Moonlight Rising

by Linski, Megan

  In that moment I decided I needed to know her. I wanted to protect her, and the best way to do that would be to insert myself into her life. That’s what I told myself anyway—the excuse.

  I raced down the back stairwell to find a spot at the bar to wait for when she inevitably showed up. I pushed my way past the mob congregating around the circular bar below the DJ booth. I found a spot in the middle where I could keep my eyes on the dance floor. Aria and Ricky were still going at it, a small crowd surrounding them. I eyed every single guy around the perimeter, but they seemed harmless enough.

  I waved at the tall blonde bartender, and she rushed over, a bottle of beer in each hand.

  “What can I get you handsome?”

  “Bourbon on the rocks.”

  “Now that’s a man’s drink,” she said with a wink.

  I gave her a half smile. It was all I could manage. She was back in seconds with my drink and another attempt at flirting. She rest her elbows on the bar, leaning over. I had a clear view down her low cut top. My gaze darted back up to her eyes, and she giggled. This was so not happening. I fixed my eyes on hers, and focused my power. “I’m not interested in you in that way and neither are you. Just get my drinks when I order them, and I’ll give you a good tip at the end of the night.”

  The girl nodded and walked away to serve the next eager customer. I took a deep breath and sidled in between two guys sitting at the bar. I glanced over my shoulder to the dance floor. A large circle had formed around Ricky who was break dancing. A smile pulled at my lips as I remembered my break dancing days in the carefree 80’s. I stood on my tiptoes trying to see over the crowd to find Aria. She was gone.

  A few feet away, the mob parted and Aria emerged, her black top clinging to her and face shiny with sweat. She pushed her way toward the bar, a few guys ogling her as she passed. I darted through the dense mass of bodies until I was right behind her. A faint scent of jasmine wafted up to my nose.

  I cleared my throat and yelled over the music. “Can I get you a drink?”

  She turned to the left so I tapped on her right shoulder.

  Her bright blue eyes widened. “Whoa there, buddy. Have you ever heard of personal space?”

  “Sorry.” I took a step back. “It’s a little tight in here.” I motioned over my shoulder where a drunk girl was pressed up against my back trying to get to the bar.

  “Fine, I’ll give you a pass this one time.”

  She was feisty. I liked that.

  “So how about that drink?” I smirked and extended my hand. “I’m Damian.”

  “Aria.” Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, her brows knitted, then as if she’d come to an acceptable conclusion she added, “I’ll have a Cosmo.”

  I arched a brow, knowing full well she was underage. My cop instincts raged inside me, but I had to get her to trust me. I signaled to the bartender, and she dashed right over to take my order.

  Aria’s inquisitive gaze continued to rake over me. I could almost feel her assessing me. The blonde returned seconds later with the Cosmo and my second bourbon on the rocks. I handed Aria the drink, shooting her my best smile. “It matches your hair.”

  “Very perceptive.” She twirled one of the hot pink streaks. “It’s my favorite color.”

  “It’s a good one for you.” I raised my cocktail and clinked it against her martini glass. I was really out of practice with this stuff, but I hoped I was pulling off the flirting thing.

  As I took a sip of bourbon, I caught her staring at me.

  She laughed, and her whole face lit up. “Your eyes are pretty cool.”

  “Thanks. Yours are beautiful, like the translucent aqua of the Caribbean.” I paused and took another swig of bourbon, never dropping eye contact. “So do you come here often?”

  “Wow, I haven’t heard that one in awhile.” She bit her lower lip, and I found myself wanting to do the same. That was so unlike me. What was it about this girl?

  “Does that line really work with the ladies?” she asked.

  “It’s not a line.” I pulled myself together and took a step back, my hands raised. “I’ve been here a few times and never seen you. It was an innocent question, I swear.”

  “Umhmm… This is my first time. My best friend Ricky dragged me here tonight. ” She got on her tiptoes and peered over the mob to the dance floor.

  “Am I keeping you?” I turned in the direction she was searching.

  “I should probably go find him. I don’t want him getting into any trouble without me.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re the one that’s trouble?” I shot her a mischievous smirk. I was really bad at this, wasn’t I?

  She finished off the last sip before answering. “Too bad you won’t get to find out.”

