“Just where the hell do you think you’re taking me and in my own vehicle, no less?”
“I’m saving you. A thank you would be nice,” Ryder answered keeping his eyes on the road.
“Saving me? You freakin’ kidnapped me! How the hell is that saving me?”
“I’ll explain in due time. We have a long drive ahead. You should rest.”
Vivien was about to lose her shit. Who did that man think he was? Really, she knew he was a vampire—she had sensed that much in the parking lot.
“What about you?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest. “I know what you are, and correct me if I’m wrong, but sunlight will set your ass on fire, and you only have about an hour until dawn.”
Ryder sighed, then ran a hand through his hair. “That is correct. I plan on finding a motel soon. How did you know?”
“Oh, now you have questions?” She arched a brow. “How about you tell me how you know my name and why we had to leave Los Angeles in such a hurry?”
“I’ll answer all of your questions once we find a suitable place to lay our heads until sundown. Will that be acceptable?”
“Do I have a choice?” Vivien countered, even more pissed off than before.
“You have two choices: if you want to live, you stay with me. If you want to die you may go back to Los Angeles where there’s a price on your head. It’s up to you.” Ryder looked back at her through the mirror, no doubt gauging her response. She was sure he saw her expression of sheer terror, then noticed when it morphed into something else—determination and a will of steel.
She nodded, but said nothing, then buckled her seatbelt.
Gears were turning inside of Vivien’s mind. Who exactly had put a price on her head, and why? She had been so careful and why would a vampire save her? That was an even bigger question. Vampires hated her kind, yet this no-named vampire seemed dead set on saving her. She wondered what was in it for him. She had been running for so long, she never allowed herself to get attached to anyone. She’d worked to pay her way through law school, then climbed the chain in order to get into the position she held now. Had held—now she was running. Again. The why, she guessed she would find out as soon as they found the nearest flea-ridden motel available at this godforsaken hour.
Ryder had been driving for the past seven hours; they were just on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. How did this woman know he was a vampire? He kept glancing back at her in the rearview mirror without responding to her questions and could see her irritation growing. He decided it was best to pull over at the nearest exit and find a motel. This discussion was not meant to be had in a moving vehicle.
Ryder sighed again. He’d never enjoyed being an assassin for the coven, but that was what he was good at—killing. It was all he had known from the time he was made a vampire some four hundred and twenty years ago. He was the best tracker they had and when the coven called, he answered without complaint, until now. What had he gotten himself into? Why couldn’t he have just done his job and gone back to his home where he would be sitting in his favorite recliner, sipping on a glass of bourbon? Vivien, that’s why.
Ryder pulled into the parking lot of Hal’s Motel. There was a flashing “Vacancy” sign with both A’s busted. Yeah, it was a piece of shit, but it would have to do. The best part about the place was the diner next door. He assumed Vivien would be hungry at some point. When was the last time he had thought about anyone other than himself? Ryder pondered on that for a moment—he had friends, but they were all vampires who could care for themselves. He shook his head; it had been far too long for him to remember human compassion. These feelings were foreign, and he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with what was going on inside of him.
“Cozy,” Vivien said sarcastically from the backseat, breaking Ryder from his thoughts.
“It’s a real five-star place. Just wait until you see inside. I’ll be right back, unless you want to go inside with me to get the keys.”
“No, I’m good. I’m sure the view from our room will be just as exquisite as the one inside the office,” she replied with a slight grin. Wait. Why was she grinning? She didn’t even like this vampire. He had kidnapped her. Then again, she guessed he might be doing her a favor by saving her life. She’d have to wait and see. If not, she would just kill him and be on her way and start over somewhere else. The story of her life.
TWO
RYDER OPENED the door and stepped out. The smell of grease from the diner was overpowering, along with diesel from the big rigs parked behind the motel. He could only imagine what the room would smell like with his heightened senses.
