Seizing Darkness (Fur, Fangs, and Fairies) (24 page)

Chapter Twenty-five

Radek was upstairs sleeping. Madon and Carly were in the living room watching TV. I wasn’t feeling much like company, so I’d made some coffee and gone out to Madon’s wraparound porch, complete with porch swing. I was now lounging there, covered in blankets. The sun was setting; it was actually a nice day. Very cold, but the sun was out.

My phone rang. I glanced at it and didn’t recognize the number. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end in warning. I answered.

“Hello?” I was hoping it wasn’t going to be bad news.

“Good evening, my little kitten.” It was a voice that I would know anywhere: Andrei.

I sat straight up, spilling my coffee, but not paying much attention to it. “What do you want?” I growled out.

“Well I would like a great many things, and we will get to that at a later time. You’ve been very bad, my little kitten,” he said sternly.

“Oh I have? You’re the expert in that area, so you would know.”

“I am very disappointed with you.”

I could hear the anger in his voice. I wondered how I could use that against him.

“Get used to it,” I said, keeping a bored, even tone.

“You might want to hear me out.”

“Why is that?” I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to like hearing whatever it was.

“I have an offer for you, Kitten.”

I didn’t like how he said that, with a little too much cat-that-ate-the-canary tone.

“Oh really?” He had to be kidding. Like I would accept any offer he had.

“I have something that you may want.” He sounded way too smug for my liking.

“Would you care to elaborate?” I didn’t believe him for one second.

“Check your phone. I sent you a little present,” he giggled.

That scared me more than I wanted to admit. Vampires didn’t giggle like children. This was not good.

My phone beeped, telling me I had a picture message. I dreaded looking, but I did it anyway. Val’s still form filled my phone’s screen. I held back saying all the words that came to mind. I put the phone back to my ear.

“Is he alive?” I growled.

“For now. Here is the deal, little Kitten. You give yourself over to me, and I will leave your other friends alone. That wolf and his little mate, for starters.”

“What about Valdimir? Are you going to let him go? And Radek, Gregory and Dante?” I was trying to figure out how the hell he’d got a hold of Val.

“I will spare all but Valdimir.”

I knew that was probably as good as it was going to get. But what could I do? Radek was going to be pissed if I went, but I had to try and save Val.

“Why would I come if you aren’t going to let Valdimir go?” I was stalling for more time to think.

“If you do not, his torment will be drawn out for eternity.” He giggled again.

“Well at least I know where you stand. What do you want with me?” I knew
, but I had to ask anyway.

“You know what I want with you, my little Kitten. You must be punished for running away,” he said.

I’d figured it was going to be something along those lines. Was I willing to give it up for Radek and the rest of them? The answer was hell yes. They would do the same for me in an instant. Would he really lay off Val if I did this? I highly doubted it, but I really didn’t have a choice.

“So where would this lovely meeting take place?” I asked, wondering if Radek would forgive me for this. I didn’t think it was likely.

“You just get in a car and I’ll give you directions. I would advise not bringing anyone with you. Anyone I see will be killed on sight.”

I knew he meant it. Anyone I told would try to stop me anyway. I could leave a note at least, I thought. It wouldn’t say where I was going
, but it would let them know that Val was taken and so was I.

“Very well. I’ll leave here in five minutes and call you as soon as I’m in the car.” If Andrei didn’t kill me, I figured Radek would.

“Good. I look forward to seeing you again, Kitten.” He hung up.

Now I remembered why I hated being called that. It sent shivers down my spine. Now all I had to do was steal a car and get out of here undetected. That was not going to be easy. I didn’t even want to think about what Val was going to say.

I was counting on Radek and Dante coming to find us. I, like everyone else in the PIB, had a GPS implant. I wasn’t sure if Val had one, but if they kept us together that shouldn’t matter. It wasn’t common knowledge, so I was betting on it letting Radek know where we were. What else was I supposed to do? They would do the same thing in my position. If Andrei was telling the truth, then I’d just saved everyone but Val. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew that by my inaction I’d caused Val more pain.

I walked back into the kitchen and spotted Radek’s keys. One of the stops we’d made was getting his other car. I slipped them in my pocket. There was a notepad near the phone, where I quickly wrote a note saying that Val was taken and I was going to get him. It was vague
, but would be effective. I just hoped that no one found it until I was long gone.

Now for the hard part: starting the car and driving away before anyone missed me. I went out the back door and walked around the house. Luckily for me, the room that Radek was sleeping in was in the rear of the house. I was hoping that the TV would be loud enough that the other two wouldn’t hear the car.

It was now or never. I quickly got in the car and started the engine. I had that thing out of the driveway so fast I was sure that I hadn’t been noticed. I held my breath as I looked at my phone, expecting a call from either Madon or Radek. None came. I had gotten away clean.

I sighed; I wanted to get this over with. I redialed the number that had called me.

Andrei picked up. “That was rather quick. But you always were good at giving people the slip, now weren’t you?”

“Yes, I am rather good at that.” I had a really bad feeling about this. I didn’t know what else to do though. That’s when I had a thought. I could text Dante as soon as I was far enough away that he wouldn’t find me too fast. “So where is it that you want me to go?”

“Ah yes. Do you know where the old cemetery for Western State Asylum is located?”

“Really? A cemetery? You couldn’t come up with a place that is little less cliché than that?” I snorted.

“It does seem an appropriate place for this, don’t you think?”

