Her hips undulated in a hypnotic dance, and he could feel his orgasm building. Cameron's heart was pounding, his blood rushing. How could one woman hold so much power over him?
Marty's lips parted as she cried out her release a second time. Cameron joined her with a low moan, and she collapsed against him. She lay there against his heaving chest, satiated and relaxed. His arms came around her, holding her against him like something precious. A small smile curled her lips.
Cameron lifted Marty as he stood and carried her into his bedroom. She smiled sleepily at him as he eased her onto the large, comfy bed. She turned into his embrace as he settled in next to her.
* * * *
Marty came wide awake an hour before dawn broke. She bit back a curse as she realized her large wings were cradling them both in a warm cocoon. How could she have allowed herself to sleep? The power it took to maintain a perfect human glamour while awake was hard enough, and near impossible in sleep.
She gently extricated herself from Cameron's arms and tip-toed into the living room to get dressed. Her clothes were still in a heap on the floor where they had been left. Her wings were once more hidden from human eyes as she pulled on her dress.
Should I leave a note? He might wonder why I left so early. Marty looked around for paper but couldn't see any, and she wasn't about to rummage through his things.
With a shrug, she was out the door and on her way home. She could feel that people were beginning to stir and awaken from their sleep. Some were already up and ready for a day's work. One was even out on the street with her. She could hear footsteps behind her.
A chill crawled up her spine, and she burst into a run, faster than any mortal would be able to follow, much less see. She heard the gun shot not a moment later and knew her instinct to run had been correct. Who wanted her dead and why?
Marty Cassidy had always been careful about masking her appearance. None of her foster families had even known that they were housing a Halfling demon, although they had often realized that Marty was somehow different. Who could know? Her parents knew that she was Halfling but they themselves were Changeling vampires and would never tell anyone that couldn't be trusted with the information.
Had she slipped somewhere along the line? That thought taunted her as she reached her apartment and let herself in. Perhaps she was getting careless. For so long she'd had nothing to worry about. Her family knew what she was and accepted it. She was free to be herself with them. Had she become too comfortable in that knowledge?
Marty sat on her couch and put her head into her hands. What if they knew where she lived? Knew that she was now in a band? She was exposed and did not have a single idea who could be behind this.
What about Cameron? The shooter must have been waiting for her! It was too late to go back now and warn him, look after him. The sun's first rays were already reaching across the sky. She reached for her phone but hesitated.
There was no reason to suspect Cameron was in any immediate danger. The shooter had come after her, not him ... or them. If Cameron was a target, the shooter would have stayed behind. Even if she did call Cameron, what would he say in answer to her dire predictions? He wasn't familiar with her world or the beings in it.
Despite the fact she had met him mere days ago, she cared deeply for the human male. Perhaps she even loved him.
Love Cameron? It's too soon but ... yes, I do. I love Cameron Lucas.
Cameron was all the things she looked for in a mate: strong, understanding, sincere, and thoughtful. The list of his wonderful qualities could go on forever, and the last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize their budding relationship. She could easily lose him forever.
Marty then thought about calling her parents, but what good would it do to worry them? It could have been a random criminal, hoping to gun her down and take her money. Sure, the shooter was now aware there was something unnatural about her—what with the way she, to all appearances, disappeared into thin air—but they would likely never cross paths again. New Orleans was a large city after all.
In the end, she decided to go ahead and call Cameron. Marty left a nonchalant message saying that she had to leave early in order to get ready for work. A small but necessary lie. She told Cameron that he should call her after he got her message. Then she would know for sure he was alright.
* * * *
Marty nervously checked her appearance in the mirror. It was now evening. The shooter was far from her mind, as she'd convinced herself the man hadn't known her nature, couldn't possibly know it, and hadn't been trying to assassinate her because she was a Halfling.
Now, her only concern was making a good impression on the band's lead singer and the band's manager, whom she was meeting with tonight. Cameron was dropping by her apartment to pick her up. His knock sounded as she finished that thought.
She greeted him with a kiss.
"Hello, gorgeous. Are you ready to go?” he asked her and she nodded, smoothing her skirt with her shaky hands. She had worn a black halter top and a peacock blue peasant skirt. She wanted to look nice and make a good impression. Especially since she not only needed Vallon's approval as a band member but also as a Halfling demon dating his best friend.
Now that she had Cameron, she was wondering if it was a good idea to meet Vallon Paige. Vallon would know what she was, she was certain of that. There was no way she could hide it; not when she had already made up her mind to be honest about it. He could very well remove her from the band and see her as a threat to Cameron.
She kept her smile firmly in place for Cameron even though her heart pounded with fear.
Would he say something to Cameron? Did Cameron even know Vallon was a vampire? she wondered as she and Cameron rode in silence to Under the Gun Tattoo. His eyes kept flicking her way, and she realized he knew something was up.
"I'm just nervous,” she told him with a laugh, and he smiled, relieved. Marty crept into his mind, feeling like a thief indeed. Cameron had thought she was having second thoughts or regrets about him, about what they had done last night. She turned to look out the window to hide the big grin that crept across her face as she could plainly see he cared for her, too.
