Dancing with the Devil (Nikki & Michael 1)

"Only because Jasper wants you to find him."

She shivered. “Then the rest of my abilities will be useless?"

"Probably. You can't find out without trying, and the net will catch you if you do." Her stomach twisted. While she'd often wished to be normal, to be free of the gifts that had somehow always set her apart, she'd known deep down that she relied on them too much to ever let them go. And her brief time with Jasper had proven just how useless she was without them. Michael wrapped his fingers around hers. “You're not alone, Nikki." She closed her eyes, fighting the warmth that sprang through her body. It wasn't right to want someone as much as she wanted Michael. Wasn't right to need his touch, the comfort of his arms to chase the demons away.

"I'll always be alone,” she said, and stepped away from him. It couldn't be any other way. Not when her love was a curse of death. Michael might be a vampire, but that didn't make him invincible. Monica had proven that vampires could die as fast as any human. “Let's go." He made no comment and turned away. She followed him into the darkness, her shaking hands making the flashlight's beam dance erratically.

The steady drip of water was all she could hear above the sound of her footsteps. Michael made no noise, as silent as a ghost. The chill in the air crept past the layers of her clothing and touched her skin with icy fingers.

She shivered and inched closer to Michael's broad back. Her psychic senses might be useless at this point, but she could still feel Jasper's evil all around her. Even the air they breathed seemed tainted by it. She swept the flashlight's beam across walls slick with slime. Rivulets of water ran down the slope past their feet, but to where? She remembered how damp Jake's clothes had been and guessed somewhere along the line they'd hit water. Hopefully it wouldn't be too deep. She was not a swimmer. Michael stopped abruptly, and she plowed into his back. “Give a girl some warning next time,” she muttered, rubbing her nose as she stepped around him.

The path led into a wide, still lake. She groaned. The path didn't seem to resurface anywhere near, if at all.

"How well do you swim?” Michael knelt and dipped his fingers in the water.

"Like a rock.” She shined the flashlight down onto the water. There was no telling how deep it was. It was too dark to see the bottom.

Michael sniffed the water on his fingers, then carefully tasted it. “Putrid,” he muttered, and spat the taste away. “Whatever you do, don't swallow it."

"I don't even want to go in it, let alone drink it.” She backed away from the edge. The more she stared at the water, the more certain she became that it was a trap. She had to get out of this tunnel and away from the death closing in on her...

And if she did, Jake would die.

Michael touched her hand. This time she didn't pull away.

"Keep close and hang on to my hand, no matter what happens." His concern ran down the link, a fire that warmed her soul. She squeezed his hand lightly. “I intend to, believe me. Whether I'm allowed to is another matter entirely." He brushed his fingertips along her cheek. “Just hold on to me. They can't drown me, but you're vulnerable."

As if she needed reminding. He tugged her forward. Black waves rippled across the lake's surface and raced away into the darkness. The water crept up her leg, then past her hips, and every step forward became more difficult. She kept her arm raised well above the lake, allowing the flashlight's beam to wash across the darkness. But she kept an eye on the water—just in case something jumped out and tried to grab the light. What she didn't need right now was utter darkness. The link flared to life, and Michael touched her thoughts. Warmth wrapped around her, a cocoon of comfort and strength. A girl could get used to this, she thought, and alarm stabbed through her heart. Because she was getting used to it, and it would only make his leaving all that much harder to bear. They plowed on through the icy water, but each step felt as if they were forcing their way through molasses.

Michael squeezed her hand gently. “Halfway there. Don't worry, we'll make it."

"You mean there is an end to this lake?” If there was, the flashlight couldn't pick it out.

"Yes. And the path's beginning to slope upwards again." They'd been following a path? She stepped on something slimy and slipped sideways, yelping in fright. The flashlight dipped under the water and darkness closed in, thick and heavy. Oh no... Michael yanked her upright, almost pulling her arm out of its socket.

"Great,” she muttered, hoping she didn't sound as scared as she felt. “Now I'm completely wet." Amusement and concern ran down the link. “Are you okay?"

She gave the flashlight a shake. Droplets of water sprayed across her face, lightly burning. The bright beam flickered then stayed on. “Now I am."

"Good. Don't slip again. You'll give me heart failure." She glanced up sharply. The seriousness behind his light remark shook her. It sounded like he cared—really cared. He'd told her vampires didn't have feelings—that they couldn't love. Was that a lie?

Every now and then he said or did something that made her think it was.>"You will find no escape."

His gaze darted back to Jasper. He noted the insanity entrenched in the blue depths of his eyes, saw the gloating. Knew he was a man who enjoyed toying with his victims. No, not a man. A vampire. Jake cleared his throat. “Where are we?"

"Underground. Deep underground.” As Jasper spoke, a tremor ran through the ground, a vibration that shook the air and rushed wind through the darkness.

Were they in a tunnel? Did some sort of vehicle passing through cause the vibration? Maybe a train?

"Not even close,” Jasper mused. “I could, of course, tell you, but I doubt it would do you any good."

"Nikki won't look for me,” Jake replied, trying to sound casual, though tension knotted his gut and constricted his throat. “She won't run the risk of falling into your trap a second time."

"You lie, little man. I know her mind. I know how much she values your friendship." Jake closed his eyes. “They will stop you,” he whispered. “No matter what it takes.

"I like a man with confidence.” Jasper smiled sharply. “What if the cost is your own life?" Jake shrugged. He would die no matter what happened. He could see it in the monster's eyes. But he wasn't about to give Jasper the pleasure of his fear.

"I can read your mind, little man. I know what you feel."