Nik reached down and lifted me to my feet. I left the blanket on the floor and followed them out. In the hallway, we stopped. I glanced between the two men, my two obligated protectors. Boy, this was getting out of hand.
“So now what?” Josh asked. I looked at him, really seeing him for the first time. He wore cargo pants, low top cons, and a light blue T-shirt with a brightly smiling sun on it. Odd shirt for a vampire, I thought. But then again, I got the impression Josh was little off all around. I liked that about him.
“We need information.”
“Guess it's time for some Chinese food! Let's go to my place. Fagan still delivers there.”
“Good, let's go!” said Nik.
“Wait… what?” I asked as I scrambled to follow them up the steps directly across from the double doors. I had yet to climb these stairs. They led into a tiny entry way. The walls were painted drywall, without any form of decoration. At the other end of the tiny room, another door barred the way. Nik tapped a code into the ten-key built into the wall and the door swung open.
We stepped into a narrow space divided from the rest of the room by an elegant screen that subtly hinted at Asian origins. Nik led us around the partition into an enormous room. I instantly knew where we were. We were on the first floor of The Viewer’s Lounge—a high class restaurant I had only dreamed of visiting after seeing its pictures in the papers.
Nik and Josh stopped only when they noticed I was still standing by the partition, my jaw resting comfortably on the floor.
Chapter Fourteen
The Viewer’s Lounge was renowned not only for their exquisite cuisine from all over the world, but for their enormous television. The entire left wall was a screen rising three stories into the air. Thanks to advanced computers, the screen was divided into different pictures. The largest showed a Mariners baseball game, while other smaller screens displayed different news stations and sitcoms. One even had the Discovery Channel playing. Directly in front of the gigantic screen were about twenty rows of folding theater chairs with narrow tables placed between the seats.
Behind the theater seating rose elegant stairwells leading up to lofts. The right wall held two balconies, while two more extended out above our heads and directly across from where we stood. These four balconies contained private sitting areas, some looking like small living rooms, others with tables and chairs.
Though I had never eaten here, I had read an article in the paper. Each seat, or section, could tune into any of the channels being displayed with small speakers or headphones. During special events such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl, or major premieres it was nearly impossible to get a seat. In fact, seats for the next Olympics were already sold out.
Eventually I rolled my tongue back into my mouth and followed them.
We skirted around the back to make sure we didn’t bother any of the viewers and exited through the main door. Nik stopped and whispered something in one of the bouncer's ears. I thought it was “get us another car,” but I could have been wrong. A moment later, a car carefully rounded the corner and double parked. Nik took the keys from the driver and climbed into the driver’s seat. Josh opened the passenger door for me before climbing into the back.
Nik drove through the dark streets at surprising speed. Evidently he knew exactly where Josh lived. The others were silent, so I followed their example. A few minutes later, he slammed the car to a stop outside a simple, seventies-style apartment complex—its roof flat and the exterior painted in a drab orange color. We all got out and followed Josh to the second story.
His apartment, though larger, made mine seem like the Windsor Castle. Most of his furniture looked as though it came right out of a second hand store or garage sale. Granted, it was well disguised by dirty clothing. I glanced around, hoping to find a safe place to sit. I didn't find one. Josh moved to his kitchen counter, brushed off an empty blood bag to uncover his land line phone. He dialed a number and began ordering Chinese food. I glanced at Nikolai. He too was looking for a place to sit.
“Do you have another blood bag?” Nik asked when Josh got off the phone. “Ash hasn't eaten in a while.”
He joined us in the living room—or was it the laundry room?—with a blood bag. Josh cracked it open before he handed it to me. The smell of blood sent my mind into a free fall. I felt the agony in my gums and the tightness in my chest. Without a clear thought, I sank my teeth into the plastic and drank until it was all gone. Evidently I had gotten over my aversion to blood designated for a dying person. It was a basic necessity to my existence, I now realized. Doesn't mean I liked it, but such is life.
