Then I saw his hand reach over my face toward my neck. He grasped a fistful of my scarf and yanked, causing the fabric to tighten around my neck then succumb to his brute force.
Renard straightened up and held the scarf up in one hand. “Got myself a trophy, boys.” He wound it around his neck and tossed one end of the scarf over his shoulder. “What do you think?”
“I think we should drain her,” James said eagerly.
“I meant what do you think about the scarf?”
“It makes me hungry. It’s such a waste that we can’t drink her.”
“She sort of reminds me of a fish flopping around inside a boat,” Greg said.
“Maybe a splash of water would help her.” James disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bucket of water. He dumped it over my face.
I sputtered in addition to twitching.
The vampires erupted into laughter. James looked down at my face. He moved to my side, pulled back his leg, and kicked me with all his strength.
“Don’t bother!” Renard snapped. “She can’t feel a thing right now.”
James shrugged and moved away. It was only voices again somewhere by the window.
Renard was wrong. I could feel pain. I felt pain shooting at my side like a stick of dynamite thrust through my ribcage erupting into hundreds of agonizing sparks.
“Is she still twitching?” I heard sometime later.
Greg got in my face moments later. “How long does this last?”
“She can’t speak, moron.”
Why hadn’t Renard left yet and taken one of his sidekicks with him? I had a much better chance of taking down one vampire than three. It would come down to combat this time. Suddenly I wished I’d put more effort into kickboxing class.
Renard snapped his fingers. “Time to hunt down the boy.”
“Double or nothing?” Greg said and the three vampires laughed.
“Sure you can handle the assassin?” Renard said. “She looks pretty scary shaking on the floor.”
“I think I can manage,” James said. If only he hadn’t grabbed Renard’s knife.
Now I had to take on an assailant with a weapon.
Renard and Greg clomped out of the house. An engine revved inside the garage. Tires screeched onto the street.
The moment we were alone, James circled me with the knife as though he were a vulture preparing to swoop in at any moment and pick my bones clean.
I reached slowly down my leg, sliding my fingers under my pants and closing my fist around the hilt of the dagger.
The shaking stopped. I jumped to my feet, done playing the victim.
James’s eyes widened. His surprise didn’t stop him from lunging. I jumped back, but not before the tip of his blade slid into my abdomen.
I screamed.
Getting bit hurt. Stabbing was a different kind of pain. Quicker. Colder. Deadly.
I put a hand over my stomach and looked at James.
When he smiled I realized, this is real; he’s going to try and kill me.
I could lead him in a circle around the room like I had with the rabies vampire, or I could get this over with once and for all.
I let out a battle cry and charged. My shoulder rammed James in the chest as I twisted sideways upon impact. He stumbled back several steps.
Before I could lunge in for the stab, James rushed me. I crouched at the last second. Wham! James tripped over me, hit the ground, and dropped his knife. I grabbed his leg with my free hand as he scrambled after the blade.
He kicked backwards landing a blow over my windpipe. I dropped my dagger.
My stomach stung. My tailbone ached. I couldn’t breathe.
James snatched his knife and scrambled back. I clutched my neck with both hands until James grabbed my arm and sliced open my wrist. I didn’t feel it at first. I was still trying to breathe.
James grabbed my other wrist and made his third cut.
A cry gurgled in my throat.
If only I could pull the same maneuver as Renard and thrust my wrist inside James’s mouth.
It was worth a try.
I held my wrist out and rasped, “You know you want it.”
James looked from my bleeding wrist to my eyes. “I might not be able to drink your blood, but I can still drain you dry.”
He stabbed me in the thigh. I cried out.
I reached around frantically for my knife. My fingers grasped the hilt. Black dots floated over my vision. I dragged my body over the floor, smearing a red trail across the hardwood. The dagger scraped against the ground with every push.
I was going to die in a pool of my own blood, wasn’t I?
If I died, Fane would never know why I broke up with him. I didn’t care if he was a vampire. I did it to protect him.
Fane.
I called out to him in my head. Desperation made me hope for the impossible. Fane was the last person who’d be out looking for me.
James inched his way over, a sadistic smile over his face.
When I’d backed myself against the wall he crouched beside me. James touched my neck with the tip of the knife. “Is this where he bit you? Is this where Ivo took his last drink?”
His breath reeked. If I hadn’t been kicked in the throat I could have breathed through my mouth rather than my nose.
James leaned forward with the knife, pushing the blade into my neck.
The scream that came from my throat, ripped my air ways back open.
James flinched at the shrill noise and dropped his knife in surprise. There was no time to think. I pitched myself forward and plunged my dagger into his chest. James’s body crashed to the ground beside me.
I relaxed my hold on the dagger. My eyes fluttered shut. I slumped against the wall, listening to the sound of my own breathing.
So this was the end? I would die in a shack after all. Hopefully death claimed me before Renard returned.
The front door burst open. It was thrown so hard it crashed against the inner wall.
Noel spoke first.
“Aurora, oh my God!” She crouched by my side.
At first I thought I imagined the second voice.
“Aurora?”
