Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. At all.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER TWO
I was grateful that the flight from Barcelona to Dublin was less than three hours long. Edward had been on the same flight and though he sat in the very back, I could feel is warm gaze on me from where I sat. My traitorous skin prickled with fear and desire from the intent stare of the beautiful man. I felt strangely exposed as if his gaze was somehow stripping layers of my life off until I was bare.
It was unnerving that I found myself liking it when I should only be alarmed.
I tried to ignore the caress of his gaze and spent the rest of the flight planning how to find Jacob. When we finally landed, I rushed off the plane as fast as I could. I did not want to be tempted by the sexy creature that I had never once taken his eyes off me. It was not until I slipped into the women's restroom that the prickly feeling vanished.
I was relieved.
I had the cabdriver drop me off at Arlington Hotel in the Temple Bar District. After I checked in and relieved myself of my luggage, I walked over to Toscana-a little restaurant and pizzeria for dinner. I was struck by how beautiful the city was with its old brick buildings and fancy light posts. I made a vow to do some sightseeing after I found Jacob and before I left Dublin.
The only words I could decipher from this man's thick accent were "lass" and "Scotland". I had a feeling he was telling me some sort of story that was not related to the topic we were discussing. I had been standing there for ten minutes listening to this man with a fake smile and a few nods where I deemed appropriate. He snickered a few times and I figured he knew I did not understand what he was saying. The old man thought it was funny.
Moreover, he still had not answered my question and I was not in a good mood. I awoke with a migraine and the man seemed to have a fuzzy glow around him that made it hard to focus. I wanted to get back to the hotel and sleep it off.
"So, my friend Jacob?" I reminded the raconteur. "Big Native American guy, dark skin and eyes, wears his long hair tied back, came in and spent about thirty dollars last night?"
This morning, I got another hit on Jakes credit card. I was confused as to why he had made a purchase at a flower shop for thirty dollars but maybe the "woman" he needed information from was more than an acquaintance of sorts. I have to think that maybe this whole thing was because Jake had finally met a girl who could hold his attention for more than the forty-five minutes it usually takes him to charm, seduce, and send them on their way.
Was Jake in love?
I doubted it. He would have told me if he were besotted. I was his best friend after all. However, he has been secretive about whatever is going on.
"Aye, lass. He was 'ere. I dinna ken where he went though."
"Was he alone?"
"Aye." The man rubbed his chin stubble with his fingers as if thinking hard.
"What did he buy?"
"Flowers." The old man gave me an obvious look.
"What kind?" I asked impatiently.
"Dill, morning glory, prickly gorse and rosemary." He listed very clearly and with a very mischievous smile on his face.
"What strange flowers to buy."
He laughed.
"Not around 'ere, lass."
The old man did not know which direction Jake had traveled but he did go into another story about how it is believed that those flowers are put together if you were trying to repel the Fae. I gave him a hard look.
"I don't believe in fairy tales, Old Man."
There was more laughter.
As I was leaving the store, I noticed a woman holding her child tight and giving me a strange look. I stopped at the door, turned towards her, and asked harshly, "What?"
She looked at the counter and I followed her gaze. The counter was empty. The old man must have gone into the back. I looked back at the woman and waited for a response.
None came.
I pushed through the door but heard the little girl ask her mother "who was that lady talking to?"
After my nap, and feeling a bit better, I decided to go to the pub Jacob had been at two days before. I figured Jake might show up and I knew I could use a drink. Besides, I thought, maybe the pub has Wi-Fi and I can get some work done.
The outside of the pub was average so I was shocked when I stepped inside and noticed the upscale furniture. Black leather couches decorated with red velvet pillows strategically placed throughout the room; some of them around a small fireplace. I headed to the bar top that had fancy leather bar stools and sat down.
"What will it be, álainn?" An attractive bartender asked.
"Coors light." I said as I started my laptop up. "Do you have Wi-Fi here?"
"No. You won't find that in a pub in Dublin." He smiled as if the thought was funny and went to grab my beer.
Great, I thought as I pushed my laptop closed.
The bartender returned with darker beer than the light beer I expected. I assumed it was a Guinness. "What is this?"
"A beer. A real one." He winked at me.
"I don't like darks." I pushed it back to him.
