by Kailin Gow
“What do you want?” Sadie asked, her voice as controlled and calm as possible.
“Let us go,” Alexis shouted.
The young girl, calm and sure of the power that surrounded her, took a step towards Alexis and put her heavy Doc Marten on her face, squeezing her cheeks together until her lips were forced into an unattractive pout. She tapped the stake to Alexis’ shoulder, her face contemplative and amused. “You don’t really seem to be in much of a position to tell me what to do. So how about you keep that lovely trap of yours closed and I’ll decide what to do.”
“Byotch,” Alexis managed to slur.
This only served to acquire her an additional squeeze from the girl’s boot before she turned her attention to Sadie. With a subtle gesture of her head, the young man at Sadie’s back turned her around and effectively pinned her to the wall with a broad hand to her chest bone. The pressure was so great, she could barely breathe.
“Where is he?” the young girl asked.
“Who?”
The girl smiled, obviously enjoying her moment of grandeur and power. “The Vampire Hunter. Keegan. The man you spent those last few hours battling with.” She turned to glare at Alexis then returned her gaze to Sadie. “We know you fought the hunters, leaving them for dead… and enjoying it.”
Keegan, Sadie thought. If this girl was concerned with Keegan’s safety, surely she could be reasoned with. She attempted a warm smile. “I understand your concern. Are you one of his hunters?”
“I don’t see how that’s your business, vampire.”
“But, I know where he is. I want to help him. I want to get him out.”
“Ah,” the young girl sighed, as a grim smile exposed a row of her large crooked teeth and white gums. “So you do know where he is.”
“I’m concerned for his safety as well,” Sadie said, wanting to reassure her. “We will get him out.”
“Out?”
“Out of Skars’ hands.”
“Skars?”
“Yes,” Sadie said, feeling growing optimism. “The worst Strigoi of all. You know of him, don’t you?”
The girl chuckled, not with relief of joy as Sadie would have expected, but with something dark and ugly. The sound reflected the girl’s soul… lost.
“I’ve every intention of getting him out safely.” As the words fell off her tongue, Sadie knew Keegan’s safety was not this girl’s concern.
Raising her hand and leaning the pointed edge of the stake at Sadie’s breast, the girl’s eyes took on a demonic glimmer that Skars himself could not even compete with. “If Keegan is with Skars, I really have no need for either of you.” She gestured back to Alexis with an inhuman tilt of her head, but her eyes, black and lusting for blood, remained on Sadie.
“I don’t understand,” Sadie muttered.
The young girl grinned and raised the stake high into the air. “You don’t need to.”
Sadie felt the pressure rise off her chest as the heavy hand of the young man was pulled back to allow the small girl’s deadly strike. The stake came to her with startling speed and she braced herself for the blow. Just as she thought her world was about to end, she saw the stake fall harmlessly to the floor and the girl was thrown against the wall.
The flurry of color moved with lightning speed, rendering the man who’d pinned her to the wall helpless and on his knees. Just as quickly, the colorful whirlwind threw Alexis’ assailant clear across the room, hitting the wall with a loud thud.
Though clearly incapacitated by the blows, the three assailants were soon left with a stake in their hearts. All Sadie could make out was the dying cry of the young girl as her heart was pierced and her life was brought to an end. It all happened so fast, in such a blur, Sadie wondered if it had happened at all.
When the fury of deadly action was over, a tall figure, one whom made Sadie’s heart skip a beat, was standing before her. Lord Ashwin.
“Wha…?” Alexis muttered in disbelief as she got to her feet.
“How can…?” Sadie muttered in her own fog of confusion and disbelief.
The stake in his hand dripped blood all over the living room floor while the bodies that surrounded them dried up, crumbled and turned to harmless mounds of dust.
“Strigois?” Sadie asked.
“The girl seemed so human… so real,” Alexis said.
“That’s what makes them so successful… usually. They blend in with the human race, just as well as you do, Sadie.” He turned to Alexis. “Not all vampires enjoy drawing attention to themselves like you do.” He winked.