My heart fluttered. Fane. I got to see him one last time after all. I tried to smile.
“She’s been stabbed,” Noel said.
Fane’s face appeared over me. “Jesus Christ!”
He disappeared quickly. Fabric ripped through the room. Fane returned with blue strips of cloth and held one at my neck.
“Tighten these around her wounds,” he instructed Noel. “If you need more, check the duffel bag on the kitchen floor.”
Fane pressed the fabric tightly to the wound on my throat. “We need to get her to a hospital.”
“No!” Noel cried.
Fane scowled.
“The hospital can’t help her,” Noel said. “I need to get her on base.”
“Too far,” Fane said. “I’m less than a mile away. Go buy bandages and disinfectant and meet me there: 880 Alder Circle. Here, take my wallet. Go!”
Fane looked down at me after Noel left and scooped me into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder. The temperature outside was only slightly colder than inside the house. Fane reached for his car door handle while holding me against him. He laid me gently on the back bench in his car.
He didn’t say anything during the drive. It was as though he believed I couldn’t hear. Or maybe he didn’t want to talk to me. Noel must have enlisted his help out of desperation, which meant he knew what I was. If he was upset with me before, he had to downright hate me now.
“Come on,” he said, urging his car along as he drove, but the tank moved at its slow, smooth pace.
I drifted out of consciousness until the car choked to a stop in Fane’s driveway. Fane jumped out, came round to the back, and gathered me into his arms.
He kicked at his front door. Joss opened up and was nearly knocked over as Fane entered with me.
Joss hurried afte
r us. “What’s going on?”
“She’s been cut in five places.”
“What happened?”
“Vampires got her.”
“What the deuce? Did they drink from her thigh as well?”
Fane laid me on the couch gently. “They didn’t drink her. They found out she’s a vampire hunter.”
Joss’s eyes doubled in size. “And you brought her here?” He stormed to Fane’s side. “Francesco, she has to go.”
“She’s not going anywhere until I see to her wounds.”
“But why?”
“Don’t ask me that,” Fane said somberly.
He crouched by my side, checked the wound at my neck, and reapplied pressure. His hands shook as he unzipped my jeans. Fane pulled my top up halfway. Our eyes met.
There was a knock at the door.
“Who’s this now?” Joss asked.
“Come in,” Fane called.
Noel hurried in with a plastic shopping sack.
“Who’s this?” Joss repeated.
No one answered.
“I have gauze and Hydrogen Peroxide,” Noel said.
“Good. Clean out the wounds on her stomach and thigh. I’ll take care of her wrists and neck.”
Noel paused to look at Fane.
His eyes narrowed. “Noel, I’ve got it.”
They pulled the rags off. Noel swabbed at my stomach. My eyes fluttered.
Fane stopped wrapping one of my wrists and placed a hand on my cheek. “Stay with me, Aurora.”
He held my gaze for several beats before returning to my wrists.
Once the blood was cleaned up, Fane wrapped my wounds in gauze.
He peeled back a large square bandage for my neck, pressing firmly as he smoothed it over my raw skin.
Noel looked me over. “Aurora, are you okay?”
“No,” Fane said. “She shouldn’t talk. Tell me who else was behind this and where I can find them.”
Noel wrung her hands. “It was a vampire going around calling himself William at Marcus’s place. He came alone, but I saw him leave with two others in a tan Buick. I called Marcus when I got the bandages, and he confirmed that they had just returned to the party. He said that the guy calling himself William is wearing the red scarf Aurora had on earlier.”
Joss huffed. “Marcus.”
Fane tensed his jaw. “Does Marcus know Aurora’s an assassin?”
“No.”
“Good. What does this William look like?”
“I believe his name’s really Renard. He came after Aurora after she…” Noel glanced from me to Fane. “Offed an acquaintance of his in Fairbanks.”
“Bloody hell,” Joss said.
Fane stood. “I’ll be back.”
Joss stepped in his way. “Don’t do this, Francesco.”
Fane glanced back at me. “As long as this guy’s breathing, Aurora’s not safe.”
Joss moved in step with Fane as he tried to sidestep him. “I won’t let you do this.”
Fane slipped around him. “Take care of her.”
I reached a hand out to stop him, but no one saw. Fane slammed the door behind him.
“Hell! Bloody hell! Bloody hell!” Joss bellowed. “He’s going to get himself bloody killed. And for what purpose? To save a bloody vampire hunter.” He turned and looked at me. “Is she truly one of those newfangled vampire hunters?”
Joss looked at Noel suddenly. “Are you?”
“No,” Noel said. “I’m an informant.”
“Bloody brilliant. Francesco leaves me behind with an assassin and a spy.”
Noel shrugged.
“Can’t you get her out of here?”
Noel’s forehead wrinkled. “I need to get her to one of our doctors. Could you help me move her to my car?”
“You want me to touch her?”
“Her skin can’t infect you.”
“I’m still not getting anywhere near her.”
“Come on,” Noel said, losing patience. “I need help.”
Finally I managed to sit upright. “No,” I croaked.
Noel and Joss looked at me.
“I have to help Fane.”
