Author: N. L. Hoffmann
Category: Vampires
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I shrugged. “Apparently I am.”
“Seth and Eric are on their way. They’ll load up the bodies and take them back to the house. The bodies will be burned there.” Blair lifted her shirt, an angry looking wound on her belly. “One got me. Asshole needed to cut his nails!”
Chuckling, I walked past her. “Where’s the other SUV? I’m going to head back.”
“Parked in the lot. You should let Seth know you’re leaving, though. I think he wants to talk to you,” Blair warned.
I snorted. “In that case, I’m leaving now!” Breaking into a run, I looked for the SUV. Spotting it on the far side of the parking lot, I grabbed the keys from my pocket. We each had a key to the vehicles, so we could take either of them at any time.
Climbing into the SUV, I started it up. I was going back to the house, taking a shower, and heading straight to bed. In the morning, I would go to the address Cathal gave me. It was time to see what this vampire wanted.
I WAS STARTLED FROM my sleep when arms went around my waist. I tried to pull away, but they drew me closer, tightening. “What the fuck?”
“Relax,” Cathal whispered into my ear. “Let me hold you.”
“This is pretty creepy.”
“It wouldn’t be if you would just accept the way things are.”
“And how are they? Let me go.” I squirmed to try to pull out of his grasp, but he was too strong for me. I swore, relaxing my body.
“There you go. Just let it happen.”
I laughed. “That easy, huh?”
“It is,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my ear.
I shivered, relaxing in his arms. I knew it was a bad idea. In fact, my brain screamed at me to get the fuck out before he did something to me, but my body wanted to stay right where it was. When his hand traveled down my thigh, I didn’t resist. As it went back to my stomach and he pulled me closer, he groaned.
“Why is it that I want you so much? Your family was the reason for my imprisonment. I should kill you now. But all I can think about is making you mine.”
Rolling over, I looked at him. I had left the light on because I didn’t want him surprising me again. So much for that idea. He still managed to shock the hell out of me. The soft glow allowed me to see his handsome face. He gazed at me as if memorizing every detail. Briefly, he touched my face with his fingertips before leaning in to kiss me softly.
I pulled away. “We probably shouldn’t. You’re a vampire.”
Cathal chuckled, running a hand over my side. I shivered, my body responding to him. “And you’re a hunter, yet here I am.”
He leaned in again, claiming my lips. I moved in closer, wanting to feel his body against mine. When his hand trailed up my shirt, I didn’t pull away. His tongue touched mine, hesitant at first, as if expecting me to pull away, but when I responded, he deepened the kiss.
Hearing a knock at my door, I jerked away from him. He vanished, as if he were never in my room. Just as I sat up, the door opened, Seth standing there. He looked around the room, suspicious.
“I could have sworn you were talking to someone,” he said.
“Oh no. Don’t check under the bed!” I pretended to block it with my arms.
Seth frowned. “This isn’t funny. Troy told me about the marks on your neck.”
“What a tattletale.”
“This is serious, Demi. You could have gotten hurt inside that vamp club.” Seth crossed his arms over his chest, frowning down at me. “What are you doing awake? Why is your light on?”
“I just wanted it on.”
“See? You’re freaked out. You knew it was a bad idea going in there.”
“Why are you always up my ass? I’m a grown woman! I can do whatever I want.” I pulled the cover over me. “You’re making me want to go off on my own, Seth. Maybe we should consider going separate ways for a while.”
He froze. “Your own? You would do that? You would leave us?”
Sighing, I looked down at the bed, smoothing the sheet out with my hand. “You’re being overprotective. I feel like I’m suffocating.”
“I’m just worried about you.”
“I’ve been training as a hunter for years. We all have. You have to trust us at some point.”
Nodding, he ran a hand through his hair as he looked around the room. No matter what, he’ll always be the overbearing brother. He may act like he understands right now, but I didn’t see him letting up any time soon.
“You’re right. I should let go a little.”
