3 Hit the Road Jack

by Christin Lovell

  “We’ll be renting cars after this,” Kai bit out.

  Matteo glanced at Kai before returning to me. I slid behind Kellan who instantly straightened himself at my need for protection. I couldn’t fathom what was so interesting about me. I looked down at my VS capri sweats and white tee sticking out below my pink American Eagle hoodie. I was completely covered with no make-up and my hair up in some sort of mess I was sure. I didn’t find anything attractive about me or on me.

  I jumped as Kellan burst out in the native tongue, a biting tone echoing around us in the airport exit corridors. I heard the trunk doors open out. I peeked around to find Matteo averting his eyes as his head hung.

  “What the heck did you say to him?” I projected the demand.

  “I told him to stop staring at you and do his job.”

  “You didn’t have to be rude about it.”

  “He was being rude to you. You don’t ogle people.”

  “Ogle? Never heard you say that before.” I couldn’t hide my amusement. He raised a questioning brow in my direction at the smile on my face. “You’re cute you know that?”

  “And you’re beautiful, but mine. And I don’t like people ogling my stuff.”

  “Can you two stop the head chat and get in the van?” Kalel asked, standing impatiently by the open back door. Just as I was about to walk past him, Kalel touched my arm. “Be careful what you think around here. Being together doesn’t protect what you project. You projected part of your thoughts just now.”

  “What’s the difference between thinking and projecting?”

  “Projecting typically involves a conversation. You’re projecting what you want to him,” he lifted his chin towards Kellan, “To pick up on an open frequency.”

  “You’re in the capital of your kind. We’re outsiders here. The French quarter is vampire territory. Because of that you need to be cautious of how you interact with us. It is still widely frowned upon here,” Will advised, notebook in hand.

  “Basically, you’re the only thing standing between them kicking our asses,” Rafi jumped in.

  “Even the embassy?” I checked.

  “Especially there. That embassy was established by the original family.”

  We drove in silence to the hotel, which was far from fancy, yet still quaint and comfy. It felt homey. Matteo cleared his throat at the door to mine and Kellan's room. I looked to him; he was fidgeting in the door frame.

  "The embassy has requested a meeting with you." He passed a quick glance at Kellan before adding, "Alone."

  "Why?"

  "I do not know the reason. I am only the..." he stopped, peering off at nothing, as if he was trying to find the right word. "Uh, message. I only bring the message."

  "You're only the messenger," I offered the phrase.

  "Si," he smiled sheepishly.

  "She doesn't go anywhere alone," Kellan barked. I put a calming hand on his chest as I turned to face him. He stared over me at Matteo. "I don't trust him."

  "What do you think he's going to do?"

  "Does it matter?"

  "Woah! What's wrong? You've been on edge this entire trip. We both knew it wasn't going to be a vacation. You knew the itinerary, so what's up?" He finally gave me his attention.

  "It's hitting me. We're here now and it's all hitting me at once. We have no backup except the ones we brought; we have no one else to trust, and I'm even leery of them sometimes."

  "Even Craig?" I cocked a brow.

  "Not him, but all the others." He brushed his hand out, flicking it suggestively.

  "Kellan, they chose to come. If they wanted, they could have slapped a tracker on us, sold our location to the enemy and left us defenseless, but they didn't and won't. They're going above and beyond risking themselves for us, for me, and truthfully, I feel better knowing they're here to back us. It means there's less of a chance I'll lose you." Tears began to gather despite trying to hold them off. I'd acted foolish with my relationship, dismissed Kellan and his feelings, hurt the one I loved over the one I liked. I couldn't picture my life forever with Kai like I could with Kellan. I didn't know what I'd do without him.

  He dried my cheeks with his thumbs. "Don't cry babe. We agreed, no more tears. You're right. This is something we'd have to face eventually and I'd rather do it with back up. And for the record, I let you go off with Kai. I knew I had to step back, no matter how much it hurt me, so you could decide for yourself who you wanted."

  "I forgot you could read what I didn't project." I smiled as he wiped away my last stray tear. "Which reminds me, I can't possibly look cute right now."

