HDA - Living in Darkness Trilogy - Pt 2 - The Search

place of cars and trucks....the background noise faded to silence and he walked into her vision--tall, black-haired, piercing black eyes, dressed all in black, complete with swirling cape...he moved impossibly fast to tower over her, then he kissed her, seeming to suck the air from her lungs, she struggled to breathe, fighting whatever was smothering her---

Cassandra sat up, breathing hard, soaked with sweat. She shuddered and buried her face in her hands,, felt the tears spill down her cheeks. She felt fear wash over her as she remembered it hadn't entirely been a dream, some of it had been real. She raised her head and looked around and shuddered again.

She took a deep breath and tried to remember what had happened. Kendra...the castle...Thayer--no. She shook her head. Hadad. Omar Hadad. The son of a bitch. She shook her head and got out of the bed. She grabbed the nearest bedpost as a wave of vertigo swept over her and she nearly fell. She sat back down and took a deep breath.

Dim light revealed dark wood paneling, velvet hangings but no windows--it was an ornate room right out of the past but a closer inspection showed threadbare covers, worn rugs, wood smoothed glossy from years of use. Then it hit her and she felt true panic. This was the room she'd imagined. Oh God, if she saw anything even remotely resembling a casket, she'd lose what sanity she had.

Casi pushed off the bed, headed for the door. God, she had to leave. She yanked open the door and froze.

"Hello."

In an instant, her anger drowned out all other emotions and she had the sudden urge to break his nose. "Hadad, you can't hold me here."

His eyes narrowed and he moved to take a step forward. With both hands she slammed the door shut right in his face, then realized her mistake--she was trapped. The door was kicked open and he strode in. He stalked over to her and snatched a handful of hair hard enough to make her wince. "To hell with it, I will kill you," he muttered, pulling her close, revealing a nasty-looking knife in his other hand.

"Wait!" came a female voice.

Casi saw the newcomer had dark hair but Hadad's grip on her hair was too painful for her to take notice of details. The woman arched an eyebrow at Casi and gave her a wicked smile. She looked at Hadad. "Nick her."

Hadad frowned. "Woman--"

"Nick her just enough to bleed."

Hadad pressed the serrated edge of the knife against the side of her neck and dragged it across tender skin. Casi's eyes closed as the pain hit her and her knees went weak which put more pressure on both the knife at her neck and Hadad's punishing grip on her hair. God, it hurt.

She forced her eyes open to see the woman pull someone into the room. For a second, the pain screwed with her memory and she wondered why this dark-haried man seemed familiar. Then memory resurfaced and she went pale. It was Joe. But he was white as a sheet, his eyes glazed over and he staggered. Oh God, no...

"There, Kurt, eat," said the woman.

Joe just stood there, staring at Casi as if he'd never seen her before. "Eat?"

"Didn't you hear what I told you? You noticed what was wrong with the mirror. Like I told you, you're a vampire. I warned you."

"Ailsa....," he said hoarsely. "No---vampires--" He swallowed hard, his eyes shifting from the girl's face to the blood sliding oh so slowly down her neck, causing a widening dark stain on her blouse. Something about the dark stain on the pale blouse struck a chilling chord but he couldn't remember what, only that it brought a strange sort of panic to his heart.

"You're wasting it," snapped Ailsa. She pulled him forward, set him in front of the girl. "Eat."

He searched those pain-filled brown eyes, haunted. He knew her. "I.....can't....I....know....her..."

"Of course you know her. That's Lilith Raven, the woman who killed your one true love. See, she's even made herself over into the woman you loved---"

Casi struggled, despite the pain it caused. "No," she managed. "Don't....listen...." She felt tears fill her eyes. Oh God, this couldn't be happening. Joe reached for her, his eyes riveted on the blood trailing down her neck. He lowered his head to taste, his dark hair brushing her jaw and she felt a frightening sense of deja vu. Tears spilled down her cheeks as the horror set in on her. "Joe," she whispered, closing her eyes, feeling the last of the fight go out of her. "Please."

