Forbidden

A Ruse

Van

Van glanced down at her phone. Ten minutes had passed since the last time she looked and just like last time, when she opened her mouth to say something, Luca held up his hand and shook his head.

But this time, she pressed on despite his protests. The longer they stayed put, their chances of being caught looking like idiots increased, and after the events of the last week, Van was over drama.

"Let's at least go back upstairs. Feed me while you pout."

Luca growled. She was certain it was supposed to sound menacing, but it made her laugh, which in turn increased the shifter's irritation. His brown eyes flashed when he spun around to face her, but when she laughed harder, he deflated. A weak smile bent the grim, flat line of his lips.

"What did it say?" She pointed to the card Luca held. It was identical to the one he used to gain entrance to the meeting.

He clicked the black-light pen someone had kindly left behind and lit up the back. "Retrieve the file."

Van's heart twisted, and she looked around the empty room. There was no visible exit other than the door they'd entered through, but somehow everyone was gone. A few rickety chairs were pushed against the cinder-block wall, and a wet ring was fading on the concrete floor, like someone had set down a perspiring cup during the meeting. Proof, at least, that people had been down here.

Their steps echoed in the stairwell, each slap punctuating her words as she rushed, "How did they know we were coming down there, and an even better question- how did they get out?"

Luca remained silent until they reached their table. Pulling out her chair, his fingers grazed her shoulders before he returned to his seat. Fresh ice water filled the crystal goblets on the table, and she downed several generous swallows while she waited for him to gather his thoughts.

"Just hear me out, okay?"

"I've been waiting to do just that."

He tilted his head. "You know, I didn't realize how much I missed your snark until just now."

Van was in the middle of slathering butter over bread, but his statement made her pause. "Are you being sarcastic?"

Luca's laugh was rich and warm. "No... well, maybe a little, but really, I think that's what I lo-like about you most, Van. You keep it real with everyone."

"And you're trying to avoid the topic."

"Witches had to be involved. There's no other way. They either cloaked or teleported out of there. The first is unlikely as I could still smell them, but the second option is unsettling. It would take a powerful witch to get that many people out of the room."

"Unless there weren't very many people."

"True... still-" He stopped and looked at her in amazement. "Once again you just take it in stride."

Van licked butter from her lips and shrugged. "I mean, after zombies, nothing really gets me."

Groaning, he replied, "Still with the zombies."

"I don't get how they don't creep you out!"

He leaned across the table, and she swallowed hard as his scent surrounded her. Something sharp and fresh, with hints of mint and rosemary. The flame from the candle burning on their table made his eyes shimmer gold, but it was the two canines protruding from his top lip that stole her attention.

In a flash, they were gone, and he leaned back in his chair. "Why would I be frightened of something I can tear apart?"

Images of Luca biting into rotten flesh filled her mind, those bright white teeth stained with sludge and blood. Bread lodged in her throat, and she took another swig of water to help it down.