Page 7 of Quintus

“Correction. We share most things. She is not one of them.” Quintus struggled with the jealousy that boiled within him. Aside from drinking her blood, he had no other ties to the girl.

“She’s something special, huh? Should I be worried?” Viktor leaned back into his chair and put his hands behind his head.

“No need to worry, my friend. She’s mine. As long as you don’t touch her, you’ll be fine. Am I clear?” Quintus slammed the spatula onto the countertop in frustration and shook his head. What the hell am I saying? He couldn’t believe he just told Viktor the witch belonged to him.

“Tell me brother, what’s so special about the blood of a witch? If anything it would be less potent than a human’s.”

“There was a vampire. I had a run in with her in California. I’ve only been attacked a few times in my life by one, but this didn’t go so well. Poisoned talons.”

“Got it. But you should be able to bounce back.”

“I managed to jump from San Diego to New Orleans carrying Cassandra. But when I flashed I wasn’t even sure where the hell I was taking her. Thank fuck I landed close to St. Mary’s. I didn’t have the energy to go anywhere else, so I ended up in that shit underground club around the corner.” Quintus released a sigh. “You want some breakfast. Coffee? I got the pods in here somewhere.”

“I just ate. You know I don’t eat that human crap.”

“I was poisoned a fair amount,” he continued, ignoring Viktor. “I couldn’t feed. Whenever I drank human blood, I got sick. Couldn’t keep it down.”

“Maybe you got a few junkies in the mix. You know they sell in there for drug money.”

“No way would I drink that shit. I’d scent that out before they ever got within ten feet of me. These donors were top shelf. None of it mattered. Whatever I ate came right back up. I thought…this is it. I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want some fucker thinking they could kill me while I was weak, so I retreated, holed up in a crypt. I thought…it was the end.”

“But here you are. We’re tough stock.”

“I was dying. The Goddess was near. I’m fucking telling you, it wasn’t good. I didn’t think I was going to make it.”

“You got some drama going on there,” Viktor mocked.

“Fuck you, V. I’m serious. I could have fucking died down there. I don’t know how she found me…she’s not what she appears to be.”

“Let’s just hope she didn’t put some kind of hex on your ass. She’s a witch.”

“I think she’s in trouble. I’m not sure what it is. I sensed it. She’s a fighter but there’s something I can’t figure out…”

Quintus stilled as he heard the patter of water from the shower taper off into silence. When he’d checked on her, she’d been crying. Her pain filtered through him as if they’d been truly connected. Although he sometimes sensed others’ emotions, hers were clear and unfettered. The unusual sensation took him off guard, but he buried the nagging feeling.

“What does she want?” Viktor asked.

“Ah, that is the million-dollar question.”

“No one goes to you without wanting a favor.”

“She didn’t ask a favor though. Not yet.” Quintus raised an eyebrow and scooped the eggs onto a plate.

“Still, she must have gone to great lengths to do that. It’s not like that club is exactly a beach resort. It’s more of a shithole.” Viktor sniffed the air, his eyes falling to the eggs. “I know there’re tunnels that lead to the cemetery and crypts but she’d have to know how to get there through the club. Did you ever meet her before?”

“Never in my life. But I’m telling you, that poison took me down. When I first came to, I couldn’t really see her. She was feeding me her blood. As soon as I rallied, well then…that’s when she got really nervous. I scared her.”

“I can’t imagine why. Did you bite her?”

“No.” Quintus recalled his body pressed to hers, her delicious scent calling to him. “It’s not like I didn’t want to. But I’m not an animal. Jesus.”

“Tell me, oh, great one. If she was scared, how’d you get her to agree to come to your house?” Viktor picked a fork up off the table and spun it with his fingers.

“I didn’t exactly ask. Let’s just say it was strongly recommended we leave.” Quintus shrugged.

“So let me get this straight. Said witch feeds you her blood, saves you in a crypt. She expresses regret and then you kidnap her?” Viktor laughed. “Okay then. Going old school, I see.”

“I didn’t kidnap her. I prefer to think of it as saving her. Yeah, that sounds about right.” Quintus turned to his friend, a devilish smirk on his face. “Eggs? You sure you don’t want some?”