"No!" came a deep furious voice. A dark shape burst into the room, colliding with Joe who fell bonelessly to the floor.

Ailsa froze as a woman came into the room, headed her way. The woman yanked the black wig off. "I couild smell you, witch."

Casi watched, horrified, as a twin to Hadad raised a fist to hit Joe. She would have gone to Joe but Hadad still held her by her hair. "No...Dorian," she said in a painfully dry throat. She suddenly realized she had been right. There was a real Dorian Thayer. But who was the stately woman with auburn hair?

"Let her go."

Omar Hadad looked over at the doorway. "Hunter, what the hell are

you doing?"

"Move away from her," growled Kendra, her ice-blue eyes cold, the gun in her hand pointed at him.

"Dorian, no!" The petite auburn-haired woman went to the man's side, grabbed his fist before he could strike. "It is not what you think. Leave him be." She saw the witch dart out of the room. "Dorian, go after her."

Dorian stood up, rolled his shoulders and looked at Casi, then Hadad. "Let her go."

Hadad shifted his grip on the knife handle, aiming the point of the blade at the base of Casi's throat. "Touch me and I'll kill her."

"Go after the witch, Dorian," ordered the woman.

Dorian looked as if he wanted to argue, then seemed to think better of it. Some of the anger faded and he nodded but before he could leave, Kendra stepped further into the room, blocking the door. "I'll kill you either way, Hadad."

Hadad gave her a malicious smile and pressed the point against Casi's skin. Kendra pulled the trigger and the sound was deafening in the enclosed space. Hadad jerked and Casi felt pain--a worse pain this time and she thought she would black out from it. Hadad collapsed on top of her, his weight pushing the knife further in, scraping the top of her collar bone. She felt nauseated and oh so weak. Tears filled her eyes and leaked down the sides of her face. "Get him off of me," she whispered.

Dorian pulled Hadad off of her, tossing him unceremoniously in one corner. Kendra stepped in front of him. She dropped to her knees, set the gun aside. "Solitaire..."

"Take it out," Casi pleaded hoarsely. "Please."

The auburn-haired woman knelt down beside Casi, put gentle pressure against her neck. "You could bleed to death."

Casi turned to her and felt shock. This close the resemblance was unmistakeable. "You're not dead," she whispered dazedly. Her eyes focused on Kendra. "Out. Want it out." She felt dizzy and her left arm was dead weight. "Now."

Kendra took hold of the knife handle and pulled it free. Casi let out a weak scream. "Oh....God...."

Wordlessly, Kendra ripped off the bottom edge of her T-shirt and pressed the cloth against the wound, using the flat of her palm to staunch the bleeding. "Solitaire..."

"Joe--"

"Don't talk," the other woman.

"Really....a vampire..." managed Casi, as her eyes drifted closed. She forced them open. "Joe....he..."

"I'll take care of Mack," said Kendra gently. "I'll take care of both of you."

Casi's eyes drifted shut as more tears fell. "Don' let...him leave....he can't...walk....out....again...."

"Shh," said Fiala. She looked at Kendra. "They need to go to hospital."

Kendra nodded, feeling the wetness on her own cheeks. God, she never cried. Fiala patted her shoulder. "I'll summon Walter. He'll take them."

Dorian knelt down on the other side of Casi, didn't quite touch her. "Will she---?"

Fiala gave a sharp nod. "She will. Get Walter. They both need to go to hospital."

Dorian disappeared out of the room and Fiala sighed, looked back at Kendra. "Your friend Mack is suffering from toxic psychosis. I don't know what the ingredients in her witch's brew were but I think I can help supply an antidote."

Dorian returned with a huge man who's nose was decidedly crooked. Dorian pointed to Joe. "Take him, I'll take her."

