Carinian's Seeker (26 page)

Later, the same frail, pale man with tissue-like skin and lank hair ambled in to remove her dishes. It had been exactly what she’d asked for—eggs over hard with crispy bacon. Toast and coffee thrown in for good measure, which she sniffed first to make sure there was nothing in it to knock her out again.

She still didn’t know if her husband was well or not. With nothing in the room to occupy her mind, she warmed up by running in place and went through her martial arts exercises. One thing was for sure—if Natasha walked into this room alone, she’d get a royal ass kicking.

Rest was impossible. Everything smelled like his wife. Every corner of their apartments made him think of something she’d said or done. Tired of tossing around in their bed, Bix showered, packed a bag and left the apartment for the communications center. He would sleep in his office there and be ready the moment Tameth had something.

He walked into the huge high-tech building and all conversation stopped. Every eye turned towards him. He knew he looked like hell because that’s what he felt like.

Without a word, Alaan walked to the nearest phone, called down to the main building and had the cooks bring Bix food and blood.

He felt useless. Everyone was hard at work, either in Carin’s labs loading the modified ammo into cartridges under Kenoe’s direction, or here in the comm center trying to help Tameth wade through Natasha’s endless electronic files, looking for any sign of where she’d fled. Carin had been missing for more than thirty-six hours, yet all he could do was wait.

Stalking around the comm center like a caged animal, Bix had never felt so close to losing it. They just had to uncover something and fast. The more time it took for them to get to Carin, the more time Sidheon had to harm her.

When he’d walked into Carin’s life, he’d had no idea the rogue had been keeping a quiet eye on the woman, coveting her all this time. And Natasha, the jealous bitch, had taken her to every loyal vampire’s worst enemy.

His head snapped around at the urgent call of his name.

“Bix, we’ve got something,” Tameth yelled over the din of male voices filling the room.

“Where?”

“Northern California. Stinson Beach, to be exact.”

“Alaan…”

“Already done, buddy, already done.” And he was out the door, a trail of vamps right behind him, fully aware of what needed to be done. In seconds, the room emptied of everyone but Tameth and Bix.

“Tameth, send the data to Stealth One and Two.”

“Yes, sir.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard. “Hey, you all right?” Tameth asked.

Bix didn’t answer, couldn’t form the words. He had to concentrate on what he thought he felt. He had to be sure because it would simply kill him to be mistaken. Just out of reach was a flutter in his mind, an awareness he hadn’t realized he would miss until it was gone. The bond with Carin. Faint, but there just the same.

He couldn’t have a conversation with her yet, but she was alive. Whatever they’d given her must be wearing off.

“Tameth, how long is the flight to California?” he asked, already moving towards his office to grab his bag.

“In our stealths, about two and a half hours.”

“How soon can we be off the ground?”

“The planes were readied the moment we learned Carin was missing. Ten minutes to get the pilots in the cockpits and we’re out of here.”

“Make it happen.”

“Done.”

Sidheon hadn’t come to see her all day, but the same pasty-faced man brought her dinner. When he approached with a syringe loaded with a pale yellow liquid, Carin cringed.

The man didn’t seem to want to be there any more than she did. Perhaps he’d cut her a break?

“Hi,” she said, keeping her voice quiet so as not to frighten the frail-looking man. “What’s your name?”

“Chase, ma’am,” he replied, just as quietly.

“Chase, do you have to give me that damned neuro drug?” she pleaded, allowing tears to fill her wide eyes. And it was no act. She was afraid for her husband, afraid for herself, but unwilling to simply give up without a fight.

“I-I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t have a choice. Sidheon wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if he found out.”

“Well, thanks anyway.” She bawled outright and the tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.

“Please don’t cry. I know who you are,” Chase whispered.

Carin tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed in question.

“You’re the mate of a Seeker.
The
Seeker.”

“How do you know that?”

“Sidheon doesn’t pay much attention to what his servants hear,” he said. Regret and anger laced each word.

“Sidheon is in for it. My husband will find me, and when he does, Sidheon is toast.”

“I was one of the vamps who worked at Idac and stupidly accompanied Sidheon when he took off running from your mate.”

“You’re a vampire? B-but Chase, what happened…?” Carin couldn’t believe it. Had he always looked like this?

