B005EMAYWS EBOK Read online

  It was funny how she’d never thought of vampire slayers seriously, or considered that they might actually be a real threat to her someday. She certainly never thought that she would become an apprentice to a slayer.

  Summer smiled for the first time since Marius had taken her from her bed. This could be interesting.

  * * *

  From outside, the large gothic church appeared to be abandoned. The stonework and architecture were elaborate, but the building was in bad need of repair. The stained glass windows had long since disappeared, the openings now covered with wood to keep the elements out. St. Michael’s had not been used by the church for a long time, but the years of neglect were nothing compared to the damage left behind by Hurricane Katrina.

  The large double doors at the front of the church were warped and difficult to open. Nicole tried yanking them open several times without success.

  “Here … let me at them.” Dash stepped in front of her. Watching him open the doors made it appear as if it were a simple task, but it was easy for him only because he was stronger.

  “Why are they doing our training here?” Summer stepped into the dark interior of the church.

  “This is the headquarters for the Light Seekers,” Ethan offered. “They figured this would be the last place that the others would think to look.”

  Summer assumed by the others, he was talking about those vampires that embraced their lust for blood and the hunt. These were vampires who accepted the killer within them and had no wish to change, like Marius and Omar.

  Though it was dark, Summer could see clearly. It was like looking at something that was cast in shadow. It wasn’t really dark, just dimmer.

  “Follow me,” Ethan told them as he switched on a flashlight. He led them down a steep staircase and into the basement of the church. They came out into a large open area. Dozens of candles illuminated the room, giving it a slightly ghostly feeling. There were several people there that Summer had never met, but they were all vampires, at least all of them but one. The priest’s eyes rested on her and she instantly felt danger.

  Father Rovati moved toward them. “This is the shifter that was changed?” He directed his question to Ethan.

  Ethan nodded. “Summer, this is Father Rovati. He will be your trainer.”

  The priest’s cynical gaze sliced right through her.

  “She is a young vampire. This training will be a very difficult undertaking for her.” Again he spoke to Ethan as if Summer were not even there.

  “Excuse me,” Summer interrupted. “I am an adult. You can address your concerns to me.”

  “You are a vampire,” he barked. “No matter what you were before … you are a killer now.”

  The truth of his words stung, but she wasn’t about to let him treat her with so much disrespect. “So are the rest of the people in this room,” she came back at him.

  The priest seemed to back off slightly. “I do not understand Donavan’s thinking. Vampires do not become vampire slayers. It is hard enough to imagine that a group of vampires would even want me to train slayers, even if they are Light Seekers.” Father Rovati was shaking his head as if he believed they were all crazy.

  “Now father,” Dash stepped in, “don’t you think you are being a bit hard on her?” Dash put a protective arm around Summer. “She’s a special case … and very important to our cause.”

  “Yeah … whatever.” Rovati turned to the girls. “We will meet here at least three nights a week until I think you are ready. Dash has volunteered to help me with your training. Most of the time it will be just Dash and I.”

  “Why are they all here?” Nicole asked, pointing at the dozen or so vampires that watched then from the shadows.

  Ethan gave them an awkward smile. “They just wanted to get a look at the famous immortal sisters.”

  “We don’t have all night … at least I don’t,” Rovati was glowering at them.

  The crowd of vampires dispersed to other parts of the building so that the girls would not be distracted during their training.

  The priest turned to Summer. “Dash will be your teacher for now. I will be working with the others.”

  Summer felt some relief that she wouldn’t be working with the grouchy priest. She was sure Dash would be a lot more fun.

  Dash waved at her to follow him. He led her to the far corner of the room so that they would be apart from the others.

  “So teacher … what do we do first?”

  “The first thing you need to do is learn how to fly,” he winked.

  Summer shook her head. “I’ve tried.”

  “Well if you act like a bag of rocks, then you’re going to sit there like a bag of rocks. Think of yourself as air. Remember, this is all mind power,” he told her pointing at his head.

  Summer closed her eyes.

  “You are lighter than air … you are master over the air,” Dash whispered in her ear.

  Summer concentrated on air. She imagined that she was flying with the wind. For just a second, she thought she felt herself leave the ground. When her eyes opened, she saw that her feet were still on the dirty tile floor.

  “Did I float at all?”

  Dash gave her a crooked smile. “Maybe just a little, but don’t worry you’ll catch on. Everyone does.”

  “Why are you so accepting of what happened to you? I’m sure you had a family and a life before you were turned,” Summer asked. She was curious to find out what his secret was. How could he be so lighthearted?

  Dash frowned. “Is that what you think … that I’m accepting?”

  “You seem okay with it all.”

  He shook his head. “I’m a great actor you know. Back in the 80s I went to Hollywood to find my big break … instead I found a vampire.”

  “I’m sorry,” Summer could imagine what types of roles Dash would have gotten if he’d ever made it into the movies.

  “Wasn’t so bad. Your experience has mine beat all to hell. For me it wasn’t as dramatic,” he shrugged.

