Beautiful Monster: The Hunt (Book 2) (4 page)

Chapter Ten

As expected, once back at the hotel, Alina found ZoZo passed out, the television blared and a litter of junk food wrappers surrounded her tiny, crooked body.

Jack’s eyes widened at the sight of the child and before he could utter a word, Alina spoke, “If you touch her, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

The young man nodded furiously and took a seat at the small table. Alina sat on the edge of the bed, hands on her knees, waiting for him to begin.

After a while, she slapped a palm on her thigh. “Well? Are you going to tell me what happened to Alexei or not? I think I have a pretty good idea but I don’t know the specifics. Can you fill me in or are you wasting my time?” She threw him a scowl to drive home her point.

“Uh, yeah, I’ll tell you all I know. I’ve been watching that Boris guy. He’s one scary son of a bitch but he looks so much like Alexei, I’m drawn to him. I’ve been following him and I kinda think he knows it. It’s like he’s showing off for me or something. I get that vibe, you know. Part of me wants to see what happens if I hook up with him, but another—”

She stilled him with a hand. “Enough rambling.”

“Sorry.” He looked down at his hands fidgeting in his lap. “Alexei told me what Boris wanted from him. I don’t think he really meant for me to know. It was kind of a slip after we... well, never mind. He made me promise not to tell a soul, especially his brother, Lev. He said Boris could steal his essence and that when he did, Boris, would look like Alexei,
exactly
like Alexei. He told me he’d been hiding from him and that he was scared.”

Alina tilted her head and examined the young man in front of her. He was handsome. Blond and blue-eyed with a wide smile and broad shoulders.

“Do you know where Lev is?” she asked, hoping against hope she was wrong in her assumption he was dead.

“I’m not sure, but word on the street is that he’s dead too. Boris is living in the house Alexei shared with his brother and no one’s seen Lev for a long time. I heard his mortal girlfriend died in an accident or something like that. And that he was all depressed about it.” Jack scratched his head. “Actually, there’s this guy named Tony. He’s a mortal but he loves us vamps. He was especially fond of Alexei. I used to see him pretty regular and he told me something ridiculous a couple weeks ago.” Jack laughed and shook his head.

She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake the words from him. “What did he say?”

“You won’t believe me.”

“Try me.”

Jack shrugged. “Okay, might as well just lay it on you then. Tony told me Lev’s girlfriend died but she came back as a ghost. Then he said Lev attacked him, almost drained killed him and when he was put in another room to rest and recover from the attack, he overheard a conversation between the brothers. Lev was desperate to be with his girlfriend and he only had three days to find a way to cross over with her to the other side. The other side of what I have no clue. Maybe they meant Heaven or some shit but since Lev was a creature of the night, he didn’t have a soul and couldn’t go with her. Then Tony heard Alexei tell Lev about Boris and suggested since he’s one of the ancients, he may be able to help him find a way to be with his girlfriend.”

Things were starting to fall into place. Alina finally saw the connection between Alexei, Lev, and Boris. Could it be possible that Lev had accomplished the impossible? Could he have gotten his soul back and sacrificed Alexei in the process? That was the only thing that made sense. Alexei had intended to betray his brother; he’d written it in his own hand, but something must have gone terribly wrong.

“Is that it?”

Jack nodded. “Yeah. I can’t think of anything else.”

“Where’s this Tony? Alina asked.

“Oh, he’s dead. Can I go now? Please don’t tell Boris any of this. I don’t want him mad at me.” He laughed but it was without humor.

“No. You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to help me, Jack.”

Jack jumped to his feet, shaking his head furiously. “No way, man. I’m outta here.”

Alina was at the door, barring it before Jack even got to his feet.

“Do you want to continue your existence?” Alina asked.

Jack let out a sigh. “You can’t make me help you.”

Alina smiled and gave her head a seductive tilt. “Do you like women, Jack. Or do only men turn you on?”

The young man’s eyes widened. “Uh...why?” he said, a wobble in his voice.

She was beside him in an instant, only inches from his strong young frame. Jack backed up until he hit the wall. Alina pressed herself against him and slid a hand down the front of his jeans, stopping at the bulge she found there. “You like me, don’t you?” her voice was lined with silk. Then her mouth was on his and he kissed her back hungrily, pulling her to him, stroking the exposed tops of her breasts. She moaned and rubbed against him as his hands fumbled with the clasp on her bra.

