This Blackened Night (5 page)

Terrence? The woman had seemed to be warning Lori away from something…or someone. Maybe the woman had known about Terrence. About what he was really capable of.

“Can you tell me what’s been going on around here?” Lori was no detective, but she held her shoulders straight. A bluff. Like maybe, she might just be important enough to stop this.

The officer rolled his shoulders. “I’m working late tonight. Someone has to file the paperwork about what happened to poor ol’ Mary. Come by the station around nine o’clock. I should be done by then.”

Lori nodded. She tugged out her cellphone to check the time. Three hours to kill.

“What was that about?”

Terrence’s cold, sharp voice startled her. She turned, spotting him wedged into an alcove between two buildings. She could barely make out his form, but it was him.

“Nothing,” she said. “Let’s keep looking.”

This time, she led Terrence in circles. She went to the same bar as yesterday–and, again, Terrence opted to wait outside. In case he had his ear pressed up to the door, she went through the motions of looking for the Spenta Michos. The same question, over and over again. And all the while she wondered how she would separate herself from Terrence long enough to visit the police department.

At ten-to-nine, she stepped cautiously out into the open air, searching for Terrence. Maybe he would believe she’d forgotten something in the motel room. But she didn’t see him anywhere. Where had he gone?

Maybe she shouldn’t question her good luck.

Inside, she’d asked for directions to the police department. Now she raced for her destination. Terrence could return at any moment. She’d never get answers out of the officer about the vampire pandemic if she did. Unfortunately, Terrence had an uncanny ability to find her no matter how hard she tried to hide.

She heard a noise. The crunch of footsteps. When she turned, she nearly tripped over her feet. The half-darkened street swirled in a nauseating blur. Thankfully, she managed to catch her balance before she fell. She crouched, feeling for the stake in her boot as she scanned the shadows. Not a shadow stirred.

She continued unhindered, but couldn’t rid herself of the feeling that someone watched her. Was Terrence keeping his distance? Unlikely. He usually made his presence annoyingly known. Whether she wanted his company or not.

When she reached the police department, she stopped to peer into the night. No sign of Terrence or anyone else. In fact, aside from those drinking themselves into a stupor in the bar, no one prowled the streets. Surely, even in a town this small that was unusual? It wasn’t that late. People seemingly barricaded themselves in their homes the very moment the sun set. Lori balled her fists. Past time to figure out what was going on.

And if Terrence was responsible… What then? She’d staked him once before. Squaring her shoulders, she reassured herself she would do it again. And this time it would stick. She’d tolerated him thus far because he’d seemed harmless enough, unless pressed. Sure, she’d seen him kill, but those had been life-or-death situations. Murdering an innocent person, that was a different situation altogether.

She entered the darkened station. A light shone from the back. Should she just walk in? She’d test the waters first. “Hello?”

No answer.

Maybe he hadn’t heard her. She repeated herself–loudly. Surely, the officer hadn’t left? She’d been lucky enough to shake Terrence once. That kind of luck wouldn’t hold out for more than one day.

She crept closer to the room. Even with straining ears, she didn’t hear any signs of paper shuffling or scribbling. The air smelled faintly metallic–frankly, a relief from the stench outdoors. Upon reaching the back room, she knocked and eased the door open.

The officer was sprawled on the ground, pale as death. Perhaps because he was dead. His legs stuck at odd angles. Blood stained his collar, seeping away from two puncture wounds. Those wounds were only made by one thing. A vampire.

Lori wanted to hurl. She wanted to feel disgusted at the sight, but she wasn’t. Instead, she was furious.

Another death. She wouldn’t let that smug, persistent bastard get away with it. Not when her indecision might cause someone else’s death. Drawing her stake from her boot, she picked her way out of the station. Then she gunned for her rented motel room.

Terrence would pay, if it meant her last breath.

The motel room was empty. Lori turned it over, searching for Terrence or any belongings which might lead to the Spenta Michos’s rescue. When she came up empty, she took a stance near the doorway to wait. She’d seen how fast Terrence could move. If she didn’t catch him by surprise, she might end up with a blood deficiency. That was to say, she would have none. She adjusted her grip on the stake.

But when Terrence marched through the door, she hesitated. His expression was open, honest. The Terrence she knew. How could he face her if he had been responsible for killing two people in the space of a day? Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it was somebody else. A copycat. But would a faux-vampire be able to suck a person dry?

Unlikely. It took a superhuman ability–or hunger–to master that. She readied herself for battle.

Terrence turned. His gaze flickered to her weapon, but he didn’t move. Not to turn hostile. Not to defend himself. His eyes darkened as worry clouded his face. “Lori, are you all right? Did something happen?”

Yes, something happened. You killed two people.

The words refused to leave her mouth. She didn’t want to say them. Didn’t want to accuse him. How could she be sure if he was the vampire responsible? Theoretically, there were others, right?

The vision. She’d barely seen a snippet last time. If she only touched him, maybe she would see more. Lowering the stake, she reached for him with her free hand.

The skin of his wrist was warm, but not hot. No vision came. She firmed her grip, looking up to read his expression.

His gaze turned lustful. He drew her close. His sturdy chest pillowed her breasts. Only thin cloth and the leather of his jacket separated them. He smelled spicy, like cinnamon. Slowly, he lowered his head. Giving her time to pull away.

