Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

by H. P. Mallory

  Sinjin shook his head. “No.”

  Well, at least that was a relief. “What if he’s no longer at Pelham Manor?” Rand certainly would’ve been well aware of the fact that Bella knew where we lived. I imagined returning to Pelham Manor might not be the safest thing to do.

  Sinjin nodded. “I have wolves tracking him. I know exactly where he is.”

  “You promise you aren’t going to hurt him?”

  Sinjin laughed. “You and your promises…” He put his hand on his heart and faced me with a smirk. “I, Sinjin Sinclair, do solemnly promise I will not hurt him. Scouts’ honor.”

  “You didn’t say his name.”

  Sinjin frowned. “I just…”

  “You said you wouldn’t hurt ‘him,’ but that could be anyone. Say his name.”

  He sighed and held up three fingers. “I swear I will not hurt Rand..all. Scouts honor.”

  Randall was good enough I guess. And what was more, it was bably all I was going to get. I frowned. “Thanks.”

  “I am on his side.”

  That sounded weird, especially given Rand’s intense dislike for Sinjin. “Are you sure he knows that?”

  “You certainly are full of questions, aren’t you, Poppet? No, he does not know. He thinks I work for Bella, but he will soon find out otherwise.”

  I settled back in my seat and glanced out the window. I wasn’t sure Rand would react to the news as well as I had. He had a definite distrust toward Sinjin, and this news would probably make him distrust Sinjin even more. “So, where is Rand?”

  He smiled. “He and your friend…Christina…”

  “Christa.”

  “Ah, Christa, are in a hotel in Suffolk County, by the coast.”

  Suffolk County didn’t ring any bells, and I had to wonder why they would’ve gone there. Not finding an immediate solution, I turned the heat vents so they were facing me and dangled my fingers in the stream of hot air, reveling in the feel.

  “Okay, where are we now?”

  “We are in Wales, on the opposite coast.”

  “How long will it take us to get to Rand?”

  Sinjin shrugged, “Six hours or so, plenty of time for you to ask me another million questions.”

  “I probably have that many for you,” I said with a slight laugh. “Why don’t you just teletransport us there?”

  He shook his head and my attention lifted to his dark hair that obscured his ears and curled up and over his collar. “I can only teletransport for very short distances and it takes quite a bit of energy.”

  “Can you teletransport someone else or just yourself?”

  “I could do it with a circus if I could hold onto all of them. Next question.”

  “Okay, who are you working for?”

  “It is a long story, but I suppose we have a while. I am a diplomat of sorts.”

  “A diplomat?” I repeated, thinking Sinjin seemed nothing like a diplomat. I had in my mind’s eye the picture of an elderly man in a navy suit smoking a cigar. Don’t ask where it came from, but that’s what diplomat said to me. Sinjin was anything but.

  “A liaison between the vampires and the Underworld community.”

  “I know what a diplomat is,” I snapped. “I just don’t really think of you as one.”

  “I work for a master vampire whose name is Varick Rapone.”

  Varick Rapone sounded the quintessential name for a vampire. As I continued to consider it, Jolie Wilkins did “Iy sound much like a witch’s name. Maybe Regan, I’d always liked that name. Regan Wilkins…not very witchy either.

  “You called yourself a master vampire, what does that mean?”

  He grinned—he really liked talking about himself. “Master vampires are those who have survived longer than five hundred years. We are the strongest of all vampires and the highest in the hierarchy.”

  “So, this Varick…” I started.

  “He is over one thousand, he is one of the few. As you can imagine, he is extremely powerful.”

  I was quiet for a moment as I let all the information seep into me. “So, why pretend to join Bella…” I stopped myself when I realized the answer. “Somehow you heard about me?”

  Sinjin nodded. “I was hired to protect you. Varick knew Bella would be after you, so I was tasked with keeping you safe.”

  “How the hell did you get her to trust you?” I asked.

