S and Murder (Hannah Graves Spin-off One)

Ten

Ten:

Ren interviewed professors, standard department procedures, and routine questions. All of this while I observed. Despite the dramatized versions of mystery-solving in all the modern media outlets, most cases are broken off asking a thousand questions, a thousand times, and fitting together the cracks between the answers until they display the evidence of where this person’s life fell through.

Most murder cases are also solved with a remarkably simple answer, a friend, lover, family member, or ex- in custody. However, this did not appear to be a standard case. My mug looked very good for this crime, in this context, yet I knew I was not the right girl for this noose. I could see why the cops and even Ren might come to this conclusion. Since most of the time, the victim does know the killer. That is not to say that Sara did not know her killer. We have yet to establish enough facts to know that for certain.

“Excuse me, do you need a guide or something?”

A polite sounding guy about my age asked. He was not traditionally handsome, but he has a kindness to him that was attractive. I smiled at him and I looked around.

“Thanks, I think I could use a little bit of help. My dad is letting me roam free for now while I decide if this is the right school for me next fall.”

I lied easily, not something I am proud or ashamed of either. I do as I must, as all immortals do. Surviving in the human world means almost ceaseless fibbing to them. I have come to believe it is the person we are to them, and what we do for them, that proves us to be decent beings. Even if we are not always capable of full transparency.

I could see that proclaiming myself as a barely-legal high school senior had not lost any luster now than the last time I fibbed about my age—last week(Not that it is any of your business!) College guys are pretty basic when it comes to young and the perception of innocent. My hair and my slightly bold look did not really make a guy my age think less of me, because they know very well many a sweetheart is hidden beneath leather and lace.

My current look was a leather bomber jacket, a pair of faded denim jeans, and combat boots with steel-toed tips. I had a bit of a straight-forward alternative-punk vibe going on. My hair seemed to really accentuate my every outfit and set me apart. Despite the awkwardness I get from old people, I love how my hair looks. I personally think it makes me look prettier. That might just be my opinion, but I don’t much need everyone’s point of view to agree, for me to be able to live with myself.

“I see, so you’re doing a walk-about?”

I bit my lip and nodded, and I gave him a slightly shy expression.

Come hither little fly!

I mused to myself, as I bat my lashes for good measure.

“I am just looking for someplace you know, hard-core, and like in touch with the natural darkness.”

I said, and his throat bobbed as I peered into his eyes with my crimson eyes. I pushed out the hormones that were usually just automatic and subtle around me. I blasted the expression of pure lust into the air around me, and I gave him a triple dose of my heavy horny pheromones.

Ren moved away from me, pulling his latest interview into a classroom to avoid the seemingly toxic reaches of my s****l lure. He was not having any of my sexy expression. He almost seemed worried about how it might impact him.

His hazel eyes seemed to dilate, which told me he was feeling it. I traced my tongue over my upper lip as if to further sell the enticement.

“If you could show me someplace really dark and really primal, I would be so grateful tonight.”

I promised, and my voice took on that smokey quality when I was getting myself worked up off my own hormones. The only issue with being a succubus is that your hormones are yours which means I just made myself three-times as horny as I had been just moments before. The upside, I can usually focus on whatever task might have caused me to use such a dual-edged blade of an expression technique in the first place. Though at the rate I was going, I had a feeling I was going to be riding Mr. Hazel's eyes before I was through with him. I don’t man hate, I date girls more than guys, but I do like the sensation of a man inside my body. (Yep, definitely feeling the effects now!)

“Well, there are some dungeons with vampire themes nearby.”

He offered, and I turned up my nose lightly and said, “Vampires are so passe. I mean something more powerful, dark, and real-world magical. Do you get my drift?”

His throat bobbed and he looked at me with a dubious expression.

“I don’t know, those types are pretty sketchy to deal with. I try to avoid them if you know what I mean?”

I pouted and said, just give me an intro to the right person, and I’ll make it up to you.”

Even I thought I sounded disgustingly simple right now! I just hoped it sounded more convincing to the male under my influence. From the way his eyes kept lingering on my breasts or down to my crotch line, I was sure he was feeling the full might of my s****l lore now. I could more than likely do anything I wanted to him, and he would love me and thank me for it now. This was a terrifying power to have over humans and even immortals. This is also why the King of Hidden does not let me live in the city. I have a good track record of being honest and dealing with people humanely. However, plenty of historical accounts of my people visiting earth include men being lured off to their deaths and fed on during fatal s****l encounters. While I was not innocent of this either, I had not repeated it since the once.