  She turned to leave, and my hand shot out to stop her. I twirled her toward me, my eyes intent on her lips. “Give me your number before you go.”

  “That sounded like a demand.” She jerked away from me, and I panicked.

  I cleared my throat and averted my gaze. “I’m sorry. I just… I’d like to get to know you better.”

  “Look, it’s Damian, right?”

  I nodded and zeroed my steely gaze in on her.

  “I appreciate the drink, but I already have a boyfriend, and he’s enough to handle.”

  “Maybe that’s the problem.” I cracked my knuckles, the idea of her boyfriend sending that sleazy guy after her making my blood boil.

  She paused and her expression darkened. “Goodbye, Damian. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

  Before I could stop her, she disappeared into the mass of grinding bodies on the dance floor.

  Chapter Fourteen

  What exactly was Aria’s story? I knew there was more to her than what I had read in the file. My eyes never left her as she wandered around the club in search for her friend. The way the tiny hairs on my body bristled when she was near was not normal. This wasn’t just some ordinary human girl.

  Aria darted in between a group of tall muscled guys, and I lost her. My heart plummeted. I plowed through the center of the dance floor, hurtling past wriggling bodies. I strained my eyes as strobe lights flashed across the space muddying my vision. Where was she?

  I reached the group of guys she’d disappeared between, but she was gone. I grabbed one of them and hissed, “Have you seen a cute blonde go by?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, man there’s one pretty much anywhere you look.” He ticked his head to the left and then the right. Blondes everywhere. But no Aria.

  I growled and released him, hurtling through his meathead friends.

  At the far corner of the club, a door slammed. I don’t even know how I heard it over the loud music and pounding base. I spun toward the sound, and a glowing red Exit sign flashed over the back door.

  My nerves tingled. It was her; I knew it was.

  I sped across the crowded club, shoving people out of my way eliciting a series of angry shouts. I never stopped. I barreled through the back door, and the sudden silence of the alleyway had my ears buzzing. I whipped my head to the left and right, straining to hear her.

  Footsteps.

  I dashed to the left, my heart thundering in my chest. I never should’ve let her out of my sight. The hair on the back of my nape bristled. I sniffed the air, recognizing the scent of my own kind. It took all my restraint not to shout her name as I sped down the street.

  A scream echoed down the narrow passageway nearly shattering my nerves. My breath caught in my throat as I raced around the corner. I turned and a soft body ran straight into my chest.

  “Watch it!” said a familiar voice.

  “You’re the one that nearly knocked me over.” I looked down at the pink wisps of hair brushed up against my shirt.

  She took a step back. “Cosmo guy?”

  “Damian.”

  “Right.” She glanced behind her then turned to face me once again. “Listen, there’s some crazy stuff going on back there. I swear I just saw some girl bit
ing a guy in the alley.”

  I couldn’t help it; my eyes widened. “What do you mean, biting?”

  “I have no idea, but there was blood. Lots of blood. Maybe it’s some sort of new kinky thing or something, but that girl freaked me out.”

  I glanced in the direction she had pointed and furrowed my eyebrows. That must have been what I’d smelled. What were vampires doing feeding out in public like this?

  “Are you by yourself?” I glanced down at Aria. “Do you need a ride home?”

  She eyed me up and down again before finally answering. “I’m taking the subway.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Upper West side.”

  I debated compelling her and just throwing her in my car and taking her home. I decided against it. I didn’t want to treat a new client that way unless it was absolutely necessary. “Let me at least walk you to the subway then.”

  “Okay.”

  She led the way toward the number 2 line, which was just a little over a block away. An awkward silence permeated the air.

  “So what happened to your best friend?” I finally asked.

  “He met up with some guy and sold me out.”

  I arched a brow and frowned. “That’s not cool.”

  She shrugged nonchalantly. “No biggie.”

  The Lambo was just across the street, and I had an idea. “Hold on a sec. I need to get something out of my car.”

  “That’s your car?”

  “Yeah.”

  I walked up to it, and the door opened automatically. I bent down and grabbed my cell phone, sliding it into my back pocket. I don’t know how I’d forgotten it.

  I locked the car and moved toward her. Her face paled. “What’s the matter?”

