by Lisa Olsen
Rob.
I was still getting used to the idea that he loved me. It changed everything about the time we’d spent together, and I struggled to recall the things he’d said while talking about his ‘girl’. I hated how stilted and uncomfortable things were between us now, and I almost wished I’d never pushed him into revealing more than he wanted to. Then again, he’d still been on track to leave before I found out the way he felt – at least now I had the truth.
I heard him come in a couple of hours later, but out of respect for his privacy, I left him alone. Besides, I had a lot of busywork to do and once it was all done, I planned to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and have myself a Big Bang-athon with the DVD’s I’d bought myself as an early Christmas present.
When my cellphone rang with an unknown number, I answered it out of sheer curiosity. I’d been careful not to give out my personal cell to very many vamps, so I half expected it to be Kyle or one of the guys from school. Instead I got Jakob ranting almost incoherently about threats and retaliation. I could barely make heads or tail of it through the accent (which apparently got heavier when he was upset), so I let him vent until he started talking about pulling me out of my home.
“Whoa, wait… slow down. What has you so upset now?”
“Haven’t I explained that in great detail?” he growled, taking a long moment, and I pictured him counting to ten in his head. When he spoke again, it was at least slower, if not calmer. “I’ve heard your life has been threatened by the Order. I think that is cause for upset.”
Wow, that was fast. “How did you even hear about this? Oh right, nevermind. Rob.” He must’ve talked to Gunnar or Isak and felt the need to report in to Jakob. “What else did he tell you?” I asked, wondering if he’d feel the need to report the kiss as well or if that was just between us.
“Why, was there other danger?” Jakob demanded and I was quick to reply before he burst a vein.
“No, nothing like that.”
“Like what then?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything. Look, I don’t think we have to worry about the Order, it’s nothing I can’t handle. I don’t even think it was a threat exactly, more of a warning.”
“That is the same.”
“No, it’s not the same. You have to trust me about this, Jakob, I know what I’m talking about. Mason was just doing his best to look out for me because he’s worried about me. That’s all.”
“Still… I think it might be time for a message to the Order. You are not to be touched.”
“A message from you? But I thought you didn’t want them to know you’re around. Are you still around?” I’d thought he might leave town again.
“There are other ways of delivering messages, petal.”
That didn’t sound so good. “Jakob… I’m begging you to let this go. Don’t make it a bigger issue than it is or there will be a problem. I can handle it, and I have Gunnar and Isak and Rob to help watch my back.”
“I’ll not risk you.”
“You’re not risking anything. I told you, I can take care of myself. You know I have the power to get out of anything serious, and Rob’s doing a bang up job on security.” I might not survive a more direct attack if they came in guns blazing, but I really didn’t think that would happen.
“You are well?” His question threw me for a loop, and I wasn’t sure if he’d accepted what I said and moved on, or what.
“I’m doing okay, yes. What about you? You sounded like you were about to have a stroke.”
“I’m…” He didn’t finish that thought aloud, and that was an answer in itself. “Did you like my gift?”
“The house? It’s wonderful! How did you manage to get it so fast?” It’d been scarcely a week between our break up and Rob’s arrival with the keys.
“I’d already purchased it some time ago, and was in the process of renovations for us.”
For us. He’d envisioned us living there together. That’s why the closets were so big and the fancy tub and the ginormous bed. “Oh. It’s really nice, thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Well, it makes my life a lot easier, so thank you,” I insisted.
“But you are well?”
For all the awkwardness between us, that question, at least, was easy to answer. “Yes, I really am. Maybe for the first time.”
“Good, that’s all that matters,” he replied, ending the call.
“Rob!” I yelled, the moment I got off the phone. He must have expected it, because he sauntered into my office only a few seconds later.
“Keep your knickers on, I’m right here.”
“What did you tell Jakob?”
“Only the truth, that the Order as good as threatened your life.”
“Oh, they did not! Mason would never hurt me.”
