by Mary Abshire
"You really could use a good fuck, and you know it."
"Damn it, Dani!" I hoped Drake couldn't hear.
"You've got a week, and I'm just trying to—"
"Encourage me to get laid. I got that." My tone hinted at my annoyance. If Drake was listening, now he'd know I was in need of sex. Talk about embarrassing.
She chuckled. "I miss you already."
"Back at you."
"Call me later."
"Bye." After I ended the call, I tossed the phone on the bed. While Dani had her annoying habits that often led to awkward moments in my life, she had a golden heart. I knew she meant well for me. And because I was aware of her good intentions, part of me missed her already even though we hadn't been apart for long.
I backed away from the window. Thanks to Dani, my nerves were edgy. I couldn't face Drake. Yes, the man was a hunk of sexiness, and with her words repeating in my head, I couldn't calm down. Not good. The best thing for me to do was work off my anxiety. But how? Not by having sex with Drake, although that would work.
Finding my toothpaste and other supplies on the bed, I gathered everything then strolled out of the bedroom. Staying busy would at least distract my lustful thoughts.
Cold tile touched my feet when I entered the bathroom. There was a large glass shower in the corner and a huge garden tub along the far wall. Dual sinks set within a midnight black vanity. The toilet was hidden behind a door. I heeded the call of nature, then organized my supplies on the countertop.
I returned to my bedroom and checked the time. The early morning hour left me with too much time on my hands for sitting around and doing nothing. I went in search of Drake.
Three steps into the hall, I heard a woman's voice. My curiosity piqued. I continued on, then turned the corner. Drake sat on the sofa near the window. He had his legs stretched out, hands behind his head, and his gaze directed at the television on the wall. I walked behind the sofa in front of me, gliding my hand over the soft top. A woman delivered the local news on the TV. I stepped in front of the sofa, then sank onto it. According to the news lady, the child abducted a week ago remained missing. No new leads had turned up.
"How is Dani?"
My concentration broke free from the reporter. "Uh…fine. I let her know I arrived safely. She's very concerned for my welfare."
A mischievous grin emerged on his face. "She has a genuine concern for you."
I glared at him while my temperature rose a notch. So, he had heard the conversation. I fought the urge to spit out a curse. Instead, I said, "Good friends are hard to come by."
Emotion drained from his face. He returned his attention to the television.
"This missing child, is it one your vampire took?" I asked.
"It is. A twelve–year–old boy."
"The boy is dead. Isn't he?"
Drake hesitated. "He's dead."
I crossed my legs and leaned back against the sofa. "Tell me about this vampire. What's his name? What's his MO?"
He gazed over my legs as he stood, then he walked around the sofa and headed for the window. "His name is Alexander. Sometimes he will watch his victims before he takes them. Sometimes he doesn't. He gets thirsty for innocence around every ten to fourteen days. He stays within the city limits because it is easier for him. More choices. More opportunities. He rotates between male and female. The last victim was a male. The next one will be a female."
My stomach knotted. The thought of this evil vampire walking around sickened me. "How long have you been following him?"
He looked at the dark city with its glowing lights. "Long enough."
I sighed. We were back to vague answers, which weren’t helpful. Rethinking my question, I inquired again with greater precision.
"Define how long you have been following him."
"Five years, give or take a few months."
"Five years?" Surprised, I jolted from my seat. I strode to the window, then stopped at his side. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
Drake slid his hands in his pockets as he continued staring out the window. "My partner and I tried to stop him a few years ago."
"Partner?" My curiosity bloomed.
"Long-time friend. Alexander destroyed him." He clamped his jaw and the tendons in his neck tightened.
I swallowed hard as a touch of fear crawled through me. If two vampires couldn't defeat one, how could one vampire and a half-demon take this guy out to pasture?
"How? Were you with your partner?" I asked.
"Leo and I were chasing him in Atlanta. It was early in the morning, a few hours before the sunrise. The plan was to separate and for one of us to cut in front of Alexander while the other caught him from behind. Since I was faster, I went ahead of Leo and cut through the alleys and side streets. I passed Alexander and turned the block to trap him, only he wasn't there. He changed direction and was on a path straight for Leo. I immediately pursued him. By the time I reached him, it was too late. I was less than a minute away, and I still could not stop Alexander."
Drake's grim voice led me to believe he was distraught over losing his partner. I wondered if Drake's motivation for wanting to send Alexander's soul to Hell was to avenge his partner's death.
"How?" I whispered, almost afraid to ask. "How did Alexander…"
Drake swiveled his head and faced me with rueful eyes. "He severed Leo's head."
A touch of sadness weighed upon me. I turned from Drake to the nighttime view of the city. The vampire cared for his partner. Perhaps Drake wasn't as dark and dangerous as I'd thought. Well, he was dangerous, but not in a malicious sort of way. If he'd cared deeply for a friend, then the vampire wasn't completely cold, nor was his dead heart unfeeling.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Alexander enjoys death and he takes no mercy. He needs to be brought to justice."
From Drake's description, I pictured Alexander as ruthless, cruel, calculating, and a downright mean motherfucker. I couldn't wait to meet the evil soul.
