Unhinged: Blood Bond: Parts 4, 5 & 6 (Volume 2)

by Hardt, Helen;

  You are strong, Dante. My blood has made you strong. Her blood is making you even stronger.

  Chills erupted through my whole body.

  She knew.

  She knew about Erin. About the blood bond.

  “Get out of my head!” I hurled my fist into the mirror, shattering the glass.

  Then I stared at the fragmented image before me. My face, cut into thousands of pieces to render me unrecognizable.

  The most apt image of me I’d seen in a while.

  I was unrecognizable, right down to my blood.

  She had changed me.

  She’d done more than hold me captive, torture me, and steal my blood.

  She’d changed me in a literal way—a way I didn’t understand. Didn’t want to understand.

  And Erin…

  I’d dragged Erin into my life. Forced her into this blood bond.

  I should have left her alone.

  But what if I had? Bill said she would die without giving me blood once the bond had been formed.

  Bill…

  He had been so strange since I’d returned. Secretive. Unworried.

  Blood coagulated on my knuckles, and I wrapped the wet towel I’d used previously around them. Once the bleeding had stopped, I gripped the porcelain edges once more.

  Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

  “You will stay out of my head.”

  Someone walked in, and I let go of the sink.

  “You okay, man?” the guy asked, his gaze edging toward the shattered glass of the mirror.

  “Yeah. Fine.” What must I look like? “Why?”

  “You just look a little rattled.”

  “I’m good.” I walked past him, out the door, and back into the dining room.

  Erin sat, studying her menu, her back to me.

  Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

  Had to appear normal to her. Couldn’t let her worry. I’d already forced her into a life she wasn’t ready for. I pasted a smile on my face and walked around to sit across from her.

  “Hey,” she said. “I was starting to get worried. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, fine. Do you see anything you like?” I gestured to her menu.

  “I’m thinking redfish tonight. How about you?”

  “I haven’t looked yet, but I’ll be having a steak. Very rare.”

  “Of course. That’s what you ordered—” Her mouth dropped open. “Is that why you like rare beef? Because of the…”

  “No, love. There’s no blood in meat to nourish us. Most of the blood is drained from the animal before it’s butchered. I just like my beef rare. A lot of humans do too.”

  She reddened. “Drained before it’s butchered. Then sold to vampires, right?” She didn’t wait for me to respond. “Of course. I knew that. I even like it now. Maybe I’ll have a steak with you.”

  “Have what you want. You don’t need to have a steak just to please me.”

  “I wasn’t trying to—” She erupted in giggles. “I guess I was. Isn’t that funny? I’ve never ordered a meal to please anyone but myself before. What was I thinking? I’m having the redfish. And then I want Bananas Foster for dessert.”

  “Famous in New Orleans,” I said. “You shall have it.”

  “Can you believe I’ve lived here for three years and I’ve never tried it?”

  “We’ll remedy that tonight.”

  The server came by and took our orders, and I refilled our flutes. I was raising my glass to my lips when—

  “Ow!” I swiped the back of my neck.

  “What is it?” Erin’s eyebrows shot to her forehead.

  “Just a chill. I’m fine.”

  But it hadn’t been just a chill. It had been a spear of ice jabbed into my neck.

  And I knew, despite my rational mind telling me otherwise.

  Erin and I were not alone here.

  Chapter Eight

  Erin

  “We need to leave.”

  I widened my eyes. Had I heard him right? “What?”

  “I’m not kidding, Erin. We need to leave here. Now.”

  “But we already ordered.”

  He threw a few bills on the table. “I know, and I’m sorry. Trust me.” He stood.

  The server walked toward us. “Sir?”

  “I’m sorry. We won’t be staying,” Dante said. “Please cancel our dinners. The bills on the table should cover the Champagne.”

  “I can cork it for you, sir—”

  “No thank you.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the exit.

  When we were out on the street, I turned to him. “What was that about?”

  “I’m not sure I can explain it. Just a feeling.”

  “You’d better try to explain it, Dante. We were supposed to have a nice dinner.”

  “It didn’t feel right. Being there.”

  “It was just a restaurant.”

  “We’ll go to a different one. If you’re still hungry.”

  “Yes, I’m still hungry. Aren’t you?”

  “Honestly? The sensation kind of zapped my appetite.”

  “What sensation are you talking about?”

  He shook his head. “I never believed much in the paranormal.”

  “Dante, you are part of the paranormal.”

  He shook his head again, more vehemently this time. “I’m not. Only in myth. Vampires are a mortal species just like any other.”

  “A mortal species with the ability to glamour their prey.”

  “Some humans have that ability. Hypnosis is a real thing, Erin. It can be learned. Some humans have psychic abilities too. Is that paranormal?”

  My mind was muddled. What was real and what wasn’t? I had no idea anymore. “Are you saying you felt a paranormal presence in the restaurant?”

  “All I know is that I felt something. And it wasn’t good, Erin. It felt…dark and ominous. Evil. It felt evil.”

  Chills scattered over my arms, and I rubbed them. I didn’t believe in the paranormal either, but what Dante said freaked me out more than a little. He had run to the bathroom quickly. Had he felt it then?