“He would, if ordered to.”
“I doubt it, Hanna would never forgive him for one.”
“Is that still going on?”
“Yes, they moved in together, remind me to tell you all about it sometime,” I replied, losing some of the steam in my rant. “I’m more worried about what Jakob will do if he thinks I’m in danger. You shouldn’t have said anything to him, we handled it fine.”
“That’s my job. I report anything I think he should know. If you were mine, I’d want to know it if someone threatened your life.”
“If I were yours, I’d think you’d protect me yourself.” I met his gaze directly and he held it for long seconds before he looked away.
“I am. Protecting you, that is, the best way I know how. I’ve made arrangements for a specialist to come and secure the house. After that I’ll be on my way.”
“Then you’re still leaving.” I’d hoped he might reconsider.
“I think that’s for the best, don’t you?”
“Not even close.” At the same time I didn’t want to cause him any pain. “I’m sorry, I keep being selfish, thinking about how this affects me instead of what it’s doing to you. Of course you’re uncomfortable around me now, I understand.”
“Actually, it’s a bit easier with it all out in the open now,” he allowed with a half smile that gave me hope.
“Maybe it’ll get even easier as time goes on?” I ventured, but he shook his head. I sat down on the edge of the desk, my feet dangling, and he sat beside me, our pinkie fingers barely touching. “How long will it take for your specialist to get here?”
“Any time now, she’s a mite unpredictable sometimes, but she’ll be here before the week is out.”
“Why, what happens in a week?”
“I turn into a toad,” he smirked and I caught onto the piece of whimsy, adding my own spin to it.
“Does that make you the toad prince?”
His head tilted to one side. “How do you mean?”
“You know, like the frog prince. My kiss turned you into a prince but you’ll turn back if I don’t give you my love by the end of the week?”
“I think I’m doomed to spend my life as a toad then.” His lips twitched, drawing my gaze. His jaw was raspy again, he’d forgotten to shave.
“You never can tell, a lot can happen in a week.” I nudged his fingers with mine, the heat of his hand warming me.
“The things you say.” His eyes dipped to my lips and I thought he might try to kiss me. And though it sent my thoughts into a tizzy, part of me accepted it, even wanted it to happen. Instead he hopped down off the desk, lips twisting into a rueful grin. “I know you’re busy, I’ll leave you to it.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to let it go so easily, but in the end I just smiled and nodded. Scooting down, I got back to work, but my thoughts kept returning to that kiss.
A lot could happen in a week.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Though I really liked Jarrod and Leander’s new club Nightshade, some nights I wanted to keep a lower profile and get a quiet drink. On those nights I preferred the Bleeding Hart. I still got my own private table and free drinks, but fewer peo
ple came up to petition me for advice and nobody ever badgered me to sing.
The rest of the family had gone out for drinks and a late movie, but I begged off, wanting something less crowded. Truth be told I’d been trying to get Rob alone, where I could talk to him, and I thought a quiet drink with just the two of us would be the perfect setting. Rob wanted to stick close to the house, but agreed to a drink or two as long as we agreed to come straight home afterwards.
He seemed more at ease around me again. Maybe it was the beer, but he didn’t clam up when I tried to draw him out. I got him talking about Pandora’s Cross, his favorite watering hole back in England, and some of his exploits with his mates.
It was almost like a date, but not. Especially when he excused himself to sit at the bar after Jarrod came to pay his respects. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?” Jarrod asked, noticing Rob’s rapid retreat as well.
“No, not at all, have a seat,” I smiled, not wanting to broadcast Rob’s issues to anyone. Jarrod took the seat opposite me and talked my ear off about all the nuts and bolts of the new club and how it was well on its way into the black ahead of schedule. I’m not sure why they assumed I wanted to know all the ins and outs of the business, but I smiled and nodded, making noises at the appropriate pauses like I knew what the heck he was going on about.
