by J. D. Brown
“When you hit a bar, zee base will rotate counter-clockwise until your next hit, then it will spin clockwise again, and so on. See that red tape on zee floor there?” I followed her line of sight to find a red strip twelve inches from the hopscotch device. “Your toes are not allowed to leave that red tape and you are not allowed to phase until I declare zee exercise over.”
“But—”
“Zee object is not to get knocked over. It’s a lesson in speed and control.” She placed her hands on my shoulders and nudged me over to the red line. “Ready?”
“No.”
“Set?”
“No…”
“Commencer!”
She pressed a button on the remote and the device whirred to life. The base rotated in a slow circle. The first bar came around and I tossed both arms over my face. The solid wood hit harder than expected and nearly knocked me off my feet. The machine whirred to a halt and then rattled as though it was confused. Finally, it spun in the opposite direction, bringing the second branch around from the other side. This time I was ready for the weight and planted my feet firmly to the floor. I thrust my forearm against the branch and pushed until the machine finally protested again.
“You got zee hang of it. Let’s increase speed.”
My gaze widened as I faced Bridget. “I only did one rotation!”
She smirked and nodded at the log. “Keep your eyes on your opponent, Ema.”
I faced the spinning log and blocked just seconds before the top branch connected with my face. I meant to block again before the second branch came around, but I was too slow and ducked under it.
Bridget tsked. “Pick up zee pace, Ema, and watch out for that lower pole.”
Huh? I glanced down as the third branch swung around, aiming straight for my ankles. How was I supposed to block that? I panicked and jumped over it.
“Keep your toes on zee tape!”
“How?” I screamed.
“Figure it out,” she called back.
I could’ve sworn her voice held a touch of sing-song mockery. My jaw clenched and I kept both arms raised at the ready. With the increased speed, the impact hit twice as strong as before. Sweat dampened my brow as I fought to push the stupid log in the other direction before it could knock me over. Once I found a good rhythm, it was just a matter of keeping pace and not running my stamina into the ground. That was, of course, until my pain-in-the-ass trainer increased the speed again.
“Are you crazy?” I shouted while trying to keep up with the branches flying toward my face in a tornado of insanity. The top branch hit and kept on pushing. I strained against it with all my might, one foot back, the other forward, both hands gripping the branch. My fangs gnashed together as sweat rolled from my temples. Finally, the machine spun in the opposite direction, dragging me with it. As an afterthought, I let go and fell flat on my face.
The middle branch swooped overhead. A cold fear washed through me as I remembered what came next. The fucking lower branch.
I craned my head around and saw it coming. I didn’t have time to brace myself. It was going to hit me and I was going to fly across the room as a result. My eyes squeezed shut and I stiffened in anticipation of the pain. Then something snapped inside me. Instinct took over and I phased just as the branch touched the molecules of my toes and then swept through my essence.
Sound waves rippled through my molecules and my brain decoded the meaning. It was Bridget’s voice.
“Unphase, Ema!”
I didn’t. I needed a moment and I didn’t care if it meant I failed her stupid exercise.
All of a sudden, fire shot through my being like a lightning strike. My atoms jolted together, instantly becoming solid tissue. The burning sensation tore through my skin, under my eyelids, inside my lungs. Screams erupted from my chest and I clawed at my skin in an urgent need to bleed the fire out.
“Ema, calm down!” Bridget crouched over me, pulling my hands away. “It’s just a little bit of mace, you will heal in a moment.”
“Mace?” I screamed. “You pepper sprayed me?”
“Not me, zee hopscotch machine. There is a scale under zee red tape. If zee scale stays at zero for longer than ten seconds, zee bars emit a small amount of mace. No big deal to a vampire, except when that vampire is in phase-form.”
“You could have warned me!” The burning faded to an itchy tingle similar to the onset of a bad sunburn. My muscles relaxed enough for me to push myself upright, but I was still upset.
“Hey,” she sniggered, “I did tell you not to phase until after I turned zee machine off.”
