The Vampire's Kiss (22 page)

Her eyes widened as she realized his intent. “You can’t mean that we’re going to—”

“Don’t look down.” A slight smile curved his lips. “Just pretend that you’re doing a long jump.”

But she’d never done a long jump. She’d never done track or any sort of running activity.

His fingers tightened around hers. “Ready?”

She took a deep breath. She could do this. She
would
do this. “Ready.”

“Then let’s go.”

They began running, as fast as they could. They were almost at the edge of the roof. Savannah concentrated on the building in front of her.

Their feet left the edge of the roof.

She wouldn’t look down. She wouldn’t!

She kept moving her legs, but she felt nothing but air beneath her. She tightened her fingers around William. She wouldn’t look down.

She stared at the building before her. It was close now. So close. She would make it. She
would.

There! Her feet slammed down on the roof. She stumbled forward, but managed to catch herself before she fell.

“Oh, my God!” She turned back, staring at her apartment building in shock. “I did it! I actually did it!”

William smiled.

She ran to the edge of the roof. “Fifty feet.” She exhaled heavily. “We just flew fifty feet.”

“And how did it feel?”

“Wonderful.” She was dazed, overwhelmed with wonder. “Absolutely wonderful.” She laughed softly. “You know, I’ve always had a horrible fear of heights.”

He frowned, his brows lowering. “You never told me that.”

“Well, it’s not exactly something I like to brag about.” She stared below, amazed that she could actually look down and not feel the vertigo that she usually experienced.

“But you came to my home, to my mountain, and you showed no fear.”

She shrugged. “I had to see you. There wasn’t any choice.” But she had been terrified. As she’d driven up the mountain, she’d refused to look over the side of the road, refused to even glance at the breathtaking view. She hadn’t wanted to look down, fearing that terror would overwhelm her. So she’d driven, her eyes locked on the road in front of her. She’d forced herself to ignore the height, to ignore the increasing pressure in her ears. And she’d made it up that damn mountain.

And, now, staring down at the street below, she realized that her fear was gone.

“It’s your turn now,” William said softly, touching her back.

Her hands trembled. “M-my turn?”

“Go back to your apartment. Do it on your own.”

She glanced at him, her eyes wide. “But what if I fall?”

“You won’t.” He sounded extremely confident. Savannah wished she had his confidence.

She looked back across the wide expanse. Flying with William was one thing. Flying on her own—well, that was a whole different matter. “It’s eleven floors, William. If I fall—”

“You’ll wind up with some bad bruises,” he said with a small shrug.

“Bruises? I could wind up with a lot more than just bruises!” She’d probably break her neck.

“Stop thinking like a human,” he said, his voice suddenly harsh.

“But—”

“Thinking that way will get you killed. Don’t think of what you were. Think of what you
are
. You can do this, Savannah. You just did it with me, and you can do it by yourself.”

He was right. A fall wouldn’t kill a vampire. She’d survive, even if she fell eleven stories.

“You won’t fall,” he said again, easily reading her. “And even if you did, I’d catch you long before you reached the ground.”

He’d better not be lying, because if he didn’t catch her—well, he’d have hell to pay. “Okay.” She straightened her shoulders. “I’ll do it.” And she would. She took several steps back, wanting a running start. Her gaze stayed locked on her apartment building. She took a quick breath and ran.

Her feet pounded across the roof. Faster. Faster. She could see the edge now. There!

She shot into the sky, her body flying straight toward the waiting rooftop. Wind whipped against her body. Her feet kicked the air.

She didn’t look down.

The edge of her roof was so close, so close—

She landed on the rooftop, slipping to her knees.

Savannah laughed, thrilled with pleasure. She moved to stand, but her legs wobbled, sending her sliding back down.

“Savannah?” William was beside her in an instant.

“It’s okay.” She pushed her hair back with a trembling hand. “My knees are just a little weak.”

He supported her with his arm as he helped her to her feet. She wanted to lean into him, into the shelter of his arms. Instead, she took a bracing breath and stepped away from him. They didn’t have much time, and she couldn’t afford to be weak. She squared her shoulders and asked, “What’s next?”

He stepped to the edge of the roof. “Next, we hunt . . .”

THEY WALKED silently down the dark street. It was after two a.m., and the road was completely deserted.

“Where are we going?” Savannah asked. She’d lived in Seattle all of her life, but William had taken her down a myriad of twisting, turning streets. She actually had no idea where she was at that moment.

“Do you hear the music?” He asked her.

She frowned. Yes, she did hear music. A faint, pounding beat that drifted on the wind. She’d been vaguely aware of it for the last few blocks.

“We’re following it,” William told her. “It will lead us to your next lesson.”

She swallowed and glanced up at the night sky. A quarter moon hung heavily amidst the shining stars. “I thought you said there’d only be a need to feed when the moon was full.” And, besides, she’d already drank from him. The thought caused a remembered shiver to skate down her spine.

“You’re not going to drink.”

Then why were they following music that would undoubtedly lead them to a club filled with people? A place that was undoubtedly like Jake’s?

Because you must learn to lure your prey to you.
His voice drifted through her mind.
You must learn to use your psychic gifts to enthrall, to control.

She shook her head instinctively, then froze. As much as she rebelled against the idea of controlling another person, he was right. If she intended to survive, she would have to learn to use all of her powers.

She marshaled her thoughts and concentrated on William.
I’ll learn, but I won’t hurt anyone.
She wanted to be clear on that point.

