The Stroke of Midnight: A Supernatural New Year's Anthology
Page 25
I had yet to meet any vampire that dressed in all black or wore clothing from their past. In fact, very few long-lived or immortal creatures would draw attention to themselves in such a ridiculous manner. Supernatural creatures were experts at blending in. I found it humorous that the supernatural community actually spread a good number of the false myths that humans clung to so desperately. The more 'normal' your next door neighbor was, the more likely it was that the person might be supernatural. Any that drew unwelcome attention to themselves were quickly dealt with by their peers.
A woman with feathers on her dress and in her hair passed close by, and I covertly inhaled the pungent scent of her blood as my aura brushed hers in passing. Her 'flavor' was exotic, with what could only be an avian aftertaste. The woman was nearly indistinguishable from any other female in the room, at least to the human eye. Had I not know that the co-star of the latest box office hit was a harpy, I wouldn't have been able to easily identify her species either. She flowed across the room to join a few others dressed similarly. Harpies, Valkyrie and other part-avian breeds were so closely related that it was difficult to know what species they were by scent alone. Though the males didn't wear feathers, since that would draw unwelcome attention, they shared the slightly hawk-like facial features with the women. Harpies, in their natural form, were grotesque parodies of man and bird, but like most part-human breeds, they could take on either their true form, or their human guise.
But, if you knew what to look for, you could identify them in a crowd.
The spellcasters were the most 'human' of the group, which made sense seeing that most of them were completely human. Their clothing varied as much as their personalities and nationalities. There were also those in attendance that I couldn't identify by species, such as our councilmembers Cyrus and Devon, but they 'tasted' positively yummy.
We made our way toward the clan members from Shady Wolf Sanctuary, where Pierce's coven made its home. The clan was mostly made up of wolf shifters, and the woodsy scent of fallen leaves and musk enveloped me. Surrounded by the familiar scent, I found it easier to deny the bloodlust growing within. Though these shifters were the origin of the werewolf legend, many individuals within the clan could also shift into other animal forms. They were not limited to the wolf; the strongest of them had mastered more than one animal form. Humans liked to believe that werewolves, or shifters as they preferred to be called, all looked like massive hairy lumberjacks in their human form. This couldn't be further from the truth. They varied in size and appearance as much as any other group.
After exchanging pleasantries with the clan, and their brethren from all over, Pierce edged toward Devon's group of spellcasters. Most were high profile politicians, though a few movie and music celebrities were peppered throughout the group. This was the largest cluster of people in the room, and the highest concentration of pure human blood. Of course, that human blood was spiced by the magic they wielded, adding a depth to their 'flavor' that trumped the average human.
It was like comparing a baked potato to a slice of decadent chocolate cake.
We sidled up to the outer fringe of the group, and Pierce interjected himself into the conversation with ease. I wasn't an introvert by any means, but I had never found it easy to socialize among strangers. Combined with the ever growing bloodlust, I found it impossible to concentrate on the conversations flowing around me. I tried to hang out at the very edge of the crowd, keeping my arm firmly tucked into Pierce's to keep me balanced, but the constant shuffling of the crowd forced us to part briefly at times.
Each time I lost his touch, I came that much closer to losing control.
Hunger gnawed at my insides. My fangs were elongated and throbbing; I found it impossible to force them to retract, and had to keep my lips closed to hide them. Although I couldn't see it, I felt my fractured aura whipping through the crowd like an angry snake. My throat burned and my eyes watered with the strength of my desire to feed.
Any hope I had of denying the bloodlust tonight had disappeared completely, and I was certain Pierce had planned it this way; otherwise he would have never agreed to come to Seattle in the first place. He kept glancing at me with the tiniest smirk as my control began to slip. The bastard had been waiting for me to cave for so long, he must be quite happy watching it finally happen.
