His shoulders rotated back, a sheen layer of sweat formed on his forehead, and he kept his eyes fixated on the machine only a few feet in front of him. He let his arms swing forward and the cracking of ball against bat snapped through the empty room. “You haven’t come down here in awhile,” Jimmy appeared by the metal cages. A half serious smile was pressed against his face and his fingers laced in with the chain link fence.
“Since Gena left,” Zacky added and swung at another speeding ball. The crack sounded once again throughout the large basement and Zack threw down his bat. It clanked against the cement floor and meshed with the thuds of his heavy footsteps. “I can’t stand this,” Zacky ran his hands through his moist hair and sighed. “She sits in the room and barely speaks. She’s depressed and it’s hurting me, Jim. I just wish I could tell her, you know?”
“I understand that,” Jimmy breathed and took a seat on a decorative baseball stadium seat. “She’s hurt right now but could you imagine when she finds out, she’ll be devastated.”
“But what if he comes to find her? She’ll know then and it will only make matters worse by waiting.”
“Then tell her,” Jimmy shook his head and played with the pockets of his jeans. “You have to make the call, Vengeance. She’s your mate.”
“She’s not my mate,” Zacky retorted quickly and stood to his feet.
“You have to stop denying it man,” Jimmy laughed and made his way up the staircase. “She is your mate.”
Zacky slumped against the wall and pressed his palm to the inked death bat on his chest. It was warming underneath his hand and a strong sensation of fear washed over him. Suddenly, his heart began to race and his knees started to shake. Something’s wrong with Asher, he thought and sprinted up the stairs back into his home. “Where’s Asher?” Zacky screamed and stared at Johnny and his mate Lacey as they watched television.
“Last time I checked, she was in her room.” Johnny said with a slight sarcastic tone. Zacky stepped on it; he sped up the winding staircase and flung open her bedroom door. Brian lay on top of her, his hands pinning her arms above her head, and his fangs extended. Zacky immediately reacted and tackled Brian to the floor. Asher screamed out in fear and pulled her knees to her chest, sobbing.
“Get yourself together Syn!” Zacky screamed. His hands were gripped around Brian’s collar as he slammed him against the wall. “She’s not Michelle!”
“Don’t bring her up!” Brian hissed and kneed Zacky hard in the groin. He keeled over in pain and Brian took that as a chance to slam his fist into the side of his head. “Never bring her up again!” He threw his elbow back once again but Zack changed his position quickly. Once again he had Brian against the wall, his hands around his neck. “The bitch wouldn’t stop crying, I could hear her from my room.” Brian struggled under Zack’s harsh grip.
“You fucking asshole,” Zacky peeled Brian from the wall and slammed his back. “You know what fucking happened to her, she’s here against her will. Let her fucking cry.”
“Fuck you,” Brian screamed. “You bring home a stray and you actually give a shit about her. What happened to you?” He seethed. “You never cared about anything. When you bring a whore home, you fuck her then kill her. You used to never think twice about killing!”
“I still don’t think twice,” Zacky threatened and threw Brian to the floor. “Like I said before, if you ever fucking touch her again, I’ll rip your throat out.” He smirked. “Without thinking twice.” Brian lifted himself from the carpet and glared at the two for a moment before leaving the bedroom. Zacky slid to his knees in front of Asher and pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay,” He murmured and nuzzled his nose into her thick auburn curls.
“Whatever,” She pushed him away and sniffled. Her button nose was red and running, her blue eyes were blood shot, and her puffy cheeks were tear stained. Zacky hated seeing what he did to her, the way he made her cry had more of an effect on him that anybody, including himself, ever knew. Zacky shook his head and watched as she crawled into bed. He stood to his feet and wrapped both arms around her petite body. “Don’t touch me,” She mumbled and rested her head in the curve of his neck.
“You have to meet everyone,” He whispered and tightened his grip around her. Zacky made his way down stairs and set her on the couch next to Lacey and Johnny. “Asher, this is Johnny and his mate, Lacey.” Asher stayed quiet for a moment.
“You’re human,” She said to Lacey. The smile plastered across Lacey’s face grew larger and she nodded.
“Most vampires,” She motioned to Johnny. He slid his arm around her shoulder and pulled Lacey’s neck near his extended fangs as a joke. She quickly shoved him away with a laugh and continued. “As I was saying, most vampires mate with humans. Girl vampires are whores.” She laughed and kissed Johnny quickly. “It’s nice meeting you by the way,” Lacey shook Asher’s hand and turned toward Johnny. He waved politely and said his hello’s.
“Come on, you have to meet Jimmy, you’ll love him.” Zacky wrapped his muscular arm around Asher’s waist and pulled her through the kitchen.
