Adam (4 page)

“Where
’s our waitress? I’m starving.” Adam turned to find everyone staring at them as two overgrown farm-fed boys headed their way.

“Well
, unless they hire burly boys as waitresses, I think we got trouble coming our way.” Steve scooted his chair out from the table slowly; the squeal on the tile floor echoed in the quiet diner. Steve put on a big smile and looked up as the two guys stopped in front of their table. “Think we’re ready to order. I’ll take a Spare-Time burger with extra onion and some of those delicious looking fried taters.”

The two guys
glanced at each other in confusion before anger flashed across their faces. “We’re not taking your order, freak.”

“
Ah, now, you didn’t have to go and be like that.” Steve went to stand, but Jill stopped him.

“You
’re making people nervous,” the shorter of the two replied.

Steve glanced around the two guys before looking back up at them. “Okay, then what do you suggest. I can do something other than the
taters, you got onion rings?”

“You
’re a funny freak, huh?” The bigger guy with muscles bulging underneath his white t-shirt sneered, showing tobacco-stained teeth.

“Man, we just want to eat and then we
’ll be on our way.” Steve went to scoot his chair back in, but ‘muscles’ clipped it with is boot sending it and Steve crashing to the floor.

Adam was up and had
‘muscles’ pinned face first to the table, his hand holding him by the neck. “That was a real bad move.” Glancing back, he saw that Steve was up and Jill stood between him and the shorter muscle head. “Now, I’m going to let you up. You are going to turn back around and sit your ass down while we order and eat. We don’t want and didn’t ask for trouble. You understand me? You approached us.”

“Let him go.” A short older woman with graying hair and kind eyes came into Adam
’s view, her shaking hand gently grasped his arm. “Let him go, please.”

Adam did as asked, but when
the guy jumped up quickly, Adam made sure the older lady was behind him and protected. “Don’t do something you’ll regret.” Adam cocked his eyebrow in warning. “And you will regret it.”

The older woman pushed Adam
out of her way with surprising strength. “Jimmy Jacks!” she snapped her white towel at him, hitting him on the arm.

“Jimmy Jacks?” Steve recovered quickly from his tumble and had been standing at a ready stance, but now he was having a hard time keeping a straight face. “Jimmy Ja
—”

“
Shut up, Steve.” Jill, who was still standing between Steve and the other guy, tried to hide the smirk tilting her lips.

“If you can
’t behave yourself, then get out of this diner right now before I call the sheriff, or better yet, your momma.” The older lady snapped her towel at him again.

“
Now, Ida.” Jimmy frowned, backing up and rubbing the spot on his arm the towel had snapped. “I’m just trying to make your customers comfortable.”

“
The only one I see making anyone
un
comfortable is you.” She waved her bony arm around at the customers, who sat staring at the scene. “Now git, and mind your own business.”

Once Jimmy and his partner made their way back to their table
, Adam looked down at the old woman and smiled. “Sorry about that, ma’am.”

“Nothing for you to be sorry
about, young man. And it’s Ida. No one calls me ma’am. Now, you all sit and I’ll get you some drinks.” She turned, hustling away without asking what they wanted to drink.

Adam, Jill and Steve sat down, but made sure they all had a good sight on Jimmy and his friend. “
What the hell was that?” Jill frowned, looking away from the customers, who were still watching them closely. “I mean I always get stared at, but this is different.”

A frown crossed over Steve
’s face as he glanced at Adam and spoke, “Tell me about it. There was some real hostility from Jumping Jacks over there.”

Adam
snorted at the nickname, wondering if Steve was hanging with the Warriors way too much, but he also felt the difference. Something had shifted with the way people responded to them as half-breeds. This was open hostility, not quiet curiosity.

“Here you go.” Ida set down three glasses.

“Thank you.” Jill smiled, but her smile slipped as Ida stared at her.

“You
’re one of the Nichols girls.” Ida’s kind smile turned sad. “I remember your daddy bringing you kids up here for soft ice cream cones. I’m really sorry about your father.”

Jill
’s head snapped back. “What about my father?”

“Well, he had a heart attack a few weeks ago.” Ida frowned. “You didn
’t know?”

“No, I didn
’t” Jill frowned, a tinge of anger making her voice shake. “Is he…okay?”

“Yes, I heard he was back home.” Ida walked over
and touched Jill on the shoulder when she said, “You really didn’t know?” Her tone was apologetic and comforting.

Adam watched as Jill shook her head and knew she was trying to keep her emotions in check. Anger at her family for not contacting Jill gripped him
hard. If someone kept something like that about Tessa from him, he’d beat the hell out of somebody.

