Chapter 3

I dragged myself through the long hallways of Midnight, praying that I wouldn't meet anyone. I could tell by the warm, bright light spilling in through the windows that it was midday, but that did nothing to ease my pounding heart. Vampires might not be around, but all the humans would be up and about, and at the moment they posed just as much danger to me as Varl himself. After all, I wasn't Varl's only pet. He had other humans, and no doubt he had ordered them to be on the lookout for a certain "someone."

I rounded another corner, only to be faced with yet another hallway. I paused for a moment, leaning against a wall and panting hard. My legs were shaking like a pair of maracas. My head pounded like a steel drum, and my vision kept blurring in and out. Maybe I should have rested for a while longer…but then that would have meant staying with Anita longer. I shuddered. Nothing was worth that.

Trembling, I heaved myself from the wall and moved forward again. One foot in front of the other, the little voice in my head urged, just keep those feet moving. One…two…one…two…one…two…okay, yeah. I was moving. Everything was great. Just keep moving Raina…

Bam! I stumbled backwards, holding my nose. Dandy…I had reached the end of the hall and slammed into a door.

"Ouch!" I whimpered to myself, gently massaging the bridge of my nose. "Oh ouch!"

Suddenly the door swung open, and I stood there, still cradling my nose and blinking away tears.

"Yes?"

I willed my vision to focus, and then quickly dropped my hands from my nose and bowed low to Jaguar…Lord of Midnight.

He was a very attractive vampire, with tawny gold skin, a beautifully masculine body, and a pelt of thick black hair. But he was a Vampire…and that made all the difference.

Quickly I pulled my guise of "humble human" about me, as if it were an invisible cloak. "My Lord," I whispered softly, keeping my eyes on the ground. "I heard you were looking for a human? I am available for service." I watched his reaction through my lashes.

He raised an eyebrow and leaned against the doorframe. "You hardly look fit for work," he finally replied, eyeing me up and down.

I probably didn't. Anita said I had looked like pulp when she first saw me, and I hadn't found a mirror to check my reflection in. "My appearance is deceiving," I raised my eyes to his and added a layer of confidence to my voice. "I am a fine worker. Well trained in every aspect. Whatever task you would give me, I assure you I would excel in it."

"So you say." He straightened. "You describe yourself as being well-trained in every aspect. You must have had a profound master. A master who probably never hesitated to discipline you, no?" He didn't give me a chance to answer. "A master, perhaps, that you are trying to get away from?"

Oh. The vampire was clever, he had missed nothing. I should have known though. To be a leader you must be strong, assertive, and highly intelligent. This was the first time I had ever spoken to Jaguar directly, but I could already tell he possessed all of these traits. Playing him would be more difficult then I had anticipated. Perhaps Gabriel would be a better choice…

Suddenly I realized that Jaguar had stepped back, and was holding the door open. "Come inside," he ordered softly.

I hesitated, before remembering that loyal servants don't think…they only follow orders. Quickly I shuffled inside.

The room was lush and luxurious, as only a Vampire's room can be. Expensive furniture filled up space…a glass table inlayed with tiny rubies over there, a large oak dresser with ivory handles over here, and a dark red Victorian couch in the middle of the room, but the couch wasn't what made me recoil. No, it was who was sprawled out lazily across the couch…a certain vampire who could reduce my delicate plan to shreds. A vampire who called himself Rafe, and whose stunningly green eyes were fixed on me.

"Hey sugar. Guess Anita managed to save you after all." His voice was seductively lazy, a soft drawl. He cocked his head at me, making his dark hair fall over his uncanny eyes.

"My…my Lord," I stuttered and bowed. No! I screamed inside! He'll ruin everything!

He chuckled and pushed himself upright. "Just Rafe sweetheart," he paused, then smirked, "unless you're referring me to the bed. That I am Lord of." His hypnotic gaze blatantly eyed my body up and down.

Great. A horny Vampire.

Jaguar came up behind me and saved me from answering. "You know this human?" he asked Rafe.

Rafe shot me a dazzling smile. "She had a run-in with Varl," he turned to send a meaningful glance back at Jaguar, "another fool I've been meaning to talk to you about."

"Ah," Jaguar caught my eye and held it. "So it's Varl you're running from?"

I looked between the two Vampires, trying to decide who would be easier to play. Both, unfortunately, came off as being too smart. I threw the statement up in the air, for either to catch, "Please," I whispered, "He'll kill me if he finds me. Give me any task….

Suddenly Rafe was in front of me. I stumbled back, but he caught my arm in a movement to fast for my eyes and pulled me to him. "Any task?" he whispered softly, brushing his lips across my cheek, blowing warm breath into my ear, and making me shiver. His left hand held my hip, and his right was making lazy circles on my back. Damn it fell good. And it felt like I was sinning…enjoying the touch of a Vampire.

Quickly I pulled at my control, dousing the fire that Rafe igniting in my body. In control of my desires again, I met his gaze. "Any task." I repeated firmly.

He laughed and stepped back. "Well in that case, would you be so kind as to give Varl a big kiss from me…"

I hissed at him, forgetting my potrayal as perfect pet. The Vampire had a lot of nerve…

"I'd rather run a stake through your heart!" As soon as the words left my mouth I gasped. "Oh! Oh I didn't mean that!"

Jaguar gave me a funny look, but Rafe was laughing. At least I had amused him.

"I'm sorry my Lords, so sorry…"

Jaguar held up his hand to cut me off. "I see you have no love for Varl, but you must understand that I can't just take humans away from their Vampires."

"But…" I protested, but he cut me off again.

"What's your name?"

"Raina," I answered sullenly.

"Age?"

"Nineteen."

"And you're willing to do any job?"

Rafe winked at me from behind Jaguar. I pretended not to see him. "Any."

Jaguar sighed, stared at me for a moment, and then began pacing the room. He reminded me of the cat he was named after. "Tell me you have some use for her Rafe," he called.

Rafe glanced back at me from where he had taken to leaning against the wall, apparently tiring of the conversation. "Sorry luv," he held his hands in apology, "but I've already got my hands full with my one human. Anita… you know her. She's quite a character isn't she?"

A character? More like a pain in the butt. I stared at the floor. Well, there was always Gabriel….

"Can we use her?" Jaguar had stopped pacing. "For the job?"

Again Rafe eyed me, but not because he was feeling horny. "I think so," he finally drawled then smirked at me, "You look like a smart enough girl. And you've still got will. How 'bout it love? You're desperate for some protection, no? You take this job and both Jaguar and I will watch out for you…"

He had me. I'd have protection from Varl, and I could pit these two Vampires against one another. Plus, I could easily finish off my former master. I'd be killing three birds with one stone.

"Deal," I said.

Jaguar raised his eyebrows. "Don't you even want to know what the job is?"

Rafe straightened and began moving towards the door. "Does it really matter? The benefits are too good to pass up…isn't that right sugar?"

I didn't answer.

Jaguar shrugged. "Fine. Take her to your room Rafe, fill her in, get her cleaned up. I want her ready by tomorrow."

I was hurting again. The adrenaline from talking to these two dangerous Vampires had held off my pains, but now I was feeling the aches again. I just wanted to curl up and sleep…without fear of being killed while in the middle of a dream. But hey…a job was a job. Especially if it was one that would help me kill a vampire.

I moved towards Rafe, careful not to get to close to him.

"Ready love?" Without giving me a chance to answer he swung the door open and strode out.

I cast an uncertain glance back at Jaguar. He was fingering a long black whip, a strange expression scrawled out across his face. Quickly, I turned to follow Rafe.