Chapter 22
Bartol
Riding in a human vehicle made Bartol edgy even though he’d done it quite a few times recently. He suspected it was the part about having to sit while someone else was in control. Someday, he would have to learn how to drive the modern version of a car, but he wasn’t quite ready for that yet. He still needed to master how to operate a computer, which he’d been told repeatedly was very important, despite the fact humans had existed for thousands of years without them.
“Are you doing okay?” Melena asked, glancing over at him from the driver’s side of the Jeep.
They’d been traveling around the area southeast of Fairbanks for most of the day as they searched for Cori’s former husband. As of yet, they’d only found two unidentified vampires close enough in age to fit. Neither turned out to be Griff.
Bartol stared out the window at the passing trees. “I’m fine.”
“You’re having a hard time sitting still for this long, aren’t you?”
“I do it all the time at home,” he replied.
“Right.” She adjusted her grip on the steering wheel. “Which is why your house—inside and out—is clean and spotless. Because you sit around all day.”
“That is different.”
Melena sighed, quiet for a moment. “Has it been tough having Cori staying with you?”
Bartol could already see where this conversation was headed. “The human woman is tolerable, mostly.”
“Tolerable.” Melena laughed. “That’s the understatement of the year. You probably think she’s a pain in the ass and can’t wait to get rid of her.”
Was the sensor baiting him? He decided to play along.
“Her cooking makes up for her other deficiencies. She’s also better than expected at picking up after herself, and she’s at least trying to give me some space,” he replied.
Cori hadn’t been half as bad as he’d thought she would be when he decided to have her stay with him. He still marveled at the sheer amount of food available in his kitchen. Every time he went in there, he didn’t know what to eat. Cori had stocked the cabinets and refrigerator with everything he could imagine and many things he couldn’t. The only thing he didn’t like was how she’d taken over his bathroom with her myriad female products, and she’d decorated! Nothing about his bathing chamber appeared the same anymore. Bartol felt as if he was stepping into another time and place whenever he went in there.
Melena tapped the steering wheel. “This is probably none of my business, but I’ve got to ask. Have you ever been in a serious relationship with a woman before?”
He considered not answering her, but perhaps it was for the best that he did. If the sensor was ever going to stop her matchmaking manipulations, she needed to understand why Bartol would never be right for Cori. “When I was young, I thought I was in love with a few different women, but it never lasted more than a year—if that.”
“Why not?”
He thought back to that time. Kerbasi had meddled with many of his memories, but he hadn’t quite reached the first century of Bartol’s life when he was young and inexperienced. The guardian must have thought those weren’t worth the effort to manipulate.
“Boredom in most cases,” he replied honestly. “Human women were fascinating at first because of their short lifespan, and their need to fill their brief years with as many experiences as possible—at least, for the ones that interested me. I went through several before I realized such relationships could never work. They wanted to settle down and have children at some point, which I could not offer them.”
The sensor turned off the highway onto a dirt road. They’d been crisscrossing the area, trying to cover as much ground as they could in the hopes they would not miss anything. They bumped along the ruts for a minute before she responded again. “What about supernaturals? None of those worked, either?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I developed feelings for a beautiful vampire once and thought she might be the one for me, but then I found her with another nephilim. She said immortals had no reason to limit themselves to only one sexual partner. Back then, I was young and idealistic, so that rather ruined me to try again.”
“I got the impression you were with that angel for a while before you were caught,” Melena said, keeping her eyes on the road.
Bartol should have known this was the real question she wished to ask. “A few months, yes.”
“How did you seduce her? That couldn’t have been easy.”
“I didn’t seduce her.”
Melena hit the brakes on her Jeep. They came to a grinding halt, turning up dust on the road. “Holy shit, you’re telling the truth. Then what happened?”
He didn’t know why he was telling her since he’d kept the details to himself for all these decades. In the beginning, he’d allowed people to believe the lie because it bolstered his reputation. After he was caught and sent to Purgatory, it seemed a moot point. The archangels were unlikely to care about his side of the story.
“She seduced me.”
The sensor’s eyes rounded. “She what?”
Bartol sometimes forgot that just because Melena was immortal didn’t mean she didn’t still have a lot to learn about the supernatural world. He would have to take the time to educate her on this one point. “Have you ever wondered how nephilim are born? Consider it—do you think humans are tracking down angels and seducing them? No, because it has to be the other way around. Some angels watch over Earth for so long that they begin to get curious. Then they latch onto a human who truly interests them and make contact. The same happened for me.”
“So an angel found you.” A million thoughts seemed to pass through her eyes. “Did you try sending her away?”
