Dianthe Rising

by J. B. Miller

  “Hey girls, you having fun in Cable tonight?”

  “Yeah.” I smiled up at him. “The music is great and it’s a cool atmosphere.”

  “Nice.” He smiled at me and I honestly felt my heart melt a little. If nothing else, Daniel and I were going to be friends.

  “Hey,” Annie shouted at us. “I’m going to go check out all the single guys left out there. Are you going to be here for a while Danny?”

  “Yeah,” his voice growled.

  Even when he spoke softly, it was like rocks rolling down an embankment it was so deep.

  “I’ve got an hour before I have to be back on the door. I pulled a favor in,” he winked at me.

  “Cool beans.” Annie gave us the thumbs up. “Well, I will leave the birthday girl in your capable hands.”

  Before we could say another word, she had flounced off into the mass of dancing bodies, never looking back.

  Danny's deep timbre vibrated against my neck when he leaned down to speak to me.

  “Hey, do you want to go upstairs where it’s quieter? It’s the VIP section, but I can get us in.”

  “Sure,” I was ready for a break from all the people around us. Daniel took my hand in his huge one and led me through the crowd.

  “I’ll let Mark know to point Annie in our direction if she comes looking.” He leaned over the bar and grabbed the attention of one of the bartenders. A twenty something bloke came over. He had purple hair gelled up in a Mohawk, several hoops and studs pierced both ears. Punk had nothing on this guy.

  “Hey, Mark, Dia and I are heading up stairs. You know my little cousin, Raggedy, if she comes looking send her our way, mate.”

  “No problem,” Mark shouted back in a strong Australian accent as we made our way to the stairs.

  We ran into another masculine mountain at the ropes to the stairs. “Geeze, is it a requirement that you guys have to be ripped to work here?”

  Laughing, Daniel leaned down so I could hear him. “Nahh, but to work the ropes and security it helps. We’d hardly intimidate the rowdy ones if we weighed in at ten stone now would we?”

  “Okay, I get your point,” I laughed. “Lead and I will follow, oh intimidating one.”

  The bouncer at the stairs let us through with a smirk at Daniel. As we made our way up the stairs, I looked down at my hand in his.

  “Your buddy does realize that you’re not taking me up here to score right?”

  A huge grin spread across Daniel's face. “Probs,” he said. “But a guy is hardly going to admit he’s taking a sexy thing like you upstairs to talk.”

  “You freak,” I laughed. “They are going to assume I’m a skank.”

  “If you insist on that picture,” he grinned, then grabbed me around the waist and lifted me up against his chest. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on for dear life. My arms flew around his neck for balance and I squealed like a little girl.

  “Oh my God, we are on the stairs you idiot. You might kill us both.”

  Sniggering, he cupped my bum and said, “You should hold on.” He proceeded to run up the last steps and I managed to catch a glimpse over his shoulder to see his buddy laughing at us.

  Daniel carried me to a corner of the room where the lights were dimmer. He took us to a recessed booth that stood concealed from any curious onlookers. The music was a fraction of the sound up stairs and I could hear myself think.

  “Wow, this is an improvement. I can hear. I don’t have to scream at you, Daniel,” I giggled. “We can have a real conversation.”

  “Yup,” he grinned as he hauled me closer.

  I realized at that moment that I remained wrapped around him like a pretzel. “Oh boy,” I blushed. “You can sit me down, giant man.”

  Chuckling against the top of my head, he moved closer to the booth. “Why would I want to do that? You feel fine where you are,” he leaned in and whispered in my ear while his hands lowered back to my ass.

  “Eerp,” I gasped as I tried to wiggle out of his arms. I stilled as I sensed the steel pipe he was hiding in his trousers. Flustered and turned on, I fell back on bravado. “Oh my freaking God, Daniel, put me down right this instant,” I exclaimed. I couldn't believe the way I was behaving with him. We had only met.

  “Sorry, sexy, couldn’t help myself. It’s all that wiggling you’re doing, I’m a man.”

