Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) (4 page)

Unsure how to comfort her, he drew her into his
arms and held her close. Slowly, her arms crept around his waist. When she
stilled, he saw she had her ear pressed to his heart, intent concentration on
her lovely face.

“Mariah?”

Eyes wide, she wore an expression of awe. “You're
alive!”

“You thought I was dead?”

“I always thought vampires were living corpses. No
pulse. No heartbeat. Stories, movies, they’re all wrong?”

Swearing under his breath, he took advantage of
her distraction and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to his black SUV. “Most
of the legends are true where the Damned are concerned. For my kind, the Borne,
it doesn’t apply. Would it make you feel better if I told you I was born like
any human child, except my parents are vampire?”

“Honestly? No, it doesn’t.”

Smiling at her, he opened the passenger door and set
her on the bench seat, before slipping off her computer bag and put it on the rear
floorboard. He’d left the keys in the ignition and started the engine.
Switching the heat on high, he reached for the blanket in the backseat and
covered her with it. He called to the dogs and opened the back passenger door for
them to jump inside. Shutting the doors, he went to the driver’s side and got
in, driving back onto the road. He glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing the
flames engulfing her cabin and car reaching for the sky.

He glanced at Mariah, who stared out her window,
looking lost. Unsure what to say to her, saved when his mother’s voice, gentle
and melodic, reached out to him.

“Rathe, where are
you?”

“Mother, is everyone all right?”

“We’re fine, but what about you? Why were
we unable to speak to you?”

“I had to block you out so he could not
locate you.”

“Was he there?”

“Briefly. He sent his hunters after me.”

“Were you injured?”

“No, I wasn’t hurt.”

“Rathe, it is not
wise to lie to your mother.”

“I will explain
when we arrive.”

“We?”
She sounded amused.

Why did he say ‘we’? Changing the subject, he asked,
“Was the house in reasonable condition?”

“It did not take us long to clean it. Will
we be safe here?”

“The house is under an alias and cannot be
traced back to me. Are my brothers patrolling?”

“Yes, they are. Be careful, my son. My heart
could not bear losing you, too. I love you.”
Then
she vanished from his mind.

Heading for town, he realized if he took Mariah to
the sheriff’s office, Murphy would know they had survived and would send the
hunters hot on his trail. He couldn’t reunite with his family. Hell, they would
hunt Mariah, too.

What course could he take to keep them both from
getting killed?

“Rathe, where are you planning on dropping me off?”

“I had planned to take you into town, but I—”

“But what? The hunters think we’re dead, so they
won’t be looking for us. Right?”

“If Murphy learns you and I didn’t die in the
fire, he’ll alert every hunter and the Damned in the area to hunt us down and
we won’t survive them.”

“I can’t stay with you! I’ve got to get home.”

“Do you think I want you here with me? Travelling
with you places me in danger from my own people. We, the Borne, are not to
associate with humans beyond taking their blood. Having you in the same car
with me puts
me
in danger of being judged
and executed by my own kind!”

“Okay, if the hunters are watching and waiting to
see if we survived, then we can’t go to Flagstaff either. How about Phoenix? I
can call my agent and arrange to get home. That way you won’t be connected to
me, and I can slip away unnoticed.”

Her plan had merit. “Phoenix is nearly a three
hour drive, giving us some distance between us and Mormon Lake. The hunters
won’t begin searching that far, not yet anyways.” He nodded. “Yes, it would be
the best course to take. Might as well get comfortable, we’ll be on the road a
while.”

“Sure
.
Let
me just relax here, especially after what just happened to us,” she replied
sarcastically. “Rathe, why are the Damned after you?”

“It’s complicated.” He shifted in his seat. “The
one who sent the hunters after me … we are in embroiled in a feud.”

“Was it because of a woman?”

“No. Not as simple as a woman.” His hands
tightened around the steering wheel. “I judged him.”

“Judged him?”

“Yes, I declared him Damned and would have slayed
him, except he escaped. He wants revenge, trying to kill me, anyone who loves
me, and everyone whom I hold dear.”

