Page 43 of Last Hope
He answered the door to his apartment as soon as she rang.
He was a tall brute of a man, with the appearance of a total barbarian. He had long brown hair that he tied back into a low ponytail. His arms were large and tan and he had a scarred up face. He was in black pants and an overly tight burgundy T-shirt that showed off all too well the ripple of his muscles.
“Quinn.” Isis smiled at the sight of him. It had been way too long. She hadn’t seen him since she broke off their relationship—along with all of her other lovers—around two years ago. She had done so right after Damien, Antonio’s twin brother, had killed two of her lovers at Santiago Enterprises when he had kidnapped Esmeralda and tried turning her into a vampire.
Isis had gone with her lovers to save her best friend but they had been killed in the process. So she got rid of them all because she couldn’t bear to see anyone else around her get hurt; funny how that had worked out, in a horrific paradoxical sense of irony, of course.
He smiled at her. “Isis,” he said in his deep voice. “Back for more?” He let out a sly, cocky grin.
Isis rolled her eyes. “I came to ask a favor of you.”
He raised an eyebrow then seemed to notice Anya and the children for the first time. “Would this favor involve them?” He leaned sexily against his door frame.
“Uh, yeah,” Isis gestured awkwardly towards Anya. “This is Anya.” He eyed her tastefully, Isis rolled her eyes. What a pig. “And these are Lucinda and Othello.” He didn’t even spare the kids a glance. His gaze shifted from Anya to Isis, probably undressing them both with his eyes. “We need a place to stay,” Isis continued. His gaze was focused on Anya now, his eyes flashing hungrily. Isis felt a vein in her neck twitch. “Are you going to keep eye-gasming over us or are you gonna let us in?”
He let out a sudden roaring laugh and stepped aside to let them into the threshold of his apartment.
“So, what brings you over here asking for favors?” He closed the door and walked into his living room. His place was well kept and held all the décor of a bachelor. His couches were black and the leather cushions square; crystal glass coffee tables with lamps, a large flat screen television and video games displayed on each shelf along with video game consoles. His living room walls were floor to ceiling windows with an incredible view of the ocean. There was a bar separating his living room and kitchen.
“It’s a rather long story that I’d rather not talk about right now.” Isis ushered the kids to sit on the couch. They did so quietly.
Quinn raised an eyebrow at her. “Is it dangerous?”
“Extremely so.”
He smiled. “Very well. You can stay in my room and the kids can build a fort in here.” He turned his lustful gaze to Anya. “You can sleep with me, if you want.” And he winked at her. But Anya’s face remained impassive. She simply stared at Quinn with her startling eyes.
Isis tried not to laugh. “Did I mention that Anya is my Soul Mate?”
Quinn’s eyes widened and he stepped back, holding his hands up as if in surrender. “Woah, my bad. But hey, if you’re ever down for a threesome, I’m fine with that.”
Anya raised an eyebrow. Isis rolled her eyes.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
He chuckled. “Okay, well you can have my room. I’ll just go and stay at a friend’s till you get your shit together.” He made his way to the door. “Make yourself at home.” He opened it.
“Oh, and Quinn?”
“Hmm?” He paused.
“Don’t tell anyone we’re here, okay?”
He chuckled, and then left.
* * *
Isis stoodunder the warm spray of shower water, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. It would be the night she would turn herself over, she decided. She would spend this last night by her Soul Mate’s side and she would enjoy it without sadness weighing her down.
She counted herself damn lucky to have been able to have Anya when she did, however short their time had been; she had enjoyed every moment of it. And tonight would be their last night together.
Sighing, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She went over to the bathroom mirror and wiped away the steam. Her reflection stared emptily back at her. Dark smudges were under her eyes and her veins had already begun to pulse black beneath her skin, a sure sign that she needed feeding. She shook her head and reached for a towel hanging on the rack and wrapped it tightly around herself then exited the bathroom.
Anya was already lying in bed, wrapped tightly beneath the covers.
“The kids asleep?” Isis asked as she towel dried her hair.
Anya leaned back against the plush pillows. “Yes. They went out like a light. It’s been a rough couple of days for them both.”
