Chapter
31
Elena sat on the sofa in front of the
hearth, a furry blanket wrapped around her shoulders, a cup of
cocoa in one hand.
For Drake’s sake—and to hang on to her
own sanity—she forced herself to stay positive. She told herself
over and over again that there was nothing to worry about. Drake
would find their daughter and bring her home.
In an effort to keep from sinking into
despair, she thought about what Zack had said the night before. He
could make her a vampire. It troubled her that she found the idea
so appealing. She had lived with Drake and his people for over
twenty years but if the truth were known, she had never truly felt
like she belonged. Oh, the people treated her well enough. They
were as much a part of her life as she was of theirs. And yet she
couldn’t escape the fact that she was different. What would it be
like, to be able to will herself into the city whenever she wished
to go? To be like Drake? To share his whole life? To see the world
the way he saw it? Even the blood part no longer repulsed her. She
had been drinking a little of Drake’s blood for years. What would
he think if she told him she wanted to be a vampire? What would
Kaitlyn think?
“Kaitlyn.” The tears she had been
holding back flooded her eyes as she murmured her daughter’s name.
Where was she?
Elena stared into the flames, her heart
aching. She hadn’t been up this early in the morning since Kaitlyn
was an infant. She smiled, recalling how thrilled she had been the
first time she held her baby daughter in her arms, how impatient
she had been for Kaitlyn to wake up so she could hold her again.
Her miracle baby. All babies were wonderful, of course, but Drake
had told Elena there was little chance they could have a child, so
when Kaitlyn was born strong and healthy, it had truly seemed to be
a miracle.
She remembered the early years, when
she had worried that Kaitlyn would get sick or hurt, and how she
had prayed every day that Kaitlyn would be happy, that she would be
able to accept her heritage. She recalled her bittersweet feelings
when Kaitlyn went to kindergarten and how she had worried that her
daughter might not fit in with the other children. So many foolish
fears. None of the things she had worried about had come to
pass.
She wiped her tears with a corner of
the blanket. Her little girl had grown up into a beautiful young
woman—sweet-natured, kind-hearted. She had never given them a
moment’s worry.
Until now. Of course, she wasn’t
responsible for the trouble with Nadiya. The blame for that lay
squarely on Nadiya’s shoulders.
She drew the blanket around her, cold
in spite of the fire. Where was her little girl now?
Kaitlyn woke feeling groggy. There was
a horrible taste in her mouth. When she tried to sit up, the world
spun out of focus. Feeling like she was going to vomit, she quickly
closed her eyes again.
When she opened them a short time
later, she felt a little better. When she sat up, an ominous
clanking drew her attention. Looking down at her foot, she saw that
a thick cuff made of silver circled her left ankle. A long silver
chain was attached to the shackle, which was linked to an iron bolt
in the wall. Taking hold of the chain, she gave it a tug, thinking
she could easily dislodge it, but nothing happened. Apparently,
silver negated her preternatural power, just as it did her
father’s, though it didn’t burn her skin.
Fighting down her fear, she glanced at
her surroundings. She was sitting on a mattress in the corner of a
small basement, or maybe an old wine cellar. There were no lights,
no windows, and only one entrance.
Rising on shaky legs, she staggered
toward the iron-barred door. The chain on her foot drew her up
short. Try as she might, she couldn’t reach the latch. Not that it
would have done her any good. Still, pounding on it might have
brought help. Now, more than ever, she wished she had her father’s
ability to transport herself wherever she wished to be. Or to
dissolve into mist so she could slip her bonds and gain her
freedom.
But wishing was a waste of
time.
Returning to the mattress, she resumed
her seat. Where was she? And how had she gotten there? The deliver
yman . . . he had drugged her and stuffed her into a box. She
remembered now. Lifting her head, she took a deep breath. Her
nostrils filled with the scent of mold and dust and . . .
Nadiya.
Kaitlyn fought down the chill rush of
fear that rose within her at the realization that Nadiya had been
there not long ago. Everyone knew Nadiya hated Drake and would
never forgive him for Florin’s death. Did Nadiya know that Zack had
killed Daryn and Marius? Was Zack also in danger?
Kaitlyn blinked back her tears. She
wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t panic. Wherever she was, Zack and her
father would find her.
Her heart jumped into her throat when
the door opened. She had been expecting Nadiya, but it was the man
who had abducted her. Seeing him now, she realized he was a drone—a
creature whose mind was no longer his own.
Eyes blank, footsteps stiff and
unnatural, he walked toward her. She sprang from the mattress,
backing away from him, and from the needle in his hand, but there
was no place to go.
He backed her into the corner, his hand
circling her throat to hold her in place. Had she not been so weak,
she would have fought him off, but she was helpless to resist when
he jabbed the needle into her arm.
