"Lilith is your daughter," Ginger said softly. "I'm putting you in charge while we're here."
Serena had been with the Sisterhood of Athena for twenty-two years, but being in charge had never been one of her goals. She was content to be a soldier in the cause. Giving orders wasn't her forte.
"I don't need you to do that, Ginger," she said.
They were parked in front of Ethan's home, with its long curving driveway, rolling fields, immaculate stable and pristine house. Red with white trim to match the picket fences, the place was warm and welcoming. It was also abandoned.
"I need to do it," Ginger said. "If this goes bad, I don't want to shoulder the blame. Neither do any of the others. It would drive a wedge into the heart of the organization."
Serena felt the weight of the world settling heavily onto her shoulders.
"Besides," Ginger added, "who better to know what's best for Lilith than her own mother?"
In the backseat, Terry nodded her agreement.
Serena tried to slow her racing heart. She'd been the one to suggest they put a team out here, in case Ethan and Lilith returned. It was a longshot, but she hadn't been able to think of anything better. It had taken a couple of days to organize after Ginger had not only agreed but insisted on coming along.
Then again, she was still trying to keep the truth about Serena's relationship with one of the undead under wraps, so it made sense.
"All right, then, let's go," Serena said, giving her first order.
As one, the three women exited the blue Ford Taurus, which they'd parked at the end of the driveway that snugged up beside the house, making it less obvious, though not invisible. They strode toward the house, and then a soft beeping sound brought them to a stop.
"It's the GPS!" Serena yanked the small gray box from its belt clip and stared at the flashing light on the screen, blessing the day they'd managed to hack the DPI's tracking program. "They're close and coming closer." She turned, scanning the horizon, and then a nickering call brought her head around.
Serena smiled as she saw two horses galloping across the meadow toward the stables, their glorious manes flying as their hooves thundered over the earth, and with every stride, the beeping on her tracking unit got louder and faster. Then she realized that the horses were riderless, and her smile froze and then died.
"Something's happened to them," she whispered.
Terry clutched her shoulder. "Not necessarily."
"No," Ginger said. "They're smart. They must have found the transmitter, attached it to one of the horses and sent them home. Freaking ingenious."
Serena felt as if her heart had fallen to her feet, but she tried to hold back tears. God knew she'd shed far too many of them over the years, and not one had done any good.
Terry gave her a squeeze. "Look, you get the door open, so we can spend the night in the house. Ginger and I will check out the horses. Okay?"
Blinking, she nodded and fished in her backpack for the tiny zipper pouch that contained her lock picking tools. Breaking and entering was one of the skills the Sisters mastered during their training, and she was no exception.
She opened the door without too much trouble, then stepped inside and lifted her head. She went stone still as she spotted the painting above the fireplace, a portrait that bore the same name as her daughter.
Lilith.
And it looked like her, in subtle ways. The hair, the skin tone, the height.
Serena swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked her eyes dry. She dragged her gaze away from the painting with no small effort, tossed the tracking unit onto a coffee table and forced herself to check out the rest of the house, beginning with the kitchen. They would need to eat, after all. As she had suspected, the cupboards were bare, and the fridge held only a stack of plastic bags with the familiar Red Cross logo on them.
She'd moved on to the dining room, in search of clues that might lead her to her daughter, when she heard the others come in and returned to the living room.
"How are the horses?" she asked.
"They're fine. Tired, I think, but they came inside without any trouble," Terry said. "Walked right into their stalls, once we'd cleaned them and put down fresh straw."
"You rubbed them down? Fed them?"
The two women nodded in unison.
"That's good. God only knows how far they'd run." She returned to the window and sank into a chair.
"Have you found anything here, Serena?" Ginger asked. "Any sign of where they might have gone?"
"No." She glanced at the gray electronic box that lay uselessly on the coffee table. "And we can't track them with this anymore. But then again, neither can the DPI."
Ginger moved closer and pressed a hand to Serena's forearm. "I'm sorry. To have come so close, after searching for her for so long"
"It's not over, Ginger. I'm determined to find her, and I will."
"I know you will," the older woman replied.
Terry stood looking around the room. "I doubt they're coming back here tonight. It's too close to dawn.
The would have taken shelter by now."
"I doubt they'll come back here at all," Serena replied. "They have to know the place is being watched."
"If it's being watched," Terry said, looking nervously toward the window behind Serena's head, "then should we still be here?"
"We're not vampires," Ginger said. "They might be watching, but they won't bother us, probably won't even approach us. They won't risk knowledge of their activities leaking to the public, and as far as we know, they have no idea the Sisterhood even exists."
