by Ashlyn Chase
“Look, she’s beautiful. There’s no doubt about it. But aren’t you afraid she’ll lose her mind and drain you dry the first time you have a disagreement? Remember, she tried to harpoon my wife.”
Kurt lifted his chin. “I wouldn’t have asked her out if there was a moment when I doubted I could handle her.”
Nick shook his head. “C’mon. She’s a paranormal—a supernatural being with powers beyond yours. Vamps are not known for their patience or sense of fairness. Anthony is the exception. Most are loose cannons, and she’s the loosest cannon I’ve ever known.”
Kurt reached up and set a hand on his tall friend’s shoulder. “Try to hurt me, big fella.”
Nick chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. I want you to see for yourself. I’m not stupid.”
“I never thought you were, which is why I’m so surprised you’d consider a suicide date like a movie with Ruxandra.”
Kurt let his hand drop and stood his ground. “Go ahead. Take a swing at me.”
“I will not. You’re my friend.”
“And as my friend, I’m asking you to knock some sense into me.”
“Oh, well, if you put it that way…” Nick looked like he was going to swat Kurt’s face with an open palm.
“Not like a girly girl. Do it like you imagine Ruxandra would.”
Nick blew out a deep breath. “You’re an idiot, but if this is what you need…” He reared back, formed a fist, and let it fly.
Before Nick made contact with Kurt’s face, he did some quick mathematical calculations and jumped out of the way—then snapped back. The motion was so quick that he knew Nick’s fist would seem to have passed through him.
“Fuck. I didn’t know you could do that.”
“There a lot I can do that you don’t know about. And neither does Ruxandra. I’ve gifted myself with every one of her supernatural powers but without the nasty side effects of bloodlust and sun sensitivity. Now do you believe I can handle myself around her?”
Nick scratched his chin. “I’m skeptically hopeful. Let’s put it that way.”
“You know, I was going to ask Anthony to help us when we locate the lab. We’ll need someone to mesmerize the whole staff and make them forget they were ever aware of paranormals.”
“Yeah. I remember you saying that. But if you can do everything she can do, can’t you mesmerize everyone?”
“Yes and no. I can use regular hypnosis or a spell, but it only works if the other person is willing. If there’s someone there who’s resistant and can mesmerize me before I do it to them, we’re sunk.”
“So, you need a backup.”
“Exactly.”
“What makes you think you can trust her not to mesmerize you into believing anything she wants you to believe?”
“For some reason, Ruxandra can’t mesmerize me. She’s tried it. But I’ve seen her use that power with other humans, so it’s not like she’s doing it wrong or has lost it or anything.”
“Hmmm…I don’t know.”
“Seriously. Let’s ask Ruxandra to do it. Anthony’s always helping us. It might be a good test to see if she can be altruistic.”
Nick let out a bark of a laugh. “I don’t know if you’re delusional or brilliant when it comes to Ruxandra. For your sake, let’s hope it’s your big brain doing the thinking, not the little one in your pants.”
Chapter 13
Ruxandra had put up with public transportation and the smells of the great unwashed to meet Kurt at the coffee shop. But he wasn’t even there. She was about to stomp out in a huff when he finally showed up.
“Nice of you to join me,” she said with one hand planted on her hip.
“I can leave, if you prefer.” He moved toward the door as if he’d actually walk out on her. The nerve!
Just what I need…another infuriating man. Then she remembered she wanted something from him and stopped herself from making a rude quip. “Wait.”
He returned to her and sighed. “Sorry I’m late. I probably should have said that first. Would you like a coffee?”
“No thanks. It dehydrates me.”
“Bottled water, then?”
Knowing she needed a certain amount of fluid to keep her blood intake from coagulating—especially those platelet-rich A-positive blood cells, she accepted. Kurt paid for her water and his double espresso and escorted her into the chilly night.
“So, what are you doing over here in Cambridge?” she asked, innocently. “I thought you lived in Boston.”
“I do. I live in the North End.”
Ruxandra was proud of herself. Now she knew where the wizard lived. Either he wasn’t too bright, or he wanted her to know for some reason. She would have congratulated herself on her cleverness, except she knew the man wasn’t stupid. He might not be telling the truth. He could be sending her in the opposite direction if she ever wanted to hunt him down.
He slipped an arm around her waist as he continued. “About what I’m doing here…I’m glad you asked. I’m on a mission, one I hope you’ll help me with.”
“A mission? I thought you were out of the military.”
He chuckled. “It’s not that kind of mission. This is personal.”
His intense stare gave her the opening she needed to try mesmerizing him again. She looked directly into his eyes and began by asking a logical, innocuous question. Something he’d assume was just part of the conversation.
“You must tell me what you mean by this mission being personal.”
He blinked. He wasn’t under. Not only that, but he looked away and shook his head. “Oh, Ruxandra. You tried to mesmerize me again.”
“Why didn’t it work? I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, darlin’, but it’s a good thing you can’t. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”
“Why not? Don’t you trust me?”
