B005EMAYWS EBOK Page 7

  Summer tried to dart in front of him, but he grabbed her arm. “Wait here while I check it out.”

  A second later she heard Anton’s voice from the other room. “Call the police! You were right, she’s dead.”

  Summer ran into the living room while at the same time dialing the police on her mobile phone. “This is Summer Gray Eagle, could you send the police to 2463 University Way, apartment 12? I found my roommate dead.”

  From somewhere in the distance, she could already hear the sound of sirens, but they could do nothing now. Penny’s corpse lay in the hallway, near a blood-spattered towel. On the body was a black rose.

  “The radio is on,” she commented, unable to find any other words.

  Unlike the other victims, Penny appeared to have been killed in the apartment, and he didn’t bother to remove the body. For some reason the killer was getting lazy, or the murder was committed this way for a reason.

  A moment later, two uniformed police officers rushed in the door that Summer had left standing open.

  “We’ll have to ask the two of you to step outside,” One of the officers told them.

  Anton and Summer exited the apartment. Just then Detective Pierce strolled up.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, glaring at Anton.

  “He came here with me,” Summer told Pierce before Anton could answer. “That’s when we found Penny.”

  “So he was with you?” Pierce asked.

  “Yes,” Summer told him, brushing away the tears that had started to fall.

  “Does it look like it’s the same M.O?” Pierce directed his question to Summer.

  She nodded, unable to find her voice.

  The detective put his arm around her shoulders. “Is there some place you can go tonight? We’ll need to process the crime scene?”

  “She can stay with me,” Anton spoke up.

  “Okay … I’ll be in touch,” Pierce told them.

  “Can I grab a few things?” she asked the detective before he had a chance to enter the apartment.

  The detective hesitated. “Well you know that’s against procedure … but since it might be a day or two before we’re done, I guess I can make an exception

  “Thanks,” she told him with a forced smile.

  “I’ll go with you while you get them.” Pierce took hold of her arm to guide her into the apartment.

  A few moments later, Summer came out holding a small bag. She and Anton walked to the car in silence. Even after they had pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, Anton remained quiet, as if preoccupied.

  Summer noticed that they were not heading in the direction of the motel. “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “To get some coffee. We need to talk in a place where I won’t be so easily distracted by my hunger for you,” he told her bluntly.

  Despite the night’s traumatic events, Summer found herself blushing with pleasure at his words.

  Soon he pulled up next to a small, all-night diner. There was a blue neon sign above the building that read, Little Sue’s Vittles.

  Once inside, the two of them found a small booth at the back of the room, though it probably wouldn’t have mattered where they sat - the café was empty.

  After the waitress brought them their coffee, Summer sipped the hot liquid and waited for Anton to talk. Though he was looking in Summer’s direction, he seemed to be staring right past her - seeing something that she couldn’t.

  Finally his eyes focused on her. “Summer … we have to go now. There can be no more waiting,” he told her softly.

  Summer’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “My best friend was just murdered, and you want me to leave? I’m not going anywhere while her killer is still out there.”

  “You are chasing a phantom. The killer is not what you think he is,” Anton told her with a tired sigh.

  Summer narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “What do you know about this?” she demanded.

  Anton’s gaze was turbulent, and laced with pain. “I must confess … I have seen this before.” He stopped, waiting for her to interrupt, but Summer remained quite.

  “At first I wasn’t sure … not until I found out about the black roses. It was then that I realized that this killer … was no ordinary killer.”

  “Is it a Vilka?” she asked, hoping beyond reason that it was not one of Anton’s people.

  Anton shook his head. “No … this is not a being from Outerlands, but he is not human either.”

  “Okay, I’m confused.” Summer was becoming impatient.

  “Many years ago, I was married. My wife was murdered in the same way as your friend. We found a black rose with her.” Anton swallowed hard.

  “I’m so sorry!” Summer reached across the table to lay her hand over his.

  “It was a long time ago,” Anton forced a smile.

  “I never knew you’d been married. I guess I thought you have always been a Zen.” Summer told him, still unable to picture him with a wife.

  “I was a young man when I married … it was an arranged marriage, like yours will be.”

  Summer opened her mouth to tell him that she had no intention of getting married, but he held up his hand to stop her.

  “Yes … I know. You don’t plan to get married, but we’ll let your parents worry about that when you get home. For now, we have to get you out of here … you are no longer safe,” he explained.

  “No one is safe here … if you haven’t noticed.” Summer gave him a sour look.

  “You don’t understand Summer. You are not safe here any longer.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “The killer is a vampire,” he told her.

  Summer stared at him in shock. “A vampire?”

