ShadowsofNight (16 page)

Emma’s eyes fluttered open to a glowing sphere in the
heavens that contrasted the black skies. The blue hue surrounding it was
hauntingly beautiful.

A loud noise startled her and she sat up.

Where am I?

She looked around and took in the dark-shingled roof. Her
white jammies were twisted around her body and her feet were bare.

How did I get here?

Emma rubbed her eyelids and blinked a few times, trying to
decide if this was real. She stood, feeling stiff, and noticed her slender,
almost boyish frame beneath her nightgown. Gone were her feminine curves. She
scratched her head, unable to make all the pieces fit. She glanced at her
mother’s window—and her breath froze.

A shadow passed by, silhouetted against the sheer curtains by
the warm light.

Mom…

Emma crept to the window, which was cracked open slightly,
and cautiously peered between the sheer curtains. Victorian wallpaper with tiny
blue rose petals covered the walls. She gasped at the sight of Anna Lisa
standing in her bedroom dressed in a white robe, face freshly washed, hair
pulled back in a ponytail. She crossed over to the bed and sat, grabbing a
bottle of lotion off the nightstand. Emma listened to her mother hum while applying
lotion to her legs, oblivious to her daughter’s presence.

An ominous shudder reverberated down Emma’s spine as a large
male, six-five at least and heavily muscled, entered the room.

It’s happening again. No. Please, no.

Icy fear twisted around her heart and panic constricted her
throat, preventing her from screaming. Emma couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. The
same paralyzing fear held her frozen in place. All she could do was watch it
play out, just like before.

He was taller than she remembered and his hair hung loose to
his jawline. Dark eyes in a handsome, square face gazed at her mother with
contempt. There was no kindness in those eyes as his brows drew together in an
angry frown.

Her mother gasped, scooting backward on the bed to get away
from him. “Dorian—how did you find me?”

“What, Anna Lisa? Did you really think I
wouldn’t
find you? Vladimir should have protected you better. Now—where is she? I intend
to collect what I’ve come for.”

“She’s not here.” Anna Lisa’s voice was filled with dread.

“Where did she go?” Dorian asked dryly.

“She’s just a child. Can’t you leave her in peace?” her
mother pleaded.

Dorian crossed the room with quick strides, grabbed Anna
Lisa by the throat and lifted her off the bed. “I’ve no more time for your
games. Tell me where she is,” he growled, dropping her to the floor.

“Please!” She coughed, gasping for air.

His eyes met hers disparagingly. “Your deceit reeks like a
rotting corpse.”

“Why can you just leave us alone!”

“Not until I get what I’ve come for. She’s going to bear my
sons and the strength of my coven will be unmatched.”

“Emma’s sterile, just like her stepsister. She can’t be used
for that purpose.”

“I’ll see for myself. She belongs to me now.”

“
Never
.”

A shadow of anger swept across his face. He seized her by
the scruff of her robe, pushed her chin back and bit viciously into her throat.
Blood ran down her skin, staining the white robe.

Anna Lisa fought his hold, but she was no match. Her body
went limp and crumpled against him. Emma covered her eyes with her hands.

The sound of her stepfather’s terrifying screams were heard
next as he entered the room and encountered the vampire who had just killed his
wife.

“Please, no more,” Emma heard herself whisper in a young
girl’s voice as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Come to me, my love. It’s okay…”

The sound of Christian’s voice startled her and she looked
up to watch in horror as Dorian drove a stake through his heart and turned him
to ash.

“No!” Emma’s eyes popped open and she let out a gasp. Her
heart was racing and fear rode up her spine.

Crap, it was a dream.

Relief flooded her. Christian lay next to her. She wiped the
tears from her eyes and lightly caressed his cheek with the back of her hand as
she watched him sleep.

Her heart ached over the choice she was about to make.
Hurting him was going to be difficult. But it was the only way to completely
guarantee he would be safe.

