Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2)

Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2) Page 8

They mingled with the crowd for a while, occasionally approached by guys with a questioning eye. Each was brushed off with a hard look. Ari carried a beer in one hand for show; Lilith sipped at hers. The heavy metal music and crowd noise were deafening and escalating by the minute. They’d made it halfway around the room, when Lilith tugged on Ari’s sleeve.

“There’s Rayden. Now what?”

The vampiress she pointed to was talking with two male vamps. Rayden held a glass of red wine in one hand and was running her other hand up and down the arm of one of her male companions. The long, straight, black hair, red miniskirt, black blouse, and black boots gave her a rather Goth look. So original.

When Ari stopped in front of Rayden, the vampiress looked her up and down with a neutral eye.

“Are you Rayden?” Ari asked.

“And you are?”

“Arianna Calin. Is there someplace we can talk?” They were practically shouting at one another to be heard.

“About what?”

“Jules.”

The vampiress scowled, vibrating with sudden tension.

Hmm. Touchy. Rayden hadn’t made a hostile move, so Ari waited, keeping a bland face and minimizing her own reaction. Not that she wasn’t alert. Every witch sense was on fire.

“Name’s familiar. You a cop?” Rayden finally asked. “I don’t talk to cops.”

“I’m the Guardian for Olde Town.”

“Same difference.” Rayden started to turn away.

“No, it’s not the same,” Lilith said, stepping forward. “She helped us protect Prince Daron last year. Almost got herself killed to save him.”

“Is that so?” Rayden looked at Ari with interest this time. “Lilith, I didn’t know you hung around with humans.”

“I don’t remember doing so. If you mean Ari, she’s a witch. Something wrong with your nose?”

“Watch it, kitty. She’s got human in her blood. I can smell it.” The vampiress sniffed and stared at Ari’s neck. “Makes me thirsty.”

A big vamp dude suddenly appeared next to them. “Anything wrong here, Guardian? You got business in our establishment?”

“Nothing wrong. You the management?” Ari said, standing her ground.

He nodded. “Close enough. We don’t want any trouble.”

“There won’t be any. Just having a chat. And I won’t be long.”

He looked at the vampiress. “That how you see it, Rayden?”

“Run along, honey. We’re not going to break any of your chairs.”

She gave him an evil smile, but he acted reassured. He shrugged, ended his involvement with a brief, “Keep it civil,” and walked away.

Ari turned back to the vampiress. “I didn’t come here to discuss my parentage. I’m trying to find out what happened to Jules. I thought you’d be interested.”

“Human bitch’s brother shot him. What else is there to know?” Rayden’s voice was taut, angry. “And you got him locked up where I can’t reach him.”

“What if that’s not what happened? But, if you’re not interested…” Ari turned to walk away.

“Wait.” Rayden reached out a hand as if to grab her, but then seemed to think better of it. “Are you serious?” She sounded less certain now. And definitely interested.

“Yes,” Ari said, giving her a direct look. “Want to talk now?”

“How about we step outside?” Lilith suggested.

Rayden’s gaze flitted back and forth between them. She nodded, set down her wine glass and led the way—long strides, hips swaying. Ari ignored the runway walk and followed her outside, Lilith close behind.

Once on the street, Rayden lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, letting the smoke roll from her nostrils. She didn’t have to worry about lung cancer, but being a vampire didn’t prevent her from looking ridiculous. Ari refrained from making a smart remark.

“Now what’s this all about?” Rayden demanded.

“It’s possible the man in jail isn’t guilty. Police didn’t find a gun. Without a weapon, I find it hard to believe a human could kill a vampire. Who else wanted Jules dead?”

Rayden frowned, staring into the night. She gave a short laugh, a sound without humor. “Oh hell, are you thinking it was me? You’re so wrong.” Her voice lost its edge. “Not Jules. Never. He was my mate.”

“A mate who chose another woman,” Ari prodded.

“For now.” The vampiress gave her an arrogant tilt of the head. “I was pissed all right, but I got over it. The bitch is human. She’ll get old and die, and Jules would be back. I could be patient.” She drew the cigarette smoke deep into her chest. “Thought there was plenty of time.”

“The threats didn’t sound like you got over it. I heard Jules had to tell you to stop.”

“What threats?”

“Writing in blood, harassing phone calls. I call those threats.”

