There was silence between them. Vikirnoff shared his brother’s mind during their battles with the undead, making it easier to coordinate their battle plans. They both had heard the vampire whispering his cruel words to Destiny. He had told her the Prince would not accept her. That Gregori would hunt her. That no one would want her near the other women. They both had felt the answering shame in Destiny. The vampire had known exactly what to say to play on her fear and humiliation.
“She will not accept him. She will run.”
Vikirnoff shook his head. “You have no choice but to call him here. He will soon leave for our homeland. You will never get her to go there after what was said. She believes there is no cure for her. Call him. He can do no other than answer. You will find a way to persuade her to accept his healing power.”
Nicolae turned the idea over in his mind. Vikirnoff made sense.
“It is possible there is no cure,” Nicolae pointed out.
Vikirnoff shrugged. “One can only try.”
Before he could change his mind, Nicolae sent the call on the common Carpathian path. Hear me, healer. We have great need. The blood of the vampire torments my lifemate on every rising. I do not want to lose her. It is a beacon for the undead and prevents our complete joining. I ask that you come when you have assured the life of the woman you are aiding.
There was a space of time. Water bubbled and the flames flickered on the cave walls. Gems sparkled in the ceiling overhead one moment, then were gone the next. The answer came. There were no questions. No demand to know who Nicolae was or how his life-mate had gotten into such a condition. I will come at once. We will start out next rising. It was the Carpathian way of selfless service, and Nicolae’s heart was so full he could not reply.
“Thank you, Vikirnoff. He will come.” Nicolae reached inside his shirt, extracted a rumpled photograph. “A vampire visited MaryAnn in her office and planted a compulsion to call the number on his business card if this woman should come to her seeking sanctuary. I think we need to find her and do our best to protect her. I cannot leave at this time. Will you begin the search? We can make copies of the photograph—MaryAnn has such a machine—and distribute them among our people.”
Vikirnoff took the photo, glanced at it without much interest, stiffened and swung his gaze back to the photo, studying it carefully. “Who is this woman?”
“He did not give a name. There was little memory of the conversation and no memory of the vampire himself. I could not ‘see’ him in MaryAnn’s memories. Why? Do you recognize her?”
“Is this photograph in color, Nicolae?” He didn’t look at his brother, but continued staring at the picture as if mesmerized.
Nicolae watched as the pad of Vikirnoff’s thumb caressed the face looking back at him from the glossy paper. “Yes, it is. Do you recognize her?” he asked again, never having seen Vikirnoff exhibit interest in any woman.
“I have seen her face. Her eyes. It was not real; it was in a dream. Long ago, Nicolae, in a dream. Her hair was as black as midnight and her eyes were as blue as the sea when it is clear and calm. It is the only color I remember, that deep blue of her eyes. I never let go of that memory. Are her eyes blue? In the photo, are her eyes blue? A striking, vivid blue?”
Nicolae’s heart surged with hope. “Yes, Vikirnoff. Her eyes are blue and her hair is midnight black. You never told me of such a dream.”
Vikirnoff shrugged, but his gaze was glued to the photograph. “There was no reason to tell you of such a thing. A dream only. What do you know of her?”
“We believe she is human and has psychic talent. The vampire indicated she had the gift of psychometry. That is all we know. He claimed he was from a research center for psychics and that they wanted to help her. She is running from someone, probably the vampire. I think it best our people find her first.”