“Hurry!” I shoved her toward the center of the cavern away from the nosophors slithering out of the passageway. All around us, more of the undead stepped away from the shadows. My warning had come too late. A pair of towering males blocked my sister’s retreat. Not as emaciated as the freakish nosophors in White Sands, the blue tint in their pale skin made them seem more lucid in their actions.
“Do something!” Ariane cried.
“You’re the one with the bloody arsenal.”
A thin metal rod soared over my head. Never saw it until too late, that she had tossed it for my protection. Not all was lost. There was more than one way to defeat a nosophor. Restricted by the numerous bodies, whose clammy hands pawed at my arms, I shoved the nearest away. Over twenty in number, too many to feed on this small village alone, nearby towns were probably on their hit list as well.
The zombie-like wraiths both frightened and repulsed me, and yet, at the same time, filled me with awe. Then I looked up at the ceiling. Three timbers, the thickest measuring eight by eight loomed overhead. “What about the overhead beams?”
Ariane wriggled against the dual nosophor vise grip. Her amber-inflamed eyes glanced upward. “Support beams,” she cried. The deadly duo pinned her against the wall of the vault for speaking out.
“Welcome,” a melodic feminine voice spoke, startling us into silence. A female nosophor with waist length ashen hair that hung in thin wisps stepped out amongst several of the rug rats. Like the hair, her clothes were tattered and withered; the translucent fabric stained with brown blotches—dried blood I surmised from the scent. She moved closer and hesitated before she took a final step. “You’re an Original like the ones who created us.” Either she spoke English, or I interpreted whatever language she used.
The frail creature circled around me while the others moved aside in reverence to her dominion. She brushed against me from behind, her decayed breath felt cool on my neck.
Something about her approach reminded me of that dark-haired Caderen woman with the pierced brows. Her name escaped me. My spine stiffened when her gaunt fingers stroked my chest. Curious about the female nosophor, I gazed into eyes that seemed void of harboring a human soul. Along with a hitched breath, I recoiled when filmy-white eyes with pinpoint black irises stared back.
Unable to hear the beating of her heart, my gaze drifted to her chest and focused on the sagging breasts beneath her sheer blouse. My gut flipped over and gurgled until my gaze returned to her face. I found the bulbous eyes more tolerable to look at.
Without blinking, she spoke, “You walk in daylight. The townsfolk will never suspect you as the master of our coven.”
Bile rose in my throat. Coven master? Not on my watch. I puffed out my chest to press her back. “I have better things to do than babysit a pack of decaying nosophors.”
My boast incited the lot. Those closest snarled and paced around me like a pack of rabid jackals, while others picked at my jacket. Some dared to scrape my neck with their fingernails. As they smothered me, I covered my nose and mouth, nauseated by the putrid smell of their flesh and the rags barely covering their bodies. Ariane had the tube of Vicks.
“Do not speak with such insolence. I am the high priestess and you shall be my king. Perhaps we can change your mind.” She pointed at the two wraiths clutching Ariane. “Kill the female.” She recoiled into the darkness to let her coven persuade me.
Surrounded and immobilized, I stood on my toes. The two holding my sister hostage fought over who would rip her to pieces. Desperate to escape and save her from certain harm, I glanced upward. “Sis, can the supports be dislodged?”
Squeezed in from all sides, Ariane dropped her metal rods onto the ground and yelped when they bounced at her feet like pick up sticks. She hissed at her captors who kept her from retrieving the one that fell between her boots. “The ground surface might be shallow.” My sister had to holler above the nosophors that shrilled like a swarm of hissing cockroaches. “Supports installed to prevent a cave-in.”
I’d hoped to hear that exact answer. Behind me, a nosophor grabbed my arm and bit my wrist. I shook it off and spun in place like a top to rid myself of the groping appendages. The momentum propelled the clingiest vermin into the crowd. One flung into the two fighting over Ariane. As soon as my rotations matched the speed of a turbine engine, I crouched and launched upward. My fingers wrapped around the overhead support beam, leaving a whirlwind in my wake. Because of my excessive speed, those below hissed in protest and twirled around, bouncing off each other in search of me. None looked overhead.
