Alex swept his flashlight back and forth, revealing a dozen small animal cages along one wall, and six larger cells on the other.
They found the source of the horrible smell lying on its stomach a foot or so from the last cage.
Erik was in the last cell. He was sprawled on his back, his eyes closed, his arms shackled to the wall behind him.
Daisy gasped when the flashlight’s beam settled on his face. His cheeks were sunken, his skin looked like old parchment.
“I think we’re too late,” Alex whispered. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Erik? Erik, wake up!” She moved closer to the cell, her hands curling around the bars. Was he breathing? He couldn’t be dead! There was no stake in his heart; his head—she shuddered—was still attached to the rest of him. “Erik, it’s Daisy. Please wake up.” She glanced over her shoulder, her unease at being in this horrible place growing by the minute. The sooner they got out of there, the better. “Erik!”
He jackknifed into a sitting position, his movement so fast, so unexpected, she jumped backward, colliding with Alex, who had been standing behind her.
Pressing a hand to her heart, Daisy murmured, “Thank the Lord!”
“Daisy?”
“I’m here.” She reached through the bars, wanting, needing, to touch him.
Erik shook his head. “Get out of here,” he said hoarsely. “Now.” He looked at Alex. “Get her out of here.”
“We’re not leaving without you,” Daisy said.
“Dammit! Rhys owns this club. He’s probably upstairs right now. Get out of here!”
“Alex, the door, hurry.” Daisy glanced over her shoulder, her memory of the last time they had encountered Rhys all too vivid in her mind.
Unlike the lock on the door to the dungeon, the lock on the cell door clicked open on the first try.
Erik hissed as Alex stepped inside. “Get out of here! Dammit, do you want to die? I haven’t fed in weeks.”
Alex took a quick step backward, putting himself out of reach. “All right, Daisy Mae, now what?”
“Give me the pick,” Daisy said.
“No way! Going in there is suicide. Look at his eyes.”
Daisy took a deep breath as she plucked the lock pick from her brother’s hand. “He won’t hurt me.”
“Are you willing to bet your life on that?”
“Yes, because we don’t have time to stand here arguing about it.”
“Daisy, no!” Erik scrambled to his feet. “Get out!” He closed his eyes as the hunger rose up within him, hot and heavy. “Go. Please, Daisy.”
“No.”
He didn’t have to open his eyes to know she was standing beside him. Her scent teased his nostrils, the rapid beat of her heart was like thunder in his ears as she picked the lock on the silver shackles that bound him.
As soon as the chains fell away, his arms closed around her.
Daisy stared up into his eyes, eyes burning with the need for blood. She took a deep breath. It wasn’t wise to show fear in the face of a predator. “Erik, just wait a few more minutes, until we’re out of here, and then I’ll give you what you need, I promise.”
It was hard to concentrate on her words when her blood was singing so sweetly, promising an end to the pain knifing through him. She was here, warm in his arms. Her blood…he needed it as she needed air to breathe. The urge to bury his fangs in her throat grew stronger. He could take her, and her brother, too. It would be so easy.
“Erik.” She stroked his cheek with her fingertips. “We need to go.”
He stared at the love shining brightly in the depths of her eyes and then, with a murmured curse, he released her and staggered out of the cell. “We need to hurry,” he said, his voice tight with pain. “Rhys is coming.”
Muttering, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Alex grabbed Erik, slung him over his shoulder, and headed for the door with Daisy hot on his heels.
She blinked against the sunlight when they emerged. “Wait! The sun!” Tugging off her sweater, she threw it over Erik’s head. “The door! Shouldn’t we lock the door?”
“It won’t slow him down,” Erik said, his voice muffled by her sweater.
Daisy followed Alex up the stairs to the street, her heart pounding. She dared not look behind her for fear she would see Rhys. If she lived to be a hundred, she would never forget how it had felt to drive a stake into his back. Never forget the way he had looked at her, his eyes red and wild, his fangs dripping with Alex’s blood.
