21 Shades of Night, page 173
“You know I don’t like people snooping around our house.”
“They aren’t snooping. And you’ve never had a problem with visitors.”
Nancy whirled on me, her eyes wide and red rimmed. “What are you here for? Why are you causing our town so much hell?”
“That’s enough.” Charlotte stood up and walked to her. “They haven’t done anything.”
“You’re going to take their side over mine?”
“You’re acting irrational.”
“I think I’ll take my irrational self on.” She turned on her heel and slammed the door on her way out.
Charlotte sat down and punched the pillow, muttering to herself. She blinked, looking up at us, and sat back. Her forehead rested on the tips of her fingers, and she just shook her head.
“I’m really sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into her.”
“How long?” Esais asked.
“Ever since the carnival. She’s been driving me crazy, claiming there is a conspiracy going on and hell has come to visit.”
Charlotte looked at him, biting her lip. She struggled with something more she wanted to say. Now might be the only time I had to snoop around.
“Where’s your restroom?” I asked, trying to look a little desperate.
“Oh,” she said, pointing behind me. “Down the hall on the left.”
I paused at the first door I came to. The room was neat and clean, like the living room. A lingering scent of cinnamon drifted in the air. The walls held pictures of family. A picture of Charlotte laughing with a small child stood on the nightstand.
I passed the first door on the left, the bathroom, and stopped at the last door on the right. The room was in shambles. Clothes were pitched around the floor and piled on the bed. I wrinkled my nose at the stench of perfume and old food.
I glanced at the shattered bottles on the floor, then to the stain on the wall. Had she thrown the perfume? Posters had been ripped from their places so only ragged corners remained. This had to be Nancy’s room, and it looked as though she’d had a fit of rage.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them again. I scanned the room, trying to find any demonic energy. Yellow light flickered in and out of my vision. The afterimage flashed in my mind of a horned devil tarot card. A hard knot formed in my stomach. Damn Malantha.
The front door opened again with its slam against the wall echoing down the hall. I hopped out of Nancy’s room and met her coming down the hall. She froze, her eyes narrowing as she saw where I had come from. Her aura was almost subsumed by the yellow sickness. It undulated and fed into the anger and suspicion that had already been there. She had reached a state of full paranoia.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I pointed behind me. “Bathroom.”
“No.” Nancy waved her hand to the side. “You were in there. That’s my room. Find anything interesting?”
I straightened. “I thought it was a little odd, since the rest of the house is so neat. Did you get into a fight?”
“And that gives you the right to snoop?” She glared at me. “I should take you in on trespassing.”
I took a deep breath and calmed my voice. “Nancy, have you been experiencing strange sights, or moments of violence?”
“That’s none of your business.” Her scream echoed down the hall.
She came at me, her arms wide in an attempt the shove me against the wall. I stepped back to avoid her grip. She gave a frustrated growl and took a step toward me. I raised my hands to indicate I didn’t mean to fight. The bathroom was only a few feet behind me. I didn’t have much more room to move. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and my heart fluttered in my chest. The light from the other end of the hall disappeared as Charlotte, Esais, and Tres crowded the entrance.
“Nancy, stop,” Charlotte yelled.
Nancy snarled. “She’s spying on me.”
“Please think about this. Who would I be a spy for, and why you?”
“Them.”
“That’s not going to work. She’ll just rationalize it.” Esais turned and spoke aloud in a soothing manner. “Nancy, listen to the sound of my voice.”
She turned his direction, her body shaking so hard I could see it in the gloom.
“It’s been a rough day, and I apologize for invading your privacy,” Esais said.
“We will leave, and maybe you should lie down and get some rest.”
She nodded almost placidly, and her body relaxed. “Right. A nap will probably help.”
She shuffled into her room with her head down and shut the door behind her with a soft click. I let out a deep breath and tried to calm my pounding heart. That was too close by half. She almost had me trapped. I hurried down the hall to the others as they stepped out into the foyer.
“I think we should take our leave,” Tres said to Charlotte in an apologetic voice. “I think we’ve done enough here.”
She nodded in almost a daze and looked to Esais. “How…did you calm her down like that?”
Esais gave her a kind smile. “I have a way with words.”
