Darkling (21 page)

Then, there was a small silence, and when he spoke, I wasn’t sure why he had decided to tell me that.

“I was next to her when she did it,” he said, and I knew he meant of Belun’s sister. An odd tension began to appear, but he cut it.

“But no more of that, when you smell so good.” He sounded as casual as ever, but there was no grin on his face. “Well?”

My smile was unsure. “AB negative.”

“No, there’s more to it than that.” He shook his head. “It’s
virgin
AB negative.” He smiled.

“How could you know that? Can you smell it or what?”

He laughed. “No. I knew the first time I saw you.”

“So I became a mission?” I said, laughing, and he smacked my head lightly with his finger. Doris arrived, dragging me away, and this time I shot him an apologetic look.

“Is there something I should know about you and Set?”

“I don’t know, is there?”

She shoved me happily. “Bitch. I can’t find Aidan.”

“Why would you, the pool’s full of fish,” I laughed. My breath still tasted like that lovely cocktail. We checked around the other rooms, looking through the plants.

“There he is!” I heard her exclaim, leaving me at the private part of the pool, surrounded by tropical plants that looked like different kinds of palm bushes.

It was a nice part of the pool—empty. I was looking into the blue reflection of the water when I felt someone’s presence behind me. I thought it was Set with a new round of mojitos; but, turning around, I found the perfect body of Andrei Belun dressed in black swim shorts. His hair was wet and messy, and some drops trailed over his chest. I couldn’t look away from him, like a fly caught in glue. He came near me.

When I looked up from his chest, I expected to see anger in his eyes, but there was a crooked grin waiting for me instead. He probably liked me drooling over him. Smug. He came closer, his grin growing. My arms flew his way, pushing him into water.

As soon as he was in, I pulled off my dress and jumped in after him.

Chapter 13

The attack

I emerged at the surface right next to him. Belun smiled and dragged me down again, using his legs. The bubbles of my breath rushed up and I slapped at his face with my waving hand. I felt his nose and his lips under my palm, and when he let me, I brushed against him, moving my arm around him in a hug.

I felt him against me. His strong marble chest jolted under my skin. I placed my arm firmly on his back, which brought him even closer to me. I wanted his skin over mine, everywhere on me. The green of his eyes was intense in its softness. He moved me away, but not far, his hand around my waist while he eased us to the edge of pool.

I grabbed the side and, turning toward him, I saw where I had bitten him. It wasn’t red anymore; it had changed into something darker.

“Is it healing or getting worse?”

“Healing,” he said.

“What did the others say?”

“They probably noticed, but no one asked me. Which is good as I don’t like lying.”

“And what would the lie be if someone did ask?”

“That I scratched an old injury and it got infected.”

“Hah, I expected something better.”

“Something like: I was bitten by a rabid Inquirer?”

“Yeah, that’s more like it.” We laughed.

“There you are!” Doris showed up out of nowhere. “Come on, we snagged a hot tub!”

Belun first helped me from the pool and then lifted himself out in the most elegant way I’d ever seen.

“Doris, what do you think about his infection?” I showed Belun’s injury, hiding a sly grin.

“It’s nasty.”

He pinched me on my back, but Doris was already walking ahead of us.

Aidan was enjoying the warm bubbles, and when I got in, I could feel them bouncing off my body. Belun’s arm was next to mine.

“Divine,” Doris sighed, losing herself in pleasure.

I leaned back my head and closed my eyes. The warm water babbled on as the image of Belun’s almost naked body filled my thoughts. He hadn’t even been that naked in that dream of mine . . . .

Then I opened my eyes; something was off. Something inside me. Seeing the four of us like that, as if we were on a double date . . . My anxiety started to grow. No one seemed to notice my mood change, but they all followed me with their eyes when I left the tub. I ignored them.

I noticed Set talking with a redhead girl. What was that cocktail’s name?

“Set?” I approached them.

“Yes, angel?”

“What was that cocktail you ordered?”

He smiled and went to the bar. I hadn’t meant to bother him, but okay.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean . . .” I said to the girl, indicating between the bar and Set.

