Stunner (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress 0.75)

Since my night had come to a premature end, I gave the bouncers a sarcastic salute and headed for the door. Maybe the walk home would do me some good. I could get some air and clear my head.

The moment I stepped outside I felt it. A cool wind swept through me, bringing with it the promise of power. Vampire power.

I tensed but my steps never faltered. He must have followed me here. I’d been too quick to assume that getting tossed out of the bar would be the last of my troubles for the night. The sinister caress of the power I felt nearby had me on guard. Maybe I was going to get a good fight tonight after all.

The parking lot was empty. Traffic in town had died down hours ago. I hesitated on the edge of the lot for just a second before crossing the street. He was following me. I could feel it. But did he know that I could sense him? It was bizarre the way I felt his energy as if it was inside me rather than flowing around me.

A shiver crept up my spine. I could feel those midnight blue eyes upon me. So this was a game of cat and mouse to him. If he thought he could catch me off guard, he was mistaken.

He drew closer though I had yet to see him. Like most vampires he was adept at clinging to the shadows and stepping without a sound. I should have been afraid and maybe on some level I was but mostly I was just curious.

I kept up a steady pace for several blocks. When nothing happened I wasn’t sure if I should be annoyed or downright creeped out. Impatient and unwilling to let him make the first move, I reached out metaphysically, concentrating on his heavy energy. By reaching out to him I was issuing a silent challenge. You want me, come and get me.

I reached the Brown Street apartments and the little park nestled beside them. It was as good a place as any to lure him out. I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him follow me all the way home.

A small copse of trees accompanied a few benches and a swing set. I walked the perimeter of the park. I had no intention of sitting down. I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

Because I expected him to draw the game out until I was ready to crack, I was completely surprised when he stepped out of the dark in front of me. I jerked to a halt, a few choice curse words on my lips.

I didn’t give him a chance to move or speak. I hit him with a blast of wild energy that exploded against his chest with a spark of my yellow gold power. I wasn’t going to make the mistake of letting him get the drop on me.

Arys stumbled back a step but otherwise took the blow with little problem. He held his hands up in surrender and shook his head.

“What the hell was that for?” He was incredulous though a smile tugged at his lips.

“Are you kidding me?” I snapped. “You’re the one following me. What the hell do you want? I’ve reached my capacity for men’s bullshit tonight, if you don’t mind.”

Arys chuckled but there was a seriousness in his eyes that didn’t match his laughter. His midnight eyes followed me from head to toe and back up again. I raised a brow, glaring my hardest.

“You’re a real fighter, aren’t you? Calm down, lovely wolf. I’m not here to get a face full of claws. Or another bitch slap of a psi ball. I just want to talk.”

He stood there in jeans, a t-shirt and a leather jacket looking gorgeous and deadly. His black hair was stylishly messy, taunting me to run my hands through it. There was a seductive vibe to his energy. I was starting to think it was just a natural part of him. No vampire should have that kind of sex appeal.

“I don’t trust you and I sure don’t like you creeping around my town. Start talking before I get impatient. I may not have as much power as you do but I have a hell of a mean right hook.” I swallowed my apprehension but I didn’t relax my ready stance.

“Is that how you welcome someone who is new to town?” He raised a dark brow, studying me more intently than I was comfortable with. “And besides, you have no reason not to trust me. I let you go, didn’t I?”

I knew it. I should have stayed home in bed tonight. “New to town? No. Just no. There is an entire city of people for you to pick off just ten minutes down the highway. You are not coming here to terrorize my small town.”

Arys watched me with thinly veiled amusement. “I assure you, there is only one person in this town I want a taste of.” He laughed when I scowled, flashing fangs in the dim glow of a nearby streetlight. “I bought a house here. Looks like I’ll be around a while. It’s quiet. And good to have a place outside the city. The wolves run this town. I know that. Which is why I’m here. To proclaim my intent to live peacefully among you and your pack.”

It smacked of suspicious. I let my feelings show on my face with a skeptical frown. “I hope you don’t think I’m stupid enough to believe that. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’ll be ready when you slip up.”