Shon (The Seeker Series Book 2) (4 page)

Chapter Seven

Laura stood in Angel’s kitchen, munching on a sandwich she’d recently made and drinking a glass of wine. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t heard Shon slip up behind her.

“That actually looks good. Pour me a glass?”

Laura jumped and spun around to face him “Stop doing that. My heart can’t take it.”

“My apologies, ma’am. I’ll try to take heavier steps in the future.”

“See that you…do,” she whispered, lowering her gaze down his body. He’d removed his shirt and stood before her with nothing on but his low-riding jeans.

Clearing her throat, Laura swallowed around a mouth gone dry. “You.” She tried again. “Would you like red or white wine?”

He stepped in closer, forcing her to tilt her head back to hold eye contact. “Whatever you’re having is fine.”

Laura didn’t move. Hell, she couldn’t. Her feet refused to cooperate, and her breath stilled in her lungs. It took her a moment to remember to breathe. “So…red?”

“Sounds delicious,” he rumbled, his deep voice hypnotizing her as his sexy mouth slowly descended.

Laura’s lips parted without conscious thought. Warmth swirled through her, heating her up inside in preparation of his long-awaited kiss.

“I brought ya’ll some fresh towels,” Ember called out, barreling through the front door.

Laura sprang back as if burned and snagged a clean wineglass for Shon. “We’re in the kitchen.”

Ember entered the small space, forcing Shon to crowd Laura’s already anxious form.

Setting the towels on the counter, Ember rested her hand on her hip and blew her bangs out of her eyes. “It’s like a madhouse over there. I’m trying to get everything cleaned and organized for our impending guests.”

“I’ll help you,” Laura offered, turning to the side to squeeze past Shon. Her breast brushed against his arm on her way through, and a fresh bout of butterflies took flight in her stomach to keep the previous flutterers company.

Shon grinned. “I would have moved back, had you asked.”

“Sure you would,” Laura snapped on her way out the door with Ember tight on her heels.

Ember stopped outside her condo door and laid a hand on Laura’s arm to get her attention. “What was going on between you two when I walked in?”

“Nothing,” Laura quickly denied.

“Are you sure about that?”

Reaching around Shon’s cousin, Laura opened the door. “I’m positive. And for him to parade around shirtless is ridiculous. No one wants to see his half-naked body,” she lied.

Ember laughed, backing up to allow Laura entrance. “Whatever, freak. I saw the look on your face when you brushed up against him.”

“You didn’t see anything but what you wanted to. You’ve been playing matchmaker for years with us, and you see how that’s played out.”

Laura strolled inside, passing Ember’s kitchen to take a seat at the bar. “Where’s Lucius?”

“Angel took him for a walk. He’s always restless at this time of night.”

“That’s odd,” Laura remarked. “I wonder why?”

Ember shook her head and leaned against the kitchen counter to face her friend. “I think it has something to do with his natural instincts. We sleep during the day, so he does as well. But I have a feeling he prefers to nap at night.”

Laura frowned. “I hope he grows out of that. It wouldn’t be safe for him to be up, running around the place while you slept. At least not until he’s older.”

Ember suddenly stilled.

“What is it?” Laura anxiously glanced around the room.

“Vlad has arrived,” Ember whispered.

“How can you tell?”

“I sense his nearness.”

A soft tap on the door sounded a few seconds later. The corner of Ember’s mouth lifted. “Right on cue.”

Laura watched in awe as Ember strolled to the door to let the elder vampire inside. The fact that her best friend was a vampire never ceased to amaze Laura.

“Vlad,” Ember acknowledged, pulling the door open before stepping back to allow him entry. “Come in.”

The elder vampire stood well over six feet tall, wearing a long, dark jacket with a hood that hid his face.

“Ember, my dear.” Vlad took hold of Ember’s hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. “It is good to see you again.”

“Likewise.” Ember closed the door and waved her hand in Laura’s direction. “You remember Laura?”

