Templar Vampires - Midnight Sun Part 19

Shrugging, Allie wondered if maybe she should have put her ethics aside and accepted the payoffMichael Miller offered. She needed the money, and besides, who would be hurt by the lie? All she had to do was do a piece on the B&B inThe Specter and say she believed the place was haunted. Miller would get his publicity and Allie would get a nice stack of money. Easy. Fast. No harm done.

No harm done except to her conscience.

Lying wasn't her style. That's not how she rolled, not for any reason, especially not money.

"Obviously not enough."

Lex smiled at her, beaming with pride. "I'm glad you didn't take it."

"Me too. I can't believe they tried to bribe me. I may be a weirdo by a normal person's standards, but I do have morals."

About to get into the truck, Lex snorted at that. "You're not a weirdo or crazy. People can be stupid, that's all. If they got to know you they'd see how great you are."

Older sister hero wors.h.i.+p was a h.e.l.l of a thing, never failing to knock Allie for a loop. A lump, feeling suspiciously like a wad of emotion, settled in her throat. She swallowed it down before she started bawling her eyes out.

She loved being an older sister, even with all the responsibility that came with the job. Though she failed miserably in the whole "role-model" thing. Now more than ever she needed to rethink some of the more reckless risks she took with her safety. She couldn't go blindly leaping into a dangerous situation. Not when Lex would be right behind her, ready to jump in too. Nor could she go pulling a stunt like she did last night, where she didn't call to check in when staying out all night.

"Yeah, well, not everyone loves me like you do, sweetheart." Allie climbed up to stand on the side step.

She looked over the roof at her sister. "And in case you haven't realized by now, ghost hunting isn't exactly a normal career. Besides, I don't sweat it that people think I'm nuts. I don't want you to either."

Lex tilted her head and regarded her curiously. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, sweetheart."

"How come you don't go get a normal full-time job and do the ghost hunting on the side?"

Allie wondered the same thing after she lost her job as a receptionist in the pediatric office four years ago. She'd loved that job, liked the two doctors she worked for. Surprisingly, even got along with the other a.s.sistants, though they made no secret of the fact they thought she was weird. Most of all, she loved being around the kids. The newborns were her favorite. She fawned over every new and wrinkled tiny person brought in by their worn out, but adoring parents.

The doctors weren't too fond of the fact she spent her nights ghost hunting and fired her. They felt her working for them brought their credibility down a few notches so they let her go. Depressed, she stayed out of work for three months. When she finally pulled herself together and went to find another job, every door was slammed in her face.

By that time, her reputation as Crazy Allie was well known. After all, word spread fast in a small town.

No self-respecting business would "lower" themselves to hire her once people started talking about herbeing crazy. Ghost hunting and reporting her investigations toThe Specter became her full-time job.

"Because Iam considered Crazy Allie, not many people around want me working for them," Allie explained with an indifferent shrug.

"Oh," Lex said softly. "I'm sorry, Allie."

Allie got into the Pa.s.sport. "For what?"

"For people's stupidity."

G.o.d, Lexine had such a good heart. Allie was afraid, since they lived smack in the center of vampire central, that heart was one day going to get Lex in some serious trouble.

"Don't let it bother you, Lex. Besides, I have all the friends I need."

Of course, Allie was referring to the Templars. Having those guys at her back was more than enough friend any woman could ask for.

The Templars were at Seacrest by now. They went to the castle every night to check in with Tristan before going out to hunt. Why they didn't go and live there while they were in Damascus, Allie didn't know. It made no sense to her that they stayed at Randall Manor, where they were far less protected than at Seacrest.

Some things about them she didn't know. Their reluctance to reside at Seacrest seemed to fall into that "unknown" category.

Thinking about the Templars, Allie's mind zeroed in on one in particular. She was definitely suffering from a bad case of the warm and fuzzies, and much to her surprise she found it was nice since he seemed to return the sentiment.

"You seriously like Sebastian, don't you?" Lex asked, obviously seeing the direction Allie's thoughts wandered to.

"You could say that," she laughed. "Sebastian is remarkable in the truest sense of that word. He is a man who should be remarked upon. Everything about him is incredible."

Lex glanced at the time displayed on the radio. "So why don't you go see him? It's still early by a vampire's standards."

