Midnight Magic, page 20
She couldn’t stop looking at her reflection in the shop windows she passed, getting used to the new person she looked like. Which was why she was taken by surprise when she ran into a short, familiar red-headed individual.
“I’m so sorry... Ava?” Ember spoke in surprise.
“I uh...didn’t see you there, Em, sorry.” Ava chuckled.
“You...cut your hair?” Ember raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, it was getting to be a pain in the ass, so...”
Ember smiled.
“Do you like it?” Ava asked, running her fingers through the shorter locks. It still felt odd, the quick feeling, because of where it stopped, just brushing her shoulder with its edges.
“I do.” Ember smiled.
“Where you headed at this hour?” she asked Ava.
“Nowhere, really, I was just...walking. Getting fresh air,”
Getting my mind off the inevitable.
The party was in two days. She was nervous.
She longed to use her stake, to be able to bring justice to Ross, herself, and the victims of the vampires, but...
What if I choke?
What if all this training, all of this...what if I can’t do it?
Ava pushed the thoughts from her mind. She couldn’t think that way. If she did, she’d be dead. But she was still nervous. She supposed nerves would not relent until she’d followed through.
Until she’d put the monsters six feet under.
Or more accurately, burned them to ash.
You won’t be alone, you will have back up.
While Dallas had said he’d back her up, Mal would not hear the word no on the matter either.
With the two of them in the same vicinity, she felt better, but she also felt as if it was more important than ever to show them, she was capable of this on her own.
“Are you going to the party up at the old stone church on sixty?” Ember asked.
“Yeah, why?” Her shoulders tensed. “You’re not considering going, are you?” Her blood chilled. Ember was not the type to attend parties of any kind, but Ava had suggested on more than one occasion that Ember needed to socialize more. Although, she hoped her friend hadn’t taken up on her suggestion so soon.
“Ava, you know you can talk to me, right?” Ember reached out and ran her hand on Ava’s arm. “You don’t have to throw yourself into partying, or drinking or...”
Ava could feel the smile forming on her lips. “I know, Em. But I’m not the kind of person who’s going to sit around and mope. You know me. I need to move. I need to be where the action is,” she said.
I need to drive a stake through the vampire that killed my boyfriend, and the one who almost killed me.
The two of them walked down the street together, past The Third Eye, the metaphysical shop in which Ava worked and Ember frequented. It was how they met. It had been mere coincidence that Ember and Ava had ended up in the same medieval history class together.
“I know I just...”
“I know. And I appreciate it.” Ava nudged her shoulder as they stopped in front of one of the town’s most popular clothing boutiques, which was all done up and decorated with Halloween costumes and merchandise for the impending holiday. Tiny red and orange leaves bristled about Ava’s ankles, and a shiver ran down her spine. The temperature was starting to drop, and the sun was starting to disappear into the clouds. It would soon be night.
“Are you going to dress up?” Ember twisted her lips as she looked at the display case full of short costumes.
“I haven't given it much thought, actually.”
“You could always go as a college kid,” Ember said, deadpan. “Wouldn’t have to buy a costume.” She laughed awkwardly.
Ava rolled her eyes. “What’s the point of dressing up on Halloween if you’re just going to go as something you can go as every day of the year?” She looked in the display case of the boutique, which still showcased some regular clothes amidst the pleated skirts and cleavage bearing costumes. Her eyes settled on a thick, black leather jacket with studs on the collar.
Looking at it gave her an instant smile.
I bet that would look badass with all my band tees.
But it was another thought that sparked her interest more.
I bet I could hide a stake in there.
CHAPTER 33
The church on route sixty had been abandoned for nearly fifty years. The only life it saw was a few drifters, perhaps some thrill-seeking teenagers. It certainly hadn’t housed more than a small handful of individuals at once, let alone a smattering of college students all looking to lose themselves in liquor and sex.
Cassius and Tajiri stood on the edge of the rock terrain, the sound of music loud amidst the chatter. Even outside, Cassius could smell the scents of alcohol, sweat, and mildew.
Liam and his cohorts were inside, he knew that.
But so was Ava.
He could feel her pulse beating steadily, and he knew she was near, and that made him feel quite the mixture of emotion.
Taj smiled as he headed toward the main doors, past the scantily dressed angels and demons loitering about the entrance.
How fitting.
Upon opening the door, he was assaulted with a hundred scents: from the crowd of bodies dancing, drinking.
Candles were lit all about; on the dusty altar, in the entryway on cobwebbed tables, in the crevices of windowsills lighting up the expanse of stained-glass windows.
Taj moved quickly, in search of his target, and Cassius tried to keep up, but he couldn’t deny that the sight brought back memories he hadn’t expected.
Memories of another life.
Eden ran her fingernails down his face, over the throbbing vein in his neck.
Her teeth nipped at his lower lip, and he could still taste blood on the edge of her fangs as his own tongue stroked hers in response.
The candles flickered against the stained-glass windows, all shades of orange against the red painted glass.
