"Sure. Why not?"
"This is foolish," he said. "Please reconsider."
"Liane's right," she said. "I will not fear Boaz's shadow. I have to start living."
She said the words as strong as she could, mostly to convince herself, but her insides still trembled.
"There you go, girl!" Liane said. "We will do it together."
Eve smiled at her, already feeling better. More than anyone else, Liane knew what it was like to be under Boaz's control.
"I have to go," Lucien said.
Before Eve could ask where to, he left the room, leaving her staring at an empty doorway.
24
Lucien hurried downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. It wasn't just the letter that had him worried, but Henry's lack of appearances, too. He must have suspected Boaz's cage wouldn't hold, but went through the motions to appease Eve. If Henry was right, and Boaz had somehow freed himself, then it was just a matter of time before Eve gave herself to him. Boaz would do whatever it took to ensure Eve had no other option.
Lucien wasn't going to let that happen.
He walked into the lobby of the Deific, nodding at the two guards behind the counter, and headed outside. The afternoon sky was overcast. It would rain soon, and by the looks of the cloud's edges, all black and sharp, it was going to be a raging storm. In the past, he used to love watching approaching storms and being a part of the chaos, but that changed when he had found a purpose in life.
He slipped into the closest alley and hid himself within the shadows. Eve and the others may not take the letter serious, but he did. And so he would wait and watch. He would open his mind and all of his senses to the supernatural world. If anything strange came within a city block of the Deific, he would know it.
A couple of hours passed. Lucien hadn't moved an inch in all that time, even when the storm had released its fury. All that was left of it was a slow trickle that cooled his skin. So far, he had only sensed a few minor Supernaturals—a harmless Aura, and two shapeshifters—but Lucien doubted they even knew they were shifters by the way they moved, which was way too human-like. One day, however, their life would change forever when some traumatic event shattered the world they knew.
Lucien's mind hummed. Another Supernatural was approaching, but he was familiar with this one.
Eve stepped into the entrance of the alley, her long hair lifting in the soft breeze, and peered inside. She was wearing a simple black dress to her knees. There was no way she could see him, but by her smile she could definitely sense him.
"This is how we first met. Do you remember?" she asked.
"I will never forget."
She sighed. "Come out, Lucien. It's almost time to go to dinner."
Lucien left the shadows. "I'm just keeping an eye on things."
"I figured as much, especially after that cryptic letter, but you don't need to worry. There will always be some kind of threat against the Deific and probably even me. You can't stop them all, and you can't stop living, either."
"There's only one threat I want to be rid of."
Eve took hold of his hands and rubbed the tops of them with her thumbs. "Boaz is gone. Besides, Charlie has already decided that tomorrow he's going to go back out onto the lake and scan it for the box. I don't have any doubts that he will find it right where we dumped it." She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Let's have fun tonight."
Lucien couldn't help but kiss her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. It would make him feel better knowing the box had gone undisturbed, but until then, he would be on full alert.
He released her. "You're distracting me."
"You need it."
"Not tonight." He pulled her forward and headed back to the entrance to the Deific. "Come on. Let's get you off these wet streets. We can take a cab to the restaurant."
"Not necessary."
Lucien stopped moving when he rounded the corner in front of the Deific. A stretch limousine was parked out front.
Eve smiled. "Charlie got it for all of us."
Lucien scanned the street for any threats before he turned to her. "He likes Liane, doesn't he?"
"And why shouldn't he? Charlie deserves some happiness."
"Liane is not the right person for him."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Eve said and slipped by him to get into the limo. "Let's wait inside for the others."
"Am I dressed okay?" Lucien asked, glancing down at his black shirt and Levis.
She opened the back door. "Nope. That's why I have a change of clothes for you in here." She ducked inside.
He remained standing for a few seconds before following after her. She wasn't taking the threat serious. He had seen her do this before when she was afraid. Her way of coping was pretending the threat didn't exist. Fine. He would let her cope, but it didn't mean he had to pretend, too.
