Loup Garou

by Mandy M. Roth

  “What do you say, Lindsay?”

  “I say, hurry up and kill the vampire. Before you go, let me give you my address. Contrary to popular belief, I do not live here.”

  Chapter Eleven

  I shut the lights to the dance studio off and made sure the door was locked. As I turned to head up the stairs to the portion of the apartment I lived in, I heard a faint knock at the door. Putting my hand up to sense who was on the other side, I smiled as I felt Exavier’s energy. I opened the door and sighed at the sight of him.

  He’d changed from his turtleneck and dress pants to a snug orange T-shirt with an imprint of Elvis Costello on it and a pair of loose-fit dark blue jeans. The black leather combat boots he had on suited him nicely. His hair was still wet so I knew he’d taken time to get cleaned up. Thankfully, I’d done the same thing.

  I glanced down at my faded grey T-shirt with a screen print of Elvis Presley on it and back at him. “Oh no, we’re dressing alike now too.”

  “I don’t think I’d look nearly as good in those pajama bottoms as you do.”

  The lightweight, grey cotton bottoms I had on were loose but comfortable. Laughing, I shrugged and stepped back for him to enter. “I don’t know about that. I got them in the guy’s section. You’re looking at my absolute favorite comfy outfit. The one I toss on to binge on ice cream, play sad music or lay around and watch movies.”

  “Do you do that often?”

  “No.” I lifted the T-shirt a tiny bit. “That’s probably why I’ve had this outfit since I was sixteen.”

  Chuckling, he stepped in and looked around. “Umm, do you have furniture?”

  I flicked the light switch on and motioned around. “I do but this is my own private dance room.”

  “You own an entire rec center. Why do you need another place to dance?” Exavier walked over to the built-in sound system and turned it on. A slower, darker song came on. Exavier turned and gave me an odd look. “How in the hell do you dance to this one?”

  “I don’t know. I just do. It’s one of the songs I listen to when I can’t sleep.”

  “Me too. I, umm, think it was written because the guy couldn’t sleep.”

  Rocking my head back and forth, I listened to it and smiled softly. “This band’s discs should be the only ones in the player. They’re the only ones I listen to.”

  “Hmm.” He stared at the sound system.

  “I have a question for you.” I walked to the barre on the wall out of habit and began to stretch.

  “What? Are you finally going to ask what kind of band I have?”

  “No. I figure you’ll tell me when you’re ready. Plus, I’m still trying to picture you singing. You used to hum a lot. I loved it when you would walk around sort of singing. I didn’t care so much for how you yelled at me when I pointed it out to you though.” I laughed.

  “Sorry about that. I’d like to say again, I was a moron.” He chuckled. “What was your question?”

  “Gina and Myra hear me listening to this song at work too. I’ve accidentally ended up with multiple copies of the same CDs. They tell me to write the names down so I quit buying the same ones. I tell them to bite me. It works out well all around.” I winked as he glanced at me. “Anyways, they told me this one was about running from the horrors of your life. And about how the human mind manifests stress into nightmares, leaving you afraid to fall asleep.”

  “Yeah, I think everyone believes something along those lines.”

  Placing a foot on the barre, I bent the other leg down, careful not to bounce at all. “Hmm, I really need to get out more. I feel like I’m a hundred years old next to other people at times. I didn’t get that out of this. I’m either crazy or not meant to be one who listens too hard to lyrics.”

  “What’s your take?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” I switched legs on the barre. “It’s just always sort of bugged me. I end up laughing at myself because it’s only a song but it bothers me when I hear it labeled that way.”

  “I really am interested in your take on it. I sort of know these guys.”

  I did a tiny rond de jambe, before moving my leg to the side and then out, following the music carefully. The beat changed a bit, getting harder. “See, I think the person who wrote this wasn’t afraid to fall asleep, he was desperate to. So desperate that the harder he tried, the less it worked. I think he went through a spell when he connected in his dreams with someone he cared about. I don’t know who—maybe a lost loved one, someone he couldn’t get to while awake. I think he had a taste of it and then it was ripped away from him without warning.

