"The Skeleton struck again late last night at the residence of Mr. Franklin Bishop.After stealing many valuables Skeleton left leaving nothing but his calling card, a skull shaped lollipop."I tuned out the reporter on the live news feed that was being played on my laptop and sleepily drank my tea.All I want is to goggle at the fine piece of ass they call Daniel Jones,the weather guy, not listen to a crime report.
I already know what happened.Bishop got his very pretty painting stolen, which was later given to the person who hired The Skeleton to steal it.It's beyond me why they still think that it was a guy who is the Skeleton.I mean come on, what kind of male thief leaves the calling card of a lollipop?But at least it draws attention away from me, Rayla Graves, the real Skeleton.
"What do you think Beast?I think the nickname is cute.Even though they think I'm a guy still."I said to my partner in crime when he sauntered in.
"Meow?"He whined when he realized that his breakfast wasn't waiting for him.
Yes,my accomplice is a cat.Not just a cat but the one and only Prince Beastly, my best friend.He's smart, funny and even wakes me up in the morning when I hit the snooze button too many times.He also has a sweet tooth.I'm not kidding!If you have a jolly rancher he'll somehow steal it.Hell if you have even have a an apple he'll whine and cry until you give up and give him a bite.
"Meow!Meow!Meeoooowwww!"He jumped on my shoulder and started climbing all over me, desperate for me to feed him.
"Ok!Ok!Calm down here's your food you little monster."I said good naturedly as I set down his kibble topped with a peach slice.
He purred like a motor boat and started attacking the peach like it was ambrosia.
"You know I'm not sure if eating sugar is good for cats?What if you get sick?Or die?"I smirked.
Beast looked at me, annoyance clearly evident.
"God,I've finally gone 100% crazy cat lady havn't I?"
His face seemed to say,Well duh,your having a conversation with a cat
.
I looked at the time.9:46 am.Well, might as well be early for work, I've got nothing else to do.
"Come on Beast.Time to go to work."I took the black spiked cat collar and black leash from the coat hooks and quickly secured it on Beast's neck.
The collar and leash isn't really necessary because Beast doesn't like to be far from me but it makes the customers feel better about a strange woman and her cat appearing on the front door delivering yummy goodies.
When I'm not a thief for hire I deliver chocolates and baked goods for Karen MacLend who owns a little goodies shop called Confectionately Yours.It's a tiny little store but it has lots of business due to Karen's policy of custom candies.She'll make anything you request out of candy or chocolate.One teenaged boy even asked for a chocolate dildo to prank her and she didn't even bat an eye.I still have to smother a giggle at the boy's and his mother's face when I delivered it a day later.Funniest shit ever.
"The culprit of these robberies will be caught and brought to justice."A sexy masculine voice said from the laptop that I had forgotten to turn off.
I turned around to glance at the video on the LCD screen.Jason Gregory, the new hot shot investigator in town, was looking directly into the camera as if he could find me through it's lense.He is the sexiest thing alive, with a ripped tanned body, a thick mane of chocolate brown hair and a pair of the most alluring grey eyes.
He knew it too, the girls that stalked him wouldn't let him not know, but he is sincere in his will to protect the people from evil and yours truly apparently.
"I won't rest until he's caught.I will find him and bring him to justice."His piercing gaze seemed to look right into my soul.
I smiled,oh this gonna be fun.
"Catch me if you can."I smirked and closed the laptop.
Good luck Mr.Hero,Skeleton Girl is waiting for you.
"Good morning Lala!"I smiled when I heard Karen's voice from the kitchen.
"Morning Karen.So what's the work load today?"
"Six stops on Banner, four on 32 street, one to the police station and two on Jackson road."I stiffened when she handed me the directions to the stops I had to make.
Well, when your taunt the devil you go to hell.
"Ok.Are they ready?"
"Yep here yah go."Karen skipped out of the kitchen and handed me a basket decorated with various flowers and bows.
Very ironic considering that I have skin the color of bleached bone and am always wearing black slightly gloomy clothing.Beast, who was perched on my shoulder like a furry parrot, yowled and tried to dive into the basket, smelling the sugar coated yummies inside.
"No Beast.You already had some peach this morning."I scolded.
He wailed like a baby in response.
"Oh here ya go cutie."Karen, a fifty-six year old woman, gushed like a kid, treating Beast like a baby.
Beast mewed in delight when Karen handed him a sugary biscuit.
