Dark Melody (Dark Series - book 12)

by Christine Feehan

  “But he will not die,” a soft feminine voice said from behind her. “Do not be alarmed — I am Syndil and this is Barack.”

  Startled, Lisa spun around, nearly falling off the chair. She hadn’t heard a thing, and the security guard hadn’t escorted anyone into the room, yet two people were standing just inside the door. Her heart pounding in alarm, Lisa debated whether to scream for help. It took a moment before she recognized the names. Barack and Syndil from the Troubadour band. Dayan’s friends.

  “How did you get in here?” Lisa whispered. She didn’t understand anything that was going on.

  “Cullen has been our friend for a long time. He risked his life to warn us when we were in danger. We would never allow him to die,” Barack told her. He smiled gently, looking directly into her eyes. “You must be Lisa, Corinne’s sister. Dayan has told us much about you.”

  Lisa burst into a storm of fresh tears. “They’ve taken Corinne.”

  Syndil circled Lisa’s shoulders comfortingly. “Corinne is fine, Lisa. She was dying here. Dayan could not allow such a thing. Gregori, one of our greatest healers, has come from New Orleans to help her. We are determined that Corinne and the baby will live.” She squeezed Lisa’s shoulders gently in reassurance and then glided the short distance to Cullen’s side. At once her expression changed. “Barack, he is so pale. There is much damage.” She touched Cullen’s shoulder with gentle fingers. “It is difficult to see him this way.”

  “He will not be so for long,” Barack answered confidently.

  Lisa drew herself up to her full height. “Tell me about Corinne. Where is she? Dayan had no right to remove my sister from the hospital when she was so deathly ill. He had no right.” For the first time in her life, Lisa was not going to hide from the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

  Barack glanced back at her. “Lisa” — his voice was soft but compelling — “you know Dayan. You know that he loves Corinne and wants her to live. He needs her to live. He took her to the only people who have a chance of saving her. You wanted him to save her, remember?”

  Lisa blinked rapidly. She found herself nodding, wondering why she was so upset. Of course Dayan would take care of Corinne. Anyone could tell he was crazy about her. She moved to stand beside the bed, reaching for Cullen’s hand.

  “Sit here near him and stay close while we work,” Syndil invited softly. “No one will come in to disturb us.”

  “Corinne is really going to be all right? She’s with Dayan?” Lisa sat in the chair because the relief was so tremendous that her rubbery legs threatened to give out.

  “Gregori is reputed to be the best in the world.” Syndil’s voice was melodic, easy to listen to. “And yes, Lisa,” she continued, “Dayan is with Corinne and will not leave her side.”

  “Where? I need to see her.”

  Barack reached down and caught her chin, tilting her head so she was forced to look up at him. “You will see her soon, Lisa. Right now, your place is with Cullen. He needs you here. You know Corinne is in the best of hands, but Cullen is alone. He needs care. As soon as he is able to travel, he must be taken to a safe house which Syndil and I will secure. You will care for him there until he can go with you to where Corinne and Dayan are. It is what you want, and you will rest easy over Corinne’s health, trusting in Dayan to inform you of her progress. Dayan must stay with Corinne; it is where he belongs.” Barack’s voice was mesmerizing, hypnotic. Lisa felt as if she were falling forward into his dark eyes.

  Barack made perfect sense to her. She

  had

  to stay with Cullen. She was responsible for his terrible wound, and there was no one else to take care of him. Dayan’s place was definitely with Corinne.

  “I am going to teach you a healing chant, Lisa,” Syndil said softly. “It will help us to aid Cullen. The words are in an ancient language, and they are very beautiful. Listen to the pattern of our words and repeat them with Barack. You will hear my voice rising with yours, but I will concentrate on healing Cullen. I have some small talent in this area — certainly not like Gregori’s, but I believe I can do some good. Please lend your voice to us.” Syndil sounded very gentle, her tone so pure and pleasing to the ear that Lisa could have listened to her forever.

