by Fawn Lowery
He felt immensely pleased—though a bit unnerved, too. He had clearly heard a voice speaking to him, commanding him to place the necklace around his neck. He hadn’t been imagining the voice. His hearing was too keen for imaginary voices to trick him. He considered investigating his new quarters, but decided to give in to his need to feed instead. He clutched the doorknob and gave it a twist.
The door gave no resistance to his strength, opening easily on its brass hinges. He peered beyond the structure, identifying a wide street with several large trees flanking it. He was clearly in a house, he decided, his brow rising upward in surprise. He paused only a moment, glancing up and down the road while he decided which direction to take.
He hoped this night proved more productive than the previous one. Thoughts of Selena, the blonde vixen he had encountered last night became vivid in his mind. He could see her long blonde hair and her naked body. He smiled slightly, his full lips pulling upward at the corners. He’d like to see her again. Perhaps bite her neck again.
He shook his head and stepped through the doorway into the darkness of the night. A quick thought and he shapeshifted into a bird and took to the air. The lights of the city were easy to see from his lofty position above the buildings. The stench of the city penetrated his senses, bringing back memories of his travels in Europe so long ago. A thought suddenly assailed him. Perhaps he would return to Europe some day. He had all the time in the world.
The thought brought a battery of emotions to the fore. He strove to rid his mind of the conflict and find a willing victim to feed on. His body felt the effects of going without nourishment for the duration of all day. He soared on a light breeze then came to land in a tall tree at the edge of a sprawling park. He looked about, wondering why he had suddenly chosen that particular spot to stop in. He had spotted a multitude of people coming from a nightclub—finding a victim to feed on would be easy with so many in the crowd. He could simply immerse himself within their midst and choose whom he desired.
Voices sounded beneath the tree. He leaned forward to get a better look and recognized Selena’s companions from the previous evening. Surprise filtered through his insides. Was he to be subjected to those dolts again? They seemed so juvenile in their quest to hunt vampires. Surely they were wasting their time with the frivolous game. He sighed and turned his ears to their conversation beneath the tree.
“If their numbers increase, we’ll all be in danger.”
“We need more hunters. That’s for sure.”
“We should go to the police.”
“Are you nuts? The cops would laugh at us.”
“But we have proof.”
“Like hell we do. Garrett may have said he killed one of the bastards, but there was no body to show for his efforts. Remember? There wasn’t even a sign of a struggle.”
“Well hell no there was no signs of a struggle! If you catch a vampire before it gets dark, he’s at your mercy.”
“That may be, but there was no body!”
Jarharis listened and discounted their conversation. Did they really think they were smart enough to destroy a vampire in the case that they could actually find one? He watched the three and deemed their vampire hunting to be a fantasy game they were intent on playing out.
He leapt from the branch and took to the air. Traveling into the heart of the city, he landed beside a building and shapeshifted into his male body. Stepping from the shadows he joined a group of young men walking on the sidewalk. The young man walking beside him glanced in his direction and Jarharis took the opportunity to clasp a hand atop his shoulder. Immediately he was under his command. He pulled him into the first dark alley he spied and pushed him against the wall. In a moment he was sinking his teeth into his vein and nourishing his body with his warm blood.
He drank only as much as necessary, soon releasing the young man and allowing him to rejoin his peers walking up the sidewalk. Jarharis stood in the shadows and savored the renewal of his body.
A low chuckle sounded behind him.
Jarharis whirled around.
“Whoa! It’s cool, man.”
A tall, well-dressed man stood in front of him, a smile gracing his thin lips. He held up both hands as if to ward off an attack from Jarharis. He was dressed similar to Jarharis—jeans, tailored shirt open at the neck and leather boots. His hair was cut short and stood up in spikes on his head. A diamond earring gleamed in his left earlobe.
“I’m Aston.” He shoved one hand at Jarharis.
He’s a vampire. Jarharis knew who he was before he introduced himself. The fact that his keen powers hadn’t sensed him earlier was only due to his needing to feed—and the fact that until a few moments ago—Aston had been in another part of the city. He surveyed him as he awaited Jarharis’s greeting. He was young, about twenty-four, with many centuries behind him. He harbored many regrets and was laden with much sorrow. But Jarharis sensed cunningness about him, a sly demeanor that wasn’t to be overlooked. Whether becoming a vampire was the reason for his slyness, or whether he had been of that nature while still a mortal, he couldn’t tell. But he was wary of him immediately.
Jarharis pulled in a long breath and clasped Aston’s hand. “Jarharis.”
“Are you the one the vampire hunters are looking for?”
Jarharis chuckled. “Do you seriously believe they are capable of finding and destroying one of us?”
Aston shook his head. “I don’t know about you, but I’m too smart to be apprehended by the local vampire club.”
Jarharis raised an eyebrow in speculation. Until that moment he hadn’t fully understood the reasoning behind the group’s mission. Suddenly he understood why the blonde woman wanted him to be on her side. They were evidently divided into groups and sent out to hunt down imaginary vampires. He raised one hand and rubbed his chin, thinking. “Who’s the president of this vampire club?”
