Post by onyxfyrefly on Mar 19, 2015 9:04:17 GMT -5
Guess who's back? Back again. Alright, I'm trying something new so be patient. Has anyone ever read the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher? I'm addicted to those novels and I decided to try something along those lines. It may work or it could blow up in my face. Either way it should be interesting. Now enough rambling and on with the show!
“How’s it going tonight, Mac?” asked Ryan as he slipped into the darkened pub, guitar case in hand.
“It was pretty slow until that lass showed up and asked to sing a few numbers,” replied the pub owner while nodding to the young woman who was perched on a stool in between several musicians.
Ryan turned and felt his eyes widen slightly at the sight. The woman was stunning. “Who is she?”
The bartender handed Ryan a pint and shrugged. “Never seen her before.”
“Well, she obviously isn’t from around here.”
The woman’s raven black locks, wine colored lips, and cinnamon colored skin stood out among the pub’s usual patrons. She opened her eyes and Ryan was forced to contain a gasp, they were a deep shade of violet and seemed to glow in the dim light.
One of the musicians tried to hand over a guitar and the woman laughed while shaking her head. The sweet sound cut through the din of the pub and hit Ryan like an oncoming vehicle. In all of his years Ryan had never seen a woman like that. She moved with confidence and grace yet she possessed a power that drew him in like a moth to a flame.
The musician finally succeeded and the woman reluctantly took the instrument. After a few beats she began to play and the noise level in the pub dropped dramatically as the words to the song flowed from her lips. She didn’t have any formal training but possessed a raw talent that enraptured everyone within listening distance. She sang of loneliness and heartache and by the time the song ended Ryan wanted to find whoever had hurt her and pound them into the pavement.
The roar of applause tore him from his musings and he shook his head. Where had that come from? It had been a very, very long time since anyone affected him in this way. He was determined to find out more about this mysterious stranger and was heading her way when one of the musicians noticed him and beckoned him over.
As he tuned his guitar he followed the woman with his eyes as she headed towards the bar and pushed the sudden rush of feelings down as the musicians began a lively number that brought several patrons to their feet.
Rea leaned against the bar and watched as Ryan enraptured the audience with his music. She sipped her drink and suppressed a laugh. Who would have thought that the first pub that she wandered into in Ireland would have a vampire as it’s star attraction?
No one knew that he was a vampire, of course. Vampires had just recently “come out of the coffin” and were still struggling to be recognized in the States, overseas it was another matter. There were some countries, such as Australia, that couldn’t care less then there were the countries where religion ran deep, such as Ireland, and the vampires were still staying under wraps.
At first glance it was impossible to tell that Ryan was a vampire. Rea could tell that he was old but he had adapted to the times and his accent matched those around him perfectly. He also dressed of this era, something that many vampires found difficult. He wore a simple button down shirt, jeans, and boots that could have been found at any mall. Yes, his skin was pale but it wasn’t much lighter than most of the patrons’ in the bar. This far North there wasn’t a lot of sunshine at any time of the year. His hair was cut short and slightly spiked and he had a demeanor that made those around him feel at ease.
He was also the most deadly creature in the county.
Rea had immediately known Ryan was a vampire the moment she laid eyes on him. It had nothing to do with his appearance and everything to do with the fact that she was a witch. A very old witch to be exact. She had just celebrated her birthday in June and had received several fine gifts from her family and friends. One of those gifts included a ticket to Ireland. Rea needed a break from the South and had planned out an excellent vacation to the emerald isle.
Part of Rea wanted to leave, she had spent a good portion of her life in New Orleans which was a Mecca for vampires and personally she was sick of them. But another part of her was drawn to Ryan. When they had locked eyes she had felt an energy pass between them, something she had not felt in decades.
She waited until his performance drew to a close and the pub began to shut down for the evening. Slipping towards the back she smiled when she felt the breeze caress her face, she would be downwind of him.
Rea leaned against the wall and silently mouthed a few words, casting a net around them that would keep their voices from carrying. As soon as the spell was finished Ryan looked up from where he was loading his car and frowned, it seemed to Rea that he could smell the magic. He must have been older than she thought.
