“Does he ever smile?” I asked Nick. “Because he sure didn’t tonight that I saw.”
“He’s Parks’ brother-in-law. Parks’ wife wants to—” Nick rolled his eyes, “—rehabilitate him because he’s got a drinking problem, so she made Parks hire him. He’s not allowed to drink on the job, none of us are, and it pisses him off.”
“Damn. Almost makes me feel sorry for him.” It didn’t really. If a human wanted to screw up their life, they deserved whatever happened to them. If I wasn’t working here I might have considered putting him out of his misery, but there was no way I’d take the chance of doing that with him—or any of the customers as far as that went. Killing Dex had been a stupid move on my part. If anyone at the bar had mentioned that I’d gone home with him I might have gotten a visit from the cops. That was something I could do without.
* * * *
For the next month I went to work, came home, and spent the rest of the night reading or watching movies on the new TV I bought with my first paycheck. On my nights off I cruised the city looking for suitable humans to eliminate.
It wasn’t that hard to find them, either. There were areas where drug dealers and the like hung out. I figured no one would miss them except the people they sold to. Was I on some sort of mission to clean up the city? Not hardly. I was going for easy prey. I’d enthrall them, get them to drive me somewhere well away from where I’d found them, and take them out. I’d decided that clawing them to death, as rewarding as that was on a personal level, was probably asking for trouble. Only so many people could appear to be the victims of a pack of feral dogs before someone, the cops, began to wonder what was going on. Instead, I’d feed well, heal the wounds, and then the moment I released my hold on them I’d strangle or stab them. The terror in their eyes when they realized there was no escape more than satisfied my need to eliminate one more human.
I had a few casual hook-ups with guys who came on to me while I was working. From what Gary said, the first time it happened, Parks had no problems with our doing that. “Just don’t let the guy think it’s more than a one-time thing,” he said. “Parks doesn’t want the kind of trouble some lovelorn dude can cause if he thinks he should become your one-and-only.”
“Trust me, that’s not happening,” I retorted with a laugh. “I’m not looking for anything serious. Casual is me, and then some.”
I was halfway through the second month on the job when things took a very interesting turn.
* * * *
It was a balmy Wednesday evening in early May, the first of my two days off, and I was ready to hunt for my next victim. I was tired of taking out drug dealers, even though they were easy prey—or perhaps because they were—and wanted to move up to someone more interesting.
I decided to dress better than my usual attire, putting on black slacks and a blue dress shirt because I was going to go to Cherry Creek. It’s an area of Denver where wealthy, entitled citizens lived and congregated. They spent an inordinate amount of time there showing off how special they were to the great unwashed who would look at them with a mix of awe and jealousy.
There a several high-end restaurants in and around the mall that’s the centerpiece of the area. I started with a couple inside the mall, finding a spot at the bar in each one where I could watch the customers while sipping a glass of fine red wine. I saw several possibilities for what I had planned—middle-aged couples dressed to the nines, exquisitely groomed, the women flaunting their jewelry, the men lording it over the poor waiter or waitress who had the bad luck of serving them. Possibilities, but none that piqued my interest enough that I had to eliminate them right this moment.
I expanded my horizons, exploring restaurants in what’s known as Cherry Creek North. The third one I went to was so chi-chi that the host gave me a tie because no man was allowed inside without one. For a second I considered strangling him with it but then acceded to his demands, put it on, and made my way to the bar. Once I had a glass of wine, I turned to lean back against the bar, scanning the dining room for suitable targets. It took a few minutes before I saw the perfect pair. They were seated with another couple at one of the tables, the women chattering away while their husbands talked quietly to each other as they began eating the meals the waiter had set in front of them. After the first bite of his steak, one of the men frowned and then gestured angrily at the waiter who was taking orders at the next table.
The exchange was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. By the time the man had finished reaming out the waiter because his steak was not cooked to his satisfaction the poor waiter was almost in tears. What made it even worse, the man’s wife was equally as abrasive as she supported her husband.
“You will regret that,” I whispered.
I almost dropped my glass when a voice whispered in my mind ::They’ll be missed, and that will raise a furor that will set every cop in the city looking for them, and then their killer when their bodies are found.::
Spinning around, I searched for the source both visually and mentally. I couldn’t find him, which instantly told me two things, one, he was invisible, and secondly he had to be much older than me to be able to hide his presence.
::If you’re going to eliminate someone like them, try one of the ritzy hotels. It will take much longer before they’re missed and no one will know where it happened.::
He had a point. Once I dealt with whoever I chose, I could return to the hotel and enthrall the desk clerk into believing they had checked out, and make him alter the records to prove it.
::Who are you and why do you care?:: I asked, wondering if he’d hear and respond.
::Let’s say an interested party and leave it at that for now,:: he replied.
That didn’t sit well with me. ::How did you know what I was planning?::
He didn’t answer, so after a few moments I set my glass on the bar, got up, and left. I wondered if he was following me as I went in search of a hotel that was expensive enough to draw in the rich and famous. All right, famous I didn’t care about. I wanted someone, preferably a couple, but I’d settle for a single man who felt he was ten times better than anyone else because of his wealth.
