Free The Witch Hunter by Nicole R. Taylor Page B

tiny pieces. But if she hadn't, she wouldn't have found the blood that had called her. 
    She was so distracted she started when she realized someone was watching her. Without looking up from her newspaper she sent her mind out and felt the now familiar hum of blood. Zac was in the square. And in the daylight. She sensed another vampire with him, the younger sociable female from the bar and also the witch. Zac she was not sure about but the other one, she was new, how could she tolerate the sun? The witch didn't seem strong enough yet to spell a trinket for her to wear, let alone her body.
    Casting her hearing out she could tell they were arguing about something. Approaching her, most likely. We don't know who she is Zac, Trust me Liz, Be careful,  she heard amongst the buzzing of his blood. Rolling her eyes, she turned around and glared at them. Getting up, she wandered down the closest path through the gardens to escape their gaze. She needed time to think over her options. She needed a plan of attack after the previous evening, her loss of control, among other things. The taste of Zac's blood had awoken senses she hadn't felt since before she was turned and that could be dangerous for her. Not to mention that their motives might be malicious. Others hunted her as she hunted them.
    Strolling down the path, her gaze wandered to the gardens around her. The plants here were really well looked after and placed out in intricate patterns. She marveled at a display of small grey ground cover grasses that had been grown and trimmed into a simple, yet effective, mandala. 
    "What do you think, miss?" she heard at her shoulder.
    Turning, she found a young human man with short messy brown hair, and chestnut eyes smiling at her. From his dirt encrusted overalls and wheelbarrow full of cuttings, he must be the gardener. "Wonderful," she said. "Did you do this?"
    "Yeah," he said, blushing. "At first the boss didn't like me spending so much time on them, but I used to do it on my days off. When we won first in the annual county comps, he didn't mind so much."
    "Well," Aya said, turning back to the garden, ignoring the gardener’s blush. "The whole garden is wonderful."
    "Thanks," he laughed nervously. "Oh, I'm Alex, by the way."
    "Aya," she shook his outstretched hand, hoping he wasn't trying to come onto her. 
    "Very pleased to meet you," he smiled shyly. "So, do you work around here or are you a visitor?"
    "Oh," she raised her eyebrows, not sure what to say. "I've got a little bit of work in the area for a while."
    "Oh, right. What doing? If you don't mind me asking, that is."
    Aya winked, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
    Alex hesitated for a moment and laughed nervously, "Fair enough."
    "How long have you worked here?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
    "About three years. I was an apprentice builder, but gardening seemed more my thing."
    "Sure is," Aya smiled.
    "And you? You seem into nature, do you garden at all?" 
    She laughed, hardly.  "No, I'm more of an appreciator. My family was..." she stopped herself short and frowned. Geesus, this Alex guy had an uncanny way of making her at ease. She had to be careful what details she revealed.
    "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to press on a nerve or anything." 
    She turned and smiled reassuringly at him, "It's okay. I was just reminded of something that happened long ago."
    He sensed that she was uncomfortable and to change the subject said, "If you keep going down that way, there is a forested section, with some nice ferns and hanging moss in the trees," he pointed ahead, then gestured to the right. "That way is a cottage garden, English style, though it's out of season for most of the flowers."
    "Thanks, Alex," Aya said beginning to move off. "It was really nice meeting you."
    Grabbing the handles of his wheelbarrow, he smiled and nodded, continuing back the way she had come. 
     

     
    Zac watched the woman, Aya, from across the square. Gabby and Liz flanked him,