He knit his brows as he attempted to think back to that time. Many of his memories of Clarissa were distorted by Kerbasi’s tampering, but most of the first couple of weeks before they slept together were intact. “I laughed at her the first time she appeared in my bedroom naked. I thought for certain it was some kind of joke, and that she could not be serious.”
“But she kept trying.”
“Yes,” he said, lost in thought. “She was beautiful, graceful, and desperate for a human experience, but she did not want to risk getting pregnant so she thought a nephilim would be a safer choice. I think she also felt the highly forbidden nature of our relationship made it more exciting. After a while, I couldn’t hold back my curiosity, though I honestly tried at first. I’d known nothing good could come of being with her.”
“What was it like? Did you fall in love?” Melena asked.
Bartol shook his head. “She was smart and willing to try anything in bed. I enjoyed her very much, but I could not develop feelings for her beyond friendship. Our connection just didn’t work out that way. We did talk for hours about our lives, which was pleasant, and she told me about how bored she was with her work. Angels often spend centuries doing the same thing without a break from the monotony. It is why some choose to fall despite the consequences.”
Melena studied him. “Were you upset when they sent her to Hell?”
“Not particularly. Clarissa was the one who confessed to the archangel council about what we’d done and placed the entire blame on me.” He ground his jaw. “It was hard to feel sorry for her after that.”
“Why would she do such a thing?”
Bartol clenched his fists. “She started to feel guilty about us, and I think she believed they’d give her clemency for confessing.”
“Couldn’t they know that she was the one who started it?” Melena asked.
“Why would they check?” Bartol lifted a brow. “I had a reputation back then for seducing women, so there was no reason for them to doubt her. It likely didn’t help that I didn’t deny her accusations. At the time, I never guessed the punishment would be so severe. Even with all of Lucas’ transgressions, he was never confined for that long.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, regret in her eyes. “It was extreme.”
Bartol shrugged as if it wasn’t the worst experience of his life. “Since I was the first nephilim to sleep with an angel, they had to make an example out of me. I should have known that would happen.”
“You should tell Cori about this.” Melena started driving the Jeep again. “She’d probably want to hear it.”
“I do not see how it matters.”
Melena veered around a large rut in the road. “I think she wants to know everything about you, whether she realizes it or not. In all the time I’ve known her, she’s never gone after a man or paid attention to him the way she has you. She needs to see you can open up as well.”
“Nothing good can come of her and I being together.” Bartol stared straight ahead at the road. “We are both damaged, and she’s mortal.”
“Maybe there’s a way to…”
“Don’t,” he growled.
Melena sighed. “I’m just saying where there is a will, there is a way.”
“Not everyone gets a happy ending.”
The sensor stiffened. At first, Bartol thought it was something he’d said, but then she sped up the road. A minute later, she parked the Jeep off to the side. Her brows were furrowed in concentration as she worked something out in her head.
“There’s a vampire not far from here.” She pointed toward the woods off to the left. “He’s about the right age—somewhere between four and six.”
“You’re not certain?”
Melena shrugged. “It’s only around the first year or so after they’ve turned when I can pinpoint the age almost to the month. After that, it becomes vaguer. This guy could be it, though.”
They’d already come upon two other vampires today who were a close fit, but it turned out they weren’t the ones, either. Bartol hoped they’d have better luck this time.
“Tell me where exactly,” he said.
She pointed again. “About two hundred feet in that direction.”
Bartol used his flashing sight to check the area, but all he saw were trees and brush. There was no cabin or anyplace for a vampire to hide. “Are you certain? I do not see anything.”
“He’s there,” she promised.
Bartol grunted, having a bad feeling about this. “I will return shortly.”
Flashing to the approximate location she gave him, he touched ground next to a thicket. It was still daylight outside, so even the trees and brush would not be enough to protect the vampire from the sun’s rays. Bartol walked the area, looking to see if some sort of underground shelter might be around. He found nothing. No caves, trap doors, or even a small shack. Then his gaze fell on freshly turned dirt just inside a thicket.
Had the vamp been caught out too close to dawn and taken shelter beneath the earth?
His flashing sight told him nothing since it was too dark to discern anything below ground. The only way he would find out for certain was to dig, but if Bartol did so, it would mean death for any vampire hidden there. He would have seconds to look at the person’s face before they’d burst into flames.
Resigned to do what he must, Bartol kneeled and began scooping away the loose dirt. Since it was freshly tilled, it was not difficult. He had to go about two feet down before he came across the sleeve of a shirt. Quickly covering it, he adjusted his digging to where he believed the head would be located. A few minutes later, his fingers grazed a man’s jaw. Bartol swept more dirt aside, hovering over the site as best he could to block the sun. It wouldn’t stop a vampire from burning, but it would slow the process down. He’d cleared most of the dirt from the man’s face when the vamp opened his eyes.
