Blood Sense (Blood Destiny #3) Read online

  "Wake her if at all possible and pour blood into her," White had said. "It'll replenish what she lost. Clean out the slashes; if there's any debris left inside, her skin will heal around it and it'll stay inside her body. That would be a shame; her skin is fine and beautiful."

  Tony carried Lissa to the bathtub in his bedroom after getting as much blood into her as he could and proceeded to wash out all the cuts and gouges as carefully as possible in a tub full of water. The bleeding had stopped except when he reopened cuts and gashes to remove dirt and such. Lissa was wrapped in towels and laid on his bed while Tony made a call. He had people on his staff who were experts at cleaning nearly anything and he ordered them to come over. No questions were asked as they cleaned blood from the carpet in Lissa's bedroom—they knew better.

  * * *

  "She got hit last night," Tony explained to Bill, who'd come over to do guard duty during the day. Lissa was back in her bed and everything seemed to be healing up. "Took out three vampires. The last one was coming for me when she got him but he got her first."

  "I'll keep an eye on her." Bill promised.

  "Make sure she eats as much as she can when she wakes," Tony said before walking out the door. He had meetings all day and while he might have preferred to stay with Lissa and apologize to her because his guilt was nagging at him, he had to go.

  Chapter 11

  My mouth was dry and I felt horrible when I woke. Bill was sitting in a chair in the corner of my bedroom, waiting for me to wake. "You the welcoming committee?" I mumbled, slapping a hand over my face.

  "Looks that way. Tony said you got hit last night and to make sure you ate as much as you could." He unlocked my cooler and took out a unit of blood. "Here, drink," he said, handing the bagged blood to me.

  "You might not want to stick around for this," I said wearily, accepting the bag.

  "Nah. They poured blood into my dad before he died," Bill said. "He got shot in the line of duty."

  "I'm sorry," I sighed, struggling to sit up so I could drink. Eventually I managed, biting the top off the bag so I could drink. I nearly finished the thing, I was so thirsty.

  "We'll try for more in a couple of hours," Bill said. "Director Hancock should be home around then." I blinked at Bill. The more I knew him, the warmer and more human he was, and I was beginning to see him as a friend. "Go back to sleep," he said. "I'll read." He held up a magazine. Bazookas and Bullets might not be my first pick in reading material, but Agent Bill was who he was, after all.

  Taking Bill's advice, I just slept after I drank my dinner. There were still a few healing scratches and red lines across my ribs; I'd lifted my top to check. I was afraid to look at my back—Bill said the wound to my head was all right. More than likely, I should have called Merrill and Gavin but I was too tired. Tony came in after a while and woke me again.

  "Lissy, try to drink some of this, baby." He held an opened bag of blood under my nose. I drank a little of it and he put the rest back in the cooler. "How do you feel, pretty girl?" he asked, sitting on the side of my bed.

  "Go away." I pulled the sheet over my head; he'd turned on the bedside lamp and I found it annoying. I wanted to go back to sleep.

  "Come on, baby," Tony lay down beside me, spooning a little. His arm was over me, hugging me close. I sure hoped Agent Bill had gone home; no way did I want him to see this.

  "Tony, leemelone," I muttered, closing my eyes. My three words had been reduced to a single, unintelligible one.

  "Just go to sleep, baby. I'll wake you again in a couple of hours so you can eat a little more." I was out like a light after that.

  * * *

  "Honored One." Charles had his laptop open in his hands and was standing in the doorway to Wlodek's study. Wlodek had brought carpenters in and his bookshelves had been replaced. His Monet was out for repairs; some Monks at a monastery were doing that for him. Surprisingly, the painting of Napoleon that Lissa had given him had survived, but it was smaller than the Monet and placed between bookshelves, which had most likely spared it.

  "What is it, Charles?" Wlodek was at least in a better temper tonight.

  "Please take a look at this email from Lissa." Wlodek's eyebrows rose a little. Charles brought his laptop in and settled it on Wlodek's desk so the Head of the Council could take a look. He read through it and then read it a second time. "Pull a list of all safe houses, caves and other places of sanctuary in and near these villages," Wlodek commanded, still looking at the email.

