I tried to contain my excitement, afraid to get my hopes up. “Do you have it here?”
He was already facing a dresser in the corner. “They let me bring a couple of books and my journal. I have all kinds of notes and doodles inside. When they searched my things, they must have thought the paper was just another drawing I’d shoved in my book.” He flipped through the worn notebook. “Here!” He handed me the paper. “I hope this helps.”
“I’m sure it will. I better go. Remember, be careful. I’ll find a way to get you out of here. Now write down these names in your journal: Zane, Logan, A-l-c-u-i-n …” I spelled out. “Misty, Mack, and Michael. Only leave with one of them if I don’t come. No. One. Else.”
He nodded, his face flushed. I knew right then that he’d be okay.
“Chloe!” Alcuin hissed. “Now!”
I stuffed the paper in my back pocket and gave Joshua a quick hug, at the same time an alarm’s siren pierced the calm. A stampede of footsteps pounded in the distance, coming fast.
Without a backward glance, I rushed into the hallway, pulling the door shut. Alcuin flashed to my side and grabbed my wrist. We fazed before I could protest.
“You sure know how to push the limits, Doll.”
“Don’t call me, doll!” I quipped, relieved to find myself standing in my hotel room.
Alcuin paced to the window, pulling the curtain aside. “That was way too close. You could have been caught, killed even.”
“Killed? At a state hospital for children?” For once I thought my vampire protector was overreacting.
Dropping the curtain, he spun to face me. “You may not have noticed, but that was a pretty isolated location, and there were men with guns, big guns, not just handguns like Hall Monitor Randy was using. Some of those kids are criminally insane. I got a look inside their minds. I’m a bloodsucking vampire, and even I didn’t like what I saw.”
For once I was glad I couldn’t read human minds.
I didn’t want the responsibility of deciding what to do with criminals, children or not. Animals and a few supernatural minds were plenty for me. What bothered me was Alcuin. My never-show-emotion vampire was reaching a breakdown level. He seemed worried about my wellbeing.
“You care about a human,” I teased, shocked by this latest development.
He looked appalled. “What human might that be?”
“I think you know.”
Rather than bothering to respond, he launched into a detailed explanation of how the additional security force had uncovered the breach he’d managed to create. With no intention of returning in the near future, I wasn’t too alarmed. When it came time to free Joshua, I’d worry about the details. Until then, I had way too much on my mind — like the latest message from my new best friend — the ugly man — David.
I pulled the folded paper from my pocket and handed to Alcuin. He spent a good hour examining the letter, with no results and fewer comments. We decided it would be best for him to take it back to Plum Beach and have Rita and the others examine it. From what we could tell, it was the same ancient language engraved on the coins.
It was close to midnight when Alcuin made his usual dramatic exit, leaving me alone in the hotel room. As promised, he again pledged to keep my whereabouts private. For a brief moment, I’d considered returning with him, but was unsure how to handle the situation with Zane.
I felt angry, hurt, confused, and a ton of other unproductive and unpleasant emotions. I’d wanted time to think about accepting the mating mark, and I planned to take that time.
I was no longer sure that Zane would still want me as his mate or wife.
Luke had given me the week’s remaining days off. For the first time ever, I had nowhere I needed to be in the morning. The guys could handle things back home without me. My riff with Zane would serve as a distraction for everyone involved. Staying away for another day would give him time to cool off and focus on the latest evidence.
As far as I knew, there were no new animals on my need-to-interview list at the park, and I wanted to see my parents. I hated the way we’d left things. Going home without a personal visit would be just plain rude. The person I wanted to be rude to was Zane, and Jazmine, and Rhonda.
So I had a few bones to pick.
What twenty-four year old female didn’t have conflicts?
***
Chapter 35
Several hours of fitful sleep were all I could handle.
Disturbing thoughts of Joshua Smart, Zane, and the Plum Beach murder mystery battered my mind like an aerial bombing attack. I’d even had an erotically charged dream about Valamir. Sleeping was out of the question given I couldn’t seem to find the off-switch for my mind.
