Chapter 14

Heavy snow flurried around us, covering the streets in a soft blanket of pristine white. Salt trucks were late this evening, which was nice since it preserved the serenity of the night. Unfortunately, I was about to plow through that peacefulness.

As we trekked down the wide sidewalks, I reached into my bag and palmed the small rectangular card—my invite to Requiem. A prickle scratched at the base of my skull. It didn't occur to me until we were in the subway car that the invite was enough for one guest.

I'd not mentioned it to Shadow and had a gnawing premonition he wasn't going to take the news well.

About a block from the club, I summoned enough courage and stopped. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" he asked, pivoting back toward me, the snowy backdrop a stark contrast to his dark countenance.

The fierceness of his facial features was arresting. The shadows cast by the night carved angles on his face, erasing his boyish good looks and replacing them with something hard and cold, like granite.

I'd not seen him like this, so tense, the muscles on the column of his neck were taut, almost strained. Those black-as-coal eyes zeroed in on me with such ferocity, I thought they might swallow me whole.

"When we get to Requiem," I said, pausing for a moment to gather myself as I knew what would come next once I told him the truth. "You will need to wait outside."

Sucking in more air than I thought could fit in his lungs, his chest expanded, stretching his black, skin-tight, full-of-random buckles shirt, pronouncing those pectoral muscles in ways that should be illegal for any man—and he wasn't even human, which made this whole thing even harder for me to process.

Stars, save me.

Shadow stared at me with quizzical eyes, that monumental breath he'd taken seeming to remain trapped in his lungs. Then, as if finally realizing there wasn't anything left for me to say, he breathed again. "Nonsense." The word sounded like a curse.

I pulled the card out from my bag, hating that my fingers trembled as I showed it to him. "I … only have one invite."

Shadow's forehead creased as he stepped closer and gently took the card from me, examining it as if trying to decipher a secret code before peering over at me again. "And?"

I shrugged, snatching the card back and shoving it into my bag. CJ was to get on stage in less than ten minutes and I didn't have time to argue. "Admittance is only through personal invitation. I'm sorry but it's just going to be me."

He blinked, slow and possibly deliberately dramatic. "You're suggesting I have no choice but to let you walk into that club alone." His lips twitched with a very subtle, wicked smile. As if he thought this was some ploy he'd figured out.

A little fire lit up inside me. Glaring, I said, "I'm not suggesting anything; there is only one invite, plain and simple."

He crossed his impossibly-hard-to-ignore large arms and echoed my gaze. "Not going to happen."

My lashes fluttered. Standing straighter, I closed the distance between us—my nose barely above his crossed forearms—and peered up at his smug expression. "I wasn't asking you for permission."

He leaned down so his lips were mere inches from mine. "I am obligated to guarantee your safety. You cannot go alone."

This close, I could practically taste his breath and see the ashen-colored swirls dancing in the depths of his eyes. And those full lips beckoned like succulent cherries on a hot day. He must have possessed the manual for recreating the perfect form of any living creature.

Heavens, he was marvelous. How could a lowly mortal like me not be lured by such magic?

And that's when I realized that was exactly what was happening here. He was a magical being and this absurd attraction was nothing more than a way to get me to cooperate.

That fire burning in my core raged hotter. I didn't like being handled. I blinked, breaking from the spell. "Listen, the whole dark and broody thing is losing its charm. I can handle myself. So, if you'll excuse me…"

As I took a step toward the club, he used his tall frame to block the way. "But now you have vampires hunting you," he started. "Now you have the power to command the wind at your will, a power that isn't something to take lightly. Your entire realm depends on you staying alive, Avery."

How could he expect me to accept this chosen-one bullshit after knowing nothing but loneliness and pain my whole life? And on top of that, now he wanted me to abandon the one person left in this world who mattered to me.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't want to be a Spirit Marked, didn't want powers over the elements, and I certainly didn't want to be in the middle of some supernatural war.

All I wanted in this world was my family back and it was the one thing I could never have.

