Hidden Mortality (24 page)

She saw him climb onto the table. He straddled her body. Was he going to rape her? No, it was worse. She struggled not to scream when the blade bit into her chest. Then he dragged the tip of the dagger toward her breast. She couldn’t hold back. Agony speared through her. She screamed.

She thrust her hips up to try and dislodge him in a last ditch effort. It only excited him more. He laughed. Another slice. The world darkened. She felt the knife enter her chest. She couldn’t scream anymore. She couldn’t fight anymore. At last it was all over.

Chapter 25

Matcher had watched Cara drive off and then put his arms around Rachel. “Whatever it is, trust me we can deal with it.”

He noticed a black garbage bag at her feet. Rachel bent down to pick it up as he opened the door to the house. “What’s in it?”

“My clothes and stuff. I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go. I’ll find somewhere else as soon as I can.”

Matcher took the bag and went upstairs. Thankfully at this time of the day the guys wouldn’t be in. He dumped her stuff in his room. She sat on the edge of his bed with a box of tissues beside her while he went and made coffee. Her aura was full of swirling colors showing emotional turmoil and fear.

“It’s about last night, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but not really.” Rachel blew her nose loudly.

“You know I don’t know anyone who can blow their nose as loud as you. It’s a somewhat odd, but funny trait.”

She smiled and her aura relaxed a little. “I think last night was one of the strangest nights of my life. That was some of the weirdest stuff I’ve ever seen. If I hadn’t been there I’d say your friends were crazy, or I was on a movie set with special effects.”

“Was it us? Look, I didn’t know it was a first time for you. I wouldn’t have pushed it, you know.”

“I’m not upset about that Matcher. I should have told you that I wanted to since we met.”

“You’re kidding me. You’ve stayed at friends’ all night before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but my step-dad didn’t believe I was just staying at Cara’s. He came there this morning and saw me leaving with you. When I walked in at home, Mum wasn’t there and neither were my stepbrothers. My step-dad walked in. His knuckles were red. That meant he’d given mum a belting last night. I should have been there. He tended to lay off her if I was around.” Rachel sipped her coffee.

“Go on,” Matcher encouraged.

“I went to my room but he burst in. He called me a whore and said horrible things about Mum. That he had only stayed because he thought he would lay something a bit younger, but didn’t want spoiled goods. He said the kids were probably not his anyway. From the look of you, I probably had AIDS. I’m sorry.”

“Rachel, that’s just him. I’ve had so much sickness in my life, I’m not going to take any risks. As far as I know I’m clean. If I had thought there was any chance I wouldn’t have.”

“I know.”

“He said I was to get out. When I tried to pack my suitcase, he grabbed it from me and emptied it all over the floor. He said I could take my stuff in a garbage bag. I just wanted to be out of there. I think Mum and the boys must be at Aunty Meredith’s, but I don’t know. I’m sorry, Matcher. You have all this other crazy stuff. You don’t need me like this now.”

Matcher went and got the phone. He gave it to her and left Rachel to talk to her mum. Why is it when you think your life is insane and can’t get worse it does? He wasn’t sad she was here. He had loved every minute last night. The guys were right. She did have a good rack. Shit, he was an asshole thinking that right now. Everything was crazy. Cara trying to get Vincent locked up. Seth getting Daniel to stab him, and surviving.

Rachel had hung the phone back up and came back to Matcher’s room. She lay next to him on his small bed. They just cuddled for a while saying nothing. He knew she would talk some more when she was ready. Her aura was glowing so much more since she had talked to her Mum. He didn’t want to jeopardize that.

“Mum said she was sorry. She said she has let me down. She let us all down. She said she never believed she deserved my dad and then Pat was the only one interested. She always thought it had been a fluke. When things went wrong, she felt that was the way it should probably have been in the first place. I told her I’m staying with friends for a few days and then I’ll sort something out. I think she guessed it was you, but said nothing,” Rachel went quiet. “Can I stay?”

“Yeh, the guys won’t mind. We could try and get a place together, or you move back with your Mum. Whatever’s okay with you.” Matcher hoped she would stay.

‘I know it’s daft, but I liked being at Cara’s with her crazy immortal man, and you seeing stuff around people. Your place and Cara’s are the two places that feel good to me right now. Thanks for everything Matcher.” Rachel reached up and placed her hand on his cheek.

It felt nice, and he knew where it would lead. His mouth came down and touched hers. Her lips parted and he wanted more. He knew he should be thinking of Cara now, but he needed this and so did Rachel.

Matcher yawned and stretched. His arm had gone dead. He was spooning Rachel. His little bed wasn’t so little after all. It was dark even though the curtains were open.

