TO BITE WITH LOVE

ALARM WITHIN THE COVEN

CHAPTER #12

ALARM WITHIN THE COVEN

SHANNON’S POV:

I knew Miami had fallen into hell when I heard Karl Marks had bought a club here in Miami, I knew things were going to turn in for the worse. The entire supernatural world knew he was a groveling pathetic excuse even for a vampire. Any integrity he had vanished when he had purchased his first club in New York and had discovered that it was a feeding and s****l playground. Two things’ vampires should abstain from to maintain control of their bloodlust. Karl was able to fit well into the human world, he was a master manipulator, which made him even that much more dangerous.

What was even more horrific, was Alexi, a powerful, wealthy, and incredibly successful vampire, Karl’s creator, trusted him. He never suspected that this unholy being would ever betray him, or the vampire code. Yes, I was familiar with all the vampires, as I was a witch with a gift that enabled me to sense a vampire before others. I could sense their presence before they walked into a building, I was literally like a vampire alarm system. I had been born this way, created by my mother after my father had been murdered by vampires prior to my birth.

I quickly harnessed my little black Italian greyhound, Hades, as I reflected on the previous night.

Flashback:

I had been sitting on my couch listening to a beautiful concerto, relaxing, petting my tiny black dog who was curled up in the cashmere blanket beside me. I had a glass of my favorite Moscato in hand when my body turned cold. I immediately opened my eyes as I knew instinctually, there was a vampire in or near this building. I set my wine down onto my coffee table and slowly rose, careful to keep my heartbeat slow and steady as it had been before I sensed the presence. I had become very good at manipulating my heart and breathing as my coven and other vampires had used me for my talent since I had been a child.

I walked over to my window, pulled my Chantilly lace curtains back and surveyed the ground floor. I heard my dog whine, protesting that I had gotten up, however I ignored him as I squinted and scanned the darkness and that’s when I noticed a couple walking up the entrance way. I recognized the girl right away, there wasn’t another young woman with her grace and beauty in this building. Despite the darkness and only the ground lighting, I could see that it was my beloved neighbor Jade. I could always sense when she was around, she was one of light and kindness.

I squinted a little more, it appeared she had a man with her, she had never entertained a man in her apartment before. Honestly, I don’t think I had ever seen her with a man. However, something was off with this particular human… and that’s when I recognized the sharp coldness run through my body once more, and I recognized him.

I placed both hands onto the glass as I peered out, staring down at them from my 8th floor view, and I felt tears begin to well in my eyes. It was a vampire; she was inviting a vampire into our home. However, as the pair neared the front doors, the vampire dropped back gallantly, allowing Jade to walk before him. And that was when I recognized him, yes, I knew my vampires and I had met this one before. When he had stepped back the lighting had glinted over his features, and it was his unusual silver eyes that gave him away. It was Alexi Antonova.

I gasped; as I stood befuddled and watched them walk into the building and out of my sight. I stepped back and let the curtains drape back over the window. I had known Alexi most of my life, he and Doren were the first two vampires I had been introduced to as a child, and I would never forget his silver eyes, nor his kindness. My heart fell in my chest as I returned to my sofa and took a seat, snatching my wine with a sudden thirst, downing the remaining contents of the glass.

I would not raise the alarm, simply because it was Alexi. Had it been any other vampire, I would have been forced to take action as I knew their intentions would have been death to the human. Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling. Why would Alexi be escorting Jade home? Or had something happened at the club opening tonight that caused him enough alarm that he felt he needed to protect her? That was much more likely, however if something caused him to feel she needed protection, it could mean we were all in danger.

I decided then and there that I would speak with my coven leader first thing Monday morning, as I knew she was out of town this weekend. Karl’s opening had brought vampires back down into Miami with a vengeance, which meant disappearances and murders would skyrocket. I groaned aloud as I sent a text to Sarah, our coven leader.

“SOS, Monday morning meeting, 8am, our usual spot.” I texted, my anxiety up. I knew nothing good was going to come of this. I had left New York to get away from the vampires and the cold, and here I was, falling right back into the same viscous cycle.

