Ironic Sacrifice (5 page)

“And Jayden?”

“Yeah?”

“Until you get your shit under control, don’t fucking touch me again.”

***

As he walked in search of Silas, Razvan pondered his intense fascination with Jayden. Never before had any of his pet psychics weighed so much on his thoughts. Perhaps it was because he’d enjoyed her body so much. He hadn’t had a release with a woman for a long time. Or maybe her power brought him hope. Could she be the one to find Radu? His heart quickened at the thought, but something told him that there was more to his growing obsession. Either way, he couldn’t ask her about Radu until her mind was healthy and strong again…if it ever would be. Besides, he’d given up on his quest to find his missing twin. His fists clenched as he reiterated the statement. He had given up.

Razvan spotted the other vampire behind a tavern on 2
nd
street. He hung back and watched his prodigy feed. Silas McNaught was a large warrior, with broad shoulders and powerful muscles. The physique still remained from his practice with the sword, though he now directed most of his efforts to tedious matters of finance.

Silas touched his victim as little as possible. When he finished, he handed the young man some money and, as if on command, a taxi pulled up. Razvan chuckled at Silas’s way of turning his meals into a virtue. Every night he fed, he kept a drunk driver off the road. It seemed he was still covered with guilt over deeds long past. After Razvan had left McNaught to his own devices back in the sixteenth century, Silas had launched on a bloodthirsty campaign against the English who had slaughtered his clan. According to rumor, he had killed at least one soldier a night…until the Elders had instituted their ban on killing humans.

Of course, there were always accidents. Razvan chuckled aloud at the thought, thinking to announce his youngling of his presence.

Silas raised a brow at his laugh and crossed the street, meeting him on the cracked sidewalk. Dead leaves crunched under his polished shoes.

“Greetings, Razvan Nicolae, Lord of Spokane, Washington. How are you this fine evening?”

Razvan bowed. “Greetings, Silas McNaught, Lord of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I am well. I seek a favor from you.”

Silas stared hard at him with his far seeing peridot green eyes and ran a pale hand through long black hair that fell past his shoulders. “Might this have to do with the woman you found?”

Razvan was stunned. “You know about her? What did you see?”

Silas laughed. “Why do you presume I saw anything? I can smell her on you. I thought you did not advocate having sex with your food.”

Razvan grunted noncommittally and shifted back and forth on the cracked sidewalk. “I generally do not.”

Silas laughed harder. “Oh you look so uncomfortable right now. I suppose I will take pity on you. I had a vision of you taking her from the streets last night, so I think it was intended.”

“Intended? How so?” He hated the angst revealed in his tone.

Razvan had had centuries to get accustomed to the fact that things happened for a reason. Human beings had no idea how many prophecies and portents were being played out every second of their meager lives. Still, he’d never had awareness of being directly involved with one, despite his exposure to all the psychics he trafficked with. The idea that this fact could be changing made him wary.

“So, what was the favor you wanted to ask me?” Silas asked, ignoring the question, as they began walking down Lakeside Avenue.

Razvan measured his words carefully. “Jayden, my new pet mortal, is a psychic. A very powerful one.”

McNaught raised a brow. “How powerful?”

“So powerful that she cannot function in a normal human life. She sought death to escape the intensity of her visions.” He hoped that his worry and guilt was concealed from his youngling.

Silas blinked then seemed to carefully compose his features. “And I suppose you came upon her as if by chance?”

“Yes. I was playing with my food, and she burst into the alley, brazenly offering her life in exchange for a spoilt woman’s.” He shook his head, still amazed at Jayden’s brave but pitiful demand. “She
begged
me to kill her.”

Silas nodded with understanding and pity. “I often felt that way when the visions first came upon me. Where is the poor lass now?”

“At Akasha’s shop.”

“So that is what I happened to your face.” Silas grinned. “I should have known her handiwork. Is anything broken?”

“I think she cracked my cheek bone.”

The other vampire laughed. “That’s my lass.”

Jayden smiled as Akasha’s cat, Isuzu, butted his head against hers. “Your kitty is really affectionate.”

