I nodded. I would humour him for the moment. But he had better show me results. Quickly.
‘Good, then I’ll get set up as soon as we get there.’ He pulled his ruck sack out from under the seat and rummaged in the contents. The smell that came out of the bag was surprisingly sweet. I had expected his possessions to have a more unwashed and sweaty scent, his extra clothes dank and reeking, not the soft flowery bouquet of laundry softener. He retrieved a small silver coloured tablet, flipped the lid, linked to a mobile hotspot on his iPhone and started to type away feverishly. He wasn’t one to linger, that was for sure.
We continued without speaking, the only sound from him was the soft ticking of his fingers on the tablet as he noted his findings.
He might just be a help after all.
Who knew?
Chapter 7
I don’t know what kind of wizard he was, but his prowess on the computer was astounding. I’m not a novice to technology, but he outshone me by miles. Within two hours of our arrival at my temporary home, he had both of my computers and his own tablet and laptop searching the dark net. We reasoned that the regular internet wouldn’t yield anything worthwhile due to the intrinsic secrecy of the paranormal world. Given enough time, we might have been able to piece together something from indirect information, but we didn’t have that luxury. Besides it would be a waste of time; the dark web would yield what we needed to know.
A ping sounded off Alex’s laptop and he instantly rushed to the machine. I sat back and waited. If there was anything worth mentioning, he would inform me. The guy seemed transformed. This was clearly his domain and he was an expert. Gone was the nervous fidgeting. His eyes no longer flitted from one side to the other. He was deep in concentration, softly speaking his thoughts out loud. If the situation wasn’t so serious, I would laugh. I had to bite my tongue to stop from asking what the computer had found.
‘Right, right.’ His murmurings just made me more curious.
‘For fuck’s sake.’ I couldn’t take it anymore. ‘What have you found?’ This was getting on my nerves.
Alex looked up from the computer screen. His face was flustered, almost as if he was surprised that there was someone else in the room. Man, this guy was weird. He completely zoned out. Left the world as we know it.
‘Uh. Yes.’ The words were spoken hesitantly. I cocked my head to the side and raised my eyebrows. Come on Alex, get your act together. ‘Yes, yes, um, I have found something.’
‘You going to tell me? Or should I beat it out of you?’ The tone of my voice registered in the shock on his face. He paled to a decidedly sickly grey. Good, the little shit was still scared of me. Keep that thought.
‘There are three places in the world where there are large Werewolf packs and Sabre clans close together. One is in the Ukraine and two are here in the US.’
‘We can scratch the one in Europe,’ I deduced. ‘Aquanaris was resolute that it would happen here on American soil.’
‘Ok, so that leaves two.’ He scrolled through the images again on both of the computers then turned the screens to face me.
‘This,’ his hand tapped the top of the laptop screen. ‘This is in Florida. Just off the Keys. It’s an option because there is a very large Wolf pack there. The Sabres are just pushing the boundaries trying to establish a territory of their own. That could be the catalyst to the war.’ He didn’t sound all that sure of himself.
He moved to the second screen, the one that was attached to my stationary computer. ‘This place is Waisland. It’s in the foothills of the Montana Rocky Mountains.’
My mind wandered. Waisland. Yeah, I’d heard of that town. Just about everyone in the paranormal world had heard of it at some time. It had the highest number of resident paranormal creatures in the US, debatably even in the world. It was a place that my mother steered us clear of, even though I was desperate to go there. “Not yet” that was what she repeated every time I begged to go to Waisland. I’d heard and read so much about the place. With so many people living there like me, maybe I would finally fit in. And then, just before she left me, she mentioned the place again.
‘… very old.’ I heard the last words of Alex’s sentence.
‘What?’ I interrupted him. ‘Could you repeat that?’
‘From where?’ He was unsure of what I meant. Hadn’t I been listening? Well. Yes, I had, up till he mentioned Waisland. My dark features must have answered him, because he started again, somewhat haltingly. ‘The other place is Waisland, but I don’t think that this is it.’
