Taunt

by Claire Farrell

  I shrugged, thinking it still wasn’t likely.

  “If it was true, would it be considered a good or bad thing?” Carl asked.

  Eddie smiled wryly. “Depends on who you asked,” he said, enigmatic as usual.

  He hung around for a while and insisted on teaching me how to use the till. I got the feeling he didn’t want me to have time to think too much. Still, everything he had said about emotions rumbled around in my head for a while. It made me look at everything differently. How could I ever trust my emotions if I was feeling everyone else’s?

  The biggest question was why I could sense other people’s emotions.

  ***

  The next few days passed slowly. Sometimes Peter or Esther dropped in, but never with an offer to take me anywhere. I felt like I was going stir crazy. Carl tried his best to cheer me up, but being around Eddie drained me emotionally. I constantly wondered if I could trust him, and where his power really stemmed from. It was wearisome.

  Esther brought little news. She was doing her best to keep an eye on Gideon’s coven and Becca. She was still trying to persuade her fellow Guardian, Illeana the siren, to find out about Gideon’s bank dealings. Carl and Becca had both made her determined to put an end to Gideon’s plans.

  Being stuck inside while everyone else worked on my behalf depressed me; I began moping around Eddie’s premises like a gloomy ghoul. My time was running out, and I was the only one sitting around waiting for things to happen.

  The cold presence kept trying to make itself known. At first, its cooling breezes were soothing, soft touches on my skin that could only be called pleasant. But as the days went on, it became apparent that the presence, whatever it was, was becoming annoyed by my moping. Eventually, I received one final icy blast in the face that woke me up big time.

  “Alright, already,” I muttered, rubbing warmth back into my cheeks. “I’ll cop on, jeez.”

  “Who are you talking to?”

  I whirled and frowned when I saw Gabe. Alone in the shop during Carl’s lunch break, I hadn’t even heard the door open.

  My mouth gaped open in shock. Anger was the only thing to cover my nervousness. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that,” I snapped.

  “Still a virtue of kindness, I see,” he said.

  “Don’t even speak to me,” I responded haughtily.

  “I need Eddie anyway, not you.” He stepped away, and I watched his form with interest, remembering he was supposed to be an angel. He glanced behind him and caught me staring. A smile curved his lips. Quick as a flash, he was before me, leaning over the counter. I stared up into his eyes, seductive and yet calculating.

  “Eddie’s upstairs,” I said, hoping he would either go up there or go away.

  “And you’re all alone then,” he said in a smarmy sort of way, his fingers dancing across the counter to mine. I pulled my hand away and hid it behind my back.

  “Not for long,” I hissed. “Why don’t you go away?”

  “I’m happy here. I find you extremely entertaining.”

  “Well, I find you extremely annoying, so back off. What kind of angel are you, anyway?”

  He flinched, but covered it well. “You speak of angels today. So I’m upgraded from ‘some guy’ then? Lucky me.”

  He leaned further over the counter and lifted my chin, too rough, to search my eyes with his. His scent made my mouth water. Desire stirred in the pit of my stomach. Such a beautiful creature, but the more I looked, the less of a human I saw behind his irises. His true form tried to shine through, and I smiled.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “That your human form is beautiful. Pity it isn’t real.” My smile turned triumphant as I watched the charm fall from his face. He backed up and glared at me.

  “Maybe I will go find Eddie after all,” he said. He walked off, leaving me feeling chilled. I wrapped my arms around myself, completely thrown by the encounter.

  “That was stupid, Ava,” Peter said. I jumped about a foot in the air.

  “Christ, will everyone stop sneaking up on me?”

  “Sorry, where’s Carl?”

  “Gone to lunch. Wait, what was stupid?” I asked, frowning.

  “Antagonising someone on the Council. Don’t forget he’s going to be voting on whether you live or die. Charm him; don’t piss him off.”

