Stepping back, I went out of the door, blocking her exit. “Back off, or I’ll lock you in.”
“You would never do that to Rusty.” She was right to doubt that. I would do it to her, but the dog?
“Why would you think I have any worries in regards to that dog? He’s yours.”
“And, yours. Don’t pretend he’s not cracking a tiny part of your cold ice heart. Let us come, he’ll keep me protected and you can have your way with all the women you want.” Chloe’s innocent gaze was offset by the twinkle in her eyes.
“There’s no way I’m taking that dog anywhere until I’ve figured out his power. And, I’m not getting attached to him, thank you very much,” I said, storming away from the metal door.
She followed this time, coming right on my heels. Spinning away, I went back to the room and locked the door. I had swiped a blade from the wall as I left, tucking it into my waistband without Chloe seeing.
“Let me come, Trygger, I can’t sit here and twiddle my thumbs anymore.”
Marching across the room, I stalled when Rusty blocked the doorway. How did the dog know I was refusing Chloe’s request? Had she ordered him to sit there when I turned my back?
“You want to come to a Dark Crawlers party? Where there will be a lot of pretty nasty people?”
She nodded, a pink tinge coming to her cheeks. Hope. The woman was full of hope and nice thoughts and feelings. Maybe a trip into the underworld would give her a reality check and drown out some of her…
“Please? I have a great dress.”
Clicking my fingers to get the dog to move, I growled low in my throat. He looked at Chloe, waiting for her command. Bloody animal.
“Okay, but you’re not picking your own dress. I’m sure I’ve got something lying around.”
Chloe’s laughter travelled around the room, making Rusty run and jump up at her. She hugged him, stroking his sides.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, affronted that she had scorned my kindness in letting her come.
Rusty got down, coming to sniff my hand. I idly scratched behind his ears, watching Chloe compose herself.
“I just had an image of you in a little black dress, that’s all.”
Curling my lip, I went towards the door. As I reached it, I glanced over my shoulder, my ponytail flicking behind me. “Trust me, I look sexy as hell in a little black dress.”
10
Dancing With Darkness
THE LITTLE BLACK dress looked amazing on Chloe. I had never seen her looking so refined. Her legs were longer than I thought, accentuated by the black heels. It was lucky that one of my former hunters had taken her clothes off before I killed her. I didn’t tell Chloe that for obvious reasons. A small smile played on my lips as I remembered the last few moments of our passionate grinding before I had ended her life. Not one of Loki’s descendants had finished me so far.
“I’m so nervous,” Chloe said, tugging on the hem of the dress again.
Her interruption made me glance at her. We were in a taxi, on the way to meet Jack. The image of the previous owner of the dress merged with Chloe and I almost gagged. Chloe was my apprentice, not some woman to bang before I killed her.
Grabbing her fingers, I stilled her movement. On one hand, her nerves would fool the people at the party into believing she wasn’t a threat. On the other, she was fresh bait.
“Tonight is important. Do you remember everything I told you before we left?”
Nodding, she kept her eyes ahead, staring at the London roads. The traffic was always horrendous. A vast difference to the days before cars. I glanced out of the window, remembering the horse and carriages that would trot along the cobbled streets. It was a much more romantic time. I preferred the modern times in one way. Mainly because information was so much easier to come by.
“I’m your sister, Jack’s your date,” she said.
Jack was not my date. Chloe had taken it upon herself to tease me about my friendship with the sexually confused male.
“Jack’s a friend, he’s…oh, never mind.” I gave up. Her smirk was enough for me to want to wrap my fingers around that small neck of hers, which was exposed. Her hair was pinned up into some complicated hairdo.
“We’re here,” I said, getting out of the taxi as it pulled up outside a gated residence in the most expensive part of London. “Shit,” I breathed under my breath.
I hadn’t expected it to be gated. That wasn’t good if I wanted a quick escape. In fact, it really hindered my plan to kill and leave.
