"Aye. Come, Ana," he said, answering in her native tongue, and taking her by the hand, he lifted her to her feet. "We must go, quickly."
She didn't argue, but when she tried to follow him, her legs gave way. With a little cry, she stumbled and fell.
Muttering an oath, he swept her into his arms and transported the two of them to the apartment where Karinna waited.
She was free.
The wizard's head snapped up as he felt the curse he had placed on his daughter's painting unravel.
Vilnius felt the glass that had encased the painting split in half as if it were his own soul, knew the moment his daughter took her first true breath in three hundred years, just as he knew that it was Rourke who had summoned Ana Luisa from her prison.
Vilnius swore a vile oath, cursing the vampire for meddling in his affairs even as he vowed to avenge himself anew on the creature who had defiled his daughter. There would be no escape from his vengeance this time, not for his daughter, not for the vampire, and not for the puny mortal female who had called Rourke forth from his prison. The vampire was a creature to be reckoned with, Vilnius mused, and more powerful than he had suspected, else he would not have been able to move about within the painting. In so doing, he had given life to the other creatures, as well.
Vilnius shook his head ruefully. He had placed the same curse on both paintings, had done so to give Ana a little taste of freedom within her prison, thinking she would use her witchcraft to bring her world to life. Instead, it had been the vampire who had gathered the strength to move.
He would not make such a foolish mistake again. He would not underestimate the vampire's power this time, or be swayed by his daughter's tears.
This time his punishment would be swift and irrevocable.
Kari couldn't seem to stop staring at the wizard's daughter. Ana Luisa was, in a word, stunning. She had luminous green eyes, the longest eyelashes Kari had ever seen, and hair that fell over her creamy shoulders in waves of honey-gold silk. She wore a long white gown reminiscent of the kind women had worn in medieval times. The material clung to every voluptuous curve of her slender figure. She looked like some fairy-tale princess come to life.
When Rourke introduced them, Ana Luisa surprised them both by speaking to Kari in English.
"Where did you learn my language?" Kari asked.
"The guard in the museum. His son married an American woman. Every night, he listened to English-language tapes so he could learn his daughter-in-law's native tongue. I practiced, too," she said with a note of pride. "It gave me something to do."
Kari nodded, glad that the girl spoke English. It would make everything much easier, especially since Rourke wouldn't be around to translate during the day. Kari was less enthusiastic about the way the girl looked at Rourke, her eyes filled with affection. Although Kari had no idea what Rourke's feelings for Ana Luisa were, it was obvious that the wizard's daughter was hopelessly smitten with the vampire. She looked at him, touched him, and spoke his name at every opportunity. Once, meeting Kari's gaze, Rourke smiled and shrugged, obviously amused by Ana Luisa's infatuation.
Kari was not amused, nor was she looking forward to having the girl staying at her house. And she intended to tell Rourke so the first chance she got.
They spent the rest of that night bringing Ana Luisa up to speed as best they could on life in the twenty-first century. Kari wasn't sure how much the girl actually understood, but Ana Luisa stared at Rourke, hanging on his every word, her expression rapt. Kari folded her hands in her lap to keep from slapping that silly, lovesick expression off the girl's face.
But there was something else bothering Kari even more, and that was Rourke's plan to get the wizard's daughter onboard the plane with no one being the wiser. A year ago, his plan would have been impossible due to layovers, the difference in time between the United States and Romania, and the need to show proper ID and passports every time they changed planes. But now, thanks to jets that went faster and farther on less fuel, it was possible to book a nonstop flight to just about anywhere in the world, which meant fewer stops and less chance of being discovered.
And if his plan didn't work...Kari shook her head. She had done her part. She had gotten him this far. The rest was up to him. If he and Ana Luisa got stuck in Romania, so be it. Whatever happened from here on out was Jason Rourke's problem, not hers.
It was after midnight when the wizard's daughter curled up on the sofa and went to sleep.
Kari yawned behind her hand. It had been a long day.
"You should go to bed," Rourke remarked.
"Yes, I think I will."
"I will meet you at the plane tomorrow night." His smile caressed her, making her toes curl inside her slippers. "Try not to worry."
"Right."
Rising, he moved toward her chair. Hands braced on the arms, he leaned toward her. "Sleep well, Karinna," he murmured, and then he kissed her.
