Adam Read online

  Rose slowed down the moment she saw the glow of the lights from the cinema. Cook was going to cover for her tonight. The older woman had agreed to tell the others she’d gone to the library or something. That was, if her family asked after her.

  William had been the only brother to take a true liking to her. The others tended to talk over her and not really involve her in conversations.

  She wouldn’t think of that now. She saw Lewis standing at the doors glancing down at his watch. He clapped his hands when he spotted her.

  “The young lady makes it. I’m honoured.” He bowed and again she was charmed by his easy wit.

  “You talk funny. Anyone ever tell you that?”

  “In truth, I’m a little nervous,” he admitted.

  “What do you have to be nervous about?” she asked.

  “I’ve not been on a date in a while and I’m not sure how this is going to work out.”

  Rose felt better. She wasn’t the only one. “Well, you’ve picked an excellent movie. I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”

  They paid for their tickets and stood in the queue for some popcorn.

  “Butter or salt?” Lewis asked.

  “I’d better have the salt.” She didn’t want to admit she was allergic to the animal fat in the butter. Was there animal fat in butter? Whenever she wasn’t sure of something, she decided to stick to going without it.

  They got snacks and drinks and sat down in their seats.

  Not many people were there but Lewis found them seats in the back. Rose laughed when he dropped the popcorn on her lap.

  “I’m so sorry.” He fumbled picking up the heated kernels.

  “Don’t worry and sit down. It has almost started.”

  In no time at all the lights went down and the movie began to play in full swing.

  She found herself laughing in parts and then holding onto his hand as the boat hit the iceberg. All through it, he comforted her with his presence. Occasionally, she’d turn to face him and see him staring at her.

  The moment the lights came up, the sexual tension sizzling between them hit melting point.

  Lewis took her hand and led her to his car.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “It’s still our date and I want to go somewhere. I want to show you something.” Feeling stupid for being paranoid, she took his hand and let him lead her to his car.

  He drove for a few minutes until he hit the outskirts of town. Ten minutes later he pulled up to a deserted lake.

  “Where are we?” she asked getting out of the car and following him.

  “It’s what I like to call, Lewis’ River. I come out here whenever I want to clear my head. That was an intense movie and I think a little clearing of my head is in order.” Lewis took her hand and together they ran the short distance to the lakeside.

  Lewis began removing his socks and trousers.

  Rose turned to leave. He grabbed her hand.

  “Please, I promise you this isn’t what it looks like. I want to go for a swim. Please say you’ll join me.”

  She gazed at him then at the water, yearning to be with him.

  “Just a swim. The water will be freezing.”

  “So you can be my very own Rose,” he whispered.

  She laughed, not having realised till then the double significance of her name. A little bit of cold never hurt anyone…except people like in Titanic. Rose pushed the movie to the back of her mind.

  Rose watched as he removed all of his clothes, baring his boxer shorts. He was hard and muscular. She noted in the moonlight a few claw marks dotted his back.

  He dived in and she waited until he surfaced.

  “Come on in, Rose.”

  She pulled her dress from her shoulders and removed her shoes. The simple white padded bra and cotton panties were left on. Rose dived into the water. In the darkness he wouldn’t be able to see her anyway.

  She came out of the water crying out.

  “Fucking hell, it’s cold,” she said. Lewis laughed from somewhere behind her.

  “It’s refreshing.”

  “I’ve never done this before,” she said. They were swimming around each other. The moonlight cast down a glow.

  “It feels good to be doing something different.” Lewis splashed water at her, making her laugh.

  “You’re like a child.”

  “Life is too short, Rose. We can’t leave anything to chance or regret.”

  “Do you have any regrets?” she asked.

  “A couple of things, but they’re for another time.”

  “So what you’re saying is I should relish the skinny dipping in a freezing cold lake?” Rose chuckled.

  Lewis came close until she felt him touch her skin. She gasped as he pulled his boxer shorts out of the water.

  “I’m skinny dipping, but you still have clothes on.”

  She didn’t know what to do or say. She was in a freezing lake with a naked man.

  “I don’t know what to do,” she said.

  “I’d never make you do anything you didn’t want to.” Lewis reached out and slowly drew the straps of her bra down her shoulders. He leaned around and undid the fasteners keeping it together. Rose began to pant. Her small breasts spilt free. Was this how human females felt? Lewis had her undivided attention.

  “You’re going to have to do your panties,” he whispered against her cheek. His hard muscled chest grazed across her pointed nipples.

  “This is crazy,” she said to no one except herself.

  “But really great.”

  For a long time she’d been kept trapped by her parent’s demands and after so many years of being contained she suddenly felt full of life, laughter and—dare she think it?—love.

  Rose shuffled out of her panties and let them fall to the lake floor. Going on instinct, she wrapped her arms around his neck and started kissing him.

  In the middle of the freezing lake, Rose opened her heart to the human man bringing so much joy to her once painful existence.

