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Death of Night

Page 21

by Krissy Reynolds


  His voice ran over me like water when he said, "What are you thinking, Dahlia?"

  I think I'm falling for you.

  Instead, I shook my head, and said, "Nothing."

  * * *

  Chapter 15

  * * *

  I kept telling myself this feeling would pass. I was not in love. I liked Callum. I liked him a lot. But it wasn't love. Love was more complicated than I could deal with right now. I was attracted to him and we had a connection. That didn't mean I loved him. I liked him.

  But then he would smile at me. He would smile that smile that he saved especially for me. A curve of lips and one dimple.

  Oh, boy. Maybe I did love him.

  "Dahlia, I think you're ripping the upholstery," Callum said lightly from beside me.

  I looked down at my hands. They were gripping the car seat so hard that my fingers had disappeared into the material. I immediately loosened them, and placed them limply in my lap. "Sorry."

  He laughed. "Don't apologize." A wicked grin then spread across his face, and he added, "It's Liam's car."

  I smiled back. We were indeed driving in Liam's second car, heading back to my apartment. The Six Six Six bar was just outside of San Francisco, so it wasn't a long drive. I stared out of the window at the passing cars. It was about ten thirty, and there were several people out and about.

  "Tell me what happened," Callum said as he turned at an exit.

  I sucked in a breath and thought about where to start. "A woman came into my office today," I began. "She seemed like a normal client until she offered me twenty thousand dollars to stay away from Damien."

  "What?" Callum's voice cut through the air.

  "She said to stay away from Damien. She said she'd give me the money if I keep away from Damien at all costs. When I refused, she threatened to resort to a different method."

  "What was this woman's name?"

  "Lilynn Blaise."

  Callum cursed under his breath. "Blaise," he muttered. "Blaise. I should have known that she'd do something like this."

  "What do you mean?"

  His eyes slid away from the road, focusing on me. "Lilynn Blaise was Damien's human for many years before he dismissed her. Saying that she was heartbroken is an understatement. She's tried and failed many times to reestablish her relationship with him."

  My eyes were wide. "Damien's… human?"

  Callum turned his attention back to the road, and said, "Some vampires take a specific human to have by their side. They serve as a lover, a friend, and a dependable blood source."

  "Right," I said uneasily.

  "Why is she coming after you?" he mused, his brow furrowing in thought.

  "Ah, well, that's the next thing you need to know," I answered sheepishly. "Damien came to me in the bar and said I had to make a choice." I paused, waiting for a reaction from Callum.

  "Go on," he said calmly.

  "I have one day to decide if I want to go to him willingly, or wait until he comes to me. He said he'd hurt the people who mattered most to me if I made a fuss. I'm not too thrilled about either choice. I really don't want to walk straight into his little lair, but I don't want him to go after anyone else either."

  "He wants to turn you," Callum said almost too quietly for me to hear.

  "I got that impression. He said he wanted to make me one of you. And Lilynn said something about her deserving to stand at his side, not me."

  "You talked to Damien after you met Lilynn, correct?"

  "Yeah."

  "That means Lilynn will already be after you."

  I blew out a long breath. "Oh, great."

  Callum began laughing, the sound echoing through the car. At first, it startled me, but then it sank deep into my skin. It stayed there, warm and comforting. "Trouble follows you everywhere, doesn't it?" he stated after the laughter had fading into sporadic chuckles.

  I wasn't sure why he was so amused with a situation like this at hand. I twisted in my seat to look at him. With one hand on the wheel, he grinned at me. His green eyes sliced thought the darkness in the car, the laughter still twinkling in them. I gave him a strange look.

  "It's always an adventure with you, Dahlia." He shook his head, strands of dark hair falling in front of his face. "I love that."

  He turned onto my road, parallel parking in a spot across the street from the apartment building. Callum got out of the car with an unearthly grace, coming around to open my door for me quicker than I could process. I got out, much less gracefully than Callum.

  "I can wait outside, if you would like," Callum offered. "I'll keep a watch as long as I can."