"Geez it's a wonder that your not obese."I shook my head and went into the kitchen to grab the .44 magnum and the stainless steel knives that I usual hid in my employee locker.
"Are you taking that gun again?"
"Yes Karen."I sighed, knowing that I was about to get The Lecture.
"I know that the world is much scarier than when I was a kid but I don't think you need to carry that gun around.It shows that you don't trust people."I half listened, putting the deadly sharp knives at the bottom of the basket, underneath the deliveries.
"People aren't as nice as you are Karen."I said simply, putting the gun in my back holster and putting on my big black hoodie enough to hide it's bulk.
"People aren't as mean as you think they are."
"I don't know about that Karen.Bye,I'll see you later."I waved as I left the shop to my car,Beast following closely behind.
***
I stood in front of the police station, the directions in one hand, the basket in the other.
The words police station-present for Jason Gregory from secret admirer
seemed to taunt me.
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
I looked at Beast who had once again perched himself on my shoulder, looking for encouragement.He rubbed his face on my cheek and looked at the doors that read Hunter Valley Police Department
.Well,it's time to see how good of an actress I really am.
I took a deep breath and walked in the double doors.
I was slightly taken aback at how indifferent the officers were at my arrival.
"Can I help you miss?"A bored looking man in a blue uniform said at the front desk.
"Uh, yeah.I have a delivery for Jason Gregory."
"A delivery?"The officer looked me up and down.
"Yeah, from Confectionately Yours."I arched a brow at the knowing tone in his voice.
From the look of him he thought I was just another brainless girl trying to get close to Mr.Hero.I think a little bit of a reality check is in order.
"Well,ok.Just step through the metal detector.Do you have any metal on you?"
"Yeah, here ya go."I pulled out my Desert Eagle and my papers for it and handed them to the cop along with my basket.
The look on his face was priceless.
"Your packing some serious heat for a delivery girl."
"I'm from LA."I lied smoothly,in my line of work it's generally a good idea to bring a little 'persuasion' if they try to cut me out of my pay.
"Oh,I see.Here ya go,I have to keep the gun and papers though.When you come back I'll give them to you."He handed me back my goodie basket without even checking the basket.
Stupid.
"Where is Mr.Gregory's office?"I asked politely while Beast pawed at the basket in my hands.
"Third door on the left."
"Thank you."I said, suddenly feeling a bit cocky.
On my way to Gregory's office I pulled out a skull shaped lollipop from my back pocket, unwrapped it and stuck it in my mouth.
What can I say,I'm a sucker for trouble.
***
I knocked on the door.Being polite and quiet made you invisible and most importantly forgettable.
"Who is it?"
"Delivery from Confectionately Yours for Jason Gregory."
"Come in."With that I opened the door and closed it behind me.
*Jason*
The Skeleton, a master thief and the only human thief I haven't caught in over a hundred years.After all I am a 686 year old vampire and it's hard to trick my vampiric sense of smell even at a old crime scene but for some reason all I can pick up is the scent of a cat.How is this thief able to evade me so easily?He even has a calling card for god's sake!That's that number one give away to a thief's identity but so far that damn lollipop has been nothing but a puzzle.I was so concentrated on the map of The Skeleton's aftermath that I barely heard the knocks on my door.I, thinking it was someone on the force, was about to tell the person to scram but when I looked up I saw the unfamiliar silhouette of a girl and what appeared to be a cat.
"Who is it?"
"Delivery from Confectionately Yours to Jason Gregory."It wasn't the voice of a young delivery girl that he thought she was but that of a grown up sultry woman's.
"Come in."
A woman with skin as white as bone and hair the color of midnight opened the door with a small cat that looked like a mini tiger on her shoulder.I couldn't help but stare.She wasn't just pretty but full out beautiful.She was tiny but had full curves in all the right places and eyes the color of the midnight sky.And her scent...as heady as aged port, the smell of white peaches and lavender nearly made my head spin with want.I wanted nothing more than to- Whoa!She's human.It would be pure folly to even bed her.Besides I had sworn off of humans as anything more than a necessary meal until I catch the Skeleton.
"Here you go sir."She smiled wickedly with a lollipop between her teeth.
"Sir?That makes me feel like an old man.Call me Jason or Gregory instead."I said as I tried to tear my gaze from her glossy pale pink lips.
"Ok Gregory,can you sign here?"I couldn't help the sliver of disapointment when she used my last name instead of my first,what a minute since when did I care about a human's attention?She handed me a paper basically saying that I got the treats without trouble.
