“You mean in the shitter?” Vanessa said.
“Pretty much, from the sound of it,” Taka said, and shook her head. “In all my years, I’ve never known things to be this bad. Maybe that’s why we suck at this now. We’ve never been through it before.”
“Experience has nothing to do with our spells not working,” Arabella said. “The fact that they’re not working is my greatest concern.”
In that moment, a knock sounded from their front door. The three women froze, staring at one another.
“We’re getting way too jumpy,” Arabella said. “I’m sure it’s the Triad.”
“Check the peephole before you open the door,” Taka whispered.
Another knock sounded on the door, and Arabella rose from the table and headed out of the kitchen, through the living room and into the foyer. She put her hand to the doorknob, felt a shiver run up her spin and decided to do as Taka suggested. She looked through the security peephole in the door.
Outside, standing near the door on their front porch, were two police officers. Both stood with hands on hips, heads slightly lowered, faces grim.
Hearing shuffling sounds behind her, Arabella turned about quickly and saw Taka and Vanessa standing at the end of the foyer.
“Who is it?” Vanessa mouthed.
Arabella held a finger to her lips.
“I knew it,” Taka said, a little too loudly. “It’s the cops, right?”
Arabella scowled at her and pressed her finger to her lips harder. Maybe if they didn’t make any noise, the officers would go away. Hopefully they’d think no one was home.
Then a thought struck Arabella, sending another shiver up her spine. She could only pray that the Triad didn’t decide to show up at this moment with the police standing right outside their door.
Chapter 8
After meeting up with Evee, Gilly and Viv had chosen to go and check on their Originals to make certain the scabior canopies were still in working order. They’d agreed to reconvene at the house in a couple of hours, and then, just before feeding time, go and see the Elders who’d summoned them. It was Gilly’s idea to extend the meeting time with the Elders by those few hours. The later it got, the more tired the Elders would be. The more tired they were, the better the chances were that the triplets wouldn’t get their butts chewed out for one thing or another.
Although Evee wanted to check on her Nosferatu, she knew she had to get Lucien’s watch, with all its buttons and gizmos, back to him as soon as possible. She had no idea if he remembered that he’d taken it off and left it on her washer. She had an inkling the fancy watch that also looked like a compass and some type of homing and navigational device, all rolled into one, had to be important to him. His cousins also wore the same device. If nothing else, bringing Lucien his watch was as good an excuse as any to see him now instead of later.
Evee left the house and took the trolley from the Garden District to the Canal Street intersection. She thought she remembered Lucien saying that they were staying at the Hotel Monteleone, and crossed her fingers that she was right.
When the trolley came to a stop on Canal, she hopped off and made her way down Royal Street. The Monteleone was barely a half block down Royal.
The hotel had been built back in the late 1800s, and time did nothing but add to the majesty of the structure, a favorite haunt of distinguished Southern authors. Its infamous Carousel Bar was a popular hangout in the city. Although Evee had been in the hotel more than once, she still took a moment to stare at its grandeur when she stepped inside. People milled about the lobby, and she heard laughter, music and the clinking of glasses in the Carousel Bar that sat just inside the lobby on the right.
After a moment, it suddenly dawned on her that Gavril, Nikoli and Ronan might be in the same hotel room as Lucien. If so, how was she going to explain why she had possession of Lucien’s watch?
Feeling a few jitters settling in, she made her way to the registration desk and waited behind a pudgy, elderly gentleman as he spoke to the redheaded woman behind the desk.
When the woman finally handed the man his room key, Evee stepped up to the desk.
“Welcome to the Hotel Monteleone,” the receptionist said. “How may I help you?”
“I’d like to speak to Lucien Hyland. I believe he’s staying here,” Evee said.
“Do you know his room number?”
Evee bit her bottom lip. “No, sorry. Maybe you could just ring his room and let him know I’m here? My name’s Evee François.”
