“You worked Sunday? Wow. Things really are evolving for you.” She smiled, but it wasn’t warm, didn’t reach her eyes. “So you have questions. And what do you have to make offering, dear?” She was, as usual, straight to the point.
I handed her the wad of cash I’d made in tips tonight and one vial of blood. I’d enjoyed some on my way over so I knew she was getting top-quality blood.
She thumbed through the cash and stuck the vial down her cleavage. Then she smiled genuinely. It was amazing what a witch could do with human blood.
“Come. Sit.” She gathered her green sari, scooted further under the table, and waved to the chair across from her. Several gold bracelets clanked as she moved. “You’ve not come in awhile, child. It’s good to see you. You have questions about love and trust. Yes?”
Love? Well, that was a new one on me. Trust, yes, but love? Hell, no.
I sat down. “Some weird things have happened over the last few days that have me feeling vulnerable.” I proceeded to explain it all from the holy water assault to Monroe the neo-Nazi agent, to Ming the Korean spy, to Franco the lying ass club owner.
She listened intently until I was done then stuck out her open palm. I reached in my duffle bag and got the opal stone she’d given me when I first started seeing her and placed it in her hand. She closed her fist around it then closed her eyes. We sat unmoving for eons before she opened her eyes and began speaking.
“Your boss is honorable. He speaks truth and will do everything he can to keep you safe.” Tension between my shoulder blades relaxed. I hadn’t even realized it was there. A demon actually speaking truth—surprise, surprise. She continued, “You will see your attacker again. He will not stop until he captures you because his motivation goes beyond the bounty on your head.” That sounded like a foretelling. Great. “VET will be hot on your tail so you must play it smart, avoid appearances of your true nature. The blind one has a hundred percent success rate. He will not accept failure in his duties because it validates him.” Then she gave back the stone.
Good thing she wasn’t graded on bearing good news.
“Wait—what about the new girl?” I said.
“There is some kind of impenetrable protective force shield around her. I cannot see anything beyond her exterior.”
Huh. Interesting. Well, if Franco was on the up-and-up, Ming must have been also. She was probably some kind of supernatural, and though I hated that she snooped, I guess I could understand. After all, she was new, didn’t know anyone. Couldn’t blame her for wanting to know more about her colleagues. If asked, I’d just say the vials in my bag contained fake blood for my shows.
“Love will make you feel vulnerable too,” Saybree said as she crisscrossed her fingers and rested them on the tabletop.
“I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
She laughed. “You know he really does love you.”
“Who?”
“Both of them.”
I shook my head. “You mean…”
“I know you don’t believe Maximilian is capable of such emotion, but he has great capacity to love. He needs it with so many brides,” she coughed to hide her laugh. “Now, the other one—the human only has eyes for you, but his eyes are shadows because he wears many faces. You look not upon his real one.”
What? I wish she’d stop being so coded and spoke English. Then again, it didn’t matter. I hadn’t come to get answers about love.
“So if my attacker will return and VET will come after my ass again, what can I do to protect myself? Captivation only goes so far. The hunter will have top-notch weapons and I’d have to hypnotize all of VET to get around Monroe.”
“Flee.”
“Can’t. Monroe said he’d have everyone at Hades charged for helping me escape.”
“It’s too bad you haven’t been a vampire long enough to acquire other powers. Why not ask Maximilian to come assist you? His powers are more…persuasive.”
“Too risky for the whole clan.”
“But he’s strong enough to get you out and clean up behind himself.”
“There has to be another way. I don’t want him involved.” I didn’t want him risking the clan but even if he did so successfully, I didn’t want to owe him anymore than I already did. I was still hoping and praying there was a way to break our bond.
“There’s no honor in taking the path of most resistance,” she said as she got up and began making tea. “Your maistre would kill them all to protect you if you would but ask.”
She knew how I felt about Max and about murder. “Why are you insisting on his involvement? You know how bad I want to be rid of him for good.”
