Carpathian 15 - Dark Secret

aware of everything then, the tears on her face, the dirt on her clothes, the material in her hands. Burlap. Reluctantly she pushed the remainder of the dirt away to uncover the sack.
    I can't breathe, Rafael, I can't breathe. She was going to be sick.
    "No, you are not." She hadn't even heard Rafael arrive. He was simply there beside her, a hand on her shoulder, his breath warm and reassuring against the nape of her neck. "Look closely at the bag, Colby."
    She could barely see through her tears. Then she was sobbing aloud, wildly, uncontrollably, gratefully, joyously. "It's a hundred-pound sack of oats. Not Ginny. Oats." She turned around into the haven of his arms, buried her face against his chest, and cried with sheer relief.
    "She's alive," Rafael said. "I scanned the area and there is something evil here, but she is alive. I feel her presence."
    "Not Paul," she whispered, clutching at his shirt.
    "Not Paul, querida," he confirmed, his hands gentle as he helped her to her feet.
    Colby turned to look at Paul. He was several yards away, clutching a tree for support, his face buried on his arm. "It's not Ginny," she called. "It isn't her, Paul. It's a hoax. Thank God, it's a hoax."
    Paul lifted his head, staring at her as if she was crazy, then he ran forward on trembling legs, stumbling over the uneven ground to see for himself. They clung together laughing hysterically, their relief so great they were a little crazy for a few moments.
    Colby sobered first, reaching again for Rafael. It was only then that she really looked at him. His face was ravaged and raw from the deep claws of the vampire's mutated creatures. His shirt hung about him in dirty shreds, the skin of his chest angry and lacerated. Blood stained his shirt and seeped from his wounds. His eyes were red and swollen even in the early morning light, a testimony to his loss of strength.
    He stood tall and straight and so torn up her tears began all over again. "Rafael, you shouldn't have Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    come." He was so wounded, his great strength utterly diminished, yet still he had come to her aid. She bit her lip, wanting to touch him, wanting to hold him close and soothe the worst of his pain. "You don't even have dark glasses."
    "And where are yours?" He took her hand, his thumb moving over her skin as if checking for burns or blisters.
    "I don't know, I forgot them. I still have to find Ginny. I should have known. It was right there in front of me, but I was so frightened. That's what they were counting on. I'd be so scared I'd believe the obvious."
    She touched his face gently. "Rafael, you have to go back. There's Julio and Juan. I'm not alone now."
    She couldn't help herself, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into him, careful of his wounds.
    "Thank you for wanting to be here for me."
    "You must go to rest, Don Rafael," Juan said, dismounting. He took in the tracks, the opened grave and sack of oats. Rafael stood very close to Colby, a purely protective gesture. "Have you found young Ginny?"
    Paul flung himself into Juan's arms. "I didn't do this. I know I didn't do this."
    Rafael quieted him with a touch. "No, Paul, you didn't do this. There is a puppet at work here, a very evil being. I will not leave until the child is found. She is somewhere in that direction." He pointed back toward the area where Colby had been looking around for sign. "Juan, you and Julio get to higher ground and use the scopes. Make it look as if you're heading of the area to check the cattle."
    You think someone is watching us," Paul said. "I don't understand this. Ginny's still missing; he must have her with him." Rafael nodded. "I do not think they are together. Ginny would fight to give his position away. I think the two of you are lured out here deliberately."
    Paul met the red-rimmed eyes. "You think they want to hurt Colby. Can the vampire use me to hurt either of my sisters?"
    "Paul," Colby objected.
    Rafael put a restraining hand on the small of her back. "During daylight hours the vampire cannot give you any orders. He can program you ahead of time, but cannot continue to do so during the day. Nicolas is watching over you. I will not allow anything to happen to any of you."
    Paul squared his shoulders. "What do you want me to do? This man has Ginny, we have to get her back."
    Colby shook her head firmly. "No, she went off in the other direction. Somehow he lured her over there, I'm not