None of them would help. Then I heard about a witch newly arrived from Spain. She lived in a large hacienda in St. Augustine, so I made an appointment. Just a reading cost half a year's wages, but I figured it would be worth it if I could go home to you.
"The young woman had gorgeous, long, jet black hair and eyes. She asked for a photo of my family. Her little son sat in on the session. He looked at the photo and asked how old the baby would be. I said eight, and he said he was eight too. She put the cards on the table, and then she stood up and said she couldn't help me. When I asked why, she said that a curse had been placed on me because I had married a storm caller.
She pointed to you as a baby in the photo and said, 'That child is a storm caller too. You are not worthy of them. It's best that you're not in their lives.' The boy's name was Adam."
"Was his name Adam Cortez?"
Donovan nodded. "Before I left, I asked her if there was any way to end the curse.
I would pay her anything. She shook her head. 'Only death can end this curse.' When Juliette died, I could enter New Orleans. I went to her funeral, but none of her relatives would say where you were."
Laura moved to hug her father. "You helped David rescue me." She kissed him on the cheek. David moved closer to her so the three were close together. They had a clear view of the temple entryway.
"It's time we got some rest. I'll take the first watch," volunteered David.
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"You know, I don't feel sleepy anymore. Why don't I take the first watch? When I feel sleepy, I'll wake you."
"Are you sure, Papa?"
He nodded and kissed Laura on the forehead. Laura snuggled with David who welcomed her into his big black coat. She put her arms around him and lay her head against his heart. Donovan wrapped Laura's coat more tightly around himself to close out the draft. The two men looked at each other and smiled. David kissed Laura's hair and closed his eyes.
He could feel the happiness radiating from Laura. His thoughts touched her mind. We're in this horrible place, and you're happy, aren't you?
I'm not happy that we're in a horrible place, but I do have my husband and my father. She embraced him more tightly, rubbing his back. I do want to go back.
I know you want to save what's left of New Orleans.
She nudged David playfully. I want to finish our wedding. Brilla kidnapped me just as we were pronounced husband and wife. I want our reception and our honeymoon.
David kissed her head. I want our honeymoon too. We could move more into the shadows.
Or we could wait. She implored.
David nibbled her ear and caressed her within the privacy of the coat. Laura laughed softly and tried to think of home.
Sleep was pure abandon. It transported her off to rainy days in Manhattan, their basement apartment, hearing cars and thousands of footsteps walking by. The constant march of humanity can be a very soothing sound. Rain washed the city clean, and the 223
wet on glass and stone shimmered like magic in the moonlight. This was the city Laura loved and portrayed on canvas with such passion. Hmm, the delicious taste of the night with all its scents and textures. Laura sighed in her sleep, her hand clawing David's back. He held her closer, and she buried her face in his chest.
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Chapter 21
Laura sat up with a start. David stood nearby, looking around.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I can't find your father."
"What?" She sprang to her feet.
They searched every room and around the outside of the temple. There was no trace of him.
No trace of blood, thought David.
"I heard that. What do we do now?"
David sat down with his wife. He took her trembling hands in his. "We're vampires. Let's fly and hunt human. If Donovan's anywhere around, we'll find him."
They took off, making low circles. Hours later, they returned to the temple.
"Something from the air took him," David finally concluded. "That's why we can't pick up his scent. We have to leave. I want to take the stairs."
"Why? Shouldn't we fly?"
"Let's just say I have a hunch that the stairs will be more productive in our search. Remember there's a lot about this world that doesn't make sense."
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Laura agreed. She followed David, as he opened the door to the hidden staircase in the temple and descended the carved, white stone steps. Laura hated the closed in feeling. As they went deeper, the stairs narrow
ed.
"What if it's only a tomb? Or it could be a trap?" she asked.
David hugged her. "I doubt that it's a trap. Besides I'm not worried. I'm with a living tornado. If it's a tomb, then it's a grand one. We'll pay our respects and move on." Down they went. Laura was astonished when the walls glowed white and the crystal steps widened as if to welcome them. Then the walls broadened, opening up into a large, white stone room. She immediately walked up to the window, which encompassed an entire wall. It was carved rock but transparent like glass.
Suddenly a Kere flew past the window. Laura backed up in alarm, tripping and falling to the floor. David rushed to her, helping her to her feet.
"Don't be afraid." They turned. A tall, slender woman approached, her skin silvery white and her robe pale lavender. Her long white hair cascaded like water over her body. Her gold eyes burned into them. David had to turn away. Her beauty shielded great power, radiating beneath her skin. She smiled. "They can't see in. From their side, they see only a cliff face."
Laura frowned. She didn't like the effect the woman had on David. She saw no warmth in this stranger, and that made her nervous. "Who are you?"
"I am Brinna. Welcome to the temple library. What would you like to study today?" The woman was alone in the huge room. There were no books or scrolls anywhere.
"Doorways out of this world," suggested David, keeping Laura close to his side.
Immediately, the other three walls illuminated showing a man discussing the doors of 226
birth and death. When it was over, David was clearly disappointed. "Well, that's as much as Zak told us."
"You've met Zak?" Suddenly others that looked like the woman appeared standing all around them. Laura rubbed her fingers anxiously. She could feel the lightning waiting for her call. But the people didn’t move toward them.
"He pops in from time to time," said a man.
"Such a brilliant fellow. We always stop whatever we're doing when he visits,"
added another.
One woman smiled. "He tells the most amazing stories."