She felt his start of surprise as he received her mental message. Then his mind seemed to reach for hers, surrounding her.

Good. Very good, Savannah.

Warmth swept through her.
I’ve always been a fast learner.

She felt, rather than heard, his soft ripple of laughter.

Good. You’ll need to be.

They walked quietly for a time. The music became louder. She could hear voices now, laughter. She could smell the people inside the bar. Smell the alcohol and the cheap perfume. The cigarettes and the sex.

They walked around a corner, and she froze.

The bar was as she’d expected—small, dark, and full of people. A flashing neon sign indicated the place was “The Black Pit.” Judging by its rough exterior, Savannah thought the name was fitting.

There was an assortment of vehicles in the small parking lot. SUVs, pickup trucks, even motorcycles.

Several of the bar’s patrons had stumbled outside. One man had even passed out on the side of the building. Savannah studied him with deep consideration.

William looked at her, his gaze hooded. “Far too easy. You’ll have to pick someone who is still conscious.”

She wrinkled her nose and then stepped forward, marching into the bar with a confidence that she really didn’t feel. She was conscious of William following a few paces back.

A bouncer stood at the entrance, his beefy arms crossed over a barrel-like chest. His left eyebrow lifted at Savannah’s approach.

“Hello, little lady.” His gaze roamed over her body, lingering on her breasts.

Anger swept through her. She stared at him, fixing her gaze upon him.

Concentrate, Savannah. Focus on him.
William’s soft orders slipped into her mind.

The bouncer’s gaze lifted to meet her dark stare. He blinked, once, twice, and then his jaw seemed to go slack.

“Open the door for me,” Savannah said softly, clenching her hands to disguise their trembling.

He hurried to obey, nearly tripping in his haste.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. That had certainly been easy enough.

It won’t always be. The stronger the mind, the harder it is to control.
William followed her silently.

I don’t like this! I don’t like controlling someone else’s thoughts!

You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it.
William was implacable.

There was a small dance floor in the middle of the room. A band played a loud, pounding rhythm on a stage encased in a wire fence.

Savannah walked toward the bar. It was crowded but she saw two empty stools.

She eased down onto the first stool, silently surveying the bar. Who could she pick? Who would satisfy William?

“What can I get for you?”

She spun around. The bartender, a woman with streaked blond hair and a tattoo of a snake around her neck, looked inquiringly at her. Savannah really didn’t want anything, and she wasn’t sure that she would be able to keep it down if she actually had to drink, but she didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. “Uh . . . I’ll take a . . .” Inspiration struck. “A Bloody Mary. Yes, that please.”

William laughed softly.

“And you?” The bartender leaned across the bar, pushing her breasts forward suggestively. “What would you like?” Her voice indicated that not just alcohol was available.

Savannah glared at her. How dare that woman try to come on to William? Couldn’t she see that he was with her? She cleared her throat, loudly. The woman looked at her, annoyance flashing across her pinched face.

“What?”

Savannah’s eyes narrowed. “He’s with me.”

The woman blinked, once, twice. She shook her head and stepped back. “Right. Sorry.” She hurried to get Savannah’s drink.

Savannah watched her with unflinching eyes.

A few moments later, the bartender placed Savannah’s drink in front of her with careful hands. “I-is there anything else you need?”

“No.” Savannah turned her back on the woman and surveyed the crowd.

Was that really necessary?

Her shoulders tensed. She sipped her drink.
What do you mean?
She hadn’t done anything to the woman. She’d just told her to stay away from William.

You used compulsion on her.

She gasped.
I most certainly did not!
And she hadn’t, had she? She’d just told the annoying woman to leave William alone.

It was in your voice. The tone, the pitch.

Savannah’s face whitened. She truly hadn’t meant—Her fingers locked around the cool glass.

Just be careful.
William cautioned her softly.
Control your power, don’t let it control you.

She nodded. She would make certain that she used more care.

Her gaze traveled slowly around the room. Her foot began to tap in rhythm with the music.

So what am I supposed to do, exactly?
She knew that coming to the bar was some sort of test for her, but she just didn’t understand fully what William wanted her to do.

You see that woman, the one in the black leather jacket leaning against the end of the bar?

Savannah turned her head a bit and caught a glimpse of the woman. She nodded her head slightly.

Read her mind.

What?

Focus on her. See if you can hear her thoughts. You have to be able to read the minds of humans. If not, then you may find yourself in serious danger. Don’t forget, some humans know of the existence of vampires. Some humans hunt us. You must be able to scan the minds of those around you. You must know if they intend you harm.

She nibbled her lip. She didn’t like the idea of invading someone else’s mind. It was too personal, too intimate an act.

Do it, Savannah.

No.
She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t pry into someone else’s mind, steal thoughts and dreams. She couldn’t,
wouldn’t,
do it.

She stood abruptly and headed for the dance floor.

Savannah!

She ignored his call and continued walking. A man with short blond hair and a thin moustache hurried to greet her.

“Hey, there, pretty thing! You wanna dance?” She could smell the alcohol on his breath, see it in the glazed expression of his eyes. She thought about refusing, was in fact opening her mouth to do so, when she heard William’s imperious command.

Leave him alone. Come back to me!

She lifted her chin and smiled at her would-be partner. “I’d love to dance,” she purred softly.

His eyes widened and he immediately pulled her onto the dance floor.

The band began to play a softer, lighter tune, and her partner pulled her close, sliding his hands down her back.

Savannah pushed lightly against his chest, wanting to put more distance between them. “Ah, look, buddy—”