Once on the ground, Ryan set out for the alley where she had dumped the body. "Edward is outside the alley, tell him to pull in here, I'll get this for you," Ryan instructed over her shoulder.

Susan was dumbfounded. "What?"

Ryan paused, slightly impatient. "Bring the car around. I'll retrieve the body for you."

Susan was astonished. Not only had Ryan committed a crime, she now was nonchalantly returning to the scene to retrieve the body.

Ryan put her hands on her hips, looking at Susan as if she were a dimwitted child. "You said you wanted to study my Kind. Here's a perfect opportunity for you."

Susan still did not move and Ryan now left no room for discussion. "Get the car," she said firmly.

The command finally had its desired affect and Susan, in a daze, went to find Edward. She hoped Jason wouldn't see any of this.

Once the body was safely in the trunk, the limousine was on its way. Jason was fascinated by the b.u.t.tons, the television, the refrigerator. Edward eyed him with some disapproval.

"Well, how do you expect to get that bo-," she stopped, glancing at her preoccupied son, "That *thing' upstairs to my lab?"

Ryan looked at Edward, and some sort of private communication pa.s.sed between the two. Ryan sighed, turning her attention to Susan.

"You won't be going back to your lab. Nor will you be going home."

Ryan's words were slow to sink in. "What?" Susan said, "What are you talking about?"

Ryan spoke with a rare hesitation. "It is why I sought you out today. Things," she paused, searching for the words, "have become much more complicated."

"What do you mean by more complicated?"

Ryan stared at her. "The Young One today was not searching for you, but he was here. That means that Others are here, or will be coming."

Susan shook her head. "No, you were looking for me before that. What else has happened?

Ryan glanced at the elder man. "Edward?"

Edward turned to face Susan. "The men who attacked you the other day were not our Kind. They were employees of an international pharmaceutical company extremely interested in your work. The risk that they will find you is too great."

"So what if they find me? So what? You don't have to keep protecting me. Jason and I can go somewhere else."

Edward managed to express his derision of the remark without saying a word. Susan turned to Ryan, who was watching Jason play with the b.u.t.tons on the television "So you're just going to imprison us?"

Ryan sighed. "Well, for the time being, yes. My hope is that it will be a temporary situation."

Jason was finally beginning to follow the conversation. "What about my puppy?"

Edward turned to him, his demeanor still firm. "Your dog has already been moved. He will be there when you arrive." Edward turned to Susan. "As well as most of your possessions, some of your lab equipment..." He paused as if forgetting something. "Oh yes, and your housekeeper as well."

Susan was speechless. "You kidnapped Neda?" she finally sputtered out.

Ryan seemed almost embarra.s.sed by the admission, but Edward was unmoved. "In theory, yes. She was not exactly a willing partic.i.p.ant in the move."

Susan was flabbergasted. Just when she thought that nothing would surprise her anymore, these two managed something new.

CHAPTER 22.

JASON IMMEDIATELY ADAPTED to the opulent surroundings, impressed and curious about everything he saw. He was happily reunited with both his puppy and a frightened and angry Neda. Susan tried to calm her caretaker, telling her it was a temporary move and that she would explain everything later. She left the two in Jason's suite, then stalked into her own. She paced about the luxurious room, but felt her anger dissipating. It was hard to be incensed when surrounded by such beauty, especially when she knew Ryan had brought them here to keep them safe. Susan glanced around the room. They were required to stay here, but Ryan had said nothing about her staying in her room. She started down the hallway. She felt many eyes upon her as she moved through the house, but no one tried to stop her.

Ryan was in the den where Susan expected to find her. She sat in front of the fireplace as she had before. The golden-haired woman glanced up at her. "Would you like a gla.s.s of wine?"

Susan started to refuse, then changed her mind. "Why not?" she said.

Almost before the words were out of her mouth, a young man was at her side with an empty winegla.s.s. He held up the bottle for her inspection. Out of habit, Susan looked at the label. She then did a double take.

"This is 1961 Cheval Blanc, St. Emilion."

Ryan glanced over at her. "What?"

Susan shook her head. "Nothing." She took the gla.s.s of wine from the young man and settled into the chair next to Ryan's. She took a sip of the wine, savoring it. She had a fine appreciation for wine, but she had never tasted any that went for $750 a bottle. She was silent for awhile, enjoying the fire and the drink. Perhaps it was the alcohol giving her courage, but she finally spoke what was on her mind.

"When are you going to tell me what's really going on here?"

Ryan glanced over at her in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"

"Why did you kill that young man? He didn't know you were there. He wasn't any threat to me."

"You're not entirely correct," Ryan said. She took a drink of her wine. "Granted, he didn't know I was there, nor was he any threat to you. But he did sense me. I couldn't let him live with that imprint."

Susan wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about.

Ryan sensed her confusion. "Perhaps I owe you an explanation of sorts since I have so disrupted your life. But I cannot really explain anything about myself unless I explain to you more about my Kind." Ryan lapsed into silence for a moment, then continued. "And I really can't do that unless I explain to you how I met the Others for the first time."

