Darkness Taunts (34 page)

She smiled at me. “It’s good to see you, Melena.” She dropped the groceries off in the kitchen before coming back in the living room. “I am making Tandoori Chicken—your favorite. You should stay.”

It wasn’t actually my favorite. She’d caught me one time back in high school after track practice when I was starving. It could have been rat stew and I’d have probably gobbled it down. I did like it well enough, but she’d taken my enthusiasm to mean I wanted it all the time.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Singh. I’ve got plans tonight, but thanks for the offer.”

“Maybe next time,” she said, patting me on the shoulder. “I should check on Aniya. She should be out here visiting with you.”

She started heading toward the hallway.

Lisette moved into action. “No, Mrs. Singh. Remember? We talked about this. Aniya’s not feeling well and needs some rest.”

The older woman shook her head. “She is always sleeping during the day. That’s why she doesn’t feel well. I’m going to go in there and get her out of bed. She needs to start living like a normal person.”

Lisette let out a frustrated sound.

I moved to grab Mrs. Singh before she opened the bedroom door. “You really should leave her alone. I gave her an herbal drink I learned how to make at work. It made her tired. If you wake her up, it won’t do her any good.”

She knitted her brows. “Why would you give her that?”

“To help her feel better,” I said. “It will take time to work, but she needs rest for it to happen.”

She wrung her hands. “Okay, Melena. I’ll leave her alone, but it had better work.”

After another glance at the bedroom door, she headed back to the kitchen. My shoulders slumped. I hadn’t realized Aniya was having these kinds of problems. She hadn’t said anything.

I went and slumped on the couch next to Lisette. She had her feet propped up on the coffee table and stared at the ceiling as if it had the answers she sought.

“Aniya won’t tell her mother what she is,” Lisette said in a low voice without looking at me. “Last week her mom opened the curtains in her bedroom during the middle of the day and she almost burned to death. That’s why I came up here—to help her.”

I should have known all that worrying she was doing back in Juneau was more than she let on. She’d told me before she didn’t want to let anyone else compel her mom because then she’d be no better than the vampires who did it to her when she was human. Now that her compulsion wasn’t working on Mrs. Singh anymore, she’d have to do something. She couldn’t keep hiding her vampirism without help.

“I think she needs to tell her mom.”

Lisette nodded. “I agree, but she won’t listen.”

My cell phone rang. I saw Felisha was calling and answered.

“Mel, I need you to do me a favor. I forgot to pick up the soda for the party. Can you grab a bunch of different kinds from the store on your way over here?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure. I should be there soon.”

“Thanks.” She hung up.

I gave Lisette an apologetic look. “I gotta go. My kid’s having a Valentine’s Day party tonight and I need to go help her set up.”

A small smile played at Lisette’s lips. “I heard you have a teenager now. If she’s half as bad as we were you must have your hands full.”

“Uh, yeah. Karma’s a bitch.”

She laughed. It was as if all the tension had fled the room. “Aniya’s sire, Nik, invited us over for drinks tonight. I’m not sure about seeing him again.”

“If it’s any consolation, I slapped him the last time I saw him,” I said.

Her mouth dropped. “You slapped a master vampire?”

I shrugged. “He pissed me off.”

“I’ve really missed you, Mel.”

Just like that, she forgave me. I still wouldn’t have her trust for awhile, but I’d known if she had to face me she’d give in eventually.

“I’ve missed you too, Lisette. Are you going to be sticking around Fairbanks for much longer?”

Her face turned solemn again. “Yeah, I’ll be here until Aniya figures out what to do about her mom. My herb shop in Monterey didn’t work out. If I have to stay much longer, I might have to see about getting a job with you.”

“I’m sure we can work something out. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.” She hugged me.

The weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter after leaving. Maybe there was hope for me yet.

I stopped by the ATM before picking up the soft drinks. The number of zeros on my remaining funds had me dropping my jaw. The extra hundred thousand dollars in my account gave away who’d put it there. I couldn’t say a small thrill didn’t run through me at seeing that much money, but it also made me feel guilty. They were still dealing with the demons while I was safely in Fairbanks. It didn’t seem fair.

