by Vicki Cross
“Good,” he replied reaching for his Sheriff hat off the night stand. He grabbed his keys and wallet as well and sat on the edge of the bed. He quickly put on his boots and walked around the bed to give me a kiss.
“We’ll talk when I get back,” he smiled and kissed my lips.
“Okay,” I agreed.
I watched as Jude made his way out of the room and listened for the start of his truck. I hated to see him leave and got the sinking feeling that we wouldn’t be seeing each other again tonight.
Jude
Twenty-five miles outside of Pearl was a small town known as Richland. Only a few roads led the way to it, and the simplest of Old Hwy 49. The night’s air was humid and relaxing as I made my way to the crime scene. I could see the lights from a few of the police cars flashing their blues and reds, and the coroner vehicle parked to the left.
It was nearly four a.m. when I parked near the coroner van and turned off my truck. I ran a hand through my hair before placing my hat over it.
Making my way towards the body which still lay outside the vehicle, partially covered with only the legs hanging out. I knew right away it was a woman’s body, by the small of her ankles, and the light blue tennis shoes she was wearing.
I was immediately greeted by the Sheriff of Richland as I approached the scene.
“Morning to you, Sheriff Monroe” older man replied extending a hand to me. His belly was round and his eyes sunken into his face with dark circles under his eyes. It seemed as though he hadn’t slept for days.
“Nice to meet you. And you…are? I asked extending my hand to meet his.
“Sheriff Boise” he quickly added.
“So what do we have here?” I questioned looking at the deputies and then back to him.
“Well,” the coroner began before stepping away to the body and up to us. “Looks like she was straggled by the marks around her neck. From the coloring in her face, I’d say she lost some blood…unfortunately, I don’t see any open wounds.”
Vampires. I could tell their work. Never drained the victim completely, but always just enough to get their fill. “How long has she been-,”
“Dead?” he interjected. “Oh, I’d put it at about a week or so.” The coroner added.
I shifted my weight to one side and took off my hat. The night’s heat was getting to me, and I could feel the trickle of sweat making its way down my forehead.
Wiping my brow with the back of forearm, I moved over to the girl and knelt down beside the sheet to get a good look. The girl’s clothes were intact, so it was clear she wasn’t sexually assaulted. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, and she looked young. Twenty-two at the most. Poor girl. But I didn’t recognize her. I knew pretty much everyone in the town, and I would have remembered her.
“Who is the car registered to?” I questioned placing the sheet back over the girl’s body.
“Mary-Anne Shields,” Sheriff Boise answered.
I let the name toss about my brain for a few moments. I knew of the Shields, but not May-Anne. From my understanding, the Shields were an older couple in Pearl that usually kept to themselves. Nice folks, that would always say hello when you passed them.
“Well do you recognize her?” Sheriff Boise asked as he made his way towards me.
I shook my head no. “No. But if she’s related to the Shields, I’d say she could be their grand-daughter.”
He seemed pleased with my answer and kicked a rock to the side before placing his hand on his hip and next to his gun.
I stood up, brushed the dirt from my knee and placed my hat back on my head. “I’ll get the Shields together to see if they can identify her. Where will you send the body?”
“Well, we’ll keep it here for now.” The coroner answered.
“Sounds good, I’ll head back to the station and make a report and I’ll bring the Shields up here personally.”
They all nodded in agreement and I made my way back to my truck. I knew that this was the work of vampires, which meant they were getting closer to Pearl. If they’re weren’t there yet, they would be soon.
Chapter 10
Sebastian
I watched her eyes flutter in her deep sleep. She is beautiful in every way. Her brown skin glows in the moonlight, and all I want to do is reach out to her. She reminds me of Lou in every way. But I push the thought of her out of my mind. I couldn’t afford to think of her, not now. Too many people want me dead and she wouldn’t be able to protect herself. I couldn’t protect her.
She reeks of him. His scent has taken over her entire body and I do everything I can to not rip apart this house brick by brick. I want to hurt him; I want to punish him for touching my Lou. My Lou. I pinch my nose in frustration. Shay wasn’t Lou but for me she would become her. If only in my mind.
Shay’s eyes instantly fly open as she is becoming aware of my presence.
“Sebastian,” she calls out as she sits up in the bed grabbing at the blankets to make sure she isn’t revealing anything. I smile wickedly leaning in the chair with my ankle to my knee.
“So this is where I find you?” I say not at all surprised. I knew she would run to him; I knew her father words would only push her towards him. The moonlight now casted a shadow over her face and I couldn’t help but want her. In dark, I could swear she was Lou.
“W-what are you doing here?” she shrieks clearly terrified of me. It disgusted me to know that she was afraid. I wanted her to welcome me, and know that I wouldn’t hurt her.
“I’ve come for you of course,” I reply amused by her silhouette.
“Not until I say goodbye to Jude,” she shakes her head moving back against the headboard.
I laugh and toss her the dress. “Oh I think you’ve said your goodbye.” “I’m just disappointed he got to you first.”
She arches an eyebrow and I revel in her frustration. She saw me as a monster, I knew this from the first day we met. If a monster is what she wanted, a monster is what she would get.
