A Tempest In The Night Part 27

Ilida burst out laughing at Beverly's nonsense. "Would you get out of here, please?"

Beverly gave a guttural laugh as she sauntered out of her office. "Oh, hey, did you bring your toothbrush for tonight?"

"What's tonight?" she slapped her forehead when it dawned on her. "Oh c.r.a.p! I forgot."

"I'm going to get breakfast I'll get you a toothbrush."

"Thanks, Bev'. You seem to know my schedule better than I do."

"Someone has to remind you."

"Yeah, right."

Tonight Ilida had the misfortune of being the overnight counselor. She also had the misfortune of missing Daedalus-as much as she wanted to forget him, it wasn't working. He managed to penetrate every corner of her consciousness.

Four nights ago-they always met at night-they'd met for the last time. They'd disclosed they wanted different things out of a relations.h.i.+p. He wanted s.e.x without attachments and Ilida wanted a relations.h.i.+p and s.e.x with a normal non-psychic person. They'd made love, which probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. So why did she continue to feel it after four days. Why was she falling in love with him?

She checked her watch. Twelve on the dot. She had to check all the residents to see if they were in their rooms, fast asleep. She tiptoed down the wooden stairs that creaked horribly no matter how light your step was. She opened the door to the first room on her left. Two girls, Mandy and Ricci, occupied it. They were sleeping. Mandy had kicked off her covers. Ilida tiptoed into the room, pulled the covers up, and tucked her in. Ricci snored. Smiling, Ilida closed the door behind her.

She checked the room to the right. Two boys occupied the room. They were sleeping. They were all in their beds, so far. She checked the last room on the floor. The room Mike and Tim occupied.

She steadied her hand and pushed the door open. Tim was in his bed sleeping. Mike...wasn't in his. She squatted down, bent over to peer under his bed. No Mike. "s.h.i.+t!"

She pulled up the shade and saw Mike jumping over shrubs, running like a criminal on Cops. After hurriedly telling Sally what happened, she left her in charge then ran out of Tilly to her car.

"Let's take mine it's more reliable."

"Gauge. I forgot you were here."

"I didn't think I was unforgettable."

f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k! If only she'd monitored everyone telepathically, but if she'd done that it would have given her a headache. That kid!

Ilida?

Inwardly she groaned. The night was getting better by the minute. Daedalus would kill her after she told him how lax she was. Ilida concentrated hard and forced a wall between her thoughts and Daedalus's.

Mike ran with incredible speed. She'd never seen anyone run so far. What was more remarkable was that she could make him out through the blur.

Six miles later, they trailed Mike to the Long Island Railroad. After they paid their ticket, they slumped low in their seats. That time of the night the train cars were full but not crowded.

Wetness ran down her back. d.a.m.n kid!

"You have to tell Daedalus."

"I know."

After almost an hour she felt safe enough to send her thoughts outward looking to Daedalus.

What can I do for you, Ilida?

His voice cool and remote. His emotions controlled. She shouldn't be surprised; it was her idea to not see him again. She probably interrupted his time with some blonde. Mike ran away from Tilly and we're following him.

By car?

We're on the Long Island Railroad. It looks like he might be going to Brooklyn or the City.

How did he get away?

He was on my watch when he slipped out. I'm sorry.

Be my eyes.

He cut off contact but Ilida could feel him shadowing her thoughts-seeing what she was seeing.

Chapter Nineteen

f.u.c.king Kid!

After piggy backing onto Ilida's thoughts-seeing and feeling through her eyes-I followed Mike to a club. h.e.l.l's Kitchen Ninth and Thirtieth Street. I told Ilida to go back to Tilly and I'd handle Mike.

I should have known Mike would pull something like this. The Red Queen drug must still be in his blood stream after I purged it from his body and going through the detox. f.u.c.king drug!

Mike walked fast, with purpose. His chain swung back and forth as he swaggered. He pulled up his hood. There were only two clubs in this radius-one human, and the other vampire. I needed backup just in case. I searched him out using an impersonal pathway.

Barry?

I thought I wasn't supposed to start yet?

You aren't. Barry my older brother's newest acolyte. He was a cop before his curiosity got the better of him and got him a sizable bite on his neck. Luckily, Alec and Tania found him and changed him. The one who bit him has not been found yet. Are you still with the NYPD?

Yeah, until Friday.

I need you to keep the police diverted for a while.

What's going on?

Possibly an impromptu drug bust. Mike turned the corner as I cut off contact with Barry Chen and then I saw my nightmare, Ilida Davis, run around the corner after him with Gauge behind her. I bunched my fist. I told her to go back to work.

