Read Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick Online
Authors: Mandi Casey
No feeling of my hair standing on end, no nausea, no abdominal cramping, or excessive sweating. No signs of rogues lurking around the property. All clear. I called Aunt Judith on the way to Kieran’s for two reasons. One, to make sure she was safe, and two, to confirm she was staying at Meredith’s house for the night.
Aunt Judith said they had already found what they thought may work to deflect Lisa’s attacks if she came to the house to use the power of lightning on us. They hadn’t found a way to apply wards around the store yet. That’s what they were working on while we spoke on the phone. Neither of them believed the electrical nullifiers would work because the store itself wasn’t a personal dwelling like the house, but they would try. Aunt Judith explained when a building was home to someone, the building took upon itself part of the occupant’s soul, part of their essence. That’s what wards, charms, and nullifiers clung to, while providing protection for the residence.
No one lived at Morning Sun. Making a protection ward for the store would be more complicated to construct, and even more difficult to make it stick.
Closing my car door and putting the seatbelt on while the car warmed up, I shivered, having only the slim material of the dress covering my skin. Directions to the gathering were written on the back of the note from Kieran. His house, where tonight’s events were being held, wasn’t the same place as the high-rise apartment. The address was on the outskirts of town. I knew the area, but I’d never driven up the long driveway to see the house, which was mostly blocked from local traffic by tall pine trees.
The drive took twenty minutes to get to the city border, and ten more to find the driveway blocked by a solid wooden gate that began to open as my car pulled up to it. There were video cameras on both sides of the gate. Kieran was clearly into security. My car pulled through the gated path and continued first up a small hill, then down the long sloping driveway to a circle where men in black suits waited to park the partygoers’ cars. There was a space behind a two-seater Audi painted in gunmetal gray, my favorite color on a car.
I practically jumped out of my skin when a man in a black suit knocked on my car window, motioning for me to unroll it. Kieran had instructed his people that upon my arrival they were to provide me personal service, not make me wait in line like all the other sheep hoping to get his attention and favor. The man held the door open, waiting for me to grab my purse and exit the car.
Warm flickering candles lit the inside. They were placed at perfect angles, creating shadows of the people in the entrance hall that danced along the walls and ceiling. The scent of warm sugar cookies and vanilla wafted everywhere. Odd, the smell made me think of the werewolves’ pack house. Smelling something so delicious in a mansion filled with vampires who didn’t eat human food seemed very out of place.
Despite my dress having long sleeves, being surrounded by so many vampires in the same area was like being outside in the fall season in Wisconsin without having the appropriate windbreaker on. The warmth of the werewolves was much more pleasant to be around than the icy chill of the vampires.
Music filled the air, and vampires were scattered, dancing to the beat. The atmosphere was like a posh nightclub, but with candles instead of strobe lights. The flickering of the flames created similar effects against the walls. Looking around, I saw that Kieran was nowhere in sight.
Liam sauntered over with a glass of clear liquid in hand.
“Hey, pretty lady, what’s happening?”
“Liam, it’s nice to see a friendly face!”
“I could always go and find Aaron. I’m sure he’d love to hang out with you.” Liam laughed.
Aaron didn’t particularly care for me, and the feeling was definitely mutual. “No, that’s okay. I think I’d rather sit on a hot poker.”
I’d rather be in a room full of strange vampires than have to hang out with Aaron. Out of everyone I’ve met so far, he was on top of my suspect list of the vampires that wanted to lock up the Selected.
Liam laughed again and took a swig from his glass. At my questioning look, he said, “What? You thought vampires can’t drink a decadent glass of wine now and then?”
“Oh, that’s not what was going through my mind...”
“Uh huh, yeah. Nice try. Vampires can eat and drink just like humans, but we don’t have to. It doesn’t really do anything for us, so not all vampires bother with it, but there is some seriously delicious food out there. Why would anyone want to give this up?” He held up his glass and gulped down the rest of the wine.
