by Tijan
I felt a slow shiver from his words, but I was beyond caring. “Don’t ever call me that again!” I waited in thick silence before he released my hand. It dropped with a thud to my side, but I still fought from swinging my other hand.
“Fine, then you can stop calling me Vampire. My name is Luke, not Roane.”
I shrugged and sniffed, “Whatever.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Because… we made a deal. It was the only thing I could do to stop you from doing that thing again.”
“That thing?” Roane—Luke—echoed with a twinge of laughter in his voice. “What do you mean by ‘that thing’?”
I knew this test. It was more about me than him. He just wanted to know what I knew. “It’s what you, vampires, do when you want to search inside someone’s head. It’s worse than what I can do. You put your eye radar on that person and they can’t move so you can take your time looking through their brain index. I hate it and I really hate that Adam doesn’t even know what you did. He just thinks…”
I felt like I could vomit.
“He saw you kiss me,” Luke finished for me.
“Now he’ll think…” I didn’t know what exactly he’d think, but with a sinking heart, I knew there was nothing I could do now.
“Want to know what he thinks? I can tell you.”
It must’ve been my imagination because I detected a small bit of sympathy in his tone. Vampires weren’t sympathetic. I’d gone crazy. I lied, “No.”
“He likes you. He thinks I’m a bastard, but he’s worried about your welfare. He won’t be deterred from the kiss. Trust me.”
“Really?” The vampire was a complete contrast of emotions. I hated him, I needed him, and now—I was grateful to him.
He sighed and then swung towards the door. “Let’s go.”
“This place?” I still disliked this place. “We don’t have to go here now. They’re gone. We can go and find Kates now.”
“This is where Kates is.” Roane moved towards the door and a bouncer swept it open. Roane passed through like he owned the place. I was forced to reluctantly follow and when he turned down into a back hallway I knew this night had gone from bad to worse.
“Let’s go!” he commanded down the hallway and then I saw him open a door.
I sighed and quickened my pace even though this went against how I usually operated. I liked to slowly wade in and get my surroundings before I made rash decisions. It hadn’t been a rash decision to light Craig on fire. I’d thought and planned for weeks in advance and then the night came along. This was different. I’d been to the Shoilster, but I’d never been down a back hallway and certainly not a basement. The door was left open, but Luke was already downstairs and out of my eyesight.
“Get down here, now!”
My foot reacted first and I fumbled my way down the stairs. What I saw when I got to the end brought my jaw to the ground, almost literally.
The main floor of the Shoilster was used for dining and dancing. Not the basement. The basement looked like another secret gathering of vampires. They were everywhere. Some sat on plush red couches that lined the walls. Some stood in the middle, between two ponds that shown a sparkling reflection on the ceiling. I wondered if there were crystals or diamonds in the ponds, but then I forgot my question as my gaze caught and held on a girl in a back corner.
Kates.
She stood with a sultry smile on her face and her body was leaning suggestively towards a guy who looked like he’d love to ravish her that night. They both held crystal goblets with red liquid and I had a fleeting thought that his might hold blood, but Kates’ would’ve had merlot. For all her dressings, she was a wine girl through and through.
I didn’t know how long I stood there, but when a few vampires started to send glances my way, I decided it was time to mingle—or… just move. I moved. Like any other bar patron, I found myself at the crowded counter with no chance of heralding a bartender. It was packed. I was surprised that I’d even noticed Kates in the first place.
“Are you alone?” The question came out smoothly, too smoothly, and the blonde vampire stood tall. He was over six feet with a square jaw and sparkling blue eyes.
I smiled for different reasons. Roane had disappeared so I was alone. Then I smiled because this vampire thought I was a lost, misdirected little human who had no idea he thirsted for my blood. I felt a wave of confidence sweep through and I relaxed for the first time in awhile. Leaning back against the counter I slipped into Silvia’s persona. I held a hand out. “What’s your name? You look like… a Ben? No. Maybe a… Royce. Are you a Royce? Are you the sixteenth heir in a line of royal blue bloods? You dress the part. Is that custom fitted?”
I gave the vampire credit. He was startled, but he rolled easily on his heels and he returned with charm,
“It is actually. I can order something for you, if you’d like.”
“But, wait—you’d have to get my measurements first, right?” My smile dazzled. “I know this gig, forwards and backwards. You’re not getting my blood.”
