The Vampire (THE VAMPIRE Book 1) (39 page)

Jason, and the cab driver, seemed surprised at the unexpected appearance of each other in such a remote location and dark setting.

Augere, on the other hand, experienced no surprise.

They climbed into the cab and headed back to their hotel.

Chapter 19

Following Highgate

They rode in silence all the way back to the hotel, gazing out their respective windows; Augere quietly composed; Jason restlessly fidgeting.

Once they reached the hotel they walked up the stairs to their respective rooms on the second floor. Jason was about to enter his room. Augere paused in the corridor in front of his own room just beyond Jason’s and asked, “Is there anything you wish to discuss with me?”

Without a glance at him, Jason shook his head and then entered his room and closed the door.

Augere paused outside of Jason’s room, staring at the closed door. He stood there for several minutes more before turning with a heavy sigh and returning to the lobby.

Once at the desk, Augere inquired if Allen Genier was registered. A few moments later he was speaking to Allen on his phone. He asked Allen to come to the lobby, and there, as they stood near the stairs, in case Jason was to try to exit, Augere filled Allen in, briefly, on what had just occurred.

“Bloody hell. That is very unfortunate. How is he doing?”

“He does not have much to say.” There was a pause. “I did not intend for this to happen.”

“Of course not. There is no one to blame. You got him back here safely.” Allen paused.” I imagine be could be in a state of shock …he is probably still sorting it all out. Hopefully he’ll be strong enough to cope with this. What is the plan now?”

Augere frowned slightly. “I asked if he wanted to talk and he…would not.”

“We should give him some time. I think it is important that we keep an eye on him and not let him go off by himself. That seems too risky to me.”

“Yes. I agree.”

“I was going to get some dinner. Maybe after I introduce myself I’ll invite him to have a meal with me. That would give me a chance to assess what he is thinking and feeling.”

Augere nodded.

“Room service is very limited at this hour. I will inquire at the desk about ordering take away to be delivered. Will you look out for Jason, while I check into it?”

Augere agreed and returned to the second floor.

Upon reaching his room, Jason began to pace; his thoughts racing.

Maybe Augere had some kind of out of the ordinary level of energy, that, somehow, made it possible for him to make a connection…with another dimension? That was a big stretch. Jason had sometimes—actually had often—felt lightheaded and a little dizzy when he was physically near Augere. And Augere always seemed to keep some physical distance…was that why? There were such things as psychic…vampires…maybe that was it—not an actual…vampire. Because to even consider the possibly vampirism could really be true was just crazy. A psychic vampire maybe. Yeah. He would have to research that some more. Later.

His mind struggled to find and accept other answers. But a reality was descending on him with the clarity of a cold white light he could not escape.

Many small details, suspicions, incidents—all of which, independently, were just very odd and puzzling, once collectively accumulated began to merge into a huge avalanche of certainty that threatened to overwhelm him.

The reality it could be absolutely true was staggering. It just could not be: Augere. Vampire. It was so absurd; he just wanted to laugh about it, forget it, and go on as if nothing had happened. But everything seemed to point in that direction. Random thoughts and images came to him in a rush now, all coming together to create one image and one thought: Vampire. Or, maybe he really was losing his mind? He paced his room again.
Wait until Genier learns about this…what will he say when I tell him…!
And then Jason froze. But how could they not know…but they couldn’t…they would have told him…of course they would have… Or had he been tricked and lied to? Drawn into something sinister from the beginning? It stung Jason to think of the depth of deception that might have been perpetrated on him. Why would they do such a thing? He tried to catch himself, to stop this train of thought. It was starting to make him crazy. Genier had seemed so…no…it was too hard to believe it of him. And they were attorneys! They had a standing in the community; well known for generations. There is no way they could have been aware of something like this, much less have been able to get away with trying to hide it.
But what if it really IS true?…what if they did know?
Then they would have been trying to keep this a secret. Maybe Augere had been able to coerce them; controlled them, perhaps. If it was true, about what he was…and they did know his secret…then he and all of them had been counting on keeping that secret safe. They, and Augere, were involved in the secret together.