He motioned her forward. “Come on. My glass is empty, and Kieran said he wanted to see you as soon as you got here. So I’ll take you to him right after we hit the wine fountain.”
He took my hand in his and guided us through the dancing masses. We headed into another room filled with buffet tables and wine fountains. Liam went over to the fountain that was gently pouring wine through its spouts, sending the burgundy liquid into a rotating circular motion. He effortlessly followed the streams with two glasses and handed me a full one.
He gestured toward the door. “Shall we?”
Kieran was standing with a small group of male vampires in yet another room when we walked in. My chest tightened with anxiousness. So far, Kieran had been nothing but kind toward me, but it was hard being in the presence of someone so powerful. The fact that he was capable of being ruthless and so merciless to anyone deemed as a threat put me on edge.
He wasn’t facing the doorway, so I was a bit surprised to see his head pop up as soon as my foot passed the threshold. Was my perfume that strong? Kieran looked over and smiled, his fangs sticking out past his bottom lip.
Liam leaned close to my ear. “The big boss man has something he needs to speak to you about.”
Kieran finished chatting with his vampire friends and came to stand by me. When he approached, he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Oddly, his closeness, and the chill that ran through my spine from having a vampire physically connect with my skin, didn’t make me flinch. From the writings in the journal and what Aunt Judith said, Kieran didn’t seem to be as much of a bad guy to the Selected as some of the other vampires. That didn’t mean he or any of the other vampires could be trusted. Liam didn’t seem to be a super bad guy, either. But in the world of paranormal beings vying for power, you never knew who was going to stab you in the back, or lock you into a cage and drain you dry.
“Sydney, you look absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for coming.” There was a fleck of warmth in the creases around his eyes when he smiled. His attempt to appear more human around me was kind of nice. “I wish your grandmother was around to see you now. She would be very proud.”
I went on tiptoes, leaned in close, and spoke in his ear. I didn’t want to let all the other vampires in the room hear me. “I have some things to talk to you about in private. Do you have a minute?”
“Of course. Sydney, you are the Selected. You will always have my attention when you need it.”
Liam walked away as Kieran directed us through yet another room and into what looked like an office, complimented by a large mahogany desk in the corner facing the doorway. He motioned toward an overstuffed couch covered in soft black leather with black buttons quartering off the cushions.
“Kieran, someone came to see me yesterday, and she said some peculiar things. She said that it was in my best interest not to associate with the vampires, with you. If she finds out, her people will come after me. What do you know about her?”
Kieran thought for a moment, looking perplexed. “Unfortunately my coven has many enemies, and they may see you as an extension to my coven. Many are aware that my coven gives the Selected protection. There are those that don’t like that. You, being the Selected, come with your own set of enemies just because of your abilities. But no one specific comes to mind. Do you know who the woman was?”
“Yeah, her name’s Lisa. She’s part of the Midwestern Wolf Pack. Does that ring any bells?”
Even though Grandma said vampires are able to mask their feelings, I watched Kieran’s face for any trace of what he was thinking. Concern deepened his facial features. It was very confusing to me that vampires didn’t have any facial expressions unless they put an effort to show them. Vampires didn’t normally telegraph their feelings. When they did, it was a conscious effort for the benefit of the humans they were speaking with. The concern I saw didn’t mean he was worried about my safety. He may just want me to think that. What was the connection Lisa had to Kieran and his coven?
Kieran firmly grabbed my arm. What was it about werewolves and the vamps? When things got serious, they tended to grab my arm, like that would help the situation.
“Sydney, are you talking about the Lisa that is only half werewolf, the one that is part demon also?”
Ah ha, so he did know who she was.
“Yep, that’s the Lisa who came into my store, told me not to talk to you again, and that if I did she would make me regret it. She said she’d make my aunt pay for it, too.” I hesitated and met the vampire’s eyes. “Lisa went to my
home
, Kieran. I think she means business.”
He took a deep breath, another gesture for my benefit. I had to hand it to him, he was good.