✝✝✝

Opening her mouth to ask what happened, Rathe
hunched his shoulders. He was finished talking. Cold, her wet clothes made it
hard to get comfortable, although the heater was helping to dry her out. She drew
his coat closer around her, inhaling the expensive cologne mingled with leather.

Outside the car’s windshield, the inky night
stretched out beyond the headlight’s yellow beams. Her eyelids grew heavy and it
became too much to keep them open. She leaned her head against the window and
closed her eyes.

Long, flaxen-blond hair flowed about his
lean body. Sadness darkened his hypnotic, amethyst-colored eyes. He held his
hand out to her, silently beseeching her to take it. She saw he wore a ring similar
to Rathe’s, except his was on his right, fourth finger. When she placed her
hand in his, he smiled and made her feel as if she was the luckiest, happiest
woman in the world.

Together, they gazed down at a
night-shrouded valley from where they stood. Wild and breathtaking in its
savage beauty, she drank in the intoxicating sight of the land and the handsome
man beside her. His hand tightened around hers, and he lifted it to press his
warm lips to it. Her heart fluttered as he stared down at her with love and
fierce pride.

Fear invaded her joy.

Men wielding torches and weapons ran at
them. Smoke burned her eyes and throat, lungs. They surrounded them. The
pale-haired man transformed. Eyes glowing, he snarled at the screaming mob, his
fangs long. Fog rolled in. He yelled at her to run. She wouldn’t leave him. To
be without him, to never have him in her arms, not kiss his lips, she would
rather face death by his side than live without him.

Hands grabbed her, pulling her away from
him. She lost hold her lover’s grip and fought the hands restraining her from
returning to him. He looked resigned, sadness in his eyes as the villagers
attacked him.

No!

She gasped, clawing at her throat for air. Out of
the darkness, she heard Rathe calling to her, “Mariah? Wake up!”

With effort, she opened her eyes. Rathe was
leaning close to her, worried. Seeing the car parked at the side of the road,
she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him. Slowly, his arms crept around
her and he held her.

“What were you dreaming about?”

“Dream? Yes, it must have been a dream. It-it felt
real though.” Tears wetted her cheeks.

He offered her his handkerchief. “Want to tell me
about it?”

When she told him about the vampire, Rathe jerked
back, as if she’d slapped him. “Light-colored hair?”

“Yes, and he had eyes the color of amethyst. He had
a ring like yours. Do you know him?” When he didn’t respond, she asked, “Rathe,
do you know him?”

 
“No, I don’t.”
He was lying right through his perfect teeth, she was certain of it.

✝✝✝

The blood
exchange. It had to be it. There was no way she could know about him otherwise.

Staring into her wide eyes, he felt himself
drowning in those beautiful orbs. Dropping his gaze to her soft lips, parted so
invitingly, he was mesmerized, wanting to feel them beneath his again. Yearning
rivaling pure fire and storm charged through his body. When seductive images conjuring
in her mind entered his, lust ignited full throttle. He could hear her blood
flowing beneath her satiny skin, his fangs lengthened as he thought about
tasting her blood.

A horn blared.

Cars whipped past them, jerking him out of the
seductive trance she cast upon him. Shaken at how close he’d come to sinking
his teeth into her flesh, he bounced back to his side of the car. Shifting the
gear into drive, he stomped on the gas, sending the car fishtailing back onto
the highway. Breathing hard, hot, raw desire left him throbbing, pissed and
frustrated. It held him in an unbearably hard state and no way to ease his
situation, not without endangering them both.

What in the hell did I get myself involved in?

He risked a look at her. She pressed into her side
of the car. In her hand, she held the medallion, rubbing it between her
fingers, like a worry stone.

“Mariah, why do you wear a medallion with a
protection spell on it?”

“Is that what these runes are?” She switched on
the overhead light. “How do you know?”

“I’ve seen gypsies wear similar ones. Why do you
wear it, if you did not know what the runes are?”

“It was given to me. So, it’s merely a replica.”
She seemed disappointed.

