Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun. This is rated PG.

 

Nate’s Intro: Chapter Nine

 

The dream kept coming back and I still couldn't figure it out. I had never had a dream so lucid before. It was like looking through someone else's eyes. Myra was conspicuously absent from work the next few nights.

 

Halloween night proved to be interesting. The security guys downstairs actually had candy for the trick-or-treaters. During a long block of music, I ventured downstairs to have a look. I saw plenty of Princesses and soldiers. There were a few Yugi and Hulk look-alikes, no vampires or werewolves in sight. That was kind of disappointing. I swear one kid that couldn't have been much more than eight was dressed like Brittany Spears. It was enough to make you question her parents’ sanity.

 

I got back upstairs just as the last song faded. I cued up some ads and took some requests. I even had a couple of invitations to parties. “Maybe next year,” I thought.  I put my headphones back on and ran through a list of songs to play. “Okay people no more requests for Monster Mash. Please I beg you.  Here's a better one for this spooky night, a little thing by Metallica called ‘Of Wolf and Man.’”

 

I liked this song and was glad that no one was there to see me dancing around the studio. The rest of the night into morning was uneventful. I turned the reins over to Douglas the morning guy and went home.

 

I had barely got in the door when the phone started ringing.  Ignoring it, I walked into the bedroom, stripped down and got into bed. I was just about asleep when someone started pounding on the door.  Groaning, I got up, put on my jeans and padded out of the bedroom, across the living room and opened the door. The sun was just beginning to rise as I stared at Myra.

 

She pushed past me.  ”Close the door.” I did and turned to face her as she continued. “We need to talk.”

 

“About what?” I yawned. “It's late. I'm tired. I need to sleep.”

 

“You can't stay awake for an hour?”

 

I couldn’t help asking, “It's gonna take that long?”  She glared at me so I quickly apologized. “Okay sorry. Let me go get a shirt.”

 

She followed me into the bedroom.  “I'm still getting questions about you and how you disappeared.”

 

“So tell them the truth.” I turned to look at her.

 

“They'll think I'm a raving lunatic!”

 

“If I don't get some sleep I'll be the one who's raving!” I was getting damned frustrated.

 

She didn't look in the least bit sympathetic.  “You don't want them coming after you.”

 

“I don't think they'd want to have a showdown at the station. I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't threatened them.” I still didn’t get what the big deal was with these vampires.

 

“You don't have to. Just being here and not letting them know is a threat.” She patiently explained.

 

“Why is that?”

 

She hesitated before answering. “Because of what you are. What you do.”

 

“I thought you didn't believe me.” I eyed her suspiciously.

 

“Would you?” She asked. I sighed, running a hand through my hair as she continued. “You have to come back to the District.”

 

“Look, let me get some sleep and we'll discuss this.” I took her arm and led her back out to the door. “Call me after sundown”.

 

I gently pushed her out the door, closed and locked it.  I stood there for a minute listening as her heels clicked down the walk. She wasn't happy but I just didn't trust her, not after she shrugged me off at the club. Maybe she'd just let it go.

 

She didn't and she didn't call. She showed up at my door at six.  I had just stepped out of the shower when the doorbell rang.  What could I do? I let her in. I told her to have a seat while I got dressed, and was relieved when she didn't follow me. I pulled on a pair of black jeans and a red tank top and went back out to the living room. She was sitting at the small breakfast table thumbing through a copy of Maxim.

 

She looked up at me frowning.  “Do you read this or look at the pictures?”

 

 I grinned at her. “What do you think?”  She put the magazine down disgusted. “So what was so urgent that you had to break down my door?”

 

She frowned. “I didn't break down your door.”  I started to fill up the coffee pot when she asked, “How about something stronger?”

 

“You haven't had my coffee.”  She snickered at my comment. “Why did you come here?”

 

“Asher wants you to come back to Guilty Pleasures.”

 

“No.” I didn’t need another scolding from Acheron. Who knew what hell they would send me to next.

 

“What about your knife?” She asked.