"Try it." He demanded as he pushed it back towards me again.
He held my gaze, not backing down.
I rolled my eyes at his command. "Do you always boss your customers around?" I asked.
"No. Only the ones I want to." He responded so sure of himself and winking again. Apparently being bossy was his way of flirting.
"Pretty," I pointed to the shamrock made in the foam.
"Very pretty." He agreed ignoring my obvious sarcasm. However, I did not think he was talking about his artistic abilities with foam designs. I hid my blush.
Sighing I picked up the beer and took a good guzzle. I had to admit that it was not bad. It felt like velvet going down and I quickly drained the glass. "I'll admit it was good. Another?"
"You should not drink so fast, álainn. I may have to walk you home to insure your safety." He said impishly.
"Just bring it, Casanova. I can walk myself back. Two beers is nothing."
He handed me another beer.
"What does Awl-in mean?" I asked.
"It's álainn and it means 'beautiful'." He slowly spoke the word. It still sounded like 'awl-in' to me.
I observed the bartender while he was helping other customers, letting the beer take its affect. He was cocky, yes, but he had a right to be. He was very muscular and nearly as dark as Jacob was. His hair was shoulder-length black. He had two tattoos and from what I could tell, they were dragons. They ran up both forearms and hid under his sleeve which were pulled back to his elbows. Something about him was delicately familiar but I could not pin point it.
Eventually he made the way back down to me and I asked him about Jacob but he said he had been off the last few days but he would ask around. We spoke for a few minutes about my trip and he offered to take me sightseeing after I found Jake. It turned out that Liam was a nice person and I found myself being a bit more flirtatious than usual.
Liam returned from asking his co-workers about Jake with no information. It seemed no one remembered him. Which was weird considering Jacob stands out being as big as he is. Disappointed, I ordered a shot and another beer and ignored Liam's warning that "females shouldn't drink alone".
"I'm not alone." I said with a flirtatious smile. For some reason, alcohol probably, my mind and body had succumbed to desire and I was looking at him with lust filled eyes. I caught myself and tried to shake it off.
It felt like the airplane trip all over again but worse because I wanted to act on it.
Now.
I got a knowing grin back and mentally kicked myself for leading Liam on. It was obvious he thought we would be doing mattress mambo by the end of the night. Nevertheless, there was no way I would be taking him back to the hotel. I would keep my virginity intact.
I felt like I was being watched and looked around the room. Everyone was engrossed in his or her own conversation. No one, aside from Liam, paid me any mind.
I went to the restroom to cool down.
It helped.
Twenty minutes later, I was feeling a bit better. I could not stop laughing. Everything was hilarious. I wondered if I had somehow gotten a dose of Nitrous Oxide. My abdomen muscles hurt from my laughter but I did not mind. Laughter was my medicine for lust-filled thoughts.
I ignored the looks from the other bar patrons who were so obviously thinking I was crazy.
My vision was hazy but I saw something buzzing around me and it was shimmering. Giggling, I went to try to catch it and I swear I heard a faint shriek and I suddenly was not laughing anymore. I looked around in confusion. Liam looked at me and asked, "What was so funny?"
He was looking around the room for whatever it could be with a weird look on his face.
"I don't know." I replied.
Liam was getting ready to say something else but I did not hear it because suddenly I was being dragged off the stool and towards the back exit.
I screamed for help but Liam's eyes were wide as he watched my abduction. No one heard me any way. They were too engrossed in their own conversations and my captor had a large hand over my mouth.
I bit down. Hard.
"You bloody fool!" A silky male voice said sternly.
I began punching and kicking sloppily.
He grabbed my arms and pinned them at my sides. After a few minutes of trying to break his hold, and failing, I gave up. He was too strong.
I looked up to face my captor and was shocked. I tried to focus better through my drunk-vision. I had to be seeing this wrong. Desire overwhelmed me and I silently cursed myself for drinking. Obviously, it turned on the horny meter.
"E…Edward?" I asked.
Green eyes flaming with angry passion stared back at me.
"What the hell?" I asked.
There was a twitching under his eye and his jaw clenched tight.
"Have you been...following me?" I asked weakly. I was scared of the answer.
"Why did you try to touch it?" He spoke through his teeth completely ignoring my question.
"Touch what?" I asked, confused.
