Calling for a Miracle [The Order of Vampyres 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (38 page)

He did not seem to expect her to be so agreeable all of a sudden. He looked at her with skepticism, but eventually released her arms. She thought she saw a bit of regret flash in his eyes, but it was gone too fast for her to be certain. He stepped away from her and waved his arm out for her to precede him so she did, spine straight and chin held high, the way a bishop’s wife should be.

When he reached for her hand, she did not pull away, nor did she acknowledge his touch. He seemed to notice this. Rather than comment, however, he lifted her fingers and secured them properly in the crook of his elbow. The only reason they remained there was because he held them in place with his own fingers.

When the safe house came into view, Larissa lost sight of where she was going and her steps faltered. Eleazar steadied her before she could fall. The home was enormous, a literal fortress. She had seen it before, but never expected to actually enter, let alone reside there.

Women did not typically visit the safe house. It was where the Elders’ Council had their meetings and where men were taken if there was trouble. It was also the original home of the farm and where the bishop lived. The only reason she had ever known of a woman’s presence required within those thick stone walls was to be questioned by the council. Larissa was an obedient female who never dreamed of being called to such a task, so the idea of entering the safe house now left her with feelings she was unprepared for.

The closer they came to the house, the more intimidated she grew. Her steps slowed and soon it was as if the bishop was dragging her alongside of him. When her reluctance became evident, he stopped and looked at her, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of the rambling steps and tall columns yawning ahead of her. Thick stone buttresses supported each corner of which there were many. Larissa counted over forty windows on the front of the home alone.

“Larissa?”

She looked at him. He didn’t seem as irritated as he did when they first reached the farm, but she did not want to aggravate him again. She tried to remind herself that this was Eleazar, her mate, the man she loved that could make her cry out in passion and laugh until her belly ached. But all she could see was her bishop.

Without saying a word she nodded. Taking a deep breath, she began to walk again and he led her up the steps to the twin front doors.

As the heavy doors creaked open, a man stepped forward. “Bishop King. It is good to have you back.”

“David. I trust everything is well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Larissa tried to fade into the woodwork, but the bishop pulled her forward. “David, are you acquainted with Larissa Hartzler?”

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Hartzler,” the man said and Larissa nodded, unable to form a reply.

“Larissa will be staying with me for some time. Her presence here is not to be made public knowledge. I trust I do not need to explain what that means to you.”

“No, sir.”

“Very good. If you will excuse us. I have business that needs tending to in my office.”

“Sir…” The man looked as though he wanted to warn the bishop of something, but only said, “Perhaps Ms. Hartzler would be more comfortable up here.”

She felt the bishop’s hand tighten over hers and then scented his mating scent filling the room. His jaw clenched and he said, “I think she will stay with me.”

David appeared to want to argue, but only nodded. “Very well, sir.” He folded his hands behind his back and stepped out of the way. The bishop led her down a quiet hallway.

They reached a steel door and Eleazar used a key to open it. Larissa found it odd that he used locks within his home, but said nothing. As they walked down a long, narrow corridor that sloped slightly, Larissa felt the temperature drop and her ears adjusted to the pressure. They were below ground she realized. She silently took in the long hall as the bishop’s shoes tapped and echoed in the empty space.

They turned and there was another set of double doors. Larissa read the wood-carved sign above the doors. Written in German, the sign read,
Council Hall, All men shall be obedient to the will of God.

They continued down another hall and Larissa noticed an open door that appeared to be an office. There was also another heavy door just across the hall. The bishop stilled and turned toward the heavier door. His brow creased in a frown. “Someone is here.”

Larissa looked around but saw no one.

“Have a seat in my office, Larissa. I will be back in a moment.” He waved for her to enter his office and she did. She watched as he pulled another key from his pocket and unlocked the heavy door. It wailed as if it was not often used.

She watched the bishop’s form slowly disappear as he walked down yet another long hallway.

* * * *

Already, Eleazar regretted being back. He had to call an emergency meeting to inform the others of Isaiah’s existence, who also happened to be his mate’s great-uncle. He did not look forward to delivering her or her kin upsetting news. He knew Isaiah would have to be destroyed.

The male had been deranged. When Eleazar had finally been close enough to recognize him, he noticed his eyes were devoid of any humanistic trait. He did not seem to understand what Eleazar had tried to tell him, nor did he seem to care. When Eleazar approached he reared back like a cornered tiger and began to hiss and claw. His jaws snapped down in a manner that told Eleazar, that while he had recognized the male, Isaiah did not recognize him.

