Moonlit Guardian

by Crystal-Rain Love

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” he replied, stopping before her. “I heard everything.”

  Her heart stilled as she fumbled for words.

  “Has that woman ever threatened you before?”

  Kimiko blinked. The cobwebs cleared a moment later and she realized he hadn’t been referring to what she’d said on the show that morning, but to what the little girl had said during the last meet and greet. “Oh. Um … no. We haven’t had much contact with each other.”

  “Yet she wishes you dead.”

  “Why? Because my songs are higher on the chart than hers? So are other people’s.” Kimiko shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense, and how would she have gotten into my house? Whoever is stalking me, they were in my house before the shooting or the animal blood incidents happened. Those letters that were sent to me were from someone who wants to be with me.”

  “You’re sure they are one and the same?”

  “You think I have more than one stalker?” Kimiko swallowed hard and found her mouth dry. “Two people after me?”

  “I don’t know. The only thing I do know for sure is that I do not trust that woman, and that goes triple for Rex Ziering and his pet.”

  “His pet?”

  “Lennox Black.”

  “Do you know him from somewhere?” She recalled their first meeting. “I’ve noticed you kind of puff your chest out more around him.”

  “I do not puff my chest out.” He frowned down at her. “I know his kind. I don’t trust him. He is very dangerous.”

  “His kind being a bodyguard, like you?”

  “He’s another kind of my kind,” he muttered.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Just …” He looked around the room. “Be careful. I’m going to take a look around and scope out a good place to watch you on stage.”

  “You’re leaving me?” She grabbed his arm. “You’re supposed to protect me.”

  “That’s what I’m doing. I’m making sure you stay safe.”

  “How can you do that away from me?” She noticed the curious looks by a nearby couple of cops and moved in closer to Draven’s side. “Don’t leave me alone.”

  “You have nine armed cops in this room, and more outside.”

  “I don’t trust them like I trust you.”

  “Good. Don’t trust anyone like you trust me and I’ll be able to keep you safe.” He wrapped his large hand around the nape of her neck and stared down into her eyes. “You’re most vulnerable on that stage. That’s where the stalker will strike if here, and that’s the place I need to protect you. Trust me to do that, and trust me to know that these police officers are capable of protecting you until you get to the stage. Alright?”

  She nodded, slowly, still afraid to let him go but knowing instinctively that he would not let any danger come to her.

  “Good.” He released her neck and walked out of the room.

  Draven closed his eyes and breathed in deep. The amphitheater was crowded with performers, their staff, and security, but Draven was able to pinpoint the location of his prime suspect within minutes. Unfortunately, he also picked up the scent of another suspect.

  Lennox Black was nearby, which meant his douchebag employer was too. Both were on his suspect list, but at the moment, there was another closer. He followed the smell of orchids and jasmine until he reached another small room. He stood just outside the door and listened.

  “You’ll have to excuse my appearance, Detective Brown. It gets hot on stage.”

  “You look just fine, Miss Starr. I know it’s been a busy day for you. You were at the Live With Scott and Lexi set this morning.”

  “Yes. I remember you as well. I never forget a handsome face.”

  “There was a scary incident there this morning,” the detective said, completely ignoring the singer’s attempt at flattery. Draven was starting to like the guy.

  “Yes. It’s kind of hard to forget that, and that dressing room was so close to mine. It just gave me chills what happened. I mean, that could have been my room.”

  “It was a targeted attack, Miss Starr. The person who did that to Kimiko Lee’s dressing room wouldn’t be interested in you.” The detective paused. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did that offend you? It wasn’t meant to.”

  “No, of course not.”

  “I like Twitter. Do you like Twitter, Miss Starr?”

  “Yes,” she answered, her voice hesitant.

  “I thought so. I took the liberty of checking out your Twitter account. I noticed you sent out tweets this morning about what happened.”

  “And? I’m sure everyone else there did as well.”

  “Yes, but yours went out really fast, and you tweeted a picture of the dressing room. I recall disallowing anyone to take pictures.”

  “I was there when it happened. I wasn’t ordered not to until police arrived.”

  “Oh, you were there when it happened? Right at that moment.”

  “You know what I mean.” Her voice sounded sharper, angry. “I was interviewed at the scene, just like everyone else who was there. Why are you asking me about it again?”

  “Why were you overheard saying you wished Miss Lee had been shot?”

  There was a moment of stunned silence, followed by a sharp bark of laughter. “Oh, Detective. Have you resorted to getting your clues from the tabloids?”

  “A girl heard you say it today. You said Kimiko Lee was overrated and you wished she’d been shot already.”

  “Kimiko Lee is overrated but I wouldn’t want her dead because of it. Going off that logic, you better send a team out to guard Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. They’ll be next on my hit list.”

  “Be careful, Miss Starr. Keep making threats like that and I’ll be forced to arrest you.”

  “Arrest me for what? Sarcasm?”

  The scent of werewolf grew stronger. Draven sniffed, narrowed in on Lennox Black’s location and moved to hide before the wolf reached him.

