Illusions (Night Roamers) Book Four (10 page)

“How did you get away from Victor?”

She sighed. “I’m not answering that. You don’t need to know. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you anyway.”

“Does he know you’re alive?”

Celeste stared at her nails. “Of course he does.”

“He killed your dad. Blew his head off. We think he still has our mom and Caleb’s baby. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

She looked at him. “Victor won’t hurt the baby.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he can’t create his super-army of lycan freaks without it.”

“So, you don’t care if your little brother or sister is part of that
nightmare?”

“Not really. Besides, I have a feeling he won’t be around much longer. That he won’t
even be a problem.”

“Why?”

She smiled darkly. “Let’s just say I have friends in high places.”

“You mean Faye?”

She didn’t answer.

“We saw her tonight. She killed Drake.”

Celeste’s face lit up. “Good. Drake deserved to die.”

“So, Faye never died. Is she going after Victor then?
For you?”

Celeste stood up. “You know, I’m done with this conversation. I said too much anyway.”

“You haven’t said enough. Do you know where Duncan is?”

She snorted.
“No, why would I know where he is?”

“What about
your buddy, Ethan? Did Drake kill him?”

Her eyes narrowed.
“Like I said, I’m not answering any more questions.”

“Bullshit. You’re answering,” he cocked the trigger. “Or,
so help me, I’ll put a bullet through your head. One that’s silver.”

“
A silver bullet?” she laughed. “You really think that’s going to kill me?”

“Maybe not,
but it will certainly ruin your plans for dinner.”

Before he could blink, his gun was knocked out of his hand and she had him by the throat.
Raising his body above her head, she smiled up at him with her fangs bared. “You really think I’m afraid of your threats?”

“Let
… me… go…,” he whispered hoarsely, his feet dangling.

“
Oh, you’re going someplace,” she replied, digging her nails into his skin, and drawing blood. Celeste chuckled at the pain reflected in his blue eyes. “Just follow the light, Nathan.”

As her hand tightened on his larynx, he
really began to panic.

This was it.

She meant business.

She was going to
kill him.

Bullshit.

He gave up trying to uncurl her hand from his throat and instead, shoved his fingers into her eyes.

She screamed in rage and threw him across the room. “You asshole!
That fucking hurt!”

He scrambled to his feet and stared back at her angrily. “
Just tell me what’s going on and I’ll leave you alone!”

“I should have killed you when I had the chance!” she snarled, launching herself at him. They fell to the floor and she
reached down and grabbed his crotch. “I’m going to rip you apart. Starting with your balls.”

The thought of her taking away his manhood triggered something that took him over the edge
and miles away from sanity. A rush of energy exploded throughout his body, and before he could make sense of what was happening, he became something entirely else. Something with pointy ears, dark fur and teeth made for tearing through flesh and bone.

Celeste stared down at him in horror
, her lips moving but no words coming out.

Nathan roared into her face and she screamed as his jaws tore into her skin.

Nikki

When I left Nathan in the cabin, I caught a glimpse of Faye flying away from the cabin. I quickly leaped into the sky and began following her from a distance, which was difficult because of the weather. It didn’t take long before we ended up at a large ranch, somewhere in North Dakota, where it was also snowing pretty heavily. The lights were on and a truck was parked next to the garage. She landed near the front door, while I hid next to the stables, watching as she changed out of her gargoyle form and back into human. Naked, she began walking toward my hiding spot.

“Did you really think I didn’t know you were following me?”
she hollered, her breath frosty. “You may as well come on out.”

I swore under my breath

“Come on now, Nikki.”

I
stepped out of the shadows.

She smirked. “I
’m impressed. You do have balls, don’t you?”

“Where’s Duncan?” I asked,
trying to ignore the fact that she was completely naked under the falling snow. Her body was toned and perfect in every way, so the vision was both creepy and striking.

“Why
in hell do you think I know where that boy is?”

My eyes narrowed.
“Because you seem to know everything that happens in this town.”

“It took you this long to figure that out?
” she answered, looking smug.

“Look, I have no beef with you. I just want to know where Duncan is.”

“Why should I help you find Duncan?” she asked, staring at me with scorn.

“Why do you hate me so much?” I asked, fe
eling suddenly very vulnerable. Following her had been reckless, and now that we were alone, I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d gotten myself into.

“
Why? Simply because you’re you.”

“
Why did you kill Drake? Because he was Drake?”

“I killed him because we’re not on the same side.”

“How many sides are there?”

She ignored my question.
“So, you really want to know where Dunky is?” she asked with a sneer.

“Of course I do.”

She studied me closely for a few seconds and then nodded. “Very well. I’ll take you to him. Follow me.” She turned around and began walking toward the house.

Warning bells went off in my head.
“Why are you changing your mind all of a sudden?”

“Because I have this idea that you’re not going to quit bugging me until I show you where he is.”

“Are you seriously holding him prisoner?” I asked, following her slowly.

She walked up the steps and opened the front
door without answering.

I stopped. Something told me that if I went into the house, I’d never leave. “
Bring him out here.”

She turned around. “Excuse me?”

“Bring him outside or I’ll… I’ll get the police involved.”