That got his attention. If he’d had breath, I would’ve given myself a pat on the back for stealing it away. He didn’t so I didn’t pat myself on the back, but it didn’t matter. I saw his nostrils flare and my heart sunk. I’d just become the next big challenge for this vampire and I knew how that road traveled.
“Don’t,” I said sharply as I held a hand up. “I lit the last vampire on fire who thought I was a challenge for him to bleed. I’ll do it again and it won’t take nearly as long this time. That’s my warning to you.”
“Kade,” Roane decided to join the conversation from… I glanced around. I had absolutely no idea where he materialized from, but his presence snapped Kade into order.
“Lucas,” Kade returned as he waited for his leader to speak. The blonde Casanova instantly stood straighter and waited for his command.
“Leave.” That was all Roane said and Kade turned to leave, but he stopped mid-turn and raked his eyes over me. “I like you.” He pounded Roane on the chest before he finally turned to leave.
Roane studied me intently. “Do I dare ask what that was about?”
“No.”
“Okay.” Roane was easy.
“I saw Kates.”
Roane narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he signaled for a drink and just like that—he got one. I glowered. “Could get me one, but no…”
He lifted a second finger and I felt better when a beer was pushed into my hand. I didn’t bother to say thanks. “What’s the plan?”
“You wanted help. I brought you to your friend. I thought you were worried about her.”
I flushed and raised my beer to him. “You know that’s not all there is to the story. I thought she was in trouble. My…,” I hesitated. “My source said to contact you so I did.”
“Your magic eight ball. Tell me, how’d your magic eight ball mention me? Was it by name?”
“You’re making fun of me.”
“No,” he rejected quickly. “Unlike you, I know why you contacted me, but I’m just wondering how much you actually know.”
“I know.” I didn’t, but I wasn’t about to let him know that. “I know plenty.”
Roane chuckled. “You know nothing.”
“Oh, really?” I turned to face him squarely. I even put my beer on the counter to let him know that I meant business. “You think I know nothing? Well… I know enough, Vampire.”
I said the word and I said it hotly. I dared him to call me on it. Oh yes, I’d call him Vampire if I wanted.
Roane smiled coolly and returned, “What do you know, Empath?”
I felt hot, angry, but I’d started us down this road. I’d see it through. “I know something big is going down. There’s a whole crap load of vampires here and I don’t think that’s normal for Benshire. I know that there was a girl who killed herself the other night and a whole host of too many vampires were in attendance. There were two on the roo
f with her and six on the ground. I think whatever’s going on has something to do with why Kates is here because I’m not stupid enough to think she’s actually here for me.”
There. I was out of breath. I’d said it all. I felt my skin starting to crawl before Roane replied cautiously, “You’re smart for an empath., but maybe too smart? Maybe you know too much for your own good?”
My eyes bulged and my throat went dry, but what did I do? I took a drink of my beer when I heard the very words that I’d feared coming from a vampire. Those words were never followed by anything good.
CHAPTER EIGHT
What do you do when you’re in a room of vampires and the most dangerous one tells you that you know too much? You bolt. What did I do? I hyperventilated. “Oh yeah? You think I can’t handle all of this?”
“Relax,” Roane chided softly as he moved closer.
I tensed, but he only placed his drink on the counter behind me. I waited for him to move back, but he didn’t. Then I hyperventilated a little bit more…
“I told you, relax.” Roane shifted closer and his chest was nearly pressed against me with an arm tucked around me. To the outside observer, we were a couple on the quick way to a dark corner. To my inside observer, I was pretty sure I might’ve wet my pants.
‘It’s not him. It’s not him,’ I chanted to myself.
Roane chuckled softly against my cheek. “You’re right. It’s not me. It’s your ex.”
My eyes flew wide open—I’d closed them without realizing it, but I caught my breath when I saw Roane watching me knowingly, amused, and did I detect some sympathy too? My hand tightened around the beer bottle. It was my only weapon of defense.
“You’re freaked out about all vampires because of one bad seed.”
“You’re all bad seeds.”
“True, but most of have us enough control and self-discipline. We have carnal desires, but we don’t act on them. If we did vampires wouldn’t be a secret to 90% of the world’s population.”
True, but… they were still evil. I took a nervous sip of my beer, but I didn’t taste it. In fact, as I felt the lightened bottle, I realized that either it had evaporated or I’d drunk most of it already. I wet my dry lips and hoped it had evaporated. “What… what did you mean before when you said that I know too much?”
