by JF Holland
Chapter Nine
T here was a knock at the door, and gingerly, Balin tried to shuffle up the bed without dislodging the needle in his arm.
“Enter.” Stifling a wince the movement caused, he shoved his shoulders into the pillows, trying to find a comfortable position. He’d just settled into place; with a relieved sigh, when the door opened.
“Only us, just checking you’ve still got your balls,” Leonard replied airily as he stepped into the room.
“Well, as you had an up-close-in-person view of them in the shower, I’d say, yes.” Balin, dryly replied.
“I didn’t look,” Leonard grinned, as he went over to the windowsill and leaned back, legs and arms crossed.
“Here’s your tea,” Luc said, putting a steaming cup on the bedside cabinet to Balin’s right. He then took a seat in the chair beside the bed, on the opposite side of the room to Leonard.
“What is it with you two, can you not kiss and make up.”
“That would be down to Luc,” Leonard replied with a shrug - just a slight lifting of his shoulders. He tried to look nonchalant about it, but his tension gave him away.
“Luc, surely there’s something Leonard could do to make this up to you?” Balin winked, and Luc frowned until Balin raised his chin towards his mobile phone which was plugged in, charging at the back of the dressing table near the door. Luc smirked, then getting up of the chair, pulled his own phone out of his pocket.
“You’d do whatever it took to make it right between us, oui?” Luc asked, sitting back down opening his e-mails, and unable to look up or he’d give away his mirth.
“Of course. After all, it’s my fault you turn all stony during the day,” Leonard replied.
Balin covered his mouth to hide his grin as Luc hit a few keys and hit send.
“Check your e-mail,” Luc told Leonard, who frowning, pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of his jacket. Lifting the phone, he opened his e-mail and blinked, his eyes widening.
“No,” he swore.
“You just said you’d do anything to heal the rift in your friendship,” Balin reminded him.
“But this, this… this… it’s childish,” Leonard scoffed.
“No, it’s payback,” Luc informed him.
“You seriously signed me up to a... dating site?” Leonard spat with distaste. He looked down at his phone again then coughed, his mouth kicking up. “Eternal Mates, is that a piss take or what?”
“John’s mother owned it.”
“Seriously?” Leonard asked, head popping up before dropping again as he checked the e-mail, opening the website. He blinked. “It’s an immoral dating site,” he grinned. Then he looked through his profile and snorted, eyebrow raised as he spotted what they’d wrote. “Enjoys walking and reading,” man, you really did want payback,” Leonard grinned. “All I did was try to get you laid, but you’re trying to bore me to death,” he informed Luc dryly. His face dropped and he held out the phone. “I’ve had a hit,” he informed them, it says we have a 96-percent compatibility rating.
“Give me the phone,” Luc said, hand out. Too stunned to think, Leonard moved towards the bed, dropped on the edge and handed his old friend his phone.
Luc opened the e-mail, then grinning handed it to Balin who laughed, sobering as he winced, the movement pulling on his wounds. He handed it back, and again shuffled about trying to get comfortable again.
“You have a date tomorrow evening at 8pm, Upper Lunaton, Dragons arms.” Luc informed Leonard, handing back the phone.
“A secretary, are you kidding me…” he sputtered, staring at his phone, lost for words. Shit Luc, she’s human.”
“Oui, there’s also a clause on my forgiveness.”
“Fine, what is it?”
“Five dates…”
“I can do that, absolutely,” Leonard jumped in.
“No sex,” Luc carried on, grinning at the look of horror on Leonards face as he sputtered.
“No sex? Five-dates and no sex. Are you yanking my fucking chain here or what? I mean, that even goes beyond the third dates rule on sex; which is archaic these days.”
“Take it or leave it,” Luc informed him impassively with a shrug.
“Fine, I’ll take it.” Leonard ground out.
“Oh, and just so you know, I’ll be checking that you’ve not gotten it on with her.”
“Oh, come on, for fuck sake, don’t you trust me,” Leonard whined.
“Non,” Luc informed him dryly.