She laughed.

“Fine. The FBI.”

She stretched out her hand.
“Call them. Be my guest.”

I took out my phone. “Maybe I’ll just call Victor and tell him w
hat you did to Drake. The head of his security force here in Shore Lake.”

“Oh please, Victor? Like he scares me.”

“He killed Caleb,” I said, studying her reaction. “I’m sure that Celeste mentioned that.”

“Victor has stepped on
the wrong toes and he’ll eventually pay.”

It was probably the first time we agreed on something.

“Where is Celeste?”

She shrugged.
“I have no idea.”

“Right,” I answered dryly.

She ran a hand through her long, blond hair and sighed. “Well, I’ve had enough games with you this evening. Either come in or get off of my property. Your choice.”

“Who else is here?” I asked, motioning
toward the pickup truck.

She looked at the truck and back to me
“Godrick. He takes care of things while I’m away.”

“What’s he taking care of now?”

She smiled like the Cheshire cat. “Come in and find out.”

My gut told me again, not to go inside. I took a step back. “If you’re not bringing him out here, then I’m leaving.”

“If you leave here, you may never see him again,” she said quickly. “Can you live with that?”

My mind began to race. I felt trapped and wasn’t sure exactly what to do. “Do you really expect me to walk into your house when I know
that you hate me and have tried to kill me on at least two other occasions? Now, you’re inviting me in and I really have no proof that Duncan is even in your house. I’d be stupid to trust you.”

She
snorted. “I’m not forcing you to do anything, and if I wanted to kill you, I could have already done it.”

I didn’t say anything.

“
Look, I never asked you to trust me. Walking into my house is obviously risky, but, if you care about your friend, Duncan, then you’ll take that chance.”

Again, the warning bells in my head were telling me that once I stepped foot in that house, I’d never leave it.
“Actually, I’m better to Duncan alive,” I answered, and then leaped into the sky.

Faye

Faye watched as Nikki flew away and was tempted to chase her down and finish her off for good, but curiosity got the better of her. She’d been gone for several hours and wanted to check on Duncan and Ethan. See if they were ready to tear each other limb from limb. She hoped so, and thought about putting them in the same cell, just for shits and giggles.

She walked through the large rambler until she reached the newly remodel
ed master bedroom in back, and then pulled out a dress. It was a beige silk Dior she’d picked up the day before. She slipped it over her shoulders and then stepped over to the mirror to examine herself. Frowning at her wind-blown hair, she used her powers to put it up into a curly up-do. She then redid her makeup, this time with mauve colors that complimented her perfect features. She knew that she looked stunning, but Faye also had to admit that the reflection staring back at her was getting old. It was the longest persona she’d used in years, and that wasn’t exactly thrilling for a shape-shifter. Her kind enjoyed their powers to the fullest, constantly changing their images, being whomever they wanted, whenever they wanted. But, she’d gotten so caught up in creating Faye and enjoying the life that had spawned from it, she’d almost forgotten how exciting it was to duplicate others. To complicate their lives by doing something totally outrageous, out of character, or even illegal. So when Ethan double-crossed her and left her to die, she’d vowed vengeance and it had been much easier than she’d anticipated. First, she’d located him in Las Vegas and then drugged him, with the help of Victor, her silent partner, who now owned half of Club Nightshade. His price for going along with her plans. Not only was he now vested in the club, but she’d also promised to keep Celeste in tow and help hide Anne. Celeste, however, was not aware of her involvement with Victor, and had assumed she’d rescued her from her father’s killer. Although Faye knew that Celeste would do almost anything for her, she didn’t think she’d be too keen on siding with Victor. So, as far as Celeste knew, Victor was Faye’s enemy as well as hers. Which, wasn’t too far from the truth. Once Martin returned to Shore Lake, which eventually he would, she would do nothing to stop him from taking Victor down. Victor was a certifiable nutcase, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled about his plans to try and breed lycan vampires. If he succeeded, it would only make his kind more powerful, which wasn’t in her best interest.

Examining her reflection, s
he decided to make some changes. Just subtle ones as she needed her employees to recognize her at the club. She stared at her blonde hair and watched as it grew darker. She then made her eyes wider and blue. As she continued with the changes, she realized that she was emulating Nikki’s to a tee, and when she was finished perfecting it, she smiled coldly at her work.

I’m going to kill you,
she thought, resisting the urge to scratch her own eyes out.

If only
Ethan had never met the little bitch, they’d still be together. She had to admit, even now, she yearned for his touch and hadn’t felt it for some time. For years they’d had something special, until Nikki had put some kind of spell on him. Even when he’d been preoccupied with finding his beloved Miranda, he hadn’t shunned or tried killing her with his bare hands. She knew she should hate him for what he’d done. But, the truth was – Faye would give up everything if he’d come back to her. But all he cared about was the wretched, pathetic girl staring back at in the mirror. Even now she could picture them together – Nikki’s hands all over Ethan while he made love to her. His blue eyes staring down at her with love and desire – a look that Faye would never receive from him.

Unless…

Unless
she
became the object of his affection and made him suffer as she had. Smiling triumphantly, she called Godrick on his cell phone and told him to come upstairs.