Akasha grunted in what may have been agreement. It was hard to tell, since she was under a car.

Jayden sighed and shifted on the shop stool, trying to get comfortable. In the growing silence, her nerves began to tic and jump and her neck was sore from turning to the doorway at every sound. Razvan would return any minute and with him, Akasha’s vampire husband, who was Razvan’s psychic prodigy. Would he help her? And more importantly: would he be kind? The way his wife’s frigid eyes warmed at his name indicated he wasn’t a bad guy. On the other hand, even Hitler had a lady love.

She whipped around at the sound of a parking car. It was only someone getting gas across the street. Akasha rolled out from under a Dodge Stratus. Ears burning, Jayden twirled around on the stool, forcing her gaze everywhere but at the door. Her eyes lit on a photograph taped on the inside lid of Akasha’s toolbox and widened in disbelief.

“No way,” Jayden breathed, hoping her eyes weren’t going to pop out of her head.

In the picture Akasha was arm in arm with Jayden’s favorite band,
Rage of Angels
. The lead singer, Xochitl Leonine was holding out her hand in the classic devil horns gesture and Sylvis Jagwolfe, lead guitarist, was giving Akasha bunny ears. The bassist, Beau Thompson, was kissing the drummer, Aurora Lee behind them even though the whole world knew Beau was gay. This was surreal.

“You
know
them?” she said.

Akasha followed the direction of Jayden’s awed gaze. “They’re my best friends,” she said with a fond smile. “They practiced at my house back in high school. Silas and Razvan hooked them up with the owner of the club in Seattle where they got their start.”

Jayden nodded. “The Mortuary.”

She’d read every scrap of info and gossip on the band since she’d first heard them on the radio. She usually wasn’t the type to obsess over rock stars, but there was something about the music of
Rage of Angels
that set her heart aflame and made her imagination soar.

Akasha’s grin widened. “When we get to my house, I’ll show you more pictures and where they used to practice.”

“I’d love that.” Jayden tingled with excitement. Not only was she going to get help with her visions, but she would see where
Rage of Angels
started. “I used to fall asleep with their music playing. It gave me the most intense dreams! Some were a little scary; some were beautiful, far off worlds and…”

She shut up, afraid she was sounding like an obsessed groupie. Akasha’s eyes had turned speculative, as if Jayden claimed that she held a map for buried treasure. “When they come here to visit next week, I’ll introduce you if you’re still around.”

Jayden was too stunned to reply.
Meet the band
? She was spared by the sound of the front door opening. Razvan and Silas had returned.

“And how be ye lasses on this fine evening’?” A Scottish brogue intoned.

Akasha’s face was breathtaking in its display of pure love. Jayden turned to see Silas McNaught, Lord Vampire of Coeur d’Alene. He was taller than Razvan by about four inches, and his shoulders were broader. Silky straight black hair caressed the lapels of his suit and framed a face that trumped Brad Pitt’s. His emerald gaze was locked on Akasha with infinite tenderness.
This must be what actors try to convey in chick flicks
Jayden realized with a lump in her throat.

Unable to stop, her eyes darted to Razvan. He was watching the couple with an unreadable expression playing across his saturnine features. As if he sensed her perusal, his eyes, black as sin locked on hers. Jayden hated being a redhead now more than ever. She knew every inch of her skin had turned crimson in an instant.

Razvan turned back to Silas. “If I can pull your attention from your bride for just a moment, McNaught, I would like to introduce you to my pet, Jayden Leigh.”

Silas turned to her and bowed. “Ah yes, the seeress. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance in person, Ms. Leigh.”

He held out a hand and she shook it, noting the open kindness in his eyes. No horrific visions assaulted her. She didn’t expect them to, since Razvan had waxed on his powers, but it was nice to know the truth.
Please, God, let him be able to help me.

Silas smiled. “It may take a wee bit of prayer, as you are indeed more powerful than I, but I think that if I teach you a few simple tricks, you’ll be much better off.”

Jayden’s breath caught in amazement and indignation that he read her mind so easily. “Your accent is gone,” she said.

