Creatus Series Boxed Set

by Carmen DeSousa

  Lifting the bottle of body spray to his face, he inhaled. She always smelled so good. This wasn’t really her scent, but it reminded him of the aroma of her body, since she always wore the cheap, but strangely seductive fragrance. He’d never been a fan of perfume, since his sense of smell was so acute, but the cheap perfume was light. Whenever she was around, his mouth watered at the hint of peach in the air, like a fresh Georgia Peach, ready to pluck. And damn, Jonas had gotten to pluck that peach.

  He looked at the name, Love Spell. Figures! Tramp!

  Meghan had known what she’d been doing, strutting around here in her tight jeans, teasing all of them. And then walking into their meeting with that short black dress and boots. He’d wanted to take her on the roof after he’d saved her from that human trash, but the other guys would have heard, and it would have gotten back to Jonas.

  But now…she would come to him, and she’d be his…for as long as he wanted her. She’d stay in the cell for good this time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Meghan bounced on her barstool, feeling like a child again under her father’s watchful eye. “Umm…Dad… Like, you need to take these cuffs off me, so I can take care of nature.”

  Reece narrowed his eyes. “You can hold it.”

  “What is this? A road trip? There’s a bathroom ten feet away. Where do you think I’m gonna go?”

  Instead of answering her, he tapped on his phone.

  She kicked the counter. Not as hard as the dashboard, but enough to let him know she was angry. Nothing. Nothing fazed him.

  His phone chimed, and he looked at it. “Victoria’s on her way.”

  “As if I care that your girlfriend’s on the way.”

  “Knock it off, Meghan. I’m still your father.”

  Ooh…she’d discovered a soft spot. Maybe he did care about someone…his new girlfriend. “You’ve never been my father. A father isn’t supposed to just pay the bills, you know. He supposed to be there for his daughter. Be there to kiss scratched knees, train to ride a bike, teach to drive a car, to chase away potential boyfriends… Not that I cared about any of that stuff.”

  “Clearly.” He sighed. “What do you want me to say, Meghan? I was out of the country most of the time. When I was home, I was with you. And we had plenty of good times…when you were young, when you wanted to be with me when I came home. We went to Carowinds almost once a year.” He paused for a second, staring up at the ceiling. “Remember picking out your bedroom furniture? You were so happy. I’d read to you before you fell asleep. Cinderella, right?”

  “And then you were gone when I woke up the next morning…for six months.”

  “Meghan… I love you. I’ve always loved you. I couldn’t have a baby girl with me when I went dark for months at a time. Don’t you understand?”

  “You should have quit.”

  He swallowed loud enough that she could hear him. “You’re right. I should have. I just didn’t know any other way of life.”

  The door opened and Victoria walked in, dropping her phone and keys on a credenza by the door.

  Smudges of black and gray dirt, or maybe it was soot, lined the woman’s face and arms. Blotches of various shades of red stained her white shirt and khakis, which had been pristine earlier. Work clothes, Meghan guessed. Reece had said that she was a doctor. The outfit looked like what a doctor would wear.

  As Victoria walked into the kitchen area of the apartment, she ran her hands through her sleek black hair, re-looping her thick ponytail in a hair tie, letting it fall low behind her neck. “Hi, Meghan. It’s nice to officially meet you. Sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”

  Meghan released a puff of air through her nose. “I’d offer my hand, but my father won’t un-cuff me.”

  Victoria glanced at Reece, then nodded at the cuffs.

  Her father walked around the island counter, pulling a tiny key out of his pocket. “Seriously, Meghan. Don’t try anything. Otherwise, I’ll put you in shackles.”

  “I think that’s illegal, Dad.” He unlocked her cuffs, and she hopped off the stool. “Bathroom’s this way, I guess.”

  “Follow her, please,” he said to Victoria.

  “I don’t need my hand held, Dad. I’m a big girl now. I traded in my pull-ups for big-girl panties a long time ago.”

