by Pace, Pepper
When I reappeared it was to the sight of Paul in human form. He was naked, filthy, and curled up on the floor naked and breathing heavily in an exhausted sleep. I knelt down beside him and touched the pulse in his neck. He was out cold. He would need the sleep for what I had planned.
I picked him up easily and carried him up to his own suite. I stepped over pools of blood and broken furniture, but Paul’s room was untouched. I heard Tony downstairs. I knew he was assessing the damage. I placed Paul in his bed. I watched him and tried to analyze what I was feeling. Nothing. I turned away and went downstairs to find Tony.
I found Tony in the basement crouched to the ground and fingering the ash. He glanced at me, his dark face even darker than normal. “Paul’s still alive?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He’s out cold from exhaustion.”
Tony stood. “Where are the fucking werewolves from?”
“Poland.”
“Okay. I’m going to get a flight out for us tonight.” He reached out o touch my cheek but stopped. “Have you … contacted the others yet?”
I tilted my head. “No.”
“Do you want me to do it?”
“You get us out of here. I’ll handle the rest.”
Tony nodded and then disappeared.
I closed my eyes.
“Karen?”
“Kim? Hi Sweetie, I was on my way over there. How you feeling?”
“Karen, the werewolves returned.”
“What? Are you okay?”
“No, I mean, yes. I’m okay and so is Paul, but …” I sighed. “Monica, Tyler, and Julie are dead.”
I waited nearly a minute for a response. “Karen, call Mara. I’m going to Poland tonight to kill those bastards.”
“I’m coming, too.” Karen’s response was faint.
“Good. I’m going to Julie’s. I need to speak to Ran.”
“Ran is going to be crushed, Kim. Just … be careful. I-I …”
Karen broke the connection.
I didn’t stop, feel, or think.
I flashed to Julie’s house.
When I appeared in Julie’s home I sent feelers out for anyone present. There were three present—two humans and Ran. I went down to the lower level where they were sitting and chilling.
Ran stood when he saw me. “Kim? What’s wrong?”
I sighed and shook my head.
“Where’s Julie?” Ran shouted.
I couldn’t look into Ran’s eyes. “The werewolves returned this morning while I slept. Paul was able to turn and fight many of them, but he couldn’t save Julie or Monica or Tyler. Tige is gone, too.”
Ran screamed. I thought my ears would explode, but I didn’t move.
The two humans covered their ears and cowered.
Ran’s teeth dropped, and his hands curled into fists. “Show me,” he said.
I turned and flashed back to the basement.
Ran appeared beside me and he glared down at the floor. He went down to his knees and scooped up a handful of the ash. With a strangled cry he lowered his head and sobbed.
I knew I should have reached out to comfort him, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. The door to my emotions was closed, and I wanted it to stay that way because it was safe.
I turned and walked back up the stairs. I wanted to burn this fucking house down. Instead I sent a message out to one of the workers from the first safe house. Pablo was Hispanic and enthusiastic in his duties. I told him to arrange for a crew to clean up this place. I wanted all signs of the attack to disappear before I returned to the States.
Ran put his hand on my shoulder. “Julie was always fearless. She sired me, but before that she was my first love. We were childhood friends so I knew what she had become well before she agreed to turn me. Of course I begged her to do it immediately. Her Master was a child molesting sicko, and he was killed as a Rogue soon after he turned Julie. I wanted to protect her. I loved her, but she loved me too much to sentence me to an eternity trapped in a child’s body. As soon as I was old enough to pass for her father, Julie gave me the gift of her bite. I have never regretted it, not in all these years.” Ran looked away. “There is nothing left for me to live for now. Everything was for Julie. So I pledge my allegiance to you now, Kim. I will help you kill every Werewolf responsible for Julie’s death.”
“We’re flying out tonight. If you know of anyone who wants to join us, then get with Tony so that he can make the arrangements.” I gripped Ran’s hands. “Julie will be vindicated even if I have to give my life to do it.”
