the map.
“There are a lot of estates scattered throughout this area. Let the
others know that we will divide up the area.” He flips open his
computer and types something in.
As it’s computing, he looks up. “Andrew, were
you ever in this area and did you ever have encounters with a
family of vampires or trouble with werewolves? That might help us
narrow down the search even more. From what Mia is saying, it had
to be someone that you once came across and has a score to settle.
From the sounds of it, they will contact you, but we should try to
find the children before that. Once they contact you, it may be
rather late in their game.”
“Reginald, are you sure that it is not
Jonathan, because truthfully, I have never been in this area. We
were traveling when we were fighting, people got hurt and we have
killed other vampires and demons, but no place even close to here,
nor have we ever fought a family of vampires or a pack of
wolves!”
“Andrew, we would be wasting precious time
looking for Jonathan. I assure you that at this moment, he is not
on this plane, nor has he been since that night. I would have told
you, believe me!”
The door opens and Gabriel, Martina, Eva and
Jackson rush in. “I hear we have a lead and some places to check
out,” Jackson notes walking over to the map.
Looking at Gabriel, I remember how helpful he
was in helping me decipher things that I had observed in the past.
I grab his hand, leading him over to the couch. “I am ready when
you are.” He replies to my unspoken thoughts.
After running through everything that I
observed and heard, I feel him rise. Opening my eyes, he’s at the
map. “Reginald, it has to be a fairly vast estate. They are very
cunning and cold. They are using the people that they house as
their food source. The estate is large enough for them to give the
families’ time to have large families and spread out enough for the
others to be unaware of what is going on, that’s why one of them
was sent to get the entire family. It is a family of vampires and
from the sounds of it, the way they hunt is brutal and terrifying
for their victims. It is sport for them.” His tone is absolutely
livid.
Worried looks flash between them before their
eyes move to the computer. I join them. “There are only five
estates in that area large enough to meet that criterion.”
“Get the information to the others, we need
to split up and cover the territory quickly.” Even Reginald’s voice
is now strained.
Moving me back into the circle, Reginald
seems to be taking charge of the situation. “Mia, I need you and
Damian to get another message to the children.” From the change in
his features, something has struck him.
“What’s wrong? Why do you look so
worried?”
“They are hunters who have had their food
source compromised. They are going to be very agitated and are
probably still be hungry. From the sounds of Gabriel’s description,
they live for the hunt and the fear that they instill in their
prey. Their preoccupation and Nicholas and Kayla’s proximity to
Nicole and Jacob may have masked that they are human, but if they
begin to focus on the children ...”
My hand thrusts forward, inadvertently
punching his mouth in my rush to stop his words. The images
bombarding my mind overwhelm my senses, my body shakes violently
considering what they could now face. Shaking me, he locks me into
place. “Mia, you need to concentrate on connecting with the
children as I am instructing Damian, we can’t let them detect that
Nicholas and Kayla are not part vampires.”
Andrew’s hands replace his on my shoulder;
his voice is at my ear. “Mia, focus on the children and how much
you love them and want to connect with them! Don’t let your fear
interfere with what you need to do!” He can’t hide the utter fear
in his voice, compelling me to move past my own. Grasping their
picture, I place it in the middle and stare at their faces as I
grab Emma and Damian’s hand.
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Martin A. Lee, Bruce Shlain