When he walked into the dingy lobby of Hal’s Motel, there was no one behind the desk. It looked like the nineteen seventies had thrown up all over the place with rust-colored plastic chairs lining the walls and green shag carpet beneath his feet. He’d really found a gem of a place to rest until sundown. Ryder rang the bell that sat on the counter and waited, careful not to touch anything. No, he couldn’t contract diseases, but he still had a thing about cleanliness and this place was filthy. Finally, after about five minutes, a balding, overweight man, standing around five foot ten, wearing plaid pants and a grease-stained, yellow button-up shirt, waddled to the counter.
“What can I do for ya?” the man asked, scanning Ryder from head to toe.
“I’d like a room. Two double beds if you have it available,” Ryder said, looking into the man’s beady brown eyes.
“Well, it’s gonna cost ya. I only have one left. That’ll be a hundred dollars—cash.”
Ryder wanted to rip the man’s throat out. The room wasn’t worth thirty dollars, let alone one hundred. Instead, he glared, then pulled out his wallet and produced a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill and held his hand out for a key.
“Room sixty-seven. Pleasure doing business with ya. Checkout time is eleven a.m. sharp or you’ll be charged for another day.”
“It’s five a.m. and you just charged me one hundred dollars,” Ryder said, raising his voice.
“Sorry, can’t help ya, unless you wanna pay for another night,” the balding man said picking his teeth.
Ryder shook his head in revulsion, then looked down at the name tag on the asshole’s shirt—Gary. “Listen, Gary. You’re going to give me the room until sundown for one hundred dollars because you’re such a nice guy. Then, you’re going to forget that you ever saw me.” Ryder didn’t want to have to use mind control, but the jackass gave him no other choice. He snatched his key and stalked out the door, leaving Gary standing at the counter looking like the idiot that he was.
When he returned to the car he found Vivien sitting in the exact same spot. It looked like she was laughing at him. She was human and there was no way she could have heard the exchange inside the lobby. He wondered what the hell was so damn funny.
He opened the car door, got in and shut the door behind him, then slid the gearshift into reverse and pulled around back to their shitty room: number sixty-seven. He parked the car, without saying a word or acknowledging her continuous laughter, opened the door and motioned for her to get out.
“Oh, thank you, kind sir. I may leave my own vehicle now?” she asked in a smart-ass tone. Ryder attempted to hold back the smirk that was drawing up the corner of his mouth, but he couldn’t help it. Vivien was a strange human, but damn she was sexy.
“Yes, Vivien. You are not a prisoner. Would you like to see our lovely accommodations?” he asked, helping her out of the backseat.
“Really now. That remains to be seen. You still haven’t told me who wants me dead and you’re the only one dragging me away.”
“Can we talk about this in our room where we will have more privacy?” Ryder was trying to be patient. He imagined if he were in her shoes, he’d be quite pissed. Then again, he wouldn’t be in her shoes. He would kill the bastard who tried to kidnap him.
He scrubbed his hand over his face and led her to their door. The paint was peeling from the structure, with moldy windowsills t
o the right of the door, looking even more repulsive than he’d anticipated. Both were freakin’ mint green, or at least they used to be, just like the shag carpet in the lobby. How this place hadn’t been shut down was beyond him.
When he turned the key and opened the door, his jaw dropped.
Vivien stood just outside the door next to him, then walked inside to inspect the room. “You can’t be serious? You paid a hundred bucks for this shithole? What kind of vampire are you? You could’ve just used mind control and got this room for free.”
“How the hell do you know what I paid for the room? I never told you.” He watched as Vivien’s facial expression changed. She was hiding something.
“You told me when you got in the car,” she said looking away.
“I did not, and you realize I’m a vampire and can detect a lie, right?”
Vivien squared her shoulders and walked past the two double beds, glancing in disgust at the fitted stained comforters. She shuddered in horror at the thought of having to sleep on them. At the sink, she found a wash cloth that seemed relatively clean, and began washing her face, ignoring Ryder completely. She wasn’t about to tell him her secret just yet. He hadn’t told her shit.
