“Screw you,” I said, creeping closer. My hands twitched, filling up with more power.
His arm swung out, the swift and careless motion knocking over the two lit candles that sat on the shelf. They snuffed themselves out before causing any kind of damage. He shuffled back, pushing himself against the wall and the table. I had him cornered.
“You’re not such a tough guy now, are you?” Jude piped in from behind me.
I swung my head around and shot him a glare. “Jude,” my deep tone warned before turning back.
“Sheez, he’s an asshole, Kris. I couldn’t help myself,” Jude grumbled.
I ignored the man, the vampire, and the ghost gathered behind me, and I focused all my attention on the phantom. “How am I supposed to know if my sister’s okay? I need proof of life, at the very least.”
“I’m not playing your silly little games,” he said as he lunged to the left. The jerk almost made it past me, but I jumped, grabbing his shoe and wrenching his foot to the side. He let out a howl. Apparently, even though he didn’t own his host’s body, he still felt any pain inflicted against it like it was his own.
“Fucking bitch,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “Let me go.”
Rafe sauntered over with that notorious grin of his in place. His movements were lazy; his attitude, nonchalant. “Need any help?”
I grunted, “Nuh-uh. Got this.” I kept a vice-like grip on the phantom’s leg, applying more pressure every time the scumbag attempted to wrench it from me.
“All right, then. Thought I’d offer.” He all but hummed, leaning against the table. Well, good for him. At least, someone was getting a kick out of it.
“I’ll let you go as soon as you get Wolf back on the phone.” Man, that guy was strong. It was taking every bit of strength I had, plus my entire body weight, to keep him down. Suddenly, there was a tug at my waist. I kept the death grip I had on the bottom half of the phantom’s body while I looked over my shoulder to find Rush trying to yank me off the guy.
“Back off,” I ordered, while holding onto my squirming prey like a pit bull locked onto a bone.
Rush kept tugging on me. Rafe leaned over, and with a firm grip, grabbed Rush’s shoulder. “You heard the lady.”
The next thing I knew, the tugging stopped, but what followed wasn’t good. Rush turned, and with a full-throttle swing, punched Rafe square in his jaw—the lovely jaw I just made. I could hear it loud and clear when Rush’s knuckles made impact with Rafe’s chin. I cringed and ducked down as if it were my own face getting smashed in. I had no choice but to let the phantom underneath me go. He scrambled out of my grip and then tore off out the door before I could even say “boo.”
I cursed, hopped to my feet, and jumped in between the two guys squaring off on each other.
“I don’t know if I can take another second of this crap.” My arms trembled, and my hands pressed against both men’s chests, while I tried to hold the two of them apart. I looked at Rush. “Go home.”
He looked at me and his body relaxed, easing the pressure against my hand. I dropped my arms.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. There’s just something about him,” Rush sneered, his brows crunched together as he shot an agonizing look over my shoulder at the vampire behind me. “He rubs me the wrong way.”
“So you let that prick get away because Rafe rubs you wrong? Are you serious?”
“No, I went after your vampire because he grabbed me, and yes, because I can’t stand him. But I pulled you off the phantom because you were killing him.”
“I was what?”
“Your hands,” he said, pointing down at them. “They were draining him. Couldn’t you feel it?” Rush nodded gravely. “I had a hunch you wouldn’t want that to happen, with him being our go-between, and all.”
I looked down at my hands. They looked harmless enough. A little dirty from the mud and salt that I was working with, but other than that, pink and smooth.
“Is all this normal? I mean, normal magic use for Creators?” I asked him.
Rush frowned, his pretty boy features tensing, making him look more rugged. “In all my years of practice and study, I have never seen or heard of what you are able to do with your magic. Maybe this is why your family is revered by all of the others.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Phantoms are evil, Kris. We can’t control them; they are lost to us. They are so consumed by their hate and spite for whomever they believe has wronged them that their spirits never get a chance to rest. And after enough years of wallowing in this darkness and resentment, they turn into something unnatural, no longer ghosts or entities that we can save or return to their original vessels as vampires. Instead, they create enough dark energy of their own that it enables them to steal the bodies of the innocent. Once they’ve hunkered down inside a human, that human is lost. But somehow, you almost drew the phantom out. That’s not something a Creator should be able to do.”