Amidst the confusion and free of her captors, Ariane hollered. “Watch it!”
The advantage almost mine, the female nosophor clung to the ceiling as she crawled across the beam toward me. Reminded me of a wolf spider, except more dangerous and creepier. I yelped when she lunged at me and scratched my face with jagged nails.
My legs heaved to kick her away, propelling her to the ground and almost knocking myself off balance. Time to shed some light on these nasty bloodsuckers. I hung by one arm, my free hand reaching for the amulet. Desperate fingers groped for the setting that would produce a violent distortion between the two universes without opening the portal. My grip slipped as I fumbled with the dial, depressing the lever until it snapped in place. Success.
The entire cavern rumbled as a thunderous hum amplified to an earsplitting whine. Dirt sprinkled from the ceiling and beaded off the walls as the sonic vibrations intensified. Beyond the zenith, a loud thunderclap deafened all. Electric sparks discharged from the disruption, illuminating the entire cavern. The portal activated without joining two distinct universes. Above me, the thickest timber cracked in half and collapsed. I fell and landed next to the queen.
She hissed and scattered off.
My arms shielding my face, I glimpsed up at the ceiling. Oh no. The smaller supports dislodged, and the entire ceiling of clay and stone dumped on top of me.
3 3 3
Sunbeams filtered through the newly formed hole and illuminated the entire cavern with daylight. The nosophors exploded—pop, pop, pop. With her eyes squeezed shut, Ariane pressed against the wall, clasping her hands over her ears. She held her breath. Nothing could be worse than inhaling vampire dust.
One body after another erupted into millions of particles until all was quiet. Only a dusty residue filled the cavern with haze pierced by brilliant blades of sunrays. None had escaped the sun’s wrath except for the body stirring beneath the rubble.
Ariane dashed to her brother’s aid by tucking in her shoulders and heaving against the larger beam until it rolled off his body. A quick examination confirmed he was already recovering from the wounds inflicted by the cave-in. Relieved, she released the breath she had held since the dust storm of exploding nosophors.
Brian brushed the powder from his hair and clothes. His gaze rested on the drive in her hand. He managed a meek smile. “That was close.” When her voice cracked, he asked, “Are you okay?”
Ariane’s arms whipped around him in a tight embrace. He had been a true hero today. She released him and shook the dust out of her hair. “Nothing a warm bath and a double margarita won’t cure.”
“Or two doubles. Take the drive to town and mail it right away.”
“What about you?”
“I’m staying behind to clean house,” Brian said between coughs. “Remember, no survivors. Along with the queen, there are still a few creeping about. Get going or this will all be a bloody waste.”
Her brother had no choice but to destroy every nosophor, especially the ones who nibbled on him. If any managed to escape, they would suffer from the infection passed through their blood. She and Brian had more than enough trouble with Sabree never mind hordes of nosophors. Her brother couldn’t kill Sabree, but he could destroy the infected nosophors. Plenty of weapons to choose from, the ground littered with splintered beams.
Ariane knelt over, picked one up, and frowned. “Make them eat their dust.” Her hand cupped o
ne side of his face. “Be safe.” Before she climbed up one of the beams to the surface, she said, “I’ll mail this to Jesse. He’ll hide it with the other.”
Back in town, Ariane parked the rental in front of the postal service. As she reached the door, a voice behind her said, “It would be a crime to send something so valuable through the mail. Might get lost in the shuffle.” Wayde’s raspy voice made her dart into a sprint. She dodged the townsfolk who meandered along the dusty sidewalk. In pursuit, a deputy caught up and grabbed her by the arm and slammed her against a stucco wall. He slapped handcuffs on her wrists.
“What’s the meaning of this?” she cried. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Señor Wayde claims you and your brother jumped bail in San Diego. The bounty hunter showed Sheriff Mendez the wanted photos. He quickly recognized the Gringo twins.”
