I nodded, “That’s the problem. Last year I wouldn’t have hesitated. But she’s at the age she needs to go out and learn those lessons, she needs to make her own mistakes so she can grow and learn. But, is she too young for where she is? She’s not drinking, at least, not that I can tell. And she’s only dancing with her friends, right now anyway.”
Sierra shook her head, “I think you’re trying to overcompensate. She’s two years too young to be allowed in the club, even with a non-alcohol band on. Maybe she has a false identification?”
When I didn’t respond she winked and stood up, “Be right back.”
I asked, “Where are you going?”
She grinned, “To put on a clubbing dress of course. If you just show up in jeans and a t-shirt how will you explain why you’re there. You should change too.”
I stood and followed her to our bedroom, she was right, I needed to bust Amy, even if she’d hate me for it…
I had two issues. One, Sierra looked amazing in her little black dress, I could hardly take my eyes off of her even though I was intimately familiar with what lay underneath. Two, I was about to bring a werewolf to a vampire club. They weren’t exactly sworn enemies, but vampires saw themselves as above werewolves, which of course pissed off werewolves. It was part of the air and earth thing again, but more than that, vampires didn’t age at all, while werewolves aged slowly. And although a werewolf was well matched against a vampire under a hundred, the vampires outstripped a werewolf’s power by far once they got above two hundred or so.
Except when they faced a pack and their combined magic that is, especially with a mystic present. A strong mystic could dampen a vampire’s powers, and enhance her pack’s. Even the alpha alone could draw on their pack to become stronger.
Werewolves on the other hand, were contemptuous of the divisiveness of covens, that vampires had to prey on humans to survive at all, and of course saw themselves as better since they were born what they were. A true race, rather than a human taken and changed into something else.
As I said, it was partly earth and air, but it was more than that as well, which kept the two races apart.
Hopefully I was borrowing trouble where there was none, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I got the idea Sierra was coming along with me as much to tweak noses as be in my company.
Sierra didn’t have any problems picking out the first issue with her sense of smell. Heck, the whole house probably knew by now what effect she was having on me in that sinfully sexy dress, but I knew none of them would care, or at least only see it as a positive. I was giving serious thought to having a night out with my mate if she wore more dresses like that. Plus, I realized just hanging around the pack house all the time might be taking her for granted.
She was mine, her wolf had chosen me, but that wasn’t license for me to not work on our relationship was it?
She smiled at me as if she was the one that had won something, she loved having that effect on me, but there was also a tinge of amusement there.
Her voice was smoky and very warm, “You can unwrap me later love, focus on Amy. We won’t be there long, just long enough to get her out of there. Although, you could probably talk me into a dance or two.”
There was a glint in her eyes that told me it was more than just about having fun together, or even tweaking the nose of some vampires, which was there too, but it was also about claiming me as her mate blatantly, in front of the vampires whom I had suddenly gained a small bit of authority over. I was hardly going to object. I was hers just as much as she was mine.
I used remote viewing to scope out the area, and then moved us to a place just a block away from the club while making us invisible, which didn’t have any nearby humans, and was shaded very darkly. I was being cautious, and double checked with my air power for people within a hundred and fifty feet of me, and anything in the shape of a camera to make sure it wasn’t pointed our way, before dropping our invisibility.
When we walked in the loud music thrummed in my chest and made it impossible to hear anything else. I felt Sierra tighten her grip on my arm, and realized her hearing would be much more sensitive. How the hell did the vampires deal with it? I thought they had sensitive hearing as well.
She looked at me gratefully as I shielded our ears, only allowing half the decibels to reach our ear drums, and we strolled out onto the dance floor. She was so graceful and seductive as she started to move to the music, that I almost forgot why we were there. We got a few glances from the humans out on the floor as we danced around, trying to accidentally bump into my cousin. We also drew a few ugly looks from some of the vampires.
