Ashes to Ashes (Barbie the Vampire Hunter Book 3)

by Lucinda Dark

  I groaned. "I should've never told you my middle name."

  "Fess. Up," she demanded.

  "I can't answer," I said.

  "Can't or won't?"

  "Both?"

  She sighed heavily. "That just figures," she grumbled.

  I looked at her. "What figures?"

  "I meet a freaking mythological creature—she turns out to be my best friend—and after breaking the sacred covenant of girl code, she won't spill her guts." She pouted. Actually fucking pouted. The fuck?

  "What girl code are you even talking about?" I asked.

  She clucked her tongue at me. "Best friends tell each other everything—every. Thing." She squinted her gaze my way, emphasizing the last bit. "Especially big secrets and these ... these are bigger than big."

  "I'm sorry." And for a change, I actually was. "On the bright side, you're taking this really well." It was almost too bad that her memories of tonight would have to be changed. "I'm kinda surprised."

  "I'm totally tougher than I look," Olivia replied proudly; she lifted one arm and curled it so that it pumped up her nonexistent bicep muscles. "This is grade A mus—ow!" She winced when she smacked it with her other hand.

  "Yeah, you're a real badass," I snorted.

  Quiet descended on the car as we got off the interstate and slowed to a stop in front of a red traffic light. This late at night—or rather early in the morning since the dashboard clock read sometime past four a.m.—there was no one around.

  "So, you have to like ... drink blood and stuff?"

  I winced. "Yeah..."

  "Then how come when you drank from that man, you threw it up?"

  I reached up, scratching my neck as the reminder set off more of that churning low in my belly. My mouth watered. I really needed to get to Torin's. Not just to have him take care of her, but because I knew that whatever I had ingested needed to be replaced by his blood.

  "It's ... complicated," I answered after a moment. "But I can't drink bagged blood and apparently fresh from the tap, so to speak, isn't good either."

  "So, what do you drink?"

  "I can't tell you that either."

  She groaned. “What can you tell me?”

  “I can tell you that I’ll never hurt you,” I said, swearing the promise.

  She stared at me. "Well, duh, you bimbo, I could've told you that."

  Ignoring the fact that she'd called me a bimbo to focus on the rest of what she said, I swiveled to stare at her. "What do you mean?" I asked. "I'm dangerous. To be honest, I like that you're handling this so well, but you should be more freaked out. You should be cussing up a storm or screaming like you were earlier or ... well, anything but what you're doing."

  "What am I doing?"

  "Nothing!" I snapped, gesturing to her. "And that's my point. Aren't you fucking freaked out?"

  "Honestly?"

  "No, I want you to lie to me—" I started, speaking lightly and pleasantly as if we were discussing the weather before I dropped the act and glared at her. "Yes, of fucking course, honestly."

  She shrugged. "I don't know why I'm not freaked out. I mean, I am. It's totally trippy, but you're Barbie."

  I gaped at her. "Explain," I ordered.

  She leveled her blue eyes on me, serious and solemn. "You saved me tonight," she said. "I'm not completely stupid. I knew those guys were bad news, and I don't want to think about what they would've done to either of us if you hadn't done what you did. You didn't have to save me, you could've just walked out on your own and you would've been fine. Hell, it probably would've been easier than lugging my stunned ass behind you.

  “I've known you for months and maybe you're just a really good actress, and you'll attack me at any moment—in which case, I was wrong about you and that's my own fault—but I don't think you will. When I said you were my best friend, I meant it. I trust you. From what you've told me, you didn't exactly choose to be what you are, and it wouldn't be right or fair of me to judge you based on something you didn't have a say in and can't change. I've never been afraid that you'd hurt me. Even knowing this now doesn't change that. I don't want to think that. I have to believe that everything is going to be okay or else I really will break down and crying would mess up my make up. This mascara was expensive as fuck."

