Chapter 3
Rachel stepped out of the Pyramida Hotel and sheltered her eyes from the sun. Sunglasses and all, the autumn light bothered her. Being a Hunter wasn't all rainbows and kittens. Even if they were day-walkers, they were still sensitive to strong sunlight. So much for going to the beach. Fortunately, she'd had plenty of that while growing up in California.
She scuttled to the left, toward the terrace outside the restaurant. Cheryl and Chris were there, two cups of coffee on their table. Cheryl looked up with sparkling light-blue eyes.
Rachel had always thought Cheryl looked like an angel. With golden, wavy hair, English rose skin and those piercing eyes, she was perfect. She and Daniel made a gorgeous couple.
"Finally up, princess?" Chris asked, stretching his long legs under the table. Sarcasm oozed from his voice.
Rachel bit back a snappy retort and slumped on the chair next to his. He knew she hated being called that.
"Hey." Chris put his hand on her cheek and turned her to face him. His dark brown eyes spoke his apology. "I didn't mean it."
Rachel sighed and gave him a quick kiss. He was doing his best. He didn't let her pull back, but deepened the kiss, as though to prove how sorry he was. She wrapped her arms around his neck in response to his affection. She loved having him this close, feeling his heat and his scent. He always reminded her of mountains and snow.
"That's much better," said Cheryl.
Rachel broke off and gave her a smile, letting Chris trail kisses down her cheek.
"I missed you last night," he whispered in her ear.
"Sorry, but it was the last time. We found what we were looking for." Actually, they hadn't, but there was no use lingering in Prague.
"You did?" Chris pulled back and folded his hands behind his head. "So...um...kill anyone?" He tried to sound casual, but failed miserably.
Rachel's muscles tensed and she shut her eyes. "Let's just say there's one less dangerous monster on these streets."
"Good for you guys!" Cheryl flung her fist in the air. "I'm glad you're not hurt."
Rachel gawked at her. God, Daniel was lucky. If only Chris would have that chipper attitude. Instead, he stared at Cheryl as though he thought she'd eaten something bad. Rachel elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ouch, what was that for?" he demanded, rubbing his side.
"Stop staring at her like that," Rachel hissed. "I know you don't agree with her, but don't be rude."
"Who says I don't agree with her?" Chris whispered back, his eyebrows drawn together. "I only want what's best for you."
"Yeah, okay." Rachel slouched in her chair and picked up the coffee menu. He wanted to believe what he was saying, but it didn't make it true. She almost wished she hadn't come clean about what she did. He'd been so different before, so loving and supportive. That and his abnormally good looks and intelligence had made him perfect. Now, he was just hot and smart and she realized that wasn't what she'd liked most about him.
"Good morning, everyone," Daniel said, joining them. He wore a pair of aviator sunglasses and a tight-lipped smile that assured Rachel he hadn't fed last night.
"It's late afternoon, silly." Cheryl slapped his arm lightly. "You're lazy. Rach got up before you."
"Then I hope she ordered me coffee." Daniel reached across the table and pulled the menu from her hand. Their fingers touched for a fraction of a second and Rachel gasped. He was cold as ice. This was not good. He needed to feed, and fast.
"Bad luck last night?" Rachel asked as casually as she could.
"Tell me about it," he mumbled, burying his face in the menu.
Chris looked from him to Rachel, frowning. "Weren't you two together last night?"
Rachel's heart skipped a beat. For a second, she thought Chris somehow knew what had happened. But his question was innocent. And, come to think about it, with the moment gone, her feelings for Daniel were just the same as before. Platonic heaven. Which was perfect.
"Yeah, we were." Rachel leaned back. "But Daniel had some extra work to take care of, and we split up." She watched Cheryl, but she still smiled in blissful ignorance.
Chris watched Daniel warily. Rachel wished she could elbow him, but knew Daniel would notice, and she didn't want to draw attention to Chris's staring.
"Rachel mentioned your job was done." Cheryl moved her chair closer to Daniel's. Rachel could see him tense. "How was it?"
"Ugh, spare us the gory details, Cheryl." Chris looked away.
Rachel took advantage of the distraction to move her own chair closer to Daniel's.
"You're much softer than you look, macho," Cheryl laughed. "I didn't think a bit of battle detail would bother you." She turned her attention from Chris to her boyfriend and caressed his cheek.
With speed neither Cheryl nor Chris could perceive, Daniel's hand darted toward Cheryl's neck. With equal speed, Rachel caught his wrist in midair and pushed his arm back. She pushed his hand under the table and didn't let go.
"I'm interested in everything they do," Cheryl continued, oblivious to how close she'd been to dying. She raised her hand and showed the thin gold band and tiffany cut diamond to Chris.
