“I’m afraid so.”
So, that was it. One way or another, he was destined to spend at least part of his life as a monster.
“It might not be so bad,” Pearl said. “After all, werewolves are human most of the time. They can walk in the sun. They can have children, eat mortal food, and lead reasonably normal lives.”
“Yeah. Except when the moon is full.”
On the way home, Derek stopped at an all-night market and bought a pound of raw hamburger.
He stared at the package a moment, then ripped off the paper and swallowed a handful of bloody meat.
And sighed with pleasure.
Mara smelled the raw meat on Derek’s breath the minute he entered the house, but wisely said nothing.
“You’ve been with the old ladies,” Logan remarked.
Derek nodded. “Edna took some of my blood. She says the gene seems to be active.”
Mara’s pale face grew ashen. “What can we do?”
“There’s nothing to do until it happens. No way to predict whether I’ll turn into a werewolf and stay that way, although Edna thinks it’s likely.”
“A werewolf,” Mara murmured, her deep green eyes reflecting her horror.
“Is there someplace where you can lock me up?”
Logan and Mara exchanged glances.
“It’s the only place that will hold him,” Logan said.
“What place?” Derek asked.
“Your mother has an old castle high in the mountains of Transylvania. It’s been closed for centuries. The land is overgrown. Like all old castles, it has a dungeon in the basement.”
“Take me there.”
Mara looked uncertain.
“It’s the best place for him,” Logan said, “even if we decide not to lock him up. There aren’t any people for miles, nothing but forest and wild animals.”
“Great,” Derek muttered. “I’ll fit right in.”
“I’ll go tomorrow morning and prepare our rooms,” Mara decided. “You and Logan follow me as soon as the sun sets tomorrow night.”
Derek nodded. What would he be when he saw Sheree again? Vampire or werewolf?
Or both?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sheree spent a restless night. It took her hours to get to sleep, and when she did, her dreams were filled with frightful images of werewolves and vampires ripping each other to shreds or attacking everything in sight, including her.
The sound of someone knocking on the door woke her just after seven A.M. After slipping into her robe, Sheree hurried downstairs. She wished fleetingly that it was Derek, but, of course, at this time of the morning, it wasn’t likely.
Wondering who would come calling at this hour, she unlocked the door but left the security chain in place. “Mara!”
“Have I come too early?”
“Oh, no, not at all,” she said, removing the security chain. “Please, come in.”
Mara swept into the room like a queen granting favors.
“Is something wrong? Is Derek all right?”
“Everything’s fine. I was wondering if you’d like to take a trip with me.”
“A trip?” Sheree toyed with the collar of her robe. “Where are you going?”
“Romania.”
Just the word conjured images of ancient castles and brooding vampires.
“You’ll love it. It’s a beautiful place.”
“I . . .” Sheree blinked. Romania! “I don’t know.”
Mara’s gaze met hers. “Please say you’ll come.”
Remembering Derek’s warning not to stare into a vampire’s eyes, Sheree quickly looked away. “Will Derek be there?”
“Of course. He’s the reason we’re going. You’ve nothing to fear,” Mara assured her. “I will not let anything happen to you.”
“My passport’s in Philadelphia.”
Mara laughed softly. “You won’t need it.”
An hour later, Sheree had showered, dressed, and packed a bag. Her wooden stake was at the bottom, under her nightgown.
“Are you ready?” Mara asked, her tone impatient.
Sheree glanced around, making sure everything was closed and locked. “Yes, I guess so.”
“Then take my hand and we’ll be off.”
“Why?” Sheree asked, suddenly reluctant to touch the vampire.
Mara caught Sheree’s hand in hers. “Because we’re traveling by Air Vampire.”
Before Sheree could ask what that meant, she felt herself being lifted from the ground. She closed her eyes as a strange buzzing filled her ears, along with the sense of traveling through space at inhuman speed. Nausea roiled in the pit of her stomach.
Just when she thought she might pass out, the world righted itself. Opening her eyes, she found herself standing in the middle of a large room.
Mara smiled at her. “Welcome to Transylvania. Feel free to look around while I prepare our rooms. Here, let me take your bag. You’ll be in the first room on the left at the top of the stairs.”
Feeling disoriented and a little dizzy, Sheree handed over her suitcase; then, standing in the middle of the great hall, she did a slow turn. The walls were made of gray stone. The leaded windows, set high, were mere slits. She was surprised to see that it was dark outside and wondered briefly what the time difference was between California and Romania.
A fireplace that would comfortably hold a horse and rider took up most of one wall. The mantel was so high, she couldn’t reach it. A number of medieval weapons hung above the fireplace. The furniture, scattered in groups around the room, was made of dark, heavy wood; the chairs and sofas were covered in dark red damask. A suit of armor stood in one corner. Large rugs covered the floor; tapestries hung from the walls.
Several doors led to other rooms. Some were vacant; one was a kitchen outfitted with another large fireplace, probably used for cooking in times past. A high wooden table stood in the middle of the floor. Judging by the stains on it, she guessed it had been used for cutting and chopping rather than dining. A rack near the fireplace held a variety of odd-looking utensils and several large iron pots.
A narrow, winding staircase led to the upper floors.
She was debating whether to go up or not when Mara descended the stairs.
“The beds are made,” she said, brushing her hands on her skirt. “Your clothes are in the wardrobe. Are you hungry?”
“Yes, a little.”
“There’s a village at the foot of the mountain. We can get you something to eat there. Logan will stop for provisions before he leaves home.”