Page 7 of Those That Don’t Exist (Hidden Vampires #1)

She’d noticed me, had let her gaze linger on me.

I don't know why but it sends static energy shooting down my spine. I hold my nerve as my eyes follow her. She leaves the weight machines on one side of the open room and heads to the punching bags on the other. This is new too, her physio routine only included cardio and weights before.

Curiosity has me moving as my heart rate levels back out. I switch to a rowing machine to get a better view of her new station.

She wraps her hands before going through a routine that seems familiar to her on the bag.

It's a mix of martial arts and self-defence moves. She clearly knows what she’s doing as she strikes the punching bag again and again, with forceful fists and accurate strong kicks.

She moves with real fluidity, making me notice how supple her body is, how much muscle control she has.

For someone who broke multiple limbs mere months ago there isn’t a hint of weakness. I can't take my eyes off her.

She goes on with this routine for a while, sweat slicking her exposed skin.

She’s only wearing a sports bra and some tight workout shorts so there’s a lot on show.

Her legs are pure power, her thighs thick but toned with muscle.

The slope of her ass and hips curving into a trim waist. I drink in her frame as my eyes scan up her back to her shoulders which widen out to balance those distracting hips.

Even from here I can see the control she exudes in each movement, how her core and upper body work in tandem to give her stability and force behind the punches she delivers on the bag. My rowing slows as I’m captivated.

She starts attempting some more complex routines, and though she’s clearly recovered it's here her body starts to disobey her.

Each time she fails to keep her balance on a drop kick the frustration on her face gets clearer to read.

My lips twitch as she tries a final time, without success, and her anger gets the better of her.

She swings an uncontrolled punch on the bag.

A chuckle leaves my lips involuntarily and her head swings in my direction.

My body freezes as our eyes lock for the second time, my chuckle dies as my throat closes.

She lifts a brow and places her hands to her hips as if daring me to admit I was just laughing at her and I think I cease breathing. Fuck.

After another beat my brain restarts and I scramble off the machine, dropping my gaze.

I need to go. Her spotting me once is a mistake, twice will have her starting to recognise me.

I can't have that. I hurry across the gym, barrel through the door to the lockers, grab my stuff and hightail it out of there.

I don’t go far though. I just sit in the shadows outside until she leaves so I can follow her to her next destination. The shadows soothe my racing pulse and cool my skin as I wait. The vivid colour of her eyes burn into my skull. The daggers she shot me, knowing I was laughing at her.

How she even heard me amongst the loud music and gym equipment I’m not sure. Even my supernatural hearing, whilst good at picking out particular sounds, struggles in settings like that.

I don't have to wait long for her to emerge from the building, which is good as I am supposed to be home already. You’re getting me into trouble Red , I think as I start to follow her with a little more caution now, pulling on my power a bit more, grateful for the dusky haze now the sun has set.

The last thing I need is her spotting me again today.

She heads straight to her shared house, which confuses me more.

Did she just fancy an early night? The light in her room doesn’t immediately come on, so either she’s in the kitchen at the back or is talking to her roommates in one of their rooms. I’m too antsy to sit still so I duck down the side of her house and round the back.

It's semi-detached so has an alley down the side to give access to the small unkempt garden.

There are lots of other houses around so I keep the shadows pulled tight to me so I won’t be spotted. As I get to the back garden I see the top window lit. It’s the bathroom.

Feeling even more like some perverted Peeping Tom, I heave myself up the drains and onto the roof.

During my climb the window opens and steam comes billowing out, along with her scent.

Least I know it's her and not one of her housemates I am currently creeping on. And lucky for me the open window means I can hear what’s going on inside.

There is nothing of note for the first few minutes, which leaves my imagination to run wild. She’s feet from me, naked and wet. Possibly covered in bubbles. Damn, if that image doesn’t make my mouth water. I saw plenty of her skin at the gym so my brain can conjure some pretty accurate images.

I need to knock this train of thought on the head right now.

“Hey Aurora?” A female voice calls from the house, I recognise it as the tall one.

“Yeah?” my prey’s voice answers.

“How long do you need? I’m ready and Claire’s just changing.”

“Not long, just need to dry and dress.”

I hear the shower stop as she replies, along with soft footsteps as she climbs out the tub.

