by Martha Woods
“I’m sorry that we did not think to do this for you earlier. Things have been quite crazy with the Calder closing in upon us,” Kristian said.
They were walking together in the local mall. Kristian’s neatly tailored suit, probably high end designer, looked out of place. He draped an arm around her as they walked. Morgan was somewhere close by, but never within view.
“I might have been okay with borrowing some of Veronica’s old clothes,” Tessa rolled her eyes. “I could if she actually liked me.”
“She likes you. She’s overly protective of her big brother.”
“Maybe,” Tessa replied softly. “What if I am really the cause of the problem here, or they are just using me to get to you?”
“If that’s so, we face the threat together, as we’re doing now. Speaking of your things. I could hire someone to bring your car and trailer up, if you’d like. Once this is all over we may be able to salvage what was left of it.”
Tessa wasn’t sure. There hadn’t been very much in the trailer—a single place setting of dishes, a blanket, a few old books, and her clothes. She was wearing her favorite pashmina and sneakers on the day she left. The really precious things: her “crystal” ball, tarot cards, and old photographs of her parents were in her purse.
“It sounds like a big cost to have someone drive it across state for the sake of a few possessions.”
“Think about it,” Kristian said. “And let me know what you decide. The money is not an issue, and if you’re worried about me hiring anyone, think of it as giving someone a job for the day. I also want you to remember you can get whatever you like.”
They stopped at a lingerie store first. At first, Tessa felt strange with him hovering behind her, but slowly she relaxed. She led him over to a particularly scandalous bra. It was made of a soft, sheer material, with opaque hearts over where the nipple would be.
She could feel Kristian’s thoughts behind her. His attraction was overwhelming, a warmth suddenly blooming at her core. She smiled, and in an act of daring, added it to her basket. Of course, she had to find the matching panties, bending to search the rack so that her ass was in the air.
Images so clear she could almost feel them greeted her. He thought of grabbing onto her hips and pushing himself deep inside her. She wiggled her hips as she pulled out the right size panties. As she straightened, she turned to find his gaze devouring her. He smiled, knowing full well that she could see what was going through his mind.
Her face warmed. Was she doing this? Was she openly flirting with a vampire?
Yes.
And she was enjoying it.
“Do you plan on trying those on?” Kristian asked.
“Maybe later,” Tessa threw over her shoulder as she moved on. “When we’re back at the beach house.”
This time he fed her an image of...herself, wearing nothing more than the lingerie she had just picked out. She laid across the black, velvet blanket that lay across his bed. Words like want and need filled her.
It was hard to catch her breath. Her own desire was stronger than she’d ever felt before. Tessa looked over her shoulder at the vampire man she’d spent so much time with. She would disintegrate beneath the fire of his emerald gaze. Would sex be as fiery?
Was she brave enough to find out? Tessa added a floral bra and panty set to her basket before adding the harness style bra. It was edgy and reminded her of something Ally might wear.
From there they went to two different clothes stores; the first one was to supply her with basics—jeans, tanks, sweaters and the like. The second store was more trendy, specializing in dresses, jackets, and blouses with flowing, romantic lines. She even found a handmade poncho similar to her favorite pashmina. Tessa looked at the prices and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She couldn’t remember ever spending so much money on clothes.
Tessa was ready to take her new prized possessions and go home. As they passed one of the last few stores, she looked up and spotted a beautiful dress in a shop window; it was white with a red rose print, a V-neckline, and a hem just above the knee. It was backless.
“Do you like that?” Kristian asked.
“I’m good, I don’t need anything else.”
“Nonsense,” he said with a grin, and walked into the store. Tessa trailed behind him. He’d already reached the saleswoman, who was smiling at him and literally clutching her pearls. The store was empty of customers and she was obviously happy to assist a handsome, wealthy customer and his lady friend. Kristian could charm anyone with minimal effort. She wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t even bother to use his vampire mojo.
“Would you like to try the dress on?” the saleswoman asked Tessa.
“Might as well.”
Tessa went back into the dressing room. There were four stalls. Choosing the stall nearest the outside door, she locked herself in and stripped down to her bra and panties. She took a moment to look at her back in the mirror. Her skin was smooth and unmarred by the thick scars she’d had at the small of her back since she was a teenager. Kristian might think healing her was a small gesture of affection but she doubted he understood how much it meant to her.
She pulled the dress over her head. She twirled, looking at herself in the mirror, front and back. Smoothing the fabric over her hips, she turned her back to the mirror, reaching for her handbag.
A woman was standing behind her.
Tessa had no time to scream as a hand was clapped down over her mouth. With her other hand, the woman held a firm grip on her neck.
A dark clad form took shape, the assailant’s face hidden beneath a dark hood. Tessa hit the woman’s arms with her fists, but she would not let go. The vice grip of her hand on Tessa’s throat only tightened. All she could see were the map of red veins in her attacker’s eyes.
“Your little vampires can’t save you from us. Say night night, vamp slut.”
