Angel Series Books 1-3 Boxed Set

Don't Touch Me

Don't Touch Me

I left Kiana at the restaurant and walked back to the hotel, a smile on my face and her phone number in my head — it was so much easier to memorise things and take in what used to be small meaningless details than when I’d been mortal.

Perhaps it was fate that led David and Kiana to me. I thought I’d handled my first encounter with a varakiana rather well. She certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. I wondered if all creatures could evolve to such a state that they didn’t need to drink blood or eat live flesh. Anything was possible, but for now I had to live in the present. Evolution would have to wait, and it normally did, hundreds and thousands of years.

I collected my swipe card and returned to my room, even emptier now I knew Danny wasn’t really here with me.

Damn the angels to hell! I thought.

I sifted through Danny’s memories and knowledge. The angel I wanted most, Raphael, did not feature very much. Danny hadn’t known where Raphael resided, whereas he knew where Michael and all the angels in his army could be found. They were not the ones I was after. They had not aided Raphael and his lackeys. Which of the archangels had sent their armies? What had Danny said? The armies of Phanuel, Sariel and Raguel. Those were the archangels, along with their armies, I would target … for now.

The talk of zombies had got me thinking. I remembered Danny had said the angels were busy during the solstice. I searched deeper and found the areas Michael’s army targeted. These I would leave alone, unless of course they turned on me. Then it was open season.

I wondered if Kiana was home yet. I needed some information. She’d already provided me with something, but perhaps she knew more. I dialled the number and she picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Kiana. Just thought I’d call and say what a great time I had today.”

“Checking the number, were you?” she asked dryly.

“Actually, no. I need some information. You told me about a nest sixty kilometres east of the city. You remember that conversation, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know of any other zombie nests?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Well give me the details, I haven’t got all day,” I said.

“You’re going to kill them, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Not at all. I have something entirely different planned.”

“Care to share?”

“The less you know, Kiana, the better. I have some powerful enemies out there, and I mean to go to war. If you don’t want to get caught up in it, I suggest you don’t ask any questions. Then at least you’ll have nothing they can torture you for.”

“You’re going after demons, aren’t you?” She sounded shocked. “They’re renowned for their love of torture.”

She was a slow learner. If I said she shouldn’t ask questions I meant it.

“The less you know the better.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “There are four other nests all within a hundred kilometres of the city.”

“If I showed you a map could you point them out for me?”

“Yeah,” she said.

“What’s your address?”

“3 Falconer Terrace.”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a backyard?”

“Yes, but why is that important?” she asked.

“Meet me in your backyard in ten minutes,” I said, then hung up.

If Danny could produce a detailed map there was no reason I couldn’t. I thought of a 3D map of the city and surrounding suburbs, and it appeared on the coffee table.

“Zoom in on 3 Falconer Terrace,” I said.

I felt a bit silly talking to a map. I probably only needed to think about what I wanted to see, though there were so many things going on in my head that anything might appear on the map. The image shifted and I saw the area from a few hundred metres above ground.

“Zoom in to ten metres above 3 Falconer Terrace.”

The house and its yard took up most of the map. I could see the path out the back and the clothes line, the barbecue and outdoor setting. There was a nice patch of lawn in the middle of the yard. That’s where I’d go. Now I had a visual of my target it would be easy to get there.

I stood up. It’d do me no good to transport sitting down, unless I was sure I’d land in a seat. What an entrance that would be, landing flat on my arse.

Kiana was leaning on the table of the outdoor setting, facing the back of the house, smoking a cigarette. She didn’t see me arrive. I walked up silently behind her.

“Don’t you know those things will kill you?” I whispered in her ear.

“Holy s**t!” she said, jumping up and spinning to face me.

I waved my hand over the table — for Kiana’s benefit — and a map covering an area of twenty thousand square kilometres appeared. The table was large, so the scale wasn’t too bad.

“Do you need me to zoom in or is this okay?” I asked.

She shook her head, amazed. “No, this is fine.”

“I want you to touch the map at the exact location where there’s an active zombie nest, or near enough to the exact location. The map will flare where you touch it, so make sure you’re on the right spot before touching it.”

I saw her pull her hand back when I said the map would flare. Presumably she was worried that her fingers might get burned.