Ryan gazed into the fireplace, a far-away look in her eye. "I guess I was perhaps a hundred years old. Old for a human, no doubt, but young for one of my Kind. I did not realize there were Others. I thought Victor and I were the only two of our Kind in the world, off fighting our battles and wandering the world. It never occurred to me there might be Others, nor did I realize how meeting them would change everything."

Ryan whipped the horse harder. Although it was in a lather and on the verge of collapse, she drove the beast on. She considered dismounting and continuing on foot, as she could now run nearly as fast as the horse. But she continued on horseback.

They had only been in France a few weeks and Ryan did not particularly care for it. It had been Victor's idea to leave the rolling hills of England. Although they traveled away on many occasions, it had generally been to fight in some battle or another. She had spent half her life battling the French, and now she was supposed to forget all that and act civil.

Ryan did not know why Victor had chosen to leave, she simply knew he had been watching her thoughtfully one day, and abruptly made the decision. Ryan had not been happy with the decision but did not argue with Victor, indeed, did not even question the reasons behind it.

They traveled without fanfare and without entourage through a land filled with bands of criminals. And they did so without incident. No one stopped and asked them for their papers; no one stopped them for any reason.

And they had arrived in this city, the largest city Ryan had ever seen. It was teeming with life, but the stimulation quickly tired Ryan who was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds picked up by her ever-increasing senses.

To give herself respite, she would take long rides in the surrounding countryside. On this particular day she had been gone since early morning light. Victor had watched her leave, unconcerned at her destination but directing her firmly that she should return by evening as he had plans for them.

Unfortunately Ryan had completely lost track of time and with a certain amount of misgiving realized the sun was going down when she was a long way from home.

She could feel Victor's displeasure from a distance and in her mind's eye, could see him pacing impatiently. She spurred the horse onward and although it whinnied in protest, it picked up its pace.

She wheeled the horse through the gateway and quickly dismounted. A servant rushed forward to take the beast, which stumbled badly in its exhaustion. Ryan hesitated a moment, wanting to care for the horse, but she had no choice.

"Take care of him," she ordered the stablehand, then headed up the walk, taking the stairs two at a time. She brushed by the servant in the foyer and then burst into the dining hall. Victor was at the other end, aware of her arrival and obviously waiting for her. She moved towards him, hurried yet graceful as ever.

She bowed slightly, out of breath. "I'm, I'm sorry my lord. I'm late." Ryan became suddenly acutely aware that there were many other people in the room as well. She glanced down at her disheveled appearance. "And I am not properly dressed."

Victor himself was dressed in formal wear, but when he looked down at his young companion who was quite fetchingly dressed as a stableboy, any anger he felt evaporated. "I don't think anyone is concerned with what you're wearing."

There was a languid quality to his voice and Ryan tried to decipher his words. She glanced around her, realizing the room had become completely silent and all eyes were on her. She turned back to Victor and he stared intently in her eyes.

Stay close, came the voice inside her head, and guard your thoughts.

Ryan was suddenly aware of an immense number of competing sensations and was stunned to realize that everyone in the room was like her and Victor. She could feel them.

And they could feel her.

Victor reached down and brushed a lock of hair from Ryan's forehead. No one in the room missed the significance of the sensual gesture, or the possession behind it.

Abigail observed the gesture from behind her fan. As one of the oldest and most powerful of their Kind, she was well respected. Her appearance was that of an elder matriarch because she had been Changed when physically older. This lent her a certain dignity even among a people where physical appearance was misleading.

Abigail leaned towards the beautiful, dark-haired woman to her left. "It appears Victor has made himself a child."

A mixture of emotions flitted across Marilyn's face as she watched the young woman. She struggled to control them, outwardly preserving her icy demeanor. "Ce n'est pas possible."

Abigail watched the child and mentally reached out to touch her. She was startled at the power she felt. She smiled behind the fan. "Yes, impossible. But it appears he has done it."

Marilyn was younger than Abigail in appearance, but they were nearly the same age. Marilyn's power easily rivaled that of Abigail's, perhaps even surpa.s.sing it. She stared at the silent interaction between the two.

Abigail could not resist baiting Marilyn further. "It almost appears as if he speaks to her with thought."

Marilyn's jaw again tightened. "That is impossible. Even if she is his offspring, she is too young to have such abilities."

Abigail smiled. "Yes, of course my dear."

Marilyn bridled at Abigail's condescending tone but the elder woman had already risen to her feet and was gliding across the floor toward Victor.

Victor turned toward the matriarch and bowed slightly. Abigail bowed to him as he took her hand. "Victor. Let me be the first to congratulate you," she said with a significant glance at Ryan. She then turned to the younger woman. "And the first to meet this exquisite creature."

Ryan was overwhelmed by the older woman's presence and felt herself immediately physically drawn to her. Victor watched the reaction, entertained but cautious with his charge.

