Her Vampire Rebel

by Zenia, Zara

  “Almost there, pet?” I ask fifteen minutes later.

  She stops singing and says, “Nearly, sir. I haven’t noticed anyone following me or anything.”

  “All right. Stay vigilant as you go to your apartment. We already know he knows where you live. I don’t want to take the chance that he might be there waiting for you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I hear her park her car and gather her things. “Anyone suspicious in the parking lot?” I ask and recall the car he’d been driving the night he torched my Jag and again the night before when he tried to follow us home. “Do you see a blue sports car with tinted windows anywhere around?”

  After a moment, she says, “No… wait. Yes, there is one parked out on the street, sir.”

  I freeze. “Is anyone in the car, pet?”

  “I don’t know. I passed it as I pulled into the complex, but the windows are tinted, so I couldn’t see in.”

  “Okay, pet, listen to me. Do not turn off your phone. I want you to turn on your camera app, zoom in and pan over the car. Can you do that for me?”

  She takes a breath and says, “Yes, give me a sec.”

  A minute later, I hear her get out of her car, and then a click, like she’s taken a picture. “Send me the picture.”

  “Yes, sir, one more minute.”

  My phone dings, and I pull up the image she’s sent me. I enlarge the image, and I can just make out Aubrey through the windshield of the car. “It’s him. Get inside, pet, I am coming to you!”

  I hear her jogging, her shoes clicking on the cement and the whoosh of the door opening to her building. She says, “I’m almost to my apartment.”

  “Keep the phone on, pet. I’m headed out to the Roadster now.” I couldn’t find a Jag that I liked here in Tucson, so I settled for a convertible BMW i8 Roadster in copper with grey accents. It is luxurious and fast, and I quite enjoy driving it.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I hear her open her door and slam it shut, locking it. I hit the start button on the Roadster, click the button for the gate and head to her apartment. She’s humming as she moves about her space as if there isn’t a homicidal vampire lurking outside, but I’d rather hear her happily humming than screaming in terror. I zip through traffic and pull into the gated complex several minutes later.

  I hear water turn on for a moment and then the sound of her brushing her teeth. “That’s better,” she murmurs, but I know she’s not talking to me. A moment later, she picks up the phone from wherever she set it to change, and says, “Are you nearly here, sir?”

  “Yes, pet. I just pulled in. I can see Aubrey in his car. I’m not coming up; I’m going to go confront him.”

  “Sir, no, this isn’t what you planned—”

  “I know, but there’s no help for it now, pet. Just stay there and be safe,” I say, hanging up the phone.

  I climb out of the car and start toward him, but as soon as he sees me, he takes off. I rush back to the Roadster and rev the engine before pulling out again and racing after him. I swerve through traffic and catch up to him. I glance at him through the passenger window, and he glares at me. He tries to bump my car, but I swerve into the oncoming lane, thankfully there is no oncoming traffic. I turn the wheel, getting back into my lane and speed up again. I pull up on his left and try to force him off the road, but he speeds up. Pressing the accelerator, I pull up next to him again and push the accelerator hard. I shift the Roadster into his lane, in front of him.

  My phone rings multiple times over the next ten minutes, but I ignore it. I know it’s Carolyn, but I don’t have time to answer. I glance in the rearview as Aubrey bumps the back of the Roadster. I speed up and shift lanes, moving around a slower car. As I’d hoped, Aubrey follows. I’ve got him now; he’s not going to give up. I lead him toward the industrial district, to the warehouse that Carolyn had found, but as I pull in, I see her Blazer there, and my heart races. What the hell does she think she’s doing?

  * * *

  Carolyn

  I can’t believe James hung up on me! I know he told me to stay put, but I just couldn’t. I can’t just do nothing. I drove my Blazer straight to the warehouse I’d told him about. I know it’s stupid, but I just can’t shake the feeling that if something happens to him, if Aubrey somehow gets the better of him, I’ll never know what happened. So I came here, hoping that this is where James would lead him.

