Chapter Three
Jairec kept his hood down over his head, keeping his pace so not to be caught. He expected the woman to yell for help, but she didn’t. He could feel her heated gaze watching him as he made his escape. He held on tight to the package. It was his salvation. The Seer said Dr. Jin Lei kept the cure at Moon’s Acupuncture, but it would not be given easily. Once he heard the women talk about the package, he knew it had to be important. “Life or death, she said.” He tried convincing himself he had no other choice than to steal the package, but did he need to kiss the woman?
He hadn’t meant to, but when the pedestrian asked if she was okay, he knew she’d scream and kissing her seemed the best course of action at the time. He didn’t expect the jolt the kiss gave him. He thought her attractive with her slim figure, dark hair and unusual forest green eyes, but the kiss sparked something in him he’d not felt in a long time.
“Forget it Connelly, you don’t need that kind of distraction right now.” If he was going to pull through this, he had to stay focused. Besides, if she knew his diet consisted of pig’s blood, while he fought off the desire to suck the blood from the nearest human ... He shook his head. Yeah, it would be a sure turn off.
He opened the door to his hotel room and locked it behind him. He tore open the bag and lifted the lid to the white box. He stared at the pastry for half a second. “This is the cure?”
He shrugged. Who was he to argue? He grabbed the pastry and shoved it into his mouth. Normally, he loved sweets, but since he’d been cursed all earthly food made him gag. This was no different, but he forced it down anyway.
He stood waiting for something to happen, some kind of miraculous transformation. Then he felt something, a churning in his stomach. He felt sweaty, shaky and … “Shit!” He ran to the bathroom. Grabbing the sides of the toilet, he threw up.
This wasn’t the cure.
He flushed the toilet and grabbed one the towels on the rack to wipe his face. He went back into the room and picked up the box with the sweets. “Sinfully Sweet Bakery.” He read off the label. The woman hadn’t been sneaking out Jin’s secret cure for the undead. She’d been delivering bakery goods. She tricked him, but he wouldn’t let her get away with it.
Chapter Four
With her latte in one hand, Autumn unlocked the door to Moon’s Acupuncture, the shop she took over from her Great Uncle Jin. Jin Lei, her grandfather’s brother never had children and he treated Autumn like a daughter, teaching her the ancient Chinese rituals to go along with her school training when she became a licensed practitioner.
Jin’s naming the shop Moon’s Acupuncture after her last name was purely a coincidence.
Autumn’s grandmother insisted there was no such thing as a coincidence. Jin must have foreseen Autumn’s roll in running the shop after he no longer could. Perhaps, but then maybe her uncle just had a thing for the moon. She looked around her shop at her uncle’s chosen artwork. Photos of the moon phases, prints of the full moon and oils depicting the moon as the main focus. Her grandmother also believed Autumn had contracted a cold so she’d be spared from her parents’ fate. Autumn didn’t buy into the superstitious nonsense.
Autumn placed her purse behind the counter where her glass jars of herbs decorated the long wall. The phone rang and she picked it up, leaning against the counter. “Hello Grandmother. Yes, yes I’m fine. Yes, I stopped at the coffee shop this morning and no one accosted me.” Autumn wished she could have kept her strange encounter with the moon-cake-thief to herself, but she’d been left with no choice since she had to tell Mr. Sying why she didn’t have the package. Of course, she left out the part about the mind-shattering kiss. “I guess the guy only liked your pastries.” She chuckled then cleared her throat. “Sorry Grandmother, I know, I know. That wasn’t funny. Don’t worry. I’m fine. I need to gather a few things for my booth and I’ll be locking up. I love you, too.” She hung up the phone.
“Close family.”
Autumn jumped at the sound of the man’s voice. She knew it was him even before she turned around, but seeing the tall brooding man with hair, thick like the devil’s dark velvet still made her heart skip a beat. “How did you get in here?”
“I have my ways.” He gave her a careless shrug.