  I just stared at her. Uncomfortable. Confused. Lost. Unsure how to respond. Olivia reached forward and touched my hand on the steering wheel. "Are you okay?" she asked.

  My brows lowered. Olivia Jones was a strange creature. She'd just been informed that her self-proclaimed best friend was a vampire—or at least partially a vampire—that other supernatural beings existed and that there was a whole dark, magical world beneath the one she lived in and she was asking me if I was okay.

  I sat back against the leather seat and just shook my head. At some point during our conversation, the red light had turned green, but now it flipped back to yellow and then red again and we were stuck in the same spot that we'd pulled up in, surrounded by empty pavement and the darkened windows of shops.

  "You're insane," I finally said, taking one hand from the steering wheel and scrubbing it down my face. I paused, realizing that it was something I'd seen both Maverick and Torin do multiple times. I was becoming more like them. I pulled my hand away from Olivia's but her gaze remained on me. This whole situation was ridiculous, and I couldn't help but laugh.

  I looked at her and chuckled, but then that chuckle turned into a laugh and that laugh into another and another until tears were streaming down my face and my stomach hurt. She laughed too, starting out quiet and unsure as if she wasn't quite sure what was so funny, but then it just kinda ... caught on. Like a disease. It was contagious. In the middle of the road at four in the morning, we laughed like two lunatics. Without reservation. Unable to contain the noises as we snorted into our palms and wiped our eyes.

  It was then that I realized ... I just couldn't do it. I couldn't take this away. I didn't want to. I'd given up so fucking much. Maverick and Torin were balances, but there was no replacement for someone like Olivia. True friends were rare. Their strength often hidden until times of need. Right now, I needed her. I needed her in a way I didn't think I'd ever need anyone. I needed someone outside of this dark, dangerous world I lived in. She was so good, so full of light and life and for the first time, I didn't feel so fucking alone.

  So, when we finally managed to calm down, I waited until the light turned green, and instead of turning left—the way I would have taken to go to Torin's—I turned right, heading for Olivia's house. Her look of surprise told me all I needed to know, more so than her earlier words. She definitely hadn't thought I'd be bringing her back here.

  "Wow, you really did take me home," she said, her words quiet. I didn't respond to them, instead turning and grabbing her arm before she got out.

  "You can't tell anyone," I said, my fingers clenching on her bicep. "I shouldn't let you go," I admitted. "I should ... do something about what you know,"—I didn't tell her how I'd go about doing that—"but if you promise not to tell anyone, then..." I let my words drift off, hoping she'd understand what I was trying to say.

  She did. Olivia reached down and touched my hand, her fingertips grazing my knuckles. "I'm not going to tell anyone," she promised seriously. She shrugged with a smirk. "Girl code. We don't tell other people our best friend's secrets. I'll keep it all to myself, you don't have to worry." But I did worry. I worried about what this would mean for her, for us. Before I could change my mind, however, she gently pried my fingers from her arm. I let her. "Besides, don't think I don't know that you still haven't told me everything. You told me that Maverick and Torin are involved, but you haven't said anything more about how those relationships are going." She got out of the car and leaned down to peer at me through the opening. "I want all of those details the next time I see you." With that, she grabbed her bags out of the backseat, and closed the door, heading up to the front porch of her house.

  I got out of the driver's seat�
�it was her car, after all, I couldn't take it. I watched her wave from the front step as she inserted her key and went inside. I grabbed my things out of the backseat of her car, slipping my backpack and dress bag over my shoulder, shaking my head as I pulled the keys from the ignition. She could've taken those in with her, but she hadn't. I dropped them in the console and left them there. Even though she knew the truth, she still didn't realize...

  My eyes flashed red in the rearview mirror for a split second. I didn't need cars to travel anymore.

  Twenty-Six

  Barbie

  I was walking up the path to the main Priest estate when I saw it. The shutters were undone and opened. The lights were on and Torin's car sat out front. I didn't think. I burst forward with such sudden speed that my backpack slipped off my shoulder, but remained in the crook of my elbow. The door wasn't locked. I burst through it and into the mansion.

