Fanged

by Elisabeth Wheatley

  ***

  We go back to the motel room. Damian sits on the edge of one of the beds, fondling Madelyn’s hoodie with one hand whilst staring off into space. I sit next to him, holding his other hand in my lap. James sits in the single chair in the room while Chase leans against the door. Seth stands by the window with the shotgun resting on his shoulder and an icepack on the side of his head, keeping an eye out for anyone coming. Shelby sits cross-legged on the carpet, plucking at loose threads on her jeans.

  James heaves a sigh.

  None of us is really sure what to do. Damian avoids looking at any of the Huntsmen. I doubt he could refrain from attacking them if he did. I alternate eyeing different Falkner family members.

  Between the video found by Seth’s father, Uncle Bobby to Chase and Shelby, and the happenings that took place just over an hour ago, the Falkners have decided to trust and help us. For now, at least.

  Uncle Devin doused everything in wolfsbane. We can’t track the van. All we can do is sit around and wait uselessly for something to happen. I’m certain that our father won’t have anything done to Madelyn so long as Damian’s not there to see it. Still, it is torment to sit here and not know where she is or what might be happening to her.

  The phone rings and every last one of us jumps. I whip my gaze over to the phone along with everyone else. It sits on a nightstand between the two beds. It’s one of those tan phones with a spiral cord and it looks like it came from the same era as Chase’s truck.

  I crawl across the bed and dive for the handset. I scoop the phone up. “Hello?”

  “Hadassah? Is that you, my dear?”

  A growl rumbles in my throat as Uncle Devin’s silky, smooth voice meets my ear.

  He gives a low chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes. Is your brother there?” He doesn’t even mention how I did the exact opposite of what my father wanted. Somehow, I think they expected it.

  Without answering, I shove the phone to Damian. “It’s Uncle Devin,” I tell him.

  Damian snatches the phone. His eyes threaten to change color again. “Where’s Madelyn?” he snarls.

  I can hear Uncle Devin’s voice at the other end of the line. The phone’s volume must be turned all the way up. “Oh, she’s here. Tell him, sweetheart,” Uncle Devin croons.

  “Screw you, you bastard!” Madelyn’s voice shrieks.

  Good girl. I almost smile.

  “Hmm. I expected her to be a bit more excited to speak to her boyfriend. Oh, well. Listen, Damian. Don’t make the same mistake your sister did. If you come back now, your father says he won’t punish you for this little adventure.” Uncle Devin’s voice is reasonable, almost imploring. It fills me with a desire to silence him forever.

  “No.” Damian kicks his bare feet on the carpet. “No, he’s just going to kill the girl I love. That’s all.”

  “Oh, come Damian. What human woman is worth the Vampiric Throne?” Uncle Devin smoothly protests.

  “I can think of one,” Damian growls back.

  “Damian, if you do this, your father will disown you,” Uncle Devin cautions.

  Damian shrugs. “He didn’t disown Haddie.”

  I’m aware of Chase staring at me. His expression is hard to make out. It’s conflicted, uncertain.

  “Your sister had not been warned as you have,” Uncle Devin adds.

  “Fine. He can disown me. He can blot my name from history. I don’t care.”

  “Damian, if you continue this little game, you will be given the same marks as your sister.”

  My heart lurches at the thought of Damian going through the agony that came with these marks. I remember screaming in terror and pain as Uncle Devin drove his fangs into my neck. Most times he would tie me up so I couldn’t move. Other times he would let me fight him until I inevitably lost. I would scream until my windpipe was raw and I would struggle until I fainted from lack of blood. When I woke up, my neck would be burning, inside and out. I couldn’t speak at least a day after Uncle Devin had punished me like that.

  I gulp. Damian probably wouldn’t be bled again and again like I was, but still…

  “Damian…”Uncle Devin makes a frustrated sound. “Well. What does it matter? Either way, we’ll have to meet up, right? Come to the Tom Miller Dam. Your new friends should know where that is.” Uncle Devin gives a leisurely sigh. “I’ll be waiting. But you’d best hurry. I haven’t been able to feed for awhile thanks to you and that little tart of yours is looking sweeter by the minute.”

  Damian’s eyes flicker scarlet. “If I find so much as a scratch on her—”

  The dial tone sounds as Uncle Devin hangs up.

  Damian slams the phone back into the receiver. Something cracks, but I’m not sure what. He whirls on the Huntsmen. “Do you know the way to the Tom Miller Dam?”

  James nods. “It’s about a half hour from here.”

  Damian springs to his feet. “Take us there.”

  I stand up beside my brother. “That’s where they have Madelyn.”

  I expect Chase or Seth or Shelby to argue, but they don’t. Instead, Chase holds the door open.

  I have to remind Damian to put on his shoes before we file out. I can see he’s chafing to reach Madelyn. Chafing to get her away from Uncle Devin.

  I’m the last to leave the motel room. Chase is standing at the door, holding it for me. I nod to the Huntsman march out the door after my brother.