Tessa was frozen. Inside, she was screaming at both Deanna and Hortran. Don’t you understand? I can’t do this. Not alone.
Whispers rippled through her mind as Deanna and Hortran spoke, but their words were faint.
And firm.
You can do this. It’s what you are meant to do, Hortran said, his voice the strongest she’d heard. I will stay as long as I can to train you. And you can tell them that, but they won’t understand.
They won’t like it either. This is a huge responsibility, she said. I’m not sure I’m up for it.
You are. There was such conviction in their combined voices, but she could hear how faint Deanna’s was. Is Deanna okay? she asked, worried.
Hortran’s smile whispered through her. She’s fading a little more every day. She will be there for years until one day you will wake up and her presence will be gone. But remember, you have access to her history. To her memories. You have the information you need to do this. As you do mine. You will be fine.
And if I don’t want to take this on? she asked, her voice strained. Besides, what if they don’t let me?
Let me speak to them, Hortran commanded.
She gasped. How am I supposed to do that?
Jameson bounded to his feet. “This is ridiculous. There is no way she’s capable of doing something like that. She’s a child. She’s not even done her years as an apprentice or as a junior Council member. Hell, before this mess, we all knew she was never going to be accepted on the Council. Now she’s supposed to skip all that and take one of the choicest positions.” He snorted and collapsed back into his chair. “All because of a dead man’s writ. I don’t think so.”
Silence.
It’s as if no one knew what to say or do.
Tessa sank lower in the chair. See what you started. They will never let me do this.
They will. They have no choice. They are bound by law.
Until they change the law, she snapped.
Morris stood up and held out his hands. “I guess I missed a lot while in Europe that a child is now decreed as the gatekeeper?” He shook his head. “I’m not saying that I’d vote against it—”
“Hell, I will,” Jameson snapped.
“But it’s a little hard to vote for it,” Morris said, “while I am lacking in all the background. From teenage vamp to powerful vamp, that’s a huge step.” He sat down, careful to keep his gaze away from Tessa.
Triton stood up. “I guess I have to agree with him.” He turned to face Tessa. “No insult to you, but we don’t understand.”
Tessa nodded, but she didn’t say anything. What could she say?
Her gaze glanced over at Adamson still in the room. Why hadn’t he been led away? She frowned at him. He smiled at her. What did that mean?
Baker stood. “I’ve heard of a lot of the rumors. I’m the beneficiary of her healing abilities. Some of the rumors I’ve heard about her seem very over the top, so I can’t say for real how I feel about them. But I actually come down on this issue on her side. We do need a conscience. We do need somebody to watch over us. I don’t feel like it should be one of our generation. I think it should be new blood. The younger generation, those in this room in particular, have seen so much more than we did at their age. They have a whole new way of thinking. And I think that’s important. We have to do whatever we need to do in order to stop this from happening again.”
He sat down abruptly. “That’s all I wanted to say.”
“It’s just too ridiculous,” Jameson said. “Hell, I would’ve understood it if maybe Sian was given the job. She seems to oversee so much of the human and vampire relations as it is. That makes sense. But to put Tessa in such a position? No.”
“Good thing you’re only one vote then, isn’t it?” Serus stood up. “She’s my daughter. But she’s also an incredible woman. My vote is yes. She has always been the heart behind this. It was because of her conscience, her caring, that soul of hers that heals and wants to help that drove us forward and kept us in line the whole time. I don’t know how she has learned to do everything she has. I want to call it a miracle, but I know that it’s through her own need to save her friends and family that’s made it all happen. We must also not forget that the position always came with several assistants. In this case, maybe that would be enough to help her learn the ropes. She’ll be put in the line of fire – and so far, she’s demonstrated that’s where she excels.”
Serus sat down.
Tessa listened in shock as her friends all stood up and made a case in her favor. Still, the vampires that were against her taking this position were very vocal. She wasn’t sure she wanted the position. It was uncomfortable to be the center of attention all the time, even more now. Everyone stared at her, glanced away, and then couldn’t help but turn back again. Even Motre, and she knew he had no stake in this.
