Her heroine Nicki would say, “Bring it on.” Easy for her to say. She was a fictional character living in the world Sierra created. Sierra hadn’t created this world of vampires and witches and ghosts. She just lived in it.
“I’ve had enough for one day,” Sierra said. “I’m going to bed.”
Ronan remained by her side as she marched into the bedroom and plopped on her bed. “I have a headache.” An instant later she felt something cold clamp around her ankles. She tried to scoot back or sit up but whatever was holding her wouldn’t let go. She was on the verge of screaming when the Bearded Lady appeared at the foot of her bed. “Let Bruce help you,” she said.
“How?”
But she was already gone.
Damn. Why didn’t any of these spirits hang around long enough to give specific instructions or directions instead of these vague one-liners?
“What’s going on?” Ronan demanded.
“Mother showed up again. She said I should allow Bruce to help me.”
“In what way?”
“She didn’t say. She just grabbed my ankles to get my attention and then said that one line and disappeared.”
“What is her connection to all this?” Ronan said.
“I have no idea. Aside from her connection to Bruce, I mean. She did give us that clue about Hal though. She’d heard of him.”
“How?”
“She didn’t say. Maybe he has a reputation among spirits? A bad reputation. What are you doing?” Sierra asked.
“Calling Bruce,” Ronan said.
“Let me talk to him,” Sierra said.
Ronan frowned. “Why?”
“Because I’m better at interviewing people than you are.”
“Perhaps. But Bruce is a vampire not a person.”
“I’m still better.” She grabbed the phone from Ronan’s hand. “Bruce, it’s Sierra here. I was wondering if you could give me some more information about Mother. You were both in the circus, right? Where was it located?”
“It was a traveling circus,” Bruce said. “We went all over. Mostly the Southern and Midwest states.”
“What was the name of the circus?”
“Cirque Dimitrov,” Bruce said.
“Wait a second. Gregori Dimitrov owned my house at one time. Before Hal and after Ronan’s family.”
“I knew he had a place up North, but I had no idea it was here.”
“Was he a vampire?”
“No. His business partner, his brother Ivan, was a vampire. He’s the one who turned me.”
“He turned you but not his brother?”
“Ivan and Gregori had an argument shortly before Mother died. Gregori took off after that. We never saw him again.”
“Is it possible Ivan turned Gregori and didn’t tell anyone?”
“I doubt it. Ivan once told me that his brother wasn’t worthy of being immortal. I was worthy because my act made Ivan laugh more than anyone else ever had. I didn’t want to die the way Mother had so when he asked if I wanted to live forever, I said sure, why not. I may have been drunk at the time,” Bruce admitted.
“I think it is more than just a coincidence that there is a connection between Gregori and this house and the circus and you and—”
“And the Romanovs,” Bruce added helpfully. “That’s where they got the money to start the circus. They smuggled some of the Romanovs’ treasure out of Russia after the revolution.”
“What do you know about this treasure?”
“Not much. Only what I told you basically. Why? Do you think Gregori hid it in your house? Surely someone would have found it by now.”
“Probably,” Sierra said. “Thanks for your help.”
“Pat might be able to provide you with more information but he’s out of town and unavailable. He’ll be back tomorrow. Shall I have him give you a call?” Bruce said.
“Yes, thanks.”
“What was all that about?” Ronan demanded when she disconnected the call and handed him back his phone.
“One of the previous owners may have smuggled some of the Romanovs’ treasure out of Russia.”
“I was still human when they were overthrown and arrested,” Ronan said. “I’d already been turned when they were murdered. Not that I played any role in that bloodshed.”
“Did Voz?” Sierra asked.
“I don’t know. He may have used others.”
“So that could be it. That could be the connection between Voz and…” She paused as she once again felt a cold grip on both her ankles. “Mother, is that you?”
Then she sensed it with every cell of her being. That terrible evil. Terror froze her vocal cords, preventing her from screaming as she was rapidly yanked off the bed and onto the floor.