Immortals And Melodies (Blood And Guitars #2) (33 page)

“I’m not sure you would have wanted to stay at the beach house regardless,” Beck said, trying to make conversation.

“You’re probably right,” I agreed. “I can’t imagine what the beach looks like now.”

Mark pulled out his cell phone, probably to call Hana, but he just dropped it back in his lap and cursed under his breath.

“No signal?” Beck asked.

“The storm must have the cell towers down,” he said.

“I’m sure she made it somewhere safe,” I said to him.

“I’m sure you’re right,” he agreed, though he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything.

The next twenty minutes of the drive went by excruciatingly slow, despite the fact that Beck was speeding like a mad man on the highway. Thankfully, the police seemed to have their hands full with the storm, and if we passed any, they weren’t the least bit concerned with us. Even at those speeds, it seemed to take forever. Just knowing that Aurora was hanging on by a thread, growing weaker as the minutes ticked by was almost more than I could stand. The silence added to the torture, but none of us could manage to keep a conversation going. I had to force myself not to think about what would happen if we failed. I held Aurora ever so still on my lap, willing her to stay alive until we could get her some help.

When her heart started to fail for the third time since getting in the car, Mark leaned over the seat to send her another burst of healing. I kept my hand on her pulse, even though I could make out the sound of her heartbeat now despite the rain. Mark looked like he could collapse at any minute, but he sent the healing burst to her, fighting his way through the utter exhaustion it caused him. To my horror, Aurora’s heartbeat didn’t stabilize this time.

“It’s not working,” I said to him, but the look on Mark’s face told me he’d just realized the same thing. “What do we do now?”

“We’re still about twenty minutes out,” Beck stated, but I felt him ask the car for even more speed.

“Keep driving,” Mark said to Beck. “You just get us there.” Then I watched in a panic as he rummaged through a medical bag he had sitting in the front seat. He pulled out a long needle just as Aurora’s heart stopped beating completely.

“It stopped,” I exclaimed. “I’m losing her. I … I can’t-”

But Mark was already leaning over the seat again. He placed one hand on Aurora’s chest to steady himself and position the needle. I watched, open-mouthed, as he stabbed the needle directly into Aurora’s heart. He forced the contents of the needle out with his thumb and then pulled it from her chest again. I could hardly process what had just happened as I looked from him to Aurora.

“Come on, Aurora,” he said through gritted teeth. “Come on.”

I ran my hand over her face, moving her hair out of the way and silently pleading with her to come back to me. A few anguishing seconds ticked by before I heard her heart jump once. “Yes,” I breathed. “Come on.” Her heart fluttered again and then picked up a recognizable rhythm, beating once more. Mark fell back onto the front seat, wiping his face with his wet sleeve. “How long will that last?” I asked him.

“Let’s just hope it’s long enough,” he said, leaning his head against the headrest.

I felt indescribable relief when Beck announced that we had arrived at our destination. Not because all of our problems were solved, but because we could finally move on to the next stage of the plan. I still didn’t know specifically what that was, but I knew I would do almost anything to save my wife. Beck pulled up to a black cast-iron gate and put the car in park. I watched anxiously as he rolled down the window and pressed a button on a small black box with a speaker.

“We’re here to see
Stanislav
Vidic
,” Mark said from the passenger seat.

“No one sees Mr.
Vidic
,” was the blunt response from a male voice. My heart clenched but I didn’t speak. Mark was probably more diplomatic than I could be in this situation.

“My name is Dr. Mark
Conry
. Damir
Vidic
should have called ahead to say I was coming. Would you mind checking?”

There was a long and grueling silence before the voice came through the black speaker box again. “Mr.
Vidic
has agreed to see you. Pull around back.”

“Thank you.”

Chapter 44

Trey

BECK PULLED AROUND TO the back of the
Vidic
house where a circular driveway led up to the back doors. He parked the car, and before he stepped out, another vampire was opening the back door for me. I lifted Aurora’s insubstantial weight in my arms, carrying her up to the well-lit doors where another vampire held one open for me. Mark and Beck were right behind me as I stepped inside a grand entryway. The second vampire gestured down a long marbled hallway to the right and asked us to follow him. The only sound was the noise our shoes made against the cold stone as we walked. The end of the hallway contained the guest rooms, except they were more like suites than just rooms. I carried Aurora to the bed in one room and gently laid her on it.

“Mr.
Vidic
would like to see you in his office,” the vampire said. Mark nodded and took a step forward. “Both of you,” the vampire clarified, nodding at me. I hesitated, glancing back at Aurora. I didn’t want to leave her, and by the look on Mark’s face, he knew it. But this is why we were here. I had to do whatever it took to convince the Synod Elder to help Aurora.

“I’ll stay with her,” Beck said. “Go.”

I forced my feet to move and went with them, hoping I wouldn’t have to be gone from her side for long.

Stanislav
Vidic’s
office couldn’t have been further from the guest rooms and still be in the same house. Another vampire stood guard just outside of the office. He nodded when we approached and opened the large walnut doors. Mark and I stepped inside and heard the heavy doors close behind us.

