Burn Falls Page 10

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Yeah. My best friend, Martin, lives there, and I go back every month to visit him and his family. I’ve known his daughters since they were born.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet,” V cooed.

  “So what I was getting at is that maybe I could swing by a night or two and help you pack or something,” Draven went on.

  I balked, surprised at his offer. “You’d do that?”

  “Don’t you know Draven is an expert packer? He moves every ten years,” Athan broke in.

  My brows furrowed. “You do?”

  Draven rolled his eyes at Athan. “Haven’t found a good place to call forever.”

  “Looks like this will be my forever,” I stated. At least my mother was nicer to me now.

  “It’s not a bad place,” Draven noted.

  “Except my father was attacked here.”

  “I haven’t lived here that long, but Burn Falls always seemed like a safe place to live,” Draven stated.

  I nodded slowly. “Burn Falls was a town where everyone left their doors unlocked at night, but now, I imagine everyone is watching their backs.”

  “It’s also boring with only one bar in town,” Athan chimed in.

  “It is.” I smiled and took a sip of my margarita.

  “It’s not that bad,” Draven said again. “We aren’t far from the Northern Lights. Have you ever been?”

  “It’s been years, but yes.”

  “Then maybe once you move back we can go sometime.”

  My gaze flicked to Valencia. Her eyes widened, and she grinned. Was Draven asking me out on a date? The closest place to see the Aurora Borealis was at least five hours away in Fairbanks. That was an all-day trip.

  An all-day trip with Draven.

  “Hey, Athan, want to go with me up to the bar and grab another drink?” V asked, sliding off of her stool.

  “Lead the way, sweet cheeks.”

  They left, and I looked back at Draven. “You know you don’t need to do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Be nice to me. You’re no longer my father’s doctor.”

  Draven placed his hand on my arm. “I’m not only being nice to you because I was his doctor, Calla. I want to …”

  I held my breath as I waited for him to finish his sentence. Was he about to confirm my thought that he wanted to take me on a date? Why would he want to take a chubby girl like me on a date when he had all those muscles? He could probably get any woman he wanted.

  “Can I take you to dinner before you head back to Seattle?”

  Heart meet floor. Floor meet heart.

  “Dinner? With me?”

  “Why is that such a surprise?”

  I looked down at his hand still on my arm. “Why me?”

  “Why not you?”

  I scoffed. “Because look at you. You probably have a six—no, an eight-pack, and I have—”

  He leaned closer to me and whispered, “Trust me, I want to taste all of your curves.”

  The rest of the night was a blur. Athan and Valencia returned with drinks, and we danced and laughed as we rang in the New Year. As we counted down from ten, my heart was racing. I wondered if Draven was going to kiss me. That was what people did when the clock struck twelve, but I hadn’t had a kiss at midnight in a few years. However, instead of kissing me on the lips, Draven leaned down and pressed his lips to my cheek. I was bummed, but then again, we weren’t officially dating, and I shouldn’t have expected him to kiss me for the first time in front of the packed bar.

  Just before we got into a taxi to go home, Draven told me that he’d call me to set up a date for Saturday. I couldn’t believe I was going to go on a date with him.

  Just like two teenage girls, V and I laid in my bed, gushing about the night.

  “Athan is so hot.”

  “So is Draven.”

  “I can’t believe you have a date with a doctor.”

  “I can’t either.” We both giggled. I blamed the alcohol. “Did you ask Athan what he does for a living?”

  “No, that never came up, except he said he lives in Russia.”

  “Russia?”

  “Yeah. Crazy huh?”

  “Did he move from the States?”

  “I guess. He really didn’t say.”

  “I wonder how he and Draven know each other.”

  “They both look really young. Do you know how old they are?” V asked.

  “I don’t know. How long is med school?”

  “Grab your phone and Google that shit.”

  I reached over to the nightstand and did just that. “Google says that generally most people graduate college at twenty-two and medical school at twenty-six. Then after three years of internship and residency, many physicians begin their career at twenty-nine.”

  “Is he an intern or resident?”

  “I don’t think he’s either. He seemed to be doing stuff on his own like a regular doctor and not an intern or resident. Not that I know much about doctors.”

  “So he’s at least twenty-nine?”

  “I think so.”

  “That will make Athan around the same age then.”

  “You like him?”

  She turned onto her side, facing me. “Who? Athan?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s not to like? He’s hot with his light beard and dark eyes, but he apparently lives in Russia so it doesn’t matter.”

  “I’ll ask Draven his deal.”

  “Again, it’s not like it will matter. I live in Seattle.”

  I was going to miss Seattle: the good coffee, the Space Needle in the distance, Unicorn bar, and my best friend. Before I drifted off, I thought about how the end of the year was so shitty, but the start of the new one was looking promising.

  Over the next few days, my family and I, including Valencia, packed up my father’s clothes to donate as well as anything my mother wanted to part with. I was going through one of his drawers when I found a small stash of photos with a rubber band around them. I removed it and started to look through the images.

