Deceptive Changes: Kat LaMond Book 1 (60 page)

I pulled on his hand and walked a couple steps before I screamed in pain.  I held my stomach and sank to my knees.  “Oh, God, it’s Beatrice,” I gasped out between screams.  The guys were off the bed and around me.

“Kat,” Todd asked, worried. 

“We have to find her,” I said as I tried to breathe.  Thorn put his arms around me as I started to fall forward.  The pain subsided marginally and I could think again.  “Trace, call Tony and have him run a trace on Beatrice’s phone, please.”  He nodded and left the room. 

Thorn still had his arms around me and was petting my head.  I leaned back and grimaced as pain flared through me again.  “What’s he doing to her?” I said softly and clutched my stomach.

Trace came into the room a short while later and gave me an address.  With Thorn’s help I stood up.  “Take me into the armory.  I need weapons.  A lot of them,” I whispered.  Thorn guided me into the armory.  He pushed me against the wall and grabbed weapons for everyone, even the vampires.  Sven came into the room and wrapped his arm around my waist, guiding me back into the bedroom.  I screamed again and fell against Sven’s arms. 

“You can’t go anywhere like this, Katja.” I nodded.  What was I going to do?  I would be useless in a fight if every time the bastard hurt Beatrice.  Sven put his hand to my mouth and I flinched away.  “Take it, Katja.  It’ll help.”  I grimaced but swallowed the blood.  I took it in until the pain subsided completely and blood ran down my chin. 

I turned into Sven and kissed him.  “Thank you,” I whispered.  He smiled softly and let me go.  I walked to the closet and changed into jeans and a t-shirt.  I put on my weapons and waited impatiently for the guys to change. 

We left the house and loaded into the Durango.  Todd followed the directions to Beatrice’s phone.  We parked a little bit away from the house and walked up the driveway.  I pulled my Glock 10mm and followed Todd’s lead.  The vampires had spread out and were hidden in shadows.  I looked at Haven; he shook his head.  He couldn’t hear anyone in the house.  Damn.  We walked up to the house and knocked on the door.  No one answered. 

I listened intently for any sounds coming from behind the door and couldn’t hear any.  I holstered my Glock and stepped back from the house.  I decided to try something.  I’d never done this before and I didn’t know if it would work.  I was going on the principle that if Charles could know when I needed him that it should work in reverse. 

I opened up my mind and felt Beatrice yelling for me.  Where was she?  I let my mind go blank except for her.  I got flashes of a house and a man.  He was cutting her.  I couldn’t tell if he was vampire or human.  I snapped my fingers and had them follow me.  I let her screams guide me to a house a couple blocks from the house we were at.

I had them fan out and walked up to the door.  I knocked softly and heard whimpers from the other side.  “Shut up, bitch,” the man whispered.  It was strange.  I could see him say the words but heard him only through the door.

I knocked again and ducked when he shot through the door.  I stepped back and kicked the door, it slammed open.  I caught a glimpse of him just as Haven took him by the throat and threw him against the wall.  I ran inside and went to Beatrice’s side.  She was crying and bleeding.

I untied her and turned in time to see Haven started to kill the man.  “Wait.”   Haven held up. 

Beatrice flung herself into my arms.  “I’m so sorry, Katja.  I just wanted to get away,” she whispered. 

I nodded and soothed her.  I looked at Todd and waved him over.  He took Beatrice gently out of my arms and brought her to Thorn and Sven.  Sven opened a vein and pushed his wrist to her mouth. 

I left them to heal her and walked up to the man.  I touched his skin and found that he was human.  “What did you think you were doing to her?” 

He smiled and said, “I was having some fun, bitch.” 

I blinked at him.  “Why would you cut someone like that?”

“Bitch, don’t talk to me.  I’d cut you up too if it wasn’t for this big goon.”  I clenched my fists and slipped a knife from my wrist sheath.  “Ooh, you have a knife.  Let’s play, bitch.” 

I smiled and stabbed him in the stomach.  “That’s for hurting me, bitch,” I whispered into his ear and pulled the knife out. 

Beatrice walked over to me and took the knife from my hand.  She looked at Haven and said, “Let him go.”  I stared in shock at her and hoped that she knew what she was doing.  She nodded at me and I nodded at Haven.

Haven let the man go and walked over to me.  We would watch and make sure nothing happened to Beatrice but we wouldn’t interfere, this was for her.  The man stood up and said, “You want some, bitch.” 

Beatrice smiled and nodded.  “Come and get me now, Renny.”  Renny?  I shrugged and watched him go for Beatrice. 

