The Witch Hunter (16 page)

"Well, as for Aya. I believe her. There's a lot she's not saying, though. I'm not sure if we should be wary of that or not."

"She also implied that Katrin was hunting her as well," Liz pointed out. "I wonder what she did?"

"And I wonder how long she's been hunted," Gabby added. "Alistair was looking for her, and he was linked to Katrin."

"You're right," Liz took a gulp of her coffee. "Argh! It makes my head hurt."

Gabby was frowning, her mind having drifted to something else, "What I don't understand is why she would help my ancestor. Vampires and witches don't usually get along."

"You get along with Zac and Sam," Liz said. "And me."

"Yeah, but you guys fight your vampire side. You want to be as human as possible. Aya seems like a force all of her own."

"She's not like vampires are meant to be," Liz agreed.

"No, that's my point. She's not like you, she doesn't hold onto anything that's human. Or doesn't seem to. She's holding onto something else," Gabby said, frustrated. "I just wish I could figure out what."

"Maybe she was a witch. Before, I mean," she offered.

"No," said Gabby, shaking her head. "Witches become ordinary vampires when they're turned. All connection with any power and earth sense is lost."

"How do you know?"

Gabby smiled. "The grimore is more than a book of spells and potions. It also acts as a kind of journal. A connection to those that have come before."

"Like a family record, a story?" 

"Kind of. More like passing along advice," she grinned. "Which I really need, since I'm on my own."

"I think we should be on our guard where Aya's concerned. She's obviously got her own agenda," Liz sighed, catching sight of Alex over Gabby's shoulder. He was frowning at them, clasping his lunch so hard his thumb had dented his sandwich. 

"Alex," she waived at him.

Approaching, he smiled weakly, "Hey Liz, Gabby."

"Hey," Gabby turned around, catching the uncertainty in his voice. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," he said, looking towards the exit. "I'm just running late. I'll see you later." 

Before they could say goodbye, he'd already hurried away and was pushing through the door.  Liz glanced at Gabby, "Do you think he heard us?"

"I don't know," she said, shrugging. "He could have."

"I feel bad, you know. Keeping all of this from him." 

"I know," Gabby sighed. "It's for the best, though. The more people that are involved..."

"The more people that get hurt," Liz finished her sentence.

"Right," she smiled reassuringly. "On that note, I have to go back to the office."

"Thanks for the Irish," Liz winked heading for her space behind the counter, her thoughts calmed, but no less worried about Aya and now Alex. They were just trying to protect him from all of this, but she wondered how good it was for him to keep pushing him away. Making up stories, excuses. She knew she would have to leave him behind one day, but until then she wanted to hold onto some sense of normality and Alex was a link to her old life. She was being selfish and deep down hoped it wouldn't blow up in her face.

Alex flopped onto the ground heavily beside the garden bed he had been mulching before lunch, his sandwich well and truly mangled. He had overheard the end of the girls' conversation and it worried the hell out of him. He swore that they had been talking about witches, but that didn't seem right. Then Liz had voiced her distrust over Aya's agenda? What the hell? 

He jumped when Aya herself flopped down beside him, her eyebrows raised at the sight of his mangled lunch.

"Nice sandwich," she said.

"Oh, yeah," he tossed the sandwich aside, suddenly not hungry. "I guess I don't know my own strength."

Aya frowned at the gesture, "What's up?"

"Nothing, I just heard Gabby and Liz talking about something I shouldn't have overheard," he shrugged.

"Like what?"

Alex hesitated, "They were talking about you."

She laughed at this, "I bet they are."

"What do you mean?" he was confused.

"Well, you know I'm living with Zac and Sam for the time being," she smiled. "Zac and I aren't getting along very well. So, I'm sure they all have some colorful things to say about
that
."

"You're living at the manor?" He seemed surprised.

"Yeah," she grimaced. "It was Sam's idea, obviously. Zac's an annoying prat, but it beats the smelly motel."

"Oh," Alex fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.

Aya, as if sensing his discomfort, stood up and said, "I'll leave you to it, Alex. I've got stuff to do.”

Alex watched her disappear across the street. She seemed happier than when he'd first met her. Something had changed to make her that way. Maybe it was just making some friends, he knew from experience that could do wonders for a person. The more he thought about it the more he couldn't help but wonder if she had an agenda, like the girls were talking about. She'd never really told him what she was doing in town and what exactly her job was. The obvious FBI and CIA scenarios ran through his mind, but he snorted at the ridiculousness of it. Like she'd be a spook.

