A Wind of Change (6 page)

I gave my grandfather a hug. Then we exited the house and climbed back into the white truck.

We sped up along the road, and although the tank was nearly full, we stopped by a gas station and filled it right up. We also stocked up on some extra fuel just in case we ran out.

And then we headed straight for the desert. We barely talked as we traveled beneath the late-afternoon sun. I just kept looking straight ahead through the windshield. About halfway, exhaustion caught up with me. My eyelids began to droop. I figured it was better to take a nap now than tonight when I needed to be alert and watching. I drifted in and out of sleep for the rest of the journey.

“Over there,” Fariss said, pointing to a cluster of tanks in the distance. I was relieved that they were still here.

“Good,” I said, leaning forward in my seat. “We should try to remain hidden from them. I don’t want them to know that we’re spying on them.” We had stopped on a raised mound of sand that sloped downward toward the area where the tanks were stationed. This gave us a good view of their camp. But we were too exposed for my liking. Fariss pulled back a little so that we were a bit less visible but could still see everything that was going on.

And then the wait began. Once the sun had set behind the horizon, men began to climb out of the tanks and stretch their legs. I rummaged in the front compartment of the vehicle and found a pair of binoculars. I looked through them and zoomed in to get a better look.

They all seemed to wear belts with the same equipment I’d seen the two men wearing the other night—sharp wooden spears, silver guns, and boxlike objects with flashing lights. I also noticed some other odd-looking technology that I couldn’t put a name to. Some of them sat on top of the tanks, looking north, while others walked around the area or leaned against the tanks, eating and talking.

What I wouldn’t give to overhear their conversations.

I looked at Fariss, then at Bashira—who was beginning to nod off in the backseat of the car.

“I need to hear what they’re saying,” I whispered.

“Miss Giovanni,” Fariss said, looking nervous, “you didn’t say that you would want to leave the truck.”

“I promise I’ll be fine, I just need to do this.”

I grabbed my backpack and a bottle of water, opened the door and stepped out onto the ground.

“Miss Giovanni,” Fariss called, “don’t go too far. And watch out for dangerous creatures—cobras and scorpions in particular.”

I gulped. “Thanks.” I put the bottle of water into my backpack and then pulled out the flashlight, tucked it into my belt and flung the bag back over my shoulders. Then I positioned the hood of my dark-colored jacket so that it covered my face as much as possible.

I began making my way down the slope. Of course I couldn’t use my flashlight or I would attract their attention. That was just in case of an emergency. I had to go by the light of the moon and stars.

When I was level with the tanks, I could already hear better. I was just about close enough to begin making sense of their words when two men turned toward me. I dropped to the ground, hoping that they hadn’t noticed. And that I hadn’t just dropped down near some kind of deadly creature.

I remained still for several moments, turning my head to look toward them from my position against the ground. Although two men were still looking in my direction, it seemed that they either hadn’t noticed me, or just weren’t interested. They turned their backs and headed back toward the rest of the crowd.

I breathed a little more easily. Raising my head higher, I stood up slowly.

I began to move closer, but to my dismay, the conversation had died down by the time I was close enough to hear. Most of them were now staring northward in silence, guns in their hands and those odd red flashing boxes scattered around the area. I looked north myself, trying to understand what they were all staring at. I couldn’t see anything but endless sand dunes.

What are they all waiting for?

I decided to start walking in the direction where they were staring. I kept down low against the ground, careful to keep an eye out for creepy-crawlies. I had to catch my scream in my throat as a hideous black scorpion scuttled out from a hole in the sand about a foot away. It nearly crawled over my feet.

After that, I remained standing, praying that I wouldn’t encounter another dangerous creature before I returned to the truck.

I swerved out wider, further away from the men to avoid being seen, and continued walking north, looking back every now and then to be sure nobody had noticed me.

I was about to see the futility of my attempt and return to the vehicle when a sharp pain filled my skull. It felt like I’d just walked headfirst into a wall. I staggered back, cursing and clutching my forehead.

