ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection) (94 page)

Samantha’s body was almost there. The steel door was directly ahead. Karyn used every last ounce of power that she had left. The instant Samantha’s ghost was inside the room, Karyn pushed all her strength back into Samantha’s apparition and gave it form. Karyn screamed Killian’s name as Samantha’s near-solid form slammed into the back of the blond haired vampire. Karyn had just enough time to see the startled look in Killian’s grey eyes, and then everything went dark.

Killian saw the ghostly form right before it slammed into the back of the vampire. He heard Karyn’s voice as she screamed his name. Killian had no idea what was happening, but he knew that this was his only chance. Just as the ghost slammed into the blonde vamp in front of him, Killian tucked his head. He came up fast, climbing up the back of blondie. Killian grabbed the vamp’s blond hair in one hand, pulling back and at the same time, shoved his feet forward against the vamp’s back. The blond head came off with a loud pop. Killian tossed the head at the last surviving vampire, distracting him just long enough.

Killian bounded forward. At the last second, he slid to the ground reaching up and grabbing the vampire by the throat. He pushed his knee into the vamp’s middle. The whole thing was over in less than a second. Killian collapsed to the floor, his own grave injuries suddenly hitting him like a freight train.

Killian had to find Karyn. That was all he could think about. He had to keep moving. He didn’t know how or why, but somehow he knew that Karyn had just saved his life. He dreaded the possibility that it had been at the expense of her own survival. Killian could usually feel her presence, but now he sensed only emptiness. All of his vampire skills were failing him; he was not immortal after all. Killian was dying.

Killian blindly pushed forward, his vision almost completely gone. His energy spent, he stumbled over his own large feet. All he could think of was getting to Karyn before he died. He needed to see her one last time. Through the fog of his mind, he began to hear voices. It seemed that the sounds should be familiar in some way, but he couldn’t quite put the pieces together.

Jack looked down the tunnel and saw the still stiff form of the strongest man he had ever known. The sight almost broke him. Jack rushed forward and caught Killian as he buckled forward. “It’s ok, buddy, I got you.” Jack’s hands found the side of Killian’s head and began healing. Jack couldn’t believe how close this was. The healing took almost an hour, and even then Killian was not fully restored.

Killian looked up and saw Jack kneeling over him. Everything was hazy for a moment and then everything came crashing back. Killian jumped to his feet. “Karyn! I have to find Karyn.”

Jack shook his head. “We have a whole crew of guys in these tunnels. We’ve been searching for over an hour, Killian, there’s no sign of her.”

Killian clapped his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

Jack nodded. “I had to come. When a ghost shows up and starts screaming at you, you had dammed well better listen.”

Killian nodded. “She’s here Jack, I can’t sense her anymore, but she’s here.” Killian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As he did so, he caught the faintest hint of something…his eyes popped open. “I found her. Jack, come on.”

Killian took off at a dead run, glad for the first time that he was a vampire. Karyn had cut herself, and he could still smell the blood. Killian turned and twisted down corridors he never knew existed, not wavering for even a moment. He knew how to hunt. Killian came into the room in a rush with Jack and about twenty other Department 99 guys. Karyn’s body lay slumped on the floor next to a young woman who stared blankly at the wall. Killian rushed to her and knelt beside her, cradling Karyn’s limp head in his hands.

“Jack, she’s still breathing.” Jack wasted no time.

Jack had been working on Karyn for twenty minutes and there had been no change. “It’s not working, Killian. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but it’s like there’s nothing for me to get a hold of.”

Killian rocked and rocked, feeling like everything he ever hoped for in life was fading away. “Don’t you die on me, Karyn. You can’t come into my life and make me fall in love with you just to let go.”

Jack stopped and stared at his friend for a long moment, and then an idea hit him. “Killian, I have an idea.” Jack laid one hand on the side of Killian’s head and his other hand on Karyn’s head. Killian was as close to immortal as you could get. If Jack could filter Killian’s life force into Karyn, it might just be enough to save her.

After what seemed like ages, Karyn’s eyelids began to flutter open. She looked up and found herself staring into Killian’s intense grey eyes. The sensation was like coming home for the first time.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Killian smiled. “You are one hell of a courageous woman.” Killian grumbled.

