Lailah (The Styclar Saga)

by Nikki Kelly

  Sweetly playing with the curls at the ends of my hair, Gabriel proceeded to stroke the length of my arm, finally circling his fingers inside my palm. I was only dozing, yet I was very aware of his hands and what they were finding.

  Lightly, he undid the top few buttons at the back of my blouse. He rested his hand on my shoulder, holding it there tentatively before running it around to just under the left side of my neck. Moving aside my crystal ring, which was dangling at the bottom of the cold chain, he spread his whole hand out.

  I realized then that he was searching for my pulse. I was worried that he would feel it beating at a hundred miles an hour as his skin touched mine.

  I tried to think of anything else, but no amount of distracting thoughts could stop my heart from thudding against my chest at his touch.

  “Your heart’s racing,” he whispered in my ear, gradually moving his hand to my head. I guessed he was checking that I was feeling all right.

  Nervously I sat up, relocating his hand away from my forehead down to my waist, and—caught in the moment—I released a few buttons from the top of his crisp shirt.

  Fluttering my eyelids closed I placed my hand over his chest in return. He wrapped his hand over the top of mine, pressing it down more firmly. It was like his soul was enveloped around me tightly, and I imagined cupping his light, watching his purity dance in the palm of my hand.

  “So is yours,” I murmured back, keeping my eyes shut.

  As the dancing light subsided from my mind, I repositioned his shirt back together and returned to my dozing position. Now content, I began to nap.

  * * *

  I WAS RELUCTANTLY WOKEN AN HOUR LATER. As I stirred, Gabriel informed me that he had to leave with Michael to “see to something.”

  “There’s fresh food in the fridge if you want some supper, and plenty of milk and tea,” he said as he paced toward the door, with an edgy-looking Michael in tow.

  There was something about Michael I didn’t like, something that wasn’t quite right. Gabriel had told me that he was important; his connection was the deepest and freshest with a Pureblood. He could detect changes in his Gualtiero’s behavior, such as his moods, and apparently being in this position made him an asset; however I couldn’t help but think that our best asset was also our Achilles’ heel. Michael was the most recent Vampire in the group to have been separated from his Gualtiero and clan. Gabriel hadn’t spent long guiding him back to some form of humanity, and I had a bad feeling about Gabriel being alone with him.

  Just as Gabriel and Michael reached the doorway, I shouted, “Why don’t I come with you? I might be useful?” I tried to stop my suggestion from sounding like a plea.

  Gabriel turned to me and smiled. “No, you stay here, curl up with a good book and rest. Michael and I will be fine, won’t we?”

  Standing behind Gabriel, Michael half turned in my direction, making sure Gabriel could see his enthusiastic thumbs-up to me, with a sweet smile spread wide across his face.

  But as Gabriel walked through the door, Michael’s grin fell away and he stared at me with a blank expression, and in a low murmur said, “As Gabriel said, enjoy your time.… I’m sure we’ll find a use for you soon enough.”

  A shiver made its way up my spine, and as Michael followed Gabriel through the hallway, I paced after them.

  “Gabriel, I really think you could do with another pair of hands. If you won’t take me, at least have Ruadhan go with you? His are strong and, well, Irish—you always need a pair of those!”

  Just then, Hanora appeared. Bumping me out of the way, she started trailing them, swishing her perfect hair as she went. “I couldn’t agree with you more, but it’s mine he needs. Don’t worry, I’ll look after him, I always do,” she shouted down the hall back to where I was now standing still.

  I wasn’t sure if that was worse, but at least if she was there he wouldn’t be alone with Michael. I tried to make myself feel happier about it. The sinister undertone in Michael’s words only made me feel more wary and suspicious of him.

  As the front door slammed shut, Ruadhan appeared, a book in his hand. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  “Yeah. I wanted to go out with Gabriel, but he’s taken Michael and Hanora with him instead.”

  “Business,” Ruadhan said. “Best for you to stay here, where I can keep an eye on you. It’s not safe out there.”

  “Do you know where they’re going? What they’re doing?” I asked.

