Hunting Memories

Chapter 15

As Philip bolted across the empty car after the strange vampire, Wade was once again hit by a sudden telepathic shout. Stay with Rose!

Philip's voice inside his head felt sharper than Eleisha's, but he was standing in the doorway, so he didn't buckle or stumble.

"Don't kill him!" Rose called after Philip. She looked outside as the train picked up more speed. "Those cars behind us are filled with people," she said more quietly.

Wade stood frozen, trying to take everything in. Philip's brilliant plan to jump off the train-which Wade had never been too sure about in the first place-was rapidly becoming impossible, and just like Philip, he was frightened at the thought of Eleisha getting between Robert and Julian.

Now Philip had gone running off after a vampire in a trench coat, and he was left here with no idea what to do. "Maybe we should go back to our cabin. At least we'll be hidden there."

Rose looked around the empty car with the short stairwell and the door leading outside. Her voice was calm. "No, Philip will come back here no matter what happens. You open the outer door, and we'll wait."

"You're not still planning on jumping?" he asked incredulously. "I think that ship has sailed, Rose. We're going too fast."

"Not quite yet."

For somebody pathologically afraid of sitting in an airplane with a hundred people around, she showed no fear of hitting the ground at forty miles an hour. But her words about Philip coming back to this car made sense. Just what did he plan to do anyway? Pull a machete and take that vampire's head off right in front of the passengers? Why did Philip always have to act first and think later?

"He had to go," Rose said, as if reading his mind-but he didn't feel her. Maybe she was reading his face. "He'd never jump with that vampire right behind us, so he had to least at chase him off. I'm just afraid Philip will catch him… and I hope he tries talking first."

"Talking?" Wade asked. "That thing tried to cut your head off, and now he's hunting us on a train!"

"We don't know what he's after."

Wade sighed and looked around. Pulling his gun, he motioned to the back of the empty car. "Okay, I'll get the door open, and you wait over there. But if Philip's not back in the next thirty seconds, we're going to need a new plan."

Although he didn't want to shatter Rose's hopes, he somehow doubted Philip would try talking first-and for once, he completely agreed with Philip.

But whatever Philip was going to do… he'd better do it fast.

Nothing that had occurred in the last few moments changed the fact that Robert and Eleisha were still alone with Julian coming after them.

Jasper jogged as quickly as he could down the aisles without breaking into a full run, just trying to look like a guy in a hurry. There were too many passengers sitting around.

But he was scared.

It never occurred to him that he might just walk into his targets like that-and now Philip was coming after him. He tried to remember everything Julian had told him about Philip.

Savage but not intelligent. He may have developed telepathy by now, but even so, I don't think he'd know how to sense for another of our kind in that way.

Could that be true? Jasper hoped so. Glancing back, he saw Philip closing on him, and he broke into a run without caring what the passengers thought.

Where was Mary? Couldn't she try to blink in and scare Philip for a moment? Just to clear a few seconds of time?

Jasper remembered he'd passed the dining car on the way in, and he ran toward it, passing though doorways and trying to get out of Philip's sight line for just an instant. He could run pretty fast as a mortal, and now his speed made the aisle seats blur past.

As he neared the kitchens, he dashed into a large storage area, hoping Philip hadn't seen him, and ran for an industrial walk-in refrigerator. Once inside, he pulled the door closed and then crouched, using the newfound strength in his legs to jump to the highest shelf, where he crawled behind several large boxes of unsalted butter.

He waited, forcing his mind to be still, not allowing any of his gift to seep out, just playing dead behind the butter.

Nothing happened for a few moments, and he started to think maybe Philip had kept running all the way to the dining car-bypassing the storage room.

Then he heard the sound of the fridge door being jerked open, and he lay completely still. Hidden like this, he couldn't see anything, but Philip wouldn't see him either.

He heard footsteps and a crashing sound as something was knocked over.

"Where are you?" a low voice with a French accent called out.

Jasper fought down the panic, and he lay completely still.

The footsteps echoed away from the fridge and back into the storage room, moving farther away. He only waited a little while and then jumped down quietly, seeing the fridge door open. Philip was gone, and Jasper slipped over the door, peering out.

He could see Philip down the hall, heading toward the back of the train, into the dining car.

And then Jasper realized he'd done exactly what he was supposed to. Philip was off in one direction, and Wade-a mortal-and Rose-who seemed incapable of defending herself-were alone in a car with a doorway to the outside of the train.

