Disclaimer: I do not own the Carpathian Series, and definitely do not own the amazing characters in Christine Feehan's wonderful books. This is just a fanfic.
Alana Grey glanced around the village inn anxiously, teeth digging into her bottom lip as she took in the inquisitive stares. She tugged self-consciously at a bright pink lock of hair and vaguely regretted sticking to her leggings and Pink Floyd tank. She stuck out like a jack-o-lantern at Christmas; even her buckled black jacket couldn't quite blend in with the rest of the cold-weather wear of the inn's patrons. She could feel the curiosity and vague sense of disapproval from a mile away.
Taking a deep breath, Alana stalked over to a kindly-looking woman she assumed was Slavica, the innkeeper. It was a fact she was the only one who didn't seem too startled by the young traveler's appearance.
"Hi, I'm—"
"Miss Grey, yes," the older woman interrupted in halting English, wiping her hands on her apron. The air around her shimmered with warmth. "Your room is ready if you would like your things there."
Alana nodded gratefully and handed her luggage to the homely gentleman who approached at a wave from Slavica. "Erm. Do you happen to know. . ." She trailed off, rubbing at her brow. She could feel the eyes at her back and, what was worse, the whispers were beginning to sound in her head.
Trying hard to recover, Alana apologized. "I'm sorry. It's been a long trip and I know I'm supposed to meet Josef here, but do you mind if I wait for him in my room? Maybe just let me know when he arrives?"
Slavica gave her a sympathetic look and smiled. "Of course; although, he should be by any—" she stopped mid-sentence, her words cut off by the fierce breeze that swirled through the room as the front door opened once again. "Ah."
Alana turned around slowly, at once apprehensive. She and Josef had only ever spoken online, talking about things like Lord of the Rings and the like. They had never met before in person and the fact that Alana had travelled all the way from the United States to the Carpathian Mountains just to meet him had her heart beating out an irregular rhythm.
It had all seemed like so much fun. She, Josef, and their other blog mates had talked often of visiting one another. But she was the only one who had taken everything seriously. Still, it hadn't been until the incident that Alana had even remotely considered traveling overseas to hang out with an internet friend. She believed the solitude of the Carpathian Mountains would help, but now she realized she could have very well placed herself in danger. She heard countless tales of women going missing in the middle of nowhere after meeting someone online. She really shouldn't have been so stupid, but something in her had insisted she make the journey, despite any apprehensions.
Alana found her fears evaporate into nothing, however, when she first spied her friend. His spiked hair was tipped blue and his ears sported several piercings. His black T-shirt matched her own in a way that made her smile. She sensed him a kindred spirit. He was everything she had imagined. His aura even felt light and jovial. It was refreshing, despite the odd tinge of darkness flickering along the edges.
"Alana?"
A grin broke out on her face and Alana nodded in the affirmative, her eyes glancing over his companions. Strange, but once the three had stepped into the inn, the world had gone blessedly quiet. That alone was enough to make her grateful she had come so far on little more than a whim.
"Yeah," she breathed in relief. She focused on the young, delicate woman behind him, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the dangerously handsome man at her side. "You must be Skyler?"
The young woman offered a small smile in answer. "Yes. It's good to meet you; Josef has told us all about you."
Alana felt taken aback. "Really?" she asked, taking in Josef's blushing face and knowing a red flush was slowly creeping over her own cheeks. "I hope it was nothing embarrassing. You know how it is with the blogs—so much nerd in one place."
Skyler laughed unexpectedly, a musical sound that wrapped around Alana like sunshine. She noticed that the intimidating man bringing up the rear of the group softened a bit, as if just hearing Skyler's laugh melted his insides. It was enough to make Alana sigh enviously. To have someone look at her like that—as if the sun and moon set around her.
The man's ice blue eyes suddenly caught Alana's gaze, boring into her as if he could see into the very depths of her. For a moment, Alana even felt like a hapless deer cornered by a wary wolf. Shaking off the sensation, she rubbed her arms, feeling suddenly closed in. The whispering voices swelled around her and Alana's head began to pound again. All she really wanted to do was curl up somewhere and chat with Josef and the other bloggers, just a normal night away from the crowds and chatter.
As if sensing her discomfort, Skyler motioned towards the innkeeper. "There's a little sitting room off to the side," she suggested. "I'm sure Slavica wouldn't mind if we used it for a bit."
Alana hesitated, looking furtively at the unnamed man who seemed to carry danger around him like a cloak. Josef let out a great guffaw and nudged her in the ribs. "Don't worry about Dimitri," he broke in. "He's just here to make sure Skyler doesn't get herself into trouble."
Immediately, the tension drained from Alana, dispersed by Josef's open, friendly manner. "All right," she acquiesced gratefully. It would be nice to get away from the general public. Though everyone had resumed their conversations, Alana felt she and the others were still the center of attention. "As long as it's okay. . ."
"Of course it is," Josef declared, pulling ahead of their group as they passed through another doorway. He bounded into the other room, like an exuberant puppy.
"You know," Alana began, "you're a lot different in person."
Josef paused, looking back with a stricken look. Skyler's beautiful laugh sounded again and she shared a long look with Dimitri. "Don't worry. I'm sure Alana just means you're a lot more excitable than you are online."
"'Excitable?" Dimitri echoed, voice quiet and dark. He brushed his lips over the top of Skyler's head. "I think you underestimate our Josef, love."
Alana hid a smile. She had to agree. From what she had already seen—and what she knew of him from their online adventures—Josef was a naturally playful and kind young man. She felt, however, that if given the chance, Josef would surprise them all with his depth and sincerity.
The sitting room was small but opened up into the night, the veranda doors thrown wide to welcome the outside world. Beyond the pretty lawn of the inn was the forest, its wealth of vegetation and shadows strangely beautiful even so late in the year. The chill of the outside air was tempered by a roaring fire that Alana swiftly took advantage of. She sank into a fluffy chair and made herself comfortable.
She watched as Josef and Skyler began a teasing banter, clutching her arms tightly to her sides. For all the distraction, it was nice to just sit in quiet. With a wall and door now firmly between her and the other patrons of the inn, Alana felt a blessed inner silence. Though the three people with her now were hardly unnoticeable, they were like patches of quiet sky in a raging storm. She heard nothing from them but their words, saw nothing but the faint flutter of their auras. It was refreshing. If everyone she met was like this, then perhaps she could get used to the Carpathian Mountains.