  I don’t see any vehicles, so I figure they either aren’t here yet, or they aren’t coming here. I get out of the Blazer and head for the door to the warehouse, hoping to find a spot I can be out of the way in. Hearing cars pulling into the gravel lot, I quickly start inside. As I turn to close the door, a man is there in a blur of motion, shoving me through.

  I hear James roar, and I know I’ve made a big mistake.

  “What the hell?” I try to back up, to get away. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” I ask, tugging at my arm, but he’s got a good grip on me. Seeing him up close, I recognize him. He is the teen who came in to check my smoke detectors.

  He chuckles, letting me go as he closes and locks the door in James’ face.

  James pounds on the steel door and is yelling, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. Panicked, I back up more.

  “Surely James has mentioned me? His brother? I like your apartment, by the way, thanks for inviting me into it.” He looks around the warehouse and frowns, as if just realizing it’s empty. “Is this where you’ve been hiding from me for the last week? Not really very nice accommodations. You’d think James would have sprung for something nicer for you.” He grins. “How did you like my gift? You’re welcome by the way.”

  He stalks closer, and I can’t help but wonder why James hasn’t burst through the door yet. “Gift? You mean Marvin dead in my bed? Yeah, thanks so much for that, you psycho! And your invitation into my apartment is rescinded!”

  He says, “Tut, tut, tut, is that anyway to speak to your boyfriend’s brother?” Before I know it, he’s right on me, fangs extended as he grabs me around the waist. “I should have killed you and left your body for him to find that day!”

  “You’re insane!” I scream, “James!” Praying that he’s found a way in.

  He comes from out of nowhere and pulls me from Aubrey’s grasp. “Don’t touch what doesn’t belong to you, Aubrey.” He’s growling, and I can tell he is beyond angry. “You should never have come here. I was more than happy to let you go, figuring we were even, but now I’m going to kill you!”

  Aubrey merely glares, his fangs descend, and he grumbles, “I should have killed you while you watched that little whore of yours being deflowered all those years ago. Nathan would be alive today if I had! Instead you ripped him to pieces and tore through my brothers as if we were nothing, and you stole everything from me! You didn’t deserve the honor of being turned! Nathan was a god! A vampire older than Rome itself! You took everything he built from me!” His eyes are wild, and he is out of control.

  “Nathan was a vile creature preying on the weaknesses of humans and shifters alike! I wish I could bring him back just so I could kill him again!” James roars circling him.

  As I watch, huddled against the wall, James charges Aubrey so fast, he’s a blur. Grabbing him by the arm, James flings Aubrey into the cement wall opposite me. Aubrey gets up shakily and charges James, taking him to the ground. They struggle while James attempts to get a grip on Aubrey’s neck, but Aubrey is quick and smaller than James. He wrenches James’ arm, and James screams.

  “James!” I cry, wanting to rush to him, but my feet won’t move. I don’t know what I was thinking coming here, disobeying him, but I am terrified of losing him, so I can’t look away. My heart is racing as I look for something I can use to defend James with. My gaze returns to the two quickly though, as James leaps up and slams Aubrey’s head against the concrete floor. I expel a breath, thinking at last it’s over. I start toward James, wanting to see how badly he’s hurt.

  “You have two choices,�
� James says getting up, panting, holding his arm to his chest. “You can leave and never bother me again, or I can kill you now!”

  Aubrey laughs as he pushes himself up. “I choose option three,” he says, running at me at incredible speed.

  “Ja—” I feel his hands on my neck, squeezing, and then nothing at all as my vision goes dark.

  Chapter 28

  James

  “No!” I shout, seeing red as Carolyn’s body falls to the ground. I gasp for air, praying that she’s not actually dead. “Please, God,” I murmur watching her, looking for a sign that she’s alive.

  “Awww, did I kill your new little whore?” Aubrey mocks, moving toward me.

  I tackle him, taking him to the cement floor, but my arm is useless right now. I slam his head into the ground, but he moves out from beneath me, skittering away. “Fucker! You are going to die!” I yell at Aubrey as he speeds around the room like a tornado.

