“This is New Orleans; you know how witch- and vampire-crazy people are.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
Great. What was I supposed to reply to that?
“Thank you,” she surprised me, with sincerity in her tone.
I smiled at this small progress. When I had pulled into her driveway, I didn’t know if I was thankful or remorseful that we had something new on which to focus. “You probably need to start preparing for the evacuations.” Or you could stay, and we could talk.
She shrugged, as if it was the furthest thing from her mind. At least she didn’t make any moves to leave the car. “Evacuate? Oh, I’m not evacuating.”
“Not evacuating?” I couldn't fathom a worse situation then having to protect her from the Underworld during a hurricane. “You have to evacuate, Ana.”
My authority was immediately met with resistance. “I am from New Orleans and have lived through hurricanes my entire life. You have no right to tell me what I should or should not do,” she finished her sentence with a puff of breath. I could sense her rise in body temperature and knew I must have really angered her.
“You are right, Ana.”
“Why do you call me Ana? My name is Adriana.”
I must have really gotten under her skin because I used that nickname for her countless times before. “Ok, Adriana. Please accept my apologies. I had no place—“
“You know what, Hayden? I have to go.”
Before I could say anything more, she jumped out of her truck and ran through the rain into her house.
Things had just hit rock bottom.
I left Ana’s—or Adriana’s—car in her driveway and walked back to our house. I didn’t care that it was raining even harder now. I took the slowest pace possible, wishing the rain were able to chill my skin, because that’s how I felt. Cold. Empty. I had allowed Hunting to interfere—and ruin—my only chance at something normal. Well, no longer. Adriana Alexander would be evacuating New Orleans. And she was going to be where she would be the most protected.
With me.
I was going to kidnap her.
Chapter Nine
Luke was leaning against the doorway of my bedroom. He had a crooked smile and was no doubt wondering why I wasn’t at Ana's covering my shift.
“Pack up, we’re leaving in the morning.” I was throwing what little I had of my belongings in a black duffel bag. Stakes, venom, potions. The usual.
“What about—“
“By we’re, I mean you, Ana and I.” I gave him a crooked smile.
“So you finally came to your senses. Got bored of her that easily, did you?”
I snarled. “Actually, she’s coming with us to Tampa. And you won’t lay one finger on her to harm her.”
Luke opened his mouth but then shut it. He crossed his arms over his chest, “What’s your genius plan this time?”
* * *
We needed a new car—a less conspicuous car than my black Aston Martin— so I left that job up to Luke while I watched Ana’s house. Her father had left that morning with a woman and a baby—and a car full of suitcases. He was evacuating yet leaving his own daughter? I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Yes, it made my job easier. A little too easy but I didn’t want to imagine Ana being left behind.
Luke came back with a common, white 2-door truck. He was hiding a grin and I had wondered briefly if the car was stolen. I swear, if he messes this up on purpose…
We followed Ana as she ran errands to prepare to ride out the hurricane. We had pulled in a supermarket and would wait until she came out to make the grab. The place was nearly empty and the roads were congested with people evacuating. It would be the perfect opportunity. Luke was going along with the plan so far. I thought it was pretty fool-proof myself but knowing Luke, he was probably just waiting for it to fall apart.
Finally, Ana came out of the store with a plastic bag filled with Coke bottles. I made a mental note to have my mother stock the fridge with it when we got there.
Ana noticed us, like I knew she would. But she hesitated, either because she was still angry with me or she was unsure if it was really us.
I took the map out of the center console and rolled down my window. “Pardon me.”
“Hayden?” She had the familiar crease of confusion on her brow as she came toward my window.
I looked down at the map, feigning puzzlement. “We’re a little lost, I’m afraid to admit. We are trying to find the I-10 out of here?”
I could almost feel Luke’s eyes roll next to me. I looked over at him and was about to punch him for burying his face in his hat, looking mortified.
“Um…well…ok.” I looked back at Ana and wondered if she would really give me the directions or stalk away for not recognizing her. She blew out a breath in frustration then, politely but harshly, gave me the directions I didn’t really need.
I continued looking at the map, pretending I was trying to find the streets she was naming.
“Here let me show you.” I smiled inwardly that despite everything, she didn’t show an ounce of impatience while she did so. As soon as she leaned over the window to point to the map, I pulled her inside. I was already starting to drive away as I tried to pull her to the middle seat. Ana fell onto Luke and I prayed he would be gentle with her. I immediately followed the route I had devised. Speeding past cars and weaving in and out of lanes to make sure no one saw us. Ana recovered, now situating herself in the middle seat between Luke and I.
“What are you doing?” I heard the panic in her voice. She looked at Luke when I didn’t answer. Luke, however, was waiting for my answer, looking at me like, yeah, just what are you doing?
“Hello?” She continued when I couldn’t reply. “Where are we going? What is going on?” I could sense her breathing and heart rate had increased, her body was starting to go into fight-or-flight mode.
“There is no point in screaming if that’s what you’re thinking of doing, and I won’t even bother mentioning how physically impossible it would be if you tried to fight us—or escape for that matter.”
