“Bruh! Chill!” Nyx growled from feeling overstimulated and nervous from her fresh marks on her forearms, though Aurel did seamlessly cover them.

  “How can I chill? You don’t have much to work with!” Aurel dramatically waved his arms in front of her opened closet.

  Nyx looked at the frantic man in front of her, knowing that she was at risk of being late. “I am going in one of my black dresses with my corset underneath and my waist cinching belt, heels are happening…I just don’t know which ones.”

  “And the rest?” his eyes narrowed in full judgement of an artist looking at a canvas.

  She cocked her head to the side and twisted the ring on her left middle finger to try and soothe herself, “Same jewelry…but maybe more bats then again…maybe no bats.”

  The disbelief was strong in his pause before he just responded with a “Uh…huh….”

  Her nimble fingers found their way to her hair, “V-roll up do with a soft smoky eye…keep the lipstick dark.”

  Aurel thought over her many black dresses, “And which dress are you thinking of?”

  She pulled out her favorite wiggle dress with third quarter sleeves, “This one.”

  Aurel’s hand moved to his chin, “Okay…I’m not mad at this.”

  “I told you, I got this.” She motioned her hand from her shoulder to her hip, “You’re at a twenty and I need you at a two.”

  “What? I just want you to look good in the afterlife.” He moved to take a seat at her small desk.

  “I will be home and in one piece, Aurel.” She grumbled, eyeing her many pairs of heels.

  He sucked his top teeth with his tongue and raised a brow before asking, “And you are still prepping like you’re not coming home?”

  “Hey, if I get laid—I wanna look good.” She cut her eyes at him before picking up two pairs and looking from one to the other.

  He leaned back in the chair, “I can’t argue that.”

  “Exactly,” she took up a mug of tea as her other hand traced over her labradorite set in an Egyptian wing. “Very turn of the twentieth century and quite the ladies you would expect them to be, though the sass be strong with them.”

  “And this…rebound?” he grinned.

  “His face was half covered, but his eyes…he bared his soul in a way I have never seen before.” Her stare started to go off to the memory of the previous night and she soon came out of it and back to where she was in reality.

  “Thought that vamps don’t have a soul?” he rested his elbow on the desk and placed his hand on his fist as he watched her mull over it.

  “That is a myth, some do keep to themselves, the ones that lose themselves are closer to the wendigo.” She took in a breath and started to dig around in her closet for a corset and a belt.

  Aurel found this interesting, “What other things have been generalized?”

  “Not all can shapeshift. Not all turn with a bite, some are born that way, and not all feed on blood. Some are even open about themselves via energy healings, they naturally feed on others negative energy to help them find peace.” She continued her shuffling, tossing out pieces to consider.

  “And him?” he pressed.

  “The true Dracula verity,” she smirked, “That’s rare.”

  “Explain?” he leaned a bit forward.

  “The sun only makes him weak; he does have to sleep on at least an inch of his own native soil, possibly even walk on it as well, but no one knows for sure. He can survive on blood or energy, can turn with a bite however there is a fine print there, and he can manipulate anyone and anything with an energy shift.” She turned back to the bed and started to sort through the various choices she gave herself.

  Aurel’s grin spread, “You are curious about him.”

  She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder and nodded, “I am.”

  “So…is he hot?” he pressed as she picked up her second mug of coffee as she continued to look from one belt to the next.

  She choked as she attempted to drink.

  “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’” He laughed, “So what had you so caught in his web?”

  She wiped away the liquid that ran from her mouth with the back of her hand, “His eyes and how everything around us dissolved in an instant.”

  “I feel there is more than that,” Aurel sipped his mug.

  She took in a breath and let it out as she let out in a hushed tone, “He is built!”

  “I knew it!” Aurel exclaimed.

  “And he is quite a gentleman,” she smirked.

  “They speculate the same about Jack the Ripper…” Aurel cut his eyes and took another drink to avoid the stabs from her stare.

