by D McEntire
"Not gonna happen," Kern growled as he came down the stairs.
Though the sudden response had made her jump, Robyn felt a little better at Kern's sudden appearance and knowing he would be the person in charge of babysitting.
"You don't drink while on duty when you're a trainee," he said sternly as he locked gazes on the newbie on the couch, then on the one against the wall.
"And you are?" the newbie leaning against the wall drawled.
Oh boy, Robyn thought, seeing Kern close his eyes a moment. She had a feeling he was counting to ten. One glance at Marie and Rosa told her they tried as hard as she to keep a straight face in front of the WITs knowing this newbie was close to finding his head up his ass if he didn't shut his mouth.
"And so it begins," Marie whispered in her ear.
"Yep, the testosterone will be so thick around this place you'll be able to cut it with a knife," she replied, but failed to hold back the snicker that rode on the last word out of her mouth.
Robyn quickly composed herself in response to a narrow-eyed stare from Kern, though she knew the silent threat to be feigned.
"I'm Kern, your second in command while Trigg is out on assignment. Tank will be back shortly to give you the low down on how things work around here. We'll take you two out on a short patrol afterwards.
Turning his back on the newbies, Kern entered the kitchen, reached into the fridge and grabbed a beer. After twisting off the top and tossing it into the trash, he pulled Marie to his side and kissed her soundly.
Robyn covered a snort behind a cough knowing the show to be deliberate.
The door opened once more, and Tank stepped inside. While in the entryway, he removed his long, black leather coat then swept a glance from the Watcher in Training leaning casually against the wall, to the one slouched on the couch.
When his gaze focused on Kern who stood in the kitchen next to Marie with a beer in his hand and a shit-eating grin on his face, Robyn thought she'd pee her pants trying to hold in her laughter.
Much to her surprise, Tank made no comment. He simply walked into the living room and tossed his coat on the back of a chair.
Kern passed her as he followed Tank into the kitchen. Figuring she, Marie and Rosa didn't need to be involved in Watcher doings, that is, unless it involved their own safety or the safety of their mates, she headed for the coffee maker to start her favorite brew.
"Welcome to our Cell," Tank spoke in his normal low, rumbling voice for the benefit of the women in the kitchen, but intentionally laced his tone with authority to ensure the two WITs got the hint. "I've received your background information from Headquarters. Which one of you is Nathan?"
"That would be me," the newbie on the couch said with a smile. Tank didn't return the greenhorn's greeting, which quickly faded.
Tank turned to the newbie who walked in behind him and sat on one of the chairs. "You must be Eric."
A slight nod his only answer.
"All right. As you're aware, this Cell patrols the downtown Louisville area. We're called out to other parts of the city as well. Most often to the various parks and college campuses. Right now, two of our Watchers, Trigg and Vane, are in Bardstown assisting that Cell with a Rogue issue. Seems their numbers in the area have somewhat increased."
Tank circled the couch and sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room, wanting to see the faces of both WITs as he spoke.
"Now, let's go over some ground rules. First, I'm the CO of this unit, and while Trigg is out of town, Kern here is my second. You follow his orders just as you would mine since they most likely came from me. Is that clear?"
Both Eric and Nathan nodded. Their lack of respect made him grit his teeth. He raised an eyebrow to make their error apparent. Thankfully, they immediately understood the gesture and quickly added the expected, "Yes, sir."
"Second, you do not patrol alone. You will stay with either Kern or myself at all times unless you're told otherwise. Is that clear?"
Once again, both answered appropriately. Tank was pleased that so far, he hadn't had to repeat himself.
As he spelled out the rest of the rules, Tank mentally began the count of minutes until they were out of his hair and fleas on the ass of some other unlucky Cell leader. He had no idea where they'd be headed and fervently prayed their stay here would be short--extremely short.
Once the grill session was over, Tank let out a breath and stood. "Before we head out for the night, have you eaten dinner? We won't be hitting any drive-thrus while on patrol."
