Rock n Roll Promises (YAE) (Rock n Roll Paraphantasy Series) (4 page)

“You need some help?”
“Nope, got it. Get in and let’s go.”

Their butts dropped into the seats, their doors
slammed shut, and the engine roared as the car sped
away. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her nerves
and calmed her heart rate.

She will be OK, breathe. No danger.
“
Paige, can you tell me why you are freaking out
so badly? I understand the urgency because she
won’t wait, but she is only in danger if there is a
threat in her house. Who else knows she is doing
this?”

“Just us. You’re right. I’m sorry, it’s just she’s
my best friend. I’m sure she’s fine. There’s only a
danger if her enemies are around.”

“Well, why is that? It is not like she is going to
announce it.”

 

“She doesn’t have to. If there are any with
supernatural power around, they will feel it.”

“OK, explain that. I have been hunting the
supernatural for most of my life, I have never heard
of such a thing.”

“It’s like a link. Every supernatural being leaves
its own mark, like an essence of sorts. Each is
different, while at the same time they are part of the
same thing. You feel the aura of the supernatural,
and once you meet a species, you can then
recognize the basic differences of each.”

“Such as?”

“Each supernatural species has its own tell-tale
signs. Most vamps carry the scent of blood and
death, but some, like Anna, smell like their food.
For example, Sebastian, her maker, smells of blood
and sex because he feeds off both. Were-animals
smell of their deep origins, such as the woods,
plains, sewers and some smell like fresh rain and
tropical flowers.”

“My brain kind of understands that. The theory
of it makes sense, but in reality…I’m having a hard
time wrapping my mind around it. It is not
something a human can sense, is it?’

“Some can, to a degree. It comes in…a feeling I
guess you could say.”
“OK, I got it. I can sometimes sense when I am
close to whatever it is I’m hunting. Werewolves are
the easiest, to me they smell like—”

As if a small ball, her head bounced against the
seat as the car sped up and raced faster down the
highway. Her body was pinned to the seat by the
force of acceleration. She felt like she had become
one with the seat.

“Ozzie, why are you going almost a hundred
miles an hour?”

 

“Wolves are mortal enemies of vamps right?”

 

“Sometimes, yes. Why?”

 

“How well do Anna and Mr. Perry get along?”

“She hates him. She can’t put her finger on it,
but she says he gives off bad vibes when he is close.
Why?”

“I have been keeping tabs on him since I found
out he is a werewolf. I think he is the one behind the
slaughter of those teenagers.”

“Wait, are you talking about the kids at the
cliffs?”

 

“Yes.”

“The news said they died because they had been
drinking and fell off into the ravine. They said they
died instantly from broken necks.”

“That’s what I told them to say. Well, that’s what
I told the cops to tell media. There were ten kids,
and all of them decided, in their drunken stupors, to
swan dive to their deaths? No. My team and I
repelled down that cliff so we could wrap the bodies
and prepare them for transport. Every one of them
had deep teeth and claw marks all over their bodies.
The wolves toyed with them. The gashes were deep
enough to cause severe pain but not instant death.”

“What does that have to do with Anna?”

“My hunting buddies and I have been watching
him. We were on patrol last night. He moved in two
doors down from Anna.”

“Oh no! That’s close enough to sense what she’s
doing.”

 

“That’s what I was afraid of.”
Chapter 4

Paige could smell him before she got out of the
car. Her heart pounded against her chest and every
hair on her body stood at attention. She reached
over and grabbed his arm, preventing him from
getting out.

“Ozzie, wait. It’s Perry! I think he is in the
house.”

 

“How good will his senses be if he’s
concentrating on Anna?”

 

“Very good. I’m sure he knows we’re here.”

 

“Open the glove box.”

Hands shaking, she worked at steadying her
nerves and popped the latch. Her eyes bulged at the
sight before her. She rolled her head to Ozzie, and
gave him a questioning look.

“Hand me the Kimber .45.”

 

“And which one is that? How did you fit both of
them in here?”

“It’s the bigger black one. The smaller one is a
Kimber Silhouette and it’s made for women. It is a .
45, too. I bought it for you to carry. They are my
emergency guns. The big ones are in the trunk with
the rest of my hunting gear.”

