But evil's mistress was about to meet her deserving end.
MacEwan glanced over his shoulder. 'I don't want you disappearing anywhere. I'd like a word with you first.'
She nodded. She had no intention of leaving, anyway. Not until she was certain of Monica's fate. She followed the men down the hall, then stopped as the first paramedic stepped outside. Beams of sunlight touched Monica's still form, washing her skin with warmth. Just for an instant she looked like the Monica of old—a carefree, innocent teenager. Nikki bit her lip and half reached out to stop them. Then she dropped her hand to her side and watched the two men carry her fully into daylight.
Monica screamed—a high, tortured sound that ricocheted through Nikki's mind. This is wrong. I'm
The teenager kicked and twisted against the straps holding her captive. She screamed and cursed and called for her father, over and over and over. The two paramedics swore and struggled to keep hold of the stretcher as the convulsing became more violent. There was a tearing sound, then suddenly she was free and on the ground. Her eyes flew open, revealing a sea of red where there should have been white.
Tendrils of smoke began to rise from her flesh. She hissed, a low inhuman sound, and began to crawl towards the doorway and the safety of the church interior.
In Monica's unnatural gaze, Nikki saw past the layers of agony to the child deep within—a lost and lonely child, desperate for hope and love. Me , she thought , if it hadn't been for Jake and MacEwan.
She stepped forward to help Monica, but the fire in her brain intensified. Gasping, Nikki dropped to her knees. There was nothing she could do—nothing but watch Monica die. Tears ran down her cheeks when she met the teenager's gaze. Deep in the blue depths of her eyes, Nikki saw the sudden flash of understanding—and hate.
'Christ Almighty! Somebody do something.' MacEwan's voice rose harshly above the noise surrounding the old church. 'Grab a blanket or something.'
The priest ran to obey. But they were far too late. Monica burst into flames. Nikki closed her eyes, not wanting to see any more. The pain in her head eased, but there was no way to stop Monica's screams from penetrating every nerve, sickening her soul.
She'd been wrong about one thing. No matter what she'd done, the teenager hadn't deserved a death as horrid as this.
The screams faded into silence. The priest returned with a blanket and a police officer threw it over Monica's body. Yet the fire burned unabated, the flames so fierce they took the blanket with them. A line of dark smoke climbed skyward.
Soon there was nothing left but ashes. Laughter ran through her mind, a distant, taunting evil that crowed at his victory.
Had she been nothing more than Jasper's tool all along? She bit her lip and hugged herself fiercely, hoping, praying it wasn't so. If he could make her do this, he could make her do anything. Even betray Michael.
She took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks. There was nothing she could do now about Monica, nothing anyone could do, other than mourn a life lost so young.
'I've heard of things like this happening.' MacEwan's voice was harsh, full of the pain he would never show. 'Never thought I'd see it, though.'
She rose and walked over to where he stood. The priest began to murmur over the burned soil and a few scraps of blanket, all that remained of Monica's pyre.
'How in hell am I going to explain it downtown?'
She glanced at him, wondering if he expected an answer. His face showed no sign of emotion, yet she knew the appearance was a lie. MacEwan—the tough, no-nonsense cop—hated losing a kid, no matter how bad that kid had gone. Despite all his years on the streets, he still believed they could be saved, given half a chance.
'You can't.' She shoved her hands into her pockets to ward off the chill of the freshening wind. 'No one would believe you if you tried.'
He lit a cigarette and sucked on it almost greedily. 'You knew this would happen, didn't you?' he said, after a moment.
She didn't reply, not trusting him for an instant. Fair cop or not, he was just as likely to march her downtown and interrogate her all night if she admitted too much. Yet her silence was answer enough.
'So,' he continued, exhaling a long plume of smoke. 'What was she?'
She gave him another uncertain look. How much had he guessed? 'What do you mean?'
He gave an exasperated snort. 'No games, or I might be inclined to get nasty. Normal people do not explode into flame when the sun touches them. Certainly it's not a problem Monica Trevgard has suffered before.'
And wouldn't again, Nikki thought with a shiver. She watched a wisp of blanket turn in the breeze. The intensity of the fire had left the soil under Monica's body a charred mess. She doubted if anything would ever grow there again.
'She was a vampire.' It was time MacEwan knew the truth, whether or not he chose to believe it. 'They can't stand the sun.'
He made no comment. She'd always found MacEwan hard to read and had no idea if he believed her or not.
'And this madman we still have on the loose?'
'Monica's lover. Another vampire.'
'I see.'
Did he? There was little emotion to be seen on his face, but his eyes were thoughtful.
'And do you intend going after this madman?'
She nodded, half expecting him to warn her off the case. As usual, MacEwan did the unexpected.
'Keep me informed of all developments, then.' He dropped the half-finished cigarette on the ground, crushing it under his boot heel. Then he gave her a wintry smile. 'I am not as blind as you might think. I've seen things—' He hesitated and shrugged. 'Lets just say I'm not unwilling to believe there are some things on this earth that defy explanation. Just be careful. I can do without the extra paperwork.'
He gave her a brief nod and walked away. She turned her gaze to the priest, watching him sprinkle water over the soil.
The back of her neck tingled in warning, and she turned. Jake walked across the road and entered the church through the main gate. Michael wasn't with him, but he was near. His anger washed over her, almost smothering in its intensity.
'Heard over the police radio they'd found Monica.' Jake stopped and regarded the priest's actions with interest. 'This all that's left?'
She nodded. 'She went up like a torch.'
'One down, one to go.' There was little remorse in his voice. Taking her elbow, he pulled her away from the church. 'But just what in hell did you think you were doing? You could have gotten yourself killed!'
She wrenched her arm out of his grip and stopped to glare at him. 'What in hell did you think you were doing, leaving without me this morning?' If they'd been here with her, Monica might still be alive. And maybe, just maybe, she'd be less worried about Jasper being able to control her.
'We did what we thought best to keep you safe.' He shrugged. 'I guess it was a mistake.'
'I thought we were a team, Jake.'
'We are, Nik. But sometimes you scare me. It's almost as if… as if you have no sense of your own well being. You just keep pushing yourself.' He looked at her grimly. 'Sometimes I think you have a death wish.'
She snorted softly. And yet there'd been times in the past when she certainly hadn't cared whether she lived or died. Maybe that was why she had been such an easy target for Tommy. 'Even if I did, what business is it of yours?'
'Damn it, do I have to spell it out? You're like a damned daughter to me. I don't want to see you hurt!'
She was an idiot, no doubt about it. She touched his arm gently. 'I'm sorry.'
He sighed and shook his head. 'You've been on your own too long, kiddo. It's about time you let someone in.'
He was talking about Michael, not himself. 'Father figure or not, does the phrase 'mind your own business'
