“So, vampire,” Anton said impatiently, “what do you say?”
“You’ve given me little choice,” Roshan said. Better to play along for now. He would deal with Anton when Cara was out of danger.
“Exactly. Get in the car.”
Anton remained out of reach, his hand curled around the bottle of holy water, while the vampire did as he’d been told. Only when the hood and the silver-plated handcuffs were in place did Anton get behind the wheel. Feeling a bit weak with relief that everything had gone as planned, he slid the key into the ignition and headed for the lab.
Roshan sat back, his eyes closed beneath the mask. His skin burned like hellfire where the handcuffs touched his skin. It was a pain he had suffered in the past at the hands of Anton’s father. The mask, too, had been lined with a sheet of fine silver, burning his face even as it prevented him from seeing through the material.
He swore softly, his rage growing with each passing mile. No matter what happened this night, whether Cara was hurt or not, Bouchard and the witch would die for what they had done.
Roshan? Brenna’s voice sounded in his mind. What should I do?
Nothing at the moment, love. Keep Di Giorgio with you when he gets home.
You’re in pain. I can feel it.
He’s handcuffed me with silver to restrain me. I think we’re going out to Loken’s old lab.
I should be with you.
No.
You’ll call me if you need me?
He smiled in spite of the pain in his wrists. Who else would I call?
I love you. Be careful.
A short time later, the car rolled to a stop. The engine stilled. The door beside Roshan opened, admitting a draft of cool air.
“We’re here,” Anton said. “Get out.”
Moving blindly, Roshan did as he was told. He felt Anton’s hand close over his arm, guiding him toward the lab. There was the sound of a key turning in the lock. Roshan followed Anton until the threshold’s power stopped him.
“Oh, I forgot,” Anton said, his voice thick with contempt, “come in.”
Roshan crossed the threshold. Feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughter, he followed Anton down two flights of stairs. A door opened and he caught his daughter’s scent.
“Cara?”
“Daddy!”
“Shut up, both of you!” Anton said brusquely. He shoved Roshan backward. “Climb up on that table.”
Revulsion swept through Roshan as he did as he was told. He remembered all too clearly the last time he had been in this place. He flinched as someone carelessly cut away his shirt, slicing into his flesh as well. The silver blade seared his skin, as did the heavy silver strap they laid across his chest to secure him to the table. Silver manacles were clamped around his ankles; the handcuffs were removed and replaced by silver shackles. A thick silver strap was fastened across his neck so that he couldn’t raise his head.
They were taking no chances this time, he thought. He could already feel the heavy silver leeching his strength, weakening his powers, leaving him blind and helpless.
“Get the baby.” Serafina’s voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement. “It’s upstairs, in the lab.”
A baby! Roshan shuddered to think what they would do with the child, but it was the fate of his own child that filled him with despair. “Bouchard?”
“He’s not here,” Serafina said.
“I came without a fight, now let my daughter go.”
“All in good time,” the witch said. “We are not through with her yet.”
“What are you going to do to her?”
“Take a little blood.”
Roshan swore a vile oath. “Don’t tell me you’re pursuing Loken’s foolish dream of immortality!”
“No.” She laughed maniacally. “Something better than that.”
He strained against the bonds that held him, wincing as the silver shackles cut deeper into his flesh. “Damn you!”
He heard the sound of Anton’s footsteps coming down the stairs, a baby’s sleepy whimper, caught the odor of sulfur as someone lit a match.
Roshan tensed as hands took hold of his arm.
“Keep him steady,” Serafina said.
He felt a sharp jab as she plunged a needle into his arm, smelled his own blood as it filled the syringe.
“Now the girl, and then the baby,” Serafina said.
Roshan heard Cara gasp as Serafina drew her blood. The baby made no sound at all. He wondered if it was still alive.
“Take the brat back to the lab,” Serafina said.
He listened to the sound of Anton’s footsteps walking away, heard the woman muttering to herself as she paced the floor. A short time later, he heard Anton return.
Roshan tugged against his bonds again, but the silver was already doing its work, sapping his physical strength, weakening his preternatural powers, burning his skin everywhere it touched. If only he could see what was happening!
As if in answer to his unspoken wish, Anton removed the hood.
Roshan glanced to his right where Cara was bound to a metal table. Blood dripped from her arm. The scent of it enflamed his preternatural senses even as it stirred his hunger.
He turned his head to the left and Anton and Serafina came into view. For the first time, he saw the stone crypt in the corner.
Was it for his daughter, he wondered bleakly, or for himself?
Chapter 31
Vince glanced at his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. Eight-thirty. He swore under his breath, wondering if the damn thing had stopped.
He stared into his empty glass, thinking he hadn’t been this nervous about seeing a girl since he was sixteen years old and had a crush on Amy Broderson.
He thought about Cara and realized he didn’t have the vaguest idea of what he was going to say when he saw her again. He supposed groveling would be in order. And confession. It was supposed to be good for the soul, though he wasn’t sure he possessed one anymore.
So, what should he say to her? Cara, I’m sorry I left without saying good-bye. I was a fool. I love you. And oh, by the way, your dad was right. I’m a vampire.
Blowing out a sigh, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Soon after leaving town, he had gone home to visit his family. He hadn’t seen his folks in over a year, and he’d wondered if they would notice the change in him. He’d shown up on a Sunday evening, making sure he arrived well after dinner and dessert. Even then, his mother had offered him cake and coffee, which he had politely refused, insisting he’d stopped for dinner on the road.
It had been good to see his folks again, to feel the love of his mom and dad, his sister and his brothers and sisters-in-law, to play with his nieces and nephews, and to catch up on their lives. His sister, Eve, was pregnant with twins. Once he’d gotten caught up on what they’d been doing, they wanted to hear about him, curious to know how he was doing, and if he had met anyone.