With his mouth on hers, she could believe that everything would be all right.
Kari was a nervous wreck all the next day. After explaining what a shower was to Ana Luisa, and convincing the girl to give it a try, Kari got on the phone and made sure that the coffin would be delivered to the airport as previously arranged, hoping, all the while, that Rourke was safely inside.
Later, she took the girl out to breakfast. It seemed to Kari that everywhere they went, men turned to stare at Ana Luisa. Kari couldn't blame them. Even attired in a loose-fitting dress, the wizard's daughter was a knockout.
After breakfast, they went sightseeing for a few hours. Ana Luisa's expression seemed to change every few minutes. One minute she was smiling as she saw a building that was familiar, the next she was wide-eyed and frightened as a young man went speeding by on a motorcycle. She watched the people passing by, no doubt bemused by the current trends in hairstyles and fashion.
After stopping for lunch, Kari suggested they head back to the apartment so she could pack.
Ana Luisa had hardly spoken a word the entire day. Kari didn't know if it was because she was just shy or because she was so awed by the world she now found herself in, she couldn't find the words to express her feelings.
After making sure she hadn't left anything behind, Kari checked out of the apartment and they went out to dinner.
After ordering, Kari looked at Ana Luisa. Determined to make the best of things, she smiled and said, "I guess you must be overwhelmed by all this."
"Overwhelmed, yes," the girl replied. "It is all so...different. Have you known Jason very long?"
Kari blinked at her, surprised at the abrupt change of topic. "Not very."
"Are you in love with him?"
The girl was nothing if not direct, Kari thought. "Excuse me?"
"Jason. Do you have strong feelings for him?"
A number of answers flitted through Kari's mind, but she decided on the truth. "Yes, I do."
"Does he have feelings for you also?"
"I think so."
Ana Luisa pushed her plate away. "I am ready to go now."
With a sigh of exasperation, Kari finished her drink and signaled for the check.
The drive to the airport was made in chilly silence. Ana Luisa stared out the window, her hands folded in her lap.
Kari parked her rental car in the space provided, grabbed her luggage from the backseat, and walked briskly toward the terminal, not caring if Ana Luisa followed her or not.
Rourke was waiting for them outside the terminal when they arrived. Kari took him aside. "The coffin?" she asked. "Did you check to make sure it's onboard?"
"Yes," he said. "Do not worry."
She glanced at Ana Luisa. "What do you think she'll do when the plane takes off?"
"She will fall asleep as soon as you board," he said confidently, "and she will not awake until the plane lands."
Kari didn't doubt him for a minute.
What happened from that point on was like something out of a science-fiction movie. She didn't know what kind of vampire mojo Rourke exerted, but no one they passed en route to the plane paid any attention to him or to Ana Luisa. It was as if neither one of them existed.
Kari didn't know if it was luck or vampire magic, but the seat next to hers was vacant. Ana Luisa sat down, Rourke leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and in a heartbeat, she was asleep.
"Amazing," Kari murmured.
"Indeed," Rourke said with a smile, then vanished from her sight.
Kari's hands gripped the armrest as the plane taxied down the runway, then lifted off. She watched the earth fall away, gradually growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared beneath the cover of the clouds. It was an odd feeling to look out the window and see only thick white clouds and a bit of blue sky. She knew the earth was still down there, but she would have been happier if she could see it.
If she had her way, she would never fly again. She was tapping her foot restlessly, wishing the flight was over, when she heard Rourke's voice whisper in her mind.
"Relax, sweeting. You will soon be home."
"Not soon enough," she thought.
The faintly amused sound of his laughter made her smile.
"Are you all right?"
"I am quite comfortable."
She shook her head, thinking no one would believe any of this.
Again, the soft sound of his laughter filled her mind. "I have complicated your life, haven't I?"
"In ways you can't imagine," she muttered.
The soft sound of his laughter filled her mind again.
With a sigh, Kari stared out the window. The next thing she knew, the stewardess was shaking her awake.
It was a little after noon when their flight landed. Ana Luisa woke as soon as the plane came to a halt. Again, no one paid any attention to the girl when they left the plane or when they moved through the airport. Kari picked up her luggage and loaded it into Mel's hearse, then opened the passenger door for Ana Luisa.
"Get in," Kari said.
Ana Luisa climbed into the vehicle as if it might swallow her whole.