Finally Ryan finished loading his guitar case into the car and slammed the door.
“I didn’t know there were still vampires in this part of Ireland.”
Ryan jumped and spun around at the voice. He couldn’t remember the last time that someone had been able to sneak up on him and the knowledge unnerved him a bit. He was even more surprised to see the entrancing woman from the bar leaning against the far wall.
“What did you say?”
Rea tossed her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms. “You heard me.”
Before she could blink Ryan had lunged forward and pinned her against the side of the building. The dim light was reflected in his eyes which flashed with something dangerous, revealing the predator hidden inside.
“Who are you?” he hissed. As Ryan leaned over the young woman he couldn’t help from inhaling her scent and feeling the rush flow through his veins. He felt desire burn through his body but forced it away as he tried to stare down the stranger.
The witch could feel the rough bricks digging into her skin and attempted to shift her position but Ryan held her in an iron grip.
She rolled her violet eyes and sighed. “That’s what I hate about you vampires, you’re always so dramatic.” She let a tiny bit of her will seep forth and snapped her fingers, releasing the spell. Ryan pulled his hands away as if he had been burned and unwillingly took a step back.
“What…?”
“Honey,” she drawled, her soft Southern accent coming out. “Relax. I play for your team.” She held out her hand and a small ball of soft, white light suddenly appeared.
Ryan looked at the orb for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. “You’re a witch.”
“Handsome and smart, a rare combination.” She doused the witch light and held out her hand. “Rea Lebeau.”
“Ryan Kelly.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, inhaling her sweet scent and feeling the steady throb of her pulse before releasing her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
“It’s nice to see that not all vampires have lost their manners.”
Ryan laughed again and Rea couldn’t help but smile. “Some of us still remember the old ways. And since I have done you such a disservice, please allow me to buy you a drink.”
Rea smiled and nodded her head. “Threatening me in a dark alley was quite a disservice indeed but I believe a drink would be a nice start.”
Twenty minutes later Ryan was leading her into a darkened bar. Rea could feel the energy in the building and knew that most of its patrons were not quite human. After getting settled at a small table towards the back Ryan took a sip of his drink and let his elbows rest on the table.
“You said your last name was Lebeau, forgive me but you are not like some of the French witches I’ve encountered.”
It was Rea’s turn to laugh. “I was actually born in New Orleans, I’m Creole. My mother was a voodoo priestess and my father was a warlock so it was no surprise when things started to fly off of the shelves while I was crying in my crib.” She took a drink of her wine, which was excellent, and studied Ryan carefully.
“So aside from singing in pubs and threatening women in dark alleys what do you do Mr. Kelly?”
Ryan rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. “Honestly? I’m an accountant.”
Rea couldn’t help the laughter that bubble forth. “Seriously? Accountant by day, singer by night? That sounds like the premise of a bad television show.”
To Rea’s surprise a slight blush graced his cheeks.. “Well...I enjoy the work and it helps with keeping up with the pretenses, you know?”
The witch nodded and played with the stem of her wineglass. “White Court I’m assuming?”
Ryan frowned and leaned closer. “How did you know?”
Rea shrugged. “You didn’t try to attack me or anyone else, plus you’re much too well fed so that ruled out the Black Court. You don’t have the arrogance of the Red Court so I just assumed...”
“You’re correct and you have good instincts.”
The witch smiled. “How do you think I’ve survived so long?”
Rea was more than relieved that Ryan was a White Court vampire but she tried not to let it show. There were three distinct types of vampire, each with it’s own ruling group, or court. The Black Court was your stereotypical vampire. Walking corpses with a taste for blood and a severe aversion of sunlight. They hated crosses, garlics, holy water and fell directly into the mold that Bram Stoker had created. No wonder the Black Court had tried to have him assassinated after the book’s release. The man had practically written a how-to guide on killing Black Court vampires.
