Chapter 7 #2
“Anything is possible. He attempted to use a portal to dip out last night which is a nice little trick. Demon magick. That kind of shit is trouble.”
“He’s a regular vampire then? Not like you?” Skylar asked.
“No, he’s nothing like me. And Rafe was worried you wouldn’t assimilate to paranormal’s ways.” Greyson laughed. “See, Rafe. She catches on quickly.”
“When someone uses black magick, it can give them special powers,” Rafe explained. “The thing that is causing all this chaos is using something dark.”
“Vampire or not, it’s someone using.”
“Using?” she asked.
“Black magick. Demonic energy,” Greyson explained.
“What can cause that?”
“A High Priestess. Warlock. Could be a demon,” Greyson guessed. “Whatever it is I’m not able to feel them well. And as an ancient, it’s unusual. Tells me something’s cloaking him. It means this vampire is working with energy tied to Hell.”
“What about Zyaire? They mentioned that name.” Skylar’s question was met with silence.
“Do not speak the name,” the vampire instructed. “Don’t give it energy. Scott could’ve learned that name anywhere. He’d been taken by bloodlust. Let’s focus on Topper and they can lead us to the chaos leader.”
Rafe changed the subject; suspicious Greyson was keeping a secret. “I think we should get Skylar out of here tomorrow. I was hoping to revisit the desert after the bar, but I don’t have a good feeling about things after what we saw tonight.”
Rafe squeezed her hand. The warmth of her touch tingled his palm, his heart tightening as he looked into her eyes. He shoved the memories of her kiss deep inside and remained firm. “She’s got to go. She’s not a human who plays in our world. There is too much danger here.”
“But what if I can help—” Skylar protested.
“For once I agree with the wolf. You must go,” Greyson agreed. “We’ll have you on a flight to wherever you call home now. Somewhere far away from here.”
“I’m going back to New Orleans eventually, but I was thinking I’ll go to Seattle first.”
“Seattle?” Rafe asked.
“Port Townsend. I was thinking of going to see my parents.” She paused in thought for several seconds. “Am I safe? I mean, am I safe from the other vampires once I leave?”
“Safer than here. We just don’t know what we’re dealing with here.” The truth was Rafe couldn’t promise her safety because he didn’t know.
“Depends on the vampires. Hell, even a human can track another human if they want them bad enough. So yeah, theoretically they could come for her again,” Greyson suggested. “We’re almost there, guys.”
“Wait. Are you saying these things are going to stalk me or something?” Skylar’s lips pressed tight, concern in her eyes.
“We’re going to put an end to this. Whatever did this. I’m serious about getting you out of here. Hey, Grey. Maybe we should flash her back to New Orleans? Have her stay with Kade.”
“You want me to take her? And scare the human? She belongs to you. Unless you’d like me to spend time with her.” Greyson dropped his fangs and smiled.
“No!” Both Rafe and Skylar answered at the same time.
“Put those things away,” Rafe ordered.
“We’re here, boys and girls.” Greyson slowed the car as they pulled into an abandoned strip mall.
“Park over there.” Rafe’s attention was drawn to the shadows under the streetlight. He pointed to a red Beemer parked in the far-right corner of the parking lot. “Xavier’s here. There’s Kenji.”
Rafe didn’t trust the random tip despite Greyson’s claim the intel had been solid. The chaotic energy of the city was palpable, and the dangerous nature of the wild vampires who existed in blood clubs was likely feral.
Greyson shut off the car engine and turned back to Rafe and Skylar. His eyes darkened, narrowing in on the wolf. “We must be careful. Don’t accept anything. Don’t ask for any favors.”
“I don’t know who you got this tip from, but I don’t have a good feeling.” Dark energy lingered in the air brushing over his skin. He cracked the door open and waved to Xavier and Kenji.
Greyson shrugged. “Look, I didn’t want to say anything, but Xavier got the tip from a fae he knows in New Orleans.”
“That’s brave of him taking on a favor.” The last fae Rafe had met tried to kill him on a mountain.
“Apparently the fae had owed him one. I’ll let him tell you the story.”
“No matter what happens, promise me you’ll flash Skylar if things go south.”
Skylar’s eyes widened. “But I thought you just said that’s a bad thing, right?”
“It’s not bad. I just don’t want to go around doing it if we don’t have to. There’s nothing wrong with a car most of the time.” Rafe shot Greyson a look.
“What he’s saying is that he thinks me flashing you off might traumatize you, given the bite scare you had last night. But we’re about to go into a bar with a lot of bloodthirsty creatures of various sorts, and the flashing is the best option to keep you safe. On this I agree with the wolf.”