  "Torin?" I said his name hesitantly. Why would he be back in the main estate? I wondered. Had something happened? The wind whispered past my head a split second before a hand snaked out—intending to grip me by the throat. It was only my instincts and my vampiric speed that had me jumping back a moment before a small, feminine fist would have grabbed my neck with the intent to crush it.

  Golden hazel eyes littered with glimmers of several different colors stared at me as the fist was pulled back. "Quick reflexes," she commented.

  I slipped my bag down my arm and tossed it to the side. Just my fucking luck I hadn't brought a weapon. "I didn't realize you were back," I said. "We haven't officially met, but—"

  "No need," she said. "You'll be dead before you give me a name."

  With that, she grabbed my wrist and turned, flinging me—body and all—into the nearest piece of furniture which just so happened to be a grandfather clock. I grunted as my back slammed into it and then went right through it. The top part arched down as I met the wall on the other side of the clock, coming down on top of me as I fell to the floor. Rolling out of the way and bounding to my feet, I grabbed Katalin by her arm and twisted. Although my objective had been to contort her arm behind her back and use it to shove her face first into the wall opposite of us, she handled me easily enough—far easier than any other vampire had for that matter.

  In seconds she was relieved of my grip and I didn't even know how she'd done it, only that she'd done it with such speed that even with my new supernatural eyesight, I'd had a hard time keeping up. A heel met the middle of my stomach, sinking in through the fabric of my shirt and even leaving a small, bleeding hole when I stumbled back.

  Katalin straightened as a figure hurled through the entryway and slammed into her. Torin, I realized belatedly as I rubbed the area where the small hole in my stomach was already starting to heal. Torin was a massive pile of fury—glowing red eyes darting from his sister to me. I blinked. His fangs were far larger than I'd ever seen before, not just slightly peeking out as they usually would but completely overlapping his bottom lip as he snarled. It wasn't just his fangs either, but his entire body appeared larger—his muscles bunching under his clothes, straining against the fabric. Small fissures of rips began to form over his arms and back.

  "Torin?" My eyes flickered from him to his sister. "What did you do to him?" I demanded, my vampire waking as she sensed her mate near. Heat burned into my irises.

  Katalin frowned. "I did nothing. This is all because of you," she said absently, focusing her attention now on the man that stood between the two of us with his back to me.

  "I call bull-fucking-shit," I snapped. "What did you do to him?" I tried sidling out from behind him to see how far she was and how fast I could get to her, but Torin shifted, moving so that he blocked not just my path but my sight as well.

  "He is lost to his vampire because you were endangered," I heard her say, and if her tone was anything to go by, she was either bored or emotionless because she neither sounded angry nor particularly interested in that fact though she remained in the room.

  "Then that's your fucking problem, bitch," I shot back. "You shouldn't have come after me."

  "You are uncouth," she replied coolly.

  "Nice to meet you too," I deadpanned before stepping forward and placing a palm against the center of Torin's back. "Tor—" I was halfway through his name when he whirled around and dragged me towards him. Curling his arms around my middle, he crushed me to his chest and backed away from his sister. "Fucking—Torin!" I squirmed, trying to get out of his grip. I couldn't fight like this, but he merely held me tighter.

  "It's no use." Katalin's voice rose up. I managed to wiggle up enough and turn so that I could see her.

  I sucked in a breath and released it before responding. Honestly, people really needed to start appreciating the effort I made to not be a serial killer. "You're." I grunted. "Not." I squirmed. "Fucking." I shoved against Torin's chest to no avail. "Helping."

  "I wasn't aware you desired help from me," she replied. "Seems a bit counterproductive, doesn't it? I cannot kill him and that is the only way I'd get to you right now. As soon as I figure out a method that will remove him from your person, I assure you, helping you will be the furthest thing from my mind."

