Bait

Chapter Twenty-Three

My denial and numbness evaded me as I sat in the rowboat on the Danube River. It was a crippling thing, this sensation that my heart had been ripped out of my chest and torn to shreds. I knew it was still there but couldn’t feel it beat. This pain would get better but not tonight, not for a long time. I curled over to press my face to one of the oars and tried to breathe with no lungs. I wanted a drink.

Bad. Captain Morgan and I had a date after this.

I needed to pull it together. To stuff my self-pity and sorrow in a deep dark hole. If things got better, if I survived the night, I could pull it out when I was alone and examine it. My strength would carry me through, I would prevail in some manner.

The pain became manageable.

Colby might be out on the river, in Tane’s yacht. He needed me. I sat up, took a deep breath and started the boat moving again.

Rowing out to a yacht on the Danube River sounded a lot easier on the phone. No matter how I tried I couldn’t coordinate the oars, so a ten minute ride turned into a thirty minute workout.

Red almost spontaneously combusted when I told him my story of Tane’s blackmail. He understood my lies but it still hurt him. Our friendship had a dent now. He only agreed to this plan because it was a lead to Colby. Once more I wore the tracking chip. They worried it would get wet since we met on the water. If Red had his way I would have had to swallow it wrapped in a baggy like a drug mule. I vetoed that idea.

Once I pulled up to the hull of the ship I didn’t see any kind of ladder to climb. You’d think a luxury liner would have a staircase.

“Hey, anyone there? I can use a hand.” I looked at the rail along the deck for signs of life.

“The ladder is at the stern, Rabbit.” Tane’s soft voice carried well over the night.

I rowed a few strokes toward the front of the boat.

“That’s the bow. Turn around and go to back.”

Steam poured from my ears. Did I look like a sailor? I tried to change direction by swinging the oars in opposite directions but only managed to scrape the yacht’s paint.

“Watch the ship.” The curt command shot from above. “You’re late.”

I settled the oars in the water. Even with the gentle lights that hung from the rigging I couldn’t see Tane. “I’m lucky to have made it this far.”

A rope flew over the edge of the yacht to land in my dingy. “Tie it to the boat, I’ll reel you in.”

I wrapped it around the bench and held the end as Tane guided it to the stern with ease.

As I pulled up he jumped in, rocking the row boat enough to make me hang on to the sides. He unwound the rope from the bench while he muttered under his breath then tied a complicated knot to moor it. After he climbed back out he turned and offered his hand. “Welcome aboard, Rabbit.”

I accepted it and stepped onto the back platform beside him.

This time he didn’t hide his origins under a hat. The moonlight gleamed off his smooth, bald head with his pointed ears folded along its side. His tattoo flowed down into the neckline of his pale-blue, button-down shirt and still remained obscure. He brushed some water beads from his dark gray slacks before directing me to the ladder.

It surprised me to see he was barefoot.

“Pay attention to your steps. I don’t want to have to fish you out of the river.”

I stared daggers at him before climbing up the ladder. He didn’t seem to mind throwing me in it the other night.

His chuckle mocked me.

The deck spoke of wealth. White leather couches attached to the rails invited me to snuggle and the dark hard wood floor felt smooth under my feet. A glass pitcher of clear liquid and a full martini glass sat on a table by one of the couches.

Tane brushed past me and sat next to the table. He picked up the glass and sipped. “Would you like one? Eric makes a good dry martini.”

I remained by the ladder. It made me feel safer, even though I couldn’t do much if Tane decided to hurt me. “I don’t drink anymore.” I licked my lips, after this afternoon the pitcher looked tempting. “No olives?”

“We can only take liquids. You should know that.” He sipped again. “Do you have the drug? The one he used on you?”

I pulled the vial out of my pocket. It weighed heavier than before like all my responsibilities sat in it.

He signaled me to bring it closer.

I never had the chance to ask Rurik why he owned it. What good could come from breaking down psychic abilities? I couldn’t help wonder what crimes Tane would commit with it. But I didn’t have any other leverage.

The energy to hold myself together drained my strength. I needed to get this over with. “I want Colby.” It wasn’t courage that had me making demands of a Nosferatu. A certain sense of freedom came with grief. I didn’t have any fear of death, it would just send me to those I loved and missed. How can you be brave if you weren’t afraid?

“Why would you think I have him?”

“He disappeared yesterday while investigating Eric. Only you could take him like that. You said if I got you the drug no harm would come to my people. Here it is. Now, give him back.”

He leaned back into the couch and finished his drink. “The moment you stepped on this ship the drug was mine. You have nothing to bargain with.”

I popped the cap to the vial and poured a little onto the floor. “If I destroy it then neither of us will have what we want.”

