The Wolfs Maine (19 page)

Nicholas walks into another room and the vamp that is behind us pushes us towards him.  We walk through the door way to find an empty room with two chairs facing opposite directions. 

"Sit."  If shape shifters could take bullets the way vampires could this would be on but right now Andrew and I have to play it smart.  If we try to attack now we will both end up dead so we do as Nicholas demands, right now. 

Andrew and I both sit in the chairs while the vamps wrap not just rope but chains around us from our shoulders down to our feet then bolt the chains to the floor. 

"Now that you boys aren't going anywhere we are going to alert my Ava to where you are.  We shall see how much she loves you John." 

Shit.  We are all screwed.  What was I going to do?  There is no way to warn Ava and Nicholas is completely right.  The minute she finds out what is going on she is going to be up here within hours.  I have no way of stopping her.  Damn that JR!  Just wait until I get my hands on that asshole.  I will kill Nicholas first and then strangle JR with my bare hands.  We need a plan but at this point I have no idea what to do.  Nicholas and the other vamps leave the room and it is finally just Andrew and I. 

"John, are you okay?" 

"Hell no I am not okay!  The minute Ava finds out where I am and what is going on she is going to be up here in a heartbeat.  There is no way she is going to be able to sit back and just let me stay here.  What the hell am I going to do?" 

"Alright John calm down.  Even if she does come up here she won't be coming up alone.  I am sure she is going to bring everyone, Lena, Michael, Victor, and Jaci.  Surely with all of us we can take these guys." 

"I don't know Andrew.  Jaci has just changed.  She is not going to be able to help and I am not so sure Ava will even tell anyone.  She might just take off." 

"She is not that stupid John." 

"What are we going to do?" 

"Okay.  Calm down.  I say we sit here and wait; we really have no choice in this area.  We let whatever happens, happen and go from there.  If Ava comes we can handle this.  I am positive she will tell the others before just flying up here.  Between all of us we can handle this." 

"I pray you are right Andrew and we both know I am not the praying type." 

"I am praying with you my friend." 

Great.  So we basically sit here like sitting ducks waiting to see what is going to happen.  Oh Ava please do not come alone.  Please do not come alone.

Chapter Sixteen

Avalon

It was already six in the evening.  Where did the day go?  Daniel showed up around lunchtime and ever since he and Jaci have been talking.  I was rather shocked when I first looked at him.  I opened the door to a very nice looking, well groomed, and well-spoken man.  I was kind of expecting another man like Nicholas, but Daniel was tall with beautiful brown hair.  He had very cute dimples on each side of his mouth making him look kind of innocent.  He was not really well built like everyone else. I doubted vampires needed to be built.  He definitely had some red eyes, but they were very subtle.  If you were not paying attention, they may just look like a weird brown color.  He seemed very nice and took to Jaci right away. 

They
talked all the dos and don’ts of being a vampire.  He discussed how vampires could eat, and they could usually eat all they wanted because their bodies kept them at their peak condition.  They could also drink although she would not get drunk anymore, either way she was happy about that one.  He explained how she could go out in the sunlight, but it would drain her energy faster so it was not the best idea for long periods of time.  The more energy that drained, the more blood she would have to consume. 

Blood was the only thing that would help keep her in a healthy state.  Without it, she would become extremely thirsty and eventually die a very slow and awful death.  He explained the best ways for her to hide what she is from everyone like covering up and maybe wearing contacts if she did go out.  Once they were done talking, they went on to training.  She had to learn how to drink from humans without killing them.  Jaci was not thrilled with this part of the day.  Daniel had to show her how to control someone’s mind to make them keep still while she fed from them.  At first, Jaci was upset about the discomfort this would cause the people she would feed from until Daniel explained that once she bites someone she can control their mind to make them feel pleasure instead of pain. 

I have to admit I am a little jealous of this whole mind control thing.  How easy would life be if you could just control minds?  Although Daniel warned that it is not good to just go around trying to control anyone and everyone she wanted to.  Last but not least, Daniel tried to give her a lesson on fighting.  He did say that her instincts would usually take over, but she still needed basic information.  I remember when Nicholas first broke through the window in the house in Maine.  I knew nothing about fighting before, but my instincts certainly took over.  Somehow, I knew exactly what I was doing.  I am sure it would be the same for Jaci.  Now that the day was pretty much over, everyone was sitting around the living room talking. Andrew and Lena were sitting on one side of the couch while Daniel and Jaci were on the other.  Victor was sitting next to the fireplace on his phone, and I was sitting in the middle of the couch in between everyone.  It was nice sitting with everyone, but I still missed John.  A piece of me felt missing, and I knew I would not feel whole again until he was back safe and in my arms. 

"Hello.  Earth to Ava."  I jump to see Jaci running her hand up and down in front of my face. 

"Yes?" 

"Where were you?  Daniel was just talking to you, and you are off who knows where."

"Oh.  I am sorry.  What were you saying, Daniel?" 

"Oh, it was nothing.  I was just asking how long you have known John." 

"Seems like I have known him all my life, but in reality, I have only known him in person for a couple months, but I have been talking to him online for about a year.  How do you and John know each other?" 

Daniel smiled as if recalling a memory.  "John and I go way back.  We were business partners once years ago.  He made me a rich man, although not quite as rich as him, and I bowed out and went out on my own." 

"Interesting.  What made you go to Alabama of all places?"  Daniel let out another laugh. 

"You act like that is a horrible place, but really it is very nice there.  It is quiet and not as busy.  There is potential there. I do miss Maine.  I have considered buying another house here and commuting back and forth."  Jaci's face started to light up like a Christmas tree. 

"That would be an awesome idea, Daniel."  He smiled at Jaci. 

"I think so as well."  Curiosity was getting the better of me. 