“Fine, you have a deal,” Leonard grumbled, taking back his phone from a grinning Luc.
“Jackass.”
“Imbecile,” Luc spat, clicking his tongue.
“I’ve missed this,” Leonard told him with a wry grin.
“If you begin painting each other’s nails, I’m revoking your man cards,” Balin told them, and they both began laughing.
“Hi, I brought you food,” Lana said, stepping into the room with a tray, Sam on her heels.
“Hey baby, come take a seat,” Balin told her, patting the mattress beside him.
“What’s amused you?” Sam asked.
“Leonard has a date.”
“Leonard?” Sam asked incredulously. “No, not possible. You do not date, you bang and bail,” Sam informed him. “Shit, is he ill, do I need to get him checked over when Thomas returns later?”
“No,” Balin grinned. “Luc set him up on a dating site.”
“Really?” Lana asked curiously, sitting on the edge of the bed. She was happy to see Balin looking a little better.
“Yes, Luc’s idea, a way to let the past between them go.”
“Oh dude, you got off lightly after the whole hocus pocus shit Luc got handed.” Lana informed Leonard.
“He has to go on five-dates and he’s not allowed to have sex with her in that time.” Balin informed Lana with a wide, evil grin. Lana blinked, then turning and catching the look of distaste and horror that crossed Leonards face, she began laughing.
“I’m heading back downstairs, I think I’ve given enough entertainment value for one evening,” Leonard sniffed, before heading out of the room.
“Man, this is going to be fun,” Sam murmured, leaning down and awkwardly hugging Balin. “Hey son, how you doing?”
“Better, thanks dad.”
Sam swallowed, it wasn’t often that he called him dad, he normally only did it when he was angry with him.
“I realised something when I wasn’t sure if I was going to live or die. Blood doesn’t always make someone a parent. I know mine had no choice over leaving me, I mean they were…” Balin’s eyes met Lana’s and he ran a hand through his hair, hoping she understood that he wasn’t blaming her for the loss of his natural parents. It may have been at the hands of her uncle and father, but her father wasn’t to blame either really, and she definitely wasn’t.
Lana gave him a nod, obviously understanding. She then leaned forward and threaded her fingers with his where they clutched the duvet.
“You had a choice though, dad. You could have sent me away for someone else to raise me, but you kept me. You’ve always treated me as your own. Therefore, you more than anyone deserve the title of dad,” Balin told Sam, who blinked a couple of times, his eyes damp. The door opened again and Helena stepped inside, obviously picking up on Sam’s upset.
“Is this a party, and if so, where was my invite?” she scolded jokingly, coming further into the room. Bending down, she kissed Balin’s cheek then moved over to Sam, leaning her head against his arm as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “You’re looking so much better, you had us worried.”
“I was worried myself there for a while,” Balin told her, not meeting her gaze.
Lana squeezed his hand, her fingers tightening on his. He yawned, blinking, his eyes aching with fatigue.
“How can I still be tired?” he mumbled groggily.
“Your body took a lot of damage son; it’s going to take time. Eat your sandwich and then sleep. You’ll soon be
up and about, but until then, rest,” Sam told him, once again squeezing his shoulder. “I’m glad your home,” he whispered, stroking his hair with a watery smile. We’ll speak soon, but rest for now,” with that he left. Helena kissed his cheek and then did the same to Lana, taking Sam’s hand as they left the room.”
“I should go also, I have things to do,” Luc informed them. “I will check back on you tomorrow,” he said as he left the room.
“Come on, eat, then go back to sleep,” Lana told Balin, letting go of his hand and passing him the plate.
“Stay,” Balin told her.
“You need to sleep.”
“I will, but I need you here with me to do that. I never thought I’d see you again.” Her eyes dropped from his, swallowing and unable to meet his questioning gaze. “Lana, look at me, please.”
“I’m angry with you,” she hiccupped, her wet eyes finally lifting to meet his. “You were going to leave me, you were…” she clamped her mouth closed and swallowed.
“I would never have left you if I’d had a choice.”
“You were trying to let go.”
