Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) (6 page)

I met his eyes, let my gaze harden. I’m quite good at it, apparently. “You say your fiance was abducted four years ago. When you said this before, I believed you. After all, for a normal human being, the only way he is going to receive assistance is through the help of others with more influence, more power. I have little doubt, that if you put your mind to it, you could crush the Fellowship.”

“You flatter me.” The corners of his eyes crinkled, but there was no warmth to that smile.

“Why did you wait?” I resisted the urge to walk around the room and turn on all the lights, even the small chandelier that dangled above us, shivering in the wake of the heated breeze that floated about the room. The small lamp by his elbow was providing light, but it seemed to make the darkness that much more obvious, that much more dangerous.

He ran his hand over his strong jawline in a parody of thought. “Why did I wait?”

“You had four years to exact your revenge,” I said. “Four years is a long time.”

“It is a long time.” He straightened in his seat. “Would you like a drink?”

I let my lips twist. “Remember? I don’t drink.”

“Ah, of course,” he said. “How could I forget? Well, then I hope you will excuse me while I pour myself a drink. Regrettably, I do not have any juice.”

Was he playing with me? It was an unpleasant idea. "That's fine."

I watched him as he proceeded behind a large desk and pulled out a small, crystal bottle off a high shelf along with a short glass. The amber inside was golden. “Does Martinez know you could have bought the damn bar?”

He laughed. “Unfortunately, or perhaps not, you are the only person who knows the truth, Ms. Hwang.”

“Not Pang?”

He stopped pouring as the glass became half full. “I do apologize. Jase…as you can see, was a bit of a test. I had to know who they would send. You see, in order to find Shannon and find the vampire who took her, I needed someone strong, but someone unobtrusive enough to be given much notice.”

I blinked. “Unobtrusive?”

Bringing the glass with him, he took his seat again and watched me from under hooded eyes. “I have a plan that requires a very specific type of person.”

I have a plan that requires a very specific type of person
.

“And you think I’m that person…” I began, slowly. “You think I can blend into the background.”

He nodded. “No offense, but it seems like most women do. Which seems strange, considering just how many women I’ve been betrayed by.”

“Not all women are traitors.”

His lips thinned. “That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?”

I let that go. For now. “Okay. So you have me. What happens then?”

“I will push myself into vampire society, get deeper and deeper until I find Shannon. Until I find out the truth. But in order to do that, I’ll need someone to watch my back. I’ve heard of your abilities and I think you might be the one I’ve been looking for. You’ve got a special gift, I’m told. I could use it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said automatically.

Only two people were supposed to know of my ability. Elder Chang and Adrian.

How did he know?

He shrugged and swirled the liquor in his cup, the absence of ice making this a somewhat perilous task. “I suppose I’d think less of you if you copped out so easily. Be that as it may, I know what you can do. The best I could do is hire a vampire and I refuse to trust something I want to bring down. Or I could hire someone else and then get killed a day later through their incompetence. No, it’s better to get such a legend as yourself on my side.”

I shook my head. “I don’t…I don’t understand exactly what it is you plan to do. You plan on entering vampiric society? With me as your bodyguard?”

He looked at me approvingly. I wasn’t sure if I liked it. “You can understand, can’t you?”

So easy and yet… “So once you enter their society, then what?”

“I will petition to find out Shannon’s kidnapper. I will petition for her life. That’s all I care about.”

I drew in a deep breath. “You must have loved her very much. You will put your life on the life for a woman?”

“If that person had once meant the entire world to you, wouldn’t you do the same?” he asked quietly.

“I’ve never felt that way about anyone, so I wouldn’t know.” I pushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. “This is much more dangerous that simply killing someone in front of Noir’s mansion.”

“Don’t you think it’s risky, that you could simply kill an assassin in front of Noir’s eyes and expect him to trust you?” Jason finished his drink and stared at the empty cup in his right hand, let it dangle from his fingertips. “Noir is no fool. He’s walked this world for centuries. He has lived through many an assassination and lived to see another moon. If I don’t put everything on the line, then I will fail.”

I was not quite understanding. “So what is your plan? You can’t just walk into a mass of vampires and tell them you come in peace”

He rubbed at his brow in a distracted manner, eyes somewhere over my shoulder, looking at something that was not there. “You’re right. Humans have no right in the vampire court of, such as it is, law. Were I to petition Noir for the name and head of the vampire who turned Shannon, he would have the right to refuse me. And he would. However, if a vampire were to petition him…”

The bottom dropped out of the stomach and the heady sense of vertigo made it difficult for me to breath.

“A vampire,” I whispered. “You’re going to petition him as a vampire.”

The glass dropped, shattered into a million pieces on the polished wooden floor.

“Yes,” he said, staring at the broken glass. “I am.”

5

It seemed bittersweet, to leave the cat in the very capable hands of the elder woman who lived downstairs.

But Mrs. Graham adored cats (she had four of her own) and Mika seemed to tolerate her well enough.

I didn’t want to give Mika up, not when it seemed as though we had finally come to some sort of arrangement, something involving cans of albacore tuna and occasional petting accompanied by purring. The night I came back from the Eldridge mansion, head whirring from the confession, I laid down in bed and Mika jumped on my chest, promptly purring herself into sleep. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept so soundly. I didn’t even have to turn on a light.

I was making progress.

And to give that up…

“And you’ll be back…” Mrs. Graham’s rheumy blue eyes widened. “When exactly did you say you were coming back?”

