by Amber Flora
“Herrick, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. When did it start?”
I still had him wrapped in a hug. I could feel his lips gently graze my neck and it sent chills down my spine. I didn’t know if he had done it on purpose but that small amount of contact lit a fire inside me.
“It began in Finland, before we left Damon’s estate.”
It took less than a second for his words to register and anger to descend upon my face.
“Finland! You’ve had emotions since Finland and you never thought to say anything?”
Herrick pulled away from me but continued to hold my hands.
“Love, I tried to tell you multiple times. Every time I started you shut me down.”
I had to let go of his hands. I attempted to control my anger but I could feel my hands warming. If I didn’t put some distance between us he was going to get burned and I wasn’t so sure I would feel guilty about it.
“I call bullshit; you’re not the filter type. If you really wanted to tell me, you would have. You intentionally found excuses to keep that piece of information to yourself.”
“What does it matter when it happened? You wanted me to feel things and I do; does the timeline really make a difference?”
Was he joking? Of course it mattered. When I slept with him I thought he couldn’t feel anything. I told myself over and over that it meant nothing to him and I needed to forget about it. That he couldn’t possibly have felt the way I had when we touched. Now I was rethinking every moment we shared together, every word he had said. If Herrick could feel and he chose to leave after everything we had been through together, then it was clear that he did not care for me the way I did him. I had spent months thinking about a man that had the capacity to love me but not the desire.
“It doesn’t, forget it.”
“I can still taste your emotions, Ashtyn. That part of me hasn’t changed,” he said as he walked to the counter to pay for my clothes.
I could care less if he could read my emotions. I hope they were strong enough for him to choke on. I decided it was best to wait outside. I needed fresh air — fast.
I stood on the corner of the shop letting the breeze from the night air calm my nerves. I was so deep in thought that I didn’t see the young-looking vampire until he spoke inches from my face.
“I could hear your heart beating from across the street, little lady. What’s a fresh-veined piece of candy like yourself doing all alone on these streets?”
“Back up, buddy, I’m not interested.”
I heard the distinct clicking sound of his fangs descending. That was my cue to build up the flame sizzling inside of me.
“Really? Judging by your attire I would say you're up for just about anything.”
I knew I shouldn’t have chosen this dress. I was two lipstick shades away from being mistaken for a call girl.
“The only thing I’m for right now is kicking your ass. This is your last warning. Please remove yourself from my personal … ”
Before I could finish my sentence the young vamp was knocked on his ass. Kneeling over him was an emotionally charged vibrant with a knife to his throat.
“Whoa, buddy, chill out. Are you her pimp or something?”
Dammit! I was a call girl.
“If your words were an attempt to keep your head you failed miserably,” Herrick growled, pushing the knife closer to the vampire's skin.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, hoping to rein him in.
“Herrick, let him go. I’m fine.”
“Being a vampire doesn't give him a free pass to disrespect women,” he spat without taking his eyes off his prey.
“He’s sorry. You're sorry, right?” I asked the guy, hoping he was smart enough to swallow his pride.
“Yeah, dude, I’m sorry.”
I rolled my eyes at the idiot’s lousy attempt at an apology.
“Say it to the woman, not to me.”
The guy squirmed a little, trying to raise his head so he could see me. Herrick gave him just enough room to make eye contact.
“I’m sorry I offended you, ma’am. It won't happen again.”
Ma’am? How old did I look and exactly how young was he? I mean, he’s a vampire; the guy could be a hundred years old, and he’s calling me ma’am?
“Apology accepted,” I nodded, looking at Herrick to determine his next move.
After a few awkward seconds, Herrick removed the knife from the guy’s throat and rose. Before I could blink the vamp vanished and I could finally breathe.
“What was that about? Have you lost your marbles? You were really about to kill a vampire on his turf just for talking to me?”
Herrick shot me a death glare and started walking back toward Brian’s apartment. I practically ran after him. I was about to go off on a tangent when he froze in place and spoke.
“I smelled his emotions. He would have done a lot more than talked to you given the chance. He’s lucky I didn’t rip his heart out on the spot.”
Chapter 6
Once Mac got over the initial shock of my outfit and finally rolled his tongue back into his mouth, we were on our way to Nightstalker. Herrick gave me a quick rundown of Ruby and her influence within the vampire community. According to Herrick, she was not only beautiful but she was ruthless and highly intelligent. It sounded like he had a bit of a crush on her. On the other side of my shoulder was Mac attempting to give me pointers on how to seduce a woman. I didn’t know if I should have been disgusted or impressed at his knowledge of the female psyche. Although, if Ruby really was all that Herrick made her out to be, she wasn’t about to fall for the typical tricks.
As we walked through the dark streets of shadow realm I couldn’t help but notice how protective Herrick and Mac were being of me. They acted casually, as if we were taking a stroll through the park, but it was obvious to me that they both had their guards up. One stood on either side of me, keeping stride with my steps. When Mac spoke, Herrick’s eyes surveyed our surroundings for potential threats. Despite being two people who disliked one another so much, they made a great team.
