H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1) (8 page)

Chapter 11

Twinki
e
was avoiding me like the plague. Though he was still just as confused as I was, at least he stopped hissing and growling at me.

I never thought I’d actually contemplate taking on the urges that have been assailing me for the last couple of days. I had to wait until the majority of the patrons left with their kids though.

The island wasn’t that big from one end to the other but it was big enough, about eight miles across. I jogged the entire island, three times before nearly passing out from hunger and dehydration.

I was still full of energy but starving. Passing by the one of the longer stretches of cliff ledges, I paused and glanced out onto the ocean at the picturesque, deep blue, shimmering horizon.

I don’t know how far down the drop was but my adrenaline was guiding my muscles more so than my common sense right now. I didn’t know how shallow it was and how many rocks were jutting up from the ocean floor near the shore either.

I didn’t care.

This spontaneous burst of wild energy was both exhilarating and scar
y
— and the adrenaline won.

I took off at high speed, sprinting with nothing but the wind and a few stray strands of hair lashing me in the face.

It was as if I automatically knew when to jump. Springing forward with muscles tensed and coiled…I literally leapt out and over the edge in a graceful front flip and swan dive.

Sailing over as if I were flying was one of the most intense rushes that I’ve experienced in a long time!

The rippling, frothy waves below welcomed me with a cold, full-on embrace once I plunged into the dark blue abyss with ease. It was as if I had been professionally diving all of my life. I’ve always been a good swimmer but now…I was an Olympic phenomenon.

I immediately surfaced, wiping my eyes and spitting the excess water from my mouth. I was amazed that I managed to leap out this far and avoid being dashed to bits by all the rocks and coral that lie hidden beneath the more shallow waters near shore. Looking back, I estimated it to have been at least a two hundred foot drop from the jump off point.

Panning around for any witnesses, lost tourists or even anyone from the bar, I began to power swim back to shore. That didn’t take much effort or time either, even against the pounding waves and opposite undertow.

I hadn’t thought ahead about how I would get back up to the top though. I suppose I could jog around until I found a better path. After all, my adrenaline rush was still going strong.

Call me Spider Woman.

It was a breeze to find purchase and scale the cliff wall like a skilled rock climber without any equipment. The fear of going higher to reach the top with the possibility of falling to my death was actually thrilling.

When I returned to the bar, I whipped up huge meal for myself. I was ravenous and insane with starvation, snacking impatiently on baby carrots and hot wings while waiting for my T-bone steak to sear and cook.

I still had a few hours left to shower and freshen up before heading to the mainland in order to meet Gage by seven. So far, no one asked questions although Isis and Cole did pass strange glances in my direction. Thankfully, my fangs had long since retracted and my teeth were normal again…for now.

“You want to catch a movie?” Isis peeped her head into the kitchen to ask as I was scarfing down a bowl of rare, sliced steak and mushrooms.

“Um, I can’t. I have a date on the mainland.” I told her.

“Ooh, with who? You didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone. Or is it with Marq?” She beamed.

I shook my head. “It’s not Marq.”

“Really? Who? Someone new to the area?”

“Sort of but he’s just an acquaintance.” I said finishing up, setting my plate in the large metal sink basin, taking the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I made in addition, and heading back up to my apartment.

Isis followed me. “Is he hunter, elemental, or human?”

“I’m not sure.”

An ominous expression settled over Isis’ face. “Not sure? That’s not good, Kai. How well do you know him?”

“I don’t, that’s why I’m meeting him. I’ll tell you everything when I get back. I’ve got to get ready.”

She sighed. “Alright. Well, maybe we’ll run into each other later on. There’s tons of tourists flocking in for the last part of summer. We’re going to the El Malecon Boardwalk with Stone and Veronica around eleven tonight. Call me if you want to meet up. I want to see who this new acquaintance is.”

“We’ll see.” I waved over my shoulder.

Regulars were already settling in once I made my way downstairs. Riza was at the bar, Jax, Maxwell, and Pierce were on security detail at a table by the landing of the entrance stairwell,Isis and Noemi were waiting table
s
—and it was apparently bad karaoke night.

Dianca and Triste were doing a very bad rendition of Atlantic Star’s, Secret Lovers.

I donned a long, black, sleeveless, fur-trimmed cover over my outfit in order to conceal the arsenal strapped to my waist and back; two double loaded laser pistols, ammo clips, and my trusty full -length Bushido Katana. Of course, I also had my spring action, high-heeled combat boots on too.

“Damn. Where are you going looking all hot and dangerous? And by yourself?” Jax inquired suspiciously.

Maxwell and Pierce turned to gauge my ensemble too.

“Mainland.” Was all that I was going to mention.