Terry nodded, but she still looked nervous. She had been with the organization nearly as long as Ginger had, and in the years since Serena had joined their ranks, she didn't remember ever seeing her shaken before.
"If we're staying, we'll need supplies," Ginger said.
"Yeah, there's not a crumb here to eat," Serena told her.
"Should I go into town and get food?" Terry asked.
"Not alone," Serena said. "You should both go." She glanced at Ginger then, because she was so unused to giving orders. But Ginger nodded her approval, encouraging her to continue. "I want to stay here, just in case they come back."
"Anything else?" Ginger askedalmost as if it were a test.
Serena licked her lips and thought. "Be discreet, and stick to our cover story. Keep a sharp eye out, too. It wouldn't hurt us to know whether those government goons are keeping tabs on us. Notice everything."
"Will you be okay here alone?" Terry asked. "Maybe we should all go. It won't take long, and if they come back"
"Go." Serena smiled, even though she was far from feeling it. "I'll be fine. I have a hankering for an omelette. Bacon on the side. Oh, and coffee, for God's sake."
"We'll be back in no time," Ginger said, taking Terry's arm and heading for the door.
Serena waited for the sound of the car, and only as it faded did she lower her head into her hands and let the tears she'd been holding back come pouring out.
She'd been so close! But she hadn't had the reunion she'd dreamed of, the fantasy that had kept her going for so many years. Only a glimpse, a teasing glimpse of her flesh and blood, and no more.
Liliththe name those bastards had given herwas a grown woman now. A vampire, yes, but her daughter, still. And she was beautiful. More beautiful than even Serena had imagined. She wished she'd been able to look at her more thoroughly, to drink in every feature, to talk to her, to touch her
"I'm closer than I've ever been before," she whispered, wiping the hot tears from her cheeks. "I'm going to find her this time."
A knock at the front door startled her, and Serena shot to her feet, darting a quick look in that direction before dashing into the kitchen to splash cold water on her face. The tears must not show. The Sisters of Athena did not weep. Not in front of others, at least.
As she grabbed a hand towel to dab her face dry, she called, "I'm coming." Then she hung the towel neatly where she'd found it and walked to the front door. "Who's there?"
"Police, ma'am."
She peered through the window beside the door. The man wore a dark blue suit. No uniform. She didn't see a car in the driveway, either. "Police my ass " she muttered. But she moved to open the door all the same, replaying her cover story in her mind.
She opened the door and fixed a calm expression on her face as she looked up at the tall man who stood on the other side.
"Ma'am," the man said with a respectful nod. "Are you the owner here?"
"Oh, I wish," she replied with a smile. "No, I'm just house- and horse-sitting while the owner's out of town."
"I see." He looked around. "I don't see a vehicle."
"No, I don't either. Did you walk here, Officer?"
He looked back at her quickly. Had her sarcasm been a little bit too evident? "I parked down by the road."
"What an odd thing to do."
"Where's your car, ma'am?"
"Oh, I'm not here alone. I have two colleagues with me. They took the car into town to get us some junk food and DVDs."
"I see. And can I get your name?"
"Sure. If I can get yours. I imagine it's on your identification, isn't it?"
He frowned at her. "There's really no need to be defensive, ma'am. Unless you have something to hide."
"I'm a woman alone in the middle of nowhere, with a strange man standing at my door. I'm not being defensive, I'm being careful."
He smiled a little. "How well do you know the owner?"
"Not well at all. I've met him once or twice, and we share a love of horses. He phoned to ask if I could care for his, and I said yes." She waved a hand. "How could I not? It's a gorgeous place, and like I said, I love horses."
"And where are these horses now?"
"Munching oats in the stable," she said, hoping that nasty little tracking device had been crushed to dust by now.
"Do you know the owner's name?"
"It's on the mailbox, Officer. Dan Smith."
"Mmm. And how long will Mr. Smith be gone?"
"It's open ended. I told him I could stay as long as he needed."
"Do you know where he's gone? Did he leave any contact information with you?"
"No. And no."
"Don't you think that's a bit odd? What if something happened to one of the horses?"
"I imagine I'd call a vet. You still haven't shown me your I.D."
He stared at her silently for a moment, as if trying to decide whether she was what she said she was. She probably ought to stop taunting him and play the obedient citizen, intimidated, as most people were, by authority figures.
"Oh, hell," she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a business card. "Here."
He read the card out loud. "Peggy Johnson. House sitting and in-home animal care."