That’s about when I knew I really was dealing with a mentally disturbed vampire. I had no idea what he was talking about. I decided to just agree with him. I was beginning to suspect that he was losing it. That can happen to some of us creatures that live for long periods of time. We sometimes lose our grip on reality. I was thinking that maybe Andrei was doing just that. That could be both very bad and very good. Now how did I get Dante the message? I needed Andrei off the phone so I could text without Andrei knowing.

“Sure. Now I have to concentrate on driving. I’ll see you when I arrive.”

“Remember what I told you, Natalya. If I see any of your friends, then they will all die.” He hung up.

I quickly texted Dante; I didn’t know what to say to Radek so I didn’t bother. I told him where I was going and not to come. Within seconds of sending it, my phone rang. Typical. It was Dante, so I answered.

“I know, I know, I know, Dante. This is stupid. But this may be the only way we can get close to him. He has Val. Oh one more thing; I think his mind is going,” I got out before he could say anything.

“What do you think you are doing Natalya?” He was livid. I had never heard him sound like that. It scared me just a little.

“I’m doing what I can for Val and the rest of you. If I go, he’ll stop doing whatever he is doing to Val and will leave the rest of you alone.” I was trying to convince him that I knew what I was doing. I didn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Interesting. What makes you think that he will keep his word?” he asked, still angry.

“I have no idea,” I told him honestly.

“So you are going alone to meet up with the vampire that wants you dead, knowing that he may be going crazy, and you expect me not to be upset? Radek is going to be furious. I know for a fact that Val would not want you to do this.”

“Oh, I expect you to be upset
, but I also expect you to see it from my side. You know you would do the same thing if you were in this situation. If there is even the slightest chance that by going I can save the rest of you and maybe stop them from torturing Val, I have to do it,” I pleaded for him to understand.

“I can see it from your perspective. That doesn’t mean I like it or agree with you,” he said.

My phone was buzzing, telling me I had another call. I glanced at it – it was Radek. I really didn’t want to talk to him right now. “I know Dante, but I need to try this. I’ve told you where I’m going. You can track me with my GPS implant. He did say that anyone that shows up will be killed. What if by sacrificing myself, I saved everyone a battle. I don’t think I could handle knowing that there might have been another way if we lost someone in another battle.”

“Natalya, I know how you feel, but you’re way too valuabl
e to do this. Please reconsider,” Dante was pleading.

“I can’t. You do what you have to, Dante, and I will do what I must. I’ve been responsible for far too many deaths,” I added softly.

“We all have, Natalya, we all have,” he said with great sorrow in his voice. “Please don’t make me have yours on my conscience as well.” 

“I can’t see any other way right now. He said that he will torture Val unless I come. I know he meant it. I can’t be responsible for that and you know it.”

“I know I can’t stop you,” Dante said. “There is someone else we can call to help. There is more that you need to know, Natalya.”

“Find us and come get us. I will do what I can from the inside to make it easier for you. If something happens to me, you know where I stored my things. Contact the people on the list. They will need to know. I’m going now, Dante,” I told him. Then I hung up.

My phone was ringing. I knew who it was. I still didn’t know what to say to Radek, but I did need to tell him something. What if I never got to talk to him again? This time I answered.

“Sorry. I was on the phone with Dante.”

“What the hell are you doing, Natalya? And why did you steal my car? And what is this that Andrei has my father and you are going to go get him?” He was livid and breathing hard.

“I’m going to meet with Andrei.” I might as well not beat around the bush.

“You are doing what?” His voice got lower in his anger.

I spoke slowly so he would understand. “I am going to meet with Andrei. I just had this argument with Dante and don’t feel up to it with you too. Come and find us.”

“I heard what you said. I just can’t believe that you could be so stupid.”

I could actually hear his teeth grinding together.
“If you don’t calm down I’m going to hang up on you.”

“Where are you meeting him? I want to be there.” His voice was lethal.
 

“No, you are not expendable.” My tears were near the surface. I needed to get off the phone before I started crying.

“Like you are?” I could hear the pain in his voice this time. It broke my heart. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I didn’t want him dead either.

“I’m here and I need to get off the phone. Come and save us
, Dek.” I hung up the phone. I gave it one last glance and turned it off.

I parked down the street at a grocery store and walked the rest of the way. I walked through the night into the park. The smell of the ashy, rotten stench of the two vampires hit me before I could see them. The first one I would know anywhere, Andrei. The other, there was something familiar about his scent
, but I couldn’t place it. I didn’t have long to wait though.

When I saw who it was
, I stopped dead in my tracks. What the… I couldn’t even complete the thought. I had killed him, felt the blade slide across his throat. His blood was on my hands and soul. I thought I must have been mistaken. I had hoped so – until he spoke. My heart stopped. I didn’t know if it would start again.

“Hello
, Natalya. It’s lovely to see you after all these years,” Isaac said.

Every hair on the back of my neck was standing on end. How had Andrei brought him back – and why? I was in shock, to say the least. And by that sneer on his face, I could tell he didn’t like me.

“I’m glad to see that you have followed my directions, Kitten,” Andrei was saying, but it barely registered. “Are you listening to me, Natalya?”

“No, I’m not. I’m trying to figure out why I’m seeing a vampire instead of a ghost,” I said, finally coming to my senses.

Andrei laughed. It grated on my nerves and sent shivers down my spine.

“That’s quite a story. I knew that at some point you would defy me. You gave me the perfect tool to use against you. The one person you wouldn’t kill unless forced to. When Viktor came and told me how he had found you two, I knew I had the perfect person. You chose the person, so the fault is yours. I felt how hard you fought me that day. I knew it would only be a matter of time before you broke my hold on you. This was my insurance plan, as it were.” He laughed.