Dark Legend: A Carpathian Novel: Chapter 9

Brice was watching Francesca’s face. He found himself cursing silently at her expression as she gazed at Gabriel with pride. He knew he had to back off or lose her. He had never experienced jealousy and found it to be an extremely ugly emotion. What had gotten into him? Was this his true character? Of course it would be best for Skyler to live with Francesca, how could it not be? But Brice didn’t want to share Francesca with anyone, it was that simple. Francesca had many acquaintances who called themselves her friends, but he was the only one she had allowed close to her. He was used to having a special place in her life. A teenager didn’t figure into his plans for the future. Francesca knew many people; she had money and moved easily in the inner circles. She was beautiful and well liked by both men and women. By escorting her to charity balls and parties, he had become accepted too.

Gabriel moved. Itwas a mere shifting of his muscles, subtle but frightening all the same. There was something very dangerous about Gabriel, though Brice couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. Something about his eyes that wasn’t entirely human. He tried to look away from those black, empty eyes, but instead he was falling forward, straight into their centers. At once he felt ashamed of himself. Brice had a very strong urge to retract his words. He cleared his throat and spoke almost without his own volition. “Francesca is the perfect guardian. Of course there’s no question about that.”

Brice managed to tear his gaze away from those cold black eyes. He had the feeling Gabriel was secretly laughing at him. To his amazement, Brice found himself clenching his fists. He was not a violent man, but he desperately wanted to hit someone. He also had the strangest feeling Gabriel knew exactly what he was thinking, knew it and was deliberately antagonizing him. It was in his every look, his smile, his pitiless eyes. Why couldn’t Francesca see that those eyes were as cold as death itself?

Gabriel smiled, a flash of perfect white teeth. “Of course Francesca is the perfect guardian. You think so, too, is that not correct, Skyler?” His voice was soft and gentle, so beautiful it made Brice sound harsh in comparison. But it was more than that, it was the way he said Francesca’s name that made Brice want to throw things. There was something very intimate, very possessive in his tone.

The judge turned to look at the young girl. “Is that so, Skyler, would you like to live with Francesca? It’s up to you. If you prefer to answer in private, we can clear the room and just the two of us will hear what you have to say.”

Skyler shook her head, hugging her stuffed wolf close to her. “I know what I want,” she answered softly, but very clearly. “I want to live with Francesca.”

The judge beamed at her as if she were a brilliant child. “Naturally. I can see you and Francesca have already established a close bond. I trust we can see to the proceedings as quickly as possible?” He fixed a stern eye on first the attorney, then Brice.

While Francesca’s attorney nodded solemnly, Brice squirmed. “We haven’t settled the matter of Francesca’s living circumstances to my satisfaction. After all, I am ultimately the one who must decide if Skyler’s environment is safe or not before I release her. She has suffered a tremendous trauma. I don’t know if living with a male, a stranger, is conducive to her recovery.”

“Brice—” Francesca put a wealth of feeling into his name. “Please don’t force me to go to court over this. Skyler and I need to be together as a family.”

Brice raked a hand through his hair. “I’m not arguing that point, Francesca. I just think we shouldn’t move too soon. A background check is usually done on anyone seeking custody of a child and I don’t think dispensing with it is proper since we know nothing about your friend here.”

“But Francesca is the one seeking custody,” the judge said, “not Gabriel. I have had ample time to read the files prepared by Mr. Ferrier on Gabriel, and I believe he is a good and decent man, well suited to caring for a child.”

“What file? I didn’t see a file,” Brice protested.

Once again the judge was caught and held in Gabriel’s slashing black gaze for a long minute. He smiled warmly. “I assure you, I read the file thoroughly and know everything necessary about Gabriel. It is a confidential document, not open to the public.” He leveled his gaze at Brice.

“I am certain you will take my word for it.”

