Black Aura (12 page)

He’d have to be more careful. The sickness had weakened more than just his body. He needed to focus.

Didn’t want her to feel him, to
find
him before he’d even gotten to her.

He had to get to her, to capture her. To have her.

Shielding, he followed not too closely, but close enough. She wasn’t in a hurry. She waved to several people, said hello to others and stopped and chatted with the Dancing Moon shop owner. The store’s eclectic clothing hung from the eaves outside its door and danced in the icy evening breeze.

He watched as the women spoke. He’d always liked the way her hands moved when she talked. She ran her hand through her hair and smiled at the shop owner.

People were drawn to her, even as she tried to remain distant. He’d seen that the first time he’d met her. She was a soul whom others liked, respected and wanted to be around.

There were not many of those in the world. At least not with her gifts and abilities.

She was perfect. She’d always been perfect. He should have taken her first and been done with it, but he thought perhaps he had been wrong. He’d hoped she wasn’t really for him, but the feeling inside, that he needed her, had only grown. He’d tried to shove it aside because he liked Alyssa.

But…

Things changed.

She might be powerful, but she was still so new, so…raw. He grinned. It would have been fun to train her, but he didn’t have that kind of time. And that was hardly what he needed her for. What he needed from her was something that had to be taken, that could not be learned, couldn’t be expanded on.

Once upon a time, he would have let her live.

But not now.

He waited until she moved along with a group of people spilling out of one of the restaurants.

He smiled, knowing where she was going. He checked his watch. It wasn’t six yet. Not quite.

Six was when the bookstore closed. And though she’d been gone all day and the books peeking out of her bag told him she’d bought more somewhere else, he knew she’d go to the familiar. People were so predictable.

Smiling to himself, he slipped away and planned. He knew he’d have to be careful. Her father would raise holy hell and then some.

There was also the woman now. The woman spending time with Alyssa. Powerful enough to teach a novice. And if she’d known what Alyssa was, then she had to be powerful as well.

Maybe, maybe he’d take them both.

The thought had merit.

He just had to get Alyssa first.

***

Alyssa’s phone rang and she waved to the owner of the Dancing Moon, who was taking down the dresses, and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Um, is this Alyssa? From the gallery?”

She paused, thought about the voice. And his face rose in her mind. Wire-rimmed glasses and intense eyes. “Yes.”

“This is Jonathan Murbanks. You guys will be showcasing my work.”
I hope
was unsaid, yet she heard it all the same.

She remembered his aura, the way it had shimmered, the edges melding with hers so that for a minute when she met him, she couldn’t think, couldn’t remember what the hell she’d walked into the studio for.

It had been several days ago.

He’d smelled really good. Expensive cologne, not too sweet, nor too spicy, some perfect balance in between. Simple, classic with just a hint of flavor. Like his photos.

“Yes,” she said. “I remember you, Mr. Murbanks.”

“Oh. You do?”

She smiled. “Yeah. I’ve been going over which photos we’re going to display and what size we’re going to print them in.”

It had been hard to get the young artist out of her mind. Then again, he wasn’t that young. He was older than her, but thanks to Dad, she thought of him as
that young artist.
Or just
Murbanks
. Dad always said it with a hint of something in his voice.

But she couldn’t help but think of him. She tried not to. The day they’d met and she’d walked into the gallery, either she had stopped or the world had. When she’d walked in and seen him, seen the way his aura had reached out and touched hers, she simply couldn’t
not
stop. She’d tried to shove it away. After all, she really didn’t have the time for a guy.

Not that he wanted her to have the time—

“…this weekend.” He stopped.

Shit. What had he been saying?

“I’m sorry, Jonathan. I lost you for a minute. What did you say?”

She heard him take a deep breath. “I was wondering if you were busy this weekend. Or tomorrow evening? Or this evening?”

Alyssa laughed, pleasure surging through her. Why, she’d think about later. “Umm.”

“I mean, if you’re busy, I understand. Or if you just don’t want to, I get that too.”

She smiled and continued to walk towards the bookstore. “If I don’t want to what?”