Vlad’s head slowly lifted. He drifted past the kitchen, stopping next to Laura’s side and pushed the hood away from his face. “Of course. How I could forget one so lovely?”

Laura could feel herself blush. She had never met a man as beautiful as Vlad. She wasn’t sure what he possessed that made him so appealing, but nonetheless she found it hard to look away. Perhaps it was the powerful set of his jaw, coupled with his pale blue eyes that seemed to see right through her.

“Well, look what the bats dragged in.” Shon suddenly appeared next to Vlad.

The elder vampire slowly turned to face Ember’s cousin. Laura held her breath in anticipation of Vlad’s anger over Shon’s lack of respect.

Vlad threw back his head and laughed, startling Laura.

“Damn. I hadn’t realized how much I missed your humor,” Vlad murmured, jerking Shon into a hug. “How have you been?”

Shon appeared uncomfortable with hug, but thankfully, he kept his opinion to himself. He pulled back to face Vlad. “Any better and I’d need a manager.”

Another chuckle escaped Vlad. “You are a refreshing addition to the vampire community.”

“Any news of Gina?” Shon questioned, taking a seat at the bar next to Laura.

It wasn’t lost on Laura that Shon had inserted himself between her and Vlad.

Vlad tilted his head. “Can you not feel her near?”

“I have felt a strange pull since I crawled out of bed tonight. But I’m not sure it has anything to do with Gina.”

“You are only now coming into your powers, young Shon. Your instincts will take time to hone. Embrace your gift. Open yourself to Calimari and find her before she finds you.”

Chapter Eight

At the mention of Gina’s name, Shon felt Laura stiffen next to him. He glanced at her profile, noticing the tight set of her mouth. “I won’t let her come anywhere near you, Laura.”

“I know,” she whispered without looking at him. “But how will you stop her from coming near you?”

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

Laura slowly turned her head toward him, meeting his gaze. “Really? Like you did before? If memory serves me, you were stuck to her neck like a tick.”

“You’re jealous,” Shon accused, grinning at her indignant expression.

Laura slid off her stool. “Jealousy would require giving a damn. And I don’t.” She marched past him, striding off toward the hall.

Vlad took a seat on the stool that Laura had vacated. “You certainly have a way with women.”

The corner of Shon’s mouth lifted. “So, I’ve been told.” He swiveled on his stool to face the elder vampire. “Mind if I ask how old you are?”

“Older than I care to remember.”

Shon wasn’t about to let it go at that. “Is it true that you’re the first vampire, and if so, were you created or born?”

Vlad laughed without humor. “I am definitely not the first. But to my knowledge, I am the oldest living vampire. I was born in 1431 in Romania. My parents were both vampires.”

“Any brothers or sisters?”

A faraway look settled in Vlad’s blue eyes. “I had two brothers and a sister. They were destroyed as children.”

Shon immediately felt contrite. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Who was the first, if you don’t mind my asking?” Shon wasn’t sure why he continued to question the elder, but he’d often wondered about the history of vampires. Now he had the chance to get some answers.

“Are you familiar with the Bible?”

Shon shrugged a massive shoulder. “I went to Sunday school as a child. I know about Adam and Eve,” he finished with a wink.

“Yes,” Vlad agreed in a smooth, soft voice. “Adam. The first human ever created. Only Eve was not the first female.”

Intrigued by Vlad’s recounting of their history, Shon sat forward and studied the elder vampire’s face. “Then who was?”

“Her name was Lilith. She’d originally been created as a mate for Adam.”

“What happened to Lilith?” Shon prompted, both fascinated and more than a little curious.

“She was cast from the garden, not long after giving birth to her first son, Ezreth.”

Shon lifted an eyebrow. “I thought that Cain and Abel were Adam’s first sons.”

“They were. Adam did not father Ezreth.”

“Then who did?”

“A demon named Vrykolakas.”

