by Kendra Ashe
“It would seem that your neighbor is juicing you with vervain to protect you,” Wren said before taking a big swig of water. "That would explain why you couldn’t be compelled."
“Has someone tried?” I asked, arching one brow.
Wren gave me a sheepish smile. “I admit. I did try when you first started working here just to see if you were susceptible.”
“That was a total jerk move!” I said, glaring at him through narrowed eyes.
“Sorry,” he said. “I had to know if you could be compelled by some enemy vampire.”
That kind of made sense, but I still didn’t like it. I also didn't like the idea of my neighbor spiking my food, even if she’d had good intentions.
How would I confront her about this without giving away what I knew about vampires?
This was just another of many problems I would have to tackle.
Chapter Eleven
I expected the Underground to be far more crowded for a Saturday night. It was barely 10:00 and people were already leaving. Only the die-hard partiers remained, reluctant to call it quits so early.
Mason’s band had already stopped for the night, leaving time for another band to take the stage.
Mason and the other band members were nowhere to be seen. I made my way to the back where I knew I’d find the break room. I hadn’t spent a lot of time in clubs but I’d been to enough to know there was usually a place in the back where the band would hang out between sets.
I found it without a lot of trouble.
The room was small with little more than a refrigerator, couch, and TV. There was also a small table with a few chairs. It was one of those rooms that provided what was needed, but that’s about it. If you could ignore the dingy wallpaper, it wasn’t too bad.
I was surprised Wasteland still played at the Underground. After my encounter with Mason, I’d done some digging and discovered the band was doing very well. They could have been playing much better clubs. I figured the reason they were still playing the Underground was due to the fact that one of the band members was part owner.
When I entered the small room, it was empty except for Mason. I was a little surprised to see him sitting at the table, reading a newspaper.
I had no doubt that he knew I was standing nearby, but he ignored me, focusing on the front page of the newspaper.
“Hello,” I said, sounding way more timid than I’d intended.
Finally, he turned around to acknowledge me. “Well, if it isn’t the little assistant? I’m surprised you would come looking for me again. If you keep showing up I might think you have a death wish.”
“Can we talk?” I asked.
Mason was noticeably tense but I had to push him if I was going to get his help.
“I don’t think now would be a good time,” he said, turning away. “I can hear the sound of your heart beating and the blood rushing through your veins. You smell delightful. Resisting my natural urges might prove to be too difficult.”
“Please.” I reached out to lay my hand on his arm.
I was flirting with disaster and I knew it, but a little charm and his hunger might be the only cards I had to play.
Closing his eyes, he turned away. “This is your last warning.”
When I didn’t respond, he looked back to look at me. The hunger I saw in his eyes was so terrifying that I almost ran away.
But convincing him to help was my job. If I couldn’t pull this off, how would I ever work as a full-fledged detective?
“Wait outside,” he snarled, before rushing from the room.
Well, that hadn’t worked out too well.
Sighing, I made my way outside to wait for him. All I could do is hope he wouldn’t decide to ditch me.
Now that I was in a bad spot, I realized I should have brought some kind of weapon, like maybe a wooden stake.
Although my feet were killing me, I continued pacing back and forth beneath the buzzing neon sign. I’d messed up when I decided on spiked heels. They looked fantastic, but totally sucked when it came to comfort.
I still wasn’t sure if involving Mason was such a good idea. When I’d approached him, he'd looked as if he were ready to turn on me.
It was all Wren’s fault that I was in a dark parking lot, waiting for a guy who may or may not show. He’d been pushing hard for me to make a return visit to the Underground.
Blaming Wren was easy, but I had my own reasons for agreeing to another meeting. I’d been anxious to get another look at Mason Romero. Maybe he was way out of my league, but as long as I kept my distance, seeing him again wasn’t a big deal.
That was if he didn't ditch me completely. He’d sure looked like all he wanted to do was get rid of me.
If I were to be really truthful with myself, my visit was not just about seeing Mason again. I wanted to know more about the vampires that walked on the dark side. I also wanted to know more about Shadow Valley and communication with the spirit world.
Wren had said there was a way to reach into that other world, but that we would need Mason’s help to find Shadow Valley.
What if it were true?
What if there really was a way to connect with Johnny?
If there were real vampires, why couldn’t there be a way to reach beyond the veil of death to my little brother?
“You seem agitated.” The voice came from the murky shadows beyond the reach of the neon light.
The sound of his voice nearly sent me out of my skin. I sure wished he’d stop sneaking up on me.
I’d assumed he would come out of the front entrance, but he must have taken a rear exit and come around the building.
“Well, it isn’t like I make a habit of standing around dark parking lots, waiting to meet up with vampires.” I said the first thing that came to mind.
Mason’s deep laughter was somewhat menacing. “No, I don’t suppose you do.”
“Mason, will you please reconsider? Wren really needs your help on this.” I was tempted to bat my eyelashes but thought that might be taking it a little too far.
