Crystal walked around the corner of the parking lot looking for any sign of Megan's Firebird or Garan's Pathfinder. Nothing. As she walked past a gray Jeep Wrangler a shadow lunged out of the darkness and pulled her back. A hand covered her mouth and strong arms wrapped tightly around her. A voice whispered and licked at her ear, "You've been embraced. Your body doesn't feel like it's your body anymore. Like you've got a hole inside you that nothing can fill. Your senses are sharper than ever, even though everyone around you says you've lost all touch with reality." Her eyes widened in fright. Oh my god, what is he doing here?! Gareth! Where are you? her head screamed.
Paul began to laugh. "Honey, you need to learn how to control your thoughts around me. I can hear everything. I have been keeping my eye on you for quite some time."
She struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Why are you doing this?" she cried. "It's none of your business bitch. But I am warning you; you are one of us now. Don't think that will stop me from killing you. Stay away from Gareth. I warn you." Saying that he flung her body forward to the ground and disappeared. Just then Megan pulled in. She jumped out of her car and helped Crystal up. "Are you ok? What the heck happened?" she asked. All of a sudden a deep male voice came from a few feet away.
"Can I help you ladies? Everything all right? Did you know that stupid bitches make me soooo maaaadddd!!!! You ladies aren't stupid are ya? Don't be afraid of me," he said as he stepped out of his hunter green Mazda Miata. "I'm Kenn. You both are looking sooo fine tonight. Are ya sluts? You dress like ones!" They looked up at him and yelled, "Fuck off asshole!!"
"What the fuck! I thought they just wanted some action. Damn bitches!" He started his car and peeled out of the parking garage.
Trinity came bounding over. "Hey! Anybody see a buffalo run past? I was chasing it down and wanted to make jerky out of it!"
"No, but I think Paul was just here," Crystal said.
"ARGH. No giant penises at my mall!" Trinity said as she began to look pissed.
Just then, Garan walked up.
"So there I was! Anyway…" Trinity said as she smiled.
Garan just stared at Trinity. "If you say that one more time…."
"I know I know. I'll shut up."
"Thanks." He looked relieved.
Garan turned to Crystal. "Come with me, I need to talk to you."
Crystal nodded and they walked away from Trinity and Megan, practically hearing Megan's eyes roll as Trinity started again with, "So there I was…"
Garan, I was attacked…where were you?
"I was taking care of some business."
I see…
They strolled over to Crystal's car and got in. "Go to the Menlo Park Diner." He told her. Quickly she drove there and parked. They walked inside and sat down at a booth. The waitress came over and took their orders, two cups of coffee. Garan lit a clove and also lit the cigarette Crystal held dangling between her lips. He grinned and said, "Now you owe me what, 77 years of sex?" Crystal laughed and replied, "Well, I can do that. We have all of eternity now don't we?"
"Yes, we do. And I love you more and more each day."
What are we going to do about Paul?
"That's the 'business' I was taking care of earlier. I went to talk to some old friends. I have someone I want you to meet."
"Oh really?" Crystal asked sarcastically.
"Yes, she is waiting outside right now."
They finished up and paid the check, then headed outside to the parking lot.
Crystal looked surprised when she saw the car parked next to hers. It was a baby blue Mitsubishi 3000GT. A thin woman with long hair was leaning against it. She was wearing matching powder blue UFOs, and a tight black tank top.
"Danielle?" Crystal squealed. Danielle looked up, her pale skin reflecting in the moonlight, emerald eyes gleaming, a sly smile spread slowly across her face.
"Yes?" She replied with a fleeting glance at Garan.
"Garan asked for my help. It's time you knew what I am. Paul has wronged both Garan and I. He killed my Merrick as well as you. He must pay for what he's done."
I can't believe it, Danielle…you? Kindred all this time? Why didn't you tell me?
"I was keeping an eye on you for Gareth until the time was right. Now you are finally one of us, where you belong."
Danielle jumped on Crystal and hugged her tightly. Crystal was still in shock. "I still can't believe you've been kindred all this time, and you never told me."
"Sorry, I wasn't allowed to…it's against our code. You don't understand how badly I wanted to tell you everything. When your heart was broken all those times, I so desperately wished I could have told you about Gareth."
Garan asked, "So Danielle…what do you say we do about Paul? Have you seen him since that night at your club?"
"No, but he knows about Marc.... You know we Toreador and our fascination with humans." She replied with a huge grin.
Crystal looked upset. Garan placed his hand on her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She looked at both of them, her fierce ice blue eyes flashing with anger. "Baldric came after me today. He threatened me to stay away from Gareth…he was acting like there was some grave consequence for us being together. Do either of you know exactly why it is such a big deal to him, to keep us apart? Is there a real reason?"
The two just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.
Garan sighed. "Baldric is bloodthirsty, he does not live by the rules of the Masquerade as the rest of us do. He will kill humans and kindred alike on a whim. That's all I can tell you." Unexpectedly, Danielle's pager went off. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the number. She smiled. "It's my baby! I gotta go…I'll catch you two later and we can finish this." With that she hopped in her GT and took off.
Garan held Crystal close. "So, what are we going to do now?" she asked.
"We will figure it out. Just be careful. Watch your back constantly."
"I will; I am just confused. Baldric could have killed me just then if he wanted to…but he let me go…"
Chapter 7 >>>