Rush then turned to look at Rafe. He walked over to him. The vampire held his hands out in front of him and said, “Chill man. We’re cool.” Rush reached over and pulled Rafe’s robe open, baring the vampire’s chest. “Hey!” He batted Rush’s hand away. “We’ll never be that cool, dude.”
I stifled a laugh. Rush gave him an exasperated look. “This is also a first, Kris,” he said, getting my attention. “Normally, Creators don’t mark the vampires they bring back. But somehow, you marked him up pretty good. It seems to me, you and your magic are something special. But I always knew that.”
I looked down at my hands. They were white-knuckled into a fist; I’d been squeezing them the whole time. I opened them wide, stretching out my fingers. I needed to relax, and I knew how to make that happen. “I need a drink.”
“You’re not alone there,” Rush said.
“Well, isn’t that a coincidence? I happen to know of a great place. It’s right off the boardwalk and stays open late. I wouldn’t mind joining you if it’s cool,” Rafe said, looking at me.
I shrugged, and as soon as I did, Jude appeared beside me, a look of uneasiness on his face. I loved him for being so concerned over me, but I was in a right bitchy mood and in no need of soothing. I was in the mood, however, for a good buzz.
“I’ll be fine, Jude. As a matter of fact, would you like to come to the bar with us? Have a little fun?”
He looked down at himself. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a drinker these days. I’ll head on home and check on things there.”
Something flitted through his eyes. Was it regret, or sadness, maybe? I had a feeling it had something to do with being thrust back into a spectral form. He’d only been corporeal for an hour or so, but that hour had given him a sweet taste of something he couldn’t have…at least, for the moment. Jude gave me a smile and a wink, and then, poof! He was gone.
I rubbed my fingers over my eyes, yearning to sit on a barstool, talk with complete strangers, and do something mindless, for a change. I wanted to forget about Kristina Chase, Necromancer, for a few hours and become someone whose only complaint was not enough tequila in her drink.
I looked at Rafe. He smiled as he held the door open for me. I hid a chuckle when Rush walked through it instead. “Thanks man, you’re a real gentleman,” Rush said with a sly grin.
Yup, that was exactly what I needed—a night out with two smart-ass, sexy-as-sin men. Let the mind numbing begin.
Chapter Fifteen
I stepped into the short line that formed in front of Devil’s Playground. Rush pushed right behind me. Rafe had excused himself a few minutes earlier, after we parked behind the club and exited Rush’s car.
“Do you smell that?” I asked Rush. I turned, stepped out of line, and followed the scent.
He stepped out and followed me. “No. What does it smell like?”
“Coppery…like human blood.”
I picked up my pace, the scent leading me around the building on the opposite side from where we’d parked. I paused j
ust inside the mouth of a dark alley. Oh, how I loved alleyways. Breeding and feeding grounds for blood-suckers. I searched the shadows, stopping on the darkened forms of two people. The man was tall, towering over the female he had in his arms. The woman was against the wall, half her body hidden from view. My eyes lit red, and so did Rush’s. His light was muted because of the contacts he still wore. I stepped forward, but Rush grabbed my arm. I looked at him. He shook his head.
“She looks consenting, Kris.”
I frowned. “How would you know?”
I let him pull me back against him. My breathing was quick and shallow. I really must’ve been tired; it had been a long day. He pointed at the vampire and the human woman he held in his embrace.
“If you look closely, you can see how gently he holds her. Notice how he caresses her back like it’s a precious gift. Vampires who take, do so greedily. Not tenderly.”