When they reached the car, Alex shoved Erik none too gently into the backseat and slammed the door. Daisy scrambled into the passenger seat while Alex slid behind the wheel, jammed the key in the ignition, and peeled away from the curb, leaving a wide swath of rubber behind.
“Go to my place,” Erik said.
Alex shook his head. “No. I don’t like that idea at all.”
“It’s closer,” Daisy said. “We don’t have time to argue.”
“Daisy, maybe he’s right for once,” Erik said. “Rhys has never been to your house. The threshold should keep him out.”
“Should?” Alex careened around a corner on two wheels. “Will it or won’t it?”
“I don’t know.” Erik closed his eyes in an effort to shut out the beating of mortal hearts, but it was no use. The sound of their rapidly beating hearts, the scent of their blood, was overpowering. The heat of the sun coming through the back window made his skin tingle, rivaling the burning pain in his hands and legs where the chains had burned his skin. Damn, he couldn’t remember when he’d felt this bad.
Twenty minutes later, Alex pulled into Daisy’s garage. Erik breathed a sigh of relief as the garage door came down, shutting out the sun.
For a moment, the three of them sat there, then Alex got out of the car, a stake in one hand.
“What are you doing?” Daisy asked, getting out of the car.
“Look at him and then ask me that. You’ve brought a monster home with you, and a damn hungry one from the looks of him.”
“He’s right, Daisy.” Erik clenched his hands at his side. “You’re in more danger from me than from Rhys.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Dammit, you should be!”
“Let’s go inside.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Alex asked.
“Erik needs to feed,” Daisy said with a calmness she was far from feeling. “So, this is what we’ll do. I’ll let him drink from me, and you…”
“No way!” Alex said.
“And you,” Daisy continued, “will stand behind me to make sure he doesn’t take too much. And then he’s going to drink from you.”
“Like hell!”
Daisy glanced at Erik. She had never truly been afraid of him before, never believed she was in any danger from him, until now. “Alex, we don’t have time to argue.”
“Dammit, Daisy, this is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had!”
Daisy didn’t reply. Sweeping past her brother, she unlocked the door that connected the garage to the kitchen and went inside.
After a moment, Erik exited the car and followed her.
Alex glared at the vampire’s back. Muttering an oath, he slammed the car door, then stomped into the house. He found Daisy and Erik facing each other in the living room. Erik looked like death warmed over. Alex looked at his sister, wondering if she was as relaxed as she appeared.
“All right, let’s get this over with.” Daisy turned toward Erik. After taking a deep breath, she held her hair away from her neck. “Go on. If Rhys shows up, you’ll need to be strong.”
Erik stared at her. He wanted to refuse, but her blood called to him, screamed to him. “Don’t let me feed for more than a few minutes,” he told Alex, and then, uttering a vile oath, he wrapped his arms around her.
Alex stood close behind Erik, his gaze fixed on the vampire. He had hunted vampires since he turned seventeen. He had staked them. He had beheaded them. But he had never actually seen one fee
d. It was totally revolting and yet he had to admit that watching Erik drink from Daisy held a certain morbid fascination.
A glance at Daisy showed that she didn’t find it the least bit revolting. Her eyes were closed, her expression was one of a woman in the throes of ecstasy.
With a shake of his head, Alex glanced at this watch. Erik had said not to let him feed for more than a few minutes. How many minutes in a few? Two? Three? Five? How the hell was he supposed to know how long was too long?
He looked at Erik. The vampire’s eyes were also closed. Grimacing, Alex shook his head. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn Erik and Daisy were making love. Hell, maybe they were. What did he know about vampire lovemaking?
Another minute ticked past, and then another.
Taking a deep breath, Alex poked Erik in the back with the point of the stake. “That’s enough!”
With a low hiss, Erik lifted his head from Daisy’s neck.
Alex recoiled a step, then held his ground, the stake held high. “You said not to let you feed too long.”
