Unnaturals (11 page)

`So why ask, then?' She glanced at him. Was he aware of her?

He shrugged, looking away. `Forget it. Let's go.' Mason walked towards the door.

Not yet, she thought. Stay. `Did Ruth make you come here tonight?' Oh crap, why had she said that?

He stopped, looking back at her. `No.'

`You're limited to short answers, then?' Anger licked at her. Was he just going to ignore her?

`Okay, then.' He faced her, arms crossed. `I wasn't party to the big secret that Gaia shared with Ruth, and I don't feel the thing — whatever it is — that she feels for you both. I came tonight because it's my business to know what's happening in my own back yard. As for the Flowers,' he shrugged, `I had no choice once Ruth stuck her nose in.'

`So that's it?' Her ears began to warm. `You're here to keep an eye on us, and Ruth obviously.'

`Yes. We're supposed to find out more about what happened today.' He shrugged, waving a hand at her. `But you and Nikki seem to be busy trying to prevent that.'

`What's that supposed to mean?'

`Oh, come on. Nikki's all eyes for Ruth and,' he waved both hands at her, `you're dressed like a hooker with a leather fetish.'

Noise thrummed in her ears. `A hooker!' Her hair responded to the anger, moving back over her shoulders. `You know nothing about me.'

`You were obviously pissed off when Nikki dragged you away today. Still pissed off later when you were patrolling the island.'

`You
followed
me?' How had she missed that? How much had he seen?

His eyes narrowed as he watched her. `Of course, you're right. I don't know you, not at all. For all I know you're an assassin in a hooker's outfit.'

`Stop calling me a hooker!' Renee slammed her fist into his chest. Caught off guard, he cannoned back into a concrete wall.

Renee stared at her fist. How had she done that? How had she surprised Mason? And with no pain, no mark—

Cold, vice-like hands grabbed hers, the room blurred, her back slammed into cool concrete. Her hands were pinned above her head.

`What are you?' he growled, eyes black and close. Hard flesh pressed against her chest. `You're different from earlier today.'

`Get off me.' She pushed back but he leant his body hard into hers. It felt good.

`Talk first. What's going on? You're harder now, like me.' As he breathed her scent in, warmth spread through her body. No one had ever done that before.

`Now you want to talk?' She realised his black eyes were filled with golden flecks. Her mouth went dry at his touch, a strange intimacy to her.

`You even smell different,' Mason said. His grip eased but the darkness stayed as he scanned her face. `Not Darkells or Bloodells. Not even human.'

Renee swallowed. The new strength and energy she had begun to feel moved in her. His breath brushed her neck. `I think you need to let me go.'

`No.' His hands tightened on her arms as his face hardened. `What are you?'

Show him, her mind whispered to her. You want to. He can sense it. Show him.

`This,' Renee let it come, surging up from inside. `I have always been strong.' She pulled her arms down. Mason strained against her.

`But now I can do this.' Her skin hardened, matching his own. She pulled harder against Mason's grip. His elbows trembled under the strain. `I'm faster and my senses are…' Renee closed her eyes, hearing his heart boom so close. `Everything is so clear.'

His grip eased. He let her go, hands resting flat against the wall.

`I did this — to you?' His didn't move off her. Renee had to wet her lips as she felt herself grow warmer. Mason stood so close, his body against hers.

`Not really.' She touched his shoulders and, when he didn't react, let her hands rest on him. `It's a gift, one that isn't common. It was probably triggered by what happened today.'

`A gift?' His eyes softened.

Reneed felt him roll a strand of her hair against the wall. Goddess, it felt good.

`What?' he asked.

`Sorry?' She blinked. Had he heard that?

`It's a gift then, this change?'

`I'm becoming Huntress,' she said, smiling. It felt good to say it. `It's been ages since one of us has had it.'

`Huntress?'

`Yes.' Renee smiled further, letting him see her teeth.

`Teeth?' Mason's skin softened. `Anything else?' He shifted but did not move off her. Renee felt his heart quicken.

`Nails.' She called them out and held her hand in front of his face. `I couldn't break one earlier.' Renee ran a single black claw down his chest, stopping over his heart. `Satisfied?'

Mason frowned at her. She shrank back as his lip curled but then she felt it. Sound vibrated from deep within his chest. His whole body hummed against her.

Goosebumps exploded across her. `Mason?' Concrete shards fell on her, and she saw that at his fingers were digging into the wall.