“Please don’t say anything to anyone. She could lose her job.” Charlotte held the front door open for us. “I can handle whatever she is going through.”
Tres moved closer and patted her on the arm. “We’re here to help, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on.”
“That’s right,” I said. “So, is there anything else you can tell us that will help?”
She looked at all of us again and shook her head. “Please, just go.”
Esais stepped outside. “Let’s go.”
“But,” Tres said.
“Charlotte needs some time to think.” Esais nodded to her. “Thank you for seeing us. Please let us know if you need our help.”
“What did you find?” Tres asked as we walked home.
“Nothing we didn’t already know,” I said. “Malantha.”
“I could feel it in her mind.” Esais shuddered. ”All slithering and slippery. It tried to invade me.”
“Nancy’s going mad, and Charlotte’s too afraid of her job to talk.” I sighed. “That’s not going to end well.”
“And it doesn’t get us closer to Ose,” Tres said. “So, what now?”
“I’ll call John,” I said. “He still needs to bring my supplies. Maybe he can get some information on this drug.”
Chapter 16
I SHIFTED FROM one heel to another as I peered down the street, waiting for John to pick me up. The streetlights glowed in the encroaching darkness. I straightened the straps of the black lace dress and rubbed my arms. This was a business meeting, but I took every opportunity to dress up when I could. When you lived a life of blood and death, looking pretty was a rare treat.
John pulled his silver car up at the curb and stepped out. He held the door open and let his gaze travel down my body as I approached him.
“Nice dress,” he said.
Warmth rushed through me and up to my face. “Thanks.”
“I was thinking about this Italian restaurant.” He grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes. He knew how I felt about Italian food in this country. We played this game often. “This town wouldn’t know real Italian if Giada De Laurentiis came and slapped them in the face with fettuccini.”
He laughed. “What would you like, then?”
“Somewhere that matches the dress.”
“A steakhouse.”
He drove fast, taking the curves and turns with practiced ease. The scent of leather surrounded me as I leaned back against the seat, letting the city pass by me through the window with its streetlights blurring into bright lines. The town yawned and blinked its heavy-lidded eyes, still railing against laying its head on the pillow to sleep.
There were several cars in the parking lot for a weeknight. The steakhouse sat near a small pond, and music drifted on the air from the back patio that sounded like a live band instead of recorded songs. I walked in step with John over the loose gravel to the double doors of the entrance. The hostess led us to a small table for two, lit by a small candle.
“I don’t have your stuff yet,” he said.
I met his gaze over the edge of the menu and then turned my attention back to the list. I blew a tuft of my hair from my eyes and slumped my shoulders.
“You used to be so efficient,” I said.
His eyebrows lifted, and he flashed his white teeth at me. “Hey, some of what you wanted is hard to get.”
“That’s not why I asked to meet you.”
He put a hand over his heart. “You couldn’t live me without me. I know, I’m pretty irresistible.”
I tapped my chin trying to hold back my smile. “You are tempting, but I think I’ve done a good job so far.”
“There you go breaking my heart again.” He gave a loud sigh, but his smile remained, letting me know he was jesting. “I guess I’ll just have to wait patiently for the day you do come around.”
“That may be forever.”
He chuckled. “Then I’ll have to learn how to be immortal.”
“You don’t want that,” I said softly.
He coughed, and his smile vanished. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
I dropped the menu on the table and leaned back, crossing my arms. My throat had tightened; I couldn’t speak if I wanted to. John, like so many others, didn’t see that immortality wasn’t a gift. Not only had I outlived my loved ones, but any new bonds I made would be dust before I knew it. Perhaps others who only had room in their hearts for themselves and sought only power would enjoy it, but I would never be one of them. That felt too close to a demon to me.
My fingers tapped against my upper arm as I studied him for several moments while the waiter brought our drinks and took our orders. I lifted my glass to my lips and swallowed several gulps of water. I smoothed the napkin on my lap as John placed his order. I watched the waiter leave and took a deep breath.
I pulled out the bottle of pills and slid it across the table. “I need to find out about this drug and the doctor prescribing it.”
He examined the label. “You think it might be Ose?”