The woman eyed Evee for a moment, then tapped some keys on her computer. “Hmm, are you sure he’s staying at this hotel? I don’t show a Lucien Hyland listed here.”
“He’s staying here with his cousins, so the room may be under one of their names. Either Nikoli, Gavril or Ronan Hyland.”
The woman nodded, pressed more keys on her computer. Evee saw her right eyebrow arch ever so slightly before she picked up a phone and discreetly tapped in four numbers. She turned her back to Evee, and whispered into the phone. Her voice wasn’t low enough for Evee not to hear her.
“Mr. Hyland? Yes...of course. There’s a young lady here who’d like to speak to Mr. Lucien Hyland.” A short pause; then the woman said, “Evee François.” Another pause, this one shorter. “Yes, sir, I certainly will.”
She turned back to Evee, hung up the phone and gave her a big smile. “Mr. Hyland asks that you please go right on up to his room. Number 1215.”
Feeling awkward, Evee leaned closer to the registration table. “Would you happen to know which Hyland answered the phone?”
Not breaking her smile, the woman said, “No, I’m sorry.” She glanced over Evee’s shoulder. “May I help the next guest, please?”
Feeling dismissed, Evee turned to get a lay of the land and spot the elevators.
“Ms. François?” the receptionist called to her while tapping away on her computer. She stopped tapping long enough to point two, well-manicured fingers at a bank of elevators that stood beside the bar. “Those elevators will take you to the twelfth floor. Take a right out of the elevator and the room will be four doors down on the left.”
“Thank you,” Evee said, then hurried for the designated elevator bank. For some reason she felt skittish, wanting to bolt out of the hotel. What if Lucien’s cousins were in that room? How was she to explain why she had Lucien’s watch?
The elevator doors whisked open, and after taking a deep breath, Evee stepped inside and pressed the button for the twelfth floor. As the cubicle bumped its way higher and higher, Evee had to admit that her jitters had more to do with Lucien than his cousins. What if she went to the room and found him alone in there? That gave her more to worry about. His magnetism went through her like nothing Evee had ever felt before. In the short, intimate time they’d been together, it was as if Lucien knew how to read her mind, body and soul. Such a dangerous, erotic triathlon.
As the elevator came to a halt, dinging an announcement that it had reached the twelfth floor, Evee reprimanded herself. She wasn’t a child. She was in control of her actions. All she had to do was return the watch, then confirm when and where she, Lucien and Ronan would meet for feeding time or hunt for Nosferatu. Simple.
She stepped out of the elevator and felt sweat beading on her forehead. If this was supposed to be as simple as she’d just tried to convince herself it was, why had she broken into a cold sweat?
It was then she realized she was standing in front of Ronan Hyland.
Evee hurried to hold the elevator door open for him.
“Thanks, but no need,” Ronan said, swiping a hand through his hair. He gave her a gentle smile. “I forgot something in the hotel room, so I have to go back there anyway. What brings you out this way?”
Evee hesitated for a beat, then decided the truth was never hard to cover. “Lucien fo
rgot his watch at our house. I noticed the four of you always have them on, so I figured it must be important. Decided to bring it to him right away.”
A dark shadow flitted across Ronan’s face. It was quickly replaced by a warm expression, which suited the rest of him. His black hair, collar-length, was combed away from his angular face, save for a few strands that lay against his forehead. His seemingly constant five-o’clock shadow only highlighted the deep black of his eyes. He had a perfect nose that sat above full lips. No question Ronan was a handsome man. Any woman would be crazy not to want him, chase him relentlessly.
“No problem,” Ronan said. “Come on. I’ll take you to the room.”
Chewing on her bottom lip, Evee followed Ronan, taking a right and heading down a maroon-and-gold swirled carpeted hallway until they reached room 1215.
She squared her shoulders and had lifted a hand to knock when Ronan produced a key card for the door. Without a word, he slipped the card into the door slot and pushed the door open.