Erik nodded. “You were right to stop me.” A swipe of his tongue closed the two tiny puncture wounds in her throat.
Daisy’s eyelids fluttered open. For a moment, she stared up at Erik, a half smile on her lips. And then she looked at her brother. “Your turn.”
Alex stared at Erik.
Unblinking, Erik looked back at Alex, an unspoken challenge in his eyes.
Alex thrust out his arm, his expression defiant. “Go ahead, bloodsucker, take what you need.”
“How very gracious of you to offer,” Erik said dryly.
“Yeah, well, don’t get carried away.” Alex held up the wooden stake clutched tightly in his hand. “I’ve still got this.”
Murmuring, “I’m terrified,” Erik took hold of Alex’s arm.
Alex swore softly as Erik sank his fangs, none too gently, into the vein in his wrist.
Daisy sighed as she glanced from one man to the other. She loved them both, but she didn’t have much hope that they would ever be friends. Time seemed to slow to a stop as she watched Erik feed. She glanced at her watch, then back at Erik. She could see him growing stronger right before her eyes.
Her gaze moved over Alex. His whole body was rigid, his knuckles white around the stake clutched in his hand.
Daisy was beginning to worry that she would have to do something to stop Erik when he ran his tongue over the bites in Alex’s wrist, then lifted his head.
Alex took a step backward, his expression uncertain.
Erik’s gaze met hers. His eyes were still red and glowing; a drop of bright red blood stained his lower lip. With his gaze still on hers, he licked it off.
“Waste not, want not,” he muttered.
Chapter 31
Rhys Costain stared into the empty cell. How the devil had Erik slipped his bonds and escaped? Silver rendered a vampire powerless. Erik couldn’t have dissolved into mist and floated away.
Stepping into the cell, Rhys nudged the shackles with his foot. Someone had picked the lock.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, then spat out a string of curses as two familiar scents mingled with Delacourt’s.
“Dammit!” He drove his fist into the wall, shattering brick and mortar as if it were cardboard. “Traitor!” The word echoed off the cold stone walls. “Traitor!”
Damn her! Mariah had been right all along. Delacourt had been in league with the hunters who had tried to destroy him. But why now, after all this time? And what the hell difference did it make?
Rhys slammed the cell door shut. The clang of metal against metal echoed off the walls.
“Vampire, trust no one,” he muttered.
Turning on his heel, he stalked toward the stairway, his anger growing with every step.
“Damn your black soul, Delacourt. You can run, but you can’t hide from me. I’ll find you. All of you. And death will be a long time coming!”
Chapter 32
“So, what now?” Daisy asked.
At Erik’s request, she and Alex had both had something to eat and drink and now the three of them were sitting in the living room. Erik sat in the chair facing the sofa, his expression pensive. Alex sat on the sofa beside Daisy. He looked wary and apprehensive. Daisy couldn’t blame him. She wasn’t anxious to face Rhys Costain again, even with Erik on their side. She knew Erik was a powerful vampire, but Rhys was far older, and vampires grew stronger with every passing year.
Alex straightened in his chair. “What are you staring at, vampire?”
“I was thinking about the reward on Costain’s head. Who told you about it?”
“I found it on a Web site. You know, sort of a vampire hunter’s craigslist.”
“Who offered it?”
“I don’t know. There was no name, just an e-mail address.”
Erik ran a hand over his jaw, his expression thoughtful. “How were you supposed to claim the reward?”
“I was instructed to send an e-mail saying it was done, and then we were supposed to arrange a meet.”
“What were you going to take as proof? Once you kill him, he’s dust.”
Alex shrugged. “I was told to collect whatever was left and take it with me.”
“Only another vampire would be able to tell if the remains belonged to Rhys or not.”
Alex frowned. “So, you’re saying a vampire put out a hit on another vampire?”
Erik nodded.
“Why would they do that?” Daisy asked.