  “And I am a willing victim,” she sighed as she slid another belt over her dress.

  Aurel gave her a look, “Normally I am all for dark humor, but you know that this might not be good.”

  “I am more than aware, but I need someone—something to distract me and give me what I need that I have been craving.” She placed her mug down and picked up her previous choices to return to their place in her closet.

  “And that is?”

  She shrugged, “A chase.”

  Aurel shook his head, “I can’t deny you that one.”

  “Exactly. A little lust never hurt anyone.” She found that a flash of fear ran through her as she said that.

  “And if this extends?”

  She came back to being ridged. “I assure you, that won’t happen, not again.”

  “Do they suspect you as something more?” Aurel knew that she had abilities, but it did not mean she flaunted it.

  “Not sure, but we will see.” She moved the other pair closer to the dress and bit her lip before moving the other pair back, “It was his invitation that I answered, not the ladies, so maybe he sensed me?” she shrugged and looked at one pair of shoes to the other.

  “I would love to be a fly on the wall.”

  She laughed, “Not sure if you’d want to be.”

  “Oh no. Not for that,” he shivered and cringed.

  She laughed harder, having to try and find air to compose herself. She gave a small shrug, “Perhaps I get lucky and this will become a regular occurrence.”

  “I will say, this is the first time I have seen you smile genuinely in a long while.”

  She blinked; she had not noticed until now.

  He held up a hand to her, “Before you say anything, yes.”

  She felt herself turn red, “I…suppose it is just nice to feel energy that is…well, like his own.”

  Aurel grinned at her sudden shade change, “He must be extremely alpha for you to be like this.”

  “Just a strong pull,” she shook her head, “Nothing more.”

  “Well, I will say you should try to have fun and please don’t become a cannibal.”

  “That is something that will never happen.” She shivered and gagged, “You don’t know where half of them have been.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.”

  She looked down at her now treated wrists and thought back over on her dress. “Maybe the long sleeved…”

  “No. And not black, go with green. It’s more your color.”

  She looked back to her deep plunge wiggle dress, “You think so?”

  “I truly do,” he nodded.

  She took a breath and let it out, “Alright, green it is.” She took up her black dress and laid out the other one, looking it over and nodding. “I think you’re right.”

  “I usually am.” He shrugged and stood, “Now you get yourself together.” He went for the door, “If you need help, just call for me. I’ll be downstairs.”

  “Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome!” he called from the now other side of the door.

  Linnaeus walked in, dropping his coat at the door, and putting his bag in the office as he made his way up to the third floor. His suit jacket came off as soon as he closed his door to his room and began to undress. He felt the guilt getting worse, he could have been the reason for letting such a thing ruin her. Jason was right. She reacted to get the upper hand, so what did she see in him? What made her not react to it? She was embarrassed of the fact she was hurt though she was scared and defended herself.

  He changed to his normal attire for working in his space. He felt terrible that he made the wrong decision. He knew he could not avoid this payment any longer, but she was not worth the loss to those around her. He knew she was strange, nothing set off that she was a survivor, a fighter. She could have done the same thing to him and did not flinch. The sadness, it was from holding in the pain. The fact that she carried that burden and hid it behind a smile was terrifying to him.

  Was she planning on using this as a means to…damn it. She might very well have seen this as a way for her to end her suffering.

  Did they know? Josephina. Did she know? He let her go when…if she had been alone what would have happened?

  Another message. Payment due.

  He would have to make the choice. There was no one to take the place, he had cleaned out most of the town. She would have to know. He walked down and passed everyone to the cellar.

  Josephina looked up from her drink and watched him go passed. She placed down the glass and followed him down into the makeshift freezer and prep room. “Hello, you’re home early.”

  “I have to get these cuts done and be out of here before seven, not to mention, it’s been a slow day.” He sharpened Mildred, trying to not let on that he was frustrated.