Alina pulled away, smiling. “Not now, my pretty boy.” She bit her lip and wagged a finger. “Now that I know you swing both ways, I can promise you pleasure at a more appropriate time.” She winked and then nodded toward the sleeping girl.

Jack’s breaths came in hard, ragged bursts. “You’re a tease,” he said with a smile. “I like that.” He stepped closer to her, his face lit by a crooked smile. “You can’t leave me like this. What if—”

A yawn from ZoZo stopped him. The girl opened her eyes and let out a raspy grunt as she clamored out of the bed to hide behind Alina. “Who that?” she whispered.

Alina bent down and pulled ZoZo into an embrace. “It’s fine, my love. This is Jack. He’s a friend.”

ZoZo peeked around Alina. “Jack? Friend?”

“Hey there,” Jack said with a wave. “Yup, I’m friendly. A good guy. Nothing to fear here.” He sat back down, looking deflated.

ZoZo left Alina’s arms and ran to Jack, hoisting herself up onto his lap. Then she wrapped her pudgy arms around his neck. “Friend,” she said, nuzzling against him.

Alina threw her head back in a roar of laughter. “I’ve never seen anything like it! Zo is usually standoffish, to say the least. She’s taken a liking to you, Jack. She must sense something about you.” Alina watched as Jack grinned and then awkwardly returned the girl’s embrace.

“I’m not so bad,” he said to Alina. “You’ll figure that out in time.”

“So then, you’re on board?”

His brows rose with her question. “What am I on board for, exactly?”

Alina ran a perfectly manicured hand through his thick blond mane, then down the side of his face and across his jaw line. “You’ll help me to stop Boris? Those on High have sent me here to kill him. He’s running wild, murdering too many people. In short, he’s a loose cannon.”

Jack nodded. “I know about Boris and what he’s doing but who are Those on High?”

“Oh, my dear boy, they are the exalted ones. The oldest and most ancient of us all. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet them one day.” Alina bent to his ear and whispered. “And if you help me, they will be most grateful, I can promise you that. Then your world will change. You’ll no longer run around hunting like a rabid dog. You’ll be well-tended and taken care of. You’ll want for nothing.”

“I take what I want now. What would change?” Jack said injecting pride into his voice.

Alina waved him off. “Ah, the male ego. Is there nothing larger on the planet?” She grabbed his face and with a nasty twist, turned him to face her. “Don’t be a stupid boy. You’re being given an opportunity. I could twist your head off right now with little effort. Do what you will—go back out onto the streets and hunt. Live like an animal if you want but don’t ever disrespect me again or I
will
kill you.” Her gray eyes burned into his until he looked away.

“No hurt, Jack,” ZoZo said and laid her head on his chest.

Jack lifted the girl off his knee and placed her on the foot of the bed and then he gave the subtlest of bows to Alina. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

“You must take us away from here. Boris knows where we are so we’re not safe in this hotel.”

Jack nodded. “I know the perfect place.”

Chapter Eleven

As for the neighborhood Jack had taken them to, Alina had seen worse. She’d lived in worse many times but that didn’t mean she liked it. They weren’t exactly in the heart of Manhattan and it wasn’t how she’d imagined her New York City stay would be. Jack had taken them to his apartment in Harlem. He lived in a three-story walk up with no elevators.

After making their way to the top floor, ZoZo was near exhaustion. Her stubby legs weren’t of much use with the steep incline of the narrow, old staircase and Alina had to carry her to the top after the girl had managed just one flight. It would have taken hours if Zo had to make her way on her own but to her credit, she’d protested, “No. ZoZo walk like big girl.” Alina suspected those words were meant to impress Jack.

“Here we are,” Jack said proudly pushing open the unlocked door. Green paint peeled in small curls all over its surface.

Alina flicked the light switch but the small room remained unlit. “No elevator and no electricity?”

“What self-respecting creature of the night needs an elevator when he possesses super human strength? Walking up three flights of stairs wouldn’t tire me. And I don’t need heat or electricity because I’m already D.E.A.D.—Dead!”

Alina ignored the sarcasm. “Where do you sleep?” She asked as she surveyed the apartment. ZoZo held on tight, now tense in her new surroundings. “No like. No like,” she chanted.

Jack smiled down at her and Alina thought she saw genuine concern on his face. “It’s okay, little one. It’s not a fancy place but you’ll be safe here.” He patted her on the head then continued on his way through the small apartment.

