by Char Webster
“She wouldn’t believe you.”
Damian agreed. Aria wouldn’t believe him. “Come on, we should check out who’s here anyway.”
Aria saw the guys coming toward them, and she plastered on a confident smile. Julie was busy scanning the room and hadn’t noticed. “Hey. Anything going on?”
Aedan walked up to the girls and put his arms around them. “Ladies. Your escorts are here.”
Aria shrugged off his arm and ignored his comment. “Have you seen anything yet?”
Damian shook his head. “No, but I’m expecting a couple of Enforcers. Maybe they’ve seen something.” He turned abruptly away from them, having seen the person that was meeting him there.
Aria watched a gorgeous blonde walk toward them who would make any super model envious of her perfect body, hair, and runway-style clothes. The blonde slid up to Damian and wrapped her arms around him in greeting. Damian didn’t waste a second enveloping the girl in a hug.
Damian pulled back from the blonde, smiling fondly at her and whispered something to her that made her laugh and pull him onto the dance floor.
Julie leaned in close to Aria. “Do you want to rip her hair out or should I?”
Aria tried to ignore the acid churning in her stomach. “Why would we want to do that? She can have him.”
Julie didn’t believe her. “Hmmm. Really?”
“Hello, red.”
Aria turned around quickly to see who would dare to call her red. She didn’t have red hair. It was strawberry blonde!
“Breck. It’s been a while.” She smiled at the ultra-trendy attractive guy in front of her with every strand of his black spiky hair in place.
Breck nodded to Aedan but continued to address Aria. “Red. I don’t remember you being this hot the last time I saw you.”
Aria grinned. Breck was a character. “It’s funny B; I was just thinking that I’ve seen you look so much better before.”
He smirked. “Heard you were looking for trouble. I figured I would offer my assistance.” Breck nodded to Julie. “Lookin’ good as always, Juls.
“Hi, Breck,” Julie greeted him.
Aria’s attention kept going back to the dance floor. She watched the blonde and Damian laughing again as they swayed much slower than the fast music.
“Something catch your eye there, red?”
Julie turned to Aedan who had been continuously scanning the room. “Want to do a lap and check things out?”
“Yeah.” He led her through the crowd.
Aria ignored Breck as much as possible. It was difficult pretending she didn’t see him checking her out. “We’re searching for an escaped prisoner.”
That caught his attention. “Who?”
“Some dark mystic named Pravus. He steals magic and life forces from anyone with a lot of power. You better warn your friends, especially Ethan. He has a lot of power.”
Breck turned completely serious. “I’ll tell him as soon as we’re done here.”
Damian and the blonde walked up.
“Hey, man.” Damian put out his fist for Breck to bump.
Breck knocked knuckles with him. “Damian. Heard you have action planned. Need any help?”
“I might. You want in?”
“Yeah. Let me know.”
Damian smiled at Aria. “Have you met Ella before?”
The girls exchanged hellos. Aria watched the blonde closely. She knew Ella was an Enforcer even though she looked like a model. The girl had to have serious power hidden behind super model looks. Aria also knew that Ella was somehow connected with Breck and his friends, but she hadn’t met her before. Whatever was between Ella and Damian was none of her business.
Breck was gleefully observing the interaction between Aria and Ella. “Aria just told me you’re searching for someone who drains magic. I have something you need to see.”
Damian folded his arms. “Let’s go.” He caught Aedan’s attention across the room and watched as his friend and Julie made their way back.
They all filed out into the parking lot of the club. Breck glanced around to make sure no one was around and then made a portal that led to the mansion he and his friends use as a base in Bucks County Pennsylvania.
He led them to an upstairs bedroom in the back of the house. “We found her about an hour ago, almost completely drained of her magic and her life force. We were able to do a couple of spells to sustain her, but we’re not sure if she’ll make it.”
Damian swore and ran his hand through his hair. “It seems like the guy we’re after was already here. Damn.”
Breck walked over to the dresser and picked up a sheet of paper with big black letters written in a Sharpee.
D –
You won’t be able to stop me this time. If you try, I’ll destroy you and what you hold dear.
Damian ran his hands through his hair a few more times. “It’s a message for me. He knew we’d be after him, and he’s toying with me.”
Aedan read the note. “He’s probably gone already.”
Aria glanced at the unmoving mystic girl lying in the bed. “This guy needs to be stopped.” She turned away, unable to face the girl without wanting to cry for her. “Where would he go next?”
Julie walked up next to Aria. “New Orleans. It’s got a huge concentration of magic and supernaturals.”
Damian nodded. “I agree. We need to get there quickly and find him before he ends up killing someone next time instead of just draining the person.”
Chapter Six
Aedan inhaled as soon as they stepped into New Orleans. “I love this city.”
Aria smiled. “I do too. It’s one of my favorite places.” She loved everything about it, even the sticky heat that most people complained about.
“We should probably check into a hotel for the night and set out tomorrow. He won’t drain anyone else tonight. It takes a lot out of him to do that, and he needs to recover.” Damian wanted to hunt for Pravus, but he knew the chances of finding him would not be very good.