"The little Peal that was buzzing around you. Are you stupid?"
"Peal?"
"The fairy. You do realize what you just did. Every fairy will be on the alert for you."
"Fairy?" Perplexed I repeated his question, "Are you stupid?"
I laughed.
He grabbed my face with his left hand and pushed me to the wall, pressing his body into mine. The prickly feeling from the flight was back in full force. Any desire I had managed to keep at bay broke through and I relaxed into him.
In addition, I may have rubbed against him a little.
"I just saved your life, little girl. And you ask me if I am stupid?"
His grip loosened as he moved both of his hands to the side of my waist.
"What exactly did you save me from?" I asked while reaching my now free arms around his neck.
Somewhere the smarter side of me was screaming "what are you doing?" in my head.
I ignored it.
He smelled of deep spices and earth. I had the urge to rub every part of me against him to cover myself in it. I was having an effect on Edward as well. His hands began to stroke my sides slowly, side-tracking him from my question.
Again, the little part of my sober brain was screaming, "stop!"
Edwards head bent down and he trailed his nose along my jaw line.
My heart raced.
He inhaled.
My hands had moved up and now tangled in his hair. A low growl escaped his chest and it shot a brand new wave of desire through me. Shocking myself with my blunt actions, I moved my lips over to meet his.
He stilled.
"Edward," a familiar voice called.
"Liam." Edward growled.
"She's drunk."
Edward growled again and accused the intruder, "Thanks to you."
"I didn't know she was the one you were talking about." Liam explained.
"Really? What did you miss in my description?" Edward prodded.
I was still pinned against the wall, the grip on me stronger. I was happy for the interruption. I needed to get myself together. I was horrified with myself. How far would I have let it go? All the way? Here in the alley?
I did not make out with guys in alleys.
And I really really wanted to.
"Get off me!" I pushed at Edward.
He stepped back to give me room but kept one arm in his grip. I tried to pull away by yanking my arm free. His iron grip was unbreakable.
"I said, LET GO!" I growled at him.
He did not even flinch. I turned to Liam for some assistance. None came.
"She doesn't know anything." Liam spoke to Edward.
"Really? Did you miss where she was trying to grab the Peal in there?" Edward asked, his tone still accusing.
"I didn't see it. But I thought maybe..." Liam gave me a look, " You can see Fae?"
"NO!" I shouted as I was trying to break free again by using my legs to push off Edward and release my arm.
"She can. I had a visit from a Phooka today. He said she was talking to him in a flower shop. Told me I should find the American girl who does not know that she has the vision." Edward informed.
"Wait. What? A Phooka?" I asked.
"A goblin." Both men said together.
"A goblin," I repeated, nodding my head.
I laughed because it was the only thing to do besides cry at the insanity. The thought of goblins and fairies was ludicrous. I was drunk and my imagination was in overdrive.
"How could she not know she has the sight?" Liam asked.
"That is what I want to know." Edward responded.
"Well, I'll take her back to her hotel and erase her for now." Liam decided.
"No. You stay away from her. I mean it." Edward growled, his spicy scent getting stronger.
Liam took a step back. "Fine. Then you should do something about her. She's getting hysterical."
I felt both sets of eyes on me as I tried to hold tears in. I could feel the flood gates opening. I was in a panic not sure what was real and what was from my drunken mind. I managed to shoot Liam a dirty look as another thought came to me.
"Did you…did you drug me?" I asked him.
It would explain my eagerness for sex.
Edward turned towards Liam, furious.
Liam looked at me appalled at my accusation.
"Never. I would never do that." Liam swore. "I don't need to."
"Little fucker." Edward released me and went after him.
"I meant I don't need drug women. They come to me willingly. Do you smell any drug in her system?" Liam was explaining.
Edward stopped apparently seeing reason to Liams words.
I was on the ground having a full on panic attack. I could not even muster the energy to run once Edward dropped his grip. "You're drunk. That's all." I mumbled to myself.
"If she tried to catch the Peal, you know what you have to do. If she is what you think." Liam said before walking back inside the bar.
Edward cursed as he bent down and picked me up. He held me for a moment, deliberating, before I felt him move my hair away from my neck. The last thing I remember is a stinging feeling as something sharp sank into my neck.
And then oblivion.
