by J. A. Saare
My heart contracted, compressed by a phantom hand that continued to squeeze the piss out of it like a disposable squeaky toy. Fuck, if the reminder of Disco’s death didn’t hurt. It felt as if a clenched fist was obliterating my heart, bearing down until I couldn’t breathe.
“It’s all right,” Paine said quietly, as if he knew what I was thinking. “Take it, Rhiannon.”
He didn’t mention the worry about the blood changing me as I’d ingested a bucket load not too long ago, but I was aware that we were on the same page. Considering he and Disco had been friends since childhood, long before they had become vampires, the loss must have been excruciating to him as well. Perhaps even more so, as he’d witnessed Disco’s death before it ever happened. It was his gift and his curse to see the past and future of those he touched.
Anger surfaced at the thought, even if it was wrong of me. Paine could have saved all of us a lot of misery if he’d have broken his rules regarding fate, circumstance and chance.
Damn him and his fucking ripple-effect diatribe.
As if sensing my fury, he pressed his wrist to my mouth, preventing me from lashing out at him verbally. I snatched his arm, placed his cool skin to my mouth, and did something I never did with Disco—I bit down. Even though he must have felt it, he didn’t move or make a sound. His blood tasted different than Disco’s. Instead of cloves and cinnamon, Paine was like sweet, woodsy lemon balm. One swallow, then another, shifted my perception. My eyes cleared, my hearing changed, and my enhanced sense of smell allowed me to appreciate the succulent aroma of Paine’s skin. The moment I felt the corresponding tingles that indicated his blood was bypassing my stomach and spreading through my system, I let go and thrust his hand away.
Paine turned from me but, as was always the case, I couldn’t read him.
He nodded at Bells and said, “Thank you for calling me.”
“No prob.” She shrugged and grinned. “When I saw the dogs, I knew things were bound to get nasty.”
“We need to go.” Goose stood and offered a hand to help me up. “We still have a lot to talk about, and it’s not safe in the open.”
“That’s the understatement of the fucking century,” I muttered and accepted the gesture, grateful for the assistance.
“We can discuss this at the club.” Paine didn’t move closer as I stood, but his attention remained riveted on me. It wasn’t uncommon to catch him staring. Back in the day, I’d see him doing it when he thought I wasn’t aware, as if he had knowledge of something I didn’t. I’d always assumed it was because of the connection we shared. Although it shouldn’t have been possible, I was the only person who wasn’t susceptible to his ability.
Recalling his earlier hesitation before he touched me, I paused.
Perhaps he could see my future now. Maybe things had changed.
“What did you see when you touched me?” I asked.
He took one step closer, then another, until he was directly in front of me.
Time seemed to stand still as I waited, hope and fear warring with each other. Our friendship was formed by his inability to see anything in my past, present, or future. If he could see those things now, it would change things, and I needed more friends in this reality than enemies.
His answer came in the form of touch.
He placed his hands on either side of my face, cradling my jaw, and angled my chin until our eyes met. “Nothing has changed.”
For a moment, I considered telling him he was wrong. Everything had changed.
But I didn’t.
Fatigue spread through me, an acceptance that despite my anger and hurt, I was here now. Wallowing in self-pity wouldn’t do me any favors. I lifted my hands and wrapped my fingers around his wrists, comforted by the feel of his cool, soft skin, and gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Come on,” I said, staring him in the eye. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Nine
In 2014, Paine’s club, The Razor, was on the down low. While vampires were in the know—as were those who enjoyed being Scooby Snacks—the general human populace remained oblivious. The place was exclusive and impossible to get inside unless you had the proper invite, which said a lot for a New York club. Aside from that, it appeared to be like any other private establishment that catered to dance and clubbing enthusiasts of the city.
That secrecy was now a thing of the past.
It was difficult to comprehend vampires feeding in the open, their servants offering wrists and throats like dainty, living and breathing appetizers. The atmosphere appeared dangerous somehow—the lights dim yet more oppressing than before, the blue sconces replaced with red—and the patrons were dressed differently, which, I supposed, was to be expected.
Paine’s grip was firm as he held my hand and led us through the masses, and for a moment I wondered about his unwillingness to let me go. At first I assumed it was due to shock. A lot of time had passed since he’d last seen me, and it would make sense if he wanted to reassure himself that I was really there. The looks I got from Goose and Bells, however, told an entirely different story. Their pointed glances made me wonder what else I didn’t know.
We made it to the back but, unlike before, the double doors to Paine’s hideaway weren’t locked. No one was waiting for us on the other side either. The area was better lit, but aside from that, there were no other apparent changes. Up the stairs we went, until we made it to his personal office above the club.
Paine went in first, but stopped after he crossed the threshold.
He released my hand and forced me to remain behind him as his right arm came around and his hand pressed into the arch of my spine. He urged me to brush against him and took a small step back.
“Victoria.” He spoke with an air of indifference, and I might have been fooled at his dismissal if his fingers hadn’t raked into my lower back as he did so, giving away his anxiety.