What in the world…?

Reaching out a hand, I was shocked to find something hard.

I’ve got to be hallucinating.

I stretched out my other hand. That also touched something hard. It was the most bizarre thing I’d ever experienced in my life, like some kind of invisible barrier. I moved my hands along the hard surface. It felt neither rough nor smooth… I didn’t even know how to describe its texture, if it even had a texture. It just hurt like hell to walk into.

Blinking hard, I looked toward the truck still parked up on the mound of sand. Then I looked back at the tanks. I didn’t think that I was hallucinating.

What is this?
I walked further, keeping my hands against this strange invisible force field. After twenty minutes of walking, I was about to run back to the car to get Fariss and ask what he thought when I heard a voice. A male voice, speaking English.

“No, Marilyn.”

It sounded like it was coming from behind the barrier and yet, when I looked straight through it, I saw nothing but sand.
Where is it coming from?
It sounded so close.

Then there was a wailing—presumably a female’s.

The male voice spoke again. “Why don’t you go and spend the night with your boyfriend for a change?”

“Because he’s not mine anymore! He’s got a new girlfriend!” She sounded hysterical.

Where on earth are these people?
I found myself looking in all directions, even down at the ground, wondering if there was some kind of bunker beneath me. No. It was coming from behind this strange invisible wall.

Clenching my fists, I called out, “Who are you?”

The man and woman fell silent.

Rapid footsteps crossed the sand, and then I heard deep breathing only feet away from me. My heart hammered against my chest. I felt a presence so close to me, and yet I still couldn’t see anyone.

Could they be… ghosts?

I shook myself.

Don’t be so stupid.

Ghosts don’t exist.

“What brings a young woman like you out here so late?” The male spoke.

I shuddered at the proximity of his voice.

“I’m looking for my sister,” I replied, even as I felt crazy for talking to thin air. “A six-year-old girl. She went missing about twenty-four hours ago. She’s plump, has brown hair, turquoise eyes and light tan skin. H-Have you—?”

Before I could finish my question, a cold hand shot out from nowhere and gripped my wrist. Next thing I knew, I was being pulled through what had previously been an impenetrable barrier. I landed on the ground near a pair of large feet. Shock coursing through my veins, I raised my eyes to see a tall, blond-haired, brown-eyed young man standing over me. He was terribly pale and there was a strange vibrancy to his irises, almost as though he were wearing special contact lenses.

“Yes,” he responded calmly, his gaze roaming the length of my body. “We have your sister. And now we have you.”

I
screamed
as the man bent down and gripped my neck with his freezing hands. His grip was so strong, he could crush my windpipe with the slightest bit of pressure.

He raised me to my feet and stared down at me.

“Who are you?” I choked.

He ignored me and looked over at a blonde woman standing next to him. She also looked unnaturally pale. I strained to see where I’d just been pulled through. I was able to spot the white truck in the distance.

“Help!” I shouted.

“That’s it,” the man said softly, looking up toward where I was looking. “Call for help. See what good it does you.”

To my surprise, he let go of me. I made a dash toward the vehicle but smashed into the barrier again, the same barrier I’d just been pulled through. I continued yelling for help.

The truck’s engine roared in the distance and it began trundling down the sand dunes toward us, headlights on full blast. It approached near where I was standing, then drove right past. I could see Bashira and Fariss looking around in bewilderment.

They can’t see me.

I whirled around to see the man watching me with almost boredom.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

Ripping out the flashlight that was still stuffed in my belt, I hurled it at his face and darted in the opposite direction. Even though I couldn’t pass through the barrier, that didn’t stop me from trying to get as far away from this man as possible. I didn’t stop to see if the flashlight had hit its mark. Whatever the case, it hadn’t done enough damage because he caught up with me in a matter of seconds. He tripped me up and knocked me to the ground again.

“Come now,” he said, bending down closer to me and touching my cheek with his cold fingers. “No need to get us off to such a rough start.”

