Thirst (Ava Delaney #1)

  Chapter Four

  On the way to see Peter's friend, I tried to trail behind both men-determined not to get too close. Peter glanced around and slowed his pace, unwilling to keep his back to me. I couldn't help sighing as Carl joined him, both of them surrounding me with the heavy scent of testosterone that made it hard for me to think straight.

  Peter kept looking at me as if he were waiting for me to burst into flames. When nothing untoward happened to me in daylight, he moved on to glaring at complete strangers. Suspicion darkened his eyes-everything he thought he knew about vampires had been proven wrong by me, as far as he was concerned.

  "I'm the only one who does this," I said, trying to reassure him. I got a scowl for my trouble. Carl bumped against him, getting between us and making me hide a smile.

  "Who is this contact of yours?" I asked Peter, trying to make conversation.

  "A businessman," he said, without looking around. "He knows a lot about... supernatural things. He's helped me out a few times."

  The bookshop wasn't too far from my house. I realised I had passed it by before. It was an independent seller with lots of old books, specializing in the occult. The shop had very few customers, yet it seemed to thrive. It had been around for as long as I could remember, but I had never gone inside.

  As soon as we stepped through the doorway, I felt the power in the air. It emanated from a man standing at the counter and ran right through me, making me shiver. Peter hadn't told me the man knew about supernatural things because he was one himself. It surprised me that Peter was comfortable with any supernatural element-he was so intent on hating me.

  I didn't say anything, but I suspected the man was a big player in the supernatural world, and that intrigued me. You wouldn't have known it looking at him. He was small and wiry, with a crooked nose, ginger hair and lots of freckles. He had huge blue eyes that seemed so earnest, I might have felt safe in his shop-except for the strange cold sensation on my skin.

  The shop itself was small; most of the books were old, and the most interesting thing in the place was the owner. To my surprise, Carl took a step behind me and gripped my arm. I wondered if he felt something in the air too, but Peter moved toward his contact with a friendly smile on his face and distracted me from Carl's reaction.

  The man smelled like magic and strength to me, similar to the smoky smell when a lit match is blown out mingled with the sharp, salty tang of the sea. Goose bumps appeared on my arms as the man looked me over. Something seemed to push against my skin, an invisible hand searching for something.

  He greeted Peter like an old friend and then looked at me again, this time with a huge grin. My skin warmed up as whatever it was backed away. I smiled back at the man, determined to show I hadn't noticed a thing. Playing dumb was just about the only card I had.

  "This is Eddie Brogan. He might be able to help you," Peter said, but his voice sounded almost forced.

  "Oh, with what?" Eddie asked, his voice lilting pleasantly.

  "Eddie, this is Ava. She's a vampire. She's here to ask you for help." Peter really enjoyed delivering that line, and I fidgeted nervously in the silence that followed.

  Eddie's eyes snapped back to me, narrowing as he looked me over once again.

  "A vampire in daylight, Peter?"

  "I know. She isn't talking." Peter scowled in my direction, but Eddie stepped closer to me, his eyes full of curiosity.

  "You look too young to have been dead for at least a century," he remarked.

  "I haven't been," I blurted out, confused.

  "Isn't that funny? Considering humans haven't turned into vampires in at least that long." His voice was soft, but I felt like I had been tricked into revealing something I shouldn't. "Your name's Ava, is it?" Eddie asked me, not unkindly.

  I nodded, feeling like a shy schoolgirl all of a sudden. "This is Carl," I said, gesturing toward the tall man who hadn't moved an inch from my side since we entered the shop. "I, uh, I seem to have accidentally made him my... minion. Somehow." I honestly couldn't think of a better word.

  Peter snorted derisively. I ignored him.

  Eddie nodded with understanding. "That you have. He's threaded very tightly to you. So you want to cut the threads, is that it?"

  "Yeah, or whatever. I just want him gone, before... I want him to leave me alone, okay?"

  Eddie stared at me, and I felt another odd sensation roll over me. I tried not to react, but it was so invasive I couldn't stop myself from taking a step back to try and shrug it off. As soon as it stopped, I felt something cold brush against my hands, like something else was there with us. Eddie nodded finally, as if deciding something.

  "I'm going to take a break now. Would you three care to join me for some coffee?"

  He put a sign up on the door but didn't bother locking it. Eddie escorted us into a small backroom with a makeshift kitchen then brewed some coffee. I couldn't help glancing at Peter with concern. Eddie wasn't at all what I had expected. Peter shook his head slightly, so I looked away. I knew I disgusted him, but a little camaraderie would have been nice.

  Nerves got the better of me. Back in the shop, I had been able to count books if I got jumpy. The backroom was so sparse that I needed to count heartbeats again. It was that sort of thing which got me into trouble in the first place.