Daniel relaxed. Thanks, Rach.
Rachel shrugged. "You're welcome."
Daniel turned to her and raised his sunglasses with his free hand. The red rim of his irises was bigger than before, and dark rings circled his now wide eyes.
You can hear me?
"Yes, of course I can—" Rachel froze. Daniel wasn't talking to her. It was his thoughts she was hearing.
Daniel pulled his hand away from hers and Chris's voice broke through, crystal clear.
"Why are you talking to yourself?"
Rachel blinked and looked from Daniel to Chris and Cheryl who were staring at her. She cleared her throat. "I was...um...singing."
Chris scoffed. "It didn't sound like it."
"You know I suck," she snapped. Why couldn't he just let it go? He'd been suspicious of every little thing she did since he found out she was half-vampire. It was like he was trying to detect her superpowers when even she didn't know all of them yet. Understandable, but still annoying.
"Ah, come on. You're not that bad." Chris gave her a genuine smile and leaned back in his chair. His eyes fell on Daniel and he gasped. "Cheryl, get away!"
Daniel hadn't dropped his sunglasses over his eyes, and Chris had obviously noticed the changing color and hungry look in them. And the fangs almost showing didn't help either. Cheryl tilted her head, but didn't move.
Daniel rolled his eyes and covered his mouth. "There, if it's so damn scary."
Cheryl turned to him and a shadow of surprise crossed her face for a moment, before her serene expression fell back into place. "What's scary?"
"Rachel, shouldn't you...?" Chris turned from Daniel's annoyed expression to Rachel.
"Look, dude, I can control myself, all right?" Daniel growled.
"And it's not like there's anything we can do until tonight," Rachel added.
"But what if you hurt Cheryl?"
Cheryl shook her head. "Hurt me? Why on earth would Danny hurt me? He's never done anything remotely threatening." Her voice carried a steely edge.
Rachel swallowed. Poor girl had no idea how close she'd cut it. She was still in mortal danger. Chris had a point. Maybe she should take Daniel out of there.
"I don't know about that." Chris hesitated. "He looks hungry."
"Then maybe you should get some lunch," Cheryl said brightly, moving from her chair into Daniel's lap.
His whole body trembled and Rachel grabbed his wrist again, squeezing tight enough to keep him focused.
Chris stared at Cheryl incredulously. "You don't know?" He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was around and leaned over the table, toward her.
"Chris," Rachel warned.
"Don't you know they need blood? Just like vampires?"
"That's silly." Cheryl wrapped her arms around Daniel's neck. "They don't have fangs."
"Actually, sweetheart..." Daniel sighed and showed her his fangs.
Chris scrambled back, mouth hanging open, and almost fell over with the chair. "Holy shit!"
Cheryl turned to him and her eyes widened. Her body tensed and she pulled back as though half of her wanted to run away screaming. Daniel tightened his hold on her.
"Um... you didn't have those before," she said, her voice shaky.
"No, Cheryl, it's okay," Rachel said hurriedly. "I don't have any. See? They just come out when we need to feed. And it only happens like once a month."
Nice try, Rach. But this is her chance to freak out and run for it. Daniel yanked his arm out of her grip and wrapped it around Cheryl.
Cheryl bit her lip and stared from Rachel to Daniel's tentative smile. The more she looked at her boyfriend, the more her gaze softened, and she ended up leaning toward him. "Maybe I'm crazy," she whispered. "But this is the hottest thing I've ever seen."
Rachel groaned and covered her ears. If she were normal, she wouldn't be able to hear Cheryl, and she wished she couldn't. So much for fear and surprise!
"I know we said we'd go take a walk through Prague, but..." Cheryl wet her lips. "I really want to go upstairs. Can you do it without...you know, killing me?"
Rachel started chanting inside her head. God, she wished Cheryl would shut up or that Daniel would realize she could hear every word. She jumped when Daniel grabbed her hand.
I told you this one's not right in the head. I just show her my killer weapons and all she wants to do is jump my bones.
Great. He knew she'd heard and he didn't mind. "I don—"
Inside your head, Giuliani. Chris thinks we're freaks as it is. Daniel sounded both amused and annoyed.
Well, you should be grateful, Rachel thought. This was not the reaction I got. And Chris hasn't ever seen me hungry.
Maybe he should. It might turn him on.
She rolled her eyes. Forget it. Are you going to take the risk?
Daniel squeezed her hand and something more than thoughts came through. For a moment she felt arousal like never before, but it was quickly replaced with the feeling of everything she ever loved surrounding her. She could hear birds singing and waves hitting the shore. The smell of lilies surrounded her together with another familiar smell she loved but couldn't quite place. Her mouth filled with a sweet taste and it was like liquid happiness flowed through her veins. All that, mixed with the mounting desire, made her wish Daniel would never let go. But he loosened his grip and reality came back.
