As Twilight Falls

Chapter 26

The next few days passed in a flurry of activity. Kadie adjusted her hours to Saintcrow's, so that she slept most of the day. Rising in the late afternoon, she showered, dressed, did whatever housekeeping needed to be done, and ate dinner before Saintcrow arose.
Tuesday night, she accompanied Saintcrow, Claude, and Frankie to the airport. Saintcrow gave Frankie and Claude a thousand dollars each, and then, while telling them good-bye, he erased the memory of Morgan Creek and the vampires from their minds.
On Wednesday night, Saintcrow drove her, Chelsea, and Jeremy to Chelsea's home in Rexburg. He gave them the same amount of cash he had given to Frankie and Claude, and after Kadie hugged Chelsea, Saintcrow wiped all memory of vampires from their minds. The only thing Chelsea and Jeremy would remember was that they had met while in Wyoming.
Thursday night, Kadie was surprised to find Nancy's car gassed up and idling in front of Saintcrow's lair.
"Her parents live just a few miles from here," Saintcrow said.
Nancy was sitting on the front porch when they arrived. Her eyes widened in surprise when he pulled into the driveway.
"Do you want to drive?" Saintcrow asked after stowing Nancy's belongings in the trunk.
Nancy shook her head. "It's been years," she said, and climbed into the backseat.
When they arrived at her parents' house, Nancy hesitated on the sidewalk. "Maybe I'm doing the wrong thing."
"I'm sure your parents will be thrilled to see you," Kadie said, wondering at her reluctance.
"I hope so, although we didn't part on the best of terms. My father didn't want me to marry Troy and we had a terrible fight." She let out a sigh. "I guess that doesn't matter now. I'm sure Troy has found someone else."
"I hope everything works out for you," Kadie said, giving her friend a hug.
"Thank you, Kadie. You've been a good friend. If you'd never come to Morgan Creek . . ." Her voice trailed off as the porch light came on.
Glancing past Nancy, Kadie saw a man staring at them out of one of the front windows.
"Time to go," Saintcrow said. He pulled Nancy's suitcase from the trunk and dropped it on the sidewalk, then pressed a wad of bills into Nancy's hand.
Kadie felt the rush of his power as his mind brushed Nancy's. Saintcrow pulled Kadie into the shadows when the front door opened.
The man who had been watching them from the window stepped onto the front porch, peering into the darkness. "Nancy? Nancy, honey, is that you?"
With a joyful cry, Nancy ran up the steps and into her father's arms.
Kadie smiled, touched by the scene on the porch.
"You ready to go home?" Saintcrow asked.
"How are we going to get there?" Kadie had scarcely spoken the words when she felt an odd rush of wind in her face. The next thing she knew, she was standing in Saintcrow's living room, wrapped in his arms. "How did you do that?" she asked when she'd gathered her wits about her.
He shrugged. "Talent."
"Seriously, how did you do that?"
"I'm not sure. I just think about where I want to be, and I'm there. Comes in handy when you're trying to outrun a mob wielding pitchforks."
"Pitchforks?" Kadie asked, brows raised in amusement.
"Pitchforks. Swords. Torches. Wooden stakes. Holy water. You know, the good old days."
"I can't tell if you're serious or just putting me on."
"A little of both."
"Sounds like you've had an exciting life. Or death," she added with a grin.
"Yeah. Well, life and death got a whole lot more interesting when you showed up."
"You made quite a change in my life, too." With a sigh, she rested her cheek against his chest.
"I didn't mean to complicate your life, Kadie."
"I don't mind so much anymore."
"I'll make it up to you one day, I promise."
"Are we still leaving here tomorrow night?"
"Would you rather stay?"
"No. It'll seem strange, though, not being here, not seeing everyone." She looked up at him. "Will Rosemary and the others be all right, staying here by themselves?"
"I don't know. I can't predict the future. I'll leave them some cash, gas up their cars, provide them with cell phones. The rest is up to them. I could be wrong, but I don't think they'll stay long, now that the others are gone."
Cupping her chin in his palm, he smiled at her. "There's a big world out there, Kadie. I look forward to seeing it anew through your eyes."
In the morning, Kadie woke feeling excited at the prospect of going to England, and depressed at the thought of saying good-bye to those who had decided to stay in Morgan Creek. Since becoming a freelance photographer, she hadn't spent much time at home. Her high school friends were all married now, raising families, caught up in their own lives. The ladies in town were the closest friends she'd had since college.
