by Andrea Wölk
»No unauthorized access.«
»He’s with me! Esposito, allow me to introduce Shia Keane, he’s a colleague of mine from L.A. We worked together on the same unsolved cases.«
When she mentioned Shia’s name, Cruz Esposito looked up interested.
»Shia, this is my partner Esposito.«
While they were shaking hands, Shia flashed the golden badge and the weapon under his jacket for a second, so that Esposito registered them, but couldn’t see them in detail.
»We have two men who worked at the club, employed as bouncers. Like before, bodies beyond recognition, covered in bites and blood drained. We are waiting for the evidence team to finish up, but I’m not gonna get my hopes up that they’ll find anything.«
Eva walked up closer to the dumpster and looked in at the two bodies which had been thrown into it like trash. The arms and legs grotesquely twisted, the eyes frozen in terror and the skin pale and gray. She looked over at Shia who was subtly shaking his head.
»The cleaning crew from the club found then around eight o’clock this morning.«
Shia looked at his watch. It was already 8 p.m. »Hey, you’re wearing a Breitling Bentley,« shouted Eva’s partner in surprise.
Eva frowned. »What’s so interesting about that?«
Esposito scratched his chin. »They cost about eight thousand dollars.«
»Fourteen thousand, nine hundred, to be exact. It’s a steel Flying B Chronograph,« explained Shia. Esposito whistled through his teeth and Eva threw the both of them a dirty look. »What do you guys earn in L.A.?«
»Esposito, I think you can handle this alone. I’ll take Shia home before you two exchange underwear brands. See you tomorrow!« Then she turned to Shia and said, »Go ahead to the car. I’ll be right there.«
When he was out of earshot, Eva took Esposito to the side.
»Why were we just informed if the bodies were found this morning?«
Esposito shrugged his shoulders.
»We’ll have to check that out. I don’t think the evidence team is going to find anything either. We should take a closer look at the owner of the club. Ok, I’m outta here before the boss gets here and sees me.«
Esposito grabbed hold of Eva’s arm. »Hey, isn’t that the guy you wanted me to check out for you? ... Is there something going on between you?«
»That’s none of your business, Cruz. That was private and I’d appreciate it if you kept that to yourself, okay?«
Esposito smiled.
»Okay, Butler, we are partners!«
As Eva climbed over the tape, he came up behind her shouting.
»Hey, is that guy driving an Audi R8 GT? Only three hundred and thirty three of them exist! Butler, do you have any idea how much those things cost?«
Expectations
Chapter 11
Maroush was sitting in the meeting room with his feet resting comfortably on the table, rocking his chair back and forth when Sara walked excitedly through the door.
»Where is he?«
Surprised, he drew his eyebrows together and looked her up and down without answering.
»Have you seen him?«
She put her hands on her hips angrily and looked around the room. Maroush, who was still wearing his dark blue towel as a headband, knew that when Sara was in such a mood, it was just better to take cover, otherwise she’d take her wrath out on you. He straightened his chair, stood up and walked slowly up to her.
»What’s wrong? Who should I have seen?« He took her calmly into his arms.
»Channing, that, that...«
»Calm down. Don’t say anything you’ll regret later.«
»Why can’t you be the one, Roush?«
He shook his head.
»That question isn’t even up for debate. Don’t even think about it. Channing is a good man who just has to find his place. Why don’t you tell me what made you so angry instead?«
Muted shots could be heard from the shooting range on the other side of the hall.
»I’ve already found him.«
»Oh no you haven’t.« Maroush held on to Sara’s arm tightly.
»It’s not a good idea to confront him when he’s got a weapon in his hand.«
»What do you think’s gonna happen? You think he’ll shoot me?«
»No, more like you’ll shoot him!«
Sara had to smile when he said that and looking deeply into his dark eyes, kissed Maroush on the cheek.
»Well, okay. This time I’ll let him live. Do you know if the boys are back?«
He nodded. »Yes, they got back this morning around eight o’clock. They brought the women home and corrected their memory. I’m sure they’ll be down soon. Have you seen Shia?«
Sara shook her head. »No, not since this morning. I’m sure he’ll turn up. I’m going to go and get changed.«
»Good, but please avoid the shooting range,« were Maroush’s last words.
Sara ran down the dark hallway towards the steps arguing with herself. She really wanted to go to the shooting range and tell Channing that he’d never ever see her tattoo, but she listened to Maroush’s advice and turned towards the stairs.
Philippe wandered aimlessly through the streets of Seattle. What had he really expected? That a woman like Sara would really be single? She had seemed so lonely and lost in Paris, but here in Seattle she gave him a totally different impression. She’d only lied to him and made him think that she didn’t even know this McArthur guy. As if they’d swapped apartments and the whole time they were actually a couple. And who knows how long already. Nothing but a bunch of excuses!
Furious he kicked a trashcan on the edge of the street sending it banging onto the ground. Now he had to see how he was going to get the money for his trip back. That could take awhile.
Why had he let himself follow Sara? He wandered down Westlake Avenue towards downtown and stopped in front of a snack stand.