  “Linnaeus. You are not alright in the slightest.” She moved to his left and sat on a small stool, “Did something happen?”

  “Plans have changed. I can’t use her like that.”

  Her eyes widened, “What?”

  He looked over to see her at a loss. She was not close to aware and now he felt more like an asshole. After a deep sigh, he started over. “I…ran into her today. There was a dispute and she was involved in it.”

  She tried not to let her disappointment show, “Then she’s worth the payment?”

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  “No, far from it.”

  She gave him a look of shock, “What happened?”

  He was desperate to know, “What did you get from her?”

  “Sadness, lack of fear, and quite a jolt of lust from you. It was like watching a live performance and the both of you were locked in on the moment. Are you saying that she is willing to be used?” she eyed him.

  Linnaeus knew that he could not hold back the feelings that were plaguing him, “She has a life. She has struggled—is struggling—and I should have caught it when I grabbed her. I can’t give her to him like that, willing or not. Josephina, she deserves more. She deserves so much more and I can’t let it be her. She’s got a very strong support system that would not hesitate to burn this place down if she failed to return home.”

  Her gaze shifted and she slowly grinned. So, her suspicions were correct. Could this be the linchpin to get them out of this mess? “And Jason?”

  “What of my partner?” he shot at her, knowing she had been pining over him for a while.

  “Did he talk you out of it? Out of pursuing her?” she was distant as her mind started to go over memories she held from her human childhood.

  “Jay…” he forced himself to keep level, “Jay was the one that stopped me from making a mistake.”

  “Do you believe that she is hiding more than what you witnessed?” her hands moved to interlace and sit in her lap.

  He paused as he thought it over quickly and once again returning to sharpening his cleaver, “I…don’t know. Possibly?”

  “Talk to him. See if he can look into her more.” Her head leaned more to the right as she thought over a detail she may have missed the previous evening.

  He turned to her and his eyes narrowed, “What do you know?”

  She snapped out of her trance and cleared her throat as she sat back up and brushed off her skirt, “When I was a child there was stories of people that were cursed.” She looked up at him, “No matter what they did, they were to take the punishment for everyone’s crimes against spiritual law. It would fall on them in many forms, but in the end, it would always be paid up in death.”

  He looked back to his table and placed down Mildred before turning to her and leaning against the table with his hip, “Are you implying that it is her time to end the suffering?”

  She thought about it and shook her head, “Why not instead try to change her stars and yours?”

  He smirked, “How?”

  She grinned, “By having dinner with us?”

  “What? No!” he shoved off of the side of the table and placed his hand on his carving blade without even glancing at it. “I can’t let her know I am the cop that almost made it possible for her life to be at its worst!”

  “Lin,” she cooed, “We can shroud you in shadow—”

  “She would see right through—”

  “I meant it literally.”

  He stared at her, “Are you serious?”

  “Just strategically place the light and what not.” She raised her hands up and shrugged before crossing her ankles and rocking back a bit, “The room is large enough to do it.”

  He found that he could not argue, though he also did not want to be a cliché either. “No, I will stay in the kitchen. You are the one that invited her tonight.”

  “She suggested it and knew that either way she would possibly die, only now the plan has changed.” Josephina leaned forward and placed her arms on her thighs.

  “She will not trust me,” he growled as he turned to sharpen the new blade in his hand.

  “She will.” She pressed him, knowing part of him was more scared of this woman. “Just give her a reason to. You are not a bad person, Lin. This proves it. Now, hear me out. We can make this happen.”

  “You can’t force someone like that, Josephina.” His teeth now in a snarl, “Especially her.”

  “It is not force.” She stated with some heat to her tone, “We are only setting a mood.”

  He traced the edge with the bed of his thumb, “You need to stop. I will help Louis and I will not change my course.” He continued on running the blade over the stone, “I will pick her up and bring her here. I will let you continue to distract her, but I am a far cry from what she needs and I will not allow her to continue to be a pawn when she didn’t willingly sign on for it.”

