by Dawn Judd
Chapter Seven
Rain started coming down before I even exited the alleyway. I was actually grateful for the rain. Any traces of my scent the burning herbs might not have covered would be obliterated by the rain. I had no doubt that the woman would do her level best to destroy any evidence of my visit. She was not comfortable with my presence herself, and she took me seriously when I had told her keeping Vyktor away from me was in his best interest.
I somehow doubted that it was my words that convinced her. It was something she saw; vision of the future, perhaps. Either way, I felt that Vyktor was not going to be an issue any longer. Well, at least in the immediate future.
The two hour long drive from New Orleans to Gautier took way too long. Now that I was this close, I was anxious to see Jake. I was only able to contain my excitement by constantly reminding myself that it would not be a great reunion if I managed to wreck my car before I even got there. So I kept it under the speed limit, and managed to avoid the slick spots on the highway.
I had forgotten how much I liked it here. The gulf coast was so different from the other coasts. It was more laid back and relaxed. There was an old feel to it, like some things had not changed much over the past couple of centuries. I would know. I was there for some of it.
It had grown quite dark, and I almost missed the Gautier exit, lost in my thoughts at that particular moment. I nearly cut off another driver to get across the highway to the exit. The driver, clearly upset with me, honked as he went by. I could see him in the darkness, flipping me off. I smiled. He might’ve thought twice about that if he knew what I was. In my younger days, I might’ve put him in his place. But times were different. I was more even tempered now, and much more careful about keeping my secret.
Once I cleared the exit, I pulled over to the side of the road. For all the thinking I had done over the past two days, I had not actually thought about what I would say or do once I saw Jake. I actually had to get out and walk around for a minute or two to clear my head, because I was suddenly very nervous and afraid of what might happen. What the hell was I doing here? Christ, I had to be insane to have thought this would work.
As if reading my thoughts, Mack’s number suddenly flashed across the screen of my phone, as it began to ring. I took a deep breath and answered it.
“Hey, Mack!” I tried to sound enthusiastic.
“Are you there yet?” he asked, anxiously.
“Not quite, Mack. I just got off of I-10. I had to make a stop first, remember?”
“Oh,” he said quietly, and then was silent for a moment. Finally,he continued.
“How did that go?” He sounded worried.
“Not as bad as I thought it might. I didn’t see him, only the woman he was staying with.”
“She saw you? Are you insane?” Mack was almost frantic now.
“Mack, she won’t say anything. Trust me. I’m not sure what to make of the visit, though. She says he’s back, and he hasn’t found anything solid. He’s more frustrated than anything.”
“She told you that, just like that? How can you trust her?”
“She thinks I’m tying to help him. She would do anything to protect him Mack. If she thinks that finding me could bring him harm, then she will do everything in her power to stop him from finding me.”
“I see. God, I hope you’re right, Khallie. Still, it would be nice to know what he was looking for; what tipped him off. Hell, it would be nice if we could just get rid of the rotten bastard” I winced as he said the words. I could never tell him that I couldn’t bring myself to kill Vyktor. I suddenly remembered something the woman had said.
“Mack, she said something about a man coming to see him before he left for California. I got the impression that very few people came to him there, at her place. I also got the impression that she thought this visit was significant. Do our guys know anything about a visit?”
“I’ll check into it.” Mack seemed hopeful that we were on to something. “Oh, and I may have something on the men that killed Raymond.”
“Oh?” I stopped in my tracks; my heart racing.
“Nothing solid yet, Khallie. But we’re working on it. I’ll give you a call when I have something, I promise.”
I sighed. I hated it when he did that. He knew something, and he wasn’t telling me. I knew it was just because he wanted to check out everything first, but I still wanted to know what he knew. I didn’t push it though. I knew it would do no good.
“Well, you better get yourself to Jake’s. It’s getting late there, you know.”
“I know, Mack. I just had to stop and breathe for a minute. I’ll be there in only a few minutes.”
“Good, no changing your mind now,” he laughed. “Talk to you in a few days,”
The phone went dead, and I closed it and shoved it back in my pocket. I walked back to the car, and quickly climbed in. I took one more long deep breath before I closed the door. The air smelled of damp earth and grass, with a faint hint of odor from the distant paper mill.
I started my car, and as I turned the headlights on, I noticed several fireflies light up the ditches beside me. I could easily stay here, if I could just let go of everything that was holding me back. I put the car in drive, and pulled back onto the road.
The drive from the interstate to Gautier was short. Soon I was pulling up the stoplight at highway 90. My heart sped up. It would be a matter of minutes before I would see Jake again. I waited impatiently for the light to turn green. It seemed to take forever.
I looked around,noting that not much had changed since the last time I was here. Just down the road there was the bank on one corner and the gas station on the other. I drove past them when the light finally changed, turning towards the railroad tracks. I wondered if the fruit vendor still came to the little convenience store. Such a nice guy; he was always very sweet to his customers.
Although I had no use for fruit myself, I did often go with Jake to pick up some fresh peaches and tomatoes. A small sign, left behind in the store parking lot, confirmed that he was indeed still setting up shop. I would have to come visit him tomorrow. I wondered if he would remember me.