His stomach was growling but in light of his tight budget, it seemed better to skip dinner tonight. It was much more important to find a place to stay for the night.
When he turned to go he almost ran into a young woman. He apologized with a quiet ›Sorry‹ and continued on.
»Hey, watch where you’re going,« the young woman called after him.
Philippe didn’t even turn around.
»Excusez-moi!« he called out over his shoulder and walked on with his head down.
The young woman stood there starring at him.
»Hey, wait a minute. You’re not from here, are you?«
Philippe stopped and shook his head without turning around. He didn’t feel like talking to anyone at the moment. He was disappointed and tired and wished that through some sort of magic he would just wake up back in Paris.
»What’s up with you?« The young woman touched his shoulder. »Nothing,« he said grumpily back, »except that I’m broke, hungry and have no place to stay.«
»Let’s get something to eat and you can tell me where you’re from. I’m sure we can find a place for you to stay tonight. I’m meeting some friends in a club tonight. Why don’t you come along? The Empire is the coolest place in town right now. I’m sure you’d love it.« She came very close to his neck taking in the scent of him.
»It wasn’t so easy finding something to drink. The whole city was swarming with cops after the shooting at the club.« Jôrek sunk into one of the chairs and ran his fingers through his blond hair. Aragón nodded in agreement. Both of the warriors dressed in battle gear, sat down with Maroush at the table in the meeting room and looked curiously at the map spread out in front of them.
A little later Channing came in and joined them. Then Sara, who didn’t even glance at Channing, sat down at the table next to Maroush letting her hand stroke his neck. He squeezed her hand and didn’t say anything to her, only looked over at Channing who had registered the tenderness between them but acted as if it didn’t matter.
»Hello, Sara,« said Aragón in greeting, looking at her. »You look pale. When w
as the last time you ate?« She shrugged her shoulders.
»I don’t know. On the plane, I think. You don’t have anything in the house. I’ll go shopping tomorrow.«
»And when was the last time you had something to drink?« Jôrek looked at her conspicuously, »and I don’t mean water,« he added.
Sara jumped out of her chair. »I don’t know exactly. Why the interrogation? You guys are worse than Shia,« she said angrily leaving the room again.
All eyes turned to Channing.
»Hey, why are you looking at me? She won’t listen to me anyway.«
Maroush smiled at him. »You are responsible for her now. «
»Me!« Channing shook his head.
»She doesn’t even like me. No way. Forget about it.«
Maroush stood up and walked over to him while the other warriors continued looking at him grinning.
He spoke quietly: »Sara has to drink something before we go out today. She’s extremely pale and needs blood. The fight last night has taken its toll on her. You have to provide for her.«
»I don’t even know how to do that. Can’t you do it? You get along with her so much better.«
He slapped Channing on the back laughing and pushed him gently towards the door.
»That, my friend, is your job now. It’s time that you both exchanged blood. «
Seconds later Channing was standing alone on the hallway. Great, just what he needed, another argument with Sara. On his way up to the first floor, a sweet smell drifted into his nose, the same one he had smelled when that Philippe Orlandie was in the house. He was appalled by the fact that within such a short time he saw human beings as different creatures and that he could recognize them by their smell. Inside he still felt like one of them, but it seemed like not only his body had involuntarily changed, but his attitude as well. This whole uncontrollable process was beginning to scare him.
Up on the first floor he ran into Shia with a good-looking blond woman in tow.
»Channing, let me introduce you to Eva Butler.« He looked at Shia confused because instead of battle gear, Shia looked like he’d just stepped off the runway during the New York Fashion Week. Annoyed, Channing shook Eva’s hand and recognized immediately that she was human.
»It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eva.« Shia cleared his throat loudly and took Eva’s hand.
»Don’t let Sara hear that,« he said quietly.
Hearing Sara’s name caught Channing’s attention.
»Right, Sara! Have you seen her anywhere? I have to find her.«
Shia shook his head. »No, but she’s in the house. I can feel her.«
Channing nodded and lost in thought walked up the stairs to the second floor.
He stopped in front of Sara’s door and knocked. When nothing happened, he opened the door and walked into the room.
»Go away.«
She was sitting on the sofa starring out the window. Channing shut the door and entered the room. The room was bigger than his, basically twice as big. In the center was a white canopy bed with aubergine colored sheets and matching curtains. The small sofa was under the window and next to it, a desk and laptop. On the wall to the left was a door, which led to a walk in closet and the other door was open offering a view of the adjoining bathroom.
»I like your room,« and when Sara said nothing in return, »the guys sent me up here. You have to drink something.«
»I don’t want your blood.«
»I didn’t want yours either, but I needed it.«
When he sat down next to Sara on the little couch, she looked over at him scowling, but her heart began to beat faster. She noticed his heavenly scent, which was an alarming signal that she really had to drink something fast.
»I asked Maroush to do it, but he said I was responsible now.« Channing was watching her face and not a muscle moved. She just continued looking out the window past him.
»You said yourself that it doesn’t mean anything. So why are you acting like this? Just show me how to do it.«
Sara shrugged her shoulders indifferently and said »Give me your arm.«
Channing put his right arm down on the armrest and stretched out the other one towards her.
