They were both intently focused on the edge of that wall and my mind started spinning over what on this earth could so provoke two powerful creatures. Was I right about a hunter or was Ben right about a werewolf? Ben beside me started to shake and I was a little surprised to find myself slinging an arm around his waist, supporting him. I was terrified too, but only of whatever was out there. Poor Hot Ben was sort of scared of everybody.
A chuckle filled the still air, emanating from behind the wall and I crouched down, prepared to run if needed. Expecting a burly man yielding a chainsaw or something, I blinked in surprise at the short man who kind of looked like the guy who used to do my mom's taxes, before I got her hooked up with the firm I worked for. Briefly, I wondered if the guy worked at the accountant's firm next door and had just gotten off work. Maybe he'd heard a fight starting and was foolishly trying to stop it. I reconsidered that as Teren and Halina had not eased up their guarding stances.
The short, middle-aged man had his hands casually in his pockets and strolled into the lot lights as casually as if he were taking a stroll through the park on a sunny, Sunday afternoon. But that's when I noticed his eyes, and realized that this man hadn't been anywhere near a sunny day in quite some time. His eyes had the same faint glow around the whites that Teren's got in dim lighting. While not noticeable to someone not in the know, it was a neon sign to me, and I clenched Ben's hand, hard.
The accountant making his way over to Teren...was a vampire.
He laughed again and shook his head. "My money's on the woman." He laughed at that thought, his voice coming out with a southern drawl to it. It didn't match his average height, average looks and averagely plain blue jeans and brown jacket. Added to his dull brown hair and dull dark eyes, this guy's accent was the most interesting thing about him. Oh, that and the fact that he wasn't alive.
Not relaxing his defensive posture, Teren tilted his head at the man. "Who are you?"
The man stepped up to Teren and grinned, his fangs extended as if to show to Teren that they were alike. As Teren didn't react to the show, I was pretty sure he'd known exactly what this man was, and hadn't needed it. Of course, super ears, used to hearing thumping hearts everywhere around them, would instantly pick up on a walking body without one. The move did finally clue in Ben though, and I heard him curse beside me and squeeze my hand so hard, I heard something pop.
The man extended his hand out in a friendly handshake to Teren. "So sorry, name's Thomas, but you can call me Tommy."
Teren looked at the hand, but made no move to touch the man. Shifting slightly so he was still in front of us, Teren inhaled deeply and a low growl escaped him before he spoke again. "I recognize your scent. You're the one that has been stalking me. Why?"
Halina hissed at the man after hearing that. Regardless of her irritation at Teren, he was family, and she didn't like hearing about someone watching him. My eyes were huge at the revelation. I'd suspected something much different than a vamp watching us. I didn't know if I should feel relieved at the news, or worried.
Tommy looked back at Halina, gave her a suggestive smile and a wink and them shifted his focus back to what he probably deemed the bigger threat, Teren. "Sorry about that." He tilted his head as he shoved his hand back in his pocket. "I was just so curious...you smell so odd. I've been trying to figure out what you are. You're not like me, but, at the same time, you are like me." He leaned in as Teren subtly straightened. "What are you?"
Tommy seemed genuinely intrigued by the mystery that was Teren, and I relaxed. Maybe our stalker had just been trying to piece things together before making a formal introduction, and meant us no harm. Being a vampire didn't automatically make you evil after all. Teren completely straightened, relaxing his posture as he seemed to realize this too. Halina and Ben did not, and I hoped my hand didn't go numb, since no blood was getting to it anymore.
Giving the man a cautious look, Teren said, "I'm mixed - part human, part vampire - that's probably why I seem odd to you. I was born this way and I'm not...hampered by all of the side effects of vampirism, so I don't smell exactly like a pureblood."
Tommy's dark eyes widened as he absorbed that. He grinned than let out a low whistle, slightly shaking his head. "Part human, huh? Fascinating." He cocked his head at Teren's chest, probably noting the absence of a heartbeat. "Born? But, you're dead?"
Teren nodded. "I recently died. One side effect that even humanity can't overcome for long."
The man shrugged, not too moved by hearing that. "Ah, well, I'd sympathize, but I died over fifty years ago." He grinned and rocked back on his heels. "I've been vampire longer than I'd been human. And being human was no picnic, I was happy to give it up." Teren frowned and I saw some of his defensive posture return. Tommy's eyes shifted back to Halina, a slow smile spreading as he took in the wild beauty crouching in front of Ben and me. "You though..." he inhaled deep, taking her scent in as well, "are pure vampire, like me."
Halina hissed again, not looking like she was in a friendly mood. The man chuckled at her and then cocked his head at her still protective posture in front of us. Confusion passed his face as he looked between Teren and Halina. His finger came out of his pocket and he pointed in my direction. "Are you protecting ...humans?" His drawl couldn't have sounded more surprised by that. "And I've seen you with these humans several times." He gave Teren an odd look as he gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. "You do know there's an ocean of them out there, don't you?"
