The Amulet Page 9

  Vampires don't need hearts, but animals do. Xander explained the thought to her. Her heart was a red and pulsing flower that bloomed only in the wolf and withered in her true form. The drawback was that she was vulnerable in this form. If someone plucked the flower, both wolf and vampire would die.

  Alyssa feared being lost forever, but she loved the wolf even more for its vulnerability. She wagged her tail at Xander and together they headed towards the manor. As they broke through the tree line, they saw the horizon blooming with color. Sunrise was approaching. The wolf's vision was not as keen as her vampiric eyes. The wolf relied heavily on sense of smell and hearing more than sight alone. Xander nudged her flank to pick up speed. Alyssa was happy to comply.

  She lengthened her stride and let her muscles stretch until she was at top speed. She passed Xander, but she didn't slow down. Her ears could hear him behind her, still close on her heels. She ran around the perimeter of the lake and up towards the manor. When she reached the veranda, she dug in her front paws and spun around suddenly. Xander nearly collided into her, dodging to one side just in time. He sniffed at her, comparing her to a young pup in his thoughts. Then, he pictured himself newly turned and remembered testing his own limits. He gave her an affectionate lick before sitting beside her to wait for Nevar.

  Alyssa sat down and curled her tail around her paws. She had managed to get her fur dirty in the short period of time she had been in this form. Her silver pelt was dull and dusty-looking and there were burrs caught in her haunches. Xander plucked a burr from her pelt with his teeth and spit it out. In his mind, she was as beautiful as the moon itself and her eyes shone like stars in the night sky.

  She had known he was a charmer as soon as she laid eyes on him, but his thoughts were unfiltered and so sincere that it was impossible not to fall under his spell. She felt torn two ways. She had a connection with Nevar, and yet, she could easily feel the spark that threatened to ignite with Xander. He would know her thoughts, and feel the tearing of her heart as if it were his own. It was intimate and secret and oh-so-erotic. A low rumble rose from his chest and made heat run through her veins. The beast was alive in her and had more control over her than she liked.

  As if on cue, Nevar burst from the tree line riding Brush Fire. Aegis followed reluctantly behind the stallion, keeping as much distance as her reins allowed. Alyssa expected them to head towards the barn first, but they came at a canter towards the manor. He slowed the horses as they drew nearer and kept the horses a fair distance from the wolves.

  "Xander, she is going to need a change of clothes and I will need to speak with you both. I never taught her how to transform, let alone change back. I must put the horses away and get them untacked."

  Xander nodded his head and Nevar left with the horses towards the barn. Alyssa had heard what Nevar had not said aloud. Xander must teach her how to return to her true form and Nevar would have his hide if he compromised her privacy.

  Xander's eyes said more than words could. Nevar did not know their minds were connected. He nudged her neck with his nose. Nevar was just being protective. She knew the two men had a long history in every sense of the word, but it made her wonder what gave Nevar so much hold over his friend.

  Xander stood and lifted up on his back legs. She watched curiously as his body shifted and changed. His legs straightened and his paws stretched into hands and feet. She discreetly closed her eyes and turned her head away. She could picture his muscular body in her mind, but she didn't want to be caught staring at him naked.

  "It will be your turn soon," he told her. She felt him ruffle the fur at her neck, like a favorite pet. "You can open your eyes."

  She opened her eyes and saw him standing on the veranda wearing a pair of shorts. He must have understood her thoughts because he said, "I always stash a pair nearby when I transform. Years of practice have taught me to be prepared. Excuse me for a moment; I'll be right back." He went inside the manor and returned a few minutes later with a blanket and a familiar dress hung over his arm. It looked like the sleek black dress she had worn to the award ceremony last year after her movie release.

  "It is," he answered. "you looked amazing in this dress, and I would love to see it on you in person. Since I have the luxury of selecting your wardrobe for the evening, this is what I picked." He winked at her with his mouth curved into a dashing smile. "Now," he paused, "to change back, you need to listen and think carefully. Do you remember what set you off? What were you feeling when you changed?"

