Jaden's Heart

by Melanie Jackson

  He shook his friends' arms. “John…” his voice trembled.

  John sighed. “What is it, Cole? I'm watching the girls.”

  “She's here,” Cole stuttered.

  John looked around. ”Where?”

  I blended into a group of partiers. “Right...” Cole's voice trailed as he pointed at the now empty table.

  John rolled his eyes. “Look, you need to pull yourself together, bro.”

  “Yeah, okay?” Cole replied, still shaken.

  Moving through the human dancers, I circled my prey until I stood behind Cole.

  “Cole, is death calling to you?” I whispered, raising the light hairs on the back of his neck with my chilled breath.

  He spun in his chair to find no one behind him.

  Now I was behind the third human. Cole's eyes met my red ones and I smiled, showing him my sharp fangs.

  “Bill, she's behind you!” he screeched, his voice attracting some of the bar's patrons.

  Bill turned to look behind him, but once again found no one there.

  “Man, you really need to chill out!” John pounded Cole's back.

  “I'm telling you, she's here!” Cole insisted.

  “Hello!” I said, a sickly-sweet smile playing about my lips as I strolled up to their table.

  The three jumped up and nearly tripped a waitress, who ignored them and rushed away to wipe beer off her uniform.

  “Shit!” John swore.

  “I told you!” Cole said, his voice trembling.

  “What do you want?” Bill demanded.

  “Your souls,” I said, grinning.

  “Stay away from us, freak!”

  “Just leave us alone,” Cole pleaded.

  “Why? I'm having such fun!”

  “God dammit, woman!” said John.

  “He won't save you,” I replied, and wandered back into the crowd of dancers.

  “What the fuck is her deal?” Cole asked, searching the crowd of partiers.

  Standing at the bar, I watched them through my peripherals.

  “She's toying with us. She can't do anything as long as there are plenty of witnesses. We'll wait her out,” John replied.

  Bill scanned the people. “For how long? We can't stay here forever.”

  “She's bound to give up eventually, right?” John said. The other two exchanged a worried look. “Okay, look: we'll get a few of those dance floor bunnies to invite us home with them. They'll be our witnesses.” John tipped his gaze at a particularly blitzed bridesmaid party.

  “Yeah, okay!” Bill said. Cole nodded his agreement and flagged down the waitress for a round of shots.

  A tall man with over-greased brown hair nudged his bar stool a little closer to me than necessary.

  “Nice peeps!” he cocked his eyebrow at me.

  “Thank you,” I said and gave him a full-toothed smile.

  “Wicked! Where'd you get the porcelain fangs?”

  “They're real,” I said, watching my prey deliver the round of shots to the girls' table.

  “Hardcore, man.”

  “Would you like to dance?” I asked, standing.

  “Hell yeah!” He followed me onto the dance floor.

  Easily keeping pace with the seductive music, my mind was completely occupied by my prey. After three songs, Cole left the dance floor and headed for the bathroom.

  “I need to freshen up. Don't go anywhere,” I told him with an over-exaggerated smile.

  “I won't move,” he promised.

  The bathrooms were just as crowded. Long lines of people stood waiting for the toilets. The service door was just to the left of the bathrooms. I leaned against the door and pushed. The lock cracked and the door popped open.

  I waited in the dark room until I could smell Cole's adrenaline-filled blood right in front of the door. I pulled him through the doorway. He struggled against me, screaming into my hand over his mouth.

  “You smell so delicious,” I said and bit into his neck. He thrashed.

  Sharp, thick blood flowed into my mouth. He urinated on himself. I let him go and stepped back, wiping a thin smear of blood from the corner of my mouth. Cole scrambled out of the maintenance room, holding his neck.

  “We have to leave!” I could hear him tell his friends in weak terror.

  I returned to the crowd and stood just behind a tall woman.

  “She's going to kill us!” he cried, shaking.

  “You have to calm down, bro,” Bill said.

  I gave him bloody smile.