“I
’ve only talked to them once since…” Jill looked up at Ida with her mismatched eyes not finishing what everyone present knew. Her family disowned her once she had been turned into a half-breed.

“Well, shame on them.” Ida patted her shoulder
sympathetically. “I don’t know what all of the fuss is about, really. I mean, so far we’ve been living together without any big issues, but now with that new mayor and his fancy vampire fiancée, you kids need to be more careful.”

“Why do you say that
, Ida?” Adam glanced away from Jill, who still looked uncomfortable at the mention of her family, his shoulders tightening at the older woman’s words.

“You haven
’t seen the paper. What am I talking about?” she huffed at the looks of confusion on their young faces. Reaching to another table, she picked up a paper and placed it on their table. “You’re kids. Of course you haven’t seen the papers.”

“
Is this today’s paper?” Adam glanced up at Ida knowing full well it was, but he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Jill and Steve had leaned in to look.

“That
’s Alice.” Jill pointed at the beautiful vampire standing next to a tall man with a severe receding hairline. “Who is that?”

“That
’s the new mayor, Tom Ferguson,” Ida replied, disgust heavy in her voice. “He’s lower than a snake. I sure didn’t vote for him.”

“Isn
’t that the detective who tried to pin that Sheriff’s murder on Pam?” Jill eyes narrowed.

Steve
’s eyes narrowed. Looking down at the paper, he read the article, his voice low. “Mayor Ferguson, along with his fiancée, Alice Marshall, has formed a committee to stop the breeding of half-breeds?” Steve shook his head as if trying to understand. “How they going to stop the breeding of half-breeds?”

Adam stood
, digging into his pocket. “Can we have this paper?” Adam handed Ida a twenty-dollar bill for their drinks.

“Sure, you can.”
Ida took the twenty. “Let me get your change. You sure you don’t want anything to go?”

“Keep the change.” Adam smiled down at the older woman. “Thanks for
the information, but we have to leave.”

Ida nodded.
“You kids be careful.”

“Always.” Adam followed Jill and Steve out the door
, feeling the hostile stares that followed them. Things were about to blow and it looked like half-breeds were going to be right smack in the middle of it.

Chapter 5

Pacing,
Lana wished her sister would hurry the hell up. She really didn’t want to do this alone. In her job, she worked side by side with men, but none of them as intimidating or alpha as these Warriors.

“You okay?” Sid walked up wrapping his arms tightly around her, his comfort a welcome shield against the nervousness that gripped her.

Nodding, she turned to look up at him. “I just wish Caroline would get here.” Her eyes left his to look at the Warriors and Nicole, who stood around the room waiting for her. “But I guess I’ll go ahead and get this over with.”

Sid stopped her before she could pull away
, tilting her chin so she had to look him in the eyes. “Is this safe for you?” His thumb rubbed gently against her cheek. “Can you be harmed in any way?”

Caroline walked in before Lana could reply which was good. Her mind could be harmed
, just like Caroline’s had been, if she wasn’t careful, but she didn’t think the dead who were present now were angry spirits.

“Sorry, I got here as fast as I could.” Caroline sat her bag down next to the door looking around. “Where
’s Sloan?”

“
I don’t know, but we need to start,” Lana whispered, wringing her hands together. “I’m getting really agitated and I hate feeling this way.”

“
That’s because you’re too close to this. You need to let me do it,” Caroline ordered; her voice was firm, holding an edge of nervousness for her sister.

Lana knew her sister was right. She was too close to this, but it wasn
’t in her nature to step back. “No. I got it. Just—”

“Sid, I need to be taking care of this.” Caroline stepped around a surprised Lana. “She
’s too close and her agitation is off the charts. This could be dangerous for her.”

Lana stepped in front of her sister. “You know what
, Caroline, I’m getting sick and tired of you running to Sid like you did Mom and Dad when we were what…five-years-old. I’m a grown-ass woman who can make her own damn decisions, so back the hell off.”

“You told me it was safe
,” Sid growled, ignoring her outburst.

Lana moaned, raising her hand to her forehead in frustration
. “It is.” She shrugged Sid’s hand as he reached for her. “But they’re getting agitated, which is making me agitated, so we need to do it now.”

Sid didn
’t let her attitude back him off. He reached for her again forcing her to look up at him. “You can bitch and moan all you want at me.” He shook her gently to gain her focus. “I will not stand here and watch anything happen to you. I am asking you again, is this safe?”

