B006P1R39O EBOK (12 page)

He waved at her to go back inside with him. The vampires were still sitting at the table, apparently waiting for Dash to return.

“Mind if we borrow this?” Dashed pulled an empty chair from a nearby table. The couple that was sitting there gave him a quick glance, and then went back to what they were doing.

Kathrina sat down and nervously smiled at the group of vampires. They were staring at her, probably wondering why they could not probe her thoughts. She knew they were trying, she could feel that dull ache behind her eyes that told her a vampire was attempting to sneak into her head.

“This is Kathrina … Nicole and Sarah’s sister,” Dash introduced her.

When Dash mentioned her name, Kathrina noticed that one of the vampires looked rattled, at least for just a split second, and then a mask of composure dropped over his features.

The vampire was thin and pale. He had sharp angular features that almost reminded her of a hawk. His platinum blond hair was slicked back like he used some type of hair oil. He was dressed in a fashion that had not been popular for at least four decades.

That was one method of spotting a vampire; most didn’t change their fashion. It was like they were frozen in time. Around them the world would change, but they seemed stuck in the era they had lived in as mortals.

“You knew my mother … didn’t you?” she asked the blond vampire.

The vampire stared at her with eyes of blue ice. “I did,” he admitted.

“Well that’s why Kathrina’s here,” Dash told them. “She wants some information about her mother.”

A female vampire drew her gaze from the guy she’d been devouring with her eyes. She looked at Kathrina and smiled. “Your mother is why we are all here. She told us about the Place of Light and how we could live without killing.”

Unlike the male vampire, this woman didn’t look the part of an immortal. She appeared middle aged and was wearing a waitress uniform.

The vampire’s eyes strayed back to the guy sitting alone near the bathrooms. Kathrina had to wonder just how many of the Light Seekers actually refrained from taking human blood.

“Do you know what happened to her?” Kathrina asked.

The woman turned back to Kathrina and gave her a sly smile. “Maybe Ray can tell you. He was the last one to see her alive.” She nodded her head in the direction of the blond vampire that Kathrina had noticed earlier.

“Like I’ve told you a hundred times Viv, she was dead when I got there.” The vampire Ray glared at the woman.

Again Viv gave Kathrina a wicked smile. “He went there to talk to her, but claims that he found her dead on the stairs of the convent. It was a vampire killing for sure … her throat had been ripped out and she had been drained of blood.”

Kathrina turned her attention to Ray. “Any idea who could have done it?”

“Probably Omar or one of his vamps,” he stated

“Do you think there is any chance that it could have been Luciano?” she asked. Though she wanted to know - had to know the truth, the thought of Luciano being responsible for her mother’s death made her feel as if she had rocks sitting in her stomach.

At the mention of Luciano’s name, the vampires stared at her as if they were looking at some kind of sideshow freak.

Ray shook his head. “No, but we don’t mention his name.”

“Why?” Kathrina was puzzled by their strange reaction.

The vampire Vivian spoke up, “We are Light Seekers and he is the very definition of darkness. He has no heart … he never was human. He represents everything we want to escape.”

Kathrina wasn’t satisfied with Vivian’s answer. Their reaction to Luciano’s name had been more than simple dislike. She had sensed nervousness, and maybe even fear.

“Really … that’s the only reason you won’t talk about him?” she asked in disbelief.

“Of his own choice, Luciano slipped into obscurity a long time ago. We would prefer he stay there,” Vivian spoke for all of them.

Kathrina felt the anger boiling up inside her. No one wanted to talk about Luciano, and she needed to know about him. She needed to know if he was the monster that the slayer claimed he was. If she were to be honest with herself, she had to admit that the response she got whenever she mentioned his name seemed to support what she’d been told.

“You are curious … like she was.” Ray’s eyes locked with hers. “I think that’s what got your mother killed.”

Kathrina looked away first. There was something about Ray that seemed out of place. It wasn’t just the usual vibe of death and decay that she picked up from vampires. There was something even more sinister about him.

Before Kathrina could give it anymore thought, she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. She looked up. Jordan Anderson was the last person she expected to see.

He gave her a dazzling smile; seemingly oblivious to the fact that there were vampires everywhere, and he’d just placed himself in mortal danger.

The vampires all stood at the same time, ready to defend themselves against the slayer. Though the average person may have walked right by him without a clue to what or who he really was, vampires would know - they could sense a slayer.

Jordan appeared to be utterly unfazed by the vampires. “Relax … I’m just here to talk to Kathrina. Why don’t we call a truce for the evening?”

The vampires stared at him, their eyes emitting the promise of death.

“Would you care to dance?” Jordan asked her, completely ignoring the vampires.

Kathrina stood up, willing to do just about anything to get Jordan out of there and diffuse the situation.

Dash grabbed her arm. “Be careful,” he warned.

“I will. Don’t worry.”

Kathrina let the slayer lead her out to the dance floor. The song that was playing was upbeat and fast, but Jordan slipped his arms around her waist and drew her close to him. They slowly moved around the dance floor.

“What is it that you want?” Kathrina didn’t want Jordan to stay in the club any longer than necessary. At the moment she had too much to worry about and might not be able to protect him from the vampires if they decided to turn on him. Vampires could be so unpredictable. You never knew for sure if you could trust them or not.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing.” He spoke loudly so that she would hear him over the music and people.

“And you just happened to see me?” Kathrina was skeptical. She didn’t believe he’d come across her by accident.

“Let’s go for a walk so we can talk. It’s too loud in here.”

