Nolan's Evolution (13 page)

He grinned. "I may or may not have sent Nolan a picture. And he may or may not be completely pissed off with me."

Emily returned the grinned. "Well, he deserves that. Let him be jealous!"

Raina glanced at Thanatos and they began laughing again.

When they arrived at the club everyone was ready to get out of the van.

Melinda went to park and they all entered. It was quite a scene inside. It was darkly lit but with the random strobe light, you missed little to nothing. The music was hot.

Raina smiled up at Thanatos. "I'm glad we came," she shouted. "And I want to dance."

"Nolan said you are quite the dancer," he teased. "Maybe they'll play Buttons." His green eyes dance dangerously.

Raina was glad for the dark. The flush that crossed her cheeks had to be beet red. She knew Thanatos could see though. Crazy immortal vision. "He told you that?" She squeaked. "I can't believe he told you that!"

He threw his head back and laughed. "It's an adorable story," he assured her.

"It's freaking embarrassing is what it is." She felt mortified at the memory. And she felt joy at the memory too. That had been a great day. She sighed with angst.

"No, Raina." He shook his head at her. "Fun… remember?"

She gave a sigh and a nod. "Yeah fun… I remember."

Melinda entered behind them. "Come on what are we doing standing here? Let's get some drinks!" She linked her arm through Raina's. "You strike me as a wine girl. Let's see what they've got." She glanced over her shoulder. "Thanatos, be a dear and keep Arabella company."

Raina smiled back at him and gave him an assured look. She also gave Arabella smile.

"You and I are going to get to know each other better," Melinda shouted over the music. "I have a feeling there so much about one another we don't know."

Raina nodded "I'd like that."

They made their way to a table in the corner. It was a large booth. It was large enough for the whole group to sit down together. A waitress came up and took their orders. She made returned trips for refills and soon, after knocking back a few, inhibitions lowered. The girls made their way out to the floor while the guys hem hawed at the table.

"What is it about guys and dancing?" Emily asked. "Girls never have that fear. Girls know how to have a good time," she laughed.

She grabbed Raina's hand. "Let's show them Raina! Remember when you, David, Bradley, and I used to go dancing?" The alcohol in her system had definitely loosened her tongue. "It was always you and I starting out first. We did warm up the floor and there they’d be." She danced a circle around Raina smiling all the while.

Raina gave a nod. She felt the sudden jolt thinking of David. Not the sad jolt she used to feel. Just that feeling you get at a memory you hadn't thought of in a long time.

David.

If it hadn't been for him she wouldn't be where she was now.

An image of David lying on his hospital bed flashed before her. She remembered the pain and selfishly not David's pain. She remembered her own pain…her own loss. Where were these feelings coming from suddenly? She felt this way only one other time. The coffee shop and Elenora.

She drew in a sharp breath. She almost felt as if she was going to have a panic attack. She needed Nolan. She needed him here now. She glanced around as if looking for him but in the same breath realized he wasn't going to be there. This caused a panic to rise even higher. She remembered the last time rushing into his apartment throwing her body into his arms. She needed the healing that only his presence brought.

Thanatos was at her side in an instant, as if sensing her fear. "Dance with me Raina." His voice was soft, it was gentle, it was full of concern.

"Is she here?" Raina's blue eyes looked up into Thanatos'. "I'm not crazy. She's here. I can sense her. Is that right? Thanatos?"

He drew her away from the group.

"Thanatos, say something!" Her eyes were fearful.

"She said she was leaving the state. She was going to see him. I don't know why she's following us. But she has no power, Raina. Just enjoy."

"I can't she's using her power against me. Thanatos, I almost had a panic attack there. Why is she doing this?"

Thanatos shook his head. He pulled her closer as the slow song filled the room. He set his lips to her ear. "She's mad. Her last encounter with Nolan was not a good one. She’s still trying to figure you out. I promise she’ll not hurt you. And I can help with the panic. I have a gift too. Remember? I can be very persuasive." He smiled gently and held her chastely but comfortingly.

The warmth of his closeness comforted Raina and she found herself relax in his arms. She sighed letting the tension between her shoulders go. Her eyes than lifted and she cocked a brow at the green eyed devil. "So you're using your powers of persuasion on me?"

He grinned broadly. "Yep. Is it working?"

Raina laughed and gave a nod. "Surprisingly, yes. But you know I don't like when you use that on me."

"I am merely trying to persuade you to relax, nothing more, beautiful. You should be having fun tonight not worrying about the she devil. And you certainly should not be worrying over an indestructible immortal." He gave her a soft squeeze. "And it shouldn't bother you when I use my gift. I use this gift with you for good. I promise that. I would never persuade you to do anything that benefited me or hurt you. You have to believe that Raina."

Raina smiled. "I do. I just wish I didn't have to depend on your gift or Nolan's gifts." She tucked her head under his chin. "I want to be brave on my own."

"You are the bravest mortal I know. I didn't know that until the night you confronted Richard."

"I confronted him because of fear…the fear of losing Nolan."

"That wasn't fear, beautiful. That was love and that was bravery. I don't want to hear you call it anything but that." He set a kiss on the top of her head. "No more talk of that. You should be considering crazy immortal hearing. I don't want to share anything with that she devil."

Raina smiled against his jacket. "I don't either."

She was so surprised. The feeling of panic had gone away. She didn't care one bit that that woman was here. Let her watch! What harm was that? Raina actually felt a bit of satisfaction, knowing she was with the one man that could have made Elenora happy. She had lost out. Maybe the woman was feeling jealousy over that? Raina did not voice this because she knew Thanatos would shoot down her idea. Raina felt it was true.

