Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)

Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3) Page 37

Neither of them spoke during the ride. The silence seemed heavy, but not that unusual, or so Kylie reminded herself. Burnett had never been Mr. Chatty.

But with every roll of the tires, Kylie's uncertainty rose. She glanced at Burnett, again sitting silent in the driver's seat.

"You seem nervous," he said.

"Should I be?"

He appeared confused. "I thought you wanted to see them."

She nodded, but the memory of Jane and her surgery hit harder. Oh sure, Kylie's heart told her Burnett was a good guy, but she could also remember Holiday saying that the FRU weren't above sacrificing one person if they thought it was for a good cause.

When Burnett parked his Mustang in front of a small white-framed house, the same house Kylie had seen in her visions, a wave of shame hit for ever doubting Burnett.

"I tried to call them, but no one answered," Burnett said. "Of course, I'm going to go in with you, but I'll let you explain things however you see fit."

Two minutes later, after receiving no answer to their knock, a woman, looking all of ninety years old, stepped out of the house next door.

"Can I help ya?" She came toward them, moving amazingly fast for someone her age.

Kylie, thinking she felt a whisper of cold, immediately checked the woman's pattern. Burnett did the same. The woman was human.

"We're looking for Mr. Summers," Burnett said.

"Well, you're too late. He and his sister-in-law flew out this morning. Went to Ireland."

Ireland? Was it a coincidence that the Brightens were there now? Kylie looked at Burnett and saw the same question in his eyes.

"Why did they go there?" Burnett asked.

The neighbor grinned. "Said he was looking for something he lost a long time ago. Said it was more valuable than gold and he figured it might be there."

"Do you know when he plans to return?" Kylie asked.

"I'm supposed to water the plants and feed the cat for a week."

Burnett started moving back to the car. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Did you want to leave a message?" the neighbor asked.

"We'll come back." Burnett smiled and waved.

Kylie got into the car, sank into the seat, and wanted to kick and scream with frustration. More questions and zero answers. She was friggin' tired of this.

Burnett started the car. "Let's drive over to the next block and come back on foot."

"Come back for what?" Kylie asked.

"I figured you'd like to go inside," he said. "See if we can learn anything."

"Isn't that against the law?" Kylie asked.

His eyes widened. "Only if we get caught."

She bit down on her lip so hard, she tasted blood. "Do you, like, have any 'get out of jail free' cards if we do get caught? I wouldn't look good in prison garb."

He patted his pocket. "I think I brought two with me."

The house smelled like herbs. Rosemary. Maybe a little thyme. The furnishings were old. Lots of antiques, expensive-looking things, but nothing too showy. When Kylie stepped into the hall, she spotted the closet Jane had pulled her suitcase from. Right then, she felt the cold come down on her.

She stopped abruptly. Burnett bumped into her from behind.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"You mean other than the fact that we just broke into someone's house?" She knew he didn't want to know they had company.

"It's fine," he said.

"Right." She moved into the bedroom. Jane Doe, aka Heidi Summers, sat on the bed, staring at the photos on the bedside table.

Kylie studied the woman's face behind the frame. "It's you."

"What's ... Never mind, I'll wait out here." Burnett must have realized she wasn't talking to him and wanted nothing to do with the ghost.

Considering what had happened to him the last time, Kylie didn't blame him.

"Me and Malcolm." Heidi said the name with so much love. "I remember."

Kylie picked up the picture. She recalled feeling something odd when she'd seen the man's face in the vision. The same thing hit her again. Then chills shot down her spine. Not from the cold this time, but from the realization.

"Burnett?"

"What?" He barged into the bedroom as if ready to fight.

She held out the picture. "That's him."

He took the picture. "Who?"

"That's the same man who came to the camp. The one who claimed to be my grandfather."

Burnett scanned the photo. "Are you sure?"

"Completely."

Heidi stood up. "It was him, wasn't it? I remember. And that was my sister, too."

Her sister? Kylie remembered the woman, remembered feeling a connection. "Why would they come to the camp and pretend to be my adoptive grandparents?" Kylie asked, and she meant the question for both Burnett and Heidi.

"I don't know," Burnett answered.

Heidi stood there as if trying to think. "Wait. They were from Ireland. And the neighbor said-"

"Who was from Ireland?" Kylie asked, and saw Burnett leave again.

