Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) (14 page)

Forcing herself to be calm, she stood. “Stay away
from me,
Uncle
Jarrod. I will not be a
part of your master plan. I don’t want to kill you, but I will if you threaten
me and those I love!” She walked to Lydia, keeping a wary eye on the pissed off
vampire.

Outside, a horn honked repeatedly. May sat in the
driver's seat of a yellow cab, honking the horn, and waving her hand for them
to run to her. Dora held a gun aimed at the growling ghoul, who stood beside
the white limo.

Dora shouted, “Girls, let's get the hell out of
here!”

Mariah pushed Lydia out the door, running for the
cab and climbed in. Dora waved a wooden cross at Jarrod when he exited the
bookstore. “Get back, vamp,” she shouted. “You will not have Mariah, you sick
prick!” She jumped in and barely slammed the door shut when May gassed it.

Slammed back in their seat, they held on for dear life.
Her bluish-white hair standing on end, May was laughing and hollering as she sped
down the road. Cars honked as she sped past them.

“Won't Jarrod follow us?” she asked, unable to
turn around in her seat to see if he was coming after them.

“He can’t get in his car,” May replied. “Dora
painted white crosses on it.”
 

“You need to leave San Francisco,” Dora told her
when they turned into the hotel’s parking lot. May slammed on the brakes, the cab
screeched to a halt in front of the hotel lobby.

“We are. You need to leave, too! Jarrod will hunt
you down for helping us.” She followed Lydia as she got out of the taxi.

“Don’t worry about us. We’re good at disappearing.
Go with God, Mariah.” Dora grinned. “Please give Rathe our love. We've missed
the handsome devil!” They giggled as May stepped on the gas and the cab burned
rubber.

“Let's get inside.” Jarrod was nowhere to be seen.
Why hadn’t he followed them? Couldn’t he fly like Rathe?

Back in their hotel room, Lydia hooked the chain
on the door and flipped the lock.

“Now what do we do?” Lydia
rubbed her knuckled nervously. “Your uncle wants you and not in a wholesome
way. That is all kinds of eeew!”

“Tell me about it. Sick. Just sick.” She placed
her bottle of Holy water in the window, to ward off the Damned from entering in
that direction. “Why don't you take a bath while I figure out what to do next?”

“Sure. Why not? We’re protected here. They can’t
enter without our permission, like in the movies, right?”

“Yeah, sure,” she answered absently. But they
could. Hotel rooms were public domain and had no boundaries.

Blocking out everyone, including Lydia, from
entering her mind, she wrote a quick note to Lydia and left it on the bed,
explaining what she was doing and why. Putting her clothes in the duffle bag,
she slung it over her shoulder and leashed the dogs. Opening the door quietly, Mariah
urged the dogs out and closed the door behind her. She hung the silver cross on
the doorknob, hoping it would prevent the vamps from coming in. If ghouls were
sent … she shied away the possibility, sensing Rathe was on his way and would
protect Lydia.

Down in the lobby, she requested her car brought
to her. When it was, she kept her hand on her gun and a wary eye about her as
she led her dogs to the SUV. Putting the duffle bag in the front seat, she
opened the back passenger door and urged the dogs in. Around the car, she
paused with her hand on the door handle.

Why wasn’t there anyone coming after her? Why
hadn’t Jarrod attempted to stop her? He knew where she was staying, why wasn’t
he here, trying to capture her?

Searching the parking lot, she stretched out her
senses, using sight, smell, and hearing. Not a single vampire or a ghoul could
be located. She got in the car and drove back to the freeway.
 

Was this prophecy Jarrod spoke of real?

If it was, her daughter was in grave danger, too.
If Jarrod got his hands on Kai, he would have in his possession a girl barely
sixteen who could read people’s minds and make people do as she willed.

A telepath, who was Gypsy and vampire descended.

✝✝✝

Why did Mariah shut him out?

Simon rushed to his side. “Rathe, what happened?”

“Speak with Lydia and ask her which hotel they are
staying at.”

“The Towers, down at the Pier.” Simon rubbed his
knuckles, worried. “Lydia says the Damned hasn’t followed them.”

