Creatus (Creatus Series) (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-three

“So why can’t I be a part of the meeting?” Kristina asked again from the passenger seat.

Derrick took his eyes off the highway and smiled at her pout, her arms crossed over her chest, her lip jutting out a fraction. He resisted smiling, knowing it would only irritate her more than she already was. “It’s not that I mind, but there’s a very good reason other than the others just feeling uncomfortable, which I tried to explain to you earlier.”

Kristina cocked her head and shrugged her shoulders as if to tell him she didn’t care what the others thought.

Derrick decided to continue with the rational reason why. “If authorities discover us, we can escape, you cannot. We—okay, I’d rather you not ever be put in a position where you would have to lie more than you already have to.”

She released a sigh as if she understood, but still didn’t buy it. “So, I just sit around and wait while you discuss using me as bait?”

He squeezed his fingers around the steering wheel. He should have never told her that Michael wanted to draw the rogue out by leaving her unattended. “We are not using you as bait, Kristina,” he said with finality. “Besides,” he continued, not giving her an opportunity to argue, “my mother has never been involved. She understands that she isn’t a superhero.”

A burst of laughter shot out of Kristina’s mouth. “A superhero? Is that what you are Derrick?”

At that remark, he found himself pouting slightly. There wasn’t a UFC fighter, boxer, or creatus that could take him out with their bare hands, but somehow, this tiny woman could bring him to his knees. “Some would say so,” he offered. “I don’t go around trying to act like one, and I may not be able to fly, but I can leap tall buildings with a single bound.”

Kristina leaned over the center console, draping her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. “You’re my superhero, Derrick. Always have been.”

Pacified, he kissed the top of her head, breathing in the raspberry scent, which he’d discovered was the shampoo she used. She could also lift him up faster than anyone else could.

After pulling onto his parents’ driveway, he drove around
to the rear of the house this time. He threw the gear in park and jumped out, anxious to get the day over with and get home.

Kristina jumped down when he opened the door and marched off toward the house without a glance backward. She was such a firecrack
er. Spunk, as he’d always known, the girl had spunk.

He heard his mother greet Kristina when she walked into the kitchen, and then the kiss she’d certainly placed on her cheek. “
Don’t forget they can hear us, sweetheart
,” his mother chirped,
but if you want to go for a walk, we can go down to the lake, out of earshot. I’d love some girl time
.”

“
I’d love that too
,” Kristina said. “
And I love you, Derrick, but I’m going to go find out all I can about you
.”

Derrick shook his head and walked off toward the barn, smiling, listening as his two favorite women walked out the front door chattering to each other. He was thrilled they were getting along so well, even if they planned to talk about him. He stopped in his tracks. No. They couldn’t go off on their own, he realized. He took off in a sprint and leaped the house, landing in front of them.

His mother threw her hand over her heart. “Oh, my word, Derrick. You scared the—I’m not used to you showing off, and you know better than that,” she lectured.

“I’m sorry. I really am. And I swear you can talk about me all you want. I promise I won’t listen, but you can’t walk to the lake by yourselves.”

“Why on earth not?” Sabrina retorted, folding her arms over her chest in defiance. His mother wasn’t the type of woman you told what to do, he knew.

“The rogue was here, Mom. At the lake when Kristina and I went for a paddle. He’d like nothing better than to take the two most important people in my life away from me, I’m sure.”

“Oh…” his mother said, and Derrick exhaled in relief, thankful that she didn’t plan to argue with him. Sabrina focused on Kristina and nodded. “He’s got a point, sweetheart. We’ll walk down together later, the four of us.”

“Okay, Derrick,” Kristina conceded. “But I’m taking a sign language course, and then I’m going to teach your mother.”

Derrick leaned in and kissed his mother on the cheek and Kristina on the lips. “Works for me.” He took off in a hurry, listening as his mother locked up the house. He’d make a conscious effort to tune them out, except of course if they were in danger. But he doubted the rogue would come anywhere near the house. Unless he or she was already in the barn waiting.

