Sunrise at Sunset (Sunset Vampire #1) - Page 8

Trapped in a House

Caleb finished eating in silence while Katrina leaned against the kitchen counter, watching him with a blank expression, as if she were a million miles away. Each felt the quiet oppressively building between them. After throwing his food wrappers in the trash, he puzzled over what to do next. He suddenly felt spent as his earlier adrenaline high faded, and he barely stifled a yawn.

"You're exhausted," she observed in a detached fashion.

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling the taut muscles through her blouse as he hugged her. He inclined his head to press his warm lips to her neck, noting her skin felt rock solid as well.

"Thanks for being there for me," he offered genuinely. "Once again."

Katrina deeply breathed in his body's scent, letting the air escape in one long sigh. He smelled tempting to the part of her nature that craved his blood, but she pushed the thought away and returned his embrace in earnest. It was then Caleb felt her body relax somewhat in his arms.

"Tired?" he asked sleepily. It seemed impossible to him that he could feel remotely sleepy after all that had happened. However, he anticipated part of the reason was that he finally felt safe at Katrina's estate with her.

"No, I'm not tired," she replied absently.

"How is that even possible?" he marveled out loud.

"Strong stamina," she commented distractedly. Her thoughts were focused on Alondra Vargas. The woman was a very old and dangerous vampire and had her sights on Caleb. The notion was entirely unbearable for her. Just as she must have targeted those other vampires, and their mates, she mused ominously.

It was obvious to Caleb that he had lost her full attention. He realized she'd surrendered herself once again to more pressing thoughts.

"Sometimes I don't sleep for days," she added with a distant look in her eyes. Particularly when I'm worried.

She gently disengaged from his embrace and moved down the short hallway near the kitchen to lock the door leading into the garage. Next, she walked to the security keypad near the kitchen door and entered what seemed like a fifty-digit code. Caleb heard a series of motorized whirring sounds and noticed heavy metal panels sliding downwards from out of the framing of the house on the outside of each of the windows.

"What the -" he muttered in amazement.

"Security panels," she replied. "They'll help keep intruders out. Or at least, give me more time to prepare for them. It keeps sunlight out, too, allows me to roam the house freely in daytime."

"Yeah, do you think?" he retorted at the pronounced understatement. Not only was everyone else held at bay outside, he was shut away inside, locked in a giant, oversized box. A very regal, comfortable box nonetheless, he reflected.

She stared at him in an expressionless, penetrating manner. He noticed her gaze and silently stared back. She seemed to come to a decision, and her eyes sparkled with renewed life. She reached out to take his right hand in her own, beckoning him to sit on a nearby kitchen counter stool. Once seated, she stood before him and tried to offer a supportive smile.

"Caleb," she began tentatively. "I realize everything that's happened this evening has occurred very quickly for you. This must be very unsettling. It must seem as though I've turned into a crazy woman and whisked all control from you suddenly."

He responded with a half-smile, but nodded his agreement. She seemed suddenly very assertive and insistent that evening, which was somewhat unnerving.

"I don't have the right to proceed any further until I ask you something," she said. "Do you trust me?"

He silently considered that for a moment and squeezed her hand in his. "Yes, I do," he offered sincerely.

"I'm glad. All I've done so far has simply been to try and protect you, but the final choice has to be yours. Do you approve of my trying to protect you from the dangers Alondra Vargas presents to you?" she asked pointedly. She hoped with all her heart he would say yes.

He considered that at length. It wasn't as if he had any experience with the sort of threats presented by a vampire. Other than hole up in his apartment, he lacked any plan of what to do next. But his apartment didn't seem like the safest place in the world anymore, either. However, he didn't know what to expect from Katrina, who seemed to have become awfully quiet, dark, and dangerous the past couple of hours, almost like another person.

Finally, he ventured, "Am I going to be a prisoner here?"

She smiled thoughtfully at his question, and brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm reverently. He looks so innocent, just like the eight-year-old boy from so many years ago.