He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the crazy thoughts. It might still be easy enough to dismiss all of his fears, all of his wild imaginings, if only he had not seen the portal thing for himself. He had felt its hot breath and experienced the stench of it…that was as real as anything could get. And the sheer terror of it. He knew that damn thing was real! And no one on the planet, as far as he knew, was aware of the true existence of such things. And Augere was the other part of the equation. He had said so himself. But did that have to mean he was a vampire? Jason hardly knew what to think now. He was still trying to reason it out. And it defied reason.

The horrific event that had happened tonight—it was an accident. It had to be. No one had meant for it to happen. But because of it he had stumbled on the big secret he had not been meant to know: the truth about Augere. And the portal incident just seemed to confirm that truth. It was still so fantastic and so hard to believe! Augere seemed to confirm his status as some supernatural being without coming right out and saying it. If it was true, then the Geniers had to be in on it and no one had meant for Jason to ever know the truth. Augere had just been trying to be helpful tonight—letting him have that unique experience at Highgate. No one could have expected or predicted this outcome.

This huge secret would still have been safe, if he had not inadvertently stumbled on something he was never meant to know. And now—the only way they could ever hope to continue to keep such a huge thing a secret…was to eliminate anyone who found out.

That’s it,
Jason decided; he had become a liability to them now. They would have to get rid of him. No one else could possibly be trusted with a secret as big as this. That was how they had been able to keep this secret safe, probably for a very long time. The portals and that beast thing were just a part of it. Augere was the rest. His secret had to be protected.

Jason paced some more. This was so horrible! He felt a stab of anguish. He was enjoying this new life! He liked Genier. And he really liked Augere. Why was all of this happening—why was it all unraveling…?

He was certain now they were going to have to kill him.

I have got to get out of here. I have to get away and get back to the U.S. Not home—not to Boston,
he thought with a fresh wave of pain. He could never go back there.
And not to my family either—they would find me. I really have nowhere to go!
Zavi came to mind. Maybe he could go there, to her apartment. Figure out what to do then. But right now, first he had to get to the airport. Get on the first flight out. It was just a little after 7:00 p.m. now. He would take whatever flight was available.

Luckily he had already started packing earlier. He checked the small folio where he kept his cash and credit cards; he counted the money he had; he could get to an ATM, get some more cash. Then he froze:
his passport
. Augere had taken it that morning.

A few moments of blind panic followed: had all of this been planned then?! What was really happening here? Was it true the passports had been needed to reconfirm the flights? Now he doubted it. Had there already been a plan in place to get rid of him? To have this thing happen? But why? He began to feel physically sick. He tried to get hold of himself, to calm down and to reason this out. But rising fear and panic began to rule him now.

Augere who had asked for his passport. Augere who had suggested they go into the older part of Highgate. Had this whole thing been set up? Planned in advance? Maybe they had needed some excuse to do him in. Maybe all of it had been deliberately staged. A horrible act of betrayal. But why? He started randomly throwing things into his suitcase. Then he paused suddenly. He would leave without his luggage if he had to. He just had to get away. Right now. That was the important thing. He regretted leaving all the stuff he had bought, and all of his personal things. But what did all of that matter now? All the little treasures collected on one of the best trips of his life. Now none of it was important. Not if he was made to disappear. Not if he was going to be killed.

He grabbed the cash folio and shoved it into his jacket pocket and then threw his jacket over his arm and opened his door to leave.

He found Augere standing in the corridor not far from his door. Jason paused in his doorway, shocked to see him there. A few moments later Augere stepped closer to the open door.

“I was just going out for some air,” Jason hastily explained, the tension in his voice and lack of eye contact betraying him. He tried to step out into the corridor. Augere blocked his exit.

“I cannot let you leave.”

