by Julie Wetzel
“But, that’s a topic for some other time.”
She tensed as her heart pounded and she reprimanded herself for the stupid comment. Of course they had feelings. Darien had made some of his feelings obvious over the last few hectic days, but did she really want to talk to him about them? Was she ready to talk to him about hers?
“Besides,” his voice was filled with amusement as he pulled her from her thoughts, “who needs suggestion when I can open a towel and you willingly step into my arms?”
Vicky was sure the blush covering her went clear to her toes and was glad when Darien left the towel covering her when he turned to get a new one for her hair. She wrapped the towel more securely around her as he started to rub the rest of the water away.
“Anyway, you can always tell when someone uses suggestion on you.”
“How?” Vicky asked. This was definitely something that she wanted to know.
“There’s always a touch of power that goes with it,” he said as he worked. “If you recognize that, you can fight the suggestion. Then it just comes down to whose will is stronger.”
Vicky thought about this.
“Let me show you. Just stand still. I’ll give you a suggestion, so you know what it feels like.”
She tensed, not sure if she wanted him to do that.
“Don’t worry.” Darien patted her on the shoulder to soothe her. “I promise it won’t be something you’re unwilling to do. Okay?”
“Okay,” Vicky agreed. She trusted Darien, but she didn’t like the idea that someone could control her.
“Just relax and stand still.” He soothed her with his hands again. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“Step forwards,” Darien breathed the command to her.
Vicky was surprised to feel the power wash through her and move her feet. She gasped as she took one step forwards.
“Did you feel it?” Darien smiled as he leaned over her shoulder.
“Yes,” Vicky said softly. She had felt the power flow through her. It was familiar and left her warm inside. “It was kind of like when you healed my burns. Warm and soft like feathers against the inside of my skin.”
Darien looked at her in the mirror thoughtfully. “I’ve never had it described like that before,” he said as he thought about it. “It is the same power used for different purposes. That energy comes from who you are, so the feeling will change depending on the person trying to bend you to their will. It’s like a fingerprint. No two people will have the same feeling.”
Vicky turned around to look at him. “And there is a way to resist a suggestion?” She was very interested in learning this.
Darien grinned at her eagerness. “Yes, but we don’t have time for a proper lesson now. Get dressed, or we’ll be late.” He looked over at the window and how far the sun had set. “I promise I’ll teach you all you need to know after this is over.”
Vicky agreed and went to her clothing on the counter. “Um… are you going to leave so I can get dressed?” she asked, looking back at the man watching her.
“No,” Darien said very bluntly as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall again. “I’m not leaving you alone. You had no problem taking your clothing off in front of me, why should you worry about me watching you put it back on?”
Vicky fidgeted a little before turning her attention back to the counter and her clothing. She looked at the man watching her in the mirror as an evil idea popped into her head. Dropping both towels to the floor, she exposed her skin to the air.
Darien straightened in surprise. He had expected her to be a little more modest like she had been in the past.
Vicky smiled lightly as she picked up the comb and started running it through her hair. She pretended to ignore the way Darien’s eyes narrowed and the set of his jaw as she worked the tangles out. Once done, she slipped into her clothing a little slower then she normally would. Closing her eyes, she pulled her shirt over her head and was surprised to find Darien standing almost against her back when she opened them again.
Dragging her hair from inside her shirt, he dropped it over her shoulder. Vicky let out a squeak as he wrapped her in his arms to pull her against him. Holding her fast, he pressed his cheek against the side of her head, tipping it over slightly. “It’s not nice to tease a vampire,” Darien growled as he dropped his face to the side of her neck.
Vicky gasped as she felt his teeth graze across her skin, gathering it into his mouth. Her heart raced as she waited for the sharp points of his fangs, but they never came as his teeth pressed lightly into her flesh. He released her skin and placed a soft kiss over her pulse before releasing her completely. Vicky’s knees buckled, leaving her sitting on the floor as Darien left.
Zak came wobbling in to the room. He gurgled at Vicky, who was recovering on the floor.
“I’m fine,” she said, covering the side of her neck with her hand.
Zak growled and reached a tentacle up to touch her hand.
“It’s okay,” she reassured the little fay. “He didn’t bite me. I was doing something I shouldn’t have.” Vicky got up from the floor and found the first aid kit so she could wrap some fresh gauze over the burn on her left hand. Making a note not to tease vampires, she looked in the mirror at the row of light red marks on her skin. She thought about the reaction she had when Darien had run his teeth across her skin. Was it fright or excitement?
***
Darien walked into his room and dropped face down on the bed across the gathered supplies. How could he let her push him over the edge like that? He heard her slump to the floor as he left, but he knew she wasn’t hurt, and Zak was in there with her. He needed a moment to put himself back together.
Darien picked up one of the daggers from the bed and proceeded to whack the back of his head a few times with the scabbard, pounding in how stupid he had just been. No matter how badly she was behaving, how could he terrify her like that? He could still feel the fluttering of her heart and her warmth. The taste of her skin hung in his mouth, clean with soap and slightly sweet with her own flavor.