  "I didn't think cute, I thought -"

  "I know!" I yelled, breaking out in laughter. "I replaced the word."

  "Can't handle the thought of yourself being -"

  "Kellan!" I smacked his upper arm.

  "Uh, everything is good, yes?" Matteo checked. I faced him, my face flushing. I'd completely forgotten about him.

  "Yes, sorry. I will go with you alone." I turned to Kellan, waiting for his protest.

  "I don't like it, but yes, you can go alone." His expression was full of concern and worry even as he contemplated the answer he’d just given. "Promise me you'll be safe."

  "I will. I promise." I reached up and kissed his cheek.

  "If anything happens to her, it's on your fucking head!" Matteo stiffened at Kellan's words; clearly he understood his implication.

  "We should go, yes?" Matteo checked.

  "Yes, let me change clothes and grab my stuff, then I'll meet you at the car."

  "Want me to follow you?" Kellan asked as I turned towards the luggage on the bed. He came up behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist as he nuzzled my neck.

  "I'll be fine. I can fend for myself. I'm a vamp too, remember?" I smiled as he kissed my pulse point.

  "I remember. How can I forget?" He inhaled me sending a shiver down my spine.

  "I should go babe." I turned in his arms to face him. He stole my lips before I could take a breath. I responded quickly, eagerly as he devoured me. I dropped my wallet on the bed to freely run my fingers through his hair. His hands traveled south, cupping my rear and squishing me into his growing desire.

  At the sound of a throat being cleared, I pulled away earning an agitated growl from Kellan. His head snapped towards the door where Kalel stood, arms crossed, lips pursed and brows nearly a straight line as he scowled.

  "I'm going to take a cold shower," Kellan grumbled. "Be safe." He kissed me one last time before escaping to the bathroom.

  "Sorry to interrupt," Kalel relaxed his stance.

  "It's ok. I need to change and leave anyways."

  "Where are you going?"

  "The embassy with Matteo."

  "I don't trust the kid."

  "Apparently no one does. Kellan said the same thing."

  Kalel narrowed his eyes. "You're going alone?"

  "He said they only wanted me."

  "They've made exceptions before and allowed vampires in." His frown deepened. "I agree with blue balls. I don't like this."

  I cut my eyes at him. "Be nice, and don't worry. I can take care of myself."

  "Not alone against a multitude of vampeens whose strength blows yours away."

  "I'm not a weakling, Kalel" I said, busying myself by picking out an outfit from my bag.

  "You're also not old enough to be stronger than most of them."

  "I have my necklace," I countered. I palmed the upside-down cross beneath my hoodie.

  "Raise the shield before you even get in the car with the waffle."

  "What's up with the names?"

  "I'm frustrated. Now change and stop by my room so I can wire you. This way if you get in trouble, we'll know."

  "Fine, now go." I shooed him out, shut the door and locked it. One minute later I was at his door dressed in wide-legged gray cotton-wool pants, black ballet flats, a fitted cream sweater and my hair freshly wrapped in a bun atop my head with my passport, debit card and phone in
my pockets.

  "Come in and shut the door." He handed me a pair of diamond stud earrings. I handed him my pearls in return.

  "Don't lose those. They're my mom's." At the mention of her, a wave of sadness hit me.

  My parents' deaths had hit me harder than I liked to admit. Rather than wallow in sorrow all the time, I tried to distract myself to avoid thinking about them. There were times when Kellan was out with Craig and my aunt was away, times when I was alone in our house that I broke down, but never in front of anyone. I'd broken down too much, been too sappy right after my transformation. The doctor said it was all the body and hormone changes, but I felt weak. Crying seemed like a weakness, especially when it was in front of vamps that tended to look down on emotion.

  "Focus Leka," Kalel cut into my wander. He held up a lapel pin. "This is the camera; your earrings are the speakers, recorders, whatever you want to call them. They pick up the sound and match it to the video feed which I can get on my laptop and phone. And before you ask, no, you won't be caught by security."

