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Authors: Jaye Shields

Tags: #romance, #paranormal

Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance) (3 page)

BOOK: Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance)
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Even after he was supposed to be dead to his family and friends, Duncan would often return to Alameda to take in the ambience of the booming little island town. He watched over the years as times changed. Horse-drawn carts making their way up Park Street turned to trains and trolleys, to automobiles. He watched with envy as the living enjoyed the excitement of life and all its fragility.

For a while, he had wondered if he would meet another vampire who would be his companion. But the few vampires he met had been without compassion, without the same appreciation for life that he had. Perhaps because the vampires had been older, they had already come to face the truth that there is no life for vampires. Only time. His creator was the same, having a lust only for sex and violence. Once he was strong enough, he had been quick to leave her, tired and disgusted by her cruelty.

Once turned into a vampire, he had been pleased to find out the whole creature of the darkness bit was an exaggeration. In fact, he could go outside into the sun if he pleased. People tended to look at him a bit suspiciously, but nowadays, many people sported the Goth look, and in fact, he didn’t stick out quite so much as he did in earlier years. Although Duncan was grateful to be in the sun, he preferred the comfort of the darkness.

• • •

Michelle clutched her sweater closely by plunging her fists deep in the warm pockets. Fall wasn’t so bad in the Bay Area, but it was definitely a bit on the chilly side in the mornings. The scent of eucalyptus swept through the air as she walked through the San Francisco State University campus. Students bustled between classes, and some lazed against trees or slept on the vast lawn of the quad. In a few hours, the sun would penetrate through the low-hanging clouds, and the grass would be decorated with girls hoping to get in the last of their summer tanning.

Michelle speed-walked across campus and tried not to appear as if she was huffing and puffing as she swerved around the lollygaggers. Her first class was her favorite one and she didn’t want to be late. Professor Tecuhtli’s Maya Civilization lecture was one of many fascinating anthropology courses of her major. Finally, she reached the room on the second floor of the science building and grabbed a seat near the front.

Save for the large chalk board, all sides of the room had built-in cupboards. The glass display cases boasted humanoid and animal skulls, plaster molds of artifacts, and a variety of gigantic, ancient-looking bones that she couldn’t identify. Pleistocene California was definitely not her specialty.

“Okay class, today we are going to discuss some of the important iconography that dates back to the Olmecs over three thousand years ago in the south of Mexico. Most of you have probably seen what are called the giant colossal heads with big, flared lips and brows with short, fat noses. These are characteristics of Olmec art and some of these giant heads were six-feet high.” The professor switched on the slide machine and a large stone monument popped onto the screen. “Also with Olmec iconography, we see a prevalence of baby were-jaguars — that is to say, half-human, half-jaguar.”

The next slide clicked and the image of a small jade figurine lit up the room. The figure of a chubby infant on all fours was snarling, with fangs and a tail like that of a jaguar, a helmet strapped on its snarling head. “Check out this ugly little baby.” The professor laughed. “The jaguar, called Nahual or Balam, represented one of their fiercest gods. In a time when shamans reigned supreme, the jaguars represented the other half of man. The artifacts reveal the esteem Olmecs held for the jaguar was very important.”

Another were-jaguar figure lit up the screen and she dropped her pen.

“Several anthropologists believe the baby were-jaguar figures represent the mating between an Olmec with a jaguar god. This Olmec mythology is very prevalent; we see many scenes where these baby were-jaguars are being carried and placed on altars before kings or shamans in great celebration.”

The next slide clicked loudly and a picture of a large stone slab with a daunting scene lit up the room. She didn’t have to be an expert on ancient Olmec mythology to make out the figure of a large ornamented feline on top of a human.

“This is monument thirty-one from Chalcatzingo. Here we see another anthropomorphic figure dominating the human. Due to the condition of the monument, which has suffered from age and conditions, it is impossible to completely make out the scene, whether the human was attacked or volunteered to be sacrificed. The rain coming down on the figure implies a fertility ritual. Although we do not know the exact significance, we can be sure this monument reflects an important cosmology of the Olmec people at the site.”

