"Are you thinking this is Lorelei's doing?" Bram asked.
"I don't know, but we shouldn't rule her out. Whatever is going on, it keeps leading back to Eternal Bliss. Makes me think either the Lamia or the Draugr has a beef with me."
"I'll see what I can find out," Bram said. "Also since you're masquerading as Mr. Green, I think it would be an excellent idea to fix the database at hunter's central with a nice and pretty photo of you instead of the real Mr. Green's face."
"It was on my list to ask you about it."
Bram snorted, but Tremayne ignored him. "This might help," Tremayne said. "He slipped his hand into his pocket and handed him Green's wallet, which housed some of the guy's personal information, like his driver's license.
"That's it!" Sheerin slammed his hand on the counter, making both Bram and Tremayne peer at him. "I think I have an answer to your dilemma, Tremayne."
His brows rose. "And which dilemma are we referring to exactly?"
"If you're going to play hunter, you need to act the part and walk in the daylight."
"Aye, but I fancy my pale hide. Going up in flames is not a way I'd like to leave this world."
"That's just it," Sheerin said, his light eyes glowing brighter than usual. "I've been working on a serum to allow us to venture out in the sun."
"Of course you have," Tremayne murmured.
"It's not perfected," Sheerin continued, completely ignoring his snarky remark, "and by no means will you be able to spend hours sunbathing, but if need be, you could make the hunter believe you are as human as she is." He grinned and continued to blather on about a formula he'd been working on, among other things.
Tremayne only heard, blah, blah, blah… as Sheerin rattled off Latin words or what sounded like Latin words.
"Those ingredients will perfect the serum," Sheerin finished.
"Yeah, boyo," Tremayne said, "that didn't make a lick of sense to me."
"But are you game?" Sheerin asked.
Had there been the question to what he was game for? His mind had wandered. "For what?"
"To try out the formula. Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying?"
He ran a hand through his hair. It wasn't that he didn't trust Sheerin, but really? Walk in the sun? "Why not?" he found himself saying and wished he'd bitten his tongue. He glanced at Bram who was shaking his head. "What?"
"You just volunteered to be his Guinea pig," Bram said. "I don't know, I think you'd have better odds of surviving if you just tell the hunter you're a vampire."
Chapter Eight
Lorelei Rivers swam to the surface and broke the water beside La Belle Dame, the name of the yacht she'd purchased over six months ago. Her lips curved as she recalled the poet she'd inspired to pen such memorable romantic poems. Her hands gripped the railing and she shifted from her Otherworldy form to her human existence as she stepped on board. She was long legged, curvy in all the right places, and she possessed a face worthy of a goddess—or so her many admirers had often claimed.
She spotted Gunthorn as he stepped out of the shadows and handed her a silk robe. "I trust your swim was satisfactory?" he asked.
The Draugr was an original vampire of Viking blood – big, blonde, and ruthless. He was also a serial killer, but not everyone was perfect. He kept his killings discreet and he helped to dispose of her victims once she had her fill. In exchange, she supplied the funds so he could keep a low profile when he went hunting. A perfect partnership—for now.
She tied the robe at her waist and then padded toward the door that led to the cabin below. "It was most refreshing," she said, as Gunthorn followed her. "Did you leave the hunter where I asked you to put him?" she asked as he moved toward the bed.
"I did. Only the GOJ didn't find the body, Tremayne Greer – that's the name he's using now –decided to throw out the trash and must have picked up the hunter's scent. The corpse was beginning to smell like rotting fish."
Her gaze riveted to his and her talons lengthened, but she harnessed in her anger before she lost control. "Dammit," she hissed. " Her cleverly thought out plan ended up being flawed. Tremayne always was unpredictable. "What did he do with the body?"
"Tossed it in the ocean. Took the hunter's belongings though – mobile and wallet. He called someone, but not sure who, since I watched him from afar. Didn't want him sniffing the air and detecting another vampire lurking near.
