Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble (30 page)

“What do you want, a gold star?”

Sinjin laughed, and I enjoyed the sound, much though I wanted to kick myself with the realization.

“You are very fortunate you are a woman and a beautiful one at that,” he finished, eyeing me up and down as his tongue caressed his fangs. I shuddered.

I stood up and turned away from him. No sooner did I turn my back in a show of disobedience, then I found myself up against the wall, my cheek a witness to the roughness of the brick. I stifled the whimper that brewed in my throat and closed my eyes against the excitement that stirred in my stomach when I felt Sinjin’s body tight against mine.

“Do you know how many vampires are in my command?” he whispered and his breath tickled my ear.

“No, nor do I care.”

His fingers ran up the sleeve of my sweatshirt until they reached my shoulder. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath, but refused to admit that his touch sent a bolt of heat through me. He pulled against the sweatshirt, and it dropped from my shoulder, the strap of my tank top left to hold down the fortress. His cold fingers graced my skin and it reacted with goose bumps.

“Why do you shiver at my touch?”

I shut my eyes tight and tried to imagine myself in the heat of the desert, trying to imagine myself anywhere hot enough to melt the damned gooseflesh from my skin. “You’re cold,” I answered and smirked at my own response. Not bad.

Sinjin laughed. “I think it is for a different reason, Poppet.”

I swallowed hard. “And what reason would that be?”

His fingers started a descent down my collarbone and further still. Before he reached my breasts, I grabbed his hand and he jerked me around, pushing me back up against the wall. I forced my gaze to his. I wouldn’t allow myself to cower before him.

“I think you are very aware that I would like nothing more than to bed you.”

My mouth dropped open. He was like a romance novel book character come to life. “Who the hell talks like that?” I said, wishing I could’ve come up with something better. Not good.

“Do not be afraid of me, Poppet. I can see the lust in your eyes.”

I pulled away from him. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

He laughed and took a seat on his bed. I breathed a sigh of relief, imagining he might stay there, hoping he would stay there. I couldn’t handle him so close to me, it made me think things I shouldn’t be thinking.

I rubbed my upper arms, hoping to destroy the memory of his hands on me. “Why are you here? Don’t you have something better to do?”

He quirked his head. “I am your keeper. I am keeping you.” He smiled with fangs, and I just shook my head.

“So, I’m stuck with you?”

He nodded and leaned back, completely at ease. “Shall wve a conversation? I find myself excited about the prospect of learning more about you.”

I groaned. “Fine. Whatever. Just nothing sexual. What do you want to talk about?”

I felt like I was babysitting some kid and trying to keep him entertained.

“Ask me a question.”

I frowned. “How old are you?”

He straightened, apparently eager to talk about himself. “Six hundred nineteen.”

I gulped. “Holy crap.”

Sinjin laughed. “How old are you?”

“Twenty eight.”

“Holy crap,” he said with a smile before changing the subject. “Was it true what you said? That the old woman refused to go with you?”

“Yeah.”

I plopped down on the bed. “I’m only sitting because I want to, not because you suggested it,” I said, sounding all of twelve years old.

Sinjin chuckled. “Of course.”

“Why aren’t you concerned about making Bella jealous with your...attentions to me?”

He quirked a brow. “I thought you said we could not discuss anything sexual?”

“That isn’t…” I interrupted myself as realization dawned on me.

He was sleeping with her! No wonder she looked like she wanted to kill me. After the initial shock wore off, I was left with a big helping of jealousy or was it envy…either way, it wasn’t pleasant. Why did I have any sort of feelings for this creature? God, it was infuriating.

“Bella must deal with her own insecurities.”

“You don’t understand women very well.”

He leaned forward, looking entirely too interested.

“Let’s talk about something else,” I said.

“Perhaps you and the warlock.”

“No,” my voice was direct, and I shook my head in case he didn’t understand English. “Let’s not.”

The door flew open then and Bella stepped inside, eyeing us suspiciously. Thank God she hadn’t decided to visit five minutes ago when Sinjin was caressing my shoulder. That would have definitely ended up with my head on a plate.

