Nightshifters (11 page)

Against her will.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard Alexandru’s
voice, weak and laced with pain. “Forget,
cara
. Forget.”

Then she slipped into darkness.

Rana lifted her head. The pain subsided, and she gripped the
carpet beneath her fingers. “You knew. All this time you knew.”

Alexandru stood and hunched down beside her. He took her
hand. “I never wanted you to remember. Never. That’s why I tried to erase your
memories of that night. As a newly turned vampire, I wasn’t even sure I could
do it, but I had to try. For your sake.”

Rana jerked her hand away. It was her fault that Alexandru
had been turned. If Vladmir hadn’t been seeking revenge for her father’s death,
then Alexandru wouldn’t have been his victim. She was a Dhampir. It was her job
to destroy vampires, and she had failed miserably. Alexandru had paid the price
for her ineptitude. “Go.”

Guilt squeezed her heart. She had
destroyed the one man she had loved. Had turned him into something she hated.
Alexandru reached for her again. “Rana, I—”

“Go!” Rana jumped to her feet. “I want you to leave. You’re
all the same.” She shuddered. “Please, just go.”

Alexandru stiffened and rose to his feet. His eyes glittered
with remorse. “Forgive me,
cara
.”

Then he was gone.

Chapter 6

The sun would rise soon, Alexandru realized, materializing
inside his lair. According to the position of the moon, it would be in less
than an hour. Not enough time to find Vladmir. Nor enough time to save the boy.
He descended the concrete stairs to the basement.

Tonight, then
. He would obliterate the vampire who
destroyed his life tonight.

Or die trying.

Alexandru shut the steel door behind him and clicked each
lock into place. He didn’t sleep in a coffin like the old horror flicks
portrayed. That was entirely too cliché for him. Instead, he slept in bed like
everyone else. A nice soft bed with red satin sheets and a black velvet
comforter. The only difference between him and the rest of the world was that
his bed was locked in a steel-and-concrete mausoleum with no windows, no light
other than the lone candelabra on his nightstand and no other entrances or
exits. His safety was secured only by three deadbolts and the undisclosed location
of his lair. He undressed and slid into bed to while away the sunlight hours in
the trance-like state he referred to as sleep, but his thoughts turned to Rana
and sadness swept over him.

He didn’t blame her for hating him. He hated himself. He
should have protected her from Vladmir. He should have done something, anything
to keep the monster from touching her. Rage soared through his body like a
flash of lightning. Rana would never love him again, and he may not be able to
change the past, but he would make damn sure Vladmir never hurt her again.

No matter what.

The shock wore off and the anger — no, pure unadulterated
hate — set in. Oh, she’d hated him before, but now, knowing his poison flowed
through her son’s veins, her hatred escalated to a whole other level.

A level without fear.

Rana knelt beside by Damien’s bed. “Baby, mommy is going
away for a few days. I promise it won’t be too long.” She kissed his soft
cheek. He still felt warm. Too warm. His eyes remained shut, and he whined in
his sleep. Rana tucked his white stuffed penguin under his arm. Damien never
went anywhere without his favorite animal. “This time, when I get back, I
promise you will be better.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him to
her. “This time you will get well.”

Rana gave him another quick kiss then gently closed his
bedroom door behind her.

Thankfully, it was summertime and Jill was able to stay with
him overnight for a couple of days. She gave the college student instructions
on what to do if his condition worsened and made sure she had all the emergency
numbers. And of course, Jill’s parents would be right next door. Just in case.
Finally satisfied that Damien was as safe as he could possibly be under the
circumstances, Rana grabbed her backpack and set out to destroy Vladmir
Gustovez. And this time, she wouldn’t come back until she sent him straight
back to the pits of hell where he belonged.

Rana ignored the sinister mist that snaked around the
entrance to The Voodoo Den. She ignored the continuous blink of the neon sign
on top of the building warning her away. She ignored everything except her
determination to find the monster who had destroyed her life. Backpack slung
over her shoulder and a pistol tucked discreetly in the waist of her jeans, she
jerked open the door and stepped inside. The steady beat of African drums
pulsated through the room. Rana shielded her eyes from the strobe lights and
searched the dance floor until she found what she was looking for.

Nico.

Rana pushed past bouncing bodies until she reached him. She
pulled the pistol from her waist and shoved the barrel into Nico’s chest,
careful not to be seen. “Where’s Vladmir Gustovez?”

Nico’s eyes widened, then glowed a fiery red. “Pretty lady.”

Rana pressed the gun harder. “You can do this the easy way
or the hard way. But I’m not leaving here until you tell me where to find
Vladmir.”

