Great. The guy who went into the Mirage has a boss. I figured as much. Suddenly the guy threw me off his chest, sending me flying backwards into the wall of the building. The building rattled a bit, as dust shot out of the walls around me. I groaned, and within a second, he was gone.
Shit! Where in the world did he go? My head throbbed from hitting the concrete so hard, but would be completely healed in a second. Man, where was Zac? I had to get to him before the rogue vamp found him.
Quickly, I darted around the corner following his scent to the cafeteria. My God! Zac was having lunch in the cafeteria! There were a lot of humans in there, too. Surely the vamp wouldn’t do anything in front of them, but I wasn’t counting on it. I’m sure that idiot wouldn’t mind taking out a cafeteria filled with high school students to get his hands on a million dollars.
I knew I had to get Zac out of there before he did.
Quickly, I hotwired Zac’s car and pulled it around to the side of the cafeteria in front of the plate glass windows that covered two walls and gunned the engine. Soon, students were lining the cafeteria windows, looking to see what was happening. My head still hurt, but was healing quickly. If I had to, I’d bust through the plate glass windows to get Zac out safely. Let’s hope it didn’t come down to that.
“Hey, Zac!” I heard a student yell on the other side of the glass. Good thing vamps have super hearing. “Some chick has your car!”
Zac suddenly appeared in the window looking on in disbelief as I opened the passenger car door and motioned for him to come on. Then I gunned the engine again in anticipation.
“What the hell, Lisa?” He said, as he opened the cafeteria doors, walking casually toward the open door with his backpack slung over his shoulder.
And behind him, the rogue vamp was walking purposefully toward him. Zac didn’t notice.
“Come on, Zac!” I yelled as loudly as I could, gunning the engine again. “Run! Let’s go!”
“Not until you tell me what’s going on!” Zac yelled as the rogue vamp drew closer.
“Run! I’ll tell you in the car!” I was begging now, my breath quickening, ready to throw the car into park and take on a rogue vamp in front of many teenage witnesses if I had to. The rogue vamp grew close behind Zac as I gunned the engine. “Run, Zac! Now!”
Just then, a few of Zac’s burly football buddies stepped from the cafeteria onto the steps with worried faces, wondering what was going on, ready to intervene if necessary.
One side of the rogue vamp’s lips curled into a sneer as he drew near Zac, too close for comfort.
“Let’s go!” I yelled at the top of my lungs just as a guttural growl erupted from the vamp’s completely healed chest.
A moment later Zac reached the open passenger door, got in casually, and shut the door just as the rogue vamp slammed his fists down hard onto the roof of Zac’s Shelby Mustang. I quickly gunned the engine, peeling out, leaving the rogue vamp sneering angrily in the parking lot with his fists balled. And in the rearview mirror, I saw Annie round the corner, eyeing what was going on.
What the hell?” Zac said, looking behind us, finally seeing why it was so urgent.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding as relief swept over me. Annie would take care of the rogue vamp and save the students. I feared that he would retaliate for not getting Zac by killing all the students in the whole school. An angry rogue vamp would do it and not think twice.
I sped through town, not caring about getting a speeding ticket. Luckily, I hadn’t gotten one yet.
“You will tell me what is going on! Now!” Zac yelled, as I sped out of town driving his car.
Ignoring him for the moment, I expertly pulled out my cell phone and dialed. “Rick? You need to get to the school. Now! Annie needs help with a rogue vamp,” I said quickly.
“Where’s Zac, Star?” Rick asked, already running.
“He’s safe,” I replied, and heard Rick let out a sigh. “He’s with me, but the other students are in danger. Annie needs your help … now!”
“I’m on my way,” Rick answered, then quickly hung up.
“Lisa or Abigail, whatever your name is!” Zac yelled, bracing himself in the passenger seat as I expertly turned corners. This car handled beautifully. “Stop the car! Now! We need to talk!”
“Not until you’re safe,” I said, not slowing down.
