by K.N. Lee
“What?” Koa breathed in disbelief as he pulled the stake from his chest.
Bund shook his head with a smile spread across his face. He tossed the stake to the floor and took a look around. “Nice job you’ve done here, lass.” He clapped and took a step forward.
Koa sucked in a breath and held her sword out in front of her, hoping it would stop him. She was confused. A stake to the heart always worked. At least, she thought it did. Her only hope was that her sword would work.
Bund made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Sorry, Lyrinian blades only work on the dirty nephilim.”
Koa knew he was reading her mind. All she could think was, what are you then?
Koa heard something. She stepped back and looked around with wide eyes as the carnage around her started to… move. She clutched her sword.
“Holy shit,” she breathed as the pieces of bone started to reform. She looked at Bund with wide eyes. “What’s happening?” She started backing away. She jumped when a hand reached for her shoe. She yelped and kicked the bloody thing away, sending it crashing into a wall.
She looked back at Bund. Her face was twisted in worry. This was not how she imagined this night going. This was not how she imagined she’d take out her revenge. Bund blocked the door. Koa hoped there was another exit.
Bund looked around and held his arms out. He lifted a brow. “Don’t tell me this was ya first time killin’ Netherworld vamps?”
Koa gulped. The bodies were reforming into grotesque creatures. The crunching sounds and squishing noises turned her stomach. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. The fear clutched her even tighter than before.
When she looked back at Bund, his face had darkened. Red lines stretched across his face like pulsating red veins. His smile was gone. His face looked different, as if all the shadows in the room had absorbed into his flesh, turning it into an ash-like gray. His hair was already dark before, but it seemed to become even darker and shinier, like gloss had been applied.
“What are you?”
His shoulders jutted out and she could see his bones mutate.
Koa knew then that she was about to die.
Bund’s voice deepened. He no longer sounded like a man, but a creature of darkness. The voice that she had heard in every nightmare she’d had as a child echoed through the room. His was the voice that one imagined a monster would have, like that of a…
Koa covered her mouth as a horrified squeal escaped her lips. She knew what he was, and she knew that she was not strong enough to kill him. Bund wasn’t a New World vampire, he wasn’t a Netherworld vamp.
Bund was a demon.
“Good girl,” he sneered. His hands turned into bony claws and his legs bent like those of a beast from ancient myths.
Koa’s brows furrowed. She felt like she might cry for her mother.
Bund tossed his head back and let out a feral laugh. “Go on, cry for ya mother for me. I love it when little girls cry.” He pounced. His weight knocked Koa off her feet with such power that her scream was cut off. She fell backward into the blood. She banged her head against the cement floor and cried out. Lights flashed behind her eyelids as she squeezed her eyes shut to block out the pain.
Bund slashed her face and drew blood. She could smell the poison on his claws. She felt the blood leak from the wound. He licked her face, sopping up the blood with his rough, leathery tongue. Koa felt as if she was looking into the eyes of Satan himself.
She held up her sword and closed her eyes. “This is it then,” she whispered to the sword as she prepared to fight with every ounce of life she had left, even though she knew the odds were against her. She opened her eyes and whispered a prayer. “It was a good run.”
Bund cackled and held her face down with one strong claw. Koa stabbed him with her sword. Nothing. Not even a drip of blood.
He laughed louder and she held back a sob. His other claw jabbed her in her side and ripped upward until it reached her underarm, splitting her skin to the muscle. She felt hot tears soak her face. Her wounds stung as her salty tears pooled into them.
Koa was tired and weakened. She was completely exerted. She couldn’t move. So, she lolled her head to the side and prepared for the end.
Bund leaned down to her ear. “Your blood will repair me men, and when they are whole once again… I will keep me promise, and roast that mother of yours.”
Koa felt her face heat. Her eyes narrowed into slits of hate. She couldn’t let him escape into the night and kill her mother. She would give anything for the strength to stop him. She wanted to scream out for Halston, but she knew that he would not hear her.
