Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick (17 page)
Read Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick Online
Authors: Mandi Casey
Blake disappeared into the storeroom in the back. He returned with a wet washcloth and started to wipe my face clean. Hopefully my appearance wasn’t as bad as I felt. It was embarrassing enough to have Blake find me out cold on the floor in a pool of my own sweat and vomit. Hopefully there wasn’t any stuck to my hair.
When he was done cleaning me up, Blake fetched the mop out of the back and cleaned up the mess behind the counter. That was my kind of man.
No. He wasn’t a man. My mind seriously needed to stop appreciating his good qualities.
Even though my body felt like it had been put into a washing machine on a cold setting, the view of his backside when he bent over to dry up the mop solution from the floor with a towel was glorious.
He finished cleaning and came over to the couch. When he sat on the other end, I felt a small sense of relief that he wasn’t going to try and push himself on me during my weak moment. He stared at me, then grabbed my arm, putting his around my midsection and pulling me over and placing my head on his lap. Oddly enough, I was more comfortable with his touch and his presence than expected.
Then fear struck.
I sat up so fast, my head started to whirl. Closing my eyes, I raised a hand to my forehead and tried to rub the dizziness away. “Blake, you have to leave. It’s not safe for you to be here. You have to leave!” I didn’t mean to yell in his face with hot vomit breath, but that’s exactly what happened. He didn’t budge an inch.
Blake started to massage my back. He positioned himself close enough again to put his thigh against mine. His body heat calmed me as it soaked through my clothes.
“What are you talking about? You’re probably the safest with me here, so don’t worry. Now, tell my why you got so sick? I was surprised to find you lying on the floor. You had me worried. The store lights were all out, and I wasn’t sure you were even here.”
I swiveled my head toward Blake, the man that consumed way too many of my fantasies of late, and explained what had happened when the rogue came in. I told him everything he’d said, including threatening Aunt Judith to make sure they had my compliance. Blake didn’t take too much stock in the rogue’s threats about my family, but he didn’t care for the fact the rogue knew where the store was and that they felt they could come in at anytime during business hours.
“That settles it. You’re going to stay with us from now on, until we can find the wolf that came here threatening you. I’ll remain here until you can close the store, then we will go to your house so you can pack a few things.”
“Blake, I’m not going to leave Aunt Judith alone with an angry rogue that is just looking for a reason to attack someone.”
“Well, she can come, too. There’s more than enough room at the den. I’m sure my father would agree. It would be safest for you to stay there until we find the rogue.”
Looking outside the storefront window, I saw that the night sky was dark. There must have been quite the time lapse between my losing consciousness and Blake’s finding me.
“Blake, nothing’s going to make me leave my home, and I’m not going to ask Aunt Judith to pack up and leave on a moment’s notice. Surely you can understand that.”
As we talked, the temperature in the store started to drop to a more tolerable level. The only extra heat came from Blake. The air began to once again fill with refreshing oxygen.
“Maybe we should go to your house and tell your aunt what happened here. Then she’ll be able to make the decision for herself?”
I shook my head in disagreement. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s very kind that you and your pack members are looking for the rogue, but imposing myself onto your household isn’t an option. The same goes for Kieran.”
Blake’s face scrunched in anger. “What exactly do you mean the same goes for Kieran? Has he been here?” he demanded. His jaw tightened in jealous fury. He really had to get over the possessive kick he had going on. Although, I had to admit it was hard not to melt when he went all possessive and protective. He wasn’t the only one needing to get a grip!
“No,” I said, slightly fearful of Blake’s reaction. “He hasn’t been here, but he called my aunt and made the suggestion for me to stay with them for a while until their issues are resolved and the rogue wolves are found.”
“You mean wolf.”
“Wolves, as in plural. The rogue that was in here spoke as if he was part of a group. It didn’t sound like he was acting alone.”
Blake nodded, and said, “So, it’s worse than we originally thought. My father needs to hear about this. He needs to know about your visitor and the rest of what you’ve told me. If you won’t go with me, will you at least close the store for the night and go home? Your house is closer to us than the store, and if anything should happen, we would be able to respond more quickly.”