  Sinjin shrugged and looked away. “I did what I had to do.”

  I didn’t want to touch that statement with a ten-foot pole. Instead, I turned to the fact that these creatures knew about my abilities it seemed before I did. News travels fast, but in the Underworld community, news travels light-speed fast.

  “Are you going to join Rand’s side then?”

  “I will see what he has to offer and then I will decide accordingly.”

  “How many vampires have joined Bella?”

  “Hundreds, but hundreds are also undecided.”

  I was quiet as I looked out the window. Thoughts of an Underworld civil war coursed through my mind. It sounded like Bella was recruiting quite the army and I wondered to what purpose.

  The silence became too much and I turned on the radio, trying to find something to pull my attention from the thoughts going through my head. Duran Duran’s “Rio” blasted out, and I relaxed back into my seat, not caring if Sinjin were an eighties fan or not.

  “Did Ryder do anything more than bite you?” Sinjin asked.

  The mention of the horrible creature’s name sent shivers down my spine. “No.”

  Sinjin said nothing, but nodded, and I fought to find some string of conversation.

  “So, is it true what they say about vampires?”

  Sinjin grinned wickedly. “That depends, what do they say?”

  “That you can’t see your reflections?”

  He scoffed. “Rubbish. I can see my own reflection. I could not imagine not being able to wake to my handsome face every day,” he said with a smile in my direction.

  I frowned. “Oh God, vo-mit.”

  “What else have you heard?”

  “Um that vampires can influence people with their eyes…”

  “Yes, that one is true.”

  “But it won’t work with me,” I double-checked. If vampire influence did work with witches, then that would certainly explain my attraction to him.

  Sinjin quirked a brow. “No, it does not work with you, Pet.”

  Damn. Fresh out of excuses. I guess I was lusting after him of my own stupid accord.

  “And what else?” he pressed.

  “That they’re sexy.” I regretted that one as soon as I said it. Statements like that just added sprinkles to a cake that was already flowing with too much frosting, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and gummy bears.

  He seemed delighted I’d said it—his lips spreading into a huge smile. “Making love with me would be the best you have ever had.”

  “Tell me what you really think,” I said with a frown, trying to get annoyed with his arrogance. I couldn’t hide the blush that climbed up my neck and landed squat on my cheeks. I also couldn’t help imagining sex with Sinjin. Egad. “Well, now that we’re out of danger, you’re back to your sexual self.”

  “We are not out of danger, and this is just how I am.”

  I ignored him. “I’ve heard you can teletransport which you said was true. Um what else? How often do you have to eat?”

  “Every few days.”

  “Only humans?”

  He grinned and quirked a brow. “Or witches.”

  “Be serious. Can you feed on animals?”

  He nodded. “Yes, though the taste is not the best. Rodents or a dog will keep us alive for a few days. Mind you, we certainly could not survive on them alone. Human blood is truly what we need.”

  “How did you become a vampire?”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “It is a very personal question to ask a vampire.”

  I dropped my gaze and suddenly found changing the radio station a pr
ime concern. “I’m sorry.”

  There wasn’t anything but commercials and static coming through, so I just opted to turn the stupid thing off.

  “I am happy to tell you, but just so you know, most vampires might not respond quite so amiably. I was turned in England…”

  “You’re English then?” I guess I already knew that based on his accent.

  “Are you going to let me finish my story or do you insist on interrupting?” He laughed and it was a charming sound. There was something about Sinjin. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but he had definitely been hit with the appealing stick.

  “Sorry.”

  “I am English. I was from a very well-to-do family and was quite the skirt-chaser in my time.”

  I smiled as I thought some things hadn’t changed.

  “Why are you grinning?”

  I was surprised he could see me and then remembered vampires have excellent night vision. “No reason, go on.”

  “Very well. I had taken a trip to Asia, and I met one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever laid eyes on. She was dark and exotic. I immediately fell in love with her and spent many days and a small fortune on her. One night we made love and she bit me. She gave me the option to become like her or die. I chose life.”