  He laughs again. “I don’t think so. Look what I just found…”

  Liquid covers me and a whiff tells me it’s gasoline. One spark, and I’m going up in flames. I try to wipe the liquid from my burning eyes, to get him in my sights, but I can’t see him. I hear a click as he moves back toward me, something in his hands. My gaze is blurry but widens as I realize it’s a flare gun. Where the fuck did he get it?

  He laughs again. “The gasoline is an added bonus. You and your little whore should have searched this place better before bringing me here. This little baby, well it’s my party favor,” he comments, shaking the gun. “I’ve waited for this for so long. Hundreds of years, in fact. I was disappointed to find you living like a monk in that shack you called a home in Canada. I would have thought with all the money you’ve made through that stupid company of yours that you’d have chosen someplace nicer.”

  He shakes his head, moving back and forth in front of me, so I can’t get past him. Not that I want to. I want to keep him right there until I can see more clearly and then rip his head off and feast on his heart! I want to more than destroy him for killing Carolyn, but first I need to be able to see.

  “That’s how I found you by the way, your stupid website. Oh, you hid yourself pretty well, but finally after so long, I get my revenge.”

  I back up, slowly, shuffling my feet, keeping my eyes trained on him as I blink, flushing the gasoline from my eyes as much as possible. My vision is almost back to normal now.

  “I think I’m going to enjoy burning you up a little before I stake you to the roof of this building and let the sun finish the job,” Aubrey says, laughing again.

  Behind him, I see Carolyn moving and my heart soars, giving me strength to continue fighting. “You’re psychotic!” I growl to cover up her movements. I hope she has the sense to get out of here, but then I notice her eyes widen as she moves slowly toward a two by four. I don’t want to give her away, so I try to keep his focus on me. “You’re too much of a coward to kill me. You couldn’t even save your precious sire and nestmates from me! Instead you ran away like the child you are!”

  He roars at me. “I’m done playin—” he rumbles as he starts to pull the trigger, but Carolyn swings the plank of wood down over his hands.

  I dive out of the way as the shot hits the ground and fizzles out. I lunge at him as Carolyn attempts to grab his arms, but he backhands her, sending her flying into the cement wall. My heart jumps to my throat thinking that he’s truly killed her this time. I grip his head as he reaches to get me off him. I twist his neck and rip his head off his shoulders, killing him as I killed Nathan all those years ago. I sink to the ground, panting, and then hurry to check that she’s alive.

  Carolyn’s eyes flutter, and her breathing is shallow. Blood pools from the wound at the back of her head. I put my fingers to her neck, checking her pulse. It’s sluggish, and I am afraid she’s about to die. She’s lost a lot of blood. I slice my wrist and drip some of my blood into the wound, but I’m afraid it’s too late, that there is too much damage.

  “Carolyn,” I call to her.

  She doesn’t wake.

  I lift her up in my arms, terrified that I’m about to lose her. I take her out to the Roadster and put her in the passenger seat and race home. I keep one hand on her wrist, feeling her pulse. It’s still there but getting slower by the second. I pull into my drive and park, rushing around the car to her door. Lifting her into my arms, I brush the hair from her face, smearing it with blood. I kiss her, crushing her to me. “I’m not going to lose you.” I carry her inside and down to the basement.

  I hadn’t planned to turn her any time soon, so I’m not prepared for this, but once I’ve saved her, I’ll have time to fix the basement up for her. Laying her down on the table we’d played on, I turn her head, checking the wound. As I feared, it is bad, and my blood hasn’t done much to help.

  “Please, God, please let this work.” I lean down and kiss her, and then bite her neck draining her more to the point of death. It doesn’t take much, merely a couple mouths full. Then biting into my wrist, I force her mouth open and make sure she swallows more of my blood.

  I sink down next to the table, my head on her chest and pray that the virus will take. After an hour, I decide that I need to get the room set up for her because I must believe that she will pull through, that she will survive this.

