Sunrise at Sunset (24 page)

She shook her head with frustration as she exited the freeway near her estate. Fortunately, there was a fast food restaurant nearby, and she quickly pulled up to the drive-thru speaker. Turning to stare at him with only a slightly exasperated expression, she gestured silently but sharply with a pointed finger towards the menu sign.

He leaned across her lap to stare at the sign for mere moments before she growled, “Faster, please.”

“Double cheeseburger, large fries, and Coke?” he asked tentatively with an upraised eyebrow.

She winced at his horribly unhealthy selection, but he merely shrugged in response. She used her hand to press him back to his side of the car and relayed the order to the disembodied voice at the other end of the speaker. She ordered a Coke for herself as well. After paying and handing the food off to him, she revved the engine and swiftly proceeded down the road to her estate as “Angry Johnny,” by Poe, played on the stereo.

Katrina activated the driveway gate before reaching the actual entrance, and she sped up to the garage as Caleb shut his eyes tightly. The door no sooner opened just enough for the car to clear before the vehicle screeched to a halt inside as the door closed behind them. Caleb opened one eye as he heard the driver’s side door open. A split second later, his door opened and he handed Katrina’s Coke to her. He followed with his own drink and bag of food.

“Inside the house, please,” she ushered while leading the way into the sprawling house and deactivating the alarm system.

He entered the large kitchen and laid his food on the nearby counter. He turned to go back out to the car for his luggage when Katrina reappeared carrying all of his items. She sped past him and disappeared somewhere into the house.

He began to make his way through the kitchen to follow her when he heard her shout from somewhere in the house, “Eat your burger!”

Caleb sighed, shrugged out of his sport jacket, and sat down at the counter to eat. His hands didn’t manage to stop shaking for some time, and his mind was reeling from everything. Worst of all, he had never seen Katrina so angry and upset before. And despite the fact she was very protective of him, her behavior still unnerved him.

Chapter 7

Trapped in a House

C
aleb finished eating in silence while Katrina leaned against the kitchen counter, watching him with a blank expression, as if she were a million miles away. Each felt the quiet oppressively building between them. After throwing his food wrappers in the trash, he puzzled over what to do next. He suddenly felt spent as his earlier adrenaline high faded, and he barely stifled a yawn.

“You’re exhausted,” she observed in a detached fashion.

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling the taut muscles through her blouse as he hugged her. He inclined his head to press his warm lips to her neck, noting her skin felt rock solid as well.

“Thanks for being there for me,” he offered genuinely. “Once again.”

Katrina deeply breathed in his body’s scent, letting the air escape in one long sigh. He smelled tempting to the part of her nature that craved his blood, but she pushed the thought away and returned his embrace in earnest. It was then Caleb felt her body relax somewhat in his arms.

“Tired?” he asked sleepily. It seemed impossible to him that he could feel remotely sleepy after all that had happened. However, he anticipated part of the reason was that he finally felt safe at Katrina’s estate with her.

“No, I’m not tired,” she replied absently.

“How is that even possible?” he marveled out loud.

“Strong stamina,” she commented distractedly. Her thoughts were focused on Alondra Vargas. The woman was a very old and dangerous vampire and had her sights on Caleb. The notion was entirely unbearable for her.
Just as she must have targeted those other vampires, and their mates
, she mused ominously.

It was obvious to Caleb that he had lost her full attention. He realized she’d surrendered herself once again to more pressing thoughts.

“Sometimes I don’t sleep for days,” she added with a distant look in her eyes.
Particularly when I’m worried.

She gently disengaged from his embrace and moved down the short hallway near the kitchen to lock the door leading into the garage. Next, she walked to the security keypad near the kitchen door and entered what seemed like a fifty-digit code. Caleb heard a series of motorized whirring sounds and noticed heavy metal panels sliding downwards from out of the framing of the house on the outside of each of the windows.

“What the --” he muttered in amazement.

“Security panels,” she replied. “They’ll help keep intruders out. Or at least, give me more time to prepare for them. It keeps sunlight out, too, allows me to roam the house freely in daytime.”

“Yeah, do you think?” he retorted at the pronounced understatement. Not only was everyone else held at bay outside, he was shut away inside, locked in a giant, oversized box.
A very regal, comfortable box nonetheless
, he reflected.

