Roar (Witches & Warlocks Book 3) (7 page)

I give myself another little jolt of energy. I’ll pay extra for that in the morning, but I’d rather be on my game tonight, I think. Noah turns around in his seat and stares at me, eyebrows crinkling together in that way that means he’s concerned and trying not to judge.

“You OK?” he asks.

“Just getting myself ready for this.” He can just go ahead and judge. He’s not the one who’s gotta be vamp bait.

When we finally arrive at the club, we decide to enter in stages. Luke, then Noah after a few minutes, while I wait, trying not to shiver in the car that’s quickly getting colder. I’m sure they’re busy scouting the place, getting a feel for how this Andrew works, but I can’t help but worry that they were ambushed and are dead in a bathroom already.

My phone vibrates in my purse and I pull it out, relieved to see the all clear from Noah. I should have known they’d be ok. Just as I’m putting my phone away, it vibrates again. Another text. This one from Luke.

I found him. Second floor. Zoe? Be careful. He’s not alone.

Chapter Eight

Well, what the hell does that mean? I wait for my phone to go off again, wait for Luke to give me more information. Nothing. Nada. I even text him back and wait, but as the goosebumps start to prickle over my skin and my phone continues to be silent in my hand, I just give up and head on in. Luke’s either being a jerk or he has a good reason for being so dramatic. Either way, I can’t expect much help from him.

As I push through the doors of Pulse, it’s everything I thought it would be. All smooth lines and subtle lighting. Comfy chairs and well stocked bars. The music is inviting but not obtrusive and the dance floor just begs to be used. Which it most definitely is. It’s throbbing with bodies, all encased in high fashion clothing and expensive hair. I’m glad I used magic on mine, I don’t think I could have done it well enough to fit in otherwise.

I scan the place, looking for the stairs. What’s up there? Will I look out of place wandering up there, a girl all alone and there’s nothing but a private party or something? I decide to grab a drink before I head up, just in case I need an explanation if it turns out that the second floor is by invitation only. Gee mister, I’m sorry. This drink is just so
strong
. Teehee.

I thread my way through the crowd and have a moment to appreciate the design of the place. Pulse is packed. But the way they’ve laid out the tables and chairs makes it easy enough to navigate and I don’t have to turn sideways to push past someone even once. Not at all like Flannigan’s. Speaking of not at all like Flannigan’s, I’m thinking I should go with something a little more elegant than a beer, probably something with liquor in it in case I do need to use my too much to drink excuse. With the vamp’s increased sense of smell, I’m gonna need alcohol on my breath to add a layer of reality to my story.

I take a seat at the bar and realize that I have no idea what kind of drink to order. I could go with wine, but that gives me a headache and I’m already going to have one in the morning thanks to those two little zaps of energy I gave myself tonight. This is most definitely a conundrum.

“Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”

I’d been so busy studying the wall of bottles behind the bar that I didn’t notice the bartender watching me. I’m confused by her statement and I guess my face shows it.

She laughs a little and I find myself smiling despite my confusion. “The face you’re making” she says. “It doesn’t exactly say ‘having a great night at Pulse’.”

Now I’m smiling in earnest. “Oh, well …” I pause, wondering what to say and decide to go with the truth. “I’m trying to impress someone and want to look sophisticated and I don’t think a bottle of beer’s gonna do it.”

“Ahh.” She smiles knowingly and for just a second she reminds me of Becca. The old Becca. The one who was my friend. The one with gorgeous brown hair and a twinkle in her eye. “Well now things are starting to make sense.”

“Can you help me?”

“If I couldn’t, I’d be pretty bad at my job, now wouldn’t I?”

“That’s true.”

“Alright. Stand up. Let me look at you.” She makes a little shooing motion and then twirls her finger like she expects me to pivot in front of her. I’m frozen to my chair, suddenly incredibly uncomfortable.

The woman laughs again. “This drink. It’s less about you drinking something you like and more about looking the part, right?” I just nod. “Well, let me see you so I can decide which drink will work best for you.”