"Sure.Who sent this?"
"A secret admirer.I can't tell who though, names are confidential."She winked mischievously, rolling the lollipop on her tongue.
"I see."The cat jumped off her shoulder and started nosing the basket.
"Geez, you have such a sweet tooth.Here."She produced a red striped mint from her pocket, unwrapped it and tossed it to the cat, who oddly enough immediately started to eat it.
She grabbed a bright yellow package from her girly basket and handed it to me.I couldn't help but notice that her nails were long and oval shaped, painted a brilliant cherry red, the only spot of color on her besides her stunning midnight blue eyes.
"What is it?"
"Probably chocolate from your fans.Up Beast."She tapped her shoulder and the cat jumped up on her shoulder purring.
As she turned to leave I stood up.Something about this girl interested me.
"Wait."I said as she opened the door.
"Hmm?"Her eyes seemed to sparkle as wickedly as her smile when she turned her head to me, her hair shifting to reveal five piercings in her right ear.
"What's your name?"She seemed to be startled that I asked.
She grabbed the lollipop stick and took it out of her mouth.I was too focused on her sensual lips that I barely took notice of the shape of the bright red candy.
"That's for me to know an you to find out Mr.Hero."She popped the lollipop in her mouth again and closed the door.
It wasn't til five minutes had passed that I realized what the shape of the lollipop was.
A grinning skull.
*Rayla*
I couldn't help the shit eating grin that spread on my face when I walked away from the police department not in cuffs.I know I did something really fucking stupid but life is about taking risks.A game if you will.A game you will never win but a game none the less.
I looked up at the door kinda surprised to see that it's the home of my last employer.Huh.It's damn near impossible for him to recognize me, after all Beast is technically my handler since he brings home jobs and carries notes between me and the employer.I normally just drop off the items requested, pick up the money at the drop spot and leave.
I left Beast in the car and palmed a knife in my sleeve just in case though.
"Confectionately Yours delivery."I said as I knocked on the door in a false sweet voice.
A moment later the door opened to reveal a burly man who was definitely not my skinny ass employer.
"Is this the residence of Mr.Wickland?"I asked the giant innocently while I sized him up.
"Yes.Who are you?"
"I'm the delivery girl for Confectionately Yours.Are you Mr.Wickland?"Play dumb and the dumb believe you.
"No and your not a delivery girl."Roughly he grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me inside.
***
"So miss delivery girl who are you really?"I looked around at my surroundings instead of answering the brute.
He grabbed my chin and jerked my head to face him with enough force to make my neck pop.At least I was able to confirm that it was my employer who ratted me out considering that he was tied up and bloody in the dining room.How the fuck did he know that I worked at the goodie shop though?
"Listen you little bitch when I speak to you."He hissed, his ugly face so place that I could taste his breath.EW!
I promptly spat in his face.
Howling in rage he picked me up and threw me against the wall.Ok, so this guy is way stronger than I thought.Great.I just hoped that I wouldn't have to use my gun because than the cops would definitely be called.
"I will kill you bitch!I drain you until your nothing but a bag of bones."I couldn't help the giggle at the b-rated villain dialogue.
"You crack me up even if I don't know what the fuck you talking about.Funny shit.But if you hit me one more time I will have to kill you."I stood up and brushed off the plaster that came off the wall from my shoulders.
It's not the first, third or even the sixth time I've broken a few ribs.You learn to cope with the pain after a while.
"Really blood bag?Lets see you get up from this."He somehow was right in front of me before I could even blink and punched me right in the gut.
Quite honestly I'm not sure why I didn't start immediately puke my innards out.I'm not joking, he hit me that hard.But he hit me again so I have to kill him.As soon as I could breath again.
He looked at me with a look of surprise and sadistic pleasure, a look that has been branded into my brain since childhood.He was a true killer, the kind that enjoyed killing and killed to get that sick rush that came with the spilling of blood.Now I really have to kill this fucker.He's too dangerous to keep alive.
"I think I'll have a snack before I have my fun with you."That sicko went into the dining room and came out a moment later dragging Wickland on the floor behind him, a bloody trail smearing on the white tile floor.
"I want you to see this.After all this will happen to you too."With that he smiled at me with double rowed eyeteeth that looked sharp as daggers.
Then with speed that repulsed me he wrenched Wickland's neck to the side and savagely ripped into his throat.I lost for my cool for a moment and screamed like my life depended on it.It probably did.
