Wake Me When the Sun Goes Down (21 page)

“Don’t look so worried, Miss Evans.  We’ll catch whoever did this.  We always do.”

I gave him a tight smile, leaning against the closed door after he left, deep in thought. 
I’d almost forgotten Bridget was there, until she cleared her throat, an expectant look on her face. 

“What?  Oh, I’m
sorry
,
I borrowed your boots
.  I didn’t think you’d mind.  Where did you get these anyway?  They’re really comfortable.”

“I don’t care about the stupid boots, An.  I want to know what the hell is going on.”

“What do you mean?  I know as much as you do.  I had no idea anything had happened to
Trent
.”

“You know something’s up.  You’ve been acting really weird the past few days.  He said you decked
Trent
, when did that happen?”

Would I never live that down?  “You heard that?  What
,
were you listening in the hall?”

“Nevermind that, answer the question.”

It was worse than the interrogation I’d gotten from the police.  “
L
ast night, before we went out to the bar.”

“Holy shit… first
Trent
then the chick at the bar…?  Seriously, w
hat’s going on with you?
”

My teeth worried at the inside of my bottom lip, not quite sure how to respond to that.  “
Maybe it’s the near death experience, you know?
  That’s bound to make anybody a little… tumultuous.” 

“Bullshit.  There’s something going on with you Anja, and I want to know what it is,” she demanded, hand on hip. 

Now I’ve seen a few vampire movies in my lifetime, and I can tell you, the big reveal almost never goes down smoothly.  Invariably, the
best
friend or girlfriend or whoever
,
doesn’t trust that it’s still their best friend looking back at them
,
they freak out and expect you to tear out their throats.  Nevermind that a vampire almost never announces their identity to a victim first, they just lunge.  The last thing I needed was for Bridget to freak out and start screaming, or even worse channel Buffy and come after me with a chair leg. 

I wanted to tell her my deep, dark secret in the worst way
,
it would make my life so much easier not to have to hide it from her.  Only I wasn’t interested in chasing her around the room for the next half hour trying to get her to calm down. 
Plus, there was the law about not letting a human know your true nature unless you compelled them not to tell anyone. 
Either way I was going to have to compel
her
.
I decided to do it ahead of time and save a step. 

“Sit down and I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on,” I offered, taking a seat on the couch and patting the spot beside me. 

“This had better be good,” she muttered, flouncing down on the sofa. 

“You have no idea,” I murmured, taking a deep, calming breath.  It was easy to catch hold of her will, she was already looking at me expectantly, and I could tell by the way the annoyance melted from he
r expression that I had her
under my sway.

“I want you to listen to me, and I want you to accept everything I have to say as the absolute truth, do you understand?”

“Absolute truth,” she nodded, her face vacant.

“I want you to stay calm while we talk
.  Y
ou’re in no danger, there’s no need to be upset or afraid of me in any way.  I’d never hurt you.”

“No danger…”

“Most importantly, you can never tell anyone else what I tell you, is that clear?”

“Never tell,” she agreed instantly and I held her in my thrall for long seconds after that to be sure the suggestion took. 

“So…I’m a vampire.”  I waited for that to sink in, half afraid my compulsion wouldn’t work and I’d have to go with plan B, which would probably involve sitting on her until I could figure out how to get her to cooperate. 

“A vampire?” Bridget blinked
.
“
C
ool.” 

So far so good…
“You’re not afraid of me, are you?  Now that you know I’m a vampire?”

“Why would I be afraid of you?  You’d never hurt
me
.
”
S
he looked puzzled and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. 

“You’re right, I’d never hurt you, Bridge,” I nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth as I realized it might just work.  “Remember that night I woke up in the hospital morgue?”  I spent the next half hour catching her up on everything that happened since that night.  Thanks to the compulsion
,
she took it fairly well, not a hint of histrionics.   

“
D
id you kill
Trent
then?” she asked finally and I had to shake my head.  Did she really think I was capable of something like that?  Okay, so maybe I was, but only in the heat of the moment when feeding, I wasn’t a cold blooded killer.

