Dead to Bites

Chapter Thirteen

We walked in the cool evening air. It was a wonderful thing, to just exist in the same space as the person that had been my partner since I started with P.N.I, but I knew nothing about.

“John?” I stopped us by Muscle Beach, the lights of Santa Monica pier created a rainbow in the night sky.

“What's up, Kat?” He smiled down at me.

“How does your family feel about you being part of the agency?” I wanted to know more about him.

“Well, at first they were disappointed because I didn't join the family business, but I think they are proud of me. What about yours?” He asked.

“All I have left is my brother. I could be dead in a gutter and he wouldn't even know.” My laugh was bitter.

“Damn, that sucks. I'm sure your mom and sister would be proud of you. You're one hell of a agent.” He pulled me close to him.

“Thanks, John. So, where are you originally from?” It was really nice to be so close to him, his cologne was a sweet spicy scent.

“The middle of nowhere. I didn't get to grow up in the big city, like you. When I left home to train, it was the scariest thing I ever did, or so I thought until I got involved with P.N.I.” He actually said it with pride, no hint of a giggle or smirk, it was a damn talent.

“How long were you with before they recruited me?” I wondered how long this pair had been lacking its partner.

“Well, I am a few years older than you. I spent two years training for the Academy and everything before they pulled me in. It took four years before they found a candidate to complete this pair. Then another two years for her to finish her education and step into the real world.” He smiled at me.

“Dude, six years? You've worked alone for six years? That is fucked up. Why didn't they find another witch to work with you?” I felt bad for him.

“It has to do with physiology and chemistry. You are my match, that is how they create the pairs. Some people aren't even aware of the supernatural before they are pulled in. We were lucky that you had built your academic career on studying what we are so deeply a part of.” He told me.

“Wow. So our bodies like match?” It seemed a little odd to me.

“Yeah. On some molecular level, we are the best matched pair out there for witches.” He shrugged.

“That's pretty intense.” I felt like maybe I had dismissed John and maybe I shouldn't have.

“Yeah, I guess.” John was staring out at the sea.

“Come on, let's go down to the water.” The sand was smooth and soft underfoot.

I walked us back toward the direction we had come, and away from the bright lights of the pier. The waves slapped gently at my pant legs.

“Hey, let's stop for a minute.” John said as he pulled me down toward the dry sand.

“Okay.” We were about halfway back.

He sat and rolled up his pant legs. An elaborate leg tattoo covered his left leg.

“Cool. What's it of?” The moon wasn't full enough to see the details.

“The universe.” He laughed.

“What?” I plopped down in front of his leg and tried to get a clearer look.

“It's the night sky. It's to remind me that there are no limits in life, only the ones that we place on ourselves.” His eyes twinkled.

“Awesome.” I knew the importance of tattoos.

“So what do the flowers stand for?” He gestured to my leg.

“Oh, it's the women of my family, and my brother did the artwork and tattooing. My sister loved sunflowers, my mom roses, and I love daisies. It's all of us.” It was the only tattoo I had that I was proud of- my other ones were, eh, poor decisions.

“That's really nice. I like it.” He patted the sand next to him.

“Thanks. They were important people in my life.” I sat next to him.

“Kat, what are we going to do?” His tone was serious.

“Well, it depends on what thing you are referencing.” I wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

“About the agency? The vampire? Our pairing?” His hazel eyes pleaded for me to understand what was going through his thoughts.

“Well, our pairing is nothing to fret about. We were matched together because we would complement each other. Should something come from that? Well, that's there problem because I am one to act on my feelings.” I smiled. “About the agency and Andrew? Well, I am going to be sending an email off to Harkins superiors. We all have to answer to someone. No one is safe from it. I don't think it is normal for a vampire that has been a subject of investigation to be suddenly a key role in not only said investigation but the freaking security of the operation. Nope, something is not right.”

“What are you going to do about Andrew?” His words were heavy.

“I don't know. I'm attracted to him. I'm not going to lie. There is something about him that calls out to me. I need to figure out what it is before I go any further down that road.” I answered honestly.

His eyes looked hurt.

“John, that doesn't mean that I'm not attracted to you. I think that I've managed to keep my distance from you by sheer force. You are such a nice guy, and I feel like I should know you. Not just who you are, but it's like my soul recognizes a like soul. Does that even make sense?” I felt like a babbling idiot.

“It does. Don't worry about it, Kat.” He looked away from me and back toward the lights of the pier.

“Dammit, John. I'm not blowing you off, and it sure as shit is not for Andrew.” I huffed.

He didn't say anything just kept looking off in the distance.

My temper got a hold of me. It took a lot of control not to let my power fly around me. I felt the sand around us swirl a little.

“There's no need for that, Kat.” He said.

“John, look at me.” My words were sharp.

He turned and his eyes glowed slightly with his own power. His hair shifted in the wind that I had created. He cocked a brow at me.

I tugged him close and kissed him. The sky cracked with thunder. The sand swirled around us in a small whirlwind.

Everything around me seemed to fall into place. It felt like I had finally come home. I had no idea who John was, but I knew everything about him in that instant.

My skin tingled with electricity, and then we were literally blown apart.