B00528UTDS EBOK Read online

  “The holy city of course. Where else would the humans hide such a hideous reminder of the immortal?”

  Nicole was confused and it showed on her face.

  “Rome … Vatican City,” Dash explained.

  Nicole sighed. It would seem that their journey had just begun. Fear gnawed at her stomach. Somehow she knew that Alec was in danger, even if it had nothing to do with Luciano.

  * * * *

  The house stood silent and dark. For a long time Darrien continued to gaze at Sarah’s home, as if he could not quite believe that no one was there. She was gone! He could no longer feel her presence. It was not like she had just gone into town, or was out on some errand. She was truly gone. If she’d been anywhere near, he would have been able to feel her.

  Sarah had left without so much as a word to him!

  But wasn’t that what he’d wanted her to do? He told her many times that she was not safe in Sutter Point, and that she should leave. She’d finally taken his advice, but he’d thought, or at least hoped that she would say goodbye.

  Sarah was gone and the Fabre house was empty, but still something wasn’t right. Slowly, Darrien moved closer to the house. As he approached the front door, he felt sorrow seep into his heart. The door stood open, hanging from one hinge. The wood frame around the door was splintered. Pieces of it lay scattered on the porch.

  They had been there for her, but how? He’d come to her house as soon as the sun had gone down. How had they had enough time to get to her before he had? Unless they’d been hiding someplace close, waiting for night.

  Darrien stepped inside. It was dark, but he could see through the darkness. The house was trashed. Pictures had been pulled from the walls, the curtains hung in shreds around the windows, and furniture had been turned over.

  Omar’s followers were not the most sophisticated of hunters. They tended to leave destruction in their wake. This was how he knew that the intruders had been Omar’s vamps. Had they gotten her or had she been able to get away?

  Darrien cursed himself for not being able to get there sooner. There was no blood. He had to assume that she’d escaped, but the aunt was gone also.

  How would he ever find her? And find her was something that he knew he must do. She was his life, the only source of light for his soul. Without her, the last spark of humanity that burned within his heart would soon succumb to the darkness. He had to know that she was safe.

  * * * *

  Sarah blinked and opened her eyes just as the lights of Reno came into view. The last thing she remembered before dozing off was leaving Sacramento and heading toward Donner Pass. She must have slept right through Lake Tahoe.

  Having little opportunity to travel while she was growing up, Sarah found the trip exciting. At least it was exciting as long as she could forget why she was taking the trip, and as long as she didn’t think about Darrien. He would never know what happened to her. That thought brought on an ache in her chest and a feeling of emptiness.

  “I hear the University of Nevada is a fine school,” Lex commented when he saw her peering curiously out the window as they drove by the campus.

  “At least I’ll be able to keep busy.”

  The two traveling companions said no more. Both Sarah and Lex were content to let the silence settled between them. At the beginning of the trip there had been a lot of conversation. Sarah had a great deal that she wanted to know, but now she preferred to retreat into herself.

  Sarah now understood that her craving for blood was something that was bred into her. It would never go away. As soon as she’d caught the scent of Darrien’s blood, that hunger had awakened in her. Now it would be with her the rest of her life. It was just one of the consequences of being a born vampire. Not all born vampires had the craving, but she did. Something else that she’d found out from Lex was that she was probably immune to the poison of the vampire. Even if she were bitten, and fed on the blood of a vampire, she most likely wouldn’t turn.

  According to Lex, this was a strength that she should appreciate. It would be especially useful if Omar were to ever get the idea to turn her, as he had apparently tried to do to her older sister. Sarah was extremely curious about these sisters, but Lex had refused to give her their names, at least not yet. He feared she might try to find them on her own, and put all of them in danger.

  Lex turned off of the highway and into an apartment complex located close to the campus.

  “So who is it that I will be staying with exactly, and does she know what I am?” Sarah was becoming a little apprehensive about staying with someone she didn’t even know.

  “Well … you could say that she is the daughter of an old family friend. My daughter is married to her father’s cousin. There are some things about her and where she comes from that she has been instructed not to reveal. In fact, she can’t talk about this. It is against the laws of her people. She doesn’t know a lot about you, except that you are in danger. I did tell her about your gift.” Lex forced a smile.

  Sarah was no longer sure she’d made the right decision. Lex still seemed a little apprehensive, and this made her nervous. She wanted to hit him with a storm of questions, but instead she asked, “What’s her name?”

  “Summer Gray Eagle. Like I said, the two of you will have a lot in common.”

  Sarah couldn’t quite understand what they could have in common. This Summer Gray Eagle was the daughter of a lycan, while she was the daughter of a vampire.

  When they had parked, Lex popped the trunk open so that they could grab Sarah’s luggage. With both of them carrying bags, Sarah followed him up a staircase to the top floor of one of the buildings. Lex tapped on the door.

  Sarah held her breath, waiting for the door to open. She wasn’t sure what it was that she expected to see - maybe a girl with hair all over her and big teeth? When the door swung open, Sarah was actually surprised to see a striking young woman staring back at them.

  “Hello,” the girl said, as she stepped aside and let them enter.

