Immortal Revenge (20 page)

He glared at her. “For many years, Hector had a powerful influence on the Order. He was wise and a great teacher to everyone. When he predicted events that came to pass, some members applauded him. But over time others felt intimidated and feared him.”

“He could predict the future?”

A snort from behind Katie distracted her. She turned to face the bed. Jules rubbed her face and then twisted to her other side.

“He gave many predictions,” Riker said, and Katie twisted back around. “There was one that hummed in the ears and minds of the members for many years. It startled and warned them of the future. Word spread around the globe and many feared his prediction might come true. Centuries passed and when nothing changed, many forgot about it. But the ones who feared it the most never stopped thinking about it.”

“What kind of prediction did he make?”

Riker bent forward and leaned on his knees. “He said war would come between humans and vampires.”

Katie stared deep into his eyes. “I can see how that would rattle a few people.”

“Many lives would be lost and we would suffer numbers as well. The war would last many years and cause great anguish. He said one person would lead the way. A human. This human would teach others, and vampires. The war would shift. Humans and vampires would take up arms together to fight for mankind. Our world would change forever.”

Riker’s stern gaze and strong words sent a chill through her. A war. Was it possible? The idea seemed preposterous. Humans didn’t believe vampires existed. They didn’t believe in aliens, yet proof existed we weren’t alone in the universe. Too much would have to change. Given that vampires went to great lengths to ensure their existence remained hidden, she doubted such a prediction could come to fruition.

He slowly straightened. “While everyone waited for this war to happen, some of his other predictions fell short over the years. Kyle and I were off educating other vampires, but we’d heard stories of members berating Hector for his failure to provide accurate events. Rumors spread Hector gave false statements on purpose. Eventually, Hector stepped down and left the Order. Kyle told me he kept in touch with him.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No. I respected Hector greatly, but I never held a kinship with him the way Kyle did.”

“Huh…” She scratched the back of her head.

“What?”

“I’m just a little stunned. Kyle never mentioned him to me.”

Kyle had spoke of many people, one’s he’d helped and a few he’d destroyed and wished he hadn’t. He’d mentioned names of members of the Order, but not Hector. Why would Kyle keep such a dear friend a secret, especially one who had trained him? It didn’t make sense, unless he’d thought his great instructor had lost his marbles. That was a possibility.

“Maybe he was waiting until the right time.”

Katie’s heart sank a notch. “Now I’ll never know.”

She lowered her gaze as she processed the new information Riker had shared. Kyle had met Riker at the Order. They’d spent a great amount of time learning and working together. An Egyptian named Hector trained them and Kyle had a special bond with him. Hector made predictions. A big one involved humans at war with vampires which later shifted to the two working together and fighting vampires. What a bloody mess. If that weren’t enough, Hector’s prophecies fell short at times, or he lied about them, which led to him leaving the Order. One plus one equaled two, but what did it all mean? How did it answer her original question about the vow Riker made?

She lifted her head. “I’m not understanding how this relates to the question I started with.”

“Hector stayed in touch with Kyle, or vice versa. I don’t know which.”

Katie held her hand up. “Wait. I thought he was gone.”

“Hector? Impossible.”

“Anything is possible.”

Riker grinned. The vampire actually grinned. “He’s invisible, has been for two centuries. No one has seen him. Members have searched and not a trace of him has been found.”

“Let me guess, he’s on the extermination list too.”

“At the very top.”

An unusual high level of excitement zinged through her. She straightened, braced her palms on her knees and leaned closer to Riker. “Are you fucking serious? This Egyptian is first on the list and he kept in touch with Kyle. My Kyle.”

“I have no reason to lie. There is nothing for me to gain from misleading you.”

Katie shook her head. “Now, I’m really confused. I don’t understand why Kyle kept this from me. And you have yet to answer why you’re still sitting here.”

“I actually find you attractive.”

Katie flinched. “What?” She’d misheard him. No way had he just told her he found her attractive.

“You don’t believe me?”

“No. You’re changing the subject and you lack humor. Now, answer my fucking questions.”

The familiar coldness on his face returned. “Hector sent Kyle notes and packages over the years. Most of the messages were compliments, such as ‘good catch’ and ‘the professor has found his match.’ When Kyle called me with the last communication he received from Hector and asked me to make a vow, I told him I needed proof the note came from Hector. He scanned it and sent me the copy in an email message.”

“How long ago was this?”

“A little over seven years ago.”

Katie’s pulse accelerated. She’d moved in with Kyle eight years ago. He’d started training her. Why did Kyle keep this man, this ancient vampire, a secret?

“Was it the last communication?”

“To my understanding yes, and I authenticated the penmanship. It came from Hector.”

She shook her foot nervously. Adrenaline flooded through her from either sitting too long with the vampire juice wanting action, or her damn curiosity had reached a new high, wanting to know about the note from Hector.

“What did it say?”

Riker said nothing for several seconds. His hesitation to reply drove her anxiety higher.

“The note said, ‘Protect her. Teach her. She’s the one.’”