  “Don’t come any closer.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  She shoved her hand in her purse and pulled out a pocketknife. She pointed it at me, her knuckles white from gripping it so hard. “I don’t know what you just put in your pocket, but you’re not going to get a chance to use it.”

  A big laugh escaped my open mouth. “Promise you won’t stab me, and I’ll show you my cell phone.”

  I slowly pulled the phone from my back pocket, and her face flushed. It made her look younger and softened the tough act she put on.

  “I thought I’d try to get your number again,” I said with a smirk.

  She gave me a lopsided grin and pulled a stick of gum and pen from her purse. She scribbled something on it and threw it to me. “Thanks for the drink. Call me if you ever want to buy me another one.” Without looking back, she disappeared down the steps to the subway.

  I stood there for a few minutes staring at the stick of gum. I knew her phone number and that wasn’t it. I smiled as Aria’s sweet jasmine scent lingered in the air. My feet itched to follow her down the steps, but I couldn’t. Now that I’d introduced myself, trailing her unnoticed would be a bit more difficult.

  I was okay with that though; it was worth it just to get to know her. Plus I liked a challenge.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I’d spent the majority of the night outside of Aria’s apartment. I yawned and took a big gulp from the coffee mug on my desk as I skimmed emails. Ricky had come home late, and I didn’t want her to stay alone. So I waited. She was tough. It was clear she could take care of herself, but she was my responsibility now.

  I glanced at the clock on the wall. I still had a few hours until her shift began at Thanks-A-Latte. I had just enough time to get some work done.

  Or not. A light knock on the door pulled my attention away from the computer screen.

  “Hey boss.” Olexa walked in with a tablet in hand.

  “What are you doing in so early?”

  “I figured you’d be here at the crack of dawn so I wanted to see if there was anything you needed.”

  “Thanks, but that’s not necessary.” I buried my nose in my coffee.

  She pulled out the chair in front of my desk and sat. “How did it go last night?”

  I couldn’t help the smile that pulled at my lips. “It went well.”

  She arched a brow and leaned in. “So you met Aria?”

  I nodded, pressing my lips together.

  “And?”

  “And it was interesting.” Interesting in the sense that I ran into the adult version of the kid I almost murdered thirty years ago when I became a vampire. Interesting in the sense that I’d had a growing inexplicable ache in my chest ever since meeting my new charge. Overall: interesting.

  Olexa eyed me curiously. I could almost see the gears grinding in her head. She knew me too well. She was one of the few people who knew about my past. “I knew you’d like her.”

  “Her?” I put on my best innocent look.

  “Yes, Aria. You always have a thing for cute blondes.” She tossed her long brunette locks over her shoulder.

  I laughed. “I do not.”

  She crossed her legs and moved to the edge of her seat. “Okay, maybe I didn’t say that right. I mean, I’ve never actually seen you with a girl, but whenever a petite blonde walks into the room, you get this look.”

  “A look?” I could feel heat rising to the tips of my ears.

  She cocked her head to the side. “Yeah. It’s hard to explain. It’s like your lips want to smile, but your eyes won’t let them.”

  My fingers found their way to my chest. They rubbed circles at the source of the sharp pang. “Sofia was blonde.”

  Olexa swallowed hard, and her expressive eyes darkened. “I’m sorry, Damian.” She clasped her hands together. “I didn’t know.”

  I exhaled slowly and sat back, leaning my head against the chair. Olexa knew a lot about me, but I didn’t share every detail even with her. “It’s okay. I didn’t realize I did that.”

  She stood and twirled a lock of hair around her manicured finger. It was what she did when she was nervous. “I’m going to get started on some work.” She pointed to the door.

  I sat up. “Don’t go. I’ll tell you about my night.”

  A small smile crept across her lips as she lowered herself back into the chair.

  “I think this job is going to be good for me.”

  “How so?”

  “Maybe I can save her.” I took a deep breath to still the tremble in my voice. “Maybe I can make up for what I failed to do with Sofia.”

  Olexa reached across the desk and squeezed my hand. “I’m sure you will.”

  I dug into my shirt pocket and pulled out the stick of gum. Behind the fresh minty smell, a faint scent of jasmine lingered. I traced the numbers scribbled on the wrapper, and a shadow of a smile tugged at my lips.

  Aria would be my redemption.

  To continue Damian and Aria’s story, check out Magic Bound at

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