Brice was more than certain Gabriel was manipulating the judge. Blackmail? Money? Was the man wealthy? Was that it? Each time Brice thought he had come up with a compelling argument, Gabriel would somehow catch the judge’s attention and turn everything back against Brice. He glared at his rival. When Gabriel returned his stare, those damnable black eyes slid over him with malice, sending a shiver of fear down his spine.Who is he? Where has he been the last few years? Was he a killer, for the government? Did they really have killers that walked around freely? Was he a criminal and the judge knew him from a past experience? Brice felt sure Gabriel was holding something over Francesca’s head. That had to be it. He was forcing her compliance. Maybe it was a good thing Skyler was going into that home. She could see what was going on and report back to him. It would be necessary to get into the girl’s good graces and persuade her to watch over Francesca. He would have to make her his ally.

Brice nodded slowly. “I will give my consent then, Judge, as long as you have knowledge of his background.”

Gabriel smiled pleasantly. “Thank you, Doctor, although I was unaware your approval was needed in this case. Skyler is technically a ward of the court.” He sounded mildly amused at the presumption that Brice was needed at all.

Brice turned a dull red. Damn the man and his manner. His voice was so beautiful and compelling, so perfectly amiable no one could fault him, yet he was deliberately insulting. “Skyler is my patient. She needs my clearance to leave the hospital. I take my job very seriously.” He moved at once to establish his authority.

Gabriel bowed with an Old World courtesy, a courtly gesture, as though he were a prince dealing with a peasant. Brice gritted his teeth to keep from swearing. He hated everything about Gabriel. His tall, well- muscled frame, his broad shoulders, the long shiny hair tied with a leather thong at the nape of his neck. How could a grown man look so well dressed with his hair like that? Brice hated the elegance of his clothes, the sensuality of his mouth, the inhuman look of his eyes. Most of all he hated the power that clung to Gabriel, the complete self-confidence. He carried himself like a man used to commanding others. It was easy to imagine him as a feudal lord in another lifetime. Brice felt as if Gabriel was secretly laughing at him, as if he was a source of amusement and no more.

Gabriel smiled at him easily, a show of those immaculate white teeth. How did he get them that white? Brice wanted to smash those glistening white teeth right down Gabriel’s throat. “Skyler is well on the road to recovery. Francesca tells me she is stronger every day. I am certain it will not be much longer before she is able to be home with us.”

To everyone’s surprise it was Skyler who replied. “I am feeling much stronger.” She said it defiantly, her voice soft and trembling but quite clear. “And if anyone cares about my opinion, I want to live with Francescaand Gabriel.” She had no idea why she felt a sudden compulsion to add Gabriel’s name when she really meant Francesca. Men frightened her. Even Gabriel, although she sensed only compassion and caring in his feelings for her. She was more astonished by her outburst than anyone. She hadn’t spoken to anyone in months, yet now she was in a room filled with adults, strangers really, and they were deciding her life. It was terrifying and she was grateful for the stuffed animal and the strange soothing comfort it offered her.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Brice said immediately, recognizing he needed to back down. “The stronger you are, the happier we are, Skyler.” He turned his back on Gabriel as he spoke. He knew Gabriel would read the lie in his eyes otherwise. Skyler should have been grateful to him: he was her doctor; he had been the one who had risked his license by bringing Francesca in to see his patient without parental consent.

Brice made himself smile down at the child. After all, he could charm women. It was his best asset. “I’ll have you out of here in no time, young lady, and that should please you immensely.” His gaze swung around to encompass the officials. “If you’re finished here, I suggest you leave and allow my patient to rest. She is quite pale.”

Francesca leaned down to hug Skyler. “I’m going to have such fun preparing a room for you. I know the things you like,.”

Skyler caught her arm, lowered her voice to a soft whisper. “I hid my mother’s locket in my old bedroom. It’s behind the paneling next to my bed. I don’t want anything but that. I don’t want anything ofhis.”

Francesca nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, honey, the locket will be waiting for you at home. I’ll see to it personally.” She murmured the promise softly as she brushed her mouth against Skyler’s forehead.

Gabriel reached right passed Brice as if he weren’t there and captured Francesca’s hand, twining his fingers through hers as if they belonged together. “You need to sign the papers, sweetheart, and then, I think we will visit several shops for our young lady.” He flashed his smile at Skyler, the one that could light up the sky and take Francesca’s breath away. She loved him in that one single moment. She loved the way he reassured Skyler with genuine caring. She felt it in him. He was her lifemate and could not lie to her or mislead her in any way about his true feelings. He wanted Skyler to share their life and their protection. He wanted her safe from all harm. There was true goodness in Gabriel.