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
I can’t risk
your life.
He was breathing deeply, still fast asleep. If she was going to
do this, it was now or never. She slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and
got dressed. Then went over to the nightstand, found a pad and pen in one of
the drawers and wrote him a note. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy and she prayed he
wouldn’t hate her, but this was her ax to grind, not his. She wouldn’t risk his
life for her own.

Emma glanced over her shoulder at Christian one last time
before turning away. Pain sliced through her suddenly at the thought of leaving
him. But then the memory of him being turned to ash sealed her decision. She
had to do this without him.

Please forgive me…

Emma closed her eyes and thought of her safe house on the
Network compound. There was a small chance of being seen, but she had weapons
stored there. It was easier than wasting time searching for stuff here.

When she opened her eyes, she stumbled forward, knocking
into the nightstand.

Shit, it really worked! I thought I was going to have to
come up with a different plan.
Everything appeared as she’d left it before
starting her assignment, with the exception of a few cobwebs and some dust. She
walked over to the closet, slid open the door and grabbed her Network laptop
off the shelf. She laid the computer on her desk and did a search for Dorian Dracus.
She figured he’d probably had to change aliases every forty to fifty years to
stay under the radar, especially now with the advances in technology.

She found a Dorian Dracus in Santorini who owned an
exclusive winery, which had been in the family for many
generations—conveniently passed down to a series of sons named Dorian—and
boasted some of the finest wines in Greece.

Perfect cover…it’s got to be him.

She’d been to Santorini on assignment before. She quickly
changed into her own clothes, stuffed several small blades into her pockets, closed
her eyes and disappeared.

Emma materialized in the quaint little town surrounded by
high cliffs, overlooking a cobalt sea. Neoclassical buildings lined the streets
and were well-preserved between the more modern ones. She took a deep breath,
allowing the cool morning air to steady her nerves. Her emotions were raw after
witnessing that dream and leaving Christian behind. But there was no time to
reflect. It was time to act.

Dorian’s villa was surrounded by high walls made of
sandstone and the entrance to the property was gated with steel. Security
cameras were also mounted along the perimeter. Emma closed her eyes and tried
to trace inside the compound, but found she couldn’t.

Guess I’m going to have to do it the old-fashion way.
Emma walked up to the steel gates and pressed the intercom on a panel next to them.

“May I help you?” A voice came over the speaker.

“Yes, I’m here to see Dorian Dracus, please.”

“Do you have an appointment, miss?”

“No, I just got into town and decided to stop by and say
hi.” She smiled at the camera.

“I’m sorry, but without an appointment he’s not available.”

Guess not…
“Fine. Just let him know Anna Lisa’s
daughter stopped by to say hello, will you?
Ciao
.” Perhaps it wasn’t the
right Dorian Dracus after all. She knew an internet search was a long shot.

Emma had turned to leave when the gates suddenly opened.

“Come in, Miss Hayes, Mr. Dracus will see you now.”

“Thanks.” She looked up at the security camera as she entered
the premises.

Several guards patrolled the beautifully manicured grounds
and a thin gentleman dressed in black met her just inside the gates. With short
dark hair and wire-rimmed glasses, he looked maybe thirty-five, if she had to
take a guess, and he was human.

“Do you have any weapons on you, Miss Hayes?” he questioned.
His expression was severe and not particularly friendly.

“You know I do.” She placed her hands on her hips.

“Then I must ask you to remove your weapons and hand them
over to the male standing on your left.” He pointed to a large, beefy fellow
with mean-looking eyes.

“Whatever you say.” She shrugged, handing the big guy her
knives.

But keeping the small hidden stake that she planned to use
on Dorian.

“My name is Antonius. I’m Mr. Dracus’ personal assistant.
Follow me, Miss Hayes.”

They traveled up the paved driveway toward the main house.
When they entered the mansion, she noticed it was dimly lit and the windows
were covered with heavy curtains. Each room she passed was richly decorated
with dark woods, crown molding along the ceilings and elegant furniture pieces.
There were also more guards patrolling the inside of the residence. None of
them paid her much attention as she walked past. Like Antonius, these men
smelled human. Clearly Dorian used them to guard his compound during daylight
hours.

