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  Keeping my eyes locked on his, I said: “I don’t answer to you.”

  He laughed. “I’m sorry,” he sneered, gazing up at the ceiling as if to think deep thoughts. “Let me see…how do I explain this.” He looked at me directly. “I am in charge. I took my seat on the Quatre two years ago, which is why we haven’t met, but I’m familiar with your previous meeting...how many years ago was it? I know you vampires easily forget those things, but it hasn’t been that long. My name is Pedro Soto. There’s no need for you to introduce yourself. I already know everything.”

  If my skin had color it would’ve drained away right then. Why was I still alive? You don’t threaten the life of one of the board and live to tell about it.

  “Tsk, tsk Verloren.” He shook his head. “If you’d given her to us everything would be fine. Instead you royally fucked up.”

  “You don’t understand,” I said. It was a statement rather than the start of a plea.

  “I do understand.” He pointed to the bedroom, raising an eyebrow. “You can’t cover that up. It’s bad enough with you running around in the open. Then you go and create this…thing that can’t even go out in public.”

  “She is not a thing,” I growled.

  “We’ll see about that. Sara won’t be happy.” He got up and headed for the cockpit.

  Sara…the thought of her gave me a chill, and sent a storm of images through my mind. Then the episode was over. I had grown accustomed to the unknowable flashes. I ignored them, concentrating on questions that mattered. Why would Sara be unhappy? Wouldn’t Kale be more likely to be the angry one? But when it came to changing incarnates, he had little room to talk. Look what he’d done to me. If we were going to die, I hoped I’d have a shot at Kale before it happened.

  Over 10 years had passed since my meeting with the Quatre. Sara would be almost grown by now. Was that a good thing? Obviously she still loomed large in everyone’s considerations. That’s why Pedro had mentioned her.

  *********

  We landed at another small airport. Ash wore her modified jeans and T-shirt. She knelt on a recliner as she looked out the window. People outside refueled the plane.

  Her wings were spread and her tail twitched with excitement. Sun shone on her face. I was glad that the sun did not hurt her eyes like it did mine.

  Our hosts stopped in the doorway, and Pedro gave her a disgusted glare, shaking his head. The blond stared at her, fascinated. She gave him a coy smile, showing her fangs.

  As they turned to leave Pedro looked at me, and said: “We will be back shortly with a meal for you.” He glanced at her.

  I’ll need one too, she thought.

  “What?” Pedro stared at her.

  “That’s right,” I said. “She can read your mind, and, if she lets you, you can read hers.” Suddenly I recalled how that ability had driven Jason crazy. I missed the guy, even though I knew his smart-ass mouth would have gotten us all killed before we even boarded the plane.

  Pedro stomped off the plane.

  She laughed. He doesn’t like that at all.

  Ah, who cares? I thought. Who is he anyhow?

  One of the Quatre. She nodded coldly, and told me what she’d learned from reading them: Sara wants to kill me and eat my heart. She wants to manipulate all four elements.

  “Which one are you?” I asked her aloud.

  “They think I’m fire, but now that I’m a mixed breed, that might complicate things. Pedro is afraid of Sara, and what she’ll do when she learns the truth. They’re all terrified of her. They think she’s a royal bitch.” She looked out the window.

  “You’ve never tried to use your element,” I told her.

  “I don’t know how to work it. I don’t think it will work now.” She sighed and laid her head back. “My wings either. I haven’t tried to fly at all.”

  “You’re much stronger than all of them,” I said. “The downfall of the dragons was their compassion. They wouldn’t stand up for themselves. In other words…they were lovers not fighters.”

  ”Is that why they are attracted to me?”

  “Yes. It radiates off of you. All you have to do is look at them and will them to you. Remember, that magnetism is a part of what you are now. You could have anyone in the world with a glance. But I also want you to remember that you have your soul mate.”

