Chapter 11 - Think Later

Valentina:

I cling tightly to my knives as I stalk toward the Naga soldiers. Glancing around, I see that Michael is no longer next to me. As I search around the horde of people running to safety, I spot him fighting a group of Nagas.

I’m about to rush toward him when I hear the crowd cry out behind me. Jaw tight, I turn to see a large creature with long white hair, a skeletal body and long claw - like fingers attacking the humans. This has to be the drone.

I call out for Michael, but he doesn’t hear me through the screams of the crowd, so I take the chance and follow the creature as it follows the mob running into the night. I know that Michael said I should stay close, but I can’t lose the opportunity to follow the drone. My friend is counting on me. I observe with disgust as the drone tears through a human’s throat and drags an unconscious human down a dark alley. Though I want to help the humans, I know that I need to follow the drone, or I’ll never find the queen.

I follow the drone as it maneuvers its way through the dark alleys until we reach some kind of ancient cemetery. When it slinks through a rusty gate, inside a large, boxy crypt covered in ivy. Rushing forward, I slip inside of the crypt once the creature goes in. The crypt is dark and damp with soiled stone walls, broken pottery and coffins but what surprises me is the secret room hidden in the back. The drone tears open the corroded metal doors and walks down a set of ancient steps. I don’t know how long I follow it through a maze of rocky caverns until I reach a large cavern littered with bones and skulls.

As soon as I reach the room, I realize that I made a grave mistake not following Michael’s edicts. There is no Naga queen in the room. No, what I find in the room is a gory scene of creatures tearing into the blood and guts of what I assume is a human. The creature with the human releases a high screech at the others and tosses the unconscious human at the others. Now that I take a better look at the creature, I realize that it doesn’t look like the Nagas. This creature looks skeletal, has gray skin, and its eyes are as black as night.

The door slams closed behind me, bringing the creature’s attention to me. Chest heaving, I straighten my spine and prepare to fight. The creatures growl, drool falling from their horrific mouths as they prepare to attack. They’re faster than the Naga that attacked before. It’s like they’re in one place one moment and another the next. Before I can react, one appears behind me and claws at me. Thankfully, I have cat - like reflexes and manage to duck, only to be grazed in the arm by the creature's claws. Another approaches and grips my hair, but I manage to lift up, walking over the other’s chest and flip over the creature, grabbing my neck’s back. The creature squeals and chokes as I impale one of my knives in its neck, and the other jumps on me, giving me enough momentum to stab it between its ribs.

The two creatures stumble back, gripping their wounds and release a horrendous howl. Before they can recover, I slide my katana from its cover and get into form. The creature that I gutted rushes forward and manages to dodge my strike by rolling away and gripping my ankle, making me stumble onto the floor. The other creature uses my distraction and jumps on my chest, lifting its sharpened claws. As it’s about to stab its claws into my stomach, it cries out when a sword tip penetrates its chest cavity. The creature falls to the side, giving me a view of Michael in all of his winged glory as he turns and beheads the other creature.

My shallow breaths echo through the silent tomb, and my heart thrums in my ears as I gaze up into the eyes of my companion. “Michael,” I mutter breathlessly.

Michael ignores my call and turns to the wounded human, healing his scratches before touching his head and flashes him out of the room.

I jump up, startled, “Where did you send him?” I ask.

Michael turns to me, his eyes full of rage, “I healed him and sent him to a nearby hospital.”

I gulp loudly as the heat of his glare cuts through me, “Are you telling me you healed that man, but you didn’t heal my friend?”

Michael angles his head and narrows his eyes, “I did not heal your friend because a Naga’s bite is like a disease that spreads across the human body. I can heal wounds, but I cannot heal poison or mortal diseases. It is against celestial laws to do so. Now, are you going to explain why you ran off without me? Qu'est - ce que tu fous de courir de cette manière?” What the hell are you doing running around in such a manner? He berates me.

I flinch at his words, unable to form a reasonable response for my stupid decision.

He runs his gaze over my frame as if making sure that I’m not harmed, “You stupid, foolish girl!” he growls angrily, “Do you know what you just did? Didn’t you hear my warnings earlier? What were you thinking? Those are not even Nagas,” he waves his hand toward the dead creatures. “Those are wendigos. They are cannibalistic creatures that eat their prey while they are still alive. That thing would have torn through you and made you watch while he tore your limbs and fed off them.”

