“This is incredible!” announced Thorn. He turned to face her. “I’
m still hungry.
”
“You’
re going to have to wait,
”
said Rose, ignoring his pleading blue eyes. What? One old bag lady was not enough? Obviously not.
“I don’
t want to wait.
”
Anger tinged his tones. It was an emotion Rose had never heard on his soft velvety voice before.
“Well, you’
ll have to wait,
”
she said tersely. Picking up speed, Rose passed Thorn and was hit with a mixture of relief and annoyance at the sound of his booted footsteps catching up beside hers.
“Why?” he demanded. “There’
s one over there.
”
He pointed to a homeless man asleep over the subway
’
s venting grate.
Rose halted and pulled Thorn to a stop.
“
Listen to me.
”
She gripped his arm until he winced and brought his angry gaze down on her.
“
You are the first of my coterie and you have a lot to learn.
”
“But–”
“No buts,” she snapped, her anger rising. “The first thing is to know when the sun rises, which it will do soon. Or do you wish to die and have the sun’
s rays give you a true death?” He shook his head, fear creeping into his pale face. “No. I thought not.
”
She resumed walking, not waiting for Thorn. She loved the way his long blond hair swayed in the breeze.
“Where are we going?” Thorn made sure to keep a pace back from his maker as they entered
Queen’
s Park
.
“Back to the club,” answered Rose. Did she see something?
“
The Veil
? Why?
”
“That’
s our home.
”
There it was again. Rose halted, her green eyes going wide. It was Corbie
’
s Angel, the one she had barely
escaped from when she stole his sword from the museum. Shushing Thorn
’
s next irritating question, Rose carefully approached,
keeping hidden behind a sleeping maple.
She could not believe what she was seeing. Here was a specimen of true beauty as he strode through the dark trees, keeping away from the lighted path. Thorn
’
s prettiness was but a pale reflection. Rose flitted to another tree in an attempt to get closer to the creature that had hunted down and slaughtered the Vampires to near extinction and drove the survivors to this new land. Anger illuminated off the Angel. Corby had given Rose direct orders to stay away from the Angel, but he never said she could not spy on him from afar.
Closer she moved with Thorn on her heels until a sudden
burst of speed nailed her to her hiding place. In a split second Rose watched the Angel throw his Vampire attacker as exhilaration
sent her senses tingling. Every motion of the Angel appeared a sensuous dance. His white locks whipping about set a craving in her bones. How she wished to feel those silken strands running through her fingers and to have his strong arms encircle her. She knew that he was the sworn enemy of the Vampires but she could not halt her yearning to feel his smooth pale body press against hers again.
Again?
The thought staggered Rose, furrowing her brow. Perplexed, she lowered her gaze away from the Angel and his attackers. It was then that she noticed the strange white mist rising from the ground, ringing the fighters. Confusion evaporated as quickly as the fog rose, obscuring the Angel. In its place dread caught in her throat as ghost like apparitions appeared in the mist, their faces gruesome in their enjoyment of her terror. Strangling a scream Rose fled before one of the white faced demons could devour her, uncaring of the fact that her beautiful Thorn was now in their clutches crying out for her to save him.
G
odfrey
’
s hands trembled despite his white knuckled grip on the steering wheel. Driving into the rising sun he was not looking forward to reporting his failure to his master. It was not that which made him tremble in fear, it was his attempt to persuade the Angel to go back home that turned the coffee in his gut into acid.
After receiving orders to find the Angel, Godfrey went back to his last known location
–
Beyond the Veil
. Not surprisingly, the club was already closed for the day. It was a surprise to find the Angel striding down Queen Street. Godfrey pulled over and stepped out of the limousine, removing his cap as he took a shuddering breath. As the Angel approached to pass Godfrey
’
s throat closed up and his heart sped. Fear had tightened its noose, stoppering his voice. Pure unadulterated rage boiled from the Angel as he walked over to a parked motorcycle.
Godfrey decided to try again, seeing the Angel halt and disconnect a locked helmet. Swallowing the ball of fear, he took a step towards the Angel, his intent to be unthreatening as he cleared his throat.
The Angel spun around, his crimson eyes burning.
“
What do you want?
”
Godfrey barely managed not to exclaim his surprise and hold his position. Despite the fury in the Angel
’
s countenance it was clear he had a rough night. The split lip was gruesome evidence to Dr. Thompson
’
s testimony.