He had a slight accent, betraying his Irish heritage. She missed that yesterday, but he’d been more intent on shoving his tongue down her throat than talking. “Working on a criminal record are we?” She backed away, feeling beneath the counter for the button that would summon the police.
“Don’t do it.”
She froze. “What?”
“Call the police. Hear me out and then I’ll leave.”
“Okay,” she said carefully.
He grinned, but the smile didn’t quite meet his eyes. “I just want the package.”
“You took the moon cakes yesterday. If you want more, you’ll have to buy them like everyone else—at the bakery.”
“You know that isn’t what I mean. You’re a real corker, lady. I bet you had a real good laugh.”
“Frankly mister I don’t find any of this humorous. I have no idea what you’re after, but it’s obvious you have the wrong person.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I need to speak to Dr. Jin Lei. Do you know where I can find him?”
“My uncle?” She lifted her brows.
“He owns this place doesn’t he?”
“He did. He passed away. What exactly are looking for? Maybe I can help.” The man was obviously a lunatic. The full moon brought out the worst and they were still two days shy of the full moon.
“He’s dead?” The look on his face changed to disbelief then shock over the discovery. If Autumn didn’t know better, she’d think he was frightened. He ran his hand through his hair. “That can’t be right. She said, Chinatown. She was insistent that I come here.”
“Who told you to come here?”
His gaze locked onto hers. “She told me I would find the elixir of life. I assumed the acupuncturist, your uncle would have it here. It made sense. Look at the herbs you have and concoctions of every sort.” He waved his hand around the room, indicating the shelves lined with bottles.
“Did you say the elixir of life?”
“Aye. Do you know how to make it?”
“You aren’t serious?” Her lips twitched and a husky laugh of amusement escaped. “You do realize the story is a Chinese legend. It isn’t real.”
****
Jairec pinned her down with his gaze. “All legends have a bit of the truth to them.”
“Is that so?”
He heard the humor in her voice and knew she only patronized him, but he had to make her believe him. Time was running out for him. Such a pretty woman with long dark hair and forest green eyes, he’d be loathed to find out he’d killed her once the change was completed. “Your uncle must have told you about the cure.”
“He instructed me on many cures but none that would give a person eternal life. That’s mad.”
“I don’t want eternal life. Trust me, it isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. I want my life back. Two days ago, I might have agreed with you that what I ask is crazy, but now I believe anything is possible. I have to because my life depends on it.”
“Okay.” She drew out the word, eyeing him warily.
He knew she didn’t believe him. He wouldn’t in her place, but he had to convince her. “Do you know anything about vampires, the chiang-shih as the Chinese call them?”
“What? Are you going to tell me another story?”
“Bloody hell, just answer the question.”
“Of course I know what a chiang-shih is. I had slumber parties, but I outgrew believing in them when I turned twelve.”
“Enlighten me.”
She took an exasperated breath. “The Chinese believe that a person has two souls. One soul can leave the body and roam the earth.”
“Go on.”
“If the two souls aren’t reunited the body dies and the soul will
roam the earth forgetting the human aspects, turning toward a more animalistic way of life, craving the essence of the living.”
“Blood, the essence of life.”
“Sure. Whatever.” Her shoulder lifted in a shrug. “What does this have to do with my uncle or me for that matter?”
His gaze lingered over her. She squirmed, but didn’t look away. “Everything. I’m afraid you’re in danger now. I’ve tasted you.”
“Excuse me.”
“The kiss.”
“One kiss doesn’t—”
“I know how your heart beats.” He placed his hand on his chest, tapping. “Thump-thump—thump-thump. I’m a vampire, a chiang-shih and I have two days to reunite my souls.”
She stared at him for a blink of second before she turned and headed for the front door while mumbling under her breath. “You are a lunatic. Too bad, too, because you’re a good-looking guy, not to mention a great kisser, but having a screw loose is where I draw the line. I’ve listened to what you had to say. Now I think you better leave.”