“Then find some place safe and pull over!” Zac yelled, on the verge of freaking out. I might have to knock him out just to save his life. But while I was contemplating it, he lowered his voice. “Abigail, pull over. We need to talk.” Then I looked into his pleading azure eyes. “Please.”
I let out a sigh and against my better wishes, I pulled off road onto a dirt road hidden within the forest. After driving a ways off road, I pulled under an old maple tree and threw it into park. I took a breath, then turned to face Zac, knowing what he was going to say.
Well, it was nice while it lasted.
Zac got out of the car and sat on the hood without saying a word as I followed. It really was beautiful in the woods with Zac. Any other time, it would have been nice. Any other time. But a lump rose within my throat, because I knew it was over.
“Abigail,” Zac said gently, turning the full force of his azure eyes onto mine, causing my heart to flutter. “What’s going on? Tell me everything.”
“Are you sure you really want to know?” I softly asked, fearing the worst.
“Do I have a choice now?” He countered as his deep blue eyes flared. “Please, enlighten me.” I forced my eyes away from his, but when he placed his fingertip under my chin forcing me to look at him, tears were already staining my cheeks. “Oh, Abbey,” Zac said, taking me into his arms, letting me cry onto his shoulder.
This was a switch. I should be the one comforting him, not the other way around. But it felt nice to have his arms around me, holding me close, even if it wouldn’t last. The tears from all the years of pent up emotions fell drop by tiny drop onto his shirt. And a moment later, he was kissing my hair, and my forehead, then he gently kissed away the glistening tears upon my cheeks, then lightly brought his lips to mine.
“Don’t,” I stopped him, pulling away.
“Why?” Zac had a hurt look on his face.
“Because you’re going to leave me and I just couldn’t bear it if you kissed me, then left.” I sounded like a heart-broken school girl as my tears trailed down my cheeks.
“Shush,” Zac cooed, turning my chin with his fingertip again, until my eyes locked with his. His eyes were filled with love and concern as they probed mine, his eyebrows pulling together. “Abigail, I’m not going anywhere,” Zac said, then added. “Unless it’s with you.” Then his lips crushed down onto mine moving over mine with intense hunger, leaning me back onto the hood of the car. He held me tightly to his chest as he laid beside me, moving his lips hungrily with mine and his hand slid down my leg. Soon, I let my guard down, and opened my heart to him, as my passion met his, returning his his love as my hand moved down his back and pulled him into my chest. I hadn’t realized how much of my heart I had been holding back from him as my lips trialed down to his neck, kissing him hungrily, allowing him to catch his breath, then my lips found his again a moment later. His arms wrapped around me, arching my back, pulling me close, as he opened his heart and passion to me. Our souls caressed one to the other as our passion built and our lips and bodies hungered for each other.
Then a moment later, Zac pulled away, breathless.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, not knowing why he stopped. “I love you, Zac.”
“I love you, too, Abbey,” Zac said, then added. “But I want to be married to you first.”
I nodded, looking into his eyes. It was my belief, too, from long ago and still was. If I wanted to make love to him, then I wanted to marry him first. It seemed old fashioned today, but it was a moral I’d lived by my whole life, and I didn’t want to change it now. I was glad that Zac felt the same way.
He ki
ssed me very sweetly one last time, then pulled me into a sitting position. I felt emotionally drained, but good at the same time. Then Zac took my hand gently into his. “Abbey, we have to talk.”
I nodded, knowing it was true, bracing myself for his reaction. “Where should I start?”
Zac dazzled me with his half grin as I pulled myself together. He’s the only person, whether human or immortal, that ever had this affect on me over the last 200 years. I dreaded this conversation, because it would either make or break our relationship. Now was the moment of truth … literally. But I knew I had to tell him everything. For his own safety, if not for anything else.
“Start from the beginning,” Zac said with a smile, looking deeply into my eyes for encouragement.