The crowd bumped us apart again, and I nearly doubled over with the strength of my hunger. Pierce dragged me away from the crowd, making apologies as he parted from his acquaintances. Bethany appeared at my side from nowhere, Vincent took point ahead to clear a path, with Anthony taking up the rear. Pierce's progeny, my coven and family, was here to protect me.
Or maybe protect everyone else from me.
We made it to the stairwell, and Pierce turned to the others. He kept a firm grip on my arm as I trembled under the strain of my unraveling control. "Watch Devon and his cronies. Call me if he leaves before the ball drops."
They slipped back into the party, and I was relieved that no one around us seemed to have noticed my near slip. I was seriously close to latching onto the first neck I could reach, and Pierce knew it. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from killing someone if I lost control right now.
"Take me back to the room. Please." I whispered desperately.
***
Pierce tossed me over his shoulder and ran down all twenty floors in less than a minute. The speed of our descent made me dizzy, momentarily distracting me from my overbearing hunger. He set me onto my feet, holding me gently as I regained my equilibrium. As soon as I was stable, he let go of me, taking his influence with him. The burning stench of exhaust, metal, and garbage assaulted me, driving my bloodlust away almost completely. I could only barely make out the scent of blood of the denizens of Seattle under all the pollution and scents of industry.
It overwhelmed me, forcing the bloodlust to fade slightly, just as Pierce knew it would.
He glanced at his watch, never taking his eyes off me. "Twenty minutes until midnight, love. If we hurry, we can make it back to our hotel before the ball drops. We can watch the fireworks from the roof."
I nodded, and we began walking back to our hotel, keeping our pace normal in case any humans spotted us. The streets were nearly empty as we made our way the two blocks to our hotel. We passed a few humans, and a high number of non-humans, but my hunger was down to a low boil now. Pierce did not touch me, letting the scents of industry dull my senses, but he was watching me closely in case I lost control again.
Less than five minutes passed before I felt the presence of someone following us. Pierce seemed unconcerned, but the steady beating of a human heart called to me from the shadows behind us. I turned my head slightly to look, and stopped. The man stepped from the shadows as we passed the open alley between our hotel and the parking structure. I saw the glint of a gun as the scent of hot metal and gunpowder hit me. My lips curled back, revealing the tips of my fangs, but the man wasn't impressed.
"Step over there, now, and I'll let ya live." The man said, speaking quietly. Two others, one a spellcaster, stepped from the alley behind us. The human was also armed, but the spellcaster simply watched us with a smirk. He needed no weapon, and he knew we knew it. The first thug gestured with his gun, keeping it partially concealed from the sprinkling of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks.
Pierce didn't hesitate as he led us into the shadows, feigning compliance. I wasn't truly worried, but the spike of adrenaline brought my hunger to full force, and I trembled as I struggled to stay calm at his side. The three boxed us in, leering at me and ignoring Pierce. The first approached me slowly, keeping his gun aimed at my head. The bullet wouldn't kill me, but it could incapacitate me long enough for them to end my existence permanently while I recovered. By their confident smiles, and the presence of a spellcaster among them, I had no doubt these criminals knew exactly what we were and how to deal with us.
"A'right, now give us all your goods. Don't forget nuthin' now, or I'll have to sear
ch you myself."
He looked like he would thoroughly enjoy doing just that. I shuddered, mostly from hunger, but I complied. I took off my earrings and necklace, tossing them to the spellcaster. Pierce did the same with his Rolex. As the spellcaster bent to catch the jewelry, Pierce lunged at him. The guns may appear more frightening to the casual observer, but the spellcaster was actually the most dangerous of the three.