Isis sidled up behind the guys on the opposite side of the table.

“You said you had a date.” Isis replied.

“I said I was meeting an acquaintance.”

“A date? You look dressed for battle.” Maxwell commented.

“Well, it must not be with Mermaid man then…although the lipstick and perfume tells me it isn’t a hostile meeting in the least.” Jax joked while surveying my choice of attire.

He was right. Dressed to literally kill, make-up, and perfume had never been part of my outfit before.

I glared at his blatant insult of Marq.

“You know, Marq is not a damned fish. He’s an extremely powerful water elemental who could lay you out on your ass easy any day, Jax, so don’t get it twisted and lay off of the insults. Anyway, I’m only taking precautions in lieu of everything that’s happened recently. Tell Cole that I’ll be back in time to open the bar and help with the supplies in the morning. I appreciate you guys coming through and making sure that all ran smoothly these last few days.”

“Of course, anytime. I’m cutting out early tonight myself too.” Isis replied.

“Lay me out? I would love for him to try but he’d better be completely dressed first.” Jax defended.

The guys agreed and laughed.

“Why? Does it bother you to touch a well-endowed man without feeling inadequate or turned on?” I stated, tilting my head to look at him questioningly.

“Ooh.” The others teased Jax on purpose to instigate.

“You’re cute, Kai, as long as you don’t speak.” Jax shot me a wry glance, clearly beaten by my comebacks.

Both Isis and I laughed teasingly at Jax.

“Aw, did Jax get his little feelings hurt?” She said in a cartoon-like voice.

“Don’t you start with me.” Jax warned her.

“Shit, you two are like brother and sister.
Maxwell commented with a chuckle.

“Hey, I saw you jogging around the island earlier. When did you take up free-fall cliff diving though?” Pierce suddenly asked.

He saw me?

Suddenly, all eyes were on me for an answer.

“Today. I was hot so I thought, what the hell.” I shrugged.

“That must have burned a hell of a lot of calories. You came back and nearly tore the kitchen apart devouring the entire contents of the prepared foods and fridge.” Isis added.

“Hmm, the last time I saw a female do all of that out of the blue, she was pregnant.” Maxwell teased with a raised brow.

All eyes went to me and then to Jax for some reason.

Why would they automatically assume that I’d hook up with Jax?

Yeah, he was single and good-looking but he tends to be a bit chauvinistic when it comes to female hunters, and he’s a big time playboy. We grew up together like family and I regard him as another brother. Besides, he prefers human woman anyway.

“Don’t look at me. Kai won’t even let me hug her for more than two seconds.” Jax held up his hands.

“Ooh, you ended up in the brother from another mother zone from the beginning. Suck city, man.” Maxwell teased Jax.

The table erupted with laughter.

“Cole would rip his balls off for trying anyway.” Pierce added.

More laughter.

“Screw you guys, if I wanted to hook up with Kai, she knows what time it is, right, Kai?” Jax turned his head to look at me, winking flirtatiously.

I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. “I’m out.”

“Damn! Burn!” The guys erupted with more teasing and boisterous laughter.

Jax leaned back and called out to me once I reached the bottom step. “You’d better be careful, Kai. Cole will go ballistic if he knew that you went to the mainland alone.”

“Well, he’ll get over it. I’ve got my cellphone and I’m strapped, don’t worry.

—And with that, I finally left.

Chapter 12

The
moon was full and incredibly bright tonight. Despite its luminescence and all of the stars, you can’t even see your own hand in front of your face out on the ocean at night— if you were human.

As a hybrid hunter, seeing in the dark was the same as seeing during the day, so I had no problems navigating my amphibious ATV without turning on the headlights. It was a high-tech Quad ski, equipped with wheels and tweaked with an added convertible-style dome to keep myself from getting wet and ruining my clothes. This bad boy was designed to glide superfast, smooth, and stealthily both on water and on land.

I had charted and memorized the latitude and longitude of the Majahuitas shoreline earlier, so the only thing I needed to see was the compass and GPS navigator on my control panel. After several years, I’ve come to know the majority of this entire area pretty well.

Even under the plexi-glass dome, I could smell everything vibrantly as if it were being held right under my nose. The briny salty scent of the sea, the sweet and bitter fragrances of indigenous fruit and flowers, human sweat, smoky food being cooked in the far distances, and even the sound of music, voices, and laughter filtering in from everywhere.

The mixture of all of it was stimulating and bizarre yet powerful. The heat and energy in me began to rouse, stirring up feelings of both beating the crap out of something and having wild, porn-star-worthy sex at the same time.

The closer I got to shore the stronger another distinct scent became. It lingered in the air before it hit me full-on and it was both familiar and different at the same time.

