by Sophia North
"Well done. You found me in record time. It took me an hour to find the damn rabbits the first time I came here."
"Come here often, do you?" Hannah said, sliding in opposite her.
"No, not at all. But my old mentor loved the place...it grew on me, I guess."
Hannah had never heard Melinda talk about her past. She was usually quite a tight lipped customer.
Three years her senior, Melinda's assignment as her Mentor had surprised Hannah. The young woman had been with the OO since childhood, following the death of her parents who had been associate OO members. With no other family to care for her, the Motherhouse made sure it took care of their own by taking their young daughter in.
Melinda became a fully ordained member in her early twenties after completing her undergraduate degree. It was unusual concession from the Order to admit someone so young. Most future prospects were approached in their twenties as part of their recruitment, but not admitted. Melinda, however, had been the exception, in so many ways.
Hannah and she had become friends of a sorts. But over the past year Melinda had changed, growing more withdrawn and secretive.
And after her mentor's strange visit, Hannah had not been able to stop thinking about what she'd lifted from Melinda's thoughts. Which made her drink offer too tempting to refuse. Hannah intended to learn more.
"I'm glad you rang...you saved me."
"From a ball?" Melinda asked, gesturing at Hannah's outfit.
Hannah laughed. "Worse. The opera."
Her mentor shuddered. "Sounds like hell."
Sipping her drink, Hannah noticed Melinda was not exactly dressed for a night out clubbing either. Her rich honey blonde hair was pulled back into a severe bun, her navy business suit rather officious for a drink in a rock club.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company again so soon? Is it the case?" she asked. "I know you said it was time sensitive but it's only been 48 hours since you set me the task. I know I'm good but I'm not that good," she laughed, but was secretly anxious about why her mentor had invited her there.
Melinda pushed her specs up her pert nose. "I've been worried about you."
Hannah was slightly taken aback. "Why?" she asked nervously, concerned her double agent status may have been tipped off.
Melinda shrugged slightly. "I...sensed something in your house the other day. Have there been any strange happenings since you've moved in?"
Hannah's heart thumped in her chest. Each night she’d been plagued by bizarre happenings, with the most alarming occurring that very morning. She'd woken up to find every closet door and cabinet drawer in her room open. Her clothes were flung all over the room. But worse still, she was completely naked. The dress shirt she always slept in had been mysteriously removed and laid in tatters on the floor.
Swallowing, she nodded. "Do you know what it is?"
Melinda had never discussed the full extent of her gifts with Hannah. She knew her mentor was able to read objects and that was all. Her confessing to more was a major breakthrough in their relationship.
"I'm leaning towards a poltergeist...but the energy patterns are not exact. There is something else in the signature, something I've only ever come across once before."
Hannah had never done any real field work yet. She was strictly on the research side of the equation. Whereas Melinda had many years of experience.
The pulsating sound of rock music took on a more frenzied beat. It felt like it was thumping in Hannah's chest, matching her breathing.
Slow down, her inner voice chided. Concentrate.
Muffled voices filled her head as she concentrated until eventually the cacophony eased, and the only inner voice she heard was Melinda's.
Should I tell her the truth? David Drake will have my hide...but danger. She is in danger.
Snapping back from focusing on Melinda, Hannah's eyes widened. Melinda thought she was in danger! What wasn't she telling her? Determined to draw it from her mentor, Hannah asked, "You said you were worried about me, does the signature you detected have anything to do with the OO?"
Melinda visibly paled at her query. She hesitated briefly, but after a shake of the head, decided to answer honestly. "I should have told you ages ago...but I was too confused. The OO know about your side project with Horatio. I was tasked with trying to get you to fess up. I'm sorry for deceiving you."
Hannah took a sharp intake of breath. So the OO was spying on her. But what the hell did that have to do with the presence in her house?
"Are the OO behind my mysterious visitor?"
