Midnight Magic, page 13
CHAPTER 15
Cassius watched as Ava, walked away. He still couldn’t’ believe she’d caught up to him. When the stalker cut her off...
He thought he’d escaped unseen. But her pulse was louder, and louder with every step until...
She touched him. The sensation left the tiniest prickle on his skin.
And she cursed at him. And pushed him.
A light smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The memory of a girl who tried with all her might to move, despite a loss of blood.
A fighter.
It wasn’t as if she knew what he was. If she had, she certainly would not have pushed him. No, if she knew what he was...
She’d run screaming.
As she should, he reminded himself.
She’d rendered him speechless, for the first time in years.
Of course, she didn’t understand what had transpired. How could she? She was just an average girl, who had no inkling about the world that lay in the shadows. Of course, to her it must have seemed like he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No sane human bit another human.
Cassius didn’t know what to say, but he knew if he said nothing...she’d leave.
I need to know her name, the pressing thought assaulted him.
“I am Cassius.” The words came out differently than he’d meant them.
Ava. Her name was Ava.
Simple, beautiful.
Cassius shook his head as he hid in the rafters, trying to ward off his burgeoning curiosity.
When the sound of the doors opening broke the silence, Cassius leaned over the rafters, peering down below.
“I’m thirsty, damn it. How much longer do you expect me to wait?” Cassius didn’t recognize the voice.
“We’ve got to wait, a few more days at most.” A familiar head of hair came into his vision, and Cassius recognized its owner immediately.
Liam.
“It’s been two weeks.” A third voice chimed in. Cassius stayed as still as a statue.
“Yeah, and you can thank Brody for that. I told you to dispose of the bodies. You got sloppy, and now we have to fucking starve,” Liam snarled at the one wearing a backward hat.
“I think I saw a hunter today. Red Chevelle. Guy didn’t look like one of the locals,” the man wearing a green golf shirt and khakis growled back at Brody.
“So now you’re going to blame me for the hunters too, is that it, Logan?” Brody cornered the other vamp, his chest puffing out like a peacock puffs its feathers.
Liam snarled, challenging the other vampires. “Silence! You fools.” Cassius watched as Liam entered their space, the other two vampires taking a step back.
Brody snapped his fangs at Liam. “I’m not the only one with loose ends.” Brody glared at Liam.
“Liam managed to let one get away...” Brody hissed.
“The girl from Alpha Pi?” Logan asked.
“Yes. Someone marked her. I could smell his scent, mixed with her blood.” Brody crossed his arms.
“She’s nothing to worry about.” Liam shrugged.
Cassius gripped the beam next to him tightly.
“What if she remembers... She saw our faces. We were with her and the guy half the night.” Logan sounded panicked.
“I don’t think she remembers.” Liam walked away from them.
“But you’re not certain,” Brody sneered.
“Are you going to do something about it or am I going to have to clean up your mess again?” Brody stood still; his gaze directed at Liam.
“She’s marked, now. That changes things.” Liam’s voice was solid.
“Well, I’ve never been afraid of a challenge.” Brody smiled.
Liam was in front of Brody within a flash, his fingers poised around Brody’s thick neck. Liam bared his fangs. “She’s mine to savor, and you best remember your rank.” The authority in Liam’s voice was direct.
Brody’s body shook, his gaze never leaving Liam.
When Liam let him go, Cassius couldn’t stand to stay. He crawled through the rooftop latch, and jumped into the shadows of abandoned construction, with one sole purpose.
CHAPTER 16
Ava sat cross-legged on the bench, peering down at her textbook, a steaming cup of hot chocolate held close to her chest. The sweet wisps of steam filled her senses with warmth and comfort.
When black boots came into her vision, Ava looked up.
The man who stood before her wore dark wash jeans, his black leather belt boasting a rather ostentatious buckle that looked like a pentagram. Ava let her gaze travel up from his waist to see he was wearing a black muscle tank, his black tribal tattoos standing out against his defined muscles.
She’d know those tattoos anywhere.
“You look good in my shirt there, kitten.” His voice was deep with bravado, tinged with sarcasm.
Ava’s eyes lit up as she stared back into his pale blue eyes. Bright like the crest of a tsunami.
His dark hair was cut short; shorter than the last time she’d seen him, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. When her brother tried to pull off the grungy look, he failed miserably, but on Jake Dallas the look added to his charm.
“I believe it’s Mal’s shirt now.” She let her eyes fall back to the book in her lap.
Dallas shifted his weight.
“Mal’s running a bit late. So, it looks like I’m your ride.” Dallas jiggled a set of keys in front of her.
Ava sat up straighter.
“Where’d you park?” She closed her book and set her hot chocolate down to pack up her tote bag.
Dallas nodded over to the library. “Over by the cafe.”
Ava all but leaped off the bench.
She had always been slightly taller than most people, but up against Dallas she felt short.
“Please. tell me you brought the bike.” She could feel a smile forming on her lips.
Dallas smiled, the motion reaching his eyes. “Just for you, kitten.” He winked at her.
Ava smiled. “Sweet,” she said excitedly as she followed him to the library.