  She knew there were vampires in the human world. In fact, it was the world of man that was the realm of the immortals. The vampires’ hunting ground, but she had never actually seen one or heard of any deaths connected to them. She suspected that they were very careful to only prey on those that would not be missed. At least that was her understanding from Lex, the Vilka that had the most contact with vampires. It had been Lex that brought Sarah to stay with her because of some danger. Summer now had to assume that it might have something to do with the recent murders.

  “That’s not all,” Anton continued. “There have been similar murders throughout the country, but without the rose. That’s what makes me think that this particular vampire is the same one that killed my wife.”

  “Well I am still not going until the killer pays for what he did to Penny. He won’t get away with it.” She lifted her chin defiantly.

  “There is no more to argue about! You are coming back with me.”

  “I’m not!” Summer folded her arms in front of her chest.

  Anton sighed. “Summer … I haven’t told you this because I didn’t want to frighten you, but there is another reason that your father wants you to return.”

  Summer eyed him curiously, but said nothing.

  “The immortals are up to something. There have been rumors that they plan to declared war on the wolves. There is to be a gathering of the packs at Beaver Creek. Your father wants you there so that you can be married at that time.” Anton reached for her hand.

  “He felt it was the best time to seal the arrangement with the Vilkas, especially with the trouble that’s brewing.”

  “So that’s why they are so anxious to get me back there?”

  “Partly,” he admitted, “but I think that they are concerned for your safety too.”

  Summer decided it was time to change the subject.

  “So you think these murders have something to do with that?” Summer was starting to put the pieces together. It would explain the bodies being drained of blood, and the torn throats could be the result of a careless hunter, or someone that wanted to cover the true nature of the crimes.

  “Yes, most of them. But I think that the murders in Reno are a little more person
al than that,” he informed her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t really explain right now, but I want you to leave with me tonight,” Anton insisted.

  “I’ve already told you that I am not going anywhere right now.”

  “If you don’t come with me, I will leave without you,” he warned.

  His words took Summer by surprise. She was expecting him to demand that she go with him, or stay until she gave in.”

  “I have no choice. My being here is putting others in danger … especially you.” Anton grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’ll have to leave you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Summer fought to control the pain that was threatening to consume her. Despite her brave words of being able to handle a quick fling with him, she knew that she would be devastated if he were gone.

  “If I stay here I will continue to take you to my bed … and we can’t keep doing this when you are to be,” he paused, as if picking his words carefully, “someone else’s wife.” Anton’s voice was gentle, but his words stung.

  “But …” Summer blurted out.

  Anton cut her off. “Please let me finish. There is also the fact that while I am with you, this vampire will not rest until you are dead.”

  “But why?”

  “I don’t want to explain, and there is no reason to, as long as I am gone.” His voice grew hard.

  “So this is connected to you somehow.” Summer slid from the table and picked up her purse. “Please drop me at the campus.”

  “That’s not a good idea,” he warned.

  Summer barely heard him. She had already turned to leave. Tears stung her eyes and she quickly brushed them away so that he wouldn’t see them.

  Chapter Six

  It was barely 4:00 AM and daybreak was still a couple hours away. She scarcely noticed the darkness as she walked through the lonely campus parking lot. Her heart was shattering into thousands of pieces, and the one man that could put it back together, had just left.

  Summer fumbled with her keys, looking for the one that would open the door to the Social Science building. She had nowhere else to go but to work. Her apartment was off limits, and she didn’t want to stay with Anton. Knowing he was leaving was one thing, but she didn’t think that she could stand to watch him leave.

  Summer stepped into the darkened foyer, locking the door behind her. Her footsteps echoed through the hall as she walked toward her office. Though there was the occasional nightlight to cut through the shadows, it was still dim enough that she was more than just a little uncomfortable.

  As she picked up her pace, the air around her seemed to become heavy, almost too thick to breathe. All of a sudden the back of her neck began to tingle, and she felt as if she were being watched. She knew that her perceived change in the atmosphere was really her sixth sense kicking in - warning her of danger. Just then, she reached her office and unlocked the door as quickly as possible.

  Once inside, Summer secured the door and allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. The emergency lights were not working for some reason, so it was impossible to see anything. Feeling around on the wall beside the door, she searched for the light switch. She flipped the switch on and the room was flooded with fluorescent light. It took a few minutes before Summer was able to push the fear away. In her current state of mind, the familiarity of the office felt like an old friend.

  She placed her purse and overnight bag on the floor next to her desk before turning on her PC. Wanting to do something routine, Summer checked her email. She reasoned that there could be a message from Detective Pierce, or Warren. As much as she tried to concentrate on the task at hand, she just couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was still watching her.

  Ignoring the eerie feeling, Summer started sorting through her files, looking for more evidence that what Anton said was true. What clues pointed to the murderer really being a vampire? There had been little blood left in the bodies, but that could simply be because of loss of blood. Both of the current victims had been killed somewhere else, so there was no telling what the murder scene looked like. It could have been completely covered in blood.

