Part 20 (1/2)
It was Shelby's turn to be silent. Was there any future at all for two beings whose opposite natures seemed predestined to bring ruin to each other? Her mind cast around for something positive in what he had said. Change.She reached out and stroked his arm, feeling his hard muscles. ”But, sometimes change is necessary. It doesn't always mean destruction and chaos. Maybe our meeting was meant to force us to face our fears ... to force decisions on how we want to be- with ourselves and in relation to one another.”
”I've spent most of my existence avoiding just such a thing, but perhaps you're right. It was time to change.”
But his voice carried no hope, no joy. She took a deep breath. Now was as good a time as any to get specific. ”You said before that you were leaving.”
He lay on his back, one hand across his abdomen and the other behind his head. His long hair spilled over the bedding like another cover, and his gaze appeared focused on an invisible spot on the ceiling. She wanted to wrap herself in that glorious mane, wanted to press the length of her body to his, but her statement hung between them.
”I have no choice. I no longer have any authority here. If I stay, it will mean certain war between myself and all the others, with the human population caught in the middle.”
Still he made no mention of wanting to take her with him. Her throat tightened, but she forced her questions out. ”If you leave, will I be safe? Will they leave me alone?”
He shook his head, though his gaze never wavered from its focal point on the ceiling. ”No. You're more of a danger to them now than ever. You know who and what they are. It would be far too easy for them to just make you disappear.”
She tried to swallow, but the constriction in her throat made swallowing just as hard as talking. It was just as well. She had no idea what to say. She thought about giving up her life here. What did she really have? Now that Uncle Barry was gone, she had no family here, and certainly no close friends. But she had a career she loved, and if she sometimes lacked the respect of her peers, it was a job she had worked very, very hard to get. Still, she had started over before. She could do it. But to do it alone again?
What good was all the change if she didn't have Ric? ”So...” She cleared her throat and tried again. ”You would advise me to resign my job and move?”
Finally he turned toward her and propped himself up on one elbow. ”Forget this place and move as far away from here as you can.”
”I don't want to lose you.” The six words were all she could get out.
Ric's amber eyes stared at her, unblinking. They were such strange eyes, more animal than human. The beast in them should have made the primate in her s.h.i.+ver in fear, but all she saw was their exotic beauty.
”You haven't had a chance to experience-to truly know-what I am. I'm nothing but a shadow image of a mortal man. What is natural and right for me is what is destructive in your world. You've only seen the face I present to the human world-that of the good doctor-but if you knew all the things I'm capable of, you'd fear me. For instance, when you looked into my eyes just now I could feel your thoughts. Your desire for me is strong, and desire in a human is like a telephone wire. You were thinking I remind you of a wild beast in a zoo, but one you don't need bars to get close to.”
She could feel the skin of her face flame with heat. It was indeed very close to what she had been thinking. ”I don't think of you as an animal.”
”You should. Does it not frighten you that I can feel what's in your mind?”
”Fear. Maybe that's what I need. I've buried my fears for so long. I thought I needed to in order to stay strong, but maybe I can learn from my fears.”
He smiled and turned on his back again, drawing her to his side. ”I saved your life. You feel grat.i.tude. And you're tired. Tomorrow your cynical, practical self will return, and you'll realize there are easier ways of getting in touch with yourself than sleeping with a monster.”* * * *
Ric woke suddenly, unsure at first what it was that had touched his senses. He heard it again. It was his own name, carried softly by the night. He looked at Shelby. She faced away from him, still wearing the top and pants, but her back was bowed and pressed against his side. He bent forward and put his mouth against her ear.
”Shelby.”
”Umm.” She brushed at the side of her head, as if something was tickling her, and he caught her wrist.
”Shelby, get up. Someone's outside.”
She twisted toward him, her eyes open and searching the darkness. ”Now what? I thought it was over.”
How he wished anything could be that simple. ”No, but I didn't think it would start up again this soon.”