  "I already have," Charles said, handing the information over. "Some of these places we haven't used for centuries and most of the Enforcers don't know they exist. I had to dig to find all of them, sir. My sire helped with this—he asked some of the Council and they provided additional information. Most of this isn't written down anywhere."

  * * *

  It took three days to get over the attack. Bill came in all three days just to watch over me during the day. Tony was busy and a little tired as well, but he offered to take me out, rent movies or do whatever I wanted. I told him I was fine and read some of the books he had in his study. Paul sent an email while I was laid up.

  Lissa, we have a line on the blond man, he wrote. I and the other two are tracking him. If you have acquaintances, we'd appreciate the help. Feel free to hand out this email address; we can arrange something in that way—Paul.

  My hands shook as I dialed Charles, begging him to pick up. He did on the third ring. "Charles, I know I'll get smacked for this," I said, "but there's a werewolf policeman in England and he and a couple other werewolves have a line on the blond man that everybody is looking for in those kidnappings. If Wlodek or the others have any interest in this case, I have his email address. I think he wouldn't mind some help, to tell the truth." I said all of it in a rush so I wouldn't lose my nerve. Charles and the rest of them most likely thought I was crazy.

  "Give me the email address," he said brusquely. I did. Charles thanked me and hung up. I'd done as much as I could do on this side of the pond. I also had an email from Weldon and one from Winkler. Both said nearly the same thing.

  Lissa, Weldon wrote, Karl Johnson is challenging Winkler outside a full moon. In case you don't know who that is, it's Kellee's father. I can't say this for certain, but I feel that Kellee is behind this—she and Winkler are definitely not getting along, so she's trying to remove him and keep her children at the same time—by making a challenge. If Karl wins, this will give the Dallas Pack to him and leave Kellee holding the reins to the Winkler Empire. The unfortunate thing is this; Karl is demanding the Seconds fight. This is his choice outside a full moon. Since Karl is not a member the Dallas Pack, Winkler has the right to choose anyone as his Second if he doesn't want his own Second to take it. Winkler has asked for you, Lissa. I've already approved this, provided you accept. If you don't want to do this, Davis or one of the others from the Dallas Pack will take up the challenge on Winkler's behalf. Let me know quickly. Karl wants to do this in five days.

  I opened Winkler's email next; it was nearly the same thing except that he was busy cursing Kellee in every other sentence. Tony came in while I was re-reading the emails. "I need to go to Dallas really quick," I said. "Winkler can have his jet here for me tomorrow night."

  "But what if I need you here?" Tony frowned. I let him read the emails. Tony whistled. "Damn, they aren't messing around," he said. "Fine. Go get this over with. I warn you, Lissa, you let a werewolf take you down, I'll never speak to you again."

  "Ha, ha. That is so amusing, Director Boy." I was grumpy but there was no way I wanted Karl Johnson, aka Kellee's daddy, to bring in some thug who'd not only kill Davis but take Winkler's Pack away from him because little miss spoiled britches wanted it. There was the worry, though, in the back of my mind over what might happen. I had no idea who I'd be facing. Did the wolves have the equivalent of Bruce Lee or something? What was I going to tell Gavin and Merrill? Best not to think about that. I called Weldon on the phone.

  "Winkler's sending the j
et for me tomorrow night," I said after he answered.

  "Then I'll come, just to make sure everything is handled fairly. Karl is out of his mind, Lissa."

  "Yeah. I get that, too," I agreed. "Do you want to call Winkler or should I? And if you do, tell him I'm not about to stay anywhere near fancy britches. She'd stake me at high noon if she knew where I slept."

  "I'll have Winkler fly you into Grand Forks to pick me up and we'll travel to Dallas together. We'll stay at the same hotel and I'll make sure you're safe. I'll contact Winkler right after we're done talking."

  "Good." I really didn't want to talk to Winkler anyway. This was just too weird.

  "I'll be waiting and I may bring an extra guard since I have to leave Daryl here with my grandbaby," Weldon added.