Francesca allowed him to pull her from the room, down the hall into the waiting room where she could finish her business with the judge and her lawyer. Gabriel remained at her side, silent but supportive. He didn’t try to catch her eye or hold her attention in any way, yet she could think of little else. He was there, larger than life. He was life. And laughter. She wanted to smile just thinking of him. How had he managed to create such a shifting of her loyalty in such a short period of time?

As a young girl so many centuries ago, she had been certain of what she was, proud of who she was. She knew she was created to be the lifemate of someone extraordinary. She had always known it. She had been proud of Gabriel, always proud of him, even when she thought him lost to her. He was a legend, a great vampire fighter, a hunter unsurpassed by any other. Francesca had known the call of the lifemate was powerful, yet she had been certain the passing of centuries would diminish that strong pull. She had counted on it. She bit her lip, attempting to concentrate on what her lawyer was saying; yet all the time,he was in her mind, filling her senses and confusing her completely.

She wanted peace. Rest. After all the emptiness, all the long years of being alone, she deserved rest. She had been useful, she hadn’t wasted her life or her gifts.

“No, my love, you did not. I could not be more proud of anyone. You accomplished a great deal, all for good. While I was taking lives, you were saving them.”The voice was soft in her head, filled with respect, tinged with regret. As if he considered himself unworthy of her.

At once her large dark eyes turned to capture his.“You were saving lives, too. Gabriel, you are the guardian of our people. You must know you stood between mankind and the undead. You gave up your happiness to do so.”

Watching them from the doorway, Brice saw the raw emotion in Francesca’s beautiful eyes as she gazed so lovingly at Gabriel. She had no idea of her own feelings, how deep, how intense they ran within her, but he could see the truth in her eyes. It looked as if they lived in their own secret world. They seemed to communicate without words. His fingers bunched tightly at his sides, curling until his knuckles were white and his body shook with anger and disappointment. He had courted Francesca for so long, devoted himself to her, yet never once had she looked at him in such a manner. And she was more beautiful than ever, more alluring. Watching her, he realized she was sexy beyond anyone he had ever encountered. He had always thought her beautiful, a perfect ornament to display in the social circles he intended traveling in. Brice had never thought of her in terms of hot steamy nights and sex, yet now, looking at her, he could hardly restrain himself.

Just then Gabriel lifted his head and looked at him, a long cold look that sent a shiver racing down Brice’s spine. Brice turned on his heel and walked away. There was no way Gabriel could actually read minds, no way he could judge the extent of Brice’s hatred of him. No way he could have seen the erotic pictures in his head. Brice needed Francesca in every way and he deserved her. He was not going to allow Gabriel to waltz in and take over. Maybe no one else could see it, but he knew there was something wrong with Gabriel, something dark and dangerous. A monster lurked inside him and every now and then, Brice caught a glimpse of it in his eyes. Brice intended to protect Francesca from her own compassionate nature.

Gabriel shook hands automatically with the judge and with Francesca’s lawyer. He was used to thinking and even speaking on two different levels. He made small talk easily, all the while turning the problem of Brice over and over in his mind. The doctor was jealous and obsessed with Francesca. He was becoming a threat to their well-being. Brice’s hatred seemed out of sync with his bland personality. Was there a subtle taint of power that Gabriel had not caught? Few of the undead could hide such a thing from him.Lucian. Was it his twin playing games again, using his human enemy against him? He examined Brice’s mind. If it was tainted with the power of the undead, the user was extremely skilled. He should recognize traces of his brother, yet he did not. Yet Brice seemed twisted with hatred. It was centered on Francesca, as Gabriel knew it would be. Brice was determined to get her back, to turn her against Gabriel. If the undead was using the human, Gabriel could not detect the subtle power.

“What is it?” Francesca asked softly, placing her hand in his.

He smiled at her. She was his world. The only one in it. Very slowly he brought her palm to the warmth of his mouth, lingering for a moment to inhale her scent. “You are an extraordinary woman, Francesca.”