“But have no fear…” He licked her ear. His hot breath came out in a whisper. “I will not kill ya, love. No, you will be my prize and I will keep you as a pet for all eternity.”
Koa felt her blood chill. Every inch of her flesh crawled with disgust and horror. The studio door crept open. Koa’s eyes searched the doorway. No one was there. She looked out to darkness.
She screamed so loud that it made her ears ache. “No!”
Raven walked into the room and her green eyes started to glow. Koa frowned. It wasn’t the normal glow that she was used to. There was something different about it.
Bund paused and looked over his jutted out shoulder.
“Run mother!” Koa shouted. She realized her mistake when she saw the look in Bund’s eyes.
Bund looked stunned. “Mother?” He reached out a hand to Raven. “No. It can’t be.” There was real fear in his voice.
Raven sat. Everything stilled.
All sounds were sucked from the room and Koa started to shake. Koa didn’t know what was happening. She thought that she was going mad. After all that Bund had said about roasting her mother and killing her, he sounded truly afraid.
Koa’s vision started to fade. Her vision became blurry. “Raven… run!”
Halston stepped in behind her mother, and Koa nearly shouted for joy. He was like her guardian angel, always there when she needed him. She wasn’t sure if she was dreaming but the room filled with the most radiant light she’d ever seen. Everything turned white in her eyes and she felt as if she was being lifted up to heaven. Her vision cleared.
Bund glared at her and howled. Then, he dropped her and flew from the room so quickly that he looked like nothing more than a black shadow.
Halston stepped into the empty space that Bund left behind and grabbed Koa into his arms.
Koa clutched his neck. “Oh, Halston, you came,” she whispered and her eyes fluttered closed.
10
Halston felt his heart break when he saw Koa in such agony. She passed out in his arms and he held her there, close to him. He was furious. He was hurt. Koa had lied to him, and now she was injured. Bund’s poisonous wounds would not be easy to heal.
Too many emotions filled Halston. More than he was used to feeling at the same time. Anger and grief. Fear and frustration. He no longer felt… in control.
Bund had escaped. Bund, a demon from his past, and a demon by nature, had escaped Halston yet again. Halston had spent centuries hunting him down. Once again, he had failed. He balled his hand into a fist and pounded the ground. The entire room shook.
Bund had seen Halston. Halston had taken his prize… Koa. Now, Halston feared that the demon’s revenge would be more than they would be prepared for.
Raven ran over to him. “Halston! The vamps! They’re taking their second form!”
Halston looked up from under his brows. His eyes were full of rage. He watched the pieces of bone reconnect in a new form. The Netherworld vamps had taken their second form. They had reanimated themselves.
Twelve reanimated men stood before him. They were deformed creatures. They looked like giant, feral wolves: all muscle and bone. No skin or fur, or anything but large fangs, yellow eyes, and sharp claws. Their legs were bent in, and even though they stood on all fours, they were nearly as tall as Halston.
Halston held Koa up with one arm and pull
ed out his infinity gun with the other. A metallic ring echoed throughout the room as the silver infinity gun was loosed from its holster.
The room felt smaller with the massive creatures crowding it. Things were about to get really messy. Halston glared at them all. He refused to let another creature escape that lair.
“Should I leave?” Raven asked in a whisper. Her green eyes had grown large as she watched the reanimated men prepare to try their luck with Halston.
Halston nodded once. “Go.”
Raven ran, and with the sudden movement, the reanimated men charged. Growls were cut off when Halston held Koa’s limp body close to his chest, lifted the barrel, cocked it once, and shot. A loud explosion drowned all sounds out. Time seemed to warp and slow as a single silver bullet shot out from the barrel and screamed with rage.
Halston narrowed his eyes in hatred. He watched the bullet collect speed, light, and energy as it raced through the room. None of the reanimated men had a chance to run. The single bullet ripped through them within seconds. The bullet cut through brains, hearts, lungs… and enjoyed every minute of it.
