Page 14 of Prey

Nothing existed after that. I didn’t care. I was already reaching for the button. “Please hold while I pass you over to sales.” For the first time, I didn’t wait for them to say thank you. My internal ear vibrated and I wedged my finger in the center to give a quick push. “Sales, line one.” I put the receiver down, wondering why I’d come in at all. I didn’t feel good and I couldn’t concentrate for more than a few seconds at a time. It was as if I were on auto-pilot and my mind was wrapped around the predicament I was in.

“Hey, Tessa.”

My eyes rose to Jared, one of the salesmen, as his arms settled over the counter I sat behind.

“Hey,” I said, trying to smile. “Going good today?”

“Eh, maybe. I have a couple coming in at one to look at the daily special. I think I pretty much have it in the bag.” He leaned more forward while he glanced toward the small group of other salesmen bullshitting by the door, waiting for more customers to show up.

“Listen, Tom, Will, and I are heading to Joe’s Cavern for lunch. You want to come?”

Realizing I had no idea what time it was, I immediately looked at the clock. “Actually, I can’t. I have errands to run today.”

It was a lie, and the first one I could remember telling concerning something so small. Guilt ate at me while I gave him a sad look. “Maybe tomorrow. I’m not feeling so well anyway.”

“Hope it’s not that flu that’s going around,” he said, already leaning back.

“I sure hope not.” I cleared my throat again, rubbing my hand along the length of it. The phone ringing had him grinning and throwing me a wave as he started walking back toward the group. “Hampton Auto Sales. This is Tessa, how may I direct your call?”

Silence.

My eyes shot from the buttons I’d been staring at to the white wall before me. The company posters didn’t register. Didn’t even exist. I tried to catch my breath as a weird fuzziness wrapped around my brain.

“Hello?”

“I need you to come to me.”

The receiver almost fell from my hand and sweat began to coat my palms.

“I…”

“Will come to me,” he growled. “This is not a request, mon chaton. I need your blood. You will come.”

No, repeated in my head, but somewhere deep down, I knew I couldn’t deny him. Not only because a small part of me got sickly aroused at the thought, but because my brain was denying me the right to choose.

“I don’t want to,” I whispered.

There was a moment of hesitation before he let out a deep breath. “I can’t wait any longer. You got your time these last few days. Now it’s your turn to give me mine.”

If I’d been afraid before, it didn’t compare to the realization that I’d be in his territory. I liked familiarity. The safe haven of my own home. I was a person of habit. I still drove the same car my parents got me in high school. Still lived in the first home I’d managed to get by myself. Shit, I was still working the same job. I didn’t like new.

“Can you wait until tonight so you can come to me?”

Somewhat of a groan came through and his throat sounded raspy and deep as he answered. “No. It has to be now. I’m going to give you an address. Write it down.”

My hand was shaking so badly, I nearly dropped the pen I’d picked up. “Okay.” Weak. God, I suddenly felt so much sicker. I didn’t want to do this. More sweat drenched my body and I could feel my cheeks burning.

“Fifty-two thirty-four West Oak Drive. You’ll knock on the door and tell them Kline sent you. You’ll say that every time I want you to come to me. Then, you will ask to see me. My first name only, Tessa. You have to say it exactly like that or else you will be killed. Now, repeat what you’ll say so I can hear.”

Deep breaths left me while I felt myself stand in panic. “Kline sent me.” I swallowed past the sudden scorching in my throat. “I’m here to see Marko.”

“Just like that. Now, hurry up, I’m hungry.”

The line went dead, but I couldn’t hang it up. I stood frozen, afraid as I dreaded what was to come. Why couldn’t I tell him no? Why did I completely lock up any time I tried to mention him or expose what he was? I was a prisoner inside my own body and I didn’t like it.

“Jeez, you okay, Tessa?”

Trembling had me battling to get the phone on the hook while I stared at Carlos, the finance manager.

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