Damn, already?

My hunter instincts were taking over as I slowed my Quadski and reached behind me for one gun. I pressed the button to slowly roll back the dome cover before coming to a halt several yards from the currently deserted shoreline. I scanned it from end to end and then towards the top of the semi steep rise that encircled this side, all the way to the bottom.

Nothing moved.

Strangely, I began to salivate.

I could feel my incisors elongating slowly in my mouth on their own, which made me panic.

Suddenly, I was hungry but I wasn’t sure why or for what in particular.

I swallowed hard. The ache of my new fangs and the pangs of hunger…no—thirst, all at once was daunting.

I wasn’t used to this and I didn’t understand it at all.

What was that aroma and why am I reacting this way to it?

I remained still, shutting off the engine and simply bobbing as the rolling waves gently rocked the bottom of the Quadski. The warm breeze forced the scent into my nose once again, making me breathe harder with anticipation and my heart began to race even faster.

I didn’t want Gage to see me like this. I thought of turning back and just going home but I wanted to see him again even if it weren’t for getting any answers.

A sudden inhuman howl, grunt, and then an abrupt shriek echoed from somewhere beyond the rise.

What the hell was that? An animal?

Nocturna? Very strong possibility.

With gun in hand, I searched the ridge again for movement but saw none.

All went silent once again save for the rushing, frothing, and roiling waves steadily lapping against the bottom of my Quadski.

Though the shoreline was expansive and clear, there were a few dark nooks and crevices in and beneath rock ledges and the sparse vegetation. I waited a bit longer with a cocked ear, listening to every sound and watching every movement in and around the clusters of tall palm trees.

The scent eventually faded away and soon after, so did my hunger. I could feel my teeth slowly begin to retract, still causing a dull ache in my jaws but not as bad as it had been this morning.

I wiped a cool line of drool from my chin, shocked to even feel it there.

That smell. It was definitely blood, so maybe I won’t be able to get past that part after all. I was changing just like Gage said but into what? I still felt like me. It depressed me when I thought about what it could all mean.

A lone figure suddenly appeared at the top of the rise. It was a figure of a man sweeping a beam of powerful UV grade light along the shore and waters’ edge while holding binoculars up to his eyes.

A UV grade flashlight? Was he looking for or was he expecting more Nocturna?

That was interesting.

I would have wondered what he was searching for out on a pitch black ocean with no other boats around this area but it was obvious.

Gage?

The light was strong enough to cast a beam out onto my location and it briefly flickered over me.

Finally spotting me, I watched as he began to carefully make his way down the sandy ridge.

No, it wasn’t Gage. That man’s scent was human and slightly musky.

Human?

Cautiously, I restarted the Quadski, letting the dome enclose me once again, and slowly rolled the rest of the way towards shore.

I didn’t need any light to see this human being. He was a young male and he was dressed in an all-black suit with a matching shiny brimmed cap. He stopped short when he saw my silhouette approaching him.

I stopped too. Even though he was human, I wanted to keep some distance.

He shined the flashlight in my direction, highlighting my face.

It didn’t bother me but I didn’t like being spotlighted, so I held my hand up in front of my face to shield the beam of light.

“Señora, Kai?” He called out in a thick Spanish accent.

That got my attention.

“Who’s asking?” I called back.

He shut off the light.

“I am Fernando. I come for my boss, Señor Gage.” He introduced with a slight bow of his head as a greeting.

His boss, Gage?

He employs humans? Is he rich? Well, he did drop 300 easy at the bar but that didn’t necessarily mean that he earns or attains money by normal or legal means either.

I was becoming wary all over again.

“Your boss? Why would he send you? Is he here?” I asked, wondering if he knew that I wasn’t necessarily all human. Well, he had to know that Gage wasn’t either.

More mysteries and now I was really hell bent on getting to the bottom of it all.

He nodded and pointed towards the rise.

That was where I heard those inhuman noises coming from.

Had he caught another Nocturna? Because that was definitely what I had been smelling not long ago, I was sure of it now.

“He is waiting. The car is just this way. Please, come.” He waved me on with a friendly and beckoning smile.

So why didn’t he come down to meet me himself?

Perfect gentleman, I thought sarcastically.

Well, at least he was punctual. When I glanced at my watch, it was just now 7:02 p.m.

Hesitating a moment longer, I took my time to evaluate my surroundings and this human chauffeur (from the looks of his clothes).

“I’ll follow you.” I finally replied.

With a nod, he turned to retreat from where he climbed down and I followed, keeping a distance of several feet between us. Once his back was turned, I quickly let my hair down and ran my fingers through my tresses to allow my waves and curls to tumble gently down my back.