Ran nodded.
~***~
Paul was still out cold when I went up to check on him. After running a bath for him, I placed him in the water and he didn’t awake. I washed him thoroughly, careful around the horrible wounds he bore. When I was done, I bandaged him and dressed him for the trip. He didn’t own sweats, so I took off the Rocawear I had on and put them on him. I wanted him comfortable for the trip. It would be a long flight, and I hoped he would sleep through the entire trip.
I flashed myself down into my bedroom, and it made me shiver being back where I held my guts in my hands. The other werewolves had taken their dead with them, but there was plenty of blood.
I pulled on black leather pants, boots, and a turtleneck. I didn’t want anyone looking at my wounds and becoming alarmed. I pulled my tangled hair into a twist and donned sunglasses to hide my ripped face. A leather cap with the bill pulled low hid much of my identity. I then packed a bag for Paul and me.
Tony had arranged for two private planes. Even with such short notice, we had a number of Vampires who wanted to fly over with us. We had to limit it to sixty-two Vampires and their human food. We didn’t want to get over and have to eat the locals. That would bring unwanted attention to us.
The only other person from the Council who joined us was Kaniji. I figured she was only going because of her curiosity, but it was good to have someone with her strength along even though I knew I’d have to watch my back around her.
I wanted Paul on the plane with me, so I drove us to the airstrip. We weren’t in the air until after nine PM. We would have one layover and then would be flying directly into Poland by about six PM. It was nice having TransEpic, a vampiric airline that flew faster and more efficiently than a human-owned airline, but we would still need humans to orchestrate our transportation to safe houses.
Each Vampire in our “army” wanted his or her own assistant to make the arrangements for transportation. I knew I wasn’t putting my safety in anyone’s hands but Karen’s, just as Tony wanted Mei Wah and Ran wanted his and Julie’s assistant, Danyelle.
The mood on the plane was excited. Many of the Vampires only wanted to fight, but most wanted the opportunity to taste Werewolf blood. I cared little about their reasons as long as we had their numbers.
I was exhausted, and Paul hadn’t yet awakened. There were coffins for all of the undead, and in order to keep up the pretense that I needed to avoid the sun, I entered my coffin early. Mara and Karen were in another plane, but I left Mei Wah instructions to explain what was going on to Paul when he woke up.
In my Vampire bed, I thought about the wary looks I had received from the other Vampires, including Tony. He had tried to talk to me, but I only gave him one-word responses until he left me alone. We hadn’t done any planning, but we didn’t really have to.
The plan was to show up and kill everyone.
I closed my eyes and tried not to remember all of the horrors I’d seen. Exhaustion was not a normal feeling for a Vampire. At times we felt dragged down as if the sun had drained us, and if engaged in strenuous activities we experienced fatigue …
But Vampires didn’t feel sleepy.
I was sleepy.
I even yawned.
I closed my eyes and slept.
CHAPTER 17
I awoke to Paul stroking my hair.
He looked as exhausted as I had felt the night before. His eyes were deep set and hollow, and his skin was ashen. Even his normally wavy hair was lank
and hanging in his face.
I sat up and looked around.
We were in the bedroom of someone’s house. The room was small but cozy and comfortable.
Although the curtains were drawn I could tell that it was day. “What time is it?”
“About two PM.,” Paul said.
“Where are we?”
“We’re in some type of Vampire safe house just outside of Poland. The windows are supposed to be Vampire safe.” He looked around. “We got here about half an hour ago. I didn’t know if you were going to wake up during the transport to this place. I just wanted to get you in here as quickly as possible and out of that coffin. As soon as I got you out of it, I could see that you were waking up.”
“How could you tell?”
“You just didn’t look dead. It’s a real small difference, but it’s there. Even though you’re not breathing, you look like you’re sleeping. I checked some of your wounds. You’re almost completely healed, even your stomach.” He reached out to touch my stomach.
