Charity Moon (30 page)

“Okay, what’s wrong? Ashley didn’t report Selena doing anything unusual.”

“Well, she did. Last night she snuck into Levi’s room. But after a few minutes she came back out because Levi wasn’t there.”

“I know. He was here with me. That viper! I’m definitely going to kill her now. I knew it! She’s trying to seduce him!”

“Well, I’ll let Levi know so he can be prepared.”

“Thanks, Hector. I feel a lot better knowing you’re on top of this.”

“I’ll stay on it, Mrs. Charity. It’s my job to protect you. I won’t let this woman harm you, physically or emotionally.”

“I believe you, and thanks.” I reached up on my tiptoes and hugged him.

It was our last day of school before spring break, and I was eagerly anticipating spending it with Levi. My mom thought Ashley and I were going to the beach with friends. I know, I know, once again I was lying to her. My only saving grace was that I felt really bad about it. Surely that counts for something. The other alternative was being away from Levi, and I hated the thought of that even more. And again I said a short prayer of forgiveness.

When I met Levi in the parking lot, he had an odd expression on his face and looked tired, with dark circles shadowing his eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just have a lot on my mind.”

“Oh yeah? Like what, missing me?” I threw my arms around him and kissed his neck.

“Baby, you know me so well.”

“Not as well as I want to.” I kissed him again.

At lunch he still looked disturbed and aloof. I couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that he was hiding something from me, so I pulled out my phone and called Hector. When he picked up on the first ring, I walked out of the cafeteria so Levi couldn’t hear my conversation. “Hector, did something happen last night?”

“Um yes, Mrs. Charity, but I’m not comfortable telling you. You better ask Levi to tell you.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Yes, I’m afraid it might be. I’m sorry, Mrs. Charity. But just remember that he loves you. I’ve never seen any man love a woman more, just remember that.”

I hung up the phone with a sense of dread, approaching Levi with my heart in my throat. “Levi, we need to talk.” I pulled him to his feet and led him out the door, noticing his reluctance to move quickly.

“Uh oh,” he said under his breath, putting his hand in his pocket and jiggling his keys.

“Okay spill it,” I demanded once we were around the building.

“What do you mean?”

“Save the innocent act, Levi. I know something happened. Hector might obey you, but he talks to me. Is this the way our marriage is going to be? Are we going to keep secrets from each other?”

He sighed. “No, of course not. I just don’t want you to worry unnecessarily. Fine, but promise me you’ll remain calm. No overreacting.”

“Hold the phone fur face! I never overreact to anything!”

Levi raised one eyebrow, giving me a frozen glare.

“Okay—I promise.”

He took a deep breath. “Selena came to my room last night.”

“And?”

“And, she got in bed with me.” He eyed me cautiously. “And—well, let’s just say she was clothed in very little.” He cringed waiting for my reaction.

I bit down on my lip. “How little?”

He grimaced.

“Levi please tell me you didn’t, please!”

“Of course not! How could you think that? I love you. I could never do that to you.”

“What happened then?” I demanded, exasperated.

“Well, I was asleep, and at first I thought she was you.”

I put my face in my hands as the tears began.

“Please, Charity, don’t be mad. As soon as I registered her scent I became alert and immediately kicked her out—without looking at her. I promise.”

“And what happened before you registered her scent?”

His expression was pained. “Charity, please, you promised.”

“That’s not fair! You can’t ask me to promise to keep calm about something like this!” I shouted, resting my hand against my chest, feeling my wedding ring hanging on the chain and pressed against my heart. Tears leaked down my face. “This is such a nightmare. Can’t I get a break, please, God?” I pleaded, looking up to the heavens.

“Please forgive me. I don’t even remember much. I was asleep, and I thought she was you. I’m so sorry.”

“I have to go.” I took only two steps when Levi grabbed my shoulders, turning me toward him.

“Don’t go! Let’s talk about this. Let’s work this out,” he pleaded while holding my shoulders firmly.

“What do you think would’ve happened if you hadn’t become alert when you did, huh? And what about tonight, or tomorrow night?” I became very angry. “I have to go now before I say or do something I’ll regret later.”

“I’m not letting you go.” He was holding me tightly, too tightly.

I jerked out of his grasp and slapped his face. I stormed off before he could turn to look at me. He didn’t try to stop me. I couldn’t see past my own hurt to feel sorry for slapping him, but I knew I would regret the action later.

I went to my locker, collected my things, and headed to my car. I was on my way home when I realized it wasn’t Levi I was mad at—it was that viper, Selena. Then I turned my car around and headed to the Drake House to confront her.

I entered the parking garage, parked my car, and sat there for a minute collecting my thoughts, what weapon to use, where to hide the body, etc., when my passenger door swung open and Selena slid in, pointing a gun at my head.

I grimaced. “Gee, why am I not surprised to see this turn of events?”

“Humans are so predictable.”

“And I’m guessing I’m supposed to know what that means.”

“It means I knew Levi would tell you what happened last night causing you to rush over here and confront me. Everything worked out just as I planned. Now—drive. And if you cry out so your precious Hector hears you, I’ll shoot you, then him, and I’ll still escape.”