“Oh.” He laughed. “I promise I’m not an idiot, or then again, maybe I am. I just saw you and something…” He sighed. “Anyway, I’d love to take you out. Dinner. Lunch. Coffee. Hell, skiing.”

Skiing, it had been a while since she’d skied, been even longer since she’d boarded. Those days were over.

“I don’t ski anymore,” she confessed. “My knees were damaged.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“So am I. I miss skiing.” She stepped around a couple walking too slow and whispering to each other. “But the resort is still a good place to hang. If you don’t mind a short drive, so’s Red River and Angel Fire. Both are also good places.” And why the hell was she rambling?

She glanced over her shoulder at the couple and smiled. Maybe there was such a thing as love. Or at least the hope of it. Her dad seemed happy lately. Tense, but happy. And Lake smiled more. She assumed love, that elusive thing was out there.

Just because her mom had been too difficult to live with did not mean that there wasn’t love out there. Not that she wanted love, but it was nice to know it was there…if she wanted it.

She realized he hadn’t said anything. Great, rambling girl scares off interested and interesting artist.

“Hello?” she asked.

For a minute he didn’t say anything. “Coffee would be good.”

“Great. When?”

Earnest and eager. She was tired, yet happy.

“Tonight?” he pressed.

She smiled to herself.

“Are you smiling?” he asked.

She stopped and looked around, wondering how he knew. “I am.”

And then again, she was certifiable. A slew of pysch docs had told her so. “Maybe,” she said.

“You are. I know.”

“You know?” She started towards the bookstore again, shaking off the uneasiness. “How do you know?”

He sighed. “Would it freak you out if I said sometimes I just know things, or rather feel them?”

“Maybe.”

“From the girl who said my aura was interesting?”

She chuckled. “Touché.” She stepped off the curb and crossed the street, heading between the two buildings and the alley. “So you’re an empath?”

“And if I were?”

“I’d ask how much of one you are.” She focused on his voice and tried to read him, tried to feel him. Within a blink, she simply did. Holy shit. She could feel his desire, his happiness and … “Never mind.”

“You do anything other than auras?” he asked.

She could only laugh. “Maybe we should save something for our…coffee?”

“How about dinner too?”

“Let’s see how coffee goes.”

“In an hour?” he asked.

She checked her watch and saw she only had about ten minutes before the shop closed. That should give her enough time to check Yancey’s books before going home to clean up. Or enough time to call home first to warn Dad she was coming home to clean up. She’d just leave out the part that she was seeing Murbanks.

“Works for me.”

“See you then.”

“Yeah, see you.”

When she cut the call off, she shielded up again. He could read her, over the phone? Was he that good or was it just that they connected? She’d have to ask Lake.

Holy crap, she had a date.

A d-a-t-e. Or would that be D-A-T-E? Not that she’d never had one. No matter what she’d said to Thad, she knew they had gone on dates, little nothings. But they had never felt like this. She was freaking. She’d always wondered what people meant when they talked about butterflies in the stomach. She’d been nervous before recitals, or plays in school, but never really with a guy. Never like this. Butterflies? Felt more like a group of small birds was bouncing around in her stomach.

Deep breath.
Maybe she needed to take up yoga.

What the hell was she going to wear? Oh my God, she had a date. Panic skittered through her nerves. No, not
really
a date. It was coffee. Just coffee. Right? With the possibility of dinner, with a guy who was older. Who found her interesting and not in a freaky way. A guy who was an empath.

A date.

She smiled. It was going to be okay.

She decided she’d call and warn Dad now so by the time she got there, it wouldn’t be weird. Or at least not
too
weird.

She hit “one” on her phone and speed-dialed her father. The thought that she was nineteen and should have another number one flitted through her brain, as it always did when she dialed it. But it was what it was. Her dad was, actually, pretty cool. It rang and she waited while the machine picked up. “Dad, it’s me, I just wanted you to know I’m going to be home in about fifteen minutes after I get the Grimm Brothers to order this book I want.” Taking a deep breath and wondering why she was so nervous, she hurried on, “I’ve got to get ready.” She smiled. “I’ve got a date.”

