Poison and Potions: a Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by Erin Hayes

  "I've got nothing to say to you," he spat.

  "Look around," Moira said. "Your friends are all dust. We can easily do the same to you and not even bat our eyes. But if you answer our questions, I swear to you, we will let you live."

  I looked up at her, surprised. Would we really let him go? She looked down at me and nodded.

  "You expect me to believe that?" the vampire said.

  "What's your name?" Moira asked him.

  He looked back-and-forth at each of us and finally said, "Toby."

  I got up from my knees and backed away keeping the light shined upon him. Moira seemed to be doing a great job so I let her work her magic.

  She knelt where I had just been kneeling and said, "I know this may be hard to believe, but I used to have a boyfriend who was a vampire. He didn't have to kill humans to survive. He used blood bags."

  "Good for him." Toby glanced away.

  "My point is," she continued, "you can live a very different life. I mean seriously, who wants to live in some basement in an abandoned car garage? Is that the kind of future you envisioned for yourself?"

  "A future?" He laughed. "All I can think about is blood. I don't have time to think about the future."

  "Maybe you should," she said in a gentle voice.

  "What do you want?" he asked.

  "Who turned you?"

  Toby motioned his head toward me. "The guy that dude is standing on."

  I looked down. Sure enough, I was standing on a pile of ash. I stepped to my right and mouthed the word "oops".

  "What do you know about someone named the Dark Prince?" Moira asked.

  "You'll let me live?" he asked.

  She nodded her head.

  "I don't know much, other than he's some big wig from Ireland. He's telling vamps he's gonna change the way we live, and he's ordered a bunch of the older vampires to start making younger ones."

  "Where do we find him?" I asked.

  "I only speak to the hot chick," he said, glaring at me.

  Moira smiled. "Where can we find him?"

  He shrugged. "I don't know. I heard he came to town two days ago, but I haven't seen him. Supposedly he's having a meeting with everyone to share his grand plan. It's supposed to happen soon."

  "Where?" she asked.

  "I don't know," Toby answered. "That's everything I know. I swear it."

  She stared at him for a long moment, and I wondered what she was doing but after a second, she said, "I believe you."

  She came to her feet. "I want to give you a little advice, Toby. There's a Red Cross Center over on the corner of Seventh Street and Fourth Avenue. Every other day they ship a truckload of blood bags. You could easily take a few and no one would ever know. Think about your future. You don't have to live this way."

  "Moira," I warned. "We can't let him go. He attacked us."

  "Sure we can." She looked down at Toby. "If we ever catch you hurting a human, we will kill you. This is your only chance."

  He didn't respond as he stared down at his hands in his lap.

  "Let's go," she said to me.

  I followed her up the stairs leaving Toby below. It wouldn't be long before he would be able to move again. I hoped we weren't making a mistake by not killing him.

  "We might be making a mistake," she said as we walked outside, "but he did give us the information we wanted."

  "How do you do that?" I asked.

  "Do what?"

  "I swear, sometimes I think you can read my mind."

  She stopped in the middle of the street and grabbed my shoulders so we were facing each other. "Think about something. I want to read your mind."

  I narrowed my eyes. "Are you serious?"

  "Completely."

  I closed my eyes and thought how nice it would be to kiss her. I didn't really believe she could read my mind but right now I sure wish she could. I opened my eyes.

  She had a big grin on her face. "You were just thinking about how I'm a much better fighter than you."

  I laughed and began walking again. "Sure. That's exactly what I was thinking. And tomorrow morning when I beat you, I want to hear you say that again."

  Like usual, as nighttime approached, we drove to a restaurant of my choosing this time. For every day that passed, I realized how much I enjoyed spending time with her. She was like a breath of fresh air in my otherwise dark life. Sometimes it could be depressing to be around so many dark creatures, but Moira's presence in my life made it so much more bearable.