"No, love," she reassured him. "You're not my prisoner. I merely need to be the guide for your activities for a time until we're able to stop Vargas. But you may have to show some patience with me and be prepared to relinquish some control in your life for a time. Rest assured, I have your best interests at heart and would never do anything deliberately to harm you. I've had a lot of experience with combat, including against vampires, so I'm prepared to do what's necessary to protect you against a host of potential threats."

"I have to stay here for a time?" he probed. He didn't like the idea of being shut away from the world, if even for sound reasons.

Katrina features turned serious. "Honestly? Probably, at least until I formulate a plan of action and take steps to eliminate threats to you."

He sighed. "And this would begin when?"

"Well, the moment you give me your approval," she explained. "The sooner the better, unfortunately."

He nodded and pondered.

A pang of worry ran through her as she wondered if he were preparing to decline her offer. The thought of relinquishing him to the outside world unprotected broke her heart; his chances of survival would plummet soon afterwards. He already meant so much to her, and she only wanted the opportunity to try to help him.

He stared into her green eyes and glanced down at her soft hands. They appeared so gentle, and yet he recalled how they became the hands of a killer back at the apartment, albeit to defend him. But then, isn't that what vampires are good at: killing?

As the silence grew, she repeated, "Caleb, will you let me try to protect you?"

He never broke his stare with her. "Okay."

Katrina raised her eyebrows curiously. "Okay?"

"Please protect me, Kat," he requested. "If you think that's possible."

She smiled and felt a heaviness lift that she hadn't fully realized was hanging over her. She would do her best to help him, even if it meant her own death.

"Please, trust me and try to be patient," she implored. "I know it's a lot to ask under the circumstances."

He nodded and smiled as she craned her neck down slightly and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"We begin," she said. "Why don't you take a shower and try to get some rest?" she suggested. I'll try my best for you, she resolved. Her thoughts returned to the actions that she needed to take in the immediate future. She had the feeling it was going to take most of the night just to put together a preliminary plan of action. Alondra Vargas had caught her completely by surprise.

He nodded and turned to leave the kitchen, but realized he wasn't sure what part of the house he was expected to go to. He looked at her with a questioning expression, causing her to break from her self-imposed reverie.

"Oh, sorry," she replied to his unspoken question. "Your things are downstairs in my room, and I didn't cipher lock the door, so you can just walk right in."

He was happy that she still wanted him to sleep with her. She seemed so distant, and it unnerved him almost as much as Alondra had.

"And I can get out also?" he asked gently, not wanting to sound ungrateful for her efforts to protect him.

"You have unfettered access to anywhere inside the house," she replied matter-of-factly.

He nodded, noting "inside the house" with a nod. He hesitated, not sure if he should say more after all that happened.

She raised an eyebrow in silent query.

"I know I'm sort of a shut-in now," he began carefully. "And I realize that you have a lot on your mind, Kat. But I hope you won't shut me out. Okay?"

Katrina nodded slowly before he turned to leave the room. She watched him depart and sat quietly on a stool at the kitchen island counter in the middle of the room. She remained statue-still, thinking about what had happened, analyzing all the variables and processing how she should proceed. Even from where she sat, she could hear his subtle movements deeper in the house. Under different circumstances it might have filled her with happiness, but was instead tempered with concern for his continued safety.

Caleb finished his shower, pulled on some dark sweatpants, and brushed his teeth while reflecting on all that happened that day. His memories quickly returned to the moment when the elevator doors at his apartment building had opened to reveal Harry Maddox standing there with a handgun. It sent a shiver up his spine.

He marveled at how fast Katrina had reacted. She'd been a blur of movement that seemed impossible for any being. He was suddenly very relieved that she was so quick to respond, or he wouldn't be alive.

He turned to leave the bathroom and walked right into Katrina. Her hands immediately grasped his upper arms and stabilized him as he lurched with surprise.

"Jesus, you startled me!" he exclaimed as his heart raced.

"Sorry," she muttered while gazing into his eyes with concern. "How are you doing?"

He was instantly encouraged that she seemed much more like the Katrina he knew and loved, rather than the angry, distracted Katrina from earlier that evening. "Better, thanks to you," he mumbled as he inclined his head to kiss her lips.