“That is not possible. Your bond is eternal.” Yeah, yeah, yeah. “He is good to you. Others would never have allowed you to leave the clan, not even for a short while.” She shook her head like she was fed up with me. “Turn to your human. Strengthen your bond with him. It will be of assistance to you. He will be a great day companion.”
I looked at her in shock, “You’re kidding, right? He’s human.”
“With your narcolepsy and sun allergy, you’re going to have to trust someone to help you…and he’s crazy about you.”
He’s crazy all right.
I stood. This wasn’t helping me at all. Trust this person, trust that one. There had to be more to it than that.
We talked more about the evils that were coming for me and how I needed to watch my back and all that whoopty-do. I just felt hollow. Earlier it had seemed I was plummeting into immorality just because I had to work on Sunday, now I wished that was my only problem. Immorality would be better than final death.
And with everyone after me, I’d be lucky if I made it to Monday night.
Chapter 12
After moving my shit to a different motel, I climbed in bed and counted sheep.
Tossing and turning all day while I was supposed to be sleeping promised terrible repercussions. Yet instead of resting, I mulled over Saybree’s warnings and suggestions, formulated and re-formulated plans, and still came up with zilch to ease my forebodings.
But at least I’d made it to Monday night.
I got up, drank several vials of blood, and dressed for my weekly sleep disorder support group meeting. Even though I couldn’t openly discuss my inner turmoil with the group, Dr. Floyd would have encouraging words and I’d feel uplifted…until the next unsettling event.
Turn to your human she’d said.
Lord knows I trusted Saybree, but she had to be talking out the side of her neck this time.
Strengthen your bond with him. She’d meant give him my blood…and she really was tripping.
He will be a great day companion—evidence that Saybree quite possibly had lost her mind. Why did I need a day-walker? I’d gotten along just fine as a lone creature of the night, thank you very much. How would a man who loved death be a great companion for me? Unless I needed a good screw while a stake was driven through my chest, Remi was useless.
And the thing that really got my goat was that she’d spoken in future tense. Saybree was never wrong.
Fuck.
Enemies were a’ coming, and if I loved being undead as much as I thought I did, I’d better take her advice.
When I arrived downtown at the meeting location, I was about thirty minutes early. I’d needed the walk to clear my mind. Couldn’t say it helped though considering rain poured cats and dogs the whole way. Once inside, I headed straight for the ladies room, leaving a water trail as I went. Good thing I wasn’t dressed to impress anyone tonight.
Too bad being a vampire hadn’t wielded me power to control the elements or change forms like Max. Not yet anyway. I had no idea which powers I’d get once I’d been around for hundreds of years. Telepathy or telekinesis would be nice too. Just saying.
Despite ringing out my sweat suit and holding it under the XLerator hand dryer, I looked like a sopping mess as I exited the bathroom with only a few moments to spare before the meeting began. Everyone wo
uld be wet since there was no covered parking, so it didn’t…
I stopped in my tracks, sensing he was very close. But how could that be?
Walking slowly into the large room with the circle of chairs, I scanned the faces, looking for him. How had he followed me here?
And there he was by the refreshment table looking yummy, but different. His hair was slicked back hanging loosely on his collar instead of shadowing his eyes. He wore khaki pants instead of jeans and a starched white long-sleeved dress shirt that covered the scars on his wrists instead of his typical black t-shirt with wristbands.
My feet moved toward Remi while I was still deciding whether to be angry with him for stalking me again. His obsession was creepy and charming simultaneously…more creepy.
I nodded hello as people spoke to me along the way, but I didn’t notice their faces. Remi was eating a Shipley’s donut slowly, savoring it. Licking the cream from his fingers one at a time. How odd. The Remi I knew would have consumed that sucker in two bites. He turned towards me just as I came up behind him then quickly averted his eyes.
Where the hell was his usually creepy stare?
