Vampire Mine (20 page)

“Right. And she heard you, too, bro. You‟re in desperate need of some professional help from the Love Doctor.”

“You‟re a doctor?” Marielle asked.

“Of love,” Phineas clarified, then puffed out his chest. “You‟ll never find so many happily married couples as there are around here. Is it a coincidence that all this romance occurs when the Love Doctor is around? I think not!”

Connor shook his head and led them down a glass-lined hallway to the cafeteria. Through the glass, he could see Roman playing with his children on the basketball court. Radinka and Father Andrew sat on a bench nearby.

“Now let me tell you how to set up the perfect date with your lovely lady,” Phineas continued. “You gotta take her somewhere romantic.”

“Like a park?” Marielle asked.

“Yeah, that would work,” Phineas agreed.

Connor slanted a glance at Marielle, and she was watching him, her eyes twinkling with humor.

“And then, bro, you gotta buy her something sweet to eat,” Phineas said.

“Like ice cream?” Marielle asked.

“Yeah, that‟s it.” Phineas slapped Connor on the back. “You just do whatever your angel here wants. She‟ll tell you what‟s romantic.”

She smiled at Connor, and his heart did its usual squeeze. “My goal is no‟ to date her, but to get her back to heaven.”

“Oh.” Phineas looked disappointed as he turned to Marielle. “You don‟t want to stay here with us?”

Her smile faded. “I don‟t belong here. I live in constant fear of brushing up against humans and causing their death.”

Phineas nodded. “That‟s a bummer. Roman‟s still kinda pissed about what happened.”

Marielle sighed. “I‟ve come to apologize, but I know that‟s woefully inadequate.”

Connor‟s jaw clenched. “ ‟Twas my fault.” He stopped outside the cafeteria doors.

“Shanna‟s in here. I can leave you alone a few minutes while I report to Angus.”

“Angus isn‟t here, bro,” Phineas said. “He and Emma went to Nebraska. Robby and Olivia went with them.”

Connor stiffened. “Dead bodies?”

“Yeah. Sean Whelan called to let us know that a local sheriff discovered ten bodies in a small town. They went to see if Casimir was behind it.”

Marielle hung her head. “I‟m so sorry. I should have sensed that.”

“ ‟Tis no‟ yer fault,” Connor said. “I asked ye to find a peaceful death close by. We‟ll try again tomorrow night.”

“You were able to teleport to a death scene?” Phineas asked.

“Aye.” Connor nodded. “When ye see Angus, tell him the training is going well. We should be ready in a few nights.”

Phineas nodded. “Will do.” He turned back to Marielle. “I need to get back to the office to keep an eye on everything. Thank you for helping us.”

“You‟re welcome.” She touched Phineas‟s shoulder. “Bless you.”

As Phineas headed back to the security office, Connor opened the cafeteria door and escorted Marielle inside.

Shanna was across the large room, standing by the window and gazing out at her children. When the door banged shut behind them, she turned.

Connor kept his face blank, but a sharp jab speared his heart. Shanna had always seemed so vibrant and full of life, but now she had joined the ranks of the Undead. There was a new fragile paleness to her skin, and something a little different about her eyes. The blue irises were more intense.

“Thank you for coming,” she said softly and smiled.

Connor flinched inwardly. Shanna‟s fangs were retracted, but he could still see the sharp points.
Bugger
. He didn‟t understand it. How could so many of his friends marry mortal women, knowing full well this would be their future?

Shanna‟s eyes widened as she looked Marielle over. “You‟re really an angel.”

Marielle knelt and bowed her head. “Dear soul, I have caused you terrible wrong. I pray you will forgive me.”

Shanna approached her. “Father Andrew told me how upset you were when you learned about the accident.” She leaned over. “It
was
an accident. There‟s nothing to forgive.”

Marielle looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “I‟m so relieved you‟re all right. God bless you and your family.”

Shanna‟s eyes glimmered with tears, too, and she extended a hand. “Thank you.”

Marielle took her hand and stood.

Connor looked away. They were probably able to forgive so easily because neither one had been at fault. He was the one who had brought Marielle here, ignoring all her protests that she mustn‟t be touched.

He sat at one of the tables, giving the ladies some distance so they could chat. Still, with his heightened senses, he could hear everything they said. As always with Shanna, the conversation soon turned to her children.

