Absent Shadows: Destiny Part 11

'Are you alright, Lili? You don't look well,' he said, concern written all over his face.

'Yeah ... sorry ... it's just ... well ... I guess I'm a bit more of a chicken than I realised. I mean ... I wanted to come on this trip ... I'd been looking forward to this very moment ... but now that we're here, I feel like ...'

'Hey, it's alright. If you want, I'll stay in the truck tonight. Is that what you're worried about? Are you frightened ... of me?'

'No, I mean, well, it's not you ...' I stammered, not sure what to say.

He walked up and put his arms around me, holding me gently until my breathing relaxed a little, and my heartbeat dropped down to something more approximating a human's.

'It's okay,' he whispered into my hair. 'Don't be afraid. You know I would never hurt you, don't you?'

'Oh, Sam, it's not that. I'm not afraid of you, I mean ... it's not because, you know ... you're a vampire ...' I struggled to find the right words, knowing how stupid I must sound. 'I mean ... we haven't known each other very long ... and ... well ... this whole ... s.e.x thing ... even if you weren't a vampire I think I'd be just as nervous ....'

He laughed-the sound making my nervousness turn to embarra.s.sment. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks and I was glad the light was dim, although I suspected he could still see me perfectly well.

'You think I'm an idiot, don't you?' I asked.

'No, not at all. I think you're wonderful, actually. Look, we don't have to do anything that you don't want to.'

He kissed me then, and it felt as if we were the only two people on the planet. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and held on tightly. Sam was just so wonderful. How could I ever have doubted that?

We sat and talked for a bit-just chatty stuff. I'm sure he was just trying to make me more comfortable. Then, after I yawned a few times, Sam suggested I should get some sleep.

He walked with me up to the large concrete building that had the bathrooms and showers, and stood guard outside while I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. I changed into my pyjamas and pulled my heavy jacket on over the top before walking back out to meet him. The night air was freezing and the wind seemed to cut right through my jacket.

As we walked past Claire and Tom's cabin, I could still hear her giggling. Good for Claire.

When we got back to the cabin, I sat on the edge of the bed. Though we were out of the wind, it was still freezing, and I couldn't control the shivers that racked my whole body.

'You're freezing. Why don't you jump into bed and warm up?' he said.

As soon as I had the doona pulled up around me, he flicked off the light. I curled onto my side, facing the window, and within seconds, I felt his head hit the pillow next to mine and his arm wrap around me. He pulled me back, close to his body and I could tell he was on top of the doona even though the shape of his body matched mine exactly.

One side of me wanted to roll over and kiss him, but I knew that wasn't fair-to start something that I clearly wasn't ready to go through with. So instead, I just stayed where I was, and savoured the musky smell of him and the closeness of his body. Within a few minutes my shivering stopped and I could feel my heartbeat dropping, and my mind relaxing.

When I woke sometime later, Sam was no longer next to me. The room was just beginning to get light, and I could see him standing near the door, talking on his phone. I tried hard to hear what he was saying but it was too soft-only a murmur. But then I heard two words, clearly.

'It's happening,' he said. Then after a bit more murmuring, he put the phone back into his pocket.

Sam turned and spoke to me, his voice expressionless. 'I think we may have to give our hiking a miss today. I'm sorry, but Tom and I will need to get back, as soon as possible.'

'What's happening? Just now on the phone, you said "It's happening"-what's happening, Sam?'

'Michael found four bodies in the gardens last night. They'd been killed by vampires, and were laid out in a way that suggests it was a message for us.'

'A message? What do you mean a message? What sort of message?' I could hear the panic in my voice.

He walked over, and sat on the edge of the bed, taking my hands in his and rubbing them softly as he spoke. 'Look, it's nothing really-nothing for you to worry about.'

'It isn't nothing, Sam. I mean ... the look on your face. If it's nothing, why do you and Tom have to go back?'

He hesitated, and I was sure he wasn't going to tell me anything more. But then his expression changed.

'The bodies were placed in a diamond shape, and that has a special significance for us. The diamond is very powerful in our world.'

'But what makes you think it was a message for you?'

'They were near the base of the tree that you've seen me at so often. That's very close to the spot where Tom and I were changed. And it's also almost directly across the road from The Cauldron.'

'I don't understand, Sam. Who would do this? Who knows about you, and Tom?'

'Do you remember me telling you about Erranase, and why he changed Tom and me in the first place?'

'Yes ... for protection.'

'Yes-protection from three very powerful vampires that he'd travelled with for many years-Zunios, Anubinse and Mardukian.'

