Chapter Seven
Mouth-watering aromas of beef in black bean, egg fried rice and noodles wound up the stairs with her.
She’d ripped into the bag of prawn crackers as soon as the delivery driver had been safely locked out, and she crunched her way through her second one as she entered the office.
Jess had balanced the box of food precariously on one arm, finding Seb rummaging through what was loosely classed as their only kitchen cupboard, coming out with two odd-sized pub wine glasses.
“How is it that you have wine in the fridge but not a plate in the place?”
Laughing at him, she slid the box onto the table. “I think that says very positive things about us, to be fair.” She pinched another prawn cracker form the packet and pulled boxes and tubs from the box. “On the other hand, you won’t find enough plates in this whole place to dish up the amount of Chinese you ordered. There’s enough for ten people here!” Her voice rose as she continued unpacking, digging around for the chopsticks, and handing him a set.
“I was hungry, and I didn’t know what you wanted.” Stuffing the chopsticks in his back pocket, he reached up onto the top shelf. “Here’s a bowl; it’s the best I can do.”
Wrinkling her nose at the earthenware bowl she turned solemn eyes on him. “At least there’s wine.”
Drawing a cold bottle of white from the fridge, he nodded, laughing. “Point taken.”
Holding up their two glasses, she watched him pour, his large hand wrapped firmly around the bottle, and she just about stopped herself from moving a step closer to him, wanting to soak up his warmth.
The day had been lost in snap as they’d worked side by side. She’d never really worked with anyone else, where they made equal decisions; it was interesting how similar their methods were. “We got a lot done today.”
Taking his wine, his fingers brushed hers, as he tilted his glass towards her. “We did. We work well together.”
Tapping her glass to his, she sipped the cool liquid, enjoying the brief heat of his skin.
“We do.” Sitting down in the office chair, she peeled off lids, letting the gorgeous smells fill the room. “Ohmygods, I’m starving.” Snapping her chopsticks apart she nabbed a piece of chicken, loving the spicy heat. “Nothing this bad should smell so good.”
Loading food into his bowl, he sat down. “Same.” He leant back in his chair, half a chicken ball still held in his fingers. “The office won’t smell great tomorrow, though.”
“True enough, but it’s worth it.”
Making short work of the tiny portion in her truly small bowl, she dragged the noodles across the table towards her, twirling them around her chopsticks. “Can you cook?”
Squinting his eyes at her with a grin, he swallowed his mouthful. “Why? You vetting skill-sets for my potential?”
Snickering around the slippery chow mein, she grabbed a napkin, dabbing her lips. “Nah. Just asking. You see, you look like you should be able to cook.”
Sipping his wine, he nodded towards her. “I do? What does that look like?”
“You know, you look…healthy. You look like you run or cycle. You drank water all day today—no coffee. So you’re health conscious. You’ve got fruit on your desk…” She drifted to a stop at his look. “What?”
“I didn’t realize you were paying such close attention.” Leaning forward, he topped up her wine, setting the bottle down so he could catch her plait, gently tugging her to him. “Anything else you noticed?” His lips were soft as they caught hers, teasing her bottom lip with his tongue before nipping it with his teeth.
Grasping the arms of her office chair, he wheeled her to him, her jean-clad legs fitting between his.
Resting her palms on his hard thighs, she leant into him, and carefully taking his lip in return, she swept her tongue across it, testing the softness.
Coming to his feet, he pulled her to hers, his tongue sweeping past her lips. His grip became urgent as he grasped her hips, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs around him.
The last of her thoughts, before they all fled, was how quickly this was all getting out of hand.
Jess felt his hard length press against that soft, heated part of her. She knew she was lost as he turned for the couch.
The slamming door at the bottom of the stairs had her pulling away, her wide-eyed gaze looking into his equally shocked ones.
Rapidly unlacing her legs from his hips she slid to the floor, putting some space between them, as Jason’s voice echoed up the stairwell.
“Hey, you two still here?”
