Dangerous Creatures (Book 3, Pure Series) (11 page)

              "After me?" I said. "Why?"

              "Because the Werdulac's hybrids are disappearing, and rumor has it that you're the cause—you're the ghost girl. The Werdulac wants the disappearances to stop. And you know he wants you even without that. This way he solves two problems at the same time."

              "I know it's not good," I said, "but I've had vampires after me before."

              William shook his head. "Not like the Hunter you haven't. The older the vampire, the more powerful he is. And the Hunter is a very old vampire."

              "So you want me to go to Russia," I said.

              "It's really the only chance we have. I don't—"

              William broke off abruptly.

              "You don't what?" I said.

              "I don't know how to stop him. An ordinary vampire is hard enough to kill. But destroying a vampire like the Hunter would require special means—means we don't have. At the house in Russia, at least, I believe you'll be safe. But here it would be far too easy for him to get to you."

              "You're sure he can find me here?"

              "He can find you anywhere on earth."

              "I don't know," I said. "GM really won't like this. She'll be hard to convince."

              "If she won't go with you, you'll have to go on your own."

              "It's really that serious?" I said.

              "It's really that serious."

              "How much time do we have?"

              "I don't know," William said. "I don't know how long it will take to revive the Hunter, but I have to imagine that we don't have long. You'd better leave tonight."

              "Tonight?"

              "Katie—"

              "I can't just go running off," I said. "Do we have two days?"

              "I don't know—two days is a very long time under the circumstances."

              "Just give me two days," I said. "I'll do what I can with GM."

              "Two days," William said. "No more."

              He glanced around the neighborhood then. The sun was setting, and the streetlights had just come on.

              "It's getting late," he said. "We'd better get back to your house. We don't want your grandmother to start worrying. She's probably already wondering why I whisked you away so suddenly."

              I had to smile at that. "She probably is."

              We walked back to the house and went inside.

              Under ordinary circumstances, GM would have met us at the door as soon as we walked in. But given how preoccupied she'd been in the last day or so, I wasn't entirely surprised when she didn't come out to meet us.

              "GM?" I called.

              There was no answer.

              I glanced into the living room, but she wasn't there. I went into the kitchen next, but she wasn't there either.

              Then William and I went through the rest of the house. But we couldn't find GM anywhere.

              "William, I'm worried," I said. "Something's wrong."

              "We'll figure out what's going on," he said. "Maybe she's just outside. We wouldn't have seen her as we walked up if she was in the backyard."

              We went out to look, but GM wasn't there either.

              "Let's try calling her cell phone," William suggested. "Maybe she had to step out for a moment."

              I called, and I could hear GM's cell phone ringing somewhere inside the house. I followed the sound and found GM's phone in her purse in her office.

              "GM wouldn't go anywhere without her purse," I said to William.

              "Is your grandmother good friends with any of the neighbors?" William asked. "Maybe she went over for a short visit."

              "We can try that," I said, but a terrible sinking feeling had settled over me. GM usually told me if she was going to be out anywhere—even if it was just to the neighbors'. She never wanted me to worry—and she was especially unlikely to go out if she knew I was out with William.

              But William and I went to talk to the neighbors anyway. No one had seen her.

              We went back to the house to wait. Hours passed, and GM did not return.

              "We should call the police," William said eventually.

              "You know the police can't help with this," I said.

              I stood up. "I'm going to look for her."

              William stood up, too, and held out a hand. "You can't do that."

              "Watch me," I said.

              "Like you said, the police can't help. Your grandmother was taken for a reason—someone wants to lure you out after her."

              "It doesn't matter. I'm going to find her."

              "Not at night," William said. "It's too dangerous."

              "But—"

              "Don't go rushing out. That's exactly what they want. Your grandmother is safe—for now."

              "How can you possibly know that?"

              "Whoever did this wants you. That's why we have to be careful. She's safe as long as they don't have you. As soon as they have you, they don't need her."

              I fell silent. That argument made sense—and I couldn't do anything that would put GM in danger.

