Slade

1-2

“Everything about me is... what?” he asked, his lip twitching in the mirror. Something told me he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Smexy,” purred Melody. “Right, Chelsey?”

“I was going to say ‘bait’,” I said dryly.

“Bait?” He chuckled.

“She’s right,” laughed Melody. “In fact, all the guys in your band are pretty hot. Speaking of which,” Melody wiped her lips with a napkin and shoved it into the bag. “Are they going to move to Montana without you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I heard Faye say that they’d agreed to move out to Shore Lake and work for her,” she answered. “Aren’t you pissed at them for making that kind of decision without you?”

He grunted. “That was bullshit. I talked to Liam and he said they never agreed to anything. He told her that they’d think about it... and that was only because he thought he had a chance with her.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean he thought he’d get ‘lucky’? With the gargoyle?”

“Liam is a horn-dog. He’ll say anything if it gets him what he wants. Although, I don’t think he realized that she was a shape-shifter until afterwards.”

“And he’s a werewolf?” I asked.

“Liam is a Lycan,” he said. “There’s a difference.”

“What is it?” asked Melody.

“He can transform into a wolf whenever he wants to. Werewolves have to wait until the moon is full. They are a lesser species.” Slade smirked. “Kind of like the Roamers.”

I smirked. “So, what you’re saying is that you guys from Europe are a much better breed?”

“They can’t compete with our speed or strength. Obviously, their creators weren’t of the same stock.”

“Let’s cut to the chase, are you safe to be around?” I asked, feeling better now that I’d eaten most of the burger. I was tired of skirting around the fact we were part of his food supply.

“I normally don’t feed directly from humans. I have a supplier,” he said.

“You have a supplier?” I repeated.

“Yes, back in Romania. She provides most of my blood.”

“Is she your girlfriend or something?” asked Melody.

“It’s not what you think and no, I do not have a girlfriend. She provides me with packages of blood from a blood-bank.”

“When was the last time you fed?” I asked.

His eyes met mine again. “Don’t concern yourself with that. I’ve got things under control.”

“For how long, though? I mean, it’s you and us. If you suddenly feel the need to feed, it is our concern,” I replied. “And, what about that episode back at Club Nightshade? Didn’t you just admit that you lost control and almost went after Melody?”

“I didn’t though,” he answered sternly. “So, don’t worry about it.”

“Have you fed since leaving the club?”

“No.” He grunted. “Dammit, are you this tenacious with everyone?”

“She is,” said Melody, grinning. “It’s her nature. Used to drive me crazy when we were kids.”

“If you hadn’t lied so much, I wouldn’t have had to ask you so many questions,” I countered.

“Whatever. I did not.”

“Obviously, some things never change.”

She turned around and glared at me.

“Don’t give me that look. You started it.”

She sighed. “And you’re so perfect.”

“I never said I was. Look, I just want to stay alive. There’s nothing wrong with that,” I said, defending myself.

“You’re right,” said Slade. “I guess I really can’t blame you. You both witnessed some horrible s**t the last couple of days. Plus, you’re dealing with whatever may have happened to your parents. It certainly doesn’t look good for them.”

He was right. It didn’t. After Slade and Melody had picked me up from the hospital, they’d taken me back to my house. I’d cried when I’d noticed the blood on my mother’s pillow and the broken lamp next to the bed. Other than that, there’d been no other sign of a struggle. Nor any sign of my parents. Afterwards, we’d driven to Melody’s house, which had also been deserted. Fortunately, there hadn’t been any blood. Just an empty house with a shattered patio door and some broken dining room chairs.

“We don’t know for sure if any of them are actually dead,” I said quickly. “They could still be alive. Maybe even... grandma.” The thought of seeing our grandmother getting mauled by such wickedness was enough to make me sick. She was so sweet and kind. She didn’t deserve any of this.

Melody’s head whipped around. “Grandma? Where was she?”

“At your house. The last thing I heard, she was comforting Aunt Jody.”

“Because of me?” said Melody, her eyes filling with tears.

“Yes. Aunt Jody was worried sick about you. Seriously, Melody, if you wouldn’t have snuck into Club Nightshade... we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Melody began to cry and I suddenly felt like a royal b***h.

“Oh crap. I’m sorry,” I said.

“No. You’re right,” she sobbed. “It is my fault. Actually,” she turned to Slade and her eyes narrowed through her tears. “It’s your fault. I wanted to see you in concert.” She turned to look back at me. “Slade even took me back to his hotel. I think we may have had sex.”

