Dark Carousel (Dark #30) - Christine Feehan Page 0,111

didn’t or couldn’t differentiate between Carpathians and vampires. They killed anyone they thought was a danger to them or to society. Often those killed were human beings, not another species. Sometimes, when on a killing spree, they managed to kill or harm Carpathians.

Daniel frowned and rubbed his temples, as if even that gentle push bothered him. “I never thought about it one way or the other. I belong to a group—and it’s large, with cells in every single country around the world—that hunts vampires. Are you referring to the hunters that belong to the society?”

Tariq shook his head. “The hunters would have to be nearly immortal, just as a vampire is. They would have to follow their prey from one century to the next looking for the undead. If that was the case, those hunters, like you, belonging to the society wouldn’t know the difference and would attack and kill the very men who have dedicated their lives to hunting vampires.”

Daniel stared at him for a long time. He cleared his throat. “Are you saying you know there are other hunters out there?”

Tariq didn’t answer the question. Instead he skirted the issue. “I’m saying that if there is one, there must be the other, and if you belong to the society, you should know that particular group, while started for a good purpose, does not discriminate before it chooses to make a kill. It has a bad reputation.”

Daniel blinked several times, trying to digest what Tariq was telling him. Tariq didn’t wait to see if his little chat did any good. “I can keep Charlotte and Genevieve safer than you can. You’re risking your lives trying to go up against Fridrick and his playmates. They have a small army and Fridrick is by no means the worst of them. Stay out of this.”

“They’ve killed. Brutally killed. They won’t stop until someone steps in. The law can’t get them. No one would believe us if we told them what Fridrick is.”

“I’m saying walk away and be glad you have your lives. You don’t want to be on their radar. They have spies, and they’re watching my property. If I knew you were here, then they know as well. Get out of the city and stay low for a while. Fridrick won’t follow you, because he wants Charlotte and Genevieve.”

For some insane reason, Tariq felt a kinship with Daniel Forester. The man sincerely believed in his cause and his cause was no different from Tariq’s.

“I can’t just walk away when I know that thing is targeting two innocent women.” Daniel looked around and then lowered his voice. “I think they’ve infiltrated our ranks as well. Some of the commands coming out of headquarters don’t make any sense.”

Tariq paused in the act of turning away from them. He’d intended to read their purpose and then leave them to their fate, but Forester and his friends were trying to save Charlotte’s life and that earned them a warning or two.

“They have,” he confirmed. “You can’t trust anyone at this point. And you can’t kill a vampire in the way of the movies. The heart has to be removed and incinerated. If you’re staking them and not following through, they can come back again and again.”

“How do you know that?” Daniel asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.

Tariq shrugged. “I like research. I spend a lot of time up at night because of the club. If I can’t sleep during the day, I research anything that interests me. Legends and myths interest me.” If they could lie, so could he, and his mixture of truth and fiction carried conviction. His tone was pitched perfectly for anyone hearing him to believe everything he said without a “push” to get them to listen.

“Wait,” Daniel called as Tariq turned away from them and began to walk back toward the compound.

Tariq shook his head. “I’m trying to help you out, Forester. It’s on you if you don’t choose to listen, but Fridrick’s spies will report back to him that you’re here. He’ll want to know why. He’ll kill you the moment he realizes you can’t help him acquire the women. And if he captures you and tries to use you as bait by torturing you, that won’t save you, either, because Charlotte and Genevieve will never know about it. I’ll see to that.”

Tariq would hate it. He’d seen the torture vampires inflicted on their victims. The more fear-based adrenaline in the blood, the higher the rush the vampire got. Tariq