Revolution

Carrie

Was it me or the room that felt beyond awkward after Deacon left? Colton obviously overheard the witch conversation, which meant he overheard everything else. I twisted the rim of Deacon’s shirt in my fingers and bit the corner of my lip.

“Exactly how good is your hearing?”

Colton moved closer, slid a hand on my waist, and kissed my forehead, before he moved to sit on the couch.

“Let’s put it this way. If I wanted to focus, I could hear Mr. Garcia talking to a customer.”

My jaw dropped and I released the shirt. “He is next door, and in a whole different building!”

Colton just shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. To him it probably wasn’t.

“Can all vampires do that, or just the ones like you and Deacon?” I sank onto the other end of the couch, my body turned to face him.

My curiosity was helping me ignore the original embarrassment.

“Nightwalkers have good hearing, compared to humans. Vampire Borns have double that kind of range. Between all the talking and the music in the bar, they won’t pick up much of anything.” He reached over and stroked the side of his finger along my bare legs. “Deacon and I will catch everything, well, if we want to. We learned the hard way to not focus on everything going on around us on some nights.”

“Did you really sleep in the cellar last night?” I would feel really bad if he had.

He laughed and pulled my leg from where it was curved under me and set it on his lap. Then he started grazing his fingers along the inside. I could feel that he was perfectly content, like this was normal for us. I guess, in a way, it was. He tended to take advantage of the loose rules when we were in the bar. He was getting braver with his hands lately, since it was obvious Deacon didn’t care so much. And when I got lost in the moment. I wasn’t even sure last night whose hands were under my shirt, while we were dancing together. And I wasn’t sure if I cared about that, at least, not at the time. Colton had a way of drowning out the world for me too. Not quite the same way as Deacon, but enough.

I did care when I felt Deacon place Colton against me, under my skirt, but even that flew out the window pretty quick. Hence, my not knowing who was in my shirt. I barely registered my shirt zipper being pulled down halfway.

I was pretty sure Colton knew where my mind was going, as he smiled softly and dared to move his fingers a little higher. Just high enough to make my breath catch.

“No. I was just being dramatic. You both weren’t that bad. And for the record, I don’t mind that your ancestors were the ones that cursed us. I lived during that time, too. I was still very young, but I do vaguely remember my mother. She was a Vampire Born. One of the last females.”

I couldn’t help it, I reached over and set my hand on his. Not the one on my leg, his other one. “I’m sorry, Colton.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It’s not your fault, sweetheart. What’s done is done. Now we are here, and” he lifted an eyebrow at me, “you are now fully mated to my best friend.” He gave a small sad laugh and took his hand back. The one I hadn’t wanted to disturb. It was probably a good thing.

“Yes. I am.” It was quiet for a few minutes, until I stood up again. “I’m going to go get ready for work.” I bit back the laugh at his pained expression.

While part of me wanted to play nice for Colton’s benefit, the other part wanted to make Deacon happy when he got back. I pulled on the black top, the one that hugged my breasts, and only my breasts, from behind. It was Deacon’s favorite, that and the white one. Although, he did seem to enjoy the one with a zipper too. I paired it with one of my black pencil type skirts. It rolled up easily when he moved my legs. Almost to my waist.

The entire outfit provided him with more access to more fun places. After being gone all day, Deacon was going to be all over me. And I was perfectly fine with that.

It only took one look from Colton, and I knew I had picked right. Knowing he found me so attractive made me feel giddy. He was still sitting on the couch, his eyes watching my every move like a hunter preparing to strike.

I walked over and picked up his hand, pulling on him.

“Come on, lazy. You came to work, and we’ve got work to do. Sunday vamps always leave a giant mess behind.”

He grumbled disgruntledly from behind me. I couldn’t hear him, but I felt the intent. He was jealous, probably over the way the mess was made.

I loved how much stronger that power was getting lately. Both of them really. Maybe all I had been missing was stepping fully into the world of magic, depending on my powers more, and accepting what I was. I may have been more willing to accept my powers the last few years, but I still had barely been walking the line.

Even though it was obvious the two of them had cleaned up the bar last night, it was not good enough. They did the basics, but Sunday calls for more than just the basics. Men, especially vampires apparently, may not care about certain types of messes left on benches and floors, but I sure did.

We spent the next two hours giving that place a proper scrub down. We might have finished sooner, but Colton seemed to get distracted anytime I bent over. I didn’t do anything to mess with him on purpose. I didn’t bend over from the waist, knowing my skirt would move up enough to give him a peek. Or even shake my butt with the music, while bent over. And I certainly didn’t fix my shirt with him watching.

I would never mess with a man like that.

As one of my dad’s favorite songs, by Collin Raye, when I was a kid said, “that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” He used to say that to my mom, and then break out singing the chorus. If she still didn’t crack, he’d grab her hands and start dancing. Worked every time.

Once we opened the bar, the humans began trickling in. Colton took that as his sign that he was allowed to touch me again. He put a hand on my stomach, from behind me, and reached around me for a bottle of scotch. Since the music was playing I leaned over just enough to rub against him, dancing. He growled in my ear and pressed back. My eyes closed as the memory of what that felt like ran through me. He sniffed my neck with a sigh and kissed it gently before moving on.