The blonde woman was now standing right next to us. Her eyes looked swollen from crying and black mascara stained her cheeks. “What are you going to do with this one, Michael?” she asked.

Michael.

“I need to consult Jeramiah,” he said.

Jeramiah?

I made another attempt to scramble away, but he was unnaturally fast. He’d gripped my waist before I’d even managed to stand up.

“You’ll do better not to struggle,” he said calmly.

Lifting me from the ground, he flung me over his shoulder. Then he lurched forward with such speed, it knocked the breath out of me. The wind whipped against my ears. It felt like I was falling, not being carried.

He stopped at a large trapdoor fixed into the sand. The blonde girl stooped and pulled it open, then Michael carried me inside. Still wrestling with me as I fought him, he descended a narrow staircase.

I gasped as we touched down on a shiny marble floor. We were standing on a platform surrounded by glass walls at the top level of a huge atrium. It had too many layers for me to count, and it was lavishly decorated, with a sprawling garden in the center and massive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

“Who the hell are you?” I shouted again, kicking and pounding my fists against his back. He barely seemed to notice my struggle as he headed with me toward an elevator. Marilyn entered after us and pushed a button.

“Why don’t you just tell her?” the young woman said, rubbing her temples as the elevator began to descend. “Her questions are giving me a headache.”

Michael shot a look at Marilyn.

“I’ll tell her when I tell her,” he snapped.

Marilyn crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at Michael.

I continued to attack my captor’s back—and any other part of his body I could reach—but he didn’t seem to feel a thing. My attempts to break free only made his freezing hands close more tightly around my legs.

“Please,” I gasped. “Please. Let me down!”

Both of them ignored me as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Marilyn took a left turn and headed in the opposite direction from Michael and me. I strained my neck to see where he was taking me as he sped up along a wide veranda. We passed closed door after closed door, his footsteps echoing off the sleek floors. Finally Michael stopped in front of one of the doors and rapped his knuckles against it.

I held my breath as there was a loud click and the door swung open. Michael’s hands ran up my thighs and gripped my waist. He lowered me to the floor. I tried to dart away from him, back out of the door, but he held me firmly in place—my back against his chest, forcing me to face forward.

My eyes fell on the man standing before me in the hallway of a luxurious apartment. He was tall, even taller than Michael. He had a robe draped around his broad shoulders, partially revealing a chiseled torso. He had dark shoulder-length hair and harsh blue eyes that roamed me curiously.

“Who’s this?” he asked, his voice low and deep.

“Jeramiah, she walked right up to us. I couldn’t resist…”

I flinched as the blue-eyed man stepped forward and placed a hand beneath my chin, tilting my head upward. Then he let go and lowered his face to my neck before breathing in.

“Hmm,” Jeramiah murmured. “Take her down to the basement.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

I was still holding out hope that this was all just a dream. I must’ve fallen asleep in the car on the way to the tanks. The trauma of losing my sister had brought about this crazy nightmare I couldn’t escape from…

Jeramiah took a step backward and a beautiful ebony-skinned girl appeared by his side. Dressed in a short nightdress, she wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her gaze on me.

“The basement?” she asked, her voice silvery. “Really, Jeramiah? She’s a beauty.”

Jeramiah heaved a sigh and studied me again.

“She is a beauty,” he said thoughtfully, after a pause.

“I was going to suggest that I keep her,” Michael said.

Keep me?

“Please!” I stammered. “Where’s my sister?”

Jeramiah raised a dark brow, then spoke as if he hadn’t heard me. “After the kidnappings this week, we’ve already selected enough humans to half-turn. Keeping her in the upper levels would upset the ratio,” he said.

Half-turn?

Ratio?

What is he talking about?

There was a pause. “I could… restore it,” Michael said.

“You know I don’t like waste, Michael,” Jeramiah replied, his eyes stern.

“Don’t worry. I’ll pick one of the servants who’s been slacking recently… I already have one in mind. Leave it to me.”