“It’s okay,” she said shyly. She was pretty and delicate, and I hadn’t seen her before. Looking at her, I felt some strange strength in me.

“I’m Nika.”

“Lara.” She took my hand gently, and, for some reason, I didn’t let her hand go until she lowered her gaze.

“See you,” I said to her, heading toward the bar.

I walked near the edge of the pool, feeling water under my feet. Set held two drinks, and, seeing me coming his way, returned to the bar. Then I felt something splash on my stomach. Something red.

“Oh, oops, I’m sorry!” It was Simona’s voice, and in her hand was an empty wine glass. She stood there, innocently blinking her vicious eyes. But she had me in the wrong mood.

“Bitch,” I said quietly, pushing her into water without any effort. She squeaked as she and her golden sandals flew backwards with a splash.

I moved on, not even looking back.  I heard chuckles behind me. Set greeted me, his eyes wide.

“No drinks for you.”

He was joking, I hoped, because I really wanted that sweet taste in my mouth. So I grabbed his wrist, squeezing it. Uneasiness crossed his eyes.

“Okay, don’t get mad,” he said, giving me the cocktail. I let go his wrist and sat on a bar stool, reaching for some napkins to dry off my stomach.

“What did wet Simona do?”

“She was in my way.” My voice had an edge in it.

“Or you were in hers.”

At his insinuation, my eyes shot through him, which made him laugh a bit. He drew his finger over my stomach, taking the last drop of wine and licking it.

“Mmm, that wine is older than you, but it’s tastier this way.”

There was something in the way he had touched my skin. I felt totally drawn to him, staring at his lips. Suddenly he stopped grinning.

“Nika?”

I looked up obnoxiously. Why bother with eyes when the lips were so much juicier?

“Yes?”

“You’re weird,” he said.

“You’re imagining it.”

I expected a grin, but it didn’t show up. Set only looked at me warily. But still, I turned back to his lips. They were not like Belun’s but they were lighter and less complicated.

“Maybe you really shouldn’t drink anymore.” He went for my glass, but I was faster, placing it out of his reach.

“And maybe you should relax,” I said. An insecure smile crossed his lips. I felt a shadow pass over my eyes. I looked at him like a predator looking his prey.

“Angel, I think we switched roles.”

“What’s so bad about that?”

His insecurity became more apparent, and when I took his hand, his face tightened.

“You like the redhead?”

“What?” he was confused.

“Lara. So tender and sweet.”

“Weird time to mention tenderness,” he said, feeling my pressure on his wrist again.

“Did she get the flower yet?” I grinned, and he seemed perplexed. This was fun!

“It’s only for special girls.”

“But she’s your type. So fragile and innocent looking, just like you like them.”

He didn’t reply and I moved closer.

“What charms do you use on your own race?”

He looked at me, bewildered by my behavior, while I glared into his dark eyes provocatively.

“C’mon, you can be more fun,” I whispered.

“Doris!” he exclaimed, an odd relief in his tone.

“Come on girl, we’re leaving,” she told me, looking strangely at Set.

I released my grip gently, and winked at him. He still looked confused.

“What did you do to frighten him that much?” Mia asked when we entered the locker room.

“Except pushing Simona into the pool, of course.” She was chuckling at the thought, and Doris eyed us curiously.

“Hon, she ruined your bikini,” I explained, showing the red on fabric. She lowered her gaze seeing the stains.

“You can really surprise me, girl,” she smiled, putting her arm around my waist. “Why did you leave us?”

“I went for a drink.”

Doris insisted on driving, which meant the back seats were filled with me, Belun, Mia and Bryn. I’d arrived at the car last again, and when I saw Belun I grinned.
Hell yeah!
Not waiting for his invitation, I sat on his lap, putting my hand behind his neck. The heat in me grew with his proximity. I felt good and powerful, and I didn’t know what the others talked about because I had only one thing on my mind.

I leaned on my arm, closing the distance between us. This time, I felt his hardness under me much better. It was just awakening. Mmm. I pressed lightly against it, expecting him to move me at any second. He didn’t. He looked at me with a blurred expression; maybe from the swimming pool, maybe not. I didn’t lose any time and pushed against him again, his arm loosely went around me in a casual hug. However, there was nothing casual about his face.