  She stabbed the last bite of cheesecake and shoved it in her mouth. "So tell me more about being psychic."

  I changed position in my seat, stretching my legs. This is the first she'd asked me about my abilities since I'd told her in the beginning. She just didn't seem to care, which was actually kind of nice.

  "What do you want to know?" I asked.

  "Can you predict the future?"

  "Sometimes, but I don't have any control over it. I'll just get a random flash of something, but I couldn't tell you exactly when or sometimes even where it will be. I'm working on developing that skill though."

  "What else?"

  "I can create psychic connections with people from touch." I reached out and took her hand in mine. With my fingers, I traced the lines in her palm then made several slow circles. She sucked in a breath through her teeth.

  "Because I'm touching you right now, if we were to separate, for the next few hours I would be able to sense things about you, specifically what you're feeling. At least that's how it works for everyone else but you."

  "What do you mean?" she asked.

  "The first day I met you, we touched long enough for me to gain that connection with you. But the thing is," I looked up meeting her gaze, "our connection never dropped. All I have to do is think about you, and I can tell what mood you're in. Sometimes I can even sense your intentions."

  She swallowed and let go of my hand, leaving it cold. "Are you always able to do that? Because it feels like an invasion of privacy."

  "I'm sorry. I don't want you to think that I'm always tuned into you. I'm not. It's something I have to actually think about, and I do try to respect your privacy."

  She grew quiet and turned to stare out the window, her expression serious. I wondered if I had said too much. It probably was too soon.

  The waitress returned to our table and asked if we wanted anything else. Moira was quick to answer no. A sinking feeling filled my gut as I realized I had said too much.

  As soon as the check came and we had paid, she slid out from the booth. "I'm going to head back."

  "Can I walk with you?"

  "That's okay. I'm not too far from here."

  "Are we still on for tomorrow morning?" I stood next to her and hoped for a good answer.

  "I may have to do a project for class. I'll text you."

  The sick feeling in my stomach reached my heart. I may have just blown it with the first woman I've had real feelings for.

  I followed her out and said goodbye only to watch her walk away, a horrible feeling. Somehow I had to relieve her fears. In my mind, our connection was a good thing, but, I paused trying hard to see this from her point of view, if she didn't like me in any way, then me being able to read her emotions would be wrong.

  When she turned the corner out of my sight, I walked the other way and headed toward my car. Once I was behind the wheel though, I couldn't bring myself to start the engine. I sat there, my head leaning against the window thinking of her. She had let that vampire live. I would've killed him. There were so many things about her that brought out the good in me.

  After several minutes, I reached to put the key in the ignition when all of a sudden a current of hot energy tore through me, and I gripped the steering wheel tight, my spine straightening. I gasped at the overwhelming feeling of pure, raw terror paralyzing my mind.

  It was coming from Moira.

  Chapter Eight

  I jumped from my car and took off running down the sidewalk. I
followed the path to her apartment building, my head on a swivel. I had dropped her off many times and knew the location well.

  It was almost ten at night. With few businesses still open in the area, the streets were mostly empty, but a few people still walked them. A couple looked at me strangely as I sprinted past them. She couldn't be far.

  I reached her building but didn't see her anywhere. I thought about going up to check her apartment, but that didn't feel right. Where could she be?

  Bending over, I rested my hands on my knees and inhaled a few deep breaths to clear my mind and calm my racing pulse. Focus! I reached out to her mentally. Wherever she was, she was terrified.

  I pictured her in my mind, every small detail of her beautiful face including a small mole on the side of her neck. My mind filled with a single image: water.

  My head jerked up. There was a canal not far from here.

  I took off running again and slowed when I reached a bridge that crossed over the narrow waterway. I listened closely. Off to my left were voices. They were coming from a garden sanctuary full of flowering plants and blossoming trees so tall I couldn't see within.