“Don’t worry, it’s only an illusion,” I assured her. “It can’t hurt you, but remember, if you think to cross me I can hurt you.”

She pointed to eight areas on the map.

“I thought you said you knew of four other nests?”

“I said within a hundred kilometres of the city,” she pointed out. “This is a bigger map covering a larger area, which means more nests. They’re not big, but they’re all active and they’ll be looking to increase their numbers soon.”

I smiled. “I know.”

She looked back at me suspiciously, wondering exactly what I was going to do. It was for the best that she didn’t know.

“Thanks for the info, Kiana, it’s been most useful. You can head back inside now and I’ll just take my map and go.”

I waited until Kiana was back in the house. I saw a curtain move slightly. I knew she’d want to see what I did. I waved my hand over the table and the map disappeared. I turned to the house, waved, and vanished.

I laughed when I was back in my room. I could just imagine the look on her face. She’d know that angels took four steps to transport and would be wondering what the hell I was, to be able to transport without moving. Unless of course news from Drake’s area of the world had reached her.

It was now time to pay a visit to an old friend and test out another of Danny’s talents. I wanted to see how far I could push it.

I changed into jeans, runners and a sweat top, strapped Death to my left thigh and my good luck charm to my arm. I flexed my hands a few times, stretching my fingers, and jogged up and down on the spot, psyching myself up.

There was only one place I’d seen Drake frequent on a regular basis, and that was the temple. I modified my scent so I’d smell like one of them — may as well smell like honey to the bee — and as I transported, my body blinked, so that I was invisible. Perhaps on some level I didn’t exist on this plane anymore, and that’s why I was invisible.

The temple was empty. Even the black-cloaked goons weren’t around. I blinked myself back so I was visible, and sat on the floor to wait. I could wait for days if I had to — time was no longer my enemy.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been there before someone came. I’d been busy trawling through Danny’s memories looking for something that might help me with my personal war. I smelled the vamp long before I saw him and knew it wasn’t Drake. I was feeling a bit peckish though. I stood up and blinked myself out of existence. Was my scent hidden as well? I knew if I talked he’d hear me. Danny had told me they could hear us when we’d been invisible, on the treetops, watching the battle between angels and monsters. He made sure I kept my voice down, so that we didn’t attract their attention.

Now, however, I could have a bit of fun.

On seeing no one else was here he was about to leave.

“Don’t go,” I said.

He turned around quickly and walked to the back of the temple, checking every small space someone might possibly hide in. I silently moved to the entrance.

“I’m here,” I said.

He spun around on his feet and ended up in a half crouch, his hands extended defensively.

“Come to me,” I purred in a soft, velvety voice.

I didn’t really expect him to come to me, so was surprised when he did, albeit somewhat cautiously. He waved his arms about in front of him, trying to find me. When he was almost at the entrance I sidestepped and positioned myself behind him. I wrapped my arms about his waist and rested my head on his back. He twisted in my arms until he faced me, though he could see nothing.

“What’s the matter lover boy, never been seduced by a ghost before?” I whispered.

“No,” he replied, and I laughed. It was such an honest reply.

I pulled his shirt out of his jeans, reached my hands around his back and pulled him closer to me. When he leaned down and his neck was within easy reach of my lips I kissed him, and both my hands and lips ensnared him. I transported us to the cavern, so there would be no damning evidence of my return to the temple. When I was done I let him drop and returned, invisible still. It was empty once more, so I blinked myself back and sat to wait.

The sun had gone down and still no vampires. It was a good thing I had so many memories to keep me occupied while I waited. I couldn’t afford to fall asleep here. That would be a dangerous thing to do.

When, in the early hours of the morning, a large group of vampires arrived, I quickly blinked myself out and transported to the treetops above the temple so I could listen in.

There was nothing much that interested me in what they talked about. Some were heading back to the various cities they had come from to feed, others were heading out to hunt werewolves. I heard Drake’s voice among them, giving instructions to those who chose to stay and hunt the wolves. I wondered where the werewolves were and what numbers they travelled in. It would be useful to know.

When at last the meeting ended the majority of vampires left, in a blur, running fast to home or the hunt. A few stayed on to talk to Drake about increasing their numbers. New recruits were required to replace those the angels had massacred and I’d drained. Drake gave his blessing and the vampires left to seek out those who might be willing to join them, and those that would be forced to join.

