he saw the two people standing behind him.
“Ah, hey, didn’t see ya there. Let me put this down over here…”
Bas stepped forward and caught his eye. The cigar stalled halfway to the ashtray. “Don’t bother,” Bas said, “You will give me the keys to a cabin with a basement, then you will go over and finish your television show. You will not remember anyone being here tonight. Even if someone questions you, the only thing you know is that you saw no one.”
The cigar smoking manager said nothing, reached up for a tarnished key that was attached to a small wood placard that had an 8 on it. Bas glanced at the cabin map on the wall and steered Park out of the cabin, letting the door close with a small snick.
“And that is how we register for lodging.”
Park started the car and headed to the right down a heavily treed lane. “So, you guys steal everything?”
“You didn’t get my point. We move through life in a manner that makes it easier. We leave no trail if possible. And no, we don’t pay for mundane services when we don’t have to. It’s easier, and like I just said, safer. The point of the lesson was that we use compulsion to control the world around us. That way no one ever remembers who we are.” He put his hand to his forehead and massaged his temple. “Well, no one is supposed to. That’s why you are where you are . You are a special case.”
“Oh, lucky me.”
“That might be truer than you ever know.”
As they went deeper, the only light was the headlamps from the car, although daylight threatened, the sky was still dark. It was eerie and Park felt a little panic rise up at the idea of being so isolated with someone who she trusted mostly on the faith of her bizarre talent she had not ever really understood. As she got out of the car and went toward the back to get her overnight case, she felt his hand on her arm. An instant calm overcame her.
“You have nothing to worry about, Park. Relax. You’ll get some good rest and we will continue tonight.”
“I have to give my lab a call when it gets later. I’m usually in place by seven each morning, and I’ve already missed one day without notifying anyone. So I’d better call.”
“I agree. Do you have your mobile phone?”
“I do. So I’ll keep it with me and give my staff a call by seven thirty. That’s when my receptionist comes in.” She gasped softly. “Bennie. Oh, hell. She set me up for a blind date the night you abducted me.”
“I wish you wouldn’t use that word.”
“Why? It’s true. Anyway, I hope she didn’t accuse Zachary of anything. He is such a nice guy.”
Bas stood there for a moment while she pulled her bag out of the car. Why did it bother him that she was talking about dating another man? To start with, she was nothing other than a blood-bond to him. And the “date” was human, hardly competition for a vampire. Competition? Where the hell did that idea come from? Other than his desire to find out what she was, and ultimately, hopefully, to get her home safely, and out of his life, she meant nothing to him. She was sexy, he admitted he wanted her, and would have her before they parted, but that was nothing unusual either. He was a very sexual being. His conquests numbered in the thousands over his centuries of life. She would just be another notch. So, why the irritation? It hurt his head to try to figure anything out tonight. He still hadn’t caught up enough rest to be at his one hundred percent, and he had to be by tomorrow when he arrived home.
Park had opened the door to the cabin and switched on a lowlight faux candelabra in the main room of the cabin. She dropped her bag on cushions thrown on a bench made of rough-hewn wood, then slipped off her shoes, wiggling her toes in gratitude for the freedom. Driving was far more exhausting than working. Bas wandered in, glancing at her. She
“Ah, hey, didn’t see ya there. Let me put this down over here…”
Bas stepped forward and caught his eye. The cigar stalled halfway to the ashtray. “Don’t bother,” Bas said, “You will give me the keys to a cabin with a basement, then you will go over and finish your television show. You will not remember anyone being here tonight. Even if someone questions you, the only thing you know is that you saw no one.”
The cigar smoking manager said nothing, reached up for a tarnished key that was attached to a small wood placard that had an 8 on it. Bas glanced at the cabin map on the wall and steered Park out of the cabin, letting the door close with a small snick.
“And that is how we register for lodging.”
Park started the car and headed to the right down a heavily treed lane. “So, you guys steal everything?”
“You didn’t get my point. We move through life in a manner that makes it easier. We leave no trail if possible. And no, we don’t pay for mundane services when we don’t have to. It’s easier, and like I just said, safer. The point of the lesson was that we use compulsion to control the world around us. That way no one ever remembers who we are.” He put his hand to his forehead and massaged his temple. “Well, no one is supposed to. That’s why you are where you are . You are a special case.”
“Oh, lucky me.”
“That might be truer than you ever know.”
As they went deeper, the only light was the headlamps from the car, although daylight threatened, the sky was still dark. It was eerie and Park felt a little panic rise up at the idea of being so isolated with someone who she trusted mostly on the faith of her bizarre talent she had not ever really understood. As she got out of the car and went toward the back to get her overnight case, she felt his hand on her arm. An instant calm overcame her.
“You have nothing to worry about, Park. Relax. You’ll get some good rest and we will continue tonight.”
“I have to give my lab a call when it gets later. I’m usually in place by seven each morning, and I’ve already missed one day without notifying anyone. So I’d better call.”
“I agree. Do you have your mobile phone?”
“I do. So I’ll keep it with me and give my staff a call by seven thirty. That’s when my receptionist comes in.” She gasped softly. “Bennie. Oh, hell. She set me up for a blind date the night you abducted me.”
“I wish you wouldn’t use that word.”
“Why? It’s true. Anyway, I hope she didn’t accuse Zachary of anything. He is such a nice guy.”
Bas stood there for a moment while she pulled her bag out of the car. Why did it bother him that she was talking about dating another man? To start with, she was nothing other than a blood-bond to him. And the “date” was human, hardly competition for a vampire. Competition? Where the hell did that idea come from? Other than his desire to find out what she was, and ultimately, hopefully, to get her home safely, and out of his life, she meant nothing to him. She was sexy, he admitted he wanted her, and would have her before they parted, but that was nothing unusual either. He was a very sexual being. His conquests numbered in the thousands over his centuries of life. She would just be another notch. So, why the irritation? It hurt his head to try to figure anything out tonight. He still hadn’t caught up enough rest to be at his one hundred percent, and he had to be by tomorrow when he arrived home.
Park had opened the door to the cabin and switched on a lowlight faux candelabra in the main room of the cabin. She dropped her bag on cushions thrown on a bench made of rough-hewn wood, then slipped off her shoes, wiggling her toes in gratitude for the freedom. Driving was far more exhausting than working. Bas wandered in, glancing at her. She
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