Angel's Curse (18 page)

“I said within a hundred kilometres of the city,” she pointed out. “This is a bigger map covering a larger area, which means more nests. They’re not big, but they’re all active and they’ll be looking to increase their numbers soon.”

I smiled. “I know.”

She looked back at me suspiciously, wondering exactly what I was going to do. It was for the best that she didn’t know.

“Thanks for the info, Kiana, it’s been most useful. You can head back inside now and I’ll just take my map and go.”

I waited until Kiana was back in the house. I saw a curtain move slightly. I knew she’d want to see what I did. I waved my hand over the table and the map disappeared. I turned to the house, waved, and vanished.

I laughed when I was back in my room. I could just imagine the look on her face. She’d know that angels took four steps to transport and would be wondering what the hell I was, to be able to transport without moving. Unless of course news from Drake’s area of the world had reached her.

It was now time to pay a visit to an old friend and test out another of Danny’s talents. I wanted to see how far I could push it.

I changed into jeans, runners and a sweat top, strapped Death to my left thigh and my good luck charm to my arm. I flexed my hands a few times, stretching my fingers, and jogged up and down on the spot, psyching myself up.

There was only one place I’d seen Drake frequent on a regular basis, and that was the temple. I modified my scent so I’d smell like one of them —
may as well smell like honey to the bee
— and as I transported, my body blinked, so that I was invisible. Perhaps on some level I didn’t exist on this plane anymore, and that’s
why
I was invisible.

The temple was empty. Even the black-cloaked goons weren’t around. I blinked myself back so I was visible, and sat on the floor to wait. I could wait for days if I had to — time was no longer my enemy.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been there before someone came. I’d been busy trawling through Danny’s memories looking for something that might help me with my personal war. I smelled the vamp long before I saw him and knew it wasn’t Drake. I was feeling a bit peckish though. I stood up and blinked myself out of existence. Was my scent hidden as well? I knew if I talked he’d hear me. Danny had told me they could hear us when we’d been invisible, on the treetops, watching the battle between angels and monsters. He made sure I kept my voice down, so that we didn’t attract their attention.

Now, however, I could have a bit of fun.

On seeing no one else was here he was about to leave.

“Don’t go,” I said.

He turned around quickly and walked to the back of the temple, checking every small space someone might possibly hide in. I silently moved to the entrance.

“I’m here,” I said.

He spun around on his feet and ended up in a half crouch, his hands extended defensively.

“Come to me,” I purred in a soft, velvety voice.

I didn’t really expect him to come to me, so was surprised when he did, albeit somewhat cautiously. He waved his arms about in front of him, trying to find me. When he was almost at the entrance I sidestepped and positioned myself behind him. I wrapped my arms about his waist and rested my head on his back. He twisted in my arms until he faced me, though he could see nothing.

“What’s the matter lover boy, never been seduced by a ghost before?” I whispered.

“No,” he replied, and I laughed. It was such an
honest
reply.

I pulled his shirt out of his jeans, reached my hands around his back and pulled him closer to me. When he leaned down and his neck was within easy reach of my lips I kissed him, and both my hands and lips ensnared him. I transported us to the cavern, so there would be no damning evidence of my return to the temple. When I was done I let him drop and returned, invisible still. It was empty once more, so I blinked myself back and sat to wait.

The sun had gone down and still no vampires. It was a good thing I had so many memories to keep me occupied while I waited. I couldn’t afford to fall asleep here. That would be a dangerous thing to do.

When, in the early hours of the morning, a large group of vampires arrived, I quickly blinked myself out and transported to the treetops above the temple so I could listen in.

There was nothing much that interested me in what they talked about. Some were heading back to the various cities they had come from to feed, others were heading out to hunt werewolves. I heard Drake’s voice among them, giving instructions to those who chose to stay and hunt the wolves. I wondered where the werewolves were and what numbers they travelled in. It would be useful to know.

When at last the meeting ended the majority of vampires left, in a blur, running fast to home or the hunt. A few stayed on to talk to Drake about increasing their numbers. New recruits were required to replace those the angels had massacred and I’d drained. Drake gave his blessing and the vampires left to seek out those who might be willing to join them, and those that would be
forced
to join.

Drake tarried in the temple, even though he had no reason to stay. I felt he knew I was nearby and was waiting for me. I transported back into the temple, a few metres in front of him, calm and relaxed.

“Helena! You never cease to
amaze
me, and that’s a rare thing given my longevity. I thought I’d seen everything. No wonder Danizriel found you so
intriguing
.”

I’d never really noticed the drawl in Drake’s voice before now, and the slightest of English accents. Was it because I’d changed so much and my senses and awareness of what was going on around me, and within me, had evolved?

“Yeah, well, like I said, he’s dead — ancient history now.”

“Yes, we
know
he’s dead
now,
but he wasn’t dead when we last met, was he.” He waved a finger at me, a glint in his eyes. “You can lie, you little minx. How delightful that must be for you,
so liberating.
”

“I admit it comes in handy.”

“And have your
tastes
changed along with your scent?” he asked curiously.

“If by tastes you mean my preferred diet, then no, that hasn’t changed. Vampire blood is still the sweetest by far.”

“Then that’s a problem.”

