Vampire's Crucible

by Yvette Bostic

  My vampire finally stopped and put me down in the small portal room. He leaned against the doorway, and I couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under his eyes.

  “Anything I can do to help?” I asked.

  “No, thankfully not you,” he replied, pushing away from the wall.

  “Already?” I asked, following him down the hall to Kellen’s kitchen.

  “Yes, already. I should’ve taken one of the vampires we fought last night, or was it tonight? Hell, I don’t know.” He opened the fridge and pulled out several bottles of water. “Put these in our bag. You might need them.”

  I took the bottles and pulled the bag from my back. “Why didn’t you take one of them earlier?” I assumed he had bitten one of the vampires at the train station. His attitude certainly implied he would.

  “I didn’t want to reveal myself,” he replied. “I’m officially the enemy of my kind.”

  I froze, the bag half zipped in my hand. Once again, I hadn’t thought of Logan’s sacrifices. I was such a bitch.

  “I’m sorry, Logan.” My stupid eyes started misting up once again. Why was I such a cry baby?

  “It’ll be worth it if we can make this work,” he said, his smile not reaching his eyes.

  For a moment, my whole world went in reverse, right back to Kellen using me for his own ends. Which was total bull. Logan wasn’t Kellen, and I needed to get my head out of my ass.

  “It’ll work,” I stated, not allowing any doubt to enter my mind. I would not lose him to this nonsense.

  “You’re cute when you’re determined, princess,” he said. “Let’s catch up with Kellen.”

  “Logan, wait.” I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to say, but I felt a shift in our relationship in that moment, just like I had with Kellen. I didn’t want it going any further.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” he said.

  “Yes, I do. You’ve sacrificed so much for this.” I waved my hand at Kellen’s house, hoping he knew I meant more. “I keep asking for more without considering your needs or feelings. It’s selfish and unfair. I need you to tell me what you want, need, whatever. I’m not good at seeing it for myself.” I found a clump of dirt on my sweatshirt and picked at, anything to avoid his gaze. I was scared to see the accusations or pity. It had to be one or the other.

  He sighed and pulled my hand into his. “I’m frustrated with the position I’ve been thrown into,” he said. “Not that I wouldn’t have chosen it anyway, but I feel like I had no choice.” I looked up when he didn’t continue, but I couldn’t decipher the expression on his face. “That’s not entirely true. I never would’ve picked to be a vampire.” His lip curled in disgust but only for a moment as his eyes met mine. “Joining Jonathan and Kellen would’ve happened regardless of everyone’s interference in my life. Protecting you also would’ve been my choice, even though it means I’m ostracized by all the supernatural families. I just hate that I have no control over any of it.”

  I understood completely, but I wouldn’t patronize him by saying so. Everything he said was real and painful. Talking about my own experiences wouldn’t help. He was there for most of it; he didn’t need a repeat.

  “Destiny sucks,” I mumbled. “But I’ll do a better job with my half of this relationship. I’m not making it any easier on you by acting like a selfish bitch.”

  He pulled me into his strong embrace and I melted against him. “You are not a selfish bitch, AJ. You’re naïve and totally ignorant when it comes to the magical community, but I’m grateful to be stuck with you and not someone else.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I said, pushing away from his chest, feeling just a little better. “Let’s go find Kellen.”

  “As soon as this is done, we’re going someplace where we can learn everything we need to know about each other and what we’ve become,” he whispered, giving me that silly grin I’d grown to love.

  “Deal.”

  Chapter 14

  My sleep button must have moved from my ass to my chest because fifteen minutes into our run—well, Logan’s run—I was leaning against the hard muscles in his shoulders, sleeping like a baby. How does one sleep while being carried on another person’s back? Good fricking question, but I seemed to master it just fine.

  I woke when Logan sat on a wide, flat rock, his chest heaving with each breath. I slid from his back and sat next to him.

  “Does a drink of water help?” I asked stupidly as I pulled a bottle of water from my back pack.