  I crept beneath an arc of vines and flowers into the small park keeping low and to the shadows. Several pebbled trails went in different directions. I followed the one that led to the voices, but slowed when I heard Moira's voice.

  "Just answer me already! Why are you here?"

  "Haven't you heard?" a deep bass voice questioned. "Something big is coming, and I want to be a part of it."

  "What?

  "But that's just the preshow," he blurted. "I'm actually here for you."

  "Me?"

  I moved further down the path and peeked through a rose bush in full bloom. Moira stood near a metal bench and not far from her was an extremely tall, muscular man with thick curly black hair and dark eyes. I only had to concentrate on him for a second to know he was a vampire.

  "Someone is keenly interested in your special talent," he said. "They demand an audience."

  "I won't be anyone's pet," she snapped.

  "You say that as if you have a choice."

  There was a weighted silence, then, "Why are you doing this, Devon? You know Sean would never have agreed."

  "Times have changed, and I had to pick sides. Your do-gooder, vampire boyfriend was in the minority."

  "I seriously can't believe you're saying all of this to me. We used to be friends."

  "A wolf could never be friends with a rabbit. It merely entertains one until the time is right for it to be eaten." He glanced around. "Right now feels pretty good. Just a small taste before I hand you over."

  Moira stepped back and withdrew her sword from her hip. She held it in front of her. "Don't make me use this."

  He laughed. "You can't fight me. I know your style too well."

  She took a step back again, an uncharacteristic move for her.

  "Stay back!" she said, but he stepped forward.

  I rubbed my sleeve. I had one stake, one I always kept with me. I straightened tall and walked forward on the path. "Great night for a stroll, eh?"

  Even with the distance between Moira and me, I felt the tension in her body melt away. She glanced back at me gratefully.

  "You just flew into the wrong beehive," Devon said, taking a threatening step toward me. "But I am kind of hungry. Stay put, Moira. I'll only be a moment."

  As he moved past her, she raised her sword and swung it through the air. He spun away at the right moment and kicked at her hands. The weapon flew from her grip landing in a bush nowhere close to her. Her eyes widened and she shrunk back.

  He chuckled. "I told you."

  When Devon drew close enough, his fangs elongated, I did the unexpected. I dropped to my knees and rammed my stake into his foot. He howled and attempted to kick me, but I rolled to the side taking the dagger with me.

  Moira was behind him searching for her sword. I needed to distract him long enough for her to find it.

  Devon growled and lunged for me. I scrambled out of the way, but he snatched my foot. I reached back to stab at his arm, but he flipped me around and into the metal bench. I smashed into it and the pain was instant, radiating up and down my body. I pushed past it and jumped to my feet. Devon may know Moira's fighting style, but he didn't know mine.

  Devon came for me again, but I spun and ducked. I came up behind him and quick-jabbed the stake into his back. He swung a heavy fist backward, but I was already ducking again and ramming the stake into his stomach and pulling it back out just as fast.

  I took a step back, risking a quick glance at Moira. She had found the sword and was picking it up.

  Devon noticed too. His expression darkened, and I expected him to come at us again, but instead he turned and sprinted away. I moved to go after him, but Moira stopped me.

  "Charlie, please."

  I looked back at her, surprised by how pale she had become. Her hands trembled, and the sword fell from her grip. I hurried back to her and took her in my arms. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you."

  She didn't say anything, but her shoulders began to tremble and she sniffed. I held on to her for a long time, stroking the back of her head until her breathing became regular. She eventually pulled away and wiped her eyes. Beneath the full moon, her watery blue eyes looked like a rare aquamarine gem I had once seen at a museum.

  "Let's get out of here," she said.

  She entwined her arm around mine and leaned into me as we walked out of the garden park. Parts of my body hurt all over, but the pain was overshadowed by the heat of Moira's body so close to mine. I held her protectively wishing I could've done more for her.

