"What?" My stupid vampire senses kicked in about that time. I smelled the smoke and heard the crackling flames even before I burst through the door and jumped over the stairs.
Helpless, I stood in the field between my trailer and my beauty shop, and watched the business my grandparents built go up in flames.
"Where is everyone?" I screamed.
No wolfies. The guardians of vampires and of Broken Heart weren't around, not anywhere. So much for the extra protection that had been promised.
I stared at the flames, clenching my fists. Had the demon returned to destroy my beauty shop?
Nonna and Dottie stood next to me. I turned to my grandmother. "Who did this?"
"I dunno." She looked at me. "I never said you weren't a good hairstylist, honey."
The dead had different priorities. I had noticed that at moments when it felt like my life was falling apart, neither Nonna nor Dottie seemed to give a ripe shit. This was the business that Nonna and Poppa had built with their own hands, but she wasn't the least bit upset. And yet, if I had the ability to shed tears, I would have. I fell to my knees and dry-wept.
I didn't realize how bright the flames were or how my body was reacting to the raging light. My first clue was the pain shimmering up my thighs. I dropped my hands from my face and stared stupidly at the wisps of smoke rising from my arms.
Only then did I realize that my skin was sizzling. Pain throbbed in every part of me that was exposed to the fire.
"Patricia!"
I looked up and saw Gabriel running toward me. He scooped me into his arms and ran toward the forest. Relief cascaded through me. He was all right. I hadn't realized how worried I'd been. I thought he'd ... abandoned me. How stupid to have those kinds of expectations of someone I'd just met.
Every jouncing step brought fresh waves of pain, but I was damned glad to be getting away from the fire. I was gladder to be in the arms of Gabriel.
"My house is over there," I pointed out as he ran past it. As he hurried toward the protection of the trees, I stared over his shoulder. A ball of fire shot from the sky and engulfed my trailer.
"Shit!" I screamed.
I watched the flames attack my home with greedy red fingers. Then we entered the tree line and I couldn't see the carnage anymore.
A few minutes later, Gabriel skidded to a stop and laid me on the ground. "I didn't think I was going to make it in time."
"In time for what?" I asked vaguely. Away from the fire, my body had stopped smoking. But my skin was raw and blackened. I felt strange, as if I weren't quite connected to my own body. Everything felt distant. "A fireball blew up my house. Isn't that weird?"
"Drink from me, Patsy." He exposed his neck to me. Oh, he looked delicious. I sank my fangs into his carotid artery and drank. I grabbed onto his shirt and moaned, sucking in that yummy blood. I swear my body went up a thousand degrees. I was burning again, but not because of the fire.
"Sweetheart," he murmured. He disengaged my mouth from his neck and sat back to look at me.
"Why do I feel like jumping your bones every time I get within three feet of you?" I asked.
"I have that effect on a lot of women."
I bopped him on the shoulder. Then I leaned against a tree and closed my eyes, letting the blood do its work. I felt his fingers drift across my cheek. When the pain dissipated and I felt normal again, I opened my eyes and found his face inches from mine. Concern was evident in his golden gaze.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked.
"Someone wants you dead."
"I'm already dead." I took a shuddering breath. "Wilson."
For once, I was grateful for my son's sneaky ways. If he had been in there when the trailer blew up ... oh, God! I tried to stand, but Gabriel pushed me back down.
"I found your son. He's safe."
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
"We monitor the guardians' radio transmissions. Terran heard the call go out." Regret flickered in his eyes. "I had hoped to find your son before you realized he intended to run away."
The warm fuzzies attacked me again, but they didn't just flutter in my belly. They crept up and wedged into my heart. He'd gone to find my son. He hadn't wanted me to worry. He had tried to take care of me. I didn't know how to feel about that. I had never been taken care of before. It seemed like I was always the one in charge, carrying the burden of the whole family, making sure everything got done.
Thanks to Gabriel, my son was okay.
Me, on the other hand ...
"Why would someone try to off me? I'm a beautician, for God's sake. I'm nobody."
"That's not true."
I stared at him. My gaze dipped to the cream shirt that so finely molded his muscled chest. "I really want to lick you."
"I know." He smiled. He was so gorgeous. I couldn't believe I was breathing the same air as he was. He seemed otherworldly - I mean more so than most vampires. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and cup that strong jaw, and press my lips against the pulse beating in his throat.
"All the Broken Heart Turn-bloods have been targeted," said Gabriel. "Three others were attacked, but luckily escaped. Everyone, except you, has vacated to the compound."
"I suppose that information came over the airwaves, too?"
He nodded.
"Why would anyone want any of us dead?"
"The Vedere prophecy," he said softly. "One among you will unite the vampires and lycanthropes. "
"Yeah. Terran seems to think it's me."
"It is, Patricia."
"Gabriel!" Terran's voice was full of irritation. "Let's go!" She hurried toward us. "My queen," she said, dropping to one knee. "I'm sorry I failed you."