“Get dress,” I command rising to my feet.
“I’m not leaving without saying-,”
“You have no choice!” I yell moving to the bed in one quick and fluid motion.
She jumps back as my eyes narrow on her and I can’t help but look at the way the sheets flows across her body. Her eyes follow my movements and she turns away from me. Her rejection causes a burning anger inside me. I hated to use force, but if she pushed me hard enough, I could throw her across my shoulders like a wild ape, naked or not. The thought pleases me and I can’t help but let out a low chuckle.
Her eyes widen and I can see she wants to challenge me. This gives me a bit of satisfaction and I want her to force my hand. Force me to do exactly what I’m thinking and I could promise she would get the monster she so desperately wanted.
“I-I,” she stutters as I move closer to her let my weight shift in the bed.
“You’re mine,” I remind her.
“But I choose Jude,” she cries out.
I let out a low rumble of a laughter then inch myself even closer. “No, you let that human use you.”
She pushes at me and moves away from me.
“He didn’t use me. We love each other.”
I grab her by the wrist and pull her close to my body and she fights against me. “You may love him Lou, but you belong to me.”
Her struggling stops and I release her. She turns to me and give me a confused and puzzling look, while I swear under my breath.
“Who is Lou?” she questions as her grip on her sheet relaxes.
“Get ready,” I tell her, ignoring her question with my own request.
“Who is she?” she repeats.
I move my hand through my hair and let out a heavy sigh. “I won’t ask again,” I say stepping towards ready to take her with me with only the blanket around her body.
“Close your eyes,” she tells me trying to hide her fear, but I oblige and step away from the bed. The sounds of the springs giving way to her moving about th
e mattress lets me know that she is changing. I want to peak. The monster inside me wants to see her and find out if she compares to her. She sighs as every motion cripples my senses and I couldn’t help but want her in arms.
“Okay,” she calls out. “I’m ready”
I open my eyes and see how the dress hugs her body. She is not Lou, but she would become her for me. Her lashes are wet from the tears she wants to fight but can’t. I reach out for her and pull her to my chest. I’m surprised by her lack of energy to fight me. Instead she shuts her eyes and I take her away.
Within seconds we’re standing in my bedroom Her eyes flutter open as she takes in her surroundings and when she realizes that she is holding on to me too tightly, she lets go and steps away.
“Why can’t I stay with my parents until the binding?” she questions taking a few steps away. She wants to create distance between us, and I allow her to. If only to stop the raging guilt I feel.
“They won’t keep you safe. Not like I can”
“I have a guardian to protect me.”
“No. You have me.” I corrected her.
“Jude-
“Is a human. He can’t protect you.”
“Why do you hate humans so much?” she folds her arms across her chest and shifts her weight to one side.
I still before her, as her question takes me off guard. I don’t hate them, but I understood how many of them wanted my kind dead. It wasn’t hate that drove me.
“I don’t,” I assure her. The sun begins to peak through the windows and we both must sleep soon. “We need to rejuvenate.” I tell her, while I pull the blinds down.
She eyes my bed and then looks back at me. I can sense her hesitation and I find myself smiling.
“Together?” she concludes.
“Would that be so bad?” I ask her moving my way back towards her. Every step I take, she steps an equal amount back away from me, until the heels of her feet meet the wall next to my bed. I place my hands against the wall on either side of her and she immediately draws in a breath.
“Are you afraid of me?” I whisper bending my head low so that our lips nearly brush together.
She turns her head away and looks towards the bed. “Was Lou?” she responds. My hands quickly turn into fist as I try to hold down my anger. Her eyes widen when she sees my bawled up fist and I know she thinks I will hurt her. I scoff and shake my head in disappointment. She thinks she has me all figured out. A monster who comes to take her from the man she loves.
“Lou was never afraid,” I finally answer. I take a few steps back and mumble under my breath.
As if she could read my mind she instantly reaches out to me and I can see that she realizes she has struck a nerve with me. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I don’t know who she was to you and I shouldn’t have said that.”
I nod in agreement but step out of her reach. I didn’t need or want an apology from her. I just wanted her to understand that we were both making sacrifices. Now wasn’t the time to tell her about my plan. I would do it once she had enough time to rest and then I will hopefully open her eyes to what she thought she knew about me.
“Get some rest,” I tell her heading towards the door. “If you need me, I will be in my office.” I shut the door behind me and make my way down the long spiral staircase where Eli is waiting for me.
“How is she?” he asks following me towards my office.
“Afraid,” I answer trying to not show my annoyance.
“Does she know about our plan?”
“Not yet. She will once she is fully rested.” I reply. We both enter my office and he quickly makes his way towards my desk with something in his hand. I hadn’t noticed it at first too blindsided my anger.
“Good.” He looks uneasy and I can tell that he has bad news for me. I knew my brother very well, and whenever he had to give me bad news he always stood a good distance away.
“What is it?” I demanded.
He clears his throat and hands me the blood stained letter. “Two of our huntsman were murdered this evening. One of the men found this letter stapled to their chest.”
I unfolded the letter and read it aloud.