  Her father sighed. She still knew how to rile him up.

  Victoria passed her in the hall, turning off to the right into what Meghan guessed was her bedroom. There weren’t any windows in the bathroom so Victoria probably figured as long as she was in her bedroom, Meghan had no place to escape.

  Meghan sat for a long while without moving, content to be by herself for a few minutes. In her anger, her tears had dried somewhat, but she still felt empty. Empty, because she longed for Jonas’ arms. She didn’t feel dead, though. Not yet. Would she have to see his remains to convince her heart that he was actually dead? If she never saw his dead body, would she have to continue to live? Did she want to live?

  Strangely enough, she did want to live, which was strange. She’d never cared whether she lived or died—until meeting Jonas, that is. Jonas had made her feel alive. So why did she still feel alive?

  A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts. “You want a change of clothes, Meg?” Victoria’s voice.

  She didn’t want to like the woman who’d broken Jonas’ heart…who hadn’t been able to find him and help him. The woman who’d tamed her father, it seemed. With one look, he’d done exactly what she’d wanted.

  Meghan whipped her eyes to the door. On second thought, maybe she did want to befriend Victoria. “That would be great. Thank you.” She hopped up, then opened the door a crack. Victoria handed her a set of pink fleece pajamas. “Got anything in black,” she asked, forcing a hint of a smile. It hurt to smile, as if that simple movement was a betrayal to her husband.

  “Sure.” Victoria walked back to her bedroom.

  Reece stood sentry in the hallway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

  “There isn’t a window in here. Do you think I’m gonna burrow through the brick wall?” She’d thought about it, of course, but she knew he’d hear her. No…she’d get away with Victoria, and then she’d make her escape. “Dad, can you at least get my purse out of the car. My phone’s in there. If Jonas did get out, he might be trying to call me?” If he didn’t, she needed the bank card he’d given her. But not yet…she had enough money to get away.

  Her father didn’t move.

  Victoria handed her a set of black sweatpants and a grey top this time. “Go ahead, Reece. I won’t move from here.”

  Again, her father strode off like an obedient servant, quickly though, as if he wanted to get back before she turned into a bat and disappeared. It would have been cool if that myth were true. Flying would be a convenient skill to possess in her current situation.

  Meghan hopped in the shower and turned the knob to the hottest position. She stood beneath the beating spray of water, allowing more tears to fall. Two days… She’d only been a bride for two days, and now she was a widow. At eighteen. Her head fell forward.

  “Why, Jonas?” she whispered to herself. “Why did you allow me to fall for you only to leave me? Why didn’t you let me come with you? At least we could have died together.”

  “You okay, Meg?” Victoria called from the other side of the door.

  Damn. She forgot she was in the creatus world now. She could have screamed at the top of her lungs from the other side of the house and Gran wouldn’t have heard her. Oh, God. She hadn’t called Gran. She was probably worried sick. Of course, Reece had probably called her.

  “Meg…” This time the door cracked open.

  “I’ll be out in a second.”

  “Okay, hun. I understand. I loved Jonas too. I’d like to talk with you when you’re ready.”

  She sighed. She didn’t want anyone to care about her now. Of all times. She had to find who did this. It was the only way to heal. Or maybe it was why she couldn’t die. Ma
ybe after she avenged him she could die in peace.

  She’d told Jonas she would never tell anyone the location of the rogue creatus, and she wouldn’t. Because…she was going to take them out. All of them…starting with Tag.

  Her dad called himself Eidolon. Well, Jonas was the real Eidolon. Not all phantoms are myths, she realized. Eidolon also meant ideal. Jonas had a vision of what the world would be like for creatus if they were free. He had a conception of a perfect world for all of them.

  Well, she would eliminate the rogue creatus. She would become the new Eidolon.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Mike leaned over Rebecca’s shoulder, watching as her magical fingers flitted across the keys.

