Chapter 4

Chapter 4


“Damn!” Jake hissed under his breath. “She’s a god damn Alusian!” He leaned back against the crates and rubbed his hand over his face. What to do. He knew he couldn’t leave her to the likes of that trash which was being so attentive to her. Damn it! He had not wanted to get involved but he had no choice. He couldn’t just leave her.
He withdrew his 952 long slide, 9mm Smith and Wesson from the back of his pants. He slid back the chamber of the gun, checking both clips to make sure they were fully loaded with silver tipped bullets. Then letting the chamber slide back into place, he stowed the second clip to his belt. He didn’t think he would need it but he also made sure the .357 Magnum double action snub nose he had strapped to his ankle was ready as well. He was fully loaded and ready to kick some demon butt.
He looked back to where they were still gathered. The one smaller demon had returned with the water and had thrown it in Serena’s face. She woke sputtering and coughing from the ice cold jolt the water had given her. If she hadn’t been so weak, Jake knew she could have helped him kick butt, but she looked like they had worked her over fairly well. Looking her way a deep feral growl escaped his throat as he watched the demon copping a feel as she struggled to kick him away. He would analyze that emotion later, once they were far away from here.
Getting a grip on his emotions and taking a deep breath, Jake jumped up and rounded the corner, shooting at everything that moved. Vamps were falling like fleas off a dog, the demons, cowards that they were, vanished into thin air. Damn! But he couldn’t worry about that now. Two of the vamps got off a couple rounds before he took them out, bullets grazing his shoulder. He fell, rolled and shot three more before gaining his feet and running toward Serena. A shot whizzed by his ear, he turned and fired, blowing a king size hole through the vamp.
Jake knelt beside Serena and assessed his options. Thankfully the vamps that were left, dragged away the bodies of their friends, probably to feed on them before they dried up completely. What he worried most about was getting the hell out of there before the demons returned with reinforcements.
“Can you walk?” he asked, helping her to her feet. She swayed with the motion and he held her tightly against him.
“I will do my best.” she told him between swollen lips. He couldn’t help himself as he brushed back her long black hair from her face then brushed his thumb gently across her split and swollen lips. He would dearly love to get his hands on the demons that did this to her. But right now that too would have to be put on the back burner.
“My place isn’t far from here. You’ll be safe there.” he told her. He changed clips in his gun then slowly walked away from the pile of bodies that covered the wharf. He had his gun raised as they walked around the corner and away from the scent of blood that lingered in the air. He noticed she could barely move, but he couldn’t carry her and protect their backs at the same time so she had to do her best at walking next to him, his free arm cradling her against his body.
Soon the warehouse district was a distant memory and one that he would like to forget altogether but new that wasn’t going to be likely. Once they were back on the main dock he holstered his gun and put both arms around her to steady her, satisfied that they were not being followed, which really surprised him.
By the time they reached his building she went limp in his arms and he knew she had finally passed out. Picking her up and cradling her against his chest, he hit the coded entry and disappeared from sight.

~

Serena moaned softly, her eyelids fluttering against the cold that lay upon her face. Once she was coherent enough she started struggling against the body she felt next to her.
“Easy sweetness, its only me.” Jake said calmly, grabbing her hands and easing them to her sides.
Recognizing his voice she ceased her struggles and lay quietly against him. Slowly she opened her eyes to try and focus on her surroundings. Jake removed the ice pack and set it on the table next to the couch.
“Where am I?” she asked hoarsely trying to sit up. He helped her by adding another pillow behind her head. He moved to sit on the coffee table to give her more room on the couch.
“Easy now. You’re safe for the moment. I brought you to my place.”
“Thank you.”
“Mind telling me why you were dancing with all those back alley vamps? Not to mention the bad ass demons that showed up.” He asked, putting the ice pack back onto her cheek.
“Damn, I can barely move.” she stated, ignoring his question.
“Looks like your regenerative powers are working so you should be back to new by morning.” he told her sitting back on the edge of the coffee table waiting for her to answer his question.
“My what? You must be mistaken-”
“Don’t play me for a fool, Serena. I know you’re an Alusian. I saw you.” he told her, grabbing the table on either side of him with his hands. He was afraid he might do something stupid so he needed to hold on to something other than her throat. Female Alusian’s were definitely not on his favorites list.
She let out a deep long sigh. What should she tell him? Or should she keep it all to herself? He’d already said he wasn’t interested yet he did rescue her.
“Well?” he insisted.
Perhaps half truths would satisfy his curiosity, she thought.
“I’d gotten a tip that Dimitri frequented one of the clubs down here on the docks so I was checking it out. There’s the new club called Chaos that just opened down in the warehouse district. Figured I would start there.”
“I’ve heard of it. But I didn’t know it catered to demons. Thought it was just a Vampire and Slag hang out.”
“No tip is left unattended but yeah, you’re right. I thought it sounded bogus but I went down there anyway. Bad mistake on my part.”
“How did they get the upper hand? I mean, you are a female Alusian. By all rights you should have kicked their butt and then some.” he snorted with disbelief.
“I had just rounded a darkened corner when they jumped me. Just as I was changing forms they shot something in to my neck. I was instantly paralyzed. I’ve never felt so helpless.” she breathed softly, remembering.
Jake could understand that feeling perfectly. Something similar happened to him over a thousand years ago that changed his life and his perspective. He mentally shook his head. This wasn’t about him, this was about her.
“Go on.”
“There’s not much more to tell. The vamps did a number on me and then those demons showed up. You know the rest.” She closed her eyes and lay her arm across her head. She felt so tired. “How did you find me?”
“The smell of blood floated through the air. I happen to get the scent. Figured there had been a gang war which meant I could rid the town of a few more vamps before the night was over. Had no idea it was you until I got there and you changed back.” He wasn’t going to tell her he almost left her there. What was the point. Now that he’d gotten her scent, he would always know where she was at.
“Well, you have my thanks just the same. I don’t know what they would have done if you hadn’t shone up.”
I do and it would not have been pleasant, he thought, clearing his throat. He couldn’t help but feel that she was too innocent to be a Night Stalker. Her words and mannerisms just didn’t fit the mold. There was definitely something more to Serena Keller than she was willing to say.
“What about the demons? I heard one of them asking you about a map.” He sat there with his arms on his knees and his hands folded together. Even as battered and bruised as she was, he still had to fight the feelings of desire that sweep through him just then. No. She is an Alusian. No way was he getting involved with one of them ever again.
“I guess Dimitri sent them after me.”
“Why? Because you’ve tagged him for elimination? Who’s paying you Serena and what map were they talking about?” Jake got up, his agitation showing clearly. He walked over to his bar and poured himself a Bourbon on the rocks. Right now he needed a stiff drink just to erase her from his senses. He offered one to her but she declined. Taking a large swallow he waited for her to continue.
Serena let out a long sigh. It was now or never so she might as well come clean. Or as clean as she could at the moment. There was no reason to tell him the whole truth. But he did need to know specifics because he was her only hope for survival.