              William continued. "We should stay here tonight, and go out looking for her in the morning. Most creatures of darkness have to sleep during the day. You know that. We'll have a better chance of saving her then. And of saving you."

              I sat down again. "I suppose that's what we'd better do."

              "We'll figure this out," William said. "You should get some sleep. I'll keep watch."

              "I don't think I can sleep," I said. "I certainly can't go up to my room."

              "You can sleep here on the couch. It's probably better for you to stay on the first floor anyway."

              "It's my grandmother, William," I said.

              "I know."

              We left the lights on, and I was determined at first not to fall asleep. But despite my best efforts, I found myself drifting off.

              As my head touched the pillows on the arm of the couch, I was jolted awake, and I sat up quickly.

              I looked around for William. He was seated on the floor.

              "I can't leave now, you know," I said suddenly. "I can't go to Russia while GM is missing—no matter what's coming after me."

              "I know," William said.

              I sat back against the couch again. Before I knew it, I was drifting off once more, and I forced myself to sit up.

              "What makes you think we'll find GM?" I said. "So far we haven't found anything at all. We certainly didn't find Bryony's grandmother."

              "We'll find her," William said.

              I was just drifting off for a third time when William sat up suddenly.

              I looked over at him. "What is it?"

              William got to his feet and stood tensely.

              "It feels like a vampire," he said softly.

              He frowned.

              "But I can't be sure. Something about it is—different—faint."

              Suddenly, there was a crash, and I heard the sound of breaking glass.

              A rock bounced into the room through the broken front window and rolled to a stop.

              William picked the rock up and unrolled a scrap of paper that was wrapped around it. He stared at the scrap, and his expression grew grave.

              "William, what is it?" I asked.

              When he didn't answer, I moved closer and read the note over his shoulder.

              THE HUNTER IS RELEASED. YOUR TIME HAS RUN OUT
.

Chapter 9.

As soon as the sun was up, William and I both went out to look for GM. William was quiet as to where he was going, and he told me to call him immediately if I found anything.

              For my part, I knew exactly where I was going. I was going to find Maksim Neverov.

              I knew I could take a bus over to the Neverov house, but there was a quicker way waiting outside. I decided to take GM's car.

              The keys were still in her purse, and I took them and went outside. GM's bright red sports car sat quiet and sleek in the early morning light, and I told myself it was just a car. All the same, I took a deep breath as I got in and started it. GM had never let me drive it, and I knew it was capable of a great deal of speed.

              The engine purred to life.

              I pressed on the accelerator lightly, and the car suddenly surged forward. I quickly took my foot off the accelerator and stepped on the brakes. The car came to an abrupt halt.

              I took a deep breath and then backed carefully down the driveway. Then I pulled out onto the road and drove faster than I had ever driven over to the Neverov house.

              The Neverovs lived in a walled community full of large, impressive homes, and I pulled up in front of a huge, imposing stone structure. I parked the car and hurried up the drive. Then I pounded on the door.

              At first, there was no answer. But I continued to pound on the door, and eventually it opened.

              A familiar pinched face looked out at me—it was Ms. Finch, Ivan Neverov's executive assistant.

              She glanced at me. "It's too early in the morning to sell Girl Scout cookies. You'll have to come back later."

              Ms. Finch began to close the door.

              "Wait!" I shouted. "I'm not here to sell anything. I'm Katie Wickliff, and I'm here to see Maksim Neverov."

              Ms. Finch opened the door again. "Young lady, I hardly think a busy man like Mr. Neverov would want to see you at such an untoward hour of the morning."

              "He'll see me," I said. "It's urgent. I wouldn't be here otherwise."

              "Very well," Ms. Finch said resignedly. "I'll see if he's available. What did you say your name was?"

              "Katie Wickliff."

              "I'll return and give you his answer. But I very much doubt he'll see you."

              She began to close the door again.

              "Wait just a moment," I said, putting out my hand to the door. "I need to talk to you, too."