For the most part, it was quiet. The humans were there to drink and forget. Not there to drink and have fun. Every day they talked less and less. Every day we asked fewer and fewer of them to pay.

“How you doing, Jack?” I asked an older man sitting at the bar.

He huffed and turned his glass in his hands. “I’ve been better, Carrie. I’m still here though, still kicking.”

“Good for you, Jack. Just don’t give up, this has to end sometime.”

“I doubt it. There is a rumor going around. Saying the big bad vampire boss will be in town next month. He is going to each city and town in California. He is organizing a vampire government and getting a census of all the humans still living within his walls.” Jack snorted and took another drink of his scotch.

My eyes flicked up to Colton, who I knew now was most likely listening. He came over and put a hand on my back, trying to soothe my fears. His comfort helped, but he wasn’t Deacon, so I was only partially calmed. Before today, I didn’t understand how Deacon was able to affect me so easily. Now I did.

“That actually might be a good thing, Jack.” Colton said. “It means he is done spreading destruction. We can start building some semblance of a life again. He will want to keep all the humans fed and healthy. Not everyone will become vampire food. Some will need to farm and work in factories and other jobs. California is a big state, with lots of places for people to work.”

Jack stared at my new friend like he had grown another head. Colton had meant well. I set one hand on his lower back and patted his chest with the other, placatingly.

“What? What did I say?”

“It’s not really what you said, so much as how you said it. You sounded like you were rooting for the vamps, Colton.”

“No, no. That is not what I meant. I was just trying to tell him that, with some sort of organization, things will get better than they are now.”

“I don’t care what kind of organization he puts in. He wants to boss around the other vampires, fine. All for it. But he wants to boss around humans too. That ain’t right. Humans should be in charge of humans and vamps should be in charge of vamps. They want a home? Then they should buy some land and go make their own. Leave our home alone.” The older man stated firmly.

Colton looked like he wanted to argue, but the man was not going to be swayed, and frankly he was right. I put my hand on Colton’s arm and shook my head when he looked at me. It wasn’t worth the fight. Jack wasn’t going to change his mind, and neither was Colton. He sighed, deflated, and walked away.

“Tell me more about this great-grandson of yours.” I changed the topic with Jack, bringing a small smile to his face.

The day shift dragged by slowly. We didn’t have many human customers, and those we did have didn’t have very much at home, or the shelter. Especially food. We were more than happy to provide that.

We only had a few patrons left in the bar, and I was bored enough to do extra cleaning. Colton didn’t need to put on a show as much with the humans. They knew I was taken, and they knew they had a good thing going in our bar. They didn’t want to ruin that. With less than an hour until we sent them home, to safety, I gathered the large trash bag.

“I’m going to take the trash out to the alley.” I informed Colton.

He swiftly blocked my path. Thankfully the few humans in the room weren’t paying attention since he let some of his facade slip.

“No, save it. I will do it soon.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “I am perfectly capable of taking out the trash. I used to do it all the time before I came here. It’ll be fine.”

I tried to move him, but he was thicker than a stone wall. He folded his arms, his face telling me there was no way in hell I was going out there.

“You are not to leave this bar alone.” His voice, his vibe, and especially his stance, backed up his statement.

I groaned and practically dropped the bag. I lifted a hand toward the window, where the sun shone through. “Colton, the sun is still up, and I am going only two feet from the door. If something happens, I’m sure you’ll hear me before I even scream.” I pleaded.

He refused to budge. I left the bag where it was and leaned against the wall, pouting like a teenager.

He smirked at me and returned to the bar to help Fred, who was now watching us carefully. With a silent laugh of triumph, I picked up the bag and ran for the door. Colton didn’t have a choice but to let me go this time. If he used his full speed in front of the humans, especially while they were paying attention to him, the word would spread of vampires that walked in the sunlight.

Even still, I heard the low growl, which made me laugh more. I was really beginning to love making them both growl like that. Didn’t matter the reasoning, it was just fun.

I didn’t know what the big deal was, I would be back before he was even done with Fred, a heavy drinker. He watched his wife raped and murdered in front of him by vampires. I couldn’t blame him for turning to the bottle. And if Colton did run in front of him, he would lead the mob, holding the biggest pitchfork.

I walked out the back door, looked around to be safe, then stepped out. It took me maybe twenty seconds to put the bag in the dumpster and head back to the door.

It took three seconds for a hand to wrap around my mouth from behind. I never heard him coming. I never felt him coming. I should have searched with more than just my eyes. I should have paid better attention to my surroundings

“There’s my pretty birdie. I knew if I was patient long enough you would come out of your cage.”

I recognized that voice. One I only heard once, a few weeks ago, another lifetime ago. That one time had been enough to sear it to my brain.

Victor was back.

I tried to scream, but it was pointless. I had to hope Colton could somehow hear my muffled scream. I could feel Victor’s nose moving along my neck, as he inhaled my scent. Then his tongue licked the same spot Deacon had marked me just hours before.