His hand rubbed the back of his neck as if he were embarrassed. “I have lived in the States for almost two centuries, so it is gone for the most part, unless I am upset or…”

“How is Max doing?” Akasha interrupted.

Razvan turned to Jayden. “Max is Akasha’s mentor and business partner. He suffered a minor heart attack last week.”

Silas grinned. “The irascible devil is fine. It has been a trial keeping him in the house and away from the cigarettes and beer. I very nearly had to restrain him to keep him from coming to work this evening. Dr. Greenbriar and I agree that he should take at least one more week off.”

Akasha smiled. “I guess that means I’ll be calling the college and letting the auto students intern again this week.” She went to the sink and began washing her hands. “In light of all the shit that’s come up tonight, I guess I’ll close up early.”

***

Sitting in the dark with Razvan in the backseat of Akasha’s 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner reminded Jayden of the chaperoned dates she’d been on when she was fifteen. She didn’t know whether to talk to him, or if she was sitting too close. She remained rigid the whole ride, staring at nothing out the window. She was so focused on fighting her trepidation that at first the castle on top of the hill seemed a product of her imagination… until they pulled in the garage.

Akasha got out and flipped the driver’s seat forward so she could exit. “Welcome to castle McNaught. I’ll order dinner and get the guest rooms ready.”

“Room,” Razvan said. “She’ll sleep with me.”

Akasha’s eyes flared, but Silas, with Isuzu perched on his shoulder, put a hand on her arm and met her gaze. Some silent communication passed between them and Akasha sighed. “Fine. Less work for me, then.”

The castle resembled something out of one of those celebrity lifestyle shows with its plush carpeting, cherry wood furnishings and expensive paintings adorning the walls. The only thing amiss was the odor of stale cigarettes emanating from the house. Razvan took her coat and hung it on an ornate hall tree in the foyer. They followed Akasha and Silas into the living room and were greeted by two people. The first, with the white coat and stethoscope was obviously the doctor. The second, a huge man with a white and silver beard who looked like an aging biker had to be Max, Akasha’s mentor and business partner. And the man who’d taken her in as a child….Jayden suddenly recalled from her vision. Max’s blue eyes twinkled when he saw Akasha.

“Hey, Spark Plug,” he said. “The doc here says I can have two cold ones a day now as long as I promise to cut back on the smoking.”

“Right on!” Akasha replied. “Have you started yet?”

“No, thought I’d wait and have one with you before heading back to bed.”

“Cool, I’ll grab ‘em after I order some takeout.” She flounced off to the kitchen. Max lumbered up from the couch and followed her. “You’re not gonna order me any vegetarian crap, are you?” he groaned.

Silas shook hands with the doctor. “How is he really, Jonathon?”

The doctor ran a nervous hand through his brown hair. “Honestly, my lord, he is the most trying patient I’ve ever had. It has been agony to get him to take his medicine and rest properly. I really don’t want him drinking or smoking at all, but I know if I say so, he’ll rebel and get right back into the habits that landed him in this situation to begin with. Since he refused surgery, I’ve also been treating him with small doses of my blood in hopes that it will heal some of the damage to his heart. I’ll have to have him come in for an EKG to see how well that has worked… Oh, hello Lord Nicolae.” The vampire doctor bowed to Razvan. “It is a pleasure to see you this evening.”

“Greetings, Dr. Greenbriar,” the vampire said. “Allow me to introduce you to my pet, Jayden Leigh.”

The doctor’s eyes widened for a minute, then his cheeks reddened and he lowered his gaze. “It is a pleasure, Ms. Leigh.” She caught a brief glimpse of fangs as he spoke.

Jayden smiled and inclined her head at his polite greeting. Shy vampires…she never would have guessed. The doctor conversed with Silas a little longer and left. The food arrived soon after and Jayden did her best not to devour her fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, and crab Rangoon like a wild animal. Still, starvation was too familiar not to eat with gusto. Akasha gave her a knowing look and she realized that her hostess had experienced more than a nodding acquaintance with hunger. Jayden suppressed a shudder as her glimpse of Akasha’s memories came back. What the hell had the poor girl gone through that she’d been shot at, beaten, starved, raped, experimented on, and God knew what else?