She was glad the others were already out of the room. She could hear them as they walked down the hall together, pleased with the outcome of the meeting. Color was moving up her face like a schoolgirl’s; she was blushing simply because he had kissed her palm. Francesca tried to tug her hand back.

Gabriel retained possession, his white teeth very much in evidence. “You are shy with me even after all we have shared?” Deliberately his voice held a husky seduction, a teasing temptation.

“I am not,” she lied, embarrassed by her reaction. She had once thought his eyes so empty of emotion, yet when they rested on her they were filled with such hunger, such intensity, she could barely think straight.

His white teeth flashed at her. “I think we need to find a store and furnish a room for our teenager. I never thought I would have to ‘father’ a girl of her age, and a human at that. I pity any young man who thinks he might like to take her out on a date. Reading minds is very helpful in certain situations.”

Francesca reached up to rub his chin. “Thank you for wanting to do this with me. I’m really excited about bringing Skyler home with us and it’s nice you share that with me. She’s such a beautiful girl.”

“Yes, she is. She should have clothes that make her feel good about herself.” He suddenly grinned. “I know quite a bit about the world, almost any subject, but I have no idea what a teenage girl would want in her room. I must rely heavily on you in that department. There were no images in Skyler’s head of what she would like.”

“I don’t think she’s ever thought about such things. Her life has been one of survival. I have been thinking we could give her the upstairs room with the balcony, the one with the small turret attached to it.”

He nodded solemnly. “I believe she would like that very much, Francesca.” He took her hand. “Fly with me this night. We can go to the shops and walk unseen until we decide what we would like to purchase. Allow yourself to feel the freedom of our race once more. You have not done such a thing in a very long time.”

Francesca found a small smile forming at the idea. It was true. She had given up many of the gifts unique to their people in order to think and feel and act human. It had been very necessary in order to hide herself. But now the temptation was too strong to resist. Allowing her senses to flare out into the night, scanning the entire area, she waited until she knew there was no one in the vicinity, then took a running leap skyward. As she launched herself into the air, feathers shimmered, iridescent and beautiful, so that she flew silently across the starlit sky.

The feeling of soaring through the night was so incredible, she could hardly take it in. It had been so long since she had allowed herself the luxury of thinking like a Carpathian. She had wanted her thought patterns to be wholly human at all times. Now it seemed she could enjoy the special privileges of her race once again. She laughed with joy as she moved through the sky.

Gabriel joined her, a large raptor, silent and swift and deadly, winging through the sky toward the heart of the city. He knew her mind, knew she would go first to the home of Skyler’s father to retrieve the precious locket. He flew close to Francesca, determined to protect her even from her own exuberance if necessary. He was in her mind, ensuring that she held the image of the bird in flight so she could make no mistakes. He shared her joy and reveled in her freedom, but he remained a shadow, determined to protect her.

Francesca settled on the rooftop of the old building where Skyler’s father had lived. It was severely run down.

There were bars on the windows and the door, something that was no barrier for the two powerful Carpathians. The little apartment was a wreck of smashed liquor bottles and filthy dishes. There was no food in the refrigerator, only beer. The cupboards held a box of crackers and two cans of soup. Francesca touched one of the cracked mugs sitting in the sink.

She turned to look at Gabriel with tears in her eyes. She could feel the violence locked in the tiny apartment. A child’s terror. The brutality a man could impose. She saw flashes of Skyler’s life, the father, a huge man, swinging a belt at her in the bathroom. Skyler huddled in a corner while a man approached her with an evil smile.

Gabriel grasped Francesca and shook her gently. “Leave this evil place. You are too sensitive for such as this.”

“Skyler was, too. That beautiful child was subjected to this depravity. They drove her to the edge of madness, Gabriel.”

The tears in her voice were almost more than he could bear. “She is safe with us, Francesca. We will not allow harm to come her way again.”

“She is a human psychic, a rare treasure to our males. She would have been invaluable to our race, but after such atrocities, I cannot imagine her being able to love one so dominant and wild as any of our males. What are we to do?” There was despair in her voice.

“That dilemma is a long way off, honey, not something we have to solve at this moment. In any case, we do not know if she is the lifemate to one of our species. Our first duty is to her now. She is our daughter and deserves our protection. Go, I will find her mother’s locket,” Gabriel assured her.

