Shiver (Night Roamers) Read online

  I punched him in the shoulder. “You’re such a pig. Look, this isn’t joke. She already turned Duncan into a vampire. Have you seen him yet?”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Duncan’s back in town?”

  “Yes and she had sex with him.”

  He clapped his hands and laughed. “Holy crap, Duncan had a shot at her, too?”

  I grimaced. “Nice.”

  His face fell and he put an arm around me. “I’m sorry. I forgot you and Duncan had something going last summer.”

  “Well, it’s not even that. Duncan says he doesn’t remember much of what happened anyway. She probably put some kind of spell on him.”

  “Right, a spell. Well, I definitely remember having sex with her. She didn’t need a spell to get me naked.”

  I glared at him. “Obviously. My point is, if she’s bitten you once already, she must have real plans for you.”

  He bit the side of his lip and looked thoughtful. “Tell you what… let me speak to Duncan about all of this. It kind of pisses me off that she’s playing both of us. I mean, shit, we’re good friends.”

  “Yeah, if you can find him.”

  He shook his head. “She really had sex with Duncan?”

  I nodded. “I guess so.”

  He sighed. “Shit.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  We both missed school that day, and while mom left for work, we snuck out and took a trip into town. Our first stop was the marina.

  “Hey, Sonny, Duncan around?” asked Nathan as we strolled into his office.

  Sonny frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

  Nathan nodded. “We are, but one of our friends was murdered last night. Did you hear about Susan?”

  His face turned somber. “I saw that on the news this morning. I still can’t believe it myself, that poor child.”

  “Obviously, someone’s killing these girls and we’re trying to find a way to help with the investigation,” said Nathan. “In fact, I actually saw Susan last night at the diner.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “You did? Well, I’m sure the sheriff will be interviewing everyone she came in contact with yesterday. Better let him know you saw her, too.”

  “What time did Duncan come home last night?” I asked.

  “He got back into town pretty early this morning. He’s probably still sleeping.”

  I looked at my watch; it was almost ten in the morning.

  “Do you think he’d mind if we stopped over?” asked Nathan.

  He shrugged. “Go for it. The house should be open. Tell him to get his ass to work, I need him here.”

  “No problem,” said Nathan. “Come on, Nikki.”

  Duncan and Sonny lived in an old house right next to the marina. We walked over and rang the doorbell, but nobody answered.

  “Let’s go inside,” said Nathan, pushing the door open.

  “Do you know where his bedroom is?” I asked, as we stepped into the living room.

  He shook his head. “No. I’m surprised you don’t.”

  I smacked his shoulder. “Very funny.”

  He laughed. “Why don’t I check upstairs and you look on the main floor?”

  “Okay.”

  I made my way through the house, which was definitely a bachelor pad. Empty beer bottles and soda cans were sitting out, along with some empty bags from a fast food joint up the street. The place looked like it hadn’t been vacuumed in forever, and the kitchen floors were sticky.

  They could use a maid, I thought with a grimace. I was sure Sonny was bringing in good money with the marina, although from what Nathan mentioned, he was pretty tight with it.

  I moved past the kitchen and noticed there were a couple of rooms down the hall. I knocked on the first one, but nobody answered, so I opened it slowly.

  “Duncan?” I whispered, stepping inside.

  The shades were pulled, so it was dark, but I could see him sprawled out on top of his bed, wearing only a pair of black and white striped boxers. He appeared to be sleeping with earphones from his iPod still attached to his head. The music was coming through loud and I was surprised that anyone could sleep that way.

  “Hey,” I said, squeezing his arm.

  His eyes popped open and he stared at me as if I was a complete stranger.

  I smiled. “It’s just me, goofball.”

  The next thing I knew, he let out a strangled growl and I soon found myself underneath him with his hands on my throat, squeezing. He bared his fangs and I stared at him in horror, waiting for him to rip out my throat.

  I opened my mouth and tried to scream, but it was painfully impossible with his hands squeezing. Just when I thought my life was over, he seemed to snap out of it.