  There weren’t many photos, maybe a dozen. There was one of my dad’s mom with her parents, and her younger brother and younger sister in a muted color photo. It was dated on the back: July 2, 1951. A photo of my grandma and grandpa from Ireland, standing next to an older car. It looked as though she was wearing a wedding dress. It too was a less vibrant color photo, and it was dated on the back: October 4, 1967. At the bottom of the stack was another photo. This one a sepia-toned picture of my great-grandmother, Gael, sitting next to a well-dressed gentleman in what appeared to be a nightclub because the table had multiple drinks on it with skinny straws. It was dated February 14, 1946, and she was smiling up at the man like a woman in love.

  “Who’s this, Mom?” I asked, extending the last photograph in her direction.

  She took the photo and stared at it for a few moments. “That’s your great-grandmother, Gael.”

  “Right, but I mean the man?”

  “Hmmm. I’m not sure,” she said, looking at the picture.

  “It’s not Dad’s grandpa?”

  Mom chuckled. “No. No that’s not.” She reached for the other pictures in my hand and then showed me the one from 1951 and confirmed, “This is your father’s great-grandfather, Jack.”

  I took the 1946 photograph from her and looked at it again. “Well, whoever he was, it looks like Great-Grandma was in love with him before she was in love with Great-Grandpa Jack.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Chicago – 1928

  “Whiskey?” Athan asked, motioning toward the decanter sitting next to him.

  “Yeah.”

  I poured myself two fingers and then sat in the high-back chair across from him. A week ago I was released from t
he windowless room and brought to a room to share with Athan. I’d expected coffins, but instead, there were two twin-sized beds adjacent to each other. I barely knew the fellow, but we’d struck some sort of friendship.

  “Did you need something?” His gaze roamed from my head to my feet almost as though he was sizing me up.

  “I … Ahh …” I hesitated, rubbing my nape nervously and then took a sip of the amber liquid.

  Athan cracked a grin. “It’s okay, Draven. Ask me anything.”

  I knew he could read my mind. I’d found out about the ability the hard way when I’d tried to snap Renzo’s neck the day after my transition. Renzo had heard my inner thoughts and laughed in my face before pointing out that vampires could hear each other’s thoughts if they tried hard enough. They could also block them, but I hadn’t done that now with Athan because I was nervous and still getting used to all of my new abilities.

  “All right. So, can we only get erections when we feed?”

  Athan’s smile widened. “Yes.”

  “And sex?”

  He set his glass on the table and then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Are you offering?”

  “What?” I scoffed.

  Athan roared with laughter. “I’m joking, Draven. But what is it you’re asking exactly?”

  I sighed. “We have to feed before we can fuck?”

  “Yes, but what’s wrong with that?”

  I shrugged. “How does it work out there?” I pointed toward a window. All of the windows were covered with heavy curtains to block out the sun during the day.

  “You mean outside of the compound?”

  “Yes.” I hadn’t been able to leave since my transition. Renzo said he was preparing me to be his main man at a casino he wanted to open up. I was to be his eyes and ears while protecting his money. I just wanted to play cards.

  “Are you a virgin?” Athan asked.

  “No,” I stated dryly. “Renzo killed my Mary and she was pregnant with my baby.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Thanks.” I took another sip of the whiskey.

  “Are you asking me to go with you to pick up a doll?”

  “No, I’m asking you how it works since we need to feed to fuck, and humans don’t know about vampires.”

  Athan leaned back in his chair. “Compulsion.”

  “Compulsion?”

  “Compulsion,” he stated a matter-of-factly.

  “So women won’t remember?”

  “You can compel them to forget certain things. Just have them remember that they had sex with you, but not the details.”

  “That’s some balled up shit.”

  “You’re telling me. But does it matter? We still get off, and with a woman.”

  A month later, Renzo was having a party at the compound. A band was playing, drinks were flowing, and people were dancing and having a grand time.

  I wasn’t.

  A few weeks ago, Renzo had made me kill my family.

  All of them.

  Not only was I mourning Mary, but I also mourned my mother, my father and my baby sister. Needless to say, I hated Renzo Cavalli. However, there was nothing I could do. He owned me. Whatever Renzo wanted me to do, I did it. Luckily for me, it only involved money and I could handle anything when it came to money.

  “What about her?” Athan asked as we leaned against a wall, watching.

  I wasn’t sure what we were watching for exactly. Renzo had given all of the coven orders to stand watch while he entertained. Everyone was dolled up and having fun. There was no ruckus of any sorts, so therefore, my new best friend, Athan, was taking it upon himself to find me a doll for the night.

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Athan asked.

  “I’m not into redheads.”

  “All right, then we’ll find you what you’re into.”

  “I’m into my Mary,” I spat.

  “Mary’s dead,” he countered. “She’s not coming back.”

  “I know that.”

  “Do you?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then it’s time to move on.”

  “It’s easy for you to say, you’ve never been in love.”

  “You don’t know my story.”

