Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)(58)

"I was going to but I'm kind of scared to talk to him alone after..." She flushed. "You know."

The memory of a marsupial Burnett hopping around the dining hall, dodging Clark's fireballs and Perry's dragon breath, flashed across Kylie's mind. Hence, part of the reason Kylie doubted Miranda's ability to protect her.

"Anyway," Miranda went on, "you said Holiday would be back today. So I figure I'll just tell her then."

Kylie rolled her eyes and wanted to point out that if Miranda was right and there were intruders, Burnett needed to know ASAP, but she bit her tongue. A few hours probably wouldn't matter all that much. Besides, Miranda had a point; she was in a bad mood this morning, and it wasn't fair to take it out on Miranda.

As for why Kylie was in a bad mood, well, she figured her bad mood probably hinged on the fact that she was running on only a few hours' sleep. She and Holiday had spent almost an hour on the phone talking last night. They'd discussed everything from Holiday's aunt's passing to Kylie's vision and what it could and couldn't mean. When Kylie asked her about the healing powers and the whole "giving up a piece of her soul" issue, Holiday suggested they wait until they could talk about it when she got back today.

Kylie had almost told Holiday about her misgivings with Burnett over the FRU library card issue but decided to wait and discuss that in person, too.

Miranda did one more wave over the door, pulling Kylie back to the present.

"Do you mind if I tell Burnett?" Kylie asked Miranda.

Miranda made a face but then said, "Fine. But I'm telling you, it's just a feeling. It's not nearly as strong as the last time I had one. It might not be anything."

"Or it could be something," Kylie said. And since that something probably had to do with her, it made her a wee bit nervous. And face it, she had enough to be nervous about.

* * *

Kylie stood in front of the heavy, creaky-looking rusted gates of the Fallen Cemetery. Burnett stood to her right-and Della held her spot to her left. Neither vampire looked especially happy to be there.

She couldn't blame them. She wasn't all that thrilled about it herself. But after experiencing the vision sent by Jane Doe, Kylie was more eager than ever to get this spirit sent on her way.

"You sure you want to do this?" Della asked, her voice laced with fear.

Kylie nodded, but in truth she wasn't sure about anything anymore. She took a look around. If Hollywood ever needed a set for a horror film, this was it. As if to prove her point, a gust of wind picked up and the gate swayed and creaked. The eerie sound filled the air.

Air that should have brought with it a sunny mood to match the morning. Above them, blue, cloudless skies promised a picture-perfect day filled with cheer. A vibrant sun beamed down and set the last of the night's dew in a sparkle. And yet nothing felt sunny, vibrant, or cheery.

To the contrary, it felt cold-so cold that Kylie's skin crawled with goose bumps. Della let go of a deep breath and steam billowed from her lips.

"I used to hang out in cemeteries sometimes," Della said. "They never felt like this." She hugged herself against the chill.

"The dead don't disturb humans nearly as much as they do supernaturals," Burnett said. Even his voice sounded hesitant. He looked at Kylie. "If you're at all worried about doing this, just say the word and wait until Holiday is here."

Kylie considered it and then remembered the pain, grief, and confusion the ghost had felt. Jane Doe needed answers as much as Kylie did.

"No. I'm fine."

"You're lying," Della said.

"I know." Kylie looked at her and then over to Burnett. "You guys don't have to come inside."

"We don't?" Hope filled Della's voice.

"The hell we don't," Burnett snapped, and took a step forward. "If you're determined to do this, let's get it over with."

Chapter Nineteen

As soon as they crossed into the grounds of the Fallen Cemetery, a big gust of wind slammed the gate shut behind them.

Kylie started. Della jumped and growled, exposing her elongated canines. Burnett didn't move, but his eyes glowed a bright yellow.

"Don't worry," he muttered. "I can knock the gate down if I have to."

Della looked at Kylie. "I do not see why you feel compelled to do this."

Kylie looked from Della to Burnett. "Can I have some space? I need it to communicate with them."

She hated having to lie, but she hoped the offer of space would alleviate the hardship of their having to accompany her into the graveyard. She knew they didn't want to be here. It seemed crazy, but supernaturals hated all things related to ghosts. At least maybe the coldness she always felt when a ghost was present wouldn't bite into them the way she knew it would take a chomp out of her.

"Yes, go ahead, but don't go so far that we can't see you," said Burnett.

Considering that Kylie had yet to tell Burnett about Miranda's "little feeling," she didn't mind him keeping a close visual on her. Not that right now she worried about Mario and his grandson. Right now, it was the whispered voices Kylie heard that concerned her.

Looking at the graveled paths between row after row of graves, she let her eyes shift from tombstone to tombstone, hoping one of them would call out to her. Some graves had small concrete or marble markers with just names and dates inscribed on them. Others were ornate statues. Some looked new; others were painted with mold and time. Some had vines clinging to the arms and legs of angel and saintlike figures, as if trying to claim them from deep beneath the earth where only the dead lived.