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  Why hadn’t she told her sisters?

  The truth was that she didn’t know why she hadn’t shared the information with them. It was almost like the contents of the book and its author were too personal to share with others. As she’d read the journal, Kathrina began to feel like she knew the vampire intimately - almost as well as she knew herself.

  Kathrina stood on the large porch, staring out into the thick fog. She could not keep her thoughts off the vampire - the author of that journal. He was the oldest of all vampires. That much she’d been able to discover from the Book of Anu. She’d also learned that many of the immortals believed that if they could kill him, they could break their curse. If there was any truth to this, then Omar was not the only vampire that they would have to kill.

  The thought brought on a twinge of sadness that she couldn’t explain.

  Kathrina was jerked back to the present when the door opened and Dash stuck his head out.

  “What are you doing out here? They’re ready to do birthday cake.”

  “I’m coming.” Kathrina smiled.

  All eyes were on her when she stepped into the ballroom. Though her father never used the room, Sarah and Nicole thought it would be the perfect place for their little sister’s birthday party.

  Donavan hadn’t been happy about the party. He worried that mixing company of vampires and humans could lead to trouble, but so far the people that were attending the party hadn’t a clue that many of the guests were vampires. Fortunately, the immortals that were in attendance were Light Seekers, and posed little risk to their human guests.

  The Light Seekers were those vampires that resisted killing humans. They spent much of their time searching for a cure to their curse.

  The ballroom was decorated with colorful balloons and party streamers that hung from the tall ceiling. Near the far end of the room, a table had been setup, and on top of that table was a large birthday cake with eighteen candles.

  Kathrina blushed. Everyone was watching her as she made her way to the cake table. Throughout her life she’d shied away from attention, ashamed of being different than the others. But when she was with her biological family, she wasn’t really different, but special. She was one of the immortal sisters, destined to bring balance back to the world.

  Nearly everyone was there. Standing close to the table were her sisters, Nicole and Sarah, along with their lovers, Alec and Darrien. Her father had even stepped into the room to join the party. Of all of the vampires that were present, Dash appeared to be the most dangerous. With his bald head and tattooed skin, he resembled a rough and rowdy biker. The truth was that Dash was one of the few vampires that she would trust with her life.

  Ethan had also missed her party. He’d taken an unexpected trip to Rome to visit with Father Rovati. He’d said that it was urgent that he speak with the priest in person. If it wasn’t for the fact that Ethan had a way of being a little overdramatic about everything, Kathrina might have been troubled by his sudden trip to see a slayer, but that was just Ethan.

  Summer had sent word that she would not be able to attend Kathrina’s party due to an urgent situation at home. Summer was really the cousin of her adopted father, Vance. Until recently, Vance had been the only father she’d ever known, but her adopted relatives were of the wolves, the natural enemy of vampires.

  Kathrina feared that the urgent business that Summer had to take care of might have something to do with the trouble that had been stewing between the wolves and the vampires. She had loved ones from both species; the last thing she wanted was to be caught in the middle of them during a war.

  As soon as Kathrina stepped up to the table, the crowd started singing happy birthday. When the last voice died away, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles.

  * * *

  If he had not had a millennium to learn patience, the waiting would have been maddening. As it were, the time he spent watching the house barely troubled him at all. What were a few hours when he had already waited thousands of years?

  From the shadows where he hid, he could easily see her inside the house. As soon as the girl stepped onto the porch he knew she was the one. It was her blood that had called to him from across thousands of miles and the vast expanse of time. He could have approached her then, but he’d held back. The moment that he took her blood had to be perfect - it had to be respectful of the life that was being sacrificed, but there was something else.

  He had expected there to be vampires in the house, so that was no surprise. She was after all, a born vampire. She would have to be. Only the blood of a born vampire and a lycan could reverse the damage to his body. But there was more. There had to be another element to this blood before it would work. Alone, a union between these two enemies would not produce an offspring with blood potent enough to restore him to his natural state - to the way he was before Ophelia betrayed him. There had to be something else in the blood, and this girl was the only one on earth to have all three elements.

  Taking the girl from beneath the noses of a few vampires was child’s play. The vampires that were with her didn’t trouble him in the least. No, the undercurrent of danger that he was feeling wasn’t coming from inside the house, but from outside. The threat he sensed was hidden within the darkness and fog.

  Inside the house, the crowd sang loud enough to be heard from across the street. It wouldn’t have made any difference how loud they were, the crickets and other night creatures had become silent before the singing had begun. The vampire stared into the darkness, his eyes shining with an ethereal light that penetrated the fog. He could see the murky shadows moving through the mist - getting closer to the house.

  * * *

  Only half of the candles were extinguished, the rest continued burning - casting flickering light on the faces of the guests. Kathrina took in another deep breath, but before she could blow out the rest of the candles, the windows in the room exploded inward, showering everyone with a spray of sharp glass.