“I suppose. It’s almost closing time anyways. My vomit breath is making me feel pretty gross. There’s a toothbrush in the medicine cabinet calling my name.” A cold layer of sweat separated my skin and clothes. A hot shower, warm meal, and comfy bed with my favorite purple and black comforter were also calling to me.
Before leaving, Blake clasped my hand in his, rubbing his thumb up and down my palm. “Sydney, you’re being stubborn, and that may put you in more danger than you’re capable of handling. Please, promise me you will be very careful wherever you go, especially if someone from my pack isn’t able to be with you.”
I put my hands up and said, “Blake, no one needs to babysit me. Yes, there’s danger out there, and I’m a target. You don’t have to worry about not being with me every second of the day.”
Reaching inside his jacket, Blake pulled out a cell phone and handed it to me. “I completely forgot about this. Seeing you on the floor freaked me out. Your not being able to reach me if you need help isn’t acceptable. My cell phone number is in the contacts list already. It’s yours to use for as long as you need it.”
“I can’t take this from you! It’s a really nice gesture, but...”
He shoved the phone into my hand, then put both of his palms on my face. Pulling me forward, he planted a gentle kiss to my lips, and said, “Just take it. Think of it as something that will give me piece of mind when I’m not around.” His breath tickled my lips and made me smile.
“Blake, you have to stop doing that.” Unfortunately, he was well aware that my request was only half-hearted.
He smiled back and went over to the front door. When he opened it, an inconspicuous brown box fell into the store from where it had been leaning against the door.
Blake picked it up and frowned. “That’s weird. What would you have delivered in a refrigerated box?”
“I didn’t order anything that would need to be delivered cold.”
Blake placed the box in my hands. He was right. The box did seem a little cool, more so than from just sitting outside in the cold.
I shook the box before putting it on the counter. The pounding in my head wouldn’t stop, and I needed to go lie down in my comfy bed. Nothing urgent needed my immediate attention.
I patted the box, then faced Blake again. “I need to get home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“Go.” I gave him a playful shove. “I can take care of myself.”
He gave a pointed look to the spot where he’d cleaned up my vomit. “I can see that.”
I felt heat rush to my face. What’s a girl to do when a rogue vampire ambushes her? “Blake, I’ve had about as much as I can take of people pushing me around. I just want to go home.”
He stepped closer, and my heartbeat kicked up. Was he going to kiss me into submission? Instead, he fingered the necklace. “As long as you promise not to remove this, and allow me to escort you to your car.”
That seemed a fair compromise, so I nodded.
At the last minute, I decided to grab the package and Grandma’s journal, then stuffed them into my bag, and closed the store for the night.
The short walk to the Jetta and my ride home was as uneventful as I’d hoped it would be. Although, I got the distinct impression Blake was following me.
Aunt Judith was in the kitchen stirring a batch of her homemade chicken noodle soup when I came in. Somehow, she made just the right thing for every occasion, even though she had no idea what had happened at the store today. It was like she had magical healing powers through her cooking, and she always made just what would make me feel better.
Aunt Judith sat watching me while I finished off two bowls of soup. I filled her in on the events of the day. After her initial shock, she stated she didn’t want to leave our home, either, and she wasn’t worried about the rogue or his buddies being able to breach the house. The wards she’d placed within the house were strong. Even the pack leader, Morris, would only be able to enter if he was given an open invitation by a member of the family. Aunt Judith wasn’t sure if they would work the same at the store, but she was willing to try.
We said goodnight, and I went upstairs. When I read from Grandma’s journal, the warmth of the leather cover felt comforting in my hands.
I’ve met someone tonight, at Kieran’s monthly dinner party. He was a vampire. It was confusing who his loyalties belonged to because of the way Kieran regarded him. Kieran is businesslike with his people. He tends to remain somewhat at a distance from them. He wanted to make sure their dealings were entirely on a professional level.
