by P. A. Warren
“Stop. That’s none of your concern.” Glancing down at my watch, I then look up at her with shrewd eyes.
“I have news about a half vampire/half human who might be in the possession of the Maji,” she snaps.
Riley walks over, scowling at Erika. “That’s impossible.”
She clicks her tongue and dismisses Riley as she inches closer to me. “It’s not. I birthed her myself.”
I am surprised by this revelation, but I give no indication to her. What kind of a woman would tell the enemy that her child is an anomaly and should be killed? Looking over sharply at Erika, I rub my chin as I contemplate her words. The Maji: I’ve been trying to locate it for years. With it I could use the spells to rule the vampire kingdom and take down Antony. I would have supreme power…and supreme power pleases me.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, sounding bored, trying to act nonchalant when all I want to do is strangle this mad woman.
“Her father is the Eastern King of Vampires, Antony Benali, and her grandmother was Augustine the Vampire Witch.” She lets out an evil laugh. “Claire. The girl cost me my place beside Antony, and it’s time to make her pay.”
“Such motherly love,” I murmur rubbing my chin. Snapping my fingers, one of my men brings me a prepared glass of brandy from the Navigator. I take a slow sip and it soothes my nerves instantly as the liquid makes its way down my throat. Once I have some alcohol in me I can continue on with the risky business of dealing with this devil woman. As soon as that name, Augustine, crossed Erika’s lips I knew the half vampire /half whatever she is had to die, especially if she’s had any association with Augustine. Even dead, that witch is powerful, and in order for the girl to get the Maji, Augustine would have had to give it to her personally. It would only be in the way of what I truly want, to rule the entire vampire clan, East and West. Antony stole the title of King from me, and this will be the perfect way to make him pay, by killing his anomaly of a daughter and taking the Maji. I’m so elated I pull the bothersome Erika closer and kiss her. I break away from the kiss and lean my forehead on hers. “Where is she located?”
An evil laugh escapes her thin, red lips. “She’s in a small college in New York called Bellvue.”
“Thank you,” I say with a sense of sincerity.
I step away as Erika latches her hand onto my arm. “Please take me with you. I’ll do anything for you.”
“It’s a pity you have no family loyalty, but thank you all the same.” I look down at her hand already mad at myself for my lack of judgment in kissing her. Sneering down at her hand, that has latched itself onto my arm, my lips curling in disgust. I despise being touched. Unlatching the hand with nails so long they are like talons, I quickly brush my coat off and snap my fingers towards Riley a few feet away, signaling it’s time. I walk away, unmoved, to the sound of Erika’s faint cries. Her frail human body falls to the ground as the blood gushes from her slashed throat.
Getting into the car, I pick up the phone and press the contact button. “It’s time. She’s at a college in New York. Find her and bring her to me,” I say into my phone in a deadly tone.
“Yes, sir,” the person replies. “I will send Mikail the information. Do you want her alive or dead?”
“Alive. Oh, and if he fails he will die. I want that girl, and I will do anything that’s needed to get her,” I say into the phone almost nonchalantly.
The door opens and Riley bends down and sits next to me as he opens a bag of blood and tosses his head back. He sucks the blood down with eagerness. What a pussy. He didn’t even eat from the human. Rolling my eyes at him, I tap his leg with my foot.
“Once we get the girl I want you to do everything I taught you. Everything. She needs to be broken. She cannot be allowed to become a full vampire, not with the chance that she could have some magic from her grandmother. She would become too powerful.”
Riley nods silently, not uttering one word the entire time.
Chapter 5
Claire
The bright sunlight shines through my open drapes and right into my face, waking me. Wincing at the brightness, I pull the covers over my eyes, opening them in the dark and feeling relief that I can open them without pain. Butterflies take over my stomach when I think of my run in with Jason. I blush at the thought and can’t believe I kissed him yesterday. I’ve never been that forward with any guy. Putting my hands over my face, I groan at my behavior. My face burns with embarrassment thinking about the encounter. I take the covers off my head and look over towards my roommate’s side of the room, and notice the bed was never slept in. Shaking my head smiling, at least someone is enjoying the college experience.