  The first thought that jumped into Kathrina’s mind was that there was so much blood. The flying shards of glass hit and wounded several of the guests. The vampires were already attacking - bodies flew in all directions. Those among her guests that were immortal had turned on the interlopers. The human guests were caught in the middle of the chaos and were trying to escape through doors and windows.

  Someone had her arm in a painful grip. Instinct took over and she prepared to sink her teeth into the cold flesh of the vampire.

  “Release the girl!” The deep - smooth voice reverberated through the room. Instantly the melee ceased and a complete stillness descended.

  The candles still burned, the melting wax dripping into the white frosting on the cake.

  He stood there against a backdrop of broken window glass and fog. The vampire glared at them with angry - radiant eyes.

  Kathrina’s breath caught in her throat. Though the details of his features were hidden by shadow, his eyes were bright and deadly. She knew him. Every cell of her body felt a connection to this vampire. It was as if her entire being had somehow been joined with him.

  He looked directly at her, and for a fraction of a moment she couldn’t breathe. It was like a ton of steel rested on her chest, crushing the breath out of her. The radiance in his eyes seemed to reach out to her - surrounding her with exhilarating warmth that was unlike anything she’d ever felt. It was the vampire’s spell.

  He lifted his hand and beaconed to her with one finger. Her legs began to move without her willing them to. She was the puppet, and the vampire the puppet master.

  “Not my daughter Luciano.” It was her father’s voice.

  The spell was broken. Kathrina blinked rapidly as if she were waking from a deep sleep.

  The vampire turned his attention to Donavan. “This makes a difference?” Luciano smiled sadistically.

  Kathrina noticed that the vampires that had crashed her party were starting to move, slinking away before anyone could notice. They would not be so lu
cky though. Luciano’s eyes rested on them and suddenly the room erupted in cries of anguish. Several of the vampires fell to the floor and began withering in agony, blood pouring from their eyes.

  The vampires became still.

  Kathrina looked around the room and noticed that a number of the guests had managed to escape. The mortals among them would not know what to make of the attack. No doubt the police would soon arrive. The authorities would hear stories of mass murder. The blood-covered ballroom would backup those stories.

  Luciano turned his attention back to her father. “I will take her with or without your blessing.”

  “Not my daughter,” Donavan glared at him.

  The vampire stepped forward, and she was finally able to make out his features. He was everything that she’d imagined he would be. He was completely male, but yet unbelievably beautiful. His features were perfect - too perfect. When his dark eyes locked with hers, she thought how like black velvet they were - so soft - so seductive.

  From the moment she’d read his words in the Book of Anu, she’d longed to see his face. There was no doubt in her mind that the vampire Luciano was the one that had written that ancient manuscript. He was every bit as alluring as she’d imagined that he would be. Just to be in his presence was an overwhelming experience. It saddened her to know that she was going to have to kill him. It was the only way to end the curse of the vampire.

  “Come with me,” he commanded.

  Kathrina took a hesitant step forward, but before she could go any further her sisters were at her side, each of them grabbing one of her arms.

  “She isn’t going anywhere.” Nicole’s voice was cold and unyielding.

  Luciano turned to Donavan. “Unless it doesn’t bother you to lose all of your daughters, you will want to get some control over them.”

  “There has to be another way,” Donavan insisted.

  Luciano’s eyes began to emit the deadly light of the immortal. It would only be a matter of seconds before her sisters were destroyed the same way the other vampires had been.

  Gently pulling her arm away from Nicole, Kathrina held up one hand, as if she could ward off the attack. “Wait!” she yelled.

  Luciano stared at her, his eyes returning to normal.

  “What is it that you want?” Kathrina asked him.

  “Your blood.”

  “Why would you want my blood?” Kathrina was baffled. “My blood will kill you.”

  The corners of his mouth lifted in a wicked - spellbinding smile. “On the contrary … your blood will help me to live again.”

  Desperate for a way to stall him, Kathrina grasped at the first thought that came to mind. “I will go with you of my own free will … on one condition.”

  Both of her sisters looked over at her in confusion.

  Luciano’s eyes danced with amusement. “And tell me … what is this condition?”

  “That you help us stop Omar and his followers.”

  “And in exchange for my help … it is your intention to give your life freely?” he asked, taking another step toward her.

  Kathrina nodded. “I know that you could kill me now, but I will fight, and it will be a lot more trouble for you.”

  Luciano laughed out loud. “Is that so? You mean more trouble than fighting a whole coven of vampires?”

  “Please … let me fulfill my destiny, and then you can do what you want with me.” Kathrina begged.

  A tingling sensation started from behind her eyes and spread over her scalp. Then came the pain - a pain so intense that she felt her skull would explode. He was probing her thoughts.

  Kathrina collapsed into a heap. As quickly as it had started, it was over. The pain was gone, but she could feel a small amount of blood dripping from her nose.

  He was kneeling beside her. With one finger, he wiped the blood from where it had dripped down to her lip. “You plan to kill me … don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she admitted.

