“That sweet girl,” Inez said. “Sister dear, isn’t she a sweet girl?”
Velda’s attention was on Nicolae. “Yes, I believe you’ve been sent here to help us.” She continued to stare at him, her eyes glazing, her expression becoming dreamy and faraway. Her gnarled fingers, clearly damaged by arthritis, moved in a complicated pattern before his eyes.
Nicolae felt his breath slam out of his lungs. Destiny’s heart skipped a beat, then began to pound far too hard. Nicolae lifted his hand toward Velda, palm out.
No! Don’t stop her. You can’t stop her. Let her “see” you.
It was the sheer desperation in Destiny’s voice that stopped Nicolae from preventing the reading Velda was so obviously capable of. Her talent was deep and well hidden and thinning with age, but it was there nevertheless.
Velda gasped aloud, staggered backward and shook her head as if clearing her vision. At once her trembling hand went to the silver crucifix around her neck. “I’m not well, Sister. Take me inside.” Her voice shook and she avoided looking at Nicolae.
“Look at me, Velda.” It was a command and the woman turned to face him, looking her age for the first time. She seemed to have diminished in size and was frail and sunken in. “You know you will never have anything to fear from me. I have come to this place to help you and your friends. You believe that.”
Velda nodded solemnly. “Yes, I know,” she murmured.
She knew too much. Nicolae suddenly realized that nothing was what it appeared to be in this quiet neighborhood. The ground shifted and rolled beneath his feet. Destiny! Come to me now. The command was made by an ancient in full power; it was a compulsion impossible to resist. He didn’t even think about the repercussions of bending her to his will. He couldn’t think about it. There was a strand of evil woven into the very fabric of the neighborhood, and he needed to find its root. The preservation of his race could very well be at stake.
Nicolae released Velda from his enthrallment and watched as Inez helped her sister into their home, leaving him alone with Martin.
“She looked ill,” Martin said with genuine concern. “Do you think we should call Dr. Arnold? He supervises the clinic, and I know he’d make a house call for Velda or Inez. They’re sort of an institution here.”
“I think she just needed to rest.” Nicolae’s glittering gaze moved broodingly over the man sprawled out in his chair. “Where did you have dinner that night, Martin? You never said.”
Martin frowned and rubbed his head as if it pained him. “I always go to the bar. I must have gone there. I knew Tim wasn’t going to be home, and I always go to the bar for company when he has classes. I don’t remember. How could I lose an entire night?”
“We will figure it out, Martin,” Nicolae assured him, using a soothing voice. At once, some of the anxiety eased from the man’s face. “It will be easy enough to ask at the bar if you were seen that night. Everyone knows you.”
“Tim is upset. He doesn’t know what to think or believe, and I can’t reassure him,” Martin said wistfully.
“Velda and Inez seem to know what they’re talking about when they give advice, Martin, and so does MaryAnn. Maybe you should talk it over with someone you trust and see what they have to say.”
He could feel the surge of power as Destiny flew swiftly through the night sky toward him. Destiny.
Martin pushed himself up out of the chair and thrust out his hand toward Nicolae. “I was feeling pretty hopeless until I talked with you. Thanks, man. I think you’re right. I saw MaryAnn going in the direction of her office. Maybe I’ll go hash this out with her.”
You summoned me? The words were bit out. Destiny wasn’t happy with the way he had drawn her to him. Or the fact that he could draw her. His blood ran in her body, yet he was the one who commanded her.
“Excellent idea, Martin.” Nicolae lifted a hand in farewell and sauntered around the corner out of sight. He knew exactly where she waited for him, seething and determined to pick a fight.