  “Nikki?” he choked, releasing my neck. “Oh, God…”

  “What the fuck?!” hollered Nathan, rushing into the bedroom. “Get off my sister, man!”

  Duncan got up and I rolled away, wheezing and coughing.

  “I’m so sorry, Nikki!” cried Duncan, his eyes full of remorse. “I didn’t know what I was doing… I’m…God, I’m so sorry!”

  Nathan helped me off the bed. “Are you okay?” he asked, pulling me into his arms.

  “Yeah,” I whispered, although my throat was pretty sore.

  “What the hell, Dunc?” snapped my brother above my head. “Are you out of your freaking mind?”

  Duncan grabbed a pair of jeans from the floor and pulled them on. “I’m sorry. I must have been still sleeping or something. You know I’d never hurt her; not intentionally.”

  “Jesus, remind me never to invite you over for a slumber party,” said my brother as he released me. “You scared the shit out of us, bro.”

  Duncan moved towards me and touched my cheek. “I am so sorry, Nikki. You know I’d never try to harm you on purpose. You know that, right?”

  I nodded. I realized it probably had something to do with being a vampire but I vowed to never wake Duncan up from a deep sleep ever again.

  “Come here,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “I can’t believe that happened. I feel like such an asshole.”

  I let him hold me, although I couldn’t get the image of his attack out of my head. Then, when I felt how warm his body was, I pushed him away. “You’ve fed,” I whispered hoarsely.

  He brushed his dark hair from his eyes and stared at me but wouldn’t say anything. I noticed that his face had more color than the last time I’d seen him and his eyes were even more of a vibrant silvery-gray. Thinking of him feeding from a living person gave me the chills.

  “You’ve eaten?” asked Nathan. “Shoot, I was going to take you out for breakfast at Ruth’s Diner.”

  Duncan turned towards my brother and smiled. “I had a late night snack, but I could certainly join you guys. I’ll meet you in the living room in a few. Just let me get ready.”

  I followed Nathan back to the living room, still feeling shaky.

  “You really okay?” he asked,

  I nodded. “I’m fine, but obviously Duncan isn’t. He’s warm to the touch.”

  Nathan raised his eyebrows. “And…that’s not fine?”

  I shook my head. “No, it means he’s fed. He’s had blood.”

  He sighed. “Nikki…”

  “Ready to go,” interrupted Duncan, now wearing a khaki colored sweater, a pair of brown suede boat shoes, and dark sunglasses.

  “Yeah, I’ll drive,” said Nathan.

  I was silent as we walked to the car, although Duncan tried grabbing my hand a couple of times. I brushed it away and then stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets. I still couldn’t get over the fact that he’d fed and now that Susan was murdered, it made me wonder. Was he responsible for her death?

  Nathan, on the other hand, was talking a mile a minute about Susan and the news report.

  “I can’t believe she’s gone, man,” he said in a strangled voice. “I actually made out with her a few times last summer. She was a sweet chick. Shit, I feel sick to my stomach thinking about
what might have happened to her.”

  “Yeah,” murmured Duncan, who was sitting in the passenger seat so I couldn’t see his expression. “What a waste. I didn’t know her very well, but she seemed nice.”

  When we arrived at the diner, it was busy, as usual. We seated ourselves at a booth in the corner and Duncan slid in next to me.

  “Hi, kids,” said Rosie, handing us menus. “You hear?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, that’s why we’re here and not in school.”

  There were tears in Rosie’s eyes. “She was a good kid,” she murmured. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “Me neither,” I said. “Whoever did this, I hope they find him and hang him by his balls. He’s doesn’t deserve the air he breathes.”

  “It’s not safe for anyone with this psychopath on the loose. You be extra careful, Nikki,” said Rosie. “He seems to be going after young girls around your age.”

  “You say he, maybe, it’s not even a guy,” said Duncan.

  We all looked at him.

  “I’m just saying,” he said, playing with the sugar packets. “It could be a female. Don’t count a woman out.”

