by Carly Fall
Dedou reached into the pocket of her dress, still whispering. She pulled out small, green flakes, then rubbed them into the wound. It began to bubble as it turned white, reminding her of sea foam on the beaches of the ocean in California.
Setting Sami’s hand back down on her lap, Dedou smiled, then wiped the blood off on the front of her dress. She went back to the other side of the fire pit and stared at her.
“I know you’re not feeling yourself right now, but soon, you will be back to normal. I have given you your Ko. It protects you from wanga, and the Iwa will act as your own personal bodyguard of sorts. You have the blessing of the spirits, Sami. As soon as you feel better, you will leave to begin the assignment.”
Dedou snubbed out the incense, then returned into the house.
Sami found it difficult to do anything but stare at the flames, still unable to move her limbs. As she glanced down at the cross, she saw that it was on its way to healing, even faster than it would have with her having vampire blood.
As the heaviness in her head began to subside, she took some deep breaths. She never would have sat through the ceremony if she’d known what it entailed. Right now, Connor’s hand over hers seemed to be the only thing that brought her any reassurance. He’d been through it; he knew exactly how discombobulated she felt.
“Are you okay?” he asked from beside her, his voice low.
“I … I don’t know. I can’t really move. My head … my brain feels like it’s not working.”
“It’ll pass soon.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and she began to feel normal once again. Her limbs lightened, and her head fully cleared.
She turned to Connor. “That was really strange. I knew I should have been afraid, but I wasn’t.”
He nodded. “Yeah, a woman coming at you with a knife while you can’t move should be a little scary, but I was the same way.”
She looked down at her branding. “I don’t understand this.”
“Dedou’s really powerful, Sami. That will protect you. It did me. And, when you fight a vampire, it glows.”
She turned to him, unable to believe what he said. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. It glows red.”
She’d seen him fight a vampire, and she hadn’t noticed his wrist turn red. “I never saw it on you. Remember in that alleyway when you nicked that guy in the neck?”
“That was the first time I’d ever seen it do that. It was weird, but I didn’t really have a lot of time to think about it.”
She recalled the moment with clarity. Once the vampires had gone, he’d been by her side to help her. He’d always been there to help her, and here he was again.
“Thanks for being here, Connor,” she said as she glanced down at his hand still placed over hers. “I appreciate it.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. They stared at each other a moment, and for a brief second, she thought she saw longing in his hazel orbs, but then, he cleared his throat and gazed back at the fire.
“That’s what friends do,” he said, then stood. “Take your time out here, and I’ll wait for you inside.”
She watched him go and once the back door had shut, she stared at the flickering flames.
Friends.
At least, they weren’t enemies fighting with each other. Somehow along the way, they had been able to bypass all that and move into the friend-zone.
It eased the ache in her heart just a bit. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was a start.
She’d take it.
9
An hour later, she stood at the door of the Voodoo shop saying her goodbyes to Dedou and Harper.
“Goodbye, Sami,” Dedou said as she hugged her. “I’ve packed everything you will need for your journey.”
Sami nodded, and Dedou stepped back and took Sami’s hands in her own. “Be safe, child. Our paths will cross again soon.”
She grinned and tried to ignore Connor and Harper next to her.
“See you later, good-looking,” Harper said him. “Call me and let me know how things are going.”
He took her into a hug and lifted her off the ground as she snaked her arms around his neck.
“I will,” he said as he nuzzled her, then gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
If he kisses her on the lips, I will just die.
Thankfully, it didn’t happen, but jealousy curled her stomach once again.
“Put me down, you brute!” Harper yelled while laughing. “You think just because you have all those wonderful muscles, you can use them to manhandle me? Think again, big boy!”
Connor chuckled as he set her down. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Sami saw their gazes linger on each just a little too long, and Connor winked at Harper.
She shut her eyes for a brief moment, then zeroed in her attention on Dedou. “Thanks for everything. I appreciate it.”
“You two go now,” Dedou said.
Sami turned and grabbed the duffel bag with her name on it, and Connor took the other one.
They walked down the pathway to the black sedan in silence. The driver took their bags and walked back to the trunk while Connor opened the door for her. She slid in and laid her head against the window and shut her eyes.
The seat next to her dipped, and the door slammed. A moment later, another door closed, and the car started.
The hum of the engine did nothing to soothe her. In one fell swoop, she wanted to rip Harper’s throat out and collapse into a waterfall of tears for what she had lost.
She had to remember that she was different from Connor, even if she was more human than vampire. There were very few things she could do that vampires with more pure blood could. It was impossible for her to put people into trance. She didn’t go up in flames in the sun, but in fact, tanned quite nicely. She didn’t need blood except for maybe once a year, and if she went without, she’d get along okay.
But the one vampire trait she did have was probably the worst one she could imagine in a situation like this.
