by Brea Viragh
Then he’d seen Lavinia across the dance floor, felt a jolt of recognition, and knew she would be fulfilling. There was no other word to describe the strange feeling in his gut. Here she was again. The girl from the street. The one who’d been so flustered after first seeing him that she’d fallen and, oddly enough, couldn’t get up.
He’d been trying to figure out what she was ever since, what obscure magic was written in her blood, coursing through the cells of her body. She was more than a psychic. More than a gypsy fortune teller. She was nothing he’d ever seen before, and Pike had been alive for a long time.
The bartender huffed. “You are some kind of wonderful, you know that? Why the hell haven’t you snatched her up yet?” Ezollo phrased it less like a question and more like an accusation. A barbed reprimand on all the things Pike had done, and continued to do, wrong.
“Because she’s different. She would do anything for me. Anything.” Pike trailed his fingers along the rim of his glass. “The high I get from her is…intoxicating. There’s no other feeling like it. Not in the world. She’s special. I can’t rush it.”
“I don’t get it. Why not just zero in on the target and move in for the kill? So to speak.”
Pike scoffed. “Because my affliction isn’t like yours. We’ve had this discussion already. I need to plan.”
Ezollo saw Pike scanning the crowd. Searching for anyone who might cause a problem for them if they’d overheard the conversation. He raised his hands in front of him, scarred palms out. “Fine, you don’t need to tell me twice.”
“Apparently I do.”
After over three and a half centuries, Pike knew what to expect out of life: boredom, brief spasms of excitement, and the search for his next meal. There were dazzling highs where he was the toast of the town and heartbreaking lows where he knew what it felt like to starve. No matter what else happened, the cycle repeated. Always. Repetition was the one thing he could count on. Without any kind of salvation in sight, there was not much to live for. There were no risks to take. Nothing new under the sun. Therefore, he sat in the damn bar talking to a daemon bartender that wasn’t known for his discretion.
The tips of his fingers pressed into the beer glass, jaw aching from clenching too hard, too often. His stomach rumbled. It was time to eat. Past time, having gone too long between meals.
Pike sighed and tightened his control. He didn’t need any more attention coming his way, after the scene in the alley a couple of hours ago.
“Too bad you aren’t ready to give up your philandering ways and embrace monogamy,” Ezollo stated. His grin was the perfect parody of shit-eating. He grabbed a white towel from beneath the counter. Pretended to do his job and clean when really, he did little more than swirl drops of condensation around in a circle.
“No. I’m not.” Pike’s voice was hard and brooked no argument.
“I know the likes of you. I know what you are and what you do.”
“Sure you do. Daemons are notoriously bad for digging where they don’t belong. It’s what you’re known for.”
“I may dig, but at least I’m open about what I am.”
What he was was a soul-sucking Grecian monster who had been persisting on gossip for too long. “Bully for you.”
“Maybe I should make a move on Lavinia. She deserves more than the likes of you.”
Pike shook his head and frowned. “Don’t even think about it,” he growled.
Ezollo smiled and showed rows of pointed teeth like a shark. He settled an elbow on the bar. Settled in for a more in-depth and revealing conversation. “It would just be an experiment, mind you. To see if there’s anything there between us. You’re right about one thing. She is special. Her blood sings out to all creatures of light, dark, and in between. You wouldn’t mind, would you? You just said you have multiples on the hook. You can spare one, and she is a delightful young woman.”
“Too young for you.”
“Oh, never. I’d love to get a taste of whatever current runs through her blood.”
The daemon’s grin was infuriating. Pike straightened his back on his stool. “Try it and see what happens. I dare you.”
“Would it really be that bad to give up the girl? Why would it be such a bad thing?”
“You know why. You twat.” Pike glared at him.
“And you know you won’t starve if you part with her.”
“I said drop it.”