“Maybe not.” My mouth curled up in a sly smile, and Drake tapped a finger against his lips, waiting for me to continue. “I’m sure your suicide vamps would be willing to die for me, if it meant furthering your cause. I promise I won’t kill anyone else who doesn’t deserve it, cross my beating heart and hope to die.”

“What would we get in return?”

“Apart from being free of attack from me?” I laughed. “How about angels’ heads on platters? Does
that
sound tempting?”

He smiled. “Why, Helena, have you changed sides?”

“They did something unforgiveable,” I said through gritted teeth, the hatred obvious in my voice.

“Did you know Danizriel and I go back a long way, to the time of Amy?” He paused as if remembering old times, when life was simpler and a psycho bitch like me wasn’t on the rampage. “I don’t suppose he told you he came to me for information almost a year ago, asking about vampires that are not vampires. I thought he was quite mad, but of course now I know better.”

I wasn’t about to let him know that all of Danny was in my head. I had only to seek out the memories.

“Presumably you want our help as well, apart from food,” Drake said, and I nodded. “What if I said I wanted one other thing, a personal request?”

“Name it.”

“I want
you
.” His eyes lit up. “I want what an angel has tasted.”

“No deal.”

“Then we can’t help you,” Drake sighed.

“I have a deal you might want to think on.” I replied.

“Oh, and what’s that?”

“How about you help me and I let you
live?
” I said angrily.

“Hah! You think you’re so different to us,” Drake snorted.

“I am.”

“You’re a killer,” he sneered.

“We’re
all
killers, Drake — mortals, angels, demons and monsters — even animals kill, though the butterfly may be the only exception.”
Surely the butterfly was not a killer?
“The difference is that I’m not evil, or so I’ve been told.”

“And who told you that,
Danizriel?
Look where it got him.”

His comment cut like a knife. Yes, it
was
my fault that Danny was dead, and I knew it. I was torn up inside, and Drake
knew
it. He walked behind me and wrapped his arms, cool to the touch, about my waist and kissed my neck. It was oddly thrilling and I shivered.

No,
I told myself.
I’m not like them. I don’t want to do what they do.

In a fit of rage, as much at myself as at Drake for taking such a liberty, I disappeared and reappeared behind him, Death held to his throat.

“Don’t
ever
touch me again without my permission. Is that understood?” I said viciously.

He laughed. “I thought for a moment you liked my touch. There was something in your shiver.”

“That was a shiver of disgust, not anticipation,
you sicko!
”

I still held Death at Drake’s throat, yet he seemed unconcerned. He shrugged his shoulders, causing Death to nick his neck slightly. I looked at the small amount of blood welling from the wound and struggled against the urge to drink. The cut healed as I fought my internal battle, temptation taken away. If Drake sensed my inner turmoil he disguised the knowledge well.

“Suit yourself, the offer of my company remains open if you’d ever like to take me up on it. Now, what were we talking about?”

I stepped back and sheathed Death. “We were talking about working together, as a team — you, your vamps and me. I’ve got a hell of a lot to offer, you know. You haven’t seen the half of it.”

“And I do so look forward to seeing it
all,
” he said.

I could feel his eyes undressing me. He wasn’t the first and it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I actually found it flattering, in a perverse way.

15.
Kill Them All

“If you want to talk, and bargain, I think we should do it in more pleasant surroundings,” Drake said.

“Fine, your place or mine?”

I couldn’t believe I’d just invited him back to my room without giving it a second thought. I didn’t really want him to know where I was staying. He might turn up one day unannounced, or send someone for me. I hardly thought a hotel room door would stop them getting inside.

I think he seriously considered taking me up on going back to my place, but thought better of it. He had no idea how far away it was, and if I refused to transport him back to the forest he might face a journey of a few days, or weeks — if I resided overseas — to get back here.

“Would you do me the honour of transporting us to an underground chamber? I know you’ve seen them and any one will do. I’ve so often heard about how angels travel, but have never had the pleasure.”

“I have your word that no one will try anything stupid? I recall the first time we met you didn’t seem to have much control over the others.”

“Ah, but if I’d known your true worth then, I would have asserted my control. The others may have protested, but my word is law. Sometimes I let them have their fun. A happy army is a pliable army, more likely to do as they’re told when the time comes.”

“Do I have your word?” I asked impatiently.

“Yes.”

“You have two options of transport, the traditional angelic way, or my way. Which do you prefer?”

Drake considered this for a moment. “I’m quite the traditionalist, yet I’m also open to
new
experiences. Show me both,” he said eagerly.

“All in good time, if we can strike a deal,” I laughed.

Why did Drake make me laugh so much? At times he seemed like an overenthusiastic schoolboy, and other times a letch. Was he
charming
me, playing me for a fool? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know him well enough, but Danny seemed to. I’d sift through his memories later to see what he knew of Drake. But I had to admit, it felt good to laugh. The pain of my loss wasn’t as great when I laughed, although it was always there, in the background. I held out my hand and Drake took it. The coldness of his hand made me shiver, goosebumps forming all over my body.

“Why, Helena, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were happy to see me,” he teased.

I ignored his comment, but dug my fingers into the back of his hand. He raised our hands to his face and kissed the back of my hand, near the wrist. I shivered again.

“Now, now, Helena,” he laughed. “I little bit of harmless flirting never hurt anyone, and it
is
such fun. You need to let go. Enjoy the moment and live for today.”