His curly black hair was everywhere and full of grease from working on the car. Looking at him, I just couldn’t understand why so many of the women in town had a thing for my cousin. I knew I wouldn’t have, even if he weren’t my cousin.
“Hey Star,” he said, barely looking up.
“Hey. How’s it been?”
He shrugged. “About the same for me, but I hear you been hanging out at that new night club.”
“Actually I’m working there now.”
“With vampires?” he asked, arching one brow. “Are you fucking nuts?”
“So you know about vampires too?” I was really starting to feel a little left out. It was like the whole world had known about the vampires before I did.
“Star …” he shook his head. “Sometimes I think you’re sleepwalking most of the time. Just because people don’t talk about the vampires … doesn’t mean they don’t know about them.”
“It sure would have been nice to know about them before Charlie showed up with one at my front door?”
“Yeah I heard about that. Grandpa Basile says you need to stay away from Charlie.” Dusty grabbed a black stained rag and wiped the grease from his hands.
“Where is Basile?” I asked.
“He’s inside … fixing the kitchen sink.”
I turned to go into the house, but Dusty stopped me. “Sorry about Jaycee and Johnny.”
“Thanks, but you should be telling that to their families.”
“Are you going to the funerals tomorrow?” he asked.
I nodded. “Of course. What about you?”
“Don’t have much choice. You miss someone’s funeral around here, and people don’t quit talking for ten years.”
Dusty’s outlook didn’t surprise me at all. If something didn’t involve women or whiskey, he wasn’t too interested.
“Oh, Terry Jean was asking about you today.”
Dusty’s face twisted like he’d just taken a bite out of a lemon. “Well hopefully you told her I got ate by a bear or something.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Dusty DeBlanc! You are so mean. I don’t see why any girl wastes their time talking to you.”
Before going into the house, I made sure the bite mark on my neck was covered with my hair.
I found Basile with the top half of his body hidden in the cupboard, beneath the kitchen sink.
“Hey Uncle Basile.”
He grumbled something that I couldn’t quite make out.
“Do you have a plugged drain?” I asked.
Basile slid out from beneath the sink. “So you decided to take your ass away from those vampires long enough to come visiting?”
“I haven’t been hanging out with them that much.”
“Aha. I been hearing about you at that vampire joint.”
“I’m working there now,” I informed him.
Basile shook his head in disgust. “You been hanging out with Charlie too much. Now you’re as dumb as rocks … just like him.”
“I haven’t even seen Charlie for a couple of days.”
Basile waved away my words. “Don’t mean he aint rubbing off on you already.”
“Jeez! You’re grouchy lately! Have you been to the doctor to get your blood pressure checked?” I asked.
His only reply was a grunt.
“I have to ask you about something that happened last night,” I told him.
He gave me a wary look, but since he said nothing, I told him about my vision in the shower and the dream. Of course I left out all the stuff that would really make him grouchy, but gave him enough information to get the general idea.
Basile frowned. “Well there be some things you don’t know about your gifts, but I guess it’s about time I told you.”
So there were more secrets being kept from me.
Somehow this didn’t surprise me much. “I’m listening.”
Basile let out an agonizing breath and got to his feet, but not without some trouble. I tried to help him off the floor, but he brushed me away. “I can stand up on my own.”
“Okay, fine then.”
When he was up, he went to the fridge and got him an RC cola. “Want one?” he asked.
I shook my head.
Shrugging, he opened the can and took several drinks before turning back to me. “You already know the part about you being descended from one of the Salem witches … what you don’t know is that there be witches on your mother’s side too. Your great grandmother was the voodoo queen, Octavia DeBlanc. She was taught by Marie Lavue herself.”
I wasn’t real surprised about the voodoo bit. After all, I’d known Basile was involved with voodoo for as long as I could remember.
“So that means that I have extra power?”
“It means more than that. You were born during the Harvest Moon. According to family legend … that makes you a Moon Witch. You be the first one in generations.”
Now I was surprised. Just when I thought life couldn’t get any stranger, someone drops something like this on me.
“So what does all of this really mean … other than making me weirder than I already am?”
“The meaning of it be you can do a lot more than you think. You have the third eye … that be why you could see through his eyes … and hear what he be hearing. I don’t reckon I know lot more about the Moon Witch, that be coming from your dad’s side of the family and all. But what I do know is you don’t want to let others get wind of it … especially the other than human types.”
“Well it’s getting late, and I have stuff to take care of. I should probably be going, but thanks for the info,” I told him.
“You be careful of them bloodsuckers, and be keeping what I told you to yourself.”
No doubt I would do that. A secret weapon wouldn’t be much of a secret weapon, if I went around telling people about it.
* * *
It was well after dark when I arrived at Crimson, mostly because I’d stalled going there for as long as I could, hoping Luke would show up.
Grace was surprisingly absent. It was the first time I’d been to Club Crimson without seeing her. Aaron was working behind the bar.