I frowned suddenly. “If I’m still here tomorrow,” I said out loud. I had no idea what the night would bring. I tried to push the thought aside, and kept driving forward. When I reached my corner, I turned slowly onto the road. There were always kids playing on this road, and one had to be careful where they were going, even after dark. Not to mention that the streets were so confusing once you got off the main road. There were no straight lines, each road twisting off into a series of curves and cul-de-sacs.
It had been a while since I had been here and I didn’t want to get lost. I managed to find my way easily, however, as though I had driven through here just yesterday. A few moments later, I could see Jake’s jeep parked in front of his house. The house looked dark, but as I got closer, I could see a small flicker through his front window. “TV.” I thought to myself.
I didn’t stop at first, but instead, drove past his house and around the small loop of houses that curved back to the main road. I came around again, and slowed as I approached his house the second time. I chided myself, as I slowed to a near crawl. There was no point in chickening out now. I was already here, and what was I afraid of? Nothing Jake could say would hurt me worse than I had already hurt him. Certainly nothing he could say would hurt me worse than losing him all together. I finally pulled into the drive, pulling up next to his jeep.
I sat in my car for a moment before I finally forced myself to open the door and get out. My legs felt like lead as I drug myself to the front door. I stood there for almost a full two minutes before I finally knocked. At first, I didn’t hear an answer. I almost thought about leaving right then, thinking I would have a great excuse. I went; he wasn’t there. But I knew that wasn’t good enough for Mack, and it wasn’t good enough for me.
So I knocked again. This time, I heard someone yell from somewhere inside the house. I heard
him running towards the front of the house, and I began to hyperventilate. I crouched down, putting my head in my hands, trying to pull myself together. That is where I was when Jake opened the door; crouched down, pale as ever, looking like I was about to throw up.
“Um, are you ok?” I heard him ask. I looked up at him, and smiled weakly. The minute his eyes met mine, I almost fell over. God, his eyes were beautiful. The brilliant marbles goldish brown had me mesmerized, and it took me a moment to realize he had even asked me a question.
“Uh, yeah. Just a little out of sorts. It was a long drive.” I said as I reached for the hand he had offered me. I could feel his hand tense up under mine as I spoke. When I was upright and looking right at him, I realized that he didn’t know it was me sitting there until I had spoke. He didn’t move; he didn’t say a word. He just stood there, staring at me, never letting go of my hand.
I couldn’t read the expression on his face. I couldn’t tell if it was shock or anger or maybe both. We both just stood there for a long time, neither of us saying a word. A pit in my stomach had started to grow, and when I could take it no longer, I finally spoke up.
“Jake, I….” I trailed off, looking away, trying to find the words. When none came to me, I looked up at him again, just as he reached up and took my face in his hands and pressed his lips against mine. If I had planned on saying anything, I had forgotten what it was.
Chapter Eight
The night air was unusually cool for the time of year. Moonlight splashed across the waves and I wiggled my toes in the warm sand. It was an odd combination, but somehow, it was settling. I had been out there for close to an hour, staring out over the waves, arms wrapped around my knees.
It was the dream that brought me out here. No, that’s not right. It wasn’t a dream, not really. It was a memory, one that crept into my dreams and ripped me from the best sleep I’d had in weeks. I had done my best to sneak out without waking Jake. It just wasn’t something I could discuss with him; not now, anyway. I just needed to be alone; to think. So here I was, listening to the waves crashing, and watching the sand crabs scamper past me in the dark.
It was the one memory I had tried to erase from my mind throughout my entire existence. No, it wasn’t some horrible bloody nightmare; far from it. But it might as well have been. The images that brought me here tonight were the memories of my end, and of my beginning. I had been reminded of the day I died, the day he took away my life, and gave me a new one.
I suppose if things had turned out differently, I would’ve been grateful for what he had done. My mortal life was not a pleasant one. Truth be told, before he found me, I had been ready to end my own life. So my death was not exactly what haunted me, but more what it represented. The events that occurred immediately after I became immortal were what had me here now, staring out at the ocean.
There were things I had never told Jake, or anyone else for that matter. Even Mack would be shocked to know some of the secrets I had kept from him. I leaned my head on to my knees and sighed loudly. I should’ve never gone to New Orleans. It was a stupid thing. I know Mack wanted me to squash Vyktor’s attempts to find me, but if Mack knew everything….
Vyktor didn’t even know the whole truth. How could I tell anyone else. I knew it wouldn’t make things better; maybe it would make things worse. So I kept it to myself. I suppose that is what turned me into this neurotic mess of a vampire. Nothing worse that a vampire who is losing her mind, is there?
A snapping twig broke the silence around me, bringing me back to reality. I knew it was Jake, even before he said anything. I knew his scent better than anything else. It was almost intoxicating to me. He had no idea how hard it was to leave him; ever. I leaned my head into his shoulder as he settled into the sand beside me.