Vampires fell in love very easily, especially if they found someone who provided them with what they considered ‘perfect’ blood. Her mother had told her that for each vampire, the taste of one human’s blood would be different. Not all vampires would like AB blood, for example. But like each human was unique, so was the flavor of the blood. For one vampire, one person’s blood would be a sweet nectar that exploded all their senses. To another, that same plasma may taste like licking the inside of a city dumpster.
When Connor had given her his blood, it had been the most beautiful essence she’d ever had. It had flowed down her throat like a fine wine or her favorite ice cream, which happened to be chocolate. She’d liked Connor before that, but after she’d drunk from him, something within her had shifted. She hadn’t understood it at first, but the feeling had gripped her whole chest, her desire for Connor increasing a hundred fold.
Her mother had said the same thing happened between her and Sami’s father. She knew the second that his blood touched the tip of her tongue; she had fallen in love with him and she had to be with him. There was no other option.
Yes, as Connor’s blood ran down her throat, he hadn’t even realized he’d taken her heart.
She hadn’t been prepared for it at all, and afterward, she’d never been more terrified.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Connor murmured, shaking her out of her thoughts.
She opened her eyes and turned to him.
“I guess I’m just tired.”
He stared at her questioningly, as if he didn’t believe her.
Finally, he sighed, crossed his arms, and looked out his own window.
She didn’t want to talk about the green-eyed monster making her see red.
“In order for us to work together, we have to communicate, Sami.”
He didn’t look at her.
She stared at his strong jaw, the days’ worth of stubble, and the outline of his full lips.
How she longed to feel his arms around her holding her close to his hard chest. If she ever got the chance to be with him again, this time, she wouldn’t blow it. She wouldn’t let her fears get in the way.
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she gazed out at the dark night, flickers of oncoming traffic going by.
“I know, Connor. Have you ever been to Seattle?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation in another direction.
He turned to her. “I was at the airport once, but that’s it.”
“I’ve never been, either. I heard it rains a lot, though.”
“Yeah, I know. Hopefully, since it’s fall and not winter, it won’t be too bad.”
“Hopefully not.”
The conversation stalled, and they both turned to their windows again.
Yes, communication between them was important, but right now, she wasn’t going to lay her fragile heart out in the open. It would remain closed away, hidden for no one to see.
10
They landed in Seattle at close to midnight, which made it three in the morning in New Orleans. She’d been back and forth between time zones twice in two days, and her body didn’t know whether to sleep or prepare to wake.
A pale man in a dark suit greeted them at the baggage claim exit and led them outside to the car. Thankfully, the curb was sheltered because her and Connor’s hopes of avoiding rain had been dashed. She groaned as she stared at the puddles, thinking what her hair would look like with all this humidity—something close to a brillo pad. She’d just have to pull it back and make sure not to wear it down.
Even in the late night hours, traffic was stop and go into the city, and it took them over an hour to reach their destination.
Once they were off the freeway, the roads curved and dipped, and the driver didn’t hold back on the accelerator. Her stomach rolled, and she fought the urge to vomit all over the back seat. Relief rolled through her as they pulled up in front of a high-rise apartment complex.
She stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply, hoping the cool, night air would calm her nausea, rain be damned. It actually felt nice having the drops against her face.
“Let’s go,” Connor said as he jogged by her, carrying both of their bags. She followed him and entered into a small but lavish lobby. Dark brown tiles caused each footstep to echo, the white walls decorated with colorful art that looked very expensive. A group of mailboxes sat to her left.
She trailed Connor to the elevator. The bright splashes of vibrant hues on the canvases had caught her eye, and she wondered who the artist was. They didn’t make up any scenes as she typically saw in paintings, but instead offered more feeling. One with slashes of purple, yellow, and pink gave off the impression of anger, while the one with deep purple and black seemed to convey sadness.
“It looks like a bunch of kindergartners had their painting class in here,” Connor muttered as he pushed the elevator call button.
She laughed and shook her head. “I was just thinking how beautiful they are.”
He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “One of us has terrible taste, then.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Or, you could just say we have a difference of opinion.”
“That works, too,” he said with a shrug.
The elevator dinged, and a moment later, the doors parted. As they stepped inside, she asked, “Do you know what floor we’re going to?”
He pushed twelve. “Yup. All the way to the top. Nothing but the penthouse best for the vampire hunters.”
The ride was quick, and she watched the numbers change. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw in the mirror that the soft waves of her hair were beginning to coil and frizz, the ends reminding her of an overly-used broom.
And so it begins, she thought with a sigh as she ran her fingers over the mess.
When the panels opened, they stepped out into the hall. She quickly realized it wasn’t a hallway, but more of a foyer. One door lay ahead of them, and Connor pulled out the keys from his pocket.
“Looks like we have the whole damn floor to ourselves,” he murmured.