His fangs stuck out, and he hissed.
This was not Griff. He was too thin, and he had red hair. Bartol started to cover the dirt back over the vampire, but it was too late. Fire began racing over the vulnerable man’s pale skin, and a gut-wrenching scream tore from his throat. Bartol rocked back on his heels, unable to do anything as the flames burrowed down under the soil to consume every last inch of the vampire. It was part of the magic and could not be extinguished once started.
The vamp twisted and turned in his self-made grave, his screams spreading throughout the woods and startling a flock of birds into flight. Sunlight deaths were not instant or painless, and Bartol felt guilty at the needless suffering he had just caused. He mumbled an apology as the vampire finally crumbled into a pile of ash. It had died for no reason other than being at the wrong place at the wrong time. If he’d been in the area legitimately, though, he wouldn’t have been hiding underground. No self-respecting person from his race would dig a grave as a hideout unless they were trying not to be found, or they were foolish and could not keep track of the sun as well as they should.
Bartol flashed back to Melena. “Not Griff.”
“You’re getting dirt all over my seat,” she said, frowning at him.
He brushed at his pants, sending flecks of earth onto her floorboard. “You sent me after a vampire who’d buried himself. There was only one way to verify his identity, and it wasn’t pleasant.”
She cringed. “Oh, sorry. I was wondering what all that screaming was about, but I thought you were just questioning him.”
“There was no time for that.”
“Damn.” She brushed a lock out of her face. “Now I feel bad.”
Bartol did as well, but it helped that he didn’t know the vampire and doubted anyone would miss him. He wouldn’t have been hiding underground if he had friends.
“It will be getting dark soon.” He glanced up at the sky, thinking he probably should have waited for sunset to check the vampire, but it would have taken too long. “I need to get back to Cori.”
“Okay.” Melena nodded. “I can get home on my own if you want to go now.”
“Are you certain?” Bartol asked.
He knew the sensor could take care of herself, but he still didn’t like the idea of leaving a woman alone in the woods. It seemed rather inconsiderate.
She waved a hand. “I’ll be fine. God help anyone who bothers me on the way back.”
“Very well.” He searched her gaze to be certain she truly was fine and found only confidence in her demeanor. “I will meet with you again at noon tomorrow.” That was the soonest the sensor could get away from work to help with the search.
“Sounds good,” she agreed.
Bartol flashed back to his cabin and took a quick shower. He did not want to show up at Cori’s shop covered in dirt. After he’d cleaned up and put on a fresh set of clothes, he relocated to her place of work. It was about an hour before she would close for the night, so he only found Tormod and a blond female at the front.
“So do you do tattoos?” the woman asked, running her fingers down the nerou’s arm.
Tormod gave her a suave smile. “I’ve been drawing some designs, but I might try my hand at the machine someday.”
The woman leaned forward to reveal more of her considerable cleavage. “You’re welcome to experiment on me anytime.”
Bartol remembered when women used to treat him that way, and he’d enjoyed every moment of it back then. Now he was glad they kept their distance. Seeing the way Tormod and the female acted toward each other seemed frivolous now. Not at all exciting like it once would have been to him.
He joined them at the counter. “Has there been any trouble?”
“No.” The nerou shook his head. “It’s mostly been a slow day.”
“Where’s Cori?”
Tormod pointed toward the back. “Finishing up a tattoo. It’s for that guy who got stabbed the same time she was attacked. He wanted to get it finished and the scar covered up.”
Bartol frowned. Micah had done what he could to patch the internal damage of Hayden’s wound, but the nephilim didn’t have enough energy left to fully repair the skin. It would have taken just long enough to heal that there would have been a faint scar remaining.
“I will go check on her,” he said, leaving Tormod to the blond woman.
They started flirting again before Bartol made it to the rear of the shop. He stopped in the doorway to Cori’s work room. She was leaning over Hayden’s bare back with her tattoo machine thrumming needles into his skin. Some of her dark hair covered her face, and she had a total look of concentration. Most of the work was done, so Bartol could make out a clear image of a reaper she’d created. The human man lay on the chair with his eyes shut.
“It is rather ironic you asked for a reaper and nearly died getting it,” Bartol said, leaning against the door frame.
Hayden’s gaze shot toward him. “Who are you?”
“Another bodyguard,” Cori replied, not bothering to look up from her work.
