Plain Fear: Forgiven: A Novel (27 page)

Left alone with his traitorous thoughts, Samuel rocked on the front porch in the deep shadows, unable to sleep, unable to let go of his doubts and guilt. He wrestled with what Levi had said and with his trapped feelings. When the moon dipped behind a cloud, darkness shrouding him, his chin dipped, the chair slowed, and he breathed deeply, fully resting for the first time in days.

The crunch of gravel nudged him out of oblivion. His eyes snapped open. The rocker fell forward with his movement.

What
was
he
doing?
He shouldn’t have stayed out here in the open.
Foolish
.

His gaze landed on Naomi.
What
was
she
doing
here?
But of course, she was here to help Hannah with her twins. He’d been stupid in more ways than one.

With the morning sun behind her, she walked up the drive, head down, apparently in deep thought and unaware of his presence. But as she came up the porch steps, she paused at the sight of him. “Samuel?” Her voice spiked and a smile blossomed. “You are here. Really here. And safe.”

She rushed toward him, a smile breaking free, but she stopped abruptly. Her gaze locked on the bandage covering a good portion of his neck. “You’re hurt.”

He rose to his feet, feeling a bit disoriented from the late night and abrupt end to his sleep. The sun had risen above the horizon, and he squinted in its direction. He rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m all right.”

She came toward him, approaching more cautiously. “Oh, Samuel, what happened?”

Every part of his being ached to pull her to him, hold her, breathe in her scent. But he forced himself to resist.

Her hand lifted as if to touch the bandage or simply reach out to him, but she faltered. Before she could pull away, Samuel’s hands closed over hers. He wasn’t sure what had made him do such a thing—reassuring her or himself—but at her soft touch, his heartbeat stumbled, his resolve wavered.

“Are you all right, Samuel?” Her gaze sought his for reassurance, her brow furrowing with concern. “I didn’t know you had been hurt. Rachel said nothing. Only that you had returned with Roc.”

“I’m fine.” And his words were true. He hadn’t been fully right until this exact moment.
Right
here. With her
. He squeezed her hand. “How have you been?”

“Me?” She started to laugh, and his gaze caught on the curve of her lower lip. “All is well here. Just helping out where needed.”

“Rachel told me how kind you were, seeing her through those days when Roc was missing.”

“It was the least I could do.”

“She appreciated the company and support.”

“Do you need to sit and rest?” she asked. “I could get you some breakfast.” Her gaze shifted toward the bandage again. “It looks as if your injury was awful bad.”

He gestured toward the empty rocker Levi had vacated hours ago. When she sat, he resumed his seat beside her. He should explain. He should tell her.
Things
are
different
now.
“Naomi—”

“Samuel—”

They spoke at the same time and he tilted his head and waited for her to continue. But she shook her head.

He drew a slow breath. “I died, Naomi.” He needed her to know, to understand. “Roc didn’t tell Rachel.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t something we discussed. I didn’t want anyone to worry. But the fact is, I died.” He felt the piercing in his soul of those words. It wasn’t until then that he understood the consequences. If he had died, if he hadn’t returned, he never again would have felt the sun on his face, the closeness with his brother Levi, or shared this moment with Naomi. It was a gift and gratitude welled inside him.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Samuel…”

“The doctors restarted my heart.” He touched the tape along the edge of the bandage, then clasped her hand again. “I lost so much blood my heart gave out.”

“It’s a miracle.”

“It is indeed.” And it was a miracle seeing the light in her eyes, hearing the emotion in her voice, and feeling the touch of her hand on his.

The corners of her eyes pinched with concern. “No wonder you look tired.”

He shook his head. “I wanted you to know.”

She tilted her head sideways. “Of course.”

“No, I wanted you to know that I understand now.”

“Understand what?”

“Why I’m here. My purpose.” His hand tightened on hers as he thought back to one of their early conversations. “Do you remember?”

She nodded. “I have been praying for that too. As well as your safety.”

His voice closed over the words of thanks that he owed her, so he simply brushed his thumb over her knuckles again. Her skin felt so soft and he longed for more. But he would be grateful for this moment. “I’ve made a decision.”