Renny swung his fist at her but she blocked it and kicked him in the leg, knocking him to the floor.  He gasped in pain and held his stomach.  Beatrice grabbed his thin hair and pulled him back enough to slide the knife along the skin of his neck.  It was a superficial wound.  He gasped and held his neck when she let him go.  She walked around his body.  He grabbed her ankle and took her down. 

He flipped her around and she stabbed him in the heart.  He looked down at her and gurgled up blood.  She twisted the knife and pulled it out.  He fell onto her but she pushed his dead body off her and stood up.  She kicked him and dropped the knife.  I walked over to her and guided her to Haven.  I grabbed the knife and wiped the blood off on the dead man’s shirt and slid it into the sheath.

“Thank you for rescuing me, Katja.”  She shrugged away from Haven and walked outside.  What were we going to do with the body?  I guess we could burn it like we did vampires. 

Todd walked over to me and whispered, “We need to get rid of the body.” 

I nodded and turned into him.  “What shall we do?”

“I sent Trace and Erick over to the other house to find Beatrice’s phone.  They’ll scrub the area of prints and come back to the house.  We’ll burn the body and clean the house as much as possible.  Hopefully he isn’t a man that’s loved by his community.”  I cringed at the thought.  Renny, the bitch-sayer, a pillar of the community, not likely but stranger things have been known to happen.  I kissed him lightly and we got to work.

A couple of hours later, we had the house cleaned and the body burned to ash.  The sun was peeking over the horizon as we started to leave. 

Trace and Erick came over to me and hugged me.  “The house is done.  There was a lot of blood.  It looks like he might have tortured her there and then brought her over here.” 

I nodded and walked up to Beatrice, who was in the Durango, and said, “We’re done here.”  She nodded and hugged me.  I cringed for a second and then wrapped my arms around her small body.

“I’m so sorry, Katja.  I didn’t know he would be a torturer and murderer.”  I shh’d her and lifted her into my arms.  Haven helped me get into the truck and I held her on my lap.  I smiled softly at him and cradled Beatrice in my arms.  She was shaking and still crying.

Todd drove us home; Beatrice fell asleep in my arms a couple minutes during the ride.  Todd parked and Haven pulled Beatrice’s sleeping body from my arms and walked into the house.  I followed shortly after with the guys surrounding me.  I found Ardeness in the living room with Beatrice, who was lying partially in her lap.  Ardeness was stoking Beatrice’s hair.  She mouthed ‘thank you’ to me and looked down at Beatrice.

I groaned softly and left the room.  I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of scotch and poured a full glass.  I swallowed half of it and sat at the kitchen table.  I wrapped my hands around the glass and stared into space.

Todd walked into the room and took my glass.  He swallowed the rest and grabbed the bottle and filled the glass.  He sat next to me and slung an arm over my shoulders.  I leaned into him and kissed his neck.  He sighed softly and pulled me onto his lap.  I giggled and grabbed the glass.  I took a sip and kissed him.  He pushed against my mouth and sliced open my lip.  I moaned against his mouth and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck.

We parted.  I ran my tongue along my lip, licking the blood off.  It continued to bleed and a small tendril made its way down my chin and plopped onto Todd’s t-shirt.  “Mmm, Kat, babe.”  I smiled at him and drank some more scotch.  I hissed as the liquor hit my cut. 

Haven walked into the kitchen and looked at me.  He groaned softly and strode over to us.  He pulled my head back and kissed me.  I could taste his blood in my mouth and felt the cut heal.  Haven pulled back and ran his hand over Todd’s neck causing him to shiver.

I looked over Todd’s head as I saw Ardeness lead Beatrice outside.  “Shouldn’t someone stay with her?” I asked softly. 

Todd kissed my nose and said, “Ardeness will stay with her.  She’s not that bad off.”  He stopped talking. 

I looked at him and found Haven stroking Todd’s jaw.  I sighed against Todd’s mouth and kissed him.  I heard Haven sigh.  He ran his hand through my hair.  I pulled back from Todd and smiled.  Todd’s eyes were dark.  I moaned as I looked into his eyes. 

Haven pulled on my hair and I swung my eyes to him.  His eyes had bled to silver.  He bent down and kissed me.  Todd’s arm tightened around my waist, hard enough to cause me to squeak against Haven’s mouth.  Haven pulled back and kissed Todd.  My heart fluttered and my groin tightened as I watched from inches away. 

Haven pulled back and licked his lips.  I let out the breath I was holding and grabbed the glass of scotch.  I tossed back what was left and smiled.  “Holy crap,” I whispered.  They beamed at me.  I leaned over and filled the glass again.  I brought it to my lips and Todd took it from me.  He sipped some and handed back the glass.  I sipped from it and set it on the table.