"So Daniel, you and John were partners at one point.  What did you two do?" 

"We owned almost every nightclub in Portland.  We did very well, and I believe John still owns most of them; however, he has passed the main jobs off on other managers and what not." 

"Oh. Wow.  That's interesting."  John and I still have a lot to learn about one other.  I had no idea he owned nightclubs in Portland.  I can see where there would be a good amount of money in something like that though given how Jaci, Lena, and I used to go out all the time back in the days before Nicholas. 

Now that I think about it, I wonder why I have not heard from John yet.  I have not heard from him all day, and I don't know if that is a good thing or bad.  My gut was telling me it was bad.  Suddenly, anxiety starts flowing through my body.  What if they caught up to Nicholas, and he has killed them?  What if Nicholas is on his way here right now? 

"Ava.  What is wrong?  You just turned paler than I am."  I could not breathe.  I could hear Jaci, but I could not respond.  My mind was spinning with possibilities.  What if something happened to John?  How will I live with myself?  All of this is my fault.  Had I just kept my knees closed and my heart put away no one would be in danger right now, Jaci would not be a vampire, and I would not be losing the only man I have ever loved. 

"Ava! Are you alright?"  No.  I am not alright.  Not at all.  What am I going to do?  I could feel Jaci's hands on my shoulders.  She was shaking me trying to get a response out of me, but I was gone.  "Ava, breathe!"  I let out a large breath and immediately took in another. 

"John."  I managed to choke out that much. 

"What about John?"  Everyone was standing around me now.  I am sure they all think I am crazy, but I know something is wrong.  I can feel it in every single bone inside my body. 

"Ava!  What about John?"  Jaci has her hands on my face trying to get me to focus.  Finally, I let out another breath.

"Something is wrong, Jaci." 

"What do you mean something is wrong?  Everything is fine.  John and Andrew should be back anytime now."  I just shook my head. 

"No, they won't.  I am telling you something is wrong."  Jaci turned to look at everyone.  Michael and Lena were standing next to me while Daniel and Victor were standing behind Jaci ready to pounce; it looked like although I am not sure what they were doing.  The problem is not here.  It is where ever John and Andrew are. Lena looked as if all the blood just drained from her face, and Jaci finally looked scared. 

"Where are John and Andrew?  Does anyone know?  Has anyone talked to them today?"  Everyone shook their heads.  Of course, no one has heard from them.  Suddenly, I hear a phone, and I jump up like my life depends on it.  It was Michael's cell. 

"Hello.  Yes, this is Michael.  Why? Okay hold on."  Michael walks over to me and hands me the phone. 

"They want you."  My heart just jumped in my throat.  Why would someone be calling me? 

"Hello?" 

"Avalon, is it?"  I did not recognize the voice. 

"Yes." 

"Good. I believe we have something of yours and if you would like to see them again, I suggest you come here.  Your husband is waiting to see you." 

"He is not my husband!"  My heart was pounding, and my blood was boiling.  I knew it.  I knew something was wrong. 

"Now now, dear.  Calm down.  I could not care less about your love affairs.  I am just passing on a message that is all.  I will send you the directions once we are off the phone.  I suggest you hurry."  The phone fell silent.  I had no choice but to go up there.  John and Andrew were not going to be killed because of me.  If Nicholas wants me, then that is where I will go.  Jaci was in front of me before I could drop the phone. 

"Ava?  Who was that?"  I could not stop the tears that were building in my eyes. 

"They. Have. John. And. Andrew."  I choked out each word the best I could manage.  Lena jumped up immediately along with Jaci. 

"Oh God.  Alright, what do we do?"  I looked at my dear friend Jaci. 

"You will not do anything.  Nicholas only wants me.  I will go up there." 

"The hell you will!"  You knew Jaci was mad when she started yelling, and I got the feeling Lena was right behind her. 

"Jaci is right, Avalon.  You cannot go alone."  Victor finally stepped up to where the girls and I were standing. 

"All of you shut up.  Avalon, you are not going anywhere alone, I am going to make that crystal clear right now.  All of us will go.  Now that we have Daniel with us, that will throw Nicholas off, and Jaci is doing well so she could be a great asset. We all will go get John and Andrew back and kill Nicholas while we are at it."  Everyone seemed to be in agreement, but I was still hesitant. 

"But what if he sees all of you and decides to just kill John and Andrew right then and there?"  Victor looked around for a moment like he was assessing the situation. 

"He will not see all of us.  He will just see you."  Jaci jumps in front of Victor. 

"Are you crazy?  You cannot let her go inside that house alone!  Nicholas has already killed her entire family.  He is not going to think twice about killing her."  I could tell Victor was getting irritated.  He was not used to arguing with a woman that is for sure. 

"If Nicholas wanted Avalon dead that bad, he would have killed her already.  I think he wants to torture her not kill her.  Not yet anyway.  She could go in and create a diversion while Michael and Lena find John and Andrew.  Meanwhile, Daniel, Jaci, and I could be watching from a safe distance in case Michael and Lena need help until John and Andrew are freed.  Before Nicholas even knows what is going on, he will have eight people up against his three.  Two of which will be vampires just like him, and the rest are well, what we are.  We can take them down." 

Jaci looked somewhat satisfied. 

"I want to be near Ava at all times.  No negotiating this point."  Victor nodded.

"Agreed."  Michael picks his phone up off the floor.  "Alright.  We have directions.  Looks like they are just up in Ashland.  It will only take a couple hours to get there from here. I say we drive most of the way then shift and run the rest.  It will be easier for us to sneak up on them if we are not in a car plus our senses are better in animal form.  Daniel and Jaci can run with us, I am sure they can keep up." 

Daniel put his hand on Jaci's shoulder.  "Don't you worry about us!"  Victor looked pleased.