“Don’t bother trying to keep her from me,” an eloquent, notably feminine voice replied. “I’ve already gotten word that you helped yourself to some of my people to go after your long lost paramour. Lest you’ve forgotten, I have eyes and ears everywhere, Paine.” She said his name as if he were nothing more than a cashier at the convenience store she was forced face in order to buy a box of tampons when PMS arrived a tad too early and ruined her favorite pair of undies.
Slowly, Paine lowered his arm and released me.
Wise to the situation, I stepped around him and came face to face with one of the most beautiful creatures I’d ever seen. A massive entourage of vampires stood at her back, alert and on guard. Although I’d been absent from most of the gatherings involving vampires and their houses, I was able to perceive the importance of her presence—as well as the danger. Her hair was so dark and lustrous it reminded me of a starless midnight sky. The raven, blue-black strands contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, full cherry-red lips, and lithe frame. When our gazes met, I got a full-on view of her vibrant, grass-green eyes.
Sometimes you’ll meet someone and that instinct we are all born with kicks in—a gift from the Holy Creator—warning you to stay the fuck away lest you be eaten or worse. This woman’s vibe was stronger than most, as was her odd, yet not totally foreign, power. Although she looked like a twenty-something female in her prime, my necromancy told me the bitch was older than dirt.
“You are not as I expected.”
I didn’t move, speak, or give any indication I cared either way about what she expected me to be. Sometimes it was best to bide your time and wait for things to unfold. She sized me up, starting with my blood-stained Nikes, gazing past my camouflage pants, and worked her way to my face. Considering she was swathed in a skin-tight, black velvet outfit straight out of Saturday Night Fever, I was sure my apparel didn’t meet her standards. It was all good. As shitty as the ripped, bloody and ass-ugly camouflage looked, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a cat su
it.
“She’s mine, Victoria.” Paine broke the silence and took a decisive step forward, shielding me with his taller, broader body.
“You no longer have any say as far as she is concerned. The bond you once shared was severed when you stepped down from your responsibilities.”
“She swore fealty to me.” Paine’s voice changed, his gravelly baritone dropping an octave. I could feel the fury simmering below the surface of his carefully constructed facade, could see it in the way his shoulders went taut, his muscles flexed, and he planted his feet—as if preparing to fight.
“You no longer head a family.” Victoria brought her hands to her waist, her long, squared fingernails painted in the same shade of red that glistened on her lips. “That changes things.”
“Why’s that?” I stepped to Paine’s side and slid my hand into his. It was more than a way to calm him down. It also served as a reminder of our connection, whether Victoria wanted to accept it or not.
“He deserted his enclave. He doesn’t deserve a familiar.”
“I swore fealty to him,” I repeated Paine’s previous statement, flying blind and hoping like hell I appeared to know what I was talking about, and dredged up some prior education I’d acquired from Disco. “I didn’t agree to become beholden to another.”
“Well, aren’t you a smart one.” She studied me intently, eyes slitted and lips puckered.
For once, I was at a loss for words.
Is that a trick question?
Goose chimed in and squeezed in around me. “Given the circumstances, I assumed you’d allow her to reconnect with what she knows. Even as Paine’s familiar, she will reside in your domain and remain under your power.”
Her large, snake-like eyes narrowed in on Goose. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion, Ethan. Until you’re addressed, keep your mouth shut.”
Like a chastised child who knew the shit would certainly hit the fan if he didn’t put a lid on it, Goose immediately lowered his head, placed his chin to his chest, and didn’t say another word. Goose was always polite, but I’d never seen him back down like this. As if he was standing before God instead of a vampire.
Who the fuck is this bitch?
“What say you?” she asked me, seeming bored as she glanced at Paine. Her attention lingered on him far longer than it should have, as if she was caressing his body with her eyes. “Would you debase yourself by remaining in his accompaniment? Would you willingly be the familiar of a vampire who turns his back against his own?”
Then, as if the clouds parted and revealed what I couldn’t see before, I understood the reason for the animosity. Ms. Cleopatra Cat Suit had the hots for Paine. No wonder she looked like she wanted to kill me.
“Of course I would,” I purred and released Paine’s hand to plaster my body to his side. Although I knew he was surprised, he recovered quickly and snaked an arm around my waist. Mirroring his movement, I skimmed my hand slowly across his abdomen, taking my time as I outlined the muscular indentions along his stomach, and smiled when I saw Queen Bitch’s jaw spasm as she clenched her teeth.
Oh yeah, she had the hots for him all right. Bingo.
“I believe she has answered your question.” Paine remained cordial, but his disinterest was blatant. “She stays with me.”
Victoria moved fast, her beautiful face came within inches of mine, and I was struck by the alabaster skin that seemed as smooth and flawless as porcelain. Long, dark lashes fanned her eyes, and at our close proximity, I knew they weren’t falsies.
“I don’t care who you are, where you came from, or what you can do. I’ve been told all about you, Rhiannon Murphy. Cross me, and I’ll rip out your fucking throat, let you bleed out, and make those who care about you so much watch.” Turning her head, she narrowed her eyes at Paine. “The same applies to you. Fuck with me, and there won’t be any place you can hide. I’ll own your soul.”
