“Go back inside,” I yelled. The women looked at me like I was crazy, ignoring my frantic plea. Instinct told me to run and leave them behind, but I couldn’t. They were clearly human. Two very normal, very human women, who wouldn’t stand a chance against what was heading our way.
“Vampire!” I yelled. Their gazes jerked toward me and then to the oncoming man. Shaking their heads and laughing as though I were delusional, they continued on their way at a snail’s pace. They still didn’t see it. Too confused by media and propaganda, believing that vampires couldn’t come out unless it was night. That wasn’t true; the newly made did just fine in the day, and with the overcast skies and sprinkling of snow, there was little to no risk of direct sun exposure. He’d last hours, if not the entire remainder of the day before exposure took him down.
Without conscious thought, I moved to the middle of the street. Traffic in the area was light at this time of day, cars not really a concern. Closer now, I saw the vampire lock his eyes on me, the red glow evident even from the twenty-foot distance. I saw his mouth grow wide, canines extending and his fingers curling as though he had claws. Newly made vampires were rare. A ridiculously low percentage survived the change, and in most cases, a newly changed vampire was cared for like a child, something precious to be protected. For whatever reason, someone had turned this man and then set him loose to wreak mayhem. The women finally took notice and a look of horror washed over their faces. It was about time. They ran, their purchases dropped in their haste. I waited for the bloodsucker to go after them, the easy prey. A predator went after whatever caught their attention. Two human women, running for their lives, was not something a vampire would miss, but he didn’t move for them. His attention stayed on me. Something wasn’t right.
Fire called to me, tempting me to bring it forth, to destroy my foe in one quick and easy strike. It would be too easy. There was something very wrong about this, about a newly made vampire walking the streets of downtown Spokane as if he were on a leisurely stroll. The change had to have been recent. Blood soaked his light-blue shirt, leaving a large stain over his chest and the left side of his body. If I’d had to guess, he’d been changed within the last few hours. His skin hadn’t turned the pale milky white associated with the undead yet.
Before I could think further, he struck. In a split second, his once jerky movements morphed into a flash of speed as he launched himself at me. I twisted out of the way but was too slow to avoid his second strike. He grabbed me by the back of the neck, flinging me across the road like a rag doll. My body collided with a parking meter, the near frozen metal splitting my cheek and knocking the air from my lungs.
I exhaled a vicious curse before drawing my twin daggers from the thigh sheath beneath my dress and jumping to my feet. My dress rode up, but I couldn’t have cared less at the moment. I was just grateful that despite the dress, I’d managed to wear the blades. Warm blood seeped from my cheek and my ribs ached with my movements.
He charged again, and this time I was ready. I allowed my attacker to get close, his hands brushing my shoulders right before I sank my first blade into the soft flesh of his stomach. My second pierced his chest, but I missed the heart. With my blades still imbedded, he squeezed my shoulder, the pain explosive. I heard a distinct pop before my left arm went limp.
Shit!
My brain took a backseat as adrenaline flowed through my muscles. I kicked out with my left foot, the heel in my shoe sinking into his calf. His leg buckled under the assault and I pulled free, losing my heel in the process but retaining one of my blades. The other remained in his chest.
My left arm hung loose at my side. My right lifted and was ready with my dagger, dark-red blood dripping from its point. His eyes glowed an even deeper red, fangs descending farther to cover his bottom lip. You might as well put those back, mister. You won’t be making a meal out of me. Hot blood surged through my veins. I hastily kicked off my remaining heel, ignoring the discomfort of the snow and gravel beneath my feet. I needed to move faster.
When he struck again, I threw myself to the left, my right arm coming up and slashing his throat in a swift motion. A gurgling sound emanated from his throat, but I knew it wouldn’t last. He would begin healing almost immediately.