  Eddie sat down at last, having placed cups in front of us all. Both Peter and Eddie stared at me like I was supposed to do something. I glanced at Carl, but his eyes were closing, apparently taking my instructions to take care of his needs literally. I sipped the coffee to give myself something to do as an uncomfortable silence draped over us. The coffee was surprisingly good. Eddie noted my appreciation with some satisfaction.

  "Enjoying it?"

  "Yes, it's delicious. I thought it was instant." I realised Peter's mouth had dropped open, and I frowned at him in confusion.

  "What?"

  He shook his head. "You really like it?"

  "Uh, yeah. Don't you?"

  He frowned at Eddie. "What the hell is she?"

  Eddie gave a low chuckle. Fury burned up inside me, drowning out the panic.

  "What's in this? Poison?" I slammed my hands on the table, livid at the idea and disgusted with myself for being so naive.

  Carl stood up abruptly, startling everyone. He glared at Eddie who signalled toward him and made a low noise. Carl fell back down, his anger forgotten. Still hot with fear and rage, I got to my feet instead. Ready for a confrontation, ready to fight my way out.

  "It's all right, child. It isn't poison, but it is magic. It won't harm you, don't worry. I just had to make sure your intentions were purer than Peter suspected."

  I sat in my chair, my concern for Carl the only thing stopping me from lashing out. I was sick of being tested. They couldn't just help Carl and let me go on my merry way. Everything had to involve suspicion.

  "I'm sorry," Eddie said, his voice soft and velvety. An unexpectedly sudden bout of drowsiness caused my eyes to flutter and almost stay closed. I struggled to clear my thoughts through the haze. I sat up straight and forced myself to be more aware, trusting Eddie less and less.

  "I'll help you, Ava. I see exactly who you are now. I see it all. The only problem is, the vampires see it all, too. Their seer is a pain at the best of times." He waved his arm vaguely in the air.

  "Seer?" I had no clue what he was talking about.

  "Aye. I'm sorry, Ava, but your problems just got a lot bigger. They know you're coming."

  "How could you possibly know that?" I asked, mystified.

  I took note of the furtive glances exchanged between Eddie and Peter.

  "I have eyes everywhere, so I know for certain they'll be waiting. Or worse, they'll come looking."

  "Looking for me? Why? What did I do?"

  "Not what you did. It's what you are, pet." His words were kind, but I couldn't allow myself to soften for a second. I couldn't let the vamp
ires find me, find out how I was made. All I wanted was Carl gone and life to go back to normal.

  "What she is?" Peter asked, staring at me like I might grow horns. "What is she?"

  "Later, Peter," Eddie said. "So, tell me what happened. With Carl." Abruptly, he was steely eyed again. As observant as a bird. It was unnerving.

  "Nothing happened. Not really. I could smell him. His fear."

  "Wait, you can smell fear?" Eddie's mouth curved upward.

  I bit my lip, wondering if I said too much again. "Uh, yeah. I went to see what was going on. A vampire had him, was toying with him. He asked me if Carl belonged to me, and I said yes. Told him to come over to me. Left with him. I didn't notice until later that he was obeying everything I told him to do. Everything except leave me alone, that is."

  "That's part of it," Eddie said. "He can't until you let him go. He'll keep trying to serve you until then."

  "You know how to fix it?" Peter asked. His expression was grim; I wondered what he could be thinking.

  Eddie rocked in his chair, his eyes closed. He hummed a tuneless song. I glared at Peter, blaming him for taking me to see a lunatic. He put his finger to his lips and nodded toward Eddie. I glanced at Carl who had fallen asleep in his chair, his coffee untouched.

  "It's as I thought," Eddie said after a minute. "You claimed him. He wasn't opposed to it. A vampire bore witness. Now he's yours. Don't you want him?" His voice changed again; his tone felt like a cool palm on my hot forehead.

  I shook my head slowly. "No." My voice was a cracked whisper.

  "Why?"

  "I don't want anybody. Nobody's safe around me." I felt compelled to speak. I didn't want to answer him, but I couldn't help myself. I could sense Peter staring at me intently, but I could only focus on Eddie. I was unable to break eye contact with him. My panic was dulled by whatever he was doing to me. I felt like my body was spinning around, and I gripped my chair to brace myself.

  "Who sent you to Peter?"

  "My grandmother." Peter made a noise, but it sounded so very far away. I could have sworn I was floating around the room, but my eyes were still latched onto Eddie's.

  "And if I tell you how to free Carl, will you do it?"

  "Yes."

  "Even if it hurts?"

  "Yes." My answers were whispers, and I sensed Peter leaning in closer to hear me.

  "Do you want to harm Carl?"

  "No. But I might not be able to stop myself."