              Ms. Finch looked startled. "Me?"

              "Yes."

              "Young lady—"

              "It's about the Black Moon Carnival."

              Ms. Finch looked puzzled. "The carnival?"

              "You donated some items that were used as prizes in one of the games."

              "Yes, I did, but—"

              "I need to know about one of those items. There was a necklace—a green stone on a black metal chain. The stone was actually an emerald. I need to know where it came from."

              "I don't see why I should—"

              "Do you remember it?" I said sharply.

              "Yes," Ms. Finch said.

              "Where did you get it?"

              She thought for a moment. "Let me see. Yes, I do remember that necklace. It wasn't particularly attractive—in fact I very much doubt you're right about it's being an emerald. I remember it mostly because I found it lying on the floor."

              "On the floor?" I said.

              "Yes, right here in the hallway. Mr. Neverov had given me a box of trinkets to give to Irina for the carnival, and I assumed that I must have dropped this one somehow. So when I found it, I put it in the box with the others."

              "Which Mr. Neverov gave you the box?" I asked.

              "That would be Mr. Ivan Neverov," Ms. Finch said. "His company manufactured the items, so it was easy for him to donate them. The factory makes them by the thousands—that's why I doubt your story about the emerald."

              She tilted her head. "Any further questions?"

              "No."

              "Good."

              Ms. Finch stepped back and shut the door firmly.

              I was left to stand on the step and think over what I'd heard. I was surprised to hear that the necklace had simply been lying on the floor, and I was equally surprised to discover that it had possibly fallen out of a box that had come from the younger Mr. Neverov. But that box had been full of factory-manufactured jewelry, and that emerald necklace was an antique—it certainly hadn't come from any factory. So if the emerald necklace hadn't come from the factory, how had it come out of that box?

              The answer was that it hadn't—Ms. Finch was mistaken. Someone else must have brought the necklace into the house and dropped it without realizing it, and Ms. Finch had found it and just assumed it belonged in the box.

              So who would have carried an ancient vampire artifact into the Neverov house?

              The front door opened abruptly, and Ms. Finch looked out again. She pursed her lips grimly and then spoke.

              "Mr. Neverov said he will see you. If you will step into the house and wait in the—"

              The door opened a little wider, and a tall, silver-haired man looked out over Ms. Finch's shoulder. It was Maksim Neverov.

              He smiled at me. "This is a lovely surprise, Katie. I'm delighted to see you."

              I looked at Maksim closely. He was still handsome, and his smile was still charming, but it seemed to me that there was something different about him from the last time I had seen him. His eyes were now watchful, wary. The signs were faint, but they were there.

              "I'm sorry about this, Mr. Neverov," Ms. Finch said deferentially. "I never dreamed you'd actually come to the door yourself. I can take care of this—this person."

              "It's quite all right, Ms. Finch," Maksim said pleasantly.

              "Mr. Neverov, I really don't mind getting rid—"

              Maksim interrupted gently. "No need, Ms. Finch. I admire how conscientious you are in the discharge of your duties. I can assure you that I am in no way inconvenienced by the visit of young Miss Katie here."

              "But, Mr. Neverov, it's seven in the morning."

              "No hour is a bad hour to talk to an old friend. And Katie and I are old friends. I appreciate your concern, and I thank you for it. All of us in this house depend on you every day, and you take care of us splendidly."

              Ms. Finch seemed mollified. "That's very kind of you, Mr. Neverov."

              Maksim smiled. "It's no more than the truth. If you would be so good as to leave me with Miss Katie, I'm sure we can take things from here."

              "Very well, Mr. Neverov," Ms. Finch said.

              She turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor.

              Maksim turned to me. "So, tell me, Katie. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

              His tone was relaxed and friendly, but I could still see lines of strain around his eyes. No matter what Maksim said, he wasn't entirely pleased to see me.

              "Where is GM?" I demanded.

              "Where is your grandmother?" Maksim asked.

              "Yes."

              "I'm not entirely sure what you mean."