“Tell her we’re on our way.” Rathe said to Faeroes,
“Take Mother and Mina, head out. Seek a safe place to hide.”

Faeroes nodded. “Rathe, grab Mariah and Lydia, and
get your asses out of San Francisco fast before the Damned organize a hunting
party.”

Mother asked, “Where shall we hide? The Damned are
everywhere.”

To their surprise, Mina spoke up. “Rathe, if
Jarrod wants her bad enough, he’ll try to find out all he can about her, to
make her obey him. We must protect her daughter. Mariah told me she has a place
in Idaho. I bet that’s where her daughter is now. If we leave now, we can get
there before Jarrod finds out Mariah has a daughter.”

Struck by her adult-like, take charge actions, Rathe
grinned and grasped her shoulders, proud of her. “Do you know the town’s name?”

“Coeur d’Alene.”

“Faeroes, we’ll meet you there. Once I have the
address, I’ll tell you.”

“Idaho?” Anya protested. “No self-respecting
vampire would be caught dead in Idaho!”

Chuckling, Faeroes bent to kiss his wife’s pouting
lips. “At least we will have no worries encountering another vampire, correct?”
His smile faded. “Mariah is family. We protect our family, even if it means
breaking the rules to do so.” He faced Rathe and Simon. “Do what you must to
save her and Lydia. To hell with the Laws.”

Rathe jerked his head in agreement. “Simon, let’s
fly!”

✝✝✝

Above Mariah’s hotel, Rathe searched for Jarrod and
any sign of his men. Seeing no danger, they landed on the roof and entered the
building. Walking stealthily down the stairwell to her and Lydia’s floor, he
nearly stumbled when a scream resounded in his head.

“Lydia!” Simon ran ahead of him. Rathe raced after
him.

When they found the right floor, he stopped Simon
before he rushed out into the hallway. Placing a hand on his brother’s chest, Rathe
opened the door wide enough where he could peer out into the hallway. Empty. Cautious,
they left the stairwell and drew their swords. There was a crossroad of
hallways. Men shouting made Rathe and Simon cautious. Checking around the
corner, he saw two ghouls — one had a shaved head and facial piercings, the other
was huge and had tattoos down his arms.

Baldy called out, “Come out, pretties. Master just
wants a word with you. I promise it won't hurt. Much.” He laughed as his friend
slammed his shoulder into the door, trying to break it down.

“Not tonight, boys.” Rathe swung his sword and
beheaded the kid. Simon killed the other one.

The door opened, and Lydia flew into Simon’s arms.
She had a letter in her hand as she held onto Simon. Rathe walked past them and
looked around the room, finding it empty.

“Lydia, where is Mariah?”

“Rathe, she’s gone.”

“What?”

Biting her lip, Lydia handed him the letter. Taking
it, he read the contents, his anger deflated. Mina was right. Mariah’s daughter
was
in danger, and she was heading
home to protect her.

 
“Lydia,
gather your things. When you are ready, you and Simon meet me in the lobby.” Rathe
left them and went to the elevator. Reaching out to Mariah, he couldn’t speak
with her, but he could feel her fear and panic.

Why was she running when he could protect her?
Didn’t she trust him?

The elevator doors opened, and he went to speak to
the hotel clerk, instructing the woman to send for a car, a fast one. When
Simon and Lydia exited the elevator, the red sports car arrived. Taking the
keys the deliveryman held out, Rathe tossed them to Simon.

Confused, Simon asked, “Aren’t you driving?”

“I figured I owed you an adventure. Don’t tell me
what route you’ll take. No contact, unless you’re in trouble and need help. Remember,
use your mind to seek out your enemies, or in case you want to extend the speed
limit.” Rathe winked at his brother and handed him a wad of cash. “Watch your
backs!”

Simon opened the car door for Lydia and closed it
when she was in. “Watch your back, too.” In the driver’s seat, Simon started
the powerful engine and burned rubber as he punched the gas.

