Frater, Rhiannon - As the World Dies 04 Page 20

  At noon she ordered a sandwich and another soda and rubbed her cramped wrist. To her surprise, no one else seemed tired or bored and she felt a little guilty. Despite his very youthful appearance, it was clear that Jeff Summerfield was smart, witty and knew his stuff. A few times, she noticed him looking her way, before his gaze darted away.

  Finally, it was over and her plate of half-eaten food was being invaded by flies. Closing her notebook, she pondered how long she should wait before approaching Summerfield. He was immediately swamped by several people who were anxious to talk to him. He stared at them intently as they talked and nodded once or twice, but she could tell he was curious as to why she was there. She could see his eyes moving toward her in quick little glances. Maybe she stood out more than she thought.

  Finally, the older man clapped Summerfield on the back a few times, then shook his hand before wandering away. The back patio was finally empty of everyone, but them.

  She wasn't surprised when he walked over and sat across from her.

  He looked a little tired now that the lecture was over and he wasn't “on” anymore.

  “I've never seen you at one of these before,” he said pointedly.

  “I don't come to them,” she admitted. “But you did a really good job today. I liked it.”

  “Thanks,” he answered with a slight smile. “I don't have my father's finesse, but it went okay.”

  Samantha had managed to glean from the lecture that his father was a well-known paranormal expert, and she said, “I'm sure he thinks you're awesome.”

  “I hope so. He passed away a few months ago and taking up his mantle is not easy.”

  “Oh, I'm sorry.”

  He shrugged his skinny shoulders slightly. “It's okay. I'm Jeffery. Call me Jeff.”

  “Samantha. People call me Sam.”

  “Like Bewitched, huh?”

  “But I can't wiggle my nose,” she said with a smile.

  “You're obviously sticking around for a reason. How can I help you?”

  “Uh.” She pursed her lips, and then made a face. “Okay, this is going to sound really, really crazy.”

  “Okay,” Jeff said slowly. “How could it be crazier than what we talked about today?”

  Samantha laughed brightly, and said, “Okay, true.” She leaned toward him, her gaze intense and whispered, “My boyfriend is a vampire.”

  Jeff's eyes slightly slitted. “Really?”

  “Yeah. A real vampire. Like....um..Dracula or Angel from Buffy.

  Except I don't think he gets all gnarly when he vamps out. Not sure on that.” She pondered this for a moment, her brow furrowed. “I've never seen his teeth either, but I've seen him do some really vampy things.”

  Jeff leaned toward her, and said in a low voice. “And you are telling me this why?”

  “Because there is a new vampire in town. And I think she's totally evil. And I think she's doing a spell on him or something to get him to be evil. I need to know what to do.”

  Jeff blinked slowly, then looked away from her as if mulling something over.

  “What is your boyfriend's name?”

  “I can't tell you that.”

  “Is it Cian ó Loinsigh?”

  Samantha blinked. “Uh, no. His last name is different. It's Lynch.”

  “Lynch is the English variation of ó Loinsigh,” Jeff answered.

  “Oh, shit! You know my boyfriend!”

  “My father knew him. They made a pact back in the day that still stands to this day.” Jeff sighed softly. “But if another vampire is in town and Cian isn't taking care of it, there is a problem.”

  “Did I just get my boyfriend in trouble?”

  “If there is another vampire in town, we may all be in trouble.”

  ***

  With the casual elegance he was known for, and actually quite proud of, Roberto laid out all the tools he would need for his impromptu excursion. Industrial strength trash bags, twist ties, a bag full of garbage, an extra large garbage container, duct tape, several rolls of black plastic tarp, and the keys to the Lexus RX. Taking a hold of the ladder he had purchased that morning at WalMart, he set it before the nearest window and decided to start there.

  It took almost an hour to cover the windows with the black plastic, sealing it into place with the duct tape. By the time he had finished, the area around the chamber was dark and no sunlight crept in anywhere near it. Satisfied that Cian would be safe, Roberto popped the panel and entered the code.

