She furrowed her brow, but looked at Wesley as he glanced at her. He lifted an eyebrow at her in turn. I expected her to issue a sound protest, thoroughly backing up my hesitance to play team captain to a band of amateur vampire hunters. What she finally spoke was worse. “Maybe I should just accompany Flynn, Wes. He’s pretty savvy and I only have enough juice to keep us shrouded.”
“We have Mark.” He pointed in Mark’s direction, which spurred the other man to look up. Wesley continued, “He can cast for us. I know the area, after all.”
“And I’ll fetch the coffee,” Jesse quipped, interjecting.
Wesley ignored him. “If we’re all going to be a part of the infiltration, we should all be part of the recon.”
“I have my own bag of tricks, Wesley,” I said, shooting Monica a deliberate stare before regarding him again. “It would not be the first time I have been forced to consort with their type. And I shall be armed this time. If I somehow fail their test, I have enough to make it out alive.” A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. “I have bested a crowd of two dozen immortals without assistance.”
He scoffed. “That was either luck or stupidity on their part.”
I bristled. In my periphery, I saw Monica sit up in her chair and did not spare her even a passing glance when her voice chimed in again. “Wesley does have a point about one thing, Flynn,” she said. “He knows this area better than we do. Why don’t you show him the card Ian gave you so he can at least point us in the right direction?”
A tense silence followed. I extinguished my cigarette and slid my hand into my coat, producing the business card. Handing it over to Wesley when he closed the gap between us, I heard a rush of air which sounded conspicuously like an exasperated sigh escape Wesley’s mouth. His gaze lowered to the scrawled writing, though, before I could acknowledge it, eyes scanning while his brow furrowed. “Jess, get me the map book.”
“My purpose in life, at last,” Jesse said, rising to a stand. He padded away while Wesley settled closer to Mark and together, the two poured over both sides of the business card. I looked toward Monica again and shook my head once she peered in my direction.
She scowled in response and nodded.
I frowned. ‘What are you hoping to accomplish with this? ’ I asked, projecting the thought to her through our private channel. ‘I hardly wish you in the midst of this, let alone your friends. ’
Monica mirrored my frown. ‘And I don’t want you doing this alone. It’s either all of us or me. Personally, I’d like the added back up. ’
‘It is not enough that I worry for your sake? ’ The twisting in my stomach worsened, reminding me of its existence. My fingers itching with the urge to rip through my hair in frustration, I tapped them against my knee and glanced toward the others as Jesse returned with their book of maps. He sat beside Wesley, who took it in hand and asked him a question. My eyes found Monica again. ‘The vampires would not be nearly so merciful to you. ’
‘So wouldn’t it follow that we should have more people helping us? ’
‘I do not trust their ability to keep you safe. ’
‘Why? ’
‘For one, they are reckless. Two, they are being watched. And I daresay we would be better off without them. ’
‘If we’re facing a dark magician worth his salt, you just strolling through the front doors by yourself would be suicide. ’
‘We are going to be at constant odds about this, are we not? If the concern is over my well-being, consider me flattered, love. But this is entirely unnecessary. ’
She laughed aloud. The trio glanced up at her, confusion latent in their stares which was directed toward me as well when they glanced between us. Jesse smirked, even when Wesley and Mark remained mute. “I know a telepathic argument when I see one,” he said, following his observation with a chuckle. His gaze settled on me. “Good luck fighting with Miss M. She’s stubborn as a mule.”
“This discussion is finished,” I said, looking toward Monica again.
“Like hell it is.” She stood, pivoting to face me, but addressing Wesley with her question. “Is there somewhere I can talk to Flynn in private?”
