Bound by The Moon (The Bound Series Book 2) (15 page)

"Can you tell us exactly what happened?" Edwin asked quietly as John sat there, his face a complete blank mask, closed down. Jaden's gut clenched because he knew sooner or later, he was going to blow.

"It would perhaps be easier if I explained," came Agatha's voice from the doorway. Again she stepped into the room, still a little unsteady on her feet. Jaden jumped up, taking her hand to help her into the seat he'd just vacated.

Maya sat nibbling her thumb nail, from the armchair she was presently slumped in. Her eyes kept wandering to the doorway, as she listened to the hushed tones coming from the kitchen.

It wasn't fare that Jaden was having to do this. Bad enough any time, but tonight they had guests. Then she wanted to slap herself for being selfish, she wasn't really, she was confused. Hers and Jaden's feelings were twisting and turning in her gut. Bad enough her own, but she was also picking up on Jaden's anxiety about having to explain. He'd rather have been anywhere but there at the moment. Maya knew this was one of the reason's he'd isolated himself. It wasn't that he didn't care, it was that he cared too much. He took on other people's worries, tried to help with their problems. He also felt their pain.

"He's an empath too," Agatha said from her place on the sofa, and Maya turned to her. "Jaden, he's an empath, that's why he tries to cut himself off, it can be painful at times. Also it can be exhausting, picking up on others emotions." Agatha smiled sadly at Maya, then turned to her mate.

He shook his head, so they were obviously discussing something. Then Agatha got up, patting Douglas's shoulder, before making her way into the kitchen to join the others.

"Tis no the lads fault, Aggie will try and help," Douglas said, a tick in the side of his rigid jaw.

"Thank you Douglas," Maya said, leaning forward and patting his hand awkwardly. The room then went quiet, just the hushed tones coming from the kitchen. Luc and Balin stood near the window, both had their hands in their pockets, as they looked out onto the street.

They heard a wail from the kitchen, and everyone's eyes lowered. Maya dropped her thumb from her mouth and swallowed. She wiped a lone tear that had escaped from the corner of her eye. Poor John, this was all wrong, that psychotic bitch and her twisted friend needed to be stopped. What the hell were they going to do?

Sam cleared his throat and Maya looked up.

"We're going to have to put a curfew in place, and also put certain areas out of bounds, until this is resolved." He added, Helena looked towards Maya, her smile tight.

"I think that's the best idea," came Luc's gruff reply from the window. "The only problem is; it's not going to stop them from stalking people when they are on their own." He added and Sam ran a hand through his hair.

"I agree. I think we're also going to have to implement the buddy system, no one is allowed to be on their own." He added, and everyone nodded their agreement.

"Luckily we have a few here with us at present, so we can at least implement it."

"What about the humans?" Helena asked.

"They are also going to have to be watched, they are in as much danger as us at the moment. No one is safe from these psychos’." He added bitterly.

"When did the town turn into an episode of Midsummer Murders?" Balin asked grimly.

"What?" he said as people tutted at him. "Well that's what it bloody feels like at the moment. You never know whose next, but everyone knows who the murderer is." He grumbled and turned back towards the window.

Maya opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again as her mobile phone vibrated in her pocket, signifying voicemail. Snapping her mouth closed, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialled to listen.

Balin turned from the window as he heard Maya suck in a breath, and Jaden appeared at the doorway.

"It's Lana, she says to watch out backs, she's being tailed."

"Did she leave a number, or a way of contacting her?" Jaden asked as he stepped into the room. Maya shook her head sadly, looking at her phone screen.

"No number, nothing that I can find."

"Turn up the volume and play her voicemail," Sam said from his seat beside Helena

"Why?" Maya asked

"Because if she is Balin's mate, maybe him hearing her voice will be enough to break through the barrier she's erected. He may then be able to track her, it's our only hope at this point," he added, squeezing Helena's hand.

Maya looked around the people in the room, gentle weeping could be heard coming from the kitchen. It was all too much, too much suffering, too much loss. Just too much, she thought as she looked at each of their tight expressions in turn. Nodding her head, she turned up the volume on her phone. Balin moved from his spot at the window, and now stood behind her. Maya hit replay on her voicemail and Lana's voice came out of the speakers.

"Hey May," again Maya smiled at the familiar name that Lana used for her. "I'm sorry I dropped out of touch. I'm having a few issues. I think I'm being followed, and I really didn't want to lead them to you. Stay low, I'll be in touch soon, once I can set up a time and place to meet. Someplace I know you're going to be safe. Love you cous."

