B006P1R39O EBOK (3 page)

Someone had her arm in a painful grip. Instinct took over and she prepared to sink her teeth into the cold flesh of the vampire.

“Release the girl!” The deep - smooth voice reverberated through the room. Instantly the melee ceased and a complete stillness descended.

The candles still burned, the melting wax dripping into the white frosting on the cake.

He stood there against a backdrop of broken window glass and fog. The vampire glared at them with angry - radiant eyes.

Kathrina’s breath caught in her throat. Though the details of his features were hidden by shadow, his eyes were bright and deadly. She knew him. Every cell of her body felt a connection to this vampire. It was as if her entire being had somehow been joined with him.

He looked directly at her, and for a fraction of a moment she couldn’t breathe. It was like a ton of steel rested on her chest, crushing the breath out of her. The radiance in his eyes seemed to reach out to her - surrounding her with exhilarating warmth that was unlike anything she’d ever felt. It was the vampire’s spell.

He lifted his hand and beaconed to her with one finger. Her legs began to move without her willing them to. She was the puppet, and the vampire the puppet master.

“Not my daughter Luciano.” It was her father’s voice.

The spell was broken. Kathrina blinked rapidly as if she were waking from a deep sleep.

The vampire turned his attention to Donavan. “This makes a difference?” Luciano smiled sadistically.

Kathrina noticed that the vampires that had crashed her party were starting to move, slinking away before anyone could notice. They would not be so lucky though. Luciano’s eyes rested on them and suddenly the room erupted in cries of anguish. Several of the vampires fell to the floor and began withering in agony, blood pouring from their eyes.

The vampires became still.

Kathrina looked around the room and noticed that a number of the guests had managed to escape. The mortals among them would not know what to make of the attack. No doubt the police would soon arrive. The authorities would hear stories of mass murder. The blood-covered ballroom would backup those stories.

Luciano turned his attention back to her father. “I will take her with or without your blessing.”

“Not my daughter,” Donavan glared at him.

The vampire stepped forward, and she was finally able to make out his features. He was everything that she’d imagined he would be. He was completely male, but yet unbelievably beautiful. His features were perfect - too perfect. When his dark eyes locked with hers, she thought how like black velvet they were - so soft - so seductive.

From the moment she’d read his words in the Book of Anu, she’d longed to see his face. There was no doubt in her mind that the vampire Luciano was the one that had written that ancient manuscript. He was every bit as alluring as she’d imagined that he would be. Just to be in his presence was an overwhelming experience. It saddened her to know that she was going to have to kill him. It was the only way to end the curse of the vampire.

“Come with me,” he commanded.

Kathrina took a hesitant step forward, but before she could go any further her sisters were at her side, each of them grabbing one of her arms.

“She isn’t going anywhere.” Nicole’s voice was cold and unyielding.

Luciano turned to Donavan. “Unless it doesn’t bother you to lose all of your daughters, you will want to get some control over them.”

“There has to be another way,” Donavan insisted.

Luciano’s eyes began to emit the deadly light of the immortal. It would only be a matter of seconds before her sisters were destroyed the same way the other vampires had been.

Gently pulling her arm away from Nicole, Kathrina held up one hand, as if she could ward off the attack. “Wait!” she yelled.

Luciano stared at her, his eyes returning to normal.

“What is it that you want?” Kathrina asked him.

“Your blood.”

“Why would you want my blood?” Kathrina was baffled. “My blood will kill you.”

The corners of his mouth lifted in a wicked - spellbinding smile. “On the contrary … your blood will help me to live again.”

Desperate for a way to stall him, Kathrina grasped at the first thought that came to mind. “I will go with you of my own free will … on one condition.”

Both of her sisters looked over at her in confusion.

Luciano’s eyes danced with amusement. “And tell me … what is this condition?”

“That you help us stop Omar and his followers.”

“And in exchange for my help … it is your intention to give your life freely?” he asked, taking another step toward her.

Kathrina nodded. “I know that you could kill me now, but I will fight, and it will be a lot more trouble for you.”

Luciano laughed out loud. “Is that so? You mean more trouble than fighting a whole coven of vampires?”

“Please … let me fulfill my destiny, and then you can do what you want with me.” Kathrina begged.

A tingling sensation started from behind her eyes and spread over her scalp. Then came the pain - a pain so intense that she felt her skull would explode. He was probing her thoughts.

Kathrina collapsed into a heap. As quickly as it had started, it was over. The pain was gone, but she could feel a small amount of blood dripping from her nose.

He was kneeling beside her. With one finger, he wiped the blood from where it had dripped down to her lip. “You plan to kill me … don’t you?”

“Yes,” she admitted.

“Don’t hurt her Luciano …” Donavan’s voice echoed through the quiet room.

Luciano turned his head and glared at the other vampire. “Don’t interfere.”

Donavan said no more. It was the first time that Kathrina had ever witnessed her father back away from anyone.

When Luciano turned back to Kathrina, he stared at her with something akin to pride. “You are a foolish girl, but I find you intriguing.”

Kathrina gazed at him with wide eyes.

“Very well. I will help you with your quest, but you are to stay at my side so that I am assured of your cooperation.”

Kathrina nodded, agreeing to this condition.