Falling hard for her, to be exact. Cameron was stunned and confused by the realization. He had never been one to buy into the whole love-at-first-sight deal, but it was quickly becoming apparent that it was possible after all, and he was victim to it.
Cameron parked not far from the tattoo parlor and turned to Marty.
"Ready?” he asked, and Marty nodded, taking a deep breath. More than just her fate with the band depended upon this meeting. They could easily take Cameron away from her.
The tattoo parlor came into view too soon, and she was stepping through its door once more, this time for a different kind of audition. This one would be for her right to pursue Cameron, and she wouldn't give him up that easily. If mascara and eyeliner were war paint, then she was ready for battle.
Vallon and the band's manager, Lily, another Changeling vampire much to Marty's surprise, stood side by side and extended their hands to her. She shook their hands, smiled and exchanged greetings. Their eyes were knowing but their talk remained mundane with Cameron present.
"Cameron, I believe Adam wanted to speak with you. He's upstairs. We'd like to talk more with Marty though,” Vallon said, and Marty took a deep breath.
This was it.
Cameron kissed Marty on the cheek, much to the surprise of his friends, and left the shop to go around back and upstairs to the apartment above.
"Let's just cut to the chase. You know what we are, and we know what you are. My only question for you is what are your intentions with my best friend?” Vallon asked her, and she appreciated his upfront honesty. There was no malice in his words or expression, only concern.
"I care for him. I know it's soon, but nevertheless I feel for Cameron in a way I've never felt for another person. I would never cause him harm, you must know that,” Marty answered, and Lily smiled kindly
at her.
"I know all too well what that's like, Marty. Your mind rails against the idea of loving someone so quickly, but it doesn't change the fact that you do. Perhaps since we are vampires it is easier for us to recognize that feeling, that connection, than it is for humans,” Lily told her and laced her fingers with Vallon's. He smiled and nodded at the truth in her words.
"Does Cameron know about you two?” Marty asked.
"No. Neither does Adam. I do not know how I could make them understand. I keep thinking of ways to tell them, but then I think about how they might react. Either they'd think I'm insane, or they'd be lost to me forever,” he answered her and leaned back against a glass counter that held body jewelry of all kinds.
"But if you are serious about Cameron, you will have to tell him sooner or later. Normally, Cameron is very serious, quiet. He's different around you. He smiles more. That alone tells me what he feels for you."
She felt pleasure at Vallon's words.
"I must ask, do you live in Tenebrae?” Lily asked. Marty knew they would be concerned that she held an alliance with the demon realm.
"I've never been to Tenebrae. My mother, a demon, died when I was not even four years old. Everything I know about demons and vampires was taught to me by my adoptive parents who are Changeling vampires like the two of you. They serve the Gods, if that is what you truly wish to know,” she told them and Lily nodded with a smile.
"Then we are glad to welcome you,” Vallon told her, and she almost skipped with joy.
"Adam isn't upstairs, Vallon,” Cameron said as he came back into the tattoo parlor.
"Oh, well, he must have left then. Guess whatever he had to say wasn't that important,” Vallon answered and smiled sheepishly at Marty as she lifted a brow at him.
"Okay, then. Well, if you are both done with Marty, I'd like to take the lady out for drinks,” Cameron told them and put an arm around Marty's waist.
"By all means, you two go out and have some fun. I think the wife and I are going to head out, as well. It was a pleasure to meet you, Marty. We'll have a practice soon,” Vallon said to her, and they parted ways.
Marty couldn't stop smiling as Cameron walked her back to the car. “I like them. They are good people."
She could feel the pleasure those words made him feel. He wanted her to get on well with his friends, and it pleased him that their meeting had gone smoothly.
"They are. Vallon and I have been friends since we were in school. He's my best friend. I know if I ever needed him for anything, he wouldn't let me down. His wife has done so much for our band. It is because of her that Symphonic Dream is starting to get booked for gigs outside of New Orleans. She's even going to get us into a studio to record a CD.
"She wants to send our demo CD in to radio stations and try to get us airtime. Now that we have a bassist that wants to stick with us for good, we can start to get serious.” She could feel his excitement. It bubbled up in her, as well.
Marty would belong with her band. They accepted her, even knowing what she was. Her smile faltered as her thoughts came back to the matter at hand. Cameron was human, and she was not. She had to tell him but how? When?
He opened the door of his Cadillac for her, and she climbed inside. She kept her happy face on all throughout drinks and dinner. They were headed back to his place, and she wondered if it were too soon to breach the subject.
Cameron talked about Symphonic Dream and what it felt like to be on stage in front of an audience, keeping her somewhat distracted. Marty listened eagerly, desperate to escape the thoughts running through her head.
I could lose him still. What if he were to hate what I am? What if he thinks me to be evil?
Marty mentally shook herself. No. Cameron would not be like the others. Not like the numerous foster families she had stayed with. They had always found something odd about Marty and the fear would enter them. She had grown too fast, healed too quickly, and could do things no human should be able to do. Marty had been a child, a foolishly trusting child. She should have hidden it better.