"That's right."
"There's no address."
"I go where I'm needed."
"Work is that steady?"
"You'd be surprised." She smiled. "Why don't you call my office if you don't believe me?"
His eyes narrowed a little, and he pulled a cell phone from a pocket, quickly dialing the number.
The phone that was clipped to her jeans pocket rang, and she quickly picked it up and said, "Peggy Johnson, House-Sitting and In-Home Animal Care. Can I help you?"
The "cop" almost smiled as he closed his flip-phone and returned it to his pocket. "Very funny," he said.
"I couldn't help myself. You're so serious. Is Mr. Smith in some kind of trouble?"
"No. I just need to ask him some questions about a few things."
"I see. Well, I'll tell him you were here if he calls in. Or if not, then when he returns."
"You do that, Ms. Johnson." He nodded, his eyes taking their time scanning the room beyond her before he finally turned and walked down the driveway, back to where she saw he'd actually parked his car.
Why? Did he have a partner waiting in the vehicle? Weapons? What?
She watched him all the way there, then watched him get into the vehicle, visible now that she knew where to look, though it was too dark outside to see any details, and remained where she was until it pulled out of sight.
She wondered briefly whether he'd believed her, and knew that whether he had or not, he would be checking out her story. She was grateful that she and Ginger had planted enough information to satisfy at least a surface investigation. There was a website advertising her services, complete with testimonials from satisfied customers, all of whom were, of course, Sisters of Athena.
No matter what he thought at the moment, once he checked on her, he would believe her story. What other theory would explain the presence of a harmless looking mortal woman in the home of a vampire?
Nothing he could imagine, she ventured.
After he drove away, she turned, noticing again the framed print that hung above the mantel. It was meant to depict the legendary first wife of Adam, the one who refused to submit, and was expelled from the garden and replaced by the obedient Eve.
Well, obedient for a while, anyway.
Ethan must have cared a great deal for her daughter when they'd been at The Farm. Maybe he'd even loved her.
She hoped he still did. That he would continue to. That he would protect her, the way Serena wished she could do herself.
Moving to the window, she gazed out at the slowly fading night. "I'll find you, sweetheart. I will. And I'll make everything all right for you again. I promise."
The sound of a car, moving far too quickly along the driveway, startled her, and Serena turned and rushed to the front door, fully expecting to see the faux cop and a dozen friends swooping in on her.
Instead she saw the familiar Taurus, Ginger behind the wheel, Terry gripping the dashboard as if for dear life.
Opening the door, Serena rushed outside, meeting them halfway as they hurried toward the house.
Ginger was holding up her cell phone, her eyes eager. "We had a message from"
"Not here!" Serena flung up a hand in traffic cop fashion, stopping her in mid-sentence even as she looked left and then right in search of eavesdroppers. When Ginger blinked in confusion, she said, "I had a visitor while you were gone. Can't be sure he's not still lurking."
Terry and Ginger exchanged glances, then nodded. Terry had two bags in her arms, and Serena felt her stomach growl in spite of everything on her mind.
The three women went straight to the kitchen, where Terry set the bags down and began putting things away.
"Is it safe to speak in here?" Ginger asked.
"Yes, it's fine. I didn't let him inside."
"Who was he?" Terry asked, opening the fridge and wrinkling her nose in distaste.
"DPI." Serena grabbed one of the grocery bags, and edging Terry out of the way, quickly put the blood into the bag and tucked it into the vegetable crisper, out of sight. "He said he was a cop, but he never showed any ID. I gave him the cover story, and I think he bought it."
"For how long?" Ginger asked. "Not that it matters. We won't be here long anyway. Here." She held out her cell phone.
Serena took it and looked at the screen, which showed the text of an email. Glancing up, she asked,
"From Callista?" The other two nodded.
Serena looked back at the phone and began reading the message aloud. "'Sending this riskybut risks necessary now. E and L planning to return to Farm to rescue the rest. Everyone knows and they're waiting. It's a trap. Find this place and intercept them first. Stop them at all cost or they will both be killed. Farm is former military base, if that helps. Must return phone before it's missed. Will leave it on.
Number is 555-0689. DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER. Use to triangulate signal.'"
Serena tried scrolling down for more, but that was the end of the message, except for an odd little symbol, two zeroes with a V underneath them.
00
V
It vaguely resembled the face of an owl. Owls being sacred to Athena, and one of Her symbols, this simple design told Serena that the email was genuine.
