Fallen Hearts

by Angela Colsin

  So the only way to escape without being tracked was by letting Maddox take him the rest of the way in mist.

  Stephan wasn't entirely certain he could endure such a ride without getting ill, but there was no other choice. Grasping her hand, he nodded, and the moment she had consent, his perception seemed to … evaporate.

  Everything grew fuzzy, and it felt as if the world was traveling around them without moving. Maddox's pace was swift, swinging past tree trunks and over the water of a small stream before coming up high by a bridge, offering a perfect view of the small town of Linchester before they hurtled back toward the street.

  It was almost the same as a roller coaster ride, making Stephan hope they weren't too far from her home. Otherwise, he was going to be ill the moment they landed.

  24

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Maddox didn't have enough energy to transport both herself and Stephan all the way to the mansion, stopping on the side of the rural road shrouded by trees not far from where her home was located instead.

  There, she reformed with Stephan just behind her, their hands still clasped together, glad she hadn't overexerted herself to the point of entering bloodlust or stopping her heart. Even still, her hunger pangs were strong after their fight and her effort to reach Stephan before the worst occurred.

  Stephan, however, released his hold on her hand the moment they appeared, stumbling a step while bracing his palms against his knees with several deep inhalations.

  Concerned, Maddox pushed the blade of her dagger into her belt and moved next to him, placing one hand on his back and the other against his upper arm.

  “What's wrong?”

  “I'll be okay,” Stephan rasped. “Traveling like that just made me sick.”

  “Really?” she inquired curiously.

  Nodding with another deep breath, he drew a hand across his face as if to abate his discomfort. “Yeah, I don't like flying.” Groaning, he added as an afterthought, “Fucking hate planes.”

  “You get airsick?”

  “Something like that. Given the choice, I'd rather ride a bike across the country.”

  Maddox grinned, though her attention was soon drawn to the cut on his temple. It wasn't a large gash, but the scent of his blood was much stronger because of it—and so enticing she nearly unleashed her fangs without thinking about it.

  So she forced herself to look away and stopped habitually breathing to avoid taking in the scent. Her heart would come to a stop as a result, but there was no need for the added strength it offered just then anyway, and she'd rather not risk offending Stephan by going into bloodlust over his wound.

  As he stood straight again, she qualified, “We have a short walk ahead of us, so we'd better get going before something else happens.”

  “You think we were followed?”

  “No, but there's no point chancing it. Oh, did you leave anything important in your jeep?”

  “Nah, just your bags, but that was mostly clothes, right?”

  “Right,” she nodded, unconcerned with the potential of her garments being taken, so there was no real reason to return to the scene right away.

  Starting their walk, Stephan remarked, “I'll go back tomorrow and see what I can grab, then get a tow truck to haul it off.” Following the statement, he offered Maddox a curious look. “By the way, and not that I'm eager to travel in mist again, but why didn't you take us all the way to your home? Have you fed tonight?”

  “Yes, I've fed,” she answered in short.

  “Then what's the problem?”

  Briefly, Maddox glanced up at him, uncertain she wanted to explain her trouble sleeping if only because it was so frustrating. Besides, even if Stephan cared to hear about it, there was nothing he could do to fix it.

  “Can't be good if you're hesitating,” he suggested.

  Pursing her lips, she looked ahead again and exhaled lowly, deciding to just spit it all out.

  “It's a lack of sleep, Stephan. I haven't rested well lately, so I've needed more blood to sustain myself.”

  “Lately? You mean since I revived you?”

  “Yes,” she confirmed, unwilling to expound further.

  But Stephan wasn't satisfied with such a short answer, prodding, “And?”

  “And what? I just can't get comfortable, so I … ,” trailing on a groan, she asked, “did you know vampires don't dream?”

  “No,” he shook his head. “Why? Does it bother you?”

  “It's not that. We relive memories instead, and every time I drift off, I … remember being trapped, beating on the lid of my sarcophagus and screaming for Mathias.”

