by Lori, Rae
That creature—what was it?
She didn’t even have a chance to fight back before it came down upon her.
“Vex—Rich—Gael—please—” The names fell from her strained lips. Finally she gave out and fell upon the ground like a lifeless marionette.
“Shelly!” Vex’s familiar deep voice was sweet nectar to her ear. She had no control over her body anymore as she allowed him to haul her up into his strong arms.
“Shelly, what happened?” Rich peered over Vex’s thick shoulders. “Tell us.”
“J-Ja-Jace—” she struggled. “The girl—she—” Shelly’s body froze in place with a sharp gasp. Her eyes widened then she fell limp as she stared ahead into the darkness forever.
* * * *
Vex lowered his head over her body saying a silent prayer. Gently he closed her eyelids, feeling his muscles tense.
“What did it mean?”
“What was she saying?”
The voices among the curious group echoed in the parking lot as a small crowd wandered over. Vex looked over his shoulder at Rich while folding his thick arms around Shelly. He held her close despite death’s hold on her.
“You have to do something about this, Rich. Your fellow regent is harboring a female who killed one of us. If she is of the houses, she must be punished.”
“You don’t know that, Vex,” Rich shot back.
“Yeah, man,” Gael stepped in between them. “We can’t jump to silly conclusions and turn this into a witch hunt.”
“Did you two not hear Shelly just now!” Vex said through tense jaws.
“I heard her as clear as anybody in this area. But Gael’s right, we can’t just go attacking with our pitchforks, knives and clubs held high.” Rich ran his hand over his long hair and sighed. “Look, I’ll go question Jace and get to the bottom of this. Got it?”
“And what do we do?” Vex growled. “Stay here and cool our heels? I don’t think so!”
“Hey! I am still the reigning regent within the House of Lycans. I will handle this. Just stay here and try to cool down for now.”
Gael reached in his pocket for his cell phone. “I’ll see if I can find anything from the members in the club,” he said smoothly. “See if you can find out if the girl belonged to any of the houses. That way we’ll narrow down our search for her.”
“Good idea,” Rich nodded. “I’ll call you if I find anything.” He rushed over to his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and climbed on, starting the bike’s engine. He hoped this was all just a misunderstanding that Jace could easily confirm. As the days went on, Rich knew that nothing was ever that simple.
“And don’t say anything to any of the patriarchs until I return.” Rich yelled over the motor. “Got it?” He turned the bike around with a loud screech and took off into the night.
* * * *
Jace rushed over to Ariya. He quickly lifted her dress to cover her body.
“You have to leave. I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know who or what you are, and I don’t care to know.” He shook his head, mumbling to himself. “I don’t need this right now. What was I thinking bringing you here?”
Ariya relaxed her back muscles allowing the wings to settle. “I’m an Aziza. Not many mortals know of us, but the ones that do call us fairies. I come from the Dahomey Fairy realm. Up until now I had the job of assisting hunters on their quests.”
“Well, that’s wonderful. Look, say for argument’s sake you are one of the elusive Fey creatures. You are nothing at all what was described to me in those legends and, simply enough, you don’t exist.” He pushed the little voice in his head that said that was all a lie. She was exactly what was described to him in the legends. He did however try to convince himself that she didn’t exist and the sooner she was out of sight, she would be out of his mind. “I don’t know what Fairyland you think you fell out of but you need to get out of here. I can’t help you.”
“A little strange coming from a man who was feeding on blood not too long ago. I’m finding it hard to believe that you exist yourself.”
Jace opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, as if trying to keep up with his mind rapidly searching for the words. Shaking his head with a huff, he point toward the door. “That’s all well and good then. You can take your leave and we’ll pretend we never saw each other so we can continue living our blissfully ignorant lives.”
Ariya shook her head, waving her thick, curly tresses from side to side. “No. I don’t have anywhere to go. Plus, those rabid shifting Werewolf things are out there and—” She took a deep breath. “I came here so a dangerous creature won’t find me.”
