Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael 3)

"Yeah, but I'd intended it to be quick. You'll have no such luxury if you've hurt either one of them."

"I haven't hurt them. Just played with them a little." Liar, liar ... God, she hoped Michael was still alive—surely she would have felt it if he'd died? He was a part of her, she a part of him. The two of them were bound together forever, so surely she would feel his passing ... and the very fact she wasn't sure scared the hell out of her. Farmer had already gone back on his word once. There was nothing to say he hadn't done it twice.

"Let them go."

He gave her a Cheshire cat sort of smile. “Have you chosen?" She crossed her arms. There was only one choice now, but he wasn't to know she was aware of that.

“No. And I have no intention of doing so."

"Then they both die."

"No!"

"Then choose.">As the rasp of his breath eased, sounds encroached. The gentle roar of traffic mixed with the pounding of waves. Beyond that, the trumpeting of an elephant. He blinked. Was there a zoo in San Francisco, or was he imagining things?

He hoped it was the former rather than the latter. A zoo would be the perfect place to sate his hunger without endangering anyone—or anything. And while an elephant's hide was far too tough for his teeth to pierce, a zoo would undoubtedly have giraffes or bison or even zebras. The trembling eased. He found the sewer cover and slipped it back into place, then sniffed the night air, searching for the scent of hay, dung and animals. It came from up ahead. He looped the chain into his hand and staggered forward.

Farmer would undoubtedly come looking for him. He had to revive his system, had to be alert and free of these chains. Had to be ready to fight and kill the fiend. Before Nikki came to do it for him. Nikki. He longed to call her, let her know he was okay and free. But he couldn't. Until Seline's charm arrived, Farmer was still connected to her. If he called, she'd undoubtedly come rushing to help him—and lead Farmer straight to them both.

Besides, calling her to his rescue would be far too dangerous. In his current condition he doubted if he'd be able to resist the lure of her blood. She was the first human he'd tasted in well over a hundred years, and while he had the urge to drink from her well under control in normal circumstances, not enough time had slipped by yet to make him forget the taste. If she found him like this, he'd kill her. He had no doubt of that.

Maybe that was what Farmer had been intending. Maybe that was why they'd fed off that woman in his presence—to work his need into a fever pitch so he'd attack when the slightest chance came. He shuffled on, his steps becoming shorter as his weakness grew. A huge fence came into sight. He found a gate but could sense no guards, though he knew, logically, they'd have to be here somewhere. He raised a hand and dredged up kinetic energy from God knew where. The gates flew open, and he entered, finding himself in a courtyard. A type of shop lay just ahead, and other smaller buildings to his left, containing smaller animals if the patter of their hearts was anything to go by. He switched to the infrared of his vampire vision. And saw the alarm on the gate. Security would undoubtedly be on their way.

He swore softly and blurred into night. And not a moment too soon. Twin beams of lights cut across the darkness, and with it came the red blur of human heat.

His canines lengthened in anticipation. His body was so desperate for blood it was getting ready to feed on anything—and if he wasn't very careful, that's exactly what would happen. Swearing softly again, he retreated in search of zebra.

* * * *

Nikki climbed out of the car. For a minute, everything whirled and her knees felt like water. She grabbed the door for support and took several deep breaths. The sensation slithered away, but unease rose in its place. The strange old blind woman had suggested that she and Michael were capable of sharing energy. Was he so badly hurt he was beginning to siphon her reserves?

God, she hoped not. She couldn't survive losing him.

She took another deep breath then turned to study the building in front of her. Though it made no sense, the sensations emanating from the bra were coming from an empty shop in the middle of a busy shopping strip.

Why would Farmer choose a place like this? It wasn't what she'd call safe, particularly if his victim tried to scream....

Mary had tried to scream. No sound had come out—maybe because her voice was lost to the horror of her situation. Nikki's stomach churned, and a chill crept down her spine. She didn't want to think about that chill. Didn't want to think about the instinct that suggested there could be other reasons why Mary hadn't screamed.

Jake told the driver to wait then joined her on the sidewalk. “This the place?" She rubbed her arms. She didn't want to go inside. Didn't want to find what she suspected she might find. Tears stung her eyes, but she tried to ignore them. “Yes."

"Not exactly what I expected."

"No."

She looked to her left then right. No one sitting at the nearby café tables was paying any particular attention. And they wouldn't, as long as both of them looked as if they had every right to be here. She strode up to the door and raised her hand, as if inserting a key. Instead, she pushed kinetically at the lock and opened the door.

She stepped through but stopped just inside the doorway, listening to the silence. Searching the darkness with her psychic senses, trying to find the scent of evil. Farmer wasn't here at the moment. Jake closed the door behind them then flicked on the flashlight. The bright light cut across the shadows, highlighting old bits of furniture and lots of dust. “Where do we go?"

"Up. She was chained to a bed, and the darkness had an airy feel. It certainly wasn't a basement or anything like that."

"There's some comfort in that, I guess."

It was no comfort—not to Mary, not to her and certainly not to him, if the crack in his voice was anything to go by. She walked to the other end of the narrow shop and found a set of stairs behind a half wall. Jake handed her a flashlight, and she shone the light upwards. Nothing but shadows and cobwebs. If Mary was up there, she was making no sound.

Because she couldn't...

Bile rose in Nikki's throat. She swallowed heavily and edged up the stairs, pausing between each step, listening to the silence and testing the air for the approach of evil. Three steps from the landing she paused and carefully peered through the railings. The room beyond was dark and quiet. No sound of breathing. No sound of life.