"Like the one about the ant and the mountain," added another. "In his story, an ant moves a mountain, one particle of sand at a time."
"Why?" asked David.
The room filled with soft laughter. Now several additional beings surrounded them, each a little different in features but all with white hair and gold eyes. They still kept their distance from the vampires.
The man continued, "The mountain is a symbol for a problem. The ant kept going even when the task seemed insurmountable. His persistence moved the mountain at last."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
David asked, "I'd like more information on the Keres, please."
The room grew silent.
"Why?" Brinna looked frightened.
"Laura's father has been stolen." His fangs started to ache. Whatever they were, they made him hungry.
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His pain shivered through Laura's body. I feel weird, David. And there are too many of them. Laura sat on the floor.
"Please, give us more room. My wife is feeling ill." It was the only thing he could think to say to alleviate Laura's distress. These creatures were causing the hunger.
There were too many, too close. Brinna and the others immediately backed away from the vampires. The room emptied until only Laura, David, Brinna and one other being remained.
"Is there more you wish to learn?" the librarian asked.
David paused and sat beside his wife.
Ask, and let's get out of here. The hunger began to ease, and Laura took her hand away from her mouth.
"I think the Keres did it, and if we're going to get him back, we need to know how to defeat them," he said.
Brinna raised her hand. The walls turned ghastly gray. Pictures of Keres stood garishly on each wall. The narrating voice explained, "The Keres are immortal. They are death spirits, who feasted on the dead. Within the last five millennia, they have developed a taste for the living. They are the forebears of the vampires of Earth and share some of the same weaknesses. Keres cannot abide bright light. They avoid it, as it saps their powers, weakening them, making them vulnerable. The salt ocean of Earth carries the primordial mix that formed human beings. A Kere forced into the sea will burn like fire as it dissolves. A stake through the heart will kill a Kere. Decapitation or cutting it in half also destroys it."
The walls went blank.
Disappointment tightened David's jaw. "How do we get to the Black Palace?"
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"Please, don't have me show you the Black Palace." The woman held both hands over her face in distress.
"I am Brinna's mate, Brin. I will take you there," said the man, "as long as you promise not to tell the Keres how you got there."
Brinna shrieked. She pulled on his arm. "No, please, you can't."
Laura intervened. "Really, there's no need to come with us. You could just tell us the way or give us a map."
"There speaks a tender heart, a vampiress more luminous than the moon. I have read of the seductive powers of the vampiress with her dark looks, but you are a different music in the universe. The ocean halts its tide to hear your gentle sigh. And a Telkhine too. The scent of the wind is on you," said Brin.
David took Laura's hand. "This is my mate Laura. I'm David."
Brinna frowned. "You don't belong here. The sooner you leave our land the better."
"Come," said Brin, "this way."
The woman's fear washed over Laura in waves. "You could give us a map and we'll be on our way. We don't want to trouble you."
"What is a map?" asked Brin.
"You don't have to take them." Brinna was inconsolable.
Brin turned to embrace her. "They will not get lost if I take them. I will be back again before you know it."
"Then I must go with you. Only I can call forth the temple's library on the walls of the lilith. I will go too."
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Brin didn't look happy but agreed. Taking Brinna's hand, he led David and Laura down a beautiful corridor, where murals danced along the walls depicting the lives of the librarian and her people.
Hallways became rooms of dazzling blue stone. Waterfalls fell from ceilings and disappeared into solid floors. Laura stepped into a small waterfall. Tendrils of glowing water caressed her, sparkling all around her. "It's so cool and relaxing." She sighed.
David stepped in beside her. "It tickles." He laughed. Then he kissed her neck and whispered, "We have to go now."
Hesitantly, Laura stepped out of the waterfall. This was such a beautiful and peaceful place; it was easy to forget one's troubles here--too easy.
Endless twists and turns down corridors eventually led to an unceasing stairway.
The wall on one side revealed the heights they had attained. Large, golden birds danced above the clouds that obscured the land below.
"I need to rest." With that announcement, Brinna sat on the smooth white floor, cradled in Brin's arms.
David sat too, and Laura leaned against him.
Brin smiled. "I study dark creatures, so I know a great deal about vampires and the Keres. I view those things Brinna is afraid to see. She has reason to fear the Keres.
Her parents were taken by them and never seen again." Brinna visibly shook at the mention of this fact.
"Can the Keres get in here?" asked Laura.
"No," Brinna answered. "They are afraid of the temple. In the event they ever grow braver, we have built in traps to prevent them entering. Only a kind and good heart can discover the staircase of light. If evil tries to enter, it seals around them."
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"Well, that's ghastly." Laura shivered.
"What would prevent the Keres from using a captive to get in?" David wondered aloud.
"The walls would collapse."
Laura was mortified. "But the innocent captive would be killed as well."
"Ah," answered Brin. "There you have it. No world is perfect, not even ours."
/> Brinna stared dispassionately at them. Where she had started off being unhappy with their presence, Laura became aware that the woman now viewed them as objects of study. "In my studies, vampires do not have mates. They may have a vampire companion or a human slave called a pet, but not mates."
David smiled. "Laura and I are different."
"We gathered that much when you passed through our defenses," said Brin.
"Especially you, because you were bitten by a Kere and have not changed."
"It is a struggle not to change," replied David.
Laura gazed at him with concern. "Are you in pain?"
"No, darling. I'm going to be fine." His lips caressed her neck with small kisses.
"But it's time to rest." He gently stroked her hair.