The line went dead. Balin's hands tightened on the back of the chair.

Jaden and Sam looked towards him and he nodded, nostrils flaring and jaw clenched. Sticking his hands in his pockets he walked back towards the window, and closed his eyes for a minute. Then his head dropped, forehead resting against the glass of the window.

"Sorry guys, all I'm getting is a hum of electricity. It's as if she's using some kind of signal disruptor, how the hell is that possible?" he swung around brows lowered, as he looked towards Sam.

"She must have strong telepathic abilities. Until she's willing to drop her guard, you're not going to reach her." Agatha said from her seat on Douglas's knee. Maya had been so pre occupied she'd not even notice Agatha coming back into the room.

"She'll know you are reaching out to her Balin, she'll know it's you. I'm afraid to say, that if her life was anything like Maya's, which I believe it was. Then she's already prejudiced to your kind. I did warn you that your time was coming, now please take the rest of what I told you to heart. Choose the right path," she warned him, then leaned her head on Douglas's shoulder.

Douglas stood with Agatha in his arms.

"We'll be off, Aggie, be tired. I need to get her home and help her recover. I take it I can leave poor John in your care.

"Thank you Agatha and Douglas, I'll talk to John," Sam said, looking towards Helen, who nodded her head. "Helena will offer to see to his mother for him. At least we know her fire can be controlled. Indoors, at least it means we'll be able to save the ashes for John to do with as he wishes." Sam added, Douglas inclined his head.

"So, do we get this show on the road?" Maya said, standing up and putting her arms around Jaden.

"Yeah, let's go break the news. Otherwise there's going to be no god damn people left in this town," Sam said as he helped Helena up from the chair.

Chapter Fifteen

A week later: -

Balin stood looking around the club with interest. Jaden went to the bar with Maya in tow. Edgar Linley was helping them out tonight, as Sam didn't want Maya, Lana and Helena all in the same place. He was concerned about safety, not that anyone blamed him. Edgar had gone to take a quick look around.
Leonard was hovering in the background, not an easy fete for a guy that seemed to attract women like flies. What, with his lilac eyes, immaculate dress sense, and long, thick, black hair that was tied at the back of his neck. Balin had even seen a couple of the men following his progress with lust in their eyes; never mind the women. Vamps, the guys were chick magnets. Luc was also walking around the perimeter of the club too, not that he had a clue where he was, as he was adept at blending into his surroundings. Another amazing achievement considering he was six feet four, had shoulders like a line backer, olive skin and eyes so dark a brown they looked black. He was always stunned that more people didn't register his presence. It was as if he had some kind of shield to cover his whereabouts. He'd also not figured out what his and Leonards issues were, but they kind of steered clear of each other.

He was just about to try to locate Luc when the MC came on stage, and announced the next act.
The place went silent and dark. A complete hush fell over the place, as a spotlight came on. It swung around the stage then froze, highlighting the dancing pole, centre stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome to our main attraction, and the angel of karma. Our very own kitten." The applause was deafening as a swarm of men began moving forwards, hovering around the front of the stage. The spotlight ran up the length of the pole until it hit the top. There it lit the body of a female, as she undulated on the pole. Her long blonde hair trailing down her back, and stopping just short of her rounded arse. An arse that was barely covered with the skimpiest pair of leopard print panties that Balin had ever seen. He went instantly hard, and his eyes zeroed in on the figure, as she slowly wound her way down the pole. Her movements sensuous and provocative, until right up until the toes on her sky scraper lace ups touched the stage floor. The laces of her fuck me shoes, wrapped around her slim ankles, criss-crossing around her shapely calves. As soon as her foot touched the floor, she swung herself around the pole, and did some kind of acrobatic somersault. She pulled herself back up, her legs wrapped around the pole, and her back arched. The movement pushed her ample breast nearly out of the tiny leopard print triangle's, which seemed to be the only thing covering the round globes.

Balin growled low in his throat, as she leaned further back, before her arms reached over her shoulders. Long hair sweeping along the stage as she pushed off backwards, landing upright with her right hand on the pole. She hooked an ankle around it, using the momentum to pull herself back up again, and then pushed off as she got halfway up. She landed in a crouch, her arse in the air and her legs spread. Bending forward, she grabbed onto the pole once more, this time low down.