‘Why not?’
‘Well…’
‘Aren’t there Werewolves and Sabres there?’
‘Yes, there are,’ he stuttered. ‘There are really big factions too.’
‘But?’ I asked menacingly. My eye brows creased and my eyes were no doubt fierce.
‘But…well…they have been there for hundreds of years. Both of the groups. They’ve had a lasting peace. I…I didn’t think that they would really be contenders.’
‘Even long-standing peace treaties can be broken,’ I answered.
Waisland was calling to me. I’d never been there, not even near. Deep in my gut I knew that what I was seeking was there. Only thing I didn’t know was whether that was the mission, or something completely different.
Alex stayed quiet. He was observing me. I would have to watch out with this one. Just when I thought I had him figured out, he turned a leaf. Well, fuck him. And fuck the Council who sent him.
‘Find out more about Waisland,’ I ordered as I got up from the seat and walked to the exit. I grabbed the keys to my car and opened the door.
‘Where are you going?’ he asked.
‘What’s it to you?’
‘We’re partners.’
‘Partners?’ The venom in my tone was enough to make most people squirm, he was no exception. He shrank from my gaze and tried to hide behind the computer screen. ‘We are not partners.’ I emphasised every word separately. ‘You are only alive because you are of some use to me. If you want to keep breathing, shut the fuck up and do what I tell you. Sticking your nose in my business will get you a long and lingering death. I don’t care what the Council has tasked you with. They are far away. I am right here.’ To accentuate my words, I took a step forward. He flinched, actually shrinking down further behind the screen.
I turned without another word and left the house, slamming the door behind me. My sensitive ears picked up a satisfying little yelp. He was shitting himself.
Chapter 8
And that is how we ended up in Waisland. Well, I did. I banished my little parasite to a farm house seven miles from town with strict orders not to show his face anywhere near where I was going. He spluttered. Resisted. Threw a tantrum. I stayed remarkably calm throughout his tirade. That finally registered with him and he stopped his ranting.
‘The Council has tasked me to watch you. All the time.’ He tried to keep up his façade of self-confidence. The nervous jitter of his left eye showed how fragile it was.
‘The Council wants results. What do you think they value most? That you keep an eye on me or that I stop this war that seems imminent?’ I answered coldly.
‘I…but…they told me to go with you.’ The stutter returned. It always did when he was anxious. My calm demeanour was enough to make him flip.
‘I don’t give a fuck what they told you,’ I continued with an edge in my voice. I took a few steps forward and forced him to retreat. He cringed and tried to make himself as small as possible. ‘I’m telling you now that you are not going with me.’ I towered over him. ‘Your presence will endanger the mission.’
‘I could help,’ he stammered.
‘You would fuck it up.’ I didn’t think I could make it any clearer. ‘I work alone.’ There was a hardly perceptible nod.
‘So, you’re going to stay here and carry on with your research.’ I emphasised my words by poking him in the chest with my gloved hand. ‘Or, even better, you can go back to the Counc
il. Bring them up to speed on what we’re doing here.’ I smiled as I threatened to slap the side of his face. He winced and pulled back as if I’d punched him. I whispered my last addition; ‘if I find you anywhere near Waisland, I will rip out your heart with my bare hands and stuff it in your throat, but not before I skin you alive.’ He lost control and sobbed openly. The guy was terrified of me.
Good idea.
I’m extremely dangerous.
And he didn’t even know the best of it.
Anyway, let’s get back to the interesting part of this mission; Metisse.
Chapter 9
News got around fast in this town.
I hadn’t been at the restaurant table for more than ten minutes when Metisse walked up and blocked out all the sunlight.
‘Hello again.’ His voice was warm and inviting. Deep and full of promise.
‘Again?’ I said in feigned indifference. I continued to scan the menu that the Maître d had offered me.