  For a moment she seemed embarrassed, then she straightened up in her chair, and was all business. “Um… Sara has promised Pedro and Kale that after she has taken on the four elements, they will be allowed to hunt more dragons. She’s promising to find each of them his own set of four elements.”

  “She would never do that,” I said. “She’d kill them first. Sara wants total rule.” I knelt down, and laid my head in her lap.

  She stroked my hair. “She’ll get one hell of a surprise.”

  A few minutes later Pedro boarded the plane. As he came in the portal he wore an evil grin, but as soon as he saw us he got angry.

  “You’ll have to quiet them down when they get in here,” he snapped. “They’ll flip out when they see that.” He pointed at Ash.

  I heard them outside: two girls talking to the blond in broken English. I peeked out at them: two tanned brunettes in short dresses and high heels: top-dollar call girls. I aimed my thoughts at them. They froze, turned and boarded the plane. The blond followed, keeping his eyes on me.

  Once they were in the living area I directed them to the sectional couch. They both sat, staring straight ahead. The blond closed the door. Pedro watched.

  I gave Ash my hand as she rose and stood beside me. She put her hands in her back pockets, scrunching her wings behind her. The human girls’ eyes betrayed their fear, but they said and did nothing.

  Ash whispered to me: “They are both very beautiful.”

  “Ladies pick first.” I bowed to her and waved my hand toward the women.

  She went to the first girl, grabbed her chin, and turned it. Ash lowered her head to the woman’s collarbone and inhaled as she ran her nose up to the woman’s ear. Ash stopped abruptly and huffed, then glared up at the blond. It was obvious what he was thinking. “Men...” she muttered. She tilted the woman’s head, and bit into her neck. The woman’s mouth opened in a silent scream.

  I stepped forward and grabbed the woman’s wrist, pulling her aura. The woman fell slack in Ash’s grip. Ash continued to feed until there was nothing left. She leaned back and licked her lips. The woman dropped to the floor.

  The blond picked up the body, took it to the bathroom, and shut the door. Ash smiled at me. I looked to Pedro, who wore an indifferent expression. “Wait until he is done before you do the next one.”

  Ash returned to the recliner. I sat beside my meal. I could see the terror in the woman’s eyes. She’d seen what happened to her friend. Pedro stood over us as we waited in awkward silence. Finally the blond reappeared. I looked at Pedro and he nodded.

  I turned the girl’s face from me and bit hard into her neck. I pulled her aura slowly and her blood quickly. I felt movement around us but paid no attention. I heard Ash make a disgusted sound. A hand fell on my shoulder. It was Pedro.

  “Don’t finish her off,” he hissed. “I like mine still kicking.”

  I withdrew, and saw blood seep down her neck. Her breathing was labored and her eyes were wide and glassy. Pedro bent to scoop her up.

  “Thanks.” He flashed a devious smile and carried the girl into the bathroom. Before Pedro closed the door I saw the woman’s face. She was lost in death’s fear. I let go of her mind and a gurgling escaped her throat.

  Ash aimed a thought at me. He is going to rape her and then eat her while she is still alive. She crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes, disgusted.

  I was glad that only she could hear my thoughts. It’s no different than what we do.

  She shook her head in disagreement.

  I went on: Ash, there’s only one way for you to become a part of the Quatre. You have to be ruthless, uncaring, and a terror. Now
you know what we are dealing with. They care for nothing but themselves.

  Why are they even bothering to feed us? She asked.

  These two want to refuel, I thought. It’s less messy for them when there isn’t any blood. They’re not doing it for us.

  We listened to the dying cries from the bathroom. Pedro finally finished his meal and we were on our way.

  Chapter 18

  FOLLOW ME

  As we made our final descent I looked out to see a landscape covered in snow. Only the runway was clear. The sunlight reflecting off the snow blinded me, hurting my eyes. Everywhere there were mountains and trees. Jagged rocks poked through the white surface, and under different circumstances the scene might have been beautiful.

  As the plane rolled to a halt we kept our seats. I still had my mental wall up, if only to protect Ash. Do they let everyone wait in agony this way? I wondered. The blond sat across from us on the sectional. The silence was deafening.