              "GM's missing," I said. "And I think you know where she is."

              Maksim blinked in surprise. "Do I understand you correctly? Are you saying that your grandmother has disappeared?"

              "Yes."

              "Katie, have you gone to the police?"

              "It wouldn't do any good, would it?" I said. "What have you done with her?"

              Maksim looked startled. "Me?"

              "Yes, of course. Didn't you come here to see her?"

              "No, I didn't."

              "Then why are you here?"

              "I'm here for family reasons," Maksim said. "And as fond as I am of you, Katie, I'm not at liberty to divulge those reasons to you."

              He paused. "So your grandmother is genuinely missing?"

              "Yes," I said angrily. "She vanished in the night. Her car and her purse were left behind. She wouldn't have gone anywhere without them. And she would never have left without saying a word to me. She's gone, and you know it."

              "I believe you," Maksim said. "No wonder you're so upset."

              After a moment's silence, he glanced at me sharply. "Are you all alone, then? With your grandmother gone, is there anyone to look out for you?"

              Maksim sounded concerned, but I was instantly wary.

              "I know you took David's body from the police station," I said. "You were seen carrying it into the house."

              Maksim gave me another sharp look, and then he glanced down the street. "Katie, would you like to come inside? I apologize for keeping you standing outside like this."

              I took a step back. "I don't think so. I don't think that's a good idea."

              Maksim stepped outside after me. "Katie—"

              I turned and ran down the driveway to the car. I quickly jumped in and sped off.

              I drove blindly at first, not really seeing where I was going, and then I pulled over to do some thinking—just driving around wouldn't do me any good.

              I didn't know what I'd expected to happen when I'd gone to confront Maksim, but I realized now that he was never just going to confess and hand GM over. And William had already been over the whole town—including the Neverov's house—and he hadn't found anything suspicious there. So I figured GM probably wasn't at the house. It wouldn't make much sense for Maksim to be keeping her there anyway—it would be too easy for someone to spot what was going on—as someone had already done with David and the over-sized bag.

              So where could I go to get information that William wouldn't have been able to find?

              I decided to go to the school—maybe I could find either David or my mysterious correspondent there.

              I drove over to the school quickly and pulled into the student parking lot. As I got out of the car and began to walk toward the school, I heard someone call my name.

              "Katie! Hey, Katie! Wait up!"

              I turned to see Irina's boyfriend, Terrance, jogging toward me.

              "Hey, Terrance," I said without much enthusiasm. I wasn't really in the mood to talk.

              "That's a nice car you've got there," he said, falling into step beside me. "I don't think I've seen you out here with it before."

              "I'm borrowing it," I said shortly.

              "I don't know if you know this or not," Terrance said, "but you need to get a student parking sticker. I noticed you didn't have one. If you don't get one, they might tow your car. And it would be a shame for that car to get towed."

              "It's okay," I said. "I don't think I'll be here long."

              Terrance looked at me sharply. "Is something wrong, Katie? You look kind of angry."

              "I'm all right," I said.

              "Okay," he replied. "Just look out for yourself."

              I heard Irina call Terrance's name from somewhere behind me, and he turned back.

              I went on ahead.

              I had to cross the schoolyard to get to the school, and as I reached the yard, I began to move faster. The schoolyard was full of people, and I didn't want Charisse or Branden or Simon to see me. I knew they wouldn't really be able to understand what was going on.

              But the decision was taken out of my hands. As I passed the picnic table, I heard footsteps running across the grass behind me, and a moment later, Charisse ran up to me and looped her arm through mine.

              "You're coming with me," she said firmly. "You look really freaked out, and lately you've been looking kind of freaked out all the time. We need to talk—or, more specifically, you need to talk."

              "You don't understand, Charisse," I said.

              "No, I don't," she replied. "And that's why you need to tell me. Come on. No arguments."

              Charisse walked me over to the picnic table, and I soon found myself sitting on the wooden bench in front of it. Charisse sat down beside me.