`We need to...' He closed his eyes as blue static raced across him. Mason's breath came hot on her neck as the static bit into her.

Yes, he felt it too.

The door to the toilets slammed open. `That damn bitch is a psycho,' Rose cursed. `Wait until I—'

The woman froze as Renee looked at her. `Oh fuck.' Her eyes widened. Renee smiled, not caring what Rose saw.

`Flowers?' Mason growled as he hardened under Renee's hands. `Still shooting your mouth off.' He winked at Renee. Cool air raced in where his body had been. `You really have to learn to keep that mouth of yours under control.'

`Mmm, it appears so.' Tashia slipped into the room and Lilly peeked around the door. Tashia's smile widened. `We can leave.'

`No.' Mason moved towards Rose. `We're, done.'

Mason stood close to Rose as Tashia put a hand on the girl's shoulder. `So, little girl, you have all the makings of a fine potential Bloodells: arrogant, narrow-minded and…' As he sniffed her, Renee moved to his side.

`No, you smell too good,' he said. `They would just drain you and, if you survived, it would only be as their toy to fuck and feed on.'

`Oh,' Rose withered and stepped back.

Mason glanced at Lilly. `If you spent more time learning from Renee, and less time trying to prove that you're better than her, you might stand a chance.'

`A chance?' Lilly slipped into the room. `Bloodells have never come here. This country is off limits.'

`Mmm, it is so,' Tashia raised an eyebrow as Renee nudged Mason.

`Not any more. After tonight we will know more.' Renee said, taking Mason's hand in hers and making sure Rose saw. `Love what you've done with your hair.'

`Fu—' Rose went white as Tashia's long fingers dug deep into her shoulder.

`Let's go.' Mason glanced down but didn't pull away.

`Later, then,' Tashia said, grinning at Renee.

Renee gave Rose one last look as Mason pulled the door open. `Stay out of my face, Flowers, or next time I'll tear yours off.' Renee smiled, showing her new, razor-sharp teeth.

Tashia pushed the Flowers girl further into the toilets.

Renee couldn't resist looking back as the door was closing. Her smile widened as Rose threw up on the floor.

`I've never held another woman's hand before, other than Ruth's I mean,' Mason slowed, looking down.

She rubbed her thumb on the back of his hand. `I've never had a man hold mine before.'

`What?'

`Long story. Here.' She went through the door into the club, hoping he hadn't seen her blush. The music washed over her as Mason stood with her. He must like me, she thought
.

`You're not like Nikki?' he asked, scanning the club.

`Goddess, no,' she said shaking her head. `Where is she?' Pain shot up her arm as Mason's grip crunched the bones in her hand. His skin cooled in her hand.

`Damn it. Didn't waste any time, did they?'

Renee couldn't speak. Ruth and Nikki lay entwined on the stage as the crowd moved as one to the music. Energy filled the club, pulsing out from the stage.

Renee felt it come; his anger bit into her hand as Mason morphed into Butcher.

`Mason, no!' She pulled him in and wrapped her arms around him. Butcher's twisted face filled her vision; hard flesh expanded against her. `Stop! Don't let him control you!'

`No!' His flesh warmed as Butcher's face faded. `It hurts.' He spasmed as hard flesh rippled across him. Hot and cold pressed against her. `I don't know why that happened.' Mason moved in her arms. `You can let me go.'

`Maybe.' She interlaced her fingers behind him. `Kiss me.'

`What?'

`Kiss,' Renee tightened her grip on him., `me.'

`I…don't think—'

`You want to,' she said, resting her brow against his. Gold flecks moved in his eyes and she smiled as his hands rested on her hips. Strong thumbs caressed her exposed skin.

`Renee,' Mason whispered, wetting his lips. `I haven't kissed another, since I met Ruth. It never felt right to do so.'

`And now?' She waited.

Mason didn't say anything. His body pressed hot against hers as another pulse of energy washed over them. The crowd moaned in delight.

`Close your eyes.'

`Why?' He slid his hands around her, fingers touching the skin of her lower back. `You going to bite me now?' Mason swayed with the music and Renee moved with him.

His hands are clammy, she thought. He's nervous. I make him nervous. Good.

`No,' she said, moving her face closer. He glanced at her lips. `I've never met anyone like you, Mason. I don't care about who or what we are right now.'

She pressed her hips against him and his hands dropped lower, holding her buttocks. Renee ran her hands up his back to his shoulders. `Close your eyes.'