She gently kissed him back and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing and pinning his arms to his side. With a sudden exhilarating whirl, he found himself lying on his back on the bed with her next to him.

He kissed her passionately, thankful to have her so close to him and wanting to impart some form of thanks for saving his life. His right hand crept up to massage the back of her scalp gently.

She enjoyed his affections, equally relived that he was alive and well, but concerned for the coming days. The process of formulating a plan of action involved the two beings other than Caleb who she could trust the most. There were genuine logistical issues to confront, as well as a proper plan for securing him in the safest manner possible.

He sensed her distracted mindset, noting her lips stiffened as he kissed her. He stopped kissing her and removed his hand from behind her head to let his arm drop onto the bed beside him. Her eyes darted to his, and she frowned slightly.

"You left me again," he commented wryly.

"Sorry," she muttered. She stretched alongside his body while perching on her left arm to look down onto his face. "Tell to me again about Alondra Vargas," she probed gently. "Both the interview and the dinner."

He sighed and related all that had happened or was discussed. She prompted him occasionally, asking for clarifications, but mostly listened intently as she stared into his eyes, almost as if studying him.

"I didn't break any rules," he said finally. "But you were very angry, and I couldn't figure out what I did wrong."

She frowned and whispered, "I know. You didn't do anything wrong, my love." She took a moment to kiss him affectionately, not wanting him thinking that the situation was his fault. They were both being targeted by a lunatic.

"At the restaurant when you were on the phone with me," Katrina recalled, "it was Alondra's voice in the background I recognized. But I knew I had to guard what I said to you because, as a vampire, she could hear my conversation with you just as easily as I heard hers. I couldn't say anything directly that might have tipped her off, or who knows what she might have done in desperation. I tried to hint to you that I'd be upset when I saw you next, but you thought I was angry with you. I'm sorry about that."

He smiled supportively. "I understand that now. Thanks."

She was inwardly pleased that he was so forgiving. It was another aspect of his kind nature that she loved so much.

"So, just who is this woman?" he insisted.

Katrina sighed and stared across the room with a distant expression. "The woman who calls herself Alondra Vargas is actually known to my kind as Chimalma. It's Aztec and means 'shield-bearer.'"

"Aztecs?" he muttered with recognition. His Central American history text described the Aztecs as a warrior people who controlled the area around Mexico until the early 1500s, when the Spanish under the leadership of Hernan Cortes conquered them during explorations of the New World.

He frowned as a realization struck him. "The Aztecs haven't been around since the 1500s," he murmured. "She's over five hundred years old." The woman looked stunning for five hundred years old.

Katrina noted his surprised expression and was simultaneously impressed with the depth of his historical knowledge. "My little historian," she noted with a brief smile and a quick kiss to his forehead. "But she's actually closer to six hundred years old. She was turned in the early 1400s."

His eyes widened at the revelation. "But why is she trying to kill me?"

Her expression turned grim again. "You're just an outlet for her revenge against me," she explained. "In fact, I'm just the latest on a list of targets of my kind, apparently."

She surmised that Chimalma must have started with Garett in Paris and moved to Octavia in Trondheim, to Wallace in Lima, and finally to her in Atlanta.

"But why?" he demanded incredulously.

"It's a long story," she said with a sigh.

"Well, are you planning on letting me leave the house anytime soon?" he asked pointedly.

Katrina frowned, and her eyes swiftly darted to glare at him, "No, I most certainly am not."

He sighed. "Thought so. Then I guess I have time."

She rolled her eyes at him and began to recount events from the past. "There was a time in the late 1940s in Central and South America when a battle raged between vampires of two opposing ideologies. A vampire named Quintis began building his own personal Central American empire reflective of the crime syndicates of Sicily and Italy. At first, his endeavors gained him a reputation among nearby governments as a sort of mafia leader. But eventually, he sought to coerce vampires from the area to join him or succumb to his will, including a requirement for tithing to him. To make matters worse, Quintis proposed a plan to turn loyal human commanders into vampires in hopes of creating a vampire-supported leadership structure."