  The wall slipped open with a soft whisper and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the absolute darkness that enshrouded the vampires.

  Slowly they took form in the murk and he could see that Cian was holding Amaliya close to him. He was not surprised. He had seen his master steadily falling under the influence of her presence.

  That was why he had to do this.

  Removing her from Cian's arms would be a little difficult, but he knew the vampires would sleep through it all. And thankfully, Cian's blood infusions made Roberto strong despite still being basically human.

  Being a human servant to a vampire did have its advantages.

  He leaned over and began to steadily apply pressure to Cian's arms.

  He projected what little power he had toward the vampire. He knew that his master would sense his presence and not be threatened.

  Slowly, Cian's arms came apart from around the woman and Roberto maneuvered his Master's sleeping body into a more comfortable sleeping repose on his back.

  Taking a deep breath and steeling himself inwardly, Roberto reached for Amaliya. As he had known they would, her eyes flashed open and her lips parted. It was a survival instinct and he knew she was still fully asleep. To protect her as she slept, her body took on an even more sexual and voluptuous look in order to bespell whoever was disturbing her sleep. He had to admit that she was alluring in her own way. If she wasn't such a damn disruption, he would have possibly entertained the thought of seducing her.

  He so did enjoy seducing beautiful, exotic women.

  Using what little vampire power he had inherited from Cian's blood, he ignored her seductive aura and pulled her toward him. Her clothes were stiff with dried blood, but her skin was pale and beautiful. Over the last few nights, he had seen her fully coming into her new vampire nature.

  Which was all the more reason for her to go.

  Picking her up, he found her surprisingly heavy. He carried her over to the tarp on the floor and lay her down, then returned to close the chamber. The wall descended, sealing off Cian, and Roberto felt a sense of relief that his master was too weak to awaken during the daylight hours.

  Disturbed by her open eyes and the way they trailed after him, he leaned down and closed them with his fingertips. They immediately reopened. Frowning, he grabbed a heavy bag and slid it over her head and down to her hips. Then, he yanked another bag over her legs and began to wrap the duct tape around her securely.

  Cian would be upset. He knew that. But his Master was blinded by the lust he felt for the new vampire and the feelings she drew out of him. It was not as if Roberto was particularly fond of Samantha. He found her too cute and too chirpy to suit him. Just as Amaliya drew out the darker aspects of Cian's personality, Samantha drew out Cian's human side. Roberto found both women annoying. Cian had been best when Roberto had been his only companion. He had been strong, sure, and merciful when need be.

  Roberto wasn't sure if he could get rid of Samantha without Cian's wrath, but he could get rid of Amaliya.

  Setting the oversized trash can down, he studied the wrapped up form of the vampire and then made his choice. He picked her up and just dumped her in and began to shove and twist until she fit snuggly at the bottom.

  As the second son of a rich Spanish landowner in Mexico nearly a hundred years before, he had been ignored in favor of his brother. It had been made clear to him very early in life that he was expected to find his own way while his brother would inherit everything. Roberto had responded to this
by becoming a bit of a con artist and a womanizer. By sixteen he was cast out and on his own.

  That had suited him just fine. He had rich taste and found ways to ensure a good life for himself. In his late thirties, he was rich, well-established, and living on his own hacienda in Mexico. Then he had seen torches in the distance on his land one night. He had rode out to inspect what was going on and found men torturing a man they had tied to a tree with silver chains. Angered that they were lynching anyone on his land, Roberto had shot and killed the four men without 231

  pause. It was when he had gone to untie the man they were torturing, that he realized the man had blazing red eyes and sharp fangs.

  “Release me and I will not hurt you,” Cian had hissed.

  Roberto had hesitated, then said, “What are my assurances of this?”

  “None. It's a gamble. I'll take their blood, not yours. And if you give me shelter, I will make sure you are richly rewarded.”

