CHAPTER 7
Julian lifted his head at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. He winced at the discomfort the movement caused his twisted neck. He’d managed to fall asleep for a couple of hours, but sitting on the faded, dirty blue rug, with his neck down, hadn’t been the best sleeping conditions. His body reminded him of that now.
Luther fought back a grin as he stared down at him with his hand resting against the wall and a bag in his hand. “Sweet dreams?”
“Bite me,” Julian muttered.
Luther chuckled before sliding down the wall to sit beside him. He dropped the bag in between them. “Chris assumed you’d appreciate some clean clothes.”
“Thanks.”
“Our newest friend didn’t like the idea of having you in her place?” Luther asked.
“Apparently strange men aren’t welcome in her home.”
“At least she’s not stupid.”
Julian leaned his head against the wall and draped his arm over his knees. He stared at the popcorn ceiling over his head. “No, she’s most certainly not stupid, but she is a rarity. She has far more power than any vampire of her tender years should.”
“Cassie level power?” Luther inquired.
“No one has that level of power. However, Cassie was an empty vessel waiting to be filled. Quinn is stronger than she should be for her age. Maybe she was a Hunter before she was changed, it might explain why she’s so strong.”
Luther shook his head and lifted his glasses up to rub at the bridge of his nose. “I spent all night pouring over books. I’ve called the only other Guardian I trust. Neither of us were able to locate a Hunter named Quinn who would fit her age parameters. Even if she’d lied about her age by a couple of years there is no record of a Quinn ever having existed amongst the Hunter line. She’s more powerful, but it’s not because she was a Hunter before being turned.”
Julian pondered this as he continued to stare at the ceiling. “If she’s lying about her age, it’s not by much. She’s a fledgling vampire; I can feel it. Is there any chance her family could have kept her hidden from The Commission and other Hunters?”
“There’s a chance, but I don’t see why they would. She would have been born before The Elders unleashed The Slaughter on The Hunters and Guardians. Born before we realized what bastards the members of The Commission were. There would have been no reason to keep her hidden.”
“So we’re back to square one.” It felt like a woodpecker had mistaken his head for a tree. He rubbed at his temples as he tried to ease the throbbing there.
Luther dropped his glasses back into place. “Perhaps she was turned by an extremely powerful vampire and that’s why she’s so strong.”
Julian shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“I didn’t think so, but it’s the only other guess I have.” Julian turned to look at the man beside him. Luther was the smartest guy Julian knew, if he was out of guesses then they were in trouble. “Chris thinks she’s trustworthy. She’s fearful of our intentions, and he thinks she’s had it rough, but she’s not malicious.”
“She’s not,” Julian confirmed.
“What did you see when you touched her?”
“A lot of death, blood, pain and screams, but she didn’t create it. She’s definitely experienced a traumatic and brutal past event.”
“You didn’t see anything to explain her existence?” Luther asked.
“No.”
“Do you plan to try and look deeper?”
Julian bowed his head and ran his hand through his disheveled hair as Luther asked him the question he’d been contemplating all night. “No. She’s not a threat. If it becomes necessary for me to search deeper, I will, but she should be allowed to keep her life her own, for now.”
“Maybe if you tell her that you’ll get the couch tonight,” Luther replied with a laugh.
“You could always keep watch tonight.”
“I think I’d get the couch, she seems to like me more.”
“I think you always get the couch when it comes to women,” Julian retorted.
Luther slapped him on the back. “Not always my friend. You’re just not used to being kicked out of a woman’s place.”
Julian shook his head at him, but after two years, he couldn’t deny he still found pleasure in moments of friendship like this. “I’m not,” he agreed with a smile.
Whatever Luther’s next words were going to be, they were cut off by the deadbolt being released. A second later the door to Quinn’s apartment opened, and she poked her head into the hallway. Her eyebrows shot up when she spotted them sitting there.
“Did you stay out here all night?” she demanded.
“I did. This old bag of bones wouldn’t have been able to handle it.” Julian waved his hand at Luther before rising to his feet.
Delicate lines etched her forehead as she shook her head. “Are you going to stay out here for the rest of the day?”
“You may prefer it if I did, but I’m not walking into the sunlight anytime soon,” he replied.
She glanced at the other closed doors lining the hall before looking at him again. “You’re going to freak out my neighbors.”
“Sweet old lady across the hall, we exchanged pleasantries this morning.” His smile only earned him a scowl. He’d known many women in his lifetime, but she’d glared at him more in one day than any of the others.
Her attention turned to Luther before she took a step back. “You might as well come in again.”
“I have to get back to the motel,” Luther said and rose to his feet. “I need some sleep.”
Julian’s attention was drawn to her right hand on the doorknob and the faded red scar marking it. The scar ran across almost the entire back of her hand in a straight slit. Judging by how faded it was, it was about the same age as the scars marring her face. His gaze slid to her left hand. The palm was turned toward him to reveal a nearly identical scar running across it.
What has she been through? He thought as his eyes darted back to hers. Her skin had become paler, her face drawn as she held his gaze. “Try not to ruin anything,” she told him briskly and stepped aside.
A lot of cracks about what he was sure was junkyard furniture ran through his mind, but he held his tongue. She’d kick him back out faster than she’d let him in. The command had also been her way of saying, don’t come in and snoop around by touching my things. His interest in her grew stronger with each passing second; he would find out about her, but she would be the one to tell him.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said to Luther and stepped into her apartment.
Quinn stared at Luther before shutting the door and sliding the lock back into place. She gave him a large side step as she walked toward the kitchen. He contemplated telling her he could turn his ability off, but he figured as long as she kept her secrets he could keep a few of his own too.