by Rose Pressey
“Are these the original hardwood floors?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. It felt awkward checking out his house with him watching me.
“Yes, they are. They’ve been restored along with the rest of the house. The home was built in 1788.”
I had a weakness for historic homes. As beautiful as it was though, I’d seen enough. My goal wasn’t to tour historic homes.
“See, you looked in every room and there is no sign of your friend.”
“Fine. Can we go now?” I asked.
“Absolutely, I thought you’d never ask. Ladies first.” He gestured toward the stairway. “Are you satisfied that he’s not here?” he asked as I made my way down the stairs.
“Yes, whatever, I’m satisfied.”
I hurried down and out the front door. Quinton locked up while I practically ran to the car.
“You want to wait for me since you don’t know where you’re going?” he called.
“I’m not leaving without you, but if you don’t hurry up, I might.”
Quinton jumped back in the Bug and I pointed it toward the French Market. I couldn’t get there fast enough.
“Does this vampire leader have a name?” I asked as I steered the wheel.
“I can’t tell you that.” Quinton looked straight ahead.
“Of course you can’t.” I scoffed. “How do I know I can trust you once we reach the French Market? You probably want to kill me once you get around your other vampire friends.”
He rolled his eyes, but didn’t answer.
Thankfully, it was a short drive to the French Market. Finding Jack had reached an all time level of urgency for me. I whipped the little car into a parking space and jumped out. Quinton followed, joining me as I moved onto the sidewalk. I needed to lose this vampire in the worst way.
Chapter Twenty-Six
How to Date a Vampire, Rule #26:
Always tell your date how nice they look despite extra pointy fangs.
The French Market was six blocks of vendors with a farmers’ market, flea market, and retail shops.
“This is where they took Jack?” I asked.
“Like I said, Sophie has a meeting. This is a great place to hide someone. I guess that’s why she picked here.”
“Great. You know just the right words to soothe my worries. What a thoughtful guy you are.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll never find him in all this space.” It really narrowed it down a bunch.
“Hey, slow down, will you? Speed is not one of my vampire skills. We’re not in that big of a hurry.”
Speed seemed to be one of Jack’s skills. But was it different for half-vampires? The living dead or whatever he was now. I didn’t know what to call his condition. I just wanted Jack back safe and sound.
“You might not be, but I am.” I hurried past a couple of restaurants with Quinton hot on my heels. The sweet aroma made my stomach rumble, but the stress left me with a sinking feeling.
“When we get there, let me do the talking. You tend to talk a lot and they won’t appreciate that.”
We hurried past a jazz band set up in the middle of the space. The music reminded me that Jack and I had just been sipping wine in the bar the night before. Would we ever share time together like that again?
Once we moved past the music and he could hear me again, I said, “I don’t care what they appreciate. Why do you want to help me, anyway? Don’t you want to kill me along with Jack?”
“Stop asking me that. I told you I’m a nice guy. I haven’t tried one wrong move with you, have I?”
“No, but…”
“So I’m not sure where you got that idea from.”
“Oh, I don’t know… maybe the fact that vampires were fighting with us, threatening us, and kidnapping us. Oh, and turning humans against their will.” I zipped around a couple holding hands.
“Well, yeah, I guess there is all that, but that’s not me. I’m not like that.”
“You hang out with those bullies, don’t you? Your vampire family?”
“I have no choice. And I’m not like them. Look, turning humans is frowned upon nowadays. Unless they want to be a vampire.”
“Jack didn't want to be a vampire as far as I know. Wait. What am I saying? Of course he didn’t want to be a vampire. He didn’t believe that I was a werewolf until I showed him. He didn’t know about vampires when this happened,” I said. “Can you tell me if you have any idea why they did this?”
“It was an accident. Nothing more. I honestly don’t believe it was planned; I know it wasn’t. I can tell you that the boss is most unhappy with the way things went down.” He paused. “I suppose if these guys could get rid of Jack, then the little problem would go away.”
“Well, that's probably exactly what they wanted, to get rid of him. They had Sophie doing their dirty work, I guess.”
“They may try to convince him that he wanted to be turned, then finish the job.”
“No way. They can’t convince him of that. He’s very intelligent and not easily manipulated. This is making me sick. My stomach is in knots and my head is spinning. I don’t think I can hear anymore. I have to find him.”
“You really love this guy?”
“He means a lot to me, but that’s not all. The fact that I feel responsible for what happened is another huge reason why I want to find him.”
“You werewolves can be so tenderhearted.”
“Whatever you say.”
“You’re cute when you’re feisty,” he said.
I snorted. No comment for that statement.
“So Jack's only half-turned? I never thought that was even possible. I’d never heard of such a thing until this happened. What does this mean for him? What will happen?”
“Nothing will happen. He’ll live just as he is. Like he always has, only slightly different.”
“Slightly different, huh? I’d call that a huge difference. Will he live forever?”
“No, he'll live longer, but not forever. That’s if he is a living vampire. If he is fully turned, he’ll be immortal.”
“What about the blood thing?”
“What about it?”
“The drinking of it…slurping, chugging it, etc. Will he always want it?”