After she washed her face, she turned to an impatient-looking Ryder. “Before I answer your questions, you answer mine,” she demanded, placing her hands squarely on her hips.
Ryder sighed and took a seat in the threadbare red faded chair near the window. “Fine, but you won’t like what you hear, and you might want to take a seat. Maybe put a towel down first.”
“I’m fine standing, thanks.”
He leaned forward in the chair, placing his elbows on his knees. “I’m an assassin for the Los Angeles Coven of Vampires. I was given your name and photograph by my coven leader, Damien, with no explanation as to why he wanted you dead. Typically, I don’t ask questions, but there was something about you and I couldn’t go through with it. I knew you were special. It’s the first time that this has happened to me and I don’t know how to process it, to be honest, but rest assured I will not harm you.”
Vivien laughed. “So, you’re an assassin and I’m supposed to be thankful that you didn’t kill me. Wonderful.” She turned away from him, feeling nervous. “Why did you save me? What makes me so special?”
“I can’t answer that. I felt something… It’s your scent—it’s strange, yet alluring and familiar. I knew the moment I touched you in the parking lot that I couldn’t kill you. Besides, I can’t stand that bastard of a coven leader. He’s shady as hell.” Ryder took a breath when she turned to look at him. “What is it about you that makes you so different, and how did you hear what I said? I’ll help you find out why the coven wants you dead, but you have to trust me.”
Trust? Vivien couldn’t remember the last time she trusted someone. Wait, yes, she could, and she almost died, but what other choice did she have right now? It was either trust the vampire or go on the run with no answers as to why or who was hunting her again.
She took a deep breath and sat in the chair opposite him. She figured, what the hell? “Now would be a good time for a shot of whiskey,” she said, conjuring a bottle of Kentucky’s finest and two shot glasses. Ryder jumped from his seat and looked at her like she’d just grown three heads. “What? Never seen a witch conjure before? Sit down and drink your whiskey.”
Ryder shook his head and blew out a long breath, then took his seat. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Well, there’s more. Down your shot and pour another.”
“So, you’re a witch? Do you have your magic cloaked? Is that why I didn’t sense it?”
“Something like that. I’m a witch and a shapeshifter. My mother was a witch and my father was a full-blooded shapeshifter. He could change into any animal or human at will. The coven my mother once belonged to wanted me dead at birth because they believed my father to be of demon blood, labeling me an abomination due to his heritage. They fled the magical realm of Garginton once I was born.”
“Why would they think a shapeshifter to be of demon blood?”
“According to my mother, he wasn’t born in this realm, but came from the Underworld. He was killed just outside of Garginton once they reached the human realm. I never knew him or his name. Mother never spoke of him. The coven warriors were sent to kill us all after they fled, but my mother was able to escape with me and hide out until her death fifteen years ago,” Vivien said as a tear slid down her cheek. She poured another shot of whiskey not looking Ryder in the eyes. She didn’t want his pity.
“I’m sorry,” he said and placed his hand on hers before she took a drink. Vivien looked into his swirling silver eyes and saw what looked like emotion pass through them. She wasn’t aware vampires had any emotions to speak of.
“Thank you, but that’s all in the past. Now you know why I’ve been on the run all these years. If the coven warriors find me, I’m as good as dead.” She sighed, removing her hand, and took a drink. It burned going down, but it helped to numb the pain of dredged up emotions she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Ryder scooted his chair a little closer and took her hand again. Vivien watched him when a jolt of electricity shot through her bloodstream. He looked as shocked as she felt, but said nothing of it. “If these coven warriors learned of your location and sent the vampire clan to assassinate you, then it’s best we get as far away as possible.
“We’ll need to ditch your car at sundown and head toward New Orleans. I have contacts there who will know what to do. They can help both of us. I no longer wish to be part of Damien’s coven. That’s if you want my help.”