  “Then tell me.”

  He didn’t. Instead he said, “I have no problem getting pussy, D. This is about you realizing we’re in this forever.”

  We were silent and I watched the girls dancing and laughing. Was Athan right? If I didn’t forget about Mary, I’d be miserable for an eternity? Did being with a woman sexually mean I’d be happy?

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  Athan bounced off the wall and turned to face me. “Okay?”

  “You’re right. Mary’s not coming back and I need to move on.” I didn’t want to, but I had to.

  “Pick one.”

  “It’s as simple as that?”

  He turned to face the people who were dancing. “Sure is. Anyone you want.”

  It didn’t take me longer than ten minutes to find a woman I wanted. She was similar to Mary with her brown hair and long legs. Apparently I had a type because I loved brunettes.

  “All right,” Athan said. “Do you need me to hold your hand or something?”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “No. So I just go up to her and drag her off?”

  He laughed. “There are several ways you can do this, D. If it were me, I’d go up to her, have her look in my eyes, and then compel her to go to our room. Though you’re a fine looking fella and I’m sure she’d go willingly if you asked.”

  “Only if she’s bent.” It wasn’t normal for women to go anywhere alone with a man they didn’t know. “But what about Renzo? Do you think he’d mind if I leave to feed?”

  “I’ll stand watch.”

  Our eyes met in understanding, and then I turned and started toward the doll. I was hungry and knew I needed to feed soon. This way, I’d feel like a human again as I was buried deep inside of her heat. I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned, locking her gaze with mine. My eyes pulsed and I said simply, “Come with me.”

  She gave a slight nod, and then we were walking toward the stairs that led up to my room. I could sense Athan behind us, but didn’t turn around. I also heard a few of her friends ask where she was going, but they didn’t try to stop her.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “My room.”

  “Why?”

  I stopped just as we made it to the closed door of the room. “Because, baby, I’m hungry.”

  “For more than her blood,” Athan said telepathically.

  I glared at him.

  “Why do you need me if you’re hungry?” she asked.

  I opened the door. “After you.”

  Athan gave me a nod, and after I stepped through the threshold behind the woman, I closed the door, knowing and sensing Athan standing guard like he’d promised he would.

  “You have food in your bedroom?” she asked, looking around the room.

  I stepped forward and ran my hand along her cheek. She shivered under my touch, and I realized she was much warmer than I was. Her gaze locked with mine again, and as my eyes pulsed, I said, “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to drink from your neck and you won’t scream. Then to reward you, I will take you from behind and then make you forget. Do you understand?”

  She nodded.

  “Good.”

  My mouth was attached to her neck in the next second. She let out a hiss as my teeth sank into her flesh. The moment her blood seeped into my mouth, I groaned. My erection started to grow as the blood circulated in me. Once I was full and no longer felt the need to drink, I pulled my mouth away slightly before licking the wound closed.

  “Thank you. Now,
baby, remove your hosiery, lift your dress up and get on your hands and knees on the bed.”

  She didn’t hesitate.

  After I’d pushed my slacks to my knees, I lined up behind her. I couldn’t smell her arousal, so I ran my hand between her legs, finding her dry.

  “Relax, baby. This will feel good.” I ran my hand between her legs and straight to her sweet spot. The moment I made contact, she let out a moan.

  “Your hand is cold.”

  “Shh.” My fingers started to work the bundle of nerves and she began to pant. Once her arousal coated my fingers, I slid them inside of her.

  “Co … cold.”

  All right, so this was something I’d need to compel her to forget. I removed my hand. “Look at me.” She sat up on her knees and turned her head to face me. My eyes pulsed. “You will not remark about how cold I am, and you will not remember it either. You’ll remember having sex tonight, but you won’t remember who with. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good girl. Now bend over again.”

  She did, and I didn’t hesitate as I sank into her. She was definitely warmer than I was, but then again, so was Mary when we’d had sex. Trying to get Mary out of my head, I increased my thrusts. The bed started to shake, but I didn’t stop. There was one goal in mind and that was having an orgasm.

  The nameless woman moaned as I drove into her over and over and over until I groaned as pleasure radiated through my body. She didn’t come, and normally I’d make sure the woman did, but this one wouldn’t remember me, so I didn’t care.

  I pulled down her dress, pulled up my trousers and said, “Thank you. You can go.”

  After she righted herself, she left.

  Athan stepped into the room. “Now, was that so bad?”

  Present Day – Burn Falls

  Every morning after my shift at the hospital, Athan and I had scoured miles and miles of the surrounding areas of Burn Falls for any trace of another vampire, but there was nothing. It seemed as though maybe it was a vamp passing through who thought there’d be no consequences to his actions, but even if it was a vampire making his way through town, it still didn’t sit well with me. Most of us understood that if we were going to kill, we shouldn’t do it in a town because that would lead to questions, especially if there was a witness or the person didn’t die (like Miles). And that was another reason the whole situation bothered me. Was Calla in danger because she had rescued her father?