Karyn smiled back. “I love you too,” she whispered and then fell back into darkness.  

part 4

Samantha opened her pale eyes and squinted as her tiny pupils struggled to adjust to the bright lights now within the room. Department 99 personnel bustled around, and both Killian and Karyn hovered over her, watching intently. Samantha stared, still wide-eyed, as Killian placed his large hand on Karyn’s shoulder. Karyn had saved her life. Samantha couldn’t remember the exact details of how, but remembered that much.

Samantha sat hunched down on the floor, digging her long fingernails into her knees. Her mind whirred, and her body felt strange, and as though she somehow now inhabited new skin. She felt almost as though she was in the wrong body. Just the feeling of being confined within flesh and blood felt weird and alien. Somehow, digging her fingernails into her knees seemed to help. The pain grounded her, and helped her to orient herself within the room. 

She narrowed her eyes onto Killian. There was something a bit different about him—something strange. Even still, he looked intensely concerned about her own well-being, which she took as a sign to mean that he was a decent human being. His intense concern made her feel safe.

A young red-haired woman named Stella pushed her way forward, sporting a medical kit in one manicured hand. “Don’t you worry, sweetie,” Stella said with a slight southern accent. “We’re gonna get this situation straightened out. Can you tilt your head back for me? There you go.”

A second investigator named Forge, pushed his way forward. He wore dark thick glasses, and looked much like a psychoanalyst. “My name is Dr. Forge,” he spoke softly to Samantha. “Can you tell me your full name?” Samantha swallowed for a long while. “It’s Samantha… Samantha...nuhh…waaa… grrr.” Her gums seemed to flap, and her mind went blank when tried to focus on her last name. Dr. Forge looked over at Stella and nodded his head slightly.

Stella began to pull a few metallic tools out of her medical kit. In true Department 99 fashion—the equipment was tremendously advanced and complex.

“I’m guessing that she was under was some kind of mind control.” Karyn spoke up, trying to be helpful.

“Honey, I’m already on it,” Stella replied. The red-haired technician pulled out a device, which looked like a flashlight, and began to scan the tiny instrument all around Samantha’s head.

Dr. Forge started to explain the process, “Don’t be frightened, Samantha. You’re going to hear a few clicking sounds, but nothing will touch you. Try and keep your head as still as possible.” Samantha’s neck stiffened. She still looked as though she felt awkward in her skin—almost like a ghost, wearing a human-suit.

Stella raised the small machine up to Samantha’s forehead. The machine whirred and then began to beep. “Yup, just like we thought. We’ve got tracers here; Dr. Forge--- I’m reading at a 7.9 on the pull scale at a 0.5 descant interval.” Dr. Forge nodded, considering the information. Forge placed a hand into his pocket, waiting patiently.

Karyn turned to Killian with a questioning look. What was a pull scan?

“A pull scan will show the residual traces of another person’s essence. Basically, when you control someone’s mind, you leave these little specks—a lot like fingerprints, all over their energy signature. 7.9 means that she was virtually totally under someone else’s control.” Killian swallowed. “The meter only goes up to 8.”

Karyn’s eyes looked sad for a moment. She turned back to Samantha, who grabbed her hand gently and squeezed.

“Thank you,” Samantha smiled. “You saved my life,” Samantha smiled kindly. Something intimate passed between them, and Karyn averted her glance, feeling a bit vulnerable. There was something that felt really good about being near Samantha, and Karyn felt a bit confused by their connection. Were it not for social convention, Karyn would have hugged the woman and perhaps kissed her on the cheek. 

“What about the descant number? What is that?” Karyn asked Stella. Stella shifted uneasily and looked to Dr. Forge for permission to proceed.

Dr. Forge coughed. “It helps us to measure intent. Intent to harm has a different energy signature than energy intended to heal.”

Killian grabbed Karyn’s elbow gently, “It means she was under the control of someone involved with demonic forces.” Samantha heard Killian’s comment and seemed to grow uneasy. She began to whimper.