  I made a scornful sound. “Charm him? You sound like Eddie. I can’t fool people into liking me, Peter. I wouldn’t know where to start. This is me, like it or not.”

  He shook his head in apparent disappointment. “Sometimes you have to play the game, Ava.”

  “Oh, well, now we have that out of the way, I might as well go to bed. Day is done.”

  “No need to be snarky. I came over to tell you that Esther managed to get the siren to help her out. She found out there are huge, and I mean huge, like millions, in transactions being sent to Spain by Gideon.”

  “Millions? Where the hell did he get millions of euro?” I couldn’t understand it.

  “Their businesses are fluid; they learned to keep it that way so a recession or market crash wouldn’t screw them right over. Plus, they’re all connected to vampires in other countries. Money has a way of making money, you know?”

  I wished it was that easy. Even having my laptop at Eddie’s place wasn’t saving my business. I had no idea how I was going to pay my rent. Not that it would matter if the trial didn’t go my way. Biting down on the panic, I tried to concentrate on the business at hand.

  “How do you know so much about these things?” I was frustrated at my own lack of knowledge.

  “I’ve been at this a while. Besides, people talk to me.” I realised he was really enjoying himself and wondered if that’s why he helped me, because it was his idea of fun.

  “What next?” I asked, ignoring how disappointed that thought made me feel.

  “We have proof he’s paying them, but we haven’t proved what he’s receiving in return. The Council already watches any official shipments from other countries, so they have to be getting the formula another way. Constant deliveries would be suspicious, and vampires don’t risk regular travel, so it has to be something unorthodox. Also, frequent vampire travel is something that catches the Council’s eye. I think we need to watch Becca very carefully. We can’t afford to miss out on the next shipment,” he said, his eyebrows creasing into a deep frown. “It’s going to be tiring, I know, but the trial is tomorrow night. Can you stay awake until then? To help follow Becca?”

  “Me?” My face brightened.

  “Of course you, who else? Esther is following her now, but I’m going to take over soon. I really think this is our last chance. I’ve been asking around everywhere, and nobody knows a thing. That kind of hush-hush is near impossible, and we already know Becca’s deeply involved, so I’m banking on her coming through for us. You up for a stakeout?”

  “Hell to the yeah,” I said, getting my coat on. We left before Gabe finished with Eddie. It seemed like the best time to escape.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A thrill of excitement ran through me as we walked to the car. I glanced at Peter and saw he was the same, hyped up by something actually happening. We drove to Becca’s place, nodded to Esther as she drove away, and settled down for a long wait.

  “There are some drinks and snacks in the back and an all-night cafe down the street for coffee or the bathroom. If you need to sleep, let me know.”

  I raised my eyebrows. As if I could sleep. “Yeah, you too.”

  “I’m just saying, Ava. Esther told me earlier that Becca hasn’t been leaving the house in daylight.”

  “That makes it easier. Think the sun is affecting her?”

  “Maybe, makes sense, right? She might go off for a ramble in the middle of the night, so we have to make sure we pay attention.”

  “No worries.” I relaxed in my seat, keeping my eyes on Becca’s building up the road. “Hope she doesn’t recognise your car.”

  “Even i
f she does, she badly wants that formula. I don’t think anyone would stop her.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel with the rhythm of the song playing on the radio.

  I tried to stay calm, but millions of random thoughts whirled around in my brain. I was losing control of my life, felt everything I knew slipping out of my fingers. I was floating in the ether and depending on Becca to pull me back in. Depending on other people never worked out in my experience.

  “What if nothing happens tonight?” I bit my lip to stop it from trembling.

  “It has to.” Peter’s voice stayed strong. Good thing, too; any hint he didn’t believe it, and I would have lost the weak hold I had on my panic. “She needs that injection. Soon. I reckon Gideon’s been holding out until the last minute, just in case. He probably thinks Eddie wouldn’t let you out of his sight the night before the trial.”