Fiala stood up, arched an eyebrow at him but nodded. Kendra got out of the way, then followed both Dorian and Walter with their burdens down the stairs and into the night. Fiala followed them as far as the balcony and watched them leave. Obviously, it had fallen to her to tend to Hadad. But when she went back into the room, he was gone. Fiala frowned. "Damn."

***

30 October 2003

Bucaresti, Romania

6:04 pm

Ethan glanced in the direction of the castle, then turned to Emerson. "I need a little help."

"I would believe that would qualify as an understatement. It is a veritable fortress."

"He's right," said Miranda. "You can't storm it all by yourself."

Ethan grunted. "Then we'll get more help." He looked over at Miranda. "Where's the police station?"

She lifted a hand to hail a taxi. "It would be quicker to take you."

"Thank you."

The moment a taxi halted, they got in and Miranda gave the address to the driver. She shifted in the front seat to look at Ethan in the back. "So he's not a vampire?"

"Really, Miranda--" began Emerson.

"He's a drug smuggler." Ethan took a deep breath. "And I think he's got Casi."

"Oh dear," said Emerson. "That can't be good."

"It's not."

The taxi stopped in front of police headquarters and the three of them got out of the vehicle. After Ethan paid the driver, Miranda led the way inside and they were soon directed to the fifth floor. Ethan nearly ran into a woman as he tried to go through the double doors, then recognized her. "Inspector Corwen, I need your help."

"Ah, Mr. Marsden, come this way."

They followed her to a pair of desks. The man seated there was scribbling furiously on a notepad. "Nat, we're going to need a few extra people to guard--" He broke off and looked up at Ethan. "You're back." He glanced at Emerson. "Who are you?"

Emerson stuck out a hand. "Emerson Whitfield."

"Are you related to Chandler Whitfield?" asked Natalya Corwen.

"Yes. Older brother." Emerson's smile faded. "Oh dear, he's not in jail, is he?"

Natalya shook her head. "No, he--he's expressed concern over his fiance's disappearance."

Ethan went pale. "You mean Casi MacFairlaigne."

Gil frowned. "Yes. How do you know that?"

Ethan shook his head. "We don't have time. We have to go up to that castle. Casi's up there."

Gil arched both eyebrows. He threw the pen down and stood up. "Now how the hell--"

"Gil." Natalya looked uneasy. "I think we told the wrong person to stay out of the investigation." She nodded to Emerson. "Your brother suspected she was involved."

"She is," snapped Ethan. "And she's in danger."

Gil scowled, then nodded. "Let's go."

"We need a search warrant--"began Natalya.

"The hell with that." Gil motioned to Ethan and Emerson. "Come on."

Ethan, Emerson and Miranda followed Gil and Natalya out of the room, retracing their path back to the lobby. Following Gil to the unmarked vehicle parked in the underground garage, Ethan wondered if Joe had made the mistake of going after Hadad alone. Knowing his partner, Ethan wouldn't put it past the man.

They got into the car and Gil drove out of the underground garage. Ethan, seated in the front seat, cleared his throat. "You do this often?"

Gil shrugged as he drove toward the dark castle. His partner follwed right behind with the other two people. "You and I know the man's evil. I'll fix any ruffled feathers later."

A limousine passed them, heading in the opposite direction. For some odd reason, that bothered Ethan. Gil pulled through the open gate and parked. As Gil got out of the vehicle, a petite woman came out and for a split second, Ethan thought it was Casi--then he realized her hair was too long. In the dim starlight, he could see the dark stains on her dress. Ethan stepped forward. "Ma'am, are you okay?"

"I am not injured."

Gil frowned. "Who are you?"

"Fiala Quirin. And you?"

"Inspector Gil Henerik and this is--"

"Elliott Marsden," said Ethan, smoothly.

She nodded. "Good. I have two rats in my home and I would appreciate you getting them out."

"Rats?" asked Gil.

"I don't think she means the four-legged variety." Ethan cleared his throat. "I'm looking for a guy named Kurt Varick."