  "Of course you do," I said. "Is he growing like a weed?"

  "You got it," I could hear the grin in his voice. Weldon was awful proud of that baby. We hung up after that.

  I called Merrill's cell, got his voice mail and told him that a bit of a problem had cropped up in Dallas and I was going there the following evening. I didn't elaborate. I'd explain if he called me back and asked. Gavin's cell rolled right into his voice mail so I told him pretty much the same thing. Then I went to pack with Tony dogging my heels the entire way.

  He had me out to the airport in plenty of time and watched while Davis and the werewolf co-pilot loaded me into the jet, along with my luggage. Tony insisted on kissing me before I boarded and watched until they closed the door on the cabin. I called Thomas Williams, my current Packmaster, checking in with him while the pre-flight check was done. It was much earlier on the west coast.

  "I know about it and I'm flying to Dallas, too," he said. "I just want to make sure there's no funny business since one of my Pack is involved in this." I was thinking that with Thomas and Weldon there, I wouldn't worry so much while I slept. The flight was uneventful and Weldon was waiting for us when we landed in Grand Forks. My old body bag waited with him, and he carried it on board with his bag. It was four in the morning when we flew out of Grand Forks. Weldon would have to get me inside the bag before we landed in Dallas. Kipp, the werewolf that Weldon brought along as an extra guard, was from the Fargo Pack and had helped guard Weldon when I first met him. Kipp grinned at me and sat across from Weldon, who'd seated himself next to me.

  "We'll be staying in Winkler's guest house and Kellee is banned from the kitchens while meals are being prepared. Winkler doesn't want her poisoning anybody," Weldon grinned. "He's got half the Pack in the house, I think, and they're all watching her."

  "That might be different," I said. "I don't think I've met very many of his Pack. How many are there?"

  "Dallas has the largest Pack in the U.S." Weldon informed me. "Most other large cities have more than one Pack since there are so many wolves. Dallas and Miami are the two holdouts that haven't split up. Dallas has more than a hundred wolves."

  "Wow," I said. "So, that would be a real feather in Karl's overly large hat."

  "It would. The Boise Pack has about twenty-five wolves."

  "Is it hard to keep up with all this stuff?" I looked at Weldon. He was still a handsome man when all was said and done, even if he was overly fond of flannel.

  "Not usually," he grinned. "The worst was remembering all those new Packmasters when thirty-six of them were replaced at once."

  "That brings up pleasant memories," I grumped.

  "We got through it and we're still alive," Weldon was looking on the positive side of things.

  Oddly enough, I was thinking about all the times I'd stayed up on a Saturday night before becoming vampire and before Don had gone into the hospital, just so I could finish a book without any interruptions. I'd given up sleep, then, just to do it. Now there wasn't any staying up past my bedtime. It was a shame. Weldon and Davis wrapped me in my body bag and zipped me up when the sun rose. At least I didn't fry when the sun came up; I know that much.

  * * *

  "How's the bitch?" Davis asked Winkler as he helped Weldon carry Lissa's body bag off the plane.

  "As foul tempered as ever," Winkler said, pulling the bag away and lifting it over his shoulder. The back of the van was open so he settled it to one side and then stood guard, making sure nobody placed anything else on top of Lissa.

  "Kellee's behind this," Weldon heaved a bag into the back of the van on the opposite side.

  "I know that," Winkler snapped before recalling that he spoke to the Grand Master.

  "Does Kellee know who you're bringing in?" Weldon asked, pointedly ignoring Winkler's gaffe.

  "Not yet," Winkler laughed humorlessly. "She probably thinks Davis is going to take this. Or maybe Trajan."

  "Trajan might be a good choice if Davis didn't want it," Weldon nodded. Trajan was nearly seven feet tall and all muscle. He had no desire to run a Pack, however, and seemed content to be just a member, although he was a good fighter.

  "We have Lissa." Winkler sighed and climbed into the passenger seat of the van. He'd driven to the airport by himself, but Davis was driving now with Weldon and Kipp loaded into the back seat.

  "Thomas Williams is coming," Weldon informed Winkler as they made their way toward Winkler's mansion in Denton.

