Into the Darkness (26 page)

Rene gestured for her to come closer. With Chessa standing

between Rene and the camera that watched the bed, he said

softly. “Natalie’s comin’ too.”

Natalie was surprised he blurted it out that way, like a

command.

Chessa’s head swiveled toward her, but her gaze didn’t accuse. Instead, she looked troubled.

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Natalie rose from the bed, unconcerned with her nudity,

and lifted her chin. “I’m not staying here.”

“Have you thought about what’s going to happen when

you get back to New Orleans?”

She shrugged. “Not really. I’m hoping I can get help from

Simon.”

Chessa nodded slowly. “He might be willing. He’s not beholden to Inanna.”

Natalie tilted her chin higher. “Like you are?”

Chessa’s lips tightened. “You might be able to lie low and

avoid detection by
Revenants
for a while, but what about—”

“The creature attacks?”

“Plural?”

“Locusts came after me, too.”

Chessa’s eyes widened. “What next? Is the Mississippi

gonna run red?”

Rene snorted.

Chessa’s concern mollified Natalie’s irritation somewhat.

“I was in the open both times,” Natalie said. “If I stay inside

as much as possible and don’t draw attention to myself, they

shouldn’t find me either.”

“Are you willing to take that risk? Are you going solo?” She

glanced between Rene and Natalie.

Natalie nodded, her throat tightening. “I’m on my own.”

“Well, shit. You guys sure don’t know how to keep things

simple.” Chessa crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not

sure how I’m going to get you out of here, but if Nic hasn’t

left yet, he might be willing to help.” She straightened. “Both

of you, get dressed.”

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223

She left them long enough to dress—Rene in his sweat

pants, Natalie in her robe.

“We’ll have to hit my place for more clothing for you when

we get to town,” Rene said, pulling his drawstring taut and

tucking it inside the waistband.

“I don’t see the problem,” Natalie said. “I’m heading back

to my place anyway, aren’t I?”

“No. If you want to see your Simon, you’ll have to let us

contact him for you. We’ll find you a room somewhere.”

“It’s nice to know you don’t plan to dump me at the city

limits,” she said, keeping the tone light—if a little acidic.

Rene’s scowled. “I’m not dumping you.”

“No, but you’re also not sticking around. I’m not sure I see

the difference.”

“If you really are pregnant—”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, impatient with his resistance. “I’m not asking you to play daddy.”

“I wouldn’t be very good at it.”

“You’ve tried it before?”

He shook his head. “I’m just not a family guy.”

Natalie thought about that for minute. “You’ve been married before, haven’t you?”

“Yeah. I was a lousy husband.”

The door opened, and Chessa waved them toward her. “We

have to go now. The security team’s finished their meeting,

but Nic’s got those on patrol around the house in a pow-wow.

We have five minutes tops. My car’s in front.”

“Would they really try to stop us?” Natalie asked, worried

she’d put them in danger.

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Chessa’s expression turned from dour to amused with a

slow grin. “Yeah, they really would.”

Once out the door they raced down the hall to the long

staircase and out the foyer to the front porch. Rain pelted

them as they stepped off onto the pebbled circular drive.

Chessa lifted her remote entry and clicked open the locks

to her sedan. “You take the backseat, Natalie, and keep your

head down.”

Natalie dove into the back and lay across the seat while

Chessa started the engine and pulled away.

“The storm’s getting’ nasty,” Rene muttered. “Sure the

road’s still open?”

Chessa flipped the switch of the police scanner. “We’re

gonna play it by ear. For now, let’s just put some miles between us and
Ardeal
.”

“That’s the name of this place?”

Natalie realized Rene hadn’t been apprised of any of the

history or the people who lived here. Not that they’d spent

a lot of time talking. “
Ardeal
means beyond the forest. It’s

the original homeland for the vampires here. For me, too, I

guess.”

“All except Inanna,” Chessa murmured, keeping her eyes

on the road. “We’re nearing the gate. Almost in the clear.”

There was a bump as they left the private road for the

blacktop. From her position stretched across the backseat,

she saw Chessa give a small wave to somebody just beyond

her view. “All right, we’re cool. The only thing we have to

worry about now is that damn storm.”

Natalie sat up in the back seat. Within the thick walls of

the house, she’d been unaware of just how strong the storm

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225

had become over the last night. The tall oaks that lined the

main road like sentries bent sharply in the wind. Long strands

of Spanish moss littered the surface. Rain fell like a thick curtain distorting their view ahead.

“Damn, I’m chilled,” Rene said, turning down the AC.

Chessa gave him a sideways glance. “We’ll have to stop and

buy a T-shirt for you. If we can find any place open.”

Natalie cleared her throat. When both gazes swung her

way, she shrugged. “I’m hungry.”

Chessa settled back in her seat and glanced at her in the

rearview mirror. “That’s gonna be tricky, but I’ll keep an eye

out.”

“Will they try to follow us?” Rene asked.

“Nic will keep them busy with storm prep for now. He

promised we’d have a bit of a head start.”

“What’s he to you, anyway?” Rene asked, his gaze on the

road ahead.

He’d asked the same thing about Simon—in the same possessive tone.

Chessa shrugged, but didn’t answer.

Rene’s gaze stayed on her as though picking apart clues in

her appearance and expression.

Was he jealous of Chessa as well? Natalie wished she didn’t

care so much what their relationship really was, but she sensed

that something had changed between them over the last day.

The convenience store they pulled up to was in a small town,

an unmapped blip on the road. Fish bait, along with cigarettes and beer, was advertised in the sign on the glass door.

The windows had all been boarded shut in preparation for the

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coming storm. However, the only thing that mattered was

the little cardboard sign that read “Open.”

