Secrets of the Night Special Edition (111 page)

"Pretend you're a deaf mute. That is the only answer. But the possibility of meeting someone is so remote as to be virtually nonexistent. This house is isolated on many acres of land with only cows and sheep in the vicinity. You can even go for walks, if you want, as long as you dress according to the times.”

Reluctant to worry him further, she suppressed her misgivings.” I'm going to miss you very much.” She took in all his features, studying his face as if seeing him for the first time. When he came back--and he had to!--what then? What kind of a future would they have? She chased that speculation from her mind, afraid to deal with it now--if ever.” I'll miss you,” she repeated.

"The same with me.” He enclosed her in his arms again, binding her to him, as if for all time.” Oh, God, I'm going to miss you!” He kissed her again and again, pressing her to him, as though they were part of the same whole, with one body, one heart, one being. She returned his kisses, tangling her fingers through his thick locks, her hands playing across his back. Gently, his fingers traced a path from her cheek to her throat and down to her breast, his hand molding her curves. A rush of warmth weakened her, and she couldn't think for wanting him so.

With a low moan, he stepped away to look long and fully into her eyes, as if to imprint her features in her memory.” I'll come back to you as soon as I can, and that shouldn't be too long.” His expression hardened.” Never doubt that I shall find Rosalinda, and when I do, I shall kill her.”

She kept silent; no point in repeating her fears.

"You know I want to return to you, more than anything, “Galan said, looking so dejected she wanted to hold him close, never let him out of her sight.” But I fear I must leave you now.”

"Already?”  I'll miss you so much.

"We'll be together again soon. Only remember that.” He smiled his blue ribbon smile.” And then I shall take you back to your own city, your own time.”

After one more deep kiss, he disappeared.

* * *

Stevie's worries about Galan increased with each day. Memories of his kisses, his caresses brought a rush of warmth to her body, a surge of hope to her heart. She missed him more than she'd ever thought possible. Resolved to convince herself he would come back, she explored the house and grounds, where she found a vegetable garden behind the manor. Cabbages, carrots, beets, and so many other vegetables flourished there, and those, added to the foods she'd brought, kept hunger at bay.

The land behind the house stretched over one-hundred yards to the river--the Thames, she guessed, since Galan had told her the house was about forty miles northwest of
London
. In lieu of a bath, she swam in the river every day, hoping the water was free of pollution this far from the capital.

Every hour of every day, she thought about Galan, praying for his safe return to her. When he came back--and she had to believe he would--what would they do then?

Forget about him, her brain warned her heart. There was no future for them. But could anyone else take his place? No need to ask.

As usual, Moloch and Rosalinda lurked at the back of her mind, keeping her awake at night and nagging her during the day. Galan had told her Rosalinda couldn't travel to this century, but what if she sent someone else after her? What about Moloch? If that creep came to kill her, what could she do?

Galan, please come back to me.

* * *

Where is the witch? Galan strode the length of his spacious living room, clenching his fists, aiming a vicious kick at a table leg. He must find Rosalinda. By the wide front window, he stared out at the night's stygian darkness, as if he'd see her lurking in the shadows.

There! Something moved by the allamanda bushes. Rosalinda? No, damn it, only a tree swaying in the breeze.

Weeks had passed since he'd left Stevie in fifteenth

century
England
, since he'd begun his search for Rosalinda. Still no sign of the crafty vampiress. How in God's name would he ever destroy the slut when he couldn't even find her?

But first, he had to feed, then--

"Going somewhere?” 

"Octavius! You do have a way of catching a body unawares.”

His visitor grinned.” Part of my charm. Why advertise my visit when I never know from one night to the next where I'll be?”  He settled himself in an easy chair, adjusting the folds of his toga.” Thanks, I believe I will sit down.” He frowned anxiously at Galan.” I meant this only as a social call, but I'm glad I came. You look worried, my friend.”

Uneasy, Galan sat on the sofa opposite him.” As well I should be.” He cracked his knuckles.” Did you know Rosalinda is still alive? She captured the mortal woman, cast her into a dungeon.”

"By Apollo, no! So what--?” 

"I rescued the mortal woman and took her back to the fifteenth century, but I must find Rosalinda.” Galan leaned forward, hands resting on his knees.” I want to know your feelings for the vampiress. I suspect you still harbor a tendre for her.”

Octavius snorted.” No longer. Lilith and I have renewed our relationship, and I flatter myself that she returns my affection. So if you want to find the other vampiress and eliminate her--"

"That's the problem! I can't find her. I've hunted her for over two weeks.”

"I'll look for her, help you all I can. If I find her, I'll tell her how much you miss her. Won't bother me if you get rid of her. In fact, I wish you would.” He stood, skimming his fingers through his golden locks.” Now I must return to Lilith. She misses me very much when I'm away. And I shall certainly apprise her of Rosalinda's resurrection. She might know something.”

"Indeed, yes!”

After Octavius left, Galan raked his fingers through his hair as his promise to Moloch returned to taunt him.

He must forget mortality, pretend he never knew Stevie,

but was the fiend keeping his promise to leave his dear one alone?

He wouldn't count on it.

* * *

In his bedroom, Galan stepped into his black loafers and ran a comb through his thick, unruly hair, then drew his car keys from his pants pocket. Another night's search for the vampiress. Another night away from Stevie.

Hunger pangs tortured him, and if he didn't eat soon, he'd have no strength, no power. Once satiated, he'd search for Rosalinda, and when he killed her, he'd bring Stevie back to this century.

And live without her until the end of time.

"Galan!”

