Corin & Angelique (After the Fall of Night) (33 page)

“You’re no devil, Corin. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes,
because looking at you now, I’m the one seeing the angel.”

Corin laughed, despite her seriousness. “That just proves you don’t know me
nearly as well as you think you do. There’s a whole other side to me, Angelique. An ever-hungry monster resides in me, a demon I subdue in the depths of my being. This beast is part of who I am, forever reminding me of the horrors I’m capable of.”

“You’re not joking, are you?”

“No. It’s no joke.”

“
A real demon?”

“Yes. Real as you and I.”

If I was changed, would I also have this demon in me?” she wanted to know.

“Yes, you would. With immortality comes the curse, and with the curse comes
the demon.”

“You’re right. There is a lot to consider.”

“By denying you immortality, I’m only protecting you from the evil of what you’d become. It would be wonderful having you with me forever, but it would be selfish of me. I would rather die than to be responsible for plaguing you with an eternal life of affliction and regret.”

“I understand what you’re saying, and I do love you for it.” She gave him a
kiss. “Now, I’d best get up.” She pulled away and crawled out of the crypt.

“Where are you going?” Worried for her safety, he wanted to keep her close.

He had no idea what move Boldor might make next. The nightwalker was dangerous and unpredictable.

“I thought I’d take a shower before checking on Tomes. Then I’ll see what I
can find for breakfast in that nearly barren kitchen of yours. After last night, I have quite an appetite.” She winked. “And Tomes needs to eat so he can get his strength back.” She talked while dressing.

“He slept well. I looked in on him earlier.”

“I think he’s going to be okay. Thanks to you.”

Corin
loved her endearing smile. “Don’t leave the house, Angelique. After what Boldor pulled, I—”    

“Don’t worry.
I’ll be perfectly safe.”

But
Corin couldn’t help worrying. Until Boldor was out of their lives, there was no place safe enough.

* * * *

Angelique left the basement and showered, doing the best grooming job she could without having any of her personal things from home. Before heading to the kitchen, she peeked into Tomes’s room, finding him awake and vastly improved.

“I can’t believe you’re up and dressed.”

“I want to go downstairs, Angel. I don’t like being cooped up.”

Knowing
there was no stopping Tomes once his mind was set, she helped him to the stairs. Taking steps one by one, it was a slow process, but they managed to make it to the bottom without any mishaps. Relieved, she settled him on the living room sofa, propped on several pillows.

“Stop mothering me
,” he shooed her. “Have you seen Corin this morning?”

Before she
spoke, Jordon entered the room.

“Good morning
,” he said cheerfully.

Angelique couldn’t have been more thankful for
his impeccable timing, his arrival giving her an escape from her brother’s question.

Keeping things from Tomes wasn’t
something she was particularly proud of, but she couldn’t confess to spending the night with Corin, in a crypt of all places. Tomes would blow a gasket. And she wasn’t ready for him to know, considering what he would think of her.

“I’m going to see what
’s in the kitchen.” She hurried away, hoping to find something palatable for breakfast.

Plundering through the cabinets, she managed to put together some oatmeal
and canned fruit.

It’ll have to do.

Hoping that Jordon had now steered Tomes’s thoughts in another direction, she returned to the living room.

“You’re looking so much better this morning.” She handed Tomes
a bowl.

She could breathe easier now, knowing he was on the mend. She couldn’t
stand the thought of ever losing him. He’d always been her rock.

“Thanks to Corin,”
He poked at his not-so-appetizing breakfast.

“What are these, peach slices?”

“It’s all I could find.” Angelique told him and turned to Jordon. “It’s not much, but would you care for some?”

“Yes, please, if there’s enough.”

“You might regret that,” Tomes chaffed.

“Knock it off, Tomes,” she felt as though she were reprimanding a child. “And
Jordon, there’s plenty. I’ll get us both a bowl.”

Angelique returned several minutes later, a bowl in each hand, and passed
one off to the immortal.

“
I’m a lot better. Thank God for Corin’s healing ability.” Tomes immediately cut his eyes at Jordon.

“It’s okay,” Jordon responded. “I know what he is.”

“Angel told me about you. That she saw you change form. So you’re not human either.”

“I’m an immortal, similar to Corin,” Jordon confessed.

“But you walk around in the daylight, so you can’t be a nightwalker.”

“I’m a different species—a diurnal immortal—a daywalker. The sun doesn’t
burn me, and I don’t drink blood. For our first fifteen years of life, we develop as you do, but then our aging slows and eventually stops.”

“That’s amazing.” Angelique said.

“At this point, nothing surprises me.” Tomes made it clear he wasn’t as impressed. “Are you even a real marshal?”

“You don’t trust me.” Jordon took a bite. “I can’t blame you. I am, after all,
nothing more than a stranger to you.”

“Exactly,” Tomes
didn’t try to be cordial. “How do I know you’re being truthful?”

“You don’t. But Corin knows who I am, and he trusts me.”

“I’ll be verifying that for myself, if you don’t mind.”

Jordon lowered his bowl and looked toward the foyer. “Someone’s here,” he
announced.

A second later, the doorbell rang out, deflecting the tension in the
room to the prospect of who the unexpected visitor might be.

“I’ll get it,” Angelique volunteered, happy to escape the animosity between the
two men.

“Careful, Angel, it could be the sheriff,” Tomes warned, putting his bowl
down.

“I shouldn’t be seen. It might prove difficult explaining why I’m here.” Jordon
hustled out of sight.