  With Penny it was different. There had been some blood, but not a lot. If the Medical Examiner also found that she had been drained of blood, it could easily point to a vampire killing.

  Summer jumped at the sound of her mobile. Wondering who could possibly be calling her at such an early hour, she reached toward her handbag to grab her phone.

  Her hands began to tremble when she saw the reading on the caller ID. The message was from Penny’s number. Of course that was impossible, unless the killer took the phone when he’d murdered her friend.

  Summer was shaking so badly that it was difficult to read the text. Once she was able to focus, Summer’s stomach started to churn.

  Get out now!

  The message was short and sweet, but terrifying. She had little time to contemplate her next move when she heard movement outside of the office window. Someone was out there watching her.

  Wasting no more time, Summer grabbed her purse and made a dash for the door. She was sprinting down the dark hall when she heard the glass shatter in her office. Picking up speed, she didn’t even bother to look over her shoulder. She could sense him behind her, and getting closer.

  Summer started to pray. She prayed to God, and anyone else in that plane of existence that might help her in her hour of need. She called out to the Gatekeeper of Outerlands to intervene on her behalf. The Gatekeeper was a being from a higher dimension that protected the portals to Outerlands. Though he rarely interfered with the natural order of things, once in a while he would.

  As soon as she reached the exit, she hit the lock release bar with both hands. Summer burst through the door and right into someone’s arms. Screaming, she struggled to free herself, until she realized it was Anton.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Breathless from terror, Summer stumbled on her words as she tried to explain to him what had happened. “Someone … someone broke through the window.”

  Anton stared at her, his features marred with a mixture of anger and fear. “I told you it was not safe!”

  “But why? You haven’t told me that part. Why is it after me?” Summer wanted to know.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said, without answering her question.

  “I left everything on in there. Don’t you think I should call the police? The window is broken?”

  “Call your boss and have him inform the police. We’ll just go in there and shut the place up.” Anton grabbed her arm to lead her back to the door.

  “What if he’s still in there?” Summer jerked away from him.

  “He’s not. He will wait until you are alone to come after you.”

  “How do you know all of this?” Summer stood her ground, refusing to budge until he answered her question.

  “That is what the pattern appears to be. All of the victims were alone when they were murdered … right?” Anton reasoned.

  Satisfied with his answer for the moment, Summer grabbed the keys from her purse and unlocked the door. Inside, she found the office exactly how she’d left it, except that the window was shattered. Pieces of glass had sprayed half way across the room. Whoever it was that had chased her, had burst through the window with tremendous force. Looking at the mess that was left behind was enough to make her think that going back to her parents might not be such a bad idea.

  Summer switched off the computer.

  “Let’s get going. You can call your professor boyfriend after we get out of here.”

  Summer gave him a sour look, but didn’t take the bait. There was too much to think about to get into a sparring match over Warren.

  “Okay, I’m ready.”

  As they left the building, Summer couldn’t stop herself from nervously glancing over her shoulder. She felt that whatever had been there tonight was still watching her, waiting for his next opportunity.

  *
* *

  Anton drove until they reached the freeway entrance. He then got on the freeway going east.

  “Anton … maybe I should go back and check on the apartment?”

  “I have no more patience for your games Summer. I am taking you to your family and you will need to work out your problems with them. But under no circumstances will we be staying here any longer.”

  Anton was a Zen warrior and Summer was completely aware of the fact that she had already pushed him far beyond what most would get away with. There didn’t seem to be any choice but to let him take her home. It didn’t really matter. She would refuse to marry the Vilka, and that was that. Her parents would just have to accept it. At least at home she would have the protection of the pack. For the time being at least - it looked like she needed that protection.

  They rode in silence, both too caught up in their own thoughts to talk. The miles sped by quickly. Soon the sun made its appearance in the eastern sky, painting it with shades of pink and lavender. Finally Anton slowed the car and took an exit that led them into a small town. Calling it a town was a stretch. The only business establishments seemed to be a gas station and a motel.

  “Are we staying here?” Summer asked, her eyes burning from lack of sleep.

  Anton shook his head. “We need fuel, but we are not far enough away to stop yet. You should get some sleep while I drive,” he suggested.

  “If there are more vampires involved, how will you know when we are far enough away?” Summer wanted to know.

  “We won’t be far enough away … not until we get to Beaver Creek. I think you will be safe there,” he told her, as he was pulling up to the fuel pumps.

  “I have to use the restroom,” Summer informed him, as she was getting out of the car.

  “No!” Anton spoke in a stern voice. “Wait and I will go with you.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” Summer didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.

  “Not at all.” Anton shut the car door and stepped over to the pumps.

  When he was done filling up the car with gas, he opened the passenger door and stood aside so that she could get out. With a sigh of resignation, Summer stepped out and let him walk her to the restroom.