“Um, I need to go to the bathroom and my uncle was looking for directions to a place,” Erie pursed her lips in feign ignorance. The cashier was hooked as she felt the pull of Erie’s aura, something all pureblood vampires had. Their compulsive aura made humans weak kneed for them, thus making it easier to find prey. Erie saw the glassy hue over the cashier’s eyes. “It’s called Burrow Hills I think.”
“The bathrooms will be just down this way,” the cashier advised while pointing to the hallway on her right. “As for directions, Bo is a transplant from that town. He’s a semi-truck driver who has a tattoo of a magnolia on his neck. He’s a bit older, but he’s super friendly. He might be around.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Erie smiled before heading towards the bathrooms to continue her charade. “Did you hear that, Luce?”
“Loud and clear. I’ll search for the guy and tell you when I find him,” Lucien muttered under his breath. The cashier, nowfree from Erie’s vampiric allure, had her eyes on him. Where she felt blind adoration of Erie’s cute demeanor, she stared at Lucien with lustfulness that consumed her entire being. Lucien immediately stood up and walked to the casino side, hoping the stench of the room would get rid of the invading feeling of her eyes.
Lucien was not one who shied from the company of a woman, but mundanes were only blood bags to him. A means to an end of his hunger. He knew one was his. Mates were an occurrence that wasn’t close to the realm of being a rare commodity for vampires. Political arranged marriages were common amongst vampires and his family was no different.
His father chose his mother based on political gain alone. Her family had been well known in society, enough to gain a large enough following that his father was able to ascend beyond the normal stature of coven leader. Erie and Ambrose’s parents were arranged from birth, both despising the other until the kids came.
Their attitude shifted and they were able to find love that wasn’t common for their status. For Lucien and Isadora’s parents, they had still despised one another after their children were born. His mother had fallen into heartbreak and loneliness when his father’s mate had shown up.
The woman had appeared out of nowhere, having only met their father on two other occasions. Mother had wanted to get rid of the woman, but father kept her as a mistress and succumbed to the mating bond’s pull. It had been the same arrangement many of their ancestors had. Left abandoned and enduring abuse for birthing Lucien, she had taken her life and he resented his father for it.
This had created a rift in Lucien’s desire for marriage completely. He no longer wanted to have someone by his side as he presided over his coven. He didn’t want an heir. He wouldnot add to their lineage. This was one thing that he and Isadora agreed on so ardently. They would not drag someone else into their family or ruin another child’s life by the pattern of their ancestors. They would break that pattern their predecessors created.
Lucien searched through the rows of machines until he caught the glimpse of a magnolia tattoo on the neck of a man who seemed rather large for the seat he was taking over. He had a deli sandwich in one hand and the other was busy tapping the button to the machine. Lucien leaned against the machine as he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. He didn’t much care for the taste or smell, but it always made for a good ice breaker around humans.
“Got a light?” he asked the man. Bo looked up from his machine to see the blond, attractive male before him. He retrieved a lighter from his pocket, holding it out to the vampire before him, oblivious to the fact that the monster before him was hunting him.
“Here.”
“Thanks,” Lucien replied before taking the lighter and igniting the end of the cigarette between his lips. “The lady up front said you’d know the way to Burrow Hills. You’re Bo, right?”
“That’s me. What’s got you heading to that run-down town?” Bo inquired while returning his eyes to his game. Lucien exhaled the vile tasting smoke that swirled in his lungs. “Doesn’t look like your type of vacation spot.”
“Definitely not, but my sister decided to run away from home to go see our grandmother. Our dad told me to bring her back," Lucien admitted with a dismissive wave.
“Well, you got a map? You aren’t too far from that town. I’d say you could make it there before sunrise if you head out soon.”
Lucien produced a map he had stolen from the entryway of the establishment. The cashier had been too engrossed in her conversation with Erie that she hadn’t noticed.
Bo took the map, unfolded it to the right area and used his own pen to draw a route from where they were, all the way to Burrow Hills. The town was so small, it was barely marked on the map itself. Lucien twisted his nose in disgust at the thought of his family in that forsaken place. What was so great about it that their grandmother had left Shadowhaven to make a new life there?
“Uncle, the nice lady at the register said you came in here. Did you get your directions,” Erie asked as she bounded in their direction. Bo looked over the map at the little girl, frowning at her presence.
“Little girl, this isn't a good place for someone your age. The smoke is bad for your little lungs.”
“Well, we should get going then,” Lucien commented, taking back the map as it was offered to him. “Thanks for the assist.”
Bo let out a gruff noise before returning to his sandwich and game. Lucien took Erie and pulled her outside. “The smell of that place was vile,” Erie spoke. She lost all innocence in her voice as her eyes scanned the parking lot. “I’m still hungry.”
“Go catch that man before he leaves that truck," he suggested before gesturing to the very truck he was talking about.
He crushed the barely burned cigarette under his boot as he spoke, grimacing at the taste that lingered in his mouth. Erie’s posture became like a lion, ready to jump its prey, as she neared the truck. Lucien heard the man ask if she was lost before the scent of blood reached his senses.
The smell nearly consumed him, forcing his feet in their direction. Taking hold of the man’s neck, he drank him in while Erie tore into his shoulder like a feral beast.
Blood coated her mouth, trailing down her chin and onto her clothes. Once the man was near death, they left him inside his truck to die. Lucien grabbed a rag from inside the cabin to hand to Erie, gesturing to the blood that decorated the lower half of her face.
While she cleaned herself up, Lucien fetched the car and Erie vamp sped inside of it so no one was able to see the blood that dotted the top of her blouse. Erie was placed on map duty while Lucien drove to Burrow Hills.
Upon their arrival, Lucien’s guesses proved true as they rolled through the small-town. They abandoned their vehicle near a fishing spot sign on the outskirts so they could return later.
“Let’s split here. Let’s see who can find Isadora and Ambrose first. If they’re even together.” Lucien sighed. Erie saluted before disappearing out of the car with impressive speed. “Don’t leave so quickly. Makes me think that you despise my company.”
Erie returned, having heard his teasing words, “I do," she replied before leaving once again. Lucien’s eyes rolled as he exited the car, stretching as he shut the door behind him.