Well… awesome.

If he could take out at least two of them, he'd have a success here, and he saw all the things awaiting him: cars, clothes, hotel suites, feeding on girls who'd never have looked twice at him before.

He wasn't going to fail Julian again, and he headed back toward Rose and Wade.

Wade got the outer door open, and he stood on the steel steps, watching the world blur past for a few moments.

"This isn't going to work, Rose," he said. "Even if I could survive the jump, we're too far from Eugene, and all I can see is a line of trees. I don't think Philip's going to find a car out here. We'll have to wait for the next stop and see where we are."

"Do you know the next stop?" she asked.

"No, I'm not even sure where this train is headed now. I think Eleisha said it would turn east."

Rose was standing near the back of the car, and he was just starting to climb up the metal stairs when her expression shifted to fear as she looked to the right, toward the door Philip had run through. Wade couldn't see it from his position, but he raised the gun.

"Wade!" she called out.

He heard the upper door being opened, and he tried to jump up the last three steps, holding out his Beretta. Something arced down out of the air, and the tip of a blade sliced the back of his hand. He cried out and dropped the gun.

The trench-coated vampire kicked it away, and Wade dodged to one side as the sword came back, crashing into the stairwell's corner.

"Stop it," Rose called out. Her voice was smooth and clear. "That will not serve you, and you can come with us. You'll have a home with us."

Even Wade saw the wisdom of what she suggested. To stop fighting. To go home.

The vampire held his sword in midair. He looked younger than Wade first realized. His blade was slender, more a saber than a sword-but the edge was sharp.

"It's all right," Rose said, taking a step toward him. "Put down the sword and come with us."

The vampire's face wavered, and then somehow he seemed to throw off Rose's aura of wisdom, and in one split second, he snarled, pulling his blade back, about to rush her.

The air shimmered, and Seamus appeared directly in front of Rose. He swung with his fist as if aiming a hard blow.

The transparent fist passed through the vampire, but he still flinched and ducked, as anyone would, and Wade used the only weapon he had left… Forming an image of Philip running toward them down the aisles, he drove this picture directly into the vampire's mind.

He's coming now, Wade projected. It's safe outside in the dark. Jump. Jump out the door and you'll be safe. Or he'll take your head and turn you to dust.

The vampire's eyes widened in terror, and he looked down the stairwell to the open door and the world rushing past.

Hurry! He's coming. He's almost here! He'll take your head. You have to jump.

The vampire moved past Wade, to the top of the stairs, lost in the vision Wade kept pressing on him.

And then to Wade's despair, he felt something pushing back, and he heard hazy thoughts.

No… no, he can't be there yet.

This creature was pushing him out, fighting his suggestions.

Yes! Wade projected. He's almost to the door.

The vampire's expression altered, and fear turned to rage. He half turned, raising the sword, snarling and aiming at Wade.

An explosion sounded, echoing off the metal walls.

Black blood sprayed from the vampire's chest, and he stumbled down three steps, choking in shock. Another explosion rocked the car, and blood sprayed from his forehead as he fell back through the outer door and vanished from sight.

Wade rushed down the steps and hung out the doorway. He could still see the body lying on the ground, growing smaller and smaller until the train passed him.

The vampire never even moved.

Panting from what felt like emotional exhaustion, Wade looked up into the car. Rose was standing in the middle, holding his gun with both hands. Seamus was still beside her.

"Philip should be back soon," she said calmly. "We'll get off at the next stop."

Still looking at his gun, Wade had no response.

Maybe Rose's wisdom could adapt to any situation.

Julian walked the dark street outside the Salem Amtrak station. The express train was due any moment. He was worried Eleisha might talk Robert into waiting inside the station and calling for a taxi.

But he was also counting on Robert's instinct for complete independence in a dangerous situation. Angelo had known Robert very well-and now so did Julian.

He was walking the shortest route to a Hertz rental car office, and down a side street, he spotted a deep black doorway with a balcony up above it, creating darker shadows.

"How do you know they'll get off?" Mary asked, floating beside him. She was fidgeting, as if anxious about something.

He was too distracted to even find her annoying. "He is a soldier, from a long line of soldiers. He'll get off."

She shrugged, looking down the street. "Shouldn't I get back to Jasper? He's all alone, and that Philip guy seems pretty mean."