“Mr. Fulner, isn’t it?”
Angelique was surprised to see the funeral director.

“What is it you want here, Fulner?” Tomes called out. “The scum
bag’s involved with Boldor, Angel. He’s nothing but trouble.”

Jordon stepped out of hiding, making his presence known.

“Now boys, don’t go killing the messenger. I have something for you. Boldor’s orders.” He held out an envelope with a shaky hand.

“Bring it to me, Angel,” Tomes instructed.

The moment her fingers touched the envelope, Fulner rushed away, like a rabbit running from a fox.

“That guy’s a weasel,” Jordon view
ed the pudgy, balding man through the open doorway.

“I see him more as a worm,” Tomes
said. “He’s working for Boldor.”

“I guess that
’s not surprising. He’d need some greedy louse degrading enough to do his daytime devilries.”

“He fits the bill,” Tomes took the envelope from Angelique.

“Open it. See what it says,” she was anxious to know.

Tomes tore it open, slid the note out, and read the three words aloud, “It’s
your move.”

Angelique looked at Tomes, then Jordon.
“What does it mean?”

“It’s for Corin. Boldor’s letting him know he’s waiting for him to make the
next move in this demented game of his,” Tomes told her. “That’s how he sees all of this, as one big, sordid game.”

“I’ve been after this nightwalker for a long time, and believe me when I say
we’d best tread carefully,” Jordon warned. “He doesn’t play nice, or fair.”

“And he’s after Corin?” Angelique was afraid for him.

“Yes, he is, but with me, Corin, and now Jordon teamed up, our odds aren’t looking too bad. It’s three against one,” Tomes said encouragingly.

“Four, including me.”

“You need to stay out of this, Angel. Boldor’s a killer,” Tomes protested.

“I don’t want to argue with you
, Tomes. This involves all of us.” Angelique retrieved her bowl and stormed from the room, returning a moment later to find both men silently gazing her way as if in anticipation of what she would say next. “I’m going to borrow your truck, Tomes, and make a quick run to the farm.”

“
No,” Tomes objected. “You’re going to do no such thing.”

Jordon tried to suppress a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Tomes cut his eyes at him in irritation.

“You have to love her sass. She won’t stand for being controlled.”

“Someone has to feed the animals,” Angelique moved toward the stairs. “Besides, I need to pick up a few things.”

“You shouldn’t be going off by yourself, not with Boldor out there.”

“What harm can he do during the day? He’s a nightwalker. He can’t come out in the sunlight. So I think I’ll be safe enough,” she stood her ground. “I won’t be more than an hour.”

“She’s right,” Jordon surprisingly backed her up. “We should all be safe till
nightfall. And I’d be happy to tag along,” he offered.

“Thank you, Jordon, but I’ll be fine.”

“I think it would put your brother at ease.”

“You are so bullheaded, Angel,” Tomes harped.

“Please, you guys, give me a little breathing room.” She made her way up the staircase and fetched Tomes’s keys from his room. Coming back down, she found Tomes stooped against the lower banister, struggling to follow.

“What are you doing?” she
rushed to his aid.

“He wouldn’t accept my help,” Jordon stood at the foot of the stairs.

“It’s okay, Jordon. He’s stubborn.” Angelique helped Tomes back to the sofa. “Ploys like this will do no good, Tomes. I’m still going.”

“I know I can’t stop you. Just be careful, Angel.
If anything looks off to you, anything at all, you head straight back here,” Tomes instructed.

Angelique started for the door.
“I’ll feed the animals and get the things I need. I won’t be long. And don’t worry about your truck, Tomes,” she dangled the keys. “I’ll be gentle with Bonny.”

* * * *

Tomes had a bad feeling, fearing something had happened to Angelique.

“
You’re just worried. She’ll be okay. Boldor’s resting right now,” Jordon assured him.

“She’s next to impossible to deal with.” he grumbled with frustration.
“Stubborn as they come. I could argue with her till I’m blue in the face and still make no difference.”

Jordon laughed. “She’s a looker
, though. Really hot. A woman with a mind of her own.”

“Watch it! That’s my sister you’re talking about.”

“Sorry,” Jordon raised a hand. “But it’s hard not to notice.”

“Well, she’s off limits to your kind. I want her to have a normal life, meaning a
human life with a human partner.”

“You might want to make Corin aware of that fact,” Jordon told him.

“Corin knows. We’ve discussed it.”

“Maybe so, but it’s not always so easy to abide by the rules, especially when
emotions are involved. You’d have to be blind not to see the connection they have.”

“It will never happen!”

“Well, good luck to you there, buddy.” Jordon stood. “I’m pretty sure it’s already out of your hands. Sometimes it’s just meant to be.”

Jordon left
the room leaving Tomes alone. Contemplating the immortal’s words, Tomes knew Angelique and Corin were attracted to each other, but he had to stand between them in order to save his sister. He would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant saving her from herself.

Waiting for her return, h
e listened to the clock tick, seconds turning to minutes and minutes eventually reaching an hour. Weighted with anxiety, still having a bad feeling, twisted knots his gut.

Something’s not right.

“Tomes—” The sound of Corin’s voice calling out from the basement door
jolted him. Pushing himself up, he eased his injured body in Corin’s direction.

“Where is Angelique?” Corin
talked through the cracked door, careful not to let the sunlight strike his flesh. “I don’t sense her presence in the house.”