“Mate?” Asher whispered as they entered the game room. A soft chuckle left Zacky’s lips.
“A mate for us is kind of like a soul mate for humans. We are able to feed off of them and never get sick of it and we have certain abilities.”
“Abilities?” She moved her eyes up Zacky’s body until her ocean eyes met his warm green orbs. Asher took the time to soak in all his features. He had grown so much from what she could remember. That skinny vampire, she once thought to be imaginary, was now a muscular, handsome adult. It scared her too think that he was real. He knew everything about her, he was the only one she ever let in because she knew back then that he would come back to haunt her. But now that he was standing right in front of her, with his warm arm wrapped around her body, she shivered at the thought of him using her dark secrets against her.
“Let’s try something,” Zack stopped quickly and slithered his arms away from Asher’s body. “I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind.” He watched as she cautiously let her heavy eyelids fall and he pulled her hands in his. “Clear it,” He whispered and inhaled deeply, concentrating on his own emotions. “Can you feel me?” He breathed and watched as her face contorted in confusion. He stared down at her curvy figure and sighed. He licked over his lips and traced her outline with his eyes, his heart beat picking up a notch.
“I-“ She gasped and her eyes fluttered open. “I could feel you,” She was completely astonished. “Sadness,” She whispered let her eyes wander from his feet, up his body, to his eyes. “Lust,” She whispered and gazed intensely into his eyes. “Zack,” She spoke in a hushed tone as her eyes fell shut.
“Ash,” He whispered back and moved his lips slowly against the exposed skin on her neck. His plump lips and cool metal brushed softly against her throat. Zacky closed his eyes as well and sadly pulled away. His eyes cracked open as he brought his face near her’s and ran a thumb across her cheek.
“Are we mates?” Asher said, barely audible to humans but Zacky’s picked it up clear as day.
“I-, “ Zack stuttered. “I don’t know.” Asher didn’t say a word, she just kept her eyes shut until she felt him tug her arm. “Mates can feel each other,” He bit his lower lip. “They can feel each other’s pain and emotions, especially for the vampire. They can feel everything more intensely than the mortal.”
“Is that all that happens?” She asked and tightened her grip on Zacky’s hand.
“We aren’t able to dream walk but we can see each other’s dreams.” He smiled and glanced down at their linked hands. Asher just stared at him, he could feel her confusion but he could also see it written in her eyes. Those blue eyes he loved so much. He remembered the nights she would stare in awe at him through the window before letting him into her bedroom. He remembered the way that it felt having those innocent pools gazing at him as he told her stories about his family. His heart would race and his palms would sweat, it was puppy love at its best.
“Hey guys!” Jimmy broke his thoughts and Asher immediately ripped her hand from his. “You must be Asher, I’m Jimmy!” He grinned and pulled her into a hug. To Zack’s surprise, she let out a giggle. She had barely even cracked a smile the time she had been with him.
“Hello Jimmy,” She smiled crookedly and Zack could tell it wasn’t forced.
“You’re beautiful,” He arched an eyebrow at Zacky and let a loud laugh spill from his lips. “Have you met Matt and Val yet?” Jimmy asked and wrapped an arm around her should. “I’m guessing your silence is a no,” He laughed and again a giggle left Asher’s lips. It sent Zacky’s heart rate skyrocketing. He sucked in his lower lip and watched as Jimmy began walking out of the room. “I’m taking this beauty off your hands Vengeance.” He winked as they walked out the door.
Zacky sucked in his breath and stepped into the hallway, finding his way into Brians room. “Syn?” Zacky called. Sure enough, Brian was sitting in his window sill staring out into the ocean. The sun was casting an eerie red film over the sea as it lowered into darkness.
“What do you want Z?” He gritted his teeth and kept his eyes fixated on the water.
“I’m sorry I brought her up,” He sighed and pulled a chair from Brian’s desk. He pulled it just near him and straddled it. “I just got so upset about what you were doing to Asher. She’s a part of me Brian, she always has been.” He shook his head and stared at his best friend. Brian refused to look at him because he knew if he did, his hardass exterior would crumble.
“The bitch needs to go,” Brian hissed. “I can’t stand the way she’s changed you and only in a few days. How the fuck are you supposed to help rule The City of Evil if you’re distracted, if you can falter that fucking easy?”
“Stop making excuses man,” Zack folded his arms over his chest and crossed his legs. “Johnny and Matt have mates and they run the city perfectly fine. As for me? You know me, you’ve known me my whole life, do you really think I can falter?” He chuckled at his own cockiness as Brian shook his head.
“This girl is different though,” Brian persisted. “I see the way you look at her. It’s not like Matt and Val or Johnny and Lacey. It’s…” He paused and sighed. “It’s different.”