by Lisa Emme
“Hey! Ride in the van with the rest,” Nash jerked a thumb at the van as he opened the passenger door of the SUV for me.
“I must ride with Miss Russo,” Isaac replied, unaffected by Nash’s gruff orders.
I placed my hand on Nash’s chest telling him to back off. “It’s okay. He’s with me.” At Nash’s frown, I added, “Long story.”
To say the trip from Dante’s to the scene of the second attack was a little chilly, would be an understatement. Nash alternated between glaring at me and glaring at Isaac in the rear-view mirror. Isaac was unfazed by Nash’s behaviour. I was getting close to smacking him. Luckily, we arrived at Bacchus, another of Salvador’s clubs, although this one was a little more upscale - less Goth, more bling - before any violence ensued.
The attack had taken place in an alley at the side of the club. The area was now cordoned off with yellow police tape. A black coroner’s van had pulled up near the entrance to the alley, the attendants cooling their heels at the side of the van, obviously waiting for the go-ahead to clear the scene.
The clean-up crew pulled up behind us in the van and spilled out, immediately getting to work. Several of the vamps insinuated themselves into the crowd. I assumed they were on glamour patrol, tasked with adjusting the memories of any norms to jibe with whatever cover story had been concocted. I had never really thought about it before, but I wondered how many of these types of cover-ups had there been over the years? Vampire attacks made to look like muggings and that sort of thing.
I didn’t have time to worry about past cover ups, as Nash strode to the mouth of the alley and held the crime scene tape up expectantly, waiting for me to duck under. I noticed he didn’t extend the same courtesy to Isaac. With a little smirk, Isaac lifted the tape and ducked under as well.
The first thing I noticed was the overwhelming sense of wrong I felt. It was almost overpowering and I staggered to lean against the side of the building. There was a scuffle of boots as both Nash and Isaac rushed to my side. Upon seeing each other they stopped short, Nash glaring and Isaac looking aloof but determined. Great, now I had two alpha males dogging my heels. I frowned at both of them and stepped further into the alley.
Like the aftermath of the attack at The Lodge, the scene was something out of a nightmare, body parts strewn everywhere. Unlike the scene from the night before, there was also a lot of blood and what looked like intestines puddled near one of the victims. I turned away, trying to block out the images while a wave of nausea washed over me.
“Are you alright, Miss Russo?” Isaac’s voice was quiet, almost calming.
“Harry, just call me Harry. I’m okay. I just need a minute.”
“I shouldn’t have brought you here.” Nash’s voice was rough with anger and concern. He reached for me, taking me by the arm. “You should wait in the truck.”
I pulled my arm from his grasp, angry that he was treating me like a child again. “I’m fine. I don’t need to be coddled. Let’s just get this over with.” The anger helped me to focus, the nausea gone.
The second victim was in much the same condition as the first, huge ribbons of flesh torn off his arms and back, and a gaping hole in his abdomen. He was farther down the alley from the first and from the position of his body, it looked like he had been trying to flee when he was taken down from behind. It was puzzling. The zombies we had encountered the night before wouldn’t have been fast enough to catch a man intent on running for his life. They had merely overwhelmed us with sheer numbers. I looked at the carnage again, trying to piece the bodies back together.
“Do you have any witnesses to the attack? Anyone that can describe the zombies or knows how many there were?” I turned to look at Nash.
“A couple of the vamp bouncers that came running when they heard the screams. They’re the ones that tore the zombies apart.”
“It doesn’t look like there were that many this time, and they must have been quicker?”
Nash looked at the mutilated body, nodding his head in agreement. “I’ll have to check their statements, but I agree. That’s what it looks like.”
“But why are the zombies still here? Why didn’t they turn to dust and return to their graves?” I shivered.
“What is it Miss, uh Harry?” Isaac, silent as ever, had approached me. “Do you feel something?”
“It just feels wrong. I don’t know how to describe it,” I replied, shrugging. “It just feels like it needs to be undone, set right.”
“Yes, that’s it.” Isaac looked pleased. “You must set it right. Only you can.”
“Me? How can I?” I stared at Isaac incredulously.
“Surely you aren’t going to continue to deny the truth, even after what happened earlier tonight?” Isaac took me by the shoulders and stared down at me. “You can do this. I am proof of that.”
“No! I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pushed Isaac away.
“Hey!” Nash stepped up to Isaac. “Just leave her alone.”
“Come now Detective, you know as well as I why Salvador insisted she come here.”
“Look, both of you, just give me a minute.” I stalked a short distance away from them, my mind reeling. I had been in denial a long time; I really didn’t want to face reality, but it was hard to ignore what was staring me right in the face. I knew I had done something, even if it was unintentional, that made the zombies disappear the other night and tonight I had compelled Isaac to prevent him from harming me. There were also the other vamps I had ‘Obi-wan’d’, getting them to let me into the club. Not to mention my ability to see and command ghosts. What I could do went beyond the realm of a simple medium’s powers. Everything I read about what I was capable of doing led back to one thing, a necromancer. No wonder Salvador was so interested in me and why Tomas hated me. There hadn’t been a reported necromancer in generations. Of course, maybe they were just better at staying under the radar than I had been. Although, since the first thing I did with my burgeoning power was flaunt it in the faces of a bunch of vampires and the Magister, it wouldn’t take much for them to be better at staying hidden than me.