  She had been angry. The vampire had been about to finish Xander off and she had unleashed the beast within her to protect him, though she had not known what she was doing at the time.

  "You need to control the anger and put the wolf back in its cage. When you are in control, you will return to your true form." He unfolded the blanket and draped it over her body and held it closed to keep it from sliding off of her. She touched his cheek with her nose in thanks.

  "It's the least I could do for you, Alyssa."

  No, she shook her head. He had jumped in front of her when the vampire had tried to attack her. He had been injured because of her. Yet, he kept giving and he barely knew her. So many people take all they can and never give anything in return. He had to know how grateful she was for all he had done. She felt the anger slipping away as she gazed into his eyes. The wolf, for once, did not fight her, but went willingly back into the depths. She felt her body changing all around her.

  A chill ran through her as her fur retreated revealing bare skin to the cool night air. Xander held the blanket closer as her body slimmed down to its original size. As soon as she was able, she stood upright and gripped the blanket. It felt strange to her now. She had grown accustomed to walking on all fours.

  "Thank you again, Xander."

  He released his hold on the blanket, turning his eyes away to hide the color that bloomed on his cheeks. "You're welcome, milady. You honor me." He handed the dress to her before opening the door on the veranda for her. She imagined he had fit the role of Southern gentleman well in pre-Civil War times.

  Gripping the blanket close to her, she walked past Xander into a sitting room she had never seen before. One day, she would have to make a point of exploring the manor. This room carried the French décor theme into rich burgundy and forest greens. There were a few gold accents scattered throughout the furniture, but not as lavishly as the other rooms. This was obviously meant to be more relaxed and gave the impression of having been well-used and less like a museum exhibit.

  Alyssa stepped behind a partition and dropped the blanket. She slipped the black dress on, but the zipper caught halfway up her back. She approached Xander with a pleading look in her eyes. "Can you fix this for me?"

  She turned her back to him and pulled her hair out of the way. The black dress came down past her knees in delicate layers of fine material cut to resemble feathers with a neckline just low enough to reveal her cleavage without being vulgar. She felt his finger trace a path down her spine before finally reaching the stubborn zipper. He eased it the rest of the way up slowly, painfully slow. Her nerves felt like live wires, and Xander was rain.

  He pulled away from her and sat down on the luxurious green sofa. It looked like it was upholstered with crushed velvet and over-stuffed. Xander resembled a casual centerfold model posing for some unseen camera. His bronze body was well-sculpted and touched by the sun. Little blond curls crept up to his naval and spread out over his chest. His stunning blue eyes had an animalistic quality to them that she had not picked up before.

  Just then, a thin mist entered the room and gathered together to form Nevar. He walked immediately to her side and put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you quite alright? Were you harmed? What happened?"

  Alyssa had to stop and think of where to begin. She told Nevar about the vampire that had attacked her and how Xander had thrown himself between them. Xander tried to downplay his involvement, but she had insisted he had been injured pretty badly on her behalf.

/>   "He asked about the amulet, Nevar," she said. "He wanted to know where it was. I think he knew I took it, but I don't know how he knew."

  "The amulet?" Xander interjected.

  Nevar put a hand to his brow in frustration. "Alyssa can walk the planes, Xander. She discovered this completely by accident last night by unintentionally stealing Dracula's famed medallion."

  "Gabriel?" Xander almost gasped. "I thought he had been killed."

  "No," Nevar answered. "From the description, I would say he is very much alive."

  "Too bad for him," she said. "He looked to be in bad shape to me, even his blood was nasty."

  "'His blood'?" Nevar asked. Both of them were staring at her with awe-struck expressions on their faces.

