Russian Roulette (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 1)

by May Freighter

  A man with pale, platinum hair studied her. His unsettling silver eyes reflected something close to disgust and irritation than the warm welcome she was hoping for. She looked at her clothes. They were perfectly fine for an interview.

  At the back of her mind, alarm bells rang. She dismissed them as pre-interview jitters.

  He rose, showing off his crisp, white suit, and motioned for her to take a seat opposite him. Neither of her interviewers spoke. Perhaps it was a test of some kind. And, if it was, she hoped the end was near.

  “Helena, run!” Michael’s words rang in her head loud enough for her to cringe.

  She stopped in her tracks, willing him to explain what he meant by his outburst.

  “They are not what you think they are. Excuse yourself. Say you need to use the bathroom. Anything will do. Hurry!”

  Helena’s heartbeat voiced its panic while she struggled to put an excuse together. “I-I, is there a bathroom here?”

  The pale man broke his intense study of her and glanced at the second stranger. She saw his short raven hair and a set of shoulders hugged by a black leather jacket. He seemed familiar.

  “Leave. Now!” Michael shouted.

  Helena didn’t bother waiting any longer for an answer. Whirling on her heel, she rushed for the door. She didn’t get a chance to reach it. Something solid slammed her into the wall, and she grunted in pain.

  “I believe we have some unfinished business to discuss, my dear,” a deep husky voice whispered into her ear.

  She tuned in on his English accent the instant the first few words left his full lips.

  “I need to go!” She pushed away from the wall.

  “If you attempt to run, you will perish.” His cold words filled her with paralysing dread. The tall stranger grasped her by the upper arms and twirled her around, pressing her back against his solid chest. Her backpack slid from her shoulder, and he took it away. He discarded it next to the minibar, and she noted there was now one man sitting on the sofa.

  Helena tilted her head to one side, attempting to piece together how a person could get up in time to block her way without her seeing or hearing him.

  They walked to the sofa, and he pushed her into a seat. The stranger collapsed next to her with little grace while keeping his blue-brown eyes honed on her face.

  Helena’s mind rang with recollection. “You—” She wanted to curse herself for not figuring this out right away. She felt the same strange tingling in her gut the first time she met him on the street.

  The handsome stranger flashed a set of white teeth, showing her what she had feared to see—two elongated canines.

  “Vampire,” she voiced her thought.

  “Lucious, are you sure this child is Wiccan?” his companion asked.

  Without ceasing eye contact with her, Lucious replied, “I don’t know what she is, Alexander. She isn’t falling for my influence.”

  Helena couldn’t fathom a thing they said and scooted to one side.

  Lightning fast, his hand caught her shoulder and drew her close enough to have their thighs touching.

  She scowled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Lucious chuckled. “I like her. She has spirit.”

  “Stop talking as if I’m not here!”

  She bit her lip, sensing their eyes on her after her outburst. Why isn’t Michael saying anything? Is he waiting for something I don’t know about? She cried out inside her mind for her guardian. How could he abandon me at a crucial time like this?

  Alexander rose from his seat and grasped her jaw between his thumb and index finger. “Speak out of turn or lie to us, witch, and I will rip your heart out of your ribcage.”

  Helena shuddered, not sure whether the chill consuming her body came from his cold words or his touch.

  Alexander’s hand retreated, and he resumed sitting across from them. He rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. “Now then, tell us what you are.”

  Paralysed by her raging nerves, she gathered her fragmented courage. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m human.”

  Lucious lifted her face, forcing her to look at him. His unusual eyes glowed blue. She couldn’t help wondering what that meant.

  Seconds ticked by. The glow in his eyes intensified until he frowned and dropped his hand. “Unless you have extraordinary self-discipline, my dear, you are more than you’re letting on, even when your words ring true.”

  Alexander’s gaze unnerved her. He wasn’t saying anything, and she couldn’t figure out why she believed that fact was more frightening. Piercing grey eyes changed to glowing molten silver.

  Did all vampires have an ability to make their eyes look like tiny flashlights? For the life of her, she couldn’t piece together why they did it.

  “You’re right. I can’t influence her either,” Alexander finally said.

  Helena held her tongue. Questions continued to form in her mind, but she wouldn’t voice them. Not until she knew what was going on. That was until words spilt out of her mouth of their own volition. “And since both of you can’t do whatever you wanted to do to me, why don’t you tell me what I’m doing here?”

  “You have yet to answer my question,” Lucious said.

  “I already—”

  Lucious’ eye twitched. “I do not care for repetition.”

  Helena bit back a curse. She fisted her hands to reign in her urge to scream at him and his friend. She tried for a levelled tone. “Nor do I, but here we are.”

  “You do understand—” Alexander began.

  “That you can kill me here and now? Yes, I got the message.” She glared at Lucious. “So, do it or let me go already.”

  She had no idea where she got the courage to say those things. Inside, she was shaking. Every shift of their bodies kept her on her toes. Her false bravado remained as the last barrier, keeping her sane.

  Both vampires seemed taken aback by her outburst. They exchanged glances, and Alexander left the room.

