Blood and Guitars

by Heather Jensen

  Chapter 42

  A curious thrill had accompanied my last excursion in a limousine, but the only thing I felt now was fear. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. I couldn’t face the vampires waiting for me inside without my game face on. They’d probably already smelled my fear, but I wouldn’t give them any more reason to suspect that I was guilty of anything.

  I bent low and climbed inside the car. I’d expected as much, but it still surprised me when I looked up and saw that all three Synod Elders were inside, watching me with omniscient eyes. They all wore dark overcoats that gave them the look of stern business-men. In a strange sort of way, I guessed they were the vampire version of exactly that. The Emissary who’d been holding the limo door moved to climb inside and I slid over to allow him room. The other went to the front of the car and climbed in next to the driver. Nobody said a word until the car shifted into gear and pulled away from the curb.

  I’d only ever heard of the mobile meetings the Synod had in limos like this, but I’d never expected to experience one for myself. I forced myself to remain calm, despite the fact that I was getting more freaked out by the minute. I would have given anything to disappear just then and never see the inside of a Synod limo.

  “So this is Aurora,” one of the Elders said slowly. It was Bylun Falck. I recognized him from the Lunar Eclipse Ritual. He’d been sitting on the left when Stanislav Vidic had addressed the crowd and led us in the ritual. I met his gaze with as little emotion as I could manage.

  “She is as striking as you say, Vidic,” another added. I knew this one as Dalek Vang. Stanislav only smiled.

  Great. They’d been talking about me. Being the subject of conversation for the Synod was only one of the many things I hadn’t aspired towards.

  “I can see now why Antonio favors her so.” Dalek was watching me closely. A shiver traveled the length of my spine. “Beauty is synonymous with vampires, but she is a rare gem even among our kind.”

  How long were they going to talk about me like I wasn’t sitting right there? I curbed my annoyance and bit my tongue. Bylun leaned forward now, resting his arms on his knees and inspecting me closely.

  “Do you make a habit of associating with humans?” he asked.

  “Yes.” I spoke plainly, knowing they had just caught me with Trey and the other guys, but still unsure of what they wanted from me. “I am an artist,” I continued. “The majority of my customers are human.”

  “I imagine that is true,” Bylun said, leaning back again.

  “Is the legitimacy of my business in question?” I asked, feeling a little bolder now.

  “Certainly not.” It was Dalek who spoke this time. “However, your judgment may be.”

  He reached into his black coat and produced a medium sized envelope which he proceeded to tear open on one end. He pulled from it an assortment of photos and offered two of them to me. My stomach dropped when I caught sight of the image on the first photo. It was of Trey and I standing near the back door of The Waking Moon. I forced my expression to remain blank as I flipped to the next photo. This one was a shot of Trey and I standing outside of Ken’s studio. Chase was in the background of the picture, too.

  “I don’t understand the problem,” I said, looking up from the pictures. “I was hired to do some art for this band.” As I spoke, invisible tentacles of power were probing at my mind but my mental defenses remained intact. I was grateful that I’d fed before meeting Trey at the studio tonight. The fresh blood coursed through my veins, enabling me to protect my mind better. They may be the Synod, but I would not allow them to force their way into my thoughts without a fight.

  “I see.” Dalek said. He handed me several more pictures. “Is this part of your business arrangement?”

  I took the photos from his hand and felt my stomach drop in horror as I studied the picture. It was of Trey and I kissing at the VMA’s. In a panic, I flipped to the next photo and found another of us outside the studio except that Trey and I were kissing in this photo as well. It had been taken last night.

  I swallowed and willed my heart not to race. “Where did you get these?” Not that I expected to get a real answer.

  “We have limitless resources at our disposal,” Bylun said. “Our source is not your concern.”

  But the fact that these pictures existed rattled me to the core. I knew I’d relaxed in my precautions lately but I’d have known if a vampire had been tailing me. I wouldn’t have missed something like that.

