Hunting Tess

by Kathryn Summers

  “You hate cleaning,” I remind her.

  She rolls her eyes. “Well, it was decent pay. And hate is such a strong word.”

  “May I remind you of all your jello cups I have picked up over the years? You could drown in a room full of them—”

  “Point taken,” she chuckles, giving the tassels a break. “Ben volunteered to help one of his professors sort inventory, and it took a couple of days.”

  “Ah, now it makes sense.”

  Sensing her mood spiraling back to one of moping I quickly intervene with the promise of locating the jiggly goodness of jello somewhere in the house.

  CHAPTER 14

  HER

  “Why is that girl glaring daggers at you?” Eliza questions, not so discreetly looking over her shoulder. It was my hope that after graduation I would never have to see Cece again, yet she and her small posse are still finding little ways to annoy me.

  “Artistic differences.” The whispers and giggles are in full force making it slightly difficult to ignore them while paying for my muffin and hot chocolate. I don’t even need to enhance my hearing to catch every word they say.

  “Do they have any idea who you are?” she cries in outrage. “If they only knew—”

  “Eliza,” I say, shooting her a look to keep her voice down. It’s faking your death 101 to not draw more attention than necessary.

  “Oh, right,” she pouts.

  “Hey Samantha,” a boy from our dancing class interjects. Leaving the safety of Cece’s clique, Rupert blocks our path toward the pick-up area. “I was wondering if you wanted to go out this weekend? I’m sure it would be fun.”

  “No thanks,” I say the same time Eliza chimes, “She’s taken”.

  “Come on, I’m dying to get the same treatment as Nathan. There’s only the promise of one thing I know of that would make a person religious.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The cross. Since going out with you I’ve never seen him without that silver pendant. You must have given him quite a night to remember for him to commit so heartedly. If I promise to go to church would you show me the same good time?”

  I tense at what he’s suggesting, but not out of fear or shock. No, I’m like a coil ready for the tinniest pressure to release me into pouncing. The clique is in my line of sight and two of the girls belt out a laugh at Rupert’s brazen insinuation, but Cece’s face drains of color. Part of me wishes Dmitri had eaten her.

  “Walk away.”

  “You’re sure you—”

  “Miss?” The barista calls, handing Eliza our orders. One forceful look is enough for Rupert to know he’s done laughing at my expense.

  “Hit him,” Eliza whispers as he rejoins his group. “You’re going to hit him, right? Wait, let me look ahead. Oh shoot, the barista calls the cops. Well, maybe if you hit him outside.”

  “Not helping.”

  The bell attached to the door jingles when we exit into the warm sunshine. I didn’t know Nathan had started trying to protect himself. A cross won’t work, but if the symbol is made from pure silver it might be enough to make them hesitate. If I hadn’t been so keen on avoiding him since our one and only date, I might have had the chance to help before the school year ended.

  Eliza and I pass our reflections from the multiple shops lining the street. While others go to The Point Cafe for coffee, I go for hot chocolate. I can never make it with the same perfect silky texture. And I’m a firm believer that hot chocolate is for any time of the year.

  “Hey!” a voice calls from behind. Feet pad against the sidewalk as I turn to see Cece. She gives Eliza a once-over before stopping in front of us. “I’m not stupid, okay? I know something is going on.”

  Her flirtatious attitude is absent, replaced by a wariness I haven’t seen her exhibit. “Nathan tries to play it off, but I know something happened the night you two went out. And my guess is that it has something to do with that guy Dmitri. He spent the whole evening trying to get information from me about you, but he spoke as if he already knew you.”

  She pauses, waiting for me to confirm or deny her theory. I do neither. “Fine. I’m sure you already know this, but I think Dmitri is dangerous.” Now I feel a little guilty at wishing she had been eaten. It doesn’t undo all the animosity she’s displayed over the past year, but at least she’s trying to act like a decent person.

  Before she turns away I give her a piece of advice, letting her make of it what she will. “Something silver isn’t a bad idea.”