“It’s no tourist trinket. In the world of gypsies,
there are powerful witches and they create those for different needs. The runes
on your medallion create a barrier, like a cloaking devise. Kind of.”

“I wonder if it hides me from him,” she mumbled.

“Him?”

She scrunched down in his coat, as if she were
afraid. “I-I have nightmares about a man calling to me, wanting me to come to
him.”

“Do you know what he looks like?”

“No, I just see red eyes.” She straightened, clutching
the medallion with both her hands, a glazed expression in her eyes. “A woman
with black hair gave me the necklace. Green eyes. She put it around my neck and
told me to never take it off.”

“Green eyes?”

Blinking, she focused on him. “Gypsy. She was a
gypsy. God, how am I remembering this now, when before it was just … gone? I
wonder if it’s because the runes are fading. You seem to know a lot about
gypsies. Do you know her?”

“The only Gypsies I’ve encountered had dark eyes.
Green is rare, very rare. Wait a minute. Did you say the runes are fading?”

“Yes. See.” She showed him it.

“When did you notice the changes?”

“Around the same time I saw the bite marks on my
neck.”

Why were the runes changing?

“You can see her in here, can’t you?” She tapped
her temple.

“No, I can’t,” he said flatly, praying she let it
go.

“You were earlier in my head. Why not now?”

“Whoever gave you the necklace did it to hide you
from evil. To protect you.”

“She was in the house. Oh, God, I think she killed
my parents. She
was
the evil.”

“Did you see her kill them? Was there blood on
her?”

“No,” she said slowly. “No blood on her. I remember
fire. Smoke. She carried me downstairs. I saw my parents’ bodies in the living
room, their heads were missing. Oh, God! Someone murdered my parents!”

“Wait, you didn’t know your parents had been
murdered?”

Huddled closer to the door, she said quietly, “My
adopted family told me it was an accident. I-I could never remember that night.
Until now.”

“Mariah, are you certain you saw their heads had
been removed?”

“Yes. I am. Why would someone do that?”

“Vampire hunters stake and behead their victims.”

“Vampire hunter? You think she was a hunter?”

“Were your parents working as caretakers for a
house, mansion?”

“Damn, I still can’t remember anything about my
life before the fire, only feelings I was happy and that I was loved.
Otherwise, it’s a void.” She looked frightened. “My father warned me to watch
for them.”

“Them?”

“The Damned.”

Like a douse of cold water, he forced himself to
ask, “Did he say anything else?”

“I was to fear them.”

Could her parents have been guardians for a Borne?
“What time of day was it when you found your parents?”

“I think it was night. No, it was early morning. I
remember hearing birds chirping.”

“I believe your parents knew about vampires and it
cost them their lives.”

Excited, she shifted to face him. “Rathe, I need
you to look into my mind. I need you to see the Gypsy woman. Maybe you know
her. I have to find her and ask her what happened to my parents, and why she
saved me.”

“To protect you, I cannot link with you.”

“Bullshit! You’re just protecting yourself. I was
left an orphan when someone killed my parents, and the woman who carried me out
of the burning house is the only clue I have to finding the killer!”

“Forgive me, but you do not fully understand the
consequences when you let a vampire inside your head. If I enter your mind, it
will
leave you open to others, like the man
in your nightmares.”

Disappointed, she sat back in her seat, staring
out the windshield. He wanted to help her, but he’d risked too much already
when he took her with him, protecting her from Murphy and his hunters. Between
giving her his blood and having her with him, he’d surely be brought up before
the Elders, and he couldn’t become involved further with her, not if he wanted
to lose his head! Still, he worried about what she’d told him.

Who was being Mariah hidden from?

Chapter Three

“Sheriff, I feel I am responsible for Miss Jordan's
death. It was my prisoner who escaped.”

The way Murphy offered his shitty apology pissed Orland
off to a whole new level of anger. “No, shit, Sherlock! Cuz of your stupidity
in attempting to bring in a dangerous prisoner by yerself, an innocent woman is
dead. Because of you!” Orland opened his mouth to really give the son-of-a-bitch
a piece of his mind when the coroner waved at him. “What, Ed?”