"No...at least, I don't think they're capable of it. And I cannot believe they would ever do such a thing. They are my family...no, it's impossible."
Hannah wasn't so sure. The more she delved deeper into the OO the more she questioned their motives.
"Who am I danger from if not them?"
"Warlocks."
Something triggered inside her. The news wasn't surprising. But why? Shouldn't she be shocked to hear Melinda admit Warlocks existed?
Hannah sat back. "I need another drink."
Melinda nodded in agreement. "My round."
Chapter Twenty-Six
THE FRESH AIR FELT heavenly as Hannah emerged from the club. The streets had a distinct abandoned vibe given the late hour. Wrapping her flimsy silk shawl around her shoulders, Hannah made her way along cobbled laneways convinced if she found her way back to the Opera House she'd find a cab much quicker.
Finally finding her way to the iconic Convent Garden market area, Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. She was very close to her final destination and decided it was time to have a short rest. Her feet were killing her and the tall stone pillars running the length the Apple Market, looked an excellent spot to recoup.
As she leaned against one of the columns, a strong breeze ruffled tendrils of hair against her flushed cheek. The pillar's cool stable surface helped the world from spinning. She and Melinda had ended up drinking far more than was ladylike to consume but after learning warlocks were possibly trying to harm her, Hannah felt a bottle of Jack would not be amiss.
Suddenly a strong ripple of energy coursed through her body. She'd been feeling them on and off for weeks...but only at night and usually when she was working late in her new library.
"One should be more alert to the dangers that lurk on London streets at night," Gabe quipped, materialising from the other side of the pillar to lean casually against it.
"Gabriel," Hannah gasped in recognition. "You frightened me."
His immediate appearance following the tingling sensation she'd felt made her wondering if it had been his presence that she'd been detecting all this time? Which would certainly be gratifying to know. Hannah had not seen or heard from Gabriel since their night in the library. It was most strange. She'd been certain he wanted more from her than a congenial conversationalist.
Devouring the sight of Hannah decked out in her formal wear, Gabe's hungry stare roamed up and down the young beauty in admiration. Her shimmering teal dress clung in all the right places, her delicate wrap hung loosely from her elbows to expose lightly sun-kissed skin.
It had been far too long since they'd last been in one another's company, but sadly only he knew of the pleasure they'd shared at Claridge's. And the memories had not ceased to torment him. It was why here was there. He'd missed being close to her. His secret nightly check-ins were no longer enough. He had to speak to her - hear her voice, smell her scent.
"You should be grateful it is me and not another...less gentlemanly vampyre you've attracted to your side. London is full disreputable cads, you know." He flashed to stand in front of her, his body so close Hannah pressed back against the column.
"And so you just happened to be in the area, keeping an eye on me?" she teased. "Afraid I might be swept off my feet by someone tall, dark and dangerous?"
"Something like that," Gabe countered, tracing his finger along her collarbone. "Such beauty is hard to resist."
"You ha
ven't had a problem in doing so."
"Hmmm, you think? Believe me, cara mia...my resistance has been futile." Gabe drew closer, pressing his body against hers. "You are unhappy with how stand-offish I have been?"
"Stand-offish? More like invisible," she countered, her breathing growing heavier with desire. He brushed her cheek. His touch sent shivers tingling along her spine.
"Not so invisible now." He captured her lips in a soft kiss.
Hannah ran her hands up his hard chest to circle his neck. She'd been dreaming about him for weeks, longing for him to hold her...and so much more.
Brushing her lips gently, Gabe took his time teasing her into submission, until she took over and deepened their embrace. At which point, his tenuous control slipped and he pinned her to the column so he could ravage her mouth with his tongue.
Lost in the headiness of their mutual desire, Hannah rubbed her body against his, loving it as she felt him harden. Maybe it was the alcohol in her system, or the ambrosia of his kisses, but from the maelstrom of passion came her visions.
