Chapter 13

Samuel was seething in anger. His body was sluggish but he forced his mind to concentrate, hoping for any word from Lucy or Graham about Carissa. He estimated the time now to be about late morning. And the time passed so slowly, it was agonizing.

Beside him, Pierce wasn't doing any better. His twin was normally the more calm and reserved one. Carissa's disappearance had certainly changed his demeanor. Samuel had never felt such rage from his twin at being trapped by the sun, helpless to find and protect their lifemate.

Well, at least you are definitely convinced that she is our lifemate.

There is no doubt of that now, replied Pierce in a dark tone. Lucy and Graham cannot find any trace of her. They found out the cab driver died but where is she? They've searched every hospital.

We will find her. We still feel her.

Why doesn't she communicate back? She must be unconscious.

Samuel hated thinking about the fact that Carissa could be somewhere helpless to defend herself. He tried to get his mind off the situation. What did Graham find out from the business news?

Pierce struggled to maintain his sanity, hardly caring about the human world of investments. But he tried to play along. Graham said the stock market has plummeted, but most of the businesses are protected due to our message. LogTech is in shambles, but the rest of our companies are safe.

The humans think LogTech is responsible for planting the viruses?

Yes, and we haven't had the time to find out yet who is responsible for it. Even more disturbing, who knew about all of our specific companies? We are meticulous about everything.

Samuel agreed. Someone was targeting us.

But why? Who would possibly know what we are?

As I said before, a vampire would not have the patience. LogTech was penetrated by someone who gave a competitor an advantage. Then somehow they took over the company's systems. If someone is intelligent enough, there is always a way to find to us in this modern day era.

I pride ourselves on being able to prevent such breeches, snapped Pierce.

Well, replied Samuel dryly, we have been slightly preoccupied. I was ready to seek the dawn and then Carissa not only turned my world upside down, but yours as well.

I feel as if our world will never be the same again. Not only did we almost lose the wealth of the Carpathian people, our lifemate is missing.

We protected our people, corrected Samuel. You know very few of our kind have been able to accumulate and secure the amount of wealth we now have. I don't care what the prince may say. You and I both know we're the only ones who had the abilities last night to work as fast as we did in protecting everything. Not to mention we even found a way to help the humans, despite the fact some of them will always work against us.

Pierce tried to calm himself. I may know we are the only ones to have the skills to succeed as no one has before in business, but I try to be humble about it.

Exactly, I have to be arrogant enough for the both of us.

None of it matters to me now. I would rather be poor than not have Carissa.

Even if the Prince condemns one or both of us?

Pierce spoke in a firm tone. The SongMaker will confirm she belongs to both of us. And I don't care after that if our people do not accept us.

Yes, you do.

Pierce ignored his twin's remark, even though he knew it was true. Deep down, they both longed to be back in their homeland. Now that their emotion was restored, there was a feeling of wanting to return, even if for just a short time to be close once more with their own people.

Samuel grew agitated once more. I don't think I can stand this. I'm at the point where I don't care if the sun fries me.

Dying will not help Carissa. His voice grew low. Try and sleep brother.

Said the insomniac.

At least you still have a sense of humor, replied Pierce dryly. Focus. We must gather our strength for what lies ahead.

I know. And yet I cannot fully rest until we find her.

Carissa shivered in the basement cell. Her head still hurt, but it was not from her original injury. The thin man had injected her arm with something which left her feeling dizzy and sick. The gash on her head was completely healed.

By a vampire.

Tyrell was in a dark corner of the same cell, also chained to the wall. After healing her, he couldn't seem to help himself and his fangs elongated with his urge for her blood. The thin man had been prepared for this, however, and had taken the small vile of strange minerals from the body builder. He held it up in front of Tyrell who immediately recoiled, then fell to the floor writhing in agony.

The thin man smiled while the body builder dragged Tyrell to the corner. The vampire was then whipped several times, and he returned to his uglier state with grey skin and old clothes. His long black hair was disheveled and she could barely see his face.