"We stopped on our way in, so we're cool," Eric drawled, flashing Tank a rather petulant smile, showing the tips of his fangs.
Tank growled low, but loud enough for all to hear. Lord help the fool if he steps out of line, he thought to himself. He didn't have the patience for arrogant ass-wipes like these two.
Satisfied at the paling of Eric's face as a result of his unvoiced warning, Tank grabbed his coat from the chair. When Marie tossed Kern's across the room, smacking the Watcher in the back as he headed toward the door, he almost laughed since the warrior rarely wore a coat. Looks as though this time the warrior wasn't going to slip out the door without one, he mused.
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Chapter Four
"Here, Brat. Here, kitty." Sonya called as she sat a bowl of cat food on the floor beside the refrigerator. The thunder of the overweight feline pounding down the stairs sounded as though her entire music class were running through her house.
Even as the floor trembled slightly beneath her feet, Sonya reminded herself Brat had been her grandmother's. A companion for an elderly lady. Now, he was her responsibility, and she didn't mind in the least.
Thinking of her cat always brought back memories of her grandmother. Sonya inwardly sighed. She missed her. She missed having someone to talk to. Someone who showed her love and compassion. Someone who was proud of her. Tears welled in Sonya's eyes, but she wiped them away.
Bending, she reached out her hand. When Brat's soft fur settled under her fingers, she scratched his ears while he crunched loudly on the cat food.
The chime of the doorbell made her jump. "Who could that be?" she muttered.
"You stay right there." Though she knew he wasn't paying any attention as not even a tornado could pull the cat away from his food. She didn't want him to run ahead and plant his fat, furry butt somewhere in her path.
The chime sounded again.
"Just a minute," she called as she skirted the spot where the cat crouched over his bowl and subconsciously counted the steps to the door.
"Who is it?" Sonya asked when she reached the door. No way was she going to open it for someone she didn't know, especially this time of night.
"Sonya? It's me, David."
David? What's he doing here at this hour? Sonya grabbed her glasses she'd placed on the table by the door and put them on before turning the deadbolt and sliding back the chain.
"David? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Sonya didn't open the door fully. She cracked it open enough to stand within the entryway and kept her hand on the knob. It had been a long evening with the concert and the talking with parents afterwards. Now, it was late, and she didn't want company. She just wanted to crawl into bed.
"Sonya, thank goodness you're still up. I apologize for stopping by so late, but I didn't know who else to talk to."
The anxiety in David's tone piqued her curiosity, and after a moment's hesitation, she decided to let him in. "It's alright. Come in and tell me what's wrong."
As she listened to David stomp the snow off his feet, she tried to think of something to say, but found working her way through the fatigue in her head wasn't easy.
"Would you like something to drink? Perhaps hot chocolate or coffee to warm you up?" Sonya asked as she closed the door, telling herself no matter how tired, she should at least be hospitable.
"Hot chocolate would be nice. I do feel like an icicle."
Sonya noticed the anxious and upset to
ne David had used when she'd opened the door seemed to have faded somewhat. Not only that, something felt off, not quite right. A strange sensation started in the pit of her stomach and began to grow, little by little. To hide her thoughts and growing unease, she smiled faintly.
"Come into the kitchen and have a seat. You can tell me what's wrong while I make the hot chocolate," she said over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen.
As she reached the counter, Sonya heard the scrape of a chair being moved, followed by the slight creak of wood as David's weight settled upon it, replacing the silence of the room.
Sonya moved her hand to one of the cabinets by the sink, bent and felt around for a small saucepan. After finding what she needed, the tingle of unease clung to her as she took the milk jug from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter, then reached above her head to another cabinet and pulled out a measuring cup.
"So, what has you out this time of night and in this weather?" Sonya asked, trying to get the ball rolling on whatever was wrong with David so she could get him out of here and crawl into bed.
"It's my fiance. She's been seeing someone else."