Sensing her discomfort, Stella chimed in—“Oh don’t you worry, child. We’ll get that bad mojo cleaned right on up. You’ll be good as new in no time.”

Karyn’s stomach turned over uneasily. She felt bad for Samantha—the woman looked so fragile lying there on the floor, and she wondered if it would be possible for her newfound friend to make a full recovery. As if sensing Karyn’s inquiry, Killian whispered into Karyn’s ear—“It’ll take a little time, but she’ll be okay.”

“Well, I can see that you’ve been through a lot,” Stella smiled. “You’re a pretty little thing too, ain’t you?” Stella smiled kindly a second time. “I’ve got a son that lives in New Hampshire and he would
love
you.” Karyn knew that Stella was trying to put Samantha at ease, but even still—Stella’s comment didn’t seem very appropriate. Samantha chuckled for a brief moment, and Karyn caught her glance.  Karyn quickly averted her eyes and focused on the floor. Her heart fluttered within her chest for one brief moment.

Jack strode over and raised an eyebrow. He then glanced down at Samantha and frowned. “Let’s talk in the hallways, guys.” Karyn felt proud that Jack seemed to want to include her in the conversation. Perhaps now that she had saved Killian’s life, he had gained a bit more respect for her.

Still in the basement of the hospital—Jack led the three of them down a narrow corridor, which opened into something that looked almost like a boiler room. “Hit me with it, brother. What are you thinking, Jack?” Killian asked, as soon as they were out of the earshot of the others.

“You know exactly what I’m thinking, Killian. This has to be an inside job. Who else would know about the LaLevy alarm?” Both men paused and looked over at Karyn.

“Why are you staring at me?” She asked.

“Do you have any ideas?” Jack asked. Karyn scoffed—barely a week ago she’d been a nurse, who didn’t even know that werewolves existed—and now they were treating her as if she was some kind of expert on the occult.

“How did you do that uh…that ghost thing, when you made yourself appear in front of me at the office? How’d you do that?”

Karyn tried to think back. “I just followed my instincts.” Killian looked to Jack, seeming a bit disappointed. Karyn felt guilty for not being able to contribute any more to the discussion. “I sensed a few things when I severed the connection between Samantha and whoever was controlling her mind.” Karyn remembered.

Jack patted her on the back and rushed off, “I’ll go grab Stella!” he called back as he rushed down the hallway. “Karyn might have some good tracers on her that we can track back to the source!”

Karyn and Killian enjoyed an awkward moment in the corridor alone. Killian didn’t quite know what to say. She’d risked her own life to save his. Karyn also didn’t quite know where to begin—her feelings were flowing through her, and she felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of old emotions, which were boiling to the surface. Killian reached across the room and gently brushed the tip of her hand with his vampire fingers. As always, he was ice cold…but the gesture was so affectionate and kind that it almost caught her off-guard. Karyn started to hold her breath without even realizing it. She looked up into Killian’s grey eyes—the amount of sincerity in his face almost made her uncomfortable. 

“Have you ever loved a woman before?” Karyn blurted out without thinking.

Killian looked deeply offended. “Are you asking me if I’m a virgin?” He questioned.

Karyn’s face turned a deep shade of red. “No, that’s not what I meant. I was just wondering if you were ever …in love before?” She stuttered.

Killian looked down, and then back into her eyes. He seemed to see her for the first time. She was striking. If only he could say what was truly on his mind. If only he could express how badly he wanted to take her into his arms and his her, and caress her smooth body. I’ve never truly loved a woman before meeting you, he thought—but was unable to let the thought escape from his lips. Instead, Killian looked down at his shoes and then back up at Karyn in a rueful manner.

In Karyn’s mind, she couldn’t understand why Killian was being so difficult. It was obvious—or at least it seemed obvious to her that he had feelings for her. Why did he try so hard to hide his emotions? Why couldn’t he just cast his fears aside and allow himself to get close to her? In that moment, she felt an unbelievably urged to press her lips up against his.