`You're dangerous,' he said, tilting his head, torn between her eyes and lips. `But—'

Renee kissed him. His taste exploded into her mouth as Mason let her in. She felt the blue static sizzle across them again. Her eyes closed as Mason wrapped his arms around her, tasting her, as the room grew hot around them.

She felt it, wanted to have him.

Heat and noise roared around her. It didn't matter to her. All that did was his lips on hers, his flesh against hers. Two words screamed in Renee's mind as darkness washed over her.

He's mine.

Tashia leaned against the door, savouring the sensation of having seen Renee as her true self.

`She's Huntress!' Rose yelled at her. `How is that possible? She's not even a full-blood.'

`Hmm, careful, child.' Tashia frowned at the short, hairless girl stinking of vomit. `I would use this time to make yourself presentable instead of irritating another who might not have the same restraint as Renee showed.'

`Rose, please, let me help.' Lilly wiped her face with a towel.

`And you!' Rose smacked Lilly's hand away. `You made treaty with her House. How could you?'

`Lilly is of age. Her word holds true. Treaty has been made.' Tashia wrinkled her nose at the stench coming off Rose. `Clean yourself up, child. You reek.'

`Goddess!' Rose snatched the wet towel from Lilly's hand and began to clean her face. `What a fucking nightmare.'

`Hmm, a somewhat self-inflicted one, child.' Tashia crossed her arms and watched Rose. The girl irritated her. `Why would you deliberately provoke the Magi at her own ceremony, let alone when the night was already dangerous with Butcher and his wife present?'

`His wife?' Lilly started. `You mean Ruth,' she glanced at Rose, `the one Nikki holds so close, is Butcher's wife?'

`Huh,' Rose snorted. `So Butcher's wife likes to fuck Darkells. Irony.'

`Child,' Tashia drawled, letting her gift seep out into her words. `Curb your words. There is more to what you see. Ruth is blessed by Gaia. A treaty now stands between the House of Eleanor and the Douglas clan, brokered by Gaia herself.'

Rose went white and looked away. She turned on the tap to rinse her head.

Lilly frowned. `Now, that makes sense.'

`What does?' Tashia found herself liking the tall blonde girl.

`When we were out there, Nikki and Ruth mentioned Gaia.'

`Go on,' Tashia moved closer.

Rose spat blood and stood up, raking fingers through her now-sparse hair. `What are you on about?'

`Shut up,' Tashia glared at her. `What did you hear, Lilly?'

Lilly glanced at Rose. `Well, Ruth and Nikki talked about Gaia and Mason. Apparently, Gaia has her own name for Butcher.'

`Her own name?' Tashia's skin tingled.

`Yes.' Lilly twitched under Tashia's stare. `Gaia comes to Ruth in her dreams.'

`Hmm, Gaia's touch is strong in her then.' Tashia watched Lilly swallow. Why was she suddenly nervous? `You reek of fear, child. I will not punish you for talking about this.'

`No. It's not that.' Lilly rubbed her face.

Tashia's senses heightened: something was happening in the club. `Then what, child?' she asked, only half-listening as the walls around her hummed with energy.

`Gaia calls him Hunter.'

`What?' Her focus snapped back to Lilly.

`So what?' Rose threw her hands up. `Only now we know Gaia really hates us.'

Tashia touched Lilly on the face. `Are you sure, child? You didn't mishear her words?'

`No, Ruth said Gaia always calls him Hunter, and he likes it.'

The floor suddenly shuddered and dust filled the air. `Shield yourselves, children!' Tashia ripped the bathroom door open and smoke billowed along the access corridor. `This I did not see.'

`What the hell?' Rose yelled, her gift flaring.

Tashia waited until Lilly had called her own gift. `Run! Do not stop until you are safe!' She turned and ran up the corridor towards the entry to the club.

`Safe from what?' Rose yelled behind her.

Tashia smashed the door in. Smoke and flames boiled the air.

`Goddess, what is that?' Rose staggered back into Lilly.

`This is what happens when a Hunter and a Huntress connect. Now go.' Tashia dived into the chaos of fire and uncontrolled energy towards a single figure standing against the ball of expanding energy.

`Ancient one, we cannot control it!' Ivy screamed, falling to her knees, her hands black with energy. `It will consume us all.'

`Get Ivy out,' Tashia ordered Rose, as she dashed past, her clothes smouldering. Chunks of concrete fell around them.