I was surprised, until I figured out they probably didn’t recognize me. They might have been listening to stories and rumors, but they’d never met me yet. I found it odd actually that no one had passed around a photo, or even seen me on the news. Vampires…
I realized Amy probably wouldn’t buy the coincidence, not completely. She didn’t know about my world, but she did believe I was psychic, and it wouldn’t be the first time I reigned in one of her ill-conceived ideas. I almost laughed when Sierra practically ran right into her.
I of course, gave her my best disapproving big brother gaze when she looked at me. I ignored all her friends who had guilty looks on their faces, but not Amy, she looked rebellious.
“Outside,” my words were swallowed by the music, but I was sure she got it by my lip movement, and the thumb I pointed toward the entrance.
She shook her head and kept dancing stubbornly, even though her friends were standing still. Maybe I could have planned it better, but I reached out and grabbed her hand, and started moving toward the front. She pulled away halfheartedly, but didn’t want to make a scene any more than I did.
That’s when a vampire got in my face and said loudly, “Let her go, she doesn’t want to go with you.”
Then the damned blood sucker actually checked her out like she was a side of beef on display. I firmly reminded myself not to kill the nice vampire in public. After all, outside of the look for all I knew he was coming to her rescue from some abusive boyfriend. Yeah, the one chivalrous vampire in the city and he had to be here. Chivalrous leering vampire I reminded myself, no need to give him too much credit.
Sierra stepped in front of me and said something I couldn’t hear, and then Amy pulled as hard as she could and wrenched her hand from mine, and started walking away after glaring at me. Her friends looked half apologetic and half worried, but just shrugged, and followed Amy back onto the dance floor. The subtle approach was a complete failure. The idea of reaching out to bamboozle her and her friends to simply leave was distasteful, though it sounded much easier. Plus, she wouldn’t learn anything that way.
I was wondering how to rectify this situation when I was suddenly bracketed by two very large vampires quite menacingly. It seemed to be going from bad to worse.
One of them said, “It’s time for you to leave, now.”
I was starting to get frustrated, it shouldn’t have been this hard to collect Amy.
I opened my mouth and said, “I’m Ben…”
I didn’t get it all out, apparently he wasn’t interested in who I was. He grabbed for my arm and shoulder, I assume to subdue me with my arm locked behind my back and walk me out. Problem is, his left hand slid over my elemental air shield and his right hand couldn’t get a hold of my arm. As a result he lost his balance and fell into me and went sideways.
He was a vampire though, so he didn’t go down, but he did need to hop a few times to regain his balance, and now he looked really pissed off. Sierra was still having a standoff with vamp one, and vamp three seeing vamp two almost fall, decided it was a good idea to try and tackle me. There was a loud crack of bone as if he’d tried to tackle me shielded, the equivalent of a brick wall, and he fell to the ground with a scream.
He was young, it would take him hours to heal. I closed my eyes a moment, reaching for patience. So far all I’d done is stand there.
Aitheria’s tinkling laughter was in my mind as she enjoyed the show from my shoulder, the traitor.
I’d have thought the fact they couldn’t touch me might have clued them in, but I could feel the vampires in the club all moving our way, aware that the bouncers had run into a sticky problem. I was still hoping for a peaceful ending, if someone would just talk to me. But then of course, they crossed the line. Vampire number one reached out and grabbed Sierra’s arm while looking at me with warning.
Big mistake. And I didn’t mean my reaction.
I winced as Sierra clocked him in the throat with her free hand, and then kicked him where he lives. Vampire one fell to the ground as two got up. Three was still writhing on the floor and we were being slowly surrounded by four through twelve. This was getting bad, it was my first day on the job and I was going to incite a fight in a public place that would risk exposure.
Granted, it was mostly their fault for jumping to conclusions and not listening, but I also knew this was their club and they wouldn’t back down, at least not until they figured out who I was. I held up both hands, and then pointed outside. Then I held Sierra’s hand and walked outside, with about ten vampires on my heels.
