Only Human (44 page)

His smile told me he was a Dom, not a sub, and my breath caught in my chest.

“Well alrighty then, now that we’ve cleared that up...” I knew the room could smell my conflicting feelings of arousal and mortification. No one spoke for several heartbeats, so I changed the conversation. “Can someone explain to me why we have so much, oh, I don’t know, supernatural
royalty
living in Chattanooga?”

“This has been the subject of much discussion, actually,” Abbott told me. “Aaron, Nathan, Bran, and I generally travel together and are almost always in either the same city, or in nearby cities. However, we also have a number of shapeshifter Alphas here, and none of us remember having this many heavy-hitters in a city this size. Ever.”

Aaron had told me he trusted Abbott, but I hadn’t realized they were quite so close. Also, while I’d known they both lived along this stretch of road on the brow, but I hadn’t known they lived right beside each other until we pulled into Abbott’s driveway.

“Not all lions have a long lifespan, but as Amakhosi, I do,” Nathan told me, “so I’m forced to move around like the others who are long lived. Aaron and I are business partners, so it makes sense we stay together.” He paused and said, “Randall has lived here all of his life and will likely not need to move. His lifespan is longer than a normal human, but when he turns about ninety he’ll go off the radar and won’t work anymore, and will rely on the things he’s already bought. He’ll have a chauffeur so he won’t need a driver’s license, and he’ll just stop existing as far as the government is concerned. It’s the way the wolves deal with their longer life span. He was born here, he didn’t move.”

“The leopard Alpha of North America lives in Cleveland,” Abbott said, “and he only fought for the position a few years ago. He moved here a few years before, and climbed up through the ranks.”

“One of Abbott’s business partners is also a heavy hitter,” Aaron added, “though not officially an alpha. Most don’t know what he is, but pretty much everyone in town goes out of their way to keep from pissing him off. He was born here, as well.” He looked at me a few seconds and added, “Coyotes don’t choose an alpha, but the one known as the Trickster is generally accepted as being their leader, and he lives in Ringgold. The list is long, and I believe there is a power either drawing everyone here, or giving the alphas here an extra boost. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve been alive a really long time.”

I was putting things together in my head when Bran said, “If we had to choose the human with the most abilities on the planet at this time, I expect it would be you. I don’t believe in coincidences, everything happens for a reason. Something is going on, and those of us who are long lived are being extra watchful. Aaron and Abbott are of the opinion you’ll be helpful against whatever is coming, and I respect their judgment. I look forward to getting to know you, though, and deciding for myself.”

He didn’t leer as he said the last part, but the look in his eyes made me think he was hoping to get to know me in as many ways as possible, and I was suddenly tired of being hit on. Earlier, I’d realized I had chosen Abbott simply because I’d met him first. I wasn’t ready to pull away from him, but if I’d met Abbott, Randall, and Bran at the same time, I wasn’t sure Abbott would’ve been the one I chose. However, we’d had a date, and then we’d gone over a BDSM checklist, and I couldn’t deny I wanted to be under him in every way possible as long as my blood wasn’t in the equation. Truth be told, I was starting to be a little turned on by the idea of him biting me, too.

Nathan spoke so low I almost didn’t hear him. “There are some who believe
you
are drawing us here.”

I looked around the room and saw agreement, and knew I needed to put a stop to that particular theory.

“Umm, guys, I didn’t draw anyone here. I agree it’s too big of a coincidence to be mere chance, but I didn’t do it. Maybe whatever is going on at the battlefield drew all of you?”

“That’s a possibility.” Nathan said, “Now if we just knew what was going on in the battlefield. We’re just reacting to what happens. There’s no way to be proactive.”

I’d been thinking the same thing. “I’m surprised nothing has happened since Xaephan’s visit. I figured he’d do something to test me, see if I kept my word.”

“Maybe he has,” Aaron said, “and whatever was called didn’t create enough of a ruckus to reach the police department, and thus Denny wouldn’t have called us in.”

An idea had floated through my head a few times, and when it returned now, I let it coalesce.