She gave him a long look. "Walter just took him and his lady love to hospital." She glanced at her hands as if surprised to see the blood. "I am afraid this is hers."

Ethan went pale. "My God..." He turned to Gil. "I have to go."

Gil nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."

Natalya Corwen pulled up behind Gil's vehicle and got out of her car. "What's wrong?" she asked as Miranda and Emerson came up behind her. Gil quickly explained. Natalya frowned and turned to look at Ethan. "I'll take you."

"Thank you." Ethan got in the front passenger seat as Natalya got behind the wheel. "Is there anyway you can get us there fast?"

Natalya nodded, placed a dome light on the roof of ther car. "Damn straight. Let's go."

***

30 October 2003

Orlando, FL

12:11 pm

"Can I help you, sir?"

Donovan MacFairlaigne looked up from looking at the glittering jewelry on display under the glass. "Yes."

She gave him a perky grin. "My name is Janise. Looking for a present for your lady love?"

"Not exactly. My sisters. Their birthday is tomorrow."

Janise blinked, startled. "Tomorrow?" Her blue eyes scanned the small jewelry store. Black cardboard witches and white ghosts hung on the walls and the door. "That would be Halloween."

Donovan didn't quite groan. "Yes, it would be."

She narrowed her eyes and tossed her blond hair over one shoulder. "You said their, are they twins?"

"Yes."

"How neat. Must have been fun growing up with them, huh."

Donovan sighed. "You don't know the half of it."

"So what do they like?"

This time it was Donovan who was startled. "Like? I....have absolutely no idea."

She cocked her head to one side and gave him another smile. "That's okay. You know that October's birthstone is the opal. But most people don't wear opals for fear they'll have bad luck. The pink zirconium is the updated stone for October."

"Opals are bad luck? I always thought they were beautiful."

"They are. It's a misguided myth, actually. It's only an unlucky stone if it's not your birthstone. See, I was born in July, so the ruby is my birthstone. If I would wear an opal, it would be unlucky for me."

Donovan started to say that his Aunt Lyra always wore opals but all the talk about luck was driving him crazy. He cleared his throat. "So what do you suggest, I get the opals or the....what did you call the other?"

"Pink zirconium. It's really up to you. Do you think your sisters would prefer one or the other?"

Donovan opened his mouth to ask if he could see both stones in settings when his throat closed up and he felt his heart rate speed up. A sudden shock of fear hit him like a hammer between the eyes, then just as suddenly it was gone. He took a deep breath and let it out, then automatically reached for the cell phone he always carried. Before he could dial out, it rang. "Hello?"

Janise darted into the back and came back with a paper cup of water. "You went totally white, sir, are you all right?"

He nodded and took the cup. "Thanks." He turned his attention to the phone. "Shopping......I'm not in the mood for banter, Marcus.....Damn straight I felt it. Shit, what the hell happened?....Damn, I wish I could....You don't understand, Marcus. For you, going is getting your pilot to fly you. Me, I have to get a ticket, a seat....That's for company use only. I can't commandeer a plane for a whim.....Shit, my phone's beeping.....Fine." Almost savagely, Donovan switched lines. "What?"

Janise gestured him to a chair, a worried frown on her face. To ease her mind, he drank the water and sat down. "Marcus.....I know that, Catherine. Marc said he's going....You know?.....God, Cat, and you weren't going to tell me?.....What if it's serious this time, Cat, what if that disaster I'm always afraid will happen has happened?....Give me the damn phone number....Catherine.....Hell, sister, I am the furtherest from okay right now...At work.....Catherine, now is sure the hell not the time to find out where I'm at.....Oh shit.....I'll be waiting."

Donovan took a deep breath and tried to relax in the chair, only to get to his feet. "Thanks for the water."

Janise frowned. "Sir, I couldn't help but overhear. Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. My sister, Casi, is out of the country right now and I'm worried she might be in danger."