  “Sometimes I don’t even feel like a vampire,”

  Dash smiled. “That’s good. Hold onto that and you’ll hold onto your humanity.”

  “Why don’t you do it Dash? Go to Hollywood and live your dream. It’s not like you have anything to lose?”

  “Now how could I explain that I could only work at night?”

  “You’re allergic to the sun,” Summer offered.

  Dash cocked his head to one side. “That just might work.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Slipping out of the parlor where Sarah and Darrien were playing a video game, Kathrina moved silently down the long hall toward her father’s study. She’d been here nearly a month now, and still she had not approached Donavan with the millions of questions she had about her mother. The truth was that she just thought it might be better not to know.

  What she did want from her father was permission to go with her sisters to the Quarter. Lex had made it clear when he left that Donavan was her guardian while she was in New Orleans. It was only for that reason that she took the time to ask him for permission. Whatever happened, she did not want her actions to reflect badly on the family that had raised and cared for her.

  Kathrina raised her hand to knock on the door, but stopped when she heard hushed voices. She thought she recognized Father Rovati’s voice. This seemed a little strange. She knew the two of them did not get on well together. As she understood it, they were old enemies with an uneasy truce. It was odd that Rovati would be closeted with Donavan.

  “Your daughters should know about this book.” It was Rovati’s voice and what he’d said caught her attention. Though she felt ashamed to eavesdrop on her father, Kathrina felt it might be important. She heard her father respond, but couldn’t quite make out what he was saying.

  “What if it’s true? What if it would lift the curse if he were destroyed?”

  Hesitating only a moment longer, she finally raised her hand to knock.

  There was silenc
e and then her father called out. “Come in.”

  Kathrina opened the door just in time to see Rovati stashing an oversized book inside the long jacket that he always wore.

  Pretending as if she hadn’t noticed, she looked at her father. “Mr. Ashe, would it be okay if I went with the others to the Quarter tonight?”

  She could see by the look on his face that calling him Mr. Ashe disturbed him, but no matter how she tried, she could not bring herself to call him father or dad. It seemed a little like walking up to Dracula and calling him dad.

  Donavan shook his head. “Bourbon Street is off limits to you for a year or two.”

  “Okay,” Kathrina smiled and turned to leave.

  “Kathrina,” her father’s voice stopped her. “We must talk soon.”

  “Sure,” she answered without turning back to face him.

  In truth, she wasn’t too disappointed. Her father and Rovati were up to something, and she had a nagging feeling that it was something that they should know about. It was probably a good idea if she stayed behind to keep an eye on them. She feared trouble with the wolves, especially after what had happened to Summer. The last thing she wanted was to be at war with people that she considered family. If they were hiding something, she needed to find out what that was.

  * * *

  Like many nights when she wasn’t training with Father Rovati, Summer sat for hours at her bedroom window, staring out at the darkness. She wondered where Anton was, and if he ever thought about her.

  Every night seemed to be an eternity of pain - an endless and hollow existence. Though it had only been a few weeks since he left, it felt like forever. Now she was regretting her decision not to go to him in the garden. She had to keep reminding herself that it would have only made it more difficult to let him go.

  Even if she could trust that he would truly love her despite what she now was, there was always the fact that being with her would be too dangerous for him. Her bite would be lethal to any vampire or shifter. She would be shunned by both species, just like Kathrina. A lycan that is turned is like cyanide. For Kathrina it was something she was born to, but for Summer it was a whole new existence and it had cost her everyone that she loved.

  If she could just see him once more, even if it were from a distance - she could keep that memory close to her heart so that she might endure the torture of living without him.

  Summer knew that dwelling on her loss wasn’t doing her any good, but she just couldn’t bring herself to make an effort to live again. It seemed too hard. Sarah had tried to talk Summer into going out with her, Nicole, Darrien and Alec, but she just couldn’t stomach the thought of seeing the happy couples together while she was so depressed.

  Dwelling on her miserable existence wasn’t the only reason she had refused. She was still struggling with her hunger. If she got too close to someone, Summer feared that she might lose control and kill. Though she was getting better at fighting the urge, she wasn’t completely sure she could trust herself yet.

  A soft voice startled her from her thoughts. Kathrina stood beside her, an expression of concern marring her angelic face. “I knocked but you didn’t answer.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

  “Someone’s here to see you,” she told Summer.

  Summer stared at Kathrina, making no move to get up from her chair. “I don’t feel like seeing anyone right now.”

  Before Kathrina could respond, Anton was standing in the doorway, resting one shoulder against the cherry wood frame.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” Kathrina told them before making a hasty exit.

  Summer fixed her eyes on the window, refusing to look at him.

  “Your father wants you to return with me, immediately.” Anton spoke to her from the doorway, making no move to come further into her room.

  “For what reason? You know I cannot return home.”

  “You will need to ask him his reasons. I am just the messenger,” he told her with an unmistakable chill in his voice.

  It was obvious that Anton wanted her to know that his visit was all business, and that if it were his choice, he would not be there. At least that was the vibe she was picking up on. She couldn’t expect anything else after the way she’d sent him away, but knowing that didn’t make it any less hurtful.