There was no way he could let Lavinia go. Not until he’d had his fill and was ready to move on. Besides, they got along well. Despite her rather unfortunate knack for getting into trouble, she was spunky. He’d yet to find an irritating thing about her beyond the normal idiosyncrasies. The woman was charming. A true friend.
The possibility of what that meant was unsettling.
Pike refused to look up and see the face of the bartender he knew just well enough to call a friend. “Don’t look at me like that,” he told the cocktail napkin.
Ezollo shrugged one shoulder. “Whatever you say. I’m sure it never gets tiring, hearing so many women singing your praises.”
“When it does I’ll let you know.” Pike raked a hand through his hair. “Truly.”
The daemon snorted. “With all the naked women hopping in and out of your bed, it’s a wonder you ever stop to eat more than the usual. Although truthfully, I’ve never seen you order anything beyond alcohol. Does your kind eat traditional food?”
“Souls? No, I leave them to you. They’ve always left a horrible aftertaste in my mouth.”
“You are no fun anymore. I wish you well tonight. This one is on the house.” Ezollo’s face was sullen, his voice artificially bright. He rapped his knuckles on the bar before moving on to his next patron. There were three lined up on stools like little old crows on a power line doing their best to remain unnoticed beyond the need for a drink.
The harried exhalation was real when Pike spared a glance down at his watch. He was skirting the line on fashionably-late and plain out-of-time. This wouldn’t do at all. There was protocol when it came to his dates. He’d survived this long by being organized and playing the game. Unfortunately, the game never changed. Women never changed.
He finished his pint then slapped a twenty down on the counter for good measure. On the house or not. His brow furrowed. He’d gotten good at the routine and knew the intricacies that came with dating multiple women. Dating—what a ridiculous word for courtship. There was a certain amount of effort that came with wooing a female. Considering their emotions and acting on their desires. It went beyond date.
Lavinia, for example. Saving her shapely rear was a pleasure, if he was being honest. But he knew the real way to her heart came through affirmation. A kind word here, a compliment there, and she was putty in his hands. With her, there was no set rulebook. She was unique.
It was in his nature to seduce. To wait and watch for the perfect woman, sifting through the masses almost unconsciously until he found her. More than that, Pike had the talent for finding his feasts. He succeeded where others failed. He could turn out subtle actions designed to please and be in and out with no one the wiser.
Too bad there was no chance of real commitment in his future. Pike enjoyed his alone time and was hesitant to give it up. That was only a small part of the whole picture. There was no putting aside the fact of what he was. What they both were. It was too much to ask for fate to throw him a bone.
There was too much at stake to change the status quo. Losing his life, or the life of any woman. No. It was one risk he wasn’t willing to take. He started toward the entrance then paused, looking over his shoulder. Ezollo was pointedly ignoring him. Later, when he remembered the night, he would wish he could have given Ezollo permission to proceed on Lavinia. Better yet, go back farther in time and choose someone else. Anyone else.
Pike brushed a bit of dust off his trousers and was heading toward the door when his phone chimed. Straightening, he retrieved it from his pocket. Glanced down. His face soured.
&n
bsp; Time to put on a show.
CHAPTER 3
Holy jeez, he was holding a goblin. At least, it looked like a goblin. Lavinia tried to breathe and found someone had pressed pause on her lungs. She should go. Her feet refused to move.
“This,” Pike hesitated and lifted the tiny creature by its hair, “is a karakondzula.”
She eyed the monster skeptically, inching toward the door. “Gesundheit.”
He continued as though she hadn’t spoken, glaring at her. Willing her to stay. This was her idea, after all. “It’s a night spirit. It sits by a crossroads and asks for favors. Treat him well, you’re in luck. Otherwise…”
His voice trailed off and she didn’t need him to finish to know the answer. Her ass would be grass, in a manner of speaking. The thing might be little. It might even be so ugly as to be cute in some lights. No, who was she kidding? It was a monster pure and simple.