Sinjin merely smiled, slow and sexy, obviously enjoying the fact that Bella was burning with jealousy. “Bella, what can I do for you?”

“I have something I…need to discuss with you,” she said and eyed me with daggers.

Sinjin stood. “Ofourse.” He faced me. “Poppet, I will return later.”

I didn’t say anything, but watched them leave and allowed my heart to deflate when I heard the sound of a key locking my door.

#

“I don’t care if she wants to come back with you or not,” Bella snapped, her hands fisted. “Your job is to bring her back.”

I frowned, shaking my head. We were sitting across from one another in the living room of the old house. I’d only been allowed to see this room, my bedroom that I shared with Sinjin, and the room in which I’d been held captive for a week. I hadn’t been outside in what felt like years.

Bella had ordered me to bring back the old woman again, the one who was determined not to come back. First of all, I wasn’t even sure it was possible to try and bring her back twice. Secondly, I’d touched her when she died last time and nothing had happened, so what made anyone think it would work this time?

“Don’t fail,” Bella warned.

I didn’t care if I failed or not. I said nothing, but closed my eyes and took Bella’s hands, much though I hated touching her.

Instantly I found myself in the same dark and dank room with the same smell of death. The woman was in bed and the rose stood at her bedside, not quite withered, but on its way. I wasn’t going to waste time.

“Wake up,” I said.

The woman opened her eyes slowly, her gaze darting around the room. She closed her eyes again, no doubt thinking I was a dream.

“I’m still here.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“You can’t see me, but I’m here. I’m not a ghost. I met you yesterday, but you won’t remember. I’m here to save you.”

She nodded, but pulled her covers closer to her chin. “I do not want to be saved.”

“I know. We’ve been through this already. Last time you told me about a prophecy. What’s the prophecy?”

“Prophecy?” she asked.

All I knew was this information was important. I didn’t know how to use it or when I could use, but I knew I had to get it. “When I was here before, you told me about a prophecy. You knew I was coming for you. You knew who I was.”

She nodded and her eyes took on a faraway look. “The prophecy.”

“What does it say?”

She coughed and I attempted to hand her the glass of water on the table, but my hand went through it. “The prophecy said a woman would come for us, that she could raise the dead.”

She shook her head. “I do not know.”

She seemed confused and I had to calm down, thinking she couldn’t remember my first visit as it had never happened in her world. The fact that she wasn’t screaming was amazing in and of itself.

“Can you see the future?” I asked in a soft voice.

“Sometimes.”

I tried not to let the frustration show in my voice. “Then the prophecy, how do you know what it is?”

She took in a great, rattling breath, her face paling into a light shade of blue. My anxiety grew; I needed answers before she died.

“The elders, they told us.”

She erupted into a fit of coughing. When she was able to control herself again, tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Why does Bella want you to come back with me?” I urged, knowing I’d never get the answer from Bella.

The old woman tried to speak but her voice came out as a mere wisp of air. I leaned down, hoping I could understand. “She thinks…I can change the course of the…future.”

Someone changing the course of the future was a good comrade to have. “But you can’t?”

She shook her head. “No, she is mistaken.”

The woman said nothing more as I let it all sink in. So, Bella had the wrong prophet. What was Bella wanting the old woman for anyway? To change the course of history, but why?

I glanced at the woman and she was still. I couldn’t help myself as I shook her and demanded she tell me more, tell me what Bella was after. But, it was no use. The woman was dead, gone. Goddamit.

Bella was equally angry with me when I returned empty handed and she refused to listen to me. “You didn’t try hard enough,” she snapped.

I pushed myself up, ignoring the throb in my head. “It doesn’t matter about trying hard enough. I just have to touch the person when they die and that brings them back. Don’t act like you know what the rules are. I know no one has ever been able to do it before.”

Bella’s wrath exploded and she slapped me across the cheek. I stumbled back, resisting the urge to press my hand to my stinging face. Gritting my teeth against the onslaught of ire that visited me, I stared directly into the witch’s eyes. How I hated her. How badly I wanted to wrap my fingers around her neck.

“Sinjin, get her out of my sight,” Bella seethed.

