Vampire King of New York (19 page)

“I hope you don’t mind flying.”

Evelyn smiled and cuddled very close to Max, putting her arms around him. He held her securely, and he slowly floated off the roof.

“How are you doing?” he whispered into her ear.

“Good.” The sky rapidly cleared of clouds. Enjoying the stars peeking out Evelyn avoided looking down. In passing taller buildings, most of the windows were already dark. Office workers had left for home. An ambitious few still labored at their desks and didn’t see them flying past their window in the dark.

Evelyn smelled the sea as they moved over the water. Seconds later, Max touched down on the deck.

A man in uniform greeted them. “Mr. Vander Meer, right this way. Would you care for drinks before dining?”

Max turned to Evelyn, her hand still clasped firmly in his.

“None for me, thanks.”

“Not at this time.”

The man scurried away. They moved across the deck to look over the railing, where a short distance away, the Statue of Liberty kept watch over her city.

“It’s beautiful.” Evelyn gazed up a Lady Liberty.

“You’re very beautiful and extremely courageous.”

“It doesn’t take much courage when you have a bolt-thrower for a sister.”

“You underestimate yourself, Evelyn.”

“I know truly what I am. I am a Telkhine with no powers. At best, when I hold Laura’s hand I conduct her power. I’m just grateful Laura loves me.”

“Why wouldn’t Laura love you?”

Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned away.

“In many ways, I wasn’t there for my sister. When I got the call that mom died in New Orleans, I should have called Laura immediately. I didn’t think of her. When I called Jack to tell him I had to leave for the funeral, all I could think about was how I was going to get the groceries, Jack’s dry cleaning, and J.J. from school. I didn’t think of her until I was at the funeral, and she wasn’t there. It dawned on me that maybe she had trouble getting there. There was no answer on her cell phone or at her apartment. I called her fiancé, and he told me they broke up. Why didn’t I know that? I was her maid of honor. Laura never called to tell me, but then again I didn’t call to see how she was, when I was supposed to be helping her plan the wedding.

“I called her landlady Mrs. McGregor. She was the one who told me Laura jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge.”

The boat lurched and Evelyn fell against Max. “She needed me, and I wasn’t there for her.” Tears streamed down her face.

He hugged her tight, then wiped the tears from her face.

She sniffed and looked out over the dark water with its surface shimmering like a thousand stars. “The wedding was only a week away. A week away. My sister was in pain and I wasn’t there. I can imagine what hearing about Mama did to Laura.”

“As soon as the last prayer was said at the funeral, I left for the airport. My husband was furious I’d flown to New York. He said, ‘Even in death, Laura was an inconvenience.”

“Wow. He was a sweetheart of a guy.”

“Yeah. He never cared for Laura. He made it hard for her to visit. Laura had to work a lot and didn’t earn a lot of money.” She sniffed and shook her head. “I need to talk about her, just to get the pain out. When she needed me the most. After her death, I turned her away.”

“What do you mean?”

“I understand vampires are not supposed to see their families after the change.”

“It’s not recommended.”

“After returning from collecting Laura’s things, I went to a psychic. One of my friends from J.J.’s soccer association always spoke about how right on target this woman was. So I went. She studied my palm and leapt out of her chair. She said, “Your sister committed suicide. She will return but it won’t be her. Her body was never found and a monster resides in it now. Do not let her in your door, or your family will die.”

Evelyn wiped at her damp cheeks. “I bought several things to protect myself.”

“What kinds of things?”

“Garlic cloves on a string.”

“Annoying but not a permanent deterrent.”

“Holy water.”

“Ineffective.”

“Then I bought a chicken’s foot.”

“What was the chicken’s foot for?”

“Good luck, but I didn’t have good luck. I don’t remember how long it was after her death that Laura came knocking on my door. When she did, I wouldn’t listen. I threw holy water on her and slammed the door in her face. The next day there was a red balloon tied to my picket fence and a note. I ripped it up without reading it and cut the balloon loose.”

“Why a red balloon?”