  He released my legs and let me slide down his rock hard body. Did I tell you he’s massive? He is like over a foot taller than I am and I’m five seven. His chest is bigger than my whole body and I could barely wrap my legs around him. I had never been this attracted to any one in my life. Not that I dated, but damn he pushed all the right buttons. I was starting to rethink the good catholic girl routine. Annie might have been on to something with the one night stand idea.

  I looked him up and down before blurting out, “Wow, did your mum grow you that big? Or are you some weird military experiment?” My hand flew over my mouth as my eyes rounded. “Sorry I have no idea where that came from. I must be channelling Annie," I cringed.

  Daniel threw back his head and roared with laughter, causing several heads to turn in our direction. “No worries, sexy, I’m used to it. This is all natural. I hit six feet when I turned fourteen. It took a few years more to fill out though,” he finished with a wink.

  “Wow. Okay, that’s large,” I said blankly.

  “You have no idea, babes,” he deadpanned.

  My face turned beetroot red and I turned away to slide into the booth he had brought us to.

  “What are you drinking, Dia, and I will get you another one. Yours didn’t make it up the stairs.”

  “Yeah, I wonder why that is, He-Man?”

  “How is it my fault you can’t hold on to your alcohol, sweet cheeks?”

  “Okay, Daniel, we are going to have to stop with all the pet names,” I grinned impishly. “I’ve got some whoppers for you if you don't stop it.”

  “Bring them on, lusciousness. I can imagine a million and one things to say to describe the incandescence that is your body.”

  “Do you understand what that word means, Goliath?”

  The laughter left his eyes as he leaned in close to me and murmured against my ear. “Oh yeah I do, it means you glow, baby, like a fire,” he paused. “You light up my world.” He leaned back and waggled his eyebrows at me like Groucho Marx.

  “Oh my God, you are unbelievable. Go get me a drink. I was drinking something called a zombie.”

  Daniel choked, “A zombie, for real? Damn girl, you are tougher than you appear to be able to handle that like a virgin daiquiri. You were throwing it back downstairs.”

  “What’s in it?” I asked. “It didn’t seem strong,” I’d assumed it was a normal mix drink.

  “Well,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s called a voodoo zombie. It's potent,” he laughed.

  “Okay, now I’m worried. What’s in it?”

  “Let see,” he shrugged. “There’s grenadine, vodka, dark and light rum, strawberry schnapps and a couple other things like juice and mixers. Did Mark suggest it to you? If he did, we are having words.” Daniel looked as if he were getting angry.

  “No, Annie brought it to me, told me it was a good cocktail.”

  Daniel looked at me thoughtfully before replying, “Hmmm…she would, what were her plans for you tonight, Dia?”

  A blush suffused my face and I looked away. “Ummm nothing much, to go out drinking and have a little fun," I glanced at him innocently.

  He looked at me dubiously before translating. “Well as I am familiar with my cousin’s ways, I will hazard an assumption. Take her actions of splitting out on us, and I’m guessing, get you drunk and laid right?”

  I hung my head in mortification and groaned, “Oh my God, please kill me here and now.”

  “Don’t sweat it, baby. I won't take advantage of you, but I will go get you a coke and hang out with you until you sober up a bit. When was the last time you went out drinking?”

  �
�Umm…tonight, it’s my birthday.”

  Aghast he looked at me in horror. “You’re eighteen?”

  “Nooo,” I giggled. “I’m twenty today, but I grew up a good catholic girl, and it’s my first night out in the big wide world on my own.”

  “Aww damn it, baby. Now I cannot take advantage of you. It doesn’t help that I feel like a pervert. I’ve got ten years on you.”

  Laughing, I poked him in the chest. “You’re not decrepit yet. Besides, ten years is not a big gap. If I were fourteen,” I let it trail off.

  He held up his hand and cringed in defeat. “Hold on two shakes and I will be right back with a non-alcoholic drink.”

  I watched as he headed toward the bar and let my gaze and mind wonder around the dance floor below me. I could see bodies undulating against each other in a frantic beat to match the music blasting from the DJs sound system. It seemed little time had passed before Daniel came back and handed me a diet coke.

  “Here you go, Dia, one Diet Coke on ice. No extras.”

