Disclaimer: Sadly, I must announce that I do not own Companions of the Night. Though I highly doubt anyone can possibly think I could ever own anything anyway. Because, seriously, I don't. : )
Chapter 7: Breaking Faith
"Ian!"
Kerry practically jumped into the room, and somehow made it onto the bed without landing on Ian. He was sitting up, from what Kerry could see of him (which wasn't very much) and his arms were around his knees.
But once Kerry had stopped bouncing from jumping on the bed, Ian threw his arms around his sister and burst into tears. Kerry took him in her arms and rocked him, whispering encouraging nonsense, all the while trying to keep from crying herself. Ian was safe! Michel had kept his promise… but what would happen now?
As though her thoughts had called to him, Michel stepped fully into the room and closed the door. He walked to the side of the bed and switched a lamp on. When Michel finally looked at Kerry, she sent him a smile that she hoped said she was sorry for whatever had happened between them earlier and she was grateful that he had found Ian. Michel sat on the edge of the bed and waited patiently until Ian's tears had slowed.
Ian whispered, "I wanna go home." He was so quiet that Kerry only heard "wanna" and "home" but she had enough sense to know what he would want after what he must have been through… what they had both been through.
Once again, Kerry's eyes met Michel's as she thought, "What will he do next? Will he just let us go like last time? Could it be so simple once more?"
Michel didn't look away from her as he said, "You and Kerry will both go home very soon, Ian, but first, I think the three of us need to talk."
Ian nodded, suddenly sitting up and acting very grown up as he wiped his tears away, while all Kerry wanted to do was pull her little brother into her arms and cry until the sun came up… and then cry some more.
"First of all," Michel began, "Can you tell us who kidnapped you?"
That brought Kerry out of her self-pity mood. Why hadn't she thought about asking Ian that? Why was Michel always so calm when she just wanted to break down? Well, his little brother hadn't just been kidnapped and then suddenly returned to him so of course he would be able to think logically… Okay maybe she was just a little more emotional than he was… Fine! A lot more emotional! Whatever!
Okay. I really need to go back to my psychiatrist.
Ian shook his head. "I only know that there was this really big guy who was hiding behind Kerry's car." He looked at Kerry, and then looked back down at his lap, tears forming back in his eyes. "I'm sorry for running off, Kerry. I didn't mean it."
Kerry put her arms around her little brother's waist and pulled him onto her lap. "It's okay, munchkin. Just try to tell us a little bit more of what happened to you, okay? Anything at all helps."
Ian nodded, but he looked up at Michel. "He grabbed me and jumped into a van, hidden in the shadows… and there was one other man… but he stayed behind Kerry's car. I heard Kerry call my name but the guy who had me had his hand over my mouth and I couldn't warn her…" One tear escaped down Ian's face, but he continued with a steady voice that filled Kerry with a pride only an older sister could understand.
"The big man put me in the van and I felt a sharp thing press into my arm… and I fell asleep… When I woke up, I was here. I've only been awake about ten minutes when you got here." Finished with his story, Ian turned back into Kerry's arms and hugged her tightly. "I'm very sorry, Kerry. I had no idea that I could be… I could get in trouble like that. I'm sorry."
Just then, a sharp tap came on the door and instead of getting up to answer, Michel said quietly, "Come in." Of course, he probably already knew who was at the door anyway. Damn vampire caginess.
Why does that sound so familiar?
The door opened and a girl a few years older than Kerry stepped across the threshold. She had dark brown hair that fell just past her shoulders and brown eyes that seemed to become red around the pupils. Her face was heart-shaped and her smile reminded Kerry so much of her best friend Nelle.
The girl smiled at Kerry, as though she knew all of Kerry's deepest, untold secrets that Kerry almost shivered. This girl was not one to cross. Just as with Michel, her looks must always be good deceivers.
As was her voice. "I just wanted to make sure Ian was okay. You hungry, sweetie? Why don't you come with me and we'll get you something to eat?"
The suggestion frightened Kerry and she couldn't help the reaction. "No!"
The room went deadly silent and Michel turned to glare at Kerry. "Kerry," Michel said, using his adult-to-a-child don't-be-a-nuisance voice, "I'm sure Ian would like to get something to eat." His eyes told her that he would resort to a threat if she made a fuss over this…
Very slowly, Kerry released her hold around Ian and nodded to him. "I'll come with you, sweetie." She was not about to let her little brother be in the hands of vampires all by himself.