 

“You can get it for me.”  She stared at me so I explained. “It's the least you could do for leaving me to fend for myself.”

 

 Her eyes widened. “I did not!”

 

“Yes you did. I didn't hear one word of protest as I walked off with Frick and Frack to where ever and whatever was waiting.” I countered as I went back to making the coffee.

 

“I knew you would be okay.”

 

“Oh really?” She nodded and I became more suspicious.  “How much did you tell them? Do they know what I am? What I do?”

 

“ I don't even know what you are!” I turned from making the coffee to find her right there in front of me as she confided.  “You scare me Nathan, especially if any of what you told me was true.”

 

“It's all true.”  I suddenly had this urge to pull her close, to taste the blood that was there just under her tanned skin. She wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder. God she smelled good, forest and flowers. I laid my cheek on the top of her head and let her scent fill me. It felt good just to feel her warmth and to be held.  I closed my eyes and the dream hit me like a jolt. I let go and moved away.

 

Myra looked confused. “What's wrong?”

 

“Look why don't you go home to Kevin.” 

 

“Because I don't want to.” She countered.

 

My god, was she clueless?  “Then just go home! Now before we do something we'll both regret.”

 

She started to come near again and I backed up as she said. “We have to talk about Asher and the others.”

 

“Others?”

 

“Have you eaten?” I shook my head unsure of her sudden change of topics.  “I know a place in the college district. It's a café, public, plenty of people to keep you away from me.”

 

“Keep me away from you?”

 

She smiled at me. “Come on. It's safe.”

 

“From what?”

 

“Whatever is after you,” she replied. I frowned at her but it didn’t seem to deter her any. “Go get your shoes on. I'll wait in the car.”

 

That’s where I drew the line. “You are SO not driving. I haven't got over our last road trip.”

 

“We didn't get any tickets or into any accidents. I'm a good...

 

I held up a hand stopping her. “I'm driving. End of story.”

 

Before she could protest I left the room. I knew this was a bad idea but I was curious about who these others were.

 

“Curiosity killed the cat.” I turned to see Acheron's reflection in the closet mirror.

 

“Yeah. Well it's a good thing I'm not one then.” He just looked at me with those damn swirling eyes. “Be nice if I had some weapons. You guys think I'm made of Kevlar or does she really want me gone for good?”

 

“Oh no. She definitely wants you back.” He assured me. “But the Fates won't allow it.”

 

“Hey. How was Halloween?”

 

“Busy.” He sighed. I nodded as Myra knocked on the door. “I don't have to remind you to be...”

 

“Careful. I know.” I finished for him as he vanished.

 

I heard Myra call from the other side of the door. “You aren't chickening out are you?”

 

“No.” I sat down on the bed to put my shoes on and something struck me. Jumping up I turned round to find two brand new shiny daggers in black leather sheaths that could be adjusted for leg or wrist. “Thanks dad.” I thought I heard a chuckle in reply.

 

I walked out a few minutes later, grabbed a dark blue windbreaker, keys and wallet and we left. Myra was quiet most of the drive except to comment on how I drove like her grandmother. She claimed she would be eighty before we got there. I just turned up the radio. I liked driving, especially the Viper. It handled nice and the sound system was state of the art. Usually on Sundays, I just drove around getting to know different parts of the city.

 

After following her directions, we pulled up to this little place called the Lunatic Cafe. It looked like any other building except it had this really cool neon sign. It was a crescent moon with the name of the place in a soft blue neon. The name was kind of odd. Did it reflect the owner or the people who came here? Myra gave me this worried look like I was going to bolt as soon as she stepped out of the car.

 

I opened the door and got out, going around to the passenger’s side to open her door. I offered her my hand. She smiled at that but took it.  Inside there were a lot of people, mostly young college types. Well it was in the college district. There was a bar along one wall. It was old, made of some dark wood. Small tables were scattered about. Each could seat three or four comfortably. Two rooms led off the main room. Each had more tables and chairs. We found an empty table near the bar. I sat with my back to the wall. I just wasn't comfortable letting Myra have my back. Maybe I would if we were in my own little universe.

