Die for Me

Me: Can’t give it out. Will come outside to talk.

The doorbell rang. I ran down the hallway to the front door and pressed the button on the videocam screen. The camera light went on, and looking up into the lens was my sister.

“Georgia!” I yelled into the microphone. “What are you doing here?”

When she heard my voice, she cried out, “Oh my God, Kate, I’m so, so sorry!”

“What happened?” I asked, panic rising in my voice as I saw the fear and anguish on her face.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she wailed, raising her trembling hands to her mouth in terror.

“For what, Georgia? Tell me!” I yelled.

“For bringing me here,” said a low voice, and Lucien stepped into the picture and put a knife to Georgia’s throat.

“Open the gate or I’ll kill her.” The evil words affected me as much as if Lucien were standing next to me instead of across a courtyard behind a locked gate.

“I’m sorry, Katie,” Georgia cried softly.

I lifted my finger to the button with a key symbol under it.

Gaspard began ru

“But he’ll kill my sister!”

“I’ll give you three seconds before I slit her throat,” came Lucien’s voice over the speakerphone. “Three . . .”

“I only have my swordstick . . . wait till I can get to the armory,” yelled Gaspard, reaching the bottom of the staircase and hurtling toward me.

“Two . . .”

I looked back at Gaspard in desperation as I pushed the button. The gate unlocked.

“Lock the door behind me, Gaspard, and don’t let him in. You have to protect Vincent!” I called. And then I leaped outside, slamming the door behind me, and turned to face the devil.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

LUCIEN STOOD IN THE COURTYARD BEFORE ME, holding the knife to Georgia’s back.

“Good evening, Kate,” he said in a cold, even voice. His expression was murderous, and his enormous frame seemed twice as big now that he was looming over me. How Georgia could ever have seen anything seductive in this terrifying monster was beyond me.

“Now be a good girl and take me inside.”

“I can’t,” I said. “It’s locked. I can’t do a thing for you now, so you can let Georgia go.” I felt like I had won this round, but had no idea what would come next.

“Gaspard, I know you’re in there,” yelled Lucien. “Now come out or you’ll have the blood of two humans on your hands.”

Before he could finish, the door opened and Gaspard walked out, holding the cane-sword before him.

“No, don’t, Gaspard!” I yelled. What is he doing? I thought wildly. He had to stay locked in the house, protecting Vincent. My sister was my responsibility alone.

Gaspard ignored me. Advancing, he said evenly, “Lucien, you vile leech. What brings your putrid corpse to our humble doorstep this fine evening?” He had recaptured the noble air he wore the day I saw him sparring with Vincent. The twitchy, stuttering poet had transformed into the formidable fighter.

Lucien stepped toward him, and I grabbed Georgia’s arm and pulled her away. “Let’s make a run for it,” I whispered, keeping an eye on the men.

“You seem to be sorely lacking in weaponry tonight, you sad excuse for an immortal,” Lucien growled.

“Mine seems a blade of equal merit to the bread knife you carry, you loathsome maggot,” Gaspard said, and lunged at Lucien with the sword, making a clean slice across the giant’s cheek.

Although a small trickle of blood ran from it, Lucien didn’t even flinch. “Equal, perhaps, you farcical lifeguard-Lazarus, but that’s why I brought backup.” And he pulled a gun from under his coat and shot Gaspard point-blank between the eyes.

The older revenant staggered backward a couple of steps as his forehead absorbed the bullet. Then in slow motion it spit it back out and the bullet fell, clinking as it bounced against the pavement. Lucien used the couple of seconds that Gaspard was stu

I took Georgia’s hand and began ru

Then, taking his massive knife, he swung it high in the air before bringing it down like a machete on Gaspard’s neck. Georgia and I screamed as one, an earsplitting shriek, and we grabbed each other, tearfully hiding in each other’s arms from the horror.

“A bit squeamish, are we, ladies? Well, there’s more to come. Now inside, both of you,” he said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping the blade before holding it out toward us.

I couldn’t bear to look back at Gaspard as I walked obediently into the foyer. Lucien glanced quickly around. “Nice pad they’ve got here.” His eyes flashed back to me with a piercing glare. “Now show me where he is.”

“Who?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Who do you think? Lover-boy,” he sneered, stepping closer to me and pushing Georgia between us.

“He’s—he’s not here,” I stammered.

“Aww, that’s sweet. Trying to protect your zombie boyfriend. But I know you’re lying, Kate. Charles told me he was dormant. And my colleague just told me that Jean-Baptiste and company, including Vincent’s ghost, all showed up at my little get-together in the Catacombs. So let’s just drop the games and get to business.”

“I won’t take you to him,” I said, stepping backward to avoid Georgia, who he had pushed up against me.

“Oh yes, you will,” Lucien said calmly, holding up the knife. Its blade sparkled in the light of the chandelier.

Georgia cried out, “Don’t tell him, Kate. He said he was going to kill him.”

“Bitch,” Lucien growled and, grabbing Georgia by the hair, pulled her head back and held the knife to her throat.

I shook my head and whispered, “I would rather die than take you to Vincent.” But seeing the panic in Georgia’s eyes, I felt something slip inside me.

“Fine,” said Lucien. “I was hoping to take Georgia safely along with me after paying you a visit, but I’m perfectly willing to accommodate a change in plans.” The knife flashed as he drew it across Georgia’s white neck. She screamed, but he didn’t let go of her hair.

“Georgia!” I cried, horrified, as I saw drops of blood ooze out of the cut he had made.

“The longer you wait, the deeper I’ll slice,” he said. “That didn’t hurt now, darling, did it?” he asked, leering at Georgia and giving her a peck on the cheek.

Her eyes spun wildly toward me, and I yelled, “Okay, okay. Just stop and I’ll take you to him.” Lucien nodded, waiting, but placed the knife firmly next to Georgia’s straining neck.

My mind sped in a dozen different directions, grasping for ways to lead him astray. I could take him upstairs, or into one of the other rooms, but what would that do besides enrage him further?

“Move it!” Lucien demanded, and I headed through the door to the servants’ hallway, my mind still searching for a way to buy time. I walked as slowly as I could, but couldn’t come up with a plan that wouldn’t end up with my sister’s throat being slit, or more likely, both of us being killed. There was nothing I could do but plead silently with Vincent to come back, knowing that that was impossible: He was halfway across town helping his kindred.

I led them through the door into Vincent’s room, and stepped aside to let Lucien pass. He released Georgia and paced quickly over to the bed, laughing as he approached it. “Ah, Vincent. You’re looking better than ever,” he said. “Love seems to suit you. Too bad it couldn’t last.” Glancing around the room, he fixed his eyes on the fireplace.