Antonius continued down a long, narrow hall before turning
into a small foyer with a set of double doors.

“Dorian is through there, Miss Hayes.”

“Thanks.” She walked past him and stealthily slipped the
stake from her waistband and into her pocket before entering the room.

Dorian was seated at a large mahogany desk. Behind him was a
massive bay window with nothing covering the glass.

How strange.
She was surprised the sunlight wasn’t
affecting him.

“It’s coated with a reflective film that filters out the UV
rays.” He beckoned her forward with his hand.

Shit, can he guess what I’m thinking? Stay alert.
“Good to know.” She slowly walked toward him.

“Yes, for me it is. However, the sun has no effect on
you
.”
He regarded her shrewdly.

“True.” She paused a few feet away from the desk.

Dorian’s hands were folded on the mahogany surface and he
was dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt that was open at the collar. Dark
eyes followed her every movement.

Emma did a quick survey, checking for items that could be
used as additional weapons if a fight ensued. Instincts warned her to run. But
all she needed was one shot at him. Her hand slid around the stake she’d hidden
in her pocket.

Keep your cool. You can do this. Breathe…

She stopped a few feet away from his desk.

“Well, well…Ms. Hayes. I’m surprised you’d come to me of
your own accord, as I have no doubt you’re aware of who I am.” His tone was
pleasant and his gaze steady.

“I was told you’re responsible for my parents’ deaths.” She
gripped the stake tightly in her pocket and tried to remain calm.

“I’m sure that’s what the Order wants you to believe. But it
wasn’t
me
who killed them.” He rose to his feet.

Of course not.
“If you didn’t do it, then who did?”
She raised an eyebrow.

“Your real father is the one responsible for her death. I
was merely the tool of her destruction.”

“M-my real father…how so?”

“He shouldn’t have let her take you.” He shrugged.

This had to be lies to get her to let her guard down. “She
was trying to protect me.”

“Your mother was too naïve to understand how important you
are to our race. But your father and I knew. Tell me, how is Christian Voss?” he
asked, abruptly changing the subject. His nostrils flared and he frowned.

“Christian’s gone his way and I’ve gone mine.”

“A male like Christian wouldn’t let you go.” A taint of
sarcasm laced his words.

“I didn’t give him a choice in the matter.”

“Really?” He laughed.

“This isn’t about Christian—”

“Indeed. You’ve come seeking revenge. Well, my beauty, I
know you’re a skilled fighter, but you won’t succeed against the likes of me.” He
walked slowly around the desk.

Keep your cool, don’t move. Let him come…
“Initially
that was the plan. But now it appears I have the wrong target.”

“Have you changed your mind about killing me?”

“Maybe.”
Just a little closer.

“You’ve gone through your transition recently, haven’t you?”

“I have.” She tried to remain calm, even though the urge to
flee his presence was growing stronger. Everything told her to run but she held
her ground.

“Did Mr. Voss help you with that?” His tone grew low,
vicious. She braced herself, ready to strike.

“That’s none of your business.”

“That won’t stop me from killing your lover—and making you
watch. You were foolish to come here if you thought you could take me out on
your own. But revenge is a powerful motivator, and it appears to have worked to
my advantage.”

“It was a risk I was willing to take.” Emma shot forward and
nailed him in the chest with the stake.

The force of her newfound strength sent him sailing back
over the desk, though he quickly recovered and lunged at her with amazing
speed. Blood was pouring from the wound but it didn’t kill him. She’d missed
his heart.

“You bitch!” he roared.

Emma tried to trace and realized she couldn’t. She threw a
kick as he came at her again and struck him in the throat. He staggered back.
Her only chance was to hit the window and make a run for it.

Without hesitation, she propelled herself over the desk and
crashed headfirst through the glass, landing on the lawn just outside his
office. She took off running.

He can’t follow. It’s daylight. If I can just get outside
the—