They got two rooms across from each other at the Place d' Armes Hotel, an inn with old world charm near Jackson Square.
Aria quickly took two keys and pulled Julie into their room, locking up immediately. She didn’t need the guys following them inside. The room was bigger than she had thought it would be. She loved the exposed brick on the back wall of the room and the antique iron beds. Being in the room, she felt as if she’d gone back in time again.
Flopping down on one of the beds, Aria piled the pillows behind her head. “We need to get our stuff from my townhouse, but I don’t feel like moving. It’s been too long of a day.”
Julie pulled out her portal knife. “I’ll get our bags. Be right back.” She quickly drew on the wall and entered Aria’s bedroom. She tossed both of their backpacks through the portal and joined Aria in the hotel room.
Aria hadn’t moved, and Julie was a little concerned. “Will that girl recover?”
Aria shivered. “I hope so. This Pravus guy sounds like a lunatic.”
“What do you think Damian holds most dear?” Julie suspected that Aria was it, but she wouldn’t say that to her friend.
“How would I know?” Aria grumbled and made up an excuse to stop talking. “I’m tired, so I’m going to bed.”
Julie knew that Aria was avoiding the conversation. She could tell her friend wasn’t sleepy.
~*~*~
Damian pulled out the note again and read it for what felt like the hundredth time. This mission just got very personal and much more dangerous. Aria had always been a target, but now she was Pravus’s obsession.
Aedan was on the bed on his back with his ankles crossed, playing with his phone. “The Ella thing worked well.”
He appeared relaxed and carefree, but Damian knew better. His friend was wired. “What Ella thing?”
“Oh, come on. I know you played up a connection between you when there wasn’t one. Aria noticed it, too, and she wasn’t happy.”
Damian
powered up his laptop to do some research on New Orleans. “Aria’s never happy. I’m sure it had nothing to do with me.”
Aedan snorted. “She didn’t take her eyes off you even when Breck showed up. He busted her on it.”
“She was probably angry from earlier. I tried to talk to her about the past, but she got cranky, and I didn’t finish telling her.”
“That could be true, but she hated you dancing with Ella.” Aedan wasn’t going to let his friend dismiss it. “Ella played the part well.”
Damian made a noncommittal sound and continued to type on his laptop.
Aedan threw a pen from the nightstand at Damian’s head.
Damian caught it while still focused on his computer.
“I hate when you do that.”
Damian grinned. “We should probably go see Lucinda while we’re here. She’s the most powerful Mystic in the area.”
Aedan groaned. Damian was all about business again. “When are you going to try to talk to Aria again?”
Damian growled and turned toward his friend. “Why do you care, Aedan?”
“Because you’ve been miserable for years, and I see the way you stare at her when you think no one can see you. I also saw your face when you read that note and figured out she was in trouble.”
“She’s never going to listen to me.”
“I think she might.”
Damian stood up and grabbed his room card from the dresser. “I’m going to take a walk. I’ll be back soon.”
~*~*~
Aria couldn’t sleep. She’d been trying for the last forty-five minutes, and she wasn’t remotely close to being tired. Her mind was racing too much. She tossed the covers aside and got out of bed silently so she didn’t wake up Julie.
“Where are you going?” Julie asked sleepily.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You’ve been keeping me awake with all of your huffs and rolling over every two seconds.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was being loud.” Aria had thought she was being very quiet.
“Go talk to him. You need to get more of the story, and I need to get some sleep while you’re not here. Just be careful. This city can be dangerous at night. I know you’re stronger than the humans, but there are all kinds of supernaturals here.”
Aria smiled at her friend as she slipped on a pair of jeans and her boots. She was going out armed. “Thanks, Juls. I’ll see you later.”
Grabbing her key card and some cash, she slipped out of the room.
Aria made her way through the lobby of the hotel, which was relatively busy for it being so late. She loved the architecture of the place and how it fit so well within the French Quarter.
Aria gazed at the millions of stars in the sky and a moon that appeared to be almost full. She loved the night time and especially the brilliantly lit sky.
It was a great opportunity for a walk.
~*~*~
Happiness spread throughout his whole body as he watched Aria step out of the hotel. The feeling turned giddy when he saw Damian leave only moments after she did and begin walking in the direction she headed.
His plan was working. That meant it was almost time to go to the next phase.
~*~*~
Bourbon Street was just a few blocks away, but Aria had no interest in going there. It would still be full of people, loud jazz music, and neon lights. She was in a mood to soak up the old feel of the city.
Making her way to Jackson square, she stopped to view the St. Louis Cathedral. She always thought it was amazing inside and out.
“Can’t sleep?” Damian had felt her presence and her magical pull as soon as he had left the hotel and knew she was in the square.
Aria whipped around and found herself only inches from Damian. She had to tip her head back to see his gorgeous face. She wanted to reply with a snarky comment, but something about the city and everything that had happened lately… she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“The city was calling to me.” She had no idea why she said that, but it was true. New Orleans felt like home to her.