Standing in the studio area of the suite was Lucien, all six feet three inches of him, wearing jeans and an olive green, button-down shirt. The color complemented his beautiful green eyes and his Mediterranean, caramel-colored skin. If his eyes had been a pool of water, Evee would gladly have dived into them, despite her fear of water, and not cared if she ever resurfaced.
For a moment, Evee wished she had taken a little more time putting on a bit of makeup. She had just slipped into a pair of jeans, sneakers and a blue pullover. She suddenly felt self-conscious of her hair, which she’d pulled back into a half-hearted ponytail.
Evee heard the click of the suite door softly closing.
Lucien smiled when he saw her, and she stood transfixed, studying his full lips and straight white teeth. She would have given anything to have his mouth on her again.
“You okay?” Lucien asked, his smile fading. “Anything new come up?” He threw Ronan a questioning look.
“Uh...yes... I mean no.” Evee held out his watch. “I thought you might need this before we hooked up again.”
Lucien stared at her for a long moment before reaching for his watch and attaching it to his left wrist. “Thank you for bringing it. That was very thoughtful of you. My cousins gave me hell about not having it earlier.”
At the mention of his cousins, Evee threw a slight glance around the sitting area of the suite, trying to see if anyone else was inside.
“Are Gavril and Nikoli here?” Evee asked.
A soft smile played around Lucien’s lips. “No. Gavril went to meet Gilly to check on the scabior dome over the cemetery, where she’s keeping the Chenilles, and Nikoli went for Viv. They’re going to the North Compound to make sure things are set up for the feeding. I was about to go and check the catacombs.”
“Is that where you were headed when we met by the elevator?” Evee asked Ronan.
He shook his head. “Had other business to tend to first.”
Evee saw a look pass between Ronan and Lucien that she couldn’t read.
Ronan cleared his throat. “Please excuse our rudeness. Make yourself comfortable.”
Although Evee’s mind said, Time to leave, woman. NOW! she ignored it. “Please don’t let me stop you from whatever business you have to take care of,” she said to Ronan.
“It can wait a bit longer,” Ronan said, smiling softly.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Lucien grabbed a MagLite flashlight from the desk near the room’s east windows, then quickly attached his sheath and scabior to the belt of his pants. His expression had turned hard, almost purposely so. Even worse, he avoided eye contact with Evee.
“I’ll check the catacombs, cuz,” Lucien said to Ronan. “Why don’t you take some time to explain to Evee exactly how our watches work? I think it’ll help her understand my deep appreciation for returning it to me so quickly. I’ll meet the two of you at the docks later for the feeding.”
With that said, and with no more preamble than a stiff nod at Evee, Lucien left the room so quickly you’d have thought a bomb had been set to go off in the hotel at any moment.
Once the door closed, and not so softly this time, Evee gave Ronan a questioning look. “What was that all about? Did I do or say anything to anger him?”
“Of course not,” Ronan assured her. “Worry does that to him occasionally.”
Evee felt Ronan’s statement to be true, but it was the reason for his worry that concerned her.
Ronan motioned her to a couch in the living area of the suite. “Would you like a soda? Water? Something a bit harder perhaps?”
Evee gave him a shy smile. “No, thanks.” She sat on the couch, not knowing what to do with her hands, feet or legs for that matter. She finally crossed her legs and held her hands in her lap. “I didn’t mean to come here and interrupt whatever you’re working on. Just wanted to return Lucien’s watch, see if we were going to meet up later for the feeding.”
“What would make you wonder that?” Ronan asked. “Of course we’ll be there for the feeding.”
Evee nodded and felt like a mentally challenged bobblehead. There was no way in hell she’d ever tell Ronan about the sexual experience she’d had with Lucien on the dryer. The question had actually been meant for Lucien, who’d already vanished. He’d left her house so quickly she wasn’t sure if he even wanted to be around her anymore.
