by Jackie Ivie
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER ONE
She’d lost sight of Theresa.
Again.
That, in and of itself, wasn’t worrisome. Theresa was free to party. That’s why they’d come to Las Vegas this time. Clubs were supremely easy to find here in the Nevada sin city. Eska frequented them often. It was her element. Prey was easy to find and easier to entice. She could flirt. Engage. Find a quiet corner. Partake as much blood as she wanted, although with her slight frame, she couldn’t handle too much from any inebriated parties. The night was still young - the hour hand hovered at midnight. Flickers of light touched on the crowd. Music thumped through the air and slid off all manner of skin. The dance floor was filled with gyrating bodies...in various stages of disarray. And all levels of fitness. Her canines vibrated against her lips, fighting her control. So many options. Such a feast.
All told, it was perfect.
Or, it would be, if she hadn’t violated a rule. She’d turned one of her friends into an undead. And then she’d set her loose. Eska scanned the sea of humans again. Theresa should be easy to spot. At five foot ten, she was equal in height to Eska, although her frame was a lot fuller. She sported a crimson and neon-yellow wig tonight. The girl was also dressed like a fairy, complete with little wings. It didn’t seem possible to miss her.
Unless she’d ignored Eska’s warnings, and left the club...
Drat.
Eska should have ignored Theresa’s pleas. Brushed them aside. She wasn’t a novice in this. She’d reached her third century of existence and knew the rules. Turning a human made her responsible, but changing Theresa had seemed so harmless! And things had gotten rather lonely lately. Every night was the same. Even the players all started to look alike. Being on the prowl used to create excitement she craved. A danger she chased. Endless entertainment.
Now?
Eska almost frowned. As a member of the Inupiaq tribe, she was betraying the native values of respecting others called qiksiksrautiqabniq, as well as irruaqjibeaieeiq, to feel no mockery. That was difficult. The relationship game felt like it had been reduced to the equivalent of a slot machine. With a little effort, a few pennies, and a pull of a handle, something passable for dating material could be cranked out. It was usually male, but not always. Normally good-looking. Most of them were fit. Well-groomed. Charming. But they always ended up being unmemorable. All she seemed to run into anymore were lowlifes.
Guppies.
Bottom feeders.
What she really searched for was a man equivalent to a King Salmon. One from legend. He’d need to be in his prime. Fighting for survival against the odds. They were the hardest to catch. Because they knew their worth. They were the best. The most worthy.
Oh, Eska!
What an absurd thought at an even more inane time! Any hope of finding her King Salmon had been dashed years ago. Even before this un-death had taken her senses and then deadened them.
“Hey babe! On a scale of one-to-America, how free are you tonight?”
Eska ran her eyes up the male who blocked her progress. Looks like she had attracted another guppy, but at least he had an entertaining pick-up line. Her eyebrow lifted as she considered him. He was tall. She had to look up, and she was in heels, making her a good six-foot-two. He didn’t appear to have imbibed too freely, making him a good prospect. He had a nice smile. White, straight teeth. Nice tan. His hair was sandy-colored, and his eyes were blue, both reminders that she preferred dark men. Black hair. Dark eyes. Deep temperament. This fellow obviously spent a lot of money on his dentist, and a lot of time in a gym, if the pecs and biceps he’d flexed were any indicator. All-in-all, however, he looked like a nice diversion.
Once she found Theresa.
Eska smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m looking for someone,” she replied.
“Well. You’re in luck. You found him.”
“I’m looking...for someone else,” she answered.
His grin wavered slightly, but only for a moment. The next second it was back in full force. He had laugh lines at the edges of his eyes in accompaniment. He resembled a poster boy for an All-American football player from the mid-twentieth century. Big. Blond. Buff. And entirely wholesome. He looked vaguely familiar, too. Eska almost snickered as it occurred to her. She’d probably run into his great-grandfather at a malt shoppe in the 1950s.
“Anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“You can allow me to proceed.”
The grin didn’t even budge. “How about if I help? I’ve got great range. Who are we looking for?”
Mister All-American went on tip-toes and craned his neck, easily looking over her head, as if to demonstrate his prowess at it. Eska considered him for long enough he ended his scan and went back to his regular height.
“My friend, Theresa.”
“Is she as hot as you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Well, then. I haven’t seen her.”
This time both of Eska’s eyebrows lifted. “I have not described her yet.”
“No need. There is nobody here as hot as you, babe.”
Eska’s fangs tingled. She fought a smile that would reveal too much. “Where will you be later?” she asked.
“How much later?”
“Does it matter?”
“Well...they do last call at two around here. Can’t say where I’ll be after that.”
“I do believe I’ll be back for you,” she told him, “but you may not want that. It could be bad for your health.”
“Come again?”
“I am a vampire.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Nope.”