  I still couldn't look away from his eyes; they were big black pits of nothingness, and I was sinking into them, almost freefalling. A cold hand on my shoulder brought me back to the room. Shuddering violently, I gasped, not quite sure what had happened. Glancing around, it was clear nobody else was there, but I knew I felt a hand touch me.

  "Is she okay?" Peter asked, more concerned than I would have expected. Eddie ignored him.

  "Ava. You have bound Carl to you. The only way to revoke it is to persuade the witness to reject your claim."

  "The witness? You mean the vampire who attacked Carl in the first place? But how? How will I find him?" I asked, already worrying.

  Peter snorted. "Surely a vamp knows where vamps hang out."

  I refused to look at him. "Yes, of course," I said, unwilling to share how little I knew about vampires.

  Eddie smiled, but his eyes were full of pity. "I'll give you directions to a bar. Vampires visit regularly as do their followers. You may find information there."

  "Thank you."

  "So is that it? Can I go now?" Peter said, his voice sarcastic. His eagerness to leave left me cold.

  "You sit down," Eddie said. Although his tone was as low and calm as before, I shivered as though he shouted. His presence was almost overpowering.

  "Perfect, just perfect," Peter muttered, but he sat down right away.

  Eddie ignored Peter and returned his gaze to me. The blackness was gone, but I was afraid to look too deeply in his eyes. He scared me. I had to be on my guard around him.

  Peter was looking at me warily, but I had no time for his problems. Night was coming. We had to leave quickly. I shook myself, aware that heavy magic had finally lifted.

  "We have to get going. Is there anything else I need to know?"

  "Possibly. Peter, wake Carl up, and take him outside for a few minutes. Ava and I need to chat about something a bit more personal."

  Peter reluctantly dragged Carl up out of his seat.

  "No, I'm staying with Ava," Carl said. His hesitation made me even more suspicious of Eddie.

  "It's okay. I'll be out in a minute." I watched him follow Peter outside, my heart sinking at the emptiness in Carl's eyes.

  Afraid of being alone with Eddie, I acted snappy.

  "Can we hurry this up? I want to get all of this over and done with as quickly as I can."

  Eddie smirked at me. "I know you don't like to be around people, but if you were used to it then Carl wouldn't bother you so much."

  "I was used to it before. Didn't help my ex much."

  "A mistake. We all make them." He confirmed my suspicions. He knew more about me than he should.

  "Some mistake. I bit him and drank his blood, Eddie. I could have killed him."

  "But you didn't. Stop thinking about what you might have done, and concentrate on what you have done. You've helped out a few humans, right? Carl can't be the first. I'd say that balances out an indiscretion or two."

  I shook my head in disgust. "That isn't how it works."

  "Isn't it? We'll see. Hold on for a second. I want to show you something."

  He left me alone and was gone long enough for me to get scared. The persistent cold gasp of air on the back of my neck kept me on edge. I couldn't see anything, so I searched with my other sense and noticed a faint wisp of pale white energy right next to me. There was definitely something with me, but I had no idea what it could be.

  Eddie returned with a small velvet box in his hand. "This is for you," he said, handing it to me. "It might help."

  I opened the box, revealing a silver filigree cross. I touched it hesitantly, half-expecting it to burn me after the things I had been thinking about recently concerning Carl. But it felt cool against my fingers. I started, almost certain I saw a flush of crimson cross the surface for an instant. I glanced at Eddie quizzically.

  "It's okay," Eddie said. "It won't hurt you, although it might hurt a real vampire. Poor little mix that you are. You have it bad, don't you? The thirst?"

  I nodded, my eyes welling up with tears. He patted my shoulder sympathetically.

  "You know what I am?" I asked, almost hesitant to hear his answer.

  "I know more than that, petal."

  "So what am I?"

  "You're neither vampire nor human, that's for sure," Eddie said.

  I bit my lip. "Do you know my grandmother? Is that how you know about me?"

  "Nancy? I know her well. She came to me some years back and told me all about her little Ava. She's not the woman you once knew. May I?" he asked, unclasping the necklace.

  I let him drape the chain around my neck. It was long enough to be covered by my clothes if I tucked it in. Its touch was surprisingly cool. Refreshing. I felt it lean against my skin as if it were sinking in. Calm drifted over me almost immediately. The dry ache in my throat subsided. Relief.

  "Oh, wow," I murmured, stretching lazily.

  "Feeling better?"

  "Are you doing that?" I asked.

  "No, it's the cross. It's a talisman of sorts. It'll help you with the thirst. Keep your mind focused long enough to get Carl out of your way."

  "And you just happened to have this lying around?"

  His smile was sudden but genuine. "Something like that."

  I was overwhelmingly grateful, but even as the cross dispelled my thirst, I realised I hadn't craved Eddie's blood for a second. Curious.