“You do.” Roane tucked his hand that had rested on the counter behind my back and pulled me close. We were now flush against each other.
Craig was the reason why I was feeling this jittery, hot flash, shivering reaction. It had nothing to do with this vampire.
Roane’s breath tickled my cheek. “There are a lot of vampires here and there is a reason. You’re right. I’d been hoping your friend was here for you. I doubt it, though. That’s why I brought you here.”
I was dumbfounded… and a little woozy.
“Do you see her?” Roane urged me forward. We were embracing now, but he tilted my head to his shoulder where I was able to prop my chin up and then my eyes went wide when I saw what he wanted.
Kates was grinding against her vampire, but I didn’t see lustful Kates. She was on the prowl and I saw a predator glint in her sapphire eyes. She didn’t move thick with desire. She was alert, primed and it didn’t sit well with me.
Roane felt my tension and he nuzzled underneath my ear. “She’s not here for you. She’s not even here for the same reason the rest of us are here. She’s here because she’s about to do something that I don’t want her to do.”
“Why?” My whole body grew numb from the shock.
“You know the decree that was approved by both boards.”
It was the one where hunters replaced slayers. Gulping, I knew where this was going.
“Her mother was ripped to shreds because she violated the decree. That power went to your friend. She was branded because of that. Every vampire will know she’s got slayer power, but if she does what I think she’s here to do—you know what will happen.”
That was the problem. “Please? Just…” ‘…don’t kill her.’
To my surprise, Roane didn’t respond right away. His hand cupped the back of my neck. “You dropped your shield.”
I had, but I hadn’t done it on purpose. ‘Please don’t hurt her. Please… she’s… she saved my life.’
His eyes bore into mine. “I’m a marked Hunter. You know I can’t.”
“What do I do?”
“You save her life. You return the favor and you make sure she doesn’t do what her carnal desires are thirsting for. Make sure she doesn’t kill any vampires or you know what’ll happen to her.” He moved back an inch and signaled for two more drinks. He replaced my empty bottle with a full one. “You’ve seen up close what Hunters will do to anyone who violates the decree.”
I closed my eyes as I saw Craig on fire, his face twisted and angry. I could still smell the charred skin and I couldn’t repress a grimace. My eyes flew open when I felt Roane tip my bottle up. My mouth opened automatically and the cool liquid helped wash some of the bad memories away. I swallowed and held my breath when Roane brushed his thumb over my lips. He held my gaze, but I knew he wasn’t doing the eye radar thing on me. I’d put my shield back in place, but he wet his lips. “I have enough on my plate. I can’t worry that a slayer is going rogue. Take care of her, take care of your friend or… you know what I’ll have to do.”
Talk about no pressure. Save your friend or she’ll die a horrible violent death. Yeah… I downed the rest of my beer. “Yeah… yeah, I can do that.” I highly doubted it.
My eyes wandered to Kates, but when I couldn’t find her, Roane supplied, “She just took a guy out the back door. If you hurry, you can get there before my guys.”
I was forced to do what he bid so I shoved away from him and swept through the crowd. My body calmed a little as I moved further away, but it also grew cold. I hadn’t realized how I’d been cocooned by Roane… . I caught sight of the red exit sign and pushed past three vampires that stalked towards it. I hardened my jaw and vowed to do what I needed to do, but when I pushed out the back door I stopped dead in my tracks.
Kates was sharing a smoke with the vampire and laughing. I’d expected—not this. Before I could react, the door slammed shut behind me.
“Davy?”
Oops. I smiled sheepishly. “Uh… hey. I didn’t know…”
Kates stared at me, long and hard, and then flicked her cigarette on the ground. “If you tell me that you didn’t know I was here, I will skin you alive.”
“I knew you were and there are three vampires on the other side of this door that know you’re here too.” I’d be awful under torture.
Kates rolled her eyes. “Honey, every vampire in that bar knows I’m here. I’m a branded slayer, remember?”
Okay. This wasn’t going how I thought it would.
“This is Cherry,” Kates introduced with a back wave. “Cherry, this is my best friend, Davy.”
“You’re the Empath.”
The way he made it sound, it was like I was the only one. There were nearly a hundred thousand of us in the world, but I was probably the only one stupid enough to meander into a vampire bar twice in one night.
Kates frowned at him. “Yeah, she’s empathic. What of it?”