Eska tilted her chin upward, narrowed her eyes, and lifted her upper lip. She toyed with hissing, too, but considered it too theatrical. His eyes went wide. His grin died mainly due to how his jaw dropped. That expression lasted a couple of seconds and then he surprised her. He blinked. Licked his lips. Blew her a kiss.
“Oh. Baby! This is my lucky night!”
“You are not afraid?”
“Hell, no. Do I look scared?”
“No. But you will be.”
Eska darted around him and sped across the floor, doing her best to maintain a human-like pace. She failed. She was at the second floor balcony before Mister All-American turned around to look for her. He didn’t look up. And then he walked over to the bar. She hoped he wouldn’t drink too much. She really didn’t want the taste in her mouth. She licked her lips, moved her gaze, and scanned the floor again from this vantage. Looking for a dark red and neon-yellow wig. Iridescent fairy wings that glittered with every move. The little white dress that showed off Theresa’s full figure. Surely the girl knew better than to leave! Eska had warned her. She might be an immortal, but that didn’t mean they were invincible. There were hazards in every situation, especially for the newly-turned. And Hunters weren’t that stupid.
Eska sniffed the air. There wasn’t any hint of burning garbage smell. That was the tell-tale mark of Hunters. She was probably
worrying for naught, but she needed to be certain. Theresa wasn’t in the club. That left one alternative - outside. She hoped the girl hadn’t drained anyone. Or worse, gotten inebriated.
“Hey there! Sweetheart. Kiss me if I’m wrong...but isn’t your name Richard?”
A form stepped into the space in front of her. Another male. This one was her exact height. He was dark haired, dark-eyed. Had some wide shoulders beneath his jacket. The slightest shadow of whiskers on his lower jaw. He was extremely handsome. Exactly what she liked. But his timing was terrible.
“I’m sorry,” she replied.
“What? You mean your name really is Richard?” he joked.
“I don’t have time for this right now.”
He leaned back, folded his arms and regarded her with a look that would have sent her heart racing if it still could. He was really gorgeous. Arrogant. Almost exactly what she most enjoyed. And a moment later, he sealed the deal. Any recollection of Mister All-American was lost.
And good riddance.
“Make time,” he told her.
“I really can’t. Not now. Perhaps later.”
“Maybe I won’t be available later.”
“Well...I guess I’ll just have to risk it.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Eska.”
“Hmm. Sweet name. I’m James.”
“Oh. It was nice meeting you, James.”
“What? Come on. I showered tonight.”
“What?”
“You’re giving me the brush-off. I’m not stupid. But I’m mystified. Is it my name you don’t like? My approach? What?”
“Neither.”
“Then why are you rushing off?”
“You are fairly attractive, James.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said—”
“I heard you,” he interrupted. “But I want you to know I’m under contract to a modeling agency. With a pretty sweet deal coming up.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“That means I’m not just fairly attractive. On any level.”
Oh my. He was exactly what she liked. Male. Dominant. Definitely in his prime. Knew his worth. She wondered if he was going to be hard to catch.
“I really have to go, James. I came with a friend. I need to find her.”
“What’s she look like?”
Eska described Theresa. He leaned toward her and flashed a smile. He probably expected more reaction than her blank expression.
“Oh. I met her. Theresa? Right? I danced with her earlier.”
“How long ago?”
“Not long. She’s your friend? Well...that figures. She’s good-looking. Sexy as hell.”
Damn everything. He was failing the King Salmon test. But then he winked and added something that codified his standing.
“Then again...I hadn’t seen you yet.”
Eska regarded him for a long moment. He matched her expression. She tried not to mesmerize, but it wasn’t easy. He had stunning eyes. Deep. Dark. She finally broke the gaze. Damn that Theresa! If only she’d followed instructions! Stayed inside. Eska could stay right here and find out how close James was to her ideal.
But...no.
She couldn’t.
Theresa was her responsibility.
“I will definitely look for you later, James.” She finally spoke.
“Wow. What a treat that will be. I might even be around waiting.”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
“You are not the only hot chick here, Eska.”
Oh. He was definitely playing hard to catch. Eska didn’t bother hiding the smile. She watched his glance touch on her fangs. Then he looked back to her eyes. He didn’t even act surprised.
“Oh. You’re a vampire, too?” he asked.
Eska started. “Theresa told you...about that?”
“Yeah. And more.”
Oh.
Shit.
Alarm bells started sounding through her head. And a moment later, she caught the first whiff of an acrid burning smell.
CHAPTER TWO
Panic was a debilitating emotion. It made one weak. Anger was better. No. Rage. That emotion cancelled out just about everything, even fear. Eska shoved James. He flew into a wall. A cry of pain accompanied his arrival. Her glance followed. He slowly collapsed into a heap, a look of surprise and fear on his handsome face. The blow could be mortal. That was a shame, but deserved. He wouldn’t be the first human to learn.
You shouldn’t play with a vampire. They didn’t have to play nice.
