Authors: Marissa Farrar
“Goddamned witches,” spat Sebastian,
seething with fury. Right when he’d thought his family was safe, witches had forced themselves back into their lives and now they had taken Elizabeth. He’d always prepared himself in case of the need to deal with others of his own kind, but having more witchcraft threatening not only Elizabeth, but the very world they lived in, made him livid.
H
e caught the glare of warning Serenity sent in his direction and forced himself to clamp his mouth shut, but Iona didn’t skip a beat.
“I don’t think vampires have done this family much good either,” she snapped back, her hands on her hips, her blue eyes blazing like glacial ice.
“Don’t put all vampires into the same hat,” said Vincent with a snort.
“You can’t talk,”
Sebastian directed at Vincent. “You were involved in Elizabeth’s kidnapping for Demitri when she was small.”
“That may be, but I’ve been here for Serenity and Elizabeth ever since you decided to take off.”
“I didn’t just
take off
,” he snarled, clenching his fists to stop himself from swinging at the other vampire. “This family is none of your concern.”
“Would you two stop fighting!” said Serenity, her face pale, her whole body tight with anger and fear.
The last thing Sebastian wanted was to upset Serenity. She’d been through a lot and deserved better than watching his squabble with a rival. And he didn’t doubt Vincent was exactly that, his rival. He’d noted the way the other vampire acted around Serenity, protective, much like he did himself. Sebastian trusted Serenity’s love for him, but he’d not missed the way she looked at Vincent either. No wonder Vincent wanted him out of the way. If he didn’t exist, perhaps Serenity would have made room for Vincent in her heart instead.
Tension simmered between the two vampires.
“We want the same thing, Sebastian,” said Vincent eventually.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think that’s something you want to admit to me, Vincent. I’m two hundred years older than you.”
“I meant Elizabeth’s safety. Whatever I may or may not feel for Serenity, she’s made it perfectly clear that you’re the only one who will do.”
Sebastian watched color creep up over Serenity’s cheeks and she glanced away from them both. This was obviously a conversation she and Vincent had already had. That Vincent must have declared his feelings for Serenity, despite knowing that she was, and always would be, Sebastian’s, made him want to tear the other vampire limb from limb.
Vincent said nothing more, finally realizing he should stay silent in the presence of a much older, angry vampire.
Serenity stepped forward,
her hands held out. “Listen to me, both of you. I’m getting a bit sick of playing the peacekeeper. Either you’re here to help Elizabeth and we’re all united in one cause, or you get the hell out of my house, because, frankly, I’ve got more important things to worry about than whatever stupid vampire-vampire or vampire-witch politics are going on here. Okay?”
Sebastian ducked his head, chastised. He shouldn’t be directing his anger at others when he needed to be thinking about what they were going to do next. Also, the chances were they’d need Iona. She was their only link to the people who had Elizabeth. As much as he hated to admit it, they’d probably need Vincent’s strength as well.
The more people on their side, the better.
He snaked an arm around Serenity’s waist and pulled her against him. Just the sight of her was enough to stir a part of him that seemed to die whenever he was separated from her. He wanted them to be alone, to lose
himself in the sensation of her skin on his, to trace every inch of her body with his fingertips, to cover her mouth with his. He glanced down at her and prayed she still wanted the same. But now was not the time.
Her body stiffened at first and then relaxed. He lowered his face to the top of her head and kissed her hair. He could hardly believe she stood by his side once again; he only wished their reunion had happened in better circumstances. Once again, it seemed too easy to correlate his presence in their lives with them being in some kind of danger. Even though this had nothing to do with him, he was here now with Elizabeth in trouble.
But she’s in danger because of who and what she is,
he reminded himself. She was half vampire because of him and they’d never be able to change that. People would always find a way to try to exploit her.
The idea that he might be better off protecting his family if he were near
suddenly occurred to Sebastian. Perhaps
he
was not the most dangerous thing Serenity and Elizabeth could be exposed to.
“Okay,” he said, taking control. “We need to figure out where these people might have taken Elizabeth. How long has she been gone now?” he said, looking down at Serenity with a slight frown as he tried to figure it out.
“I can’t say for sure, but no more than a couple of hours.”
“So she could easily be outside the city by now.”
“What about the storm?” said Vincent. “That’s bound to slow them down.”
“True,” Sebastian agreed. “Unless…” He trailed off.
“Unless, what?” Serenity prompted.
“They’ve used some of her vampire abilities to get away from the city. We don’t know who is with Conner, except his son.”
“Is that likely?” she said in alarm. Her attention moved from Sebastian to Iona.
“I’m not sure, but I have an idea about how we might be able to contact her,” said Iona.
“How?” Serenity asked her. “I’ve tried her cell phone over and over again, but it’s always turned off.”
“I’m not talking about phones. Do you remember when you came to my trailer last time?” Sebastian nodded and he saw Serenity do the same. “Elizabeth contacted me before we’d ever even met. She reached out to me on another level. I’m wondering if I can do the same again to get her to tell us where she is.”
“Do you think that’s possible?” asked Serenity, chewing on her lower lip nervously.
“I think it’s worth a try.”
“What if she doesn’t want to be found,” Sebastian interjected. He turned to Serenity. “You saw how angry she was with us. By the fact that she left this house without any of us hearing her, I’m guessing she went of her own free will.”
“I’d never considered that,” said Serenity, her face falling.
Sebastian held her closer. “I’m sure it’s not the case. I just wanted to make sure we were open to all possibilities.”
“You’re just trying to make me feel better,” she sniffed.
