Forbidden Feast

by Joelle Sterling

  “Who do you think you’re calling?” Ismene became a blur of motion as she whizzed across the room and snatched the phone from Bradley’s hand. She peered at the screen and then looked at Elson. “He was trying to call the police.”

  “Is that so?” Holding Bradley in his heated gazed, Elson sauntered over to the twin bed.

  “I wasn’t calling the police; I was trying to get an ambulance for my daughter. Look at her! She’s barely breathing; she needs medical attention.”

  “You’d like to see me handcuffed and arrested, wouldn’t you, Mr. Jones?” Elson said in a soft hiss of a voice. “You want me to spend a night or two in the slammer, don’t you?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “We vampires are more than eternally beautiful creatures. We possess many gifts . . . like mindreading. Chaos listened to your thoughts earlier tonight . . . after you spoke to Nicole.”

  Bradley winced in surprise, and then collected himself. Merely an educated guess. These obnoxious hooligans can’t read minds. Any fool could have guessed that Nicole and I would converse after our daughter had gone missing.

  “We hooligans, as you refer to us, can absolutely probe the human mind. We don’t have to rely on ‘educated guesses,’ as you presumed,” Elson scoffed.

  Christ! Is this nutcase actually reading my mind?

  “Yes, I am. We all are,” Elson responded to Bradley’s inner musing. The two sisters crept up slowly, almost seductively as they once again flanked Elson. The grinning fiend called Chaos closed the door and locked it, and then began striding forward with lofty arrogance.

  Panicked, Bradley thought about charging for the door, yanking the chain away, and running like hell toward the main entrance . . . wherever that was. But he couldn’t leave Tessa behind.

  A cold sweat ran down his face in rivulets. Helplessly, he staggered backward, using the sleeve of his jacket to mop away the perspiration. Bradley gulped fearfully as the ghoulish teens closed in on him. Still smiling, Chaos licked his lips with a darkened tongue. There was a ravenous, inhuman look in his eyes. As absurd as it seemed, Bradley began to accept that these kids weren’t merely wayward, mean-spirited teens. They really are vampires! A hoarse sob escaped his throat when the sisters leapt forward. Attacking him, they inexplicably pulled his jacket off, and then tossed it on the bed next to Tessa, who uttered soft, incoherent sounds as she drifted in and out of a troubled sleep.

  In a frenzy of madness, the sisters used razor-sharp fingernails to shred and rip the shirt from Bradley’s back. Now bare from the waist up, he held out his hands defensively, his heart kicking violently inside his chest as he backed away. The girls advanced, and he could see his fearful expression reflected in their cruel eyes.

  “The counselor requested medical treatment,” Elson said in a humorous tone. “Fulfill his request, girls.”

  “We’ll heal you,” Lisette whispered, grasping Bradley’s arm. He shivered as her icy fingers traveled upward to one of his injured shoulders. She caressed the bloody gouges, and then lowered her head and pressed her chilled lips against the wounds and began to suck. Pain radiated through his body and Bradley let out a shriek. The shriek quieted down to choking gasps when Chaos, bearing fangs that dripped with saliva, lunged for him. Bradley passed out when he felt Chaos’s sharp teeth tearing into his neck.

  CHAPTER 7

  The sky had grown gloomy, as if it might rain. Eden couldn’t imagine how they’d deal with biters in bad weather. She rushed to the baby products aisle and was relieved to find Charlotte sitting on the floor, holding Jane close.

  Charlotte pulled herself to her feet when she heard Eden approaching. “Those gunshots were driving me nuts; I was scared out of my wits, but thank God, you’re okay. What happened to Leroy and your boyfriend? Please tell me they’re all right.”

  “Gabe’s not my boyfriend; we’re just friends,” Eden said. “But, yeah . . . he and Leroy are fine. They’re getting some stuff that we need out of the garage.” Eden took Jane from Charlotte and kissed the fussy infant. “It’s going to be all right, Jane,” she cooed. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  “Did you guys, uh, did you kill all those things?” Charlotte asked with her face scrunched in disgust.

  “Yeah, we got ’em, but who knows how many more are out there.”

  “You’d think with all that gunfire, someone would have called the police.” Charlotte held up Leroy’s cell phone. “I’ve tried and tried, but I can’t get through to anyone. I’ve tried calling everyone I can think of—my parents, friends, even Chuck’s mama, but all I get is their voicemail.”

  Charlotte stood up. “Look, instead of boarding up windows, we should be trying to escape. Seriously . . . being holed up in this store is driving me crazy.”

  “This is the safest place to be right now. We can’t risk driving around, looking for gas when we don’t know how many biters are out there.”

  “Where did those biter-things come from?” Charlotte asked.

  “I don’t know, but they’re spreading fast.”

  Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s my fault.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because Chuck didn’t want to come here today . . . he had a meeting with an important client, and he wanted to eat near his office, but I coaxed him into coming. It’s like I always have to push him to his limit, just to see how much he cares.” She dropped her eyes and twisted her engagement ring fretfully. “And now he’s gone. Just like that . . . he’s gone.” She snapped her fingers. “I have to cancel my wedding and my mama is going to flip! Invitations have already been sent, dresses ordered, and the venue was rented a year ago. Everything’s in place, but I don’t have my groom anymore.” Charlotte began to sob. “Mama and Daddy have spent a fortune on my big day, and they’re going to be sick when I tell them the wedding is off.”