“A little? A lot.”
“Fine. A lot. I’ll let up a lot.” Seth made a face, scrunching up his nose in dislike. “Just don’t go into one of those clubs again.” I stood and walked into his arms. He pushed my hair behind my ear. “Too fucking close. Promise you won’t, Demi.”
“I promise.” Not that I actually went there in the first place.
After he left, I lay on my bed, pressing my face into the pillow Cathal had been lying on. It had his scent all over it, reminding me of sandalwood. Something was wrong with me. This was the last thing a hunter should be doing. But I couldn’t seem to help myself.
Chapter Ten
I glanced at the tall building. Cathal had his own apartment? It seemed he was easily adjusting to life, considering he’d been locked up for a long time. I debated on going inside. He was probably waiting for me. Hell, he probably already knew I stood outside. Going in was a bad idea. It was hard enough trying to convince my brother that I just wanted to drive around and think for a while. He didn’t believe me, but I knew our conversation from the night before was still in his head, so he let me go, albeit reluctantly, with another promise to stay out of a vampire club.
Shaking my head, I had to wonder how they managed to keep him inside the cave. Someone as powerful as him should have been able to get out with no problem. I knew there was more to the story than those stupid papers suggested. To get those answers, I had to go in.
Climbing out of the SUV, I headed across the street, a doorman waiting. He greeted me with a pleasant smile, gaze raking down my body. I wore a pair of jeans, a tight t-shirt, and a light jacket. I was also armed, just in case. Even though Cathal and I have had a few conversations, I didn’t trust him. There was no way I could. If I gave an inch, he would take a mile. Treading carefully was my only option.
Entering the building, I looked at the high-class interior. Gorgeous marble floors, overstuffed chairs, beautiful paintings, massive chandeliers. How the hell did he afford an apartment in a building like this? Walking over to the desk, I nodded to the man, who smiled at me.
He looked down at the paperwork in front of him. “Who are you here to see?”
“Cathal?” I said, but it came out as a question.
The man nodded. “Go on up to the fifth floor. He’s expecting you.”
Thanking him, I walked to the elevator and pressed the button. If I was going to turn back, right then would have been the time. When the doors opened, I stepped inside. My body was betraying me, fighting itself. One part wanted Cathal, the other was trying to save me from making a huge mistake.
Fixing my hair, I looked at my reflection in the elevator doors. I wore my hair down again, which was probably another reason Seth was suspicious. Ruby had whistled when she saw the amount of makeup I had on. Maybe I needed to be less obvious, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to look good. For a damn vampire!
Leaning against the wall, I took a deep breath. I needed to calm down. In the end, I was getting the answers we needed. Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Demi.
Fuck. I was in trouble.
When the doors opened, I was taken aback as I immediately stepped into a large apartment. It was bright, the sun filling the entire space. I looked around, hoping this was Cathal’s place. As I explored, I heard the faint sound of music. I looked over to my left, seeing a large, wide open kitchen with stainless-steel appliances.
Walking forward, I looked at the living room, amazed by the expensive, black leather furniture. Ther
e was a large TV hanging on the wall, a fireplace screensaver on it. An old vampire suddenly high tech?
“You look ravishing.”
Spinning around, I took a step back, pressing a hand to my chest. “Shit, Cathal. You scared me.”
He chuckled, looking me over. His gray eyes met mine as he reached out a hand. Automatically, as if my body wasn’t my own, I placed mine in it. With a tug, he pulled me to him, his sandalwood smell surrounding me. Taking a deep breath, my gaze met his again. He lowered his lips, brushing them against mine.
“I’ve missed you,” he murmured.
“It’s only been a few hours,” I said, almost in a trance.
“Too long. I didn’t want to leave your side last night.” He wrapped his arms around my waist, his warmth seeping through my jacket and shirt. He grinned. “You came armed.”
“Did you expect any different?” I asked, returning the grin.