At only eleven o'clock, itwas still early.

Allie held back her laughter when she saw the hopeful gleam in Lex's eyes. Her sister was bustingto meet the Templars. Lex made it very obvious she wanted into the shadowy world Allie was a part of. Try as she might to keep her sister out of it, Allie had to concede that maybe-just maybe-it was time she let Lex in.

As soon as they drove through Seacrest's gatehouse, Allie and Lex felt as if the wind was knocked right out of them. If Allie didn't know better she would swear they crossed time, going back to the days when the original Seacrest Castle was new and teeming with life.

Parking behind the Templar's impressive collection of cars, they got out and stood staring slack-jawed at the lists for a good long while. After all, it wasn't every day a woman got a glimpse into the past at what genuine medieval warriors looked like clas.h.i.+ng swords under the pale light of the moon.

Four gorgeous Templars-minus Lucian, unfortunately-a.s.sembled on the lists as they would have done centuries past in all their medieval glory.

Sebastian and Raphael went at each other savagely, Tristan and Constantine cheering on the ruthless battle as only true knights would.

The clash of blades echoed loudly throughout the courtyard. Muscles worked under pale skin as two vampire-knights battled each other with a brutality that came from knowing death was no longer a possibility. The way they moved, sidestepping each other's swords, looked like a carefully ch.o.r.eographed dance. Each movement fluid as they faced off with a strength and agility no human could match.

Sebastian possessed such grace, fighting with the ease of a man who was bred for battle. The savagery in the way he fought would have destroyed a lesser man than Raphael.

Fascinated by the way they moved and the pa.s.sion for the fight gleaming in their eyes, it was easy to see why the Knights Templar were considered the elite in their day. They fought with the belief that if they fell in battle, they would ascend straight to G.o.d. That belief gave them an advantage over their enemies.

After all, how do you win against men who fought with nothing to lose and all to gain?

If Allie looked hard enough, she could see past the modern world and glimpse back to the days when Sebastian was alive. When his flesh was tanned from a life spent outdoors. She could almost see the true color of his eyes-not the glowing sliver they turned when he was reborn-but the warm brown she knew they were in life.

But the watery image faded quickly and Allie was once again reminded of exactly what the Templars were. As if she could ever forget.

Neither showed a hint of exhaustion as they battled each other with inhuman strength and stamina.

Though their wounds bled, neither man seemed to notice their injuries.

"Wow," Lex breathed. "They're amazing."

Allie could only nod in agreement, lost for words as she watched her man in battle.

What a glorious sight he made.

Being only two tiny drops of estrogen in a huge bucket of testosterone, it was enough to give Allie and Lex sensory overload.

Tearing his gaze from the fight, Tristan turned and stared curiously at Lex for only a heartbeat. Allieknew that was all it took for him to sense who her sister was.

Lex pressed herself against Allie's side, blus.h.i.+ng clear to the roots of her hair. Allie couldn't blame her for her reaction. If she were thrust into the Templar's world under different circ.u.mstances, she would have reacted exactly the same way. Having her throat bitten, her body beaten, and her mind a mess, she didn't have the luxury of getting all hot and bothered when she first encountered them.

"They're huge!" Lex was gawking at Tristan, who was staring back at Lex in obvious amus.e.m.e.nt.

Allie had to laugh at that. "I warned you they were fierce boys. C'mon." Allie gave Lex a gentle tug on her arm. "Wipe the drool off your chin and I'll introduce you."

Dragging Lex across the courtyard, Allie caught Sebastian throwing glances at her. She winked at him and then cringed when Raphael stabbed him in the leg.

"b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l," Sebastian swore.

He stumbled under the impact of the blow before coming back with a sharp thrust of his sword. Raphael blocked the attack, not giving Sage a second to recover before nearly catching Sebastian in the other leg.

Lex gasped at the sight of the blood that spurted out of Sebastian's leg.

"Trust me, he's fine," Allie a.s.sured her, though she felt sick inside to see her man wounded. "Vampire, remember? They can't die."

"Can they feel pain?" Lex asked in a whisper.

Allie nodded. "Sure they can. Isn't that right, Sebastian?"

Sebastian slapped away Raphael's attack with a growl. "It burns like b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l."