The memory of her blood pulled on him deep inside, waking his hunger and stirring something else that had nothing to do with food. Darien growled out his frustration with himself and the girl who had been taunting him. He slid the dagger back to the pile of weapons and relaxed into the bed to recover his composure.
Listening to the sounds Vicky made in the bathroom, he sighed. The click of the cabinets and the snap of the towels as she cleaned up didn’t give away her mood. Was she still terrified? Was she angry? He could hear the concerned gurgle from Zak that told him Vicky was somewhat off, but it wasn’t until she answered him in a soft, reassuring voice that he knew she was all right, just a little contemplative.
Darien let out another sigh and rolled over to sit up. He was mostly dressed, but he still needed to get his boots and bracers on. Grabbing up his sock, he decided to start with the shoes. Maybe if she wasn’t too upset with him, Vicky would be willing to help him lace up his bracers.
Stopping in the doorway of the bedroom, Vicky paused to watch Darien wiggle his foot into the second boot. He didn’t look to be angry as he sat and worked the slack out of the tie wrapped around his shoe. She steeled herself to deal with him and stepped into the room to take her dirty clothing to the hamper.
He looked up as she walked across the room, dragging Zak behind her.
The small fay glared at him as they passed.
Darien could feel her apprehension, but didn’t know the thoughts or feelings causing it. He decided the best thing to do was treat her like nothing had happened and see how she reacted. Securing the cord on his boot, he stood up and stamped his feet to make sure they were on correctly. He picked up the leather pieces and turned to the woman trying to extract her foot from Zak’s grasp.
“Could you help me with these, please?” Darien held up the two pieces of leather, and Vicky looked up from her impossible task.
“Sure.” She came ove
r to take the first bracer. “How does this work?” Darien sat on the bed, and she joined him.
“Like this.” He arranged his sleeve inside the leather and started lacing it together around his arm, starting at the wrist.
“Oh!” She took the ties from his fingers to carefully run them through the holes. Once they were in, she snugged them down with a nice bow.
Darien smiled as he tucked the loose ends into the edge of the leather halfway up his forearm. “Thanks.” He held the other arm out for the same treatment.
“I’m sorry,” Vicky said softly as she pulled the lacing tight around his arm.
Darien looked up at her face, but he couldn’t see her eyes as she continued to watch her work.
“That was rude and irresponsible of me, and I shouldn’t have done it.”
Closing his eyes, he smiled as he understood why she was being so careful. She was afraid he was mad at her. Darien let out a little sigh and smiled. He touched her shoulder so she would look up into his eyes. “It’s okay,” Darien said gently. “What I did was rude and irresponsible, too.” He could see her tension melt away when she realized he wasn’t mad at her.
Vicky looked back down to finish tying up the bracer. Nodding her understanding, she pulled the bow tight on his arm. She tucked the end under the leather like the first one. Vicky paused with her hands touching the leather.
Darien leaned forwards to pull her into his arms. “Don’t worry about it.” He held her.
Zak made his displeasure known by jumping up into the space between them and barking grumpily.
“All right!” Darien let go and sat back.
Zak gurgled at him, angrily.
Darien stood up by the bed. “Geez, pushy little monster.”
Vicky giggled as she petted the fay before getting up to get her socks.
Darien leaned over and looked the little horror in the eyes. “We’ll talk about this later,” Darien growled at him.
Zak growled back and waved his ends menacingly at the vampire.
The sky was crystal clear over the darkened lot on Willard Road. Vicky looked up in amazement at the twinkling lights shining brightly overhead. The moonrise was still a few hours off, making it perfect for viewing the heavens. The skies never looked this good in the city.
Vicky turned her attention from the stars to the line of cars parked along the road next to the empty lot. It had taken three vans to get the twenty-eight people from Darien’s penthouse here, and there were at least that many more already milling around the empty field. A few small torches had been stuck in the ground near the line of trees where the property met up with the state park. Vicky could see large shapes moving through the grass, but it was too dark for her eyes to see what they were.
Zak gurgled excitedly from somewhere near her feet.
Darien took hold of her hand in the darkness. “This way.” He led her carefully along a pathway squashed in the grass by the passing of many feet.
She could feel Zak’s tentacle rippling around her ankle as he writhed along behind her. Vicky fingered the edge of her cloak as they walked. It was really too warm to wear it, but Darien and Zak had insisted she keep it on. Michael had bowed his head to her when he saw she was using the silver clasp to hold the wrap shut. The small chunk of silver on her shoulder looked very nice against the woven material of the cloak.
The reassuring weight of Darien’s bag rested on her hip. It was much lighter than normal. Darien had taken out the books that usually resided in it. In fact, the bag was completely empty, but he insisted she bring it. Believing when he said it was much more than just a bag, she agreed to keep it with her as he settled it over her shoulder.
“Good evening,” Rupert called as they approached the fire’s light. “It’s a fine night for a hunt.”
“Hello, Rupert,” Darien greeted the alpha. “Is everything ready?” he asked, leading Vicky over.
“Just waiting on you and Lord Dakine,” he answered, looking around at the people gathering. “That idiot, Trevor, even brought a bag of coconut halves in case we ‘needed mounts’ for the hunt.” He flashed air quotes around the “needed mounts” part.