  “I really don’t need you to take me. I am perfectly capable of going to my father on my own.”

  Anton smiled coldly. “I am not here to argue with you. You need a caretaker. It would be too difficult for you to travel on your own.”

  “I have my friends.”

  “Oh yes … your vampire friends … I forgot. You have made it clear that they are so much more preferable than your own people now.”

  Summer said nothing to defend herself. It didn’t matter what he thought if it made it easier for him.

  “It is too late to leave tonight,” she told him in a voice as cold as his own. “We can leave at dusk tomorrow night.”

  Without another word, Anton turned and left.

  The pain in her heart reached up to close off her throat. Summer brushed away the tears that were spilling onto her cheeks. It was funny how she’d always thought that vampires were heartless creatures with no feelings, but how wrong she’d been. If anything, the pain was more intense.

  * * *

  Standing at the open fridge, Kathrina eyed the bags of blood that were always kept there in case of emergency. She’d never consumed blood before, but the idea was tantalizing.

  Unlike her sisters, she had been born with fangs, along with the craving for blood, but never before had the temptation been so intense. She didn’t need it to live - a bloody steak did the trick just fine, though there were times when she had to fight the hunger.

  Forcing herself to look away from the blood, she pulled out a gallon of milk. A glass of warm milk would help her sleep. Without turning on any lights, she opened the cupboard and reached for a glass. At that moment she heard someone in the hall.

  Leaving the cupboard open, Kathrina silently moved toward the hall. Father Rovati was leaving Donavan’s office. She watched him disappear out the front door. You couldn’t miss the book he had under his jacket. For being such a notorious vampire slayer, he wasn’t too sneaky.

  Kathrina quickly left the kitchen and went to the front windows to see what the priest was up to. He left the house on foot and headed west. Wearing only her black silk wrap and nightclothes, Kathrina followed him. After keeping him in sight for several blocks, she was surprised when he entered the St. Louis Cemetery.

  She had to move fast so that she wouldn’t lose him among the tombs. Rovati walked down several rows of crypts before finally stopping at an elaborate tomb constructed of white marble and concrete.

  From his coat pocket, the priest took out a flashlight and switched it on. Pulling open the heavy door, he disappeared inside. He was only out of sight for a few moments before he exited the tomb. Pushing the door closed, he turned and walked away.

  Kathrina waited until she was sure he was gone before moving toward the crypt. Though she was a small girl, she was stronger than average thanks to the blood of the vampire and the wolf. With little effort she pulled the door open and stepped inside. Though the air was dank and reeked of mold, she barely noticed. Father Rovati had hidden something and she wanted to know what it was.

  Pausing, Kathrina recalled something that her mother had told her over and over again when she was growing up.

  Curiosity killed the cat.

  Her adopted mother had always chastised her for the mischief she’d get into because she just had to know what was going on with everything. Why had that memory jumped out at her at this very moment?

  Kathrina slowly stepped back out of the tomb. If whatever the priest had was important enough to hide, she had to assume that it would be protected somehow. She had just made the decision to go inside despite her uneasy feeling when she heard it. It sounded like a cross between a hiss and a growl.
r />   Before she had a chance to turn and run, the creature was on her. She was thrown to the ground with such a tremendous impact that it knocked the breath out of her. There was no time to determine what it was that was attacking her. Survival was her only thought. Instinctively she sank her fangs into its flesh. At first there was no sign that it had even noticed a counter attack. It continued trying to get to her throat with its gnarly brown fangs. Though she was strong, it was an intense struggle to keep it from ripping at the arteries in her neck.

  Abruptly the creature stopped and rolled off of her. She scrambled away from it, stopping only when she felt she was a safe distance. When she looked back, she could see it still on the ground. It convulsed violently before becoming still.

  Kathrina crept closer, but was ready to flee at the slightest movement from the thing. As she got nearer, she saw what she assumed was a mutant vampire. It was so deformed that it almost appeared to be a gargoyle.

  She’d heard of the mutant vampires. They were the result of feeding off of another vampire. Kathrina started to shake. She’d bitten the creature, but had not fed off him. Though her father and Lex believed that herself and her sisters were immune to the changing, she could only hope that her exposure to his blood had not been enough to cause a mutation. She didn’t mind being a vampire, but she did not want to be limited to existing only in the dark, and she definitely didn’t want to turn into such a deformed and grotesque creature.

  Kathrina nudged the creature with her foot but it didn’t move. Sighing with relief, she turned back toward the tomb. She wondered how Rovati had kept from being attacked.

  Of course it was the flashlight.

  Any type of light would blind a mutant, including artificial light. At least that’s what she’d heard.

  Kathrina stepped into the tomb. Once inside she paused long enough to let her eyes adjust to the deeper darkness. She could see better at night than most people, but she did not have the eyes of the vampire.

  In the middle of the tomb was a smaller crypt. There was no other place that the priest could have hidden the book, and she was sure that’s what it had been. Kathrina stepped over to the tomb and peered down at the heavy white slab covering the grave. The top of the smaller tomb was embellished with roses and a cross.