The karakondzula was hideous, with a big protruding nose and eyes and fur the rancid color of decaying compost. It hissed when it caught her staring.
She took a step back, scratching her neck. “What do you want me to do with it?”
“I want you to fight it.”
“No, I think I’m good. Thanks. I don’t want to piss off a creature that looks like it would eat the skin off my body and come back for seconds. I’m sure I taste good, so I don’t want to give him the opportunity.”
“You wanted to learn. I’m doing you a favor. Here.” He tossed the spitting and hissing ball of anger at her face without further ado. The thing latched onto her hair with a squeal that sent her halfway across the room.
“Holy crap!”
“Try to talk to it,” Pike called out with a hint of laughter.
It took every ounce of self-preservation she possessed not to scream, the sound caught on her tongue. Not even when the karakondzula’s breath made her want to pass out. Or vomit. Her hands rose to pry it off even as it clung to her neck for dear life.
“Nice beastie, good beastie.” Her voice quivered, muscles shaking. She urged her feet to stop moving and her brain to focus. Focus! “You really don’t want to hurt me, do you? I’ll find you a nice crossroads and give you a present for your troubles.”
The karakondzula continued to cling, his talons digging into her shoulders.
“That’s it.” Pike’s encouragement wasn’t anything special. His face was an unbroken surface giving no hint of what lurked beneath.
“It’s hurting me!” Lavinia insisted.
“Then calm it down. Easy.”
“Pike, this goes beyond anything I’ve asked of you.”
“You wanted to learn. Now talk to it.”
“Let go of me you little…cutie. I might have something in my pocket you’ll like. Maybe something to eat. I bet you enjoy presents.” Lavinia was rewarded for her efforts when the karakondzula stilled. He kept his grip tight despite the curiosity. “Yeah, let me look in my pocket and see what I can find for you.” She didn’t take her eyes off its legs and rather protruding nether regions while she reached down to search, hoping against all odds that she’d have something worthwhile. Something he would like.
Her fingers closed around a pack of gum, half-opened, all melted from her penchant for leaning against the radiator in her apartment. “Ooh, look at this,” she continued softly. “How do you feel about cinnamon? It’s so yummy.”
“Keep talking,” Pike said.
“I wonder if you’ve tried gum before. It’s delicious and chewy. Something you can wrap around those sharp, sharp teeth.” She glanced higher and what she saw had her swallowing her tongue. “Why is he foaming at the mouth?”
“Don’t worry. It’s daytime. He won’t hurt you.” Pike’s smile thinned in frustration. “Much.” Like she wasn’t getting the hang of this fast enough. Like she wasn’t trying to bargain with a pack of gum to keep the karakondzula from eating her face.
“He’s staring at me.”
“Why don’t you look into the future? See what you need to do to win?”
“You know damn well that’s not how it works.”
“Try, love.”
Lavinia nodded, holding the gum aloft, and noticed the moment the little goblin’s gaze dropped down to focus on the brightly colored wrapper. “You sure are adorable once you get past the fur and claws. And…and foaming mouth. Here, go on. Take a piece.”
The goblin released part of her hair to grab the pack of gum. The clicking in the back of his throat could have gone either way, either delighted or pissed, so she wasn’t sure.
Okay, try to calm down. It was a stretch, talking herself off the freak-out ledge while Pike sat there from whatever perfect dimension he’d crawled out of looking, well, perfect. Her stomach knotted. Her palms began to sweat. How was she going to learn how to defend herself if she didn’t even have the courage to face a goblin?
The thing growled and she nearly peed. She needed to get a handle on the situation. Quick.
“There you go. You like that, don’t you? It smells delicious. Why don’t you go on the other side of the room and play? Hmm?”
A tingle of something shot up her spine. Whether fear, hope, or a combination of the two, Lavinia wasn’t sure, and there was no time to think about it.
With Pike watching from the corner, she kept her body rigid and still and waited for her new little friend to release his stranglehold on her neck.