Kathrina hesitated. On one hand she really didn’t want to go anywhere with the slayer, but it would give her the opportunity to get him away from the vampires.

“Okay, let’s go,” she told him and started for the door.

Jordan followed her out, but they had barely exited the building before Dash was there. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“We’re just going for a quick walk. It’s too loud inside,” she explained.

Dash growled and went for Jordan.

“Stop!” Kathrina yelled.

Jordan stepped back and smiled at the vampire. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“I’ll be fine.” Kathrina placed a reassuring hand on Dash’s arm.

Dash backed off, but not before giving Jordan a glaring look of warning. “Ten minutes,” Dash told him, holding up ten fingers to emphasize his words.

“I’ll have her back soon,” Jordan told him, a false smile spreading across his face.

After Dash left them, Jordan tried to grab her hand, but she pulled away. Pretending to ignore her rejection, he started walking down the street, looking back to see if she were following.

“So what did you need?” she asked again.

“I want to help you.”

Kathrina shook her head. “I really don’t need any help.”

“Don’t you?” he asked doubtfully.

Neither of them said anything for a few minutes. The sound of their feet hitting the sidewalk was marked by the silence that surrounded them. They had entered an area where there were residential buildings, many of them with gated gardens. Jordan stopped; taking her hand he led her into one of the gardens. It was overgrown with thick foliage - somewhere behind the bushes she could make out the trickling sound of water flowing from a fountain.

Jordan reached out and pulled her close to him. Kathrina tried to move away, but he held her tight. “You are so beautiful,” he told her.

“Please let …”

Her words were cut off when his mouth came down on hers. His kiss was brutal, nothing like what she’d experienced with Luciano. His lips seemed even colder than the vampire’s - his touch awkward and forceful.

Kathrina put her hands against his chest and pushed hard.

“Stop!” she yelled, fighting to catch her breath.

Her ears caught the sound of sinister laughter from the shadows. That laughter was familiar - somehow comforting.

From the look on his face, it was evident that Jordan was as startled as she was.

Again she heard the laughter, but this time it was next to her ear. Luciano pulled her out of Jordan’s arms so forcefully that if he hadn’t been there to hold onto her, she’d have gone flying into the bushes.

“Do his lips not taste of blood? Is this why you don’t enjoy his kiss?” he whispered in her ear.

Kathrina recovered from her shock quickly and yanked her arm out of his grasp. “You really should mind your business.”

“I was,” Luciano smiled. “You are my business.” Though his words were meant for Kathrina, he was staring at Jordan when he spoke.

“How so?” Kathrina glowered at him. She was overjoyed to see him, but annoyed that he just seemed to pop in whenever he chose.

“I am an elder, so that makes you my business.” Luciano’s eyes locked with hers. He was daring her to defy him.

“You are being very rude …” Kathrina was just about ready to say his name, but stopped herself. He could really ruffle her feathers, but she didn’t want to get him killed, at least not yet.

Jordan had been silently watching the exchange between Kathrina and the vampire. “What’s your business with the young lady?” he asked Luciano.

Luciano shook his head. The red gleam in his eyes mirroring the rage that boiled within him. “No … the question is what’s your business with her?” he asked, slowly leaning toward Jordan until the slayer was forced to move back.

“Boo!” Luciano said with a laugh.

Kathrina began to worry that Jordan might try and attack Luciano.  “He’s a slayer,” she warned under her breath.

Luciano’s black eyes cut into Jordan. “I know what he is.” Though he spoke to Kathrina, he never took his eyes from the slayer.

Jordan didn’t respond to the bait. Luciano was obviously trying to provoke the slayer into a confrontation.

Without another word, Luciano put his arms around Kathrina and they began to ascend into the misty sky.

“I know what you are!” Luciano’s voice rose over the sounds of the city.

Kathrina looked down to see Jordan’s retreating form as they rose higher into the sky. She wasn’t sure what exactly it was that she was expecting to see, but it wasn’t the mask of rage that covered Jordan’s face - a rage so black that he was the image of pure evil.

Kathrina wasn’t surprised when they descended to the rooftop of the orphanage. Most vampires would have relocated to another location once their lair had been discovered, but not Luciano. The most feared and hunted vampire in the world, and he seemed completely unconcerned.

Luciano climbed through the broken window and then reached out to help her inside. They were in the same attic room where he’d first taken her.

“What was that all about?” she asked.

Luciano stood motionless, his eyes shining with hunger.

Kathrina picked up on the change in him. There was something about his mannerism that seemed so different than she’d seen in him before.

This is it. He’s finally decided to kill me.

Why were you with that slayer?” he asked, his voice shaking with fury.

Kathrina swallowed hard. “He wanted to talk.”

“Talk!” Luciano’s brow rose. “Is that how you talk with everyone?”

Kathrina felt the blush spread across her face.

What business did he have questioning her like this?

Placing her hands on her hips, she lifted her chin defiantly. “You haven’t told me what you want, or why you were following me. I know you had to have been following me.”

A slight smiled played on his lips. “You think?”

Kathrina nodded. “Why?”

“Someone has to watch out for you?” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“And that includes keeping me from kissing anyone?”

“You didn’t look like you were enjoying his kiss,” Luciano frowned.

“Well maybe I just wasn’t expecting it, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want him to kiss me.” She was purposely misleading him, hoping to feed the jealousy she sensed.

But why - why did she want him to care who she was with?

“So you wanted the slayer to touch you … is that what you are telling me?” The fury she had sensed had returned.