Michelle’s vision had glazed over and she realized she’d not been breathing. The Olmec images haunted her. She wanted to believe the Olmecs were crazy — she was
desperate
to believe it — but how could she when she was a freak of nature herself?

No, not a freak of nature. Those people worshipped the idea of a baby were-jaguar. Pull yourself together.

The professor spoke once again.

Make sure that you remember this kind of iconography because you will see it on a test.”

Water flooded her lids, threatening her vision. The deluge of information in class made her sick with unanswered questions and possibilities. Her stomach heaved, and she bolted from class, not caring about the obvious disruption she caused or if people thought she was mental.

The bathroom down the hall wasn’t empty as she had hoped, but still she curled over the garbage and emptied her stomach. Tears slid down her cheeks slowly as her sickness finally ceased.

“Are you okay?” One of the girls who had been doing her makeup handed her a bottle of water. “Here, you can have it.”

Michelle wiped the tear tracks off her cheek and tried to offer the girl a sheepish smile. “Thanks, I guess anatomy class was just too much today.”

The girl laughed before heading out of the bathroom. “Hope you feel better!”

Finally alone, but probably not for long, Michelle slid down to the cold, dirty floor, hugging her knees to her chest and challenging herself to breathe. It was going to be a long day.

Chapter Five

Duncan gazed into the shallow eyes of a young woman. She was decently attractive, but his real motivation for her company was not her looks, but her blood. He wasn’t sure if it was just his appearance, but since he became a vampire, women seemed compelled to be in his company.

With the venom he could thrust into a kiss, a woman became entranced. Her mind would become blank and he could move his kiss to her neck and then softly sink his teeth into the flesh, and pull a couple drinks. Over time, he’d realized that he did not need much to survive, and the venom would heal any trace of bite marks. His victim wouldn’t even have a hickey, and as an effect of the venom, she wouldn’t even remember being in his presence.

So now, he thumbed the chin of the girl he had in a lover’s embrace against the wall of an alley near Park Street. She smiled at him with intent curiosity, and looked him up and down with approval. “My name is Sarah.”

Without further introduction, he pressed his lips to hers and willed the venom to transfer. When he retreated from the kiss, her face was restful and he knew he could take the next step. Moving his mouth to her neck, he carefully penetrated her skin, cautious to take only a few gulps. He tried to be as quick as possible, taking no pleasure in it. The secret, uncomfortable need left him isolated. Lonely.

Most of the time he visited local butchers, but the strange looks he received never faltered, no matter what explanation he gave them. Also, animal blood left him feeling weak and jittery.

Duncan pressed his lips to the girl’s bite marks and they slowly healed. Turning back toward Park Street, he left the girl standing there; the venom would dissipate in a few seconds and she would be none the wiser of her intimate encounter.

• • •

After her last graduate class of the day, Michelle pulled herself together — she couldn’t put off applying for a job any longer, much as she wanted to hide out in her room. In Modesto, she had worked at a small café as well as a deli, so she hoped that experience might land her a similar job. She definitely needed the money.

Walking down Park Street on a warm, overcast evening was no chore. The sun was setting and despite the breeze, it was warm enough to shrug off her bright blue coat. However, she didn’t have any interview appropriate clothes so she was relying on her pea coat to help her look at least a little bit professional.

She turned into Tera’s Coffee and Tea and inhaled the scent of espresso and fresh baked lemon ginger scones. The walls were adorned with local artwork and a large corkboard filled with flyers for everything from missing cats to free martial arts classes taught by Tera herself.
Free?
For a moment, she considered signing up but then snapped her focus back to the task at hand.

As she made her way past the tables and cozy lounge chairs to the counter, her throat caught. There he was, seated on the couch with his long legs sprawled out comfortably. His body seemed massive in the small coffee shop. On the table in front of him was a coffee, but it was untouched. His focus was narrowed on the pad of paper in his hands where he was scrawling with a pencil.

“Hi, what can I get for you today?” A short blond smiled at Michelle, interrupting her bout of staring at late night swimmer boy.