  Josephina’s face softened as she witnessed a new side to him. The oath he took to protect those in need and he was being a shield to a woman that he barely knew. “Lin, please.” She changed to a gentle tone, “She only committed because of whatever pull you had on her.”

  This made him pause. She did notice something, but he knew that it was not for him so much as the kids. “Pull? What are you on about?”

  “You don’t—” she grumbled and hissed, “Did you notice that we were even still in the room after you both locked onto the other?”

  He stopped, “No.”

  She knew she had him, “We noticed.”

  He turned red under his muzzle, “She was—’

  “Invited.”

  He started back in on scraping the blade, “I did not—”

  “You did.” She watched as he slowly came undone.

  He knew he had to stand his ground, “I am not going to be joining you at that table.”

  “Oh, you will be joining us.” Josephina glared at him and she stood and dusted herself off.

  “You invited her.” He shot back.

  “Linnaeus, you can’t put this on me or the others. You felt something from her that we did not. Would it be so horrible if perhaps you could have a chance with something real?” she smiled.

  He shook his head, “I didn’t feel anything.”

  “But you did,” she found herself getting frustrated.

  “She saw through my veil, Josephina. I didn’t willingly invite her to me.” He placed the blade down and looked at her.

  Her face dropped, “No…”

  “Yes,” he gave a nod.

  “Then all the more reason,” she clapped her hands and made her way back to the stairs.

  Damn it! He knew it was a set up! Those three, always causing trouble! “I am telling you; this is on you three! I am not the one she is coming for!”

  She scoffed at him halfway up the stairs and returned to the kitchen, picking up her drink.

  Louis added a pinch of spice to his sauce pan, “He’s here?”

  “He came home early,” she returned to her seat and her drink, crossing her ankles and stirring the celery stick. “He saw her and something happened.”

  “Well, I am going to leave this on low while I am out, please add a little of the bourbon when it gets too stiff and then can it when it is almost like caramel.” Louis wiped his hands and looked at her.

  She waved at him, “I have it, you go and meet the others for a drink.”

  “You sure?” he gave her a look.

  “I was a kitchen hand for years, Louis. I think I have it.” She sipped her drink and looked down at a magazine.

  Louis went to her and kissed the top of her head, “You have a big heart even if you don’t want to admit it.”

  “I don’t understand it, Louis. Why is he scared of her? Of opening up?” she looked at him, her now closest friend.

  Louis sighed as he went back to put some of the bourbon into the pan, “Easy on him. I am sure he will come back up and change his mind. Curiosity is a weakness for him.” He waved her off and continued to work his kitchen magic so he could feel comfortable enough to leave it for her.

  She looked at him, “You have known him the longest.”

  “I know, bastard of a white devil conned me.”

  Josephina laughed, “You know you love him.”

  “Oh, I do. He was there for me when most weren’t.” He grinned over his shoulder at her. “When I was in a bad spot, he got me out of it. Got me to cook. As for the rest? Well, not many people would think a voodoo priest and a vampire would be friends. I have known him all my life, he is the best cop I know. When my dead-beat brother attacked my mother? He made sure that he was never getting out and he found her a new place in a better part of the swamps. She knew the day Daddy and her met him when he brought my brother home from his first run-in with the law, Lin lived what he preached. He believed in second chances too. But when someone got harmed? He couldn’t forgive it.” Louis picked out a plastic spoon and tasted the sauce, “Now that’s good. But it’s not there yet.”

  “Louis, why did you end up staying?” she asked.

  He took a breath, “Because he has gotten himself into something that he can’t get himself out of and he needs the help and support. When he found you three under the floor of the bar and then that son of a bitch showed up…well, who else could he call on? And who else would believe him?”

  “Suppose you have a point there,” she leaned back in the chair.

  “Well, I’ll leave you to take this over for me. I’ve to go and meet the other two.” He took off his apron and went to hang it up on the hooks next to the doorway.