I’m still frozen. Totally uncomfortable. It’s like old Zoe is back with a passion, locked up in a swell of self-consciousness.

“I get it. I’m a stranger. Never take candy from strangers. How about if I introduce myself. My name is Maile” she pronounces it May-lee, “and I’m here to help. What’s your name?” I think coming from anybody else, I’d be totally offended, but coming from her, it’s just sweet and endearing.

“Zoe,” I say before I wonder if I should give a fake name. Shit. You’d think I’d be better at this whole subterfuge and intrigue thing by now. Oh, well. In for a penny, in for a pound. I slide off my chair and do a slow three-sixty before she has a chance to see the surge of anxiety I feel at having given my real name flash across my face.

“I’d whistle, but I get the feeling you’re not into having lots of attention on you.”

“You can say that again.

Maile asks me a few questions about what I generally like to drink and gives me another winning smile. “A Jack and Ginger. That’s what you need. Not too sweet. A little bubbly. Rough enough around the edges to offset that whole super shy sex kitten thing you’ve got going on.”

Sex kitten? Me?

A couple minutes later, I’m heading away from the bar with a drink that’s actually not that bad. Strong. But not bad. I’ll have to be careful here or I’ll end up a little too tipsy for safety. I take a trip around the bottom floor of Pulse, trying to get a feel for the layout, desperate to find Luke and Noah in case I end up needing help. Luke’s nowhere to be seen, but Noah’s perched on a seat near the stairs trying to deflect conversation from a girl who’s most definitely had too much to drink. I smile, tip my Jack and Ginger his way, and head up to the second floor.

This idea’s been blossoming in my head since they left me alone in the car. This idea that might be a little dangerous, but might have such a huge payoff that the danger is worth it. I don’t like being Daya’s weapon. Well, Barnabe’s weapon. Whoever’s weapon we are, I don’t like it. And Noah hates this even more than I do. This whole trained killer thing weighs so heavily on him.

Thing is, we were raised to be assassins. Not just any assassins. Vampire assassins. And we’ll continue to have missions like this until Lucy is dead. I’m sure of it. That
has
to be the end game here. And since Noah made it clear this evening that there really is a chance for us to work things out, well, I’m very much interested in trying to speed things along.

So here’s the thing. I can’t help but think that if I can make Andrew human again, I could get into his head before anyone notices. And if I’m in his head, I might discover where Lucy hides out. And then, maybe the guys and I will have a little side mission. Just go take care of Lucy without having to work our way up her food chain first. And then we can finally be free.

Like I said, a lot of if’s and maybe’s but I’m really sick of sitting around, waiting for Daya and Barnabe to finish using us so we can get on with our lives. Despite what they seem to think, this is my life and since I’ve never really gotten to experience living for myself — since, you know, my entire life was constructed to make me a weapon for Barnabe and Daya to use — I’m very ready to go ahead and make my own personal mark on the rest of the years stretching before me.

Turns out the second floor of Pulse is not reserved for private parties, thank goodness. Not going to need my silly drunken girl excuse after all. There’s another bar up here, but to be honest, I liked Maile so much, I might head back downstairs if I need a refill. There’s also an array of tables and chairs scattered around the floor and some plush sofas tucked back against the wall.

I choose a table near the half wall overlooking the dance floor. At least that’ll give me something to look at, so I don’t look too out of place and inconspicuous sitting up here all alone. Luke wanders up the stairs, his arm snaked around the waist of a teensy little red head in an even teensier little red dress. He leads her over to one of the sofas and I follow their path across the room, mostly because I’m looking for Andrew but also because I’m not sure I trust Luke to keep an eye out for me if he’s gonna be … ummm … distracted.

Whatever. Luke’s an ass. I wish Noah would come up so I’d feel safer. Although, if I’m honest, he’s probably paying better attention to me from downstairs than Luke is from just across the room. I take another swig of my drink and am turning back to watch the dance floor when I find Andrew.

He’s sitting at a table with three other people.

Shit.

My heart sinks.

Not people.