“A few of those present can sense metaphysical activity happening within a short distance, apparently all the time, even when they aren’t trying.” I told the room. “I can sense demons from a short distance, so I’m assuming I have the aptitude to learn to sense other things. If someone can teach me then we’ll have at least four of us with the ability. Halloween is Wednesday night, and if we position around the battlefield, or just in a circle around Snodgrass Hill, maybe we can catch the bad guys as they start,
before
they have a chance to do bad things? Maybe we can catch whoever is calling things and figure out what’s going on?”

Before anyone had a chance to respond, I launched into the next question on my mind, “You know, so far all of you seem to be good. I mean, good leaders who seem to hold your people to a certain ethical code, but Cora mentioned something to me about there being territories with hostile packs. Are there also Master Vampires who tend to towards the bad side?”

Both Bran and Abbott answered at the same time. “Yes.”

“Would they band together to try to cause problems?”

Aaron looked thoughtful as he said, “If someone strong enough to control them all came along, then certainly. So far they haven’t been able to get along well enough to band together. However, with the right leader, who knows?”

“What about the other races of vampires? Is there a race that might want to get rid of the good guys?”

After a few seconds of closed faces and silence, Aaron told them, “No more secrets, at least, not when we aren’t obligated to keep them. She wants the facts and the last time I tried to shield her, it didn’t end well.” He turned to me. “There’s a race of vampires who want to do away with all other supernaturals — this means the other vampires as well as the shifters, and the unknowns like Mordecai and myself. They’ve done some pretty bad things, and the European and American council have both forbidden them from turning anyone. If they’re caught, the maker is killed as well as every one of his masters above him. We have people who keep a close eye on them through metaphysical means, and they haven’t added to their numbers for almost two hundred years, though they’ve lost at least one hundred. They are
most
unhappy.”

“How many of them are there?”

“Maybe five hundred, worldwide.”

“Where do the vast majority of them live?”

“In large cities. They only feed during the new moon, but they completely drain the human. They must kill in order to live, so they live in the cities and feed on the homeless, the runaways, the prostitutes. People no one will report missing. They’ve mastered the art of disposing of bodies so that they aren’t found.”

I looked at Abbott. “You once told me there was a race of vampires some would consider evil, is this the race you spoke of?”

“Yes.”

I turned back to Aaron. “Is there anyone else who might come here to try to cause problems? Either they’re here because so many powerful leaders are living in one place and they want your attention, or they somehow drew you all here by what they’re doing?” I considered the options and added, “Or, they drew you here for some other reason? Oh, and this killing race, do they have metaphysical abilities? And do they have any ties to the demon plane of existence?”

“Yes, they have metaphysical abilities,” said Bran. “They have to kill because they need the energy transference of the death in order to survive, they take in their victim’s life force, it isn’t just the blood they need. As to whether they have ties to the demons, if they do I’m not aware of it, but considering they thrive on death, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

I looked back at Aaron. “Can ya’ll teach me how to pick up on metaphysical stuff happening around me?”

“We can try,” Aaron answered. “We’ll blindfold you and situate those of us who can do magic around you on the perimeter of the room. We’ll get Bran to point at someone, they’ll do something with energy, and we’ll see if you can sense it.”

“I know it sounds cliché,” said Abbott, “but it’s like the Star Wars thing. You’re trying to sense a disturbance in the force. Think of how a pond looks when you toss in a pebble and the waves ripple out. You’re detecting metaphysical ripples.”

“Abbott, I’m assuming you have a blindfold?” Aaron asked with a grin.

Abbott nodded with a mischievous smile and left the room.

I was about to be blindfolded in a room full of supernaturals, three of whom were known to be Dom. Beautiful.

Refusing to let my thoughts stay there, I asked Aaron, “If I can do this, you won’t argue with me coming on Halloween to help try to sense what might be happening?”

He shook his head. “If you can help, you can come. I may give you extra guards but I won’t keep you away.”

Abbott returned and stepped behind me with the blindfold, “With your permission, my darling.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not your darling, but go ahead.”