Biting my lower lip, I held back all the hurtful things that wanted to spew from my mouth.

"Avery, I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to take in, but you're too important."

"I have to do this, Shadow." My voice trembled despite my best efforts to keep my emotions locked away. "I can't miss CJ's big moment. Please tell me you can at least understand on some human level how much this means to me."

Stepping closer, he wiped at the beads of moisture at the corners of my eyes. "It's not that I don't understand. But what's at stake is bigger than you, bigger than any of us. Your safety is paramount—my only mission. If I fail…" He pulled a lock of hair behind my ear, his touch a cool salve to the pain slowly burning its way to the surface.

I couldn't understand how he could tamp my emotions, keeping me from tearing at the seams, but he took my burden and made it his.

The weight that lifted off my body was immense. My anger melted away along with the ache in my heart. Without thinking, I reached over, stood on my tippy toes, and roped my arms around his neck.

And when his arms gently wrapped around my body, that wintry gale that had blown through my soul when he'd pulled me out of my angered state before gusted through me again.

This was addicting. To not feel sorrow, to not feel alone, to have someone who could make everything better with one touch.

I didn't care that it was magic. That maybe it was an illusion. That perhaps it wasn't real, and he was only doing this to pacify me. All I cared about was that the pain had faded, and I didn't feel heavier than gravity.

"You won't fail me, Shadow," I whispered into the crook of his neck before letting go.

"I don't like it," he whispered back, his eyes inked with the dark blue of a stormy night.

"You don't have to like it," I replied with a wink. "You just need to find someplace to chill while I look for my friend and watch her set."

He opened his lips to protest but I put my palm up as my gaze shot over his shoulder. A block down from where we stood, I spotted some type of altercation taking place in front of the entrance to Requiem.

"What is it?" Shadow asked, following the path of my gaze.

"Something's going down. Looks like… Oh, shit!" The air was sucked from my lungs like a vacuum. Pointing down the street, I struggled to form the words. "Th-that guy literally tore that man's heart out of his chest."

Before I could even finish my sentence, Shadow grabbed me by the arm and dragged me behind a building front, out of view of the club. Nearly out of breath, my heart slammed against my ribcage. "That guy just killed someone," I croaked, a ribbon of panic wrapping around my nerves. "We need to call the police."

"Hush," he ordered, pressing a finger to his lips as he pinned my shoulder against the brick wall with his other hand. "Vampires."

"Vampires?"

He peeked over the corner of the building. "Have you ever seen a mortal yank a man's heart out with his bare hands?"

A sheet of ice draped over my body, weaving itself into every strand of my DNA. This was insane. That man had torn into that guy's chest like he was made of gelatin, then he just ripped out his heart like it was nothing. My stomach churned and I keeled over to the side, vomiting all over the sidewalk.

"We need to get you out of here," Shadow said. "It's not safe."

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I sucked in the frigid air, taking gulps of it until my insides felt like a freezer. The cooling effect eased my nausea. Looking up at Shadow, I said, "CJ is in that club. I can't leave her there."

Shadow helped steady me against the brick wall. "You saw what happened. Vampires came looking for you at your home. They were inside your apartment, Avery." When he saw none of that seemed to change my mind, he added, "They destroyed your place and took your drawings. You go inside that club, you might as well hand yourself over on a gold platter."

"I don't even know what they want from me."

His eyes flashed, anger and worry churning in their depths. "Vampires and witches have been mortal enemies for centuries. Trust me, they didn't ransack your room because they want to be friends."

"I'm not leaving CJ."

A muscle in his jaw pulsed. "Are you listening? The last time witches and vampires meddled in each other's business they nearly destroyed this world."

I pressed my lips tight, determined not to let him cower me into not going. "I don't care about their ancient feud. I don't even know how to use my magic. Once they realize I'm not a threat?—"

He stalked closer. "They won't care that you can't control your powers—it only makes you an easier target. You are not just any witch, Avery. Last time a Spirit Marked walked this Earth, they burned her at the stake until all that remained was a pile of blackened ashes."