“She seemed to care about Keegan.” Sadie said, still trying to make sense of it all.
“She cared about all the hunters I wounded and maimed,” Alexis countered.
“Claudine didn’t care about them. She’s upset that you didn’t kill them all. She’s always been a hard one, that kid. Back in France she was known as the Sadist Child. Since she’d been turned at such a young age, she never developed into the woman she could have been. I think that frustrated her.”
“Talk about retained hormones. To be condemned to a life of acne and that geeky awkward stage.” Alexis grimaced and shivered with disdain.
“Whatever the cause, Claudine was never one to back down from a fight and never one to leave a vampire or hunter standing. She may have been small, but she had tenacity.”
Alexis came up to him and patted his shoulder, “Well, I guess you just swept in and saved the day, Ash?”
Sadie brushed Alexis aside. “Why does she want Keegan?”
“That I don’t know. Keegan was Skars’ best hunter, the only hunter Skars ever made immortal… to my knowledge. As his henchmen, Keegan got the star treatment.” Ashwin gazed intently into Sadie’s eyes. “Keegan staked more than his share of our kind under Skars’ direction.”
“I know he’s a hunter, Ashwin. You don’t have to try to convince me whose side he’s on. But he also kills only the worst of the worst. Those who’ve crossed the line between feeding on humans to stay alive and those who kill for sport. He hunts Strigois.”
Ashwin gripped Sadie’s shoulders, his expression grim and sad as he shook his head. “He hunted all vampires, Sadie – Strigois as well as vampires like you and Alexis.
Sadie didn’t want to argue the point. She knew Keegan and knew he wasn’t that ruthless. “And what’s Claudine’s connection to Keegan?” she asked.
A wicked smile crossed Ashwin’s lips and he shrugged with hesitation. “Word has it Keegan was quite popular among Skars’ harem. His great abilities were not restricted to hunting vampires. He had an uncanny way with the ladies. It was said he could charm the… well, clothes off any female he desired.”
Alexis chuckled while Sadie fought to contain her emotions. She refused to believe Keegan could be so callous, so womanizing. “Well,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too defensive. “Isn’t that just like a man?”
“Indeed,” Alexis chimed in. “I guess your little angel isn’t so angelic after all.”
Sadie pulled away from Ashwin and turned to look out the window into the black night. No wonder he’d played Alexis against her. Toying with two sisters was probably just another fun distraction for him. He knew exactly what he was doing all along, seducing Alexis all while playing innocent with her.
She turned back to look at Ashwin and instantly hated herself for the look of pity and concern she saw in his eyes. She didn’t want him to know of the affection she had for Keegan, as misplaced as it may be.
Ashwin reached out and gently cupped her chin, his eyes searching hers.
Had the hurt left her gaze? Was her sense of betrayal still evident?
“He’ll only break your heart like so many before you.”
“Don’t kick yourself, Sadie.” Alexis came up to stand at Ashwin’s side. “You're not the first to be taken in by a cute guy like Keegan and you won’t be the last… that is unless I can get my hands on him and get rid of him once and for all.”
You were just
as taken in by him, Sadie wanted to shout. Tears of frustration, of heartache worked their way to her eyes and it took every ounce of strength to keep them from flooding her cheeks.
She wouldn’t cry in front of Ashwin, not for Keegan.
“I’m so sorry to have to tell you all this. It breaks my heart to see you in such pain. He’s with Skars and…”
“I know,” Sadie cut in. “I’m still going to get him out.”
Ashwin shook his head. “Sadie, as angelic and sweet as that boy may appear to be, he’s far from being innocent. You can’t trust him. Going after him now will only ensure your own death. Don’t you see that?”
“I have to admit I find that hard to believe as well,” Alexis said, for the first time showing her weakness for Keegan.
Ashwin backed away from both girls, his eyes going from one to the other. “You girls can believe it or not, but Keegan has been a loyal hunter for Skars for hundreds of years. Even if Keegan wanted to, he cannot break his bond with him. Skars’ granted him immortality, but for a price… and that price is the head of every living vampire, and yours are no exception.”