"Actually, Kerry," Michel said, still in his condescending voice, "I need to talk to you for a few minutes." Then Michel looked down at Ian and smiled. "I'm sure you won't mind if I borrow your sister for a bit longer, will you?"
Ian shook his head. "No." Then, he looked up at Kerry one last time, kissed her cheek, and slid off the bed.
Kerry bit her lip, trying to keep from protesting as the girl closed the door behind them.
The room was eerily silent as a few minutes went by. When Kerry couldn't stand it any longer she said, "So what's next?"
Michel just watched her for a moment before stating, "You both go home and you stay there till morning."
"That's it?"
"What else did you expect?"
"You're just going to let me go again?"
Michel leaned over to the table by the bed, opened the drawer, and pulled out a black and white photograph, which he handed to her. The picture was of a man with long dark hair and a shadow of a mustache. His face was beautiful and he reminded her of…
"Is this you?"
Michel laughed. "No. Though there is a great likeness. His name is Adrien."
A few more minutes went by. "So… Why are you showing me this?"
"I want you to know the man who is hunting you, so you can recognize him."
"Hunting me?" Michel's voice sounded calm and rational, so she tried her hardest to sound uninterested as well. "Why is that?"
Michel smiled. "Let's just say that our story has conjured up a lot of interest in the vampire world. And Adrien is just doing his job."
Kerry couldn't help the slight quiver in her voice as she said, "What do you mean by 'his job'?"
Silence fell and Kerry despaired into the feeling that he had decided that he had already said too much, but as she glanced at him, she realized he was frowning.
"Our world…" Michel began and as she looked into his eyes, Kerry realized that this talk was going to be just as bad as the one they had had on the road to Bergen Swamp… if not worse.
"I guess you could call it our government… has certain vampires who make sure other vampires don't break the rules. Adrien is one of them."
"What rule did you break?" Kerry asked, already certain of the answer that was to come. The one she didn't want to hear.
Michel ran a hand through his black hair. "'Never let a human that knows of our existence live, one way or the other.'"
Silence fell once more. Until Kerry finally got up the courage to state, "So Adrien is coming to kill me."
He didn't contradict her, but he said, "We're trying to prevent that."
"How?"
He either ignored her or didn't hear her. "Because as long as he believes that you don't know anything, then they might leave you alone."
"Might?" Kerry asked, trying to keep her voice calm. "What about my father? My brother? They wouldn't… They don't know anything!" She couldn't sit here any longer. Where was Ian? She wanted to see her brother, damn it!
Before Kerry could stand, Michel was in front of her, kneeling so that they were at eye level. "Kerry, I need to explain."
"Explain what? You've made it quite clear that I was doomed from the moment I walked into that laundry!" Her temper was getting the better of her. But so many emotions had been bombarding her since yesterday: happiness that Michel was alive, sadness that he would leave again soon, fear for her brother, relief to find him okay, and anger that she was placing her family in danger once again.
Michel sighed, and Kerry's heart raced as she remembered that he was no ordinary being and he could kill her easily if she got too annoying. "Kerry." He said her name so quietly, almost as though he was trying to soothe a wild, frightened animal. But his voice wasn't menacing in the least, just calm and… comforting. "I will do all in my power to protect you and your family. I promise that."
Kerry looked up into his eyes and couldn't help the reaction to want to believe him. She needed to believe him. He was her only anchor in her crazy world. But then, he was the one who had made it crazy.
She glanced away from his ice blue stare and whispered, "How can I trust you so easily?" She closed her eyes, wishing she could run from him, find Ian, and get the hell out of this creepy place. She was so tired of being vulnerable, of being afraid. She hated the fact that once again, Michel had control and power over her life, over her family's lives.
Suddenly, Michel shifted so that he sat next to her, but his movement was so quick that Kerry took the change as a threat and cringed away. But it was calm, cold hands that pried her fingers away from each other. The cool, soft lips that soothed the sting on her palm from where her fingernails had dug into flesh.
Kerry's shocked eyes flashed open and jumped to Michel's sober and beautiful face. His expression was unfathomable, as usual, but there was something different about his body posture. He looked… relaxed, which was a big deal, because Kerry had hardly ever seen him like that. What has changed him so much? Why is he being like this? One minute he's at my throat, the next he's a perfect gentleman. Maybe his nature is conflicting within him with the human side… The most important question is: Which side is winning?