“Come in,” said a voice. The hum of power in the room was undeniable. It vibrated in the back of my skull, forcing me to pay attention to it. The Synod Elder sat in a throne-type chair behind an expensive desk in the corner. His thirty-something appearance was deceiving, concealing his actual age, which would have been easier to count in centuries than years. He had black hair like his grandson, and eyes so brown they were almost black. He got to his feet and approached us, surprising me by offering his hand. I shook it.

“Thank you for seeing us,” I said, not sure what the appropriate greeting was for a vampire of his position. “I’m Trey Decker.”

“I know who you are,” he responded, meeting my gaze straight on with knowing hazel eyes. “You’re the young musician who was so eager to live forever.” I wanted to correct him, to point out that Aurora was really the only part of his world I couldn’t go without. I kept quiet, realizing only after his expression changed that he’d heard my thoughts anyway. Then he turned to greet Mark. “And you’re Mark
Conry
. Damir tells me that you’re the Emissary’s contact at Morton Plant Hospital.” Mark nodded, shaking his hand.
“So, Mr. Decker," the Elder said slowly as he returned to the great throne behind his desk. "I've been wondering for quite some time now just what it is about you that could capture the heart of a strong, young, powerful vampire such as Miss
Evins
." He raised his eyebrows expectantly, and I realized he wanted me to answer.

"I don't pretend to understand why Aurora chose me," I said. "If you're implying that there are other men more worthy of her, you wouldn't be the first."

Stanislav
smiled and leaned back in his chair, assuming a more relaxed posture that was probably meant to put me at ease. "Quite the opposite, actually," he said. "With thinking like that you're selling yourself short." He must have read my confusion at his response. "You see, I've had the pleasure of visiting Aurora's thoughts," he continued. "I learned many interesting things on that night. One of which was how much she cared for you, human or not. Another was just how remarkable you truly are in your chosen career path. For someone who has been on the earth for so few years, you've accomplished a great deal. From what I've gathered, you're extremely popular amongst your peers."

"We're very lucky," I said. I knew he expected me to say something, but I didn't have the faintest idea what it was. I really couldn't imagine where he was trying to go with this, but I had more important things to worry about. Like the fact that my wife was dying down the hall. I realized instantly that he would have read that in my thoughts, but I decided to say it anyway. "I'd love nothing more than to talk about the music industry with you over blood sometime, Mr.
Vidic
, but I'm here to ask for your help. Aurora is dying, and as far as we can figure …" I included Mark with a sweep of my hand. "You're the only one who might be able to save her. If you only knew what it took to get her here."

Stanislav
studied me for a moment before he answered. “Our race is small in numbers as it is, and to lose a vampire as strong and vibrant as your Aurora would be a shame. Our kind must stick together. Help one another. It is the only way we’ve survived through the ages.”
Stanislav
got to his feet again as he spoke. “To ask another vampire to give of his blood is no small favor. To ask an Elder of the Synod to do so is unheard of, but something tells me you’re not interested in playing by the rules.”

“The only thing I care about is saving the woman I love. It’s my fault she can’t heal. It weakened her to change me. She’s done everything possible to protect me, and I’ll do the same for her.”

“I admire your loyalty and your nerve, Mr. Decker,” he said. “The other Elders of the Synod are going to think I’ve finally lost my mind, but I’m going to help you.” I let out a sigh of relief, which seemed to amuse him. I opened my mouth to thank him, but he kept on talking, this time addressing Mark. “Do you have the necessary equipment for the blood exchange?”

“Everything is in my car.”

“Very well. My assistants will help you bring it inside. I presume this room will do for my part?” Mark nodded and
Stanislav
dismissed us with a wave of his hand. I followed Mark back out of the office and down toward the back door, feeling the hum of power dissipate slightly with the distance.

“Equipment for what?” I asked.

“A transfusion, sort of. I’ll put Stanislav’s blood in Aurora’s IV.

“Will it work?”

“I hope so,” he said. “Vampires don’t usually give blood to other vampires, except for the whole maker/fledgling thing, but it’s our only shot.”

“Do you need my help?”

“No,” he said as we reached the doors. “Go sit with Aurora. I’ll meet you there as soon as I have Stanislav’s blood.”

We parted ways, and I heard Mark giving orders to one of Stanislav’s assistants as I made my way back down the long hallways to the guest suite. He seemed more and more like a doctor with every minute I spent around him. Aurora hadn’t budged since I’d left her, not that I’d expected her to. Hoped, maybe, but not expected. Beck was sitting in the bay window, and his head jerked up when I walked in.

“What did
Stanislav
say?” he asked. “Is he going to help her?”

“Yeah. Let’s just hope we’re not too late.” I got comfortable on the edge of the bed, taking Aurora’s hand in mine.

“We’re getting you some help,” I said to her, trusting that she knew I was there. “You won’t believe it when you wake up, but we’re inside
Stanislav
Vidic’s
house in
Vidic
Vineyards. This place makes ours look like a cottage. It’s pretty bizarre.” I watched her face for any sign of life, but she was deathly still. Her heart beat erratically, like a watch whose battery was on its last leg. The bluish veins around her eyes were darker now, a sign of just how bad things had gotten. She wouldn’t be able to keep this up much longer. I hoped Mark was fast in getting back with the blood she needed.