“Wait for me.” Chloe almost fell over as she tottered around the taxi, waving goodbye to it as it went.
“Did you just wave goodbye to a taxi driver?”
The whole of her pale face flared red. She half shrugged, half turned, pointing at the gate. “Is that it?”
Sighing, I paused when a shout echoed down the street. “Fuck me, Thunder Hunter, your date looks sexy as fuck. Who is she? Can I fuck her?”
Jack.
“No, you fucking well can’t!” Chloe snapped just as I was about to open my mouth to reply.
Smiling to myself, I waited as my friend approached. He was squinting in the dark, looking at Chloe’s face. His mouth dropped open as he came to a stop in front of her.
“Well, f…shit me...it’s you.”
Chloe appraised him, a less than impressed expression on her face. Jack wore a tuxedo, his hair styled fluffy, falling over his forehead, instead of the usual lift into the air. His strong jaw moved as he bit down on his teeth, probably wanting to say more.
“It is me and you better respect me, or I’ll shoot you with my magic.”
Stepping forward when he went to place a hand over her mouth to shut her up, I knocked him out of the way. Chloe squeaked, retreating from the pair of us. Grabbing her arm, I squeezed the thin layer of flesh.
“What did I say?” I hissed into her ear.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking around me at Jack. “Please, don’t say anything to anyone.”
Huffing the breath out of my lungs, I let her go and turned back to my friend.
“You’re crazy for bringing her here, mate. Bloody loco!”
The man tapped his black brogues on the concrete pavement. The gates were across the street, closed and dark. That didn’t matter in this part of town. It wasn’t the type of party that played stupidly loud music with young people shagging in the garden. It was much, much better. When I could play, instead of work that was. Tonight, it was all about work.
“It’s her funeral, dickhead,” I said, moving away from them.
Her gasp reached me before I got to the gate. The sound of high heels quickly clicking on the pavement was followed by a low rush of wind right near my ear. Ducking my head, I spun, but before I could move completely out of the way the spikey heel of her black shoe connected with my calf. If I hadn’t been as quick as I was, it would’ve probably pierced the skin.
“Bitch,” I said, looking at Jack.
He stood by, his arms crossed over his chest and a huge smile stretching his full lips. Bastard.
“Don’t underestimate me.”
“Don’t fucking tell anyone you have magic, then,” I bit back, going closer to her.
She backed up a step, moving next to Jack. He leant sideways, putting an arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t worry, babycakes, I’ll protect you. Just my name puts fear into these men, I promise you.”
“Liar,” I snapped, going up to the gates.
The sound of the camera focusing on me made Jack and Chloe step forward.
“Name?” a computerised speaker ordered.
“Jack Newton.”
The speaker buzzed before the gates started to wind open. No one came to greet us, so we went into the garden, threading our way through the perfectly manicured lawns and flowerbeds.
“Told you, Trygger, Ritz on steroids, you wait!”
Jack liked a good party. He was always there on business, but business was his pleasure. T
he one thing in life I could count on when I went on a night out with Jack was a good time. Tonight would be different. I had to keep an eye on Chloe.
“Where’s the dog?” Jack asked as he led us down a side path, away from the front of the house.
“He didn’t let him come,” Chloe said, almost spitting the sentence out.
She had already shrugged Jack off a couple of times. He got the hint, coming over to me and flinging his arm around me. He wasn’t tall enough to reach my shoulders, so he settled for my waist.
“And, you look like a sexy beast, too. I so rarely see you in a suit. A navy blue one at that. Posh boy, ain’t we?”
It was a good job I needed Jack in my life. The amount of times I had been tempted to put a bullet through his head for being a cocky bastard had been uncountable. At least he had an interest in Chloe now, too. I wouldn’t get all of his idiocy. And, she had proved she was perfectly capable of protecting herself when it came to him. In fact, I had never seen him so respectful towards a woman. Was there something in that?
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Here, here,” said a voice just up ahead.