The Red Court still carried the stereotype of living off of the blood of their victims but that is where the similarities ended. Demons dressed as humans with an insatiable hunger and an ego to match. The Red Court claimed that they were the dominant of the three groups and demanded loyalty and respect from all who surrounded them. Rea had several run-ins with the Red Court and each one left her skin crawling. Beneath the facade was a monster that was barely controlled and the slightest spark could set them off. Unlike the Black Court, vampires of the Red Court could survive in the sunlight and were annoyingly difficult to kill. The traditional methods didn’t even phase them but Rea was creative...very creative.
The White Court was arguably the most powerful court of them all but don’t let the others hear you say that. Made up of a network of powerful families spanning the globe, the White Court had the money, the connections, the influence, and the power to practically take over the world if they chose. Luckily no one had gotten the urge to move forward with that idea...yet. The vampires of the White Court were the most “human” so to speak. There appearance was normal and they could function in the sunlight without any problem. Unlike the other courts, they did not survive by drinking the blood of their victims. Instead they fed on emotion, preferably passionate emotions. One simple touch was often enough to lure a human in and the vampire would proceed to drain away their entire being. It didn’t sound bad to an outsider but Rea would gladly be drained of every ounce of blood before letting the White Court get their hands on her.
“Rea?”
The woman snapped back to the present with a shake of her head. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was asking what you did for a living. I know you can sing and play the guitar but what other talents do you possess?”
That was a loaded question if she’d ever heard one. Add in the roguish grin that accompanied the question and Rea might believe that Ryan was actually flirting with her.
“I own a spice shop. I’m an apothecary so to speak. I sell teas, spices as well as more...non-traditional items.”
“Really? So what brings you to Ireland? In search of some rare spice or herb?”
Rea shook her head. “No, I’m actually on vacation.”
The two chatted for hours. Empty glasses began to fill the table and eventually the noise level began to fall as the partons headed home for the night. Typically it would have been strange to see a vampire and a witch acting so comfortably around each other but the two had clicked from the start and the prejudices that had been ingrained were set aside.
Glancing around, Rea noticed that the bar was emptying out. “Do you have the time?”
Ryan looked at his watch and did a double take. “It’s half of three. I’m so sorry for keeping you out so late.”
Rea waved away the worry. “I’m enjoying myself. I’m not going to turn into a pumpkin, that’s someone else’s fairytale.”
After settling the tab, Ryan helped Rea into her coat and they headed towards the parking lot. “I must say that this has been an...interesting evening. I didn’t exactly plan on spending my evening with a witch.”
Rea laughed and the sound made the hair on the back of Ryan’s neck stand up. “It wasn’t all bad was it?”
“Well...not all of it.” Ryan tried to catch Rea’s eye but it was impossible, every time that their eyes nearly met she would quickly avert her gaze. Finally he couldn’t stand it and gently cupped her cheek, forcing her eyes to meet his.
“Don’t...” Rea started but it was too late.
Blue eyes met violet and Ryan was suddenly locked into place, he couldn’t have looked away if his life depended on it.
Rea could feel herself falling into the depths of Ryan’s eyes as the soul gaze began. She watched, her heart breaking, as his story unfolded.
Ryan had been a happy young man who had just reached the age of thirty when war came calling to Northern Ireland once more. He, his father, his brother, and his brother-in-law had all gone to war leaving his mother and his very pregnant sister behind.
Three years later Ryan was the only one to return home. He was already carrying the burden of the loss of his family and was devastated to discover that his sister had died in childbirth and his nephew had only survived for two days after her passing. After hearing about the news his mother had spiraled into a deep depression and had wasted away over the course of the next six months. The night of her death Ryan had wandered down towards the docks in a drunken haze with the intent of jumping into the sea below. A dark figure had suddenly seized him and when he woke he discovered that he was a vampire.
Rea saw flashes of memories dance before her eyes, each one coming more rapidly than the other before they became a single blur. She tore herself away and placed a hand over her heart to calm her rapid breathing.
Ryan quickly took a step back and narrowed his eyes at Rea. “What did you just do?”
“I’m assuming you’ve never been told not to look a witch or wizard in the eye?”