She remained silent throughout the meal and listened to the conversations going on around her. Before her life fell apart, Jayden had many friends, or so she thought. Now, as she witnessed the closeness between these vampires and humans—though she had her doubts about Akasha being human— surrounding her, she realized that all her previous relationships were artificial. She sighed and set down her chopsticks, no longer hungry. If one of them were having problems, the others would stick around.

“It’s going to be all right, lass,” Silas said softly.

Jayden looked up at him sharply. Was he eavesdropping on her thoughts? Her shoulders slumped. Hell, she did the same all the time, even though she couldn’t help it.

“Thanks.”

She offered to help clear the table, but Akasha refused, obviously afraid that she’d touch her. In the end, she sat in silence as Akasha and Max drank their beer and Silas and Razvan discussed vampire politics, which was a lot more boring than it sounded. They sounded more like corporate executives than powerful immortals.

Razvan withdrew a Sherlock Holmes-looking pipe from his breast pocket and lit it. As the scent of cherry flavored tobacco filled the room, Jayden’s eyes were drawn to his slender fingers and sculpted lips on the pipe’s stem. She shivered as she remembered those hands and lips all over her body. Would he touch her again tonight? Could she refuse such intoxicating pleasure? She looked down at her hands, praying that no one was reading her internal struggle. She would have to refuse him. It was imperative that she know whether he truly thought of her as a toy, or if he had the slightest regard for her as a human being.

As if he knew her thoughts, Razvan grasped a lock of her hair and twirled it about his fingers without breaking his conversation with Silas about quarterly taxes. Was this an omen? Akasha and Max gaped in obvious astonishment, but Silas merely blinked and rambled on about interest and capital gains. Apparently Razvan was not one for casual touching.

Her scalp tingled at his touch and an unbidden sigh escaped her lips. This was awkward. Akasha threw a pointed glance at her, at Razvan’s hand, then back at her. Did she want him to stop? Well, it wasn’t like he was publically groping her… and his touch
did
feel good.

She shifted closer to Razvan to convey that she didn’t need any interference. Akasha shrugged and asked Silas about annuities versus IRAs for a vampire’s fake retirement. Jayden was surprised that the foul-mouthed, beer swilling mechanic would have any interest in such a subject.

Shame knotted her belly at the judgment as she remembered that Akasha owned her own business. Of course she would know. Further humiliation ate at her as she realized that everyone around her was a success, except for her. Hell, Akasha looked to be in her early twenties and she managed an auto shop. Akasha’s friends were a world renowned heavy metal band. And here Jayden was, homeless, half crazy, and at the mercy of all of them. Still, it was better than where she was yesterday. And they were all the most interesting individuals that she’d ever encountered.

She studied them one by one. What was the story behind Akasha? Where did she get her incredible strength? How did she meet Silas? And was their love as real as it looked? It sure seemed to be. The Scottish vampire held more kindness and gentleness in his eyes and voice than Jayden could imagine Razvan possessing. But could Silas help her? And if he did… if she managed to get back to normal, what then? Her mind shied from the question.

The combination of a full stomach and the boring conversations around her made Jayden drowsy. Her eyelids drooped and she dozed off.

“I think it is bedtime for my pet,” Razvan’s voice rumbled in her ear. Jayden jolted awake and raised her head from his shoulder. The moment of truth was coming.

Silas stood up. “Very well, Akasha and I shall show you to your room.”

As they followed Silas and Akasha down the stone steps to the secret chambers below, Jayden’s heart tried to beat itself out of her chest. It was time to test Razvan’s honor. As much as he fascinated and attracted her, she must be strong. When they reached their bedroom and he tried to pull her into his arms and enslave her with his seduction, she would refuse him.
And then what? Will he rape me? What will it prove?
It seemed that with each step she took, a thousand questions screamed in her mind, the most frightening was:
what if he gets angry? Will he hurt me?
She had no doubt that, vampire or not, he could make her previous longing for death more paltry than a candy craving.