Aria swallowed hard and forced herself to hold the detective's stare. “Why, Jonah Porter, I almost believe you think vampires really do exist."
"Yeah, I almost believe I do."
His gaze was hard and serious. Looking into his eyes, Aria found she couldn't breathe. “I saw you leave that church while I was passing by, Aria. It wasn't any coincidence I was there. We're investigating the guy who runs that church."
They were investigating Christian? “The police are investigating the pastor? Why?"
Porter shook his head. “The department, my partner for that matter, isn't investigating him. My brother is and I'm helping."
"Who's your brother?"
"Jake's a different kind of detective. He investigates people of . . . questionable origin."
"Am I supposed to know what that means?"
"It means the guy is dangerous. My brother captures people, and I use that term loosely, who are far crazier than the psychos I apprehend. If he's interested in this guy, you don't need to be around him.” He gave her a hard once-over. “What's the connection?"
"What connection?"
"I meet a guy in your apartment who immediately gets my suspicions up just by looking at him. Later I see the same guy disappear into thin air, and today I catch you leaving a church where my brother swears the pastor isn't what he seems."
"Is anyone really what they seem?” She opened the car door and put one foot on the curb. “Thanks for the ride, Jonah. Now I'm going to help you by giving you a little advice. You're finding bad in the wrong guys. Rialto is a detective of sorts too, and he's helping me look for my mother's killer, a job that, quite frankly, you've done pitifully. Don't get in his way. You have no idea what you're up against."
She noticed Porter's eyes widen in surprise at her remark before she slammed the door shut and left him sitting at the curb.
Hot, searing pain ripped through Eron's abdomen, awakening him from dreamless slumber. He opened his eyes and saw a head full of red hair. He looked down to see his captor putting some type of lotion over his wound. The lotion burned like hell as it seeped into his skin.” What are you doing now?” He managed to get the words out between teeth clenched in pain.
"Trying to heal you. You should rest."
"Ah, I see. You can't let me die until you find my replacement."
His captor looked up, concern deeply embedded in his eyes. A series of bruises and a deep cut down one cheek marred his face, which was free of the usual evil smirk that adorned it. Eron felt strangely unsettled, as though this was the first time he'd spoken to the man. The only other time he'd seen that look in his captor's eyes was the day he'd come into the lab to retrieve a book, darting looks over his shoulder as though he feared being caught in the act.
"There are two of you!"
The man gulped and looked over his shoulder toward the laboratory door before stepping back from Eron. “Don't tell him I was here. He'll kill me."
"You're twins."
"Something like that,” the man answered with a foul expression. It seemed the words he spoke left a bad taste in his mouth. “For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I would stop him if I could."
"Let me go."
"I can't."
"Why the hell not?” Eron tried to keep down his anger, knowing he didn't have the energy to remain conscious for long. He had to get through to the man. “If you fear him, I can offer protection."
The man smirked. “Says the vampire chained to the wall."
Fueled by rage, Eron tried to reach out for the man, but the manacles didn't allow him much movement. The hard metal cut into his already damaged skin, making him yelp in pain.
"Don't, Eron. You'll only make it worse. You can't protect me. Nobody can. He's grown stronger and smarter. Nobody can stop him now."
"Who is he? What does he want with me?"
The man opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it shut with a shake of his head. “If I tell you, might tell him and he'll know I was here.” He placed the bottle of lotion in his pants pocket and shrugged. “I can't release you, but I'll help you as much as possible."
Eron struggled through the tug of unconsciousness trying to pull him away, having to know one more thing. “Why? Why help at all?"
"Because you were right."
Eron started to ask him what he meant, but unconsciousness finally succeeded in pulling him under.
Aria nervously glanced at the clock across the room. It would be dark soon, and she knew without a doubt Rialto, Seta and Christian were going to be pissed when they discovered she was gone.
Shaking off the fear of Rialto's reaction, she lowered her head over one of the many books she'd brought back to the table and continued to read. She'd grabbed every book referencing black magic, the occult, and witches she could gather into one armload. She didn't know what, exactly, she was looking for, but there had to be a cure for Rialto's sickness.
The book she was currently looking over sent tremors down her spine. It was filled with satanic rituals, spells for evil doing, ways to contact the devil and exchange your soul for personal gain. She almost felt like a devil worshiper for reading it, but there in the midst of all that evil she discovered something called The Blood Revelation.
The Blood Revelation was a way to defeat the devil. According to the book, the vampire race was born in evil, but when three innocents refused to allow the evil into their hearts, they started a chain of vampires whose sole purpose was to defend the innocent against acts of evil. According to the book, these three vampires judged the remainder of the vampire race, deeming who was good enough to fight for their side. It also mentioned vampires preselected to bring into the world mighty weapons which would save the world during a war between good and evil. Weapons in the form of children.
Aria dropped the book as Seta's words ran through her mind. Could it be true that she and Rialto were predestined to mate and give birth to a warrior? She picked the book back up and quickly thumbed through the pages until she found where she'd left off.
