She glanced nervously at the Albino, who only smiled and flashed his teeth. His pronounced canines gleamed. Keeping a wary eye on him, she skimmed the steps and edged toward Fayne. Saying nothing, she reached his side, then turned to face the Albino. She calmed when Fayne's fingers wrapped around hers.
Max jerked. "How touching," he said.
Erihn recoiled. "How is he doing that?"
"Max is telepathic. Edward is a mute as well as a freak. He speaks through Max," Fayne said.
She blanched. "It doesn't appear Max enjoys it."
"Would you want to dwell in the mind of a madman?" Fayne snarled, his gaze never leaving the Albino.
"I did." She spoke softly, and his fingers tightened around hers.
"Sticks and stones, Fayne. It's probably best you don't annoy me as I hold what you desire most," the child piped. "Regardless of what Max enjoys, here by my side he'll stay. Unless you produce the diary, Erihn."
It was back to the diary again. What was so important about the diary that people would kill for it? It was a piece of fiction... or was it? It certainly appeared vampires were real enough. Either that or this man needed the name of a good orthodontist for that overbite of his.
"Where's the diary, Erihn?"
Erihn glanced at Fayne's profile to see he was still staring intently at the Albino. Something was going on she didn't understand.
"In my car," she rasped.
"Would you please be so kind as to retrieve it?" Max's voice was flat.
She glanced at Fayne and he nodded imperceptibly. She released his hand and gave the Albino a wide berth as she scampered up the steps. She ran down the hall to the front door. Her heart thudding, she stuffed her feet into a pair of hiking boots.
What should she do? She grabbed a jacket from the peg and escaped into the night. Sleet stung her skin as she ran to her car and threw open the door. She needed a gun. Did Mac have any guns? She fumbled around, looking for her bag. Would she even know how to load one if she did have one?
No.
"Damn," she hissed, dragging her purse out from behind the driver's seat.
Could Fayne take him? The Albino didn't look all that strong, but the dark- haired man did. Who was he and where did he enter into the mix? Maybe Fayne could hold him down and she could bash the other one on the head.
Her breath whistled through her clenched teeth as her fingers found the old box. She pulled it out of the bag and stuffed it under her coat.
The sleet was tapering off as she ran back to the house, her feet sliding on the ice-covered ground. The candles burning all over the downstairs acted as a beacon through the open door. Erihn skidded on the tiles as she slammed it closed. She shed the coat and boots and tiptoed into the kitchen. Looking around, she spied the butcher's block filled with knives. She reached for one.
"Don't bother," Max's voice piped. "Knives will have no effect on me."
Erihn glanced and saw that they could see her through the archway. She scowled, and Fayne gave her a small smile. Squaring her shoulders, she marched into the living room.
"Is that the book?" Edward asked through Max.
"Yes."
"Give it to Miles, here." The Albino indicated the dark-haired man.
She moved toward the man as he turned from the fireplace to accept the box, his dark eyes not meeting hers. A tingle rippled up her arm as he grasped the opposite end of the case. Erihn released her hold, then jerked her hand away to break the connection.
A crash of thunder made her jump. Brilliant lightning drew her attention and something light-colored on the deck caught her eye. In a second flash of lightning, she saw the tiny blonde woman, motionless, her head severed from her body.
"Lovely, wasn't she?" Max said.
Erihn gulped. "Why did you kill her?" She looked at the box, now secure in Miles' hands, and wondered if she'd just given away the key to keeping them all alive.
"She was of no use to me."
"And what about us?" she asked, boldly looking the Albino in the eye. "Exactly what use are we?"
The Albino smiled, his fangs flashing. "Well, the child has his uses, of course. And you, my dear, are lovely, scar and all. I do have a great appreciation for beauty, especially for that which is not as it seems."
Erihn frowned. What in the devil was he? From outward appearances, he was a textbook vampire, complete with fangs, pasty skin and black cloak. Was he what he appeared to be?
"Fayne is another matter altogether," Max said.
"Why is that?" She narrowed her eyes.
"He is of no use whatsoever. In reality, he's a hindrance."