He stared at the weathered floorboards of the porch. The once-deep grooves had smoothed out over time and use. “I’m going to work with Roc.”

“What about Levi?”

“He’s healing and won’t need me much longer. As long as I don’t cause him problems with the bishop, then I’ll help out as needed. But I’ve moved over to Roc’s and—”

A scream split the morning. It sounded inhuman, like an animal dying. And yet, there was a desperate human quality to it. The scream seemed to go on and on, surfing on the breeze, then breaking off sharply.

Samuel leapt to his feet and pulled Naomi behind him. He scanned the drive, trees, barn.

“What’s happened?” she asked. “Who…what was that?”

His heart raced. His mind seemed to stop for one brief second, splintering into questions. Fear rose up inside him. Not for himself, but for Naomi. “Get in the house. Stay in the house with Hannah. Lock the doors and windows. Do not come out.”

“But, Samuel—”

“Now.” He moved her toward the front door, keeping his back to the house and facing whatever danger might be out there. “Hurry. I’ll be back.”

She stood at the threshold, holding on to his arm. Before he could leave, she embraced him, pulling him close. Tears brimmed her eyes. “Be careful.”

He longed to kiss her, to promise his return, to declare his love for her. But he had to go. And if he didn’t return, it would be best if those words were never spoken.

He launched himself off the porch but turned back. “Lock the door. And don’t open it. For anyone.”

“But—”

“Anyone! Even if it sounds like me.”

“Samuel—”

“Do as I say. Please, Naomi. Do as I say.”

***

“What’s going on?” Levi came out onto the porch. He closed the door behind him, and Samuel heard the bolt lock in place.

“I don’t know.” Samuel shoved his cell phone in his hip pocket. He’d tried calling Roc but got no response. He decided to circle Levi’s house first and make sure all was as it should be, then he’d return to the center.

“You heard that, right?” Levi asked.

Samuel nodded, but his gaze moved around the perimeter of the property, as he edged toward his motorcycle. “Stay here, Levi.”

“Where are you going?”

“Keep your cell phone handy. Call me if you see or hear anything.” He climbed aboard and revved the engine, drowning out any arguments Levi tried to make. Hollering over the roar of the motorcycle, he added, “And get back in the house.”

The drive toward the Slow Gait Road seemed longer than when Samuel had arrived last night. As the sun remained low on the horizon, shadows wept from the trees and brush in deep, dark pools. When he reached the main road, he gave one last look at the house. A figure stood at the front window.
Naomi.

He prayed for God’s protection over this house and all inside.

He turned right onto the road. It wasn’t long before he saw the van approaching. Joe slowed and rolled down the window.

“What happened?” Samuel asked.

“We caught one.”

“Where?”

“Not far from here. In the back now.”

“Where are you taking—”

“Back to the center. Follow me.”

Samuel got stuck behind a horse and buggy. When he reached Roc’s, he parked behind the van. Roc appeared at the side door and tossed him a rifle. Samuel caught it with one hand.

“Come with me.”

“What happened?” Samuel jogged alongside Roc.

“You were followed.”

“By?”

“Your ex-girlfriend, I’m guessing.”

Samuel’s footsteps slowed but his mind raced ahead. “What are you going to do with her?”

“Anthony is in charge.” Roc yanked open the center’s door, and they entered.

Tethered in the center of the room, the ropes dangling from the ceiling held her in place—a writhing, screeching vampire, snapping and snarling and clawing to get at any team member who dared approach. In spite of the black eyes and viciously snarling mouth, Samuel recognized the slight form. Andi. Blood covered her mouth and chin and spotted her clothes.

Only a few yards away, Harry leaned against the wall looking shaken, his deeply tanned skin three shades paler as he wrapped white gauze around his bicep.

“
Vade
retro, Satana.
” Father Anthony approached the rabid vampire. Andi reacted to the holy words like acid poured over her. She tried to crawl up the ropes but the strap around her neck, tied to a latch on the concrete floor, prevented her from getting far. Attempting to cover her ears, she curled inward. Father Anthony stood over her and dripped water onto her head, which made her scream, a sound most unholy.

