8. Chapter Eight - Sen
Chapter Eight - Sen
Islip onto a high bar stool. The round red seat might as well be decorative for all the cushion it provides.
The murky pub has all the charm of a stinking armpit, and the few patrons lurking about hunch over their amber drinks or talk in hushed voices.
“I do love a place with personality,” I tell the barman, his faded tattoos climbing his hairy arms as he approaches, pushing over a bowl of crispy snacks that have the slightest scent of urine. “If only the walls could talk.”
“What can I get ya?” he grunts impatiently, as if there’s a line behind me.
I rest my forearm on the tacky top, ready to order something most likely watered down.
But before I can, a woman in a badly fitted grey suit slips beside me.
“A gin and tonic, make it a double.” She inclines her head, topped with a choppy brown bob, in my direction.
“He’s paying,” she says in that no-nonsense way I’ve come to enjoy.
“And you, mate?” the barman asks, gruff voice clipped.
“I’ll take the same.” He ambles off to get our drinks, and I turn to face my guest, her peachy skin flushed even redder from the cold outside. “Officer Kate Donovan, it’s been a while.”
“That’s Detective Kate Donovan now,” she corrects quietly to match the pub’s forlorn atmosphere, but with her own brand of delightful abrasiveness.
She collects her drink when it’s served, and once I’ve paid, unstuck myself from the bar top, and saluted the barman with my drink, I follow Kate towards a quiet corner.
“Congratulations on becoming a Detective,” I say, pretending to be my normal, casual self when really a quiet and rather annoying impatience nips at me. A single word rings in my head. Teagan. Teagan. Teagan. But I can’t tell Kate any of that.
The woman in question shoots me a glare as she knocks back her drink. “It happened five years ago, so you’re a bit late on that.”
Kate might be an old friend. Or I’m her friend, and she tolerates me, and isn’t that just the perfect way to form lifelong attachments? But I’m here for one reason: my soulmate.
Kate wouldn’t harm him, but my good ol’ Detective pal has a serious fatal flaw—she wants to protect everyone, and if she suspects Teagan needs saving from the scary vampire, she’ll only get in my way.
“Never too late to celebrate.”
“Why are you back in the city, Sen?” she asks, glancing at her drink like she wishes there was more. “I thought you said you were never coming back.”
“What can I say, I’ve missed you and that particular shade of grey you’re so fond of wearing.”
“It goes with my eyes,” is Kate’s deadpan reply.
I grin, and while I might be desperate to solve the issue that Summer’s created, I can admit it’s nice catching up with Kate. So often I’m around the unfamiliar; to be around the familiar is a refreshing change.
“Did my friendly neighbourhood police officer read the article I sent?”
Kate glowers. “I read it.”
When she doesn’t continue, my lip slices deeper into a smirk. “I did save your life once, so I’m owed at least a favour, and all I need is one little address. Think about all the times you came to me with not-so-normal questions?”
If looks could kill, the glare Kate sends my way would have me dead ten times over. “You saved me fifteen years and two break-ups ago. Move on, Sen.”
My eyebrow quirks up. “You and Jess?”
Kate finishes the last of her drink in one gulp. “Things change.”
“Plenty of fish in the sea and all that. I’m sure if nothing else, your sunny disposition can land someone.”
Kate slams her glass down, and after a moment, she offers me a weary smile. “You’re a dickhead, you know that, right?”
I tilt my drink her way. “Thank you. Now, straight to business, shall we?”
Kate’s hard, prying gaze bores into me. There’s a twitch to her top lip, like she’s caught a whiff of something sour, and when Kate finds something that goes against her near-inflexible moral code, by hell or high water, she won’t let go.
Any other time, it’s a quality I’d find oddly endearing, like a flea-bitten one-legged dog. Right now, it’s the last thing I fucking need.
“Straight to business,” she repeats with a snort and a little shake of the head. “Have you ever uttered those words?”
“Probably, I’m very old.”