Shaking his head, he ran his hands over my hips to my ass. “No, I like that you’re always prepared. Ready to fight. You trust no one. Though I hope you come to trust me one day.”
“You say that as if we’ll be around each other for a while. There’s no us, Cathal.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked, removing my gun from my waistband. I stiffened, but he kissed me lightly on the lips, as if to offer me some form of comfort. Laying it on the counter behind him, he then proceeded to remove my jacket, the wooden stakes in the pockets clacking together. Laughing again, he tossed it onto the couch. “You’re a truly amazing woman.”
Wanting to touch him, I placed my hands on his chest. He wore a white, button-up shirt and black slacks. Beneath the shirt, I could feel his warm, firm muscles. My bet was he had an amazing body. God, I wanted to find out, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“I’m a hunter, Cathal. I kill your kind. Eventually, I’ll have to kill you.”
“Is that what you came here to do?” he asked, leaning into my neck and inhaling. “Do you want to kill me now?” He pressed his lips against the spot where my jaw and neck met, sending shivers through me. Automatically, my head fell back, exposing more of my throat. I felt his fangs run over my skin, reminding me of what he could do. At any point in time, he could rip out my throat. I was completely vulnerable.
“Tell me, Demi. Do you want to kill me now?” He kissed the hollow of my neck, running a hand up my stomach to cup one of my breasts. I moaned, leaning into him. “Well, my love, do you?”
Shaking my head, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to feel. Then his touch was gone. I opened my eyes, seeing Cathal several feet away, pouring a glass of wine.
“You’re far too tempting. I try to control myself, but it’s almost impossible.” He shook his head, handing me a glass.
Off balance from the sudden change, I accepted the drink and took a sip, watching him over the rim. “I don’t understand what you want with me.”
Emptying his glass, he placed it down onto the counter. “I’m not sure myself. There’s something about you that draws me in. I promised myself centuries ago that if I ever got out of that cave, I would get revenge on your family for what they did, but when I think about killing you, I feel this incredible, deep pain. It tells me I must never do it.”
Seeing the opening, I leaned against the counter. “Why did they trap you? How?”
Motioning me to follow him into the living room, Cathal took a seat on the leather couch. He rested an ankle on a knee, placing an arm over the back. He beckoned me with two fingers, smiling. I hesitated, but finally sat down...on the other side of the couch. He shook his head and reached over, easily picking me up and placing me right next to him. Giving in, I sank into his warmth.
“I’m a killer, Demi. I can’t help myself. For you, I will attempt to not harm anyone, but it’s in my nature to take all that I can from my victim.” He ran his fingers through my hair as he stared off into space. “As for how they trapped me in that cave... They used magic.”
“Magic? Like, witch magic?” I gasped. Hunters used witches? That went against all the rules.
Cathal sighed, shaking his head. “I suppose they were so desperate at the time that they called forth a demon, giving up their souls in return for this favor.”
I sat up, eyes wide. “Are you fucking serious? They summoned a demon and bargained?” I suddenly smiled. “So you do have a weakness. This whole time, I thought there was no way to stop you.”
Scowling, Cathal tugged on my hair. “I’m not telling you this so you can lock me in that prison again. I won’t allow that to happen.” He pulled me back to him. “Summoning a demon is dangerous. You never want to trade your soul for a favor. You will burn in hell for eternity. What do you think your relatives are doing right now? They aren’t looking down upon you and hoping you have a good life. They’re screaming from the pits of hell.”
The image was almost too much for me. I moved away, sitting on the edge of the couch. “They risked so much to trap you. But all of that was for nothing, because here you are. Free!” I stood, running my hands through my hair and clenching it. “I have to put you back.”
When I started to pace, Cathal got to his feet. “Come here.”
“No. I can’t trust you, Cathal. They risked so much to place you in that prison. But I’m letting you touch me as if there’s nothing wrong.” I was sick to my stomach. How could I betray my family like that?