“I can’t help with every rogue vampire,” he said, shaking his head. “If there is a vampire stalking tourists, they are only doing what is in their nature.”
“But isn’t there some kind of truce with the police? I’m pretty sure that the vampires agreed to only feed on willing donors.” I said.
“Sure, but anyone can become a willing donor once they’ve been compelled. This truce never stood much of a chance to begin with.”
“Any help would be appreciated,” I told him. “And what about Shadow Valley? Wouldn’t it be great if this place was real?”
“The Seekers are wasting their time.” Mason’s voice was full of contempt. “They are looking for something that doesn’t exist.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Mason’s smile was dark, and even a little menacing. “For years I searched for the answers and found nothing. I’m sure I would have come across some evidence of this secret … this mythical utopia for supernatural beings,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “But if Wren wants to continue wasting his time, well it’s not like he is short of that.”
Frustration and anger took hold of me. I couldn’t help returning his malice by way of my own cold smile.
“Well, I tried,” I said with a shrug of my shoulders. “I guess you’re just not up to something this difficult.”
His eyes locked with mine and I could feel him trying to pull me in. It wasn’t going to happen again so I looked away.
“Claire.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What a beautiful name.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, still avoiding eye contact. I shouldn’t have thanked him since it was obvious he was trying to seduce me, but basic manners were something that had been pounded into my head for as long as I could remember.
You always thank someone who pays you a compliment. At least you did if it was sincere, and I couldn’t really tell if his compliments were real or part of some plan to tu
rn me into a meal.
Mason motioned toward a red sports car parked near the building. “What do you say we go for a ride, Claire?”
The way he said my name was like a soft caress, sending shivers of anticipation through my entire body.
I was shocked that I was actually thinking about accepting his invitation.
What could I possibly be thinking?
What kind of fool goes off into the night with a vampire?
“I don’t think so,” I said, shaking my head. “I only came here to talk to you for Wren.”
“So he sent you to do his dirty work again?” A scowl twisted at his handsome features.
“I’m his assistant and will be one of his investigators soon. It’s my job,” I said in defense of my boss.
Mason closed the distance between us. “And you are such a pretty little assistant too.”
This time, I didn’t thank him. It was obvious he was being a tease. When I opened my mouth to tell him as much, he cut me off.
“You’re not going to turn me away, are you?” He was so close that I could feel his breath on my face. “If you’re here to convince me to help, perhaps you should be a little nicer.”
My heart did flip-flops and at first, I didn’t know how to respond. Although I was supposed to be doing a little flirting, I’d also been warned not to take it too far.
“I think I should leave.” The quiver in my voice betrayed the turmoil raging inside of me.
“Now come on, Claire. You want my help, right?”
His fingers gently slid across my bare shoulder, pulling at the spaghetti strap just enough to be enticing, but not enough to actually lower it.
“Poor poor Claire. She longs to sample the darkness, but is so frightened of what she might find there.” The flashing blue fire in his eyes consumed me to the point that I couldn’t move.
My head was screaming at me to run while every cell in my body wanted to get closer.
“I can’t.” My throat was so tight I felt as if I would choke on my words.
His dark menacing laughter filled the space between us. “Claire, if my intention was to simply kill you or bed you, I could easily have done so already. I want you to convince me of just how badly you need my help.”
Was his help worth risking my life, or even worse, my heart?
The temptation was too much. I had to know more about him and his world of darkness.
Chapter Twelve
Mason opened the passenger side door and motioned to the leather seat. “For you, my lady.”
Hesitating, I glanced back at the club’s entrance. There was no one around. He could just toss me in the car and be gone. No one would even realize I was missing until tomorrow.
“Are you coming?” he asked, lifting one dark brow.
Sighing, softly, I slid into the leather seat and he shut the door. I couldn’t get over the feeling that I’d just stepped over the threshold into some murky unknown that I might never come back from.
The scent of expensive leather filled the air. He drove a nice car and it sure looked expensive too. I hadn’t realized musicians made so much money unless they were superstars.
Mason slid into the driver’s seat. When he leaned over to grab my seatbelt, his arm brushed against my breast. A rush of heat surged through my veins.
My body was such a betrayer. How could I ache to feel him touch me when I didn’t want anything to do with him?
The laughter in his eyes seemed to mock me. Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that.
“You should always wear your seatbelt,” he said as he clicked it into place.
“You’re not wearing one,” I pointed out.
Mason laughed. “It’s not like I’m going to die.”
The engine came to life. As soon as he pulled onto the road, the car surged forward and I almost lost my stomach. The lights of the city rushed by us.
Mason had to be one of those fast cars and loose women kind of guys. When I glanced over at him, my suspicions were confirmed. He wore an expression of such intensity that it bordered on euphoric.
In spite of his apparent addiction to speed and danger, he seemed so normal. No doubt he was probably the most charismatic and gorgeous guy I’d ever met, but he still appeared to be just a man.
