A Vampire's Touch (The Red Velvet Trilogy) (9 page)

“I saw you in your wolf form. That was you.” I touched his eyes, the same brilliant shade the wolf had gazed at me with.

“Yes.” He confirmed.  “We crave the
Run
.  That’s why I live close to the woods verses the city.  You’ll find most Clairvoyants prefer it here.”

I crinkled my eyes in confusion.  “Clairvoyant?”

“They have the ability to see glimpses of the future and have very strong premonition. Their eye color is a very light blue.”

I paled even further.  “Oh my God, the man at my apartment building.”  Jax got right in my face, his features harsh. 

“What man?  Did someone follow you?”

I nodded. “The other night, there was a man, his eyes were just as you described, almost eerie.  They caught my attention.  I pretended to look for something in my purse so he’d pass me, which he did.  He continued down the hall and disappeared.  I never saw him again.” 

“Damn it.”

I discerned this wasn’t even the half of it. I was sitting here wit
h a real live vampire who I had
slept with.  A thought popped into my head and it was all so clear now.

“That night we met and you brought me to your place, we kissed and you pulled away from me.  Was it because...”

He looked ashamed, his gaze falling to the tiled floor.  I reached out and grasped him by the chin.  “Hey, don’t.  You had the strength to pull away.  Keeping me safe was more important than your basic instincts.” I heard myself speak and couldn’t believe I was actually having this conversation.  I was thanking a
vampire
for not sucking me dry.  Wonderful. 

His touched my hair, pulling me back from my thoughts.  This was Jax.  The man who had seduced me with his eyes and made feel more alive than ever before.    Okay maybe he had some extra gifts at his disposal but I felt this before the sex.  Remembering his voice at my ear that first night made me shiver.  Was this reaction real? Had I been compelled to feel this way? 

He nodded rigorously.  “No, Sienna.  What is between us is real.  I promise you.”

“Are you in my head?”

“
No
.
  Shifters have an uncanny ability to scent your emotions.
” His hand fisted in my hair, bringing me closer.

“I would never hurt you.  You have to know that.”

And I believed him.  It was crazy how much I trusted this man…vampire.  It didn’t matter that he was another species or…

“How old are you?” I had the urge to know everything about him, where he was born, did he have any other siblings?

“Are you sure you really want to know?” He smiled.

I persisted. “Yes and then some.”

“Five hundred and twenty-four.”

I gaped at him.  He closed my mouth with a forefinger to the chin.

“You’re like a walking talking history book!”

He laughed.  “Should I be flattered?”

“I think I should be committed.  I seem to be taking this pretty well.”

He stood and his body tensed.  Oh no.  This didn’t give me a fuzzy warm feeling inside.

“Sienna.  There’s more and I’m not sure this part is going to be easy for you.”

I stood too because my nerves demanded it.  “What?”

He turned to face me. “You said you never met your father?”

Okay, now I was really confused.  Why this question?

“Wouldn’t know him if he crossed me on the street tomorrow.” I threw my hands up.  Saying that still hurt.  A part of me remained bitter when I contemplated how a father could abandon his own child.   

“Did you notice any changes after you turned fifteen?  Any sudden illnesses, changes in your senses or appetite?”

Yes! I screamed in my head.  My mother had attributed everything to hormones.  His eyes narrowed at my silent debate and determination took over.  Something inside of me didn’t want him to continue with this line of questions.  But he did.

“Do you know what color of eyes represent an Elemental and what their special power entails?”

I nodded, my denial vividly apparent.  He squeezed my shoulder gently, keeping me grounded.

“Steel grey.  Elementals control the elements.  If they’re young or new to their power, it can cause some havoc.  Lightening storms, fires and sometimes earthquakes.  An Elemental holds the greatest responsibility of our kind for this reason alone.  These disasters can be brought on by anger and even passion.”

My mind pulled a rewind on the movie of my life for the past fifteen years.  The events playing back astounded me. 

Closing arguments are suspended until further notice.  A freak tornado ravished the north wing of the courthouse.  Judge Thornton was taken to the hospital with a severe concussion…

I remembered the case.  Opposing counsel had gotten away with several incidents all pushed under the rug by the judge.  I knew he was in cahoots with them.  Thornton had been suspected of crooked dealings for several months but no one had been able to pin anything on him.  I had been thrown off the case and assigned to another.  My only consolation…he had been nailed with enough evidence to keep him in jail for several years a month later. 

There had been several other incidents; Johnny Sullivan flying out of his Nikes when he got too close and personal my freshman year of college.  How about when Merna Jakes, the dorm bitch, had her term paper catch on fire when she had been bullying my best friend? Things like this had happened around me all the time and it was only when I was extremely angry or frightened.   The day my mother had confessed she was leaving the country with jerko it had hailed on a bright sunny day in the middle of July. 

“I see the chips are falling into place?” He asked. 

I blinked, bringing my eyes to his. 

“Our…ah…activities almost ripped the state in half the other day.” He whispered.

I gaped again. The mini earthquake! It happened while we were…Oh my God! I sat down.  Hard.

“Let me get you some water.”

I watched in numb silence as Jax walked into another room, coming back seconds later with a tall glass.  The minute he placed it in my trembling hand, the liquid stared to boil.  I glanced up at him quickly; fear and anxiety causing steam to rise.  He made to take it from me but I stopped him.  Centering my thoughts, I took a deep breath and willed my jumpy nerves to calm. 

