The Recruit: Book One (22 page)

“Fuck Richard.  I’m going.”  Will snarled.

“Jesus Christ, Will.  You are going to get me fucking
fired.”  Mannie moaned.

Will grinned.  “I won’t tell Richard I’m hunting if you
don’t.”

* * *

Hannah sighed deeply and stared up at the ceiling.  It was
after midnight and she had been trying unsuccessfully for the last hour or so
to meditate.  She couldn’t sleep and her stomach was a bundle of nerves. 
Tomorrow they were going on their first real hunt, and she was simultaneously
thrilled and terrified.

The door to their room eased open and Selena crept quietly
into the room.  She undressed in the dark and slipped into her bed.

“How’s Tyler?”  Hannah asked and Selena let out a breathless
scream.

“Oh my God, Hannah!  You scared the shit out of me!”

“Sorry.”  Hannah sat up in her bed and clasped her arms
around her knees.  “You and Tyler decided to release some nervous energy huh?”

Selena smiled.  “Yeah, something like that.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“Yeah, I am.  He doesn’t feel the same way though.”  Selena
replied softly.

“Are you sure?  He seems to care for you a great deal.”

“Oh, he cares for me.  But he’s not in love with me.  Not
the way Will is with you.”

Hannah snorted.  “Will is not in love with me.”

Selena rolled her eyes.  “Now who’s being obtuse?”

“Selena, Will is not in love with me.”  Hannah protested.

“Please.  Whenever you’re in the same room you could cut the
sexual tension with a knife.  One of these days he’s just going to throw you
over his shoulder, and carry you off to the nearest bed. “

“Don’t mistake lust for love, Selena.”  Hannah said dryly.

“Whatever, Hannah.  The guy nearly killed Chen just because
he accidentally cut your side.”

Tired of arguing about it, Hannah said, “It doesn’t matter
anyway.  At this point, just being in the same room alone could get both of us
kicked out of here.”

Selena sighed.  “I’m sorry, Hannah.  It’s not fair that the
rest of us can sleep with whoever we want and you’re being treated like a
goddamn pariah.  All because of that stupid bitch Leanne.  Alison said she
started hitting on Mannie last week.”

“Are Alison and Mannie back together?”  Hannah asked
curiously.  Now that everyone avoided her like the plague, her knowledge of the
gossip in the centre had dropped dramatically.

“Yeah, they started back up a couple weeks ago.  I actually
think Mannie is more serious about the relationship than Alison is.  She hasn’t
been the same since the bar you know?”

Hannah nodded and Selena shrugged.  “Anyway, Mannie turned
her down pretty quick.  Not just because he’s with Alison either.  I think he
and Will are good friends.”

She glanced at Hannah.  “Alison said that Mannie told her
he’d never seen Will so obsessed with a woman before.  You won’t be a recruit
forever, Hannah.”

“It doesn’t matter, Selena.  When have you ever heard of a
Lycan and a human having a long term relationship?”

“I – never I guess.  Until you, I didn’t even know there
were women who had sex with Lycans.”

“God, Selena.  You make it sound like I slept with a
monster.”

“I’m sorry.  I just – can you honestly tell me that you
never once worried for your safety when you were in bed with Will?  The way
Leanne talks about how rough he is, I –“

“He never slept with Leanne.  She’s a liar.”  Hannah said
firmly.  “And I knew she was lying the first time I heard her talk about how
demanding and rough he was in bed.  I had already been with him at that point,
and he’s not like that.  He’s gentle and very um, giving.”  She blushed.

She clasped her knees tighter and thought about the night of
the full moon.  He had been rough that night but she had enjoyed it, welcomed
it even.  Her mind flashed to the look on his face when he had admitted to
wanting to bite her.  She dropped her head to her knees, her heart hurting all
over again at the memory of the anguish on his face.

She sighed, feeling the burn of tears in the back of her
throat.  She had been terrified that Will had been fired when he disappeared
after her sparring match with Chen.  In desperation she had gone to Chen and
asked him where Will was, not really expecting an answer.  After a pause, he
had explained that Will had left the facility early as a precaution to the full
moon.  When he had returned the day after the full moon, slipping into the room
like he had never been away, the knot of tension in her belly had finally
disappeared. 