His upset tone resurfaced, leaving Sonya feeling guilty at letting her suspicious mind run amuck while David needed a friend to talk to during a time of distress.
"Oh, David. I'm so sorry." Sonya set the saucepan of milk on the counter. Finding David's shoulder, she gave a supportive squeeze. She couldn't imagine having to face something like that. No doubt David felt as though the world was crashing down around him.
Feeling his shoulder tremble beneath her hand, she wanted to kick herself for her selfish thoughts of wanting to shove the hot chocolate down his throat and boot him out the door so she could go to sleep. The poor man was clearly devastated.
David muttered something she didn't catch. She leaned closer, figuring he spoke softly so the shakiness of his voice from being upset wasn't too apparent. "What's that, David?"
A hiss followed by the feel of warm breath against the side of her face froze Sonya in place. Her heart felt as though it had stopped in mid-beat only seconds before something sharp pierced the flesh in her neck just below the jaw. Strong hands grabbed her so tightly she couldn't breathe.
Sonya's mouth was open, but she couldn't speak. Dizzy and weak, her legs buckled before giving out all together. She knew if David's hold on her had not been so fierce as he sucked at her neck like some starving child with a bottle, she would've fallen to the floor. Faintly, she felt her glasses slide from her face then heard the clatter as they hit the floor.
The pleasure of Sonya's blood flowing into his mouth forced a moan from his throat. He'd waited for this for so long--waiting for her--and now it was happening. Take it slow, he told himself, wanting to savor every drop of her delicious blood on his tongue, but he couldn't hold himself back. His craving for Sonya was too powerful, and he was giving in to it, taking all of her.
Sonya slumped against him, snapping him out of his haze. He'd come perilously close to taking too much. Realizing he'd almost ruined his plans after coming this far had him fighting for control.
"You're mine," David breathed into her ear as he lapped at the twin trickles of blood rolling down her neck. He had Sonya right where he wanted her--weak and vulnerable. There was no way she could fight or escape him.
Lifting Sonya into his arms, David made his way to the door. Odd sounding howls made him stop. He turned to see Sonya's cat sitting in the entryway to the kitchen, staring at him with yellow eyes as if knowing he'd hurt the feline's mistress. Without a second thought about leaving the annoying ball of fur in the house alone, he stepped outside, shifted Sonya in his arms and pulled the front door closed.
After settling Sonya on the front seat of his car, David fastened her seatbelt. He didn't want anything happening to her now that he finally had her in his hands. Although he wasn't driving far, he didn't want to take any chances.
The car climbed the winding hill. Its wheels spun on slick spots as he drove to the old sanatorium. He wasn't going to take Sonya to his home, or at least the place he used to call home. No, he wanted to do this privately, with no one around to stop him.
The air inside felt colder than outside the old walls, David thought as he carried Sonya down a long, dark hallway. A crisp breeze floated through broken windows, doing little to alleviate the stench of mold and old, soggy plaster.
Clanging pots and pans caught David's attention. "Idiot," he bit out, aggravated at how Sinclair seemed to be oblivious to the fact no one was supposed to be in the old building. David grit his teeth to hold back the volley of curses he wanted to let loose at the stupid vamp who he had no doubt was going to make enough noise some evening to be heard and cause someone to start snooping around, hunting for ghosts.
Once inside the room he'd called home since being converted, he let loose the roar in his throat. "What the hell are you doing?"
Sinclair's nonchalant saunter out of the kitchen while wiping his hands on a bloodstained dishrag increased his rage.
"Hey, whatcha got there?"
David watched as, like a cat eyeing a mouse, Sinclair's mouth slid into a sly grin. A lick of his lips followed. He tightened his hold on Sonya, knowing if his arms were free, Sinclair would no longer possess a mouth from which to eat.
"Sinclair, this is Sonya, the one I've claimed as my wife. Don't even think about laying a hand on her."
"Hey. No problem. And, before you ask, yes the little rug rats are still downstairs."
