by V. Vaughn
Called by the Vampire - Part 9
V. Vaughn
Copyright © 2017 by V. Vaughn
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Natasha Snow
Editing by Jodi Henley, Red Adept Publishing and Angie Ramey
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Contents
About This Book
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
About the Author
About This Book
Called by the Vampire - Part 9
V. Vaughn
Maggie arrives on O’Kelly Island to discover she’s there for more than training Lyndsey to feed; she’s also being considered for King Daniel’s court. But taking on a new job comes with responsibilities that conflict with Robert’s control on Maggie’s mind. She discovers her ambivalence toward Alexander is tied up in Robert’s sinister plans. The evil vampire’s trap for Lyndsey is revealed, along with a surprising twist from the past for Lyndsey, and Maggie has to find a way to keep the princess safe without sacrificing her heart.
Chapter 1
Maggie
The engine of the cigarette boat I’m on whines loudly as wind cold enough for frostbite blasts in my face. I’m with Des and King Daniel, who is at the wheel. Since vampires can’t get frostbite, the king is grinning like a kid who’s high on speed. “Maggie!” he yells. “Want to drive?”
Waves pound against the hull of the boat as we practically hover over the ocean with at speed we’re going. I’m pretty sure when the king asks you if you want to do something, you shouldn’t say no, so I yell, “I’d love to!”
The force of the engine vibrates in my fingers as I grip the wheel tightly, and the king says, “I’m going to open her up! Just hold us straight!”
Crap. Like we’re not going fast enough? The boat jumps forward, and I white-knuckle the wheel. I suppose I shouldn’t be too concerned, though, because it’s not as if I’ll die from a boating accident. A vision of body parts scattered over the ocean comes to mind. They’re bobbing in the waves, and I imagine a hand reaching out to grab the arm it’s supposed to be attached to. I smile at my vivid imagination.
“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” asks Des.
Now that I realize I’m not in danger, I have to admit the speed we’re going is an amazing feeling. I tilt my head back and take in the force of the wind. Except for the fact that my hair is going to be a rat’s nest to comb out, I’m glad I’m experiencing this rush. But just as quickly as the boat’s speed shifted, my thoughts do too, and now the excitement I feel is replaced with the heavy weight of dread. I’m supposed to train Lyndsey to feed. Because she’s a shredder, her bloodlust is so great she hasn’t got an ounce of control over her actions. Overcoming her desire is a task so difficult the princess would be killed if she weren’t royalty. And I haven’t got a clue how I’m going to help her, considering the king thinks I have mind-control powers I don’t possess.
This is all Robert Kearns’s fault. If he hadn’t done such a good job of training me, using his powers like hypnosis, I wouldn’t be so amazing. The smart thing to do would be to tell everyone the truth, but I can’t. And I’ve tried. But something in me won’t let me tell my secret, because I’m sure those who learn it will pay a devastating price. The logic I knew growing up doesn’t apply to the world of vampires.
After a few minutes, King Daniel steps behind the wheel again, and we slow down. We pull up to a dock that has a few boats tied up, and two vampires take over for the king. He jumps off, followed by Des, who gives me a hand to help me onto the pier.
“Wait until you see this,” Des says. “Once we get to the peak, you can look down on the castle. It’s quite impressive.”
I look at the steep hill before us. My first thought is I’ll never get up it with my weak heart, but it only takes a second before I remember how strong I am as a vampire. We get to the top in minutes and stop.
“Right there is the O’Kelly cottage,” says Daniel as he points, and he laughs at his own joke.
I gaze at a magnificent world of black and white before me, and it’s like looking at an old photograph in a history book. A castle is settled in the middle of a valley, and I imagine it’s got so many rooms I’ll get lost. Even though I can’t see any color in the dark, and the ground is covered in a layer of snow, I imagine lush greenery and colorful wildflowers in the natural landscape. “Wow. It’s quaint,” I joke back.
King Daniel slaps Des on the back. “This is what I love about millennials. They’re so quick to laugh with me instead of treating me like someone to be feared.”
“Oh,” I say. “I’m sorry, King Daniel. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
“It’s fine,” he says. “I enjoy the way you talk to me, but”—his eyes glitter with malice—“you should probably be more formal when we’re in a group.”
I realize that his approachability is a false façade, and a shiver of fear runs down my spine as I think about the sheer power this man must have to be the king of vampires. “Of course.”
It doesn’t take us long to get to the castle, and when we step inside, I’m surprised by the interior. When I think of castles, I imagine cold stone walls and floors, but this one reminds me of stately Southern mansions I’ve seen on television. I stop dead in my tracks and gaze up at the chandelier in awe. “That is gorgeous,” I say. I’ve never seen anything so spectacular. The way the light is shimmering from it, I suspect it’s expensive crystal.
“Yes. It does make quite the first impression, doesn’t it?” asks the king with a grin of pride.
