Shadows of Eternity

Chapter Twenty

T rent spent the next day in his home office, with the door locked. Logging into his work account, he pulled up the official Government List of Known Vampires, Dead or Alive , which was different from the database he’d searched last night.

He typed in Shadow Dancer, aka Rohan, then sat back while the search engine scrolled through page after page, only to mutter an oath when the words NO INFORMATION FOUND appeared on the screen.

Dammit! How was that possible? He widened his search to include countries other than the United States. And got the same results.

Well, he thought, that was a first. How had the bloodsucker managed to stay under the government radar all this time? Of course, he didn’t know for sure how old Rohan was, although the Vampire Data Base had listed him as three hundred. Trent was inclined to agree. You could always tell the old ones. They had an aura of power about them that the young ones lacked.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the arm. And then he pulled up a New Entry page and typed in both of Rohan’s names, the fact that he currently resided in the USA, and added his physical description:

Height: 6’3”

Weight, approx. 230 lbs.

Ethnicity: Native American

Hair: Black (long)

Eyes: Dark Brown

Scars: None visible

Place of birth: Unknown

DOB: Unknown

Current residence: California

Notes: Dances with Native American Dance Group based in South Dakota.

Trent leaned back in his chair again, elbows bent, fingers steepled, while he wondered how upset Janae would be if he destroyed the vampire. It was the right thing to do, but his family had no idea what he did for a living, and he’d like to keep it that way, for his safety and theirs. Who knew if the vampire had any bloodsucking friends who might avenge him? One thing for sure, he needed to have a little talk with Rohan and find out what his intentions were toward Leia. And then he laughed. He sounded like a worried father, but he liked Leia, she was Janae’s best friend, and he didn’t want to see anything happen to her. The vampire might act like a gentleman around Leia and Janae, but underneath, he was a predator, a cold-blooded killer, just like all his kind, and not fit to live.

Trent grunted softly as he hit Enter. Sooner or later, he’d catch the vampire alone. He just hoped he’d survive the encounter when he did.

As luck would have it, Trent was driving past Leia’s apartment late the next night when he saw Rohan pull out of the driveway. Grinning with satisfaction, he pulled in behind the vampire, curious to see where he was holed up.

Five minutes later, the bloodsucker turned onto a side street and pulled over to the curb.

Trent debated whether to stop, then parked behind the Challenger and got out of the car.

Rohan grunted softly, wondering what the hunter wanted. The man wasn’t very bright, trailing a vampire down a dark street alone, late at night. Curious, he rolled down the window and watched the hunter’s approach.

“We need to talk,” Trent said, grateful that his voice didn’t quiver as a hint of the vampire’s power rolled over him.

“Yeah? Why?”

“Why not?” Trent countered.

“I’ve run across a lot of hunters,” Rohan replied. “I never saw the need to make conversation with any of them.”

“First time for everything,” Trent jerked his thumb at the passenger seat. “Mind if I sit down?”

“Be my guest,” he said, with a wry grin. “I haven’t eaten yet.”

Trent scowled at him, then went around the front of the car and opened the door. He settled into the passenger seat but left the door wide open.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Rohan asked.

“Leia.”

Rohan lifted one brow. “What about her?”

“I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Who do you think you are? Her father?”

“No. But she’s a friend of ours. We’re worried about her.”

“She’s perfectly safe with me. Not that I give a damn what you think.”

“Why don’t you just move on and leave her alone?”

“Why don’t you mind your own business?”

Trent glared at him.

“Listen, hunter, I’m in love with Leia. I’m not going to hurt her, or turn her, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Love?” Trent scoffed. “What do you know about love?”

“As much as any other man,” Rohan retorted.

“But you’re not a man, are you?”

A muscle twitched in Rohan’s cheek. “You got any more to say?”

“If you hurt her, or anyone else in the city, I’ll destroy you.”

“Killed a lot of us, have you?” Rohan asked, a sneer in his voice.

Trent shrugged one shoulder. “A few.”

Tired of this conversation, Rohan unleashed more of his power, letting it fill the car. He knew a sense of satisfaction when Frumusanu flinched.

“Listen to me, hunter, and listen good. Stay out of my life. I’ve killed a few hunters in my time, and it won’t bother me in the least to kill one more. So get the hell out of my car, and mind your own damn business, or your wife might wake up one morning and find herself a widow. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.” Not wanting the vampire to think he was afraid of him, Trent waited a minute before he stepped out of the Challenger. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to slam the door.

Trent swallowed hard as the vampire pulled away from the curb. He stared at the Challenger’s tail lights as they faded into the distance. Dammit. He hadn’t been that scared—or that close to death—in a long time.