Any fatigue she’d felt earlier quickly dissipated, excitement taking its place. She’d never stayed in a penthouse apartment, hotel … anything. In fact, she’d spent most of her time underground with her mother and father. They had been somewhat wealthy, but both her parents had preferred to stay at home, so she’d done very little traveling.
He slid his key into the lock, opened the door, and stepped aside. “After you.”
A hallway stretched before her, and as she stepped in. The white marble flooring gleamed while bright paintings resembling the pictures downstairs adorned the walls, adding splashes of bright, vibrant colors to the entry way. A coat closet sat immediately to her right.
Beyond the foyer lay an expansive room. She couldn’t see the furnishings, but as she fumbled for a light, she realized the whole back wall was glass. A black space lay outside the confines of the apartment, but she could see twinkling lights in the distance. Turning on the light erased the view, but showed her and Connor in the reflection.
She gasped as she looked around. Sleek black and white furniture that reminded her of the Haute House furniture she loved so much littered the room. A black and white leather chaise longue facing the windows caught her eye, and she immediately imagined herself reclining in it as she stared out into the beyond.
A kitchen sat to her left, in the same black and white theme. A sleek, glass and sliver dining room table with six white high-back chairs offered a really nice place to entertain.
She moved to the windows, dying to know what made up the black mass below.
“What’s that, Connor?” she asked as rain pelted the panes, almost sounding like BBs hitting the glass.
He stepped up beside her, his bicep brushing against her shoulder. “I believe that’s Lake Union. They said we’d be able to see it from the apartment, but it looks like we’re almost on top of it.”
She nodded, thinking that all the lights made sense. From this angle, the lake seemed to be populated all the way around, and the small lights that lay right in the middle of it must be boats of some kind. Maybe cruisers or houseboats?
“I can’t wait to see this in the daytime,” she whispered as she lay her hand against the cold glass, trying to imagine it all coming to life.
“Well, since we can’t see anything right now, let’s look at the rest of the apartment.”
She followed him to the left, into the kitchen, which held a fully-stocked refrigerator and all the plates, utensils, and cookware she could ever imagine.
They turned and headed down a small hallway. Opening the door, they discovered a bedroom. The black and white theme ended, and rich browns, yellows, and oranges met their eyes. A king-sized bed sat in the middle of the room, and to the left, a small hallway led to the bathroom and walk-in closet, all done in the same rich tones.
“This is beautiful,” she murmured.
“Yeah, I’ve never been in a place this nice.”
“Neither have I.”
“Let’s see what’s on the other side,” Connor commented.
She followed him through the living room to another small hallway. When he opened the double doors, she gasped.
Here, the black and white theme died, as well. Before her stood the largest bed she’d ever seen. It had to be bigger than a California King, most likely custom-made, and looked like it could sleep four people.
Sky blue and white gauze hung from the canopy bed, gently gliding along the breeze caused by the interior heating. The plush, white carpet beneath her feet muffled the footsteps of her boots, and she almost felt bad for wearing her shoes on such richness. Gauzy white and dark blue curtains hung from the rod over the windows. As she moved through the room, she found a huge, white, marble soaking tub that could easily fit two people, and perhaps more.
Next to it stood a shower stall, in the same design. In fact, the whole bathroom was white with accents of blue flowers and acc
essories all around it.
“It looks like a princess should live here,” she murmured as she ran her hand over the marble. “It’s just stunning.”
Connor came up behind her, leaving about six inches between their bodies. Their gazes met in the mirror, and he grinned.
“Then a princess should stay in this room.”
She opened her mouth to argue. She hadn’t meant that she should sleep here, but Connor disappeared out into the main bedroom.
“Connor!” she called as she took off after him. “That’s not what I meant. I don’t think I deserve this. I was simply saying that it looked like something a princess would sleep in. If you want this room, it’s yours.”
He furrowed his brow at her and crossed his arms over his chest, as if he didn’t quite understand her intention.
“I’m happy wherever I’m at,” she said, placing her hand on his bicep without thinking about it. “If you want this room, I’m fine with that.”
His nostrils flared as pure fire blazed in his gaze. She felt the connection, the heat of their bond through her palm, and quickly removed it.
And just like that, the emotion had been doused.
“Why don’t you stay in here?” Connor said, backing away from her, and making her wonder if he had felt that thing between them, as well. “I’m totally fine in the other room.”
She nodded as he moved into the living room, and a few seconds later, came in and dropped her duffel bag by the dresser.
“I’m heading to bed,” he said. “So I’ll see you in the morning.”
As the door shut, her heart suffered another small, but painful cut.
She turned and looked around her surroundings, and tears welled in her eyes.
What good was a woman in a princess room without the prince?
“Fuck,” she mumbled, wanting to shout it from the rooftops.