"Why?"
The Albino's expression was curious. "You don't know, do you?"
"She doesn't know anything," Fayne growled.
Edward threw back his head as if to laugh, only the sound came from the child's mouth instead. Chills ran down her back as the vampire shook his head. "You're kidding me! She wrote about your race and doesn't know what a monster you are?"
Erihn glanced nervously at Fayne, then back to the Albino.
"No," said Fayne.
"Your lover's made of fool of you, my dear. How does it feel to have been seduced by a were-cat? The so-called mythical creature of your novel?"
That's it, they were all mad. How did he know what had happened between them? She shook her head, a feeling of panic blossoming in her chest. "Were-cat's do not exist," she stated. "I don't know how many times I have to say this, but they're a figment of someone's imagination."
The Albino nodded in Fayne's direction. "Fayne, would you please show the lady we're not all crazed?"
Fayne growled, a feral sound that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. His eyes glowed with a flickering golden light. Her breath caught.
"No," he snapped.
Edward shifted his hand and clenched it around the boy's neck. Max shrieked as the fingers tightened. "I could break him in half so easily," Max crooned.
A peculiar power began to fill the room, soft as a breeze chilling her flesh; the momentary sensation of icy needles prickling her skin left her gasping. The urge to scream began to build. Erihn clenched a hand over her heart as an amazing amber fire flickered before her eyes. Was she going to faint?
"Stop," Fayne snarled.
Erihn trembled as the strange energy faded, leaving her feeling edgy, restless. Fayne reached for her, and she took a step toward him. His fingertips brushed hers.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
He backed away. Closing his eyes, he stood still and silent. Then, right before her eyes, he evaporated. His form faded, became transparent as the shadow of a cat began to take shape. One moment he was there, the next he was gone, and a cat stood in his place.
It was the cougar.
Erihn stared into the golden eyes, transfixed. It was the animal Fayne claimed was his, the very same animal that had saved her life in the cave. He really was a were-cat.
"What do you think, my dear?"
Erihn swung her gaze from the cat to the Albino.
She said the first thing that came to mind. "Astounding."
The Albino smiled. "Indeed, it is. Were-cats are very rare, and your lover would fetch quite a price on the underground market. Their legendary powers are in demand, especially since they're almost impossible to catch and even harder to keep. You see, they don't do well in captivity. They're rarely worth the trouble as they cannot be tamed."
The Albino turned and looked at Miles. After a moment of silence, Miles nodded and left the room, the box containing the diary tucked under his arm. Erihn heard the front door open, then close.
"What are you?" she blurted.
He smiled. "You haven't figured that out yet? And I thought you were a bright girl. Why, I'm a vampire, my dear."
Erihn recoiled in horror and he laughed.
"You're joking," she hissed. Her knees wobbled, and she grabbed the back of a chair for support.
"Hardly. You didn't believe Fayne either? That's too bad." H
e shook his head. "Trust is such a precious commodity."
"What happens now?"
"Miles is taking the book to safety, and I'll deal with your lover."
Erihn's eyes narrowed. "Deal with him how?"
"Kill him, of course."
Erihn fought the urge to snarl. Her hands trembled with the effort it cost to contain her rage. She needed to think clearly and get Max away from him. "And Max. Will you leave him here with me?"
"My word, no. You are a little Pollyanna, aren't you? The child goes with me and you'll remain to bury the dead." He paused. "Unless I decide to make you one of them. The dead, that is. Or maybe the undead? Now there's a thought. You'd make a lovely vampire, a timeless gift for a timeless beauty."
Erihn glanced at Fayne only to see that his eyes were locked on something outside the window, something cloaked in the darkness. "Are you so sure you can kill him?" Mentally, she scrambled for a way out of this mess, coming up with nothing that would help them.
"My darling, a were-cat cannot compete with a vampire."
Fayne turned and looked at her. She saw love shining in the golden depths of his eyes. Love and confidence. Could he take a vampire? She jumped as she felt his black-tipped tail curl around her ankle in an intimate stroke.
"You might want to clue him in on that, as I don't think he agrees with you," Erihn said with bravado.