Noel’s face loosened up. She came to my side. “Aurora, we have to get you on base. You’ve lost a lot of blood. You may need another transfusion.”
“Oh, great,” Joss said. “Fill her up with more of your toxins.”
“No,” I said.
“Can you get up?” Noel asked.
“Blood.”
“What?”
If I shared the same blood type as vampires, wouldn’t it stand to reason that consuming human blood would rejuvenate me?
“Bring me blood.”
Noel looked at Joss as though he might be able to decipher my request. “I don’t understand.”
Joss studied my face a moment. “I believe your friend is requesting blood.”
“You mean she wants to…” Noel’s eyes widened.
Joss looked at us both darkly. “Drink blood.”
26
Cravings
Joss turned and disappeared. He reemerged with a tall clear glass. No porcelain mug masking the contents. He handed it to me from two feet away and retracted his hand once I took it. He and Noel watched me.
Here went nothing.
I took the first sip. My brain told me to gag, but I didn’t. I took a second sip and then a third. The taste was exquisite, like a thick milkshake triggering an instant boost. I guzzled down the rest. The blood coated my throat and slid down my esophagus.
I could feel it flowing through my veins, filling me with life and vitality. My heart beat out a blissful rhythm. I licked the last of it off my lips.
I stood. “Noel, take me back to Marcus’s house.”
“Aurora,” Noel said slowly. “You just drank blood.”
“Self-administered transfusion,” I said.
I didn’t want to think about what it meant. Not now. Not with Fane’s life at stake.
I zipped my pants up. “Let’s go.”
Noel glanced at Joss.
“He’s not coming,” I said.
Noel’s Volvo was parked on the street. I climbed in and stared out the windshield at the silent neighborhood. “How did you find me?”
Noel started the car. “I followed you.”
“You didn’t want to make a night of it in the October room?” I had no right to sound annoyed, but that’s how my tone came out.
“I thought Henry was going to stay with you. When he came back to the October room I worried. It was your first vampire party. I came downstairs to check on you and saw you leaving with some guy I’d never seen before. So I followed you.”
Tears gathered in my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Noel nodded.
“Aurora, I’m sorry I told Fane. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You did the right thing. Does anyone else know? Henry? Marcus?”
“No, of course not. Marcus thinks Renard was stalking you.”
I shuddered. “He was.”
“Right, but not for the reasons Marcus think. Unfortunately, it happens even under normal circumstances. A vampire obsesses over a human, stalks her, kills her… that’s why the agents need us.”
I touched the bandage on my neck.
Noel cleared her throat. “How are you feeling?”
“Better… now.”
Noel didn’t mention the blood again.
“Why are you going after Fane?” she asked. “Can’t he handle himself? I mean, he’s a vampire.”
“But he’s not a killer. I am.”
Noel pulled up to Marcus’s townhouse slowly. She dropped her head.
“I can’t go in with you, Aurora.”
“I know.” I started to get out and stopped. “Thanks again. For following me. If you hadn’t I’d be dead.”
Noel smiled. “No problem. Do you still need a place to crash tonight?”
I shook my head. “No. See you at s
chool?”
“Yeah.”
I waved as Noel drove off. I took a deep breath and headed for the door to the palace. I didn’t know what I’d expected inside. Blood and mayhem, maybe. But everything was the way I’d left it before the abduction. Guests milled around the living room in cozy clusters, drinks poised in one hand.
Once I walked through the front door, Marcus came over to greet me as though it was natural that I should return bandaged at the throat.
I followed him into the empty kitchen. He took a bottle of whiskey from a cupboard and pulled out a crystal drinking glass.
“Something to dull the pain?”
“No, thank you.”
Marcus poured a small amount of whiskey into the glass and tossed it back.
I ran a hand along the smooth granite countertop. “Where’s Fane?”
Marcus licked his lips in one slow, languid motion before answering. “You should have told me that you were with Francesco. I’ll admit, I didn’t want to bite you before, but now that it is forbidden…” Marcus’s grin widened.
“Where is he?”
Marcus poured another splash of whiskey into the crystal glass and pushed it toward me. “Disposing of some trash.”
My breath caught. “Renard and Greg?”
Marcus screwed the top on the whiskey bottle and returned it to the cupboard. “No one abducts a guest from my home. Not without consequences.”
I pushed away from the oven. “I need to help him.”
“He has help.”
“No, I need to take care of it.”
Marcus looked me over and chuckled. “You are unusual, Aurora, but I like unusual. It’s already taken care of.”
“What do you mean?”
Marcus reached toward me. I flinched, but he was only grabbing the whiskey glass. He swirled it in his hand.
“I have a special room. I call it my music room. Only certain types are shown the music room. Those who misbehave. Renard and Greg got the personal tour earlier.”
My mouth hung open. “You mean…? You?”
Marcus lifted the glass to his nose and inhaled. His lashes fluttered and lips puckered. “I do still enjoy a killing on occasion. When they deserve it, of course.”
I willed myself not to shudder. One day, I might be asked to the music room. I suppose the only notes one produced in there was a high-pitched shriek.
Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Page 20