by Claire Marta
Jasmine blinked as she slowly caught the thread of the conversation again. “Thank you, Carbrey.” Jasmine offered him a grateful smile.
The old man returned it. Wary amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Hopefully you shall not need it again.”
“Just don’t go hitting anyone with that.” Twitch mumbled, eyeing her weapon of choice, before humming to himself.
Gingerly wrapping one hand around the poker she rested it against her shoulder. The paste had already absorbed into her skin. Her palms did feel a little slippery.
“That’s kind of the whole point of having it.” She pointed out with a wink.
“If you two clowns have quite finished?” Melinda muttered. She was sitting in one of the high back velvety chairs. Legs crossed at the ankles, she sat straight and lady like. She had been so silent Jasmine had almost forgotten about her again. The woman seemed too calm. Maybe Jasmine had a suspicious mind, but she didn’t trust her.
Twitch turned to survey his sister with dislike. “Aww, does someone need a happy meal?”
Melinda shot him a dirty look. “Fuck you, Morgan.”
“Enough. We need to move now,” Carbrey interrupted, giving his Grandchildren a sharp silencing glare.
“Wait. I thought you said we were safe here?” Jasmine watched as the old man tidied the tube away and laid the box on a coffee table.
“No. My exact words were safer not safe. The Jinn will be back. No doubt with the witches in tow.”
Kaysin had shadowed his movements. It was like a silent ghost. Yet Jasmine knew it was listening and observing keenly to what was going on around it. There was a gleam of intelligence in its golden eyes.
Jasmine eyed the black clad figure. “Can it be trusted?”
Carbrey glanced at Kaysin. A light of merriment danced for a moment in his sea green gaze. “It has not betrayed us yet. Yes, it can be trusted, child.”
“We need to find somewhere to hide then until we can figure out a plan,” Jasmine continued.
“I know of a place,” Melinda confided quietly.
“I’m not going anywhere without Mother,” Twitch responded quickly. He was patting down the pockets of the long black velvety coat he was wearing. A frown marred his brow. Jasmine realised then she had left his back pack abandoned. The thing had held all his tech. Without a piece, he couldn’t cast his magic. Shit. Why hadn’t she thought to grab the bloody thing?
“If the Jinn haven’t rounded her up already she’ll be at the Council building. That’s where we’re supposed to go in an emergency,” Melinda pointed out, rising gracefully from her chair. With one hand, she smoothed down her skirt.
“You’re probably right,” the mage muttered back. His lips curved up in a smile. With a small hum of triumph, he tugged a sleek smart phone from one of his pockets. Jasmine saw his shoulders relax. The tension in his posture fell away.
“Quickly, now then, Twitch, Melinda, no more arguing. Let us be on our way.” Carbrey announced with command in his tone.
Brother and sister nodded in unison. Jasmine watched with a hint of amusement as they bowed to their Grandfathers orders. The old man collected a long grey waterproof jacket from a wooden coat stand in the hall. Jamming a wide brimmed tan hat over his white haired head, he limped towards the front door. His steps determined. The others hustled behind him.
Kaysin handled the door. Swinging it open, it held it wide as they all trooped out. Jasmine emerged last. The Jinn followed silently behind. Only darkness and shadows shrouded the empty streets now. The mist had become a steady rain. There was no one in sight.
Magic still whispered on the breeze. Jasmine felt it skim her sixth sense in a fleeting touch. Somewhere there was still fighting going on. Were the Jinn fully occupied somewhere else? Maybe they wouldn’t be noticed.
Cold drops pummelled Jasmine from above. Streaming down her face, it became an icy thin layer. She no longer had a coat. The garment had been abandoned back during the fight. Her clothes took only minutes to become sodden and soaked. Rain-laden air still wafted with the recent odour of smoke. The city now lay in a silent water washed haze.
She shivered with the coldness that crept over her skin. Fire poker still in one hand, she wrapped the other around her waist. This gave some comfort. Melinda slunk ahead. Somehow she had gotten her hands on an umbrella. Jasmine was betting the bitch wasn’t about to share. Why would she? Through narrowed, wet, blinking eyes she watched her friend’s twin move ahead.