  Aside from that, th
e cross worked. I could already tell it was exactly what I needed. I could feel it, the magic working its way into my veins, quenching the thirst, and soothing that raw hunger in my gut. For the first time in years, I relaxed and knew what it meant to feel human. Maybe Carl could survive his visit with me after all. That thought alone brought a lump to my throat, and I realised just how tense my adult life had been.

  "And look, Ava. See the cross? Four tips plus the body make five. Safe. Touch it when you need strength."

  His smile was kind, but I blushed anyway at the thought of him knowing about my little quirk. I could only figure my grandmother had told him. My number obsession had bothered her almost as much as my vampire-like tendencies.

  "Don't forget, you're heading to vampire territory now. It won't be safe for you. You have to be on your guard. Aware. There isn't much time; they know you're around, and the cross won't work for long. So be careful. And trust Peter. He's a bit gruff, but that's to be expected after what happened to his family. He can be narrow-minded sometimes, but he's a solid one."

  I touched my bruised face self-consciously. Eddie tutted.

  "That was unfortunate all right. I have just the thing." He took a tub out of a cupboard and wiped some of the contents on my face. It felt slick and oily, but my face tingled nicely, the freshness of the pain dissipating.

  "Didn't Carl help you?"

  I nodded. "He offers himself to me, too. How do I make him stop?"

  "It can't be helped, I'm afraid. Part of the thrall is to give you what you need, whatever that might be. Go on now, little one. It'll be dark soon. Visit the bar tomorrow in daylight. Get information before you go again at night. Be wise."

  He pressed a piece of paper into my hands, directions to the bar. I glanced at the name but had never heard of it before. I thanked him again, less in fear of him but still wary. He didn't accompany me to the door, but the strange presence did. I pushed the door open and stepped outside, my stomach turning a little at the drastic change in atmosphere once I was away from Eddie's magic.

  Outside, Peter and Carl stood together. They stopped talking as soon as I approached. I fidgeted awkwardly, knowing Peter wanted to leave. For the first time I was able to stand next to Carl without wanting to feed on him, but all I could think about was making Peter stay.

  "Uh, thanks for bringing me here," I said to Peter, fidgeting under his gaze.

  "Did he give you the address?"

  "Yeah, it's some place called the Black Rose. I don't know it, but his directions are pretty clear."

  "I know it," Peter said. "I'll pick you two up tomorrow, okay?"

  "Oh," I said, surprised. "You're going?"

  "I said I'd help. I'll see you both tomorrow."

  "Early," I called after him, hoping he'd hear me. He raised an arm in answer and kept on walking away. I admired his behind for a few seconds before I remembered Carl, who was still standing there aimlessly.

  Carl and I walked back to my place. For once, I was thankful for his silence because I had so much to think about. At least now I had a purpose and a chance to help him.

  That evening, the cross worked its magic. Somehow, it seemed to mask Carl's scent or at least dampened my reaction to it, even when he offered his wrist to me. I was able to shrug off my instincts with little effort. I couldn't believe how relaxing it was. It made me feel almost human.

  An undercurrent of need remained, but, for the most part, the temptation was easy to control. I was still bothered by Carl's behaviour, though. He was compelled to do it, but it irritated me that he wasn't even trying to survive. As soon as he dozed off that night, I rang my grandmother.

  "What's the deal with Eddie Brogan?" I barely let her say hello.

  "What? Ava? You know Eddie?" Her voice was thick with sleep.

  "The man you sent me to, Peter, he took me to Eddie. After he'd attacked me, that is."

  "Oh, Ava, didn't you tell him I sent you?"

  "No. Look, that doesn't matter; tell me about Eddie. Can I trust him? He gave me something; it's helping me. I'm not so thirsty now."

  She caught her breath. "The cross? It works?"

  "How'd you know about the cross?" I seemed to be out of the loop on every single thing. My self-imposed exile meant I had to ask questions at every turn. I was eager to catch up.

  "When you left, I bought books at his shop. I suppose I? well, I sort of hoped you'd be there. You used to sneak those books all the time."

  "Go on," I said when she hesitated.

  "Well, he spoke to me one day, and I found myself telling him all about you. He said he could help you with the thirst. He showed me the cross, said it was for you. But-"

  "But I never came back." I chewed it over in my mind, wondering if he had forced her to talk the way he had with me. "Did you tell him everything? About my mother or anything?"

  "I'm not sure... I just don't remember so well."

  "It's okay. You've told me all I need to know. I'll ring you next week."

  I hung up before she could invite me over. I wasn't nearly ready for that. I mulled over the day's events. Eddie opened up more questions than he answered. Even though his talisman had worked, and Peter seemed to trust him, I still felt like I shouldn't. That led me onto thoughts of Peter and how nice it would be if he didn't completely hate me.

  I couldn't sleep that night because I kept thinking about Peter, not Carl.