“No!  Weren’t you listening to a thing I said?  I had no idea he was even dead before Detective
Lucas
showed up here tonight.”

“Who do you think did it then?”

“I don’t know, but something
Lucas
said got me to thinking.  What if… what if I am involved in why he was killed?”

“Oh come on, An, he was an asshat.  I’m sure there were plenty of people lined up to off him.”

“Maybe he was an… asshat,” I tried the word on for size.  “But beating him to death and a jagged wound at the neck?  That’s some serious violence for a human, or… maybe a beating that got out of hand for a vampire.”

“Yeah, but what vampires even knew about
Trent
?  He wasn’t exactly running with that crowd.”

I hated to say it out loud, but I had to give voice to my suspicions, even if it was just so she could tell me how crazy it was.  “Bishop might know about him.  He seemed to know everything about me.”

“You think your cop boyfriend did this?”

“He’s not my boyfriend…”

“Whatever.  Why would Bishop kill
Trent
?”

“I have no idea.  Maybe he thought
Trent
knew about what I am after I hit him?  He was hanging out at the college tonight, what if it wasn’t the first night he’s done that?”

“So ask him,” she suggested as if it was the simplest thing in the universe.  I knew better. 

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

“Hey, you have a right to know one way or the other.  Just try to stay out of his bed this time,” she teased. 

I couldn’t help but smile over that.  So far I did have a tendency to end up there, despite his best efforts to cut me out of his life.  But after what had happened in the alley, I was doubly sure he didn’t want to see me again so soon.  “Maybe I’ll give him a call.”

“I’ve gotta get ready for my date with Rob, catch you later.”

“You’re going out with Rob?”  That was news to
me
.  T
hey must have hit it off better than I’d thought. 

“Yeah, we’re meeting for a drink before I start the late shift.  I don’t have to pretend with him since he knows, right?”

“That’s true…” I allowed, “but it might be better if you don’t bring it up.  He doesn’t know that you know, and that might make things simpler.”  Especially since we didn’t know him very well. 

“Sure, whatever.  I wasn’t planning on spending the whole time talking about you anyway,” she grinned.  “Hey, if you’re blowing off this school thing, tomorrow night we should take you shopping.  If you keep borrowing my stuff I’m gonna start charging you rent.”

Was I blowing off school?  That was an inner debate for another time, at the moment I had to focus on the bigger problem at hand.  I wasn’t supposed to call Bishop unless it was an emergency.  As far as I was concerned, it was plenty enough of an emergency to warrant calling him on his special number.  Still, I was nervous as I waited for him to pick up
.  W
hat if he wouldn’t take my call?

“Yes?”  Bishop’s voice sounded tightly controlled, as though he was concentrating on something else, so I decided to get right to the point. 

“
Did
you do something stupid
?
”

“
Yes, but I told you, it’s not a big deal
.”

Funny.  “
No, not that.  I
meant
something else
that happened last night
.  Do you know what I’m talking about?  About a certain guy who ended up d-e-a
-d?”

“
Why are you spelling things
out
?”

“
You never know who could be listening
.”  For all I knew the cops had my cell phone tapped.  Of course then
Lucas
would be knocking at my door, demanding to know who I’d called and why.

“Anja,
I’m pretty sure the
y can spell, whoever they are,” he said drily, and I realized of course I was being an idiot.

“
We should meet to talk about this.
”

“
I’m a little busy right now.  I have a job, remember?
”

“
How could I
forget?
”  He never ceased to bring it up whenever we got too close.  “
Alright, well… find me later,
alright
?  We need to talk
.”

“There’s nothing left to say.”

A surge of annoyance swept over me.  Could he have a bigger ego?  “
G
et over yourself.  This isn’t about you and me, this is serious.”

“What’s going on?”

Oh sure, now I had his interest.  A knock sounded at the door and I saw through the peephole it was Rob waiting on the other side.  “I can’t talk right
now
,
just find me later, okay?  It’s important.”  I hung up before he could come up with another excuse to avoid me.  Greeting Rob with a tight smile, I stepped back to let him into the house. 