Placing my feet on the new throw rug I bought for the room, I let out a long sigh. It’s so fluffy I can’t help but sink my feet into it and curl my toes. Leaning over, I pick up my phone off the floor. I check the time and see that it’s around ten in the morning. I can’t believe I’ve almost slept the morning away. I grab my clothes for the day, towel, and shower caddy and make my way towards the community bathrooms. As I walk down the hall, chills run down my spine as I feel eyes on me. I quickly turn but see no one. Hmmm. I continue on my present course, dreading going into the shower alone. A fear has crept in, and I hope there are others in there getting ready as well.
Opening the bathroom door, I’m disappointed to find it empty. Sighing, I set my shower caddy down in a stall and turn on the water waiting for it to warm up. Once warm, I step in and let the water run down my body, soaking my hair. Grabbing my shampoo bottle I squirt some of the strawberry liquid in my hand. I can’t help but raise it to my nose and inhale its yummy goodness. Lathering my hair richly I fumble around blindly for my razor as water runs over my face. I do a quick shave, and in my haste, end up cutting myself.
“Ouch.”
I gaze down at the little line of blood that’s running down my knee, and my mouth starts to salivate. I put my finger on the cut and wipe the blood off my finger. I am holding it eye level when I hear the door squeal open. Startled, I tilt my head out of the curtain and spy something that makes my eyes bulge. There’s a brown haired guy walking in the girls’ bathroom as if he owns the place. I instantly have this really intense urge to scream, but I’m scared that if I do he’ll know I’m here. My intuition is saying this guy is bad news, and that I need to stay silent. Shutting the water off as quietly as I can, I grab my towel and get dressed. I hear kissing sounds and take a deep breath before peeking out from behind the curtain. My eyes widen at the sight of a guy kissing some girl, how random. I sigh in relief and curse at my overactive imagination. I was acting as if a serial killer walked into the shower area rather than a guy who wanted to get lucky with his girl.
I head back to my room and stare at my reflection in the mirror. I wish I had a fairy godmother to turn me into someone beautiful. As my eyes roam over my shoulder length wavy brown hair and green eyes, I glance down at my barely there chest and then my legs that lack any sort of tan. My mom used to try and insult me by saying I always looked like death. Shaking my head at myself I’m reminded again why I no longer have contact with my mom. Pulling my skinny jeans on, I think back to the guy in the shower room. College is definitely different then I thought it would be. I jump up and down, trying to wiggle into my tight jeans and tip over and fall to the ground. I sit sitting and just stare at my legs. One of these days I won’t be so clumsy. I finally right myself and then I grab my pink tank top and pulling it on with a white cardigan sweater over the top of it. Grabbing my toothbrush, I run back to the bathroom and start brushing. My canines are so sensitive I can hardly brush them. I need to make a dental appointment as well as a doctor’s appointment. Food hasn’t been very appetizing lately, and I’ve lost at least five pounds in the last few weeks. Swishing the water in my mouth, I spit it out and lean towards the mirror and open my mouth to inspect my swollen gums.
My mind still seems to be lingering on my encounter with Jason; so much so that I almost forget to grab my
backpack. Checking my phone, I have about ten minutes to get across campus for my Western Civilization class.
Locking the door, I set off down the sidewalk, not making eye contact with others. I rarely look up when I walk anyway. I was taught from a young age that I wasn’t worthy enough to look at people, and it’s just something that’s been ingrained in my life. Half the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it.
The feeling that someone is following me washes over me again, and I stop looking around at the other students as they trail past me. It’s the same feeling I had yesterday. Stopping so abruptly that someone bumps into me, I apologize but don’t move. I turn my head in both directions but see no one. I continue on, but the feeling of being followed still weighs on me. I move faster and can’t contain my sigh of relief when I finally reach the open door to the classroom. I head through it and take my seat in the back corner and observe the other students filter in. I pull out my notebook and pens, checking the time only to realize I’m early and have a few minutes before the lecture begins, so I pull my book out and start reading. A voice breaks the silence in the classroom.