“You know you’re really lucky you have that gun right now.” I cranked the car and headed back out of the garage, just hoping that someone would think to check the cameras.

“Then your plan is to kill me so you can have Levi all to yourself, is that it? Well, it won’t work because Levi will never love anyone the way he loves me. We have a heart connection.”

“So I’ve heard, and that’s exactly what I’m counting on. You see, Charity, I don’t want Levi at all. In fact, I purposely blew in his face last night so he’d catch my scent and force me out. I was a little nervous when he wouldn’t fully wake. He was so cute though, thinking I was you. He called me kitten and whispered such sweet things in my ear. I would say you’re lucky, except I know how things will end for you.”

“Are you saying you’re not after Levi?”

“Oh, I’m definitely after him, but not in the way you think. You see, I’ll use you to get Levi where I want him.”

“Why do you want to hurt us? What have we done to you?”

“You haven’t done anything to me. But your pack has pissed off the vampires.”

“You work for the vampires?” I was appalled.

“Well, it’s more like I
have
to work for them. You see, Raven’s holding six of our pack members hostage, including my husband, and he’ll release them once he has Levi in his possession. And in order to get him, I had to get you. Everyone knows he’ll do anything for you.”

My heart ached at her words. I hoped Levi would forgive me for slapping him. He didn’t deserve that. Tears welled in my eyes at the very recollection.

“Let me get this straight, you’re
not
trying to seduce my husband?”

She laughed. “You’re a little slow, aren’t you? No, I’m not. Don’t get me wrong, he’s gorgeous, and I enjoyed last night more than I should’ve, but the only one I look forward to being with is my husband, and I’ll do anything to free him.”

“You do love him then?”

“Yes, more than anything.”

I sighed in relief. “Well, as much as it pains me to say this, I mean
really
pains me, I’m sorry I misjudged you. I guess I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

“Well, thanks, and it pains me to say this to you, but soon you
are
going to be in my shoes, except there won’t be anything you can do to save Levi and his elite.”

I gasped. “What do you mean by that?”

“Raven wants them all dead as retribution for the deaths of the coven your pack killed ten years ago.”

“But Levi was just a child. He had nothing to do with those deaths.”

“It doesn’t matter, a pack is a pack. We’re here. Turn off on this road.”

I turned off onto an old logging road and drove a good distance on the trail until we came to a decrepit two-story house with stained glass windows. I had never been in the area before and had no idea where we were. I wondered how long it would take Levi to find me, if he even wanted to find me.

“Selena, why don’t you just wait until daylight and free your pack while the vampires sleep in their coffins?”

She laughed at me. “Hasn’t Levi told you? Well I guess not. Vampires don’t sleep in coffins. If they sleep at all, it’s at night like us. And although the sun does hurt them, it won’t kill them unless they stay out in it too long. Eventually they’ll just dry up. Only direct sunlight hurts them, zaps their strength. That’s why they picked this house, because the windows are stained glass.”

“So, I guess crosses, garlic, and holy water won’t hurt them either, huh?”
Stinkin’ movies.

“No, but a stake through the heart would do it if you were fast enough.”

“But couldn’t a werewolf kill them? How did they capture your werewolves?”

“Silver chains coated in Wolfsbane. The herb seeps into their skin quickly, turning a werewolf into his human form and rendering his strength useless against them. It prevents them from making the change. The vampires wrapped the chains around six of our werewolves, and they’ve been bound, and in pain, for two weeks now.”

“I’m sorry, Selena.”

She reached over, sticking her hand into my purse and pulling out my cell phone. “I’m sorry too. Now let’s go.”

My heart pounded out of fear as I approached the porch. I remembered what Levi had told me about the vampires. They’re very strong and some of them are very old, and wise, but they can be vicious. I had no idea what they had in mind for me, but I imagined it wouldn’t be good. I walked up the stairs slowly. Selena opened the door and pushed me gently in. I was so scared I felt my heart hammering in my throat.

I didn’t see the werewolves, but I spotted two beautiful, pale women in long, flowing gowns moving gracefully down the stairs. I stiffened as they glided toward me. One picked up a strand of my hair and sniffed it, while the other circled me. It was as if they were sizing me up, perhaps they felt like I was a threat, though I couldn’t imagine why.

“I assure you ladies, I’m nothing to worry about, just a silly girl.”

“Oh we know,” the fiery red head said, an evil laugh escaping her full, red lips that sent chills up my spine. They began pushing me around, one after another, as though I were some sort of plaything. I was starting to get ticked off.

“Enough!” a commanding voice shouted from the top of the stairs. The two women hissed, and I actually felt a breeze as they blurred past me and disappeared into another room. My eyes widened in surprise as I looked up to see the man, who I assumed was Raven, gliding gracefully down the staircase. He was a tall, lovely man, not steamy sexy like Levi, but beautiful, with straight, jet-black hair that fell just to his shoulders and very pale skin. His eyes were as black as the bird he’s named after, and his lips were a pale red. I was prepared to be afraid as he approached me, but for some reason I wasn’t.