Undying Hope (2 page)

Bastian hunched over as they slipped down the hall and out the door where ambulances brought people in. They ran around the side of the building and waited while Bastian put his coat on. When no one followed them after five minutes, Haven let out a breath.

The snow was falling again.

Bastian put a hand to his stomach. “Can we get something to eat?”

Haven gave him a look, because it seemed all the boy ever did was eat. Bastian ate more than four grown men could eat together, but he didn’t seem to gain any weight. She moved in closer to Bastian as frigid winds picked up. The air was ugly cold, even for February. Bastian could go without a coat if she’d let him. She opened her purse. There was just enough money inside that they could stop at a diner on the way back to the shoddy motel they were staying in. “But only one meal, okay?”

Bastian hugged her tight. “Sounds good. What did the doctor say?”

She wrinkled her nose as they headed for the main road that led them to a string of buildings with various stages of failing businesses. “Testing.”

“What harm could it do?” He hooked his arm around her, helping to ward off the cold seeping into her bones.

“They could find out you’re not human,” she whispered. “I have an interview at Fantasia tomorrow. I’ll get the job and—”

“What reason would
he
have to help us,” Bastian said with a growl.

“Because he just has to,” she said, knowing the answer wasn’t good, but she didn’t have another one. Running from one thing to the next and eluding creatures who seemed to be able to pick up her scent like a bloodhound wasn’t getting easier. “That woman said he would help if we offered him payment.”

“And what if his expected payment is baby’s blood?” Bastian pressed as they turned onto the sidewalk on the main drag.

“Nothing eats baby’s blood.” She shuddered with the heebie-jeebies. “That’s just wrong.”

“I get stronger every day,” Bastian said with confidence. “Soon I’ll be able to protect you from Mason.”

Haven hugged him tight but didn’t say anything. Bastian’s power was like a cup of water to Lake Michigan when compared to Mason. She encouraged Bastian’s protective side to keep him from walking down a darker path. She didn’t have the knowledge to teach Bastian how to control the power. The Black Rose was closer to finding them. If every grand and pompous claim Grandfather had made about the new creatures was true, she could not figure out why he wanted Mason to lead. There was a streak of evil in him wide enough to make the devil run for cover.

“There,” she said when they got closer to the diner. “We’ll get dinner and then get back to the motel.”

“Right,” he said. “And Haven?”

She looked up at him. “Yeah?”

His jaw went tight as he turned his gaze from her. “I’m sorry I got kicked out of school again. I know how important getting an education is to you.”

She patted his chest. “It’s all right. Your school didn’t like our lack of permanent address anyway. We’ll find a better one.”

He linked his arm with hers and walked toward the diner entrance. “Let’s get you out of the cold. I don’t want you turning into an ice cube.”

She followed him inside, sending a silent prayer skyward that Quinn Donovan would be able to help Bastian. He was her last hope.

* * * *

“You know, we’ve been in this time for fifty years. You’d think you’d have figured out how to get control of the Black Rose already.”

Quinn Donovan gave Nikon a sharp look. It had taken him half a century to get into a position to take back the Black Rose. He didn’t want to hurt humans in the process. His people had also needed to gain the knowledge to survive this time without drawing attention from the public. “Shut up. I didn’t ask you anything.”

The wolf shrugged and then spoke directly into his mind again,
“You seem to be getting comfortable in this time, and I wanted to remind you of your task.”

“I know my responsibilities. You don’t have to remind me of anything.”

The large black wolf and his mate, a smaller white wolf, followed Donovan through pulsing sound that vibrated through the nightclub he’d owned for the last forty years. The wild animals didn’t faze the patrons or employees. The wolves were expected and half of the draw in coming to one of Donovan’s establishments. They wanted to see if they could catch a glimpse of both man and beasts. The clubs provided him the money he’d needed to start investing in property in and around Chicago. He’d managed to work himself into being a respected billionaire. Money wasn’t something he cared about, but in this strange time and place, it was the only common language. Wealth helped to cover up a hell of a lot of trouble.