“You missed the action the other night.” I smiled. “That bottle came from the asylum.”
“Sounds adventurous. How are the Van Helsing boys working out? Are they everything you expected?”
I shrugged.
“Not Dimitri?”
“They have their family issues.”
“And you need to remember that.”
“What?”
“It’s their family.”
I gritted my teeth. “What are you implying?”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Our food arrived. I picked at my potato. Was it so odd to have concern for Dimitri’s bloodline? The man had shown me love and life at the point when I had just been existing. The least I could do was help avenge his grandson and look after his progeny, especially since Ose was unfinished business for me. I didn’t expect to be a part of their lives after this. I couldn’t be a part of anyone’s life.
“I know that look.” John reached over and squeezed my hand. “Stop thinking that. I’ve told you before.”
“John, I…”
“I know, but it’s still the truth. After Maureen, there’s no one else but you.”
I stared at my plate and bit my lip. John and Maureen had been happily married for years until a demon had possessed her. I’d come across them on a beach in Florida one day. It’d been one of those private places with palm trees surrounding it. I’d thought I’d been tracking Allegra. Instead, I found a demon using Maureen to drown her husband. I saved him, but she hadn’t been so lucky.
“It’s just hero worship,” I said.
He shook his head. “I’m not sure what I can do to prove it’s not.”
“Find someone else.”
He sighed. “We’re going in circles. How about we forget this and dance?”
He pulled me to the dance floor and wrapped an arm around my waist. The band played Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” He swayed with the music, pulling me with him. I chuckled and let the stiffness in my back fade away. Soon my rhythm matched his.
He grinned. ”That’s better.”
He pulled me closer, and I let my head rest on his shoulder. The scent of his aftershave, so much like the sea, filled my head, making my heart beat faster and my cheeks flame. I tried to pull away, but he shook his head and swung me into a dip. My head swam and laughter escaped my lips.
“I think I’ve been privileged to witness something no one has seen in years,” he said.
“Hmm, you seem smug.”
“Maybe I am. Your laugh is truly beautiful.”
He drew me closer, our gazes locked together. Our breaths mingled as our lips brushed. A shiver ran through me, except instead of being cold, my whole body was on fire. As my eyes closed, I saw Dimitri’s face. His dark eyes pierced my heart, and I pulled away. My feet wanted to stay while my mind said go. I stumbled back to my seat. John followed.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I can’t,” I said. ”Too much of the past—”
He held a finger to my lips. ”Just think of now.”
“But this can't go anywhere. You know about my curse.”
“Now has nothing to do with that.”
“You’re talking about a one night stand?”
“Maybe more than one, but we can keep it casual.” He winked again.
I bit my lip and looked to the ground.
“Let me guess, you don’t do casual. Have you had anyone since that Van Helsing boy all those years ago?”
I crossed my arms and avoided his gaze. “Of course there have been others.”
Few others, to be honest. After Dimitri, I concentrated on hunting. Funnily enough, violence is a great relief for sexual tension. However, it is only temporary, so there had been a few men, but none who had ever truly known me. That was too dangerous. John was too dangerous.
I shook my head and grabbed my purse. “I think it’s time I headed back.”
I stared out the window of the car on the way back. He didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he switched on the radio and let the blaring rock music fill the silence. I marveled at how much had changed over the years. Cacophony of sound replaced the harmony of horns, strings, and wind instruments. Electricity had replaced fire, such as the street-lights. The world had grown smaller thanks to technology. Yet, here I remained the same.
“Drop me off here,” I said as we passed a familiar figure with reddish brown hair.
He pulled the car over and waited for me to get out, with his shoulders stiff and his jaw set. He kept his eyes averted, and his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
“Call me when you get the supplies,” I said.
He nodded.
I sighed and stepped out of the car. Relief came with a soft breeze that ruffled my hair.
Chapter 17
“SHOULD YOU REALLY be patrolling in your condition?” I asked Esais as he caught up to me.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date?”
“I call it more of a business dinner.”
He raised an eyebrow. “In that dress?”
“What, I can’t look pretty?” I chuckled. “Nothing happened.”
“Not for lack of trying on his part?”