“But he was so…”
“Kind? Funny? Amusing? Charming?” Ashwin gazed at Sadie. “Do you need me to go on?”
She shook her head. She knew she was innocent in the ways of men and needed to wise up, but believing Keegan to be the monster Ashwin portrayed was inconceivable.
“I hate to see you like this, Sadie.” Ashwin approached her and brought his hand to her cheek. “You're too good to have to suffer such pain, and I know the heartache this is causing you, but I’d rather see you suffer this heartbreak than see you killed at the hand of that deceiving bastard.”
The warmth of his hand on her cheek brought her back to the days too many years ago. She’d been truly innocent then and truly enamored with this man. Her lids fell heavily over her eyes as she was carried back to that time at Stoker Manor.
“I care for you far too much to let that happen, Sadie. I wish I could take back the hurt he’s already caused you, but I’m too late for that. However, I promise to do everything within my power to keep him from hurting you any further.”
Sadie felt the warmth of his breath as he approached and opened her eyes. In that moment, she wanted to drown in the love she saw in his eyes. The young and inexperienced woman she’d been back then re-emerged and wanted to lose herself in this man’s embrace.
Forgetting Alexis’ presence, she allowed Ashwin to come closer and lay his lips over hers. Soft, yet heated with bridled passion, his lips were quick to erase all the hurt of these past moments. Thoughts of Keegan disappeared and the recent fights and conflicts evaporated. She willingly let the world slip away as she lost herself to his kiss.
A loud shuffle sounded nearby, but she wanted to ignore it. This kiss was too heavenly and too blissful to think of any distractions. Then reality hit with all the intensity her loving sister could muster.
“Well, isn’t this just grand?” Alexis snapped. “Why don’t you just go on as if I wasn’t here at all?”
With a sense of responsibility that overrode the pleasure of Ashwin’s kiss, Sadie turned to look at Alexis and was shocked to see the degree of anger, hurt, and jealousy reflected in her sister’s stance.
“You two can just go…” Alexis grabbed her bag and stormed out before Sadie could even free herself of Ashwin’s hold.
**************
Her heels stomped the pavement, echoing in the still night as Alexis sought a meal. Not so much out of a need to feed, but a need to vent. She wouldn’t let herself cry. She wouldn’t give Ashwin or Sadie that satisfaction. All these years she waited for him, loved him, and became a vampire for him, yet he loved Sadie more. It was always Sadie. She knew it back at Stoker Manor the night he turned Sadie out of mercy, that he loved Sadie instead of her. He lusted after her, like most men, however, it was Sadie whom he wanted. Yet Alexis still wanted him so much. What a fool she had been.
With her eyes filled with unshed tears of sadness and fury, she stalked the streets at night. Tonight, she wanted to kill everyone in sight, but she would wait for the right moment to make the kill.
Tonight, it was evident Sadie was the one Ashwin wanted. Sickly, sweet Sadie. From the moment he’d entered their home, from the moment he’d killed their assailants his eyes had barely strayed from Sadie’s face. She was all he wanted, all he cared about. Alexis’ heart crumbled in pain, and the way she knew how to deal with pain was to create pain.
Well, if that’s what he wanted, so be it.
And if Strigois were what he hated, well then she’d give him plenty of reason to hate her.
Chapter 5
Her anger dissipated as Alexis found plenty of humans from which to choose her next kill. Due to the overabundance of homeless junkies, crack heads and troubled teen runaways, the park near the beach was one of her favorite hunting grounds. Never had she left the park empty-handed and never had she heard of a search for any of her victims. These were the people society simply didn’t miss when one disappeared.
Strolling casually by a group of head-bangers, she ignored their sneers and catcalls and focused her attention on a young strung-out couple making out. The sight of lovers only made her think of Ashwin and Sadie…how she hated anyone in love right now. The guy was big and muscular, holding the girl pressed up against a tree, his hands and arms all over the place.
Great, Alexis thought. A two for one.
