Detective Angel - Lost Angel series

Chapter 2

The drive back to our hotel was silent. I had so many questions running through my head that I didn’t know where to start. What did Jeremy mean by mate? Why were the wiccans so secretive and withdrawn? What was Jackson and why would the wiccans avoid his kind? I didn’t know if I could take anymore tonight. I was numb.

I didn’t even notice when we pulled into the parking garage at our hotel. Jeremy turned the car off and sighed. I couldn’t deal with his emotions too at this point nor was I ready to talk about his declaration of love. Without thinking I reached for the handle on the door. I needed to get away from him so I could think clearly.

“Wait Chere! We have guests and I don’t think they’re friendly.”

Lovely, like I hadn’t had enough tonight. I refused to be cowed by this new world. I was fully capable of taking care of myself in any world. With or without memories, I was a force to be reckoned with and I was done playing the helpless little girl. My anger raced through my veins as I flung open the car door and jumped out into the garage.

“Damn it Chere.”

“I have had enough Jeremy! Whoever our guests are they can just be polite or they can go to Hell!”

Jeremy hurried out of the car and to my side just as four men came out of the shadows. They all looked grim and haunted. I’m guessing that they were family since they were all pretty similar. All of them had military cuts for their dark hair, while wearing black clothes. It made me uneasy looking at them. I wasn’t sure why but I couldn’t sense them as I could others. All four were looking at Jeremy and ignoring me.

“Well who are your rude friends Jeremy. They feel dead to me.”

That did it. Four pairs of dark brown eyes flew to me as if I had just committed a serious crime. I guess I was being rude but I couldn’t force myself to be polite. Jeremy sighed and tightened his grip on my wrist.

“We need to speak to you, without the female.”

“I’m not going anywhere buddy. So stop pretending that I don’t exist. Anything you need to say to him, you can say to me. I’ve about had it with this community already. All of you need to stop dismissing your women like we’re dumb. I have met so many assholes in the last two months that act like a woman should stay at home that I could scream. If this is how your community works then I don’t want to regain my memories. I would rather live in a world that treats me like a person.”

“You should learn your place woman.” This came from the same one who spoke earlier.

“Chere, please go inside and I’ll join you in a moment.” Jeremy sounded tired.

My anger grew at the audacity these men had. “No I will not. This trip is about me and my past. If these gentlemen would like to discuss what we have been doing then I have a right to stay.” My voice was even although you could hear the anger there.

“Enough!” I turned to face a new threat. Jackson stood 20 feet from me looking calm.

“Sir we were just following orders to speak to the wolf alone. The female is being difficult.” Apparently the other three were mute because they just stared at me.

“I know your orders Malik and I am well aware that this young lady is involved so she has the right to hear what you came here to say.”

I couldn’t help the smile the spread across my face as Jackson stuck up for me. These men must be what he is since he knew them and their orders. I just looked smugly at Malik as he huffed.

“Very well. The council has sent us here with a message for you wolf.” He made wolf sound like a foul thing to be. “You should keep your nose out of where it doesn’t belong, before you get hurt. The wiccans are none of our concern and we would like to keep it that way.”

“Is that it?” I asked incredulously.

“That is it.” Well wasn’t he just a bundle of fun.

“So let me get this straight Malik, you came here tonight so you could insult me and threaten one of mine.” I didn’t say it like a question but he answered me anyway.

“I came to deliver a message, that is all. If you feel that I have insulted you or threatened you in anyway then that’s your fault. You need to learn your place.”

I had had enough of this bullshit. “That’s it. I suppose you’re the man to teach me my place then. You seem so concerned about it. I would enjoy letting off a little steam after this night.”

“Malik! You need to learn how to speak to people, especially a woman. This young lady has had an interesting night and is doing her best to be cordial. She hasn’t attacked anyone yet, even though she probably wants to. You may go.” Jackson was right, I wanted to fight.

Malik and the others just nodded and turned to go. I was seething by now. How dare any of these creatures treat me as an inferior. I may not know what I am or what my powers are but I was still a part of this world. In my world I was respected and even cared for. Why was I attempting to become part of this world that obviously didn’t care or respect me.

“I apologize for my associate’s behavior little one. He is not accustom to handling anything but fighting. His brothers are even worse at communicating than he is. Let us go in and I will answer your questions. I can see you have many.”