Damn vampire. I needed to disable him somehow without killing him. My fire was calling to me and I shoved it down with everything I had. I could not light him on fire. I was determined to find out who had turned him and why he’d been set loose. I moved to deliver another blow, a deep stab to his stomach once more, but just as I moved to strike, a deep growl echoed through the streets. Another predator making itself known. Like an idiot, I turned, and the moment of distraction cost me as I felt the vampire sink his teeth into my raised forearm. A scream escaped me, and then the growl turned into a thundering roar.
I watched in suspended silence as Declan tackled the fledging vampire, bringing him to the ground, the crunch of bone loud to my ears as his body hit the pavement. He’d taken a mouthful of my flesh with him when he’d gone down, and blood flowed freely from the wound, staining the ground red. I tried without success to staunch the bleeding with my left hand but couldn’t get my arm to corporate.
Before I could stop him, Declan brought his hands to the vampire’s neck and, in one quick movement, snapped it. The sound made me cringe. He rose from the body and kicked it once. He grunted in satisfaction when the body didn’t respond.
As though a switch had been flicked, I snapped out of my daze, fury and so much frustration rising to the surface. “What the hell did you just do?” I yelled at him. Don’t light the Alpha on fire. Don’t light the Alpha on fire. I repeated the mantra over and over in my head. It would not bode well for me to attack him right now. No matter how much he deserved it.
Declan looked taken aback for a moment. “I saved your life,” he said.
Urgh. Moron! “No, you didn’t. You ruined it. I cannot believe you just snapped his neck like that, without any thought.” My temperature rose and I had to take a calming breath to contain myself. It didn’t help much.
“Why would I think about it? He had his fangs buried in your arm. I’d expect a little gratitude here.”
I stormed past him and crouched beside the vampire, tearing my blade from his chest. I wiped the blade on the edge of my dress before sheathing it. It was already ruined so a little more blood couldn't hurt it. I needed something else to focus on aside from Declan’s stupidity or I was going to lose what little control I had. I skimmed my hands over the now cold body, checking the pockets of his shirt and pants to find anything that may provide me with some sort of clue.
“What are you doing?” Declan asked, obviously annoyed.
Join the club, buddy. I was pretty damn annoyed myself.
“I’m looking for information,” I bit out. “It would have been much easier to just question the vampire but no, you had to go and snap his neck and be all ‘I am tiger, hear me roar.’” I threw my hands in the air in frustration.
He snarled beside me. “I saved your life.”
“No. You interfered. I’m a pyrokinetic. Don’t you think if I’d wanted him dead, I’d have lit his ass on fire as soon as he got close? I wasn’t trying to kill him. I was trying to disable him, and then you had to come out here all hot-headed and kill him.” I swore under my breath and I continued to search. Finding an inside pocket within his coat, I pulled out a thick piece of folded paper. Standing up, I struggled to unfold it single-handed while my left arm hung limp beside me. Taking pity on me, Declan snatched the paper from my hand and unfolded it.
What I’d thought was a simple piece of paper was in fact a photograph. I stared at the image, my teeth clenched in anger. The photograph was of me. An image, taken within the last week, of me walking across a street near my apartment complex. It had only been snowing for the past week or so and in the photograph, the ground was covered in a thin layer of snow, flurries falling from the sky. For some reason, this vampire had been given my photograph. I
wanted to know why.
“Well, I hope you’re happy,” I said. “Now we’ll never know why he had my photograph in his pocket, will we?”
A deep growl rumbled in his chest, the sound causing me to bite my cheek. I glared at him, refusing to back down. I snatched the image from his hand and walked towards the parking garage entrance.
He kept pace beside me, the expression on his face making it clear he was not pleased.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“You’re hurt. You need to be checked out.”
“It’s just a scratch, I can take care of myself,” I said.
His hand on my shoulder stopped me, “Aria, I’m not just talking about the bite. Your shoulder is dislocated, you need to have it set.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
His grip grew more firm. I stared into his eyes before nodding. Fine, if he wanted to be a control freak, we’d do this here and now.