  Barack took several candles from his backpack and lit them, filling the room with a soothing scent. Lisa leaned close to Cullen. it was peculiar, but she could hear Syndil’s voice chanting softly in her head. She was certain Syndil wasn’t speaking aloud, yet she heard the words clearly and began to follow along with them, at first to herself, then joining Barack when he began to chant aloud. Lisa followed his example, repeating the beautiful-sounding words over and over. It was difficult to get the accent just right, but Lisa was determined to try. She had a strange feeling that Syndil really could help Cullen.

  Syndil closed her eyes, focusing totally on the human male lying so still on the bed. At first images arose. Cullen smiling at her. Walking in the forest with him, talking and laughing. Cullen guarding her and Desari when someone had kidnapped Darius’s lifemate. Cullen. He was held in high regard by the entire band. He was under their protection. Syndil took a deep breath, let it out slowly and sent herself outside her own body and into the one lying so still and wounded.

  The wound was terrible. The bullet had ricocheted through Cullen’s body, causing tremendous damage. Syndil began the delicate work of repairing from the inside out. The doctors had done a miraculous job, but Cullen was in trouble. She took her time, wanting to be meticulous. Barack would direct the hospital staff away from the room while she worked. If any of the society made an attempt to enter the hospital to kill Cullen, Barack would know. She kept her entire attention focused on repairing Cullen’s organs. It was painstakingly slow work.

  Exhausted and swaying with weariness, she made her way out of Cullen’s body and back into her own. Barack immediately caught her around the waist to support her. “I’m so proud of you, Syndil. You really came through for him.”

  He needs blood, Barack. Despite all the aid I have given him, he is still in danger. Our blood will ensure his recovery.

  Syndil was drooping with weariness.

  You need blood too.

  Barack’s words were a whispered invitation.

  Lisa jumped up and all but pushed Syndil into the chair. “Is he going to live?” she asked, almost ready to believe in a miracle. Barack and Syndil inspired confidence when she needed to hold on to hope desperately.

  Syndil reached out and took her hand. “We will not give Cullen up to the other world just yet, Lisa. He deserves happiness, and it has been long since he has known such a thing. You care very much for him.” She made it a statement.

  Lisa nodded even as she hedged. “I just met him. But he’s different. I really enjoy his company. And he was hurt trying to save me,” she confessed in a little rush.

  “He is not safe here, Lisa,” Barack told her carefully. “You must realize that. The men who wanted to kill you and your sister want Cullen even more. The security guard placed at his door is very inexperienced. If Cullen remains here, the society will attempt to kill him. The security guard and Cullen and perhaps you will all die. Cullen has no other family. Our band is his family. We would like you to come with us to a place we know is safe. We must take Cullen there to safeguard him. We cannot be with him at all times, and he will need someone to help him while he heals.”

  Lisa’s fingers curled into a fist. She didn’t know what to do, whom to trust. Dayan had said much the same thing about Corinne, and he had been right. “This all started when we went into that bar,” she accused recklessly.

  Syndil looked directly at her. Her voice was gentle but very firm. “You know that is not true. Your brother was murdered by these same men. Just because you do not want something to be true, reality does not change. You must live in the real world, Lisa, not one of illusion. You are in danger, just as Cullen is. I will not force you to accompany us, but we are going to protect Cullen. I am asking you
to trust us of your own free will.”

  I will take her blood and insist on obedience.

  Barack was annoyed with the woman. She was ridiculously stubborn.

  She is the one Cullen has chosen. Out of respect for him and for Dayan ‘s lifemate, we cannot do such a thing.

  Barack snorted his opinion of that. “It was your refusal to accept reality that initiated this crisis. We could have lost both Cullen and Corinne. Did you want him shot? If so, you managed to accomplish it.”

  Barack!

  Syndil hissed a reprimand.

  What are you doing? I think we should take Cullen to safety and wipe his mind clean of this childish woman. She looks good, but what is that without substance?

  Cullen’s hand moved, his fingers creeping toward Lisa’s. “As I recall, Barack,” he whispered, “not so long ago you wanted to shoot me yourself. I seem to inspire that reaction in people. What happened to me?”

  Syndil leaned close to him, her hand gentle as she stroked back the hair from Cullen’s forehead. Lisa was weeping quietly again. “You were shot protecting Corinne and Lisa. As always, you played the hero,” Syndil answered him.