  Ash was first to break it. “Where are we?”

  “Ural Mountains,” he said. “Siberia.”

  Pedro differed from his predecessor. He was young, able (he’d landed the plane himself), and not afraid to get his hands dirty.

  Suddenly, as if on cue, the blond got up and opened the exit portal. Pedro came from the front of the plane, eyeing us with contempt. Maybe it was the bright light, but now Pedro seemed older, possibly early thirties.

  “All right, people,” he said, “let’s get this over with.”

  Seeing Ash stand up brought a smile to my lips. She wore a black gypsy dress with an opening for her wings. What amused me was her choice of footwear: combat boots.

  She folded her wings as I helped her get her trench coat on. She grabbed the front of my jacket and kissed me lightly on the lips.

  “No more of that!” Pedro snapped, pushing us down the steps. “Knock it off and get moving!”

  The two men ushered us into a large black Denali. The blond drove. Pedro put me in the passenger seat, then pushed Ash into the back seat ahead of him. When I saw that push I gave an abbreviated growl.

  Ash’s thoughts filled my head. I’m okay. He just wants to get you pissed off. He’s been arguing with Kale about who gets to kill you. They plan to make a game of it. Both of them like their meals ‘kicking’.

  There was no delay in our departure. The blond drove quickly along snow-lined roads.

  Jessica showed me that, I thought. Kale takes pleasure in not subduing his victims first. At least I make it quick and as painless as possible. He gets off on showing them how weak they are. He’s a sick asshole who loves to hear screams and pleading. That’s one reason why they don’t want a dragon in charge. They don’t want anyone to get between them and their victims. They want control of everything, and they hate anyone who has free will.

  What about Hania? Ash asked. I haven’t seen anything about him from these two.

  Hania is believed to be one of the oldest born knowings. He is a shaman and he’s the only one of the four that I respect. He sits quietly, says little, and only objects when he absolutely has to. He’s older physically too. He must be close to seventy in human years.

  We rolled over the hills on snow-covered roads, sure that our end was near.

  ********

  We turned off the road and drove through thick woods. Finally we came to a clearing. On the opposite side there was an opening carved in the mountain. The blond drove the Denali into the darkness where we parked and got out of the car.

  The blond spoke: “Follow me.”

  I grabbed Ash’s icy hand, while Pedro followed behind us. The blond led us down a long tunnel to a large metal door. Ash tensed as he opened it.

  When I saw what was waiting on the other side I had to stifle a laugh. The room was small. Two dark green couches lined two walls. In the middle sat a large wooden coffee table with books scattered everywhere. Two generic landscape paintings hung on white walls. It looked like the waiting room for a doctor’s office.

  Pedro followed us in and locked the door behind him. Two hand-carved French doors led to whatever was beyond. The blond said: “Stay here. Someone will be back for you.” He and Pedro went through the doors, then we heard the click of locks.

  We were locked in. I eyed the doors, certain that Ash could break through them, but I had no idea what would follow. I felt a pang of panic, but Ash was fine.

  “Well,” she said, “we are finally alone.” She smiled seductively and raised an eyebrow.

  “Is that all you ever think about?” I asked.

  I helped her take her coat off and she darted around the room noiselessly. I could not help but stare at her. With almost no effort she’d acquired all the skills of stealth. She never made a sound. There in the waiting room she was only admiring the paintings, but she could’ve snuck up on any vampire, without their even knowing it. She was beautiful, sexy, and her thoughts ran to seduction. She lit a fire in me, though I did my best to resist her.

  “Why do you do that?” I asked. “This isn’t the time or place. These bastards want to kill us.”

  “Sorry,” she muttered. She sat on the edge of the sofa, adjusting her wings and tail for comfort.

  It was amazing how quickly she had taken to her new form. Fitting her movements to her new form was already second nature, as easy as breathing.