Jeramiah still looked doubtful. “When will you do it?”

“By the end of the week,” Michael replied.

“No later than that.”

“Agreed,” Michael said.

“But Michael,” the beauty standing next to Jeramiah said, “I was thinking this newcomer could be good for our new member, Joseph. What about you and Alexandria?”

Michael breathed out impatiently and gripped my arms tighter. “Alexandria and I are tired of each other. And as much as I appreciate your opinion, Lucretia, it isn’t required. Joseph isn’t interested in a companion anyway, according to Jeramiah… So this girl has arrived just in time. We were planning to do it this evening, right?”

Jeramiah’s eyes were still fixed on me, but he nodded. “Yes, this evening.”

“What is this evening?” I asked, hysteria shaking my voice.

Again, nobody bothered to answer me.

“Have you been to see Joseph?” Michael asked.

“No. I’m going to do that now,” Jeramiah replied.

“Are we sure that he’s ready for it?” Michael asked. “He seemed… unsteady.”

“I think he’s ready. We’ll have him see people one by one, so it won’t be so overwhelming. I’ll stay with him in case there is any trouble.”

“He’d better be ready,” Michael muttered. “He won’t be newly-turned for much longer…”

Michael moved back down the hallway toward the door, dragging me after him.

“I’ll bring Joseph to your quarters, yes?” Jeramiah said, already pulling on a shirt that his girlfriend was handing him.

“Yes,” Michael said. “We’re headed there now.”

“We might as well bring him to see this girl first then,” Jeramiah said.

“I agree,” Michael replied.

“Who’s Joseph?” I shouted.

Michael threw me over his shoulder again and left the apartment. He ran along the veranda outside so fast I could hardly breathe. My surroundings were a blur. I could barely even open my eyes until he stopped outside another door.

“My sister. She’s not well. She has asthma. At least take me to see her!”

“Don’t worry about your sister,” he replied calmly. “She’s in capable hands.”

Whose hands?

Withdrawing a key from his pocket, he opened the door and stepped inside. I shivered as he locked it behind him. We were standing in another apartment that looked similar in luxury to Jeramiah’s. He carried me down the hallway, pushed open the door at the end of it, and stepped into a bedroom. He placed me down on the large circular bed in the center of the room.

As soon as I hit the mattress, I scrambled away from him and ran for the door. He whizzed across the room and shut it before I could reach it. I staggered backward, moving toward the far corner of the room and looking for anything that I could use to defend myself.

“What are you?” I breathed.

A smile curled his lips, his brown eyes fixed on my face.

“Come here and I’ll show you.”

I grabbed hold of a table lamp and pulled it from its socket, brandishing it to create as much distance between him and me as I could.

Calmly, he removed his jacket to reveal a thin shirt beneath it. He walked toward me slowly, like a lion stalking its prey. Then his arm shot out so fast I didn’t have the speed to react in time. He ripped the lamp from my hands and threw it out of reach. Now defenseless, I stood flush against the wall.

“Do as I say, and you have nothing to be afraid of.”

As he took his final step, his body pressed against me, pinning me to the wall. He gripped the collar of my shirt and ripped it downward, baring my neck and collarbone.

“No!” I screamed, clutching my ripped shirt with one hand while trying to push him away with the other.

He pinned my hands up against the wall and held them there, then lowered his head to my neck. I tensed up as his lips pressed against my skin. I thought he was kissing me at first, then two sharp stabs punctured my flesh. I was too shocked to even scream.

What is happening?

His tongue brushed my skin, and he began sucking. He groaned deeply, and I felt his entire body begin heaving against me.

He’s… drinking my blood?

I felt close to passing out as he continued to take deep gulps of me.

Wake up, River. Please… wake up.

When he finally raised his head, my head was faint. His lips were covered with deep red liquid. My own blood. He smiled, revealing sharp fangs.

“Do I still need to answer your question, treasure? Or have I shown you enough?”

He had shown me enough.

These people were vampires.