3: Amira

Amira stretched her arms above her head as her last class wrapped up at noon. As the other students filed out, she looked out the classroom window to the large oak tree in the center of the courtyard out front. She watched the leaves dance with the breeze, her mind fading off to the same silhouette that stood at the back of the book store.

He's the one I'm after. He appeared to be normal, if not socially awkward. Perhaps the info we received was mistaken? And why did he have to look so goddamn fine?

“Miss Haddock.” A male voice interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention to the approaching footsteps. A young man in his late twenties stepped up to the desk she stood behind, one hand in his brown slacks pocket. He wore a soft grey vest with a light brown sweater underneath. His slender body fit the style nicely, along with his clean face and short brown hair neatly combed back with the sides shaved low. He held a textbook under his arm.

“Yes, Professor?” She asked him. He stopped in front of her desk, setting the book down for her. Her eyes went to the leather cover, bare of any text to give away the title.

“From my understanding, you have a special interest in beast mythology. I hope this book would do you some justice for your studies.” His voice was light and crisp like a cold winter morning. She looked up at him as she took the book and placed it in her backpack.

“Thank you, I’ll be sure to return it once I’m done.” She said, and he rested a hand on her shoulder. A chill ran through the spot he touched, running along her skin until goosebumps formed. It wasn’t a sensation she enjoyed. She looked into his dark eyes, wanting to move, yet she felt paralyzed. He slowly smiled at her, it was charming, but there was something behind that smile he was trying to hide.

“Take your time. All I wish is for my students to reach their full potential with the knowledge they receive. If you are in need of any other books, please don’t be afraid to ask.” He said to her, and she gave a stiff nod. He released her, but his cold touch still remained. He stepped aside as she walked around and left the room briskly.

“There’s something off about him. I know the AC was working, but it wasn’t that cold, was it?” She muttered to herself as she made her way outside. The heat slapped her, making her sweat almost instantly. She took off the hoodie she wore, letting out a sigh of relief as she made her way to her truck. She glanced around, spotting many of the vehicles already gone.

“I have a few hours until I have to open the book store. I can shower and get some studying done before then.” She continued to talk to herself as she tossed her backpack in the front seat and turned the key. The truck sputtered, but the engine didn’t kick in. She turned the key a few more times before groaning loudly, resting her head against the steering wheel.

“Great, just perfect.” She grumbled, grabbing her bag and climbed out. She looked at the college building as it stood two stories tall and made a horseshoe shaped arc that nearly wrapped around the courtyard. It was an interesting concept, and it definitely stood out from the old fashioned buildings that surrounded it. She slung her backpack over her shoulder, tied her hair up high and started walking toward the book shop.

While she had a week before starting her first schedule, she had time to explore the town in order to understand its layout. It had intricate roads, many small shops that lined those roads, and houses in between. She watched children play at a park down the street, enjoying the heat September gave them. She stopped at an intersection, looking around until her eyes drifted down a road she hadn’t explored yet.

“What was down there again?” She asked herself as her body turned and made her way down the sidewalk. She passed a building where a large courtyard opened up and a giant cathedral styled church towered in the center. Her eyes widened as she took in the edgy structure. It was something out of Gothic history. Her eyes dropped down to the small cemetery that sat beside the structure, an iron gate and fence separating it from the courtyard.

“So the rest of the shops and a church.” She said, looking to where the street curved and continued on. She continued walking until another shop appeared and a junkyard piled up behind it. Next to the shop was a garage that was open and a house on the other side. Amira came to a stop as she saw it. She knew who worked there, and it sent her heart beating fast in her chest. She swallowed down her hesitation and continued her walk.

She glanced inside curiously, not spotting anyone aside from a bike with tools laying beside it. Tools lined the wall to the left that lead to the door to the shop. A table, a few chairs, AC unit and a stereo pressed up against the other wall that lead to a screen door.

“Hello?” She called out, peering at both doors, but she didn’t hear anyone answer her. She gripped the strap of her backpack, her eyes resting on the bike, “Whoa, this is a Nostalji Harley Davidson. This is practically an antique nowadays.” She knelt beside the bike, running her hands over the black frame, admiring it. The sound of the screen door opened and shut made her jump and spin around to see Aiden step down, a towel around his neck as he dried his hair. Her eyes widened as she took him in. He wore a black tank top that showed off his well muscled form, jeans that looked to have seen better days and tan work boots. Her eyes went to his face where she found herself staring back into his gaze. His deep green eyes held such intensity that she couldn’t look away from them. She felt as if she could drown in them.

“Can I help you?” He asked gruffly, turning his face away as he walked over. His eyes were avoiding her now. She stepped away from the bike as he picked up the tools. Being so close to him now, his body radiated heat, but it wasn’t the gross heat that was raging outside these walls. It was a warmth that she wanted to be surrounded in.

Werewolves were known to give off strong body temperatures...

“Actually...,” She found herself hesitating, “my truck stalled at campus, but if you’re busy, I’ll just come back another time.” She quickly turned away and managed to make it to the garage entrance when he called out to her.