I sat down on one of the stools near where he was working. “Hi. Is Marcus here?” I asked.
“In there.” Aaron nodded toward the back of the club.
“Thanks,” I said, already on my way to the back.
“But I wouldn’t go in there right now,” he warned.
“I really need to talk to him,” I tossed the words over my shoulder.
I knocked¸ but the music coming from behind the door was loud. The door literally vibrated as the sound of an electric guitar slammed up against it.
When there was no answer, I tried again. I figured the music was too loud for him to hear me knocking, so I opened the door. I immediately wished I’d listened to Aaron.
He was sprawled on the floor with two women, and none of them were wearing anything. Marcus was feeding on one while the other was doing things to him that I didn’t really want to be witnessing.
Gasping, I started backing out of the room, but not before he looked up to see me standing there with my mouth hanging open.
“Wait,” he said, pushing the second girl away. There were droplets of blood running down the corners of his mouth.
I stopped, but kept my eyes averted.
“You’re not leaving already are you?” he asked, his voice ringing with laughter.
“I’ll come back later,” I yelled, so I would be heard over the music.
Marcus picked up a remote control and turned down the volume to the stereo. “Why don’t you join us?”
“I don’t think so,” I told him.
Luke had sure known what he was talking about when it came to Marcus.
“You girls get back to work,” he said to the two women.
The girls dressed as they were going out the door. When I looked back at Marcus, he’d put on his jeans, but still wasn’t wearing a shirt. At least he’d cleaned t
he blood from his mouth.
I was staring without realizing it, fascinated by the way the muscle rippled beneath his skin as he moved. I may not have realized I was staring, but he’d noticed.
“Like what you see?” he asked, a spark of amusement in his eyes.
Damn! How did I always manage to get myself in such awkward positions?
“I could have come back later,” I told him, refusing to acknowledge his jibe.
“No need. I was growing bored with them anyway. So … any new information?” he asked.
I stepped further into the room. “Can you tell me more about Rush?”
He looked at me sharply. “Why do you want to know about it?”
“I have my reasons,” I replied.
“Not good enough.”
“I found out my friend may have taken this drug, and that could have been what happened to him. I’m curious about how that could be, especially if it only affects vampires?”
He lifted his brow questioningly. “This is the friend that doesn’t walk or talk anymore?”
I nodded.
“It doesn’t have any affect on humans … so that tells us that your friend isn’t human,” he told me, in a matter of fact tone.
I shook my head. “I’ve known Max my whole life. He’s not a vampire.”
“I didn’t say he was, but he’s not human either.”
Now this was getting interesting.
“Then what the heck is he … if he isn’t human?” I asked, still not convinced Marcus knew what he was talking about.
He lifted his shoulders. “Can’t tell you that. Rush affects different species in different ways. Knowing what he is could be useful in helping him.”
He pointed to a seat next to his chair. “Please sit.”
I did as he asked, and waited as he poured himself a drink, and then looked over at me. “Would you like?”
“No thank you.”
He sat next to me, and I noticed the beginnings of a smile. “So prim and proper. It would be enjoyable to see you drop your inhibitions and embrace your nature.”
“And what nature is that?” I asked.
His smile became even more seductive. “The part of you that wants to have wild sex with me.”
Again, I felt the heat in my face. I really wished he had a shirt on. It would sure make it easier to get into the self-denial mode. He was totally hot. There was no way around that, but he was the type of presumptuous guy you just really want to smack right across the face.
“Oh please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Can we just get back to business? You are really not my type … and I belong to Luke,” I reminded him.
“So you do,” he said, looking away. “I can smell it on you. Tell me … was it all you thought it would be?”
“That is not your business.”
There was a look of satisfaction in his eyes that was absolutely infuriating.
“So it wasn’t. That’s perfect,” he said, leaning closer to me, his blue eyes reached into mine with such intimacy, I was sure I would melt at any second. “When you do learn what it’s like to be with a vampire … I’d like it to be me that teaches you.”
My tongue was tied in knots. Usually I was great with comebacks, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Marcus. He had a way of clouding my thoughts so that it was impossible to know how to respond to him half the time.
“Not likely.” It was the only thing I could think to say.
The knowing in his eyes made me feel naked. There was no fooling this guy. He knew perfectly well how being near him made me feel.
“How do I help Max?” I asked, changing the subject.
Backing away, he turned his attention to his drink. “Find out what he is, and then I might be able to help you with that.”
That was going to be easier said than done. I had no idea where to start. There was no way I could just ask Max. That thought brought something else to mind.
If any of this was true, why hadn’t Max ever mentioned it? I was his closest friend; it seemed odd that he wouldn’t have said something to me.
“Well thanks for your time,” I said as I stood up. “I guess I’ll see what I can find out. Do you have anything you need me to do?”
I felt heat rush through me as his eyes scanned me from head to toe. What he wanted couldn’t have been any clearer. “I’ll send for you if there is anything I need.”