It was the TV on in the other room that had made him wake up. Looking at his clock beside the bed, he could see it was eight. Hell, he had meant to phone Cara. He was worried she would have gone back to Vincent’s on her own.

Easing himself out of bed, he found his mobile and called her number. No one answered. He had to go and check. If she wasn’t there, then he would go to Vincent’s. He started to dress.

Rachel turned over and yawned. “Are you going to Cara’s?”

“Yes and don’t ask, because you’re not coming. You have had enough crap today. I’ll sort this out. I’ll tell the guys on the way out your staying for a few days.”

Seth’s bike was out in front of Cara’s apartment. The lights were not on in her flat. Maybe they were in bed, but Matcher didn’t think so, not on a day like this. He should have been there for her. He just hoped she had not done anything foolish as he pressed the buzzer.

No answer. He pressed it again. He wouldn’t take his finger off until someone answered or the neighbors called the police.

Seth’s head thumped with the buzzing. Why the hell wouldn’t the noise stop? Opening his eyes felt impossible. Had someone weighted his eyelids with coins? He was at Cara’s, but when he finally opened his eyes, he couldn’t see her anywhere. Why didn’t she answer the door? He tried to stand. His knees gave way. He fell forward onto the floor. The room spun. The buzzer droned on incessantly.

He finally managed to stand, stagger to the door and answer the intercom. “What?”

“Seth.” Matcher’s voice echoed through the intercom. “Let me up.”

Seth pushed the security button, opened the apartment door and stumbled back to the couch. When Matcher entered, he turned on the lights. Then, he checked all the rooms.

“You look like shit. I can guess what she gave you. My cupboard used to have the same concoction of sedatives and pain-killers when I was sick.”

“Where’s Cara?” Seth asked shaking his head in a bid to clear it of double vision.

“My guess would be she’s gone back to Vincent’s. What time did you get here?”

“I don’t know.” He wanted to throw up.

“Think, damn it, Seth.” Matcher grabbed his shoulders and shook them.

Seth’s head started to clear. It was the anger building inside. People didn’t touch him unless he said so. His hands went into fists. What was going on here? Matcher looked scared.

“Come on, Seth. What time was it?”

“Five, I got here at five.”

“It’s nearly nine. Come on, you need to splash that face of yours and wake up. I’ll drive you. You’re in no fit state to ride that great monstrosity of a bike at the moment. I’ll tell you what happened this morning on the way.”

Matcher helped him up from the seat and dragged him to the bathroom. With his head over the bath and cold water running into his hair, Seth started to recall what happened. Why had she drugged him?

When he returned to the living room, he found Matcher with a pile of paper in his hand. “Cara didn’t tell you everything,” the younger man said.

“I figured that much out for myself. We need to go.”

“Not yet.” Matcher met his gaze. “The other night she told us about a book she’d stolen from Vincent’s. This is a copy of the pages. She put the book back on the night of the party. She believed Vincent was the killer. She didn’t want you to know. The book says if you try to kill him, you’ll die yourself.”

“That wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

“To you maybe. When we went to Vincent’s this morning, she thought she saw some evidence that would link him to the most recent murder. Other people have lost loved ones too.”

“Then why are we standing here wasting time?” Seth snatched the papers from Matcher’s hands.

Matcher paused in the kitchen to grab a torch. “I know where the spare set of keys is kept and I saw the van down front. You can read on the way.”

Seth sat in the van and started to read. All the years had led to this. He thought he would be angry. Instead, he was scared, not of Vincent, but at the thought of losing Cara. If Vincent hurt her, dying would be the easy solution to this situation. Matcher didn’t interrupt him as he read. They pulled in around the corner from Vincent’s house.

“I just thought of something. If she left the van behind, how did she get here?” Matcher asked.

“There’s your answer. That’s the police inspector’s car. I’ve seen it outside of Cara’s flat before. I’d like to think it’s a reassuring sign. If Vincent’s been alive as long as I have and can’t be killed, he won’t give up easily.”

Chapter 26

Pain. The agony she was in meant she was still alive. Her heart beat wildly. Her breathing was too rapid. She wanted oblivion back. A voice cut through the agony. It was Matcher.

“Cara.”

He leaned over her. He tugged at the rope tethering one of her wrists. As she gazed up, she saw him disappear from view. There was a dull thud. Had someone hurt him? Thrown him into a wall? She tried to raise her head but her body would not respond.

Anger welled inside her. It wasn’t like anything she’d felt before. Not the anger at the injustice of losing her baby, or her parents indifference, or people hurting her friends. It was sheer violent rage at something being taken.

Then it was gone again. Warmth flowed through her. The discomfort eased. She must be dying and soon the hurt would be gone. The ache finally eased. She was leaving this world for good. The realm between life and death were close. Welcoming darkness beckoned. Someone called her back. A face appeared in the black surrounding her, but this time it wasn’t Matcher.