The caster mumbled something and a slight flash of light burst from his palm. It smacked into Pierce's chest, and my sire crumpled onto the dirty asphalt with a sickening thud. I stood looking at him in horror for several seconds before I raised my eyes up to meet those of the spellcaster. My anger pushed the bloodlust to the forefront of my senses in a palpable rush, and I snarled at the spellcaster.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
I was on him in seconds, latched onto his neck. I pulled him to my chest as I pushed my back against the wall, using his body as a shield from his companions' guns. I was nearly lost in the bloodlust as the first drop hit my tongue. Pierce was right, there was nothing quite like a live feeding. My aura penetrated the spellcaster's in a violent thrust, siphoning a tiny portion of the essential energy. I moaned in delight as I felt the warmth infuse my veins and aura simultaneously.
I was so near the most euphoric orgasm ever that I hastily dropped the man in embarrassment, backing away in disgust. By the look of dazed rapture on his face, he was damned near himself. Horrified by that thought, I nearly let my guard down long enough for the other two thugs to overtake me.
The whiz of a bullet, silenced but loud to my sensitive ears, shook me from my senselessness. I dodged to the side, but the bullet grazed my arm anyway. I didn't bother looking, and I felt my flesh mend almost instantly. I lunged at the leader of the bunch, and his partner turned and ran. I lingered to feed from this human for a few moments, savoring the essence of his life giving aura. I no longer needed the blood itself, but my aura was mending at an incredible rate, and I didn't want to stop.
Pierce groaned at my feet, and I dropped the human next to him in an unconscious heap. I might have taken a bit too much blood and aura, but he would live. For now. I was torn between following the third assailant and staying to help Pierce. I took a step in the direction of the fleeing mortal, but Pierce's grip on my ankle stopped me.
I considered pulling free of his hold, and pursuing the other anyway, but his hand trembled against my skin. Alarmed, I crouched next to him. His entire body was shaking slightly, and he kept his head down.
He was laughing!
"What is so damned funny?" I snapped. My adrenaline was high, my instincts were in overdrive, and my lover was laughing at my expense. He wouldn't, or couldn't answer, and I spun away from him in disgust. Whether at his reaction, or my recent attack, I couldn't say.
The spellcaster groaned, and I stepped toward him with fangs bared, momentarily forgetting my sire. Vincent and Anthony stepped out of the shadows, placing themselves between me and the thugs stirring at my feet. I bit back a snarl, fighting the bestial reaction to defend my territory. But these were my brothers, not my enemies. I forced myself to turn away as I tried to bring the beast back under control.
I turned back in surprise as Vincent reached down and helped the spellcaster to his feet. When Anthony did the same for the gun-wielding thug, I practically growled in confusion. Pierce stood behind me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder, no longer laughing, though mirth still twitched his lips from time to time. The soothing effect of my sire immediately calmed me.
"What the hell is going on here, Pierce?"
I looked up at him in confusion, and a touch of anger, but he only smiled. I could feel his satisfaction through our bond, and it was echoed by my brothers. Pierce glanced at Vincent and Anthony with some silent message, and they nodded in return.
"We've got this, sire. We'll make sure they get home safely." Anthony propped up the thug with his shoulder, since he had difficulty standing upright on his own. Before leaving, Anthony turned back to me with a cheeky grin. "You were awesome, sister. I almost won my bet with Vince that you were going to kill them."
I didn't mention that I was literally about to. Had they killed Pierce, I wouldn't have cared if the Council killed me for murdering the humans. Without him, life wasn't worth living anyway. Anthony and Vincent left as silently as they had come, and I looked up at Pierce questioningly. He avoided my gaze.
"Come on, love. We still have a few minutes to reach the roof. This is a night for celebration."
I didn't agree, but he pulled me toward the hotel fire escape and jumped up fifteen feet to catch the ladder. I leaped behind him before he could lower if for me. He grinned at me, but I could only glare in return. I knew Pierce had something to do with our attack. It was too convenient, and my coven was acting odd. Pierce refused to meet my eyes for long, choosing to run up the metal stairs on silent feet instead.
