MY DARK LOVE. Copyright 2013 Ali Mac. All rights reserved.

. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from Ali Mac. www.alimacnovels.com

 MY DARKLOVE
Life as a vampire in Edge City isnt that exciting, at least not to Tryn Valentine. But after the mayors niece is found brutally murdered outside of Tryns favorite nighttime hangout, things begin to heat upespecially with the arrival of the mysterious new vampire in town, Sebastien Thorne, and his troubled brother shortly thereafter. Sebastiens quiet manner and soulful eyes have Tryn believing she maybe falling for him, but she also finds herself questioning if the murder of the mayors niece and his arrival are merely a coincidence, or if the secrets of his past may be more sinister than she had first realized. Matters are made worse when more girls begin to turn up deadeach during a time when Sebastiens whereabouts are questionable. And after witnessing an explosive outburst, Tryn sees that he definitely has what it takes to kill. Tryns ordinary life will be turned upside down as she tries to decide whether she should trust her heart . . . or her suspicions.

Chapter One

The First
Sunday Honestly, JJ, how can we feel safe letting our children walk to and from school until this monster is caught? In a town like ours, where safety and security should be our biggest concerns, I cant believe the police are still scratching their heads trying to figure out which way is up. They dont have a single piece of useful information to bring this murderer to justice. Am I the only one who feels this is totally unacceptable? Am I the only one thinking all these years of inaction have made them rusty and useless? Come on. The Sunday Morning Sludge was playing over the radio as my overtired car bustled through the chilly November air. Joining the sound of JJ Adams, the talk shows host, and his cranky caller was a terrible whining noiseprobably a loose fan belt I couldnt afford to replace. My best friend, Licia Vance, sat beside me with her feet propped up on the dash while sipping the remnants of a plasma smoothie. Her oversized sunglasses hid most of her face from view. We both looked like the walking dead with our bleary expressions and silent stares into nothingness. My hair had been beaten once with a brush and then wrung up into a severe bun. By now, it had jabbed into my headrest so many times it was laying in a limp sprawl at the back of my neck. It was almost as irritating as the woman on the radio. Licia had put slightly more effort into her hair. Her long bangs were sideswept, while the rest of her shoulder-length, blond locks had been tousled with some mousse and left to hang down. We both wore outfits in slightly different shades of black, which only further added to our miserable expressions. Wethe whole city includednever imagined that we would be spending our Sunday morning this way.

6 Ali Mac
Licia stretched out an arm and batted the volume button, silencing the agitating woman and her rant, and then took another loud slurp of her drink. Can you believe this lady? she said. They only found her body a day ago. Its like she expects the police to pull some rabbit out of their ass. Like this kind of thing happens all the time. I nodded absentmindedly to her and took a loud raspy sip from my own smoothie cup. It was already empty, so I drew nothing but air. Id completed the vacant maneuver twice already while lost somewhere in my head thinking about how unreal this all seemed. The thing Licia and the woman on the radio had been referring to was the death, or rather the murder, of Sarah Penn, a girl from my school. At first, the details surrounding her death were all speculation, but over the course of a day Edge City news stations had worked their hardest to drag up every gory detail. Sucked dry as a bone! claimed Channel 7s Lisa Lovegood. Mayors Niece Slaughtered at Local Hotspot! read The Cutting Edge news blog. The title of this mornings headline had been, A Killer Walks Among Us. Police Remain Clueless. Sarahs death was everywhere. Partly because she was Mayor Shaughnessys niece, and she was also the first reported murder victim in Edge City in over three years! Sure, there may have been murders committed during that time, but none that were ever discovered or brought to light. So, in the minds of most citizens, if it wasnt in the news it never happened. Edge City was the oldest established vampire city in the US, and it was supposed to be the safest. We had rules. We had order. We had expectations. So when news broke of the mayors niece being found in the back alley of Afterdark, bitten and drained of all her blood, the public was outraged. Citizens demanded to know how something like this could happen in our town, without anyone being there to stop it, or why the police had not yet been able to shed any light on the issue. Ho-ly crap, Licia muttered when we rounded onto Wharf Street. Id been lost in my thoughts and hadnt noticed the looming line of cars already waiting to find parking until she pointed at them with her cup. Up and down the narrow road, lined with warehouses and factories, there were cars and people struggling to squeeze in. Police crews were working to get everyone where they needed to be in a quasi-orderly fashion. News reporters with their cameramen hovered like vultures to catch comments from people,

My Dark Love 7
or collect touching scenes of the community coming together in this trying time. After being waved around the block and parking in the lot of a steel factory, we hiked our way in with the rest of the masses. Nearly everyone wore varying shades of black. Combined with the already charcoal tinted sky, the day was setting up to be appropriately dreary and sad. Since Sarah had been killed in the back lot of Afterdark, her family had decided to hold her vigil in the same location. Her uncle, the mayor, had said that it was a small way to be with her in this dark time, since no one had been with her the night she was attacked. Jeez! Watch it! Its not like were going to a carnival! Licia yelled after a boy shoved past her to catch up with his friends. A gray haired woman in front of us gave a reproachful look. Licia raised both hands and glared back. What? The woman shook her head and turned back to her companion to whisper somethingprobably about the insensitivity of youth nowadays. She had no idea that Licia was quite possibly the poster child for insensitive youth. Licia adjusted her shades and leveled an agitated look at the back of the rude boys head. Since the glasses covered most of her face, her expression ended up looking more like shed sucked something up her nose and was about to sneeze it out. She turned her glare on me and spoke in an irritated voice. I cant believe how many people have shown up to this thing. Most of them probably didnt even know Sarah. I was just about to reply how we didnt either, but someone up ahead caught my attention. Tryn! Over here! A familiar boy with golden brown hair stood near the entrance of the lot where Sarahs tribute altar had been set up. The boy, Tric Powers, waved us over. Trics family owned Afterdark. Actually, they owned most of Edge City. They were the ones who first founded it over a hundred years ago. There was hardly an establishment you could walk past in this town without seeing a little gold placard announcing their ownership. The Powers family owned my mothers workplace, PlasmX Labs, and even my high school. To most, it went without saying they were gagillionaires. Licia let out a long, labored scoff at the sight of Tric waving. Does the boy have you LoJacked or something? I swear. He can sense whenever youre getting

