~Excerpt from Edge of Darkness, book 1 in the Dragons of San DeLain
“Hunters are on the property,” Hudson breathed, speaking so quietly it was almost sub vocal.
Whatever paranormal powers hunters picked up through DNA mutation wasn’t quite as strong as a true paranormals. He hoped his warning was quite enough the hunter couldn’t pick it up.
The vampire’s eyes widened, but that was the only indication of nerves. “Certainly. I’ll get right on that. Oh, wait. We’re out in the coolers up here. Sorry about that. Be right back.”
Hudson leaned against the bar as a vampire disappeared into the back. A few minutes later he returned with his and Connie’s beer. As Hudson left the bar, he noticed the bartenders, who were all vampires, leaning closer to paranormals to take the drink orders.
Hudson made his way through the crowd to his table. As he walked, he noticed several paranormals making eye contact. Word was getting around quickly.
Now if only he could figure out where was the hunter he smelled. All the leaders of San DeLain had briefed their people on how to spot hunters. The oddness to their human scent was the main giveaway.
He’d barely sat down his seat when he saw Raven, the Master of the City and owner of this club, moving through the crowds.
“Here you go,” Hudson said, handing Connie his beer. “Sorry it took so long. The bartender had to go into the back since they were out in the coolers up front.”
“I understand.”
Hudson watched as Raven moved to the crowd, stopping to briefly speak to people as if he was nothing more than an owner saying hi to his patrons.
Of course, the only people he was stopping to speak with were other paranormals.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blur of movement… then nothing. It was like nothing had occurred. Even he, as a dragon, barely noticed it. It was one reason why vampires were apex predators. They moved at speeds humans had no hope of following.
“Get ready,” Hudson whispered to Connie.
“Of course.”
The flashing lights also provided cover for the vampire as she suddenly disappeared into a hallway with a very startled human. Hudson would bet one of the fist-sized rubies he owned that was the hunter he scented.
Problem was, was that the only one?
Before he had a chance to finish that thought, the lights in the club went out. Humans were the only ones in the club who’d have trouble seeing in the darkness, and sure enough, seconds later, they began to scream.
Of course they did, when nearly everyone and their brother owned a gun in this country and a certain element liked to shoot up gay clubs.
Then the fire alarm went off.
“For fucks sake,” Connie growled, surging to his feet.
Oddly enough, Hudson didn’t smell smoke. He did notice the humans around him panicking, though.
“It’s a distraction,” Hudson said softly over the screaming to Connie. “No smoke.”
“Why?” Confuse, Connie glanced at the terrified crowd.
That was the question. If the hunters, and apparently there were more than one, were trying to escape, the threat of fire would certainly be a good cover for them to get out of there. But even if they were trying to save their buddy, again, a fire was still a perfect distraction.
A man shoved a woman into Hudson as he rushed by. Hudson helped steady her even as he cussed the human male. This was going to get ugly quickly.
The humans were on the verge of stampeding the exits because they didn’t know there wasn’t actually a fire. And in the dark, everything was confusing. The red lights of the fire alarm and the screaming didn’t help matters, either.
“We need to help the other paranormals evacuate the club.” Hudson motioned to one of the exit signs. “Come on.”
Connie stuck close to Hudson as they made their way to the nearest exit. Sure enough, the door had been thrown open and paranormals were trying to direct humans through.
More likely the same was being done at the other exits. He hoped. There were crying and shouts as people fought to get outside. He noticed a vampire trying to use his talent of persuasion to calm the humans, but there was too much stark terror for it to work.
Fucking hunters. The acidic scent of fear canceled out everything else. Even if a hunter passed Hudson on his way through the exit, there was a good chance Hudson wouldn’t know.
Off in the distance he heard sirens. Well, it appears the police were responding in a timely manner. Hopefully they could calm the crowd and not incite them.
Connie had moved outside and was trying to calm a group of young women who were crying hysterically. One of them had apparently been pushed down in the rush to get outside.
Her lip was busted and bleeding, her dress was torn, and she’d scraped her knees pretty badly. Several people were bleeding, in fact. Hudson hoped the vampires didn’t lose control.
Some humans were quickly vacating the area while others were standing around aimlessly staring at each other. Most likely shock was setting in.
It appeared as if people had finally figured out the fire alarms were false and were starting to calm down a little. Hudson scanned the groups of people standing around talking. Now several of them had their cell phones out. Because of course they did.
A decrepit white van stopped a little way down the street from the club. Its door slid open.
Alarms started going off in Hudson’s head immediately. “Shit.”