  I sat beside her and held her hand. She cocked her head, listening. They’re not far, she thought. Just beyond these doors. They’re talking about me. One of them is coming. She paused, and looked at me confused. I thought you said Sara was my age.

  “Yeah…maybe 19,” I said.

  Just then we heard the lock click. The French doors opened and the blond man reappeared. “Come with me,” he said listlessly.

  We followed him down a long white-gold hallway lined with tables holding vases full of white lilies. We reached another set of French doors, white with gold inlay. I reached for Ash’s cool hand and gripped it. She tightened her grasp on my fingers to the point of pain

  She smiled. Everything is going to be okay. You are going to have a lot more respect for Hania in a bit.

  Why? What’s going…

  No time to explain, just trust me and stay back.

  What do you mean stay back? Ash, don’t do anything stupid! My mind was moving frantically, but Ash just smiled. I pulled her arm to make her stop, but she hardly felt it. Finally I accepted the inevitable, and let her drag me along.

  The blond threw open the doors, stood to one side, and bowed mockingly. We proceeded into the dimly lit room. Once we got inside, he closed the doors behind us, and we heard the click of a lock.

  It was a large wood-paneled room with a smell that reminded me of old books in a library. The furniture was centered around a huge fireplace encased in marble. A fire roared. On each side of the hearth were floor-to-ceiling bookcases.

  Four large leather chairs created a half circle.

  We were not alone long.

  Chapter 19

  CHARRED REMAINS

  The next part was straight out of Hollywood. A bookcase slid back, revealing a secret passage into total darkness.

  Pedro appeared dressed as before, in plain street clothes. As he sat down he seemed to be stifling laughter. He barely acknowledged us.

  Following him was Kale. The moment I saw him I let loose an involuntary growl. Instinctively I crouched. Ash pulled at me, and I straightened up.

  It’s okay, she soothed me.

  I couldn’t control my low growl, but I didn’t move. Kale hadn’t changed. His yellow-white hair still fell to his waist, and he still wore a black suit on his lean frame. His face, like his body, was slender, and his eerie blue eyes held the story of his long life. His expression said that he knew something he would never share. When he smirked at Ash my whole body trembled with rage.

  Kale sat next to Pedro, and they stared at us, glancing at one another as if to share an inside joke.

  Ash directed a thought exclusively at me: You’re right.
Those guys are assholes.

  Hania entered, wearing a long brown cloak. The deep creases in his face gave away his age. His golden brown skin told of his Native American heritage. He had the same dark brown eyes, but they now seemed weary. His long black hair was more peppered with grey, and his magic staff might now be doubling as a support for his unsteady gait. When I’d seen him last he hadn’t needed a staff for magic or walking. Hania was suffering from the weariness of age. He sat, and stared at the floor. It was as if his spirit had been broken.

  I felt Ash’s body tense and release at the sight of Hania. I was sure she and the old man were having an unspoken conversation. I tried to break Ash’s wall, but she was far too strong.

  Then Sara appeared. My growling ceased as my anger turned to shock. She hadn’t aged. In 10 years Sara had grown only slightly. She was still a fair-skinned child with light blonde hair and blue eyes. Her iridescent wings were translucent, and hardly visible. Her face had the same childish roundness. She wore a white dress. A human would’ve noticed something odd about her motions. She was as lithe and graceful as a ballerina, which seemed strange in such an immature body. She was more than a child, more than human and more than incarnate. She took her seat and grinned, showing her true self. How could someone so lovely be filled with so much evil and greed?

  I felt numb from the sudden shock of seeing Sara. Ash kept her eyes locked on Hania.

  Sara‘s tinkling voice matched her child-like looks. To me it was like crystal breaking. “Verloren what are we going to do with you?” she said. “I couldn’t believe it when Pedro told me how you’d fucked up again.”

  I laughed, feeling as if I had nothing left to lose. “You have to excuse me Sara, but such harsh words from such a little girl…you must tell me how you maintain such a youthful appearance.”