Michael intercepted Derrick at the door. “Good call on Mom. I’d hate to think she was in danger just because she was next to Kristina.”

Derrick crossed his arms, tucking his fists beneath his arms, resisting the urge to punch his brother. Michael was really getting on his last nerve. “So, you couldn’t care less what happens to my future wife as long as Mom is okay?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “You know that’s not what I said. Man, you’re in an awful mood these days. Still haven’t had sex, I take it.”

Rolls of laughter emanated from inside the barn.

Unable to resist, Derrick smacked Michael upside the head. At least he
hadn’t punched him. “I don’t think you said that loud enough for the Mid-West family to hear you. Want to borrow my phone so you can call them?” Derrick stopped talking as he heard a familiar voice. “Jonas is here?” He slammed past his brother, understanding why he’d met him at the door.

Michael hurried up alongside of him. “Chill, Derrick. He’s cool. It’s not as if we banished him. Jonas left because he wanted to leave.”

Then why is he back?
Derrick seethed internally.
And how long had he been back
? he wondered. He knew he was his brother’s best friend all through high school and college, but Derrick had never cared for him. Unlike his brother, Ryan. Derrick had always liked him. Ryan was about seven years younger than Derrick, but they’d always gotten along. Probably because Ry wasn’t a hothead like Jonas. They’d wrestled, but it’d always been good-natured, a chance to blow off steam.

Jonas lifted his head in acknowledgement, a cocky smile lifting one side of his mouth. “Hey, Derrick,” he called. “I heard you need help.”

“We don’t need your help, Jonas,” Derrick reminded him, his words coming out almost in a snarl. His gaze bolted to Vic sitting next to Jonas. “You call him, Victoria?” She’d always been fond of him. Derrick always thought she’d fall for Jonas if she’d take her focus off him. Looks as though she decided that’s what she needed to move on. Derrick just wished it’d been anyone but him. Jonas was a loose cannon. Yeah he’d protected humans, but he’d also left witnesses, and that was something his family couldn’t allow. Humans wouldn’t care that most creatus protected them; they’d only see them as a threat. Michael and he agreed on that one issue anyway.

Ryan stood up. “I called him, Derrick. We needed help, and
my brother is one of the best.”

Derrick narrowed his eyes at Ry. It was bad enough that he had Michael and Vic questioning his every move, but now Ryan was giving him a hard time. So much for liking the kid. Not wanting to lose his temper, Derrick walked toward his desk without responding. His father and Dean followed behind him.

Lynford raised his hands to get everyone’s attention, and the entire room fell to a hush. “In all the years we’ve lived here, we’ve never had a problem,” his father started, “because we’ve always elected an overseer, and we’ve always adhered to our rules. Nothing has changed. As head of the council, Dean, Matthew, and I will continue to stand behind Derrick and his decisions. Anyone who does not want to abide by the same rules can leave. Is that clear?” His father plopped down on a chair, waving for Derrick to continue.

Internally, Derrick wasn’t certain how he felt about his father stepping in, but he was still head of the council, even if Derrick was overseer.

Deciding to get right to business, Derrick made eye contact with Jonas. “The rules haven’t changed, Jonas. We are not going out on the street as vigilantes, looking for a fight; we are seeking a serial killer. The rogue has an agenda, and it’s personal. What started out looking like a rogue creatus now looks as though he has a plan. And I use ‘he’ only because it’s easier. This creatus could be male or female. I’ve seen his shadow and heard his voice, but he’s kept his distance. It’s clear that he knows me personally.” A murmur swept through the barn, and Derrick was grateful to see that some of his family actually cared. “The last murder was a police detective inside Kristina’s house. My guess is that he wanted to make me appear guilty. But as you know, this endangers all of us. If they start questioning me, no telling how close they’ll get to the family. And the last thing we want is to relocate.”

Collective whispers and nods traveled around the room in agreement.

