by R. M. Webb
Whatever. Luke’s an ass. I wish Noah would come up so I’d feel safer. Although, if I’m honest, he’s probably paying better attention to me from downstairs than Luke is from just across the room. I take another swig of my drink and am turning back to watch the dance floor when I find Andrew.
He’s sitting at a table with three other people.
Shit.
My heart sinks.
Not people.
Those are vampires.
As if this wasn’t going to stressful enough.
His table is off to the side and behind me a little. I sit back and shift in my seat so I can see him out of the corner of my eye and he has a chance to see my profile rather than the back of my head. I’d love to be blatant and stare, you know, get a better idea of who he’s with and what he’s doing — but I really don’t think that’s the best course of action. I take another drink and pull my hair over my shoulder, trying to catch his attention with movement.
It’s crazy, but I feel it the moment his gaze lands on me. These two little icy pinpricks of silver on my shoulder. Channeling everything I’ve ever seen about a woman catching a man’s attention, I look towards him, catch his eyes on me, smile as I drop my own eyes to the table. You can’t fake a blush, but thankfully I don’t have to. I come ready equipped with my own. After giving him a minute to see the red fan its way across my face — and even in the dark I know he can see it — I turn back to the dance floor.
My pulse thunders in my ears. My ears! Since when can you hear your own pulse? And my breath is running a little ragged, my chest heaving. I wish Noah was upstairs. I want to know I’ve got someone at my back if things go wrong because I’m not so sure I’ve got what it takes to pull this off.
I take another drink.
OK. Gonna have to ease off on that because my little Jack and Ginger is way stronger than I gave it credit for. I need my wits about me and if I keep drinking like this, I’m gonna leave my wits somewhere in my glass.
So what now? I’m here. He’s there. I’m blonde and he likes that. He’s seen me looking at him and I’ve seen him looking at me. What the hell else am I supposed to do? Do I turn back around? Do I wait? I’m sure as hell not gonna walk up and ask if I can have a seat. I couldn’t do that if he were alone. I most definitely can’t do that with three other vampires at the table.
I take another drink.
Shit. I gotta stop that.
My hands are sweaty.
My throat is dry.
My heart is still pounding away in my ears and it’s the most unnerving thing ever.
And those two, silvery pinpricks of ice are dancing all over my shoulder again.
This isn’t gonna work. Not like this. Not with me being a panicked mess, not worthy of the trust everyone’s placed in me. I take a breath in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. I use the condensation on my glass to wet my hands and dry them off on the napkin Maile gave me to set my drink on.
I’m gonna turn around. I’m gonna look Andrew in the eyes and I’m gonna smile. I’m gonna play with my hair while I do it. Maybe run a finger over my collarbone, linger near the vein in my neck I’m sure he’s going to be watching for.
Except suddenly, I don’t have to.
Because he’s standing right in front of me.
Chapter Nine
“Hello little witch.”
I gasp and Andrew smiles.
“Oh, come now,” he says and has a seat across from me, leaning forward on his elbows, his face too close to mine. “I know what you are just the same way you know what I am. And same with them.” He indicates his friends at the table behind me and I can feel more little silvery pinpricks dancing across my back. “They know. You know. We all know so much about each other.”
What do I say to that? I’m busy wondering just how much he knows. Maybe all he knows is that I’m a witch. Or, maybe he knows that I’m a witch who’s also an assassin. I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t bring that part up. You know, just in case he doesn’t already know I’m here to kill him.
“What about your friends?” Andrew asks.
Oh, shit does he know about Luke and Noah? “What friends?” I ask, thankful my voice is steady. Quiet. But steady nonetheless.
“Oh, you sweet little thing.” Andrew indicates Luke and Little Red Ride-me-hood over in the corner. Any other day, his expression would have pissed me off, but with the sharp tips of his teeth poking through his smile, and my hands trembling where they hold my glass, I think I’m too scared to be mad. “I saw your face as you watched them get all cozy in the corner,” Andrew continues. “It stings a little, doesn’t it?”