I found the ideal hotel for my plan, because it had a rooftop bar which suited me perfectly. I ordered wine and then wandered around, stopping occasionally to look out over the city while I listened in on various conversations. All the while, I kept my senses open in an effort to locate the vampire who had ‘spoken’ to me—to no avail.
Finally, I homed in on the man who would be my next victim. He was seated with two other men, was very drunk, and was raucously and loudly commenting on the various women seated around them. Some of them were with husbands or dates and from their expressions their men didn’t take kindly to what he was saying. Even the men he was with seemed upset with him but he waved off their reprimands, telling them drunkenly that he had a right to express his views because “I’m the richest man here and money talks.”
Eventually, his friends, if that’s what they were, gave up and left him sitting alone. I took advantage of that to whisper as I walked past his table, “You’re an ass, you know.”
He glared at me, which gave me the chance to enthrall him. I ordered him to go back to his room. When he got to the elevator I was right beside him, invisible. We entered it together, at which point I probed his mind to learn who he was, his room number, and if he had a car. He did, parked in the hotel garage, so I changed my orders and we went down to retrieve it. Since he was too drunk to drive safely, I did the honors.
Obviously I didn’t want his body found, or at least not too soon, so I drove into the foothills outside of Denver—but not to where I’d left Dex’s body. No sense in asking for trouble. Instead, I went farther up Route 6 to an area I’d explored when I was thinking about living in solitary splendor in the mountains. There were abandoned mines there, which would work quite well for the man’s final resting place.
An hour after arriving, I left—well fed and with my rage towa
rds humans again sated momentarily as I’d torn him to shreds before dumping his remains in one of the deep mines. I left his car parked in Central City, which was a few miles east of the mine, after wiping it down to remove any evidence I’d been in it. Yes, I watch crime shows and read mysteries, probably too many, so I knew that was a necessity.
Then, in short hops since I still couldn’t take long flights, I headed back to the hotel where I did as I’d planned, controlling the desk clerk before planting the idea in his mind that my victim had checked out and then having him alter the information on the computer to verify the fact. The last step was going up to the man’s room to pack his belongings, which I then put in a Dumpster behind a restaurant two blocks away, buried under a lot of rotting food. I got my bike from where I’d left it and made it home an hour before sun-up. I took a long shower to wash away the blood after putting the clothes I’d been wearing into the washing machine. Not that I expected a police officer to show up, demanding to know where I’d been when my victim disappeared, but I wasn’t willing to take the chance that wouldn’t happen if I’d slipped up somewhere along the way.
I hit the bed minutes before dawn and was asleep when the first rays of the sun began lighting the city.
Chapter 7
As soon as I returned from feeding Thursday evening, I got my clothes from the dryer, took them upstairs, and put them away. The slacks could have used ironing but I didn’t have one, so it wasn’t happening.
I was halfway down the stairs to the living room when I heard ::You did a good job of it, Lucas.::
I was tempted to ask sarcastically if he meant folding my laundry but thought better of it. Instead I replied dryly, “Thanks, I think. I’m glad it met with your approval.” I looked around even though I knew I wouldn’t see him, or even sense where he was—unless he wanted me too. Crossing to the sofa, I curled into one corner, wrapping my arms around my knees.
::It did. You’re quite clever for one so young.:: He snickered. ::It wouldn’t do for the police to come calling. In spite of your hidey-hole they might find you if they bring in dogs.::
Not something I’d thought about, which pissed me off, as did the idea he’d been here before and knew about it. His getting into the house was no problem as both of us were vampires. I refrained from saying anything about his ‘sneaking’ in. I doubted he gave a damn.
::Don’t worry, I don’t think that would happen,:: he said. ::More to the point, it’s not them you should be worried about. If one of us, other than me, finds out what you’re doing they’ll alert the rest of the vampires in the city and you’d be declared a rogue.::
“They’d have to find me, first,” I said with a great deal more bravado than I was feeling at the moment. “Why do you care, anyway?”
::It would be a shame to lose such an appealing, might I even say sexy young man.::
“Uh-huh. Try again.”
::I’m quite serious.::
I rolled my eyes and asked, “What’s your name? I’d like to know who my stalker is.”
That earned me an amused laugh. ::I’m keeping an eye on you, but I’m not stalking you per se. Not that it will do you much good, but my name’s Axel McLeod.::
“You have got to be shitting me. Like ‘there can be only one’?”
::Don’t even go there,:: he snarled. ::I can’t help it if some idiot…:: He sighed. ::Besides which, it’s not spelled the same. Mine’s without the ‘a’.::
“Still, it is sort of fitting, given that you’re a vampire who with luck will live forever.”
::Not sure it’s luck. Do you think you were lucky because you were turned?::
“Before I answer, would you mind revealing yourself? Talking to empty air is disconcerting.”
