Night's Illusion

by Amanda Ashley

  “It will be morning in a few hours,” Mara said. “Why don’t you come home with me and take your rest at my place?”

  “Thanks, but no.”

  “Don’t be discouraged, Giovanni. I’m sure she’s still alive. Perhaps you’ll be able to track her tomorrow.”

  “Perhaps,” he said. But there was no conviction behind his words.

  “I’ll do what I can to find him,” she promised, laying her hand on his arm. “If I learn anything, I’ll let you know.”

  He nodded again, touched by the concern in her eyes.

  She gave his arm a squeeze and then she was gone.

  Driving to the abandoned church where he made his lair, Giovanni parked his car behind the building. Inside, he prostrated himself in front of the altar and sent a heartfelt cry for help toward Heaven.

  * * *

  Cassie woke in the dark with a splitting headache and no memory of where she was or how she had gotten there. She lay very still, eyes straining to pierce the blackness that surrounded her. There was no light, no sound, yet she sensed she wasn’t alone.

  She let out a yelp when she felt a hand at her throat.

  “Be still.”

  The voice rumbled through her like thunder and she obeyed instantly.

  “How do you know the priest?”

  She didn’t want to answer but his voice compelled her to do so. “We’re engaged to be married.”

  “Interesting.”

  A light came on, momentarily blinding her. When her vision cleared, she saw a man standing beside the bed. He was tall and dark and muscular, with an ugly snake tattoo on the side of his neck. She felt an odd sensation and when it passed, she was no longer unable to move. Sitting up, she scrambled to the far side of the room, her hand reaching for her crucifix. Only it wasn’t there.

  “There’s no place for you to go,” he said. “I want you to call Giovanni.”

  “Who?”

  “The priest, you stupid girl. Don’t play the fool with me.”

  Cassie shook her head. “I don’t have a phone.”

  “You don’t need a phone and we both know it. Just think his name. He’ll hear you.”

  Cassie shook her head again. She didn’t know who this guy was, but some instinct told her to refuse.

  “Call him,” the stranger hissed. “And tell him to come alone if he wants to see you alive.”

  * * *

  Giovanni’s head jerked up as the blood link that bound him to Cassie sparked to life. He knew a moment of soul-shattering relief—thank the good Lord, she was alive—followed by mounting despair as he sensed her fear. He swore again when he heard her voice in his mind, warning him to come alone or her life would be forfeit.

  Stay strong, cara. I’m on my way.

  Leaving the church, he honed in on his link to Cassie and followed it to a small, dark, windowless building. Alric’s stench was strong here.

  Giovanni swore under his breath. Every instinct he possessed warned him that it was a trap and Cassie, the bait. It was suicide to go in there, he thought, but he couldn’t leave her in Alric’s hands.

  A harsh cry of pain torn from Cassie’s throat had him bursting through the door. The interior was pitch-black but he didn’t need light to see that she was tied hand and foot to a narrow wooden cot. The blank look on her face told him she was under a spell of some kind.

  He had barely come to a stop when hands reached for him, wrestling him to the ground, binding his wrists with silver shackles before he could break free of their grasp. Transporting himself out of there and leaving Cassie behind never occurred to him.

  He swore under his breath as a rush of preternatural power filled the room. He could feel it surrounding him like an invisible shield, expanding to engulf the entire building—the same kind of shield that had kept him from sensing Cassie’s presence the night before. He should have called Mara before he came here, he thought bleakly. Now it was too late.

  And then Alric was standing over him, flanked by two men who were under the vampire’s thrall.

  Alric grinned, baring bloodstained fangs.

  Giovanni rolled to his side and lurched to his feet. “What do you want, Alric?”

  “A little respect,” the vampire hissed. “Perhaps a thank-you for sparing your life all those centuries ago.”

  “Go to hell.”

  He had no sooner spoken the words than Cassie let out a hoarse cry as one of the revenants struck her across the face. Hard. Twice.