8 Ali Mac
close, like a bloodhound. While her tone was meant to sound condescending and spiteful, the jealousy lying underneath the surface came out loud and clear. Shed been in lust with Tric Powers for years now. So I did the same thing I always did when her jealousy reared its ugly head. I pretended not to hear it. Not the best plan of action, sure, but it beat poking the figurative lion in the cageparticularly today. Today just needed to be as minimally miserable as possible. Hey, Tryn, Leah, Tric greeted us with a worn smile that barely managed to crinkle the skin around his honey brown eyes. Another reason Licia hated Tric? He could never remember her name. It was impressive, really, the amount of names starting with L that he was able to come up withnone of which were hers. Tric looked like hed shaken a lot of hands already and was wearing the Im really suffering on the inside face for all the camera crews and interviewers that would no doubt want a piece of him. He was, after all, an heir to the Powers mega-industry and a fellow classmate to Sarah Penn. Did you guys just get here? he asked. It took forever just to get through the parking and the crowds, I explained, bobbing my head up and down. My stupid bun bounced against my neck with each bob, so I quickly stopped for fear the whole thing might come unraveled. Licia didnt bother saying anything to Tric, or correcting her name. Shed long since learned that no matter how many times she reminded him her name was Lee-sha he wouldnt remember it. So, she just stood beside me, staring at him, one part angry and two parts steamy. Leave it to her to be thinking about boys at a vigil. Id already suspected Tric played a large part in why she was so insistent we come to the vigil. She wasnt the mourning type. Seeing her eat him up with her eyes only confirmed my suspicions. Have you, I gestured in the direction of the altar with my eyes, gone over yet? Tric followed my glance and replied with a nod. Yeah. My brother and I had to go give Sarahs family our condolences on behalf of the clubpolitics and all that. Licia was still gawking at Tric, looking undecided if she wanted to punch him or plant a big smooch on him. Maybe she wanted to do both. Tric noticed her weirdness and did his best not to look too disturbed by it, but something in his eyes belied his acceptance of her.

My Dark Love 9
Since Id started babysitting his brothers kids a little over a year ago, Tric and I were starting to hang out more, mostly at the club. Licia, under the guise of making sure I didnt become Trics next hit and run, made sure she was always with meto keep an eye on him. According to most celeb gossip around townand Tric was considered a celebrityhe was an extremely active lady-killer. Mm, I thought, thats probably not the best term to use at a time like this, even if I am talking about Tric Powers. Tric was known for his love em and leave em policy when it came to girls. And not just high school girls, but models and actresses as well. He favored all the beauties, and in the blink of an eye he unflavored them. Nearly every time Licia shoved her phone in my face, it was opened to The Edge City Rag, a pithy gossip site about the comings and goings of people of importance within the city. Most of these rags were filled with raunchy articles about Trics walk of shame from so-and-sos apartment and how the author of the article hoped Tric had played safe. For someone who was supposedly disgusted by Trics ability to track me, Licia sure knew his every move. Well, I guess well go give our respects, too, I said to Tric, giving him a brief smile and latching an arm around Licias elbow before towing her into the crowded lot. Licia stumbled behind me, her flip-flops making slapping sounds on the pavement as she tripped over her feet. She was too far into her Tric-trance to know it was time to go, but that wasnt what had me giving her funny looks. I was wondering why on earth she would wear flip-flops in the middle of November, to a vigil! Tric gave Licia a blank expression and said, Bye, Lara, before letting his gaze scan the crowd. No doubt he was used to her behavior. She was just one of his many adoring fans whod be willing to look past his heartbreaking ways ... if only hed give her a chance. To me, though, Tric was the guy who lounged around his mansion on Saturday afternoons and did crossword puzzles. He was the guy who truly enjoyed watching chick-flicks with me on rainy Wednesdays. He was the guy who ran around his mansion yelling at the top of his lungs to know if anyone had seen his car keys when they were so clearly sticking out of his pocket. That was the Tric Powers I knew. Not to say that he didnt have his bad moments. He was really lousy at holding his liquor and terrible at committing to real relationships.

10 Ali Mac
Did you see that the Rag said he was caught with Katie Beckerly in a, quote, compromising position in the girls bathroom at school yesterday? Licia had finally snapped out of her trance. She held tight to my arm so we werent parted while trekking through the thick fog of people. Katie. Katie no pants Beckerly. I mean ... ick. Does he not have any standards? She was referring to the time last year at summer camp when she walked in on Katie and a boy, Dermot West, in the showers. Katie was sans pants. Okay, first of all, Leesh, Katie said that Dermot was only trying to remove a splinter. And second of all, were at a vigil for crying out loud. Who cares whom Tric was or was not diddling in the girls bathroom. Licia rolled her eyes, sounding every bit the expert. Please. What kind of girl lets a member of the opposite sex remove a splinter from her ass in the camp bathroom? She and Dermot were obviously getting ready to go at it when I walked in on them. To the side she muttered, What is it with that girl and doing it in bathrooms? Ever the devils advocate, I replied, She did say theyd been sitting on a log. Thats probably how she got the splinter. Licia raised an eyebrow at me, in disbelief. I fought back the grin that threatened to turn up the corners of my mouth. What? It could happen. It was summer camp in the tenth grade, okay. There are only two reasons you go to summer camp in the tenth grade, as far as Im concerned. One, to escape your overbearing, bickering, divorced parents like I did. And two, to hook up repeatedly and with reckless abandon. Leesh. I rumpled my nose. Hey, I only speak the truth. I mean you would not believe the amount of people gettin it on. The place was practically swarming with STDs. I had to wear a gas mask and carry a fly swatter just to fend them off. She flicked her hand through the air as if to demonstrate her evasive maneuvers tactic. An involuntary shudder passed through me when I pictured big, flying, buglike STDs buzzing in and out of the cabins at camp. How did we even get on this topic? And can we please get off it? Were supposed to be mourning. She shrugged and spoke with sincerity. Yeah, sure. But ... does it make me a totally terrible person if I dont really feel like Im dying on the inside? Sure, this whole murder thing is totally heinous and stuff, and I really hope they catch the killer and fry him alive, but I barely knew the girl. Do I have