“Yeah, sure.” We both looked to him when he lifted a hand and pointed toward a shut door at the far end of the room. As our gaze met again, I realized how much I had vexed Monica. I refused to relent, though, telling myself throughout the entire stroll away from our inquisitive hosts that my demands would be met one way or the other. My watcher opened the door and we both strolled into what appeared to be an office currently lit by the slivers of moonlight peaking through the blinds. She waited for the door to click shut behind us before issuing another word. “Goddamn it, I could slap your head right off your shoulders for saying things like –”
It happened just as soon as the spark of impulse made its presence known to me. I turned to face her, but grabbed her hand and pulled her against my torso. The gesture interrupted her tirade, which was further silenced by the pressing of my lips against hers. She yelped against my mouth, and then sank into the embrace for a few lingering seconds. By the time she pulled away, I heard the tempo of her pulse escalate. “I don’t care how good of a kisser you are, you bastard,” she said. “You’re not weaseling your way out of this.”
I released my grip in favor of placing both hands on her shoulders. The sensation gnawing at me had grown from a whisper to a shout in the short span of time it took for the door to close and her to speak to me once more. I could not be certain of its origin, but I could not deny something was straining to capture my attention.
The notion provoked a frown. “I do not know what manner of persuasion I must give you,” I said. “Or how much I must beg that you excuse yourself from this entire debacle, but I am willing to get on my knees if necessary. I do not have a good feeling about this.”
“I know.” Her demeanor settled and she sighed as she looked up at me. “Why the hell do you think I demanded that we come here in the first place? Because I hate pillow talk? Ian said he wanted you there by the end of the week, and I don’t feel right about you doing this alone.”
I blinked, at a sudden loss. “Why did you not tell me this before?”
“Would you’ve agreed to come?” Her eyebrow raised in an accusatory fashion.
“Perhaps not.” I shook my head. “If I am having my misgivings and so are you, then what does this mean?”
The look on her face turned conciliatory. “I would’ve given my right arm for you to be properly trained. I’m so sorry things had to be like this. You’ve dealt with a master seer and now, you’ve got a date with a dark magician and you haven’t experienced two minutes’ worth of field instruction.” Her shoulders sank under my hold. “And I wasn’t an ounce of good to you injured.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I haven’t been the best at laying out the basics. All of those nasty feelings that you get when you’re in the presence of black magic should be pinging off the charts and if you’re getting the chills, it’s because I am, too.” She frowned. “The first thing they teach a seer is to trust his instincts and right now, your instincts are telling you we’re sitting in the middle of a shit storm.”
I did not answer at first. Lifting a hand, I slid my glasses from my face and tucked them into my pocket temporarily. Her expression softened in the darkness, echoing the concern she undoubtedly saw written on my face. “My instincts tell me to protect you, love.”
The flicker of a smile tried to emerge. “Mine say the same thing about you.”
“And as I said to you in the room, I appreciate the concern, but –”
“You agree to bring the Scooby Gang and I’ll agree to one of your demands.”
My brow furrowed as hers arched again. Finally, the grin blossomed on her face. “Well,” she said. “Go on ahead, tell me what you want me to do, but let me warn you I’m not staying home when you go to confront Ian. That isn’t on the table, period. If we’re going to keep the ‘fr
aternizing with vampires’ ruse up, I need to be there pretending to channel a spell”
As apt as I was to argue, neither could I refute the point. I drew a deep breath inward and exhaled it slowly. “I have to bring the bloody amateurs?”
She lifted a hand, settling it above my silent heart. “Yes. Both for reconnaissance and for the mission itself.”
“Damn you, woman.” We stared at each other for interminable moments, as much to evaluate as to exchange an entire conversation without stating a word. I listened to her pulse skip a beat, her breathing tense as though something was lodged in the back of her throat waiting for a final push. A torrent of emotions clamored in my head with defiant dissonance, making it all the harder to distinguish sense from the chaos it created. It seemed a wonder, that one person could unnerve more than anyone who had ever preceded her.
I looked away. “Stay home tonight, if just so I might see what we are facing without my concern for you tainting my perceptions. It would both be a relief to me and would enable me to focus on this more intently.”
“Alright.” The way she spoke the word entreated my gaze back to her. “I’ll sit this one out if you agree to my terms.”
