Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) (10 page)

“Not exactly. Levels of evil, to be precise.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped as she faced the
ocean. “Why does the leader of the Damned want with me? What he did to Murphy,
he is one sadistic bastard. He
enjoyed
making
him scream.”

“What else have you seen in your dreams?” When she
hesitated, Rathe took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “What
have you kept silent about?”

“Well you already know I’ve dreamt about a vampire
named Aidan and the woman he was in love with. I had another one, this time it
centered on her and what happened to her after she fled the villagers.” She
frowned at him. “You knew Aidan, didn’t you?”

Dropping his hands to his sides, he sighed. “Yes.
He was a close friend of mine.”

“Was he judged by the Slayers because he was
involved with a human?”

“What?”

“When the other vampire arrived and rescued her,
he said the Slayers killed couples who were mixed races, so to speak.” Her look
was accusing.

God, how much had she seen in her dreams? Who was
feeding these memories to her … or was she connecting with him?

“Rathe?”

Brought back to her question, he answered
honestly, “Forbidden are we to consort with the humans beyond blood. The Elders
had the Slayers enforce it when there was an infraction.”

“They did more than that, Rathe. They killed the
women because they were carrying a half-breed.”

“How do you know this?”

“The child lived. Aidan’s child survived.”

“It did?”

“A girl was born. Shortly after her birth, her mother
and grandfather were murdered by vampire hunters. The vampire, who had saved
her mother from the mob, took the child to safety.”

Reeling at what she told him, he asked, “Do you
know how long ago this was?”

“No, but the way the people were dressed, it
wasn’t long ago. Maybe twenty-thirty years ago.”

“Were you able to learn the name of the vampire who
had saved the child?”

“No, but he had a German accent and golden-brown
hair, green eyes. He had a covenant with Ivan, the girl’s father, or rather
their Gypsy clan. He was sworn to protect them, and they were sworn to serve
him. It was a bond of love and respect, not one of fear.”

“I need to speak with Faeroes and my mother about
what you’ve seen.”

“Rathe, do you think a child who is half vampire,
half human, could survive?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“For starters, a half-breed is called a dhampir. In
the old days, before the Law was created, they were best at hunting the Damned.
They had our strengths and none of our weaknesses. They are also immune to
silver and can handle crosses, Holy water. When some began hunting the Borne, the
Elders declared them a threat to our kind and ordered them killed, making the
law so none could be produced.”

“Is that why the human hunters were at the
hospital? To take the baby?”

“Probably. A dhampir is highly prized amongst the
vampire hunters.”

“Can a dhampir live without blood?”

“Yes and no. If they drink blood, even if it is
only once a week, they can retain their vampire strength. However, if they choose
to, they can become human.”

“Can a dhampir heal quickly, like a vampire?”

“Yes, they can. Why?”

She turned away, seeming to ponder what he told
her. “We need to head back to the mansion.”

She stopped him. “Rathe, how will my daughter and
I survive, if the leader of the Damned is searching for me?”

“Give me a couple of days, and he’ll never
threaten you again.”

“Won’t killing the leader of the Damned be like a
declaration of war?”

“Let’s head back to the mansion.”

“Why?”

“Because I want you. Every time I’m near you I
want to kiss you, make love to you. I want to feed on you.” Stunned by his own admission,
he picked up his coat and shook off the sand before putting it on. “You and I
cannot do any of those I mentioned. You will return to your world, and I will
to mine, while we still can!”

Grabbing his sword, he swept her into his arms and
flew back to his house. When he set her down on her feet, she shoved him away
and went inside the mansion.

He let her go.

✝✝✝

House empty, she ran upstairs and went into her bedroom,
locking the door behind her. Crawling under the comforter, she knew deep in her
heart the truth of who the baby is. Especially when Rathe confirmed dhampirs
could physically heal quickly, like she had. Her eyes had permanently changed,
too.

Her eyes!

The man who had raised her, his eyes were brown. Her
mother’s eyes were, too. They were Gypsies. They were the green-eyed vampire’s
people!