She linked her fingers with his, needing the comfort of his closeness. She didn’t question why his touch felt so right to her. She only knew she wanted to be held in his arms and feel his enormous strength when all around them was the evil of mankind. Gabriel fitted her beneath his shoulder, instinctively knowing she would rather be with him in this wicked place than outside alone in the clean air. The realization made him humble. He brought her hand to the warmth of his mouth, breathed a kiss onto her skin, his mouth telling her without words that she was the magic in his life.

They found Skyler’s locket and he secured it around his neck as they made their way to the shops. Francesca was in her element there. She knew the city, knew the vendors. She often bought thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes to donate to the poor. Gabriel twined his fingers with hers as they entered one of the stores. This was not Gabriel’s forte, but he was more than willing to share the excitement with her. He watched Francesca blossom, her beauty almost ethereal. She lit up the shop and he couldn’t help thinking of their night alone in her friend’s boutique. When he flashed her a grin, she blushed and quickly looked away from him, sharing his thoughts of their wild encounter together.

Closing hour came and went, but all of the merchants Francesca called cheerfully opened their shops for her. Gabriel found he enjoyed watching her move through the stores, examining clothes and furniture, selecting youthful styles appropriate for the newest member of their family.

“Are you planning on getting her an entire wardrobe?” he teased when she showed him pair of faded blue denim pants. “What is this fascination modern women have with these men’s pants?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. “Must our daughter wear such things? Dresses and skirts would be much more appropriate.”

Francesca’s eyebrow shot up, and her mouth curled in a small smile. “Perhaps you’re right; perhaps we need to look at more feminine clothes for her.”

It was her voice that warned him all might not be as he would like. He followed her with some apprehension into a different area of the store. Francesca took a navy blue sheath from a hanger and held it up. “This is darling, Gabriel. Don’t you love it? You’re right, I think we need to concentrate on much more feminine articles of clothing.”

He reached around her and fingered the soft material. “Where is the rest of it?” He was very serious, his dark eyes searching her face for signs she was teasing.

“This is the entire dress. Girls wear them quite short these days. Haven’t you noticed?” Francesca couldn’t believe he had never noticed the women in the city and the clothes that often revealed a generous portion of leg.

“You do not wear such clothes.” He made it a statement.

“Of course I do. Short and long dresses. Anything goes in this age.”

“You wear things like that dress in front of men?” There was a curious churning in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t quite understand why he suddenly wanted to rip the doctor’s head off. Had the man seen her in such garments? The thought of it brought an unfamiliar volcanic feeling to his gut.

Francesca laughed at him. Straight out laughed at him. Her dark eyes were shining with merriment. “You sound just a tiny bit on the jealous side.”

His hand reached out, almost of its own accord, his fingers circling her throat. “I know you are not making fun of me, are you, Francesca?”

Francesca tried to keep a straight face. “I’m sure I wouldn’t do that,” she said sweetly. “But I do look like dynamite when I dress up.”

“My heart cannot bear the image,” he said, “at least not if you are dressing up for another male. Do not tell me anything more.”

“Your age is showing.” She laughed, the sound carefree, piercing his heart like an arrow. “Get over it and help me find her some dresses she’ll love.”

“I will find her dresses she will be allowed to wear in public,” he countered gruffly, looking for the first time at the little frocks on the mannequins. “Where are the ankle-length garments?”

“Are you going to be one of those guardians who insists on bodyguards and strict curfews?” she asked with one eyebrow raised.

“Absolutely. You can count on it.” He made no attempt to pretend otherwise.

Francesca’s smile washed over him, making it clear she was not in the least impressed by his stony features and grim mouth. She found the underwear section and spent time choosing lace and satin while he simply shook his head in wonder. She arranged for her purchases to be delivered the next evening and followed him out into the night.

Skyler would have a room designed especially for her, the items chosen as much as possible from her memories of things she had seen and liked. The rest they chose for her, wanting her happiness and comfort. The pattern for her quilt and sheets was a design fashioned by Francesca to aid healing and promote soothing comfort and a feeling of well-being. The room they had decided to give her was a round turret where the intricate stained glass contained a powerful spell to protect the occupant from outside harm and nightmares.

