Reclaimed(61)
Author: Diane Alberts

Nosy humans.

“Oh,” Isaac said with some surprise. He hadn’t realized a vampire could sense people better once they were better acquainted with their scent, so to speak. He wondered fleetingly how often Elijah had tracked him, as he’d never seen him until Sabrina appeared. “Well, at least she’s still local,” he exclaimed while he ran a hand through his hair. He barely resisted the urge to reach in front of him and throw the people out of his way as they laughed in front of him in line.

“How about if I help out by checking some of the other hotels? Where have you gone?”

Though he didn’t want Elijah to be the one to discover Sabrina, he also knew time was of the essence, more so than ever before. Reluctantly, he named the hotels he’d visited and watched as Elijah ran off to aid him in his quest for Sabrina. For once, he didn’t feel jealousy rip through him at the thought of Sabrina being brought back to him in his brother’s arms. He needed to find her too badly to care how she it got accomplished.

He shifted his weight to his other foot, and relieved to see he finally stood next in line. He sighed as the couple in front of him chatted nonsensically at the receptionist. He resisted the urge to knock their heads together and throw their motionless bodies to the side.

When the couple finally moved toward the elevator, he quickly told the receptionist his concocted story of how his wife had come somewhere in England, and he knew she had to be in this town somewhere. He didn’t know what hotel she’d chosen, but wanted to surprise her since he’d come to England early.

The other times this earned the appropriate oohs and ahhs of appreciation from the recipient of his story, but this time it merely got a stern look.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give out that information.”

“Not even for her husband?”

She shook her head. “Not even then.”

“Okay, I’m sorry for bothering you.” Isaac smiled, walked around the corner, and closed his eyes. He created a gust of wind that blew the doors to the back employee entrance open. The startled receptionist rushed to investigate the bang of the doors, and Isaac ran to her computer.

A few quick movements of his hands, and he yearned to shout in delight. She was here. She’d be safe now because he’d found her.

Thank God.

He heard the receptionist returning and went to the other side of the counter with a smile plastered on his face. When the confused receptionist returned, she jumped to see him standing there once more. “Sir, I told you—”

“I got a hold of her! She’s here, Sabrina Hodges in room 215. So, I’m going to go up to her room now.”

She perked up. “Oh how nice!” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Oh, she must be the crying lady,” she informed him.

The sheer intensity of the happiness washing over him made his legs feel weak enough to collapse on the floor in relief. He laughed hysterically and forced a calming breath when the receptionist looked at him warily, like she worried he might be a little mad. He smiled at the receptionist, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

“Yes, she thought I’d been delayed. She’ll be quite happy to see me, I assure you.”

The receptionist smiled. “Elevator is to your left, when you get off on the second floor, take a right, and a quick left.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Would you like the spare key?” she asked.

“Yes, that would be wonderful.”

The receptionist beamed at him, clearly happy in her role as co-conspirator, and handed him the plastic key. “She’s popular, your wife is. A girlfriend of hers stopped by an hour ago as well.”

He got halfway to the elevator before her words registered in his brain, and he stopped dead in his tracks. His blood ran cold, and his heart clenched in his chest.

He slowly turned. “A friend?”

“Yes, a pretty girl, about your age. Perhaps you know her as well?”

He wasted no more time or effort on the receptionist and bolted to the staircase. His legs were faster than any elevator could be.

“The elevator’s quicker, sir,” called the desk clerk from behind him, confused.

He arrived at her doorway in seconds, but the sinking dread in his heart told him she’d already be gone.

Or lying on the floor completely drained of blood.

He threw open the door and searched for any signs of Sabrina. The covers were wrinkled where someone had once lain, but the bed lay empty. He recognized her unopened overnight bag on the chair by the window. A pillow lay to the floor, and the bedside lamp had gotten tipped over. Of Sabrina, there was no sign. He growled in his throat and turned around. He ran out of the hotel room and through the lobby, not caring if anyone saw his mad dash.

The time for appearances had ended. He needed to find Sabrina before he was too late.

He didn’t stop to search for Elijah—he couldn’t afford the delay. Every minute wasted added to the minutes Sabrina would be scared, hurt, tortured, or even killed.

He ran faster than ever before, pausing for nothing. He could barely even see where he ran, his speed too fast to concentrate on anything. But that was okay, for he knew where he needed to go. Normally he would at least attempt to calm his raging emotions, to lower the risk of any unwanted injury or damage from the storm he had unleashed.

But not tonight.

Tonight, he welcomed the damage he caused. Tonight, he embraced the danger with open arms, relished the sound of trees crashing to the ground. Let the storms take down the whole country of England and everyone in her. He didn’t give a damn, as long as he could save Sabrina.

Every step he took, he saw her cry out in pain as Louisa broke her arm, broke her fingers, and broke her neck. He roared and amazingly, his speed increased. A cracking sound met his ears as a tree broke and collapsed to the ground in front of him. He hurdled it effortlessly and continued on.

Nothing would stop him.

***

Sabrina lay upon the bed sleeping when she heard the light knock on the door.

“Housekeeping, please open the door.”

“I don’t need room service. Go away,” she mumbled sleepily. She rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Sleeping helped her forget what she’d done. Sleep was necessary for her sanity.

Another knock sounded, and it was more insistent. She heard the shuffling of the cart the maids always pushed through the hallway and glared at the door.

“Housekeeping, ma’am.”

“Can you please leave? I don’t want to be disturbed.” She sought and found the stupid sign on the door where it hung on the inside doorknob, and she cursed.