"You should dance with Arabella," Raina said softly. "I think she likes you." Let the she devil hear that!

Thanatos grinned. "I'm not here to pick anyone up beautiful. I'm here to make sure you have a nice time."

"I will have a nice time. I've got friends other than you," she teased.

"Do you have friends capable of protecting you from other immortals?" He tilted her chin up so that she had to look in his eyes. "You're stuck with me."

Raina rolled her eyes. "We'll be in the same room. Besides, I want to get to know Melinda. And that's not gonna happened with you hovering over my shoulder."

              He sighed heavily. "I suppose you're right."

"I am right," she laughed. "Besides you are not supposed to give up your life just to protect me. You are not bestowed to me, Thanatos. You should be having fun too." Her blue eyes softened. "As much as you want to see me happy? I want to see you happy too."

He pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm not about to get into the same mess as Nolan did by falling in love with a mortal. But I will give you your space tonight and allow you to get to know your friend."

"Maybe you'll find a nice immortal girl," she suggested. "Have you looked? There are other immortal females besides Elenora." She hoped the she Devil heard that too.

Thanatos roughed her hair. "You’re such a sassy girl!" He gifted her with a grin.

The green eyes searched the room looking for the woman who had both gifted and cursed his life. He didn't see her but he knew she was there. He wondered again why. Had she lied to him when she said she didn't know what Richard was up to? Was she being a lookout? He still worried over the fascination that Richard had over Raina. He wasn't about to let her get anywhere near. Gently he led Raina back to the table and sat her next to Melinda.

"I'm going to see if Arabella wants a dance," he announced.

Raina smiled with delight. "Have fun."

Melinda watched him walk away. She turned back to Raina and tilted her head. "He's different, that Thanatos. Quite different, isn't he?" Melinda met Raina's eyes. She waited for her.

Raina was startled a bit at the look in the dark eyes. "He is unique."

"I don't mean just unique, Raina," Melinda said softly. "I mean he's a different than us. I see.”

”What do you see?” Raina asked, trying to keep he voice steady.

Melinda smiled. “It comes from being around it. I can recognize it." She scooted closer to Raina. "Do you know what I mean?"

Raina felt a bit of panic. What was she supposed to say to that line of wording? "What do you mean?"

"I mean, some people are more observant than others. You and I are a lot alike, Raina. We can read people. We can observe people. We know when something is off, whether it's a good thing or a bad thing about someone."

"Thanatos is not a bad thing," Raina argued.

Melinda smiled. "I know, Raina. Thanatos is a very good thing to you. Protectors always are."

Raina was sure the blood had drained from her face.

“That’s what he is, right?" Melinda watched Raina carefully. That’s what Nolan was. Wasn’t he?”

Raina blinked. She knew! Who else would use wording like that, When had she let it slip? “How? Did he say something to you?"

Melinda laughed softly and glanced over at the dancers on the floor. "I said I recognized it, Raina. I know what he is. I knew it the first moment I saw him." She sat back and gauged Raina’s reaction. "I told you, I've been around it. Many years now in fact. I know you're new to this but you are very observant.”

Raina took a sip of wine. “What is it you know?” Her fingers shook.

“I know what you know, silly girl!”

The blue eyes blinked.

“You are so gifted at seeing things, Raina! So am I. I know Thanatos’ kind…you just have to see the company I keep. Have you looked closely? You have a gift! That's why it surprises me that you didn't see. Maybe you are distracted because you miss Nolan.”

“What am I missing?” Raina whispered.

Melinda smiled. “Look at Arabella? Do you not see it? I thought you paused for a moment when you met her. I thought you saw it then."

Raina looked toward the floor and saw Thanatos there with Arabella. They were beautiful together. It was almost unworldly how much they stood out from anyone else on the dance floor. Just like Nolan stood out from anyone else she ever met.

“Do you see?” Melinda asked softly.

"Immortal," Raina whispered. She almost felt tears come to rise. She was alone always with her secret but now… Melinda knew too? A weight lifted from her shoulders.

"Yes," Melinda whispered.

Raina bit down on her lip. "You mean you know?" She shook her head not sure what she should say. Not sure of how much Melinda really knew.

Melinda smiled. "I probably started realizing you were part of this lifestyle when you spoke of Nolan. It was so much like how I felt about Michael. You were so taken with him unlike a silly crush or even when a woman falls in love with a man. It was an overwhelming emotion that you gave off. You spoke of him as if he were a God. That's how I feel about Michael. And then of course it all came together when I saw Thanatos. I saw the eyes. I saw the way he protected. And I knew."

"Nolan was my protector," Raina whispered. “You were right.” The flood gates opened then with relief. Raina blinked back tears. "And things happened where he can’t be with me. He had to stay away because of a certain immortal woman.” She peaked around. “She’s here tonight actually!”

“One woman, even immortal should not keep you from the one you love,” Melinda argued.

Raina lifted he shoulder. “There is a contract barring us from one another.” Her cheeks warmed. “But it is more than an immortal and a contract standing in our way.”

Melinda waited patiently for Raina to continue.

“He stays away because he fears he could hurt me."

Melinda shook her head. "What do you mean by hurt?"

Raina blushed and ducked her head. "We desired each other too much. It came to the point where we couldn’t abstain and he ran for my protection."

Melinda chuckled softly.

Raina blinked at that reaction. Why would this induce laughter? “You understand, right? Nolan wanted to be with me…physically.”

Melinda nodded. “Most men in love would want to be with the woman they desire. That is natural.”

Raina frowned. “So, he ran. He wanted to preserve my life. You…you do know what it means for an immortal and mortal to be together, right?”

“Yes,” Melinda said softly. “But really my dear it was quite unnecessary for him to run."