“I had no idea what the bastard intended to do to me.”

What the hell was he talking about? What had Sidheon done to this man? This vampire? But before Carin could answer the question, the man moved with more speed than he seemed capable, stabbed the needle into her bedding and discharged the drug through the blankets and into the mattress. With a sad wink, he disappeared out the door and locked it behind him.

After the strange encounter with Chase, she didn’t feel much like eating, but knew she had to keep up her strength and be ready for God-knows-what.

A mere fifteen minutes later she felt the neuro-inhibitor wearing off and her mind began to release the cotton-like muted fuzz wrapped around it.

Idiot. Sidheon had probably tested the drug on vamps. While she had vamp-like abilities now, she wasn’t a vampire and he’d obviously miscalculated how long the stuff would work on a human. Instinctively pushing her psychic shields into place to make sure Sidheon would remain unaware of her rapidly increasing lucidity, Carin breathed a sigh of relief when no one came barging into her room to stick her with any needles.

By dinnertime, she was just beginning to feel halfway right again when her mind tilted sideways.

Bix charged into her head, filled it to the brim with concern and boiling rage. Assuring her husband she was fine, Carin smiled when he cursed a blue streak into her head, spitting mad and promising all kinds of nasty things in store for Natasha.

“Bix, Natasha’s working with Sidheon.”
She stiffened when his blue streak turned black. The man used some curse words she’d never even heard before. Was that old Latin? Boy, he was pissed, and he was coming for her. And Sidheon. But when he told her what he wanted her to do, she almost lost her dinner.

Chapter Eighteen

Carin watched the rolling surf through the bolted window of her bedroom. At least it had a private bathroom and she wouldn’t have to be held captive and smell like one, too. A small knock sounded at the door. Carin snorted. Like she could walk over and just open it. The damned thing was locked, so why the hell were they knocking?

She crossed her arms over her chest and stood, toe tapping with annoyance as it slid silently open. Chase, head lowered to the carpet, ambled in.

“Hi, Chase. What’s wrong?” she asked kindly.

“Dr. Sidheon says you will dine in an hour downstairs. He sent this for you to wear.” He kept his gaze on the floor as he held out what was supposed to be clothes.

Carin’s lip curled up on one side when the man produced something fit for the best Los Angeles hooker. A short leather skirt, a cap-sleeved leather bodice and high-heeled leather ankle boots, all black. All in her size. There was no way in hell she was going to wear this. Had never worn anything remotely close. Ever. Only Bix had managed to get her the slightest bit out of her conservative bent, and she hadn’t gotten up the nerve to sport an outfit like this even for him.

“Look, you tell Aleth I said he can take this outfit and stuff it up his ass.” She made to toss him out when the sickly man’s raspy words brought her up short.

“I—He said. Well, D-Dr. Sidheon said if you, if you refused…he would p-personally re-tie your hands and feet and…and,” Chase stuttered.

“And what,” she asked hotly.

“F-Feed you by hand.”

“What the hell does feeding me by hand have to do with these clothes?” she screeched, her temper as hot as San Diego in July.

“He said you would be, um, be naked, ma’am.” If she didn’t know better, both she and Chase blushed but the man remained so deathly pale she couldn’t tell. Carin snatched the leather outfit from the man’s hands, shoved him out the door and slammed it shut.

In exactly one hour, she walked into a large dining room, escorted by a very uncomfortable Chase who saw her in and ducked out as fast as his shuffling skinny legs could carry him. The room was shaped like a large rectangle and reminded her more of a conservatory than a dining room. The lengths of both sides of the room were all glass with skylights and beveled glass making up most of the ceiling as well as an entire wall looking out to the darkened beach. Comfy-looking couches and chairs surrounded a man-sized fireplace. Huge pillows done in burgundy and black brocade took up the rear of the room. The place would be lovely if Sidheon weren’t in it.

The scent of roast pork and fresh bread assailed her senses as she sat at the head of the table. Sidheon smiled at her from the other end with a pouting Natasha at his side. Her steps faltered but a second later she snapped her backbone into place and shook off her fear and surprise. Besides, her two known enemies weren’t the cause of her discomfort. It was…the others. The dining table seated twenty-two, and every seat was occupied by both male and female vampires who all looked like they’d rather eat her than the spread Sid had laid before them.

