Terrifying Love: A Halloween Anthology

by Serena Nova

  As I watched her lie there, I knew I had already made my decision. We’d made a deal. I would honor it. It was as simple as that.

  ******

  The day was a short one for me. After taking a shower, I tried to sleep for a few hours on the couch, but I was restless. I got up close to dusk and decided that I could get started on some bombs and the chains. I checked on Kayla, saw that her leg was healing fine, and redressed the sting. Then I went down to my shop and went to work on the stunning bombs.

  An hour into working and my doorbell chimed. Customers? My opening hours started in half an hour. I cracked the door to the video shop and cursed inwardly when I saw three witches standing in front of the glass doors, looking beyond annoyed at being here.

  Well, they weren’t as annoyed as I was to have them. I swallowed my anger and unlocked the front door. They filed in without so much as a greeting.

  “Please, come one in,” I said to the empty door before closing it.

  “As if we want to be here, Minni,” one of them said, a blonde called Nina. “But the high witch needs some cape leadroot, and you are the only one who grows it. At least this side of the equator.” She giggled and her cronies, Reagan and Viola sniggered. Nina strode into my shop, followed by her friends, as if she owned the place. I grumbled profanities beneath my breath as I followed them.

  “How much do you need?” I asked, forcing a – hopefully – warm smile to my lips.

  “Two ounces,” Nina said, glancing around my shop. “Hekate, this place is a dump. What have you got bubbling?” She stalked to my cauldron and sniffed. “Huh. Draught of strength? Can’t argue that you need it.”

  “Entering a weightlifting competition?” Reagan asked, flipping her brown hair behind her shoulder.

  “No, it’s for a client,” I said, keeping my voice level as I measured two ounces of leadroot and filled it into a small leather pouch. “That will be five dollars.”

  “Wow, you are cheap,” Nina said, swapping the money for the pouch.

  I bit my tongue, hoping they would leave just as fast as they had come.

  “Oh my,” Viola said, fingering my welwitschia ingredients. “These are fresh, how much for everything?”

  “It’s not for sale, I need it for a client,” I told her.

  The curly-haired witch grinned, showing off her pearly-whites. “Come on, freak, everyone knows that you barely have any customers. Who would you need this for?”

  “That is my business. I told you it wasn’t for sale. If that is all, please leave.”

  “Oh, the little barely-witch is getting sassy,” Nina said. “We could always take what we want from you, you know.” She buffed her nails on her jacket. “No one would believe we stole from you. We are the respectable citizens, after all.”

  I straightened my shoulders. “As am I.”

  “Puh-lease.” Viola laughed. “Who are you trying to kid? Us, or yourself?” She drew a rune into the air too fast for me to counter and I was thrown against the nearest shelf. Jars of ingredients tumbled to the floor, bursting into a useless mess. A bucket of honeyed cockroaches tipped over, the golden goo running down my left shoulder, spreading over my torso and down my legs. Viola drew another rune and came closer, her magic keeping me in place firmly.

  “Fuck you, leave my shop. Right now,” I hissed, trying to break the hold of her magic.

  “You are the offspring of the greatest witch known to date, pity that your father was on the furry side. I will not have an abomination tell me what to do,” she hissed closed to my face, disgust boiling in her violet eyes while her friends cackled in the background.

  “But you will let me tell you to get the fuck out,” a voice growled from the door leading to my apartment. I glanced over, the sun was down, and Kayla stood in the entrance. Tall and furious as hell. Her silver eyes glared at the witches, her whip twirling in her right hand. “Leave, or I will rip you bitches limb from limb.”

  Chapter Thirteen - Kayla

  Fury scalded through my veins, as hot and burning as I hadn’t felt in years. These sorry excuses for bitches would attack Minette? Minette who had been nice to them this whole time? I had no idea what their problem with her was, but it seemed to be rooted in prejudice.

  The blonde one, a little paler than a few seconds before, gave me a once over. “Who are you to talk to us like that?”

  “Your kind calls me the Huntress.”

