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back fire escape toward the street. She hurried toward them, racing up the street in the direction of the
home of Inez and Velda. They weren't out yet, but she was certain they would be on the street
momentarily.
Tim dropped from the ladder to the sidewalk, nearly in front of her. Without looking at her, or looking
back at Martin, he began to walk down the block. Martin dropped to the sidewalk and hurried after his
departing friend.
Spinning black clouds gathered swiftly overhead. Veins of lightning arced from cloud to cloud. Warily,
Destiny glanced toward the sky. The wind rushed along the street, knocking Tim and Martin to the
ground, releasing them from their enthrallment. The full force hit Destiny like a punch, lifting her off her
feet, sending her flying backward to land a distance from the two human men.
Pay attention to the battle. You cannot help them if you are dead! Nicolae's voice was calm, but she
knew him all too well now. He was on the move and he was angry. The storm generating over her head
held a particular controlled fury she recognized.
Destiny rolled, dissolved to vapor, felt the brush of claws against her wounded shoulder. Droplets of red
scattered across the ground, giving away her position in the gathering fog. She shifted course on the run,
drawing the vampire away from the humans, taking several leaps to add distance before landing in a
crouch, preparing herself for the attack she knew was coming.
The vampire rose up in front of her, a hideous sight with jagged teeth and flaming eyes. His breath was
putrid, reeking of rot and decay. She had only time for one heartbeat of recognition. This was not Pater.
Once again the wily ancient had sent in a lesser vampire to occupy her while he wreaked his vengeance.
She heard Tim scream in fear, as if at a distance, the thick fog muffling the sound. Martin was eerily
silent. She had no time to get to them. She felt the impact as the vampire struck, tearing through muscle
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and tissue. She was staring straight into those blood-red eyes. Her fist had driven deep. They stared at
one another. She watched his face contort, felt the power moving through her, and knew Nicolae was
using her to destroy her enemy. The vampire began to gasp for air. The claw tearing through her body
weakened, fell away from her.
Destiny staggered, forced strength into her arm where it was buried deep in the chest of the vampire.
She dragged the heart from the body and managed to toss it a distance from her. Stumbling, she pushed
her rubbery legs into action, searching for the two men.
A hand came out of the fog, gripped the front of her shirt and carelessly threw her through the air. She
didn't see the vampire, only his hand coming out of the vapor with blurring speed. She hit the wall of
Velda and Inez's house, slid down to the sidewalk, the air slamming out of her lungs. He was alarmingly
strong.
Now would be a good time for you to rescue me. Destiny couldn't get her legs under her. She could
only remain slumped against the wall.
He came out of the fog. Pater. His face was a mask of hatred. Of cold rage.
Focus on him. Nicolae was even closer than before.
Destiny couldn't keep her gaze steady on the vampire. His image continually blurred, so that it was
impossible for Nicolae to lock onto him through her.
Move, Destiny. Get away from him. There was an edge to Nicolae's voice.
She couldn't move. She could only watch the creature grow in power and stature as he advanced on
her. His body was fuzzy, replicating itself over and over as he loomed over her. He was hissing his
hatred, a cross between the growl of a predator and the cold, reptilian hiss of a snake. Destiny felt the
force of his hatred hit her hard before he reached her.
"You ruined everything, and in the end you will die as you should have long ago when you betrayed your
blood," he snarled as he reached for her. One hand was extended, going for her throat, the nails long and
razor-sharp.
Destiny simply watched the claw as it stretched out abnormally and waited for him to crush her. Before
Pater reached her, a body inserted itself between the vampire and his prey. The woman was small with
pink-tipped hair and matching tennis shoes. She looked frail but she stood her ground resolutely. "You
will not touch her."
Destiny's heart nearly stopped. She couldn't watch this courageous woman, well into her seventies, die
to give her a few more precious minutes of life. "Velda," she whispered softly in protest.
Velda faced the vampire unflinchingly. "You will not touch her," she said again. She managed to look and
sound dignified and regal, even authoritative, dressed in baggy sweatpants and a sweatshirt with glittery
hearts strewn across it, matching her neon pink tennis shoes.
Destiny blinked back tears of admiration and struggled to get to her feet, desperate to save Velda from
her courageous folly.
To Destiny's astonishment, Pater froze, clearly shocked, stiffening, every muscle tense. His face paled
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visibly, and for one moment, emotion stirred on the frightful mask of his face. Something crept into his
expression guilt, regret, sorrow. Destiny couldn't identify it.
Wind rushed through the street. Lightning flashed across the sky. Thunder crashed overhead, booming
so loud it shook the houses. The lightning illuminated the face of the vampire, once handsome and
sensual, now ravaged by evil. A gaunt parody of a man with blood-stained teeth and a withered,
blackened heart. His expression changed from one of fleeting sorrow to cunning craftiness.
Pater let out his breath in a long, slow hiss of fury. "Do not try to trick me, old woman. Leave this place
or I will kill you."
"This place is my home and you no longer belong here. Go and leave this girl." Velda sounded very firm
and continued to look unflinchingly into his flaming gaze. His hypnotic voice clearly didn't work on her.
The compulsion buried in his command failed to get results.
Pater stepped close to the old woman and bent his head toward her neck, his incisors prominently
displayed. Instead of recoiling as expected, Velda moved to meet the tall, thin vampire as if to embrace
him. She laid one withered hand on his chest, so that he paused, his mouth against her skin. "I waited for
you. There was no other in my life. There could be no other. I will grieve for you and hope that God has
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