  “No, but thanks for asking. I shouldn’t be pushing so hard. I won’t be able to fight off a fly, much less a horde of vampires.” He leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his palms.

  “Why didn’t we just take a car?”

  “Because we’ve covered twice as much ground going ‘as the crow flies,’” he replied. “The interstate takes three hours. We’re more than halfway there in one hour.”

  “What time is it? Will we be there before Kellen?”

  Logan pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked the screen. “Twenty minutes before three. I’m not sure where Kellen is, but we’ll find out if Victor has company soon enough.”

  He pulled up a social media account for someone named Jolly Jeff and opened the messenger app.

  “Jolly Jeff?” I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”

  “This messenger thing has made it really easy to communicate without giving away my cell phone number,” he replied. “Marissa knows it’s me. She’ll answer if she’s awake.” He tapped in a quick message asking if they had company and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. “Come on, let’s keep moving.” He motioned for me to hop on.

  “Maybe I should run on my own for a little while,” I suggested.

  “I don’t even notice you there, princess,” he said. “You weigh nothing. I’m tired because I haven’t had enough food or sleep.”

  “Well, maybe we can fix the food part when we reach Victor’s,” I said, trying to smile.

  “I’m sure we will.”

  After I wrapped my arms around his neck, Logan stood, and once my legs circled his waist, he took off again. Fifteen minutes later, the rocky desert gave way to squat spruce trees and loamy earth. Another five minutes and a red haze engulfed the horizon. Logan slowed to a stop at a cluster of large boulders surrounded by the short pines.

  “Please tell me that’s a natural forest fire,” I whispered, not letting go of him.

  He pulled his phone from his pocket. I looked over his shoulder to see Marissa’s reply.

  “Victor’s scouts reported the vampire’s advance towards the lodge,” the message read. “Our fighters should be there momentarily.”

  “I’m guessing the fire is not natural,” Logan said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He tugged at my arms and I released him, reluctantly putting my feet on the ground. He slowly turned to face me, putting his back to the fiery glow in the distance. “I’m not sure how to enter this fight, AJ. The shifters will immediately know what I am, but so will the vampires. I’ll be a target on all sides.”

  “Is there nothing I can do mark you as an ally?” I asked, suddenly very fearful to enter the fight. And here I thought I would be the easy target.

  “If I stay with the mages, fighting against the vampires, we might be okay. I’ll try to keep from transitioning fully,” he replied. “But if I get separated from you, or the wolves start to mingle...” He didn’t have to finish. I knew the answer.

  “Then I won’t leave your side,” I said. “And I’ll force Kellen to join us. As long as you’re with us, no one would dare attack you.”

  “Or they’ll think I’m after you.”

  “Aren’t you?” I smiled, but it faded quickly. “Should I try to hide my new speed?” I asked, worried about how the mages would react. Would they think I was also a vampire? Or would they think I succeeded where my mother failed? Had I? I looked up at my vampire and worry consumed me. I didn’t want to be like her.

  “You d
o what is necessary to stay alive,” Logan replied.

  “Good idea. Let’s go find the mages and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

  I knew he recognized my attempt to convince myself we’d be okay, but his anxiety matched my own.

  “Can you run on your own the rest of the way? It’s not very far, and I’d rather show up with my hands empty, ready to fight.”

  I nodded, and he pulled the bag from my back, putting it on his own, then laced his fingers through mine. “I…” he started and squeezed my hand. “I can’t lose you so don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Yes, dear.” I stood on my toes and kissed him. As I hoped, he returned it with his all-consuming passion.

  “You’re killing me,” he whispered.

  “I hope not,” I replied, a little breathless.

  He stepped back and turned, pulling me towards the fire and death waiting for us. He didn’t ask if I was ready; he didn’t need to. I would never be ready for this. I thought I was last time and look where it got me. I didn’t want to be bit by another vampire, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t the only one.