"Spread those thighs, bend over and show me heaven sweet thing." A guy shouted over the music from the front. Balin heard her deep purr of laughter on stage, the sound setting his teeth on edge. He saw red, and began to make his way towards the stage, pushing through the crowd. His top lip lifting, and his canines growing as his eyes began to glow. He moved up behind the guy shouting, grabbed onto his arm, and swung him around to face him. The bigger guy's mouth dropped open as he saw Balin's face, and his muscles tensed.

"I'll show you heaven big guy," Balin told him as he pulled his fist back, but it didn't connect. He snarled and turned to hit whoever was stopping him from decking the jerk who was ogling his mate.

"Wow, cool it little brother," Jaden said. Apologising to the man, as he disentangled his brother's hand from around his arm.

"Excuse my brother, he hasn't taken his meds yet this evening." Jaden told the big man as he frowned down at him, and Balin snarled again.

"Did you hear him?"

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Jaden asked Balin as he pulled him out of hearing range, getting in his face.

"We are meant to be meeting Lana here, we do not need to be drawing undo attention to ourselves."

"That's Lana," Balin spat at Jaden, pointing towards the figure gyrating on stage. "My fucking mate is cavorting half naked in front of a bunch of testosterone fuelled males. Most of whom want to fuck her. What the hell is that about?" he snarled swinging back towards the stage. He took a step forward, before Jaden stopped him again, with a hand on his arm. Balin swung back to Jaden, who ran a hand over the back of his neck and sighed.

"Shit. I'm sorry Balin, I really am, but she's just dancing, no big deal." Then he coughed and looked away as Balin's brow rose. He looked towards the woman gyrating around the pole, and then back towards Jaden, getting into his face.

"So I should be okay with this, is that what you're saying? Okay fine, how about we put Maya up there with her for all these fucking arseholes to ogle and leer over?" Jaden growled, and showed his brother his canines.

"Yeah, big guy. Now you're getting the fucking picture, that's exactly how I feel," Balin spat.

"Fuck."

"Yeah, most of them seem to want to," Balin groused angrily, nostrils flaring as he looked broodingly towards the stage. Then he threw his arms up in the air, turning on his heel, and headed in the direction of the bar.

"Where are you going?" Jaden asked him.

"To get a fucking drink, I need it." Balin threw over his shoulder, once again scowling at the figure on stage.

Balin walked away from his brother. He was absolutely livid that after all this time he had in fact found his mate. Just not in the way he'd envisioned. He couldn't believe that she was on stage, basically naked and shaking her thing for all those perverts to ogle and fantasize over. I mean,
what the hell
? He'd tried talking to her, tried searching in his dreams, trying harder to link into her once he'd had a name, excitement over maybe finding 'the one'. Getting his hopes up after hearing that Lana was maybe his mate. Then finding out with that phone message that she actually was. I mean it had come about way too easily, had fallen into his lap really. After hearing her voice he'd thought, finally his loneliness would be at an end. He'd then begun to weave fantasies over finding her. A beautiful woman with a kind giving nature, and a little fire, just like Maya, but his. He snorted at the thought as he once again looked towards the stage. The blonde up there, his mate, was basically bent double backwards now, her long hair again trailing the floor and his hands balled into fists. He growled at the wolf whistles, and crude innuendos thrown her way, he could not deal with this. Quickening his pace, he headed directly for the bar, towards that stiff drink he now desperately needed.

"You should not be here
." Came the husky female voice in Balin's head, the same voice he'd heard on that voice mail. The effect made him freeze, mid-step, his eyes sliding closed, as the hair on the back of his neck rose. Her voice touched him, caressed his skin, like running silk over it. The same effect he'd gotten at hearing her on the voice mail. Everything about it was sensual to him, from tone, to the husky whisper she used. Then his anger resurfaced and his eyes snapped open.

"Oh wow, now you want to talk? Well guess what, tough shit. I don't feel like talking to you at this particular moment
." He mentally shouted back, giving her the birdie over his shoulder. He heard her suck in a breath.

"You're not what I expected
," came the confused reply.

"
Yeah, well that makes two of us, sweetheart. I wasn't expecting to come across my mate flashing her wares for all and sundry either. I guess life sucks big balls huh
.' And with that he cut her off, slamming a lid down on their connection. He continued on towards the bar, his face like thunder.