I think I screamed for ten seconds before I mentally slapped myself.Get it together.Screaming is bad.Screams + freaked out neighbors = cops = handcuffs.I slowly got up and palmed the knife that was in my sleeve in my hand, keeping the knife hidden from view.
EF , stands for Evil Fucko, abruptly ripped his head up, tearing open Wickland's throat.He was dead anyways so it didn't hurt but his blood splattered on my face, which made me twitch.
"Oh, you actually stood?My, my your quite a tough little slut aren't you?"He let the savaged body fall carelessly on the floor as he got up.
"Piss off fuck face."Anger twisted his face and I have to say that it scared the shit out of me.
"You little whore!You're going to wish you were dead!"He lunged at me with full intent to kill me but I was prepared for that.
I leapt at him, which startled him to a hault, and tackled him to the floor.With my knife in hand I was about to plunge in deep within his eye socket when he grabbed my hand.
I stupidly tried to still stab it into his face and got thrown off for my trouble, somehow managing to gouge out his eye in the process of being tossed like a rag doll.
"Owie!"I yelped and tried to crawl but the pain crippled me.
"You little bitch!You ruined my beautiful face!I'll get you for this."EF said and started for me.
"You do that and you will wish she did more that just cut your eye." Could that have been...nah.
But for some reason EF suddenly had a look of a man who knew that he would lose and lose badly.Instead he ran saying something that made no sense to me.But then again I was slowly dying of internal bleeding and definitely had a concussion so I could have been wrong about what he said.
"I'll leave for now.But I will come back, kill her and kill you too, Jason Gregory."
Then everything went black.
I woke up to the sound of somebody moving.I barely opened my eyes and kept my breathing at the slow pace it was in rest to see where the fuck I was but still appear asleep.I was in a house I didn't know, in a room I didn't know, in a bed I didn't know, with a stranger approaching the part of the bed that I laid on.That combo, on top of the dozens of aches and pains in my body, made me a very
cranky girl.
As the stranger drew closer to my head I noticed that whoever put me in the bed didn't bother to hide my gun after removing it from me.They put it on the dresser next to my face.Dumb ass.I pretended to shift in sleep prepared to grab the gun and attack whoever was getting closer to me.As soon as I saw the shadow of their silhouette on my eyelids I jumped up, grabbed the magnum and pointed the it in their face.
It took me a moment to process what I was seeing.
"Whoa girl.Put the gun down and we can talk about this."Wide irresistible grey eyes looked at me in shock.
"Jason fucking Gregory.You gotta be kidding me."I slowly lowered my gun, cursing the luck I was having.
"And your the candy shop girl.Mind telling me your name now."
"Yeah actually I do."I replied smartly, holding the gun at my side.
"I see, well I know it anyways.It's Rayla Graves right?"
"Lala is fine."I said automatically.
"Lala?"
"It's a nickname."
"I think I'll stick to Rayla."
"Whatever."I rolled my eyes and started walking, more like limping, to the door.
I was suddenly swung up in the air and tossed on the bed as if I weighed nothing at all.
"What the hell!?"I growled, my trigger finger twitching.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"My car then home.Mind getting out of the way?"I snapped.
I'm tired, I'm hurt, stressed out and I feel like taking it out on someone, namely Gregory.
"After a few questions."
"Goddammit."
***
*Jason*
"I was simply doing my deliveries and then EF drags me inside and tries to kill me.I managed to hurt him somehow and then you know the rest.Don't you Mr.Hero." This girl is almost nothing like the flirtatious vixen from a day ago, but then again she had some of her organs rearranged by a rogue vampire so I can't really blame her for being a bit put out.
"What does EF mean?"
"Evil Fucko...Didn't know his name so I gave him one."I had to bite my cheek at that one.
"I see.That's all?Nothing...strange about him?"
"Oh, well I guess you weren't there for the part were he ripped out Wickland's throat out or the part were he drank his blood.I guess I can cross off meet a vampire from my bucket list."She said it so candidly that I did a double take.
"Do you really believe what your saying?"
"Yep and anybody who has a problem with it gets to meet my friend called I don't give a fuck."Her eyes snapped fire, daring me to contradict her.
I actually am starting to like this crass and bitchy side of her.Am I a masochist?
"You're right actually.He is a vampire."
"To be quite honest I didn't expect you to believe me."
"It would be kind of funny if I didn't.After all I am a vampire too."
She just stood there for a moment and cocked her head, examining me from head to toe.
"At least you don't sparkle."