“Lisa is a lightning demon, or at least part. Our coven and the lightning demon pod have never had any serious dealings with each other. In fact, we typically avoid one another when in the same vicinity. The lightning demons are able to inflict serious damage to a vampire. Their power allows them to strike a vampire with their lightning bolts and incinerate our blood, which is what gives us immortality. Lisa and her father are revered by their people. She is akin to a royal princess. Being half demon and half werewolf is thought of as special. The werewolves think the opposite. They don’t appreciate her other side. In their eyes, she is abnormal, tainted. The wolves keep her at bay. That is really all we know of her.”
Dang, I hoped that no one would like her because of her half-breed status. Hearing the lightning demons thought she was extraordinary for being half werewolf was a letdown, to say the least.
When Kieran saw my one eyebrow lift up, he laughed. “Sydney, there is no more information you need, so take the doubt in your eyes right out of your thoughts. My coven would never steer you down the wrong path. Someday, you may be able to trust me and believe in the bond that we have.”
My eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean, bond? And you didn’t tell me anything that was really useful about Lisa. Why does she want me to stay away from you?”
He hesitated, which piqued my curiosity. He had said something he didn’t mean to say.
“I meant the connection between us. We have a bond because you are the Selected, and I am your designated protector. As for Lisa, I sent my Knights out to find her. Hopefully by the end of the evening, we will have the matter taken care of, and we’ll know what she wants with you. Something is important to her, and we need to find out what that is.”
“I don’t want to have more problems from Lisa, but she hasn’t done anything to me to warrant her being harmed. Can you take it easy on her? She’d just make my life more complicated than it already is if she gets ticked off that I told you, and she will.”
Kieran patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. She won’t be able to cause you any more trouble, once we find her. The Knights will let me know the moment she is in our custody and what they find out.” He stood. His head almost touched the ceiling. Kieran was a very tall vampire. I probably would have found him attractive if he and Grandma hadn’t had a romantic relationship. It didn’t help that she had given her blood to him. Well, her mistakes were made for me to learn by, and not repeat. Vampires didn’t need to walk in the sun any more than werewolves needed to be able to change into their fur coats whenever they felt like it. Maybe my purpose in being the Selected was to make sure neither of those things happened.
“Why don’t we enjoy the party for a while before you have to depart? It’s safer for you to stay here for a bit, while my people find Lisa.” Kieran patted me a little roughly on the back. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to you, or to Judith. Let’s go revel in all the glory that is to being a vampire.”
I doubted being a vampire was so glorious. I mean, they have to drink blood and run from the sun like scared little girls afraid of their own shadows. That didn’t sound too glorious a lifestyle to me.
He laughed. “You would be surprised, Sydney. There is more to a vampire than just being a vampire. My people consist of an array of different personalities, interests, and beliefs. Some even have human families still alive. You may find some of them to your liking. Give them a chance.”
A chill sped up my spine. Had he read my thoughts? He gave me a gentle push toward the door. I didn’t much care for his digging around in my brain, but I shoved that annoyance aside. Our private meeting over, it was time to do what he said and enjoy the party.
Liam waited outside of the room and smiled at my approach. Besides being a vampire, he was a pretty fun guy. Liam was always chipper and happy-go-lucky. He was really easy going and entertaining to hang out with.
Liam bowed, then he handed me another full glass of white wine. Together, we went to the room with all the vampires moving and grooving to the beat of the music. The wine went down easy, too easy. I thought to myself, what the heck? Liam threw his head back and howled, interestingly taking the stance of the werewolf on the book Kieran had given me. He chuckled, put his glass on the counter, and grabbed my hand.
We danced and laughed without much of a care. The music took over, and the wine helped loosen me up. After a while, I snuck a peek at my cell phone out to see what time it was. I was surprised that we had danced until nearly one o’clock in the morning.
All of a sudden, Liam stopped and pressed his cold lips against my ear. “Kieran says he needs me, so I’ll see you later?”