Deeper than the Night

by Amanda Ashley

Chapter Nine

  "What do you mean, I can't go home?" Kara stared at Alexander, her brow furrowed.

  "Just what I said," Alexander replied calmly. "You must realize it isn't safe. "

  "Not safe?" Kara shook her head, completely bewildered.

  "Barrett's up to something, Kara. I don't know what, but I don't trust him, and you shouldn't either. Barrett was holding you against your will. They refused to let your grandmother see you. "

  Kara shook her head, refusing to believe a reputable doctor would be up to something sinister.

  "I want to take you away from here. "

  "Away?" Kara stopped pacing. Standing by the window, she turned to face Alexander. "No, I can't leave Nana, or Gail. "

  "I don't think you have any choice. "

  "Dammit, Alexander, you're scaring me!"

  "You should be scared. There's something not right here, and until I know what it is, I don't want you going home. "

  Maybe he was right. Maybe she shouldn't go home right away. She slid a furtive glance in his direction. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt for Alex, couldn't refute the feelings of her own heart, but what did she know about him, really? Nothing. Not one darn thing. And he expected her to go away with him. The thought held a certain appeal, and yet, for all she knew, he could be working with Barrett.

  "You can trust me, Kara. "

  Kara took a step backward. Was he reading her mind? But no, such a thing was impossible. Wasn't it?

  "How do you know what I was thinking?" she demanded.

  Alexander shrugged. It took less than no effort at all to read her mind, but he couldn't tell her that.

  "It's a logical assumption. You have no reason to trust me. In your place, I would feel the same. "

  She looked skeptical, and more than a little fearful.

  "I won't hurt you, Kara. You must believe that. "

  Alexander ran a hand through his hair. He had to take her away from here. No doubt Barrett was searching for her even now. If what Alex suspected was true, an unscrupulous man could make millions by selling vials of Kara's blood to the sick, the dying. And if they should discover who he was, what he was . . . Alex didn't even want to think of the consequences. He would be questioned, examined, kept in a cage while they harvested his blood.

  All these years, Alexander mused. He had lived here two hundred years and never known about the miraculous change that had been wrought in his blood. His inherent powers had multiplied, but he had never suspected that the healing power in his blood could be transferred to another, or that he had the ability to heal the sick as he was able to heal himself. Even when he had given Kara his blood, he hadn't been certain of the outcome.

  He felt Kara staring at him. With an effort, he wipedhis face clean of expression.

  "I've got to go home, Alexander. I can't just disappear without letting Nana and Gail know where I am. "

  "Right now, I think they're better off not knowing. "

  "Where do you want to go?"

  "I have a place up in Eagle Flats. You'll be safe there. "

  "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, won't your life be in danger, too, if you're with me?"

  "I don't think your life is in danger, Kara. Only your freedom. "

  "I wish I knew what this was all about. "

  "They didn't tell you anything?"

  "Not really. Only that there was some abnormality in my blood, and they were afraid it might be contagious, or toxic. They said they'd have to keep me in isolation until they discovered what the problem was. " She let out a long sigh of exasperation. "They said they had checked all the blood donors, and all of them were normal. "

  Alexander grunted softly, waiting for her to make the connection, to ask the questions he couldn't answer.

  Kara stared at Alex for a long moment, her mind racing. And then she knew, knew without a doubt.

  "It's your blood," she said flatly. "It's your blood that's caused all this trouble, isn't it? That's why you were so interested in my recovery, why you kept coming to see me. You wanted to make sure I was all right. "

  "Kara . . . "

  "It's true, isn't it? Your blood is tainted, or . . . or something. "

  "I assure you, my blood is quite normal. " It wasn't a lie, he thought ruefully. His blood was normal. For him.

  "I don't believe you. You're hiding something. I know you are. "

  She stood frozen in place, her eyes blinking rapidly, her heart pounding even as her mind refused to accept what she was thinking. Good Lord, Gail was right! The thought that Alexander was a vampire was inconceivable, and yet it was the only thing that made sense. She had never seen him during the day. She had never seen him eat . . .

  A faint smile curved Alexander's lips as he perceived her thoughts. He wasn't a vampire. Not in the true sense of the word, but he decided that was information best kept to himself. At least for the time being.

  "Kara . . . " Alexander held out his hands in a gesture of appeal. "Kara, I assure you, I'm not a vampire. '"

  "You're doing it again!" she exclaimed.

  "Doing what?"

  "Reading my mind. How do you do that?" Alex shook his head in denial. He would have to be more careful. "We talked about this once before, I think. After all, Gail came here looking for a vampire. It's only natural that the thought should linger in your mind. I've had the feeling ever since then that you thought she might be right. Come, I want to show you something. "

  She hesitated a moment, then followed him out of the den and into the kitchen, wondering what he wanted to show her.

