Everyone had the timeless beauty companies try to manufacture in bottles for a profit. They were all so different, and without the heat, in the car thanks to Maria, no one would guess the prize the van had inside.
After a couple of hours of games, Marcus showed off his abs. In the middle of his show Hendrick’s soothing voice broke the conversation, “This is the turn, mate.” Marcus’s brown hair flung forward as his lean body was thrown back.
Ethan pulled the steering wheel to the left jerking all the passengers around. The dark gray road must have suffered a few battles during the war because the shadowy surface was covered with the brutal memory. The cracks and potholes were massive and scattered everywhere. Driving fast on the road would have shredded the tires.
Cat’s heart hammered in her chest in anticipation. When she saw the huge sign hanging from a black, eerie, three-story building, her heart almost stopped beating entirely.
A Dollhouse factory.
Her throat went dry and her hands shook uncontrollably. She sucked in her emotional episode before everyone noticed. Dang it Maria. Couldn’t we have sucked the defective stuff out another day. I’m freaking out here.
“Alright lass?” Hendrick said, almost inaudibly. She shook her head to make him shut up. If she spoke or he pushed the matter, she might break.
It had to be dolls. I can’t stand those no blinking bastards. A chill ran through her body as she thought about sleepless nights because of those prying eyes staring at her. She used to cover her head at night to get a little rest.
At an early age, with the end of the war coming about, Cat and her parents had moved in with her grandparents. Unnaturals attacked their neighborhood, so they didn’t have a choice.
At first, she loved living there. She still had milk and cookies before bed sometimes. But the happiness didn’t last. Cat’s grandma, before she passed, used to collect grade A designer dolls. When she could no longer walk around her bedroom, she stuffed them in Cat’s room.
One by one, they got out of the van to make sure the area was clear. Cat didn’t know why they thought no one could see them. The sun was bright, and the ground was painted white, so the sea of black clothes getting out of a black van was bound to get some attention. Hopefully, no one was home. Then we can get our black clothes wearing butts out of here.
“Scared, pussycat?” Hendrick taunted in Cat’s ear as he helped her out of the van. Cat glared at him while flipping him the bird.
“Why, do I always get an urge to punch your face in when you talk? Yes, I’m fine.” Cat wiped her leather pants and black shirt off like she was rolling around in the dirt. She figured keeping her hands busy would prevent them from shaking.
“Good, because you’re my partner,” Hendrick looked at her with a smugness tenting his lips and eyes.
“I wanted Cat to be grouped with me,” Jake said, frowning like a wounded child. “I promise to make it worth your while,” he coughed in his hand when Hendrick raised an eyebrow, “Later that is.” He leaned in close to Cat and wiggled his eyebrows.
Marcus approached. He walked with a limp that most guys thought was cool. Considering both of them were awkward in their movement she had to guess this was for her benefit. Little did they know it had the opposite effect on her.
“No, she should be with me. I’m stronger than you,” Marcus showed his bulging arms flexing his muscles.
“In your dreams. It’s not how big you are; it’s how you use your strength,” Jake retorted, waving him off. Cat wasn’t sure who jumped first, but they both ended up on the floor smacking each other.
Hendrick grunted and walked over to them. In one quick move, Hendrick banged their heads together and separated them. “Stop embarrassing yourselves. This is about Chris, not silly games. Now let’s move on before you get flogged, mates.” He walked away, but his tone held a power that couldn’t be ignored.
Both Marcus and Jake’s faces were bright red, especially where their heads had slammed into each other. Hendrick ignored their grumbling.
Everyone separated into small groups. Hendrick and Cat had the main floor with all the finished dolls. Ethan and Maria headed for the top level with the doll heads. The middle floor housed all the limbs, and that’s where Jake and Yvonne had the pleasure of going. Marcus and Keanu got the basement with the defective dolls.
“I hate dolls,” Cat mumbled to herself, ducking under their little bodies stretched out everywhere. Where is a torch when I need one?