She huffed. ”That what would start? The war you were talking about?”
He nodded. ”It's Tux. I don't know how many more are with him. Shelby, I can't confront Tux and watch over you at the same time.”
She stared at him, her eyes round and gleaming in the moonlight filtering through the curtained windows. The fears that she seemed so happy to embrace only a couple hours before filled her eyes and overflowed across her face. Fear was as easy to read as desire. He knew she was worried about him even before she answered him. ”Go. Do what you have to do.”
”I'll have to kill him.”
”As I said...”
”Stay in the house. Do you have any silver knives?”
She looked away and knotted her brows. ”There might be some packed away with my set of silver flatwear.”
”Go look for one. If anyone comes toward you, aim for the heart and call out. I'll hear you.”
She hesitated. ”Aren't I safe inside? I thought vampires couldn't cross a threshold unless invited.”
He would have smiled at her naivete had the situation been less urgent. ”Vampire lore, probably tied to the notion that the devil couldn't go where he wasn't welcome. A threshold might stop a very young vampire, but not one with any age and power. Hurry now.”
He started to slide from the bed, but she caught his arm. ”Ric. Make sure you come back. I don't want to lose you.”
He pulled her to him and kissed her on the mouth. He took his time, refusing to let the situation rush him. Tuxbridge could wait.
He heard his name being called again, and he couldn't help smiling. It broke the kiss.
”What's so funny?” Shelby whispered as she stroked a finger down his face.
”Our guest doesn't appreciate being left waiting.”
”Then he shouldn't have come.”
He touched the corner of her mouth with the pad of his thumb. ”I'll tell him so. In the meantime do as I said.” Still wearing his sweatpants, Ric quickly pulled his shoes on and left the house by the rear patio doors. Tux was standing across the yard at the edge of the tree line. It was the time of the night that Ric didn't like-the hours just before dawn when the moon had set, the air was damp, and dew covered everything with a cold, wet film.
”Already violating your sanction, Tux? I'm sure Revelin Scott told you to stay away from me.”
Tux laughed. ”His sanctions don't mean anything to me. Dear, departed Alek Dragovich could have sanctioned me, and I wouldn't care. I also don't care if you know the truth about me now, because it no longer matters. Either I'll die the True Death, or you will.”
”I'm listening. This is about your brother.” Ric knew Tux was as willing to die to avenge his brother, as Ric was willing to do the same for Shelby.
”You're French. Have you ever heard of la societe du feu follet?”
”No.”
”I thought not. We've guarded our secrets carefully. The society originated in France and came to America with the fur traders and adventurers. The legends have spread from the bayou to the north woods, but it was the children's version that I told you before.
There used to be many of us in Michigan, but with Joel gone, I'm the last.” Tux spread his arms wide, as if he deserved a curtain call and spotlight.
Ric remained silent. He had never heard of the society that Tux referred to, but that didn't surprise him. The Undead were by nature isolated creatures, distrusting and disagreeable. They were as deceitful with their own kind as with humans, and yet Ric knew that vampires loved nothing better than to form their little cloak-and-dagger alliances and secret societies. They weren't formed for friends.h.i.+p, but to establish dominance. Those with power well tested in private advanced and survived. If they were lucky, those failing to establish dominance found a master to serve or apprentice with. The weakest, and those unable or unwilling to spend eternity in servitude, perished. In their own way, the Undead of Cristallia County had recognized strength in Tux and had gravitated to him. It was no wonder they had aligned themselves with Tux over him.
”Tell me more about this society.” The longer Ric could keep him talking, the more time Shelby had to prepare, and the longer he had to plan.
”There are no lanterns, no torches, no flashlights. Didn't you even wonder what my brother used to lure the sheriff into the woods?
He used himself. The feu, the fire, was within him, as it is within me. It was our gift in crossing. When you humiliated me by using the Hand of Death on me, I could have fought back, but the time wasn't right to reveal myself. I didn't know yet if I could trust you.