Shift of Time (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 1) (7 page)

“Even so,” Milo said. “Don’t handle the box too much. Don’t lose it, and above all don’t tell anyone you have it.”

“You got it.” I picked up the pouch.

“Wait.”

I paused, and walked to a cabinet against the wall. When he had retrieved a backpack from inside, he tossed it to me.

“Put the pouch in there so it’s not so obvious.” He held up a finger. “Remember, Rue. No one is to know. Okay?”

“
Okay
, I understand. No one but you and me.”

I left his office with the backpack hanging from my shoulder. Who would I tell about the box or the job for that matter? With any luck, I would find the treasure right away and end my pursuit. Milo hadn’t given me a deadline, but I had every intention of wrapping it all up in the next day or two. He would be happy, and I would be alive—you know what I mean—and richer.

I
opened
my eyes to the scent of chocolate and roses. Georgia sat on the stairs outside my apartment door. She wasn’t saying anything and moved little. Her slow heartbeat and steady breathing told me she had fallen asleep, but what was she doing out there, and what was the chocolate about?

As soon as I opened the door, she popped to alertness and shuffled to her feet, grinning. “Good morning, Rue,” she sing-songed. “I brought you breakfast!”

I narrowed my eyes at her as she dug a chocolate donut out of a paper bag with the nearby donut shop logo on it. She took a huge bite and chewed then pulled a carton of chocolate milk from another container.

“What are you on about, Georgia?” I demanded. Then I decided I didn’t care and walked back into my apartment. Georgia followed and shut the door behind her.

“I told you,” she mumbled around more donut. “I’m bringing you breakfast. Did you know whatever I eat you can taste in my blood?”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Very true. You should give it a try, and what woman doesn’t need the comfort of a little chocolate?”

I put my hands on my hips, facing her. “I don’t know why you’re so keen on me being your sponsor or whatever you call it. I can’t pay your bills.”

“I don’t want your money.”

“Well, I don’t have anything else.” I studied her from head to toe. The dress was the one she had worn a couple nights ago the last time she had stormed my apartment offering her life source. “Are you still at the hotel?”

She sighed. “No, I’ve moved into an apartment. The neighborhood isn’t as nice as this one, but it will do. You should come over, and we can have a housewarming party, just the two of us.”

My mouth fell open. “Georgia, you’re not…”

“No, silly.” She waved her hands. “I don’t have designs on your body, Rue.”

“Then tell me now!” I forgot myself. The power activated, and I knew the instant I used it on Georgia. Her eyes glazed over, and she stared dully at me.

Shoot!

I thought frantically of what to say to her, but everything that came to mind made me worry about scrambling her marbles. Georgia did not need her marbles scrambled because in my opinion they were already a little loose. I wouldn’t be responsible for damaging her mind.

“Snap out of it, Georgia.” I gave her a little shake, and eventually she blinked a few times. After pushing her into a seat, I ran to the sink to get a glass of water, but she pushed it away. “Say something.”

“Just let me be a while,” she mumbled, a half smile forming on her face. Understanding dawned as to why she was so eager to be a donor for me. Georgia wanted me to glamour her. My guess was the after affects were like using drugs. The mere thought bowled me over, and I stood in the middle of the floor just watching her.

Georgia’s chin dropped to her chest, shoulders slumped, hands relaxed. This was a new development, one I could not like. One minute I was feared and hated. Others avoided looking into my eyes. When Georgia came along with her silly ways, I confess I thought at the least this funny woman wanted to be my friend, even if I kept rejecting her. I hadn’t commanded Georgia never to come back, and I had always let her in. On some level, I realized I had welcomed her friendship even if I didn’t want to admit it.

To find I was just a drug bothered me a lot. Not to mention the fact that Georgia was in essence, an addict. I wouldn’t supply her fix, and no matter what she ate or drank, I would never feed on her blood.

As I stood over Georgia, I considered whether I should try forcing her out of the high state, but that could cause more harm than good. A knock sounded at the door, and I went to answer it, putting off my lecture to the silly woman.

I was distracted with thoughts of Georgia, so I was already halfway to the door before I focused on the presence of my visitor. I stumbled and slowed my steps. Why would Almonester come to the second floor? He had never done so from the time I had first moved in.