Keeping her mind quiet, Carin concentrated on the sumptuous spread and stuffed herself with honey-baked turkey, rosemary bread stuffing, fresh asparagus in some kind of butter sauce and hot yeast rolls. The meal was finished off with baked caramel apples and, for Carin, a cup of steaming hot black coffee. The vamps indulged in blood-laced champagne.

She sat back in her L.A. ‘Ho costume, pushed back her chair just a bit, crossed her booted feet and put them up on the table. Sipping the strong brew, she was more than aware the short leather skirt gave Sidheon an eyeful of almost the whole length of her bare legs. So, he’d thought to tie her up and hand feed her if she misbehaved? Nasty bastard. Only her promise to do as Bix asked made her tamp down her anger and put on a sweet-as-apple-pie face.

Several other pale and unhealthy-looking folks cleared the dishes. She thanked a particularly skinny female for a refill of her coffee. Her wan, weak smile made Carin wince. The girl looked like a strong northerly wind would blow her away. Carin looked closer at the wait staff and immediately knew the truth. Chase wasn’t the only ill vampire here. Every one of these frail-looking so-called servants were vampires.

What the hell had happened to them? Why did every vampire around the table look healthy while all the staff looked sick? Fuming, Carin slammed her cup down, ignoring the hot coffee sloshing onto her skirt and tablecloth. She shot to her feet with her hands fisted on her hips, glared at Sidheon down the long length of the table and roared.

“Aleth, what the hell is going on? What have you done to these vamps?”

“Oh, not much, my dear. Why don’t you take a closer look, good doctor?”

With a flick of his wrist, the same young woman who’d smiled so happily at Carin’s compliment now approached her with trepidation, dropped to her knees and cowered on the floor.

“There, there, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise,” Carin crooned to the female as she took her seat once more. As the girl relaxed, Carin gently touched the cool skin of her face and neck, and then quickly examined her teeth and the whites of her eyes.

Sucking her breath in on a sigh, Carin couldn’t keep the heartfelt sadness out of her voice. She was so sorry for this female it was all she could do to keep the tears in check.

“Aleth, how could you do this? You’ve altered them. This girl’s skin feels like tissue paper. There’s no way a vampire female should be this frail and weak.” Carin looked down at the miserable face and whispered for her ears only. “I’m sorry. We’ll fix it, okay? I promise. Now go on before you get in trouble.”

As the girl scampered away, Sidheon rose, tugged Natasha out of her seat next to him and stalked around the table towards Carin. With one arm around his consort, he leaned lazily against the table, much too close for comfort. Carin’s eyes never left his.

On an exasperated sigh, she asked, “Aleth, what do you want with me?”

A lone finger snaked out to wrap around a loose strand of her hair. “You know, Carin,” he said, his voice smooth as silk, “I’d hoped to woo you, perhaps even make you my mate. I’ve always been fond of you. Your beauty, and of course, your genius.”

Natasha flinched as if Sidheon’s words physically cut her. With fury in her eyes, she yanked away from him but remained by his side.

Sidheon grabbed Natasha by the hair, yanked her back against his body and pressed his groin flush against her butt. A hand slipped under the traitor’s blouse while he conversed with Carin as if they were all out for an afternoon stroll. Ewww, now this was just nasty, and not in a good way.

She wanted nothing more than to storm out, but remained in her seat instead, reminding herself that she’d promised to keep Sidheon in that damned dining room as long as possible. Carin picked up her coffee again and tried to ignore the mad scientist and his even madder Liaison. But boy was he making it hard.

Carin gulped a fortifying swallow of the strong brew and said, “You’ve always been fond of me, Aleth? Really? You could have fooled me, especially when you tried to gut me in front of my own house.”

“Just a misunderstanding really. I was quite relieved when I heard you’d taken a sabbatical from Idac.” He tweaked Natasha’s nipples through her bra and the female vamp gasped and moaned desperately as if someone were cutting off her air supply. Yet Sidheon’s gaze remained glued on Carin. “Before my partner here confirmed anything, I knew no one but V.C.O.E. could have pulled off something like that on such short notice, and only if you were alive.”