BROTHERS OF THE NIGHT Audrey Godwin ROMANCE www.BookStrand.com A SIREN-BOOKSTRAND TITLE IMPRINT: Romance ABOUT THE E-BOOK VERSION: Your non-refundable purchase of this e- book allows you to one LEGAL copy for your own personal use. It is ILLEGAL to send your copy to someone who did not pay for it. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. BROTHERS OF THE NIGHT Copyright © 2008 by Audrey Godwin E-book ISBN: 1-60601-103-0 First E-book Publication: October 2008 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2008 by Siren-BookStrand, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. Printed in the U.S.A. PUBLISHER www.BookStrand.com DEDICATION This book is dedicated to all my readers who love shape-shifter novels. Sometimes I see myself as a renegade writer, breaking all the rules of writing to give my readers the kind of sex or terror they long for. Brothers of the Night is that kind of book. Long after you put the book down, these mysterious gypsy brothers will haunt you. They’ll make you love them or hate them, but you won’t be indifferent to them. The kindest review I ever got was when the reviewer said while reading it she was constantly looking over her shoulder. I must ask that you don’t read it while alone, and don’t read it late at night. If you do, you might think the thumping of that branch against your window is—but it couldn’t be— could it? Audrey Godwin BROTHERS OF THE NIGHT AUDREY GODWIN Copyright © 2008 Chapter 1 Witch’s Incantation “Silently he stalks the night, sent by the moon of magic light. Riding high above the trees, the Moon of Blood his eyes will see. Hunger from his loins will cry, until the day that he shall die. When the moon is mirror round, blood of red will stain the ground.” “The evil bane will be upon him when his mouth is full of ashes, and his dreams are nightmares.” The young woman floated in swirls of darkness. She longed to stay where it was warm and painless, but somehow she knew she couldn’t. This realization seemed to send her on a journey to the 6 Audrey Godwin edge of that darkness, and the closer she came, the more pain she felt, until it stabbed at her unmercifully. Struggling against it, she heard words, haunting words, words that were faint, far off, words cruelly pushing their way into her subconscious. Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ fo’ to... The tune grabbed her, thrusting her into a place where light assaulted her lids, stinging them. She scowled, lifting her small voice in an agonizing moan. To escape the throbbing pain, she moved her head from side to side. She had to get away, hide from the relentless pulsing pain. She had to get away, hide from the relentless pulsing pain. “Wake up, suga,” the old woman whispered. “You jus’ got a li’l bump on the head, but you is okay.” “No,” the girl whimpered. “Let me go.” She struggled, trying to pull away and sink back down into the warm, comfortable darkness she had been rescued from. “Stay with me, baby,” the old, black woman murmured urgently, as she continued with the irritating, bothersome stroke of the young woman’s face. “Jus’ stay with me a li’l while longa.” She struggled, her flailing hands pushing at the cold grip of two skinny hands that insisted on pulling her out of the darkness and into the annoying light that brought with it such pain. Suddenly, the woman grabbed her jaw. “No,” she said firmly. “You stay with me, you heah? Thas’ right,” she murmured when the girl responded. Just then, a loud peal of thunder rumbled from far away, getting louder and louder, until a sharp crack, wrenched the girl cruelly from her sleep. At that moment, the storm burst, rattling the windows and doors, sending her lunging forward. Her eyes grew wide with fright as she looked around, wondering where she was. “Hallelujah,” the black woman said. “You is gonna be awright.” The old woman immediately reached for the phone, pressed a button and spoke softly into the mouthpiece. “She’s awake.” The old woman was straightening her covers, when suddenly there came a faraway droning sound. She jerked her head around. “What’s that?” she asked, with a tremble in her voice. “Now, now, no reason to be scared. That ain’t nothin’ but Miz Duquesne’s electric chair comin’ up the stair…” Brothers of the Night 7 Their conversation ended abruptly as the door opened, and two strangers Their conversation ended abruptly as the door opened, and two strangers entered. Callie, standing beside her said softly, as if talking to a child. “Miz Jennifer, this is the mistress of Sangraal, Miz Magda Duquesne. Her given name is Magdalena, but everyone calls her Magda. And this is her son, Lance Duquesne.” Lance glared at the black woman, and mumbled, “Her son? What the hell is this? You’re introducing me to my own wife