I fell into step beside him. The stiffness between my shoulder blades eased, and I found myself smiling. Esais was easy to talk to, like John, just without all the sexual tension.
“You noticed? It’s not that I don’t find him attractive, just…”
“Then perhaps he’s not right for you.”
“I sense you don’t like him.”
“Something’s not right. I’m not sure what.”
“He’s been through a lot. He had to deal with his wife’s demonic possession.” I paused. “Have you?” I tapped my finger to my head.
“No, not really. It’s just a feeling I have.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Define not really.”
Esais shook his head and kept walking with his shoulders stiff. The bushes along the side of a nearby house shook and the shadows moved, casting a doglike image along the side of a house. I stiffened and unlatched my purse. Esais nodded to me, slowing his pace.
“It’s been following me for the past ten minutes. I can’t get a grip on its mind, but it feels like the one in the bar.” The choir from his contact was an undercurrent to his words.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It faded back when you arrived. It keeps slipping.”
The hellhound was stalking us. It was probably waiting for us to lead it to the others. I didn’t want to play into its paws, but I’d left my sundang at the house again. I longed for the days when swords were common-place.
“How is your head?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.
“Better,” he said. “Less cluttered.”
Sweat beaded down his forehead, and his eyes glassed over. How much of that statement was true and how much bravado? Judging by the small lump under his shirt, he still wore the amulet, for all the protection it was providing him. I was starting the think it wasn’t enough.
“Do you think you can attack its mind?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I can try to play distraction until you can. Try for a kill. If you can, knock it unconscious, and we run.”
“We really need to take care of this thing.”
“I will when John comes through for me.”
“We need to find another way in case he doesn’t.”
I stiffened. ”He hasn’t let me down yet.”
My steps quickened, and Esais matched my pace. I reached in my purse and grabbed the handle of the knife I’d put in there. I tried to keep few items inside so I didn’t have to dig around for anything. You know, everything a woman needed: knives, pills, lipstick. Too much would make it take forever to find my knife, and in this situation, that could get someone killed, possibly me.
The street was empty. Parents had called their children in from the growing darkness hours ago. Street-lamps stood sentinel through the night while a few lights dotted windows through the neighborhood.
“They aren’t snooping. And you’ve never had a problem with visitors.”
Nancy whirled on me, her eyes wide and red rimmed. “What are you here for? Why are you causing our town so much hell?”
“That’s enough.” Charlotte stood up and walked to her. “They haven’t done anything.”
“You’re going to take their side over mine?”
“You’re acting irrational.”
“I think I’ll take my irrational self on.” She turned on her heel and slammed the door on her way out.
Charlotte sat down and punched the pillow, muttering to herself. She blinked, looking up at us, and sat back. Her forehead rested on the tips of her fingers, and she just shook her head.
“I’m really sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into her.”
“How long?” Esais asked.
“Ever since the carnival. She’s been driving me crazy, claiming there is a conspiracy going on and hell has come to visit.”
Charlotte looked at him, biting her lip. She struggled with something more she wanted to say. Now might be the only time I had to snoop around.
“Where’s your restroom?” I asked, trying to look a little desperate.
“Oh,” she said, pointing behind me. “Down the hall on the left.”
I paused at the first door I came to. The room was neat and clean, like the living room. A lingering scent of cinnamon drifted in the air. The walls held pictures of family. A picture of Charlotte laughing with a small child stood on the nightstand.
I passed the first door on the left, the bathroom, and stopped at the last door on the right. The room was in shambles. Clothes were pitched around the floor and piled on the bed. I wrinkled my nose at the stench of perfume and old food.
I glanced at the shattered bottles on the floor, then to the stain on the wall. Had she thrown the perfume? Posters had been ripped from their places so only ragged corners remained. This had to be Nancy’s room, and it looked as though she’d had a fit of rage.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them again. I scanned the room, trying to find any demonic energy. Yellow light flickered in and out of my vision. The afterimage flashed in my mind of a horned devil tarot card. A hard knot formed in my stomach. Damn Malantha.
The front door opened again with its slam against the wall echoing down the hall. I hopped out of Nancy’s room and met her coming down the hall. She froze, her eyes narrowing as she saw where I had come from. Her aura was almost subsumed by the yellow sickness. It undulated and fed into the anger and suspicion that had already been there. She had reached a state of full paranoia.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I pointed behind me. “Bathroom.”