Kate holds up a hand. “I don’t wanna know how old, it’ll just freak me out. But normally, the only thing you care about is fucking me around. Remember when you told me about elves?”
I chuckle into my drink. “In my defence, they are real. But normally, instead of milk, they want to drink something else white and sticky…”
“I left milk out for days for those pesky fucks,” Kate grumbles under her breath. “When you knew where my suspect was the whole bleeding time. So forgive me for being suspicious that you, oh-ancient-fucking-time-waster that you are, actually want to get right to it.”
“As you said, Detective, things change.” I throw my drink back, hoping the burn calms the gnawing need in the pit of my soul. But if anything, the alcohol only adds to it.
“And you want to know about a random woman who died alone in her flat, why, again?”
“You’re a nosy little thing, aren’t you?”
“Part of the job.”
“Honey, that’s all you.”
Kate leans back, arms crossed, assessing gaze narrowed. “What’s his name?”
I pause, my lip twitching as I set my glass down. “Am I that obvious?”
“No. But even when you found that scumbag blood mage draining me, you still cracked jokes and acted like you had all the time in the world, while my time was being drained outta me. So, whatever this is,” she gestures with her empty glass to encompass the whole of me, “this is something I’ve never seen before. ”
My canines sharpen, begin to slide down, as I lean in closer. “Honey, there’s so much of the world you haven’t seen before,” I tell Kate, low, mocking, and with enough dangerous charm to steer her away from this topic.
Scowling, Kate juts her chin out. “As you said, I’m nosy. But I already know too much supernatural rubbish, and everyone at the station already thinks I’m crazy. You’re helpful when something turns up that makes no sense, and because of that, I’ve kept in contact.”
“Not because of my pretty face?”
“But this woman you wanted me to look into,” she raises a pointed eyebrow, “she isn’t one of those weird things, Sen.”
“She died in a locked flat, with no wounds or signs of blood loss,” I reply, pulling my fangs back with some effort.
I was enjoying our little back-and-forth until she started asking questions, which is what I expected from Kate.
But the impatience that’s been badgering me since I arrived is only getting worse. “You don’t think that’s suspicious?”
“She was old. Had all her windows closed during a record-breaking heat wave. She died of dehydration. Her blood turned into sludge.”
I run my tongue across my teeth, frustrated. All I want is to explore these feelings with Teagan, actually spend time with him outside of climbing towers and dodging the intensity of his gaze, yet everyone is getting in my fucking way.
I’ve been around long enough to trust my gut, and there is something about the dead woman that tickles at my senses. But I can’t deny my gut is compromised. Right now, if given the chance, I’d find every blood mage scum and start killing until I get the answers I’m looking for.
Fun, but unproductive.
“Give me the address,” I say, my playful tone gone.
After a moment, Kate gets out her phone and sends over the details. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you distracting me when I asked his name. Is this for some boyfriend?”
Like that would ever encompass what Teagan already is.
I tap the table with my glass before setting it down and standing. “Thanks, Kate, I’ll see you around,” I tell my nosy detective, walking away.
“Sen.”
I peer over my shoulder at Kate’s drawn-in features.
“The person you’re keeping close to your chest is he…?” The word ‘human’ hangs unsaid between us, and when I say nothing, turning my back and slipping outside, I hear her soft ‘shit’ and know that Kate Donovan—and her fatal flaw—are going to rear their ugly head when I least expect it.
The wind hits me as I make my way towards my car, but unlike humans, I can shrug the chill off easily. Besides, I’m too distracted by the new address I’ve got burning in my pocket.
I drop into my car and peel away from the pavement with quick, jerky movements. If I linger any longer, I’m going to start ripping my hair out. Hopefully, when I check this place out, I’ll find answers that could lead me to Summer and calm the ache that grows bigger with each passing second.
My phone rings, and without a glance, I hit answer for Lucero’s voice to come out from the speakers. “You aren’t at your hotel.”
“Well, hello there, little brother. I didn’t know I couldn’t leave. Perhaps you can send your pretty mate, Golden, to keep me company?”