My Dark Love 11
to pretend that I was her bestest friend and force a few tears for the cameras? No, I considered her words, not really. But the least we can do is try to be supportive and honor her memory. Isnt that what a vigil is for? Plus, think of all the crummy things her family is probably facing right now. Sarah was supposed to live forever, Leeshlike us. Now ... they have to live for eternity always missing her. Licia nodded a few times, her expression regaining some seriousness. I totally didnt even consider that. Damn. She appeared to be wrestling with the darker side of vampire life and death, allowing for a contemplative look to cross over her features. It wasnt the dramatic sad face shed described a moment ago, but it was perfectly appropriate for the situation. And just like that, we both blended in with the other mourners, looking somber and somewhat solemn. The crowd around Sarahs tribute was still pretty thick, so we stood back a ways and waited for some room to clear up. A large, black-framed picture of Sarah had been hung up on the wall of the building, above her altar where people would be able to see it. She was a pretty girl. Not in the model sense of the word, but in a cute, girly way. Her circular face was dappled with a healthy amount of freckles, and her ruby red hair hung in perfect ringlets, stopping just below her ears. She had wonderful little dimples on both cheeks that made me want to smile, even now, at her vigil. Id never met her before, but I imagined when Sarah laughed it was like the lovely chiming of bells. Everything about her screamed youth and promise. Her death was a crime in more ways than one. Not only had someone taken her life, but theyd also taken away all the wonderful things she had to contribute to the world. So unfair. Behind us, something was happening. A man in a simple black suit made his way through the swarm of people, parting it with his outstretched arms. His salt and pepper hair gave him away as a changed vampire. Hed been born a human and changed at some point later in his lifeas opposed to a pure vampire like me, who was born of another vampire and would stop aging at twenty-one. I recognized the mans face easily enough from all the pictures Id seen of him around town. Mayor Jeremiah Shaughnessy, Sarahs uncle. He joined a group of people near the front of the crowd who surrounded

12 Ali Mac
a boy and a woman with matching red hair, just like Sarahs. The boy looked barely older than me, and the woman looked about twenty-one, but who knew for how many yearsthat was one of the trickier parts of living in an allvampire town. Never being able to determine a persons age just by their looks. The group of people whod been standing guard around the two of them was doing their best to console the boy, who stood looking stricken and pale, and the woman, who was sobbing into his shoulder. Mayor Shaughnessy patted a few of the people on the shoulder in appreciation and stepped forward to greet the pair, spending extra time with the woman, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leaning into say something private. From where I stood, I was just barely able read his lips when he whispered to her. The words were something like, Dont worry, Eleanor, well get the man that did this. I promise you. He placed a kiss to her temple and turned toward the masses of people waiting in the lot and surrounding stretches of road. Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Shaughnessy addressed the gathering of people. His arm was curled tightly around Eleanors shoulders. There was a slight southern drawl to his voice. His sterling colored eyes, red-rimmed with fatigue, swept over us as if trying to make a connection with each person. I stand before you today, not just as your mayor, but as a man who has been deeply affected by the loss of Sarah Penn. She was an upstanding young woman in our community, with the promise of a brilliant future ahead of her, and she was also my niece. His voice clipped off at the end when a sudden bout of grief stifled it. I had to look down at my feet. Something about the sight of this strong, incommand man being brought to emotion was almost too hard to bear. Eleanor, who was most likely Sarahs motherthe mayors sisterput her hand on his back to offer support. He gathered himself up and continued. The loss my family has suffered this week is one that will stay with us, no matter how long our lives may be, and its a burden I know many of you share with us. I thank you for all the unwavering support you have given to my sister and my nephew in this time, but I would ask one more thing of you. I would ask, please, that you carry on the memory of the beautiful person Sarah was in her life and let that be what we remember her for, not her death. Please ... dont allow her light to be extinguished. After a somber moment for reflection, he began to lead his sister and nephew through the crowd, back to a car waiting to take them away. As they passed through the crowd, people would put their hands on the familys shoulders and

My Dark Love 13
backs, expressing sympathy through touch. Licia and I watched their procession until they were out of sight, both of us holding on tighter to each others armsnot because of the swarms of people flowing around us, but for something else entirely. Something about actually having to see the grieving family and the way hundreds of strangers were coming together to show just the smallest amount of sympathy made everything all the more real. Sarahs death had rocked this towns foundation. It reminded us that eternity wasnt always a promise. It was more like a foggy question mark. Come on. Licia tugged me in the direction of the receding crowd, back out of the lot and onto the packed street. I hazarded one more glance over my shoulder to Sarahs picture, wanting to remember that happy smile of hers, just as her uncle had requested. It was too late, though. The picture was already too far out of sight. Something had caught my attention, though. My subconscious sang, One of these things is not like the others. Just off to the right, in the far back corner of the lot, only feet away from where police had cordoned off a rectangle in yellow crime scene tapethe exact location of Sarahs deatha boy stood in the shadow of the building. Id almost missed him because of the long black hoodie he wore. It helped him blend almost seamlessly with the darkness. He had the hood pulled down low over his face, so all I was able to see of his features were thin, pale lips, drawn into an acidic sneer. His gaze appeared to be focused on Sarahs picture with an almost wicked delight, like he was mocking her deathour suffering. Whatever his damage, he obviously didnt come here to show his respect. And, frankly, he gave me the creeps. What are you gaping at? Licia asked after several seconds passed and I still hadnt turned around. She cast a glance in the direction of the corner, looking right over it and not noticing anything out of the ordinary. Theres a I tried to find the boy in the hoodie again, but he was gone, leaving only shadows and yellow tape to populate the corner. Part of me instantly started wondering if Id even really seen him. Its nothing, I guess. I allowed my focus to drift back into the flow of the crowd. Probably just a shadow.