“I have but I thought it was just a myth.”
“It’s no myth. When you meet our eyes a soul gaze begins. It’s exactly what it sounds like, I can see into your soul and you can see into mine.” She shuddered wondering what Ryan saw when he was allowed a glimpse inside.
“I’m sorry...I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine.” Stifiling a yawn Rea nodded towards her car. “I should be going. I’m still getting used to driving over here and the last thing I need to do is to fall asleep at the wheel.”
“Want me to give you a ride?”
“I’m fine.”
Ryan waited a beat before letting out a slow breath. “Can I ask you something?” Rea nodded and he shoved his hands in his pockets nervously. “Can I...I mean...is there...” he let out a breath then shook his head. “Will I see you again?”
Rea raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me on a date?”
Ryan rocked back onto his heels nervously. “You said that you’ve never been to Ireland and I was wondering if you could use a tour guide.”
The witch paused to chew over her answer. True, she could use a local tour guide but she wasn’t sure if she wanted a White Court vampire to be that guide.
“Sure...I guess having a local showing me around would be helpful.” She scribbled the number to her hotel on a scrap pice of paper. “Call me before noon and I will have you beheaded.”
Ryan nodded and shoved the paper in his pocket. He hoped that she was joking but part of him knew that she was serious. “Until tomorrow then.” He kissed the back of her hand once more and waited until she had disappeared into the night before heading to his own car.
He tipped his head back against the headrest with a sigh. “What are you getting yourself into, Kelly?” Yes, Rea was intriguing and funny and attractive but she was also a witch. The two of them did not mix, it was like oil and water. Yet he couldn’t forget her musical laugh and quick wit. He also couldn’t forget all of the pain and anguish that he had witnessed when he gazed into her eyes.
She had lost her family relatively early and had spent a good portion of her life fighting for the power and respect that she currently held. She was dangerous, Ryan knew that, but there was something about her that was unique and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Shaking his head he put the car into gear but didn’t head home right away. Instead he turned towards a small after hours bar that he often frequented. He needed to be well rested if he was going to play the part of tour guide but for right now he was hungry. He watched as a group of young women stumbled into the bar and grinned before heading inside.
“How’s it going tonight, Mac?” asked Ryan as he slipped into the darkened pub, guitar case in hand.
“It was pretty slow until that lass showed up and asked to sing a few numbers,” replied the pub owner while nodding to the young woman who was perched on a stool in between several musicians.
Ryan turned and felt his eyes widen slightly at the sight. The woman was stunning. “Who is she?”
The bartender handed Ryan a pint and shrugged. “Never seen her before.”
“Well, she obviously isn’t from around here.”
The woman’s raven black locks, wine colored lips, and cinnamon colored skin stood out among the pub’s usual patrons. She opened her eyes and Ryan was forced to contain a gasp, they were a deep shade of violet and seemed to glow in the dim light.
One of the musicians tried to hand over a guitar and the woman laughed while shaking her head. The sweet sound cut through the din of the pub and hit Ryan like an oncoming vehicle. In all of his years Ryan had never seen a woman like that. She moved with confidence and grace yet she possessed a power that drew him in like a moth to a flame.
The musician finally succeeded and the woman reluctantly took the instrument. After a few beats she began to play and the noise level in the pub dropped dramatically as the words to the song flowed from her lips. She didn’t have any formal training but possessed a raw talent that enraptured everyone within listening distance. She sang of loneliness and heartache and by the time the song ended Ryan wanted to find whoever had hurt her and pound them into the pavement.
The roar of applause tore him from his musings and he shook his head. Where had that come from? It had been a very, very long time since anyone affected him in this way. He was determined to find out more about this mysterious stranger and was heading her way when one of the musicians noticed him and beckoned him over.
As he tuned his guitar he followed the woman with his eyes as she headed towards the bar and pushed the sudden rush of feelings down as the musicians began a lively number that brought several patrons to their feet.