Haven smiled and winked at me.  He took Todd’s face in his hands and kissed him again.  I moaned softly as I watched.  Haven and Todd were still kissing when an unearthly scream came from the bedroom.  I launched off Todd’s lap and ran. 

My heart was in my throat as I reached the bedroom.  I looked in and found Thorn lying on the bed, bleeding out.  Sven had Trace by the throat.  I looked down and saw Trace still had the knife.  “Haven, help Thorn,” I choked out as I slowly walked over to Sven.  I touched his arm and asked, “What happened?”

“He stabbed Thorn.”  Sven tightened his grip on Trace’s throat. 

“What?  Why?  Let him go, Sven, please?”  Sven clenched his jaws and let Trace go.  I looked into Trace’s blue-y grey eyes and asked, “Why?  Why did you do this?”

“He wouldn’t have me, slayer.” 

I paled.  “Cyril?”  Trace laughed, cackled Cyril’s laugh out of his throat.  “Todd, call Marishka.”

A grin spread across Trace’s face.  “She can’t help, slayer.” 

“Do it, Todd.  Sven, bring Trace to the living room.  Please don’t kill him. I’ll feel whatever pain you inflict on him.”  Sven nodded and dragged Trace with him.  Where was Erick?  I looked around the room and heard moaning coming from the bathroom.  I went inside and found Erick sitting up and clutching his head.  “Erick?”

“I’m okay, Katja.  It’s Trace.”  I nodded and left the room.  Thorn was leaning against Haven, taking in as much blood as he could.  Haven’s eyes were silver and for the first time in days I could see the sadness in them.  I walked out of the room.  Todd was walking from the kitchen to the living room. 

We walked into the room together and looked at Trace.  He was laughing at Sven.  “You can’t hurt me, slayer.”

I pulled out my gun and pointed it at Trace.  “Move, Sven.”  Sven looked at me and nodded. 

Trace started to come toward me, stopped and looked confused.  “Kat?”

“Trace?”  I pointed the gun at the floor and started toward him. 

He held out his hand and said, “It’s Cyril, he’s taken over my body.  Kill me, please?  I’m afraid I’ll do something more.”  He stopped talking and a grin spread along his lips.  I swallowed hard and fired a warning shot but he didn’t flinch.  He started walking slowly, haltingly, toward me.  “Kill…me…Kat…” his hand stretched out.  Tears flowed down my face.  What if I killed him?  Would I be able to bring him back?  Would I die with him? 

“I’m sorry, Trace,” I whispered and pulled the trigger.  I screamed in pain when I felt the shot go through him.  It took out part of his heart.  He fell slowly to the ground and looked at me.  I dropped the gun and sank to my knees.  I cried softly and then outright bawled when Todd and Sven held me in their arms. 

><                            ><

A long time later when the tears dried up and I could see again, I realized that everyone was around me, hugging me.  I shrugged them off and looked at Trace’s dead body.  I crawled over to him and kissed his lips softly.  Cold, dead, lips.  Tears plopped onto his dead hands. 

I swallowed the tears and looked at my guys.  They were sitting on the floor, curled around each other.  I smiled a watery smile at Thorn.  He was alive and well. 

Marishka walked into the room and gasped.  “What has happened?”  I shrugged and laid next to Trace’s body.  I wrapped my arm around his dead flesh and cried again.

Todd came over to me and gently took me away from Trace.  I struggled against him to stay.  “Kat, please,” he whispered and tugged on me. 

I flung myself into his arms and hugged him.  I dried my tears and looked at him.  His brown eyes were sad and watery as he stroked my face.  “Can we fix this?  Please,” I pleaded.  He shh’d me and held me tightly.

><                            ><

An hour later and I was sufficiently calmed down.  “Sven, what happened?”  I looked into his sapphire blue eyes. 

“Thorn and I were having a little fun with Trace and Erick.  We fed from them and…” He looked at Trace.  “After we had our fun, Trace got off the bed and went into the bathroom for a moment.  When he came out, he walked up to Thorn and shoved a knife into his stomach.  And then you came running in.  There isn’t a whole lot more.” 

Thorn slid up to Sven and wrapped his arms around him.  “I knew something was wrong, love.  I didn’t know what until Trace whispered ‘Once more, Thorny,’ and then stabbed me.”  I clenched my teeth and stood up.

“You…” I pointed at Marishka and yelled, “You said that he couldn’t take over their bodies.” 

Todd grabbed my waist and pulled me back onto his lap.  “It’s not her fault, Kat.  She protected us against the magicks not his ghost.”  I glared at him and kept my mouth shut.  I wasn’t mad at him or her, for that matter.  I was angry with myself for having to, once more, kill one of the men that I loved. 