  “Well that was awfully generous,” Eliza comments after we continue on our way. “I’m still of the opinion you should have slugged that guy.”

  “Rupert’s harmless. An idiot, but harmless.”

  “If you moved you wouldn’t have to see any of them again.” Her not so subtle way of convincing me to live closer is a frequent occurrence.

  “It’ll happen soon enough,” I say, looping my arm through hers. Taking a peek at my phone to check the time I groan. “We should start heading back or my warden will come looking for us.”

  “I don’t know why Parker asked both myself and Caleb to keep tabs on you.” After giving her a significant eye roll, she amends, “Alright, ‘keeping tabs’ is a little spruced up to what he actually said. I know I’m just here to distract you from all the doom and gloom.”

  “And a fine job you’re doing,” I encourage, taking a sip of my wonderfully rich beverage.

  The ride back is far too quick for my liking. Ascending the winding secluded path towards our hideout from the real world, the last of the trees fall away to reveal a new car sitting in front of the garage. As my car’s tires stop the front door opens and a very tired looking Ben steps out.

  “I love you, but I am totally going to go inside so you two can talk. Just breathe.”

  Leaving Eliza sitting frozen in the passenger seat, I give Ben’s arm a gentle squeeze as I pass. Then I think twice and give him the keys to my car in case Eliza locks him out.

  Caleb sits in front of the T.V. with his arm wrapped around Lorelai. “I thought I would have to come find you.” His statement would have been more believable if his eyes had left the Dodgers as they beat up the Red Socks.

  “And miss this action?” I quip sarcastically. Baseball has never drawn my eye though my father did his best to make an appeal. My lips tug in a sad smile while my heart aches when thinking about him. I wonder if there will ever come a point where I can savor the good without feeling the bitter.

  “Welcome back!” Lorelai’s cheerful greeting brings me back to the present. Parker stands a foot away with a charming grin.

  “Deep thoughts?” he questions as I leap to my feet, moving quickly to wrap him in a hug. His clothing smells like travel, the same scent every passenger carries when journeying all day. Pressing against the small of my back he pulls me closer until I’m flush up against him.

  “You’re back early. Not that I’m complaining.”

  His breath tickles the sensitive skin beneath my ear right before placing a kiss. “I have some news about our case. But first of all, why are Eliza and Ben making out on your car?”

  “On my car?” While I’m certainly over the moon about their mutual affection, couldn’t they have used a different vehicle? Like one of their own?

  Parker chuckles in my ear before tugging me toward the front door and out of sight of Caleb and Lorelai. Keeping a firm grip of my hand down the hallway, he stops just short of the door. Daylight spills through the glass and as I’m about to question his pause he cups the back of my head, leaning down for a kiss. My lips tingle at the contact and I wrap my arms around his back, stroking the taut muscles parallel to his spine.

  He moves forward, pressing me into the security of the coats hanging from the rack. Some part of my mind acknowledges the fabric rubbing against my face and arms, but when Parker’s breathing grows labored even that minor sensation disappears for a much stronger reaction.

  His hand sends a trail of fire blazing across
my neck as he brushes the strands aside. My breathing hitches when his soft lips reclaim the spot beneath my ear and I have to suppress an embarrassing noise. The thudding vibration in my chest doesn’t dissipate when he returns to my lips, searing them as he lays the claim that we belong solely to each other.

  By the time he breaks away my skin feels flushed and my lips are swollen. Not a terrible way to welcome him back, though maybe next time we could do that someplace where metal prongs aren’t poking me in the back.

  “Did you enjoy your time with Eliza?” he questions as he opens the door for me.

  “I did. Thanks for calling her.”

  “I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly. But I’m glad I went in person on this case.”

  “Was is bad?”

  “It merited results,” he answers vaguely. “And it put us in the path of Stephany Wares.”

  “Really?”

  He nods his head. “We’re meeting her at four.”

  Mercifully Ben and Eliza have the decency to stop their own session when we approach. The dazed expression on Eliza’s face is one I feel I can reciprocate.