“Having second thoughts?” he asked quietly. I could hear the fear in his voice as he assumed that he had guessed correctly as to why I was sitting out here alone.
“Bad dreams,” I answered, hoping that would be enough and I wouldn’t have to explain anything tonight.
“So you’re not unhappy you came here?”
“Jake, I’ve never been unhappy to be with you!” I paused and looked up at him. God he had the most beautiful eyes. But it was what I saw in those eyes that held me there. It was what I always saw in his eyes. He would never leave me; he would never lie to me; he would never hurt me; and he would never betray me. Most of all, I could see in his eyes that he loved me, truly, deeply and unconditionally. I wished I could say that I was all those things to him. I had hurt him, I had lied to him, and I had left him. My only redeeming quality was that I did love him; more than anything, I loved him.
I reached up to touch his face. It was so perfect; his skin so soft. I smiled as I traced his jawline with my finger. His warm skin was electric against my cool fingers, a feeling I never grew tired of. I lost myself in the moment and had almost forgotten why it was that I was sitting out here in the first place. Jake had pulled me onto his lap as I hungrily undid the buttons on his shirt. I was working my fingers around the last button when I heard it.
It was not a distinct noise, nor was it close, yet it was enough to snap me back to reality. I stopped what I was doing and sat straight up. Jake reached for me, but I quickly stopped him, signaling for him to be still. He looked confused, but Jake had known me long enough to know not to question me in these types of situations.
I stood up and looked around, breathing in the salty air. I was looking for any trace of an intruder. I listened for several minutes, but heard nothing more. Maybe it was my imagination. Surely I had been on edge lately, especially after my visit to Vyktor’s house. But something kept me from relaxing.
I never questioned that feeling. It was the one thing that kept me alive for so long. I could sense danger, feel it, taste it. That is how I knew that there was something out there. I could hear anything; I couldn’t see or smell anything, but something was there.
“Go in the house, quietly!” I whispered to Jake, with as much urgency as I could muster. “Lock the doors behind you.” Jake started to protest, trying to get me to come with, but I insisted. Deep down, he knew I could take care of myself, but his pride often had him trying to take care of me. It was cute, really, but this was not one of those times when I could afford to let him take the lead. If my senses were right, we were both in very great danger.
When I made sure that Jake had done as I asked, I started walking in the direction that I was sure the noise had came from. Not walking really; more like stalking. I was, after all, a predator, and some other predator was invading my territory. I kept below the dunes, hoping that they would prevent my scent from giving me away.
The breeze was in my favor, and creeping into it, I was sure that I had not been detected. That is, of course, if whatever it was I was looking for had not been hunting me in the first place. As I neared a bay that led in to where an old plantation was sitting, falling apart in neglect, I once again heard something that stopped me in my tracks. Whatever it was, it was very careful not to make much noise. A hunter. “No,” I thought to myself, “a vampire.”
I knew it instantly. Many vampires can tell another vampire when looking at them. It’s just something we feel; like we’re connected in some way. But me, I could sense them from afar. It always set my teeth on edge. Mostly because there weren’t many left. It was rare to come across one. But also, because most were not like me.
Most fed off humans, exclusively, and most did not welcome other vampires when they came across them. I suppose it’s instinct really. Not so much that we hate each other. We’re just territorial, myself included. Certainly we form clans, because it is in our best interest. But to come across each other accidentally; usually it did not end well for at least one of the vampires involved.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be involved in this sort of conflict tonight, or any night for that matter. But I also didn’t like another vampire being so close to my lair. My lair. Funny, I hadn’t thought of it in
that term before. But there it was. Of course I would think like a vampire in this type of situation. I felt threatened. My territory was threatened. My man was threatened. And that was it.
Jake could be in danger, and I would do anything to prevent that. I had to do this now; tonight. I crept forward quietly; carefully. Even if this vampire wasn’t a threat, it was a bad idea for me to stumble in blindly. I had to scope out the situation before I made myself known.
I made my way towards the plantation house. That was where he was, I was sure of it. I stopped every few steps to listen and reassess the situation. Finally, I approached the front door. He was alone; I knew that much. From what little noise I heard, he appeared to be eating. I entered the house, careful not to give myself away.
I let my eyes adjust to the light as I stood in the entryway. I almost gasped as I took in the room. It had been, at one time, a most beautiful home. Despite the decay and disarray, I could see what a treasure it had been in its prime. I had spent much time in homes like this centuries ago, but none so beautiful.
I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present. There would be time to take in the sites later. I looked around, noting the circular staircase, leading up to the 2nd floor. As I listened for my new friend, I thought he appeared to be upstairs, so I slowly made my way towards the staircase. I saw trail of blood leading up, indicating that he had in fact drug his victim up the stairs. I slowly made my way up, concentrating on the noises coming from above.
When they suddenly stopped, I stopped. Had he heard me? Could he feel my presence? I waited, trying to decide the best approach. I hadn’t really thought of what I was going to do when we met face to face. And obviously I hadn’t planned on him being the one to initiate our meeting because I didn’t even know what hit me as I crashed through the banister and landed on the floor below.