Nico looked down at the gun. Spinning bodies jostled her
arm, but Rana kept her hand steady. “You’re going to shoot me? Here?” He arched
a blond brow toward the mass of underworld creatures mixed with a handful of
humans who partied around them.

“This gun has silver bullets and a silencer. You’ll be dead
before anyone realizes what hit you. And no one will hear it in here. Now…” She
flicked off the safety. “Where is he?”

“You’re one crazy-ass lady. No wonder Alexandru said you
were off limits.” Nico’s lips curled into a grin.

Rana’s heart fluttered at the mention of Alexandru’s name.
She forced herself to focus. “Vladmir’s lair. Where is it?”

Nico stared at the gun for a moment, then as if he finally
realized she meant every word, he choked out, “In the French Quarter near the
park. There’s an abandoned house with a wine cellar outside. You’ll find him in
the cellar.” Rana stared him straight in the eye. “Don’t ever cross my path
again or I’ll kill you.” She turned and pushed her way back toward the front
door.

Fifteen minutes later, she found the abandoned house. She
parked her car one block east and slid out. Staying in the shadows, she made
her way to the yard then trekked through tall weeds and broken window panes
until she reached the cellar. Moonlight filtered through the Spanish moss
dangling like rattlesnakes in the cypress trees beside the house. The fishy
odor of the bayou’s black, murky waters wafted on the sultry air from behind
the house. Owls hooted their warning deep in the heart of the bayou. The shrill
calls of night birds begged her to leave. Rana didn’t heed them. Adrenaline
pumped through her veins and a tingle of fear raced down her spine. She pushed
it aside, her determination outweighing any thoughts of terror.

“I’m here, Vladmir!” Rana shouted into the darkness. “I need
to talk to you!”

“Careful or you’ll wake the dead.” Rana started at the deep
sardonic voice behind her. She spun around so fast she nearly collided with a
tall dark form. Alexandru stood beside her dressed in a black silk shirt, black
jeans and loafers. His jaw hardened with controlled anger.

“That’s the idea,” Rana muttered, calming her nerves.
Vampires! Always materializing out of thin air. It was enough to frighten even
the bravest of souls.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” A muscle twitched
in his chin.

“Luring Vladmir to his death.” She narrowed her eyes and
placed a hand on her hip. “What are you doing here?”

“The same.”

Rana drew her brows together. He was here to kill Vladmir
too?

“I told you I didn’t want you coming back to vampire
territory. It’s far too dangerous.”

“I didn’t have a choice. I have to save my son’s life. I
have to destroy Vladmir.”

“Do you have a plan?” Edginess tinged his words,  and
anger glittered in his eyes.

“Yes.”

“Care to share it?”

Rana shrugged. “I thought I’d get his attention, catch him
off guard and shoot him in the heart with the silver bullets.” She held up her
gun for his inspection. “Then I’m going to stake him and douse him with holy
water. Of course, I’ll have to torch him too.” She didn’t bother to tell him
exactly how she planned to catch him off guard. No need to anger Alexandru
further.

“And if you didn’t catch him off guard? What did you plan to
do next? Become his dinner?”

“No.” She lifted her chin a notch and met his gaze. “Because
this time, failing is not an option.”

A noise in the cellar caught their attention. Alexandru
stiffened. Rana held her breath. Vladmir had awakened. Despite her courage,
fear gripped her heart. What if Alexandru was right? What if she couldn’t do it
this time, either?

“This is too dangerous,” Alexandru hissed pulling her deeper
into the shadows behind one of the cypress trees.

“I have an idea,” Rana whispered back, knowing full well he
wouldn’t go for it, but that he would have to. “When is a vampire the weakest?”

Alexandru recoiled as if he’d been slapped. “No!”

Rana touched his arm. A current of warmth surged through
her. She didn’t have time to wonder why her body did a happy dance every time
she touched him. Not when she was supposed to be repulsed by what he was. “I
have to. It’s the only way.”

His eyes instantly drew to the hollow of her throat. “No! I
can’t allow it. You don’t know what you’re suggesting.”

“I’m going to do it with or without your help, Alexandru.”
Her mouth tightened. “It’s the only way to save Damien.” Her voice caught, and
she swallowed hard. “He’s slipping away from me. I don’t know how much longer he
can hang on.”

A myriad of emotions flashed across Alexandru’s face. His
pained expression told her he knew she was right. Rana’s heart stilled.
Alexandru was nothing like her father. How could she have ever thought he was?
Her father had been a soulless creature. Pure evil. Alexandru may be tall, dark
and powerful, but he was also full of goodness. Even in his afterlife, he still
had a good heart. How could she have been so stupid?