  “But you don't understand! She bit me!” Cole screamed hysterically, pointing in my direction.

  The loud bar became quiet and everyone stared at him, then the tall woman, who was equally stunned.

  “I didn't bite anyone!” she said, her hands raised in defense.

  I slipped behind a brunette woman wearing an excessive amount of perfume. Cole searched the room franticly until our eyes met. “She's a demon!” he screamed, pointing towards the woman.

  A blond man took a step toward the losers and said, “What the fuck is your problem? She's my girlfriend!”

  Once again, I stood at the bar.

  “You guys are killing the vibe. This is a party!” The maid of honor raised her glass.

  John knocked it from her hand and it splashed over the floor. “You think this is a fucking joke?”

  “That's it!” interjected the bartender. “I want you three out of my club. You got two options. You can walk out or the bouncer will toss you out. Ronnie, square out their tab!”

  “Not a problem.” John dropped some cash on the table from his wallet.

  The bouncer eyed them on their way out, just in case. They huddled under the nearest street lamp.

  “Oh God!” Bill exclaimed. “Cole, your neck is bleeding!”

  “We shouldn't have left the bar,” Cole cried as he lit a smoke.

  “Let's get to Main Street and hail a taxi,” John said.

  They crossed the street and headed down a side street. I dropped down in front of them.

  “Time to run again!” I snarled.

  “Fuck this!” John said and picked up a large old pipe from a nearby trashcan. Bill grabbed a heavy board.

  Cole curled up against the wall. “She's the devil come to take us to hell,” he whimpered.

  “So you want to play games, bitch, let's play!” John swung the metal pipe and it twisted around my left shoulder, making me grin.

  “Fuck, just die!” He swung the pipe at my temple.

  I grabbed his weapon and pulled it from his shaking hands. The street echoed with the thwack of the board when Bill struck me on the back of my head. It broke the board in half in his hands.

  I turned around to face him. “Run,” I ordered.

  The two pulled Cole to his feet and ran. I trailed them from the shadows, the cat and mouse game resumed. Their fear heightened in their blood, its scent easily carried to me on the breeze, my mouth watering.

  I hunted them through the City of Angels until I could smell the humid dawn air heavy with the pollutions of the city: exhaust, trash, and a broken sewer line.

  Cornering them in an alleyway between two derelict houses, John and Bill rushed me in a last-ditch effort to get the upper hand. I danced around them.

  First, I drained John, then Bill; their lifeless bodies lay on the concrete ground at my feet.

  Cole knelt in a corner, broken. “Please, no,” he begged, shaking his head as I approached him.

  “You don't deserve to live,” I said and reached for him.

  “Oh God, I don't want to die!” he cried.

  I lifted him off the ground. “He isn't listening,” I said.

  He screamed as I bit deep into his salty, wildly pulsing neck but it ended abruptly with a quick twist. Dropping his lifeless body to the concrete, I left the alley via the roof.

  Sitting on the ledge, I pressed the number to the local cleaning services into my cell. The ‘cleaners’ as they were officially known, cleaned up any and
all evidence that could reveal our presence to humans. Desiree had thought up the idea, presented it to the council, and implemented in every major Immortal hot spot around the world. Although each cleaning group is run locally, Desiree manages it as a whole. Looking down at my first kills in fifteen years, I was disappointed. The chase itself had been quite entertaining, but the kill was empty. It felt nothing like how I remembered, the thrill was gone replaced by a twisting knot in my stomach.

  The cleaners arrived in a white and blue emergency vehicle. A short, stocky, pink-haired woman and two muscular black men in brown scrubs, immortals, emerged. I watched them from my perch as they removed a gurney from the back. Why did I kill these men? No doubt there were other men out there right now, raping, murdering, or tormenting some human within this city. I was not a crusader; I had no interest in heroism, no ambition to right wrongs.

