by Ashlyn Chase
***
Making sure no one saw him, Kurt waited for Ruxandra a few doors down from her lair. Now that things were going so well between them, he didn’t want to jeopardize what they had. A little niggling doubt needed to be taken care of, but he knew how to do it—if she’d cooperate. If not, that would tell him what he wanted to know too.
She emerged looking fabulous as always. She relinquished her trademark red clothing in favor of night-blending black. Smart girl. Er…woman. What do you call someone who turned vampire over two hundred years ago at age nineteen?
She smiled when she saw him and they ran to each other, embracing when they met. All they needed was a meadow of wildflowers and a slow-motion camera.
His lips captured hers in a long, romantic kiss. She used tongue, but that was no surprise. She’s French, after all.
“Are you ready for the raid?” he asked.
“You bet. I haven’t participated in a good raid since the Civil War.”
Kurt couldn’t help the little shock wave of surprise that rippled through him. “I keep forgetting you were around during that time. Which side did you fight for?”
“No side. I just had fun running into a good skirmish, knowing I was immortal.”
“But you’re a female. Didn’t the soldiers stop you?”
“Not when I was beating the crap out of the enemy.” She chuckled.
Kurt suddenly realized she was teasing. “You’re funny. Who knew?”
“I did. I guess I haven’t had a chance to express it for a while. Anthony certainly didn’t appreciate my jokes.”
“Well, I do.” He kissed her again, and then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and began walking toward the subway.
She was smiling.
This is as good a time as any to ask her if she’ll let me do a truth spell. He was nervous about her reaction, but if she flipped out and refused to help him in the raid, he still had Sly and Morgaine to mesmerize the lab geeks.
“Honey, can I ask you something personal?”
“Of course. You may not get a pretty answer, but my history is my history and I can’t change it.”
He admired her attitude, even though he’d already decided not to judge her for things she’d done in the past. What mattered was what she was doing now and what she hoped to do in the future.
“I wasn’t going to ask about your history. I’m more interested in the here and now.”
“Oh. Well, that’s okay too. What do you want to know?”
“Are your feelings for me real? I don’t mean to insult you, but it seems that you’ve been stuck on Anthony for so long, and this sudden willingness to be with me might be a ploy to make him jealous.”
She stopped walking and her eyes shadowed for a second. Then she sighed. “I can see why you might think that. I’ve done it before, but not this time. I really like you, Kurt. And you seem to like me.”
“I do like you. More and more as I get to know you better.”
She smiled.
“You’re so pretty when you smile.”
She grinned and said, “Oh, pish posh.”
He chuckled. “No, really. When it comes from the inside, you can tell. You seem happy.”
“I am. No one has said anything nice to me in a long time.”
“Seriously?”
“Well, no one I didn’t compel to do it. Sometimes I was so desperate for a compliment that I’d make a thrall say something like that. But as you said, when it comes from the heart, you can tell.”
He took a deep breath. Okay, this is it. “You might be better at recognizing the truth when you hear it than I am. Here’s the thing. I really, really want to believe we’re both in this equally. Could you…I mean… Would you be willing to let me put a truth spell on you? On us?
She stiffened and her mouth opened as if to fire off an angry retort, but the words never came. After a few quiet moments, her posture and expression relaxed. “I guess I can understand where you’re coming from. I haven’t been exactly trustworthy in the past.”
“I won’t ask you to do anything I’m not willing to do myself.”
She smiled and cupped his cheek. “That’s why you’re still standing here. If you’d insinuated I was the only one capable of deceit, you’d be fifty feet down the sidewalk, spread eagle, wherever you landed.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
She chuckled. “I’m sorry. Threats are sort of a reflex, but I’ll work on it.”
“Good. And you’ll let me try the truth spell?”
“I’ll consider it.”
“If that’s the case, I think we might work as a couple.”
***
Anthony woke up with a start. Where am I? This isn’t my lair. He glanced over at the empty spot beside him.
It all came flooding back. He had been in Claudia’s bed. Actually, he had been in her several times. Had she worn him out? Or had the Vampire Vintage wine’s effects worn off and he went into his death sleep?
That thought upset him. Had Claudia witnessed it? Had she tried to rouse him, only to realize he was as close to dead as a person can get without decomposing?
He jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. Maybe she’s in the kitchen or living room. When he rounded the corner, he spotted the note on her door. Without even rushing over to it, he was able to read the comforting and alarming news. She’d gone to a meeting and would be back.
He mulled it over and realized the meeting would be good for her. She probably needed a sobriety pep talk, even if she couldn’t tell anyone what she’d been through. At least he hoped she wasn’t telling anyone. The more he thought about it, the more worried he became.
Mother Nature wouldn’t bring him back from that mountaintop again.
It was night time. That much he was sure of, even without looking outside. He didn’t need the Vampire Vintage unless he wanted to stay up during the day, so he didn’t need to get a bottle out of the desk drawer in his and Claudia’s office.
