Immortal Wounds: Book #1 in the Immortal Wounds Vampire Series-Paranormal Romance/Vampire Romance/Romantic Fantasy (3 page)

The sky flashed by overhead. I was conscious of the ocean around me, the waves crashing against my body, and the sounds of birds. But I couldn’t see who was pulling me.

The warm sand was comfortable beneath me now. My eyes focused for only a moment. I could see his face lowering to mine. His lips parted and then a cool breeze blew through my lungs inflating my chest with air. He released me as I rolled over to choke out the remaining water. I lied there on my side for several minutes, waiting to catch my breath. Then something brushed across my back.

“Shark!” I jumped, looking around me frantically.

“Shhh,” he spoke softly as he held my body still. “The shark is dead, you’re quite safe now,” he assured.

I glanced around me, not trusting his words at first, then calmed. I looked over to see his face gazing into mine. It was like an angel’s, flawless and smooth. His hair hung down around it, drops of water still fell from the tips as he hovered over me, watching me anxiously.

“Are you alright?” he asked. His voice was soft and familiar, like a melody I had heard long ago. He caressed the side of my face gently with the back of his fingers. The touch of his skin on mine was almost electric, causing my heart to speed up.

“How did you . . .?” I reached up and rubbed the water from my eyes. “I saw you on the rocks. You were so far away. How did you know there was a shark?”

He glanced past me. “Perhaps, another time,” he suggested, his eyes still gazing down the beach.

I could hear Kim and Leah screaming my name as they ran toward me. I looked in their direction and then back to my savior—he was gone!

“Phoebe, are you alright?” Leah gasped as she dropped to her knees beside me, trying to catch her breath.

“Yes, I’m fine . . . now.” I sat up, looking all around me.

“The shark, how did you get away from it?” Kim cried as she hugged me tightly.

“What do you mean? Didn’t you see that man pull me out?” I asked urgently.

“Nooo,” Leah answered, “We didn’t see anyone. The waves must have washed you up.”

“No, a man saved me! I was drowning, he pulled me out, and then he gave me mouth to mouth. I almost died!”

“What man?” Leah asked as she looked up and down the beach.

“You didn’t see him?” My voice was softer now, tired, defeated. Was I the only one who could see him? The only one who could hear him? I put my fingers to my lips. I could still feel the cool kiss he’d left there. I searched the sand around me. The only footprints were from my friends.

They looked at one another then back to me, shaking their heads. They hadn’t seen anyone.

“Uh, Phoebe, maybe we should get you home,” Kim suggested as she looked to Leah who was nodding her head in agreement.

“Hey, look!” Kim jumped up and ran to the water’s edge to retrieve my surfboard that had just washed up. “Not even a bite!” she added cheerfully.

I frowned. Leave it to Kim to be making jokes at a time like this.

Leah helped me to my feet as I took one final look around, hoping to see my stranger. He was nowhere to be seen.

I sat at my kitchen table half-heartedly eating a bowl of granola. I picked up the local paper and began reading the front page:
“Local fisherman capsizes boat off coast of Trinidad. Nestled in the heart of the Redwoods and hugged by the Pacific Ocean, a small beach community mourns the loss of one of their own.”
I sighed, remembering Bert, down on the docks selling his daily catch.

I plopped the paper down and glanced around the room. The bright yellow walls and powder blue curtains did nothing to brighten my mood.

I couldn’t get him out of my mind. I’d dreamt about my stranger again last night, only this time, I wasn't afraid of him. This time he'd saved me. I breathed in. I could almost smell him. His scent burned my very soul, leaving my heart fluttering at a rapid speed. I tried to shake away the image. Why hadn’t anyone else see him?

“I need to get out of here.” The very room felt as though it were closing in on me.

I hurried into my shoes, grabbed a sack from the closet, and headed out the door. I’d been working on a new jewelry collection for work and was running low on supplies—I stopped suddenly.

There he was, dressed in black from head to toe. His pale skin illuminated by the sunlight. His eyes were dark and intense, just as I’d remembered. His lips, a pale shade of pink, were turned up into a warm smile. He was leaning up next to a shiny black motorcycle that alone would look incredible, but next to him, paled significantly.