Caroline c
rossed her arms, her foot tapping a fast rhythm on the carpet as she watched Lana closely. “This isn’t something to play with, Lana.”

“I understand your concern
, Sid, but safe or not, I have to do this. If I don’t, I could possibly go crazy. Until you have dead people in your head, you will never understand what it’s like. Caroline knows I’m right, but we are both at risk here, and like it or not, I’m doing it.” Lana looked at them both. “Now are you going to be behind me on this or keep glaring at me, because honestly, if you are going to continue to glare I’d rather you leave. I want this done and over with.”

“I will always be beside you.” Sid leaned down
, kissing her lips gently. “But I swear, if you are harmed, dead or not, whoever harmed you will…” Sid dropped his forehead to hers. “Damn, this is weird shit that I don’t know how to handle and it’s driving me insane.”

“Welcome to my world.” Lana kissed his cheek, before giving him a sad smile. Turning away
, she faced Damon, Jared and Duncan. “Are you guys ready?”

Jared straightened up from the wall he
’d been leaning against. “Honestly, I have no idea.” Crossing his arms, he stared down at her. “In all my years, I have never seen anything like this and I don’t know if I quite believe it.”

“You calling her a liar?” Sid rushed up in three long stride
s and was in Jared’s face.

“No, so calm the fuck down.” Jared leaned in toward Sid
, his eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen her do some things that even I can’t explain, but for us to have loved ones or whatever…who have been dead for well over thousands of years…” Jared shook his head.

“Does Noah ring a bell?”
Stepping forward, Caroline’s voice was clear as she stood beside her sister.

Jared
’s eyes flew to hers as he slowly uncrossed his arms. “How do you know that name?” Jared growled, his eye large in disbelief.

“He
’s your brother, isn’t he?” Lana replied, knowing a little shock value was the only way to get through to hardheaded nonbelievers.

Jared searched
the room before his eyes landed on Lana. “Are you saying my brother is here?”

Caroline and Lana both nodded at the same time.

For a slight second, emotion played across Jared’s face, but then it was gone. “It can’t be.”

Lana looked off, her eyes unfocused for a slight second. “
He knows you did everything in your power to save him.” Lana stopped to look back at Jared. “Do you understand that?”

Jared nodded, his eyes searching hers. “Can you see him?”

Lana nodded. “He is very tall and younger than you, but he has your smile with lighter hair. He is a very handsome young man.”

Both Lana and Caroline laughed.

“What?” Jared glanced back and forth at the two women.

“He said he
’s the better looking one.” Caroline grinned.

Jared smiled with a chuckle
, and then pinched the bridge of his nose closing his eyes. “Damn.” His smile faded slowly as he turned away, the emotions hitting him hard for everyone to see.

Lana knew this was a total shock and gave Jared a minute to compose himself before saying anything else
. Glancing at Caroline, she knew she was doing the same thing.

“Why is he still here?” Jared said, his voice harsh with emotion.

“Because he never got to say goodbye. There was never any closure between the two of you and his spirit has stayed behind until the day he could say goodbye.” Lana took a step closer to him, laying her hand softly on his back in comfort. “And today’s that day.”

Jared
’s head fell back toward the ceiling as if getting his thoughts and emotions in check, his face ravaged with pain and sorrow. “Tell him…”

“He can hear you
, Jared.” Lana stepped back next to Caroline. “Talk to your brother. He’s always been able to hear you. You don’t need us for that.”

Everyone occupied themselves to give him some privacy, but Jared didn
’t seem to care as he turned and stared into space. “I miss you so much, my brother. If I could change that day, I would, but I’m fine and you need to go be with Mother, Father and Sissy, our beautiful sister. I will see you again one day. They say I will live forever, but…things here are changing and I don’t know what the future holds for me. Tell Mother I can still smell her fresh bread cooling in the morning air. And Father, tell him he would be proud of the man I’ve become and vengeance was carried out for the death of my family.” Jared cleared his throat. “And beautiful Sissy. She is and will always be my beautiful angel.”

Lana
stared at the floor listening to Jared. Her heart fractured a little at his words, but a refreshing and welcoming sense of peace washed over her. This was the magic of her gift. Being able to connect loved ones and creating closure was enough for her to never turn her back on her gift. Not that she could anyway. Glancing up, she saw Jared staring behind her with such hope and longing her heart skipped. Turning, she saw Tessa standing right inside the open doorway; huge tears wet her cheeks.

