One Immortal - Tia Louise Page 0,60
lower, on the fence.” She points to an ancient rail fence lining the property. “We had to move it so the cats couldn’t eat them.”
“Oh no!” I laugh. “Cats are such hunters.”
“Some people think they’re spirit guides.”
We come to a small concrete bench tucked in a sweet olive bush. I take a deep breath of the heavy perfume as we sit. “It’s beautiful here.”
We’re looking toward the house. Patrick and Elaine are walking among the flowers, holding hands and talking. He brushes her hair off her shoulder and threads a bright pink apple blossom behind her ear.
Mariska watches me. “How are you feeling around him now?”
I shrug. “I guess being outdoors helps. I don’t feel anything in particular.”
“I’ll make you a lemon verbena tea.”
Looking down, I lift the little vial I’d dropped around my neck before leaving the hotel. It joins the tiny gold heart at the base of my throat. I’m not sure I believe all these talismans, but after what I’ve been through, I’m willing to give anything a chance.
“Didn’t you say verbena root would fight vampire blood?”
“No.” She shakes her head, pressing her palms on the bench beside her. “The shifter blood does the fighting. Verbena just gives it an advantage. It’s a powerful plant.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Hmm…” As she thinks, her shoulders rise. She folds her hands, and I notice a swipe of blue on one of her fingers. She’s a painter. “It used to be called herba sacra, because legend said it stopped Christ’s bleeding on the cross.”
“So it’s a coagulant?”
“It dries up the blood.” Her head tilts, and she grins. “It’s also an aphrodisiac. And it cures kidney stones.”
I grin. “Is it also used for protection?”
“Most likely.” She walks over to a grey tabby cat and squats. The animal bangs its head against her leg, rubbing its whole body down her side. “Wild rose and mountain ash are also useful against vampires.”
“You know so much about these things.”
“I just grew up hearing about them all the time. I’ve never actually met anyone—” Her lip goes between her teeth as if she said too much.
“Anyone what?”
“I just meant… well, anyone like you.”
“Why are you embarrassed?”
Twisting her hands, she takes her seat beside me on the bench. “You’re a hybrid, which means you drank vampire blood. Why would you do that?”
Her question is just above a whisper, and I look down, measuring my response.
“I have my own marketing firm. He was one of my clients.” Putting my feet on the bench, I hug my arms around my knees remembering how normal it all seemed back then. “He was older, distinguished. He knew about fine wine and music.”
“You dated him?”
I rest my chin on the top of my knees. “It wasn’t very professional, getting involved with a client. I guess I thought I was falling in love with him.”
“Were you?”
Images of these last days with Derek fill my mind, and I answer fast. “No.”
She turns to face me. “So why did you do it?”
Lowering my feet I shrug. “He has a presence. It’s hard to explain, but it seems to heighten everything.”
“His glamour.” She nods as if the riddle is solved.
“Maybe,” I say, thinking. “Before the bite, he was the most enthralling thing I’d ever experienced. After, he was repellant to me. I detested him.”
“I see. He forced you.”
I look into her golden-hazel eyes. “How did you know?”
Her expression brightens. “I think you told me? Maybe it was Elaine. Regardless, that makes it so much more cruel.”
“It was very cruel. I ran as far from him as I could. Elaine helped me move back to Wilmington.” With a little shiver as if from a sudden chill, I look up at the overcast sky. “Still he finds me. His voice is with me everywhere.”
Scooting closer, Mariska wraps a slim arm around my shoulders. “You don’t have to run anymore. You’re here; we’re here. You’re safe.”
The word feels more powerful than all these herbal remedies, still I don’t know if I can believe it yet. I only smile and thank her. The afternoon is growing late, and Demeter is waving us in to dinner. I haven’t heard from Derek, and my chest aches with worry.
Automatically, my mind resumes its silent chant. My entire body longs for him. Please come back to me, my love. Please come back…
* * *
Derek
The empty warehouse flickers with shadows. Columns of dust-filled light stream through the space. The large windows above face east, and it won’t be long before it’s completely dark.
Stuart and I