by C. M. Owens
I don't know why I imagine this present is old. I guess I assume he bought it when I was ten.
"Where is it?" I ask while tucking my hands in the pockets of a perfectly fitting pair of jeans.
He smiles, keeping his back turned as he slowly flicks on the lights. I sort of hope he's sending me home with new clothes.
My wardrobe here is far more impressive than my wardrobe at home. I'm almost tempted to take a bag back with me. This shirt fits every inch of me more perfectly than anything I've ever felt. The jeans aren't the cheap knockoffs I normally cash in on.
"Any of them," he says, breaking my train of thought.
"Any of what?" I ask in bemusement.
He gives me a proud, excited smile as he motions to the garage.
"Pick any car you want. Your mother told me you've been saving for one, and right now isn't the time to be holding a mortal job. These are going to be yours one day anyhow, so you might as well enjoy one as a sample."
My mouth falls open in disbelief. "Drackus, I can't take a car."
He shrugs while opening a box on the wall full of perfectly hung keys, all labeled to go with their host.
"Let's say I'm a few years behind on presents, at least a decade. This should somewhat make up for the materialistic side of that equation. Besides, they're sort of sad just wasting away in here."
I shake my head, though the temptation is almost tangible.
"I can't. It's just too much."
"My dear, Airis, it's never too much. Either pick one or I'll pick one for you and deliver it to your new Edgebrook home myself."
Obviously he's keeping tabs on me. I'll be glad when my new home is finally ready to be lived in. I'm sick of hotel hopping.
The man owes me ten years’ worth of presents. It's not like he doesn't have enough money to replace whatever I choose. There might be some moral high ground I'm supposed to be taking, but I do need a car, and there is one hell of a vast selection in front of me.
This is more like a warehouse than a garage. The true depth of wonder this place holds is lost on someone as unknowledgeable about cars as I am. Each one looks showroom worthy, and each one has a vivid color choice.
One calls my attention more than the others. It's sleek - silver instead of a vibrant prime color - and it has black leather seats that are begging to be felt. The only thing I know is that it's a sexy Jag.
The chrome wheels, intricate details, and custom interior all call to me. It's then I notice the initials engraved on the steering wheel and headrests. The letters A and D.
Airis Devall.
"You knew I'd choose this one?" I ask while turning around.
He smiles and then shakes his head. "I had a sneaking suspicion you might, but that's not why that's there. All my cars have those initials."
I feel a tear trying to slip out, but I hold it back, refusing to let myself fall too much into hope's web. Since I was ten, I've desperately wanted my father back, but trusting him now could destroy me if I'm wrong.
"This is the one," I murmur while carefully stroking the silver beauty in front of me.
"It's one of my favorites. Good choice, Airis," he says while tossing me the keys.
The other cars shift out of the way as he uses his power to clear a path, and I climb into the driver's seat to see a bag sitting on the passenger side. Again, the initials are engraved with the name of a dead girl.
I unzip it and gasp as I see hoards of clothes from the closet I wanted to rob. Drackus is smiling as he walks out, waving behind him as he does so.
"Until next time, dear girl. Be safe."
With that, he vaporizes, leaving me in my new ride to do my worst. As I pull out into the forest, I find the long driveway I remember riding down as a child.
The trees surround me, but the light peers through their thick limbs without fear. It almost feels comfortable. I decide to see how much torque my new ride has, so I gas it, feeling my head throw back from the breathtaking power.
This is definitely not a good car for someone still mortal.
The car demonstrates excellent grip around the winding roads as I head toward Edgebrook, ready to deal with Kane and his addiction.
My phone rings, and I smile as I use my magic to program it into the fancy system while pressing a button on the steering wheel to answer it.
"Did Drackus suspect anything?" I ask when I see it's Gage.
"Not a thing. Where are you?"
"On my way back to Edgebrook. Where are you?"
"I probably shouldn't tell you this, considering what happened between us last night, but I'm chasing after some sexy blond in a Jag right now."
My grin grows to be painful as I glance in my rearview mirror to see the black Audi gaining on me.
"What if that blond doesn't want to be chased?" I ask, playing along.
"Then I'll just see if she's as good at driving as I am, turn this into a friendly race. I hope she's good at driving because this could go on for a while if she is," he teases, making me blush.
Suddenly, he's on my tail, making me gas the car harder as I skirt around the curves. The immortal behind me doesn't fear something as mundane as a car crash, but I do. He'd walk away from a flaming explosion with a few charred marks on his clothes. I wouldn't walk away at all.
When I'm too afraid to accelerate anymore, I cut him off before he tries to pass me.
"So that's how you're going to play?" he asks, laughing softly.
"I have no choice. Some of us depend on a heartbeat."
He laughs louder, and then suddenly he's gone. Where the hell did he go?
I screech when he suddenly materializes in front of me, speeding away and leading the race.
"That's cheating," I grumble. "You're not supposed to be able to vaporize stuff as big as a car anyhow. What's up?"
"I'm not supposed to be able to vaporize a mortal, but I do it just fine. I've got secrets too, Alyssa. Care to find out what all I can show you?"