Was she imagining all of this? A delusional fantasy
and she was in the middle of having a nervous breakdown. Was she truly the
product of a human and a vampire’s forbidden love?

Then the nightmare man
spoke to her.
“Mariah, why are you so sad? Do not fear me. I need
you. Speak to me, my love. Show me where you are. Where are you?”

How was he able to speak to her when she was
awake? Was he Aidan? Had Aidan survived the mob and had lost his soul, becoming
the monster haunting her nightmares?
 

“Tell me, my
love. Please? Where are you?”
His
voice was
elegant, refined, intermingled was the strong compulsion enticing
her to respond to him.

“
Where
are you?”
The pleading request shifted to
commanding, and the incredible force of his power threw her head back, as if
she had been physically struck.

Survival instinct kicked in, and she closed her
mind to him. He retaliated. She screamed, clutching her head when his
fury
exploded in her mind, feeling as if her skull would crack from the terrible pressure
he applied.

Rathe pounded on the door, shouting, “Mariah, let
me in!”

As quick as the pain began, it stopped. Close to
puking, she rolled off the bed and forced no expression on her face as she
opened the door. “I'm fine.”

“He made contact with you, didn’t he?”

Instead of answering, she urged her dogs inside
her room. “I'm fine.” She shut the door and locked it.

Resting her forehead against the door, she
listened to his footsteps fade as he walked away. Head pounding, as if a sledgehammer
had been taken to it, she went back to the bed, joined by Salish and Bear.
Holding them, she closed her eyes.

Sleep, however, came with a heavy price.

Out of the dark, the pale-haired vampire
strode forth. Instead of welcoming him, she whimpered in terror. He snarled and
lunged at her. Running, she found herself in a small room that had two, full-length
mirrors in it. In the right one, she saw Aidan, kind and beautiful. Laugh lines
crinkled around his striking eyes as he smiled at her. The other mirror held
the same man, except his eyes were red and evil burned in those awful depths.
Bitterness pulled his mouth in a flat, hard line. There was such hatred — such
condemnation, as if he blamed her for something, but she didn’t know for what.

As she viewed them, they extended their
right leg in unison and stepped out of the mirrors. Facing each other, they
held out their hands and touched. Walking into each other, they blended into
one man. When he looked at her, he grinned, exposing white fangs.

“I can tell you everything. Who you are —
what
you are.”

“Who am I?”

“Meet me in San Francisco.”

“Are you Aidan?”

“Meet me, and you shall learn the truth.”

“How can you speak to me?”

“Blood, my darling, blood is the key. Blood,
Mariah, is our bond.” His grin widened as he reached into the darkness and
pulled a girl out for her to see.

He took hold of the girl’s long, red hair
and jerked her head back, sinking his teeth into her throat, ripping into the
soft flesh, and fed on the blood gushing out of the ragged wound. When the girl
seized her struggles, he lifted his head and grinned. Blood smeared his
beautiful face, dripped off his chin.

“Almost there, my love. Blood is the key.
You need blood to complete the Change. You shall be one of us, back with your
real family where you truly belong.”

Hypnotized by the sight of so much blood, hunger
pounded at her, made her weak and nauseous from it. His words snapped her out
of the trance. “Family? There is no way we are family!”

“I am your only family, Mariah.”

“No!” Screaming her denial, she ran away, somehow
returning to him.

He refused to let her go. Something
snapped inside her and she faced him. Snarling, she could actually feel her
fangs descend. The pain was terrible, like a razor blade cutting through her
gums.

She was vampire!

He giggled insanely. “Not yet, my love. My
blood will complete you. Join me and I will give you the life you were always meant
to have.”

“How can you give me back what was taken
from me? They’re dead, my family murdered!”

 
“How
are we connected?”

“Meet me in San Francisco. If you do not,
then I will come to you.” Shifting his fingers into claws, he raised and struck
the girl’s throat, tearing it out.

Screaming, she fought the comforter, as if it were
clinging hands. Daylight streamed through the windows. Comforted by the warmth,
she had not long to cherish it when sunlight caressed her face. She cried out
and threw her hand up to shield her eyes. Jumping out of bed, she stumbled to
the bathroom and flipped on the light.

