by Eden Ashley
“Buddy, you’ve got three seconds before my friend does to your balls what he just did to your kneecap. Where will you look for the Heart next?”
Kali was a little surprised when Dmiri spoke. “Might I suggest we end this soon? We have company approaching.”
York blinked. “I don’t hear anything.”
“When you hear them, it will already be too late.”
Feeling a prickly sensation down her arms and scalp, Kali spun around. There was nothing or no one in sight, but abruptly the kin all seemed more on edge. They must have sensed it too.
The rogue smiled. Well, if the terrible expression made without lips could be called a smile. “Your pet is right. You should really get going.”
York nodded. River took the cue and leveled the blade above the creature’s groin. “Wait,” it shouted. River stopped. The rogue shuddered. “You promised.”
“You haven’t told me what I need to know.”
“I have,” it insisted. “It’s the temple you seek.”
“What temple? The map doesn’t mention a temple.”
“We must go now,” Dmiri said calmly.
“Temple is the water’s source,” the rogue said by way of explanation. Then its eyes latched onto York. “They are coming. Don’t leave me alive.”
Grimacing, York gave the order. “Kill it.” One thrust of River’s blade and the rogue was dead. York looked at Kali. “Burn the corpse.”
She obeyed, calling forth the hottest blaze she could muster. Thirty seconds of constant burn reduced the dead rogue to ashes. As they fled the scene, Kali’s radio sizzled to life. She nearly stumbled in stride when foreign voices charged the open frequency. “Zephyr, what’s your status?”
“There’s nothing here except dust. Zephyr out.”
Chapter 12
After the night at the train yard, they knew two things. So far, Rogues had failed to acquire The Siren’s Heart. Their search of the coordinates for “water” had delivered nothing. And if their captive’s words held any credence, the creatures weren’t done exploring the fourth location.
York and the others were debating their next move while Kali stretched across the bed, listening with attention that drifted in and out. She was too hungry to focus. The cravings had returned and were nearly stronger than any she’d felt before. As much as she hated to admit it, the problem was getting worse. She hadn’t been fully satisfied since feeding from Rhane many months ago. As her power grew, so did the urgings to drain life. It was almost too much to withstand.
“How about you, dark phoenix? I recall this whole field trip being your bright idea. What do you think we should do?”
Kali rolled off the bed. Pressing a hand to her temple, she walked out of the room. “Not now, York. I can’t think.”
“Perfect,” he muttered disgustedly just before the bathroom door closed.
Bending over the sink, she pressed her forehead to the cool porcelain surface. This is bad. Even if Kali could have taken from one of the kin in attempt to quench the pangs, it would have been impossible. Her thirst was strong enough to kill.
A soft knock rapped against the door. “May I come in?”
She trudged through near delirium to answer. “Yes,” she croaked hoarsely.
Orrin eased inside the small bathroom and closed the door behind him. “Let me help.”
Kali shook her head. “You can’t, Orrin. I’d destroy you.” Seeing him through the mirror’s reflection, her eyes were drawn to the throbbing patch of skin situated next to his jugular. She took a seat on the edge of the tub to put as much distance between them as possible. “It’s because of the train yard. When I use my abilities…” Gasping as a stab of pain nearly split her abdomen in half, she panted through the rest. “It gets worse.”
“You need to feed?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
Orrin smiled. “Then I will find food.”
#
Slipping past York and the others unnoticed wasn’t too difficult. Kali only had to pretend to be sleeping off a headache all afternoon and evening in a suite she had entirely to herself. Orrin waited until the right moment to sneak inside her room and together they escaped from the third story window. Kali held onto his back with the laces of his sneakers tied around her forearm. Shoeless, Orrin climbed down the side of the building using only finger and toe nails to secure their descent. When her feet were back on solid ground, she handed him the shoes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“We have not succeeded yet.”
Kali shrugged. “I meant for not dropping me.” Spotting a cab nearing their corner, she waved it down. “Come on.”
With her thirst so severe and urgent, Orrin thought it best to forgo secrecy and find willing victims. People who believed in the supernatural, wishing or thinking they belonged to an underground world of darkness, would jump at the chance to be a meal for a creature of Kali’s sort. She wasn’t so sure the plan would work. More importantly, she had no idea where to find such people. Good thing Orrin was all over it.
Residing in one of the seediest parts of town, The Red Cellar toed the line of all things indecent. The night club was situated in the renovated basement of a condemned warehouse-style building. Nothing in the immediate surroundings offered a clue as to the full scale rave that happened every night below. To get in, a calling card was needed—a simple plastic rectangle, black, with a fine, red line drawn across the base. Kali had no idea how or why Orrin had acquired it, but felt immense gratitude tempered by a cautious amount of uncertainty.
“Are you sure about this?”
Orrin nodded and nudged her forward.