Sinjin reached down and grabbed the front of my shirt, jerking me to my feet. Without a word, he pulled me into the hall and pushed me in front of him. I stumbled, righting yself against the wall. His jaw was clenched so tight, it looked like he’d break his teeth.

“Are you telling the truth? I will find out if you are not.”

I stared directly into his eyes and lied. “Yes.”

I couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the corners of my lips. Bella had the wrong prophet. The whole thing was pretty comical. I wished I’d been in the right frame of mind—maybe I could’ve even laughed.

TWENTY

It was late. It was also the first night I didn’t have my ever-watchful vampire roommate. I didn’t want to stop to think where he might be—with Bella. The answer was clear and it made me ill. But, as pissed as I’d been, I hadn’t been angry enough not to notice he hadn’t locked the door. I’d laid there for ten long minutes, my heart thundering in my chest, any moment expecting someone to come by and lock the thing. No one had.

Imagining it might be my only chance to escape, I crept to the corner of the room where I’d piled my jeans and sweatshirt before going to bed. My heart strummed within my chest, echoing in my ears as I dressed.

I figured I should arrange the bedding to make it look like I was asleep and situated the two pillows lengthwise. I threw the covers over them, hoping it would look like I preferred to sleep with the covers over my head. Okay, it was something a teenager would do, and I didn’t imagine it would work—Sinjin seemed to be a pretty detail-oriented guy, but it was worth a shot.

I laced my sneakers and tiptoed to the door. Tugging on the door handle, I found it wide open. Well, my keepers weren’t very diligent. It was probably a set up, but I was so desperate at this point, I didn’t even give a crap.

I stuck my head out and looked left then right. The hallway was dark and as quiet as a graveyard. Thinking I’d already wasted too much time, I crept out the door. The floorboards moaned underneath me, and I froze. My attention fell to the stair well directly before me—it was so close, I wanted to sprint, but I had to force myself to go slowly, lest I make more noise than I already had.

I’d never been out of the house, so I’d have to go blindly. Reaching the staircase, I swallowed the frog, scratch that, the toad in my throat. I breathed a sigh of relief when I made it down the stairs with only the protest of a few creaky boards.

But I faced a quandary at the bottom of the stairs. I could go right or left—to my right looked like a living room and to the left, the kitchen. What was more likely to have a door leading outside? I’m no architect, but I’d have to bet on the living room. I turned to the right and forced my legs forward. No sooner did I start forward, then I walked headlong into the corner of the couch. I bit my tongue to keep the curse from my lips. It wasn’t easy to navigate in the middle of the night. I was so scared, I was about to wet myself.

ont size="3">I’d made the right decision. A door stood before me and in my mind’s eye, it shone like the Holy Grail. I bolted, too close to freedom to travel the distance slowly. Grabbing the doorknob and turning, I stepped foot outside.

I was free.

The cold night air met me like an old friend. The moonlight carved a path that led through a grassy backyard into a bank of trees. No fences, gates, or anything separating me from certain escape. Just a football field’s length of grass.

This would be the toughest part of my escape. The grassy area was about four hundred feet until it reached the haven of the trees. If anyone were awake and happened to look out their window, they’d easily spot me. Lucky for me, most the windows in the house had been sealed over—vampires aren’t especially fond of windows. Freedom was so close, I could taste it. And it was a taste that rivaled apple pie.

I took a deep breath and like a sprinter, well, more like a girl who’d never run before, but was hell-bent on getting away from an evil witch and two vampires, I took off.

I’m not sure why, but I ran in zig-zags, almost like my brain thought someone was going to shoot me. Weird what your body does when under duress. I reached the cover of the trees and felt the start of tears in my eyes. Had I done it? I leaned my hands against my thighs and panted. If I got out of this unscathed, the first place I was going was the gym.

Thinking I needed more distance between me and the house of horrors, I jogged in between the trees. I had a stitch in my side that wouldn’t allow for running, still, I couldn’t help the grin that stole my face.

Holy crap! I’d done it! Take that, Bella!