“Why the change of heart?” I asked, looking deeply into his eyes. “Earlier, you freaked out and stormed away from me when I tried to tell you just a small piece of the puzzle. Are you sure you really want to hear this? All of it?”
Zac’s eyebrows pulled together. “I’m sorry about earlier, but I’ve had time to think about everything.”
“And?”
“And I decided that I love you no matter what,” Zac answered looking deeply into my eyes. “So what if you’re a vampire? I’ll accept you for who you are.”
“I’m going to remind you of that in a few minutes,” I said, giving him a weak smile as my eyes glistened.
“Please do,” Zac said, kissing each of my fingers one by one, then looked up at me with a mischievous smile. “If I freak out again, please remind me of what I said.”
I laughed, hoping he meant what he was saying. “Well,” I cautiously began as he patiently waited. “I already told you I’m a vampire,” I began, and he nodded. “Well, I’m also a shape shifter.”
“What does that mean?” Zac said, holding my hand a bit tighter. “Do you turn into animals or something?”
“No,” I laughed, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “I can’t change into animals. Just people.”
“So you mean that you can change into the president or Arnold Swartzenager?” then he smiled mischievously. “Or into Marilyn Monroe?”
I punched him lightly on the arm, but he just laughed. “No, I have to touch them first. Once I get someone’s body print, then I can change into them.”
“Show me,” Zac commanded, incredulous.
“I’m not a circus freak, Zac,” I softly chided. “I won’t just change for your pleasure.”
“I know you’re not a circus freak,” Zac said gently. “Sorry. I was just curious.”
“No problem,” I answered, smiling. “For now, just take my word for it.” Zac nodded, and I continued. “Anyway, I was changed into a vampire long ago.”
“How long?”
I took a deep breath to steady myself, but now that the truth was coming out, I really wanted him to know. “The Revolutionary War.”
Zac nodded, looking at my fingers, needing a moment before meeting my gaze. I gave him a moment to absorb what he just heard, waiting for him to speak. A moment later, his eyes met mine. “So, you knew Benjamin Franklin and George Washington?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I knew of them, but I didn’t know them personally.” I thought for a moment, remembering times long ago, then added, “They were great men.”
Zac nodded in agreement, finally realizing what I was saying was true. “Please, tell me more.” He thought for a moment, then added, “Who was that guy at school today. Thank you for that, by the way.”
I gave him a weak half smile and nodded. “I’m getting to that,” I thought for a moment, hedging, wondering how much he could handle. But at this point, there was no stopping now. “I work for the government, for a secret organization within the CIA. We’re a team of vamps that go in and clean up messes, or protect people, but only in extreme cases. And to the government, we don’t exist.”
Zac nodded, looking at my fingers again. So far, so good. He might get through this in one piece after all.
“And,” I continued. “You’re father’s my boss.”
Immediately, Zac’s head snapped up and his eyes met mine in disbelief. “No way.”
“Yes, there is a way,” I gently replied, meeting his gaze. It wasn’t every day that you find out your own father had lied to you all your life.
“There’s no way!” Zac repeated, incredulous.
“He’s the fifth boss I’ve had since I’ve been with the agency. I’ve worked with him for about 20 years,” I continued, letting the words spill out. He really needed to hear it. “I really hate to be the one to tell you this, Zac, but you really need to know. He’s been a good boss, but less than honorable at times. And this is one of those times.”
“I suspected as much,” Zac replied, looking away, jumping down off the hood of the car, turning away from me. “And here all my life I thought he was an architect.”
“I’m sorry, Zac,” I replied softly. I crossed the forest at vamp speed and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind him. Then I whispered into his shoulder, “I know this is a lot to hear in one day.” I hated myself for going on, but there was no stopping now. “And there’s more.”
“There’s more?” Zac turned to face me. His eyes glistened with tears, threatening to spill over, then he squared his shoulders, bracing himself.
“There’s a million dollar price tag on your head,” I said, throwing the words out in a rush.
