Agent O'Neil – Ed,he says I should call him – sends me home after I sign a few papers, including a contract to work with theSCU.
Ed introduces me to his partner Dr. Terri Starr and we shake hands. She says they knew my mother and that they're happy that I've resurfaced and am old enough to take on this role. They've been looking for almost a decade for me – since she died and I was taken into state custody and the file was lost – or stolen, they're not surewhich.
Then I leave, going back down the elevator and out the empty entryway to the street. I'm surprised – and a little saddened – that Michel doesn't come up to the third floor and say anything to me before Ileave.
I beat him – the memory of the very short battle and the moment after when I almost kissed him lingers on my mind. It all happened so fast. It was like something took over and I knew how to defend myself and how to attack. In the excitement of the moment, my emotions almost got away fromme.
* * *
Itakea taxi back to my neighborhood and get out a block away so I can stop by my coffee shop and get a cup of decaf chai tea latte before returning to my apartment. As I'm standing in line, I feel someone brush against me and I shrink away, trying to be polite. The person persists in standing too close to me. I turn and it's Julien with that smirk on hisface.
"Oh, Julien," I say, covering my throat. "I didn't see youthere."
"Don't worry," he says, gesturing to my hand on my neck. "I'm not going to bite you. At least, not unless you want meto."
He lets that statement stand for a moment, and I don't know what to say in response but I don't uncover my neck. His expression becomes seriousnow.
"One thing you have to learn about people like me and Michel," he says and steps closer to me. "We're stealthy. Even more than the usual security detail. We can sneak up on you when you're not paying attention and if that happens, you're toast if we have bad intent. Keep aware at all times, Eve. I know Michel has a detail on you, but they're just ordinary Adepts and no match for older vampires like me. You still must be on guard now. I managed to slip past all three and into the café. If I had been here with the intention to harm you, I could just take your hand, take over your ability to respond and have you out of here, out the back door and into a van waiting to take you away. Your security detail would be out of luck. Rememberthat."
"Why am I so at risknow?"
"You did well at the SCU," he says, his voice dropping lower as if to stop others from hearing what he says. "You've just moved up from 'interesting but unproven' to 'invaluable and coveted'. Things will never be the same for youagain."
"In whatway?"
He shakes his head. "It's not for me to tell you this. You're notmine."
"What do you mean by that? I'm noone's."
He smiles briefly. "You better search through your mother's files and find something on what an Adept is. And read up a bit more on how it is between humans andvampires."
"Why don't you tellme?"
Then I place my order and I turn away from him. When I turn back, he's staring at me intently, his browfurrowed.
"Well?"
"Come and sit with me for a bit. We cantalk."
I nod and move over to wait for my latte. He orders an espresso and comes to stand beside me. Once more, he stands too close tome.
Our drinks are ready and he takes his and walks over to a semi-circular booth – the only place open. He gestures to it, all gentlemanly, and waits for me to take a seat. Then, he slides in beside me, once more far tooclose.
I try to sidle away a bit but he just moves a bit closer, as if he thinks I'm giving him moreroom.
I frown and turn to my latte, stirring some sugar intoit.
"So, you were telling me about why I'm at risknow."
He takes a sip of his espresso and glances atme.
"You sure don't knowmuch."
"No one's told me much. Why don't you tellme?"
He exhales, stretching out his arm on the back of the bench behind me. He turns to face me, his face conspiratorial. He nods to me as if he wants me to movecloser.
"Every single one of us would kill to have someone like you. Will kill to get and keepyou."