Deadly Desires (18 page)

The food dissolved against her tongue. “No. Just keep driving.” She drank some water to wash down the substance.

Orchards flew by the window, and she knew Samael was exceeding the speed limit. He wanted to get there just as fast as she did. The back roads were virtually empty of cars, and after two good-sized towns, they left Oakdale and got on the stretch that would bring them into Jamestown.

The winding roads had Marcella gripped to the door handle tightly. There was no way she was going to make it the last twenty to thirty miles. No way. The pounding of her heart shook her body and they went around another turn that headed up a hill. She reached out for the dash and was glad when Samael didn’t have to be told to pull over.

The SUV slid to a stop and Marcella practically fell out as she began to be sick. The fresh air felt good as she breathed in, but her body continued to heave against everything she’d taken in for the day. Dominic pulled her hair back out of her face and she barely even noticed. The sound of Samael getting sick didn’t bypass her.

“Breathe, love. It’s going to be okay.” Tears came to her eyes while she stood. Dominic handed her the water and she took a big drink, almost becoming sick all over again. Pain shot through her stomach and Marcella jerked forward. “Hey, talk to me.” Dominic helped her stand.

“I’m okay, just cramping.” She turned to Samael. His face was pale and he shook his head while he walked forward. “You.” He came up, his eyes narrowed in anger. “I thought you said you wouldn’t push it.”

“We’re almost there.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t make a difference. It’s not like we’re going to meet her tonight, Marcella. We could have stayed at one of the small towns we went through, and traveled the rest of the way in the morning. It wouldn’t have mattered.”

While he lectured her, Marcella tried to hide the worsening cramps.

“Now we have to keep going because we’re in between the two towns.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “You can’t be stubborn when it comes to the way your body is trying to alert you. Obviously, when you started feeling bad, we should have just stopped. I can’t believe I let you convince me back in San Jose.” He made her look up at him. “I love you too much to see you like this. You understand why I’m upset, right?”

“Yes.” Marcella’s fingers clutched at his shirt as another round of shooting pains took over. The world spun as he pulled her into his arms.

“Dominic, drive.” He opened the back door and laid her in the folded down space. As he climbed back there with her, she stared into his face.

“I thought it was from riding in the car too long or just morning sickness, but”—she shook her head as she groaned against the pain—”something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Worry took over his face. “What do you feel?”

The SUV moved back onto the road and the sound of the engine increasing in speed roared around them. Dominic wasn’t wasting any time trying to get there.

“It’s just cramps. But they hurt pretty badly. Maybe it’s because I was just sick. My stomach must have worked too hard or something.”

Samael sat next to her and pulled up her shirt. He closed his eyes and hovered his hand above her belly. There was no telling what he was doing. She was completely lost while she stared at him.

“The baby is…okay, I think. I can’t tell. Your energy is all over the place.” His fingers brushed through his long hair.

A scream came from Marcella’s mouth as she flew into the fetal position. Samael jumped at her outburst.

“What! Talk to me, baby.” He touched her side and the pain was too much for her to answer him. What felt like an electrical storm of agony spread across her abdomen, flickering with tiny pinpointed amounts of anguish.

She sucked air deep into her lungs. The urge to get onto her knees was automatic. Marcella tucked her legs underneath her and rocked against the sensations.

“Dominic, faster!” Samael’s voice barely registered to her as she tried to get into some kind of comfort trance. Anything to take the pain away.

Minutes went by and the feelings came and went. Although she felt a little better, the urge to talk wasn’t there. She was scared if she so much as moved, the discomfort would come back, and that was the last thing she or the baby needed.

“We’re almost there,” Dominic said, from the front. “Do I keep going and head to the hospital in Sonora? What do you want me to do?”

“Motel,” Marcella forced herself to say.

“You’re kidding me,” Samael whispered. “You need to see a doctor. I don’t think pain of that magnitude is normal in pregnancy.”

Marcella wasn’t going to argue with him. “I’m okay now. Just get me to a bed.”

A growl tore through the car’s interior. Within minutes the car came to a stop, and Samael carried her into a cold motel room. She could feel his anger and fear. It was consuming. She knew he was mad that she was rejecting medical help, but seriously, it would do nothing but cause more problems. She was fine. At least, she thought she was.

As Dominic walked in, the dark angel whispered something in his ear and stormed out. Marcella pushed herself up while the door closed and Dom walked over. “You better?”

A smile tried to surface, but she couldn’t force it, no matter how hard she wanted to. “I think so. He’s really mad at me, isn’t he?”

Dom brushed back the hair from her face. “He’s just worried.”

She nodded and stood.

“Whoa, where are you going?”

A small laugh came from her mouth. “To the bathroom. You want to go?” she asked jokingly.

Dominic sat down on the bed while she made her way into the restroom. It had been hours since they’d stopped. Tenderness ached in her core with every step she’d taken. The clothes fell to the floor and Marcella kicked them out of the way. At the sight of her legs, something caught her attention. Blood covered her inner thigh. The sight made Marcella sway. Okay, this wasn’t good. Maybe she’d been stupid to assume that just because the pain had stopped she and the baby were better.

The shower curtain she was grasping snapped free as her weight pulled it from the rod. The room spun and she felt herself falling. Darkness covered her vision and she knew she was going down. Instinctively, she held her stomach, but she didn’t feel herself hit the ground before nothingness washed over.

The energy was easy to pick up on. Samael followed the trail, knowing it would take him to the High Priestess. Blurriness took over his vision and he rubbed his eyes angrily. How could Marcella have done this? She was so damn stubborn. Always had been.