 

“So what are you hungry for?”  The look I gave her as a response made her blush.

 

“Sorry. A sandwich I guess.” I shrugged.

 

“What kind?”

 

“I don't care. Order what you usually do. I'll have that.” I told her absently.  I was too busy taking in all the people and the hum of conversations to hear what she ordered. There was something strange about this place. Then it hit me. Not everyone here was human. It was a mix of weres and a couple of them were looking at me like I was on the menu. I was getting that feeling again.  “So who are these others that are interested in me?”

 

“The Master of the City for one and his servant.”

 

“Why would his maid be interested in me?” She burst out laughing at my question. “What?”

 

“Oh Anita isn't a maid. Trust me. She has others to clean up her dirty work. She's his human servant, his lover, part of his power.”

 

“I just don't get the idea of Vampires being legal. It's insane.”

 

“You sound like Humans First.” I stared at her so she explained. “They're anti- vampires, anti-shifter… anything out of the norm.”

 

“I could see that.” I would have asked more but our food came distracting me. It turned out to be two gyros and chips and some kind of weak ale. I didn't particularly care for lamb, but I was hungry. In between bites I asked her several questions about the shifters. I had been told it was a disease here, not like in my world where they were born into it. “How were you infected?” She pushed her plate back and looked around the room. “You don't have to answer.”

 

She started to say something but stopped. I could see something like pain in her eyes. She looked away towards the door and froze. Two men walked in. One was black with dreads and very muscular. He was in jeans and a black tee shirt that clung to a really nice set of abs. The other one had dark brown hair, wore faded jeans and a flannel shirt over a white tee shirt. Myra turned back to me.

 

“I take it you know them.” I guessed.

 

“You could say that.” The female wolf hedged.

 

“Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?” I was getting that bad feeling again.

 

“It's just Richard and Jamil.” She shrugged.

 

“And you look like you want to crawl under the table. Who are they?”

 

She swallowed hard.  “Richard is the pack’s Ulfric. Jamil is one of his bodyguards.”

 

“And they just happen to be here. Tonight.”

 

“A lot of weres come here.” She was looking more than a little uncomfortable.

 

“You set me up.”

 

“No I didn't. Honest. I didn't know they would be here. Please believe me.” She pleaded.

 

I didn't know if it was the truth or not. I wanted to believe her, to trust her. Unfortunately, that trust went flying out the window when the two men walked over and sat at our table. Richard sat beside Myra and Jamil sat in between Richard and I. The temperature dropped a good ten degrees. It would be interesting to see how she handled this.

 

We all sat in silence for a few minutes. I noticed that several of the patrons left rather quickly. You could feel the tension. Finally Myra made the introductions just to break the silence. She was so uncomfortable.

 

“So what do you want? You just come over here to make her cringe?” I asked the uninvited pair.

 

“I came to check on one of my pack, to make sure she was safe.” The guy in flannel told me.

 

“How did you know I was here? You having me followed?” Myra accused her leader.

 

He stared at me as he told us. “Let's move to one of the other rooms.”

 

I shook my head. “I kind of like it here in the open. Look you tell your mayor or master or whatever, that I'm not here to get in his way. I didn't choose to be here but the Fates put me here. I'll leave you guys alone if you leave me alone.”

 

“It isn't that simple.” Richard responded.

 

I shrugged. “Sounds pretty simple to me. Stay away and I won't stake his ass.”  I stood up and so did Jamil.  “Back off Bob Marley.” I looked at Myra. “Are you coming?” She looked at Richard and then shook her head. “Fine. I'll see you at work.”

 

I started to walk off and Jamil grabbed my arm. I looked down at their so-called leader. What he saw in my eyes must have startled him because he called off Jamil. Myra was staring at me like I had horns or something. I walked out, got into my car and left.

 

Looking into the rear view mirror, I saw what had them all wigged out. My eyes had bled over from hazel to Dark Hunter chic. Crap.