“I never said I wasn’t interested,” he grumbled, still grappling with the idea of what he had become.
“So is that yes?”
Several seconds ticked by before Dane was ready to answer. But as the pangs of thirst burned his throat, his decision was made. He would not rest until every last one of those bastards was dead. “I will join you.”
Boston, Massachusetts. Flann O’Brien’s Irish Pub
May 2012
“I have great news to share,” Jenny Harlon yelled over the noisy, crowded pub as her best friend Marley approached the bar.
“Don’t tell me. Let me guess. You got the job at Voss International.”
“Yup.”
“That’s freaking awesome. I’m so proud of you.” Marley gave her a big hug.
“It was a complete shock. There were over a hundred applicants competing for that position.” She stared past Marley—she felt unworthy of the opportunity.
“Girl, what am I going to do with you?” Marley looked at her with a pained expression.
“What do you mean?” Jenny knew what she meant but the words had innocently slipped out before she could take them back.
“How many times do I have to remind you that the past doesn’t define who you are today?”
I wish I could believe that.
“Sorry, old habits die hard I guess.”
Why couldn’t she be more like Marley? She was right—there was no reason to be anything but excited after receiving such wonderful news.
“There goes that far-off look again. Am I going to have to get you good and drunk for you to stop that line of thinking?” she asked.
“I’m being a killjoy, aren’t I?”
“Nah, you’re just being you. Forget it. So when did you hear?” She popped some beer nuts into her mouth, changing the subject back to the topic of Jenny’s job.
“I got the call this morning while I was in my first class.” She took a sip of beer. “Want one?”
“You bet. This calls for a celebration.” Marley waved the bartender over and ordered them another round.
“I can’t believe everything is happening so quickly. Graduation is around the corner, I’ll be leaving Boston behind to begin a new job in the Big Apple. God, it seems so surreal. Where did the time go?”
“As I see it, we’re both about to begin a new chapter in our lives. And no one deserves this opportunity more than you do. Here, drink this.” She handed Jenny a shot glass full of something that smelled strong.
“What did you order me?” She stared at the clear liquid.
“Patron. Bottoms up.” Marley tilted her head back, downing her drink.
Jenny hesitated for a second before she threw back the clear liquid. The strong alcohol warmed her insides on its way down. Maybe it would douse some of the childhood memories that surfaced when anything positive happened.
Life was finally coming full circle for Jenny. She was about to graduate from Northeastern University with honors and a degree in international studies. It was a milestone, considering she was the first person in her family to ever go to college. Not that they gave a damn.
“Jenny—hello, anyone home? You’ve spaced out again.” Marley waved to get her attention.
Crap, there I go again.
“Sorry.”
“Thinking about your family again, aren’t you?” She frowned.
“It kind of makes me sad that I can’t share this with them.”
Her parents lived in the backwoods of Kentucky. Moonshine and mining were in their roots. Life had been hard and Jenny’d never had much growing up. Her father only made it worse by being verbally and physically abusive to her and her siblings. He also didn’t like the idea of her going to school. It was a tragic, lonely existence. Her mother was a drunk, which had left Jenny with the bulk of responsibility for caring for her younger siblings. Her only hope of escaping had been school.
“Maybe you should consider contacting them.”
Like that’s ever gonna happen.
“Not a chance.” She let out a shaky breath.
“You might be surprised, Jen. People can change. You never know.” Marley gave her a sympathetic smile.
That’s a nice pipe dream.
“There’s no changing someone like my dad.”
As close as she and Marley were, she still hadn’t shared all the details of her past. One, she didn’t want anyone to pity her and it was easier to pretend she was like everyone else. Unfortunately, her dad was a cruel, sadistic monster who had taken pleasure in beating her so badly she ended up in the hospital with a fractured skull, several broken ribs and a collapsed lung, all because she’d wanted to go to college. How did she explain that to someone?
“I’m sorry I brought that shit up. What a dumbass I am.”
“It’s cool. Don’t worry about it.” She wasn’t mad at Marley. But she didn’t want to discuss her past.
“You haven’t given me many details but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t good. You know what I have faith in?”
“I haven’t got a clue.”
“You’re a survivor. Can’t you see what you’ve accomplished? It speaks volumes about the courage you must’ve possessed in order overcome the crappy deal you were given as a child.”
“Thanks.” She gave Marley another hug. “You always know what to say to make me feel better.”
It was clear Marley was smart enough to read between the lines and figure out she had been terribly abused as a child. She would be forever grateful that fate had brought them together.
She’d met Marley their freshman year when they were assigned as roommates in the dorm, and immediately became good friends. Marley was a spunky brunette from California, with an outgoing, fun-loving personality. She came from money but she never flaunted it.
Her new friend had also been fiercely loyal and treated Jenny like family, which was foreign to her. In their four years together, Marley had become a lifeline and her only true companion. It was hard to believe their lives were about to take separate paths.
“No one deserves this more than you, girlfriend.” Marley winked, handing her another shot. “Stop second-guessing yourself and drink up.”
“We should probably eat some food.” She grinned as her mood shifted to a lighter place.
“Lightweight.” Marley rolled her eyes as she tried to get the bartender’s attention. “So when do you have to report for your first day of work?”
“I’m supposed to start right after graduation.” She bit her lip nervously.
“Bummer, I was hoping take a road trip with you. Guess that’s not going to happen. So what’s the position entail?” She continued to pop beer nuts in her mouth.
“I’m going to be a marketing analyst, working with overseas investors.”