“I have a moment in my schedule. Let me get the keys to the tow truck.” He said to her as he put his tools away. She turned to see him pick up a set of keys.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting.” She put her hands up as he opened the shop door. He glanced over his shoulder to her.

“Just wait there. I’ll bring the truck around.” He said to her before going through the door. She watched him go and played with the straps on her backpack.

Great...

Several minutes later, he brought around the tow truck and she hopped in the passenger seat. She sighed in relief to the AC blasting away once she entered. Without a word, he drove off. Silence stood between them like a brick wall. She wanted to look at him now that he was up close, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn her head. So, instead she reached into her bag and pulled out the large leather bound book her professor gave to her. His smile crossed her mind and she found herself tensing up suddenly.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, the question catching her off guard. She finally looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. His eyes were still focused on the road, but his hand rested on the open seat between them. She wondered how it would feel if his large hand caressed her thigh. Would it be calloused from working on vehicles, or surprisingly soft?

“I... Yes, I’m fine.” She removed her gaze, feeling her face flush suddenly.

Get it together, woman! If the info is accurate, he's your target to kill, not to bed.

“You don’t need to lie. I can sense something is wrong.” He stated bluntly and she held the book close to her chest.

“My professor gives me the creeps.” She found herself speaking honestly, laying the book down on her lap and ran her fingers over the cover.

“How so?”

“It’s just a vibe that I’m getting. His touch, his smile. His whole demeanor.” She wanted to open the book, but just talking about the man was putting an uneasiness in her stomach. If his cold touch and pale complexion, though minor details, was an indication that he was a monster, had he taken any victims?

“He touched you?” He asked, and she looked at him again. Though he still remained focused on the road, his jaw tensed up and his knuckles had gripped the steering wheel.

Why does he appear bothered by what I said? I'm a stranger to him.

“It was just my shoulder, nothing inappropriate.”

“That doesn’t give him permission to make you uncomfortable. Go to the Dean next time he does something like that again.” He informed her and she looked away from him. “What book is that?” He asked in order to change the subject.

“I’m not sure. It doesn’t have a title, but he said that it will benefit my knowledge on beast mythology.” She finally opened the cover and flipped through the pages, "What the Hell is this?"

“He gave you a foreign book?” He asked, she could hear the curiosity in his tone.

“There's no text at all. How is this supposed to help me?” She tucked the book away as they drove onto the campus parking lot, seeing her lone truck in an area with a few cars off to the side. Aiden stopped the truck behind her own and she quickly hopped out.

“You can stay inside if you want. I’m sure the AC feels better than what’s being offered out here.” He gestured to the sky as he hung half way out of his door.

“I wanted to stretch my legs.” She lied. In all honesty, she wanted to get away before her heart burst at the seams. He shut off the truck then.

“Pop open the hood, I’ll take a look first before dragging it back to the shop.” He said, and she frowned.

“Are you sure? I’d feel bad for dragging you all the way over here for an easy fix.” She said to him and he raised a brow at her. She looked away.

“Usually I’m the one that doesn’t like looking strangers in the eye.” He said as she unlocked the door and popped open the hood. She bit her lip.

“It’s complicated.” Was all she could tell him. It wasn’t a lie. It was complicated, and he wouldn’t begin to understand if she told him her story either.

“Miss Haddock.” The voice called out to her as she got out of her truck and she froze up. She spotted her professor walking over with a curious look on his face. “I thought you left awhile ago.” He said, eyeing the tow truck suspiciously.

“I did, but my truck wouldn’t start.” She said, pressing her back against her door. He turned his dark gaze on her and she felt her body stiffen. There was a silver glint in his eyes which confirmed her suspicions.

Vampire.

“Oh, that sounds rough. Let me give you a lift home. It would be harsh to let you walk in this heat.” He suggested, his hand reaching out to her. She needed to move, but she made the grave mistake of meeting his gaze just then. Now he has her trapped.

Dammit, you're still making rookie mistakes. Jax would be pissed...

A dark shadow loomed over her, a protective heat pressed up against her as an arm rested above her head. Startled, she looked up to see Aiden standing so close to her, his body acting as a barrier between her and her professor. The man stepped back, a scowl on his face when Aiden intercepted, but he quickly composed himself and gave an apologetic smile.

“My apologizes, I didn’t know you had it all taken care of already.” He said, taking a couple steps back. Amira couldn’t move from her spot in fear of touching Aiden. No, it wasn’t the feeling of fear that was stopping her. It was something she believed was worse than that.

Her professor gave a stiff nod before turning and headed off toward his own car. Aiden kept his gaze on the professor’s car until he was well down the street and out of sight.

“Bastard.” He growled softly, she could hear it in his chest. “Are you okay?” He asked, his face hovered over hers. She stared up at him, her hands clamped together in front of her chest, but they wanted to roam his body, explore beneath his tank top and undo his buckle. Her face grew hot as those thoughts crossed her mind, and she watched his brows come together, a mix of confusion and familiarity in his eyes. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she was scared he could hear it. His free hand came up to her cheek, his fingers just grazing her skin as he pushed her hair back, but that was enough for her. She felt a shock from his touch that sent a jolt through her veins, but it felt delicious. She bit her lip as the sensation rushed through her body, a part of it settling in her chest where her heart was racing, and the rest between her thighs. If there wasn’t attraction before, there was now.