Katie shot up from her seat and paced the room. No, not possible. The old man made false predictions. Certainly, Kyle didn’t believe she would lead a war. She was plain ol’ Katie with deceased parents and trying to make a living in the crazy world. She had no special qualities, background, or ancestry that could possibly make her a war leader. She could sum up her entire life using a country song. The Egyptian had to be nuts.

But what if Kyle had believed she was the one? Were all of the years of training, sharing knowledge and pushing her limits in preparation her for the big day? She didn’t believe so since she’d asked for all of it, wanting to fight and beat him to show that she could. She’d wanted to prove herself worthy. He’d given her everything she’d ever asked and more. She was a stronger and more knowledgeable person because of Kyle. Perhaps she was the female version of Rambo as her best friend eloquently had stated. Was all of it because Kyle believed what a crazy vampire told him or did Kyle really love her?

Riker stood and she stopped pacing.

“Is it because of this note you made a promise to Kyle?”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe Hector’s prediction?”

“He trained me for a century. I know him personally.”

She stepped closer to him. “But you admitted to disagreeing with his beliefs.”

“Everyone has differences and has to decide which beliefs are the right ones to follow. I disagree with your decisions, yet here we are with only one vampire left to eradicate.”

A compliment from Riker? She branded it to her memory.

“I’m not who you think I am.”

“Hector was wise and he never led us astray. I have survived over eight centuries and seen many changes among vampires.”

“Do you believe him?” she asked again.

He stared directly into her eyes. “I have no reason not to.”

14

Katie gazed out of the window from the Denny’s booth. She sat slouching and with her legs spread out underneath the table. Sunglasses shielded her eyes from the bright sun and helped hide her shiner. Aromas of grease, hamburgers and fries along with the lingering scents of syrup, bacon and eggs flooded her nose. She and Jules had arrived past 11:00 as the breakfast crowd lessoned and the lunch one took over. Jules sat across the table, nibbling on her second chicken tender.

“You said you’d eat some of this with me,” she said, sounding very much like a complaint. “I can’t eat it all.”

Katie’s stomach gurgled, but her appetite was lacking. Still, she needed to eat something or her body would consume the vampire blood quicker and the chances of her strength lasting three days would end up next to none. She reached across the table and snatched a piece of chicken. After she dipped it in the ranch sauce, she took a bite.

“What happened after I fell asleep?”

Katie finished chewing. “Riker and I had a lengthy conversation, then I went to the workout room for a couple hours.”

After releasing some built up energy, she showered again and slept for maybe two hours. Riker was hiding in the bathroom of his hotel room by the time she’d rose from her nap. The chat she’d had with the vampire kept replaying in her head and she couldn’t stop analyzing it. Unable to sleep or think, she returned to the workout room and ran on the treadmill.

“Did he take care of…?” Jules paused, glanced around, then leaned over the table. “The female vampire?”

“He left while I was on the bicycle and returned sometime later saying she was gone. I didn’t ask for details.”

“I don’t blame you.” Jules grinned. “So, what did you two talk about while I was sleeping?”

Katie shrugged as she dipped her chicken in the ranch dip.

“Come on, you can tell me.”

“He shared with me how he met Kyle.” It was a good starting point. Maybe she wouldn’t probe for too many details.

“Oh?” She lifted her brows.

“They met at the Order and trained together for over a century.”

“Wow.” Jules dunked her chicken in the honey mustard. “That’s a long time.”

“Apparently an Egyptian vampire taught them quite a bit. He was a philosopher and had a close friendship with Kyle.”

“Did you know about this friend?”

“No.” She gave a shake of her head. “His name is Hector.”

“That’s an unusual name for an Egyptian. Don’t they usually have names like Ra, Osiris, or…”

“People had trouble pronouncing his name so everyone called him Hector, according to Riker.”

“Okay. What else?”

“Riker told me more about the Order, not much I didn’t already know.”

“Does he think they are responsible for Kyle’s death? I recall he mentioned something about it.”

Katie slid her hand under the table and wiped her hand on her jeans. “He said Kyle’s name was on the extermination list, which we already knew.”

Jules flattened her arm on the table while she held a small piece of chicken between her fingers. “Did he give you valuable information besides how he met Kyle and who trained them?”

Katie leaned back with her belly tightening.

“No you don’t.” Jules pushed the plate toward her, scraping it on the countertop. “If I have to eat, so do you. We’re in this shit knee deep together.”

A smile revealed Jules’s mood had brightened. Although Katie regretted Jules was now involved with her crappy situation, at least they had each other to lean on for support and that brought some comfort.

Following a heavy sigh, Katie picked up another chicken strip. “Thanks for coming to my aid with the gun.” She hoped Jules wouldn’t notice her avoidance to the prior question.

“I would’ve shot him in the head. I’m pretty good at hitting my target.”

“I know, and I would’ve moved in time to make sure you did if it came to that.” Thank God, it hadn’t. Katie’s relationship with Riker was tense enough. There was no need to make it any worse, especially now that she understood why he wouldn’t leave. She disliked how she was stuck with his frowny coldness guarding her and she doubted he would go even if she begged him. Her second priority after claiming her revenge would be proving she wasn’t the leader of some great war.