She stared at him in an expressionless, penetrating manner. He noticed her gaze and silently stared back. She seemed to come to a decision, and her eyes sparkled with renewed life. She reached out to take his right hand in her own, beckoning him to sit on a nearby kitchen counter stool. Once seated, she stood before him and tried to offer a supportive smile.

“Caleb,” she began tentatively. “I realize everything that’s happened this evening has occurred very quickly for you. This must be very unsettling. It must seem as though I’ve turned into a crazy woman and whisked all control from you suddenly.”

He responded with a half-smile, but nodded his agreement. She seemed suddenly very assertive and insistent that evening, which was somewhat unnerving.

“I don’t have the right to proceed any further until I ask you something,” she said. “Do you trust me?”

He silently considered that for a moment and squeezed her hand in his. “Yes, I do,” he offered sincerely.

“I’m glad. All I’ve done so far has simply been to try and protect you, but the final choice has to be yours. Do you approve of my trying to protect you from the dangers Alondra Vargas presents to you?” she asked pointedly. She hoped with all her heart he would say yes.

He considered that at length. It wasn’t as if he had any experience with the sort of threats presented by a vampire. Other than hole up in his apartment, he lacked any plan of what to do next. But his apartment didn’t seem like the safest place in the world anymore, either. However, he didn’t know what to expect from Katrina, who seemed to have become awfully quiet, dark, and dangerous the past couple of hours, almost like another person.

Finally, he ventured, “Am I going to be a prisoner here?”

She smiled thoughtfully at his question, and brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm reverently.
He looks so innocent, just like the eight-year-old boy from so many years ago.

“No, love,” she reassured him. “You’re not my prisoner. I merely need to be the guide for your activities for a time until we’re able to stop Vargas. But you may have to show some patience with me and be prepared to relinquish some control in your life for a time. Rest assured, I have your best interests at heart and would never do anything deliberately to harm you. I’ve had a lot of experience with combat, including against vampires, so I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to protect you against a host of potential threats.”

“I have to stay here for a time?” he probed. He didn’t like the idea of being shut away from the world, if even for sound reasons.

Katrina features turned serious. “Honestly? Probably, at least until I formulate a plan of action and take steps to eliminate threats to you.”

He sighed. “And this would begin when?”

“Well, the moment you give me your approval,” she explained. “The sooner the better, unfortunately.”

He nodded and pondered.

A pang of worry ran through her as she wondered if he were preparing to decline her offer. The thought of relinquishing him to the outside world unprotected broke her heart; his chances of survival would plummet soon afterwards. He already meant so much to her, and she only wanted the opportunity to try to help him.

He stared into her green eyes and glanced down at her soft hands. They appeared so gentle, and yet he recalled how they became the hands of a killer back at the apartment, albeit to defend him.
But then, isn’t that what vampires are good at: killing?

As the silence grew, she repeated, “Caleb, will you let me try to protect you?”

He never broke his stare with her. “Okay.”

Katrina raised her eyebrows curiously. “Okay?”

“Please protect me, Kat,” he requested. “If you think that’s possible.”

She smiled and felt a heaviness lift that she hadn’t fully realized was hanging over her. She would do her best to help him, even if it meant her own death.

“Please, trust me and try to be patient,” she implored. “I know it’s a lot to ask under the circumstances.”

He nodded and smiled as she craned her neck down slightly and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“We begin,” she said. “Why don’t you take a shower and try to get some rest?” she suggested.
I’ll try my best for you
, she resolved. Her thoughts returned to the actions that she needed to take in the immediate future. She had the feeling it was going to take most of the night just to put together a preliminary plan of action. Alondra Vargas had caught her completely by surprise.

He nodded and turned to leave the kitchen, but realized he wasn’t sure what part of the house he was expected to go to. He looked at her with a questioning expression, causing her to break from her self-imposed reverie.

“Oh, sorry,” she replied to his unspoken question. “Your things are downstairs in my room, and I didn’t cipher lock the door, so you can just walk right in.”

He was happy that she still wanted him to sleep with her. She seemed so distant, and it unnerved him almost as much as Alondra had.

