Dying To Be Heard (Book 1): Outcry

by Michiels, Jennifer

  She thought back to him cooking in her kitchen, trying to remember if he'd eaten. Now that she thought about it, she never actually saw him take a bite. She'd just assumed. "Where do you get the blood?" she asked quietly, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.

  He shrugged. "It depends." He stood and crossed the room, looking as though he were anxious.

  Is he nervous?

  He stopped and leaned against the kitchen counter. "Some of us have connections in the medical field and can get units of blood that have been donated. Some decide to go what we like to call 'vegan,' and use animal blood. It does the job for a while, but tastes terrible, and after extended periods of time, our bodies will begin to deteriorate. Others have donors that trade blood."

  Rayne wrinkled her forehead in confusion. "What do you mean trade blood? Trade blood for what?"

  Camden crossed his arms over his chest, and she couldn't help but notice the way the posture made his muscles bulge. Her mouth instantly went dry. Somehow, just knowing that he was some kind of powerful predator had just upped his hotness factor exponentially. She shook the thought from her mind and tried to focus on the conversation at hand.

  He twisted his mouth in thought. "What's the best way to explain this?" He crossed the room back to his original position on the coffee table. "Vampire blood is very strong, like a drug. It makes you feel faster and stronger. An adrenaline rush, I guess you could say. It also can help you to heal quicker, but the rest is really just an illusion. Sort of like a rush of endorphins or a euphoric state."

  Rayne nodded and scooted closer to him.

  "Some humans are recruited and agree to be fed off of, in turn for vampire blood."

  Rayne agreed. "Well, then that sounds like the best way to go.”

  He held up a hand. "There is a downside, for humans anyway." He paused. "It's very addictive, with as little as just a few tastes. A person can become so addicted that they literally cannot function without it."

  Her eyes widened and she nodded. "Yeah. Not so good." She bit her lower lip in thought before she proceeded. "What about you?"

  Camden looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly five AM. "I think we should go ahead and get going. We can talk more later."

  Rayne opened her mouth to protest, but the way he stood and was across the room before she could speak let her know that the conversation was indeed over. She stared at the door in silent shock. It was just as well. She hadn’t actually wanted to know the answer anyway. What she did know was that this whole situation had just gotten a little more interesting.

  Chapter 8

  It turned out to be a beautiful day. The midmorning sun was shining brightly, and there was not a cloud in the sky. Everything had been so hectic when they first arrived in Louisiana the evening before, she hadn't really taken the time to appreciate the scenery.

  Rayne sat in the back of the SUV, staring out the window as the countryside flew by in shades of greens and browns. It was warmer than she had expected it to be in March, even for the South. The humidity was so high that her short-sleeve shirt was drenched just from walking to the car.

  Camden sat next to her, staring out the opposite window. He hadn't said much since revealing his true nature this morning. He'd almost seemed relieved that she knew at first, but now his silent treatment was beginning to make her think otherwise. Or maybe it was the opposite: Maybe he hadn't been relieved at all by her reaction. She couldn't imagine that many people had learned the truth, and probably even fewer had rebounded with curiousness and intrigue rather than fear. She also doubted that many people had been through as much in their entire lives as she had the last couple of days.

  In all actuality, it didn't bother her at all. Camden didn't seem that dangerous to her. Quite the contrary. It actually increased her faith in him to protect her. Inhuman speed and strength, superior fighting skills, the ability to heal almost instantly...She couldn't think of a better combination in a bodyguard.

  She glanced over at his finely-toned body, clad in normal, faded blue-jeans and a grey T-shirt. Over that were his leather jacket and sunglasses. The jacket. Connor wore one, too. It had to have been part of the “complicated” stuff he hadn't told her about yet. It seemed there was quite a lot that fell into that category.

  The scenery passed by, mostly trees and the occasional field. She never thought that Louisiana could be that enjoyable. They'd only been driving for nearly thirty minutes when the SUV turned down a narrow, blacktop road that parted the trees and led into the forest. There was nothing but greenery to be seen on either side. The road was bumpy and curvy and not much else.

  Barely a few minutes later, and they turned down a gravel road that went back even further into the woodland. The silence that had stretched for the entire ride finally was broken by Connor on his cell phone. She couldn't quite make out what was being said, but she could only assume that it was part of some kind of security protocol.

  Shortly after, they arrived at a tall, black, wrought-iron fence that held a beautifully ornate gate. The vehicle stopped at a small metal box and Connor reached out to enter a code. The gates swung open wide, and they were allowed to enter.

  What was on the other side nearly took Rayne's breath away. She sat forward, holding onto the back of Connor's seat to get a better view of the enormous house and spacious lawn stretched out before them.

  The house was at least two stories, possibly three, with earth-toned brick and a beige stucco-style front. Two massive white columns supported an overhang for the grand front door, and on either side of that was an array of windows. Beautiful landscaping dotted the property with splashes of color, and added to the overall beauty of it all.

  "This is your house?" she asked, somewhat astonished, looking at Camden.

  He nodded.

  "It is amazing!"

