Fiery Nights (15 page)

“Maya, I need to tell you something.”

She looked frantic, as if adrenaline was telling her to keep
running. “What, Tristan? We need to get away from there.”

“I love you.” I put both hands on either side of her head
and crushed down on her lips with my own. Finally, her itchy feet stopped
moving.

“Oh, Tristan. You never stop surprising me,” she said. “I
love you too.” She kissed me again. “Now let’s go. I’ll explain everything. And
then we can talk to the authorities later. Right now I want to get as far away
from that house and those people as I can.”

We reached my car and drove away just as the first fire
engine crossed in the opposite direction.

Maya

What a crazy turn of events.

“Madeleine” and “Roderick” were arrested. I escaped an arson
charge. I mean, come on, who would believe it anyway if I confessed to setting
a fire with my mind while I was tied up? I’d be locked up forever. Plus, in my
opinion it was self-defense. Perhaps they couldn’t live in their house for a
while, but with the charges they were facing, they might be spending time in
another house for many years.

When Tristan and I were alone again, I explained the
rationale behind my bad decision of going with them.

“I thought it might be something hot we could try together.
I mean, doesn’t every guy want to see his girl with another girl? But I changed
my mind as soon as I got in there. I only want you.”

Tristan shook his head. “Oh Maya. I only just got you. I
don’t want to share you with anyone.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you don’t want to see
me with another girl?”

His eyes widened. “Maybe someday we’ll experiment with other
options. But right now I want you and only you. In my life, in my bed. In my
heart.”

Tristan and I built up our relationship again, but we took
it much more slowly this time. Walking hand in hand along the Atlantic, he
said, “Let’s focus on us first. I don’t care about any spells or potions or
figuring out if we were meant to be together in some other, deeper way. All I
want is you, Maya.”

“What about the darkness?”

“You’ll always be my light. In every way.” He kissed me on
the forehead. “It’s time I take you on some proper dates.”

He kept his word. We went on actual dates. They were as
secluded as possible, but they were dates nonetheless. We went to restaurants
and the movies. As long as Tristan focused on me, he could block out external
distractions. I didn’t mind—in fact, I loved the attention. One mild day, we
even took an enclosed boat out on the Atlantic.

Being alone out on the open water was too much for us to
resist. We ended up entangled in each other’s arms as we rekindled that
attraction that led us together at Vampsto begin with.

“I missed you so much, Maya. I missed
this
so much.
Being with you.”

“I know exactly what you mean.”

We spent Christmas afternoon with Tristan’s parents and rang
in the New Year at a big bash at Vamps. After several weeks of spending time
together as a couple, I asked, “Are you ready to try again? Back in the lab?”

Tristan appeared hesitant at first and then he soldiered on.
“Yes,” he said, “I don’t think we need the lab, though.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Seeing how you focused on the fire at, you know—
their
—house,
it gave me an idea.”

“Oh no, Tristan. What do you have in mind?”

“A camping trip. Out under the stars. And a campfire.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s winter. In New England. People
don’t camp now, they ski.”

“Some do with the right equipment. Besides, it’s a mild
winter. And I’ll keep you warm.”

“I’m not sleeping in a tent in January. Surely that doesn’t
have to be part of the plan.”

“We can get a cabin.”

“A heated cabin.”

“A heated cabin. Wimp.”

“I’d rather be a warm wimp than a freezing fool.”

“Come here, my warm wimp,” he said, pulling me into his
arms. “Show some love to your fool.”

“You mean
freezing
fool.”

“How about devoted fool?”

“I like it.”

“Me too.”

He kissed me and ran his hands down my body.

“Before you get too carried away,” I said, “tell me about
your cockamamie plan.”

That he lured me to the woods on a January day was a
testament to how crazy I was about him. But at least we had a cozy log cabin
stocked with hot cocoa and cookies. We checked in late Saturday morning and put
together a lunch of some finds from a gourmet market we stopped at during the
drive. We laid out a baguette, cheese spreads, tomato and cucumber, and all kinds
of fruit. And to go with it, a bottle of red wine.