It was 4:02 AM on Tuesday. I wondered if Zane was still asleep. Ignoring the urge to check his mental status, I made a pot of gourmet hotel coffee, and flipped open my laptop. I’d already mapped out my day. For starters, I’d spend a few early morning hours researching ancient languages to see if I recognized anything, and then, a long hot shower prior to checking out.
Before giving the paper to Alcuin last night, I’d taken a few minutes to appraise the document. I’d even traced some of the symbols. Even a research novice was capable of conducting a simple online search. Maybe I’d get lucky. It was about time one of us did.
Following my shower, I intended to indulge in a hot breakfast before heading to Troutdale and my parents. Mom had used her new texting talents to inform me they’d returned home ahead of schedule, no doubt thanks to Alcuin’s assistance. I was torn between calling head of my arrival, and surprising them. For now, I was leaning toward the big surprise.
Bob worked the first shift. He’d always been an early riser and a hardcore workaholic, much to my mother’s ongoing consternation. With him gone, I’d have some time alone with her. We needed to talk candidly. Something neither of us excelled at.
I sat on the bed’s edge debating whether or not I should prop some pillows against the headboard and get to work, or set up my laptop at the elegant desk in the corner. Unable to motivate myself into action, I rearranged my schedule and moved my shower up to the number one spot.
With the hot water pounding on my aching shoulders, I relaxed. The shampoo’s flowery blend provided a soothing aroma therapy session. I ran my hands down my squeaking hair, feeling like the first Breck Girl in action. I’d done a research project on her commercial history in my high school drama class, not something I made a regular practice of reminiscing about. I was also contemplating the possibility of switching the water flow and filling the tub. A bath sounded even more tantalizing.
A few minutes later, feeling grateful for the hotel’s super-sized hot water tank, I sunk into liquid warmth, letting the water envelop every last inch of me; just my face remained exposed.
As a child, my always-anxious mother had made sure to check in on me every five minutes during bath time, afraid I’d fall asleep and drown. Her fear about drowning was valid, but not in the context she’d envisioned. I doubted her paranoia had extended all the way to my fifteenth birthday, and my near-deadly dip in that stranger’s freezing pool.
Even in the heat, I shivered at the memory. Pushing the thoughts of that horrible day aside was simple enough, but they were replaced by searing visions of Zane. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? Sure he was my husband, but ….
The time we’d made love I was in a drunken stupor. Although the few romantic moments we’d since shared were well worth remembering, and repeating.
A loud thump startled me. I pulled myself out of water. What in the world? So far, the hotel had proven to be pretty much soundproof.
Feeling vulnerable, I was anxious to dress.
I rose hastily and stepped from the tub, further chilled by the rivulets of water cascading from my thick curls, leaving icy trails all the way to my feet. Normally, to avoid this unpleasant sensation, I wrapped my hair in a towel right away. But for some reason, all I wanted to do was to cover up. I cocooned myself in
side an oversized towel and tiptoed to the bathroom door.
I peered into the suite. You’re being ridiculous! Get a grip! I scolded myself. Every bump wasn’t the boogie man.
This time it was the boogie girl.
The infamous redhead was stretched across on my bed, and two, very large, suit-clad-men, mutants, I suspected, in their human forms, stood impassively by the door.
I hugged my towel tighter and fought the familiar fainting feeling. I refused to tumble over, knowing I’d land in a powerless and naked heap on the floor, without Zane to soften the fall.
Twisting into a sitting position, my tied-for-first-place, worst-enemy-ever, broke the silence. “Well, well, Chloe. We meet at last,” she said sounding like a typical movie villain.
Terrified, I took a step back.
A rapidly forming plan featured me hiding in the bathroom. Problem, I had no idea what I’d do next. I considered melting her mind like I’d done to the mutants at the cabin, but without her, I’d lose my greatest link to the Plum Beach murders.
