Shades of Amber (16 page)

After thirty minutes, we
decided to call it a night. Chelsey opened the door, and we
released a collective sigh. It was after dark, but I refused
Amelia’s offer for a lift since my car was just down the street.The
area was well-lit until I turned the corner. The street lamps
flickered, reminding me of that night in the library.

Not again.

I took a deep breath and
locked my fist around my car key, so that I could jab at their eyes
and face if someone was around. My boots clicked on the pavement,
but I kept a quick pace. I tried to be thankful for the full moon,
but then I started thinking about werewolves. I shook my head and
straightened my posture. My Beetle was less than ten feet away. It
rested under a bright streetlight that beckoned me like a warm cup
of hot chocolate on a freezing night.

My relieved sigh came out
before I heard a noise behind me. I walked faster, but the
footsteps sped up. I was inches from the door when my poor little
car disappeared.

“
What the hell?” I passed
through the spot and hurried down an alley, hoping for an escape or
somewhere to hide.

It was a dead
end.

¤¤¤¤

Darkness

They say in
death

You have no
fear,

Does that mean you
never

Shed a tear?

When life
flashes

Before your
eyes,

You see the
times

It fluttered
by…

Without a
thought

Or regret

Of all the
things

You left
unsaid.

Now,

With darkness

Closing in

You see the things
you

Missed back
then.

-Jade

Chapter 18

…
Troy…

I should’ve been the only
predator in her life, but I wasn’t. My eyesight was phenomenal, but
his black clothing made him almost invisible. I considered my own
black pants, shirt, and coat. To an outsider, I was no better than
the shadow that matched her step for step.

Why was he after
Jade?

“
I know you’re here!” His
voice echoed. “If you’re expecting your boyfriend to fly in and
save you, think again! You left him, remember?” He took stock of
the narrow alley. “I bet he doesn’t even know where you are!” His
posture changed as he stared at the dumpster. “Will people ever
learn to stop littering?” The torch hit the ground as he swung the
metal bin aside.

“
It’s too bad you stepped
in gum; it led me right to you.”

Jade’s screams filled me
with hate, but I had to wait for the right moment. My fists
clenched as he yanked her up.

I was going to enjoy
making him pay.

¤¤¤¤

Jade

“
Somebody help me!” I
kicked and scratched as he pulled me up by my collar. My back hit
the wall.

It was the guy from the
coffee shop.

“
Why were you following
me?”

“
You’re pretty.” He pursed
his lips. “It’s too bad he’ll never lay eyes on you
again.”

“
Did you do something to
Troy?”

His fingers dug into my
shoulder. “My fight with Troy will not end so quickly, but yours
will.”

“
Why do you hate him so
much?”

“
Family ties and all that.
My cousin and I have some unfinished business. Troy doesn’t know it
yet.” He raised a silver dagger above his head. “But he
will.”

My body wanted to slump in
defeat; however, my mind forced me to stand tall. I would not give
that psycho my fear.

I said a final prayer and
squared my shoulders. “Why kill me?”

He sighed. “You’re kicking
yourself for believing the note, for fleeing his protection and
leaving things to Chance. That’s my name. You can scream it, if you
like. I enjoy hearing it on a pretty girl’s lips—even if they are
covered with blood.” He cackled. “But back to your question, Troy
loves you, so I know your death will eviscerate him.”

“
Why?”

His face twisted. “This is
about vengeance for my father and his great, great, great
grandfather.”

My screams cut the air as
he drove the knife toward my chest, but then he was gone, and I was
falling. I tried to pick myself up but my head felt heavy. It hurt
to move, but I managed to lean against the wall.

Two shadows struggled,
narrowly missing the beams of light. Chance flew into the far wall
as my hero stalked through the moonlight.

My heart swelled at the
sight of Troy and deflated when he picked Chance up and sank his
teeth into his flesh.

¤¤¤¤

…
Troy…

“
This is some reunion.” I
snatched him like a ragdoll.

“
This isn’t going like I
envisioned, but I’m adaptable. She can watch me torture you, and
when you’re at death’s door, I’ll kill her before he answers.”
Chance slashed at me with his blade, missed, and cut my bicep on
the second try.

“
Not gonna happen,” I
hissed. The gash healed immediately, but left my sleeve wet with
blood. My neck cracked as I caught his arm and snapped it at the
elbow.

His sobs were as beautiful
as a piano concerto, but I wasn’t done yet. I wanted a grand
finale.

The color drained from his
face as he cradled the limb. He was retreating, but it was too
late. He was a threat to Jade.

I should’ve stopped, but
the beast was too close to the surface. My fingers curled around
his coat as I lifted him off his feet.

His blood drowned my
anger, but not Jade’s screams.

Darkness
Part II

Alas,

Hope is never
lost…

Even when you
think

You know the
cost.

Every choice

and every dream

Brings you

to the beginning of the
scene.

Where life is
new,

No shadows
dwell,

Life is sweet,

And love
prevails.

-Jade

Chapter 19

Jade was
unconscious.