Drake tarried in the temple, even though he had no reason to stay. I felt he knew I was nearby and was waiting for me. I transported back into the temple, a few metres in front of him, calm and relaxed.

“Helena! You never cease to amaze me, and that’s a rare thing given my longevity. I thought I’d seen everything. No wonder Danizriel found you so intriguing.”

I’d never really noticed the drawl in Drake’s voice before now, and the slightest of English accents. Was it because I’d changed so much and my senses and awareness of what was going on around me, and within me, had evolved?

“Yeah, well, like I said, he’s dead — ancient history now.”

“Yes, we know he’s dead now, but he wasn’t dead when we last met, was he.” He waved a finger at me, a glint in his eyes. “You can lie, you little minx. How delightful that must be for you, so liberating.”

“I admit it comes in handy.”

“And have your tastes changed along with your scent?” he asked curiously.

“If by tastes you mean my preferred diet, then no, that hasn’t changed. Vampire blood is still the sweetest by far.”

“Then that’s a problem.”

“Maybe not.” My mouth curled up in a sly smile, and Drake tapped a finger against his lips, waiting for me to continue. “I’m sure your suicide vamps would be willing to die for me, if it meant furthering your cause. I promise I won’t kill anyone else who doesn’t deserve it, cross my beating heart and hope to die.”

“What would we get in return?”

“Apart from being free of attack from me?” I laughed. “How about angels’ heads on platters? Does that sound tempting?”

He smiled. “Why, Helena, have you changed sides?”

“They did something unforgiveable,” I said through gritted teeth, the hatred obvious in my voice.

“Did you know Danizriel and I go back a long way, to the time of Amy?” He paused as if remembering old times, when life was simpler and a psycho b***h like me wasn’t on the rampage. “I don’t suppose he told you he came to me for information almost a year ago, asking about vampires that are not vampires. I thought he was quite mad, but of course now I know better.”

I wasn’t about to let him know that all of Danny was in my head. I had only to seek out the memories.

“Presumably you want our help as well, apart from food,” Drake said, and I nodded. “What if I said I wanted one other thing, a personal request?”

“Name it.”

“I want you.” His eyes lit up. “I want what an angel has tasted.”

“No deal.”

“Then we can’t help you,” Drake sighed.

“I have a deal you might want to think on.” I replied.

“Oh, and what’s that?”

“How about you help me and I let you live?” I said angrily.

“Hah! You think you’re so different to us,” Drake snorted.

“I am.”

“You’re a killer,” he sneered.

“We’re all killers, Drake — mortals, angels, demons and monsters — even animals kill, though the butterfly may be the only exception.” Surely the butterfly was not a killer? “The difference is that I’m not evil, or so I’ve been told.”

“And who told you that, Danizriel? Look where it got him.”

His comment cut like a knife. Yes, it was my fault that Danny was dead, and I knew it. I was torn up inside, and Drake knew it. He walked behind me and wrapped his arms, cool to the touch, about my waist and kissed my neck. It was oddly thrilling and I shivered.

No, I told myself. I’m not like them. I don’t want to do what they do.

In a fit of rage, as much at myself as at Drake for taking such a liberty, I disappeared and reappeared behind him, Death held to his throat.

“Don’t ever touch me again without my permission. Is that understood?” I said viciously.

He laughed. “I thought for a moment you liked my touch. There was something in your shiver.”

“That was a shiver of disgust, not anticipation, you sicko!”

I still held Death at Drake’s throat, yet he seemed unconcerned. He shrugged his shoulders, causing Death to nick his neck slightly. I looked at the small amount of blood welling from the wound and struggled against the urge to drink. The cut healed as I fought my internal battle, temptation taken away. If Drake sensed my inner turmoil he disguised the knowledge well.

“Suit yourself, the offer of my company remains open if you’d ever like to take me up on it. Now, what were we talking about?”

I stepped back and sheathed Death. “We were talking about working together, as a team — you, your vamps and me. I’ve got a hell of a lot to offer, you know. You haven’t seen the half of it.”

“And I do so look forward to seeing it all,” he said.

I could feel his eyes undressing me. He wasn’t the first and it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I actually found it flattering, in a perverse way.