“Not too close, Tony,” Roc warned, grasping Father Anthony’s elbow and tugging him out of the vampire’s reach just as she tried to snare his foot.

But Father Anthony seemed lost to this world.

Randy, Joe, and Father Roberto circled the vampire, staying well out of her reach.

“What’s he doing?” Randy asked, his dark skin gleaming with sweat. “Why can’t we just kill her?”

“No!” the word burst out of Samuel. He instantly regretted his outburst.

Roc met his ashamed gaze with understanding. “Tony’s trying to save her. He’s trying to extract the demon from her.”

“Why the hell would he do that?” Joe yanked a .357 from the back of his jeans. “Did you see what she did to Harry?” He aimed his gun at her chest. “Maybe she’s the one that took a bite out of you, Mr. Save-the-Vampire.”

Samuel shielded Andi with his own body, staring not at the Glock but at Joe’s eyes. “She deserves a second chance, just like the rest of us.”

“She didn’t give a second chance to Peter or Chris or—”

A sound from Samuel’s left stopped Joe in the middle of his rant. They both turned toward Roc, who aimed a shotgun at Joe. “Put it down.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me?” Joe’s eyes blazed. “I’m not the one who gutted Shawn! Kill her! She deserves it.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s doing.” Father Roberto eased toward Joe, one hand splayed. “It’s not her. It’s the demon within her. If we kill her, Joe, then the demon will simply find another body to inhabit.”

Joe shook his head, glaring at the writhing vampire several feet behind Samuel, and his hands clutched the shaking gun. “But Martha…”

“
Vengeance
is
mine, saith the Lord
.” Roberto placed a hand over the gun and aimed it at the floor. “Someone else killed your sister. And we’ll find that vampire someday.” When Roberto had taken the gun from Joe, he settled a hand on the taller, broader shoulder. “Joe, can you take Harry to the house? He needs Rachel to look at his wound.”

“You’re a fool,” screeched Andi. Her face distorted with rage and yet she gave a horrific laugh. “A fool!”

“
Therefore
God
exalted
him
to
the
highest
place
”—Father Anthony reverted to
English
—“
and
gave
him
the
name
that
is
above
every
name—
”

“Don’t say it!” Foul words spewed forth from Andi. “Don’t you dare say it!”

“
—that at the name of Jesus—
”

She fell to the ground and writhed, yanking on the ropes until blood streamed down her arms and legs.

“
—every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
.”

Transfixed by Andi’s fierce reaction, Samuel backed away and bumped into Roc. “How is this going to help her?”

“I don’t know that it will. It’s Tony’s theory that it will take an exorcism. Exorcising her of the demon within. But if it doesn’t work”—Roc readjusted the shotgun in his arms—“then I’ll take care of her so she doesn’t hurt anyone else—ever again.”

A shot rang out. Samuel looked at Roc, but he hadn’t fired a shot. Andi froze. A red hole opened in her chest. She crumpled and lay very still. Only the fingers of one hand twitched. The training center pulsated with silence in the aftermath. No one in the immediate vicinity held a weapon aimed.
Who
had
shot?

Had
Samuel
thought
the
question
or
had
someone
yelled
it?
Roc reacted first, crouching low and aiming his shotgun toward the rafters. Along the padded ledge stood Brydon. He held the weapon he’d used to shoot Andi.
But
why?

“No one tells us what to do. No one!” Brydon’s voice boomed and echoed through the facility. “No one, old man! No one!”

Roc fired. But Brydon shrunk and disappeared. Laughter reverberated around them. Wings flapped and a creature took off. Roc tried to hit Brydon but failed.

Samuel raced toward Andi, but Roberto stopped him. “No! She’s still dangerous. Get back to the house!” Roberto pushed him toward the exit. “Now, hurry, Samuel. Alert Joe!”

But Samuel wasn’t thinking about Joe or Harry. He was thinking where Brydon might have gone. All he could think of was Levi, Hannah, and Naomi, waiting in the house, like lambs. And Samuel was already in a full-out run.