  “The human is innocent,” I stated. My real concern was for Trey and his safety. “He doesn’t know what I am.”

  Dalek leaned forward again. It was almost impossible not to be intimidated. “Is that so?” He spoke slowly, his eyes penetrating.

  “Yes.” My voice was resolute.

  “Are you willing to prove it?”

  I could still feel the power buzzing around my head, waiting for my defenses to drop just long enough to get inside. I realized then that it was most likely Stanislav probing at my thoughts. That would explain why he was so quiet, focusing his efforts.

  I opened my mouth to speak but paused, deciding to act instead. In a very deliberate mental gesture, I dissolved the protection around my mind and allowed Stanislav inside. No one spoke. The other Elders seemed to understand what was taking place. They waited patiently.

  After what seemed like an hour but was probably only a moment, the hum of Stanislav’s power retreated. Instinctively, I threw the walls up around my mind again before breathing a sigh of relief that it was over.

  “She speaks the truth.” Stanislav looked at me with intrigue. He seemed fascinated by what he’d gleamed from my thoughts. I couldn’t blame him, really. Vampires didn’t usually develop strong feelings for a human the way I had for Trey.

  In contrast, Dalek appeared disappointed. Bylun was almost impossible to read, and I wasn’t about to reach out to his mind. My instincts told me that would almost certainly be a suicidal move.

  “What do we do with you now?” Dalek said in a bored tone as if he’d suddenly lost all interest in the situation. As I waited to hear my fate, I could only hope that he had.

  “As I am sure you are aware, we cannot allow a vampire to maintain this kind of intimate relationship with a mortal.” As he spoke, Bylun’s voice strangely resembled that of my junior high math teacher’s. “It puts our entire society at risk.”

  “I understand.” I met their gazes earnestly. I did understand. I had known from the beginning how foolish it was to continue to see Trey. What I hadn’t known was how hard it would be to walk away from him in the end. Now all I could hope for was a chance to do just that.

  The Elders of the Synod exchanged brief glances that led me to believe there was an inaudible conversation taking place. Once again, I kept my power in check.

  “You will fulfill your business commitments and then cut all ties with the human and his associates.” Dalek’s words were an order. “We are not without mercy, but we cannot allow this relationship between you and the mortal to continue.”

  I nodded. “I will do as you ask.”

  Once more they exchanged meaningful looks. When they turned to face me again, it was Bylun who spoke. “Do not make us regret the decision to trust you.”

  Again I nodded. Were they really going to let me go with a slap on the wrist? I could hardly believe it, but before I could doubt the reality of what was taking place, the car pulled up to a curb and the Emissary who had been silent the entire ride opened the door and held it for me.

  “Thank you,” I said to the Elders, not knowing what else would be appropriate to say. Then I stepped out of the car, still clutching the pictures of Trey and I. The Emissary disappeared back into the ominous limo and it pulled away, disappearing around the corner. I turned to find that I was standing just outside the front door of The Waking Moon.

  Chapter 43

  I’d been dreading what I had to do next ever since the Synod had dropped me off at The Waking Moon last night. That f
eeling of dread had only worsened since Trey had called me half an hour ago to see if he could come over. The anxiety brought on by the thought of having to break up with Trey had plagued my dreams all day. The only thing keeping me going was the fact that Trey would be in danger if I didn’t do as the Synod had demanded. I loved him, and for that reason I would let him go.

  I was sitting in silence on my dark leather couch when I heard his car pull up in the drive. Trey walked to the front door and knocked three times in quick succession. I braced myself with a deep breath and got to my feet, going to the door. I opened it to see his lazy half-smile and those heartbreaking ocean-blue eyes.

  “Hey,” Trey said as he stepped inside. Then his arms were around me and his lips came down on mine.