  “Damn you!” Giovanni growled. “Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with what’s between you and me.”

  “If you want her to live to see tomorrow, you will get down on your knees and beg for my forgiveness.”

  “Forgiveness?” Giovanni sneered. “For what?”

  Another cry from Cassie sent him to his knees. Forcing the words past his lips, he said, “I’m sorry for whatever wrong I’ve done you.”

  “Master.”

  “Master.”

  Gloating, Alric walked around his prisoner. Stopping in front of him, he glanced over his shoulder at Cassie. “What does she taste like, I wonder.”

  Before Giovanni could respond, Alric was bending over Cassie’s neck, his fangs tearing into the soft, tender skin of her throat.

  “No!” Giovanni lunged forward and slammed his shoulder into Alric, driving him away from the bed.

  Alric let out a roar of outrage as he spun on his heel. A wave of his hand sent Giovanni crashing into the far wall. He gestured at his two revenants. Moving like wooden soldiers, they each grabbed one of Giovanni’s arms and dragged him across the floor. One of them took hold of a rope that dangled from the ceiling and dropped it around his neck while the second man fastened his shackles to a thick iron ring in the wall. The rope had been fashioned into a noose and dipped in silver.

  Alric padded toward him, Cassie’s blood smeared on his lips. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said, sneering. A word removed Giovanni’s shirt. Then, hands curled into claws, Alric raked his nails down Giovanni’s chest and arms, opening long gashes several inches deep.

  Giovanni sucked in a breath as pain splintered through him, adding to the agony of the silver binding his wrists and blistering the skin on his neck. The silver, the loss of blood, left him feeling lightheaded and weak.

  And from far away, he heard Alric’s voice.

  “So, pretty lady, what shall I do with you? If I drink you dry, you will please me, but only for a few moments. If I bring you across, you’ll entertain me for decades, perhaps centuries.”

  Giovanni sobbed a strangled, “No!”

  But Alric only laughed before sinking his fangs into the side of Cassie’s neck again.

  * * *

  Mara came to an abrupt halt as she lost track of Giovanni. One minute she’d had his scent and the next it was gone.

  “Damn Alric,” she hissed.

  “What happened?” Logan asked, skidding to a stop beside her.

  “I lost him. Alric has mastered some kind of shield that blocks us from finding him.”

  “How the hell did he manage that?”

  “How should I know?” She frowned. “Giovanni thought he might have sought Angelica’s help.”

  “Would she do that?”

  “I don’t know. She told me Alric had been in touch with her a couple of times when he was trying to find out where I live. Maybe she concocted a talisman of some kind for him.”

  Logan shook his head. “Why would she help him? Hell, she’d be a fool to make an enemy out of you.”

  Mara grunted softly. “There are other witches.”

  “If it’s you he wants, why take Cassie? Or Lanzoni, for that matter? Sheree told him where to find you.”

  “Maybe he’s not after me anymore. Or maybe he just lost his nerve.”

  “He’s always been the impetuous type, acting before he thinks. Why would he be so cautious now?”

  She gave him a quelling look. “Maybe he finally realized I can put an end to hi
s miserable existence like that,” she said with a snap of her fingers. “Any day of the week.”

  “Is that so? How about tonight?”

  She glared at him. “I think I’m right on several counts. One, Alric has always been a coward. Two, he has a grudge against Giovanni. Three, he knows that hurting our priest would hurt me, too. Four, I’m sure he’s employed a witch.”

  Logan snorted. “If what you say is true, he’s dumber than I thought. He has to know if he kills Lanzoni, he’ll have you to answer to. Not to mention the rest of the family.”

  * * *

  Cassie groaned as she struggled to sit up. She’d had the world’s worst nightmare. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she wondered why it was still dark. And then she realized it hadn’t been a nightmare. She was in the same dark room she’d awoken in before. The air felt thick and heavy, like an invisible blanket weighing her down. It made her feel sluggish.