When I opened my eyes, my senses returning, I realized I had an audience. Though Josh was mechanically picking up the clothing, his eyes were continually flickering toward where I stood. Nik was not so subtle. “What?” I whispered.
“You have a long way to go in obtaining control.”
“I haven't had a lot of practice.”
“True.” Nik glanced in Josh's direction, who took the hint and removed himself and his pile of dirty clothing. I collapsed on the cleared couch, the blood bag still in my grasp. Nik sat next to me in a fluid, controlled motion. “You feel guilty about desiring blood.”
It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway. “I don't think I can do this.”
“You don't really have a choice.”
“I could ask you to kill me.”
“I won't do that,” Nik stated in a calm voice. I hadn't even ruffled his feathers. It surprised me considering how in favor he was with the notion just a few minutes ago.
“Only ‘cause you've been ordered not to.”
“Correct. But don't worry. Despite my interest in killing you, I will help you find balance.”
“Balance?” I asked.
“If you cling to your humanity, you will feel guilt every time you feed and it will destroy you. If you reject your humanity, let it fade out of you, you will become a raving lunatic barely in control of your own desires. You have to find the middle ground, where you hold on to some semblance of who you were while not burying yourself in guilt. You'll get there… someday.”
“What if I don't want to get used to it? What if I don't want to become okay with all this?”
Boy, this is one thing I left out of my books. Vampires shouldn't have to feel guilt. They never do in the movies. In fact, life had been far better when I was a human. You never hear a vampire say that in books, do you? Well, I sure thought it. Since turning into a vamp, all I'd experienced was running, death, and cravings. Oh, and the fear; lots of fear.
Before Nik could answer, the doorbell rang. I jumped up and backed away from the door. Call me a Nervous Nelly, but at this point, I didn't trust anything or anyone. Nik rolled his eyes and stalked to the door. He opened it to reveal a Chinese kid of about eighteen or nineteen. He wore a red jacket with the logo of a local Chinese restaurant. The tips of his dark hair had been bleached a frosty white, while the white of his eyes could be seen all around his pupils as he stared at Nik in shock. Nik grabbed him by the jacket and yanked him through the doorway, before he could regain his composure.
I skirted around them and shut the door just as Josh rejoined us. The delivery boy dropped the bag of Chinese food as he stumbled against the couch. Josh kept to the sideline, a guilty look clouding his face. I followed his example—guilty look and all—and stayed near the wall.
“What's going on?” the boy asked in an American accent before breaking out into a string of Chinese phrases that sounded like expletives; he must have been second-generation American. “Nik! I know nothin’!”
“I haven't even asked you any questions yet, Fagan! So how can you know that you don't know what I want,” Nik said, in a strangely gentle voice.
“I… uh… I… ”
“Now, let's talk. Ever heard the name Ashley Hawn?” Fagan pressed his lips together, but his eyes flicked to me for a split second. Nik spotted the movement. “I take it you've heard of her then. What does Richard want
with her?”
Fagan gulped. “I'm not exactly sure, but I've heard talk… I mean… it's just from the lowlifes, you know, the underdogs. But they say something big's going down and that Richard needs her. Most of the foot soldiers are hopin’ to get her and use her as leverage. They want in Richard's good graces. You know how Richard runs things.”
“What does Richard need her for?”
“I… I don't know. They don't even know.”
“What about the fae and the wolves? Why do they want her?”
“The fae want her too?” Fagan squeaked. His eyes glanced in my direction again.
“Yes! So tell me exactly why nearly every mystical being in the greater Seattle area is trying to take her.”
“I don't know!”
“Fagan,” murmured Nik. “I always know when you're lying. Don't make me do something we would both regret.”
I stepped forward, ready to stop him. It didn't seem fair that this kid should get hurt for my sake. Enough people had already died for me. Before I took more than a step, Josh grabbed me by the shoulders and yanked me back. He clamped a hand over my mouth and held me to his chest. Evidently his fifty years of vampirism was enough to make him much stronger than me. Ugh, I don't like being the weak one. I thought about taking up weight lifting as I gave up the struggle.