“No, I was trying to keep you safe,” she scoffed at his reply. “I did not want her getting her hands on you, I couldn’t stand the thought of her doing to you what she’d been doing to me.” His jaw ground, sparkling amber eyes finding and holding her green ones. “I did not want to leave you,” he reiterated. Hell, I’d only just found you, why the hell would I want to leave? I was just trying to find a way to sort out the mess I’m made between us. I’d fucked up, and all I wanted was a chance to sort it out,” he sighed.
The thought of never seeing her again had ate at him. But also, the thought of her had helped him to endure the horrendous shit that psychotic bitch had done to him. His arm dropped, his stomach aching and he tried to rub it, but the drip pulled and the rune wobbled. Sighing, he tried to ignore the throbbing coming from his stomach as Lana spoke, his attention once again on her.
“You try something like that again, and I’ll kill you myself,” Lana whispered. Her lashes lowering and a lone tear fell, splashing on his sheet.
“Hey, Lana?” when she didn’t respond he tried to reach for her mind, the connection hazy as he couldn’t make anything out. He became panicked, wondering why he couldn’t reach her? The thought of not having the capability being able to slip to their more intimate form of communication was sickening. Just as he became frantic at being unable to speak directly into her mind, the connection cleared. He was now privy to every thought and feeling she had. The fear had eaten at her when she’d been unable to find him. It had been a physical agony for her knowing he was being tortured and she couldn’t find him. He felt her fatigue and anxiety she’d endured during her sleepless nights as she’d lay in her bed. The times she’d been unable to reach his mind as he’d either been unconscious or blocking her to save her knowing had been worse. She’d stared at the ceiling wondering what he was going through, and had found what her imagination threw up so much worse than actually knowing. Her imagination had run rampant with all kinds of horror filled scenarios at those times. He was stunned by the depth of her feelings for him, her worry and devastation all as clear as day in her mind.
“Baby, come here,” Balin whispered into her mind, interrupting her thoughts, and gasping she looked up and stared at him.
“Don’t leave me again,” she shuddered.
“Never,” he promised, grasping her hand and tugging her down beside him.
“Okay, now eat and go back to sleep, I’ll watch over you,” she said snuggling into his side. She then tucked her hand beneath her own hip so she didn’t inadvertently touch and hurt him.
“How about I eat and we take care of each other,” Balin offered as he took a bite of his sandwich, his left arm still attached to the nearly empty bag of saline. “Dammit, I can’t even hold you,” he growled, in frustration, needing to be able to touch her. Frustrated, he took another bite of his sandwich, chewing angrily, nostrils flaring.
“Thomas is due back shortly, when he comes back he’ll disconnect you. He’s just nipped back to the hospital to check on a patient,” Lana’s told him on a yawn.
“Sleep, I’ll wake you when he gets here,” Balin told her. His discomfort and frustration forgotten as his need to take care of her took precedence.
Chapter Ten
T he engine of the delivery van was still idling as the black jaguar came upon it. The stench of fresh spilled blood so strong it coated the back of his throat, whiskers twitching and ears flattening. Jaden shifted back to two legs, and slowly made his way to the driver’s side. There was no broken lock or smashed window, in fact, the driver’s door was wide open. The unfortunate driver himself was half out of his seat, upper half hanging out, limp; although his backside and legs were still inside. It was as if something; or someone, had tried to drag him from the vehicle, but the seatbelt had hindered their progress. His glassy eyes were open and staring at the sky as he lay, motionless, bloody and broken. The right indicator on the van was still blinking, as if he’d pulled over onto the wrong side of the road.
Why had he stopped here though? There were no houses around as it was a mile or two from the town. Jaden began to search around him as Leonard appeared, out of the tree line. He then moved further out into the road, checking that no one was going to come upon them. Jaden left him double checking the area as he himself investigated the floor around him. There was nothing on the asphalt, well, apart from blood spatter. Maybe some torn flesh he realised as it squelched beneath his foot. Lifting his boot, he shook it off with a grimace, then moved further in; where the grass bank started before it disappeared into the tree line. He began searching for clues, and about one hundred yards out, he spotted paw prints coming out of the treeline. Following them, he realised as they got closer to the road they turned to a shoe print, a large shoeprint.