“A what?” Zac said, incredulous. “Me? A million dollars?”
“Yes.”
“For what?” he asked, his eyebrows pulling together.
“Rick and I have been trying to figure that out,” I began. “The only thing we can think of is that someone wants to use you to get to your father.”
“So what does this mean?” Zac asked, still finding it difficult to believe.
“It means that there are a lot of rogue vamps we call The Others that are after you,” I said, then paused, taking a deep breath.”And these vamps are not like us. The Others have no humanity, no desire to preserve human life. The only thing they think of is self gratification and the kill.”
“So where do you fit into all this?” Zac asked, stepping away from me.
“Now, Zac, remember what you said,” I hedged, already sensing his alienation. “That you would still love me no matter what?”
“I remember,” he replied, unmoved, then asked again. “Where do you fit into this?”
“Your father sent me here to protect you.”
Zac turned toward the car without looking at me. “So the only reason why you’re here is to protect me.”
I crossed to him at vamp speed, stepping in front of him before he could get into the car. “Zac, don’t do this.”
“So every kiss was a lie?” he said, letting the words flow, unstoppable. “So was your pretending to fall in love with me a part of the plan, too, to get close to me?”
And without thinking, I slapped him across the face. It wasn’t hard enough to knock his head off, thank goodness, but enough to get his attention. “Don’t ever say that to me again,” I began, looking him straight in the eye. “Of course, it wasn’t a part of the plan. It just happened, and I’m glad it did.”
The tears that were brimming his eyes spilled over onto his cheeks. “I don’t believe you. You must be really good at your job.”
And his words hit me like a slap in the face so hard that I stepped back. “Zac, I’m telling you the truth. It wasn’t a part of the plan, but something happened and I fell in love with you.”
“And do you fall in love with everyone you protect?” Zac let his tears stream down his cheeks, unashamed, waiting for the answer.
“No, of course not!” I answered, letting him get it all out.
“How many have you fallen in love with, then?” Zac demanded, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Only one,” I replied. Then Zac put his hand on the car door before I could finish. “You.”
Then his hand fell limply from th
e car, and I wrapped my arms around him, letting him cry on my shoulder for once.
After a few moments, he pulled away. “Take me to him.”
“Who?” I asked, incredulous.
“My father,” Zac said with cold eyes, appearing to have aged within the last 24 hours. “I have to see him. There’s some things I have to know.”
“You know what? That’s not a bad idea,” I said with a half smile. “I have a few questions for him myself.”
Then Zac held out his hand for the keys, in control once again. “I’ll drive.”
“But I know where to go,” I joked, dangling the keys in front of him.
“Give me the keys, Abigail,” Zac replied, unmoved.
I slipped them into my back pocket. “You’ll have to come after them,” I joked.
And within a second, Zac had his arms around me, pulling me into the contours of his body, then crushed his lips down onto mine, as his hand slipped into my back pocket—grabbing my tush while he was at it—as I laughed. Then his powerful lips moved with mine, answering every question mine asked. A moment later, he pulled away. “Let’s go,” he said in a husky voice.
I nodded, and within a few minutes, we were in Zac’s car, driving down I-88 on our way to Washington D.C. to pay a visit to Zac’s father. God help him.
Chapter 12: Hunger
We drove for hours toward Washington D.C., neither of us barely saying a word. Zac kept his eyes on the road most of the time, but stole glimpses of me upon occasion. He drove at human speed, which was just fine with me. We turned onto I-81E entering Pennsylvania when the silence became too much for me.
“Zac, are you getting hungry?” I broke the silence as delicately as possible. It was getting dark and he needed to eat. I was sure of it.
“No, I’m fine,” Zac replied, keeping his eyes on the road. “What about you? I mean … human food, that is?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, I’m fine on both counts.”
Then Zac looked at me from the corner of his eye. “If you don’t mine me asking …”
“Go ahead,” I replied, knowing exactly what the question would be. Here it goes.
Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 Page 16