"Hmm?" Julian turned from the doorway. "No, leave him. I need you here." He paused, running possibilities through his mind. "All right, this is what we're going to do."

Mary tilted her head, but thankfully, she just listened.

Coming out of Robert's memories for a second time was even harder, and Eleisha had more trouble separating her emotions from his.

She could still taste Jessenia in her mouth.

Somehow, she managed to pull out right after Jessenia's death-before Robert drained the gardener. She would have stopped sooner, but he had such a tight hold.

Once she was able to separate her thoughts and drives from his, she found him leaning forward on the floor, holding himself up by his forearms.

Maybe she should have refused to do this for him? He'd just wanted it so much.

He touched his head to the floor.

"Rob… ert," she tried to say, her own voice sounding foreign. "Get up."

He raised his head.

"The train is pulling into Salem," she told him. "We have to get ready."

Without a word, he climbed to his feet. They didn't speak for a little while. What else could they possibly say after reliving all that again?

Eleisha got his coat and buttoned it over his bloody shirt. The coat's shoulder was still ripped, but it looked better.

The cut on her hand had almost closed, and she washed off the dried blood. Her side still hurt.

The tense, angry look he so often wore began returning to his face, and he picked up the long shoulder bag with his sword. Good. Maybe watching Jessenia die again might actually help. As long as he didn't get careless.

"You make sure he misses," she said. The train slowed to a stop. As they moved out into the hall, she said, "What makes you so certain he'll be here?"

"He'll be here. This is how he hunts."

They moved down the hall and through the long aisles to an exit, stepping off into the loud train station. People hurried all around them, and no one even glanced their way.

"Excuse me," Robert said to a young baggage attendant pulling a cart. "Where is the nearest rental car office?"

"There's a Hertz about three blocks away," the attendant answered. "I think it's open until one a.m. Just go out the main doors, turn left, walk two streets down, and then take another left on Baker."

"Thank you."

They walked away, looking around.

"Over there," Robert said, pointing to large glass doors across the station floor.

She followed him outside into the darkness, and he turned left. But now anxiety was beginning to build inside her. If Robert was correct-and he probably was-Julian could be anywhere. The thought made her sick, and she hadn't expected that, or at least not to this degree.

"Wait," she said.

He turned around.

"Give me a second."

His brow wrinkled when he saw her face. "Can you do this?"

She looked down the dark street, and all she could see were shadowy awnings and blackened doorways and the entrances to alleys. But she'd seen the sword coming back in the train yard, and she hadn't been expecting it. Now both she and Robert would be watching.

"Yes," she answered. "Just don't walk so fast."

"Stay right behind me. You know what to do." But he didn't move away yet, hesitating, and then he said, "No matter what happens, I'm glad you and Rose started all this. I'm glad she found me. I'm glad I came." His voice held no inflexion or emotion, but she believed him.

"Let's get this done," she said. "We'll be home tonight."

They were far enough from the station crowds now that he unzipped his bag and took out his sword, gripping the hilt.

The sight of it gave her a jolt. Although she never would have admitted it anyone, even Wade, she was experiencing an unfamiliar scratching at the back of her mind every time she pictured herself helping Robert to kill Julian-as if some part of her rebelled against destroying her own maker.

But she wouldn't let this stop her.

Julian had killed his maker. So could she.

They walked two blocks down, keeping an eye on all the doorways, and turned on Baker Street, which was dark and empty at this hour.

Robert paused only briefly before beginning this final stretch.

Up ahead, she saw a deep blackened doorway with a balcony above it, and Robert's voice flashed into her mind.

There. Get ready.

He didn't break stride or show any sign of having noticed a thing.

She tensed, ready for Julian's swing… when Robert would swerve and she would need to get hold of Julian's mind in the same instant.

Shaking inside, she cursed herself. She had not expected to be this frightened.

She focused her thoughts, gathering a command to make Julian freeze, and Robert walked past the black doorway.

Eleisha looked for the glint.

And then someone screamed from the doorway. A brightly colored form blurred out from the darkness, screaming, and Robert stumbled back in shock.

At the same time, something large dropped down from the balcony, landing behind him, and a glint flashed with a whooshing sound.

Before Eleisha could even follow what was happening, Robert's head came off his shoulders, and his body fell forward. Julian was standing behind him, and the magenta-haired girl ghost was still screaming.

She fell silent as Robert's body landed on the sidewalk.