I was at a loss for words. I just stood there, staring at him like he was an elegant piece of artwork that had just been discovered. He was breathtaking! His scent on the wind tickled my nose like a spring rain. I knew that fragrance . . .

I moved toward him slowly. If he was a mirage—I didn’t want him to disappear. He remained still as I approached. I could feel my pulse quicken as our eyes locked. I paused for a moment, then took in a deep breath. My hand reached out until my fingers gently touched his bare arm. It was firm, slightly colder than my own arm, but definitely real. I closed my eyes and sighed with relief.

He let out a laugh that was intoxicating, and took me completely off guard. “You didn’t think I was real?” He shook his head in disbelief.

“Well, I . . .” I blushed every shade from pink to scarlet I was sure. “It’s just that when I think I see you, you disappear. I thought you were . . . in my head,” I admitted, reluctantly.

 “Phoebe,” his voice was soft, whisper-like, as he spoke my name. He looked at me strangely, as though I were someone dear to him, as if he’d known me forever.

“What did you call me?”

He stood up straighter now. “That is your name isn’t it?”

I stared up into his face. “Yes . . .” I answered hesitantly.

His eyes drifted to my hands that still clutched a canvas sac. “Have I interrupted your day?”

My mouth was open slightly as I marveled at the perfection before me. Even his words were elegant. “Huh? Oh!” I came back to earth. “I was just heading to the beach for supplies. But I can go later,” I added quickly. “Would you like to come in?” I motioned to the door. “That is, if you have time . . . I mean, you don’t have to . . . only if you want!” I was babbling. My heart raced every time he smiled at me, as though it were jumping out of my chest. I couldn’t think straight for some reason. I was all flustered.

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, clearing the sweat that had formed. My body flushed under his lingering gaze. I felt as though I were swaying, like a newly planted tree in the wind. My vision blurred; as I felt myself fall . . .

My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the bright light. I was in my living room, lying on the couch. How did I . . .? I jumped!

“No, no. It’s alright. Lie down a bit more.” My stranger was sitting beside me. His voice was low and calming, almost hypnotic.

My heart rate slowed upon his command. “I’m so sorry,” I said as I rubbed my forehead, trying to erase the disoriented feeling I had. “I don’t know what happened to me? I’ve never fainted like that before.”

“I guess I’ll have to watch the way I look at you from now on.” He smiled knowingly.

I frowned a little. “I’ve never fainted just because someone looked at me. How embarrassing,” I muttered the last part under my breath.

“I doubt anyone has ever looked at you like
that
before,” he said with what appeared to be great certainty.

I could feel the heat in my cheeks once again. I knew he knew exactly why I’d fainted. I was never going to live this down. I shook off the dizziness and forced myself to sit up.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I tried to ignore the uncertainty in mine.

“Perhaps this is a good time to introduce myself,” he offered thankfully changing the subject. “My name is
Marcus Ashworth
.” He said his name slowly as if there was some sort of hidden significance I was supposed to understand.

“Marcus,” I repeated quietly to myself. His name fit him perfectly.

I extended my hand to him. “Phoebe Rose.” He stared at it for a moment, then took it softly.

“You’re so cold!” I exclaimed, still holding his hand. “I could turn up the heat, or would you like a blanket?” I moved to get up.

“No!” he said abruptly, releasing my hand. “I’m quite comfortable, truly.” His eyebrows furrowed a little. “I wondered . . . how your shoulder was healing?”

“My shoulder? Oh! You mean when that dog attacked me back in London—nightmare,” I grumped aloud, rolling my eyes a little. Wait. I looked at him incredulously. “How did you know? I recoiled a little. My heart reacted to the sudden fear I felt, beating faster by the second.

“What makes you think it was a dog that attacked you?” he asked, ignoring my jolted expression.

“I . . . I don’t know for sure.” I shifted uneasily. “It all happened so fast.” I subconsciously began rubbing my shoulder. “Although, it must have been a
giant
dog. The tooth marks were huge.”