Lucero lets out a growl. Any other time, I’d be enjoying annoying my brooding brother, even if he’s insufferably happy now. But my attempt rings hollow as my distracted focus remains trapped on the road, hands gripping the wheel.
“I wanted to check in on you,” Lucero snaps, then clears his throat. “I was worried.”
“Listen, Lucero,” I bite out, losing the small amount of patience I was clinging to. This isn’t like me. I can wait. I enjoy waiting. Finding my soulmate has left me floundering. “I know you’re the expert on soulmates, but I’m doing whatever I can to get mine while ensuring his safety.”
“Not being able to claim your soulmate—”
“God, you’re annoying,” I interrupt. “I thought you’d only dole out that high and mighty attitude when you were playing the leader of the family. Vidar is back, Luc. Calm it.”
I expect Lucero to snap; instead, he asks, “What’s wrong?” In a far too sincere way.
“What do you bloody mean?”
“You’re not acting like yourself,” he replies calmly, which only irritates me further.
“You literally just said, very clearly, what is wrong with me,” I growl. “I. Cannot. Claim. Teagan.”
“There’s more than that. Tell me.”
“Because I…fuck!” I hit the steering wheel. “I can’t stop thinking about him, and it’s driving me insane. Like I have to be with him now and if I don’t, then…I don’t know,” I growl. “How do you live with this?”
There’s a pause.
“What are you waiting for then? Go to him.”
My hold tightens, my breathing saws in and out of my heaving chest. I run my tongue along my teeth, only realising then my fangs have dropped. What the fuck is wrong with me? “I would if I could, but Vidar and Kai said—”
“Fuck them.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Sen.” I can hear the eyeroll in his voice. “Trust your instincts.”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t even know where he is.”
“You always know where they are,” Lucero tells me. “Trust me—trust your bond. Go find your mate.”
My teeth grind with force to continue heading in the direction of the bloodless old woman. This makes the most sense—it’s how I keep Teagan safe.
“Fuck it!” I bark, swerving the car around, causing the cars behind me to honk as I slam my foot down and gun it across the dark asphalt. Not knowing where I’m going, but knowing I have to get there. “And here I thought finding my soulmate would involve lots and lots of sex.”
Lucero snorts. “Keep me updated, okay, brother?”
My answer is to hang up and keep driving, my ever-trustworthy gut clenching. My gnawing impatience turning into an urgent insistence, and whatever it means, I just hope Teagan is okay.
***
Half an hour later, I’m parking outside a tattoo parlour called King’s, the name in red florid script above a grinning King of Hearts skeleton.
I jump out, not even bothering to shut the car door as I march towards the closed and dark studio.
At this time of night, no one is around.
I still glance left and right, preparing for anything as I reach for the door, fully expecting it to be closed and laugh off these coiling feelings that snap at me like vipers.
When the handle clicks down and I slowly open the door, my fangs slide out—something is wrong. Very wrong.
My hand whips up to grab the bell, keeping my presence unknown to anyone who could be lurking, and I sneak inside with the quiet steps of a hunting animal.
The space is decked out in punk posters and tattoo art. Spacious with adjoining rooms that must be where the artists see clients. I keep my head tilted, eyes scanning, body tense and senses open for even the slightest shift.
Just before I’m about to call myself crazy and turn away, I spot a door labelled ‘Basement: Staff Only’, and a sliver of light peeking from the keyhole. I stride over on silent feet, reaching for that barely-there glow.
Without warning, a scream rends the air, and with it the fresh coppery smell of human blood—as well as the rotting meat stink of a blood mage.
Amid it all, a scent I’d know anywhere—warm sand and sweet tea. It’s etched into my fucking bones, saturated into my brain, and Teagan. Teagan. Teagan becomes a roar that breaks free from my chest.
Blind, consuming rage hits me like a tidal wave and any caution I had ruptures when I tear the door from its hinges and race into the basement, towards that single word.