He showed Alina the galley kitchen, living room, bedroom and the small bathroom. “There’s not even a coat of paint on the walls. How can you live like this?” Alina asked, wrinkling her nose. “And what the hell happened here?” She ran a hand over the drywall where a few holes had been punched. She imagined Jack testing his new found super human strength by jackhammering his fists against the wall. Or maybe he’d been in a frenzy after his turning and taken out his angst on whatever was nearest.

“Ah, it was like that when I found this place. I’ve only been here a little while. Gimme a break. I haven’t had time to decorate,” Jack said.

The windows were covered with some kind of thick material. Alina plucked up a corner and rubbed it between thumb and forefinger. It was rough-hewn canvas and was stapled right to the window frame over every window in the place.

“I sleep in the bedroom of course,” Jack said picking up the thread of Alina’s question.

Alina walked down the short hallway and pushed open the door to find another empty room. She turned to a smiling Jack, who stood just behind her. “I’m a simple man,” he said as he made his way to the closet door.

“Simple indeed,” Alina agreed.

He opened the door to reveal a wooden box lined with dirt. It looked as if it had taken on Jack’s form from the many days he’d spent sleeping in his makeshift bed. “It’s the best I could do considering I live in a city. There’s nowhere to go to ground here. Too many people wandering around the parks at night, if you know what I mean. Not the best place to live for our kind.”

“It’s mine now,” Alina proclaimed. “You must make yourself a new....” She pointed at the closet. “...whatever that is. A box?” She pulled ZoZo close. “And while you’re at it, find something soft and comfy for Zo. She needs a bed. You can set her up in the bathroom. She can sleep in the tub.”

“What the hell do you mean my bed is yours now? Do you know how long it took for me to make it comfortable?”

Alina shot out a warning hand, hitting him square in the chest. She felt the bones beneath his skin crack as he hit the wall with a thud then slid to the floor clutching his chest. He let out a sound that was a mixture of surprise and anguish.

She looked at him, his mouth was agape. Alina waved a hand. “You’ll be as good as new in minutes. Don’t look so forlorn. I’ll give you a bit of time to recover but then I suggest you go and do what I’ve asked of you. Get something nice and comfortable for my sweet one to sleep on and find some way to make yourself a bed while you’re at it.”

Jack slowly found his feet and grunted as he pushed his way to standing against the wall. “I’m hungry again.” His eyes strayed to ZoZo who was crouched down examining the large box of earth, playing as if it were a sandbox. “Can I—”

His question was answered with a growl from Alina along with a flash of anger that momentarily turned her gray eyes ruby.

Jack threw his hands up in surrender. “Okay. Relax. I’ll go get what you said.”

“Don’t run off, Jack. You’d better come back.”

His eyes widened giving him the look of a man whose mind had just been read.

“I know you’re scent. I’ll find you. You’ll be easy to catch.” She smiled. “You do know what would happen if I had to go looking for you, don’t you?”

He nodded heartily.

Alina lifted a slender arm and pointed to the door. “Go now while you still have time.”

Chapter Twelve

True to his word, or more likely, out of fear, Jack was back within the hour. He’d brought with him a comforter, a pillow and a rectangular cardboard box with a picture of what looked like some kind of boat on the front. He also had two grocery bags hanging off an arm.

He deposited the items in the entranceway of the apartment.

Alina, who’d been rocking a sleepy ZoZo in her arms, laid the girl gently on the worn hardwood floor and stood.

“Excellent,” Alina said as she inspected Jack’s haul. “Put the comforter in the tub along with the pillow. ZoZo needs to have a proper sleep. Then pick her up,
gently
, and put her in her new bed.” Alina punctuated her words with a glare, then added, “Did you feed?”

Jack licked his lips and smiled. “I had a little snack.”

“Good. Don’t want you near ZoZo when you’re hungry.” She then turned the many deadbolts on the front door.

“Whatcha doing that for? No one’s gonna come in here. You can count on that.” Jack laughed as he bent to pick up Zo. “I’ve kinda got a reputation.” He threw Alina a wink.

“It’s to keep ZoZo safe.” She wanted to throw in the word “idiot” at the end of her statement but bit her tongue. “She’s awake when we’re asleep, remember? I can’t have her walking off to explore. This isn’t the best of neighborhoods.”

Jack stood with ZoZo in his lanky boy arms, her large misshapen head lay over a tattooed bicep. He turned toward the bathroom kicking the comforter and pillow along in front of him as he walked. The girl opened her eyes and yawned.

“Hi,” she said when she saw Jack.