“Ok, hurry up! I’m so in need of this!” whines the roommate.

Aurora giggles and shit if my grip doesn’t fail. Luckily my weight is mainly on my stomach as I lay across the roofing tiles. Goosebumps across my skin, which I ignore.

“I’ll be quick, trust me I need to let loose too. Where are we starting?”

“I thought we’d start at Benny's Bar and then onto Rips for some dancing.”

Dancing, she’s going dancing? And drinking no doubt. That could be interesting. Alcohol and sweaty bodies crammed on a dance-floor can test even the strongest of us if we haven’t been sated regularly. If she’s feeling any of our instincts at all surely it’ll come out in that setting.

I hear the bathroom door opening as she leaves and I go to move from my ledge.

I fully intend to follow the women as they leave the house but as I’m scaling back down the drains my phone vibrates in my back pocket.

I try to ignore it but as soon as it stops it starts up again.

Hanging on one arm I quickly fish it out and answer.

“Where the fuck are you?” Mitch’s voice whisper shouts through the device.

“Still stalking.”

Shit it must be late.

“Get home now. Adicious is throwing a fit. Ronan arrived with a new guy and he’s refusing to take the blood oath until he sees you.”

Oh, fucking fuck.

“Get your ass here if you want your head to still be on your shoulders come the morning.”

“I’m coming,” I growl. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

I don't wait for Mitch to respond, I end the call and drop the remaining distance to the ground.

This is bad. Why would Atlas, I’m assuming it’s Atlas since that’s who I’d found the forged death certificate for, give Adicious an ultimatum like that.

Not a wise move. I’m surprised he isn’t dead already.

And why did Ronan and his brutes have to arrive tonight, when things were finally getting interesting with Aurora.

Sighing, I look up at her bedroom as I pass the front of the house. Her light is now on. I imagine her getting ready for a night of fun with her friends. I want to follow her, just in case she needs protection. I mean hiding.

Fuck, what I actually mean is kidnapping, as that’s what I’ve been instructed to do as soon as she shows me her fangs and bites someone.

As I take to the streets I know there is zero hope I will make it to that club tonight. Despite Adicious’s impatience at getting Aurora to turn, finding a new pack member who survived the war will take top priority. He’ll want Atlas to bond to him.

My brain runs overtime as I start running. A not so small voice also niggles at me. If Aurora does lose control tonight and one of us isn’t there she may well end up in the authorities hands. I should fear for my pack at the risk, but it's her beneath my worry. I run a little faster.

“Well, well, finally he returns.” Adicious’s voice splits through the general chatter in our common room as I walk through the doorway.

It's a lounge of sorts with a few sofas, but also has a couple of pool tables and a few wooden bar tables with a variety of different chairs and an actual wooden bar in the corner.

The walls are bare apart from the sconce lighting, several scuff marks, and the shelves of liquor.

It's where we generally hang out in this old crumbling ranch house known as home.

The whole pack meeting is clearly over as only a few guys are still lounging about in the room. They all fall silent with Adicious’s greeting which lets me know I’m in deep trouble. I don’t even look at who’s here, I immediately lower my eyes as Adicious stands and stalks towards me.

“Sorry,” I rush out, feeling myself shrinking a little.

“You better have some damn good reason, is it the girl?” he snarls, standing over me now.

“Yes. She broke her routine,” I mutter.

“There better be more than that!” His anger shakes the walls.

“I watched her at the gym today,” I stumble out, “she’s getting far stronger.” A slick oily feeling fills my gut, it's unpleasant. “And she’s going clubbing tonight. I was going to follow her but realised the time.”

I won’t mention Mitch’s call and have Adicious’s anger include him too.

Before I can stop my tongue I add, “If I can go back out, I think she might show something tonight, I’ve not seen her tested in a club before, you know how much that can…

” A fist slams into my jaw sending me sprawling to the floor.

Fuck, that hurt.

“You defy me tonight and want to go back out?” Adicious spits over me. I rise slowly to my hands and knees, careful to keep my body language submissive. It's not the first time he’s hit me and I know not to stand straight away.

“Sorry, no,” I say, the sound garbled as I run my tongue over my lower lip, the corner is split and bleeding.