“Orland, can you give us a hand?”

“Sure.” When he reached the van they used to
transport bodies in, he frowned when Ed turned his back to Murphy. “Ed?”

Lowering his voice, Ed told him, “We can't find
the convict Murphy said was here. Nothing of Miss Jordan or her dogs either.
Since Murphy was first on the scene, I just assumed what he said was true, but
we can’t find any evidence to support his statement.”

“Didn't you say the fire was super-hot? Maybe it
cremated the bodies?” Orland noticed Murphy watching the forensic team as they
searched the burned out shell of what was once a cabin. There was something not
quite right about the agent, besides the weird smell. Every time Murphy’s cold,
lifeless eyes looked his way, Orland got the skin crawling, heebie-jeebies. Just
something that hovered on the edge of unnatural and it made him nervous as a
cat in a room filled with rocking chairs.

“Maybe. The fire chief did find out what destroyed
the cabin.” He lowered his voice, “Orland, it was a rocket launcher! What
escape convict would be running around the woods carrying a damn rocket
launcher?”

Rubbing a hand across his mouth, he wondered the
same. “Does Murphy know about it?”

“Just you, me, and the chief knows.”

“Keep it that way. You and the boys take a break
while I send Agent Murphy on his merry way.” Returning to Murphy, he rested his
hand on the handle of his gun. “Well, Agent Murphy, evidence indicates Jordan
and your prisoner are dead. Ed figures the fire got so hot it reduced bone to
ash. Once the coroner and the fire marshal have finished writing their reports,
I’ll fax them to the Bureau in Tucson.”

Satisfaction twisted Murphy's thin features, his
pale skin bleached in the floodlights erected around the crime scene. “I’d
appreciate it, Sheriff, if you’d fax the report to this number.” He dug out a
business card and handed it to him.

Taking it, he tried to keep his tone normal. “Sure.
Will do.”

“Thanks for your cooperation, Sheriff.” Murphy
extended his hand out to him. Orland hesitated before accepting.

Watching the FBI agent slid into a blue sedan, Orland
spat on the ground and growled, “Cooperation my ass.”

Hoping Mariah Jordan was somewhere safe and not a
pile of ash, he went back to speak with Ed. Flap of wings made Orland look up
and he saw the huge black crow sitting on the gnarly limb of a tree. Its beady
eyes glowed red briefly. Cocking its head to the side, the bird straightened
and cawed at him once before it extended its blue-black wings, taking flight.

Making the sign of the Cross, Orland said quietly,
“Something wicked that away goes and it’s after you, Murphy. It’s coming for you.”

✝✝✝

She wasn’t doing well at all!

Around ten, they arrived in Phoenix, actually the
outskirts. During the two hour drive, she pretended to sleep. Since Rathe had refused
to help her learn who the woman was who had rescued her, there really wasn’t
anything to talk about. Plus, she didn’t want to actually sleep, just in case she
had the dream again.

“Hey, are you hungry?”

Although the thought of eating food made her
queasy, she nodded. “Yeah, I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

“I could use a bite to eat myself.”

“How—” Rathe grinned at her. “Never mind.” She
pointed at the caboose-styled diner to their left. “There’s a diner we can stop
at.”

He parked around the side, away from the other
cars. She petted her dogs before she got out of the SUV. Rolling up the long sleeves
of the coat she wore, she adjusted it, the hem reaching past her knees. When
she glanced back at him, she found him gone, she was relieved, not wanting to know
where he would find
his
food source.

Sitting at a booth down at the far end, she
forewent the menu, ordering a cheeseburger and soda. When it arrived, the smell
of cooked meat made her sick to her stomach. Forcing herself to take a small
bite, her throat closed and she couldn’t swallow the hamburger. Spitting it
into a napkin, she shoved the hamburger as far away as she could. Unable to eat
and starving, she was resigned to sip her soda, feeling absolutely miserable.