"The people who adopted my boy. I gave him up for adoption. I went to a doctor who placed children with good parents. The doctor was human, but he knew about supernaturals. I remember there were complications, I had to have a C-section, and the doctor didn't want to do it because he didn't have the supplies to put me under; I made him do it anyway. I couldn't let my baby die. I knew whatever pain I experienced would be better than knowing I'd robbed my son of his chance at life. Then I made sure he would go to a good family." She sat up straighter. "Malcolm's looking for our son."

Tears filled Kylie's eyes as the truth swirled around her heart, making her dizzy. Heidi Summers was Daniel's birth mother. She was Kylie's grandmother. And Malcolm Summers, her real grandfather, and her grandmother's sister had posed as Daniel's adoptive parents. Why? Why not just tell her? More questions.

"He's going to find our boy. And they'll be a family, the way we should have been."

The pain of everything her grandmother had endured suddenly swamped her. Knowing she would have to tell Heidi that Daniel was dead cut like a knife.

But she had to tell her, didn't she?

"He won't find him," Kylie said.

"How do you know?"

Kylie wiped the tears from her eyes. "He's not in Ireland."

"Why else would Malcolm have gone to Ireland?"

"He went to find the Brightens."

Heidi sank back on the bed, as if trying to absorb what Kylie said. "Yes, that was their name. They adopted my boy."

Kylie nodded. "But your son isn't with them."

"Where is he?" She jumped off the bed. "Take me to him. I want to see him."

Kylie's breath caught. "He died a long time ago."

"No!" she yelled. "He lived. I went to see him right before they forced Malcolm and me to go to that place for tests. It was a few months after I had given birth. My son was fine. So healthy."

"He didn't die when he was a baby," Kylie said. "He grew up, met a woman whom he fell in love with, and then he joined the army. He died when he was twenty-one while on a mission, trying to save a woman. He was a hero. You should be proud."

Heidi dropped back on the bed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Another wave of tears filled Kylie's eyes. "I'll bet he's waiting to meet you on the other side, too."

She looked up as if she could see heaven. "Did you know him?"

Kylie nodded. "Only his spirit." She felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks. "He's my father."

Heidi's eyes rounded. "That would mean that you..." She reached out and touched Kylie's cheek. "I should have known. You look like Malcolm. Blond hair instead of red, but those eyes..." A tear slipped from her cheek. "I think ... a part of me did know."

Kylie blinked. "I have so many questions to ask you, so many things I want to know. First, what are we?"

"What do you mean?"

"We're supernatural, right?"

She hesitated, as if she had to think. "Yes. That was why they took us in to do those terrible tests."

"So, what are we?" Kylie held her breath, waiting, hoping for her answer.

Heidi frowned as if trying to think again. "I ... can't remember. I'm sorry. But..." She pointed to the picture. "Malcolm will remember. The man never forgets anything."

Heidi stood up. "I have to go to my son now. I need to tell him that I love him. That's why I stayed here. To tell him how sorry I am that I gave him away."

"Why did you do it?" Kylie asked, hoping something would jog her memory. "Why did you give him away?"

She tilted her head as if to think again. "Because they wanted the little ones more than they wanted us."

"Who?" Kylie asked. "The FRU?"

"Yes," she said. "It was the only way to keep him safe. If I'd run with him, they'd have found me. So I gave him away. I told Malcolm I lost the baby. I had to do it. He trusted them. He said they wouldn't hurt our baby and they would just study him for a little while. But I didn't believe them. So I gave the baby away, I lied to Malcolm, and then I came back because I loved him so much."

"Why did they want to study the baby?" Kylie asked.

"I don't remember ... Wait, it was because we were different and they didn't like it."

"How were we different?"

She shook her head. Her brow wrinkled. "Everything is still so messed up. I remember some things and not others. Malcolm will know."

She leaned down and pressed a hand to Kylie's cheek. "I'm going to see my boy. But you, Kylie Galen, are everything I would have wanted in a granddaughter. I must go now."

Kylie wanted to scream no and beg Heidi to stay, that she had more questions. But it was too late. Heidi had already disappeared.