Evelyn smiled. “When I was a child, red balloons were my favorite. I didn’t read the note because I was scared. But days later, the pieces remained in the same spot in the grass. I took them and pieced it together like a puzzle.”

“What did it say?”

She opened her purse. Taking out a folded and heavily taped paper, Evelyn handed it to Max.

I will always love you, Evie.

Laura

Max folded it and returned it to her. She put it back into her purse.

“Your sister loves you very much.”

“You got that from the letter?”

“No, I got that when she threatened to disintegrate me if I ever hurt you.”

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“Laura can do it, too.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Max fiddled with something in his pocket. Suddenly it fell out and into the water.

“You dropped something.”

He shook his head and took off his jacket.

She held him by the arm. “What are you doing?”

“It’s important to me. I’m jumping in after it.”

Evelyn smiled. “It’s not necessary.”

Max followed her gaze down to the deck. A hand was pushing the small brown paper wrapped box through the railing. She bent to retrieve it. He leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the creature but only saw a seal like tail. Scooping up the box, she handed it to him.

“Just a little wet. I hope that didn’t harm it.”

He put the box back in his pocket. “What was that?”

“A Telkhine.”

“No, you’re a Telkhine.”

“Those are my kin who were doomed by Zeus to be dog-faced demons of the sea.”

“He just handed you the box?”

“He knew who I was.”

“How is that possible?” He moved closer to her.

Evelyn wanted his closeness, and she wanted his arms around her. Being near Max was making her crazy in ways she couldn’t control. She bit her lower lip in restraint.

“I don’t understand it fully myself. When Laura and I were little, Mama would take us to the beach. Whenever we went too far, the Telkhines were there and kept us safe. She didn’t really like our playing with them. I think Mama feared we would go out to sea with them and not come back.”

“Are they dangerous?” He asked taking her hand and leading her toward the cabin.

“No. Not really.”

Max pushed her to one side, and a chalky blur rushed through the air just past them and crashed into the water. They rushed to the railing.

“It’s a savage.”

Claws broke the surface of the water and then were gone. Again they reached into the air.

Max watched. He could not help but pity the creature. “I should rescue him.”

Evelyn walked further along the railing. “No, you should not.” She put her hand on his arm. “He tried to kill us and missed.”

“Well, the Telkhines are not helping him. Will they surrender him to me?”

“No, they won’t. They recognize what he is, and that’s why they will destroy him.”

Max frowned. He had just assigned the Telkhines certain qualities of kindness and now they were killing a creature.

Evelyn stepped closer to Max. “Can’t you see beneath the waves?”

“No, can you?” He turned to her.

“Yes, I see them pulling him down.” She leaned forward over the railing, and Max immediately grabbed her by the waist pulling her to safety.

“Be careful.” Then he leaped over the railing into the waves.

Evelyn didn’t think. She dove after him, hitting the water, and swimming with all her strength.

Even under water, the savage made a horrible sound. It screeched and growled trying to threaten the Telkhines but to no avail. Being a vampire, it didn’t need to breathe. She rushed in front of Max just in time.

Sister,
the Telkhines spoke directly to her mind, as they had when she played with them in her childhood.
You do not belong here, Sister. Go above and be safe.

They tried to get past her to Max. She moved like silk in the water, thwarting their every attempt.

Sister, he is like that one.

No, he is my lifemate.

They paused. They knew that term.

No, Sister, he is death.

He is my lifemate. Lifemate. I will leave now with him. We go.
She took Max’s hand and swam rapidly to the surface. They followed.

As she reached the water’s crest, she saw the ladder on the side of the boat, the reaching hands of the crew. She urged Max up first. He shook his head. She pushed him and pointed to the Telkhines waiting below. He didn’t look happy but began to climb from the water into the open air and finally into the hands of the crew.

Max immediately turned around and reached for her as she came out of the water.

“Thank you, everyone,” she said, climbing onto the deck.

“Thank you,” Max repeated. “Now everyone back to your duties.” He waited until they were alone on deck. “What was that?”

“They were going to kill you.”

“All I wanted was the savage. If only I could have questioned him.”

