Bound by Blood (Vampire Romance) (13 page)

Again, she had the driver drop her off at the corner. This time though she was prepared and knew not to exhibit any fear. There couldn’t be such things as vampires. But there was another dimension, the stories she heard growing up were full of them. She would have to be brave, have to get Sandy.

A task much easier said than done.

She stayed in the shadows of the neighboring houses, thankful for the amount of shrubbery the neighborhood seemed to think essential.
What if Alex had been telling the truth?
She brushed away the thought. Immediately, the fact that there was nothing resembling food in his kitchen leapt to her mind. ‘Focus,’ she told herself. When she was here earlier, in spite of the fact that she was terrified, she had noticed a basement with street level windows, not unlike the other houses in the area. If one of those were open it would be a snug fit but she could manage to squeeze her body through and enter the house. When she was closer, she saw, that unlike his neighbors, Carlos has managed to modernize a bit and had glass block windows in place, providing an effective barricade.

This close to the house, literally with her body against the side of it, she could feel the roughness of the bricks beneath her gloved hands. If possible, she would try to get in through the door; if one was left open. The front door was locked tight, as was the side door. Unsure of where to head next, she followed the house outline until she was around the back where the ground sloped away allowing access to the older sliding glass patio door, creating a basement entrance. She couldn’t see through the vertical blinds hanging across the window but the room beyond looked dark. She took that as a good sign. Her hand trembled as she reached out for the door handle, letting it rest there a moment, listening. Confident there were no sounds from inside, she tugged at the hold, relieved when it slid open. She pushed it aside just enough for her to slip in then hurriedly closed it after her. She didn’t want a draft to alert anyone of her presence.

Giving herself a moment to adjust to the darkness, she stayed close to the wall abutting the door. She began moving in the direction of the stairs when a hard body immediately plastered itself across hers, a hand over her mouth stifled her scream.

When she quickly inhaled, it was
his
scent, and she relaxed. He pressed against her harder until she felt as if she were going to leave a permanent imprint in the wall.
Didn’t he recognize her?

“I wondered how long it would take before you arrived, Alessandro. You certainly took your time.”

Alex said nothing.

She could hear the other person –vampire – sniffing the air. “Ah, we have the nanny too. She was here earlier.”

 It was a statement, not a question. She froze in place.

 She hadn’t heard him come any closer, but his voice sounded that way. It sounded as if he were directly behind Alex. As if to prove her right, Alex turned his body, so she was entirely hidden behind him, his granite shoulders against her nose.

“Carlos. If you wanted to find me, you only had to ask. I’m not hiding.”

There was a raspy chuckle. “You are not necessary.”

Alex relaxed his stance, but she quickly realized he had merely shifted his weight, giving him the freedom to move should he wish.

“And the nanny? Were you brining me fresh goods.”

Was he talking about what she thought? Surely not.

“I imagine she is here for the same reason I am.”

“Oh, not the same reason, Alessandro, but perhaps she also wants the child.”

Could there be any other reason? Alex seemed to think so earlier, but he hadn’t been very articulate about it.

“Where’s the child, Carlos?”

“Tsk, tsk. So impatient. She’s fine,” he said. “It’s to my best interest, or should I say, ours, Alessandro, that she remains that way.”

“She needs to be with her family, in her own bed,” Lisa spoke up. She couldn’t stand the thought of Sandy being so close and not with her.

“Lisa?”

They all heard the small voice float down the stairs.

“I’m here --” She broke off when she sensed rather than felt Carlos advance. Before she even recognized the threat, Alex pushed her further into the wall.
There would definitely be an imprint.

As Carlos reached out for her, Alex blocked the other vampire, sending him sailing away from her. There was no other word. All the while, she could hear light footsteps coming down the stairs and Sandy calling her name.

When Alex leaned toward Carlos, she pushed past him, lunging for the stairs and snatching the child to her. She ran toward Alex, only to find her way blocked by Carlos. He had appeared slighter than Alex, but this close he was formidable.