He laughed, the deep sound carrying over the whole room. Yeah, who was I kidding?
‘Please,’ he moved around the table till he was standing next to me, softly picked up my hand and bowed in a dandy fashion. ‘Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Metisse, and I am extremely happy to make your acquaintance.’ The sparkle lit up his yellow-rimmed eyes as he lifted my hand to his lips and actually kissed the fingers.
There was no hiding his origin. The eyes gave it all away.
I smiled. There was nothing I could do to stop myself. This guy had charisma in spades. He was even more attractive up close than he had been half naked and sweaty on the tennis court, and that had given me hot sleepless nights. He still held on to my hand, the grip soft yet unrelenting, as he righted his back. I just left it there. Even as he looked down on me, there was no uncomfortable feeling. He was imposing, but not overwhelming. Nice.
‘And your name, my lady? The charm kept coming.
‘Altermichan.’ There was no use in giving a false name. Mine wouldn’t mean anything to him anyway.
‘Altermichan,’ he repeated. ‘A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.’ Again, he bent forward and kissed my hand, this time lingering. His tongue slipped through his lips and lightly licked the knuckles. A deep heat started to swell between my legs. Wow, he knew all the tricks. Tingles ran up and down my spine, I could feel the blush starting to form on my face. His deepened smile confirmed it.
Get a grip Trish. You’re here for a reason. Yeah, and he was standing right in front of me, licking my hand. I reluctantly pulled my hand from his, trailing my fingers across his palm as I left his touch.
‘May I join you?’ Metisse was the ultimate gentleman. Not that he expected a negative reply. I nodded, and he pulled the chair next to mine out from under the table and turned it slightly, so it stood at an angle to mine. He sat down and signalled the Maître d in an inconspicuous manner. The man rushed to the table.
‘Monsieur?’ he asked. Was the guy really French or just a good imitator? Whatever. The accent seemed to be compulsory for a place like this.
‘Some wine please,’ Metisse suggested. He looked at me. ‘A dry white?’ I nodded. He turned to the Maître d and cocked his head. He didn’t need to specify which wine. It would be the best there was. At least he wasn’t so cliché that he ordered champagne, even though a cooler with a bottle of the stuff stood on almost every table around us. I guess it was more or less mandatory here.
The Swan boasted two Michelin stars, quite an achievement anywhere, but a mind-blowing one in this vicinity. The fine linen and soft colours of the interior complemented the old colonial-style building. All of the nine tables were round, seating no more than six at the largest. There was ample room between them to allow the staff to move easily between the tables as they brought the fantastic plates of food. The space also allowed for some privacy. Not that any of the other guests were minding their own business at the moment. Soft murmuring was accompanied by quick glances our way. We would be the talk of the town by the end of the dinner.
‘Your lady friend not along I see.’ I smiled innocently.
‘No,’ he answered, matching my smile. ‘She is, I’m afraid, out of the picture.’ He feigned sadness, his hand on his heart. Yeah, right.
‘So soon.’
He cocked his head. ‘It happens.’ I felt his hand move to mine again. ‘I will not linger in sorrow.’
I laughed. ‘I’ll bet.’ I let him softly stroke the fingers of my right hand. This was not lost on the other guests. I heard sharp intakes of breath. Metisse was milking it. Making sure that the congregation saw his ministrations. He was seriously narcissistic. But in a nice way.
The Maître d materialised next to him again, accompanied by a waiter holding a silver tray sporting a bottle of wine, a corkscrew and two beautiful crystal glasses. He held the bottle with a label visible for Metisse’s approval, who barely glanced at it and continued to observe me. The Maître d uncorked the wine in a fluid movement that verified his many years of experience. A small amount of the light-yellow liquid was poured into one of the glasses and presented to Metisse. He finally acknowledged the wine and, taking his eyes from me, held the glass to his nose. He sniffed, enjoying the scent of the bouquet. Taking a sip, he let the wine circle his mouth before finally swallowing.
