Carpathian 12 - Dark Melody

rocks above Lisa. He had a gun. I tackled her and fought with him…" She trailed off, looking around at the strangers. She lowered her voice. "You know, in my rather weird way.
    Everything is jumbled after that. I remember falling and trying to protect the baby." She rubbed carefully at the bump and scrapes on her forehead.
    Dayan winced. Already dark bruises were beginning to show against her pale skin. Gregori had been far too busy to heal Corinne's superficial wounds, but it bothered Dayan that she was the least bit uncomfortable. He could feel her headache, pounding and throbbing, although she didn't complain.
    Questions were going around and around in her mind. Dayan provided answers. "Cullen was shot, honey. He's alive, and Barack and Syndil are on their way to the hospital to aid him. They will see to it that he does not die. Syndil is well versed in healing and has special gifts. Cullen knows Barack and Syndil, and Lisa will not be afraid, because she knows they are members of our band. She will allow them into his room." He didn't add that Lisa's permission was of little consequence as they could walk unseen past any guard at any time. Barack and Syndil were Carpathians at full strength, able to control the minds of the humans around them if necessary.
    "Was it bad?" There was a tremor in Corinne's voice, and Dayan gathered her closer to him protectively.
    "Honey, there is no need to worry about Cullen. If he was in trouble I would know. I am telepathic, remember? Barack and Syndil can easily communicate with me. They would report instantly if they could not handle the situation, and they would request that either Darius or Gregori come to the hospital at once." Dayan indicated the man with the slashing silver eyes and the small, dark-haired woman. "Gregori and Savannah have traveled from New Orleans to be with us. We owe them much."
    Corinne rubbed her forehead again. She was grateful for everyone's concern, but she wished they'd all go home. She was tired, and there were too many of them. She wanted to sleep, not entertain, and her baby was still kicking violently. None of the others seemed to notice that the one they called Darius seemed to be in a trance of sorts.
    She closed her eyes and rested her head against Dayan's shoulder. "Thank you all," she murmured, as politely as a child, her voice drowsy and weak.
    Dayan glanced apprehensively at Gregori, who nodded at him in reassurance. 'It is good if she sleeps, Dayan. I can take more time healing her, and Darius can work with the baby. She needs rest more than anything else. The repairs will not hold forever. This is temporary. I cannot give her a new Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    heart. Help her to sleep.'

    In the hospital Lisa sat with her head resting beside Cullen. She had cried until she was certain there were no more tears left. The doctors had told her Corinne was going to die. It was only a matter of time.
    They said they would leave the baby in her struggling body for as long as possible, but there was little hope the baby would survive once born. Then they told her they had no idea if Cullen would live or die.
    It was a waiting game. He was in bad shape, and the bullet had torn through lung and tissue, destroying everything in its path. They didn't know how he was still hanging on. As if that weren't enough, there had been a terrible commotion coming from Corinne's room as hospital staff, security guards and finally the police milled about. Fifteen long minutes later, when Lisa expected to hear that Corinne had died, they told her Corinne was gone. Vanished into thin air.
    There was no way Corinne could have walked out of the hospital, everyone agreed on that, and no one had been seen near her room. When the monitors had signaled heart failure, the nurse had rushed in, only to discover the patient was gone. Lisa was terrified the men who had tried to murder them had somehow taken Corinne.
    It was her fault. She had gone to the photo shoot even though they'd all told her she was in danger.
    Corinne had flown across the park, tackling her, protecting her without a thought for her own weak heart and the consequences to her and the baby. They had tried to kill me! Lisa tried to digest that information. Someone really wanted her dead. They had guns, and they would have shot her if Corinne and Cullen hadn't shown up to save her.
    Lisa lifted her head to look at Cullen. He seemed so pale, and there