“Elizabeth’s smart,” said Iona. “And even if she hadn’t figured out what Conner and his son are up to right away, I’m sure she will have done so by now. You say her vampire abilities are even stronger now, so there’s a chance her other abilities will be too. She’ll realize they’re up to no good soon enough, even if she doesn’t understand exactly what it is they’re trying to do.”
“I hope you’re right,” Serenity said.
Iona reached out and squeezed her arm. “Have a little faith in her.”
Serenity smiled, but the expression seemed
forced. “I’m trying.”
Vincent spoke. “I hate to break up the party, but the storm is getting worse and we’re running out of time. We need to get on with this.”
Sebastian nodded. “He’s right. What do we need to do?”
“Can I have something of hers to hold?” asked Iona.
“Something personal to her?”
Serenity gave a quick nod and ran up the stairs toward her bedroom. Sebastian let her go, even though he’d be faster. He’d not been in his daughter’s life for the past six years. What might have been personal to Elizabeth six years ago might not be the same thing now. But Serenity reappeared only moments later holding the now threadbare comforter Elizabeth had always used as a child.
“Here,” she said, slightly breathless as she held out the item to Iona. “Try this.”
Iona took it with a small smile. “Thanks.”
The young sorceress knelt on the floor in the middle of the room and closed her eyes.
Rain belted against the back
of Elizabeth’s head, as hard as if someone were flicking stones at her. They’d only left the motel room for a matter of seconds, but the rain had already soaked her through again. One of Conner’s big hands encircled both of her wrists, pulling them behind her back, wrenching her shoulders back. Her right shoulder already hurt from her fall, and the position was doing the injury no good at all. Tears welled in her eyes as he propelled her across the parking lot, toward a car, a different one from the one she had traveled in before—a big black Lincoln. Ryan and Orla came with him, while the other two took the original car she’d been driven in.
She hoped someone would notice this scene of a big guy manhandling a young girl across the lot, but with the terrible storm raging around them, people were staying away from the windows. She even hoped for the one thing she’d been trying to prevent—the overwhelming sense of her vampire side taking over, so she could use her strength and break away from them and run. Hell, right now, she’d even willingly bite him if she thought it would get her out of this situation she’d so thoughtlessly put herself in.
But, like everything else in her life, nothing seemed to happen at the most convenient time and she remained just a scared and wet girl.
They approach
ed the car and Conner reached out with his spare hand and yanked the back door open. Immediately, the wind caught the door and wrenched it out of his grip, slamming it shut. He swore under his breath and then exclaimed in annoyance, “Ryan, get over here and help me.”
He pulle
d the door open again and Ryan braced it. She stared at him, but he wouldn’t meet her eye.
Suddenly, the world seemed to shrink at the edges, as though her vision was compromised.
Oh, no. What’s happening?
She staggered in Conner’s grip, but realized she no longer felt his hand wrapped tight around her wrists. The pain in her shoulder had gone. The driving wind and rain had also melted away. She still stood in the parking lot, but felt distanced from it somehow, as though she now stood on a level where she was unable to interact with reality.
In the distance came movement. From out of the darkness walked a woman, her white-blonde hair flowing around her shoulders and down her back like spun silver. She moved with a determined walk, her chin held high, her features, though disguised by night, serious.
A flutter of recognition stirred in Elizabeth’s heart. She didn’t know what was happening, but she did know this woman, she had no doubt.
The stunning blonde reached her and stopped only a couple of feet away.
“Hello, Elizabeth. Do you remember me?”
Elizabeth nodded, the flicker of recognition swelling and bursting inside her, flooding her with relief.
“Iona! You’re so grown up.”
The young woman smiled. “So are you. Your parents are worried about you, Elizabeth. They’re trying to find you.”
Suddenly, she thought she would cry, her eyes burning with tears, a painful lump in her throat. But she didn’t want to cry in front of Iona. She didn’t want to act like a child.
“I want them to find me too!” she blurted. “I tried to send them a message, but my phone beeped and I was in the bathroom of a motel, and they heard me and took my phone. Conner smashed it on the floor and threw me across the room.” She lost control of her tears and they spilled from her eyes and streamed down her face. “You can tell my parents where I am now, but Conner is moving me because he thinks I’ve already told someone about the motel.”
“But where are you, Elizabeth?”
She turned her head, taking in the still flickering and broken neon sign of the motel. “What do you mean? I’m right here.”
“I can’t see where you are. All I can see is you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Don’t worry, you don’t need to understand. Do you know the name of the motel where they took you?”
Elizabeth nodded and reeled off the name.
“Good,” she smiled. “That’s good. We’re coming to get you, Elizabeth. Do everything you can to try to stop them taking you too far away. Okay? We’re coming, I promise …”
Elizabeth opened her eyes to
find herself sitting in the back of the car with someone shaking her knee. From the steady hum of the engine, to the motion of the vehicle, she realized they were on the move. She had no memory of getting in the car or Conner pulling out of the parking lot and away from the motel. Had she been away so long? And if she’d been away, where exactly had she been?
She blinked and turned slightly to find Ryan next to her, his hand on her leg, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Hey. Hey, Elizabeth. Are you okay?”
She gave her head a slight shake, her mind spinning at the sudden change in location. She didn’t recognize the street they drove down, though she prayed they were still in Los Angeles. The buildings on either side of her were all large and industrial and, with the exception of a few sheets of corrugated iron which flapped dangerously in the wind, they seemed to have withstood the worst of the storm so far. The palm trees which so commonly lined the streets of Los Angeles were absent here, and fresh terror burst inside her at the sudden certainty that they’d already reached a different city. If they took her to a place she didn’t know, how would she ever be able to tell her parents or Iona her location?