It had brought her heartbreak again and again until that fateful day that Bryce and Hope found her. They had looked at her and grinned. Bryce winked, and she could hear his voice in her head, telling her it would all be alright. She had to hope it would turn out alright this time, too.
Cameron was silent as they came to his door. It was open.
"Stay here, Marty. I'm going to go check it out,” he whispered, and she could see the fear for her in his eyes. She let him go in first and followed quietly behind. There was no way she'd let him walk into danger without her. Besides ... she couldn't shake this odd feeling, like a forgotten memory, struggling to resurface.
The living room was empty. Nothing was disturbed. The same with the bathroom and bedrooms. But in the kitchen, an older human man with gray hair and wild blue eyes sat at the kitchen table with a beer in one hand and a revolver in the other. And it was pointed right at them.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?” Cameron asked the man, eyeing the gun warily as he realized Marty had followed him into the apartment. He cursed.
"My, my, what filthy language you possess, young man. Let me ask you something. Do you have any idea what you have there standing at your back?” said the man as he took a long swig of beer.
Cameron didn't answer but he heard Marty gasp in shock.
"So, you remember your Pop, then, girl?” he asked, and Cameron knew this man had to be the father she had spoken of, the one that was in and out of prison.
"Why are you here?” Marty asked and came to stand beside Cameron, as if she were clueless to the gun pointed at them.
* * * *
"I've been waiting for a chance to get rid of you, girl. Young man, this woman is no woman at all. She is the spawn of a demon, and she must be killed for the greater good,” the man said, and Cameron thought he had a nutcase on his hands. Spawn of a demon, indeed.
Not his Marty. Cameron's Marty was sweet, gentle and loving. This man was the monster, not his daughter.
"Wait. You killed her didn't you, Ben?” Marty asked, shocked to her very core. Her sky blues eyes were wide as she struggled to accept the fact that her father had murdered her demon mother.
"Of course, I did. I was sick and tired of being under her thumb. The sadistic bitch had to go, and I smiled when the life left her eyes because I was finally free of her. I shot her in the head with a gun that I had loaded with earth-packed bullets. But there was a witness, and even though there was no body, the police still found enough stolen property in my house to send me away for a few years. They took you away before I could do the same to you,” Ben answered, glaring hatefully at Marty.
Cameron stepped forward and positioned his own body a little in front of Marty's. He had to protect her from this madman at all costs.
"That's why you're here? To kill me?” she asked him, and he laughed, downing the rest of his beer with noisy gulping sounds.
"Yes, Martina, that is why I am here. To save other people, like that young man there, from the likes of you. I'm here to send you back to Hell,” he said and pulled back on the hammer. The ominous click echoed in the small kitchen and when the loud blast came, Cameron pushed Marty out of the line of fire.
Cameron's body slammed back into the wall behind him as the bullet tore through his chest and out of his back. Warm blood poured down the front and back of his shirt, and Marty's scream pierced his ears. He fell to his knees on the floor and slumped forward.
* * * *
Marty watched in horror as the man she loved took a bullet for her. She centered all that pain and rage in her chest like a weapon and flew over the table. Her father's eyes widened in fear, and he lifted the gun again but never got the chance to fire. Marty crushed his heart in her fist the moment her fingers tore through his chest and shattered his ribcage.
Her eyes bore her hatred into his as he died. The gun fell to the floor with a loud clatter. She rushed to Cameron's
side, shaking her head as his pulse slowed. He was dying.
No. Not like this.
Marty slit her wrist with her sharp fangs, and when the blood began to seep, she lifted Cameron from his position on the floor, laying his head gingerly in her lap. Her blood coated his lips, and she let out the breath she had been holding when Cameron's mouth opened wide to cover the wound and suck the blood from her.
Her hands stroked and soothed him as the change came over him. His muscles tightened from the pain, and his body curled around itself. She could sense his organs failing, his thoughts fading and then—just as suddenly—coming into sharp focus.
Cameron's fangs grew and pricked his lower lip. His eyes searched and found her. She heard the questions buzzing in his brain.
"My father spoke true. My mother was a demon. Not a demon like you think. Not like in the Bible, Cameron. They are a race of beings spawned from the shadows, and they live in a dark realm known as Tenebrae. I am only a Halfling demon,” she told him and dropped her glamour. Her black wings spread out, filling the kitchen with their impressive span. She smiled, showing him the fangs she had kept so well hidden.
"I am not like them. I do not kill when I feed. I follow the will of the Gods and protect the human race, not harm them. You are now a Changeling vampire. You will need blood to survive and will not be able to abide the sunlight. I am sorry for changing you without your consent, but I love you, Cameron. I couldn't leave you to die. You wanted only to protect me,” she told him; and she knew he could hear the awe in her voice that he had taken the bullet for her.
"I'm not asking that you love me now. You owe me nothing for giving you this new life. I'm not even asking you to accept me for what I am. All I want is that you understand, that you live on, even if it must be without me,” Marty whispered and held back the tears that threatened to spill. Her wings folded behind her and truly, she felt, he wasn't disgusted. Cameron wasn't afraid.
Coming Together: At Last, Volume Two Page 18