The waitress must have seen her dilemma and rushed
to her table. “Miss, is there something wrong with your cheeseburger?”

“Oh, no, it's fine. I’m just not feeling well.
Long trip,” she lamely lied, her stomach growling in protest.

Smiling in understanding, the waitress offered, “I
can put together a fruit plate, if you’d like?”

Even the thought of eating fruit made her
nauseous. “I’ll just stick to my soda.”

The waitress picked up the plate. “Do you want me
to wrap it for later?”

“Yes, please. Oh, I need to order another burger
to go, for my … my friend,” she explained, not wanting to insult the waitress
or the concerned cook by telling them she intended to feed the burgers to her
dogs.

“Will do, sweetie.”

The sharp chime of the doorbell made her glance
up. Rathe entered the diner.

A low, appreciative whistle escaped the waitress.
“Wow! That is one sexy beast of a man.”

She had to agree. Dangerous, too. A predator
wrapped in a hard, muscular, and absolutely breathtaking body. Rathe’s gaze
never wavered from hers as he walked toward her. Either he was ignoring the
diner’s patrons and their open stares as he strode past them or was just
unaware, she couldn’t tell. When he slid into the seat opposite of her, she
felt his knee graze hers. Desire shot through her at the simple contact, her
breathing quickened with the rush of excitement. He exuded a sexual aura unlike
anything she had ever known and it scared her, while it thrilled her.

Knock it off,
Mariah. He’ll take off as soon as he can dump you somewhere convenient.
Still, a little part of her wondered if he was attracted to her, too.

Rathe asked, “Have you finished eating?” At her
nod, he reached into his back pocket and withdrew a leather wallet. Taking out
a twenty, he tossed it on the table.

Sliding out of the bench seat, she took the
Styrofoam box the waitress handed her and started for the door, nearly jumping
when he placed his hand on her lower back.
 

“Where are we going now?”

“Let’s find you a hotel and check in. Tomorrow,
you can make arrangements to head home.”

She didn’t reply. Really, what was there to say?
Thanks for an exciting evening. Great time I’ve had
tonight when my cabin and car was blow up by vampire hunters. Hey, let’s do
this again sometime.

✝✝✝

At the first motel, Rathe pulled into the graveled
parking lot and turned off the engine. “Be right back.”

“Sure.”

Entering the lobby, he rang the silver bell for service.
Several minutes passed when an old woman, dressed in a fluffy yellow robe, pink
rollers in her gray hair, and a sour expression on her withered features, finally
shuffled behind the worn counter.

“Yes?” she asked grumpily, rubbing the sleep from
her eyes. She focused on him and her eyes went wide, staring at him with her
mouth open.

“I seek a room for me and my wife. We wish not to
be disturbed for the entire day.” Bestowing upon her a charming smile, he
‘encouraged’ the woman to joyfully comply with his wishes.

She giggled and withdrew a register sheet. “Please
fill this out, sir. Oh, and I need a credit card for a deposit.”

“There is no need for me to fill this out. I have
cash.” He pulled his wallet out of his rear pocket and withdrew a hundred
dollar bill, holding it out to her. The old woman smothered another girlish
giggle as she took the money from his hand. “Please, keep the change.”

“Thank you!” Smiling, she handed him a room key. “If
there is anything you require, just ring me on the telephone.”

“Thank you, Madame, for your kind offer. We shall
be fine.” As he turned to leave, he saw the old woman fanned her flaming cheeks.

She murmured, “What a sexy devil!”

He winked at her.

Cheeks red, she touched her head. “Damn, forgot my
curlers are in. Oh, well, you’re married. What a lucky girl.” She sighed wistfully.

Sobering at her words, he sighed. “Cursed is
closer to the truth.”

Back at the SUV, he opened the car door for her.
“Here’s your key.” He handed it to her and retreated when she climbed out,
holding the Styrofoam box in her hand.

“Thanks.” Touching her hair, she winced. “I must
look a dreadful mess.”