Chapter Two

The Introduction
Thursday I wasnt sure if it was the chilly weather brought on by winters slow crawl into town, or the gloom of Sarahs death still hanging over everything like a shroud that drove Licia and I to Afterdark on a school night. We knew full well wed pay for it tomorrow morning in the form of biting hangovers and sleep deprivation, but the club had just been reopened. The lure of bright neon lights, bodies swaying and pounding music were too tempting to refuse. Several police officers were still hovering and pacing around the perimeter of the club, despite the fact that the cordon had been removed several days ago. Investigations were turning cold from lack of evidence regarding Sarahs murder. The outrage that everyone had felt just days before was now simmered into a dull roar that would soon die down to just an echo. However, the mayor still campaigned tirelessly, imploring the police force to put up a stronger presence in the community, namely in places where youth could easily be preyed upon. Sadly for us though, Licia and I were still underage, so the police presence at the club made it more difficult to get inside without being carded by any of the wandering officers. While we didnt look like babies, we didnt quite look twenty-one. I was already on the clubs guest list, thanks to Tric, so I didnt have to worry about flashing an awkward fake ID to Vin, the bouncer. Plus, Vin was so used to seeing me he would throw back his massive, tattooed arm and guide me right in with a big smile. As long as Licia was with me she was cool toowhich was fortunate for her, because her fake ID was terrible. It stated that she was born in 1963 and that she weighed 210 pounds. Neither facts were even close to describing Licias physical status. Totally not worth the twenty bucks she paid

My Dark Love 15
some pimply kid in the ninth grade for the ID. Hey, ladies! Looking fine tonight! Vin said to us when we approached the entrance to Afterdark. His deep voice was coated in a Castilian accent. I prayed the officer standing nearby didnt look too hard at us or wed be toast. I smiled back at the towering bouncer. Not too shabby yourself, Vin. He wore standard issue bouncer gear, which included a skin-tight, black T-shirt that showed off his muscular arms and chest, and a pair of extra dark Ray-Bans. Letting back the rope so we could pass into the club, he gave a smile, canines extended. The tips of them glinted from where theyd been coated in silver. They were the steel-toed boot version of teethtough as nails and ready to bite the crap out of any punk thinking to cause trouble at the club. No matter how many times I saw Vin, the sight of his teeth always freaked me out. Even though I was a vampire, and I lived in a town for vampires, I wasnt used to seeing others show their fangs, especially fangs coated in silver. In this town, one didnt have to puncture a neck to get food. They just had to crack open a can of plasma and take a big gulpno fangs required. Vin was probably one of the sweetest guys you could meetonce you got past the tattoos and the silver fangs. Hed been a bouncer before he was changed, and apparently a very good one too, because the Powers had flown him all the way from New York to work for them here. He had a daughtera human daughterwhom hed had to leave behind when he moved. He said he didnt want her living in a vampire town, and the money he earned from Afterdark was too good to pass up. More than enough to put her through college and then some. Id learned all of this one night when I was especially tipsy and he waited with me for a cab. Before I could step forward and through the velvet ropes, Vin caught my hand in his large, tanned palm. Expertly, he pressed a stamp to my skin, which left behind a faint, red V on the back of my hand. The ink quickly began to fade and would only be visible under a black light until the time I washed it off. Id never been given a V before. They were what one needed if they wanted to ascend the stairs to the clubs second level. The VIP level. And they were usually only bestowed on the ber rich or the ber famous, of which I was neither. From Tric, said Vin, wagging an eyebrow. A petite fist was stuck out in front of me, pointed in the bouncers direction. Licia cleared her throat expectantly and eyed the stamp in Vins hand. He crossed his arms, looking like he didnt want to acknowledge my friend.

16 Ali Mac
Come on, Vin. You really think you can stamp one of us and not the other? Where Tryn goes, I go. So if His Highness wants Tryns skinny butt up in VIP, you better plop one of those fancy little Vs on my hand too. She impatiently shook her outstretched fist at him. A deep, rumbling growl sounded from Vins chest and he pulled his upper lip back, revealing those fangs again. I heard the gulp at the back of Licias throat when she swallowed. Bravely, or maybe foolishly, she didnt pull her hand back, instead, leaving it out there for Vin to chew off if he wanted. Several seconds passed while I held my breath in anticipation. Id almost given up waiting for my stubborn friend to collect her appendage so we could move out of sight of the big scary vampire, when the VIP stamp was reluctantly withdrawn and dabbed on the back of Licias hand. The red V looked like a bloody fang on Licias porcelain flesh until turning invisible. Licia propped the freshly inked hand on her hip while replying in a snarky voice, That wasnt so difficult, now was it? I shoved her forwards, casting an apologetic, yet grateful smile up at the bouncer. Thanks, Vin. We were barely through the clubs glass doors when Licia let loose. Tell me youre not thinking of taking Tric up on his offer. All the while she admired the back of her hand where the invisible stamp would be. Shed never gotten a V before either. On the inside she was probably doing cartwheels of joy. I hadnt planned to, no, I replied without blinking. Obviously, this wasnt what Licia had expected to hear. Her eyes broke away from the back of her hand and she froze in place. Were notI mean, youre not? No. I shrugged and kept walking. Tonight is supposed to be about us having some fun and putting the murder misery behind us, remember? Not about boys and their drama. Visibly deflated, Licia nodded but didnt look happy about it. I suspected she had secretly been hoping we would finally join Tric and his wealthy friends up in VIPfinally see how the other half partied. But Licia wasnt the only one who worried that Tric was aiming to make me one of his next victims. Accepting the offer to join him in VIP was possibly the first step down a road that I wasnt sure I wanted to travel. The reason he and I worked so well as friends was because I didnt have to worry about the things he did when I wasnt looking, and he didnt have to worry about being Mr. Perfect around me. We could be ourselves, and that was cool. Trying to be more than we really

