I got tired of standing while the cops did their job and the crime scene techs took photographs, I decided that I would take a load off, and sat on the police car's hood.
The officer gave me a dirty look. I waved and laughed at what a crappy day I was having. I found the entire thing ironic and ridiculous I wished I had brought a flask with me. It seemed that was going to be the kind of day I was headed for.
The team grew to four officers who catalogued my weaponry. The original officer opened up the back and extracted my small duffle bag. I let a snort of laughter escape my mouth when he set it on the ground and backed up. He looked at me, I yelled over to him, “You are gonna want to call the bomb squad for that one."
I could hear Jones laughing so hard he had to have tears rolling down his face, as the patrol officer called in the bomb squad. Just as he was about to clear a blast area and wait for SWAT to show up the chief came out of the building.
"Simmons! What the fuck are you doing?” He screamed as the veins popped out of his neck. “Don't you know who this is? You get the fuck out of here, this is just a big joke to her, and yes, I will see that she gets her just reward. Knowing what I do about her, she is sanctioned to carry every single one of these items. She is the vampire executioner, and you are holding up an investigation."
He stalked towards me and I lost my smirk. Standing on my own two feet, I steeled myself as I waited for what could only be the first fight in many that were to come today.
"Go clean up that fucking mess while I deal with SWAT and the bomb squad. We will have a discussion later after I sort all of this shit out.” He stalked away from me, I could only say my reaction was akin to shock. I followed him towards my arsenal, I started to gather up my things and put them back in their proper place.
After I finished, setting things right I walked towards the only remaining spectators from the office. Martinez started to give me a hard time, I looked at Pete and said, “At least they didn't find the rocket launcher, only thing I don't have a license for,” shouldered past them to start my day from hell all over again.
I could feel the shocked silence as they tried to figure out if I was full of crap or not, I wasn't about to show and tell.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I worked throughout the day, it was tiring to say the least. The joking harassment about what happened earlier in the day was grinding my last nerve when Pete finally called it a day. I grabbed my things and headed out the door to the safety of my Hummer. I jumped in the driver's seat and headed home.
The case was at a standstill, other than the fact that there were more dead bodies and only one dead vampire. Pete had acted weird with me all day. I could only assume it was because of what happened the night before.
On the drive home, I didn't take in the picturesque sunset or the wildflowers in bloom, I concentrated on not getting pulled over, and what I would say to Ian when I got to work. As the thought of Ian crossed my mind, I got a picture of his office, with three other vampires that I knew were from his kiss. Ian was giving them instructions on where to look for our rogue vamps.
"Ian, I thought we agreed I would handle this?" I mind spoke to him, and all I got was a smile before he clamped down on the connection we had. Still not knowing exactly what that connection consisted of, I resisted the urge to turn my truck around and head to the bar.
I wanted to take a shower and change before I went to the Wolf's Den. I needed to find an inner peace before I met up with Ian again, and a hot shower was the best solution. I needed not to drink tonight. It seemed to make me like my guns more than I already did. I needed to ask some serious questions about what happened and concentrate on not letting Ian avoid telling me the answers.
As it was, concentrating around Ian was going to be hard enough considering I couldn't keep my hands off him.
I pulled into my driveway and made a beeline to the bathroom. Still hesitant about intruders, I went through the normal routine of checking my house before I got comfortable. It seemed, Raif got what he came for the last time. Still, I was not going to break my cautious habits now.
Once undressed, I jumped in the hot shower and lathered up my body. I noticed I had a mark just above my breast. I hadn't noticed it until now, it was shaped like a half moon. It stung a little bit, but nothing painful, no more so than my red bottom from the night before. I traced a finger around the red mark, Ian jumped into my mind. I could see him in an enormous claw footed iron tub, which looked to be archaic, or at least as archaic as the vampire sitting in it. I looked over his naked body, and he looked up as if he knew I was watching him and smiled enough to flash fangs at me.
I smiled back as if he could see me, I noticed his tattoo seemed like something had been added to it. Seeing a similar mark on him above the same chest peck, I wondered if this was a side effect of the bonding.
When I thought of being a bonded human, I saw red. I felt Ian crawl around inside of my mind. I rinsed off and got out of the shower.
I got dressed in a pair of semi-baggy jeans, and a halter-top that barely covered my breasts. I applied my makeup, which I must say I never do, and was ready to make Ian sweat.
* * * *
On the drive into town, I ran through all of my options on how I would handle Ian. I made sure to keep my thoughts very guarded, just in case he could access my mind, as easily as I seemed to access his, I made sure to guard these seductive thoughts.
Sure, I wanted to fuck him again, Christ, who wouldn't. He was like an Indian God, built, but not too built, tattooed and incredibly handsome. I think it was the eyes that did it for me. I couldn't help but want him when he pierced my soul with those turquoise, mesmerizing, soul stealing eyes.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and decided to play nice and shocked him silent.
As I pulled into the parking lot at Wolf's Den, the place was packed.
Strange for a Tuesday night, I shrugged and stripped out of my dead cow, after having thought it through, I left behind my shoulder rig, and machete, and walked into the bar with fanny pack ready to go and just a Harley Davidson lace up halter top. The dark grey and flash of breast contrasted with my auburn hair and subtle touches of makeup.
