B00528UTDS EBOK Read online

  “But you admit that knowledge of this place would help bring down Omar’s plan of domination.”

  “Yes, if the vampires knew of this place, it would take away a lot of Omar’s power. But this place doesn’t have much to do with what the vampire is, or the truth of their origins. This knowledge is really very sensitive, and could be dangerous for the immortals, as well as humans. The ancients must release this information carefully. I suspect this is why your father has not told you more.”

  “Can I go to this Place of Light, or am I also forbidden?”

  “Humans are generally forbidden, with only a few exceptions. There is only one vampire there. It is this vampire that educated us on the immortal.”

  “So the people that live in this place only know what they were taught by this vampire?”

  Lex nodded. “He is an ancient, like your father and Omar.”

  “Why is he there?”

  “Again … I cannot give you that information, because it has to do with the history of the immortals”

  “But if I ever do go there … I can contact my little brother again?” she asked, hopefully.

  Lex smiled. “I see that someone has been giving away the secrets of Outerlands.” He stood and held out a hand to help her to her feet. “Yes there is a way, if you can get into Outerlands. But there is much work to be done before this would ever be a possibility.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The wolves and the immortals have been enemies for a very long time. There must be some kind of harmony between them before the vampire would be permitted entrance into that dimension of reality. The wolves are the protectors of the earth … the vampires have no regard for life.”

  “They are hunters the same as the wolves.” Nicole felt compelled to defend her father’s species.

  “This is true. The wolves do hunt, but they hunt to feed and not just to kill. The immortals have evolved into a species that feeds off of the darkness and the fear in men’s souls, and not just their blood. Blood is easy to come by without having to slaughter. Ask your friend Dash. He received a gift from the Outerlands … a recipe.”

  “Dash’s recipe?” Nicole was stunned. It had come from the Place of Light. They were trying to help the vampires.

  “You must go now, and do what you can to find your sister,” Lex told her.

  “Where can I find you if I need to talk with you again?”

  “I will find you,” he promised.

  Chapter Five

  Sarah dried the last plate and placed it in the cupboard on top of a large stack of identical plates. She had volunteered to cleanup after dinner. Jeanie was having one of her bad days, as she called them. Her feet were swollen to twice their usual size, and it was difficult for her to stand on them for too long.

  Sarah feared that it was a sign of heart disease, but Jeanie would not go to the town doctor. She insisted that it was nothing that a strong spell and some good old fashion rest, wouldn’t fix.

  Aunt Jeanie hadn’t been nearly as upset as Sarah had thought she’d be, when Taylor brought her home, and spilled the beans about Darrien. Jeanie had given Sarah a look of disapproval, and then told them that she would prefer to discuss the situation after the summer solstice.

  Sarah was almost looking forward to the Midsummer’s Eve celebration, just so she could find out some of the secrets she was sure Jeanie was keeping from her. Just as Sarah finished cleaning the sink and hanging the dishtowel, she heard the doorbell.

  “I’ll get it,” Jeanie called from the parlor where she had been reading one of the latest novels from her favorite author.

  A moment later Jeanie walked into the kitchen, her face as pale as death. “He’s here,” she whispered.

  It had to be Darrien.

  Sarah wanted to rush to the front door, but instead she forced a casual pace as she went to greet him.

  Darrien nodded to her. “Sarah.”

  “Hi,’ she smiled.

  “Would you walk on the beach with me so we can finish our talk?” he asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Aunt Jeanie broke in.

  “It’s okay,” Sarah assured her.

  “No it is not okay.” Jeanie was glaring at Darrien.

  “Madam … it is vital that I speak with Sarah in private. I will not hurt her,” he promised.

  “I’ll be right back,” Sarah put in before her aunt could protest further.

  Jeanie shook her head. “You should at least wait until after the solstice. It is only a few more days away.”

  Sarah shook her head. “Don’t worry,” she told her aunt.

  Aunt Sarah went to a cabinet and quickly rummaged through it. Finally she pulled out a long chain with a blue crystal. “Wear this,” she said, handing the necklace to Sarah. “That way I can feel it if you are in trouble.”

  Sarah placed the silver chain around her neck so that Jeanie wouldn’t fret so much about her being with Darrien. Jeanie had an identical crystal around her neck. Sarah knew that these crystals would make the psychic connection between them stronger.

  “I’ll be back soon,” Sarah told Jeanie, kissing her on the cheek before leaving.

  “Your aunt is very protective,” he commented when they were outside the house.

  “She doesn’t like vampires.”

  “Yes, I gathered that much.”

  The two of them took the path down the hillside to the beach. When they reached the bottom, Darrien took her hand in his and pulled her to the sand. Beneath the bright moonlight, he appeared ethereal - even magical. Looking at him at that moment, Sarah wondered if she was dreaming. Never had she been in the presence of a man so perfect - so male.

  It had to be the vampire’s spell.

  Sarah grasped at something that would keep her anchored to reality. “What did you want to talk with me about?”

  Darrien squeezed her hand softly. “Sarah … you are in danger. You must go into hiding.”

  “You keep telling me this, but you won’t give me any details.”