Sebastian,
Let the death of your two Huntsmen serve as a reminder that death finds us all, my dear son. I’m coming for you.
I crumble the piece of paper up and throw into the fire. I’m restless. I have been for days. Two of my huntsmen end of up dead. He wouldn’t come after me directly, instead he would try to claw his way to me by cutting down my men. But I knew better than that. To kill a snake, you head to go right for its head. My father had very few weaknesses he wanted very little in this world. With both his son’s against him, he wanted nothing more but life. He would try to take from me what is mine and hurt those that I cared about. I was willing to die for my cause. Was he?
Chapter 11
Jude
“Open the door, Henry” I shout pounding on the large wooden door. After talking to the Shields and taking them to identify the body of the missing girl, I came back home to find Shay missing. No note, or text message. Just her gone from my bed and her lovely warmth with her.
I wanted to kick it in, and break every window to get to Shay. He was testing my patience and I was too fed up to use common sense. He took her away from me. It was his fault that she was gone. I must’ve sent Shay dozens of text messages asking where she was and what happened. After no response, I knew why she came crying to my house last night.
The twisting of the door handle made me step back and I waited for him to come out. But it wasn’t him that answered it was Shay’s aunt Sheila.
“Oh sweetie,” she began with her hand on her hip. “You must learn to let things go,” she warned.
“Where is Henry?” I shouted not in the mood to be chastised.
“You know; I’ve always liked you Jude. But I did try to warn Henry that you would fall in love with her. Of course, my big brother never listens well to me.” She sighed and leaned into the door way.
My patience was growing thin with her, and I couldn’t stand the smug look on her face. I could tell her she knew where she was, and she seemed pleased with keeping it from me.
“Where is she?” I questioned.
“Exactly where she is supposed to be,” she hissed back. She stepped out on the porch. “I’m sorry sweet Jude, but she has a duty to her kind and loving you is not one of them. I know he made you her guardian, and that makes you tied to her, but trust me when I say sweet boy, you need to let her go. Fine another girl, with your good looks it shouldn’t be a problem.”
It took every ounce of me to not push past her and enter the house.
“I love her,” I stated.
She nodded in agreement. “I know. It’s quite a beautiful thing. But you’ll meet another and over time your love for Shay will fade. You humans are simple that way.”
All my frustration led me to punch the wall behind her. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to think that my feelings in this didn’t matter. That they could just take her away from me and expected me to lie down and accept my fate.
“Well then,” she gasped. “I like you Jude, but don’t think for a second I’ll hesitate to use force,” she replied giving me a fierce look.
“She’s not safe with him,” I challenged.
“No, sweet boy, she is not safe with you. What can you do for her? All the powers from that mark won’t help you fight against Sebastian and his clan or those that want to hurt her and him. Use that head of yours, don’t let love make you blind.”
She began to fan herself as the heat was getting to her.
“Fuck!” I shout kicking at the banister and heading towards my truck.
Henry wouldn’t face me, but I was going to find her one way or another. I hoped back in my truck and headed towards Reed’s. I need to drink away my pain, perhaps I was exactly like my father.
A dark skinned black beauty entered the bar wearing a purple sundress and cowgirl boots. She l
ong wavy black hair flowed effortlessly across her shoulders and I she instantly reminded me of Shay. The way she swayed her hips as she walked to the bar had me missing Shay. It was no doubt that she was beautiful and she knew it.
“Howdy,” she replied to Sue as she leaned against the bar. She found a seat next to mine and smiled politely.
“Well hello there darlin’ I haven’t seen you around here before,” Sue replied sweetly. “What can I get ya?”
“Whiskey will do,” she answered.
“Whiskey it is,” Sue responded before turning her back to grab the whiskey off the shelf. She poured her the drink and placed a little napkin on the bar before setting the drink on top of it.
The mysterious woman took a sip before turning towards me. “Hello,” she greeted smiling from ear to ear. Even her smile had me thinking of Shay. Her lips were slightly smaller than Shay’s but round and plump nonetheless.
“Hi,” I added quickly, realizing that I was simply staring at her. She giggled and flipped her hair to the side revealing her soft brown shoulders. I wasn’t sure what part of me wanted to kiss that shoulder. The drunken part of the desperate need to replace Shay in my life. I turned away from her and took another swig of my whiskey. I let the warm liquor travel slowly down my throat, making sure I felt the heavy burn it brought with it.
Perhaps I’d turn into the drunk my father became. It would only be fitting. Lose the girl I loved, and now I sitting feeling sorry for myself. I was pathetic and it oozed from me. Shay’s father was right; I was only human even as her guardian I could only do so much to protect her. I took a heavy gulp from my glass and slammed it down on the bar.
“Another, Sue” I requested while wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Are you sure?” she questioned with a raised brow. Sue knew my father well, before he died he frequented this establishment quite often.
“Yes,” I grunted my temper raising. I didn’t want an argument, I just wanted another drink.
“I don’t know Jude, that’ll be your sixth glass.” she cautioned.
I gave her a hard frown and she sighed but poured me another.
“Maybe you should slow down there,” the woman acknowledged.