"Yes, it wouldn't have boded well for you," she said. "I thought the hunter's death would propel the GOJ into looking into Tremayne's affairs and of course lead them to the other killings. Now we have to try something else."
"Why do you waste your time on Tremayne of Graystone?"
"It's payback for what he did to me."
"Then why not just kill him and be done with it?"
She glanced at Gunthorn. "Do you not play with your victims before you end their lives?"
He harrumphed. "That is different. It's all about the hunt and capture. I'm a predator. The humans are prey. It's as simple as that."
"So that is why you keep trophies?"
His gaze riveted to the dresser, where a secret compartment lay behind.
Lorelei chuckled. "I didn't touch your prizes. You have quite a collection though."
Gunthorn obviously didn't trust her and went to inspect if she told the truth. He leaned down and pressed the button. The latch sprung and the door opened. His irises glowed red as he feasted his eyes on his trophies, and a hint of a smile curved his lips as if he were reminiscing on how he'd acquired each piece. Pathetic. Once she had her fill with her victims, she just moved on, discarded the old and took in the new.
She glanced at the bed where her latest talented young man lay handcuffed to the headboard. A white silk gag pressed against Tony Maillard's mouth and kept the young man's screams from being overheard. It would put a damper on things if someone came to the rescue. She liked to be alone with her lovers.
"Do you have another prospect lined up for me?" she asked Gunthorn.
Gunthorn peeked around the door to his trophy alcove with a scarf to his nose. He had jewelry of all kinds – bracelets, rings, necklaces – pieces worth a small fortune, but it seemed he favored scarves. "Spotted a young man that may fit the bill," Gunthorn told her. "He plays the guitar."
"Good. Find out if he has family that'll miss him. We must be bolder if we are to draw the attention of the GOJ."
"I'll look into it."
"Leave us now," Lorelei said as she undid the belt of her robe and let it slide over her body to pool at her feet on the floor. "Once I inspire Tony, we'll go to the hotel where he can pen his last great piece for the paper."
Gunthorn nodded. "As you wish."
Tony shook his head, his brown eyes wide with terror as he tried to scoot away. He wouldn't fear her for long. They never did.
Her hands cupped Tony's face. "Now, now, don't be afraid. I only want to please you, and make your writing worthwhile. Haven't your articles moved to the front page of the paper? It's what you wanted." She removed the gag.
"Untie me," Tony said and he sounded as if he had a choice in the matter.
Lorelei smiled. "Dear sweet author of words, what fun would it be if I untied you?" She scooted onto the bed and straddled him. He squirmed beneath her but not for long. Her smile widened. "See you're already happy for me to help."
"I don't want to die," Tony choked on his words, and tried to move, but he realized it only proved her point. He didn't want her to go. Not really.
"We all die sometime," Lorelei said as her hand caressed his cheek. "But while we're here," she fell forward with her hands bracing herself on either side of his head, "we should leave our mark. I'll give that to you in exchange for this." She leaned forward and bestowed a kiss, one that would drug him, bind him to her will. "When she released him, she looked into his daze-filled eyes. "Will you let me help you, Tony?"
"Yeah," he whispered in a choked voice.
"I knew you'd see it my way," she said befo
re she lengthened her fangs and drove them into his neck.
Chapter Nine
Back at the hotel, Cassandra kicked off her boots and grabbed her laptop sitting on the small table near the nook and opened it. As she waited for the screen to light up so she could enter her password, she grabbed the bread and peanut butter on the counter behind her. She was glad she thought ahead and rented a room with a kitchenette and a refrigerator. She didn't know how long she'd be in town, but she had no desire to hunt down food every night. She'd pick up a few more groceries tomorrow morning.
Once she had her sandwich on whole wheat bread, she grabbed the computer and made herself comfortable on the bed, leaning against the pillows she had propped against the headboard.