  “Thank you for coming up here on such short notice, Eliza. I appreciate how quickly you arrived. But I’m afraid Tess and I need to catch a plane.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, it was no problem,” Eliza responds, sliding off my car. Her lip stick is smudged but I hardly doubt she would mind. Especially knowing who did the smudging.

  “Where are you going?” Ben, my ever-practical other best friend, asks. If he weren’t holding Eliza’s hand, I’m fairly certain his arms would be crossed in an upset father stance.

  “Dallas. There are rumors the Master we’re searching for is there. And at the very least an employee who can point us in the right direction.”

  “That’s a long way to travel.”

  “It’s closer than Bulgaria.”

  “Parker!” Caleb yells from the doorway, “Phone.”

  He looks about ready to say something else, but instead releases a tiny sigh. “Excuse me.”

  I watch him head back up the steps, shutting the door behind him.

  “I don’t like this,” Ben states. “I don’t like us being so far apart.”

  “I already live in another state.” My weak reply doesn’t hold much water. If trouble happens it would be best to be together, but I’m also ready to finish this. I follow Eliza’s line of sight to the twitching tails in my upstairs window. “I’ll take the Twins with me. They’ll be happy to leave the house.”

  “You’ll call if there’s any trouble, right?” Eliza asks, giving me a hug.

  “Please, if my hunch is correct, I won’t be able to go five feet before bumping into one of Parker’s coworkers.”

  Ben still doesn’t look convinced. “Dmitri and Viktor have proved to be determined.” He glances back toward the front door where Parker disappeared.

  “Ben. Ben. Benjamin!” I say, finally getting his attention as Eliza returns to the warmth of his hand. “If they get that close to me, I will kill them. Okay?”

  The small crevices of his face still show worry. But I can’t blame him. The only thing I can hope is that by leaving I will draw any attention away from them and toward me, and that Dallas will provide answers.

  ***

  Stephany Wares is a non-assuming woman of average . . . well, everything. Muddied brown hair in a loose bun and thin rimmed glasses veiling muddied brown eyes. Her standard frame carries tailored clothing meant for someone two sizes larger. The character she has created is one that can blend in with any crowd.

  Her house, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Ostentatious is a word that comes to mind.

  “How may I help you?”

  Sitting in a highly decorated highbacked chair upholstered with a rich red fabric makes her appearance even more mundane. But that chair. It looks like it costs more than a semester’s worth of rent.

  “We’re searching for someone within your organization,” Grant informs. Being the lead field agent in Dallas and the surrounding region, he knew exactly where to find this sprawling estate in University Park. The city north of Dallas contains jaw dropping homes, and Stephany’s interior does not disappoint.

  Driving up to the circular driveway told me just how heavily fortified the place truly is. Cameras in every shady nook and gardeners who look more equipped to be packing heat than carrying pruning shears. I wonder how many secret chambers exist and what kind of monster they’re fortified to keep out.

  “Is that so?” she questions, sitting completely still as if the small brigade who sits on the other side of her desk are nothing more than paper cutouts. Half of Grant’s team, who loudly protested the order to remain by the SUV’s, are keeping tabs on any other visitors’ arrival. “Do you have a name I can look into for you?”

  Stephany has no computer before her or even pen and paper. It struck me on the drive over that she probably has a special ability. It would be wise for vampires to utilize such people. Not knowing what she can do, however, is worrisome. I keep my features expressionless and my thoughts dull, just in case.

  “He would be high ranking.”

  “He? Well, I know many ‘he’s’ so I’ll need more specifics.”

  The man working in the corner next to a broad window tenses ever so slightly, probably unnoticeable to anyone else in the room. Facing the beautiful southern sunshine, the desk he sits at is a smaller version of Stephany’s.

  Parker’s patience has run out. “We want a meeting with your boss.”