Adjusting his grip, he placed one hand on my left shoulder, the other on my bicep. His eyes met mine once more and he waited. I said nothing, just stared into the fathomless pools of emerald green, watching the flecks of gold dance within his irises. I got lost in the motion and felt my body begin to sway as though it were tempted to dance to the silent rhythm. Without warning, he jerked my arm up. The joint popped back into place and a pained cry escaped me. He released his hold and I cradled my elbow, hugging my arm close as I rode through the wave of pain. I bit my lip to keep a lid on the string of curses I wanted to release. The adrenaline in my system had already worn off. I felt every bit of the pain now. A full minute passed before I was able to think clearly. I took several deep breaths like I’d practiced in meditation, and pushed the pain to the furthest recesses of my mind.
“Thank you,” I said. I moved to leave before he stopped me once more. “Now what?”
Declan lifted a hand, claws extending from his nail beds. He then pulled the hem of his shirt and used his claws to rip a thick strip free before pulling my bleeding arm towards him. With care, he wound the fabric tightly around my forearm and tied a quick knot to keep the bandage secure.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I retrieved my shoes from the pavement and headed back to the garage, seeking the comfort of my vehicle. Declan didn’t choose to follow me.
I drove to the one place I felt most comfortable. My home. Despite the fact that I’d been staying within the Compound for the last month, I’d still continued paying rent on my apartment, unwilling to part with it. I held my arm close as I trudged up the three flights of stairs, the pain already receding due to my enhanced healing abilities. After unlocking the door and stepping inside, I tossed my heels on the floor and stripped out of my dress, making a beeline for my bedroom. Why I’d bothered to wear a dress was still a wonder to me. My legs were cold from the winter air, though my pyrokinesis had kept most of the chill at bay. I walked into the adjoining bathroom and began peeling off the homemade bandage on my forearm. Discarding the blood soaked scraps of fabric in the nearby trashcan, I surveyed the damage. My forearm looked like it’d been mangled by a dog. A mouthful of flesh was missing, the tissue looking like hamburger meat. The surrounding skin was tinged with yellow.
I turned the faucet on and stuck my arm beneath the stream of water. Blood mixed with water to create a steady stream of pink. Turning off the faucet I retrieved a bandage and a roll of gauze from the medicine cabinet. Pouring antiseptic on the wound I hissed in pain, before I placed the bandage over it and wrapping my forearm in several layers of gauze. That should keep it from getting infected.
Back in my room, I retrieved a pair of yoga pants and a simple t-shirt before heading to the kitchen to make coffee. The flowers were the first thing I saw once in the kitchen, their red petals calling attention to themselves as the smell of roses filled my nose. I eyed the elegantly crafted bouquet with disdain. Ripping the flowers free from their vase, I opened the cupboard below the sink and threw them into the trashcan hidden there, slamming the cupboard shut. Stupid, stupid flowers. Why was is that men believed flowers could fix everything? Earth to men: flowers do not fix things. They are not a resolution to your problems.
I lowered myself into a dining room chair and stared at the cupboard door, frustration brewing. This had been the fourth bouquet. I stopped by my apartment on a weekly basis to water my cactus and make sure everything was still in order. Like clockwork, each week I stopped by, I’d find a new arrangement on my dining room table, always in the same place. I’d read the first card. They came from Inarus. I didn’t bother to read anymore. He’d shown himself a time or two in addition to dropping off flowers. Each time, I’d try and kill him. I’d hear the buzzing and throw a dagger without bothering to see what he wanted. It was turning into a game of sorts. I always missed. Part of me wondered if I really tried all that hard, but still. He’d come, I’d throw a dagger or two, he’d tell me he missed me and that he was sorry. I’d tell him I hated his guts and never wanted to see him again, and then he’d be gone.