Now that he had everyone’s attention, he continued, “He also attacked, but didn’t kill Kristina’s best friend, Beth. This time, though, he used our creatus seal. He pressed the red wax seal on her forehead, which as you know will have humans searching for any similar uses of the seal throughout history and leaves no doubt in our mind that this is a creatus attack. And as far as attacking Kristina’s friend, my only guess is that he’s taunting me. Which makes me believe it’s someone we banished in the last ten to twenty years or…” he paused a moment, knowing he was going to catch flack, “someone here who disagrees with my decisions.”

This time a few harrumphs shadowed the mutters of surprise. Derrick wasn’t surprised to see that the disagreements of his assertion stemmed from Victoria, Jonas, Ryan, and sadly, even
Michael. 

Chapter Twenty-four

Kris sat across from Sabrina, sipping a cup of hot tea. According to her new mother-in-law to be, she grew all the herbs in her garden. The creatus’ diet was so restrictive of any proteins, oils, and grains heated to high temperatures, causing high levels of toxins, that they couldn’t take a chance on any processed foods.

“So you grow everything you eat?” Kris asked.

“Practically,” Sabrina answered. “I do buy fresh fruit and vegetables from vendors, but mostly we just stay away from anything processed or pasteurized.”

Kris shook her head. “It sounds like a lot of work.”

“It’s not so hard. We all work together. Every family specializes in something different, so the bartering system works well. And look at me; do I look seventy-three?” Sabrina said proudly, lifting her head.

Kris blinked in shock, her grin spreading wide across her face. “Actually, no. Not at all. You’re seventy three?”

A beautiful pink spread across Sabrina’s cheeks, making her
appear even younger. “Yep. Lyn and I married when I was twenty-two, and we had Derrick almost two years later.”

Kris leaned in, excited that Derrick and she would be the same age as her in-laws when they married. Though she hadn’t married yet, she was ready. “How did you meet?” Kris asked excitedly, wiggling on her chair in her eagerness to hear the entire story of their romance. Her
future mother-in-law’s mouth turned down, and a wash of sadness spread over her round and kind-looking face, and Kris was instantly distressed that she’d asked, since obviously it wasn’t a story Sabrina wanted to share. “I’m sorry,” Kris instantly excused her careless question. She should have asked Derrick first, knowing that it might have been a tragic meeting, as Derrick and hers had been. “I shouldn’t have pried.”

Sabrina waved her off. “It’s okay.” She took a sip of her tea before continuing, as though trying to collect her strength. “It’s actually similar to how you and Derrick met; only I wasn’t a child. My father was involved with the Irish Mob. He’d turned evidence on one of the gang leaders. In retaliation, they killed him and then came after my mother, brother, and me. Regrettably, I was the only one to survive.”

Kris pulled her fist to her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Sabrina patted her hand that still rested on the table. “It’s okay, sweetheart. How could you have known? I know Derrick wouldn’t have said anything.” She took another sip of her tea and continued, “Anyway, after killing my mother and brother, they decided I was too pretty to kill immediately. I’d been holding a knife I had hidden under my mattress when they found me. I swung the knife at them, slashing both of them at once, but it wasn’t enough to stop them. It gave me enough time to get away from them for a few minutes, but then they caught up with me in the alley behind my house.” Sabrina closed her eyes for a second then opened them. “No one did anything while the men beat me on the street. And then, something changed, I couldn’t feel the gravel beneath me anymore. My eyes were too swollen to see, but I’ll never forget his voice as he whispered that everything would be all right.”

Kris’ eyes filled as she listened, thinking about her mother—and herself. “You would have died and no one would have stopped them?” she asked, unable to believe people would stand by and watch.

“Yes. The neighbors were afraid, and it was dark. They didn’t know
I was the person they were beating up; they just knew that someone was paying for betrayal. My assailants repeated those words over and over. Perhaps so that no one would interfere.” Sabrina clasped Kris’ hand in hers. “Of course, unlike you, I was an adult, but things were different then. It wasn’t easy to find a job that paid the bills on your own. Without a family to support me, I would have ended up on the street. Luckily, Lynford took me home, which of course was against the rules, but he didn’t know what else to do with me. If he’d taken me to the hospital, more than likely the mob would have killed me.” Sabrina stared off dreamily around the kitchen as she continued, “His parents were furious when he’d announced that he’d fallen for me. They didn’t believe it was possible for a human to “fall” for a creatus, but I did. As far as they’d known, it’d never happened.”