She explained that Chimalma and her vampire consort, a Brazilian named Davi, approached a number of fellow vampires in the region, which included Katrina, to rise against Quintis before further damage could be done.

She continued, "Our efforts served two equally important agendas. First, Quintis' actions were threatening the group of us directly, which none of us would tolerate. Second, it would serve as a message to the rest of the vampire world that overt actions that were in disregard to a path of secrecy would be dealt with."

Caleb found the history that Katrina described both compelling and remarkable. Best of all, she revealed a little more about her past to him.

"Ah, so if that took place in the 1940s and if you were in your late twenties when turned, then I know you were born at least by around 1900," he ventured with a half-grin at the revelation.

"This is hardly the time, Caleb," she admonished with a tight-lipped expression. She hoped he would stay focused on what she was telling him because it would help him to understand why all of what she was doing was necessary. Perhaps he wouldn't feel resentful of his circumstances so much if he understood more clearly.

"Sorry," he murmured.

"Unfortunately," she continued unabated, "while Quintis was ultimately dealt with by a number of us acting as a team, Chimalma's consort, Davi, was killed in the explosion with Quintis. He sacrificed himself because the detonation had to be done manually following a malfunction in the arming and timing mechanism. A number of us were severely injured in the fighting, including Chimalma, and he bought us the time to depart to safety. Davi was a hero that day, and we owe him our lives. The problem is that Chimalma lost a long-time mate, and she eventually held us responsible, blaming each of us for allowing him to die."

Caleb said nothing as the somber nature of the story fully registered.

Katrina got up and went to her computer across the room. She sat down and began typing and clicking on various windows on the desktop in a furious manner. The screen flickered and flashed like a lightning storm from the speed with which she changed screens and selections. She reached over to another smaller computer screen, which looked like it was attached to a laptop, and clicked some options. The lights in the room went out, save for the illumination from the screens before her. "Try to get some sleep," she instructed distractedly as she continued to type.

He sighed and slipped underneath the bed's satin sheets. At first he was too keyed up to rest and kept wondering what she was doing on the computer. But as he lay there, the sound of her clicking and typing eventually lulled him into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

Caleb awoke with a start, not knowing what time it was. The room was silent, and the glow of the computer monitors was subdued by screensavers. Katrina was nowhere to be seen, but he heard the sound of a shower running in the bathroom off to his left. He illuminated his watch face and noted that it was nearly seven in the morning.

He stretched in bed and was instantly inspired to determine what Katrina was up to on the computer screens. He listened to make sure the shower was still running and gently slid out of bed.

His bare feet were quiet across the thick carpet as he tiptoed over to the computer hutch. He pressed the shift keys on both keyboards and noted the smaller screen session that controlled the house security systems was password locked, but the large flat panel display session to the right went immediately to the Windows desktop.

He looked at the list of minimized applications, recognizing some as being financial, while a couple of Internet browsers had headings related to European travel. He frowned and started to click on the travel topic browser, but then heard the shower stop.

He froze and quickly tiptoed back over to the bed to lie down. Realizing his mistake, he hoped the screensavers would come back on before Katrina exited the bathroom. He momentarily considered going back to the larger console and forcing the session into screensaver mode, but the bathroom door quietly opened before he had time.

He closed his eyes and tried to lie quietly on the bed as if asleep. Yet another mistake. Katrina's a vampire with excellent senses. Oh crap, he cursed silently as his heart began beating more quickly.

Breathing in, he smelled the sweet fragrance of cherry blossoms, which was her favorite. Following the sound of a quiet sigh, the bed shifted as if someone were lying down, and he felt Katrina's warm body press against his.

He dared not open his eyes, despite the fact that he probably wasn't fooling her. He focused on trying to calm himself, but was having trouble concentrating.

Her warm breath tickled the side of his face as she whispered to him in a steely tone, "What am I going to do with you, Caleb?"

While partly annoyed, another part of her found his curiosity endearing. Unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury of encouraging him under the circumstances.

He swallowed hard and his heart raced loudly in his ears. Keeping his eyes shut, he murmured, "You mean, in a rhetorical way?"

