Cold voice to match cold eyes. A pale face twists into a hideous grin. Still, the precise features are blurred.

Why can’t I see your face? I ask, low and quiet.

Because I won’t let you, little soldier. HOW did you get in MY MIND?!

Rage unfurls in my human chest, but Star’s power holds me in check. Still, I’m able to respond, and it’s almost more threatening because of my control.

It’s Marine, motherfucker. You’d better prepare, because I’m coming for you.

Laughter like the clanging of a metal crate echoes in my head. Where will you go, little soldier? Tell me where I am.

Focusing harder, I try to see through his eyes again. I try to see the room, the notepad on the nightstand, but he’s stronger than me. I don’t have enough of his blood. All I see is myself in the hypnotized state. Now that he’s found me, he won’t let me see anything else.

I have to come out. I have to detach from his mind. Moving my hands, I signal Stuart. The demon’s cackle is in my head as the vision slowly recedes.

“… coming back to me here,” Star’s voice is softly saying. “When I touch your hand, you’ll wake up and no longer be in a hypnotic state, no longer under my power.”

The touch of her cool fingers, and my eyes snap open. Jumping out of the chair, I pace the now-dark warehouse room. My pulse races, and I’m trying to catch my breath. I’m trying to lose the feeling of his reptilian claws on my thoughts, holding my eyes focused on myself sitting in the chair.

Neither Stuart nor Star approaches me. They only watch as I breathe deeply, close my eyes, bring myself down. I need to think. I need to analyze what I’ve learned. I have to find him.

His plans for punishing Melissa enrage me. He will not do that to her. She will not be locked away in a box, left in a dark tomb to starve until she breaks.

He’s going to complete her change then torture her until she’s completely subservient to him. The young vampire mind is so intense. It’s like a child’s. They’re easily consumed by emotions, and the idea that suffering will end is easy to forget.

He will not do that to her. I’ll kill him first.

“What did you see?” Stuart’s voice breaks me from my racing thoughts.

“He’s searching for her, scanning every shop, restaurant, street.” I’m still moving, trying to remember all he said.

“Could you get an idea of where he’s staying?”

Stopping at the exposed-brick wall, I put my hand against it and breathe deeply. “He’s in a small room overlooking a courtyard. Every floor has a balcony with white railings. Stairs going up and down.”

Star is still sitting in the pentagram watching me intently. “That could be any number of places,” she says.

“He looked toward the French Market, starting at Toulouse.”

Stuart crosses the room to me. “And when he circled up?”

Straining, I try to remember what he said. “I think the first street was Chartres.”

“Corner of Toulouse and Chartres.” He orders the witch, who jumps to her feet and dashes to a MacBook sitting on a metal desk. She’s hastily clicking as I’m remembering all his threats.

“French Market Inn,” she says. “Can’t be anywhere else. Look at this.”

She turns the slim device in our direction, and I see an image of a redbrick courtyard and dozens of white-railed balconies.

Stuart’s hazel eyes light on me. “What now, brother?”

Passing my hand over my mouth, I consider what we’re facing. “I’d feel better if we had Patrick with us.”

“This one is strong. I can tell by the way he has you so worked up.” He walks over to the desk and looks at the screen for several seconds. “Did you get any sense he might be setting a trap, luring you away so she’s unprotected?”

“Not at first,” I say, remembering his plans. “He’s very focused on finding her. But now that he knows I’m tracking him, it’s possible.”

Stuart nods gravely. “Then Patrick remains on guard duty. We’ll have to go it alone.”

“I can help.” Star’s eyes light. “I could be a lookout. Or I can distract him.”

“Not happening.” Stuart shakes his head.

His dismissal angers her. “I’m strong enough to find the information you need, but not strong enough to help? Your brother wouldn’t be so dismissive of me.”

“I’m not my brother.”

I step in. “How would you help us?”

Stuart glares at me briefly, but I’m not about to turn down the assistance of a powerful witch in this situation. We need all the help we can get.

“Vampires are attracted to pretty things…” She’s speaking slowly, thinking as she goes. “He has to feed… You say you have his blood in you?”

Nodding quietly, I watch her lift a heavy book onto the metal table and quickly turn the pages. “I have a recipe for blood bread. I’ll need some of your blood—his blood—to mix in the dough for me to eat.”

“We don’t have time to bake bread,” Stuart is texting Patrick.

Star narrows her eyes at him, and I step between them. “What else can we do?”

“Black tourmaline will protect me.” Her gaze flickers to me. “I have verbena root serum I can drink. If he bites me, it will weaken him.”

“That’s what we need.” Nodding I signal to Stuart and go to the door. “Meet us at the bar in Chartres House. One hour.”

“Chartres House?” Her brow furrows. “It’s only a block from the inn. Is that wise?”

“We don’t have time to waste.” Signaling my partner, we head for the door. “We’re not going to get another chance like this one.”

15

Confrontation Melissa

Dinner at Demeter’s small home in Algiers rivals anything you’d find on the menu at an expensive New Orleans restaurant. When we enter through the back door she’s holding a colander of silvery, raw shrimp over a pot of boiling water.

The spicy bite of cayenne pepper mixes in the air with the scent of celery, onions, and garlic, and instantly my mouth starts to water. If I’d lost my appetite in the last several days, I just found it again.

I watch as she slides all the shrimp into the large boiling pot then turns to a smaller pot containing what looks like a creamy batch of yellow grits. She circles salt through her fingers over the dish, letting the grains fall slowly as she stirs.

“It smells like heaving in here,” I say to Mariska, who only smiles as she steps over to the cabinets.

“Five place settings, Yaya?”

The old woman nods and continues stirring the pot.

“Can I help?” I’m waiting just inside the door, unsure how to proceed.

“You’re our guest.” The old woman nods to me. “Take a seat at the table, and Mariska will pour you some wine.”

“I’ll just have tea if that’s okay?”

“I’ve got you covered!” Mariska’s voice is bright, and I’m sure she’s thinking about our conversation in the garden.

When we left Patrick and Elaine outside, Patrick had been texting with his brother. My friend’s face was lined with concern as she watched him, and I know she was reading whatever they have planned. I’m dying to ask her where Derek is, what he’s doing, if he’s safe, but I’ll have to wait until we’re alone.

At last they enter the room holding hands. I still detect a hint of worry on her brow, but Patrick is in good spirits.

“Wow!” he says with a smile. “I hope you made enough for seconds.”

“With a shifter in the house?” Demeter shakes her head. “I know how to feed my guests.”

Her voice is stern, but I can tell Patrick amuses her. He’s a charming guy, and I’m relieved Mariska has found a way to help me tolerate his presence. Sipping the lemon verbena tea she brewed, I’m feeling calmer than ever as they join me at the heavy, rustic table. Finished railroad ties serve as benches, and it’s all very homey and familiar.