Cursed by Fire (Blood & Magic Book 1)

by Danielle Annett

  “Follow me,” she said in a cultured voice.

  James and I stepped over the threshold and followed the woman dressed in blue. I watched as her long red hair brushed her lower waist. The color was striking but most likely came from a box. It was too vivid to be natural. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors as we made our way to the main sitting room in the home. Taking my gaze away from her back I looked around admiring the beauty that was the Cove. The entryway still had its original floors and woodworking. The craftsmanship was beautiful and the rich beams on the ceiling were hard not to appreciate.

  All of the light fixtures looked original as well. It didn’t appear that Rebecka had made any modifications upon acquiring the mansion. The beautiful cream and gold wallpapers dotted with accents of red were rather remarkable next to all of the deep rich wood workings and plush draperies. The draperies though, I assumed were either new or had been relined to block out the sun during daylight hours. Vampires were not impervious to the sun but neither did they particularly care for it. It had something to do with their chemical makeup and the reaction sunlight caused. There was a reason that legend said vampires couldn’t go out in the sun and they were almost right on that point.

  The truth of the matter though is that if exposed to the sun for a long enough length of time, their bodies experienced something like an allergic reaction. The effects varied based on a vampire’s age, the newer vampires were able to withstand the sun’s harsh rays for a longer length of time since their bodies contained more moisture. If they were less than five undead years old, they could typically withstand sun exposure for anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour as long as it wasn’t direct. Any older and a vampire’s skin would begin to wither and if they were out for more than a minute or two, they would die.

  It had something to do with the lack of water contained in their bodies after the change and the sun basically causing extreme dehydration. I’d seen a vampire die from sun exposure before. Several years ago when I was visiting Seattle, Washington the local Coven decided to make a demonstration. I wasn’t sure what the crime had been but the Coven tied a vampire to a post in the middle of Pike Street Market with silver chains and left him for dead. When dawn came and the sun began to rise, the vampire’s skin began to boil and blister. Within minutes his body withered to a dry husk. Within an hour, he deteriorated further and nothing but ash remained. It was a ghastly sight and the stench of burned, rotting flesh was one I’d never forget.

  We made our way out of the entryway up three small steps into what I assumed was the parlor. The room was just a beautiful as the previous one but was much lighter. The walls were a buttery cream. The ceiling heavily adorned with hand-painted scroll-like patterns. I had to resist the urge to burn the entire place down to the ground. Damn pyro habits, always wanting to set things on fire.

  Rebecka was seated in a Victorian-era chaise near the fireplace. She had a small leather-bound book in her hands and she was the image of beauty and serenity. Both of which I knew to be complete fallacies. Rebecka was a cold hearted and malicious individual. What beauty she showed on the outside gave way to her ugliness within.

  Dressed in a floor length cream silk dress with her blonde hair pulled back in an elegant updo, curls tumbling around her face, she looked as if she were born in the Victorian era. For all I knew, she had been. There was always an air of sophistication that followed her despite her youthful, almost child like appearance. I knew she’d heard our arrival, vampire senses being enhanced and all, but she ignored our presence keeping her focus on the book in her hands.

  Rebecka sat with a stillness that only a vampire could achieve, not bothering to make the minute movements like blinking her eyes that would set most non-vampires at ease.

  James and I both stood in silence beside one another as the woman who’d initially greeted us made her way closer to Rebecka, waiting for her to decide to acknowledge us.

  It was never a good idea to interrupt a vampire and I knew her blatant disregard for our presence was simply a power play. It was her way of showing us that she was in control. Real mature right? You’d think that after hundreds of years on this earth she’d have learned to play nice.

  After several long seconds passed Rebecka placed the worn book on the empty seat beside her and rose to her full height next to the fireplace. The warm glow casting small shadows across her face. Vampires were notoriously afraid of fire. I was surprised she had chosen to light a fire in the first place, let alone stand so close to it.

  “Irina, what a pleasant surprise it is to have the Pack hunter and his human companion grace our humble home,” she said in a sweet, musical voice.

  She wasn’t fooling me one bit.

  The woman beside her, Irina, offered a tight nod, not looking the least bit pleased by our presence. I guess James’ status as Hunter wasn’t so mysterious after all. How the hell had everyone else known he was the Hunter and I hadn’t?

  “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice,” I replied.

  Rebecka’s assessing gaze quickly swept over my form before she turned away, deciding I wasn’t worth her attention. That was the thing about vampires. They were always so self-absorbed. So assured in their own power and abilities that humans like myself didn’t even register on their radar. Again I wanted to light her lush curtains on fire and show her just how normal I was, but I knew better. So instead I stayed quiet and accepted her ignorance. Besides, if I actually tried to bring fire, I’d likely burn the entire house to the ground instead of just the curtains. I grinned. Flashes of vampires frantically running around like chickens with their heads cut off as they scrambled to outrun the flames dancing in my eyes.

  During the entire exchange James stood vigilant beside me. I’d expected him to step forward and take the conversational lead after Rebecka’s obvious dismissal of me but he remained silent and still as a statue. He was positioned exactly one step behind me and slightly to my left, almost as if he were standing guard. As silence hung in the air, I watched Rebecka’s lips slightly pursed in irritation. A very telling sign on a vampire since in most cases, their patience often seemed endless.