Another knock, this one harder and more impatient, and I scrambled to answer. No use getting him worked up. I opened the door. “Almonester, this is a pleasant—”

He pushed past me and thumped into the apartment, wearing dirty combat boots and dirtier pants. No doubt he was off from working at the bar. While he didn’t dress nice exactly, he didn’t usually look like he had been sleeping beneath a car with an oil leak, unless he had the night free.

Almonester stopped short and eyeballed Georgia in silence. I placed a fist on my hip. “It’s very rude to barge into someone’s place even if you are the landlord. What do you want, Almonester?”

He ground his yellowed teeth, still staring at Georgia. “What do you have here?”

“It’s my friend, Georgia. She’s having a little marriage trouble.”

He put up a hand in disgust as if I had thrown acid on him and then grumbled. Maybe that’s how beings of his ilk saw a commitment like marriage. “Not her! Something.”

He dropped his voice so low, it wasn’t likely Georgia could hear even if she were standing right next to him. I heard without issue.

“You have something magical here. What is it?”

My jaw dropped. He sensed the box? But how? He hadn’t even been home when I brought it into the house, and from what I could tell, the vibrations I had described to Milo were minimal on the box. In fact, they were muffled even more when the pouch was closed over the box. Perhaps Almonester’s sense was keener.

“I don’t have anything,” I lied, recalling Milo’s order to keep it a secret. “Even if I did have something, which I
don’t
, that’s my business. I pay for this apartment, and you’ve got no right to come up here questioning me about things that have nothing to do with rent.”

I skated on thin ice. Almonester’s anger was almost palpable. He worked his fists, pumping them over and over. If he wanted to let loose his frustrations, I wasn’t sure what I could do with Georgia to protect and no clue as to his abilities. I already knew mine were limited.

I recalled Ian had placed a barrier over my apartment to keep out those with evil intent, but what did evil intent include? Physical attacks only? Since Almonester had walked in without hindrance just now, I assumed he had no wish to do me harm. What about thievery? What if he decided to come search for the cube during the day? He could steal it right from under me and then claim no knowledge later. There would be nothing I could do about it.

“Well, are you going to leave, Almonester, or do I have to call the police?”

He laughed. At least I’m pretty sure Almonester chuckled. The sound I heard was derisive and abrasive. Maybe it could be termed a laugh, but a mangled and depraved one.

“The police cannot protect you, vampire. Perhaps you should call your boyfriend home, or did he cast you aside? Your kind is famous for doing that. I don’t suppose we’ll ever see him again unless he’s just visiting New Orleans with his next fledgling.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Ian would never do that!”

He curled his upper lip, baring his teeth. “No? Where is he? Has he spoken to you since he left?”

“I… His phone is off.” I mumbled. Why did I admit that?

“Phone?” Almonester genuinely seemed surprised at this. “You
are
stupid.”

“Of all the rudeness…get out of my apartment, Almonester.” I straightened, my eyes narrowed in anger. I felt it this time, hot and strong like a fire waiting to consume the entire house. The sensation wasn’t pleasing as I had become more used to feeling almost nothing. Was I feeding off of Almonester’s emotions? The mere thought disgusted me.
“Out!”

He strode to the door but paused with his hand on the knob. “No magical items or people allowed in this apartment. Get rid of it.”

He slammed the door behind him, and I listened to his steps descending the stairs. When I was sure I didn’t smell him anymore, I locked the door and first ran to Georgia and dropped to my knees in front of her. “Georgia, are you okay?”

She hardly stirred, and the smile on her face creeped me out. Her eyes were still glassy. For a moment, I considered using my glamour to force her to alertness again, but what if it backfired? What if she enjoyed it even more? To think my ability could be used as a drug horrified me.

Rubbing Georgia’s hands and then her arms brought no reaction, so I left her where she sat for the time being. The apartment had come with a heavy wardrobe, which I found useful for stuffing with my clothes and other items. Over the short while I had been in New Orleans, I had accumulated quite a few useless items. In the beginning, I was an emotional wreck and to feel connected with life and Jake, I had bought any and everything that struck my fancy. All of it wound up in the wardrobe, and it was beneath this useless pile that I had hidden the pouch containing Milo’s box.

Soon a heap of assorted items lay at my side, and I reached into the wardrobe to bring out the pouch. How had Almonester known it was here? Perhaps he had magic or— I lunged to my feet, pouch in hand, and spun in a circle. Eyes narrowed, I searched every crevice and shelf. I dropped the pouch back inside the wardrobe and dragged a chair over to the nearest vent. After curling my fingernails in the sliver of space between the metal grating and the ceiling, I ripped the cover down, destroying the screws.