You see. It's not like I have a choice.
What on earth was that? Rachel tried her best to keep the disappointment out of her thoughts, but she wasn't sure how much Daniel could sense.
What? Can't you recognize arousal when you feel it? God, Rach, you have a boyfriend. Are the two of you nuns or something?
Rachel gazed into her lap and pulled her hand away. He had no idea what he'd actually shared with her. And for some reason, she didn't want to tell him. Maybe this way, there was a chance he'd slip again.
"Rachel, am I talking to myself here?" Chris demanded. His voice still shook, and she could pick up on his still racing heartbeat.
"No, of course not." She moved her chair closer to his and rubbed his arm to calm him down. "I was just daydreaming." Did this mean she couldn't hear the outside world while talking to Daniel inside her head? That was a major drawback, especially in battle. Or maybe her psychic link was screwed up. She'd ask Daniel later.
"I think they need to talk." Chris stood, squinting at Daniel, but he was busy trailing kisses on Cheryl's jaw. "Are you still up for the tour?"
Yeah, right, that's exactly what Daniel and Cheryl will do. Talk. "Sure." Rachel stood, too, and put her hand on Daniel's shoulder. Can you handle this?
Mmm-hmm. Don't worry about us. I'll be fine. He didn't even bother to look at her.
Rachel hesitated for a second, but walked away. She'd known him long enough to tell he would've never let her go if there was even the slightest chance he'd hurt Cheryl. And that was good enough for her.
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Rachel stared over the railing of the Carol Bridge. It was so different in the daylight with crowds of people flowing in all directions and street vendors and artists every few steps. She and Chris were close to the place Daniel had set fire to the bloodsucker the previous night. There was no trace left. She'd taken care of that.
"Rach, can we talk?" Chris leaned his elbows on the railing and looked at her.
"Of course."
"I wanted to apologize for being so...so..." He stared at a little boat making its way upstream. "I look at Cheryl and see how easily she accepts all this and I wish I could be like her." He raised his head. "I wish I could tell you that I don't care what you are."
"But you do care."
Chris sighed. "I wish I were Daniel."
Rachel turned to him so fast, her neck creaked. "You wish you were Daniel?"
"This whole thing with you being a Hunter would be so much easier to bear if...I wish I were the Hunter. It's hard for me to accept that you're stronger and quicker than I am." He gritted his teeth. "I feel as if you're the one meant to save me, to protect me."
Rachel put her hand on his shoulder. She could see where he was going and she felt sorry for him. "And what's wrong with that?"
"I'm the guy, Rachel. I'm the one who's supposed to look after you, make your life easier. I don't see what my role is in this... in us, anymore. I mean..." He shrugged her hand off and took a few steps away. "I know Daniel proposed to Cheryl. She told me." He spun to face her.
Rachel nodded. She wished there was something she could do about this. She didn't want him to feel so helpless. No wonder he'd been acting so snappy lately. It wasn't the fact that she drank blood or killed for a living. He hated her taking his place as protector.
"I always thought I'd be the first to do it." He marched to her and cupped her face in his hands. "I love you so much, but ever since you told me..."
"Chris, take all the time you need to get used to the situation." Rachel rose on the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on his lips. "I'm not in a hurry." Hell, I have all eternity.
"I am. I want to have a family with you, to have kids." He caressed her cheek, but stopped abruptly. "You can have kids, can't you?"
Rachel stared at him. She had no idea. "I don't see why not." She bit her lip. "I'm still human after all."
"You're right. I'm so sorry for being a jerk. Toward you. Toward Cheryl and Daniel." He lowered his gaze. "I hate it that I got them to fight."
"Trust me, they're not fighting." She couldn't suppress a giggle. Chris apologizing made her day. "They're actually having sex."
Chris's eyes widened. "In Daniel's state?"
Rachel shrugged. "Daniel was never one to take the safe path. And it was her idea."
Chris raised one eyebrow and Rachel was sure he ached to ask her how come she knew, but instead wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. "I'll try to stop being a grouch. I want things back the way they were."
"Yeah, me, too," she whispered.
Chris leaned down and kissed her, his arms running up and down her back. She loved it when he did that, loved his kisses. Desire mounted in her body and she remembered the feelings running through her when Daniel touched her. She wanted that on her own. And Chris seemed more than willing to help.
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Thanks for reading another chapter of Hunters. Hope you had fun! Leave a comment or vote in case you enjoyed it. And thank you for your support!
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