For a split second, I have not one clue as to what he’s talking about. Then I get it and relief floods through me. He thinks I came here with Luke and he’s chosen that Barbie doll over me. I don’t think Andrew knows any more about me than that I’m a witch and I’m sitting alone while Luke has company. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna get clumsy. It’s just a relief to know my life expectancy hasn’t decreased to mere seconds.
“He doesn’t know what he’s missing is all,” I say through what I hope looks like a sexy little pout. “He’s more than welcome to go after her. I don’t want him like that.”
“Oh, come on. You’re telling me that you got all dolled up and look so scrumptious and it doesn’t make you even a little bit mad not to be chosen?”
How do I respond? My first thought is hell no. But is that what he wants me to say? Is that what will get him more interested in me? Would it be better to be strong or wounded? I take a breath. “What do you want me to say?” I shrug slightly, try to keep my pout sultry, if that’s even a thing, and take another sip of my drink. “Of course it stings a little, but I’m not wasting any more time on him than the time it took to admit that.”
Well there.
There’s a whole lot of secret truth hidden in one little statement. That’s exactly how I feel about Luke in general. About everything. And I’m not sure if I’ve ever fully realized that until now.
“Atta girl.” Andrew takes my hand I can’t help myself, I shudder in revulsion. It’s like touching a corpse, or at least that’s the impression I get. Not touched too many corpses in my time. “I know.” Andrew pats my hand. “Witches and vampires,” he widens his eyes and mimics my shudder. “Anathema.”
I work on a smile and make my best Becca face at him. “You’re just the first vampire I’ve touched is all. I wasn’t prepared for the … the …” I can’t think of a word that doesn’t mean revulsion.
“Power?” Andrew supplies.
Give me a break.
“Ya,” I breathe. “Power.”
“Well, then, my little witch. What say you come join my friends and me and we break down some boundaries?”
Oh, ewwww. Please don’t let my face be transparent. Please. “I don’t know …” I swirl my finger around the rim of my glass and pretend that I’m tempted by his offer. When I meet his gaze, my breath catches. I’ve never felt so hunted, so in danger in my entire life. This guy is all about predator and prey and chasing his quarry until he runs it down.
“I’ll even buy you a new drink.”
Andrew likes a hunt? I’ll make him hunt me. “My mother always taught me never to take candy from strangers.”
Hopefully, he’ll discount my jackhammering heart as me being all atwitter at his advances and not because I’m scared out of my mind. There was a time — not all that long ago — when keeping up with conversation really wasn’t my strongest point. I’m about to jump into a situation where I not only have to keep up with it, but I have to stay one step ahead of it. I have to pretend to be feeling things I’m not. Keep my remarks witty and filled with innuendo. Old Zoe would have failed miserably five minutes ago. Can new Zoe hold her own?
Looks like I’m about to find out.
“Well, sweetie,” he says, picking up my glass and giving my drink a little sniff, “this isn’t candy. And my name is Andrew so now we’re not strange
rs.”
As if that’s not one of the oldest lines in the books. I pretend to laugh as I struggle over which name to give him. Mine or fake one? I weigh the options, quickly adding pros and cons to balance the scales. Well, hell. I’ve already given the bartender my real name. And there’s the tipping point.
“I’m Zoe,” I say and offer him my hand. “And I’m pleased we’re not strangers anymore.” Ugh. Now I’m just as tacky as he is. He laps up the comment and leads me over to his table of friends. It’s not a long walk, but I try to study them as best I can before I sit down. I’d love to see if Luke’s watching out for me, but I’m not giving Andrew the satisfaction of thinking I want Luke to see me with him.
There are two women and a man at the table. Or two females and a male? Are they really men and women anymore? Whatever. The man looks utterly unassuming and so therefore I’m the most nervous about him. His features are too bland for a vampire, too easily forgotten. Part of what makes them such fantastic predators is how alluring and utterly irresistible they are to humans. So why is this guy so plain?