“You still got the bracelet on?” Twitch whispered. He had dropped back to walk at her side. His long legs slowed to match her speed. Jasmine was moving unhurriedly. She had no desire to slip. The pouring rain made it difficult to see.
Strangely his clothes didn’t seem to be as damp as hers. The water seemed to bounce of it like it did with the feathers of a bird. Twitch’s curly hair was plastered in long, straight, drenched strands down past his chest. For once it didn’t look messy.
“I haven’t taken it off,” she whispered back. Beads of rain dripped down her face like sparkling jewels in the blurred subdued lights. Jasmine encircled her wrist with her other hand. She could feel the hard metal of the bracelet beneath her wet jumper. Distractedly, she pushed it from side to side. The metal felt strangely warm now. Twitch’s magic prickled her skin. Familiar. Safe.
“Good. Don’t forget to use it if you need it this time.” The mage’s voice was a mutter. “Don’t even hesitate.”
“You’re sure it’s going to work…the force field or whatever it is?” Jasmine queried, trying not to let her worry and doubt be heard in her tone. Thunder rolled through the sky as another lightning bolt split the clouds.
“Come on, when has my magic or tech ever not worked properly?” he asked, wiping water out of his eyes with the back of one hand.
“Well…” Raising her own, she tried to wipe away the rain that was trickling into her vision. Droplets clung to her eyelashes.
“Shut up, that was one fucking time.” Twitch sniffed, insulted. In two long strides he moved ahead.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. He was obviously feeling stressed. The mage tended to be a bit of a drama queen and she had only been honest. A couple of times they had experienced hiccups with his inventions. This was nothing he hadn’t been able to fix. Twitch was a genius. Twitch strode past his sister. Melinda did not seem to mind him passing. The umbrella bobbed against her shoulder every time she moved.
The old man was just behind his Granddaughter. Carbrey’s limp was less pronounced. He seemed to have no trouble keeping up with the rest of them. Using his cane for assistance his steps were brisk. They were making their way to the immense palace-like building Jasmine had briefly glimpsed before. Russet coloured towers stretched broodingly skyward. The airships were nowhere in sight. Had they been moved because of the storm?
They were moving up hill past other grand structures now. The Council building looked like it was at the very top of the cliffs that the town was situated on. The cold and wet had burrowed into Jasmine’s skin. Her fingers were so numb now she could barely feel them. She curled them into her palms.
Kaysin had fallen into step beside her. Long legs kept stride with her small ones. Golden eyes continued to glance her way. The rain didn’t seem to be penetrating the leather outfit it wore. Even its face was protected from the dampness.
“All your creepy, unblinking staring is starting to freak me the fuck out.” Jasmine grumbled. Rain dripped down her jaw which she clenched tight to stop her teeth from chattering. “Do you really need to do that?”
The staring did not stop.
“Fuck. This would go a whole lot better if you knew how to talk,” she continued with a scowl. “Can you at least blink once for yes, twice for no? I know you can fucking understand me.”
Jasmine found herself pressed against the Jinn’s firm strapping body. Shocked, she raised her head in confusion. A mouth crashed down on hers, fierce and hungry. The breath whooshed out of her lungs so fast she felt light headed. When s
he gasped, its tongue dipped into her mouth. No, not an IT. He.
All male and very aroused. The evidence of this was pressed firmly against her stomach. The solid, ridged length sent her body clenching and spiralling with a primitive need. She melted against him. Gloved hands tightening in her wet hair. He held her to him. His magic enveloped them in a smoky cocoon. She could feel it caressing her senses at it settled flawlessly around them like an intimate cloak.
Jasmine’s heartbeat thumped heavily with excitement. The force of the raw lust which ripped through her left her dizzy. They were devouring each other. Lips, mouths, tongues, wild and violent, they battled for supremacy. A small hum of excitement vibrated in her throat. She could taste cold drops of rain mingling with the kiss.
The fire poker slipped from her hand to the rain washed ground, forgotten. She barely registered it clunking as it hit. Nothing existed outside this. The touch of a male’s hungry warm mouth, a tongue gliding against her own. His body pressed so tight to hers it felt like they were one.