“No.” Nancy waved her hand to the side. “You were in there. That’s my room. Find anything interesting?”
I straightened. “I thought it was a little odd, since the rest of the house is so neat. Did you get into a fight?”
“And that gives you the right to snoop?” She glared at me. “I should take you in on trespassing.”
I took a deep breath and calmed my voice. “Nancy, have you been experiencing strange sights, or moments of violence?”
“That’s none of your business.” Her scream echoed down the hall.
She came at me, her arms wide in an attempt the shove me against the wall. I stepped back to avoid her grip. She gave a frustrated growl and took a step toward me. I raised my hands to indicate I didn’t mean to fight. The bathroom was only a few feet behind me. I didn’t have much more room to move. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and my heart fluttered in my chest. The light from the other end of the hall disappeared as Charlotte, Esais, and Tres crowded the entrance.
“Nancy, stop,” Charlotte yelled.
Nancy snarled. “She’s spying on me.”
“Please think about this. Who would I be a spy for, and why you?”
“Them.”
“That’s not going to work. She’ll just rationalize it.” Esais turned and spoke aloud in a soothing manner. “Nancy, listen to the sound of my voice.”
She turned his direction, her body shaking so hard I could see it in the gloom.
“It’s been a rough day, and I apologize for invading your privacy,” Esais said.
“We will leave, and maybe you should lie down and get some rest.”
She nodded almost placidly, and her body relaxed. “Right. A nap will probably help.”
She shuffled into her room with her head down and shut the door behind her with a soft click. I let out a deep breath and tried to calm my pounding heart. That was too close by half. She almost had me trapped. I hurried down the hall to the others as they stepped out into the foyer.
“I think we should take our leave,” Tres said to Charlotte in an apologetic voice. “I think we’ve done enough here.”
She nodded in almost a daze and looked to Esais. “How…did you calm her down like that?”
Esais gave her a kind smile. “I have a way with words.”
“Please don’t say anything to anyone. She could lose her job.” Charlotte held the front door open for us. “I can handle whatever she is going through.”
Tres moved closer and patted her on the arm. “We’re here to help, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on.”
“That’s right,” I said. “So, is there anything else you can tell us that will help?”
She looked at all of us again and shook her head. “Please, just go.”
Esais stepped outside. “Let’s go.”
“But,” Tres said.
“Charlotte needs some time to think.” Esais nodded to her. “Thank you for seeing us. Please let us know if you need our help.”
“What did you find?” Tres asked as we walked home.
“Nothing we didn’t already know,” I said. “Malantha.”
“I could feel it in her mind.” Esais shuddered. ”All slithering and slippery. It tried to invade me.”
“Nancy’s going mad, and Charlotte’s too afraid of her job to talk.” I sighed. “That’s not going to end well.”
“And it doesn’t get us closer to Ose,” Tres said. “So, what now?”
“I’ll call John,” I said. “He still needs to bring my supplies. Maybe he can get some information on this drug.”
Chapter 16
I SHIFTED FROM one heel to another as I peered down the street, waiting for John to pick me up. The streetlights glowed in the encroaching darkness. I straightened the straps of the black lace dress and rubbed my arms. This was a business meeting, but I took every opportunity to dress up when I could. When you lived a life of blood and death, looking pretty was a rare treat.
John pulled his silver car up at the curb and stepped out. He held the door open and let his gaze travel down my body as I approached him.
“Nice dress,” he said.
Warmth rushed through me and up to my face. “Thanks.”
“I was thinking about this Italian restaurant.” He grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes. He knew how I felt about Italian food in this country. We played this game often. “This town wouldn’t know real Italian if Giada De Laurentiis came and slapped them in the face with fettuccini.”
He laughed. “What would you like, then?”
“Somewhere that matches the dress.”
“A steakhouse.”
He drove fast, taking the curves and turns with practiced ease. The scent of leather surrounded me as I leaned back against the seat, letting the city pass by me through the window with its streetlights blurring into bright lines. The town yawned and blinked its heavy-lidded eyes, still railing against laying its head on the pillow to sleep.