Back in the elevator, he took it to the roof. As the
red sports car sped away, he saw no one followed Simon and Lydia. Shifting, feathers
grew as changed into a giant eagle. His talons stretched, digging in with terrifying
strength into the cement, crushing it into powder and chunks of rock. Extending
his enormous wings, he took flight. With great sweeps, he flew north, searching
for Mariah.

Worry didn’t come close to the anxiety he
experienced as he searched for her. Jarrod would send everyone he had to bring
her back to him. He would not leave a stone unturned to capture her and force
her to take his blood, binding her to him — to force Mariah to give him her
soul!

He flew faster.

✝✝✝

“Son-of-a-bitch!”

Jarrod grinded his teeth, trying to rein in his
desire to kill each human who dared to stare at him curiously while, he, who
was the leader of the Damned, was forced to wait like a damn commoner while
another car was sent to collect him.

Curse those old bitches! The gall they had to
paint crosses on his brand new limousine! Seething, he vowed when he found
them, he would strip their skin and force them to watch him feed their flesh to
his ghouls. Death would be denied them until he was satisfied they had suffered
for the defamation of his car!

Twisting his neck, he struggled to keep his glamor
in place. Fortunately, the white Rolls Royce had pulled alongside him. The
ghoul driving it jumped out and opened the back door for him. Alexander waited
in the backseat.

When he was in and the door closed, Alexander
asked him, “My lord, were you hurt?”

“No, just my pride. I want those bitches found and
brought to me.”

“Who, my lord?”

“Those women who helped Mariah escape me. I want
them and Mariah found!” Surprise marked Alexander’s usually passive features.
“Yes, Alexander, I found her at last.” Closing his eyes, he was amazed at how
much she resembled her mother. “I almost had her.”

“Were you able to exchange blood with her?”

“No, and finding her will take considerable effort
now.” He had missed his only chance to take her blood, a clear mind path for
him to find and control her. She was now only a distant echo.

Mariah was very clever indeed, blocking his mental
search for her. Power radiated from her. The force of her determination
concerned him. Hadn’t he handled her with care? Shown her he was not the
monster he’d been accused of being?

There was another matter troubling him. A vampire
had an excellent sense of smell and wafting under hers was a familiar scent.

“Alexander, you
are
certain Rathe Romulas is dead?”

Looking at him, Alexander met his stare
unwavering. “Yes, my lord. His ashes were there. Why do you ask, my lord?”

“She reeks of the Romulas clan. One of them has
exchanged blood with her. Several times, I sense.”

“Is she vampire, my lord?”

“No, she is mostly human. She’s strong, but not
vampire strength yet. Another exchange will see her turned, and she’ll be a
vampire with a blasted soul, unless I get to her first!”

“Think you it is Faeroes protecting her?”

“Not likely. Anya Romulas would have his head on a
pike and his balls stuffed down his throat, if he touched another woman. No, it
could be Simon. Why would she need blood? Dammit, she had to have been injured
in the fire, and Simon saved her.” He forced himself to relax in his seat. “All
is not lost. Mariah will return to her hotel and think she’s safe with her
crosses and Holy water. Send ghouls to retrieve them. I will force her to
exchange blood with me and destroy that damn spell, once and for all. See to it
personally for me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

His phone pulsed in his pocket. Answering it, he
saw it was one of his ghouls working in the FBI. “Smith, I have an assignment
for you. I want you to investigate Mariah Jordan. Everything from tax returns,
old boyfriends, down to what her favorite color is, and I want it now!”

Pushing the end call button, Jarrod saw Alexander
was staring at him, his green eyes hard as stone. “Alexander, have you a
problem?”

“Why are you digging into her past when we will
have her in half an hour?”

“Because, Alexander, she’s proven she is quite resourceful,
and I’ll not make the mistake of underestimating Mariah Jordan again!”

Chapter Ten

Should she risk making a phone call?
 

If Murphy really had been an FBI agent, it would
go to reason Jarrod would have others in the Bureau as well. They’d easily find
out who and where her family was … her daughter. She had to risk it to warn
them. Punching in Rona’s number, she waited while it rang.

“Hello?” Rona answered sleepily.

“Hey, Rona, it’s me. Sorry waking you—”

“You should have called me sooner, you shit!”