Aston shrugged his thin shoulders. “I hear they have to elect a new one quite often. Seems vampires keep sucking the life out of them.” He threw back his head and laughed jeeringly.
Jarharis chuckled. “Do they have a club house?” His mind was suddenly racing. Thoughts propelled briskly one after the other. He couldn’t explain why it was happening, but he seemed to be suddenly very knowledgeable about the present time. He understood Aston’s meaning about the vampire club and the little joke he made about them having to elect new presidents. Hell! He even knew the brand names of the clothes he wore. He thought suddenly of the amulet. He reached inside his shirt and traced one finger along its metal chain. Had its powers enabled him to know about the time period?
He shrugged one shoulder in uncertainty. What else could it be?
Aston moved suddenly and Jarharis’s attention was pulled back to him.
“I’m headed down to the Wharf. Want to come along?”
Jarharis knew immediately that the Wharf was a nightclub where the young singles hung out. And he knew that Aston considered it his territory.
He shook his head and took a step out of the alley. He had no intention of accompanying the young vampire to the nightclub, though he thought he should remain on a friendly basis with him. He turned and offered his hand.
“See you around,” Aston said, briefly shaking Jarharis’s hand.
Jarharis had little doubt that he wouldn’t be seeing Aston on more than one occasion in the future. He was, no doubt, one of the vampires the hunters was looking for—since he seemed to know a bit about them. He combed one hand through his hair, tracing the mass to the nape of his neck. For all his newness, he still had his long hair, though it was apparently coiffed in a modern style. He smiled and looked down the avenue. A streetlight on the corner illuminated the area. He breathed in the moist night air. The street was wet. It must have rained sometime before dark.
He was aware when Aston took his leave. An intense coldness seemed to go with him. Jarharis turned and looked in the direction he had taken, sensing he was off to feed. Suspicion rose up inside him. He woul
d be wise to keep an eye out for that one. And, he wondered, rubbing his chin with one finger, were there others around like Aston?
CHAPTER FIVE
Jarharis stood before the building and gazed up at the window. A yellow glow lit the interior of Selena’s apartment. He fought the urge to go to her. He shoved his hands inside his pockets and warned himself about pursuing her. Only trouble could come out of the association. He sighed and turned from the temptation.
He would do well to investigate the city and leave the female population for dining privileges only, since he had little chance of ever becoming involved with one beyond sex now and then. He pushed the feelings of remorse aside. He should have taken Aston up on his offer to accompany him to the nightclub. He needed to get a first hand account of the nightlife and what better way to do that than to accompany a vampire familiar with the scene. He didn’t allow himself further time to debate the issue. He shapeshifted into a bird and took to the sky, winging his way toward the nightclub.
The array of brightly colored lights pulsed with the loud beats of music filtering outside the club. A cluster of skimpy dressed females gathered at the entrance then linked arms and pushed through the doorway. Jarharis lit across the street and changed into his male form. He straightened his clothes and headed across the street, a plan forming in his head. He couldn’t let Aston believe he was infiltrating his territory. On the contrary, he would show no signs of looking for a victim should he run into Aston.
Jarharis strode through the doorway, past the burly bouncer standing beside the opening and gazed around. His keen eyesight allowed him to take in every person and item in the large room with one assessing sweep. He spotted Aston seated in a booth along the back wall, a buxom redhead nestled in the crook of his arm. He nodded his head when Aston’s watchful gaze locked with his.
Aston returned his nod of greeting and returned his attention to the woman nestled against his side. “Buy me a drink, honey?”
A slim hand with red lacquered nails slid across Jarharis’s right shoulder and paused atop his forearm. He turned his head and came face-to-face with a dark haired woman.
She pressed her breasts into his side and smiled up at him. “Want some company?”
Jarharis smiled at her. It was too early in the night to think she was the welcoming committee. His smile broadened with the thought. She was looking for someone to buy her drinks for the evening then fuck until daybreak. His gaze followed the line of her body. Her breasts were large, pushing over the neck of her dress. A small waist tapered into rounded hips.
I could fuck her. He wound his arm around her waist and crossed the room to an empty booth. She slid onto the leather seat and waited for him to join her. He surveyed the room again, looking for a waitress. Spotting one near the bar, he waved one hand, summoning her.
“A very dry martini.”
Jarharis didn’t order anything to drink. He could have, but the questioning look on the woman’s face sitting in the booth, brought amusement to his insides. He slid into the booth beside her.
“Are you on the wagon?”
“I just had a drink.” He hid his smile, turning his head toward the waitress as she brought the martini to his new friend. He withdrew a twenty from his pocket and tossed it atop the waitress’s tray. “Keep the change.”
The dark haired woman gave a surprised gasp and picked up her drink. “Do you always tip so generously?” She sipped the martini and eyed him.
Jarharis shrugged a shoulder. Until that moment he had no knowledge of present day money or that he possessed any.
“I’m Lily. What’s your name?”
“Jarharis.”
“That’s a strange name. You’re not from around here.” She scooted closer to his side, pressing her thigh against his. She lowered one hand and slid it along his leg until she reached his crotch. She grasped his cock and squeezed it gently. “But then I don’t care where you’re from. I want to fuck you.”