Abigail was also aware of the reaction and was immeasurably pleased by it. It normally meant nothing to her to attract a Young One, but this one was so simultaneously powerful and vulnerable, the feeling was intoxicating. She held Ryan's hands while looking deep into her eyes, gauging her. Yes, this one bore Victor's mark as surely as she was standing before her.

Abigail pulled back but did not release Ryan's hand, instead sweeping her away from Victor. "I will introduce her to everyone, my lord."

Victor was not completely pleased at this turn of events, but neither was he concerned. No one would touch Ryan. Still, as others came and went, paying their respects to him, he kept Ryan in his sight.

Ryan was swept around the room in a whirlwind, surrounded by faces with names she would never remember. There seemed to be some unspoken hierarchy, some hidden social order. They were greeted with enthusiasm and people pressed closer to meet and pay their respects to both of them.

Ryan sensed, however, that not all were pleased to see her. She felt the weight of a pair of eyes and turned to a dark-haired woman across the room. Although surrounded by admirers, she had eyes only for Ryan and what was in them was not pleasant.

The dark-haired woman turned away and Ryan turned her gaze to Victor, who had watched the entire scene. There was an iciness about him right now that Ryan had never seen, and it was not directed at her but at the dark-haired woman. Abigail had also watched the drama play itself out, finding it extremely diverting. She placed her hand on Ryan's elbow, gently guiding her back towards Victor.

"Come my dear, we mustn't push our luck."

Ryan had little idea what that meant. In fact, there was an undercurrent throughout the room of which Ryan had little if any understanding. She was actually quite relieved when she returned to Victor's side, taking comfort in his nearness.

"Oh my," Abigail whispered behind her fan as she fell in beside Victor. Her eyes were on Marilyn who had started towards the trio. Marilyn swept across the floor and her admirers fell to the wayside as she neared Victor.

Ryan felt herself drawn to the woman as she approached, much like with Abigail. But Victor apparently found this reaction less than entertaining as he put his hand on Ryan's shoulder.

Marilyn sensed the reaction and her eyes narrowed slightly in surprise. She, too, felt what Abigail had felt and mentally revised her opinion of the whelp. She grasped the free hand Victor extended and leaned to kiss him chastely on the lips.

"h.e.l.lo my dear, I've missed you."

Victor bowed slightly. "h.e.l.lo Marilyn," he said politely, "it has been too long."

"Yes, of course." She turned immediately to Ryan. "And who, pray tell, is this?"

Victor's response was guarded. "This is Rhian." He glanced at Ryan as he spoke, "Marilyn is a very old friend of mine."

Marilyn was quite openly examining Ryan from head to foot.

"Yes," she agreed, "very old friends." To Ryan's surprise, Marilyn reached out and grasped her hands, pulling her towards her and out of Victor's grasp. Marilyn pulled her close so that they were face to face, and then the dark-haired woman leaned down to kiss her.

Many had kissed her in greeting during the course of the evening, but none like Marilyn kissed her. The kiss was prolonged and anything but chaste, and Ryan felt herself nearly swoon in the beautiful woman's embrace.

Marilyn released her and stepped back, causing Ryan to stumble backwards into Victor. Victor caught her by her shoulders and did not release her. There were several t.i.tters about the room at Marilyn's action and the Young One's reaction. Abigail smiled once more behind her fan. Marilyn gazed at Victor, half in triumph, half in fury. Victor returned her gaze, not pleased with Marilyn's action but not as displeased as she would have wished. Marilyn's desire for his dark child was a victory in itself.

Ryan was extremely confused. There were too many competing sensations right now, too many things she did not understand. She pressed backwards into Victor, wishing she could saddle another horse and leave.

A stabbing pain suddenly raced through Ryan's head, followed by a mind-shattering silent scream. She stood upright, stunned by the mental onslaught, and more stunned by the lack of reaction around her.

Few people seemed to even hear the silent scream, and fewer seemed to care. It was the Old Ones who tilted their heads slightly at the sensation, and their responses ranged from mild regret to amus.e.m.e.nt. The younger Ones appeared oblivious to the sound, neither hearing the cry nor feeling the pain that Ryan did.

She turned to Victor who knew what she was feeling and what she had heard, but he could not comfort her right now. He simply lifted two fingers and pressed them to her lips to silence any questions that might be forthcoming.

Ryan kept her tongue and turned back around, only to find Marilyn watching her closely. She had not missed Ryan's reaction, nor had Abigail. Abigail fluttered her fan in front of her face, but her eyes were locked with those of Victor, full of the knowledge of the implications of Ryan's reaction.

Victor was unperturbed. He, too, knew the implications of Ryan's abilities. He kept Abigail's gaze, however, for he did not care.

Ryan sensed a restlessness in the room, especially amongst the Old Ones. Some unseen chain of events had just been set into motion. People began to draw near to one another, and there seemed to be some sort of hidden order to the pairing. She sensed Victor's restlessness and turned to him in question. She heard the voice in her mind.

We must leave.