He paused, and I think he was going to stop there, but I needed to know what was going on. 'And you think it has something to do with them?'

'Erranase was right, they did follow him. Just not straight away. They arrived in Melbourne a few years ago. They've been keeping a relatively low profile, biding their time I suppose. We've suspected they were gearing up for something, but we didn't know what exactly. My guess is that they've noticed that Tom and I have been rather distracted these past few weeks, and they've sent us this message as a bit of a heads up that something is about to happen.'

'When you say distracted, you mean because of me, and Claire?'

'Yes, well, maybe ... possibly.'

'Oh, no, you mean this is my fault? That these four people got killed because I distracted you from your normal routine? I feel sick. This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't here.'

'Look, I shouldn't have said that. This was going to happen, sooner or later. Believe me, they've killed others before. They've been approaching Erranase, trying to win him over-get him back into their little band. They weren't going to go away. If anything, I'm glad that this is happening. The waiting has been the worst. They've made a move, so now we have something to work with.'

I felt numb. Suddenly the romantic idea of dating a vampire disappeared, and the reality hit me like a sledgehammer-I was way out of my depth. Sam rubbed my hands again, then leaned down and kissed my forehead.

'We'll need to get back. I'm sorry to cut the trip short, but Tom and I need to meet with Michael. I'll go tell Tom. You better get dressed-we'll need to make tracks.'

As soon as he was gone, it took all my self-control to hold back the tears. Last night I'd been afraid of making love to a vampire. This morning I was afraid that the vampire I loved might get killed.

I was ready to go, standing by the truck when Claire came out of her cabin. She was rubbing her eyes, smearing her makeup even more than it already was. Her voice was gravelly when she spoke.

'Are you alright? Sam says he got sick last night, so he wants to go home. But you're okay, aren't you?'

'Oh, yeah, sure-I'm fine. Just a bit tired I suppose.'

'Hmmm, me too,' she said, grinning. 'I think I drank almost that whole bottle of Bailey's last night.'

'Bailey's? You never said anything about having Baileys.'

'Oh, didn't I tell you I had it? I should have shared it with you ... sorry. It was awfully nice and made Tom's kisses taste just that much sweeter, if you know what I mean,' she giggled.

'So, you had fun I take it?' I tried to sound nice, but couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Why did she always have to drink so much?

'Fun? Yeah, well I think so anyway, as much as I can remember. I think I must have pa.s.sed out because it all seems a bit of a blur. Tom is a really good kisser; I remember that much for sure. How about you? I hope Sam's getting sick didn't mean ... you know ...'

Tom and Sam walked up then, saving me from this conversation. Tom quickly helped Claire into the truck while Sam and I jumped into the back. Then Tom was behind the wheel. The engine purred to life even though it must have been nearly freezing outside. In a moment, we were off.

* CHAPTER THIRTEEN *.

The drive home was much quicker than the trip up; it was early, and there was hardly any traffic on the roads. Sam sat quietly beside me, and I could only a.s.sume he was deep in thought. Tom and Claire chatted away in the front.

The weather had changed. Yesterday's blue skies and nearly spring like conditions were not to be repeated today. It wasn't raining but the sky was dark and the wind was cold-rain was coming.

'Looks like the weather forecaster got it wrong,' said Claire, turning around in her seat to talk to me.

'Yeah, it looks like it could start raining any minute,' I replied.

'So, maybe we can come up again in a few weeks, if we get a good weekend. I thought the cabins were quite nice, didn't you?' Claire asked.

'Yeah, the cabins were great ... I'd love to come back up,' I replied, wishing now that I hadn't been such a chicken last night.

'Cool,' Claire replied, and turned back in her seat to chat to Tom with a big grin on her face.

I stole a glance at Sam, but he didn't appear to have been listening to us. I could only a.s.sume he was deep in his own thoughts.

It wasn't long before we pulled up in front of Michael's place. Sam and I got out, and Tom drove off to take Claire home. Sam had wanted him to drop me home too, but I'd refused to go. I had to know what was happening, and offer my help if there was anything that I could do. Sam reluctantly gave in.

We walked into the house and back to the dining room where we'd eaten a few nights earlier. Today the room looked more like military headquarters than a dining room. There was a huge map of Melbourne spread out on the table, and it had circles and triangles drawn all over it. There were arrows and dots too, but none of it meant anything to me.

Crystal and Michael were on one side of the table, leaning over the map, deep in discussion. An older looking man that I hadn't seen before was standing on the other side, also studying the map. This must be Erranase, I thought, as we walked up.

