Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7) (17 page)

Victoria noticed an elbow peering out behind Alex.
 
Before she could ask the question, he stepped aside.

"Victoria, this is Zoey.
 
Zoey Gallner."

The girl couldn't have been more than eighteen.
 
Zoey shriveled at having the spotlight thrust on her.
 
She stood behind Alex with a single travel bag over her shoulder.
 
Her figure was frail and bony.
 
Her shirt stopped short of her navel, showing off her midriff, and her jeans hung loose on her hips.
 
Her jeans were full of holes and tears, revealing thin legs.
 
Victoria wasn't sure if the jeans were simply old, or if the holes were a conscious design choice.

She could see that at one time Zoey was very beautiful.
 
Light brown hair, amazing blue eyes.
 
But besides her figure, there was something missing in her expression as well.
 
She was hurting.

Alex brought her to the right place to heal.

She took in her friend for a moment.
 
Every member of her inner circle was amazing, and Alex Teague was no exception.
 
Besides his demonic powers, he had a heart like none other.
 
Only he could travel to Florida on his first official case, to bring closure to a murder, and end up helping a newborn vampire at the same time.

"Zoey, this is Victoria," Alex said, pushing her forward slightly.
 
"You've been talking on the phone with her the past few weeks.
 
Don't get shy now."

Zoey held out her hand, which Victoria shook.
 
Her grip was strong, at least.

"Thank you," she said.
 
"For the blood.
 
And for letting me come here."

Victoria returned her gratitude with a smile and friendly nod.
 
She stepped aside and held the door open.

"Come on inside."

Alex led the way, and Victoria watched as Zoey's jaw dropped upon crossing the threshold.
 
Her eyes moved about, taking in Victoria's home.

"Shit," she muttered.
 
"It's even bigger on the inside."

"Hold on, hold on," Alex said, rummaging through his back pocket.
 
"Before we get too far ahead of ourselves.
 
In case you ever need to get a hold of me or anything."
 
His hand flashed from his pocket.
 
"Pow!"

It took Victoria a moment to realize he was holding a business card in front of her face.
 
Smiling, she took it from him and looked it over.

Demons LLC.
 
Alex Teague.
 
President.
 
There was even a logo in the upper corner.

"Wings.
 
Cute."

"He's been waiting to do that all day," Zoey said.
 
"That's all he talked about on the drive over.
 
'Watch me when I pull out my card.'"

"Can you believe it?" Alex said.
 
"Business cards!"

"It's very good," she said, meeting his eyes.
 
"Is Kevin still mad that I hired someone to spice up the website?"

Alex shrugged.
 
"He was mad for about five seconds, then Alicia took him away.
 
He came back happy."

She could tell from Zoey's confusion she didn't know who they were talking about.
 
She didn't know Alex's sister or Kevin, which was perhaps good.
 
One thing at a time.

Alex lifted his nose.

"Is that tea?"

With that, he walked ahead into Victoria's home.
 
She laughed quietly as she gestured for Zoey to follow.
 
Without a word, Victoria took Zoey's bag and deposited it near the archway to the living room.
 
The bag alone was another conversation.

"Why do you have tea?" Zoey asked.
 
"Can we drink tea?"

The first lesson she would impart to Zoey wasn't exactly deep or profound, but hopefully she would take it to heart.

"No, we can't.
 
It's for my friends," she said, nodding to Alex.
 
"And also…I just love the smell of brewing tea."

"Really?"

She nodded.
 
"We're different now, for sure.
 
Not completely a part of the mortal world.
 
But we were mortals once."

"Yeah," Zoey said, hanging her head.
 
"I was normal a month ago."

"I'm just saying, we can still enjoy certain things.
 
Like the scent of a fresh pitcher of tea."
 
She stopped Zoey in the hallway.
 
"Go ahead.
 
Smell."

Zoey closed her eyes and lifted her nose, inhaling deeply.
 
Victoria was more curious as to how she was adjusting to her newly-enhanced senses.
 
Like she said, she'd only been a vampire a month.
 
Not all newborns could make the transition.
 
She remembered her first conversation with her on the phone.
 
Zoey was lost, afraid, unsure of what to do.
 
She didn't even know she could drink blood cold.

"I smell it," Zoey said.
 
"Real strong.
 
I think I even smell Alex.
 
I can hear him, pouring a glass.
 
He almost smells like…fire, a little.
 
I like it."
 
She trailed off for a moment.
 
"But sorry, the tea smells horrible."

Victoria laughed and squeezed her shoulder.
 
"To each their own."

Alex was in the middle of a gulp when Victoria and Zoey joined him.
 
He finished the glass in seconds.
 
Sliding open the dishwasher, he hesitated when he saw Victoria's used glasses, all stained with blood.
 
He gingerly found an empty spot and closed the appliance.

"Okay, guys," he said.
 
"I think my duty is done.
 
If we're all good, I think I'm going to go home."

"Thank you," Zoey said, approaching him.
 
"For everything."

"No problem.
 
Kylie?
 
Nate?
 
Are you ready to go?"

Victoria arched an eyebrow at the names.
 
She wasn't aware they had other company.
 
Alex could see ghosts, a detail he sometimes forgot could create an odd experience for others in his presence.
 
She met Kylie and Nate one time before, at his Halloween party.

"Wait," Zoey said.
 
"Can I say goodbye?"

"Sure."