My Dark Love 17
were would probably mess up everything. If you dont go to him, Licia warned, one of these days hes just going to come to you. I shook my head to wave the warning off. Its not like that with us. Plus, hes in a relationship with someone, I think. She shot a sharp look at me from the corner of her eye. Sure. Like thats never stopped a guy from pursuing another woman. My father is a prime example. We drifted farther into the club, toward the neon red bar and found a place to wait until the bartender could take our order. The atmosphere inside Afterdark was the same as it always was: dark, loud, and somewhat steamy. The dance floor wasnt wall-to-wall bodies, but it was definitely crowded. The lights had been set to stun, and bright pink laser beams streaked here and there in a chaotic fashion, sometimes reflecting off the shiny, powder blue sequins of my dress. It felt nice to finally be wearing something other than black or gray. Over the week Id exhausted every piece of clothing in a shade resembling black from my closet. Now all that was left were brights and pastels. All Im saying, Licia said, elbow perched on the bar, is that a boy doesnt show this much interest in a girl he just wants to be friends with. You either gotta accept his invitation, or flat tell him youre not interested. Theyre not like us, Tryn. They dont read between the lines. They need things painted on a billboard. In neon. Tor, the bartender arrived, sparing me from having to reply. Ah, my two favorite customers! he said, leaning across the bar so he could be heard over the music. His slender frame and choppy dark brown hair made me think of an anime character from a gothic cartoon. When he spoke, it exposed the spike stud that sat in the center of his tongue. What can I get ya, ladies? The usual, both Licia and I replied in unison. You got it. Tor laughed to himself and disappeared to make our drinks, leaving Licia and I staring at each other. Licia arched an eyebrow, as if saying, Im still waiting. Theres nothing going on between us, Leesh. Honest. Now lets agree, no more talk of Tric or any other boys for the rest of the niOops! Id been in the process of using my arms to elaborate my request when I carelessly knocked into someones shoulder. There hadnt been much room to move to begin with. Real estate at the bar was limited.

18 Ali Mac
Im so sorry, I said without looking as I turned toward my unfortunate victim. I wasnt looking where I was . . . The second I made eye contact with him I forgot what Id been saying. Hell, I forgot my name. Hi, was the next brilliant thing to fly out of my mouth. At the same time, I vaguely remembered flashing a ridiculously dorky smile. Subconsciously I smacked myself on the forehead with my fingers in the shape of L. Great first impression. Hello, replied my victim in a reserved voice that barely made it above the din of the club. He looked at me through long black bangs. The red light of the neon bar reflected in his dark eyes and made them look like they were on fire. All too quickly, he was moving those intriguing eyes away from my face and returning them to the other side of the bar where Tor had rejoined us. These are for the ladies, the bartender announced, placing two martini glasses filled with hot pink liquid in front of Licia and I. He then turned to the intriguing boy to my left and handed him a folded piece of paper. And this is for you. The boy took the paper, unfolded it and read it. His already serious expression managed to intensify. Did you see who left it? Nah, Tor replied with a shrug while pointing at the bar top with his index finger, which was encircled by a chunky silver ring. It was left sitting on the counter when I found it. I see. Thank you for passing it along, said the boy, hefting the paper once in the air and then stowing it away in his pocket. He began to step away from the bar, but not before pausing to nod once to me. Good evening. This time I attempted to smile a little less dorky. Good ev Hed left before I could finish, moving as quick as a shadow through the tangle of dancing clubbers until ascending the VIP stairs and disappearing from sight. Of course. He was one of them. A very important person. I was just a VUP. A very unimportant person. VIPs and VUPs rarely interacted here. It was a wonder Id even been able to knock into him. Most VIPs got their drinks from the upstairs bar, hardly ever using the one on the main level where all of us common folk congregated. All of the nervous excitement in my chest plummeted. I turned back to my pink drink, downing a healthy portion of it in a single gulp.

My Dark Love 19
Does this mean youre back? I heard Licia ask. Turning to her, I wrinkled my eyebrows and said, Huh? From your trip? For a moment you totally left the farm. She took a small sip of her drink, bobbing her head to the beat of the current song. She didnt mention the boy that was just standing here, almost like she hadnt even noticed him. Anyway, now that youve returned, might wanna brace for impact. Impact? What do you mean? She held out her martini glass, using it to point at something across the club as she leaned close to my ear. Enemy forces are about to invade, and by the looks of it, they dont intend to take any prisoners. I followed the direction she was pointing in and saw it. Or rather, him. Tric Powers was coming this way. And fast. Oh, great. I downed the rest of my drink without thinking about the possible side effects. Tric was standing in front of me by the time I finished. Licia, smirking snarkily to herself, turned away to give us a momentor at least the appearance of one. No doubt she would be listening to every single word. Hey, Valentine, greeted Tric in his usual, easygoing tone. The left corner of his mouth was crooked into a confident grina grin that had been proven to make girls swoon and fall at his feet in worship. I couldnt help but side-glance toward Licia to see what her expression was, but she kept her face from view. Left to fend for myself, I returned Trics smile. Hey, back. What brings you down from Olympus? I nodded toward the VIP stairs. Tric laughed and moved closer to lean against the bar, in the same place the boy with dark eyes had been standing not two minutes ago. Vin mentioned you were here. Thought Id come down and see if youll join meyou know, back on Olympus. Told you! I heard Licia say, conspicuously muttered under a fake cough. Fortunately Tric didnt catch it. I set my empty glass aside and replied, I thought there was a strict, nomortals-allowed rule. I dont see any mortals here, do you? Tric playfully looked left then right. Good point. I laughed, but made no effort to leave my spot. Tric gestured toward the stairs in a nod. Come on. Join us. Bring Lisa, too. We can use all the new company we can get up there. Everyone else is so boring. He pressed his palms together and said, Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi,