Felisha and Emily helped me carry in the two dozen bottles of soda I bought. Charlie showed up and grabbed a bag to carry inside, too.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

He grinned. “I offered to chaperone. You can never have too many eyes on teenagers.”

I had to agree after I saw how many of them showed up an hour later. Felisha’s house was bigger than mine—probably 2000 square feet, but it felt small with so many teens packed into every available space.

Everyone seemed to be having a good time until the teen werewolves came. My senses picked up the four of them when they arrived hyped up and ready to cause trouble. They were all about sixteen or seventeen years old. Their parents couldn’t have turned them that long ago, which meant they still hadn’t learned to control themselves. The full moon coming the next day wouldn’t improve their attitudes either.

Charlie moved for the front door the same time I did. The shaman had a knack for always knowing what was going on in his territory. We stepped outside and watched the teens swagger up the driveway.

“Do you know them?” I asked Charlie.

“I know their parents, but haven’t had the pleasure of making their acquaintance yet.”

A few girls came out of the house and squealed when they saw the boys. One of them ran up and jumped on a guy, wrapping her legs around his waist. I stiffened. She was human and had no idea what she was dealing with.

“We’re going to have to ask you guys to leave,” I said when the group got within twenty feet of the porch.

One of the bigger guys looked me up and down with contempt. “Why?” he asked. His hot breaths puffed out like steam in the cold air. “We just got here.”

I crossed my arms. “Because I told you to.”

Another guy stepped up, crunching his feet on the snow covering the yard. He had dark hair and light brown skin. His white teeth flashed in the dark as he spoke. “I don’t give a shit what she wants. I came here to have a good time.”

He turned his head and grinned at his buddies. Oh, yeah, defying the adult makes you really cool.

“Hunter, I told you guys you’re not invited,” Emily said. She came up and stood next to me.

I should have known she wouldn’t stay inside for this.

“Does it look like I care what you want?” Hunter eyed her up and down. “You ain’t got nothing to bargain with yet, little girl.”

I knew it was wrong, but I suddenly wished I’d brought my gun to the party.

Emily moved to the steps and sniffed the air. “Is that wet dog I smell? No.” She shook her head. “That would be an insult to dogs.”

Everyone in the sup community knew she was tied to me and Nik, but she was pushing it with that comment. We’d have to have a discussion about that later—along with a lot of other things. She didn’t talk about school much and I wondered if there were problems I didn’t know about.

Hunter fisted his hands. “On second thought, maybe you should come out with us tomorrow night and we’ll let you be our bitch.”

That did it. The bastard was going down. I took a step forward, planning to give the guy a lesson, but Charlie grabbed my arm.

“Let the girl handle it, Melena,” he whispered. “You don’t like it when people interfere with your life. This is hers.”

My body shook with anger, but he had a point. I’d just yelled at Nik two nights ago for something similar. So long as the werewolf didn’t try to physically hurt her, I’d wait it out.

Emily swaggered up to the werewolf in her low rise jeans and tight leather jacket. The jacket was new—probably paid for with Lucas’ money. The were gave her a cocky smile. His face froze in that expression when she tossed fairy dust into his eyes. I hadn’t realized she’d had any in her hand.

Emily cocked her elbow back and swung her fist at the guy’s face. Her knuckles hit his nose with an audible crack. Blood poured down to his lips and chin while he stood there unable to wipe it away. I grinned. I’d taught her that move. The other weres glanced around at each other, but didn’t move to help their friend. They were probably trying to figure out if she had more fairy dust.

“In what world,” Emily said, circling the were,  “did you ever think I’d let you touch me?”

She came back in front of him and kneed him in the groin. A look of pain reflected in his eyes. He’d unfreeze in a few more seconds. Emily eyed him up and down. “Go home, Hunter. You don’t have anything I want.”

Then she pushed him away. A round of applause broke out. Most of the partiers had stepped outside to watch. They probably thought she’d thrown regular dust at the guy’s eyes, which was the only reason I wouldn’t berate her for it.

