The church doors were unlocked, and she knew before she pulled them open that Father Mulligan was inside, hearing confession. With her acute hearing she could distinguish soft words and the strangled sob of a woman as she spoke with her priest. In the pew close to the confessional was a big bear of a man. John Paul. His head was bowed, and Destiny could see his big shoulders shaking. Tears slid down his face.
Destiny entered the church suppressing a small shiver of trepidation as she crossed the threshold and slipped into the poorly lit interior. Candles flickered in the alcove and cast strange, shifting shadows on the stained-glass window above it. She studied the depiction of the Madonna and Child, the sweet face and the way one hand held the infant to her while the other was outstretched toward Destiny.
John Paul didn’t look up, didn’t seem to notice her, so Destiny slipped closer, wanting to get a feel for the man. Had he been touched by a vampire? Was that the explanation for his bizarre behavior toward Helena? Destiny scanned his mind, looking for the blank spots that would reveal the presence of the undead.
John Paul was filled with sorrow and confusion. He feared losing Helena and he believed he might be losing his mind. His thoughts were jumbled and mixed with wild plans of carrying his beloved off to a secluded place until he could convince her he loved her and would never harm her.
Father Mulligan and Helena emerged from the confessional, and the priest put his arm around her shoulders. Even in the dim light, Destiny could see Helena’s swollen eye and cut lip. The damage was fresh. She was still crying softly. The priest helped her to a pew and beckoned solemnly to John Paul. The huge man hunched his shoulders as if struck, but like an obedient child, he rose. His tremendous bulk made the slight priest look small and thin and very frail.
Destiny waited until the two men disappeared into the privacy of the confessional before gliding silently to the aisle near Helena, scanning the woman’s memories as she did so. Helena certainly had memories of John Paul attacking her. He was terrifying, a tremendously strong man with hamlike hands and a body like a solid oak tree. Helena believed John Paul was insane. She planned to leave him, fearing for her life, yet she loved him fiercely, protectively.
Her heart unexpectedly twisting in sympathy, Destiny laid a tentative hand on Helena’s shoulder. “Velda and Inez asked me to help you, Helena. I hope you don’t mind.” She wished she were Mary Ann with her gift for saying what Helena needed to hear.
Helena shook her head without looking up. “No one can help me. I’ve lost John Paul. I can’t stay with a man who would do this to me.”
Destiny gently took her chin and lifted her face on the pretense of examining it. She waited calmly until Helena was caught and held in the depths of her eyes. She saw the relationship clearly; Helena and John Paul were nearly inseparable. Two people wholly devoted to one another.
I didn’t know anyone could feel as strongly as they do about one another. You just did not want to know, Destiny.
Destiny scowled, wishing Nicolae were standing in front of her. She sent him a visual just in case he didn’t get the fact that he was
annoying.
Destiny sighed. She couldn’t let Helena and John Paul lose something so rare and precious. Continuing to look deep into Helena’s eyes, she planted the idea of working things out with John Paul. Helena needed to allow Mary Ann to put her in a safe place until Destiny could figure out what was going on. Destiny would make certain John Paul understood and agreed with her plan.
I don’t detect a vampire
, she told Nicolae.
Are you certain? John Paul is a simple man. Perhaps he is so shaken, you are not receiving a reliable brain pattern.
Destiny frowned.
Does that happen? It is possible. If the vampire had a soft enough touch and made the suggestion from a distance, you might not encounter the blankness they leave behind.
Destiny tapped her finger lightly on the back of the pew.
Is there a possibility that there is no vampire? Is there an illness that would cause John Paul to become violent? I don’t know much about illnesses. I was only a child when I was converted, and I haven’t spent much time around humans.
She could feel Nicolae weighing his answer carefully, thinking it over.
Do you detect a tumor or a brain bleed, something physical that would affect his behavior? No. His brain patterns seem normal enough. He is very focused on Helena. I don’t think he is capable of hurting her this way. Why?
Nicolae prompted.
Everyone is capable of violence.
Destiny sank into the pew. Nicolae was right. John Paul was a huge bear of a man, quite willing to indulge in a brawl if the opportunity presented itself.
But not violence toward her. Never to Helena. He loves her.
A wave of warmth flooded her mind. Her heart. Her very bloodstream.
I understand how he feels. I believe you, Destiny. We will figure it out.
Chapter Nine
Nicolae couldn’t miss the purple-haired woman waving at him, as much as he would have liked to. She was flapping her arms and jumping up and down on the sidewalk while the small, pink-haired lady beside her shouted out a welcome to him. He found himself returning to the small neighborhood near the bar, seeking out Mary Ann. The counselor for battered and abused women meant much to Destiny. Mary-Ann also had some psychic ability; he wanted to know more of her.
Destiny might have run from him physically, but he could feel her, a quiet shadow in his mind, sharing her fears, talking over the puzzling problems of “her” humans, laughing with him. She didn’t give him any sympathy as he deliberately shared the embarrassing vision of two elderly ladies in neon colors jumping up and down on the sidewalk and making frantic noises and wild gestures.
Their antics were drawing undue attention to him, something no Carpathian desired. Resigned, he turned away from Mary Ann’s office to saunter down the street toward the two older women who obviously wanted his attention. He heard Destiny’s muffled laughter brush at his mind. It lightened his heart. They would always be connected.
There are times when being invisible comes in handy. You could have warned me. I think a good dose of Velda and Inez is exactly what you need.
He gave an exaggerated groan just to hear the sound of her laughter. After so many years of pain, it was a miracle to hear the amusement in her voice, to feel the lightness in her heart. She was slowly coming to terms with what she had become, slowly accepting that she might not be the evil creature she had been led to believe.
I am uncertain what I did this rising to deserve such punishment.
Flashing his most charming smile at the two women, Nicolae bowed low over Velda’s hand, skimmed Inez’s knuckles with brief, old world courtesy. Both women fluttered their eyelashes and giggled like schoolgirls. “What can I do for you?”
Stop with the voice! Do you want to give them heart attacks?
Destiny was really laughing now. She sounded so carefree, he felt a strong burst of emotion.
The women introduced themselves and patted the chair waiting between them, gushing over his name, his foreign accent and wonderful manners.
“What brings you to our neighborhood, Nicolae?” Velda asked curiously. “We saw you with our dear Mary Ann,” Inez added.
“I have come courting,” he announced, devilishly sharing the conversation with Destiny. “The beautiful woman you were speaking with the other evening. Destiny. I am doing my best to make her my wife, but she is attempting to resist my charm. I do not suppose either of you would have any suggestions to further my cause?” he added hopefully.