“Really.”
“So you’re gonna sign me?”
“Sabrina, my love, I knew I was gonna sign you the moment I laid eyes on you,” he stated. “Come on out of that booth and let’s celebrate. In a few months, you, darling, are gonna be on top.”
She smiled. “I love being on top.”
Sabrina joined Peter in his office alone. She had dismissed Weston; there was no reason to bring a bodyguard for a business discussion. However, the closed office door held her attention for a few seconds; Sabrina knew Weston was positioned behind it and was ready to defend her at a moment’s notice. It’s good he’s here, but what I really need is Mira.
Sabrina couldn’t shake the thought that, had Mira been there with her, things would have only gone even smoother.
“Today has been a very good day.” Peter circled the desk twice and ran his hand through his short brown hair before he sat. To Sabrina, it looked like he was trying to work off some nervous energy. “That being said, I’d like to make it a great one.”
Sabrina looked across the man’s grand walnut desk. Polished to a bright sheen, the oversized furniture sparkled, but that was not the glimmer that caught her attention. She had seen the look in Peter’s eyes before and could feel his energy as if it crackled in the air. He’s lusting…but for what? For me or my music?
“What do you have in mind, Peter?” Sabrina played along, leaning slightly toward him.
“You know, all this time, I’ve been so distracted.”
“Distracted?”
“You cannot imagine all that comes across my plate, Sabrina. So many problems, so few solutions. Which do you think you are?”
She played it coy. “A solution to a problem.”
“Good girl.” Peter laughed. “You are indeed that.”
Sabrina gazed over her shoulder at the door again. While she looked away, she heard Peter press the intercom on his desk.
“Yes, Mr. Rubie?” the intercom buzzed loudly.
“Excuse me a moment, love.” Peter waved and then pressed the intercom again. “I sent an email to legal. Call them. Tell them to send me the contracts immediately.”
“For whom, sir?”
“Sabrina London.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
A tingle on Sabrina’s back overtook her thoughts. It had been a while since she’d stretched her wings, and throughout the day’s excitement, she had been tempted to release them a few times. Now they were literally itching to get out from under her skin, and the copious sun that shined through Peter’s large office windows only fueled the fire.
“What else can I do for you today, Peter?” Sabrina asked.
“Of course, I’d love for you to sign my contracts before you go,” he answered promptly.
“I should probably read them first.”
He nodded. “I’m sure your father has an office full of lawyers, all ready to help you with any questions you might have.”
“My father—”
“Say no more.” Peter tapped his cell phone with his index finger. “Let’s make an appointment, just you and I, Sabrina.”
“Okay.”
“How about Monday morning?”
“Monday works for me.”
“Good. When we’re done with the paperwork, we’ll celebrate. There are some hidden gems in town, wonderful little bistros even you may not be aware of.”
“Lunch?” Sabrina gazed curiously across the desk, curious. She had thought Peter was going to make a bigger move than asking her to lunch. “Okay. I’d like that.”
“Aces.”
She exhaled in relief. Yet, with the last push of air through her pursed lips, she started to feel disappointed.
I’ve succeeded in all I’ve put my mind to today, so why should I care if he’s flirting with me or not? Damn you, Cade. Since you’ve left I’ve become…gah, needy.
“Something wrong, Sabrina?”
“Hmm?”
“Your face, you were sneering like you smelled something sour.”
“Oh, no.” Sabrina fixed her expression. “I was just thinking of my…ex-boyfriend.”
“Cade?”
“How did you—”
“You sung his name. The first song.”
Sabrina chuckled sarcastically. “I did.”
“A right old bastard, was he?”
“He was.”
The intercom buzzed and Peter answered it. “Legal sent the contracts to your printer, sir. You might need to make sure the device is on.”
“Thank you, Ms. McCullen,” he answered as he stood and crossed the room. “I have this horrible habit of shutting my printer down. I don’t know why. Sean calls it OCD. I think it’s the bloody light. This thing’s power button glows with this horrible red light. In the darkness, it’s like a one-eyed monster starring at me.”