Gauge shouldn't fight. Not here, where he could go into a cannibalistic fury.

I'll take it from here, Gauge.

I can help.

Not now and you now why.

Call me if you need me.

I sprinted across the street. She argued with the bouncer. She didn't know the pa.s.sword. She got in his face then jumped back. She couldn't move any further. A wrought iron handrail held her in place. The bouncer opened his mouth, hissed at her-aiming for her throat. She gut punched him, jabbing him alternately with both fists.

I jumped in front of her, s.h.i.+elding her from the bouncer. With my distended claws, I slashed him across the face. Blood flew outward. The sound of wet skin tearing satisfied my l.u.s.t for the fight. I slashed his chest next. His eyes widened with shock then anger. Copper filled the air.

I shoved him away with one hand, while with the other I unsheathed my sword. He fell backwards over the handrail. Then growling he flipped the iron handrail landing in front of me. Blood dripped down his face. His suit was soaked with blood.

Daedalus.

I'm in control.

You're feeding off my bloodl.u.s.t.

I was. I felt the surge of animal fury-the need to kill. I held my sword at his throat. No one touches my woman. Ilida came first and foremost.

Yes, think of Ilida.

Slash marks in a diagonal ran from the Bouncer's face to his chest. His facial bone peaked through the striated muscle.

"She's not your meal," I growled.

He blurted an expletive as his jaw dropped to the ground. He knew who I was. Word got around fast. Keeping the sword trained on his neck, I backed him down the stairs. Then he ran with preternatural speed down the block. I unleashed my fury on Ilida. "I told you to go back to work!"

She backed up, staring into my eyes.

"What?" d.a.m.n my eyes. I forgot.

She shook her head as she rubbed circles on her forehead, as if she could rub away what she saw. Stubborn woman.

"It's my fault Mike ran away. I have to bring him back."

I sheathed my sword, the panic still there as I thought of what the bouncer could have done to Ilida had I not been here. "This is a dangerous club."

"What was that all about?"

"He was about to get nasty."

"I was handling it! It's just a dance club." Her brown eyes glinted with urgent anger.

"You were about to..." I stopped myself remembering she doesn't know, or she's in serious deep denial. The bouncer showed her his fangs!

"Go back to work before someone else sees you." Ilida is one step closer to finding out my secret.

"The only place I'm going is in there."

"You can't go in there."

"It's just a club, Daedalus."

"You're determined aren't you? Take your coat off."

I waited for the argument; almost antic.i.p.ated it with joy.

Air streamed out of her mouth. Her heavy eyelashes fluttered. "Wh-? It's freezing! I'm not having s.e.x with you out here in the cold."

"I wouldn't dream of it. Take it off."

"I'm tempted to ask why."

"I have to rub my scent over you." Rub my scent, bite her. Same thing.

"I'm sorry I asked."

With suspicion in her eyes, she took it off. I'll say that I was surprised. She rarely listens.

I then took off my leather jacket. "Unzip your turtle neck."

I craned my neck around hers, rubbing my exposed skin on her. Her skin was cool and soft against my face. Her pulse beat against my eyes, nose, lips. I opened my mouth against her artery and tasted hot blood. Perspiration and her own pleasant odor were achingly familiar. I could swim in her, but I had to cut this short. Tame my desire. I licked her neck closing the wounds. As I lifted away from her, I met her eyes. They were soft and dreamy.

She cleared her throat and asked, "Are you done?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm done." So done, my c.o.c.k hurt.

"Should I stroke you and call you Felix the cat?"

Denial is an island. "s.h.i.+eld your thoughts. Let's get in there as un.o.btrusively as possible."

She stepped behind me. I opened the doors to the club. A cacophony of thoughts, sounds and lights a.s.saulted me. I quickly adjusted.

"Whoa!"

"You wanted to come in here."

Ilida stared at the woman blindfolded with black ribbon, naked and hanging by her wrist as two vampires sucked both her nipples. To an average observer it looked exactly like that, but I knew better. Another vampire joined them. He ate the vampiress while she screamed with her o.r.g.a.s.m.

The whole club smelled like s.e.x.

"Come on!'

Similar scenes made Ilida pause. A male vampire lying on his back while two vampiresses took turns sucking his c.o.c.k to the rhythm of an unknown techno beat.

I pulled her a long, pus.h.i.+ng through the throng of leather-clad, swaying, and gyrating bodies, expecting trouble. She had to come with me. If I left her on the dance floor looking innocent and human, she wouldn't last. I have to protect her in case there's trouble and that means she comes with me. That certifies there will be trouble.