by Susan Illene
He wavered in his stance and I couldn’t blame him. I had yelled at him in front of a large crowd of strangers. My pleading expression must have been pathetic enough because he came back.
After he sat down, I held out my hand. "I'm Melena Sanders."
A smile twitched on his face as his palm met mine, shaking with a firm grip before letting go. Matt had all-American looks, which must have attracted a lot of women. He probably wasn’t used to ones like me going off on him, especially not in public.
"Matt Burrows,” he replied.
We started over from there and I was glad I’d changed my attitude toward him. I had no allies in this place and having someone to talk to gave me a chance to relax. Matt kept up a light conversation with me by chatting about his time in Alaska, explaining how the climate and locale weren’t all that great for him. He couldn't wait until his time ended with the army and he could go back home to Houston. I told him about my own career, allowing a few details to slip for the sake of conversation.
Matt didn’t see the sups when they came in. I’d taken the best position at the corner table to observe the room. From lowered lids, I kept a close watch on the trio. At least the physical pain of being near them wasn’t as difficult as it had been before. My senses were growing used to their presence.
It appeared they had come in for a drink, though not the same kind as the rest of us in the bar. I did my best to keep up my half of the conversation with Matt, not wanting him to notice my divided attention.
The vampires had made their rounds and settled across the room where a few of the younger locals congregated. I caught the darkening of the vampire’s eyes as they mesmerized the group. Their guarded expressions at the vamps arrival changed to relaxed ones after a glance from the predators.
My gut churned while watching them. The humans would walk away later with only a little less blood for their troubles. Charlie probably had something to do with their restraint. He was powerful enough to enforce some discipline on these weaker sups, but that knowledge didn’t give me much comfort.
During the times I’d followed the vamps, I had learned a few things about them. My main objective had been to get a location on Aniya, but observing them had helped me learn their methods and get used to being near them. I was relieved they didn’t kill any humans on my watch, but it frustrated me that none of them had led me to my friend. There had to be a central location in the area where they congregated. In most cases, it would be the master sup’s home or business, but so far nothing had turned up.
Seeing these latest guys gave me hope. They were a different set of vamps than the ones I’d seen before. They appeared well dressed, in pleated slacks and dark button up shirts. Even their shoes shined. The way they all carried themselves with a degree of self-importance made me think they could be part of the master sup’s inner circle. It wouldn’t hurt to follow them tonight and see where they went.
"So, you’ve heard all about me. What about you? Aside from the military, that is,” Matt inquired, bringing my awareness back to him.
“What do you want to know?” I asked. My attention was half on his question and half on strategizing a way to trail these new guys without them noticing. They looked more alert than the previous ones.
“I don’t know. Simple stuff like where you live now.”
"California,” I replied, shifting my body toward Matt so my voice could be kept low.
"Oh, well, that's cool. Guess you like it there."
I shrugged. "It’s home."
"Yeah, suppose so. How about I get us some more drinks?” he suggested. "Yours is looking a little empty.”
In fact, I had gulped most of it down when the vamps came in.
"That would be great.” I said with a smile. At least it would give me a reprieve from his questions. The last thing I wanted was to discuss personal stuff while vampires with excellent hearing were in the room.
Matt didn’t take as long as I would have liked. A few minutes later he returned with fresh glasses, mine with Long Island Iced Tea. His had some locally brewed beer.
"Thanks,” I told him, taking a sip to find it tasted perfect. He’d asked about the mixture earlier after noticing the reddish color mine had. Not many people requested grenadine in this particular drink. I took another healthy swallow to calm my nerves.
"No problem,” he said with a laugh. “Guess you needed it.”
I took a slower sip the next time. It wouldn’t be good to appear like a lush and I did have to drive again soon.
A serious expression spread across Matt’s face, catching my attention. He took a quick glance back toward the vamps on the other side of the bar. They all seemed engrossed with their prey and paid us no attention. Matt must have seen that as well because he leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"Those guys over there in the corner, do you see them?” I nodded as if I hadn’t been watching them the whole time. “One of them is the guy I saw with your friend that night."
Despite his low tone, my eyes darted over to make sure the vampires didn’t hear him. Their demeanor hadn’t changed and they showed no signs of listening in on us. Good, I didn’t want Matt messing up my plans. This could be the night I found Aniya.
"Which one is he?” I asked. Only one fit the description, but it was better to be sure.
"The dark-haired one on the left,” he told me, keeping his tone low.
Another glance over gave me a better look at the vampires. There was only one with dark hair, while the other two had varying shades of blond. I had to be looking at Philip Mercer. Of course, that may not be the same name he went by here. Vamps were known to have multiple monikers.
"What’re you gonna do?” Matt asked.
"I'm not sure yet.” Better he didn’t know.
"If you need help,” he offered. "I'm here.”
"That won't be necessary, but thank you.” I squeezed his hand and smiled.
The last thing I needed was a human trying to play hero. It would get him killed and I didn’t want that on my conscience. Not to mention his job as a soldier put him in enough danger without adding supernatural threats to the mix.
