Chapter 8
Kiley parked her car in a downtown parking garage in Dallas. She took everything that she wanted with her which wasn't much. She slipped the handgun into her purse and locked the car. She ran her hand along the car and thought that she would miss it. But, this wasn't the first time that she had to leave everything behind. Her car was known and she couldn't use it any longer. She walked to the street exit and saw a sleek black limo idling at the curb. As she walked towards it, the door opened. Kiley climbed inside and the limo took off.
"Welcome back, Baby," said Parker.
"Parker, I didn't say that I was coming back to you," said Kiley.
"Details, details. You know that we were a good team," said Parker.
Kiley looked over at Parker. This was the first time in a year that she had seen him. He was older than her and was probably in his early 30s and looked like a cute geek. He wore nerdy, but stylish glasses and had an expensive haircut. But, those looks were deceiving, for Kiley knew that he could be very ruthless when he had to be. He had recruited her when she was young and vulnerable and, until she had fallen into the clutches of Sheriff Collins, he had been like family to her. It was Parker who had been able to find her grandmother for her. But, now that she had been away from him for a year, she could see that he had manipulated her from the beginning. Lonely, unwanted and without any close ties, she had fallen for his charm and had believed the things that he told her. She had loved him and even now when she wanted to hate him she found that it wasn't within her heart to do so. Her threat to harm him had been just that. She had been hurt by him and had only wanted to hurt him back.
"Were. We were a good team," said Kiley.
"I'm so sorry, Kiley," said Parker.
"That makes two of us," she replied.
She turned and looked out the window and tried to steel her heart and keep from crying. But, she felt a tear roll down her cheek. Being here with him had brought all the pain back and the wound was as fresh as ever, she thought. This is what happens when you let yourself care about someone else, they always hurt you and disappoint you.
Parker must have noticed her tear and said, "Don't cry, Kiley. I would rather have you angry at me."
"No, you wouldn't," said Kiley, not looking at him.
Parker reached over and took her hand and held it.
"I can never make it up to you," he said. "But, I watched over your grandmother and I kept your share of the profits waiting for you with interest. I know that I deserve it, but, please, don't hate me."
"I can't hate you, Parker," said Kiley. "Even when I want to. I only wish things were different."
She finally turned to look at him with tears in her eyes and Parker said, "So, do I."
He held out his arms and Kiley fell into his embrace as he held her. He kissed the top of her head and let her cry for both of them.
Parker took her to a property that he owned. It was a modest home, but it had full security features that included a high fence and CCTV surveillance cameras. He left the driver slash bodyguard at the command center and showed the home to Kiley.
"I need to rest before sunset," said Kiley. "But, you must wake me up before the sun goes down."
"Kiley, what is going on?" asked Parker.
"I'm still in trouble," said Kiley. "You are putting yourself in danger by helping me."
"I won't make the same mistake of abandoning you again," said Parker. "I want to make amends."
"I need to get out of the country and go somewhere far away," said Kiley.
"That's not a problem. You have enough money to make a fresh start just about anywhere," said Parker.
Parker looked down and said, "Let me come with you. I'm not expecting you to still love me, but let me be your friend. We can be business partners."
"I...I will have to think about that," said Kiley.
Kiley laid down in the bedroom and, before she closed her eyes, took stock of her situation. It really wasn't that bad, she thought. Except for Sheriff Northman being able to find her, that is. But, dreams were just dreams and if that was his only hold over her, she wasn't going to waste her time worrying about that. Vampires couldn't even get along with the vampires in a neighboring state which meant that Sheriff Northman wouldn't be able to get the cooperation of some foreign vampire to track her down. And if he did somehow manage to catch her, she still had something to blackmail him with. Shane had nothing to hold over her anymore and he didn't have a built in homing device on her, either. And Parker? There would always be a trust issue between them. Maybe, a totally fresh start was what she needed. She closed her heavy lids and fell asleep, putting her worries to rest for a few hours.
She awoke to find that he was once again in her dreams. Not again, she said to herself. She didn't know which was worse, this dream Sheriff or the real one. He got up from a chair and moved to the bed and sat down on the edge beside her. He smoothed a strand of her hair off her face and smiled down at her. She closed her eyes and tried to will him away. She wondered if sleeping pills would keep him away.
"You can't get rid of me that easily," he said.
She felt him get off the bed and cautiously opened her eyes. He walked over to a window and looked out. At least this wasn't another sex dream, she thought. That other one had been just a little too realistic. He continued to ignore her.
"Go away and find someone else to haunt," she said.
Why did that creature have to be so attractive? It was just unfair, she thought.
"I know that you are staring at my ass," he said.
He turned and smirked, saying, "We, vampires, have a sixth sense about those kind of things. See anything that you like?"
Kiley turned away and said, "I never said that you weren't attractive. But, that doesn't mean that I want you."