These special preselected vampires will be known by their strength in conscience and beauty, but most of all their blood. Their blood will strengthen like none other. To drink from a preselected vampire who has not been transformed into his or her vampire self will cause an instant addiction to the blood, to which there is no cure. They must be transformed or whomever has drunk from them will die
Those who are mated share the same soul, are part of one another from birth, and shall have no other mates. If they do not come together, demons will have free reign to walk the earth without fear of destruction
These preselected vampires must be destroyed before given the chance to produce offspring. If they are allowed to produce a child then the child must be hunted and killed before it comes of age and harnesses its full power
"Aria."
Aria jumped, her body trembling in fear as Curtis sat beside her. “Hey, Curtis, I . . .” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the deep blue and purple bruises covering a large area of his face and the stitches which closed the gash running from his eye to the middle of his cheek. “What happened to you?"
"I was mugged,” he answered with a shrug. “Just another day in Baltimore.” His eyes lowered to the book before her, and for a moment she thought she caught real fear in them. But when he looked back at her all she saw was sorrow. “I read in the newspaper that your mother was one of the victims, Aria. I'm so sorry."
Aria closed the book and put her hand on his shoulder. “It's not like it was your fault, Curtis.” The look of guilt that creased his face caused Aria's heart to skip a beat, but surely it was all in her mind. Curtis looked about as dangerous as a newborn kitten.
She cleared her throat, removing her hand from his shoulder and placing it in her lap. “It's bad enough reporters have been hovering around my apartment, trying to get a statement from me but I see they've put my name in their stories too. So much for respecting the privacy of the victims’ loved ones."
"I'
m so, so sorry."
Aria again looked into Curtis's eyes, her breath catching in her throat as she saw raw anguish glistening there. He seemed distraught, torn apart, almost as though he felt some personal responsibility for her loss.
"It's all right, Curtis.” She felt compelled to reassure him, yet scared at the same time. But what was she afraid of? She didn't know, but something inside her was crying out that something was wrong here. Something was very, very wrong. She needed to get back to Rialto. “I, uh, I gotta go now, Curtis."
Curtis's hand clamped onto her wrist as she started to gather up the books strewn across the table. “Wait, Aria. I need to get the journal back from you.” His eyes lowered to the cover of the book she'd been reading, narrowed, and then studied the others. “What are you up to?” His hand tightened around her wrist as his lip curled into an angry scowl.
"What do you mean?” She glanced around, dismayed to see there would be no witnesses if his sudden anger got out of control.
He gestured toward the books with his hand. “Kind of dark stuff, huh? More research?"
"Yeah. I like to be thorough."
His eyes darkened as they bored into hers. “How much research does one need for erotica? The characters screw each other, end of story. Am I correct?"
Aria's mouth fell open as she remembered how awkward he'd seemed after she'd brought up the topic of erotica only days ago. “Curtis, this isn't like you."
He blinked and the darkness in his eyes started to fade. “I'm sorry, Aria. I'm not feeling well right now."
"Maybe you should see a doctor. Those bruises look pretty bad. You might need more medical attention."
"Are you implying that I need to have my head examined? I'm not a psycho, Aria. I'm trying to be a good friend to you. Why must you make it so hard?"
"I'm sorry,” Aria sputtered as Curtis's hand tightened around her wrist even more. His tight grip hurt. “I know you're a good friend, Curtis. I just think you're hurt and not quite yourself. That's all."
He stared at her, seeming to look through her, study her very thoughts. His eye color changed, grew darker, but Aria knew that was impossible. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling she was being examined, and possibly not by Curtis. Finally, he blinked and released his grip on her, revealing a dark red band circling her wrist. “I'm sorry. You're right. I'm not myself today. I'm not Curtis Dunn."
Aria pondered over his last remark, finding it odd he would refer to himself in the third person. “Who are you today?” She didn't know what made her ask that, but the cold look she got in return made her wonder if doing so was a bad move.
"The journal, Aria. I need it."
"Sure. Can I ask why?"
"Because it's not mine and I need it back."
"Oh.” Aria straightened the books on the table until they formed two neat stacks, the black book filled with dark rituals and information about The Blood Revelation was perched on top of one of the stacks. “I'm sorry. When you said I could borrow it, I wasn't aware there it was only for a short time. If I had, I wouldn't have kept it so long, and—"
He shushed her with an impatient wave of his hand. “It's all right. I just need it back. I didn't ask before I took it, and now my brother is upset because he needs it."
"He needs it?” A sense of impending doom swept over Aria, causing her stomach to churn. “What would he need it for if it's just fiction?"
"That's not your concern, Aria. I just need the damn book!"
"Okay, fine.” Aria put her hands up, palms out in surrender. “I'll have to bring it back to you tomorrow night. It's at my apartment."
"I need it now."
"Well, I don't have it on me now, Curtis. You'll have to wait."
"Not until tomorrow. I can't."
"Curtis . . ."
"I'll take you home and you can get it for me."
Aria felt her blood turn icy at the thought of him taking her home, knowing where she lived . . . where she slept at night. But why should she be afraid? This was Curtis, the awkward, shy, geeky librarian's aide. What could he possibly do to her? But, looking into his eyes now, peeking out from his marred face, she got the strangest feeling there was another being altogether inside of Curtis Dunn.