He could barely process that the filthy, naked male was actually Isaiah, that he had somehow managed to survive all of these years unanswered.
He recalled the last time he had come across the male in the woods some eighty years past. Eleazar could still smell the blood and death to this day. Isaiah was feral then so it was safe to assume he was beyond reconciliation now. They had never considered he would actually survive.

Perhaps it
was
Isaiah Hartzler attacking all of those women in the woods. Eleazar sighed. He did not wish to inform his mate’s family that their brother, uncle, had survived only to sentence him to death in the next breath. There had only ever been one case in all of his years since coming here from Europe that required Eleazar to demand an execution of one of their own. That was eighty years ago when Isaiah went rogue. He supposed the execution sentence still stood.

The only reason they had failed was because the male had become so
feeish
and so engorged on human blood, he had been too strong for twelve of them to defeat. In the end it had come down to saving Larissa’s grandfather, Ezekiel, or going after his brother Isaiah. They had chosen to save a life rather than destroy one. Now, however, Eleazar was beginning to admit their mistake. Who knew how many lives had been lost in the past eighty years due to their carelessness.

This was not what he expected to come home to. He was prepared to deal with the Hostetlers and Silus, but not this. He wanted to enjoy his mate. See to her annulment and make her his wife. He knew he had been distracted and harsh with her when she did not deserve it. He knew he needed to apologize for his harsh words and neglectful manners. He would deal with her as soon as he found a moment of free time. He would not wait until the Hostetler business was dealt with. His mate’s emotions were the most important matter. He just needed to call a meeting with the council and then he would be able to apologize. That, and see who was locked in his cells.

As he lit a lantern and turned to see the identity of the prisoner, Eleazar shut his eyes and thought life could not get any more complicated. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a moment to collect himself. Looking back at the prisoner, he said, “Tell me you are not here for the reason I suspect.”

Chapter 24

Jonas pulled his face from his palms and looked up when he heard the bishop’s voice.

“Tell me you are not here for the reason I suspect.”

Jonas stood from the bench he had been sitting on and looked the man directly in the eye. “I have come to beg for your mercy, Bishop King. I wish to be executed.”

The bishop threw his head back and groaned. Loudly. “I cannot kill you, Jonas.”

“It is my wish. You must.”

He looked through the bars at him and blew out a slow breath. The bishop was acting different. Finally he snapped, “Is it true? Are you being called?”

A little taken off guard that the bishop knew his situation, he took a moment to answer. How many others knew? “I will only ever have one mate, Bishop King.”

“For the love of God, Jonas, answer the bloody question.”

Jonas lowered his head. “Yes. It is true. But it makes no difference. I will not go to her.”

“And what do you suppose this is doing to Abilene? I assume she knows.”

“Yes. It is killing her.”

Bishop King dragged a hand through his hair and began to pace. “This is unbelievable,” he mumbled to himself. He turned back to the cell and asked, “How bad are your symptoms?”

“Bad enough that I had your man lock me in this cell.”

“Examples, Jonas, give me examples.”

He could not do more than whisper his shameful confession. “I…I attacked Abilene. I hurt her.” His throat constricted as pain and regret squeezed his heart.

“Is she all right?”

“She will heal…physically at least.”

The bishop held out his arms. “You need to go find your mate. I cannot kill you.”

“No.”

“No? Jonas, as your bishop I insist, for the safety of your family, that you do this. It is God’s will and your duty.”

“My duty is to my wife.”

“Your duty is to your children as well! What do you suspect this will do to them? Abilene loves you. If something were to happen to you, it would destroy her. How do you think that will affect your children?”

“My children are grown. Abilene is my only concern. She is all I can concern myself with at the moment.”

“You are being selfish.”

“I am doing right by my wife,” Jonas growled.

“According to who? Have you asked her what she wants? I highly doubt she wants to watch you die. I am sorry. I will not do it.”

“
It is my right!
”
Jonas shouted, leaping at the bars. He felt his beast coming to the surface, his control slipping. He shook the bars viciously. If the bishop would not kill him voluntarily, Jonas would attack him and force him to do this deed out of self-defense. He would not see his wife hurt!

Suddenly there was a gasp. The bishop released a stream of foul curses and gave him a look that almost had Jonas believing he was going to get his wish. However, when Jonas turned to see who had come into the holding room, his daughter was the last person he expected to see.

“Father?” Her eyes were wide as her trembling fingers covered her mouth in shock.

“Larissa. What are you doing here? Does Silus know that your back? Your mother? Everyone has been worried. Where have you been?”