Tall, Dark, and Vampire (Dead in the City)

by Sara Humphreys

  “Anything unusual for you, Olivia?” He flew to his stool and looked Olivia up and down. “You have turned a few vampires in your day. Is there anything different about his change as far as you are concerned?”

  “She can only telepath with me now,” Doug added. “No one but me.”

  Olivia shot him a look that could kill. “It’s nothing,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Doesn’t sound like nothing,” Xavier said quietly. He looked back and forth between them before waving his hand dismissively. “Then again, it could be an aberration, you know, a one-time thing. If your telepathy with the rest of your progeny doesn’t return in a few days, let me know.”

  Olivia felt Doug staring at her as his voice touched her mind intimately. My gut tells me it’s not nothing, and based on your tense body language, you know more than you’re letting on.

  “Tell us more about these new weapons, Xavier,” Olivia said, breaking the mental connection with Doug, which was similar to slamming a door in his face. “What do we need to know?”

  Doug swore under his breath and paced behind her with his hands on his hips. He wanted answers, but now was not the time for that conversation, no matter how much she may wish it were.

  “Now,” Xavier continued, “if these bullets perform as I believe they will, then you don’t need to hit a vamp in the head or heart. The UV light within the casing of the bullet should turn our rogue friends into dust upon contact. Questions?”

  “Nope.” Doug shook his head and rested his hand on the gun at his narrow hips. “Point and shoot. Got it.”

  “Thank you, Xavier,” Olivia said before placing a kiss on his white-haired head. “You always come through. We’ll be sure to return these prototypes when we’re done.”

  “See that you do.” Xavier squeezed her hand and whispered, “Be careful, Olivia. It’s been a while since you hunted as a sentry.” He flicked his gray eyes to Doug. “It worries me that Augustus is sending you out there without Shane or Pete.”

  “It’s a game.” Doug folded his arms over his chest and turned his serious eyes to Olivia. “He wants to see if we can do it. If we do, then he gets the rogues put down and gets to kill me in exchange for Maya. If we get killed in the process, he gets rid of both of us and kills the rest of Olivia’s coven.” Doug shrugged. “It’s a win-win for him and will entertain him at the same time.”

  As Olivia and Doug made their way through the catacombs beneath the Cloisters, she tried not to think about what Doug said. It was a game to Augustus. Maya. The rogues. Getting her and Doug to hunt alone—all designed to entertain his bored two-thousand-year-old ass.

  Olivia led the way up a dark, stone staircase, and they reached what looked like a dead end, but she pulled an iron handle to her left, and a massive door hidden in the wall swung open. They stepped through the opening and into the Unicorn Tapestry room of The Cloisters. Olivia didn’t miss the low whistle Doug let out when the fireplace closed behind them.

  They stood silently in the dark, almost reverently, as Doug moved closer to inspect the famous tapestry.

  “I’ve never been in here,” he said quietly. “I’ve lived in the city for over ten years and never stepped foot in here before today. I was never much of a museum guy, I guess, but if I had known about all the cool shit in here, I would’ve made a point to come. Gotta admit though, I never thought I would come in through a secret entrance in a fireplace.”

  “There are several entrances, but this room is my favorite. The Hunt of the Unicorn is beautiful and tragic. Unicorns were hunted to extinction by humans so long ago that their existence has been turned into nothing more than fantasy.”

  “Did you ever see one?”

  “No,” Olivia said through a laugh. She put her hands on her hips and shot him a playful look. “Just how old do you think I am?”

  “Not sure.” Doug faced her with a look of amusement and inched closer. “But if memory serves, it’s best not to answer this question from a woman. It’s a no-win scenario.”

  “Well, wise guy,” she said, meeting his challenge. “The unicorns went extinct over three thousand years ago, and for your information, I’m only about three hundred, thank you very much.”

  “Don’t look a day over twenty-five,” he murmured.

