Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael 3)

She glanced at Harris as the older man looked set to protest. “I'll return it, of course." He shut his mouth and nodded. She looked away, disgusted. God, what did he think she was going to do? Run away with the stupid thing? How idiotic would that be, especially when she was going to be surrounded by Feds and cops?

There's no entrance into the room with the water heater, Michael said. Though I'd bet the plumber was a vampire.

"Miss James, are you able to try locating the tunnel for us now?"

"Yeah, sure.” She pushed away from the sink and headed into the living room to retrieve the plastic bag she'd dropped earlier. Michael? What are you going to do?

I think I saw a sewer grate just up the street. When you go outside, lift the lid. I'll dive into the sewers and try to navigate my way to wherever you end up.

What about the police?

I'll move too fast for them to see me.

And the sun?

He hesitated . You'll have to treat me gently tonight. I'll be sunburned. What about using sun block?

Sun block?

Yeah, you know, that greasy white stuff we human's smear all over our skin to prevent sunburn. Harris is bound to have some in his bathroom.

I'm on my way to check.

She smiled. You mean to say that in over three hundred years of existence, you've never thought to use sun block?

Sun block has not been around for three hundred years.

Well, no, but it's got to have been around for at least fifty. I would have thought you'd have experimented by now.

I've had no need to before now. Besides, running around in the sun to test the feasibility of sun block is not something I'm inclined to risk without reason. Couldn't argue with that logic, she supposed. She picked up the bagged necklace and followed the suits out the door. She went down the steps slowly, studying the street either way. The sewer grate was several houses up to her right.

Power surged, tingling across her fingertips. One of the Feds took her arm, guiding her toward a car parked just down from the grate. You ready?

Yes.

The Fed opened the door. She climbed into the car and studied the grate through slightly narrowed eyes. As the two agents climbed into the car and started the engine, she reached out kinetically and lifted the grate. It was heavier than she's expected, and she had to reach for a little more energy. She slid the lid toward the shadows of the car in front of them.

Go.

Nothing happened for a heartbeat, then a shadow flowed into the sewer hole and disappeared. She slid the grate back into place quickly to ensure any stray beams of sunlight couldn't touch him in the sewer's darkness.

You okay? No answer came and fear stirred. Michael?

I'm okay.

His words were a sigh in her mind, and she closed her eyes in relief. Are you badly burned?

Not as burned as I could have been. The sun block did take some of the sting off the sun. But ... ?

But it's nearly eleven, Nikki. A deadly time for me, no matter how many layers I wear. Can you move? She'd been burned badly herself once or twice and knew how painful it could be. Yes. The vampires came down this way. I can smell the scent of their evil. So you should be able to find the tunnel easily enough?

Hopefully. I'll meet you there.

Don't go out in the sun again.

His smile spun through her mind, a liquid caress that stirred her senses and made her body ache. Never fear, my love. I have no intention of getting a tan deeper than the one I already have. She wrapped her fingers lightly around the necklace. “Head downtown,” she said. “Toward the Civic Center area."

They pulled away from the curb and joined the slow crawl of traffic. They were past the Federal building and closing in on Market Street by the time the necklace began to burn white-hot in her hand. “Pull over and stop,” she said.