But she’d gotten a vision off him that way once before, hadn’t she? Instead of fighting, she shut her eyes. Waiting.

His mouth settled on hers. Warm. Seductive. But her earlier vision didn’t blossom. She started to pull away.

He deepened the kiss. His tongue probed the seam of her lips, begging for entrance. His hand captured her nape. Holding her steady, preventing her escape. His free hand traveled her collarbone. Shivers erupted over her skin. He continued over her arm to where she still held her stake. Gently, he pried it away. Then he maneuvered her backward. Her legs bumped the bed.

She broke away, gasping for breath. “Don’t,” she warned.

He stared at her a moment more, clutching her to his aroused body. Then, abruptly, he let her go.

She didn’t know whether to sigh in relief or moan in frustration.

Chapter 6

Had she made a mistake? Should she have killed Terrence after all? He lay in front of her, vulnerable in sleep. Unable to sense her malicious mood at all. But all she could think of when she looked at him was his searing kiss from the day before. He hadn’t mentioned it, but it clung to her every thought.

Which was ridiculous. They’d kissed before. Shared a night, even. So why was this time different? Because she contemplated killing him? She should do it now, before he got the better of her again.

But, poised above him, she paused. Would killing him be any different than what he had done to those innocent people? It would make her a murderer, too. Was she weak for wanting to turn him in, rather than do the deed herself? If only there was some kind of vampire police.

She wouldn’t hold her breath on that count.

Slowly, she eased back. She needed to do some real searching while he was asleep. While he couldn’t trail or interrupt her.

She rushed to the same diner she’d visited the day before, hoping to meet with the waitress who had served her. But when she got there, a younger face greeted her. She cautiously sank onto a stool, glancing around.

“Another woman served me yesterday.”

The young woman nodded, her face twisting in pity. “Gloria. Her sister was killed, you know.”

“I heard.” Lori’s voice sounded distant to her own ears. After clearing her throat, she added, “I heard she was killed by”–Lord, did she really have to say it?–“the devil.”

The waitress laughed, though the sound was strained. “A mainlander like you probably thinks that’s ridiculous.”

You can say that again
. Lori wisely sealed her lips shut.

The waitress shook her head and continued, “You folks don’t know what really goes on in this world. No human killed Mary. Or…” She looked away. “Or Officer Benton.”

Not a human, a vampire. But Lori had to know more. “How long has this been going on?”

The girl shrugged. Fear shone in her eyes. “It’s not constant. People just…die. Good, God-fearing folk. They didn’t do nothing to warrant it. Didn’t sin, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

It wasn’t.

“Have the murders increased in the past couple days?” Since Terrence had returned?

The waitress’s eyes grew wide. “Two killings in two days? That’s never happened.”

So what was different about this time? Both times, the victims had been trying to warn her about something sinister going on. While Terrence had been standing within earshot. That, if nothing else, proved he was guilty. Didn’t it?

Lori forced a smile. “Thanks.” She stood, ready to do what she had to.

As she prepared to step out of the diner, another customer entered. He wore a crisp black suit and tie. A businessman in this run-down town? It didn’t make sense. When she tried to walk past him, he blocked her path.

He pulled out a badge. Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Lori tensed.

“Miss, do you know Officer Harry Benton? He was killed late last night.”

Lori narrowed her eyes at the detective. Had she left her prints at the police department? She couldn’t remember. “I spoke with him yesterday. He was investigating the death of another woman.”

“And did you know her, as well?”

Shit. “Not really. I spoke with her once. She told me not to go out after dark.” Lori paused. When the detective didn’t seem to be convinced, she added, “The officer seemed to think it was the work of the devil.”

Clearly, he didn’t share the same delusion. Unfortunately, if he didn’t think it was the devil, he wasn’t likely to suspect a supernatural force. Should she tell him?

“Where are you staying, Miss, in case I have a few more questions for you?”

Lori inwardly sighed, but gave him the room number. As he left, she stood poised. Debating. Earlier, she would have given anything to turn Terrence in, rather than dealing with the matter herself. But would the new detective be properly equipped to hold Terrence? Would he even believe her if she tried to tell him the truth?

Lori cautiously entered the open air. The detective was long gone, bound for whatever other lead he happened to have. The sun was still high in the sky. Should she take the opportunity to search for the Spenta Michos? But how could she, when her biggest lead slept in their shared motel room?

Her mind buzzed as she returned to the room. Terrence still lay dormant. She crouched before him. Her thoughts had come full circle, almost as though she’d never left. But she didn’t draw her stake, not yet. Time ticked. Every second brought her closer to sunset, and the time Terrence would awaken. Now, he was vulnerable. He might not be again. So why didn’t she do it? At least to hold him at her mercy when he awoke. The threat of death might just stun him into giving up the Spenta Michos. But Lori couldn’t be sure she’d be able to hold him once he awoke. She’d seen him move with superhuman speed. No, much better to kill him now and take her chances.

But if she did, she’d never know the purpose behind her second vision. She clenched her fists. What if it was important?

Hesitantly, she reached out to touch Terrence’s hand. She tried to relax, let her abilities flood her. Nothing happened. She ran her fingers over Terrence’s jaw. It was rough with stubble. Who knew vampires had to shave? She lowered her mouth to his slack lips, hoping. Still no vision. When she pulled back, he remained asleep, thank God.