Sabrina laughed. “One-eyed monster, huh?”
“Oh yes, like Polyphemus, the Cyclops that Odysseus faces in The Odyssey. Have you read?”
“No.”
“You should. It’s one of the great Greek epics.”
“Peter, you obviously know there’s no such thing as a Cyclops.” Sabrina considered telling him the truth about herself, and when she did, she felt shivers across her skin. “But there is—”
“Growing up,” Peter interrupted her suddenly, “I believed in all sorts of creatures: banshees, ghosts, goblins, the Loch Ness Monster even. It’s sad that, as we grow up, we’re so forced to live in reality. All our mythological monsters are replaced with real ones.”
“Real ones?” Sabrina frowned.
“Tyrants, terrorists, diseases, cancer…”
His words made her tremble. “I’ve known monsters.”
Peter nodded. “I guess a pretty young thing like you has had to face many more vile creatures than I have.”
Sabrina briefly considered how to respond, then opted for the simple truth. “You have no idea.”
A Longer Trip Than Expected
Cade pulled his motorcycle over to the shoulder. The temperature gauge had peaked a while back, he was low on gas, and his body ached with stiffness. But none of it mattered to him. He had finally reached his destination.
He stepped from his bike and dropped to his hands and knees on the rough asphalt. He rested his forehead on the ground and closed his eyes a moment.
Just a short trek into the desert, and then I’ll be home.
“Where the hell are we now?” Joe oozed from Cade’s pocket to the road as he spoke. “You promised me Palm Springs, remember?”
“I—”
“Sun, fun, laying poolside with the ladies,” Joe purred. “You know I can mimic a one piece like nobody’s business.”
“I need help.”
“Yeah? You don’t think I know that?” Joe grumbled. “Well, all this start-and-stop shit has really added days onto your short little trip, pal. Not to mention you’ve been damn quiet.”
Cade lifted his head up. “It’s the pull. I—I think you made it worse.”
“What? Me?” The slime sounded shocked. “Why’s it always gotta be about the slime, man?”
“Merging with you, it’s somehow made it worse.” Cade pulled himself upright, but just to his knees. “I swear. Damn it. I was warned. I knew better and still—”
“Still, you had to know. You vampires and your bleeding curiosity.” Joe oozed several feet some from side to side and then stretched himself up. “Where we at now?”
“The Arizona—New Mexico border.”
“What?” Joe blurted out. “The desert? You brought me out into the fucking Arizona desert?”
“New Mexico desert to be precise.”
“Pally, this arid air, it’s bad for my complexion, you understand, right?” Joe said with a pointed tentacle.
Cade stood up and walked across the narrow shoulder to the dirt and sand. He gazed out into the darkness; he could see the moonlit outline of the caves in the distance. He was close and it felt good, like gazing upon
a comfy bed at the end of a hard day’s work. “Listen to me, I just need a short rest.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. A short rest? Like this ‘short’ trip?” The slime’s voice rose. “Buddy, don’t hate me for not trusting you, but, man, if you’re here…with your clan, and you take a nap… Yeah, I very much doubt you’re gonna want to wake up when the snooze alarm goes off.”
“And that’s why you’re here, Joe.”
“You want me to wake you up?”
Cade trudged forward a few more steps before he answered. “Yes.”
“Do I look like a fucking alarm clock? Wait, I could look like an alarm clock.”
Cade looked back at Joe as he began to shake. Cade didn’t need him to change shape to punctuate his joke. “There’s no time for this. I need to go. They’re waiting for me.”
“And you need me,” the slime said. “Ain’t gonna be able to keep up with your two long legs looking much like this.”
“Be that dog again.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Cade looked back out into the dark desert. He could smell her—Dunyasha. She waited for him, her arms open. He wanted nothing more than to lie down beside her and sleep. The pull, he realized, it no longer yanked him down so much as pulled him toward her. He took a step and nearly stumbled; it felt like he had slipped on ice, but it was not frost beneath his feet—it was sand.