She rolled her eyes. He bloody knew they were. She’d totally forgotten that he was coming, and she briefly offered thanks that at least he was early. Or gods knew what he’d have walked in on.
Brushing herself down, she went back to her seat, just picking up her wine as Jason pushed into the room, a huge pizza box in his hand.
“I brought pizza, didn’t know if you’d—” He stopped talking as he took in the Chinese, and Jess took a too large gulp of wine at the slight twinkle in his eye as he looked at them. Oh yeah, he knew alright.
“You two not hungry for pizza then?”
Leveling a glare at him, she picked up a chicken ball, knowing it was safer to keep her mouth busy.
Grabbing another glass from the cupboard, Seb reached for the wine gesturing at Jason. “Yes?”
Dropping the box to the table, he took off his rucksack and jacket. “Absolutely. Just let me put this stuff in my office.”
Seb poured his wine, setting it down on the table, and leant over Jess as the office door slammed shut. Holding her chin, he took her lips in a hard kiss.
“You won’t get away next time.”
His voice was a rough bur across her lips, and her stomach clenched at the heavy look in his eyes, as heat pooled low.
Seb had just taken his seat as Jason emerged from his office.
Wishing she knew just how good Jason’s exaggerated sense of hearing was, she merely looked at his questioning gaze, as he gave her an overly innocent smile, before pulling up a chair.
“So, how’s it been? Did you get much done?”
Passing his wine over, she flipped back the lid on the pizza box, and let the amazingly glutinous smells of takeaway mix together.
“We’re just about done—a few details left to guide the interns through tomorrow, I’d say. What about you?”
“Investors meetings bore the crap out of me, but what are you gonna do, you know?”
Picking up his glass, Seb smiled into his wine as Jason looked over at him.
“Don’t grin at me, my friend. What with all the funding you secured for the University I may tag you in.”
Glancing around Jason to Jess, he gave her a serious look. “Did I tell you that I could find another museum to take my skills?”
Playing along, she picked up her wine. “Really? Do you think they’d have space for one more?”
Swallowing the enormous mouthful of pizza, Jason glared at the pair of them. “Yeah right, you’d both be miserable anywhere else; neither of you are anywhere near stuffy enough. None of the other museums in this city keep Chateauneuf-du-Pape next to the coffee machine.”
Laughing and nearly choking on her last mouthful of noodles, she swallowed, wiping her watering eyes with her napkin. “You fool. Come on, grab a piece of pizza and come down to the exhibition hall. You can at least work if you’re going to insult us.”
Handing the remote control to Seb, she pushed open the gallery doors, as he activated the lighting and the music. Chopin’s dreamy chords drifted through the softly lit gallery, light glinted, reflecting, forming angles of light and dark.
Life-size sculptures of Greek gods looked down upon the gold and silver offerings that were forged and beaten in their honor.
Ancient time hazed all around, almost tangible it was so strong. Shouts of slaves, and the rhythmic sound of chisel striking marble echoed through her.
The sun had long since set; the silence of the night-time heightened the stillness, and she looked in wonderment at how much they’d accomplished in a few short hours.
Jason and Seb moved through, murmuring back and forth. Seb’s maple hair caught the light, in direct contrast to the dark black sweep of Jason’s. They most likely wrought havoc when they were out together, both of them being tall and charming.
Tutting under her breath, she consciously wiped the frown from her features, unamused by her unusual flash of jealousy. He was a free agent, and so was she.
Not that she’d date two men at once. Not that she’d been dating anyone. Rolling her eyes at her own crazy self, she shook off the unexpected thoughts, moving towards them.
“It’s looking good, isn’t it?”
Jason turned to her. “Jess. It’s looking bloody marvelous, I honestly thought it would be close to the wire.” Making a sweeping gesture all around them, he laughed. “But this… this leaves all of us time to actually get ready for the opening, maybe even have a drink first.”
Throwing Seb a wink she nodded in agreement. “Now you’re talking. I know this great whisky bar that you’ve just got to try.”