“I’m sorry.” Jace walked to the door and grabbed the doorknob. He looked upon her coldly as if his emotions were now tucked behind a carefully raised wall. The same emotions he showed so freely before were now replaced by harsh indifference. “You should go.”
Ariya quickly stepped into the dress, threw her arms into the sleeves and yanked them over her shoulders. Her heart stung from his words, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of showing it as she put on a blank expression. She didn’t care anymore that he could read her thoughts. If she couldn’t stay, so be it. She was probably better on her own anyway.
“I can’t believe I came this far. I trusted you only to be thrown out to do it all over again.”
Jace remained silent, his expression stern.
Ariya mustered up all the strength she had to say her final words to him. “You have a good life, Jace Archane. I hope you gain yourself a conscience one day.”
With that, she grabbed the door from his grip and slammed it behind her.
* * * *
Who did she think she was? One of the Fey, right! Jace was well rid of her. A Fairy. Right here in his living room! He’d gone hundreds of years in the Highlands of Scotland to finally meet one of the all powerful and elusive Fey right here in his living room. Not bloody likely! He tried to ignore the fact that she shared the same characteristics: beautiful, ethereal, somewhat powerful and smaller in stature than he was and her skin was a smooth, warm and dark complexion. Still those wings. He didn’t take time to check and see if her wings were real, but he didn’t care. Although she did harness a physical power of energy he had not seen before, and wings, he couldn’t afford the time to deal with something that came out of a children’s storybook. Or anywhere else for that matter.
Jace sighed heavily, ignoring the twinge of guilt in his gut. He couldn’t help her, he reasoned with himself. Say there was some kind of strange creature after her. What could he do? Stand in front of her with his arms folded ordering the being to take his toys and go back home? Although, if it was true and this creature did exist as did Fairies, could that mean that many other immortals were possible as well? Jace scoffed. What did he care? It was out of his hands. She was probably just a runaway from somewhere and needed a place to stay. Fine. Anywhere, but here, he refused to turn his life upside down for some creature out of her element. He had to live his own life and she had to live hers.
He checked the time. It was nearing dawn. A soft curse escaped his lips. And he was relaxing so well just a few hours ago before the interruptions. Now the night was wasted and daylight would be upon the Earth soon. No time to indulge in a relaxing painting session tonight.
Instead he headed for the bedroom as he unbuttoned his shirt. What was he doing bringing her here anyway? He knew she wasn’t human, but he couldn’t imagine she would be some kind of Fairy creature. All he thought was—well, he thought—
Jace scoffed. He wasn’t thinking at all. Once again he was allowing his attraction to cloud his judgment although this time he was truly drawn to her. It was as if he was destined to be there at that place and at that time to help her.
He tried to push the girl out of his head, realizing that destiny was only for people who lived with their heads in the clouds, not for immortals trying to survive in the real world. She would do w
ell out there on her own, he was sure. With her powers and instinct, she can just blast them away with that weird energy thing she has. Besides, he had other problems to deal with concerning his uncle and the matters of the house.
With this calming thought in his mind, Jace climbed into his bed and settled down with a deep exhale. He tried to ignore the sweet flowery scent of her hair that lingered on his pillow. It was intoxicating and strangely calming to his senses. His mind returned to a calmer place in his life where he painted among the vast green hills of Italy during the Renaissance with Signore Da Vinci. A time he wished to return. Closing his eyes, he was thankful of the relaxing thoughts that led him to his peaceful rest.
* * * *
Rich parked his motorcycle outside of Jace’s apartment complex. The sun was already illuminating the fiery horizon amidst the blue atmosphere. He hoped he wasn’t too late to catch Jace before he turned in for the day.
He raced up the flight of stairs to the second floor hoping the exercise would calm him down a bit before the confrontation. He could’ve taken the elevator, but it was safer this way for now. Thankfully the guard recognized him and didn’t sense the high tension that almost gave away to his true nature.