Ronan sat beside her and placed one of his large hands over both of hers. “I know there’s a lot going on right now, Evee, but I swear we’ll get to the bottom of it and bring your world back to order.”
Evee blinked. Her thoughts and Ronan’s words seemed to cross paths, which left her befuddled. She felt her cheeks go from warm to hot. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
She glanced down and just then noticed that Ronan’s hand covered both of hers. His touch was gentle, his large hands reassuring. He smelled of Coast soap with a hint of musk.
Holding her breath, Evee purposely turned away and surveyed the living room. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the attack on the human and the Nosferatu, right?” she asked, then immediately felt stupid. Of course he knew. He’d been there along with Lucien.
“Yes.” Ronan sat back on the couch. “I was there. So was Lucien. We were able to slow the Nosferatu down, but not before he’d made his kill. He had to be taken down by your lead guy. What’s his name? Pierre?”
Evee nodded.
“That’s what sent my cousins here. They’d already heard about the incident and wanted to tell Lucien and me about it. They were able to reach me.” He tapped the face of the watch on his left wrist. “This has a geo node in it that allows us to summon one another if an emergency comes up. Since Lucien wasn’t wearing his, he never got the signal.”
Evee chanced a glance his way. “I’m sorry about the watch. If I hadn’t been so stupid and jumped into the river, Lucien wouldn’t have gotten wet and—”
Unexpectedly, Ronan placed a hand to her cheek and gently turned it so she faced him. “Nothing was your fault, Evee. I don’t know why Lucien took his watch off in the first place, and knowing now is pretty irrelevant. It was his responsibility. Not yours. Please hear me when I tell you, nothing was your fault. Do you hear me?”
She nodded ever so slowly.
“Why are you shaking?” he asked, his voice soft. “I can feel you trembling. Tell me. What’s wrong? Besides the obvious, of course.”
She looked up at him. “I—I guess I’m afraid that so much has gotten out of control that we won’t be able to fix it. Nothing will ever be normal again, will it?”
In response, Ronan pulled her close to him. Evee stiffened slightly, then made a half-hearted effort to allow his lead.
Ronan kissed the top of her head, as a brother would a sister. “Evee, I know we’re facing hell and damnation with all that’s going on, and I don’t want to a
dd more to your plate.”
Evee glanced up at him, steeling herself for more bad news. “What is it?”
“When...when this is over,” Ronan said, “would you like to have dinner with me?”
Evee’s eyes widened. “You mean like a dinner date?”
Ronan nodded, and he released her body as if bracing himself for the worst. A rejection.
His eyes were so expectant that Evee nearly felt sorry for him. Without question she would have given up half her powers to have Lucien sitting here, asking her the same question. She didn’t know how the extreme attraction she felt toward Lucien started or why it was there, for all four Benders were drop-dead hunks.
Thinking about it now, Evee started to feel like a fool. Lucien hadn’t asked her to dinner. There had been some odd sexual explosion that he seemed to know she physically needed and gave it to her. Ronan, on the other hand, was handling her like she was a lady. Maybe a bit too prim and proper for her taste, but at least she knew where she stood with him.
As for Lucien, she had no clue. Especially when she’d arrived at the hotel. He couldn’t have left fast enough.
Evee smiled at Ronan. “I’d love to have dinner with you when this is over, and we can all breathe again.”
A look of surprise flashed in Ronan’s eyes, and then the smile he gave her lit up his entire face.
Ronan jumped to his feet. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Evee rose from the couch, as well. “As will I.” She smiled at Ronan, but her heart didn’t feel what her face expressed. Despite all the logic in the world, Lucien was the one man who filled her thoughts constantly. It was almost like they were two halves of one piece, only Lucien hadn’t figured it out yet. And she couldn’t have explained it if her life depended on it.
Regardless, without provocation or impetus, as far as Evee knew, she rowed alone in her make-believe Lucien-and-Evee boat.
She would look forward to dinner with Ronan, and to prove it, she gave him a small kiss on his cheek.
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