  I tried not to, but I found myself thinking about the trial. I couldn’t see a resolution. We all knew we were grasping at possibilities. Even if the Council went after Gideon, they still had to pass judgement on me. At least one member hated me; at least one hated the man who spoke for me.

  I remembered the man in the cells, the one who had taken his own life rather than face the Council. Out of everything, that image was stamped on my mind. An unpleasant death by his own hand had been preferable to the Council’s judgement. Fear slithered around my heart, leaving me hiccupping with cold dread.

  “This could be the last thing we ever do together,” I blurted.

  He raised his eyebrows in question.

  “If the trial goes… badly, this could be the last time we actually spend time together.”

  He opened his mouth then closed it again and nodded. “Maybe so.”

  “I want you to know I’m grateful. For your help. With everything.” I watched his jaw twitch. I needed to lighten the tone. “And that I forgive you for hitting me when we first met.” He turned to face me, ready to protest, but he saw my amusement and stopped.

  “You’re getting way too cheeky for your own good,” he said, but the tension had broken. “It’s weird how things happen,” he said after a while.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, if you had told me a month ago I’d be here with a part-vampire chick staking out a human who is pretty much a part-vampire chick, too, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second.”

  I nodded. “I wouldn’t have believed there would be so many humans in my life, or that I’d end up in court because of a vampire.”

  “Nancy keeps calling me about you.”

  The swift change in subject made me roll my eyes. “She must not think I’m going to die then, or else she would be ringing me.”

  He smiled. “She’s trying.”

  “Let’s not talk about her,” I said, feeling my good mood slip away.

  “What do you want to talk about?” He shifted closer to me. I ignored him and kept looking at Becca’s place. “I have a good feeling,” he said. “I think things will work out.”

  I felt his eyes on me, like he wanted me to look at him, but I couldn’t. I physically couldn’t make myself look at him because I was afraid of what I would see in his eyes. How it would make me feel, what it would make me do. I didn’t want pity affection, not from him.

  I gulped as the tension sizzled in the air, possibly a figment of my imagination, but that didn’t make the sensations any less real to my body. I caught my breath and decided we needed a little space. I definitely needed some air.

  “I need a coffee,” I announced, and got out of the car before he could respond. Exhaling loudly, I jogged down to the cafe. I pushed open the door, but out of the corner of my eye I spotted Becca running out of her building and off down the road. I sped after her on foot. Hearing Peter start the engine, I pulled my mobile out of my pocket and rang him. Panting into the phone, I let him know I would follow her on foot in case he lost her.

  She cut through a park as soon as she could. I kept my distance, scenting her in the air; I was in no hurry to make my presence known. I followed her for at least half an hour, surprised by her stamina and speed. The formula must have been doing something crazy to her system. I had to ring Peter to make sure he was following us because Becca kept running through places a car couldn’t follow.

  Eventually, she slowed near the beach. She walked along the retreating tide line. I followed her over hilly mounds of sand mixed with grass. There were many people around, couples in cars mostly.

  Becca found a deserted spot, sank down on the sand, and just waited. Every now and then, she inched her way along the sand, away from the tide and people. She moved to a barrier that blocked cars from going further along the beach and rested her head against it as if she had dozed off.

  I called Peter and told him to pull into the old car park that overlooked the sea. I kicked sand from my feet before I pulled them into the car.

  “She won’t see us here,” I said.

  “I can barely see her,” he complained.

  “I can. It’s pretty cold out there; I don’t think sitting on the sand is going to do you any favours. She’ll probably leave soon, right?”

  “Not unless this is the delivery point,” he pointed out.

  “Only one way to find out,” I said.

  We sat together in apprehensive silence as we waited for something to happen. Becca just sat there on the sand. It was kind of creepy. The place was notorious for drinking teens, learner drivers, and amorous couples, so there were enough cars to keep us from appearing too conspicuous. Not that Becca even bothered looking around her, she just stared at the sea. Nobody bothered her, but I had a feeling she could handle herself even if someone had tried.