Feeling pretty confident and proud of myself, I continued forging my way through the thick forest. I had no idea where I was—away was enough at this point. I considered changing into a fox, but I wasn’t sure how far Bella’s spell prohibited me from using my magic. Maybe trying to use my own magic might set off some unseen alarm? I wasn’t about to take any chances.

No, I was going to do this all on my own. No reliance on my witch powers. This was going to be Jolie Wilkins au natural. Getting my second wind, I started running again. I wasn’t on any sort of path, and the tree branches snapped against my face and body, but they didn’t slow me down. As dumb as it sounds, Rand kept me going. I just pictured his beautiful dark eyes and dimpled smile when it seemed my resolution was waning.

After intermittently running and walking for what I imagined was well over an hour, I was exhausted. I wouldn’t admit that I was lost…not yet. I’d been hoping the forest would thin out or I’d come across a path—anything to make my progress easier. But the forest was just as thick and foreboding as it had been, and there were no signs of cars, streets, houses or anything that might bring me comfort. My energy waned. I pictured Rand, but it didn’t work.

Okay, I was lost.

The hoot of an owl in the foliage above nearly caused the death of me and I pressed my hand to my heart, thinking it might stop.

“O God, you stupid bird.”

The bird just spun his head around like he was impersonating Linda Blair.

I collapsed against the bird’s tree and tried to catch my breath. Deciding I needed a break, I dropped into a seated position amid a pile of pine needles. What in hell was I going to do? I was lost, hopelessly lost. I’d never been good with directions. Just last year I’d learned to tell East from West by memorizing the mnemonic: Never (North) Eat (East) Shredded (South) Wheat (West).

God, I was going to die out here.

“It seems you have been quite a naughty girl.” Sinjin’s voice was like a spike right through my ear.

I screamed and jumped up from the bed of needles but couldn’t see him. “Goddamn you!” I yelled, pressing my hand to my chest again. My dad had died from a heart attack—I wondered if he’d ever known any vampires.

He stepped out from behind the tree I’d been sitting under. The bastard must’ve been tracking me all the way, playing a game of cat and mouse. Then it was clear—the unlocked doors, no one around…he’d set it up. Suddenly I was livid. “Why track me all this way and let me think I was getting away, you asshole?”

He wore a smirk on his arrogant face. “Poppet, what language!”

He took a step toward me, and I jumped back, not wanting to be within grasp.

“I’m not going back there,” I said between gritted teeth. “You’ll have to kill me before I’ll go back there.”

He laughed. “That can be arranged, Love.”

“I’m not going to make this easy on you. I’ll fight you tooth and nail,” I seethed.

“Let the games begin.”

I braced myself, but it didn’t make any difference. Sinjin moved so quickly, he was directly in front of me before I knew what happened. I didn’t even get a chance to gasp before his iron hand wrapped around my throat, pushing me against the tree. The bark lodged into my spine as I tried to fight the vampire, my legs and arms flailing.

He wasn’t exerting much pressure on my throat because I could breathe and frolic about as easy as you please. I think it was more just a show of what he was capable.

“I tire of games, Pet,” he said drolly.

His arrogant tone annoyed the crap out of me, but it was no use. I stopped flailing and accepted my defeat by dropping my head.

Sinjin chuckled. “Ah, Poppet, do not look so miserable.”

As soon as he separated himself from me, I called on my fox. I didn’t miss the pure shock that registered on the bastard’s face when I dropped into a fox and scurried away, darting into the undergrowth of the forest.

“Very smart, Love.”

He was after me. I could hear leaves crunching under his feet, while he moved as quickly as the wind. Now I zig-zagged with purpose, trying to throw the vampire off. The protection of the forest served me well as I scurried between bushes.

Apparently, Sinjin was pretty smart. He intimated which direction I would go and landed on me like a football player would the football. I grunted which came out as a squeal in my fox voice.

Righting himself, he held my small furry body up to his chest, and even though I didn’t want to, I knew I’d have to change back to my human likeness soon. It was too exhausting to maintain my fox shape. Truth was, I was already exhausted. I toyed with the idea of sinking my sharp little teeth into him but I didn’t want to swallow any of his blood, afraid I’d be turned into some sort of pseudo-vampire.