He moved fast, faster than a human. He stood, leaning against the front door as if he’d been standing there all along.
She stopped in her tracks, turned around to make sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her and that he truly had materialized in front of the door. He knew his movements would spook her, but he didn’t have time for delicacy. He needed her to believe him.
“Holy, holy—how did you do that?” She looked at him again. “Are you some kind of magician?”
“I told you—vampire.”
She backed up a step. “Okay, say you are. The chiang-shih of legend is known to have a hideous green phosphorescent glow about it, serrated teeth and long talons. You don’t have any of that. Where are your fangs? Huh?” She whirled around to flee, but he was there in front of her, blocking her way.
She opened her mouth to scream but he was quicker. He kissed her—again. He was a vampire and most of the time he craved blood, but with her he craved her mouth—among other things. He plundered, taking and damn if the woman didn’t respond. She may be afraid of him but there was a connection between them, something that bonded them. She had to be the answer to his prayers. He lifted his head. “Please don’t be afraid of me, lass. I don’t want to harm you. Don’t scream and I’ll prove to you I’m not lying.”
She nodded. Her eyes still wide with fear or passion. He wasn’t sure which.
He opened his mouth, barring his two incisors longer and pointier than the others.
“Holy, holy—” Her gaze riveted to his. “You’re telling me the truth.”
“Aye and I need your help.” He released her, sensing she wouldn’t run.
“Listen, Fang Boy, not that I don’t sympathize with your plight, but I don’t know what I could do to help.”
“There must be a cure, a mixture that will reverse this before I …” He swallowed hard. “Lose my humanity. It’s already difficult.”
“What? Do you want to suck people’s blood? Do you want mine?”
He looked at her and he knew he couldn’t hide the wicked gleam in his eyes.
“Oh my God, you do.” Her hand flew to her neck.
“I hear heart beats drumming in my head, calling me. I hear yours, but I also want you. I feel this inner hunger, this need to touch you.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’m horny as hell. I don’t know if I want to take your blood or make love to you.”
“Horny? Yeah, I kinda got that.”
She glanced down at the bulge in his pants and if vampires could blush, he was sure he’d turned a nice shade of red.
“It seems some of the legend of chiang-shih still runs true,” she commented, making him wonder what she meant. “I’m glad you still have some human control, Fang Boy. Are you able to cross water?”
He didn’t have the chance to answer. The bell chimed on her door and a man walked in.
“Get rid of him,” he warned.
“Don’t threaten me, Fang-boy. Besides, I can’t. It’s Yi. He’ll be suspicious if I usher him out the door.”
Jairec wanted to know who Yi was to her. Someone close by the way the bastard let his gaze slide up and down her as if she were a tasty morsel. A low growl vibrated in the back of his throat. It shocked him and he covered his mouth with a cough. She frowned at him. Her expression clearly stating he’d better behave.
“We’re not through here,” Autumn hissed as she turned toward the door with a smile. “Yi, what brings you here this morning?”
Yi was twenty-something and stood nearly six feet tall with dark hair. His dark eyes pierced right through a person.
Jairec lifted his chin and stared back.
“Who’s he?” Yi shrugged his head at Jairec.
“Oh … that’s uh … Mr. Fang.”
Jairec’s lips twitched, but he managed not to smile.
He doesn’t look Chinese.”
“I don’t look Irish, but my father was, so that makes me half,” Autumn countered back.
So she was Irish as well. That would account for the green eyes, Jairec thought.
Yi harrumphed. “Your grandmother asked me to check on you.”
“I told her I was fine.”
“She said you had some trouble yesterday.” Yi eyed Jairec with suspicion.
“It was probably some homeless guy and he smelled Grandmother’s moon cakes. No harm.”
“Hmmm. Still I’ll walk with you.”
“Sure. Let me get my things.” She nervously looked at Yi then Jairec.
