by A A Mize
Matthias’s breath caught in his throat at the last sentence. He hid his face in his hands, forcing a ragged breath. A part of him wanted nothing more than to destroy the room and everything in it. His fingers gripped his blond hair in thick chunks, trying to use the pain as an anchor while he put his head between his knees and tried to calm down. Did he really have so little control over himself to consider feeding from a friend?
A knock at the door made him jump. He hadn’t heard anyone approaching, but he was so locked in his inner turmoil, sneaking up on him would not be a difficult task. Forcing his breath to calm, he crossed the room and opened the door to see Sophie, a small present in her hands.
“I hoped to catch you before you went to sleep,” she said, extending the little silver box. “It’s not much, but I hope you like it. I saw it at a shop on the way back from the memorial and I thought of you. It’s just a little thank-you for helping me out so much. I know it doesn’t really make up for all that you and Dominic have done, but I wanted to give you some sort of token of my thanks.”
Matthias took the box, feeling the warmth transferred from her skin to the shiny paper. Out of her sight his free hand gripped the antique door handle too tightly. He swallowed the lump in his throat and flashed his most convincing grin.
“You didn’t have to do this, Soph. But thanks, it’s really thoughtful of you.” He faked a yawn. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. You better get some sleep, too. Tomorrow’ll be busier than tonight was, so I’ll need you to be ready to roll.”
“Sure thing. I’m exhausted, so I don’t think I’ll have any trouble sleeping. Good night, Luk. Or good morning, maybe? Not sure which one is more appropriate anymore.” She chuckled, then walked down the hall to her room, stopping at Rowan’s study to tie another little box to the door handle.
Matthias closed the door, pressing his back against the wood as he stared at the present. With trembling hands, he pulled it open to reveal a simple silver sugar skull pendant, a cross emblazoned on its forehead, and deep blue–colored stones for eyes. His fist closed tightly around the skull as he sank to the floor. If only she knew that she owed him nothing, that he was just a selfish coward, too afraid to tell her that he might be the one responsible for her pain. That he might be the reason her life had been changed so drastically.
Gripping the skull firmly, Matthias gave into his base instinct and allowed himself to weep silently, trapped in his own fear and cowardice, unable to come to grips with reality. Not all monsters hide under the bed, he thought. Some come with easy smiles and pretty favors.
21
Rowan
It’s raining again. This year has only just begun, and it’s rained almost every day so far. From my gallery I can see rivers along the sides of the street, reflecting the lights that are scattered about. The downpour has forced me inside to write tonight. A few people pass below but the night seems quiet. It is only a temporary lull. By morning the humans will continue their daily parade.
As much as I dislike being wet, I have been enjoying the rain when it comes time to sleep or play my violin. I find that when I play while listening to the rainfall my music tends to take a different life. This could be in part to hearing such a unique melody in the patter of the droplets on the window.
Speaking of music, I had a little audience the other morning. I was having a hard time sleeping and had decided to settle my nerves a bit by playing in the living room. At first, I had not noticed any sound as I was lost in the music, the crackle of the fire, and the rain pelting the windows. It was her heartbeat that caught my attention; a part of the song that was different than what I was used to.
I almost stopped playing as I felt a little put-off by being watched, but my hand would not set down the bow. Instead, I found the music changing to include the beat of her heart. It was as if a barrier had been destroyed and I was able to create something new. The same old monotony had somehow been broken by such a simple sound. I allowed her to listen until well past sunrise and I was too tired to remain awake.
Being Turned, my heart no longer beats so it’s a sound that has somehow faded into obscurity for me. There are times when I listen to the beat of a human heart when I hunt, as I prefer to not feed from sickly prey, but I can’t recall the last time I listened to one in a more relaxed setting. As much as I dislike the reason she is here, I must admit that the experience was a bonding one, from my end at least. There is no reason to believe that she would know that I was aware of her presence, so she would not likely understand how that simple moment wove itself into my psyche.
Since that night I have focused more on listening for it. I feel awkward recording this because it offers too much insight into my emotions than I feel comfortable expressing. If I was still a Lesser, I would not write such things, but since this journal is not for Samiell’s histories, but for my own personal use, I will attempt to open up…even if it’s only to myself.
I have begun to listen for her heartbeat when I try to sleep. It’s the only one in the house, the only one close enough to hear. I can tell when she is sleeping, or when she is crying, or having a nightmare just by the sound of her heartbeat. The action seems strange when I write about it, but in the moment, it’s quite enlightening. Though I have not spent much time with her, and for some reason can’t seem to make myself acknowledge her personally, I feel a small string tied to my soul. Somehow this human has managed to catch a part of me that I don’t feel comfortable exploring yet.
The same might be said for Matthias, as well. His more outgoing personality, and the fact that they now work together, has brought them closer than I had originally anticipated. They do everything together; from coffee before work, to chatting past dawn. They walk together, read together, watch movies together. Now I wonder if allowing her to stay was a mistake on my part, because if she finds out that Matthias is suspected for Rachel’s murder, things will be far more complicated than it would have been if I had denied my Pupil’s request. If she had no place to go, had no true ties to this place, she might have already gone home, and the trouble of Matthias would be mine alone until a verdict was reached.
