Ironic Sacrifice by Brooklyn Ann Page B

Silas croaked, “Come mon, finish this.”
    The figure did indeed resemble Death; his features were obscured in blackness. But his voice, achingly familiar, made her hair stand up on end.
    “Not yet, far-sighted one,” Razvan replied with a heavy Slavic sounding accent, “I’ve others to attend to.”
    What felt like a steel wall slammed into place, throwing her back into her own mind like a backhanded slap.
    “Well?” Silas said as she shook her head to clear it.
    “I felt it!” she gasped. “It almost hurt.”
    The vampire nodded. “I’m sorry for that. For a moment you got in. What did you see?”
    “I think I saw the night you became a vampire,” she said. “When did it happen?”
    “In 1513, after the battle of Flodden Field. I would have died if Razvan had not found me. Was that all you saw?”
    Jayden nodded. “Yes, then your shield forced me out.”
    Silas smiled in approval. “Do you think you can try to make one of your own?”
    Doubt hardened in her stomach like a stone, but instead of protesting she replied, “I think so.”
    It took a few tries for Jayden to build her own shield in her mind, but after awhile it seemed to be working. Her head ached from the strain, but Silas was a merciless taskmaster. He kept her at it until Max and Razvan returned with her car.
    “It’s got a bad C.V. joint, maybe two,” Max said and held out her keys. Razvan took them before she could grab them. It appeared that she would not be able to come and go as she pleased.
    She glared at him and his lips curved into the sinister smile that seemed to be his trademark. She was a prisoner here, but the people were kind to her and she was getting help. Still, did that make it right? Her head ached from the quandary.
    Max looked at them and shook his head before continuing as if nothing happened. “The fuel injectors need to be cleaned and I’m sure she needs a tune up. But I can get her purring like a kitten in no time.”
    “Thanks,” she said weakly. What was the point if she couldn’t drive anywhere?
    Razvan took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up as if he were about to kiss her. “You look very pale, my sweet. Why?”
    “I… uh, I’ve been working,” she murmured. “It’s harder than I thought.”
    Razvan turned to Silas. His black eyes glittered. “She will rest now and eat something.”
    “Think you can command me in ma ‘ain house?” Silas’s eyes flared neon green, and his brogue crept into his words, revealing his anger as he stalked forward.
    Razvan held his ground.
    “Actually, I am hungry,” Jayden said quickly, hoping to avoid a fight. “If you don’t mind, I would like a break.”
    “Go fetch a nibble and sit for a while, lass.” Silas glared at Razvan, who seemed pleased at his ire. “You, old friend, are a pain in the arse.”
    Razvan laughed and stalked out of the room with predatory grace. As he passed Isuzu, the cat laid his ears flat and hissed at him. The Siamese then meowed and wound his way around Silas’s legs before running to his empty food bowl, giving it a pointed glare.
    Max chuckled and turned to Jayden, “Come on, girl. I make a mean grilled cheese.”
    The man wasn’t kidding. As she bit into the sandwich her taste buds seemed to moan in ecstasy.
    “The secret is real butter…a lot of it.” Max offered her a beer, but she refused, noticing with amusement that he was looking for an excuse to sneak in an extra one.
    Silas glided into the kitchen on silent feet. “I am off to get sustenance as well. Max, may I ask a favor?”
    Max nodded, not taking his eyes from the frying pan. “Anything, boss man.”
    “I think it would be best if Jayden were able to practice shielding her powers with a normal human,” the vampire said. “Would you be willing?”
    Max smiled. “I don’t know if I’d exactly call myself normal , but sure. I got nothin’ to hide.” He yawned and stood up. “But not tonight, if you don’t mind; I’m beat. Being out of work