Dark Memory

Chapter Two

After a 17 hour flight and a three hour train ride, Rhyann and the four agents the CIA had sent arrived in the small town deep in the Carpathian mountains. They checked into the inn and all sought their rooms to shower and change before they were supposed to meet with Mikhail Dubrinsky and his brother Jacques.

As Rhyann let the water cascade over her shoulders she felt a shift in the air around her. It was as though the earth itself had breathed a sigh of relief. The sun had set and darkness was settling over the land. Rhyann would have expected there to be an aura of unease with the setting of the sun rather than a feeling of relief. After all, this was the birth place of the legend of the vampire.

Knowing that time was quickly running out, Rhyann finished her shower and hurriedly dressed. Just as she was about to open the door, a light tap startled her.

"Dr. Stone, its almost time for us to meet with the Dubrinsky's." She recognized the voice of Peter Adams, one of the agents assigned to this case.

She opened the door and gave him a smile. "Of course, Agent Adams. I was just on my way out."

They walked down to the dining area where the other three agents were waiting them. They had just reach them when Rhyann felt a shiver prick over her spine. A moment later the door opened and in walked six of the most gorgeous men and four extremely beautiful women that she had ever seen. But there was something about one of the men that caused her to draw in a sharp, painful breath.

He stood well over six feet in height. Well, all of the men did, but this one in particular stood out above the rest. His midnight black hair was tied at the nape of his neck and cascaded over his broad shoulders. But what struck her the most was his piercing black eyes and the pain that was reflected there. When those eyes focused on her, Rhyann swore she felt the world rock. Heat flooded her face. The fierce, predatory look in them made things clench low in her belly. He was dangerous, she could sense it in the air around him. All of the men had an aura of power and danger surrounding them. Even the women had an aura of power about them.

As he, Mikhail, Gregori, Jacques, Traian, Falcon, Raven, Shae, Savannah, and Joie walked towards the group of Americans waiting for them, Wolf's eyes were drawn to one of the women. The shock from the colors suddenly bombarding him nearly drove him to his knees. Never in a million years had he expected to find his lifemate. Especially when he had made up his mind to face the dawn.

"Wolf," Gregori's voice in his mind sounded concerned. "What is wrong, old friend?"

"The woman on the left. She is my lifemate."

Gregori drew in a sharp breath and focused on the woman Wolf pointed out. Gently he reached out with his mind to touch hers. Sure enough, she had a strong psychic ability. He watched surprise flicker across her face followed swiftly by suspicion.

All of the Carpathians would treat this meeting with a different attitude because of this unexpected development.

"Greetings. I am Mikhail Dubrinsky, this is my wife Raven, my brother Jacques and his wife Shae, my daughter, Savannah, and her husband, Gregori, Wolf, Falcon, and Traian and his wife Joie. Thank you so much for getting here as quickly as you have." Mikhail introduced everyone.

Rhyann had to fight to take her eyes off of Wolf in order to look at Mikhail.

Agent Stevens, the lead investigator for the group shook hands with Mikhail. "Of course. I'm Agent Tom Stevens, this is Agents Samantha Parker, Peter Adams, Tyler Wallace, and Dr. Rhyann Stone. We'll do all that we can to help you find your son, Mr. Dubrinsky."

The group withdrew to a secluded corner of the dining area of the inn to go over the details of the investigation.

"For years these people have plagued our families. For some reason they have gotten the notion in their heads that we are vampires."Mikhail began. "It is because of the legends of the local region and the fact that our families like to keep to themselves. They are insane, and we fear what they will do to Vlad if we do not get him back soon."

For the next hour or so they came up with a plan of action. There were some oddities that Rhyann noticed, but the others in her group seemed to just pass them by. When she brought them up, Gregori simply waved them away with a flick of his hand.

Wolf sat silently across from Rhyann, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Gregori's mind trick didn't work on her. This could be very interesting indeed, he thought to himself.