  Before I could ask, he grabbed my arm and pulled me down the street to where a musician was playing guitar and singing folk songs.

  “It’s better here,” he said.

  “Meaning?”

  “I don’t feel the presence anymore. We’re safe now.”

  “You’re really scaring me, Dante.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. But we had to leave that restaurant. Something wasn’t right.”

  “But everything’s fine now, in the middle of the sidewalk?”

  “Yeah. I can’t explain it. Come on. We can find another restaurant.”

  “Are you kidding? My appetite just flew the coop. I thought you said yours did as well.”

  “Yeah, it did. I’m pretty creeped out.”

  I sighed. “You’re not the only one.”

  He led me to an outdoor café and we grabbed a small table.

  “I need to ask you something,” I said.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Do ghosts exist?”

  He let out a strained laugh. “I never thought so.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means I’ve always been taught that ghosts don’t exist. That the supernatural veil that draws vampires to New Orleans is a result of the voodoo and witchcraft practitioners and the cosmic energy they draw down during their spells. And prayer.”

  “Prayer?”

  “There are a lot of devout Catholics here too, and prayer is just another type of spell casting. It’s drawing on the energy of God or the universe or whatever you want to call it.”

  I wasn’t an overly religious person, but this was sounding a little sacrilegious even to me. “Prayer? Really?”

  “Prayers are energy, Erin. Every time you commune with a higher power, you’re drawing down energy.”

  “And all this…”

  “The prayers, the spells, everything
. It all contributes to the supernatural veil around the city. Vampires are drawn to that. A lot of humans are as well.”

  “But ghosts—”

  “Don’t exist. At least that’s what I was taught. That when you die, you become part of the energy of the universe, and that’s what is drawn down here in New Orleans.”

  “So you cease to exist.”

  “Yes, as a living creature, but you continue to exist as energy. Energy can’t just disappear. It has to go somewhere.”

  “Then why can’t ghosts exist?”

  “I don’t have a clue. I only know what I was taught. That when a person dies, he no longer exists as a unique individual. He becomes part of the cosmic energy.”

  “Then what were you feeling at the restaurant?”

  “I don’t know. And I don’t know if ghosts don’t exist. Bill, apparently, believes in them.”

  I dropped the fork I was fidgeting with on the table. “He does?”

  “Yeah. He told me so. Big news to me. Apparently a lot of what I was taught as a child is wrong.”

  “You believe him?”

  “I didn’t. But I can’t deny what I felt at the restaurant. There was a supernatural presence near me, and it was messing with my mind. I felt it. I felt an icicle stabbing my neck, and I had some unwelcome thoughts. We weren’t alone there, Erin.”

  A server approached us, but neither of us were hungry anymore. I ordered a sweet tea, just because we couldn’t sit here without ordering something. Dante ordered a black coffee.

  When our drinks came, Dante raised his cup to his lips.

  His fangs were protruding.

  “Are you…okay?” I asked.

  He nodded. “They come out when something bothers me. It’s a defense mechanism. Most vampires are better at controlling it than I am.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because—” He sighed. “I missed a lot. While I was…gone.”

  “Oh.” I wanted to push him on it. Wanted him to tell me everything. I wanted to know everything. Not because I was nosy but because I loved him. But he’d tell me when he could. I was still having trouble dealing with some things myself, and until I could give him all of me, I couldn’t expect the same of him.

  Even though I wanted it.

  We both jerked when some clattering noises drew our attention.

  I drew in a breath. “Would you look at that?”

  Chapter Nine

  Dante

  The musician stopped playing his guitar. All eyes focused on a large woman walking toward us, finger cymbals clanging.

  “Oh my God.”

  “It’s that woman from under the bridge. Bea,” Erin said. “What is she doing over here?”

  “I have no idea.”

  She stopped in front of our table. “I knew I’d find you two here.”

  “Did you?” I said with skepticism.

  “I did. I have the sight.”

  “So you’ve told us. What’s with the commotion?”

  “Bea likes to make an entrance.”

  “Bea apparently also likes to refer to herself in the third person,” Erin said.

  I chuckled.

  “I need a moment of your time.” She sat down at our table without being invited.

  “I’m afraid—”

  “Fine,” I said, interrupting Erin. “What do you want?”

  “I came to warn you.”

  “Of what?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “That’s helpful.” Erin rolled her eyes.

  “You should take me seriously,” Bea said. “‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”

  “Shakespeare,” Erin said. “Impressive.”

  “Don’t discount Shakespeare,” Bea said. “He was an amazing metaphysician. He knew more than most in his time. As do I.”

  If she knew so much, why did she live under Claiborne Bridge? Looking at Erin, I could see she was wondering the same thing. I secretly hoped she wouldn’t voice her question, though, as I didn’t want Bea to get angry and leave. After what I’d experienced in the restaurant, I wanted to hear what this odd woman had to say.

  “I’m not discounting Shakespeare,” Erin said. “I’m just wondering what you and he could possibly have in common.”