“When he fell into their domain, it was too late. They viewed you like the savage. I don’t understand why. David has been swimming with Laura, and while they don’t like him, they don’t want to kill him.”

“I know why, my love.”

She met his steady gaze.

“To many supernatural creatures, I am the same as a savage. Some even claim I smell the same.”

She sniffed him. “All I smell is musk aftershave.”

He chuckled, kissing her on the forehead. “I do love you. While you smell aftershave, they smell death. A young vampire like David passes for human in scent.”

Evelyn turned. Gazing into the depths of the water, she saw the execution. Then she leaned back into Max and turned her head away.

“What just happened?”

“They ripped him apart and used him for fish bait.” She walked toward the cabin. “I think I have to sit down for a while and have some tea.”

He hurried after her. “You swam in front of me and prevented them from tearing me apart.”

“That wouldn’t have stopped them for long. I claimed you as my lifemate. That’s why they let you leave.”

Max gasped. Then he smiled. “You did what?”

“I claimed you, so they wouldn’t take you away from me.”

Max was silent for a long time. “Thank you for my life, Evelyn Cordelais.”

“No problem.”

Kissing her on the neck, he added, “It has occurred to me that you have more supernatural gifts than you realize. My keen hunting vision cannot penetrate the waves, which you do easily. You’re also able to communicate with a different race of beings.”

“They are cousins.”

“Well, I’ll have to say something to the other vampires. Ever since David discovered that water couldn’t hurt us, not even salt water, everyone has been bathing, going to saunas, having showers, and going swimming. Now I’ll have to tell the ancients in the city not to swim.”

“I think that would be best, since the Telkhines could consider it an invasion.”

He nodded. “It was clear to me that the Telkhines of the sea, your kin, were concerned for your safety. They knew what you were immediately.”

“They are what I would have been, if Zeus did not bless my ancestors. Even with the divide, we remain one blood. And that bond allows me to see beneath the waves, speak to their minds, and hear their thoughts.” She paused at the cabin door, uncertain. A wave of dizziness washed over her, all the violence, all the confusion, ultimate power vs. no power at all.

Max caught her when her knees buckled. He scooped her up and sat with her in one of the large chaise lounges just inside the stateroom.

“Jacques!”

A waiter wearing a white uniform appeared. “Sir?”

“Hurry. Get some hot tea for Ms. Cordelais.”

The man ran off returning minutes later with a tea tray. He put it down on a table beside the chaise. “Cream? Sugar?”

“Yes, cream and one sugar.” Evelyn pressed her face against Max. Seeing the savage ripped limb by limb and fed to the sharks was horrifying. Her stomach flipped involuntarily. Max’s body was a furnace and it was soothing to be in his arms.

“Evelyn, you’ll want to sip this.”

She moved her head and accepted the cup against her lips. The hot liquid spiraled warmth through her mouth, down her throat, and rapidly through her body. Evelyn drank the entire cup.

“More?” Max asked.

“Not right now.”

“Sir, would you like the chef to prepare supper now?”

Max turned to Evelyn for her response. “I’m not really ready for food.”

“Give us an hour and a half.”

The man disappeared—actually disappeared.

“Are all your staff vampires?”

“On the yacht, yes. It’s just easier that way.”

“Why do we need an hour and a half?” she asked.

He lifted her off his lap. “I was hoping if you felt better, we could do some flying and sit behind the crown of Lady Liberty.”

Evelyn’s eyes lit up and her smile was breathtaking. “Yes, Max. Oh, let’s do that.”

He stood and opened the door for her, noting the way she averted her eyes from the waves. Holding her by the waist, he lifted off into the sky. Her warm breath in his ear ignited his blood. Oh, how he wanted to rip off her clothes and take her in his cabin for night after night of floating love. But for her sake, he restrained himself. He’d prefer that passion’s fire consume her and make her rush at him instead. Then he would be sure of her attachment to him. Damn. Even his thoughts betrayed him. He wanted her to love him, and he couldn’t help notice that each time he proclaimed his love for her, Evelyn avoided the words. But she had claimed him as her lifemate. She just needed more time.