“There you go,” Pike called. “Keep talking.”
“I don’t know the last time you ate, and I’m sure you’re hungry. I might even have a piece of candy in my other pocket.” Lavinia gripped the waist of her pants and studied the hairy leg of the karakondzula. It was impossible to still her heart from beating right out of her chest. Her brain only told her to run. Run as far and as fast as her feet could carry her.
Enough. She had to try to be positive. Otherwise, there was no way she could improve. Certainly no way she could defend herself once Pike left her.
Her visions were clear in that respect. Pike was definitely leaving her. She’d seen it last night right before bed. A clear black and white image solidifying into color. He was already gone. There was no question about it.
“Here you go, buddy. You have the gum,” she fished around with her free hand and clamped down on a peppermint candy, “and here’s a little something sweet! What a good boy.”
The karakondzula seized the candy, popping the entire piece in his mouth with a happy snarl. The second it released the back of her neck, Lavinia tossed it down to the floor, scuttling in the opposite direction. She didn’t wait for Pike to say anything. She grabbed a wastebasket and slapped it down on top of the goblin, now happily chewing, gum clenched in its fist.
To keep him in place, she sat down on the wastebasket and crossed her legs. Then she twisted to face Pike. Something unspoken clouded his eyes. “How did I do?” she asked.
He stared at her for a moment then dropped his gaze to the floor. Refused to meet her eyes. “Well enough. You need a lot of work. A lot of practice.”
Lavinia sighed. “Yeah, I know. You scared the crap out of me when you flung him.”
Pike chuckled softly. “That was the point. You get anything?”
He meant a vision of the future. “No, not a thing. I’m glad it’s over.” She peered closer at him. “It is over for today, isn’t it?” When he hesitated, she threw her arms up in the air. “Oh my gosh, I should have known. You probably have a list in your pocket with creative ways to torture me until I can keep up with you. Am I right? I’m right.” She dropped to her knees with a groan. Then shrieked and lunged around when the wastebasket began to vibrate.
“I have something else planned.” Pike glanced down at his watch. “Tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
She watched him shrug into his jacket. “Where are you going?”
“Out. I have things to do.”
“You can’t just run off and leave me to deal with this thing,” Lavinia said. She t
ightened her hold on the basket when the karakondzula scratched at the sides of his prison.
“Can and will, love. Sorry to rush out. I have an appointment.”
“An appointment. Okay, Mr. Vague, sure thing.”
“Meet me at 546 Trent Avenue. And wear something…sexy.”
She spared a glance down at her jeans and sweater. “This is sexy. Come on.”
“Something at least six inches above your knee.” His brow rose as though he doubted her ability to dress in an appropriate manner.
“It’s freezing outside.”
“Meet me at midnight. Okay?”
“What do you want me to do with this thing?” she called after him.
**
It was approaching twelve o’clock when Lavinia’s cab pulled up in front of the club on Trent Avenue. She glanced down at the piece of paper with the address she’d hastily jotted down, hoping she hadn’t superimposed any of the numbers. It had happened in the past. Just as she’d double-checked the driver’s supernatural persuasion before getting in the cab.
It had only taken one drive with djinn who wanted to take over the world behind the wheel before she realized that not even public transportation was safe for her anymore. She needed to be more discerning. She needed to stop and use her head before she rushed into things, even if it meant taking a little longer to find a cab.
Whatever it was about her blood, about the psychic creature she’d become, made her interesting to paranormals. Interesting, and a target for some.
God, it was something she’d never thought she’d have to deal with, not in a million years. She could only imagine what her coworkers would say if she told them. Showed up to work and explained the nature of her problems to them. Beyond those of the normal variety.
This cab’s driver was one-hundred-percent human. Which meant all Lavinia needed to avoid a potentially bad situation was a can of pepper spray. She remembered once upon a time when her biggest worries had been comprised solely of the human variety. Not anymore.