  I started. "What? No, you're coming inside," I said. I frowned at him, and asked, "Would you really stand out here all night, just to protect me?"

  He didn't even think about it. "Of course."

  I took that one step that separated us, stood on my tiptoes, and laid a gentle kiss on his cheek. I sat back on my heels, and gave him a genuinely appreciative smile. He froze, looking surprised.

  I began to walk towards my apartment. I had walked halfway up the sidewalk before I realized Callum hadn't followed. I turned to look behind me, and saw him standing where he had been before. I jerked my head towards the apartment building. "You coming?"

  He visibly shook himself, and then walked to me, deliberately slow. I had a feeling that he didn't want to alarm me with his regular vampire speed. Once he caught up with me, I punched the security code in, and we made our way up the stairs. Stopping in front of my door, I noticed another neon pink Post-it note attached to it. This one said, in Will's scribbled writing, "Please?"

  I pressed my lips together. I could just see Will giving me puppy dog eyes. He would ask me ever so sweetly if we could just talk. A talk always led to something else, whether it be a fight or some sentimental moment. I didn't want either. I ripped the Post-it off my door and stuck it to Will's without a returning message.

  Callum watched me. When I looked at him, he held up both hands and said, "I won't even ask."

  I fished the key out of the pocket of my black jeans. As I lowered it to unlock the door, I detected small scratches on the keyhole. It was like someone had tried to pick the lock. I ran my fingers over the grooves, and then whipped around, beckoning Callum to come look. One glance at the keyhole, and he snatched the key out of my hand.

  "What are you doing?" I asked quietly.

  Callum looked at me pointedly. "I'll go in. You stay out here."

  He turned the key in the lock, but the door was already unlocked. He turned the handle, and the door clicked open. He pushed it open to reveal only the darkness of the apartment. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and goose bumps ran along my flesh. I felt power. It wasn't noticeable at first. But now it hit me in waves. It was a taste of power, only remnants, but it was there nonetheless.

  I found Callum's hand and gripped it hard. Just his presence was reassuring. He tilted his head to look at me curiously. I met his eyes. "Be careful," I whispered. "Somebody was here. Someone powerful."

  "You can tell?" he asked, mildly surprised.

  I nodded, tearing my eyes away from Callum and staring into the dark apartment. Fear and anticipation slid through me. Something could be lurking in there. With a jolt, I remembered it couldn't possibly be a vampire. Vampires had to be invited in before they could step through the door. I sighed with relief. Callum was the only vampire I had invited into my apartment. Terror washed through me again. Vampires weren't the only ones who were dangerous.

  "It couldn't be Damien, could it?" I asked. "I never invited him in. He couldn't have come in."

  "There are ways. A human could have broken in, and Damien could have remained outside. His power would still linger here, even if he did not enter your apartment."

  I must have looked upset because he gave my hand a squeeze and a fleeting, yet comforting smile. He let go of my hand, and walked straight into my apartment. He disappeared into the shadows. He hadn't even bothered to turn the lig
hts on. I heard nothing as he moved about. Crossing my arms, I waited anxiously for him to come back.

  Callum emerged out of the shadows in a matter of seconds. He stopped just inside of the doorframe. "Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Nothing at all."

  I bit my lip. "What's that mean?"

  "I think Damien wanted to let you know he's serious. He came here to show he is quite capable of doing whatever he wants, to scare you into taking his deal."

  "Well, he succeeded," I muttered sourly.

  "Dahlia," Callum said sharply, his tone telling me he was taken aback.

  "What?"

  "You cannot possibly be contemplating going to Damien willingly."

  I sighed, waving my arm tiredly at the apartment behind him as I said, "I don't think I have much of a choice. He's either going to make this simple, or extremely hard and most likely, very painful. And not just for me. He'll persuade me by hurting other people. That means my friends, my family—"

  "No." It was a clear, definite word.

  "Why not?"

  "Because."

  I cocked my head to the side. "That's not an answer," I said. "Just think about it, it makes sense—"

  "I have thought about it."