"How could they know?" she asked, and even she wasn't certain who she was asking. The phone? The woman who'd sent the message and could not hear her? The two who stood staring at her now? Or the Gods themselves? Maybe all of the above.
"They must have told someone about their plan," Ginger said. "Someone who betrayed them."
Nodding, Serena fished out her own cell phone and placed a call to the Sisterhood's Appalachian headquartersthe place she called home. "It's Serena. I need you to find the location of a cell phone signal.
Can you do that?" She listened, then nodded and gave them the information. "Call me back when you have it." Then she hung up. "As soon as we know where The Farm is, we'll head out."
"I'm not quite sure how we're going to do that," Ginger said. "Lock the doors, ladies."
Serena frowned, turning. Ginger was standing at a window, holding the heavy curtain aside and looking out. The other two quickly looked, as well.
There were people out there. Two at the end of the driveway. One near the stable. Three more in the trees to the right. Just standing there, pale as ghosts.
Terry jerked back from the window, ran to the door and threw the locks. "Are they ?"
"Vampires," Ginger said. "And if they want us, I don't think locks will keep them out."
Serena stood silently, staring at the creatures, wondering why they were lurking, what the hell they wanted. None of them were moving any closer. They were just standing there. "Callista told us that the Chosen at The Farm are transformed when they reach adulthood and sent on missions for the DPI. I'd say we're their latest mission."
Terry was shaking visibly. "So what do we do, then?"
Ginger backed away from her window and strode toward the fridge. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to get something to eat."
"I'm going to take a quick look around before the sun rises."
"Hell, Ethan, there are two hours before dawn. At least." Lilith leaned on a post inside the barn as he headed for the door. The place smelled of musty hay long past its usefulness.
"I know. But still just to be on the safe side," Ethan said.
Lilith nodded, then returned to her task, spreading her blanket cum cloak over the straw on the floor to create a soft place to rest.
Ethan stepped outside and swung the barn door closed behind him, but he walked only a short distance before he lowered himself onto the grassy ground, closed his eyes and focused on blocking his thoughts from everyone except the one to whom he spoke.
James? James, can you hear me?
I've been waiting all night! Where are you? Are you still all right?
Ethan nodded, letting the feeling of the motion move from his mind to his brother's. We're fine. But she's remembering her way back, and I'm beginning to think there's no talking her out of this insane notion.
Then stop trying.
Ethan went still, shocked into silence by his brother's suggestion.
Maybe she's right, Ethan. Have you thought of that? I've entertained the notion of returning to that place and freeing everyone there ever since I left.
But you didn't. The thought rushed from him before he could censor them.
And you resent it, don't you? That I didn't come back for you. But think about it. You didn't go back for Lilith, either. You left her there, because you knew you would have no chance.
No, that wasn't why. I was waiting.
For what?
For you! I knew that if I could find you, you'd help me. You'd know things, you'd have ideas, you'd help me.
He felt his brother's hesitation before he finally replied. And that's exactly what I'm going to do, Ethan.
I'm going to help you. There are three of us now. That's three times the chance of success.
Three times zero is still zero. I can't believe you're going along with this insanity.
I thought you said you planned to go back yourself?
For Lilith! Ethan shouted mentally. But she's free now, and there's no reason to risk my life for the others. They don't even want our help.
Some of them might, James returned. Just tell me when you get there. I'll be waiting.
We'll hit the road again at sundown, and we don't have far to go. I'll delay her, try to steer her off course, pray to God she can't find her way and that we aren't spotted while she tries. But if get there, we'll be there before sunrise tomorrow. Well before, I imagine.
I'll be there, James promised. And, Ethan I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't come back for you.
"Ethan?"
He started, spun around and tried to wipe the guilty look off his face as he spotted Lilith standing there staring at him. And then he didn't need to try anymore, because she was completely naked. She'd pulled her long hair around in front of her shoulders, so that the endless coils spilled over her breasts and waist and hips, all the way to her thighs. But they hid nothing, only made the tantalizing glimpses even more erotic.
He felt himself growing hard, and he wanted her right then, more than he'd ever wanted anything.
"If you don't hurry it up, we won't have time for sex before we sleep."
He felt his lips pull into a smile. "I thought you said we had two hours," he said, rising and moving toward her slowly.
She walked toward him, holding out her hands. "It was so good before, Ethan," she whispered. "I want as much of that as I can get. Don't you?"
"Oh, hell yes."
She flashed him a smile that was more than pleased, but then, as he reached for her hands, she dropped them to her sides, turned and walked away from him, back into the barn.
Ethan practically ran after her.