  Ruadhan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “As I said, business. Nothing for you to worry about. You’ll stay indoors, maybe get an early night?” he suggested.

  “Doesn’t seem like I have a lot of choice in the matter.” I forced a smile.

  “I’ll be in the study if you need anything.” Ruadhan went to leave, but then hesitated.

  He stepped closer, and to my surprise brought me in to his chest for a hug. Awkwardly, I returned it, and he kissed the top of my head and said, “Night, love.”

  I didn’t want to go to bed yet, so I decided to stay occupied by raiding the fridge.

  It was a huge fridge/freezer, which was ludicrous given that until now it had probably never been used.

  Gabriel had stocked it well for me. There was an abundance of yummy things to eat: eggs, cheese, pizza, chicken, fruit juices. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed to busy my hands, so I decided to make a sandwich. I placed the bag of green shredded lettuce, together with the cucumber, tomatoes, precooked chicken, and bread on the counter next to the sink and went about washing the vegetables in a colander. To draw out the process, I chopped the lettuce into smaller pieces, placing it neatly into a clear glass bowl.

  “Hey, Cessie.” Jonah’s voice traveled from the entrance of the kitchen.

  I swiveled around. “Hi, you all right?” I replied.

  He sat down at the table, watching me as I aired out the greens. “All good. What you up to?”

  “Making a sandwich.… Not really hungry, though.”

  “Then why are you bothering?”

  “To keep my hands busy, to take my mind off wondering what Gabriel and the others are doing.”

  “Well, if you want something better to do with your hands, I can think of far more exciting options than mangling veg—”

  The scrape of his chair over the tiles as he stood up made me cringe, and I readied myself to bat him away. To my surprise, he rustled about in one of the cupboards and placed down two tumblers next to me, pouring a large amount of neat vodka into each.

  “I don’t really drink,” I said.

  “Humor me, have a glass. You never know, you might enjoy my company. Seems I’ve got a bit of ground to make up.”

  I supposed one glass couldn’t hurt, but one. I still wasn’t completely comfortable alone with Jonah. I set down the sharp knife and the tomato I was butchering and made an effort to lift my spirits. We exchanged a “cheers,” tapping the tumblers together, and I sipped at the clear substance that reminded me of paint stripper.

  He downed his glass quickly. “Jeez, Cessie. Not much fun, are you?”

  I scowled at him and took another sip. I creased my brow as it hit my throat. It was difficult to resist spitting it out.

  Rolling his eyes, Jonah produced a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and refilled his glass.

  I eyed him curiously. “You smoke, you drink, I saw your reflection in the rearview mirror … not exactly fitting the usual Vampire stereotype here,” I stated.

  “Nope. Interestingly, as you may have noticed, we don’t explode in sunlight either.”

  “I guess I don’t understand,” I said.

  Jonah chugged back his shot, and his expression hardened as he clutched the base of the tumbler, setting it down on the counter. “Vampires were human once. Our Pureblood Masters turned us; they infected us with their venom. By the time they were done, virtually everything about who we were before was erased. Our very DNA coding changed, and we became something else—marauders, bound with immortality and abilities to a
id us in our subservience. But, like all things—immortal or not—we still have a physical form and we need fueling. We exist on blood; blood is the giver of life, after all. That bit is accurate enough.”

  I shuffled uncomfortably, not sure what to say. “Well, looks like TV has mostly got it wrong.”

  Jonah filled his tumbler once again. Swishing the brown substance around he said, “People have it wrong. It’s simply a game of Telephone over many years. Humans who encountered Vampires told each other about these beings who they couldn’t comprehend. With no explanation, factual accounts were reduced to stories, and over time became nothing more than myth.” He stopped for a moment, and when he continued his tone was lighter. “The whole Vampires-can-fly thing is a good example. We can’t fly. But perhaps someone, somewhere, saw a Vampire jump a vast distance. The story gets recycled over and over, until eventually that Vampire was flying, not jumping. Stake through the chest thing is right though, so don’t try to test that theory on me.” He grinned.

  “Noted.” I nodded. While this was all very interesting, I was worried about Gabriel. “So where have they gone, do you know?”