Rafe reached for Skylar’s hand. “Stay with me.”
She laughed. “This is crazy, you guys. I want to remind you I don’t go to vampire bars.”
“You’re right not to go. These kinds of places...” Are where I eat. An overwhelming sense of guilt overcame him. “You don’t belong in them. But we’ve got to keep you safe until we find the vampire who’s causing all this chaos.”
“What if they try to attack us? Then what?” she whispered.
“I’m going to kill anyone who tries to hurt you.
” Rafe caught the shock on her face but didn’t regret his choice of words.
He could not let attraction to the human blind them to the truth of the situation.
Sugarcoating the reality of the dark side of the blood clubs or the evil that lurked in the shadows, would do her more harm than good.
Rafe swung open the door, his boots crunching onto the gravel parking lot. He looked up to the unassuming building, the dark energy in the air intensifying.
An hour outside of the city, surrounded by desert, the dilapidated strip mall bar looked like it had seen better days. The silent echo of the desert would deceive those who passed to believe it was empty. But the black magick humming in the air warned him of the danger that awaited them.
Rafe pushed open the wooden door and immediately assessed the situation.
Ballistic steel walls. Bulletproof. Interesting.
Are they expecting humans? Hidden surveillance cameras in the circular sound speakers watched and listened.
He took a step inside and spied a singular black button on the wall tempting him to push it.
Alpha, the wolf had called him. There was one way to test the theory.
“Open the door,” he commanded. Every synapse of his mind fired, releasing a powerful wave of his energy.
Within seconds the steel slid open, the screech of metal against metal resounding in the chamber. He glanced at Greyson, who gave him a knowing look.
The stench of blood and smoke hung heavy in the air as Rafe pushed through the large black metal doors. A thumping beat pounded in his ears. The dark bar appeared empty.
The bartender, an older gentleman with a beard down to his stomach, scrubbed a dirty cloth into a beer mug. “What ya needing, Alpha?”
“We’re lookin’ for someone.”
Xavier stepped slowly toward the bar, his eyes darkened as he focused on the bartender. Kenji crossed his arms over his chest, his expression serious.
“Who’s the muscle?” He shot a look of disdain at Rafe, instantly submitting, averting his gaze.
“Name’s Xavier Wellington. We’re looking for a bartender. He goes by the name of Topper.”
Rafe took a protective step, shielding Skylar from his view. “Like the man said, we’re here to see Topper. Is there a problem?”
“We’re a respectable joint. We don’t want no trouble in here.”
“Just friends out lookin’ for a bit of fun,” Rafe told him with a cool smirk. “And Topper of course.”
“I don’t know no Topper. As long as you’re payin’ you’re welcome inside.” The bartender’s gaze settled on Skylar, his fangs dropping. “You’re bringing something to share?” He sniffed. “Hmm. She’s fresh.”
“She’s mine,” Rafe growled. He fought the urge to attack, his fangs aching against his gums.
“Follow the rules. No fucking in the main areas. No trouble.” He resumed scrubbing his glass until it released a tight squeak.
“No trouble here,” Rafe lied. “We’ll be in and out.”
“What about your mate, there?” His eyes narrowed in on Kenji. “He ain’t no vampire, is he now? No wolf either. But he sure is something.”
“None of your business what he is,” Rafe’s glare intensified as his patience waned. “We’ve got cash and that’s all that matters.”
“Show is in the back. No smoking. No vaping either. Boss doesn’t like the blood tainted.
No fucking unless you’re paying for a room.
Negotiate the deal before you go to the private area.
Donors in red don’t leave the establishment.
They’re on the clock. Humans with yellow collars are on their own.
Pay before you bite. No exceptions. And we don’t do credit here.
Break the rules and you’re outta here.” His eyes reddened as he focused on Skylar.
“You sure you don’t want to give it a go, lass?
I may look like a bastard, but I got the bite of an angel. I’ll make it worth your time.”
“Speak to her again and this will be your last night on earth,” Rafe growled. He released his power, and the vampire cowered. “She’s mine. And I don’t fuckin’ share.”
“Absolutely not.” Skylar recoiled and ducked behind Rafe. “It’s not my thing. Not judging.”
Greyson dropped his fangs, giving the bartender a cold stare. “Stay the fuck away from her.” He glanced at Skylar and quickly retracted them.
“What are you?” The bartender slammed his hand onto a button on the counter and averted his gaze to the sink. “No, no, no. I don’t want to know. Head toward the back. Follow the rules. Don’t want no trouble.”
Rafe spun around to Skylar whose forehead had been pressed against his back. Without speaking she looked up to him and nodded.