Just as I thought his name, he looked up and met my gaze. His eyes were very dark, nearly black, and when I looked at them, they had that same hypnotic effect that Sam's often did.

'Ah, Sam, you've arrived,' he said as Sam came up behind me.

'Erranase,' said Sam, as if that sufficed for a greeting.

'And this must be your friend Lili,' he said, directing his attention to me. 'Sam's sadness has weighed heavily upon me for many years, so it gives me great pleasure to meet someone who has been able to bring him joy.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you, too,' I said, stopping myself before I continued with the 'I've heard so much about you' that almost slipped from my lips.

'So, what have you found out?' asked Sam, turning to Michael.

'Remember me telling you they'd been buying up properties in the city? Well, it seems they have been focusing on this area mostly,' Michael replied, sweeping his hand across a portion of the map that was scattered with little purple dots.

'I've marked all of their properties on the map-the ones we know of anyway. These three,' he said pointing to three that had an X marked on the purple dots, 'make up a triangle shape, like this. The distance between this property and this one at the top of the triangle, is exactly the same as the distance between it and this other one at the bottom. As far as I can work out, they are the only ones like that-equidistant.'

He grabbed a black pen and a ruler, and darkened the line between the 3 marked spots, making a clearer triangle.

'Now any of these three spots, where I've put red dots, will make a perfect diamond,' he said pointing to each of the red dots. When he got to the third red dot he rested his hand there. This last spot was just west of the gardens, on the corner of King Street. I knew it immediately.

'The Cauldron,' said Sam, his voice flat and low.

I drew in my breath involuntarily, and then tried not to make a sound as I let it out slowly.

'I think the bodies were a message-either that they have secured The Cauldron, or that they are confident they will.'

'So there could still be time to stop them?' asked Sam.

Time for what, I wondered.

'Yes, it's possible. I'm going to try to contact the owner, and see if he'll tell me anything. And importantly, see if he might be open to other offers, if he hasn't already sold it. I'll go over there shortly, and have a poke around upstairs in those storerooms, and down in the bas.e.m.e.nt. I'll see if there are any clues that I can pick up. I don't think there will be anything, but it's worth a look.'

'I'll meet with Elizabeth, and go up to the spot where the bodies were placed,' Sam said. 'Maybe one or even a couple of those that got killed will still be hovering around. She may be able to coax them to talk to us. They may remember something.'

'Good idea,' said Michael. Then he turned, gesturing toward Erranase.

'They've requested another meeting with Erranase. I'd suggest it means that Zunios is still trying to get him to re-join their group, which is a good sign. I'm sure if he'd they'd already replaced him they wouldn't bother. Well, unless of course, it is simply for the purpose of gloating. I'm hoping that they believe they've secured their fourth property and they're going to try to lure him back with promises about all the power it will give them.'

'Is it safe? For Erranase to meet with them?' asked Sam.

'Yes, I believe so. Zunios is arrogant, but he's careful. He won't want to draw attention to himself, any more than we do. Not in broad daylight anyway. Is Tom coming back?' Michael asked.

'Yes, he shouldn't be long-he's just gone to Camberwell. He should be back within the hour,' Sam answered.

'Good. Perhaps he and Crystal should accompany Erranase to balance things out a bit. They've asked to meet at three, on the steps of Flinders Street Station. It's a very busy place so I'm sure they won't try anything, but I'd still be happier if Tom goes along.'

'He'll be here,' said Sam.

The room went quiet. Everyone seemed to be deep in thought, working through their plans. I knew it was stupid but I had to ask.

'Is there anything I can do, Michael? To help?'

Erranase slowly lifted his head, and smiled at me. 'Sweet child, you would like to help?'

'No,' said Sam, glaring at Erranase. Then turning to me he continued in an authoritative voice, 'Tom will take you home as soon as he gets here with the truck. You don't need to get involved in this. I should never have allowed you to come with me.'

'But if there is something, anything, that I can do,' I said, looking at Erranase. There had been a little twinkle in his eyes when he'd spoken to me before. Maybe he'd thought of something.

But it was Michael that spoke. 'There might be something you could help with.'

'No, Michael. Please,' said Sam, stepping in front of me, blocking my view of Michael. 'I'm sorry I brought her here-she shouldn't be involved. This isn't her fight.'

'True, and I'd never put her in harm's way. You know that. But it just occurred to me that those four people that were killed by vampires last night may not be terribly inclined to show themselves to a vampire today-even one as charming as you.'