Jennifer Rardin - [Jaz Parks 1] - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

The kids, two blond-headed cuties about seven and nine, sat absolutely still, but I noticed they were clutching each other's hands. Somebody yelled 'Call 911!' and the whole room erupted, everyone talking at once, the woman screaming, 'Charlie, Charlie!' and people from my side of the room rushing over to get a better look.

Charlie keeled over, still holding his chest, and I felt the power flare out so quickly I could almost believe someone had pulled the plug. Almost.

I needed to find Vayl. We needed to locate Charlie's attacker. But before I could act, Charlie, himself, stopped me. He lay on the floor, his eyes open and yet empty as marbles. I'd seen a lot of dead guys in my time, and Charlie had definitely joined the club. But I'd never seen what happened next.

This dazzling light emerged from Charlie's body and hovered over it like morning mist. Only it looked more substantial. It was as if a Charlie-sized diamond floated three feet off Umberto's carpet, each facet giving off its own unique color. Then, as if some cosmic hand had reached down and turned the wheel of a kaleidoscope, the diamond split, spun and reformed. Now, multiple jewels danced in the air above Charlie's body. A moment later they flew apart like a spectacular Chinese firework.

One shot straight into the wife's mouth, quieting her immediately. One went to each boy, landing gently on their foreheads and then sinking out of sight. Several exited via windows, walls and doors, and I suspected they'd find their way to his dearest friends and relatives tonight. The largest one shot straight through the ceiling, destination unknown, but I—jaded, cynical Jaz, was voting for heaven.

'That is some amazing backwash you've got there, Vayl,' I murmured.

'What?'

I turned to look and there he stood, not three feet from me, watching the action from a small nook formed by a ceiling-high rubber tree plant and the corner of the bathroom entry way, his power at its usual simmer. Most people would've looked straight at him and never seen a thing. Nobody was looking but me, however, so I was the only one who saw him 'solidify.' It was like watching a computer sketch fill with color. One moment he was a chalk drawing. The next he was a stern, handsome gentleman admiring the greenery.

'Vayl—' I began, but Cole stepped up, yanking Vayl's sleeve so he would turn and face us.

'Who did this?' he demanded. 'Who just killed that man while you stood and watched?'

'It was not my place to interfere—'

'Goddammit this is not a National Geographic special! You're not supposed to huddle in the bushes and film the lions killing the zebras. You're supposed to kill the lions.'

'We are the lions,' Vayl corrected, 'and we must be extremely careful before we challenge another pride. The odds must be in our favor, yes?'

Cole looked ready to go caveman on Vayl's head. 'Yes,' I said, taking Cole's hand and squeezing until he turned his attention to me. 'To kill from a distance,' I shook my head, 'that's badass power, Cole. You don't just jump in the path of that. Not unless you want to get seriously maimed.'

'Who are you people?' Cole whispered.

Vayl and I shared a stony look and a chilling silence. Though John Q. Public knew we existed, he rarely wanted to be reminded. We were thinking Cole would feel the same.

A couple of E.M.T.s arrived and Charlie left on a mobile bed with his stunned family trailing behind. Umberto's manager finally convinced everyone to return to their seats, offering half off their dinners to keep them from bolting. It pretty much worked.

'Cole.' I turned to him, took a deep breath and said a mental goodbye. 'Get out.' Get out, get out, get out—

'Now wait a minute,' Cole and Vayl chorused, looking at each other with consternation as they realized they shared the same opinion.

'Have you ever fought a vampire?' I asked Cole.

'No, but—'

'Then there's no point in staying, is there? Get out while you still have your humanity.'

'But what about—'

'We'll call you, okay?' I said, not meaning it, hoping I could talk Vayl out of using Cole's connections, tempting though they were. My little hike down memory lane had reminded me too well how much it hurt to lose good people, and the longer I knew Cole the more I knew he was good people. 'Just, please, take off before the vamp that killed Charlie realizes you're with us.'

He looked hard at me, trying to decipher my expression. 'Okay, I'll go. As soon as you give me your number.' I started to argue but, like a magician sliding an ace out of his sleeve, Vayl pulled out our business card and handed it to him.

Cole read it aloud. 'Robinson-Bhane Antiquities—Specializing in 18th Century Rarities.' He looked at Vayl. 'I guess you can do that when you've had first-hand experience.' Vayl didn't even raise an eyebrow. I'd begun to think nothing surprised him, not even being outed as a vamp by a P.I. who looked like he'd just jumped off his surfboard.

'Call us when you have made arrangements with Amanda Assan,' Vayl said.

'I will,' Cole replied, giving me an I-will-return look.

I nodded, hoping he'd pocket the card, forget where he'd put it and wash it along with his pants. Then all he'd have left of me would be a wad of crumpled paper with some blurry writing on it.

Before I realized what he was doing, Cole leaned in and stole another kiss. 'I'll see you,' he said, then he turned and left.

'I hope not,' I murmured as I watched him walk out the door.

'Jasmine…' Vayl's voice had dropped and softened to the point where I barely recognized it.