  Alarmed, she glanced around, but she couldn’t see a blessed thing. Where were Alric and his goons? And Johnny? Where was he? Was he still here? Still alive? Or had Alric killed him while she was unconscious?

  It took her a moment to realize she was no longer tied to the bed. Sitting up, she cocked her head to the side. Was it day or night? Was she alone?

  Swinging her feet over the edge of the cot, she stood on shaky legs. Then, blindly reaching out in front of her, she moved slowly forward until she touched a wall. If she remembered correctly, the room was totally empty save for the cot.

  Step by slow step she made her way around the room, searching for the door, even though she was sure it would be locked. And it was. She kept going, then let out a startled cry when she tripped over something. She gasped when her hand hit a leg. It didn’t move at her touch. Was it Johnny? Had Alric killed him and left his body behind? Or was he just trapped in the Dark Sleep of his kind? Not dead, only at rest.

  She shuddered at the thought as she ran her fingers tentatively up his thigh to his shoulder, then to his neck. She gasped as she touched his skin, which felt raw and blistered, cursed when she felt the noose. As carefully as she could, she lifted it over his head, then tied a loop in the rope to keep it out of the way.

  They needed to get out of here, but how? There were no windows. The only door was locked. Giovanni was bound with silver and helpless. She felt weak from the blood the vampire had taken from her. She lifted a shaky hand to her throat. Was she a vampire now? But no. If she was, she, too, would be trapped in the deathlike sleep.

  Tired and discouraged, she rested her head on Johnny’s shoulder and surrendered to the misery that engulfed her. She was hungry and afraid—afraid that Alric would kill Johnny, afraid of what he might do to her. She tried to think positively, to cling to some shred of hope, but there was none in sight.

  * * *

  The sound of Cassie’s tears roused Giovanni from the Dark Sleep. “Cara?”

  Sniffling, she sat up. “Is it night already?”

  “No. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine,” she lied. He had enough to worry about. It grieved her to know he was in pain and that it was her fault. If not for her, he wouldn’t be here now. She bit down on her lower lip. She could help him, if she had the courage. “Johnny?”

  “What?”

  “I want you to drink from me.”

  “Are you out of your mind?” The chain binding him to the wall rattled as he struggled to a sitting position.

  “I know you’re hurting. I want to help.” She forced a smile into her voice. “No sense both of us being hungry. Besides, it will make you stronger, won’t it?”

  “Yes.” He forced the word through clenched teeth.

  “Then do it.” She held out her arm, knowing he could see it, even though the room was dark.

  Giovanni closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. “Don’t let me drink for more than a few seconds,” he warned. And bent his head toward her wrist.

  With his hands shackled, he couldn’t get a good grip on her arm, which was a good thing, Cassie thought as she felt his bite. She counted to ten, then jerked her arm away.

  He growled in protest, then murmured, “Thank you.” Knowing how she must feel, trapped in the dark, he summoned what little power he had and turned on the bare light bulb that dangled from the ceiling.

  Murmuring, “Oh, Johnny,” she burst into tears. Besides the awful blisters on his neck, she could see dried blood down the length of his chest and both arms. What had Alric done to him?

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he said.

  “Liar.” She glanced around the room. “How are we going to get out of here?”

  “I wish I knew.” His gaze moved over her face. Her fear was a palpable thing. Not that he could blame her. She was trapped in a room with a hungry vampire and at the mercy of another one.

  Sighing, he closed his eyes.

  Today was to have been their wedding day.

  Chapter 38

  Mara paced the floor in the living room, oblivious to the fact that the sun was high in the sky. What sort of voodoo was Alric practicing that kept her from discovering his whereabouts? She cursed softly, wishing she’d had occasion to take his blood. Perhaps then she would have been able to find him—regardless of whatever magic was blocking her.

  She should have killed the cur centuries ago.

  She glared at Logan when he started to speak. Smart man that he was, he closed his mouth.