Rayden laughed again, dry, raspy; it caught in her throat. “A little fun. Jules asked me not to scare her, so I quit. That’s all there was to it. He knew I’d wait for him.” Rayden lifted her shoulders in a slow shrug.

“Did he have other enemies?”

“What kind of question is that? Everyone has enemies. But Jules wasn’t the aggressive type. We even argued about it. He needed more backbone. You’re wrong looking for his killer among the vampires. We don’t use man-made weapons, especially guns. We take…a more personal approach.” She flicked an ash away. “If it’s not the bitch’s brother, then look for another human killer or maybe one of the lycanthropes. They like their guns.” She threw the butt down and ground it out with the toe of her shoe. “I’m really sorry I don’t know who did this. If you find out, give me a call. I’d be happy to dispose of him for you. It would give me something useful to do.”

Rayden’s eyes flashed with the need for violent release. She was definitely angry enough to kill, but Ari wasn’t certain if the anger was fueled by Jules’s death or by his desertion.

“Damn,” Lilith muttered as soon as Rayden stalked back into the bar. “Wouldn’t want to have a serious tangle with her. Happy I didn’t know Jules.”

“She’s furious, but why?” Ari asked. “If Jules had turned Lorraine, made her one of them, she’d be around forever. Rayden would have been permanently out in the cold. She says she wouldn’t kill him, but I wonder.”

Lilith shook her head. “She’s too possessive to let him go. Now if it was the human girlfriend who was dead…”

No doubt about that. Ari wasn’t so sure Lorraine was safe even now.

Chapter Four

By dawn the next morning, Ari was concerned about her own safety. Not the physical kind, something much worse. Her fingers trembled as she dialed Rosalina’s number. She had woken just minutes earlier in a cold sweat. Disoriented. Heart pounding. Andreas had visited her dreams again, only this time he’d beckoned and whispered her name. Ari shivered, remembering how she’d reached a hand toward him, wanting to go. A part of her knew better, and the inner struggle had saved her, waking her in time.

“Answer the phone, Rosalina!” She huddled on the bed; arms clutching her knees against her chest, phone trapped to her ear by one shoulder. This was beyond nightmare. Whether to be bound to him by magic or fate—it was unthinkable.

Rosalina answered on the fourth ring.

“I have to see you.” Ari heard the desperation in her voice and took a steadying breath. “Soon.”

“Arianna? Is something wrong?”

“I’m having dreams.”

“Of a man?” Rosalina chuckled. “About time.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Oh? Then why are you calling me?” Rosalina asked shrewdly. “Don’t tell me Ramora’s story frightens you? Aren’t Guardians fearless?”

“No. I don’t know. Just tell me when I can see you.”

Rosalina stopped the questions, no more teasing. They agreed to meet that night at dusk, the night of the full moon, when the seer’s powers would be strongest. The best time to petition the Goddess for answers.

Ari curled back under the covers, but sleep eluded her. She didn’t want to talk with Rosalina. But she had to know the worst, didn’t she? What if it was true and she was bound for life to a vampire? What on earth would she do then? She lay and thought about it for a long time.

Maybe she could kill him.

An hour later, as dawn was breaking, she struggled into the shower and turned the water toward hot. The pounding heat gradually loosened her tense muscles. If only her brain were so easily soothed.

With all day to kill, Ari made plans to stay busy. Brierly, the little town where Rosalina lived, was only an hour away. Rather than brood, she decided to interview witnesses in Eddie’s case and visit the magic lab for Gillian’s report. Lewis Hampton, the first witness to reach the parking lot, was at the top of her list. After that, Lorraine’s mother, maybe, for a different perspective on the situation. And, time permitting, she looked forward to quizzing Harold Shale about the counseling sessions. There had to be a missing piece to this puzzle. Although Ryan or his officers would have talked with all the witnesses by now, maybe Ari would ask something different or hear a different answer. After all, she wasn’t looking for more evidence to prove Eddie guilty. Ryan had enough of that. She was looking for something that didn’t fit.

Lewis Hampton—pudgy, balding, and fidgety—waited for her beside Merchandise Mart’s customer service counter. They exchanged names, and Lew, as he introduced himself, led the way to a small office at the back of the store. When he’d turned away, Ari wrinkled her nose at the strong odor of his nervous sweat. What was making him so upset? His gait was awkward, his breathing labored. She hoped he wouldn’t have a seizure or heart attack during the interview.