I paid the rent four months in advance. If things went well, I would be back in a week. If not… “I shouldn’t be more than a couple of months. I’m very sorry. This should make things a bit easier.”

She stared at the envelope in my open hand. “What’s this, dear?”

“It should be enough to help pay for Mika’s lodging.” A lump rose in my throat. I would
not
cry for a cat. “And perhaps some cans of tuna, every now and again. She seems to like Chicken of the Sea the best.”

Mrs. Graham closed my hand, the envelope still in it. “Oh, dear, I don’t need that! My retirement pays me well enough and in any case, I can’t imagine one cat eating so much I would have to spend more money on cats than I already do.” She smiled warmly and I basked in the glow. “They’re all I have left now, so I make sure to take care of them the best I can.”

In a way, it was kind of depressing. “No, please. It would make me feel better.”

The old woman gave me a piercing look. “Well, if it makes you feel better. But don’t be surprised if you come back and the envelope hasn’t been opened yet. You understand?”

I did. I understood very well.

Mika did not bite me as I rubbed her chin, opting to purr, her beautiful amber eyes closed in supreme happiness in Mrs. Graham’s ample arms. “Thank you, Mrs. Graham. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You see that you do,” she said and then added. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

Don’t do anything foolish.

“Thank you,” I replied. “I’ll be back for Mika. I promise.”

She looked satisfied as she cradled the cat against her shoulders. “Promises are made to be kept, aren’t they?”

“Of course,” I said and felt a bit silly as I waved to the cat when she closed the door.

The hallway was quiet, and I was loathe to leave the relative safety of the only home I had known for the past five years.

I thought I would come back.

And it was that uncertainty that almost undid me.

Outside, a dark car with tinted windows waited for me. Courtesy of Jason Eldridge. The driver got out of the car, a tall, silent man with wraparound shades, and opened the back door for me before I could get there.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure. May I take your bags?”

I didn’t carry much, only one duffel bag filled with suitable, comfortable clothes and the nylon bag containing my sword
.
Hardly worth the assistance. “No, thank you. I’ll ride with them in my lap.”

He nodded stiffly. “As you wish.”

I slid into the cool atmosphere, the dark giving me pause and the driver shut the door behind me. I felt that familiar sense of panic, of drowning in the perpetual darkness worse than anything else, but managed to find the switch for the window before I could hyperventilate. It was cold, but I would sacrifice warmth for the tiny ray of light.

A vampire hunter that feared the darkness.

Had anyone known, it would’ve been too shameful.

Father thought he beat that particular trait out of me, but he hadn’t.

A shame. It could have been helpful.

The drive was not long and when the driver pulled into the driveway of a three story brownstone, I stared up at the building that looked like every other building on the street.

I opened the door and got out before the driver could come around to my side. Perhaps his lips twitched with displeasure, but I had always done everything myself. I hated waiting for other people. Things always got done fast if I did it. Besides, I am not so privileged to have other people open doors for me. I still had hands, still had power enough to do it myself.

“Is he here?”

The street seemed deserted and the brownstones on either side had their blinds drawn. They, too, seemed empty.

“He is.”

I thought I saw a shadow move across one of the windows on the second floor of the building in front of me. “Is it just him?”

“I am not sure I can answer that, Miss.”

Miss. It was strange hearing me referred in such a way. “What do I do? Do I just walk in?”

I wished I could see the driver’s eyes as he shrugged. They say eyes are the window to a man’s soul…most of the time, they’re right. “I had very explicit directions regarding this, Miss. Mr. Eldridge made it extremely clear I was to lead you here. Whatever happens after, whatever happens now, is strictly your choice. If you were to walk down the street, I could not stop you. Were you to get back in the car and tell me to take you back to your home, I would do it. Your choice is your own.”

An interesting idea.

But one that was inherently flawed.

After all, I had been led here, hadn’t I?

My choice had been made for me.

A gilded cage. Pretty to look at, but still a cage, whichever way you look at it.

I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder, so it sat more comfortably. “Is the door unlocked?”

He shook his head wordlessly.

Right.

I walked up the seven steps to the front door and heard the car start up. By the time I tried the doorknob, the car was already halfway down the quiet street.

The door was locked, just like he said, and I spared a glance at the brass doorbell button next to mailbox slot.

I could ring it, or I could simply call out to the small figure I could see standing behind the stained glass insets of the burgundy cherrywood door. Probably not Jason. “Do you want me to ring the doorbell?”

The door opened silently on oiled hinges.

“Are you Ran?”

The girl was beautiful, small and delicate like a doll, black hair loose about her slim shoulders, thick bangs brushing the tops of her faint eyebrows. Her skin looked white, almost like she powdered her face, but I knew if I touched her, my fingers would come away clean.

“I am. Who are you?”

She smiled almost shyly and I watched her canines elongate, ever so slightly, almost like watching a rose bloom in quick-motion. Disturbing, to say the least. “Reiko. Our names are similar!”

Appearance-wise, she seemed about ten. I would’ve bet she was at least ten times older. With one swift movement, she could stick out her foot and I’d end up halfway down the street. Moving with caution never seemed so prudent.
When in doubt, flatter.
“Nice to meet you, Reiko. You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen.”

She giggled and flicked a lock of hair over one shoulder. “Thank you. You have a nice face, too. Won’t you come in?”