“
Something amiss?
”
H
is brows came up as he crossed the threshold.  Was I really that transparent? 

“
Nothing I can’t handle
,” I replied with more confidence than I felt. 

“
You look much more in the pink
, glad to see you heeded my advice.”

There it was again… the hint that he knew more about me than he should have.  What made him think I needed his advice?  Then there was the fact that he smelled a little different
.  N
ot inhuman exactly, but something a little more.  “
Don’t take this the wrong way but… what are you?
” I asked, arms crossing as I studied him carefully.

“
Catholic
.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

Rob gave a careless shrug.  “I’m just making my way in the world in interesting company, same as you.”

I guess I couldn’t blame him for
not
spilling his secrets to me, I barely knew him.  Letting it go, I changed the subject.  “So, you and Bridget, huh?”

“What of it?”

“Nothing, I think it’s great.  You seem like a nice guy.”

“Now you’re just being nasty,” he
smirked
.  “What makes you think I’m a nice guy?”

“You gave us a ride home last night and you seemed…”  Was he saying it was all an act?  “Aren’t you?”

“I haven’t been called such a thing in a long time.  But no worries, Anja, you’ve nothing to fear from me.” 

Bridget emerged from the bedroom then, interrupting the flow of conversation. 
It might have been an act, but I believed him. 

Chapter
Seventeen

I
definitely
had to find
a new hobby.  Staying up all night was starting to get plenty boring and downright lonely.  It was too late to practice, and missing classes had me without any homework to do. 
I drew up a T
o
D
o list
,
with ideas
on
how to spend my time, but nothing sounded good. 
With Bridget out with Rob and then at work, I had too many hours to fill before the dawn.  Too many hours to reflect on that kiss
in the alley
. 

Though I didn’t particularly need to, I took a long hot soak in the tub.  Instead of going for
Jane
Austin or
Margaret
Mitchell, I couldn’t help but pick up a different sort of classic to keep me company.  Louis and Lestat kept me entertained through two refills of the tub.  Thanks to my body’s new make up, I didn’t even get all pruny. 

Without anyone else home, I didn’t particularly worry about walking from the bathroom to my bedroom without a robe.  I was still winding the towel around my body as I reached my room
,
and froze as I found Bishop standing there by the window.  We stared at each other across the room, and I wasn’t sure which one of us was more embarrassed. 

“You said come over…”
H
e turned his back, shoulders stiff and rigid.

“I said I needed to talk to you, I didn’t say anything about popping into my bedroom uninvited,” I hissed, fingers clumsily scrabbling to tuck the end of the towel in. 

“I didn’t think you’d be so… naked.”

“Where else should I be naked but in my own bedroom?” I muttered, digging into my dresser to look for something to put on.  Even though I was reasonably covered up, I still felt plenty vulnerable
in just the towel
.  I settled for a simple white nightgown with pretty eyelet lace around the bodice.  While my comfy pj’s still felt nice against the skin, I found I didn’t crave the warmth as much, especially after a hot bath.  I didn’t even need to sleep with socks on anymore. 

“I’m sorry, I should have knocked first.  Maybe I should go…”

“Don’t be silly, you’re already here.” I caught his arm to keep him from going for the window and I felt his body tense at my touch.  “You couldn’t have seen much anyway
.
”
I tried to keep my voice light, but as he turned around, I had my doubts over how much he’d seen from the look on his face. 

“Right,” he nodded, eyes sweeping over my body with undisguised hunger and I wondered if the nightgown had been the right choice.  Maybe I should have gone with a
Snuggie
?  It might have made things easier for both of us.  All too soon
,
he regained his composure and the moment passed.  “You ah, you said you needed to talk to me about something important?”

“Oh right.  Is there anything you want to tell me about where you went last night after I saw you at the club?”  I could tell he hadn’t
expected
that question at all by the way his brow crumpled in confusion. 