She wiggled the metal around until she loosened
it enough to remove it. She took a deep breath as the
calm from within flowed through her just below the
surface. Her nerves stopped jumping and left her
mind to focus on the task at hand. Her breathing
evened out and her heart worked at a regular pace.
Hands rock steady, she handed over the gun.

“Are you sure that’s going to work?”

“It has great knock-down power and it is loaded
with small cartridges filled with liquid silver.
Guaranteed to stop all dogs of any size, were or
otherwise. Of course, for the bigger ones, may take
more than one, but the result is the same. Dead is
dead, and that is what we are after.”

She watched his hands move over the cool steel
as he slammed in the clip and cocked it. Inhaling
deeply, she prepared for what was sure to be a
battle. She gripped the handle and opened the door.
With one foot out of the car, he stopped her. She
turned to him and asked a question.

“What? You have a plan or something?”

 

“Yes, but you’re not going to like it.”

 

“If it includes me staying in this car, then you’re
right. I hate it. I see that look on your face.”

“I’m not trying to be macho. You’re just so tiny. I
don’t want to see you hurt. Besides, if I’m worried
about you, it splits my concentration.”

She bit her lip in contemplation
. What should I
do? He knows about Anna, but will he be as
accepting of me? It’s one thing to befriend the
supernatural, but sleeping with it is a whole other
animal, and I am a whole other animal. Maybe I
can go and help without giving away the one secret
I have.

“I refuse to stay in this car. However, I will stand
behind you and out of your way. Who knows?
Maybe I could even help. Sorry Ozzie, but that’s my
best friend, I can’t just sit here.”

With a talent most women have, she let the tears
come to the surface and gloss over her eyes for
added effect. She watched his face turn form stern
resolve to confusion and finally, acceptance.
Inwardly smiling at her win, she sighed and jumped
out of the car. Her shoes landed neatly next to the
tire when she slipped them off and headed toward
the house. She stopped her advance at the hood of
the car, as promised, and followed behind Ozzie as
he crept into the house.

Rays of orange and yellow from the glowing sun
snuck through the cracks in the curtains and gave
the living room an eerie glow. Plush carpet helped
to mask their footfalls. Her animalistic senses took
over. She smelled his woodsy scent a few feet away
and felt his presence.

Perry is in her
room!
The thought sent her into overdrive. Her body,
stock still, vibrated as her inner animal ached for
release. Heat shot from her center and filled every
limb, every nerve, and every cell in her body.
Breathing through clenched teeth, she tried to pull it
back. It didn’t work.
She dropped to her knees, cradling herself, and
her scream rattled the windows. Her body shook
and her muscles coiled and twisted under her skin
like snakes in a nest. White fur split through her
flesh. As it rolled and swirled, her body took on a
new shape. She sat on her haunches in full-on white
tiger mode, and she rolled her big blue eyes to the
man she loved. He stood motionless wearing a look
of shock and disbelief. Her heart broke
.
I will have to deal with him later. God I love him,
please don’t let him run from me.
Shaking her head slightly, her ears perked up and
she stalked the trespassing wolf.
Low to the ground, legs bent, she crept closer
and quietly down the hall. Her nose sniffed the air
and the disgusting taste of blood and grass stuck to
her tongue.
He’s in her room…low life dog!
Her massive lean frame lowered closer to the
floor, almost touching, and she worked her back
feet, preparing to pounce. She flexed her muscles
and went airborne. Her body stretched through the
air as she jumped, and the door opened. Mr. Perry,
in wolf form, stood waiting for her. She saw it
coming, yet could not stop it.
Three large gashes opened her skin across her
front legs and chest, from his clawed hand. Her
massive size collided with his. A loud roar ripped
from her throat. She felt the blood running down her
legs and paid little attention to pain. She felt only
pure resolve and focused. Her mind only worked at
one thing, protect! Their bodies hit the ground and
she rolled off him. Her massive shape jumped onto
the bed in a protective stance and growled at the
wolf before her. Large sharp teeth flashed as she
pulled her lip back and dared him to step closer.
Come on you overgrown hound, come closer.
Two inches is all I need and I can rip your throat
out.
She eyed him as he stalked close. Putting weight
on her back legs and feet, she rose up and slashed
out at him with both paws when he got within
striking distance. Deep growls filled the air. Fur
flew and blood splattered the walls. Ozzie’s loud
voice exploded through her sensitive ears.