Pressing her hands against the supple, black damp leather, she clung to his sides, trying to get closer. He felt rock hard beneath. Muscles rippled and bunched the more they continued to strain together. He was looming over her. Yet, she was not afraid. His gloved fingers were still tangled in her short soaked hair.
Jasmine had the urge to feel bare skin. She wanted to run her hands over slippery wet muscle. Her fingers clawed into his costume. Breaking away, Kaysin drew back a fraction. Lips parting, their breaths mingled. He was panting just as much as she was. Just as affected. Hands sliding down, his leather covered thumbs caressed the sides of her neck. She knew her pulse was beating, frantically. Knew that he could feel, see the desperate pounding. Excitement sped through her faster.
Her damp eyes slid shut for a moment. Slowly, she leaned into the caress. God, it felt so good. Her nipples were already taut and eager. They were rubbing against the material of her cotton bra. Her breasts were heavy.
Kaysin’s lips nuzzled the side of her cheek. His breath warmed her cold skin. Still panting, she hungered for his touch. Her whole body clenched with a need she could not explain. The force was almost painful. Raising her face, she blinked up into the dark, rain swollen sky. Her head was swimming with lust. She couldn’t think straight.
Caressing the mask with her numb fingertips, she followed it down to the worshipping mouth. Lips parting, Kaysin planted tiny teasing kisses on each tip. Slowly, she traced it’s shape. His breath ghosted warmth across her skin. Drawing her cold finger into the heated interior, he suckled on it. Erotic. Sensual. It was a promise of more to come if she continued to stand there.
The rain streamed down her face. Her eyelashes were clogged, her short hair drenched. Vision blurry, she could barely make out the shape of his beastly mask. The taste and touch of his mouth was achingly familiar. It haunted her dreams.
“Eric?” Jasmine whispered with uncertainty. Her pale cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered up at him.
Drawing back, Kaysin released her finger from his mouth and stared down at her passively. There was no hint of recognition at the name. Desire, though, was burning in those odd, golden, glittering eyes. He wanted her.
Jasmine felt foolish. What was she doing? She hadn’t sensed the snap of Eric’s wintry powers. This couldn’t be the vampire. Kaysin just had a similar build. Maybe that had somehow convinced her brain into responding to him. Her pathetic longing had worked against her. A sense of despair made her heart ache. Biting hard on her lower lip, she tampered down the urge to cry. She was an idiot.
Pulling jerkily out of his grip, she scurried towards Twitch. Kaysin’s magic slipped away. Like wisps of smoke it blew off into the rain. Confusion and bewilderment warred inside her. She pressed a hand to her kiss swollen lips.
What the fuck had just happened? Jinn were supposed to be sexless. They weren’t supposed to have sexual desires and urges. Yet this one certainly did. She had let some stranger kiss her. He had been fully aroused. The blatant press of his hard cock within his trousers had confirmed that.
Could he be working with the witches? A spy of some sort? Or did he work for Carbrey? His own disguised minion? Frowning, Jasmine looked around. Where was the old man? He was nowhere in sight. Yet she had seen him moments ago.
Eric watched Jasmine bolt from him like a frightened rabbit. Her confusion and panic throbbed through the bond between them. She was scared. He had risked detection for the price of a kiss. He was a fool. He should have known better. Yet the temptation had been too great. This had been beyond even his control. Eric wanted her. He lusted for her.
Her taste still lingered in his mouth. It had been almost impossible to keep his fangs sheathed in his gums while her tongue had duelled with his. The feel of her slim body against his had swept any sense of duty from his head. Carnal desire raced through him.
He wished he had not been wearing these infernal gloves. Her rain soaked skin would have been far more pleasurable to touch. Then next, the damp threads of her coppery hair. To finally inhale her scent from the curve of her ever tempting neck.
It had been an arduous task to stand there passively while his name had fallen from her lips. He had wanted to rip the mask from his face and kiss her again. To take her there on the rainy floor. Yet he had to keep to the plan. He could not risk his mission. He could not afford to slip. Not again.
Sighing, Eric trailed after her.