“He ruined you!” Victor yelled in a low voice. “He tainted your blood with his own. I will kill him for this.” I could feel the vibrations in his chest as he growled out the threat.

I didn’t like his growls nearly as much.

I opened my mouth and tried to bite the palm covering me, it only made him laugh. His other hand retaliated by squeezing various parts of me. It felt like I was a used car, and he was kicking the tires to see if I was still any good.

I tried to kick behind me to hit him. It didn’t work. He wrapped his free hand around my waist and arms and lifted me in the air. Victor made it look as though I was nothing but a doll.

“Since he tainted what was mine, I will have to taint what is his. Well, was his. There won’t be much left of you by the time I am done. Hopefully, by finishing you off, it will take him out too. Serves him right for taking what was mine.”

As Victor pulled me further into the dark places of the alley, my eyes overflowed from the fear and soaked his hands. I stopped kicking him, it was fruitless anyway. My fear quickly bled into depression.

I should have listened to Colton. I should have stayed in the stupid bar. Why didn’t I listen? I knew I was safer inside then out. That’s why I had never come out by myself.

Victor stopped walking as he neared a dark van hidden down a separate alley, no windows in the back, and a black moving blanket hung like a curtain behind the two front seats.

I had thought all my adrenaline was gone, but seeing this, it came flooding back.

I started screaming into his hand again, kicking my legs behind me. I lifted them up to the van, placing one on each side of the opening, trying to push us back. Anything to keep from getting inside there.

I knew if I went in, I was never coming back out.

Victor growled again while trying to push my legs off the car. Unfortunately for him, both his hands were busy restricting my arms and my mouth.

Suddenly, he gave a grunt and released me.

I screamed with shock and fear, again, when I randomly fell. I landed on my butt and fell to my back, hitting my head against the pavement.

“Ow.” I whimpered in a groan.

I didn’t let myself have time to recover, I rolled to my knees and took off running, screaming for help. I was going to use every advantage I had to get away from him, and to get Colton’s attention. Anybody’s attention. The other vampires knew who I belonged to. Surely they would help get me back to Deacon.

My scream hit a new pitch when two of the hottest arms I had ever felt caught me from behind and swung me up until he was holding me bridal style against his chest. I was too busy freaking out for it all to register, until I heard his voice.

“Sh, now angel. I’ve got you.”

My eyes flew up and met the glowing pitch-black eyes of my mate. The fire behind them looked more orange than yellow tonight. Even his glow was darker. He was beyond ticked.

I immediately threw my arms around his neck and sobbed into him. I felt rough kisses run across my forehead and down my face as the wind rushed over us. I kept my face hidden, needing his comfort, until I was being laid on a bed seconds later.

“What the hell happened?” he growled.

I tried to find my voice to answer. But it wasn’t coming. Someone else answered for me. Well, to the best of their ability anyway.

“I don’t know, alright! She wanted to take the trash out. I told her no. She acted like she was going to wait for me, so I helped Fred. Next thing I know she is laughing and running out the door. I didn’t hear anything from outside. When she didn’t come back after a few minutes, I went to check on her, and that was right as you ran by.” Colton’s voice stopped, taking a breath to calm himself. “What happened out there?”

Deacon stayed lying next to me, holding me tight to him. “I felt her panic when I was down the street. I was prepared to run inside. But the second I got out of my truck her scent hit me. I followed it. I could hear muffled screaming. I barely got here in time. Victor was trying to put her in a van. He had her mouth covered so she couldn’t scream. I could hear it through that, why couldn’t you?”

He was bordering on accusing his friend of being at fault. He shouldn’t, it was mine. All mine.

I felt the bed dip, and one of Colton’s hands landed on my leg. “I don’t know. The music, maybe? Did he hurt her?”

His intent for touching me had changed this time. It wasn’t about wanting me this time. His only intent was to provide comfort. And to reassure himself that I was alright.

I felt a pressure in my chest lighten, followed by a sigh from Deacon. Was this extra pressure from him? We hadn’t had time to figure out the whole feeling each other thing before he left this morning.

“Not physically. I would know if he had. She was trying to fight him off, that much I could tell. I think she is just traumatized for the moment.” Deacon’s hand pushed the hair off my face, and I looked up at him. My sobs were slowing, my tears weren’t. “What happened, angel?”

I hiccupped, opened my mouth to say something, and then started crying again.

“I think she’s still in shock.” Deacon told his friend calmly.

He slid an arm under my head and held his wrist in front me, just as he did the night before. Through my blurry eyes, I watched as he bit into his wrist.

“Drink, angel. Let my blood heal you. You have bruises from that fall, those are my fault. I’m sorry. I just reacted. I didn’t think about how you would fall when I killed him.”

He pressed his wrist to my mouth, and without thinking, probably a reflex by this point, I took him in. I shook as the first few drops went down. Deacon rubbed his hand on my bare stomach. Colton rubbed a hand up and down my leg. I shivered from the contact.

My eyes closed, rolling to the back of my head. I sighed with relief as the warm blood flooded through my system, smoothing out the pains I hadn’t yet noticed, soothing me like a warm blanket.