  “Thanks, Daniel,” I smiled at him. “Since we’ve spent the last half an hour feeling each other up why don’t you tell me about yourself? I don’t know anything about you, other than you are Annie’s cousin and you call her Raggedy. Why is that by the way?” I raised a brow at him.

  “Well, I call her Raggedy because when she was little she was like a tiny rag doll our aunt brought back from the states. Therefore, my brothers and I started calling her Raggedy Annie. She thought it meant that she wore rags. She’s always been fashion mad, so we didn’t bother to correct her and it drove her crazy. It kind of stuck and it has become more an endearment. As for me, I’m thirty and recently finished my last tour in the RAF. It’s not far removed from your military experiment idea,” he grinned. “I enlisted when I turned eighteen and they paid my way through the university while I travelled the world and served my country. I’ve been home about six months and for the past three of them been regaled by the wonders of Dia Mclearey.”

  “Oh God, she didn’t?” I cringed. “Tell me she’s hasn’t been selling me to you?”

  “Sweetheart, Annie, her mom and my mom have been on that boat since I came home. I think they are planning the wedding as we speak. I wouldn’t be surprised if Annie wasn’t in a three-way call with them this minute.”

  “Oh my God, I’m going to kill her. She is dead to me. I cannot believe she tried to set us up,” I gasped.

  “In all honesty, I knew all about it, but I am a trained soldier,” he grinned. “It’s my job to be aware of what the insurgents are up to. I was going to go along with the plan tonight and let you down easy. Now that I’ve met you, I’m thinking that I like the idea.”

  My mouth fell open and I stared at Daniel slack-jawed.

  He chuckled, reached over, closed my mouth, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Sweetheart, that’s my hour and a bit, I need to get back to the job. I hate to love you and leave you, but time stands still for no man. Will you be okay on your own for a while? I’m sure Annie is around. I’ll have a look on my way down and when I find her, I’ll send her up to you. If you can’t find her, watch for me and I’ll get you home safe.”

  “Yeah,” I breathed, “that sounds good. I suppose when I find her I am going to call it a night any way and head home. It’s close to one and I have unpacking to do.”

  Daniel took my hand and turned it over kissing the center of my palm. Wicked tingles shot up my hand into my arm. I suppressed a shiver as I breathed out.

  “Isn’t it supposed to be the back of the hand?”

  “Nahh,” he said, eyes shining. “That’s overdone. Would it be okay to get your number from Annie? I’d like to see you again.”

  “Oh, yeah, I mean yes,” I stammered. “I’d like that.” It took a moment but I clued in. “You mean like a date?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I mean like a date.” His smile lit up the room and I turned into a gooey puddle then and there. “I’ll be seeing you around, sexy.” He threw one last charming smile at me as he headed back down the stairs.

  I couldn’t believe it, that conniving little witch had tried to set me up with her cousin. Oh God wait, she did set me up with her cousin. Just wait until I find her. After taking out my mobile, I began to text her.

  Where r u? u r so dead. A couple minutes later, I get a reply.

  At home. Saw u havn blast with D. Ask he will take u home. XXX

  There was another quick reply.

  Going 2 bed. Turning fone off. Talk tmorrow. LOVE YOU!! Happy Bday.

  I cannot believe she did this to me. I was not asking Daniel to take me home. It did not matter how we hit it off or how hot he was. That reeked of desperation. I’d grab a taxi or train home on my own. I headed down the stairs waving to the same security guard that had been there when we came up. When I got to the front of the club, a different bouncer worked the door. Daniel wasn’t working the ropes at the front either and I was glad. I couldn’t face explaining to him what Annie had done. He would insist on taking me home.

  With a smile to the guy at the front, I ducked through the door and made my way out into the night.

  Chapter Three

  After leaving the club, I headed back down the road toward the underground. I swung around the corner into the tunnel under the bridge. God, I hated being in London this late at night on my own. Annie was going down the next time I saw her. I had nearly made it to the end of the tunnel and onto the next street when I heard the sound of heavy breathing behind me. I whirled around and peered into the dark while backing away from the noise.

  “Who’s there? Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’m meeting my mates at the other end of the street.”