“This weekend is starting to look up,” I said. “Aren’t you
glad we’re not roughing it?”

Tristan looked over to the bed. “I’m looking forward to
christening that bed. But sleeping with you in a tent sounded like fun too.”

“Does it now? I can pretty much promise you that will never
happen.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Never?”

“Okay, maybe in the summer. But definitely not now.”

“I’m going to book a weekend in July before we leave so
we’ll have to come back.”

“Oh, Tristan. Planning seven months ahead. Aren’t you the
optimist about our relationship.”

“No more doubts, Maya. I’m yours. And I hope you’re mine.”

“Absolutely.”

We walked through the woods that afternoon, seeing if we
could find animals or animal tracks. Then Tristan said we should get back to
start a fire so we could try his plan.

He began to set up kindling for a fire and fumbled to get it
started.

“Allow me,” I said. I’d been working on developing my
connection with fire since the incident and could now direct my energy to spark
a small candle-sized flame.

“Showoff,” he teased.

“Can I show off for you later?”

“Only if you take special requests.”

“Sure. What will it be, Mr. Stone?”

“You on top. Oral. Missionary. Doggy style. You name it.”

“Let’s shake on it.” We shook hands. “Now tell me why you
brought me here.”

“I thought being out in nature among the other elements
instead of a basement might help you with your gift. I mean, there’s air,
earth, water, and now fire here—not potions in some basement.”

“Oh. Good thinking,” I said. “But how will this help you?”

“I don’t know. But I think you’re the key. And you might be
able to concentrate better out here.”

“Fair enough. So what do you want me to do?”

“Just focus on the fire. Concentrate.”

I watched the fire flicker and focused on the dancing
flames. I focused on one color after another, clearing my head of clutter. I
don’t know how long we sat there, but at some point all the junk that usually
occupied my head disappeared. The world appeared wide open and clear, the sky
infinite.

“Oh my God,” Tristan said. “Unbelievable.”

“What is it?” I said, wanting to look at him but not wanting
to break my connection to the fire.

“Your light. It’s magnificent. It’s exploded into thousands
of little colors. Like a rainbow in a diamond.”

“Really?”

“I feel something in me too. Whatever it is, I feel it.”

“What is it, Tristan?”

“I don’t know. Some sort of energy maybe. Just keep doing
what you’re doing.”

I stayed in that trance-like state for several minutes where
my mind was clear and pure. But then I had to look away and once I did, I felt
exhausted.

Tristan said, “I don’t know what you just did, but it did
something very powerful. It’s as if a weight has been lifted off of me. As if a
burden has been lifted off my soul.”

Tristan

Whatever Maya did with the fire that night broke through
some barrier in my mind. When we went back to town the next day, I noticed the
darkness around people had changed. It wasn’t just dark and shadows anymore.
They had—color.

The only person who I knew who might have a possible
explanation was my mother. Maya and I went there on a Sunday afternoon. I
explained the new phenomenon with colors and not feeling so world-weary.

“I’ve always thought you could be a healer, Tristan. Maybe
Maya’s gift helped you tap into yours.”

“How does seeing colors make me a healer?”

“Auras, maybe. Energy? Your great-grandfather could see
something in people that most of us can’t. He used it to help people. Heal
them.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, Tristan. Maybe he knew how to move energy. He
never really explained it. I just know people came to see him when they were
feeling distraught and he had the ability to make them feel a little less so. A
little more optimistic to face whatever they had ahead of them.”

I hummphed, not really knowing what to say.

Mother leaned forward. “Tristan, are you willing to try
something, with a volunteer?”

“What? Try what? With whom?”

Mother called out into the hallway. “Charlotte, come here
please.”

Charlotte appeared moments later. “Yes, Mrs. Stone?”

“Remember how we were talking about Tristan? About how he
just needed to break through?”