Shaky, sick to her stomach, the migraine began to
make her teeth hurt. She started the shower, hoping it would wash away the
lingering nightmare and ease her pain. Striping off her clothes, she stepped
into the tub. Resting her head against the shower wall, she closed her eyes, relaxing
in the stream of hot water. Feeling the familiar weight of the medallion, she
took it in her hand and held it, comforted by its coolness against her heated
flesh. Weak and depleted, emotionally and physically, she was lost on how to
fix both her problems.

Since hiding in the shower wouldn’t solve anything,
she shut the water off and dried off. When she looked into the mirror, she
gasped, alarmed by the dark circles under her eyes and her cheeks were sunken
in. Forcing her lethargic muscles to move, she brushed her teeth and changed
into the same denim shorts she'd worn for several days now. Slipping on her
bra, the sweater she’d bought, she realized her dogs were missing. Reaching for
the door, she found it unlocked. Rushing downstairs and opened the front door,
she found Lydia outside, playing with them.

How did Lydia
get the dogs out of my locked bedroom? Probably picked the lock,
she
thought as she leaned down to hug Salish as her wolf wiggled around her,
nuzzling her face in greeting.

“Morning,” Lydia said, smiling at her.

Smiling back at the girl, who had cleaned up to be
quite pretty, she asked her, “Are you hungry?”

“I was hoping you'd ask. I couldn't find a single
thing to munch on in the kitchen. You'd think they'd keep something on hand, at
least for appearance's sake,” Lydia complained as they walked to the car.

“What Rathe told me about the Borne not
associating with humans, I figured it would probably be pretty much zilch on
the food section for us.” Mariah searched for car keys in the SUV, unable to
find them. “Great. No keys. Now what do we do?”

Lydia giggled and produced them out of her cutoff
jean’s pocket, tossing them to her. “Simon's brothers were concerned we would wander
off, so they hid them. Apparently, they didn't listen to you when you told them
I could read minds. It was easy finding out where they hid the keys.”

“I knew you were a clever creature. I believe the
Romulas family has been distant from humans too long to realize how resourceful
we are.”

“Yeah, it’s kinda obvious.”

Taking the bag of dog food and dishes Rathe had
purchased out of the SUV, she returned to the mansion. Her dogs jumped and
barked as they followed her inside. In the kitchen, she filled two bowls with
the dog food and the other two with water.

Patting them as they ate, she said to them, “Be
good. We won’t be gone long.”

Leaving them, she hurried out the front door and
closed it. She steeled herself when they started barking, unhappy about being
left behind. Lydia was already in the car, waiting. Getting in, she started the
engine, heading down the dirt road.

Sunset.

Entering the busy town, she found a parking spot
at the restaurant Lydia had heard was great for seafood. Once there, she found
she couldn’t eat anything. Sticking to drinking a soda, the sugary carbonation
settled her upset stomach.

Vampire.

She really was changing. Perhaps it was best. What
better way to protect yourself against a vampire, if you
were
a vampire?

If Lydia noticed her inability to eat, she didn’t
say anything, and she was glad. After paying the check, Lydia told her she
needed to stop at the convenience mart. Getting a cherry coke Slurpee, Mariah was
sipping on it when she glanced at the local news airing on the television above
the clerk and choked.

“Mariah, what’s wrong?” Lydia asked, concerned.

“Holy crap, I'm dead!”

Chapter Seven

“In an apparent hostage versus escaped prisoner, Mariah Jordan
is presumed dead when her cabin exploded, destroying it and her car. We will
keep you updated as we receive additional information concerning the situation.”

Oh my God, if the world thinks me dead, so does my daughter!

“Where’s a payphone?” she asked the clerk, who
pointed outside.

Shoving the glass door open, she searched for the
payphone and found it at the corner of the store. Grabbing the phone off its
cradle, she dialed an operator. Giving him her adopted brother, Joe’s home
number, she waited to be connected. The phone rang and rang. She almost gave up
when Joe finally answered, accepting the charges.