Shaking his head, he pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket and took a quick picture. Then he placed his own foot beside both the paw and boot prints to use his own foot as a reference for size. Putting his phone away again, he jogged back to the van, shaking his head as he again took in the mess that had once been a middle-aged Caucasian male.
“God, damn it.”
“What have we got… Oh. I thought we’d gotten the rogue problem solved?”
“Me too, but it seems not.” Jaden told Leonard dryly as he arrived beside him, then bent forward to catalogue the damage done to the driver. His eyes moving from his neck to the torn and clawed out space where the dead man’s chest should be.”
“It looks like someone’s been snacking.”
“What gave it away. The teeth marks around the whole in his neck or that he only has half a heart?” Jaden asked sarcastically, eyebrow raised. Leonard just shrugged as he straightened up, making Jaden sigh. “Well, it looks like his deliveries are going to be late.”
“No change there then,” Leonard replied with a grin.
“Really?”
“Too soon, okay, my bad,” Leonard shrugged, unrepentant.
Jaden shook his head at his weird, shit, sense of humour. “We need to get this off the road before the authorities come sniffing around.”
“Well then, hop in,” Leonard said, stepping further back.
“Why me?”
“I’m wearing Armani my man,” Leonard replied, hand sweeping loftily over his trouser and crew neck ensemble under his leather jacket.
“You pussy,” Jaden growled.
“No, you’re the cat, not me. I’m the well-dressed vamp. I’m also the one who doesn’t have to sit in the after effects of a rogue kill. Therefore, that makes me the smart one,” Leonard told him with another grin as Jaden cursed him.
“I thought you’d jump at the chance, fresh blood and all,” Jaden ground out as he undid the ripped seat belt and shoved the dead weight of the driver over.
“Please. I’m not into sloppy seconds, I leave that to the grizzly twins,” Leonard replied, flicking an invisi
ble piece of lint from his shoulder. Jaden rolled his eyes as he hefted himself behind the wheel and pushed the dead drivers legs out of his way.
“Stop primping and keep a look out, I’ve just asked Maya to send either Helena or Lara down here for clean up.”
“You’ll also need my particular skill set to alter a few memories, so you’ll need to grab his wallet so I can go pay a visit.”
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Jaden spat, as he put the van in gear. He pulled the door shut, before he bumped it up over the grass and further away from the road towards the treeline.
Jaden parked the white van behind a hedge, so it wouldn’t be visible from the road, then jumped out again. He’d have to cool his heels while he waited for either Helena or Lara to get here. Then he remembered that he needed the guy’s wallet, so mumbling under his breath, he opened the passenger door and patted the dead guy over, apologising to him for the rough treatment.
“Do you often talk to the dead?”
“Fuck off,” Jaden snarled as he snagged the wallet out of his back pocket.
“I believe it can be quite a lucrative job prospect,” Leonard continued.
“You know, I found you a lot more pleasant to be around when you were the quiet, creepy vamp who hung out in corners.”
“You’re just pissed that you got your clothes dirty,” Leonard told him, his head turning at the sound of a motorbike. “Oh look, the cavalry has arrived.”
“Mr obvious,” Jaden mumbled, turning to try to see the damage to his jeans. “Bollocks, another pair ruined,” he groused as Leonard flagged down the bike. “Why didn’t you want to get dirty anyway?”
“I have a date,” Leonard informed him over his shoulder.
“A date, as in a female?” Jaden asked, blinking.
“Yes.”
“You don’t sound happy… argh, is this from that dating site… Eternal… shit, what’s it called?”
“Eternal Mates,” Leonard snapped.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Well, shit, my day’s looking up. Pity yours won’t be getting up, I believe there’s a no screwing clause. What was it now…” Jaden said leaning back against the van with his arms crossed grinning at Leonard. “Oh yeah, five dates and no touching, should be a breeze, especially with your glamour.”