She led Marielle over to the window to point out Constantine and Sofia, who were still playing on the basketball court with their father.

“They‟re beautiful,” Marielle murmured. “You and your husband are truly blessed.”

Shanna nodded, tears shimmering once again in her eyes.

“How are they doing?” Marielle asked.

Shanna sighed. “It‟s not easy for them. Since they were born, they grew up knowing their father was unavailable during the day, so they just accepted it. And they always had me.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “Now they don‟t.”

Connor noted the pink tint to Shanna‟s tear and turned away. Tears crowded his own eyes. Guilt bore down on him.

“We‟ll adjust,” Shanna continued. “They‟ll learn to sleep more during the day so they can be awake more at night. And they can spend more time at the school. Thank God I have Radinka.

She‟s like a grandmother to them. And my sister, Caitlyn, is a big help.”

“I‟m glad your family is here for you,” Marielle said.

Shanna sighed. “Not all my family. My father is the head of the CIA Stake-Out team. He hates vampires. And shifters. I—I don‟t know how I‟m going to tell him.”

Marielle touched her shoulder. “What is his name? I will pray for him.”

“Sean Whelan.” Shanna smiled sadly. “It‟ll take a lot of prayers to sway him. He‟s still furious that Caitlyn turned into a were-panther.”

Marielle‟s eyes widened. “How did that happen? Was she attacked?”

“She married a were-panther,” Shanna replied. “She risked her life to be with the man she loved.”

“Good heavens,” Marielle whispered. “She was very brave.” She turned toward Connor and their eyes met.

His chest tightened. God help him, he was falling for her. He looked away. What a bloody fool he was. Always berating the other guys for falling in love, and here he was falling faster than any of them had. It was pathetic.

“Caitlyn‟s expecting twins in a few months,” Shanna continued. “We‟re all very excited about it.”

Marielle smiled. “That‟s wonderful.”

A tap on the nearby window snagged Connor‟s attention. He glanced up to find Father Andrew motioning for him to join them outside.

He trudged toward the glass door and nodded at the ladies. “Excuse me.” He let himself out onto the patio.

Radinka was still seated on the bench, but she was staring at the window with an expression of awe. “I can‟t believe I‟m seeing a real angel. She‟s so beautiful.”

“Aye.” Connor glanced toward Roman.

A glint of anger flashed in Roman‟s eyes, then he turned back to his children.

“He‟ll come around in time,” Father Andrew said quietly, then gestured toward a cement bench farther away.

“He has every right to be angry,” Connor muttered as he followed the priest.

Father Andrew withdrew three vials from his coat pocket. “These contain holy water. To help you fight the demon. Has he returned?”

“Nay, no‟ yet.” Connor dropped the vials into his sporran.

“Thank you for agreeing to protect Marielle.” Father Andrew sat on the bench. “I‟ve been pondering how we can return her to heaven.”

Connor sat beside him. “She hopes that helping us defeat Casimir and the Malcontents will prove her worthiness, and the Archangels will take her back.”

“She believes she can earn forgiveness?” Father Andrew frowned. “In my experience, it doesn‟t usually work that way. The Lord honors a truly penitent heart.”

Connor scoffed. “She is truly penitent, and look where it got her. Wounded and left bleeding in the dirt.”

The priest sighed. “I cannot presume to understand everything that is going on, but I do feel that we are witnessing divine providence. Perhaps the Lord has loaned her to us for the express purpose of defeating Casimir.”

“And then afterward, He intends to take her back?” Connor glanced toward the windows where she was standing next to Shanna.

“I believe so,” Father Andrew said. “Can I count on your assistance in getting her home?”

He continued to watch her. “I gave her my word I would do everything in my power to get her back.”

The priest was silent for a moment. “Perhaps your assistance will help prove your own worthiness.”

He snorted. “I am past redemption, Father. Even the demon knows my name and said I was on his list.”

“There‟s a word for a man who believes what a demon tells him.” Father Andrew gave him a wry look. “He‟s called a fool.”

Connor scoffed. “I‟m a realist.”

“God is real.”

“So is the demon. I‟ve seen him.”

Father Andrew sighed. “Does she understand how dangerous this mission could be?”