  I struggled even more in Torin's embrace, fighting to just get one hand free. As soon as it was, I flipped her the bird. "Oh, look at that, my middle finger likes you."

  "Charmed, I'm sure."

  "Eat a sack of dicks—" I snapped my head around as Torin spun and placed me against the wall before whirling back to face his sister. Every time I tried to move, he'd move with me—keeping me pinned. I growled.

  "This is pointless," Katalin said. "He'll remain like this until he's calmed down." I looked over Torin's shoulder, watching as she straightened the front of her outfit and flipped a strand of caramel colored hair over one shoulder. "I should have not let my emotions get the best of me," she said, and I had a feeling she was talking more to herself than she was to Torin or me. And then what she said hit me. Emotions? This was her losing control of her emotions? Jesus fucking Christ. Katalin cast a glance over to us, catching me watching her. I scowled at her and flipped her the bird again over Torin's shoulder. She didn't even bat an eyelash. Instead, she turned and headed for the open doorway leading towards the rest of the house.

  "Where are you going?" I gaped past Torin. Was she really just fucking leaving? In the middle of a fight?

  "It was a long flight here," she called back. "And my little brother ruined my dinner. I am thirsty."

  Just like that, she was gone, but not before reminding me that I was also far beyond thirsty—I was ravenous. My gaze snapped to the back of Torin's neck. He was so close, I could see the thrum of his heartbeat in his vein. I licked my suddenly dry lips.

  "Torin..." I tried to take a step back and bumped into the wall. Shit. The blood from the asshole in the city and then Katalin's attack ... it took energy to heal from being thrown around like that. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his throat. I clamped a palm over my mouth as I felt my fangs emerge. They pricked my lip. My blood scented the air.

  Torin turned towards me, sniffing as he centered on where my palm cupped over my lips. "We have to get out of here," I said through my fingers. I wasn't sure if he understood me or not, considering that he wasn't acting like normal Torin—but like a wild animal. It took several moments of him staring at me to realize that he didn't understand me. Either that or he was too focused on my blood. My fangs were not going back into my gums no matter how hard I tried to focus on them and mentally shove them back up. They cut into my lips and more blood ran down over my chin. His eyes found a drop as it slipped past my fingers.

  His fingers gripped my wrist and yanked my hand away from my mouth as his own descended. He licked away the blood, making my eyes widen. I turned my head to stop him, but that didn't work. His other hand came up—gripping my chin—as he turned me back to face him. Wild, hungry eyes met my gaze.

  "Mine." It was the only thing he'd said so far. Of course, it'd be some misogyni
stic alpha vampire bullshit.

  I growled and shoved back. "Not here," I snapped.

  It must have gotten through because, in the next instant, Torin reached for me. This time he lifted me and swung me up over his shoulder and darted for the front door. I blinked in shock. I didn't have two seconds—not even one—before he was hauling my ass out the front door. He bypassed his car and ran the distance to the guesthouse. I guessed, even in the state that he was in, this counted as safety. It had practically become our headquarters after all. We burst through the door and he set me down before turning and slamming the entryway shut. I stared up at him, my mouth still hanging open.

  Torin hadn't yet turned around. I frowned his way, but I wasn't going to approach. It wasn't that he was dangerous, but I was. My stomach no longer churned, but pain rippled through my abdomen. I clenched my teeth, refusing to let it show. Torin's breaths were quiet as he sucked in first one and then another and another until the muscles in his arms and back finally relaxed. They no longer strained his clothes and when he eventually pivoted to face me, his eyes were back to normal. But mine weren't...

  I backed away from him. "You're hungry." When he spoke, his voice still held some of the gruffness that came with his earlier growls, but he sounded almost back to normal. Perhaps getting me out of the main estate and away from Katalin had allowed him to regain control. Whatever the case, now I was purely focused on how fucking good he smelled and how much I wanted to bite into his throat and drink his blood.

  "That's a bit of an understatement," I replied wearily. "I feel like my guts are ripping themselves apart."