  He answered with a shrug. "When you've been around for a couple hundred years, some of your investments tend to pay off." He could not hide the smirk that appeared as he watched her jaw drop.

  "So how old are you, exactly?" she asked.

  "I'm four hundred and sixty-eight years old, but I stopped aging at thirty-six. So for all intents and purposes, I'm thirty-six," he said nonchalantly.

  Rayne couldn't do anything but stare. She was fascinated. To think of all the things he must have seen in his life: the Civil War, the American Revolution, the first American colonies established!

  It took a great deal of self-control, but she managed to push the thought to the back of her mind for the time being, and turned her focus back to the magnificent house. She was completely awestruck and speechless looking up at it as the car slowed to a stop at the front door. She exited the vehicle and stood wide-eyed, Camden stepping around to join her.

  "Like it?" he asked.

  Her expression changed instantly and she shrugged. "I've seen better."

  This time, it was Camden's jaw that dropped. "You were just gushing over how awesome it was!"

  She fought a smile and shrugged yet again. "It's all right." She watched his reaction from the corner of her eye and finally lost the battle of not smiling. She couldn't hold it in any longer. "Calm down, I'm just joking," she laughed. "You house is amazingly beautiful."

  He narrowed his eyes at her and smiled before climbing the steps and unlocking the front door. She followed and waited for him to motion for her to enter. She was just barely able to make it over the threshold before she froze. If she thought the outside was impressive, words were not enough to explain the elegance of the inside.

  It was all glossy marble tile in tans and grays, with cream-colored walls, high ceilings, and ornate decorative furniture in the grand entryway. There was a large room with an immaculate fireplace located at the back, and a gorgeous staircase, complete with mahogany banisters, rose along the right wall and led up to balcony area just above the fireplace.

  There were archways to her left and right. The left transitioned into a small parlor or study, and to the right was a large
living room. Camden smiled at her. "Still seen better?" he asked, and threw in a wink at the end.

  Her heart instantly melted, and she was afraid her knees would collapse under her. Thinking quickly, she turned her attention to the twinkling chandelier hanging above them. It was at least three or four spiraling tiers of glittering crystal and gold. "It's definitely in my top five," she said smiling.

  Was she flirting? Yesterday she had been utterly perturbed and agitated, not her normal self in the least. She had been shaken and upset and not sure what to think about any of it. Today, she felt loads better. Enough so that she was smiling and flirting with someone whom she had just found out was a four-hundred-year-old vampire! What is wrong with me?

  Camden laughed out loud and placed his hands on her shoulders, guiding her into the family room on the right. "This is the living room."

  He dropped his hands and gave her a second to take it all in. It couldn't have been any more different from the entrance hall if it tried. This room bordered on ultra-modern, with ivory carpet, pewter-colored walls, two black leather sofas and a matching chair, and last but not least, the stainless steel coffee and end tables, exactly like the ones from the hotel. There were a few paintings of grayscale architecture placed throughout, and oddly, she again was reminded of the suite. She didn't like it. It was too much gloom and darkness.

  Camden studied her expression from the side. "What's wrong?"

  She wrinkled her nose and looked at him. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed that it was her telltale sign that she was lying. "It's uh..." she struggled to find the right word. "It's nice."

  Camden pressed his mouth into a thin line and looked at her skeptically. "What's wrong with it?"

  Rayne shrugged. "I feel like I'm back at the hotel. It's kind of depressing. I like lots of color." She crossed her arms over her chest and flipped her long hair off of her shoulder. She didn't want to look at him. What if she had offended him by practically telling him it was hideous and almost painful to look at?

  He smiled, and relief washed over her. He even managed a small chuckle. "I'll have you know the highest-paid designer in Louisiana came all the way from New Orleans to design this. I was assured it was the highest quality of style."

  Rayne raised her eyebrows. "I really hope you paid him or her enough for a good eye exam, because I'm pretty sure they were color-blind. What did you do, make a deal with the hotel owner and get a two-for-one special?"

  Camden's laugh grew louder. "Well considering I AM the hotel owner, we didn't have to make that much of a deal."

  She was taken aback. He owned the hotel as well? How much is he worth? Shaking her head and trying not to seem too impressed, she decided not to comment on his admission and let him lead her into the next room.

  Now this was her kind of room! The kitchen was modern, yet rustic, all at the same time. The floors were a rich, red-brown tile, with mahogany cabinets, and slate-gray granite counter tops. All the appliances were stainless, the stove gas-powered with a flat top off to one side, and a huge island in the middle. The walls were a deep maroon and tied in perfectly with the color scheme. A smile spread across her face slowly as she ran her hand over the cool, smooth granite. "This is more like it."

  She turned to see the vampire leaning against the doorway and smiling. It wasn't the type of smile that she was expecting, though. This one said admiration, maybe even adoration. She couldn't pinpoint it, but it sure wasn't the prideful smirk she thought would be there.

  Her smile softened and her cheeks flushed. She must have looked childish gushing about his house. "Sorry," she said, and bit her lower lip to hide her embarrassment.

  Camden shook his head and strode toward her. "You don't ever have to apologize to me."