I rolled my eyes. It was just like Melody to blame someone else for her actions.

“That’s bullshit. I did not take you back to my hotel room and we definitely didn’t have s*x,” he said, his jaw set. “I didn’t even talk to you Friday night.”

“Actually, your band members said you took her back to your hotel,” I replied, remembering the conversation. “Are you calling them liars?”

“I don’t care what they said. They were obviously misled, which makes me believe that Faye was behind it,” he answered.

“What do you mean?” asked my cousin, wiping the tears from her cheeks with a napkin.

“Think about it. She’s a shape-shifter. She more than likely changed into me, and that’s probably who you were with Friday night.”

Melody gasped. “Oh, my God, I might have had s*x with that lizard thing?”

I chuckled.

“It’s not funny!” she cried.

“Do you remember actually having s*x with anyone?” asked Slade, who was trying to keep a straight face.

“No. I just woke up alone in a hotel room Saturday. I stuck around for a while and then decided to take off. When I walked out of the lobby to try and catch a cab, two of Faye’s security guards shoved me into this dark SUV.” She frowned. “To tell you the truth, I can’t remember much between the time they took me and seeing you in her office.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I doubt Faye molested you. She probably just drugged you so you’d pass out.”

“I hope so, because I don’t know what I’d do if I thought I’d had s*x with a monster or even another woman. She is a female, isn’t she?”

Slade shrugged. “I presume so. To be honest, I don’t know for sure.”

“Why would Faye go to all of that trouble? Why didn’t she just d**g Melody and bring her back to the club instead of letting her stay at the hotel?” I asked.

Slade shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe she wanted to make me look like an asshole.”

“Or... maybe she was trying to trick your band members,” I said. “Even Liam seemed pretty shocked when he found out that you had left with Melody.”

“Again, it wasn’t me and I guess that would confuse the hell out of him. Particularly since I’m always giving him hell about sleeping with fans.”

“So, that’s not your thing? Sleeping with fans?” I asked, knowing that he must get propositioned quite a bit. After watching him on stage, I’d gotten a little hot-and-bothered myself.

“No.”

That was hard to believe. “Why? Isn’t that a perk of being a rich and famous musician?”

“It’s only a perk if that’s what you’re into. I’m not,” he answered.

“Are you gay?” asked Melody, staring at him wide-eyed. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I’m just curious.”

I was too. I waited to hear his response.

He smirked. “No, but even if I was gay, I’d still not be interested in having s*x with groupies.”

“Why?” asked Melody. “I mean, you’re single. You don’t have a girlfriend. Do you... do vampires have s*x?”

“Yes,” he said, chuckling. “We have lots of s*x. And, for the record, I’m not saying that I don’t have s*x. I enjoy it as much as the next guy. I just chose not to have s*x with...”

“Mortals,” I said.

“Exactly.”

“Why? Are you not attracted to us?” I asked.

Our eyes met in the mirror again and there was a flash of something sexy and feral in his gaze. “I’m very attracted to you.”

My heart skipped a beat. Was he talking to me? My lips suddenly felt dry and I licked them.

“Then why deny yourself?” asked Melody, trying to flirt with him.

“Maybe I shouldn’t,” he answered, still staring at me.

There was no mistaking his meaning that time and something went ‘swoosh’ in my stomach.

“Wow, is it me or should we stop talking about s*x,” said Melody, fanning herself. “It feels weird with Chelsey in the car.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Just, because,” she answered, thankfully not telling him that I was a virgin.

“Can we stop somewhere?” asked Melody, after a few seconds.

“For what?” he asked.

“A bed,” she replied. “I need a bed. Now.”

“To sleep?” he asked.

She grinned coyly. “Yes, unless you have something else in mind.”

My jaw dropped at her directness.

“I think you both need a rest after what you’ve been through,” he said, evading her question.

Sulking, Melody stared up at the moon. “So, what about you? Do you need to find a casket or something? To rest?”

He looked over at her. “A casket? Really?”

“Yeah, to protect your skin from the bright light of the sun,” she said. “Or maybe we can just find you a really dark room?”

He grunted. “I don’t need protection.”

“So the sun isn’t your enemy?” she asked. “I thought vampires had to stay away from it.”

“No,” he said. “Well, some of us do.”

“Why only some?” I asked.

“Recently ‘turned’ vampires need to wear dark sunglasses and keep out of direct sunlight, or it can be quite uncomfortable.”

“But not you?” she asked.

“No. I’ve become immune to its side effects over the years. I can even hang out at the beach if I want to.”