Blood and Fire

Claris looked at her hands. “But I’m not you, Ari. I’m afraid I’d drive him away for good, and I don’t want to make that decision yet. Maybe soon, but not now.”



“Maybe soon? Oh, Clare, I didn’t know it was that bad.” Ari felt her stomach clutch. Were her friends about to make a terrible mistake? Or was this their destiny? “Does Gabriel have anything to do with this?”



Claris shook her head. “Not really. Except it’s nice to be around someone so attentive. Gabriel has a way of making me feel like I’m important, special.”



“You are special. You’re special to Brando. And to me, to Andreas, to Hernando. To a whole bunch of people. Brando simply gets preoccupied sometimes.”



“If I really mattered, would he be so wrapped up in everything else? Look what Andreas did when you were in trouble. He dropped everything.”



Claris had her there. Even though Ari hadn’t wanted him to come rushing to Utah, it was rather nice that he had. Maybe she should give Brando a nudge. “Brando doesn’t know anything’s wrong. You haven’t told him.”



“I shouldn’t have to tell him. And don’t you dare call him.” Claris gave her a sidewise, warning glance. “It doesn’t count unless it was his idea.”



When Claris’s chin began to quiver, Ari went around the table and put her arms around her.



Damn Brando. She’d like to give him a good whack on the head.



* * *



When Ari arrived home with the kitten, Samuel met her at the tunnel entrance from the club. It was her usual route. The mansion gates and formal lawn were too imposing.



“Here, let me take that.” He reached for the box with the active, complaining kitten. “Adoption didn’t work out?”



“No, Dona was really unfriendly. Claris thinks she’s partial to Otherworlders.”



“Hmm, maybe.” Samuel nodded, looking rather distracted. “Andreas isn’t with you? Do you know where he is?”



“At the club. That’s where he was going when I last saw him. Why?” The concern on his face made her stiffen. “Is something wrong?”



“I hope not. But Russell’s at the club, and he just called looking for Andreas.”



“Have you tried his cell phone? Or called the vampire compound?”



“Russell tried both before he called here.”



She pulled out the new cell phone Andreas had bought to replace the one destroyed in Utah. When she flipped it on, she discovered he’d also transferred her contact list. Always so efficient. She punched in Gabriel’s number.



“Is Andreas with you?”



“Is he supposed to be?” Gabriel’s voice was amused. “If he’s slipped the leash, I wouldn’t want to get him in any trouble.”



“Be serious, Gabriel. No one knows where he is.”



She heard his quick intake of breath, and his next words were all business. “Where was he last seen?”



“I don’t know for sure. I went to Claris’s about five thirty, and he said he was going to the club. I don’t know if he’s been there and left or what, but Russell’s looking for him too.”



“I’ll meet you at the club in five minutes.”



* * *



Russell, Lilith, and Gabriel’s quiet conversation vibrated with anxiety when Ari arrived.



“No one’s talked to him this evening,” Gabriel announced as soon as he saw her.



Ari’s heart raced, and she thought about all the things that could have gone wrong, their growing list of enemies.



“Let’s not assume the worst,” he added. “Andreas could be almost anywhere, talking with someone, following up on court business. What I don’t like is his failure to answer his cell phone.”



“I hope Ursula didn’t sneak into town,” Russell said.



Silence. No one even looked at him.



“It could be the witches,” Lilith said. “Maybe they teleported him somewhere.”



“I can’t imagine why, but better that than Ursula.” Ari glanced at Russell. “Let’s not panic. Where haven’t we looked?”



“We checked the house, the compound, and here. I’ve send out a couple of search parties to check around the clubs and bars.” Russell’s voice was tense, reflecting the fear that rippled in the room. “Can’t you sense him?” He cocked his head at Ari.



She looked at him blankly for a moment. Where was her head? She opened her end of the magical link and immediately found a faint, pulsing energy. “Yes, I can,” she said with relief. “But I can’t get a strong reading.” She pushed her thoughts toward him, but he didn’t respond. “I can’t reach him this way.”



“At least we know he’s out there. We’ll find him.” Russell gave her a brisk nod and started out the door. “I promise we’ll bring him home.”



She knew his words were well-intended, but he was making a promise he might not be able to keep. Why was Andreas’s energy level so low? Was he injured? Her stomach knotted, and she ran a hand over her neck, trying to think what to do next. Damn, damn, damn. If he was in trouble, she didn’t even know which enemy was after him.