My eyes traced the path of the vampire’s hand. It smoothed over her arm, caressing pale skin. When his fingers reached her neck, the opposite side from where he was sucking, I noticed two puncture wounds seeping thin lines of crimson blood, gleaming wet against the moonlight. The woman pushed against the vampire’s chest, and he stopped drinking. They claimed each other’s mouths in a scorching kiss—not at all the picture of a ravenous animal like I was used to. It was obvious that she was consenting.
My blood ran hot, and my body ached with lust. Watching the two, like a licentious voyeur, had left me in a needful state. It was time to get out of there and into the bar.
“Thanks for stopping me from doing something I would have regretted,” I said, grabbing Rush’s hand and leading him out of the alleyway.
“It was nothing. And besides, your heart was in the right place.”
~~~
“That’s a Tequila Sunrise, Absolute vodka, and a Red Bull. Oh, and one ice-cold Budweiser.” The waitress hummed as she placed our drinks on the table. “Will that be all, handsome? Is the beer yours, too? Double fisting it tonight?” She practically drooled all over Rush. He barely gave her a side glance.
“We’re expecting a third. You can set that beer over there.” He pointed at the empty seat to my right.
The waitress’s bottom lip popped out, creating a full-blown pout. She was tall and thin, with huge boobs and a pretty face, and she was aware of Rush’s lack of interest. She wasn’t taking it well. Apparently, she was used to drawing lots of attention from the male customers. Probably even some of the ladies, as well. She huffed, keeping that bottom lip of hers pushed out.
“If you need anything else, just holler, and I’ll come right over.”
She nudged Rush with her shoulder as she turned to leave, trying one more time to get his attention. He kept his eyes glued to me.
“What do you suppose is taking Rafe so long? He’s been gone for a while now,” I said, then took a large draw off my straw. After a couple of swallows, I plucked the straw out of the drink and tipped the glass back, draining half of the sweet tequila concoction down my throat. It was no time to be ladylike.
“Personally, I’d be glad if he stayed gone. His absence allows me more alone time with you.”
I set my glass down and shifted, suddenly uncomfortable in my seat. “This isn’t a date, Rush. We are here to get drunk. That’s all.”
An attractive black woman walked by. So beautiful, in fact, that I couldn’t help following her movements. She had legs for days and a smile that could give any man an instant hard-on. Well, any man but Rush. He was still ignoring the abundance of tail in the place, even though the woman’s skirt was so short, I swore if I tipped my head just right, I’d be able to tell if she was sporting a landing strip or bikini wax, or if she was as bare as the day she was born. She looked over at us and winked.
I averted my stare, almost falling off my chair in the process. It was out of character for me to get so easily flustered, but every time I turned around, I was being hit on, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. I looked down at my dusty shirt and sneered.
“I feel a little underdressed and grubby,” I said. I couldn’t help noticing that I was the only one in the bar with my legs and cleavage covered. “I’m going to freshen up.”
I lifted out of my seat and caught another beauty staring at Rush and me. That one had blond hair that flowed in a silken river to her knees. It was longer than the tight red dress she wore. She turned her head and smiled, showing off a set of perfect, white teeth.
“You’re more beautiful than any of the women in here,” Rush said, dimples popping to emphasize his words. The deep grooves did their job and stole my attention from the blond woman. “Would you like another drink?” he asked, his smile even bigger.
I stood and relaxed my shoulders. Another drink was what I needed. “Yes, that would be great. Anything with fruit, please. I’ll be right back.”
I knew fruity drinks were considered ‘girly,’ but in my unvarnished opinion, anyone who’d judge a drink by its umbrella wasn’t worth the salt rimmed on a margarita glass.
I walked away, leaving Rush to nurse his drink. After passing several tables, I was aware that I was being followed. I pushed open a black door that had bold letters written in red on it. The blood-dripping letters spelled out Mistress. I kept my fingers crossed that I was walking into the ladies room. The door didn’t swing closed after I let it go. Whoever had followed me across the bar had entered behind me. I stopped in front of the first stall. With a ready hand hovering over my gun, I turned and faced my stalker.
“How do you know about this place?” she asked.