“I didn’t think I’d be allowed to do this quite so soon.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I said with a laugh. “I can’t believe this was
Aaron’s
idea.”

He skillfully buckled the luxurious, soft blindfold that worked exactly as it was supposed to, as not even a sliver of light made it to my eyes.

I heard movement as I presumed they moved to the outer edges of the room, and I considered distances as they situated. The closest would be about eight feet from me, while the farthest would be around thirty feet away. It was a big room, and I wasn’t in the center. I kind of assumed they’d start with someone positioned closer to me, but then I stopped trying to use logic. I controlled my breathing, centered and balanced myself, and put feelers on the outside of my shields. I didn’t want to drop my shields here
or
in the battlefield; feelers were the most I was willing to do.

“Okay,” I told them. “I’m ready when ya’ll are.”

I didn’t sense anything. I was like an octopus with eight arms, trying to feel in all directions at once. This wasn’t going to work. What about making my shield into something that could pick up vibrations? Perhaps a membrane stretched around me? It would pick up any vibrations, then I could use the feelers to target the area, maybe? Almost as soon as I imaged it around me, I felt activity and pointed to two o’clock

“Very good,” came Bran’s voice. “Now try again.”

I re-centered and waited for my membrane to react again. Ten seconds later I pointed to nine o’clock and Bran said, “Great, and much faster. Try again.”

I took a deep breath, relaxed, and felt for activity. “Behind me, and stronger than the others have been.”

“One more time,” said Abbott, “and we’ll think of something harder.”

I felt it with no problem, pointed to three o’clock, pulled my blindfold off, and said, “I need to know how far my range is. Why don’t one of you get in a car and do metaphysical stuff while someone drives you away, ya’ll can be on the cell phone and I’ll let you know when I can’t sense it anymore. Actually, we could have all of us sensing for this one so we have all of our ranges. Except for whoever is in the car, of course.”

The people in this room were supposedly friends, but I wasn’t sure they’d want it known precisely how far their metaphysical reach extended. I didn’t point this out, though. If they had a problem with my idea I’d let them bring it up.

“The brow road is more or less straight,” Abbott said.

“Right,” I agreed. “So it’ll give us a close enough idea of a straight line distance.”

The group talked for a while to come up with a plan. Finally, it was agreed one of Bran’s people would drive Abbott, as he already knew his outer limit. They’d go to the end of the road, which was right at a mile way, and return with Abbott actively using his powers. Everyone sensing would be blindfolded, and would raise their arm when they felt it. A passenger would hold a cell phone to the odometer and be on a muted video call with Bran, so he could note the mileage. When they made it home, simple math would show how far away they were for each person.

Once we worked out the logistics, Abbott left with Preston and Alex while most of the rest of us sat with scarves and blindfolds on our eyes.

The final determination, once everyone was back, had Joseph and Nathan both feeling Abbott’s power as soon as Abbott began, and everyone else sensing it between four and six tenths of a mile. I was at four tenths.

We went over a few more logistics for Wednesday night, everyone agreed Aaron would be in charge of the op, and then the evening turned into a social party once again.

A few of Abbott’s people left around ten thirty, and by eleven the last people were leaving.

I stood to say goodbye to Bran and Alex. I hugged Alex goodbye and shook Bran’s hand. A little awkward, but it was the best I could come up with.

Chapter Thirty

As Abbott shut the door he pulled me to him. “My darling, my Carena, once I saw you in that blindfold I wanted to throw everyone out and have at you.”

My eyes lost focus as his lips caressed mine. His kiss was both a promise of more to come, and a tease, because it ended much too soon. I knew he could smell my arousal, but I still battled to speak without sounding breathless.

“What does Carena mean?”

“It’s Latin for
little darling
. It’s a term of endearment, and you are changing the subject.”

I realized he was asking if I wanted a scene tonight. He wasn’t going to push, but he obviously wanted to. I decided to make it easy on him, and looked him in the eye as I said, “I wasn’t trying to change the subject, Master, I really did want to know what Carena meant. Thank you for telling me.”