Rea leaned against the bar and watched as Ryan enraptured the audience with his music. She sipped her drink and suppressed a laugh. Who would have thought that the first pub that she wandered into in Ireland would have a vampire as it’s star attraction?
No one knew that he was a vampire, of course. Vampires had just recently “come out of the coffin” and were still struggling to be recognized in the States, overseas it was another matter. There were some countries, such as Australia, that couldn’t care less then there were the countries where religion ran deep, such as Ireland, and the vampires were still staying under wraps.
At first glance it was impossible to tell that Ryan was a vampire. Rea could tell that he was old but he had adapted to the times and his accent matched those around him perfectly. He also dressed of this era, something that many vampires found difficult. He wore a simple button down shirt, jeans, and boots that could have been found at any mall. Yes, his skin was pale but it wasn’t much lighter than most of the patrons’ in the bar. This far North there wasn’t a lot of sunshine at any time of the year. His hair was cut short and slightly spiked and he had a demeanor that made those around him feel at ease.
He was also the most deadly creature in the county.
Rea had immediately known Ryan was a vampire the moment she laid eyes on him. It had nothing to do with his appearance and everything to do with the fact that she was a witch. A very old witch to be exact. She had just celebrated her birthday in June and had received several fine gifts from her family and friends. One of those gifts included a ticket to Ireland. Rea needed a break from the South and had planned out an excellent vacation to the emerald isle.
Part of Rea wanted to leave, she had spent a good portion of her life in New Orleans which was a Mecca for vampires and personally she was sick of them. But another part of her was drawn to Ryan. When they had locked eyes she had felt an energy pass between them, something she had not felt in decades.
She waited until his performance drew to a close and the pub began to shut down for the evening. Slipping towards the back she smiled when she felt the breeze caress her face, she would be downwind of him.
Rea leaned against the wall and silently mouthed a few words, casting a net around them that would keep their voices from carrying. As soon as the spell was finished Ryan looked up from where he was loading his car and frowned, it seemed to Rea that he could smell the magic. He must have been older than she thought.
Finally Ryan finished loading his guitar case into the car and slammed the door.
“I didn’t know there were still vampires in this part of Ireland.”
Ryan jumped and spun around at the voice. He couldn’t remember the last time that someone had been able to sneak up on him and the knowledge unnerved him a bit. He was even more surprised to see the entrancing woman from the bar leaning against the far wall.
“What did you say?”
Rea tossed her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms. “You heard me.”
Before she could blink Ryan had lunged forward and pinned her against the side of the building. The dim light was reflected in his eyes which flashed with something dangerous, revealing the predator hidden inside.
“Who are you?” he hissed. As Ryan leaned over the young woman he couldn’t help from inhaling her scent and feeling the rush flow through his veins. He felt desire burn through his body but forced it away as he tried to stare down the stranger.
The witch could feel the rough bricks digging into her skin and attempted to shift her position but Ryan held her in an iron grip.
She rolled her violet eyes and sighed. “That’s what I hate about you vampires, you’re always so dramatic.” She let a tiny bit of her will seep forth and snapped her fingers, releasing the spell. Ryan pulled his hands away as if he had been burned and unwillingly took a step back.
“What…?”
“Honey,” she drawled, her soft Southern accent coming out. “Relax. I play for your team.” She held out her hand and a small ball of soft, white light suddenly appeared.
Ryan looked at the orb for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. “You’re a witch.”
“Handsome and smart, a rare combination.” She doused the witch light and held out her hand. “Rea Lebeau.”
“Ryan Kelly.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, inhaling her sweet scent and feeling the steady throb of her pulse before releasing her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
“It’s nice to see that not all vampires have lost their manners.”
Ryan laughed again and Rea couldn’t help but smile. “Some of us still remember the old ways. And since I have done you such a disservice, please allow me to buy you a drink.”
Rea smiled and nodded her head. “Threatening me in a dark alley was quite a disservice indeed but I believe a drink would be a nice start.”
Twenty minutes later Ryan was leading her into a darkened bar. Rea could feel the energy in the building and knew that most of its patrons were not quite human. After getting settled at a small table towards the back Ryan took a sip of his drink and let his elbows rest on the table.