I moved out his reach and stood.
Paul stared at me. “I, uh, talked to Karen and Mara on the way over here.”
“How are they?” I concentrated on a piece of dust on the floor.
“As well as can be expected.” He stood and walked up close behind me. “But they’re hanging in there,” he whispered. “What about you?”
I looked at him over my shoulder. “What do you remember about yesterday?”
“I remember after we made love I was going to check the house and the grounds and then make something to eat. Monica was sleeping, Tyler and Jason were in the guest room, and—“
“Jason?” I interrupted. “Jason was there, too?”
Paul nodded. “I didn’t go down to the lower level because I knew the Vampires were already out patrolling.” Paul sighed and looked away. “I smelled them coming, and they just … appeared. One second nothing and then there were thirty werewolves swarming around. Some broke through the front window, and some leaped onto the balcony of Monica’s room. They went straight for everyone in the house while three covered me. I fought them off while I headed back to you, but one had already begun to eat you.” He put his head in his hands.
I wanted to place my hand on his shoulder, but I couldn’t.
“I flung them off me, grabbed that fucker who was eating you, and crushed him in my hands. I broke his back. Then I saw you sit up and open your mouth in a breathless scream. I fought the best that I could. I heard screams in the distance. I knew they had gotten the others when the screams stopped.” He looked into my eyes briefly.
I could offer him no sympathy.
“After I killed the ones in the bedroom, I grabbed you and ran,” Paul said. “The rest is pretty fuzzy after that. I remember changing, and you changed, too. We fought together and ate together. I remember a deer.” He shook his head. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No,” I lied. “You protected me.”
“Are you okay?”
I looked at him. “What do you think?”
Paul stroked my arm. “I think you’re not okay. But we’ll make it okay.” He pulled me into his arms.
I allowed him to hold me briefly before pulling away.
“If you don’t want me around, I’ll leave,” Paul said. “I can do what I can during the battle to make it as right as I can, but afterwards I can—”
“Stop it,” I interrupted.
He looked at me with those sad eyes.
“You’re mine,” I said. “I’m not letting you go. Do you understand?”
He nodded.
“Now, I want to know how to get to those bastards,” I said.
We sat for hours working out a plan. I caught Paul staring at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. I knew he was concerned about me and my lack of emotion, and I could have reassured him because I truly didn’t blame him. He had tried to come home to me. There was no crime in that. But what the werewolves did to us was unforgivable, and every man, woman, and child would be punished for it.
I didn’t want any humans seeing me awake during the day so I stayed in the room while Paul went out to find something to eat. He was ravenous. Being a Werewolf took every bit of his energy, and he needed to eat often to be strong enough to change again.
Tonight was the night. I didn’t care about anything else. We knew the other werewolves might not have returned from the States, but that was fine because it meant that the warriors were gone.
And when they returned, we would annihilate them, too.
I dozed. Imagine that—a Vampire dozing. Paul was snuggled against me when I awoke, and it was just turning dark. I rolled out of his grip and went to the bathroom. Yes. I actually used the bathroom. How many Vampires took a dump? Was I even still a Vampire? I did flash yesterday. I touched my teeth and allowed them to drop.
When I re-entered the room I noticed that something smelled good. I looked around. On the dresser was a plate covered by a cloth napkin, and under that cloth was a leg of lamb. Still warm, it was cooked rare and resting in a pool of meat juices.
My stomach clenched in yearning. I picked up the plate and drank the juice first. Delectable. Then I ate the meat. I was hunched over it when I glanced up to meet Paul’s inquisitive gaze. I placed the remainder of the leg of lamb back onto the plate and licked my fingers clean.
“I took a crap,” I said. “The first one in over a year.”
He sat up and pushed his hair back, and it fell right back into his eyes. “You smell different, too.”
“Different?”
“Not so neutral, like you might want to shower.”