“Why are you still following me? I thought we talked about this,” I said.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at me without speaking then headed towards the circle. Everyone was settling in their seats and apparently he was intending to also.
I grabbed his arm and jerked him around to face me. He looked startled.
“You’ve gone too damn far this time. When I told you about my support group it wasn’t for the purpose of you infiltrating it,” I said.
“I’m sorry but I don’t know you,” he said with Remi’s voice, Remi’s lips, his gorgeous eyes…which he quickly shifted away.
“What do you mean you don’t know me? Don’t play games.” Now I was getting pissed. Following me was one thing. Acting like I was stupid was another. I didn’t play that shit.
“Will you please let my arm go?”
I squeezed harder. “Not until you tell me why you’re here.”
Something was seriously off with him, more so than usual. I didn’t recognize his cologne, didn’t smell smoke on his breath.
He looked down to where my nails were biting into his arm and then over to the circle where Dr. Floyd was taking his seat, getting ready to start.
“I’m here for the same thing you are…to get help for a sleep disorder…to bond with other people facing the same challenges.” He jerked on his arm. “Please let me go. I really don’t know you.”
He honestly acted like he had no idea who I was. Come to think of it, his voice was a little off, too soft.
Recalling what Saybree had said about him having different faces, I dropped his arm. Was he a shape-shifter who would lose it and change in front of everyone if I pushed him too hard? I didn’t want to make a scene here, but I had to get to the bottom of his strange behavior. After all, I did care a teensy-weensy bit for him.
He started to walk away.
“Wait,” I said. “I’m Willow.”
His eyes snapped up and recognition filled them like water in a pool. “Willow?”
“Yes. And you’re Remi, right?”
“So you’re Willow.” He smiled a little but shifted his eyes to the floor.
“Remi, what’s going on with you? Why are you behaving this way?”
He mumbled, “I didn’t know you’d be so cute.”
What? “Remi, we’ve known each other awhile. You don’t remember me?”
Dr. Floyd waved for us to join the group.
“We should be making our way over,” he said, pointing his thumb in the direction of the circle.
“This is crazy even for you.” I shook my head, no longer angry, just weary of his act.
He sighed. “I’m sorry, Willow. I’m not who you think I am, but I am glad I got a chance to meet you.”
I looked to his face for some sign of jesting. There was none. “Who the hell are you then?”
He finally met my eyes. “I’m Aaron.”
Chapter 13
Aaron? Aaron? I screamed the name over and over in my head as I watched him walk away.
Was this fucking April Fool’s Day? Did Remi have a twin, a doppelganger, amnesia?
Hold the phone…
Remi had said his dad gave Aaron the trust fund. In the context of our conversation he was talking about himself, wasn’t he? Well, why was he acting like he didn’t know me now and that he wasn’t himself? Aaron was his nickname, right?
I was dumfounded again, which was happening waaaaay too much lately.
Sitting in my usual seat facing the entrance/exit, I watched Remi as he sat in the chair on the far side of the circle. I took a deep breath, which had nothing to do with survival and everything to do with smelling him. Underneath the fruity-smelling cologne and demure attitude, Aaron was definitely Remi.
Blood didn’t lie.
“We have a new participant tonight. Folks, join me in welcoming Aaron Berlinski,” Dr. Floyd was speaking in his sophisticated British accent as he pointed at Remi. When he clapped, we all did. Then he pushed up his glasses and spoke directly to Aaron, “Would you like to introduce yourself? Tell us how your sleep disorder has impacted your life.”
We all looked expectantly towards…Aaron.
