Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance) (10 page)

“Are you a psychic?” Michelle hesitated to accept the warmth from Sparrow, remembering her parents’ treachery.

“Not really. I’m kinda like you, just put it that way. So we can keep each other’s secrets.”

“But I don’t know your secret. How did you know mine?”

“I don’t know exactly, I could just sense it. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours … ” She raised a brow at Michelle playfully.

“You’re not talking about boobs, are you?” Michelle inquired.

“Geesh, get your mind out of the gutter, I just met you.” Sparrow laughed and in the blink of an eye she was gone — well sort of. In her place fluttered a beautiful yellow bird. It darted around the yard quickly, returned back to Michelle, and in another moment, Sparrow was sitting across from her as if nothing had happened.

“You should hear me sing!” Sparrow bragged playfully. “Okay, now your turn.”

But she was open-mouthed, amazed, shocked. “Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”

“In my case, no. You see, my ability to change was a gift given to me by a relative. The enchantment came with a protection element so that if someone sees me, they automatically forget. Convenient, right?”

Michelle smiled, finally loosening up. “Yeah. Convenient. Mine is less inconspicuous. And I’m not a cat.”

An emphatic gasp came from Sparrow. “Not a cat? You mean I’m wrong? I shudder at the thought.”

Laughing, Michelle leaned forward toward her new friend. “Nobody will come in here, right? No one can see? Usually I only shift when it’s getting dark. And it’s not as neat as your change, just so you know.”

“Oh my goodness, you are so bashful, aren’t you? That’s cute. I guess you’re not getting on stage with me anytime soon. I’ve always wanted to be in a chick band. So are you gonna change or what?”

“You sing?”

“Of course. I spend at least twenty minutes a day as a warbler — what do you expect?” At the blank look on Michelle’s face she explained, “Warbler is a type of songbird.”

“Oh. Duncan plays guitar. Actually he plays many instruments.” Michelle basked in pride over her man, but it was short lived.

“You mean vamp man?” Sparrow made a tsk sound. “The last thing I want is a venue full of teeny-boppers. We all know how sexy vampires are.”

“So you’ve met more vampires?” Michelle was getting sucked deeper into a world she never even realized existed. Guess she wasn’t such a freak after all.

“Ugh. I wouldn’t say met. Just seen. Basically, whenever you see someone wayyyy to beautiful to be true, it’s usually a vampire. Your man is the only vamp allowed in Alameda though. Tera keeps a close watch.”

“A close watch? Is she like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or something?”

“Or something. Now shift or I’m done talkin’.” Sparrow folded her arms over her chest, but with her delicate features and luminescent hair she hardly looked intimidating.

“I can’t. Really. If I do, I’ll just end up naked with a pile of stretched out or shredded clothes.”

“Oh, come on, I’m Wiccan. I’ll just spell you new ones.”

“Really?” Disbelief and excitement coursed through Michelle.

“Eh, maybe on a good day.” Sparrow looked bashful, as if she doubted her abilities, but her voice was hopeful. “Why don’t you just take off your clothes?”

“Are you nuts?”

“Nuts enough to have a shape shifter and a Dryad as friends.”

“Dryad?”

“Okay,” Sparrow interrupted, “I’m gonna turn my back. You take off your clothes so they don’t get ruined.”

“Five minutes after I meet you and you’re trying to get me naked?”

“What, the vampire didn’t try the same thing?” Sparrow grinned and swatted Michelle on the bum.

Michelle couldn’t help but smile despite her jaw drop. It was the first time she had a friend to make her smile in ages. “Alright then, I can see the only way to shut you up is to get naked.”

She heaved a breath and looked around to make sure no one would be able to see into the backyard of the Park Street coffee shop. Satisfied the neighborhood would be none the wiser, she closed her eyes and imagined herself in animal form. Slowly, her senses heightened and her body vibrated from the molecular transformation.

“Whoa. That is way cooler than a house cat.”

There was a moment of awkwardness since Michelle couldn’t reply in jaguar form. Instead, she used her lithe jaguar body to rub along Sparrow’s leg as she sat at the table.