Vivien didn’t need to ask any more questions, she felt in her gut that he was telling the truth and he would help her. She nodded. “Thank you for saving my life. We need to rest. We have a long drive ahead.”
THREE
RYDER THOUGHT long and hard about what Vivien had told him, then poured himself another shot. The truth was, his mind was in turmoil, wondering why the hell Damien would put a hit out on her. Was he working with this mysterious witch coven? In all the centuries he had been alive, he’d never heard mention of a magical realm existing beyond the earthly plane. He glanced over at Vivien who was attempting to make herself comfortable on the bed, and knew he had to protect her, but how? He needed to contact his friend, Tristan, in New Orleans to find out if he knew anything of this mystery realm and ask if he could help them find a safe house until Ryder had a plan set in motion.
“Vivien, I’m just going to make a call to New Orleans. I’ll try not to disturb you,” he said, walking toward the bathroom.
“I’m not sure I can sleep in this filthy room without thinking of what might crawl on my head once I drift off,” she said shifting to the side. “You can’t disturb me. I hear everything if I want to. Supernatural hearing, remember?”
Ryder nodded with a smile and turned to walk back to the chair. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
He dialed Tristan’s cell and waited. After four rings, he finally picked up.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Tristan. It’s Ryder. I know it’s been a long time, but I have a favor to ask.”
“Ryder? LA Ryder? How the hell are ya, man?” Tristan exclaimed. “I haven’t spoken to you in years.”
“I’ve been better. Listen, I’m on the run from the vampire coven and there’s something else—someone else. Her name is Vivien and Damien has her marked for death.”
“What? Why? Wait, are you telling me that you were supposed to assassinate her and didn’t?” Tristan asked, sounding shocked.
“Yes, that’s the short of it, but there’s more to the story. She’s a witch and shifter hybrid who’s been on the run and somehow, Damien was hired to kill her or learned of her breeding. I can’t be sure which. We need a safe house for now. I can explain the rest when we arrive in New Orleans.”
“Whoa, all right, but things have changed significantly since we last spoke. Things in the Big Easy aren’t quite w
hat they used to be. I’ll text you the address of where I’m living now, but prepare yourself—I live among vampire-witch hybrids.”
Well, that was a revelation, but Ryder was in no position to object. He needed all the help he could get.
“Thank you, brother. I will call you again once we arrive in New Orleans.”
“No problem. If you run into any trouble along the way, just give me a call. See you soon,” Tristan said ending the call.
When Ryder shoved his phone back into his pocket, he could feel Vivien staring at him and turned toward her.
“How long has it really been since you spoke to him?” Vivien asked, sitting up on the bed, sleep forgotten. She seemed wide awake now. “A better question would be: Can you trust him?”
“I’ve known Tristan for many centuries,” Ryder answered, sitting on the bed opposite her. “He’s a trusted friend, one I am certain I can trust with your secret.”
Ryder could feel Vivien’s unease coming off of her in waves. She had dropped her protective shield and he took that as a sign of trust.
“What about these hybrids Tristan spoke of?” she asked, widening her eyes and wringing her hands. “It’s obvious you don’t know them. What if they turn me in? We don’t know anything about these creatures.”
“If Tristan trusts them, then they must be good people,” Ryder said. “I’ve heard of the Hybrid Coven. They were once witches, turned by rogue vampires around a hundred and fifty years ago. They’re daywalkers and they maintained their magic once they were turned. They fight against evil and do not consume the blood of humans.”
He could see by the look in her eyes that the gears were turning in her head. She wasn’t a trusting person, that much he knew, and rightly so. There was much more to her story, but he felt that in time she would tell him.
“All right. We’ll give it a go, but I’m trusting you with my life at this point,” she said, her blue eyes gleaming with power. “Not to say that I won’t kill anyone who makes an attempt to kill me first.”
Shadows and Stars Page 78