I looked at the still device, its motor resting silently, not at all like it was a second ago. My gaze narrowed. “Were you planning to turn it off before or after it killed me?”
“Don’t be such a baby. Come on.” She helped me up and then gestured to the log of death.
“What, again? No way.” I raised my arms, palms forward, and backed away.
Bridget rolled her eyes. “We’re going to go over this exercise until you get it right.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Ema, it’s easy. Look…” She motioned to the bars. “They each touch you in a different spot, at a different time, in a pattern: torso, head, feet. There is no reason to use your feet if you can keep up with zee first two bars. Don’t waste energy moving your entire body around. Widen your stance, bend your knees, keep your back straight, and twist only your waist. Zee hands and wrists are delicate. Always use your bigger body parts. Intercept with your forearms and push with your legs.”
My hands wrung as I considered Bridget’s instructions. She actually made some sense. I sucked in a deep breath and then positioned my feet and exhaled. “Okay, let her rip.”
The elevator rose through the hollow chamber to the seventh floor. A dull ache stirred in my calves and biceps as a smile played on the corners of my lips. With Bridget’s guidance, I beat the hopscotch machine at the maximum speed. Maybe I did have what it takes to face Apollyon.
The doors slid open and I stepped out, wiping perspiration from my brow. Voices pulled my attention to the end of the hall where two men stood near door number 714. I recognized Jesu immediately. He leaned against a door frame opposite from ours, his arms crossed over his chest. He knew I was there—he could sense me just as I could him—and yet, he averted his gaze, his hair falling over his shoulders like a black curtain. The conversation stopped cold.
The other man standing before him was dressed like a bellhop. Sure enough, a tiny gold dragon shaped in an “O” was pinned to his lapel. I bit my lip and approached them. I’d forgotten about our kiss while battling the hopscotch machine. Now, the memory shot back, center stage, and none less confusing than before. My mind reeled and my breath deepened, but there was no sense in avoiding the topic.
I paused before the men and smiled. Jesu made no sound or movement. His gaze locked on a spot on the floor, mouth pressed into the firm line. The bellhop’s gaze travelled between us. His brow cocked, but he was smart enough not to comment on the personal business of a paying customer.
“Vell,” the man said in a thick German accent. “I’ll be on my vay. Here is your key.” He handed a plastic card to Jesu then strode past me. I waited until he boarded the elevator and the doors closed.
“What’s going on?” I tilted my chin at the card in Jesu’s hand.
He turned his back to me and slid the key into the electronic lock. “I have my own suite now.” The latched clicked and the door swung open.
“You’re… moving out?” Nausea twisted my stomach. My hands rose to my middle as though I could physically hold myself together.
Jesu hesitated at the threshold, still avoiding my gaze, his voice gravelly. “I will just be across the hall, Ema. Things will be easier this way.”
Easier for who? I wanted to scream. Instead, I swallowed hard and managed a small smile. “Sure.”
When he didn’t say anything else, I turned away and unlocked the suite door.<
br />
My suite door.
Jesu’s door softly closed behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at room 715. My lip quivered as I stood alone for a moment, then I entered and closed the ingress.
Well, I thought bitterly. I’m an adult. If Jesu doesn’t want to be my roommate, that’s fine. Besides, Jesu was right; things would be easier with a couple of closed doors between us. So why did I feel so hurt?
After an hour of wallowing in self-pity, and thirty minutes of trying to make sense of German television, I came to the conclusion that Jesu and I weren’t going to do anymore extracurricular training together—at least not today.
The moment I stopped waiting for Jesu to knock on the door and apologize, the whole suite suddenly felt larger, emptier, and annoyingly silent. The only noise came from the hum of the refrigerator. I thought a windowless building would’ve been a blessing for a vampyre, but having to rely entirely on a digital clock to have any sense of time passing weighed on my nerves. Minutes felt like hours as I ho-hummed around. Finally, I curled up on the couch with the text books Bridget gave me.