Tane’s hand gripped my wrist and restrained me from emptying it. His empty glass sat on the table. It still amazed me how fast a vampire could move. He took the bottle from my grasp. “Why do you have to make things so difficult? I don’t see why Rurik obsesses about you.”

The sound of his name stabbed me. “Rurik’s dead.” I could barely hear my own whisper.

“Really? How?” Tane stood so close if he took a deep breath he’d touch me.

“Dragos attacked his home last night.”

“You saw him dead?”

“No, but his ashes were everywhere.”

“The ashes. How interesting.”

“We made a deal.”

He turned his back to me and returned to his seat. “And?” The vial looked small in his hand as he lifted it to examine the contents.

“Is your word worth nothing?”

“My word? Now there’s an old concept. I also remember the part of the deal which you’re not to tell anyone I hired Colby.”

“I didn’t”

“Liar. You told him not to trust his source, may as well have told him. You sent him straight here and I’m going to keep him.” He grinned at me, his fangs glinted in the dim light. “Unless you want to make another agreement. One that you will keep.”

Red was right. This plan sucked. What other choice did we have? I didn’t know what to do. Making another deal with Tane, my personal demon, seemed suicidal.

“What do you want?”

“I need you to agree to do it before I tell you what it is.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Very well, but listen to what I have to offer first.” He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “I will give you Colby.” His black soulless stare pierced me from across the deck. “And I will give you back your Rurik.”

“What? How?” My heart raced at the thought. Could Tane be so powerful to resurrect the dead?

“Rurik lives. Those weren’t his ashes.”

The world spun. He lived. I could have cried if I had any tears left. My legs gave out and nausea boiled in my gut. I found myself sitting on the deck with Tane holding my head between my knees.

“If you vomit on my boat all deals are off.”

I swallowed.

Tane released his hold on my head so I could sit. He settled himself onto the deck next to me. “Those ashes belonged to two of my men. Rurik killed them before we subdued him. They turned to ash with the sunrise.” A ring on his little finger caught my attention. He lifted his hand for me to see. It was the Budapest Overlord’s ring. “My reward from Dragos for Rurik. The city’s mine now.”

“He thought you were his friend. No matter how hard I tried to convince him he wouldn’t believe me.”

Tane’s eyes widened. “I am his friend. If I wasn’t would I bother giving you the chance to rescue him? I could have just offered you Colby but I’m generous enough to offer both.”

“For a price.” With a friend like Tane, I had to wonder how Rurik ever survived.

“Of course.” He chuckled. “You mistake me for a modern vampire. A post-Christian one, maybe? I may enjoy some of Rurik’s philosophies but at heart I’m still Dragos ’ kindred.” An amused grin spread across his face as he leaned back and looked at the stars. “Do you truly love him as a man or does it border closer to worship?”

“He’s not a god. I love him as a person.” More than I probably should after only a few days.

“But he’s not.” He glanced at me. “We used to be. Once again you find yourself in a position of choice. You could stay here on the boat and ride out the oncoming storm or you can cast yourself out on the mercy of the waves.”

“Or I can build my own damn ship and conquer the storm. I won’t give up on Rurik. We’re in love.”

“Yes, oddly you are. You’re not his type, he usually likes happy women. You’re so raw and sore inside. You broadcast your pain to every vampire around you. ‘I ache and grieve. Kill me. ’ To most you’re a gourmet meal.”

I was speechless. Embarrassed. Mortified. His words described what I’d felt when I arrived in Budapest but Rurik changed all that.

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

“Beautiful.” He chuckled. “He’s so beautiful.”

“Who?”

“Colby, of course, the way his mind works. The way he hunts us so efficiently, using someone that broadcasts like you as bait. Marvelous. You never wondered why most vampires were drawn to you?”

“No.” I thought I was just easy pickings. How naïve. I ground my teeth in frustration. None of this mattered. It might have yesterday. Tane was the king of deceit, he told me this to hurt me, to make me angry at Colby. Yet, he’s expressed his admiration of Colby many times. Did he have a crush? I shivered. Maybe he wanted me to hate Colby enough to leave him behind?

I wouldn’t leave my worst enemy with Tane.

Even his confession of Rurik’s captivity made me suspicious. I kept this news foreign to my heart to protect what was left. Hope made me more afraid than dealing with my demon. I wouldn’t survive if Tane lied and I’d allowed myself to embrace the giggle of joy fluttering in my chest. I’d take any chance though to be reunited with my vampire lover, no matter how slim.

“Doesn’t matter why Colby hired me, it’s the past. Rurik’s my future, I’ll take the deal. What do you want in return?”

“What I’ve always wanted.” He turned to face me, the earlier amusement replaced by a somber expression. “Dragos dead.”