After breakfast, she folded her clothing and placed it in her suitcase. When that was done, she left the house. She spent the next few hours photographing every house and business in Morgan Creek; when she'd finished, she drove out of town and took photos of the countryside and the mountains. Driving back, she paused to take photos of Saintcrow's lair from several angles, then drove back to town, stopping on the way to photograph Blair House.
Nearing the town, she wondered if Saintcrow expected her to leave her Durango here. She hated to leave it behind when she had paid it off only a few months ago.
It was a little after two when she pulled up in front of Brittany's house. Not looking forward to saying good-bye, she knocked on the door.
Only, it was Donna who answered. "Kadie, I'm so glad you're here."
"What's wrong?"
"Brittany . . . she's . . ." Tears spilled down Donna's cheeks and she dashed them away. "I think she's . . . dead."
"What? Where is she?"
"In her room. There's an empty bottle of sleeping pills on the table beside her bed. She's not breathing."
Kadie hurried into Brittany's room. She had never seen anyone who was dead before, but one look and she knew Brittany was gone. Whoever said dead people just looked like they were sleeping had never seen one. "Does anyone else know?"
Donna shook her head.
Blinking back her tears, Kadie drew the covers over Brittany.
"We need to tell the others," Donna said, sniffling.
Nodding, Kadie said, "We'll take my car."
After picking up Rosemary and Shirley, Kadie drove to Donna's house.
"What are we doing here?" Rosemary asked when Kadie pulled up in the driveway.
"We were all going to meet at Brittany's house in just a few minutes," Shirley added.
"There's been a change in plans," Kadie said as they trooped into the house.
Once inside, Donna glanced at Kadie. "You tell them."
"Tell us what?" Rosemary asked sharply. "What's wrong? Has Saintcrow changed his mind about leaving?"
"No." Kadie took a deep breath. "Brittany took her own life last night."
Shirley shook her head. "I don't believe it."
Rosemary's eyes widened, and then she began to cry. "I should have known," she said, sniffling.
"What do you mean?" Kadie asked.
"We had dinner together last night," Rosemary said, wiping her eyes. "She was acting strange, kind of nervous and uptight. And she was drinking. A lot. Something she never did. I asked her several times what was bothering her, but she wouldn't tell me." She shook her head. "I knew something was wrong when we said good night. She hugged me and . . . thanked me for being her friend, and . . ." Rosemary buried her face in her hands. "I never should have left her alone."
"You couldn't have known what she intended," Kadie said.
"But why?" Donna asked plaintively. "Why would she do such a thing now?"
It was the same question Kadie put to Saintcrow when he rose that night.
"I should have seen this coming." He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"What do you mean?"
"They've been prisoners here a long time. They haven't had to think for themselves. Everything has been provided. The thought of being on her own, having to look after herself . . ." He shrugged. "It was probably more than she could handle."
"But she wasn't going to be alone," Kadie said. "She seemed happy to be staying here with Rosemary and the others."
"Well, apparently she wasn't. I'll bury her tonight."
"I want to be there. And I know the others will, too."
An hour later, Kadie stood beside Brittany's grave with Donna, Shirley, and Rosemary. Rosemary had dressed Brittany in her favorite lavender skirt and sweater, applied a bit of makeup, brushed her hair. Saintcrow had provided a gleaming white casket. Kadie was afraid to ask where it came from, but couldn't help wondering if he'd kept a spare somewhere in the house.
Kadie bowed her head and closed her eyes as Shirley began to recite the Lord's Prayer. Then, curious to see how Saintcrow reacted when someone prayed, Kadie opened her eyes, let out a cry of alarm when Rosemary pulled a wooden stake from inside her coat.
Shrieking, "This is all your fault!" Rosemary lunged toward Saintcrow, murder in her eyes.
Fangs bared, his eyes blazing red, he sidestepped deftly and plucked the stake from her hand.
Coming up short, Rosemary stared at him, all the color draining from her face.
Donna and Shirley had looked up in time to see Saintcrow snatch the stake from Rosemary's hand. Now, hugging each other, they stared at Rosemary as if seeing her for the first time.
With a hiss, Saintcrow reached for his attacker.
"No!" Without thinking of her own peril, Kadie darted between them. "Rylan, don't hurt her!" She laid her hand on his arm. "Please."
He glowered at her for several taut moments, then vanished from sight.
Kadie put her arms around Rosemary. "Are you all right?"
"I wish I'd killed him."
"I'm sorry you feel that way."
