He showed no sign of realizing she was there. She frowned, wondering why—then remembered she was wearing Seline's charm. She retreated, took it off, then went back into the bedroom. His image came to life almost immediately.
"So." His voice didn't match his tough appearance, tending to be high, almost feminine. "We finally meet."
"We're not exactly meeting."
His smile revealed bloodied canines. A chill ran down her back. God, don't let that blood be Mary's… or Michael's.
"I suppose, technically, you're right. But we will meet in person soon, have no fear of that."
She had plenty of fears about that. She crossed her arms, suddenly glad this image wasn't real. At least Farmer couldn't taste her apprehension. Couldn't hear the rapid pounding of her pulse.
"What do you want, Farmer?"
"I suppose you know I have your lover?"
She nodded tightly.
"What you probably don't know is that I also have the woman you consider your second mother."
She kept her face stony. Disbelieving. They needed to buy time. Needed to make Farmer believe they didn't believe. "Bullshit. We sent her away on a plane this morning."
"I'm afraid I just couldn't let that happen. Not when I had so many delicious plans for her."
God, if Mary had been a captive of this madman since this morning, there was no saying what sort of condition they'd find her in now. He may have been taking his time with his earlier victims, but time was the one thing running out on him now. He may have decided to just do her quick… Bile rose in her throat, and she swallowed heavily.
"I don't believe you," she said, forcing her voice to remain flat. "It was daylight. Neither you nor your fledglings can move around in the sun."
Farmer chuckled. It was a cold sound that churned her already agitated stomach.
"Ah, but I didn't have to breach the sun's barrier. I just took over the mind of another and had him kidnap her for me."
She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to smack the image's smug smile from his face. "You're just playing mind games, you bastard."
"Actually, no. Both my parents were married." He snorted softly at his own joke. His image wavered as he shifted his stance, and electricity stirred the tiny hairs along her arms. "However, perhaps you should call her friend in Long Beach and check. And call the airlines while you're at it, just to see that she didn't board another flight."
"I will, believe me."
His smile widened. His canines were wicked points that dug past his bottom lip. She rubbed her arms, but it didn't stop the goose bumps fleeing across her skin.
"Good. Then think about the decision you must make. I will let you save one. The other I will destroy.
You will have an hour to decide, then I'll reappear to hear your decision."
His image faded a little, then flickered back to full strength. "Oh, and remember, I know everything you do, so don't think you can mount a rescue attempt for either of them without me knowing. You move from that hotel room, and I'll kill them both. Clear?"
"Clear," she murmured between clenched teeth.
His image disappeared just as Jake walked into the room. "What was that?"
"Message from Farmer. We've got an hour, then he's going to kill either Mary or Michael." Though she seriously doubted Farmer had any intention of letting her save even one.
Jake took a deep, shuddering breath. "At least that means they're both currently alive."
"Hopefully. Did you manage to find some sort of safe house?"
He nodded. "Friend of mine owns a boat. It's ours for the next couple of days." He handed her a business card with all the details scrawled on the back.
She slipped it into her pocket. "Did you find something of Mary's?"
"Bra."
He placed the white garment in her hand. Almost instantly images assaulted her, hitting her mind so hard she staggered back several steps.
Jake grabbed her arm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She flicked the bra out of her palm, holding it by her fingertips near the catch. The flood slowed to a trickle of shadows that, at least, she could cope with.
"Is there a problem with the bra?"
"No. I was just caught off guard by the sheer power of the images." She moved out into the living room and sat down on one of the sofas. Placing the bra on the coffee table, she grimly met Jake's look. "This is going to be extremely dangerous. If the images I got just then were any indication, the minute I try to find where she is, I'm going to link right into her mind. Which means I'll be seeing and feeling everything she does."
Jake stared at her, face paler than before. "Dear God…"
"Exactly. I could lose myself in her, especially with Michael not here to pull me out."
"If you think it's too dangerous…"
"No." Besides, a little thing like losing her mind was nothing when Mary's life was at stake. She had to at least try. Had to. "But you'll have to keep close watch on me. If I start looking too stressed, you pull me out, any way you can."
He didn't ask how he was supposed to do that. He obviously knew she had as little idea as he did.
"When I nod, place the bra in my hand." She edged back on the sofa and crossed her legs. Closing her eyes, she breathed, slow and deep, trying to follow the process Michael had shown her. Only he'd been there to help her, guard her…
Fear rose. She chased it away. She had no time for that now.
Breathe in, breathe out. Slow. Rhythmic. Gradually, the tension began to leave her limbs and her mind.
She lowered her barriers, felt the buzz of expectation run through her psychic senses.
She opened her hand and nodded. The minute the bra touched her hand, images burned through her soul. She wrapped her fingers around the material, pressing it into her palm.
Her senses leaped away, following the trail that led to Mary. Shapes began to form. Fear trembled through her.
She thrust it from her again and concentrated on Mary. Imagined their thoughts as two separate streams that ran side by side, touching but not merging.
Then she reached—and was swept into Mary's thoughts…
…the darkness moved. Breathed. Fear shuddered through her, so strong it caught in her throat, making it difficult to catch her breath. She tried to shift back. The bed rocked underneath her, creaking loudly—but not loudly enough to cover the rattle of the chains that held her. They were tight, biting into her wrists and ankles.
Two blue lights appeared in the night. Eyes, she realized. Eyes ringed by bloody red. Teeth gleamed at her. Sharp, bloody canines.
Oh God…
She'd heard Jake talking about vampires. She'd never truly believed him.
Until now.
She whimpered, her breath a shudder her heart pounding so loud it seemed to echo not only in her ears but through the night itself.
The eyes moved closer. Became a man. A man whose teeth were extending even further.
She couldn't scream. Couldn't do anything. Simply stared in horror at the thickset man approaching her.
Her heart raced so hard it hurt, and she couldn't seem to breathe fast enough.
"Do you know who I am?"
He was the devil come to life. She could think of nothing more apt for the man who stood in front of her.
An odd sort of mewling sound rose up her throat, and she edged away.
He clamped a hand around her ankle. She kicked at him, but her feet were bare and had little impact.
Her blow drew little response beyond a chuckle.
"I'm gathering you don't, so allow me to introduce myself. I am Billie Farmer, the man whose high school years were hell thanks to you and your upmarket cronies."
Her eyes widened at the name. Beads of sweat rolled down her face, even though she felt so cold she was shivering.
His hands were like fire as they slipped up her legs and forced them apart. His fingers stroked her thigh, his touch bruising. Oh god, oh god… She began to struggle, desperate to get away from his touch, his intentions.