Rolling guilty blue eyes at her he darted his gaze back to Seb. “You didn’t?”
Jabbing Jason in the arm, she crossed her arms and huffed at him. “Jason MacIntyre. I ought to fry your circuits. That place was gorgeous.”
Giving her a wide-eyed look, Jason laughed, ribbing her in return. Seb seemed to not notice her slip about zapping her best friend, and she let the joke roll as they stood in the center of the exhibition hall. The huge vaulted ceiling above them, catching her laughter as it lifted to the rafters.
“Come on, Jess, you know I wouldn’t leave you out.” Lifting his brow at her, he held his palms wide in truce. “I’ve been on the waiting list for membership for months, and I got accepted while you were in Greece.”
Uncrossing her arms, she gave him a friendly pat on the arm. She dragged out the “Okay,” with a saccharine smile of forgiveness. “I suppose I should feel a little bit guilty, then…” straightening up the name tag on a gold chalice, she gave them both an exaggeratedly innocent look, “…for letting Seb convince me that putting our night out on your tab would make me feel better.”
Seb’s shout of laughter was punctuated by Jason’s groan as he looked between his two friends. “Holy gods, I’m probably broke with the expensive taste you two have.”
Seb slapped his shoulder as they walked through the gallery. “Don’t worry, buddy, hers was cheaper than mine.”
Jason rolled his eyes as Jess switched off the lights and music, muttering, “Small comfort.”
Only the low level security lighting remained on as they walked a few steps ahead while she pulled the huge doors closed, and slid the latch into place. Their laughter carried back to her as they reached the reception hall.
Her footsteps echoed on the marble as she went to catch them, reverberating across the floor into the hall as a chill raced across her shoulders.
Slowly coming to halt, she turned a full circle, peering down the corridors around her, into the darkness, searching for the source of the icy fear that coursed through her veins.
“Jess.” Seb stopped, looking back at her, a curious expression on his face. “You coming?”
Locking eyes with Jason, she knew with a cold certainty that they were too late. “Run!”
The word had barely left her lips as the gothic window above them imploded, the ear-splitting noise like a lightning bolt. Enormous shards of stained glass plummeted to the floor, shattering as it hit the ground.
“Jess!” Seb’s frenzied shout had her spinning around as he ran towards her, his footfall scraping and crunching over the glass and debris. Pulling her to him, he sheltered her body as the glass rained down.
Frantically grabbing his belt, she swung him around, fighting to get out of his arms without hurting him, and pushed him behind her.
Jason skidded to halt beside them as she finally tore herself free, their arms outstretched, a barrier in front of Sebastian, as three leviathan figures hazed to corporeal form amongst the chaos.
The demonic churning of their red eyes was unlike anything Jess had ever seen, but as she glanced over at her friend she knew he had. His breathing deepened as his eyes glazed, turning an unearthly blue. His rage and hatred crackled from his skin as he focused on the beings.
“Scourge.” The word muffled like a growl as it left his lips.
She called softly to him, knowing the chances of him fighting the change weren’t good. “Please, Jase. Let’s get Seb out of here!” The low urgency in her voice was slowly reaching him, and his breathing labored as he fought for control.
Pushing between the pair of them, Seb grabbed her arm, trying to pull her behind him. “Jess, get back!”
Wrenching free, she threw her arm back across his body. “Not the time, Seb.”
Jason’s snarl vibrated along her nerve endings.
Seb’s whispered, “What the fuck…?” was lost in the melee, as the largest of the three stepped forward.
“Give us the chalice, dog, and you will shed no blood tonight.”
The other two were clearly desperate to attack, waiting for the command of their ring-leader. Long malicious fangs were visible as he spoke, and dread poured though her as she realized that any chance of keeping this hidden, of keeping Seb protected, was lost.
