Lavos Read online

  She’d never been so grateful for a feature on her car. The locks had auto-engaged when she’d put it in drive, so he wasn’t able to get inside. But she couldn’t look away from his eyes. They were getting brighter.

  “Open the door,” he demanded.

  He was attempting to control her mind. She glanced at the light, finally breaking eye contact with him. It turned green.

  She stomped on the gas, taking off. Her tires protested but the car shot forward. Jadee trembled as she kept her foot pressed hard on the accelerator.

  Those Vampires had to know what she’d done. She wasn’t sure if he’d been one of the two she’d seen on the roof. It was possible. One thing was certain though—they’d come after her.

  She glanced in the rearview mirror as she made it through the intersection.

  The guy in the dark clothes ran after her.

  He was fast—too fast—but she was able to put distance between them. She gripped the wheel tighter and ignored the speed limit until she didn’t see him anymore. She took a few turns, eventually feeling safe that she’d lost him.

  The RV she’d gotten back from the repair shop days before came into view and she sagged with relief. She’d quit her job in the morning. They knew where she worked. Would they learn her name? It was a grim concept. The Vampire she’d killed couldn’t tell anyone she was immune to mind control but the one at the red light could. She’d refused his order to let him inside her car.

  I’m in deep shit. She parked her car next to her father’s RV and ran inside. She locked the door and rushed to the panel in the front. She twisted the key to bring the shutters down. The loud motor came on and they lowered, sealing the windows. It was the first time she’d used them since she’d returned home with her father’s tank on wheels and had one of the damaged windows replaced. It had seemed like paranoia to think Vampires were ever going to come after her once she’d left Alaska.

  “I’ll be paranoid now, happily,” she muttered.

  She dropped her purse on the table and took a seat. It reminded her that she needed to wash her sweater. It was balled up inside her purse, where she’d snuck it earlier when she’d gotten a chance.

  The memory of that Vampire exploding into dust made her grimace. She stood and started to strip. A shower was in order, and then washing her clothes.

  A slight noise startled her and she stopped unzipping her jeans. The handle on the side door turned but the locks held. She released the metal tab on her pants and backed up, trying to remain quiet. She reached the front and flipped on the monitors. She’d gotten familiar with the new camera setup, which she’d had replaced along with the damaged window.

  The man from the intersection stood outside the side door.

  Jadee’s knees almost buckled. She had no idea how he’d managed to follow her home but there was no denying the truth.

  He turned his head and nodded to someone off camera.

  “Shit,” she mouthed. She lifted the remote and changed the camera feed to show the front of the RV. Two more Vampires stood there. They stared at the windshield. One of them approached the driver’s side door and tried it. She turned her head, looking at it, already knowing it wouldn’t open for them, locked. Her gaze returned to the screen. Another Vampire arrived and he tested the passenger door.

  A creak overhead had her jerking her chin up. It had almost sounded like a footstep. She changed the feed again until she found the camera that showed the roof. A woman had somehow gotten up there. She wore tight black clothing. That made a total of five Vampires outside. The woman moved slowly to the side and jumped off.

  Jadee strained to hear anything but it was too quiet. She stared at the screen, flipping the channels to watch them from different views. A sixth one arrived. It was another woman. All of them wore black and they gathered near the side door. She wished she’d had sound wired with the cameras to hear what they said. They spoke too softly for her to hear them from where she stood. They split up again, surrounding the RV on all sides.

  One of the women knocked on the side door. “Hello?”

  Jadee sealed her lips and set the remote down. She lifted a leg and tore off one shoe, then the other. She was careful to stay very quiet as she tiptoed down the aisle to the door. She reached out and eased the bars down over the door as carefully as she could, timing her movements with the woman’s knocks, hoping they wouldn’t hear. The extra bolts were slid into place next. One of them made a slight scratching sound, and Jadee winced.

  The Vampire knocked harder. “Hello inside. Can you help me? My boyfriend beat me up. I just need to use your phone.”

  Jadee backed up and took a few slow, steady breathes. They couldn’t break in. The shutters were down.

  The woman Vampire pounded on the door. “Hello? I need help!”

  They clearly thought she’d fall for it. The strong desire to grab weapons surfaced but she hadn’t bought more ammo. The guns were useless, hidden inside the hallway closet. She could call the cops but it might get them hurt. It would be like ordering delivery food for her unwanted visitors.

  She turned her head and stared at the television mounted by the front. The Vampire woman wasn’t alone for long. A guy with blond hair joined her. He was new—and that meant there were now seven Vampires.

  “Her name is Jadee Trollis.”

  She could hear him speaking softly outside. She crouched down when her legs threatened to turn to jelly. They knew where she worked, where she lived, and now they had her name.

  “I grabbed one of her neighbors and ripped into his mind. He was very helpful.” He paused. “She moved here a few days ago and keeps to herself so far. No husband or kids that he knows of. The engine of her car is still warm so she must be inside. He didn’t see her come home but he was watching television.”

  “Lower your voice,” the woman whispered.

  “Maybe she’s deaf,” the guy stated.

  “I said lower your voice!” the woman repeated.

  Jadee closed her eyes and leaned forward until her head nearly touched the door. She was tempted to press her ear against it but what if they heard her breathing? She wasn’t willing to risk it.

  They tried the door again, the handle wiggling. She opened her eyes and turned her head, watching the monitor. The woman lifted one foot and planted it on the side of the RV. She pulled, gripping the handle. It might have normally worked to rip the door open if it weren’t reinforced. The metal creaked a little but it didn’t budge otherwise.

  Huff and puff, Jadee silently taunted. But you can’t get in.

  Jadee realized in that instant that she had to leave town. They knew her name though. Did one nest of Vampires talk to others? Would they be searching for her no matter where she went? They might put word out to others to hunt her down.

  Lavos came to mind. He could help her. Maybe. He had before.

  She chewed on her lip, watching the two Vamps on the screen softly talking just feet from her side door. They were probably plotting how to kill her.

  How could she find Lavos?

  That Digger guy had fixed the RV. She’d seen the name of his business printed on his T-shirt. He’d had to come inside to start the engine and check a few things on the dash. He knew Lavos. If she could find the mechanic, he could send a message. She just had to wait for the sun to rise and then hit the road.

  Chapter Ten

  Lavos didn’t feel like being sociable. His brother depended upon him though to stay at his side and help host the festivities. It was the first time they were officially welcoming visitors for a social event since his brother had taken leadership. It would help strengthen the bonds between the four clans, something that had been lacking when Decker ruled.

  They were using the lodge for a meet and greet. He forced a smile as he entered the foyer, seeing some familiar faces but a lot of new ones. His brother stood near the bar and motioned him over the second he spotted him.

  “This is my brother, Lavos.” Lorn looked relaxed, a group of pe