There was a whisper, almost a choking cough in her mind.
What? she asked Hortran, What did I say?
There is some mystery behind what you just said.
What? she said, her instincts now starting to rise up. Casually, she glanced over at Motre yet again and then away, only this time she came up with a new perspective. She sat quietly, letting the impressions glide through her. He’d been a guardsman for one of the Council members, hadn’t he originally?
In a position of trust.
But the Councilman had died. And now for the first time she wondered…by whose hand? Was he a good guy, had she missed something? No. It couldn’t be. She knew him. Who he was. So why the suspicion now?
Beast was lying in the corner behind her as her thoughts started to stir, and he rose up on his haunches and let out a low howl.
Several of the people in the room turned to look at her, fear bouncing from face to face.
Cody asked, “What’s wrong with Beast?”
Tessa dropped her gaze to the table. “Easy, Beast,” she said, lowering a hand. Beast walked over obediently and shoved his muzzle into her hand for her to pet him. She tossed Cody a smile. “He’s fine.”
Obviously not. He’s picking up something from you.
She’d have to watch her thoughts if that little bit alone was enough to put Beast on guard.
Cody’s thoughts whispered through her head. Or not, he said. He makes a great guard dog. We might be out of danger, but we will have to be careful for several more days, if not months.
She nodded but kept her voice quiet. Silent. She stared down at the palms of her hands, her nails already extending. Forcibly she tugged them back, her mind racing to figure out how to sort through the stressful fear that said she’d missed something. How could she know for certain?
Because she knew no one would believe her. Not without proof.
Inside the back of her mind, she sensed Hortran’s approval. I need help to sort this out, she cried. How can I be certain of my suspicions?
You’re on the right path. Now follow it like you always have done.
Energy. She could follow the energy.
No, she couldn’t. She slumped back into place, her hands now shaking. It didn’t look any different than what she’d always seen. Or did it? She took a quick look.
Are you okay? Cody asked quietly.
No, I’m not. I’m just not sure what to do about it.
About what?
She didn’t know what to say.
It was too bizarre. Too far out there. She gave a half laugh. Listen to her. How could this be too far? Everything in her life was too damn far. This just fit right in.
But she had to be sure.
She stood up from her chair and excused herself. She raced past Motre and out of the room and down the hallway, her stomach heaving in denial.
“Tessa,” Cody called, racing behind her. “Wait up. Look, you don’t have to take the position if you don’t want to, you know.”
“Yes, I do,” she cried, her mind already consumed with this new fear. “That’s got nothing to do with why I’m upset.”
She spun and faced him. “Go back. I need you to make sure no one gets out of that room.”
And she turned and bolted down the hallway.
“Wait,” Cody snarled behind her. “You’re not going anywhere alone.”
She twisted so she could see his face. His dearly beloved face. And screamed, Please. You’re the only one I can trust. Lock down that room so nobody gets in or out. Promise me.
As if he understood the urgency, he nodded, already turning back towards the room. Call me if you need help. I can send Motre your way.
As if…
Tessa threw herself through the doors leading to the stairs and made several jumps to the second floor. Now she was here, she could take the time to investigate the energies she’d seen here earlier. She felt them there but she hadn’t known, couldn’t have imagined what might be going on. But the fact that it was here Motre had found Morris and Triton that made it the best place to be checking.
At the double doors leading to the hallway of the second floor, she stopped trying to still the panic inside, then pulled the doors open and jumped through.
Silence.
And darkness – except for dozens of glowing eyes.
She slowly lowered her hand. In her mind, she called for Beast. His muzzle connected with her fingertips. She gently stroked him as she let her eyes adjust.
Not that she needed to identify the animals ahead of her as the animals started to howl. The hallway was full of cats. This was where the cats they had met earlier came from.
“Well, Beast, it’s just you and I. Ready?” Beast growled low in the back of his throat, his muscles bunching up, ready to spring. Tessa pulled on deep from the energy inside.
If there was ever a time that she needed help, it was right now. This was it.
