After Sundown: Redemption (31 page)

“That’s great. Just great.”

Jason didn’t respond.

Without another word, she strode into her bedroom.

Jason looked up and grinned as the human woman slammed the door behind her. The vampire didn’t realize how deep he was into this. He had sensed the bond between Christian and Alyssa almost immediately. He might struggle on the hook for a while, but the vamp was well and truly caught. She had him exactly where she wanted him. Poor guy.

* * * * *

Christian drove down Van Buren Street. As he got closer to Twenty-Fourth Street the area changed. Became seedier. Rundown shops lined the road. With the mental hospital nearby, it wasn’t the most desirable place to hang out. For humans. For immortals like himself, it was perfect. Down here, people tended to ignore the strange and unusual. They minded their own business. Just tried to survive.

Twice Charmed came into view and Christian grinned at all the cars lining the street and filling up the parking lot. Didn’t mystical creatures have anything else to do? It wasn’t even the weekend and the place was packed. Christian eventually found a parking place, about as far away as possible.

As he walked up to the club, he saw Vlad pull into a parking space near the entrance. Christian ground his teeth in irritation. How had he found a space so easily and so close?

Christian walked up to him as he got out of his car. Vlad locked the door and turned towards him with a grin.

“Patience, my friend, patience. This time of night, people are coming and leaving all the time. You just have to wait it out.”

Christian grunted his reply as they walked into the club. The bouncer, a gargoyle they both knew, let them in without question. With a quick nod, he waved them past.

“I don’t have a lot of patience lately, Vlad.”

“I noticed.”

Vlad chuckled as amusement filled his eyes.

“Women. What can I say? It doesn’t matter if they’re mortal or immortal. They just seem to have this way about them that drives men crazy. Sometimes in a good way,” Vlad said grinning wolfishly. “Other times in a damn frustrating way.”

Christian scanned the room as they found a table and sat down. Most people were on the dance floor, moving to the sound of the latest gothic rock band. If the air didn’t crackle with immortal energy, this place would seem like almost any other hot nightclub. But the aura was unmistakable. The majority of the patrons here tonight were immortals or other mystical creatures.

“You asked me about The Light. After doing some research, I found the answer.”

Christian swung his interested gaze back to Vlad.

“And?”

“And it seems our friend Bazhena has an ego bigger than we originally thought. Not only is she determined to attract and kill men. She has decided that she wants to attract all men. Every single one of them.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s found an ancient spell that’s designed to make her the most desirable creature in the world. If she succeeds, no one, human or immortal, will be able to resist her.”

“Is that possible?”

“According to the legend, yes. But first she must collect certain items to make the spell complete. One of the most important items on that list is The Light.

Christian frowned in consternation.

“That brings me back to my original question. What is The Light’?”

Vlad paused before answering.

“What?” Impatience laced Christian’s voice.

“The Light is a soul who is devoted to helping others, a person who can empathize with others, to the point of almost knowing their thoughts. A person who has experienced pain and death and is determined to save others from that pain, even at the risk of his or her own life. A person convinced that it’s his or her job to save the human race. In other words, a hero, or heroine.”

“Alyssa!” Christian hissed.

Vlad nodded his head slowly.

“Bazhena must have found out about Alyssa from her national tour and best selling book. When we ran into her that first night at our office, she wasn’t there to see us, as she claimed. She must have been following Alyssa. It’s her she’s wanted all along. She fits the description completely.”

“Is there only one Light? Surely other people fit that description.”

“More than one Light exists. But, as you can imagine, they are in the minority. Bazhena must have just decided to go for Alyssa because she had caught her attention. And once she saw Alyssa had a connection to you, it probably made the pot sweeter for her. Acquire The Light and have her revenge on you for leaving her,” Vlad explained.

Christian’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Bazhena will never have Alyssa. I won’t allow it. She’ll have to kill me first,” Christian vowed.

“Do you have a plan?” Vlad asked.

“Like I told you earlier, I had her where I wanted tonight. I almost killed her. A moment’s hesitation cost me that opportunity. But she escaped in a truly weakened state. Dammit! If I hadn’t stayed to care for Alyssa I know I could have killed her.”

Vlad looked at Christian shrewdly.

“If you could go back now, knowing what you know, would you truly have left Alyssa alone and gone after Bazhena?”

Christian struggled within himself for a moment, then released a frustrated breath.

“No. That’s become my bane. Alyssa means too much to me. She is my weakness.”

“If you look deep inside yourself, my friend, you’ll realize that she is so much more to you than that. She’s also your strength.”

Christian didn’t want to face that issue right now. He would handle this as he’d handled everything in the past. Analyzing the issue step-by-step, never getting ahead of himself. At the moment, Bazhena was the problem he needed to deal with.

“Bazhena is still in a weakened state. Dawn is close approaching. I can’t see her doing anything else until the next nightfall. Even then, she may not be at her full power. But I still wouldn’t underestimate her. She left a personalized message for me today at Alyssa’s condo.”