  I nodded, thinking it a very odd way to be transformed. I wasn’t sure if it was in Sinjin’s retelling of the story, but it sounded very matter-of-fact and not at all emotional. “Where is this woman now?”

  “She was killed hundreds of years ago. Which is just as well because her death freed me.”

  “Freed you?”

  “From serving her. All vampires must serve the likes of their maker. Should that maker die, it frees them from servitude.”

  “So, wouldn’t most vampires try to kill their makers?”

  He nodded. “Some do try.”

  From the sound of his tone, it seemed some had tried to do him in. I guess that’s what made a master vampire so strong—having to survive constant assassination attempts. “Do you find you have a weak spot for Asian women?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

  He shook his head. “Quite the opposite, actually. Now I find I am attracted to petite, blue-eyed and fair American women with lush breasts and a bottom that just sings to me.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You are just like Christa. Neither one of you can go twenty minutes without talking about sex.”

  “If I had it my way, we would be doing more than discussing bonking.”

  “Bonking?” I laughed. “What a horrible word.”

  I couldn’t help the warmth that soared through me. I leaned against the seat, and for the first time that night, thought about how happy I was to be away from Bella, how truly happy I was that Sinjin wasn’t one of her minions. Well, that I hoped he wasn’t. For all I knew, maybe this was another trap. I pushed the thought aside; it would do me no good. I had no alternative at this point.

  “Are you tired?” he asked.

  “A bit.”

  “We have quite a long driveu should take a nap. I will knock you up when we get there.”

  I just shook my head, thinking he came up with these phrases just to taunt me. “You mean wake me up?”

  Sinjin chuckled.

  I sighed. “I’m going to sleep now.”

  For some reason, I actually felt safe in his hands.

  TWENTY ONE

  When I woke up, it was still dark. It had to be dark in order for Sinjin not to burn up and die, sunlight being the equivalent of a vat full of acid dumped over your head.

  “We are here,” Sinjin said.

  I rubbed my eyes and looked outside. I wasn’t sure what town we were in, but after taking in the small Victorian hotel and the empty coastline surrounding it, I imagined it wasn’t a large one.

  “He is in room one and twenty,” Sinjin said with a smile. “I will wait here until you explain the situation.”

  I nodded. “Thanks, Sinjin.”

  I opened the door and headed into the hotel. I couldn’t wait to see Rand, to throw my arms around him, to let him know I was safe. I’m not sure why I was nervous as I approached Rand’s room, but I was all the same. When faced with his door, I didn’t bother knocking. Instead, I slowly turned the knob, and the door easily opened.

  Rand stood at the windows, facing away from the door. I could just make out his profile as he stared into the night. He was mumbling to himself, although what he said, I couldn’t understand. His button down shirt hung open, his hair disheveled and a few days’ growth of whiskers decorated his face. He looked exhausted, yet to me he looked as beautiful as he always had. My heart sung just at the sight of him, and tears already coursed down my cheeks.

  He sank onto the edge of the bed and rested his head in his hands, looking prostrate.

  “Rand,” I said softly.

  He jerked his head up, his gaze piercing mine. “Jolie?”

  Tears bled freely from my eyes as he closed the distance between us and pulled me against his hard chest. His mouth crushed mine, and I sank into him, wrapping my arms around his waist. The kiss was deeper, more passionate than one we’d ever shared. It told of the sleepless nights, the fear and the ache we’d both known.

  “God,” he whispered. “Jolie, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you, how worried I’ve been.” He pushed away from me, and I dropped my eyes, not wanting him to witness my tears.

  “Are you alright?”

  I nodded dumbly.

  “Jolie, I…” His voice broke. “It killed me to know Bella had you…” His brows suddenly furrowed. “How did you escape?”

  I fended off his question with a wave of my hand. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later…”

  He grabbed my face again, kissing me as if he’d never be able to kiss me again. When he pulled away, his face was flushed.