  "Ok." I turned my head as he pinned the camera on me. As soon as he finished I looked forward to him gazing straight at me, an odd expression on his face. I swallowed hard, feeling exposed almost. He shook his head and pulled away. "Let me make sure it's working." I merely nodded my head, trying to ignore the flutters in my stomach.

  Focus on Kellan. You can't screw this up with him again. Kalel gave me an odd appraising look. "Um, yea, check it," I stumbled, trying to get him to focus on anything but me.

  Two minutes later I was set to go. "Be careful Leka. I'll be watching. And make sure you keep your thoughts blocked."

  "Thanks." I left with an uneasy feeling. They were all so worried about me going some place that was essentially like the vampeen White House or Pentagon. I just didn't understand the hype. Aside from Keira, I hadn’t really faced anyone who strongly disliked opposite vamps. I'd been warned, but hadn't experienced. For some reason, I had a feeling I'd learn very soon.

  "You took long," Matteo stated as soon as I got in the van.

  "I'm a girl. I take a while to get ready." He started the car, giving me a sideways glance before pulling out.

  "I do not understand why you are important. They talk like you are royalty. I expected a queen, Angelina Jolie, someone much more than you." He finally rubbed me the wrong way.

  "Well you got me," I bit out; my tone was harsher than I intended, but I didn't bother softening. He'd just insulted me. I knew I was none of those things, but it was rude of him to blatantly throw it in my face in a demeaning way. I wasn't calling him a servant, chauffer or 'the help.'

  "You're mad," he observed.

  I ignored him as I stared out the window at the scenery. The houses were close together, reminding me of most old European cities like Paris and London. Their colors broke up the similarities as nearly all of them boasted the same design, windows overlooking their neighbors and tiny balconies. Homes gave way to apartments of the same design with multiple residents. The area had more hills than I remembered; the streets winded from cobblestone to concrete and back as we navigated towards the center of town.

  We rode in silence until he parked on the street in front of what appeared to be an old European church complete with a bell tower and clock.

  "This is it?" I checked, staring at the multi-tonal brick structure.

  Chapter 8

  I didn't know what to expect as we entered, but I was quite surprised to follow Matteo into an actual church. Wooden pews lined the center aisle and stained glass windows amplified the magnificence of the cathedral ceilings. A large marble cross with Jesus nailed to it hung in the center back wall with a depiction of his crucifixion in the small glass window above it.

  "Come," Matteo stated.

  I followed him through a side door next to the candelabra on the stage. Immediately we entered a tiny pass through. There were no lights, no photos, merely the wooden floors that covered the entire church carried through the short hall leading to another door labeled with in an unrecognizable language.

  "It reads 'Cleaning Supplies,'" Matteo offered, as if he could read my mind.

  I watched him grab and hold the door handle. Seven seconds passed before a light flashed and the lock clicked. He led me down a set of narrow concrete steps; I could only picture the spooky steps leading down to a dungeon as we descended. The darkness surrounded me as a chill ran through me. My nerves returned as serum made its presence known in my throat.

  A single hurricane lantern greeted us at the bottom of the stairwell, illuminating a concrete door with a rectangle cut-out resembling a mob peephole. Nothing was visible through it though. I nearly leapt into Matteo's lap when a large blue scanner hummed, the grid of light passed over us.

  "You are not going to live through Jack if light scares you," Matteo smirked, a merriment of cockiness, amusement and, surprisingly, concern, dancing in his expression. I scowled as the door creaked open.

  The door opened to a TSA-type security setting. Vampeens in navy blue uniforms labeled 'Security' in multiple languages on the left side over their hearts dominated the space with several large pieces of screening equipment amongst them. Everyone had an array of weapons encompassing their waists via utility belts. Despite the high level of precautions in place, the atmosphere was much lighter than the vamp army headquarters.

  "Hey Mattey," greeted the blond male closest to us. They broke into the native language, shaking hands once he stepped through the x-ray machine. I stood staring at them, slightly annoyed as I waited for my cue.