“No, should there be?”

“No violent altercations I should know about?”

“I didn’t say that, but I’m not in the habit of having to account for my time or my actions to anyone,” he replied sternly.

“I’m not in the habit of having the police show up at my door accusing me of murder either, so I suppose it’s a night for new things.”

“Who did you kill?”

Something about the way he asked it really irked me.  No surprise whatsoever that someone had died.  As though he fully expected me to be capable of such a thing and was merely annoyed at being dragged into it.  “No, that’s what I’m asking you,” I scowled. 

“It just so happens that I didn’t kill anyone,” he scowled back
.
“
L
ast night.” 

“Well someone did, and the police came here to ask me about it.”

“Why do they think you’re involved?”

“Because it was my ex,
Trent
who was murdered.”  I launched into a brief rehash of the conversation with Detective
Lucas
, grateful to see I had his interest at least, and that annoyed look had disappeared from his face. 

“What do you think, does that sound like a vampire related death?”

“It could be.  Anytime you see neck trauma, it’s a fair assumption, but you don’t normally see that with a beating.  Torture yes, but not a general beating.” 

I didn’t want to know about his experience with torture, and gladly glossed over that.  “You really don’t know anything about it?”

“No, I give you my word, the guy wasn’t even on my radar.  Though it sounds like maybe he should have been,” he frowned.

“
Is it possible that I killed him and blanked it out?
”  The question
had
plagued
me for the past couple of hours. 

“
I’ve never heard of that happening before, but I suppose it’s possible
,” he shrugged.  “Look, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.  The cops don’t have anything on
you
,
you said he didn’t even really suspect you.  I’m actually a little more worried about this guy that showed up at the auditorium that same night.  You said you didn’t get a very good look at him?”

“No, he was half in the shadows, but I could tell he was tall, and I did see he had blonde hair and blue eyes.  Though how I could have managed to see his eye color from such a distance is beyond me.” 

“I’m starting to think you only saw what he wanted you to see.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it’s very unusual for you not to remember the vampire that turned you.  It’s not that strange to be disoriented at first, but there’s no reason to block it out entirely.” 

“I’m sorry.  I wish I could remember him
,
but… I’ve got nothing.  Just a jumbled dream, and I still didn’t get a good look at his face, or hear a name.” 

Bishop was silent for long seconds as he paced the length of my bedroom.  Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I toweled off the damp edges of my hair while he wrestled with it.  “You did well with what you told the police
,
though I would have rather you’d kept The Hart out of it.  Thanks for keeping my name out as well.” 

“I figured you and Aleksandr probably wouldn’t want the police poking around in your business.”

His face changed at the mention of the Russian, the cold mask reasserting itself
,
and I braced myself for the mood swing I knew couldn’t be far behind.  “Something came for you from Kursik,” he said softly, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small envelope. 

“For me?  How did you get it?”

“He must have checked up on you.  My address is listed as your residence, remember?”

“Oh, right, thank you,” I nodded, accepting the stiff envelope
,
immediately tearing into it.  Inside was a small white card covered in smooth, flowing script.

Something to remind you of the old days.  I look forward to spending new days in your lovely company.  Please do me the honor of joining me tomorrow night for cocktails.   Eternally your servant - Aleksandr

“Huh.  He wants me to meet him for drinks tomorrow night.”

“That’s not all he wants,” Bishop muttered.

“
Huh
?  What do you think he means, ‘something to remind you of the old days’?”

“He also sent over this.”  He
produced
a black lacquer box with a gold clasp.  With a surge of excitement, I opened it, the breath whistling through my teeth as I beheld the ornately carved cuff bracelet worked in gold. 

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, immediately slipping it onto my wrist.  I wasn’t any kind of expert, but it looked like an original piece, very old and very valuable.  The symbols on it reminded me of my ring
,
and upon comparison, some of them were
identical
. 

Bishop’s face gave nothing away, but his voice sounded strained.  “It’s… I had no idea he… I didn’t think it was his to give,” he managed to get out.