The Boracelli’s always did have quite the flair for drama.
His tongue licked at her fangs, the taste of blood making him long for more.
Eden giggled, and the sound was both haunting and melodic.
Cassius shook the memories from his mind, as he pushed his way through the crowd, the pulse in his veins getting stronger with each stride.
He watched the crowd, and noted Tajiri was moving faster. He could smell the overbearing musk of Liam, and knew he was close as well.
Then his gaze settled on her.
She stood in the center of the room, her arms around Liam’s neck. She looked...different.
Clad in a leather jacket, and a black corseted costume dress, pale legs standing out against the darkness. He could see her black boots came up to her mid-thigh, elongating the slender shape of her legs. Her hair was shorter, angled close to her shoulders, and the ruby red stain on her lips flared his thirst.
It was just makeup, he knew that.
But it drove thoughts of blood and lust through his brain in a way he hadn’t felt since he’d fully transitioned.
Liam smiled, the motion showcasing his fangs, and Ava let her head roll back.
Liam leaned his lips against her collarbone, and Cassius moved with heightened purpose. Thunder roared above the music and chatter, shaking the unsteady ground.
Ava ran her hands down Liam’s arms, her fingers intertwining with his.
She glanced up in that moment, and their eyes met as the rain fell hard against the roof.
CHAPTER 34
It was much easier than she had anticipated, finding Liam. Now that she knew what he was, she trusted her newly found vampiric radar would steer her in the right direction. When she’d told Mal about her suspicions, he’d confirmed the truth. According to lore, and several firsthand accounts of victims, some survivors as well, the marked could sense not only their vampire’s presence, but that it was nearly impossible to distinguish the vampire who marked them, from any other vampire.
“It could be useful for us,” Dallas had suggested.
Mal did not want to agree, but Ava felt the same way. While Dallas and Mal, and likely the other hunters as well had trained, and were probably so good at tracking a vamp they could do it their sleep, Ava had to admit it would be rather helpful, and time saving if she could just...follow her vampire radar right into the hands of the monster.
And that is exactly what she did. She hadn’t told Mal or Dallas her plan, knowing that both of them would likely try to talk her out of such things, but she knew they were close. If they were concerned something would go south, they’d come to her rescue.
But things would not go that way. She would not let them. She’d remain in control. She’d focus her mind. She’d find a way. Failure was just not an option.
And it seemed her plan was working. Liam took her bait like a moth to a flame. His thrall reached out around her, and she could feel the faint cloudiness in her brain, but it wasn’t as mind numbing as she’d been told. Either that, or Liam was not running at full power, which she did not intend to push.
She felt him, before she saw him.
Not only did her skin prickle with goosebumps, her wrist flare with heat, but her blood heated in a way it hadn’t when she approached Liam.
Like it knew somehow, someway...it was his.
She pushed the thought down vehemently. No one owned her body, her blood. Or any part of her, truly.
She could feel his gaze on her, and the memory of the night he bit her once again forged through the walls of her mind. She closed her eyes for a moment, rolling her head back, and Liam’s lips brushed her collarbone. His thrall dissipated, and she knew he thought he had her.
That she was just a victim like the others, so he pulled back.
That will be your first mistake, fucking leech.
When she opened her eyes, she caught Cassius’s gaze. He stood only mere feet away, but it might as well have been a vast canyon. His golden blonde hair rustled slightly from the motion of young collegiate drunkenly bumping into him, and he was wearing a simple heathered grey shirt, and those same black leather pants he’d had on the other day.
What, do they assign you a fucking uniform or something when you graduate vampire academy or some shit?
Though she couldn’t deny the look wasn’t a bad one for him.
He moved closer, and she knew he intended to sweep in and disrupt her plan. Which she could not let him do. Not if she wanted to stake Liam, and the one who’d slit her thighs, leaving a nasty scar.
She pulled Liam, breaking Cassius’s gaze as she found her way through the crowd of people, moving quickly so as to lose Cassius in the sea of costumed students.
Liam stopped in his tracks, his eyes alert and she stopped too, looking around to see if perhaps there was something she’d missed. Or someone.
“Logan...” Liam’s voice carried the hint of concern.
“There’s been a...complication...” This Logan looked at Ava quickly, before continuing.
“It’s hunters,” she heard him whisper.
Fuck.
A hand touched the small of her back, sliding around her hip, pulling her away from Liam
No...
She turned slightly, to see pale blue eyes staring down at her.
“Hey, baby, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” His voice was solid, and she knew it was just an act, but she couldn’t help the flutter in her heart at his words.
Not now, Ava. Now is not the time...
She scanned the crowd once more, but Cassius was gone.
“Liam...” Logan’s eyes cast a glare at Dallas, whose hand had made its way into his back pocket.
Ava leaned lightly, glancing at his ass. He held against himself something with the slightest silver sheen—a knife.
“Care to introduce me to your friend, Ava?” Liam spoke, and she could feel the beginnings of thrall seeping out, much more powerful now.