  “Omar is the leader of a very old and powerful tribe of vampires, and he wants you dead,” he told her.

  “Why would he bother with me? I’m just a human. A witch that does not even practice the craft.” Sarah could not understand why all of this was happening to her. She was nobody really.

  “You are his niece, and one of three sisters that will bring an end to the rule of the ancients. At least this is what Omar believes,” he explained.

  Sarah shook her head. “You must be mistaken. I have no sisters.”

  Darrien smiled patiently. “But you do Sarah.”

  “My father died when I was a baby. That’s what my mother told me.” Sarah looked away. She had never known her father, and truthfully hadn’t thought a lot about the man that had sired her. He’d never been a part of her life, and he just didn’t seem real to her.

  Darrien reached up to brush a strand of hair away from her eyes. “Your mother did not tell you the truth.”

  “What do you mean?” Sarah frowned.

  “Your father is a vampire Sarah, as you are as well.”

  Sarah laughed. “I know you have the wrong girl now. I have no problem with sunlight, and I don’t need blood.”

  “Don’t you?” Darrien arched one brow. “You became intoxicated by the scent of my blood.”

  Sarah’s face reddened and she was glad for the cover of darkness. The urge to consume his blood had stripped her of all capacity to reason. Even now, the very thought of tasting him - of taking his blood into her mouth, left her feeling dizzy with hunger. The hunger was so erotic that it obscured her ability to think.

  “I see that the urge has not left you,” Darrien laughed.

  “But I can be in the light,” she insisted.

  “Yes, a gift from your human mother.”

  “Is this why you said I was descended from the dark prince?”

  Darrien shook his head. “No, that is a legend exclusive to the Fabre witches. They are known as the d
aughters of darkness that descended from Satan himself. But I believe this to be just legend. They are powerful witches, and power breeds jealousy, which of course leads to rumors.”

  “But you didn’t kill me … why?”

  Darrien gazed at her for a long time, his eyes working their magic on her senses, until Sarah felt as if he was all that existed for her. Without answering her, he leaned over and kissed her lips softly.

  Sarah lost herself in the pure sensation of his lips on hers, and the way it felt to have his tongue exploring her mouth. Touching his hair, she relished the feeling of the silky strands between her fingers. She just could not get enough of him, of the way he touched her, the way it made her feel to look into his eyes. She found it strangely erotic to know that to be close to him, was to be close to death. The danger only made her crave his touch all the more.

  Darrien pulled away so that she could breathe. His hand came up to caress her cheek. “I cannot kill you Sarah. It is because of me that you died once. I will not be responsible for it again.”

  Sarah shook her head, completely confused by his words. “I’m lost. What do you mean I died once?”

  “You have powers beyond most of the other Lazar witches, don’t you?”

  Sarah shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Aunt Jeanie says so.”

  “That is because you lived before. I didn’t realize who you were until I kissed you the first time,” he confessed. “Even then, I thought it was too good to be true. I could not believe that you had really come back to me.”

  “Who is it that you are talking about?” Sarah was hurt that he was thinking of someone else - thinking that she was someone else.

  “Caroline Fabre. She was your ancestress,” Darrien told her as he continued to caress her skin with his fingers.

  Sarah pushed his hand away. “No, I am Sarah. Not this Caroline that you seem to want me to be.”

  Darrien smiled. “Don’t be jealous Sarah. You and Caroline are one in the same.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not jealous,” Sarah scowled. “I just don’t want to be thought of as someone else.”

  Without saying anything, Darrien kissed her. Sarah tried to resist - tried to force herself to remember that it was the ghost of another woman that he wanted. When he looked at her, it was someone else that he was seeing.

  It was no use. As soon as he pulled her close and his mouth was on hers, all that she could think about was being in his arms. She wanted more. Sarah wanted his hands touching her everywhere, to feel his teeth in her flesh, as her warm blood flowed from her body.

  His lips moved to her throat, she could feel his teeth on her skin, and the sensation was driving her insane. His hands slipped beneath her blouse and he freed her breasts from the confines of her bra. The coolness of his touch against her warm breasts was tantalizing. Sarah gasped, as he gently squeezed and pulled at her budding nipples.

  “Feed on me,” she breathed.

  Darrien froze. “You do not want that Sarah,” he whispered.

  “Oh … I do want that,” she moaned.

  “You are a born vampire Sarah. You could be easily infected, and then you would be like me,” he told her.

  Sarah tried to get her breathing under control. Her need for him was so intense that she felt compelled to consume him. She wanted to feel him within her, feeding her need with his desire. She wanted to taste him, as he was taking her to that ultimate paradise. The thought made her tremble.

  Sarah forced herself to remember that what she was feeling was really the vampire’s spell.

  Swallowing hard, Sarah pulled away from him. “I don’t know what to think of all of this.”

  “Search inside of yourself Sarah, and you will find that what I am telling you is true. You are Caroline.” He tried to pull her close, but she resisted.

  “And the born vampire thing … what about that?” she asked. Sarah’s mind was reeling. All of this just seemed to be too much.

  “I suspect that you can verify this with your aunt.”