Kurt laughed. “Trust is built. How do you think we’re doing so far?”
She halted. “Is this some kind of test?”
“It wasn’t meant to be. And speaking of meant to be, Nick thinks I’m nuts for trying to have a relationship with you at all.”
“Then why are you?”
“I don’t let other people tell me what to do.”
She didn’t know how to feel about that. Was she included in “other people”? If so, she wasn’t happy. She liked having the upper hand in any relationship. On the other hand, she admired him.
She sighed. “Okay. So, back to the mission. What is it, and why do you need my help?”
“Ironically, I need your ability to mesmerize people. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll tell you what’s going on, and you’ll probably want to help.”
That’s one hell of an assumption. “Go on.”
“There’s a group of researchers capturing paranormals and taking them to a secret lab. We think it’s somewhere in this area.”
Discomfort rippled over her at the words, “secret lab.” Every paranormal’s nightmare was to be found out by humans and dissected for his or her powers.
“But surely mere humans couldn’t catch a vampire—no offense.”
“Not much taken. Apparently no one is immune to a Tazer. Even vampires. No offense.”
Her discomfort morphed into shock. “They immobilize us and take us to their lab? Surely the vampires can escape as soon as the effect wears off.”
“Apparently not. For whatever reason, only one para has escaped. If not for her, we’d never know the lab existed.”
“How did she get out?”
“She said a sympathetic guy on the night shift helped her.”
Ruxandra felt a little better. Perhaps the human weakness of compassion meant females didn’t have to worry.
“And before you think she’s the only female captured, let m
e tell you they have at least one female vamp. Maybe more.”
Her jaw dropped. When she could speak again, she asked, “What did you mean by this being personal? You’re human.”
He crossed his arms. “They have Tory.”
Ruxandra’s mouth went dry. She didn’t harbor any love for the ex-NFL player. After all, he and Kurt had thrown her out of Anthony’s bar more than once. But Tory was strong. Crazy strong. She didn’t know what kind of supernatural he was, but she suspected shifter. He smelled like wet dog in the rain.
“Oh…” was all she managed to say.
“Yeah. They’ve got my best friend. I need to find this place, break in, free any paranormals still alive, and then make the researchers forget paranormals exist. I have Nick’s help, but he can’t handle that final step.”
“Shit.”
“No shit.”
He needed her help all right. Suddenly, finding out what he’d done to protect Claudia paled in comparison to the emergency at hand.
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
***
Anthony paced in front of Claudia’s apartment and raked his hands through his hair. Where the hell is she? Meetings didn’t last until midnight.
She had mentioned something called an alkathon, meetings around the clock to fortify sobriety over the holidays. People who might be tempted to drink at parties they were obligated to attend knew there was always a meeting they could get to—but the holidays hadn’t started yet. It wasn’t even Halloween.
He wished he knew her sponsor’s phone number. He’d ask for that as soon as this infuriating wait was over.
Had she mentioned going out of town and he forgot about it? Not likely. He would have had to arrange coverage for her at work the next day.
He snapped his fingers. “Sadie.” Maybe the psychic could give him some clues about what was going on. After all, she’d known Claudia was in trouble shortly after the fire.
He pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket, quickly checked for messages, and upon finding none, called his niece.
She answered sleepily.
“Did I wake you, Sadie?”
“Yes, but don’t worry about it. I can tell something’s got you upset. What’s wrong?”
“Claudia’s missing.”
After a long pause, Sadie said. “Where are you?”
“At her apartment. Can you tell if she’s in trouble?”
“I wish I could say she’s out with friends having a good time, but I’m not getting that sense. I’ll get dressed and come over.”
“Crap. You don’t have to do that if you can tell me where to look.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know, but you might.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think Ruxandra could have something to do with it?”
Sadie had just voiced Anthony’s worst fear.
His voice shook. “I don’t know where her lair is. Otherwise I’d be there right now.”
“I’m coming over. Maybe we can find it together.”
“Thanks, Sadie, but let me come to you. I don’t want you walking around alone at this time of night.” He dashed down the stairs and onto the sidewalk. Fortunately, she didn’t live far.
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“It’ll take me less than a minute.”
“Well, don’t fly. I have to get dressed and splash some water on my face.”
“Too late. I’m standing outside your building.”
Sadie let him in, but she was still wearing her bathrobe. “You know I can’t actually locate people unless I have something that belongs to them, right?”
“You have me. I belong to her.”
Sadie gave him a sad look. “Oh, Anthony. I’m so sorry.” She balled her fists. “If Ruxandra found a way to grab her, I’ll…I’ll… Well, I don’t know what I’d do, but maybe you can wring her neck for both of us.”
Anthony ground his teeth. “She’ll pay. Believe me. Do you know where her lair is? Or can you tell me for sure that Ruxandra has Claudia?”
“I’m not sure I can tell you much of anything, but I’ll try. Let me get my cards.”