There were several cars in the parking lot for a weeknight. The steakhouse sat near a small pond, and music drifted on the air from the back patio that sounded like a live band instead of recorded songs. I walked in step with John over the loose gravel to the double doors of the entrance. The hostess led us to a small table for two, lit by a small candle.
“I don’t have your stuff yet,” he said.
I met his gaze over the edge of the menu and then turned my attention back to the list. I blew a tuft of my hair from my eyes and slumped my shoulders.
“You used to be so efficient,” I said.
His eyebrows lifted, and he flashed his white teeth at me. “Hey, some of what you wanted is hard to get.”
“That’s not why I asked to meet you.”
He put a hand over his heart. “You couldn’t live me without me. I know, I’m pretty irresistible.”
I tapped my chin trying to hold back my smile. “You are tempting, but I think I’ve done a good job so far.”
“There you go breaking my heart again.” He gave a loud sigh, but his smile remained, letting me know he was jesting. “I guess I’ll just have to wait patiently for the day you do come around.”
“That may be forever.”
He chuckled. “Then I’ll have to learn how to be immortal.”
“You don’t want that,” I said softly.
He coughed, and his smile vanished. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
I dropped the menu on the table and leaned back, crossing my arms. My throat had tightened; I couldn’t speak if I wanted to. John, like so many others, didn’t see that immortality wasn’t a gift. Not only had I outlived my loved ones, but any new bonds I made would be dust before I knew it. Perhaps others who only had room in their hearts for themselves and sought only power would enjoy it, but I would never be one of them. That felt too close to a demon to me.
My fingers tapped against my upper arm as I studied him for several moments while the waiter brought our drinks and took our orders. I lifted my glass to my lips and swallowed several gulps of water. I smoothed the napkin on my lap as John placed his order. I watched the waiter leave and took a deep breath.
I pulled out the bottle of pills and slid it across the table. “I need to find out about this drug and the doctor prescribing it.”
He examined the label. “You think it might be Ose?”
“You missed the action the other night.” I smiled. “That bottle came from the asylum.”
“Sounds adventurous. How are the Van Helsing boys working out? Are they everything you expected?”
I shrugged.
“Not Dimitri?”
“They have their family issues.”
“And you need to remember that.”
“What?”
“It’s their family.”
I gritted my teeth. “What are you implying?”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Our food arrived. I picked at my potato. Was it so odd to have concern for Dimitri’s bloodline? The man had shown me love and life at the point when I had just been existing. The least I could do was help avenge his grandson and look after his progeny, especially since Ose was unfinished business for me. I didn’t expect to be a part of their lives after this. I couldn’t be a part of anyone’s life.
“I know that look.” John reached over and squeezed my hand. “Stop thinking that. I’ve told you before.”
“John, I…”
“I know, but it’s still the truth. After Maureen, there’s no one else but you.”
I stared at my plate and bit my lip. John and Maureen had been happily married for years until a demon had possessed her. I’d come across them on a beach in Florida one day. It’d been one of those private places with palm trees surrounding it. I’d thought I’d been tracking Allegra. Instead, I found a demon using Maureen to drown her husband. I saved him, but she hadn’t been so lucky.
“It’s just hero worship,” I said.
He shook his head. “I’m not sure what I can do to prove it’s not.”
“Find someone else.”
He sighed. “We’re going in circles. How about we forget this and dance?”
He pulled me to the dance floor and wrapped an arm around my waist. The band played Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” He swayed with the music, pulling me with him. I chuckled and let the stiffness in my back fade away. Soon my rhythm matched his.
He grinned. ”That’s better.”
He pulled me closer, and I let my head rest on his shoulder. The scent of his aftershave, so much like the sea, filled my head, making my heart beat faster and my cheeks flame. I tried to pull away, but he shook his head and swung me into a dip. My head swam and laughter escaped my lips.
“I think I’ve been privileged to witness something no one has seen in years,” he said.
“Hmm, you seem smug.”
“Maybe I am. Your laugh is truly beautiful.”