“Mariah? Is it really you? Thank God! Just an hour
ago, the police were here, telling us you were dead. Kai went ballistic, shouting
you weren't and locked herself in the spare bedroom, refusing to come out until
you called.”

“I'm so sorry! I didn’t think they’d…. Can I speak
with—”

Her daughter nearly shouted, “Mom, I knew you
weren't dead!”

“Forgive me. I should have called you sooner.”
Wanting to cry, her selfishness in trying to learn the truth about her past had
caused her daughter anguish.

“I know, Mom, why you didn’t call. I totally
understand.” She knew her daughter did know. Kai’s gift went beyond hunches …
she could read minds. Just like she was beginning to be able to do!

“Mom, Sheriff Willard told us he had to declare
you dead when you hadn’t responded to television pleas to call in.”

“Crap! I, uh, hadn’t listened to the radio or
watched television since the cabin was destroyed. A man helped me escape and
he’s been helping me to get home. Sweetie, I’m beginning to remember my past.”

“The medallion you wear, it’s the key to who you
are, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Since the cabin, I’m … changing and it might
take a while for me to return to normal.”

“Wow. You’re okay, right?”

“Yes, sweetie, I’m fine.” Sorta.

“Someone really blew up the cabin you’d rented?”

“Yep. They used a rocket launcher to do it.”

“Damn! The guy with you, is he the escaped
prisoner?”

“Honey, I’m catching the first flight I find out
of here and will be home soon.”

“Mom, people think you’re dead. You've got to set the
story straight, and you need to call your agent! Where are you calling from?
Where’s your cell phone?”

“My cell phone was inside the cabin. Using a
payphone right now. I’ll call Maggie later.”

“You’d better call her right away. You have a
signing in San Francisco tomorrow, and everything’s been arranged for your next
signing, here, in Coeur d' Alene. I'll call Aunt Rona right now and tell her
you are on your way home. You are coming home, right, Mom?” Kai asked, her
adult-like actions reverting to the child.

“Yes, sweetie, I am. Okay, I’ll see if Maggie
canceled the signings yet. If she has, I’ll leave tonight. If she hasn’t, then
I’ll head to San Francisco.”
He’s waiting for
you there.
“Honey, I need to talk to your uncle. Can you put him on the
phone?”

“Umm, Mom, I’ve started having weird dreams since …
since you disappeared.”

“What kind of dreams?”

“A man has been trying to talk to me, but I-I
won’t talk to him. I can’t tell if he is a good or bad. He has a major block
around his mind. I can’t break in. But, I can see his face.”

“Green eyes and golden-brown hair? So handsome
it’s breathtaking?”

“Yes! How do you know?”

“I’ve seen him in my dreams, too.”

“He tells me to protect my mind, to hide where I
am, even when I am at school. Never let my guard down, he says. Who is he, Mom?”

“I don’t know his name, but I want you to do as he
says. The one with blond hair, he’s evil. You block him. Don’t talk to him, not
ever! And Kai, use your abilities to read people.”

“Are you sure, Mom? You said—”

“Forget what I said. For our protection, we need
to embrace our gifts.”

“I thought you could only read people’s mood?”

“Recent development on the mind reading thing.”
How else could she explain it?

“Wow! Are you able to keep the voices down to
where it doesn’t drive you nuts?”

Remembering the gas station, she realized since
she built the imaginary wall, she could control who she wanted to listen to.
“I’m adjusting. Make sure you protect yourself, okay?”

“Okay, Mom. I love you. Be safe.”

“I love you, too.” Silence followed when Joe said
‘hello'. Her voice shook, “Joe, watch out for any strangers inquiring about me
or wanting to speak to Kai. Don’t let anyone near her! Some very bad people
attacked my cabin. Keep your family close, too. Warn Rona and your parents,
please! Stay cautious until my friend apprehends these people and takes him
into custody.” Custody sounded better than ‘slayed and dusted’.

“Dammit, Mariah, what did you get involved in?”