I am expecting another call any day from the police, in which Sophie will learn of Matthias’s possible involvement. Everything is on the edge of a sword right now, the tension so thick at times that it’s smothering. Sophie never seems to feel it, however. For now, it’s a quiet understanding between my Pupil and myself. I can hear him in his room sometimes, pacing around. He is distraught, but I can’t figure out exactly why. Is it because he believes it’s possible that he is responsible for Rachel’s death, or because he fears Sophie will find out what he’s accused of? There’s no way to tell as of yet.
Well, that’s not true. I could read his mind, but I’m trying to keep my prying to a minimum. I’m not entirely sure where I stand yet but I do hope he isn’t involved in the way the police think he is. I don’t feel Matthias is evil. He’s young, reckless, and wild, but certainly not a killer. Not that the Elders will care. If he took her life, his would be lost in return, whether accident or not. They will argue that he knew better and was irresponsible. No matter my personal feelings, I will have to agree with them and dispatch him if I must.
I suppose I could wait until he sleeps and read his mind. I can’t try when he’s awake. He’s far too perceptive for that. He can’t read minds himself, but he has his own mental talents and I fear he would feel me poking around in his thoughts.
There is no good way for this to end. In every scenario I can think of, someone gets hurt. Unless, of course, Matthias really didn’t harm Rachel, and in that possibility lies the hope that things will turn out all right. Only time will tell which way the situation will fall.
In the meantime, Sophie and Matthias are getting along rather well, all things considered. She even brought us little tokens after her trip home. Matthias wears his silver sugar skull everywhere, but I have yet to look at mine. The box sits here on my desk, unopened. I don’t know
why I can’t make myself look in it. Perhaps I should.
Rowan’s pen paused as his dark eyes drifted to the gift, shimmering in the candlelight. In the silence he could hear Sophie and Matthias downstairs, talking. Gently, he picked up the box and tentatively removed the lid, as if the thing would explode in his hands. Inside was a simple necklace of a crescent moon, turned sideways with the arch of the moon being where the chain was strung. There were no real defining markings on the smooth metal and Rowan thought it was an interesting choice. Everything about him and his house was ornate, but this was far simpler than anything he owned.
The man glared at his cell phone when it began to ring, vibrating against the wooden surface of his desk. It was Samiell.
“Yes?” Rowan answered, leaning back in his chair and viewing the necklace as it dangled from his delicate fingers.
“Rowan, I thought you would like to know that I have contacted Joramir and what he had to say was quite interesting. He said that Ivanka has taken a Rogue for a lover and has been acting erratically. Apparently, she has been missing for a couple of weeks and he has no idea where she’s gone.”
“But you did tell him that you had seen her, correct?”
“Of course. He sounded relieved that someone had seen her. I’m sure he’s worried sick. He’s lost Pupil’s before you know. I’d swear he’d been cursed. Anyway, I suppose you could look into her a bit more. Asking questions around the Quarter might yield some results. Joramir is contacting his local Notary so that she can send Ivanka’s journals to me. It might take a few days, but when I receive them, I’ll be sure to look them over for you,” Samiell said, his voice laced with anticipation.
The Notary was a nosy one, even if he was good at keeping secrets. At the age he appeared to be, it was difficult for him to wander the human world without being bothered by people trying to help him. The journals of the Lessers were his only window to the outside world and Rowan suspected that in some way, Samiell lived through them.
“Very well,” Rowan responded, swinging the pendant. “I’ll do what I can to track her down. Thank you for keeping me updated, Samiell. If you come across anything else, please let me know.”
“It would be my pleasure. Ta-ta.”
The Notary was far too happy about all of this, but Rowan didn’t take it as a personal entertainment in his plight; the old man was just happy to be a part of something outside of his own home. Nothing wrong with that.
Outside the window the rain had picked up from a calm shower to a downpour again. The light at the end of the block flickered then went out. Rowan leaned forward at his desk curiously as the light came back on, then every light down the street flickered, went out, then came back on in succession until it reached his home. Suddenly all the lights were on, but a strange quiet settled over the house. Sophie and Matthias were still talking in the kitchen, yet they sounded muffled to him. Every fiber of his being strained to hear anything outside that would give him an idea of what was happening. The gallery was in the way of seeing the walkway below, so he could not rely on his vision.
The sound of the door knocker slamming on the strike plate silenced the entire house. Rowan stood, pendant grasped so tightly in his hand that he could feel the points of the crescent piercing his flesh. A chill ran down his spine before he strode from the room and down the stairs. Matthias stood in the hall by the stairwell, his eyes giving away his concern. Surely, he thought it was the police coming to get him, but Rowan knew better. The boy was panicked and not thinking straight. No police officer would come in the middle of the night. This was someone else. Sophie stood behind Matthias, peeking out around him in the narrow hall. They looked like children waiting for their parent to check for monsters. If only they had seen the lights flicker as he had, they might understand why he stood at the bottom of the stairs instead of opening the door.