Sadie left the room, and Anthony dropped onto the sofa. He hadn’t been to Sadie’s place in a long time. Maybe a year. It was small and neat, despite a lot of things. Crystals, candles, vases, books, figurines… He had no idea what most of them were for. Maybe just decoration.
He reflected on the first time he’d had tea with her here, and his whole sordid history had come out. He had just mentioned her dear, departed lover Dmitri, and then he found out she knew more about the vampire world than he’d ever have dreamed.
***
Surprised then at the depth of her knowledge, he’d asked, “How did you know all that?”
Sadie chuckled. “You have to ask?”
Anthony squinted at his aunt. “What else do you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know about my history?”
“Only what Dmitri told me.”
He nodded and relaxed. Dmitri was his friend and wouldn’t tell her anything Anthony wouldn’t want her to know.
“Oh! You mean that Salem debacle?” Sadie asked.
Anthony hung his head. “Ah, yeah. That.”
She slid her hand across the table carefully, reaching for his. He didn’t deserve compassion for what he’d done, but the kindness she offered shouldn’t be ignored. He took her hand and she squeezed his.
“That wasn’t your fault, Anthony. It was the fault of the one who made you a vampire.”
“I—I know. But I made it worse.”
“What happened? I don’t know the exact details.”
Anthony hesitated. It might be good to talk about the incident. He hadn’t shared the details with anyone. Not even Dmitri.
“In the late 1600s, I came to Boston from England as an indentured servant. I worked my prescribed number of years and earned my freedom from my employer.”
“So this city is familiar to you.”
He smiled. “Not at all. None of what existed then looks like it does today. This was a small settlement on the banks of a river with the sea nearby. A few boats in the harbor, green grass, and some rolling hills were all you’d notice. Although Boston Common was there and used as grazing space for the cows. All the structures have been replaced. When I arrived from New Orleans a couple months ago, I felt as if I’d never been here before.”
She nodded. “So, how did you get to Salem?”
“The same way everyone got around back then. By horse. I was lucky and had a good master. My skill was animal husbandry, so I worked in the stables. When it was time for me to go, I asked if I might work for him a little longer and earn enough to buy a horse. He allowed it but let me know he would only sell me an older mare. It was enough. Once I had the horse, I made my way to a settlement I had heard about a little farther north—Salem.
“I lived there, working with the horses the well-to-do townspeople owned. Eventually, I was able to procure a few more and began selling them.” He smiled sardonically. “I was the used-car salesman of the time.”
Sadie smiled but didn’t say anything, probably so he’d continue telling his story.
“Back then in 1692, Salem was divided into two distinct parts: Salem Town and Salem Village. The village was actually part of Salem but was set apart by its economy and class. Residents of Salem Village were mostly poor farmers. Salem Town, on the other hand, was a prosperous port town at the center of trade with London. Most of those living in Salem Town were wealthy merchants. I tried to straddle the divide and get along with both classes, so I saw firsthand what was happening.
“For many years, Salem Village tried to gain independence from Salem Town. The town, which depended on the farmers for food, determined crop
prices and collected taxes from the village. The dividing line was Ipswich Road.
“Those who, like myself, lived near Ipswich Road were close to the commerce of Salem Town and became merchants, blacksmiths, carpenters, and innkeepers. We prospered and supported the economic changes taking place. But many of the farmers who lived far from the prosperity believed the worldliness and affluence of Salem Town threatened their Puritan values. Their children weren’t even allowed to play with toys. That was considered idleness. All their time had to be spent doing chores or reading the Bible.
“Tensions became worse when Salem Village selected Reverend Samuel Parris as their new minister. Parris was a stern Puritan who denounced the worldly ways and economic prosperity of Salem Town as the influence of the devil. Suddenly, the devil was seen everywhere. If there was a smallpox outbreak that wiped out a family, it was the work of the devil. If the crops died or livestock got sick, somebody must have been practicing witchcraft and calling on the devil to make those things happen.
“A man who had just come off a ship one night asked to see me about buying a horse. A merchant I knew well introduced us, so I had no reason to be suspicious. I took a lantern and showed him my horses. My merchant friend decided to get home to his family and left. When I was alone in the stable with that…vampire, as I now know he was, he grasped me tightly and sank his fangs into my neck.
“I cried out, but the nearest neighbor was too far away and my friend must have been almost home by that time. For whatever reason, the vampire decided to turn me. I thought I was dead, then came back to life with a startling set of new sensations. It was as if someone had cleaned out my ears, sharpened my vision, and intensified the odors around me. Boy, I needed a bath.”
Sadie chuckled.
“I didn’t take the time to think about or question any of it. All I knew was the devil had somehow taken the form of this man and wanted to enslave me. I grabbed a pitchfork, and before he had a chance to react, I stabbed him through the neck, which anchored him to the stable wall. When all he did was laugh, I was positive he was the devil himself and that I had come upon a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rid the world of evil. I grabbed the ax I used to split wood and cut off his head.