20 Ali Mac
youre my only hope. Youve gotta be kidding me. Another addition to Licias running commentary. I couldnt help but chuckle. The last time Id been at his house to babysit his niece and nephew, Tric made us watch the first three episodes of Star Wars. He could quote practically every line. His Vader impression was actually very good. Okay, I relented, but only if you promise me one thing. Name it. I glanced toward the VIP stairs one more time before answering. In the back of my mind I wondered if the boy with the dark eyes was a member of Trics inner circleone of the gods atop the mountain. Or was he just someone passing through? A pulse of excitement and curiosity ran through me. There was only one way to find out. You have to promise that I get to pick out the movies we watch next time Im over. He crossed his arms and debated. Hmm. You drive a hard bargain, Valentine . . . but fine. Sold. Great. Give us just a minute and well be up. He left, but not before threatening to send Vin after me if I reneged on the deal. Another, Tor! I called across the bar in a somewhat distressed tone. Next time Im over? Olympus? . . . Lisa! Licia started in on me. What happened to Its not like that with us? My second drink appeared and I attacked it. Leesh, please. Dont. Dont what? Im not doing anything. Im not the one who broke under the pressure of that boys golden charm. Im not the one who has to go up there. Oh, yes you are. I am not going up there alone. No, she replied flippantly, thats right. Lisa will be joining you. Give her my best when you see her. She started to walk away. I grappled for her arm and towed her backwards. Oh, no you dont. Youre not getting out of this. Coming here was your idea. If it wasnt for you, Id probably be in bed right now. Besides, I added, youve wanted to climb those stairs for the last year and a half. Now youre finally getting your wish. Licia self-consciously flipped her hair and had to avoid my gaze. I, er, dont know what youre talking about. Uh-huh. Sure you dont. I downed the rest of my drink and shook out my arms like a boxer preparing for a match. All right, Lisa . . . lets do this.

My Dark Love 21

Everything on the VIP level was softer than it was downstairs. The lights, the music. It even smelled different up here, like recycled air instead of the sweat and alcohol odor of the dance floor. I stood blinking into the darkness for several seconds after reaching the top of the stairs, trying to determine which direction to go. The VIP bar was to the right, emanating a white glow, as opposed to the red hue of the bar downstairs. Several couples were nestled at the stools around the bar, busied in intimate talks. The rest of the space was divided between different areas where larger parties of people sat in the lap of luxury and conversed about things absurdly wealthy people might converse about. Licia reached the top step just seconds after me, but she hadnt been expecting it to be so dark. Her peep-toe caught the edge of the stair and she stumbled forward, her purse taking a dive to the floor and its contents spilling out. Crap! she hissed as she bent down to collect everything. It was quiet enough up here that people heard. Thats when Tric spotted me. He sprung from one of the backless leather couches on the left and came to greet me. Come on, let me introduce you to the gang, he said, pulling me further into the lounge, not even seeming to notice Licia. The sweet odor of alcohol wafted in the air around him, and his hand was cold and moist from the condensation of the iced drink hed been holding. Before I could say anything, wed crossed the lounge, leaving Licia to gather her purse and enter alone. Hey, guys, said Tric to the people occupying the couches in his corner of Olympus. I want you to meet Tryn Valentine. Shes a friend of the familywe go to school together. I waited for Tric to release my hand, but after several long seconds, nothing happened. I could only pray that Licia would still be blind from transitioning into the darkened atmosphere and not notice. Tryn, Tric gestured to a semi-Goth couple cuddling to our right as he started to introduce the group, this is Wick and Mila. Over theres Kris, and thats Shelby. Theres Garth and Lexi, and last but not least, Sebastien Thorne. Sebastiens new to our group, too, and he also happens to be a good friend of the family.

22 Ali Mac
Hi, everyone. I smiled self-consciously, looking around at the faces of my new acquaintances. Everyone nodded and smiled back for the most part, except for Shelby, a slinky blond wearing all red. Her eyes shot daggers in the direction of Trics hand and mine interconnected together. Tric had casually mentioned that hed started dating someone lately. A quick trip to the Rag would probably confirm the girl as Shelby. She certainly fit the profile: absurdly good looking, prissy, and possessive. Garth and Lexi looked like the sophisticated, artsy types, while Kris appeared to have just walked off the stage of a rap concert. He was smiling at Tric and I like he knew some inside joke. With this, I took my hand back from Tric, regretting my decision to peek into the land of the gods. They werent all that, like Licia always made them sound. As far as I was concerned, the only real perk of being a VIP was that the line at the bar was shorter. Then I noticed the last member of our group. It was him. The guy from the bar. And now I knew his name. Sebastien. He wore a simple gray T-shirt and black jeans. No jewelry to speak of. His only accessories were the six small, half-moon puncture marks on the arc of his neck. Together they formed one larger half-moon. A bite mark. This meant he wasnt a pure vampire, but a changed. Licia appeared at my side, bumping into me and tearing my concentration away from Sebastien. Her nostrils were flaringshed probably seen Tric holding my handbut she was putting on a smile for everyone. Oh, and this is Lydia, Tric threw in for the groups benefit. She was greeted with a bunch of hellos and one Hey, sexy from Kris. The way his dark brown eyes were roving all over her body made it clear that Kris liked him some Licia. Licia noticed and positioned her torso so it was half-hidden behind mine. So, what, are you two ... friends? Shelby asked. Her pursed lips and the position of her judgmental left eyebrow gave her the expression of someone whod just eaten a sour grape. Her pointed question was obviously in reference to Tric and I. Uh-huh. I avoided Shelbys glare. Weve known each other for a while. Funny, youve never mentioned her before, Tric. Shelbys eyebrow seemed to get even more judgmental. Thats because our conversations never revolved around the names of my friends, Tric retorted, looking slightly agitated by Shelbys inputs.