Jarharis made no move to lift her hand from his lap. He sensed her arousal the moment he sat down beside her and, since he made no show of stopping her from fondling his prick, she became even more turned on.
“Let’s get out of here, baby. My place is just around the corner.” She was breathing heavily, her mouth nipping hotly along his neck. She rubbed his cock and scratched at his fly trying to release his zipper.
Jarharis caught her hands and pulled them from his crotch. For all her heated attention, she failed to arouse him enough to entice him to leave with her. He was much too engrossed with studying the crowd to pay much attention to a female that was harboring thoughts of robbing him.
“What’s wrong, baby? Don’t I turn you on?” Her breath was hot against his cheek. She pressed seductively against his side, her hands battling his strength to return to his crotch and her rhythmic stroking of his cock.
He considered what to say to her. She’d find the truth offensive. He hid a smile. If he hadn’t already fed for the night, he might be tempted. But under the circumstances, he had little interest, aside from the fact that her attention made him appear as mortal as the other males in the room.
Except for Aston. He couldn’t sense other vampires—aside from Aston in the room. But he supposed there were others roaming the streets, choosing victims to feed upon. He turned his head toward Lily. She was staring at him, sipping her drink. He sensed her curiosity.
“You aren’t gay—are you? Cause if you are, you’re in the wrong bar. The gay joint is over on Fourth Street
.” Anger laced her voice. She suddenly finished her drink and scooted against his side, pushing at his shoulder with both hands. “Move. I want out.”
Jarharis stood and allowed her to exit the booth.
“Thanks for the drink.”
He watched her walk away, her steps wobbly, her hips swaying provocatively in the direction of the front entrance and a group of young men just entering the door. Jarharis scanned the room, glancing in Aston’s direction.
Surprise filtered through his insides where he saw the booth where the vampire sat, was empty. He quickly looked about, spying Aston milling about the crowd gathered at the bar.
He’s looking for a victim. He lowered himself back to the booth and watched the vampire. Though his ears couldn’t discern what he was saying, he appeared very friendly, shaking hands with the males and kissing the women on the cheeks as though he knew them all. Jarharis watched and mentally noted his mannerisms, aware that he too might be forced to act in kind if he chose to remain in the city.
He combed a hand through his hair. He had never been a social person. Indeed, he rather preferred his own company as opposed to a multitude of followers. But then, that had been in another time. He sighed. He couldn’t seem to adjust—even with the force of the amulet at his disposal. He raised one hand and clutched the gem pressed beneath his shirt. His fingertips played across the faceted surface, pressing against each raised line and sleek contour of the amber jewel.
The hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood up in alarm. He jerked his head to the side, spying Aston in his midst. He rose just as the vampire closed the distance between them.
“I see you changed your mind about coming to the club.”
He had recently fed. His face was no longer pale. His cheeks were flushed with the warmth of fresh blood. Jarharis cocked an eyebrow in speculation. Had he been cunning enough to feed on the redhead he sat with while the whole of the nightclub looked on oblivious to his evil deed?
Jarharis smiled and nodded his head. “I thought I’d check out the scene.”
“I saw you with Lily.” Aston smiled.
Your fangs are showing.
“Lily belongs to me.”
“She offered herself, but I wasn’t interested.” Jarharis couldn’t resist the goad.
Aston bristled. His eyes narrowed. He stepped closer to Jarharis. “You’re in my territory.”
“I’m aware of that. But keep in mind, you invited me.”
�
�I was being nice.”
“Vampires aren’t known for their manners.”
Aston chuckled and looked out over the crowd.
Jarharis sensed his rage. Were it not for the fact that perhaps two hundred people were crowded into the nightclub, Aston would have challenged him. Suddenly he felt as though he could best the younger vampire. After all, before his change, he had been a soldier who fought in the Crusades. He was no stranger to battle.
Aston strode off suddenly without another word. Jarharis watched his back, sensing he was intent on someone or something. Suddenly he saw the object of Aston’s interest.
Damn!
Selena came through the door of the club, her slim body encased in a bright red dress, her long blonde hair spilling over her bare shoulders. A shiver of lust raced through his insides. She paused, looking into the sea of people as though searching for someone. Suddenly Aston was at her side, sliding one arm around her trim waist and drawing her against his side.
Enraged, Jarharis pushed into the crowd, elbowing his way across the room to where the pair stood.
Get away from my woman! His thought shocked his senses. Had he laid claim to Selena already? His brows knitted. He couldn’t ever recall a woman giving him such torment. And he had only just met her.
He pressed on, pushing the people out of his way, determined to reach Selena and send Aston on his way. But when he reached the place where he had seen the pair, they were gone. He wrenched his neck, trying to see over the mass. The urge to use force almost overcame him. He stifled the urge to clear the room with a sweep of his hand. For all his strengths, he had to use common sense. He couldn’t risk disclosing his identity.
He paused and considered the situation. He was reasonably certain that Aston hadn’t taken Selena out the door. He turned his eyes toward the back of the room. Anger rose like a tidal wave inside him. Aston had returned to the booth and Selena sat beside him. He headed toward them, a mental warning going out to Aston as he covered the distance between them.