The man seemed truly baffled as to why two humans would warrant such a strong reaction in his kind. My stomach twisted as I realized he didn't share Teren's views on mainly eating livestock. Ignoring the throb in my hand, I shifted slightly behind Ben. My movement brought Tommy's eyes right to me and I froze.
"Ah, and one with child...my favorite. No blood is sweeter than a woman filled with life." His grin turned into a leer and my heart shifted into triple time. He heard it and smiled wider. That was all the reaction he got though.
Teren was on him in a flash, his hand securely around the man's throat, his fangs extended now too. I prayed no one happened to walk past this tension-filled parking lot while the supernaturals were being, well, supernatural. "She's mine," Teren growled.
Tommy batted Teren's hand from his neck like Teren was a child, his strength superior to Teren's mixed blood. That made me swallow, but Halina stepped forward to stand closer to him, to back him up if needed and I relaxed a little. Two-to-one odds were better.
Tommy glanced at her and then back to Teren. "Relax. It was just an observation. It's not like there aren't more like her out tonight."
He rolled his eyes after he said that, like he didn't understand why Teren was being so rude. I hated the feeling of being looked at purely as dinner, and wanted this...creature, gone. Teren seemed to share my feelings. "It was nice to meet you, but we have somewhere to be."
Tommy frowned as both he and Teren retracted their fangs. I relaxed further as the sudden tension started dissipating. "Oh, I was hoping we could get to know each other better. I do get bored being on my own all the time." He tilted his head at Teren. "And you...fascinate me."
Teren smiled tightly as Halina stepped up to his side. "Another time perhaps? When it's just you and me."
As the vampires seemed preoccupied, I pulled Ben's hand, urging him back towards the car. He didn't move though, his perfect face glued onto Tommy's. He was shell-shocked, too scared to do anything. I silently cursed my luck at being pretty much glued to him and whispered his name repeatedly, to try to break him out of his stupor.
Tommy flicked a glance at me, a disappointed look on his face. "Yeah, alright, since you're busy with your...humans. I was about to get something to eat anyway." His eyes lingered on Ben, contemplative. Bringing his attention back to Teren, he casually asked, "Do you need both of them? Since you seem so partial to the female, can I have the male?"
He'd asked that as if we were nothing more than Thanksgiving turkeys at a store, being divvied up between customers. Ben beside me groaned softly and finally took a step back with me. As quietly as we could, we started walking backward. Teren tried to distract Tommy by stepping into his line of vision, but Tommy looked around him, watching our slow retreat to Teren's car.
Answering Tommy's question, Teren calmly said, "No, the male is ours as well."
Tommy brought his attention to Teren again, sighing sadly as his dinner sulked away. "Didn't think so. Fine. Like I said," he flung his arm out to indicate the neighborhood, "an ocean of humans awaits."
Fixing his face and his stance, Teren firmly said, "No."
Tommy grinned, like Teren had made a joke, and then blinked his dark eyes at him. "Excuse me?"
"There is no killing of humans, in or around the city." Teren's voice stayed remarkably steady when he said that. I nearly expected Halina to scoff at his remark, but her face was equally as serious as she eyed the strange vampire.
Tommy started laughing and then stopped when he saw that Teren was not even remotely joking. Looking between him and Halina he sullenly said, "I'm hungry, I need to eat. What are a few cattle, in a city this size?"
I cringed at his word choice as Ben and I finally backed into Teren's car. I tried the latch of the door behind me, but the stupid thing was, of course, locked. I cursed under my breath as Teren laid down the law for the vampire. Even terrified, I had to admit that his authority was sort of a turn on.
"You are in my territory and you do not have my permission to hunt here. You will leave every...cattle, in my city, alone."
Tommy scoffed at that and gave Teren a once over. "Permission? I don't need your permission, boy. And why should I deprive myself from the best meal in town? It's not like they're endangered. They breed like rabbits. They spread over this world like cockroaches. I'm simply doing my part, to thin the herd." I really hated this guy referring to us as much lower life forms.
Teren took a step towards him menacingly, having a good half foot over the short, plain vampire. I knew that was misleading though, the vampire's strength didn't come from his size.
Halina stepped forward as well though, her strength equal, if not greater than Tommy's. I jiggled the handle of the door uselessly as she calmly told him, "This is my city too and since I've been vampire longer than you, that makes me your elder. And you will listen to me when I say, back off. Why don't you try farther south? There are some wonderful specimens in Brazil."
Surprise flitted through me, mixing oddly with my fear, that Halina would care if he hunted here. A part of me wondered if he simply irritated her and she sided with Teren just to piss him off. Or maybe it was just a show of family unity. Either way, she was more imposing than Teren at the moment and the man paused, considering the threat of her before him.
"Well..." he sniffed and brought his hands out of his pockets, flexing them, "maybe you and I could hunt together, little minx?" He eyed her up and down, a little more seductively than he had Teren. "You could...approve my meal choice and then perhaps we could find a hole to hide up in until dusk?" He leaned toward her, running a hand up her thigh. "I'm sure you have one, somewhere."