“Yes, pet. Don’t look so shocked.”
“There’s no way that’s possible. Look at you. You’re so young. So fit. So…” Handsome. Ripped. Ridiculously fucking sexy. Her eyes drifted to his chest and snapped back up to meet his gaze. “Well, I just meant you don’t look—”
“Immortal? I’ve seen lifetimes of joy. And of death.” Viktor sighed. “But all you need to know at this moment is that I find you quite fascinating. Intriguing, indeed.”
“I’m not that exciting.” Waverly smiled, warmth in her expression. She wished she could tell him she wasn’t interested in him, but she’d be lying. This dangerous vampire attracted her like no other man…but he wasn’t just a man. With a deep cleansing breath, she willed away the feelings that curled in her chest. No dating vampires.
“Why are you doing this? Any of this? Taking care of me. Following me,” she pressed.
“You really want the truth?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Yes, but you shouldn’t get involved anymore. I have this feeling something very bad is going to happen. Something worse is going to happen.” Waverly contemplated revealing her visions but decided otherwise. While some people might consider her ability a gift, she thought it a curse.
“After you left, I talked to the maître d’, and he kindly offered me your information.”
“Did he?”
“Perhaps he had a little persuasion.” He grinned. “The reality is that ladies who go to blood clubs are there to be bitten. You clearly weren’t interested. Regardless of why you were there, I don’t like bullies. I suppose the second I decided to intervene, to kill that vampire…you’re my responsibility now.”
“But I’m not. This is my responsibility, not yours. It’s not fair to ask you to put yourself in any more danger for me. It’s my fault. I should have never gone looking for her there. I’d heard those places are dangerous. But Teagan—”
“He would have killed you. Can’t have that now, can we?”
“You said you saw the apartment?”
“Yeah, I did. Was Teagan into drugs?”
“No, never. I mean I guess I don’t know for sure. But she said she’d been drinking blood. I tried to tell her…well, I guess in the end it was other humans who got her into trouble.
“She wasn’t always so unstable.” Waverly recalled the crazy spiral her friend had descended into, a life of conspiracy theories and little restrictions. “When she moved to Miami, I was all for it. She was going to save money, do street art shows. She’d wanted to have her own gallery. Then out of the blue she started a store. It had occult items. Sage, crystals, books, things like that. But she couldn’t make it work financially. After that, she seemed to get lost in life. Some nights, she’d leave me crazy messages, call me…she sounded high as a kite but insisted it was her just her ‘awakening.’ Who knows really?” Waverly shook her head, wearing a disappointed smile. “I know it all sounds crazy. She was always sort of a free spirit. When she said she’d met this guy and drank blood, I didn’t want to believe it. I wasn’t entirely sure if she was hanging out with some kind of role play group…seriously, it’s kinda crazy to think there’s a group of humans doing this kind of thing.”
“We’re going to find this group.” Viktor’s expression grew serious. “I need to tell you though. When I went to her apartment looking for you, something else had been there.”
“Something? Something like what?”
“I suppose there will never be a better time for me to tell you this.”
“What?”
“I don’t know exactly what yet but it’s something dark. The kind of evil that’s not from this realm.”
“No...please. Don’t say it.” No really, please don’t say it. She took a swig of her champagne, finishing the glass. I’ve got to know. “Okay. Say it. Just lay it on me.”
“Demon.”
“No, no, no. I’ve changed my mind. Take it back.” She covered her eyes with her fingers, shaking her head.
Viktor laughed. “My dear, lovely human. I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.”
“But I was in her apartment. I didn’t stay but I was there. Oh my God. Do I need an exorcism or something?”
“No, but between Teagan’s human friends, her drinking blood and her involvement with vampires, she could have brought evil to where she lived.”
“Here’s the thing. I think I’ve kind of explained this, but I think it bears repeating that I am not like Teagan. The only reason I’m involved is because of her. Going to the blood club was a mistake.”
“Indeed. But what’s done is done. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
The plane unexpectedly rolled with a bump. Waverly clutched the seat as the flight attendant frantically gathered the glasses and plates. “I’m afraid we’re going into a bit of a storm. The pilot will fly around it, but we’d like you to put your seatbelts on.”
“I hate flying.” Waverly released a yelp as the plane dipped once again, her stomach flipped in response.
“May I?” Viktor asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to her.
Her face flushed at the thought of having him close to her. “Yes. Of course.”
Waverly’s heart pounded in her chest as Viktor slid next to her and reached across her waist, tugging on her seatbelt, making sure it was secure. Between the storm and Viktor, she wasn’t sure she’d survive the flight.
“I told you I’d keep you safe,” he assured her. “And I always keep my promises.”
“I…thank you…” Waverly’s thoughts spun, her senses on alert as he slid his palm down her thigh and reached for her hand.
“I’ve got you,” he said, his voice calm.
Within seconds of their palms joining, the vision slammed into her. Viktor, clad in thick scaled armor, with an axe in his hand, ran through a smoky battlefield. Far from the clean-cut, debonair, well-dressed man beside her, this Viking wore a long beard, his hair twisted up in braids. Dirty and bloodied, he fought, striking down his enemies with an axe. A deafening whinny sounded, and he spun around, readied to attack. An ominous figure on horseback rushed upon him. Viktor raised his weapon in preparation, but the cunning rider outmatched him. Like a knife cutting butter, the rider drove his sword through Viktor’s armor, slashing open his abdomen. White hot pain stabbed through his body as Viktor crumpled to the ground, his entrails bulging from his gut.
As the vision played in Waverly’s mind, she clutched her stomach, watching the man writhe on the ground, slowly succumbing to his brutal death. She sensed the moment he relented, his soul accepting his fate. He stared to the sky, the stench of smoke and blood in the air. Death is coming.
“Waverly, come now, love,” Viktor consoled her as her head swam with confusion. As if she were stuck in soft taffy, she struggled to release herself from the compelling vision. Viktor isn’t dead. He’s immortal.
As the vision dissipated, her vision focused onto Viktor’s mesmerizing blue eyes staring down at her. “I’m sorry.”