She had been overjoyed to see him, but her conversation with
Selena was only confirming that a relationship with Will was impossible.

“Hannah?  Honey, are you okay?”  Selena asked timidly.

She lifted her head, blinking back the tears.  “I’m fine. 
We should try and get some sleep.  We have a big day tomorrow.”

The vampire stood quietly at the window of the old
farmhouse.  He stared out into the darkness, listening to the squabbling of the
yearlings on the floor below him.

He sighed.  He had been stuck in this farmhouse for the last
month, acting as a babysitter for a bunch of useless yearlings, and his
patience was running thin.  He hated the country; he hated the smells, the
sounds and over the last 150 years he had grown accustomed to his
accommodations having a certain standard of elegance.

His nose wrinkling in disgust, he looked distastefully at
the peeling wallpaper, the splintered wooden floor, and the decrepit
furniture.  He should be back in his penthouse in the city, wearing the finest
clothing money could buy and slaking his never-ending thirst with a bevy of
beautiful women.

As the squabbling grew louder, there was a timid knock at
the door.

“Enter.”

He stared moodily at the small, thin bald man standing
nervously in front of him.  “What is it?”

“Forgive me, Marcus.  The yearlings are, well, they grow
restless.”

“And what would you have me do, Michael?  Samuel’s
instructions were perfectly clear.  We are to keep the yearlings here until he
calls for us to join him.  Has he called?  Did I miss the message?”  He stepped
closer and wrapped his hand around the smaller vampire’s neck.  His nails were
long and sharp, and Michael squeaked in pain when they sunk into his neck.

“No, my master.  There has been no message.”

With an indifferent snort, Marcus released his servant and
returned to his window.  He turned back impatiently when Michael stayed in the
room.

“Why are you still here?”

“My master, the yearlings are so restless because they’ve
caught a scent.”

“What kind of scent?”

“Human.”  Michael whispered.  “I sent Louise to
investigate.  She says that two miles from here there is a – a party with at
least nine humans.”

Marcus arched his eyebrow at Michael.  “Are you suggesting
we allow the yearlings to feast on them?”

“I’m sorry, Marcus.  The yearlings are hungry.  I thought
perhaps if they fed, they would be less… noisy.”

With a sudden burst of speed, Marcus crossed the room and
grabbed Michael around the neck once more.  He slammed the vampire against the
wall, holding his thin body up in the air as if he weighed no more than a bird.

“Do you dare tell me what to do, Michael?  Do you?”  Marcus
snarled, his fangs gleaming in the faint light.

“No!  I only wish to please you.  I know how much the
yearling’s noise bothers you.  Plus I thought perhaps you would like to feed. 
It’s been weeks and I am worried about you.”  Michael choked out.

Marcus released him so abruptly Michael fell to the floor. 
He stayed where he was, one cold pale hand rubbing his throat as Marcus stared
down at him.

“Perhaps you are right, Michael.  Come,” he helped the
vampire to his feet, “let us take the yearlings to their supper.”

* * *

Hannah tried to concentrate on what Ben was saying to her. 
It was nearly impossible.  Her stomach was in knots, and she had to force
herself not to peer into the darkness every couple of minutes.  They had
allowed the campfire to die down until it was just a bed of softly-glowing
coals, and Hannah shivered a little in the cold breeze. 

“Relax, Hannah.”  Ben murmured.  He put his arm around her
shoulders and casually leaned into her as if he was nuzzling her neck.

“Try not to be so nervous.”  He breathed into her ear.  “I
know it’s difficult, but try to pretend we’re actually having a good time.”  He
smiled down at her and pulled her a little closer.

Hannah nodded and leaned into Ben.  Jeremy was staring
moodily at them from across the fire, and she glanced away before he could
catch her eye.  Let him stare.  At the briefing the night before, Ben had
volunteered to be her ‘date’ for tonight and she had accepted gratefully. 
Considering that most of the other recruits either blatantly ignored her or
talked about her behind her back, it was actually kind of nice to talk with
someone other than Tyler, Selena or Alison. 

She smiled up at Ben and tried to concentrate on what he and
the others were talking about.  It was only a minute or two before her mind was
wandering.  She wished for the hundredth time that Will was with them.  During
the briefing Ryan had asked Mannie if Will was joining them.  Mannie had shaken
his head but offered no explanation, and Hannah wasn’t about to ask in front of
everyone why Will wasn’t coming with them.

