He could not help but look at Hawthorne’s fingers, double-checking them. He wore no ring. Eduardo had told Adrian that the man did not wear the ring, something Eduardo had known first because Brad and others who came in contact with Hawthorne had said he wore no jewelry, and second because he had checked this for himself, using a telescope to spy on Hawthorne when he walked from his car to the hospice or stood on his balcony. He dared not come closer, Eduardo said, because of the dog.
And now Eduardo was dead, and the only other time Hawthorne had been at their mercy, out in the desert, they had been worried about a witness-this woman who was his lover, as it turned out. And then the dog had arrived, and they had had to leave before they met Eduardo’s fate.
How had Evan died? he wondered. Probably the dog. Despite the heat emanating from Hawthorne’s body, Daniel suddenly felt cold with dread. That dog had jumped right into the truck. He had been inches from meeting Evan’s fate.
It was difficult to negotiate the narrow stairs while carrying Hawthorne, but he managed it.
Adrian motioned with his clawlike hands. “Here, here, on the table!”
As Daniel complied, Adrian went down on all fours-his only means of moving around now-and scuttled to Daniel’s side. Daniel could not help giving a small cry of pain as Adrian used his pincer hands-which he saw now had grown stronger and larger-to grasp Daniel’s leg and arm, slowly pulling himself up in this manner until he stood.
“Ah, yes!” Adrian said. “Hawthorne! My dear Daniel, you do not know-cannot conceive of-how long I have waited for this encounter!” He laughed. “Oh, this is excellent.”
Hawthorne moaned.
“Quickly! Chain him!” Adrian ordered. As Daniel obeyed, Adrian studied him, then said, “Do you think he is harmless?”
“Evan shot him, sir, I don’t know how many times. He’s got a high fever.”
“Do you see these three bullet holes in his clothing, these two through the chest? And this one, in the stomach area?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And all this blood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tear open the shirt. Look at the wounds.”
Daniel did as he was told and then stared in disbelief-though Hawthorne’s torso was covered with drying blood, his wounds were nothing more than red marks. A glance at his face showed color returning to it.
“I warn you, Daniel, he is far from harmless. He could easily kill us both, without experiencing anything more than temporary discomfort.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Search him for the ring. Search thoroughly. Then bring me a sharp knife.”
Daniel did as he was asked, all the while thinking of Adrian’s caution. He had never seen Adrian respond to anyone as if he were afraid-but clearly, he was afraid of this man. Even his previous warnings about Hawthorne had not prepared Daniel to see such a reaction.
He scratched at his hands.
By the time he returned from the kitchen with the knife, all signs of the bullet wounds had disappeared. Daniel reached Adrian’s side just as Hawthorne’s eyes opened. For a moment Hawthorne seemed utterly confused, pulling weakly at the manacles, frowning as he looked about the room.
Adrian took his face between the powerful pincers that served as his right hand, forcing Hawthorne to look up at him.
At first sight of the fleshless face, Hawthorne attempted to turn away, but Adrian held him fast.
“Do you not recognize the man who gave you your very life, Captain Hawthorne?”
There was a flash in the dark eyes, then Hawthorne said, “I thought the fever was giving me a nightmare, but I should have known you by the stink, Adrian.”
For that little joke, Adrian pressed the pincers closed until Hawthorne’s jaw broke.
Daniel saw the agony of this injury written on the man’s face, although Hawthorne did no more than grunt at the moment the bone audibly cracked.
“Now, while you are healing, I shall ask Daniel to note that your powers of recovery do not exclude you from the experience of pain. If you do not want to live out eternity in this cellar, experiencing more pain, you will tell me what you have done with my ring.”
After a moment, Adrian said, “Yes, now I think you are well enough to speak. Where is the ring?”
“Shade will find me, you know,” Hawthorne whispered.
Adrian laughed. “Dear me. Do you think that dog will be of any help to you? You forget that he and I share a bond as well. He cannot attack me.”
Hawthorne looked to Daniel. “What a comfort to you. If you are Adrian’s creature, you are in danger from that dog.”
“Don’t worry, Daniel,” Adrian said quickly.
“But, sir-what he did to Eduardo, and probably to Evan-”
“You will not share their fates,” Adrian said distractedly. “Tyler!”
Hawthorne’s eyes were drifting closed. Adrian pinched his face again, and Hawthorne looked up at him but seemed unable to focus. Adrian let go of him.
“Tyler,” he said in a coaxing voice, “where is my ring?”
“What ring?” Hawthorne murmured and closed his eyes.
“Daniel, feel his face. Is he warm?”
Daniel obeyed. “Still burning up, sir.”
Adrian sighed. “Damn. I should have let that little demonstration wait.”
“What shall I do with the knife, sir?”
Adrian looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “Set it on the desk for now. We must make an elixir that will shorten the time of his fever…if I can remember how to make it.” He laughed. “However, if I concoct a poison by mistake, it will simply give me something else to use to persuade him.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Now, listen carefully, Daniel. In the cupboard to the right of the desk, you will find a bottle labeled Tanacetum parthenium…”
“Sir, may I please wash first? My skin-it itches.”
Adrian stared at him. “Does it? Yes. Shower and change your clothes. You may have something of a reaction to his blood. When you come back down here, bring a pair of gloves with you. Oh-and that item I had you purchase at…what is it called again?”
“The hardware store, sir.”
“Yes. I think we should have that on hand.”
Daniel went upstairs and showered for as long as he dared.
49
Amanda stood watching in dismay as the rings rolled in every direction.
“Can you help me out here?” she asked the dogs.
They sat staring at her.
“Let’s forget about the ring. Let’s just find Tyler.”
When she headed toward the door, Shade blocked her way.
I don’t have time for this!
But each time she tried to dodge around him, he stepped in front of her.
She felt her fears rise, but she quickly tamped them down. Shade wasn’t growling or trying to bite her. “Are you herding me?”
He wagged his tail.
“All right, all right!” She decided to do as he clearly wanted her to-after all, he had been with Tyler for a couple of centuries, and she had little hope of finding Tyler without him.
She scooped up the rings she could easily find, and placed them on the table. She then got down on her hands and knees to recover as many of them as she could. It was in this position that Ron and Alex found her a few moments later.
“What are you doing?” Ron asked.
“Help me gather these rings.”
“Tyler has been shot and kidnapped, and you’re looking at jewelry?” Alex asked angrily.
“Believe me,” Amanda said, not looking up from her task, “we have to find his ring before we find him.”
“You’re crazy!”
“Alex…,” Ron began.
“I’m sure it looks that way, but, Alex, you must already know that Tyler…isn’t like other men. He has gifts, and…he’s different in other ways. He needs this ring. I wish I could tell you more, but it’s up to him to do that.”