“Paige, move!”

Her large padded feet clawed wildly at the wolf,
knocking him into the wall. A shot rang out. She
shifted her gaze from the bleeding dog on the floor
to the gun-wielding hottie at the door. If she could
have smiled without looking dangerous, she would
have. Her body shivered once and her naked human
form resurfaced. She collapsed onto the bed.

“Is he dead?”

 

“Yes. One shot right between the eyes. A wolf
can’t heal from liquid silver oozing in his brain.”

 

“That was a…good shot.”

 

“This is my job. I have had a lot of practice.”

The pain hit and her tiny frame shook
uncontrollably. Her chest and arms felt like they
were on fire as they burned and bled. She clenched
her jaws shut and tried to breathe through the
torment. She felt him wrap her in his arms and hold
her close as he picked her up and carried her out of
the room. She voiced her protest.

“We can’t leave her.”

 

“We’re not. I am taking you into the bathroom to
clean up those gashes. They look deep.”

She held her eyes shut and focused on his scent.
He smelled like a Stetson cowboy, even though he
wore the look of a bad boy, from his dark green
leather jacket to his denim jeans and black boots.
His stance and demeanor screamed bad to the bone,
but his touch and tenderness whispered lover boy.
She opened her eyes when she heard the sound of
running water.

“A white bathroom? Why, knowing who we are,
would she redecorate and have a white bathroom?
Everything is white, the sink, toilet, tub, shower,
even the rugs are white.”

She smiled at him when she looked and saw him
smile at her and reply.
“Not everything is white. Looks like the wall and
the tiles are a light blue.”

She sat huddled in his arms as he sat on the side
of the tub checking the water temperature. With her
leg extended, she stretched and ran her toes under
the water.

“That is fine, it’s not too hot.”

The heat from it felt good as it splashed along
her skin, when she stepped into the shower and sat
down. Water snaked down her legs and feet. She
moved her upper body from the flow of what felt
like rain. “I am so glad she installed the rain soft
shower head. This would be murder on my skin
right now.” She noticed him stripping off his
clothes. “What are you doing?”

“You need hel—“

 

“I can do it, it’s OK. I just need to wash the
wound.”

 

“Can you raise your arms?”

She gingerly lifted her arms and pain shot across
her chest, as if struck by lightning. Wincing, she
crossed her arms over her chest and gulped a few
deep breaths. With her eyes squeezed shut, she
collapsed into the ceramic tub as a tremor ran up her
spine. She felt his toes brush across her feet and she
opened her eyes and looked at him. He stood, tall
and naked, as the shower ran across his frame. After
a moment, he bent down and lifted her in his arms.
With a soft, white cloth, wet and soapy, he gently
washed the blood away. She would have preferred
salt and lemons in her raw, exposed flesh opposed
to the harsh antiseptic and alcohol scorching her
wounds. It felt as if her arm and chest had been
covered in lighter fluid and set ablaze. Her face
buried in his chest had muffled her screams. She
couldn’t help but pound her tightened fist on the tub
and kick her legs even though it offered no real aid.
Cool water splashed and ran down her skin in an
effort to rinse her clean. With her teeth as tight as a
Pit Bull’s locked jaw, she tried to calm her labored
breathing.

All the pain she felt from the scratches, soap, and
aching muscles didn’t come close to touching the
pain in her heart when she heard the agony in his
voice when he spoke.

“I am so sorry, Paige. I swear I am being as
gentle as I can. Just a few more minutes, I am
almost done, I promise.”

She could stand no more. “Out! Get me out!”

 

“OK. Stay still.”

Breathing heavily, she watched as he lifted his
foot and shut off the shower. She clung to him and
cried. “I am so sorry, Ozzie. I wanted to tell you, I
was just scared.”

“It is alright, Paige. I knew you were different
the moment I met you. When I found out about
Anna…well, until now I assumed you were the
same. You know, a different breed of vampire. It
doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I am still
head over hills, can’t live without you, in love with
you. I swear I will call a doctor and get you the best
medicine they offer and help you.”