This was the last defense to pull down.
The last secret to reveal.
The last horror to be exposed.
And she had to do it now before all was lost.
And not one person would believe her if she tried to explain.
With Beast at her side, she launched herself forward, her claws out as she flung energy from side to side to side to side. One cat lunged on her back from behind. Beast jumped and ripped it off her back, then had it to the floor and pinned in seconds. She didn’t have time to stop and look.
Two more snuck in from behind. She spun and kicked and threw out energy as far and as fast as she could.
And still they kept coming.
They couldn’t be allowed to stop her. She’d have loved to have left them alone, but it wasn’t possible.
Not when she needed to know what was behind those damn doors.
And not when they were still coming at her with tooth and claws.
Finally, trembling, with fear and with anger, she stood, alone.
She spun, searching the darkness for Beast.
And heard a satisfying crunch.
“Gross, Beast. Just so gross.”
Shuddering at the sight, she turned her back on the ecstatic animal and faced the closed doors in front of her. She didn’t want to be right.
She wanted to be wrong.
She needed to be wrong.
Anything else was just too horrible.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And reached the first one.
She threw the door open and sucked in her breath. Instantly she closed the door and stood with her forehead against it, trembling. Please let that not be what she thought it was. Please.
She walked to the second one, slightly better prepared but hoping she’d be wrong. And opened it.
Tessa pushed the door open wider. Her hard gaze mentally took a search of the inhabitants, her gaze going from face to face before slowly closing the door. Now her mind spun at super speed. She moved to the third room.
She opened the third door.
Dear God.
She’d been right.
She’d found what she was looking for.
Motre.
And he wasn’t alone.
*
Did you mean it? Cody asked as he ran back to the meeting and carefully closed and locked the door behind him. You only trust me right now? He tried to do it in such a way that no one would notice, but of course that didn’t work.
Motre frowned at him. “What’s the matter?”
He shrugged. “Tessa,” he said by way of explanation. It was all he could do. Hell, he didn’t know anything else. Tessa? Talk to me.
Can’t, a little busy now, she cried. Just fought off a hallway full of crazed vampire cats.
Jesus, what the hell are you doing? he roared.
Finding the truth – finally.
Silence.
Are you saying there is more to find out, he asked cautiously. Surely not.
Keep your features calm. Because this is going to be a doozy. She sighed. No, better I just bring them. Hold on for just a few minutes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
“Cody, let me out,” Serus snapped. “I’ll go find Tessa.”
Cody stood firm, hating to be in this position. But he also trusted Tessa. “No, sir. She’ll be back in a few moments. No one is to go in or out until then.”
“What rubbish is this?” Goran roared.
Cody gave him a look that shut him down. “Like you, I’m only following orders,” he added with a humorous note.
“Is this the life you want?” Goran asked incredulously.
“I do,” Cody said softly. “And you should be so lucky as to find someone else for yourself, Father.”
“Harumph, like that’s going to happen.” But he settled down slightly.
“There was that cute little nurse downstairs,” Cody said, trying to keep the conversation away from everyone leaving. “Ask her out.”
His father got a faraway look in his eyes. “Maybe I will at that.”
*
Jared dozed in his chair. The hospital had been a flurry of activity as the rest of the high school kids were brought in. Between hysterical parents and other kids swarming the building, there’d been enough pandemonium to raise the dead.
But not Clarissa. She was still unconscious.
He got up and paced the room. Then when he tired of that, he stopped and stared out the window. He couldn’t imagine what kind of people – humans – would have been involved with this supply line. There was still so much to sort out. And he wanted to be involved if he could. The real issue were the victims, where they were now and if they were getting the care they needed.
Lots of care. Taz had stopped in several times and always said the same thing, “She’ll wake when she’s ready. Not before.”
And Jared had to be content with that.
An odd noise had him turning to study the bed.
And found her struggling to open her eyes.
He raced to her side. “Hey, take it easy. It’s me, and you’re safe.”
“Jared,” she cried in a soft voice and opened her arms. “Thank you for saving me.” And she hugged him tight.