  "Come," Matteo stated. I walked through right as everyone fell silent. Unease pimpled my skin as I followed their gazes to the far right corner. Relief washed over me at the sight of Auggy and another male dressed in fifties-style military attire.

  "Skip the shit and get your ass over here Lex," Auggy ordered. Matteo and his friend glared darts at me. Matteo had already made his opinion of my regard known in the car so it didn't surprise me.

  Matteo mumbled under his breath something I couldn't translate. That had the blond Ricky Martin beside him agreeing as he stared at me openly with anything but friendliness in his eyes. I rushed through the maze feeling elated the second I reached Auggy.

  "Glad you made it Jackson."

  "I'm glad to see you, but I'm still pissed at you." Several vamps gasped, whispers broke out at my casual grumble to the High Authority leader. I wasn't sorry after what he suggested with Mel.

  He studied me for a brief minute before shaking his head once. "I knew you would be. I also knew it'd drive home just what you were risking on this mission. Hartford was in on it, but there's no way in hell he was letting his daughter go. So miss pissy pants, you're just going to have to get over the fact that you're an emotionally driven vamp. That's both your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. Now don't let it become your downfall. Jack is brutal."

  I opened and closed my mouth several times. My knuckles were white, clamped tightly in a fist at my sides; my features pulled taut as Auggy laid into me.

  I jumped when, "Don't be emotional. You're further proving his point," filled my head like a thought plugged in. Auggy's brows furrowed as all the anger gave way to shock. "Don't blow our cover. I'm connecting to you through the earrings. It's Kalel. Kai, Craig and Kellan are here too."

  I plastered a smile on my face, trying to cover up my mistake, though I was reeling at the idea of Kellan, Kai and Kalel all in one room trying to work together. I was praying they didn’t kill each other. If they tried, hopefully Craig, Will or Rafi would step in.

  “Jackson!” Auggy bellowed. I quickly gave him my full attention again.

  "Um, you know, you're right Aug. I am too emotional sometimes. Now am I going to get a tour of this museum or what?"

  "What kind of shit shenanigans are you pulling?"

  "Me? What about you? You're the elephant, I mean vampire in the room."

  He chuckled. "That sounds more like you. And for your information, I'm a va
mpeen. You only assumed I was a vampire."

  "Huh?" I swore my brows reached my hair line.

  "Fix your face and follow me Lex," Auggy said, turning to speak to the male beside him.

  "You know, it's extremely rude of you not to introduce us Auggy," I stated as I followed them out of the room.

  "So sorry your highness, but introductions will have to wait."

  "What for?"

  "For everyone else; we're going to a meeting. They are very interested in how you plan to take out Jack." I groaned internally, my heart skipping a few slow beats. This didn't feel right at all.

  "Don't give them any strategic information. They are not to be trusted." A knot formed in my stomach. I thought about it for a minute realizing they were probably right. If only in case of a mole, I couldn’t divulge anything. Who knew what they would do with that information, though truthfully I didn't have much of a plan formulated.

  I followed the men down a long,non-descript hall lined with painted portraits of distinguished vampeens. None of them stood out to me, but, then again, I wasn’t exactly caught up on my vampeen history.

  Auggy and the other vamp stopped in front of a pair of solid oak double doors with a flag in a stand on either side. One I recognized as Spain’s; the other was merely navy blue with a large white symbol in the center. Auggy caught me with my head cocked sideways studying it.

  “It’s the vampeen flag,” he stated.

  “What does the symbol mean?”

  “It’s the vampeen race’s symbol. It means vampeen when translated in any language.”

  “It’ll translate the same in every language?”

  “Did I stutter?” I cut my eyes at him; rolling them when he offered me an amused smile.

  “But what about the languages that don’t use symbols, like Spanish?”

  He pulled the flag straight out for me to study. It was then that I noticed in the right bottom side of the symbol, there was a word. “Oh.”

  The vamp said something to Auggy after checking his watch. Auggy released the flag stating, “It’s time Lex. Behave. And do me a favor, don’t talk to them as brashly as you do us.”

  “I won’t even ask you to explain that.”