Alex pushed him aside, “Go,” he screamed at Lisa. Even as he did, Carlos reached out and snagged her by the arm. She managed to push Sandy free toward the door, but again Carlos was too quick, stopping the child’s flight. “Not so fast.”

The look he showed to Alex was horrifying in his superiority. “Now what, Alessandro?”

Alex looked at him, not making eye contact with Lisa. “You tell me.”

Chapter 13

Nothing good could come of this. Carlos literally had Lisa and Cassandra where he wanted them. He wasn’t sure of his role in this scheme.

“They can be of no use to you, Carlos, release them.”

“You are very wrong, you know. This one,” he shook Lisa’s arm, “is of no use.” He pushed her toward Alex, who never took his eyes off Carlos, but managed to catch Lisa with one hand as she was propelled toward him. He never glanced at her but swept her behind him. He didn’t trust Carlos enough not to send her literally through the door.

“Release the child, Carlos.” He never broke eye contact with the other vampire. Following his gaze, he saw him studying his ring. Using that to his advantage, Alex tilted his hand so it caught the barely visible light in the basement. Even in the dark, the ruby was identifiable as such. So Louis was correct. It was something Carlos wanted. The question was why.

Alex purposely held that hand out in Carlos’ direction, toward the child. He took a step closer. He could feel Lisa moving in unison with him, as if she was his shadow. That would have been amusing if he were not so angered by her insistence on being present.

“There is nothing the child can give you.”

“But there is. She is probably the only one.”

“Let her go. I will stay in her place.”

“That won’t work, Alessandro. I need your blood.”

He felt Lisa stiffen behind him. Had Carlos realized how much he revealed? “Perhaps you can use something else.”

“Your blood. And since I can’t have yours, I’ll take this one.”

Instantly, before Carlos finished the sentence, Alex was on him, delivering a blow between the vampire’s eyes, sending him reeling back, and releasing his hold on the child. In practically the same movement, Alex snatched the girl’s hand and shoved her toward Lisa, propelling them both out the door.

It was more than enough time for Carlos to regain his senses and dive for the pair. Bad judgment on his part, Alex thought, pulling the vampire from practically mid-air and throwing him against the exposed brick wall of the basement. He was nearly to the door when he was seized by Carlos and thrown. But unlike Alex, his aim had been the glass door. The impact shattered the door, but gave Alex the position he wished to be in. Catching up with Lisa and Cassandra after he tumbled to a halt and regained his balance, he snatched them on the run and immediately took to the air. Cassandra’s screams trailed behind him then were quieted when they touched the ground.

They didn’t have much time. Carlos was not hurt, and more than angry. Still not talking, Alex gathered them close, carrying them, and ran for Phillip’s. At least the church would provide sanctuary for them. Even Carlos was not brave enough to do much harm there.

A moment later he ushered them inside the nave of the church. “You’ll be safe here,” he told them.

Cassandra whimpered. He didn’t blame her. He stretched out a hand to caress her head and she flinched away from him. Didn’t blame her for that either, but Lisa seemed to as she crooned soft words to the child, telling her how he helped them, all the while glaring at him over the girl’s head.

He gave her a crooked smile, telling her he would return as soon as he found the priest.

By now, the sun was on the horizon and Philip seemed surprised to see him, especially since he was sure he looked worse for the wear.

“Were you able to get her?” the priest asked.

“Her and the nanny.” It was hard to keep the disgust out of his voice.

Philip raised his eyebrows in question.

“The idiot woman went after the girl even when we told her not to.”

“I take it you brought them here,” he said as they started walking toward the nave of the church.

Alex nodded. “Carlos is after them. More accurately, after the child.” Stopping, he put his hand on the other man’s arm. “You’re right Philip. He really does want the child. Something about he needs her blood – well, my blood, but that is the only way he can get it.”

“That doesn’t sound at all good, Alex. What do you plan?”

“I haven’t had time to plan anything, but for certain they can’t go back to the Morgan’s. I need a safe, secluded place.”

“I know just the one.”

As soon as Philip described it, Alex knew it would do. He also knew that it would be exceedingly dangerous if he were to take them there, if they d even consented to go with him.