  We raced between the trees, the sounds of battle reaching me faster than I wanted. Memories of the last fight among these trees assaulted me, my heart stuttering. What was I thinking? I couldn’t fight these things. Would Logan be able to save me now if I did get bit? I felt my pace slow, and he slowed with me, then picked me up.

  “You can do this, princess. You’re not alone.”

  I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his neck as he ran the rest of the way. I was such a baby and it needed to stop. My fear and insecurity helped no one. After all, it wasn’t just my life on the line. Logan needed me to be strong and brave, not a stupid little coward. I took a deep breath, drawing in his delicious smell, then kissed his neck.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He stopped and set me on my feet as soon as we saw the first group of mages battling against an unseen foe. Thick smoke from the growing fire choked the air, and the flames made an eerie back drop for the vampires darting between the walls of fire and earth.

  “Stay at my side,” Logan whispered, grabbing my hand and darting forward. “I’ll stay slow enough for you to keep up. They won’t expect it from you which will earn us a few easy kills.”

  My heart raced in my chest, adrenaline fueling my exhausted body. As we sped up, the other vampires slowed. Four of them seemed to be tag-teaming a group of eight mages clustered together and backed up against a tall earthen wall. Lines of fire circled their right side.

  Logan headed towards a female vampire, colliding with her as her claws grazed the arm of the nearest mage. Niyol picked up the woman’s tag-team partner in a swirling tornado and ran him into the fire. His dying screams attracted the attention the remaining pair. They stopped at the edge of the mages’ perimeter and watched their fellow blood sucker die.

  I didn’t hesitate, drawing my spear into existence and lunging at a short, muscular man wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt that barely held against his large frame.

  I pulled on my connection to the air, giving myself more speed as the tip of my spear impaled the large vampire. I couldn’t be lucky enough to hit his heart, but the impact did put him on the ground. Bands of rock shot from the earth and wrapped around his chest. Another man with short blond hair appeared at my side. The flickering fires reflected off the blade of his sword as it whispered past me, removing the vampire’s head.

  It only took a second for me to find Logan a few feet away, snapping the neck of the last vampire. As he tossed the body into the air, Niyol’s tornado raced by, catching it and dropping it into the fire.

  “How did you do that?” the mage asked me.

  “Which part?” I asked in return, releasing my hold on the spear and watching it vanish.

  “All of it, but especially the weapon.”

  “It’s made of air,” I replied. “Are any of you injured?” I looked around at the small group. Two woman and six men walked towards me. Logan’s fingers found mine, and I didn’t hesitate to pull him closer.

  “We’re fine,” one of the women said. “You’re the Magister?”

  “I am. This is Logan,” I responded, not feeling the need to explain who he was. “Why are you here by yourselves?”

  “Guarding the vehicles,” one of the others replied, “and taking in the injured. We have three water mages for healing.” He gestured to the woman next to him and nodded at the man next to me, the one holding the sword.

  It made sense, but they were a long way from the fight. I didn’t understand it, but I decided not to second-guess Kellen’s tactics.

  “Be careful,” I said. “We’ll draw any lingering vampires to us, and away from you, as we head towards the main fight. The mages from Australia will be arriving within the next hour. Be sure to send them our way.”

  “Are there any other creatures besides the vampires?” Logan asked.

  “We didn’t see any,” the same water mage replied.

  “Let’s go, princess.” Logan took the first step away, and I joined his race towards the thickening smoke and screams of agony.

  Another earthen wall rose in front of us, followed by a fiery tornado. We skirted around it, my heart rising into my throat. Kellen and a dozen mages were surrounded by countless vampires in full monster form. Their long claws slashed out against flaring shields of water and earth. My partner stood in the middle, and several injured mages lay on the ground, unmoving and vulnerable. His arms raised in the air, guiding the path of a wave of fire making a loop around their left flank. His sister, Kate, stood by his side raising slabs of earth to protect her brother.

  Niyol, help Kellen’s fire and protect Logan.

  Yes, princess.

  I stepped in front of Logan and gazed into his swirling eyes. He looked down at me, and I sensed waves of hunger mixing with his fear.