It was Rosie. She didn’t want someone in her head who had loved Seth as much as she did. It was an unworthy thought. Still, it was true. Death was near. He would live on to love someone else. She didn’t want to live forever. She had just wanted to love him now. Why couldn’t they leave her alone? The voice in her head was insistent.

Cara, come back. Seth needs you. He’ll die without you.

It was the only thing anyone would say that made a difference. Matcher, where was Matcher? In some part of her brain, she remembered seeing him.

Seth is here, Cara. I wanted my killer to pay. I made Seth stay because I was angry, angry at him, angry at life. Anger’s a powerful emotion and I thought it was right. He’s learned to love again with you. Let me heal you. I know Seth.

If you’re gone, he’ll want to die. His rage will turn him into something dark. I never understood the depth of his feelings. He was so scared to open up to anyone, but he opened to you. Each time you’ve been together, he’s given you a part of himself. We haven’t much time.

Cara found herself floating near the ceiling. Her body below her was a mass of skin and blood. The blade was still partially embedded in her chest. Seth bent over her.

“I love you, Cara. I’m so sorry. I let you down.” He pulled out the dagger and turned away.

The muscles in her chest clenched in spasms. Her real body arched off the table. She was healing. It was a slow process as if someone was using a red hot iron to seal her skin. The slashed edges joined together as if by some invisible surgeon. She watched as her real body’s jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth against the onslaught.

You must return now.

Cara glanced to her side and saw Rosie.

Save him for both of us. If Vincent dies I’ll be free. I’m sorry, Cara.

What was she not telling her? Why was she sorry? It wasn’t her fault.
Will Seth live?
Cara sent out the thought.

He can live but he may not remember. He may return in his mind to the night I gave him the power. You will have to make him remember your love.

Now, there was noise, suffering, and the smell of spilt wine and blood. She couldn’t ask any more before she was thrown back into her real form. Cara tensed every muscle in her body. The torment rippled through her again. Her body strained. She gasped for air in her lungs as if she had never breathed before or would again.

Her head rolled to the other side. She saw Seth’s back. She tried to call out. No words came. He raised a hand in the air, his fist coming down. She heard a thump and a groan. He turned to pick something up from the floor. It was the dagger in his hand.

When he lifted his head, Cara saw bruises on his face, a swollen right eye and blood dripped down his chin. If only he would look at her, she could stop this madness. He moved and she saw Vincent, stripped to the waist and tied to the chair. His face didn’t look much better than Seth’s.

“Is this bringing back a memory for you, Vincent? I’d forgotten how bad this could feel.”

“Who are you?” Vincent asked between groans of pain.

“Me.” Seth laughed. “I’m just another long-lived man like you. Did you think you were the only one? It’s ironic. I’ve wanted to die for so long. Something you did to Rosie stopped that. Now I wanted life again. You’ve taken away Cara. She was the only one who could have kept me from killing you.”

“Rosie,” Vincent said. Then, he chuckled, blood dribbling from his lip as he did so. “That whore. What were you? Her pimp?”

“I failed her. Now, I’ve failed Cara.”

“Were you the blacksmith who repaired the dagger back then? Twice, you’ve fixed the blade to kill the women you love. Rather careless, don’t you think?”

“You’re right. I should’ve done better by both of them. So, there’s only one thing left to do now.”

Cara watched as Seth took the dagger and cut into Vincent, slicing him from neck to navel. He gritted his teeth but didn’t cry out.

“Look at yourself. You can’t do this.” Vincent caught his breath for a moment.

Cara saw Seth glance down at his own chest. A line of dark red soaked into the gray t-shirt. Seth laughed, a crazed sound that saddened Cara. He cut again across Vincent’s chest, the same way Vincent had marked his victims over the years.

With each cut, Seth’s own t-shirt became soaked with blood. Tears coursed down her cheeks. She struggled to yell but nothing happened. Seth kept laughing through the pain as Vincent screamed with each new cut.

Lifting Vincent’s hair, Seth sliced into his forehead three times. Blood ran down over Vincent’s face like a curtain of red.

“You’ll die too. Don’t you understand? I can give you anything. I’m rich. Don’t throw away living forever. We can share her power. Just help me finish the ritual. Say the words with me.”

No tears were left to fall down her cheeks. Seth placed the point of the blade on Vincent’s chest above his heart. With all her strength, Cara tried to call out. Only a whisper escaped her lips.

“No.” The word came in a gasp. The blade was plunged in and blood bubbled from Vincent’s lips. His eyes rolled back and he was finally gone.