He frowned. "Well, the offer still stands. That guy doesn't look like the kind you want to mess with."
Before I could form a response, a new presence entered the bar—the one person who could show up in a flash without me sensing his approach. Lucas strolled in wearing jeans, a studded belt, and a black t-shirt. He wore dark leather boots as well. They didn’t make a sound as he moved his large body through the crowd.
His physical appearance had been changed to include unkempt brown hair and a short beard. I could glimpse his golden form underneath the glamour, but it was disorienting to be able to see both. It was like seeing two men in the same body. The image he showed the rest of the room blended well with the locals, which was probably the point.
Why had he come here? This was not the time to get into another argument with him.
He headed straight for me—after a notable glance in the vampires’ direction. I stiffened, wondering if he had figured out what I was up to. The vamps in question didn’t take their eyes off their human prey. Lucas had cloaked his power so they wouldn't consider him as anything other than human. They were too young to see through it.
Matt wasn’t talking anymore. I turned in his direction to find him frozen. He had a contemplative look on his face and his mouth was partway open. I glowered at Lucas as he settled down in the empty chair on the other side of me.
"Did you have to freeze him?”
"Upset I disturbed your fun with this new boy toy?” he asked. Lucas didn’t bother to hide the contempt on his face.
"Matt isn't my boy toy,” I said. "I don't have boy toys, as you so rudely put it.”
The meaningful look he gave me said he wasn’t fooled. "Tell yourself whatever you like, but I know better.”
I crossed my arms. We’d had this conversation a few times before and it hadn’t been any more pleasant then.
"Whatever you believe, it isn't true. I just don't like getting close to anyone. It's safer if I just keep my relationships uncomplicated.” Maybe I was being a little defensive, but I couldn’t help it. It seemed selfish to put a guy at risk no matter how lonely I got. Lucas knew most of my problem was his fault. He’d been poking his nose in my personal life for as long as I’d known him.
I gave him an accusing look. He laughed. Something he’d never done in front of me before. My double vision tried to make sense of what I was seeing. He’d always had such an inimical attitude toward me that it was unnerving to see him any other way, even if only for a moment, before he covered it up.
"Don't worry,” he replied. “It isn't the men in your life, however briefly they may be there, that you need to be concerned about."
I ignored his barb. He said these things to throw me off. Finding out why he’d showed up tonight would be the more important thing to do.
“What are you doing here, Lucas?”
"Immortal curiosity,” he replied with a shrug. "Longevity does have its disadvantages, and your short life is fascinating to observe. Speaking of which, how is the futile search for your friend going?"
I inwardly flinched. He could get right to the heart of a matter. "That is none of your business."
His eyes reflected a perceptiveness that made me uncomfortable. "You haven't found her yet, have you?”
I slumped in my chair and refused to answer. His lips curved up. Despite my annoyance, it was arresting to see. How could such an evil person’s smile make me forget, even for a moment, all the bad things about him?
Every part of the nephilim drew the eye. Between his confident walk and smooth movements, not to mention his better than Hollywood looks, he couldn't be short on female companionship. I was glad to know who he really was so those things wouldn't fool me. No doubt the man had a harem of women serving him wherever he lived. If only he would go back to them and leave me alone.
It wasn’t worth lying to him, though. He would know—he always did. If we could finish this conversation soon, I could still try to follow Aniya’s “boyfriend”. He had to be going back to her. At least, that’s what I hoped.
"I found the vamp who took my friend,” I admitted, nodding at my target. They wouldn’t be able to hear us since Lucas had a noise dampening spell up. It made it impossible for anyone to overhear our conversation. How it was working on me, I had no idea. The magic of it clung against my skin, whereas spells of its nature usually passed right over me.
He didn't bother glancing at the group in question. "You're going to have a difficult time getting close to them. They aren't old, but neither are they newly weaned from their sire."
His voice held a warning note. It made me suspicious. "Why do you care what I do?”
"I don’t,” he said. "Except I consider you mine to kill…or allow to live.”
He meant what he said. It wasn’t the usual half-truth I got from him. What does one say to that? “Thanks, I’m sure I should feel honored.”
He didn’t reply, and instead picked up my half empty drink. After taking a sip, he grimaced. "Too sweet."
That made me smile. "I’m not surprised, considering your disposition. Must have tasted awful for you.” I took the glass from him, keeping away from the spot where his lips touched, and slugged down the rest.
Lucas didn’t take the bait. Instead he watched me in fascination. "I’ve never considered you a heavy drinker.”
"If I'm going to die soon,” I said, setting the glass down. “Might as well enjoy the time I have left.”
He laughed for the second time tonight. For whatever reason, the sad truth of my life seemed to humor him.
"Can't you run along now?” I flicked my hand at the door. “Irritate someone else.”
He reached across the short distance between us and pulled my out flung hand close to him. His head leaned forward so his breath grazed my ear. "Little girl, do not push your luck tonight. One day, my patience will run out—then you'll really be in trouble."