“Why?” Tessa tried to say, but all that was expelled from her throat was a low hiss. Tessa eyed the boot sitting on the dressing room bench. If only she could reach it. Her tiny knife was in there. The edges of her vision were starting to darken. She let herself become a dead weight in her attacker’s arms, dropping a few inches. Tessa’s fingers brushed the edge of the boot. Finally, she had a grasp on the knife hilt.
* * *
The woman laughed, a soft little sound that pushed puffs of cold breath into Tessa’s face. “You’ll see soon.”
Vision turning dark, she brought the knife up. It slashed across the attacker’s arms. Rearing back, her attacker barked in pain.
The door of the dressing room was pulled open, and the pressure on Tessa’s neck was suddenly released.
“Oh, you think you’re funny,” Kristian said, pinning the hooded woman to the wall. Her feet dangled above the floor. “How about you play with someone your own size?” he growled.
Tessa sank to the floor of the dressing room. There was dark blood on the blade of the small knife in her hand. Startled, she threw it to the floor. Mustering what strength, she had, she ran out of the dressing room. The store’s inside lights were turned off, but she barely noticed. She ran for the front door, only to find it locked.
“Tessa,” Morgan said, pulling her behind him. “Are you okay?”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted to scream that nothing was okay, and that she wanted no more to do with vampires ever again. She needed to run. She needed to escape. Instead, she swallowed despite the burning pain in her throat. “Yeah.”
From where they stood, she could see behind the sales counter. The young employees sat on a stool behind the register, eyes fixed and body still except for the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
“Is she okay?”
“Yes.” Morgan grinned. “Just a small bit of magic. She won’t even remember we were here.”
Kristian came out of the dressing room, hauling the woman with him. He’d pulled back her hoodie. She strained against him but she was no match for Kristian’s strength. Tessa’s mout
h dropped. What she saw didn’t match up with what she expected. Her attacker was a tall, blue-eyed blonde, her greasy hair hanging limp at the sides of her pimpled face. She didn’t look like much older than a kid.
“Charley,” Morgan groaned. “We have to stop meeting like this, kid. Still working for the Calder these days?”
“Whoever pays my fee,” she snarled.
“That’s your problem?” Morgan said. “Your generation of demons has absolutely no scruples. Whatever happened to the days of fire and brimstone with you guys”
“I’m part of the new generation. Capitalism is where it’s at… So, what are you going to do to me?”
* * *
Tessa had never thought to ask about the attic in Kristian’s house. She knew that it had one, but it never occurred to her that there would be anything of interest there. It should have been filled with the kind of crap one would collect in two hundred years of life.
Of course, vampires had to find different uses for what would be an ordinary space inside anyone else’s home. It figures, Tessa thought.
The entire room held only two items: an intricately carved mahogany cabinet, and an antique electrocution chair.
The demon, Charley, was strapped into the chair. Fortunately for her, it was only being used to keep her bound. Tessa couldn’t see any wires connected to it, but the buzz of thoughts in the air around her were more than hostile enough. She didn’t want to see what was about to happen.
Morgan moved to open the cabinet doors, revealing a dangerous collection of knives, swords, and other gleaming implements. The tools of torture were within the demon’s line of vision.
All the vampires were gathered around. Tessa stood between Kristian and Veronica. The guards flanked the execution chair, all except for Morgan, who faced the demon.
“We have an interesting problem here,” Morgan said. “We send you back to the Calder, they’ll kill you. We keep you here, and eventually we’ll have to do the same thing.”
“Eventually?” she spat. “Or, I could snap these bindings and start snapping necks. I could begin with the human’s. It’s be easiest.”
Morgan leveled a glare at her that said he wasn’t scared in the least. It was hard to be afraid of something that looked like a teen that listed to too much My Chemical Romance. Tessa, on the other hand, reached to touch the bruises forming on her neck.
“Your life span depends on how forthcoming you are.”
“I’m not down for this torture shit. But there’s not an awful lot I can tell you.”
“Why did you come after Tessa?” Kristian asked. “How about we start there?”
“Look. You don’t like the witches, they don’t like you. I get that. And really, I couldn’t care less what the lot of you do to each other. I was told to scare some sense into her.”
“Your instructions weren’t to kill me?” Tessa asked. “Because it seemed like that’s what you wanted.”
“Okay, so I was a little rough, but you did cut me,” the demon pouted.
“Bitch, really?” Tessa yelled. Kristian grabbed her waist to keep her from pouncing.
A soft murmur of laughter moved among the guards. It only made Tessa angrier when she realized the vampires were amused. Kristian had the good sense not to show any reaction.
“I could have told you,” Veronica said drily. “She doesn’t lack spunk.”
“Alright, Charley,” Morgan said. “How’d they know where to find her?”
The demon sucked her teeth. “They’re using a seer.”
“Since when do they have one?” Kristian asked.
“Recently, I guess. But, I mean, I don’t really know. It’s not like these people are my friends. It’s a job. I’m like a pizza delivery man. I get orders and I get paid to deliver, only with murder instead of pizza.”
Kristian let go of Tessa’s waist, taking a few steps towards Charley. “They had a seer and nobody bothered to tell you that you’d get captured on this little mission of yours?”