  8

  The detective left Britney Starr’s room a mere minute before Rex Ziering entered it. His werewolf bodyguard stood outside the door, in the very spot Draven had spied from.

  The wolf’s nostrils twitched as he inhaled, and Draven knew the werewolf had picked up his scent.

  In gargoyle form, he was able to see everything from inside the small utility room he’d hidden in. He allowed his power to flow out, enabling him to see in all directions at once.

  Kimiko was still in the small room he’d left her in, surrounded by police. The two armed guards outside the room remained on high alert. Inside the room, Kim talked on her cell phone as Kimiko’s makeup person brushed powder on her face.

  Kimiko had changed into her stage clothing, a black catsuit with a diamond studded belt and black leather thigh-high boots. Large diamond hoop earrings drew attention to her face, but as beautiful as her face was, it was hard for Draven to draw his gaze up from all the good things stuffed into that catsuit.

  “Stop it, Britney. It’s over.”

  Rex Ziering’s raised voice brought Draven’s attention back to what was happening in the pop star’s room. He honed in on the small room where the blonde woman stood before the actor. Still dressed in her stage clothes, she wore a body hugging pink minidress with matching stilettos. It didn’t do anything for him, not like Kimiko’s outfit.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rexie.”

  “Quit calling me that stupid name, and you know exactly what I’m talking about. Stop the rumors that we’re a thing. We’re not.”

  “Why? Because you’re still drooling over that half-breed bitch?”

  “Wow. That was a whole lot of racism in such a short sentence.”

  The blonde rolled her eyes. “It’s what she is. It’s why she sells so well. Everyone in the world relates to her. So she’s white, black, Asian, and Hispanic. Big whoop.”

  “Maybe everyone in the world loves her because she’s beautiful and talented.”

  “I’m beautiful
and talented. At least that’s what you told me before you got what you wanted from me.”

  “Before I found out you were a vindictive little psycho,” he growled back. “We are not together, Britney. It’s not going to happen.”

  “That’s not what you said when—”

  “It’s what I’m saying now, and I mean it. Stop, or I’ll ruin you.”

  “Oh really?” She laughed, folding her arms. “Don’t forget I know a few of your secrets too, Rexie baby.”

  Rex’s face went slack with fear, but it quickly dissipated as he grabbed Britney by the throat and shoved her against a wall. “I’ll end you.”

  Draven quickly shifted back into human form and left the closet. By the time he reached Britney Starr’s dressing room, Lennox had pulled his employer away from the woman.

  “What’s going on in here?” Draven asked as the red-faced woman gasped for air, her hand resting over her neck.

  “I got it handled,” Lennox said, directing him a dark look.

  “Draven Gregory.” Rex straightened his jacket, having just been released by his bodyguard. “I believe you’re in the wrong starlet’s room. Shouldn’t you be protecting Kimiko?”

  “She’s safe, and she’s going to stay safe. You stay the hell away from her.”

  Rex froze as Lennox stifled a laugh. “What did you just say to me?”

  “You heard me, and it was a direct order. You may be able to threaten women but you do not threaten me. You harm Kimiko and you die. It’s that simple.” He turned toward the door, but paused before leaving. “That goes for your bodyguard too. If she gets hurt, everyone involved will suffer.”

  “No wonder Kimiko turned you down,” he heard Britney taunt Rex as he left. “He plays the sexy, hot and dangerous role a lot better than you, and he’s not even acting.”

  People of all ages and races filled the park. Tents had been set up for people willing to spend the VIP ticket price which got them the sheltered seating area with refreshments. The rest milled around the park, squeezing in wherever they could to get a better view of the stage. Draven also spotted security interspersed with the concert goers. Park security, police officers, and to the side of the stage, Detective Brown.

  High up in a tree, several yards from the stage, Draven perched on a branch, his clawed feet holding him steady as he hid among the leaves and scanned the area, keeping tabs on the entire park.

  His heart ached as he saw Kimiko backstage, preparing to go on. She looked everywhere at once, her eyes desperately searching and he knew he was the very thing she sought. She felt alone and exposed. It killed him that she thought he wasn’t there for her. Closing his eyes for a moment, he inhaled deep, exhaled, filled his every breath and thought with her, sending her a promise of protection.

  Opening his eyes again and using his power to see all around him he was surprised to see her looking at him. She couldn’t possibly see him with the walls and space between them, let alone behind the cover of the tree, but she stared straight in his direction and when she breathed in, she seemed content. Reassured. Safe.

  He shook his head. No way she could have felt that, but he’d done it, hadn’t he? He’d deliberately sent the promise to her, even if he had no clue how.

  Before he could ponder the strangeness of it any further, Rex Ziering approached Kimiko with a single red rose. Draven’s blood seemed to boil in his veins. A dozen would have been friendly, a nice gesture to wish her well on stage but that single rose spoke of something more.

  He watched Kimiko hand the rose to a nearby little girl whose face lit up to receive such a prize. The easy way Kimiko discarded the offering and the dark fury that showed on Rex’s face were small victories. Draven smiled, imagining it must look grotesque on his beastly face.