“I do.”

“We think he has.” She looked at me and back at Charlotte.
“I’m wondering if you both will try something.”

I tilted my head with skepticism. “Mother…”

“Hear me out,” she said, raising a hand. “You know that
Charlotte is still in mourning for her husband. She’s been in pain for far too
long. We’ve been talking about how she needs to move on with her life, but
she’s not sure how to begin.”

“I have a feeling you have some crazy idea in mind that
involves me.”

“It’s not crazy,” she said, and then conceded. “Okay, maybe
it’s crazy. But nothing would ever have been invented if people hadn’t had a
few crazy ideas and been willing to try things.”

I nodded. Fair point.

“So what I think you should do is just sit with Charlotte,
hold her hand and just try to connect with her. Maybe send some positive energy
her way.” She turned to Charlotte. “Are you still willing to try something like
this?”

“I’m willing to try anything, Mrs. Stone. The sadness I
feel, it’s just no way to live.”

She turned back to me. “Tristan?”

“I don’t think you ladies would let me say no at this point
even if I tried.”

Mother smiled. “Great. It’s settled. Here, Charlotte, come
sit down. Tristan, take her hands.”

“What do I do?”

“Focus your energy on her. Focus positive energy toward
her.”

I gazed at the colors surrounding Charlotte. Dark blue,
light blue and the darkness within. I tried to focus on her.

“I can’t,” I said. “I need Maya.”

“I’m right here.”

“Let’s go outside and light the fire.”

We retreated into the garden, took our seats, and Maya
focused on the fire. I watched her lightness, her luminous colors, until I was
filled with a positive energy. Closing my eyes and letting it extend to all parts
of my body, I then willed the energy to move toward Charlotte.

The strangest sensation occurred. I actually felt a physical
presence leave my body and head into hers.

What the heck is going on?

I don’t know how much time had passed, but when the energy
transfer had passed, I looked at Charlotte.

She appeared exalted. “Mr. Stone, I don’t know what you’ve
done, but I felt it. I actually feel lighter. Much better than I’ve felt in
months. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

The dark blue and light blue that had surrounded her met and
created a blend between them. And the darkness that surrounded her was gone.

Darkness. There was someone else I knew who had a darkness
hiding deep within.

“Tristan!” Mother exclaimed, clasping her hands. “I knew it.
I always believed in you!”

“What does this mean?” I turned to her.

“It means you have begun to tap into your gifts. It isn’t
something that happens overnight, but is something you can develop. Just think
of all the people you could help. Is this something you want to do?”

“My life has lacked meaning for so long that I would gladly
do something of value. But I don’t want to try this alone. Excuse us, please,
Mother. Charlotte.”

They left the garden. I walked over to Maya and took her
hands. “If you’re with me, I’ll try anything. Will you stay with me, Maya?”

She looked down before looking at me with earnest blue eyes
and said, “I’ve been with you since our first night together. I’ll always be
here.”

I kissed her in appreciation, lifting her off the ground.

When our lips parted, I said, “Let me look at you a moment.”

“Yes. Why?

“Remember how I told you about the darkness I saw buried
deep inside you?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I don’t see it anymore. It’s gone.”

“Naturally. You’re in my life.” She smiled. “In case you
didn’t notice, you’re also the light to my dark.”

“Of course not. I’m just an idiot,” I teased.

She smiled. “No, I’m the idiot. You’re the dumbass.
Remember?”

“Oh yeah.” I grinned. “Now that we’ve started working
together again, there’s one thing I want to do.”

“Let me guess, something that involves leather. Maybe a red
wig?”

“You’re on the right track,” I said.

She nodded in acquiescence. “What do you want to do?”

“Go back to the cemetery.”

“This is going to be difficult,” she said, trying to keep a
candle lit. “We’re too close to the ocean.”

“Put it behind one of the tombstones to block the breeze.”

“Genius.”

Once she’d established a steady flame that she rose to four
times the normal flame on a candle, we focused once again—her on the flame, me
on her light.