I giggle like a fool girl, and then he murmurs, "Hey, let me call you back. I've got a beep."
"Okay."
He's gone in that breath, and I smile foolishly, no longer dreading this meeting with Kane. Gage has freed me.
Suddenly, his car is barreling down the road, slingshotting around the curves as he leaves me behind. I didn't realize it was this big of a race.
I try calling him back, but he doesn't answer. It ends up going to his voicemail, and I'm left with nothing but abandonment issues when his car turns into nothing more than a speck in the distance.
I drive faster, carefully using just enough brake to catch the curves appropriately. In a fraction of the time it took to get to Drackus's home, I'm back in Edgebrook.
I pull up in front of the hotel to see police everywhere. Lights flashing blue and red blare against my eyes even through the sun is still shining. There are all sorts of reporters, news vans, and so much more.
I climb out of the car and try to head into the thick of the mob scene to find out what's going on, but suddenly I'm being whirled around my familiar arms and then staring into green eyes.
"You can't go in there, Alyssa," Kane says softly, secrets in his eyes.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong. He looks worried, like he thinks I'm going to flip out.
"Where's Gage?" I worry, panic sounding out.
"He's-" His words stop as his eyes trail to the balcony, and I follow his gaze.
Gage is leaning over it, acting as though he can't catch his breath, but air finally enters my lungs.
"What happened? Why does Gage look like he's sick?"
Kane's lips tighten as he pulls me tighter into his arms, a comforting motion I once craved and couldn't receive. Even though his touch still stirs some deep, twisted emotions inside me, I'm not desperate for him now that the bond has been severed.
"Kane, tell me what's going on."
Zee rushes through the crowd, finding us and breathing out in relief.
"Thank fuck your safe,
" he gushes out, seeming sincere with his worry. "We've been worried sick. We called Gage, but then he showed up without you. Is he okay?"
"He's right there," I murmur with confusion. "Why were you worried about me?"
Kane releases me at long last, freeing me from his intoxicating scent, and then he brushes my hair from my face while staring softly into my eyes with more compassion than I've seen in a while. It figures he'd wait until I got rid of our connection to start being something other than an ass.
"We were worried they got to you, too," Zee murmurs, not really giving me anything explanatory for their bizarre behavior.
A few cops barge past us, splitting me up from Kane, and I see something familiar in one's hand. It's a chain, a coin fastened to a chain, rather. It's in a clear bag labeled evidence. I've only ever seen one like it, and suddenly I feel numb, realizing what's going on.
I look up at Kane expectantly when he makes his way back to me. My lip threatens to tremble as the blood in my body pumps painfully through my veins. His lips stroke my forehead softly before pulling me to him in another comforting embrace, something he wouldn't do at all if my suspicions weren't correct.
I listen as he softly confirms the dread consuming me. "Alyssa, it's Thad. He's dead."
Chapter 14
A New Focus
My heart finds my ears as everything around us slows to a halt. Power most have never known yields to Father Time and claims dominance. Humans become frozen in their tracks, their actions left suspended as dread fills the air around us.
A dark, rumbling cloud in the distance grows stronger, proving he's on his way, and he's pissed.
"What the hell is going on?" Zee almost whispers, too scared to speak any louder.
The first tear streams down my cheek, and I let it stay there as I make my way over to the cop carrying Thad's chain and coin. I pull it free from his stilled hand before pulling the silver piece from the bag.
Fastening it around my neck, I walk back over to the two night stalkers staring into the distance at the storm brewing.
"It's Drackus. He knows, and he's going to find whoever did this to Thad."
"Drackus?" Zee whispers even quieter, knowing how powerful Drackus is since the Castine debacle.
A car roars as it skids into the hotel parking lot, and suddenly Drackus materializes in front of us, pulling me into his arms. I haven't hugged my dad since I was a child, so I'm startled by the embrace.
"I'm so glad you weren't here," he crackles out, clearing his throat immediately after.
"I might not have been, but Thad was. And he-"
"And he will be avenged, I assure you," he almost growls, his tone laced with more anger than someone should ever try to provoke.
"How'd you know?" I ask, my voice starting to show my emotion.
"Gage called me directly after your ex-night stalker called him."
His eyes seep with venom as he glares at Kane, offering him an intimidating glower. Kane doesn't seem to notice as he and Zee converse quietly, avoiding Drackus with all their strength.
I guess it's a good thing Gage didn't tell him he was already on his way here. Drackus would be giving him that glare.
"I need to go see the room. I have to see if I can get a feel for who or what did this. I can't keep these humans frozen forever. It might leave them with long term damage," Drackus says while finally releasing me.
"I'm coming, too," I chime in, wiping away another tear.
I'm grabbed from behind, as Kane halts my stride. "Alyssa, no. You don't want to see it."
Drackus almost growls when he sees Kane's hand on me, and he steps in between us, knocking away the stray limb.
"Don't touch her again if you want to stay in one piece," he threatens, his eyes burning into Kane's.
"He's not going to hurt her, Drackus. The boy is here to protect her after all," Dray says from behind, his voice interjecting being as sudden as his presence.
I turn to face him, but he's not there. When I turn back around, he's right in front of me, stepping between Drackus and Kane like a protective lion caring for his pride.