At the moment, it seemed his human side dominated as his hand came up to touch her cheek. "I think we can safely say that I trust you more than you could possibly trust me." He smiled, not that amused one but a genuine smile this time.
She shrugged. What could she say to that? Sure? If you say so? Are you really going to leave me alone again!?
Without warning, Michel quickly let go of her hands as though she had shocked him and stood, staring at the door. Before Kerry could ask what he heard, he hissed a sound of disapproval. "Time to go," he whispered before grabbing Kerry's hand again and forcefully pulling her to stand up.
"Wait." Kerry whispered back, remembering Athan and Michel's conversation from earlier. "I thought you said they didn't know about me."
Michel chuckled slightly. "It's not polite to eavesdrop, Kerry."
"And where did you ever get the idea that I was polite?"
He walked to the bedroom door, pulling her forward, and Kerry was reminded of another time when he had just dragged her along with him. She mentally winced. Don't start that now Kerry…
He opened the door and walked down the hallway, still holding Kerry's hand. Maybe I should just get used to being jerked around everywhere… But depression set in as she remembered he would be leaving again, and there wouldn't be any getting used to anything with him.
Michel stopped suddenly and opened a door to their left, finally letting go of Kerry's hand, and beckoned her to go before him. She stepped inside, feeling sort of bereft now that his hand no longer grasped hers. With her first step inside the room, her gaze met a small brown pair of welcoming eyes staring up at her from the kitchen table.
Ian smiled, "Hi Kerry!" There was a small plate in front of him, and by the looks of the crumbs still there, he had just been eating a sandwich. "Ashley made me a sandwich. You hungry?"
How could her brother be so calm and easy-going after what he had just been through? What had the "Ashley" girl said to him? His eyes were bright and red from crying, but his face held the same expression he had worn yesterday at the movie… Geez, had that only been yesterday? It seemed like it had been an eternity…
Kerry walked over and sat on a chair beside him, pushing his dirty-dishwater blonde hair away from his face. "Not really." Kerry lied as she smiled. "I think it's time to go."
Ian nodded, his head drooping a bit. Kerry reached over and pulled him onto her lap. Ian yawned and wrapped his arms around Kerry's neck. His head dropped to her shoulder, and from his light breathing against her throat, he was already asleep.
Kerry stood, clutching Ian to her chest. "Ashley" smiled as she came over to pick up Ian's plate. Kerry tried to place a smile on her face for longer than a second as she said, "Thanks for taking care of my little brother."
Ashley nodded. "Anytime."
Kerry looked towards the kitchen door where Michel still stood. But as soon as their eyes met, he walked to her and reached for Ian. Kerry took an involuntary step backwards, shaking her head. "I need to hold him for a bit, Michel, please." She hated pleading, but she just couldn't give Ian up yet, not after she had just gotten him back.
Michel shook his head. "He's too heavy for you."
Ian's head stirred a bit, as though he had heard Michel and wanted to take some of the burden of his own weight off of her. "No, he's not." Kerry quickly denied, which wasn't entirely true. "I'm fine." Also, not exactly the truth. She just couldn't let go of him.
Maybe it's the shock of all that's happened that is finally setting in… Just freaking great.
Anyway, Ian wasn't all that heavy, but he wasn't a baby anymore either.
Michel sighed heavily but didn't reach for Ian again. Instead, he walked back to the door and held it open for her, but he didn't look at her but at Ashley. He smiled charmingly. "Thanks again, Ash."
She smiled back. "No prob. Take care, Kerry."
Kerry tried to nod back at her, but Ian's head was in the way. So she settled for a simple "okay" and made her way to the door, careful so that she didn't jerk the slumbering Ian. She stepped once more into the hallway, and Michel closed the door behind them.
He led the way once more, but he paused in the living room. It was so dark though, and Kerry barely made out an antique armchair, couch, and table. But then, Athan appeared from a door behind her. He walked by her, his golden eyes studying at her holding Ian. He smiled, but Kerry didn't know if it was supposed to be a friendly smile or a warning… or a friendly warning.
As he passed her, Kerry saw him give Michel a quizzical look and jerk a thumb over his shoulder at her. Michel sighed and shrugged his wide shoulders, "She wouldn't let me take him."
Athan turned around and faced her with a mischievous grin and amused eyes. "Would it make a difference if I carried him, Kerry?"
Kerry smiled over Ian's shoulder. "Yes, it would. At least Michel has decency and manners."
