Page 55 of Of Mercury and Mist

“Newcomer, he’s a newcomer. He’s pretty, you’ll like him. He wants you to sit with him and keep him company.”

More easy money. “Got it.”

We entered the room and I scanned the floor, assessing the mood and atmosphere. Everything was normal and no one seemed disturbed by what had to have been an electrical surge affecting the lighting. This was a good thing.

Watching this particular crowd get upset was an unnerving experience. Of course, it was “pop up” entertainment, should anyone ask, but the mess and aftermath were something I didn’t want to experience again. Blood was always shed and furniture, bottles, and bones broken. The occasional head rolled.

OSHA would love this place.

Kayla gave me a little wave as she wandered off toward the bar after pointing me in the direction of a booth. Whoever was waiting for me to join them was outside my line of sight. Whenever I was specially selected, it was always a very attractive man, and only once was it a woman.

The lady had expected the typical thing from me, my companionship for the evening. She was human and hadn’t wanted to sit alone while scoping out the venue to decide whether she wanted to work here. Whatever verdict she’d come to, she hadn’t divulged, but I never saw her again.

A scene change was being set up on stage as I approached the booth where my next assignment waited for me. I almost tripped over my own feet when a handsome blond turned to me and gave me a small smile.

“Ashley,” Samuel greeted me. “We meet again.”

EIGHTEEN

Ashley

He was the last person I expected to see, but here was Samuel and I was most certainly awake and at work. Due to the odd things that’d been happening to me lately, I’d come to anticipate almost anything, though I couldn’t say for sure this event was one of them.

“Samuel?” I asked. He nodded and slid from the booth, holding his arm out, motioning me to join him.

Keeping a careful eye on the man, I positioned myself on the seat behind the table. “What would you like to drink?” he asked. “Order whatever you want.”

“Water would be fine for now, thank you,” I replied.

Samuel flicked a glance at a passing server and requested the beverage. “We still have a walking date, if you remember,” he mused. “You promised.”

Reconciling the couple of dreams, I’d had with being actual events hurt my head. Yes, I’d accepted many other things as being true—such as supernatural creatures living, walking, and talking among us. But this,this, felt like too much.

My hand trembled as I lifted the water to my lips, causing some to drip down my chin. Samuel snatched up a napkin and delicately wiped away the errant liquid.

“Thank you,” I acknowledged the act. “This is going to take me a minute,” I said, replacing the glass.

The only reason I’d agreed to go for a hike with the man was because I thought I was dreaming. I had no idea I’d spent time with a living, breathing...demon?

“What are you?” I demanded.

He shoved his hair back over his shoulder. “You already know. Don’t give me that look; you’re a smart girl.”

I sighed. “There’s been a lot to take in lately. I feel like the entire world changed suddenly.”

“For you, I suppose it did.” He leaned back and looked at me, his eyes trailing up and down. “Where’s your Keeper? Did he desert you?”

There was that word again. “I don’t have one and I’ve never had one. Why do you think I do?”

He tilted his head my way, his nostrils flaring. “I can smell him on you. He’s a part of you and he’s fed from you. Will you deny being a vampire’s pet?”

I cleared my throat. “I won’t confirm or deny anything other than to say I’m a free woman.”

A twinge in my chest had me questioning my words. I still missed the man Samuel was obviously referring to, although it was crazy of me to do so. And there was no way I was going to go against Josiah’s orders to not speak a word of my time at Ipomoea, no matter how much I wanted to get it off my chest.

Micha scared me, and perplexingly, all I wanted was to run back to him. His stony, eerie silences, and his habit of lurking about had become fixtures in my life over many months. He was always there. There to torment and harass me, but also there like a possessive lover holding doors open and glaring at anyone who came near me. With the vampire around all the time, the only thing I’d had to worry about was the creature himself.

Samuel appeared satisfied with my feedback, and with what he saw. He looked away and sipped on his water silently, seeming transfixed by the milling crowd.

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