The world swam out of focus, her vision
blurring as the room grew dark, darker.
She was vaguely aware of another
presence in the room. Words chased themselves through the air, but
they had no meaning.
“You will have to feed her soon.” The
drone’s voice, empty of emotion.
“She does not need to eat.” Nadiya’s
voice, filled with hatred.
“She is not a full vampire,” the drone
said. “She must have food or blood if you want her to
survive.”
“Oh, very well. Give her something to
eat when the drug wears off.”
“Survive.” Kaitlyn mumbled the word.
She had to survive. For Zack. It was her last conscious
thought.
Zack woke with the setting of the sun,
his thoughts turning immediately to Kaitlyn. Closing his eyes, he
opened his vampiric senses and tried yet again to connect with
Katy, but there was only darkness. He refused to think she could be
dead. He couldn’t lose her now, when he had just found
her.
After showering, he dressed, absently
thinking that he needed a change of underwear and
clothing.
When he went downstairs, he found Drake
and Elena sitting side by side on one of the sofas. It was obvious
Elena had been crying.
They both looked up when he entered the
room.
“Any word from Nadiya?” Zack
asked.
“No.” Drake’s answer was
curt.
“We need to find one of her
kids.”
“What will that
accomplish?”
“You don’t think she’d tell us where
Katy is to save the life of one of her children?”
“Do you?”
Remembering the hint of madness in
Nadiya’s eyes, Zack shook his head. “No, I guess not. Dammit, where
does that leave us?”
“My brothers and sisters are making
inquiries at Fortresses around the world. If they hear anything of
Kaitlyn, they will let me know. Until then . . .” Drake let out a
sigh that came from the very depths of his soul.
“She can’t be dead,” Elena wailed
softly. “She can’t be.”
Drake murmured his wife’s name as he
wrapped her in his arms.
Zack clenched his hands into fists. He
hadn’t told Drake or Elena about the blood bond between himself and
Kaitlyn, nor would he, unless he was able to connect with her. What
was the point in telling them unless he had good news? And right
now, he feared the worst. It tore at his heart to see the pain in
Elena’s eyes. Unable to endure it any longer, he left the
castle.
Outside, he drew a deep breath, and
then he started to run. He could have easily transported himself to
the city, but he needed to feel the wind in his face, needed to
unleash the anger and frustration and fear that had been his
constant companions ever since Kaitlyn disappeared. And he needed
to blow off some steam now, before he hunted, or heaven help the
man or woman he preyed on this night.
It was Friday. When he reached the
city, the streets were crowded with shoppers and tourists. Zack
mingled with the crowd. He ignored the couples and the elderly, the
skinheads and the addicts. He wanted someone who was alone and
would not be missed. He continued up the street, his senses
rejecting this one for being infected with AIDS, that one for being
too young. He bypassed a teenage girl heavy with child, a
middle-aged man who reeked of alcohol, a woman who smelled of
cocaine. Not that the drugs or the diseases or the booze would
affect him. He was immune to all of it. But drugs and disease
tainted the blood and left a bad taste in his mouth.
When he reached the end of the block,
he crossed the main thoroughfare and strolled down a side street.
There were fewer people here but he quickly found what he was
looking for, a woman in her late twenties who had just stepped out
of a nightclub.
She wobbled a little on her high heels
as she walked down the sidewalk. She stopped beside a late-model
car.
She was fumbling with her keys when
Zack ghosted up behind her.
“Here,” he said, “let me help
you.”
Startled, she looked at him, her eyes
widening with alarm.
He trapped her gaze with his. “Don’t be
afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.”
She wanted to argue, but she was
helpless to resist his compulsion.
A wave of his hand opened the car door.
“Get in.”
Her movements were jerky, like a
puppet’s, as she climbed into the front seat.
Zack closed her door, then went around
the front of the car and slid behind the wheel. “Give me your
keys.”
She handed them over without a
word.
“Relax . . .” He searched her mind for
her name while he put the car in gear. “Lavinia. We’re going to go
for a little drive, and then I’ll take you home.”
She stared at him, unblinking, as he
drove out of the city, then turned off the highway onto a dirt
road.
She was trembling uncontrollably
now.
Zack swore softly as he put the car in
PARK. His hand curled around her nape, drawing her toward him.
“Lavinia, listen to me. I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.” He
ran his fingertips down the length of her neck. “Do you believe
me?”
She shook her head.
She had a strong will, he thought
irritably. Too strong to fully succumb to his suggestions. Well, he
knew how to take care of that. He drew her closer, felt her body
tense as his fangs brushed her tender skin. One bite, one taste,
and she surrendered her will to his, a sigh of pleasure rising in
her throat as he took what he needed.
And wished it was Kaitlyn in his arms,
her blood chasing away the cold, filling the emptiness deep
inside.