Blood Bath, A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (The Maurin Kincaide Series Book 4) (22 page)

17

Alone apparently meant with Saint Ryanne At least they had the common sense to send her to inform me no one was comfortable with me going alone or jumping to the local watering hole. I wasn't surprised they were in agreement or working together to ensure I had an escort. Despite earlier events and the fact they hated each other, I knew they could at least agree on my safety. I argued that I would have Conry with me but they had prepared her counter arguments. Safety in numbers, blah, blah, blah. They obviously told her to save the best for last.

I would still have to jump since I didn't know the area and Bathory could use my blood to locate me if I was in the between for any length of time. I needed someone to drive me. I think they expect
ed me to cave and pick one of them. So of course I nominated Saint Ryanne. Mason was irritated and Ryanne was definitely reluctant but I got them on a technicality. They said I needed someone to drive me but they didn't think to specify anything else. I'd been spending a lot of time with Agrona, I quickly learned the importance of being specific dealing with her.

Dressed in the clothes and weapons Aidan took the li
berty of packing for me almost made me feel bad for kicking his ass. Almost. I wasn't sure if he let me or if I actually got the drop on him. I'd worry about it tomorrow night in our next sparring match. I would spend the rest of the night toasting his broken nose and my busted knuckles.

I'd actually be able to drink now that I was in a pair of my own jeans. The Levis induced lap band surgery had thankfully been reversed with pants my own size. I decided on the Flogging Molly shirt with the pin up girl on the front that hugged my curves, my black eight hole
Docs and my leather jacket. I slipped a silver dagger into my boot, one on my left wrist and two new hair sticks. It was the most I had felt like myself in days.

Saint
Ryanne waited for me in the hall, wearing jeans, a green silk blouse, brown high heeled boots and a brown jacket. She topped the outfit off with a little gold jewelry, simple hoops and chain, and very little makeup. Her red hair flowed behind her in beachy waves while mine was pulled up in a messy bun.

Everything about her said buy me a drink which
offset my stay the fuck away look perfectly. We got in her silver Mini Cooper and headed into town. I would say the ride was painfully quiet but that would mean I actually wanted to talk to someone, which I didn't. I was really starting to enjoy being around Ryanne. Her silence was a welcome change. I didn't have to answer a bunch of getting to know you questions or entertain her with stories of my exploits working for the Council.

"So you're here to train with Mr. Hunter?" She signaled the bartender over to take our order, a bee sting for her and a snake bite for me.

I should have known it was too good to be true. I wanted to get drunk, was that so wrong? She hadn't done anything besides lend me her clothes and fix me something to eat so I spared her my typically sharp tongue. Plus I couldn't ignore her since she was my ride to and from the pub. 

"Yeah, Mason is working with me on my technique."

"Well there's no one better than Mr. Hunter for that." She gave me a little wink to which I rolled my eyes. "That Aidan fellow, he your ex?"

Why did she have to decide to bond? I liked her so much more when she wasn't talking. I tried to remind m
yself she was acting like a normal person should but I'm not a normal person. "Right now I'm not sure what he is. It's confusing and apparently driving me to drink. Look, don't take this the wrong way because you seem like a really nice person and everything but I'm not feeling very chatty tonight. I just want to have a few drinks and contemplate my life."

The pub was packed for a weeknight. Locals were crowded around old wooden tables, sharing stories and singing along to the folk band set up in the back corner. We'd be lucky to get a drink, let alone drunk.

I tried to relax, to forget about Caligula and Bathory, strumming my fingers on the bar in time to music that sounded a lot like Van Morrison. Maybe they’d do a cover of Into the Mystic. Ryanne hummed along, watching the band and giving the drummer a little wave. I liked her a little bit more. Everyone always goes for the singer or guitarist. Of course he flashed her a brilliant grin and followed up with a wink. He would have been an idiot not to. I could tell all of the guys in the place hoped to catch her eye.

I wondered again if there was more to her relationship with Mason or if there had been at some point in the past. Two people that attractive would surely be attracted to each other. Visions of little
Masons and Ryannes danced in my head and I felt a scowl forming. I wondered why I cared and where the hell the bartender was.

Someone started to complain as the bartender made his way over to us with our drinks. "Shut it
, Wallace or that'll be the last drink ye have tonight." Wallace, who apparently thought his refill was ahead of our first round, sank down on his seat. He was a chubby guy, more ass than there was stool, and somehow he still almost missed. "Ignore that one. He's had plenty and waiting will do him good. Besides, you look like you could use this more than him. You're far too pretty to be wearing that frown." The bartender set a glass filled three quarters full of ale in front of me and dropped a shot glass of whiskey in.

"I didn't order an Irish car bomb."

"You're in Ireland. We just call them car bombs here." I couldn't help it, I smiled. I even managed a chuckle. "That's more like it, now drink up."

"Well done
, James, well done. I haven't seen her smile the entire time she's been in Ireland. Not once." Ryanne nursed her bee sting.

"I haven't had much to smile about lately." I slammed the rest of my drink.

James had my snake bite waiting in the wings and handed it to me. "Let's see if we can fix that, shall we?" His hazel eyes twinkled with a touch of mischief, enough to know he was a healthy dose of fun but totally harmless. I bet he gave the ladies in this bar a run for their money with his down home good looks and all that charm. "Boys play something for my American friend."

Much to my embarrassment James continued to harass the band until the rest of the bar joined in and they had no choice but to toss out their set list. I was uncomfortable with the spotlight until the first few bars of
the Who's American Woman belted out of the guitar. When the singer got to the chorus and sang
stay away from me
, while trying not to laugh I was convinced this was my new favorite place. No one but Ryanne knew who I was but I was pretty sure she didn't know what I was or what I was really training for. Maybe I really could have a few drinks and forget for awhile.