A tall, thin woman greets us. “Welcome back, King Daniel.” She smiles at me, and I’m mesmerized by the fact she looks as if she’s in her thirties but has completely white hair. “Maggie Evans, I’m Victoria. I’m sure the king has told you how delighted we are to have you.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you too.” I’m not sure who she is to the king, but she has an air of authority that makes me think she’s important, and I say, “Thank you so much for having me.”
“I’ll get you settled in your room. Right this way.”
I follow Victoria up two sets of stairs to a room that is furnished with what I think are antiques. Its accents are feminine with floral fabrics in shades of pink. She says, “I think you’ll be very comfortable in this room.” Her heels click as she walks over the shiny hardwood floor, and she pushes a door open. “I’m told the bathtub is the best part.”
I walk into the bathroom to find a very large claw-foot tub. “My gosh, I could swim in that.”
“It’s cast iron and will hold the heat longer. I love mine.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“You should find everything you might have forgotten in the cabinets, but if you need anything, please let me know.” We step out into the bedroom again, and she adds, “Your bag will arrive shortly. When you’ve freshened up, please come down to the study. It’s on the main floor on the right, past the parlor. Princess Lyndsey would like to talk to you.” Victoria frowns. “I do hope you can help. I’m afraid we’re all pinning our hopes on you.”
This woman must be a big deal if she knows about
Lyndsey’s problem. And I guess, with that gray hair, she’s really old. While everyone has been nice so far, the fact is they’re important vampires who expect me to perform a miracle. And when I don’t? Fear grips my heart, and I have to force out my next words. “I’ll try my best, but like I told the king, I’m not sure I have powers that can work.”
“All we ask is that you try, Maggie.”
“Okay.”
Once Victoria leaves, I let out a huge sigh of relief and make my way to the bathroom. The cabinet clicks open when I tug it in search of a comb. I look at the vast array of toiletries at my disposal, and suddenly, my worry that I’m in over my head paralyzes me with fear. What am I doing here? There is no way anything I do is going to help Lyndsey. And I’m not even sure how to fake it.
I realize I’m gripping the comb I grabbed so hard that I’ve made indentations in the plastic, and I loosen my hold to yank it through my hair. It pulls painfully as I rip through the knots. I can’t believe I managed to get myself into this mess. I knew that letting Robert train me was a bad idea, but the thought that I’d endure months, maybe even years, of not seeing my mother made his offer too tempting to resist.
When I finally get my hair untangled, I take a cleansing breath of air that reaches all the way to my toes to help me relax. My hair is the least of my problems, so I reach up behind my head to make a braid. As hair slips through my fingers, I wander over to the window to look outside. The stars appear unusually bright, and I spend a moment searching for a shooting star. Because right now, I desperately need a wish to come true.
Chapter 2
Lyndsey
I stare out the open window of my bedroom. I want to run until I collapse from exhaustion, except it won’t help a thing. I’m a shredder. My first taste of human blood was a disaster. My desire to get every last drop from my victim turned me into a monster going after what I wanted without any thought to the damage I was doing. I get why shredders are usually killed now, because I spent the last two days poring over ancient books in the castle’s library. Ugly images of what I am are depicted in drawings as tales are told of the horrors shredders have left behind. And I couldn’t find anything in books or on the dark web to show evidence of a shredder being able to overcome their bloodlust.
Tadhg is willing to try, though. His plan is to chain me up in the dungeon, starve me, and then beat me when I don’t perform to his satisfaction. It might be better if I died.
I’m surprised by a shooting star and immediately wish that Maggie can help me tame my bloodlust. Apparently, Kitty Kane, aka Maggie Evans, has special mind powers.
She arrived a few minutes ago, and we’re supposed to meet to talk. It seems odd to me that a new vampire has the power to fix me when everyone seems to think it’s next to impossible, but what do I know about these things? I never expected to end up a princess either.
I chuckle when I think about how the wish I made on shooting stars as a child finally came true, because I found my father. Although it came with a life I never could have imagined.
My window thuds shut when I pull it down.
I get down to my dad’s study before anyone else arrives, and I help myself to a cocktail. Other than blood, alcohol is about the only thing I can consume. I miss eating, and as I sip on whisky, I imagine chewing on a piece of pizza with salty pepperoni and gooey cheese. That would taste so good. I let out a small noise of frustration.
“Have faith, my dear,” says my father as he enters the room, and I turn to look at him. “We’re going to figure this out.”
“Actually, I was thinking about how good a pizza would taste right now.”
“Pizza.” Dad closes his eyes and lets out a moan. “I miss spicy chicken wings.”
“A juicy hamburger,” I say, “with the works.”
Dad says, “Ice cream.”
“Chocolates,” says Victoria as she enters. “In a fancy box tied up with a ribbon. The kind your lover sends you because you’re cross with him.”
“Really?” I laugh. “So you were that kind of woman.”