“Tooth marks?” He looked extremely anxious all of a sudden.

“I think they’re tooth marks?” I added nervously.

He regarded me for a moment, pondering something over in his mind. “You must be wondering how I found you?”

“Actually, I . . .” I broke off. I had been wondering but was afraid to ask.

He smiled in understanding. “I’m a tracker, Phoebe, a hunter by trade.”

“A hunter?” I had to look as confused as I was.

“I was hunting the night you were . . .
intercepted
.” He chose his word carefully. “I was closing in on him when you came around the corner and he literally plunged into you.” Marcus gave my shoulder a quick glance. “You’re quite lucky I was so close. He didn’t have time to kill you,” he added darkly.

“Have time to kill me?” I nearly shouted. I was on the edge of the couch now, my eyes wide with shock. “What do you mean? What exactly were you hunting?”

His face grew serious, his jaw tightening with sudden tension. “A type of wolf,” he said through clenched teeth.

“A wolf! In London?” My brain couldn’t register what my ears were hearing. “You must be joking?” I half laughed, remembering Kim’s ridiculous ‘escaped animal from the zoo’ theory. I couldn’t bear it if she had been in any way right about that. The thought made me nauseous. I could never tell her. There’d be no living with her after this.

My mind wandered briefly until I felt Marcus's stare. There was no trace of humor in his face.

“What was a wolf doing running through London?” I decided to ask. Hoping not only that I had misunderstood him, but also to break the tension that was now looming over my living room.

“There are unfortunately many wolves that roam the city from time to time,” he explained with a hint of venom in his words. “Usually they’re killed before they get too close, but there seems to be a rise in the population. We’re hard-pressed to stop all of them in time.”

“‘We’re’? There are more of you? Hunters?”

He nodded.

I felt so confused. “Stop them in time for what?” I asked a moment later.

“Before they kill someone, or worse,” he added darkly.

My breath caught. “What could be worse than being killed?” I asked, afraid to hear the answer.

He leaned in closer, filling my head with the scent of him. “It could leave you alive after it’s mauled you.”

I swallowed loudly, my body seeming to freeze with fear. “But, I was left alive.” My words came out like a whisper.

He shifted his weight. His eyes still showing signs of concern. “Yes. You were.”

I couldn’t tell if Marcus thought this was good news or bad; and that uneasy feeling I had when I thought something was following me back to the motel room came back to me.

“A wolf . . . really? I suppose that explains the weird dreams I’ve been having. Should I have gotten a rabies shot?” I prattled on nervously; trying to ignore the uneasy look he still gave me.

“May I see it?” He pointed to my shoulder.

“Um . . . I guess so,” I answered hesitantly. “There really isn’t much to see.”

I could feel his posture stiffen as I turned my back to him. I tossed my hair aside and pulled at the neck of my shirt, exposing my shoulder. I glanced behind me, meeting his stare. “How does it look?”

“Beautiful!” he whispered his eyes still gazing into mine.

My heart began to race again. I dropped my stare. “I meant the bite marks.” I could feel myself blush as my eyes met his once more.

He looked a million miles away. His hand paused in mid air as if considering whether or not he should touch them.

“It’s ok,” I volunteered guessing his thoughts. “I mean. It doesn’t hurt. It’s just a little pink still. But it seemed to heal pretty fast, really.”

His eyes flickered to mine and then back to my shoulder. He inched closer. I could feel his cool breath on my skin as he neared. I shivered involuntary as his fingers gently brushed my skin.

“OW!”

He literally flew back from the couch and was now standing across the room from me.

My mouth hung open for a moment. “How did you move like that?” I gasped.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you!” His face was anxious; his hands were clenched into fists at his side.

“You didn’t . . . really. There must be some static in the air,” I half smiled as I pulled my shirt back over my shoulder and turned toward him. I could still feel the goose bumps he’d caused on my skin.

“Marcus, how—” was all I managed to squeak out when a horn honking in front of the house diverted my attention. A new feeling of dread overtook me. “Oh . . . no . . .” I groaned as I hid my face in my hands. I was instantaneously depressed.