We didn’t know exactly how it worked—maybe she gained energy
from the flame and then I gained positive healing energy from her—but somehow
we connected and it worked.

“Okay, I got it,” I said, once I saw the colors shimmer like
mother of pearl.

When I looked back around the graveyard, it was a different
world than the one I’d just seen.

“Holy shit, Maya. I wish you could see this. It’s unreal.”

The shadows that had crept around the stones when we first
arrived, the same shadows that Maya drove away or masked with her light, were
now fully visible.

“What is it?”

“They’re not dark, slithering shadows anymore. I now see
more colorful areas—like light and energy.”

“What do you think they are?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Spirits?”

“Can you talk to them?”

I quit staring out into the graveyard to look at Maya. “What
am I supposed to say? ‘Hi, are you a spirit?’”

“Don’t be sarcastic, Tristan.” Raising her chin, she said.
“Not when we’re having a breakthrough.”

“Okay. Sorry. Seriously, what do you think I should do?”

“Um, I’m thinking,” she said. She started pacing in a figure
eight. “This is really weird, Tristan. But it kind of makes sense. Think about
it. Your great-grandfather could see auras; your mother is a medium. Somehow
you’ve inherited some of each of their gifts and developed your own.”

I shook my head out of incredulity. It was crazy, but in a
way it made sense.

Maya kept pacing. “Maybe they are spirits. And they’re stuck
here. Or lost. Why else would they creep around the graveyard? Maybe you need
to send them positive energy. To help guide them.”

I wanted to give her a doubtful look and ask where the hell
I was supposed to guide them to. But she did make some sense out of this wacky
situation so I held my comments. Besides, I was too entranced again with the
new colors around me. “Okay, I’ll try.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to take in as much of Maya’s
positive energy as I could. Then I willed it out toward the shapes and colors
around me.

For a while, nothing happened. Well, that was interesting, I
thought, almost ready to let go of the connection. But then a light-blue shape,
like a moving oval in the back of the graveyard, ascended. As it went higher,
its color faded. It became translucent.

And then it disappeared.

“Unreal,” I said.

“What is it?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Tristan. It’s
draining me.”

“Hold on a little longer, please.”

Encouraged, I directed the energy toward another shadow,
this one orange. By focusing on this one shadow rather than the entire
graveyard, the process repeated much more quickly this time.

“It’s working!”

“What’s working?”

“I don’t know exactly. But they’re moving—moving on, I
think.”

I focused on the last one as quickly as I could. Finally no
signs of life were left in the graveyard except for Maya and me. Peace at last.

I let go of the energy transfer and turned to Maya.

She fainted.

Maya

I woke up in Tristan’s loft and I watched the waves from his
bed.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You passed out.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Maybe you released too much energy? I don’t
know.”

“Tell me what happened with you. What did you see?”

Tristan explained how he could see the dark shadows as
colors now, reflecting light. He explained how he directed our energy toward
them and how they rose and disappeared.

“I’ve seen a lot of things, baby,” I said. “But that’s some
freaky-ass shit.”

“No. It was a positive experience,” he said.

He went to pour me some coffee.

“Tristan, I wonder if you even need me anymore?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I mean to tap into the energy or whatever it is that you
can do.”

“You’re the key, Maya. Of course I need you.”

“But maybe I was just the key to break through. You might be
able to tap into the energy yourself now.”

“You’re talking crazy this morning. Here, drink some
coffee.”

“I’m serious, Tristan. You should try it on your own one
day.”

“Okay, maybe.” He sat down next to me in the bed and drank
some coffee. “I hope that’s not your excuse to try to slip away. You know I
like having you with me. Just being near you brings me comfort.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet. And you make a killer cup of coffee.
Guess I’ll stick around for a little bit,” I teased.

“You better not go anywhere anytime soon. In fact, you
should take it easy today. Tonight I have a surprise for you.”