“Me, too. I think it’s all the magic here.” Damian’s gaze hadn’t moved away from her. “It’s dangerous to be out here alone. We don’t know where Pravus is.”
“I’m a powerful mystic and a Guardian. Almost nothing can hurt me, and I’m not alone now, am I?” Aria told him with a saucy smile.
“You’re not invincible Ar.”
Aria shrugged. “Neither of us are, but I don’t want to argue with you.”
“Does that mean we call a truce and explore the city for a while?” Damian asked, hopeful.
Aria considered it for a minute.
“I won’t tell anyone we actually decided to be nice to each other,” Damian teased.
“Nice? You said ‘truce,’ not that I had to be nice to you.” Aria’s whole face sparkled.
“We can’t have that. I don’t know what I would do if you were actually pleasant.”
“All right. A truce for tonight.” Aria couldn’t stop grinning.
Damian’s smile made her heart skip a beat, but she quickly dismissed it as just nerves. Aria was about to spend time with him, without fighting, for the first time in centuries. Her magic took that as permission to seek out his. She needed to reign it in.
“Are you in the mood for a snack?” Damian asked as he started off toward the river.
“Beignets?” she asked.
“Is there any other snack in New Orleans?”
“Yes, pralines and bread pudding,” Aria answered quickly.
Damian laughed. “I had forgotten about your sweet tooth.”
“Not too sweet. But, yes, we can’t leave New Orleans without having all three. Oh, and I also want jambalaya.”
“Well, I can take care of the beignets right now. Let’s head over to Café Du Monde on the other side of the square.”
“Only if you buy me some chicory coffee.” Aria loved the idea of a late night snack.
“Who says I’m buying?” Damian winked at her. He would never let her pay for anything, but he was enjoying bantering with her. They used to do that all the time, and he would look forward to her witty responses.
“Isn’t it customary for the person who does the asking to pay?” Aria had every intention of buying for both of them. She just liked to debate him.
“This is a date? Isn’t that the custom you’re referring to?”
Aria stubbed her toe on the sidewalk and almost fell. “There’s no line. Come on. Let’s hurry before that group of drunken college students gets in front of us.” She hustled across the street toward the café.
Damian tried not to laugh at how flustered she had just gotten. She was heading toward the take out line, so he grabbed her hand and led her over to one of the tables. He was shocked she didn’t pull her hand away from his immediately.
As soon as they were seated, someone came over to their table. Damian ordered two chicory coffees and two orders of beignets. The fried dough covered in powdered sugar was a favorite of most tourists.
Damian noticed her withdraw a little and wanted to get them back to where they were a few minutes previous. “You didn’t want to head the other way to Bourbon Street and get a hurricane?” His magic was searching for hers, wanting to mingle with it.
Aria shook her head. “I’ve had them before. I wasn’t in the mood for the craziness.”
“I wasn’t either.”
Their coffee was delivered, and they sat quietly sipping it. They chatted about the city and what they loved about it.
When the beignets came, Aria laughed at how messy she was getting. “I have powdered sugar all over.” She tried to brush some of it off, but she was just making it worse.
Damian thought she was adorable.
She glanced at his shirt and grinned. “You’re a mess, too!”
He looked down and realized he had more on him than she had on her clothes.
They managed to clean themselves u
p and wander away from the café.
Damian didn’t want their night to end, but he knew they were there for a reason. “We should go see Lucinda tomorrow.”
Aria had been inspecting the intricate carvings on a building they were walking by and stopped to face him. “Yeah. That’s a good idea. She knows everything that happens in this city.” She started walking back toward the hotel.
Damian grasped her hand and pulled her to a stop. “I need to talk to you.”
She was confused, but then realization hit. He wanted to talk about their past. “Not tonight.”
“Aria. It’s never going to be a good time. I need to tell you. It’s so long overdue.”
He motioned to an empty bench across the street, and they sat down with more than a foot of space between them.
“Damian, I don’t know if it matters anymore. I’m tired of fighting with you.”
“It matters, especially after what happened earlier today. When I was telling you about Pravus and stealing magic, you immediately thought...”
“I shouldn’t have said that. I was angry and hurt, and I lashed out. I don’t really think you would steal my magic.”
Damian gave her a tentative smile. “Thank you for saying that. Ar, you need to know I would never hurt you like that. I’ve only ever wanted to protect you.”
“That’s not true, Damian. Let’s not lie to each other.”
“I’m not lying to you. I need to tell you everything, and then you’ll see that I’ve never wanted you hurt. Will you listen to the story?”
Aria took a fortifying breath to steady her nerves. She was so scared of what he was going to say. “Yes. I want to hear it.”
He told her about Pravus wanting to steal her magic and how his brother Kallias had tried to siphoned magic from her and Damian for years without them knowing it. He revealed that she had a rare ability to replenish magic quickly and not be drained, even when using it.
“Wait, so you think I have a rare ability to rebuild my magic supply without it affecting me?” Aria couldn’t believe what he was saying.