The woman at the table across from us dropped her fork. Metisse had managed to turn the simple action of tasting a fantastic wine into an immensely seductive experience. I smiled internally. Man, he knew how to work a crowd.
‘Yes, Pierre. This will do very nicely,’ he said as the woman next to us stumbled to retrieve her utensil. She was beaten to it by one of the waiters. He placed a new fork next to her plate as she blushed intensely and tried not to look our way.
‘What brings you to our little patch of the world?’ Metisse asked, all his attention once again on me.
‘Just passing through,’ I said evasively.
‘Not too quickly, I hope,’ he was quick to answer.
‘That depends.’ I picked up the glass and brought it to my lips as I looked at him over the rim of the beautifully cut crystal. I took a small sip. It was fantastic, the scent full of floral aspects. The taste had a definite citrus element. Good choice Pierre.
‘Maybe I could persuade you to stay for a while.’ Metisse was nursing his own glass.
‘And how would you do that?’
‘Any way necessary,’ he said more seriously than I’d expected.
* * *
Metisse was a fountain of information about Waisland and all the reasons why I absolutely needed to stay. He regaled me with stories about his family, their business and what he did for a living, which wasn’t really all that much.
Different platters were brought to our table. We hadn’t ordered anything, at least I hadn’t. Every one of them was astounding. Small light bites of fantastic culinary masterpieces accompanied by yet another bottle of the beautiful wine.
* * *
Two hours later I pushed my chair back and stood up. ‘A moment please,’ I said passing behind his chair closer than necessary so that I brushed against his back as I passed. I felt the muscles stiffen as a result of my touch; goose-bumps dotted his arms. I definitely had an effect on him. Good. That made it mutual.
The ladies’ room was as luxurious as was to be expected in a restaurant of this stature. In contrast to the dining room, here everything was contemporary. Clean lines, bright surfaces with a soft, subdued light. The fresh flowers in the crystal vase scented the room nicely.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The wine had given me a slight blush, or maybe it was Metisse. Man, he was a character. Sex appeal oozed out of his pores. The man was definitely a magnet, one that worked on me too. I felt hot. He turned me on no end. My body encouraged me to take him out of this place and jump his bones. But that would be a bit too quick for what I had in mind.
An idea was slowly forming in my mind on how to fulfil this mission and satisfy my own agenda at the same
time. It would not please everyone, but tough. For that I needed to reign my strong and screaming libido in for the time being.
Sabretooth shifters were a strange bunch. There was no specific traditional order in the clans. There could be male or female leaders. Not like the Wolves; theirs was a male oriented society. Sabres were somewhat less chauvinistic. The strongest ruled. Giving in now would undermine any future position I wanted to have. He had to chase me. I had to show my independence and strength of character.
* * *
The rest of the evening progressed in much the same way. He tried to get into my pants, and I resisted, much to his frustration and reluctant admiration. A peculiar combination. I could see that he was really enamoured with me. No, it was more than that. His feelings ran deeper than just getting me in his bed. Not what I expected when I came to the restaurant.
Anyway, to make a long story short; we parted ways and I left him sitting in the restaurant. He offered to escort me home, but I had no inclination of letting him know where I lived.
The valet brought my open sports car out front as he watched from the window. I drove away and quickly left town out into the mountainous region where I easily lost the tail he had put on me. Really?
Well, at least it proved that he was very interested.
Chapter 10
He found my phone number. I have no idea how, but it just goes to show what his span of influence is; pretty substantial. My phone number isn’t listed.
Metisse called me two days after we met in the restaurant and invited me to a party on his yacht. He offered to send a car to pick me up, but I declined. I didn’t even accept the invitation, though I knew that I would go. I just said maybe. He seemed satisfied with the answer and hung up with a cheerful ‘see you tomorrow afternoon.’ He was so sure of himself. Cocky even.
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