“I know, but things are a … a bit screwed to say
the least.”

“You on your way?”

“Yep. Boy, do I have lots to tell you when I get
there!”

“What’s going on? What’s this that we’re to supposed
to watch out for strangers?”

“I need you all to be careful. It’s not safe for
us.”

“Is it some fan turned stalker?”

“That’s one way to look at it. Just keep watch,
okay? You still wearing your grandmother’s silver cross necklace?”

“Uh, yeah, I am. Why?”

“Just checking. Silver’s good. Silver protects.”

“Okay, you are officially freaking me out. You
want me to go get Kai and bring her here?”

“No, she’s safe with Joe. Where are you?”

 
“We’re at
the lake house. David wanted a little time away from work, I hope you don't
mind.”

“Not all. Remember to activate the alarms.” She
yawned. Dawn was approaching, and it was making it darn hard to keep her eyes
open!

“Get a hotel room and sleep. We can't lose you
again,” Rona ordered, joking as she always did, except this time she was pretty
sure she meant it.

“See ya soon.”

Ten miles down the road, she sighed in relief when
she found a motel. Checked in and had her key in hand, she dragged out the
duffle bag and let the dogs run around. When they were finished, she ushered
the dogs inside the room. After feeding them and gave them a bowl of water,
Mariah set up the crosses in the window for protection. Lying on the bed, she went
straight to sleep.

✝✝✝

Salish nudged her hand. Opening one eye, she found
her wolf staring back at her. “I’m awake, hold on.”

She checked the time. Damn, six o’clock. Upset at sleeping
so late, she hurried to wash her face and brushed her teeth. Taking down the
crosses off the windows and put them in the duffle bag. Slipping the bag over
her shoulder, she opened the door.

Sundown.

At her car, she opened the rear gate, tossing in the
duffle bag. She stiffened, feeling eyes were watching her. Could feel the hate
boring into her. Slipping the knife she found in the duffle bag into her boot,
she kept the gun in her hand, at her side. She shut the gate and went to start
the engine. Taking a good scout around her, she saw a man standing across the
street, staring at her. Focusing, she saw he had bloodshot eyes and pasty, gray
complexion. No doubt about it, he was a ghoul.

Where was his master?

The dogs barked, running toward her. The awful
stench made her eyes water as the wind blew around her. “Ah, crap,” she said softly,
searching for the vamp’s whereabouts. Pushing the safety off her gun, she
placed both hands on the handle grip, ready to fire.

“Rathe, I know you’re following me. Are you close to
me? I’ve got a demon vamp here, just can’t find the prick.”

Silence.

Keeping an eye on the ghoul, who remained where he
was, she cautiously walked past several cars when the smell was overwhelming. “Seriously?
You’re using a ‘77’ Cadillac’s trunk for a coffin?” Grinning at the ghoul, she
tapped the tip of her gun on the trunk. The surprise and fear on his face
confirmed it.

Jackpot!

Now what?

Crunch of shoes on gravel had her swinging around.
Salish snarled. The ghoul was already halfway across the parking lot and
running hard for her. Damn, he could run fast! Aiming her gun at him, the trunk
flew open, and the vamp inside jumped on top of her. Drool and teeth was all
she saw as she struggled to keep the vamp away from her throat. He yelped and
was thrown off her. Rathe yanked her to her feet, and she aimed, squeezing the
trigger at the vamp when he ran at them.

Thrashing on the ground screaming, the vampire
clutched his wounds as smoke rose where the bullets hit him. Rathe swung his
sword and cut off the vampire’s head. The ghoul made to run in the other
direction, stopped when she put a bullet in the back of his skull. Staring at
the dead ghoul, blood and brain splattered across the gravel, it hit her what
she’d done.

“Oh, my God, I killed him. I just shot a man
dead.” Shaking, her gaze dropped to the gun in her hand. “I didn’t flinch. Just
pulled the trigger.”

Rathe didn’t answer. He went to the ghoul and
picked him up and threw him in the open trunk, slamming it shut. Tossing Holy water
on vamp, the corpse burst into flames.

He opened the SUV’s door for the dogs. “Salish,
Bear, inside.”