End of Flashback.

I had a meeting to attend this morning with my coven leader, Sarah. I wanted to discuss with her what I had seen early Saturday morning. We needed to be proactive when it came to vampires in our city. I finished securing Hade’s harness and adjusted my white leather coach bag over my shoulder.

I opened my condo door and closed the door gently behind me, Hades whimpered and began shivering excitedly. I glanced down to see his tail whipping happily, locking eyes with Jade. I felt my breath hitch in my chest, as I could smell, sense, that she had been mated by the vampire. I could also sense that she was being hunted, a vampire was invading her dreams. This was bad and she had no idea what she was in for.

“Jade.” I whispered under my breath. I had seen all this before and I hurried up to my young neighbor, pulling the chunky sunglasses off and away from her face. “You haven’t slept.”

“I, I, I just have had a lot of things on my mind, with the sale and everything.” she told me, although she seemed to have some difficulty forcing the words forthwith. I frowned and gently placed my hand upon her temple. Her temperature was lower than it should be, and I jumped away fearfully.

“Oh my.” I whispered. The young girl eyed me questionably and I felt genuine sadness.

“Is everything ok? Are you feeling alright?” she asked, taking a step towards me. I regained my composure and smiled as I reached out and touched her temple once more.

“Of course, child, and you will be as well. May the goddess protect you.” Casting a spell of protection over her, blocking the seduction of the vampires, and causing her aura to slip into the abyss, so that any that were searching for her would no longer be able to call to her. It was the only thing that I would be able to do at this time to protect her. Why the vampires were able to call to her, wanted to call her, I was unsure of yet. This was much more serious than Alexi simply escorting her home, and that explained why he escorted her, but why did he mate her? Questions still raced through my head as I brushed a brunette bang out of her eye. “There, hopefully you will sleep better tonight.” I smiled as best I could, and Jade nodded, retook her sunglasses, and walked away.

The meeting of my neighbor this morning caused every single alarm to go off within my body. I hurried to my meeting with Sarah, arriving at the small café on schedule. The waitress nodded when she saw me, she was a young witch, and the owner of this café, so that simply meant that Sarah had already arrived. I wasted no time reaching our regular booth in the back, where Sarah was already seated drinking her lavender tea. She glanced up at me as I took the seat across from her in the plush black booth.

“So, what is this SOS about?” she asked with her usual cool composure. Hades settled in the booth beside me, and our waitress, Alana, came up and handed me an Oat milk espresso and Hades a pup cup.

“Vampires.” I whispered softly. Alana heard me and froze, meeting my eyes as she straightened up from petting Hades. Sarah took another sip of her tea and frowned.

“I figured as much. I expected a surplus of the bloodsuckers with the opening of Karl’s club.” She didn’t appear alarmed; however, Sarah was a very old sorceress and rarely became alarmed with anything. However, I knew the details of Jade would catch her attention.

“Would it intrigue you to know that my neighbor girl was mated by a vampire in the wee hours of Saturday morning?” Sarah’s brows raised in concern, and she set her tea down onto the table.

“Indeed, how do you know? For certain that is?” her voice was strained, and as always, her Welsh accent always came out under duress.

“I watched the vampire escort her into our condo’s Saturday morning, I could feel him before he entered. And this morning, I met her as we both vacated our apartments and when I touched her, her temperature was lower than a humans should be. I could also smell him on her, it was very apparent.” Sarah stared at me, as did Alana, both women were paralyzed with the news, and justifiably alarmed.

“Did you recognize the vampire.” Sarah asked after a few moments of contemplation. I frowned and fidgeted in my seat slightly, but not enough to bother Hades, who was famishly devouring the remnants of the pup cup in the peanut butter waffle cone.

“It was Alexi.” My news hit Sarah like a ton of bricks as she closed her eyes and tried to process the name, I had just given her.

“Alexi. Are you sure. Absolutely positive.” Her voice was stern with disbelief.

“Positive.” I replied. Sarah leaned forward and placed her face into her hands.

“Oh, my Goddess, I am going to have to call Doren.”