Carissa had desperately tried to call out for Pierce, but whatever they injected her with seemed to interfere with abilities. Worse, her head was throbbing and it hurt to concentrate.

She jumped when a door somewhere outside the cell slammed. There were voices in the hallway, then a yell. The cell door flew open and the body builder shoved Todd into the room. He wrists and ankles were in chains, so he stumbled and fell.

"Todd!" Carissa cried. She crawled over to him, her own chains straining against the wall as she tried to touch Todd's arm. He slowly raised his head to look at her and she gasped. Todd's eye was swollen and there was blood on his lip. "Oh God! What did they do to you?"

"What does it look like?" he snapped.

Carissa pulled back, horrified that he'd been beaten. "But why?"

"How the hell should I know? They never asked me one damn question."

"I'm so sorry!"

"Are you? What the hell gives? Why were they after you?"

Carissa trembled. "I'm not sure. I mean, someone called me the other night. But I thought it was just a prank call."

"What did they say?" Todd demanded.

"That he was very interested in me. I thought it was some sick joke. I didn't really think anyone was watching me."

"And why would they be watching you?"

Carissa wasn't really sure, but their captor had mentioned her psychic abilities. Somehow they knew about her. Before she could answer him, the door opened again and Carissa found herself looking up a the thin man again.

He smiled. "Comfortable?"

"I don't understand," Carissa said in a small voice, "what do you want from me?"

"What do you really know about Pierce Falkland?"

She bit her lip. Did he know Pierce was Carpathian? Or worse, thought he was a vampire?

"Oh come now, Ms. Brooks. I have little patience."

"I only just met him."

"And yet, as I said before, he seems quite taken with you. He is quite secretive. In fact, I don't think he or his brother have been out in the public eye for some time. Why is that?"

Carissa shifted uncomfortably on the floor, the chains chiming with her movement. "I don't know."

The thin man raised an eyebrow. "They also seem to only appear, if at all, in the evening."

"So?"

He glanced at Tyrell who was lay motionless on the floor, his face still hidden by his long hair. "Vampires only come out a night, Ms. Brooks."

Carissa lifted her chin. "Pierce is no vampire!"

"No? Then explain why there is so little known about him. Explain what little information our research recovered shows he and his brothers haven't aged."

"How do you know that?"

His eyes narrowed. "We know all about Pierce and Samuel Falkland and who they really are. I suggest you stop pretending and cooperate."

"Cooperate?"

"You can find other vampires, can't you?"

"What? No!"

The thin man frowned. "You somehow have the ability to attract them. You will cooperate and lead us to more vampires."

She shook her head. "Even if I could, why do you want them?"

He nodded toward Tyrell. "You see their power. And we now have a way to control them."

Todd scowled. "Vampires? Are you serious? You really are a nut job, you know that?"

The man came forward, suddenly whipping out a thick cord and tying it around Todd's neck, placing him in a choke hold. It happened so fast, Todd had no time to react and he began to struggle for air. His hands helplessly clawed at his throat, trying to loosen the cord as the thin man continued to strangle him.

"Stop!" screamed Carissa. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tyrell slightly move, raising his head at the commotion. "You're killing him," she pleaded. "He doesn't have anything to do with me!"

The man released Todd who fell flat on the floor, gasping for breath. The bodybuilder came back into the room and whispered something. He seemed to nod in response and gave a brief glare at both of them, then left the room.

Carissa crawled over to Todd but he shoved her away.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped at her. "What the hell is all this?" He looked over at Tyrell who was now staring at him. "And who the fuck are you?"

"That's Tyrell," said Carissa. "And it's true. He's a vampire."

"You are just as insane!" Todd pushed himself into a sitting position and spat at Tyrell. "There is no such thing as a damn vampire! Come on, Carissa, look at him. They make his skin all grey with make up and a fake wig? They're playing a trick on you."