“Ah, I know about you and your surprises,” I teased. “What
is it—something kinky?”

“You are such as sexy little vixen,” he teased. “My little
slut.” He kissed my mussed-up hair. “But that’s not what I was planning. Not at
first, anyhow. Come to Vamps tonight. And dress hot.”

“Don’t I always?” I tilted my head.

“Yes. You could make a pair of overalls look hot. But
tonight is special.”

I found the black dress with the red Asian accents that I’d
worn the first night I met Tristan. So many things had happened since that
night.

When I saw Byron, he said, “You’re practically a fixture
here. What do you and Mr. Stone do anyway?”

The experiments and the sex came to mind. He’d get the sex
part; the experiments, not so much. I gave him the look. “Do I
really
have to explain that to you?”

“Ugh, please don’t. He’s my boss, you know. I don’t want to
hear about his sex life. Gross.”

“I assure you there’s nothing gross about it. In fact, it’s
kind of—”

“La la la la la.” Byron covered his ears. “I can’t hear you.
I’m singing.”

“For a bouncer at an underground club, you’re kind of a
prude.”

“No gay guy wants to hear about straight people having sex.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you details, Byron. Jeez. I was just
going to say he makes me very happy.”

“Ewww.”

“Interpret it how you will. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m
going to find the guy who gives me great—happiness.”

Tristan met me at the bar rather than down in the lab where
I usually found him.

“Have a drink, Maya. We need to celebrate.”

“Our discovery? How we can work together?” I asked.

“That and other things.”

When the bartender came over, I said, “I’ll have a Tempting
Fate.” After all, look at all the good things that happened since the first
night I tried one of those.

“The surprise is coming up. Look on stage.”

Band members came on with their instruments. “Oh my God!
Velvet Cocks. I love this band!”

He shook his head and laughed. “What a band name. You know
they just wanted hot girls like you to go around saying ‘I love Velvet Cocks!’”

“I love Velvet Cocks!” I echoed with a laugh.

“I know,” he said. “I’ve seen your records. Who buys records
anymore these days?”

“This girl,” I said, pointing both thumbs at my chest.

Tristan shook his head. “You can have your entire music
collection on a computer, or even an iPod and you still have big, bulky vinyl?”

“One day I’ll let you experience the magic—if you’re good.”

“I’m always good—except when I’m bad.”

“I like it when you’re bad—in bed.”

Tristan opened his mouth in mock horror. “Are you saying I’m
bad in bed?”

“No. Of course not. You’re frickin’ awesome. You know what I
mean, Tristan!”

“I know. Just teasing you.” He nodded toward the stage. “I
booked them for you. You haven’t seen a live band here yet. I wanted your first
experience to be unforgettable.”

“Hey there, stranger,” a female behind me said.

“Nike! What are you doing here?” I gave her a giant hug. She
was standing next to Michel; I recognized him as the guy she turned tongue-tied
with the night of the fire. Damn, I forgot how good-looking he was. Not my
type, but I could see why Nike would go ga-ga over him.

And he was a fucking vampire. Holy shit. I tried not to
stare at him.

“Maya,” he said with a slight bow of his head.

When he spoke, I looked to see fangs, but quickly recovered
so as not to appear rude. “Welcome back, Michel.”

“It’s good to be back,” he said.

“Why don’t you ladies have fun out there?” Tristan said.
“Michel and I will be at the bar.”

Confused, I asked, “You know each other?”

“Of course,” Tristan said. “We have done business together,
remember?” He motioned around the club that Tristan bought from Michel after
the fire.

“But, that’s while they were overseas, I thought.”

“He got in touch when they came back to the US.” He kissed
me and said, “Have fun with your girlfriend.”

It didn’t take long for that to happen. Nike and I jumped
around like crazy, singing our favorite songs along with the Velvet Cocks, or
VCs as they were known in more PC crowds. Their logo had a rooster wearing a
smoking jacket with the letters VC in a fancy scroll font. Fun, cheeky
bastards.