  Earlier, she had contacted the rest of the family to let them know what was going on and that the wedding was off.

  She had also called Angelica to see what she knew, but the witch denied having given Alric any kind of talisman or spell and offered to use her magic to see if she could locate Giovanni.

  “Damn,” Mara muttered as she sank down on the sofa beside Logan. “Damn, damn, damn. If I get my hands on Alric, I swear I’ll tear him to shreds.”

  “And I’ll help you,” he said. “But first we have to find him.”

  Chapter 39

  Cassie paced the floor, too worried to sit still. From time to time, she tried the door, even though she knew it was locked. Once, out of sheer frustration, she pounded her fists against it, then kicked it, but it remained stubbornly closed, and all she had to show for her efforts were a couple of bloody knuckles.

  She prowled the room, hoping to find a weapon, but there was nothing to find. Just a lumpy cot with no pillow and no blanket.

  Discouraged, she sank down on the floor beside Johnny. “We’re never going to get out of here, are we?”

  “Don’t give up, cara mia,” he murmured. “There’s always hope.”

  “Is there?” She stared at him through haunted eyes. “He’s going to kill you and drink me dry, isn’t he?”

  “I imagine that’s his plan, although I can’t blame him for wanting to ‘drink you dry,’ as you put it. Heaven knows I’ve thought about it myself from time to time.”

  “Well, if someone’s going to do it, I’d rather it was you.”

  He laughed then, though there was little humor in the sound. “I love you, Cassie. I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers absently toying with a lock of his hair. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”

  “This isn’t your doing, cara. And who knows, we might see the other side of this yet.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  “I don’t, either,” he admitted and then frowned as a new thought took shape in the back of his mind. The building was warded against supernatural creatures. It had blocked his thoughts and prevented Mara from connecting with him.

  But Cassie was mortal.

  Sitting up straighter, he said, “I have an idea.”

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  “I want you to drink my blood.”

  “What! How is that going to help?”

  “It might not, but it’s worth a try. Alric has cast some kind of preternatural ward around this place to keep supernatural creatures from con
tacting each other. I can’t contact Mara and she can’t locate me. But you’re not a vampire or a witch. If you drink my blood, there’s a chance, however slim, that if you reach out to her with your mind, she might hear you. Are you willing to give it a shot?”

  “At this point, I’m willing to try anything. But if Alric has somehow blocked you from contacting Mara, won’t whatever it is block her from contacting me?”

  “There’s always that chance. If it was anyone but Mara, I wouldn’t even try. What do you say?”

  “Where should I”—she grimaced at the thought—“bite you?”

  “You don’t have to.” Lifting his arms, he bit into his left wrist, just above the cuff of the shackle.

  Cassie stared at the dark red blood that oozed from the two tiny wounds. Then, unable to believe what she was about to do, she leaned forward and lapped it up. It sizzled through her like liquid lightning.

  “That’s enough.”

  She was surprisingly reluctant to stop.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, his gaze moving over her face.

  “I think so. I feel sort of . . .” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to describe it. So, what do I do now?”

  “Focus on Mara. Try to call her.”

  Cassie bowed her head as though in prayer. Closing her eyes, she pictured the vampire in her mind. Mara. We need you. Please come and find us. Please.

  A minute passed.

  Two.

  Shoulders slumped, Cassie said. “Nothing. It didn’t work.”

  He swore softly as the seconds ticked by. Dammit, Mara was their only hope.

  Cassie? Are you with Giovanni?

  Yes! “She heard me!” Cassie exclaimed.

  Keep your mind focused on me. I’m on my way.

  “She’s coming!” Cassie threw her arms around Johnny. “She’s coming!”

  She had barely spoken the words when the door flew off its hinges and crashed into the wall. A shimmer of power exploded through the room like a blast of hot air, and then Mara and Logan appeared in the doorway, bathed in sunlight.

  “I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life,” Giovanni said. “Get us the hell out of here.”