“Hayden?” She was looking at me, waiting for me to say I was kidding. A pained expression came over my face, because this was far from a joke. I had hoped she would remain calm but her heart rate continued to increase. “Bring me back to my truck!”
“Ana, please calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!”
Her screaming was suddenly muffled and I looked over to see Luke had her in a hold with his hand covering her delicate mouth.
“This was a bad idea. I told you she was a fighter,” Luke bit out. I could hear her still trying to scream. I suddenly wished I hadn’t been the one driving.
“If I take my hand away, are you going to scream?” Luke asked her as if she were a child. Her eyes were wide as she shook her head from side to side to indicate no. When he released her, I exhaled and brought my eyes back to the road. Luke and I would be having a very heated discussion later…
“Tell me what’s going on?” Ana asked me.
I felt Luke looking at me, anticipating my answer. “We are protecting you.” I was protecting you, I should have said.
“Yes, those words sound familiar. Tell me how kidnapping me is protecting me.”
I wanted to tell her the truth, but her body was still going through a state of shock. I couldn’t tell her everything yet. Besides, now I had all the time in the world to do so.
“Per our conversation yesterday, you said you weren’t going to evacuate.” Would she buy it?
“Ok, ok. So you’ve convinced me.” I could hear the sarcasm in her voice. “You are right, absolutely right. I think I will evacuate. So just bring me back to my truck, and I will evacuate to my uncle’s in Atlanta.”
Of course she wouldn’t buy it, and would still try to get out of it. “What’s done is done. You are coming with us regardless.” I was a little hurt that she had wanted to get away from me that badly.
“Do us a favor and k
eep your mouth shut,” Luke said bitterly; I shot him a hard look. You’re being an immense help.
Ana didn’t speak again as I entered the highway, finally free from traffic and witnesses.
I had been driving south for a few minutes when she started noticing highway signs. “You’re going the wrong way!” There was a slight nervousness to her voice. I knew exactly where I was going. It was the same place where this had all started, where I had first learned of Ana. I needed more information from Sansha. If we were to keep her safe, I needed to know why LaLaurie would want her life and who else knew about her.
“This is the I-10 South. It goes straight down to Grand Isle. It is right in the path of the storm. It’s right on the gulf!”
I nodded, agreeing that we were going into the Bayou, just not ready to tell her where.
I fought a snicker as Ana slunk bitterly back in her seat. She crossed her arms over chest waiting to see what would happen next. She didn’t questions my directions further as I turned off the highway onto a road unseen by mortals. I heard Ana’s heart start to palpitate as she looked out at the swamp on either side of the windows. I continued to watch her and the road as her breathing became irregular. Then I had really started to worry when she started to sway.
“Adriana?”
I literally stopped my beating heart, as I considered what was happening to her. She was sucking in breaths as if she couldn’t breathe. “Adriana! Are you okay?”
All of a sudden, her body went lax and she started to fall toward the dashboard. “Luke! Get her!”
I slammed on the breaks as Luke cradled her before she could hit her head.
“Give me her!” I took her from him and left the cab, knowing she needed to lie flat. I didn’t have a choice but to set her down on the dirt road. Her face started to return to its normal color but she still didn’t stir. If anything happens to her…
“What purpose does this serve?” Luke could care less as he leaned against the truck watching me worry.
“Quiet. She just needs some fresh air.” I prayed that was all that was wrong with her, and I leaned in to see if I could sense anything else. Her eyes flew open and I leaned back, relieved. I gave Luke a look that said “I told you so,” and when I looked back at Ana I saw that she had already risen—and was running in the other direction.
“Go get her!” Luke yelled at my dumbfounded expression.
It took me a second at supernatural speed to grab her. I didn’t even bother running at a normal pace, I couldn’t risk it. But the force when I grabbed her caused us both to fall to the ground. I was still on top of her, careful not to crush her but trying to control my emotions. Like any Hunter, we liked the chase. Using my supernatural abilities just intensified that need.
“Don’t. Don’t ever run from me.” I regretted growling out the warning. Her face was inches from mine and when her breaths deepened in response, I knew I had to get up. Touching her intensified the connection between us. My heartbeat slowed in response to match hers. As if feeling the pull between us, her gaze slid to my lips. I suppressed my instincts enough to pull us to a stand.
I held onto her as we walked back to the truck; I didn’t think my resolve would be able to handle another chase.
“Nice,” Luke said sarcastically as we walked by. “I told you this was not a good idea. Can’t we just kill her now?”
Was he trying to make her faint again? He was going to pay for this later. Right now, I had to take care of Ana.
“Don’t listen to him. We just need to talk with a friend of ours before we head out of town. To my relief, she nodded and got willingly in the truck.
As we pulled up to the house, Ana’s hand went up to cover her nose. It was as if she could smell what we did. As if she could smell what a voodoun used spells to mask.
I grabbed her free hand and led her inside. “What kind of friends do you have?” Ana asked as she regarded the house and its various voodoo paraphernalia.
I smirked. “You have no idea.”
Sansha walked into the room just then, in the middle of making a sacrifice to Erzulie Dantor, a Loa who she believes is responsible for natural disasters.