“And I can get out also?” he asked gently, not wanting to sound ungrateful for her efforts to protect him.

“You have unfettered access to anywhere inside the house,” she replied matter-of-factly.

He nodded, noting “inside the house” with a nod. He hesitated, not sure if he should say more after all that happened.

She raised an eyebrow in silent query.

“I know I’m sort of a shut-in now,” he began carefully. “And I realize that you have a lot on your mind, Kat. But I hope you won’t shut me out. Okay?”

Katrina nodded slowly before he turned to leave the room. She watched him depart and sat quietly on a stool at the kitchen island counter in the middle of the room. She remained statue-still, thinking about what had happened, analyzing all the variables and processing how she should proceed. Even from where she sat, she could hear his subtle movements deeper in the house. Under different circumstances it might have filled her with happiness, but was instead tempered with concern for his continued safety.

Caleb finished his shower, pulled on some dark sweatpants, and brushed his teeth while reflecting on all that happened that day. His memories quickly returned to the moment when the elevator doors at his apartment building had opened to reveal Harry Maddox standing there with a handgun. It sent a shiver up his spine.

He marveled at how fast Katrina had reacted. She’d been a blur of movement that seemed impossible for any being. He was suddenly very relieved that she was so quick to respond, or he wouldn’t be alive.

He turned to leave the bathroom and walked right into Katrina. Her hands immediately grasped his upper arms and stabilized him as he lurched with surprise.

“Jesus, you startled me!” he exclaimed as his heart raced.

“Sorry,” she muttered while gazing into his eyes with concern. “How are you doing?”

He was instantly encouraged that she seemed much more like the Katrina he knew and loved, rather than the angry, distracted Katrina from earlier that evening. “Better, thanks to you,” he mumbled as he inclined his head to kiss her lips.

She gently kissed him back and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing and pinning his arms to his side. With a sudden exhilarating whirl, he found himself lying on his back on the bed with her next to him.

He kissed her passionately, thankful to have her so close to him and wanting to impart some form of thanks for saving his life. His right hand crept up to massage the back of her scalp gently.

She enjoyed his affections, equally relived that he was alive and well, but concerned for the coming days. The process of formulating a plan of action involved the two beings other than Caleb who she could trust the most. There were genuine logistical issues to confront, as well as a proper plan for securing him in the safest manner possible.

He sensed her distracted mindset, noting her lips stiffened as he kissed her. He stopped kissing her and removed his hand from behind her head to let his arm drop onto the bed beside him. Her eyes darted to his, and she frowned slightly.

“You left me again,” he commented wryly.

“Sorry,” she muttered. She stretched alongside his body while perching on her left arm to look down onto his face. “Tell to me again about Alondra Vargas,” she probed gently. “Both the interview and the dinner.”

He sighed and related all that had happened or was discussed. She prompted him occasionally, asking for clarifications, but mostly listened intently as she stared into his eyes, almost as if studying him.

“I didn’t break any rules,” he said finally. “But you were very angry, and I couldn’t figure out what I did wrong.”

She frowned and whispered, “I know. You didn’t do anything wrong, my love.” She took a moment to kiss him affectionately, not wanting him thinking that the situation was his fault. They were both being targeted by a lunatic.

“At the restaurant when you were on the phone with me,” Katrina recalled, “it was Alondra’s voice in the background I recognized. But I knew I had to guard what I said to you because, as a vampire, she could hear my conversation with you just as easily as I heard hers. I couldn’t say anything directly that might have tipped her off, or who knows what she might have done in desperation. I tried to hint to you that I’d be upset when I saw you next, but you thought I was angry with you. I’m sorry about that.”

He smiled supportively. “I understand that now. Thanks.”

She was inwardly pleased that he was so forgiving. It was another aspect of his kind nature that she loved so much.
“So, just who is this woman?” he insisted.

Katrina sighed and stared across the room with a distant expression. “The woman who calls herself Alondra Vargas is actually known to my kind as Chimalma. It’s Aztec and means ‘shield-bearer.’”

“Aztecs?” he muttered with recognition. His Central American history text described the Aztecs as a warrior people who controlled the area around Mexico until the early 1500s, when the Spanish under the leadership of Hernán Cortés conquered them during explorations of the New World.