I gasp at his descriptive tone, “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t think─”

“No, you didn’t think, and you almost got yourself killed. Not just that, you left me to fight on my own, and we missed the opportunity to follow the drone.”

My fists tighten, and my chest heaves beneath my snug top. Stomping my foot, I glare back and mutter defensively, “I thought those things were the drones. Forgive me for not knowing there would be other monsters at that club.”

Michael sputters with anger, “If you had stayed close, instead of running off, you would have known!”

Nostrils flaring, I turn to the door and attempt to leave. Before I can step out, Michael grips my forearm tightly and turns me to face him, “Where do you think you’re going, Valentina? We are not done talking.” He states through clenched teeth.

I seethe as I scowl up at his gorgeous face, “We’ll I am done talking to you, Michael,” my hair flutters wildly around me as I press my index finger against his chest and growl, “For your information, I am not an idiot. I made a mistake that anyone would have made, and you’re…you’re…a jerk!”

This time, I slip out of his hold, rush out until I’m standing outside the crypt. However, Michael is not cognizant of my turmoil as he follows me up, “Valentina! Stop right there!” he calls out.

“Stop following me!” I call out with a jeer. Unfortunately, I miscalculate a step, trip over the landing near the crypt, and land against his chest, putting us eye - to - eye. Chest heaving, I cling to his shoulders and glare. We’re so close that our bodies mold together like puzzle pieces. My body melts with desire as I gaze into his beautiful emerald eyes.

Though his lips hover over mine, somehow Michael manages to step away and mutters, “There are still a couple of hours left in the evening. Perhaps we can salvage the night and find another horde.”

He doesn’t comment further as he steps around me and walks out into the streets.

Needless to say, the evening is a bust. Not just because the Naga do not attack again, but also because of the tension between Michael and me. As the night progresses, he barely looks at me, and our conversation is stilted. Guilt presses down on me for my folly as we make our way to my apartment. If I hadn’t wandered off like an idiot without Michael, we would have had information on the queen by now.

“The Nagas are probably safely ensconced in their hive by now, and we have no leads. Let’s get some rest and try tomorrow evening again.”

Feeling subdued, I nod and mumble softly, “Okay.”

Once we get back to my apartment, Michael takes a step back and mutters, “We will talk more tonight.” Before he turns to his own room, I take his hand and step close to him, “Listen, Michael. I’m…I’m so sorry. I should have never left your side. I was so stupid…” I sob as tears threaten to choke me.

Michael takes a deep breath and places his palms on my forearms, “I know, Valentina. I know you’re sorry, and I’m…” he swallows deeply, “I’m sorry too. I should have told you that other supernatural scavengers would scent the carnage.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his collarbone, “It’s not your fault that I was stupid. You told me to stay close.” I sniffle, “I promise I’ll do better tomorrow.”

Michael’s head tilts to the top of mine as he takes a long breath. His nearness is so intoxicating that I find myself undulating against him like a cat in heat.

For a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me, but then he moves away, sifts his fingers through his hair and mutters, “Get some rest, Valentina. You have my mobile number if you need anything.”

I watch as he walks away, my body aching to call him back, but I don’t push it. To my surprise, Kimber isn’t in the room, and none of her luggage is where she left it, which tells me that she probably asked for another room. I guess it’s a good thing because if I saw that bitch I’d probably kick her ass for abandoning Sami and me. Thankfully, the experience is not being supervised, or we’d be in serious trouble if they discovered that Sami was missing. Hopefully, Kimber won’t reveal everything that happened at the burlesque club.

Not giving Kimber another thought, I go to my room, take a shower, slip on a nightdress, and try to think about other things.

Seeing that I’m not going to get any sleep, I go to the kitchen and take out three bottles of brandy that we bought at one of the local boutiques.

For some reason, we have to drink massive amounts of alcohol to get drunk. I don’t think when I gulp down a bottle and move on to another until I’m too drunk to think. Unfortunately, I’m too drunk to care when I step out of my apartment.

For a couple of minutes, I amble around his neighborhood until I feel something watching me. Looking back, I see several glowing eyes looking at me from the shadows of nearby trees. It’s seriously creepy and puts me on edge. I mean, I might be drunk, but I’m not stupid. Spooked, I turn around and leave the clearing. As I stroll through the night, my thoughts drift to a certain male I can’t get off my mind. My drunken mind must take over because I find myself taking a stroll toward a certain house.