Suddenly another worry entered his mind. Had he explained to Claudia what was in those bottles? What if she’d found them? Was she out on a bender somewhere?
Oh, gods.
If only he knew where the meetings were. He could check and see if she was there. Wait. There must be a way to look them up. Otherwise, how would anyone find them?
He jogged down the stairs to the tea room. The place was closed. He used his key and went straight to his office. First he checked the bottom desk drawer. All bottles were there, and with the exception of the one he had opened himself, they were still full. Whew!
He fired up the computer and searched for local AA meetings. The site he tried first seemed like the right one. He called the service office, and to his surprise, someone answered. Apparently they had staff at night as well as during the day. Probably a good idea.
He was told there was a meeting going on nearby and jogged to the church where, in all likelihood, he’d find Claudia. A couple of guys were smoking cigarettes outside the ground-floor entrance.
“Is this where the AA meeting is?” he asked.
“It sure is. Welcome, brother.”
“Oh. I’m not here for myself. I was hoping to find my girlfriend inside. Do either of you know Claudia?”
The guys looked at each other, then back to him. “I guess you don’t realize what the second A in AA stands for.”
The other one said, “It’s an anonymous program. Who we see and what we hear stay in these halls.”
Anthony slapped his forehead. “Of course. Well, I’ll just go inside and check for myself.”
The guys frowned but didn’t attempt to stop him. One called after him, “If you want help with your drinking, stay after the meeting wraps up and we can talk.”
Did he look that disheveled? He finger-combed his hair as he entered. P
eople were just milling around, drinking coffee. He spotted Claudia among the crowd and strode to her.
“I was hoping I’d find you.”
“Anthony! What are you doing here?”
A short woman with red hair put her hand on Claudia’s arm. “If you need me, I’ll be right over there.” She pointed to another crowd of people and joined their circle.”
“Is this what you do here? Stand around and talk?”
She chuckled. “No. This is the break. The meeting will restart in a few minutes.”
“Are you okay? I mean…did you need to talk to me about anything?”
Her forehead creased. “I’m fine. Why did you think I’d need to—Oh…” She leaned in and whispered, “That death-sleep thing?”
“So you did witness it.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I woke up after a very restful nap,” she said and winked. “You were lying there with your hands crossed over your chest, looking paler than usual. I didn’t bother trying to wake you.”
She woke up next to a dead body and was okay with it?
“You prepared me for it.” It was as if she’d read his mind. Maybe she had. “I wasn’t scared as soon as I remembered what you’d said. I just got dressed in the bathroom and read my big book until it was time to leave for the meeting.”
“I—I’m amazed. I thought you’d be upset.”
“The old Claudia would have. The new Claudia is working on her serenity, despite life’s challenges.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. The program seems to be working.”
The short woman returned. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Gaye, this is my boyfriend, Anthony.”
Ah…I’m meeting the renowned sponsor.
“Yes, you are. So be nice.”
Anthony took Gaye’s outstretched hand and kissed her knuckles. “Any friend of Claudia’s…”
The woman’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t tell me he had such old-fashioned, charming manners, Claudia.”
At least the woman was smiling and didn’t seem to be using sarcasm.
“Yes. Anthony is a real gentleman.”
“A rare find these days,” Gaye said. “So, what do you do, Anthony?”
“I own the tea shop Claudia manages.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot. You changed it from a bar to a tea room just for her?”
Anthony wrapped his arm around Claudia and gave her a side squeeze. “She’s worth making changes for.”
“Funny. She says the same thing about you.”
A shock wave ripped through Anthony. Had Claudia told her sponsor how many “little changes” she’d had to make to accommodate his “condition”?
“Don’t worry. She’s just talking… She doesn’t know anything.”
Whew. Thank goodness for the ability to communicate telepathically.
“So, is there anything else you wanted to tell me?”
“No. I just thought I’d check in.” Anthony felt like he was being dismissed. Maybe he was.
Claudia pointed to a guy stepping up to the podium. “The meeting is about to start again.”
“Okay. I might be going to Cambridge. If it’s too late by the time I get back, I’ll just see you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said and tipped up her face to give him a peck.
He didn’t mean to act like a demonstrative jealous lover who laid claim to his woman in public, but he couldn’t help it. The majority of people here were men. Some appeared to be young professionals. He swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply as he dipped her toward the floor.
“Wow!” Gaye said.
When he righted Claudia, she giggled. “‘Wow’ is right.”
He grinned and tossed a casual, “See you later,” over his shoulder and sauntered outside.
Now that his mind was at ease, he could concentrate on the second most important thing in his long life. Getting rid of that damn lab. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and called Kurt.
There was no answer for a few rings, then a panting voice answered. “Where’ve you been? We had to start the fun without you.”
***
Anthony got directions to the lab and took off as fast as he could fly. He arrived minutes later and found Kurt questioning a researcher while Ruxandra restrained him. Nick and Sly were working on opening the huge glass cage using brute strength.