Once again, he’d be able to regain control over the Black Rose, an organization he began over two thousand years prior to build a bridge between his people and the humans. When the Book of Avalon had been stolen, the Undying had lost their purpose during the missing centuries from Earth’s timeline. They’d landed in a time where humans were making great technological advances. Humans, for all their faults and frailties, always made progress, though most civilizations seemed to have taken a big hit about the time Donovan had lost the book to Kyros.

He shook his head as he walked into his office. He settled his warrior’s frame into a soft, black leather executive chair and watched the security system monitors. Nikon curled up on a soft rug in front of a large sofa while Medea snuggled in next to him with her head tucked under Nikon’s chin. Nikon had bonded to Donovan at birth as a lifelong companion. Medea was a recent addition. Her charge had perished when the whole of the Undying Nation had suddenly and irrevocably been moved from somewhere around 100 BC to the middle of the twentieth century. She’d taken a liking to Nikon and never left. Their breed was not of this world but of Ashina, Wolf World, and they had been given by Laila to his clan of people to aid them with their fight against darkness.

Donovan had to admit, he liked this time more than his own, but he shuddered when he thought of how old he could be. If he’d already lived over two millennia before he lost the book, and another two had passed since then, he could be old indeed. He shook his head and decided not to think about his true age. He was already weary of his task, but he couldn’t give up. His people needed him and so did humans. They were depending on him to fix the mistake.

If losing the book could be fixed.

“You’re spinning your thoughts again. Just accept that you’re older than dirt, and get over yourself.”
The cadence of Medea’s voice was sensual sweet and never a burden when she suddenly came into his mind, even when she was purposefully being annoying.

Donovan had just shot a glare over his shoulder at the white wolf when the door burst open.

“Sir,” a wobbly voice said, and Donovan cringed. He hated the lack of manhood these male humans had.

He bared teeth at Medea before he turned to his employee. “Can I help you?”

The man’s brown eyes went wide, and he backed up a pace. “You said to notify you at once if anything happened in the alley. I was just coming back from my break when I heard a scream.”

Donovan didn’t bother to stop the low growl that rumbled from his massive chest. His eyes flicked to the screen, but even in this world of technology, there were still threats better picked up by ancient methods. He closed his eyes for a moment to let his vast power stretch out, scanning the area outside the club. The fading presence of life was faint. “Call an ambulance,” he commanded before he took off through the club, Nikon following closely behind him. Medea would not follow, not while she carried a litter of Ashina wolves. He couldn’t hide his now glowing eyes as he stepped out into the chilled air and sniffed. Kyros had been there. The cold stain of an evil presence lingered along with the foul stench. Shadows cloaked him as he walked down the dim alley. He didn’t like knowing this was where his employees came on their breaks. He’d have to change the conditions of their outside area. They depended on him for their safety.

Everyone did.

He let out a slow, guarded breath. Perhaps he could kill Kyros, let his brothers find the book, and regain the Black Rose.

He’d lived too long, seen too much. Others could take over and make sure what needed to be done was done. The loss of the book wasn’t only his folly, but he knew deep in his soul only he could end Kyros, if any of them could.

His brother, Wolf, could take command of the Black Rose once Donovan controlled it again, and then he’d go on his last hunt. Too many innocent lives were lost to Kyros’s obsession with his attempts to create a scenario where Donovan would turn to evil. Donovan would kill Kyros, or die trying. Kyros had the mastery of illusion matched by none, and was the reason he was so damn difficult to track. Then Donovan would simply let himself rest. His body and soul so greatly needed an eternal sleep. His time drew to a close.

He reached the alley’s dead end. A woman had been horribly mutilated and was stuffed into a garbage bag filled with her own blood. Donovan didn’t react. He never reacted. If he did, he’d lose more of his soul than he already had. There wasn’t anything that could be done for her other than put her out of the misery Kyros had inflicted on her. For a moment, he considered calling Riordan, his other brother and a healer, but discarded the thought as blood pooled at his feet. She’d lost too much.