  Sarah was in awe of the girl’s stunning beauty. She had a tan complexion that appeared to be completely natural. Sarah would have killed to have the girl’s long golden-brown hair. Summer had the most exotic golden eyes Sarah had ever seen. They were like the eyes of a cat.

  “This is Sarah,” Lex told the girl.

  “Hi,” she said with a smile, holding out her hand to take Sarah’s. “I’m Summer.”

  Feeling a little unsure of herself, Sarah forced a smile to her lips and nodded to acknowledge Summer’s greeting.

  “I’ll show Sarah to her room and then make us some refreshments,” Summer told Lex.

  Lex shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I must be on my way, and the two of you will probably want to get to know each other.”

  “Are you sure?” Summer obviously didn’t like the idea of sending her guest away without refreshments.

  “Yes,” Lex smiled. “I’ll be in touch soon.”

  Lex was gone, and Sarah was left alone with the lycan’s daughter.

  Summer picked up a couple of bags and motioned for Sarah to follow her.

  “I hope you like your room,” Summer told her. “It’s the room that my roommate uses, but Penny’s gone home for a few months.”

  “Oh, will she mind if I’m using her room?”

  Summer shook her head. “No … she won’t be back for awhile anyway.”

  “I really appreciate this. I don’t know how to thank you.” Sarah set her bags down in the small room. On the twin bed was a comforter, decorated with a spray of brightly colored flowers. Against the opposite wall there was a small dresser and a little mirror. It wasn’t a luxury hotel, but it was nice.

  “I’ll let you get settled in and then we can have a cup of coffee, if you’d like?” Summer offered.

  “Yes, that would be nice.”

  Summer left the room, shutting the door behind her. Sarah decided she liked the girl. She hadn’t picked up any negative vibes from her at all. In fact, Sarah
was getting the impression that Summer was glad for the company.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alec easily gained entry to the ancient church that was also the entryway to the Catacombs of St. Domitilla. It was one of the largest of Rome’s catacombs, consisting of miles of tunnels and four layers. The Catacombs of St. Domitilla were also among the oldest. If the Church was keeping the Book of Anu, it made sense that they might hide it in such a place.

  The staircase leading to the tombs started out okay, but it soon changed, running into the original staircase. Alec assumed that the book would be hidden among the Christian burials, maybe even one that had been ordained a saint.

  In the dark, there was no way to detect the predator that was behind him, but Alec’s sensed a presence. Stopping, he spun around to see who had followed him into the catacombs. Before he could react, he was slammed in the head with a blunt object and sent flying down the stairs.

  The blow had stunned him, but not to the point that he could not act. Alec was on his feet, his eyes glowing with anger. He drew back his lips to reveal his sharp - white fangs. The dark figure flew toward him, but Alec easily maneuvered out of the way. Again his attacker swung at him with what appeared to be a large stick, but this time Alec was able to avoid being hit.

  Now his pursuer pulled out a gun. But instead of feeling the separation of flesh like he expected to feel when he heard the blast, the gun was silent. All he felt was a sharp prick in his leg. He had barely enough time to realize that he’d been tranquilized before blacking out.

  * * * *

  Sarah left her bedroom to join her new roommate. When she entered the living room, her eyes caught movement in a dark corner. There were two lamps to illuminate the room, but the lighting was dim, leaving the corners of the room in shadow. Gina stared at her from the darkness.

  Sarah knew that she should not fear her friend, but the grotesque image left her trembling.

  “Go away now,” Sarah whispered, hoping that she could urge Gina to go into the light. Why was she still hanging around, Sarah had left Sutter Point like her friend wanted.

  “Is that you Sarah?” Summer called from the kitchen.

  “Yes,” Sarah spoke up.

  “The coffee is ready,” Summer told her.

  Turning her back on the horrifying image of her friend, Sarah stepped into the kitchen. On the table were two cups of coffee, and sweet rolls.

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d had time to eat on your trip here. I thought you might be hungry.”

  “Thanks,” Sarah smiled.

  “So that girl in the living room … do you know why she’s here?” Summer asked casually.

  Sarah stared at the other woman. “You can see her?”

  Summer nodded. I can see the dead. A gift I inherited from my mother, though she is a lot better at it than I am.”

  “So that’s why Lex said we would have a lot in common?” Sarah finally saw some of the pieces starting to fit together.

  “Yes, he told me that you could do this. He also thought you might need some help in coping with your gift.”

  Sarah shook her head. “My Aunt Jeanie can be such a busybody sometimes.”

  Summer laughed. “I know the feeling. I have a few relatives like that myself.”

  The smile on Sarah’s face vanished. “I don’t know why she’s here. She was warning me to leave, back when I was in Sutter Point. But she’s still around so I don’t know.”

  “Well, have you asked her why she’s here?” Summer placed a large cinnamon roll on Sarah’s plate.

  “Not really,’

  “Why don’t we go find out what she wants then?”

  “Okay, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” Sarah smiled and got up from her seat to follow Summer into the living room.

  Gina was still in the same place that she’d been a few moments before. “They like corners for some reason,” Summer informed her.

