Zoey Rogue (15 page)

Sincerely,

Chrissy

Struggling to focus through her alcohol-induced haze, Zoey picked up the intriguing high heels first and examined them. She held them away from her body cautiously then clacked the heels together three times before getting the angle correct. The two-inch thick, stacked plastic concealing the weapons snapped away like wings, revealing an inch-thick knife four inches long on each heel. The knives were sharp and shiny. She pressed the wings back over one heel’s knife, surprised at how easily they snapped into place.

Next, she lifted the dress. Amazed by how light the material was, she tugged at it to test. It flexed easily, as promised. Zoey set down the dress and grabbed her bottle of vodka.

If the world wasn’t ending, she’d take up this Chrissy’s offer to help. As it was, it almost seemed too little, too late. She sat on her bed and let the tears come. The vodka was blurring her vision already.

She couldn’t let anything happen to Vikki. She didn’t know what to do. Eric hadn’t called. Everything was going wrong.

Chapter Eight: Zoey and Declan

Fire shot through her. Zoey gasped and wrenched awake, hating the way the Professor woke her up.

“At least you’re not on the porch this time.”

She wiped her face and groaned, her head aching.

“Vikki’s got a mission tonight. You’re going with her,” he said pleasantly. “You need a hit?”

She held out her hand wordlessly. His magic ripped through her again, soothing the hangover. Zoey opened her eyes. It was after dark. The overhead light was on, and the room filled with all her boxes that Eric had packed for her.

The sight depressed her. Eric wouldn’t have brought them over if he was considering giving her a second chance.

“Didn’t we just get poisoned?” she asked, groggy.

“You need another one.” Her guardian touched her again.

The third one did the trick. Her head cleared. Zoey swung her legs off the bed.

“If I was left on your front porch, does that mean my soul-mate knows where I live?” The words flew out of her mouth.

“Oh, did something convince you I might be telling you the truth?” the Professor asked.

“I figured my luck has gone to shit. I might as well listen to you,” she retorted. “I’m going to sleep armed from here on out.”

“On the topic of weapons: Take extras tonight. Dimitri thinks there will be five or six.”

She watched the Professor leave. He started whistling. How the old man was so cheerful, she didn’t know. She suspected he was happy she was there. Body pulsing with magic, she dressed quickly in clubbing clothes and checked her phone. Messages from Vikki, but none from Eric.

Nothing but her boxes. Dismayed, she didn’t let herself linger in the room. She used to love her small room at the Professor’s. It was the size of a closet, on the side of the house that never had direct sunlight, and fitted with the only feminine furniture and colors in the house. It was like a Barbie doll’s room. The last person to be considered girly, Zoey had always loved this room, because the Professor went to such trouble to make it different from the rest of the house.

She finished getting ready and hid the journal in one of the boxes before going down the stairs.

“Extra weapons?” the Professor asked.

She glanced up, not expecting to see him at the door to see her off. She did a mental check of her arsenal.

“Yep. Got everything I need and extras. I’ll kick ass.”

“I expect nothing less. I’m too old to wait up for you, but our channel is open. If you need help, signal me,” he said. “Stay sober tonight.”

She nodded. They both knew she had no intention of obeying. Her mood felt brittle as she stepped onto the porch. She hadn’t been able to rid herself of the sex energy from the previous night. It made her skin overly sensitive to the brush of clothing, to the point her nipples ached and she considered propositioning the Professor, who knew a helluva lot about sex after being alive for so long. He aged gracefully as well, and his mannerisms were always gentlemanly. He’d be the perfect way to take off her edge, if
he weren’t forbidden
from sleeping around.

Combined with her dread about facing Vikki after reading the journal and the inkling Eric was serious about kicking her out, Zoey was a train wreck waiting for impact.

Vikki’s car was idling out front. Zoey waved over her head, knowing the Professor was watching like a disapproving father whose daughter was rushing out to the club. She flung herself into Vikki’s car.

“You look terrific,” she said, startled.

Vikki glowed. Her sex energy seemed more powerful this night. Her eyes sparkled, and her face was bright. No football team ever put that look on Vikki’s face.

“I mean, considering we were both poisoned,” Zoey added with a hard swallow. This soul-mate shit was becoming too real, and the Professor never said whether or not Zoey’s knew where to find her.

“You look like shit,” Vikki replied.

“Rough couple of days. Eric kicked me out.”

“That’s what the Professor said. I’m so sorry, Zoey.” Vikki offered a small smile of support as she pulled onto the street.

“Nothing is going right.”

“Yeah, I get that. The IAB ransacked my room today.”

“Ugh. They leave your alcohol?”

Vikki laughed and nodded.

Zoey’s gaze lingered on her friend’s healthy features. She’d never seen Vikki so happy. Zoey felt horrible keeping secrets from her friend.

“Which club?” she asked.

“Same. It’s the new spot for them, apparently. I guess after they took us out last night, six of them showed up to cart off girls,” Vikki said grimly. “I’m under orders to drink bottled water tonight.”

“I can’t believe we were poisoned. It can’t be the bartender, can it?” Zoey asked, puzzled.