Alex took Zoey's hand, which let her see the two ghosts in the kitchen.
 
Victoria watched as Zoey shared a tearful goodbye with a presence she couldn't see.
 
Zoey nearly rambled, apologizing to Kylie, telling her she loved her, missed her, all while begging for forgiveness.
 
Victoria didn't know the history between the two, but could tell they were close.
 
Zoey concluded by telling Nate to look after her best friend.

Victoria walked Alex, and presumably Kylie and Nate, to the door.
 
They shared a quick hug on the porch.

"We have to make plans," she said.
 
"Get everyone together sometime."

"I'm all for that.
 
But Cindy wants to have a girls' night out, too.
 
Alicia, you, and her."

"That sounds like fun."

Alex and Zoey shared another quick hug before he trotted off the porch toward his truck.
 
Both vampires heard him speaking to Kylie and Nate as he climbed behind the wheel.
 
Victoria waved at the most unique supernatural creature as he drove down the driveway and turned right, disappearing out of sight.

There was a moment of awkward silence as Victoria and Zoey shared their first private moment.
 
Victoria had no doubt there would be many awkward moments, until the two got to know one another.
 
Awkwardness didn't bother her at all.
 
Perhaps it was her age.

"So," she said.
 
"Are you thirsty?"

She already knew the answer.

"Yes, very much."

Zoey followed Victoria into the kitchen.
 
She unlocked the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of blood.

"Uh," Zoey said.
 
"Why do you have a safe in the kitchen?"

Victoria smiled.
 
"To lock up my ketchup and mustard."

"There's not even a dial on the thing.
 
Does it open?"

She ignored the questions.
 
They weren't important.

"Go ahead and have a seat."

"Holy shit," Zoey said.
 
"Your blood comes in a plastic bottle?"

Victoria laughed quietly as she poured two glasses.

"Warm or cold?"

"You can
microwave
blood?"

"Or stovetop.
 
Whichever you prefer."

"Uhhh, warm is always better, right?"

"That depends.
 
From a soft, silky neck, you won't get any better than warm.
 
But in a glass, it depends on my mood."

"Warm, please."

"Coming right up."

She heated both their glasses and sat across from Zoey at the table.
 
Victoria took a quick sip, whereas Zoey could barely contain herself.
 
She drank nearly half the glass in one gulp, and only stopped because she was embarrassed.
 
She set the glass down and pushed it away slightly.

"How long has it been since you had a drink?" Victoria asked.

Zoey lowered her gaze, afraid to make eye contact for a moment.
 
She realized Victoria saw right through her.

"It's been about a week.
 
I drank everything a little too fast."

"Why didn't you call me for more blood?"

"Because you've done so much.
 
Sending me blood, flying me out here.
 
I couldn't ask for any more."

Victoria went back to the refrigerator and retrieved the previously opened bottle.
 
She set it on the table next to her half-empty glass.

"Drink up."

Zoey sighed, but didn't object.
 
She finished her glass and started on the bottle.

"You saved my life," Zoey said.
 
"You and Alex.
 
I could say
thank you
a million times, and I don't think that would be enough."

The remark was heartfelt and unexpected.
 
It revealed a bit more into Zoey's character, and Victoria smiled.

"I, uh, was attacked," Zoey continued, her eyes darting across the table.
 
"Said his name was Steven.
 
He, uh…."
 
A tear rolled down her cheek.
 
"We met at a club, and he was cute.
 
That's about as far as I thought things through.
 
We left out the back door.
 
I wanted to have sex with him.
 
He attacked me.
 
Kylie tried to stop him, but he—"
 
The one tear was now several.
 
"He
killed
her.
 
And I came back as this."
 
She gestured to herself.

Zoey struggled to keep her composure.
 
Victoria said nothing, just waited patiently.
 
She reached out and took Zoey's hand.

"I stayed in my basement, trying to figure out if I should just go out in the sun and end it all.
 
Then Alex came.
 
If it weren't for you both, I think I'd be dead now."

"And Steven?"

"He said he'd watch out for me, but I told him to fuck off."
 
The last admission was the hardest.
 
"I…helped him get rid of Kylie's body."

Zoey cried for a moment, unable to speak.
 
She took deep, sobbing breaths.

"You and Alex.
 
You showed me there were still good people in the world."

"You should meet my brother."

"You have a brother?
 
That's possible?"

"A brother by bond, not blood.
 
It's a long story."

At that moment, Victoria knew what kind of young woman Zoey was, and whatever fear she had of taking her in vanished.

She didn't have tissues nearby, but ripped off a paper towel from the kitchen counter.
 
Zoey accepted it with a small smile.

"Sorry.
 
I don't mean to be crying my eyes out ten minutes after we finally meet."

"It's quite alright.
 
I'll be honest, this all started as a favor for Alex.
 
He said you needed help, that you were a good person, and I'd do anything for him."

"Alex is amazing."

Victoria recognized more than a compliment in her words.
 
Zoey had fallen under Alex's spell, just like Cindy.

"It's the wings, isn't it?" Victoria said.
 
"Just something about a man with wings.
 
I'll admit, when we first met, I might have flirted with him.
 
Just a little bit.
 
But he was already in love with Cindy.
 
I didn't have a chance."

Zoey laughed.
 
"I don't think there's a guy out there you don't have a chance with."

"Have you met Cindy?
 
I can't compete with her."