“Wow, sounds pretty cool. Hopefully you’ll meet some hot exec, fall in love and buy a house in the Hamptons.” She nudged Jenny’s shoulder.
“Not interested in those types anymore. I had my bellyful with Jimmy. Thanks but no thanks.”
“Not all guys with money are pricks, you know. So you met one bad apple—that doesn’t mean the whole cart is ruined.”
Whatever you say, I’m not taking a bite out of that one again.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Do you know anyone who needs a car?” Jenny grew anxious. It had taken her a long time to get over Jimmy. She knew her friend meant well but that topic was definitely a no-go.
“Why, do you need some money to help with the move?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to have the extra cash and since I won’t need a car in the city, I figured I might as well sell it.”
“I’ll ask around.” She swirled her drink. “If you need money, let me know. You can always pay me back later.”
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for the offer though.” She didn’t like borrowing money from anyone, including her best friend. It wasn’t her style.
“I’m really going to miss you.” Marley frowned as her eyes started to tear up.
“Then come to New York with me. You can find a job there. We could be roommates,” she urged, hoping her friend would say yes.
“I would but my parents pulled some strings to land me this great job back home. I can’t disappointment them.”
“I’m happy for you even though I had hoped you’d find a job on the East Coast. But you know I love your parents. They’re such great people and it will give me an excuse to come visit you in California. Next time you talk to your mom, will you tell her hello for me? Share my news.” Jenny swallowed the lump in her throat. Marley’s parents were so wonderful. It made her sad that she wasn’t able to pick up the phone and call them herself. Her demons from the past had built a wall around her ability to trust even those she knew she should. Marley was the only one who had breached it.
“You call her, Jen. She’d love to hear from you.”
She shook her head. “Can’t.”
“Fine, but she’ll be upset that you weren’t the one to tell her. You know how my mom is. She would want to hear it from you.” She nudged Jenny playfully.
“I know, but right now it would be hard for me to make that call.”
Marley was never one to push, at least when it came to these types of situations, which was a relief. “This isn’t goodbye for good, you know.”
It seems like it.
“I know it isn’t.” She nodded. Maybe it was why she felt so unsettled about her new job. A lump stuck in her throat again and she tried to swallow it down. She was going to miss her dear friend. But it was time to brave the future on her own.
* * * * *
Manhattan
September 2012
Dane stared out the windows of his penthouse suite on the top of the eighty-second floor of Voss International. His office was surrounded by a wall of glass with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. He was lost in thought as he watched the shimmering lights below. He liked it here. Manhattan was a city that never slept, and at the moment, neither did he.
Dane was a shrewd businessman who had built a multimillion-dollar organization over the last three centuries. When he wasn’t working, he spent his downtime hunting the creatures he blamed for making him a walking abomination. There were always more phone calls he had to make and messages from clients that awaited his attention but they could be handled later.
The rise in attacks was escalating. Something was brewing, beyond what was normal. More Rogues were popping up like a plague on this city. New York wasn’t immune to crime, he knew that, but these homicides were different because each time they happened more of the creatures he hated were created. It reminded him of his own transformation.
Why he thought of it now, he wasn’t sure.
He remembered that fateful night as if it were yesterday, when he’d awakened in that dark place only to learn the terrible truth about his new existence. When he’d tried to escape the stark reality of it by going outside during daylight hours, the sun had seared his flesh. That’s when reality finally set in. The Order gave him a reason to keep going. Revenge was a powerful motivator.
Thirst began to gnaw at him.
Bloody great, it’s time to feed again.
In the early years, animals were his only source to control his bloodlust. Nowadays though, he bought his supply from a blood bank and had it delivered to his home. He was relieved not to have to suffer the hunger or be forced to hunt animals. He frowned at the vile memories.
He got up from his chair and walked over to a faux panel, punched in a code and a door slid open. He walked inside the room and quickly changed into black cargo pants, combat boats and a long-sleeved shirt. He strapped his special gun to his waist and stuffed several clips filled with ultraviolet chemical bullets into his pockets. It was time to hunt the Rogue vampires who refused to conform. He opened the fridge and grabbed several pints of blood, bit into them and drank the contents.
Time to hunt.
He touched the dragon pendant hanging around his neck and placed it under his shirt. He had become one of the Order’s most lethal killers, honing his skills over the last three centuries. He slung a crossbow over his shoulder, pulled his hair back into a tight ponytail and left the room.
Tracing, the ability to will one’s self to familiar locations, was a skill he never grew tired of. He closed his eyes and reappeared on the roof of his building. It was peaceful up here. He usually came up to gather his thoughts before he began his night patrol—it had, like everything else, become a part of his routine. A slight breeze swept past him as he climbed onto the outer ledge. He crouched down and watched the lights below.
Dane inhaled deeply, pictured Central Park and stepped off the roof, landing near a grouping of trees in the middle of the park. He patrolled for a few hours but for once there wasn’t much activity.
All was quiet so he finished the rounds and traced back to the lower garage of his building. Since he wasn’t going to get an adrenaline rush from taking out the enemy, he settled for the next best thing, which was driving one of the many sports cars he owned. They were impractical here in New York but he didn’t care. It was the one vice he continue to indulge in whenever the opportunity presented itself. He liked pushing the engine’s limit to see how fast it could take him. It was late and with any luck the streets would be clear enough to build some speed.
He was about to climb behind the wheel of his Aston Martin One-77 when he picked up the faint scent of Rogue.
Here in my building? You have got to be kidding me. Someone is seriously going to lose their job over this security breach.
But that wasn’t the only scent he picked up.
Someone’s working late. Shit.