I sniffed my underarms and grimaced. Definite B.O.
I unpacked a change of clothes then took a bath. Paul came in and washed my back. He ran his hands over my bare breasts, and the succubus rose in interest. I pulled him fully clothed into the water, and he laughed. While I happy he was laughing, I still felt cold inside. It reminded me of the time I complained to Alexis that he didn’t seem happy to see me. “Happy …” he had responded, as if the concept was foreign to him. Now I understood his reaction.
I would never be happy again.
We kissed, and although I wasn’t the least bit hungry, I dropped teeth. Before Paul could see what I was doing, I nipped his neck.
I don’t know why I did that. I knew the Werewolf could attack—but maybe that’s what I wanted. I don’t know.
I felt Paul brace himself, but that was all that happened. He moved back enough to look at me. After a moment he offered me his neck again.
“You trust the Werewolf?” he asked.
“We have an understanding.” I sank my teeth into his neck again and fed from my husband for the first time in over a year.
He sighed. “That feels good …” His legs over the edge of the tub and his body in the water against me, Paul got comfortable. “Damn, I’ve missed this,” he whispered. “I’ve wanted you to put your teeth in me for so long. Don’t stop … don’t stop …”
I held on to Paul and drank long. Meat … blood. I didn’t know which was right or which was wrong.
I helped him pull off his shirt and threw it on the floor in a wet heap. He squirmed out of his pants and kicked off his shoes and socks. When he was naked, we readjusted positions until he was on bottom and I was straddling him.
With glazed eyes he stroked my healed, smooth skin. “You’re going to change again, and when you do it’s going to rip your beautiful skin.”
“But you see how fast I heal. I’m even surprised.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re craving the meat. It has what you need to heal the deep wounds you’ve received.” He ran his fingertips along my ribcage and raised goose pimples. Then he gripped my breasts, and when my nipples jutted out to him, he leaned forward to run his tongue over them.
I gasped. When the pulse between my thighs began to throb, I gripped his penis in my hand and lowered myself onto his hardness.
Paul licked his lips and l
eaned back in the tub, watching me with hooded eyes. I bounced and rocked my pelvis against him. Paul alternated between gripping my hips and helping me ride him, stroking my breasts and nipples.
“I want to come fast!” I moaned. “Can I, baby?”
Paul’s response was to rapidly pump into me. We exploded together trying to contain the sounds we made. It was a crowded house, and not everyone needed to know what we were doing in here.
He held me once our spasms subsided, and I rested my head on his chest. “It’s dark now. The Vampires should be awake. We better get dressed and meet with everyone.”
Paul stopped me from getting up. He stared deeply into my eyes. “I just want you to know how devastated I am about the deaths within our family. If I could have, baby, I would have saved them--even if it meant sacrificing my life to do so. But I had to get you to safety. I know you’re hurting right now, but I’m going to make sure they pay for what they did.”
“Pay what they owe,” I said.
“Yes,” Paul said. “Pay what they owe.”
I wore a spandex bodysuit under black leather pants in case I changed and a long leather duster that fluttered behind me as I swept into the dining hall for our meeting. There were no humans present because they wouldn’t be involved in the actual battle anyway.
Because Paul knew how to get to the pack’s village he’d go by motorcycle. As soon as he was close enough, the rest of us would flash to his location. Paul drew out a map of the small village and pointed out the sentry points. Because there was no full moon, the werewolves wouldn’t be out hunting. With the element of surprise and a little luck on our side, maybe we’d be able to surround them the way they had surrounded my home.
I stood and waited until all eyes were on me. “You all know this man, Paul. I want you to learn his scent. He is not to be harmed when he’s in the form of a Werewolf.”
Some Vampires sniffed the air curiously, learning his scent.
Ran stared at the floor. I don’t know if he heard a word I’d said. I felt so empty when I looked at him. I almost wanted to feel some type of pain.
The need for vengeance was the only thing I could feel.