“Ahhh. I guess that’s an official icebreaker, if my changing into a bird earlier wasn’t already.” Sparrow knelt onto the ground beside Michelle and ran her hand along her thick, black fur. “Welp, I guess it’s official then, you’re hired! Start whenever you like — just let me know.”

• • •

Duncan walked out of the Alameda hospital. He felt crappy as hell stealing blood, but it was the only adequate solution until he figured out something else, because for the time being, he didn’t want to drink from anyone. As far as the trip through Mexico, his suitcase would be filled mostly with travel-sized bottles of blood and black t-shirts.

He thought about the incredible night he spent with Michelle. Although they didn’t have sex, nothing about the evening seemed innocent. They had kissed and fed off the sensual electricity of each other’s bodies until reality and dreamland converged together.

After breakfast, he’d kissed her silly, hoping to squash her notion that their relationship was too good to be true. He would show her — and himself — that vampires could create sunshine, too, just as she did for him. Duncan was glad his years of travel throughout Mexico would come in handy. Besides taking her directly to the Olmec archaeological sites, he had several places in mind to show her. Years before Mexico became
the
vacation spot for Americans looking for a getaway, Duncan had made the Yucatan his home away from home. Tulum was a paradise like no other, and he had every intention of sharing it with her.

His small cabana on the Caribbean was low-profile compared to the small resorts that popped up in the region. Luckily, he had bought the surrounding properties to ensure his privacy. There was something about the water, whether it was the cold San Francisco Bay, or the warm bath water of the Caribbean, that appealed to Duncan. For the first time, Duncan wasn’t afraid of eternity, as long as he had the next month with Michelle.

• • •

Later that evening, a knock sounded on Michelle’s door.
Odd.
She was nervous to open the door since only another resident of the Victorian house would have access past the front door.
I wonder if it would be weird if I asked who it is?
The last thing she wanted was to appear as the crazy cat lady sans the cats.

“Um, who is it?”

“Duncan the devoted.”

Michelle flipped the lock and swung open the door, unable to hide the playful smile on her lips. “Duncan the devoted?”

Sweeping her up into his arms, he planted an earth-shattering kiss on her. “Is it too soon to confess that I’m totally devoted to you?”

“How could a woman argue after a kiss like that?”

“You’re the only woman I’ve kissed like that.”

Michelle was in silent shock at the admission. Before she could come up with any sort of reply, he kissed her again, sending her into another state of bliss. One moment Duncan’s lips were lovingly caressing her own, and the next minute her body became lightness. Michelle opened her eyes and took hold of Duncan’s body, her fingers digging into him with fear.

Still clutched to his chest, she looked down to recognize a small patch of familiar orangish red color. All around them was dark, midnight ocean and she realized they were standing on top of one of the Golden Gate Bridge Towers.

“Oh my God!” She hugged Duncan tightly and closed her eyes as the wind whipped her hair up violently.

Clutching her to his chest, they sat down on the ledge of the tower facing the glittering city in the distance. “So, tell me about your day.”

“Are you nuts? We’re a million feet off the ground — oh, wait, I mean freezing cold waters, which would be like cement if we accidently took the plunge.”

Duncan pulled her even closer. “Actually, it’s closer to a thousand feet than a million. And I won’t let you fall. And if you did, I would be with you to mist us elsewhere before we hit the water.”

“Well, that’s somewhat reassuring. Next time warn me before you take me to the edge of a precipice.”

“Sorry. I guess I don’t have much experience with romance. I thought it would be a nice view.” He smiled as he looked out in the distance. The midnight waters of the San Francisco Bay framed the nighttime lights of the city like a picture. The sky was a velvet backdrop for hills of tiny twinkling lights.

“You’re right. This is incredible.” Michelle sank into Duncan’s solid body and instant comfort washed over her. “And you’re right about another thing. This is unbelievably romantic.” Proving she was no longer afraid of the height, she swung around on Duncan’s lap to straddle him as his feet dangled from the ledge. As the high winds swirled around them, Duncan and Michelle kissed for so long that the stars held new positions in the sky.

“Michelle, I think this is one of the happiest nights of my life. We should make a note to make out from the top of all the world’s architectural highlights. What do you think, Eiffel Tower next?”

“Let’s start with the top of the pyramids in Mexico, stud.” She giggled with excitement at Duncan’s enthusiasm.