  “Is Christa alright?” I asked.

  Rand nodded. “Yes, she’s in the room next door. She’s asleep.” He dropped his gaze before bringing it back to my face. His eyes glistened. “You mean everything to me, Jolie.”

  I just smiled as warmth enveloped me like a comforting blanket. But the warmth was interrupted when Rand’s face shadowed with anger seconds later.

  “What did that bastard Ryder…”

  The mention of Ryder acted like a knife slicing right through my happiness. “He knocked me out when we heard the howl in the bushes, do you remember?” At his nod, I continued. “Then he took me to Bella. And Gwynn was sided with him all along, I’m sure you already know that now though.”

  Rand bobbed his head again and parted his lips as if he were going to ask me another question, but I shook my head. I was too concerned with Sinjin waiting out in the car to want to think about the hows, whats and whys of what had happened to me. “Rand, we can discuss all of that later. For now, you should know…”

  “I tried to talk to you with telepathy. Why didn’t you answer me?”

  “Bella had a spell on me, and I couldn’t use my magic.”

  “Did any of them hurt you?”

  I could feel time slipping through my fingers like sand. “Rand, Sinjin is with me.”

  Any joy on his face dissolved. It was like watching a freshly painted portrait in the rain—the colors bleeding down the canvas, stealing the delineation of the subject only to stain the ground in drops of brown.

  “What?” he demanded.

  My heart was pounding. “Sinjin drove me here. He helped me escape from Bella, Rand. He never truly worked for her—it was all just a front.”

  Rand shook his head and started pacing the small hotel room, running both hands through his hair. He paused by the door, then turned on the wall with a vengeance, hitting it with a balled up fist, the plaster cracking.

  His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. “Bullshit.” He turned to face me again and his face was red with ire. “He brought you here?”

  I nodded. If I’d thought it was going to be hard to convince Rand that Sinjin was one of the good gu
ys, now I was wondering if it bordered on impossible. “He’s been having you tracked by some werewolves all along. That’s how he was able to bring me here.”

  “

  I nodded, anxiety pounding within me and eyed the window—dawn was on its way, the sky growing lighter. “It’s true, Rand. He works for a vampire named Varick something or other.”

  Rand sighed. “I know Varick, he and Sinjin are cut from the same cloth.”

  From the sound of it, that wasn’t a good cloth.

  “Sinjin has his own agenda. I’ll not have…” he started.

  “Rand, he helped me get away from Bella. If it weren’t for him, I’d never have escaped. You owe it to him to hear him out.” I had to catch my breath. “Please, Rand, please just listen to him. Do it for me.”

  He crossed his arms against his chest. “Go get him.”

  Relief pounded through me and I wasted no time in hurrying to the door, half afraid he’d change his mind. I skipped the elevator and turning the corner, started down the stairs, walking headlong into Sinjin’s hard chest.

  I gasped and braced my palms against him, pushing myself back. “What are you doing?”

  “I was on my way to see you,” he answered with a grin, looking like a naughty child. “I have not got much time left. The sun is coming.”

  “You were spying on Rand and me, weren’t you?” I asked. “Vampires supposedly have excellent hearing…”

  Sinjin grinned, his eyes alight with mischief. “Sounds as if I have my work cut out for me.”

  “If you mean convincing Rand that you’re on our side, yeah you do.” I shook my head and turned around, heading back down the hallway. “What are we going to do once the sun comes up?” I asked.

  Suddenly I felt him pull me against his chest, one arm wrapped around my upper waist and the other across my chest. My breath caught in my throat, but I couldn’t subdue the heat that suffused me.

  “I have already booked a room.”

  His voice whispered across my ear and neck, and I had to steel myself against the exhilaration coursing within me. “Let go,” I managed.

  “You know I do not like it when you turn your back on me,” he whispered again, and his breath danced along the naked skin of my neck like pixie feet.