"Open your eyes," she commanded quietly. You're not fooling anybody, she thought with amusement at his antics. Still, she was determined to take a stern approach with him.

He slowly opened his eyes. Her stoic expression spoke volumes. He hated the thought of her being angry with him. "I just want to know what's going on, okay, Kat?" he replied defensively.

She regarded him with a tight-lipped expression, though she inwardly understood his curiosity.

"I didn't see much," he reassured her. "The windows showed financial information and travel to Europe."

"What online activities did you perform?" she asked pointedly. Hopefully he didn't try to do anything rash like initiate online communication with anyone, she appraised. Chimalma's a shrewd hunter who'll make use of any resources to scope out a target, even online.

His confused expression showed plainly in the room's dim lighting. "Nothing. I only looked at – listen, what were you expecting me to do, exactly?" he stammered.

"Good," was her simple reply before disappearing from beside him with a lurch.

He heard clicking sounds, and his gaze darted to the computer hutch where she closed applications and locked the keyboard. She muttered something under her breath about being more careful. Seconds later, she moved in a sudden rapid motion, only to reappear beside him again.

At least her eyes aren't angrily glowing at me, he considered.

Katrina gathered him in her arms and pulled him to her, melding her lips onto his and kissing him warmly. He gave up trying to make sense of the exchange a few moments ago and focused on her immediate attentions.

You dear young man, she thought. How I adore you, Caleb.

He managed to part his lips for an instant to whisper, "I don't understand what's going on, Kat. Help me understand."

She paused, still holding him in her arms, and replied, "I'm taking care of things in my own way, Caleb. Let me do what needs to be done, and try to be patient with me."

Her soft lips found his again, and his mind became pleasantly distracted.

"Why won't you tell me?" he pleaded between another series of kisses.

"Because it would only upset you," she answered before rolling on top of him and nibbling at the soft skin of his neck.

The blood desire was rising in her quickly as she took in his body's scent, and she both felt and heard the powerful pumping of blood through his veins. She craved the distraction, as well as the opportunity to share herself with him before initiating her plans. She needed to savor the moments with him and didn't want to waste precious time in conflict with him.

"I'm not going to just sit around helplessly while you take care of everything," he objected gently.

"Oh yes, you are," she stated in a tone harboring no further argument. You agreed to this, remember, she mused.

"We're partners, Kat," he insisted. "We help each other when times get tough."

Katrina paused, her lips nearly touching the soft skin of his neck. "This is way out of your league, my love. Your expertise is history," she explained softly as her breath almost tickled his neck. "Mine is hunting and killing. Leave this to me."

And let me return to that tasty neckline of yours, she added as her feeding urge increased. She returned to nibbling at his neck and kissing his lips. He wanted to argue further, but his mind was effectively distracted by both her body and his own desires. Still, he had no intention of letting the matter drop for long.

He felt a set of razor sharp fangs touch the skin of his neck and froze like a statue.

"I'm partaking unless you say no," she rasped into his neck with hot breath.

She had surprised him, being so forward about taking his blood. But in the span of two heartbeats he knew his answer. "I wouldn't dare," he managed to gasp as he felt the immediate numbing sensation from her tongue against his skin. I owe her my life. What price then is a little of my blood?

Later that morning, after they both roused from dozing in each other's arms, Caleb slipped into jeans and a T-shirt and went to the kitchen for something to eat.

Fortunately, Katrina still had leftover food from his recent 'flu recovery. He heated some soup in the microwave, opened a package of crackers, and removed one of the Cokes that Katrina kept stocked in her refrigerator. While making a mental note to ask her about groceries, he wondered if she could hear him from the sub-level room.

"Kat?" he whispered as he pulled the soup bowl from the microwave.

He sat down at the island counter with his cola and crackers. A minute later, he called in a normal tone of voice, "Kat, I need you."

He smiled while stirring the bowl of hot soup. "Not such good hearing after all," he mused quietly.

"Really?" queried her voice at his left ear.

"Crap!" he yelled as he nearly flew from his chair.

"You called?" she asked, completely satisfied at his surprise. I just love doing that to him.