  “I think he blamed himself and felt like if he concentrated hard enough, set his mind to it and tried again and again, he’d be the master of his own dreams. The only problem was, he needed to focus on his inner demons first because his mind and his heart knew that should he connect again, he wasn’t quite strong enough to keep the demons down. No part of him wanted harm to come to the one he was reaching out to and in the dream realm it’s entirely possible to harm someone if you’re not careful. So, naturally, he wouldn’t allow himself to reach out while asleep regardless how much he wanted to.”

  Twisting slightly, I made a large circle with my leg and held my arms out before me, carefully making motions following the song. “But, that’s just my opinion. I’m sure everyone you ask has a different one. Regardless, I like my version so I’m sticking to it. My version left me crying the first time I heard the song. I’m such a sap. I wanted to make it better for him.”

  Strong arms wrapped around me. My breath hitched as Exavier pulled me to him and began to move with me. He turned me slightly, held my hand while I moved out with a half-spin and then drew me into him once more. He rocked us back and forth gently as the song played on.

  “Mmm, is this a pity dance for my pathetic attempt at relating to music with words?” I asked, jokingly.

  “No.” His blue eyes seemed to burn through me.. “This is my way of telling you just how right you are about it. That is exactly what was going on in his life at the time.”

  “At the risk of offending you because I haven’t heard your music yet, umm, could you pass on how much I like this one to your friend? Did he sing it too or is it someone else?”

  “Why?”

  I turned red instantly, and looked away. “I was just wondering.”

  “Linds? Tell me why you want to know.” A slow, sexy grin spread over his face as we continued to dance.

  “Swear you won’t laugh at me or think I’m crazier than you already do.”

  His chest shook slightly as he laughed silently. “What? Are we five?”

  “We were when we knew each other best.”

  “Okay, I swear.”

  “The first time I heard this guy singing I was in a stereo sound system place with Myra and her boyfriend of the moment. A song, not this one though but by the same group, came on and the second he began to sing, I passed out cold.”

  “You did what?”

  Laughing, I nodded. “My power surged through me and I couldn’t get control of it. It literally knocked me out cold for about a minute. I was so embarrassed. I had to lie that I’d been in the sun too long. Please keep in mind that too much sunlight burns my eyes and makes me tired so Myra believed it. And she bought the CD for me for my birthday. I put it in, recognized the start of it and braced for impact. It didn’t happen again. Instead of overloading me, my power simply wrapped around me, kind of like a warm blanket, and that’s the whole boring, humiliating story.”

  “Umm, so are you saying you don’t like it or you do?” he asked, tentatively.

  “Well, every time I’m scared or as of late, terrified, I play this row of discs. When I’m lonely, I play them. Umm, the list goes on but it’s safe to say they cover all moods. Even PMS. See, now you have to tell me what it is you sing and what sound your band has so I can begin the near impossible task of replacing those CDs with yours.” I closed my eyes and screwed my face up not wanting to thi
nk about getting rid of it all. “Okay, I lied. Tell me what you do so I can set it along side this guy.”

  Exavier looked slightly shocked. “So, you’re telling me you aren’t willing to toss this even for me—your mate and best friend from when you were little?”

  “You do realize you’re bringing up issues that will weigh in heavily on the whole marriage thing. I think I’ll need a prenuptial stating my CD collection is safe from you.”

  “A pre-nup, huh?”

  “Yep. You get to keep your underworld and all its perks and I get to keep my CDs.”

  He bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh. “My underworld and all its perks? You’re a perk. That means I get to keep you regardless if you want to keep me or not.”

  “We’ll have to iron that point out then.” I leaned into him and stood on my tiptoes. “That or I could just swear to love whatever music you make too and ask you very nicely not to chuck these out of the window.”