I shivered. Whether from fear or arousal, I couldn’t say. I didn’t want to consider it too much. Damn him for having any affect on me at all.
"Don't call me that,” I said in little more than a whisper. He never used my real name, as if I was too far beneath him for that.
"Don't call you what?"
"Little girl."
"Why?” he asked, dropping his gaze to my lips.
I was not going to moisten them. I wasn’t.
"It’s rude."
"That's unfortunate for you, because I intend to call you whatever I want, whenever I want.” His reply came out heated.
Lucas looked at me in a way that made me want to ignore every internal warning siren going off. The golden flecks in his eyes held my attention. Did that particular shade even exist anywhere else? He moved the rest of his body close so that only a few inches separated any part of us.
The touch of his hand where he held mine tingled with a faint charge. The sensation snaked up my arm and penetrated deep within my body. It made me want to melt into him just to get more. I didn’t want the feeling to stop. Ever. I couldn't move and not one part of me wanted to. It wasn’t a supernatural kind of magic holding me, but something primal. How long we stared at each other I couldn’t have guessed.
When he pulled away, my body moved with him before I stopped it. I had to shake my head to come out of the fog-laden daze he’d put me in. Something had changed and I’d missed it. A new song played in the background, but that wasn’t the problem. Then it clicked. The vampires were no longer in the bar. In fact, they were heading down the road. I’d been so caught up with Lucas, I hadn’t even noticed.
"You did that to distract me.” I glared at him.
He lifted his brows. “Apparently, it worked.”
Heat warmed my cheeks. I’d always been aware of his looks, but he’d never affected me this way. How could I have fallen into his trap? He’d taken my first chance at finding Aniya with nothing more than a hint of sexual teasing. I couldn’t decide if I was angrier with him or myself.
He stood up. "Stay away from them.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond. He shoved back his chair and strode toward the entrance. People practically leaped out of his path to avoid colliding with him. He exited the building in the wake of a slamming door and disappeared from the area right after. I wished, just once, I could follow him and give him a piece of my mind.
A subtle cough drew my attention. Matt had come out of it and was reaching to take a drink of his beer as if nothing had happened. Knowing I wouldn’t be pleasant company anymore, I told him it was time for me to go. It had grown late and I didn't feel up to hiding my sour mood. His face fell, but he nodded his head.
He stood up as I gathered my purse and jacket and pressed a piece of paper with his phone number on it into my hand. I stared at it, wondering when he’d written it down. Maybe in the bathroom? I shoved the paper in my jeans pocket. Matt smiled and insisted on walking with me outside. I would have refused if it hadn’t been for the way I’d treated him earlier. He didn’t deserve any more of my pent up anger tonight.
"When will I see you again?” he asked, once we reached my vehicle.
I shrugged. "Maybe soon. I have some things to take care of."
"Okay, well, it was great talking to you.” He gave me an unexpected hug. "Give me a call sometime."
“Sure,” I said, pulling away. I’d burn his number later.
He continued to watch me as I drove off.
Chapter Seven
The sound of my cell phone ringing before dawn woke me. My hand fumbled around the nightstand until my fingers grasped it and brought it close. With bleary eyes, I squinted at the caller ID to see who could be calling this early. The name on the screen brought me wide awake. I answered it at the same time I jumped out of bed. A familiar voice, sounding more frightened than I’d ever heard it, came through the line.
"Mel, you have to le
ave Fairbanks now,” Aniya rushed out.
"Niya? Where are you?”
"It doesn't matter, but you need to leave town as soon as possible.”
"What have you gotten yourself into? Your mom is worried sick. I promised her I would bring you home.”
A choked sob came before her next reply. "Tell my mom I love her, and that I'm fine, but you have to leave..."
"No, not without you.”
"Just go,” she pleaded. "They know you’re looking for me and they’ll get to you too if you don’t leave right away.”
A cold chill ran through me. I should have known they would figure it out sooner or later. My aggressive search methods had increased those odds.
"What is going on, Niya?”
A faint but angry voice rose up from her end of the line—it was growing louder by the second. Her breathing picked up so I almost didn’t catch her next words.
"I have to go, they’re coming. Please, get out of town before it’s too late.”
The connection broke before I could respond.
My attempts to call her back failed. The phone had already been turned off. I sighed in frustration, wishing she could have told me more. I felt better knowing she was still alive, but for how long? Despite the danger, I couldn’t leave her with the sups to die.
It was time for an alternate plan. Staying in a motel room was no longer an option. I needed to find a more permanent place to stay. Fast.
***
Later that day I walked into my new "home". A small cabin located a short distance from the city limits. The position of it was far enough away from other people so no one else would get caught in the crossfire—if it came down to that.
The average person wouldn’t consider it fancy, but it would work well enough against most types of supernatural assaults. After I made a few small changes, anyway. My one month contract guaranteed it would be considered a private residence in my mind, meaning vamps couldn't get in. The trick was you had to think of it as a home, and a motel room would never have done that for me.