Like Koa’s Lyrinian sword, it seemed to have a mind of its own. The infinity gun was more than a weapon.
It was judgment.
The bullet squealed like a train and returned to Halston’s gun. It reentered its home and all was silent. Not even a full minute had passed. Reanimated bodies were sprawled on the floor.
There was a great deal of writhing. The bodies bubbled, popped, and melted into pools of thick black blood. There would be no third change. It was over for them.
Halston drew in a breath and let it out slowly. He looked at Koa’s face and felt his brows draw in. He loved her. He couldn’t deny it. The feeling frightened him. He wanted nothing more than to shelter and protect her.
Halston hugged her close and kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes and simply held her there, breathing her sweet scent, and listening to her soft heartbeat. He loved her, but he knew right then that he would have to do something that would hurt her. She might hate him for it—there was a lot that she might hate him for—but it was necessary.
Halston drew in another breath. Koa weakened him. His heart was tearing. “I love you,” he whispered. He almost wished that she was awake to hear the words he’d been thinking for years now, but he was grateful that she didn’t hear him.
He sighed. His jaw tensed. Halston knew what he had to do. “But you need to learn.”
11
Koa woke up in the most comfortable bed she’d ever occupied. She sighed and sprawled out across the puffy white covers that felt as though they were stuffed with clouds. The smell of eucalyptus filled her nostrils. She breathed it in deep. The scent was familiar to her. She winced in pain and her eyes popped open. Sharp, searing pain stunned her into an agonizing squeal.
Koa held her breath, too afraid to make another move lest the pain get worse. She felt her heart speed. She wasn’t used to this kind of pain. Sun spilled into the room through a wall made of glass. Koa looked around and the wrinkles in her forehead smoothed. She felt safe.
This was Halston’s bedroom.
Koa covered herself with the blankets and looked around. He wasn’t there. She looked down at her clothing and saw that she wore nothing but her bra and panties.
Koa had been in Halston’s bed before. The first time she had seen Halston had been by chance. After her father’s murder, Koa had been a ruthless girl. She had been lucky that Halston had found her. He had tamed her.
Five years ago, on a warm night in London, Koa had been drunk on bourbon and blood. She was sprawled across a park bench near a pub when Halston found her.
Koa remembered it well. She thought about it often. Like a guardian angel, there Halston had been, looking down at her with his bright golden hair and crystalline blue eyes. When Koa felt his hand touch her forehead, she had opened her eyes and had really thought that she was dreaming. He was perfect and she couldn’t resist.
Koa had grabbed Halston by the back of his neck and kissed him. The kiss had been magical. Halston didn’t stop her. Koa touched her lips at the memory. She could still taste Halston’s tongue.
A smile came to her lips, despite the lingering pain. At seventeen, she had been a naïve girl, torn by feelings of revenge, guilt, and fear. Still, her vampire side made her impervious to fear.
Koa often suspected less than noble intentions from men, but the night she had met Halston, she knew she could trust him. She felt safe around him. So, drunk like a college freshman at her first frat party, Koa let him take her to his place.
When Koa had woken up the next morning, all those years ago, she found Halston sitting in a white leather chair by that glass wall overlooking the city, watching her.
Koa had been but a child back then… a child who had no idea what was in store for her future. She sighed and closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. Once again, Halston had saved her from her own horrible choices. She hated to face him after all that she had done wrong.
She bit the inside of her lip and tried to remember what had happened. Another sharp pain in her side immediately reminded her. Bund.
Koa yelped as Raven leapt onto the pure white covers and tackled her. Raven licked her face. “Are you all right, darling?”
Koa held her tight and tried to keep from moving too much. She cautiously propped herself up on the soft pillows. Koa couldn’t help but squeeze her mother tight. “I am. Where is Halston?”
Raven curled up next to Koa’s head. “He is in the shower.” Koa nodded and looked at the door to Halston’s private bathroom suite. She almost smiled at the image of him in there without any clothes on. The pain made her grimace instead.