  She leaned back in her leather computer chair, then fluttered her long black lashes, a small smile lifting her amazingly pixie-like face. He wondered if there’d been a different breed of creatus that had died out, because unlike most the creatus women, who looked like beautiful, but deadly Amazonians, Rebecca had elfin characteristics.

  “Did you find the file?” he asked.

  She gazed up at him with those chocolate brown eyes. “The only John Doe the M.E. listed. Everyone else has been accounted for, so yeah.”

  “Okay, you know what to do.”

  She smiled. “Don’t I always?”

  “Yes, you do. You’re a genius.” He returned her smile, hating that once again, she was flirting with him, but he felt no urge to reciprocate. He wasn’t using her. This was her job, the reason he’d placed her within the walls of Boston P.D.

  He’d had a brief setback in the last few days. But eventually, he’d get her a position within the Massachusettes government, and later, once everything was in place, as high as the executive office of the US government. There’d be no end to what he could control within the government, starting with his own kind, who, too often went about things the wrong way.

  Derrick thought he was crazy for suggesting that their uncle run for Attorney General, but it’d been a smart move at the time. Creatus would have had their feet in the Department of Justice. What better way to guarantee their way of life than to be within the walls of the DOJ.

  To have one of their kind offer guidance and ideas to the President and heads of the executive departments. To direct the world’s largest law office and the central agency for enforcement of federal laws. It just made sense. Eventually, he’d get back on track with his plan. It was why the family had chosen him for head of security, not Derrick. Derrick was the face. Like the President. He was supposed to look good out front and keep the peace.

  If Mike had to put a stamp on his position, he’d say he was the CIA, NSA, and the Department of Defense, all rolled into one.

  Mike turned to leave, and Rebecca jumped up. “Hey, you want to meet for lunch later?”

  “Rebecca… Seriously, honey, I’m not the man for you. Why can’t you see that?”

  “I guess for the same reason you can’t get over Victoria, and Victoria hadn’t been able to get over Derrick. The heart knows what the heart wants.”

  She strolled up to him, standing within inches of him. She was almost a foot shorter than his six-six. What did she see in him? He looked like a giant next to her dainty body.

  She rested her hands on his chest, and as much as some parts of his body lit up at the beautiful woman in front of him, he couldn’t act on his innate desires. He’d been with women he had no interest in falling for, but not Rebecca. She was part of his life. He couldn’t just sleep with her and never call her again. He needed her too much.

  “You know…they say…”

  He shook his head, cutting her off. “That’s my line, precious. And it’s a lie. Sleeping with someone doesn’t mean you’ll fall. It has to come from the head and heart. I may not be the most upstanding male, but I know the difference between love and sex, and I saw how many years Derrick and Victoria tried to force it. Falling, like love, comes from the soul.”

  She dropped her hands. “And I heard you were some sort of Casanova, who didn’t care what unsuspecting woman you swept off her feet.”

  “People make up stuff…makes them feel better. Besides, I’m a mythical creature, so people are supposed to tell tall tales about my adventures. I’m just little ol’ me.”

  “Mike, I’m pretty sure there ain’t nothin’ little about you.”

  “And on that note, I’m out of here.” He kissed her forehead and made his way to leave her apartment. He rested his hand on the door, then turned to look back at her. “Eric’s back, you know. I always thought you guys would be cute together.”

  “Bleh.” She stuck out her tongue as if she tasted something bad.

  “What? Eric’s cool.”

  “He complains too much. Humans this, humans that. If he were in charge…”

  Mike narrowed his eyes. “I never heard him complain.”

  Rebecca shrugged. “You haven’t gone out drinking with him. Trust me, he complains. I’m sure his uncle has fueled his hatred. You know how much Dean hates humans…because of his sister.”

  “Victoria doesn’t,” he offered. “What about Reece? How do they feel that she’s with him, then.”

  She shrugged again. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him since he’s come back,” she laughed, “or even since Reece attacked him in the hospital. I’m sure that didn’t help.”

