The Guilty Innocent (11 page)

“You haven't told us what we should do. I'm not sure how that brain of yours is working all this out. Do we leave for Russia and wait for Xavier to arrive, or what?” Elise asked.

I had to agree, it was a good question. I was so caught up in getting on that plane that I forgot to form a better plan.

“I'll need to speak with Darian, Xavier said he was old enough to not be completely weakened by the sun. While I'm gone, make yourselves at home.” I said as I left my apartment.

I don't think I have ever driven as fast in my life as I did to get to the precinct. I called Warren to let him know ahead of time that I was coming in to see Darian and he met me at the precinct. We walked to Darian's cell and Warren flashed the overhead ultraviolet lighting system on then off. I was shocked that he did it and by the reaction Darian had, so was he. Darian was awake and off the bed in an instant, he looked pissed as his eyes focused on us.

“What the hell was that all about!?” Darian demanded.

I have never seen him so upset, I hoped he would not hold a grudge.

“I needed to speak with you,” I looked at Warren who shrugged his shoulders lazily. “Warren just thought that would be the most efficient way to wake you up.”

“Efficient and painful.” Darian regained his composure. He looked at Warren. “For future references my friend, all
you need to do to gain my attention is step within ten feet of me,” he said with
a wink.

“I'll keep that in mind next time,” Warren replied dryly.

“Darian you need to know this.” I wanted to draw Darian's attention to me. I begin to tell Darian everything that was in my vision. He sat down on the bed, I could tell he was beginning to feel the effects of the sun. His body seemed to become more relaxed, his shoulders drooped slightly and his facial expression grew more drowsy. “What do you think we should do?” I asked, I trusted his insight, his guidance.

He looked at me and smiled. “You've made love to him, did you not?” he asked, a look of lust flashed across his face.

Great, just great, here I am, trying to save his ass and all he can think of is Xavier and I...how did he know anyway!?

“Darian this is serious! What should I do? This is your ass on the line!” I was frustrated and slightly embarrassed. He took the hint and nodded his head solemnly.

“You are quite right, I'll hold my libido in check. You must go to Russia, take John with you, he would most likely be at the mansion. His is the fifth bedroom on the second floor to the right. Put both he and Xavier in coffins and ship them with you. Four days time cannot be wasted for travel arrangements. Besides it will be safer that way.” Darian said, then he slowly began to lie down on the mattress.

“Darian, I need to ask you something and I want the truth, you can even tell it to me mentally, but I need the truth.” I said, watching him intently. He lifted his head and looked at me, is dark forest green eyes studying me. In my mind I could hear his response.

Ask me what you will.
He said to me where no one else could hear.

Did you kill Anthony Juliano?
I asked, transmitting my question mentally to Darian. He forced himself to sit up on the mattress and he locked his eyes to mine. Warren watched us both, his eyes darting from me to Darian.

“I did, but that was personal business, nothing more.” Darian responded, this time-vocally.

He continued to study me, his eyes boring into mine. Sometimes he could be so gentle, but it was times like these when I have to remember he is a vampire. Not to mention a sixteen-hundred year old vampire, that has most likely taken many lives for one reason or another. I let the shock recede from my face.

“I know he was not innocent...I just wanted to know the truth.” I turned to walk away when Darian called out to me, I turned and looked at him.

“Natasha, I don't hurt people just to hurt them, there is always a reason. And I will always tell you the truth, all you'll ever need to do is ask. I want you to trust me,” he paused, then as he looked at me, his gaze became extremely sensual, seductive.

“I want you to want me, as I want you.” Darian said passionately.

I could feel my stomach flutter, my skin began to tingle.

“I'll see you later, Darian.” It was all I could say, I was powerfully attracted to Darian, but was there something more? Is what I feel for Darian the same as what I feel for Xavier? Perfect, just prefect, what am I getting myself into!? Warren walked me to my car and leaned into the window.

“Why did he say that, what did you ask him?” he asked curiously.

“I asked him if he killed Anthony Juliano...and he said he did.” I reached into my purse and pulled out my cell phone, I looked at Warren, but he did not seem surprised in the least bit by the new information. “Why doesn't that shock you?” I asked.

Warren chuckled softly. “Because, Darian reminds me of my Pack master. Our world is somewhat different from the mortal world and we have to go about things differently. Anthony was connected to the Russian mafia, perhaps Darian knew this and killed him because of it,” he shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly. “The old, in general, always do things differently than the young. You or I might have turned him in, but would he really have gone to jail? We both know the answer to that. Look Natasha, you take care of yourself, call me anytime.” Warren kissed me on the check and drummed a beat on the hood of my car.

I smiled, said “goodbye” then drove off. I called home and hoped one of the kitties would pick up the telephone. They did.

“Hello?” a male voice asked, I suspected it was Devin.

“Is this Devin?” I asked after I identified myself

“Yep!” he said spiritedly.

“Okay, this is what I need you all to do. Meet me at Darian's mansion. We're going to bring John Fallon along and pack Xavier and him in coffins and ship them with us. I'm on my way there as we speak. Did you get that?” I asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it. Damn, this shit is tripped out. Okay, we'll be there,” he hung up the phone.