His eyes widened as if he was going through the same experience, but there was a struggle in his eyes. He looked happy one second, alarmed the next. His nose flared and for a moment she thought she could hear him... sniffing her? After a moment, he stood up to his full height, giving some distance between them.

“It looks like it’s just the starter. I’ll get it back to the shop to see what I can do. I’ll check my schedule, but I should have it ready to go later in the week. Would you be able to last til then?” He asked, defusing the situation. She finally realized that she had held her breath this whole time and let it out slowly.

“Yeah, I can walk to campus.” She said, opening the door to his truck as he chained up her truck.

The ride back to the shop was quiet, but she felt at ease. He blocked the Vampire from taking her home, or anywhere for that matter. She groaned inwardly. If her father found out that a Vampire managed to capture her with his gaze, she would never be able to be out on her own again. She broke one of the Hunter’s rules in a week of being at her hunting ground.

“Did the professor startle you that badly?” His voice drifted through her mind, bringing her back to reality. She didn’t realize she was clutching her backpack so tight that it left marks on her skin.

“You could say that. Thank you for stepping in.” She said softly as they turned into the long driveway. The garage was empty still, the bike just where he had left it. He turned off the engine, but he didn’t get out.

“You need to be more careful. I may have been close by, but I can’t guarantee on being there again.” He turned to her and she felt confined in her seat. He had this overwhelming presence, but she felt safe with him.

No no no, you can not be thinking that way.

“I can take care of myself, thank you.” She puffed her cheeks, and he smirked a bit. Her heart fluttered at the sight.

“Oh, you did very well as a man nearly had you cornered back there.” He teased her. She needed to hold her ground. She shifted in her seat, moving in closer until his back was pressed against the door. She watched his nose flare as he took in the smell of her, his eyes taking on this eerie glow. Perhaps the sun was at play here, but it made him look bestial in a way, and it didn’t frighten her. She leaned in close to him, his warmth sinking into her skin.

“There is a man here with me now, should I be afraid?” She asked him. His eyes went down to her lips while he licked his own. She wanted to taste his tongue.

A hard knock made them both jump, turning to see Lymeria standing at the passenger door, holding up a bag and smiling brightly. Amira quickly moved away from him. How long was his mother standing there?

“I’m sorry for startling you. We just got back with some cookies when we found the truck in the drive way. Is everything okay?” She asked, opening the door for Amira. She jumped out, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

“It’s okay. My truck wouldn’t start, so Aiden picked me up from campus and brought it here.” Amira replied, squeezing the strap of her bag tightly. Lymeria still smiled obliviously, taking out a chocolate chip cookie and passed it to her.

“How are your classes? Is it day two now?” She asked her as she walked into the garage. An older gentleman had taken a seat already, devouring a cupcake in his hands.

“They’re okay. It’s a simple layout inside, so I am able to find my classes easily.” She replied to her, looking at the cookie before taking a bite. The chocolate melted on her tongue as the sweetness sunk into her taste buds. “This is delicious.”

“Ms Johnson’s specialty.” Lymeria’s eyes darted to Aiden as he unhooked her truck, “Do you need a lift home, Amira?” She asked innocently, but it didn’t stop the heat rushing to her face.

“No, that’s alright. I don’t mind walking.” She said quickly, making Lymeria laugh.

“Easy child, I’m not pressuring you or anything. It just wouldn’t seem right for a young lady to walk by herself.” She said, and Amira shook her head.

“I’ll be fine. I need to be.” She said sternly, but it was more for herself than just replying to Lymeria. She needed to get her head on straight and handle herself better. She knew now that her professor was a Vampire, so she’ll need to take him out sooner rather than later. Aiden didn't pose as a threat currently, so she'll have to switch priorities. She felt Lymeria’s staring and she smiled at her, “I can’t have someone rescuing me each time.”

“Rescue you? Did something happen?” Lymeria asked worriedly.

“No, everything is fine.” Amira lied, “I need to get going. I have to open the shop soon and study.” She turned, nearly bumping into Aiden as she did. She met his gaze, feeling as if her knees may cave beneath her, “Thank you for the ride.” She said quickly before moving past him.

-----

She let out a sigh once she got back to the bookshop, dropping her bag beside the desk and turned on the lights. She looked around the haven of shelves and pulled out the thick book again. She ran her fingers over the cover, opening it, this time letting her fingers flip through all of the pages, but not a single text was written. She moved the book under the light, hoping that the text was just so faded away, but nothing shown.

“That's strange, and yet he still gave it to me. Question is, why would a Vampire give me a book like this? Surely he has no idea on what I am, right? Maybe only a Vampire can read it?” She asked aloud, but no response came to her. She let out a light groan, "That would give him the opportunity of getting me alone for sure, I can't fall for his tricks again." She pulled her hair loose, letting it fall over her shoulders and against her back. She pushed her hair behind her ear, picturing Aiden's hand moving it instead and she blushed. “I’m a mess.”