"Where does he hang out when he's not hunting for children?" I asked, staring out of the window.
"Hang out?"
"You know—what does he do, where does he go? I don't picture this badass staying at home and sitting on the sofa watching television."
"He mingles at clubs. He still feeds from men and women, if he finds one to his liking."
"Hmm…" I stared at the tiny lights eighty-two stories below me.
"What?"
I faced Drake. "It's time you took me out and showed me around the town."
"Now? The clubs close around three."
"I don't need to go in. I just want to know which ones are his favorites. I want to see them and get a feel for the areas."
He rubbed his forehead. I checked the time on the television screen.
"If my estimate is right, sunrise is around six-thirty. That gives us several hours to drive around or walk."
Drake walked away from me and stopped in front of the coffee table. He grabbed the remote, then pointed it at the television. Silence filled the room after the flat screen turned black.
He set the remote down, then looked at me. "I'll drive."
Chapter Six
I stared out the dark-tinted windows, scanning the street names and the names of clubs. We'd been by four nightclubs Alexander visited on a regular basis. Drake rambled off pertinent information about each one. Unlike his vague descriptions before, he detailed the ins and the outs of each club—the type of guests, type of music, atmosphere, anything noteworthy. To my surprise, he knew the city and the clubs like the back of his hand.
"Berlin is another club Alexander frequents," he said, driving leisurely down Belmont.
"Alex seems like quite the party man."
"He is insatiable. He never leaves a club alone. And I would not call him Alex if you are ever in his company—he hates to be called Alex."
I chuckled. "I don't plan on hanging out with the guy, but I'll keep that in mind. I would hate to offend him."
I twisted to face him. "What motivated you and Leo to go after Alexander? I understand he's murdering children and all, but you said he's been doing this for a century. You and Leo followed him for five years. Why didn't you destroy him sooner?"
I wanted to know why he'd waited so long to take action against Alexander. It didn't make sense to me. The scumbag killed innocent children over the last century. Someone could have stopped him before. Why five years ago? Why not sooner?
Drake studied me, his expression guarded. "If I tell you, I will need you to answer a few questions for me."
I rolled my eyes. "Alright." I should've known his little game wasn't finished since I'd fallen asleep on the drive up.
He returned his attention to the road. "Leo and I work with a network of other vampires called VETOV."
"What's that?"
"Vampires for the Ethical Treatment of Other Vampires," he said. "There was a lengthy debate among several members on how to handle Alexander. In the past, they invited him to a meeting, and he explained himself. After he promised to be more discreet with his actions, they let him go, and he kept quiet for a while. Then news popped up of more deaths, and the investigation process started all over again."
"Hold up. You're telling me this group has been tracking his actions for the last century or longer?" Talk about poor policing.
"Not quite a century."
Still, it was deplorable safeguarding. "And you all have been letting him walk away with a slap on the hand." Vampire justice sucked.
"Terminating one of our own is not a decision to be made lightly. Everyone had to agree that he should not continue walking the earth."
I looked away from him. Knowing it took a group of vampires almost a century to condemn one of their own sickened and infuriated me. Thank God we didn't live in a world run by vampires. "So why did you volunteer?"
"Leo and I had dealt with Alexander in the past. We were more familiar with his tactics."
"So everyone agreed you and Leo could destroy him."
"Yes."
"What if they wouldn't have agreed?"
He delayed his answer. "They would have, eventually."
I wasn't convinced. "Would you have gone after him anyway if they hadn't agreed?"
"No, but I would have worked harder at convincing them until they did agree."
Okay, so he wasn't a vigilante, and that alone comforted me. Since I avoided dealings with other supernatural entities, I didn't understand the politics and controls in place to handle matters of concern. I probably never would. But waiting a century to exterminate an evil beast seemed downright unreasonable and asinine. I inhaled a relieving breath, thankful I didn't have to deal with such foolish creatures or policies.
He turned the corner and braked fast. Unprepared for the sudden stop, I braced my hand against the dash. Drake clenched his jaw. In front of us, red taillights glowed from all the cars at a standstill. He leaned his elbow on the side of the door and rubbed his chin. Men and women chatted and laughed as they passed on the sidewalks.
"Crobar is a block up," he said.
"Popular club?"
"Yes, it attracts a younger crowd."
"Is it one of Alexander's favorites?"
"He frequents it often."
The car crept forward. Pedestrians crossed between vehicles, slowing down progress even more. I lowered my window and a cool breeze drifted inside.
"Where to now?" I asked after he'd turned a corner. I'd missed the street name.
"I can think of a few other clubs he frequents."
"A bit sketchy on the details, aren't we?" I asked, irked by his vagueness.
"It shouldn't take long to get to them. Now, I have a few questions for you, and I am entitled to details."
I sighed heavily and folded my arms, regretting I had agreed to answer more of his questions. "Ask away."
"Tell me about your mother's death."
Feeling a pang in my heart, I stiffened and leaned my head back on the headrest. Discussing my mother's death was personal and painful. "Is there something else you'd like to know about me?" I pleaded for some other topic to discuss.