  Pausing, she sneaked a glance up at Stephan, surprised to find sympathy on his face, proving he did care. It reminded Maddox to give him a little more credit now, and she continued on a softer whisper, “It always wakes me, and I'm too worked up to go back to sleep.”

  Shaking his head, the votary suggested, “Sounds like you need a vampiric sedative to knock you out for a while.”

  “I wish I had one, but it's not only the memories. I've never liked being alone, and now? Everyday, I'm trapped in one place, unable to come and go as I please. It's almost the same thing as being stuck in that coffin, isolated from everything, and … ”

  She stopped herself when she felt her eyes tearing up. They'd just reached the long driveway that led to the mansion, and as she fought to control the flow of tears, she felt Stephan's hand on her shoulder, drawing her to a stop at the gate.

  As he urged her to face him, Maddox rushed out angrily, “It's such an idiotic thing for a vampire to say! I never felt this way before, so why now?”

  Stephan scoffed, suggesting, “Because you were buried alive against your will, and haven't come to terms with it yet.”

  That … actually sounded reasonable enough to make her feel better, or at least, not as inept. “I suppose,” she whispered in concession, keeping her gaze downcast due to the worry that if she spied any sort of understanding on Stephan's face, she really would start to cry.

  But he didn't seem to need her to look at him, offering, “I could stay with you for a few days if you want, see if that helps any.”

  Finally, her eyes darted up to his. Have him stay with me? A mortal whose pulse is so soothing? Without thought, she found herself nodding eagerly.

  “I think that would be very helpful, yes.”

  At her answer, he smiled, a handsome expression that nearly distracted her from his next comment entirely.

  “Alright, I won't be going anywhere until I get a new car anyway.”

  Unable to stop herself from grinning, she grabbed him in a tight hug, ignoring the way he initially stiffened as her arms wrapped around his sides.

  “Thank you, Stephan.”

  His pulse sped up in response, and her heart would've matched it, but suspending her respiration was causing it to slow that very moment. Her skin was growing cold as a result, and the heat of Stephan's body made it hard to let him go.

  Still, he was rigid, and rested his hands against her upper arms to gently push her back, replying, “It's no problem, Maddox. So, uh … is this the place?”

  His discomfort was easy to see, and Maddox let him push her back, wondering over his reluctance until she noticed a fresh line of blood dribbling from his temple. Perhaps the injury was the reason for it, and she finally responded to his question by stating, “Yes, this is it, and you have some blood running down—”

  Her comment was interrupted when Stephan quickly stepped out of her reach before she could wipe the blood away, commenting, “I know, I just need a bandage.”

  At that, he turned to walk down the cobblestone driveway lined with red maples on both sides, and Maddox couldn't help feeling annoyed despite knowing why he'd be so squeamish.

  Catching up to him, she pointed out, “I wasn't going to do anything but clean it up, Stephan.”

  “Yeah, but you don't need to get any blood on those fancy clothes.”

  “I'm already covered in
ghoul-ash. Besides, you're not gushing.”

  He shrugged plainly in response, then changed the subject entirely.

  “So, what do you think that attack was about? Someone gunning for me, or what?”

  Maddox eyed him skeptically, but decided now simply wasn't the time to push for information. Besides, his question was a good one, and she had a few distinct thoughts on the matter.

  “It could be you they were after. I'm sure you've killed a number of vampires, and someone related may want vengeance. Has this ever happened before?”

  “I've been ambushed before, yeah,” he replied. “But there may be another reason altogether.”

  “True,” she agreed. “Perhaps this was all a set up to draw me out.”

  “If so, it's someone who knows we're associated,” he supplied as they arrived at the front porch, “and there's only one vampire we've met together.”

  Exchanging a look, they both said the magistrate's name at the same time.

  “Antoine Giroux.”