The rain stopped. Jasmine looked up for a moment in puzzlement. Frowning, she stared into the darkness. The sudden silence was unsettling. A swift, ear-splitting roar of danger thundered through her sixth sense and vibrated through her skull. The sound was deafening.
Clasping her hands over ears, she narrowed her eyes. This did little good though. Not when it was all inside her head. Melinda’s lips curled into a nasty sneer. With a flick of her wrist, she dumped the umbrella. Her magic rose so quickly, Jasmine barely had time to cry out a warning.
Like a ball of lightening, a blue sphere shot from her hand. Power crackled and sparked. Every hair on Jasmine’s body rose with the static it created. The ball slammed into Twitch’s back so hard it bought him to his knees. Mud and water splattered his clothes as he cried out, body bowed in pain.
Jasmine darted towards him. A firm arm wrapped around her waist, holding her back. She yelped in surprise. Panicked she looked up into Kaysin’s face. He shook his head in warning. The muscled grip was like steel. Every plain of his body was ridged with tension. Jasmine’s back was pressed up against his leather clad front.
Shivers of desire raced through her body. Pressing her thighs together she tried to quell the arrow of lusty need that shot to her core. What the fuck was he doing? She needed to help Twitch? When she struggled, his embrace tightened. She swung at him with the poker but his hand gripped her wrist. The pressure increased. With a small cry of pain she dropped her weapon. The hold then eased.
“You had this planned all along, didn’t you, fuck nugget?” Twitch muttered savagely as he rose shakily to his knees. He seemed winded. A small trickle of red had escaped his nose. Absently, he wiped the nose bleed away with the back of his hand. He barely looked at the red smear. For a moment his eyes met Jasmine’s. She saw the hint of relief on his face. Had he thought she had been hurt too?
“And here I thought you still had shit for brains.” Melinda laughed, skipping towards her brother. The water soaked ground splashed around her with the movements. She was almost gleeful.
Shadowy forms were moving in the darkness. They were coming up from behind. The sound of high twisted laughter filled the damp night air. Then it was joined by a chorus of more. Jasmine could sense their magic rising. It wasn’t just Jinn.
A procession of veiled women was coming as well. They marched gracefully towards them in a swish of long red skirts. At their head was a figure in crimson. She was unusually tall, rangy, with broad shoulders, built like a line backer. The many layers of her long, flowing dress hinted at a flat bosom for
such a large frame. There was not one piece of her, though, that could be seen.
A heavy veil of fine red mesh obscured her face. Yet from beneath, the woman’s long, shiny, rich brown hair hung down past her shoulders. Under the netting, a wide mouth, painted red, curved in a pleased smile.
“Very good, Melinda.” When the woman spoke it was low and husky. “You have done very well, my dear.” Jasmine was reminded of a heavy smoker. Someone who sat and smoked fifty a day like a chimney. Yet, somehow it remained smooth while smoky.
Melinda was watching the witch with fear shadowing her eyes. Whoever this was frightened her. Yet the young woman seemed excited too. She licked her lips. A slow, growing look of anticipation climbed across her features. The woman in crimson moved behind her. Strides long, yet graceful, as she sauntered closer.
Her tallness dwarfed even Melinda, who was at least five -foot-seven, like her brother. Twitch’s twin tensed. The smooth column of her throat bobbed with nervousness. The witch leaned down. Material from the red fine veil brushed against the back of her neck.
Long, tapered fingers slid over her shoulders. The woman massaged Melinda’s shoulders. It was not gentle. Jasmine could see the way the red painted fingernails dug roughly into Melinda’s covered flesh. The force looked almost punishing. Melinda moaned softly, her head lulling to one side. Her eyes fluttered closed. A look of pained pleasure tightened her expression.
The other veiled women moved forward. Their every movement was in a spooky, perfect, synchronised unison. They became neat lines behind them, like soldiers waiting inspection. None of them spoke. They remained like silent robots, waiting for instructions.
One of them held an orb. The thing was hovering in the centre of her cupped palms. Paper, white flesh of her arms shone brightly in the dark. Her finger nails broken and yellowing. Glowing with an ethereal white light, the very presence of the orb chased away any lingering shadows. The Jinn were trailing behind the women slowly. Their stares all pinned to the sphere. They looked frightened of it.