James was forgotten. His existence relegated to collateral damage. Eska raced into the corridor, constantly scanning, while her nose followed the stench. It unerringly led one direction: outside. Hadn’t the girl listened to even one instruction? An old iron door loomed ahead, clearly marked ‘PRIVATE, No Entrance’. Eska slammed through it, heard metal smack against concrete as it boomeranged off the wall, then closed. She was on a balcony. The view included a small table with chairs. A tree. It was surrounded on three sides with waist-high glass panels. A moment later she held onto one, looking out at the teeming streets seventeen floors below. A wall of Nevada desert air hit, funneled right at her. The world became a cacophony of heat and noise that would have debilitated if she’d had sensation. Eska ignored both the temperature and the sound. Horns. Laughter. Yelling. Motors. Music.
The mix of experiences blended.
Warped.
And then she saw them.
Hunters.
Even if the smell hadn’t given it away, she knew them instantly. Despite their lack of camo and arcane-looking weaponry. She detested Hunters. Everything about them. They were evil, rotten scumbags. If she could, she’d eliminate every single one from the planet. With pleasure.
She counted seven men. Gathered in a spot beside the club parking lot. It was well-chosen. The entire area was an abyss of darkness. Their location was on the other side of a privacy wall. Secluded. Private. A place where few passersby would even glance. The building looming above them was vacant, maybe even derelict, its appearance in complete contrast to the thriving casino/club she stood in. And she didn’t just smell something burning, she could see smoke.
Their group shifted, allowing a glimpse of the bloodied corpse on the ground, recognizable only by the mop of crimson and neon yellow wig and a crumpled set of fairy wings.
Damn it.
Looks like they’d found Theresa.
If Eska were still human, she’d feel sorrow. Regret. Responsibility. And she might have even experienced a niggling, except her entire being filled with a pounding need for revenge. It hardened everything about her. Her mind cleared. Everything went sharp. Hard. Focused.
There were many reasons to eliminate Hunters, but revenge had to be the sweetest. And Eska was known for being vengeful. Despite her mother’s teachings of Inupiat values – piooaktautaieeiq and ixammiubniq, words that meant gentleness and compassion – well. She was her father’s daughter, too.
He’d been a Frenchman. His manner hard. His temperament violent. He hadn’t stayed around to see her reach adulthood.
As far as she was concerned, it was no great loss.
Eska liked to blame him when she did something rash. And brutal. Like now.
Her hands slid beneath her skirt hem, unerringly finding her weapon of choice, two ulu knives. The half-circled blades were her cultural heritage. They could fillet and gut in seconds. Slice through fish. Whale bone. Seal blubber. Caribou hide. Ulu knives had been used for centuries in the arctic. She always carried two. Tonight they were in leather sheaths strapped to her upper thighs, held in place with black lace garters. Her fingers tightened around the handles as she watched the group. Her muscles twitched. Fangs vibrated. She concentrated.
And easily heard.
One of them gagged. Words followed it. “Oh...hell! Why is there...so much...blood?”
The voice was oddly familiar. Eska cocked her head to one side. Considered it.
“She’s newly turned! That’s why.”
“It looks like we committed murder!”
“We used flashlights, moron. Nothing murderous about that.”
“Those are not ordinary flashlights.”
“No kidding. These are special. Equipped with UV bulbs. They’re not perfect. But they’ll do the job.”
“Like...sunlamps?”
“Yeah. You have to use a bunch of them at once, though,” another man added. “But the lab is working on that part.”
“Cool.”
“You should join us, buddy. You might like it.”
“Like what? Killing?”
“This isn’t a kill. It’s an execution.”
“Uh...I don’t know. It looks...really gory.”
“It usually does.”
“You could have warned me.”
“What did you think we were going to do? Chat her up?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Yeah? Well, now you do.”
“You didn’t mention she’d look human under the skin! Ugh! I’m going to puke.”
“Ignore it. This is not a human. Not anymore.”
“Well...she sure as shit looks it.”
“Buck up, man. We’re not finished yet. We still have one more to exterminate. The older one. The one you told us you met. She’ll turn to ash. Guaranteed.”
Ah.
She had her answer. It was Mister All-American.
Eska jumped the balcony and swooped down, skimmed across the top of the fence, and smacked into two of them. One went flying into a section of wall, his head splattering on impact. The other landed in a heap somewhere out in the night. She didn’t bother checking. No need. She sliced the next man open, filleting him. Her larger ulu knife cut deep into the next man’s throat, severing a carotid artery. A spinning move gained her a perch atop one’s shoulders. Twisting her arm about his throat broke his neck. The sixth man got an ulu knife in the center of his chest. He was dead before he finished sagging to the ground. And then she stopped. Turned around. And faced Mister All-American.
He was armed.
Damn it.
Eska had a second before he lifted a large unwieldy flashlight. All manner of pain ensued. She was blinded. And then she was twitching as if sun-burnt. It almost altered her aim.