Deciding not to tell him who it was with, she hung up. She shoved the door, since it was usually stuck, into the bookstore. Like always, it squeaked as she opened it.

Jay was behind the counter today and she paused. She could drop her shields and read things, but then she’d weird out and want to leave before she asked them to order her book. She’d seen one she wanted today in Santa Fe but she didn’t want to pay fifty bucks for it. So she’d have Yancey order a used copy for her.

Or that was her plan until she walked in.

Jay.

Sighing, she smiled and leaned onto the counter. “Hi. Is Yancey in?”

Jay looked pale again and skinnier, if that was possible. He rubbed a hand over his face and looked at her from under his brows. His yellow eyes danced over her nerves.

Should just come back tomorrow.

“I can h-h-help you.”

She shouldn’t be rude, but she really wanted to get out of here.

“I’m sure you can.” She sighed. What the hell. She’d just order the book and get out of here.

“There you are!” Yancey said. “I was wondering when we’d see you again. I had a feeling you’d be in.”

She grinned at him. “And so I am.”

Jay started to get off the stool behind the counter, but Yancey put a hand on his arm. “You can help her, Jay. Just ask her what she needs.”

Jay frowned. “W-wh-what do you need?”

She took out a piece of paper with the title and author on it. “I was wondering if you guys could order this book for me.”

Yancey laughed and patted her hand. “I’m sure we can, Alyssa.” He turned to his brother. “Jay, you look this up on the computer like I showed you, and we’ll see if we can get it for our Alyssa.” Then he turned back to her. “Would you like some of that passion tea you like?”

She started to say no, but realized she was thirsty. She agreed and waited.

Yancey returned in a couple of minutes with a steaming cup of tea in a blue mug and handed it to her. “Did you find it, Jay?”

Jay nodded. “There’s three editions, which do you want?”

“The newest one and the cheapest.”

She took a sip of the tea and realized it wasn’t as hot as she’d thought it was. “Perfect,” she told Yancey with a smile.

“Well, I know you like it and since you’re one of our favorite customers, we aim to please.” He grinned at her. “So, any news?”

She thought for a moment and figured what the hell. “Yeah, I’ve got a date.”

Yancey looked startled. “Oh? With Mark? Or Thad?”

She laughed. “Neither. I’m going out with an artist. Who didn’t blink when I read his aura
and
,” she said, leaning closer, “who’s an empath.”

“Really?” His gaze ran over her. “And when is this date?”

“Tonight.” She couldn’t help smiling.

He tilted his head to the side. “Very nice.”

She took another drink of her tea as she watched Jay’s fingers flying over the keyboard. She wondered if he was gifted in other ways. Maybe he just wasn’t good with people, or with normal everyday things, but was a whiz on the PC. There were stranger things.

Then again, she’d seen the way Yancey was very protective of his brother, so that probably wasn’t it.

Yancey muttered something about the back room. She finished off the tea as Jay finalized her order. “Should be here in three days.”

Alyssa nodded and the room suddenly spun. Damn. Probably should have eaten today.

“That’s…” She shook her head a little, hoping to clear it, but still things spun. “That’s fine.”

Get out! Get out! Run!

Her gaze rose to meet Jay’s. She tried to focus on him but it was like looking down a long tunnel to his yellow eyes. Glowing. Were they glowing? The walls moved, waved.

She swallowed. Her mouth felt funny and thick, like when she went to the dentist and had to get a tooth pulled.

What the hell? The room tilted.

She took two steps and her legs gave out.

Oh shit.

She tried to reach for her phone clipped to her waist, her fingers fumbly.

The tea…

“Dad,” she whispered, her gaze locked on the door.
Have to get out. Have to get out!

The walls spun.

Something was pushing in on her. Threatening. Pushing, shoving, wanting in…

Fear roared up in her and she hurtled back to the car accident. Rolling, shattered glass, pain.

Her shields trembled. Lowered. Burst so quickly, pain iced through her head.

Pain, anger,
rage
slapped her and she screamed, but it only came out in the whisper of a moan.

Evil, dark and swirling, hissed out at her, sliced into her.