Sacrifice (Revelations Book 1) (8 page)

"Oh, the same ol' same ol'."

"Which is code for you're at Lobo's getting tanked?"

"That pretty much sums it up. What do you need, kid?"

"Well I'm here with Abby—"

Nico cursed. "You're what? Why? What happened? Did she feed on someone?"

"God no. Settle down, spaz. Everything is fine."

"You shouldn't be out there, Chloe."

"Why, are you afraid Vampirella is going to bite me?" Abby covered her mouth to keep from laughing at Chloe’s playful jab.

"No, I'm sure she wouldn't do that." There was a pause. "Wait, am I on speakerphone?"

"Yep."

"Is Abby right there?"

"Yep."

"God damn it, Chloe."

"Before you have a coronary, grandpa, I just wanted to give you a heads up, I'm taking Abby to my house. We're gonna relax and watch movies. Now, before you go flipping out you're going to listen to me. We're practically the same age. We're both bored out of our minds, Abby probably more than me because at least my house has satellite. You want to continue getting tanked at the bar. So this is a win-win. We can hang out, Mother can make sure Abby is still healthy as a horse, and you don't have to cut your night short. Just swing by after Lobo's closes and pick her up. Pretty damn easy, Right?"

Nico grumbled and waited quietly on the other end of the line for what seemed like an eternity before answering, "Fine. I'll be by after 4:30."

"Okay, thanks." Chloe hung up before he could say anything else and pocketed her phone. "See, easy as pie."

"I can't believe he went along with it."

"Nico has a soft spot for anyone Arveda is hard on, and she is hardest on me. Now, let's drop off your murder weapons and get up to the house."

Abby grinned and with an armful of tools she followed Chloe to a nearby jeep. "How come I didn't hear you pull up?"

"I'd already been out here for a while."

"Oh?"

"I like to come out here and just listen to the wind, stare up at the stars and try to imagine what it would have been like if I'd been born in another time."

"Hmmm, well that's deep."

Chloe laughed. "I guess it's from all the stories I hear from my sisters and my mother. They are all way older than me. I'm the youngest Striga in our Coven by at least five centuries."

"Really?" Abby slid into the passenger seat and started to relax as the Jeep lurched forward and made its way toward town.

"Yep, Meri is one of the oldest. Kara is the next youngest after me. They all tend to leave me out because they have much more in common with each other and are closer in age."

"It must suck being the baby of the family."

Chloe snorted a laugh. "You have no idea."

They stopped at the house, unloaded the shovel and weapons and next thing Abby knew she was curled up on the couch at the Striga house with Chloe right beside her binge-watching 80's movies. For Abby it was much better than sitting outside the bar waiting for Nico or being locked up alone in his house with nothing to do. She'd have to make sure she got more chances to act normal in the future, normal felt good.

The days passed quicker since Abby and Chloe were allowed to hang out after hunting, and on nights when she didn't hunt, Abby and Nico settled in for awkward stretches of time in front of the TV. It wasn't bad, but she kept hoping for more contact like the night he'd pulled her into his lap. It was maddening how badly she wanted him and yet he was like a stone pillar of restraint.

Chloe snapped her fingers in front of Abby's face. "Earth to Abby."

"Huh?" Abby faked a yawn. "Sorry, I must have zoned out. I'm so tired."

Chloe clearly wasn't buying it. "Right." She hit pause on their current movie and hopped up off the couch. "We're going to the bar."

"What? No way, you know I can't go."

"You can and you will. We're young, we need to be out on the town."

Abby glanced out the window at the vast emptiness and then back at Chloe. "You do realize we live in the middle of nowhere, in the desert?"

"We can still have fun."

"Well, Nico won't let me come in the bar. I'll have to sit outside and wait for you." She shrugged. "Not that I mind it, I'm kind of used to it after waiting for Nico."

"Bullshit. You're coming inside and we're going to enjoy ourselves. You worked hard tonight, time to blow off some steam.”

Abby shook her head. "Nico would be furious."

"Let him be furious. Between him and my mother we’re both trapped. I don't know about you but if I'm gonna be stuck in this hell-hole then I'd at least like to get out of the house every once in a while." She reached out and pulled Abby to her feet. "What do you say, are we in this mess together, or what?"

She nodded. "Okay, together... But he's not going to be happy about it."

Chloe laughed. "He can get over it."

The bar was smoky and loud and although she'd met up with Nico here more than a dozen times in the weeks before Chloe came around, he'd strictly forbidden her from coming inside. This time she entered the building with Chloe by her side, who seemed to think Nico's rules were more along the lines of suggestions which could be ignored.

Abby swallowed past the lump in her throat the moment Nico bristled. Nervously she tugged at her tight fitting t-shirt. She readied herself for the yelling but instead his eyes fell on Chloe and he seemed to soften. "You girls shouldn't be in here."