  Roberto was never one to shy away from a gamble.

  Now, here he was: rich, the companion of a power man, practically immortal, and protecting Cian as he had that night.

  Picking up Amaliya's bag, he shoved it down next to her. He pushed a full garbage bag down on top of her and opened up the top. He pulled the sides of the bag down firmly over the lip of the trash can and secured it with a little bit of duct tape. Once done, he put the lid on, then took it off again and peered in. It looked just like any other trash can. No one would ever guess that a bound vampire was at the bottom of it.

  Replacing the top and snapping it closed, with the handles that locked into place to hold the top shut, he smiled with satisfaction. Not certain of how long it would take for him to get back, he took the plastic and duct tape off the windows and rolled it up into another trash bag. Within an hour, the apartment looked just as it had and Amaliya was tucked away in the trashcan.

  Cian needed him to protect him and that was exactly what he would do. That was his role in Cian's life and he would not let his master be the fool.

  As for Samantha, perhaps Cian's true nature had awoken enough for him to send her away. Though, Roberto would miss sparring with her.

  Oh, well.

  Picking up the car keys, he grabbed hold of the handle and pulled the trashcan so it would pivot on the wheels at its base. With a small, smug smile, he pulled the trash can out after him and locked the apartment door.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jeff stood up and motioned to Samantha to follow him. He needed to pack up and grab something to eat before heading back to the store.

  The lecture had gone well enough, but the turn of events had him uneasy. His father had long held the line when it came to the supernaturals in Austin, keeping things relatively calm and under control. The last big threat had been the vampire cabal that his father and the other hunters had wiped out in the late Seventies. And they would never have been able to do that without Cian.

  “I don't understand how you know about Cian,” Samantha said in a low voice. Her eyes were huge with disbelief.

  “My Dad knew him really well before he died.” Jeff began packing up his slide projector. It was old and worn out, but it had been his father's. He could easily use a laptop for this sort of thing, but he had a problem letting go of the past. Well, letting go of his father.

  “How?”

  “My father was a vampire hunter.”

  “For real?”

  “Yeah. And so am I.”

  “You're not staking Cian,” Samantha said firmly. “Okay?”

  Jeff hesitated, then rolled up a cord slowly. “Did Cian make the new vampire?”

  “No. But his creator did. I heard that much. Theo Sumner made her.”

  “The Summoner?”

  “Yeah, him.”

  “Shit.” Jeff shook his head. “And she found her way to Cian?”

  “I think he picked her up in a bar,” Samantha answered with a sigh.

  “And this is your boyfriend?”

  “Actually, we’re engaged’.”

  “Cian is getting married to a mortal?” Jeff raised both his eyebrows in disbelief.

  “Yeah. So? He loves me!” She gave him a petulant look and crossed her arms defiantly over her breasts.

  “Okay, just tell me what you know.”

  “You aren't going to stake him?”

  “No. No. But we may have to kill the new vampire,” Jeff answered.

  Samantha thought this over carefully and Jeff could see her coming to terms with the thought.

  “Okay. I can live with that.”

  “All right. Tell me everything.”

  She did. In her perky, offbeat way, she rattled off the entire story. At times her eyes would flare open with great drama and other times slit with disgust. It was obvious she was upset. It was also very obvious she was certain Amaliya was a threat.

  “And then he said her eyes glowed white, just like that Summoner guy! Which to me, says she is totally on the bad guy's side and that she is snowing Cian,” Samantha said at one point.

  As he placed all his things in a big plastic bin, Jeff listened to every word she said with a growing sense of dread. The Summoner was well known in the secret societies that deployed vampire hunters across the world. He was legendary and reported dead every few decades only to reappear later on. He was notorious for playing games with people, stalking them for years, before finally destroying them. The Summoner had wiped out all the hunters in France within a matter of days a few years ago. The only reason this was a known fact was because The Summoner sent the dead vampire hunters after their English counterparts.

  “When did she show up?”