Bartol ground his jaw. Why did it bother him if she paid greater attention to another man when he was around? This was her profession, yet he hated that she couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge him with a look. He was here to protect her, after all.
Hayden angled his head to glance at Cori. “I thought you were kidding when you mentioned the mafia, but I can see you weren’t joking if you’ve got this much protection around to keep you safe. How many bodyguards does your friend, Melena, have?”
“Plenty,” Cori said, lips twitching. Then her expression sobered. “I really am sorry you got caught in the middle of that.”
She’d been the one to tell Bartol and Micah which story to give Hayden about what happened in the tattoo shop the day of the attack. Apparently, Cori and Melena had made a joke about the mafia prior to the incident, so she suggested they use that. It had been easier than compelling his mind with fabricated memories, especially since he would have a scar and need some reason for its existence. They used a similar story with the police to make certain it all matched up but told the authorities the death of the attacker had resolved the issue.
“I’m just glad we’re both fine,” Hayden said, then scrunched his brows as she moved the needles over his shoulder blade. “I really thought that guy was going to kill you.”
Cori was silent for a few minutes while she worked. “I’m surprised you were willing to come back here after that.”
The human man glanced at her again. “I couldn’t let anyone else finish the job, could I?”
Bartol stiffened. Hayden hadn’t returned because he liked Cori’s work. He’d come back because he liked her and wanted to see her again. This damn human thought because he took a stab wound for her that it entitled him to flirt with her. But what had he truly done? Lay there bleeding while telling her to run? How heroic was that?
Cori smiled at Hayden. “I’m glad a guy with a knife wasn’t enough to scare you off.”
“I do think I’ll take your friend’s suggestion and see about getting a bulletproof vest the next time I come in here, though,” the human joked.
Unable to listen to any longer, Bartol left the room. He strode up to Tormod—who was still talking to the blond woman—and gave him a censorious look. “I think it’s time you go home now. I’ve got it from here.”
The nerou took one look at his expression and swallowed. “Right.”
“Walk me out?” the woman asked, smiling.
Tormod turned to Bartol. “Is that okay?”
“Go ahead.” It was getting dark and probably best for the female’s safety anyway. “But go home after that.”
The nerou grabbed a backpack he’d brought with him. “Alright, see you tomorrow.”
Bartol watched the two young people walk out. After they were gone, he paced the front of the store. It took another twenty minutes before Cori and Hayden came out from the back. The human man was still smiling at her, and she was laughing at something he’d said. It drove Bartol crazy to see her acting normal and nice with someone else. He also hated that he could not make her smile and laugh like that.
They stopped at the register and Cori ran his credit card. “I’m giving you a discount since you went through so much trouble to get the tattoo.”
“Thanks,” Hayden said. “But if you really want to show your gratitude, let me take you out to dinner sometime.”
Bartol growled. He was a breath away from finishing the job the man with the knife had started. It wasn’t like him to feel jealous, but he couldn’t seem to stop his murderous thoughts.
Cori glanced Bartol’s way, expression concerned, then turned back to Hayden. “Uh, yeah, maybe.”
“Seriously. You’ve got my number, so give me a call,” the human said, taking his credit card back and giving her an earnest look.
She smiled weakly. “I’ll think about it.”
They spoke for another minute before the man left. Bartol was so tense from keeping himself still and not attacking that it took a while after Hayden departed before he could move again. By the time he did, Cori had gone off to the supply room. Bartol found her in front of a large, square metal box with buttons and a small screen on it.
“I just need a few minutes to start the autoclave. After that, we can work on closing the shop,” she said with her back to him.
“What is an autoclave?” he asked.
Cori pressed some buttons. “It sterilizes my equipment, so I can reuse certain metal parts with other customers.”
“I thought you always replace the needles.” She’d mentioned something about that before, and how it helped prevent spreading infection.
“I do,” she confirmed. “But there are other parts I can’t afford to replace every time, so I put them through a sterilization process. Hospitals do the same thing.”
Bartol would have to take her word for it. He appreciated cleanliness more than most, but in this modern age they took it to another level he’d never imagined. “What do you wish to do about dinner?”
She finished with the metal box and turned toward him. “Think we can grab pizza?”
“I could eat that,” he agreed. In fact, it was one of his favorite meals.
“Good.” She gave him a smile that made him feel like he was the only man in the world. “We should be done here soon and then we can go.”
His previous anger fled. It occurred to him then that Cori might have been polite to Hayden earlier, but the human man was gone and she would go home with Bartol. The trouble with that was he didn’t know what to do with her there. Either he’d have to take Melena’s suggestion and try harder with Cori, or he’d have to make himself let her go. He wasn’t certain which option would be more difficult for him.