Inside the limo, she handed him a complete suit that had been lying on the seat.
"Who else is coming with us?" he asked as he began to get dressed.
"Liane and Charlie, of course. And Rick is coming also with a date."
"Who is he bringing?" Lucien asked. He was curious to see the type of girl Rick would date.
"Joanne, from accounting."
Lucien had never heard of her, but that didn't surprise him. He didn't know anyone from the accounting side of Deific, a place where only humans worked.
"Does she know about Rick and his vampire problem?" he asked.
Eve shrugged. "Only if he told her."
She reached up and perfectly tightened the loose tie around his neck.
Lucien breathed her in. "I wish we weren't doing this tonight."
Before Eve could answer, the car door opened and in climbed Liane and Charlie. Liane was wearing a dress similar to Eve's but red. Her hair was pulled up into a French twist, and a simple charm hung around her neck. Lucien squinted but couldn't read the inscription on its metal surface.
"Where's Rick?" Charlie asked. He slid into the seat across from Lucien.
"He should be here soon," Lucien said. "Is Alana already at the Harvard-Johnson Center?"
Charlie nodded. "She is supposed to check in with me in an hour."
The limo door opened again.
"—then the doctor said, 'you're having twins'! Haha! I never get tired of that joke!" Rick climbed into the limo.
His date, Joanne, laughed hard behind him. Her laugh sounded identical to Rick's.
The tinted window separating the driver's seat to the rest of the vehicle lowered. "Is that everyone?" the driver asked.
"That's it," Charlie said.
The window rose, and the limo driver pulled away from the Deific. Lucien remained silent, his eyes on the roads around him, while the others chatted happily. Every few minutes, Eve would squeeze his hand, as if encouraging him to lighten up.
He resisted the urge to shake his head. Instead, he looked at Charlie. Even though Charlie was smiling, fear glinted in his eyes. Charlie gave him a small acknowledging nod. Good. At least someone else was taking the threat seriously.
What should have been only a ten minute drive lasted almost thirty minutes, thanks to much of the traffic rerouted on account of the Vice President speaking only a few blocks away. But this inconvenience made it so the restaurant wasn't as crowded as it should've been on a Friday night.
By the looks of the place, it was a five star restaurant. The tabletops were covered in long white tablecloths, and at their center was a lit tea light floating in a water dish surrounded by real rose petals. The walls were painted black and adorned with black and white landscaped art.
The tall male hostess led the six of them to a table in the center of the dining room. Lucien held out Eve's chair before she sat down. As he helped to scoot her in, he eyed each of the customers. All of them were normal humans, and none of them seemed to be taking any interest in Eve and their group. Lucien sat down, scanning the room once again.
"What's gotten into you, Luci
en?" Rick asked him from across the table.
"What do you mean?"
"You're all mood and seriousness, a lot like when we first met." He turned to Joanne, who was sitting oddly close to him. "You see, Lucien, here, didn't know how to smile until he met me."
"I doubt you had anything to do with it," Lucien said.
Eve laughed. The sound of it made Lucien relax a little. It was good to see her happy. He hoped it could last an eternity. This thought reminded him again of how much he wanted to marry her, to be eternally together forever. Maybe he would propose tonight when he got home, despite not having a ring yet. All he had to do was get through the night.
25
Eve glanced at Lucien when he squeezed her hand. For the first time that night, he was finally smiling. Ever since that letter had arrived, he had reverted back to his broody self, afraid something bad might happen. Maybe it would, but she was tired of living in fear.
Besides, the magic she had performed with the help of Lucien and Henry was powerful. There was no way Boaz had freed himself. It simply wasn't possible. Everything was going to be just fine. She lifted her chin a little and immersed herself back into the conversation with the others.
"Do you remember that time," Ricks said, laughing between breaths, "when Lucien was fighting that vampire and his pants accidently fell down?"