When Ian noticed me, I could feel his eyes linger on my breasts and the fact that I was not showing the mark. He did however notice that I was showing much more than I usually did.
As his eyes trailed lower, I felt them come to rest on my navel, and could feel my abs harden under his scrutiny.
I glided across the bar, over the black, dance floor that looked like black glass. I used all my skills of athleticism to not allow anybody to touch me, and in turn not touching anybody else. I saw the admiring looks from vampires, who thought I was one of them.
This is amazing I thought as I pushed my way through a crowd, I was astonished at my ability to do what I had done. I saw that Ian had noticed as well, he had a knowing grin on his face as he came to greet me.
He picked me up in a big bear hug and whirled me around. He planted a hungry kiss upon my lips, returning the kiss, I held on as he twirled us in never ending circles.
When he relinquished his grip on me, he let me slide to my feet as he stopped circling us. He kissed me deeper, plunging his tongue into my mouth, and I returned the fervor with which he kissed me, I slammed my body closer to his, and cut my lip on his fangs.
Drawing back in surprise, I licked my lip and heard a feral growl escape him as he watched me consume my own blood.
I smiled at him, “Shall we sit down?” I questioned.
I watched his eyes widen in unexpected shock, a small laugh escaped me, as I motioned him to a tall bar table, set with backed barstools, just big enough for two.
I allowed Ian to pull out a stool for me and help me to sit, and allowed him to pour my first scotch for me. Instead of knocking it back, which is what I wanted to do, I sipped it, letting the liquid fire warm my mouth before it glided down my throat into my stomach. The second it hit my stomach I felt my nerves cal
m and started up the conversation once more.
Speaking quietly, I asked Ian how his day was, and if he had made any progress on finding the trespassing, rogue vampires.
Although he had excellent hearing, in order to accommodate my own sense, he scooted his barstool closer to mine He placed his hand on my thigh and told me that he had nothing to go on, but had some of his kiss out and about, searching for these vampires.
I glanced around the bar and noticed that there were many unfamiliar vampires hanging around. “You do realize that there are many strange vampires in your bar?” I cautioned in a low guttural tone.
He nodded, his hand encircled my inner thigh and he leaned in for a kiss.
As our lips touched, I felt him go still. When I opened my eyes I noticed he was looking behind me, and that his eyes were turning to solid turquoise. I broke the kiss and I chanced a glance behind me, what I saw stilled my heart, and then it raced forward in a surge to escape my chest.
Ian put pressure on my leg, he got my attention back, and shook his head, he said, “Lets sink another drink...” he sighed, which he didn't have to do, and I found it was more of an old habit that he couldn't break then a need for it, “it will give me time to think...” I jumped down from the stool and walked to the bar in an extreme calm. It was the type of calm that I get when I am sighting down the barrel of a gun, ready to pull the trigger. I asked Jimmy for the baseball bat, he shrugged and handed it over.
I proceeded across the bar to a large table, where a large group of unfamiliar vampires sat, I could feel Ian at my back with more of his kiss then I had ever seen in the bar at one time before.
I thought it was funny how I knew who was on our side and who wasn't. It must have been a bonded thing.
I walked up to the table and heard Ian caution me to take it easy. I clamped down on the link between us. I pushed past two unfamiliar vampires and came face to face with Raif.
He didn't look too shocked and that was a bad thing. It seemed like he expected me to be here. Like he wanted this confrontation. Well if it was a confrontation he wanted then I was going to give it to him.
I dropped the bat on the table and grabbed the front of his shirt. I fisted the material and pulled him to me. I kissed him, not some chaste kiss reserved for past lovers, but a kiss full of passion. As I pushed my tongue into his mouth I could feel the sharp point of his fangs and knew he had been turned. Not that I didn't already consider it, but this was the clincher for me.
When I let him go, I had accomplished what I had set out to do; I shocked the entire bar silent, even Ian was stunned.
"That is for coming back Raif.” I stated with sugar in my voice as I let go of his shirt. I turned a little to look Ian in the eye, I doubled up my fist and with a crack that could be heard all across the bar, and I punched him square in the face. “That is for leaving,” I screamed at him, as I grabbed the bat off the table and hit a female vamp across the head with it.
I saw the bat shatter with the force. My hands stung as I plunged the splintered bat into her chest and watched the look of rage turn to one of horror as she realized she was dead.
The fight was on. I glanced down at Raif and saw his grin.
"Same old Ariana.” He whispered to me, as he kicked out with his leg and swept me to the floor.
I glared up at him, we burst out laughing, not a good laugh, but a laugh that is brought on by hysteria, and irony at what life had brought to us.
I saw bodies fly past me, and felt mystical vampire shit going on, I had to get up. When I did, Raif was there screaming at his kiss to stop fighting.
As the bar brawl ended, Ian, myself and Raif stared at one another, while hurt, bloody vampires were helped up and brushed off.
I sided with Ian and glared at Raif, “This is not over by a long shot. Get the fuck out this bar, and run. Hope to run and hide far enough away that I don't find you. You are on my hit list, and you know how I am, I don't stop."