  “Hmm, I’m going to have to make a list of all my demands and if you don’t meet every one of them, I’ll be forced to make room in the player for my stuff.” His warm breath moved over my face lightly, making my entire body press even closer to him. “If we don’t find something else to do, right this second, you are going to end up pinned to the floor with me deep inside you, Lindsay.”

  Nodding, I drew back from him slowly, not wanting to let go but not wanting to surrender myself to him completely before I knew him better. I owed that to the both of us. Twenty years was a long time to be apart. “Okay, are you hungry? I know for a fact you didn’t eat dinner.

  I cupped his cheeks and felt stubble starting. Rubbing it lightly, I giggled like a school-girl. “Exavier, you grew into a man.”

  He rubbed his jaw and laughed. “Want to move those hands lower? I’ve got even more proof I’m a big boy now.”

  If he only knew how very much I did want to look lower, he’d have run. The need to offer myself to him was so great, I almost blurted it out several times. I took his hands in mine and pulled on him gently. “Let’s feed you, to put my mind at ease and then let's go to bed. I haven’t been able to sleep in weeks and I think it picked tonight to catch up to me. I’m tired.”

  “No, your body understands who I am to you. It’s relaxing and knows I’m close and will protect you at all costs.”

  “Xavs?”

  He smiled. “I am hungry and a bit tired myself.”

  I yanked him up the stairs with me. He waved a hand, using his power to shut the lights and stereo off.

  The second I heard the exterior door locking, I sighed.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m just realizing how much I missed you and how safe you’ve always made me feel.”

  He rubbed his index finger over my wrist. “I love you, Linds.”

  “I love you too.” The second I said it, I stopped fast. My pulse sped up and heat flared to my cheeks.

  Exavier wrapped his arms around me.. “Breathe. It’s okay. I’m not going to lay claim to you here and now. I promised you time. I’m just happy to know that at least you give the automatic response when I tell you I love you.”

  “I didn’t say it just because I’m used to answering that way. Other than my father, you are the only man I’ve ever said I love you to. In fact, my lack of saying it was the reason for the majority of my relationships ending. So don’t stand there thinking it was a shallow automatic response, Exavier. It wasn’t. No part of me has ever stopped caring for you. This is all very sudden. That’s all.”

  Closing his eyes, he looked so peaceful, so content. The minute he looked up at me, he smiled. He tapped my butt cheek playfully and wagged his brows. “Feed me, woman or I’ll feast on you instead.”

  “You might want to stop bringing that up.” I opened the door at the top of the stairs that separated my living area from the dance studio below and stepped back so Exavier could enter.

  He brushed past me, let his hand linger over my hip and then took my hand in his. “Lindsay, I can see it in your eyes. You’re thinking of telling me I can’t touch you since we’re doing the starting-off-as-friend’s thing. I’d like to remind you that we held hands and were close when we were little too.”

  “Yes but I never once wanted to beg you to throw me against the wall and fuck me, Xavs. Now I do.”

  His gaze skimmed over me slowly. “Baby, begging doesn’t even need to come into play. Trust me on this.”

  My eyes lit as I stared at his mouth. “We should eat.”

  Taking his hand in mine, I pulled him into the upper level. He tugged on me and pointed at the tub. “Lindsay, you have a tub in the middle of your,” he glanced around, “umm, is this the living room, kitchen or dining room?”

  I beamed. “Isn’t it great?”

  “Does it work?”

  A tiny laugh escaped me. “Of course it does. I soak in it every night when I get home. It relaxes my muscles. It, and the oversized downstairs, was the reason I got the place. I love it.”

  Exavier appeared to be in pain. I slid into him. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m picturing you soaking in the tub and it’s not helping with the urge to claim you. Did you have to tell me that? I’m going to be staring at it all night, knowing you’re naked in it nightly.” He groaned. “Ah, Linds, I see water on the faucet. You were already in it. Weren’t you?”

  I nodded and did my best not to laugh. “Mmmhmm, with bubbles too.”

  “Bubbles?” he asked, a tiny whimper coming from him. “Feed me now or so help me gods I will be in you in a matter of seconds. Yes, food now and then point me to that other room Jay sleeps in when he stays over. You might want to lock me in for your own protection.”