I picked up the lesson in vampyre government where we’d left off, scanning the pages until I found a chart listing the members of the Neo-Draugrian Council. If what Jesu had said was true—if Apollyon reclaimed the throne and the Council became my enemies—I wanted to know exactly whom I couldn’t trust.
Prince Jalmari ta Korento was recorded as the Head. He was already firmly at the top of my do-not-trust list. Naamah and Maria were the Hands. I trusted them even though they had to serve Apollyon. Jesu said Fredrick av Draken was the Swedish Arm and the chart in the text book confirmed it. The Neo-Draugrians also had two more Arms; Stefán á Drekann and a woman named Helldora av Dragen.
The more I learned, the more questions I had, and the less I felt like I knew. I wondered what these people’s names were before they became vampyres or—if because they were in fact born vampyres—did they always live in the clan they were born to and referred to themselves as dragons all their lives? I found that hard to believe, given their long lifespans. What did a vampyre do if he wanted to buy property in France? Did his surname change to Wolf? Maybe that was why the territories were so huge. The major clans encompassed whole countries. It seemed like everything about vampyres was bigger, better, stronger, faster. It hurt my brain just thinking about it.
Eventually I couldn’t sit still any longer. I glanced at the clock. It was noon. I had half a day to waste before meeting with Bridget for our next training session. I decided to go to the weight room. Maybe the physical exercise would take my mind off things.
Chlorine-infected air stung my nostrils as soon as the elevator doors opened. Breathing through my mouth, I continued down the humidity ridden hall. As I passed the swimming pool room, a soft giggle drew my attention to the windowpane in the door. Bridget stood waist deep in the tantalizing water, wearing a skimpy bikini. Her bowtie lips smiled playfully as laughing lines crinkled the corners of her exotic eyes. Jesu swam up behind her and then dipped to hook his arm under her knees. He swept her legs out from under her. She fell back into his arms and he twirled her around.
My breath caught as I rolled to the side to avoid being seen, my back and palms pressed flat against the wall. Then the elevator chimed and out came Heidi, dressed in a flaming red pantsuit and lime green flip-flops. She carried a bundle of clean towels in each arm.
What is she doing here? It’s way too early for her shift!
She neared the pool room, but noticed me and stopped short on the other side of the door.
“Oh, good day, Ema, how are—”
I pressed my forefinger against my lips and narrowed my eyes, giving her my best shut-the-hell-up look. She cocked her brow in question. I sighed and then nodded my head at the window in the door. She slowly leaned her voluptuous upper-half just far enough to steal a peek. She immediately righted herself and then grinned at me and wiggled her eyebrows. I huffed silently. Her brow rose and she jutted a thumb at the window, adding a little jerking nod. I shook my head. No way was I going to look in there again.
She gave me a sidelong glance, looked at the door, and then looked back at me as if to say, If you don’t go in there, then I will.
I groaned silently and then crept forward, crouching behind the door. God help me, I slowly stood up and looked into the window.
The couple stood together on the far side of the shallow end. Jesu’s back was pressed against the edge of the pool. Bridget leaned into his bare chest, facing the rest of the room. Her gaze lowered to the gently lapping water as Jesu’s fingers traced her upper arms, climbing to her shoulders. He scooped her long tresses to the side, exposing the tattoo over her jugular vein. He bent and pressed his lips lightly to the side of her neck. Her long lashes closed as she leaned further to the left, giving him more room to explore.
I gasped and ducked below the window. My heart plummeted into my stomach and suddenly I wanted to be anywhere but here. I knew they couldn’t smell me through the chlorine, but they could have heard my gasp and felt my presence. My gaze traveled to the eager Heidi. Her eyes widened and she bounced in urgent anticipation.
My mouth parted, but no words came. I shut my jaw and shrugged at her like an idiot. I stood, wary of avoiding the glass pane, and turned away. I paid no attention to where I was going, though I knew in the back of my mind I was advancing on the vicinity of the weight room. My mind’s eye replayed the scene I’d just witnessed. It played over and over in my head until only a single thought possessed my being.