  I glanced at Duncan and wondered if he knew who’d killed Susan. It wouldn’t have surprised me if it was Celeste. Unfortunately, I couldn’t read anything in his expression because of his sunglasses. I reached over and snatched them from his face.

  “Hey,” he said, trying to take them back. “I was up late and my eyes hurt.”

  I scowled. “Tough. Have some manners.”

  He sighed and looked up at Rosie. “Sorry.”

  She smiled. “It’s okay. Can I get you guys something to drink right away?”

  Nathan and I ordered sodas and Duncan ordered a glass of water.

  “How’s your wrist?” she asked me.

  I raised and moved it around. “Better. I meant to call you, actually. I can start back whenever you want me to. It’s a little tender, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  She nodded. “Hate to ask but, how about tonight?”

  I nodded “Yeah, sure, what time?”

  “Four?”

  “I’ll be here,” I answered.

  “So,” said Nathan, after she left. “Duncan, I have some questions for you.”

  Duncan’s look was stoic. “What’s up?”

  Nathan leaned forward. “First of all, what the hell is going on with you?”

  Duncan rubbed a hand over his chin and smiled bitterly. “Had a rough week, man.”

  “So I hear,” replied Nathan.

  “Tell him,” I prodded Duncan. “Tell Nathan, because he doesn’t believe me.”

  “Tell him what, exactly?” he asked, turning towards me.

  My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Let’s start with Celeste,” said Nathan. “What’s going on between you two?”

  Before Duncan could respond, Ethan walked into the restaurant with a blond woman. With his long, black leather jacket, sunglasses, and lazy grin, he reminded me of a musician who’d just gotten done pulling an all-nighter. If that wasn’t shocking enough, when the woman turned around, my blood turned to ice. It was the nasty woman from the other day, Faye Dunbar.

  “Oh, my God,” I whispered, as Ethan removed his sunglasses and led the woman over to the other side of the diner. They sat down in a booth together, face to face. She had a flirtatious grin on her face, and from the sensual smile on his face, he also appeared to be enjoying her company. Then, when I saw him grab her hand and place it in his, I wanted to throw up.

  “What the hell?” I hissed, clenching my fists as Faye leaned forward and kissed Ethan’s lips; the same ones that had been all over my body only hours before.

  Nathan turned to see who I was staring at and almost choked on his water. “Holy shit.”

  “Let me out, Duncan,” I demanded, my blood boiling.

  “Don’t,” he said, holding my arm. “You don’t want to disturb them. In fact, that woman isn’t who she appears to be.”

  I stared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  His face darkened. “I met her yesterday.”

  “Yeah, well, I met her a few days ago. She’s an arrogant bitch,” I said.

  And now she was with Ethan! What the hell was going on?

  Duncan’s eyes moved to Nathan and then back to me. “She’s a very powerful shape-shifter. Don’t fuck with her.”

  “A what?” I whispered.

  “A shape-whater?” asked Nathan.

  Duncan sighed. “Her name is Faye and from what I’ve been told, she is not someone you want to mess with.”

  “First of all,” smiled Nathan. “You’re both insane; seriously, insane. Second of all,” he said, turning towards me. “Nikki, it’s obvious that Ethan and this woman have something going. So, just get over whatever it is that you feel for him and grow the fuck up. He’s a no-good asshole who obviously, likes a variety of women. He’s a little too old for you, anyway.”

  I shook my head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I agree,” said Duncan. “Stay away from him. You’re just a toy to that guy and Faye, well, you need to avoid her at all costs. She’ll kill you without a second thought if you make her mad.”

  I looked back over to Ethan’s table and our eyes met. The shock registered on his face was priceless. He quickly turned away.

  “He just saw you, obviously,” said Duncan.

  “I want to go over there,” I mumbled. “Duncan, move please.”

  He sighed and got out of the booth. “You’re making a mistake by interrupting them. I can tell you that right now.”