Kieran regarded this man with more of a familiarity than he ever had with anyone else. Later it was explained that the man, the vampire, was Kieran’s brother, Cian. After meeting Cian, and sensing his vampire essence, there was a small, but worrisome, difference in the way Kieran’s presence affected me and the way Cian’s did.
Cian gave off the usual cool bristle along my skin. Along with the coolness, there was also an unpleasant feeling. The sensation felt like a toxic dust cloud floated overhead, and the residue covered every square inch of my body. The effects seemed to last well after he left for the night, seeking shelter from the sun.
I asked Kieran about it. He disregarded my warnings. Kieran claimed that his brother was the coven leader of a nest far south of Kenosha, and assumed that’s what caused the difference I felt, nothing more. Kieran should have listened to me. A few years after meeting Cian, and a few more encounters with him, Kieran finally heeded my words of caution. I suspected he looked into his brother’s dealings only to humor my growing fear. Cian made many advances toward me. He wanted me to move my household and live with him and his coven. That told me a lot. Cian was not a follower of the Scrolls of Cuil. He also did not believe Kieran to be the destined one to watch over and drink the blood of the Selected, as the prophecy foretold.
Kieran sent a group of his men down to Cian’s nest, and led a quiet investigation of Cian and his people. What Kieran found, how his brother was treating humans, was abominable. They didn’t give humans the option to donate, like Kieran and his coven. Cian drained his humans like we do cows for their milk. He does this while they are alive, hooked up to tubes draining them of their life’s essence. They experience excruciating pain, cramping, and delusions before they are finally given the mercy of death.
What Kieran discovered about his brother forced Kieran to go to the Elders. He asked for guidance on how to properly address the issues at hand. The Elders did not support Kieran going against him. They felt Cian’s actions weren’t outside of vampire law. There was nothing to be done. Kieran was devastated by the Elder’s lack of support, and that his own brother would slaughter humans.
I snuggled deeper into the covers and propped Grandma’s journal up on a pillow. The last thought to cross my mind before exhaustion took over was about all the humans who’d suffered brutally because of vampires refusing to respect humanity.
The next morning, I almost fell on my face tripping over my shoes on the stairs. Aunt Judith stood waiting at the bottom, my favorite chocolate chip breakfast bar in hand. I grabbed it, kissed her on the cheek for being the best aunt in the world, then raced out the door.
While at work, an odd void bloomed in my chest. That void had a name. Blake. Trying to keep busy with stocking and cleaning while waiting for customers were acceptable actions of a store employee. The truth of the matter was, I was waiting for Blake’s daily visit.
I started to consider myself pitiful. The furry guy was growing on me. I didn’t want to admit that to anyone, not even myself. It seemed my efforts to avoid any further close encounters with him, and to stop my feelings from deepening, would have to be intensified. The thought of his hot body pressed against mine was constantly darting in and out of my thoughts. That was a problem.
I was arranging the new flower and vase display from the local dollar store when the phone rang. I picked it up and heard
Brianna sigh on the other end, then giggle at something someone next to her said. The someone had to be Michael. I was a bit envious of my sister’s devil-may-care attitude. I knew she worked hard in school, but she was one of those people that everything went her way. She told me they planned on coming up to Kenosha tonight, and she was going to stay at Aunt Judith’s. She insisted, despite my efforts at talking her out of it. My baby sister didn’t need to get involved with anymore of what was going on than she already was, even if she didn’t know it.
I thought about what Grandma said in her journal about having to associate with both the vampires and the werewolves. Someday, Kieran was going to force a meeting between us. Grandma’s journal made me more nervous with every page, especially when she wrote about him. The vampires in general didn’t seem to be a very warm and fuzzy group. The wolves, at least, seemed to be making an effort to extend their hospitality, and to show me they weren’t a bunch of animals that killed random people on the streets.
After hanging up the phone, my knee hit something underneath the countertop. The package that arrived yesterday sat sticking out of my bag, teetering at such an angle that it was about to fall onto the floor.
I almost lost the tip of my finger while carefully using the box cutter from the counter drawer to slice open the clear tape on top of the box. There was a note inside the box, written on thick, white cardstock, folded in half.