“There is more.” Nicolae produced the photograph of the mysterious woman. “A vampire entered the office of a human friend of ours, Mary Ann Delaney, who helps battered women. He was searching for this woman in the photograph. He buried a compulsion in Mary Ann’s mind to call him if she spotted the woman. There are a couple of interesting facts. Mary Ann herself is psychic. She is able to be converted should she have a lifemate among us, yet this vampire didn’t attempt to seize her for himself. I have always assumed vampires searched for women with psychic abilities in the hope of finding a mate to return their soul to them. It is evidently not the case in this instance. They must be looking for something we have yet to figure out, or why would they ignore the psychic women in this area? With the exception of this one woman.”
Gregori continued to study Nicolae’s dark features before he took the photograph. His restless gaze noted the way Vikirnoff seemed riveted to the picture. “I have not seen this woman, have you, Savannah?”
She studied the face carefully. “No, but her eyes are so haunted. We must find her, Gregori. She can’t be left to the vampires.”
“Vikirnoff has agreed to look for her,” Nicolae assured them. “This is the business card and number the vampire gave to Mary Ann.” He passed the small card to Gregori. “She has no memory of his appearance, so I do not know if he is familiar to me or not.”
“It wasn’t Pater,” Destiny said. “The stench was there, but not his.”
“Morrison Center for Psychic Research,” Gregori read aloud.
“Yet he had no interest in Mary Ann’s ability. And there is another in the neighborhood, an older woman who also exhibits talent. I could not detect any interest in her by any of the vampires.”
“I have heard the name Morrison on more than one occasion,” Gregori said heavily. “The first time was in northern California. Coincidentally, it was also a time I was injected with a poison developed to defeat us. At that time I learned this Morrison mingled with human society, was adept at raising funds and mixed in the scientific world. I nearly met him again in New Orleans.”
Savannah twisted around to look up at her life-mate. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“It was unnecessary. The name was attached to the laboratory where the human hunters were attempting to interrogate an innocent human woman. It is where I met Gary, Savannah. This name came up again just recently. Dayan’s lifemate was married to a young man of talent who went to this agency, Morrison Center for Psychic Research, to be tested. He was murdered, and an attempt was made to acquire Dayan’s lifemate, who was quite ill. We have just come from her bedside where she gave birth to a female child of extraordinary talent.”
“Perhaps we should send word to guard the child,” Savannah said, frowning. “If Destiny was taken, it is possible this vampire thinks to strike at children.”
“Guarding the child would be a good idea, although I think this Morrison is looking for a particular talent. This is no child,” Nicolae said, waving the photograph in the air. “She is a woman who is strong and knows she is being pursued.”
Vikirnoff reached out and rescued the photograph from his brother, slipping it inside his shirt almost protectively.
Nicolae ignored the gesture. “There are three women with psychic talent in this area. There is also a priest who has knowledge of our people.”
Gregori’s breath hissed between his teeth. “Tell me of this man.”
“Some years ago, a priest in Romania—”
“Father Hummer.” Gregori snapped the name, his strong white teeth coming together in a bite. “Mikhail’s friend. He was captured by vampire hunters and later killed by a vampire. Mikhail was the target.”
“He evidently corresponded with a cardinal, asking theological questions, seeking aid in his search. The cardinal burned his letters with the exception of one. Father Mulligan found the letter upon the cardinal’s death. He has since burned it, recognizing the danger to our species, but he retains the knowledge.”