But, he couldn't shake what he'd overheard. If Aya really did have an agenda, then what the hell would it be?

When Zac walked into Max's bar that night, he was surprised to see Liz sitting at a table on her own with a glass and bottle of Jack. Something was bothering her big time. Sauntering up behind her, he grabbed the bottle and took a mouthful. 

"What's up, beautiful," he said, sitting down across from her.

Groaning, she snatched the bottle back from him.

"What?" He raised his hands, grinning, waiting for a response.

"Ass," she hissed.

"Yeah, so what?" Zac laughed, tapping the table top.

"You act like you're not even worried about anything," she shook her head.

"And you are?"

"Of course I am, Zac!" she kept her voice low, growling at him. "Aren't you afraid of being killed?"

"We've all done it before," he shrugged.

"But the next time, you won't come back," she scolded.

"Afraid you'll miss me?" he sneered.

Liz sighed heavily, pouring herself a glass of Jack, pushing the bottle towards Zac, "Is everything a joke to you?"

He frowned, the smug smile fading away as he took a long draught straight from the bottle. He played with the idea of telling her what he could hardly admit himself, that he had some semblance of feelings for her. He thought about his brother and that welded his big mouth shut.

"No," he said, staring into her eyes.

Uncomfortable, she sighed heavily, looking away, "I think Alex overheard Gabby and I talking about Aya today."

"You think, or you know?" he asked, the most truthful moment he'd had in the past month broken.

"I think," she said, glaring. "I don't trust her yet. This whole thing scares the hell out of me."

Zac looked at her for a moment, realizing that he hadn't though of her safety once in the past two weeks. He had been selfish and impulsive - his best two traits. "You'll always be safe if I have anything to do with it," he grabbed her hand under the table.

"I know," she whispered, pulling back awkwardly.

"Liz, I..." he began, but fell short when he caught the unmistakable reek of a werewolf that had just entered the bar.

She looked at him, her expression confused, but turned when she too caught the sent. The man that walked towards them was heavy set, the rough stubble of a new beard covering his chin and he looked pissed off. His rough appearance and plaid shirt made him look like a lumberjack. Except it wasn't the frontier, they were in the middle of a humid, smelly swamp.

"I want to know what happened to my brothers, vamper," the werewolf spat, pushing Zac roughly as he stood.

He hardly remembered it, even though it was only about two weeks ago. A lot had happened since then. Psycho witches and ancient witch hunting vampires trumped five mutilated werewolves. Only in a vampires world.

"What are you implying,
dog
?" Zac snarled, putting himself in front of Liz. 

"You know exactly what I'm talking about you blood sucking piece of shit."

Liz panicked a little, not wanting a fight in front of all these people. It was the last possible thing they could afford right now. Zac was unpredictable at the best of times. Then she caught sight of Aya walking across the bar, who wasn't even trying to hide the smile on her face. Liz looked from her to Zac and the werewolf hoping she might do something to help, but the black haired vampire was already making a beeline for them. Liz sighed a little in relief.

Aya laughed to herself. She had certainly guessed correctly about Zac, he was always getting himself into trouble. Perhaps this town wouldn't be so boring after all. It was time to send everyone a little message. She'd won this town from the wolves and they needed to keep their hands off for good.

She stopped beside them, placing her hand on the werewolves shoulder, turning him about. "Now, now," she crooned. "A handsome man like you shouldn't be so angry. I bet you'd rather have a drink with me." She looked him up and down and smiled wickedly, biting her lip. "That idiot isn't even worth it."

Without looking back, she could tell they were stunned as she led the wolf by the hand to the bar. He didn't seem to care what he had been threatening Zac about or even sense she was also a vampire, he was more engrossed in her looks to bother. That, and a little prodding by the way of compulsion. She ordered him the strongest drink she could to curb his bloodlust. 

"What's a handsome man like you doing in a shithole like this?" she said breathlessly. "What's your name?"

The werewolf could hardly contain his elation at having scored a beautiful woman. The vampire would keep. "Ralph."

"Well, Ralph, it sure is a
pleasure
meeting you," she ran a finger down the buttons of his plaid shirt. "We're going to have some fun. I hope you're up for it." Ralph leant over her shoulder, picking up his drink and inhaled her scent. By the look on his face, she could tell he was in her thrall. He downed the drink in two gulps and slammed the glass down on the bar.