Those are vampires.

As if this wasn’t going to stressful enough.

His table is off to the side and behind me a little. I sit back and shift in my seat so I can see him out of the corner of my eye and he has a chance to see my profile rather than the back of my head. I’d love to be blatant and stare, you know, get a better idea of who he’s with and what he’s doing — but I really don’t think that’s the best course of action. I take another drink and pull my hair over my shoulder, trying to catch his attention with movement.

It’s crazy, but I feel it the moment his gaze lands on me. These two little icy pinpricks of silver on my shoulder. Channeling everything I’ve ever seen about a woman catching a man’s attention, I look towards him, catch his eyes on me, smile as I drop my own eyes to the table. You can’t fake a blush, but thankfully I don’t have to. I come ready equipped with my own. After giving him a minute to see the red fan its way across my face — and even in the dark I know he can see it — I turn back to the dance floor.

My pulse thunders in my ears. My ears! Since when can you hear your own pulse? And my breath is running a little ragged, my chest heaving. I wish Noah was upstairs. I want to know I’ve got someone at my back if things go wrong because I’m not so sure I’ve got what it takes to pull this off.

I take another drink.

OK. Gonna have to ease off on that because my little Jack and Ginger is way stronger than I gave it credit for. I need my wits about me and if I keep drinking like this, I’m gonna leave my wits somewhere in my glass.

So what now? I’m here. He’s there. I’m blonde and he likes that. He’s seen me looking at him and I’ve seen him looking at me. What the hell else am I supposed to do? Do I turn back around? Do I wait? I’m sure as hell not gonna walk up and ask if I can have a seat. I couldn’t do that if he were alone. I most definitely can’t do that with three other vampires at the table.

I take another drink.

Shit. I gotta stop that.

My hands are sweaty.

My throat is dry.

My heart is still pounding away in my ears and it’s the most unnerving thing ever.

And those two, silvery pinpricks of ice are dancing all over my shoulder again.

This isn’t gonna work. Not like this. Not with me being a panicked mess, not worthy of the trust everyone’s placed in me. I take a breath in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. I use the condensation on my glass to wet my hands and dry them off on the napkin Maile gave me to set my drink on.

I’m gonna turn around. I’m gonna look Andrew in the eyes and I’m gonna smile. I’m gonna play with my hair while I do it. Maybe run a finger over my collarbone, linger near the vein in my neck I’m sure he’s going to be watching for.

Except suddenly, I don’t have to.

Because he’s standing right in front of me.

Chapter Nine

“Hello little witch.”

I gasp and Andrew smiles.

“Oh, come now,” he says and has a seat across from me, leaning forward on his elbows, his face too close to mine. “I know what you are just the same way you know what I am. And same with them.” He indicates his friends at the table behind me and I can feel more little silvery pinpricks dancing across my back. “They know. You know. We all know so much about each other.”

What do I say to that? I’m busy wondering just how
much
he knows. Maybe all he knows is that I’m a witch. Or, maybe he knows that I’m a witch who’s also an assassin. I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t bring that part up. You know, just in case he doesn’t already know I’m here to kill him.

“What about your friends?” Andrew asks.

Oh, shit does he know about Luke and Noah? “What friends?” I ask, thankful my voice is steady. Quiet. But steady nonetheless.

“Oh, you sweet little thing.” Andrew indicates Luke and Little Red Ride-me-hood over in the corner. Any other day, his expression would have pissed me off, but with the sharp tips of his teeth poking through his smile, and my hands trembling where they hold my glass, I think I’m too scared to be mad. “I saw your face as you watched them get all cozy in the corner,” Andrew continues. “It stings a little, doesn’t it?”

For a split second, I have not one clue as to what he’s talking about. Then I get it and relief floods through me. He thinks I came here with Luke and he’s chosen that Barbie doll over me. I don’t think Andrew knows any more about me than that I’m a witch and I’m sitting alone while Luke has company. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna get clumsy. It’s just a relief to know my life expectancy hasn’t decreased to mere seconds.