Joe dashed ahead of him the moment the transformation was done; he imitated the Taco Bell dog again, down to a collar with the bell logo on it.
“Stay close, Joe.”
“New Mexico, huh? Buddy, I figured you more for one of those fancy New Orleans guys,” he said. “What are you doing way out here?”
“Long story,” Cade replied. “We should’ve gone to ground in Kiev, but with all the political upheaval in Russia, Dunyasha decided against it.”
“Hey now, wait up.” Joe spun in a circle as he barked out the words. “You’re part of a Russian clan of vampires?”
Cade smiled, “Indeed, I am.”
“How the hell did that happen? You’re all deep-fried Southern and shit.”
“I told you, it’s a long story,” Cade chuckled. “One that ends with my sire asking me where I thought it would be safe to enter our slumber. I said—”
“Area 51?” Joe joked.
“No, but you get the idea.”
“Yeah, a secluded desert. Perfect hiding place, pal.”
Cade yawned. “Most clans returned to the homes of their leaders. Few clans went to ground in America,” he said through another yawn. “It’s better this way.”
“Hey, look here…” Joe faced Cade and backpedaled. “Before you sleep, we really should talk.”
“About what?”
“What you saw back there, you know, when we merged and all…”
“I saw what you wanted me to.”
“Yeah, no. You saw Pollution.”
“Well, how do I know what I saw was real?”
Joe stopped and dashed between Cade’s feet until he nearly tripped.
“Watch it.”
“You watch it, pally,” Joe snipped. “You questioning what I showed you? You need me to show you again? Huh?”
“No.” Cade gestured to stop with his hands.
“So what are you saying then, blood boy?”
“I’m saying…” He paused to rub his tired eyes. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“I get it, buddy, you’re drained and all. But you and your vampire curiosity got to ask yourself this: Was I in the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place at the right time?”
Cade stopped. He had not thought of it like that. Joe had an interesting point, but he was so damn worn out and his thoughts kept straying back to Dunyasha—and sleep.
“There was this one march, back when I was alive,” Cade reminisced. “I was exhausted. There was a long battle. We lost it and had to retreat.”
“Poor baby.”
“Oh, that day, Joe.” He shook his head. “It was hot as blazes out, and I so was thirsty I could’ve drank the Mississippi dry. I remember dragging my feet, the soles of my boots worn down thin as parchment. I could feel every rock, every stick—at times I swore I could feel every blade of grass under my feet. When we finally set up camp…”
“You slept for days?”
“I slept for days.”
“What happened when you woke up?” The slime looked over his doggie shoulder.
“I got up, shared a shot of whiskey with my commander, and went right back to battle again.”
“Well, I got news for you, mister soldier man. You sleep for days now and you’re gonna wake up to California missing. You sleep longer, well, you may wake up to a cave on beachfront property. You feel me?”
Cade understood him; he just didn’t care.
We’re close, so close. Wait… Cade focused on something in front of him. There’s something out there in the shadows. Something moving, and it’s heading directly toward us…
“Joe, stay behind me and keep quiet.” Cade motioned.
“What? You see something? Is it coyotes? Brother, they would not want to eat me. They’d be in for a big fucking surprise there.”
“Quiet.”
“Fine. Fine.” Joe motioned zipping his lip.
Cade shouted the moment he realized it was a person. “You there, sing out!”
“Privet, otets.” It was Russian. Hello, Father, Cade translated.
“Nicodemus?” Cade smiled.
“Da.”
Although still draped in shadows, Cade could see him now; Nicodemus looked like a walking brown bear. I always forget just how large he is, Cade thought, chuckling to himself. He’s nearly the size of one of those windego bikers. Nicodemus…so big and so serious. Still wearing his old military attire; that greatcoat’s seen better days.
