Cursed Read online

  “Well, I’m not. So don’t talk to me.” Her eyes flicked to his once more in the mirror and just as quickly flickered away. Stavros noticed that her cheeks were dark pink. Had he discomforted her somehow? The thought was oddly intriguing—as was the sweet scent that rose from her small body. It reminded Stavros of the Earth plant called honeysuckle. It must be her perfume—an artificial scent many Earth females wore for some reason. It was very pleasant but even better was the warm, feminine musk underneath it.

  Stavros shifted his feet and legs in the cramped back seat and another scent, not nearly as pleasant, rose to greet him. He grimaced. Apparently he hadn’t been as fast as he’d thought when the male he had threatened had voided his bladder. The male had been wearing the truncated trousers Earthlings called “shorts” and his urine had obviously splattered the lower front of Stavros’s leathers and his boots.

  Seven Hells, Stav swore to himself. At least the leather of his trousers had kept the urine from soaking in and touching his skin but it was still unpleasant to be wearing the waste fluids of the other male.

  They were getting farther and farther from the lights of town, the car taking a steep turn as it entered a twisting trail leading up and up and up. From the windows Stavros caught glimpses of trees and bushes and very occasionally, a lone dwelling. He estimated they had gone quite a way—possibly farther than he could walk on foot if he wanted to get back to the HKR building before dawn. It was a good thing he knew how to drive an Earth car—he might have to “borrow” this one once he escaped.

  In the meantime, however, the itching, tickling sensation in his brain had grown fainter and less insistent. Stavros wasn’t sure if whoever was trying to contact him was giving up or if the signal was somehow being blocked out by the bulk of the mountain they were climbing. It didn’t matter though—no matter how faint the signal became he still had to answer it.

  No matter what he had to do, he would get away at the first opportunity and get back to the HKR building.

  * * * * *

  Charlie sighed as she turned the car off the main road and entered the rough, rutted dirt path that served as her driveway. She lived in a genuine log cabin which had been built around the turn of the twentieth century. It had been falling to ruin before the former owner had bought it and remodeled it extensively. Charlie had gotten it for a song when he had to move away because he was a friend of her father’s—or had been before her dad passed away from a stroke the year before.

  It was a beautiful home but the location was fairly remote and isolated—she only had two neighbors and neither of them was within hearing distance even if she shouted. Charlie had always liked the isolation in the past. Even though getting up and down the mountain during the winter snows could be a bitch, she loved the peace and quiet. Now, however, her house’s lonely location worried her. She was up here alone with a dangerous prisoner—a dangerous, extremely large prisoner. Which meant she was going to have to be on her guard every minute.

  A sharp cramp from the vicinity of her pelvis reminded her that wasn’t going to be easy. Her period was coming fast—she needed to get the big Kindred secured quickly before the pain made it hard to function. She just hoped this wasn’t going to be one of the really bad ones.

  About once or twice a year she had a period with cramps so bad they were actually debilitating. Comparing these to her regular cycle was like comparing a light tension headache to a migraine. During these “below-the-belt migraines,” as Charlie had come to think of them, the only thing that helped even a little were prescription muscle relaxers. Unfortunately, as well as easing the cramps some, the meds also made her loopy and completely unable to drive or work.

  Since the “migraine periods” were a fairly rare occurrence, Charlie could usually take a day off work and stay in bed when one of them hit her. She didn’t like to do that—it made her feel week and girly. But there was no arguing with the stabbing, grinding cramps that overwhelmed her. They felt like someone had cut open her abdomen and was slicing up her insides with a meat cleaver. She was no good to anyone while she was in that much pain—there was no cure but to take the meds and sleep it off.

  Please, not tonight, she thought, as another, stronger cramp stuck her. I don’t need a bad one tonight. Not when she had the big Kindred to deal with. There was no way she could take her muscle relaxers with him in her house. She would have to remain hyper-vigilant at all times and being strung out on pain meds was not an option.

  Another cramp struck like an angry horse kicking her in the belly and she heard a soft noise that sounded like a grunt of pain from the back seat. Dragging her mind away from her own discomfort, she parked the car and looked in the rearview at her prisoner. The big Kindred’s eyes were narrowed and his jaw was clenched.

  “You have a problem?” she asked sharply.

  “I don’t,” he replied, frowning. “But—”

  “What is it?” Charlie was ready to get out and escort him into her house. She had to get moving before her period fully arrived. “Come on—speak now or forever hold your peace.” She motioned at him impatiently.

  “Nothing.” He shook his head and looked away. “I am fine.”

  “Good. Now let me tell you how this is going to go.” Charlie held his eyes in the mirror as she talked, despite the fact that it made her really uncomfortable to have eye contact with him for some reason. “First I’m going to get you out of the car,” she said, holding up one finger. “When I do, you’re going to be as quiet and sweet as a little lamb.”

  “A what?” He frowned. “Is that some kind of Earth creature?”

  “It’s a baby sheep,” Charlie said. “And it’s known for its meek and mild temperament.”

  “A lamb…” He appeared to be trying to place it. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “I know where I’ve heard that—I went out to an Earth restaurant with friends and was served lamb chops with a vivid green goo.”

  “That would be mint jelly, I guess,” Charlie said. Then she got irritated. “Look, we’re getting off subject. The point is, you’re not going to give me any trouble because I’m going to have my Glock on you the whole time.” She drew the gun and held it up to demonstrate.

  He scowled. “I agree that your crude projectile weapon gives you the upper hand but if you think I will sit still and meekly allow you to make me into chops and green goo you are very much mistaken.”

  “Nobody’s getting turned into chops unless they misbehave,” Charlie said steadily. “Is that clear?”

  “Perfectly.” He nodded.

  “Good. So we’re going into the house—my house filled with my stuff. Which means I’m gonna get pissed off good and proper if you break anything or make a mess. I may not be the world’s best housekeeper but I am particular about keeping things in one piece. So no funny business.”

  He blinked. “I wouldn’t dare to engage in humorous activities on your premises.”

  “Good. Because listen up, big fella—you’re huge and I’m just one woman alone—don’t think I don’t know that. What it basically means is that if you put so much as a toe out of line I’ll shoot first and ask questions afterwards. Got it?”

  He nodded soberly. “I understand. I have no margin for error while I am in your domicile.”

  “Got it in one, buddy.” Charlie nodded approvingly. “Okay, so out we go.”

  She climbed out of the car and opened the back door. She expected him to step right out but it wasn’t that easy—the big Kindred was so crammed in he had a struggle getting out. Also, his arms and hands were still bound behind his back which left him little to balance with.

  Finally, Charlie leaned forward and hooked one hand under his muscular arm while keeping the Glock firmly trained on his head.

  “C’mon, big boy,” she muttered. “Let’s—” Suddenly an acrid, unpleasant smell hit her nose. “Hey!” She glared at him. “Don’t tell me you sat back there and pissed yourself!”

  “I most certainly did not,” he growled, his dignity cl