Letting her shoulders drop, she focused her power, pulling it from her core, channeling currents down her arms to her palms. Hiding her left hand behind Jason’s back she lowered her right behind her, knowing that Seb would see the glowing as the power built, but the vampires wouldn’t.
There was simply no time left; hiding her and Jason’s abilities wouldn’t mean anything if they all ended up dead. Nudging Jason, she touched his back, making sure he felt the static buzz of her magic, and would realize what she was up to.
“I will shed no blood.” Turning his wild eyes on Jess, he looked from her back to the vampire. “But you won’t be so lucky.”
As Jason launched himself at the other two, Jess whipped her hands together, creating a single bolt of energy from her palms, hitting the ring-leader square in the chest.
His seemed to crumple, wrapping around the blow, as it launched him from the floor, flinging his broken body back out into the night.
Turning briefly to look for Sebastian, she panicked to find him gone, as Jason roared for her to protect him.
Seb had raced into the frenzy, landing a solid blow on the second vampire, as Jason fought the third, but it wasn’t enough.
Leaping to his feet, Jason pushed Seb clear, but as the other being grappled him to the ground, Jess knew he couldn’t get to his friend in time.
Whispering the low chant beneath her breath, Jess used the spell to latch onto Seb’s essence, whipping him up from the floor, out of the reach of the bloodthirsty creature heading straight for him.
Shaking loose his claws, Jason tore into the vampire at his feet, ending him. Jess hurtled Seb towards Jason with a shout, “Jase! Get him out of here—to the safe room…” She flung the words over her shoulder as she zapped the last vampire.
She held him steady as the silvery-lilac beam snapped and hissed as it hit him. The electricity poured through him, burning. Smoke lifted around them as the creature roared, his red eyes seething with rage as he fought against her magic.
Catching Jason’s eye in her peripheral vision, she shouted at him. “Jason…now!”
Seb careened into Jason at full force, knocking him to the floor, and as they both pushed back to their feet, Jason grabbed Seb’s arm pulling him away, even as he fought back, shouting for Jess to follow them.
But his strength was no match for Jason in his half-turned form.
Yanking Seb across his shoulders, he leapt across the hall making for the stairs, taking them in huge bounds. As soon as they were out of sight, she closed her eyes, pulling everything she had to her core, increasing the magic bursting from her.
With a horrendous scream, the vampire broke apart, and she propelled his ashen remains through the shattered window, out into the night.
Breathing hard, she ran for the control panel shutting off the security lighting, firing a bolt at the camera above the entranceway, shorting out the feed.
Planting her back firmly against the cold wall, she opened her palms.
Any essence of vampire
One, two, three,
Remove them from my sanctuary.
All evil will they brought here,
Wipe it clean
Don’t let it near.
She repeated the chant again, and then a third time, her voice echoing through the halls and chambers.
The charred and bleeding body of the remaining vampire fractured to dust, shifting; lifting from the ground it was pulled through the destroyed window high above the reception hall.
Releasing her pent up breath, Jess let her hands fall to her sides, taking in the carnage that lay all around. She’d need days to work up the kind of magic a spell of this magnitude would require, and time wasn’t on her side.
She’d seen her first vampire tonight. And she’d used her magic to mortally wound. She couldn’t find the horror for the first, or the guilt for the second. Faced with the same choices again, she’d take the same actions.
But her heart hurt at she stared down at the fragments of stained glass and lead. Hundreds of years of history, lost. The love and time of attentive craftsmen. A way of life that was no longer in existence, and could now no longer be studied.
But as she stared out into the night, that sadness faded in the face of what she knew was to come.
Setting her jaw, she pushed her tangled hair back from her face and headed over to the fire alarm box. On elbowing the glass, alarms began to scream around her, and she flung out her palms, pushing away from the floor, lifting out though the window, into the wind.
Hovering in the shadows, she whispered a protection spell, whirling the words into an intangible barrier that would keep anything other than human from entering. The rebound spell would send them, with great force, back to where they came from.
Staying close to the building, her heart pounded as she made for the safe room.