Tremayne and she were off to a good start in finding the target or rather targets. They lucked out big time. Hashasheen demons weren't known to share, but then the one she'd cornered had been bargaining for his life. Good thing, he'd been stupid enough to believe she'd let him live, especially after she'd seen his photo collection in his wallet.
She took a bite of her sandwich as she typed the word Lamia and hit the return button. She would have never thought to look for such a creature. She'd only read about them when she'd been forced to study the different creatures hunters destroyed through the ages. She had yet to meet one face to face, and never thought she would since the creatures chose victims on the open sea. Call it sick curiosity, but she couldn't help but be a tad excited at the prospect.
A portrait of a Lamia looming over a ship popped up on her screen. She scanned the information printed below the print about the myth and lore of the creature as she finished off her sandwich.
She would have to access maps of the Hamptons, focusing on the wharf and the buildings close by. The Lamia may be drawn to the water, but she was finding her victims on land. If a vamp was helping her out, maybe they owned a place near the wharf or perhaps a boathouse. She'd have to find out which boats contained living quarters.
Her phone rang and she reached for it on the nightstand, wondering which one of her three brothers was calling her this time. The phone number flashed on the screen and she smiled. She slid her thumb over the 'accept' icon and pressed 'speaker' so she had her hands free to use the computer and chat with her brother at the same time. "Hello, Derek," she said as she typed in a new search.
"Hey, Cass. Wade called me and said you needed some info on the case you're working on."
"Yep, what did you find out?"
"Still gathering what the Preternatural Regulating Bureau has about the case. It's been a little sketchy if you ask me. The vamp you're looking for has lived there for a while and owns a business."
"A name would be great. There are a lot of businesses."
"Don't have it yet, but you won't be looking for a new guy. You'll be searching for a vamp that is at ease among the humans. And Cass, he's working with a Lamia."
"Already up on that too."
"How?"
"Ran into a demon who wagged his tongue."
"Jesus, Cass."
"Don't worry, Tremayne had my back."
"Who?"
"Sorry," she said, realizing her brother wouldn't know about Gerard Green's undercover situation. "Mr. Green is Tremayne. He's been relocated to the Hamptons from one of the UK based Preternatural Regulating Bureaus. He's working undercover at a pub called Eternal Bliss."
"Oh?" Her brother was silent for a moment. "Not a bad cover. Wouldn't want the locals to become suspicious of him lurking about as he tries to hunt down preternatural beings."
"Yeah. He seems…"
"What?"
"I dunno… different than I expected."
He chuckled. "Is that a good thing or not?"
Her thoughts went to the kiss they'd shared. Firm lips and yet they were not unresponsive. Passionate. Heck, hot even. Yep, Tremayne was a damn good kisser.
"Cassandra? Are you still there?"
"Uh… I'm still trying to figure him out."
"As long as he has your back that's all you need to know about him. Hopefully, you won't be there long. Get rid of the vamp and the Lamia and say your goodbyes."
She should follow his advice, but what if she wanted to know Tremayne better… as a man… not just as a hunter. She should have never kissed him.
"How did Mom and Dad do it?" she asked Derek.
"Do what?"
"Have a marriage, raise the four of us…"
"How should I know? I can't juggle having a girlfriend and working."
"Not even when you escaped to high school?"
Her brother choked on a laugh. "No one escapes to high school, Cass."
"You did. Mom and Dad wouldn't let me go, even when I begged. I hated being schooled at the hunters' academy. I had a hunch attending a real high school was out because of you. What happened there?"
"Nothing happened." He sighed. "I went for the experience. When it was over I came home."
She didn't believe him. She'd hear him sneak out of the house in the middle of the night when he thought everyone was asleep. She'd thought he was meeting someone, but she spied him in the backyard, chatting on the phone. Instinct told her he was speaking to a girl. His voice had changed when he talked and he laughed and joked with whoever was on the other line. The real cincher was when he said: I love you, too.
When their parents forced him to leave school, he moped for months and no matter how she tried to find out what went down, he wouldn't open up to her.
"I should let you get some sleep," Derek interrupted her thoughts.
