Part 58 (1/2)
Shanna let out a shriek that could wake the dead.
Jade jumped out of bed, disoriented, spinning around. She started to run to Shanna's room, then turned back for Lucian.
But Lucian was gone. Already. But she had known that he would leave; he had told her as much.
She wrenched the covers from the bed to wrap around her chilled and naked flesh and went flying down the hall.
Shanna was up, standing by her bed in an Eeyore nights.h.i.+rt. She looked as if she were all right. Jade's eyes flew to the bed where Renate had been sleeping.
Renate was still soundly sleeping.
”Shanna?”
Shanna flushed. ”I was dreaming.”
”Dreams are dangerous. What were you dreaming?”
”I dreamed that Renate came awake and attacked me with huge fangs. They were so big, she looked like a walrus.”
”Should we check her out?” Jade asked in a whisper.
”Maybe we should get Lucian.”
”Maybe we should, but we can't. He's gone.”
”Gone?”
”You know Lucian.”
Shanna walked steadfastly to Renate's side. Gingerly she touched Renate's lip, opening her mouth to bare her teeth.
She let out a long, soft, sigh.
Renate suddenly swung up. ”What are you doing to me?”
”Just checking,” Shanna said. ”Just checking.”
Renate looked around, frowning, disoriented. ”Where the h.e.l.l am I?”.
”Scotland,” Shanna told her.
”Scotland!”
”Good G.o.d, Renate, you crossed the Atlantic. You don't remember coming here?”
She shook her head. ”I think I remember a ...”
”Yes?” Shanna pressed.
”Nothing,” Renate said with disgust. ”Nothing but a delivery man.
What is going on?” she implored Jade. ”Why does my jaw hurt so badly?”
”Jade hit you,” Shanna supplied cheerfully. ”Sorry,” Jade murmured, staring at her sister.
”It's okay. You were trying to kill her,” Shanna added quickly.
”Oh!” Renate cried, and suddenly touched her neck in panic. ”Oh ...
am I all right?”
”We hope so,” Shanna said. ”At least as much as usual.”
”Could you please explain?” Renate said imperiously.
The sisters looked at one another. ”Long story,” Shanna murmured.
”I guess we're up for the day.”
”Yeah. I guess so. I'll order coffee,” Jade said.
”You might as well,” her sister told her, pointing toward the window. ”It's actually daylight.”
She started for the phone and then stopped. ”No room service,” she told Shanna.
”I could really use some coffee,” Shanna muttered. ”Have you noticed how we never seem to be able to get any sleep around here?”
”I'll hop in the shower and go down for some,” Jade volunteered.
”Where's Lucian?” Shanna asked.
”I don't know,” Jade admitted. ”Somewhere. To rest. Prepare.”
She walked back into her bedroom and realized that this time, at least, he hadn't just left her. There was a note on her pillow.
Oddly enough, that note touched her deeply. She had nothing tangible of him, or from him. And now a note. His handwriting was large, sweeping.
It's an arrogant hand! she thought, but with no bitterness. In his world, arrogance had meant survival often enough.
He wrote: Preparing for the evening; sun seems very bright today.
I, your inhuman friend, need rest as well, as I told you. Stick together, carry holy water, wait for me. I'll be back in the light; we'll strike before dark. Once again, stick together. Take care of yourself.
For me.
He didn't sign his name; there was no ”Love, Lucian” to finish off the note.