He drew me closer, our gazes locked together. Our breaths mingled as our lips brushed. A shiver ran through me, except instead of being cold, my whole body was on fire. As my eyes closed, I saw Dimitri’s face. His dark eyes pierced my heart, and I pulled away. My feet wanted to stay while my mind said go. I stumbled back to my seat. John followed.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I can’t,” I said. ”Too much of the past—”
He held a finger to my lips. ”Just think of now.”
“But this can't go anywhere. You know about my curse.”
“Now has nothing to do with that.”
“You’re talking about a one night stand?”
“Maybe more than one, but we can keep it casual.” He winked again.
I bit my lip and looked to the ground.
“Let me guess, you don’t do casual. Have you had anyone since that Van Helsing boy all those years ago?”
I crossed my arms and avoided his gaze. “Of course there have been others.”
Few others, to be honest. After Dimitri, I concentrated on hunting. Funnily enough, violence is a great relief for sexual tension. However, it is only temporary, so there had been a few men, but none who had ever truly known me. That was too dangerous. John was too dangerous.
I shook my head and grabbed my purse. “I think it’s time I headed back.”
I stared out the window of the car on the way back. He didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he switched on the radio and let the blaring rock music fill the silence. I marveled at how much had changed over the years. Cacophony of sound replaced the harmony of horns, strings, and wind instruments. Electricity had replaced fire, such as the street-lights. The world had grown smaller thanks to technology. Yet, here I remained the same.
“Drop me off here,” I said as we passed a familiar figure with reddish brown hair.
He pulled the car over and waited for me to get out, with his shoulders stiff and his jaw set. He kept his eyes averted, and his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
“Call me when you get the supplies,” I said.
He nodded.
I sighed and stepped out of the car. Relief came with a soft breeze that ruffled my hair.
Chapter 17
“SHOULD YOU REALLY be patrolling in your condition?” I asked Esais as he caught up to me.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date?”
“I call it more of a business dinner.”
He raised an eyebrow. “In that dress?”
“What, I can’t look pretty?” I chuckled. “Nothing happened.”
“Not for lack of trying on his part?”
I fell into step beside him. The stiffness between my shoulder blades eased, and I found myself smiling. Esais was easy to talk to, like John, just without all the sexual tension.
“You noticed? It’s not that I don’t find him attractive, just…”
“Then perhaps he’s not right for you.”
“I sense you don’t like him.”
“Something’s not right. I’m not sure what.”
“He’s been through a lot. He had to deal with his wife’s demonic possession.” I paused. “Have you?” I tapped my finger to my head.
“No, not really. It’s just a feeling I have.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Define not really.”
Esais shook his head and kept walking with his shoulders stiff. The bushes along the side of a nearby house shook and the shadows moved, casting a doglike image along the side of a house. I stiffened and unlatched my purse. Esais nodded to me, slowing his pace.
“It’s been following me for the past ten minutes. I can’t get a grip on its mind, but it feels like the one in the bar.” The choir from his contact was an undercurrent to his words.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It faded back when you arrived. It keeps slipping.”
The hellhound was stalking us. It was probably waiting for us to lead it to the others. I didn’t want to play into its paws, but I’d left my sundang at the house again. I longed for the days when swords were common-place.
“How is your head?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.
“Better,” he said. “Less cluttered.”
Sweat beaded down his forehead, and his eyes glassed over. How much of that statement was true and how much bravado? Judging by the small lump under his shirt, he still wore the amulet, for all the protection it was providing him. I was starting the think it wasn’t enough.
“Do you think you can attack its mind?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I can try to play distraction until you can. Try for a kill. If you can, knock it unconscious, and we run.”
“We really need to take care of this thing.”
“I will when John comes through for me.”
“We need to find another way in case he doesn’t.”
I stiffened. ”He hasn’t let me down yet.”
My steps quickened, and Esais matched my pace. I reached in my purse and grabbed the handle of the knife I’d put in there. I tried to keep few items inside so I didn’t have to dig around for anything. You know, everything a woman needed: knives, pills, lipstick. Too much would make it take forever to find my knife, and in this situation, that could get someone killed, possibly me.
The street was empty. Parents had called their children in from the growing darkness hours ago. Street-lamps stood sentinel through the night while a few lights dotted windows through the neighborhood.