“Aye. We worked tonight on a way for her to defend herself. And we successfully teleported close to a place where she sensed death.”

“How did you know where to teleport?”

Connor shifted on the bench. “I had to . . . slip inside her mind for a few seconds.”

The priest sat back. “You were inside the mind of an angel?”

“For a few seconds.”

“That must have been incredible. What—what did you see, if you don‟t mind my asking?”

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “It was . . . a beautiful, peaceful place full of love and compassion.”

“I bet it was.” Father Andrew sat silently for a moment. “I‟ve never met a man whom the Father couldn‟t forgive. If you confess—”

“Nay. I confess nothing.” Connor stood. “I‟m a lost cause, Father. That‟s why I‟m the perfect choice to protect Marielle. I have nothing to lose.”

“And everything to gain,” the priest muttered, then rose to his feet. “Come. Let‟s see if we can convince Roman to talk to Marielle.”

“So he can forgive her?” Connor asked dryly.
Or forgive me?

Father Andrew walked toward the glass door to let himself into the cafeteria.

“Father, no!” Roman strode toward him. “It‟s not safe.”

The priest gave him a bland look. “I talked to her last night without any problems.”

“You had several Vamps to protect you,” Roman argued.

“Then come in with me.” Father Andrew opened the door and walked inside.

“God‟s blood,” Roman muttered, then glared at Connor. “Aren‟t you going in?”

“After you.”

Roman‟s eyes narrowed, then he glanced back at the children. “Stay here with Radinka.

I‟ll be right back.”

“I want to meet the angel,” Constantine said.

“Me, too!” Sofia skipped toward him.

“No!
” Roman winced, then softened his tone. “I need you to stay here. You can watch her through the glass.”

“Come, my darlings.” Radinka gathered the children in her arms. “We‟ll have a lovely view right here.”

Roman shot Connor an annoyed look as he entered the cafeteria.

Connor followed and saw that the priest was talking to Marielle, but keeping a safe distance.

Shanna grabbed Roman‟s hand and led him toward Marielle. “You would think a former monk would be eager to meet an angel.”

Roman looked properly chastised as he stopped in front of Marielle. “It is an honor to meet you.”

Marielle inclined her head. “I am so very sorry for the pain and grief I caused. I will remember your children in my prayers each day.”

“Thank you.” Roman extended a hand.

She took it, then flinched and looked more closely at him. “I have encountered your soul before.”

“Yes.” Roman nodded. “I met you last night, though you were mostly unconscious.”

“No, it was . . .” She tilted her head, studying him. Then with a gasp, she released his hand and stepped back. “Good heavens! It can‟t be.”

Connor moved to her side. “What‟s wrong?”

She shook her head. “It was so long ago. How can . . .” She looked at Roman, her expression a mixture of shock and horror. “You were my first mistake.”

R
oman stiffened. “You‟re calling me a mistake? After nearly killing my wife? That‟s what I would call a
mistake
!”

Marielle winced. She still needed to learn not to say everything that came to mind.

Roman strode toward the door. “This meeting is over.”

“Give her a chance to explain,” Connor said.

Roman whirled around and glared at him. “What has gotten into you? Have you forgotten where your loyalty lies?”

Marielle saw Connor‟s hands curl into fists, and she grabbed his arm to stop him. “Please don‟t blame Connor for my mistakes,” she told Roman.

He scoffed. “And your mistakes include me?”

Connor shot her an angry look. “Release me. I fight my own battles.”

She let go, surprised that his angry lash stung her more than Roman‟s. Why shouldn‟t she seek to protect him? He always protected her.

“Enough!” Father Andrew scowled at them all. “Let‟s all sit down and let Marielle explain.”

She took a seat and glanced warily at Roman.

He sat with an impatient huff. Shanna sat next to him, took his hand in hers, and leaned close to whisper something in his ear. His tense expression relaxed.

They had a good marriage, Marielle realized, one filled with understanding and tenderness. Roman‟s sour mood stemmed from the fear he had endured, the fear of losing his beloved wife.

She glanced at Connor who was sitting nearby, his arms crossed, his face frowning. She sighed. He‟d been so happy earlier in the evening, but now he seemed downright grouchy.
He
knows he is losing me.
She‟d go back to heaven as soon as she could. And he would be left behind, still lonely and still full of pain and remorse.