Night's Promise(53)

Edna withdrew a syringe and a glass vial. “Roll up your sleeve.”

He did as she asked, watching curiously as she filled several vials with dark red blood.

With that done, she lifted a microscope from the case, then prepared several slides. After pulling a chair up to the table, she peered into the microscope.

Hands clenched at his sides, Derek paced the floor while Edna studied one slide after another. An hour later, she blew out a sigh.

“Well?” Derek growled.

“It’s hard to be a hundred percent certain, but I’d say the werewolf gene is active, at least to some degree.”

“If I change, will I remember who I am?”

“That I can’t say.”

“Will I be able to resist it?”

“No. You’ll be compelled to change the first time. You might be able to resist in the future, but that will depend on how strong the trait is, and your ability to fight it. I do know that the pain will be excruciating if you try to resist.”

“Mara suggested locking me up.”

Edna nodded. “She will need a sturdy cage.”

“Isn’t there a drug of some kind you can give me to keep it from happening?”

“I’m afraid not.” Edna glanced at Pearl. “Years ago we concocted a serum we hoped would cure the werewolves, but it wasn’t effective. Some died. Even if it had worked, I’m not sure what its effect would be on you, since you aren’t completely vampire or werewolf.”

Derek raked a hand through his hair. “Your best guess,” he said, thinking of Susie McGee. “If I change into a werewolf, will it be permanent?”

“I’m afraid so.”

So, that was it. One way or another, he was destined to spend at least part of his life as a monster.

“It might not be so bad,” Pearl said. “After all, werewolves are human most of the time. They can walk in the sun. They can have children, eat mortal food, and lead reasonably normal lives.”

“Yeah. Except when the moon is full.”

On the way home, Derek stopped at an all-night market and bought a pound of raw hamburger.

He stared at the package a moment, then ripped off the paper and swallowed a handful of bloody meat.

And sighed with pleasure.





Mara smelled the raw meat on Derek’s breath the minute he entered the house, but wisely said nothing.

“You’ve been with the old ladies,” Logan remarked.

Derek nodded. “Edna took some of my blood. She says the gene seems to be active.”

Mara’s pale face grew ashen. “What can we do?”

“There’s nothing to do until it happens. No way to predict whether I’ll turn into a werewolf and stay that way, although Edna thinks it’s likely.”

“A werewolf,” Mara murmured, her deep green eyes reflecting her horror.

“Is there someplace where you can lock me up?”

Logan and Mara exchanged glances.

“It’s the only place that will hold him,” Logan said.

“What place?” Derek asked.

“Your mother has an old castle high in the mountains of Transylvania. It’s been closed for centuries. The land is overgrown. Like all old castles, it has a dungeon in the basement.”

“Take me there.”

Mara looked uncertain.

“It’s the best place for him,” Logan said, “even if we decide not to lock him up. There aren’t any people for miles, nothing but forest and wild animals.”

“Great,” Derek muttered. “I’ll fit right in.”

“I’ll go tomorrow morning and prepare our rooms,” Mara decided. “You and Logan follow me as soon as the sun sets tomorrow night.”

Derek nodded. What would he be when he saw Sheree again? Vampire or werewolf?

Or both?





Chapter Twenty-Six

Sheree spent a restless night. It took her hours to get to sleep, and when she did, her dreams were filled with frightful images of werewolves and vampires ripping each other to shreds or attacking everything in sight, including her.

The sound of someone knocking on the door woke her just after seven A.M. After slipping into her robe, Sheree hurried downstairs. She wished fleetingly that it was Derek, but, of course, at this time of the morning, it wasn’t likely.

Wondering who would come calling at this hour, she unlocked the door but left the security chain in place. “Mara!”

“Have I come too early?”

“Oh, no, not at all,” she said, removing the security chain. “Please, come in.”

Mara swept into the room like a queen granting favors.

“Is something wrong? Is Derek all right?”

“Everything’s fine. I was wondering if you’d like to take a trip with me.”