Maya stood near the corner, mouth open as she spotted Lana on stage. Oh my, this was going to be fun, not. She could see Jaden trying to talk sense into Balin, and nibbled her lip in concern. The brothers had only just found each other again, and now if Jaden couldn't calm him down he could lose him again. Either to Lana not accepting him, or Balin not wanting to accept a mate he deemed unsuitable. Balin was a lovely guy, she was extremely fond of him, and let's face it he was easy on the eye. I mean he looked like her Jaden, she heard a growl in her head and smirked.

"I only see you love, stop fretting
," she told Jaden. "Now
try and get Balin to calm down,"
she heard him snort as he broke their connection again.

Jaden had his hands full he didn't need to be worrying over her, so she tried to quieten her thoughts as she watched the brothers. How the hell was he going to calm down a pissed off cat? Especially one who'd come across his mate, half naked and dancing for a roomful of men? This did not have happy ending written on it. Especially not when she noticed Balin pull his arm out of his brother's grasp, and storm off towards the bar.

"Shit."

"Yep, pretty much covers it," Jaden said coming over and standing behind Maya. His arms snaked around her waist, as he rested his chin on her head. Then sighing, he squeezed her, as he ran his chin against her hair. Trying to figure a way out of the mess.

"It's not your fault, if it's anyone it's mine," Maya said with a sigh. "I should never have brought everyone along when Lana rang. If I'd have thought for a single minute that she was one of the dancers, I wouldn't have. I'm sorry babe, I really didn't think. When I got the call I was just so relieved to have heard from her. When she gave me the name of this place, I assumed she'd be waitressing." Maya told him, as she watched Balin lift another glass of scotch and toss it down his throat in one.

"It's not your fault Maya, it's not. I can understand him being upset, just like it'd be if it was you. But he needs to get past it though, her life could be in danger and he's behaving like a petulant child. He's throwing his toys out of the pram, because she's showing a little bit of flesh." He shrugged behind her and she laughed.

"A little bit of her flesh Jaden, really. So I could get up there and do that, and you'd be fine about it?"

"Hell no. Maybe I'll have one fitted in the bedroom and you can give me a private performance later." He leaned down and nibbled on the side of her neck, whispering in her ear. "Maybe we could go find a quiet corner," he said, as he rubbed himself against her and she laughed.

"Down cat boy, we're working here."

"Damn, fun spoiled again," he said as Leonard walked over and stood beside them. A glass of red wine in his hand, as he continued to look around the room. His hair was so dark it looked blue in the neon lighting.

"So what's with your brother?" he asked, and Jaden sighed as he leaned his chin back on Maya's head, looking broodingly towards his brother. He was presently knocking back another drink as a red head draped herself over his arm.

"Shit, this has catastrophe written all over it. You see the dancer?" Jaden said to Leonard.

"Yeah. I was just admiring her rhythm, she's also extremely flexible." He purred the words, because at that moment she did the splits in mid-air, her arms holding her body out from the pole before she swung back around. She used her inner thighs to hug it, as she pushed her upper body down again. She seemed to slither around the pole, like a snake, as she made her way onto the floor. Crawling towards the edge of the stage.

"Yeah, well that there half dressed, flexible women is Lana, Balin's mate," Jaden informed Leonard. He then swung his head back to watch his brother's head go back, as he laughed at something the red head was saying to him. All the while, she was wound around his body like a… well cat.

"Oh man, this is going to turn into a cluster fuck of epic proportions." Leonard said, taking a large swallow of his red wine. He then took a flask out of his jacket pocket, and added some to the glass, making Jaden and Maya realise he was spiking his drink with blood. Now that would be an interesting conversation if he got noticed by anyone. Especially if they tried to confiscate it, thinking it was contraband.

"Why do you put blood in your drink?" Jaden asked. Leonard turned towards him at the question, his black winged brow lifting as he flashed a fang. Jaden rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I know you're a vamp. What I mean is, why do you add blood to your drinks?  Do you just enjoy the taste, or is there something more to it?" Leonard's top lip lifted in a smirk, before he took another swallow.

"I forgot how little you know about our kind, or your own for that matter. Okay, I'll let you into a secret. We're not the living dead any more than you are an anomaly. The universe is a big place, and we are all sub species that developed a little differently that's all. Once vampires hit maturity at around thirty-five, we have to add blood to our diet, not a clue why, it just is. We can eat anything we want, but it has to have blood in there. If we don't our body expels it, and trust me, that's not a pretty sight. Also, if we don't take blood we begin to age and lose our strength, and also our ability to walk in sunlight."

"You're shitting me; you can go out in daylight?  I thought you guys became flammable in the light."