Blood's Fury (Deadly Beauties 1)

I wish I was completely human - not destined to walk an immortal life among the real darkness lurking within the heavy shadows he only thinks he fears. It would be so easy to feel safe in his arms. Though I do feel safety within his warmth, I know he could never save me from the real monsters that walk the streets in search of my blood, my power, my... life.

"It's just... I knew the people who lived there before you, and the woman who lived there before them. That house has a bad rep. I'd prefer it if you stayed with me more and there less," he continues.

His aura is buzzing with fear and anxiety right now. I usually can't feel or see a human's rattling aura because my power is so dormant, but I can see his right now. It's dark - scary dark. It's as though he's tormented by something he fears.

"Want to talk about it?" I pry while sitting down on his bed.

"They were just-" He pauses, uncertainty flashing through his normally gloriously untainted eyes, and then he sits next to me. "A while back - a long, long while back - a woman lived there who did less than savory things in that home. After she left, the ones who moved in suffered in ways I never want to see you suffer. It's a... it's just not a safe place."

I've been there for a while now, and I've never felt any darkness in the walls. Frankie is an expert on such things, and he never noticed anything either. I know my mother would have sensed it immediately and shooed me out before we unpacked the first box.

Maybe Kane is a victim of urban legends and dark gossip.

"Well, I can assure you no jaded spirits are there. They would have been run out by the numerous fits I've thrown while living there."

My attempt at humor is met with solemn silence. It's apparent he's holding back, and this really does have him scared.

"What sort of unsavory acts?" I prod, looking for insight to his adamant stance on my home.

"Dark stuff. Weird stuff. I'd sound like a complete idiot if I tried to explain it. You'd run out of here thinking I'm crazy."

He forces a smile again, but his eyes betray him. They tell me he's not at all comfortable, and the truth of his fear remains embedded in the undertones.

"Like witchcraft?" I ask, trying not to smile.

So, so many young humans toy with things they can never even attempt to understand. Some skilled users tap into a tiny fraction of our power, but never enough to turn the heads of the council.

If he's scared of witches, then this poor guy picked the wrong girl to stalk.

He lets out a touch of laughter finally, and then he shakes his head.

"No, not witchcraft. Look, let's drop this. Stay with me and let me make you feel better. I want you to distance yourself from that place until I know for sure she's not coming back."

"She?"

He turns to me, his lips tightening as though he just slipped up.

"The woman who originally owned it. I need to know that she's not going to return."

He's definitely creeping me out right now. His nervous, fearful energy is spilling out of him and eating at me. It's been a while since I felt my inner witch responding so strongly to something. I usually keep a lid on all my powers, but I'm emotionally drained right now.

"Don't worry. I'm tougher than I look." I can handle a human witch toying with powers she can never fully understand.

"Stay with me?" His eyes are heartbreaking, soft, and so very sincere.

After a long pause, I murmur, "I'll stay."

Chapter Fifteen

"It's been a month, Frankie. I've been back here for a month, and you're no closer to finding my mother now than you were when I left you. I think it's time I called Drackus. If I ask for his help, he won't refuse me. He's probably sitting on the edge of his seat in anticipation for such.

Sadistic bastard."

"Don't even think about it. If Drackus gets involved, he'll slaughter more than we can save. He'll bring us no closer to Calypso either. Before he's done, we'll have lost every trail we thought we had."

Sighing heavily, I lean back against Kane's headboard. I can hear him loudly arguing with Zee about who just won their stupid game. The constant clicking of remote controls is giving me a migraine.

After basically living with him for a month, I've decided men are boys until they die. I wish I wasn't so completely enthralled by him. I don't see how they can hear to argue over the roaring TV they have cranked up to full blast. Not even immortals have that good of hearing.