“Actually, I hadn’t anything to do with it. I was
just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

“Okay, you watch your back and get home quick!”

“I will. Bye.” She hung up and dialed her agent.
Maggie screamed.

“Mariah, what the hell happened to you?”

“You wouldn't believe it, even if I told you.
Currently, I don’t have a car or identification, all lost in the fire. I do
have money though.” Mariah pulled the wad of cash out of her pocket and handed
it to Lydia, who quickly counted it. She mouthed the words ‘
eight thousand dollars
’
!

Her jaw dropped.

Maggie assured her, “Don't worry. I'll have copies
made and sent to you. Oh, hell, I haven’t canceled the book signing in San
Francisco yet!”

“Don’t cancel it.” Lydia gave her a curious look.
“I need to be there. Send the copies to the hotel, please.”

“Will do. Your hotel room’s already been paid for.
I can arrange a plane ticket for you. The copies I'll fax you can be used as
identification.”

“Maggie, can you release a statement to the news
that I’m not dead?”

“Sure! Hey, did you lose cell phone? I’ve been
trying to call you.”

“It burned in the fire. I’m replacing it as soon
as I hang up with you, then I’ve got to talk to the police.”

“Sounds like a plan. Mariah, I am so glad you
called! Love ya, kiddo.”

“Love ya, too. Bye.” She hung the phone back on
its cradle. “Lydia, I’ll be right back.” She went into the wireless phone
store, returning twenty minutes later with a new cell phone.

“Mariah, why are you really going to San Francisco?”

“I have to meet someone there, who has the answers
to my past. You don't have to go with me. You can stay here. Rathe and his
family will protect you.”

Offering her a wan smile, Lydia shrugged her
shoulders and laughed nervously. “Strength in numbers, right? Besides, I can't
let my only friend get in trouble all by herself.”

They
were
crazy
to go into a town controlled by the leader of the Damned, the same one who
wanted her. She needed answers and only had this one opportunity before Rathe
killed him.

“I wonder why Rathe has so much cash on hand.”

“Maybe he likes to travel light?” Lydia joked.

“Ya think?” Looking around her, she didn’t see any
police officers. “Lydia, where is the police station? I need to let them know
I’m alive.”

“Three blocks down. I’ll show you.”

Entering the police station, they were told to
take a seat before she could tell them the reason why they were there. Finally,
after an hour waiting, the officer motioned them to him. After she explained
who she was and why she was there, he told them to sit again. A detective came
out and introduced himself as Robert Rile, told her to follow him. Handing the
keys to the car to Lydia, she went with him. At first, she was drilled about if
she really was Mariah Jordan until he ran a background check and a digital copy
of her license and passport information confirmed it.
 

Rile handed her a soda. “Miss Jordan, you are
quite a lucky woman. Sheriff Willard’s report said the convict was a dangerous
man. Ma’am, I’m curious about something. How’d you escape?” Suspicion lay heavy
in the tone of his voice, doubt in his shrewd gaze.

“A friend pulled me and my dogs out of my cabin
before the explosion.”

“How’d you end up here, in Santa Cruz? Where’s
your friend, the one who rescued you? Was it the girl who accompanied you in
here?” She opened her mouth to explain when he shot to his feet. “Stay here.
I’ll bring her in.”

Lydia proceeded Rile, confused. When she sat down
beside her, Rile went around his desk and took his seat. “Ladies, I want the
truth.”

Enough was enough!

Mariah leaned forward and stared deep into his
eyes. “Detective Rile,” she focused her ‘will’ on him, commanding him to listen
to her words, “I have answered your questions to your satisfaction. You will
call Sheriff Willard and tell him I am alive, and the case is closed.”

The detective stared at her, his eyes blank. “Case
is closed. I’m satisfied.”

She said with equal pressure, “Reissue me a driver’s
license right now.”

“Yes, let’s get you a new license.”

Lydia stared at her, her mouth dropped open.
Ignoring her, Mariah went with Rile. In fifteen minutes, she had a new driver’s
license. Picture sucked. A zombie had a better complexion than hers. Darn
license wasn’t legal anyway; she wasn’t a resident of California. It would
suffice renting a room or a car, if she needed one.