The first being of her on a bed, Gabe between her legs...licking...sucking. Oh god, it felt amazing. She didn't know a tongue could do such delightful things. The vision then fast forwarded to her sitting at a table with him, eating a meal. Then on it went until she saw Penny arrive...end scene.
Hannah pushed against him, trying to free herself. "What have you done?" she accused, her voice rasping.
He didn't know how she'd managed it, but one look at her outraged face told him what he'd dreaded might happen had in fact occurred. She remembered. Everything.
"I can explain..." he offered, but Hannah was in no mood to accept his false words.
"Explain why you stole my memory?" She pounded against his chest, tears of frustration staining her cheeks. "You had no right...and we, you and I...how dare you take advantage of me like that!"
Gabriel tried to calm her. He grasped her arms, but she reacted with such fear and terror, he immediately released her. "Hannah...I did it to protect you."
"You did it for your own perverse pleasure! You did it to control me, like you have to control everyone and everything around you. You are a monster. Stay away from me or...or I don't know what I'll do, but believe me it will not be pleasant."
Breaking free, she fled into the night.
Gabe let her go, his thoughts reeling from her ability to break his mind control over her. She shouldn't have been able to do it so soon, and yet, somehow she had. What kind of creature was she? A simple seer, she was not. No, she was much more than that, but Gabriel had no idea what.
Tiberius.
Tiberius would know what it meant. Unfortunately he and Gabe were having another one of their tiffs and not on speaking terms. But he needed answers.
Scanning the area with his senses, he searched in hope the old man may be near and still watching over Hannah. Sure enough, he detected his energy in the direction Hannah had fled.
Entering Tiberius's head, Gabe accessed his vision and saw he was watching Hannah get into a hackney cab. He should have known Tiberius would continue to monitor her, despite their current frostiness.
Are you ready to have a reasonable discussion yet? his old mentor silently chided him, sensing Gabe's presence within him.
Pissed with his condescending attitude Gabriel whooshed from the old man's head and opened his eyes. Above, the youthful crescent moon peeked through passing clouds, promising the illumination of its face, as the cycle from new to full to new began once again.
If only relationships were of the same ilk as the moon. Perhaps then Gabe would be able to release his wrong doings and start anew with those whom he had hurt...disappointed.
But as it stood, he carried too much baggage. And his treatment of Hannah had just added another trunk to already overflowing cart. Ditto for his relationship with Tiberius. As far as Gabe was concerned Tiberius could take his 'reasonableness' and shove it.
Turning away from his mentor's offer, and knowing Hannah would be seen safely home, Gabriel sped into the night in the opposite direction.
The wind sighed. Another time, it whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
GABRIEL STOOD AT THE bar, watching the crowd let off some steam on the dance floor. Mitchell's was humming tonight. At his side, Vlad sipped a pint of ale, scanning the interior looking for their reason for being there. The Lang brothers.
Rumour had it, they'd recently purchased the place. It was a bold move by the werewolf clan. There were treaties to abide by and their recent London purchases absolutely violated them. Hence why he and Gabriel were there. Shit was afoot and needed to be investigated.
"So, mate. I hear you are persona non grata at the moment with the leggy British Museum professor sorts. Dare I ask what you did? Penny refuses to tell me much. Goes on and on about how girl power needs to stick together and other such nonsense."
Gabe's jaw tensed at the question. His problems with Hannah were not up for discussion.
Vlad saw the reaction and smiled into his glass. Very well, if the Consul cunt did not want to talk about it, no skin off his nose. But the vamp could at least say something. He'd been silent for most of the night.
"You believe the Lang brothers have something to offer us? I find their recent moves nothing to get too excited over," Gabe remarked, ignoring the jibe about Hannah and him.
The vamp was one cool character. Perhaps as a globe trotter he didn't fully appreciate the danger posed when the pecking order of a place was being challenged. The vamps could not let werewolves think they were King shit on their territory. This would lead to further incursions and ultimately confrontation. And they had enough on their plate without inviting that sort of trouble.