“My master sent–” began Godfrey, daring to gaze up at the Angel’
s face.
Without warning the Angel was a foot away glaring down at him.
“
You can tell your master that I demand my sword back and until I do I will continue to kill whomever he sends to stop me.
”
Frost coated the Angel
’
s words and he turned back to his motorcycle.
Mouth gone dry Godfrey tried again. Clearly the Angel had him confused with someone else.
“
I believe you have–
”
The Angel turned to face Godfrey. This time Thanatos
’
servant had the where with all to flee as the sky lightened towards dawn.
Closing himself into the safe confines of the limousine,
Godfrey nearly stalled the engine in his attempt to turn it over. He threw the hand gear into drive and tore off down the road ignoring
the squealing tires and the scent of burning rubber. Never before had Godfrey felt such terror. A part of him wished that the Angel was still Chosen. That, at least, he could have handled. Now he had to report to his master his failure with the Angel. A new shudder ran up his spine as he tightened his grip on the wheel.
E
lizabeth startled awake, sending Grimalkin scurrying off her feet, and winced with the realization that she had fallen asleep on the living room couch while she had waited up for her daughter and guest to return. Groaning, she pulled herself to a sitting position and tightened her robe as she stretched out her neck muscles. On the coffee table before her was the paranormal romance novel she had fallen asleep to. Elizabeth was sure she had not placed it there, or the note beside it. She turned on the end table light she was positive had been on when she dozed off and picked up the paper. A smile formed as she read Vee
’
s handwriting informing her mom that she was safe and sound at home and that Karsha was crashing over.
Elizabeth frowned. Gwyn
’
s motorcycle could only hold two. Where was her guest? Climbing to her feet, she went to the front door and finding it unlocked Elizabeth went outside into the brilliant new day. Parked beside her car the Y2K motorcycle was still warm to the touch. Her frown deepened and she turned from the sunlight and entered the dark sleeping home. Quietly, she climbed the stairs and was rewarded with the sound of movement. Someone was awake and using the shower.
The broadloom muffled her steps as she came to the guest bathroom. Light spilled into the hall from the slightly open door, as well as humidity. A gentle tap elicited no response. Elizabeth knew it would not be Vee or Karsha. It could only be one other person. Heart pounding, Elizabeth opened the door. The question of his late arrival and why her daughter came home past curfew died on her lips.
His pale body glistened, water droplets reflecting the light, as he turned off the water and stepped out of the bathtub. The moisture clung to his slim body, emphasising his smooth muscular build, delineating each curve and valley.
“What happened to you?” she blurted, eyes wide at the black and purple bruises along his arms. Elizabeth’
s mouth dropped open at the gigantic blossom along his side. Eyes roving lower, taking in sights she had only felt, Elizabeth snapped her gaze up to his split lower lip after noting the bruises on his sleek muscular legs. The harsh florescent light illuminated the burn, scars and bruises, making Elizabeth wonder if there was not a part of him that was not damaged in some way. His eyes met hers and she nearly flinched at the anger there. Did his ruby eyes flash? She had no time to follow that thought as he turned away from her to face the fogged mirror and the counter top that held his clothing. Rumpled atop was a wide beige tensor bandage.
“What do you what, Dr. Bowen?”
She had never heard him with anger in his voice and wondered
at the regression of her name. It startled her and got her ire up.
“
I want to know what happened to you.
”
She closed the bathroom door, not wishing their discussion to wake Vee and her friend.
“
And I want to know why Vee came home without you.
”
“You’
re daughter is safe.
”
He rolled the tensor in preparation for its use.
“
The rest doesn
’
t matter. I
’
ll be leaving as soon as night falls.
”
His dismissal of her concern for him drove Elizabeth forward to grasp the bandage from his hands, noticing the blackened cut on his left. She met his glare with one of her own.
“
Doesn
’
t matter? Of course it matters. I ask you to accompany my daughter and you come back bruised, battered and ready for a fight.
”
A flicker of guilt momentarily broke his visage before being replaced with a mask of ice. With no reply forthcoming Elizabeth pressed on.
“Do you think you don’
t matter? That
’
s bullshit. Do you think I open my door and entrust the care of my daughter to just anyone? Do you think I have sex with someone just for the sake of it? I have to consider that person a friend, someone I care about.
”
She jabbed her finger into his damp smooth chest.
“
I have to trust that person. And stop calling me Dr. Bowen. My name is Elizabeth. Use it.
”