“Harry, I don’t mean to rush you, but it will be dawn soon.” Isaac had moved closer to me. “You must release the remains before the sun rises.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t know how.” I really didn’t have a clue. So far, everything I had done, had mostly been a fluke.
“You must focus your will. Think of the outcome you want then release your power and it will be so.”
“Oh, is that all?” I huffed out a breath. “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to help.” I moved to stand in the centre of the alley, surrounded by the torn off limbs and shredded torsos of the zombies. The vampires had done a number on them trying to stop them. I let my shields down a little and the sense of wrongness intensified. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I could feel a tingle of residual power. Something about it just felt out of place. I decided to focus on it, to see if there was something I could do. Maybe if I could release that lingering power, things would be set right. Taking Isaac’s advice, I focused on the bodies and returning the zombies to their graves. I took several deep cleansing breaths then released my will. I felt the power slip from me in an ever growing wave. It was like I was a pebble dropped into still water, the power radiating out from me in a ripple. As the wave passed over the zombies, they disintegrated into dust and blew away with the breeze.
The release of power staggered me. My knees buckled and I started to fall only to be supported by Nash who wrapped an arm around me, propping me up. I hadn’t even realized he had been hovering there behind me, so intent I was on my purpose.
“What the hell?” Nash’s voice was full of concern.
Isaac chuckled. “We’ll have to work on your control. I don’t think it was necessary to use quite as much power as you did.” His fa
ce became concerned as he looked closer at me. “You are practically drained and you haven’t fed at all today. You’re dangerously close to running yourself empty, especially after what happened earlier this evening.”
“That’s the second time you mentioned something that happened earlier this evening. What the hell happened? What is it between you two?” Nash sounded angry again.
Isaac remained unaffected by Nash’s outburst. “Does it really matter right now? Harry needs to recharge. She needs to feed.”
Nash scooped me up in his arms but I protested. “Put me down. You’re not carrying me out of here. It will attract too much attention. I can walk.” Unfortunately, the world decided to spin right at that moment. I closed my eyes for a second until the feeling passed. “I mean it. Put me down.”
Nash placed me gently on my feet. I swayed, but remained upright, thankfully.
“You’ll never make it two steps like that.” Nash frowned then huffed out a breath as if resigned to doing something unpleasant. I blinked in surprise as he grasped my face in both hands and kissed me. At first it was tentative, but then I felt the glorious, pure energy of his aura begin to pour into mine. I deepened the kiss, soaking it in hungrily. Nash groaned, but from pleasure, not pain, enjoying the kiss as much as me. He returned everything I gave him, his tongue finding mine. His warm hands slid underneath my coat to find the strip of bare skin at the small of my back. His touch electrified me.
“Damn it!” Nash swore as he broke off the kiss to answer his ringing phone. I took a steady step away from him. What the hell was I doing kissing him?
“What?” Nash growled into the phone. “Fantastic. We’re wrapping up here too.” He put his phone back in his pocket and looked at me, taking in the distance I had put between us. “That was Dev. The bodies of the zombies at the second attack site seem to have been dispersed as well.”
“I’m not surprised,” replied Isaac with a smirk. “We should get Harry home. That little top up you gave her will not last long.”
I would have protested except for the fact I could already feel the energy drain setting in again. Trying to avoid eye contact with either of them, I squared my shoulders and made my way back to the SUV, my cheeks blazing.
Chapter Eighteen
I was being carried. Again. A part of me wanted to protest, but it seemed the part that was exhausted won out. I had fallen asleep on the drive home to the firehall. I was so tired I hadn’t even woken up when Nash lifted me out of the truck. It wasn’t until he stopped on the outside landing and began to argue with Isaac that I roused.
“There must be a key in there. How hard can it be to find a key in that tiny bag?”
“I assure you, there is no key in here.” Isaac sounded amused.
“Hey, what the hell are you guys doing rummaging around in my purse?” I snatched the tiny clutch from Isaac’s hands.
“The door is locked. We need your key.”
“Just knock. Tess or Holly will let us in.”
“There’s no one home.” Nash was beginning to sound exasperated.
“What time is it? Of course someone’s home.”
“Look, it’s almost 5 a.m. They’re asleep, or no one is home. Where’s your goddam key?”
I frowned. Someone should be home. I thought Tess and Holly would be worried sick about me by now. “I’m a witch. I don’t have a key.”
I struggled in Nash’s arms trying to get him to set me down. Finally he complied, setting me on my unsteady feet. I placed my palm on the door and nothing happened.
“I don’t understand. The door should have unlocked.”
“I believe that you have drained yourself to the point that you can’t even do a simple hedge magic.” Isaac looked at me, his eyes narrowed. Of course, my knees decided at that moment to give out on me again. I fell back against Nash who reached out to steady me. Isaac indicated that we should step aside. “If you will allow me?”