It's been six weeks since I got my ass handed to me on a platter, and I was starting to think that perhaps I should get the hell out of dodge.Ever since Gregory saved me he has been my personal shadow, I know because I've been catching glimpses of him out of the corner of my eye.Sure he was a vampire but this was starting to get on my fucking nerves.My eye twitched as I rounded a corner to my home and found him sitting on the steps up to my apartment.
"Do you need something?"I said and edge of annoyance to my voice.
"What no hello?"He grinned a wicked yet heart stopping smile.
"Hello.Now what hell do you want?"I brushed passed him to the door, ignoring the little tingle I felt when our bodies touched briefly.
"How are you feeling?"I unlocked the door and opened it.
"Well my ribs healed."I sighed as he walked into my flat like he owned the place.
"Hey don't you have to be invited?"I got an eye roll for that one.
"And your head?"He looked at me, the very real concern in his eyes taking me by suprise.
"The voices come and go."I winked and smiled reassuringly, then frowned not sure why I wanted to assure him.
I was about to ask again why he was here when a familar ball of fur launched itself at me, knocking me into Gregory.I found myself cradled in Jason's-I mean Gregory's- arms, my cheeks burning and my pulse racing.
"Oh, sorry about that.I-"I distangled myself as fast as I could and forced my cheeks to cool down.
I glared at the feline who was innocently purring by my feet, as if didn't just cause me to fall.Evil little monster.
"That's ok.Is this the mysterious Beast I've heard so much about?"I blinked before replying.
"Uh, yeah.Where did you...?"Gregory gave me a look.
"It's a small town.Who hasn't heard of the delivery girl with a cat that follows her like a dog?"I nodded slowly.
"Anyways...What do you want?"I asked briskly trying not to get lost in his grey eyes.
What the hell was happening to me?Sure I've had sex, lots of sex actually, so when did I turn into a puddle of estrogen when a hot guy shows up?I shoved all those thoughts away and put up my defences.
"What are you doing friday night?"I froze.
"Uh, nothing, why?"
"Come with me to the Hunter Valley Halloween Ball."I had to take a moment to process what he said and scrape my jaw off the floor.
"What?"I blinked hard, I must have heard wrong.
"Come with me to the Halloween Ball."
No, no way in hell.Are you crazy?Why are you asking me?Don't you have your fangirls to go with?I opened my mouth to say all those things that ran through my mind, but guess what came out instead.
"Sure"
My mouth is going to be the end of me one of these days I swear.I groaned and flopped on the couch after Gregory left, something about his work.I rubbed a hand over my face and swore when Beast jumped onto my stomache.
"You evil thing."I murmured lovingly as I petted him.
"What am I going to do?I can't just say; Sorry cant go on friday because your a vampire cop and I am the Skeleton you swore to put away."I scratched Beast behind the ears as I pondered the situation.
Eventually I sighed and desided to solve a different problem.The issue of my identity being found by a vampire I so lovingly named Evil Fucko.I had been going through every customer I had, every person I had delivered goodies too, even just people that have seen me.I was trying to find out how EF had known who I was and where to find me because that info was closely kept secret and if he knew that he knew other things about me I'd rather not have him know.
The phone rang, scaring the shit out of me.I looked at the Id and saw that it was Karen.I picked it up with brief hi.
"Hello Rayla."My skin crawled when the voice hit my ears.
"Why are you calling EF?"I growled.
"My name is Sam darlin."
"What do you want?"I hissed at the taunting tone.
"I want to crave up your pretty face and drink you until your nothing but bones."
"Really well one well placed bullet should stop you."
"Like a bullet can kill me."
"No, but it can kill me."I said, dead serious.I'd rather kill myself then be under his power.
"Hmm, well if your dead whose gonna save this dear old hag?"I bit my lip prevent my curse.
"Let her go."I snarled.
"I want something.At the Annual Halloween Ball the security is going to be relaxed in the mansion.Get it then."
"What thing?"I growled, faintly hearing a female sob in the background.
"A 7 carot uncut sapphire."Then sobbing started escalating into panicked cries.
"Fine."
"And if you fail or tell anyone about our 'arrangment' I will make this hag wish she never met you.But either way I will still kill you."I hung up cutting off the beginings of a terrorfied scream.
I just sat there in silence for a moment, absorbing what just happened.Evil Fucko, now known as Sam, had Karen.I stared out at the sky through my window.
"I'm sorry Karen."A single tear rolled down my cheek.
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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 24.09.2012
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