I wasn’t even sure my powers would work on a purebred. So far I’d only been able to override mutant minds. What if I tried and failed?
I’d be the one dead on the floor.
Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I took another tentative step.
“Don’t bother. We’ll just break the door down, and I can’t guarantee you won’t get,” she paused for effect, “hurt.”
Her warning worked. I wasn’t moving an inch in any direction.
“That’s a good girl. And to show you that I’m not a complete bitch, I’m going to have my men face the door so you can get dressed. Just ignore me. Us girls have all the same parts anyway.” She raised her brow daring me to refuse.
The men complied without further prompting, giving me a close up view of their football-player-shoulders. Any last minute fantasy of somehow getting past the two of them was doused like a flame underwater. They’d tackle me or toss me aside. Neither option tempted.
The woman scowled. “Any reason you’re not moving?”
That was all it took. I sprang into action.
Ignoring her smug expression, I tried to dress as discreetly as my towel allowed; all the while wondering what of use I could rescue from my belongings without her noticing. My purse was on the floor by the bed. There was no way she’d let me bring that a long.
What kidnapper allowed their captive to pack? — Apparently mine.
“Pack up and leave your cardkey on the desk. Everyone will just assume you checked out and took off on your own.
She’d made a good point.
Two people knew my whereabouts — Luke and Alcuin. Only one person, if I wanted to get technical. And one vampire. I’d slammed the door on my supernatural support system.
For the first time, I found myself hoping one of my sneaky sidekicks would betray my confidence and tell Zane and the others what I was up to. But I’d have to presume otherwise and act accordingly. I could no longer see myself as a victim of circumstances, especially since I’d insisted to Zane, on more than one occasion, I wasn’t some disaster-prone damsel in distress.
If I intended to survive, I needed to get and stay one step ahead of my captors. My powers could provide that extra edge.
One problem: I’d always found it tricky to do multiple activities while listening in on an animal’s thoughts. That would have to change. To my benefit, the gift had been expanding every day, and I believed the growth-trend would continue. Believing in me and my capabilities was essential. Without faith in my talents, the woman I despised as much as Jazmine would ensure I died a humiliating and gruesome death.
It was time to push through any self-imposed limits and stay alive. I had to be ready to climb through any window of opportunity, no matter how brief or unexpected.
To my amazement, the first window opened following my personal pep talk.
“I told you! Back to the girl!” the woman barked, whirling to face her two flunkies, giving me a blink of time to shove the traced symbols into the pocket of my jeans.
I made a show of shimmying into the stretchy denim, wiggling my hips like I’d seen Rhonda do more times than I cared to remember. Things had to be bad if I was looking to archenemy number three for survival skills.
The men, being true dogs, sensed my seductive antics, and whipped their heads around. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them panting.
What did surprise me was Ms. Redhead’s brutal response.
She vibrated and turned full werewolf with a roar. She’d taken the form I found most repulsive and fearsome, sending me back to the bloody fight in the forest, where I’d seen Zane in the very same shape — on two legs — looking like a half man half beast monstrosity. Eyes crimson with malicious intent.
Her guards dropped to the floor and rolled on their backs, arms and legs up, resigning themselves to her ruling rank.
I swallowed the urge to laugh.
As horrifying as the scene was, the image of two grown, massive men, flat on their backs, submitting to a woman, werewolf or not, would stay with me forever.
Wait! What the …? One orangey pile of something was dangling from the bed.
Her hair! My female captor, in her haste, had changed so fast, she’d torn right out of her clothing like Misty in Vegas. In this case, Ms. Werewolf had also lost her hair.
A wig.
Sensing my appraisal, she swung her massive head around to glare at me. Salvia trickled from the corners of her elongated snout. Although notably smaller than Zane, she was no less imposing.
Her eyes stretched into narrow slits and her horrible lips curled into a feral grin. There was no mistaking that like Jazmine, she detested me.