The weres grabbed their buddy and started walking back to their car. The human girl who’d joined them left as well, after giving Emily a dirty look.. Hunter held his nose in his hands. It’d heal within an hour. He looked back at Emily once and I thought I saw a look of admiration in his eyes. Werewolves respected a good display of force. Maybe she’d be alright with them after this—maybe.

I turned around. “Alright, everyone. Back inside. It’s too cold to be hanging around out here.”

It was actually a mild February night with it only being about negative ten degrees, but even when you were used to the cold weather in Fairbanks it was better not to stay out in it too long. The kids didn’t argue. They headed back inside chatting away about the fight—what there was of one. A couple of girls surrounded Emily and she ate up the attention.

Charlie still had a hold on my arm. “We should discuss your trip to Juneau,” he said.

I shivered. “It didn’t go so well.”

“Tell me what happened.”

I gave him the abridged version.

Charlie stared at me with his all-knowing eyes. “Lucas will be back for you tonight. Take the sage Felisha gave you when you go. You’ll find it’s going to be useful soon.”

“How do you know Lucas will be back?” I asked.

I’d thought for sure he wouldn’t let me help again, but the shaman had a knack for knowing things he shouldn’t.

Charlie patted my arm. “This is one battle he can’t fight without you—no matter how much he wishes it. Do you have the drawing of the symbols from the mall?”

I nodded at my Jeep. “It’s in my bag in there.”

“Show me.”

We moved over to the vehicle and I pulled the sketchpad out. With everything else going on I’d forgotten about it until telling the story to him.

“These are all the ones I was able to retrace. I don’t know what any of them mean,” I said, handing the pad over to Charlie.

He studied the drawing for a moment. “Most of these are commonly used for circles dealing with black magic. This symbol, though,” he pointed at one I’d thought stood out from the others, “is specific to a particular demon.”

It had a mostly squiggly shape with a couple of upside-down crosses on it.

“Do you know which demon?” I asked.

The wrinkles on his forehead furrowed. “It represents Stolas. He is considered a prince of hell and very powerful. If his minions gather enough strength to bring him here, nothing short of sacrificing one of your kind will send him back—or an archangel could do it. You must do everything you can to stop him from getting here. The price will be too high if you don’t.”

“Do you ever have any good news?” The man was always full of doom and gloom when he came around.

“One day, Melena, you will be glad for my help. For now, you should go check on Felisha. I believe she needs you.”

I put my stuff back in the Jeep and locked it up. “One day, Charlie, you’re going to tell me something that doesn’t make my life more difficult. Then I’ll be thankful.”

I started walking toward the house.

“May the wisdom of your ancestors guide you,” he said to my back.

I scooped up a handful of snow, twisted around, and threw it at him. He turned to mist and it splattered against the passenger side door of my Jeep. A moment later he returned to his physical form—fully dressed.

“That’s a neat trick you have,” I said.

He smiled.

I went inside and headed for the kitchen, where I sensed Felisha. She was with Yarrow in there. I could feel her emotions and they didn’t give me a good feeling. Too many teenagers blocked my path from getting there quickly. I weaved through them as fast as I could to get to my destination.

My feet froze in the doorway once I got there. Yarrow had Felisha wrapped in his arms kissing her. The poker iron I’d hit Micah with had more give than her body did in that moment. Couldn’t he see she didn’t want him?

I cleared my throat. “Um, sorry to interrupt you guys but I need to speak with Felisha.”

They lifted their heads. Felisha looked relieved, but a flash of annoyance crossed Yarrow’s eyes. I wondered if he’d somehow manipulated his way into courting her and that was what caused the ugly mole. He had to know he had her trapped with no way out.

“Can’t it wait?” he asked. His arms were still wrapped around her.

I shook my head. “Not really. You see, one of the girls just had her period start and you know how the blood can start soaking the clothes if you don’t get something to stop…”

He held his hand up. “I don’t need to know more. You may borrow her.”

With an annoying amount of reluctance he let her go. She quickly made her way over to me and we walked out of the room while I continued to babble about the difficulties of menstrual cycles until we cleared his hearing range. If a couple of male teenagers caught the conversation and recoiled in horror, it didn’t bother me any.