Athan chuckled, and it reminded her of a cartoon where the bad guy laughed but nothing had been really funny at all. She glanced at Michel who was staring at her as though she had just walked up and slapped Athan right in the face.
But after she blinked only once, Michel just stood still, looking normal. Not that he could ever be a normal-looking guy…
Then, Michel turned and walked out the front door, leaving Kerry to fend for herself. With every passing second, it felt like Ian's body was getting heavier, but she was not about to let Athan help her.
If pride is a sin… well that particular list just keeps growing rapidly anyway. So what the heck?
With uncertain dignity, Kerry somehow made it to the front door and managed to adjust Ian as she opened it all by herself! Take that Athan!
Okay, it's really pathetic when you start to sound like a four year old, Kerry…
She walked out the door onto the porch and saw Michel leaning against her car door. As she took her first step down to her car, Michel slowly straightened and pulled her car keys out of his pocket. She made it down the next three steps without tripping over herself.
She made it to the car, but she couldn't hide the puffs that came out of her mouth. Just as she was about to open the backseat door, Michel put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
He shook his head. "Athan is driving your car. He'll take a different route than us." He reached out his arms once more for Ian.
Kerry slowly, cautiously, placed Ian in Michel's arms. He turned back to Athan who was sitting hunched over on the second porch step, his elbows on his knees, and his fingers clasped in front of him. Athan didn't look at either of them, but down the long driveway. Quietly, he stated, "They're close. About a mile away. Take the back road."
Michel nodded once, and then walked around the back of the cabin, Ian slumped against his chest. Kerry began to follow him, but Athan said, "Wait, Kerry, I need to ask you something."
Kerry shrugged, "Okay."
It was a minute at least before Athan said anything. And he began slowly, "Why…" He sighed with exasperation, but he didn't pause. "Do you believe in differences, Kerry? Is that why you're so accepting of our kind?"
Oh, great. How do I answer this one? "Has Michel told you anything?"
"I have all the information I need."
Now, it was Kerry's turn to let out an exasperated sigh. "Can't you vampires answer a question to its full extent?"
Athan smiled. "Our… rules say that we're supposed to evade the truth as often as possible."
"Well, since I already know the 'truth' better than you, you can tell me what he said."
"What he said was made in complete confidence to myself, and giving you that information would break his trust in me. I can't break his faith."
"So are you his best friend or his mother?"
Athan laughed. "Neither, actually. I guess you could call me his confident."
After a few moments, he said, "Be careful, Kerry. I don't know you, but Michel is like a brother to me. Don't do anything stupid."
Kerry frowned. "What do you…"
She didn't get to finish. For just then, there was a loud roar of an engine coming to life. Fifteen seconds later, Michel came back around the corner in a black Sedan. He rolled down the passenger-side window and said to Kerry, "Get in."
Kerry reached for the door handle, but Athan beat her to it. He opened the door for her, smiling. "Show off," Kerry muttered. But that just made his smile wider and more arrogant. Grrr!
She hopped into the car and Athan closed to door, leaning in through the window. "Thanks, Athan," Michel said.
Athan nodded. "Take care of him, Kerry."
Michel growled and stomped on the gas, but Athan was already ten feet away, laughing his annoying head off and waving. As Michel drove away, Kerry continued to hear Athan's laugh over the squeal of the tires and the noise of the engine trying to reach impossible speeds in the darkness.
Kerry looked over her shoulder to find Ian in his car seat, still sound asleep. "When did you get his car seat?" Which probably wasn't the most urgent question that was on her mind, but she didn't know how to ask her other questions just yet.
He looked at her as though she was crazy. "I didn't. Ashley got it for us."
"Who is Ashley?"
He glanced at her once more with that look, "You met her!"
"You know what I mean."
He paused for a second, obviously considering not saying anything. "She's human."
"But she's allowed to live while I'm not."
"She is engaged to Athan. That changes everything."
Kerry was shocked by this news. "Does she know what he is?"
Another of those looks. "Of course she knows."
Kerry was silent for a moment, feeling like an idiot. But that lasted for about five seconds, when she blurted out, "How did they find Ian?"
"Athan and Ashley didn't. Mac did."
"But… Mac wasn't there."
"He was in the basement."
Why? It was an unspoken question, but had an obvious answer. He was hiding from her. The human that wasn't supposed to know anything. "How did he find Ian?"
Michel was silent for the longest time, during which Kerry finally noticed his speed… It was a very good thing he could see a whole lot better at night than she could. She couldn't see ten feet in front of them, but the speedometer was reaching for 70.