The mention of that witch suddenly yanked the dream images from my mind, sending me back to that burning mound, the searing heat barreling through me like a forest fire, knocking me to my knees. The flames whipped against my skin, eating my flesh down to the bone.

My body convulsed and I fell to the ground.

Shadow dropped to his knees and took me into his arms. "Avery, what is it?"

The torment finally subsided as I eased into his chest. Perhaps it was Shadow and his morphine-esque touch, or maybe my body finally realized it was only a memory, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to continue lying motionless in his cooling arms.

"I've seen her in my dreams," I said, my voice barely an audible whisper. "Been her. Died as her. It's so vivid, when I wake up, I can still feel the fire scorching me. Can still smell the rank scent of burnt flesh."

"Blessed mother, Avery," he said, sliding a strand of hair from my eyes, "That means… you're not only a Spirit Marked, but a dream-walker as well."

Gently pulling away from him, I sat on the snow-covered ground, wetness dampening my pants. Why did that term ring a bell? Where had I heard it before? Then it dawned on me. "Dream-walker… The bone queen; she called me that."

Standing and offering me a hand, Shadow said, "We need to get you back to your home. Figure out what we need to do next."

Still a bit wobbly, I took his hand and stood up slowly, shaking my head as I wiped snow off myself. "Is that it? You're not going to explain to me what a dream-walker is?"

"In due time, Avery. Right now, we need to get you out of here."

"Right now," I echoed, "I need to find CJ. Then you'll tell me exactly what a dream-walker is."

Shadow stood like a sentinel before me, his body poised and ready to unleash his muscled strength to force me to go back home.

I smirked. No one could force me to do anything, not even him. Many had learned that lesson the hard way, and he would too. "Are we going to do this all night? We both know what happens when I get pissy."

True fear flashed in his eyes. He didn't think I was bluffing.

And I wasn't. I could already feel gravity shift around me, the tips of my hair beginning to rise.

He put his palms up. "Simmer down, Avery. You don't want to do this."

As much as I didn't know what the vampires wanted from me, after witnessing that gory death, announcing who I was in the middle of the street was not a brilliant idea.

I took a few deep breaths, letting the air settle to an easy breeze around us, gently whipping flurries in our face. I nodded as the coals of my temper cooled and things shifted back to normal.

"I'll be quick," I said, trying to appease him a little, but he said nothing. "I promise. I mean, it's not like I look any different than any girl out for a night of fun at Requiem."

Shadow approached, took me by the shoulders, and spun me to face the glass fa?ade of the storefront next to us. "Are you certain?"

I didn't even need to get closer. The white-hot ring around my pupils was so bright, it cast its own light in my reflection.

Shit.

I turned around, a lump in my throat. "Is this permanent?"

"No. But elemental power flows through you. Every time you activate it, it's visible through your eyes. Takes several moments to subside."

Shifting back toward the glass, I watched as the white-flaming rim slowly dimmed back to my natural color.

Okay. So, all I had to do was not activate the power.

Piece of cake.

Except, I had no clue how to control it. Since it had manifested, it activated on its own whenever I was hyper-emotional. And unfortunately for me, that frequently seemed to be the case quite recently.

I just needed to stay as calm as possible. Seal the volcano. Staunch the dam.

"Cool as a cucumber," I mumbled as I moved away from the storefront.

"Excuse me?" Shadow asked.

"It's an expression. Means all I have to do is remain as emotionless as possible and I'll be okay."

His raised eyebrows told me he didn't think I was capable of such a feat.

Whatever.

Checking my watch, I grumbled as I realized it was now past ten. CJ was probably getting ready to get on stage. "I'm done wasting time. I'm going, and that's final. You stay here and do your guardian thingy from afar. Keep a lookout. And if I need you…" I paused, not really knowing what I was supposed to say. "I guess, if I need you, I'm sure I'll make it known."

He crossed his arms and huffed a long breath. "Very reassuring. I'll perch on the roof. Don't be long or I'll find a way to drag you out."

