Worlds Apart (Worlds Apart Vampire Romance, Book One)

by Emily Knight

They flew back to Peter's house and landed in the backyard. The area was empty, but a shadow flitted behind the windows in the kitchen. Peter led the way inside with Lysander at the rear. They found Roger at the spice cupboard. He turned at their coming and smiled. In one hand was a bottle of cayenne pepper and in the other was a container of black pepper.

  "The glorious victors have returned," he announced with a chuckle.

  Ana's eyes widened. "Then does that mean-?"

  Roger nodded. "The wounds are gone. She and the other two are free."

  Peter looked from Roger to Ana. "Marks?"

  She turned to him and smiled as she nodded her head. "Yes. When you destroyed the vampire its power was broken and the marks on its victims throats disappeared."

  Peter's face brightened. "That's great!"

  Roger arched an eyebrow and his gaze fell on Lysander. The corners of his lips twitched. "So it was the boy who destroyed my pet?"

  Lysander turned away and sneered. "The human was useless against its revenants."

  Ana froze. Her face fell as she looked over her shoulder. "Then you know?"

  Lysander's eyes narrowed and flickered to her. "Of course."

  Ana stepped in front of Peter and stretched out her arms on either side of her. "Even though you know, I still cannot let you hurt Peter."

  Roger clicked his tongue and shook his head. "What a commotion, especially when I'm trying to treat a patient who has lost a great deal of blood."

  Peter's eyes widened and he turned to Roger. The old man's back faced him as he worked with the spices. "How is she?"

  Roger turned around. In his hand was a glass of reddish powder, and on his lips was a sly smile. "We shall see. If you would all come with me."

  Roger strode into the living room. Ana grabbed Peter's hand and dragged him close behind her. Lysander frowned, but followed the group.

  On the couch lay Val. Her head was propped up by a pillow. Roger knelt beside her and stuck the glass under her nose. He shook the contents and a bit of the powder floated up to the rim and into her nostrils.

  Val's even breaking was broken by a severe choking fit. She jerked away from him and her eyes flew open. Roger stood and took a step back. "Works every time."

  Ana nodded at the glass. "What was it you gave her?"

  He grinned. "My specialty Waking Powder. I found every spicy substance in the house and mixed it together to make a potent smelling salt."

  Val sat up and clutched her head. "What hit me. . .?"

  "A hard dose of the paranormal," Roger answered her.

  Val lifted her head and her eyes widened as she beheld the strange faces around her. Her gaze stopped on Peter. "W-what happened?" She pointed at the pair of vampires and Roger. "Who are these people?"

  He sheepishly smiled. "Would you believe a vampire rat tried to make you its next victim?"

  She blinked at him. "A vampire. . .rat?"

  Roger nodded. "Yes, a creature of my own creation. It was quite a marvel to behold."

  Ana glared at him. "That was very irresponsible, even for you, Roger."

  He held up his hand and smiled. "A lesson harshly learned, Miss Ana, but all is well that ends well."

  Peter sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, now everything can go back to normal." Peter paused and glanced at the vampires. "Well, kind of normal."

  Val glanced at the company. "And they are-?"

  Peter winced. "Well, Roger here is a scientist, and these two-" he gestured to Ana and Lysander, "are vampires."

  Val arched an eyebrow and studied Ana. "Seriously?"

  Lysander stepped to the front of the group and caught her eyes. His deep, soothing voice filled the room. "You will remember nothing of what transpired here or at the morgue," he commanded her. Val's eyes took on a vacant expression, and she nodded.

  Peter looked from Val to Lysander. "Hey, wait a sec!"

  "Now you will sleep," Lysander ordered her.

  Val's eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed backward against the couch.

  "Val!" Peter shouted. He dropped onto the couch cushion beside her and shook her shoulders. "Val? Answer me!" He looked to Lysander and frowned. "What'd you do to her?"

  Lysander's eyes narrowed as he looked down at Peter. "What has to be done to protect us. We cannot let humans know we exist."

  Peter looked to Ana. His eyebrows crashed down and he stood to face Lysander. "So you're going to do that to me, too?"

  Ana stretched out her hand to her father. "Dad, please-" Her father held up his hand. She flinched.

  Lysander's eyes studied Peter for a moment before he spoke. "You have risked your reputation and your life for my family." He stood tall and pursed his lips. "For that I will trust you to keep our secret."

  Ana's eyes widened and a smile slipped onto her lips. She let out a squeal and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

  Lysander patted her on the back. "Yes, well, we will see how long this will last."

  She slid off him and rolled her eyes. "Dad," she scolded.

  A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. "I was only kidding, my little one."

  Peter looked between Ana and Lysander. "So since I helped you out is there any way you can kind of help me out with the police?"

  Lysander shook his head. "There is no need. With the murders stopped they will have nothing more to blame you for."

  Peter's shoulders slumped and he wiped his hand across his forehead. "That's a relief."

  Ana smiled at her father before she turned and walked up to Peter. She clasped his hands in hers and leaned toward him so her red eyes met his. "I hope you'll come to visit us very soon."

  Peter grinned and nodded. "Yeah, definitely." He paused and looked past her at her father. "Um, that is, if I don't have to climb any vines or outrun any hell hounds."

  Lysander frowned, but stiffly bowed. "You will be welcomed any time when we are awake."

  Peter smiled. "No problem. It's a pain trying to get back through those woods."

  Roger set the glass on a nearby table and clapped his hands. "The night is growing old and our fun is over. What say we go home?"

  Lysander's narrowed eyes flickered to him. "Once there you will destroy your other creations."

  Roger sighed and shrugged. "Very well." His eyes flickered to Peter. "I will destroy the animals at once."

  Ana stepped close to Peter and looked to her father. "May I. . .can I stay here? Just for a little while longer?"

  Lysander pursed his lips. "The night grows short."

  She nodded. "I know. I won't be long."

  Her father nodded. "Very well, but only for a few minutes."

  Roger and Lysander left the stage. Ana grasped Peter's hands and turned so they faced each other. Her face beamed with happiness. "I want to thank you again for showing me life."

  He grinned and squeezed her hands. "Don't thank me yet. We've just gotten started."

  She giggled. "And I can't wait." She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a teasing kiss on his lips.

  Peter pushed against her lips, but she stepped back and transformed into her bat form.

  Ana flew to the kitchen doorway and turned to hover in the entrance. "See you tomorrow, Peter."

  He waved to her. "Definitely."

  And with that Ana turned and flew through the kitchen. Peter followed her and stopped in the open back door to watch her black form disappear into the night. He sighed and shut the door, closing the first chapter of his nighttime adventures with his new love and her strange family.

  For all books by Emily Knight visit her author's page.

  Want to get an email when my next book is released? Join the KNIGHT CLUB and receive an email whenever a new book comes out!

  Sign up here for my newsletter

 
>