Darien

Chapter 8

Things did get worse. Two days later another body turned up, torn up and mangled. The implications to the public were that there was a serial killer on the loose targeting young women. To the agency, it meant time to ramp up their efforts as the vampires were getting out of control.  The badges they issued contained no faces so they could not identify by sight who the legitimate vampires were. They would have to bring them all in and have them prove their identities, but that was proving to be most difficult. They were creatures of superior intelligence, skill and mortality. They had strength and speed and even flight that the humans did not. Trying to catch a vampire would be like trying to catch an eagle from the ground. Impossible. They were equipped with all forms of UV rounds and gadgets they think would be of impact, but they knew they could never win a full scale battle. In any event they would probably chase them out of town for good anyway.

Darien didn’t tell Rose right away about the recent happening, but he was sure she was aware of the recent deaths. When he went to visit her, she was hysterical.

“Where have you been? I have been worried sick,” she said. Her heart was fluttering uncontrollably and she seemed to be having a panic attack.

“Don’t worry my love, everything is alright. There have just been some tiresome complications. I may have to go into hiding as well until this all blows over.”

“What happened? Does it have to do with the murders?”

“It has everything to do with the murders. I went in search of the rogues and found two of them who claim they follow the orders of another. I am not sure who that other is, but he wasn’t there. My visit may have triggered the other onslaught of murders, and even while I tried to find them to get some answers, I returned to my apartment to realize there had been an uninvited guest who stole my badge. Not long after that I got a call from Weston that another body was found and this time my badge was found at the scene. They have asked me to come in but there is no way I am doing that. I need to go and find them before they destroy me. I have been here for too long and I do not intend for them to come and completely disrupt my life for the heck of it. This ends now!” he barked. He looked over at Rose and pulled her to him. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you, but I am very angry,” he whispered in her ear. He kissed her on her temple and squeezed her into him, inhaling her essence and everything about her that he missed.

“Where will you go? What will happen during the daytime?”

“I have somewhere I can go. I didn’t acquire all of this money so that I could just say I have it. I have many properties, some of which aren’t known by anyone and aren’t even in my name. I have access to them and I will always be close to you; you will only be a leap or a bound away. Just lay low in the meantime. I am not sure how much they know, but I do not want any harm to come to you. As you know, they will only target women, and you will be the prime target now since it is me they are after.”

“Well, how about if I come with you?” she asked. No one would know where you are, so they wouldn’t know where to find me either. If anything happens to me here, by the time you get to me it might be too late.”

He pondered that for a second. “You might end up in the middle of a battle,” he mused.

“I am already in the middle of a battle. The moment I chose you, I chose everything that happens to you. If you lose your freedom now, then my life is altered as well. If you are running, I am coming with you. Furthermore, you may need me in the daytime for when you sleep. I basically run my own business so I can have my schedule cleared for a week or two or for however long you might need me. I was stupid before to let you walk away and for weeks I was too proud to follow my heart. I am not doing that again.”

“You make a convincing case Miss Swift,” he said moving closer. He held her sleeve and tugged her closer to him. He lowered his head and kissed her, slowly, sweetly, passionately. She closed her eyes and allowed his love to pour all over her, filling her inside, washing her from the outside. She held him around the middle and kept him there, not wanting him to stop. He slowly pulled away and smiled down at her.

“You are going to have to get some things together now. We leave tonight.”

“So soon?” she asked.

“They have already cracked down. They are not just waiting for me or us to come in. They are starting to search for us as well. If I don’t leave now they are sure to find me there in the daytime tomorrow.”

She disentangled herself from his embrace and moved quickly to the bedroom. She pulled an overnight bag from her closet and proceeded to stuff some clothes, shoes and toiletries inside. She had to take everything she would need for the two weeks because she couldn’t leave the house for anything for fear someone would spot her. But then, she remembered  she could always go out in the daytime. They would all be undercover then. She grabbed a quick shower and pulled on a pair of slacks and a cotton blouse. It was a good thing he drove after all.

In no time, the couple could be seen driving out of town and heading for unknown parts. At least for Rose. It had been a while since he had come to this house, but he had always kept supplies steady. They finally came upon a dirt path that came after a blind corner; you had to know it was there to turn. They drove for what seemed like another mile before she saw a dark rising approaching. The light shone on a stone structure that was handsomely made with glass doors and manicured lawns. Rose began to wonder why Darien would need such a home, but then she remembered what he is. He would need the solitude.

“I used to love being here for the solitude,” he said, as if reading her mind.

“I can see why. Even at night it seems a beauty.”

He rolled into the single car driveway and switched off the engine. He then alighted from the vehicle and hastened to her side to help her with her bags. He was sure he had seen only one earlier-now he saw three. He shook his head and took them to the door, resting them for a moment, so that he could open the door. He pushed the door in and waited while she entered. He stood there and looked about him for a few seconds. He couldn’t detect anything so he followed her and closed the door behind him.