The cuffs bit into her wrists when he led her back to the office. Ariane swore under her breath. “Did you check his credentials? He’s no bounty hunter.”
“Shut up. Don’t tell me how to do my job,” the deputy growled. At the sheriff’s office, he patted her down and removed the flash drive. “Here you go.” He handed it to Wayde who stood by with a thick envelope.
The exchange complete, he leaned close and blew smoke in her face. “Be a sport and give my regards to Señor Colton. Thank you for the belated Valentine gift, my dear.”
“Brian will never let you get away with this.” She spat at his face. A slap against her cheek revealed his disgust.
44
THE GHOUL, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
T he job well-done, most of the ugly task finished, I exited the tomb. Dusk hovered over the excavation site with twilight on the verge. I dropped the pack and leaned over to massage my knees. The metal rods inside played a metallic tune, reminding me of the afternoon’s massacre.
Along with the lucky few who escaped, I vowed to return tomorrow to destroy the queen. I leaned to stretch the kinks out of my back, thankful to rid the towns of the nosophors along with most of their stench; some still permeated in my clothes. The crunch of dislodged gravel made me jump. “What the—”
Looking ahead, I saw the sheriff leaning over the hood of his cruiser with his weapon aimed at my chest. “Wait, don’t shoot,” I cried and shot my arms over my head. I dropped the metal rod I had used to scratch my back. “We destroyed the nest of noso—vampires.” Exhausted, I refused to elaborate on the details.
Sheriff Mendez hesitated, but kept his aim steady. “Where’s your sister?”
“Ariane?” I glanced at where I had parked the rental. “She left for town hours ago. You should have passed her.”
“Took a short cut. Are you vampire hunters?”
“Vampire hunters?” I repeated and then smirked. The petite Buffy the Vampire Slayer, taking on a cavern full of nosophors seemed ludicrous. A lie would make this story easier to sell. “Aye, but the correct term is vampire slayers. We don’t normally introduce ourselves as slayers, because people don’t believe in vampires.”
The sheriff lowered his weapon. “Sharing Cueva Oscura with the undead for so long, I believe the monsters do exist. A man from California claims to be a bounty hunter looking for you and your sister.”
The pressure behind my eyes warned me that the rims darkened. Afraid the sheriff might see the crimson-lined irises; I stared at the ground instead of exposing my true nature. Too soon for Sabree to recover, Wayde and his cronies came to mind. The news boiled my blood. Had Eric intercepted our text messages? He could have easily checked Ariane’s phone. I’d bet my fortune that Wayde had already snatched the drive from Ariane and split. I hoped she remembered to take a photo of the clue.
After a pause, I put on my sunglasses and gathered the pack. This bugger of a day reminded me of a twisted movie title, The Ghoul, the Bad, and the Ugly. I was the ghoul, the nosophors were the bad, and Wayde, without a doubt, was the ugly—Sabree also at times, especially when hungry. I shrugged and stared at the sheriff. “Please take me to town and I'll prove Wayde's an impostor. Ten to one, he’s already split.”
Sure enough, when we arrived, the deputy informed Mendez that Wayde left without filling out the forms. He disappeared as soon as he confiscated the package. Apologetic for not checking Wayde’s credentials, the sheriff released Ariane and asked us to stay on the town’s behalf until all the undead were destroyed. We needed the time to sulk and recover, so I agreed, although most had already fallen to my wrath.
3 3 3
A week crept by without any news related to nosophor raids in the nearby towns. I hunted a few more inside the vaults and destroyed the queen last. She had taken refuge deep within the cavern. During that time, neither I nor Ariane spoke much, both disappointed in each other’s inability to outsmart the competition. More worried about Sabree, I had overlooked Wayde. Eric must’ve ratted on us. How else could Wayde have known?
Sand sprayed my face when Ariane shook her beach towel. The late afternoon sun had tanned her skin a pink glow even from under the protection of an umbrella. Her pout made me think of the loss she suffered—the anti-vamp formula—her umbilical cord to humanity.