“Do you read all the time?”
I close the book and turn my head to the side. I am startled to see Jason Dumont, in all his masculine glory. I mean Channing Tatum has nothing on this guy. I can’t help but stare stupidly at him, my pencil in my mouth as I chew it haphazardly. My gaze fixed upon him.
“Earth to Claire…Earth to Claire…”
I jump at his words and shake my head to clear it from its present daydream. Do we share a class? I haven’t seen him in here before, but then I’ve bumped into Jason more the past few days than I have the entire few months that I’ve been here.
Without my consent, my cheeks blush, and I put the book in my backpack. “Yes, I love to read. It makes the world less lonely.” Oh gosh, that was awkward. I basically just told him that I have no friends, how pathetic.
Leaning closer to me, he whispers, “I think girls who read are sexy.”
My mouth pops open, and as I’m about to respond to him, the professor comes in. I close my mouth and shake my head, trying to ignore the blush that keeps coming to my face from the attention he’s giving me. When class is finally done, I dart out of there as fast as I can before he can talk to me again.
A light bulb goes off in my head when I’m in line for lunch at the quad. No one has ever tried to talk to me as much as Jason has, especially one with Jason’s status as man whore. So what does Jason want with me? What is it that makes me feel so weird when I’m near him? These thoughts are swirling around my head as I sit at my usual table…alone.
Chapter 6
Mikail Tsarev
Waking up at what feels like the ass crack of dawn in a car after driving for hours has never been on the top of my list, yet here I am. Yawning, I stretch my neck and crack it as I watch college students pouring out of their dorms and leaving for class. I scan the students for the one I’m looking for and haven’t spotted her yet. Tapping my fingers on the wheel impatiently, I tear open a bag of blood and drink it while my eyes never leave the front door of the building.
My phone rings, bringing me out of my blood buzz. I fumble with it and pick it up to see it’s Griffin. I flip the phone the bird and ignore the call. Here’s the deal; I’m a vampire witch, and I’m working for so many people it’s like an intricate spider’s web. The amount of people who want to inflict harm on Claire seems to be growing by the minute. It’s my duty to keep her safe. We’ve only met once, years ago, but I know she’s something special and is meant for me one day. I’ve watched her in secret since I first met her all those years ago. I actually saved her life one day during some senior prank where the boys locked her in a shed. They had no idea I was hiding in the shadows, or that I felt the raw fear coming from Claire. I followed those boys once they left, and let’s just say some required a stay at the hospital.
When Augustine brought me to America, I had no way of knowing just how my life would turn out. I was about ten years old then. Letting my mind wander back to that night, I lean back in the seat and study the people who walk by. I think back to what brought me to this point.
She came to my house late one night. The only way I knew about it was that I was supposed to be asleep, but after hearing the door, curiosity got the better of me. I snuck out of my room and hid on the stairs, listening to them. My eyes widen, as I watch my dad kneel before Augustine with his head bowed and her hand on his head. Who is this regal lady who came here and is acting like she owns the place? My eyes widen as she walks closer to me sniffing the air turning sharply as she spots me sitting there quivering in fear.
“Young man, I am Augustine, and it’s time that you came with me so you can prepare for your great future. Your father knew his time with you was short the day you were born.”
I stare at her in shock; I hadn’t said anything out loud. I back up against the wall and watch in fear as she walks closer to me, leaving my father to fall carelessly onto the floor. She stops in front of me, looking down at me with her mouth pursed.
“Stand up, boy; I’m too old to get on the floor. If I get down I may never get back up.”
“What do you want?” I ask her, my voice quivering in fear.
“You… I want you, Mikail. You will be the future of the Vampire Kingdom once the time is ready. The Maji has already predicted that you will bond one day with my granddaughter, and until that day comes I am taking you and having you trained to protect her. You will be trained on how to rule a kingdom the proper way. Your father knew this day would come; he should have prepared you for it instead of leaving you in the dark. Now let’s go.”