The dress code was apparently all black. Every soul who entered and exited the club wore the color from head to toe. Kali and Orrin blended in easily. The first room was almost completely dark. A thin row of red lights receded into the floor highlighting a trail for patrons. They followed it to a narrow staircase. There, the muted thump of music grew louder with each step. At the bottom of the stairs, Kali got her first glimpse of the cellar.
Red lights backlit a stage where a deejay spun a string of frenetic beats. The crowd pumped along with the music, male and female bodies writhing and gyrating as if in throes of seizures. Mouths were parted, showcasing artificial fangs. Contacts transformed many irises to a white that glowed eerily beneath black lights hung low from the ceiling.
The smell of sweat was strong. The smell of alcohol, even stronger. Smoke permeated the air in a thick haze. Kali looked up at Orrin in an effort to quiet her doubts. Placing a hand on the small of her back, he steered her toward another set of stairs she hadn’t noticed. Up there and away from the crowd, some of the tension she felt bled away.
A huge, pug-faced guy stood guard next to an empty dark corridor. Noticing Orrin, the man nodded and stepped aside. Now Kali was curious.
Taking her wrist, Orrin led the way to one of many private rooms on the hall. The front walls and doors were all constructed of paneled glass. Inside, the black and red theme continued, but now in luxurious leather. Taking her into a room near the end, Orrin gestured Kali toward the couch and turned to leave again. “Wait,” she called.
Orrin stopped. “Yes?”
“Aren’t you going to explain any of this?”
“What do you mean?”
Lifting her arms to indicate the current surroundings, she stretched both eyes wide, attempting to express the incredulity of it all. “How do you know about this place? Why does the bouncer recognize you on sight? And why do you have VIP access?”
When Orrin opened his mouth, Kali learned things she had never hoped to know about him.
“The women here are strange, open to anything,” Orrin paused. A hint of a smile played at his lips. “And they like it rougher than most.” And with that, he left.
Kali was stunned. He had answered without answering and a lot could be gleaned from the simple statement he’d made. Lisa always said it was the quiet ones you had to look out for.
&nb
sp; When she realized he hadn’t told her where he was going or for how long, Orrin was long gone. Alone and in the quiet, raw hunger pressed to the fore of her mind once more. By the time he returned, Kali was fidgety and anxious again. Her hands shook so badly, she considered sitting on them to hide the tremors.
Four guys followed Orrin inside the room and lined up neatly against the opposite wall. With the twist of a dial, the glass panels became opaque and gave them total privacy.
Folding his arms in front of him, Orrin dipped his head. “Make your selections.”
Shocked, Kali hadn’t known what to expect. But it certainly wasn’t this.
One of the men stepped forward. He was average height, nicely built, with spiked blond hair and soft bedroom eyes deepened by a thick trim of black eyeliner. His voice was southern velvet. “Mistress, it would be an honor to serve you.”
Wow. Kali eased from the sofa. Her feet moved with a will of their own toward the buffet line. Another suitor spoke. “You’re beautiful—a dark angel. I would die happy in your arms.” This one was bigger than the first, but not quite Orrin’s height. He possessed eastern features that somehow fit snugly with his rugged attractiveness. Honey-skinned, perfect teeth, and jet black hair with three days growth of beard to match.
The third and fourth were of mixed descent, exotic and handsome, but so similar in appearance, Kali figured them brothers. She tested each of them in turn, teasing a whisper of a kiss against their lips, tasting their sparks, checking for darkness. In the end, she sent away only the blond.
“Tell me your names,” she said.
The big one answered first. “Donnie.”
And then the brothers. “Christian.”
“Lee,” said the other, as his hazel eyes twinkled.
Donnie glanced back at Orrin. “So…is your boyfriend getting in on the action? Or does he like to watch?” Donnie winked.
Orrin’s expression remained all business as he stood by the door. “I am here to observe.”
Donnie’s eyes slowly trailed up and down the Warekin’s tall form. “That’s too bad.”
Kali cleared her throat. Orrin was being a good sport, but she didn’t want to test that patience. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s uh… my body guard.”
Donnie didn’t miss a beat. “Then give him the night off,” he replied smoothly.
Feeling a blush rise to her cheeks, Kali looked to Orrin for help. He smiled easily. “That will not be necessary.” Then he turned a serious gaze to Donnie. “I am flattered. But you are here to serve the lady.”
Donnie pouted playfully and moved closer to Orrin. “Girls only, huh?”
“Strictly,” Orrin said.
Oh boy, Kali thought. She quickly slipped her fingers around Donnie’s wrist, reaching out for his spark because he really seemed ready to chance a sample of unwilling goods. The colors of his aura flared and then dimmed at her touch. His eyes glazed as she drank, his spirit quenching the edges of her thirst. And when she dared take no more, Kali let go and Donnie slumped to the floor.
