“Timing is everything,” he agreed. “But that still brings us back to why vampires, and quite possibly The Dark Prince, are after you. What’s the connection?”
I shook my head, a sudden panic swelling in my chest. “You don’t think Boaz is actually alive and calling himself The Dark Prince, do you?”
Charlie laughed. “I’ve met the vamp that calls himself that ridiculous name. It’s not Boaz.”
“Then maybe someone else from my past is working with him. It could be my grandfather, my aunt, or—” I swallowed hard, still unable to stomach her betrayal. “My former best friend, Liane. She is the one who told my parents where I was before they captured me and put me in that coffin.”
Charlie leaned back into his seat, seeming to ponder my words. “I’ll have some people look into all of them. It’s important we find this connection before anything else bad happens.”
I agreed, not liking at all the sick feeling spreading in my gut.
Chapter 42
The next day, Charlie left town. Michael had called and insisted he come to Ireland as soon as possible. Charlie didn’t tell me what for, but by his expression, I knew it was bad. He wasn’t sure how long he would be gone for, but he assured me he would have men look into the people from my past. He also assigned two Deific guards to follow me around. Just in case.
Because of this new threat toward me, I pushed my abilities as far as I could, which helped me develop a new gift that not even Dr. Skinner could explain. With certain people whom I came in contact with, I would only have to look at them, and instantly I knew their feelings, thoughts, and intentions. They always seemed to be individuals who were going through a difficult time in their life. It was as if their souls screamed for relief and somehow I was able to tune into their cries. Sometimes I wondered if my magic grew this way because it’s what I wanted. Now, maybe, I could be more of a help to both Lucien and Charlie.
This new ability was exhausting at first, but with the help of Dr. Skinner, I learned to magnify it, giving me the ability to call upon it at will. I was especially excited to use this gift to help the children at the Academy who couldn’t communicate, but to my surprise, it was useless. They had no worldly sorrows or heavy burdens despite their obvious physical afflictions.
Unfortunately, the people outside the school were not like the special children. They did have heartache, and I couldn’t find enough hours in the day to help them all. I spent what time I could walking the streets, searching for those whom I might help, much to the dismay of my two bodyguards who kept a mild interest in what I was doing.
It was during this time I decided to return to Lucien. Feeling other’s pain and burdens weighed me down, and I desperately needed the peace and comfort his presence gave me, but this time I stayed at a distance, afraid I might upset him again.
Lucien led a simple, predictable life. Most of his days were spent by the marina. Something about the water seemed to soothe him. When he was away from the sea, he appeared more tense and agitated. He fed very little, but when he did, it was as if he had researched his victims first and knew exactly where they would be. Because I spent only small moments with him, I was never able to find out how he chose his victims. The only thing they all had in common was some kind of bag or briefcase that he always disposed of with their body.
There was no joy in Lucien’s life. Even feeding seemed to cause him pain, yet he didn’t stop. I longed to remove his suffering, wanting desperately to help him feel the same peace he gave me. As the days passed, I found it harder and harder to stay away. It was only a matter of time before I knew I’d have to move to Seattle. I worried how I was going to tell Charlie, who had become my closest friend.
Charlie was gone for a full ten days. He’d called once while he was away, telling me that his men found nothing out of the ordinary with my grandfather, who had fallen ill almost a year ago. Anne still lived with him and apparently she rarely left the house. As for Liane, two years ago she disappeared, and it was like she didn’t exist anymore. I wasn’t sure how worried I should be about this. Liane may have ratted me out to my parents, but I don’t think she would actually cause me physical harm. But then again, dark magic is extremely alluring. Who knew what she was really capable of?
When Charlie did return, he knocked on my door at almost two in the morning.
“Don’t you sleep?” he asked when I opened the door. His right cheek was scabbed over, and his eye was circled with shades of purple and blue.
I opened the door wide to let him in. “What happened to you?”
“You can’t go anywhere with Michael and not expect a fight.” He moved into the living room and dropped onto my couch. “Am I disturbing you?”
I joined him on the sofa. “Not at all. Did you just get back?”
“An hour ago. I wasn’t going to bother you, but I had a feeling you were awake.”