Paine yanked me behind him as Victoria walked past us with her head held high. The dozen or so men in her accompaniment followed, remaining silent though each took a brief glance in my direction. She stopped just outside the doorway and turned.
“Don’t forget our agreement, Paine,” she said. “I’ll expect time with your necromancer soon enough.”
Paine didn’t say a word, and neither did I. I mentally compiled what she had said to my growing list of questions which would be asked at a better time. The moment they were gone, Goose and Bells quickly stepped inside and closed the door.
“Who the fuck was that?” I stepped away from Paine and made a beeline for the couch. My muscles were achy, and my head had started to pound. The adrenaline coursing through my body made me shake, the trembling far too much for me to control or stop.
“So much has changed in the time you’ve missed,” Goose answered, and I glanced up at him.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Reclining, I sighed in bliss as cushions cradled my back. “Everything’s different.”
Paine approached and crouched at my feet. He placed a hand on my thigh, the weight of his palm comfortingly heavy, and I couldn’t help but notice the physical contact thing. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself.
“Victoria is the queen of the newly established North Eastern Province,” Paine said. “She controls everything above the Mason-Dixon line, all the way to what was once the Canadian border.”
“A queen, huh?” I exhaled softly, closed my eyes, and allowed my head to fall back. Now the world consisted of vampire royalty. Why was I not surprised? “It figures.”
“This isn’t a joke.” Goose sounded annoyed, and I countered his aggravation with my attitude. As fucked up as it was, his annoyance reminded me of home. I wanted to see him moody. Seeing him ordered around like a puppet pissed me off.
Lifting my head, I opened my peepers and looked him in the eye. “Do you see me laughing?”
“Her kind is responsible for everything you see around you,” Bells informed me, her voice solemn. “The war, the syndrome—all of it.”
“What?” I sat up and rested my elbows on my knees. “Are you telling me she isn’t a vampire?”
The pressure of Paine’s hand on my leg increased as he spoke. “Lady Victoria is not as she seems. The beauty is an illusion, a bit of clever magic.”
That isn’t exactly an answer.
“Are you saying she’s a witch?” I looked at Bells, thinking that perhaps I was finally on to something.
Bells folded her arms over her chest, visibly insulted. “She is nothing like me. I resent and take offense to the insinuation.”
“She’s a half-demon,” Paine clarified as if Bells hadn’t spoken. “The result of an encounter between a summoning witch and a demon.”
Shit. Demon children were powerful creatures. In fact, they were responsible for creating vampires by draining a human dry and replacing their blood with their own.
“I thought they were sent back to Hell a long time ago.”
“They were, until demons decided it was time to up the ante. They are the reason vampires were revealed to the world. In fact,” Paine moved closer, invading my personal space, “they control everything now.”
Demons, magic—a world gone fucking crazy.
A terrifying thought had me grasping Paine’s hand in a vise-like grip. Fear mingled with fury. “Can demons cross over to this realm freely now?” Zagan had come for me at the library. Was it possible for demons to cross over without benefit of contract or the bidding of a summoning? “Can they leave Hell whenever they feel like it?”
“No.” Paine’s tone was pacifying, as if he knew just how close I was to going into shock. “The same rules apply. It is only their children that can freely travel between the dimensions.”
“Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my,” I muttered and shook my head, attempting to curb my horrid attempt at humor and focus.
“You’re fortunate they took you out of their boundaries.” Paine’s hand moved from my thigh and wrapped around my fingers. “Normally they keep everyone they find in the compound.”
They meaning werewolves. Jesus.
It was hard to believe that just months ago I was stupid enough to believe that vampires were the biggest, baddest creepy crawlies that existed.
“They didn’t really have a choice.” Rather than moving away from Paine, I accepted the comfort of his touch. Lord knows that I needed it. “They couldn’t exactly keep me around, not with me owing a debt to a demon.”
The entire room went quiet, and Paine went still.
“That’s right, boys and girls,” I continued, peering around at their baffled faces. “I’m indebted to Zagan now, which means I have four days to deliver a message to Disco before my ass is grass.”
“What do you mean, indebted?” Goose took a step forward. “Zagan said he’d sent you forward in time. He said nothing about a debt.”
“It was a trick,” I admitted, furious with myself once again. I’d been so stupid striking the bargain. “Zagan said that he’d sever the debt between him and Disco if I gave him Marigold Vesta’s amulet and delivered a message.”
“A message?” Paine asked softly, stroking my knuckles with his thumb.
“To Disco.”
“You can’t deliver a message to Gabriel.” Goose sounded horrified, and when I turned my attention on him, his face was chalky white. My stomach knotted, my palms going clammy. The look from Goose was an indicator of bad things to come, like a red stain covering the moon, or a black cat crossing your path as you walked down the sidewalk.
“Why not?”
“He crossed over after he passed,” Goose actually croaked, and his hands were visibly twitching. “He’s not in this realm any longer.”