  "The only thing I could think of to get him to let go of me was to bite him. He hasn't been keeping himself fed, I don't think. His blood was thick and didn't flow like it should. He was filthy and smelled like he'd been living in a cave for years. I doubt that taste will ever leave my tongue." She gagged at the memory, but tried to keep her composure. What she wanted was a glass of wine to wash away the taste and the memory.

  "You bit him before or after you transformed?" Xander asked.

  "Before," she answered. "He saw me transform and left immediately after that."

  "He was not prepared to fight you. He was expecting a newly changed vamp with little control over her powers and now, you have the taste of his blood on your tongue. You'll be able to feel him," Xander explained.

  "What do you mean by that?"

  It was Nevar who answered. "You'll be able to feel his emotions and where he is when he gets near. It may be a weak link, though. You need more blood to form a true connection."

  The thoughts ran through her mind. She decided to sit down beside Xander before she collapsed. "So, if I can feel Gabriel through his blood, that means that you can feel me, too?" She asked Nevar.

  "Yes, and you feel me as well."

  She had known there was a connection between them, but this was not exactly what she thought it was. She hadn't just seen his emotions on his face, she realized. She had felt them as if they were her own. He had hidden it from her, and she had been oblivious to it. The wolf growled within her, but she kept it chained. This was not the time to be angry over something petty. After all, it had been a lot of information to take in all at once.

  "I am sorry, Alyssa. I had intended on telling you another way. Your privacy had already been invaded enough that I did not wish to injure it further at the time."

  "It's alright," she told him. "I understand it. I'm afraid my temper seems to flare quicker now than when I was human, but I've got it under control."

  "It would be wise not to anger her, Nevar. It triggers her transformation," Xander commented with a playful tone. It lightened the mood of the room and Alyssa noticed the tension in her muscles released.

  "Xander, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "What's the favor?"

  "We need to find Matthias. He is the only vampire I know of capable of walking the planes. Alyssa needs to be able to control her powers, particularly if she is to be able to rest at all."

  "Your mentor, Matthias?" The expression on Xander's face was controlled, but she could read the shock in his eyes. There was a faint trace of fear wafting from him.

  "Yes, and you know well what the task entails, but he is the only one. I need your help to find him."

  "Alright, but you owe me big for this one."

  "Why don't we call it even?"

  Xander considered for a moment, then stood and offered his hand. "Deal."

  Nevar shook his hand and then embraced him like a brother. "Thank you, my friend. You would have given your life to save Alyssa, but I'm pleased she saved you."

  "As am I," he winked at her. "It seems I am in her debt."

  "No, please," she pleaded. "I merely returned the courtesy you bestowed upon me. You owe me nothing."

  "As you wish, milady," he said. Relief, but also regret, showed on his face. It was as though his debts were a bondage that he must work to be released from. So why would he regret her releasing him of debt? Unless he wanted to be bound to her?

  "Alyssa, you must be tired," Nevar put a hand to her shoulder. "You need to rest."

  She was tired, but sleep scared her. "I'm afraid to sleep."

  "We'll both be here tonight," Xander announced. "I'm not leaving you while Gabriel's on the loose."

  "I expected as much," Nevar nodded his thanks.

  "We'll take shifts. I've slept already, so you can rest, Nevar. Guard her dreams, and I'll guard the perimeter."

  "Very well," he offered a hand to her, which she took, and helped her to her feet, not that she needed the assistance. What he was really offering her was protection, and she was not about to turn him down. Xander bid her goodnight and then walked out the door. He disappeared into the night while she followed Nevar back to his private quarters underground.

  "I never got to show you my surprise," he said to her.

  She had forgotten about it completely. So much had happened to her recently, it was a wonder that she could remember anything. "There never seems to be a dull moment anymore," she sighed.

  "Things usually happen that way," he admitted. "Everything seems to happen all at once. I felt that way when I lost my family. I never had the chance to heal over one loss before I was hit with another, and then, I entered this life. I knew I would never join them on the other side, and I was furious. I was not as controlled as you are. I lost myself for years before the anger calmed. It will calm down for you, too, Alyssa. Once we find Matthias, it will get better, though there is a long history there."