The more I was around him, the more I found myself wishing he really was just a regular guy.
But he wasn’t.
Deep down I knew Wren was telling the truth when he warned me about Mason.
“Where are we going?” I asked, breaking the silence.
Shifting into high gear, he gave me a sideward glance. “My place.”
I wasn’t sure going to his place was such a good idea. “Oh, do you live alone?”
“Sometimes the other guys in the band stay with me.”
His words hit my panic button. Being with Mason was risky enough. No way did I want to deal with an entire nest of vampires. “Are they, um … are they like you?”
Mason nodded. “But you don’t have to worry. They’re not there right now.”
Taking his eyes off the road, he turned and smiled. “They’re hunting. We’ll have the place to ourselves.”
By hunting, I assumed he meant hunting for blood donors. Troubled by the thought, I unconsciously brought my hand up to my throat.
Chuckling, Mason took his hand from the shifter and placed it over my arm. “Don’t worry. I would never do anything to upset Wren.”
He was toying with me again and it was irritating as hell. I was tempted to come back with some kind of cutting remark, but just then he slowed the car and took the freeway exit.
Peering out the window, I noticed that we seemed to be headed to the Garden District. I was right. Before long, the streets were lined with old mansions.
I’d always loved the Garden District, though I didn’t get a chance to visit it often. It was one of those places that were way out of my price range. When I did get to this area of the city, I enjoyed walking the tree-lined streets. It was so peaceful, and the houses were beautiful.
Mason turned onto Jackson Avenue and pulled through the open gate of one of those houses.
I let out an involuntary gasp. The circular driveway was at the side of an extra-large house. The pale tan house wasn’t a mansion, but it was close. A house like this would cost a fortune to build today. Actually, it would probably cost a fortune to buy too.
The lighted garden at the front of the house was crowded with palms and oaks.
Parking near an old carriage house, Mason got out of the Porsche. Before I had a chance to open the car door, he’d already done it for me. A cool breeze drifted into the car, carrying with it the scent of jasmine and roses.
That same breeze was playing havoc with Mason’s locks of dark hair. With his blue eyes shimmering in the dark and the way his hair dancing on the wind, he looked too exotic to be real.
“Are you coming?” he asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
I placed my hand in his and let him help me from the car. Since I had a tendency to date losers, the few dates I’d been on hadn’t prepared me for such gentlemanly gestures, so I was a little surprised. The experience was kind of refreshing.
Near the front of the house, I noticed a large cherub water fountain. Sparkling water poured from the cherub’s cupped hand into the lighted pond.
“Your house is very nice,” I commented.
“I like it.” He shrugged. “The place just says, New Orleans, doesn’t it? There’s really no other city quite so interesting or colorful.”
As I followed him up the stairs to the door, my nervousness returned. There was an annoying little voice in my head that kept whispering warnings of doom.
What if the others returned?
What if he lost control and did kill me?
I couldn’t imagine that the death of a human woman would be that much of a problem, even for Wren.
The thought was startling. Again, I realized that I really didn’t know my boss at all
.
In spite of that bothersome voice that kept urging me to turn and run, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Mason, let alone my thoughts.
If nothing else, he was captivating. He was weaving some kind of spell on me and there wasn’t a single thing I could do to stop him.
When he switched on the light, the crystal chandelier glittered on the ceiling, casting prisms of light over the entire room.
The inside of the house was even more stunning than the outside. It was furnished with 19th-century pieces that were absolutely dazzling. The couches were covered with red and black velvet.
Mason made his way to a dark mahogany bar. “Would you like something to drink? Maybe some brandy?”
“Sure,” I told him.
A drink would probably help calm my nerves. Besides, he didn’t really have to get me drunk to render me defenseless. His eyes did a good job of that.
“Please sit,” he said, handing me a small glass of brandy.
“Thanks.” I smiled but it was a guarded smile.
Sitting on the edge of the plush couch, I was ready to flee at the first sign of aggression, or fangs.
“You should relax, he said as he sat beside me. “I already told you that you’re safe with me.”
He was too close for comfort so I put some space between us. “I’m fine.”
“Are you?” There was a trace of laughter in his voice. “You know, I was planning to scare you so that you wouldn’t come looking for me again, but I find you intriguing.”
That was nice to know.
“Well, I suppose I’m fortunate then,” I said, lacing my words with sarcasm. “Now can we talk about the New Orleans Ripper?”
Mason’s blue eyes glittered with mischief. “We’ll get to that soon enough but first, I’d like to get to know you. Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?” I asked, setting my half-empty drink on the coffee table.
“Have you ever had sex with a vampire?” he asked as casually as if he were asking if I’d ever walked in the rain.
The thought brought on a delightful tingling sensation that sent heat rushing to my cheeks. Clearing my throat, I averted my eyes. “Um, no. I couldn’t and wouldn’t do that.”