“Are you going back to the room?” I asked as my gaze studied her hunched shoulders. Her posture of late mimicked her spirit—beaten.
“Looks like a pleasant night to sleep on the beach, but if we’re leaving first thing in the morning, I’d rather rinse off the sand and pack. Enjoy the sunset.” Without saying another word, she trudged through the sand to the hotel.
Her posture or the lack thereof said it all. I squeezed my eyes shut and made a vow to make it right, no matter what it took. Remorse weighed heavy on my soul. My sister deserved better. At least she was safe. My eyes opened to rid myself of the inner darkness and gazed at the setting scarlet ball. The diffused sun penetrated my trunks and tee shirt, warming my flesh; yet, it would take twenty suns to brighten our spirits.
Dusk, the few blissful moments I could risk basking under the sun, often awarded me the entire beach to myself. However, this evening was different. Beyond the hotel property, a woman strolled along the shore. Okay, so maybe one lone female didn’t constitute a crowd, but the powerful thrust she exhilarated made me feel that way.
At first, my gaze scrutinized her with indifference. Yet, the closer she got, the more my curiosity piqued. The setting sun highlighted her milky-white skin. In contrast, her pageboy haircut shimmered like a raven’s sleek feathers. I rolled onto the side to face her approach. My skin flushed as I studied every contour of her nude body.
She meandered along with purpose, the tide washing across her toes. Her small breasts jiggled every time she skipped to avoid the cool water swelling underfoot. From the way she glanced my way more than once, I sensed her awareness of me watching her the whole time.
As she continued to approach, my insides felt like lead when I recognized the woman’s distinct features. She belonged to Sabree’s clan, the queen bee who scrutinized me with suspicion. Was she here to help Sabree come after us? My back rigid, I propped onto an elbow, ready to jump to my feet and zip away. I let my excitement fade, now at a loss as how to greet the immortal whose presence meant only trouble. “What do you want?” I stuttered, unable to remember her name.
Laughter drowned out the waves washing ashore. Twilight blazed behind her nude form. “Abyss and I’m here for you.”
The unusual name suited the woman; her unbridled beauty and sinister persona could send any man into a dark void. She displayed no modesty whatsoever, self-assured of her beauty, pleased with every aspect of her body. Perfection in motion. I bit my upper lip. “Aye, I remember now. What brings you here?” I already dreaded the answer.
“How sweet and naive,” she purred. “I smell the fear and angst in your sweat.” She dropped to her knees next to my towel. A smile, displaying razor-sharp fangs, flashed her approval of my lustful desires. “So, my beach walk, practiced and perfected over the millennium, still works its magic.” She straddled my abdomen.
“No man has ever refused me and lived to brag about it.” In her swiftness, she fought against my thrashing arms and slithered down my hips until she came to rest on top of my thighs. Leaning over, she nibbled on my belly button.
This had to stop before my blood infected her system. Her clinging onto me like a fattened tick—Sabree one leech too many—made my heart pound against my ribs. I slapped the side of her head when she bit the elastic waistband of my trunks.
Abyss sat back on her haunches and released a slow hiss. The strike stunned her for only a second. She grabbed my wrists and dug her nails into them as she held me tight. Before I could fight her off, elongated fangs sank into my neck, puncturing the jugular, sucking my blood faster than my heart could pump.
“No!” I pulled on her hair to detach the bloodsucker from my neck. Sabree drank my blood on many occasions but never with such cold-blooded fury. She would drain me dry in seconds, and I could do nothing to stop her. Nearing shock, my arms dropped, left to her mercy.
Abyss ended her feed and gazed into my eyes, the crimson fluid dripping from her mouth. Her lips pressed against mine, so I kissed my own blood.
I looked away. “Why?” The whimpering sounds my voice yielded, made me feel meek.
Black polished nails clawed the base of my throat, along my shoulder blade and then down the length of my arm until her fingers latched onto the amulet. She tried to pry it from my wrist. I cursed when her nails dug into my flesh. Abyss yanked it repeatedly. “Unlock it,” she demanded.
Amongst the Fallen Page 29