"It won't be the first time Fayne has been wrong," the vampire smirked.
"Give me the child."
"I'll have both the book and the child, regardless."
"That remains to be seen," she shot back. "If you two are going to fight, then the child's in peril, is he not?"
The albino watched her, his eyes measuring her worthiness. She refused to flinch under his regard. It was imperative she get her hands on Max and remove him from danger. Maybe she could keep him safe by hiding him in the crawl space under the steps. Could she hide the child from a vampire? If not, all was lost.
The vampire nodded then released the child. Max staggered to his feet and moved woodenly, wavering on his thin legs. Erihn reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into her arms. He leaned against her, tremors wracking his body.
The vampire rose to his feet, his movements graceful, ageless. He indicated the French doors and Fayne-cat bobbed his dark head. The vampire opened the doors, pausing to give Erihn an icy smile before stepping into darkness. Bliss' body lay just outside the door, and a few inches from her outstretched arm was a sword. Fayne stepped daintily over her, pausing to brush his nose across her damp hair before moving onto the deck.
Erihn's eyes burned as she looked at the child she held in her arms. His skin was translucent, and he was so still. Purple shadows marred the delicate skin beneath his eyes, and she felt a surge of anger spring to life. She closed her eyes and clutched Max to her chest. A brilliant amber fire flowed behind her eyelids. Erihn trembled as she faded into the light and gave herself to the rage.
Renault was here.
Fayne could feel his old friend in the darkness, watching and waiting. He turned to face Edward. The rain had stopped, leaving a thin layer of ice that cracked beneath his paws. The night was hushed, the air icy cold. It would snow before morning.
Edward mockingly bowed in his direction as Fayne bared his teeth in a snarl.
The vampire attacked.
Fayne darted to the side as the creature flew at him. Rage would lose this battle and he had no intention of losing his cool. The vampire missed by scant inches, and he struck out at Edward's leg, his claws leaving deep scores through the black pants and cold skin.
The vampire spun, his eyes glowing red as he hissed. He leapt again and, this time, Fayne met him head on. Lunging, he leapt into the air. His massive paws struck Edward full in the chest, stopping him in his tracks. They went down in a tangle, Edward's teeth grazing Fayne's neck as Fayne snapped at his throat.
Fayne's teeth hit the mark, and the scent of old blood filled his nostrils as he tore through Edward's skin. The vampire screamed, a silent unearthly scream, as he flung Fayne away from him. Edward staggered, his foot striking the abandoned sword with a discordant clang. Fayne's eyes narrowed as the vampire scooped up the weapon, triumph flashing in his eyes. So much for being a gentleman and fighting on an even playing field. Edward was once again showing his true colors. No surprise there.
Fayne was careful to keep his eyes on the vampire as they circled, waiting for a break. He was determined to make Edward strike first. Patience would win this game and he had that in spades. Edward lunged and Fayne feinted to the left, then to the right, but not quite fast enough. The sword left a blazing trail of pain down his shoulder.
Fayne danced away, snarling as he scrambled for purchase on the icy deck. A thud sounded to his right. A massive panther landed on the deck, the structure shuddering beneath its weight. Golden eyes locked on Edward as the vampire smiled and inclined his head. Blood still ran down his neck from the wound Fayne had given him.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a mortal wound.
Fayne could have sworn the panther returned the smile. The big cat barely glanced at Fayne; they both knew what they needed to do. Many times, he and Renault had been in similar situations. They were well-versed in hand-to-paw combat.
A misty rain began to fall as Fayne darted to the vampire's left while Renault went to the right. Staying on opposite sides of the vampire, they began to circle, waiting for an opportunity.
Edward's gaze darted from one cat to the other, a look of horror dawning on his face. Thanks to his injury, Fayne knew Edward would come for him first. He continued his pace, not allowing himself to give in to the tension. When the vampire lunged, Fayne leapt onto the hot tub cover, leaving Edward jabbing the sword into the air where he'd been seconds before. The sword hit the wood with a tremendous thud.
The mistake had been made.