Darien snickered a little. It was nice to see someone was trying to lighten the ominous mood that had settled over the area. “That boy needs to find himself a good girlfriend.” Darien shook his head.
Rupert shook his head in exasperation. “Who do you think helped him cut up the coconuts?”
Darien laughed again and started asking questions about the preparations for the evening.
Vicky, not really understanding what they were saying, looked out into the night. She felt more comfortable having reached the perceived safety of the circle of light. The dark shapes moving in the grass had paced them all the way across the lot. In the dim glow of the torches, Vicky could see the shapes were large and doglike, but they stayed just outside of the ring of light. She remembered Brian talking about hellhounds leading the hunt.
She squeezed Darien’s hand and nodded to a pair of yellow eyes staring at her from the tall grass. “Are those hellhounds?” It was impossible to make out the face of the owner in the darkness.
Darien looked over to the creature watching them and laughed.
“No.” He relaxed. “Those are the wolves that will run with the hounds. In fact, that’s Sue.” A tawny wolf stepped forwards into the light, and Vicky stared in amazement. The creature had the same hair color as the spunky woman who ran the café at work.
“Sue?” Vicky questioned as she leaned over to look at her friend.
The wolf came closer and panted at her.
Darien released her hand so she could go have a closer look at the wolf.
“You really do have fur and fangs!” The wolf made a very unnatural sound for a canine as Sue laughed at her. Holding still, she let Vicky get her first good look at the animal form of a werewolf.
Sue was much larger than any dog Vicky had ever seen. “May I?” She held out her hand above the tawny fur.
The wolf lowered her head and raised her back a little in a sign of agreement.
Vicky touched the fur on her back. It was both coarse and soft. “You’re beautiful,” Vicky said as she petted the fur down Sue’s side.
Sue responded with a throaty chirping sound.
Vicky stood up, feeling a little silly petting her friend.
Another wolf, larger then Sue, trotted out of the grass. The brown wolf dropped a strange bow to Vicky before bumping into Sue and whining a little. He scratched the ground twice before heading back off to the grass.
Sue watched him for a second before turning to look at Vicky.
The brown wolf chirped from the edge of the circle for Sue to follow.
“Don’t let me keep you if you need to go,” Vicky said. Sue looked at her for a moment longer before shaking her head in a doglike snuffle and loping out of the light after her pack mate.
“What did Karl want?” Rupert asked when Vicky returned.
“Um… I don’t know,” she said.
“What did he do?” Darien rephrased the question.
“He bowed, bumped into Sue, whined, pawed the ground twice, and left.” She didn’t know how this was supposed to tell Rupert what the wolf wanted.
“Looks like two unknowns coming from the west.” He looked off in the direction the wolves had run. “All the wolves that are coming are here. And your group made the last of the vampires.”
“It could be some of the fay coming to join the hunt,” Elliot offered, tugging on the braces Darien had given him.
Rupert looked at Darien. “I thought Lord Dakine would be coming from the woods.”
“You never know with the fay,” the vampire answered, scanning the tree line.
Vicky looked over the dark line of the woods before turning her attention back to the group gathered around them.
They were a motley bunch, dressed in a mix of fashions from modern day clear back to Darien’s Renaissance-style shirt and boots. More than half
of them sported some form of weaponry. Most carried swords or bows, but Vicky did see an axe slung over Daniel’s shoulder and at least two clubs.
Now that her eyes had adjusted to the lower light, she could see the wolves weaving in and out of the shadows around the group as they patrolled the grounds for people who shouldn’t be there. A series of short barks sounded from the direction Sue and Karl had run off.
“Looks like you were right,” Rupert said to Elliot. “Lord Dakine and someone Sue doesn’t recognize are coming in.”
“Then it is almost time to get started,” Darien said and turned to the group. “Anyone not coming needs to start heading out now.” His voice carried over the crowd with ease. “You’ll not have the option when Lord Dakine calls the hounds to the hunt.” A bustle of activity started as the humans made sure their friends had everything they needed before leaving. Clara had made it very clear to everyone that no humans were allowed on the hunt.
Brian came up to Vicky and gave her a hug. “Good luck, darling,” he said before turning to Darien. “I’ve made sure everyone has a good, heavy cloak with them, just in case. Give us a call when you’re done, and we’ll come get you as fast as we can.”
“Thank you,” Darien said, shaking his hand. “Hopefully, this will not take too long.” Brian waved goodbye and left.
“What was that about?” Vicky asked, confused by their conversation.
“The vampires riding in the hunt could have some problems if we don’t find the ifrit tonight.” Darien explained as he watched the humans leave. “The Wild Hunt will protect them from the sunlight as long as they ride, but if this thing ends in the day, Clara has made sure everyone has a good cloak to hide under till Brian can come get us.”
Vicky thought about this for a second. “That makes sense.” She looked around at all the cloak-covered figures. The several that didn’t have cloaks must have been wolves.
“Good evening, Kian Dubhlainn,” Lord Dakine called as he approached the circle of light. “Cailín. Alpha. Master Clara. Master Elliot.” Dakine nodded to each person in turn. “Are all here?”