  Lewis kissed her back and tried not to think of the wolves watching them. The chance they might see her body filled him with anger. He didn’t understand his sudden possessive feelings towards her. James had been adamant that he come here so the others got a good look at one of the Valentines. They all needed to scent the blood of a Valentine to recognise it.

  Her innocence touched him and he wanted to spend all night kissing and holding her. The next couple of hours were exhilarating, as they swam and kissed, doing nothing but enjoying the pleasure of one another’s company.

  An alarm beat in the distance causing Rose to pull away. “Oh no. What time is it?” she asked.

  “Probably a little after midnight.”

  “We’ve been in this freezing lake for over two hours. You might catch your death.” She latched onto his hand and pulled him closer to the edge of the lake where their clothes lay.

  “I’m fine, Rose.” He wasn’t about to mention that his body temperature was a lot higher than hers.

  “Please, we must get back,” she said. The moment they hit the edge she was out and rushing to her clothes. Lewis admired her round ass and womanly figure. She may have been a vampire, but she was built just right for him.

  His cock started to stir and, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of his entire pack, he began putting on his clothes.

  Once they were finished, Lewis dragged her back to his car. He wanted the privacy of the heater blowing and the enclosed car to try to keep any noise out of reach from James.

  “I can’t believe what we just did,” she whispered, leaning over to lay a kiss on his lips. Her face was blue and she shook.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. I just need to get home.”

  Lewis put the car in gear and tried to process her response. Vampires weren’t affected by the cold. The icy lake shouldn’t have turned her blue, let alone caused her to shake.

  About twenty min
utes later, Rose kissed him and ran to her house. He watched her disappear through the back entrance and now he had his answers.

  By distracting Rose enough, he had discovered where the Valentines lived.

  Chapter Seven

  Adam felt sick. Slinking through two different worlds had caused him to vomit his entire breakfast.

  They both appeared side by side in an area surrounded by grey. Frowning, Adam gazed around only to see the very study they were departing from.

  “I think you’ve got the wrong address,” he said. The thought of how he’d travelled with her left him sick to his stomach.

  “Look again,” she said.

  Adam looked around and yes, it was still his study, but there in the corner, by the window, stood the outline of his father.

  “What the hell?” he said, confused.

  “Be careful, Adam. This place is just as unstable as any other.”

  The man stayed where he was and Adam pulled away from Poppy. He walked over to the man he’d known all of his life.

  “Hello, Adam,” Robert Senior said.

  Adam jumped back.

  “Be careful, Adam.” She came to stand by his side.

  “Why is he here?” he asked.

  “I can talk to you, son.”

  “Adam, don’t be rude to any of the people you see here.” Poppy cautioned him while smiling at his father.

  “I take it you’re the necromancer causing a stir in my house?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m here to find some answers.”

  “I know what you seek, but my last mission isn’t about the alpha wolf and because of this I can’t provide you with any help. All I can say is, you know where to go.”

  Adam cursed and looked apologetically to Poppy.

  “Thank you, sir.” Poppy took Adam’s hand and made to move out.

  “That’s it?”

  “Adam, don’t. This is not like on your plane.”

  “No. I can’t accept this. My dad is standing looking out of the window as if there’s not a care in the world. We’ve got a lot of shit to do and he’s just standing there.”

  Poppy silenced him with a kiss.

  “People here don’t waste time on modern matters. We’ve got a problem to find ourselves. Your father can’t move because it is this place where he has his final dealings to make.”

  Adam glanced back at his father, sad and upset to know his father was there and could do nothing to help.

  Poppy didn’t have the heart to tell Adam his father would be in the very same spot for the rest of his existence. She thought of a place and they moved through the house and down the street. Her ability as a necromancer made it so the moment she opened the front door, she came out on the street she desired.

  Taking hold of his hand, Poppy led Adam through the maze of people. He hadn’t been prepared for this other life—a life where faceless people wandered around with no hope of moving. These bodies remained forever in a state of purgatory, walking the streets through living humans and watching the people live their daily lives. These souls had to watch the living as they hated and loved with every part of their soul. Poppy understood the despair. She walked among the humans and lived her life but with the curse of being a necromancer she could only ever live a half-life. A life she hadn’t wanted in the first place.

  “Who are these people?” he asked.

  No one responded to the question and she was thankful to be walking without being attacked yet.

  She found Don Hargreaves’ bar, where she’d first had the call to come and assist in the battle of Katie and Emma. Humans, demons and other species sat in their own secluded section. Poppy took his hand and moved to the back of the bar. No one would see them or sense them. They were invisible to all, apart from the clear grey people who’d already died.

  “Where are we?” Adam asked again.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to make sure we’ve got some privacy.” Poppy settled down when she didn’t see any dead people walking around. Don must keep a very clear bar.