  “Are you not going to speak, shifter?” Rebecka said, disgust in her tone.

  James remained silent but I noticed the slight shift of his weight behind me. Without conscious thought I raised my chin and stared Rebecka straight in the eyes.

  “Actually, you’ll be speaking with me,” I said as I took several steps forward towards the nearby lounge chair.

  “Do you mind if I have a seat?” I asked.

  Not waiting for a response I sat down in the velvet covered chair. Crossing my legs I leaned back in a casual manner as if I didn’t have a care in the world. I heard a barely audible hiss come from Irina’s direction but didn’t bother looking her way. Power was all about perception and I wasn’t going to let these two see me squirm.

  I felt more than heard, James come up beside me but I kept my complete focus on Rebecka. The tension in the room seemed to shoot skywards but I paid it no mind. I had long ago perfected a look of disinterest while on the streets. I learned early on that information was power but it was reckless to let people know you were looking for it. I would learn more if I acted like I really didn’t give two shits.

  “So,” I began, effectively breaking the silence and cracking the thick veil of tension in the room. “We’ve come to request the Coven’s cooperation in a case involving a shifter child that was murdered by a Coven member.”

  “No Coven members have committed such a crime,” Irina said through clenched teeth. My gaze flickered in her direction briefly before returning back to Rebecka, effectively telling Irina how little her opinion mattered in this conversation. If it were possible for the undead to flush, I’d imagine that Irina’s complexion would be scarlet with her rage. As it was, I could practically see steam coming out of her ears and had to fight back a smile. I didn’t know her,
so I shouldn’t really care whether or not I made her angry but I had little respect for the vampire race as a whole and pissing off one of Rebecka’s minions wasn’t beneath me, not in the least.

  “And why should the Spokane Coven assist a human and the Pack? What benefit does this hold for us?” Rebecka asked in a calm and cultured tone, ignoring my and Irina’s exchange.

  “Does the Coven have to benefit in some way in order for you to assist the Pack in bringing a murderer to justice?” This was ridiculous. She knew what we wanted and yet she was toying with me.

  “Yes,” she said. “We do.”

  For a moment I saw red and could see heat begin to rise in waves off of the floor. Before I lost myself, I shook away my anger and effectively emulated a cool expression, devoid of any emotion.

  “Fine,” I said. “How much do you want? Name your price?” I told her, knowing the Pack would pay almost any dollar amount to get their hands on the bastard. Rebecka laughed as a wide grin spread across her features, drawing attention to the twin fangs within her mouth.

  “You think you can buy this information? That your money means anything to me? No dear child, your money means nothing. As Irina said, our Coven had no part in the matter. Regardless of what you believe. You may go.” She waved her hand, dismissing us.

  “I’m not going to let this go. You can’t protect that son of a bitch forever. Whoever it is, they’re going to rot for what they did to that little boy, remember that.”

  I was seething by now, a red haze effectively clouding my vision but I could still see a slow smile creep across Rebecka’s face.

  “We’ll see about that.” Without another word, James and I left. I was so furious I could feel my fingernails breaking the skin of my palms as I clenched my fists in an effort to contain my rage. My breathing was heavy and my skin was now hot to the touch. I didn’t need to take my own temperature to know that I was well beyond feverish and within boiling range.

  Frustration burned through my veins as we left Rebecka and the Coven behind. Approaching James’ car I made the swift decision to keep walking. I couldn’t trust myself at the moment not to blow the damn thing up. James quickly fell into step beside me as I continued farther down the street. I could feel the ripple of heat beneath my skin and knew that I wasn’t going to last much longer. Increasing my pace I frantically looked around for any water source in the area.

  “You doing okay?” James asked, his tone concerned.

  I shook my head, beyond the ability to speak. James reached for my hand. As his touched mine, he hissed in pain.

  “Christ, Aria, you’re on fire.”

  He quickly released me, rubbing his palm against his jeans as he scanned the surrounding area as well, taking a deep breath through his nose. On his second inhale, he jerked his head towards the right.

  “Come on, I can smell the river this way.”

  Nodding I followed him farther. He didn’t say anything else as we increased our pace but I could feel his concerned gaze on me. I desperately needed to release the boiling anger inside of me but I couldn’t. It wasn’t safe. Not here, so close to the Coven. Sweat was dripping down my back between my shoulder blades. I was going to overheat and that was not a good thing. Inwardly I cursed. I was never this on edge but after the previous evening’s nightmare, my fuse was a short one.

  I turned to James for a brief moment. His skin rippling just below the surface.

  “You’re about to shift.”

  Liquid mercury met my gaze. “My wolf needs a release after being around so many vampires.”

  I nodded, understanding dawning on me. I watched through the corner of my eye as James quickly shed his shirt before arching his back, the shift taking over his form. I’d seen James shift before but each time caught my breath. Fur exploded across his skin, claws elongating from his fingers, and his face contorting into a grotesque mask before taking the form of a wolf’s snout. In a matter of seconds James was on all fours beside me, his thick black coat glistening in the moonlight.