"Liar," he said. "Things would be so much easier if you just came back to me."
Kiley decided to see if she could escape from this dream. She got up and headed for the door. But, he moved in front of her.
"You forget that I can sense your emotions and I know when you are lying to me," he said.
He began to walk around her. He reached out a finger and trailed it across her body as he passed. Just that tiny touch, ignited a spark of desire that sent a shiver down her spine and caused a blossoming warmth to envelope her nether regions.
"I can feel you desire," he said, still moving around her.
He stopped behind her and whispered into her ear, "And smell your arousal. There is only one cure for that."
He kissed her neck and his hands slid down her arms.
"Even before I gave you my blood, you wanted me," said Eric. "Isn't that true?"
She heard a snick and knew that his fangs had come out. She felt his lips again on her neck and she closed her eyes. Slowly, he trailed his fangs across the skin of her throat and Kiley felt her give into what she wanted.
"Yes, I always wanted you," she whispered.
His arm encircled her waist and pulled her into him. And, as he plunged his fangs into her throat, Kiley heard herself moan with pleasure.
Kiley awoke with a start and, as she looked to the window, she discovered that night had already fallen. In a panic, she left the room to find Parker watching television on a sectional.
"Parker, why didn't you wake me up?" she demanded.
"I tried, but you were too tired to wake up. And who is Eric? You were saying his name in your sleep," said Parker.
"That Eric is someone who can find me," said Kiley. "You need to go and quickly. It isn't safe here anymore."
"What about you?" asked Parker.
"He can't find me in my other form," said Kiley. "Now, go."
Parker got up and called for the guard. He exited the front door with the guard, heading for the limo. Kiley walked to the front door to watch them leave. She was stunned when Eric appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the bodyguard and threw him into the wall. The guard lay stunned, but didn't appear to be seriously hurt. Eric grabbed Parker by the collar and shook him like a terrier shaking a rat.
"Hello, Kiley," said Eric.
He dangled Parker off the ground and said, "And who is this?"
"He's nobody, just let him go," said Kiley.
"Come outside first," said Eric. "I won't harm him. Promise."
Parker managed to say, "Kiley, just run. You can get away."
Eric tightened his grip on Parker and said, "No one asked you for any comments."
"Please, don't hurt him," said Kiley.
"Should I be jealous?" said Eric with a smirk.
He stared at Kiley and said, "He isn't important to me. But, I will use him to make my point clear if I have to."
"Alright, I'm coming out," said Kiley.
Kiley stepped out from the safety of the house and said, "I have obeyed you. Isn't that what you want from me? Let him go, now."
Eric dropped Parker and he fell to the ground in a heap. Parker scrambled to his feet and gazed at Kiley. The cowardly Parker had not deserted her this time, she thought. Yet, he would only get himself hurt if he tried to help her.
"Go, I'll be fine," said Kiley to Parker.
With a pained look, Parker turned and fled to the limo. With a roar of the engine, Parker drove away, leaving Kiley with Eric.
Eric began to walk towards her and said, "I don't know how you have managed to shield yourself from me. But, you are going to tell me how you accomplished that trick."
"Why tell you when I can show you," said Kiley.
Eric stared at her confused and then he tried to grab her arm. Kiley smiled when his hand passed through her. He made another pass in disbelief.
"You have no power to hold me, vampire," said Kiley, smugly.
"I'm impressed," said Eric. "But, nothing is foolproof."
Kiley grew nervous and wondered if the vampire could sense her emotions in this state. There was a way to hold her, a weakness not unlike his own. Was it possible that he knew it? She moved away from his reach just for safety.
"Why don't you just let me go?" asked Kiley. "I didn't spy on you willingly."
"Then, why do you continue to protect that person?" asked Eric.
Kiley was silent and Eric continued, "He sent you to me to be my whore. Do you still owe him any loyalty?"
"I can't trust either one of you," said Kiley. "It doesn't even matter. I didn't learn anything of value and I don't work for him anymore."
"Trying to make a clean break?" asked Eric. "Let me guess, is your previous employer still looking for you, too? Vampires don't relinquish anything of value easily, Kiley."
Truer words were never spoken, thought Kiley, angrily.
"And, I'm part of you now. I know that you are dreaming of me and you have feelings for me. The bond between us will only grow stronger," said Eric. "We have shared blood."
"I...I don't believe you," said Kiley.
"You don't have to believe me. The truth of what I say will soon become undeniable," said Eric.
"I'm not scared of dreams," said Kiley. "Goodbye, Sheriff Northman."
Kiley became a fine mist as she dissipated in front of his eyes. Eric watched her and knew that she would not go anywhere else tonight. He called the Hotel Carmilla and booked a room and then called Mr. Ruben. Tricky little minx, he thought with a smile. But, by displaying her power, she had also given him her weakness.