“There is no way you are going to acquiesce to this otherwise, is there?”
“Not a chance. Jesse’s right, my stubbornness is legendary.” She lowered her hand, motioning closer to me until her chest pressed against mine and her chin rested where her fingers had just been. “Besides, don’t forget, I know how to take care of myself, tough guy. I was the one sneaking your unconscious ass back into a coven where the wicked witch of the west was waiting to eat me.”
I could not suppress the urge to laugh. It lit up her face when I continued indulging the impulse. Both of her arms wrapped around my waist and, as I peered down at her, I saw her emerald eyes staring back up at me. I shook my head. “Quixotic witch,” I said.
“I love you, too.”
The same light in her eyes engulfed my heart. I clutched her tight against me in response. “One more confusing chord in an alien symphony. That is the sole thing I am certain of at the moment – that I do indeed love you. The rest…” I trailed off, pausing to gather my thoughts. Finally, I nodded. “We shall take you home first?”
Her grin broadened. “Just be careful. You don’t have more than a few hours before dawn.”
“I shall be careful, Dearest.” As her eyes met mine, they formed an entreating siren call forcing me to bend even closer to her. She hitched up on the balls of her feet and as our lips met, I felt the sweetest form of temptation overwhelm me. For a few, fleeting moments, the rest of the world ceased to exist.
“Flynn? Monica? Everything alright in there?”
The sudden intrusion of Wesley’s voice tore us away from our brief visit to nirvana. I sneered, straightening my posture as I turned to look at the closed door. “Fucking impatient mortals,” I muttered.
“And here comes Flynn again.” Monica smirked.
I narrowed my eyes. “Those beings would try anyone’s patience – human or vampire.” When I glanced back at Monica, I frowned and produced my sunglasses once more. “And again, this creature is reminded he is still a child of the night. Do not allow the darkness to claim you before I return.”
Monica nodded. She took the glasses from my hand and unfolded them, reaching up to slip them on my face. “I’ll be fine,” she said, punctuating her words with a kiss. “You make sure you bring a weapon this time, though. Just in case.”
“Yes, I shall fetch my sword. A throwing dagger for good measure as well.”
“Now I can relax.” A mischievous expression played across her face. “You quixotic seer.”
Snickering, I followed her lead as she opened the door and led us back out to the living room. Wesley stood, holding the map book in hand, and Jesse and Mark both regarded us from their positions on the couch. The befuddled look on Wesley’s face was shared by his counterparts, as though they inhabited a hive mind from which they could not disengage. Wesley’s eyes flicked between Monica and me without settling on either for long. “I think I know where this place is,” he said, raising the card in his other hand.
“Any place of note?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “It used to be an upscale hotel back in the day, but it’s been abandoned for a while. Makes sense, I guess. Enough room for a coven of vampires.” Our gaze converged and while his expression read of something wishing to burst out through the seams, he visibly struggled to maintain his composure. “Flynn, I can’t stress this enough. You having a few other people with you is going to be crucial. And considering this has been my livelihood for the past few years –”
I held up a hand to stop him. “We have already discussed the matter, Wesley. My watcher has informed me of protocol and I have assented to acknowledge it. That is, if the three of you are not too fatigued to indulge a quick visit.”
Mark rose to his feet. Jesse slapped a thigh, coming to a stand as well. “I’ll load up so we can see what the bloodsuckers are mucking around in,” he said, wandering off without any further input, I presumed to fetch whatever equipment they normally brought. Mark watched him walk away, and then met my eyes with his in an indistinguishable manner. The exchanged look lasted only for a beat and set me aback enough that I was startled when Wesley spoke again.
“Been a while since we’ve pulled an all-nighter, but considering Jesse offered to fetch coffee, I’m going to let him.” He grinned, looking at Monica. “Maybe you can show Mark a few of your tricks.”