"Yeah, sure."
"Stay safe," he said.
"Stay safe." She placed her phone back on the end table. She stared at the computer not in the mood now to read about the evil doings of the Lamia, but forced herself to do so anyway.
Eventually her thoughts returned to Tremayne and the kiss. She'd liked the feel of his lips. Then again the man had been banished to the States because he knew how to seduce a woman. "I'm a fool," she reprimanded herself. Tremayne may be a hunter, but he was a man first and foremost.
"But you initiated the kiss, not him," she reminded herself. "Yeah, I'm a fool. Play with fire and you're bound to get burned." She'd never been one to listen to reason. No, she had to touch the flame to make sure it was truly hot.
Chapter Ten
Tremayne had been thinking about Sheerin's suggestion. All he had to do is take one of Sheerin's experimental drugs and he would be able to walk in the sun. "Or I could fry," Tremayne murmured. But if anyone could come up with a way for vampires to walk in the sun, Sheerin was the mad scientist for the job.
He entered his house and Shakespeare came bounding toward him with two quick barks for a greeting. His lips curved as he waited for him. The big hound dog didn't disappoint him. Seventy-five pounds of loveable beast came barreling toward him at full speed. He braced himself for the impact.
"Rrrruff-ruff", Shakespeare added as he slobbered all over him. Yeah, he loved this big guy. Black, tan and white fur marked his hound, making him a beautiful dog in all respects, but then he could be biased.
"Missed you, too," he said with a chuckle as Shakespeare showered him with more doggie kisses. "Are you ready to go for your walk, lad?"
Shakespeare's tail wagged with enthusiasm, the thump-thump against the hardwood floor for his answer. Yep, he was ready. He opened the door and Shakespeare bounded outside toward the beach. He followed his hound at a leisurely pace toward the waterfront. This was his land, his part of the beach, which had been deemed private property when he purchased the estate decades ago. Beachfront property represented his front yard and a forest lined the back.
His house had large paned windows and all were tinted to keep the sun out without hampering his beautiful view. Another invention Sheerin perfected for the sept. The vampire genius had many inventions, and he hadn't dried up on ideas yet.
Steel panels were installed on each of the windows also, just in case of an emergency. Access buttons were on the wa
ll next to the light switches in every room, and one at his desk in the study. He believed on being cautious especially when the sun's rays could prove detrimental to his welfare.
His gaze followed Shakespeare as he ran up and down the beach, chasing the water as if he could catch the waves. Tremayne loved the Hamptons. He had his pub, his home, and his dog. What else did he need? He sighed, knowing exactly what was missing.
It had been a long time since he had a serious relationship, but he'd given up hoping for one. They never lasted. Something was always missing.
Once he'd been in love with a human. Or at least he believed it to be true. It was centuries ago when he'd been a youth and on the verge of going through his change. The ritual required the male to drink their mate's blood to mature into adulthood. Without the blood, they would wither away and die.
Breena had been her name, a dark-haired beauty with eyes the color of the sea. She gave her life so he could live. For shame, he hadn't thought about her in a long time.
He kept pace with Shakespeare as he frolicked at the water's edge. The moon stood high in the sky with the stars just as bright. His thoughts returned to Sheerin and his claim to have a serum to allow him to walk in the sun.
He never brooded over being a vampire—as the humans now called his kind. He was, an original, born from Oiche Sith parents. He loved the night, but to chance a few hours in the sun would be just short of a miracle and one he'd have a difficult time refusing. He could debate the pros and cons all he wanted, but he knew he'd chance it. Not just out of curiosity sake, but for a possibility to learn more about Cassandra Hayes. Walking in the sun, would keep her from suspecting he was anything other than a human. If he kept insisting they meet at night, her hunter's radar would go off big time.
Was it crazy to want to get to know a hunter who would sooner stake him than strike up a friendship? Oh aye, but he had a hunch Cassandra Hayes would prove well worth the ride into Looneyville.
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