A tall thin man stepped out from behind a bush. His eyes were bulbous, but his nose roman-like. I didn’t recognise him, but as we neared him, my chest flooded with heat, distracting me from him.
A Fallen One had just come within a ten-mile radius of me. And, I didn’t have my sword.
Chloe’s arm threaded through Jack’s as a smile lit her face. “Are you going to introduce us?” she asked Jack.
The man stared at her. His gaze had travelled over me and Jack, but quickly returned to the only woman of the group. What did he see in her? She was looking much better in the clothes she wore, but her stance was awkward, almost boyish. Maybe he liked boys. There was nothing wrong with that.
“Dan, this is Chloe, and…you’ve heard of Trygger, haven’t you?”
Dan’s eyes widened as his gaze shot back to me. Puffing his chest out, he nodded in greeting. Jack had often spoken about the man, but I had not met him so far. It was a risk for people to know who I really was, but it had to be done.
A statement needed to be made to the evil spirits I hunted. I was coming for them. The only way they tended to come out was when something interested them. They were as bored of life as I was, yet, they couldn’t give it up. No, that would be hell to them.
They preferred skipping between bodies in order to stay alive compared to seeing Freya again. I didn’t blame them. Freya was a massive bitch when she had been crossed. It was another one of the reasons I kept doing what I did. If I upset the goddess, she would find a way to take her revenge. Most likely by letting Loki out of Fólkvangr. And, that would mean the end of the human world as we knew it.
“Nice to meet you at last. I may have heard a few things about the legend of you.”
Shrugging, I smiled gently. “Ah, all lies, I’m sure.”
Being polite, but cold, was the order of the night with Dan it seemed. He turned to Chloe, extending his hand. When she took it, he leant down and kissed her knuckle, lingering as he sniffed her.
Jack stepped forward, almost knocking Dan over as he threw his arms around his friend and slapped his back. “God, you’re a tall bastard.”
“Pleased to meet you, Chloe,” Dan said, shoving Jack off him.
Taking Chloe’s arm, I guided her past both men as Jack tried to engage Dan in conversation. The intense stare that followed my apprentice made me feel sorry for her. All the men would be the same. They could smell innocence a mile away.
My chest was still hot, Thor’s thunder let off a low vibrational rumble. I had to ignore it as we came up to the door of a barn out the back of the property. I had never expected a Fallen One to show up at a Dark Crawler’s party. Certainly not one that was attended by Jack of all people.
“That man was little creepy,” Chloe said, smiling at a bouncer as he opened the door for us.
Stepping through the dark curtain that covered the inside of the door, we both paused to look around. The barn was converted into a large area. It was a private club. Sofas were set out, creating seating sections dotted across the whole floor. A bar lined the back wall, all the way down. Different types of tables and chairs were in the middle of each seating section. A sex swing or two were attached to the ceiling.
“Is this a sex club?” Chloe asked, gripping the flesh on my forearm.
A chuckle left my lips before I could stop it. Her gaze flitted over the various components of the room. It was dim with fairy lights hung all over the place. People in all stages of undress lounged over the seats, or the tables, their laughter echoing around the room.
“Not predominantly, although, plenty of that does happen.”
Chloe let go of me, straightened her spine and cleared the rabbit in headlight look on her face. Glancing up at me, she smiled coyly, getting into her role.
“Better,” I said, moving towards the bar.
She moved in front of me, swaying her hips as she seemed to flip a switch inside of her. That’s exactly what I needed her to do. If the Fallen One did come to the party, I would need my wits about me. It might not be the night to kill him, however frustrating that was…but if I could find out who he was, I would know where to look for him next.
“Don’t be too obvious,” Chloe said, leaning against the bar when we reached it.
Ordering our drinks, I frowned. I was being my normal self. Turning to her when the bartender handed them over, I bit my lip on my response. The last thing I wanted to do was upset her. If she wanted to get all woman on me, she could.
“How am I being obvious?”
