“It all started with Helena,” Velda confided, dropping her voice and regaining Destiny’s attention immediately. “Have you seen little Helena? Nice young girl, with a real figure, not like the half-starved bodies we see so much now.”
Inez nodded. “She has a woman’s figure, meat on her bones for a man to snuggle up against. And she knows she’s a prize.”
“True, Sister, Helena knows it. She has the confidence of a woman who can wait for the right man.” Velda confirmed.
“The
right
man,” Inez echoed, bobbing her purple head.
Destiny knew the “young woman” they were speaking of. She was in her late thirties or early forties and was a bright spot on the street when she hurried along the walkways calling greetings to everyone. She had mahogany skin and straight hair as black as a raven’s wing. Her eyes were a dark chocolate, and she was nearly always laughing. She did have confidence in her walk and a way of enticing men.
“I know who she is,” Destiny admitted.
“She has a lover, a sweet man, John Paul. A great big bear of a man.”
“A teddy bear,” Inez explained.
Destiny had seen them together—Helena, a short woman with a ripe, curvy figure, and John Paul, a huge, burly man who looked at her as if she were the sun and the moon and everything in between. They held hands everywhere they went, and John Paul was always touching Helena, a small, stroking caress on her hair, on her shoulder, on her arm. John Paul seemed a gentle giant, well pleased that he had managed to capture Helena’s attention.
“They’ve been together for years,” Velda said. “Always in harmony, a perfect match. Helena is a flirt,” she added.
“A terrible flirt,” Inez affirmed.
“But she never goes home with other men. She talks and laughs, but it’s always John Paul. She adores John Paul, really adores him. And he’s wild about her.”
Destiny knew they were speaking the truth. She had been watching the residents of the neighborhood for months, was a silent observer of their lives. John Paul lived for Helena. His every waking thought was for her.
“Helena was crying a few weeks ago, wandering around at night. She came over to us, and her face was swollen and bruised. John Paul had struck her several times. She said it wasn’t like him at all. He came home from work and was ‘different.’”
The nape of Destiny’s neck prickled in alarm. A shadow crept out of the darkness, slid along the street toward them. Overhead, a sudden gust of wind carried swirling black clouds to obliterate the stars.
“John Paul is incapable of hurting Helena.” She made it a statement. She knew his thoughts, knew his gentle nature. She knew how much he loved Helena. He would never risk his relationship with her. Helena was not a woman who would put up with a man striking her. “Are you certain?”
Velda nodded. “Helena believes him to be ill. She was planning to ask him to go to see a doctor. She thought he might have a brain tumor or something. It’s just so out of character. The next day, when she confronted him, he didn’t seem to remember what he’d done.”
“Not at all,” Inez affirmed. “He was horrified by Helena’s injuries. He didn’t remember yelling at her or hitting her or...” She trailed off, glancing at her sister.
Rape. The ugly word was unspoken but it shimmered in all of their minds. Destiny’s stomach churned in protest. Helena loved John Paul. And John Paul was incapable of such acts.
What would cause such bizarre behavior?
She held her breath, waiting for the answer, waiting for Nicolae to confirm her worst suspicions.
Do not jump to conclusions. Our minds are always on the undead, but not all crimes are committed by vampires. Humans are capable of great atrocities.
She didn’t want to be reminded of that. She wanted to think a vampire was responsible. How could a human be responsible for changing John Paul’s entire personality? That didn’t make sense to her.
“How is Helena?”
“She doesn’t come out of her house much, and when she does, she is quiet and subdued. Not at all like her. And John Paul is upset and afraid of losing her. He told me he honestly doesn’t remember anything about that day. It’s sad,” Velda said. “And, of course, there are other things.”
The door to the bar opened, spilling light and loud music and laughter into the street. The three women turned to watch Mary Ann emerge with a man beside her. He was holding her elbow. Neither glanced toward the women, but rather turned toward the small alleyway leading behind the tavern.
Destiny’s heart nearly stopped beating for a moment, then began to pound fearfully.
Chapter Five
“Velda, Inez, I know this is important, and I do believe you. I want to hear everything you have to say about what’s happening, but unfortunately, I have to go right now.” Her breath was rushing into her lungs.
Don’t you touch her!
There was no pleading, just a very real threat in her sharp command. She leapt to her feet, began jogging toward the alley, blurring her figure so that she could put on a burst of speed and the sisters wouldn’t be able to see. The wind picked up, rushed down the street in a gale, pushing loose paper, sticks and leaves ahead of it, swirling dust eddies into towers of turbulence.
Her body moved with grace, with power, a lethal machine rushing to stop the inevitable. She tried to use the blood bond between them, reaching for him, attempting to immobilize him. She should have known he would never have given her his blood if it would give her complete domination of him. He was a true ancient with more power and strength, more battle savvy than she could hope to muster in her short years as a hunter. It was too late to stop him; she knew exactly the moment his teeth sank deep into Mary Ann’s vulnerable neck.
Destiny hissed softly, a promise of retaliation, the taste of betrayal bitter in her mouth. Why had she allowed his voice to deceive her into believing he was something different? She burst around the corner, skidding to a halt as she saw them. Mary Ann was turned toward her, a small frown on her face. Nicolae’s arms were around the woman, holding her in front of him like a shield. He lifted his head slowly, almost lazily, his gaze drifting over Destiny in a kind of challenge.
Destiny halted a few feet from them. Mary Ann was in terrible danger. Nicolae might easily kill her. Destiny was very aware that one wrong move on her part could be the deciding factor. “What do you want?” She would give him almost anything for Mary Ann. She prayed she wouldn’t have to kill Mary Ann to keep her from falling into his hands. “Tell me what you want.” She was moving in a slow circle as she stalked him. The air between them vibrated with tension. Overhead the darker clouds began to boil. Small veins of lightning arced from cloud to cloud. The wind began an eerie moan, rising every now and then to a shriek of anger.
Nicolae smiled, revealing his immaculate white teeth. He looked the predator he was. “I am no fledgling to be tricked, Destiny. Back away and listen to reason.”
“She is under my protection.”
“And mine,” he said gently, his gaze steady on hers.
Destiny’s soft mouth firmed, formed a straight line. She inched closer, angling toward the left of the couple. She was on the balls of her feet, ready for his single mistake, a single opening.
Without warning, a shadow dropped from the sky. Silent. Deadly. A wicked beak and razor-sharp talons flew straight at Mary Ann’s face. Destiny leapt to put herself between them, but the owl was already climbing, and Mary Ann looked terrified at the near miss. The beak had driven straight for her eyes.
“Don’t move,” Destiny cautioned Mary Ann. “Call him off, Nicolae. Call him off now.”
“He is only protecting me,” Nicolae explained gently. “He knows your intent and knows I will not hurt you. It is his warning to you. Should you harm me, he will kill her. I cannot stop him, and you know that, Destiny. He is my brother and seeks only to protect me. Think before you act.” Nicolae kept Mary Ann firmly between them.