  The kiss caught me off guard, and as a result, so did the flood of emotions that accompanied it. He was relieved to be holding me again, and it was easy to get caught up in the moment and let myself feel the same way. Even with all the lies that were circling back on me now, what I was experiencing in that moment was the truth. My hand fell to its familiar resting spot on Trey’s chest where I could feel every bound of his heartbeat, exaggerated by my heightened sense of touch. I enjoyed the rich sound of its beating and the way it thumped powerfully against my palm. Then I remembered that the reason for my fascination with his heartbeat was because it was so incredibly different from my own. That thought brought me back to reality and I pushed against his chest lightly until he pulled back, still grinning, and gazed at me curiously.

  “I missed you,” he said.

  “Yeah, I kinda got that.” I forced a smile back at him and then took his hand, leading him over to the couch.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said as we sat down. “Those guys last night had me a little freaked out. I was relieved to get your text and know that you were safe.”

  If only a creepy old rich man wanting some unique art was really the biggest of my worries. “I told you not to worry,” I said.

  “Are you kidding?” Trey gave me an exasperated look. “That’s like telling the mouse not to eat the cheese.”

  The smile that crossed my lips was genuine now. Did he have to be so adorable all the time? How was that even possible? This was going to be even harder than I’d thought. I would have to make it quick like ripping off a Band-aid. That was the only way I’d be able to keep my nerve and make it convincing. I took a deep breath and for the first time I reached out to Trey’s mind. It felt wrong for reasons I can’t even explain. In the beginning, I’d resisted the urge to read his thoughts because it was more fun to learn about him the hard way. Then, after a while, the desire to read his mind had fizzled out completely. It probably didn’t hurt that I got a glimpse of everything I needed to know each time we kissed. That was also probably why Trey’s mind felt familiar, despite the fact that I’d never reached into it with my power before.

  He didn’t suspect a thing. I was about to completely blindside him, and there was no way to save him from the pain.

  Trey furrowed his brows together and gazed at me expectantly. “You look like someone just kicked your puppy. Is … is everything okay? What’s going on?”

  “We need to talk,” I said, sobering up. He sat back, the muscles in his shoulders tensing. “Trey, this isn’t going to work,” I began, not knowing how else to say it. “We can’t keep doing this.” It was the truth, and I hoped that by sticking to the parts of the truth that I could tell him, I’d have a more believable argument.

  “Whoa, slow down.” Trey reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. “What are you talking about?” I was aware of his heart shifting into a higher gear, pumping harder at hearing my words, but I couldn’t stop now. I had to say it for his sake. It was time to get it all out.

  “I’ve been selfish.” I cast my eyes to the ground. The gravity of the situation was almost crushing. There was no question what was at risk. “We can’t be together. What we’re doing is dangerous.”

  “You and I?” He let out a nervous laugh and then realized I wasn’t joking. His eyes narrowed in confusion and his shoulders tightened. He let out a long, exasperated sigh. “You can’t be serious. What’s so dangerous about you and me?”

  “Don’t you see?” I was pleading. I slid closer to him and then regretted the move immediately. The scent of him rushed over me and I could feel my resolve crumbling. I held my breath for a second before I began again. “I’ve put you in danger.” My words hung heavy in the air while Trey struggled to draw meaning from them. He cast his eyes around the room, trying to avoid looking at me as he processed what I was saying. I read the frustration in his mind as he reached for the stack of mail on the coffee table and pulled out the pictures Dalek had given me last night as proof of my offense. I hadn’t meant to leave those lying around only half-covered up but it was too late now.

  “What are these?” he asked.

  I sighed. “It doesn’t even matter.”

  Trey’s thoughts stung my mind with perfect clarity, flitting from one explanation to the next as he searched for something that would make sense. What danger could we possibly be in? Was my past something so horrific that I worried it might threaten his reputation? His career? Was someone threatening me? Trying to blackmail me? Trey couldn’t imagine anything I could say that would change the way he felt about me. He would do whatever it took to keep me in his life. Thankfully, he couldn’t imagine the truth.