  “Don’t hurt her Luciano …” Donavan’s voice echoed through the quiet room.

  Luciano turned his head and glared at the other vampire. “Don’t interfere.”

  Donavan said no more. It was the first time that Kathrina had ever witnessed her father back away from anyone.

  When Luciano turned back to Kathrina, he stared at her with something akin to pride. “You are a foolish girl, but I find you intriguing.”

  Kathrina gazed at him with wide eyes.

  “Very well. I will help you with your quest, but you are to stay at my side so that I am assured of your cooperation.”

  Kathrina nodded, agreeing to this condition.

  I have to admit … I am not sure what it is that you hope to accomplish,” he added.

  “Save the food supply of the vampire … prevent a war with the wolves,” Donavan intervened.

  With a sardonic laugh, Luciano gently grabbed Kathrina by the arm and helped her to her feet. “I am afraid that your brother and the wolves are the least of your worries.”

  Though Luciano was speaking to Donavan, he was staring into Kathrina’s eyes.

  “Why’s that?” she asked him.

  “Omar is merely a child of a true immortal … he pales in comparison. It is the darkness of his soul that you must concern yourself with. It is the same darkness that is slithering into the souls of all of you.”

  In the distance, the shrill sound of sirens broke through the silence that had descended on the room. The police would be there soon. The guests that had made it out alive would have told about the mysterious attack by beings that were something other than human. In the end, it would be concluded that they’d had drug induced hallucinations. The attack on the house would likely be labeled as drug or gang related. The outside world would continue to exist in a state of ignorance, but for Kathrina it was just the beginning.

  Luciano took Kathrina by the hand and led her away from the others. Placing both hands on her waist, he easily lifted her out the window and then followed.

  Nicole and Sarah made a dash for them, but before they were half way there, Luciano had his arms around her waist and they lifted into the night sky. Kathrina had to catch her breath. His nearness, combined with the sensation of flying into a star-studded sky was so exhilarating, and yet terrifying.

  Leaning down, he put his lips next to her ear. “You are shaking.”

  Kathrina said nothing to acknowledge that she’d heard him.

  “You have no reason to fear me sweetheart.”

  “You plan to kill me,” Kathrina frowned.

  “And you plan to kill me also … so we are even.”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  Luciano gave her a secretive smile, but said no more.

  Chapter Three

  Kathrina didn’t realize they were descending until she felt something solid beneath her feet. She was standing on the roof of an old building.

  As soon as Luciano released her, Kathrina’s feet began to slip. She would have tumbled from the roof but the vampire quickly grabbed her hand to keep her from falling.

  When she had her footing and was no longer in danger, Kathrina took a moment to look out over the city. From where she was standing she could see the Quarter.

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  “Somewhere safe … where we won’t be disturbed.”

  Kathrina frowned. She was expecting a little more information but decided to let it go. If she feigned compliance, she might get a lot further with this vampire. He seemed like someone that was accustomed to having his every command followed without question.

  Luciano led her over the loose roof tiles to a broken window. She stepped through the opening into a small room. He was right behind her. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, she was able to see the shadowy outline of boxes stacked against the walls. They were in an attic. Kathrina assumed the building was one of the many abandoned structures that now littered the neighborhoods of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

  “Is
this where you live?” she asked.

  He chuckled. “I’ve been sleeping in this building, but my home is far from here.”

  “Where’s that?” Kathrina was curious. In the journal, he’d written of a place much different than anyplace that she’d ever heard of - a place where immortals ruled.

  “Romania,” he told her.

  “Is that where you are from?”

  “You ask way too many questions for someone who is about to die?” he growled, obviously becoming impatient with her intrusive curiosity.

  “It’s in my nature to be inquisitive,” she responded sarcastically.

  “Hmm, but not in your best interest.”

  She heard the strike of a match and then the room was aglow with candlelight. In the flickering light he seemed even more ominous, but just as breathtaking. His long black hair fell across his cheeks as he stared down at the flame of the candle. When he turned back to her, she could feel herself falling into his dark eyes.

  “So why is it my blood won’t kill you?” she asked, trying to find something that would distract her from his eyes.

  When he smiled at her, Kathrina felt her heart skip a beat.

  “You read the Book of Anu and still don’t know anything about me?”

  “How did you know that I read your journal?”

  “When your blood mixed with mine, it called to me.”

  Kathrina’s mouth dropped open in shock. How could he know about her blood on the book? “It was blood the words were written in!”

  Luciano nodded. “Of course. How else could I be sure to find you when the time came?”

  “I’m confused. You already knew about me?”

  Moving closer to her, Luciano brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes.

  “Yes,” he whispered. “I’ve known about you since long before you were born.”

  “How’s that possible?” she asked, his nearness causing her stomach to churn with butterflies.

  Caressing the skin on her cheek with his cold fingers, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You are more than just my savior … you are the part of my soul that is the light. We are soul mates. Our destinies have always been as one.”