I wasn’t sure if Sinjin knew what happened when someone shape shifted, but he was about to find out. I shook my head, shaking off the fox likeness and suddenly felt cold and exposed. When he realized I was no longer furry and now naked, his hands coursed down my spine, pulling me into him. If he were capable of breathing, he’d be panting about now.

“You have a…delicious body,” he growled.

I couldn’t subdue my automatic reaction, which was intense pleasure. I wanted his hands all over me, and the idea made me livid. Here he was, botching my escape, and I wanted to have sex with him? I had to be the dumbest woman alive.

I desperately tried to envision myself in clothes but I couldn’t concentrate. He attempted to push me away from him—no doubt, so he could take in every last naked inch of me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and refused to budge. He apparently didn’t mind, his hands continuing to caress my naked backside.

“It is soft here, My Pet,” he said, tapping his foot against the bed of pine needles. “We could do it quickly.”

“Shut up,” I hissed. “I’m trying to focus. Stop talking.”

He laughed, and I was finally able to envision myself in jeans and a sweatshirt. I smiled when I glanced down and found myself attired. Sinjin sighed his displeasure. I attempted to push away from him, but he held me tightly. “Not getting away so easily, Poppet.”

I pulled my knee up, thinking I could get him in the goodies, but such was not the case. He just laughed and in a split-second move, cornered both my legs between his. I wasn’t going to be able to do any bodily harm to him. He was just too strong. Way stronger than Ryder.

“Calm down,” he started

“Let go of me!” I yelled and batted my ineffectual hands against his steel chest. I wanted to hate the bastard, but even now, I couldn’t. And I also couldn’t help the intense heat I felt from being so close to him. The realization pissed me off—how could I have the hots for someone who was going to return me to Bella?

He couldn’t seem to shake the grin from his mouth. It was infuriating. “Quiet, Poppet. Be civilized and we can be on our way.”’

“I’m not going backd aa’s with you.”

He released me. “Good, I am not going there anyway.”

I was too surprised to try to run away. Well, lot of good it would do me anyway. He was faster than I would ever be. “Where are you going?”

“I am en route to a petrol station three miles from here that has a vehicle waiting for me and for you.”

“With Bella in it, no doubt.”

He shook his head. “Sorry to mislead you, Poppet, but I do not work for Bella.”

I laughed with as much sarcasm as I could muster. So, not only did the asshole think I was physically weak, but now he was going to add salt to the wound by assuming I was a nitwit? “You’ve got to be kidding. Is there a sign on my forehead that says dumbass?”

Sinjin’s chuckle was rich and throaty. “No, Love, there is not. Start walking and I will explain.”

I didn’t make any motion to follow him. “You expect me to believe you don’t work for Bella?”

“Yes I expect you to believe it and no, I do not work for Bella.”

He continued forward and when I didn’t follow him, he turned to face me with mild annoyance. “You can come with me or you can stay in the forest and wait for Bella to find you.”

Even though I had no idea what Sinjin’s plan was, I made the split-second decision to go with him. It came down to the fact that I trusted him more than I trusted Bella. The other added bonus was being as far away as possible from Ryder.

I followed Sinjin as best I could through the dense forest, but had a tough time seeing him in the dark night. After fighting against branches that lashed out and caught my face and hair, I relied on my arms to guide me through the shadows of the forest. I’d rather have scratches on my arms than my face. I tripped on something and caught myself before I fell. Thank God, I was wearing jeans otherwise my legs would’ve been cut up like all hell.

A branch managed to avoid my extended arms and nailed me right in the cheek. “Ow, dammit, I can’t see anything, Sinjin.”

He slowed down and faced me. “Jump on my back, Love, and I will carry you.”

I hesitated, heat flushing my cheeks at the idea of being so close to him. With a sigh, I hopped up on his back, and he braced his arms around my thighs.

“Lean into me.”

I rested my head against the expanse of his back and couldn’t help inhaling the scent of him. It was a mixture of something spicy and cool. The coolness could have just been his body temperature. It felt pretty damn good to be so close to him—even if it was odd not to feel any heat radiating from him. It was sort of like riding on a statue.