The night was finally looking up. We moved from the bar to a table near the band, wedged in between the mus
icians on a break in between sets. Apparently Ryanne had grown up with all of them and the friendly conversation peppered with teasing was contagious. It had been too long since I'd done this. Not since my split with the coven. Well, at least I had Conry. You're not really drinking alone if you’re with your ethereal dog, right?

Eighties pop music wafted out the speakers and laug
hter filled the air. James came over with another round as I considered flagging myself after singing along to not one but two Blondie songs. I couldn't carry a tune and probably made an ass out of myself.

I took the drink to wash down the embarrassment and prevent my defense of Debbie Harris and her ground brea
king rap effort from coming out after the drummer asked James to turn that shite off. I didn't bother to learn all their names, certain I wouldn't see them again after tonight so I kept them straight by instruments. When the bassist asked how I even knew the words to that song I credited my vast lyrical knowledge to Pop Up Video on VH1.

Apparently
Ryanne forgot she was my designated driver because she threw drinks back like it was sorority initiation night. If it wasn't damn near impossible for me to stay drunk, a cab would definitely be in our future. If I cut myself off now, my metabolism would burn off the alcohol and I'd be fine to drive us back to Mason's place. Staying on the right side of the road would be the real problem and by right I mean left. Maybe we should walk.

I pushed my half empty glass to the center of the table, laughing when the guitarist slammed it down instead of his own.

"Bloody hell, what did you do to it? You ruined a perfectly good beer."

Before I could explain the perfection that is Black and Tan mixed with hard cider (or James's equivalent) Conry bolted out from under the table, knocking
over glasses and bottles. Chairs screeched against the floor as everyone pushed back from the table in an effort to get away from the huge puddle of spilled drinks spreading to the edge of the table.

Chaos erupted as Conry tore through the bar leaving a wake of turned tables and flipped chairs behind him. I shoved through the crowd and ignored the shouts of
what the hell is that, how the bloody hell did that pony get in here
and some other more colorful complaints as I followed him toward the front door. Ryanne was right behind me, shoving her hand on the door before I could pull it open.

"Maurin, I've already called Mr. Hunter. His instru
ctions were to stay inside. He and that vampire fella are on their way."

"I think James is going to have a serious problem with that plan." The happy go lucky bartender from moments ago was replaced by a surly, cursing man trying like hell to keep the place from being completely destroyed. I watched as he knocked one guy flat on his ass for trying to make a run on the bar. That'll be the last time he tries to steal when James is behind the bar.

Ryanne's face went slack, eyes glazed over like a Krispy Kreme. I snapped my fingers in front of one eye and then the other. Nothing. I gave her a firm shake. "We don't have time for this, Ryanne. Wake up!"

Someone yell
ed,
would somebody please get that damn dog out of here!
Conry growled as a few of the bigger guys tried to back him in a corner. "You don't want to do that boys, trust me. Ryanne, seriously wake up. I'm going to slap you but I want it duly noted I had no other choice since you didn't respond and I'm fairly certain you'd rather I slap you than ruin your makeup and blouse by throwing whatever it is that's left in the closest glass I can find." I reeled back and was about to make contact when she came to. My breath came out in a rush. I really didn't want to smack Saint Ryanne.

"I'm back, I'm back. Jaysus, don't slap me."

"I appreciate your desire to follow orders, what with Mason being able to fire you and all but going catatonic is taking it a bit far don't you think? He said stay inside not stay still. What the hell is the matter with you?"

"I have a touch of the sight. Wee bit of fae blood thrice removed on my mother's side. Not enough to help anyone, just enough to be a danger to myself. I practically turn to stone when a vision hits me. It's why Mr. Hunter took me
on as his housekeeper. He'd never admit it but he felt bad for me, wanted to help me somehow."

"You have visions, nothing to feel bad about. When we finally coral my dog and get out of here, away from
whatever has him spooked, remind me to tell you about the weird shit that has become my life." I gave a soft, low whistle hoping Conry would hear it over all the commotion he started and know that I wanted him to fade. "When my dog disappears we go, got it?"

"Your dog's been in here the whole time
, hasn't he?"

"I never leave home without him."

"Mr. Hunter said to stay inside."

"We're not staying inside. We're getting the fuck out of here
, now!" Conry ferreted out a vampire, who made his presence known at the entrance to the men's room. We weren't the only ones out for a drink. He tossed the drummer out of the way, slowly moving toward us. His eyes and body language said this vampire was looking for a fight."Out the front door, now. Move."

"We're not going out the front."

"I don't care what Mason said."

"Maurin, we're not going out the front." Her voice was an octave away from panicked scream.

"What did you see?" Something spooked her, something from her vision.

"I saw him." Her arm shot out pointing at another vamp outside. "That's why I didn't want to go outside."

"This is why it's so important to be specific about these things." Okay, think Maurin. The vampire inside is more of a threat. Take him out, wait to see if his buddy still wants to come in after that.

Two stakes, two silver daggers, two vamps. Time to pa
rty. These mother fuckers are ash. "Get behind the bar with James. I'm betting he's got a shot gun back there. It should help buy us some time." I pulled the dagger from my boot and slid the other out of its sheath.

Ryanne
scrambled across the floor on hands and knees, looking over her shoulder once to see where I was. "Right behind you." I reassured her. Only, I wasn't. I closed the distance between me and the vampire. Ryanne cried out my name but James already had the Dutch door open and dragged her behind the bar.