I have to admit … I am not sure what it is that you hope to accomplish,” he added.

“Save the food supply of the vampire … prevent a war with the wolves,” Donavan intervened.

With a sardonic laugh, Luciano gently grabbed Kathrina by the arm and helped her to her feet. “I am afraid that your brother and the wolves are the least of your worries.”

Though Luciano was speaking to Donavan, he was staring into Kathrina’s eyes.

“Why’s that?” she asked him.

“Omar is merely a child of a true immortal … he pales in comparison. It is the darkness of his soul that you must concern yourself with. It is the same darkness that is slithering into the souls of all of you.”

In the distance, the shrill sound of sirens broke through the silence that had descended on the room. The police would be there soon. The guests that had made it out alive would have told about the mysterious attack by beings that were something other than human. In the end, it would be concluded that they’d had drug induced hallucinations. The attack on the house would likely be labeled as drug or gang related. The outside world would continue to exist in a state of ignorance, but for Kathrina it was just the beginning.

Luciano took Kathrina by the hand and led her away from the others. Placing both hands on her waist, he easily lifted her out the window and then followed.

Nicole and Sarah made a dash for them, but before they were half way there, Luciano had his arms around her waist and they lifted into the night sky. Kathrina had to catch her breath. His nearness, combined with the sensation of flying into a star-studded sky was so exhilarating, and yet terrifying.

Leaning down, he put his lips next to her ear. “You are shaking.”

Kathrina said nothing to acknowledge that she’d heard him.

“You have no reason to fear me sweetheart.”

“You plan to kill me,” Kathrina frowned.

“And you plan to kill me also … so we are even.”

“Where are you taking me?”

Luciano gave her a secretive smile, but said no more.

Kathrina didn’t realize they were descending until she felt something solid beneath her feet. She was standing on the roof of an old building.

As soon as Luciano released her, Kathrina’s feet began to slip. She would have tumbled from the roof but the vampire quickly grabbed her hand to keep her from falling.

When she had her footing and was no longer in danger, Kathrina took a moment to look out over the city. From where she was standing she could see the Quarter.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Somewhere safe … where we won’t be disturbed.”

Kathrina frowned. She was expecting a little more information but decided to let it go. If she feigned compliance, she might get a lot further with this vampire. He seemed like someone that was accustomed to having his every command followed without question.

Luciano led her over the loose roof tiles to a broken window. She stepped through the opening into a small room. He was right behind her. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, she was able to see the shadowy outline of boxes stacked against the walls. They were in an attic. Kathrina assumed the building was one of the many abandoned structures that now littered the neighborhoods of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Is this where you live?” she asked.

He chuckled. “I’ve been sleeping in this building, but my home is far from here.”

“Where’s that?” Kathrina was curious. In the journal, he’d written of a place much different than anyplace that she’d ever heard of - a place where immortals ruled.

“Romania,” he told her.

“Is that where you are from?”

“You ask way too many questions for someone who is about to die?” he growled, obviously becoming impatient with her intrusive curiosity.

“It’s in my nature to be inquisitive,” she responded sarcastically.

“Hmm, but not in your best interest.”

She heard the strike of a match and then the room was aglow with candlelight. In the flickering light he seemed even more ominous, but just as breathtaking. His long black hair fell across his cheeks as he stared down at the flame of the candle. When he turned back to her, she could feel herself falling into his dark eyes.

“So why is it my blood won’t kill you?” she asked, trying to find something that would distract her from his eyes.

When he smiled at her, Kathrina felt her heart skip a beat.

“You read the Book of Anu and still don’t know anything about me?”

“How did you know that I read your journal?”

“When your blood mixed with mine, it called to me.”

Kathrina’s mouth dropped open in shock. How could he know about her blood on the book? “It was blood the words were written in!”

Luciano nodded. “Of course. How else could I be sure to find you when the time came?”

“I’m confused. You already knew about me?”

Moving closer to her, Luciano brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I’ve known about you since long before you were born.”

“How’s that possible?” she asked, his nearness causing her stomach to churn with butterflies.

Caressing the skin on her cheek with his cold fingers, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You are more than just my savior … you are the part of my soul that is the light. We are soul mates. Our destinies have always been as one.”

Kathrina shook her head. “I still don’t understand.”

His lips were next to her neck, so close that when he spoke Kathrina imagined that she could feel the movement of his breath. But of course it was only her imagination. How could she feel the breath of the walking dead?

His laughter startled her, intruding on her thoughts. “Oh Kathrina! There is still so much that you do not know about true vampires.”

Luciano had read her thoughts, and for some reason this angered Kathrina even more than knowing what fate he intended for her. “Please stay out of my head,” she hissed.

Backing away, he nodded to her mockingly. “As you wish my lady.”

Now that he was not so close, his touch was no longer muddling her thoughts.

“So how do you plan to help us defeat Omar, and what did you mean about the darkness?”

Luciano smiled. “You mean you don’t already have a plan?”

Blushing, Kathrina turned away. “No not really … but since you are the oldest vampire … I just thought you could easily take care of him.”

“I could … but why?” Luciano shrugged. “What Omar does is of no consequence to me.”

“But you promised to help.”

“I did.” He gave her a sadistic smile before turning away.