Rolling my eyes, I peeked around the building. The altercation seemed to have ended. The heart-ripping guy was nowhere in sight, and neither was the heartless one. All that remained was a blackish stain on the ground, probably blood. I almost heaved, the metallic taste in my mouth making my stomach churn.

My courage didn't seem so grand anymore.

You can do this, Avery. Just some vampires at a nightclub. What can go wrong?

Wind fluttered above me as Shadow shifted into his crow form. Looking up, I marveled at how fast he'd healed. He spread his beautiful wings, gliding toward Requiem, his black plumaged body cutting through the falling snow like a deadly blade.

He was beyond magnificent even as a crow. Utterly glorious.

Get through the front door,find CJ, drop to my knees and apologize until the sky fell, and sneak us the hell out of there. I repeated the plan in my head a zillion times as I approached the obscure entry to Requiem. Shadow belted a squawk so loud, it bounced off every rooftop, making me and even the guards jump at the sound. I looked up with a scowl. He ruffled his feathers as he perched on the edge of the building's roof and stared back.

The message was clear: Hurry my ass up.

The burly bouncer hardly acknowledged me as I approached, unphased by the fact I had to sidestep around the probably still-warm blood of the man who had been murdered in front of him merely moments ago. Snow covered the spot where he'd fallen, but the dark stain of his blood was still visible underneath.

What truly made my skin prickle were the rifles strapped across their chests. I couldn't recall when mercenaries started doubling as bouncers, but okay.

This was no ordinary club, after all.

Coupled with the fact they'd disposed of the body already and had kept going business-as-usual, I probably should've guessed things wouldn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped.

That, plus the knowledge there was no signage to indicate where I was, were all bad indications this wasn't going to be as easy as I'd hoped.

As I handed the bouncer the card, he didn't bother checking if it was authentic. He barely glanced at it then threw it into the trash bin beside him before sniffing the air around me. With a slight nod, he gestured to his buddy who opened the metal door and ushered me in.

Well, that was creepy. Then it dawned on me. What if the bouncers were also vampires? What if he smelled me and decided I was food? Feeling terror claw against my neck, I squashed those thoughts. Probably should've asked Shadow if witches smelled different than regular humans.

I was met by a poorly lit hallway as soon as I walked in. The only illumination came from one set of circular, red fluorescent lights in the middle of the ceiling. It provided little visibility, casting reddish shadows on the walls. The pounding sounds of hard bass vibrated through the tiled floor and up my legs, which meant the club was likely below ground.

Another bouncer stood at the end of the hallway. He also sported a rifle across his chest, but this guy held a metal detecting wand as well.

Shoot. I'd forgotten about the mini sword in my bag.

What the heck was I supposed to do now? Either he confiscated the sword, or he'd send my ass back out the front door.

I tried to remain calm. No turning back now.

I flashed him an innocent smile, hoping perhaps he'd think I couldn't possibly be a threat. No such luck. Internally cringing, I acted unbothered as he raised the wand and waved it over my body.

No beeps.

What the heck? How did the wand not detect my dagger?

Blowing a silent breath of relief, I offered the brooding bouncer another smile as he opened the set of double metal doors behind him and ushered me through into a stairwell.

The metal doors closed behind me with a loud clunk, and my stomach clenched, heart thumping hard in my chest. Ringing my clammy hands, I stood motionless for a moment, wondering what the heck I was supposed to do now.

How had my best friend ended up playing a set at an underground vampire club?

Music piped up from below. Seemed I'd been right. Placing a hand on the cool metal railing, I began my descent. Bathed in the same ominous lighting, the stairwell dove about four flights of stairs. In the shadowy corners, people huddled together, couples kissing and grinding against the wall. At one point I swore someone growled and scratched their nails on the concrete.

I sprinted down the last staircase until I came face to face with another set of metal doors blocked by another enormous bouncer. This one too smelled the air around me before letting me through.

Steeling myself, I inched through the door. I'd not known what to expect, but nothing would have prepared me for what was splayed out before me.