“You may as well ask me if I come here often. I’ll save you a lot of trouble. I’m not interested,” I answered while taking the woman’s measure.
She seemed harmless at first glance, but looks could be deceiving. She was the same woman I’d seen earlier in the tight, red dress. The woman flipped her long, blond hair back and leaned her head to the side, giving me a clear view of her neck. “I belong to the owner of this club, which pretty much puts me in charge here. So answer my question, please, before things become difficult.”
There were two fresh puncture wounds on the woman’s neck; I knew she had just been snacked on because the left hole was still oozing blood.
“Do I know you?” I asked, trying to remain calm. On the inside, I was frantic, trying to figure out what kind of place Rafe had brought us to. “It’s the way I’m dressed, isn’t it? I came in here to freshen up, if that helps any.” I continued to play dumb, but I was certain she expected some kind of shocked reaction from me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have unveiled her bite and announced whom she belonged to.
“Let’s cut the shit and be straight with each other. I know you’re a Creator, and it’s common knowledge that any Creator who wishes to visit a vampire bar must obtain permission from the owner first,” she said, drawing out the words like I was dense.
That time, she did get a reaction from me. My face paled, along with a hot tremble that took over my hands. Gun forgotten, I stuck them in my pockets to keep them contained. Those hands of mine were unpredictable, and I didn’t want to accidently singe that long, beautiful hair off of Vampire Slave Barbie’s head.
“How do you know what I am?” I asked, leaning my hip against the sink. I kept my legs open enough to keep my feet planted firmly, in case that wasn’t just an introductory period, but rather, some kind of ambush. The posture would enable me to move quickly. I also had the gun tucked at the small of my back; its presence reassured me. I would have no problem spraying Miss America’s brains across the checkerboard tile if it came down to it.
“Oh, spotting one of you is easy.” She swayed her hips over to the sink, where a basketful of washcloths lay. She picked up a cloth and dabbed at her bite. “Devil taught me to keep a steady watch on all newcomers, and to check their eyes.”
After my hands stopped throbbing, I pulled them from my pockets and grabbed a washcloth of my own. I turned on the faucet and proceeded to wash my face. �
��You saw my eyes glow,” I said.
She smiled at me in the mirror and nodded. “That’s right. Yours and your hunky friend’s. So what are you two doing here?”
I thought about my answer. The more time I spent with her in there, the less I worried about any funny business happening. Considering that I usually had good instincts about people, I decided to tell her the truth.
“The vampire I created tonight invited me to tag along with him. He forgot to tell me about the bar’s formalities.”
“I didn’t see you with a vampire, only another Creator.” She reached over to turn off the faucet in front of her.
I continued to let mine run. It seemed as though I couldn’t get clean enough, no matter how many swipes of the rag I applied against my neck and face. I pulled my shirt over my head to clean my arms and chest, seeing the shocked look on her face as she noticed the reflection of my weapon in the mirror. The holstered black metal was eye-catching, tucked at my back.
Interestingly enough, the fact that I was standing in front of her without a shirt on, wearing only a bra, didn’t seem to register with her. Good. Modesty wasn’t my strong suit, and it would have done her no good to be offended by my half-naked breasts. I did understand her apprehension over the gun, though.
“He’s around somewhere. Took off ‘round back when we first got here, saying he needed some decent duds. He’ll turn up shortly, I’m sure.”
“Here,” the blond said, snatching my shirt off the counter. She tossed it into the garbage. “My name is Addison, by the way, but I prefer to be called Addie.” She shoved her hand inside a black, leather hobo purse. I noticed that the purse was made out of more material than her dress. Addie took out a shirt and shoved it at me. “Here, take this. I have a skirt in there, too, if you don’t mind showing a little leg.”
I stood there, staring deeply into a set of big, brown eyes. It could have been my close relationships to ghosts, human spirits, which made me notice. Or maybe it was something obvious enough for anyone who took the time to see. Addie had a good and kind soul. She was a complete stranger to me, but I trusted her.
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