Chapter 9

They sat down in the corner, a golden lamp glowing down distantly from the rafters, illuminating Lance's chestnut hair and creamy skin, his green eyes glinting like a cat's, a dimple in his cheek as he intently studied her palm, grasping it in both hands as he turned it slightly to study it. "I don't like palm reading much," he admitted. "But it works sometimes. I'm better at scrying. And tarot cards."

Twang!

They both flinched and turned as a guitar string twanged, saw the group of vampire kids tuning their instruments. Most of the other people had been startled by the harsh sound too, the couple that she'd seen in the cloakroom had pulled apart from their faces being bare inches apart, either talking intimately or kissing.

A soft laugh came from Lance's throat and she turned back to face him.

He smiled slightly. "So, there's another guy in your life? Don't lie, please. It's tiresome."

That was another lesson she'd learned from Rita and Susie: don't lie to them.

"Yes," she admitted, eyes lowered guiltily.

"You can't help who you love," he said frankly. "Goddess knows I'd happily love anyone than Hazel. But I'm meant to be with her."

"But isn't it meant to be about being with someone who makes you happy?" she asked, annoyed.

"And he doesn't?" Lance asked. She knew perfectly well that he meant Kierlan.

"He annoys me," she answered.

"He does more than that to you," he said with a grin. Then his smile faded. "Are you going to choose which one of them to be with?"

"I want to be with Blade," she said stubbornly.

"They'd both want to be with you forever," he reminded her icily. "But who do you want to be with, forever?"

"Kierlan's selfish!" she snapped. "He's obnoxious, self-centred and rude. I can't be with him! I'd go insane!"

"Then chances are, you're being selfish too," he said quietly.

"Me!" Sarah exclaimed.

He nodded. "He's a Wild Power," he said quietly. "He'll one day be responsible for saving our lives, Sarah. Four less one and darkness triumphs. And maybe it'll be less one if he refuses to. Maybe the prophecy isn't talking about the Wild Powers. Maybe it means the Soulmates. All the Wild Powers have Soulmates—"

"Iliana doesn't," Sarah snapped. "So your little theory's bull!"

"Hmm," he ruefully nodded. "But I suppose… I mean, Kierlan's the only one alone. Iliana's got plenty of friends. The half-vampire Wild Power has her Soulmate, the vampire prince has his Soulmate. Kierlan has no one. But you…you're his Soulmate."

Sarah gave up, stood up stiffly. "Good bye," she said stiffly. "Thank you." She didn't mean a single word of that. She turned and strode back to Blade. Hazel blinked at her, startled, not smiling anymore.

"Hey, you okay?" Blade touched her arm lightly.

She nodded jerkily, not sitting down. "Can we go?" she asked tersely.

He frowned, concerned, and immediately got up. "Of course."

"Good luck, Sarah," Lance called.

She snorted, forgetting her internal rule of never coming close to insulting witches. But he only frowned, troubled, and sat back down beside Hazel.

"Blade?" a girl came over and shyly tucked a thick strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

"Yes?" Blade asked wearily.

"We have the same sire," she said, smiling shyly. "Donaigo. He's told me a whole lot about you."

Blade's eyes brightened with interest. "You've seen him recently?"

She shook her head, "not recently. I was made a year ago. I came back to work with Daybreak. I'm down here from Vegas for a few weeks. Figured I'd try and talk to you…?" she smiled sweetly and Sarah didn't feel a single glint of envy.

"Could I meet up with you some other time?" Blade asked eventually. "I need to get Sarah back home. I can't leave her in this place alone, after all."

The girl slumped, disappointed. "I think I'll be working for the rest of my trip, Blade. I'm sorry."

Blade looked caught.

"I'll take her back home," a familiar voice offered coolly from behind them. Blade turned his head. "What are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound casual. "You're meant to stay back at the house."

"Susie came with me," Kierlan replied calmly, shadows slanting across his face.

Susie was regarding Sarah with something near disgust. "I think we need to talk," she said stiffly.

"I'm sorry, but we'll have to leave that talk," Blade said regretfully to the vampire girl. She looked even more disappointed, sighed and nodded.

"Now, to get you three all back home," Blade said, his voice cold now. "No argument. All of you. To the car."

"I'd like to talk with Sarah," Kierlan said quietly but clearly.

"No," Sarah said shortly.

"Why?" Blade asked, ushering them out into the cloakroom.

"Please." Kierlan said quietly, his voice strange, tinged with desperation.

"Maybe later," Blade snapped, snatching up his coat and Sarah's, practically throwing it at her, his eyes flicking around, his nostrils flaring. He rushed them out into the street. It was pouring rain.

"No, dammit!" Kierlan snapped. "Sarah! We have to talk now!" He stood stock still. "We're Soul—"

"Please, no!" Sarah yelled desperately, twisting her head to look around. The street seemed empty but now, with the Wild Power so close to her, she felt as though there was danger all around them, Hunter Redfern or any one of his followers could be anywhere…

"We're Soulmates!" Kierlan almost screamed, standing in front of her, fists clenched. "You felt it!" he said earnestly, reaching forward, touching her cheek, just to show her, as a sparkle of invisible electricity flared between them. Her heart raced with terror.

Blade stood utterly still, a look of disbelief on his face.

Then, with a look of utter defeat on his face as Sarah couldn't say anything, he walked to his car, waited for them to follow. He didn't say anything as he drove them home.