as if I’m a stranger? She knows who we are.” “You’ll see,” was all the old woman would say. The moment Jennifer saw them, she felt ill at ease. The old woman stood stiff while leaning on a twisted cane. Her eyes were sharp and green, and glittered like twin pools of shattered glass. Her hair was black as night with a single white streak that reached from an evil looking widow’s peak down into a bun at her wrinkled neck. Her lips were no more than a twisting scarlet line that reminded her of a snake. By the look on her face, Jennifer was sure those thin lips must be hiding a pair of fangs that were capable of issuing enough venom to kill. Who were they? The names meant nothing to her. She didn’t know them or this place. She suddenly felt a touch and looked up to find the stranger, Lance, holding her hand. Although handsome, she could see arrogance and stubbornness etched on his face of icy radiance. His dark, shoulder-length hair was swept back in a rubber band, and he wore an earring in his left ear. He was a large man with strong shoulders and strong features. He had an abundance of confidence, and the shadow of a beard gave him even more of a manly aura. The three-piece suit he wore told her he was stiff and unbending. When she looked into his eyes she could see worry, but beyond that—beyond the glitter of his beautiful sapphire eyes, she saw—something—a kind of horror—a feeling of dread that made her recoil from him. “Jennifer darling, how do you feel? I was beginning to worry about you. You took a pretty nasty fall.” Jennifer’s fear grew. Her eyes darted from one to the other. Strangers, they were all strangers. “Where am I?” she whispered. 8 Audrey Godwin “Honey, we're at Sangraal. You know, the mansion? The old home place I told you about. We came here on the plane from New York. We landed in Savannah and drove down the coast to Halfmoon Landing, remember?” He paused, a tiny look of worry on his face. Jennifer looked at the stranger and scowled, not understanding. “I’m sorry…I don’t…” “Jennifer,” Lance began, “it’s me, Lance. Your husband, sweetheart.” A look of sheer terror covered her face like a dark cloud. “You’re my what?” She looked around, frightened, then back and Lance and shook her head. “No. No, it can’t be, I’m not—” “Jennifer, darling, we’ve been married almost a month.” With that same look of terror shining in her eyes, she slowly withdrew her hand from his. “What's my name? What did you call me?” Lance’s mouth fell open as if alarmed, and quickly looked up at Magda, who stood close beside him, still leaning on her cane. “Oh, my God! Mother, quick, call Dr. Vickers.” “I already have, dear. Lance, you need—” “Then where the hell is he?” he hissed. “He’ll be here,” she said annoyed. She took his arm and quickly pulled him to one side. “Lance, you have to try and calm down.” “But she doesn’t know any of us. Is it possible she’s lost her memory?” Just then he looked over at Callie and saw the I told you so look on her face. “Whatever it is, it may just be a temporary thing. Let's wait until Dr. “Whatever it is, it may just be a temporary thing. Let's wait until Dr. Vickers gets here and see what he says. I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems.” “What made her faint? Do you have any idea?” “Well if you ask me,” the old black woman began, as if she couldn't stay silent a minute longer, “I think she got a good scare. You shoulda seen her face when I found her. She was plum outta her head mumblin' somethin', and jus' as white as a sheet.” “Oh, God!” Lance said. “Where the hell is that doctor?” “Lance,” Magda began as she opened the French doors and led him out on the veranda. “For heaven's sake, be patient. We’re lucky he was at home instead of in his office. Otherwise, it would have taken him even longer to Brothers of the Night 9 get here. Now calm down and give him time.” “I’m sorry,” Lance said, his fingers digging into his hair as if trying to keep from tearing it out with worry. “Now dear,” Magda said, making sure the French doors were closed so the others couldn’t hear. “You mustn’t let Jennifer see you like this. It won't do her condition any good if she knows you're upset.” Lance looked up at the sky. “Rain is coming and Jennifer's afraid of storms. This is not turning out to be a very good trip for her. God, how I wish I had left her at home.” “I don’t know why you didn’t, Lance. You should have known this is not the place for her.” Lance whirled around. “She’s my wife, mother. May I remind you we’ve only been married a month? Excuse me if I love her and want her with me.” “Of course, I understand. But anywhere else, Lance, not here.” She turned away from him abruptly. “You always were ruled by your appetites. I wish just once you’d use your head instead of your zipper.”