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Seline hesitated. “Because I'm a big believer in the fact that those of us with special gifts have a duty to protect those who don't."
The answer didn't surprise her, because that was the motivation behind the Damask Circle, and Seline had started the Circle. “Did Dunleavy kill friends of yours as well?"
"No. He simply killed, and that was enough for me."
"Were you working alone?"
"Yes. The Circle wasn't yet in existence."
But it had come into being shortly after, though exactly how it had come into being, she wasn't entirely sure. “Did Dunleavy kill for the sake of it, or was there a specific reason?"
"The dark gods grant great power in return for blood sacrifices. Dunleavy moved from town to town, kidnapping virgins and sacrificing them on the night of the new moon."
"Sounds like a real nice type,” Jake muttered.
"Oh, he was a gem,” Seline agreed dryly. “Trouble was neither Michael nor I could take him out straight away. Dunleavy was a shapeshifter—one who can take on the form of anyone he has killed." Nikki frowned. “So he's more like one of those manarei Doyle was mentioning in monsters class?"
"In a sense, yes, though Dunleavy comes from human stock, and the manarei don't."
"And he could take on male or female form?"
"Yes, which made tracking him doubly difficult. The moment we thought we were on to him, he shifted form. Plus, he'd already kidnapped two women by the time we'd got there, and I wanted to rescue them first."
"I'm gathering Michael wasn't too happy about that." Seline cackled. “No. But nothing much frightens this old witch, even a vampire hell-bent on getting his own way."
"So what happened?"
"The upshot is that we rescued the two women, killed Dunleavy and burned his body. Unfortunately for us, the fire got out of control and half of Hartwood burned as well."
"What's this got to do with Michael being kidnapped?"
"What we didn't know at the time was that Dunleavy had a twin—Weylin. He's not only a shapeshifting sorcerer like his brother, but a vampire. And Weylin wants revenge."
"Then why not kill Michael straight out?” The words made her heart shudder, but it was something that had to be asked. Simply kidnapping him made no sense. Not unless Weylin intended torturing him, and as yet, that wasn't happening. She'd know . She'd feel Michael's pain, if nothing else.
"Because he needs him for the ceremony."
Nikki blinked and glanced at Jake, who shrugged. At least she wasn't the only one not following Seline's train of thought. “What ceremony?"
"I fear Weylin intends to bring his brother back to life." Nikki's gaze went from the phone to Camille. “Can you really bring someone back to life after they've been dead for a hundred years?"
"Yes,” Camille said. “If the magic and your will are strong enough, you can do just about anything."
"But he's maggot food. How can he be raised?"
"A body is merely the vessel for the soul,” Seline commented. “It's Emmett's spirit Weylin intends to raise."
"But ... How?"
"To raise his brother's spirit from the hell to which it was consigned, he will have to replicate the events leading up to the night of the new moon—the night Emmett was killed." Meaning they had five days to stop him. “So he needs Michael.” Nikki paused. “And you, Seline."
"Yes. A special delivery letter came addressed to me this morning. He has a list of Circle operatives. I have one day to appear in what is left of Hartwood. If I'm not there, he'll start killing."
"Insanity obviously runs in that family,” Jake muttered. “You can't go, Seline. It's suicide."
"I have no intention of going or letting anyone in the Circle get killed." Nikki closed her eyes. If she had to go in alone after Michael, she would—but she had a bad feeling it would all go to hell if she went without Circle help. “So what do we do?" Seline paused and said, “I want you to go in my place, Nikki."
"What?” Jake half rose from the chair. “No way!"