Chessa cut off the engine and turned to Natalie. “You stay

here. I’ll signal when you should come inside.”

Natalie looked at Rene. “Are you sure you don’t want to

come in, too.”

He shook his head. “Just don’t forget that T-shirt. I’m

cold.”

After Chessa had gone inside, Rene said, “I don’t suppose

you’re goin’ inside for a doughnut.”

Natalie looked away. Her stomach already felt like it was

eating itself. Acid boiled so hot and sharp. “You know I’m

not.”

Chessa appeared in the doorway and waved for her to come

inside.

Natalie fumbled with the door handle, so hungry and desperate she’d become clumsy with it.

Inside the shop, she blinked against the dim light. The interior of the shop was grimy and smelled of cigarettes and

spilled beer. Behind the counter stood a grinning man with

his dark hair pulled back in ponytail. The uniform shirt he

wore bore the embroidered name “Arno.”

“I’ve been talking to our friend Arno here,” Chessa said, a

smile pasted on her face, “and he says he’s up for a little fun.”

Chessa’s steady stare told her to go along with her.

Still smiling, Arno lifted his chin. “I’ve got a gun under the

counter if either of you two try anyt’ing funny,” he said in his

deep Cajun drawl.

Chessa held up her hand. “My friend’s in a bad way. You

don’t mind . . . being nice to her, do you?”

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227

Natalie’s stomach churned. The asshole must have thought

she was some kind of nymphomaniac. She was going to have

to kill Chessa. Later.

Arno looked Natalie over from head to foot. “She’s a pretty

t’ing. What she need with me?”

“Do you care?” Chessa asked, lifting a brow.

His gaze fell to Natalie’s breasts. “Guess not.” He lifted

the folding counter top to make a small space for Natalie to

slip through. His hand rested beneath the cash drawer.

The closer she got, the more her stomach began to turn.

He was the source of the cigarette and beer stench, but she

reached up and put her hand on his chest, feeling for the enticing thud of his heart. “So how are we going to do this?”

She licked her lips. “I need you on your knees.”

His hand reached out slowly, as though he was afraid she’d

draw back. His fingers sank in her hair and cupped the back

of her head. “How ’bout you be on your knees,
fille
?” he asked,

his voice gruff.

His nearness set her own heart thudding, and despite her

initial revulsion, desire curled deep inside her. “I’m sure we’ll

get there, Arno,” she whispered. “But first, I need a little

something.”

She undid her robe and spread wide the edges to expose

her breasts, all the while gauging when his lust overcame his

common sense. “Do you want to touch them?” she asked, fingering a nipple.

“Damn!” His hand twitched at his side then lifted quickly

to cup her breast as though afraid she’d change her mind.

His caress was surprisingly gentle and tentative. “Them’s

pretty titties,” he said, licking his lips. “What about the rest?”

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“Not until you’re on your knees . . . baby,” she added, surprising herself with how easily she joined the game. Two days

ago she’d been a virgin, and here she was showing her “titties” to a complete stranger.

He pulled his hand from the slot beneath the cash drawer

and knelt in front of her, his gaze never leaving her breasts.

She hiked her robe up to the tops of her thighs and straddled his lap, gasping when his hands reached beneath the hem

to cup her naked buttocks. “In a hurry?”

“I wasn’t expectin’ anyt’ing like dis,” he said, his voice

tight, his erection already straining against her naked pussy.

This close he was younger than she originally supposed—

maybe mid-forties, his eyes a cognac brown. Nice eyes. She

couldn’t help the little grind she gave him. His answering

surge upward was just the sensual prod she needed for her

fangs to slide down.

“These titties are dying to rub against your hard chest,”

she whispered.

“Hope dat’s not all the rubbin’ you plan to do.”

She laughed and leaned close, nuzzling his neck for just a

moment, finding the best spot . . . and sank her teeth into

him.

His breath hissed between his teeth, and his grip on her

ass tightened. He’d leave bruises, but she didn’t care. Blood

spurted into her mouth, and she groaned as it slid sinuously

down her throat.

This time she had no problem controlling her blood lust.

When her stomach was satisfied, his odor and the small

groans that rumbled in his throat, robbed her of enjoyment.

She couldn’t wait to remove her fangs from his neck.

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* * *

No amount of washing in the filthy little restroom at the

back of the store could get the taste of him out of her mouth

or the smell off her skin. However, her stomach was full and

her cheeks pink.

At least she wouldn’t be craving another bite of Rene anytime soon. She’d noticed how he’d shivered inside the car with

the AC turned low. She’d taken too much blood from him.

On her way out of the restroom, she approached Chessa.

“I need some things. Can I have your card? I promise to pay

you back.”

Chessa passed her the card without a question. “I’ll take

Rene’s shirt out. You get what you need. Sign my name.” A

small, conspiratorial smile tugged at her lips. “He’s not gonna

ask you for ID.”

Natalie was still blushing as she paid for her items while

Arno rang up her purchases, smiling blissfully.

“Any time, you hear?”

He didn’t even have a clue she’d drank from him. As she’d

finished lapping at his neck to close the wounds, Chessa had

spoken quietly to him. Somehow in her soft intonations, she

convinced him they’d had sex. That the slight soreness on his

neck was a hickey.

When she slid back inside the car with her package held

tightly in her hands, she avoided Rene’s gaze.

“I don’t think we have to worry about daylight breakin’

through,” Rene said, staring at the angry, black clouds above.

They’d hit the interstate and finally gotten a good look at the

storm the canopy of trees had masked.

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Natalie stirred in the seat behind him where she’d slept

ever since she’d stopped for her bite. He ignored the sound,

tamping down the fury he didn’t want to feel. He’d stayed in

the car rather than watch her take another man again.

Natalie had been drowsy as a kitten after drinking milk.