"Stop being such a girl. It's only a flesh wound," Raphael shot back.

Sebastian charged. He caught Raphael in the shoulder, the sword sinking deep. Rogue jumped back and the blade pulled free. "Son of a b.i.t.c.h. You got me!"

"You'll live."

"f.u.c.k you, a.s.shole," Raphael gritted out.

They continued their brutal dance of blades as Allie introduced Lex to Tristan. Guardian, G.o.d bless his medieval heart, brought Lex's hand to his lips. Her sister got fl.u.s.tered when he placed a feathery kiss upon her knuckles.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Lexine."

"He's cold," she whispered to Allie, believing only her sister could hear her.

Tristan shared a small smile with Allie over Lex's head. What Lex didn't realize was how exceptional a vampire's hearing was. "He's dead, Lex. Hence, the cold skin." Lex's mouth formed a perfect "O". Much to her credit, she recovered quickly. Still, she looked overwhelmed by the barrage to her senses. Allie should have better prepared Lex for this meeting. Sure, she gave her sister the basic run-down about vampires, but she didn't get into the dirty details of what they were or what a shock to the system it would be to come face to face with them.

Besides, being told was one thing. Actually being in the presence of the Templars was another thing entirely. It wasn't something anyone could truly be prepared for.

"Where's Lucian?" Allie asked Tristan.

"He went to the supermarket."

Lex's brows shot up in surprise. "Vampires shop at the supermarket?"

Tristan gave her a small smile. Constantine, who was pointedly ignoring both Allie and Lexine, grunted but refused to turn around. The surly b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't even bother to glance in their direction which Allie found weird since it was the first time Constantine ever ignored her.

He might be bad-tempered but he was never rude, at least not to her. He adored her, which was why he was always nice to her. That, and the fact that she was the only female who didn't take his s.h.i.+t. He knew full well she'd plant her foot up his a.s.s if he pulled att.i.tude with her.

"The supermarket is what the Templars call The Gate." she explained to Lex.

Lex looked confused. "Why?"

"It's where we go to hunt," Tristan replied gently.

Again, Lex's lips formed an "O".

Allie didn't want to get into the whole feeding thing right then. It was bad enough to finally have her sister and the Templars together. That discussion could wait for another day.

"Did Sebastian tell you about Grandma Buckman and that scroll?"

"He did. Unfortunately that's a dead end."

Tristan's frustration was clear. It mirrored the frustration they all felt.

"Don't worry, Tris. We'll find the Daystar."

He nodded gravely. Allie could see he wanted to believe that. So did she, though she had to wonder how many more women had to die before they finally found the relic.

"What's the Daystar?"

"I'll tell you later," Allie said to Lex. When Constantine refused to turn and acknowledge her sister, Allie went over and gave him a good shove. Of course, the brick wall that he was, he didn't budge. "Stop being rude to my sister, C."

Constantine reluctantly turned around. Allie only had a second to appreciate his s.h.i.+rt, which readI evenscare my own family, before Lex sucked in a sharp breath and stabbed a finger at Constantine. "Oh my G.o.d!" she exclaimed breathlessly. She looked him over from head to foot, her wide eyes missing nothing.

"You're a Templar!"

"Obviously," he drawled.

Allie put her hands on her waist and shot both Constantine and Lex a suspicious look. "Let me guess, this isn't the first time you've met?"

Lex had the good grace to look contrite. Constantine c.o.c.ked a brow at Allie arrogantly. She wasnot about to be intimidated by him. Not now. Not ever.

"We met once before. The last time I came to visit," Lexine explained in a rush.

Lex failed to realize she was a horrible liar. Allie pinned Constantine with a hard glare. "Are you going to back her bulls.h.i.+t up?" He nodded curtly. "Seriously? Then why didn't you tell me you knew my sister?"

"I didn't know she was your sister."

Allie was impressed Constantine managed to keep a straight face when he fed her that nonsense.

Three Templars froze and shot him incredulous looks. Raphael-and how Allie adored him for his humor-coughed out the word "bulls.h.i.+t". The promise of genuine pain in the look Constantine threw him had her holding back a laugh.

"Could you at least try to lie with a bit more finesse?" Allie said to Lex and Constantine with a disgusted roll of her eyes and shake of her head.