Nodding his approval, he turned the corner and opened the door to the lower level. Finding it once again unlocked, David pushed his aggravation aside telling himself he had better things to think of right now, such as the woman in his arms.
After descending the stairs, he carried Sonya into a dusty room and laid her motionless body on a table placed in its center.
Smiling reverently at Sonya's form laid out before him, David straightened her skirt and placed her arms at her sides. Mine, he thought to himself, pleased at how his scheme was unfolding.
"So, what's the plan?"
Sinclair's sudden appearance sucked away the peace David had been relishing seconds before. With a heavy sigh he closed his eyes for a moment to rein in the desire to rip the vampire's head from his shoulders. David opened his eyes and glanced at Sinclair over his shoulder. "I'm going to convert her. I'll be her sire. She'll be mine. We'll take the children ..."
"And be one happy family," Sinclair cut in with a laugh.
What little patience David had left with Sinclair teetered on the edge of a cliff. He growled, peeled back his lips and revealed his fangs. To his astonishment, Sinclair boldly approached the table on which Sonya lay, seemingly shrugging off his warning.
"Looks like you've already started the process," Sinclair drawled as he pointed to the puncture wounds on the side of Sonya's neck.
"Yes, and I mean to finish it, but not right now. I'm going to take my time, and when I'm done, she'll know she belongs to me. I own her."
Sinclair whistled through his teeth, then leaned in behind David and sniffed. The vampire's close proximity to Sonya was bad enough, but the scum standing so closely to himself had him tensing and ready to send Sinclair into the wall.
"That cologne you wear? I really like it."
As if Sinclair's boldness had not already surprised him, the vampire did so once more when he swiped a hand across David's neck, then patted both sides of his own.
"Mmm. Yes, I do believe I like this cologne. I'll have to get me some." Chuckling, Sinclair turned and headed for room's doorway. "You kids have fun. I'm waiting on a delivery of a couple warm ones."
Ignoring the sound of Sinclair's feet stomping up the stairs, David returned his attention to Sonya, gazing possessively at her face. "You're going to love every minute of this, my sweet."
She lay peaceful before him. Like a slumbering angel, he thought as he brushed the backs of his knuckles across her cheeks.
Realizing the fact her dar
k sunglasses no longer hid her beauty from view, and he now had the chance to discover what she hid behind the frames, he placed a finger on one of her eyes and slowly peeled back the lid.
David gasped. A white iris stared blankly at him. Even the pupil was white. The most striking thing he'd ever seen, he thought in awe. Her eyes made her seem even more exotic than he'd thought before. God how he wanted her. "And now I have you," he muttered to himself.
David released the lid and trailed his fingers down one bare arm, reveling in the softness of her mocha colored skin. Leaning into her hair, he inhaled and caught the scent of cinnamon. Spicy and warm, like a powerful aphrodisiac.
Bending over her body, he hovered above her soft, plump lips before pressing his to them. He kissed her, and though she didn't return the kiss while in her unconscious state, he didn't care. He vowed to take what he wanted regardless if she participated or not.
Slowly releasing her lips, he trailed his mouth to her throat where he ran his tongue over the bite marks. The memory of her blood flowing into his mouth, over his taste buds and down his throat made him shiver with the need, the desire to experience it again.
Sonya's body felt weighed as if lead had settled into her bones. She couldn't move. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but only managed a moan. Lightheaded and weak, the world felt as though it was slowly spinning.
Thoughts, scattered and foggy, floated and popped like bubbles. Memories began flashing through her mind as if watching a slide show. Grasping on to one, she recalled standing in her kitchen, bending to pet the cat, answering the door...David.
With much effort, Sonya managed to work her way through the fog in her head and focus on what she heard and sensed around her. She lay on something cold and hard. Where am I? A swallow of panic had her wincing at the burning pain in her throat.
"Ah, my sweet. You're awake."
Sonya jumped at the sound of David's voice. When his breath fanned her face, she fought to remain calm.