“Actually, I’m going to sit this one out,” she said. When he furrowed his brow, she rolled her eyes. “Flynn pointed out that I should rest tonight if I’m going to be channeling spells again sometime soon. I’m still recovering from our last brush with a crowd of vampires.”
“I also need to retrieve my weapons,” I said, attempting to put the matter to rest, “So we need to stop at the apartment regardless.”
“Very true.” Wesley hesitated, but nodded, closing commentary on the discussion. Our conversation shifted to the more practical concern of how to facilitate travel from Wesley’s house to our temporary lodging. It was decided that we would travel in Wesley’s car and once Jesse appeared again with their equipment, the trio took hold of their respective bags and led the procession outside. Monica took hold of my arm and I flashed a disarming smile at her, patting her hand as she tugged me along with the others.
Wesley, Jesse, and Mark remained in the car as Monica and I padded up to the apartment and I retrieved my blades. As she handed me my sword, she surprised me with a kiss and I relished it for as long as I could without subjecting myself to further temptation. She smiled as our lips parted. “Be careful out there. I want you back here in one piece, do you understand.”
“I can vouch for my safety,” I said, indulging a fanged grin. “But not for your friends, I am afraid.”
“Oh stop that,” she said, but smirk she flashed me in return was anything but annoyed. Monica turned for the bedroom and disappeared inside. I tightened my hold on the katana, waiting for the door to shut. Once it did, though, a queer notion overtook me, directing my attention to the sword in my hands.
A foreign voice whispered in my ears, telling me something about it had changed – a sentiment without any empirical evidence to lend it any credence. I brushed my coat to the side as though to strap the weapon around my waist, but the peculiar feeling would not dissipate. Lifting the weapon, I gave it a slight tug, separating the blade from its sheath.
Raising the sword, I examined it and saw… nothing. Absolutely nothing more than the same folded steel and the same red and black braiding which had adorned the hilt since I first took it. Shaking my head, I slid the sword back into place and walked to the door, feeling like a man who had taken leave of all his senses. One human emotion had slid through the cracks, but brought insanity in its wake. “Flynn, you possessed creature,” I said, “You have become downright certifiable.
”
I reached the bottom of the stairs and exited the building, sliding into the back seat beside Mark while still clutching the weapon in my hands. Wesley raised an eyebrow as he pivoted from his position in the driver’s seat, lining me in his sight. “Wow, she really did just walk in and go to bed?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said with a nod, glancing from Mark’s curious stare to Wesley’s and flashing a subdued grin. “Granted, she was bemoaning it the entire time, but I did tell her it was for the best.”
“Oh give it a rest, Wes,” Jesse chimed from the passenger seat. “Let the lady rest let’s be on our way, I’d like some sleep before the sodding sun rises myself.”
“Whatever, Jess.” The way Wesley eyed me rang reminiscent of how Mark had studied me prior to our departure. While the latter’s mind remained secure – undoubtedly fenced in using the powers he retained – Wesley’s was a tumult with no clear question emerging from the chaos. I was able to detect the same itch within him I struggled with; that notion of something barely eluding one’s notice while still visible somewhere out of view.
Of all the times for a mortal to have cause to scrutinize me, it had to be now.
Chapter Fifteen
“They’re a bloody flock of peacocks, aren’t they?”
I glanced away from the street and turned my head to regard Jesse, perking an eyebrow at the both the man and the expression. A Styrofoam cup in hand, he lifted its steaming contents to his mouth and blew on it before imbibing a healthy swallow of coffee. I watched the entire action, though his eyes never left the sight of the spectacle before us.
Wesley sighed. “I swear every one of them acts like a stuck up aristocrat,” he said, shifting in position in an attempt to find a comfortable spot on the ground. After locating the former hotel, we had scouted for an inconspicuous place where we could conduct our surveillance and staked out territory in a park caddy corner to the grounds. The trio each held binoculars and while Mark had offered me his, I was able to avoid the chore of acting by pleading my eye infirmity. It afforded me the chance to observe as only a vampire could.
Rebirth of the Seer Page 20
