When Darkness Hungers: A Shadow Keepers Novel (Shadow Keepers 5) (23 page)

Serge sat and watched her. The way she held her chin up. The way her eyes fired with determination. The scent of her filled the tunnel, overcoming the putrid air, heavy with decay and despair.

She was hope, this woman. Hope and life, and though he’d meant it when he told her to go, he couldn’t dismiss the simple truth that he was glad she’d stayed.

He’d almost lost the battle today—almost killed a human and destroyed that tiny part of himself that didn’t fill him with disgust. He’d seen the chance for freedom when she’d pointed that gun at him. Could imagine the moment of impact when her wooden bullet lodged within his heart. Had he truly wanted that? For
a moment, yes, but the moment had been fleeting because when he’d looked into her eyes he’d seen something reflected back at him that he hadn’t seen in a long, long time.

Hope, and the possibility of redemption.

God, I’m a sentimental fool
.

Maybe, but that didn’t change the fact that something about this woman centered him. More than that, she gave him strength to fight the beast and the daemon. She was like a pinpoint of light cutting through the darkness of his soul.

She’d sunk to the floor, her back to a concrete pillar, her gun propped on her knees, held loosely but still at the ready. Silence hung between them, but Serge didn’t find it awkward. On the contrary, he was grateful for the chance to look at her, to memorize the small details that made her
her
. The slight bump on her nose. The fullness of her lips. The intelligence that lit those pale blue eyes.

Her hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, and she wore threadbare jeans and a ratty T-shirt under the same serviceable jacket she’d worn when he’d first seen her. She looked like a warrior, but there was an air of easiness about her that made him think she’d look just as natural in a ball gown, and equally at ease in nothing at all.

He fought to keep the image out of his head; that was a place he had no business going, no matter how enticing the thought might be. Sex was one thing—the fast release of need, the quick dance into pleasure. But there was no future in it, not for someone like him. And this woman deserved more than a fast fuck. Her body was
meant for more than base pleasure and then abandonment. And while Serge had no illusions about the depths of evil that dwelled within him, he would not defile her simply to satisfy his own base needs.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, the question making him smile. “What?” A dimple formed in her cheek. “I didn’t realize I was making a joke.”

“Just meandering thoughts. Forgive me for being a truly inadequate host.”

“A formal one, though. Talking like that, it sounds like we’re at a tea party in Jolly Olde England.”

“I’ve done that,” he said. “I much prefer this atmosphere.”

She cocked her head, her eyes narrowing as she examined him. “Bullshit.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“What are you punishing yourself for?” she asked.

He shifted uncomfortably, realizing that whatever thread of control he’d held had been tugged from his grasp. “I’m a vampire, aren’t I? You’re the hunter. Why the hell didn’t you kill me?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. You’re a vampire, and yet both times that I’ve seen you, you’ve saved someone, including me.”

“Don’t be naïve.”

“You’re saying you didn’t save me? CeeCee? That girl who just ran the hell out of here?”

“I’m saying that you’re assuming you know my motives.”

She looked hard at him, then slowly nodded. “Fair enough. So why don’t you tell me?”

A whisper of a smile touched his lips. “I don’t think so.”

Another silence. “Actually, it’s been three times.”

“What?”

“I’ve seen you three times,” she clarified. “At the crime scene you didn’t save anyone, but you were watching. And you were pissed off. Because Penny Martinez was dead?”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “Me, too.” Her shoulders rose and fell. “I know it’s really that vampire’s fault, but I can’t help but blame myself for that poor girl’s death.”

“His name was Mitre,” Serge said, “and he was a son-of-a-bitch. He killed the girl, make no mistake. But if anyone else is to blame, that falls on my shoulders.”

“Is that your cross to bear?” she asked. “Carrying the weight of the world?”

“I bear only what’s mine. I was there that night, too. And I wasn’t injured. I could have caught him, but I hesitated and moved too slowly. He got away, and the girl died.”

“You were there? In the alley when I fought those two?”

“I was.”

“I don’t understand. Why did you hesitate?”

Because I couldn’t leave your side
. But he couldn’t tell her that. Couldn’t reveal that part of himself any more than he could risk adding more weight to the already heavy burden of her guilt. “How did you track him?”

Her brow rose. “Shifting the subject?”

“A subtle, but effective maneuver. And I truly want to know. You went after him on the beach that night. How did you find him?”

“Honestly, I didn’t know it was him. I heard about the attack on Penny Martinez—”

“You’re a cop.”

She shook her head. “Past tense.”

“I saw you flash a badge. You’re saying it’s a fake?”

“An extremely expensive, highly professional forgery, thank you very much.”

“I’m impressed.”

“I was an agent once. When I quit, I didn’t want to lose access.” An it-is-what-it-is shrug tugged at her shoulders. “This way works for me.”

“You quit to hunt vampires.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You wanted to know how I tracked the vampire. What was his name? Mitre?”

“I do. I’m extremely interested.” He also wanted to know the answer to his question, but that could wait. There were still hours until the sun went down, and he was enjoying her company far too much to press this early in the game.

“The truth is I didn’t know if Mitre had killed her or not. I suspected, but I was really just there to hunt whoever had killed her.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“How, you mean?” She grinned, wide and slightly flirtatious. He knew she was playing, but that smile tugged at him. Why this woman? Why now, when he was as ghastly as he’d ever been. When there was no future for him, much less for him and anybody else? “A girl has to keep some secrets.”

“The dirt,” he said, remembering the oddity of her collecting the sample. “Somehow you used the dirt to track him.”

“Aren’t you the clever vampire?”

“You’re a witch.”