  All of a sudden the spacious room seemed to close in on her. Lucious’ closeness became the main reason for her rising panic. The expression he wore with which he could snap a neck or two told her he had no good intentions.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked with a trembling voice. Her body betrayed her lack of cool, causing her hand to quiver.

  Lucious caught her wrist and studied it. His eyes searched both sides a while longer. Scowling, he raised the sleeve of her blouse to her elbow. Still appearing dissatisfied, he lifted her other hand, repeating the process.

  He let go of her and created a bit of space between them. “If you are human, how did you create a bond between us—a bond I feel more the closer we are to one another?”

  His words sank in. When she concentrated, the link between them hummed, unsettling her already knotted stomach. She hadn’t paid much attention to their connection until he pointed it out. It was something she had yet to demand an explanation about from Michael. On one hand, she entertained the idea of telling Lucious the link was an accident that happened in the Angel Realm but squashed the thought as soon as it surfaced because, on the other hand, what could she tell him? If these vampires could tell whether she told the truth, she had little wriggle room in her answer.

  “Helena,” Michael’s faint voice sounded in her mind.

  She covered her mouth with her hand. “You’re back.”

  He materialised by her side, and the vampire tensed.

  Lucious scrutinised Michael with a stare as if trying to figure out what he was. He reclined in his seat, appearing completely at ease. “What brings an angel here?”

  “If you know what I am, you must also realise that I am her guardian,” Michael said with evident disgust written on his face.

  The two of them sized each other up. The intensity in the room grew, and she thought better than adding another comment to the testosterone-charged air.

  Michael broke the silence first. “Release my charge if you understand what
you have gotten yourself into. An abomination like you should not go near her soul or exist in this realm, clinging to life like the leech that you are.”

  “That’s where you are wrong, mate. She was the one who created this bond in the first place. She was also the one who came to me.”

  “Hey, I was invited here for an interview! If I had any idea I was going to be threatened by vampires, I would have avoided this place like the plague.”

  Michael moved to stand next to her, making sure he avoided the coffee table as he walked. Helena guessed he was doing it to make the vampire think he was present in his physical form. At first, she couldn’t believe Michael was anything more than an apparition in their realm. Years later, she came to terms with his ghost-like presence. And, right now, she prayed he had a physical body in case this whole scenario came to blows.

  “I guess the elders aren’t stupid enough to try to get a saint on their side. They would exterminate her rather than risk the slightest doubt of her betraying them,” Lucious said.

  Helena wanted to bang her head against the wall. Michael was playing a game with this man, and she had no clue about the rules. One thing she was certain of. She was not a ‘saint’. Their string was a bright golden beacon amidst the sea of colours in the Domain of Fates.

  Michael inclined his head. “Then you must understand she is not involved in your world’s politics and, to keep it that way, I will help you shatter the link.”

  Lucious glanced at her, and she fought not to squirm. She squared her shoulders to project confidence she didn’t feel in a single cell of her body.

  His attention lingered on her neck before he diverted it back to Michael. “I will let her leave here if you can break the bond. I do not have the time to play around with angels and their saints.”

  “If you don’t keep your word and harm her in any way, I will make certain you are torn apart and put back together by the demon hordes for the rest of your meaningless existence.” Michael’s words were laced with the promise of malice.

  Helena’s eyes widened. Michael acted like a different person, portraying the perfect image of a cold and ruthless being. How much did she know about her guardian angel? He revealed nothing while he watched over her. For all she knew, he had taken a life, and the look in his eyes did little to remove the growing sense of worry that had her clutching at her chest.

  Lucious must have seen it, too, because his expression shifted from relaxed to guarded. His tense body language spoke of his readiness to spring up and fight at a moment’s notice. “You have my word.”

  Michael glared at the vampire. “Your word means nothing to me. It is your actions that will speak for you.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Her guardian didn’t wait. He outstretched his hands in the gap between her and Lucious. Her skin prickled as the level of power in the room spiked and their link appeared to the naked eye.

  Lucious stared at it with interest, and she noted him refraining from touching the string shooting out of his gut.

  In the middle of the link, two strings were wrapped around one another in a messy bow. Michael placed his palms over the small knot. His hands emitted blinding light, forcing her to squint. The string vibrated, and her gut clenched as if trying to hold on to something. The brighter Michael’s hands shone, the less she saw of what was happening, but the sensation of something being peeled away from her didn’t stop.

  Helena gritted her teeth.

  With a satisfied look on his face, Michael lifted his hands. Her string retreated inside of her, and Michael’s palm hovered over the spot for longer than she thought was needed.

  She glanced over at Lucious. His crimson string had also dispersed without a trace.

  “It is done,” Michael said. “The link will bother you no longer, vampire.”

  Lucious rubbed his abdomen. Seemingly satisfied that he was intact, he stood and indicated towards the door. “You and your charge are free to go.”

  Helena didn’t wait to be instructed a second time. She scampered out of the room, doing her best not to look back. The nightmare was over, and she got out of it unscathed.

