Velda and Inez instantly turned their attention to him, patting and stroking his hair soothingly and making clucking noises. “Father Mulligan must have suffered a concussion. He knows you would never do such a thing, Marty. I’ll go talk to him at once,” Velda said supportively.
“Oh, yes, Sister, we must go at once,” Inez echoed. “Father must be hurt badly to accuse poor Marty of such a thing.”
Martin Wright stared at his hands. “What if I did do it? Father Mulligan would never lie to me, and Tim said I came home covered in blood that night. He said I had the church box in my hands and I wouldn’t talk to him. That I just sat there, staring at the box.” He looked up at Velda, tears shimmering in his eyes. “I don’t remember. Could I have attacked Father? I’ve never hurt anyone in my life.”
“Martin.” Nicolae hunkered down so he was eye-to-eye with the man. Distress was emanating from Wright in thick waves. “What do you remember about that day
before
the assault on Father Mulligan. Where did you go? Who were you with? What did you do? Do you remember anything at all?”
“I did all the usual things. I went to work, I met Tim for lunch. We discussed the project like we normally do. He had his astronomy class, so I went down to the project site to talk to the contractor. I was there a long time. I remember thinking I wanted to show Father Mulligan the plans again because I was worried about a series of steps and a ramp leading to the gardens from the west side. I was afraid some of the residents might have a difficult time maneuvering them. The contractor insisted that the slope wasn’t that steep, but Father Mulligan knows a great deal about the hardships of people using walkers or canes because he talks with the elderly on a daily basis. I wanted a second opinion.”
“Oh, Sister!” Inez caught at Velda. “He did go to see Father Mulligan that night. You are right. There is something going on in the neighborhood.”
Velda nodded grimly. “Something evil is afoot. We should activate the neighborhood watch immediately.”
Nicolae winced inwardly. He had visions of little old ladies with shocking hair marching up and down the streets with magic potions and garlic wreaths. “Martin, before you went to the church to see Father Mulligan, do you recall going anywhere else? Did you stop to speak to anyone, even casually, or eat dinner? Did you drop by the neighborhood bar?”
Martin frowned, rubbed his temples. “I must have. I left the work site just after six o’clock. Father Mulligan was assaulted much later than that. He always goes to the church around eight-thirty or nine, I wouldn’t have tried to catch him before that.”
When did you discover Father Mulligan?
Nicolae asked Destiny.
It was close to ten, between nine-thirty and ten.
Nicolae turned once more to Martin. The sisters were fussing over him, leaving Martin somewhere between amusement and tears at their staunch support of him.
“Sister, you must make him a talisman,” Inez insisted. “Something to ward off evil. Martin, Velda can give you a powerful totem to wear around your neck.”
“Do you think vampires are involved?” Nicolae asked Velda with a straight face.
Velda glared at him. “Mock me, I don’t mind. I’ve lived with the knowledge of the supernatural world for years and the unbelievers who insist on making light of it. I know my duty.”
“Velda,” Martin interrupted. “It had to have been me. Tim wouldn’t lie, and neither would Father Mulligan. Tim says it isn’t the first time I’ve acted oddly and not remembered. I promised him I’d go for a checkup at the clinic.”
“Velda.” Nicolae’s voice was impossibly gentle, completely compelling. “I am so sorry you misunderstood me. I have no idea if vampires exist or not and I would never make fun or mock you. I was asking your opinion.”
Velda blushed a bright shade of scarlet. “I thought...” She trailed off, her hands fluttering helplessly. “I’m so used to someone making fun of my beliefs, I jumped to conclusions.”
“I think Martin should go to the clinic and I think we should do a little investigation into this matter. I do not mind looking into it for you. After all, I am in law enforcement. Father Mulligan prefers to keep this as quiet as possible. He believes something happened to you that night, Martin. He doesn’t want the police brought in. He is a personal friend and I am here to help out. And, of course, Destiny asked me to help.”
“That sweet girl,” Inez said. “Sister dear, isn’t she a sweet girl?”
Velda’s attention was on Nicolae. “Yes, I believe you’ve been sent here to help us.” She continued to stare at him, her eyes glazing, her expression becoming dreamy and faraway. Her gnarled fingers, clearly damaged by arthritis, moved in a complicated pattern before his eyes.
Nicolae felt his breath slam out of his lungs. Destiny’s heart skipped a beat, then began to pound far too hard. Nicolae lifted his hand toward Velda, palm out.
No! Don’t stop her. You can’t stop her. Let her “see” you.
It was the sheer desperation in Destiny’s voice that stopped Nicolae from preventing the reading Velda was so obviously capable of. Her talent was deep and well hidden and thinning with age, but it was there nevertheless.
Velda gasped aloud, staggered backward and shook her head as if clearing her vision. At once her trembling hand went to the silver crucifix around her neck. “I’m not well, Sister. Take me inside.” Her voice shook and she avoided looking at Nicolae.
“Look at me, Velda.” It was a command and the woman turned to face him, looking her age for the first time. She seemed to have diminished in size and was frail and sunken in. “You know you will never have anything to fear from me. I have come to this place to help you and your friends. You believe that.”
Velda nodded solemnly. “Yes, I know,” she murmured.
She knew too much. Nicolae suddenly realized that nothing was what it appeared to be in this quiet neighborhood. The ground shifted and rolled beneath his feet.
Destiny! Come to me now.
The command was made by an ancient in full power; it was a compulsion impossible to resist. He didn’t even think about the repercussions of bending her to his will. He couldn’t think about it. There was a strand of evil woven into the very fabric of the neighborhood, and he needed to find its root. The preservation of his race could very well be at stake.
Nicolae released Velda from his enthrallment and watched as Inez helped her sister into their home, leaving him alone with Martin.
“She looked ill,” Martin said with genuine concern. “Do you think we should call Dr. Arnold? He supervises the clinic, and I know he’d make a house call for Velda or Inez. They’re sort of an institution here.”
“I think she just needed to rest.” Nicolae’s glittering gaze moved broodingly over the man sprawled out in his chair. “Where did you have dinner that night, Martin? You never said.”
Martin frowned and rubbed his head as if it pained him. “I always go to the bar. I must have gone there. I knew Tim wasn’t going to be home, and I always go to the bar for company when he has classes. I don’t remember. How could I lose an entire night?”
“We will figure it out, Martin,” Nicolae assured him, using a soothing voice. At once, some of the anxiety eased from the man’s face. “It will be easy enough to ask at the bar if you were seen that night. Everyone knows you.”
“Tim is upset. He doesn’t know what to think or believe, and I can’t reassure him,” Martin said wistfully.
“Velda and Inez seem to know what they’re talking about when they give advice, Martin, and so does Mary Ann. Maybe you should talk it over with someone you trust and see what they have to say.”
He could feel the surge of power as Destiny flew swiftly through the night sky toward him.
Destiny.