Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

vampire, but how could a vampire slip past an ancient into his very home?
    Vikirnoff and Natalya settled into their normal forms just outside Nicolae's home. They made a circle of the house, looking for tracks, for some sign that an enemy was near.
    Natalya put her hand over her birthmark and shook her head.
    "The dragon is silent, Vikirnoff. There isn't a vampire nearby, nor any evidence that one has been in the vicinity recently."
    "But something is off."
    "I agree, but I can't figure out exactly what it is."
    She inhaled sharply, her eyes going from brilliant green to sea blue and finally opaque.
    Stripes banded across her hair, orange and black and even white. She dropped to all fours, fur rippled and the majestic tigress paced around the house, using her cat senses to try to find an enemy.
    Vikirnoff followed the tiger back into the woods. It padded patiently through the brush and snowdrifts, following an elusive scent he couldn't quite catch. Natalya regained her natural form a few yards from the house.
    "Someone watched them from over there." She indicated a thick tree. "I cannot catch his scent. He's very clever. He uses what is natural around him, mimicking whatever he chooses so that only that is seen or smelled. He watched them drag the tree into their home and must have entered at that same time. They were distracted by the Christmas tree and not paying any attention to the something like a wind or small snow flurry. I'm betting he used both. There would have been snow flying from the tree."
    "He's smart this one. An ancient with very sophisticated ways. Why would he choose to go after MaryAnn when she is doubly protected?"
    "The challenge of it? A dare maybe. Beating Gregori and the ancients protecting MaryAnn?" she guessed.
    "And the penalty, if caught, might be death? Certainly, Destiny would kill him. She's extremely protective of MaryAnn. Nor can I see Nicolae allowing such an insult to his house. And if he didn't kill the attacker—I would. MaryAnn saved both my brother and Destiny. She gave Destiny back her life, and in doing so, gave Nicolae life. I will not allow her to be used in this manner."
    "Be careful of what you say," Natalya reminded him, taking his hand. "Destiny is very edgy when it comes to MaryAnn."
    Both made a long, slow perusal of the area. Were eyes watching? It felt that way, yet for all of their skills, they couldn't ferret out the enemy.
    MaryAnn greeted them at the door, her smile genuine. "Vikirnoff. Natalya. It's so good to see you. We've just been putting up the Christmas tree. Skyler is visiting us. Have you met her?" She indicated the young teenager, who stood staring transfixed at Natalya.
    Vikirnoff took MaryAnn's hand and bowed low, startling her, his lips touching her skin.
    He inhaled deeply and allowed her hand to drop away. "You look wonderful."
    Natalya stepped close and hugged her, kissing both cheeks. "You do look radiant. Are you looking forward to tonight?"
    She does look radiant. She's always been beautiful, but now she has a dangerous allure about her. And a male has definitely been close to her. Very close. His scent is eluding me; not even my tigress can pick it up. I wont be able to track him. But he isn't vampire. He's Carpathian.
    MaryAnn smiled at them both. "Yes, of course. Everyone's been so good to me. We were just about to walk Skyler home. Would you like to come with us?"
    Natalya crossed the room to the teenager. The girl stepped back avoiding physical contact. Natalya smiled at her. "It's nice to finally meet you. You must have difficult psychic gifts. Can you read people when you touch them?"
    Skyler nodded. "I don't like it."
    "I don't like it either." She glanced over her shoulder and Vikirnoff took the hint, taking MaryAnn by the elbow and walking with her into the kitchen, leaving Natalya with the younger girl. "You seem a little nervous. Are you really sensitive as well? I often have this dread that swamps me when something dangerous is near."
    Skyler nodded. "I hate that too. You never know if you're crazy or if something really is out there stalking you." She glanced uneasily out the window.
    Natalya nodded. "It does feel like that. If you tell, people think you're weird, especially if they can't see or find anything wrong. And if you don't tell and something bad happens, you feel like an idiot for not telling."
    "That's happened to you too?" Skyler asked. "It's difficult being here because there's so much energy being used all the time