"How can you stay with him?" Rosemary pushed Kadie away. "I don't understand how you can endure being around him. Did you see his face? He's a monster, Kadie. Mark my words. You'll rue the day if you go with him."
Kadie glanced at Donna and Shirley. From their expressions, she could see that they felt the same.
"I'll drive you back to town," Kadie said stiffly. If it hadn't been such a long walk, and in the dark, she was certain they all would have refused. As it was, Rosemary climbed into the backseat with Shirley, leaving Donna to take the passenger seat.
No one spoke on the way back.
Kadie parked in front of Donna's house, but left the engine running. "The barrier will be down in the morning. Your cars will all have a tank full of gas. You'll find cell phones and some cash waiting for you, courtesy of the monster," she said, her voice tight. "Good-bye."
She kept her eyes straight ahead as the women got out of the car. As soon as the doors were closed, she sped away.
She didn't look back.
Kadie's steps were dragging when she climbed the stairs to Saintcrow's house. She had expected to find him waiting for her in the living room, but the house was dark and he was nowhere to be seen.
Switching on the light, she sank down on the sofa and closed her eyes. She hadn't had time to really get to know the women in town, or to develop deep, lasting friendships, the kind that took years, but she hadn't expected them to turn on her like that. And yet, how could she have expected them to do otherwise? They had been prisoners in Morgan Creek for years. Heaven knew they had ample reason to hate the vampires, and Saintcrow most of all, for treating them so callously.
Was Rosemary right? Was she crazy to stay with Saintcrow? To trust him?
"Having second thoughts?"
Kadie bolted upright at the sound of his voice. Standing, he towered over her, tall and dark, his power a tangible presence in the room. She stared up at him. He looked as he always did, but in her mind's eye she saw him as he had been earlier, his fangs bared, his eyes red as hellfire. Would he have killed Rosemary if she hadn't stopped him? Would he have killed them all?
"Not that I'd blame you." He sat at the other end of the sofa, careful not to touch her. "Kadie?"
"They hate me," she said, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I thought they were my friends, but they hate me."
"It's my fault, not yours. So, where does that leave us?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's a suite waiting for us at the best hotel in London. Do we go, or do we stay here?"
"I want to go home." She held up her hand, afraid to hear what he was going to say. "I want to see my parents. I miss them. I'll come back. I promise. I just need to see them for a little while." And Kathy, she thought. She needed to see her sister. "Don't you trust me?"
He snorted softly. "Should I?"
Strangely hurt, she said, "I thought you already did."
"Why have you never told me about your sister?"
"You know about Kathy?" she asked, then wondered why she was so surprised.
He nodded. "Why didn't you ever tell me about her?"
"I'm not sure. I thought about it, thinking it might convince you to let me go. But then . . ."
"You were afraid you'd hate me if I refused and she died while you were here."
She nodded.
"I wouldn't have let you go," he said. "But I would have taken you home."
"Will you take me now?"
"If you wish."
"Would you do one more thing for me?"
He waited, knowing what was coming.
"Let Rosemary and Donna and Shirley keep their memories."
"We've already talked about this."
"I know, but I can't believe that the three of them are any danger to you. I think you're wrong. I don't think they'll ever leave here. And what if some of the vampires come back? If you erase their memories, they won't know they're in danger until it's too late. Please, Rylan."
It was the sweet entreaty of his name on her lips that was his undoing. "All right, Kadie. You win." It was a risk, letting the women keep their memories. But not too big a risk, as long as they stayed in Morgan Creek. And he'd make sure of that before he left.
"Rylan?"
He took her hands in his. "Before I take you home, there's one thing you need to know."
"What's that?"
"Should you decide to make a run for it, I will always be able to find you. No matter where you go, I will be able to hunt you down."
"Hunt me down? I don't think I like the sound of that. It makes me feel like . . ."
"Prey?"
She nodded.
"I'm a vampire, Kadie. A predator. Humans are what I prey on."
"I know." She looked at their joined hands. His so large and strong. Hers small, powerless in the grip of his. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because if you decide to take off during the day in hopes of escaping me, it won't work. You're mine," he said, an odd note of regret in his voice. "And you'll be mine for as long as it pleases me."
"Didn't we already have this conversation?"
"I just wanted to make sure you understand."
"Will you be mine as long as it pleases me?"
His smile was melancholy. "I'm sure you will tire of me long before I tire of you."
"That's no answer."
"I'll be yours for as long as you wish."
He drew her into his arms, his lips claiming hers. At that moment, she told herself that nothing else mattered, not even the little voice in the back of her head that whispered she was prey.