Francesca smiled up at Gabriel as they settled onto the balcony of her home, once more taking their own shapes. “I had a wonderful night, Gabriel. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It is much more fun experiencing life with another.”

“You are growing used to me, despite your intentions not to,” he ventured as he led her down the stairs to the kitchen.

“We have to remember to stock the house with food that will appeal to a teenager,” Francesca said, determined not to be drawn into a conversation about their relationship. She wasn’t ready to think too much on the subject.

“Skyler should eat what is the most nutritious for her. She is skin and bones. And you must do something with her hair. She wears it in her face because she thinks the scars make her ugly.”

Francesca followed him to the chamber beneath the earth. “I know she does, although I think it is more what they represent, the memories that are so ugly. I can’t wait to bring her home. This house will be so different. Music, noise, a housekeeper, probably guards—our lives will be very different, Gabriel.”

He circled her shoulders with his arm, grateful she didn’t pull away from him. He was making progress without her being aware of it. “Change is good, Francesca. My existence was bleak and barren for two thousand years. I welcome change.” His hand slipped down her arm, crept around her stomach so that his palm lay over their growing child. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of her, of their unborn child.

She smiled up at him. “The dawn is approaching, Gabriel, you must rest.”

“You are the one with child.” He opened the earth and floated with her into the welcoming soil, his arms pulling her into the protection of his body. “Sleep, honey, tomorrow we will fix her room for her.” His body and soul, heart and mind, were content. She was with him, his arms around her, her scent filling his lungs, and it was enough.

You are the one with child.She repeated those words in her mind, hugged them to her, wondering at such a miracle. Francesca felt his mouth against her forehead, his hand over their child, and she closed her eyes, content to rest.

When she woke, Gabriel was already out, searching for evidence of Lucian’s whereabouts. Their world was fragile and filled with danger as long as his brother hunted in their city. Francesca felt Gabriel stirring in her mind, felt his warmth, yet she shivered as she moved through the familiar rooms of her house. During the day the delivery-men had arrived, leaving boxes of every size and shape. She had forgotten just how many things they had purchased for Skyler the night before. Francesca enjoyed every moment of arranging the room and placing Skyler’s clothes neatly in the dresser and closet. She took great care working on the heavy quilt, putting love into each stitch as she fashioned it especially for Skyler.

She was beginning to worry about Gabriel now. From Gabriel’s thoughts she learned that already Lucian had struck again; there would be another unsolved murder for the police. She sensed Lucian was deliberately baiting Gabriel, leading him toward a trap of some kind. She moved about the house, taking care of business before her trip to see Skyler. She made calls to various organizations, to members of society, to old acquaintances. It was always necessary to keep up appearances, now more than ever with Skyler as her ward.

The first order of business was to secure a housekeeper they could trust. Aidan Savage in the United States had recommended a trustworthy couple, his own housekeeper’s son, Santino, and the man’s wife, Brasilia. They would move in and protect Skyler during the day. Santino knew Aidan was Carpathian, and Aidan assured Francesca it would be safe to confide in him.

Satisfied, she made her way to the hospital. Skyler smiled tentatively as she entered the room. “I thought maybe you changed your mind,” the girl said. The stuffed animal was in its usual place in her arms.

“No, you didn’t,” Francesca corrected with a smile. “You had a panic attack. Things are falling in place, honey. Gabriel and I found your locket for you. It’s in a jewelry box in your room. You have everything you need waiting for you to come home. All you have to do is get better. Are you eating?”

“I’m trying to eat,” Skyler answered honestly. “It isn’t easy. I didn’t for so long, I’m never hungry now. Where’s Gabriel?”

Francesca thought it a good sign Skyler had inquired after him. “Out hunting.”

Skyler was silent a moment. “Hunting?” she echoed. “I didn’t think he was the kind who would want to kill a living creature.” She seemed disappointed.

Skyler obviously had an affinity for animals. Francesca smiled gently. “Not animals, silly. Things.” She brushed the hair out of the girl’s eyes, her touch tender and soothing. The contact gave her access to Skyler’s emotions.

