who had come to her aid had something else about them that defined them, something that wasn’t human or civilized. They were more animal, but cunningly intelligent and so experienced in battle it was frightening.
Sielamet. You must rest now. They healed you, but you are exhausted. Blaze will see to Liv and the other children. She’ll talk to Genevieve so she’ll know to look after Lourdes for a couple of nights. When you wake, I’ll be with you.
This was the hard part. She’d accepted the conversion and all that came with it. She’d embraced being Carpathian, but . . . There was this. Sleeping in the soil. She had to admit, it felt comforting, even soothing, but it wasn’t over her face.
Reading her need for a few moments’ delay so she could come to terms with sleeping in soil, Tariq changed the subject. “Emeline wanted Liv to see what she faced. She also wanted her to have confidence in the fact that the Carpathians would be there for her when she needed them.”
“That’s true.” Charlotte snuggled closer to him. She was tired. Exhausted. She trusted him to make certain she didn’t feel as if she were buried alive.
“I just wonder how Emeline can have faith in us for the others, but not for herself.”
“I think she just needs time.” Charlotte kissed his throat and closed her eyes. “I do need to sleep, Tariq. Just don’t let me wake still under the soil.”
“Of course, sielamet. I have you. Always.”
17
Deep beneath the soil, under the basement of the huge Victorian mansion, Tariq’s eyes snapped open and he willed the earth to open above him and took his first breath. Charlotte was in his arms, and as he gave a thought to be thankful she was asleep, she stirred. Her eyes opened, and he could see the panic in them.
I can’t move.
It is the paralysis of our kind. The sun is still high. We cannot move during these hours. While giving her the explanation, he was already assessing the reason he’d been awakened before the sun had set.
Her heart went wild. Seriously, Tariq, I can’t move at all.
Tariq scanned the compound. Let your heart follow the rhythm of mine. Relax. Ordinarily we sleep during this time. I’m surprised you awakened. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He should have expected that anything to do with the children would draw her attention.
That stopped her panic. What’s wrong? Why did I wake up?
Feel the compound above us. Let your mind expand to encompass all of it. You want to look above and below the compound as well. Always when you awaken you must do that. It allows you to feel if an enemy is near. In this case, you should find . . .
Liv. She’s by herself, walking away from her house. What is she doing? Fear crept into Charlotte’s voice.
Deep inside, he had to admit, he felt that same fear, but he refused to allow her to see or feel it. Liv was fragile. Too fragile. He worried she would harm herself. He should have considered converting her the same night he converted Charlotte. He’d been so concerned they’d harm the children, that the pain would be too great for them, but they’d found the way to do it. He just had lingering doubts. They were children. Still . . .
He touched Liv’s mind. She was sound asleep. He wasn’t in the least surprised at that; she often walked in her sleep.
I’ll show you. I built a command center down here in the event this place was ever attacked during the day when I couldn’t defend it as well.
But we can’t move. Not a muscle.
It can be done with patience and practice. I had many years to figure out how to do this. I have lived in the human world for centuries. I’ve had to adapt to modern ways and think in terms of modern warfare.
He waved his hand without moving his arm and a console appeared low, on his right side. Overhead, a bank of screens lit with an eerie glow. The entire compound, every house, the fence lines, the shore, all of it appeared on various screens. Liv walked slowly, steadily, one foot in front of the other, away from the houses and toward the gate.
Donald. Mary. Liv is up again. Tariq sent the call, certain they were already on the move, prepared for Liv’s daytime escapades. The couple was always ready to intercept her when she sleepwalked and get her back to