Seth pulled out the blade. He let it drop to the floor. His knees buckled beneath him. He looked at her. For one moment, their gazes connected. He smiled and collapsed to the floor.

This wasn’t fair. Rosie had said she could save him.

“Matcher.” She screamed his name over and over and finally it seemed to bring him back to consciousness. Now her voice came back when it was too late.

Matcher stood beside her. He was so pale. He looked as if he would faint. She needed him to be strong. He started to undo the ties on her hands and legs.

“What the hell’s happened?” He was shaking.

“Help me over to Seth.”

“You don’t want to see him.” Matcher placed the sheet around her shoulders.

“It’s not too late. She said I could save him.” Her legs touched the floor and gave out. Matcher supported her. She felt so weak. When she looked down, she still saw blood on her body. Her wounds had healed but she was still giddy from the effects of the blood loss.

Seth lay by Vincent’s feet. His face smeared with blood from the cuts on his forehead as his blank eyes looked up. His tanned skin looked ashen. She felt for a pulse at his throat. It was still there, but thready.

Rosie had said she could save him, but how? The dagger lay on the floor. The blade glowed with the power it had consumed. She had an idea. Whether it would work was another thing. Her hands shook. She picked up the blade and sliced into the palm of her hand.

“Shit, Cara. What are you doing? You’ve lost enough blood already.”

Matcher tried to drag her away from Seth, but she stayed firm.

She ripped open the front of Seth’s T-shirt with the dagger. She placed her bleeding hand on the wound on his chest. Nothing happened. She wasn’t going to lose him, not now, not after everything they had been through. If she couldn’t have Seth, then why the hell did Rosie save her?

Cupping her hand she let the blood pool in her palm. She dipped her finger in the sticky red liquid. She painted over the wounds on Seth’s body. He shuddered, but nothing more. His blue lips parted as he tried to pull in air. He was still alive, that was enough.

Cara leaned over his bloodstained face and breathed into his slightly parted lips. The reaction was immediate. He inhaled, making a gurgling noise in his throat.

“What the fuck,” Matcher yelled, as he moved away.

“I’ll second that statement.”

Cara turned to see Inspector Seps standing on the bottom step of the stairs. There was awe, not fear in both his and Matcher’s faces. When she looked back at Seth he was glowing. The same luminescence was on her skin.

As each wound healed, Seth arched his back. His fists clenched, but no screams came forth. When the skin edges of the final wound joined together, he relaxed. It was only when Matcher hugged her that she realized the glowing had stopped.

Seth didn’t move, his eyes remained closed. His chest raised and lowered with each intake of breath. That was all she needed for now.

“One day, I’ll tell you what I saw in your auras, but not now,” Matcher said, “Hell, Cara. I thought I was fucked up till I met you.”

Seth’s eyes opened as he struggled to speak. His voice sounded as though he had chewed on gravel. “Cara.”

It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. He remembered her. That was all she needed to hear. The hand that grasped hers held more strength than she would have thought possible of a man so near death.

“I’m here, Seth. I won’t leave you.” She smothered his bloodstained face with kisses.

“Look this is all romantic, if somewhat gory at the same time. I mean you brought him back from the almost dead and all. We still need to get out of here. You two may have forgotten that we have a dead body two feet away from us. Plus a Police Inspector watching.” Matcher said.

Cara knew she shouldn’t, but she found Seth’s smile contagious as he looked at Vincent’s dead form. She would be happy to watch worms weave their way through Vincent’s skin. The dagger lay beside Seth. She felt an almost irresistible urge to hack away at Vincent until all that remained were shreds of what had once been a human being.

Cara looked towards Inspector Seps. “What are you going to tell people?”

“I need to call this in. This goes against all my years of work but no one will believe it anyway. I say we move the body upstairs to his studio. Clean up down here as best you can. Grab that painting of Shona too. I‘ll then give you ten minutes to get out of here.” Inspector Seps rubbed his forehead. “I should have retired last year when I had the chance.”

Cara dressed as Matcher grabbed tablecloths from a pile nearby and started to clean up. He shoved the cloths in a garbage bag as Seth helped the inspector with Vincent’s body.

“I’ll say it was an anonymous tip off. When I got here he knocked me out. When I woke up he was dead. One of you should write a note left by someone saying he was killing him for revenge for murdering his wife in the past. With the pictures upstairs plus Shona’s and the keepsakes, no one will shed a tear that someone played out the same scenario on him.”

“Our blood’s everywhere.” Cara said. “What about our fingerprints, hair, DNA?”

“We will clean up so that nothing is obvious. If they do come down here they will just find multiple blood types, including Shona and Melanie. The others I will suggest were probably just other victims. I must be mad. I have forty years on the force and I’ve never seen anything like this. I don’t want to again either. Do I make myself clear?”