She reached up and touched the sunglasses perched on the top
of her head.  They were still sitting firmly atop her skull and she took
another deep breath, pulling her trench coat closer to her body as Ben shifted
and let his arm drop to her waist.

His hand rested on the handle of one of her swords and she
softly elbowed it away.

“Sorry.”  He leaned forward and placed an unexpected kiss on
her mouth.  She frowned at him when he pulled back, and he winked at her.  He
leaned in again, his mouth against her ear and whispered, “Just playing the
part, Hannah.”

“Uh-huh.”  She muttered.

Selena, who was sitting on the other side of her, leaned
over and grinned at Ben.  “It’s the leather pants isn’t it?”

“Shut up, Selena.”  Hannah could feel herself blushing.  Earlier
today she had spent nearly twenty minutes unsuccessfully arguing with Isabelle
and Mannie about her outfit. 

“I have never worn a pair of leather pants in my life.”  She
scowled at Mannie.

“They’re surprisingly comfortable.”  He grinned.

“They’re too tight!”  She protested.  Mannie gave her a long,
appraising look.  They had dressed her in a plain white t-shirt with leather
pants and a pair of leather boots.  The pants hugged her lower body like a
second skin, and he grinned again as she pulled at the ass of them. 

“They’re giving me a wedgie.”  She complained.

“Don’t wear underwear.”  Mannie suggested innocently.

“Hannah, trust me.  Wear them a couple of times and you’ll
love them.”  Isabelle assured her.  “You’ll need to move quickly, and you’ll
need clothes that don’t impede you.”

“My yoga pants don’t impede me.”  Hannah grumbled.

“But they’re not nearly as cool looking.”  Mannie handed her
a long dark trench coat plus a pair of fingerless black gloves.  “The coat will
hide the swords.”

Hannah pulled the coat on and looked at herself in the
mirror.  With her long dark hair pulled back into a high ponytail, the weight
loss, and the leather, she looked nothing like the Hannah from six months ago.

“Jesus.”  She whispered. 

“Are you okay?”  Isabelle asked.

She nodded.  “Yeah, it’s just - I feel like a little kid
playing dress up.”

Mannie frowned.  “This isn’t a game, Hannah.  It’ll be life
and death out there.  You need to remember that.”

“I’ll remember.”

Now, as Selena grinned at her and Ben placed one hand on her
leg and stroked the soft leather, she fidgeted uncomfortably.  They had been
out here for hours without any sign of vampires, and she was beginning to
wonder if they had their information wrong.

She glanced up at the sky.  Dark clouds were rolling in and
there was the low, distant sound of thunder.  “It’s going to rain, I think.”

“God.”  Tyler rolled his eyes and kept his voice low.  “Should
we start taking bets on whether Lucy and Ryan have sex before the night is
over?”

Hannah glanced over to see Ryan and Lucy sitting together on
a fallen log.  They were kissing passionately, and Selena patted Tyler’s leg. 
“At least she’s getting some action.”

He took the hint and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her
mouth. 

Ben squeezed her knee and smiled at her.  “My turn.”

She laughed.  “I don’t think so, Romeo.”

“Excuse me.”  A low, musical voice floated into their
campsite.  A woman wearing a long woolen coat and thin leather gloves appeared
from the darkness.  She had long blonde hair and was stunningly beautiful. 
Hannah heard Ben’s sharp inhale as she smiled at them.

“Would you be able to help a poor lost traveler find her
way?”  From the corner of her eye, Hannah saw Mannie stand and edge closer to
her.  She slipped her hands inside her coat, feeling the comforting weight of
the handles of her swords. 

“Sure we can.”  Mannie grinned at the woman and stopped a
few feet away from her.  He had a beer in one hand and his other tucked into
the pocket of his jacket.

“Excellent.  That’s so kind of you all.”  The woman let her eyes
travel over each of them; Hannah felt a shiver go down her back when the
woman’s black eyes lingered on her face.

“Did your car break down?”  Mannie asked as the woman carefully
removed her gloves before stashing them in the pockets of her coat.

“Something like that.”  She smiled.  “And actually, if you
don’t mind I have a few friends with me.  Could they join us?  They’re cold
and…thirsty.”