Tyrell's black eyes seem to come to life. He suddenly lifted his head and hissed, his fangs elongating. "Come closer and I will show you how real I am."

Todd swallowed hard and recoiled. "You…can't be. It's just more tricks."

"Unfortunately," said Carissa in a soft voice, "I'm pretty sure with what I know, that it's true."

"So…what? Pierce Falkland is really a vampire too?"

"No! He's not!"

"Well, what about all that stuff they were saying?"

"He's different. He's what is called Carpathian."

Todd stared at her. "Carpathian?"

"Yes, it's a different species. They are very intelligent and have, well, special gifts."

Todd looked at her. "Obviously he was intelligent enough to find a number of viruses."

"What?"

"Remember back at the bar? I got a text message. Apparently a number of systems were infected. Pierce Falkland gave proof to certain programmers so they could save a number of systems. But what's the difference between him and a vampire?"

"Carpathians turn vampire after they've lost all emotion."

"You're saying that a Carpathian, this other species, loses emotion? How can I believe that?"

She sighed, uncertain he would ever believe her. "It's true. After a time, they want to feel anything so badly, I guess they give into feeling dark emotions. To feel anything is really tempting so they turn."

Todd blinked. "Then what? That's it? They turn vampire and then their evil forever?"

She looked away for a moment. "Well, yes. The Carpathians who are left have to protect themselves from those who turn. They actually hunt down the vampires."

"Wait, let me get this straight. They hunt their own kind? God, that would be a great life," he said in a sarcastic voice. "You're born a Carpathian only to eventually turn into a vampire. And then probably someone you know will kill you."

"Well, not all of them turn vampire."

"Why not?"

"Well, their emotion is restored if they find their-"

Tyrell suddenly interrupted. "If they find the right soil." Carissa looked at him in confusion, but the vampire continued. "It is the right soil that treats us, heals us." He looked over at Carissa for a moment, his eyes flashing a look of warning. "Like the minerals they have now which control my emotions. The earth holds many secrets."

Todd tilted his head. "So you, a vampire are starting to feel emotion again? They've mimicked this soil with minerals they found?"

"As a human, you would never understand."

Carissa continued to look at the vampire with question. Only a lifemate could bring back emotion to a Carpathian. As for a vampire…wasn't it too late? Once they turned, could they never go back? Or did these minerals really do something with emotion?

The door opened again and the thin man returned inside the cell. "So, Ms. Brooks. Are you ready to cooperate?"

"I don't know how to find other vampires."

"Don't know or won't?"

Tears filled her eyes. "I really don't know how!"

"Well, perhaps just to make sure, we'll take your friend for another 'discussion'. Maybe when he returns, he can convince you to remember." The thin man chuckled. "If not by his words, maybe by how he will look. I don't think his face will be as pretty as it is now."

"Please! If I knew, I would tell you!"

"Brett! Get in here." The bodybuilder appeared again. "Take him. Let's make sure Ms. Brooks knows how serious we are." Todd yelled and tried to kick Brett. But the muscled man easily pulled him up and dragged him out of the room.

As soon as she was alone again with the vampire, Carissa didn't hold back her tears this time. Todd was just an innocent man caught at the wrong time. And there was nothing she could do to help him. And what about Kylie?

Tyrell spoke in a soft voice. "He's one of them."

She wiped her eyes. "What?"

"The human. Todd."

Carissa shook her head. "No, I just met him."

"Most likely he was sent to find you in the bar."

"But…he was in the accident with me. His arm was injured. And his face. I mean, that was all real. It didn't look like make up!"

Tyrell snorted. "Of course it was real. They go at great lengths to obtain information about us."

She stared at him. His skin was no longer as grey, his face was less ragged. "You're just trying to fool me."

"Normally I would do such a thing, yes. But not this time, my dear. They are lying to you."

"I don't believe you."