  Rex tried to speak to Kimiko but a small crew of people quickly surrounded her, checking her makeup and wireless microphone.

  “Draven.”

  His ears perked at the mention of his name.

  “I know you can hear me, wherever you are. I know you’re watching,” Lennox’s voice spoke softly.

  Draven scanned, locating Lennox twenty feet away, facing the stage, as if he’d been sniffing him out but gave up.

  “Watch your woman tonight. I feel something bad brewing.”

  The werewolf looked over his shoulder, near Draven’s direction, and started walking through the crowd. Draven watched him until the crowd swallowed him up. He could have tracked him by smell, but his attention needed to be on Kimiko.

  The stage lights went out and her music began playing as the crowd broke out in excited screams. The loud music’s vibration rumbled in Draven’s chest as Kimiko stepped out onto the stage, a trio of spandex-clad dancers with her.

  She rapped expertly, her enunciation clear and tone melodic, almost as if she were singing the words about all eyes being on her as she stepped into the club. The crowd went crazy, rapping along with her and imitating her moves. As she and her dancers gyrated on the stage, Draven almost lost focus. Damn that catsuit.

  After she rapped the last words to the first song she waved to the crowd. “Hello, New York. How is everyone tonight?”

  The crowd cheered.

  “Tonight is a very special night. The money raised tonight will help feed and house hundreds of homeless families. Thank you so much for your donations. Now, let’s party!”

  The crowd cheered again, alternating screaming out their devotion to her as she started singing a song with an up-tempo beat. Her dancers performed behind her as she paced the stage, making sure to wave often and touch the outstretched hands of her audience.

  Draven spread his power out, scanning for danger, Lennox’s haunting words echoing through his head. The werewolf wouldn’t get off his suspect list that easy. However, the warning was strange. Then again, it could be a trick, a way of making Draven look the other way while the wolf went in for the kill.

  He inhaled deeply, seeking out the wolf. He found him on the move, approaching the right side of the stage where Rex Ziering stood in the wing, watching Kimiko perform.

  Britney Starr stood across from him on the other side of the stage. Her lip curled in disgust as she watched Kimiko and her dancers move in synch while Kimiko delivered the chorus. Behind her, Kim spoke animatedly into her cell phone before tapping her on the shoulder.

  That was curious. Draven started to zone in on the pair to see what they had to talk about but stopped as his gut alerted him to immediate danger.

  In gargoyle form, his body was attuned to danger. His gut was a wireless alarm system, and the bell rang loudly as the music slowed down and Kimiko stepped forward to the center of the stage.

  As she started singing, her voice clear as crystal and sinfully sweet, Draven became aware of multiple threats.

  While his prime suspects bracketed both sides of the stage, he noticed men in dark clothing suddenly break apart from the back row of the audience and start moving toward the stage. They moved at the same speed and although they started at different points, Draven was easily able to see the strategic formation from his vantage point.

  Detective Brown, scanning the crowd from the right stage wing, would never be able to see them all at once, and he wasn’t confident Lennox would either. He wasn’t even confident Lennox wasn’t part of this group.

  He focused his gaze on one pair of men, his heart thumping hard as he saw the earpieces and their coordinated move to reach into their jackets. They were armed and worse than that, they were professional.

  There were at least a dozen men, coming from too many directions at once. She’d be dead before he could take them all out, but if his path led straight to her he’d reach her before their bullets did.

  He spread his wings and leapt from the tree, thankful the sun had went down hours ago. The darkness helped cloak him as he sped over the heads of the oblivious crowd.

  He snatched Kimiko off the stage just as the first gunshot rang out.

  9

  Kimiko’s voice falte
red as a dark blur sped toward her. As it drew closer she saw a beastly face with dark eyes, sharp teeth and two horns on its head. She opened her mouth to scream as the creature grabbed her around her waist and lifted her into the air.

  Gunshots rang out and she looked down to see the drum set behind where she’d been standing take the damage.

  “Oh my god, oh my god,” she cried before letting out another scream. Pretty sure she’d just been shot at, she knew she should feel relief but it was a hard feeling to conjure while she flew in the air, trapped in the arms of some creature straight out of a horror movie.

  It held her around the waist, tight to its black, leathery body. She thought about pummeling its massive chest but at that moment her mic fell out of her hand. She turned her head to watch it fall. As it disappeared out of view, she noticed the treetops and buildings whizzing past as the creature sped through the night, and realized how high up she was.

  Pummeling the monster was out of the question. It would either drop her to her messy death or simply break her in half. She wasn’t sure which of those scenarios qualified as the best case scenario, but she knew she didn’t want either.

  She started to cry, thinking of Draven. He was supposed to protect her, but he couldn’t have possibly seen this coming. Yet, he would find her. She knew it instinctively.

  “You better be nice to me,” she warned the creature, “or my bodyguard’s going to kill you and mount you on my wall.”

  She swore she felt the beast laughing.