He closed his eyes and filled her mind with warmth and feelings of safety. There was no reason to make her fear impending death. His hand trembled for a moment before he placed it on her. A whisper of words commanded her mind into one last sleep. Donovan sat down next to the dying woman as the whir of sirens broke silence in the distance. His presence would be the last she felt in this realm. When she was gone, he lightly stroked a war-calloused hand down her bloody bottle-blond hair, his head bowed in a silent prayer to whatever god she was going home to.

She’d been alone in the world, a streetwalker trying to make enough money to live. No one would mourn her death, no one would even notice she was gone but him, but he’d keep her close to his heart. She deserved it—all life did.

When the ambulance and police arrived, he was sitting next to the body with his hand shaking as he stroked her hair again, knowing this was the only kind gesture she’d gotten from anyone—even from before her death. He was mute as they collected her body and processed evidence in the alley and on him. He slowly stood up as detectives asked him questions. He didn’t bother to wash off the blood before he led them through the club and to his security room. As expected, there was nothing on the videos but a blur of light and horrible screaming from the woman as she was tortured. Detectives started to leave one by one. One whispered to another, “Another burial for the city to pay for.”

Donovan’s jaw twitched. He knew the girl’s name. He knew everything about her from the brief moment his mind had touched hers. “I will pay for her.” Then he rose up from his chair, cowering all the men left in the room, and directed them out with one look. The wolves circled around him and pressed up against his legs as he grieved for a woman society had thrown away. Donovan remained standing with his head bowed. When he finished remembering the woman no one else would, he’d go on what he hoped to be his last hunt.

Snow kept piling up out there. Vinnie, who’d introduced himself as the owner when Haven and Bastian came into the diner, was the only one left. He had offered to let Haven and Bastian stay and keep soaking in the heat while they lingered over coffee and hot chocolate before having to make the mad dash to the motel a few blocks down the road.

“What about cyber school?” Haven asked as she stirred her coffee for the eighteenth time. “You can’t get into fights there, and the school can move around with us.”

“What about a job?” he countered. “I can pass myself off as an eighteen-year-old.”

“But you’re not,” she said. “All we have to do is get that Donovan guy to help you, and you’ll be glad for an education.” She tapped the side of his mug. “Drink up. We need to get out of here. I have to be up early tomorrow to get ready for my interview.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bastian said.

He would be an easy kid if he didn’t have his special issues.

The door chime sounded.

Both she and Bastian glanced toward the door when what appeared to be the devil come to life entered the diner. Blood red, glowing eyes assessed everything. A giant of a man with cropped, black-as-sin hair strolled through the diner, heading for Haven. His eyes roamed down her slight form. “My name is Kyros. I will be murdering you tonight.” He gave an eloquent bow. With what seemed like a giant leap, he was across the room, his iron fist clamped around her wrist. “I think you’ll do just fine for my purpose.” His arm extended and slammed into Bastian’s chest, sending him sprawling across the diner. Bastian’s head bounced off the corner of a booth before his body slumped to the floor. Kyros leaned down and took a prolonged inhale of her scent, right at her throat. “Yes, you’ll do just fine. Ever been used as bait, sweetheart?”

Haven twisted and yanked with desperation to get away from this mad man. “Please, let us go.”

His laugh was a gnarled sound of menace. “Do whatever you wish. You’re going to die in agony, anyway.”

Haven closed her eyes. “
Help.”
She didn’t even dare whisper the words, but she projected the word out. While she knew humans couldn’t hear her, she hoped someone with enough power to take down this madman would. She tried to smile for him again, hoping she could keep fear out of her eyes and voice. “Would you like a cup of coffee? I am sure Vinnie wouldn’t mind.”

He yanked her hard against his muscular body, her breasts mashing against his chest. It was all she could do to keep from gagging when his mouth fastened over hers. “You’re going to do everything I tell you, sweetheart.” The back of his knuckle scraped along her cheek in a gentle manner. “You’re going to give me everything I want.”

Haven saw Vinnie coming up behind Kyros, and she shook her head in warning, but it was too late. Vinnie swung a pan with hot grease, but Kyros moved lightning fast. He grabbed Vinnie’s fist and turned the pan back on him until grease dripped down his arm. Vinnie screamed in agony, and the man holding her only laughed. “Stupid human. Don’t think you’re going anywhere, sweetheart.”