Every once in a while I’d catch Rob’s eye and he’d raise his beer or give me a quick wink and I started to think he hadn’t left because he felt awkward around me, it was because all that business talk was dull as dishwater. As my attention started to wander, I thought about sneaking away with Rob to try and recapture some of that open communication at a late night coffee shop or something.
I was about to give my apologies to Jarrod and call it a night when Rob appeared at my side, gently drawing me away by the elbow. “It’s time to go.”
I couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill that he’d been thinking along the same lines. “I know, but first I need to say goodnight…”
“No, it’s time to go now.” He gave a pointed look to a woman who stood just inside the entrance, her head canted to one side as she studied its occupants. Little more that a girl really, I guessed her to be around twenty years of age, with long, honey brown hair that spilled loose around her shoulders. She wore a gauzy dress in a muted floral pattern that reached below her knees with an oversized man’s cardigan sweater, the color of moss, that dwarfed her arms. Despite the chill in the air outside, her feet were bare.
“Table for one?” Charisse approached the girl with a smile when she hovered by the entrance.
The girl’s eyes remained distant for long seconds before she focused on the pretty waitress. “One is the loneliest number,” she replied cryptically, the burr of an English accent shaping her words.
“Ah… yes, I suppose it is,” Charisse nodded. “Um, so, will someone else be joining you then?”
The girl’s face brightened with a glorious smile, her dark eyes shining with happiness. “Soon it will be time for dancing and presents, and treacle tarts if we’ve been good. I’ve been good, have you? The Lady always knows if you’ve been naughty or nice.”
Charisse blinked at her, not quite sure how to reply to that.
“Come on, we’d better get her out of here.” Rob propelled me towards the door, letting go to exchange his hold for the girl’s elbow. “Time to go, Bits.” Without waiting for a response he herded her out the door, expecting me to follow.
“She always knows,” the girl called back over her shoulder to Charisse who stared after her, utterly perplexed. I gave her a helpless shrug, following after them before I died of curiosity.
“You were supposed to meet us at the house, I gave you the address.” Rob’s voice was stern as he led us to his sedan. I followed along, watching the exchange with confusion. Who was this girl? And why was Rob so hot to get her out of there? She seemed a little touched in the head to me.
“Robby!” The girl cried out in delight as though she’d just noticed Rob for the first time. “I was making friends, did you see?”
“You’ll have to make friends another day, we got serious business to attend to. We work before we play.”
“You invited her over to my house? Who is she?” I asked, about to climb into the back seat when Rob tossed me his keys. Since when had I turned into the chauffeur? Rob ignored my questions while he fastened the girl’s seatbelt like a child.
“She shines, Robby. She shines bright like the light of the world.” The girl’s eyes fixed on me, a touch of wonder in her voice.
“Yeah, I know, Bits. That’s why we’re helping her. Let’s go,” he urged when I sat there watching them in the rearview mirror.
“I’ll bet you’re delicious,” she added conversationally, leaning forward in her seat, the look in her eye sending a shiver down my spine. Human, but not… my senses told me, just like Rob.
“Now hold on, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. Who is she and why does she think I’m all shiny and delicious, Robby?” I demanded, feeling more than a little nervous with them both at my back.
“It’s alright.” Rob’s tone was placating, but his impatience was clear. “She’s my sister.”
His sister… Besides the accent, now that I looked for it, I could see a similarity around their eyes and perhaps they shared a fluidity of movement. The girl’s limbs possessed a willowy suppleness and Rob’s muscular form a lethal grace, each appealing in their own way. “Your sister?”
“Anja, this is my sister Leila, Leila this is Anja Evans. Now can we go?”
“Alright, alright, hold your horses.” My brows drew together, still not understanding the reasons behind Rob’s impatience. I didn’t miss the use of my real name, not the alias I operated under in town. “Nice to meet you, Leila,” I nodded at the girl in the mirror as I pulled out of the parking space, but Leila looked out the window, already having lost interest in the conversation. The ride home was a silent affair, with me trying to puzzle out why Rob had sent for his strange sister and why he was so eager to get Leila to my place.
