Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael 2)

I think one of them broke every finger on my hand, but other than that, yeah, I'm fine. You?

They were only fledglings. No match, I'm afraid.

What do we do now? They couldn't leave the young vamps here, or whoever had turned them would know for certain that someone had been down here. Until they found Matthew, Rachel, and Rodeman, they really couldn't risk that.

The mere fact that they are missing will alert the person who turned them. His mind voice was terse. She wondered why. True. But it might also give us a little more time. He was the one who'd told her the newly turned were unstable. Maybe their maker would just think they were off hunting somewhere. We have no other option, Michael. No. He hesitated. Let's see how far away the other entrance is. Though it is nearing dusk, there's still enough strength left in the sun to destroy these youngsters. He ran his hand down her arm and captured her fingers. She followed him through the darkness again. After a few minutes, the blanket began to rise, revealing the rough brown stone of the walls and floor. The air became fresher, rich with flowery scents. They turned a corner, and the wall opened up. She'd never been more relieved to see blue sky in her life.

The meadow below them was a sea of colorful wildflowers that swayed lightly in the breeze. To their left, a path curled around the rock face and disappeared. To their right, a drop of about forty feet to the meadow. She looked over the edge. Only rocks to cushion a fall. The ledge crumbled a little under her weight, showering the rocks below with dust.

"Not too near the edge,” Michael warned, tugging her away. She glanced at him. His expression was grim, and he had a cut just above his left eye. Blood trickled down his cheek.

"You're hurt.” She dug a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed carefully at the wound.

"I'm fine.” He brushed her hand away almost impatiently.

She raised her eyebrows at his tone. There was a bleak light in his eyes, and tension flowed through the color of his thoughts. Fear stirred anew. “What's wrong?"

"Nothing.” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. A sure sign there was a problem. “Stay here while I go fetch the bodies."

He disappeared into the tunnel. She crossed her arms and glared at his back. Something had happened in there, something beyond the vamps attacking them, and it was obvious he had no intention of telling her what.

Damn, he could be frustrating sometimes. She snorted softly. Most of the time, really. If she didn't love him so much, she'd probably kill him.

Sighing slightly, she rested her back against the rock face. The sun trailed warmth across her skin, and she closed her eyes, raising her face in appreciation. Why would anyone give this up for eternal darkness? Even Michael, who was over three hundred and sixty years old, couldn't stand the touch of the sun the entire day.

Yet at least he could walk in sunlight. How long had it taken him? And was there ever a point where a vampire could walk in the noonday sun and survive?

Michael reappeared, carrying the bodies of the two young vampires. They began to smoke the minute the sunshine hit them. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see any more. But it was hard to ignore the smell of burning flesh. Harder still to ignore the images of another time, another teenager, burned to death by the warmth of the waning afternoon sun.

He returned a few minutes later with the remaining two bodies. Smoke plumed skyward, tainting the clear skies.

"People will investigate that,” she said. Yet even as she watched, the breeze dissipated the smoke so that it was little more than a yellow stain.

"By the time anyone of importance gets here, there will be nothing to find. The rocks will not hold a pyre's stain like earth will. Ready to go back?"

"We're not continuing our search for Matthew?” she asked in surprise.

"We can't take the risk now that we've sprung that alarm.” His voice was absent, his attention on the path.

What fascinated him so? Did he sense someone coming? She bit her lip, searching the rocks above them. She could hear distant laughter, and the high pitched squeal of a child, so the hotel wasn't that far away. Yet she could hear or sense nothing close.>"Really? That's odd, isn't it? From the quick look I had coming in, they seem pretty well-stocked on books about the area's history and stuff."

He shrugged. “Maybe someone removed them. I checked the computer records, though, and there's no mention there, either."

"Computer records can be altered easily enough.” Especially when you had a computer nerd like Matthew on hand. Though admittedly, he'd probably been kidnapped for projects loftier than hacking into a library cataloguing system.

She looked around. The old couple sitting close by weren't paying them any attention, but she lowered her voice anyway, just to be safe. “You feel like going for a walk? I've got Matthew's watch in my pocket."

Michael raised his eyebrows. “He's here? In the resort?"

She nodded. “Somewhere."

He glanced at his watch. “Most people will be heading to the restaurant for dinner soon. It's either now, or later tonight."

"Now. And we'd better start hunting around for Rodeman, as well. Ginger said the man who binds them had him in the darkness."

"Whatever that means.” He rose and caught her hand, entwining his fingers through hers. “Shall we go for a walk, my love?"

Though she knew he spoke for the benefit of the nearby couple, the endearment still warmed her heart. They strolled into the lobby. She put her free hand into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the watch. Images skated through her mind. She only had to focus slightly, and she would be with Matthew. A tremor ran through her. Why was this happening? What was it about Matthew that linked her so strongly?