Shon’s mind was officially blown. “If Ezreth was the first, how come his blood didn’t become diluted over the centuries? I mean, seems to me that vampires have fucked themselves human. Literally.”

Vlad’s lips twitched. “The blood did become diluted when Ezreth began breeding with humans.

“Vampire children eventually became targeted by Lilith’s enemies. They were picked off one by one. The few that survived decided to breed amongst themselves to keep the bloodlines pure.”

“What happened to the descendants of the purebred line?”

“There are only a few of us left. Some are scattered abroad, and the others reside in Alaska.”

“The elders,” Shon guessed, taking Vlad’s nod as confirmation.

“There are none stronger, and you would do well to remember that.”

“Meaning Gina,” Shon remarked. It wasn’t a question.

Vlad nodded. “Though Gina is not completely purebred, she carries a large amount of Ezreth’s blood in her veins. She is sadistic and deadly to anyone that crosses her.”

“Are you a purebred?”

“I am one of the last two left.”

Shon studied Vlad’s profile. “You’re immortal?”

Vlad slowly stood and rested his hand on Shon’s shoulder. “No one is truly immortal but God.”

“Wait,” Shon beseeched him. “You say our entire race originated from the demon Vrykolakas. If that’s true, then we are all damned.”

“We are damned to a life of darkness, always on the outside looking in. To smell the delicious wonders of the world, yet unable to taste. To watch as others grow old and die while we continue on…year after year, for centuries.”

Shon marveled at the emotion shining in Vlad’s eyes. “And Vrykolakas? What ever happened to him?”

Vlad replaced his hood, casting his face in shadow. “Lilith went on to have more children with Vrykolakas, attempting to populate the earth with bloodsuckers until her death in 30BC. Vrykolakas was sentenced to an eternity of darkness beneath the earth. A place the Bible refers to as Hell.”

Shon watched in stunned silence as Vlad drifted around the bar and disappeared through the front door without another word.

Ember poked her head out of her bedroom at the other end of the hall. “Where did Vlad go?”

Shon slid from his stool and sauntered in her direction. “If I had to guess, I’d say he went in search of a meal.”

Ember shook her head, backing up to allow Shon entrance into her bedroom. “Doubtful. The older a vampire is, the less he has to feed. He’s probably looking for Angel.”

Taking a seat on the foot of Ember’s bed, Shon glanced toward the bathroom. “Laura’s taking a shower?”

“Yes. She’s exhausted.”

“She could have showered next door.”

Ember looked away. “I guess she prefers to use the feminine shampoo.”

“Or she doesn’t trust me.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, cousin. I’m sure it was nothing of the sort.”

The bathroom door opened, and Laura walked out, wearing a floral robe. Her damp hair hung over her shoulders, and her cheeks were the lightest shade of pink. Even without makeup, Shon thought her enchanting. “Feel better?”

Laura didn’t meet his gaze. “A little, yes. I’m going to head next door and try to get some sleep.”

“What excuse are you going to give Kalli about needing some time off from work?” Ember questioned, moving to sit next to Shon.

“No matter what I tell her, she isn’t going to like it. We have two new employees. Alan’s replacement started today, and I’m supposed to be working with him until he gets his feet wet.”

“So, who is this new guy?” Shon told himself he’d only asked out of duty. With Gina on the loose, and another Seeker trolling the streets, everyone became suspicious in Shon’s eyes.

Laura rested her hip against the dresser. “His name is Jonas Edwards. He transferred here from
The Sentinel
, in Tampa.”

Ember stretched her legs out in front of her. “And what does this Jonas Edwards look like?”

Shon noticed a blush creep up Laura’s neck. A telltale sign that she found the guy attractive.

Jealousy burned in Shon’s gut, and that pissed him off more than a slow driver on the left-hand lane of the interstate ever had.

Shaking off his suspicious thoughts, Shon got to his feet. “Come on. I’ll take you next door.”