The women are, of course, stunning. Both blonde, one platinum, the other honey colored. Add my little strawberry self to the party and Andrew’s got the trifecta of fair-haired maidens.
“Friends,” says Andrew, and I can’t help but notice the little sarcastic twist he adds to the word. “This is Zoe, the little witch I’ve been watching since she caught my eye twirling in front of Maile.
“Zoe, this is Janet, Mya, and Milo.” He indicates platinum hair, honey hair, and so-bland-it’s-scary in turn. I’m trying to remember everything I know about etiquette. Do women shake hands?
The blondes just give me a very elegant dip of their head, their cool eyes leaving little silvery paths of ice all over my face and body. Milo offers me his hand, which I take and instantly regret. If Andrew’s hand felt like a corpse, then all I can say is that this hands feels like the maker of corpses. And if that sounds strange, then so be it. I let go as quickly as I can without being too rude.
At this point, I most definitely glance towards Luke as I take a seat facing in his direction and the bastard is so consumed by Little Red Ride-me-hood that I don’t think he’s even realized I’ve left my seat. I’d send a little feeler down to Noah, but I’m sure my present company would know the instant I use even the tiniest of magic.
The conversation is about as awkward as you can imagine, with me trying to play flirty little girl while Janet and Mya are busy hating me because I have Andrew’s attention. And then there’s Milo busy being scary and making me uncomfortable. Plus, now I get to watch Luke make out with some girl in the corner while I sit here in one of the most dangerous situations I’ve ever been in.
The most dangerous situation I’ve ever been in that I’m apparently navigating better than I expected. Andrew and I are on the dance floor now, his nasty, dead man’s body pressing too close to mine. His voice grating on my nerves. His teeth flashing every now and then in the lights.
Luke’s on the dancefloor with Little Red Ride-me-hood and Noah’s at a table nearby, nursing a drink while he chats with some people. Despite their distracted appearances, I can tell I’ve got both of their attention. And I can tell I’ve got Andrew right where I want him.
“Meet me in the men’s room.” I whisper in his ear. He smiles, gives me a shocked little questioning look and I just drop my gaze and walk away, let my hips sway with each step.
Here’s the thing. I’m going to go through with our mission. This night will end with Andrew in ashes. But I’m also going to further my own mission a little. My guess is that this guy is high up enough in Lucy’s chain of command that I can pick some information out of his brain once I’ve made him human again. Find out where she is. How to get to her. Discover any weaknesses she might have.
I pass Noah’s table on my way to the men’s room. Noah laughs at something one of his newfound friends says and my heart skips a little at the sound. If Andrew knew Luke was a warlock just by looking at him, he’s sure to recognize Noah as a warlock as well. I very purposefully don’t look at Noah, hopeful that Andrew won’t put two and two together. I’m sure it’s a risk, bringing Noah into Andrew’s awareness; I just can’t fathom putting myself into a room alone with the guy without being sure at least one of my protectors knows what’s going on.
I cast a tiny spell to check if the men’s room is occupied, one that Andrew is sure to expect me to cast. I weave another spell into the first one to make certain that no one enters the bathroom while I’m inside. I leave an exception for Noah and Luke. I’m most definitely going to want them to be able to come in after me.
I check my hair in the mirror and continue weaving my magic into the spell I’ve already cast. I intend to hit Andrew with my human spell the moment he walks through the door so I’ve got time to take a walk though his thoughts and find out what he knows about Lucy. Thing is, it takes a lot out of me to cast the spell that turns vampires human again. I usually have Noah and Luke as little magical gas tanks to keep me from using too much of my own resources. Pesky dark magic and its consequences.
And I don’t really know what kind of magical barometers vampires actually are. Sure, they can smell my power. And sure, they can sense magic, but can they actually sense how big of a spell I’m working up? No clue. And that means I’m woefully unprepared for this encounter.
I guess, when you get right down to it, it doesn’t matter if the vamps will know I’m casting a huge ass spell or not because considering I’m trapped in a bathroom with a vampire on the way, I’m gonna have to cast that huge ass spell no matter what. I continue gathering my magic, calling on the tiger to help maintain my light magic while I dip into my own resources to feed my dark magic.