The table grew quiet and all eyes went to Joanne.
"What?" Joanne said and rubbed the front of her teeth with her finger.
Don't worry, guys!" Rick said. "Joanne knows all about you and the Deific."
Eve dropped her shoulders a bit and smiled. She glanced around the restaurant. No one was paying attention to them. A waiter was nearby taking a young couple's order. Next to the beautiful woman was a full bouquet of red roses.
Joanne smiled. "I was raised by an abusive drunk father so to me vampires and Supernaturals are hardly monsters."
Rick laughed. "And that's why I like you."
Eve chuckled uncomfortably and looked at Lucien. He shrugged.
"I do remember that night," Charlie said, lightening the mood. "Lucien was trying to fight, but kept tripping over his pants. You should have seen his face!"
Eve laughed along with the others. Liane glanced at her, grinning from ear to ear. Eve was glad she was having a good time, too.
While laughing, Charlie reached into his pocket and removed his phone, his eyes on the screen. His smile disappeared.
"What's wrong?" Lucien asked.
"Alana. She said there's a problem."
Eve leaned forward, elbows resting on table and dread filling a pit in her stomach. "Is she okay?"
Charlie's phone buzzed again. He read aloud: "The Vice President isn't speaking tonight. The President is there, instead."
"That doesn't make sense," Lucien said. "Why not cancel the event all together?"
"I don't know."
"Who's attending this event?" Liane asked.
Eve twisted the cloth napkin on her lap. She wished it would tear. "A lot of important people in the government. This is one of the biggest political charity events of the year. Both Republicans and Democrats will be there. Many of them senators and governors."
"Tell her to get out of there," Lucien said. "If the VP isn't there, then there's no reason for her to stay."
Charlie typed into his phone.
"This isn't that big of a deal, is it?" Rick asked.
Charlie looked up. "This change can't be good. We had solid intel."
Just then, a gust of wind blew through the room. The others didn't seem to notice, but Eve did. Especially when it brushed across the back of her neck, raising the fine hairs on her skin. She lifted her gaze. The front door was open, and in the doorway stood the silhouette of an enormous black wolf. Hunwald. Her chest tightened until she couldn't breathe.
A woman screamed, then another. Eve attempted to move, but she was frozen in her seat. Her eyes went to Lucien's. They were wide, and his jaw muscles were flexing as if he too was trying to move but was unable.
"A wolf!" someone cried. "There's a wolf in the restaurant!"
More cries of terror.
"What is happening?" Liane asked, her voice rising.
"I can't move!" a woman behind Eve yelled.
More shouts and screams rose into the air. A waiter carrying a full tray of food was balancing precariously on one foot, as he must've been frozen mid-step.
"Can you guys use your magic?" Charlie asked, his eyes shifting between Eve, Liane, and Lucien.
"I'm trying to," Lucien growled. His gaze flickered to the wolf.
Eve concentrated hard, but her eyes remained on the beast in the doorway. Whatever spell was being used on them was strong, but she felt confident she could break it if she had a few minutes.
Hunwald leapt forward and sprinted to their table. He jumped on top of it, knocking glasses over and scattering food. He stood facing Eve, his eyes yellow and his white fangs barred.
Eve strained harder, trying desperately to break the magical hold over her. Sweat ran down the side of her face as her whole body shook. Across from her, Joanne was in tears, and Rick's mouth was open, his eyes just as wide. Charlie was grunting as he tried to free himself, and Liane was whispering under her breath. Probably something to counteract the spell.
"Get away from her!" Lucien growled at the wolf.
Out of the corner of her eye, Eve saw Lucien's finger move. He was doing it!
The wolf snarled then opened its mouth, unhinging its jaw wide, unnaturally so. Black smoke slid out of its throat and drifted through the air toward Eve in wispy tendrils. It swirled all around her, lifting her hair and teasing her skin. Her head began to swim, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
A voice said, "You should have done what I asked, love. You were a fool for not obeying. Now you must pay the price. Their blood is on your hands, and more will die if you do not come to me."