  Rayne's face was on fire. She only could imagine how red it was. She nodded and held out her hand toward the dining room. "Continue."

  Camden smiled and glanced at the clock. "Sorry, but that's going to have to be it for now. I have some things to take care of rather quickly." He smiled and turned to leave. "Oh, your room is upstairs, second door to the right."

  He took a step closer and looked down at her. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat and braced herself against the island. He smelled good, too good, in fact. Whatever cologne he was wearing, it gave him a musky scent that was irresistible. Her skin crackled to life, and her senses were damn near ablaze just being in his proximity.

  He turned for the door, but stopped before passing through. "If you need anything, Connor and I will be close. Just yell," he said over his shoulder. He paused there for a moment before nodding and disappearing into the next room.

  Rayne let go of the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she had to steady herself against the counter. She mentally chastised herself. Pull yourself together. He's a four-hundred-year-old vampire with much better things to do than you.

  It took a moment to calm herself before she left the kitchen, cringing as she passed through the living room and back to the main entry staircase. Gently running her hand along the mahogany banister as she climbed to the second floor, she stopped at the top and got a glimpse of the balcony overlooking the fireplace. She absolutely loved it!

  It was a rounded platform surrounded by the same mahogany railings continuing around from the stairs. The floors were simple yet elegant in their own way, hardwood and finished with a glossy coating. Centered in the overhang was a beige rug and two white chairs, with a small, round end table between them.

  She made a note to put this area to good use and turned the corner to find herself in a long hallway with another branching off to the left, and three doors on the right. She knew Camden had said that her room was the second on the right, but out of curiosity, she opened the first and found a storage closet filled with linen and cleaning supplies.

  Moving on to the next one, she turned the knob and opened the door. It was breathtaking and matched the same color schemes as the other areas of the house: cream-colored carpet and white walls, with a massive four-post bed in the middle of the room. It looked as though it easily could fit thirty people or more!

  The comforter spread across the top was a deep, rich purple and filled with goose down, and matching pillows were stacked up against the headboard. It looked so comfortable, she couldn't wait to try it out. She kicked off her tennis shoes and allowed herself to fall into its heavenly softness.

  She stared up at the recessed ceiling, the soft glow from the lighting tucked in there giving the room an ambient feel. Now this was something she could get used to. Her eyes drifted closed for a moment. The down comforter and soft mattress made a delicious combination, and she found herself never wanting to move.

  That is, until a vibration in her pocket startled her. She pulled out her phone and saw that she had eight missed calls and twelve text messages, all from Layla. She balled her hand into a fist and pounded it against her forehead. How could I forget to call her?

  Well, actually, it was pretty easy considering the chain of events up until that moment. She hit the speed dial, and Layla picked up on the first ring.

  "You better be dead," she huffed. "That's going to be your only excuse for not calling me."

  Rayne flinched. "Sorry. It's been a little...crazy."

  "Rayne Marie Slade! How could you?! I've been worried to death!"

  Rayne pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know, Layla. I'm sorry."

  The entire conversation consisted of a barrage of questions from Layla's end: “Where are you? Are you OK? How long will you be there? What's happened since you left?”

  Rayne answered them all to some degree, but made sure to leave out the parts about vampires, the attack, and her grandfather's murder. She could envision the freak-out factor that her friend could escalate to. That is, if she even believed it all. Rayne sighed and couldn't get rid of one particular question Layla had asked.

  "Have you slept with him yet?"

  "What?!" Rayne nearly shouted
at her. "Are you crazy? No, I haven't, and I don't plan to, either!"

  "Come on, Rayne! You can't honestly tell me that you are not interested in mister tall, pale, and sexy! He's hot!" Layla joked.

  Rayne's face flushed and she was glad that no one could see it. The truth was, she'd thought about it on more than one occasion in the last twenty-four hours. But that did not mean she would, or even have the chance at that.

  "Camden is a va..." she caught herself before the word slipped out. "A very hot guy with better things to do. I assure you," she recovered quickly.

  Layla was silent for a moment before she continued, "I'm just saying that if the opportunity presents itself, you should jump on it. Literally!"

  They both erupted into laughter, and thankfully, that was the end of the conversation.

  Still sitting on the edge of the bed, Rayne finally took a moment to admire the artwork in the room, one painting in particular catching her eye. It was on the wall to the left of the door, and she was surprised she hadn't noticed it sooner.

  It was a huge painting of a black, shadowed background, and coming from the shadows was a naked woman. Only her back was exposed to the viewer, and the skin there looked smooth and pasty white. The entire right half of her body was shrouded in darkness, and a deep purple sheet, seemingly silk, covered her buttocks and wrapped around the front of her body. Her head was turned to the side so that only her profile was visible over her left shoulder. With her eyes closed and bright red lips parted slightly, Rayne was sure it was the most sensual thing she'd ever seen. Moving closer, she tried to find the name or an initial or something of the artist. Whoever he was, he was magnificent.

  The sound of a throat being cleared startled her, making her nearly jump out of her skin. Grabbing her chest, she turned to see Camden standing at the door. He'd changed out of the earlier clothes and now wore only a plain white shirt with his jeans.