He did, and it was still disconcerting. He was opposite me on the sofa, one arm draped languidly across the back, his fingers mere inches from my shoulder. I pulled away but didn’t get up as I studied him. He was probably two inches taller than my five-nine, with long blond hair that hit below his shoulders, and intense blue eyes. His chest was muscular, which was immediately apparent because he was wearing what I’d call a poet’s shirt that was open to the waist, tucked into a tight pair of jeans.
I licked my lips before I realized I had which brought a grin to his lips as he said, “Like what you see?”
“You know I do,” I tapped my forehead. “But that’s beside the point. You asked if I thought it was lucky that my Sire turned me. Honestly, I’m torn on how to answer. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that vampires are far superior to humans, who by the way I find to be disgusting, self-serving creatures. Still, while I was human I enjoyed my life for what it was. Yeah, I wouldn’t have minded being a bit richer.” I chuckled. “Hell, a lot richer. But still it wasn’t a bad one.”
“Would you go back if you had the chance?” he asked, his gaze locked on my face.
“No…” I paused momentarily, wondering if perhaps I would. Then I shook my head vehemently. “No. Never!”
“Figured as much, although you probably felt differently a first. Now, you have a project that makes it worthwhile being a vampire.” He smirked. “I doubt the others would agree but that’s their problem.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
Axel shrugged. “You seem to be eliminating scum and assholes. Keep it to that and I’m okay with it. However—” he pointed a finger at me, “—if you go after someone like Comstock again I will personally take you out.” I wondered if he knew about Dex, and quickly found out he did when he added, “That man you slept with was also a no-no in my book.”
“How the hell long have you been watching me?” I asked.
“I live close to the motel you stayed at and sensed your presence and that you’re a Fledgling, so I decided to keep an eye on you in case you needed help…or did something you shouldn’t.”
“Why would I?”
“You’re barely out from under your Sire’s wing. I didn’t want to find out he hadn’t trained you properly, which happens sometimes.” Axel smirked. “And then there’s the fact you’re rather cute. If I jumped in to save your sorry ass it would give me a chance to get to know you.”
It was my turn to smirk as I teased, “So you’re only after my hot body.” Yeah, I was relaxing because he didn’t seem like a bad guy now that I was getting to know him.
“I wouldn’t turn it down if it was offered to me,” he replied with a wink. “Back to what we were discussing, though. You shouldn’t have killed Comstock. He didn’t deserve it.”
“Yeah, probably. It was the only way I could figure out to make certain I wouldn’t have problems keeping the house.” I explained how it had happened, although I had a feeling he already knew. If he did, he didn’t say so.
“Do you regret it?” He asked.
“In a way, I suppose. He was nice enough, but he was a human, same as Dex. Nice guys who were in the wrong place at the wrong time and ran into me. I hate them, Axel. Every damned fucking one of them. Okay,” I added after a brief pause. “Not all of them I suppose. I’ve met a few since I got here who are decent enough.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” he said softly. “I…It’s…I never had the nerve to do what you’re doing, as much as I wanted to at times.”
“As long as you’ve probably been around you never tried, even once?”
“No. At the back of my mind there’s always the thought, ‘What if I got caught?’ Not by a human, that wouldn’t happen. I’d be out of there before they realized what was going on. But if another vampire saw me killing…”
“The way you saw me do it.”
“Yeah. You were lucky it was me. Anyone else and we wouldn’t be sitting here talking about it. You might not believe me but I’ve been playing lookout when you killed them.” He patted my knee. “You’re a bit naïve when it comes to staying safe. Or, I guess, too involved to taking a human out to be aware of what’s around you.”
“So you’ve been my bodyguard.”
Axel s
hrugged. “It gave me something to do. I’m not around every hour of the night, but I have been keeping tabs on you. Even more so after you killed Comstock.”
“Why wait until now to reveal yourself?”
“You were being stupid.”
I bristled momentarily, even though I got that he was right. At least about killing someone who’d be missed because of who they were.
“Stick with the punks,” he said. “Or, if you insist on going after some high-and-mighty big guy, at least have a plan.”
“You’ve got a point,” I replied. “Making it look like they were attacked by a feral dog might work once, but after that the cops would begin to get suspicious.”
He laughed. “You think?”
“Will you help?” I asked impulsively.
He slid closer, putting his hands on my knees. “For a kiss, I’m yours.”
I met his eyes, then moved my gaze down to his lips, murmuring, “You come cheap.” For a second I wondered if kissing him would be a mistake and realized I didn’t care if it was. I leaned forward, brushing my lips over his. They were soft, inviting, I wanted more. I cupped the nape of his neck under his hair and kissed him hard. He returned it passionately, his arms wrapping me in a tight embrace.
::I’ve wanted to do this almost since I first saw you.::
::Took you long enough to make it happen,:: I replied.
::Yeah, well…:: He intensified it before pulling away. “By the way, I’m not cheap,” he told me. “Consider that your first payment for my hanging around.”
“Or more for letting me know that you are?” I asked. “You’ve been doing the hanging around thing for quite a while now from what you said.”
“Sue me.” He kissed me quickly before moving back to his end of the sofa. “I wanted to be certain I wasn’t making a mistake about you.”
I Hunt by Night Page 6