Marishka came over and kneeled in front of Todd and me.  “I will cleanse the body and with your power we may be able to raise him.”  I lit up.  Maybe there was a way to save Trace. 

She snapped her fingers and her little men came scampering into the room.  They laid out this and that.  I couldn’t stay in the room, not while those little men set things out for the shaman and not with Trace’s dead body, that I may or may not be able to raise. 

I got off Todd’s lap and walked out of the room.  I went into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of scotch and left.  I swallowed some on the way to the bedroom.  There was blood all over the place.  I sank to my knees and put my head in my hands. 

“Kat love?”  Thorn.  He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me onto his lap.  How could things have gone from bad to worse in the space of a few hours?  I stayed in his warm arms for a while until Todd came in and said that they were ready. 

Thorn helped me up and we walked into the living room.  I gasped as I looked on Trace’s pale skin, it glowed softly in the sunlight.  I shrugged away from Thorn and walked over to Trace.  I kneeled down and grabbed his hand.  Please let this work, I prayed, please.

I laid my hand on his chest and pushed power into him.  “Rise to me, Trace.”  A stirring within happened but it was so faint.  “I can feel it but I’m not strong enough,” I whispered.  I repeated the words and pushed harder, hard enough for Trace’s rib to crack.  I flinched at the sound and dropped his hand.

Erick came over and grabbed my hand.  “Let’s do this together, Katja.”  He placed our hands on Trace’s chest and we pushed together and repeated the words.  A thin flutter went through our hands and into Trace. 

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.  “Rise to us, Trace.”  Still not enough. 

Todd, Thorn, Sven, and Haven walked over and surrounded Erick and me.  They put their hands on ours and we used the combined power and words to push power into Trace.

My hand sizzled and my vision darkened.  I could fell Trace’s heart knit and he started to breath and then nothing.  Blackness surrounded me.

><                            ><

I blinked into blue-y grey eyes and smiled.  “You’re alive,” I whispered. 

He chuckled and said, “You are, too.” 

I hugged him to me and kissed his neck.  “I’m so happy that it worked.”

He pulled back and kissed my lips and said, “I am, too.  I didn’t know if you would be able to raise me.”

“I didn’t know either when I shot you.  I’m sorry I had to shoot you, Trace.” 

He kissed me again and helped me sit up.  “It’s okay, Kat.  I’m glad you did before I hurt anybody else.”  He flicked his eyes to Thorn, who was standing by the door along with the others. 

“Oh, Trace,” I whispered. 

He turned back to me and held me in his arms for a moment.  “I have to speak with Thorn and Sven.”  I nodded and pulled back.  Erick went with Thorn, Sven, and Trace.

Haven and Todd walked over to me and sat beside me.  “Thank God, that it worked,” I whispered as I leaned into their arms. 

“You did good, babe.”

“Yes,” I said.  “With a ton of help from you guys.”  I gave Todd a kiss and then Haven.  “So, can you guys go back to kissing?”  I wasn’t sure if I was joking or if I really wanted them to kiss again.  They looked at me with the same thoughts running across their faces.  “Moving on.  How about we get something to eat?  I’m starved.”

“That, we can do, babe.”  Todd helped me from the couch and hugged me to him. 

I moaned softly as Haven came up and sandwiched me in.  I felt movement between them and looked up.  Their lips met briefly.  I moaned louder and ran my hands along Todd’s back, pulling him closer to me.  “If you keep doing that, I’ll never want to eat again,” I whispered against Todd’s chest.  They pulled back and chuckled.  “What made you decide to kiss him?”

“We like to kiss,” Todd said softly.  I purred against him as their lips met again.  They pulled back and licked their lips.  Todd leaned down and kissed me as Haven’s mouth fastened on my neck.  I fisted my hands in Todd’s shirt as Haven turned his bite and cried my pleasure into Todd’s mouth and arched into him.  Haven pulled back and licked my neck.  I shivered and pulled back from Todd’s lips.  “Mmm,” I purred.  “Did you wanna do it here or…?” I stopped.  Todd was smiling.  I tilted my head back and looked at Haven.  They were both smiling. 

“Let’s get you some food, babe.”  I groaned softly and nodded.

They escorted me to the kitchen.    No one was in the kitchen.  Hmm, I wondered where they could be.   I shrugged and pulled my hands from their arms and went to the fridge.  I pulled out a couple sandwiches and beers.

I sat at the table and opened my sandwich.  I looked up and found Todd and Haven still standing where I had left them.  “What?”  They walked over and sat across from me.  Todd opened his sandwich and we started eating.

Shortly after Todd and I finished, the others filtered in.  Trace and Erick were smiling lazy smiles and Thorn and Sven looked happy and pink.  They were all well taken care of.