“With your very own ears you heard him say he will not kill Roman?” Armando faltered in their dance. Would Aeron truly spare the Socoli?
“Yes.” Carlotta’s red lips spread into a beautiful smile. “He did. He never breaks his word.”
Armando pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I wish you happiness, Carlotta.”
“I am happy,” she answered.
With a slight bow, Armando excused himself and hurried through the party. Stepping into the shadows, he gathered his thoughts. Aeron had promised not to kill Roman, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have someone who served him do the deed. Carlotta had obviously not considered that possibility. Whenever Aeron began a purge he always killed the leader first. Aeron was most likely still in transit from Europe, but Lorelei was in Texas.
Vanora had to convince Roman to leave tonight. There was no time to squander. Frustration ate at him as Armando considered all the possibilities of what could occur. Glancing toward the house, he wondered if he should try to help Vanora convince Roman, but then realized his presence would most likely complicate the situation. Checking his watch, he decided to give Vanora ten more minutes before he would seek the siblings out.
Glancing toward Alisha, he saw she was watching him with a worried look pressed onto her features. He knew his expression mirrored hers.
Again checking his watch, Armando ignored the dread seeping into his bones.
Somehow, they would save Roman.
Unable to breathe, unable to think, Vanora stood on the threshold of her home staring into the dark night. Her throat was pinched closed. Wordlessly, she called out to her sister.
Alisha! Come!
Resting her trembling hands on the doorway, Vanora struggled to contain her terror and panic. The girl from her dreams was real and she’d taken Roman. Fumbling with her collar, Vanora drew out her mother’s Celtic cross. It glowed softly between her fingers. Warmth and power emanated from the bit of silver granting her strength. Though terrified, Vanora stepped out onto the front steps. The light from the hallway spilled out onto the gravel drive below and she was reluctant to leave the lit area. Vanora’s car was still parked on the drive, the fresh dew sparkling on its dark surface. It was much colder outside, away from the heat lamps, and the air was damp and smelled of mold. It reminded her of the mausoleum.
Coughing to clear her throat, Vanora craned her head to gaze upward. High above her, teetering on the edge of the roof, was the vampire girl.
“Give me back my brother,” Vanora demanded hoarsely.
“What was that?” came the taunting reply. “I can’t hear you.”
“Give me back my brother!”
Though the shadows hid the vampire’s face, Vanora could see the gleam of her red eyes as she gazed down at her.
“Oh, you want your brother back?”
“There are a lot more of us than you!” Vanora lifted her cross in her trembling fingers.
“Oh, what’s that glowy thing? I can’t see it from way up here,” the girl’s teasing voice responded.
“Give Roman back!”
The girl’s laughter was unnervingly child-like. “If you insist.”
Lorelei disappeared from the edge only for a moment, then returned holding something in her arms. Just as the awful realization of what the vampire was carrying swept over Vanora, Lorelei dropped Roman. The metal roof of Vanora’s car shrieked in protest as it was crushed by the impact of Roman’s body. Shattered glass sprayed. Vanora crouched and covered her face.
“Vanora,” Roman whispered hoarsely.
Crawling to her feet, her white-blonde hair falling over her face, Vanora looked up to see her bloodied brother reaching out to her, his eyes tortured with pain. Vanora extended her trembling hand and took his gently.
“Get inside,” Roman urged her.
Vanora lifted her eyes to the roof of the house. The vampire was gone. “No, I won’t leave you.”
“So noble. So foolish,” Lorelei said mockingly.
Twisting about, Vanora saw the girl standing just outside the ring of light emanating from the open doorway. Anger flared hot and heavy within her, burning through her fear like a supernova. Beneath it was the cold, black edge of her power ready to lash out.
There was the slightest flicker of fear in the vampire’s eyes.
Vanora screamed in fury, the power within her sweeping out in a torrent that snatched up the vampire and hurled her far into the night. Gasping, Vanora slumped against the car, drained utterly of everything but despair. “Roman, I’ll pull out the stake and you’re going to be fine.”
Roman’s hand quivered as he gingerly touched it to his chest. A short, white wooden stake protruded from his ribs. “I can feel it spreading through me. You can’t pull it out, Vanora.”
“No, no, no,” Vanora whispered, pressing her face against his. “I’ll take it out. I’ll find a way.”
Roman coughed violently, blood spewing from his quivering lips to fleck her face and hair. “She might come back. Get inside.”
Nodding, Vanora carefully helped her brother slide off the crushed hood of her car. Roman gritted his teeth, his eyes glowing fiercely. Falling heavily against his sister, Roman struggled to stay on his feet. Together they passed in front of the car and into the light spilling out of the house. Vanora was repulsed when she saw the blood that drenched her brother and stained her hands and clothes. Forcing the gruesome sight from her mind, she half-carried Roman toward the front door.
“You can’t get away,” Lorelei’s voice slithered out of the night.
Twisting about, Vanora stumbled, Roman crashing onto the steps.
“Do you think you can get away from him? Do you really?” Lorelei’s laughter was taunting.
Roman was passing in and out of consciousness, his handsome face grimacing with the pain.
“Come closer and I’ll kill you,” Vanora answered.
Silence was her only answer.
Hooking her hands under his armpits, she dragged her brother over the doorstep and into the hall. As he moaned with pain, Vanora strained to pull Roman’s heavy body without hurting him too much. A thick trail of blood trailed on the floor and Vanora bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming.
“Vanora!” Armando rushed toward them, his presence burning into the aura of the house. When he saw the blood, his eyes followed its trail to his fallen friend.
“There was a vampire from my dream,” was all she could think to say. “I need to take the stake out.”
“You can’t,” Armando answered in dismay. “It’s a rosewood stake. It’s rooted into his heart. If you try to take it out, you’ll kill him faster. See...” Armando pointed to the strange protrusions pressing up under Roman’s skin. They appeared to be gnarled roots growing just below the surface.
Covering her mouth in horror, Vanora stared at Armando in desperation. “Do something.”
Armando whipped off his coat, muttering angrily in Spanish. Swiftly, he covered Roman with his coat before lifting him into his arms. In silence, Armando pushed past the trembling young woman and into the study where he placed Roman on the sofa.
“Roman, what happened?” Armando whispered.
“I should have listened to your warnings,” Roman said, his voice a thick rasp.
“You’re stubborn like me.”
Vanora could not move from where she stood in the doorway. Her body felt so weak, she could barely stand. Her heart was thundering in her ears and her lungs felt as if they had exploded.
Vanora felt a hand on her shoulder and cringed.
“What’s happening-Roman!” Alisha streaked across the room and flung herself at him. Armando caught her and held her back. “Take it out of him!” Alisha shrieked, reaching for the stake.