Fifteen minutes later, Kylie sat silently in the Mustang as Burnett pulled up to the camp. She'd told Burnett everything. About how Jane Doe was really her grandmother, and she'd given Kylie's father away for adoption because the FRU were taking children like them to study. He put the car in park and looked at her. "So you think he went to find the Brightens?"

Kylie nodded.

"I'll see if I can find Malcolm Summers in Ireland. But there's a good chance you might have to wait until he gets back."

Kylie nodded, not liking being this close and still so far away. She reached for the door handle and then looked back at Burnett. "You're not coming in?"

He frowned. "No."

She hesitated to ask but then went for it. "Are you ever coming back?"

He gripped the wheel. "I don't know."

"Why?"

He stared straight ahead. "It's what she wants. She doesn't trust me anymore."

Kylie swallowed. "Neither did I."

He arched a brow at her.

"When you were driving me to the house, I was afraid that you were taking me to be tested."

He frowned. Hurt lingered in his eyes.

"But that's because I saw what the FRU did to my grandmother. I lived bits and pieces of it through her, and when someone lives through something bad, it's hard to trust. I don't know exactly what happened to Holiday with that other vampire, she won't even talk to me about it, but it must have been bad. It scared her and now she's scared to love again. But if you just hang in there..."

"I have hung in there. I'm done."

They sat there staring at each other for several long seconds. "I should go," he said finally.

Kylie got out. As she watched Burnett pull away, the emotions playing in her heart were the same as the ones she'd felt the day she watched Tom Galen drive away with his suitcases.

Shadow Falls was her family. They'd already lost Ellie. They didn't need to lose Burnett, too. But for the life of her, she didn't know how she could change this.

Lucas met Kylie at the gate. More than anything, she needed a hug. She wanted to tell him what she'd learned, but what she got was his anger.

"Why didn't you wait on me?" he demanded.

Maybe it was because her emotions were already on the edge, but she just started walking away.

"Damn it!" Lucas said, and moved in step with her. "Why in the hell would you go back to the cemetery, anyway? And why would they allow Derek to go with you?"

"Because I needed answers. And because Derek is my friend. Just like Fredericka is yours!"

He caught her by the arm. "Do you know how worried I've been?"

"Yes," Kylie snapped. "You were as worried about me as I am about you when you run off and play wolf for a night."

He looked stunned. "I can't help what I am, Kylie."

"Neither can I, Lucas." Tears sprang to her eyes. "I don't know what I am, but I know that what I do is deal with ghosts. And if you can't accept that, then maybe you can't accept me."

"I didn't say that," he insisted. "I just want-"

"You want me to be werewolf," she said. "You want me to be werewolf so your family and your pack will accept me. But right now, it's not looking good that you'll get what you want. So maybe you need to think about that, too."

She took off.

He caught up with her. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's just I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. And ... nothing is going to change between us, no matter what you are." He lifted her chin and met her eyes. "Don't you know how I feel?"

He pulled her against his chest, and Kylie let him. She buried herself in his warmth and tried to believe that he spoke the truth, but she couldn't lie to herself. She knew Lucas wanted to believe it, but she wasn't completely convinced that it would be the case if his grandmother really got involved. Kylie wasn't even sure it was fair of her to ask him to make that choice.

Kylie awoke very early Tuesday morning. Her first thought was that today was Ellie's funeral. She recalled the vision she'd had about it and wondered if it was fair that she had to live through it twice.

She ran a hand over her face. Her alarm hadn't gone off. So why was she awake?

The cold suddenly fell on her like a blanket of ice. "Heidi?" She sat up so fast, her head spun. "Is that you? I have more questions to ask."

No answer came. Kylie sat there, waiting. Through the haze of darkness, she saw a figure appear at the end of her bed. "Heidi?" she asked again.

Kylie turned on the lamp. The light filled the bedroom and illuminated the spirit, who stood with her back to the bed. It wasn't Heidi. Kylie couldn't even tell if this ghost was male or female. Somehow he/she looked ... deader than the others. Sure, they were all dead, but for some reason even the matted hair looked deader than the hair of other spirits.

"Hello," Kylie whispered.

The spirit turned around, and Kylie stopped breathing. Worms, maggots, and creepy insects crawled in and out of the eye sockets, eating away at what little flesh still clung to the face.

Screaming, Kylie slammed back against the headboard.

"Can you help me?" A stream of worms cascaded from the spirit's lips as she spoke, and they landed on Kylie's blanket.