I didn’t wait for either man to follow me. I just turned on my heels and walked into the hotel. My anger refused to go away. I could sense both men following me but I refused to acknowledge them. Instead of the elevator I headed for the stairs, I needed to bleed off some of my anger before I exploded. Both men kept pace behind me as I ascended the stairs one at a time. By the time I had reached the fifth floor I could think clearly again. Luckily that was the final floor and the one we were on.

I opened the stairwell door and walked the short distance to our room. Jeremy had gotten the room closest to the stairs as a quick exit if we needed it. I don’t think he cared so much but it had made me feel better. Jeremy unlocked the door and held it open for me to go in ahead of them. I was still cautious walking into the room because I didn’t fully understand or trust his senses. Jeremy would know long before I could that there was someone coming or already there. Something about the wolf senses are heightened and he can keep me safer because of it. Honestly I had laughed when he said it. Like I said there were somethings that I just couldn’t get my mind around.

I could see Jackson looking at Jeremy with his eyebrow raised as I turned around. Well I guess I wasn’t meant to be calm tonight. I think I might need a break from everything. I removed my jacket as Jackson and Jeremy stared at me, clearly waiting. I was trying so hard not to allow my anger out to play that I was taking a few minutes more just to calm myself.

“Well. I didn’t think I would be seeing you so soon Jackson. To what do we owe the pleasure.” I was proud of myself for sounding calm when I was anything but.

“I received word from a friend on the council about the message being delivered so I decided to accompany them here. Although I clearly didn’t catch up in time. I do apologize about that little one.”

“I can’t take this much longer.” I whispered into the room.

Jeremy moved to come to me but Jackson stopped him. “I don’t think she wants to be touched right now my friend. This is all very overwhelming I would imagine.”

I wasn’t sure when but I had tears streaming down my face. “I know Jack but I can’t handle it when she cries.”

“Why don’t we sit down little one and I can answer some questions that I know you must have. Then if I missed anything, you may ask me. Does that sound alright?”

I could only nod as I wiped the tears off my cheeks. I moved to the bed and sat by the headboard with my legs curled underneath me. Jeremy stayed by the door with his arms crossed over his chest. Jackson took the only seat available, the chair in the corner.

“Well let us start at the beginning, shall we little one. I am a vampire. I know hard to believe but it’s true.”

I just looked at him skeptically. I know I had been through too much tonight because I could not hide my emotions very well at the moment. So many questions were tumbling around in my brain. I didn’t know what to ask first. Jackson chuckled at the expression on my face.

“I realize that this is a lot of information to process but you need to know some things about my people to understand the hostility. I know there are the general questions that you would like answered so let me see if I can get them all for you. We do survive on blood like the tales say but it is only taken from willing donors. We have evolved with the times and do not need to hunt and/or kill our meals. Crosses and holy water don’t do anything to us, unlike those ridiculous movies and novels say. Sunlight is an irritation but we do not burst into flames. If I go out in the sun, I might get a sun burn but that’s about it. We prefer the night because our eyes are extremely sensitive to the light. I think that should cover the general questions.”

I could only nod as I attempted to process the information overload that was being dropped on me. I wonder why Jackson feels different than Malik and his brothers. Do all vampires feel different like Jackson or is he special in some way.

“Now, the reason why there is hostility between our kinds little one, is simple. A wiccans blood is like a drug to my kind. You all taste sweet but the power in your veins causes a euphoric feeling when mixed with ours. It can also cause certain side effects. Malik and his brothers experienced this issue. They ingested wiccan blood regularly and it has killed their aura. That is way they felt dead to you. It can also cause a vampire to become more powerful or gain certain gifts.” My brain was in shock with this new revelation.

“That’s why Wiccans and vampires don’t mix Chere. You are like a drug to them. Your blood could become addicting which can lead to violence. The vampire council issued a law forbidding any vampire having a wiccan blood source. That’s more than likely the reason they want me to keep my nose out of it.” Jeremy was talking matter of factly but I could sense the tension in him.

“So I’m like a drug to you Jackson? Is that why you were so horrified about my presence?” I couldn’t get my voice above a whisper.