  “I love you,” I whispered, pulling his face to mine and pressing my lips to his for a fierce moment. “Do what you do best. Niyol will protect you.”

  My elemental’s keening howl drowned out Logan’s reply, but my vampire’s eyes said it all. Rather than watch him as he leapt towards the nearest vampire, I raced to my partner’s side, pulling on the well of magic in my core and mixing it with Göksu’s strength. My first task would be healing the wounded mages. They needed to be in the fight, not lying there useless. I had to trust my elemental and my vampire to keep the monsters back. I had to.

  “AJ?” Kate spun around, nearly knocking me over when I suddenly appeared at her side.

  “Logan is fighting with me!” I yelled over Niyol’s torrent. “Don’t let the others attack him.”

  Kellen turned to me with a look of hatred so deep it startled me. “Why are you here and not with my family?”

  “Shut up and focus!” I screamed back. “They’re safe at the palace. You’re welcome!” I turned my back on him and tried to swallow my anger. He just assumed I broke my promise. Stupid bastard.

  Focus. I needed to focus. I knelt next to a tall man I recognized but couldn’t recall his name. Long gashes ran down his left arm, and shreds of his shirt hung from his shoulder. My hands hovered over the wounds, and I pulled the water from my surroundings, coating him in a layer of healing warmth. As his pain washed over me, my world tilted. The earth rumbled at my feet, and a hot gust of air blew smoke into my face. ‘Focus’ my ass! Another rumble shook the ground, tossing me sideways. How did the water mages heal people during battle?

  The man at my side sat up, recognition flooding his features. “Magister?”

  “Yes, can you fight?”

  “I can now. Thank you.”

  He rose to his feet and took a place next to Kellen. I searched for Logan among the vampires but didn’t see him. Where did he go? I reached for our connection. He was very close, no more than a few yards away and running fast. Tingles ran down my spine and I stood. Something was coming.

  “Everyone against the wall!”
Logan’s voice rose above the sounds of battle just before he appeared at my side. “Kellen! Back everyone up. Three ogres are inbound.”

  My partner’s eyes widened as he backpedaled. The ground shook again, forcing everyone to their knees.

  “Oh my God!” the man next to Kellen cried.

  Three enormous shapes took form as they emerged from the smoky haze. Kellen didn’t have to tell the mages to back up, nor did he need to instruct them grab the injured as they went.

  “David, you and Rick with me!” Kellen called out. “I want a trench, now.” The three men fell to their knees and pressed their palms against the blood-soaked soil. A violent shudder shook the ground. “The rest of you keep the vampires off us.”

  A fiery tornado raced between us and the ogres with four or five charred bodies floating in its middle. Niyol picked up two more before disappearing into the next wall of flames.

  Three fiends in full vampire form rushed in from the right side, as if they’d waited for my elemental to pass. They were on Kellen’s trio within seconds.

  “No!” I shrieked, pushing my hands out in front of me and curling my fingers into fists. Without thinking of the consequences, I pulled the blood from their veins, jerking my arms back to my body as if I were snatching a toy and not their lives.

  Their combined screams filled the night, and their shriveled bodies fell just short of my partner. Rivers of blood hung in the air, still in my grasp. What should I do with it? I wanted to give it to Logan but knew I couldn’t in front of all these people.

  “Logan, empty a water bottle,” I said, my voice echoing in the eerie silence.

  Even the ogres stopped their forward progress. I wove my hands in small circles, swirling the blood together in a thin line. The sound of liquid splashing in the dirt drew my attention to my vampire. An empty water bottle shook in his left hand as his eyes met mine. He knew it was for him. I guided as much blood as I could fit into the single bottle and he capped it, stuffing it into the bag on his back.

  I continued twisting the gory fluid, thinking about the technique Niyol used to make my spears. Could the same be done with water or blood? I pressed the molecules tighter together as they continued to layer over top of each other. The thin stream of blood was now nearly two inches in diameter and three feet long, but it still wasn’t solid. Could I encase it air?