  “Still trying to show me up in front of beautiful women,” Barack said, grinning affectionately down at Cullen.

  Cullen’s gaze sought Lisa’s, but she avoided his eyes by hanging her head even as she clung to his hand. “You never seem to appreciate a woman until I point out her good qualities, Barack.”

  “Do not seek to get me in trouble with this reminder of my former behavior, Cullen,” Barack said, keeping his tone light despite his worry. Cullen was almost gray. Barack looked anxiously at Syndil.

  His lifemate smiled reassuringly at Barack. “It is true, Cullen,” Syndil said. “I have a long memory, and you are the one who made me feel I could live again. You must rest and do as we say.”

  “I want Lisa taken care of.” Cullen was looking at Lisa with love in his eyes. Barack cleared his throat but subsided quickly when Syndil glared at him. “Lisa, don’t cry,” Cullen said softly. “You’re breaking my heart.”

  “He’s right, though — it was my fault. I went to the photo shoot because I didn’t want to believe there was a problem. And now you’re hurt and so is Corinne.”

  “Corinne?” Cullen turned his head to look at Barack. “Where is Corinne?”

  “She is with Dayan,” Barack said soothingly, bending down to look into Cullen’s pain-filled eyes. “You are to rest and heal, Cullen. Dayan will care for Corinne, and we will see to it that Lisa is safe. You have my word on that.”

  “Lisa is under your protection,” Cullen insisted.

  Barack sighed softly. “Of course, Cullen, she is under our protection. I give you my word. Now go back to sleep and stop ordering me around in front of Syndil. She likes it too much.”

  Cullen closed his eyes obediently in response to the hypnotic suggestion in Barack’s voice, immediately Syndil leaned close to Lisa, looking directly into her eyes.

  You must have the security guard escort you to the cafeteria while the nurse keeps an eye on the room. It is urgent that you get something to drink immediately.

  Syndil was feeling weak from the exhausting work of repairing the terrible injuries to Cullen. She needed sustenance, and Cullen needed Barack’s ancient blood to complete the healing process. They could not give it to him and then allow the hospital to take a blood sample. Cullen needed to be moved where they could watch over his health properly and protect him.

  Lisa leaned over Cullen to brush his forehead with a kiss before she turned in obedience to the hypnotic compulsion Syndil had used on her.

  Chapter 11

  Corinne heard the music first. Soft. Sweet. Perfect. It was so wonderful, it brought tears to her eyes. The voice singing the lyrics conveyed a husky blend of male sensuality and outpouring love. She knew who it was and found herself smiling. “Dayan.” She whispered his name softly.

  The music continued, but she felt the slight shifting of the bed where she was lying. “Corinne. I thought you might sleep forever. I want you to know you took several hundred years off my life. I cannot afford another scare like that. The next time I send you to sleep, I expect to find you where I left you.”

  Her soft mouth curved into a smile, but she didn’t open her eyes. “Listen to you. You sound almost as if you’re

  attempting

  to order me around.” She sounded amused, drowsy, incredibly sexy.

  Instantly his blood turned to molten lava, a slow burn that consumed his body and wrapped his heart in flames. She was so beautiful to him, lying quietly beneath the blankets, her hair spread out around her face, a dark silky mass he couldn’t stop himself from touching. Dayan placed his guitar carefully beside the bed and leaned over to kiss her irresistibly lush mouth. “I command and you obey. That is the way it is supposed to be.” His voice was a tool of seduction.

  “Really?” Her smile widened to reveal her intriguing dimple. “I hadn’t heard that. I’ve always thought it was the other way around.”

  “You have been talking to the wrong people.”

  Corinne’s long lashes fluttered, and with a small effort she managed to open them. She lifted her hand to his mouth and touched the lines of strain with a gentle fingertip. “You really were afraid for me. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  His hand captured hers and he brought it to his mouth, kissing the center of her palm before he placed it over his heart. “You did more than worry me, honey. Do you remember what happened?”

  “It’s vague, like a dream. I’m not certain what I remember, what you told me, or what I dreamed. Are Lisa and Cullen all right?”