  * * * * *

  I woke with a start and stared around my bedroom. I wasn’t sure what had pulled me from the deep sleep I’d been in. Something tugged on my gut, telling me to get up. I followed it, sliding out from the warmth of the bed. I continued to allow it to pull me and the second I found myself in the hallway headed towards Exavier’s room, I broke into a run. It felt as though I were swimming in molasses. The harder I pushed onward the slower I went.

  I tried to open the door but found it was locked and hot to the touch. Hissing, I jerked my hand back and hit the door with my fist. “Exavier!”

  He didn’t answer.

  My heart leapt to my throat as I pounded again and again. Still, he didn’t answer. Frantic, I thrust my power out, splintering the door to the point that I could see through it. It took a minute for my mind to register what I was seeing. Black shadows sat hunched on Exavier’s chest and abdomen. Though they were only shadows, I could still make out talons, fangs, monstrous figures.

  Exavier shifted restlessly beneath them, still asleep. The shadows directed their attention to me. Glowing red circles were where eyes would be on each one. Three pairs of red flames stayed locked on me. I felt it then, something evil lurking behind me. I turned just in time to find a fourth shadow demon crouched against the wall, hanging at an impossible angle.

  Screaming, I flung power at it only to hear its tormented laughter running across me as I missed. The shadows swept out and through me, chilling me to the bone, leaving evil streaks of power in their wake.

  “Exavier! Wake up! Please.”

  He didn’t move. One of them leapt upon his chest again and seemed to draw in a deep breath. I watched as a faint, sheer, ghost-like image of Exavier began to rise from his body.

  His soul.

  “No! Get off him, now!” I charged at the demon only to fall through it. A helpless feeling consumed me as I continued to charge it and it kept on sucking Exavier’s very soul from his body.

  I flung power out madly, desperately trying to get it off him. I gave in and practically lay in the demon itself, doing my best to try to wake Exavier. He didn’t budge. “Please wake up, Xavs. I can’t get it off you. Honey, please. I can’t lose you now.” I hit him hard with my fists, repeatedly. His eyes shot open. They were filled comp
letely with black. His mouth opened and a row of jagged teeth greeted me.

  He’s a were-wolf.

  “Xavs? It’s me. It’s Lindsay.” No part of him seemed to understand. I backed up fast, scurrying to get away from him.

  He shot out of the bed with incredible speed and had hold of my neck before I knew what hit me. Lifting me high in the air, he stared at me with soulless eyes.

  Tears ran down my cheeks as I clung to his arm to avoid suffocating. “It’s me. It’s me, Xavs. Fight back. Fight—”

  He ripped at my neck and all went dark.

  * * * * *

  “Lindsay.” Something shook me.

  My eyes shot open and I found myself staring up at Exavier. Screaming, I tried to crawl away from him as I clutched my neck. He reached for me and I screamed again.

  “Lindsay, it’s just me. I won’t hurt you. You were dreaming, baby.”

  “You tore my throat out!” Touching it and feeling that it was smooth made me rethink that a bit but I didn’t rescind the statement.

  Exavier’s face wrinkled in confusion. “No, I would never hurt you.”

  I motioned around my room still trying to make sense of it all. “They came, the shadows with the red eyes. They could crawl on walls and looked like demons but I couldn’t touch them without going through them. They came and they pulled your soul out of you. I tried to stop them and your eyes were pure black, not like they are when they swirl but pure black, Xavs. You attacked me and ripped my throat out. I tried to make you understand it was me. You didn’t care. Your teeth were like Jay’s when he’s partially shifted. You weren’t you anymore.” I shook my head. “It was your body but it wasn’t you anymore.”

  Something passed over his face as he backed away from me quickly. “Get away from me, Linds. Run to Myra, Gina, your dad even. Just go.”

  Confused, I shook my head. “You said it was just a dream.”

  “It was a warning.”