"I'll let it go this time," I said drolly. The poor child was delusional if she thought I was some kind of royalty. Hell, they all were.
Her lips quirked, but she stalled the grin. She popped to her feet, glaring at Gabriel. Whatever respect, however misplaced, she had for me didn't seem to extend to him. She pointed her sword at him. "Can we go, already? Or shall we wait around for another barrage of fire?"
"Terran believes she's in charge of me," explained Gabriel as he helped me to my feet.
"Move it!" barked Terran. She waved us forward, and we went. She walked behind us, the sword ready in her hand. I sure wouldn't mess with her.
I had no idea where we were going. But we weren't the only ones going there. Nonna and Dottie drifted along right next to us. Dottie was smoking, too. Bitch. She gave Terran the once-over. "Not much you can do about that scar, but she's got fabulous hair."
"I always wanted a sword," said Nonna as she poked her finger through Terran's blade. "How much do you think it weighs?"
"You didn't have the strength to pull a slot handle," I scoffed. "How do you expect to swing around a sword?"
"I can swing it quite well, I assure you." Terran sounded miffed.
Oh, yeah. I forgot that not everyone knew about my gift. Most people weren't real thrilled to know that ghosts were hanging around, much less that I could converse with them.
"Remember, Terran? Patricia speaks to the dead," said Gabriel proudly. Hmm. How had he known that?
"There are ghosts around us?" she asked.
"I'm talking to my grandma." I glanced over my shoulder. Terran looked way too tense, which made me tense. "She likes your sword."
"Terrific."
She'd barely gotten the word out when Gabriel stopped and jerked me behind him.
Then I heard the burning whine of another fireball. I looked up and nearly wet myself.
The fire exploded right in front of us. The trees lit up instantly.
"This way!" screamed Terran. She turned around and went to the left, taking another route to wherever the hell we were going. If I had a heartbeat, it would've been pounding furiously. Even so, I felt as scared as I ever had in my life. I still didn't understand what was happening or why.
I didn't have much time to think about it. Terran slashed away at the tangled brush, while Gabriel held my hand tightly and kept me close. I smelled the burning trees and heard the crackle of falling branches. Who - or what - was lobbing fire at us?
"Where are we going?" I shouted. Like it mattered. Because anywhere had to be safer than here.
Terran stopped so suddenly, I plowed into her. She didn't budge. Instead, she leaned down, muttered some pretty-sounding words, and pulled on the ground.
An earth-covered door popped open. "Go, my queen."
I wasn't about to argue, so I skittered into the dark hole. I slid down the slimy tunnel until my feet hit a stone floor. I staggered forward, righting myself, and looked around.
I was in a low-lit cave. I couldn't figure out where the source of light was coming from, but I was glad it wasn't pitch-black.
Gabriel arrived next, landing on his feet in a much more graceful manner, and then Terran jumped out of the hole. She worked some more juju on the opening and it melted away, leaving only the bumpy rock of the cave wall.
I had seen some seriously weird things since I became a vampire, but even I was impressed with Terran's magical abilities.
"Keep moving." Terran charged left, down the dimly lit corridor and once again, we followed her. Our little journey ended when she darted into a large cavern, lit by hundreds of white orbs floating around the ceiling. Huh. I thought only the Family Ruadan could create fairy lights.
In here, it didn't look much like a cave. The floor was smooth, though the walls still retained their craggy shapes. A large, white marble fountain sat in the center of the room. In the middle was the statue of a woman in a flowing gown. Her hair was swept into an updo and her face held a pensive expression. She looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place where I'd seen the face.
The woman stood next to a large wolf. One hand was on the head of the animal and the other held a crystal orb. It was from this that water flowed into the surrounding pool.
Around the fountain were various chaises and settees in bold colors. A girl with shockingly pink hair and paper white skin lounged on a yellow couch. She was wearing pajamas the color of her hair. Piled around her and her seat were dusty, thick books. She didn't look up from perusing the large book open on her lap.
One section seemed to have beds, and another part was filled with all kinds of computers and other gadgets. In the far right corner was a large desk covered by files, loose papers, books, and food debris. There were other people, too, in the shadows and on the sidelines who were waiting, watching.
Pink Hair gave me the once-over, looking none too impressed. "She's your queen?" she asked, her British accent thick. "Is that your real hair color?"
"Is that yours?" I retorted, turning away from her. "Where's Wilson?" I asked Gabriel. "You said he was safe."
"That foul-mouthed brat was yours, was he?" said Pink Hair. She lazily turned another page. "Zipped 'is mouth up, I did. Put him in the dungeon, too."
My vampire speed came in real handy. I enjoyed the look of surprise on the girl's face when she found herself dangling from my hand, my fingers squeezing her throat. Her eyes were pink, too. That kinda freaked me out, but I didn't let go.
I stared into her pink eyes. "Get. My. Son."