Abby blinked. That was all he was going to say? She looked between Chloe and Nico. Chloe's blue eyes were a soft purple color now and she was staring so deeply into Nico's eyes the hairs on the back of Abby’s neck stood on end. There was a soft hum to the air, it wasn’t from the music playing in the bar, but instead, something was humming between Chloe and Nico.

Chloe spoke up, "We came to have a drink. Abby needs to meet some of the townsfolk. She's helping keep them safe, they should know who she is."

Nico nodded and motioned to the empty stools next to him. "Have a seat. Lobo, a drink for the little Striga and water for Abby."

Abby clasped her throat to hold down the urge to gag and curled her lip, but Chloe nudged her without taking her eyes off of Nico. "People will think something is up with you if you don't at least pretend like you’re drinking."

It made sense. But the change in Nico's demeanor and the weird change in Chloe's eyes still perplexed her. When Chloe finally broke eye contact with Nico he lurched forward rubbing his head. "Damn it, Chloe!"

"What?" She cooed innocently.

"You know what! I don't like you using your powers on me."

"Yeah, sorry. I just wanted Abby here with me and I knew you'd flip out."

"Damn right I'd flip out."

The emotional roller coaster she seemed to be riding lately needed to stop. One minute Nico was fine with her being here and the next minute he was back to being an asshole about it. But his words were starting to sink in. Chloe had used some sort of charm on him to get him to mellow out. Abby’s life would be a lot easier if she could have a gift like that. Instead she was stuck with blood lust and a serious case of sun-phobia. She pretended to sip her water as Chloe and Nico continued their argument.

"Nico, you know how my mother is. I never get to do anything and you are the same way with Abby. By the way, you aren't her father so maybe you could lay off the million and one rules you've got for her. She did her hunting, we've watched every movie from the past three decades, and this one horse town has only one place to hang out. Like it or not, Lobo's is all we've got."

Lobo piped up from behind the bar, "We have two horses now. Not just one."

"Oh shut up," Chloe growled through clenched teeth.

"Look, Chloe—"

"No, you look, Nico. She's part of this town. You can't save the world and not be a part of it. Isolating her might just deteriorate her humanity and then where will all of us be?"

"Chloe, I get where you’re coming from, but you have to take into consideration she's a monster."

Abby’s nostrils flared as she dug her nails into the palm of her hand, but Chloe took it a step further. The young Striga grabbed her drink and took a calm sip before tossing the clear liquid in his face. "So is Lobo, so are the Striga!" As Nico wiped the liquor from his face Chloe added. "So are you!"

Her muscles quivered to hold herself in check while running down a mental check-list of all the ways she’d proven herself to not be a monster. She hadn’t attacked anyone, lived on the smallest amount of blood possible, obeyed every order given to her and yet here she was still not good enough to be in the company of humans. There was a limit to how much she could take and once again being called a monster pushed her over the line. She shoved her water aside and slid off the bar stool and mustered up a carefully controlled voice refusing to let her anger and resentment bleed into her tone, "I'll be outside."

She pushed past the patrons and opened the door only to run into a well-dressed woman carrying a bag almost as big as herself. "Sorry, excuse me," the woman whispered, "I'm looking for an inn or motel?"

Abby shook her head and pointed to the bar. "Ask the man behind the counter, I can't help you." She finished making her way outside and stomped down the stairs with her arms crossed. The night air was crisp and reminded her just of just how cold the desert could get at night. Absently she kicked at the dirt. Tonight had gone just as she expected.

Nico's voice interrupted her brooding. "You could stick out your bottom lip some more to make this pity party even more pathetic."

"Shut up, asshole."

"Ouch, such harsh words. What's got you so riled up? I'm the one with a drink in my face."

"You deserved it."

"Because I called you a monster?"

"Yes." She spun around. "I thought we were past that."

"We are, you’re right. I shouldn’t have called you a monster.” He took a sharp intake of breath and held it for several seconds before blowing it out slowly. “You’re good with me. I trust you with me, and I do think you have good control over yourself.” His sidelong gaze slid her way and an emptiness settled in the pit of her stomach. “It doesn't change the fact that if you get hungry enough you might just take a bite out of some helpless child. Would you want that on your conscious?"

"There are no children in the bar, Nico. Chloe is right, I am bored. I want to be around people. I might not remember my old life but I remember what comfort feels like. I miss it."

"How much more comfort do you need? You have a roof over your head, food to eat, and you have a purpose."