She searched his face. "You went so white a minute ago, I thought you were going to pass out. Would you like me to select something for you to give?"

Selecting jewelry was the furtherest thing from his mind at the moment. Catherine had said she was going home to get the number of Casi's hotel and would call him soon. But he couldn't imagine giving either sister a present he hadn't picked out himself. "No. I think I need the distraction."

Janise was quiet for a moment. "You must be the oldest."

Donovan looked at her. "How'd you know?"

"I have all brothers. My oldest, Brian, is so overprotective."

"Do you resent it?"

Janise shook her head. "Not really. Only when he gave my husband the third degree before we got married."

Donovan took a deep breath. "Show me some jewelry."

"All right. Do your sisters prefer bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pins?"

"Earrings. Casi has her ears double-pierced. Cat likes rings and bracelets."

"Wonderful. I have a set of white opal jewelry. The stones are small baquets surrounded by diamonds. There's a ring, bracelet and necklace with small stud earrings." She pulled out a shiny white box and took off the lid. "Here."

Donovan could see Catherine wearing this set. The bracelet's stones were small with silver links in between. The whole set gave an aura of delicacy. "That would be perfect for Catherine."

"Great." Janise put the lid back on the box and set it to one side. "Why do I have the feeling your other sister will be a little more difficult to buy for?"

"Don't tell me you know her."

Janise shook her head. "No. You said she likes earrings. Any particular style?"

"She likes dangling earrings. And round ones." He made hoop shape at his ear lobe.

"Ahh..." Janise pulled out a small velvet covered stand with a crosspiece. Hanging from each end of the crosspiece were glittering earrings. Smooth oval opals were surrounded by pale pink zirconium. Suspended from the framework were five tiny strands of glittering crystals. "How's this?"

"That looks like Casi. She loves glitter and sparkle."

"Good. And you said her ears were double-pierced. How about these for the second holes." Janise pulled out a small box. Inside were square pink zirconium stud earrings barely larger than the head of a pin.

"Yes. Perfect."

Janise smiled. "Great." She would have said more but his phone rang just then.

"Would you mind giftwrapping them?" asked Donovan. "The set goes to Catherine. The two pairs of earrings to Cassandra." He put the phone to his ear. "Hello?.....Damn, that can't be a good sign.....I felt it, you felt it, Marcus felt it. I doubt they're off gallivanting....Catherine, I swear....Oh shit, I am not having this conversation....Yes of course. That is why you went home.....Catherine.....Got it....All right, Catherine, all right. Bye."

Donovan turned and froze. A second later, he realized he hadn't specified the wrapping paper. His sisters were going to kill him. The large flat box was wrapped in shiny orange paper and sheer black ribbon was wrapped around it, ending in a big poofy bow. The other present was actually two square boxes, one smaller and stacked on the larger one. Both were wrapped with silver star-studded purple paper and wrapped with sheer silver ribbon, tying the two boxes into a mini tower.

Janise gave him a smile. "You like? My boss likes to buy paper to match the holiday."

"It's...great. Thank you. You've been very understanding and helpful."

"You're welcome. Is everything going to be okay?" she asked, placing both presents carefully in a store bag.

"God, I hope so." Donovan took the bag and headed for the door. Then he spun on his heel. "My wife's birthday is in February. What's that birthstone?"

"Amethyst. Usually the first of December is when we get January and February's birthstones. If you want I'll keep an eye out for something really stunning. Maybe two, one for Christmas, one for her birthday."

"Thank you. I'll definitely be back then."

Janise sketched a wave as he left, then shook her head. Strange people these days....

***

Catherine carefully hung up the phone, then sank down to the floor. She'd kept herself together long enough to drive home, long enough to give Donovan no reason to worry about her but now. The trembling started with her hands, then sped through her body, making her knees quivery. The cold fear brought tears to her eyes and she wished at that moment that it was the future, so she could get to her sister all the more quicker. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she remembered how Casi had always wished for instantaneous travel when they were late for something.