"Rosalinda!” Absolute shock chased all other thoughts from his mind. By St. Aidan, she'd come to him again, a vision of cruel beauty with her pearlescent skin and glossy raven hair coiled atop her head. In a red velvet gown trimmed with black soutache and diamonds that flashed from her ears, neck, and wrist, she looked as seductive as ever. But soon, she wouldn't seduce anyone. She'd be dead.

She glided over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, a blood red ruby sparkling on her ring finger.” Miss me? You thought Lilith had killed me, didn't you?” 

Too bad she failed. Relief impeded his speech, and he hoped she'd mistake his silence for joy in finding her alive.” Rosalinda, I can't tell you what it means to me to see you again,” he declared.” When I heard you were dead . . .” He placed his hand over his heart, affecting an anguished look.

"So you did miss me.”

"If only you knew how much.”

"Speaking of Lilith, have you seen her? I'd like to, um, pay her my respects. She must be evading me.” An expression of pure cunning captured her face.” I wonder why.”

"Lilith? Haven't seen her in ages. Never mind about Lilith.” He reached for her.” We're together now and--"

Without a word, she turned from him and snapped her fingers.

Puzzled shock froze his movements.

"What?”

Too weak to vanish, unable to escape, Galan saw two revenants approach, their faces set with grim purpose. One beast held manacles.

"What the hell--?” Galan threw a glance at Rosalinda, a smug leer plastered across her face. Currents of fear zipped through every cell of his body. His pulse thundered in his ears. He couldn't think, couldn't move.

Clad in coarse burlap robes, the revenants stank of rotten meat and stale urine. Plodding steps shook the floor, a porcelain vase toppling onto the carpet.

"No!” Galan stepped back, summoning his vanishing

powers . . . to no avail. Weak from hunger, he was as helpless as a twig caught in a raging river.

The monsters grabbed him in their filthy, sausage-like fingers. Galan stared in horror at the manacles.

"Damn you!” He struggled against their grip, knocking over a table lamp, cracking the shade, shattering the bulb.” You bastards!” Fists flying, he struck out at them, but he was no match for their doltish brawn.

Galan twisted in their grip.” God, no!”

He spat in their faces.” Ugly dogs!”

Rosalinda stood to the side, smirking.” Dear Galan, is that the best you can do? What a limited vocabulary you have.” 

Neither speaking, the empty-faced revenants pinned him to the floor and clamped iron bands on both wrists and ankles. Glowing yet empty eyes stared at him, lolling tongues hanging from open mouths. Thick, beefy hands ended in sharp claws, like tiny knives that scraped and scratched his skin.

"You sons of bitches!” He writhed and twisted, kicking out at them, blows that bounced off, like trying to knock over a boulder with a balloon.

"Whoremongers!”

Rosalinda's shrill laughter echoed off the walls.” I have you now.”

Within seconds, he landed in a dungeon, amidst the dirt and slime that fouled the stone floor, the stench that polluted the air, the silence that presaged solitude for eternity. Sporting a proud grin on her pallid face, the vampiress preened before him.

Galan uttered one word.” Why?” 

"You won't leave the mortal woman alone. I captured her, but you already knew that, didn't you? I told her I'd come back to check on her in a century or so. But something--call it womanly intuition--prompted me to return a week later, and lo and behold, I find she's gone. Well, it didn't take too many guesses to tell me who rescued her. As long as she's alive, you'll remain my prisoner.” She giggled.” I brought you to the same cell she occupied. Rather a nice touch, don't you think?” 

"You bitch!”

"Oh, my, such ungentlemanly language.” She patted her upswept coiffure, her sharp nails gleaming like daggers in the dark.” I'm truly ashamed of these bonds,” she said with a dismissive nod, “but they were the only ones I could find at present. I took them from another cell, since you apparently broke the mortal woman's manacles,” she said with an accusing look.” Have to fetch new ones, and soon.” As if to tease him, she took a few steps closer, peering down at him.” I'll release you if you tell me where the human is.”

He shifted his position on the hard stone floor.” She's where you can't get at her.”

"So that's the game you're playing, is it? Well, then, I'll leave and come back to check on you in a century or so.”

"Moloch--"

"--still thinks I'm destroyed, and it suits my purposes to let him think so. He brags about all his spies, but they're a disloyal group. I bribed them not to tell him I'm alive, and I'll leave it to your imagination to guess how I accomplished that feat. We'll just say I haven't lost my bedroom charms.”

She cackled.” Moloch doesn't even know you're here, right in his own residence. Now it looks as if you won't be doing anything . . . except die.” With one loud screech, she disappeared.

Galan strained at the clamps that bound his wrists together. He jerked his feet, trying to break loose. It had been a snap to break Stevie's bonds after a recent feed, but now hunger debilitated him, draining him of all hope.

What was Rosalinda's purpose in capturing him? Did she think that if she eliminated Stevie, he'd love her again? Foolish, demented vampiress. Evil Rosalinda.

Was Moloch truly unaware of Rosalinda's machinations? The head vampire was far craftier than any other nightwalker, and surely Moloch knew of his imprisonment. Why, then, did Moloch not save him? If ever he escaped this cell--and by God, he would--he'd discover why that fiend did nothing to help him. But how would he get out of this Godforsaken pit? How?

Try one more time. If the vampiress intended to fetch new bonds, he must work quickly. He jerked and pulled and twisted, straining at the rusty bonds, never accepting defeat. Drawing on his power, he stared hard at the manacles, willing them to break. He was too weak, too weak! After a brief rest, he gathered strength for another attempt, then tried again. Still no luck.

His mind flashed a warning. Hurry before the witch returns!

He rubbed his wrists against each other, his aim to wear away the metal. Time lost all meaning as bits of rusty metal flaked off the manacles, until only a thin band of iron remained. Soon he'd free his wrists, then loosening his ankle bonds would present no problem. He breathed a sigh of relief. Not long, then--