Now, instead of seeking rest, he returned to David’s home to be near Ami, to monitor her condition, to prevent her from going into premature labor, and to pour over every medical textbook that might provide even the tiniest smidgeon of helpful information.#p#分页标题#e#
In the living room, someone cracked another joke about Tracy’s racy dreams of Sheldon.
“Poor Tracy,” he murmured.
David grunted.
Seth knew the immortals and their Seconds meant no harm. They were just blowing off steam and easing tension the way so many family members did: by razzing and teasing each other mercilessly. But sometimes jests could cut deep.
And Tracy’s figurative wounds were leaving her pretty battered.
“Do you want me to step in?” David asked softly.
That would put an abrupt end to it.
“Perhaps. Let us see how it plays out.” Frankly, Tracy’s continued presence at David’s home surprised Seth. Every chance encounter with Sheldon had to aggravate the situation, though Seth gave the boy credit for the kindness he had exhibited toward her. Sheldon had been nothing but respectful and had even leapt to her defense several times, ordering the others to cut the crap.
Seth wondered why Lisette hadn’t insisted that Tracy be the one to stay home alone while she spent the day at David’s. As long as the two didn’t sleep in the same house, the dreams wouldn’t affect Lisette. Lisette could easily avoid the erotic dreams and spare Tracy the humiliating jokes by staying here in her stead until some other titillating bit of gossip distracted the household.
Unless Tracy’s dreams weren’t the real reason for Lisette’s absence.
Seth frowned at the thought.
A knock sounded on the closed study door.
“Enter,” David called.
Étienne strode in, his face liberally flecked with blood. Numerous cuts and tears marred his clothing, which glistened with wet patches. The younger immortal closed the door behind him and, a bag of blood held to his mouth, approached the desk.
“Everything okay?” David asked.
Étienne tossed the empty bag in the trash can. Can we talk in one of the quiet rooms?
Seth motioned Étienne forward, then touched his and David’s shoulders and teleported them to a secluded, moonlit beach.
Étienne looked around. “Where are we?”
“Rio de Janeiro.” Seth studied him. “What’s troubling you?”
“Well, two things, actually. One, I fucked up. Sort of. Krysta and I didn’t have any of the sedative on us. Or at the house.”
Seth scowled his displeasure.
“So we were headed to the network to pick some up,” Étienne hastened to add. “But, on the way there, we caught wind of some vampires at UNCG and detoured to take care of them before they could get their hands on any humans.”
David considered him thoughtfully. “Were they the new breed of vampires?”
“Three of them were.”
“How many total?” Seth asked.
“A dozen. Maybe a couple more. Anyway, I summoned Lisette to help us out.”
At least he had done that. Two young immortals against so many vampires at once could yield either victory or defeat.
“Did Lisette sedate them?” David asked.
“N-n-n-no,” Étienne responded with reluctance. “She didn’t have any either.” He relayed the battle and subsequent victory for them.
“Did you and Lisette read their minds?” Seth asked, his concern growing. There had been vampire armies in the past, but none with such skilled fighters. Even Bastien’s army had not been so well-trained.
“Yes. And that’s the other thing that troubles me.” He shifted restively, a puzzled frown forming on his brow. “I found no information on the vampire who recruited them or trained them. Nothing on their plans beyond a desire to capture an immortal, which we already knew. But I did find blank spots. Not the kind that result from the brain damage the virus yields. The kind that indicate buried memories.”
Seth and David shared a sharp look. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Lisette saw it, too?” Seth asked.
“Actually, Lisette said she only had time to read the mind of the vampire she fought and didn’t find anything odd. Just the usual rage and pain.”
“Yet you did.”
“Yes.”
“Let me see what you saw,” Seth said.
Étienne nodded. “Just close your telepathic eyes if you come across any images of Krysta naked up there.”
Forcing a smile, Seth perused Étienne’s memories. The battle replayed itself before him, as did the conversation that had followed it. He sensed David’s presence in the young immortal’s mind and knew he saw the same.