Christian and Lee watched with awe as their eyes clouded with lust. Both men advanced, surrounding her. Kali stared into Lee’s hazel eyes while Christian pressed close from behind. He smelled her hair, whispered in her ear, “Take me next.”
Lee kissed her neck, moaning something unintelligible against her skin. She reached for them both, drank her fill, and finally felt the hunger dissipate. She dared a deeper taste, letting their sparks cool her burning insides. When she released them, the brothers fell to the floor, unconscious.
Orrin flew into action, surprising Kali as he began to undress the men, stripping them down to their boxers. Once their clothes were strewn across the floor to his liking, he positioned the men on the leather couches. Assorted recreational drugs produced from within the folds of his jacket were added to the mix, scattered around the men to complete the scene. It took less than two minutes and he finished by taking Kali’s arm and guiding her to the door. “Let’s go.”
“What was all that for?”
“They will remember nothing about the feeding when they awake. And chances are, they will be at the hospital when that happens. Drugs, reckless sex…at least let them think they enjoyed it.”
Kali nodded following his line of thought. “You’re scarily good at this.”
Chapter 13
For the return journey to the hotel, Kali was on a binge high. Her eyelids drooped, hooded with languid drowsiness as she stared out the window at passing lights. Orrin watched her and was glad for the role he served in bringing that look of satisfaction to her face. But on reaching the hotel doors, he sensed the ceiling was about to come crashing down. He debated warning Kali. But then she smiled up at him as she stepped off the elevator, walking down the hall with a light spring in her step. She hadn’t been this carefree in months.
So Orrin rounded his shoulders and smiled back. He laughed when she teased him about Donnie, almost blushed when she dug for more details on his mysterious love life. For once she wasn’t weighed down by thoughts of Rhane. Orrin was willing to do anything to bring Rhane back to her, just like he was willing to do anything to bring Warren back. As hard as she tried to hide it, Kali carried her loss like a millstone around her neck. She squared her shoulders each day, jaw set with determination to grin and bear it, but the girl was sinking. Orrin didn’t think it’d be long before despair consumed her.
Every moment was a lesson in the new creature developing before his eyes. She was becoming less like Kali and more like the Kalista who Rhane talked about endlessly during Orrin’s childhood. He admired her spirit—indomitable even as it fractured, but refusing to shatter. He would gladly submit to her command on any battlefield.
Orrin stopped with the realization. Kali turned back to him. Her face was a question. “What’s wrong?”
There it was. She’d asked him directly. He’d just admitted, though only to himself, a willingness to follow Kali into conflict. And that was exactly what was about to happen.
Still, Orrin hesitated for just a beat. “There’s trouble,” he finally said.
Kali stiffened and was instantly alert. “Where? Who?” His confession stopped her motion of swiping the key card to enter her suite. Now she backed away from the door. The move put her closer to Orrin’s side. Good instincts, he noted.
“It is alright.” Taking the key, he waved it through the access panel and shoved the door open. “Go inside.”
“First you tell me there’s trouble. Now everything is peachy again.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I don’t get it.”
“It is something I must deal with first.” He motioned her into the room, but remained behind the threshold. “It will involve you soon enough. But hopefully not until morning. Get some rest.”
Inclining his head, he bid her goodnight and closed the door. Orrin left and entered his own hotel room where York waited in the dark, calmly seething. Dull light lashed out from a lamp switched on as soon as he set foot in the bedroom. “I’ve had about enough of this secrecy. Tell me what the hell is going on.”
“I needed some air. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Don’t give me that shit.” York’s eyes flashed angrily. “You and Kali went sneaking off into the night on an unsanctioned operation. Why?”
“She was starving. I fed her.”
“What?”
“The siren has not been satisfied since Rhane’s departure.”
“Orrin, I need you to be completely level with me. We all need to be together, if there’s any chance to succeed.”
Orrin dipped his chin in acquiescence. “What would you like to know?”
“Where did you go?”
“The Red Cellar. I believe you are familiar with it, no?”
York frowned. The mention of the underground night club brought back semi-fond memories of a certain long-legged, fire in her eyes, brunette. Ignoring Orrin’s question, he replied with another. “Do you really expect me to buy that? I don’t acce
pt for one second that Kali hasn’t fed since Rhane left.”
“I did not say she has not fed. I said she was starving.” Orrin scrunched his brow. “Besides, you know of her feedings…at least of the attempted ones.” At the mention of that, York calmed down a bit. Orrin had been betting on it.
“Yeah. I was there.” His frown deepened. At first, Kali had tried taking energy from the kin. But her need was too great. Three feedings brought York to his knees. After the last one, he didn’t think he could endure another. And the realization must have been written plainly on his face, for Kali had looked as if she understood it too. She didn’t take from him after that. Really, York could blame himself for not asking what solution she found to satisfy the urgings. Maybe he didn’t want to know. Maybe he already knew. Let’s test that theory. “Who did she find to feed from back home?”