Outside the police station, she saw it was dark.
Crap! Lydia pulled her to the side. “What just happened in there?”

Before she could open her mouth to reply, Rathe
asked behind her, “Yes, Mariah, please do tell what you just did?”

Uncomfortable, she faced him and found him not
angry but pissed —
really
pissed off.
“I-I found out I had been reported dead, and I needed to straighten it out.”

Towering over her, he said in a low, rumbling
growl, “Have you any concept what you’ve done?”

“Huh?”

“You have successfully announced to the Damned
where
you are. Every ghoul, every vamp
within a fifty mile radius will make a beeline straight here, to Santa Cruz,
because
you
had to set the record
straight! You’ve endangered my family with your actions,” he shouted, glaring
at her.

Eyes narrowing, she growled, “You
knew
they had declared me dead, didn’t you?”

His anger faded and he straightened. When he
didn’t answer, she shouted at him, “You bastard! My kid thought I was dead!
Have
you
any concept what she suffered
thinking she was an orphan?” Yes, she was exaggerating here, but she needed to hurt
him enough to make him understand the cruelty he’d inflicted when he had kept
silent.

“I was protecting you.”

“Bullshit! You weren’t protecting me; you were
making certain you weren’t followed so you could get to your family.”

“In all fairness, you failed to tell me about your
child. Remember?”

“Fine. You’re right. I didn’t tell you about my
daughter, because it wasn’t any of your business. There. Happy?”

Rathe tilted his head as he closed the gap between
them. Gently, he touched her cheek. “I am truly sorry about the worry I caused
your daughter. My goal was to keep you safe.” Caressing her jawline, he asked
quietly, “You are my responsibility.”

Steeling herself against the softening in her
heart, hard though when she looked into his eyes, his sincerity and touch making
it damn hard to hold onto her anger! “I’ve called my family to let them know
I’m fine, and that I’ll be coming home soon.”

Unexpectedly, she saw his distress, the sadness in
his dark eyes. Their gazes locked. Would he actually miss her when she left? A
shout broke her free. Simon and Mina crossed the street, walking toward them.

Smiling at Lydia, Simon said, “Hey, there you are.
We’re heading to the Boardwalk. Want to join us?”

Rathe said gruffly, “We need to return to the
mansion. We have to leave. Now!”

Mina looked so sad. “We’re running again?”

The startled look on Rathe’s face as his sister
tried not to cry was hard to watch.
This is my
fault
, she thought dejectedly.
They
have to run because I had to set the story straight about me not being dead.
Dammit, why didn’t I just wait until I was home?

Before she could offer to leave, so they wouldn’t
have to, Rathe reached out and tenderly caressed his sister’s cheek. “We do
that far too often of late, don’t we?”

She tried to smile. “You protect us. If you say we
leave, then we must.”

As if he came to an abrupt decision, he said
firmly, “Not this time. We face our enemy when he comes. Until he does, we
enjoy every moment we can in this life, for as long as we can.”

Hope flared in Mina’s eyes. Simon asked, nearly as
hopeful as his sister, “Are you sure?”

Rathe asked, “Mariah, Lydia, would you like to
venture down to the Boardwalk and explore?”

“I’d love to!” Lydia grinned. She sobered. “Mariah,
do you want to go?”

“Sure. We’ll follow you guys.” She arched an eyebrow
at Rathe, who shoved his hands in his jean pockets, his muscles bunching under
his black t-shirt, the deep ‘v’ exposing his powerful chest beneath. Damn, Rathe
look incredibly gorgeous tonight!

The city lights reflected upon the silver, braided
chain and cross he wore. It dawned on her that neither Rathe nor his brother
wore jackets as they usually did.

As the trio walked across the street, Mina said,
“I so love the Boardwalk. Don’t you, Lydia?”

“I do. Have you gone on the roller coaster yet?”

Her thin shoulders sagged. Mina shook her head. “No.
I want to though.”