The sound of a car door slamming brings me back into focus. I’ve never gone back to Johannesburg since that day. My life is here, and I’m just waiting until the opportunity arises so I can claim my bond mate.
Augustine has me playing the field with everyone. Everyone thinks she’s dead, but trust me, she’s far from it. She knows exactly what’s going on with Antony and Griffin. Why she lets it continue is beyond me, something about starting a huge war if she interferes, or so she says. Thinking back a few weeks ago when she called me into her office, I slip on my watch, thinking back to the day when she informed me of all this.
I had just gotten back to the palace from practicing at the shooting range. I grab more blood and supplies so I could get back to the college to watch Claire. Something’s been bothering me lately, and I feel another presence surrounds her, one I don’t trust, so I told her I wanted more bodyguards on Claire. She knows I watch Claire twenty-four/ seven for my sanity, and she didn’t exactly appreciate my rage when she said I had to buddy up with Griffin and Antony to find out what they’re planning. Grabbing a shot of vodka, I toss it back, licking a small drop from my lip with my tongue. Protecting Claire is my life, I can’t fail her now.
“I’ll do it, but if anything happens to Claire you’re not going to like the consequences. If you think I’m crazy now watch what happens if something happens to Claire.”
A car door slamming in the parking spot next to me brings me again back to the present. I shake my head and take another swallow of the blood, finishing it off and tossing it on the floor. I‘m loyal to the Vampire Royalty for reasons that have been known to me since I first met Claire, one day she’ll be my bond mate. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t join the evil bastards that are trying to kill her so I can stop them, because I did that, just as Augustine suggested.
It’s really been an eye opener finding out who’s hired me to kill her. Griffin was too expected, but her own father that was surprising. And the fact that Antony has Jason, Griffin’s estranged son working for him almost blew my top. There isn’t much in life that I haven’t seen or done, but when it affects someone close to me, they are going to wish they’d never met me. When I filled Augustine in on that little tidbit, she was infuriated. I’m one of the very few people she trusts. So far everything’s going well and nothing out of the
ordinary except seeing Jason Dumont here, of all people. That bastard is getting on my fucking nerves. He’s compelled the people here to think he’s the shit, and all the girls want him. Not going to lie, had a good laugh when I found out about that.
Leaning down, I grab the file Augustine thrust at me before leaving with all the information I’m going to need. I shake my head as I flip through it. He’s been working for Antony for awhile, which is a whole different set of issues. So immersed in reading, I almost miss Claire leaving her dorm and walking quickly with her head down, carrying her books. It’s a usual look for her, and it’s nice to see that hasn’t changed. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen her and nothing has changed, except for the fact that pesky Jason is following her at a discreet distance.
Did I forget to mention Augustine refused to let me leave the palace for two long weeks while she had me train with a specially brought in instructor? The entire time I was training with the best of the best, I couldn’t help but wonder just what the hell Augustine was preparing me for. Running my hands over my tattooed arms, I glance in the mirror and lift my finger, pressing it on top of the number twenty-one next to my eye. That number has great significance. It’s when I’m finally able to reveal my true self to Claire; I turn twenty-one in a few weeks.
Sitting up straighter, I check the mirror and run my hand over my shaved head. I open the car door and hop out, heading to the trunk. I grab my bag and slip my shirt off. I am greeted with giggling from behind me. Turning around, I slip my clean shirt over my head and wink at them. “Long night last night.” They look at my chest as I pull the shirt down and snigger. The blonde looks back at me as they walk away, licking her lips. Shaking my head, I laugh. I’ve still got it. Rummaging through my bag, I grab some mouthwash and open the bottle and take a swig, swishing the minty liquid in my mouth before spitting. I lock the doors with the push of a button, drop the keys into my shorts pocket, and grab my backpack. It’s imperative that I fit in at all times. Claire has no idea that I’ve been following her for her entire life, or just how very important she is to me.