While we danced again for the first time in over a year, I
thought it was as if Nike had never left. And became some sort of creature of
the night, if that’s what she was. She was still Nike and I was still me.

After a set, the singer said, “This next song goes out to
Maya, a very special lady, from her eternal admirer.”

Nike and I looked at each other. Her eyes were wide,
reflecting the self-conscious horror she’d feel if Michel did this to her. But
not me, I enjoyed the spotlight. When I grinned widely, she must have
remembered that and smiled back.

I turned back to see Tristan at the bar, grinning.

The singer Leggy Bones began with a soft croon of
#1
Crush
by Garbage, an ode to an obsessive, all-consuming type of love. I
stood there gaping like an idiot. Did Tristan really feel so much for me? It
was only after the seductive intro, when the guitarist Chee Keydood led the
band with a punk rift, that I regained my composure and danced around for the
rest of the song. They played it hard and heavy—one of my favorite bands
jamming out to a song chosen from my favorite guy—dedicated to
me
!

Leggy motioned to Nike and me. “Come on up here for the next
song.”

I climbed up without reservation, but figured Nike would
decline. To my surprise, she stood right next to me on the stage.

Hmm, maybe Michel is good for her after all.

Leggy brought us over to him with the mic.

“I think we all know this one. We put our spin on it. Come
on, everyone now, sing along.”

Velvet Cocks launched into their version of
Witchcraft
,punk-rock style—quick, hard and heavy. Nike and I were on either side of
Leggy, singing along. I caught Tristan’s eye and smiled as he watched me from
the bar. He had a twinkle in his dark eyes now; the haunted look was gone. He
raised his glass and nodded.

After gallivanting on stage for another song in our rock ‘n’
roll set, Nike and I joined the guys at the bar.

“Let’s all have a drink,” Tristan said.

I looked around our little group as we drank a round of a
Fateful Night. A vampire, a hybrid sort of vampire/human, a guy who could see
auras or energy, and a girl who could manipulate fire. “If this isn’t the
motley-est of crews, I don’t know what is.”

“Thanks for inviting us down here tonight,” Nike said to
Tristan.

“My pleasure. It’s great to see old friends catching up as
if no time has passed between them.”

A pang of sadness went through me. Had he ever had friends?
Probably not.

“So how long are you two sticking around?” I asked.

“Indefinitely,” Michel answered. “I still own the
rock-climbing gym, although it’s suffered from mismanagement since I’ve been
gone. I’m hoping Nike will help me whip it back into shape.”

When Nike smiled at him, he looked back at her with
affection in his eyes. I had no doubt that what they felt for each other was
real. I vowed to stop feeling anger toward Michel for monopolizing my best
friend—and making her some sort of creature of the night. If she was happy,
then I was happy for her.

Michel turned back to Tristan and me. “Perhaps you should
come check it out one day. It’s a great workout.”

“Uhhh—” I began. “I don’t know about that.”

“Oh come on, Maya.” Tristan nudged me. “It’ll be fun.
Something new.”

Looks as if someone has a new lease on life, I thought.

“Okay. Maybe,” I said. “I warn you, though. I’m not very athletic.
Just because I can shake my booty here doesn’t mean I’ll have any sort of
coordination climbing a wall.”

“You’ll do just fine,” Michel said.

“And I’ll catch you if you fall,” Tristan added.

“Falling may be involved? I might have to change my mind already.”

Tristan ignored me. “We’ll be there soon.”

“What about the firehouse, Nike?” I asked, hoping she’d give
it some thought.

“Let’s see how it goes,” she said. “I practically lived at
the rock-climbing club so it might be fun to help run it. And I’d need to come
up with a damn good reason why I left the firehouse and an even better one for
why I’d want the night shift. I wouldn’t want to rush into things here and have
it all go up in flames.”

We all laughed.

“Good point,” I said.

Michel and Nike began canoodling at the bar while Tristan
and I watched the band finish their set and then leave the stage.