What was even scarier than that burst of heart-stopping fear was the absence of everything now. She couldn't sense her sister, couldn't feel anything except a lingering sadness. Catherine swallowed hard, remembering over the summer how Casi had waited for him to come. She knew Joe was over there but did Casi. Could Joe help her? Was Ethan helping even now?

Catherine sat there for the longest time, just letting the tears come. All her life, she'd been the follower, letting Casi talk her into crazy--sometimes even dangerous--things. They had never been separated for long periods until she'd gotten the job at the Smithsonian. That had been the hardest thing, moving to Arlington. Then when Casi had moved to Provincetown, working for their Aunt Lyra, it made it somehow harder. With both of them working, they had less and less time to spend together. She'd never told Casi that first year apart had been torture. Thank God for the family reunions at Castle MacFairlaigne.

Catherine shuddered and absently glanced at her watch and saw she'd been sitting there for nearly an hour. Her stomach chose that time to growl. She groaned and pushed herself slowly to her feet. That was the bitter irony of it all, she thought, stretching the kinks out of joints as she headed for the kitchen. No matter the disaster, no matter the pain, life goes on.

She gripped the edge of the kitchen counter as fresh tears fell. Even for New York, even for the Pentagon, life goes on. She shuddered again, remembering the devastating horror on the television screen. Like that country singer had said, you knew exactly what you were doing, where you were on that fateful day. Even though it had been over two years now, the memories were fresh.

Catherine took a deep breath and made her way to the refrigerator. She needed to eat, to function. She froze with her hand on the handle to the refrigerator. She'd told Donovan and Marcus in situations like this, your only option was prayer. Donovan was right that it seemed so inadequate for what you wanted to do. She crossed herself and sent a heartfelt prayer heavenward. It didn't make her feel much better, but it had to work. She didn't know what she'd do if she lost her sister....

***

30 October 2003

Boston, MA

1:12 pm

When the telephone rang, Marcus figured it was either Donovan or Catherine or of no importance. Standing there in his room, he was still trying to figure what to pack. He glanced at Kari as she walked through the bedroom door. "What? Is it cold there?"

"I'd imagine so. It's October, almost November. Marc."

"All right. Sweaters and jeans, then. What?"

"That was Ryan."

Marc went still in the middle of pulling a pile of sweaters out the drawer. He dropped them and turned to her. "No."

"He said he has the part ordered but it won't be in for another day or so. Then he'll fix the plane."

"Shit." Marc tried to slam the drawer but with half the sweaters spilling out, the effect wasn't much. He kicked the chest of drawers for good measure.

"Marc."

"Damn it," Marc muttered, sinking down on the unmade bed. Suddenly, he jumped to his feet. "Jade."

"I left a message."

He blinked and turned to look at her. God, he loved her. "Thanks."

"I knew you'd want to ask her if Ry couldn't get you there." Kari walked over to him. "It has to be okay."

"I--" Marc broke off as the phone rang. He dived across the bed and grabbed the phone. "Hello?....She was calling for me....Thanks, Jade, I owe you one.....It's Casi---" Marc took a breath as the woman cut him off. "I see....I'll be ready." Somewhat dazed, he hung up. "Whoa."

Kari frowned. "What?"

"Jade was saying she had one charter this afternoon, then she was free but that it would be a long trip."

"And?"

"When I told her it was about Casi, she said she'd postpone the charter. She'll be at Logan within the hour."

"She and Casi are friends, Marc. Good friends."

Marc took a deep breath. "God, I hope she's okay."

Kari wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "It has to be. She has to be." Kari closed her eyes and crossed her fingers for good measure. "She has to be," she whispered, making it a prayer as tears leaked out of her eyes.

Marc held her close, felt the shudders as she tried not to cry. He closed his eyes and just held her. Kari was right. Casi had to be okay. He'd accept nothing less.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.