I put my cell phone back into my purse and continued to drive towards Darian's mansion. I was extremely thankful that
I
paid close attention to details, I had only been there once, but I remembered the directions. I pulled in front of the huge mansion and looked around. I wondered how many square miles of land this was...or was it acres? Whatever the case, it was a palace! Beautiful! I wasn't standing there too long before a black
Anaconda Pavilion
pulled up. I suppose it was Elise's car...it was a beautiful car no doubt about it. The three of them emerged from the car in sequence as if it were rehearsed. They walked towards me with the gracefulness only felines can capture. It was kind of cool...kind of, go figure.

“Okay, we're here,” Sergio said.

“Well, we're going to have to break in, the door is locked.” I pointed to the double thick oak doors.

“No problem.” Sergio said as we walked towards the door.

He reached for the handle and tested the door, it did not give. He then snatched the door clean off of the hinges, tossing the door to the ground as if it hadn't weighed an ounce! He turned around and gestured for us to enter. As Elise walked past him, she slapped him on his chest with the back of her hand.

“You didn't need to rip his door from the hinges!” she scolded.

Sergio smiled wickedly.
“I
know,” he smirked.

Elise threw her hands up in the air-irritated and walked into the mansion. Devin and
I
followed and Sergio walked in behind us. The mansion was in order, all of the broken and overturned furniture was put in its place or cleared away. The rooms were spotless! I was in awe, vampires were truly amazing creatures.

“Darian said that John's room would he on the second floor, fifth room on the right, come on.” I stated, and we all walked up the stairs and counted the fifth room, Sergio opened the door. This time he didn't rip the door from its lunges. John laid on his belly on his bed, nude. I felt myself blush,
there was no shame in his game.

“Damn! Now that's what I call sexy!” exclaimed Devin, as he inched closer to John. Sergio's hand darted out and caught Devin by the back of his neck and dragged him back to where he was standing.

“Keep your filthy little mind on the important things you little fiend,” Sergio said. Devin smiled sheepishly at Sergio and Sergio simply shook his head, letting the smaller man go.

“Okay, so where do we find these coffins?” asked Devin.

“We sniff them out, I suppose.” Elise said, and she left the room, the other two followed her.

I was left alone in the room with John. I hoped he would not be upset that he was being taken on a quest without his consent. After about ten minutes, the three shape-shifters came back into the room, Sergio and Devin carried a coffin each on their shoulders. This I couldn't believe, it would take at least four strong mortal men to carry a coffin, and here they carried one each as if the coffins were only a sack of potatoes!

“This will have to do,” Sergio said as he placed the coffin beside the bed. Devin still held his on his shoulder, his eyes never leaving John's naked form. One did not need to be a psychic to know what was on Devin's mind. Elise stood in the doorway in her tight fitting black leather catsuit. Her four-inch heeled boots adding on inches making her appear at least over six feet tall, her long brown hair was in a single french braid. I looked at Sergio as he lifted John's body and placed him into the coffin. Sergio was every bit a man, I could see his muscles working underneath his skin. The muscles in his thighs bulged though his jeans as he knelt beside the coffin. I observed Elise watching him. Now, I understood why she was so infatuated with Darian, but it was quite obvious that she was attracted to Sergio as well.

“Aww man, I wanted to put him into the coffin!” Devin whined and pouted playfully.

“Oh shut up!” Sergio responded jokingly.

He chuckled as he closed the lid and lifted the coffin onto his shoulder again and we left the room. As we walked down the staircase, I walked behind them. Just in case one of them dropped a coffin, I did not want to be the first one smashed. When we were outside, both of the male shape-shifters put the coffins on the ground.

“Look, I'm going to go into the garage, I'm sure your precious Darian has an SUV or two. I'll be back.” Sergio said as he walked off.

Elise stood over the coffins, her arms crossed over her chest, the wind playing with her long leather coat. Devin had knelt beside John's coffin and peeked inside. Elise looked at Devin and rolled her eyes then chuckled. It was the first time I had actually seen her smile, let alone chuckle. Just then, she didn't look as bitchy as she behaved. I decided to make small talk, if we were going to be together on a plane for several hours, I figured we should at least try to get along.

“Elise, why do you want to help Darian?”
I
asked out of curiosity. I hoped she would not take offense to the question,
I
really didn’t feel like arguing. She looked at me, then turned her gaze towards the garage. For that brief moment, I thought she had snubbed me, but then she began to answer my question.

“About a year ago, Darin helped me. One of my members was in trouble with the law, they would have killed him had Darian not assisted us. He had him released into our custody, unharmed. The members of my Pride are very dear to me, we are the only true family we have. Darian saved his life and the least I could do is return the favor.” She said, her eyes never looking in my direction, I wondered why, but I left it alone.

I soon heard tires screeching and looked down the driveway to see Sergio pulling out of the garage in a huge black SUV, the kind that was barely street legal. He stopped the truck right in front of us and hopped out. Both he and Devin loaded the coffins into the back as Elise and
I
climbed inside. In my case, I really did have to climb into the truck, being five-feet-two had its disadvantages as well as its perks. I've never had to reach high for things. I just looked for a tall person, then acted helpless, it never failed.

Elise practically slid into the truck without any effort at all. After I settled into the back seat, we waited for the men to join us, which they did a few seconds later.
I
was glad we decided to leave our cars at Darian's mansion. There was not enough parking spaces on my block anyway. We drove back to my apartment to retrieve Xavier's sleeping form. The four of us walked into my bedroom, Devin turned on the lights. I had forgotten that Xavier and I had made love during the early hours before dawn, I remembered now as we all stared down at his nakedness.