My Dark Love 23
Shelby pouted her ruby lips and crossed her arms like a mad little girl before glaring at me one more time. Sour grapes. All right, enough with the introductions. Everyone sit, Mila beckoned in a cute little voice. Her spriggy, short black hair fluttered when she motioned an arm to the spare seats in the cube. There was one between Sebastien and Tric, and one between Shelby and Kris. Licia started toward the one by Tric, but Tric beat her to it, placing me there instead. I mouthed an apology when she shot a glare at me. Dont be shy, shawty. I wont bite ... very hard. Kris smiled at her, patting the cushion beside him. His teeth were nearly all covered in silver and gold. I didnt know about Licia, but I was instantly terrified. She started to go sit, giving me the expression a lamb might make when theyre being led to the slaughter. Wed just barely gotten seated when a server came and deposited a fresh tray of drinks to the table at the center of our group. I instantly spotted what I wanted. A tall, skinny glass filled with dark crimson liquid. Yum. Plasma. It was synthetic blood for all those like me. The plasmareproducing challenged. The vampires. I was a pure, and for the most partexcluding the fact that I liked to drink plasmawas nearly human. I could eat real food. I slept eight hours at night, sometimes more on the weekends. I got hangovers and upset stomachs. And I could even get pregnant. I would stay that waypartially humanuntil my twenty-first birthday, four years from now. Then, when the change finally completed, bada-bing-bada-boom, Id be one hundred percent vampire. No more human food. No more hangovers. No more birth control. Youre not drinking? Tric asked, motioning to the other drinks on the tray, the alcoholic ones. I am! Licia exclaimed in a help me, dear Lord voice before downing a shot of vodka with a Red Bull chaser. Her green eyes slammed shut and she made a face as if shed been punched. Kris cheered and did a shot of his own. After that, the two of them seemed to get on rather well. I probably shouldnt, I said in response to Trics question, casting a glance over to Licia. She was guaranteed to be drunk within an hour. One of us would have to be able to hail a cab. I pasted a smile on my face and caught Sebastien watching me with a silent, but curious expression. He, I noticed, wasnt drinking either.

24 Ali Mac
So, are you new to Edge City? I asked him. I havent really seen you here beforeat the club. Sebastiens soft black eyes grew a little larger when I addressed him, almost like he wasnt expecting anyone to notice he was there. I found this hard to believe, considering he was the most interesting person in the room, as far as I was concerned. Bas got here from Bucharest last week, Tric supplied after downing a glass of amber colored liquid. His warm breath was now thick with alcohol as it drifted over my bare shoulder. Bucharest? Thats, like, in Romania, right? Licia slurred from her side of the cube. Count on her to be spot-on about her countries, even when shes getting smashed. From the looks of it, shed snuck another shot while Id been ogling Sebastien. Yes, Romania, Sebastien replied somewhat somberly. His face betrayed no emotion that he was actually enjoying himself or the company he was with. My eyes wandered back to the scar on his neck and I started trying to guess how old he was. 30? 70? 100? Maybe we all seemed like juvenile idiots to him. What was obvious, though, was that hed been changed early in his life, barely into his twenties, if that. He caught me staring at the scar and shook his hair back so that it was covered. It made me think he wasnt proud of his bite. Most of the changed vampires Id met were. Their bite marks were their badges of honor. Their golden tickets. However, most of the changed vampires Id met were all relatively young. They hadnt drudged through century after century, collecting baggage and more scarsmetaphorically speaking, of course. Once changed, you became physically unscarrable. Unscarrable? Was that even a word? The rest of the group started to discuss something about blood trade between Europe and the US and how it shouldnt be so complicated. It was easily out of my depth, and interest, so I focused on my plasma. Trics family was all about the blood business, so he had plenty to say on the topic. I noticed Sebastien wasnt saying anything either. The way he seemed to be anywhere but in the moment had me half-tempted to suspect that hed been hog-tied and forced to come here tonight. Part of me could sympathize. I really didnt like going to the club that often. I went mostly for Licia, and occasionally on days when Tric would make me promise to come visit. Ironically, those were the days when Licia suddenly didnt want to go out.

My Dark Love 25
Leaning closer to be heard over the chatting group, I asked Sebastien, Why here? He looked up from his hands, again surprised that I would take interest in him. Pardon? Why come here, to Edge City? Edge City was one of the few vampire cities in the United States. Most were still spread throughout Europe. There must have been something special here to make Sebastien want to visit. He seemed way too reserved to have flown all the way to Edge City just to have a drink with Tric and company. I came to visit a friend. And to get away from Europe for a while, Sebastien replied vaguely, making a gentle shrug. His hair fell aside and exposed the scar on his neck once more. I made a conscious effort not to look at it for more than a second at a time so he wouldnt try to cover it again. Oh. So ... you probably wont be staying too long, huh? No. Not unless something else comes up while Im here, he replied coolly. Thats too bad. Edge City is a pretty cool place. Actually, aside from the fact that we had a plasma factory, there really wasnt anything worth flying a banner about. I just wanted to be able to make a witty remark. That was the first thing to come to mind. Witty, it was not. Something in Sebastiens onyx eyes shifted. They became clearer, as if he was lifting the curtains back and finally looking out through them. He leaned forward ever so slightly and asked, How long have you lived in Edge City, Miss Valentine? My whole life, I replied easily, taking another sip of my drink so I wouldnt get too excited over the fact that I could smell Sebastiens aftershave from this proximity. Why that was exciting, I didnt know. He sat back with a half-smile on his attractively thin lips and his scent evaporated. Thats too bad, he used my line, because there are a lot of interesting places out there as well, beyond the borders of Edge City. Oh, I bet. My heart did this weird fluttering thing, similar to a panic attack, but not. The last time it did that I was fourteen and the guy I had a crush on happened to look directly at me in class. These flutters were not random, but when in the company of other vampires, they were completely embarrassing. Little annoying exclamations my body pushed out into the world for everyone to