Staring at her hair, wild and disarrayed, his gaze
lowered to caress her soft lips, remembering how they felt beneath his. “Damn
tempting, I’d say.” God, he wanted to kiss her! Touch her — make love to her.
Retrieving his wallet, he pulled out several bills and handed them to her.
“Here, so you can purchase food later on. Do not open the door for anyone. Not
even the old woman who runs the place. Keep guard for hunters and ghouls while
you are in Arizona. You’ll be safe when you are out of here.”

“I hope so.”

“Mariah, I—”

She cut him off. “I’m glad I was able to help you,
but it’s best for you to return to your family. They need you.”

Rubbing his knuckles along her smooth cheek, he
smiled at her. “I’ll forever be grateful to you, Mariah Jordan. If you should
need me, call out to me. I’ll not ever block you again.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me to know you are
protecting me.”

“Take care. I hope you find the answers you’re
looking for.” He made to walk away, but couldn’t, not without doing one thing
before he departed.

Sliding his fingers around the nape of her neck,
he drew her to him. Her mouth opened under his as he kissed her, devouring her
as a man starving, and he never wanted to let her go. Nevertheless, he had to.

He released her and went to his car, got in. Shifting
the gear into reverse, he saw Mariah and her dogs watching him leave. She
looked so sad — vulnerable, and he felt like a total asshole leaving her.

 
If he did
stay, she would be in danger … not from the others, but from him!

✝✝✝

Watching him drive away, she touched her lips,
still tingling from his kiss. She glanced down at her dogs, who were sitting on
their haunches, heads tilted as they watched her.

“I know, I know! I'm supposed to be sensible. No
men allowed. What in the hell am I supposed to do about a vampire then?”

A smile twitched her lips as she watched the SUV
disappear down the road. For the first time in her life, she had been part of a
real adventure and not just writing about one. As strange as it sounded, the
danger made her feel alive and free of the safety net she’d erected around her,
to protect her and the ones she loved. All thanks to a vampire who had stumbled
into her life.

Sighing, she went to the vending machine. Able to
ingest the cola without problems, she decided to try a candy bar. Eating it,
she instantly felt better. Potato chips went down as well without making her
sick. Stocking up, she carried her treats to her room and dumped them on the
bed. She fed the cheeseburgers to her dogs, then fetched the ice bucket and
filled it with water for them to drink. On the bed, she attacked the goodies, amazed
she could digest sugary and salty junk food without any difficulties. Deciding
not to question her good luck, she was just happy to be full at last.

Yawning, she went into the bathroom, to check out
the bite mark on her neck, startled to see there was a yellowish-green bruise
left. No fang marks.

How did she heal so fast?

Too tired to dwell on the miracle, she went back
to the bed and stripped before crawling under the blankets. Should she call
Sheriff Willard and let him know she was alive?

No, she had to give Rathe a chance to get to
safety before she alerted the authorities of her whereabouts. Afterwards, she
could explain what happened at the cabin and who was responsible for attempting
to murder her.

God, she hoped Murphy was still around Mormon Lake,
so he could be arrested. Bastard deserved to be beaten for torching her brand
new car!

✝✝✝

S
quatted
down on his haunches, his immaculate, expensive white suit stained with blood,
he viewed his victim with distain. Placing a crooked finger under Murphy's
bloodied chin, he searched his ghoul’s unrecognizable face, torn and swollen
from the beating he gave him. Disgusted as the sniveling ghoul begged for his
life, Murphy had taken much pleasure in causing pain and suffering to others,
his own weakness apparent when he was unable to withstand his own torture.

“Murphy, I want you to explain to me once again
why
the Slayer was alone and not protecting
his family.”

“Master?”

“I thought I made my orders quite clear. You were
to kill them, remember?”

“We ... we tried, Master. Rathe came at us
shooting. That’s when we realized the others had disappeared.”

“He always did love to play the hero.”

Murphy started crying. “Master, the woman with
Romulas, she-she had strange eyes.”

“Strange how?”

“Like … like the painting you have, Master.”
 

“What did you say?”