  Jonah lit a cigarette before necking his drink. “Michael received word from Thomas. They’ve gone to meet him,” he said.

  “What?” I stammered. My grip around the tumbler tightened. “Why are you sitting here giving me a 101 on the life and times of Vampires, when you know that? It’s insane! It’s a trap!” I exclaimed.

  “Oh, for sure. They know Thomas failed to escape and they used him as bait to try and capture Michael back—you know, when they caught me instead.” He snarled. “If he is still around since this little rendezvous was organized, after his attempted desertion, it would only be because they still deem him useful in some way.”

  “So why have they gone? Come on! We have to go!” I had already slid my glass along the shiny surface and begun rushing in the direction of the door, when suddenly Jonah was blocking me, his hands on my shoulders.

  “Trust me, if they needed us, we would be there. My job tonight is to keep you here and safe. Gabriel’s no fool, he’s got no intention of getting caught in the middle of an ambush. You need to trust me.”

  I couldn’t take Jonah’s word for it; I needed to find Gabriel, but preferably with Jonah, Ruadhan, and Brooke in tow. So I tried again. “The second they get near Thomas, that will be it! Why would they risk themselves like that? And how can you sit here while they do? Gabriel saved you, all of you. You owe him!”

  Jonah held his cigarette in the corner of his lips, his hands still firmly placed on my shoulders. He puffed out a stream of smoke from his nose and stepped back, surrendering his hands as if I had a loaded gun that I was about to shoot. “We need to know what the Purebloods and their clans are doing. Thomas will know their movements at least. Gabriel’s fully aware of the risks involved, but it’s a chance he’s prepared to take to find out what they are planning. You are forgetting a very important fact: he’s not a Vampire. He has his own talents, and a good plan. He is safe,” he said.

  “Then why has he taken Michael and Hanora with him? If he’s so safe, he wouldn’t need them!” I argued.

  “He doesn’t need them. They won’t be anywhere near when he meets Thomas, they will be meeting someone else.”

  I furrowed my eyebrows, confused.

  “A friend, delivering a message from him instead. Thomas’s Gualtiero plans on ending him in the worst possible way; he knows this. There’s no saving him now, nothing we can do for him. But Gabriel can offer him something. Peace in his final moments, in exchange for information. Not a bad deal considering the alternative.”

  Jonah raised his cigarette back to his lips, inhaling deeply. “If you go out there, assuming you could convince me to take you, it will end badly for all of us. I’d be right next to him if I thought there was any chance they might not come back.”

  There was nothing I could do. There was no point leaving because I didn’t have the faintest idea where they had gone. I had no choice but to sit it out and wait for them to return.

  Huffing noisily, I returned to my chopping board and my drink. I gulped the last of the alcohol, hoping it would relax me. Jonah was back by my side; whether it was out of duty or through choice, I didn’t know and I didn’t care.

  I took my frustration out on the tomato and Jonah raised his right eyebrow in response. “Your attempt on that tomato’s life might mean more if it weren’t, well, just a tomato…” he said.

  I continued chopping. I tried to block him out and let my mind wander. I wanted to see if I could feel Gabriel’s presence, see if he was anywhere near our private tunnel. He wasn’t.

  “Gabriel seems to think you are at the epicenter of everyone’s interest. You want to tell me why that is?” he asked, refilling both our glasses, stubbing the remains of his cigarette out and lighting another immediately.

  Chucking the greens into the bowl, I maintained the silence. A few minutes passed and he was refilling his tumbler once again.

  I nodded toward his glass. “Ruadhan tells me alcohol has a far greater effect on Vampires?” I asked him with raised eyebrows.

  He flicked his collar up as he jumped up onto the work surface.

  “Careful of my tomatoes!” I couldn’t help stifle a giggle as he nearly sat straight on top of one.

  “That’s better! Half a smile! You know the evening will pass quicker if you chill out a bit.”

  I thought about that for a moment. He was right. Counting the seconds wouldn’t make them go any faster.

  “I work in a bar uptown, I can hold my liquor. Looks like you need an induction though—your pupils are all lovely and dilated!” Jonah said.