The smoke slowly resided back into Hunwald's throat, and he snapped his jaws shut. A tear escaped Eve's eye and ran down her cheek. Boaz was free. Another tear fell. Almost all of Lucien's hand was moving now.
"Get out of here!" Lucien yelled.
Hunwald slowly turned his massive head toward Lucien and growled deep and low. Eve's eyes flashed from Lucien to the wolf, panic squeezing her heart.
"Leave him out of this," she said. "It's me you want! I'll go. I promise! Just leave him alone!"
Hunwald glanced back at Eve, and she swore he smiled before he returned to Lucien. He lowered into a crouch position then lunged forward, his jaws open again. He crashed into Lucien, knocking his chair back.
Eve screamed a great and terrible cry, shattering the magical spell in the room. Charlie had somehow managed to get to his feet before her, springing toward Hunwald who had a tight grip on Lucien's throat. Charlie grabbed the wolf around the belly as he was falling and tore him away from Lucien. Blood from Lucien's throat sprayed upward in uneven spurts.
Eve snapped her arm forward, shooting a wave of energy toward Hunwald. The wolf leapt into the air, dodging the energy, and sprinted out the door. People ran for the exit, but many were knocked to the ground. Others stepped over them in their attempts to flee.
"Lucien!" Eve cried. She dropped to her knees and pressed her shaky palms to his neck. There was so much blood!
"Use this," Charlie said. He handed her his suit jacket. "Rick, call Tony. Tell him to have all available Deific operatives ready in ten minutes. We're going to need them."
"Hold on, Lucien," she said.
His wide eyes were staring up at her in panic, and his whole body was shaking.
Liane kneeled next to her. "What can I do?"
"We need to get him back to the Deific, away from everyone. I might be able to heal him." She hoped.
A loud boom vibrated the whole building, shaking dust and light debris free from the ceiling. More of the patrons fell to the ground.
"What was that?" Charlie asked.
Eve shook her h
ead. "Oh, no. Please, no."
Charlie's eyes met hers. "The convention center. Alana." He stood up and sprinted to the door, shoving people to the side. "Come on, Rick!"
Rick hurried after him.
"I'm so sorry, Lucien," Eve said. "This is all my fault!"
Lucien's lips moved as if he was trying to say something, but blood poured from his mouth instead.
She lowered her forehead to his. "I'll fix this. I promise. I'll make you better, and then I'll give Boaz what he wants."
Lucien's body tensed, and his head shook back and forth.
"Shh," she said, tears running down her cheek. "It's okay. No one else is going to die. I'm going to make everything better. I'll make it right."
She continued whispering words that no longer made sense. Her body grew painfully numb, and she was having a hard time getting air into her lungs.
Soon she would be with Boaz.
Soon she would be Alarica.
26
Every muscle in Lucien's body was flexed tight and not by his choosing. The wolf had bit him, nearly ripped his throat out, but the reaction he was having now was far worse than the wound on his neck. He tried fighting the sensation with magic, but the pain radiating up and down his body would not be ignored.
Charlie reappeared just then with Rick after leaving only minutes ago. Charlie was saying something first to Eve and the others, and then to him. Lucien tried to tell him that he couldn't hear him over the loud ringing in his ears, but every time he opened his mouth to speak, blood filled the space, making him choke.
Whatever was going on was bad. People were fleeing to the door, screaming and crying. Lucien guessed by the way the building shook when the wolf had a hold of his neck that a bomb had exploded, and nearby too. Probably at the convention center.
He needed to get better, and quick, to stop Eve from going to Boaz. There had to be another way.
Charlie and Rick picked him up and carried him out the front door. It was an action that infuriated Lucien. He shouldn't need to be carried. He attempted to move his leg, but a searing heat like lightning raced up his body. He screamed, but it came out a mangled moan.
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