"Is there a problem, Aria?"
"No, no. Not at all.” She shook her head vigorously, nervously, and wondered if he could tell. What was going on? “Just, uh, help me put these books back and we can go, or do you have to wait until your shift is over?"
"I'm not working today. Let's get a move on, Aria. I want to be home before sundown.” He grabbed the black book off the top of one of the piles and dropped it onto the table. “Where did you get that book, anyway?"
"Here, of course,” she answered as she grabbed the other stack of books and followed him to replace them on the shelves. He hesitated and peered back at her.
"We don't carry books that dark. Who gave it to you? You can tell me."
"I did tell you. I found it right here on this shelf with the others.” She replaced the other books and returned to the table.
"That's not a library book.” Curtis followed behind her and picked up the book, checking the back cover. “See. No bar code."
Confused, Aria grabbed the book and flipped through its pages, inspecting the cover as well. He was right. There wasn't a bar code and no stamp or stickers anywhere identifying it as a library book. “But it was right there on the shelf."
"Maybe someone else left it by mistake or returned it to us, thinking it was another book."
"But why would the librarian place it on the shelf, knowing it's not a library book?"
Curtis shrugged impatiently. “Put it back where you got it. Maybe the owner will come back for it. You don't want a book like that to get into the wrong hands."
"How do you know so much about it?"
"Do you think they just let anyone work for the library? I know a lot about books, all kinds of books, and that is not a very nice book. Now put it back."
"Yeah, sure.” Aria walked back over to the shelves and hid the book behind a group of others, hoping nobody else found it before she could come back to retrieve it. She wanted to take it with her, to see if there was anything else to be learned about The Blood Revelation, but something in Curtis's tone when he'd ordered her to leave it there scared her all the way down to her bones. Especially when his command to leave it there totally went against his concern that it could fall into the wrong hands. He seemed to just want her away from it.
She couldn't give the journal back to Curtis tonight. There was obviously something in it she'd missed. She needed to give him the slip, but how could she manage to do that? As adamant as he was that he was escorting her home to retrieve it, she needed a miracle to get out of this corner she'd backed herself into. She turned around and saw her miracle approaching.
"Detective Porter!” The relief she felt slipped into her voice, and judging by the way the detective's eyes subtly squinted for a second, she knew some of her fear had as well. When Curtis turned his head to see the man approaching from behind him, she nodded toward him and sent the detective a look she hoped said, Get me away from this nut job now
"I'm glad I caught you before you left, Ms. Michaels,” Jonah said, stepping past Curtis without pausing to acknowledge the other man's presence. “I have to speak with you. Allow me to escort you home.” He took her elbow in his hand and started to move past Curtis.
"Wait a second!” Curtis's cheeks turned an angry shade of red, but Aria could see in his eyes that he felt threatened by the detective. “I'm giving her a ride home so she can return something of mine."
"Police business,” Jonah said as he flashed his badge and quickly ushered Aria out of the library and into his car.
"Want to explain what that was about?” Jonah asked when he slid into the driver's seat and started the car, checking for traffic before pulling out onto the road. “You looked trapped."
"I thought I was,” Aria answered honestly. “Curtis, that guy in th
ere, is usually a really sweet, completely safe kind of guy. Tonight he was kind of crazy."
Jonah spared her a concerned glance before returning his focus to the road. “What did he do?"
"Nothing really. He just kind of weirded out. He let me borrow a book earlier, and then tonight he comes into the library on his day off to tell me he needs it back and got kind of threatening when I told him it was at my apartment."
"Did he actually threaten you?"
"No, no, it was just something in his voice and in his eyes.” Aria shivered. “He gave me the creeps. Maybe I'm just on edge."
"Well, I can't do anything to him if he didn't verbally threaten you, but be on guard. If your gut tells you there is something wrong with a person, then there probably is. What's up with his face?"
"He said he got mugged."
"Maybe,” Jonah said in a way that made Aria feel he didn't really believe Curtis's story. “Keep your distance from the guy. He's not so bad, feel kinda sorry for him to tell the truth, but his brother is a real wacko. I've dealt with him before. Crazy bastard thinks he's the son of the devil."
"Are you serious?"
"Extremely. According to his file, the twins were the result of a rape. Guess that's enough to make a person a little nuts."
Aria gasped. “Curtis's biological father was a rapist?"
"Yep. Mother kept both kids despite their paternity. She died while they were teenagers. Suicide. Cut her own throat."
Aria shook her head in sympathy as they neared her apartment building. Trevaris was outside fixing the front railing. She was surprised to find he was the only person out there.
"Looks like the reporters decided to leave me alone,” she commented as the car rolled to a stop.
"For a while, at least. There was another body found downtown, but it doesn't seem to be related. They don't know that though.” He shifted in his seat so he could look her in the eye. The light from a nearby street lamp spilled into the car, highlighting the contours of his face. “Like I said, I came to the library so I could speak with you. I told my brother what I saw, and there's some real concern that this guy you're involved with isn't who you think he is."
Blood Curse Page 18
