23. Nicky
NICKY
Jackson leaned forward as the “wolfkin” character came onscreen.
The Hex Files was their new favorite show, though personally I didn’t think it held a candle to Supernatural.
Most of the reason they loved it was their completely-not-subtle-at-all crush on the actor who played this character, who was a kind of wolf shifter.
Despite the presence of witches in the cast of characters, Jackson and I both thought someone on the writing staff had to be part of the campaign.
They didn’t use any of the same terminology, but the similarities were hard to ignore.
Footsteps thudded on the stairs as either Simon or Reno came up.
Wait, that was two sets of footsteps, so both of them.
Jackson and I were in my attic room, which was more of a mini apartment, complete with a sitting area, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
I loved it, and I’d turned it into my sanctuary, with comfy bedding, pillows, and potted plants.
The outside world could be a lot sometimes, especially for someone who’d been unable to actually go outside for ninety percent of their life.
One of them knocked, and Jackson paused the show while I called, “Come in!”
Simon entered first, with Reno right behind him. Their expressions were solemn, almost upset, the unhappiest I’d seen them since last summer when the vampires who’d held me captive were trying to get me back. I stood up. “What’s wrong?”
Simon waved me back to the couch. “Have a seat, Nicky.”
“No. Tell me what’s wrong.” Yes, I reacted poorly to people telling me what to do. I was working on it with my therapist, but Simon’s demeanor was setting off alarm bells in my head, and I couldn’t be held to that high a standard under the circumstances.
He grimaced and glanced at Reno, as if for support. Reno crossed his arms and stared toward the tiny window over my bed. Shit, this must be bad. I felt like the doctors on M*A*S*H when Radar O’Reilly came to tell them about Henry Blake’s death.
Simon looked me in the eye. “Do you remember a vampire named Kinnon?”
Unease snaked down my spine. “Yeah, he was the leader of the vampires who kidnapped me, at least in the beginning. He never drank from me, and he disappeared really early on.”
Simon nodded, as this confirmed some other information he had. “He’s been found. Alive.”
Jackson stood up and pressed against my back. I crossed my arms, mimicking Reno, as if I didn’t need the comfort. “Oh?”
Simon grimaced and glanced at Reno again before facing me.
“He was being coerced by a magic carrier. You know how Reno got some of my abilities after we bonded? Well, this person convinced Kinnon they were mates, and once he got Kinnon’s ability to mesmerize, he essentially enslaved Kinnon and over time created a Wonder trafficking ring.
The Hunters found him tonight, and he’s dead, but Kinnon is still alive. ”
I held up a hand. “Hold on. I thought vampires couldn’t be mesmerized.”
Simon ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t have a lot of details, but the magic carrier was a telepath, and apparently that had something to do with it.
” A telepath? I’d never heard of a magic carrier with that ability.
I shivered, and Simon nodded. “Kinnon is not in good shape mentally or physically, as you can imagine.”
Probably a lot like how I’d been—and still was to a certain extent—after being held captive for more decades than I cared to remember.
“I’m going to Houston to pick Kinnon up and bring him back here.”
My brain skidded to a halt, and I stared at Simon. “I’m sorry, what?”
He spread his arms out. “This is the safest place for him.”
Another vampire in the house? Could I deal with that? Reno shifted on his feet uneasily, and a horrible suspicion took hold. “You don’t mean just living in this house, do you? You mean here, in the attic.”
Simon’s grim expression was back. “I’m sorry, but it’s safest for you and everyone else until we know how much control he has. We hoped you and Jackson wouldn’t mind sharing the downstairs bedroom for a few days until we can clear out the office for you.”
Jackson shrugged against my back. “I don’t mind sleeping on the couch. I’ll help you move your things downstairs, Nicky.”
I looked around at my haven, my comfort space, about to be invaded by a vampire. Maybe he hadn’t ever fed from me, but he’d sure as shit been in charge of my kidnapping.
No way was I staying under the same roof as him.
I pounded on the front door, not caring that I might be waking up the neighbors. Finally the deadbolt was drawn back, and he pulled the door open. “Nicky?”
I shoved past him, the armful of my possessions making it easy to push him aside. “This is only for a few days until I find a place of my own.”