Once they were close enough, Cade opened his arms and said, “Come give me a hug.”
Well over six and a half feet tall, Nicodemus towered over Cade when they embraced. He could hear Sabrina’s voice in his head, You two look like father and son. While Cade never agreed—his opinion that there was no resemblance at all—Sabrina was right; they were father and son, but it was Cade who was the parent and Nicodemus the childe2.
“Been too long, Nico.”
“Too long,” Nicodemus repeated in English before he kissed Cade’s cheeks.
“You look well,” Cade said as he stared at Nicodemus’s old craggy face. “Have you feed? Why are you awake?”
“The more of our people in slumber, the more of us who will join them. The more awake, the more that will awake. The slumber—”
“Yes, I know. I know. ‘The slumber has been decreed, and all shall feel the earth’s pull and sink into the dirt with each step like quicksand under their feet.’” Cade repeated the scriptures. “Trust me, Nico, I feel the pull.”
“Caves are close.”
“I know, but tell me, why are you awake?”
“Lessens there.” Nicodemus placed his hand on Cade’s back and urged him in the direction of the cave.
“Okay, okay. Let’s talk while we return to the cave.”
“Da.” Nicodemus nodded.
Cade hadn’t realized it until Nicodemus said so, but the pull had lessened some and there could be only one reason.
“Who else is awake, Nico?” Cade asked. “Is she awake?”
“She wants you back.”
“I know.” Cade sighed. “I hear her.”
“She’s disappointed you…you did not return when I did.”
“After helping Sabrina free those laboratory animals? That was never the plan. When I woke you back then, I told you I was going to stay away a little longer.”
“You did not return.”
“I’m here now.” The side of the cliffs, the openings to the caves, together in the darkness—Cade always thought they looked like a mask. A dark and lonely mask. “You didn’t answer me, Nico. Who else is awake?”
C
ade could see Nicodemus trying his best to translate the words in his head before he said them. “The ballerina. The twins.”
“Gerd and Georg?” Cade sneered. “Gah. Hell.”
“The—”
“Please tell me it’s not—”
“The Bloke.”
“Bloody hell.”
When Nicodemus nodded, Cade looked closely at his face; he could’ve sworn there was a hint of a smirk there. “You think that’s funny?”
“Bloody hell,” Nicodemus repeated.
“Wait…” Cade paused. “He’s not really awake, is he?”
Nicodemus shook his head.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day the colonel made a joke at my expense.” Cade looked at Nico’s stern face. “You knew if he was awake, I would’ve caught an ear-full.”
“Da.”
“Well, you got me. You got me good.”
“Da.” Nico slowly smirked.
“Is that a grin?” Cade gave Nico a slight shove to the side. “You never even flashed a hint of a grin when the German’s fled Stalingrad. Now look at you. Wow, I must be tuckered out to fall so easily into a trap laid by the driest Russian alive.”
“Not alive. Not driest.”
“Speaking of which. Is Petar awake?”
“The Vojvoda sleeps.”
“Good. He needs the rest.”
Closer to the caves now, Cade could see their rocky black faces. On the breeze was the scent of blood—two bodies worth. The smell made his mouth water and his fangs tingle.
“Who permitted a hunt?” he asked surprised.
Nicodemus shook his head and flatly replied, “Campers nearby.”
“Really? Out here?” Cade remembered how he told Dunyasha that the caves were in a remote location that was of no interest to hikers and campers. Apparently, he was wrong. “Who killed them?”
“They did.” Nicodemus pointed to the answer.
Cade grunted when he spotted the young German twins not far from the mouth of the cave. “I really wish those two boys would have stayed dead.”
“We killed them once.” Nicodemus nodded. “We kill them again. Szhech’ ikh v pepel.”3
“Hey, pally, isn’t it against the vampire rules to kill other vampires?”
Cade and Nicodemus turned together, eyes on the tiny dog that followed them.
Two Polluted Black-Heart Romances Page 8
