He yawned and thought about lying back down when the door burst open.

Wendy flew in. "We need help. We can't find Rhia."

Jared snuck out of the house and raced down the street toward Chelsea's home. He knew vaguely where it was but didn't know the exact address, and he couldn't confirm that's where she was. Her message hadn't exactly been full of details. He'd texted her back but hadn't heard anything. Still, it was a place to start.

The police weren't an option either. Not with his history. Now if Chelsea called them, they'd likely help. Still, her call for help hadn't given him any way of locating her or knowing what the problem was.

His cell phone buzzed again. He pulled it out and checked the message. Chelsea. I'm caught.

Jesus.

He quickly answered, Caught how, by whom, and where are you? I'm on the way to your house.

No. Don't go there. That's where I was. I woke up in a van.

s.h.i.t.

Are you okay? Have they hurt you?

I'm fine, but I'm really scared. What if they heard I was asking about Tobias? Jared. Help me.

He answered. I am. Stay calm. Can you see where they are taking you?

No answer.

He waited a little longer then sent another one. Chelsea, any idea where you are or what direction you are travelling?

Then he got a reply back that made him want to scream.

Sorry, Chelsea is no longer able to answer you. But hi Jared. We miss you. Just know we'll be coming for you soon.

Chapter 6.

Tessa rode the elevator up the floors, her mind churning in confusion. The conversation going on in her head made no sense.

Leave him behind. Stay strong. Be you. Be the new you.

No, I am Tessa. That wasn't fair what he said, but it's true. I'm not letting Deanna influence me.

No, it wasn't. And you aren't.

Yes, it was. And I am She shuddered.

"What the h.e.l.l is wrong with me?" she whispered to the empty interior. Was anything wrong? No, of course not. Everything was fine. Everything was always fine.

She frowned. No, everything wasn't always fine. Things hadn't been fine for a long time. They'd only been fine on a few levels recently. And she didn't want to do anything to screw that up. She didn't have the security of years of confidence to draw upon. Life had gotten tough and she'd fought her way through it, so why did she think she was sliding backwards or maybe losing some of that hard-won self-confidence?

You're not, said her subconscious.

She sighed as relief swept through her. No, she wasn't. She was good.

Of course you are.

She froze. That last line was a bit too much for her to swallow. She'd always had self-confidence issues. She'd never been c.o.c.ky or arrogant like some women she'd known. So where was this coming from now? It so wasn't her.

If she didn't know better, she'd think she sounded more like Deanna every moment. Cody's words trickled through her as the elevator door opened in front of her, but she didn't move.

Had Deanna's energy integrated into her psyche to the point that she was becoming like Deanna?

Had that been what Deanna wanted? And did it matter what Deanna wanted? h.e.l.l no. That woman had a thousand-plus years to do what she wanted to do. She wasn't going to be yanking Tessa's chain from the grave.

Except...she already had.

Tessa closed her eyes and groaned. This is not what I signed up for. I want to be me. Not Deanna and not a cross between her and I. Hortran, can you hear me?

There was a ghostly whisper, like a breeze blowing through her mind.

Tessa would take that as a yes. Is this what Deanna wants to take over my mind and make me more like her?

There was a quietness in her thoughts, her spinning myriad of questions stilling, becoming a pool of peacefulness in her mind.

Remember to use this information. Her wisdom, her knowledge is yours to use as you deem appropriate. But it is you who are making these decisions.

Me?

Yes, you. She is gone. Her time has pa.s.sed. You can feel her, sense her, be like her if you wish, but it is you doing so then, not her. Her will is no longer here. The force of her will, being as strong as it was, lingers.

There was a long pause.

You are you. Do you stay that way or do you morph into something else? Your choice. Your will. Your life.

And then a shorter pause.

You have only one to live.

And with that prophetic message, the essence of Hortran slipped away.

So what the h.e.l.l had she done then? Allowed Deanna's knowledge to affect Tessa into thinking it was her own knowledge? That Tessa had been the one to learn all Deanna had learned as if it were her own information, knowledge, and experiences?