Lips sealed, he fixed a bitter gaze upon me. Arguing with him would've been pointless.
"I remember her beauty. She had dark hair like mine, lustrous blue eyes, long eyelashes, and beautifully tanned skin." I lowered my head as sadness filled me. This was not going to be easy. I rubbed my hands over my lap, trying to calm myself. "Her death occurred a month before my thirteenth birthday. One day after school, she took me with her to meet a friend at a coffee shop. She carried a large envelope in her hands that I believed was for her friend. We sat down at the table and she introduced me. He was nice, charming, and witty. I liked him right away. As my mom and her friend drank iced coffee and talked, I ate a turkey and bacon sandwich on wheat. During their conversation, he asked my mom twice if she was all right. I thought it was somewhat strange, but didn't pay much attention. After she finished her drink, she handed the envelope over to him. She kissed me on the forehead and told me to be good. Then she stood up and walked away."
I paused to take a deep breath. I hated having to recall her death. It always ripped up my heart. With my hands clasped together, I continued. "As I watched her walk down the sidewalk, I began to realize something was wrong. She stopped, turned around, and waved to us. I remember waving my hand in the air as she ran out into the speeding traffic. The first car hit her and her body rolled over the hood—her head crashed into the windshield, splattering blood everywhere. When her body fell off that car, another one hit her, and then she fell on the pavement. I went numb as I sat and gaped at her lifeless body. Seconds later, her friend picked up the envelope and ushered me away."
I swallowed hard, fighting the tears building in my eyes, and turned away from him. He wanted details. I gave him plenty.
After several minutes of pure silence, Drake pulled the car over to the side. He placed it in park and cut the engine.
"What are we doing?" I gave him a baffled look.
"Getting some air." He opened his door.
His idea appealed to me so I could clear my head of such gloomy thoughts. Plus, my butt felt numb from sitting for the last hour and a half. I opened my door cautiously, then slid out. Drake waited for me on the sidewalk.
"There is a club a block away and another one a block down. Both of them are ones he frequents."
"Can we walk to them?" I brushed the hair out of my face with my fingers.
"That is the plan."
We walked side by side along the crowded sidewalk. Drake's gentle energy passed over me in cool waves, caressing my skin. Since he’d picked me up at my apartment, I'd felt it and it enthralled me. I wondered if he felt my presence in a similar way.
We stopped at a street corner and waited for the light to turn.
"The friend that was with you on that day," he said, and I turned to face him. "Is it the same person who took care of you after your mother's death?"
I nodded. "Yes. He is a good friend, and I stay in touch with him."
"Is he a demon?"
"No, he is not." I said nothing more. Sean was a warlock, and in my opinion, he didn't need to know.
The light changed and we crossed, staying on Ontario. Ahead of us, a large group of young people huddled together near a door. Thumping music vibrated underneath my feet as we drew near the crowd.
I pointed at the building. "Is this it?"
Drake nodded and led the way, squeezing between bodies. We were halfway past the cluster of flesh when an icy chill shot down my spine from the base of skull. I placed my hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
He spun to face me.
&nbs
p; "I think he's here." Shivering, I gripped my arms. I'd never felt so cold.
Drake quickly scanned the crowd. Bodies nudged my elbows, but I didn't move. I stood as frozen as a frigid Popsicle, clasping my hands over my arms.
Drake gripped my arm, then pulled me through the crowd.
"Wait!" I tugged away from him.
He stopped. "What?"
"If he's here—"
"No. We leave now." He urged me to follow along, and I did.
We hurried away from the crowd with my heels click-clacking on the sidewalk. The chill in my bones remained vibrant. It had to come from someone powerful and strong. Someone evil.
"Drake, I can find him." I pleaded with him to stop.
Not waiting for the stoplight to change, he rushed me across the street.
"We could end this tonight!" I said when we reached the car.
"No, we will not!" He held the door open for me. "You have more baggage under your eyes than I brought into my home. How much sleep have you had?"
I dropped into my seat, then he shut the door. Blood rushed to my head, and my temples started to throb. I wanted to spew colorful metaphors at him. So I needed some sleep from the long day I'd had, but it wouldn't prevent me from sending an evil soul to Hell if I had the chance. But this vampire we were after wasn't going to be an easy one to catch for me to do my job. As much as I wanted to complete my task and end Alexander's existence, I knew Drake was right and now wasn't the best time. Keeping silent, I rested my sweaty hands over my skirt and stared straight ahead of me.
Drake settled behind the steering wheel, then revved the engine. "I need you, Jessie. I need you focused and alert. I don't want any mistakes." He shifted the gear.
"Fine. Let’s go." I refused to look at him. What choice did I have in the matter anyway? He was the one in control.
Drake sped away without speaking another word.
****
Drake pulled into the parking spot in the garage. Neither of us had spoke on the drive back to his condo. Needless to say, my frustration with him had remained strong. The more I thought about how much control the vampire had on our bargain, the more I resented working with him. But I had to rely on his knowledge and expertise regarding Alexander. Like it or not, I was stuck working for a vampire and I had to follow his rules. Note to self—never agree to help a vamp again unless I called the shots.