Nine

THE UNFORTUNATE THING about trying to find Zach was that all roads led to vampires. With that, it meant Gia would search at night since that was when they showed themselves. The lack of sleep was taking a toll on her. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, her energy wasn’t up to snuff and her general opinion of nighttime was shifting. Every clue she followed ended with nothing. It was like going on a wild goose chase with a blindfold on. Layton was helpful in his own way but Gia lost sight of her task and found herself mesmerized by him. When they were together, she could think of nothing else. When they were apart, she could only think about them being together. The infatuation with him was becoming an unhealthy obsession that she needed to break herself of. Nothing good could come of them together. It was against the laws of nature for a human and a vamp to be together. Over the years people somewhat accepted that a vampire and a human could be a couple, but that didn’t mean it should happen.

 “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a life?” Gia’s dad asked as she handed him a diet soda.

“I wanted to check on you since you’re home from the hospital.”

 “Always trying to babysit your dad, aren’t you?”

“You know it.” Gia took a seat on the couch and glanced at the T.V. Her dad had a bad habit of keeping the screen on with the volume muted and it drove her bananas. “What’s the point of having it on with no sound, dad?”

“Force of habit. Don’t try to change me, Gia. I’m too old for that shit.” “Point taken.”

 “Any word on your brother?” her father sat the can to the side and asked.

“Not yet. Layton has given me some information to follow up on.”

“I don’t like that vamp. You need to get as far away from him as possible,” her dad warned.

“Dad, he’s the only one who can help me right now. I will not stop letting him do that. What is it with you and him? You didn’t use to have a problem with vampires.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he turned his head away.

 “Well, I do. You can’t be cryptic about the reason and expect me to sit here with my mouth shut. You know me better than that.”

“I have my reasons and that’s all you need to know. Besides, the less you know will help protect you.”

“From what?” Gia stood, anger washing over her. “Never mind.” “Whatever. I have errands to run. If you need anything, call me.” Gia grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

“Just remember no matter what you find out, I tried to keep you and Zach safe.” Rolling her eyes, Gia pulled the door open and stepped onto the porch. The dry Vegas air smacked her in the face, taking her breath away. It was only a couple hours until sundown and Layton would expect her to be at Club Desire with him. He would have to deal with her being a no-show—fatigue was taking precedence that night. The only thing she could think of was a hot bath, her favorite pajamas, and her bed. Over and over Gia’s phone rang just as the sun sank beneath the horizon. She sat on her sofa, pulling the mini blinds away from the window, watching the orange evening sky turn to black. Guilt swamped her each time she saw Layton’s name pop up on the screen of her device. He’d left thirteen voicemails so far but Gia refused to listen to any of them. She needed peace and quiet. With her favorite blanket pulled over her body, she stared at the T.V. screen, not paying much attention to the sound. Maybe her dad had a good idea in keeping the volume at the mute setting. She was just too tired to think about anything. With her eyes drifting shut and the only light being the flicker of a scene change on the screen across the room, Gia gave in to the urge to sleep. Her body fell into a state of relaxation and one corner of her mouth kicked up, smiling at her drop into slumber. Just before she gave herself to the night, several loud bangs sounded at the door. Her eyes shot open and her body sat upright. Stumbling across the room, she ran into the corner of the coffee table with her shin. “Damn it,” she yelled.

“Gia, open the fucking door.” Layton’s pissed off voice came through. When she pulled the door open, he stood on her porch, his hands braced on his hips and a scowl on his face. “I expected you at the club,” he frowned.

“I’m tired. Can we reschedule your tantrum to another night?”

“This isn’t funny.”

 “Were you a drama queen as a human because you’re pulling it off beautifully as a vampire?”

“Invite me in,” he stepped closer to the doorway.

“Nope.” Gia crossed her arms over her chest.

“I can’t come in if you don’t invite me, Gia.”

“I know the rules. That’s why I’m not inviting you in.” she flashed a snarky grin.

