The Lost Souls Dating Agency (20 page)

When I opened my eyes, I was back in the warehouse office and Will was sprinting towards me. ‘Oh, Shalini,' he nearly sobbed, ‘I thought I had lost you.' His arms surrounded me and I sank into a hug.

I realised we were both shaking.

‘Oh, Will…' I started to say, but my words choked. I thought about Uncle Varun and the League and everything at once…I dissolved completely into tears of sorrow, joy and fear.

‘Shh,' Will said softly as he held me close. ‘It's okay,' he continued to say as he stroked my head. He kissed me tenderly on the forehead.

When I finally stopped shaking, he asked gently, ‘Are you okay?'

I nodded and smiled at him gratefully.

He wiped a stray tear off my cheek with his thumb and rested his hand under my chin. His other hand moved into the small of my back. It sent a warm quiver through me. Slowly he pulled me closer until I could feel his breath just above my lips. ‘I should have done this a long time ago.' His voice was a gentle caress. As our lips finally touched, I closed my eyes, and forgot about everything but him.

***

When I heard the warehouse door open, I reluctantly untangled myself from Will's arms. He sighed and let me go.

‘Will?' I heard Roxanne's voice.

‘In here, Rox,' Will called out to her.

‘Did Finn get back to you about contacting…' she said as she walked in and then stopped dead when she saw me.

‘Oh, Shalini!' she shrieked, ‘thank goodness!' She ran towards me and for the second time, I was engulfed in a warm hug.

‘We didn't know what had happened to you,' she said breathlessly. ‘I was worried it was something awful. Though this young man here,' she beamed at Will, ‘refused to leave or give up hope.'

I looked at him shyly.

‘I rang Finn in a panic and he had no idea what could have happened. He said it didn't sound like were-business. But he said I should ring Steven anyway…' Will began.

‘When that red phone rang yesterday we nearly jumped out of our skins.' Roxanne said. ‘It was Steven and he said he got in touch with someone who might know where you were…Shalini, are you okay? You look a little flushed.' Roxanne looked at me with concern.

Was my face still glowing from our kiss, I wonder? I looked at Will, dimples prominently on display in his smile.

‘Where's Doris?' Roxanne asked suddenly.

I turned to her with upturned lips. It was time to tell them about my visit to The Mythical Weekly and Doris's new career choice. Oh and the reappearance of my uncle.

***

An hour later, the three of us were seated in my office.

‘Well it is the strangest things that sometimes make the most sense,' Roxanne said bewildered. ‘I wonder if the supernatural world is ready for Doris, the journalist.'

I'm pretty sure they were not.

‘I think the more important thing right now,' Will said with urgency, ‘is the Vampire League. Did your uncle say when they were coming?'

I shook my head.

‘How long does it take to go through the clock?' Roxanne asked fearfully.

‘A nanosecond,' I reassured her. ‘You'll be there before you know it.'

‘Why can't we just drive or take a plane to Sydney like everyone else?' She glanced at the mildly ticking clock uncertainly.

I ignored her.

‘I'm going to go home quickly and get a few things,' I said standing up. ‘You guys should too. I can't say how long we will be away…' I tried not to look too concerned. ‘I'll meet you both in an hour. Then I'll call Megan and Neha to explain and get them to come here too.'

‘You're not going anywhere alone.' Will jumped up from his seat. ‘I'm coming with you.'

There was no time to argue, so I agreed. ‘And I'm not moving from the safety of this warehouse!' Roxanne exclaimed. We left her waiting for us there.

Will and I ran all the way to my flat. We went past morning joggers, who gave us quizzical looks. We must have looked odd, red faced and running up the hill to my house, fully clothed in garments I had not changed in days and by the looks of it neither had Will. Had he left the warehouse to go home at all? Come to think of it, I knew very little about where he lived or his home. I decided it was the least of my concerns right now.

Will was much taller and fitter that me, and I plodded along after him as we ran to my flat. Halfway there, he took my hand in his and that spurred me on. We darted into my flat. I jumped into a hot shower, thinking about Will seated patiently in my living room, with only a wall separating us.
Don't think about that now
!
No time
!

I quickly changed into fresh clothes and felt better already. I collected the latest copy of The Mythical Weekly sitting on my coffee table and stuffed it into my laptop bag, in which I also placed my phone charger and a few packets of tea. Will teased me about my choice of essential items.

I locked the door and we jogged back to the warehouse.

As we turned the street corner, I stopped dead in my tracks. Will was ahead of me and stopped too. He looked back at me. Two men were inspecting the warehouse office door. They wore dark grey suits and had an air of power and urgency.

Roxanne
! I hoped she was safe in the warehouse, invisible to the two men…the two vampires, as I was sure they were.

I motioned to Will silently to follow me. Then we turned back around the corner as quickly and quietly as we could.

I put my finger to my lips and Will remained silent. He gave me an anxious look as we started to walk away slowly.

‘Shaleenee Gooptah?' a voice with a familiar English accent called out to me.

I didn't turn around. ‘Run!' I yelped at Will.

Will moved faster than I did and shot away. As I ran behind him, a slow bubble of warmth spread from my legs right up to my head. I don't know how or why, but my body slowly stopped moving altogether as I realised in horror that I was completely immobilised.

I was floating, my body no longer connected to my brain. My legs dangled in mid air. So this is what being a cloud felt like.