Taking her by the arm, he pulled her to the
passenger side and pushed her inside the SUV. Hurrying, he climbed into the
driver’s seat and put the car in reverse. He sped out of the parking lot and
headed out of town.

“Rathe?”

“Keep watch. We’ve got to get rid of my car. The
vampire we killed might have reported earlier what you’re driving.”

“How about a rental? We can leave your car there
and switch to a new one.”

“Good idea.” He glanced at her. “Mariah, set the
safety on and put your gun in your inner coat pocket.”

Numb, she did as he told her. Two blocks down the
road, he pulled into a car rental agency and parked. “Grab everything. Empty
the glove boxes, too.”

Hurrying to do as he ordered, she carried what
she’d found to the back of the SUV and put it in the duffle bag. In the back
seat, she found her computer bag. Checking to make sure it was intact, she had
to laugh. Well, when her adventure ended, at least she could go back to her
writing. Rathe returned and took the duffle bag as she leashed her dogs.

“Our car is the Escalade SUV.”

“Sweet.” Black with dark tinted windows, it was a
beefy and beautiful.

“Can you drive?”

“Me? Sure.” She took the keys he handed her and
urged the dogs in the luxury SUV. Sitting in the driver’s seat, the plush
leather was soft to the touch and nice to sit on. Pushing the button, she
lowered the window when Rathe came round to her side.

“Follow me.” He went to his car, and she followed
him out of the parking lot.

 
Twenty
minutes later, Rathe signaled right and turned down an old logging road. When
he stopped, she did. He hurried to her and opened the passenger door and jumped
in, motioning for her to drive back to the road.

“Rathe, how did I kill the guy without flinching?
Just aimed and pulled the trigger. Is it the vampire in me that makes killing
easy?”

“No, honey, you’re not evil. You killed him in
self-defense. There’s nothing human left in a ghoul or any good found in the
Damned. There’s no right or wrong in killing them, we do it to survive and to
protect.”

Sniffing, she tried not bawl, but couldn’t stop.
He stroked her hair. “Don’t, honey. You did right. Please don’t cry! Ah, shit!”

“What?” She glanced around, searching for vampires
or ghouls.

“I forgot to purchase extra insurance for the car.
You wreck it, I’ve got to buy it, and these cars cost around sixty thousand
dollars!”

Wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand,
she laughed. “Forgot the insurance, huh? You’re just asking for an accident
there, mister.”

Grinning, he sat back in his seat. “Chuck it to
shock. I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing you calmly take out a vamp and
his ghoul like you did. Nice shooting by the way.”

“You taught me.” She smiled at him as he got
comfortable. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Being here, with me.”

“Mariah, I won’t let anyone hurt you or your
child, I promise.”

“Where is your family?”

“They’ll meet us in Idaho. We need to move it
though. We can’t risk staying in one location long.”

“You’re right.” She floored it.

“Have you eaten or can you eat?”

“Actually, I’m not hungry. Are you?”

He shook his head. “I’ll feed when we arrive in
Coeur d’Alene.” Rathe fell silent for a moment. “Mariah, how are you handling
finding out you are a Borne vampire’s daughter?”

“I-I guess I really wasn’t that surprised. Since
the dreams, I pretty much had already figured out I was Aidan and Maria’s
child. The real question is — who is the vampire who saved me. He must have
been the one who arranged for me to live with the people I thought were my
parents. I wish I knew who he was. I’d like to thank him for saving me from my
uncle.”

“Probably not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“He’ll want to kill me for endangering you and
exposing you to Jarrod.”

She took Rathe’s hand in hers. “I have no regrets.
Sooner or later, Jarrod would have found me. If you hadn’t found me first, I
would be Damned now.”

Passing the ‘Welcome to Oregon’ sign, Rathe was
quiet.

She swallowed, needing to ask him, “Have you heard
of a prophecy concerning a child who is Gypsy and Vampire born, not bitten? Who
is a telepath?”

“No, I haven’t. Why?”

“Jarrod thinks I’m the child of the prophecy and I
can bring back his soul to him. I’ve got abilities, but not like my daughter.”