She glared. "I have a leaky roof over my head, and a hard cot to sleep on, which smells like mildew by the way. It's not big on comfort. I have food, yes, you feed me twice a week. Do you know how hungry I am and yet I don't complain, do I? Have I abducted any children to eat? No. I haven't. And I have a purpose..." She threw her hands in the air. "My purpose is to protect a town of people from demons and hope one day you don't kill me and open the Gates of Hell. Not much of a purpose, Father."

Nico rocked back on his heels for a moment and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Well, it doesn't sound nearly as glamorous when you say it." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess I see your and Chloe's point." He sat down on the steps and patted the spot next to him. "Sit down for a minute."

Abby sat down as instructed but stayed as far away from him as possible on the small wooden step. "What do you want?"

"Well, for one I want to apologize." He held her gaze and instantly she wished he hadn't. His green eyes always did something to her, made her weak and wanton. "I'm sorry, Abby. We were getting to a good place and I didn't mean to upset you." He reached out and took her hand causing her breath to hitch. "I'm sorry about the conditions you live under, if I had known you were still hungry I would have fed you more often. You are welcome to join us in the bar and you can go spend time with Chloe, but I am responsible for you so don't think I won't be keeping tabs on you."

"Yes, sir."

He smirked. "You know I really hate it when you call me that. It makes me sound old. You do realize you’re not that much younger than me."

Abby grinned. "I know, but it’s payback for all the times you called me a monster or creature.”

Nico draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer for a brief moment. "Touché. I guess you got me on that one."

With a laugh he let her go and a shiver went down her spine. How was she falling for an arrogant ass who viewed her as a monster? Life wasn't fair, apparently un-life wasn't fair either. She stood up when he offered her a hand and helped dust off her pants. "I'm free to go inside then?"

"Yes, but if I see any locals put the moves on you we are going to have to come up with a good reason to get you out of there. Deal?"

"Why?"

"Because I am protective of those in my care. And you are in my care." He paused and lifted her chin up to meet his gaze. "I know I come off as harsh, Abby, and I know it's something you can't understand. I can't help but be cautious. I don't want there to be a day when the other shoe drops. For now, you are a good soul, but nothing in my life goes smoothly. One day you might turn and I can't let my guard down." His eyes bored deep into her soul. "Make no mistake, I want to let my guard down with you. But whenever I’ve done that in the past people get hurt. I don't call you a creature to hurt you Abby, I do it more to protect myself."

She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him through her lashes. "Protect you from what?"

"From you and how I might feel about you." He shifted uncomfortably after those words and cleared his throat. "I think that's enough soul searching for one night. Do we have a deal or not?"

Abby nodded. "Deal."

Everything with them ended in a deal. At least that part of the night had followed the usual course. Abby made her way back to her seat at the bar and smiled as Chloe gave her a curious smile. Then the Striga turned her attention to Nico and grinned from ear to ear. "She can stay?"

Nico picked up his drink and took a sip. "Yes, she can stay and you two can do whatever as long as no harm comes to anyone including her. You got that?"

Chloe gave a quick salute. "Yes, sir."

He shook his head. "Really wish you two would stop calling me that."

“We wish you’d all stop treating us like we are children. Think about it Nico, you’re only ten years older than us, at most.” She shrugged. “Give or take. It doesn’t make you our elder.”

He smirked at Chloe and gave Abby a once over as if sizing her “Don’t I know it.” Lobo snorted a laugh from behind the bar pulling Nico’s attention back to their earlier conversation.

As soon as he went back to nursing his drink Abby found herself drawn into Chloe's newest pursuit. "We need to dance."

"I just got permission to sit at the bar, I think dancing might be pushing it for Nico's tolerance."

"Hey, you worked hard tonight. Slayed some demons and did all the heavy lifting, you deserve to unwind. Besides, Nico said we can do whatever as long as no one gets hurt." Grabbing Abby's hand, Chloe dragged her out onto the small dance floor and moved her hands to Abby's hips. "There you go. Move with the music."

She couldn’t remember if she’d liked dancing at all but the beat of the music did give her some sort of familiar feeling. Maybe she had been a dancer? Maybe she was just a party-girl? Either way she swayed her hips to the music and took a deep breath. This was the most freedom she’d experienced in all the weeks she'd been with Nico. It hadn't escaped her that he was watching her like a hawk. She couldn't help but smile at the image in her mind of him just waiting for her to attack the entire bar. As he liked to remind her, she was a monster, and yet she had no desire to kill anyone in the room. Her only thoughts were on the music and Nico.

After a couple of songs, a light tap on her shoulder made her jump and spin around to meet the gaze of a young, handsome man. He had to be around her age, sandy blond hair curled just above his shoulders and his eyes were slightly glazed over. He was lean muscled, with oil under his short nails. "Want to dance?"

She smiled politely. "I am dancing."

He shifted nervously. "I meant with me."