Edward wrenched the sword free, leaving a terrific gash. With a snarl, Renault leapt, hitting the vampire behind the legs while Fayne leaped into the fray. Already overbalanced, Edward flailed wildly, the sword flying from his hand as he went down onto his back. Fayne landed square on his chest. Before the vampire could even think, he dropped full length on the vampire and their eyes locked.
Fayne screamed the hair-raising cry of a cougar. It echoed off the walls of house and rolled into the valley below. He dropped his head and, with a single motion, tore the vampire's throat out.
The gush of primitive blood filled his mouth, and he staggered off the vampire. Gagging, Fayne spat out the chunk of cold flesh before closing his eyes. He concentrated on the violet fire and let it surround him.
The misty rain felt good on his bare skin, even if it was ice cold. Fayne tilted his head back, allowing the mist to wash the blood away. His shoulder ached from his wound and his throat throbbed from the vampire bite. He would have to disinfect them both. He hoped Jennifer had a bottle of Vampire-Be-Gone sitting around somewhere.
Edward's limbs twitched and an eerie whistling came from the hole in his throat as he struggled to breathe through his severed windpipe. Fayne rose to his feet. Even with such a massive throat wound, it was possible for a vampire to survive. They were hardy buggers, just like cockroaches.
He picked up the sword and stalked to the vampire. Edward's eyes were glazing, but there was life still lurking in him. If left alone long enough, he could heal himself. Fayne pressed the point of the sword over Edward's heart and snarled, "I'll see you in hell."
With a sickening crunch, Edward's body jerked as Fayne caved in his chest and impaled his heart with the sword, pinning him to the deck. He took a deep breath of the frosty air. For now, this was enough. Later, he'd remove the heart and ensure Edward would walk the earth no more.
Renault padded over and sat down next to him with a thump. Fayne grinned down at the cat. "Thank you, my friend."
The panther blinked.
A soft breeze danced over his skin, and he raised his head as he scented the wind. Shadows danced on the edge of h
is vision before slowly coalescing into solid forms levitating just off the deck rails. One by one, dark figures emerged from the shadows and swooped to land silently on the deck.
Fayne backed away as he recognized the stooped, midgetlike figures. They were the minions of the witch known as Mortianna, Bliss' mother. Their floor- length robes made a dry slithering sound over the deck as they gathered around Bliss in a tight circle. White, sticklike hands emerged from the full sleeves as they gathered their fallen one. The tallest figure produced a silvery cloth as a faint, unearthly wail sounded somewhere in the darkness.
Fayne's hair stood on end as he acknowledged the sound of loss from another living being. It could only be Mortianna herself.
Gently, the minions wrapped Bliss in the cloth, their movements reverent, their heads bowed as they worked. The cloth glowed bright where it came in contact with her body. Tenderly, they raised her upon their shoulders to bear her into the night. The minions melded with the darkness, carrying Bliss, their master's only child, to her home. They moved over the land until only the faintest speck of light from her shroud was left.
Fayne blinked, then they were gone. Bliss was gone forever.
Tears stung his eyes as he turned and tottered into the living room, coming to a halt as a savage snarl greeted him. His son lay in the archway, looking as if he were sleeping. Standing over him stood the most beautiful cougar he'd ever seen. Her coat was a rich reddish brown and her eyes were filled with amber fire.
He gulped for air as the breath left his lungs.
"Erihn?"
The cat shrieked and he could have sworn a look of panic crossed its face. "Erihn, do you know how to change back?"
The cat shook its head violently.
Fayne laughed and the cat scowled at him. He crossed the room, then lowered himself cautiously on the steps and scooped his son into his lap. Erihn-cat immediately began licking his ear and checking his injuries, soft little snarls sounding from her throat. Fayne laughed again.
"Quit, that tickles." He looked down at Max, deeply asleep, exhausted from his ordeal. All that mattered was he was safe and back in his father's arms.
"Erihn, listen to me." Fayne caught sight of Renault, who'd wandered into the living room, then sat down to watch the show. "I'll tell you how to change back."
Wilder, J. C. - Shadow Dweller 3 Page 17