You learn your limits and the limits of human life/ chi depletion.

“Meet me tonight, as the door to Club Dark Expression, I will get you into the back where they do the real magic.”

He promised me. My lips widened and I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed his lips as a reward. A girl must give out proper rewards or she is just a tease! Besides, smart guys usually make love better, in my experience. I had my hot and empty-headed jock flings before, but I usually find the ones most young women avoid, are the most prolific in the sack. Ironic, isn’t it?

His eyes shimmered with his budding desire. I could feel his length hard against my jeans. He was about a second away from being a caveman and taking me now, from the look on his face. I felt the chills across my skin at the male impulse he resisted mainly out of his own sense of obligation and rightness. Nothing at all wrong with him, IMO!

“See ye tonight then, wear something sexy for me.”

I told him, and I gave him a parting kiss on the cheek, then I sauntered off, and let him stare at my tight body as I moved off away from him. Ren seemed to study my progress as well, only in a much more A-s****l manner. Even if I were in the mood for ladies tonight, I now booked me a man, so it was “on like Donkey Kong” as the Gen-X’ers would say. Not that it really mattered, I was going to have guys almost every other day, since some days it was just easier to find a random guy seeking, than a girl. Other times, it just helped to keep an active social calendar to help a girl select her nighttime bedmates.

Ren finished up his interviews and he came back to the car, which I had circled to without being noticed. I was waiting with myself crouched slightly as to not be visible to the average passer-by.

He climbed in and gave me a gruff expression that was heavy of someone expecting something.

“Well, what are you doing tonight? I could only catch every third word you uttered while avoiding those damn expressions of yours. Were you trying to incite a riot in the entire male population?!”

I huffed and said, “Please, I hardly pushed off that large a hormonal wave. It was very contained, and I only really hit my target!”

I defended myself in a squeaky pitch of aggravation.

“So, what did you get an invite to?”

Ren asked, and I expelled a very long drawn out breath as to tell him he was killing me softly with his passive-aggressive BS.

“It’s called Club Dark Expression. And I quote, “The backroom is where the real magic happens.”

I saw his face fold on itself and darken with the sober edge of his concern.

“Yep, he basically knows that expression is called, and compares it to their concept of magic. Not to mention, this whole club, “Dark Expression.” A bit cheesy for my taste, but it is on the nose.”

I told him, and Ren grumbled his agreement.

“So, what’s the deal, you are meeting that man-child here?”

My lips flicked up in amusement.

“Hey, he is my age! But yes, he thinks I am an eager innocent young high school senior looking for dark energy and magic, and maybe some not so kinky white-bread s*x. Which of course goes fine with my dinner needs, but I will have to check out this club first, see what it's about and if it has anything to do with the wild expression that drained Sara.”

I told him, and Ren looked like he was trying hard to conceal his disapproval at my lifestyle choices. It did cause me some pain to see him reject my very nature so readily. Ren was one of my only male role models and he was also a powerful immortal.

“Yes, this is disturbing, and it fits. Sara was said to be frequenting Club Dark Expression before her death. How did you know to ask for an invite?”

I snorted and shook my head widely and beamed a prideful smile.

“I didn’t, I just knew she was seen frequenting some dark club. I figured if I pushed the right buttons, I could get him to recommend the correct place, since most people in college run in overlapping circles. Even if he was not a frequent himself, which he is not, he does appear to know someone who is.”

Ren gave me a look of mild appreciation.

“That was rather cunning of you. However, you are going to need to cancel, you cannot go into this den of iniquity alone!”

I smiled at him, and I flicked my eyes to him and popped his chest playfully.

“Get your knickers out of a bunch, mate! You can stake it out, and such. I’ll even wear a wire for you!”

Ren swore to himself and sighed in exasperation.

“Fine, but I am bringing back up, and I am coming in to get you, should this turn on its ear.”

I rolled my eyes again and murmured my comprehension. I was still in my post-grad studies, two classes and a thesis left until I graduated, yet here I was on a stakeout and undercover, sort of both. Even if it turned out to be a lamer affair, I was in for a memorable night, and well, I had dinner accounted for, assuming he did not lose his stones along the way!