  “And the reason that you care what happens to me is because you think I am this dead witch?” Sarah eyes strayed toward the sea. She couldn’t let herself look at him or she would be lost. As soon as she looked into his eyes, she wouldn’t care about anything but being with him. Something told her that she needed to stay in control right now.

  “That is one reason, yes.”

  “What is it that you want from me? Do you want me to pretend that I am this witch?”

  Darrien shook his head. “I just do not want to be responsible for your demise. This is why I want you to go away before Omar sends someone else to kill you. It is also why I must not come to you again,” he added in a soft voice.

  Sarah turned sharply to face him. The thought of never seeing him again was troubling. “So is that what this was about? You’ve come to tell me this, and then you plan to go away?”

  Darrien nodded. For a moment it appeared that he was going to say something more, but he didn’t.

  Sarah turned away. “Well I’m not running!

  “Don’t be foolish Sarah! These are immortals. They cannot die, at least not by any normal means. For you to do battle with them, would be asking for death.” Darrien’s voice shook with frustration and anger.

  “I will be initiated at the summer solstice, and then the coven will stand with me,” she told him, a stubborn glint in her eyes.

  Darrien jumped to his feet. “If you will not help yourself Sarah, there is nothing more that I can do for you.”

  “How do you suppose that I help myself, go hide in a hole for the rest of my life? If there is any truth to what you tell me, maybe I should be looking for these sisters and doing what it is we are supposed to do?” Sarah snapped.

  “The sisters have no chance of success. The ancients are too powerful.”

  Sarah stood and took his hand in hers. “Darrien, stay with me and help me.”

  He refused to look at her. “I cannot do that. The last time I was a part of your life …” his voice trailed off and he became silent.

  Sarah drew her brows together. “I don’t believe that I am this witch that you say I am.”

  “You are wrong,” he shook his head. “Once two souls have come together in love, as we did, they are connected throughout eternity. Search inside yourself, and you will find that connection.”

  Sarah could not deny that there was something there. Though she had no conscious memory of Darrien before she’d seen him standing out in her aunt’s garden that night, she did feel as if she knew him.

  “If this is true, why are you planning to go away?” she asked, her heart sinking at the very thought of never seeing him again.

  Finally he let his eyes rest on her face. “I will only end up hurting you Sarah. It is what happened before. Your death was my fault.”

  “How was it your fault?” Sarah was becoming aggravated with him.

  Darrien shook his head. “There is no time for all of this. Even right now, Omar is wondering where I am. He will send someone else soon.”

  Sarah let go of his hand. “Then go! I will fight these vampires, and I will win.”

  Darrien’s anger erupted. “Do you think you could fight against an immortal?” he growled. His anger shone through his eyes, and she saw him transform into something dark and deadly. Snarling, he drew back his teeth to reveal fangs. His hand whipped out to grasp her arm.

  Sarah tried to pull away, her heart pounding with fear. He held her arm tightly, forcing her into the sand. “Do you think you could stop me, if I wanted to kill you?” His fury made his voice sound deep and guttural. In that instant, he resembling something far from human.

  He was lying on top of her, his body pinning her down so that she could not move. “Do you want to know what it is like to be fed on by an immortal?” he roared.

  Lifting her shirt, he stared down at her heaving chest and naked breasts. Sarah gasped when she felt his wet tongue sliding over her taut nipples. Then she felt the pre
ssure of his fangs on her flesh, and the sensation of warm blood spilling across her breast. Fire erupted between her legs, and she let out a soft moan, lifting her chest to feed him more.

  She could feel his stiff desire pressing hard against her stomach, and she wiggled beneath him, so that she could feel him better. Her actions fanned the flames of his hunger, and he pulled away from her. Throwing his head back, he roared in frustration. He swiftly got to his feet, as if her nearness was too unbearable to endure any longer.

  “Cover yourself,” he told her, his voice so low that she had to strain to hear him.

  Pulling her shirt down, Sarah stood up. “Why do you keep pushing me away? I can tell that you want it too.”

  “Yes, I want you,” he admitted. “I want you so much that I could easily lose control and take your life, or turn you.”

  “You are angry because you couldn’t scare me like you were trying to do,” Sarah accused.

  Darrien shook his head. “Sarah … your hunger will control you one day, if you do not take control of it now. If you were someone else, this would have frightened you, but it only made your craving worse.”

  Sarah stepped closer and rested her hand on his arm. “I don’t want you to go away.”

  Darrien glanced at her. “I can’t be close to you … and not touch you.”

  “I want you to,” she insisted.

  He shook his head. “I can’t.”

  “I am not that person. I am not Caroline,” Sarah told him angrily.

  “Go to your coven Sarah and ask for their protection. I cannot protect you, not even from me.” Darrien took her hand in his and started walking back to the house.

  “Where will you go?” she asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. One place is the same as the next for me.”

  Sarah stopped suddenly. “You still haven’t told me anything about who you are, just your name.”

  He stared at her, his dark eyes reflecting the silver moonlight. She wanted so badly to reach out and touch him, but she feared his rejection. It was far more painful than when his teeth punctured her flesh.

  “I am death. That’s all you need to know about me,” he told her before turning away and starting up the path to her aunt’s house.