  Finally, the sweet sound of running water caught my attention and I ran, pumping my arms and legs as fast as they would take me with James close on my heels. Bolting straight into the nearby river, I threw myself into the water.

  Within seconds the frigid water brought my core temperature down to a more manageable level. I lay back, submerging my entire body under the clear surface and held my breath.

  Closing my eyes I focused all of my efforts on releasing the fire burning inside of me. As the seconds ticked by I could feel my lungs begin to burn from the lack of oxygen but I pushed on. Anxious to make sure that when I surfaced, the need to light the world around me on fire had abated. Fire ignited beneath the surface causing large bubbles of pressure to burst. My flames were snuffed out on contact once they escaped my hold but the heat lingered.

  When I finally came up for air I opened my eyes and allowed my gaze to wander before finally settling on the concerned face of a black wolf, his head tilted to the side. The water directly around me was still bubbling ever so slightly, near boiling but beginning to wane. Shame bloomed in my chest and my anger was redirected at myself. I felt like a failure, a liability to this case. How was I going to find Daniel’s murderer if I couldn’t keep a lid on my abilities?

  I dragged my sopping wet body out of the Spokane River and climbed back up to the main road. I hadn’t realized as I ran that the river was below a small hill and I struggled climbing back out. My soaked boots squelching in the mud as I slipped with each step.

  James gave a yip as I approached, his teeth digging into the leather of my coat as he helped drag me up.

  When I reached the top ledge I peeled my leather coat from my shoulders and slung it over my arm, heaving a sigh. That jacket was the first large purchase I had made after earning my very first paycheck from Mike. I doubted I could save it but I’d try anyway.

  As we made our way back the way we’d come, I approached the vehicle and took in the beautiful car and then my drenched clothing. Heaving another sign, I turned to James. His clothing was held in his mouth, he’d likely retrieved it while I was in the water. A small smile played across my face as realization hit me. He couldn’t drive, not in wolf form.

  I bent down next to him, ruffling the fur behind his ears for a brief moment before reaching my hand into the pocket of his jeans.

  “You won’t be needing these,” I said, holding his keys up in triumph.

  James issued a growl and I laughed.

  “Nah nah nah. Don’t be grumpy with me. You’re the one that chose to shift. This is on you. I’m just looking out for you and making sure you get home safely.” James growled again as I opened the passenger-side door.

  “In you go.”

  Silver eyes met mine in mutiny but after a few seconds he chuffed and jumped inside.

  Back at my apartment I quickly changed into some dry clothes. Dressed in a warm pair of fleece pants and a black tank I threw my wet hair into a messy bun before padding out of my room. When I came back out James was in human form, shirtless and making tea for the two of us in the kitchen. I was quickly handed a steaming cup. The brew had a floral scent with hints of citrus and was exactly what I needed after the events of today.

  James and I sat in comfortable silence, each of us drinking our tea. I gazed out of the living room window, my thoughts elsewhere when James took the now-empty cup from my hands. I glanced up from my daze, watching as James walked towards the kitchen area and placed our mugs in the sink. When he came back, rather than taking his seat he crouched low in front of me, wrapping his hands around my own. Concern was etched in the lines on his face.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. I felt like he was asking me that a lot lately. Mutely I nodded before pulling my hands from his grasp.

  “Ari, talk to me.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to curl into a
ball and hide for a while. James didn’t move from his position and leveled me with an encouraging gaze, one filled with understanding and patience. Finally I cracked.

  “I haven’t lost control like that in a while. It’s just…frustrating.” I admitted, my voice hushed.

  James nodded in apparent understanding.

  “Look, we all lose it from time to time.”

  I shook my head. “You’re always in control,” I told him, which was true. I’d never seen James go furry unless he wanted to. He was the epitome of self-control and I…well, I wasn’t.

  “Ari, believe it or not, I lose it from time to time too. I shifted today after all. It’s okay. I don’t think any less of you for it and you shouldn’t think any less of yourself either. Okay?” I nodded. I know he was trying to make me feel better but my pride had been stung and his shifting wasn’t a loss of control, not really. He’d realized his wolf needed a release and he provided it before putting himself in a position to lose control.

  The loss of control was one that my father would have been so disappointed over. I also knew I couldn’t wallow in self-pity though, so gathering myself I gave James a small smile and nodded in agreement.

  James stayed a short while afterward and we chatted for a bit before he headed home. After he left, instead of being tired as I’d expected, I was filled with anxious energy. After examining the clock and realizing it was well after one in the morning, I was surprised to find that I was wide awake.

  Staring out the living room window, I contemplated what we knew so far. It took all of two minutes to realize I was essentially in the same place I had been to begin with. There was nothing to go on and if a lead didn’t come up soon, the case would quickly go cold. Leaving the culprit out there wasn’t an option.

  Closing the curtains, I jumped nearly two feet in the air when the siren on my phone went off. Retrieving my phone, I answered without bothering to check the caller ID.

  “Naveed,” I said into the receiver.