“Yes, he will. He will eat like a normal human, but he will crave blood. More than likely, he will have to succumb to the craving occasionally.” The words slipped out so nonchalantly. I guess when you’ve been a vampire for more than a hundred years, it’s not a problem.
“Great. That's not what I wanted to hear.”
“We don't always get to hear what we want to hear.”
“Yeah, thanks for that insightful little tidbit. I wouldn't have figured it out without you.”
“You really are a pain in the ass.” He shook his head.
“Yes, I usually hunt vampires down and harass them. You caught me. It's certainly not the other way around.”
“See, you're doing it again.” He pointed at me.
“Doing what again?”
“Being a big pain in the butt.”
“I can't help myself. Plus, you make it so darn easy.”
“You really are cute when you have that smile/smirk thing going on.” Quinton winked.
“Are you flirting with me?” I scowled.
“Yes.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Oh okay, well…” I frowned. “Whatever.” I glanced over at him again and he smiled.
That was the last thing I needed, a flirty vampire.
“Well, is there anything else you'd like to know? I’ll try to answer any questions.”
“Does he come with a user’s manual now?” I sighed.
“I'm afraid not.”
Quinton was certainly trying to turn on the charm, but I didn’t need him tagging along. Now that we were at the French Market how could I know I could completely trust him. I refused to allow him to lead me into their trap. That’s exactly what these vampires wanted. But no way would I make it easy for them. I’d never be able to
help Jack then.
I had the map and I could search every corner of the place if I had to. Quinton was probably lying at the meeting Sophie had. This was my chance. Straight ahead was a crowd. If I could slip into the crowd, I could lose him and go find Jack. How I would find him, I didn’t know, but one problem at a time.
Now it was decision time. Which direction to turn once I got past the crowd? To the left or right? I’d been to the market several times, but with my mental clarity hampered by the stress of the situation, making the right decision wasn’t easy. There wasn’t much time for a mental debate. Since he said speed wasn’t one of his strengths, I kicked it into high gear. I’d leave him in my dust. Once I made it around the crowd of people, I turned a quick right onto the next street. With any luck, my abrupt turn would delay my vampire escort’s response time. I needed all the extra seconds to escape that I could get.
Once I rounded the corner, I knew I could outrun him. He kept mentioning for me to slow down, so for some reason he didn’t want to run fast, or couldn’t run fast. That was to my advantage. With my heart hammering in my chest, I ran as fast as I could along the uneven pavement. He’d never catch me at this speed.
The French Market was on the outer edge of the French Quarter. Luckily, it was crowded and there were plenty of buildings for me to tuck behind. And at that moment, I definitely needed a building or two. On the other hand, with that many buildings, it meant Jack would be impossible to find. Sprinting and weaving around the crowds was getting the best of me. And I thought I was in shape. I seriously needed to run more often so I wouldn’t struggle when in live-or-death situations. In my attempt to ignore my werewolf world, I had shut out all the natural aspects of it.
People stared as I zigzagged through the crowd, trying to lose my vampire escort. A couple of people groaned and mumbled as I darted around them. I glanced over my shoulder. They shook their heads in disapproval. My arms flailed about as I sprinted along. I might run fast, but I never said I looked good while doing it. I managed to keep my bag of food clutched securely in my hand, which made me happy. I needed beef, quickly. My side ached and my legs cramped. Much more at my current pace and I might as well let the vampires have me. A metaphorical sign would be attached to my forehead that read: Here I am, come and get me.
Putting as much distance between Quinton and me was the best thing I could do at the moment. The continued pain radiating in my side let me know my running would have to end soon. Those romps through the woods with my pack that I’d continually turned down didn’t seem like such a bad idea right now. If vampires were going to force me to run marathons, I needed conditioning. Up ahead was my turn. My breath came in quick pants.
People gawked. I guess it wasn’t every day they saw a woman running through the French Market as if a monster were after her. Little did they know that monsters really were after me. since the vampires obviously wanted Jack and me dead. I thought that constituted monsters; at least that was my definition. My heart lodged in my throat. I couldn’t handle stress of this magnitude. Would they call the police? What would I tell the police if they stopped me? I was being chased by vampires? I’d be arrested for being a complete freak.
Up ahead, I spotted an outdoor market. A large crowd stood out front. People milled about, selecting their purchases. Despite the open-air building, the air had become still and I found it harder to breathe, as if someone had filled the air with cotton. I stayed close to the people around me. I walked in time with them, trying to blend with the shoppers. I figured I was safe enough. The only thing that would give me away was if Quinton picked up my scent. What special powers did he have, since speed wasn’t one of them? Could he read thoughts? Going out into the sunlight was obviously one of his abilities.
I hid behind a tall man with his arms full of shopping bags. My panting grew louder. He turned around and gave me a glare. Maybe he was a vampire, too. Heck, I could be surrounded by them for all I knew. Sucking in a mouthful of air, I tried to slow the hammering of my heart against my ribs. If I was caught, I’d be toast.
After a couple of seconds, I figured I couldn’t hide behind him any longer, I poked my head out from behind him, looking to each side. I glanced around, making sure Quinton wasn’t hiding right around the corner, waiting to drain every last drop of blood from my body. Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight. How many other vampires were around though? The place could be full of them for all I knew.