“It would be best if you were to take them and I can meet you there.”

“Perhaps.” He gave Alex a worried look. “I don’t care for myself, Alex, but what if Carlos follows us, or prevents us from reaching our destination?”

Alex shoved his hand through his hair in frustration. “If I take them he’s certain to follow.” He thought for a moment, trying to imagine what would deter Carlos. “If there was some way to disguise their scent… That is what he follows.”

“I can’t think of how that would be done. Can’t you do something to protect them? Something that will put him off?”

As if that wasn’t what he had been thinking. “Silver,” he said suddenly.” But you have to do it.”

Philip raised his eyebrows in question.

Alex stood closer to him as he quickly explained how silver would be toxic to Carlos, to any vampire really. “It won’t disguise their scent, but should protect them if he catches up to them.” He knew he was putting a weapon against him in Lisa’s hands if she didn’t already know, but he needed to protect Cassandra and there was no other way he could figure out how do so. “Do you have anything, anything at all that is silver? Something we could use?”

“There is a church behind those doors, Alex, what do you think?” There was no mistaking the amusement in Philip’s voice.

Alex’s was much more serious. “I was hoping you had something personal.” If by some slim chance he wasn’t already dammed, he didn’t particularly think he should antagonize the Almighty and use holy goods.

“Let me check, “Philip said, “I may have some cufflinks.” He left the room and Alex could hear him rummaging in his drawers. He reappeared after a few moments, the cufflinks closed in his palm. “I do have them,” he shook his hand as if testing the weight of the jewelry, “but I’m not really certain how pure silver they are.”

Alex motioned with his hand that Philip should give them to him. “I can tell,” he said wryly. “Just lay them on the table.”

The older man unwrapped the protective cloth and laid the cufflinks on the table. As he did so, Alex concentrated on listening to Lisa calm Cassandra. He would have smiled if he had been more relaxed. She was doing an admirable job; even he could barely detect the fear in her own voice.

He brought his attention back to the matter at hand when Philip displayed the cufflinks. They had an onyx setting and were old-fashioned, so the amount of silver was less that he would have liked, however, he realized that it also increased the chances that they were pure and not the white gold that was so popular. Reaching out a finger, he touched the onyx set. Even there he could feel a slight warmth. Certain he was dealing with the real thing, he removed his hand, wet his little finger with his tongue and extended it toward the shank. The sizzle that arose caused Philip to jump back and Alex to remove his finger quickly. “Definitely pure.”

He extended his reddened digit to Philip. “And that is why you have to handle it.”

Philip nodded. “Tell me what to do.”

That was the hard part. He was winging it as he went, but knew he only had a short amount of time to work and whatever he did was going to have to be effective and last, at least until he could find out exactly what Carlos was after. A quick glance out the window showed the sun would soon be in full force. That could work to his advantage. If he could get Cassandra and Lisa to the old church on the mount during the day, there would be less chance Carlos could easily follow them.

First things first. “Find me a metal file and some kind of body lotion. Oh, and leather gloves wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Philip raised his eyebrows at that. “I’m sure there’s a file around here somewhere, even gloves, but lotion?”

“Any kind of body cream will work.”

Philip was shaking his head. “There’s nothing like that here. Tell me what you want to do and maybe I can find an alternative.”

Quickly, Alex explained how he planned to use the silver dust and combine it with the cream so the girls could rub it on their body.

“Wonderful idea! Will oil work? I have some cooking oil at the rectory.”

“I would rather no one leave until we are finished. Is there nothing here?”

“Consecrated oil?”

Alex gulped.
Would that damn him further?
“There’s nothing else?”

“Not that I can think of.”

Finally, Alex nodded. What else could he do?

Once Philip was out of the room, Alex searched for other items he could use and quickly lined them up before Philip returned bearing the file and a vial of oil. He held the latter up for inspection. “Is that enough?”

Alex nodded as he pulled on his gloves, then stopped. “I forgot we’ll need a dish or a container, something to mix it in.”