Fagan tried to squirm away, but Nik grabbed him by the shoulders and pressed him against the thin couch cushions. My desire to protect him welled up even stronger. I increased my struggle against Josh's grasp, but couldn't get free. How dare they threaten him for my sake? I hadn't signed up for torturing children.
“You know you can't get away, not with three vamps in the room. Now, you see that girl over there.” Fagan's eyes flickered to me again. “She's been a vamp for just a few days and she hasn't quite gotten control over her… urges. I'd hate to leave you in a room with her.”
The very thought of the boy's blood made my breath come in frantic gasps. I felt my teeth begin to shift into fangs and was suddenly thankful for Josh's firm grasp. I could hear Fagan’s heart pumping his blood through his veins. I glared at the back of Nik's head, certain he could feel my fiery wrath. How dare he use me like this! The boy gulped and shivered. He probably thought my glare was directed at him. His fear made his heart beat faster and blood smell sweeter.
After the briefest second, all my thoughts turned to draining him. I no longer cared whether they were threatening him, or even beheading him. All I could see was red. All I could hear was his heartbeat.
“Look. I don't know for sure, but I hear things, you know, and some of 'em say it's for a spell or something. Like a sacrifice. Richard's been looking for things, but that’s all I know!”
“What sort of spell?”
“I don't know!”
Nik slammed him against the couch just hard enough to make the furniture slide on the hardwood floor.
“I don't know!” he shrieked again.
Nik seemed to believe him this time. He stood up and released his hold on Fagan's jacket. He pulled out his sleek, leather wallet and dropped a bill on Fagan's lap before stepping away. The boy scooped up the money and bolted for the door. Once he was gone, Josh released his grip on me and took the Chinese food to the kitchen where he proceeded to eat it with a little blood dribbled over it like sauce. I stood in the corner shivering.
A sacrifice? Just great. Like my non-life wasn't weird enough. Suddenly I was the bloody sacrificial virgin?
Nik turned to look at me, an expression I couldn't understand pulling his eyebrows together and puckering the corners of his firm mouth. Before I could decipher it, Josh spoke, “Well that was only marginally helpful,” the words garbled around half an egg roll.
“More so than you think. If it is a spell, then we'll just have to go see the wizard.”
Josh swallowed suddenly. “Do we have to? She doesn’t like me much.”
“Who does?” Nik smirked. I was too stressed to be impressed that cranky, old Nikolai had just made a joke. “Come on. We need to get moving before the sun comes up.”
“Are we really going to go wake up a little old lady at four in the morning?” asked Josh.
“Do you have a better idea?”
Chapter Fifteen
I quickly found myself back in the borrowed car, driving toward Lacey. We pulled into a winding neighborhood called Wilderness. Halfway into the tree-infested development, Nik pulled the car into a driveway. The house was a basic ranch-style home, with a two-car garage jutting off the end, making an “L” shape. I glanced at the clock before following the others out of the car. I doubted whoever we were visiting would be thrilled to greet us at four in the morning.
Nikolai reached the door first and knocked. I heard groaning from inside and the creak of a bed. A few minutes later, the porch light flickered on and the door slowly opened. The bleary-eyed woman perked up the instant she recognized Nik and closed the door slightly. Wise response. Despite the caution, she smiled playfully. The woman appeared to be in her early sixties, with beautiful pure white hair framing her round face. She brushed her bangs into place with delicate, manicured fingers.
“Nikolai,” she said in a playful voice, as though his name alone held years of personal jokes between them. “Forgive me if I don't invite you in.”
Nik nodded, a smile of his own tugging on his shapely lips. “Of course not, Helen, no one expected you to.”
“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?” she asked.
“We need some information.”
“And you think I'll just hand it over?”