  Beth and Beau popped up behind him before he could even sense them, “What are you making?”

  He jumped at the stereo sound of their unison voices. “You two know not to do that,” he scolded as he turned back to the stove after placing the apron on it’s usual hook, “And I have an idea, I am just waiting on him to finish with bringing me the cuts.” He gave them a bright smile, “Why don’t you go down and talk to him? Tell him about the lady, see if you can get him to join them for dinner.” They looked to the other before disappearing into the cellar.

  Josephina smiled, “They really are the most adorable children.”

  “That they are…little shits.”

  She laughed, “Go on. Don’t leave them to wait, least you could do is get a shower before you go.”

  He gave a nod and left the kitchen to her as she stood and took up his apron to take over for him at the stove.

  Linnaeus thought of the type of cut she was. Liver and onions? Kidneys? Ribs? He shook his head at the last one, no. Josephina would not allow that as a dinner…or perhaps she would? The woman did say red wine, and liver would go well with that…wait! What the hell was he doing? He did not need to impress her! He was not going to be joining them! The way her green eyes danced from the rush she had of being so close to death? She was not like the other humans that he was around day in and out. And as if they would have him join them. He did not remember inviting her…she seen through his veil and he needed to know how.

  “What are you doing?”

  He turned to see the two small children of the home staring at him. “Debating on what to tell Louis to make. What are you two doing?”

  Beth rocked back and forth on her feet, “The lady is still coming, right?”

  He gave them a smile and nodded, “Yes.”

  “Then you should be doing more than just this?” Beau looked up at him and pointed to the table behind him.

  He gave them a look, “I don’t think I know what you mean.”

  “We heard Josephina say that you should look your best to join them.” Beth smiled, “You’re the only other one that can dine with her. Well…except for—”

  “No. He will not be around tonight.” He knelt in front of them and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “However, you both should stay out sight until after dessert and the grown-ups are done talking, understood? And don’t give him a reason to come.”

  The two looked at each other and back to him, “You promise that he won’t come?”

  He shook his head, “I promise. He will not come, but while they are having dinner, please stay hidden.”

  Both the children nodded and left him again in his solitude as he stood and returned to his work.

  How could he have been so naive? To give another soul to that monster, least of all hers? No. He would have to be there…and that meant showing his face. The only time he took off his muzzle was when he was not harvesting a soul or outside of the walls of the house and she would be the first one in many years that had been in the home and seen his face in his own territory and not be immediately eaten after. His mind had been made up to go with liver. She seemed the type and she would appreciate it with Louis being the one to prepare it.

  Rochelle began to think over the conversation she had with Steven. She knew that she would be fine. Nyx has a fight response, no need to worry about her, just everyone else. As she walked into the house, she was greeting with the sound of vaudeville tunes and songs she guessed between them were the hits of the big bands meaning that Nyx was getting ready, and she was trying to keep herself in the mindset. She knew Steven would be along soon with everything to make dinner, but she had hoped it would be before Nyx left. Something in her, though worried she would come down in comfy clothes, needed her to go to this. She had to know if her theory had any merit.

  Aurel came around the corner and into the hallway before crossing into the living room. “Hello, how was your date with Steven?” he smiled as he went to place his phone down and sit on his couch.

  “Not that bad, he doesn’t like this idea and is with you on the skeptic scale, but at the same time, I don’t feel that anything will go wrong.” She dropped her bag on the bench and moved to sit on the love seat next to the couch. “I’m more concerned about her mental state after what happened today.

  “Something still feels off?” he arched his brow at her.

  “Maybe it’s the fact she finally got rid of that good for nothing frost giant.” She placed her phone down on the coffee table and adjusted herself as she sat back.

  Aurel sighed, “And I liked him. I really did, until now.”

  “We all did,” she admitted.

  “I know it might not be the best thing, however, I hope she comes home with this one.”