  His bright blue eyes studied her intently as his towering form invaded her space. May I kiss you, Olivia? His mind whispered through hers as he brushed the line of her jaw with his thumb. Olivia nodded silently. There was something both innocent and erotic in the way he asked. The enticingly wicked sound of his voice rippled through her mind.

  Olivia’s feet seemed nailed to the floor as he wavered closer, and his legs brushed temptingly along hers. Bathed in moonlight, Olivia held his hand against her cheek as Doug leaned down, gently capturing her lips.

  Tenderly at first, caressing her mouth with his, he cradled her face in his hands as though she might break. Olivia sighed as his tongue slid between her lips and tangled slowly, tenderly with hers. He suckled her bottom lip briefly before releasing it and placing a kiss at the corner of her mouth.

  “I’m addicted to the taste of you,” he murmured against her lips.

  The sound of footsteps in the hallway captured their attention, breaking the spell.

  “It’s the night security guard,” she whispered, stepping from his embrace abruptly. “We have to go.”

  Doug followed Olivia as she whipped around the corner and made swift work of opening one of the ornately carved doors. Moments later, they were standing in the outdoor garden overlooking the Hudson River.

  “What if they see us?” Doug glanced over his shoulder, but the guard was nowhere to be seen. “How exactly do we explain our presence?”

  “Mel is the guard on duty tonight, and if we had to, we could glamour him. Believe me, it wouldn’t be the first time.” Olivia watched as confusion washed over his handsome face. “Vampires can erase or create memories, like hypnosis. Anyway, I’d rather not. I don’t enjoy glamouring humans unless necessary.”

  Olivia walked through the gardens and hopped onto a wooden bench beneath the wisteria-covered arbor. She sucked in a deep breath and reveled in the multitude of scents in the night that filled her head and made her smile. There was great beauty in the world and having amped-up senses could be a perk, highlighting the smallest of luxuries in nature.

  “Why not?” Doug jumped on the bench next to her and looked out over the river with the glittering city lights reflected on the surface. He turned to face her, his eyes sparkling. His voice dropped low, to just above a whisper, as his eyes locked with hers. “Tell me. Why don’t you like glamouring humans?”

  “Because it’s too personal and intimate.” Olivia’s voice wavered, but she cleared her throat, hoping to steel her resolve. “I don’t like invading the mind of another being without permission. It feels like I’m violating them somehow, and it’s bad manners.”

  “You speak with your mind,” he said with a lopsided grin. “I have to admit, the first time I heard you, I thought I was going insane. But it also turned me on.” Doug linked one strong arm around her waist and yanked her against him. “So why is it okay for you to touch my mind? I mean, I know you’re not changing my memories, but you’re still… slipping inside of me.”

  Olivia’s stomach fluttered as he leaned closer and nuzzled her neck, trailing kisses down her neck. Why is it just me? She shut her eyes and arched back, allowing him better access, and his clean, fresh scent filled her head, making her dizzy with desire. Why can our minds whisper to each other? Olivia clung to him and moaned as he kissed his way up to her ear, nibbling her lobe seductively. Why can’t I think of anything but you? Lust fogged her, threatening to consume her.

  “I would love nothing more than to take this further,” she said breathlessly. Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to touch his mind, fearing it would break her last ounce of
self-control. “But we are running short on time.”

  Doug silenced her with a kiss. A knee-buckling, head-spinning kiss that would have stolen her breath, if she had any. He dipped her, so she was perched beneath the fragrant arbor. Olivia tangled her arms around his neck and sank into the kiss, allowing him to take control and take as much of her as he wanted.

  It was liberating.

  Doug broke the kiss and whipped her to a standing position as his hands settled on her hips. “After sunrise,” he said firmly, “you are going to answer my questions… among other things.”

  He released her from his grasp and looked out over the city. “Where do we go first?”

  Olivia smoothed back the stray hairs that came loose during their kiss and adjusted the gun at her hip. She tried desperately to seem unaffected by his sudden display of affection but failed miserably. Doug gave her a sidelong grin and folded his arms over his chest, which was puffed up like a rooster.