  He gazed at me, his blue eyes dark and stormy with worry. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. I don’t care what anyone says. I won’t leave you.”

  “You don’t understand,” I insisted, though my voice was barely above a whisper. “This isn’t something as simple as the media creating a scandal. The danger is real. I won’t be the reason you get hurt.”

  “Nobody is going to get hurt,” he insisted. “I can protect you. Don’t you know that I have the means to-”

  “You’d be safer if we’d never met. It’s my fault. You have to stay away from me. Promise me.”

  Trey shook his head and tossed the pictures in the air, throwing his hands up. “I won’t.” I cast my eyes up at him, at the tight set of his jaw, the raw determination in his eyes. I’d never seen him like this. He took me by the shoulders and moved forward until his face was only inches from mine. When he spoke again, his voice was raw with emotion. “Do you have any idea at all what you mean to me?”

  My breath caught in my throat and I paused. I knew exactly how he felt about me, and I had an undeniable reminder every time we kissed. I had known this wasn’t going to be easy. What I hadn’t expected was the overpowering desire to wrap my arms around him and protect him from the dark and dangerous world I had pulled him into. But I couldn’t do that. It was time to be mature, to put my selfish wishes aside and give Trey the last thing I could offer him: a chance at returning to his normal world and living out the rest of his mortal life as the front man of Catalyst. The only way to protect him now was to never see him again. And I would have to make sure of that, because it was clear by the look on Trey’s face that he wasn’t having it. So I did the only thing I could think of. I picked up my keys and the wrapped package I had sitting next to the couch and began walking. He followed closely behind me, just as I knew he would.

  “I’ll make sure the album art gets to Wes,” I added. “You’ll have it by the end of the week.”

  “Can’t we talk about this? Just tell me what happened. Whatever it is that scared you, I can help.”

  I kept on walking to the front door. I opened it and he followed me out into the night. I locked the door and turned to look him in the eye one last time. His beautiful eyes were full of agony. He looked like his heart was breaking. I couldn’t bare the sight of him like that.

  “You’re really just going to walk away?”

  “Goodbye.”

  “Aurora, wait….”

  I handed him the package and then walked to the driveway. He followed me for a few steps more and then stopped. I could tell fr
om his thoughts that he was defeated. I’d blindsided him all right. I just hoped it was enough to make him safe again.

  As I put the car in gear something warm and wet trailed down my cheek. I wiped it away with the back of my hand and pulled out of the drive. I left Trey standing by his car, holding the package I’d given him and looking more lost than a man should ever look.

  Chapter 44

  I drove straight to the only place in town I knew Trey wouldn’t come looking for me: Club Sanguin. And I was in serious need of some blood after what I’d just done to him. His thoughts echoed in my mind as I ordered a drink and went to find a place to sit. As I made my way through the crowd, which seemed exceptionally large tonight, I wondered if I was being paranoid or if vamps really were staring at me and whispering to each other.

  I tried to ignore them, but as I walked I realized they were definitely reacting to my presence. I couldn’t imagine why until I found one that had left his mind completely unguarded. I reached out with my power quickly and pulled a single image from his mind. What I saw stopped me in my tracks.

  My drink fell from my hands, shattering on the club floor. I spun on my heels and raced to the front entrance where a cork board was hanging. There were several flyers advertising blood delivery services, but the one that had my attention was directly in the center of the board.

  It was the same picture of Trey and I from the VMA’s that the Synod had shown me. In the margin at the bottom of the picture, the word “Proditor” was typed in bold red ink.

  I understood almost no Latin, but this word was widely known among vampires. It meant traitor. Panic rose in my throat and my fangs unsheathed reflexively. I took a defensive stance as I turned to stare into the faces of the other vampires behind me. Some of them were still watching me with amusement. Others had returned to their dancing and drinking. I caught Mark’s scent before he reached me, pushing his way through the crowd.