Vlad’s eyes narrowed dangerously and fury changed their color to red. Christian knew just how much he hated Bazhena.

“What kind of message?” Vlad demanded.

Christian explained about the head on Alyssa’s door and the significance of Bazhena leaving it there.

“She is insane. Even for a vamp. Do you have a plan?”

“Yes, but for it to work, I’ll need you to watch over Alyssa tomorrow night at her last speech. Even though I’ll be close to both of you at all times, I don’t trust her with anyone else.”

Vlad agreed.

“I’ll be there. What are you going to do?”

Christian laid out his plan to Vlad.

“It sounds good. But I’m bringing backup with me, just in case. I want to end Bazhena’s existence as much as you do. Nothing is going to get in the way of that this time,” Vlad promised.

“I have no problem with that. Just keep them downwind of Bazhena. I don’t want her thinking anything is wrong.”

“Right. I know just which guys to use.”

Before Christian could ask Vlad who, Amy walked up to them.

She was the human he had gleaned information about Bazhena from the last time they met. Maybe she could help him again. He remembered her boyfriend was acting as emissary to Bazhena while she was in the city. He also remembered that Amy wanted “the change”, she wanted to become a vampire. But her boyfriend kept refusing.

“Hi, handsome.” Amy smiled seductively as she sidled closer to Christian. “Haven’t we met before? I don’t think I’d forget a face like yours, or yours for that matter,” she said glancing heatedly towards Vlad.

“You boys look, uh, hungry and bored. Maybe I could interest you both in a little snack and play?” She brushed her hair over her shoulder, exposing her creamy white neck to both of them. She had bite marks on her neck. They were faded, almost completely healed, but still discernable to another vampire.

Christian’s beast stirred. The woman’s blood called to him.

Christian wrapped his arms around Amy’s waist and slid her back between his long legs. When her bottom bumped into him, she released a moan of pleasure.

Grinning wolfishly at Vlad, Christian raised one eyebrow in question.

“I’m up for a little snack and play. How about you, bud?”

Vlad looked deeply into Amy’s eyes. Christian released her with a knowing chuckle as she moved away from him. She slid between Vlad’s muscular thighs. She gasped at the contact. He ran his fingers slowly down her bare arm to her fingertips. Lightly grasping her hand he lifted it to his mouth. Turning it over, so that the fleshy part of her palm was exposed, he pressed his mouth to it. His eyes remained locked on hers. When he began running his tongue over the tender spot, Amy let out another moan of pleasure.

Vlad gave her palm one last kiss before lifting his head and smiling seductively.

“Your beauty and delectable offer truly tempt me. Unfortunately, I’m obliged to be elsewhere. I’m sure Christian will have no problem satisfying you.”

Vlad grasped Amy’s waist and pressed her away from him. In a matter of seconds, she was all over Christian. Vlad smiled ruefully. His friend never had trouble with the ladies, with or without the use of power. He got up off of the barstool and prepared to leave.

Ignoring her frustrated sigh, Christian set Amy away from him. Then he sent her a mental command to stay.

Vlad and Christian walked slightly away from Amy. Just out of listening distance.

“She is the one you mentioned talking to previously?” Vlad asked immediately.

“Yes. I erased her memory of our previous encounter. I’ll see what else I can find out from her.”

“Be careful.”

“Always.”

Vlad gave him a doubtful look.

“See you tomorrow night. Good luck.”

Vlad glanced back at Amy one last time with desire and regret evident in his stare.

“It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it,” Christian replied with a cocky grin.

“Tell that to Alyssa.”

Christian’s smile slipped and he frowned angrily.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m sorry, my friend. My comment was uncalled for. I know you’re an honorable man. My current project with Little Miss Princess has left me very frustrated and, uh, unsatisfied. I’m jealous of the time you get to spend with a beautiful woman. What more can I say?”

Christian’s expression relaxed.

“That bad?”

Vlad nodded his head, a pained expression on his face.

“Yes.”

Christian could see that Vlad was deeply troubled by his situation.

“Can I help you with anything?”

“No. This is something she and I need to come to terms with very soon.” Vlad changed the subject quickly. “If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume that whatever you learned tonight isn’t important to our plan. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Right. See you then.”

* * * * *

Alyssa punched her pillow. She had to do something. She was angry and frustrated. He left without saying goodbye! After everything they had shared that night, the coward couldn’t even face her to say goodbye! Well, that was just fine. The next time she saw Christian, she was
so
going to
let him have it.

She gave the pillow one last punch and set it down. As she lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind wandered over the last few days. She had been stalked, threatened and attacked. She had met preternatural creatures of different kinds and a vampire had bitten her on more than one occasion. Not her everyday life, that’s for sure.

She could handle the first part, the threatening, stalking and even attacking. It wasn’t pleasant or something she wanted repeated, but she had always been a fighter. Taking what life gave her and dealing with it the best she could. However, the preternatural creatures and vampire bites were more questionable. It wasn’t just the danger from Bazhena that worried her either. Although that was scary enough, it was her feelings towards Christian that left Alyssa floundering.