  I shrugged at him. “I only drink sometimes to sleep,” I said. “I almost don’t even dream.…”

  “What’s wrong with dreaming?” Jonah asked. “I miss it. We don’t sleep.” He filled me in on more Vampire particulars.

  “My dreams would make even your hairs stand on end.”

  His lighthearted expression turned to concern. Stubbing out his cigarette, he exhaled the last bit of smoke from his lungs. “What are you, Cessie? I know you’re not human. I’ve watched you, you look at things as though it’s the first time you have seen them. And your eyes … Has Gabriel seen those eyes?”

  I wasn’t sure what he meant.

  “You really should get another hobby, something other than stalking me.”

  He paused, refusing me a reaction. “I tasted you. Your blood is bitter but tinged in sweetness at the same time. You’re some sort of living, breathing contradiction.”

  I didn’t answer. The alcohol was doing a fantastic job of numbing me, and I let his inquiries pass me by. I didn’t owe him an explanation, even if I had one to offer. And what Gabriel did and did not know about me was none of his business.

  “Who are you?” he persisted.

  “Cessie.”

  “And who is Cessie?” he said.

  “I don’t know, Jonah! I don’t know!”

  Tears of frustration started to well in my eyes, but I pushed them back. I was still no closer to understanding what had caused them to be bloodied when I had shed a tear on the patio.

  “Hey, hey.” Jonah took my hand and I snatched it back and continued chopping the tomato aggressively.

  “It really will all be okay.” His tone lowered as he purred the words.

  I refused to meet his eyes. I could feel them boring straight through me.

  Would it be okay? I wasn’t so optimistic. How could I be sure of anything when I knew so little?

  “Cessie…” He reached for my hand again as I scattered the chopped tomato into the bowl. He caught it, holding it tight, and I felt comforted for a moment.

  He guided me in between his legs, which dangled over the counter. “You are unique, Cessie. Clearly everyone thinks so, and I don’t disagree.”

  I hadn’t seen this side of him before.

  “Thanks … I think.” I bowed my head, not wanting
to meet his gaze.

  He brushed the loose hair away from my eyes and gathered all my long strands over my shoulder. He fingered my wrist and, slipping off the elastic band, he bent down and tied my hair into a side pony.

  As he leaned in, he purposefully brushed my cheek and a surge of electricity ran up the length of my body. My heart belonged to Gabriel, I knew it always had. Yet Jonah only had to touch me, ever so slightly, and my body practically convulsed, willing him to put his hands to better use.

  “There you go, beautiful,” he said.

  I flicked my gaze up to his own and he grinned naughtily, winking at me.

  Sighing, I stepped out from between his parted legs and moved back to the chopping board. The vodka was kicking in, as if I needed it. Jonah’s company seemed to have the same effect on me that the hard liquor did.

  I picked up another tomato and positioned it centrally on the wooden chopping board. Jonah jumped down off the counter and stood behind me. “Your buttons are undone.”

  His hand moved up my back and glided across the nape of my neck. I lost my concentration and sliced deeply into my finger, only managing to graze the tomato.

  “Arrgh!” The blood flowed instantly from the split in my skin.

  I spun around to locate a towel, but found Jonah toe-to-toe with me instead. His pupils were twice the size that they had been a minute ago and I knew it wasn’t the alcohol.

  He knelt down, his eyes fixated on my own.

  Softly at first, he molded his lips around my fingertip, then gradually moved his mouth and tongue down the length of my finger. Rooted to the spot, I didn’t even blink; in fact, I think I actually stopped breathing as I watched his eyes begin to burn. He didn’t take his gaze away from me as he swirled his tongue and lapped up my blood.

  As I watched him, excitement stirred inside me. So when he shifted his entire hardened body against my own, I didn’t push him away.

  Finally he withdrew, my fingertip lingering at his lower lip.

  Engrossed, I surveyed him as he observed the tear begin to heal itself, magically gluing back together. He said nothing. Instead he slid his fingers in between my own, squeezing them so that they were clamped together.