  “Wednesday.”

  “And it's Friday morning. Things changed that fast?”

  “The first night, Cian was already being weird. Last night...” She got tears in her eyes. “He went to bed without kissing me goodnight. Plus, he was mad at me. That never happens. Ever.”

  Jeff shoved the plastic lid into place and heard it pop. Standing up, he scratched his side, then sighed. “Okay. So. Cian is changing. Are you sure he's just not, you know...um....doing it...with this new vamp and you're jealous?”

  “He would not do that! It's worse than that. Seriously, she's making him-” She looked startled, her eyes widening even more. “Oh, God, she's making him dangerous.”

  Jeff leaned down and picked up the bin. “Okay. I just needed to make sure. My Dad really adored Cian despite him being a vampire. I don't want to undo what my father established with him.”

  As he knew she would, she fell into step behind him, clutching her bag tightly to her, as he walked out the back gate entrance into the alley parking area. His old Range Rover was parked in the handicap spot and she frowned at him.

  “You shouldn't park there just because you are the speaker,” she chided him.

  “Fake leg,” Cian answered and leaned down to rap on one of his calves. “A vampire tried to pull me apart to punish my father.”

  “No shit?”

  To his surprise, she leaned over and examined his fake foot. “Wow, it looks real. You can even wear flip flops.”

  “You'd be surprised what they do now days,” he answered. He heaved the box into the back seat and turned to her. “Look, what you are telling me is extremely serious just on the basis of the possibility The Summoner is here. That is not a creature to be reckoned with.”

  “Does it hurt?” she blurted out, still staring at his artificial foot.

  “Sometimes it itches,” he said with a grin.

  “Wow.”

  He touched her shoulder to get her attention. “Listen. I think we need to talk more, but I need to get back to my store. I have a clerk out sick and the other one is off at one. Come by the store at eight. That is when I close the shop and do private consultations. I don't have anything scheduled for tonight.”

  “What do you privately consult about?”

  “Haunted houses, exorcisms, that sort of thing,” he answered.

&n
bsp; “Wow. You're like--”

  “Don't say it.”

  “-Giles from Buffy.”

  He rolled his eyes. “If I had a quarter for every time someone said that.”

  She smiled impishly at him. “Okay. I'll be there. I don't want to be in the apartment when her skanky ass wakes up anyway.”

  Jeff couldn't help but laugh. “Well, considering everything you have told me, I actually think it will be safer for you not to be there.”

  Samantha pouted, nodded her head, and then suddenly said, “Oh! Oh!

  You are going to tell me about your Dad and Cian, right?”

  “Yeah. I'll tell you all about that and some other stuff. But you have to promise me that you will help me deal with this.”

  “Like Buffy?”

  He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Yes. Like Buffy.”

  “Yay!” She grinned at him as he handed her his card. “I'll be there!

  Eight o'clock.”

  Jeff watched her as she bounced away, obviously feeling much better than she had earlier. He understood what it was like to be consoled by the thought of actually being able to do something about a dire situation.

  Sliding into the Range Rover, he turned it on and listened to the engine try to turnover, then catch after a slight cough. He definitely needed to get the SUV into the shop soon.

  He pulled out of the parking spot and turned down the alley toward 29th St. He did feel satisfied with how the lecture went, but the conversation afterwards had him deeply concerned. The pact between Cian and his father had remained intact since the Seventies and he would hate to think that things were changing. The terms had been explicit. No other vampire but Cian would be allowed to live in the city. Cian would kill or turn over any new vampires to the hunters. In exchange, the hunters would leave Cian alone.

  Sighing, Jeff donned his sunglasses and turned up the air conditioner.

  It was time to grow up and fill his father's shoes. He just hoped he was up to it.

  ***

  Amaliya awoke to utter darkness. Feeling drugged with sleep and needing blood, it took her a moment to process that she was tightly bound. Abruptly claustrophobic and terrified, she began to struggle.