“Well, she is low level,” Morgan grumbled. “Maybe they were just trying to do away with a loose end. Can’t have a demon knowing too much about their dealings. Why not throw her at the vampires?”
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Charley said, her voice already faltering. “I won’t believe a Satan Damned lie coming from your fanged mouths.
“Uh-huh. I’ll get back with you on that,” Morgan said.
* * *
“Tessa,” Kristian called.
She was in the basement apartment, sitting inside the kitchen. She looked up but didn’t respond when he spoke.
“We need to talk about what happened today,” he said.
“Really? Because I don’t think you want to hear what I have to say.”
“Maybe not, but things won’t get any better by pretending you were not shaken.”
Tessa laughed. She put her face in her hands.
“What’s funny?” Kristian asked.
“You!” Tessa laughed. “Shaken? How do you think that even approaches how I feel right now?”
“I’m doing the best I can,” Kristian said. “What more can I do?”
“That’s just the problem. I know you think you’re trying to protect me. I just got attacked by a demon. Something I didn’t know really existed a few hours ago. I led you right to my foster parent’s home when freaking witches were hunting you. This is…it’s not what I signed up for. I’m sorry, but I think I should go back to my life as it was.”
Something changed in Kristian’s eyes. “You’ve thought about this? You’re quite sure?”
“I have,” Tessa stood up. “I’m sorry. My life was simple before. It wasn’t perfect, but I was… well it wasn’t like this. It’s all too much.”
“After…whatever is about to happen, once the current threat is over, I won’t stop you if you still want to go. But if you’re willing to walk away from me, and what we could have together, you owe me an explanation.”
“Of what?” Tessa demanded, feeling the fire burning in her eyes.
“The Calder are always after vampires. But you seem to be a priority to them right now. Why is that?”
“Do you think I have any fucking idea? They weren’t behind me before I met you.”
Tessa moved towards the bedroom and Kristian followed her.
“I don’t believe that’s exactly true. Why is it that you live the way you do, Tessa? I understand why you did when you were a teen. There was always the possibility you could have been found by the authorities and returned to your family. Once you turned eighteen that was no longer a consideration.”
“Suddenly you don’t believe me anymore? You’re the one who found me, remember?”
“Of course,” he replied. “But maybe you haven’t been honest with me about all the reasons you live like a nomad,” he said, crossing his arms.
Tessa pretended not to pay attention. She reached into the dresser and pulled out another of his t-shirts and pulled a hairbrush from her purse.
He touched her arm. His grip was gentle, but she felt rooted to the spot. The intensity of his eyes would not allow her to look away from him.
“Have you ever been honest with yourself about what’s been going on in your life?” he asked.
There was a loud knock on the door. It was Veronica.
“Ally’s here,” she said. “You two might want to come upstairs.”
* * *
Tessa was only momentarily relieved to get out of finishing the conversation with Kristian. She knew he was angry, and she was too. I’ve made my decision, she told herself. Despite her sadness there was also a sense of relief. At least he knew she didn’t intend on sticking around. It wouldn’t be fair to let him think that she was going to be anything to him but a pleasant memory.
Provided they survived the next few hours.
When she and Kristian came upstairs to the living room, it was clear to her that the war party had been gathered. The grim faces of the guards and Ally’s prese
nce let her know that the threat was close.
“I will be staying tonight,” Ally said. “Right now, we need to talk strategy.”
* * *
The hours ticked by slowly.
Tessa had to fight the urge to flee every second she stood in the open. Every now and again she pressed her fingernails into her palms, reminding herself this had to be done.
With the house, so still, she imagined she could hear every sound. The quiet ticking of the clock in the dining room, the sound of the ocean outside, her own trembling heart. Too many thoughts crowded her mind. The life she left behind on the road. The disillusionment she saw in Kristian’s eyes when she told him that she wanted to leave. The feelings she had for him were so clear. She only feared that being with him would cost her everything.
Tessa licked her lips. She took a deep breath.
The moment she first heard them, she was very aware of what they were.
The thoughts of vampires were the same as humans. Even the demon, Charley, had much the same rhythm of in her thoughts.
The witches were different. It wasn’t just the rhythm or speed of their thoughts. It was a cacophony of noise. Yet somehow, she was able to follow it.
She took her cell phone out and texted two words: Game on.
Tessa shoved the phone back into her pocket and waited. Somewhere in the house, Kristian’s phone would vibrate in response. She closed her eyes and started to count. In her left hand, she grasped her weapon, a long, curved machete.
Five…four…three…two…
The crash of glass made Tessa jump. She was on her feet and running within seconds. The windows shattered in every direction as she ran. The window at the top of the landing shattered, a figure with pale hair streaming around it appearing.
It was only when she reached the dining room that she turned and looked behind her.
Tessa could see the witches from where she stood. There were three. They hovered, floated in the air. With their black eyes and paper thin skin, she found them indistinguishable from each other. They were all at one beautiful and horrible with their sharp, dark features. She ducked just in time to avoid a flash of fire from one of them. A chair ignited in flame.