Out of the Shadows (11 page)

She ran to the church, not bothering to board a bus. Shutting her eyes, she opened them to her aura vision. Daylight made the colors doubly confusing when they blended into the background, but she needed all the warning she could get.

Across the street from the church, she paused to get her bearings. She couldn’t just barge in, even if her friend was in danger. She had to have some sort of plan.

Something stirred behind her. As she turned, a sudden pain radiated through her skull, chased closely by unconsciousness.

* * * *

Tha-whump. Tha-whump
. Lori’s head throbbed in time to her steady heartbeat. What had happened?

Well, clearly she had been knocked unconscious. But by who? She groaned as she tried to lift her head.

“Awake, are you?”

Devin’s voice. Damn him. But swearing at him wasn’t going to do her much good. She didn’t answer, choosing to analyze the situation instead.

Her arms were pinned behind her, tied with coarse rope to her ankles. Not the sort of thing she would be able to claw through, though maybe she could undo the knot. She was slumped forward, but not gagged or blindfolded. And it was cold. She was outside. A quick glance to the side proved she was beneath a deserted overpass. Which part of the city was she in? The sun still rode low in the sky, so she couldn’t have been out of it for too long.

The situation reminded her too much of the one five weeks ago. Tied to a chair then, she hadn’t proven very resourceful. Terrence had saved her.

But he couldn’t do that this time. She was on her own.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she lifted her head in search of Scissors. There–on the ground. Gagged, bound, and unconscious.

“Scissors. Is she…”

“She lives.”

Devin crouched in front of her. His gaze glittered with malice–as did his aura, when she bothered to check. Why hadn’t she checked weeks ago? Terrence had warned her about using her powers when meeting strangers.

With his face impassive, Devin added, “For now.”

Lori bristled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, Lori my dear, that her continued good health is conditional upon how helpful you are.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. The only person allowed to call her by an endearment was Terrence.

Where had that thought come from
? Terrence is dead. Get over him
.

Or better yet, find a way out of this situation.

Wait a second. If her hands were tied to her ankles, they were close to her boot top. And her stake. She twisted, straining her wrists.

Devin dangled the weapon in front of her. “Looking for this?”

Fuck. Back to picking the knot with her fingers. Though that hadn’t worked out well the last time she’d been in this situation.

Mustering a glare, she spat, “What do you want to know? Where Terrence is?”

“Bingo.”

“My, what a one-track mind you have. Is there any room in there for other thoughts, or is it all used up?”

Devin didn’t rise to the bait. Instead of insulting her back or hitting her, he calmly strode to Scissors’s prone form. And leveled the stake at her back.

“You were saying?”

Stupid knot! She couldn’t find a crack to pry open.
Keep him talking. He’s bluffing
.

“Are you really going to toss away your bargaining chip so soon?”

Devin kneeled. His arms flexed as he drew back for the kill.

“He’s dead!”

Devin paused, listening.

“Terrence is dead. I killed him five weeks ago.”

“Impossible.” Devin whispered the word, but he eased away from Scissors.

Lori licked her dried lips. They immediately burned as the cold tried to freeze her saliva. “It’s true,” she croaked.

The confession didn’t weigh lightly on her. One panicked minute, and the truth slipped out. She would rather have thought of any sort of lie. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Devin’s features tightened in anger. “It can’t be true. He isn’t easy to kill.”

A stake to the chest will do the job for just about anyone.

But Lori didn’t say that. Devin rushed her, holding the tip of the stake to her neck instead of at Scissors. Each beat of her pulse leapt up to meet the cold metal tip. The skin on the neck was delicate. It wouldn’t take that much pressure to rip her throat open. She held very, very still.

“He’s not dead,” Devin bellowed, his eyes wild.

“No,” came another voice. “I’m not.”

Lori knew that voice. One she’d never thought she would hear again. “T-Terrence?”

Somehow, while she’d jabbered on with Devin, day had plunged into twilight. Lori could make out the forms of Devin and Scissors nearby, but nothing past the edge of the overpass.

“You’re still alive?” Maybe she was hallucinating. Maybe she was dead, too.

The voice softened. “I’m sorry, Lori. I meant to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time. I guess I waited too long.”

Devin guffawed. He grinned from ear to ear. “Show yourself, demon, or your pretty bitch will die.”

Terrence responded in kind. “Let Lori and her friend go and then we’ll talk. I might even let you keep both your kidneys.”

The stake pressed against Lori’s jugular. “No deal. Not until you show yourself.”

“Who says I’m not already standing right by your ear?”

Abandoning the stake, Devin stood. The small pop of something uncorking filled Lori’s ears like a passing transport truck. Writhing wildly, Devin splashed something through the air. Some of the liquid splattered over her cheek. Warm. Wet. She tasted it. Water?

Terrence laughed. “You won’t catch me with child’s tricks.”

The stake had fallen beside Lori. Not far, but with her arms tied behind her, she couldn’t reach it easily. Not unless she wanted to wiggle like a worm. Unfortunately, that would draw too much attention. But maybe she could inch her way over…

Devin snatched up the stake, holding it in a defensive position.