Tyrell's long, black hair became more smooth and beautiful. His eyes were still black, but they were also tired. "I would not expect you to believe me. But listen to what I say. How is it that Todd, as you call him, knew that Pierce Falkland warned programmers about a virus infestation?"

"He said he received a text message. I saw him get one at the bar." She frowned. "Pierce was probably trying to find away and warn everyone. I mean, if it was something really bad, think of how many systems could be compromised."

"True. But why would Pierce Falkland reveal that he was the one who sent the text, warning of the impending viruses?"

"Well, I'm sure…" Carissa's voice trailed off. Wait, how did Todd know it was Pierce? Tyrell's comment had some logic. Pierce was unlikely to reveal and bring attention to his name. Just like the thin man said, he and his brother kept undercover, making sure to not to reveal themselves. With as intelligent as Pierce was, he would certainly know a way to send an anonymous text message. There was no purpose as to revealing his name.

"They lie," said Tyrell in a graveled voice. "Sebastian says he knows everything but he does not."

"Sebastian?"

"Our captor. His name is Sebastian Anchova. He is a lead scientist of the Morrison Research Center." Before she could ask him the obvious, Tyrell spoke hard and fast. "They dedicate themselves to finding those who have psychic abilities. However, the last few years, they stumbled upon evidence of our kind. While they do not understand everything about us, they now know we exist."

"And that's why you talked about soil restoring emotion instead of lifemates? Why would you, a vampire, even care if they know?"

"The longer they do not understand the connection with psychic humans being possible lifemates, the more hope for our species. Feed them lies, my dear. The longer you do, the longer you will be kept alive."

Carissa's heart began to pound. "You don't seem like a true vampire."

His raised his eyebrows. "Have you ever met a vampire?"

"No, but, I thought they would be just evil."

Tyrell laughed. "It is a matter of perspective. The prince has taken females for himself and his favorite males. He lets the rest of us suffer. Humans are insignificant and we should rule them. For thinking that way, I'm called vampire." But despite what he'd just said something was still off about him. Like for a moment, he was unsure if he really believed it.

"Those minerals," Carissa said quietly, "what are they?"

Tyrell's voice grew rough. "I do not know. But for the first time in hundreds of years, I can feel more than hatred. I feel…"

"Regret?" she whispered.

The vampire looked away. "Whatever those minerals are, they appear to cause emotion. At first, it was only what Sebastian dictated. But the longer I have been here, the more…lingering effects there seem to be. As if the emotions are actually my own."

"How long have you been here?"

His eyes looked back at her. "I've lost track of time."

Carissa brought her knees up to her chin, her arms encircling her lower legs. As she hugged herself, she thought for a moment. "Maybe the minerals are helping you."

"I don't need help!" he suddenly snapped.

"I bet you've been very unhappy. You have no lifemate. Without emotion, I'm sure you just couldn't live like that anymore."

Tyrell's face grew dark. "I suggest you keep such opinions to yourself."

"Fine. If you don't want to hear the truth, then there's nothing I can do."

He was silent for a moment, as if thinking about what she said. After a while, he leaned back against the wall. "You are not yet claimed by him."

"Sebastian? What do you mean?"

"No. Pierce Falkland."

Carissa looked at the floor. "I've had two blood exchanges."

"So he is waiting for the third before he claims you. How romantic," Tyrell said in a slightly sarcastic voice.

"I…don't understand. When I have a third blood exchange, that turns me Carpathian. Is that what you mean?"

"Ah, so he hasn't told you everything. There are powerful words imprinted on every male before their birth. By saying the words, it bonds the female to him forever."

"Words?"

"And sex."

Okay, that shocked her. "You're a vampire," she said trembling, "you're just trying to be vulgar now."

He laughed again. "Ask him."

"I can't. Something is blocking my mind."

Tyrell nodded. "It is a serum they developed that inhibits your abilities." He pulled back, going deeper into the shadows. "But I assure you, if he is your lifemate, he will come for you."

Author's note: Hopefully this is making sense. Thanks for the reviews everyone! -Anne