Rich continued down the hall to Jace’s apartment and knocked on the door right away.
“Hey Jace, it’s Rich. Open up!”
Silence. Rich knocked a few more times.
“Jace, come on man it’s important!”
Rich placed his hands on his hips as he listened closely with his keen hearing on full alert. No one stirred on the other side. Jace must already be asleep by now. He wanted to give his best friend the benefit of the doubt, but Shelly’s murder was a heinous crime that would shake the Ashen Twilight House if Jace was indeed hiding a murderer on the other side of that door. Either way, he would have to get to the bottom of this before word got out.
Finally Rich turned with a sigh lingering on his lips and headed for the stairs, unaware of Ariya sleeping soundly in a little alcove to the side of the hallway.
Chapter 3
Blakedon fixed his dark velvet bathrobe as he peered through the French doors at the calm Arizona morning. The sky was clear like most days in the desert. Always a welcome addition to the city sounds and morning routines. His body was still on edge from the news he received the previous night about Jace Archane’s interference. If it wasn’t one Archane, it was another always intercepting progress. Their time would be up soon. He comforted himself with the thought everyday of his life.
He walked to the master bedroom suite overlooking the city and passed into his office. Tapping his speakerphone, he alerted the downstairs cook to prepare his breakfast while he showered and got ready for the day. He tried to focus on his surroundings to calm himself down. The house was warm, spacious and modern. The only one of its kind to feel like a real home, where he could hang his hat. He couldn’t believe the architects finally got it right over all these years. Houses started out pretty sparse, detached and basic and soon grew into modern living with hot and cold air available at the flip of a switch. Everything was available at one’s fingertips, they just had to pick up a phone, or push a button on the wall.
And now he had a supernatural creature of the elements at his fingertips. Life couldn’t get any sweeter. He breathed in deeply, feeling his power energized from the previous conquests. Fairy, Nightwalker and Shifter powers ran through his blood and it ignited his senses. A feat that Vlad Tepes himself couldn’t conquer, but he did.
Blakedon opened his robe and allowed it to cascade to the floor outside of the shower stall before he stepped in. He tapped the warm button and a spray of water sprouted from all sides, immediately massaging the tension away. Steam slowly filled the stall in a large cloud. He exhaled and relaxed his large, powerful muscles.
“Would you like some company?” A female voice reminded him that he didn’t spend the night alone. With a smile, he reached over and opened the shower stall. A tall, yellow eyed shapely beauty with a warm, dark tan complexion stood with her hands on her well-rounded hips. The only thing she wore was a smile. He couldn’t help licking his lips as he surveyed her from head to toe, allowing his gaze to linger a bit on her luscious full breasts. Her yellow eyes glowed blue before they settled into a warm cinnamon brown shade.
He needed to pamper himself right now. For in the future there would be a lot of work ahead of him. Stepping aside, he allowed her to come in. He was more than ready for a morning workout as he dove into her warm, soft flesh and prepared to work up a good appetite to devour breakfast—after he indulged in her.
* * * *
Ariya awoke from her dream and turned toward the noise coming from down the hall. She quickly wiped her eyes to focus on the figure. Wide shoulders stood out amidst a thick sturdy body. Long brown hair with hints of red cascaded to his back. She couldn’t quite see his face but from the way he carried himself and how he pounded his thick fist against the door, he seemed like the warrior type. The death felt so real and she remembered the girl from Jace’s apartment last night. The same one who had attacked her.
“Hey Jace!” The tall man yelled again.
Ariya tiredly wiped her eyes and decided to hold her place until the coast was clear.
* * * *
Inside the apartment, Jace reluctantly pushed away from his comfortable bed.
