She scanned the church, found no one hiding, but the reverberations of violence were strong. She lifted her foot and hesitated, trepidation filling her soul. “Father Mulligan?” She called out his name softly and resolutely stepped across the threshold.
Nothing happened. Not a single lightning bolt slammed down from the sky to incinerate her for such a sacrilege. Her heart settled down to a steady rhythm as she gained confidence. She could see easily in the darkened interior. Several candles lit in a small alcove to her left were dim pinpoints of flickering lights. She spotted the priest lying on the floor near the altar. In his brown robes he looked like a dark heap of rags cast aside on the marble stair leading to the altar. Destiny knelt at his side. “Father—not you,” she whispered. “Who would hurt you?”
The priest remained motionless for several heartbeats. Destiny leaned close to him. She could hear his ragged breathing. He was alive, but she was afraid to touch him. He looked so fragile, she was afraid she might hurt him. And a part of her was afraid that if she touched such a holy man, she might be struck dead on the spot. The priest groaned, lifted his fingers to touch his bloody scalp. His lashes fluttered, and then he was looking at her.
“Father? Who did this?” She inched back, automatically seeking the shadows.
“Child, I’m afraid you’re going to have to help me sit up. I’m quite dizzy.” His Irish brogue was still thick despite many years in the States.
“Touch you, Father?” She sounded horrified. “What if I hurt you?”
He managed a smile. “I don’t think you’re going to do any more damage to my hard head than has already been done. Give me a hand.”
Taking a deep breath, Destiny put her arm gingerly around his shoulders. When nothing happened, she took a firmer grip. Very carefully she helped him into a sitting position. He felt much thinner than he appeared in his robes, his bones protruding and fragile.
His body was trembling, and he swayed as if he might not be able to sit alone, so she kept her arm around him. She realized he was older than she had first thought.
“When I realized he was going to hit me, I thought of you and all your late visits. I knew God would send you to me.” He tried a wink and winced instead. “Just to stack the odds a bit in my favor, I sent up a little prayer to ask God to get a message to you.”
“Well, he sent for me a little late.” She was nobody’s heroine. It angered her that anyone would hurt such a generous, compassionate man. “God must have been sleeping when you sent Him the message. He just now delivered it.” She had no idea why she had come to the church but somehow she had felt an urgent need to visit.
“You’re here—that’s all that matters.”
“Can you stand up?” His extreme pallor worried her. “Maybe I’d better call an ambulance.”
“No, no, don’t do that. Just let me sit here for a moment and rest.” The priest patted her hand gently as if reassuring her. “If you call an ambulance, we’ll have to explain all this, and it would be better to get to the bottom of it ourselves.”
Destiny frowned at him. “You’re not making any sense, Father. You have to call the police. Whoever did this should be punished.”
He slumped closer to her, leaning more of his weight against her. “No, that’s why I needed you.” His voice sounded weaker. “You can’t go to the police. It was one of my parishioners. He isn’t like this. I don’t know what got into him. He didn’t need the money—there was nothing much to take—but there was no reasoning with him.” He closed his eyes and sagged completely against her. “I’m counting on you.”
“You’re really hurt, Father,” Destiny pointed out. “You need medical attention.”
“What is your name?”
“Destiny,” she said angrily, feeling murderous toward the priest’s attacker.
Nicolae. I need you to come to the church.
She hated calling him. She knew he would be grinning like an ape when he received her call. Destiny glared at the priest. “You have no idea what you’re forcing me to do.”
“Yes, I’m afraid I do, child. I know you do not wish to be in contact with others, but I have a feeling only you can solve this for me. I don’t want the police involved. Promise me you’ll handle this yourself.”
“I don’t believe this.” Destiny threw her hands up in exasperation, then quickly caught the priest to her to keep him from striking his head on the marble step. “First the sisters and now you.”
You sound impatient for me.
Male satisfaction purred in his voice.
Destiny pressed her lips together to keep from shrieking in frustration. The world had suddenly gone
insane. Well, don’t puff up yet. Do you have any skills in healing humans?
There was a small silence. Destiny couldn’t help the small smile that flitted briefly across her face and found its way into her mind. And into his.
You want me to heal a human for you? Did you think I wanted your company?
His laughter came as always. Wrapping her up in warmth and tugging at her
heart. That is my woman, always so warm and welcoming. Is your human a male?
She caught that small hint of menace flaring in him.
Yes, as a matter of fact, he is, and important to me, so quit talking and get moving. You amaze me. You know I will help you, yet you still keep yourself from me.
She rolled her eyes and took a firmer grip on the priest.
I’m saving your life, buddy. I really want to do something violent to you. You’re in my territory.
A sudden suspicion hit.
You’re some distance away, aren’t you? You were hunting the vampire.
Fury accompanied comprehension.
That’s my vampire! He’s in my neighborhood. I don’t need some second-rate hunter in here mucking things up.
“Destiny’?” The priest drew her attention with his thin voice. “Perhaps you could loosen your grip. You’re crushing my bones.”
At once she complied, a blush stealing up her neck. “I’m so sorry, Father. I told you I might hurt you if I touched you. I’m not good at this sort of thing, but I think you should be lying down.”
If you laugh, Nicolae, I will murder you right here in this church.
His laughter came anyway, a low whisper of a caress; obviously, he was not in the least intimidated by her threat. It was a stolen moment of camaraderie and both recognized it as such.
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not move,” Father Mulligan said. “My head is throbbing and I’m afraid I might be sick.”
Nicolae! I think he has a concussion!
There was fear in her voice.
At once Nicolae was soothing, all laughter gone. Destiny could face a vampire without flinching, but this situation was beyond her experience.
I am on my way and I will teach you what needs to be done. Keep
him
quiet.
Nicolae couldn’t help the small dart of pleasure shooting through him that she had reached for him in her need. Counted on him. Accepted that he would be there for her.
“You need to stay quiet,” Destiny said, hoping she sounded knowledgeable and confident. She stroked the priest’s thinning hair and tried to ignore the way the scent of blood heightened her terrible hunger.
“Do you know Martin Wright? A nice young man. Marty. I’ve known him since he was a child. He was always a sensitive child and so loving and kind to others.”
Destiny knew the man. He was Tim Salvadore’s lover. Wright was always the quieter of the two. Destiny had observed him many times helping the older women in the neighborhood with heavy bags; he was the one who often slipped money to the young couple living in the small house next to Velda and Inez. “Yes, I know Martin,” she admitted.