  "Well, you understand where I'm coming from, then. Refusing to go to him will only make things worse. He'll probably get what he wants, anyways, no matter what I choose to do." Callum was shaking his head as I spoke, eyes closed. "What? You think it's better to just let him come after me?"

  "No, but I'm not going to let you play into Damien's hands."

  I huffed, "Then what do you suggest?"

  "It'd be safer to face him in neutral territory than in his own."

  "So, in other words, let him come," I said, deadpan.

  "Yes."

  I thought about it for a moment, then said, "No. I'm not going to risk him going after Veronica, or Alexander, or anyone else. It'd be my fault if something happened to them."

  "This is not the time to be playing hero, Dahlia," Callum said irately. Anger filled his eyes, his face. It radiated off of him. I recoiled just a bit, but stood my ground.

  "Callum, it's my choice to make—"

  The timer-controlled light in the hallway flicked off. We were submerged in complete darkness. It smothered me, making it hard to breathe. I was about to reach out and turn on the light when a strong hand grabbed my arm and pulled me into the apartment. The door shut behind us.

  The hand pushed me backwards until I bumped against the wall of the foyer. The city lights shone through the French windows in the living room, the only light. They framed Callum's body in front of me. It was only an outline of his shape, his face entirely hidden in the shadows.

  He pressed into me, one arm on either side of my head. I was pinned against the wall, unable to move. My breath was coming in heavy, shaking pants, coming and going quickly. To say I wasn't a little afraid would be a lie. Just minutes before, Callum hadn't been like this. Now he was emitting danger like a light bulb. His mood changes were much too fast for me to follow.

  "Dahlia," he whispered. "Please."

  Please? Please what? I couldn't think with him this close. My skin was on fire, and he wasn't even touching my bare skin. My head was spinning with the nearness, the delicious smell coming off him, the way he said my name.

  His voice brushed against me softly, but his words were harsh. "Do not go to Damien. You will only get yourself killed faster. Do as I ask and wait. Will you wait?"

  I couldn't respond. My brain wasn't functioning properly. A short sigh escaped my mouth.

  "Answer me, Dahlia," Callum commanded, pressing against me tightly. "Will you wait?"

  I stared up at his face obscured by the dark. I couldn't make out where his eyes were, so I just looked where I thought they might be. "I don't think I can wait," I said so quietly even my own ears had a hard time picking it up.

  He made an angry, exasperated sound. All of a sudden, his eyes glowed bright green through the blackness. They were fixed on me, almost hypnotizing. I wanted to give into them, do what he wanted. I squeezed my eyes shut. Damn it. He was getting to me.

  "Please."

  The word was sweet, pleading. All anger had washed away. I cracked an eye open. Those green eyes were sincere. I felt myself giving in. "No," I said, strained.

  "Dahlia."

  I said, "No," again, but the whisper was lost on my lips.

  He recognized defeat when he saw it. He slid his hands down the wall, stopping them just before they reached my waist. He leaned closer, and my breath caught in my throat. Even though I couldn't see well, I could tell his face was mere inches from mine. My senses went haywire. My knees were threatening to buckle under me. I placed my hands flat against the wall behind me to hold myself up.

  Callum sounded a bit apprehensive as he asked, "Dahlia?"

  I exhaled heavily and found my voice. "I'm, uh, having some trouble breathing."

  "Tell me you won't go to Damien, and I'll let you go," he negotiated with a now amused lilt.

  I didn't necessarily want him to let go of me, but I couldn't concentrate on a thing with him this close. "Fine," I gave in. "But we're going to do everything we can to prevent him from hurting anyone else, okay?"

  He let out a relieved sigh. "Of course."

  He was still pressing me into the wall. I placed my hands on his chest in an effort to remind him to let up. But that effort quickly dissolved once I felt the familiar firmness of his chest. I could feel his cool skin under the shirt. Unconsciously, I slid my hands upwards until I reached the edge of the V-neck. My fingers toyed with it, frequently brushing against the bare skin of his collarbone. I heard Callum's breath catch as I continued further up, curving my hands around his neck. He yanked me off the wall, pulling me to him. His arms slipped around me, drawing me even closer to him. My fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck, running each soft strand through them. He leaned down, and I wanted to close that short distance between us so bad. I stood my toes, and not even thinking about it, went to press my lips against his.