Sierra looked at me with a huge grin, and winked. She was obviously enjoying herself. I just shook my head helplessly and laughed at the absurdity of it all. It was kind of funny how much trouble a sixteen-year-old girl could cause.
Chapter 14
Friday, June 10th, 2016, 10:22 PM
“Listen up guys, I’m,” and I was cut off again.
Vampire one, who had blood on his face from Sierra’s punch, said, “I don’t give a crap who you are, you come in to our club, try to take our patron against her will, and then wouldn’t leave. You aren’t welcome here, and before you go, we’re going to leave you with a painful reminder.”
Things were about to get very ugly. No one was really out here with us, there was no line to get into the club despite how early it was. I considered wrapping them all in air, throwing them against the wall, and gagging them with air so I could finally introduce myself. I imagined most of them would crap their pants when they figured it out.
I also wanted to give them a piece of my mind for allowing a sixteen-year-old, young woman into the club.
But before anyone could do anything quite so drastic Amy ran out yelling, “Stop!”
Everyone turned toward her and she said out of breath as her four friends followed her out, “He’s my brother, I snuck out to come here. I didn’t want to leave with him, but if you touch him I’ll call the cops.”
Of course, that wouldn’t happen, they’d mesmerize her if they had too, assuming I’d let them. Well, it was nice to know that even when I annoyed Amy, she still didn’t want me beat up. She must have seen them all following me out, and had come to rescue me. Which was as sweet as it was amusing.
One of them asked, “How old are you.”
She looked uncomfortable for a second, and admitted, “Sixteen.”
They all looked pissed now, and vampire number one was from happy with me, but I knew he was regretting that he jumped to conclusions at this point.
He said, “Fine, none of you are welcome back here, leave now.”
Sierra laughed, but looked at me contritely when I squeezed her hand. With one last glare the vampires went back into the club. A part of me was disappointed they didn’t know who I was yet. I was sure they’d learn of it, eventually, and I’d wanted to see their faces as realization dawned.
I asked, “Where are you girls supposed to be?”
One of them waved, I had to reach for Sue’s name, I’d never met her, “My parents are away.”
“Well, let’s go then, back to the Metra I assume?”
Sue nodded and we set off. Amy looked really annoyed, like I’d ruined her night. In a way, I suppose I had. Still, she was banned from Spirits, so mission accomplished.
I’d definitely gotten spoiled with my commute, four or five seconds compared to the hour it took us to get to the Metra, and out to the stop where the girls left and made their way to Sue’s home, where they were supposed to be the whole time. It was mind numbingly boring. Once we were out of sight I used my power to take us back home, where I finally got to unwrap that dress…
This was new. I realized I was dreaming again, and pulled into Aitheria’s realm, or mind, or whatever this place was. This time it looked like the pack’s backyard. The grass, fence, tables, chairs, it was all there, but made of clouds and twisting swirls of air. I was sitting on a lawn chair, and Aitheria was curled up on my lap, her head against my shoulder.
There was nothing physical or sexual about it, despite there being no clothes in sight, but it was intimate, and the connection between us was bright, strong, and obvious in this place. I still wasn’t sure of the significance of it, and I wouldn’t ask either. Hopefully I’d find out, or figure it out, soon.
“Ria? Anything specific?”
She shrugged and her voice sounded like a choral wind, “Not really, nothing I couldn’t have told you in the physical world anyway. Zale is not the only elemental scouting Chicago for us. So far, I’ve kept us shielded from them, and they haven’t gotten lucky yet. But it’s just a matter of time.”
I knew what she wasn’t saying, she also wanted me to herself for a while, which I didn’t mind. She’d been with me my whole life, I’m not sure what I’d do if I ever lost her.
“Too many for you to fight?” I asked hesitantly.
She scoffed and fierce winds blew my hair around, “Not likely. It will be harder of course, but the real danger is in one of them escaping.”