“What do mean?”

“My kid telepath, but she can do more than read
people’s minds. When she was little, she could make them do things she wanted
them to do. I had a helluva time teaching her to control herself. If Jarrod finds
out about Kai, he’ll try to take her and convert her to the Damned.”

“Son-of-a-bitch.”

“I’ve kept her hidden to protect her from those
who would use her gift and those who called her a freak. It’s been a long, hard
road for her to live with what she can do. Now, because I’ve had to find out
who I am, I’ve had to tell her to embrace her gifts. I’m so stupid sometimes.”

“No, you needed to know. Especially after what I’d
started in you, when I gave you my blood. But you’re right. If Jarrod cannot
get his hands on you, he’ll go after Kai.”

“I’ll kill Jarrod before he lays one finger on my
kid!” The frightening possibility Jarrod contaminating Kai made her sick, and
she gripped the steering wheel tighter.

Giving her a thoughtful perusal, Rathe said, “Maybe
you should consider turning Kai.”

“What? Are you nuts?”

“Since I’ve met you, I’ve gone off the deep end a
bit, but I’m being dead serious here. She would have the strength, like you, to
fight him.”

“No, I can’t turn her. I’ve accepted I am becoming
a vampire, but I cannot bring her into our world.”

Squeezing her hand, he said with frightening
sincerity, “She already is. As the grandchild of a Borne vampire, the daughter
of a dhampir, she will always be in our world.”

“Rathe, there’s something else you should know. I
found out what Jarrod’s plans are for me.”

“His plans?”

“He wants to make me his bride.”

Rathe’s face grew hard, stony in his anger. “I
knew he’d sunk low, but to want to take his niece as his bride, to defile his
brother’s daughter ... I’m sorry, Mariah, there is nothing sane about Jarrod
Draco anymore.”

“I know. I thought once there might be something
left of what he used to be, but not anymore.”

“Together, we will defeat him.”

Gazing into Rathe’s dark eyes, she saw his
determination. “Yes, together, we can defeat him.”

✝✝✝

During the next seven hours they made small talk. Sleep
was out of the question. Since her second blood exchange, the Change had taken
firm hold and the night was like day for her.

Around four a.m., he pulled over at a turnabout,
so they could take a break and let the dogs out to stretch their legs. She felt
alive as never before. The whispers of the night spoke to her as she inhaled
the pine and spruce scent of the life-brimming forests. She saw the dark was
bluer than black as she gazed at the world transformed with vampire eyes.

“Mariah,” Rathe took her hand in his, “sunrise is
in two and half hours. There’s no way you can make it to Coeur d’Alene.”

“I’ve got sunglasses and the windows are tinted. I
cannot stop, not when I’m so close to home.”

Staring at her, he finally nodded. “I’ll drive
until dawn, after that, you can go on from there. Tonight, I’ll meet you in
Coeur d’Alene.”

“Rathe, have you ever heard of a vampire who’d
lost his soul and later regained it?”

 
“You are
sympathetic to the Damned’s plight, aren’t you?” He seemed to be genuinely amazed
at the revelation.

“You wrongly judged Jarrod.”

“How? He—”

“He had full possession of his soul when he killed
the villagers for murdering his brother.”

“No, do not allow him to fool you. Jarrod—”

“Rathe, he’s my family. His memories do not lie. I
saw it. He
was
a Borne when he sought
revenge.”

Rathe drew back, as if he’d been slapped. “No. No,
it can’t be.”

“It’s true. Afterwards, when he declared war on
you and the Borne, he told me he had deliberately chosen to lose his soul, to
gain power and strength to fight you.”

“You don’t understand, and we do not have time for
this.” He made to leave, but she stopped him.

“Rathe, what happened the night you judged Jarrod?”

Drawing in a deep breath, he let it out with a heavy
sigh. “Aidan … Jarrod, it’s complicated.”

“You knew my father, didn’t you?”

Looking away briefly, he answered, “Yes. Aidan and
Jarrod were part of our family. They’d been abandoned by their parents, we took
them in. We were close as brothers. In fact, we were made Slayers on the very same
day.”