There was also the small matter of sussing out where the Lang clan's loyalty laid. They were powerful enough to tip the balance of power in the Serpent Brotherhood's favour.
Vlad whistled low. "Amazing. Hannah's really fucked with your head, if you fail to see the threat. Give over, mate. Penny filled in a few details for me, once she received her hide tanning from Miss Woodville for our part in your scheme to deceive her.”
Seeing Gabe's scowl, he hastened to add: "We told her nothing about you healing her with your blood, if that's what that face is about. Personally, I'd have done the same thing, if I was you. But women...they have a tendency not to agree with us."
Gabe swallowed another mouthful of scotch and refused to answer. His tormented thoughts about how Hannah had reacted to her returned memories were not something he wanted to share. She'd called him a monster. And he knew she was right. He was, but not with her...with her, he was different.
Every night since their heated exchange, he'd still gone to watch over her. Just to be near brought him comfort. It was fucking ridiculous. He was a Praetor and immune to such emotion.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe noticed a bearded, I-live-in-the-countryside man approaching. Werewolf. Thank god, he was finally going to be saved from Vlad's constant questioning.
"Fine, keep your relationship issues to yourself. At least, I still have been invited to the house warming party tonight...did you receive your invitation?"
Gabe smirked as he set down his glass. "Hannah and I are finished. And tonight I plan to complete the final ritual. As you know, the best way to get over someone is to get on top of someone else."
Vlad was about to make a witty retort when the arrival of Farmer Joe interrupted him. Quickly turning to confront the man, he grinned magnanimously. "Bout fucking time, Wolf. I was wondering how long it would take to gain the Head Dog's attention."
The werewolf growled low in his throat. "Vampyres have been banned from the club. I've been instructed to escort you out."
"Tell Marcus Lang, Gabriel Rosetti requests an audience. If he is the intelligence gatherer he's famed for being, he'll want to see me."
Farmer Joe's eyes glowed menacingly. "I have my orders and unlike your sort, I follow them. Let's go."
Gabe gaz
ed deeply into the upstart's eyes. "Go and deliver my message."
The wolf stiffened, his mind no longer his own, and went to do as he was bidden.
Vlad was impressed. "Can I do that shit? As a vamp we had a certain degree of mind-control power with werewolves, thanks to their human genes, but our hold was never full proof because of their being supernatural too."
"As a Praetor, you have the ability to control anyone of mixed blood, be they human or supernatural - and this includes other vampyres, but not Praetors. Only I can control a Praetor, which reminds me, we will need to start your training now that you have transformed."
Considering what Gabe had just said, Vlad's next question was inevitable. "Yet, Hannah was able to break your mind control over her - care to explain?"
"Must you continue with this avenue of questioning? I am not looking to go over irrelevant territory."
It wasn't like Vlad did not appreciate his position. Relationship issues were not a mystery to him. Being married to his Dragon was like a continual marathon of ups and downs - add in her hormonal mood swings and there were days when he questioned if he did anything right. But even he would admit, the making up part was particularly enjoyable. And with his returned vamp ways, his wife had been exceedingly grateful for them too.
"What sort of training?" he asked, dropping the subject. Gabe could continue to wallow, until he was ready to ask for help. Something he appeared to have serious issues in doing. Baby steps were required with him.
"The sort that involves heavy combat and mental exertions. We will begin tomorrow back at the gym. I look forward to it. It's been difficult to find the time to stay in condition with the time I'm putting in at Lowerton."
Finally, a subject he was willing to open up about, duty. Vlad's favourite topic of conversation. He'd always felt a strong sense of it, even more so now that he was going to be a father.
"I'm up for that, mate. Office life is proving to be a fucking bore. Running a company in the 21st century is not all it's cracked up to be. Do you know they have shit like HR departments that basically listen to people moan all day about how much money they make? It's fucking ridiculous! I'm going for a total restructuring of the place."