Terrence said, “Let’s talk about this.”

“Like you talked about raping and killing my mother, you fiend? Like you talked before you sucked my sister dry?”

Lori froze, doubts entering her consciousness. Terrence? Before their last encounter, she’d always thought of him as a harmless puppy. But she’d watched him kill using only his fangs. Could he be capable of doing something like that?

What, really, did she know about him?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Terrence said, but Devin was too far gone.

With a crazed waver in his voice, he screamed, “I’ll kill this bitch if you don’t show yourself!”

Terrence stepped forward.

It was him. Lori couldn’t believe her eyes. Terrence, whole and hale, exactly as he had been five weeks ago. He stood steady, unconcerned, though his eyes flicked toward her.

Making sure she was all right? Or wondering how much of Devin’s spiel she had believed?

“I’m here,” Terrence said slowly. “Now let her go.”

“Get down on your knees. Hands in the air.” There was a maniacal note to Devin’s voice.

He wouldn’t let her go. This was the same man who had beat Scissors into submission, who had then kidnapped her and Lori both to use as leverage. A man who had gone utterly bonkers.

Lori didn’t want to die today.

She threw herself at his legs, grunting when he kicked her. But she overbalanced him and he started to teeter.

Terrence was ready for the opportunity.

So fluid Lori could barely distinguish his movements from the shadows, he materialized in front of Devin. Aiming to incapacitate, or kill? Devin headed him off, lunging with the stake despite a lack of footing. Terrence caught the metal in his hand, unharmed. But Devin’s free hand was inching toward his back pocket.
 

“Terrence!”

Where had that come from? Why had Lori warned him? She didn’t even know who Terrence was anymore.

But the damage was done. Neutralizing Devin, Terrence lifted the shorter man off the ground and plunged his fangs into the man’s neck. Devin screamed. He writhed. But he couldn’t dislodge Terrence. As he weakened, he whispered, “How’d you lose the scar?”

Terrence yanked out his teeth. “What scar?”

But Devin was already dead. Blood spurted from the gash in his neck, finally slowing to a trickle. Terrence dropped him on the ground. Darting a quick glance at her, he turned his back and fished out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

“What are you?” The words slipped out, tinged with disgust.

He crossed to her, kneeling at her feet before he answered. “Vampire.” His fingers deftly picked at the rope binding her.

“Really. A bloodsucking vampire.” Thinking of the scene she’d just witnessed, she winced. “An immortal vampire.” Undying. She could verify that, too. A stake to the chest would have killed any mortal man.

Come to think of it… “Shouldn’t you have died even if you are immortal? I’m pretty sure a stake to the heart is lethal for you guys, too.”

He grunted. “It is. Your aim’s off.”

The rope fell away and she was able to move her arms again. Aching muscles started to scream as she pulled them back into their rightful positions. So did her legs when she straightened them.

Terrence held out his hand, wordlessly offering to help her up. Reflexively, she flinched.

“You didn’t…do those things, did you?”

“No.” Vehemence permeated his voice. “I promise you, I didn’t.”

Just to be sure, she brought on her aura sight. He glowed aquamarine, just tinged orange-brown around the edges. Worry or concern with a touch of fear. No guilt over lying. She slipped her hand into his, allowing him to help her stand.

He pulled her to her feet, pressing his mouth fiercely to hers. By the time she registered the possessive, closed-mouth kiss, he backed off. He shook her by the shoulders.

“God, Lori. Why didn’t you listen to me? Why didn’t you stay inside your dorm room where you belong?”

Something about those words ignited her memory. “The notes–the texts. They were from you?”

“Yes. I was trying to keep you safe.” Her shock must have shown on her face, because he added, “Why? Who did you think they were from?”

“I thought they were threats.”

Terrence enveloped her in a hug. “Never. I’d never hurt you.”

Just a little too adamant, buddy.

She shoved him away. “We need to call the police, get Scissors to a hospital.”

“I’ll take her.” Terrence bent to lift the bartender. Her head lolled like a rag doll.

Lori helped him untie her wrists, blindfold, and gag. Scissors was breathing, thank God.

Terrence and Lori walked side by side. Slowly, since her legs were still cramped from her position. After he juggled Scissors so he could hold her with one arm, he reached for Lori’s hand.

She pulled away. “Things aren’t just going to go back to the way they were.”

His fist clenched. “Don’t tell me all I get is a one-night stand, Lori. You owe us more than that.”

Her throat closed around the words to push him away again. She didn’t want to say them. But she had to. “I have things to do. I don’t have time for a…boyfriend.” If she ever had.

“Things like what?” Terrence’s voice was hard. Angry. Well, he would just have to accept it.

Yeah, and sheep will learn to tap dance
.

She straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eyes. “Things like finding the Spenta Michos. He’s still missing, you know. Too much time’s been wasted already.”

“I’ll help.”

Lori stopped short, but Terrence only raised an eyebrow at her.

“What? I’m an Order member, too.”