  “Look, Robert and the others left the study, you grabbed my hand and vroom. I’m in the same study only it’s washed in grey, and my father—who died a few months ago—is stood looking out of the window. Do you know how many times he gazed out of that window? He used to stand and stare at Rose playing in the garden for hours. I don’t know what is going on, but I want to know. We’re here—but where exactly are we?”

  Poppy heard the fear in his voice. His father had many more demons to face that had nothing to do with them.

  “First, your father is not your fault or your problem. He’ll get his time. He’s been there since James struck the death blow. Your father’s unfinished business has to do with Rose or maybe your mother. I don’t know, but shouting about it isn’t going to bring him back.” She touched his face. “I’m sorry about him, but we’ve got to move on.”

  Adam nodded and kissed her again. She liked the touches he gave her, too much.

  “What’s the second?”

  “The second… Well, we’re in a place far worse than limbo, death and the afterlife.”

  “The afterlife? Okay. You’re talking crazy to me now.”

  “Shut up,” she said, placing a finger over his lips. “I’ll tell you everything in time. But to do so takes a great deal of understanding.”

  “Why don’t you just start at what happened?”

  Poppy gazed into his eyes, struck again by their magnificent colour.

  Think, Poppy, think.

  “We’re looking for the original alpha—one who was murdered unnecessarily for ill-gotten gains.”

  “Yes, James killed the alpha and took over the pack.”

  “Well, there is a consequence for everything in life, from the use and abuse of magic to telling a little lie, and finally in causing death. Only the alpha wolf pays the price for the damage done.”

  Adam blinked at her and shook his head. “Are you telling me the head alpha who was maliciously murdered pays the price for the way in which he died?”

  Poppy nodded.

  “This is horse shit.”

  “Not the nicest way of putting it, but the truth.”

  “I can’t accept this.” He made to get up. Poppy used her strength and forced him to sit down.

  “Do you want me to explain this or not?” She waited for his answer. He nodded. “Okay. This is not as simple as putting out a general ad in the murdered viciously supernatural newspaper, and hoping the old alpha of Beyer West answers our call. Some serious magic has prevented you guys even remembering his existence. No name, no picture. We’re going on nothing to find one of the most important people to stop James.”

  “You’re a necromancer. Shouldn’t you be able to hear their call?”

  “Do you know how many powerful dead people are walking around? To put out any call is like announcing a huge discount sale on all food.”

  “It’s what you do. You should be able to have some control over it.”

  “Do you always have control over the blood you drink?”

  Adam paused.

  “See? Not so easy.”

  “We’ve got to find clues and work from one person to the next. This is the best place to find whoever we’re looking for.”

  “In the meantime, tell me where we are.”

  Poppy sighed. He wouldn’t be able to cope knowing so much about her world. Necromancy was a hard skill to deal with. Knowing what lay ahead could destroy the minds of some people.

  “If you die and if your death was peaceful, then while being judged over a lifetime of deeds it turns in your favour, the pearly gates open up and welcome you into heaven. If it turns out the scale falls at your judgement, then the floor opens and you’re plunged into hell. It is a very simple, by the book process. Now, those people who die by unfortunate means but have what is known as unfinished business end up in limbo but with the promise of entering either heaven or hell. They stay in limbo until the business is finished. If, for instance, it is
to gain revenge then the end result would be they’d likely end up in hell. But if someone was waiting on a lost relative and looking over someone they cared about, then when said business was done they’d enter into heaven.”

  “I know all this. Even as a vampire we took Bible studies.” Adam took hold of her hand and entwined their fingers. Poppy gasped and glanced down to where they were connected. Her hand looked at odds joined with his. No matter how different their hands looked, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away. The modest touch meant so much to her. Adam was the only man to give her any real attention.

  She licked her lips and continued with her explanation.

  “Then there are the people who die in vicious attacks, who fight to the death and who don’t deserve to see the fight end. They come here. In my opinion that is the worst kind of death. They can’t interact with the people like us. Watch.” A couple of vampires sat at the table opposite and Poppy got up and stood next to the couple. She raised her fist and ran it into the guy’s face. Nothing happened. Her fist went straight through.

  “If this is that kind of place, why do people who die in horrible circumstances come here?”

  Poppy sat back next to him and he grabbed her hand again. She shouldn’t encourage the contact.

  “They have a chance to be heard through people like me. They could have a voice and rise up to fight their true battle once more.”

  Secrets from her past, her culture, rose within her and Poppy wanted to share it with him. “What I’m about to tell you should die with me.”

  Adam turned towards her. His thumb ran across her knuckles in a light caress.

  “Once, raising people from the grave and giving them a true battle was the normal activity to do in our life. Necromancers would be called to an unfair death and it was the necromancer’s true power to bring the opponents together in this place where they can fight once more. If the battle remained the same then the person who died would forever be cursed to walk this land. But if the battle changed and the man who’d died was suddenly the victor then he had the choice of taking the opponent’s life in place of his own.”