  "Look, Kara. " He pointed at the window opposite him. "Look. "

  Confused, she glanced at their reflections in the window.

  "Vampires cast no reflection, no shadow. " He crossed the floor to the counter, picked up a banana. Peeled it. And took a bite. "They don't eat. "

  "But your cupboards are empty; you don't have any soap to wash dishes . . . "

  "I don't cook. " He tossed what was left of the banana into the trash. "I don't like to eat alone. When I get hungry, I go out. " He shook his head at the doubtful expression on her face. "Will you feel better if I take you out to dinner on our way to Eagle Flats?"

  "Maybe. "

  "You don't have to be afraid of me, Kara," he said quietly. "I won't hurt you. "

  She felt suddenly foolish. "Okay, so it was stupid of me to think you were a vampire. It's just that I've been so worried, so . . . so upset by everything that's happened. "

  "I know. " He moved slowly toward her and held out his arms in silent invitation.

  She hesitated for the space of a heartbeat, and then she stepped into his embrace, sighing as his arms closed around her.

  He stroked her hair. "You'll come away with me, then?"

  "Do I have a choice?"

  "Not really. "

  "Why do I have the feeling that you'll truss me up and toss me in the trunk of your car if I say no?"

  "Probably because that's just what I'll do. "

  She wasn't altogether sure he was kidding.

  "I think we should leave tonight. "

  She didn't want to go; she was afraid to stay. In the end, it was easier to give in. "Tonight!" She glanced at the jeans and sweatshirt Alexander had given her earlier. "I can't leave tonight. I need to go home and pack . . . " The words died in her throat. She couldn't go home.

  "We'll buy whatever you need on the way. "

  "Where's my cell phone? I want to call Nana. "

  Alex shook his head. "Not now. "

  She stared at him in mutinous silence, but didn't argue. Calls could be traced.

  He was relieved that she had decided to see things his way. "Just let me get a few of my things together, and we'll go. "

  Kara wandered through the house, trying to make some sense of what had happened, while Alexander packed. If none of the blood donors w
ere at fault, maybe the problem was hers, and hers alone. Maybe her blood had always been abnormal and no one had ever detected it before. And maybe it was Alexander's blood that was at the root of whatever the problem was, and he was just afraid to tell her.

  Going into the den, she sat down in his chair and closed her eyes. Maybe it hadn't been a blood donor at fault at all. Maybe Dr. Peterson had given her the wrong blood. Maybe the hospital had made some kind of mistake, and Barrett had kept her in isolation in hopes of correcting the problem before anyone else found out about it.

  Kara smiled grimly. That made far more sense than anything else.

  "How long will it take to get to your place?"

  "We should be there by tomorrow night. "

  "I've never been up to Eagle Flats. I hear it's pretty. "

  "Yes. "

  Kara stared out the restaurant window. They had left Moulton Bay three hours ago, and her apprehension about running away had increased with every mile that passed. Gail and Nana must be worried sick. She had to call home, had to tell them she was all right.

  When the waitress arrived, Kara ordered a Caesar salad and a glass of 7-Up, then excused herself to go to the rest room.

  Heart pounding, she stepped into the phone booth near the rest rooms and dialed the operator. Moments later, Gail answered the phone. Kara's fingers tapped nervously on the wall asshe waited for Gail to say she would accept the charges.

  "Gail, I don't have time to talk or explain. I just want you to know I'm okay. Tell Nana not to worry. "

  "Kara, where are you? Two men from the hospital came here looking for you. They said you've got some contagious disease. "

  "It isn't true, honey, don't worry. Listen, I've got to go. I'll call you again as soon as I get a chance. "

  "Kara . . . "

  "I love you, Gail. Bye. "

  Kara hung up the phone, then pressed her forehead against the wall. Men were looking for her. Maybe she really was sick. Maybe just being out in public was putting innocent lives in danger . . . .

  "Kara. "

  Startled by his voice, she turned around.

  "You called home, didn't you?"

  She felt a shiver of trepidation at the accusation in his eyes. "I had to. "

  "It was a stupid thing to do. "

  She started to argue, then changed her mind. He was right. It had been stupid. Whoever was looking for her might have managed to bug Nana's phone. Perhaps, even now, Dale Barrett or someone like him was speeding down the highway toward the restaurant.

  "You're right, it was stupid. I'm sorry. "

  "We'd better go. "

  "But . . . what about our food?"

  "We'll get something on the road. "

  Alexander left some money on the table and they left the restaurant.

  Kara sat huddled in her seat as Alex turned the key in the ignition. The engine hummed to life and Alex pulled out of the parking lot. Kara glanced over her shoulder, her gaze sweeping the parking lot and the road behind them. Were they being followed, even now? Why hadn't she listened to Alex? Why was she with Alex? Maybe he was in on it. Maybe she'd jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire . . . .

  She slid a glance in his direction. He was staring straight ahead, watching the road, but she had the distinct impression that he knew her every thought.

  How could she keep him from reading her mind? If she wanted to get away from him, how could she do it if he knew what shewas thinking, feeling?

  Forty-five minutes later, he pulled into a McDonald's drive-through and ordered burgers and fries and two large cups of coffee.

  She couldn't stifle a feeling of relief when she saw Alex bite into the hamburger. After all, one bite of a banana didn't really prove anything, and no matter what she'd said to the contrary, she hadn't been able to shake the feeling that there was something inhuman about Alexander Claybourne. Now, watching him eat something as mundane as a Big Mac and fries made her realize how ludicrous such thoughts had been.

  The darkness and the motion of the car made her sleepy. Leaning her head back against the seat, she closed her eyes.

  Kara came awake slowly. Keeping her eyes closed, she turned over, thinking she'd just sleep for another ten minutes, and then she'd get up and go to work . . . .

  And then she remembered. She wasn't going to work today, perhaps not for a long time. With a start, her eyelids flew open and she found herself staring into Alexander's face, which was only inches from her own.

  He was lying on his side, asleep. In her bed. She glanced around the room. A motel, obviously, judging from the ugly picture bolted to the wall and the pay TV. She peeked under the covers, felt her cheeks grow hot when she saw that she wore only her bra and underpants. He'd undressed her while she slept.

  Her gaze flew back to Alex's face. He was still sleeping. It wasn't right for a man to be so beautiful, she thought. His lips were full and perfect. His nose was straight. His lashes were thick and dark. His skin was an even brown, as though he spent a great deal of time in the sun, yet she had never seen him in daylight . . . .

  He couldn't be a vampire! It was ludicrous to even think such a thing. He was, however, very much a man. A very attractive and desirable man. The thought of being in bed with him when he woke up was something she didn't even want to consider.

  Moving as carefully as possible, she eased over to her side of the mattress and sat up. Looking at her watch, she saw that it was almost four. She'd never slept so late in her life.

  Grabbing her clothes from the chair, she went into the bathroom to take a shower.

  Alex groaned softly as the bathroom door closed behind Kara. He had slept at her side through what had been left of the night and all day long, aware of every move she made. Several times, she had brushed against him; once, she had cuddled up to him. Not even the fact that he had slept in his jeans had kept his body from reacting to her nearness, to the brush of her thigh against his leg, the touch of her hand on his bare chest.

  He had not been with a woman he cared for in more years than he cared to recall, and the need that had surged through him had been excruciating. It was not common for those of his kind to go so long without sexual gratification. Kara's nearness, added to the fact that he was becoming increasingly fond of her, had fueled his desire. The fact that she was beautiful, inside and out, and less than a breath away, had been sheer torture. A torment he could have easily escaped by sleeping on the chair, or on the floor, yet he had been powerless to resist the opportunity to be near her.

  He felt his desire spring to life anew when he heard the shower. The thoughts and images running rampant through his mind shamed him, yet he could not help but imagine how she looked standing under the water . . . .

  With an oath, he threw the covers aside and got out of bed. There was a carafe of hot water and some packets of instant coffee on the table in front of the window and he quickly made a cup, then drank it down, cursing softly as the hot liquid burned his tongue. Served him right, he thought irritably.

  Pulling back the heavy curtains, he glanced outside. The sky was heavily overcast and promised rain before the day was out. He was standing at the window, staring out into the parking lot, when he heard the bathroom door open. Taking a deep breath, he counted to ten, then turned around.

  "I'm sorry," Kara said, "I didn't mean to wake you. "

  "You didn't. There's coffee on the table. "

  Kara nodded, wondering why he seemed so tense.

  "I'm going to take a shower, then we'll go. We'll get something to eat on the road. "

  "All right. " She went to fix herself a cup of coffee, acutely conscious of Alex moving about behind her as he pulled clean clothes from the duffel bag he had packed the night before.

  She heard the bathroom door shut, and she let out the breath she'd been holding.

  It was close to six that evening when they left the motel. The tension between t
hem seemed to grow as the night went on. After they left the motel, they had stopped at a roadside restaurant for dinner, and again at a strip mall so she could buy some clothes.

  Since she had no money with her and didn't want to be indebted to Alex for more than was absolutely necessary, Kara had selected only a few essential items, but Alex had insisted she buy several dresses, as well as slacks and sweaters, shoes, socks, a nightgown, robe and slippers, as well as toiletries. She had promised to pay him back, but he had dismissed her offer with a wave of his hand.

  "I don't need your money, Kara," he had said quietly.

  The words What do you need? had risen in her throat, but she had choked them back, afraid of what his answer might be.