On sudden impulse Jason attempted to step past him, and Augere took hold of his upper arm with one hand and forced him back into his room. The grip was very tight, and fully encompassed his upper arm, though it seemed to require no effort on Augere’s part. From appearances Jason knew he should have been able to easily overpower him, throw him off balance and just bolt out of the door. But the effortless vise grip on his arm suggested otherwise. He was obviously dealing with someone very powerful. The truth of his situation, and the reality of what Augere could be began to seem even more apparent now. Jason was shaking with fright.

“I just want to go. Please let me leave. I won’t tell anyone about the portals or what we saw. You can trust me.” Jason’s pleading voice was unnerving even to himself.

Augere pulled him, effortlessly, across the room to a small table and he sat Jason down in one of two chairs there. With his free hand he pulled the second chair closer. Then he placed a call on his cell phone, while still holding onto Jason. “Come to the room. It is not locked.” The call ended.

Jason’s panic escalated. Someone else was coming? They were going to kill him, right here? Now? Or would they take him somewhere, to dispose of him…He didn’t want to let himself think of that. He had to get away. But no amount of struggle could release him from the steel grip that held him. Augere’s words and actions terrified him. He sat opposite Jason now and still held him fast.

Jason could not bear to meet Augere’s intense gaze. They sat in silence for several minutes. Jason’s mind was racing, thinking of what he could say or do to get away. What he could possibly do to survive this.

“Talk to me…” Augere urged softly, gently. The voice came as close to pleading as Augere was able to get. But Jason had already turned his face away from him. Jason’s heart was pounding in his ears. He heard Augere but did not want to hear him. He failed to hear the sadness in Augere’s voice, or see the depth of emotion in Augere’s eyes. The words registered in some distant part of his mind, somewhere past the intense fear he was experiencing. But he was caught up in the moment and in trying to survive.
He wants to know all that I know about him. I will admit nothing. It’s my only chance. Pretend that I suspect nothing about him
.

A gentle knock sounded on the door. Augere did not move. He continued looking steadily at Jason. He was about to speak again. The knock repeated a little louder.

Augere gave an exasperated sigh. “I am going to release you. If you try to run, you will get hurt.” The words were delivered tonelessly.

One second Augere’s hand was squeezing his arm so tightly he was sure the blood supply was cut off, and the very next second, Augere was at the door. Jason rose suddenly, ready to ask whoever it was for help. Or to try to run if he had a chance to.

Before opening the door, Augere turned to look at him.

“If you tried to leave and if you told anyone anything about all of this, I would have to kill you.” His tone of voice held no emotion.

Jason slowly and reluctantly sat down again. His arm was painfully throbbing. He already began to imagine other pain.

Jason was terrified and did not want to see but forced himself to look at the stranger who entered the room. His mind was clouded with thoughts of escape; of things he could say or do to get himself out of this nightmare.

A pleasant looking man with a tentative smile and calm demeanor, who resembled a slightly younger version of James Genier, entered the room.

Augere remained near the door while the stranger stood for several moments looking at Jason, who was eyeing both of them warily. Augere, with his back to Jason now, spoke quietly to the man for several minutes. The man nodded several times, while keeping an eye on Jason all the while.

Now what? Jason wondered. What were they going to do to him? He couldn’t stop trembling.

Augere remained across the room, while the stranger approached Jason.

The stranger extended his hand to him. “Hi, Jason. I’m Allen Genier. James is my brother. We haven’t met but I feel as if I already know you.”

Jason made no comment and did not shake his hand. His fear intensified.
How did James’ brother just happen to be here or get here so quickly? And why was he here? Further proof that all of this had to have been deliberately planned! But why were they doing this?

“It is often said I am the smarter and better looking of the two of us brothers. Unfortunately, it is usually me who makes that observation.” Allen smiled warmly, and his gentle laugh was an attempt to put Jason at ease. But it was already becoming clear to him that Jason was having a very rough time.