26 Ali Mac
hear. Maybe the music and the conversations going on around us would be enough to muddle the sound of my unintended flutter. As I understand it, you travel quite frequently, right, Sebastien? Wick asked, breaking up the conversation about blood trade and putting it onto Sebastien while absentmindedly caressing Milas arm. He hadnt noticed my arrhythmia at all, thank God. I would love to be able to do that, but Mila wants to stay close to her family. He took a sip of his red wine and gave Mila a loving squeeze. Sebastien shrugged and replied, Yes, well, Ive not found a place worth settling down and calling home yet, and the family I do have isnt worth mentioning. Trics eyes darted to Sebastiens face when he mentioned the part about family. He looked a little taken aback before quickly shoving on a smile and reaching behind me to clap Sebastien on the back. Then its a good thing youve got my family, huh? Sebastien managed an empty smile. Of course. Right there was when it happenedwhen I first saw through Sebastiens faade. Hed let something slip. He wasnt bored. He wasnt tired. It was something much heavier than that. There was an almost life-sucking sense of hopelessness nestled just behind the black veils of his eyes. He was practically screaming for help, thrashing at the bars of some unseen emotional cage. I looked around to see if anyone else had seen what I did. They had to have noticed. They hadnt. They were all busy talking about a new topic that was as unimportant and boring as the last one. I turned back to Sebastien, but the veil was back in place. Once more, he looked indifferent to everything. For the second time in a week, I wondered if maybe I was going insane. First with the boy wearing the hoodie at Sarahs vigil, and now this. I was mental to believe I could see so much about a person Id only just met. But then Sebastiens eyes drifted back toward mine. Once connected, I couldnt seem to look away. It happened again. The guard slipped and I was privy to all of the emotions hiding beneath his stoic exterior. It didnt take long to uncover that he had known some serious pain during his life, and I was guessing it spanned back quite a few years. There was loneliness and anger and despair, all just fighting for their own space in his head. I could have drowned in it all. I did drown in it. There was no way to escape it. No way to stop it.

My Dark Love 27
Tryn? Licias voice crossed the space between our couches. She had that tone, the groany-moany one she used right about the time I would have to haul her toward a bush and hold her hair back while she vomited. And, just like that, whatever connection or delirium Id been experiencing was over. Sebastien looked away and set me free. It was like having a light suddenly turned on in the dark without any adjustment period. One second there was pain and darkness, and the next there was loud music and people laughing. Im not feeling so good. I think I want to leave now. Licia was practically lying on Kris, head slumped lazily against his overly tattooed shoulder. How many drinks did she have? She must have really been mauing them down to get sloshed that quickly. All right. Let me just say Tric, whom Id turned to say goodnight to, was gone. So was Shelby. They were probably making out somewhere. Or fighting. Shelby had looked ready to do both. Night, pretty girl, Kris said in a laugh to Licia when I tried helping her up. Her legs werent quite functioning properly so she kept sliding right back into her seat and bouncing into Kris. He seemed to enjoy this and was in no rush to help me. May I? Sebastiens voice was right behind me. He motioned to Licias useless form. Please. I let Licia sag back against Kris and stepped to the side. Shes kind of hopeless at this point. Sebastien moved in and expertly lifted Licias intoxicated body from the couch, during which Kris got a lovely surprise when her dress momentarily flew up and flashed him. Licia didnt seem to notice the breeze, but fortunately Sebastien gathered the dress up so she wasnt exposed for more than a second or two. And they say chivalry is dead. Its merely un-dead. Watch where youre putting those things, Licia slurred, smacking the back of Sebastiens hand. It was nowhere near a dirty bit, but she was Licia. If she wasnt complaining about something, she wasnt breathing. I rolled my eyes and said, Just hold still, Leesh. You dont want him to drop you, do you? After that, she either passed out or resigned that she didnt want to fall, because I didnt hear another peep out of her.

28 Ali Mac
I followed the broad shape of Sebastiens shoulders down the VIP stairs and through the crowded main floor of the club toward the exit. He didnt seem to have any trouble keeping her aloft. And for a moment, I started wishing that Id been the one who got too sloshed to walk. Just outside the entrance, beyond the line where more eager partiers were waiting to go inside, Sebastien turned to face me. His eyes were molded into indifference. Do you need help getting home? I started to get hopeful, and then he added, I can call a cab for you. Deflated hope? Check. Um, yeah, that would actually be really great. Thanks. Sebastien and I worked together to prop Licia on a bench so she wouldnt fall, but in the end I had to sit there and hold her up. While Sebastien called for a cab, he did so with his back turned to us, voice lowered. As he spoke he kicked at a crumbling concrete parking barrier that had been run over by one-too-many cars. I found myself tracing his silhouette. He was a good half-foot taller than me, but still a few inches shorter than Tric, who was just over six feet. He didnt appear to be very muscular, but he was definitely firm. More studious than swashbuckler. As a human I dont think he wouldve been incredibly strong, which meant that as a vampire he was probably very old. A vampire gained strength as they aged, and Sebastien had lifted Licia like she was a feather. If his skin tone was any indication of what he was like before he was turned, I would have assumed that Sebastien had stayed indoors most of the time. That myth about all vampires skin being pale was a load of crap. My mother, for example, had beautiful honey colored skin, just like me. A vampires appearance depended completely on their appearance before they were changed. And once changed they were frozen in that form for the rest of eternity. No pressure or anything. The cab should be here in a few minutes, Sebastien said, turning back around to face an unconscious Licia and me. Oh, uh, great! I quickly tried not to look like Id been giving him an X-ray with my eyes. He either didnt notice, or he wasnt bothered by it, because he stuffed his phone back into his pocket and came to sit beside me on the bench. We were surrounded by the dull thumping of the bass from the music inside the club, the distant laughter of people waiting in line, and the sparse radio chatter of the officers scouting the perimeter. I prayed the noises were enough

My Dark Love 29
to conceal the fact that my heart had started beating madly. But again, Sebastien didnt let on that he noticed my strange arrhythmia. He simply sat there, like a statue, and stared out into the night. Unlike with Licia, I couldnt feel any body heat radiating from him, at least, not enough to travel the few inches of space between us. He was self-containeda part of the world, yet completely isolated from it at the same time. I wanted to say something, to fill that void of silence, but I had a hunch he would be perfectly un-insulted if I didnt. So I didnt. We sat there in a strangely comforting silence, alone but together, until the cab pulled up.

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