  Nodding, Maddox stopped at the front door and mentioned, “We did show up at Page South Cemetery at an inopportune time, so he may think we're responsible for the deaths of his faction mates.”

  “I wouldn't doubt it,” Stephan agreed, “but we've also gotta wonder how many supenats have seen you at Foxy's. Anyone could've taken an interest and started following you from there, particularly if you pegged them with questions about Mathias. He just sounds like the type of figure who'd draw a lot of unwanted attention.”

  “I didn't ask anyone there about Mathias, but you're right, he does get attention,” she muttered. “So I guess there's no way to tell what that attack was actually about until they try again.”

  “If they try again. Still, it's probably a good idea to investigate Giroux, narrow the possibilities down.”

  “Agreed, and I'll call Foxy to see if anyone's asked any suspicious questions about us.”

  Stephan nodded, and Maddox unlocked the door, opening it for him with an arm playfully extended. “Now, welcome to my humble abode.”

  A smirk lifted the corners of his mouth as he stepped inside, and she wondered if she'd shot herself in the foot by wishing he'd smile more often because it looked even better than she'd expected.

  Inside, Stephan took in the details of the home while following Maddox down the hall to the first floor bathroom across from the library. There, she waved a hand and mentioned, “Once you're done, go through this door and take the stairs down to the basement. We still need to discuss everything Dalris said about Wesley's mentor.”

  Letting him into the bathroom, she looked around and added, “I just hope there's some type of medical kit in here.”

  “I have a first aid kit in my bag,” he pointed out, lifting it to sit on the counter before asking, “By the way, how did you find me?”

  “Oh, I called Kivsey when you didn't show up, and she tracked your beacon. It wasn't easy to figure out the mapping er … app, otherwise I would've come sooner.”

  Smirking as he searched for his medical supplies, Stephan remarked, “If it hadn't been for that damned hole in the ground, you would've found me waiting under a streetlight. So it's a good thing you got there when you did.”

  He sounded so gratefully sincere that Maddox had a hard time remembering to offer him some privacy—and somehow, the notion of it seemed strange, as if they shouldn't have anything to hide from one another. Perhaps the blood link was getting stronger, or her feelings for Stephan were, but she finally nodded in response.

  “I'll be waiting downstairs,” she mentioned, quietly shutting the door before taking the stairs across the hall to descend into the basement.

  On the way, she resumed breathing, but her heart remained dormant due to fatigue, and her eyes began glowing red through the darkness as she finally allowed her fangs to sharpen. The undead state made it necessary to feed even though she'd already had a goblet of blood mead that night, and half a container of pure blood she'd consumed before leaving to find Stephan.

  Grabbing the same container from the coffee table, she found that it was now tepid, but lifted it to her lips to guzzle the rest anyway. At this rate, she'd go through the entire case within less than a week.

  Not even Stephan—saying he was willing—could've fed her well enough to keep her going for long without eventually killing him. Still, the idea had her imagining what it would be like, how she'd peel off his clothing and heat his blood in wicked ways before gently sinking her fangs into his neck—and it was more arousing than any fantasy she could recall having.

  Yet, no matter how Stephan's perception of her had changed, his reactions to her attempt to simply wipe his blood away from his face proved he definitely wasn't ready for such things.

  But she hoped he'd grow comfortable with it over time if she continued earning his trust, because with the way their link was strengthening, the thought of never forming a blood bond with Stephan was becoming …

  Heartbreaking.

  25

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  After cleaning and bandaging his gash, Stephan took careful steps to make sure the sink and counter in the bathroom were fully sterilized.

  He was just thankful his injury was mild, unwilling to fully trust the serum to keep Ithrim from spreading so easily. His doctor at the compound mentioned time and again that it left only a marginal chance for someone to contract it, but even that was too risky for his tastes.