The child was frightened but was making every attempt to be brave. The future terrified her, life terrified her, but not Francesca and not Gabriel. She had made up her mind to try to give life another chance. “I can’t go to school,” she blurted out suddenly. “I can’t be around anyone. I don’t want anyone to see me.”

Francesca nodded soberly. “I understand, honey. I think it best we stick together for a while, the three of us and our housekeeper. I’m going to hire a couple who will work for us, keep an eye on you.”

Francesca took her hand and simply held it, allowing her special gift to flow out of her and into the girl.

“Now I want you to rest, young lady. I’m going to ask Brice to release you as soon as possible, but you have to do your part. If you have trouble eating, or you’re afraid, reach for Gabriel or for me in your mind. Like you, we are telepathic and we will hear you and come to your aid. Call if you are in need. I expect it, is that understood?”

The girl nodded solemnly. “I’m tired all the time.”

“That’s to be expected. You suffered a trauma, Skyler, and you were beaten very badly. Your body and mind need time to heal as well as your spirit. I’ll be back later. For now, rest.” With a wave of her hand she pushed open the door and glided out.

“Are you Francesca Del Ponce?” There was a stranger standing outside Skyler’s room. She sensed he had been lurking there for some time. Francesca had scanned him, of course, that was as natural to her as breathing, and she had known he was waiting to talk with her.

She smiled pleasantly, her long lashes veiling the expression of annoyance in her eyes. For a brief moment she considered using a mental “push” on him, but there was something about him that wasn’t quite right. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was so she stopped to face him. “Yes, that’s right. I’m Francesca.” She flashed a smile at him, one that caught his attention immediately.

“Barry Woods, Miss Del Ponce. I’m a reporter looking for a good story. I understand you heal people.”

Her eyebrows shot up and a small smile curved her soft mouth. “I’m sorry, I must have heard you wrong. What do I do?”

“Heal people. I was told you healed a little girl who had cancer.”

Francesca hesitated for a moment before answering him. There was something about the man that bothered her, that wasn’t quite right. A craftiness. Something subtly evil. Perhaps she was mistaken, but he sent a shiver along her spine. She touched his mind very delicately.

At once her breath caught in her throat. She forced a smile to her lips, her large dark eyes widening so that they were as black as night. “I wish I had such a wonderful ability. The truth is, I have no such talent.” With her stomach lurching, Francesca made herself touch his mind. Gabriel would need information. This man was not what he seemed on the surface. He was a fanatic, his mind filled with images of vampires and stakes and garlic.

The reporter continually clutched at the golden chain circling his throat. She knew in his hand he held a cross. “My source is very reliable, Miss Del Ponce.”

“The doctors here are quite remarkable,” she said softly. “Don’t you think it is much more likely they healed the child if her cancer is in remission? I go and read to the children often, but I cannot heal them, much as I would like to. Have you seen them on the cancer ward? They are so beautiful and brave. It’s rather heartbreaking. Perhaps you should visit them. The story would have tremendous human interest, don’t you think?” She buried the subtle compulsion in her suggestion carefully.

The reporter shook his head as if to clear it. “I have to get the story.”

She nodded gently, her long hair moving like a silken curtain around her shoulders. “Yes, the story about the doctors here in the hospital and how remarkable they really are.” Her dark eyes stared directly into his. “You really must write about their work.”

Woods caught himself as he was turning toward the cancer ward. He shook his head hard to clear out the cobwebs. For a moment he was disoriented, unable to remember exactly what he had been doing. Uppermost in his mind was the overwhelming urge to write a story about children with cancer. He shook his head again, certain he had not come here for that reason. A woman was walking away from him, her hips swaying gently. Her hair hung below her waist, thick and rich and shining with high lights. She was so beautiful she took his breath away and he hadn’t even seen her face.

He stood a moment, reluctant to move. He couldn’t think what he was doing. He wanted her to turn so he could see her. He wanted to follow her, but his feet felt like lead. He had come here for a reason, an important reason, but he could only remember that he wanted to write a story on children with cancer. There was a doctor he needed to talk with. Not French, but English. Strange name. Brice something. Woods scratched his head and turned resolutely away from the cancer ward. He felt very lost, very confused. He had no real idea what he was doing.