  Low laughter met my words and a familiar voice floated out to me. “Ah, petal, and here I presumed it was me you were looking for.”

  With a tilt of my head, I looked into the shadows. It was the voice of the creepy guy in the club. “Marcus?” I called back.

  “Oh goodie,” he replied. “You remembered my name. I’m anticipating hearing you scream it before I’m done with you.”

  I began to get worried so I began to back away. “Look, “I said. “I don’t want any trouble, Marcus. It has been a long night and I’m heading home. I’m sorry we didn’t hit it off, but you’re not my type. No offense, okay?”

  “Oh none taken, petal, in fact I’m going to show you how much it takes to offend me.”

  A shudder raced down my back. My spine stiffened and I prepared to make a run for it as soon I could get enough space between us. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?” I questioned.

  “Oh, darling, that delicious scent and the teasing laughter—it’s intoxicating. I watched you with that ignorant human ape. Why were you wasting your time with that piece of meat instead of me? Are you not into the fanged?”

  “The what?” I gasped. “Look, Marcus, I guess you have me confused with someone else. I’m not into role-play and I’m so not Goth.”

  “Oh, petal, petal, petal,” he wagged his finger back and forth. “So like the flower you are. I am going to pluck you until you lay broken at my feet. When you are laid in front of me, I’m going to drink up that beautiful nectar until you’re a wilted shell.”

  “What the hell does that even mean?” I wondered aloud. I didn't think of the need to hold back on upsetting the crazy stalker man.

  “It means I’m going to drink you down till your nothing but a dry husk.”

  His eyes seemed to flash red in the light of the street lamp. Fear was beginning to take over and I was near panic when a noise broke into the quiet night. A group of young men stumbled into the tunnel singing drunkenly. Marcus turned his head to glance at the people coming our way and I took the chance it gave me and ran. His voice rang in my ears.

  “Run, Dia, run. I’m coming for you.”

  With all the speed in me, I dashed onto the next street. I looked for somewhere to hide so I could call for help. His laughter echoed all around me. I ran into the neare
st alley and hid behind a large skip.

  Oh God, how in the hell is this happening. One hand reached down for my bag. I realized that I had lost it along with my only chance of calling in the Calvary.

  Think, Dia, think. What would Sean do in a situation where he couldn't call in for backup?

  My eyes closed. I leaned my head back against the wall. I was trying to come up with a way out of this mess when I heard his voice.

  “Dia, where are you? Come out, petal, I promise it will not be too bad. I can sense your divine scent... Mmmmmmm...delicious. I cannot wait to have a sip. I know you are near. Come out, come out, where ever you are.”

  While taking shallow breaths, I tried not to make a sound as the freak hunted me. What the hell did I do to get into this kind of mess? I swear to God if I make it home, I am never letting Annie talk me into going out again.

  I looked frantically around me for a way out of this serial killers wet dream. There was a pub about a hundred yards away. Oh, thank God. There were people milling around outside and the bouncer looked extra beefy. All I had to do was make a break for it and run like there is a killer on my tail. Oh wait there is. Therefore, this shouldn’t be a problem.

  Okay, Dia, you can do this. A deep breath later and one last glance around the corner to make sure psycho boy was not on the other side, I took off. I made a mad dash and ran for all I was worth toward the safety of the pub.

  *****

  Kale…

  Outside the pub, I was putting my phone in my pocket and was getting ready to go back inside for one last sweep after I hung up with my Beta. Those damn pups had to be in the area. I could taste them dammit, I’ll well have their hides for this. I looked up at the nearly full moon and I knew they would still be high on their post moon rush. They were horny little bastards. The pups were always on the lookout for quick shags. Signing, I made one last turn. My eyes swept the streets in front of me. A flicker of movement caught my attention from the alley across the street. The unmistakable stench of vamp hit my nose a moment later. I wrinkled my nose and swore. Damn bloodsuckers were everywhere. A small snarl formed on my lips before my whole world came to a halt. The movement I first detected came barrelling out in a mass of black and gold hair with limbs pumping. Before one breath and the next, her scent hit me, and my wolf growled and then howled…one single word repeated in my mind over and over—mine.