Kneeling beside her, I
removed my coat and covered her shoulders. The smell of copper
filled my nose. I brushed her bangs away from the cut, and looked
at my hand. My fangs ached as the scarlet liquid glistened in the
moonlight. I wiped it on my pants, and pressed a handkerchief to
her forehead before looking over my shoulder. It was comforting to
see Chance’s body on a pile of trash.

As I texted Charles, I
considered my long lost cousin’s words. He sent the note, but how
long had he known about Jade? I paced between the walls.

He was going to kill her
because she meant something to me.

I shook her gently as I
forced my words into her mind. “
Don’t
sleep, Jade.”

She stirred when the
Cadillac’s headlights illuminated the entrance.

“
A good man would let you
go, but I can’t do it. I can’t forget about you or this curse,” I
whispered as I laid her on the back seat. I straightened as my
driver carried Chance to the trunk and dropped him in.

“
That was close,” he said
as we got in the car.

“
Too close.”

By the time I opened my
eyes, we were near the top of Lookout Mountain. The car stopped in
front of a grandiose structure with the class of a
19
^th
century manor and
the safety of a secret lair since it was built into the
mountain.

I gathered Jade as
Charles opened the doors.

“
Thank
you. Please put the baggage
in the
cellar and get Marshal to find Jade’s car.”

“
Of course,
sir.”

The air held traces of
wood cleaner and mothballs as I climbed the stairs.

Jade’s arm came around my
neck, snuggling close as I laid her on the canopy bed. The sweet
smell of her blood had me on edge, but I wouldn’t bite her until
she wanted it.

Removing the handkerchief,
I exhaled when I saw the small cut. It was about an inch long, just
above her eyebrow. I dipped a white cloth into a bowl of hot water
and cleaned her up. She mumbled a protest, but I calmed her by
brushing my fingers against her cheek.

Jade could’ve
died.

I put ointment on the
wound and applied a rectangle bandage.

Charles insisted we go to
the hospital, but I wasn’t going to take her to a place where she
could wake up and tell them to keep me away.

Bad thoughts surfaced as I
stared at the bloody cloth. My fangs itched. I took a deep breath,
and called Charles to remove the tray. My trench coat was stiff
with dried blood, so I grabbed clean clothes and headed for the
shower. The thoughts grew darker as the red water swirled down the
drain. I wanted to go downstairs and slaughter my cousin, but I
wouldn’t be able to savor it right now. I rammed my fist into the
wall.

I could be
patient.

¤¤¤¤

Desire

When I think of
you,

I see the truth

And all the
things

You’d never do.

Your desire,

Your love….

Your fear

Of all the
above.

But I won’t let
you

Walk away

From the feelings
that

You hold at
bay.

These desires

Are too strong

For you to hide
them

‘
Til they’re
gone.

-Troy

Chapter 20

Jade

I rolled onto my side,
noting the black sheets and red wall. Water was running.

Did I leave the shower
on?

The dark colors and bird
painting suggested I was in a man’s room. A lover, since I was in
my T-shirt and panties. I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t recall a
single thing about him or myself. I rubbed my forehead, wincing
when I felt the bandage beneath my fingers.

The longer I stared at the
bird, the more my head spun. I tried to make sense of the words my
mind was shouting, but there was only one that soared above the
others.

Vampire.

With the sound of
footsteps nearby, I knew my life was on the line. Not all of my
memories made sense, but I figured the last thing was the most
relevant. I sat up gradually, keeping my eyes closed as I prayed
for my balance to return. Shoving the covers aside, I stood up,
remaining as quiet as possible.

Who undressed
me?

I tiptoed to the door as I
cursed my luck. How could I have enough bad luck to wake up in a
foreign place, escape, and then have it happen again somewhere
else?

I tried to think
positively as I turned the doorknob and crept into the hall. This
was not Troy’s house in New Orleans. Suddenly, I remembered how the
alley situation ended with one of them attacking the other, but who
was the vampire?

What if Chance killed Troy
and was holding me hostage?

My heart shriveled at the
thought of Troy’s demise. I hurried to the room at the end of the
hallway and ducked inside. Easing the door shut as I strained to
make out the dark shapes. I pictured myself tripping and alerting
my kidnapper, so I decided to feel around for a closet. Once I
found a door, I slipped in and closed it as slowly as I could
manage.

“
Why are
you playing games, Jade?”
Troy’s
voice was so loud that I covered my ears, but it didn’t work. I
stilled my thoughts as his voice softened. “
I know your head hurts. Come here so I can take care of
you.”

I was so relieved that I
almost did what he wanted. It took a lot of strength, but I caught
myself…barely. I sat down and crossed my legs.

“
You don’t have anything
to fear now, Jade. It’s just you and me.”

I itched to open the door
and run to him, especially after what happened in the alley, but
too many pieces were still missing.

“
You
don’t have to come to me, cher. Just tell me where you are. I’ll
come get you,”
he said. His
accented words drifted through my mind like a melody, but I had to
remain strong until I sorted everything out.

“
I was so worried when you
left, and then when I found you in the alley… I can’t bear the
thought of living without you. Talk to me. Tell me where you are,
cher.”