"I..." Kylie kicked the covers to stop the gooey-looking creatures from crawling toward her. "I might, but can you do something about your face? Now!"

Della bolted into the room. "You okay?"

Kylie glanced back at the foot of her bed. The ghost was gone. Relief washed over her. "I'm fine," her voice squeaked out. Remembering the maggots-and not one hundred percent sure the ghost had taken them with her-Kylie leapt up, yanked the covers off the bed, and tossed them on the floor. She backed away from the pile of bedding.

"Yeah. You look just fine," Della said sarcastically.

Kylie jumped from foot to foot and brushed off imaginary maggots that she felt crawling on her skin.

Della stood there in Mickey Mouse pajamas, staring at her as if she didn't know whether to laugh or run.

Kylie stopped dancing and tried to breathe normally. "If I die, promise me I'll be cremated."

Della frowned. "Die?"

"Not that I'm planning to die anytime soon." She gave her arm one more swipe. "But still."

Della shook her head. "I don't know why you pretend you're okay."

Kylie wrapped her arms around herself. "Me either."

Kylie didn't go back to sleep. She wasn't sure if she'd ever sleep in that bed again. Instead, she dressed and waited for Della and Miranda to go to the sunrise service.

The service happened just as it had in the vision. Only the grief felt deeper, especially when Kylie saw Derek, tears in his eyes, holding Ellie's hat.

Holiday kept looking over her shoulder. Kylie knew she was looking for Burnett. It wasn't until Chris started talking that Burnett slid into the chair next to Holiday.

She saw the two of them look at each other. Kylie wasn't sure what kind of look it was-other than sad. Sad seemed to be the mood of the day. Well, for everyone except the blue jay who kept flittering by, spouting out song as if wanting to impress her.

Only she wasn't impressed.

When the ceremony ended, Lucas took her hand to walk her to the dining hall, where they planned to have a celebration of Ellie's life. Everyone was going to tell Ellie stories.

But Burnett stopped her. "I need to talk to you and Holiday a minute."

Lucas said he'd meet her in the dining hall. Then Holiday and Burnett and Kylie walked into the office.

"Is something wrong?" Kylie asked once Burnett closed the door.

He pulled an envelope from his suit jacket and handed it to Kylie.

"What is that?" Holiday asked. From her tone, she seemed to think it had to do with Kylie having tests.

"It's the location of her grandmother's body."

"You had her buried in her own grave?" Kylie asked.

"Not exactly." He paused. "Let's just say that if the FRU try to force you to undergo any tests that you aren't comfortable with, you can use this to ... insist that you prefer not to participate."

"So you think they'll push for Kylie to be tested?" Holiday asked.

He frowned. "I'm under the impression they will, yes."

"You told them about what happened?"

"I haven't told them anything since you asked me not to."

"So the FRU doesn't know you removed the body?" Holiday asked.

"No." His gaze met Kylie's. "What they did to your grandmother was wrong. And while the agency has admitted to some wrongdoings with some of the testing that went down in the sixties, this is one skeleton they wouldn't want brought forward."

"Why did they do it?" Kylie asked.

He shrugged. "The information I could find was very vague. Supposedly, there were a small number of supernaturals who were genetically different from the rest."

"So we still don't know what I am?"

Burnett's expression tightened. "I'm afraid not."

"Except a genetic freak," she muttered.

Holiday sat beside Kylie on the sofa and reached for her hand. "Don't say-"

"I'm assuming it's just the opposite," Burnett broke in. "They wouldn't be interested in something that wasn't working correctly. Just the fact that you can appear human would be considered an advantage. That could be all there is to it, or it could be more."

"What advantage is there to appearing human?" Kylie asked.

"A lot. Right now, supernaturals aren't allowed to run for any political office."

"That doesn't seem fair," Kylie said.

"It probably isn't. But what they did to your grandmother wasn't fair either. However, I do have some news." His expression seemed to change, but to what Kylie wasn't sure.

"I actually spoke with Malcolm Summers. Your real grandfather," Burnett said. "And before you ask, we didn't discuss any details. I was afraid if I started asking too many questions, I'd scare him off. I told him you wanted to meet him."

"And?" Kylie gripped Holiday's hand. What if he said he didn't want to meet me?