“You said your last name was Lebeau, forgive me but you are not like some of the French witches I’ve encountered.”
It was Rea’s turn to laugh. “I was actually born in New Orleans, I’m Creole. My mother was a voodoo priestess and my father was a warlock so it was no surprise when things started to fly off of the shelves while I was crying in my crib.” She took a drink of her wine, which was excellent, and studied Ryan carefully.
“So aside from singing in pubs and threatening women in dark alleys what do you do Mr. Kelly?”
Ryan rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. “Honestly? I’m an accountant.”
Rea couldn’t help the laughter that bubble forth. “Seriously? Accountant by day, singer by night? That sounds like the premise of a bad television show.”
To Rea’s surprise a slight blush graced his cheeks.. “Well...I enjoy the work and it helps with keeping up with the pretenses, you know?”
The witch nodded and played with the stem of her wineglass. “White Court I’m assuming?”
Ryan frowned and leaned closer. “How did you know?”
Rea shrugged. “You didn’t try to attack me or anyone else, plus you’re much too well fed so that ruled out the Black Court. You don’t have the arrogance of the Red Court so I just assumed...”
“You’re correct and you have good instincts.”
The witch smiled. “How do you think I’ve survived so long?”
Rea was more than relieved that Ryan was a White Court vampire but she tried not to let it show. There were three distinct types of vampire, each with it’s own ruling group, or court. The Black Court was your stereotypical vampire. Walking corpses with a taste for blood and a severe aversion of sunlight. They hated crosses, garlics, holy water and fell directly into the mold that Bram Stoker had created. No wonder the Black Court had tried to have him assassinated after the book’s release. The man had practically written a how-to guide on killing Black Court vampires.
The Red Court still carried the stereotype of living off of the blood of their victims but that is where the similarities ended. Demons dressed as humans with an insatiable hunger and an ego to match. The Red Court claimed that they were the dominant of the three groups and demanded loyalty and respect from all who surrounded them. Rea had several run-ins with the Red Court and each one left her skin crawling. Beneath the facade was a monster that was barely controlled and the slightest spark could set them off. Unlike the Black Court, vampires of the Red Court could survive in the sunlight and were annoyingly difficult to kill. The traditional methods didn’t even phase them but Rea was creative...very creative.
The White Court was arguably the most powerful court of them all but don’t let the others hear you say that. Made up of a network of powerful families spanning the globe, the White Court had the money, the connections, the influence, and the power to practically take over the world if they chose. Luckily no one had gotten the urge to move forward with that idea...yet. The vampires of the White Court were the most “human” so to speak. There appearance was normal and they could function in the sunlight without any problem. Unlike the other courts, they did not survive by drinking the blood of their victims. Instead they fed on emotion, preferably passionate emotions. One simple touch was often enough to lure a human in and the vampire would proceed to drain away their entire being. It didn’t sound bad to an outsider but Rea would gladly be drained of every ounce of blood before letting the White Court get their hands on her.
“Rea?”
The woman snapped back to the present with a shake of her head. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was asking what you did for a living. I know you can sing and play the guitar but what other talents do you possess?”
That was a loaded question if she’d ever heard one. Add in the roguish grin that accompanied the question and Rea might believe that Ryan was actually flirting with her.
“I own a spice shop. I’m an apothecary so to speak. I sell teas, spices as well as more...non-traditional items.”
“Really? So what brings you to Ireland? In search of some rare spice or herb?”
Rea shook her head. “No, I’m actually on vacation.”
The two chatted for hours. Empty glasses began to fill the table and eventually the noise level began to fall as the partons headed home for the night. Typically it would have been strange to see a vampire and a witch acting so comfortably around each other but the two had clicked from the start and the prejudices that had been ingrained were set aside.
Glancing around, Rea noticed that the bar was emptying out. “Do you have the time?”
Ryan looked at his watch and did a double take. “It’s half of three. I’m so sorry for keeping you out so late.”