He kissed her forehead. “So, how was your day, darling?”

Michelle had never been happier.

The rest of the week went by very quickly and Michelle was excited to tell Professor Tecuhtli her plans. After most of the class had high-fived each other and planned their night of Jell-o shots as they walked out the door, Michelle approached the front of the classroom.

“Michelle, I’m afraid I never received your summer excursion application in my mailbox.”

“Actually, a friend and I are going to spend the month traveling across the mainland visiting a bunch of sites. I’m not sure where we’ll end up, but I’m excited about the trip.”

The professor looked taken aback, his handsome face crumpling. She thought she even caught a hint of anger in his expression. “Well. I can’t say I am not hugely disappointed. Are you sure you won’t come with me? I was going to award you the scholarship. You’ll be missing out on the extra units.”

She was surprised and pleased he had deemed her worthy. “Wow, professor, I’m really honored, but my friend and I already bought our plane tickets to Mexico City.”

Tecuhtli looked highly impatient. “Does your friend share an interest in archaeology?”

“Actually, he’s a huge history buff.” She smiled to herself. “He’s a student of the ages for sure.”

“Well good for him.” The professor smiled tightly and she barely noticed a hint of tension lingering in the air. “You have a safe journey.”

With that, Professor Tecuhtli straightened, pulled his long trench coat and briefcase, and brushed past her out of the room.

Michelle stood disappointed and puzzled for a moment.
What just happened?
She wondered if she had said something to offend the college professor, who seemed to like her a great deal at the beginning of the semester.
Hmph.
Determined not to let the professor’s strange attitude ruin her excitement, Michelle flitted out of the classroom, turning on her iPod and bouncing across the campus to the music.

Fog drifted eerily across the campus and the moist clouds sifted past her cheeks. Stomping down the long cement stairwell leading to the parking garage, Michelle inhaled the scent of the eucalyptus trees, getting lost in the ecstasy of the moment. Because her class had let out early, no other students bustled past her, and there was a calm serenity on campus.

The anticipation flooding Michelle’s body was suddenly sucked out of her lungs when an unseen force threw her with incredible power. She gasped for air on the damp leave-littered ground, the oxygen manhandled right out of her body, and she saw stars instead of her attacker.

Glancing up slowly as she finally caught a breath, she saw Duncan standing over her, his fangs bared and his face contorted into aggression. Michelle blinked, doubting reality completely. Then he was gone, as if the fog swallowed him whole, and she was alone. Laying belly down on the ground with damp yellow and orange leaves stuck to her, Michelle had no desire to move.

• • •

She was okay. Duncan had reached her just as the other vampire was moving to grab her. As he collided with the vampire in an explosion of violence, throwing fists and misting the vampire into large Eucalyptus trees. But the other vampire’s strength was incredible and rebounded against Duncan. Michelle was thrown to the ground. In a flash of speed, Duncan rammed into her attacker a second time and disappeared with the vampire to the middle of the university’s baseball field.

A thunderstorm of fists shot out in every direction, the speed of the blows making them nearly invisible to the eye. Duncan’s back was slammed to the ground. A vampire hovered over him, holding him down with unfathomable strength pulsing in that grip.

“Don’t be surprised, baby boy. I am thousands of years older than you. You’re lucky I don’t snap you in half.”

Duncan cut the conversation short and misted out of the vampire’s grasp to appear behind and sink his teeth into the stranger’s neck. He caught the vampire by surprise for a moment, but now he found himself being thrown across the baseball field. The vampire met him where he crashed to the ground and held him by the neck, the force of a rhino crushing down on his windpipe.

The black, bloodshot eyes glared down at Duncan, teeth bared, a sharp, jagged mess as the vampire spoke. “I take it that you, too, know about the treasure.”

Confused, he remained silent, focused only on the stone grip wringing his neck.

“You can’t be more than a hundred years old — what plan to obtain the treasure could you possibly have,
night baby
?”

This time the vampire loosened his grip so Duncan could speak, but he misted out of the grasp and stood before the vampire. The instinct for self preservation outweighed Duncan’s fury for a moment. “You’re right, I don’t have a plan. But perhaps I could be part of yours?”