Not good. Not good at all.

‘What do we do with the boy?' the first man in the dark suit asked his companion.

‘Bring him with us,' the other grunted.

Like two master puppeteers, they manoeuvred Will and I away from the warehouse. Will floated noiselessly in his bubble next to me. We both looked helplessly at each other.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement at the warehouse door. A small woman with wild hair was shouting.

Roxanne! Shh they'll hear you!

‘Shalini, what should I do?' Roxanne moved closer to my bubble. The two vampires took no notice her.

Get out of here!
I tried to shout, but my mouth sat vacant.

Roxanne looked from Will's bubble to mine.

‘Oh dear oh dear…' she mumbled as she walked closer to us.

Then with a short sharp shriek she lunged into my bubble. I watched as nothing happened. More importantly, the two vampires remained oblivious to her movements. Greg's master spell kept Roxanne safe, unseen, unheard and un-sensed by the vampires. Unfortunately, it also made her completely ineffective as a would-be rescuer.

I floated away with the vampires and stifled a yawn as I felt a strong urge to sleep…

***

I woke up in familiar surrounds. It was that drab office block on Collins Street. Like the last time, the room looked like an ordinary boardroom, with a large oval table and office chairs that swivelled. I was seated on one, surrounded by three very burly men and Gary Numan sat opposite.

The Head of the Vampire League of Albion had decided to pay me a visit, in person.

I felt fear. I was sure Gary Numan could smell it.

He leant over slightly and looked me straight in the eye. ‘Well, Ms Gooptah, it looks like you did not honour our agreement.'

I wasn't sure when I had entered into an agreement with him.

He continued, ‘The last time we spoke I was inclined to be lenient for your role in bringing Victor and the human female together. I'm starting to regret that judgement…'

‘How so?' I asked bemused.

‘Well let's just say,' he paused, ‘matters have become a little more complicated.'

‘Do you mean you still haven't found her body?' I shot back defiantly.

His cold eyes narrowed. ‘You are more informed than I thought. Could it be you are still receiving communications —'

‘I didn't hear it from Victor if that's what you mean,' I interrupted.

He gave me a shrewd look, then clasped his hands and casually leant back in his chair. ‘Well I didn't come all the way to this back water colony to dissect the situation with you.'

‘Why are you here then?'

‘To notify you.'

‘About what?' I was genuinely surprised.

‘That the League expects your cooperation in finding Victor of Wareham and that human.'

‘How am I supposed to find them?' I asked incredulously.

‘Well you found Victor in the first instance, did you not?'

‘He came to me!' My voice rose higher as mild panic set in. ‘To employ my services. I run a matchmaking agency not a lost-and-found.'

‘I'm not interested in the details,' he said sardonically. ‘You can just use your skills again and find him, beckon him, ask, implore…whatever it is you do.'

I paused and collected myself. ‘And if I refuse?'

His manner changed to a cobra about to strike. ‘Do you notice anyone missing from this room?'

I looked around at the blank vampire faces staring at me. Who was missing?

Oh. My. God.
Will
. I gasped as realisation dawned.

‘Where is he?' I asked savagely.

‘In safe keeping,' he said slowly. ‘For now.'

‘You can't blackmail me like this…' I started.

‘Oh, Ms Gooptah, I can do so much more than that.' He laughed brutally. Then his voice turned calculating as he stated his terms slowly. ‘You have two weeks to find Victor and bring him here. You will tell him nothing of our conversation or involvement. If you betray me in any way, and rest assured I will know if you do, your friend will meet a slow and painful end.'

The burly vampires alit from their seats and moved swiftly towards me, lifting me up by the shoulders.

‘But…' I protested.

‘That's all, Ms Gooptah.' He waved his hand limply at his side kicks, who escorted me out of the room and dumped me unceremoniously outside the building.

***

I stood for ages on the street, staring blankly at a flashing neon cafe sign on the other side of the road. I felt a trail of tears leak from my eyes.

Oh, Will. I let out a short raspy cough.

What to do? My mind was racing with horrible, ghastly thoughts.

I let myself be miserable for about five minutes. Then I sniffed and gathered my thoughts.

Okay.

First step, catch tram home.

Second step, call my friends for help.

Third step…and this is where my planning faltered. How the hell was I supposed to find a rogue vampire?

I knew this third step was crucial. It was going to determine whether this became a life or death case for the Lost Souls Dating Agency.

From Nicole Murphy comes a sexy new SF romance: everything has always come easily to her…except him.

Blue eyes, golden curls, a body songs are composed about, and part of one of the most powerful families in the colonies, Diana Wiltmore is not used to ever hearing the word ‘no'. So when she sets her sights on a fling with the gorgeous, potent and single King of Angonia, Gareth, she is shocked when he turns her down flat. In an effort to put the rejection behind her, she agrees to her sister's plan to gain some political leverage by cosying up to a rival planetary ruler.

Gareth has responsibilities and no time for a woman like Diana. She is all temptation and distraction, but Gareth wants more from a woman than decoration. But it is Diana standing by his side as his beloved home of Angonia is attacked and he starts to see that underneath the surface is a strong woman even more beautiful than her picture-perfect exterior.

Gareth's people need him and to be there for them, he needs Diana. But has he ruined every chance he has of winning her heart?

The Jorda Trilogy Book 2