Despite the thirteen-year age gap between them, Ava had to admit Dallas looked like he fit in perfectly with the rest of the young students at Chester U, despite being in his thirties.
Probably could wipe out half the football team too.
She noticed quite a few of the students gawking at him as they strode over to his motorcycle.
When Ava climbed on the back of his motorcycle and wrapped her arms around his tree trunk of a waist, she couldn’t help but smile.
Ava released her hands from Dallas’s waist, and took off her helmet, tousling her long, dark hair free. The wind blew long strands in her face, and Dallas let out a small laugh.
“What?” Ava said as she pulled the strands from her face.
“You look like a damn shampoo commercial.” Dallas hung his helmet on the handlebar.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said as she walked past him to the front door. She didn’t wait for him to come inside.
“Hello, Ava.” Becky sat on the couch with a glass of wine, and the sound made Ava jump only slightly.
“And...Jake? How lovely to see you again.” She smiled at him and took a sip of her wine.
Ava felt uncomfortable at the gaze she shot in Dallas’s direction.
Dallas nodded to her. “Evening, Miss Michaels,” he said politely.
Ava brushed past the kitchen counter, where Connie milled about. It looked as if she was baking something. Ava peered over her shoulder. Cookies. Ava reached her hand around Connie, only to be met with Chinese curses and a smack on the hand.
“Don’t even think about it,” Connie said nonchalantly.
“But I’m hungry,” Ava whined.
“You’re always hungry, child. It's a wonder you’re as skinny as a rail.” Connie smiled as she finished icing a cookie. She turned to Ava and held it out to her, her eyebrow raised.
Ava took it gingerly from her hands. “Thank you, Connie.” She smiled and graciously took a bite of the cookie.
It tasted like almonds and sweet vanilla. Ava opened the door and walked out on to the patio.
Dallas wasn’t far behind her.
“Don’t tell me I have to help you with your homework too,” he said as he plopped down in one of the Adirondack chairs, letting his legs sprawl out. Leaning up against the chair back, the motion made him look rather enticing.
Ava shot him a glance.
“You wouldn’t be much help anyway. I doubt you know anything about the Middle Ages,” she said as she took another bite of her cookie and sat down in one of the rockers.
“I know they were big into the occult. Lots of interesting lore and myths.”
“Fascinating. Jake Dallas knows something,” she teased.
“I know a lot of things, Ava.” He raised his eyebrow at her.
“I bet you do.” She finished her cookie.
“Ava don’t take this the wrong way...” Dallas leaned forward.
“What's up?” She noted the change in his demeanor.
“Mal told me about what happened to your friend. Up on campus—the one from the news.” Dallas looked slightly uncomfortable.
“You’re not going to lecture me about staying in and being a good girl too, are you?” Ava raised her eyebrow, her frustration evident.
“No. I’m not.” He paused, brushing his hands together.
Ava sighed, crossing her arms. “Then, what is it?”
“Have you ever taken...like...a self-defense class?” The way Dallas phrased the question felt odd.
“You mean like, how to fend off a rapist?” Ava shot him a pointed look.
“Umm...yeah,.” Dallas looked a bit nervous.
“Not really, but...” she started to speak, and Dallas rose from his seat.
“Get up.” He motioned for her to get up.
“Wha...” she said as she pushed herself up out of the chair.
Dallas walked over to the grassy expanse of the backyard.
“Come at me.” He motioned for her, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
“Dallas, no. Seriously...” She crossed her arms.
“Come on.” His eyes challenged her.
“This is stupid,” she bit out.
“Humor me, kitten.” The look in his eyes was dark, and challenging.
“Fine,” she said as she approached him, and without warning, threw the hardest punch she’d ever thrown, directly into his jaw.
Dallas looked slightly shocked, but retaliated, nonetheless.
“Is that all you’ve got?” He said as he withdrew his fingers from his bloodied lip, a smile forming on his face.
She was sweating, and so was he, and it felt good. Even though there were no stakes, and she knew Dallas would not harm her, he didn’t hold back. Ava had to admit it felt good to spar. She’d never considered herself an athlete by any means, not like Dallas was. She’d stuck out cheerleading until she graduated, not because she loved the hustle and bustle of high school football, but because there was something about being thrown into the air, about the training that she really liked. She’d also really enjoyed her kickboxing class over the summer.
Dallas wrapped his arms around her, his hold tight, fingers tightening around her wrist. She backed herself into his hold, angling her elbow, but the touch of his fingers on her wrist stung as they grazed her bite. He stilled, and Ava could hear his sharp intake of breath. The fun, laughing tone he’d had disappeared as he pulled her wrist to him.
“How the hell did you get this?” His voice darkened, his thumb brushing the cool mark on her skin.
Ava breathed deep, caught between answering him, and taking advantage of his distraction. She settled on the latter because she wasn’t sure what to say.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Becky’s voice was alarmed and Mal’s curses accentuated the air.
Dallas held Ava’s arms tightly in front of her, and his body pressed against hers like a brick wall.
Ava wriggled once more, positioning her elbow directly into his groin.