“Hi there yourself,” he answered. “Just gonna put you in your new bed. I think you’re gonna like it. It’ll be nice and cozy.”

“No!” ZoZo shouted, her raspy voice bringing Jack to a halt. He looked at Alina, who stood a few feet away, hands on hips.

“Put her down,” Alina said. “Zo will sleep when she’s ready. More often than not, she catnaps anyway. We never can quite sync up our sleeping routines.”

ZoZo wrapped her arms around Jack’s neck and planted a delicate kiss on his cheek before he set her on her feet. It made him smile and he bent to her level. “I got you some stuff,” he said, excitement in his voice.

“Really?” ZoZo’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. “Stuff. Me want stuff!”

Jack took her hand and led her to the bags that were still by the door. Together they sat on the dusty floor. Jack reached into one of the grocery bags and brought out a coloring book and then a box of crayons. Zozo bounced with excitement, reaching for the treasures with pudgy hands. Jack gladly handed them over. “Do you know what they are?” he asked.

ZoZo ignored him as she paged through the book of farm animals, stopping to name the ones she recognized. Jack opened the box of crayons and handed a brown one to her. “Go ahead, color it.” He pressed a finger down on a page with a cow, a barn and a farmer in the background.

ZoZo looked puzzled and Jack threw Alina a look, his brows knit together in annoyance. “You’ve never given the child any toys? She doesn’t even know what crayons and a coloring book are. What the hell does she do all day while you sleep?”

Alina huffed her displeasure. “Watches TV.”

“Well, as you can see, I don’t have a TV and even if I did, I don’t have no damn electricity or cable. The poor kid would go out of her mind with boredom.” He turned back to ZoZo and showed her how the crayon worked. Her hand flew to her mouth and she drew in a breath of utter amazement.

“Me, me!” she squealed and took the crayon from him. With concentrated effort, ZoZo held it in a fist and scribbled over the cow and then the entire page. Her frenzy ended when the crayon broke in half. She held it up, squinting in the dim light and began to bawl when she realized what she’d done.

“Aw, that’s okay, ZoZo,” Jack said prying the crayon from her fist. He held the pieces up, one in each hand. “Now, you have two!”

ZoZo’s eyes widened in delight and then she laughed and nodded. Jack handed ZoZo the entire package of crayons and she slid open the cardboard lid, dumped out the contents, then one by one, plucked each up and broke them in half.

Jack slapped his forehead with a palm and burst out laughing.

“Okay, that’s enough playing for now, Zo. Time for bed. You need to get in a few hours before day breaks.” Alina took the girl’s arm but ZoZo yanked away.

“No. Want to stay with Jack.”

Alina’s eye’s flashed with anger and she turned her fury on Jack. “You’re spoiling her. She’s not...not—”

Jack stood. “She’s not what? A child? A little girl?” He stepped toward her. “What is she then, just your dinner? Is that how you see her?” His voice was a furious whisper.

Alina forced a smile and looked down at ZoZo, who was busy going through the rest of the bags Jack had dumped on the floor. She’d set out the contents in front of her and was in the midst of ripping open a bag of bagels. Then she flicked off the top of a small plastic tub of cream cheese, dipped a finger into the center and proceeded to lick it clean. “Ummm,” she murmured her delight before bringing the tub to her face so she could run her tongue over it. ZoZo took a bite of bagel, then decided to dip it into the cheese before eating it. She came away with a small mountain of white cream on the end of it which she devoured.

“ZoZo has become more than that to me over the years,” Alina said slowly and deliberately. “The feelings I have for her are the closest I’d ever had to love. Yes, I feed on her but I also take care of her and give her a home. She was an outcast. A throw-away. I rescued her.” She thrust her elegant chin in the air.

Jack waved her off. “Tell yourself what you want to. Maybe you’re just too ancient to remember what it feels like to be a child but I’m not. I haven’t been immortal for...for...oh who the hell knows how old you are. I’ve only just been turned so I remember what it’s like to be human.” Tears stood in his eyes and he thumbed them away. “My heart may not beat in my chest any longer, but sometimes I forget that because sometimes I forget I’m living a nightmare.” He threw her one last dirty look then bent to ZoZo’s level and held out a hand. The girl took it readily. “Time for bed now. I’ll bring in all your stuff and put it right beside you if you promise to try to get some sleep, okay?”

Zo nodded and smiled, a ring of dried cream cheese crusted her lips. She licked them clean, then wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Sleep time.”