I need to get out of here, right now.
A flash of bright light forced my eyes closed.
Chapter 8
When my eyes opened, I stood in the middle of a square surrounded by manicured trees, tall buildings, traffic lights, cars, cozy bistros, and shops. The sun hid behind massive clouds as it began its decent toward the horizon, but the shade was fruitless. I cringed and raised a hand to protect my gaze from the fluorescent orange rays. The scents of coffee and sausage, pastries and flowers, exhaust and metal flooded my senses. I staggered back several feet as I recoiled from it all.
There were humans everywhere; in the cars zooming by, inside the shops across the street, walking down the block about to turn the corner, strolling between cafes, eating and chatting with friends. They didn’t notice me, but I saw everything about them, from the color of their irises to the number of highlights in their hair, the pattern used in the weave of threads making up their choice of clothes, the number of inches covered in the length of their footsteps, and the precise way the soles of their shoes touched the ground.
Their chatter rose, foreign and meaningless, yet my brain used it, zeroed in on the tone, on their lips, on their faces, the expressions there. Something inside me shifted. My mood matched theirs and I knew instantly how to kill them. I could do it so easily, so fast. They wouldn’t even have time to blink. No one would notice.
My spine straightened and I closed my eyes as my head rolled back. My lungs sucked in a deep, greedy breath until the salty-metallic air filled every inch of my chest. A shudder passed through me as something dark and deeply rooted clawed to the surface.
My fists clenched as I tried to fight it, but my very resistance made the dark feeling stronger. It raged through me, a red-visioned force driven by instinct. A growl rolled my lips away from my fangs as a single thought took control of my savage mind.
Blood.
I sprinted toward the street, leaped over a car, and then phased. The instant my molecules de-solidified, my essence smacked against a wall of warm, sticky energy. It oozed through me like molasses, calming and sating the raging monster inside until the urges dimmed into the furthest reaches of my being.
Logic replaced instinct as I floated peacefully over the street to the sidewalk on the other side. I continued lazily into a dark alley and waited, basking in the sticky energy as it filled my invisible lungs with vigor, virtually extinguishing all traces of thirst or hunger.
I
’ve felt this before, I recalled as my thoughts conjured the night Jalmari took me to his discotheque in downtown Helsinki. I’d worried I wouldn’t be able to go near the human club-goers without attacking them. Jalmari had taken my hand in his and phased it. The same sticky energy had coated my molecules and traveled to my core, where it sated the urge to hunt and allowed me to pass the humans safely.
So I can absorb human energy. That must have been what the sticky calm stuff was. What else could curb my thirst so completely? Jesu had told me about this very special power. Only the Greek Vrykolakan clan possessed it, and because of that one special talent, they never had to rely on blood—which meant I would never have to rely on blood ever again.
My molecules slowly pulled together and solidified. A grin stretched across my face as a weight lifted from my shoulders. I never had to hurt people. I never had to lose control. Their energy flooded the air. As far as I could tell, taking a little bit of their energy didn’t harm them. This meant no more bloodlust. I couldn’t wait to tell Jesu.
My smile fell as images of Jesu and Bridget filled my head. I knew they had a history, but neither one ever mentioned the other or acted like they were interested in re-kindling their relationship. Then again, why would either of them talk to me about that? I’d only known Jesu for a few months, and I’d just met Bridget a couple of days ago. They wouldn’t confide in me. Whatever had happened between them in the past evidently wasn’t so bad since they were able to make up.
I couldn’t help feeling like Jesu had moved on pretty damn fast, but that wasn’t fair, was it? Our relationship wasn’t the same. He was my relative, not my boyfriend—never my boyfriend. I knew that. So why did their canoodling still feel like a slap in the face?
I gnawed on my lower lip and hugged myself. My feelings were wrong. I should be happy for Jesu. Bridget and I could be friends.