  "I would too, if I were in his place," Winkler nodded.

  * * *

  "Look at this." Dr. Frazier showed Tony the new footage. The chimp was disappearing immediately, once he'd received the compound with the new blood. "Not only does he change immediately but he can walk through the wire of his cage. The small dose lasts around fifteen minutes. I was afraid to give any more since we're limited on the supply for the moment. We need more but I have enough to test it on six volunteers this afternoon."

  "You're going ahead and doing human testing?" Tony handed Frazier a skeptical look. They still didn't know what the side effects might be if there were any, or what long-term problems might arise.

  "This is too good to pass up," Frazier replied. "We have the supply on hand now and since I don't know what the shelf life is on the fresh tissue and blood, we're going ahead with this. The chimp is doing fine so far."

  "I think you're pushing this and we won't have the donor for much longer." Tony didn't like doing this, realizing that he might have made a mistake, offering Lissa as he had. She certainly hadn't volunteered.

  "What do you mean you won't have the donor for much longer?" Frazier frowned at the Director.

  "Just what I said," Tony gave Frazier a level look. "She was loaned out to us for a limited time. We have four more weeks, tops, before she goes home. And if I understand things correctly, if her fiancé finds out what we're doing, that might not be a good thing." He didn't say that if Lissa found out, it might not be a good thing either.

  Dr. Lawrence Frazier huffed a bit at Tony's words. "Who is he? The King of the Vampires or something?" He was attempting a joke.

  "No. He's an Assassin for the King of the Vampires," Tony said flatly. Dr. Frazier stared at his Director in alarm.

  * * *

  "Paul Winthrop," the werewolf introduced himself and shook hands with Merrill. Gavin, standing off to the side, didn't offer so Paul knew not to shake with him. "We have a sighting—and the scent, of course," Paul went right into the information he had. "There's an old cottage roughly three kilometers from town and it's falling to ruin; we've tracked him there. We've caught vampire scent, too. That's why we wanted to present this to you, hoping you could help us with that little problem. We'll take the human in and give you the other."

  "Fair enough," Merrill nodded. "We have backup; they're waiting just outside the village." Merrill and Gavin had met with the werewolf officer in a tiny village between Mildenhall and Brandon in East Anglia. The small pub was moderately busy so Merrill was careful not to draw too much attention. He and Gavin were dressed in jeans and knit shirts since they were going to be working. If their luck held, that is.

  "Would you like a ride?" Merrill asked politely as they walked into the foggy night. Paul s
aw the Range Rover parked right outside the pub and taking a chance, accepted. He called the other two werewolves who'd worked on the investigation with him while Merrill drove to the rendezvous point outside the village. Merrill pulled to a stop when they came upon two other vehicles. Henri and Gervais were both there, as were Radomir, Stephan and Brock. Rolfe was even there; he'd begged Wlodek to allow him to come and Wlodek had reluctantly agreed. The other two werewolves showed up shortly after Merrill, Gavin and Paul arrived. Brief introductions were made and they began their trek on foot toward the small, long-abandoned safe house—the only safe house—in the area.

  Henri and Gervais became mist and went to check things over inside the house. A small import was parked in high grass and weeds outside it; Merrill and Gavin knew the odds were very good that Sebastian and his human slave were inside, hidden in a cellar beneath the small, stone structure. Henri and Gervais returned quickly with verification.

  "He looks like a monster," Gervais said, once he'd regained corporeality. "Sebastian has neglected himself and smells horrible."

  "Does the human have weapons?" Paul asked softly.

  "We didn't see any," Henri replied. "He is a sheep, completely under Sebastian's control."

  "He was a petty criminal before this," Paul said. "Now, he will bear the brunt of all the killings."

  "He will spend the rest of his days in prison. We will not allow the true killer that luxury," Gavin growled. Paul nodded his understanding.

  The combined forces made their way quietly toward the house. Sebastian and his slave were huddled in the dirt cellar of the tiny, stone dwelling. Gavin silently opened the hidden trap door and let himself down. Merrill and Rolfe followed closely behind.