Sulking, I followed at a slower pace. My sensitive ears picked up the faint voices starting the countdown to midnight all over the city. I reached the rooftop just as the clock struck midnight and fireworks lit up the night. Pierce held out his hand, smiling shyly. The big, bald man looked ridiculous trying to pull off a bashful smile, and I returned his smile reluctantly as I finally took his hand.
"That was all your doing, wasn't it? Was that what the phone call earlier was all about?" I forced him to look at me as fireworks broke over Seattle. Tiny snowflakes began to fall, and the reflections of the fireworks on the tiny crystals gave the night a magical feeling. I found it impossible to hold onto my anger in light of such beauty.
He shrugged sheepishly, but there wasn't even a hint of remorse in him. "You said you would feed tonight. I only wanted to make it easier for you. I did it because I love you."
"Let me get this straight. You hired thugs to attack us, to force me to feed, because you love me?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes. I did what I had to do. You cannot keep on living like this."
He pulled me into his chest when I didn't answer. We stood that way, watching the fireworks as the snow drifted lazily onto my hair and eyelashes. I turned my face up to meet the gentle flakes, reveling in the sensation on my skin. The light reflecting off the snow gave the night an ethereal quality, and I felt more alive than I had since before my awakening.
Pierce noticed, and I felt his joy through the sire-bond. I realized that it was my aura that was making me feel so content. It had been dangerously thin for so many months that I had forgotten how it felt to be normal. Feeding from Pierce had only barely kept my aura intact. Now, after feeding from a live human source, my aura was almost whole. A feeling of dread settled into the pit of my stomach. I was sure I couldn't go back to denying myself. Not after feeling like this.
I suffered a horrifying moment as I envisioned a cold room with crates full of dead humans in my mind's eye, with me standing amidst them covered in blood, just like that room back at the animal shelter. It was ridiculous to have such a thought since we didn't need to kill to survive. My logical brain knew this, but it sliced through my soul just the same.
I hated myself more than ever in this moment, for the monster I had become.
Pierce took my face in his hands, wiping the tears from my cheeks as the last of the night's fireworks blossomed along the skyline. "Hey, it's okay."
"I could have killed them tonight. I almost did, Pierce. What if…"
"You wouldn't have, and you didn't. Vincent and Anthony were there to stop you, and I was only stunned. We had everything under control."
I pulled away from him angrily. "What if I had snapped their necks instead? What then, Pierce?"
He shook his head as he pulled me back into his arms. I let him comfort me, though I held myself rigid. I was disgusted, now that I was calmer.
I was a monster.
"Believe me, love. The bloodlust knows what it needs, and it needs the heart pumping. Your instincts keep your prey alive, because you are unable to feed from your victi
m's aura if they are dead. We were counting on that safeguard to protect our friends."
I pulled away in shock. "Those were your friends?" I shrieked. "You let me attack your friends, Pierce?"
He started laughing softly. "Trust me, love. They didn't mind. In fact, I'm pretty sure they both enjoyed it more than they should have. Our bite is very addicting; better than any chemical high available. They were more than agreeable to volunteer."
I glared at him, but there was no true anger behind it. The love and relief pouring through the sire-bond was a balm to my soul. If only I could keep him happy like this always. But that would mean feeding from humans. Regularly.
I turned away from him, watching the snow fall lazily over the city. The distant sounds of partygoers tickled my ears, but I wasn't feeling particularly joyful right now. At fifteen minutes to midnight, my life had changed irrevocably, once again. Pierce stood behind me, comforting with his presence, but respectful of my mood. We stood there for several hours, watching the revelers slowly trickle back to their homes and hotels.
With my hunger sated, and my aura nearly whole, I could see the world in a fresh new light. Even without Pierce centering my senses, I was able to filter most of the sights, sounds and smells that normally bowled over me. I felt calmer, and more balanced, than I had in weeks. Maybe months. I struggled with myself as I tried to reconcile this new feeling of 'rightness' that filled me. For the first time since my awakening, I felt truly alive. All because I had viciously attacked and fed from two men.