When Andrew walks in, I’m ready for him. As soon as the door closes, I hit him hard, wrapping my magic around him like a killer’s hands squeezing closed on his victim’s neck. His tight lipped little grin turns to shock as he feels the power bleed out of his body. I rush forward, put my hands on his head and nudge my thoughts into his mind, silencing him as I rummage around in his memories.
I follow any trace of Lucy I can find until I end up with a recent one. My stomach drops to my feet and my hands go clammy. I watch Andrew’s memory as Lucy shows him my picture, followed by one of Noah, and then one of Luke. She tells him to keep an eye out for us, especially if we show up together.
“I think they’re killing our people,” she tells him and he scoffs.
“That’s not possible.”
“Well, let’s hope not,” Lucy says in the memory. “I guess the only way to know is if you end up dead.”
Oh, shit.
Lucy knows about us. This whole night is a ruse to try and flush us out. Shock makes me drop my magic. It stutters just a little and I lose control. Just as Andrew becomes a vampire once again, Luke surges through the bathroom door.
“Luke, wait!” I cry, but I’m too late. His fireball hits Andrew in the chest and he goes up like a Christmas tree after New Year’s.
Chapter Ten
“What have you done?” There’s so much nothing in my voice that the pleased smile Luke’s wearing just slips off his face and falls to the floor.
“My job,” he says and crinkles his brow at the look on my face. “What? Get attached to the guy?”
“No, you idiot. He was a…” I wave my hands around, not sure of the word I need. “A … you know … a plant!”
“A plant?” Luke looks genuinely confused.
“You know, he was sent here to flush us out.”
“What do you mean? How do you know?” There’s a whole lot of disdain and a just a little bit of red lipstick on his face. “You can’t believe anything these creeps tell you.”
“No, you idiot. I looked in his head after I made him human and I saw Lucy telling this guy that she suspected it was us killing all her vampires.”
“Right.” Luke lifts his eyebrows. “So, being the standup guy he is, he just volunteered to go
on a suicide mission.”
“He didn’t believe her,” I hiss as Noah pushes through the bathroom door.
Noah takes in the tension between Luke and me in the otherwise empty room. “Who didn’t believe who? What happened?” Noah crosses the room to stand beside me, so we’re both facing off with Luke. I definitely appreciate the little gesture of solidarity.
When I fill him in on what happened, he puts his hands on his hips and blows air out through his lips. “Well there we are, then.”
Luke mutters something under his breath and goes to check his face in the mirror. Musses his hair. Notices the red lipstick and wipes it off.
Noah turns to me, putting his back to Luke. “What about the other vamps? The ones here with Andrew Llewellyn tonight? Do they know anything?” At least he has the kind of urgency in his voice that this situation warrants.
I just shake my head. “I don’t know. They knew I was a witch. They knew Luke was a witch.” What’s it say about me that I take a little pleasure out of seeing Luke flinch because I didn’t call him a warlock?
“Did they know about me?” asks Noah.
“I don’t think so.” I shrug, at a loss. “I just don’t know. I mean, Lucy knows about you. She showed Andrew your picture. The other vamps?” I shake my head. “No clue.”
I replay the events of the evening, looking for any clues as to who else might have known about us and just exactly how much trouble we’re in. I find myself toying with the amulet Barnabe gave me. What exactly does this thing do? The only difference I’d noticed this evening is that I could feel the vamp’s eyes on me. All the other times I’ve been around vampires, no silvery little trails of ickiness all over my body. Barnabe said the amulet would offer protection. I’m not sure how knowing when vampires are looking at me equals protection. Guess I’ll have to hope this thing has a few more tricks up its sleeves.
Luke hops up on the counter and swings his legs. “So now what? We’ve got at least three creeps out there who may or may not want to eat us. Lucy knows who we are and probably wants us dead. I’m not sure how you guys feel like this changes anything.”