Kris smiled. “Like us.” And then a thought occurred to her. “That’s why you wanted to adopt me? Because I was all alone, as you would have been?”

“Yes.” Sabrina smiled sweetly. “Oddly enough, Lyn was okay with it. It was Derrick who wouldn’t allow us to adopt you.”

“Why
in the he—?” Kris spouted, perturbed at once, but then pulled her expletive before she offended Sabrina. She could have been living with this great family her entire life instead of a new foster home every six months. With people who loved her and didn’t think she was an imposition in their lives.

Sabrina’s lips turned up again. “I don’t think Derrick wanted to ever think of you as a sister. He was crazy about your mother, but he knew he was too young, so he never let it go beyond friendship. Although, we were hard on him about their relationship too, especially Michael. We constantly warned him that he was getting too close, and that it could only end badly.” She sighed. “He tried to date other women over the years, but I think your souls were already connected; it was just a matter of you growing up. And now, you are perfect for each other.”

Kris did the mental math in her head, since Derrick had never mentioned how old he was. He was about forty-nine, and he’d live another hundred years. If she were lucky, Kris had another seventy years at most. So, he’d be alone for thirty years or more. More years than she’d already lived. That didn’t seem fair.

Sensing her distress, Sabrina touched her cheek. “He wants you, Kristina. Neither you nor anyone else will ever change his mind, so stop thinking whatever you’re thinking.”

Kris’ eyes popped open, wondering how she’d known.

“I’ve been there. At a hundred years old, Lyn hardly looks a day over fifty, and I worry sometimes, but he still gazes at me as if I am the only woman on the planet.”

“You
are
the only girl on the planet, my bride.” The deep voice belonging to Derrick’s father broke through their conversation, and Kris observed a beautiful blush spread across Sabrina’s cheeks again. Her soon-to-be father-in-law swooped in and pressed a kiss to his wife’s neck, causing her to giggle.

Derrick’s warm arms folded around Kris, instantly comforting her. The thought that they too would always be so happy was worth everything. “You ready to go home?” Derrick whispered in her ear. And though Derrick’s father didn’t as much as raise an eyebrow, Kris felt her cheeks heat up, knowing he could hear everything.

“Almost,” she responded. “I have one thing left to discuss with your mother.” The three of them stared at her as if confused, so she continued, “Derrick mentioned you wanted to plan a wedding ceremony with all the frills.” She raised her hand to her chest, battling the tears that threatened at the notion they wanted to take care of her as if they were her parents. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, but I don’t want a big wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Ashton. In fact, it may sound strange, but I don’t want a wedding at all, especially with all that’s going on.” Derrick’s eyes widened and he started to protest, so she raised her hand, silencing him. “Let me rephrase that. I want to get married, but I don’t want a wedding. I don’t have any family—other than all of you—so I think it would make me sad.”

“Oh, honey.” Sabrina stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. “Don’t think we would ever push you into doing anything you don’t want. I just want you to be happy.”

Kris accepted the hug, reveling in the feeling of Sabrina’s arms around her. She hadn’t felt parental affection since she was a child. She’d forgotten how good it felt when her mother tucked her in at night, read bedtime stories, pressed her lips to her forehead to check if she had a temperature. All the tiny gestures that she’d taken for granted prior to her mother’s murder.

She leaned back and smiled at her new family. “I know, and I am. I just didn’t want you to feel disappointed if I talked Derrick into eloping.”

They all laughed and Kris relaxed. Already, she felt at home with the Ashtons. Of course, she wondered if Victoria was still within hearing range, listening to their conversation, waiting for an opportunity to kill her. The woman petrified her as no man ever had. Something told Kris that she wouldn’t feel safe until Vic fell in love with another man.