Dallas, distracted once more by the presence of Mal and Becky, was at her mercy. He breathed in a huff of air as she applied the force and stepped on his foot with her free hand, breaking free. He looked at her curiously, but only for a moment, as his natural demeanor returned, leaving that unanswered question in the air.
“Just an old-fashioned sparring session.” Dallas chuckled.
“Dallas thought he’d show me some self-defense moves.” Ava brushed her hair behind her.
“What a nice idea. Perhaps you could share some of that knowledge with me, Jake?” Becky said.
Ava felt her stomach twitch, and a strange prickling sensation arose on her skin. Her wrist flared beneath Dallas’s flannel, the heat trapped with nowhere to go as she pulled it tight against her wrist. The faint sting from where he’d touched her still present.
The feeling washed over her, and the memories pushed forth to the surface.
Ross carried her, rather unsteadily. She wrapped her legs around his waist, uncontrollable giggles eliciting from her throat.
When Ross fell, she collapsed on top of him, the laughter a full on roar.
“Shh... Ava...” Ross’s whisper was less of a whisper and more of a loud beacon.
She rolled off him, trying to catch her breath.
“You are shit faced.” She turned her head, her eyes fixated on his bleary, heavy-lidded eyes.
“Oh, like you’re not...” He shoved at her, the smile on his face genuine.
Ava leaned up her elbows, the bottom of her dress riding up her thighs. The floor was cold and wet.
A figure emerged from the darkness behind Ross, but she couldn't make out the face.
He seemed to be wearing a blue checkered shirt.
Ava shook the memory off and noticed Mal was staring at her.
“What’s your deal?” she said as she brushed past him toward the living room.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mal looked at her with question.
Ava watched as Connie made arrangements to the last of the dinner plates on the island in the kitchen.
“You’ve been weird ever since yesterday.” She crossed her arms.
“Maybe I think you’re the one being weird.” Mal twisted his lips.
“Whatever. You want to be all shadows and secrets, be my guest.” She walked into the kitchen and took sight of Connie’s dinner. Her heart lifted a fraction at the realization Connie made her favorite cheesy potatoes.
The sound of the door opening broke her concentration.
“Leaving so soon, Jake?” Becky called
“I’m afraid so. I uh...promised to meet up with some friends while I was in town.” He smiled lightly.
Mal turned in his direction. “Thanks, Dallas.” His voice was serious.
Dallas smirked, and saluted Mal. “Don’t mention it.”
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Becky sat in her usual spot at the dining table, Connie pulling up next to her. Mal stocked his plate full of cheesy potatoes and chicken, leaving out all the other sides, before sitting down.
Ava reluctantly filled her plate and sat next to her brother.
“Isn’t this nice, the four of us together again.” Becky smiled.
Ava focused on her chicken.
“How long are you in town, Malcolm?” Connie asked.
Ava looked at her brother, waiting for his answer.
“A few weeks.” He took a bit of cheesy potatoes.
A few weeks?
Ava couldn’t remember the last time Mal had stayed longer than a week.
“I’m so glad you decided to come home for a bit as well, Ava. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must be, what with a serial killer preying on the campus grounds.”
Ava focused on her food.
“I tell you, I feel so much better knowing you are safe under my roof. And how nice of Dallas to help you feel confident about defending yourself.” She took a sip of her wine.
“I don’t need Dallas to tell me how to take care of myself.” Ava chewed her chicken furiously.
“Of course, you don’t. But you can always learn new tricks.” Mal spoke seriously.
“I’m the one who gave him a bloody lip.” Ava cast a glare at Mal.
She could still feel the flush of heat at her wrist, and a wave of nausea overcame her.
Ava was so tired, and the room was spinning.
Ross was in the corner with one of the fraternity brothers. The one who’d been making eyes at him all evening. Ava was only slightly surprised Ross wasn’t offended.
The man had his mouth on Ross’s neck.
Ava could feel cold, clammy hands at her shoulder, pulling her away.
“Don’t touch me...” She tried to twist out of their grasp, but her legs wouldn’t move.
Ross moaned in pleasure, and Ava’s eyes felt heavy.
She could feel slick hands sliding up her legs. She tried to shift away, but...
Why couldn’t’ she move?
“Ross....” She tried to form words, but...
Ross moaned in pleasure, and Ava felt a sharp pain from inside her thigh...
She let out a whimper as she tore her head from Ross’s gaze.
She was bleeding...
Another prickle of pain sent a shockwave through her body, and she could see one of the brothers, the one with the backward hat...
Between her legs.
She forced the numb, deadweight legs with all her might, into his head. The motion knocked him over, and Ava felt exhausted, as her thigh wounds throbbed.
The man pulled his fingers away from his lips, and she noted the blood on his lip. It looked...black.
“Bitch. Just for that I ought to give you another one.” He snarled, and Ava could see his teeth looked...odd.
Sharp.
The feel of the knife cutting into her skin was quick, but not without pain.
She attempted to move her leg, but it was like it didn’t belong to her. It was heavy, and it hurt.
Ava’s stomach felt queasy, and the scent of blood and mildew filled her senses.