“Oops, probably shouldn’t have done that,” I muttered. However it was good to note no hidden camera lay inside.

Only after I had caused the damage did I realize if Almonester were spying on me, he would have seen the box because I had looked again at it when I brought it home. He’d also have known where I had hidden it. No, he had another way of knowing, and I suspected it was that he felt the magic.

“What are you doing, Rue?”

I glanced at Georgia, alert at last. “So you snapped out of it. You should have told me what you wanted.”

She rose to her feet in excitement. “You’ll glamour me whenever I want?”

“No.

“But there are no side effects. It’s not like crack or some other street drug.”

“How do you know?” I jumped down from the chair with the grate tucked beneath my arm. “For all you know, I could be scrambling your brains each time I do it.”

She might have had more common sense before all this happened, and her personality now was the result of the last vampire’s glamouring her. I wouldn’t be a party to it.

“You’re no fun.” She pouted like a child. I ignored her and placed the grate on the table to fix later.

“Oh are you doing spring cleaning?” Georgia’s focus lay on the wardrobe and the mess I had laid on the floor. I couldn’t let her see the box. “I like cleaning, and I don’t have much chance to do it now because I don’t own anything anymore. My apartment is empty except for a mattress. Don’t worry though. I have a job now. I’ll have it furnished in no time.”

She started toward the wardrobe. I caught her on the way and turned her in the direction of the chair she had vacated then gave her a gentle push. Thank goodness she took the hint. “Someone hired you without experience to be a line cook?”

She giggled. “Heavens, no. I have experience. Fifteen years ago, but you never forget, I guess. Here’s the manager’s card. Come by to see me. I’ll be there most nights.”

I took the offered card and read it. “I don’t have much use for a restaurant, Georgia. I can’t eat food, and I haven’t been able to tolerate wine yet.”

Her eyes rounded. “Really?”

I didn’t want to get into a discussion about my sensitive stomach, so I rushed on. Besides, speaking of eating, my hunger stirred. I would need to go out to feed soon or risk losing control. I had already skipped two nights, trying to force myself to go longer periods. Ian had said to take it slow in that regard, but I wanted to make progress.

“Listen, I enjoyed talking to you, but I need to take care of some business.”

“You just woke, didn’t you?” She tilted her head and presented her neck. I smacked a hand over my mouth when my fangs descended. Georgia danced on one foot and then the other. “Come on. You know you want to. Chooocolaate.”

My eyes burned, and I flared my nostrils. I zipped to her and dragged her forward with fingers wrapped around her arms. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my fangs to go back up. I knew what Georgia was doing. She was trying to get me to be indebted to her so I would be more willing to glamour her in return.

In two seconds, I had her out on the steps and the door slammed and locked. I zipped to the table and leaned my weight on it, head bowed. Tiny victory, but Georgia had pushed me too far.

I spun to scan the apartment and spotted where I had tossed the backpack Milo had given me. After I stuffed the pouch into it, I stuck my arms through the straps and secured the bag on my back. This was what I would have to do from now on until I found the item for Milo. I couldn’t risk Almonester searching my apartment. Later, I would figure out how to protect it while I slept.

By the time I left the apartment, Georgia had gone. I didn’t waste time lingering near home but took the quickest path to one of my normal feeding grounds. I located my prey quickly and satisfied my thirst. Later, with my belly full, I felt relaxed enough to start my search.

“But where?”

I sniffed the air and picked up the scent of gumbo. I strode along the street a short way, my mind wandering to the past as it always did. Living in a small town made investigating a lot easier. I had also been good friends with the local sheriff. Sometimes I was able to get information out of him. When I wasn’t, I had secretly followed him around. I listened in to conversations. Milo expected me to find the thieves in a city this size by scent. The place was overrun with them. What was I supposed to do, walk endlessly down street after street sniffing around? I doubted I could raise my nose to the air and pick anything up from miles away. I began to think I had been arrogant and foolish to agree to this deal.

By one hour before morning, I had wandered around half of New Orleans. That’s an exaggeration, but I had covered a lot of ground—at a moderate speed, mind you. Not even the demon came out to play, so I had zero clues. Surrendering to fatigue that always came over me right at dawn, I headed home.