I turned to walk away, not worried because Ian was still squaring off with Raif, he called back to me, “I trained you, so yeah I know how well you are about getting your vamp, but my dear Ariana, you have never come up against a vampire like me before, and when you say this isn't over, I completely agree.” With a snap of his fingers, all the rogue vampires left, with him right in the middle of them.
I turned to look at Ian, shrugged and walked back to our table and took a long pull off the bottle. When he joined me, I glanced at him, “We need to discuss a few things Ian ... in private."
Nodding at me, he led the way to the back office.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Ian what the hell is going on?” I demanded as soon as the door clicked shut. “What I mean is, well, did you know it was him? Christ I can't believe I kissed him, oh hell, I can't believe I decked him. I can't believe I let him leave."
"Sikaoki, calm down. I thought it could be him, but had no proof. As for you kissing him, I am not so self-centered to believe that you don't have feelings for him, however, I would hope that you still have feelings for me after seeing him.” Ian replied gazing into my eyes.
I attempted to read his eyes but only received a blank look, and noticed the stillness to his body. He seemed to shrink in on himself. He was trying to look nonchalant, but instead he looked a little vulnerable.
I weighed my response and said, “Of course Ian, I still have feelings, but they are confused. On one hand, I still love him, but on the other hand, he abandoned me. He is now on a killing spree in our hometown. It is starting to piss me off. I don't know what he is thinking, but I am happy that we are on the same side.” I walked towards him and gave him a big hug.
I didn't move as I waited for him to return the small caress, not just for reassurance, but also to see if he still wanted me.
He rested his hands on my shoulders, he embraced me. "Sikaoki, I find I am falling in love with you." He whispered to my mind, I did now allow the words to be spoken aloud.
"I find myself in the same predicament.” I whispered back aloud.
"Ian this is not the time to discuss it, but we will discuss it after we kill Raif, and his entire Kiss."
He let my shoulders go and pushed me back a little so that we could look each other in the face. He searched my eyes and grinned at me when he found what he was looking for.
"What are you grinning at? You know I can't lie to you. Even if I do, you tell me that I am doing it."
"I can not tell any more Ariana. It is the bond. There are certain things we have gained from it, as well as certain things we have lost. My ability to sense if you are lying to me is something I lost. Whenever I close my eyes, I can see what you see, that is something I have gained."
"So you mean to tell me that I shouldn't have been able to knock a vampire as strong as Raif on the floor, which I did."
"It is something you gained.” He replied with an evil grin and a twinkle in his eyes.
I returned the grin and laughed aloud as the reality of my beefed up strength kicked in. I took a mock swing at Ian, he ducked and we began a refreshing game of shadowboxing before we collapsed in a much needed respite from anything serious and stressful.
I sat next to him, with a grin still on my face, I looked at his face to tried to remember every detail. We were about to go hunting, and who knew what would happen. One or both of us might die. As the realization of it all hit me, I crawled to him and sat in his lap.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. I laid my head on his shoulder and held him, letting him hold me.
We stayed like that for some time well until my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID it was the cops.
"Shit ... Ariana Reynolds,” I said as I flipped it open. “Yeah be right there.” I glanced at Ian, knowing he probably heard the conversation I repeated it anyway. “There has been another killing, and now there is a missing girl."
"You must go do your duty Sikaoki, and I must do mine. Shall we see who gets to him first?” With raised brows, I kissed him with a passion
I didn't know I possessed, leapt up and ran for my truck.
* * * *
I grabbed my duffle bag, the one with the homemade grenades. I flew out of my truck and into the entrance to the graveyard.
I was cautious as I searched around the flashlight beams and monotheistic gravestones. I reached out with all my senses to find any rogue vampire. At this point, I had executed two of them, I figured there were at least seven more that were part of the original kiss members Raif had brought with him.
After earlier though, it seemed as though Raif and his kiss had grown in numbers, but my first priority was to recover the missing girl, alive. If I happened to kill any rogue vamps along the way then so be it.
I noticed a flash of darkness out of the corner of my eye, and turned to a secluded crypt in the far corner of the cemetery. I followed my instinct and went after it.
I saw that the crypt door was open, I knew I was walking into a trap, and mind speaking to Ian, I let him know where I was, and what I was about to do.
"Wait for me." Ian urged as I shot through the crypt door and stopped dead in my tracks.
I could feel the many vampire presences, and they seemed to be closing in around me, but try as I might, I could not see any. I dug into the duffle bag, I pulled out three homemade grenades. I lit a fuse and tossed the first one about fifteen feet in front of me. I counted to three and shielded my eyes as it exploded. I could hear a screaming voice running away from me. I gave pursuit and I crept forward making sure to check all of the crevices on my way.
The further into the crypt I went, the darker it got, and once again, I fished into my bag of goodies. I retrieved a small flashlight and clicked it on.
The second my eyes focused into the new light, I regretted not being able to see in the dark. For an ancient, unused crypt, this was not ordinary. There was blood smeared on the walls, and covering the long dead remains of various skeletons.
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