Her head started to feel...foggy.
Dallas tightened his grip on her.
“I think we’re well past introductions,” he answered
Liam glanced at Logan, and back at Ava.
“I will have to catch up with you later, Ava.” Liam licked his lips.
When he left, Ava felt as if the world was spinning. Her legs felt slightly like Jell-O.
Dallas braced her against his arm, and for the moment she was glad for the support, but once the fog settled the anger pushed forth.
“What the fuck, Dallas!” She moved out of his touch and shoved him.
“I had him!” she spat.
“Bullshit, Ava, he had you.” Dallas slid his knife back into his pocket.
“I was this fucking close to staking him!” She glared at him. “And you let him fucking go!”
“Look around, Ava. We’re in a crowded room. Full of witnesses. If you want to fucking end this sucker you need to get him alone where no one can see.” He pursed his lips.
“That’s what I was doing before you so rudely interrupted me.” She crossed her arms.
“You cut your hair...” Dallas reached out, running his fingers through the edges and she brushed him off.
“Don’t, Dallas,” she growled as she shoved past him with fury.
“Where the fuck you think you’re going?” he bit back.
“To kill a fucking vampire. On my own!”
Dallas was at her back, pulling on her wrist. She yanked her arm out of his grip.
“Ava...”
Thunder boomed in the distance, rattling the windows.
She could hear the sound of a struggle beyond the doors of the crowd.
The sound of glass shattering, of a pained scream.
And upon hearing that scream, it all came back.
Ross’s moan of pleasure, the scream of pain.
The knife cutting through her flesh.
Cassius’s fangs in her skin.
All of it.
Ava didn’t think twice about running into the shadows, leaving Dallas behind.
CHAPTER 35
Taj and Liam struggled in what Cassius assumed must have once been the office of the church. The two vampires knocked into everything, fangs snapping, fingers grasping at throats. Old, worn and musty smelling papers flew about like confetti in the dank room.
Cassius knew better than to try and break up the fight, knowing Taj finally had his target. Before he’d followed Taj into the office, there was a man who showed up, who broke the thrall of Liam, who pulled Ava’s attention from him.
But he hadn’t intended on having to put up a fight of his own against Logan, the man who’d pulled Liam’s attention from Ava.
And by the looks of it, he was a hunter too.
The way in which the tall, muscular man touched Ava ignited a spark of jealousy in Cassius. Which was an odd feeling altogether.
He barely knew Ava, but the sight of this man with his hands on her...
He’d known she had a boyfriend. For God’s sakes, the night he saved her...
She’d asked him to save her boyfriend.
He’d just attended the funeral for the man, after all.
Cassius was no stranger to loss, and understood everyone processed their grief differently, but he couldn’t help but feel that perhaps this man, this hunter with Ava... Perhaps he was taking advantage of said grief, and that angered Cassius.
But he had no time to play hero, as Jasmine would say. Not when the scent of Liam hit his nose, and Tajiri went running after it. Not when Logan swung at him, his fist connecting with Cassius’s jaw, fangs bared in a lethal hiss.
That was the second time in a week Cassius had been punched. He hoped this would not become a habit, or a side effect of around Ava. Though, even if it was, he would endure it. It wasn’t just the mark on her, though. That was a large part of things, but—
She intrigued him in a way most people didn’t.
Just as Cassius bared his fangs against Logan, scrappling against the man’s hard chest, the sound of the door crashing open pulled all of their attention.
Mal stood in the doorway, purple and blue lights from the church’s main worshipping room lighting him up, his cursed knife glinting off the neon light behind him, and the dark look in his chocolate eyes was a familiar one Cassius had only just discovered in recent days.
The man who’d been behind Ava before was behind Mal now.
Which meant Ava was alone, and Brody was still out there.
Cassius pushed against Logan, delivering a swift punch to his jaw, the sound of cracking prevalent in the air as he channeled his strength and forced Logan up and backward into the wall.
The perks of being a vampire if there were any, included the reserves of strength he hadn’t possessed as seeming mortal.
Though a born vampire such as Cassius tended to have more abilities than that of sired vampires, in this moment he was particularly glad for it.
His eyes locked with Mal, who grinned sadistically.
“Well, well, look what we have here, Dallas,”
The man behind Mal had a name.
Dallas.
Tajiri bared his fangs at the hunters, and despite the fact they were fighting their own enemies, suddenly it was as if the lines were crystal clear. Vampires united against the humans that threatened to kill them.
But Cassius did not want to kill anyone.
He felt on the precipice of something greater.
He’d had quite the history of caring for mortals, that was his immortal curse. There had been plenty of mortals he’d called friends; those who he’d defended.
Protected.
So, he recognized the look in Mal’s face.
Undying loyalty, sworn to protect those close to them.
But he would not let anything, or anyone come between him and the woman who bore his claim on her blood. It went against his vampiric instincts, but furthermore, he knew he would not let anyone come between him and the woman he swore to protect, the first person in over a century who’d made him feel something.