“In my day, Lyndsey, there was no other way to be.”
“It’s a wonder you didn’t get fat,” I tease.
“Now we beg for her forgiveness with champagne,” says Dad. “Would you like a glass, Victoria?”
“Is there something you want to tell me, Daniel?” Victoria asks with a sly smile.
“I’ve been good.” He offers a wicked grin as he adds, “I promise.”
“Then yes. Please. Maggie’s freshening up and should be down soon.” Victoria sits on the sofa across from me. “Daniel, I don’t want you to get your hopes up over what Maggie can do. Please remember she’s only just figured out she has abilities beyond normal. The poor girl probably doesn’t even know how they work.”
“I’ll be patient,” he says as he hands Victoria a glass that fizzes with champagne bubbles, and he sits next to her. “But you should have heard Sebastian go on about her.” He looks at me. “She actually got full.”
“Well,” says Victoria, “it does happen.”
“Sure, but on her second hunt? That’s unprecedented.”
“Hi,” says Maggie as she steps into the room. Her gaze lands on me, and she offers me a timid smile.
I stand up quickly, a little surprised at how happy I am to see her. “Hey, Ki— Maggie. Sorry, you’re still Kitty in my mind.”
“That’s fine.” Now Maggie’s smile is genuine. “I got used to answering to it.”
“Do you want a drink?”
“Or pizza?” asks Dad. “Lyndsey here was just talking about the foods she misses.”
“I think she’s a sweets kind of girl,” says Victoria.
“Oh my god,” says Maggie. “I’d love it all. I miss food too. Right now, I want fried clams.”
“From the clam shack,” I say. “And those crispy fries.”
“Exactly,” says Maggie.
We both let out a sigh at the same time and then laugh. For a moment, it’s as though I’m human again, giggling with a girlfriend. It’s nice.
Maggie notices Victoria’s champagne and asks for some too. When we are all settled with our drinks, I say, “Thanks for coming to help me, Maggie.”
“You’re very welcome.” She tips her glass toward me before she takes a sip.
“Tell me about your plan,” I say. “How are we going to tame the shredder in me?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve heard that it’s never been done, and I have no idea where to start.”
“But your level of control,” says Dad. “It’s like nothing anyone’s ever seen. You have a gift. There’s no question.”
Maggie’s expression is doubtful. “It was only a few hours ago I learned I’m the least bit special, and I’m fuzzy on what makes me that way.”
“Explain to Lyndsey your approach in detail,” says Dad. “It’s unique.”
“Okay.” Maggie looks at me. “So in the beginning, when you can’t think about anything but getting to the source of the blood, you need to pull out an imaginary blanket. Although...” She pauses. “I suppose any kind of barrier you can think of would work. You picture yourself wrapping up in it so that all your senses are muffled.”
I let out a dry chuckle. “That’s where you lose me. The way my lust takes over, I’d run into a burning building over shards of glass to get there if it meant I could latch on to an artery. I can’t think straight, let alone wrap up in a make-believe blanket.”
“What if you were restrained until you did?” Maggie asks.
“That didn’t work out so well for us last time,” says Dad. “But now that we know what you’re like, Lyndsey, we can try again.”
I shake my head as I recall the carnage I left behind. Nobody should die that way. “And if it doesn’t work? I’ve killed another person, and you’ve got another shredded body to dispose of.”
Victoria says, “Yes. From what I heard, Lyndsey’s fighting skills make her dangerous, and she’ll be difficult to control out in
the field. But what if we bring the subject to her?”
“Here?” I ask. “How does that change anything?”
Maggie’s face lights up. “I think I have an idea. It’s probably crazy, but hear me out.”
I’m sure it is. I’m sitting here, talking to a vampire who’s even younger than I am. One who probably doesn’t understand the intensity of my bloodlust, yet she’s my only hope. So I recall my wish I threw out to the stars earlier tonight, and I grab on to the hope that somehow it can come true.
Chapter 3
Maggie
Lyndsey just said her bloodlust is so strong she’d hurt herself to get to what she wants, and that made me remember how hungry I was when I cycled out of my suicide phase. I grabbed a seagull because I could hear the blood pumping through its veins. Only, the bird tasted horrible, and it left a strong impression. I recall from a psych class that you can change unwanted behaviors with such triggers.
I gaze at the expectant faces of the king, Lyndsey, and Victoria. I say, “I think having warm blood brought here is a good idea, but what if we don’t start off with a human?” Both Victoria and the king make a face as if they’ve tasted something disgusting, and I bet they both tried to eat an animal at some point too. “Exactly,” I say. “But Lyndsey doesn’t know that yet. And if she’s out of control, it’s going to take a while before she can resist her desperation.”
“But you think she would eventually,” says Daniel.
I nod. “If it was a bad experience every time Lyndsey grabbed a live being in bloodlust, eventually, she’d associate the frenzy with something negative.”