  Once satisfied that the bathroom was clean, he exited and crossed the hall into the library, looking over the Victorian décor and the numerous books and pictures of unfamiliar people lining the shelves. True to the woman who'd constructed it, her mansion had class, and Stephan could only wager that the basement where she stayed was just as impressive.

  Maddox had left the door at the landing open for him, and he stepped inside to see the vampire standing next to a chaise sofa with a container of blood tilted at her lips. The crimson liquid drained into her mouth, yet Stephan didn't flinch.

  There was a stirring in his stomach at the thought of what she was doing, but the sensation was dull in comparison to previous experiences. Perhaps actually knowing Maddox, and realizing she wouldn't blatantly hurt someone out of amusement, made all the difference.

  She even lowered the container the moment she saw him, licked her red lips, and stated, “Sorry, I didn't think you'd come down so soon.”

  “Don't apologize,” he returned, stepping further into the elegant sitting room. “You need to eat.”

  She quirked an eyebrow, her red eyes fading back to golden with her response, “Yes, but I saw how you reacted at the compound when Kivsey gave me the case. You couldn't leave my room fast enough.”

  Stephan had no idea she'd noticed that, admitting, “It's different now. I guess knowing you better makes it feel less … atrocious.”

  As if flattered, the corners of her mouth lifted in a playful smile. “So you'll give me a pass, but no one else?”

  Unwilling to let this turn into a flirty situation, he merely looked around with an indifferent shrug. “I'm just surprised about it. Nice place, by the way.”

  Irritatingly, Maddox had a knowing look on her face suggesting she could see through his deflection, but she didn't point it out. Instead, she set the empty container down and grabbed her phone from the coffee table, taking it to a desk next to the door where a charger was plugged into an outlet.

  “Thank you. These are all of my things from 1943, actually. Maria said the family never changed it because they thought I might return, and … ”

  He watched as she lifted an envelope from the desk, handing it over before adding, “She wants to give the home back to me.”

  Stephan lifted his brows, taking the note to read over as he settled his duffel bag on the floor next to one of the wing chairs. He recalled being skeptical about her arrangement with the Waltzers before, but according to the letter, Maria regarded Maddox highly for helping her family.

  It was just another reason to ad
mire her—as if I need one—and Stephan looked up to ask if she intended to accept the woman's offer, but never got the question out when he noticed Maddox grinning at her phone.

  “What's so funny?”

  “Nothing,” she remarked, “I just like how the, uh, screensaver has little lights streaking around. Oh! I wonder if there's one with fireworks.”

  Stephan found himself grinning over the way even the smallest facets of technology intrigued her, taking a seat in the wing chair as she placed the device back on the desk and walked over to the chaise sofa.

  There, she sat and pulled her legs up, folding them to the side with her upper body leaning against the arm. The image she created in doing so was like something out of a movie from the golden age of Hollywood, and Stephan could barely stop himself from staring at her, much less pay full attention when she started to speak.

  “So, about Dalris' information on Wesley, I mentioned that he knows who Wesley's mentor is, didn't I?”

  Stephan blinked, forcing himself to nod casually. “Yeah, but you never named him.”

  “Right, he's an elven wizard named Eradin,” Maddox explained. “Dalris tried to speak with him about Wesley in 1943, but Eradin refused to see him, and it's not surprising. Elves and draconians aren't on friendly terms, and that aside, Eradin's notoriously difficult just to get an audience with, haughty and arrogant like most elves.”

  That didn't bode well if they were going to get any answers about Wesley, prompting Stephan to ask, “So where does that leave us?”

  “Honestly? Not in the best position. You see, I happen to have a little history with Eradin myself, and I'm not exactly his favorite person.”

  Considering Maddox's track record, that bit of information was hard to believe. “You mean he's snobby enough that even you couldn't charm him?”

  “Oh, if I hadn't charmed him, he would've legitimately tried to kill me,” Maddox qualified.

  Grumbling, Stephan shoved his fingers through his hair and asked, “Okay, so what did you do to him?”