  Hurrying upstairs, I dismantle my bed and bring it down to the basement, setting it up again. Once it’s ready, I transfer her from the table to the bed, wanting her to be comfortable. I strip her out of her shoes, jeans, and t-shirt, and redress her in one of my button-down Oxfords and then check her head wound. Using a rag and bowl of water, I clean the area and see that the wound is healing. Finally. Expelling a breath of relief, I rinse the rag and wipe her face of the smeared blood. As gently as I can, I raise her wrists and cuff her to the bed. When she rises, she’ll be feral, and she’ll need to be restrained. I have no idea what turning her will do to her, but I want to remain close by just in case she needs me.

  I know she’ll be dependent on me for a while. I was dependent upon Nathan for a month, but I know that most vampires are dependent much longer than that, and I must be prepared. She would require my blood for a while, but I would need a blood source. With that in mind, I decide to find a local blood bank and make a withdrawal. I have no problem drinking from bags for a while, if it keeps me close to Carolyn.

  Kissing her, I murmur, “I’ll be back shortly, pet. Please be okay.”

  There isn’t much of the night left, so I hurry out to the Roadster. It isn’t the only errand I need to run, there is still Aubrey’s body to deal with. I quickly pull out of my drive and head back to the industrial district. I park next to Carolyn’s Blazer, and head back inside. Picking up Aubrey’s remains, I take them up to the roof, so his body with turn to ash.

  With that done, I unlock the sports car he had been driving with the keys I took from his pants pocket. I drive it for a few blocks, park it, wipe it down, and leave the keys inside. I return to the warehouse and climb into the Roadster, putting the address to the blood bank in the GPS and head there. I’ll worry about Carolyn’s Blazer later. I don’t think it will get stolen or impounded before I can get to it. My biggest worry is getting back to Carolyn and making sure she is still healing. With her in mind, I press hard on the accelerator.

  Chapter 29

  Carolyn

  My eyes open, and I thrust against my bindings, chains holding me onto the surface beneath me. My throat burns like acid. A figure blurs in front of me and presses a limb to my mouth. I sink my fangs in and draw in a mouthful of blood, quenching the worst of the burning. As the wrist is pulled away, I shriek and sink back into oblivion.

  * * *

  I have no idea how much time has passed, how many times I’ve woken before. Each waking has been different, but this time when I wake up, I still have this overwhelming need, but I recognize it. A craving for blood. I look around the room and recognize it. I’m in James’ basement. My mind is still a little foggy, but i
t is starting to clear. I try to sit up, pushing against what I know is the bed, but I feel a hand on my shoulder pulling me back down. I turn and hiss at the person attached to the hand.

  “It’s me, pet,” he says gently, looking into my eyes. “Do you recognize me?”

  I blink at him, realizing he is James, my love, my sire. I smile. “James.”

  “You recognize me now?” he asks, hesitantly.

  I nod and grab my throat. “Hungry.”

  He smiles and gets out of bed. His movements are quick, a blink of the eye. He lifts me up slightly and adjusts the pillows, then hands me a glass. “Drink this, pet. It will help for a bit.”

  I take the cup and sniff it. It smells heavenly. I swallow the contents and lick my lips. “More.”

  “Soon, pet,” he replies. “For now, sleep.” His hand brushes against my forehead, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.

  My eyelids suddenly feel like they weigh a ton, and before I know it, I’m back in dreamless sleep.

  * * *

  One month later

  “What happened? How…” I frown, searching my memories, trying to find out how I got here. “James?” I look around the basement, and he’s to the left, sitting up next to me.

  “What is the last thing you remember?” The look on his face tells me he’s worried.

  I remember going to the club… you were going to turn me…” I frown because I don’t remember much after that. “Is that what happened? You turned me at the club?”

  He shakes his head. “No.” He unchains my wrists, lifts me up and settles me in his lap. “I couldn’t turn you. I had been worried that I would lose you. I almost lost you anyway.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I came up with a plan to confront Aubrey. We were supposed to meet at the club, and I was going to get Aubrey to follow me from there, but he had other plans. He was waiting at your apartment complex.”