I wanted him to press me strongly against himself, just like in my dream. I didn’t want tenderness, dove eyes and light caresses. I wanted passion.

His eyes never left mine.

“Nika,” he whispered, torment and pleasure mixed in one.

“Say it again.” My lips brushed his ear.

“Don’t.” I heard his barely audible whisper, but my answer was to press against him again, a bit harder this time.

“Nika,” he breathed, and his gaze intensified.

“That’s better,” I said.

His fingers squeezed my hips. We stayed like that for a second and then he moved me away. I didn’t mind it this time because he seemed completely lost in me. Perfect. A grin played at the corners of my lips.

When we arrived, he walked quickly away from me. Mia pulled my sleeve.

“Calm down,” she said, smiling, and I didn’t know what she meant or wanted.

It seemed that nobody else had noticed our little erotic drama in the car. The others chattered away, saying things to me as well, but I couldn’t hear them. There was a shadow in my eyes and I actually knew what I wanted. And that had nothing to do with talking to them in front of the building.

I went inside, looking for him.

Almost everyone was downstairs near the fireplace, chatting and laughing. I caught the slight smell of gasoline in the air and, looking around, saw a gas can on the kitchen island, right next to the bowl with oranges and lemons. Who had brought it here? I had thought there were better ways of making the fireplace work. Belun wasn’t there, so I went upstairs.

There were many closed doors, and since I didn’t know which was his, I nervously strode around the hall. Then Set arrived.

“Set.”

“Angel. You feeling better?” He stood at the top of the stairs, and I approached him, fixing him with my stare.
He’ll do.

I shoved him toward a window seat that was to our right.

“No, not really,” I said, pushing him to sit, my hand touching the silk crimson pillows behind him.

Set’s expression was like the one earlier at the bar, a grin of confusion and worry. I liked that, and, leaning my head closer, I put his hand on my thigh. His grin faded when I started moving it upwards, feeling its chill on my warm skin. He placed his hand on mine, undecidedly trying to move it in the opposite direction.

“Nika, don’t. I think . . .”

“I’ve already heard that.” Then I brought his head and started to kiss him. Moments later, he was passionately responding, so I straddled him, sitting on his lap.

“Nika . . .”

“We’re not here to talk.” There was an angry edge in my voice, and my fingernails dug into his neck. I had no control over myself. Fury. Passion. Passion! Fury!

Then there was a sudden pain in my chest, as if a spear had shot through me. I cried out, stepping away from Set.

Belun. Belun! My mind yelled just before I heard someone else’s scream coming from outside. A darkness inside me grew, feeding off the situation, and I started to act without thinking. Something deeper and much older than me was leading my body.

I ran downstairs; everyone was disturbed, but no one knew what was happening. No one, except me. As I eyed the gasoline can, my hand just reached out and grabbed it, taking a lighter as well. Then I hurried outside, hearing another cry.

Aidan was trying to keep himself and the girls away from two enormous creatures. They looked like very strong and tall bums, with long oily hair and shabby clothes. Then there was a pained cry—Belun! He was a couple feet away from the three, fighting with another Vocati, while the fourth one was attacking him from behind. That one was my target!

I ran toward him, jumping and spilling the gasoline over him, setting it on fire with a flick of the lighter. The flame immediately spread, eating every part of his—its—body and freeing Belun’s neck from its grasp. The Vocati let out an awful cry and took off toward the woods.

Belun seemed to be handling the Vocati he was fighting, so I ran toward Aidan, jumping the Vocati that was aiming for the girls. I landed square on its back, and, using my full strength, I put its head in a vice grip. The Vocati was trying to shake me off, but I had wrapped my legs around him and wasn’t going anywhere! Then Belun showed up from behind and stuck a silver dagger dead in its chest. Its body went still for a second before crashing to the ground. Ever the Warrior, Belun caught me in his arms before I fell.

When Aidan had killed the last of them, he looked around, checking for damage and potential enemies. But we were alone. We were safe. And then he gave me the strangest look that anybody had ever given me. Bryn was sobbing, and Mia and Doris were frozen, too terrified to do anything.