Chapter Six
R eaper
I’m standing in the shadows, waiting for Athena to finish locking the café up.
I’d parked my bike down the street far enough that my pipes wouldn’t be heard, then walked back.
I was planning on watching her a bit through the windows while she cleaned or whatever, not having enough of her from earlier.
Of course, once I saw her face, it changed to me needing to get her number.
However, something inside held me back, as my gut told me to wait and watch, and now, I’m glad I did.
The cook drives off, after asking repeatedly if Athena wants a ride home. She’s adamant about saying no, claiming she needs the walk after her shift. I wish she’d have gotten in the car, something we’ll have to work on in the future.
I’m relieved my bike is in the opposite direction she heads, so it doesn’t come off as suspicious.
I stick to the shadows, unable to stop myself from following her.
I need to see where she lives, since I obviously didn’t get her number in time.
Had I interrupted her in the parking lot, things would’ve gotten too awkward.
The last thing I want to do is scare her and the older lady, so she doesn’t want to see me.
We head down the street that the café’s on for about two blocks before taking a right. There are a few houses this way, but it’s an older part of town, so everything isn’t too close. After a beat, I notice I’m not the only one in the shadows who thinks following Athena is a good idea.
The difference is I’m quieter and faster.
Deadlier.
In the next blink, I have him in my arms. I grip him tightly, overpowering him from behind, as I drag the man into the closest alleyway. I pull us behind a dumpster to help hide us from any late-night prying eyes.
His mouth gapes, his frightened stare widening in terror, as I lean in, biting savagely. One hand covers his mouth to muffle his scream; the other has his arms locked down so he can’t fight me too much. His jerking and jumping only last minutes before he’s lost enough blood to become lethargic.
I drink, and then drink some more, noting his blood is tinged with far too much alcohol.
I’ll end up with a buzz if I drain him, so I stop myself, tearing his throat out instead.
It’s messy, covering me in his blood, but the local cops will never be able to figure out it was a vampire attack.
Not that they even know we’re real. To the humans, we’re just a myth.
A fantasy someone made up one day, and has since haunted people with the absurd movies out there to watch.
I toss his body to the ground, noting how his lifeless eyes stare up at the sky.
Nothing up there could’ve saved him from me; I was too hell bent on protecting Athena.
I kick the dead man, using it to shove his legs and arms out of the way so no one will spot him right away.
Finding a dry spot on my shirt, I use it to wipe away some of the blood on my face, and then I’m out of the alley, searching for Athena.
She’s easy to find, her scent from the restaurant lingering behind her.
It’s like she’s left me my own special trail to follow, I think as I get closer and closer, her scent becoming stronger.
Eventually, I stop, peering out of the darkness to watch her.
She’s already made it home, I note as she slides her house key into the lock and twists her doorknob.
Everything inside pushes for me to reveal myself, but I hold back.
Watching. Taking in the way she huffs as the lock doesn’t turn easily the first time she tries it.
The second time is more successful. Her sigh of relief is audible to my ears, even this far away, thanks to my enlightened senses.
It’s a good thing I didn’t let the man near her; she’s already exhausted and probably would’ve had a hard time fighting him off.
As she pushes against the front door, eventually disappearing inside, it hits me that I won’t be able to see her again for the rest of the night.
My chest aches at the realization, wishing I could be inside with her right now.
She was a breath of fresh air amongst all the same mundane bullshit I deal with on a night-to-night basis.
Later, the scent of blood hits me, instantly putting me on edge.
Ready to investigate, I look down and realize it’s me the overwhelming blood smell is wafting from.
Athena was enough of a distraction to make me momentarily forget all about the man I’d swiftly taken a chunk out of a few blocks back.
Probably a good thing I was late to her house and didn’t approach her in the end.
If she’d have witnessed me like this, well, she’d never want anything to do with me ever again. Of that, I’m sure of.
With one last lingering gaze at the last place I saw her, I zip away, back to my bike. I can’t move at super-speed or anything, but take the fastest track runner on Earth, and I’d give them a run for their money. My entire club would.
I swing my leg over my motorcycle, get situated, then fire it up. The sound and vibrations are soothing as I pull out on the street and head back to the clubhouse.
The typical blood whores are around when I arrive, waiting for one of us to use them, but it won’t be me tonight.
I’ve had plenty to hold me over for a few days at least. A couple of them watch me, eagerly hoping I’ll give them what they want.
They should know by now that I’m the last person who will turn anyone.
I’m still angry over it happening to me, and it’s been many years since it happened.
Vicious and Machete are on me like white on rice, leaning in to give me a long sniff. “Fuck off,” I grumble, shoving at them.
“Someone had a busy night. Without us, too, must’ve been hungry after missing out on that steak,” Machete comments.
“Didn’t want to share, brother?” Vicious grumbles. “Smells like they were giving away free liquor with that type B.”
“It wasn’t planned,” I admit and take a seat at the bar with a sigh. They follow along, no doubt wanting to hear what went down. “It was nothing exciting, just some prick who needed to stop breathing.”
Mayhem whistles lowly, joining us in another chair on the other side of Vicious. “It’s been a while since you’ve lost your shit on a random, Reaper. What went down?”
Suddenly, I’m surrounded by the entire club because of this damn sensitive hearing we all now possess. “None of your business, if I feel like sharing, you’ll be the first to know.”
Prez shakes his head, “None of that shit, Reaper. Who pissed you off enough that it cost them a few pints and made it messy enough you’ve been covered in their blood?”
One of the blood whores scoots her way in, perching on Mayhem’s knee. I lean in, close enough to bare my fangs and order, “Move.”
Her eyes grow scandalously wide, and in no time, she’s striding away like her ass is on fire.
“Hey!” Mayhem grumbles, but I ignore him. My words aren’t for blood whores, they’re simply sustenance on tap and not a part of this club as far as I’m concerned.
“I parked down the street from the café when we all left. I followed our waitress home once I realized she was going to walk alone. I found a creeper along the way who thought he’d get too close to her.
I rectified the situation and made sure he wouldn’t mess with anyone else in the future.
He smelled of ill intentions and previous assaults. ”
Prez’s brows are practically to his hairline as he huffs, hands on his hips, shoulders tight as he asks, “He attacked her?”
“No. He never got the chance to show his face. I picked up on his emotions, though, and he was going to hurt her. I wasn’t going to give it to chance and allow anything to happen to her.”
“Good then, fuck him.” Prez nods, and the tense muscles in my back relax. It’s only momentarily, as I’m asked right after, “So you and her, huh?”
“We’re really doing this?” I grit my teeth, flashing my gaze around my brothers, noting all of their attention is pinned on me.
They’re waiting for me to answer, not that they’re inclined to anything I don’t feel like sharing.
I know they won’t stop bugging me until I cave, however, so I give in. “Nosey assholes,” I grumble.
“Come on, it’s been a long time since one of us had a woman in our lives.
A permanent one, let alone drained a random person who was following her.
Can you blame us for being curious?” Lucky amends, and he’s not wrong.
The only woman I’ve been obsessed with is Veronica, and for revenge, not because I want to sleep with her or anything.
“Or excited?” Silver asks.
“Or living through you?” Ice comments.
“Fine,” I huff, caving, knowing they won’t leave me be otherwise. “There’s something about her. I need to figure out what it is. I’m drawn to her in a way I can’t explain, almost as if there’s a link between us.”
They all start speaking at once, jostling me in the process of their excitement. My brothers act like this woman is for all of us, but they’ll be sorely disappointed when they realize the truth.
She’ll only be mine.