  She dashed down the corridor, bumping into a few people on the way out, not caring for the glare the club goers gave her. She needed to feel the cold wind on her face, to suck in some fresh air, and remind herself she was alive.

  She arrived a safe distance away from the nightclub. Out of breath, she panted, drawing in air. Her muscles ached, and she rested her hand over an erratic heartbeat. Thank God that’s over.

  Something moved in behind her, startling her. Dull pain exploded in the back of her head. She swayed on her feet and reached for her scalp. Her fingers came away wet with blood.

  5

  Taken

  Lucious stared at the door after the girl left the club. Never in his second life did he believe he would see a real, live saint. Finding one among humans was the same as discovering a unicorn. They were closer to legend, beings that could wipe away his kind with a flick of their hand, or so the myths warned.

  The door opened with a loud click.

  “Sorry, I had to take a call.” Alexander scanned the room. “Where’s our little witch?”

  Lucious raked his fingers through his short hair. “She wasn’t a witch.”

  “Then how do you explain—”

  “She’s a saint. A God damned saint with her personal guardian angel.”

  Alexander selected a bottle of scotch from the mini bar and poured the golden liquid into a glass. He downed the drink in one mouthful. “I doubt anyone would believe me if I told them a saint came to my club.”

  Lucious shook his head. “I am processing that fact myself.”

  His friend lifted her backpack off the floor. He opened it and peered inside.

  “She left her stuff behind,” Alexander said and tossed it back on the ground.

  Rubbing his chin, Lucious studied the bag. He could bring it to her. Doing so would mean exposing her existence to the Council. Perhaps they would concentrate on her location instead of his. A smile tugged at his lips. It isn’t such a bad idea. “What do you think Eliza would do if I traded this information in exchange for my freedom?”

  Alexander scratched his jaw. “I don’t know. She hates people getting off the hook, information or no. She will most likely capture you and torture it out of you instead.”

  “You’re right.” His smile faltered. “But the other members of the Council may listen to reason.”

  “And if they don’t? You are risking pissing off a saint who can locate you no matter where you are. Getting her on our side is easier than running from one. I mean, who knows what powers are inside of that little girl.”

  “You could be onto something there.”

  Alexander stared at him, incredulous. “You aren’t serious about trying to convince her to help you. We can’t influence her, and I doubt her guardian would let her join our mariachi band.”

  Lucious rolled his eyes. When he watched her, he saw so much innocence, fear of what he was, but much determination, too. Did she know how to harm them? Even if she didn’t, her guardian certainly did. The way his eyes flared with intent to kill was not something Lucious expected from an angel. Then again, it wasn’t like he had experience with those beings before.

  A knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts. Alexander opened it to reveal Tanya.

  “There is someone here who wants to speak with you.” With her hand resting on her hip, she stepped aside. “This kid wouldn’t leave until I let him see she isn’t here.”

  A young man with penetrating green eyes stood behind Tanya when she moved. He eyed everyone in the confines of the room with suspicion.

  Lucious stretched his legs out under the coffee table and crossed them at the ankles. He had no time to play around with more humans. Not when he had other things to worry about.

  “Where is she?” the kid demanded.

  Alexander folded his arms over his chest. “It’s rude to
enter a home and not introduce yourself.”

  The kid glared at him. “My name is Andrew. Andrew Keane.”

  “And who are you, Andrew Keane, talking about?” Alexander asked, amusement lacing his words.

  At least, someone was getting entertained by this interruption, Lucious thought.

  The human pushed past Alexander and pointed at the backpack. “That’s Helena’s, where is she?”

  Lucious’ ears perked up at the mention of her name. This human knew the saint on what seemed to be a romantic level. The closer they were, the easier it would be to manipulate her.

  Alexander shrugged. “She left a short while ago.”

  “I don’t believe you!”

  Lucious rose and closed the distance in a few short strides. They were almost the same height. He dropped his shields. Letting his energy cage the kid, he grasped Andrew’s square jaw. Light stubble irritated his skin as he held on.

  “What’re you doing, freak?” Andrew shouted.

  Lucious ground his teeth. He knew his irises changed colour when the human’s eyes bulged out of their sockets. What he couldn’t understand was why this boy didn’t fall under his influence. To add further insult to injury, he punched Lucious in the gut.

  Cursing, Lucious faltered. “Another one.”

  “A saint?” Alexander asked with interest.

  “I don’t think so. I heard they roam the world one at a time.”

  Andrew threaded backwards. His back came in contact with Alexander’s dagger display case, causing him to jump. When Andrew lifted the glass and withdrew a silver dagger, Lucious raised a brow.

  “Don’t come near me, whatever you are!” the human threatened.

  “Definitely not a saint.” Alexander stifled a laugh. His office phone rang, and he glanced at Lucious with resignation. “Regrettably, I must leave the fun to you.”

  Tanya spared a fleeting glance over her shoulder, and they left.

  Lucious needed to extract as much information as possible from the kid. Slowly, he selected a clean glass from the table. There was no need to check on the human when he heard Andrew’s thudding heartbeat as if he pressed a stethoscope to his chest. With measured grace, he poured himself a drink and faced the panicked human.