The Wiccan form he’d turned into was easy enough. He’d remembered on multiple occasions Marcella explaining the sensations that would follow when she changed creatures. She always said it felt like cobwebs moving through her insides, and he had to agree. That’s exactly what they felt like when he let them take over his body. It had been a slow transition, starting in his ankles. The wispiness pushed against his insides, leaving a full feeling while it traveled to the top of his head.

This was the first time he’d changed forms out of his collector, but it came naturally. Since he was already a master by collector standards, maybe the problems associated with a beginner wouldn’t come for him. He sure hoped so. Marcella sure as hell didn’t have an easy time getting control of her creatures.

The old white house sat on the top of a hill. Larges trees surrounded it, almost appearing to enclose the cottage-style home within their protective limbs. Even though it was dark, Samael could see the pulses of energy flicker from the surrounding life. He threw the SUV into park and jogged up to the front door.

Dealing with a High Priestess could be life or death for anyone. The magick they held deep within themselves could kill you in a matter of seconds, or linger inside of your body for days, giving you one hell of a torturous end. He was treading on unstable territory, but it had to be done. Marcella wasn’t good, he could feel it, and if she wouldn’t go to the hospital then he’d bring a healer to her.

The cement steps were hard under his feet. He got to the top and looked down the length of porch. On a porch swing sat an older lady holding a large glass of something. Resting next to her was a big, black bag. She appeared tiny and frail there in the dark.

“Took you long enough.” Slowly, she stood. Samael wasn’t sure what to think. “Barkley said you were on your way. Didn’t think you’d be so damn handsome though. Feels good on this woman’s old eyes. You don’t see real men anymore. Damn teenagers sporting around in their skinny jeans with their damn eyeliner.”

Samael tried not to laugh as she grabbed the bag and headed toward him. “I’m sorry. I think maybe you’re expecting someone else. You see, I just got into town with my…with…” He was suddenly at a loss on what to call Marcella. He couldn’t say wife. It was only a matter of time before she found out who they really were, and he knew not to lie to her. But, they weren’t typical mates either.

“Yeah, yeah. I know who you are. I dreamed you and the collector woman would be coming. She’s beginning to miscarry, and you need my help.”

“Miscarry?” Fear engulfed him. He’d known Marcella was sick, and the cramps weren’t good. But the actual loss of their baby?

The woman looked up at him. Her eyes were narrowed and she had a disapproving look on her face. “She’s pregnant and in pain, yes?”

“Well, yes.” He followed the woman down and opened the car door while she climbed inside. He raced around and threw himself into the driver’s side. Just then his phone went off. He reached for it and pressed the button.

“Samael, where are you!” Dominic’s voice was full of panic.

The High Priestess rummaged through her black bag and he turned back to the main road that led to the motel. “I’m a few blocks away. What’s wrong?”

Rustling broke through the background. “I heard something and came to check on Marcella. I found her on the floor in the bathroom. There’s blood everywhere. I don’t know if it’s from where she hit her head or not. It’s on her legs, too.”

“Fuck.” Tires squealed as he stomped on the gas. The old woman held on but remained quiet. “We’re almost there.” Samael had so many questions, but he hung up the phone so he could focus more on not wrecking the SUV before they got there. The dip the car hit sent them jerking toward the ceiling. He looked at the High Priestess, apologizing.

“Are you kidding me,” she snapped. “I haven’t been through this much excitement in the last twenty years.” They flew up again in their seats, but this time not so hard. She looked down at the glass she’d put in the cup holder. It was halfway empty and looked like tea. Unfortunately, the other half was dripping down from around the edges of the plastic holder. “Your woman is a collector, isn’t she?”

Samael let his own collector flow through his body. She gasped and began to say a prayer. “I knew the dream had to be the truth. It was farfetched, but I couldn’t let it go.” She took a long, drawn out breath. “My mother used to tell me stories of collectors when I was young. She wasn’t a High Priestess, but powerful none the less. To her, they were our salvation against the ultimate end. I’m starting to believe that it may be closer than I ever imagined.”

“Marcella is good.” Samael looked at her. “She’s the best person I’ve ever had the chance to meet.”

“You both hold a very painful past. Am I right?”

Samael pulled into the parking lot. “Yes. Centuries ago. I’m hoping we’ve overcome that. The baby she carries inside of her is mine.”

The old woman nodded. “I suspected as much.”

As her small frame climbed from the SUV, Samael noticed that although she was small, she was strong. Her bag swung behind her shoulder and Dominic met them at the door. Marcella was lying in bed. Blood was soaking through the washcloth Dominic had placed on her head.

“Oh yes.” The woman lowered to the edge of the bed and pulled the blanket down to expose Marcella’s nude frame. “Very strong, this one,” she whispered. Her hand hovered over the tattoos on her chest and stopped at her stomach. Blood was smeared on her thighs. Samael grabbed Dominic and pulled him outside.

“How long was she in there before you found her?”

Dominic’s eyes looked around as he thought. “A minute. Maybe less.” As soon as I heard the sound I headed in the direction. I knocked a few times, and when she didn’t answer, I opened the door and found her lying next to the tub.”

Fear made the back of Samael’s throat burn. He grabbed on to Dominic’s shoulders and lowered his head. He needed his friend’s support, which was odd. Samael had never needed anyone. It had to be because of how close he’d become with all of her men. “The woman says Marcella is miscarrying. She’s going to lose the baby.” The words released out loud made the reality of the situation a million times worse.

Dominic pulled him into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I know how much you both wanted this baby. How much we all wanted him.”

Samael wiped away the tear that escaped down his cheek and lifted his head. “We should have never come. I should have made Marcella stay at the fortress.”

“It’s not your fault.” Dominic leaned against the wall, next to the door. “Marcella wouldn’t have stayed. She is our queen, Samael, regardless of where we fit into her life. This is
her
mission. She has to be here.”