“What now?” he mumbled tiredly as he headed toward the front door. Similar to every other night, he felt like he’d been sleeping for centuries inside a desolate tomb. Probably where the mortals got the vampire coffin myth. If there ever was a true interview between a Nightwalker and a mortal during the birth of the legends, he would understand the continued associations with the legend. The whole undead rotting corpse angle he could do without, but the tombs analogy would earn them an A for accuracy. He yawned, trying to clear the buzzed feeling in his head.
“All right, all right. I’m coming.” He unlocked the door and cracked it open.
Rich pushed his way through, the door bounced against the back wall before slamming.
Jace looked at the door then at Rich again. “Well, hello to you too,” he said nonchalantly.
“Don’t give me that crap, Jace,” Rich growled. “Where is she?”
“Who?” Jace asked tiredly, wiping his eyes.
Rich moved in short, quick strides toward Jace who remained undeterred by his friend’s height and bark. “Are you hiding a woman here?”
Jace shot a wary gaze toward Rich. “As amused as I am at your interest in my sex life, I’m completely alone right now if you must know.”
“But before?”
“Come on, Rich. You know.”
“And I noticed earlier you and Shelly were talking pretty close at the Torch.”
“So I was helping her out with some problems.”
“Yeah, tell that to Vex .”
Jace went to his kitchen and pulled out a bottle filled to the brim with fresh red blood. He hoped the drink would calm his nerves. “Well, she ain’t here now in case you haven’t noticed. Why are you all tense, man?”
“Shelly came to us, bloody, beaten and dying. She said your name and something about a female here at your apartment. She was here, wasn’t she?”
Jace’s hand shook as he poured the bottle, missing the glass completely so the dark red liquid spilled onto his marble counter. He mumbled, grabbing a cloth to quickly wipe it up. “Shelly was here tonight, yes. Where did you find her?”
“She came staggering toward the Torch Club.”
Jace slammed the bottle on the counter and turned away. A soft curse escaped his lips.
Rich stepped forward with his eyes focused on Jace. “Wanna tell me what she was doing here?”
Jace didn’t bother to look up. It wasn’t the Lycan’s business what he did with his time, and he dared him to think he had any connection with Shelly’s death? “We were in the midst of sharing the pleasure of one another’s company.”
“The great bloodsucking Ca
sanova. Why am I not shocked that you welcomed the nearest female throwing herself at you?” Rich scoffed.
Jace poured his drink and swallowed quickly, his eyes angling on Rich as he pointed a finger at him. “I love you like a brother man, but you’re skating on some pretty thin ice there.”
Rich shrugged. “Does Vex know this happened?”
“No, he doesn’t. And I’d thank you to keep it that way.”
“Well, that’s just tough, Jace! She basically told him she was here and saw some girl.”
“She didn’t see anything,” Jace said raising the glass to his lips again.
“You sure about that?” Rich persisted. “What aren’t you telling me, buddy?”
Jace tried to calm himself down before he stepped over the line. Instead he gritted his teeth and turned away from his best friend. If his blood ran, it would be boiling this very minute. Jace wasn’t sure why he was feeling protective of the girl at this moment but either way he had a handle on it. If only Rich would butt out. “I’m taking care of it.”
“Obviously you’re not doing too good of a job of it. Shelly died uttering your name and the girl. It’s either you or this mysterious girl who will be punished by the law of the houses. If it came down to it, frankly I’d rather it be her.”
Jace was in front of Rich in the blink of an eye. His hand shot out, grabbing hold of the Lycan’s neck. Despite Rich’s tall stature, Jace slammed him against the wall and held him up by his throat as fire coursed through his body. He saw the passionate expression of Rich’s eyes mixed with pain and determination.
“What are you going to do, huh?” Rich yelled. “Who are you protecting?”
“Just stay out of it, Rich! I’m warning you!”
Rich growled sharply, eliciting a thick cloud of breath from his mouth. His handsome features morphed into a cross between a wolf and a man. His thick muscled body extracted even larger into a mass of fur and skin. Jace lost his grip on Rich’s thickening neck and he landed on the ground.
