Blood Gifts by Kara Lockley Page A

Nina said, still crying.
She was holding Karina's hand.
    "I guess we can bring your stuff back now,"
Nina said. They all laughed. A little nervously. Then Leanne threw
her arms around Karina again and Nina did the same. Karina hugged
them back. They were the closest thing she had to family. They were
her family.
     
     

Chapter 22
     
    Karina was sitting in an interview room at
the police station. Two police detectives in suits were sitting
across a table from her. There was a tape recorder on the table,
recording what Karina said.
    "He kept me in a farmhouse, locked in a room
with no windows. A cellar, I guess," she said. "He fed me and let
me use the outhouse, gave me a bucket to take a bath with. He said
I was the 'chosen one' and he was keeping me safe."
    "Did he sexually assault you?" Detective
Andrews asked. Detective Harold just sat at the table quietly,
taking notes.
    "No. He just held me captive."
    "Can you describe him?" Andrews asked.
    "Short blond hair, mid-twenties, he wore
black clothing," she said.
    "And he escaped when your boyfriend rescued
you," Andrews said, jotting things into a notebook.
    "Yes," she said. "They fought and my
boyfriend broke down the door and let me out. When we left the
cellar, the blond man was nowhere to be found."
    "And he never told you his name, not even a
first name?" Andrews asked.
    "No," she said. They seemed to be believing
her. Why would a victim lie, right? So strange. They'd already
talked to Luke and gotten his statement. He told them he just kept
checking motels and abandoned buildings in nearby towns till he
found her. They bought that, she guessed.
    "Is this what the man looked like?" Detective
Harold said and held up a copy of a drawing. It looked like Geric.
She panicked a little. She guessed they took that to be fear from
being traumatized.
    "Yes," she said. "Where did you get
that?"
    "Abby Walker," Harold said. "The little girl
in your apartment building that the suspect tried to throw off the
roof."
    "Oh," she said, relieved. Maybe she'd seen
too many cop shows, but some part of her thought they were setting
her up and trying to trap her in a lie. She guessed she didn't lie
well. Or easily.
    "Well, that's all the information we need
from you, Karina. Thank you. Glad to have you back," Andrews
said.
    She managed a smile. "Thank you," she said
quietly.
    They all stood up and he added, "We'll send
someone up to Hillton to check out the farmhouse, Luke gave us
directions to it. We'll try to catch this guy's trail. I assume
you're willing to testify against him in court?"
    What a strange idea. Vampires in a human
court. "Yes," she said. They'd never catch him, obviously.
    He smiled and opened the door and held it
open for her. She walked down the hall to the main office, where
Luke was waiting for her in a chair. He got up and smiled and put
his arm around her. He nodded at a cop nearby as he led her out of
the station.
     
     

Chapter 23
     
    When Luke and Karina made love now, it was so
different. She was in control of her psychic power. Things didn't
randomly float around. Unless she wanted them to. Sometimes she
levitated them off the bed. Every sensation was heightened. Sex was
more intense. She had more endurance. The love felt more intense,
but how could that be? They were bonding now more than they ever
did before, every time they were together. And there was a daze
afterwards, a glow, a happiness that lasted for hours. It was in
this daze that Luke and Karina were walking through the park at
twilight, holding hands. It was like Heaven on Earth. Soon, after
nightfall, they would rush into the woods and hunt for blood. But
for now they were content. Until he appeared.
    Geric stepped from the shadows and onto their
path. She felt Luke tense up, but she turned and put a hand on his
chest.
    "Let me talk to him," she said. Luke glared
at Geric. She could see his jaw muscles flex.
    "He can't hurt me," she said.
    "Alright," Luke said quietly without taking
his eyes off