Hendrick chuckled, "You never had a doll as a child, Cat?” Hendrick's large body moved with silence and grace around all the obstacles in the room, both he and Cat were trying to stay hidden just in case. Hendrick could not feel anyone, but people could be hiding their presences with an amulet.
"Yes, in fact, I had way too many. I hated their beady eyes staring at me. They would follow me around with them." A shiver ran up Cat’s spine as she saw the dark black holes of their eyes watching her like they did when she was a child.
“All that is missing is a rocking chair,” Hendrick turned to her and gave her a proud gaping mouth grin. When she just blinked at him, he sighed, “I forgot, you were not around before the war when television was so popular.”
“Well, are you going to tell me?”
“The story of the rocking chair?” He gave her an astonished glance back, “Are ye sure?” Cat nodded impatiently. “There isn’t much to tell. It was a horror movie about a murderous doll. When he was in a rocking chair, the wood would move on its own. Definitely a creepy movie.”
“Your storytelling sucks, but with this one I’m glad. I don’t need nightmares about dolls rocking in my house,” Cat pushed away a doll head sticking out from one of the many bends.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to dream about their pleasant faces, I’ll get a dozen for you and little chairs too,” Hendrick gave a quiet, pleased chuckle.
“You better not,” Cat said a little too loudly, making both their heads duck into their shoulders. Cat gritted her teeth together and shined a contorted upside down apologetic smile at Hendrick.
"Don't worry Kitty, I'll protect you from the big bad dolls," Hendrick said, grabbing her hand.
Cat jerked away from his hand. “Stop that!” She backed up into a large bucket of dolls that seemed to reach out and grab at her leather pants. "Aaah!" With an urgency, she moved closer to Hendrick.
She straightened her shoulders next to him, “If you want to hold my hand I guess I should let you this once,” Cat hissed, wiping her hands. She hated showing weakness, but that's all she seemed to be doing around Hendrick. Cat’s pride was a bitter mess. But her pride could shut up right now. She wouldn't have let go of his hand for anything.
“That's very kind of you, lass,” Hendrick took her hand, and with his thumb, he made circles on her cool flesh. They kept moving. His smile got bigger as her grip tightened.
“Why do you have such a mix accen-” Cat tried to ask, but he interrupted.
“My mother was from England and my father was from Scotland. When I get uncomfortable or too comfortable, my blended accent comes out. I learned quickly, accents cause too much attention. But the habit is hard to break."
Creeaak.
“What was that?” Cat gripped Hendrick's arm. "Dammit. I hate this place, let's go get your brother and skedaddle."
"It's probably just an open window, lass. Let’s try to keep our wits about us, okay," Hendrick kept her close to him. As much as he wanted her to stay calm, he needed to remind himself to stay calm as well. Something didn’t feel right in here.
Tap, tap, tap.
The pitter-patter couldn't have been a rat unless these rats ran on two legs. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him as well because the shadows crept closer.
“What is it?” Cat whispered. She stopped moving when she saw his body language go defensive. Almost like a cats’ fur spiking up, his shoulders did the same. Cat couldn't hear anything, but she went on high alert.
He didn't say anyth
ing, just put his finger to his mouth to silence her. He pointed straight ahead to keep them moving. Hendrick didn't want to scare Cat, so he didn’t tell her anything, he led them forward. He was hoping that was the right choice.
Twenty-one
Hendrick’s stomach clenched at the sound again. What the bloody hell is that? His senses went on high alert. He couldn’t quite hear what was going on in the distance, so he tapped into his vampire beast and let it ripple through him, polishing his skin and lengthening his teeth. He loved the feeling of his beast.
The sleek vibrations were different from his dragon beast; he was more wired with his vampire side. Like he could run a hundred miles because he wanted to.
The exotic and thrilling power coursing through his veins took over making him feel youthful. He needed to be careful his vampire beast didn’t make him stupid though. The beast already made him more arrogant, so he’d have to watch that, but right now, he needed the accelerated hearing his vampire side provided.