Koa sighed. “What happened… back at the lair?”
Raven licked her paw. “What do you mean? Halston rescued you.”
Koa sat up on her elbows. “I mean, before Halston came in. You did something.”
Raven tilted her head and gave Koa a blank look. She shook her head. “Nonsense. You are imagining things. Would you like some orange juice?”
Koa frowned. Was I imagining things? She shook her head. Koa knew what she saw. “Wait a minute!” Koa yelled.
The pain kept her from hopping onto her knees. She winced at the burning sensation in her side. Weakly, Koa pointed at Raven. “I saw you. What did you do? Don’t lie to me!”
Koa pursed her lips when Halston opened the door to the bathroom and let waves of steam out. He peeked around the door to see what the commotion was about. His hair was wild and yet, he still looked perfect. Koa wanted to see more. Her cheeks flushed at her thoughts.
“Everything all right?”
Koa nodded and he came out of the bathroom and dried his hair with a towel. She looked away from his bare chest as her cheeks reddened even more. She had never seen a man naked before. Koa could only imagine what Halston was hiding beneath his towel. She squeezed her eyes shut.
You’re ridiculous, Koa thought to herself. This is not what you’re supposed to be thinking about!
“What’s all the fuss?”
Koa looked at her mother, who licked her paws sheepishly. Koa knew something was up.
“How are you feeling? Do you need something for the pain?”
Koa shook her head. “It’s okay. I can handle it.” She searched his eyes, wondering when the scolding would begin, hoping he would let this incident slide.
Halston nodded and walked over to Koa. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the covers back. Raven moved out of the way and he took a look at Koa’s bandaged side where Bund had split her skin.
Koa remembered just how deep he had cut her. She looked down expecting to see her side completely healed, instead, there was still blood on the bandage and she could still see some of her muscle. She was stunned. She’d always been able to heal almost instantly.
Halston sighed. It wasn’t good.
“How long have I been here?” Her eyes were wide with fright. Halston sat on t
he edge of the bed and smoothed her hair. He was calm. She wished such calmness would rub off on her. She did enjoy the feel of his hand on her hair.
“Two days.”
Koa covered her mouth. “Two days?” She looked at her wound in disbelief.
Halston put a hand on her shoulder and led her back down to the pillow. “It’s all right. A demon wound will heal. It may take longer than you’re used to, but your vampire side will fight the poison.”
“Poison?” Koa felt her heart race. Halston pulled the covers to her neck.
“Relax, Koa. You need rest. Don’t work yourself up or it’ll take longer.”
“Listen to him, Koa,” Raven urged. “I hope you learned your lesson.”
Koa shot a look at her, but her mother was right, she couldn’t deny it. She had been stupid to think she could convince Netherworld vamps to side with her. The whole plan was foolish. She just didn’t anticipate them knowing who she was.
“Bund recognized me.” Koa sat up on her elbows and looked to Halston. “How did they know who I was?”
Halston stood and walked over to his wardrobe where he grabbed a shirt. He put it on and stepped inside his walk-in closet to change into black slacks. He sat on a seat inside his closet and carefully put on a pair of black socks and slipped into shoes. Halston seemed to be taking his time. Koa waited as he looked at himself in his full length mirror. He fixed his hair and she rolled her eyes.
“You just love looking at yourself,” Koa couldn’t resist saying. She hoped it would keep him calm, and make him forget that she had disobeyed him.
She smiled. Halston didn’t.
He ignored her statement and sat back on the edge of the bed. “What exactly did he say to you?”
Koa cleared her throat. “Bund said that everyone in the Netherworld knows me. He said that he wasn’t hiding, and that he wasn’t afraid of Greggan.”
Halston nodded. “It’s true. Why would a demon fear a vampire? A demon is nothing more than an angel that has turned to darkness. When the fallen angels followed Satan from heaven their sexual desires led them to have intercourse with human women. Their dark spawn are what we know as vampires… and the other nephilim of the Netherworld.”