Leila’s attention remained fixed on the scenery outside until we approached the sprawling house and then she sat staring at the building, her eyes wide as saucers. “No…” she whispered.
Rob got out of the car, coming around to Leila’s door. “Come inside, we’ll have a nice cuppa tea and you can warm up a piece,” he began in a cajoling tone.
A shake of the head was given, her eyes wide with fear. “There’s blood on the walls… blood on the walls and blood on her soul.”
Blood on the walls? I stared at Leila in shock, not so sure I wanted her in the house after all. Clearly she wasn’t all there.
Rob wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders. “Come on like a good girl. Nothing left here but a memory of what was. Nothing to hurt you, dead and gone now, see?” His cadence changed when he spoke to her, taking on an almost singsong quality as he pulled her from the car and propelled her towards the house. I followed along behind, giving them a wide berth, prepared to bolt if she turned the least bit violent.
Leila allowed him to lead her to the house, though her reluctance was still clear to see. Laying her hands against my front door, she closed her eyes, breathing becoming erratic. Her head twitched in jerky movements until finally she calmed, her eyes popping open. “Gone… dead and gone,” she nodded, the fear fading from her eyes. “Do you have any biscuits?”
“Got a whole cupboard full.” Rob gave her a rare smile, unlocking the door and opening it wide. Leila returned the smile with a sunny one of her own, stepping across the threshold as though nothing was amiss.
“What just happened here?” There were so many questions I didn’t know where to start.
“I may have mentioned before, my sister’s got the Sight.” A half shrug was given. “She could tell there’s been blood shed here, she’s a mite sensitive to things like that.”
“The sight? Do you mean she can see the future?” I’d alwa
ys thought that would be a handy gift to have. Maybe not as cool as compulsion, but possibly more useful.
“Past, present, future – Leila sees things most people can’t. It tends to… skew her perception a bit. It just wants a little getting used to is all. I sent for her to help secure your home.”
“She’s a security expert as well?” I scoffed, eyes following the girl who wandered through the house looking for the kitchen. “Wait, she’s the specialist you sent for?” I couldn’t wait to see what she dreamed up to make the place more secure than it already was.
“Even better,” he said, eyes shining with pride. “By the time she’s through with this place, won’t so much as a mouse be able to get in without your express invitation.”
My estimation for the girl went up a notch, though I was still vague on what she was actually going to do. “How’s she going to manage that?”
“I imagine she’ll want to give the place a good look over. I’d better keep an eye on her.” I followed after him as he unerringly tracked his sister down, finding Leila standing in the middle of Ellie’s bedroom, her eyes staring sightlessly into space.
“She burns with hunger…” Leila murmured. “It eats at her soul so that she itches on the inside of her skin.” Her own fingers raked at her face.
“What’s she talking about?” I whispered, more than a little unnerved by the vacant stare of her eyes. The paint looked a tad shabbier since we’d scrubbed the blood off the walls, but other than that it looked like any other teenage vampire’s room.
“Nothing. It’s almost time, Bits. You should get ready,” Rob spoke quietly.
“Do you have everything I’ll need?”
“Course I do, what do you think I am?” The corner of his mouth quirked in amusement. “Excuse us won’t you?” Rob led her out of there, leaving me with more questions than when I’d walked in.
They were in the middle of some pretty elaborate preparations when I got downstairs, so I went into the kitchen to put on the kettle, remembering he’d said something about a cup of tea. After the water came to a boil, I went out to ask what kind of tea they wanted and found Leila sitting on the floor in the front parlor within a five pointed star surrounded by a circle drawn on the polished wood floor in black charcoal. The tang of burning herbs hung heavy in the air and I noticed a bundle of smoking leaves lying on a metal plate that contained two candles, one black and one orange. Afraid to speak for fear of breaking the spell, I came to stand beside Rob but Leila beckoned to me.