We stopped in front of a red building with a black and white sign overhead that read Nightstalker. I could hear the music thumping from outside and there was a line of people about a mile long waiting to get in. I looked around, hoping to find a back entrance we could sneak through. When I turned to tell the boys we should check the alleyway, I saw Herrick walk up to Vin Diesel's vampire twin. I was preparing myself for a fight but was happily surprised when Herrick smiled at the bouncer and waved us forward.
“Friend of yours?” I asked, looking back at the body builder.
“I’ve acquired quite a bit of clientele because of this club over the years.”’
I quickly realized I was in way over my head as we walked through the doors.
The club was enormous, with multiple rooms; each one seemed scarier than the first. The first room we entered held a dance floor and a couple of bars. At a glance it seemed like any other nightclub. A closer look revealed immortals moving about at unnatural speeds, turning the dance floor into a blur of bodies. We made our way into the second room, which had the eerie feel of a horror flick. Throughout the room, men and women were lounging on sofas with glazed-over looks on their faces. Beside them lay silver trays that held needles filled with what I could only assume was blood. There were also people sitting next to IV bags containing blood. I couldn’t be sure, but I assumed vampires had somehow managed to create a blood concoction that made them high once injected. I practically ran past the addicts and made my way to the stairs that led up to the VIP room. I located a red room with all black furniture and half-naked waitresses looking all too eager to please and decided I was in the right place. I spotted a slender woman with porcelain skin, raven-colored hair and ruby lips among the crowd. “Bingo.”
Taking a deep breath and motioning for Mac and Herrick to keep their distance, I glided across the room toward her. Ruby was surrounded by beautiful yet
deadly men and women. If I wanted to get her attention before one of them dragged me away, I had to be fast. I quickly pushed my way through the crowd. As they heard my heart beating, the vamps parted a path straight to the head honcho.
“Ruby, I presume?” I asked in my best attempt at a sultry voice.
Her eyes wandered across my body and she tilted her head like she was confirming to herself that blood actually pumped through my veins.
“And you might be?” she purred.
“I’m hoping not dinner.” It was probably the wrong thing to say, but I meant it.
Ruby laughed and shooed her minions away, patting the seat next to her. I cautiously sat and spent a lot longer than I wanted trying to cross my legs in the extremely tight dress. Once I was convinced I wasn’t going to make a fool out of myself by falling off the velvet sofa, I turned toward my prey. Ruby wore a purple corset that made her ample breasts sit high atop her chest. Her short black skirt didn’t leave much to the imagination but oddly made me feel better about my own attire. She really was quite breathtaking in a terrifying way. While her outfit made her appear to be the mistress of a powerful man, her demeanor shouted that she was lethal. Sexy and dangerous — I had my work cut out for me.
“I won't lie, sweetie. I am thinking about eating you but not in the way you’re thinking.”
That scared me more than being vampire food. I had to force myself not to scoot farther away. I had run through a thousand scenarios in my mind as to how best to pull information from her. I knew the guys wanted me to seduce her and that was my original plan, but the more I thought about it the more I knew she would see right through that. Ruby didn’t manage to become a powerful woman in a man’s world by being naive.
“Since you’re being truthful, I will do the same. I heard you’re the person to turn to when you want to find somebody.”
By the look on her face I could tell she was taken back by my candor.
“Perhaps. Who might you be looking for? You aren’t a scorned lover, are you? I find women who can’t move on pathetic, really.”
“I’m looking for a relative. I don’t expect you to tell me where he is, but I was hoping you could get a message to him.”
I knew if Ruby was as smart as Herrick said she would never give up the whereabouts of her maker, but she could tell him I was here and maybe he would seek me out.
“I must say, my dear, you have certainly intrigued me. Who is this sought-after family member?”
“Skyler De’monte.”
Ruby made a valiant effort to maintain her composure, but I could see it on her face: She knew him. Herrick was correct; Skyler was still alive.
“Sorry, bright eyes, never heard of him.”
I leaned into her ear, brushing my bare leg across hers.
“You and I both know you're lying. All I want is for you to tell him that Ashtyn Lane would like to meet him. That isn’t so hard, is it?”
In an instant Ruby snatched my throat, applying pressure. I could see Herrick and Mac rushing toward us from the corner of my eyes and waved them back.
“Manners, little girl. It isn’t polite to call your host a liar.”
“Even when it’s true?” I squeaked out.
She released her hold and I gasped for air.
“You have grit, bright eyes. I respect that.”
“Funny, most people call it stupidity.”
She leaned back on the sofa, placing an arm on either side.
“Most people are jealous that they don’t have the strength to stand their ground. Hypothetically speaking, if I were to get a message to your so-called relative, I’m afraid I would need something from you and each of your friends in return.”
“What friends?” I asked, trying to play dumb.
“I stand corrected. Maybe most people are right. It appears you’re not as bright as I thought. I speak of Herrick and the dreamwalker standing next to him.”
Dammit, she was good.
“You know Herrick?”
“Honey, you would be hard-pressed to find someone in shadow realm who doesn’t know the vibrant.”
Of course Herrick would be well known in a realm known for its brutality. Why was I even surprised? Ruby motioned for one of her women friends to come over and whispered in her ear. The young lady nodded and took off to retrieve the guys.
