Page 46 of Prey

People bustled around, doing their daily shopping. Some for fresh veggies in the market, brought down from above. Others glanced around the racks of clothes and shoes. While slaves sipped their gourmet coffee at the round tables inside, my eyes narrowed, wondering what it was like to be them. It would have never crossed my mind before, but I couldn’t help wondering how they went through their day to day. Tessa…she was making me contemplate all sort of things and I wasn’t sure what to think about it.

Laughter from an older woman and a younger man had my attention going to them. I knew they were owned by two different vampires, yet they could have been best friends from the looks of it. There was happiness here where I’d somehow convinced myself only darkness existed.

Movement coming up from behind would have normally left me on edge. From the scent, I knew it was Marie. I kept my back to her as she stopped at my side. Distaste flashed over her features and she unwantedly kneeled. She wouldn’t have been able to speak to me as I sat at this table otherwise. Whatever she wanted had to have been important if she felt the need to lower for me.

“What is it?”

Dark waves fell over her shoulders while she shifted. “Your girl.”

I figured as much, but I had no idea what she was referring to. “My prey. Go on.”

Marie looked up, meeting my eyes. “I thought of killing her last night. Would have, if…”

My fists clenched as I glared down at her.

“I like her,” she continued. “Sure, sexually, but I mean as more. Like…as you would a friend. Like humans feel between each other. She makes me laugh. No one does that. Not like she does.” Marie took a deep breath, shaking her head. “Did you know she sang with the vermin?” Her head gestured behind her to the band that was playing. “I don’t think they’ve bathed in months, but as we were walking up, she looked at them like they were a treasure. She got so excited and began singing with them at the top of her lungs. I was floored at first, I’ll admit. And not just because the human can sing, but because of her behavior. I was sure the drinks had made her lose it. But she had so much…spirit. I’d never seen anything like it. Her happiness made me happy. Like…before this life.”

I blinked, repeatedly, not believing what I was hearing. Tessa sang? “Show me.” I extended my hand and Marie clutched it tightly. Images exploded before me and so clearly I could see Marie trying to steady a very upset, but numbly composed Tessa. The music was nothing but a nuisance in the background and I knew it was because it was from Marie’s point of view.

Tessa’s feet slowed as they approached and she disconnected herself from me…or Marie, as it was. Loud lyrics were being projected through the upbeat, yet sad tune.

“I know this song,” Tessa said, moving in closer.

“They sing it all time. Let’s go lie down in bed. We’ll talk.” I felt the lust in me. The need to touch Tessa and sink my fangs into her neck as my hand explored her body.

“No, wait,” Tessa mumbled.

The men glanced up to mon chaton, one smiling as his head moved with the beat. Quickly, hers moved in rhythm and she began clapping her hands. The nod of his head had her voice picking up on the next round of the lyrics. Disbelief hit me hard, right along with awe.

As Marie stood there listening, watching, Tessa’s hair began to sway. The tempo picked up and one of the men became enthusiastic as he played the accordion he held in his hands. She immediately began to dance with him while they sang. The power of her voice left me breathless as its beautiful tone wrapped around my heart, squeezing tight. The other member’s excitement shone through their music and they were all starting to sing together.

I watched in my own amazement, suddenly realizing that even though I’d seen every aspect of Tessa life, I didn’t know her at all. Had never seen her let go and become so carefree. And there’d been times she’d been drunk before. But she’d always stayed reserved. Always uncomfortable. Even in her own skin. Here, she was alive. Thriving.

My hand pulled back, unable to watch any more. Marie shifted, a slight sheen appearing on her forehead. Her strength didn’t compare to mine. It had taken a lot out of her to show me up to that point.

“Julius saw her,” she whispered. “He came out and watched.”

I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening through the doom I felt. Julius wouldn’t stand for her causing a stir, and from the people I could feel coming from the tunnels behind Marie’s presence, I knew it had done that.

The band pulled me from the moment and I looked over toward them, seeing them entirely differently. The blank stares as they played appeared in contrast to the show I’d just witnessed. Where their clothing was in tatters and dirty, I barely even noticed when Tessa had joined them and unlocked their passion.

“She’s coming back tonight, or so she said this morning before she left.”

“She is,” I confirmed. “Someone,” I stressed, “convinced her that this is where she belongs.”

Marie twisted her lips. “Well, she does. Although, I had ulterior motives at that point.” A shift had Marie edging closer to me. “Let me try to erase your marks. I’ll give her my own. She can become my slave.”

I was leaning forward in my chair before I could help myself. “Give her your blood to try to erase mine? You know very well mixing vampire blood could kill her. Especially since yours is weaker.”

“What could it hurt? You have no intention of bringing her in and I can’t keep having her here when you’re just going to end up killing her anyway. Let me try.”

My hand gripped around her throat, squeezing as the threat warped in my chest. “No. You will not take her death away from me. If you give her your blood, she will die. If you go against me and try, your death will be next. By me.”

Marie jerked from my grasp, pushing to her feet. Dark material from her full-length dress flared as she spun and stalked toward our tunnel. I could feel her anger. She wanted my prey as her own. For friendship and more, I didn’t doubt, but I couldn’t allow it. If Tessa did live through the exchange, her staying here as someone else’s slave would drive me crazy. I wouldn’t be able to have her. She’d be in love with Marie and no one else would matter. It would be worse than killing her.

I sighed, turning to look back at the band. Their songs had awakened something in mon chaton. She rarely sung in front of people, but here, she had. And it hadn’t been shyly done. Her voice had carried down these tunnels like an amphitheater. And I’d missed it. Damn Boyd. At least I didn’t have to worry about him for a while. He’d been banned from the club for the next few days due to his actions and now I could get a break. But what was I supposed to do when Tessa explored our city? Hide away in my room? Perhaps. And she’d be right next door. Fuck. She wouldn’t make it to Wednesday. I knew this like I knew the sunlight was beating down on her skin even as I contemplated my actions. The slight warming had me closing my eyes, basking in something I would never feel again. To do so through her was such a comforting feeling.

“The boy begins.”

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