“I
’m going to do something that may seem odd, but it’s to validate your brother being here, and also he’s making me do it.” Lana rolled her eyes with a small smile. “Your brother is a funny guy, maybe funnier than you.”

“I taught him everything he knows.” Jared gave a small smile
, his eyes finally leaving Tessa to look down at Lana.

“He just snorted at that.” Lana grinned
, grabbed a chair and walked up to Jared.

“
You’re not going to do this, Lana?” Caroline clutched her arm to stop her. “We don’t do this…ever.”

“
It’s fine, Caroline. Noah means me no harm and you know it.” Lana shrugged her sister’s hand away, placing the chair in front of Jared.

“What
’s going on?” Sid walked up beside Lana, but looked at Caroline.

“She
’s letting Noah channel her.” Caroline hissed, clearly not happy with the turn of events. “Keep focused, Lana.”

Lana heard her sister, but she had already bowed her head letting Noah take over
. Within seconds, Lana lifted her head, but it wasn’t Lana staring back at Jared.

“Lana?” Jared steadied her when she became off balance. Sid also rushed up standing close enough to her, but not touching. She was now able to stand eye to eye with Jared
, and when a tilt of her lip curved into a smirk, Jared’s head jerked back in surprise. “Jesus.”

Lana
’s hands reached out grasping Jared’s shoulders in a firm grip. Pulling him toward her, she looked at each Warrior present.
“Ubi Concordia, ibi victoria.”
Her voice was strong and true, the language flowing from her lips fluently.

“What did she just say?” Caroline whispered to Sid, but her eyes stayed on Lana.

“Does she know Latin?” Sid glanced at Lana with the same surprised expression as the rest of the Warriors.

“She barely passed English
,” Caroline snorted even as the tenseness of the moment shadowed the room. “It’s not her speaking. It’s Noah. What did she say?”

Sid frowned in concern, but answered
, “Where there is unity, there is victory.”

Lana heard every word being spoke
n, every action being taken. Noah was kind in not pushing her too far back. She felt his emotions as if they were her own and his heart was breaking, but he was ready to leave. Sinking a little further back, she let him have full reign of her body, mind and voice.

Her arms
, moving from Jared’s shoulders, were placed on each of Jared’s cheeks. She leaned in kissing each cheek before pulling back.
“Te amo fratrem meum.”
The words were spoken with shaky vibration.
“Vale et nunc.”

Jared placed his fist over his heart, his eyes searching Lana
’s.
“
I love you, my brother,
and this is not goodbye. I will see you again,” Jared spoke, his voice strong but low with emotion as he took her in his arms hugging her tight.
“Te amo fratrem meum.”

“
Careful, Jared.” Sid grabbed Jared’s arm to keep him from squeezing Lana too tightly.

When Jared pulled away
, Lana felt Noah’s presence slowly fade. The energy Noah brought slipped from her body, making her bones feel like jelly. Fully having her mind, body and voice back, Lana yelped out a warning as she began to fall. Sid was waiting, catching her to him in a tight grip.

“Fuck!” Sid cursed
, shaking her gently. “Lana!”

“I
’m fine, just a little weak.” Lana pushed away looking up at Jared, who was staring at her in disbelief. “Jared, are you okay?”

“Was that really my brother?” Jared stared at her in total astonishment.

“I would never play a joke so cruel, Jared,” Lana informed him. “Yes, it was your brother.”

Jared stared for a few seconds longer before nodding,
and then placed a brotherly kiss to her forehead. “Thank you,” his voice cracked, before his face hardened to keep his emotions in check. Walking away, he headed toward Tessa. Leaning down, he whispered something to her as he placed a gentle kiss to her lips, and then walked out the door.

Everyone was silent after Jared left, still reeling
at the events they just witnessed. Caroline placed her hand on Lana’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I
’m already getting my strength back.” Lana glanced up at Sid. “Could you put me down, please? We need to finish this.” Sid did as she asked, but kept his arm around her.

“Let me finish this
, Lana.” Caroline frowned, worry creasing her forehead.

“No.” Lana shook her head. “I
’m going to take care of Damon, but the dark man we are both going to have to do.” She scrunched her brows in thought. “I’m not sure exactly what is going on with him and I’m not sure I have the strength for what he wants.”

“The dark man?” Sid
’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his arm tightening around her. “Who the fuck is that?”

Lana and Caroline shared a glance. “
Not sure.” Lana pulled the rest of the way from Sid. “He won’t say anything other than he wants Duncan and Sloan here.”

“
I don’t like this.” Sid grabbed Lana turning her toward him. “You’re not doing this anymore. I forbid it.”