  The curly-haired one – who had hexed Mina into a shelf – gasped and her fingers lifted to paint runes against me. I snapped my whip once and sent a pad of her index finger flying. The witch yelled, hunched over, and cradled her hand to her chest.

  “Leave. Now,” I growled at the other two who made motions to join in on the fun. “Or you’ll be losing more than a piece of flesh.”

  It was quite satisfying to watch as they nearly stumbled over one another to vacate the shop. Granted, not nearly as gratifying as slaughtering them would have been, but I didn’t want to invite a whole coven to Mina’s doorstep.

  The moment the door shut behind them, Mina sank to the floor, looking absolutely miserable. She sniffed a few times, looking at the floor.

  “You okay?” I asked, striding over and reaching out a hand. She ignored it and scrambled to her feet, dripping honeyed cockroaches everywhere. Another sniff sounded through the room.

  “You shouldn’t listen to those idiots.”

  “Used to it,” she mumbled.

  “Hey.” I softly tilted her chin up with a knuckle, so she looked at me. A growl nearly broke from my chest when I saw tears twinkling in her eyes, but I stifled it. “They came to you, in your place. They should learn some fucking manners.”

  She bravely attempted a smile, but it was shaky. “Dunno why it gets to me like this.” Stepping back, she swiped her face with both palms, resulting in her getting honey over her face. “Ugh. I’m a damned mess.” A half snort, half laugh broke from her and I smiled along, obviously shocking her, because she stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

  “What?” I asked, getting a bit uncomfortable at having her chocolate-brown eyes focused on me so intensely. It made my knees weak, and had a prickling shiver race down my lower back.

  “I have never really seen you smile, that’s all.”

  I jerked my chin up. “Go, clean that goo from your pretty face. I’ll stay here and clean up. And watch for them in case they haven’t had enough.” Mina nodded and gave me a last curious look before she left, her steps unsure. God, I should have killed those witches.

  The honey was stubborn, and it took me some time to get rid of it. Eventually, I scraped it off with an old spatula and threw it into a plastic bag. I had no idea if Mina could still use it, so I placed the bag on her table. Once done with mopping up the rest, I headed upstairs myself to see how my witch was faring. Something inside me had noticeably shifted when I woke up. I was safe, my leg didn’t burn like my flesh was melting off my bones, and I was well cared for, lying in her bed. She could have easily killed me, or taken off, or both. A warm, fuzzy feeling had taken up refuge in my chest. As though a minute hot-air balloon was bouncing around inside of me. And then that look she’d just given me. I had known her presence and scent affected me, but a look? My body had been the same cold, alien, strong thing for the last 100 years. A weapon. I had gotten used to it. Right now, it echoed with how my human body had felt. Alive.

  Her scent billowed around me the second I opened the door to her apartment. Honey, vanilla, and something heady. Intoxicating. Mina nearly crashed into me as she walked from the bathroom, a towel slung around her delicious curves.

  I caught her arm as I stumbled back, and she steadied me. Once my balance was back, I couldn’t make myself let go of her. Her creamy skin, slightly freckled, was amazingly soft, the life pulsing in her veins underneath making my fangs throb.

  “Sorry,” she murmured, not stepping back, and not letting go either. Instead, she came closer until I took a step back, thinking she wanted to pass me and
move to her bedroom. My butt hit the door and closed it, yet Mina came closer still, not passing, but pressing her hips to mine, effectively pinning me to the door. “I’ve seen you looking at me,” she whispered, lifting a palm to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. A shiver raked me at her touch. Her fingers skimmed my cheek, running over my scar softly.

  I closed my eyes and swallowed, allowing and enjoying her touch. Her skin on mine was scalding heat, yet cool and smooth. Balling my hands into fists to keep from lunging at her, I blew out a shaky breath. Her blood called to me, singing of passion and euphoria, her body was sinful perfection, her touch… electrifying. “Y-you are a beautiful woman,” I whispered in answer.