Jairec let her off the hook. “I’ll be by later for—my session.”
She nodded. “Good. Stay out of trouble, Mr. Fang.”
He approached her and took her hand. “Please call me Jairec.”
She smiled. “Jairec.”
“May I call you …”
“Autumn,” she told him.
“Dr. Moon to you,” Yi chimed in obviously not liking how close they stood.
“Autumn Moon,” Jairec rolled the name off his tongue, realizing the significance of what it meant. “You’re the one.”
“Excuse me?”
“Until later.” He kissed the top of her hand then headed for the front door. He felt Yi’s gaze follow him out. Yi had the right not to trust him, but he disliked the guy all the same.
He pulled the sweatshirt’s hood over his head, wondering as he did so how long it would be before he wouldn’t be able to tolerate the sun.
Chapter Five
“I swear I met Mr. Fang somewhere before—if Fang is even his name. I don’t like him,” Yi told her as he watched Jairec cross the street.
“You don’t know him.”
“Neither do you.” He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. “Do you?”
“Don’t worry so much Yi.” She rolled her eyes. “Mr. Fang is a client. You do realize I see patients here.”
“Hmm, yes I know, but I do worry all the same. You’re a beautiful woman, Autumn and men will want to take advantage of you.”
“If a problem arises, I’ll handle the situation.” She turned away, but he reached for her, gripping her shoulders so she’d look at him.
“You know how I feel about you.”
She did know, but she didn’t feel the same way about him. He wanted a submissive Chinese woman who looked pretty by his side and didn’t speak her mind. She didn’t fit the mold, never had, but Yi refused to see it. “Yi let’s not go there, okay.”
He let his hands fall away to his side. “I can take care of you.”
“I’m perfectly able to take care of myself.”
He harrumphed. “I want to marry you, Autumn. Our families would be happy with the match.”
“No doubt,” she mumbled as she turned away.
“What did you say?”
“I’m not ready for marriage.”
“When will you be?”
If anything, Yi was persistent. She met his gaze, his eyes betraying his feelings for her. Why couldn’t he understand
, she didn’t want to marry him. They didn’t belong together. “I don’t know. Maybe never. You shouldn’t wait for me, Yi. You need to find someone else who will appreciate you.”
Yi took her bag from her. “Can I help it that I set my eyes on you?” He kissed the top of her head. “I can wait for you to be ready.”
“Yi—”
“Shush.” He placed a finger on her lips, silencing her words. “You say you don’t want to marry me.”
She nodded her head.
“I’ll have to change your mind then won’t I?”
Chapter Six
Satisfied that Autumn was safely delivered at her grandparent’s bakery, Yi left to open his antique shop. He promised to stop by later. She hoped he wouldn’t.
The bell overhead rang as Autumn stepped over the threshold. Her grandmother, Mei Lei was four-foot eleven and slim. She’d turned sixty-seven on her last birthday and her hair was still dark as night with only a few gray strands peeking through her bun. She wore a long traditional gown with a floral print for the weekend’s festivities. Autumn stuck to her jeans, but her sleeveless blouse had a Mandarin collar, giving it an oriental flair. Lilies and roses of fuchsia and periwinkle adorned the cream-colored blouse and there was a drawstring on the left side, raising it high on her slim hip.
“Autumn, I thought you were heading over to the booth.”
“I can head over there later. Loann and Bruce should be there now. I thought you might need some help.”
“I do. The parade starts at eleven and I need to have the pastries at the booth soon or we won’t be able to get by the crowds.”
“Does Grandfather have the truck out back?”
“Yes. I also made some fortune cookies, too. I don’t know why tourists demand to have them as if they’re some great Chinese delicacy. The Chinese didn’t even know what they were until Golden Gate Fortune Cookies opened their doors in 1962. If they want tradition, we could put little idiotic notes in the moon cakes as the Chinese patriots did to fool the Mongolian rulers. Now that would be authentic.”
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