Page 11 of Twilight Longings

Shit.“I take it she couldn’t get anything from the soul-catcher or the dagger.”

“Not yet, but she’s still trying.” Arms folded over his chest, Kincaid leaned back against a nearby tree. “How old is your sire?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ve never felt power like that before. Damn glad it wasn’t directed at me.”

Saintcrow grunted. He hoped like hell he’d never be on the receiving end of it again.

“So, what do we do now?” Kincaid asked.

“I don’t know. What about Rhinehart?” Saintcrow asked after a moment. Luca had possessed Paul Rhinehart’s body for a period of time. “Do you think he has anything that belonged to Sasan?”

“I can’t imagine why he’d keepanythingto remind him of Luca.”

“You’re probably right, but, hell, I’ve got nothing better to do. Want to go with me to ask him?”

“Sure. I’m footloose and fancy free until Rosa calls me.”

Back in the day, Paul Rhinehart had lived in a split-lever house on a quiet cul-de-sac. Saintcrow inhaled deeply. “He still lives here,” he said, as they materialized on the brick walkway.

Kincaid nodded. “You don’t think Luca would possess Rhinehart a second time, do you?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “We’ll soon find out.” Rhinehart had made some changes to the place in the last few years, henoted, as they approached the front door. The house, once tan with brown trim, was now a pale blue with white shutters.

“He might not be home, you know,” Kincaid remarked.” Now that he’s no longer hunting vampires, he might have found himself a nice nine-to-five job.”

“Well, it’s after six,” Saintcrow said, and rang the bell. “Working or not, he should be here.”

A moment later, Paul Rhinehart opened the door. He was a man of medium height, with light-brown hair and eyes. His face paled as he recognized his visitors. “You!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” Stepping outside, he closed the door behind him.

“Calm down,” Saintcrow said. “We don’t mean you any harm. We just want to ask you a question.”

“I haven’t hunted any vampires, if that’s what you want to know.”

Saintcrow shook his head. “Do you by chance have anything that belonged to Luca?”

“Luca?” Rhinehart frowned. “Hell, no. Why would I?”

“He’s on the loose again,” Kincaid said.

Rhinehart paled even more, if that was possible. “But … we buried him in Colombia. How did he get out?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “We’re not sure. All we know is that his soul is free and he’s likely possessed some other poor devil. Unfortunately, we have no idea where he might be.”

“You don’t think he’d come here, do you?” Rhinehart asked, looking alarmed.

“It’s doubtful,” Kincaid said. “So, you don’t have anything?”

“No. But if I had, I would have burned it.”

“Yeah,” Saintcrow muttered. “That’s what we should have done with that damn soul-catcher.”

Chapter Nine

Curious to know what Saintcrow’s woman looked like, Eleni transported herself to his lair. She paused at the front door, bemused by what she saw. The house, large and square, was made of weathered gray stone. Thick iron bars covered the front door and the windows. There were turrets at each of the four corners, which gave the place the look of an old medieval fortress. Or, she mused with a grin, Dracula’s castle.

A wave of her hand opened the massive front door. Had she not been his sire, she wouldn’t have been able to enter his house, but his wards and the threshold had no power over her.

---