She smirked. As if. If she'd learned it all in her short years, then she likely would be c.o.c.ky and arrogant but she hadn't. This wasn't her experience and it wasn't her achievement.

She sighed and rubbed her head.

Hortran, I need a way to stop me from unconsciously absorbing Deanna's att.i.tudes, her thoughts, her emotions.

There was an underlying rumble through the s.p.a.ce in her mind. She frowned, trying to understand.

I mean it. I don't want to become Deanna. I don't want to take on any aspects of her personality. I am happy to carry her information, her knowledge and wisdom. I will honor her for who she was. But I don't want to become a Deanna clone. And I appear to be doing just that. So please, help me. Zap me, poke me, and scream at me something to stop me when I start.

And d.a.m.n if a light laugh didn't ripple through her mind. Surely that wasn't Hortran was it?

Cody?

Deanna?

No response. s.h.i.t. Confused and p.i.s.sed, she took a step toward the still open elevator doors.

The tiny room was empty. She took a cautious step forward into the outer room. It was empty too. Why? They should be lining up the vamps to go downstairs. Of course she hadn't been gone but a few minutes, so maybe they hadn't had time?

Then where were the two guards Goran and Serus had left?

Cody tried to contact Tessa mentally. There was a pathway but it was cloudy, as if there was static instead of a clear audio path. Like the speakers weren't plugged in. He hated it. Tessa, can you hear me?

A garbled response slid his way, but it wasn't distinctly her voice. That really worried him. Deanna better keep her distance. He wasn't sure if he was crazy or what but considering how powerful that woman had been in life, he wouldn't put it past her to have a long-reaching influence in death.

And what about Hortran? He remembered Tessa speaking about Hortran and some kind of telepathic highway. And he was a Ghost. Whatever that meant while he was alive didn't mean the name didn't take on a different meaning after death.

He had seen things these last few weeks that he wouldn't have believed before. To have that same belief system pushed back yet again also wasn't a hard thing to imagine. He could see Tessa learning to do more and more.

Were her capabilities actually due to her Leant heritage? Was that why Deanna had managed to do what she'd done because they were both Leant? He wished he understood more. It would make it easier to watch out for her.

At the moment, he wanted to turn her over his knee and beat some sense into her.

h.e.l.l, she'd likely send him flying for even thinking of doing something like that. He almost wished she would. It would make him feel better to know the same girl was in there.

"Cody, are you coming with us or going after her?" David called from across the huge garage.

"I'm going after her." That's when he realized he'd crossed the room to the halfway mark and had stopped. For a reason. It was wrong to let her go alone.

"I'll see you later," he called out. "Check out those d.a.m.n ventilation systems."

"Good enough." David raced behind their fathers. Cody stood in the room and watched as the three of them jockeyed for position to get through the door first.

And then he was alone.

Shaking his head, he returned to the elevator and pushed the b.u.t.ton several times.

d.a.m.n woman.

She'd better be there when he arrived.

And she'd better be ready to listen.

Because he was tired of her trying to save him.

It was time for him to save her.

Serus pulled the door open and charged through. Goran almost slid past him to take the lead. Not a chance. He shoved an arm in front of his friend and snuck ahead. Hearing the growl in his wake, he burst out laughing.

There was nothing on the other side of the door.

d.a.m.n right. They probably saw them coming.

He grinned, feeling more alive than he had in a long time. His family was safe, even Tessa after all she'd been through. Even his beloved wife Rhia was doing so much better in many ways. Then he remembered their last conversation.

At that thought, he called out to her. Rhia? How are you?

Silence was his answer.

Good, maybe she was sleeping.

Then he heard her voice. And her words... oh no...

Serus, I know you won't understand why I'm doing this, but please know I'm doing it to save our son.

And the voice cut off.

He froze in place. Rhia what have you done?

Remember, I love you, Serus. But I can't live with my actions I have to save him.

And his mind went blank.

She was gone.

Rhia curled up on the floor in the deserted Council room. She should be safe here.

Do it.

No. I don't want to.

Too bad. You started down this path.