Yanking me to him, Cathal gazed into my eyes. “I’m a different man now. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“You have already killed since being released.”
He gripped my arms, willing me to understand. “I had to feed to survive! But not all of it was me.”
Looking away, I waited until he let me go. “All those bodies, but you claim not all of them are because of you? Why do you bind their legs and hands? I don’t understand. That doesn’t sound like someone who’s hungry. That sounds like someone who wants the person to experience fear.”
Pacing, Cathal ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I’m not sure how long ago, but one day, a woman appeared in the cave with me. She was beautiful, everything you could imagine the perfect woman would be.” He shook his head. “I didn’t understand how she got in there with me. I was so hungry I desperately wanted to feed off of her, but her scent was...wrong. She wasn’t human. I’d only come across that smell once in my lifetime, and that was in Japan.”
“What was she? I mean, how the fuck did she get into the cave if you couldn’t get out?” I asked, moving closer.
Reaching for me, he rested a hand on my hip and the other on my shoulder. “She is what they call a jorōgumo.”
“A what?” I furrowed my brows.
“Jorōgumo. It’s a spider that lives beyond four hundred years. After it lives for so long, it can shapeshift. They often take the form of a beautiful woman to lure men into their homes and feed off them.”
“Those are real? That was in the cave with you?” I placed my hands on either side of his face. “That’s out in the city right now?”
Cathal nodded, blowing out a breath. “She is roaming the streets.”
Gripping his shoulders, I stared at him. “We have to stop her! She is killing people. I found two bodies on the way here tonight. Why haven’t you killed her yourself?”
He sighed. “We formed a truce in the cave not to try and kill each other. As soon as the cave opened, she changed into her true form, escaping when I attempted to stop her. I had no idea she would be like this.”
“Well, the story should have been a big enough hint.” I pulled away from him, contemplating my next move. “I have to tell the others.” Just as I grabbed my coat, Cathal pulled on my arm.
“You can’t. How will you explain this to them? The vampire told you?”
He was right. There was no way to tell them without revealing that I’d been talking to Cathal this whole time. Defeated, I sat down on the couch with a groan, looking down at my hands. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Le
t me help you track her, Demi.”
“They’ll never let me hunt alone.”
Cathal frowned. “I’m surprised you even allow that to happen. You fight me tooth and nail, yet you allow them to tell you what you can and can’t do.”
“It’s not that easy.”
He shrugged. “Then we must think of another way.”
“Do you even know how to destroy her? Will a bullet work? A sword? Chop off her head?” I got up to walk around. Ever since I could remember, pacing was the only way I could think.
“I’m unsure. I highly doubt any of those things will destroy her. The last one I heard about managed to escape being set on fire.” Cathal placed a hand to his chin. “I didn’t stick around long enough to find out what happened in the end. Later, I heard the village lost most of their male population.”
Remembering the paper I found on Jimmy, I reached into my jacket pocket, pulling it out. “Can you translate this? I’m trying to figure out why Jimmy would let you out.”
Cathal took the paper from me, unfolding it. “All I know is he begged me to let him live, but I was starving. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” He sighed. “All I could hear was his heart pounding, the blood flowing through his veins.”
Frowning, I didn’t want to think about how Jimmy died. It was just more evidence that Cathal was a killer. More evidence as to why he needed to be sealed in that cave.
Taking a deep breath, I stood closer to him so I could look at the paper, too. “What do you think?”
Cathal scanned the paper, his frown deepening. “This is about me. My life.”
I nodded. “A member of the Collins family told me that much.”
“Did he tell you about the cup?”
“What cup?” I frowned.
He laughed. “Of course not. He’s probably looking for it right now.”
Confused, I waited. Now that I thought about it, I didn’t see Jesse at the park. Or Bear. Where the hell were they?
“Cathal? Tell me about this cup.”
“I had forgotten all about it.” He laughed. “I thought it was lost when they placed me in that cave.” He looked out the window at the Denver skyline.