  “How much do you know about ghosts?” Sarah asked. Though she herself should have been an expert after growing up with them, she had to admit that she didn’t know that much about the otherworldly specters. She’d tried to avoid encounters with them as much as possible.

  “I work with the local police to help solve missing persons cases and homicides, so I know a little,” Summer admitted.

  Sarah scrunched up her face. “That must be a frightening job? Facing death all of the time.”

  “I only do it part time. I’m still in school,” Summer told her.

  Gina hovered in the corner, but Sarah could not tell if her friend’s ghost was even aware of their presence.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Gina,” Sarah answered in a low voice.

  Summer moved slowly toward the corner where Gina hovered. “Gina … do you need something?” Her voice was gentle and even.

  At first there was no response, but then the specter’s eyes fixed on Sarah. “I’m waiting for Sarah. She has to listen to me.”

  Sarah’s face turned white.

  “What do you mean?” Summer’s voice shook as she tried to get the spirit to reveal more.

  “Death is near you Sarah,” Gina’s hollow voice drifted through the room and then she disappeared.

  Sarah was shaking. She’d just been warned of impending death. She felt Summer’s hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t take too much notice of that,” she tried to calm Sarah’s fears.

  “What do you mean? She practically told me that I’m going to die soon.”

  Summer shook her head. “Sometimes they get confused, or they talk in riddles.” Despite her words, Summer looked worried.

  “Let’s go have our coffee now. I think she’s gone for the moment.”

  Sarah nodded but said nothing.

  “Maybe you can tell me what happened to her,” Summer suggested.

  Sarah wanted a friend. No, she needed a friend to talk with. But she still wasn’t sure how much she could trust Summer.

  If only she could tell someone about her dreams, about her need to see Darrien again - a vampire that had been ready to kill her.

  * * * *

  Darrien boarded the flight to New Orleans. When he stepped onboard the 747, he saw that his assigned seat was right next to Jeanie Fabre. It was just as he knew it would be. It had taken some effort to find Sarah’s aunt, but he’d finally located her at a small cottage in the woods.

  He hadn’t approached her then. He’d sensed the intense suspicion of the witches she was with. The last thing he needed right now was to do battle with some overzealous witches. His time would be better spent searching for Sarah.

  Instead, Darrien had watched Jeanie, waiting for the perfect time to talk with her. But the witch had not been left alone for even a moment. Then he’d followed her to the airport in Portland where Jeanie had bought a ticket to New Orleans. Darrien used his charm and power of persuasion to convince the girl at the ticket counter to assign him a seat next to Jeanie.

  Jeanie wouldn’t exactly be alone, but at least she seemed to be the only witch onboard.

  When Darrien took the seat next to Jeanie, the witch turned her hard green eyes on him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m looking for Sarah. Where has she gone?”

  Jeanie shrugged her shoulders. “She has gone underground, and I was not informed where she would be.”

  “Why are you going to New Orleans then?” The corners of his lips lifted into a smile.

  “Personal business,” Jeanie glared.

  “I see,” Darrien said, reaching out to pull a magazine from the pouch that was attached to the chair in front of him. He began flipping through the pages, but without paying any attention to what he was looking at.

  “You do realize that she is in danger, and very likely unprotected at this moment.” Darrien continued.

  “She has plenty of protection,” Jeanie told him.

  “I doubt it.”

  Jeanie leaned closer so that she could whisper. “A lycan took her away.”
/>   Darrien fixed angry eyes on her. “You actually let her go with one of those beasts?”

  Jeanie waved her hand, dismissing his words. “Just prejudice, that’s all.”

  “Are you kidding? The wolves are enemies! They will kill her if they haven’t already.” Darrien raised his voice in anger.

  “Well she isn’t a vampire. No thanks to you,’ Jeanie told him in a low voice.

  Darrien was visibly relieved.

  A small blond girl popped her head over the chair in front of them.

  “Keep your voice down,” Jeanie whispered.

  The girl smiled at them and then turned to talk to someone in the seat next to her. “Hey daddy! There are vampires behind us.”

  “Sit down and stop being rude.” The father chastised the child.

  Jeanie giggled. “How do you avoid vampire slayers with such carelessness?”

  “I don’t usually get this angry,” he sighed. “So who is this wolf and what does he want with Sarah?”

  “Well not that it’s any of your business,” Jeanie reminded him, “but he works with the Light Seekers.”

  Darrien rolled his eyes. “That crazy bunch.”

  “I think they’re onto something.”

  Darrien said nothing. What could he say? The Light Seekers were responsible for spreading false hope. They were dreamers, and would always be chasing something that they would probably never find.

  “So tell me. Why so much interest in my niece? You were going to kill her anyway?” Jeanie asked.

  He struggled to find the right words, but finally he decided it was best to say it as simply as he could. “I love her,” he told the witch.

  The expression on Jeanie’s face turned serious. “You know, the love of an immortal destroyed my sister … Sarah’s mother?”

  Darrien turned away. “That doesn’t change what is true.”

  “What could you offer her but a life of darkness? Children that would hunger for blood?”