“Why?  Do you recognize this piece?”

“Yes, it belonged to my Sire.  But I haven’t seen it for a long, long time.”

“Your Sire?”  My mouth dropped open in surprise.  I’m not sure why, but I hadn’t expected his
S
ire to be a woman.  Of course it made perfect sense, but it threw me for a loop.  “Maybe she gave it to him?”

“She must have.”

“You don’t think he took it, do you?  I’d hate to accept a gift that shouldn’t belong to me.”

“No, it’s yours, it’s right that you should keep it.”  His eyes remained fixed on my wrist.

“If you say so,” I replied, watching him carefully.  “So you know Aleksandr then?  From way back?”

“Not very well, it’s been fifty years easy since I last laid eyes on him, but I’ve seen a dozen vampires like him.  Ruthless, power hungry
,
he’s not to be trusted.”  There definitely wasn’t any love lost between them, but I wasn’t sure why. 

“I’ll keep that in mind then.”

“Wait, you’re not going out with him, are you?”
H
is expression darkened.

“Why not?  Maybe
he’ll have some answers for me
, look at this thing.  It’s obvious he’s got connections with the older vamps.  I’m hoping I can get him to talk to me a little about them.”

“
I don’t think he’s interested in you for conversation
.”

“
Does that surprise you?  That a rich, powerful man might want to spend time with me?
”

“
Vampire.  Not a man, it
’
s not the same thing at all
.”  Bishop
seemed
more and more agitated, and I could tell he was scraping for an argument to talk me out of it. 

“S
o what?  I’m a vampire too.  I’m stronger than I look, remember?  I’m sure I’ll be fine. 
Besides,
I have a feeling he might know something about who my
S
ire is
.”

“He thinks you’re hundreds of years old, remember?  He’ll find your game of twenty questions suspicious.  Besides, Kursik won’t have any more information than I do.”

“You don’t know that, Bishop.  I still think it’s worth a shot.”

“
Don’t do this
, A
nja
.”  His hands slid up my bare arms as his voice took on a pleading cast, and I fought what those eyes did to me. 

“
Can you give me a reason, any reason at all why I shouldn’t
go on a date with the rich, good looking vampire who wants to ply me with gifts
?
”  To be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to Aleksandr since that night, especially not after the kiss in the alley with Bishop. 
Kursik
might
be
attractive, but he also scared the hell out of me.  Okay
,
so I was using the invitation to try and provoke a response from Bishop, but it was the only tool I had at my disposal. 

“I told you, h
e’s dangerous
.”

“
That’s not what I mean
.  Can you give me a reason to hope for anything better?”  My eyes pleaded with him to forget his silly objections and admit he felt something for me too.  Something more than obligation
,
or the heat of the blood.  I felt his thumbs brush across my skin, and for a moment I thought he might break, but he was more stubborn than I gave him credit for. 

“I can’t.”

“Then you don’t get to tell me who I can and can’t go out with.” I pulled away from his hold before I did something stupid like try to smack him.  Or possibly kiss him.  When I turned around again, he was gone. 

*
*
*

The next evening I awoke to find I’d accidentally demolished my alarm clock.  Either that or Bridget
came
in and smashed it and I hadn’t moved a muscle.  My last class of the day was long over, but I still had time to make it to rehearsal if I didn’t take too long getting ready.  I
would
have to figure out what to do about school before they tossed me out.  Maybe sooner than later, as I saw I had a voicemail from my mother. 

I seriously considered deleting it without listening to it
,
because I knew I’d be tempted to call her once I heard her voice.  Curiosity won out, and I listened to it anyway. 

“Baby, the Dean called today.  He said you’ve been out sick for a couple of days, are you alright?  I hope you’re taking your vitamins
,
and did you try that new tea I sent you?  I hope it’s nothing too serious, you need to take care of your instrument, sweetheart, it’s your gift.  Give
us
a call when you get a chance, and let me know if I should come up with some soup and those bath crystals you like.”