His psychic energy burst out and hit Eleisha. She didn't even remember falling beside him.

Wave after wave of memory kept hitting her, and she'd seen so many of them before. Thomas Howard. Battles in Scotland. Lady Elizabeth. Angelo. Countless feeding victims left asleep. Memory after memory of Jessenia and their journeys and the feel of her mouth on his.

Then she saw Rose and Seamus and Wade… and she saw herself. Only in almost every memory of herself, she was with Philip, talking to him, borrowing his clothes, sleeping with her head in the crook of his neck on the train.

The memories began fading. The agony of the onslaught was easing, and she was dimly aware of Julian standing over her with a sword in his hand. She couldn't move or muster any power. Robert's memories were weaker but still rushing through her.

I'm going to die.

She wanted to die. Robert was glorious, and she'd gotten him killed. She closed her eyes.

The blow never landed.

When she opened her eyes, Julian was gone. The ghost was gone.

They had just left her lying beside Robert's headless body. She couldn't think or feel and got up on her knees. His head had rolled a few feet away, but the blood had already stopped pumping from the stump of his throat.

She looked around in lost confusion.

Why would Julian just walk away?

The numb sensation was passing, and grief was flooding in to take its place.

Robert was dead.

She reached out to touch the back of his hand, and it was already beginning to crack. Leaning forward, she pressed her nose down on his chest, and she just stayed like that.

If Julian came back to take her head, she'd let him.

Arriving in Portland at one a.m., Philip knew he'd missed the train's arrival, and he drove their stolen car straight to the church. Wade was carsick, and Rose was gripping the handles of the back door, but Philip couldn't slow down.

They'd lost too much time already.

He had the car door half open by the time he squealed to a stop in front of the iron gates, and he jumped out, shoving the gates open and running for the front doors.

"Eleisha!" he yelled, rushing through the sanctuary for the stairs to their apartment below, but he already knew she wasn't here. The place felt empty.

"Eleisha!" he still called out once he reached the sitting room, and he turned a full circle in despair.

She wasn't here.

The next twenty hours were the longest of Wade's life.

In an ugly scene, he'd managed to convince a hysterical Philip they had to remain at the church.

They had no idea where to look at this point, and Eleisha had clearly told him they would all meet back at the church.

Rose sent Seamus out, but he needed some general area to search, and after searching all around the train station, he had come back with nothing. Then she'd sent him to Salem, but again, he did not find Eleisha, and after that, Rose did not know where else to send him.

Thankfully, Philip collapsed into dormancy shortly after sunrise, and Wade waited out the day, sitting on the floor of the sanctuary. But he had too much to think about.

He couldn't stand the thought of Julian getting anywhere near Eleisha.

And what if she didn't come back?

What if… what if something happened to her?

This church, their plan for the underground, the life they had been building together would be gone. Rose had the wisdom and the vision. Philip had the strength. Wade had the knowledge and ability to train telepaths.

But Eleisha was the heart.

This would not work without her.

Selfish thought. Wade had never considered what he might do without her, and now all he could think of was himself?

Bastard.

He tried to focus on something constructive. What could he do to find her? He couldn't come up with a single thing. He didn't eat all day. He didn't sleep.

At sunset, Philip came upstairs looking haggard. Rose came up a few moments later-she had slept in Eleisha's room. They still had no idea what to do. Philip opened the front doors and stood on the porch.

Just past eleven o'clock, a taxi pulled up outside the gates, and Philip bounded off the steps.

Then he stopped, frozen in place.

Eleisha met him halfway, and Wade watched from the open doorway, trying not to gasp in relief. She did not run to Philip or grasp his hands or say anything. She was carrying Robert's sword case slung over her shoulder.

Wade walked out to join them, and as he got closer, he saw Eleisha's face.

It was pale beyond her usual ivory and completely empty-as if she had no emotions left. Philip was watching her in hurt confusion.

"Where's Robert?" Wade asked, not certain he wanted to hear the answer.

"Gone," she said with no feeling at all. "Dead. Julian jumped down behind him this time. He left me there on the sidewalk." She touched the case on her shoulder. "I brought back Robert's sword and some of his ashes."

Finally, she looked at Philip. "I'm tired. I'm going to my room."

She moved past them into the church, not even looking at Rose on her way through, and vanished through the door behind the altar.

Philip stared after her, and Wade actually hurt for him.