Biting her own bright red lips, she looked up at me from under her eyelashes. “You’re stiff, completely uncomfortable looking. Relax, loosen your muscles.”
“I would think you’ve fooled me all along. Have you set this up?” I winked when her demeanour slipped slightly, her mouth parting and her eyebrows pulled low. “Don’t be too obvious,” I whispered into her ear as Jack came to join us.
“I’ll have a whisky, my man,” he asked the bartender. “And, how are my two favourite people doing? Have you spotted anyone you want to play with?”
He directed the question at both of us. My laugh was loud as Chloe’s face drained of colour. I really had to train her to hide her emotions. She thought she was ready for this, but every time her emotion changed, it was clear in her facial expression.
“We’re not here to…”
“Oh, yes we are,” Jack interrupted, winking at her. “Don’t worry, if you don’t find anyone you like, I’ll give you a good seeing to. God knows you need it.”
“Which god knows? Freya wouldn’t dare let any of the gods know anything about Chloe’s…sex life.” I swallowed my drink in one, expecting Chloe to bend under the onslaught.
“Sex life,” she huffed. “Chance would be a fine thing.”
Swiping her cocktail off the bar, she strode towards the small dancefloor at the bottom of the room. Jack was laughing, his hand on his flat stomach and his mouth thrown open. A couple of people turned to look, grinning to themselves when they saw who it was. My popular contact didn’t know everyone for nothing. He always had something to offer.
“Ask questions about Hagalaz,” I told him, pushing away from the bar to follow Chloe.
She stood on the edge of the dancefloor, watching those that were lost in the music. Her toe tapped on the wooden floor in time to the slow beat. Did she like to dance?
A man approached her, probably giving her a typical chat up line. Hovering close, I tuned them out as I watched the room. Jack was talking to an older man, laughing and joking with him. Everyone was focused on their groups, not taking much notice of others outside their small clique.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” a voice said near my ear.
Looking down, I planted a stiff smile on my lips. The burning in my chest was strong and a pungent odour overcame me. I felt his presence before setting my ey
es on him. Frankie, the Dark Crawler.
His gaze traced my face, studying the set of my jaw and the glare of my eyes. We were enemies, yet, I had let him live the last time I had faced him. The smell diminished slightly. The rotting of his host seemed to have slowed considerably compared to other crawlers.
“I’m Jack’s…”
Frankie’s lip curled. He was a good looking older man, powerful and greedy. His dark hair had streaks of grey, highlighting his temples. A robust, strong figure, Frankie knew who his friends and enemies were.
“I can’t refuse anyone who comes with Jack now, can I? He’s such a charmer.” Frankie’s eyes sparkled as his gaze sought my friend.
“Don’t worry, I’ll behave. I just wanted some…fun.”
The man straightened his suit jacket, doing the button up before he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Then, fun you shall have, my friend,” the creature said, guiding me towards one of the sections.
My whole body vibrated with heat, causing sweat to break out above my lip. Being so close to so much darkness made my body-heat rocket. The Fallen One was still in a ten-mile radius. I had to find out who he was without fucking up.
“Thank you, Frankie, I’m much obliged.”
Glancing at Jack, I pointed at Chloe when I caught his eye. He nodded once, excusing himself to move to my protégée. She laughed with the man, apparently enjoying herself. Her posture was confident, but her hand hovered by her leg at all times. Good girl. A small blade was tucked into a garter on her thigh. There was no way I would let her leave the house without a weapon of some sort. If Chloe attempted to use her magic, she would more than likely ruin everything.
“You’re a man of many talents, Trygger. I heard that you killed Analise recently. Such a shame, she was a very good friend of mine.”
My back muscles stiffened as Frankie sat on an empty sofa, gesturing for me to sit opposite him. Treading past the table, I did as he ordered. I would play his filthy game. The creature was intelligent, always had been. I had never managed to get quite so close to him, which was a smart move on his part.
Thunder Hunter: Viking Soul Book 1 (Viking Soul Series) Page 11