The lovey dovey scene only exacerbated the residual anger she felt for Ashwin and his obvious love for Sadie. To think she’d harbored such deep affection for him all this time, only to have him fall for…
“Damn it,” she muttered, willing herself to put the pair out of her mind. They deserved each other for all she cared. Ashwin wasn’t the only man to be had. Keegan wasn’t the only man, either. She steeled herself and made a promise to herself to never let herself fall in love again. The pain of having her heart trample was unbearable. From now on, she was going to have men for what they are to her as a vampire: either a meal or for pleasure or both. She was a vampire…she was not supposed to harbor any feelings of love anyways.
She approached the couple, her mind now intent on her meal. Her mind played out a variety of kills. Strike them both at once. Or perhaps get the large guy and make the girl watch as she sucked him dry. “Love is so overrated,” she griped.
Only a few feet away from them, she realized they weren’t making out at all, but were in the midst of a heated and physical argument. The hands she’d thought were fondling and groping the girl were actually wrestling and punching.
A few more steps revealed they weren’t even human. Had she been so preoccupied with all her mixed emotions surrounding Ashwin that she’d not picked up on the scent sooner?
Her muscles tensed, but not with the intent to kill for fun. Now she might have to kill to survive. The crunch of a branch underfoot caught the couple’s attention and they both turned to her.
Alexis gasped as the woman looked at her.
“Help me, Alexis.”
“Delilah?”
The muscular man, annoyed by the disruption, stared at her for one eternally long moment. His eyes were red and the more he stared at her the brighter they glowed.
“Please, Alexis.”
An inhuman growl emanated from deep within the young man’s chest. Without even glancing at Delilah, he shoved his hand to her throat, effectively depriving her of air.
Delilah’s eyes widened as her hands reached for his arm.
Alexis remained immobile, her feet firmly planted where she was. Mesmerized by the Strigoi’s eyes, her mind went blank. Fighting a Strigoi once again. After a night of battle, she hardly felt prepared to fight off another Strigoi.
He bared his fangs suddenly, his intent to kill Delilah clear in his demonic eyes.
“Alex…” Delilah croaked.
The tortured call of her childhood nanny finally reached deep into her consciousness, spurring her
into action. Driven by the urgency of the moment, she grabbed a broken tree branch and, without hesitation, speared the Strigoi with less effort than she expected.
Still gasping for air, Delilah brought her hands to her sore throat and watched the young man crumble into nothing more than a pile of dust. “What took you so long?” she asked, trying to catch her breath. In the moment the question came out, she shook her hand and waved the question away. “Never mind. I’m just glad you finally came around. I was ambushed and tricked. He had a human helping him who carried holy water and a silver blade. I thought the human was in trouble, but when I got close, she threw holy water on me and stabbed me with silver. Before I knew it, that Strigoi was at my throat.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here and…”
“I know. And I didn’t expect to be attacked. The bastard was strong and a little more cunning than I expected. We’d been going at it for almost an hour when you arrived.”
Alexis looked at the small pile of dust on the ground. She knew she’d had no choice. She couldn’t just stand by and let him kill Delilah. But still… the thought of having to kill another vampire did not appeal to her.
Still staring at the pile, Alexis sensed Delilah’s close presence then the warmth of her arm as Delilah wrapped her arm around her. “Even after a huge night of fighting, you still have the speed, agility and wherewithal to save my life.”
“Sorry I froze for a second there.”
“You know, we’d make a great team. Why, we could eliminate Strigois in no time. I bait them in and you stake them.”
“The bait and stake… how quaint.” Though she tried to sound nonchalant, Delilah’s words of praise greatly affected her. She could hardly remember the last time someone had congratulated her. All Sadie ever did was complain and criticize.
Delilah gave her a tight hug and Alexis was a young girl all over again, only now she’d finally become the favored one.
“Are you out here alone?” Delilah asked. “Where’s Sadie?”
The euphoria evaporated at the very sound of her sister’s name. Why was everyone so concerned with Sadie?