  “I believe they’re safe.” He hoped it was true. Syndil and Barack had not touched his mind with news, good or bad.

  She stared into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. “I need to know Lisa is alive and well and that Cullen wasn’t hurt too badly.”

  “As soon as I know the details of his condition, I will pass the report on to you. Lisa is being guarded, and nothing will happen to her. I can promise you that.”

  Corinne nodded her acceptance of his word. “My baby’s alive.” She said it softly, lovingly, her tone turning his heart over. “I can feel her moving.”

  Dayan smiled at her, but the expression in his eyes was grave. “She is going to stay right where she belongs until she is strong enough to survive on her own.”

  “Has anyone ever told you how good-looking you are?” she asked. “Because you are, you know. Incredibly good-looking. But more than that, you’re very sweet.”

  Dayan groaned loudly. “Do not say that, Corinne. That is the worst thing you can say to a man. Sexy. Masculine. Brooding. Manly. I can think of a million adjectives I would like, but ‘sweet’ is not one of them.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being sweet, Dayan,” Corinne told him. Her voice sounded far away to her, yet other sounds seemed too loud. Crickets. Night insects. The wind outside rattling the tree branches. “Tell me what happened.”

  “You deliberately ignored my order to sleep and went with my idiot friend Cullen to find Lisa.” He bit out each word between his white teeth, reminding her of a wolf.

  “You don’t mean to call Cullen an idiot,” she chastised gently, not in the least intimidated by his ferocious expression.

  “Cullen knew he was at the top of the society’s hit list and he went out unprotected, and took you with him. I do not consider that good judgment on his part. Hence the term ‘idiot’ might apply.” His tone was severe.

  Corinne went back to rubbing the lines of strain on his handsome face. “Of course it was good judgment. What else could he do? Lisa had taken off, and if he hadn’t followed her, they would have killed her,” she pointed out reasonably.

  “He took you with him.” It was a mistake that Dayan considered unforgivable. Under the circumstances, Dayan thought he was being extraordinarily understanding about it.

  She opened her mouth to reply, but there was a n
ameless expression in his eyes, something wild and untamed, something primitive. “I’ll bet someone has told you that you’re very intimidating,” she teased him, trying to ease the tension. “Not that I’m intimidated by you, but I can see how other people might be.”

  “It would be best for you if you found me intimidating.” He could not be severe with her no matter how hard he tried. She looked up at him, small and fragile, so incredibly beautiful, her sweet, compassionate nature shining out of her eyes, and he was instantly lost. It was enough to drive him to the edge of madness.

  “Do you think?” She didn’t look intimidated, she looked amused. There were dark circles under her eyes and bruises on her forehead, yet her eyes were dancing with laughter. “I’m not at all sure that would be good for you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the undue adulation all those fans give you.”

  One black eyebrow shot up.

  “Undue

  adulation? I totally deserved adulation. Get used to it, woman. Night after night while I am up on the stage playing, you will have to sit there sharing me with my fans. There is no need to be jealous, Corinne. I will see only you while I am performing.”

  “Such a comedian.” Corinne gave a passing thought to sitting up and dismissed the idea as too difficult. “I have no intention of sitting through your performances. Private ones will be enough for me. And I don’t have a jealous bone in my body. We don’t have to worry about childish things like that.”

  He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Childish? That is a strong term. Harsh. Very harsh.” She was smiling again, that smile that could light up the world. Dayan had no choice but to fasten his mouth to hers.

  The earth moved and time stopped and he couldn’t find the discipline to make it a gentle, tender moment. She had scared him, stopped his heart, and he needed her. Needed to feed on her mouth, drown in her sweetness for just a few moments. Dayan forced his body under rigid control and slowly, reluctantly lifted his head. “Please do not ever do that to me again.” His voice was a velvet weapon, and he used it shamelessly. Briefly he rested his forehead against hers. “I found you. In the darkness, where there was no hope for me, where I struggled and battled the monster every second of every night, you came to me. You saved me, Corinne. You cannot abandon me now. I cannot go back to a life alone. No one can ask that of me, not even you. How can I make you understand? I cannot go back. You must make up your mind to live, if not for yourself and the baby, for me. Love me that much. Do it for me.”