“Could be a lot of reasons. Anger. Jealousy. Someone wanting to take over Costain’s territory.” Erik grunted softly. “I wonder…”
“What are you thinking?” Daisy asked.
“Costain has made a lot of enemies in his time. Some of them are right here, in LA. I’m thinking we might be able to set a trap.”
“Yeah? Before or after Costain kills us?” Alex asked.
Daisy glared at him. “That’s not funny.”
“Damn right!” Alex retorted.
“Calm down, you two,” Erik said impatiently. “If we can hand the traitor to Rhys, maybe it’ll let us off the hook.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Alex asked.
“We’ll be no worse off than we are now. Besides, I’ve got a pretty good idea who it is.”
“Why did Costain turn against you?” Daisy asked.
“He thinks I’m the one who put the hit out on him.”
“Did you?” Alex asked.
“Alex, don’t be a bigger idiot than you are,” Daisy said with a huff of annoyance.
Rising, Alex began to pace the floor. “Okay, suppose you convince Costain that you’re innocent. How’s that gonna help us? We tried to take him out.”
“I’m pretty sure I can persuade him to leave you alone.”
“Pretty sure?” Alex said. “That’s a real comfort.”
“We’ve got to start somewhere,” Erik said. “Rhys is the most powerful vampire I know. I don’t want to fight him if I can help it. I’d rather try to reason with him. If that doesn’t work…” He shrugged. “Then it’s the three of us against him.”
Muttering under his breath, Alex paced the length of the room.
Daisy leaned toward Erik. “Do you think the three of us can beat him?”
“I’m betting my life on it.”
“Yeah,” Alex said glumly. “And ours, too.”
“I want to see that ad,” Erik said, rising.
Daisy led the way into her office and switched on the light. Alex sat at the computer, with Daisy and Erik standing behind him.
It took him only a few moments for Alex to find the right listing.
Daisy grimaced as she read the ad, which was short and to the point.
Two-hundred-thousand-dollar reward for the head of Rhys Costain.
Contact MC at hunterz666.net when the job is done.
“Now what?” Alex asked.
“I need to go out for a while,” Erik said. “Then I’m going to get in t
ouch with Rhys and see if he’ll listen to reason. I’m going to tell him what I think is going on. If he’s willing to be reasonable, we’ll see about setting that trap.”
“And if he isn’t willing to be reasonable?” Daisy asked. “What then?”
Erik shook his head. “Then it’s a whole new ball of wax.”
“Why are you going out?” Alex asked, suspicious as always. “How do we know you’re not going behind our backs to make a deal with Costain? You know, our lives for yours?”
“Alex, enough! Erik saved my life. He saved your life. I won’t have you talking to him like he’s our enemy.”
“It’s all right, Daisy,” Erik said. “He has no reason to trust me, any more than I trust him. Like I said, I need to go out.”
Daisy watched him leave the room, and then hurried after him.
“Erik, wait!”
He turned at the sound of her voice.
“When will you be back? What if Rhys comes here?”
“Don’t worry, darlin’.” Erik put one finger under her chin. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. If Rhys comes here, don’t talk to him. Don’t open the door. Don’t ask him inside.”
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. “What if you don’t come back?”
Erik’s gaze moved over her face. “If I don’t come back, get the hell out of LA just as fast as you can.” Forcing a smile, he kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry, little flower, I’ll be back.”
Daisy stared after him. How could she let him go? What if she never saw him again? “Erik!”
He paused on the sidewalk. “I’ll never get back if you don’t let me go.”
“I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be. I won’t let anything happen to you. Or that brother of yours.”
“That’s not what I’m afraid of.”
He closed the distance between them. “Daisy…”
She pressed her fingertips to his lips, silencing him, everything she was thinking, feeling, shining in the depths of her eyes.
“Ah.” His gaze moved over her face, as if to memorize every line.
“Please, Erik. I want this night to remember.”
“You’re sure?”
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