  I gritted my teeth. It’s that human—Alexis! She is responsible for this. No! They brought this onto themselves. If they hadn’t touched her, tried to hurt her I wouldn’t have killed them. Alexis is mine! I shook my head. Mine? Gods, what is wrong with me? She is not anyone’s property—she is a person.

  I stood to leave and smiled. Maybe she would like some company. I wandered across the rooftops to the abandoned building where I had first seen her. Alexis was fast asleep, beneath several boxes. Her old faded coat and my long black trench coat wrapped tightly around her to thin frame. Even through all the extra layers, I could still see her body shiver. Is she cold? No, it's nearly sixty-five degrees out; she couldn't be.

  “Jade,” she whispered in her sleep.

  I opened my mouth to reply but shut it tight and chastised myself. Don't be stupid. She's sleeping. Besides, she thinks you're a nut case. I sighed. I would have to be content with being her silent protector for the time being.

  Five

  two black sedans sped down the snow-lined road. The cars pulled up to a sixteen-foot wrought-iron gate that had an H designed on each side in English calligraphy. Two fifteen and a half foot limestone pillars were attached on either side of the gate walls and white boulders wrapped around the private 102-acre property.

  The driver's window rolled down and a pale hand pressed the button on the intercom. “Yes!” came the gruff reply.

  “Lady Annora for Lady Hawk,” the male driver replied.

  “Wait,” said the voice.

  The woman in the backseat buffed a manicured, blood-red nail.

  “What's taking so long?” she asked.

  “I'm not sure, my lady,” the driver said.

  The shadowed female growled impatiently.

  “Please drive up.” The intercom buzzed.

  The heavy gates swung open. The cars crept past two four-foot stone hawks with glowing ruby eyes that seemed to peer down at them. Beyond, an avenue of cherry trees deep in their winter sleep flanked the long paved driveway. Formal lawns and woodlands covered most of the property. Snow-topped holly hedges walled a winter garden with traditional flowerbeds, a snow capped orchard, and stone paths. The cars circled a large turning area with a fountain at its center. Water ran from the mouth of a giant hawk, its wings spread and talons extended. They stopped in front of the mansion.

  The black-suited driver exited the car and opened the back passenger door. One thin leg in knee high, high-heeled black leather boots touched the ground, followed by the other. The woman stood, her long black hair tossed by the cold wind. Her light brown eyes scanned the snow-covered shrubs that lined the front of the white stone mansion.

  Her full red lips formed a thin line as she climbed the stone steps to the front door. Two servants allowed her entry and seated her in the large, comfortable library. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined three of the walls and a brown leather armchair and two sofas provided ample seating. An ancient, handmade wool rug tied the posh look together.

  With her jaw clenched tight, Annora paced in her red cocktail dress as she played with the pearl necklace that accentuated her plunging neckline.

  What is taking Elysian so long? How dare she make me wait around like a common guest, Annora thought, her free hand becoming a tight fist.

  She froze, closed her eyes, breathed deep, and counted to eight before exhaling. Elysian had better have a good excuse.

  The double doors opened to reveal a well-dressed brown-haired male servant.

  He bowed to Annora. “My lady, I am sorry for the inconvenience! We weren't expecting anyone, as Lady Hawk has been away for some time now,” he said, straightening.

  “What do you mean, she's not here?” she asked angrily.

  “She left about two months ago,” he explained, confused.

  “Did she say where she was going?” Annora asked.

  “I'm sorry, my lady, but we have had little contact with Lady Hawk. The executive of the estate manages all the day-to-day activities. Mr. Whitmore relays her wishes to us, as Lady Hawk does not wish to be bothered with such things. So, apart from her leaving and a list of updates and repairs, we have received no word. Perhaps Mr. Whitmore can assist you, my lady.”

  “Where can I find Mr. Whitmore?” Annora asked, setting her hands onto her hips.

  “He is in London at Forever Trust and Holdings, madam. He oversees the company.”

  “Arrange a room for me. I will be staying here until I have located Lady Hawk. I will return forthwith. Make sure my belongings are delivered to my room,” she ordered.