My thoughts raced just as quickly as my heart. Where was Jack? How would I save him? The Cruz curse had struck again, this time with a vengeance. And even if I did find Jack safely, he would never want to be with me after this. Yes, just another day in the wacky life of Rylie Cruz. Werewolf extraordinaire.
As I neared the other side of the building, voices caught my attention, so I paused to listen and catch my breath. They were nearby, but out of my line of vision.
“I didn’t think I needed the werewolf, too, so I let her slip away. Obviously, she’ll be nothing but trouble. But she’ll be around. She’s looking for her honey. Then we’ll take care of her.” Sophie’s voice carried through the air. I’d recognize it anywhere. The male voice, on the other hand, I didn’t recognize. One of her minions, perhaps?
My stomach churned. What would the vampires do to me if they caught me? They’d really be ticked off at me for running off again. But why hadn’t she taken me when she had the chance? Running away from Quinton, I hadn’t had time to think about it. After some time of not hearing her voice, I took a few steadying breaths. My heart rate lowered slightly and my panting became less noticeable, but my stomach churned. I was a nervous wreck. I was getting some crazy looks. My mind whirled with thoughts. Jack had been kidnapped and I was planning his escape—it didn’t get much crazier than that.
I couldn’t hide out in the shop any longer. Time slipped away and every moment without finding Jack meant I was closer to losing him forever. I’d have to make a run for it. I dashed out among another group and made my way along the street, trying not to run too fast. I'd get strange looks if I moved at super-speed. If only I could kick it into overdrive though, although it didn't help matters that I had no idea where I was headed. What if Jack wasn’t even here? Quinton could have brought me here to throw me off their track. I moved around a corner and zigzagged through another group of people. They probably thought I was rude for moving so fast, but I didn't have time to be Miss Manners.
As I moved past another shop, I sensed something. A feeling swirled around me. I recognized the sensation. A vibe ran through my body—an energy that had me wanting to shift right there and then. I'd never felt anything like it. Not even the pull of the moon had made me feel that way. It was like an itch and I couldn't scratch it. Then I realized the pulse against my chest. The amulet pulsated with a low hum and vibrated against my skin. I thought it might break right off the chain. Was it telling me something? Sending me a message like Morse Code. But what? I had no clue about this stuff. And no way to discover the answer. It was almost as if it was warning me, pushing me to transform. I couldn’t though. Not here, not now. I’d have to ignore the pull. Push it out of my mind, or at the very least, put it to the back and deal with it later.
But with each passing second, the urge grew stronger. I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to suppress the urge. The pull was a powerful one and the wolf in me wanted to break free. Would I be able to control it? Without warning, I stopped in my tracks. My mind no longer controlled my legs. I couldn't force my feet to move forward, no matter how hard I tried. All I could think of was shifting. It consumed my thoughts as if somehow the wolf in me had the answers. Would I find Jack if I shifted? Or was I reading too much into the feeling? Apparently, the stress was getting the better of me. One of my mother’s massages might not be a bad idea or an aura reading. It was as if nature was telling me this was what I needed to do. But for what reason? I understood when the lure of the full moon forced me into my beastly form, but why now? What did it mean?
Chapter Twe
nty-Seven
How to Date a Vampire, Rule #27:
Never underestimate the power of a vampire.
If I had to turn into my werewolf self, then I'd have to find a place to hide. The last thing I needed was to turn hairy in front of all of these people. I'd be on the eleven o'clock news for sure with that kind of move.
With no other options, I decided I had to fight the urge. I couldn't give in to the yearning just yet. Using all the strength flowing through my veins, I finally forced my legs to move forward amid some strange looks from the people around me. As I made my way to the next shop, the feeling continued. Almost like an anxious, panicky feeling when you know something bad is about to happen, yet it was worse than that. I stopped, bending forward and placing my hands on my knees. I let out a deep breath.
Maybe I just needed to calm down, take a few more calming breaths, and contemplate my dilemma. I'd never been this worked up for this long of a period before. I closed my eyes, willing away the bad feelings, forcing positive thoughts in my mind. Everything would be okay… it had to be. Just then I remembered I had to be on the lookout. Quinton and Sophie were probably looking everywhere for me. I peeked over my shoulder, but didn’t notice them in the crowd.
When I turned back around, I glanced down at the ground. A black leather wallet set tucked next to a shop doorway. I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed. Maybe someone was looking for it. The passers-by never acknowledged me, as if I was invisible. No one paid attention to me and no one seemed to be looking for it. These people were lost in their own world. Maybe I could have changed into a werewolf and they wouldn't have even noticed.
I reached down and picked up the wallet. As soon as my hands touched it, I got a sick feeling. My stomach churned and my heart rate increased. A vibe emanated from the wallet. Pulsing through my hands and snaking its way up my arms and traveling straight to the amulet around my neck. It pulsated against my chest. Even worse than it already had, as if that was even possible. I held the wallet in my shaking hands, looking around again to see if someone noticed. No one looked at me. I held my breath as I opened it.