He was slouched in his chair, gazing at the floor. “Hi,” he said quietly. “Like Doc said, I’m Aaron.” He paused like he was waiting for us to say Hi, Aaron. Wrong support group, dude. “Uh...I’ve been struggling with insomnia for as long as I can remember, actually ever since a childhood trauma.” He cleared his throat and sat up. “I won’t bore you with specifics, but I developed a multiple personality disorder, and well, I can go days without sleeping. And when I do finally sleep, I blank out.” I leaned forward in my seat. Oh. My. Gosh. “When I come to, I’m missing a few days of time. I know I’ve slept because I feel rejuvenated, refreshed. But there is also evidence that I’ve been out and about. I just have no recollection of what I’ve done during my blackouts.” He glanced at Dr. Floyd then back to the floor. “After years of getting help from shrinks, I’ve managed to get my personalities on a schedule. And now that we function better together, I want to tackle my sleep problem. Just once I’d like to have a real dream.”
I wasn’t the only one speechless this time. The unblinking wide eyes of all eight group members and Dr. Floyd were on Aaron…like he had the Ebola virus.
“Do your other personalities only come out when you sleep?” Matt, the youngest group member asked.
“No, I also shift with certain triggers like stress…fear…excitement…” Aaron said, “hypnosis too.”
“Do your other personalities have insomnia?” Matt said.
“No.”
Speaking before I realized, I said, “How do you know they don’t?” And if he wasn’t Remi, how had he recognized my name? “How do you know anything about the other personalities?” I asked.
“We keep a detailed journal. It’s the one thing that helps us function well together.”
I must have been in the journal. Remi had written about me? Nothing too incriminating I hoped. Aaron seemed more lucid than Remi, which meant Aaron might put pieces together. And he might be unhappy with the overall puzzle.
“How do we know you’re the real Aaron? You could be a fake personality,” the fattest group member asked. Though she lacked tact and was probably ignorant about how multiple personalities worked, she raised a good point. Was Remi the real person or Aaron? Wait—Aaron was the one with the trust fund so...
“I’m the host, the one on the birth certificate and with the driver’s license,” Aaron said, holding his license up so everyone could inspect.
“How do we know—”
Someone else was firing off a question when Dr. Floyd interrupted, “Okay. I know we’re all gobsmacked here, but let’s remember to focus on Aaron’s sleep disorder not his multiple personalities. That’s what this group is about, right?” He looked
around at us and smiled. Then he landed on Aaron. “Thank you for sharing. And again, welcome to the group.” He pulled out a notepad. “Now…”
I was lost in my thoughts the remainder of the session.
Remi was actually Aaron. They had a schedule and a journal. In all the time I’d known Remi I had no idea he only came to the club once a week because he was sharing his body the rest of the week.
Geez.
Saybree could have just come out and said that. What was with all the “many faces” bull? What’s so hard about saying “split personalities”? She was probably looking in her crystal ball watching me, laughing…
Suddenly, I was being dunked under freezing cold water. My parents were standing above me speaking in tongues, screaming for the devil to come out…
I awakened terrified. Even more terrified than when the frigid baptism had first happened because it was happening again, and I’d vowed never to be at their mercy again. They were unmerciful, busy doing “the Lord’s” work.
“It’s okay. Willow, you’re safe. You’re with us.” I looked around from the floor until I focused on Dr. Floyd’s face above me. “You just fell asleep during our meeting. We’re all right here,” his calming voice soothed me better than a case of Jack Daniel’s to an alcoholic. He was fanning his notepad over my face as I lay on the floor allowing his words to wash over me…to rid me of terrible memories. Ones that had crept into my sleep, no matter how briefly, and left me desolate and scared even though it was all in the past.
I eventually allowed him to help me up, because that’s what was expected of a human woman who’d just hit the floor. As I sat back in my seat, he ended the meeting with an encouraging poem and a warm smile. When everyone started leaving, I stayed seated. Thankfully, no one came over with all the “how are you’s?” It wasn’t the first time I’d fallen asleep during a meeting.
But it was the first time my dream had been a freaking nightmare.
It wouldn’t take long for Dr. Floyd to shake hands and chat it up with a few members so I patiently waited my turn.
1 Dicey Grenor Page 8