“Now you’re not so clever. No, I’m not. In fact, a few years ago if you’d told me that witches and vampires existed, I would have said you were a loon.”

“And now?”

“Now I know that there’s a hell of a lot more out there that I don’t understand, and honestly I’m not sure I want to.”

“What do you want?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I want them dead.”

“Vampires.”

Her brow furrowed, then she lifted her face so that she was looking directly at him. “It’s been my focus for a long time now.”

“And you’ve never wavered.” He made it a statement, not a question.

She drew in a breath, then stood. In four long strides she crossed the small area to him. “Why were you on the beach that night? Why were you at the crime scene?”

“The same reason as you.”

“To kill the vampires?” Incredulity laced her voice.

“The ones that attack humans, yes.”

“I see. Then there are nice, helpful vampires. You told me not to believe that.”

“I told you not to believe it about me.”

“And if I do believe it?”

He said nothing.

“Why did you help me? Why did you help CeeCee? You did help her, right?”

“I did.”

“Well? Why?” She looked steadily at him, waiting for
him to allay her fears about the girl. Waiting to hear that he’d saved CeeCee as he’d saved Alexis.

But he couldn’t tell her that. He’d saved, yes. But he’d also condemned, and so he told her the only answer he could. The only one that was true, even if he didn’t fully understand it himself. “Because you asked me to.”

“Oh.” She took a step back, his simple statement knocking her a bit off-balance.

No, that wasn’t true. She’d been off-balance since the moment she’d seen him. And not just down here in the subway, either. Since the first moment she’d met his eyes at Penny Martinez’s crime scene.

It wasn’t a trick, wasn’t some funky vampire voodoo. There was just something about him that got under her skin. That made her feel itchy and shy and garrulous all at the same time. It was a sensation she needed to fight—she knew that. As Edgar had said, he had a reputation for being dangerous. But here, now, that was hard to believe. Perhaps she was as naïve as he had said, but she saw something inside him. Something she trusted.

“We still have a lot of hours left before the sun goes down,” Serge said. “Do you want to fill it with small talk? How do you like living in Los Angeles? Do you prefer the beach or the mountains? Have you seen any good movies lately?”

“I’m not sure I’m a small-talk kind of girl.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“I want to talk about you,” she said. Why not? She was feeling bold. Might as well lay all the cards out on
the table. “I was told not to look for you. I was told you were dangerous.”

“More dangerous than most vampires, you mean?”

“Obviously.”

“And yet here you are. You came because you wanted to find CeeCee?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t come down here to find you. I’m hunting the vampire who killed my sister.” She saw his gaze flick up at her as she revealed that fact. She hadn’t meant to tell him, but now that it was out, she didn’t regret it. He might as well understand the depth of her enmity.

“And you believed he or she was in the tunnels?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

In response, she only shook her head.

He laughed. “A girl has to keep some secrets?”

“Exactly.”

“Fair enough. In that case, tell me this: Who told you I was dangerous?”

“Do you deny it?”

“No,” he said, with a firmness that made her want to stand up and leave that place. She forced herself not to move. They were playing a game, and if she showed weakness she would undoubtedly lose.

“I had someone make inquiries.”

“Did you? That was very resourceful.” Humor laced his voice. “Of whom?”

“I don’t know. He went to a bar. Apparently the patrons are mostly vampires.”

The mirth faded from his face. “Do you know what bar?”

“No, but he’s fine. He called me after he left. Wanted to make sure I knew what a danger you are.”

“I’m not the only dangerous vampire in town.”

“No,” she agreed. “You’re not the one going around killing innocents.”

“You believe that?” His gray eyes examined her, as if trying to look past the words and find a deeper meaning.

She considered responding glibly, but the question seemed too important. “I do,” she said. “I saw the fury on your face when you looked at Penny Martinez’s body. Perhaps you are dangerous—I don’t know. You’re a vampire, so I’m damn sure willing to believe it. But I don’t believe you’re the one behind all these deaths.”

“Behind them? You believe the deaths are organized?”

“Don’t you?”

“I’m certain of it,” he said. “Someone is inciting the rogues to hunt. And I am dangerous, Alexis. I’m dangerous to them.”

“Rogues?” She shook her head. “I don’t know what that means.”

“They’re vampires, but they don’t abide by the code. They kill. Viciously. Painfully. And with absolutely no qualms about treating humans as nothing more than a source of amusement.”

She felt sick. It had been a rogue who had killed Tori, she was certain of it. How long had he played with her? How long had he drawn out the pain. Oh, God …

“Are you okay?”

She jumped, surprised to find that Serge was right beside her, his hand on her arm, his eyes looking deep into hers. “I—yes.” She stepped back, breaking contact. “I was just thinking about—”

“Your sister. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring back dark memories.”

“You didn’t bring them back. They never leave me.”

“It consumes you, then?”

“Oh, yes.”

“And it is that vampire you seek? What will you do once you find him? Go back to the FBI?”

“For a while, I thought so. But now …” She trailed off, not certain she wanted to voice what had been growing inside her.

He said nothing, simply watched her, and somehow that quiet certainty that she’d speak when ready prompted her to share what she’d kept in her heart.

“I loved Tori—nothing will ever change that. And I’ll dance in his dust once I stake the bastard that killed her. But I can’t forget the other victims. And there aren’t that many people who know what I know. Who can do what I do.” She looked at him. “What
we
do.”

“Don’t delude yourself into thinking I’m like you.”

“I wouldn’t,” she said, though she was afraid that she’d put at least one foot on that path already. Because despite what Edgar had said, she didn’t fear this man. This vampire.
Vampire
. She needed to remember that. She cleared her throat. “So. How long have you been a vampire?”