  Chapter Fourteen - Minette

  My fingers trembled terribly as I followed the scar to her lips. “So are you,” I said. A strangled sound bubbled from her lips and I drew my thumb over her lower lip, drawing ever closer. Her mouth opened, revealing her fangs glinting in the light of the corridor. Slowly, she rubbed the tip of her tongue against my finger.

  “Holy hell,” I whispered and closed the distance, planting my lips on hers. At first, I only felt the slightest of reactions, like she was testing the waters, unsure of how to kiss. I nipped at her lips, coaxing her to reciprocate. With a deep moan, she finally sank into the kiss, wrapping her arms around me. I pressed into her with my entire body, relishing the feel of her against me. She had a warrior’s body, toned, yet soft in all the right places. I jumped in her hold as our tongues met and a sizzle zapped through me, burrowing into my lower stomach.

  Boldly, I placed a hand on her breast, cupping her. She filled my hand and I softly stroked and squeezed her, before circling the tip with my index finger.

  “Fuck, Mina,” she growled against my lips. I yelped when she picked me up and carried me the few steps into my bedroom like I weighed nothing. Gingerly, she placed me back on my feet. “I-I want you.”

  Those words would have melted my panties, had I worn any. I dropped my towel and watched her silver eyes widen. “Then take me,” I suggested, my voice cracking.

  She dropped her weapons to the floor and undid her jacket, then breached the distance in a split-second, fusing our mouths with a hunger I mirrored with every fiber of my being. Kayla shuffled us to the bed until it hit my legs and I sat down. She crawled onto me, straddling me, never breaking the contact of our lips. Her hands roamed over my skin, nurturing the fire in my lower belly into an inferno. She skimmed her fingers over my back, digging her nails into my shoulders occasionally.

  I clutched her ass with both hands, squeezing her leather clad flesh. She had the most phenomenal butt in history, and the leather was a huge plus, I wished it to be gone though. Our kisses grew sloppy and increasingly frantic. She broke from my lips and sucked, licked, and kissed a path down my neck. I couldn’t fight the groans of pleasure when she nibbled at the crook of my neck. Kayla bent us both over, so my back hit the mattress, then she sat up, eyeing me with a predatory look. “You are divine, Mina,” she said, her voice guttural with lust. Pinning both my hands over my head, she continued the path with her lips down my collarbone, to my breasts.

  I squirmed and arched my back to press my body closer to her teasing lips and tongue, but she took her time. When she finally sucked a nipple into her mouth I nearly yelled with pleasure. My head started spinning as she played my body like an instrument, inching down, down, until…

  This time I did yell. Her tongue and fingers worked magic as she parted, tasted and devoured me. A low growl vibrated against my wet flesh and I moaned low. “You taste heavenly.” Her fingers entered me, and I threaded my hands through her hair, keeping her head in place, steering her where I needed her to go. My body coiled up like a spring and I shattered with her mouth on me, screaming her name. She didn’t let up, made me ride out every last bit of high, until I fell back onto the bed, spent and sweating.

  Her silver eyes glinted above my thighs as she began stroking me into a frenzy again.

  “Stop,” I breathed. “Please.”

  “Why?”

  “Undress, now.” My breath came in huffs as she stood, and I propped myself up on my elbows to watch.

  Kayla pulled the shirt over her head, then drew off her boots before nestling with her pants. I sat up and slapped her fingers away. She giggled and I looked up, surprised. The sound of her laughter was like nothing I would have imagined. Light and bright, like silver bells. What was even more distracting, was that Kayla had blushed, her gaze fleeing mine.

  I frowned and worked her pants down, then tugged at her panties. Kissing a trail beneath her belly button, from hipbone to hipbone had her breath speed up. Her hands combed through my hair and I sighed with pleasure when her fingers pressed down slightly. I pulled down her panties and kissed her soundly on the lips. Looking up, I saw her biting her lower lip, drawing a drop of blood with her fangs.

  With the first lick of my tongue I moaned, her taste was explosive, just like she was. Wild and beautiful. I knew I would never get enough of her.

  A hiss was the only warning I got, before she had me on my back and was straddling my face, looking away from me. She bent down, and my breath hitched as her lips made contact with my sensitive flesh.