“Oh little one. I was horrified because I thought that a wiccan had come to destroy our club. We don’t have many and it is the only place where we can be ourselves. Wiccan’s have destroyed our meeting places before. You, however, are intriguing, humble, kind, and a little dangerous. Even without powers. You fascinate me and that has not happened in centuries. I feel drawn to you but I am not sure why.”

There was a knock on the door, I sat up straighter and reach under the pillow for the hand gun I had secreted there. Jeremy laughed as Jackson looked shocked.

“It’s alright Chere. It’s just Roy and the others. It seems you’ve collected a fan club. You’ll have to forgive her Jack, she’s paranoid due to her line of work.”

Jackson looked at me intently as Jeremy opened the door. Roy, Daryl, and Sam came tumbling into our room ready for a fight. It was quite comical if I do say so myself. Me on my knees at the top of the bed with a gun pointed toward the door, Jackson sitting in a white floral chair looking curious. Jeremy laughing at his friends and me. Then there was Roy, Daryl, and Sam looking confused but ready to fight the ghosts in the room.

“What’s going on Doll. Why do you have a gun? And does someone want to explain why we rushed here for a fight when you three are sitting cozy in this room.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread on my face as I returned the gun to its hiding place. “Well Roy, I guess you missed me. Since you came here looking for a fight, I think you might like me a little bit.”

“Jack said the council was coming for you, so we decided to come help you if we could. That’s all. We promised to help after all.”

“Thank you, Roy, for coming to my rescue. Although the vampire council wanted a message delivered to Jeremy and that was all. I definitely did not appreciate the way it was delivered and the messenger leaves much to be desired. Speaking of, Jackson, can you please tell your council if they wish to speak to or about me then they may invite me to a meeting. Otherwise they can stay out of my business and mind their own.”

At my declaration, every man in the room burst into laughter. Well that was rude. I did not find anything I said funny in the least. I take threats very serious and they definitely threatened me and mine. I was really beginning to hate this world.

“I’m sorry for laughing doll but that was the best thing I’ve heard in ages. The council, any of them, don’t generally meet with anyone unless they have committed a crime that is unforgivable. It’s normally if we expose what we are to the humans. That hasn’t happened in a long time though.”

“Roy is right little one. The humans out number us. We may be longer lived but we reproduce slower than they do. None of us are truly immortal, we can be killed.”

“That’s good to know. If the council threatens me or mine again then I will take great pleasure in killing each and every one of them slowly.” My voice held the anger I felt.

“Chere.” Jeremy sounded like he was scolding me.

“If you take that tone of voice with me wolfie, I will make you regret it.” My eyes narrowed as I looked at my companion.

“Wait. She calls you wolfie?” Daryl looked at me in awe when he said this.

“Daryl, I swear if any of you tries to call me that I will give you more scars.” Jeremy sounded pissed but he just looked at me grumpily. “You’ll have to excuse Angel. In her line of work, she is the top dog. She still thinks that she is invincible even here.”

I was livid by now, I could only laugh at that. “You are right about one thing wolfie, I am the top dog in my world. As such I have learned many things to go along with that. If you doubt me, oh powerful shifter, then leave.” The sarcasm and anger were thick in my voice.

“Little one? I don’t think it is an option for him to leave you now. I realize that you are fully capable of taking care of yourself in the human world. Our world is different and we are harder to kill. I believe that his feelings for you cloud his judgement at times. I do not think he means to be condescending to you in anyway. Did he explain to you what being mates means?”

“No he did not.” I couldn’t tear my eyes from Jeremy, he was fuming. Probably the way I told him to leave.

“Calm down Jay, if you didn’t tell her then how is she supposed to know.” Daryl laughed and shook his head as he made his way further into the room.

“You’re right. I’m sorry chere. I should have told you the moment I knew that you were my mate and what that meant.”

I just huffed and shook my head. “Don’t worry about, what’s one more thing added to the list of things I don’t know about myself.”

“I believe that is our cue to leave gentlemen. Jay needs to discuss some things with his mate and that should be private. I will be in touch little one. Just try to stay out of trouble while I am away.” Jackson smiled at me and winked. The others said goodbye as he pushed them out of the room. I heard Daryl ask if they could stop for food then, since they weren’t staying with me. I could only imagine how much that man could eat.