She slid a bit closer to him and pushed his sleeve up a little higher.
»I’ll take it from your wrist.« She turned his arm towards her and bit her teeth into his flesh.
Channing expected it to hurt, but instead, another feeling rose up slowly through his body; a need that he could hardly suppress. He wasn’t prepared for the feeling. Everything in his body screamed for Sara. He felt her deep, steady swallows and felt the blood leaving his body. His fangs emerged and he felt the desire to drink from Sara at the same time.
Channing watched her face as she drank. He saw how her long black lashes were throwing a shadow on her cheek and he couldn’t resist the urge to touch her. He ran his free hand over her head and began to play with a strand of her hair. Sara opened her silvery dark green eyes and gazed at him. After a few minutes, she let go of his arm still starring up at him.
»Did you have enough?«
She nodded not being in the position to speak. A small drop of his blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth and Channing wiped it away with his thumb. He let out a heavy sigh.
»That was amazing ... Is it always like that?«
Sara nodded looking up at him.
»It will probably get more intense.« Channing couldn’t imagine a more intensive feeling than that.
»Now that I’ve fed from you, we’ve made the commitment. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, Channing.«
He looked her in the eyes and nodded. »I had no choice. It’s my destiny.«
She looked at him surprised. »But you don’t believe in destiny.
A faint rumble began somewhere inside of him.
»My destiny doesn’t really seem to be impressed by that.«
He pushed himself slightly away from Sara.
»We should go to the others. I saw Shia in the hall earlier and he had a woman with him.«
»A woman?«
»Yes, she’s a mortal.«
Channing had to laugh when he said this. »Well, come on you vampire, let’s take a look at this mortal.«
Eva looked around Shia’s room. It was decorated in a much more masculine way. There were several valuable swords and daggers on the wall. On the bed was a Samurai sword with a blue blade, which she picked up to take a closer look at.
»It’s a Blue Murasame with an ultra-thin edge. It was folded over eight thousand times hence the grain and the blue color of the steel, explained Shia.
She ran her fingertip along the cold metal and nodded. »It’s really beautiful.«
Eva looked around Shia’s room while Shia changed his clothes. She picked a delicate little bottle up off the desk. The glass had a beautiful pattern covered in several small flowers. She sniffed expecting perfume, but the scent that emerged was totally different.
»Cloves?« She looked over at Shia inquisitively.
He laughed softly. »Yes, clove oil. The swords are treated with it so that they don’t rust. What did you expect?«
»Well, maybe a little Shia?«
He took the sword out of Eva’s hand and slid it into the black carbon sheath on his back and then brushed his thumb over her lips.
»You still don’t have enough of me?«
Without waiting for an answer, he kissed her on the mouth.
»Come on, I want to introduce you to my brothers.«
Channing walked into the meeting room with Sara where all the other warriors were waiting. They looked up curiously to see if Sara was better. When Maroush saw the healthy color of Sara’s skin, he smiled, but said nothing. He would leave that to Jôrek. »Well, did you have a nice meal?« he asked Sara with his slight Finnish accent, who in response slapped him on the back of his head.
Maroush had hung the map showing the basic layout of Seattle up on the wall and was standing in front of it with Aragón and R
uben getting a closer look at the location of the club.
»Geographically, the location of the Empire is excellent. The main entrance is on the main street, but all emergency exits are in the back,« reported Aragón.
»It’s no coincidence that there were so many creatures in that area the night we got those three,« added Ruben,
»Just as strange is the fact that the club has no bouncers.«
»They had security!«
Shia’s deep voice interrupted the group as he walked into the room with Eva. Everyone turned towards them and took in Eva’s scent.
»I’d like to introduce you all to Eva Butler. She works for the S.P.D as a profiler and is working on the same case we are. I think she can give us some useful information and as you all can surely smell, she’s a human so I hope you’ve all eaten.«
Ruben laughed out loud as Eva reached for her Glock. The others also began to chuckle as Shia took Eva into his arms.
»Don’t worry, my love. I can speak for everyone in this room. My brothers would never touch you. I admit, it was a bad joke.«
He leaned down and kissed her lips. »I’m sorry,« he whispered quietly.
»And your sister?«
Sara stepped up to Eva smiling and held out her hand.
»Hi Eva, I’m Sara, Shia’s sister. His jokes aren’t funny, and unfortunately he never notices. Nice to meet you.«
Eva held out her hand and smiled shyly, pushing out her chin to show that she wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t exactly in a relaxed mood in the presence of six large vampires, as if this were some sort of cake walk or something, but one by one, they all extended their hands to welcome her.
»What did you mean, they had security?« Aragón’s thick Spanish accent broke the silence.
Eva broke loose from Shia’s arms and walked over to the map on the wall.
»We found their bodies this morning. They were in a dumpster behind the club. Like all the others, their bodies were drained of blood and covered in bites. I assume that none of you are responsible for this, so there must be someone out there systematically hunting humans.« She put her hands on her hips, revealing the police badge on her belt.