  I slapped her butt and pulled her down a bit so I could reach. She giggled again, but complied, sinking down so I could devour her the way she was devouring me.

  My legs shook with effort as I concentrated on not coming before I had made her explode. But I was fighting a losing battle, my orgasm drawing ever closer. Kayla trembled, her muscles clenching and unclenching, then she lifted her head off me, but before I could protest, she sank her fangs into my thigh.

  Ecstasy. An inferno of passion burned me to a crisp. My cry mixed with hers as our bodies convulsed uncontrollably, holding on to each other with all our might. Wave after wave of fire broke over my skin, inside of me, around me. I rode the most incredible high I could remember, and it didn’t stop. With Kayla’s every pull and suck on my thigh I felt tremors rush through me. My head fell back and I closed my eyes. This had to be what heaven was like. I could die now and I wouldn’t care.

  Chapter Fifteen - Kayla

  Her blood was life. It hummed through me with every heartbeat, prickled against the inside of my skin, and filled me to the brink with strength. As though I had lived a lifetime on cardboard and had taken my first bite of an apple. It was everything.

  I felt her thrashing and stilling beneath me and nearly jumped off her. “Oh god, I am so sorry!” I said, turning to her. But Mina seemed relaxed, flushed and smiling, looking more beautiful than ever. With a few licks, I closed the puncture wounds, then crawled up towards her face.

  “That was amazing!” she said in a breathy voice. “I think I died a little.” The sheer joy on her face calmed me somewhat, but I had just bitten her. Taken from her. She couldn’t be okay with that.

  “I shouldn’t have bitten you, I apologize.”

  Her relaxed face changed into a frown. “What? Why? It was pure ecstasy. Come here.” She opened her arms and pulled me to her side. I ended up with my head on her shoulder, her palms stroking over my arms and back, our legs intertwined. “I thought when you guys bit someone, it hurt. It’s supposed to be near unbearable.”

  “Normally it would be, had I used my venom.”

  Her hands stilled. “You can control that?”

  “Yes, but most vampires don’t even bother to learn how. It’s supposed to stun our prey, but my food is mostly from a fresh kill, so I have never needed my venom much. Also, it makes the blood a little bitter and I don’t care for the taste. Still, I should have asked. I have no idea what came over me.”

  “You haven’t fed in a while, and let’s face it, that particular vein was probably all in your face.”

  I had to smirk at her words, but she was right, it had beckoned me until I lost control. “You are amazing. I never thought I would find… a connection like this.”

  “Not with someone like me, at least,”
she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

  The bitterness cut me. We just lay there for a few moments, thoughts running through my mind. What she’d done for me earlier, how alive and satisfied she made me feel, the surprising realization that I could trust her. “You were right,” I said, propping myself up on one elbow, so I could see her face. “Not all of our kind are monsters. I was wrong.”

  Mina palmed my face with both hands and drew me in for a soft, long kiss. It was tender, conveying what words could not, and I felt my heart bounce, filled with warmth and joy. “I am never leaving this bed,” she said against my lips. “And neither are you.”

  “Well, we still have two nights until pande-fucking-monium,” I stated.

  She groaned and let her head fall back. “There is still some stuff to do, the bombs have to be finished, there are some ingredients left to complete the draught of—”

  I cut her off with a kiss, letting my tongue dance over her lower lip. “Later,” I growled.

  That night, neither one of us left the bed, and when the sun rose, she was asleep in my arms and I greeted my trance with a languid satisfaction that I hadn’t felt since my human days.

  *******

  I rose before my witch and spent a silly amount of time watching her face run through an array of emotions as she dreamt. Eventually, I kissed her till she woke and coaxed her to open her chocolate-colored eyes with the promise of breakfast and coffee.

  With a mewling sound, she pulled me to her, murmuring something along the line of ’five more minutes‘. I sprang from the bed after two, the way she snuggled up to me – her naked body as delicious as ever – was a temptation I couldn’t resist otherwise.