  I took a deep breath and let it out. “Listen, I just don’t want him to think that I’m bothered by them being here,” I said, although I was mad as all hell. “I’m just going to go over and say hello, that’s all.” Then I reached up and gave Duncan a kiss on the mouth, hoping that Ethan had witnessed it. I knew it wasn’t fair to Duncan, especially since everything that had happened, but I wanted Ethan to know that I wasn’t anyone’s play toy.

  Duncan stared hard at me for a moment and then nodded. “Okay. Just be careful.”

  I turned away and began moving towards Ethan, whose face darkened considerably when he saw me coming.

  I gave him the coldest smile I could muster and his eyes narrowed.

  “Well hello, there,” I said, approaching their table.

  Ethan stared at me like I was a complete stranger and said hello ever so politely.

  “Oh, are you working today?” asked Faye, an irritated look on her face. “How lovely.”

  Then, as clear as day I heard her voice in my head.

  Not this little irritating bitch, again. Fuck!

  “Excuse me?” I said. “Did you just say something? Because I could have sworn you just called me an irritating bitch.”

  Faye looked at me in surprise and then flashed an angry scowl at Ethan. “You did not touch this girl, did you?”

  Ethan licked his lips but didn’t say anything. He picked up the menu and started to examine it.

  Her hand snaked out and grabbed his wrist. “Ethan?” she hissed. “Did you?”

  He glanced at me and then turned back to her. “She’s nothing, Faye; just needed to regroup one night when I was weak. It was obviously a mistake.”

  I stared at him in horror. I felt like he’d just kicked me in the heart.

  “Bastard,” I whispered hoarsely, my eyes filling with tears.

  “Leave us,” said Faye with a bored look on her face. “Before I call the manager over and place a complaint against you.”

  I turned away and stormed towards the bathroom, needing to “regroup” myself. I was on the verge of having a major crying attack and wasn’t about to do it around everyone in the restaurant.

  “You okay, Nikki?” asked Rosie as I rushed by her.

  “Something in my eye,” I mumbled.

  When I reached the bathroom, I hurried into the stall and on
ly then allowed myself to cry.

  I was a mistake, he’d said.

  I cried rivers of tears, flushing the toilet several times to drown out the sound of my sobs. Fortunately, nobody else walked in.

  I was a mistake…

  I’d never felt so betrayed and heartbroken in my life. Before we’d had sex, he’d told me that he loved me. Now that he’d gotten what he’d wanted – sex – he was being cruel and heartless. Although he was a vampire, his actions were so…strangely human. I now realized that he was just a cold bastard and I vowed to never let him confuse me or control my desires again. If he showed himself to me again, I was prepared to tell him to where he could stick his teeth along with something else.

  A knock at the door stopped my ranting.

  “Nikki?” called Duncan. “Are you okay?”

  I let out a ragged sigh. “I’ll be out in a second, Duncan!” I called.

  “Okay. I’ll be out here waiting for you.”

  I moved to the sink and washed my face with cold water. Unfortunately, my eyes were puffy and I knew there was no way I could hide the fact that I’d been crying. I frowned in the mirror and dried my face.

  “Duncan,” I said, stepping out of the bathroom. “Can I borrow your sunglasses?”

  He reached over and touched my cheek with his fingertips. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I tried to smile, but I’m sure it came out sour. “I’m fine,” I lied.

  He lifted my chin. “Don’t let him do this to you. He’s not worth it. Okay?”

  I nodded.

  Duncan grabbed my hand. “Come on.”

  We walked back to the table and there were three plates of food already sitting there.

  “I ordered for you,” said Nathan, stuffing his face with mouthfuls of hash browns. “Hope you don’t mind. I’ll eat whatever you can’t.”

  “Thanks,” I said, glancing towards Ethan’s table. Fortunately, they were now gone.

  “Yeah, they left,” said Duncan, noticing my interest.

  I slid into the booth and began picking at the omelet Nathan had ordered for me. I wasn’t hungry and the thought of food at that particular moment actually made me ill.

  “Okay, spill it,” said Nathan, his mouth full of food. “Both of you have a lot of explaining to do. Give me all you got, include whatever vampire fantasy you have in your head, too, just in case I’m wrong.”