“I’m not sure. It’s the same guy who’s been there every time we go. I mean, maybe someone paid him off, but aren’t there easier ways to get rid of us? I mean, come on, we’re human. Sneak into our houses and slit our throats while we sleep?”

“Easy targets at a bar, I guess,” Zoey replied. “You’re right, though. I lived off campus with a human who posed no threat to anyone who tried to attack me.”

“Which begs the question: if they didn’t want us dead, what the fuck were they doing?”

“It’s not the first night this week I’ve blacked out,” Zoey mused. “I had nothing to drink Friday night, after our mission. I don’t remember what happened. I was talking to Heidi and then … blank. I woke up on the Professor’s porch the next morning. I think I had a couple energy drinks, but they didn’t work.”

“They taste like shit, but they work so well,” Vikki said. “I never go on a mission without a couple.”

They made small talk all the way to the club. Zoey concentrated hard on not telling her best friend what she knew about her. She was grateful for the distraction of the crowd when they entered the club and went to the tables near the bar. All were full, so they crowded the bar instead.

Vikki ordered two bottled waters then made a face that elicited a laugh from Zoey. They leaned back against the bar to watch the people. Zoey sipped her water, trying to pretend it was something else.

“So, along with my vodka, did you steal my diary?”

Vikki’s casual question made Zoey spew the water in her mouth. She coughed. Vikki patted her back hard enough that Zoey knew she was pissed.

“Yeah,” Zoey managed finally.

“I figured. Not sure whether to thank you or…” Vikki searched her face.

“What makes you think I read it?” Zoey tried to be casual.

“Because you can’t lie for shit.”

Sighing, Zoey met her gaze. “Dude, what do you want me to say?”

“I want you to say you didn’t turn it over to the IAB. And then, I want you to say you did, because if you didn’t, it means I’ll drag you down with me.”

“I didn’t,” Zoey said. “You know me. There are only a few people I trust and care about. I’m not going to turn on you.”

“You may not have a choice if the Enforcers summon you.”

“I don’t care.”

“You’re too stupid for your own good sometimes,” Vikki said, irritated. “I have a way out of this. You don’t, so don’t do anything stupid.”

“Liam is the way out?”

“Yeah.”

“But you won’t take it,” Zoey guessed. “If they take you out, I’m going, too.”

They gazed at each other, each in pain. Zoey flung her arms around Vikki, not wanting to lose her friend.

“You fool,” Vikki murmured, hugging her back. “You would sacrifice yourself for me, wouldn’t you?”

“Duh. My plan is to piss them off enough, they kill me fast.”

Vikki laughed. “If anyone could do it, you could. The Professor will protect you. You’re like a daughter to him, and he’s in real good with the Incubatti. My guardian, Dimitri?” she shook her head as she pulled away. “He’ll be happy to see me go.”

“What a dick.”

“What about Eric? Any chance he’ll take you back?”

Zoey said nothing. She turned to the bartender and waved him down.

“I take it that’s a no. Didn’t I tell you so?” Vikki asked.

“I don’t fit in. I want to be normal.”

“How’s that working out for you?”

“Two vodka-cranberry and four shots of tequila,” Zoey told the bartender.

“I’m on water tonight,” Vikki said firmly.

“No way.”

“Way.”

“Whose orders?” Zoey asked, eyes narrowing. “You don’t give a shit what Dimitri says.”

“Yeah, well, a soul-mate is a whole different ballgame,” Vikki said.

Zoey studied her, wanting to ask questions, but terrified of the answers. The less she acknowledged the Professor’s words, the more she could deny the idea that some strange Incubus was going to knock at her door and demand to marry her.

The drinks came. Zoey waited ten minutes for Vikki to crack.

“You’re serious,” she said at last, incredulous. What did it take to keep someone like her from alcohol when the drinks sat in front of her? She loved the Professor and still couldn’t resist.

“You have no idea.” Vikki said with a shake of her head. “You were mostly sober last night. Doesn’t it feel weird? Like, this place is annoying.”

Zoey laughed. “Yeah. Wait ‘til you go to kill one. You know, my aim is so much better when I’m sober.” She chewed her lip, humor fading. “Vikki, if you can’t drink alcohol, can you still … you know. Go out with me on unscheduled missions?”

“Absolutely.” Vikki leaned forward. “Zoey, no matter what happens, we have a plan. It’s a good one. The fucked up rules the Sucubatti make us follow only let more people die. We have the power to stop it.”

“What about Liam?”

Vikki hesitated. “Well, I kinda told him.”

“You what?”

“He’s okay with it,” Vikki said, troubled. “For now. Something is up. I can’t figure it out, and he’s not sharing.”

“Why’d you tell him? It’s supposed to be our secret,” Zoey said, upset.

“Zoey, he reads my mind. It’s not like I can hide things with someone else in my head.”

Irritated, Zoey began to wonder if the final piece of her life was being destroyed. How could they run a secret Cambion-killing group, if the enemy knew about it? She started drinking the untouched alcohol in front of Vikki.