She grabbed Gabriel’s arm when he started to leave. “I’m going with you.”



“Where are we going?” Lilith asked. “I haven’t heard anyone even suggest somewhere to look.”



Ari waved her back. “You stay here and call if he shows up.”



But Gabriel asked the same question as they stepped outside the club. “Where to?”



“Anywhere. As long as we’re not standing around staring at one another. If something’s happened to him…” Ari strode down the street.



Gabriel caught up and grabbed her arm. “We won’t be helping if we wander around without anyone knowing where we are. Pretty soon they’ll be looking for us instead of Andreas.”



“I have to do something,” she snapped, jerking her arm away. “So tell me what.”



“I’ve been thinking about his cell phone, why he wouldn’t answer. There is one place where there’s no coverage.”



Sudden hope surged. “The caverns.”



“You got it.” But Gabriel was talking to dead space. Ari had taken off running, and he hurried to catch her.



They sprinted through the dark streets of Olde Town, arriving at the damaged cavern entrance within minutes. A dwarf, smaller and older than the one who had been there previously, sat on a rock outside the opening.



“Why are you outside?” Gabriel asked.



“We don’t go there anymore.” The dwarf nodded toward the entrance. “Nobody wants to risk another cave-in.”



“Have you seen Andreas?” Ari was growing impatient.



“Not tonight. No one’s been around. It’s been right peaceful.”



She looked at Gabriel. “He could have used one of the cliff entrances.”



“Actually, it’s more likely,” Gabriel agreed immediately. “That’s how he’s used to entering. This is the shortest way to the Chamber of Ages, but not if he had other business.” He turned to the dwarf. “May we borrow your lantern?”



“Help yourself.”



Gabriel grabbed the handle, and they picked their way through the debris. Once they were inside the cavern, they quickened their pace. Rounding the last corner before the Chamber of Ages, Ari nearly collided with a familiar dark figure.



“Slow down.” He grabbed her. “What is the hurry?”



“Andreas.” Gabriel and Ari echoed together.



“Are you all right?” She hugged him tightly as relief poured over her. “Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Unbidden tears formed. Fighting to hide her emotional reaction, she pulled away and stomped back toward the cave entrance.



“What is happening?” Andreas asked in confusion. “Of course I am all right. Gabriel?”



“Come on.” Gabriel tugged on his friend’s arm. “She’s just happy to see you.”



“Really. Is there something I need to know?”



“Nothing new.” Gabriel grinned at him. “I think she’s mad because you aren’t injured or dead or at least in dire danger.”



Neither of the men tried to catch or stop her. When she reached the cave entrance well ahead of vampires, she asked the dwarf to tell them she’d be at the club. She was pissed but not enough to make them worry about her.



Ari took off running, stretching her legs, pumping her arms, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair. She kept pushing her speed. Up down, up down. Pounding the fright and adrenaline out of her system. She didn’t slow until she was in sight of Club Dintero, then she stopped and got her breathing under control before she entered the building.



She stuck her head in the security room doorway. “Andreas is all right.”



“We heard. He phoned in.” Lilith turned toward her. “You OK?”



“Um, yes, I’m fine.” Ari gave a sheepish grin. “I guess he said something, huh?”



“Just that you weren’t very welcoming.”



Ari snorted. “Got that right. I think I ran most of it off, so I don’t plan to kill him now.”



“Glad to hear that.” Russell made a poor attempt to hide his grin. “’Cause I might not try to stop you if you did. Did you get an explanation? All he said to me was he was fine and he’d be here soon.”



“Um, I don’t know. I didn’t wait to hear one.” She looked behind her when she heard voices in the hall. “I think they’ve arrived.”



Followed by Russell and Lilith, Ari traipsed into Andreas’s office and dropped onto the couch. Andreas sat with one leg on the corner of his desk and gave her an arched brow. Russell was still on his cell phone calling off the search teams, and no one said anything until he finished.



Andreas apologized immediately. “I truly am sorry. Gabriel told me how worried everyone was, thinking something might have happened to me. I was on the way to the club when I began to wonder if the witches had gotten Ari out of town so they could search the caves again. I went there to check that everything was secure. It did not occur to me anyone would be worried about my absence.”