Rea waved away the worry. “I’m enjoying myself. I’m not going to turn into a pumpkin, that’s someone else’s fairytale.”
After settling the tab, Ryan helped Rea into her coat and they headed towards the parking lot. “I must say that this has been an...interesting evening. I didn’t exactly plan on spending my evening with a witch.”
Rea laughed and the sound made the hair on the back of Ryan’s neck stand up. “It wasn’t all bad was it?”
“Well...not all of it.” Ryan tried to catch Rea’s eye but it was impossible, every time that their eyes nearly met she would quickly avert her gaze. Finally he couldn’t stand it and gently cupped her cheek, forcing her eyes to meet his.
“Don’t...” Rea started but it was too late.
Blue eyes met violet and Ryan was suddenly locked into place, he couldn’t have looked away if his life depended on it.
Rea could feel herself falling into the depths of Ryan’s eyes as the soul gaze began. She watched, her heart breaking, as his story unfolded.
Ryan had been a happy young man who had just reached the age of thirty when war came calling to Northern Ireland once more. He, his father, his brother, and his brother-in-law had all gone to war leaving his mother and his very pregnant sister behind.
Three years later Ryan was the only one to return home. He was already carrying the burden of the loss of his family and was devastated to discover that his sister had died in childbirth and his nephew had only survived for two days after her passing. After hearing about the news his mother had spiraled into a deep depression and had wasted away over the course of the next six months. The night of her death Ryan had wandered down towards the docks in a drunken haze with the intent of jumping into the sea below. A dark figure had suddenly seized him and when he woke he discovered that he was a vampire.
Rea saw flashes of memories dance before her eyes, each one coming more rapidly than the other before they became a single blur. She tore herself away and placed a hand over her heart to calm her rapid breathing.
Ryan quickly took a step back and narrowed his eyes at Rea. “What did you just do?”
“I’m assuming you’ve never been told not to look a witch or wizard in the eye?”
“I have but I thought it was just a myth.”
“It’s no myth. When you meet our eyes a soul gaze begins. It’s exactly what it sounds like, I can see into your soul and you can see into mine.” She shuddered wondering what Ryan saw when he was allowed a glimpse inside.
“I’m sorry...I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine.” Stifiling a yawn Rea nodded towards her car. “I should be going. I’m still getting used to driving over here and the last thing I need to do is to fall asleep at the wheel.”
“Want me to give you a ride?”
“I’m fine.”
Ryan waited a beat before letting out a slow breath. “Can I ask you something?” Rea nodded and he shoved his hands in his pockets nervously. “Can I...I mean...is there...” he let out a breath then shook his head. “Will I see you again?”
Rea raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me on a date?”
Ryan rocked back onto his heels nervously. “You said that you’ve never been to Ireland and I was wondering if you could use a tour guide.”
The witch paused to chew over her answer. True, she could use a local tour guide but she wasn’t sure if she wanted a White Court vampire to be that guide.
“Sure...I guess having a local showing me around would be helpful.” She scribbled the number to her hotel on a scrap pice of paper. “Call me before noon and I will have you beheaded.”
Ryan nodded and shoved the paper in his pocket. He hoped that she was joking but part of him knew that she was serious. “Until tomorrow then.” He kissed the back of her hand once more and waited until she had disappeared into the night before heading to his own car.
He tipped his head back against the headrest with a sigh. “What are you getting yourself into, Kelly?” Yes, Rea was intriguing and funny and attractive but she was also a witch. The two of them did not mix, it was like oil and water. Yet he couldn’t forget her musical laugh and quick wit. He also couldn’t forget all of the pain and anguish that he had witnessed when he gazed into her eyes.
She had lost her family relatively early and had spent a good portion of her life fighting for the power and respect that she currently held. She was dangerous, Ryan knew that, but there was something about her that was unique and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Shaking his head he put the car into gear but didn’t head home right away. Instead he turned towards a small after hours bar that he often frequented. He needed to be well rested if he was going to play the part of tour guide but for right now he was hungry. He watched as a group of young women stumbled into the bar and grinned before heading inside.