In some strange way, I could understand Jazmine’s feelings, as misplaced as they were. She wanted something I had; at least I’d had Zane. I wasn’t so sure now. What this beast wanted was yet to be determined.
My stomach constricted, and an unexpected jolt of fear punched through my midsection. What if I’d lost Zane? Get a grip! This is no time to ponder bad love gone good … gone bad.
I forced myself to stand taller and stared back, not quite sure what I hoped to accomplish by my challenging attitude.
She didn’t take well to my unexpected display of bravery.
Asserting her dominance, she growled her threat, running her tongue over the sharpest teeth I’d seen in such proximity.
I closed my eyes, waiting for the canines to shred my throat.
Unlike Valamir’s blissful bites, I could expect no pleasure from the rabid she wolf, just excruciating pain. I felt sorry for whoever would get stuck cleaning up my mess, bloody entrails and all.
She still doesn’t get it. Stupid, stupid, human.
Impossible! I was on the verge of a bloody and demoralizing death. It couldn’t be another open window this soon. Yet here she was broadcasting her thoughts out in the open for any halfway decent, animal-mind-reader to overhear.
The area around us quivered. I knew then she was shifting back, and allowed myself one huge sigh of relief. Though later, I’d realize I should have waited to rejoice.
With simple curiosity getting the best of me, my eyes opened, seemingly without my permission. I had to know, had to see her face minus the flowing amber wig.
My internal warning bells started tolling the minute I registered her striking and familiar features: The exotic face; the stylish geometrical hairstyle; the commanding presence.
A teeth-chattering chill wound up from the base of my neck down to my finger tips.
I was looking into the icy eyes of one very pissed off purebred she wolf.
Jazmine.
Chapter 3622
“You?” was all I managed, bewildered by the startling turn of events. I wished I could say it all made sense now, but, in truth, I was even more baffled.
The thing I knew for certain: Jazmine and the redheaded-woman were one in the same. Not two separate entities. One. One evil bitch bent on my destruction, and only
God knew what else.
Her escorts, now back on their feet, had moved to either side of Jazmine. The two of them, together, could defeat her in combat. So why were they submitting to such castrating treatment? They were at least double her size, but cowered when she blinked. She wielded a powerful hold over them. I needed to find out what fueled her unchallenged authority.
“Finish packing,” she ordered, her eyes shooting daggers my direction. “We have someone to meet.” She continued to stand — bare ass naked — like it was the most natural thing in the world to carry on a conversation in-the-buff.
The men didn’t seem to mind, although they made a point of keeping their eyes diverted, glancing rarely at their mistress. She appeared not to notice, though I expected she enjoyed tempting them. Look, but don’t let me catch you looking. Touch, and I’ll kill you — double messages to die for.
I couldn’t help thinking that with a body like hers, I just might consider parading around naked too; although chitchatting with an enemy while undressed, not my style, no matter how luscious my curves.
Jazmine snapped her fingers and the tallest guard pulled a bag from under the desk. She snatched up her wig from the floor by the bed where it had fallen. It needed some serious grooming.
The detestable mutant duo must have anticipated her need for new clothing and packed accordingly. From what I’d observed, werewolves had serious anger issues. They were impulsive too. No wonder she had to carry double the outfits wherever she went. Every temper tantrum would require fresh, non-tattered attire.
I couldn’t think about Jazmine’s anger issues without my thoughts returning to Zane. I hoped again that he wouldn’t let his anger shut me out. I needed him now more than ever, especially since I was uncertain that anyone but Zane, or maybe Logan, could deal with Jazmine. She was a real live menace, naked or not.
As she dressed, I finished packing and was able to stuff my cell phone inside my bra without drawing attention, thanks to a little trick I’d used in high school to avoid my stepdad’s detection. Bob had been prone to purse checks, for my own good, of course. He didn’t think cell phones were appropriate until adulthood. One evening, he’d caught on to my charade when my shirt started rumbling.
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