  “We’re going to the medical examiner’s office first to see if any other bodies have turned up.” She stepped onto the stone wall. “Then we go back to the area around the club and the park because that’s where they’ve been hunting. Chances are that’s where they’re nesting. They’ll stay in a pack out of instinct.”

  “I’m supposed to be dead, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “What if someone sees me?”

  “You’ll be moving so fast that even if they do catch a glimpse, they’ll think they saw a ghost.” Her lips curved into a smile. “Time to fly.”

  “Fly?” he asked skeptically.

  “Like a bird.” Olivia arched one eyebrow and leaped like a bullet into the night sky. “Or a bat.” She dropped down and hovered in midair, staying there for a moment, while Doug gaped. “What’s the matter, detective? Chicken?”

  “Not on your life.” Doug’s blue eyes crinkled at the corners as he looked at her mischievously. “How about a little coaching for a newbie?”

  “Remember when you were in the tunnels tonight and you ran like the wind?”

  “Yeah?” He peered over the edge at the steep drop but leaned back quickly.

  “Did you think about it, or did you just do it?”

  “Shit.” A grin cracked his handsome face, and he rubbed his head, reminding her of a little boy. “You’re right, but this is a little different, don’t you think? I mean, running is one thing, I’ve been doing that my whole life, but flying is another.”

  “Use your mind as much as your body.” She winked. “From what I’ve seen so far, you’re good with both.”

  Doug gave her a cocky grin, meeting her challenge, and in one giant leap, he shot into the air. Olivia watched as he swooped through the sky like a stealth bomber, until he finally stopped and hovered next to her. His eyes were alight with excitement, and his body hummed with power. Now she was the one gaping like a stunned sheep.

  “What’s the matter, Olivia?” he murmured wickedly as he drifted closer and his foot tapped hers. “You act like you’ve never seen a guy fly.”

  “I guess I didn’t expect you to do it like you’ve been doing it all your life.” She shook her head in wonder. “You were born to be a vampire.”

  His features darkened. “I was born to be a cop.” His jaw clenched, and he drifted back, increasing the distance between them. “Let’s go.”

  He flew ahead through the inky night towards the Village. As they sped through the city night together, she prayed he would eventually forgive her.

  They landed on the roof of the medical examiner’s building, and Olivia once again marveled at how easily Doug stepped into his new life—into her life. He had been quiet since they took flight, but she sensed the tension in him as he absorbed the sounds and sights of the city in an entirely new way. His brilliant blue eyes scanned the roof as they walked to the door, but Olivia stopped him before they went in.

  “Hang on.” She placed her hand on his chest as her other hand rested on the doorknob. His muscles flexed beneath her fingers, and much to her relief, he didn’t flinch or shrink away, but held her gaze, meeting her challenge. “Stay behind me, and follow my lead.”

  “I’ve been in the medical examiner’s office more times than I care to count, and I know my way around. I may not have been supernatural, but I managed just fine.”

  “I know that.” Olivia dropped her hand and cursed herself for not saying the right thing. She turned her back on him as she opened the door. “I just think it would be wise to avoid contact with the humans. Your ex-girlfriend might freak the fuck out if her presumed-dead ex walked into her autopsy room in the middle of the night.” She tried to keep the hurt and jealousy out of her voice but failed miserably. “Let’s make it quick, and then we’re heading back down to the Village.”

  “How did you know about Miranda?” Doug’s fingers curled around her bicep, and Olivia fought the rush of lust that followed as his hand pressed into her arm. He furrowed his brow as he loomed over her, his mouth temptingly close. “You seem to know a lot more about me than you’ve let on. Why is that?”

  “We don’t have time for this.” She tugged her arm free and yanked the door open. “Stay close and follow me.”

  “Whatever you say,” Doug bit out. “But this conversation isn’t over by a long shot.”

  Olivia flew down the empty stairwell to the bottom floor with Doug hot on her heels. As soon as she opened the door, the distinct scent of Rogue One slammed into them violently, knocking every other thought out of her head.