“Damn it, human.” “I think you should leave,” she grabbed the edge of the door and slammed it in his face. She stood there with her forehead braced against the thick wood, knowing that he was still waiting. Shaking her head, Gia turned around and stopped. Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open as she stared down a strange intruder in her home.

 “What do you want?” her body trembled with fear when she peered down at the large knife in his hand. His face was covered with a ski mask and his stance told her he wasn’t there to borrow a cup of sugar. Gia’s eyes darted around the room, trying to locate something she could use to ward off the man. When she spotted nothing, she spun around and grabbed the door knob. Just as she wrenched it open, her attacker grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to the floor. With the door wide open, Gia could see Layton standing there with fury on his face.

 “Invite me the fuck in!” he roared.

 With a knife at her throat while pinned to the floor she heard the man say, “If you let him come in, I will slit your throat." She kept quiet, holding back the urge to scream.

“Gia, listen to me. I need you to invite me in. I can get to him before he hurts you,” Layton pleaded. She wanted to trust in the fact that he had the advantage of speed on his side, but what if he wasn’t fast enough? Could she risk her life on a hunch?

“Now, I hear you’ve been hanging around the vamps,” the man above her stated. “For your kind, that isn’t allowed.” Gia gave the man a puzzled look. “You can consider this a warning if you’d like.” He exerted more pressure with the blade against her neck. “Next time, I’ll fucking kill you.” He stood and backed away, Gia still froze with fear on the floor.

When he was a safe distance from her, she yelled, “Layton, come in.” Gia watched as Layton sped across the floor, came up behind the man and in a solid whip, broke his neck. When his body fell to the floor in a heap, she stood. “No,” she hurried to the dead man. “Why did you do that?” looking up she could see Layton studying her.

“He threatened your life.”

 “You didn’t have to kill him.” Gia reached the bottom of the mask and pulled it over the mystery man’s head. She didn’t recognize the man at all.

 “I must get him out of here.” Layton bent down and lifted the body. “I will be back.” There weren’t words to explain how she felt as he headed out the back door of the house. Death was part of life but Gia had never seen it happen first hand. To watch someone’s soul, leave their body was something she wouldn’t soon forget. But the one thing that baffled her was the man’s comment about her kind. What did that mean? She was human and obviously, he was. It would have been understandable had the man been a vampire but since he was able to enter her home without an invitation, she knew he was merely a mortal. “That’s taken care of,” Layton walked through the front door.

“Why did he say my kind?” she took a seat on the sofa and crossed her legs underneath her body.

“I don’t know,” he wouldn’t make eye contact with her.

“Please don’t lie to me.”

 “Would you like me to make something up just to appease your curiosity?”

“What I would like is for you to stop being a dick.” She popped up from her position and walked into the kitchen. Reaching for a drinking glass, she wrapped her hand around it but it slipped. The edge of it hit the counter and shattered. “Shit,” Gia picked up the shards of glass and began tossing them into the trash can. When she came to the largest piece, she pulled her finger back. “Damn it,” blood ran from the cut. Layton stood at the doorway of the room, watching her intently. “Sorry, I’ll go bandage this up so you don’t have to smell it,” she tried to push past him but he stopped her.

“I want to see the cut,” he held her wrist.

“Why so you can lick it?” she laughed.

 “Let me see it, Gia.”

 “Fine. Whatever,” she said, then unwrapped her other hand from the offending finger. She closed her eyes and held her breath.

 “Has the accelerated healing rate been happening all of your life?”

 “I don’t want to talk about it.”

 “Your evasion on the subject tells me that you have been experiencing the rapid healing.”

 “What’s the big deal?” she shrugged.

“The big deal is, you are not safe here. Pack some of your things, you will stay with me for a while.”

“That’s ridiculous. Just tell me what’s going on. I’ll lock my doors and not let anyone in.”

“I will not stand here and debate this with you. I am in charge of keeping you safe.”

“I think you owe me an explanation first,” she sassed.

“I owe you nothing.”

“Then see ya later because my ass is staying here,” she turned to walk away, but he grabbed her around the waist and tossed over his shoulder.

“If this is how human women act nowadays, I’m glad I’m a fucking vampire.”