History Repeats Itself

Chapter 16 – Something Unusual

Jade stared at her phone, having read the message from Xander for the fifth time. Samuel was dead. He was on his way to the scene, and he was sending her the address. He didn’t give any more information, but she wasn’t sure she wanted it. She wasn’t die-hard friends with him, but she trusted him and had even had parties with him. However, Samuel was still a private vampire who had disliked the council for decades. So, though she wanted to blame them for this, she knew, deep down, that wasn’t the case.

She needed to get out of her house. She needed to see this. She needed to send her apologies, even if it was too late because she knew this was on her head. The fact that he talked to her, even if it was his choice, was because of her. With a huff, she yanked her coat on, jumped on her bike this time, and high-tailed it to the address Xander gave her. Which was a park just down the way from where Samuel lived.

Once she pulled up in an alley behind the scene and killed the bike, her eyes opened wide. She knew this was how she would find him, but she still had hope that there was another way. Carefully, she pushed her kickstand down and then climbed off, her hands shaking.

“Jade,” she heard, but she couldn’t stop her movements. For the first time, she needed to touch the ice, to touch the body. The others weren’t personal. They weren’t on her head. But this one was. And she didn’t know how to process that. “Jade.” She shook his hand off, finally stopping before the body. The older man’s hands were close to the wound; his eyes were wide. He was in shock.

“I did this,” she whispered and Xander stepped in front of her, blocking the view.

“No, you didn’t.”

“He talked to me; he shouldn’t have.”

“It’s a crime to converse with other vampires?” She gave him a pointed look.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do Jade, but it’s not your fault. Samuel didn’t have to talk, didn’t have to express or share anything. But he chose to. Of his own free will.”

“Am I next?” she whispered and Xander pulled her into his arms.

“I don’t see how. You know nothing, right?” Jade hadn’t felt vulnerable in years. She wasn’t the type to cling to anyone or anything. Not even as a human. But her hands fisted in his shirt, and she held him tightly. She needed him. She didn’t want to admit it, but she did. At least for the moment.

“I know enough,” she muttered, closing her eyes. The strength of a vampire seemed to have left her, leaving her weak. This wasn’t typical. This wasn’t normal. But then again, over the course of the last few months, what was normal? Nothing had been. And truthfully, it seemed like nothing would be again.

“I need to wrap up this scene, will you be okay?” Jade finally pulled back to look at him. She knew what he was asking and though she had seen this, she wouldn’t do anything rash.

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to the bar.” She watched as his eyes narrowed and her lips lifted slightly. At least she could still smile. “I need to be around my kind right now.”

“Given this,” he told her, waving his free arm behind him, “I’m not sure that’s wise.”

“Not my boss, Xander. Sides, maybe I can gather something. It’s worth a try.” Xander was about to protest again but Jade pushed her finger against his lips. “Call me when you’re done with work, huh? I might be okay with you coming over tonight.” She wasn’t sure she’d go for a bite, but a f**k sure sounded good. And she hadn’t had that in a while. In fact, the closest she’d had been was with what she did to Xander.

“Sounds good,” he mumbled around her finger, causing her to smile fully now.

“I’ll see you later.” She wasn’t sure why, but she stood on her toes and peeked his cheek, making him smile. With a wave, she walked back to her bike, only glancing over her shoulder once to see the body. She paid her respects and now she promised she’d figure out what the hell was going on and solve this s**t. Because now, this was just getting to f*****g close to home.

-----

“You look lonely.” Jade glanced up from her drink and stared at the man before her. He looked familiar but Jade couldn’t place him.

“You’re…”

“Benjamin. We’ve met before.” He glanced around as if he was looking for someone. “I see no man tonight.” Jade lifted her lip, her fang on display, and shrugged.

“He doesn’t always go with me. And he does have a job.”

“Does he? What does he do?” The man slid in next to her. She knew she should stop this, but the company was nice.

“He’s a cop, actually.”

“Different way for a vampire, Jade.” She tilted her head, her brow c****d.

“I’m sorry, I know I didn’t give you my name last time.” The guy placed his arm on the back of the booth behind her and moved a little closer. Jade eyed it, wondering how fast she could snap it if he tried something.

“You’re a gorgeous vampire with unique eyes. It doesn’t take much asking around here to figure out who you are.”

“Spying on me now?”

“Curious about you is all. You look a little pale, are you eating enough?” Jade threw her head back at that and laughed.

“I’m a vampire, we’re always pale.”

“Touche. How about a drink?” Jade glanced down at the third drink she was having. She knew she shouldn’t have anymore, especially with the lack of feeding but she couldn’t bring herself to care right now.

“Sure. Whiskey, neat.”

“I’ll be right back.” Jade watched him weave through the crowd as he made his way to the bar. And somehow, the crowds seemed to part for him, as if he was something special. They sure as f**k didn’t do that for vampires, so they sure wouldn’t do it for a human. What was so special that he got that type of treatment? Or was it just the liquor affecting her in such a manner already?

Ten minutes later, the guy was back, his arm wrapped around another male. Jade glanced between the two, the question clear as day in her eyes. She didn’t know what the hell this was, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to be part of it.

“What’s this?”

“A gift. Figured you could use a little more food. This is Tony and he’s watched you around here before.”

“Thought you wanted to be my food,” she teased him, and Ben shrugged.

“I can wait till the next time. Sides, Tony here hasn’t seen your toy.” That was the slap Jade needed. She couldn’t quite feed on someone else when she had a bite slave. “Here, drink,” Ben told her, sliding the glass across the table. She didn’t think twice as she picked it up and tossed it back. The burning feeling was something she relished.

“That’s top shelf.”

“Only the best,” he teased. Jade closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She had to be careful. In fact, she wasn’t quite certain how she was getting out of her. Maybe she could call Xander and have him pick her up. He might not be too mad. Jade took a deep breath, almost dying at the sweet scent of blood.

Slowly, Jade opened her eyes and saw the cut along Tony’s neck. Both men were watching her. Her fangs extended; her eyes trained on the dripping red liquid. This was not a good idea, but she couldn’t fight off the hunger. It had been too long since she had a decent feeding. Without thinking, Jade grabbed the other side of Tony’s neck and brought the wound up to her lips. Her teeth latched on, and she drank deeply, the blood rolling over her tongue and down her throat.

She moaned, tugging even more on the wound. It was sweet and yet different. There was a taste in there she couldn’t place. Something she hadn’t had before. Something that couldn’t pass through her mind’s haze at the moment. Then again, she didn’t care. She just wanted more. And feeling like that, she could understand how vampires could kill humans.

Finally, she stopped, her mind spinning even more. What the hell was going on? She blinked a couple of times, trying to focus on the men in front of her but they appeared blurry. This wasn’t right. Something wasn’t right. What the f**k was going on?

Jade groaned as her arms wrapped around her stomach, a sharp pain running through it. Then another. She tried to gasp, tried to yell, anything. But no sound was coming out. Soon, it felt like little knives were running through her blood, marking her up from the inside out.

She tried focusing on Ben, but he swam before her, his dark looks barely registering in her mind. Jade clutched the end of the table, trying to haul herself up but couldn’t. The pain had intensified. Hell, she felt like she was on the edge of dying. Her mind tried to focus on that thought and she blinked again, the men still not in focus. She fell to her knees, her hand reached out to them, but neither took it. In fact, to her, it looked like they were both smiling. However, one seemed a lot more crooked than it should be. As if he was drunk.

NO! It couldn’t be. But she couldn’t think anymore, because those knives were working up to her skull. And before she could fight, she was out on the floor, not hearing the murmurs around her.