Another knock and Rowan took a deep breath, cleared the last few steps, and opened the door. Outside, in the shelter of the gallery, stood a beautiful woman who could have been straight off the silver screen. She wore a cherry red trench coat that matched her high heels and lipstick perfectly. A scarf covered her hair, protecting it from the rain but it was still easy to see her golden locks spilling from under it.
“Who is that?” Sophie asked Matthias, her voice barely a whisper but loud enough for Rowan to catch.
“Beats me,” Matthias said.
“Rowan? You’ve not changed a day,” the woman said as she scanned Rowan with hunger in her blue eyes. “I trust Samiell informed you of my visit?” she continued, striding right past Rowan and into the living room as if she belonged there. Her sopping-wet coat slid off of her slender frame and she tossed it over the back of a chair and her bag onto the carpet. Sophie bristled but made no move to retrieve the items.
“What do you want, Yvette?” Rowan asked, door still wide open, rain spattering his feet. He didn’t want her here and yet he could not deny that her presence was manipulating him.
“I’m afraid I came unprepared and I need a place to stay for a couple of days,” Yvette replied, sweet as honey as she removed her scarf and tossed it over her coat. Rowan was not fooled, but her power didn’t require a fool. She was stronger than he remembered her being, and it made him uneasy. “Since the Quarter is yours, it’s your responsibility to take me in until I can find a suitable place to”—her voice cut off, eyes trailing to Sophie as if she had just noticed her—“stay.”
Yvette shot a curious glance at Rowan, who had reluctantly closed the door. He knew he had to explain some things before they were “outed” to Sophie, so he summed up everything that had been going on without giving away too many details. The less Yvette knew the better for everyone involved.
“I don’t believe you have met my roommate, Lukas. And this is Sophie. She is a temporary resident. A family emergency brought her to us, so she is staying here until things are sorted.”
“I see,” Yvette replied quietly, sizing up Sophie with a single glance. She smiled sweetly and greeted her with an open hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sophie. Is this your first time in the city? It’s a different kind of beast, isn’t it?”
Sophie tentatively took Yvette’s hand, shaking it politely. “Yes, it’s definitely been an interesting experience. All things considered, I think I’ve fallen in love with New Orleans in the short time I’ve been here.”
Yvette forced a smile and looked back to Rowan. “Oh, you hear that? She loves it here. Perhaps your stay won’t be all that temporary. I think you’ll love it here except maybe in the summer...might want to get the hell out during those months,” she said, her voice lowered as she waved it off like a joke.
“Yvette, you can’t just show up here and expect me to have a place for you to stay.”
“And you can’t just turn me out into the streets. It’s dangerous out there,” she replied, leaning back on the couch, arms crossed over her chest. By her tone, Rowan knew she meant it was dangerous for the humans, not for her. If he turned her away now, there was a chance she would make sure he would have a body to explain in the morning. There was already too much of that in his future with the Rachel incident. He hated to admit there was little other choice.
“Fine. You can stay one night. But I insist you find more suitable lodging immediately. I’ll unlock the study. You can sleep on the couch in there.”
On that note, Rowan ascended the steps to place as much distance as possible between himself and Yvette. Once inside his room, he placed his back to the door and breathed deeply. This was far worse than he could have imagined. Even from across the house he could feel her pull on him, the memory of her draining all color from his world. Every time he felt he might be free of her curse and in control of his emotions, she showed up and shot it all to hell. The thought of her sleeping just down the hall filled his head with unwanted thoughts; a perfect manipulation on her part.
It was what she wanted. It was a talent in which she excelled, and as much as he hated to admit it, he was pow
erless to resist her. His mouth was already dry just thinking about her. The tips of his fangs caught his lip, eyes shifting down to his hand and the pain in his palm. Opening his fist, he realized he had gripped the moon necklace so hard that it had punctured his palm and black-colored blood streaked its surface. He watched as the holes closed and wished those in his heart would disappear as quickly.
22
Yvette
It seems my Mentor is still under the lure of my memory. I wish I had had a camera out and ready when he opened the door. It was absolutely priceless. Reactions like that are a big reason I decided to go for the powers I have. Something inside of me gets all tingly when I am able to affect someone like that. I’m not done with my fun yet, though. In fact, I think I’m just getting started.
Turns out, my dearest Rowan has a few playthings at his disposal now. One is obviously his new Pupil, a tall, attractive man with a smart mouth. I can’t say the last part of that is something I usually go for, but if I wasn’t already set on Rowan, I would definitely add him to my harem. I think he would fit in nicely. Everyone needs a bad boy and I’m out of stock. Perhaps it’s lucky for him that I have my sights set on one sensual brooding creature who has so far eluded me.
The other plaything is a human girl named Sophie. Rather average sort if you ask me. Brown hair, brown eyes—very dull. I could tell that she was uncomfortable with my presence, which only delights me more. I think I’ll ask her to go somewhere with me tomorrow. My curiosity is absolutely piqued.
Rowan hasn’t entertained humans in decades and I can’t help but wonder why this girl is under the same roof as two Turned. The way Rowan explained it I get the feeling that Sophie has no idea who she is living with and what kind of creatures her roommates really are. This could prove to be far more entertaining than I thought.