  I bend over in an act of tying my shoe to get out of Stephany’s observant gaze. Out of the corner of my eye I watch the young man whose hand takes on a minor tremble, the smooth flowing cursive now marred. He knows precisely who we want to speak with. I wonder if it would be possible to get him alone.

  “My boss? I’m afraid you must have me confused. You see, I run a non-profit—”

  Parker looks ready for a harder form of interrogation but Grant intervenes before we burn our bridge. “Yes, you’ve been running a non-profit organization for Wildlife Conservation for seven years now if I’m not mistaken.”

  Sitting up, I take Parker’s hand in my own. Our fingers intertwine below the desk line so I know it’s something Stephany can’t view. The physical reassurance seems to calm him from saying anything else.

  Sunlight reflects across her glasses and I wonder what she sees: a group of foolish individuals poking their noses where they don’t belong, or hardened warriors prepared to do what it takes to get answers. If I had to guess, completely random speculation and not at all based on the fact Parker is currently giving my hand the death grip, I would postulate that Parker and perhaps one or two of Grant’s team would do whatever they could for answers. Grant, on the other hand, still has a city to protect and doesn’t need a horde of angry vampires terrorizing Dallas.

  “Based on your phone call I was under the impression you were wanting to meet with a patron or beneficiary.”

  The man’s shoulders relax. Whatever she tells us will be worthless.

  “Let’s start with your benefactors.”

  “How do we know she won’t say something to the Master?” I utter through unmoving lips as we hurry down the two front steps leading to her door. Parker’s death grip has yet to lessen even without the presence of Stephany’s suffocating lies.

  “Our people will be monitoring her.”

  “How?”

  Getting clearance to go with Grant’s agents was a challenge in and of itself since I don’t actually work for The Agency. Yet. I was allowed to come based on the warehouse episode and good faith that I will accept the offered job, but since I have yet to speak to Marc, it’s little surprise when Grant doesn’t respond.

  “Where’s Pete?” Grant asks when we reach the others.

  “You mean the hot head?” one of the women replies. “He stormed off that way. Looked like he was ready to take off someone’s head. And I like mine right where it is.”

&
nbsp; Marc wanted another member of his team to accompany me and Parker. Pete volunteered immediately. And since I’m fairly certain Marc is actually concerned about Pete burning down a building with his fire sparking abilities, it was little surprise he handed Pete over for Parker to babysit.

  “Did you see the guy sitting in the corner?” I say to Grant while Parker treks off to find his ward. “The one writing with a quill and ink? Keep an eye on him too.”

  ***

  “Well that was a waste of an afternoon. If I wanted to be lied to, that conversation could have happened over the phone,” I grumble, dropping my bag on the couch. Parker flips on a few lights because the house is dark. My right ear has yet to pop since our descent and I rub at it annoyingly.

  “Are you saying you didn’t enjoy Dallas?”

  “I’m saying I don’t feel any closer to solving this thing.”

  Parker abandons his quest in lighting every room on the first floor to stand behind me, placing supportive hands on my shoulders. “Every step brings us a little closer,” he reassures, massaging the stress from my tightened muscles.

  I think again about traveling to Bulgaria. It could take weeks to learn anything of significance from Stephany Wares. There hasn’t been a vampire sighting in the area since Dmitri showed up in my class so it’s not like I can pummel out a few answers there, and now that I no longer have the distraction of school, every day that creeps by is a stark reminder I’m being hunted.

  Turning around, I step into Parker’s waiting arms. He’s certain the Master has left Bulgaria but my instincts tell me to go there. The only reason I haven’t left is because I don’t have as much experience tracking creatures of the supernatural world as him. With his job he has seen more so I have to trust him.

  Maybe this would be a good time to take Parker up on his offer from graduation dinner. It’s not like I am going to suddenly wake up one morning with the ability to accurately aim a crossbow.

  Feeling much better standing in his embrace, I lean back to ask about training when his phone buzzes. A crease forms between his eyebrows which I have learned is his apologetic expression. Probably for cutting off whatever I was about to say as he withdraws his phone from his front pocket.