This was going swimmingly. I should have stuck to the original plan. I was fairly certain whatever she wanted from us would be worse than a little seduction.
“Hello, ice queen. I see your gaudy taste in decor hasn’t changed,” Herrick said, scanning the room.
“Vibrant, I thought I warned you about doing business in my club.”
Ruby circled Herrick, extending her fangs for emphasis.
“I have no business here, just looking out for a friend.”
Ruby snickered, looking back toward me.
“You expect me to believe you have friends? Honestly, Herrick, you act as if we have never met.”
“I don’t really care what you believe. Can you help the girl or not?”
She directed her attention back to me, running her eyes over my body and smiling.
“Perhaps, although it would come at a price.”
“Or we could hold ya down and rip those gnarly fangs from your mouth nice and slow,” Mac threatened.
“Oh, an Irish gentleman, how nice. You would barely swipe the air around me before my people tear you apart and feed you to the crowd.”
“Ruby, please. We don’t want to fight. I just want to get a message to Skyler.”
She came to stand before me, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“I like you, bright eyes. You’re bold, lovely, obviously smart — although your taste in friends is questionable. I might be able to arrange a meeting between you and your supposed family member.”
“In exchange for?” I doubted she would ask for money, it seemed Ruby was swimming in wealth and I wouldn’t be able to come up with enough cash to pique her interest.
“Oh, nothing too extreme. From you, I simply ask for a kiss.”
“A kiss? That’s all? Forgive me for saying this, but it seems as though you could kiss any woman you want. I doubt I could compare to some of your other choices.”
Ruby shrugged her shoulders.
“On the contrary, bright eyes, you compare quite nicely. It’s been a while since I have kissed the lips of a woman whose heart beats.”
I had done a lot of crazy things since learning of my heritage. Making out with a woman was not one of them, but if it got me a step closer to meeting Skyler I would bite the bullet.
“I do this and you arrange a meeting?”
“Not quite, your friends will have to show their loyalty to you. What you ask of me is a bit of a feat. If I am going to go to so much trouble to deliver a message for a stranger I need to ensure it’s really worth it to you. To all of you,” she said, looking at Herrick and Mac.
“Out with it, Ruby. What gets us a meeting?” Herrick growled, growing impatient.
“What is with men? They never take the time to appreciate the little things. Very well, vibrant, from you I simply want the truth. Allow me to hypnotize you and ask a few simple questions and I will consider your part in this exchange complete.”
“What could you possibly think to gain from this?”
“Does it matter? Those are my terms; take them or leave them.”
I didn’t like the idea of Herrick and Mac having to make a deal on my behalf. This was my quest, not theirs.
“They’re not part of the deal.”
“The moment they walked into this club with you they became a part of this.”
This woman was on my last nerve. The way it looked to me, it had nothing to do with them proving their loyalty and everything with her displaying her power. I made a mental note to add her to my list when this was all over.
“It’s all right, Ashtyn, I’ll play her game,” Herrick said, trying to reassure me.
&nbs
p; “Excellent. That leaves the sharp-tongued Irish dreamwalker. Since you were so quick to want to hurt someone, you can go a round in the cage.”
Anger began to overwhelm me. I knew exactly what the cage was. I had seen it firsthand on my last visit. When I was searching for Mac’s father I had visited a lower-level club that sponsored deadly cage matches. Vampires tore each other to shreds in an all-out death match.
“Go to hell! I’ll find him myself.”
I turned ready to storm out of the place in a fury when Mac grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“Hold it, lass, you’re allowed to do a lot of things but speaking for me is not one of them.”
“Mac, if you think I’m about to allow you to get yourself killed just so I can find a ghost then you have clearly lost your mind!”
“Relax, bright eyes, I don’t want anyone to die, honestly. What kind of establishment do think I’m running? I’ll make it a fair fight. I won’t allow his opponent to use any special abilities. Just one man fighting another; make it through a round and I’ll bring you Skyler.”
I didn’t care if she offered me my own realm, I would never risk Mac’s life.
“Aye, I’ll go in the cage.”
Without thinking I slapped Mac hard in the back of the head. Maybe I could knock some sense into his thick skull.
“Seriously, lass? I don’t need protection from a vamp, I need it from you. How did ya learn to hit so hard?”
“That was a tap! Test me, Fintan,” I barked.
“For feck’s sake, lass, stop calling me that.”
“I don’t have time for your lover’s quarrel. Yes or no, dreamwalker?”
Mac held up a finger at Ruby to wait a minute and turned to me.
“Ashtyn, do you remember what I did to the vampire who attacked you?”
I nodded.
“I also remember that you almost died. Do you want me to beg? I’ll beg. Don’t do this, please.”
“Macree, have a little faith. I promise you I will be fine. Besides, if things get out of hand you can roast my opponent like a marshmallow.”
I wanted to argue; hell, I wanted to knock him out and drag him out of there, but I knew there would be no reasoning with the stubborn man. Trying to change Mac’s mind was the equivalent to moving a mountain. He turned back to face Ruby.