His heart raced as he realized how close he'd come to dumping hot soup in his lap. "Jesus, Kat," he muttered as he shook his head, trying to catch his breath.

"So you're passing your time by testing my hearing?" she asked with an amused expression.

He blinked at her with bewilderment. "Just curious."

"Try to remember that vampires have excellent hearing. Your life may depend upon it someday," she admonished mildly.

Suddenly his little boon wasn't so amusing anymore.

"Eat your soup before it gets cold," she suggested as she moved to lean against the counter.

He reseated himself and recalled what he meant to tell her earlier. "Oh, yeah. I noticed we're low on food, human food, that is. I suppose a trip to the grocery store is in order tonight, under your watchful protection, of course."

"Cabin fever already?" she teased. I suggested this might not be easy. She smirked, almost impressed with his artful attempt to gain some outdoor freedom even under the current dangerous circumstances. But she had already considered the issue and had a solution well in hand. "No need," she said.

His expression soured.

"I already found a local grocery store service that delivers at night. After you finish your soup, come down to my room, and you can order what you want."

He sighed, aggravated she was so determined to keep him under lock-down conditions. He was used to open windows, open doors, and free passage at a moment's notice. Now he didn't even get the benefit of the sunlight through a window. Night and day were meaningless under his current circumstances. But at least he welcomed some Internet distractions. Maybe she'll let me surf the Web.

"Sure," he replied. "Thanks."

She turned as if to leave, but he hastily swallowed his mouthful of soup and waved at her.

"Wait," he urged. "I misplaced my cell phone last night. I had it when we got to the house."

"It's safe," she said dismissively. "You can have it back when this is all over."

He frowned, wondering what his cell phone had to do with anything. But before he could inquire further, she sped down the hall back to her lair. He groaned as he returned to his soup.

A short time later, he sat beside her clicking on the various food items for sale on the grocer website, while she intently observed his selections.

"If you have something else to do, it's perfectly okay with me," he offered.

"Nope, I'm fine. Your product choices are intriguing."

He rolled his eyes and continued shopping. It felt more like she was monitoring his activities.

"Don't forget toiletries," she prompted.

He clicked on a number of relevant items.

After twenty minutes, he finished his selections. He had covered all of his favorite foods, as well as other necessities he'd need for a couple of weeks' stay. He had no idea how long his current isolation might last. The final price of shopping cart selections with the delivery charge was a small fortune, but Katrina seemed unconcerned.

As he clicked the order button, he opened up a new window to do some surfing. However, her hand darted out to cover his on the mouse and locked his hand firmly in place.

"Okay, thanks," she offered. "We're done here now."

He gave her a vexed look, but she merely stared back at him with a polite, resolute expression.

"I'd appreciate some surfing time," he suggested. "It would be a great way to occupy myself, and it'll keep me out of your way."

She merely smiled slyly and politely countered, "Oh, then you'll love my movie collection in the theater room. I have hundreds of titles covering numerous genres. And if nothing strikes your fancy, you can order as many movies as you want via cable. Either way, it's a great way to pass the time and still be out of my way."

He started to click the mouse to open a new window, but her grip tightened around the bones of his knuckles. It was firm, but not enough to cause him pain…yet.

"I'll play nicely if you will, my love," she offered in a friendly voice, though her eyes were steely.

It was the most pleasant-sounding warning he had ever received. He gave her a dirty look as she allowed him to remove his hand from atop the mouse.

"So, what if I decided to retract my agreement to let you protect me?" he asked pointedly.

She paused, letting him stew a moment before replying, "Sorry, but my plan is in action now. I'm afraid you missed your window of opportunity. But trust me, you'll thank me when all this is over, my love."

"I'll be upstairs if you need me," he said flatly as he got up to leave.

She watched him depart with a sigh, knowing full well he was upset. Certainly, what he was going through was difficult. But for the first time since events unfolded, she felt comfortably in control. Unfortunately, she also sensed that he was nearing a boiling point soon, and she wasn't looking forward to the confrontation.

The boiling point came sooner rather than later.

Caleb spent part of the early afternoon loading a computer game on