“Oh, um, hi. Actually, I was hoping to see if you guys needed any help around here. I just moved to the area. Back home I was a barista and I smelled coffee, so I thought this might be a good place to start.” Michelle offered her friendliest smile and was relieved when the young woman brightened.

“Well you’ve got a great nose and perfect timing! One of our girls is having a baby soon, so she’s going to hang up her barista apron shortly. Let me give you an application and I’ll give it to Tera when she comes in.”

Michelle heaved a grateful sigh as she watched the charming barista disappear. As the young woman retreated, she noticed a beautiful tattoo stretched from under her shirt and up her neck. She thought she made out feathers.
Birds are popular tattoos I guess.
Michelle had always wanted a tattoo, but had never gotten one herself, could never decide what to get where. Looking over her shoulder, she gazed at the back of her mystery man, still focused on his paper.

• • •

Duncan hadn’t reacted when she walked in, but he was surprised by the excitement stirring within him. Surely he couldn’t be thirsty again already. No, it was something different altogether. Her stare tickled the back of his neck and it took everything he had not to turn around. But he didn’t need to see to know how she looked: soft, sand-colored skin and unexpected, bright blue eyes framed by a long, dark mane of hair. Her lips were full, and he imagined kissing them. Perhaps he would.

For the time being, Duncan listened in on their conversation with his heightened sense of hearing.
Ah, so she wants to work at my favorite coffee shop
. Worked for him, so to speak. When he heard the girl approaching him, on her way out now that she had her application, Duncan stood so he was in her way.

“We meet again.” He smiled, but she nervously glanced down at his full mug of coffee on the table. “Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I see that you are empty handed.” The girl fidgeted nervously, so he held out his hand for her, offering her the seat next to where he had been sitting on the couch, and finally she spoke.

“I’m sorry about the other night. I didn’t mean to bully you away from your spot on the beach.” She finally focused her eyes on his.

“Nah, don’t worry about it. Have a seat while I get your … what would you like?” He watched her hesitate, all the while gnawing on her bottom lip. She looked damn cute.

“I’ll have a cappuccino, thanks.”

“Of course.” He set his pad of paper on the table next to his mug of coffee and made his way to the barista to pay for her cappuccino. When he returned, she was palming his sketchbook.

Her voice was soft but a little shaky, “So you like jaguars? This is a beautiful drawing.”

“My name is Duncan.” He held out a palm in introduction as he took a seat on the couch next to her. “I guess I have a thing for big, black cats.” He fought back a chuckle as he noticed her cheeks pinken, although he wasn’t sure why. “I think your cappuccino is ready; I’ll go grab it.”

When he retrieved the coffee, he took a sip and spit some of his venom into the drink while she faced the window. It hadn’t been long since he fed, but being near this girl was making his insides unsteady. Perhaps he’d been more overdue for a drink than he thought.

When he returned to his spot next to her on the couch, he gazed into the deep blue eyes that matched the brightness of her coat.

She pulled a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. “My name is Michelle.”

He handed her the beverage. “It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Michelle, and during the daytime this time.”

She smiled. “Well, the sun is setting.”

He nodded. His senses focused on the strange malevolent force that sizzled in the air when he was near her. Was she a vampire? He couldn’t imagine so with her soft, innocent gaze and tan, freckled skin. Maybe she had a jealous vampire lover who was near. Gazing over his shoulder, he scanned the room but could have sworn he was the only immortal in the coffee shop.

“I better get going. Thank you for the coffee.” As she stood, Duncan realized that in their brief introduction, she had already finished off her cappuccino and seemed to be showing absolutely no effects of the venom.

“See you around.” He stared at her as she made her way out of the shop. Downing his coffee so as not to look suspicious, he placed his empty mug in the bin and departed, too, once again with intention to follow her. He stepped onto Park Street, but she was nowhere in sight. He turned the corner and heard her rapid steps from afar, but she had disappeared, leaving him to ponder the mystery.

• • •

BOOK: Secrets of the Jaguar (Crimson Romance)
12.18Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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