Staring longer, my curiosity finally won out and I opened the cupboard. Digging through the tangle of roses, I retrieved the small card that had been attached to the bouquet before slamming the cupboard door once more and taking my seat. I eyed the small envelope as though it were a living creature getting ready to snap at me. What would be inside? Another apology, perhaps? What could he say? “Hey, I’m so sorry I led you on and betrayed your trust.” Maybe instead he’d finally admit he belonged to a fanatical cult and wanted retribution. That would be the day hell froze over. Running out of possibilities, I ripped open the envelope and read the card.
Well, wasn’t that original. I crumpled the card in my hand and threw it across the room, irritated with myself for opening it in the first place. I didn’t know why I allowed him to get under my skin. It had been over a month since we’d faced off from one another on the roof of the Compound. I should have moved on by now. It wasn’t as if we’d developed a sort of bond or anything, though if I were being honest with myself, I’d wanted to. There had been an attraction between us, one I’d wanted to explore. That had been before he’d played me, using me as a pawn in his sick game to disrupt relationships between the Pack and the Coven.
I scoffed as I replayed the night I’d called him out, showing him the very proof of his betrayal, and yet he’d still expected me to go away with him, as though staying with the shifters was so much worse than going with someone who’d only ever lied to me. The sound of my phone ringing drew my attention. I answered on the third ring, finding a concerned James on the other end. Just what I needed. I really needed to start checking my caller I.D.
“Are you okay?” was the first thing he said. No ‘Hello, how have you been?’ Nope, just right into the ‘Are you okay?’ Dammit, Declan. He just had to go and tell James about today.
“I’m fine. How are you today?” I asked, going for nonchalant. He wasn’t buying it.
“Aria, I know about the vampire attack. What were you thinking taking on a newly changed vampire on your own?”
Okay, men constantly thinking I couldn’t take care of myself when I’d been doing exactly that for the last six years was really getting old.
I rubbed at my temples. “I was thinking that I needed to get some information before killing the vampire. Not everyone goes into a fight amped up on shifter rage, snapping necks left and right. Some of us prefer to have some finesse.”
I heard his growl through the receiver and fought a smile. “You’re taking unnecessary risks.”
“Actually, I think they are quite necessary, especially since our vampire in question happened to have my photo on him. Had your Alpha not gone all crazy on his ass, I’d have been able to discover why. Don’t you think it’s strange that a newly made vampire was let loose to his own devices?” I shoved out of my chair and grabbed the coffee grounds from the upper cupboard. Taking two scoops, I poured them into the wait
ing coffee filter before turning the coffee pot on. “The Coven doesn’t do that. With so few able to survive the change,” I shook my head, “No. Rebeckah never would have allowed it.” The fact that fledging vampires were so hard to keep alive was one of the few benefits humanity had against the undead. At least they couldn’t overrun us.
I ran my free hand through my hair, a small twinge letting me know that my shoulder hadn’t entirely healed yet. It was eating at me that I didn’t know the why behind all of this.
“Look, Aria, don’t go looking for trouble.”
The coffee pot began making gurgling noises and I watched it impatiently as it continued to brew.
“I don’t need to,” I told him. “It always manages to find me instead. No need to go out of my way.”
“Where are you? Why don’t I come by? You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“James, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll catch you later at the Compound, okay? You can’t wrap me up in bubble wrap.” I retrieved an insulated travel mug from the dishwasher—it had a picture of a small cat with sunglasses on—and poured myself a cup of coffee. The pot wasn’t done brewing, but what had come out so far would have to do. Twisting on the lid, I headed into the living room of my apartment.
James grumbled something incoherent that I didn’t bother trying to decipher. I lifted the mug to my lips, inhaling the brew with my phone wedged between my ear and shoulder. Why hello there, my dark friend. My, how I’ve missed you. I took a gulp, the coffee near scalding as it made its way down my throat, warming me from the inside out. James continued to lecture me, and I continued to tune him out as I savored my coffee.
I gathered a few last-minute things I’d need for the week and shoved them in my messenger bag before heading out.
blood and magic 02 - kissed by fire Page 2
