Chapter Ten
I woke later that day to find Nikolai and Muffler having a conversation of sorts. Nik sat at my desk while Muffler sat on my keyboard—his favorite spot. They were gazing into each other’s eyes as if they were having a staring contest. I wondered who was winning. In my experience, it's usually the cat.
“So you didn't wrong Phonoi directly?” Nik was saying.
“No. Do I look insane?”
“And the fae woman, the one who bore your child?”
“I do not know what became of her.” Muffler sounded sad. Can a cat be sad? Well, I guess a cat with the spirit of a fae in it can. Oh, my life is weird.
“Riveting conversation with my cat?” I asked as I sat up.
“Tereus has been telling me his story. Quite fascinating. Forbidden love and nasty consequences.”
“Consequences worth speaking of usually are nasty,” purred the cat.
“What time is it?” I asked, hoping to get off the topic of my cat's history, or how it might now be destroying my life.
“Four p.m. The cloud cover is sufficient for us to leave in the next half hour or so.”
I groaned, not feeling completely refreshed. “What sorta fun do you have planned for us today? Hopefully, nothing involving werewolves.”
Muffler hissed, spit flying in all directions. He stood up, his hair standing on end, and tried to back up until his butt bumped into the computer screen. I ignored him.
“Preferably. We will go back to the seethe and talk with Mikhail.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “But can I at least shower first?”
“Again?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
I stopped to think back over the past day, realizing I had showered just before going to sleep. Why did I want another? Nik's eyes were on me as I worked through what seemed normal and what I wanted. My skin crawled under his gaze. It may be ridiculous, but these few moments away from Nik, or anyone else, were the only thing keeping me from going absolutely Tom Cruise. Yeah, I used Tom Cruise as a state of mind. Big whoop!
“Yes, again! Got a problem with it?” I snapped.
Nikolai shook his head slowly and turned back to my cat. I went to my dresser, still pressed against my door, and dug through it until I found a clean pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. It was a little nicer than a T-shirt. I figured I’d better be dressy for the “leader guy.” It's a technical term.
“That the best you can do?” Nikolai asked, eying me over his shoulder.
“This is about as dressy as I get.”
“I don't know, that little black number you had on last night was considerably more impressive.”
“Ha… sadly it's gone… pretty much ruined.”
“That the only nice thing you own?” He asked, disdain dripping from the statement.
“Pretty much.”
“We’ve got to work on your wardrobe.”
“What are you, gay now? Do you sparkle?” I taunted. He glared back.
“If only. Sparkling is a lot better than dying.”
“But you are gay?” I asked with mock sincerity before ducking into the bathroom. He had climbed to his feet, his expression no longer playful. It was downright terrifying.
When I returned from my shower, Nik was standing by my bed, holding up the floor-length red dress. I had purchased it for the one and only fancy dinner I attended after getting published. Chloe had picked it out, and boy did it show. It was a size too small with a V-neck and a slit that reached my upper thigh.
I glared at him. “No means no! Besides, I look horrible in that thing. Redheads shouldn't wear red!”
Nikolai sighed and returned the dress to my packed closet, pointedly hanging it with my more usual attire. “Then I will be sure to buy you a dress for your Joining.”
“Joining?” I asked as I put on my shoes.
“Yes. There is a ceremony to officially become part of our seethe. A great excuse for a party. And trust me, vampires love any excuse for a party.”
“Noted. Ready,” I said while still braiding my second pigtail. I slipped my arms into my leather jacket and reached for my purse. At the last minute, I realized it wasn't where it usually sat. Oh right, I'd lost it. Damn. It was going to be a pain to get a new driver’s license when I couldn't go outside during the day. I didn’t think a driver’s license was worth the risk of getting fried. Granted I didn't technically need one, either.
I followed Nikolai out of the apartment, my mind's ear ringing with Muffler's colorful goodbye and “be careful.” When we reached the outside, I looked up into the misting sky. I didn't think the sun was actually behind the horizon, but I couldn't tell through the dark clouds. My mood began to sink as I followed Nik to his Land Rover. I needed to be writing, and this whole supernatural war was really getting in the way, not to mention I was supposed to be at work in the morning.
“Tell me,” I asked while buckling up. “When am I actually going to have time to myself again?”
“Depends on how many people you kill today… and what Mikhail says. Until he gives you the 'all clear' you're stuck with me.”
“Do all new vampires get a babysitter?”
“Yes. Though it's been a long time since I had to do it,” he growled, his eyes on the road.
“Why's that?”
“They usually don't need a bodyguard. You, on the other hand… ”
“So I have a house guest, eh?”
“We can always go back to my house or, I suppose, my apartment here in town if you'd rather.”
“You have an apartment too? Evidently, you prescribe to the ‘overkill is NOT underrated’ mindset.”
I was just about to say more when the large SUV bounced in an unfamiliar manner. The front tires went up into the air, crashed back into the pavement, and bounced as only tires can do. At the same time, an earsplitting crash resounded from the rear of the vehicle. I looked over my shoulder to see the back end of the SUV crumpled, as though it had been smashed with something. Out one of the holes that had been a window, I saw the tail end of a telephone pole. I looked out the front to see the next couple poles topple over like a row of dominoes.
“Stay put,” ordered Nik.
Was he crazy?