Giving him a terse nod, I turned and left the room.
The club was already teaming with people, and the music was so loud, it was difficult to hear any real conversation. Everyone’s words seemed to run together.
With no reason to linger, I waved at Aaron and started for the exit. Outside, the night was humid and warm to the point it was almost uncomfortable.
It was dark, and my car wasn’t near enough to the building for comfort. Taking a deep breath, I began weaving my way through the cars until I reached mine. I didn’t have one of those fancy remote key locks, so it took a minute to find the key and insert it in the lock.
Before I had a chance to turn the key, a large gloved hand was clapped over my mouth. Instinctively, I slammed my elbows behind me. I felt them impact with flesh, and there was a loud grunt.
It was a good try, but it didn’t stop the assault. The next thing I knew, I was being pushed to the ground. My head thumped as it hit the gravel, jarring me enough that my assailant’s hand slipped from my mouth briefly.
My screams ripped through the night, but were cut off quickly as the hand covered my mouth again.
My attackers were wearing dark - hooded robes, and their faces were hidden behind some very realistic looking skull masks.
The Reapers!
In my panicked state, the only thing I could grasp onto was Max’s words. He’d said it was the Reapers.
There were three of them. One covered my mouth to keep me from screaming, while another spread my arms to my sides and held them down.
I saw some tubes and felt the sting of something sharp cutting into the artery of my arm. The warmth of the blood on my skin was even more shocking than the cut.
All my squirming and kicking was doing nothing but pushing out more blood. My sight dimmed, but I was still conscious enough to see the flurry of movement, and hear the men screaming in pain.
Then there was nothing but the black star-studded sky and Marcus’s face. His furious eyes reached into mine - ripping into the core of my being. The part of my brain that was still conscious, knew true fear in that moment.
There was not just the fear of losing my life, but of losing myself to the hunger and torment I saw in his vampire eyes.
His fangs slid out from his teeth. At first I thought he was getting ready to feed on me, but instead he bit his own wrist. A second later, he was holding his arm to my mouth.
Even as weak as I was, I still tried to turn my head away, but he held me in place and forced the blood into my mouth. In the beginning, I found the tangy taste of his blood on my tongue repulsive, but as it slid down my throat, my body seemed to come alive. Every nerve tingling as his blood healed my failing body.
He withdrew his wrist and lifted my head so that he was cradling me in his arms. Gradually my sight grew stronger until I was better able to focus on his face.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“You okay now?” he asked. There was a gentleness in his tone that I’d never heard before.
I nodded. “What happened? Were they vampires? They looked like Reapers.”
“No … they were humans trying to disguise their identities, but they were trying to take your blood. It’s a good think I heard you scream.”
“Yes … thank you,” I told him again.
I knew the reason they were after my blood, and now Marcus did too. Any suspicion I’d had about Marcus being involved in the vampire drug ring, was now gone. Whoever was pushing the Rush, it wasn’t Marcus.
But why was he in Cookson Springs?
In a short time, I was feeling better. Marcus
took my hands in his and pulled me to my feet.
“Perhaps you should stay here until dawn.” It was obvious his suggestion was out of concern, though there was a certain wicked light in his eyes.
I shrugged. “If they were not vampires … I doubt it’s going to matter a whole lot what time of day it is.”
He leaned down and picked up the car keys from where they’d fallen to the ground during my struggle. After placing them in my hand, he said. “I’ll look into this myself. This is probably something you need to stay out of.”
“Thanks for helping me … and I’ll think about leaving this to you,” I added.
“Tell Luke he needs to be looking after you better. If I have to take care of you, then you won’t be his for long,” he said with a playful wink.
I felt a stirring in my stomach that wasn’t as easy to dismiss as it had been before.
Was it his blood?
“I’ll do that,” I replied. “And thanks.”
He nodded. Instead of going back inside, he watched as I got in my car and drove away.
Chapter Nine
I wasn’t surprised when I saw the lights on in my house, along with Charlie’s red van in the driveway. It didn’t really bother me that Charlie and Luke were making a habit of invading my home, but I sure did wish I’d get some kind of warning prior to their visits.
As soon as I was through the door, Charlie was all over me.
“What have you found out?”
Shrugging, I told him, “Not a lot … except that Marcus Savoy isn’t involved with the Rush … or the murders.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve let yourself become one of his groupies, and now have it in your head that Savoy can do no wrong?”
I was annoyed, mainly because there was a seed of truth to his words. Of course there was no way I was going to admit it, especially to him. “Really Luke … I have no intention of becoming another of Mr. Savoy’s victims.”
“Hmm … if you say so,” he muttered.
It seemed like a good time to change the subject, so I did. “I was attacked in Crimson’s parking lot by two men wearing skull masks. They tried to drain my blood, but Marcus intervened.”
Crimson Rush A Vampire Romance (Crimson Book 1) Page 9