  “As my lady wishes,” he said, and bowed.

  She returned to the parked cars. “Inform Ryan and Ida to help the servants unpack my belongings. We are going back to London.” She slid into the back of the sedan.

  “Yes, my lady,” the driver said, closing the door.

  Elysian, where are you, what are you doing? How could you be so irresponsible? Annora thought, her fists clenched into white knots. The car started and began the forty-five-minute trip back to London.

  Forever Trust and Holdings was a modern tower of a building, its name spelled out in large black metal letters that hung several feet above the entrance. The main lobby was a large room with modern furnishings. A reception desk stood at the center of the open space. Annora's heels echoed as she approached the well-dressed receptionist who sat typing on her computer.

  The blonde, blue-eyed woman did not look up from her work. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, I do not have an appointment,” Annora replied, a little louder than necessary.

  “I'm sorry, madam, but Mr. Whitmore is not receiving new clients and he does not take walk-ins,” she said, her face still buried in her computer screen.

  Annora slapped her hand onto the counter. “Tell Mr. Whitmore, Lady Annora is waiting in the lobby and is very upset about the recent disappearance of Lady Hawk,” she demanded, finally getting the woman's attention.

  The receptionist sighed. “One moment, please.”

  She glared at Annora as she pushed a button on her phone pad. “I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Whitmore, but there's a woman out here to see you,” the receptionist said into the machine. “No, sir. She does not have an appointment. I did explain it to her, sir. She says her name is Lady Annora. She said something about Lady Hawk being missing.” The receptionist gulped. “Yes, sir, I'll send her in immediately.”

  “Sorry, lady.” Her eyes lowered and she motioned to the elevator. “Mr. Whitmore will see you. Please take the elevator to the third floor. His office is the fourth door to the left.”

  Annora walked to the elevator without another word, the secretary immediately forgotten. This Mr. Whitmore had better be able to shine light on Elysian's whereabouts. She pressed the number three button, her lips a thin line. With the summit only a few weeks away it gives me little time to arrange security.

  Annora sighed. Lady Marianna strange personal request for Jaden’s presents was becoming a serious inconvenience.

  Mr. Whitmore's office door had his name etched onto the glass in big bold letters. Annora entered, to find a graying man in a smart,
dark blue business suit sat at the desk. He looked up from his paperwork and smiled when she let the door slam closed behind her.

  Standing he stretched his hand out to her. “So you are the beautiful Annora. Jaden speaks very highly of you.”

  Annora crossed the room in a heartbeat. “I highly doubt that. Where is she?” she demanded, ignoring his outstretched hand.

  Mr. Whitmore raised an eyebrow. “I was hoping you could tell me. We have been trying to reach her for some time now. We have even attempted to track her through her credit cards, but she has not used them since her departure. I suspect she brought cash with her because she knew we would try to find her this way,” he explained.

  “You are telling me the master of a multibillion-dollar estate and co-owner of a leading financial enterprise disappears and you have not the slightest idea where she is? And, furthermore, she did not inform anyone where she was going, who she was going to be with, or how she was going to return?”

  Mr. Whitmore sighed and rubbed his temples. “She does this sometimes. Just disappears without telling anyone where she's going.”

  “She has done this before?”

  “Yes. The last time we managed to locate her through her MasterCard. We had hoped to use the same method but she has yet to use any of the company cards,” he explained.

  “So what are we going to do in the meantime?” Annora asked.

  “I suppose if you are desperate, you could try talking to the pilot of the private airplane she used. He would not give me any information. Apparently, he lost his itinerary, has no idea where he dropped her off and does not even remember that Jaden was on his plane to begin with, despite the security footage of her climbing into his plane. Perhaps he is lying or she paid him to remain silent,” Mr. Whitmore suggested with shrug.

  Annora sighed. Elysian must have compelled the pilot to permanently forget her. I will have to use other means of locating her—human means. Still a rebellious slave. Annora clinched and unclenched her fists. When I find Elysian, she will pay.