When Sansha asked Ana to join her, I tensed. “That’s not why we’re here.”
Sansha shrugged one, bare shoulder then disappeared to make her offering. I directed Ana to sit down. To my dismay, Luke sat on the other side of her.
Sansha returned, only to sit in a chair across from us. Her gaze went between Ana, Luke and I. “Well?” I asked a little impatient. She knew why we were here; would there be others after Ana?
“Yes,” she answered what I wanted to know. “Now, you only have two options and you know the easiest route.”
“No.” I stood up, defensive that she would still suggest us going through with it.
“You know the consequences of the two worlds colliding. Besides, if it’s not you, then you know it will be someone else.”
There was a very delicate balance between the under- and mortal- world. Did she know that I was falling for Ana? Is that why she spoke about two worlds colliding? Why did she have to be so cryptic?
“Sansha, we know what we need to do and we’ll get it done,” Luke stood up, and I was enraged that he acted like he had a say in the matter.
“Why don’t you two go outside and discuss this?” Sansha suggested.
“Yes, Luke. Let’s discuss this outside.” It looked like now would have to be the time I told Luke just what exactly Ana meant to me because Hunters could never kill another’s mate.
Luke stopped when we were just outside. “Well? Nothing you can say to me can change my mind. I know you have it in your head to not go through with this. That doesn’t mean I don't have plans of my own.”
I didn’t know just how sinister Luke could be until now. “You will not touch her,” I warned.
“And what makes you so sure of that?”
“Because she is mine.”
I saw the recognition cross his features. I left him dumbfounded as I stormed back through the front door, not wanting to waste any more time here.
“Let’s go.” I offered my hand to Ana.
As soon as Ana started to get up, I knew something was off. My eyes shot to Sansha and the potion she was holding in her hand. No.
“What did you do?” I accused Sansha. Did she understand the war she would have caused, if she had really done what I thought she did? Ana swayed slightly and my hand shot out to steady her. “Are you alright?”
“I am fine.” She was smiling so genuinely at me. I was relieved to know that whatever Sansha had given her wasn’t meant to kill her. If that was the case, she would have been dead by now.
I leaned in to whisper into her ear. “Follow Luke out to the car. I will meet you there in a moment.” In lack of self-control, I brushed her ear with my lips as I pulled away.
She nodded and I watched her briefly, following a stunned Luke, before turning my fury back to Sansha.
“What?” She feigned innocence. “You’ll thank me later.”
“What did you give her? An uncrossing potion? A power spell?
“Just somethin’ to help her remain compliant. It will wear off in a few hours.”
“If one hair on her body is harmed because of her—“
“Your protectiveness intrigues me.”
“Stay out of it. I just came to know why LaLaurie wants her and who is after her.”
“I can’t answer either but maybe she can,” Sansha pointed indiscriminately behind me. I looked to see her finger was either directed at the painting of Marie Laveau voodoo Queen of New Orleans or out the window where Ana was trying to get in the truck.
“Who can? What does that mean?”
She shrugged. No wonder others had rumored her crazy.
I grunted. “Did you know this was all going to happen when you sent me to New Orleans?”
She shrugged again but opened her mouth to speak. “I would be careful leaving her alone with him.”
She shrugged again like the matter wasn’t urgent.
“Good bye, Sansha.” I didn’t know what she saw but she was right, I shouldn’t leave Ana alone.
When I hopped back in the truck, Ana held a lazy, sensual smile that made my heart skip. “Hayden!”
“We’ve got a problem,” Luke said as I started the engine.
If Sansha gave her the potion I thought she indicated, then Ana should be knocked out within minutes.
I looked at her, clearly trying to fight its effects. Her eye lids kept blinking as she tried to keep them open and I cursed at myself again for leaving her alone with a voodoun. I was just so enraged with what Luke and Sansha implied that I couldn’t think. I usually made calm and well-thought out decisions. I hated that I kept making mistakes when it came to her.
I sped up, needing to get a start on evacuating so we could stop for the night. Ana suddenly grabbed my shoulders in order to hold herself up.
“What the hell, Hayden? What else could go wrong?” Luke barked. I figured she must have grabbed onto Luke’s as well and he was awfully touchy about it.
“Sansha said it would wear off in a few hours. Supposedly, it was for our own good.”
Luke shook his head, “Our own good. Right.”
I looked at Ana who was still awake but swaying. “She needs some food. It may wear off quicker that way. How are you feeling, Ana?”
“I feel really, really good.”
I smothered a grin. “I know you may be feeling a little funny and I’m sorry. It will be over with shortly.”
“Hayden,” she leaned toward me pulling my jaw to face her, “you worry too much. I. Am. Fine. See?” She waved her hand up and down her body and I couldn’t help following it with my eyes.
She must have noticed the darkening of my eyes because her brow creased briefly then softened as she leaned in closer to me. I turned my gaze back to the road and felt her nose against my cheek. I could have easily kissed her, and she would have let me. Or the potion would have let her let me. What was the difference? It would still be her kissing me, right? But suddenly that wasn’t enough.
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