"Last I checked, he already did," Drackus says through a sneer.
"Not physically. He'd never do such a thing. Let's go tend to the matter at hand before all these people end up brain-dead. You'll need me for the process, and I won't have you threatening my boys anymore."
Drackus cracks his neck to the side. "I won't tolerate him touching my-"
"He won't hurt her," Dray says again, interrupting Drackus before he spills my secret.
Drackus snarls, and then he vaporizes from in front of me. Kane walks up beside me, putting his hand at the small of my back.
"He's protective of you. What was he about to say? His what?"
"Nothing I care to explain right now. I want to go see this. I want to know who did this to Thad."
I start walking off, but he quickly joins my side, his eyes flashing to Gage on the balcony. I look, too, noticing Gage is almost shaking as he tries to recover from whatever gruesome sight lies ahead. Thad would go in there for me. I owe it to him to do the same.
"I really wish you wouldn't do this," Kane says softly, feigning concern.
"I really wish you'd stop pretending to give a damn."
He looks to Zee before we walk in and head up the stairs.
"You've broken the bond," he says in a near whisper, seeming hurt like the possessive night stalker he is.
"You told me to. I don't feel like discussing that right now. I want to deal with Thad, and then I'll fix you."
"Fix me?" he asks, seeming confused.
"You've got to do something about the witch blood addiction before you lose it. Drackus would kill you if you happened to lose it on me. I can promise it wouldn't be a quick death either. Dray wouldn't be able to stop him."
His jaw tenses, his whole body shifting, and I notice his hand shake before he steadies it.
"It was Drackus? That's who freed you from the bond?"
I just threw up in my mouth.
"That's disgusting on so many levels."
My nose wrinkles up, and he relaxes slightly. "How did you know-"
"Thad first, you later. Focus."
He tightens his lips, accepting my curt counter. We turn the corner to reach the long balcony that passes in front of all the rooms, and Gage instantly vaporizes, materializing in front of me as his arms wrap around my waist.
"Alyssa, you can't see it. I can't let you."
"I have to," I murmur softly while returning the embrace.
"No," he asserts. "I can't let that image be stuck in your head."
He brushes his lips against mine, and that's when Kane barges by, his teeth grinding as he does. I guess he finally did the math on who freed me from my bond. I'm surprised he even had to guess.
"Drackus will see you," I murmur against Gage's soft lips.
"I don't care. That could have been you in there. Thad stayed in your room since they were booked up when he got back last night. He called me because he didn't want to look like a pervert waiting in your room."
I don't have the ability to push the pain aside and find the humor in that statement. "Who would do this?"
Gage breathes out heavily before running a hand through his already disheveled hair.
"I don't know, but Dray and Drackus will find out. Dark angels have a handy power for such things. Combined with the things Drackus can do... We'll catch a clue."
"I have to go in there, Gage. Thad would do it for me."
He frowns, but lets out a relenting sigh while taking my hand in his. "Don't worry about Drackus. When you need me, use me. Believe me, you'll need me."
I shiver as we near the room, and his fingers lace with mine. We fall in behind Kane and Zee, but when they part enough for me to peer through them, I almost fall.
Bile rises to my throat, dizziness sinks in, and my whole body tries to go limp. Thad looks like someone ripped his throat out, bled him dry, and then painted the ro
om in his red stain of life lost.
His eyes have glazed over white, his body is stiff, and his hands are strung out, tied to the bed in true crucifixion style. His wrists have jagged cuts in them from where someone drained his blood. His pupils don't even exist. His feet are bound just as his hands, and his ankles are sliced in the same vicious manner.
I can't even recognize him with so much blood and gore going on. His blond hair is clumped with his own blood. The bed is drenched, just as his body. They didn't just kill him, they bled him slowly.
"Damn it, Gage! Get her out of here!" Drackus scolds.
I swat him away when he starts to pull me out, and I shake my head.
"It's Thad. I'm not leaving," I strain out, my tears coming down in slow, heated trails.
Drackus tightens his lips, but he doesn't object. When my knees give out, Gage scoops me up and holds me to his chest. Drackus allows it, assuming it's because I'm overwhelmed right now and not because I'm with the dark user.
"Gage, keep a tight hold on her. This could be dangerous for a mortal to endure. If she struggles under any pressure, get her out," Dray instructs, and Gage nods knowingly.
Kane glances at me, his eyes teeming with pain and... envy? Surely he's not actually jealous. Are night stalkers that damn possessive?
Drackus waves his hand, and I can feel his dark magic brewing. This magic could swallow him up and destroy his sanity. I see it already sinking its claws in when his eyes start to glass over.
Dray steps up, his black fog releasing into the room as it circles over Thad in a constant whirl. Drackus's power mingles, the two combining, and then the room shifts before my eyes.
Hidden items come to life to create the pieces of a puzzle. Everything in the room that was cleaned up has been revealed.
I can't feel the power touching me, not anymore. I look up to see Gage concentrating, his eyes closed. He's shielding me.
"That's got it," Dray says. "Drackus, tell me you're still fine," he continues, worry staining his tone.