The water settled in the glass, cooling back to its original temperature.  When I opened my eyes Jax was in awe.  He squatted in front of me, his gaze darting from the glass to my face.

“You’re extremely strong for a
hybrid
.”

I pulled back.  “What the hell is that?”

“
It
’s what you are, a mix between human and
vampire. 
It explains why some of your powers are more developed than others and why you can survive without consuming blood.”

I guess that explains the wicked flu I got when I turned fifteen.  All the
weird
stuff
had
started after.  I was able to get rid of my glasses, vision was
more than
perfect.  My appetite changed completely.  I barely ate and my extra charcoal well done steak fetish went to barely dead meat oozing blood. 
I
t
had
all
been
blamed on hormones.

“What other powers are we talking about here?” I cringed as I asked.

“
The usual vampire
stuff you’ve heard about; strength,
speed,
keen senses, compulsion
. We can consume regular food but it’s not necessary.  The whole sunlight restriction starts to fade after about two centuries.”

I gaped at him.  “That’s right. You were in my apartment in the middle of the day.”

He smiled.  “Being old isn’t so bad.”
 

A part of me was actually relieved.  At least now I knew the purpose, far-fetched as it was.  The pain of not knowing my father was more poignant. Now more than ever, I needed him.  I wanted answers.  

“I need to call my mother.  She has to know something. She…
.
”

He clasped my face in both o
f his strong hands.  “Sienna, you aren’
t alone in this. I am right here.”

The warmth in his touch comforted me but I was so lost and confused.  How could this be happening?  I swore I was going to wake up and get a good laugh any time now.  Then Cade and Onyx walked in and the enormity of the situation grew.  I looked at Onyx’s steely grey gaze so like my own and I knew.  She was just like me. 

Her permanent grimace fell and the side of her mouth quirked up.  “Welcome to the club, Sienna.”

I watched her walk over to the bar and take a swig of bourbon.  Her Goth style suited her personality as much as the black leather pants molding her tight body.  I liked her.  Onyx was honest and no nonsense. I could respect that.  It was better than the fake bullshit I was constantly surrounded with.  Even my life was one big lie. 

How could my mother keep something like this from me?  I never considered her much of a parent anyway.  Reserved to the point of selfishness, growing up had happened without her help.  Her best friends were a pack of
Marlboro lights
and a glass of wine.  I remember her sitting out by the pool for hours while I did homework, zapped my dinner in the microwave and then put myself to bed without so much as a good night kiss from her.  I looked nothing like her except for my hair color, which at times I detested.

Digging myself out of my lonely pity party, I managed a tight smile. 

“I can’t say I’m glad to be here.  You understand?”

Jax stood and strode toward his brother, giving us some space.  Onyx handed me a shot and sat down next to me.  “It is what it is. Just a matter of learning and adapting.  We’re all given shit to deal with in this fucked up life.  It’s how you deal that will determine whether you survive.  Questions?”

I threw the shot back. How was I supposed to respond to that?

CHAPTER NINE

Three shots later, I loosened up and was ready to talk.  Onyx sat by me, patiently waiting for me to get a grip.  I glanced at Jax who was pacing and running his hands through his hair.  Another bouncer entered, his eyes the same color as Jax and Cade’s.  Jax spoke to him quietly but by the facial expressions, it wasn’t a pleasant conversation. 

“That’s Ronnie.  He was supposed to be watching you.  I bet Jax is giving it to him.”

I strained to hear but they stopped talking when they saw me looking.  Ronnie walked to the other side of the room, clearly exasperated. 

Crap.  I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble because I decided to get curious.  If I would have stayed in my seat none of this would have happen.  Then again, I would still be clueless.  No.  This had to happen and Ronnie shouldn’t be held accountable.  The man had been at my back in less than two seconds after I opened that door. 

“Jax.”  I stood and walked toward the group.  Cade stepped back to where Ronnie lounged against the wall like a scolded child.

“No.  I want you all to listen to me.” I looked around the room making eye contact with everyone. 

“I don’t want anyone being held accountable for me.  I’m glad I finally know why.  All of my life I’ve wondered.  I knew I was different.  Even came to believe I had a psychotic disorder.”  I looked down at my feet and smiled.

“The vampire thing was not what I was aiming for but it’s what I am.  Now everything makes total sense and I’m glad.”  Looking at Jax, I felt the need to assure him.  He still appeared worried.

“I need your help learning this new life but first, there’s a phone call I need to make.”

Jax nodded and came up to me, grasping my shoulders. “You have me, Sienna.  Whatever you need.  We’re all here to support each other.”  His kissed me softly, lips barely touching mine.  I closed my eyes, needing him more than ever.  I understood our connection and the power behind it.  Yes, I did. 

The small group departed, each meeting my gaze and nodding their approval.  Onyx was last.  For someone who didn’t do the touchy thing, she placed a hand at my shoulder and squeezed.  The stern mask she wore grew soft for a quick moment, and then she was gone. 

My hand physically trembled as I hung up the phone.  I looked around, searching for something to calm my racing heart.  All this time…
.

I still loved him no matter the difference in species and I prayed you wouldn’t inherit the genes, but when the symptoms began, I knew…
.

I wiped at the tears I didn’t realized were streaming down my face.

When he left, he didn’t know I was pregnant.  I didn’t tell him. 

Why the hell didn’t she tell me?  All this time I felt unwanted and rejected…
.

“Hey.  Are you okay?” Jax entered the office quietly.

One look at my tears and he was at my side, stroking my hair.