  “Or maybe the early morning. She may have orders to fill, but least she could do is have a good roll with another guy, even if I don’t believe in that.” She thought back on how their energies mingled.

  “Nyx doesn’t seem the type.” He glanced at the stairs, “I am just worried that she will not take a shot at something new.”

  “She’s really not, but this is a long time coming.” Rochelle breathed, “So will you be joining in for dinner tonight?”

  “I still have a lot to do for this new film or I would. I might pop in just to get a plate if Steven is cooking before I go back to the studio,” his grin slipping out.

  “I’ll let him know then,” she picked up her phone and started to write him a text. She fought not to say anything, but she had to know if Nyx had said anything when she was with him. “Hey, did Nyx say anything about what happened to you?”

  “No, why? Some detail that you failed to bring up?”

  “I don’t know. Perhaps.” She replaced the phone on the table and laid back, “I think the cop knew her.”

  “Which one?”

  “The one that helped the dipshit off the ground and to his car,” she shifted and relaxed more into the arm of the loveseat. “Something about the way that he looked at her just…well… there was something there. And the way she just hid the evidence from him…Aurel, I can’t explain it. They were in their own world.”

  He stared at her, “You’re freaking me out talking like this.”

  “Dude, how the hell do you think I feel?” she took off her glasses to rub her left temple.

  “You think that this is an odd coincidence?”

  She replaced her glasses, “You know that I don’t believe in such things.”

  “Would you like something to drink?” he asked, “I would.”

  “Yeah,” she yawned, “tea for me.”

  He got up and went to the kitchen as Rochelle heard a knock at the door and got up to let in her boyfriend. “That was quick.” She took one of the bags from him, “Anything else that you need help with?”

  “Nothing I can’t get myself, thanks though.” He kissed her cheek as he took the bags into the kitchen.

  She watched him go before making her way to his car and getting the rest of the bags for him.

  “Roch!” he called to her from the door, “You don’t have to!”

  “But I want to!” she closed the door with her hip and made her way back up the stairs to the walk and up to the porch, kissing him quick, knowing that he could not be mad at her for it. “You don’t have to be all protective, you know.”

  He gave her a look as he watched her go passed and into the kitchen before he closed the front door and followed her, “And Miss Nyx?”

  “She is getting ready,” Aurel smiled.

  Rochelle knew the subject was going to come up again, “I think that Mackey met her before.”

  Steven stopped taking out items from a bag and looked up at Rochelle, “That came out of nowhere.”

  “No, we were talking about it before you came in.” she started to place the contents out of one of the bags onto the counter. “But I really do believe that I am onto something. The way the two of them just reacted to the other. The way she hid her arms from him, though she really didn’t care about if his partner saw? I mean…something just…it’s not her normal.”

  “Hun, none of it is.” Aurel sighed, “Well, I’ll go and check in on her before I finish up getting drinks going.”

  “Thanks,” Rochelle watched him go as it left her and Steven in the kitchen alone. “I am only going to say it once, behave.”

  His gaze snapped up at her, “Excuse me? What did I do?”

  “It’s what you might do. We want her to go and get out and not hide away because of what happened. So, try to be supportive.” She hissed at him.

  “If you’re right, and this guy is the cop from earlier, all the more to be worried about.” He stuffed the rest of the empty bags into one and placed them in a wood box on the wall.

  “Steven!” she looked at him with a box at the ready to throw at him.

  “What?! I am just saying, he could use the law to get away with killing her.” He lifted a hand to catch it.

  “Ugh! Stop it. Stop. Shush.” She put a hand up and placed the box back down, “I highly doubt that.”

  “How can you be sure?” he moved to get the marble pizza pan from a cabinet.

  She watched him, “To quote you: ‘I know shit.’”

  “Woman, you better get to knowing your prep work, I’m gonna need help here.” He stood and placed the pan on the large island, “Best gift I ever gave you.”

  Rochelle snorted a laugh and got to organizing the ingredients.