I caressed her back absently and buried my face in her hair, it felt like cuddling with a gentle storm. I got distracted for a moment by the dancing clouds in the sky. For the millionth time I wondered what this was all about, with Ria, with having enemies, and the elemental in my core, but wondering didn’t help me figure it out this time either.
I felt closer to Aitheria than ever before, connected in some significant way. I wondered if it was because of her showing her true form to me, all the way down to the core of her soul, or if it was because I had grown in power since the last time I shared a dream with her. Maybe both?
It was frustrating not having the answers. At the same time, I was also very relaxed as she traced her hand against me, which felt like warm breezes in the shape of her hands. We didn’t speak, she wouldn’t, or couldn’t, answer my questions, and we already knew everything about each other that could be spoken of. We just… relaxed, and enjoyed each other’s presence for a while.
Chapter 15
Saturday, June 11th, 2016, 7:01 AM
I was feeling a little guilty as I appeared in the home I grew up in. I was also wanting more coffee, but I figured it would be easier at this time of day, before my uncle went to work. I walked into the kitchen, invisible, while my aunt and uncle were making breakfast. I was also radiating gently mesmerizing thoughts, a don’t notice me aura, just in case I screwed up the invisibility and silence.
Guilt.
But I knew I wouldn’t make a habit of this, and they would be safer for what I was about to do. I took a few moments to watch them. A bitterness rose up when I saw how relaxed my uncle was, happy even. He never appeared that way when I was around, at least, not to my senses. Yet, he was a good husband, and a good father to Amy, the man just didn’t like me.
They were chatting a little sleepily, but happily, as I walked over and used my power to make sure they didn’t feel me slip the rings off, and to bamboozle them into not noticing they were gone until I returned.
I wrapped myself in air and took myself to the next destination.
I knocked on the door, the early sunlight was warming my back, and it was unseasonably cool for June. It was going to be a beautiful day. Jenna opened the door and smiled.
“Come in, have a coffee.”
I sighed in faux sadness and accused, “Evil temptress,” as I stepped into the house.
She cackled gleefully as I followed her toward the kitchen, which degenerated into helpless giggles when she saw Mike’s confused and worried face.
She said with humor, “You know the rules.”
I nodded and went over to the coffee maker and pulled a mug out from the cabinet above. The rules were that I wasn’t a guest in this house, I was treated as family, which meant do it my damned self.
Mike handed me the rings as I sat down and sipped my coffee, the stuff of life.
He shook his head, “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Some witch I don’t know is going to put a spell on me? That… sounds like a really bad idea.”
I looked up at him, because the shock value was going to be awesome and I had to see his face.
“But, you know the witch, she’s friends with Jenna,” I said in blasé and bored manner.
Mike choked on a bite of eggs, while I looked at him innocently.
Jenna shook her head and then gasped, “Tara?”
It was my turn to be surprised, she’d stolen my punchline, “How?”
Jenna rolled her eyes, “She’s the only one I know that runs an occult shop in the city.”
Mike and I exchanged sheepish looks. The detective and sorcerer of air hadn’t considered that tidbit.
“Well, I hadn’t had enough coffee yet,” I defended myself.
She patted my head, like I was five, “That’s okay. So what exactly will this spell do?”
“It’s a personal alarm. If you’re around any supernaturals that want to do harm, it will let me know about it. It isn’t invasive at all as it pertains to you two, and it won’t actually save you on its own, it’s just a warning system really. Tara doesn’t do dark magic.”
Which really meant she just didn’t curse or sacrifice people. I couldn’t help but remember her pulling lightning from the sky, holding it in her hand, and then roasting two witches. Light magic doesn’t always mean puppies and rainbows. It just meant she doesn’t use magic to twist or pervert life. Death is a very natural state.
Sorcerer: Betrayal: Power of Air (Book 4) Page 8