  Mike nodded, but couldn’t understand why he’d never seen that side of Eric. Maybe he needed to invite him out for a few drinks.

  “Thanks for taking care of that file, and as always, not a word to anyone. Don’t trust that info with anyone but me.”

  She smiled again, and man oh man, he wished he didn’t have to have a sense of decency with Rebecca, because he could tell she’d be an absolute tiger.

  He exited her apartment this time without looking back. He had too many things to do today anyway. Too many fires to put out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Meghan started awake, the events of yesterday, exploding in her head as though she were standing in front of that building again.

  The gray t-shirt Victoria had given her stuck to her skin, damp from the heat she’d felt in her nightmare as the night sky had burst into flames before her eyes.

  She tried to roll over, but the metal slicing into her wrist reminded her that her father had cuffed them together this time.

  She pulled her phone out from beneath her pillow and stared at it. Nothing. The only texts from Jonas were from the night he went into the convenience store to buy a few necessities. He’d texted her different selections, asking for her approval, as if she had any idea what to choose, and then his last text had made her cry, and here she was crying again.

  I’m just joking with you, lovely. As long as you’re in my arms forever, it doesn’t matter what we do or what we use, or if we do nothing at all. Just love me forever, and I’ll be the happiest husband on the planet. I love you! Do you miss me yet? I found a cute Red Sox hat for you too. <3

  She laughed and cried. Laughed, because he’d been carefree and light for the first time since she’d met him, and because he hadn’t abbreviated one word, which wasn’t unusual with iMessages anymore. Cried, because she’d never get another message from him again.

  She buried her head into the pillow, trying to hold back the tears. Her father’s heavy hand touched her shoulder, and she wondered if he was dreaming of holding Victoria, but then he pulled her into his arms.

  “I’m sorry, honey. I really am. No matter what you think of me. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love.”

  She buried her head against his chest and let her tears fall. “I miss him. And I’ll never see him again. Never argue with him…spar with him. Make love again.”

  Her father’s arms tightened around her, and she realized that he still thought of her as though she were thirteen. She hadn’t been thirteen since she was thirteen. She’d hopped right over thirteen to eighteen overnight, it seemed.

  “He was my husband, Daddy. He loved
me. I felt his love…like it was alive…a part of me. And now I’ll never be whole again.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.”

  At least he hadn’t rambled something stupid like she’d love again. But in some ways, she wished he could assure her, but he couldn’t. He knew she’d never be whole again without her other half.

  She leaned back to look at him, and his eyes opened. She contemplated what she wanted to say. Several things actually. “Are you gonna be home now? No disappearing for six months at a time?”

  He nodded. “I promise.”

  “I want you to train me.”

  Her father narrowed his eyes. “Train you for what?”

  “To protect myself.”

  He licked his lips and then nodded. “Okay, Meghan. I’ll train you.”

  “And Victoria. Jonas said she was the best. Will she train me too?”

  He cocked his head. “What are you afraid of?”

  “If someone killed my husband, doesn’t it make sense that they’ll try to kill me?”

  “But you said you don’t know who’s in charge.”

  “I don’t, but they don’t know that.”

  “True.” He tightened his arms around her again. “I love you, Meghan. I’ve always loved you. More than anything else in life. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, I know you love me, Dad. I love you too.”

  After Vic and her father had beaten the hell out of her for two hours straight, they unanimously agreed that Jonas had done a great job training her. Her father had been able to teach her some deathly strikes, and Vic had wrestled with her until she was able to get out of almost every hold.

  Now for the next stage of her plan. “Vic,” she asked as she gobbled down the lunch she’d prepared for them. The food was pretty good. Although she’d always lived on salad and sushi, she’d been able to eat just about anything, she just got a stomach ache sometimes. Vic had drilled her that she should still stick to the creatus diet of raw whole foods to reach her peak of strength, though.