Finally, Michel sighed. "It's best if you don't know anything else, Kerry."
"You're afraid that he's going to find me."
"No. But you're too involved as it is. I'm trying to get you out of what you're in already."
"Oh, so now it's my fault." Her voice was filled with sarcasm, but she didn't care. Why can't he just tell me!? It's my little brother!
"I didn't say that."
Okay, now the anger inside was boiling hot, and too close to the surface for Kerry to control it. "You implied it! Damn it! Ian's my little brother! Tell me what happened to him!"
"Kerry…" A soft voice filled the suddenly silent car.
"Oh, Ian," Kerry turned in her seat to look at him, "I'm sorry for waking you up, sweetie."
"I'm sorry, Kerry." He yawned. "I didn't mean to… run away."
"It's okay, honey. Just go back to sleep." But he was already breathing softly once more. Kerry turned back around in her seat, facing forward.
"Mac had a team out…" Michel began softly. "I'm not entirely sure what their goal was, but it was mostly to catch a leading vampire hunter."
"The men who kidnapped Ian were… the hunter's men. They thought you were still connected to me…"
"They were taking Ian to one of their hideouts when Mac's men… ambushed them."
He was silent for a few minutes. "How did they know about Ian?" Kerry asked quietly.
"They didn't. They brought him back to Mac last night. Ian was still unconscious, so Mac couldn't ask him anything. Ian has only seen Ashley." He was so quiet at the end, but it sounded as though he was talking to himself more than to her.
They had made it to a road now, and there were lights so Kerry could finally see. They were about ten minutes from home…
Home? Was it really home? She had her father and her brother, but… Woah! Stop it, Kerry. Don't even think about it. But it only got worse. The truth of it was, she didn't want Michel to leave again. Even though, in half the time she'd spent with him in the last twenty-four hours, she'd been yelling at him. But that hadn't been his fault. She looked out the window, thinking about a day where she could just have a normal conversation with him, with nothing between them, no differences…
"She is engaged to Athan. That changes everything." Did it? Why? Michel… Michel didn't love her like she loved him… But the better questions were, would she become a vampire just to spend eternity with the man that had changed her life anyway? Would Michel want her enough to change her?
Kerry knew the answer to the first question… It was the second that would remain a mystery for all time.
They entered Brockport. Just a few streets from the Nowicki's house. Kerry glanced at Michel. This would probably be the last chance she would ever get to tell him. But… how did you tell a vampire you still loved him after not seeing him for two years?
They were going up Kerry's street… Tell him! Her mind screamed at her, but her lips refused.
Suddenly, Michel slammed on the brakes, but threw an arm in front of Kerry so she didn't fly out of her seat…
"What…" Kerry gasped, trying to see if there had been anything or anyone in front of the car…
Michel didn't look at her, but suddenly, his face was so pale… It was worse than it had been earlier… What was wrong?
"Michel?" Kerry asked quietly. "What is it?"
He turned to face her, and she knew that was no blood left in his face. "Kerry…"
Suddenly, Kerry's world flipped upside down… she knew what was wrong… deep inside… in the back of her mind…
"Dad…" Kerry was out the door of the car before Michel could grab her. She ran. Three houses away… two… Oh, God, Dad. "Dad!" Kerry screamed his name. "Dad! Dad, we're home!"
But she knew… she knew…
Kerry stopped.
The front door was open… The house was dark… "No!" She began to run for the door once again, but someone grabbed her around the waist.
"It's too late, Kerry." A voice whispered softly.
"No! It can't be! Daddy!" She struggled to get to the door. She had to know… he couldn't be… Where was he!? Why was he making her wait!?
"He's gone, Kerry. I'm so sorry."
With those quiet words, all hope faded and Kerry became numb. "No, no, no, no…" She couldn't stop whispering them, as though her belief alone could make it true.
Finally, Kerry took a good look at the house, at the front door, and realized…
Oh God…
There was a hand… covered in blood… lying on the porch just out of the shadows inside the house, and Kerry knew… Her father… Stephen Nowicki… was dead.
Gasp. Bet you weren't expecting that one. Please, please leave me comments, people! I know this chapter has a lot to comment on! Tell me what you think. I'm sorry it took three months to update, but I hope this makes up for it! Thanks to all who have made this story a favorite or has added it to your alert list! Thanks for all the comments too! I'll update again asap!