I shrugged, not sure what he meant to do and took a step back bumping into Nash again. Isaac slipped a small wallet from the breast pocket of his suit and knelt down in front of the lock. He pulled out two small lock picking tools.
“Seriously?” Nash sounded affronted.
Isaac shrugged. “One should always be prepared.”
“Great,” Nash muttered, “a vampire boy scout.”
There was a soft click and the door swung open. Wow, that had been too easy. I think we really needed to get better locks. Isaac stepped aside and I staggered in the door, calling to Holly and Tess, but there was no sign of either of them. It was hard to believe they weren’t up worrying about me like a couple of mother hens.
I turned to find Isaac waiting patiently outside the door. “I —”
Nash put his hand up to my lips to stop me from speaking. “You’re not really going to invite the blood sucker in are you?”
I pushed his hand away. “Yes, I am. Come in Isaac.”
“Are you nuts?” Nash looked at me in frustration. “He works for Salvador.”
I struggled to pull off the long leather coat I was wearing. “Not anymore he doesn’t.” I smirked at Nash as Isaac helped me with my coat like a perfect gentleman. “He works for me.”
Nash grabbed me by the elbow pulling me away from Isaac. “What the hell are you talking about? What happened with Salvador tonight?”
Isaac took a step towards us giving Nash a menacing look. “You should unhand the lady.”
If Nash had been in his wolf form, I’m sure his hackles would have been raised. As it was, he turned and growled at Isaac, pushing me behind him. “You keep out of this.”
That was it. I’d had about enough of the alpha male crap. I pushed past Nash and Isaac and headed towards the stairs. “You can both stick a sock in it. I’m going to bed.” I stopped and turned to Isaac. “We don’t have a light tight room right now, but if you need it, you can use the storage room down the hall.” I turned to Nash. “And as for you, you can take your alpha –“
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be a good idea,” Isaac interrupted. “You really must feed.”
“I wish you would quit saying that.” I wrinkled my nose in distaste.
“Not saying it doesn’t make it any less true and as I cannot assist you and as there is no one else here that can, we must rely on the Detective for assistance.”
I frowned. I knew he was right no matter how much I didn’t want it to be true. I was barely able to stand. I had expended too much energy tonight. I had never felt my aura so drained. If I didn’t recharge I would probably pass out and slip into a coma. I needed to skim the energy I needed to replenish from the only one here besides me with a pulse. Being a werewolf, Nash would be able to give me more energy quicker without it really affecting his own aura.
I looked at Nash. “And I suppose this is all right with you?” In response Nash stepped up to me and scooped me up over his shoulder. “Hey!” I exclaimed in surprise.
“For once, maybe you should just shut up,” Nash growled as he carried me up the stairs.
***
You know the feeling you get when you wake up all nice and refreshed and then the memory of the night before and all the stupid things you did slaps the grin right off your face? So do I.
I woke up snuggled and warm in my bed. I felt fantastic. I was still half asleep when I rolled over, my hand landing on a solid, warm body. Momentarily surprised, I slid my fingers through the downy hair, feeling the hard planes of a well-developed torso. My hand slid further down only to suddenly be caught in a vice-like grip around my wrist. I squeaked in surprise.
“Don’t start anything you’re not prepared to finish,” the voice was rough with sleep. The hand released mine.
With a squeal, I leapt up and scrambled off the end of the bed and stared in shock at Nash, looking all warm and sleepy and completely comfortable in my
bed. He grinned at me and then he raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down. With another squeal, I realized I wasn’t wearing a shirt and I quickly attempted to cover my bare breasts with my arm. I scrambled back to the bed and grabbed a t-shirt, holding it in front of my chest.
“What the hell are you doing in my bed?” What was he doing there? We didn’t…We hadn’t…I frowned trying to remember everything that happened the night before.
Nash sat up, chuckling. “You mean you don’t remember last night? Ouch.” He feigned a wounded look then winked at me. He swung his legs out over the edge of the bed and started to push the covers off.
“Whoa! Wait just a minute.” I turned away, my cheeks red. I’m not a prude, I just thought that one of us having seen the other naked already was enough. Damn werewolves and their lack of issues with nudity.
Nash laughed and stood up, pulling a pair of jeans up off the floor. He stepped into them and I snuck a peek – tell me you wouldn’t have done the same – and discovered he had been wearing boxers in bed.
He walked towards me while buttoning his fly, a gleam in his eye. He backed me up against the wall and leaned in close, his mouth next to my ear. I took a long, slow breath, trying to still my racing heart. He smelled wonderful, like clean sheets and fresh grass and something a little bit earthy.
“Believe me, little minx, if we had done more than sleep in that bed last night, you’d remember.” He threw me a smug grin and grabbed the shirt I had clutched against my chest and walked out the door.
“Hey!” I scrambled to find some clothes to pull on, settling on a cotton robe from the back of the door, and hurried down the hall after him. The events from last night were starting to come back to me, along with a sneaking suspicion about the night before last. Wanting to cut him off, I opted for the fire pole, beating him to the living room by a second or two. I was rewarded for my efforts by the look of surprise on his face.