“Where are the keys,” Kurt demanded.
“I seriously don’t know, man. It’s not up to me to feed ’em or let ’em out. I’m just the night staff.”
“They’re not dogs,” Ruxandra growled. “They’re people. How dare you—”
Anthony held up one hand to silence her tirade. He leaned in close to the guy and caught his glance. A second later, the guy blinked.
“It’s no good, Anthony,” Kurt said. “He can’t be mesmerized. Ruxandra tried.”
Surprised, Anthony straightened. “Why? Is he her beloved too?”
“Huh?”
Kurt must not know.
“I think they discovered some kind of immunity to compulsion.”
“Crap.” Anthony scratched his head. “Either that, or he’s some kind of paranormal too.”
“But why would he condone researching his own kind?” Kurt asked.
Anthony got in the researcher’s face and raised his voice, hoping to intimidate him the old-fashioned way. “What else have you learned about us?”
“I don’t know anything,” he said. “I’m just like a…like a night watchman. I’m here in case something goes wrong.”
Anthony remembered Sadie mentioning an old-fashioned night watchman’s spirit. This guy didn’t match the description. He wore a white lab coat.
“You’re lying,” Anthony said. “Your coat has your name on it. They don’t issue lab coats to night watchmen.”
“It—it was a joke,” the man said. He shook in fear, and a trickle of sweat rendered a path from his temple to his cheek.
Anthony looked closer at the coat’s signature. “Dr. Odd. Okay, let’s say it’s a joke. It still sounds more like you’re a researcher than a night watchman.”
“I’m not responsible for any of this. I swear.”
“I had heard there was some kind of spirit watching over the building. What do you know about that?”
The guy’s eyes widened and he glanced up at the ceiling. “I never heard about a spirit. You mean this place is haunted?”
Kurt shook his head. “We can’t get anything out of him. We might have better luck with the paras. Can you help Nick and Sly?”
Anthony surveyed the room. The large glass cage appeared to be sound- and shatterproof. Both Nick and Sly were charging it with various heavy objects like chairs, fish tanks, and empty cages. The people inside seemed to be shouting and pounding on the glass, with no luck. One of those people was his friend Tory.
Several cages held the conventional lab animals anyone would expect. Mice, dogs, and rabbits mostly. Then he spotted a large fish tank. Some kind of Lucite cover kept a merman from escaping. It looked as if only a small padlock held the cover in place.
“Maybe I can talk to him,” Anthony said.
As he stalked over to the tank, the researcher yelled out, “Not him. He bites.”
Anthony took great pleasure in letting his fangs descend. “So do I,” he said.
The researcher trembled and scooted farther back in his chair, until Ruxandra showed her fangs too. He turned enough to get a look at her and screamed. He yanked harder, trying to get away, but Ruxandra just laughed.
“We agreed not to terrorize anyone, Ruxandra. We’re better than that.”
She put away her fangs and looked as if she were about to argue, but to Anthony’s surprise, she sighed and said, “You’re right. Sorry.”
Antho
ny returned his attention to the giant tank. The guy inside was madly pointing to something. A nearby desk. The vampire didn’t know what was important about the desk, but if the guy could talk, perhaps he’d find out.
Anthony ripped off the padlock and opened the top about an inch. The merman swam over to him. When his nose and mouth breached the surface, he inhaled deeply. After a few more deep breaths, he said, “Are you here to rescue us or take credit for the others’ findings?”
“Huh? As you can see, we’re trying to free the paranormal captives. What’s your name?”
“I’m Jules. Jules Vernon. Thank the gods you’re here. I tried to escape, and they locked me up so tight I could barely get any air.”
“Can you help us? Have you seen where they keep the keys?”
“I’ll tell you everything,” Jules said.
“I’d like to let you out of here, but I have to admit I don’t know anything about your kind. Dr. Odd over there said you bite.”
Jules laughed. “Only when stupid researchers try to pull off pieces of me and study them under a microscope.”
Anthony took a closer look and Jules pointed to his side. It looked like a few scales were missing where they met his skin, and a chink in his flipper said he’d been cut there as well. Anthony’s heart went out to the poor merman. He threw off the lid and watched the merman pull himself up to sit on the edge of the tank. As the water sluiced off his tail, the tail formed into legs. Now completely naked, the man pointed to a shelf a few feet away and said, “Towel, please?”
Anthony spotted the shelf of towels. The man’s waist was slender, so one towel would probably do the trick, but he grabbed two just in case. Jules transferred his legs to the outside of the tank and jumped down.
Anthony handed him a towel which the guy wrapped around his private parts. Then he reached for the other towel and dried off his hair and torso, legs and feet. Anthony grabbed a couple more towels so the guy wouldn’t have to stand around in damp ones.
“Thanks,” he said when he was dry, covered, and comfortable.