Vampires, Magic, and Monsters - Page 2

He left the building just as he heard sirens coming his way. Swift and stealthy, he ducked into the shadows and made his way north. He did a quick search of the license plate and came up with the name Neal Shawn, and his address was a few blocks away. He would take care of Neal and then go after the rogues.

Too bad they had to meet under such difficult circumstances which made further contact unlikely. He found the man absolutely delicious big eyes, full lips slender build all his favorites. He would love the opportunity to get to know him every inch of him. He smiled at the salacious thought and pulled into the parking area of the Milton Apartments complex. Neal Shawn lived on the fourth floor in room 427 and his car was in the lot.

The place had several cameras, but they were avoidable, and the main door lock was a keypad which was easy to override. Alistar was promptly inside and taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Nice place plain but functional and clean.

He wondered about the young man and just how scared he was at the moment. Alistar planned to make it quick and be out of his life leaving him with no memory of the chaos he witnessed. In a few minutes, he would be living his life easy and carefree and Alistar took solace in that fact since he was about to frighten the life out of the poor man.

Approaching the door to number 427, he noticed it was another easy keypad entrance and was careful to be as quiet as possible, not wanting the police or neighbors to be alerted. He didn’t want to have to spend the rest of the night wiping memories.

Neal tensed when he heard what he thought was a floorboard creaking in the living room. It might have been the product of his frightened imagination, so he listened more closely, and his heart dropped when he heard it again. Someone was in his apartment.

His heart tightened, his breath caught in his throat, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Panic was eating him alive as he struggled to remain still and quiet while tucked into the back corner of his closet, hidden behind an array of clothing.

The movement continued to get closer, and his bedroom door opened slowly, and someone stepped in. Silence ensued for at least a full minute before he heard them approach the closet. The flimsy door opened, and a man stood there in shadow, obviously staring down at him.

Neal continued to hold his breath as the man crouched down and reached his hand out towards him. The moment their eyes met he recognized him. He had been inside the drycleaner he was the man who saw him.

Neal looked at the hand and at the man and then back to the hand, wondering why he was asking and not just shooting him dead on the spot or dragging him from the closet. Without a word spoken, Neal took the hand and allowed the stranger to help him get to his feet and out of the closet. They stood there in Neal’s darkened bedroom, just breathing and looking at one another. Then the guy winked, and Neal gasped.

“Are you going to kill me?” Neal’s voice shook so badly he could barely get the words out.

“No, definitely not.” The man said way too calmly and stuck out his hand once again. “My name is Alistar Quinn.” Neal wasn’t sure why, but he took the hand.

“I’m Neal.”

“Pleased to meet you Neal.” His voice was so deep it was actually rather sexy and if the circumstances were different Neal would be appreciating the attention.

“I’d say the same, but I really do think you’re going to kill me.” Neal was being casually sarcastic with a man he just saw bloodying up the inside of his local drycleaners and then set it on fire. He must be losing his mind. There was no escape. He was completely at the man’s mercy, and considering what he saw at the dry cleaner, mercy was not his strong point.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Neal wanted to believe that but the way things were stacking up showed the truth to be something different. The man released his hand and nonchalantly put his arm around Neal’s shoulders. He was tall a good head taller than Neal and he was strong with big hands a muscular build and solid as a brick wall. He was dangerous and Neal did not have a prayer.

CHAPTER TWO

Alistar got his first inkling of what was happening when he opened the apartment door and took a deep breath. The scent, so full and deep and beautiful, enveloped him filling his mind and his heart with a yearning he had never experienced before. It pulled at his emotions making him focus on a need and fulfilling that need as soon as possible. The young man’s presence was calling to him on a soul level.

This wasn’t a simple attraction or want this was a blood boiling, heart stopping rage of desire that rushed through him. He stopped and looked around the small apartment taking in the items and layout and then began to move toward the bedroom. Anticipation and desire were taking him over. His adored one was in the bedroom his scent was overpowering and he needed to find him.

Along with the amazing aroma, there was also potent fear. His adored was crippled with fear, and it was tearing him up. There was little he could do to lessen that feeling under the circumstances, but he had to try. He stood still and listened to the rapidly beating heart of the man hiding in the closet.

He crouched down to see his sweet one sitting in the corner, bathed in shadow. His eyes were as bright as they were when he saw him through the window. The vivid blue was like the water, deep and clear. He had felt a surge of awareness then, and he feels that same awareness tenfold now. This man was his everything, his future, and his life. He extended his hand and waited, wondering if he would battle his apprehension and take the offered assistance or if he was too frozen by his fear.

Alistar was surprised when he took his hand and allowed Alistar to help him out of the closet. He was stronger than he thought. They stood, and the silence was heavy, but it didn’t last. The young one, Neal, wanted answers and assurances, and Alistar was eager to oblige.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Alistar reiterated, but it was obvious that Neal did not believe him. He boldly put his arm around Neal’s shoulders and pulled him close, hoping the natural power of the Fated bond would begin to ease the tension and gain him some trust.

Neal was just his type, small, soft, and beautiful. Fate had been exceedingly generous, but the conditions of their meeting could have gone better. It was going to take time to gain his trust and consideration.

Alistar led him out into the living room and seated him on the small couch. “Can I get you something, perhaps a glass of water?” This wasn’t his place, so he wasn’t sure what was available.

“There’s water in the fridge.” Neal said haltingly his shaking had not ceased. Alistar’s concern for the frightened man grew with each passing second. He got the water and noticed there was very little in the refrigerator and even less in the cupboards. His adored was living a meager life and it angered him.

His loved one should have everything he needed or wanted. He looked at him across the room taking in his size and frame and noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the sunken cheeks. He worked too hard he could feel the tension and anxiety in the air. His lover’s life was not easy.

He handed Neal the bottled water and sat down beside him. Neal took a tentative sip and then put the cap back on and set it on the coffee table. Alistar watched him seeing the subtle easing of his fear, but he was still swamped with worry. “Why are you here? What are you going to do with me?” Two reasonable questions.

He had planned to wipe his memory and then leave him alone but that was no longer possible. As his adored Neal’s memories could not be touched and there was no way on this earth he was ever going to leave him but how could he say this.

“You killed those men at the dry cleaner,” Neal said, and his tone was flat and lifeless, and Alistar didn’t like it. Neal was attempting to disassociate in preparation for what he thought was coming.