  “This is weird,” I said, realising that nothing was going to happen any time soon.

  Peter shrugged and changed the radio station, flexing his arms as he did so. “Maybe we should walk around a bit,” he said. “Just in case we have to chase her.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “You mean in case I have to chase her.”

  He smiled lazily. “I’m not that slow.”

  “Sure you’re not, old man,” I teased.

  A rare, bright smile flashed across his face, and he stepped out of the car to stretch his arms and legs. I did the same, sick of his car. Becca was far enough away that she couldn’t hear us, but not so far that she could disappear on us.

  I sat on the bonnet of the car and let the cool sea breeze whip my hair around my face. I could already taste the salty tang on my lips. The scent in the air was beautiful; for a few minutes, I felt content.

  “Not a bad way to spend your last night of freedom,” Peter said, sitting next to me.

  I relished being free. I recognised the feeling and bottled it in my mind to save for later. I would probably need to remember this. I let myself lean against him, enjoying the way his sturdiness held me.

  “She looks like she’s turned to stone down there,” I said in exasperation. “Do you think she’s waiting for the delivery here?”

  He shook his head. “Not a clue. You cold?” he asked when I shivered.

  “No,” I replied. I wasn’t cold, not really. Something about the night felt different to me, maybe because it could be my last one. My pent up anxiety coloured the world, but even counting wouldn’t fix things.

  Becca stood and moved closer to the water, as if she had seen something. “Do you think we should get closer? Make our way down there, maybe?”

  “If you like. At least we’ll be moving.”

  We ended up crawling in the sand until we had a better, yet still discreet, view. I was close to hysterical and had to bite down on my sleeve to stop myself from laughing. Peter pushed me gently.

  “I’m never bringing you on a stakeout again,” he said under his breath.

  I hiccupped. I might never do anything again. As if he had the same thought, he looked at me with dismay. My fingers sank into the sand, and I straightened my back, gasping for air, trying to push my emotions back down. Peter r
ubbed my back, and I shook my head, pulling away.

  “I’m not… I can’t,” I spluttered, trying to say goodbye without saying goodbye.

  He hesitated, his hand frozen against me. I turned and pulled him into a hug. He embraced me for a few seconds before pushing me back and making me look at him. I shook under his fierce gaze.

  “I told you, Ava. Everything is going to be okay. You will be okay. It’s not over, and you’re not allowed fall apart. Not now, not tomorrow. You won’t let them see this, because this isn’t you. There’s a reason the vampires have it in for you. They’re afraid. They should be. You’ll never stand in line. Remember that. Own it. They can’t break you. Not the vampires. Not the Council. This isn’t over.”

  The fire in his eyes lit something inside me. I grinned back at him, feeling all of those confused pieces click into place. I was scared most of the time. I never showed it. I always pushed back. It wasn’t over. Not yet.

  “Too right it’s not.”

  I glanced over at Becca. Pulling back, I put my finger on Peter’s lips in warning. We both watched her. She waved out at the sea. Peter and I looked at each other, baffled, but then I saw it.

  I spun my body away from Peter to get a better look. A figure was in the water, slowly rising up as he walked toward the shore. Vampire. On his back was a bag, presumably containing a waterproof package.

  “What the hell?” Peter whispered. “Did he walk under the water? Swim? All this way?”

  I shuddered at the idea of all those tons of water bearing down on him. Vampires didn’t breathe, but it had to be confining. I wondered if he really could have come from Spain.

  “This is how they’re getting past the Council,” Peter whispered. “Who knows how long this has been going on? Random spot, hand over to a human. Nobody knows a thing.”

  The vampire approached Becca. I held my breath, taut with anticipation. The vampire seemed to be spitting out water as he walked, and he stretched out his arms like they were sore. I wasn’t surprised.