Nikolai glared at her, though I suspected it was less than genuine. “Fine, Helen. What do you want in exchange for information?”
The woman laughed softly as she pulled her fluffy robe tighter around her chest. Just then, the early morning rain began sprinkling down on our heads. I glanced up, sad not to see the stars any more. And yet, I knew it would be safer with the cloud cover. I heaved a mental sigh of annoyance.
“Please, Nikolai. I can't tell you that until I know what it is you want to know,” said Helen.
“What would both fae courts, Richard's seethe, and the werewolves all want with one vampire girl?” Nik inquired gently. “Rumor is it involves some sort of spell.”
“A spell that requires a specific vampire. You're not giving me a lot to work with.”
“It's all I know.”
“Hmm… ” She thought for a moment. “Look, I'm a decent wizard, but if this is something the fae want… ”
“Or want to stop,” interjected Josh.
Helen jerked her head down in a quick nod. “Or want to stop, than it is out of my league.” She sighed, no doubt seeing our disappointment. “I'll see what I can dig up. If you learn more, let me know. Based on what you've told me, all I can say is—run and hide might be your best shot.”
Wonderful. Just what I needed to hear. Nikolai nodded and began to turn back toward our car. I was ready to sprint. Don't get me wrong, I love western Washington, but that doesn't mean I like to get drenched, especially when I'm already tired and annoyed.
Before any of us had taken more than a step, she called us back. “Wait! Just remember, sacrificial lambs are chosen for a reason. You don’t just sacrifice anyone.”
Nik nodded slowly, as if allowing the thought to click into place. Finally, once I was soaked through, he headed back to the car. I glanced at Josh. He looked like a little, drowned carrot. I didn't have enough room to feel pity for him; after all, he'd chosen to wear shorts and sandals. We climbed in and drove off. I handed Nikolai the cell phone stashed in the glove compartment out of habit. He glanced at me, a strange look on his face, before pushing the speed dial.
“Yes?” Mikhail asked.
“It's Nik. Fagan said the rumors suggest a spell. We went and spoke with Helen. She wasn't a lot of help, but she thought we ought to look into why they picked Ash to sacrifice.”
“Ash, is it?”
Nikolai ignored him. “If it is a spell,
then I doubt Phonoi is involved.”
“We don't have proof either way. So keep your options open,” ordered Mikhail.
“I'm going to take her to my apartment for the day.”
“No. I need you back at the bar. Bring her too.”
Nikolai didn't respond. He snapped the phone shut and tossed it into my lap.
When we arrived at the bar, the horizon was just growing pink. I suddenly felt weak and disoriented, while the buildings around me began to shift in strange, circular ways. Though we were moving quickly, it wasn't fast enough. I stumbled on the edge of the sidewalk and would have landed on my face if it weren't for Nik's fast reflexes. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back to my feet.
“Whas go'non?” I slurred.
“The sun. Its rising fast and the clouds are thinning and you're feeling the effects. We need to get underground.”
He dragged me into the restaurant and past the unlucky few who had the task of cleaning up after last night's frivolity. There had been some sort of boxing match featured on the main screen last night to judge by the conversation between the cleaners. Once we reached the basement, I began to feel like my old self; well, not my human old self, but the vampire one. We shifted into the large room where I had first met Mikhail, which was fairly empty as most of the other seethe members had gone to their homes for the day.
Mikhail was drinking what looked like scotch from a crystal glass. Standing next to him was a woman garbed in a skintight dress and ridiculous heels—the kind of shoes a girl like me could break an ankle with. She looked like a character in my books, a beautiful seductress. Maybe I hadn't gotten it all wrong. Her sleek dress was strapless and ran just past her knees. On her neck hung a diamond necklace worth more than I could earn in a lifetime. Matching earrings dangled from her lobes, half hidden by her long, chocolate brown hair that draped over her shoulders in perfectly disheveled curls.
The Series that Just Plain Sucks: The Complete Trilogy Page 8