“What exactly did you mean by your question?” Killian asked —now seeming to enjoy her embarrassment a little bit. “I knew a girl once, who didn’t think vampires were capable of loving,” Killian said with a faraway glance in his eyes. Just by the look on his face, Karyn could tell that someone had hurt him deeply. “Anyway, love is such a subjective thing,” Killian continued. “Vampires lead our emotional lives a bit differently from humans. It’s so different it would almost be like trying to explain a color to you that you’d never seen before—you’d have no basis for comparison. But I guess, we’re more alike than we are different.” Now he seemed to be the one that was rambling.

“We are very alike,” Karyn added. “We’re more alike than you know,” she whispered. Karyn’s eyes were intense and they made Killian feel uncomfortable. His heart thudded within his chest and fought back the urge to take her into his arms. Slowly, Killian started to lean forward towards Karyn—steeling himself to finally make a move. His face leaned in closer to hers, and he parted his lips, wanting noting more than to experience the feel of her warm skin.

Jack came rushing back. “I thought that these scan things weren’t a big deal?” Karyn stated to Killian.

“Get in here guys!” Jack called down the corridor. “We need your help!” Jack screamed. “Samantha is having a seizure! We need you in here!” Jack called down the hallway. Both Karyn and Killian took off at a break-neck pace back into the room so that they could once again be at the young woman’s side.

“Jack, if you can use your healing powers, it’ll be much faster than the serum.” Stella stated flatly. Jack understood. Without a second’s hesitation, he unbuttoned the sleeves of his shirt and began to fold them backwards towards his elbows. He placed his hands out in front of his body and extended them towards Samantha’s head.

Immediately, a warm yellow light emanated from Jack’s hands. Then, suddenly the warm light shining from his hands turned black. Jack froze, as if he had suddenly become a mannequin. “Shit!” Stella screamed. There was a loud clap of thunder and Jack fell to the floor, motionless. Blood drained from out of his mouth, and now his body convulsed on the floor, much like Samantha’s had. The warmth seemed to drain from his complexion and he immediately turned a deathly shade of grey. All the air in the room went cold. Karyn immediately noticed that she could now see her breath.

Killian lunged forward. “Don’t touch him!” Stella screamed. Karyn grabbed Killian by the arm and struggled to pull him back. Something was very wrong.

More Department 99 personnel suddenly rushed into the room. Three men, who appeared to be Department 99 paramedics, lifted both Samantha and Jack onto separate stretchers, and rushed them off.

“I need them in the medical unit, ASAP!” Dr. Forge instructed, as he too rushed out of the room.

Killian and Karyn ran behind the stretchers into the parking lot. She’d never seen Killian in such visible anguish. They jumped into their car and followed the ambulance all the way back to Department 99’s headquarters. During the drive, Karyn was moved by Killian’s concern for Samantha. His eyes were so serious and intense, that she almost felt jealous. For some reason she noticed that her chest fluttered a bit and she felt a strange warm pulsating sensation between her legs—perhaps with all the excitement, she wasn’t thinking clearly.

Karyn had never seen the medical level of Department 99 before. It looked much like her old hospital, although far more technologically advanced. There seemed to be censors everywhere. Both Jack and Samantha had been rushed back for emergency treatment, and she and Killian sat in a tiny hallway on a small sofa. Karyn looked over at a steaming coffee pot across the room, and considered offering Killian a cup. Maybe that would help him relax a little bit. Then, of course—she remembered that he was a vampire. Vampires probably didn’t like coffee. Should she offer him some of her blood? Could that make him feel better? Karyn purposefully positioned her body close to Killian’s, and he seemed to relax a bit at the feel of her pressing up against his side.

His face was twisted up in his large hands. He kept nervously smoothing his hair back at strange intervals, and then blankly staring at the wall. Karyn placed one hand on his left shoulder. At first, he didn’t respond to her touch, but then she could see that his body appeared to relax a second time.

“After I got sucked into the vortex, I completely lost my identity,” he spoke, almost to no one. “Jack is my only friend. He’s all I’ve got.”

She looked deeply into his eyes, “He isn’t all you’ve got,” she said. At that moment Killian noticed the roundness of her beautiful breasts and could hear the slight thump of her pulse. Killian felt himself salivating in more ways than one, and started to feel guilty. He should be focused on his friend—not on ravishing Karyn, who seemed to have many other things on her mind anyway.