The amped up speed that came along with the power he might need, as well. He could hear a caterpillar pushing its way out of its cocoon from a distance and be at its side before the thing made it halfway through. Hendrick smiled, thinking about all the things he loved about his vampire.
Shut up scoundrel and pay attention. He argued with his beast. Hendrick’s head twitched to the right following a sound his sensitive hearing picked up. What’s that?
He slowed his stride when a mystical texture in the air caught his attention. The humidity and air pressure dropped making the room hard to breathe in. Why do I feel like I’m trapped in a box? His eyes kept darting into every shadowy corner expecting a Hunter to pop out.
His vampire beast didn’t like how claustrophobic the room had gotten. The ghostly feeling made his skin glisten with worry. Contrary to widespread belief that vampire’s hangout in cemeteries or hide in the shadows at night waiting for a tasty morsel to fall in their lap, they are actually the life of parties and the ones showing off for all the girls.
The fact that it was so dead in here was the reason his vampire was so edgy. The feeling prickled at his body like static electricity making his hair stand at attention.
Cat noticed Hendrick’s posture change, so she leaned in closer to him, “Does it feel like someone sucked all the cool air out of the room. Or is it just me?”
Hendrick wanted to keep the mood light until they didn’t have to, so he smirked at her, “Going through the change so soon, puppet?” he pushed out his pheromones after. Hearing her heart hammer in her chest was distracting and this would ease her worry.
“Bite me,” she retorted. Her remark only made Hendrick smile. He loved that she could keep up with his sarcastic personality, most women got offended.
“Only if you ask nicely,” he taunted her, enjoying the way her heart skipped a beat. It had been a long time since he had the pleasure of biting into flesh. The sweet feel of his teeth piercing tissue made his senses change. Instead of keeping his eyes on the shadows, they were on Cat now.
Everything inside of him wanted to feed on her. He was like a junky wanting another fix as he salivated in anticipation.
In addition to the speed and increased hearing abilities, there were other perks as well. The pheromones he secreted to allure his prey were a huge perk in his job and a plus when he was hunting. He also could feel on an enticing level because of his skin changing. So, someone grazing their finger over his flesh was like lightning shooting through his veins. But that wasn’t always a good thing, and it didn’t make for the best warrior.
Unfortunately, his two beasts could not exist at once. He had to choose which one he wanted. Did he want amplified speed and hearing from his vampire? Or did he want intensified vision and strength from his dragon—who was a much better warrior? This was the question he asked every time he went into battle. Hendrick chose his vampire to be able to listen and to calm Cat.
He stretched out his hearing which came back with nothing. Abnormal for a warehouse, there should be bugs or rats roaming around. The only sound decorating the room was like little feet. Somehow different, though, like the sound was recorded and not actually happening. He bit the inside of his cheek in frustration. Something terrible was going to happen, he could sense an eerie presence of evil. The place was too quiet.
Regardless, if they wanted to challenge him now, he was ready. His shoulder twitched a few times telling him his beast was in full force and ready to attack.
He groaned at himself, loathing how his thoughts became hazy as blood-lust clouded them and his fingers twitched slightly. Every time he had too much of his beast’s adrenaline pouring through him that happened.
Hendrick struggled to keep his vampire under control as they walked along the path. The free spirit inside of him wanted to run, be free and bite shit, not be quiet and alert.
Stay focused, I need to find Chris.
“I think I’ll pass. I’d rather visit a gynecologist than do that,” Cat said, not looking at him. She was still looking around, oblivious to his change.
Her words calmed his beast a little, “You’ve never been bitten by a Dragonvire have you?” He looked at her with wide, astonished eyes. He remembered a time when people would travel great distances to be considered being bitten.
“Why do you look so surprised? Did you peg me for a Dragonvire whore or something? It’s not like I know tons of them.” Cat tilted her chin down and let her forehead lean toward Hendrick like she wanted his thoughts to jump into her brain.
Hendrick smiled. He had never seen her forehead crinkle so hard. “Nothing, lass.”
Now, she was getting annoyed, “What?”