  The phone rang. We stopped, our lips almost meeting. I closed my eyes in aggravation. I was going to kill whoever was on the other end of that phone.

  The phone kept ringing, filling the apartment with its loud, annoying sounds. I didn't want to let go of Callum. He felt so good.

  "Damn it," I muttered. I pushed against Callum gently. He released me and took a step back. The lights beaming through the window illuminated his face. He looked like he was trying to bring himself under control. I was attempting to do the same.

  I walked into the dark living room. The phone was lying on the coffee table. I picked it up, pressed the button, put it to my ear, and rudely answered, "What?"

  "Well, hello to you, too, sunshine."

  I dropped onto the couch with a sigh. "Liam."

  "Jeez, tone down the enthusiasm, Dahlia," he said good-naturedly.

  Reaching towards the table next to me, I fumbled for the switch on the lamp. It flicked on, momentarily blinding me. I put a hand over my eyes as I said, "What do you want?"

  "Many things."

  "Shut up, Liam," I snapped.

  He chuckled, the sound muted over the phone. "What's the matter with you?"

  "Nothing."

  Silence, then, "Ooh, did I interrupt something? I'm terribly sorry."

  "You don't sound terribly sorry," I grumbled.

  "Well, I apologize from the very bottom of my heart," he said jokily.

  "Your cold, lifeless heart, you mean?"

  He laughed. "Ouch."

  I shrugged even though he couldn't see me. "It's true. It doesn't beat, does it?"

  "No, it doesn't."

  We both said nothing for a few moments. I was trying to process the thought, and he was waiting for me to say something. "Why did you call?" I asked.

  "To hear your sweet voice, of course."

  I rolled my eyes. "Besides that," I said.

  "I need to speak to Mr. Knigh
tley. Is he there?"

  I turned my head to look at the entrance of the living room. I didn't see Callum. I twisted to look behind me at the kitchen, but he wasn't there. My eyes swept through the living room. I gasped when I saw him sitting in the armchair next to the couch I was on. He hadn't been there a second ago. He was leaning back all the way, hands laced across his stomach, feet crossed at the ankle. A small smile was tugging at his mouth at my shock.

  Extending the phone to him, I said, "It's for you."

  He took it without saying a word. "What is it, Liam?" he said the moment it touched his ear. I caught one side of the conversation. "I know…Tonight…No, we're fine…Don't do anything."

  While they talked, I shrugged off my jacket and laid it across the back of the couch. Then I sat back and watched Callum's lips move as he spoke. Once I realized what I was doing, I shook my head and tore my gaze away from him.

  Callum looked at me. He smiled into the phone, and said, "I don't think Dahlia wants to talk to you again, Liam."

  I met his eyes and shook my head emphatically. He smiled. "Liam, don't you have better things to do than pester her?" he asked pleasantly. Liam said something, Callum laughed, and he hung up the phone.

  "How do you put up with him?" I asked, shaking my head.

  Callum set the phone down on the coffee table. "Liam may be insufferable at times, but he grows on you," he replied.

  I raised my eyebrows disbelievingly.

  "Of course, I've had years for him to grow on me. The first seventy with him were unbearable."

  I hid my unease by tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He was talking about seventy years like it was a couple months. I guess if you're going to live forever, seventy years is nothing.

  I stood up, and said, "I'm going to make some tea. You want any?"

  Callum gave me a close-lipped smile.

  "Right," I said, feeling stupid. "Vampires don't drink tea."

  * * *

  The noise coming from the TV unexpectedly ceased. The silence jerked me awake. I opened my eyes slowly, not remembering falling asleep. I was lying across my red velvet couch, head resting on the armrest, feet dangling off the edge. A blanket that hadn't been there earlier was draped over me.

 

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