  Her fangs erupted, and Doug growled in her ear before he pushed past her and raced to the double doors of the autopsy room with his gun drawn. Olivia swore under her breath and flew down the hallway after him.

  She blew through the double doors and found Doug on the floor cradling the lifeless, bloodied body of Dr. Miranda Kelly. Sadness tore at her for the loss that Doug was suffering, but the scent of the rogue lingered, not allowing any time for mourning. Gun drawn, she surveyed the surroundings.

  “They fucking slaughtered her,” he growled. “Why? Why did they come here and kill her? What possible motivation could they have had to hurt Miranda?”

  Olivia watched through sympathetic eyes as Doug placed a kiss on her hair and gently laid her broken body on the floor—anger carved deep into his features as he rose to his feet slowly.

  “I can still smell that piece of shit, and when I find him, he’s going to pray for sunrise and a quick death. I’m going to dissect his ass like a frog in a high school biology class.”

  “The blood doesn’t bother you?” Olivia watched him carefully and noted that he seemed immune to the overwhelming scent of blood, which was unheard of for newly turned vampires. By all accounts, it should have triggered his bloodlust and hunger, driving him mad with thirst, but the only emotion he experienced was rage.

  “No,” he rasped. Doug looked around the room with his usual inspecting, intent gaze. “The place is destroyed. Maybe they were looking for something. What could she possibly have had that they would’ve killed her for?”

  The computer was smashed, her files were strewn around the room, and blood spattered much of the floor. She glanced to the camera in the corner. It was torn from the wall, so whoever was in here knew enough to take out the camera. Olivia glanced at the autopsy table.

  “The blood in these drains is fresh.” Olivia leaned closer to get a clean scent. “It’s not Miranda’s blood. Maybe Rogue One let one of the rogues get picked up by accident?”

  “What do you mean?” Doug squatted next to Miranda.

  “The healing doesn’t usually start for almost twenty-four hours. If Rogue One has been busy making new vamps, or his rogues have, then maybe they got sloppy, and a vampire that was in the middle of the change got picked up and mistaken by the humans for dead.”

  “Maybe.” He stood, his face stamped with anger. “Or maybe it woke up o
n the table and killed her?”

  Doug went to Miranda’s desk and picked up the open file.

  “Son of a bitch,” he whispered before turning to face her. “Moriarty. He was the guy she was working on.”

  Olivia nodded, but before she could say anything, the subtle sound of wind whistling down a tunnel captured her attention as she swung her gun in the direction of the refrigerator compartments. Doug drew his gun right along with her, and they moved toward the noise.

  One of the square stainless steel doors was open a crack. Olivia knew it led to the network of tunnels beneath the city. She pressed one finger to her lips and motioned to the partially opened door before yanking on it. It was empty, and the trap door that led into the tunnels was wide open.

  “Sloppy and frantic,” she whispered. “They killed her and escaped through there. Come on. We’ll track them.”

  Doug didn’t move. He was looking at Miranda’s lifeless body, and Olivia knew he hated the idea of leaving her. She couldn’t blame him, but they didn’t have the luxury of taking her with them.

  “We have to go, Doug.” Olivia laid a hand over his. “The only thing you can do to help her now is find the vamps that murdered her and put them down.”

  His intense blue eyes filled with fury and flicked to hers briefly before he dived into the open drawer and slipped into the tunnel below. Olivia slid in behind him and closed the trap door, shutting it securely. The last disruption they needed was a human to stumble upon their network.

  He crouched low and moved silently down the tunnel in front of her. They followed the scent for what felt like forever, but Doug stopped when they came to an intersection with five passages. She scanned the area not only with the enhanced night vision of a vampire, but also with the sonar vision that allowed her to sense far beyond where she could actually see.

  Doug closed his eyes and held his gun out as he absorbed the subtle sounds around them. Olivia squatted down on her heels and watched him with genuine awe because he figured it out himself.

  She didn’t have to tell him about reading sound waves, and she didn’t want to overwhelm him with information. Doug Paxton was full of surprises, and the most natural vampire she had ever met.