  It didn't take long to reach her apartment building. I stopped in front of the door and said, "I'll hurry back to my car and park in front of your building the rest of the night. I promise, you'll be safe. Tomorrow we can meet with the others and figure out what to do."

  "Wait. Will you come up? I don't want to be alone." Her bottom lip trembled.

  I swallowed. "I'm happy to."

  She led me up to the second floor. Every step seemed to weigh her down and by the time she got to her door, she leaned into it as if exhausted.

  "Let me." I took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door. Before she could do anything else, I scooped her up and carried her inside. I gently laid her on the couch and kneeled next to her. "Can I get you anything?"

  "I just can't believe that happened."

  "Who was he?"

  "He was my boyfriend's best friend. We did everything together. He didn't feed from humans either and never complained about that lifestyle." She sipped in a hitched breath. "I barely recognized him."

  "A vampire’s bloodlust is incredibly strong. Without his best friend, maybe it was too hard to resist." They were the best words I could come up with to try and comfort her.

  "I'm just so shocked. I feel like I should find him and help him find his way back."

  I slid my hand over hers and held it tightly. "If that's what you want, I will help you."

  Her brows drew together. "We need to stop the Dark Prince, especially if he's making new vampires and recruiting older ones to the city. Whatever event he's planning can't be good.

  "I agree. I'll start making calls first thing in the morning. Someone has to know something."

  She bit her lower lip and nodded her head. I'd never seen her so vulnerable before. I wished I never had to see this side of her. It broke my heart.

  I looked around the room until I spotted a blanket. I stood and pulled it off the back of a Queen Anne chair and draped it over her. "I'm happy to stay as long as you need me to. I'll sit right over there." I motioned to the chair.

  "I'd like that," she said, her voice quiet.

  I pulled the chair over to her and settled into it. I swiped the hair away from the back of her neck and ran my fingers through it slowly over and over. Eventually she closed her eyes and fell asleep. At some point I joined her.

  I woke to the sm
ell of bacon sizzling from a kitchen to my left. I smiled and stretched my arms up high. Moira. That was one of the best night’s sleep I had ever had.

  I walked into the kitchen. She stood next to a stove hovering over a frying pan, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a blue apron tied in a neat bow at her waist. "I hope it's okay I made you breakfast. It's the least I could do."

  "It was hardly necessary. Let me help." I stepped to a griddle on the counter and flipped the pancakes that were cooking on its top.

  "Did you sleep okay?" she asked. "That chair didn't look too comfortable."

  "I've never slept better." I eyed her sideways, hesitating briefly. "Can I ask you a question about last night?"

  "Only if I can ask you one first." She looked up at me, her expression serious. "How did you know I was in trouble last night?"

  "I didn't. I was sitting in my car when all of a sudden I felt a rush of emotion from you, absolute, raw terror. It was incredibly powerful." My muscles flexed just thinking about how scared I had been for her. "I rushed back to your apartment but didn't see you. That's when I pictured you in my mind, every detail, and eventually it led me to you." I looked at her in all seriousness. "I hope you don't mind. I wasn't trying to reach out to you. You reached out to me."

  With bacon sizzling behind her, she stepped toward me until she was inches away. "I did reach out to you. And I knew that you would find me."

  I searched her eyes, and my gaze dropped to her lips. What I wouldn't give to kiss her, even for a second.

  She stepped back and returned to the bacon. "What was your question?"

  I exhaled a breath I'd been holding and said, "Devon said he was looking for you because of your gifts. What did he mean?"

  She shrugged nonchalantly. "I think he's just talking about my fighting skills. I was trained very well."

  I watched her for a minute, the way her hand busied with the bacon. For some reason I had the distinct impression she was lying to me, but I wasn't about to call her out on it. If she had things she wanted to keep from me, that was her business. It's not like we were in a relationship.

  After breakfast, I waited while Moira got dressed. She was going to skip class and go with me to the Deific so we could speak with Henry. We hoped he had learned something from the other Deific locations.