  "What about Gabriel? Shouldn't we just give the amulet back to him?"

  "That medallion is dangerous, Alyssa. I'm afraid we may be better off keeping it away from him. There's no telling what he may do if he gets it back. For now, we use it as a bargaining chip."

  He pulled the red leather-bound book on the shelf until it clicked and the bookcase began to slide to one side. They walked down the stairs in a thoughtful silence. As they came upon the landing, Nevar turned and gestured towards the center of his sitting room.

  At first, she didn't notice anything except the warm glow of the fireplace but then she saw the familiar picture above the mantel. Her mother and father posing with a tiny newborn cradled in between them. She had no memory of her parents. Her grandmother had given her the picture to keep their memory alive. They had both died when she was young. Their deaths had never been explained. Some said natural causes, others said it was murder.

  Seeing their smiling faces always brought a tear to her eyes. They looked so happy. Her mother had amber-colored eyes and jet black hair while her father looked quite the charmer with rich chocolate locks with just a touch of gray at his temples, stunning green eyes, and a debonair smile. Her grandmother always told her that she had never seen two people more in love than her parents.

  Besides the picture, she saw other articles that belonged to her scattered throughout the room. Most of her things were contemporary or modern in style, but he had managed to incorporate them into his French décor. She turned to face Nevar, who had been studying her reaction closely. She searched for words, but none came.

  Luckily for her, Nevar broke the silence. "I had your things brought here for the time being. I admit, I had other motives at first, but now, with Gabriel after you, I will not risk your safety by allowing you to leave."

  "And your other motives...?"

  "Are still there, but not at the forefront for the moment," he smiled and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. "I hope you will be more comfortable tonight with a little bit of home here. Your clothes are in the wardrobe. I will give you as much privacy as you need. Remember to lower your shields before you fall asleep." He sat down in front of the fire on the plush sofa and picked up a book from a nearby table.

  "Thank you," she told him. He certainly was a gentleman. He had shared his bed with
her last night, but he was waiting for an invitation. She knew the only reason she had been able to rest at all was because he had held her in his arms. She didn't want the nightmares to come again and wanted to walk the planes even less.

  She entered Nevar's room and was greeted happily by Zukko, who jumped and spun circles around her ankles. She picked him up to pet him and got an affectionate lick in return. Snickers meowed at her from the head of the bed. She had made herself at home already, perched on the soft down pillows. Their food bowls were tucked away in a corner with evidence of recently having food in them. Nevar had barely left her side, so it had to be Xander's handiwork. It seemed she would soon be in his debt instead of the other way around.

  She undressed absent-mindedly, thinking about Xander and the night's events. The scent of lavender and jasmine enticed her to open the adjacent door. It was a bathroom stocked entirely of her things. Only the shower looked as though it had ever been used, and the only clue that it had was a faint residue of soap.

  She felt dirty after laying in the dirt as a wolf and decided to take a shower. The hot water was soothing and her scented bath soaps brought back memories of being human. Her human problems seemed so petty now. Between being hunted by Gabriel, the fear of what happened when she slept, and keeping herself fed, this life had proven far more complicated in two days than a lifetime of human drama. She was exhausted.

  After her shower, she put on an elegant nightgown and climbed into bed with Snickers. She started petting her while the feline purred her contentment. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

  She had forgotten something. She knew it, but she could not remember what it was. Why had she come here? Where was she? She did not know. It was warm here and the sun kissed her skin, but it no longer hurt her eyes. The breeze carried scents of sand and salt water. She was surrounded by people that didn't seem to notice her. A few almost walked straight into her but changed directions suddenly just in time to avoid her. Her mouth started to water. Their blood was calling to her and the temptation to answer was great. There were too many eyes here. She must restrain the beast.