  “Nothing but an understanding that there is so much more to our world than our brains are capable of processing.”

  “I’ll give you that one,” Erin said. “I’m a nurse. I know we only use a tiny percentage of our brains.”

  “Then you’ll understand why I can’t tell you exactly what I’m sensing. But I am sensing something.” She looked directly at me. “There is a dark presence following you.”

  Erin’s lips trembled.

  I said nothing.

  “You’ve already sensed it,” Bea said.

  “I may have.”

  “I wish I could guide you, but this is something new to me. I’ve never felt such darkness.”

  “Is it a single entity?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Do ghosts exist?” Erin demanded.

  Bea nodded. “They do.”

  Erin rubbed at her forehead. “Oh, God.”

  “What is it?” Bea asked.

  “Nothing much. Just the whole constancy of my universe has been bowled over.”

  “Mine too, believe it or not.” Vampires might be new to Erin, but the rest of this stuff was new to both of us. I was now dealing with werecreatures, ghosts, and seers existing. Not to mention some demonic presence that had apparently taken enough of a liking to me to follow me around.

  “Not a demon, dearie. A dark presence.”

  And I was getting damned sick of people reading my mind. “Demons aren’t real?”

  “They’re real, but they have no interest in you. At least not at the moment.”

  Thank God for small favors.

  Erin had gone pale. I placed my hand over hers.

  “Just be careful,” Bea said. “I don’t leave the bridge unless the need is great. I felt I needed to warn you. Heed my warning.” She stood and walked away. When she was a few yards beyond us, she began clattering her finger cymbals once more.

  “That was freaky,” Erin said.

  “It was. And I’m not sure it was actually Bea.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The way she spoke.”

  Erin nodded. “True. The first time we met her, she said ‘ain’t,’ and her grammar was atrocious. And now she’s quoting Shakespeare and telling us to heed her warning?”

  “Ain’t isn’t a huge issue. You’re not from the south, but a lot of well-educated people use it. I’m talking more about her general demeanor.”

  “Good point,” Erin said. “She was acting differently. But Dante, that was Bea. There can’t possibly be more than one of them. That would mean my universe is even more fucked up than I think it is.”

  “You’re right. Of course it was. But she was different somehow. And why the finger cymbals? Why announce she was coming like that? You know what I mean?” Truth was, I didn’t have a clue what I meant, and trying to convince Erin that some entity had taken over Bea would freak her out even more. “You want to go home?”

  “Yeah. I do.”

  I stood and offered Erin my hand, when icy chills stabbed into my neck once more.

  Dante.

  A voice spoke in my head.

  I stiffened.

  I hadn’t heard that voice in over ten years.

  Chapter Ten

  Erin

  Dante brought me home. He wouldn’t need to feed until morning, and I was used to being awake at night, so I decided to work on the research Dr. Bonneville had asked me to do. At fifty bucks an hour, I couldn’t refuse.

  I fired up my computer, while Dante paced around the townhome.

  “Are you going to do that all night?” I asked.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Just thinking. I need to talk to River.”

/>   “Then call him.”

  “He’s on duty. He went back to work after his medical leave.”

  “Oh. Then call Bill.”

  He sighed. “Yeah. I should. I should go see him. Will you be okay here?”

  “Of course. You can stand outside and listen to me lock my deadbolt. I’m just going to be here on the computer until it’s bedtime at eight or nine in the morning.”

  He kissed me goodbye, and I latched my deadbolt, committing it to memory. I always locked my door. Why I’d gone haywire recently and forgotten, I’d never understand.

  After a couple hours of researching and finding nothing except religious stuff explaining the correlation between blood type and hair and eye colors, I gave up. I’d have to tell Dr. Bonneville I couldn’t find what she wanted. I took copious notes because I wanted my hundred bucks. According to one site, all B positive people had brown eyes and dark skin. I was so far from that.

  I rose and made myself a small snack. We’d skipped dinner, after all, and now I was a bit hungry.

  Then I sat back down again and found my fingers typing in Juan Mendez, Jr. Jay had gotten back to me with Mrs. Moore’s son’s phone number, but I’d been so preoccupied with Dante that I hadn’t tried to contact him or Mrs. Moore’s husband. I still had a strange feeling that Mrs. Moore had known something I needed to know. I’d brushed it off after ruminating on it, but now, with Bea visiting us and telling us something Dante needed to know, I wondered if I should be taking my intuition more seriously.

  I did some searching. Juan Mendez, Jr., was a retired attorney who lived in Baton Rouge. I’d have to wait until morning to call him. He wouldn’t be up at—I checked the time on my monitor—two a.m. Neither would Mrs. Moore’s husband, who was suffering from advanced lung cancer and lived in hospice care.

  Nothing more to do until waking hours.

  Now I was bored. My fridge was nearly empty. What could it hurt to go to the grocery store? I usually shopped at the twenty-four-hour Walmart nearby on my nights off. I’d promised Dante I’d lock my door, but I didn’t promise I wouldn’t go anywhere. I’d gone shopping a hundred times during the night, and never once had I met—