He looked at her to make sure she really wanted to know, he shrugged and continued, “Dragonvire venom is an aphrodisiac. If I bite you, it’ll be more enjoyable than the gynecologist. I promise.” The way he looked her up and down made the heat in both their bodies rise.
His eyes were burning holes into Cat’s skin everywhere he looked. She understood what he was saying. He wants to bite me. Her eyes widened and her cheeks blushed cherry red. “Oh.” She paused to think, “Oh.” She let out a nervous squeaky laugh, then smiled, which made her face all the redder.
“Alright there, puppet?” he said, enjoying himself as he watched her blush up a storm. He didn’t know why, but his face got hot too, like they had shared a secret between them.
Cat tried to hide her embarrassment, but that dark potato stink clouded around her anyway. Which only made things worse. Betrayed by my own scent.
She had worked with the worst kind of perverts and knew how to handle them, but with Hendrick, the things he did were different. She couldn’t help herself. Every time she was near him her heart fluttered like the muscle had sprouted wings and wanted to be free from her chest to be in his arms.
Her embarrassment lifted, and a warm, pleasant smile stretched her lips. Her heart sounded like her cat Xena. The first time Xena laid eyes on Cat she flipped out pushing against her crate in hope Cat would touch her. If that wasn’t a good omen, Cat didn’t know what was. She could feel her calming touch now.
“What ye smiling for?” Hendrick asked. He could hear the way her heart calmed, and her body relaxed.
She looked into Hendrick’s sensual gaze as she walked ahead of him, distracted by her sudden happiness. She wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings and her booted foot tripped on something. Cat not so gracefully tumbled to the floor as if someone lassoed her neck and pulled her down.
***
Hendrick mentally slapped himself on the forehead knowing he’d let his vampire beast distract him after all. He reached for Cat as she tripped forward, grabbing her arms, and turning her around, “I got ye, lass.”
I should have been paying attention, not distracting her at a time like this.
He noticed the thin, clear wire she snapped as it traveled up the wall. The sound of the loose wire waving around reminded Hendrick of an angry snake. I hope my mistake doesn’t
cost me, my brother.
Twenty-two
When cat tripped over the wire, she knew she had messed up. Dammit it all to Hades’ wicked flame, I am the stupid partner that trips over a booby trap. If her old partners could see her now they’d piss in their pants from laughing so hard.
If that wasn’t bad enough, here she was in a total damsel in distress pose in Hendrick’s arms. "What did I just do?" Cat looked up at Hendrick’s concerned expression and any feeling of hope that she didn’t do a major screw up was gone. Who knew his face could make so many wrinkles?
He must think the worst of me. They both stood unmoving, afraid if they moved, things would get worse. Hendrick was trying to find the wire’s end game. He spotted it before the cable released a cup full of blood. The big ball of red liquid dropped down, heading for a bucket of clear, steaming water.
Hendrick knew what that was, "No!" he screamed, making ripples of energy splash at Cat’s skin like he had flicked water at her. “If the blood makes it into the water a curse will be activated.” He ran for the steaming liquid. With his speed, he could probably make the distance despite his destination being halfway across the room and up on a bunch of wooden crates stacked in a pyramid.
Cat clung to Hendrick’s body as he ran. Halfway there, she managed to jerk him back as a wall of flame spiraled to the ceiling. Cat threw him to the ground and landed on top of him. She heard the red liquid splash like the bucket was right next to her.
She rolled off Hendrick. A bucket of pink water was leaking pink fog. The way the mystical fog slid down the pyramid was beautiful. Cat shamefully enjoyed the beautiful silent dance the fluffy pink clouds were making. The lethal waves of fog were terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time.
“That’s not good,” Cat stood up, eyes blinking rapidly. Like she had just been staring at the sun. She was happy, though, she finally had her weapons with her in the time of need. “I'm not sure what the fog has in mind, but let's keep moving. We aren’t going to find your brother lying on the floor.” She groped for her sidearm to make sure the smooth metal was still there.
The Smokiest Grave (The Unnatural Series Book 1) Page 14