  Eden patted Charlotte on the back, unsure if she were consoling her over the tragic loss of her fiancé or for her soon-to-be cancelled wedding. “Charlotte, you’re not going to get a chance to talk to your folks at all if you don’t put all your energy into staying alive.”

  The front door opened, and there was banging and thumping as Gabe and Leroy unloaded the plywood and tools they’d found in the garage. Eden returned Jane to her makeshift, cardboard bassinette. “Come on, Charlotte. We have to help board up those windows.” She looked down at Charlotte’s bare feet. “Maybe Leroy has a pair of women’s shoes in the garage or somewhere.”

  Standing at the front of the store, Gabe held up a nail gun and smiled at Eden. “This is for you—to conserve your strength, princess warrior,” Gabe said with laughter. “Leroy and I will take care of hammering nails the old-fashioned way.”

  Being called Princess Warrior was a compliment, but Eden could feel her face reddening with embarrassment. Taking the spotlight off herself, she asked Leroy if he happened to have any women’s shoes. “For Charlotte,” she added.

  Leroy’s glanced down at Charlotte’s bare feet. “Hmm.” He pondered for a few seconds and then said, “I do have something in the storage room.” He strode to the back of the store and disappeared behind a set of doors. He emerged carrying a box. “I’ve got about fifty pairs of flip flops in here, all inscribed with “Leroy’s Place.” At $15.99 a pop, they didn’t go over too well with my clientele, so I dropped the price to five dollars—but still no luck. Folks preferred my sandwiches to my footwear, and so I started giving them away with every purchase. I can’t believe I still have a box full of those dang flip flops.” He motioned for Charlotte. “Come on and help yourself, little lady. Look through the pile; I’m sure you’ll find your size and your favorite color.” Leroy was trying to lift Charlotte’s spirits, which was commendable under the circumstances.

  Charlotte looked horrified and then resigned to replacing her expensive designer heels with a pair of cheap flip flops.

  “Did you ask him about loaning us some gasoline,” Eden whispered to Gabe.

/>   “I asked, but he wouldn’t go for it. He says he only has a half-tank of gas in his pickup truck, and that he has to get Charlotte home to her family if a rescue team doesn’t come through.”

  “No rescue team is coming for us. And driving Charlotte home may be a wasted trip. I mean, think about it, Charlotte can’t get in touch with anyone, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the biters have already gotten to her family.”

  “We don’t know that,” Gabe said optimistically. “Maybe we should pool our resources . . . you know, maybe we should all travel to her parents’ home together. While we’re there, we can notify the authorities about the plague of biters in the Willow Hills area. After that . . . you and I and Jane will head for New York.”

  Eden nodded. “Sounds good, but we can’t all fit in a pickup truck. We’ll have to take the Explorer, and that brings us back to square one . . . we still need Leroy to share his gas with us.”

  “I’ll run it by him after we board up the windows.”

  “Okay, good.” Eden picked up a few pieces of wood and the nail gun, and began working on one of the smaller windows while Gabe and Leroy boarded up the large, picture window.

  “The door behind the screen door looks like wood, but it’s made of solid steel,” Leroy said proudly. “But we’re gonna have to find something to cover the windows in the back. My living quarters upstairs should be all right. Those creatures can’t climb, can they?” Leroy asked worriedly.

  “Can they climb?” Charlotte echoed, her anxious eyes locked on Gabe.

  “Haven’t seen them climbing anything. I don’t think they’re capable,” Gabe said reassuringly. “From what I’ve experienced, it seems they can hear and possibly smell, but they only see what’s in their direct line of vision.”

  “This is dreadful; I can’t wait to get home,” Charlotte murmured and passed Leroy a nail. Wearing bright blue flip flops, Charlotte’s idea of pitching in was to hand Leroy nails. Jane announced that she was awake with a strong, healthy yell, and Charlotte promptly set down the box of nails and went to attend to her.

  Gabe chose that opportunity to tell Leroy about his and Eden’s idea to pool their resources.

  “But you still want to siphon my gas!” Leroy said with a scowl. “I can’t go along with that. How am I supposed to get around?”

  “You’re coming with us, aren’t you?” Eden inquired.

  “There’s no point in all of us escorting Charlotte home. I only offered because you two turned her down.”

  Gabe groaned in frustration. “Leroy, be reasonable, man. We don’t know how many biters are out there, and Eden is out of ammo. I only have one box of bullets for my rifle, and they won’t last forever . . . and eventually, your ammo is gonna run out, too. What I’m trying to say is, we can’t stay here forever. Eventually, we’re going to have to move on, and it’s much safer to travel in a group.”

  “I’m not traveling, period! Leroy’s Place is my livelihood—a good business that was passed down to me by my daddy, Leroy Hawthorne, Sr. The land this place is on has been in my family for generations, and I’m not letting a bunch of growling savages run me off my property!”

  Leroy slammed down his hammer and stomped away. “Any luck with the cell phone?” he asked Charlotte who was sitting in a chair behind the counter, rocking Jane.

  “The signal is going in and out, and even when I get one, I can’t get through to anyone. I tried the pay phone, but it doesn’t have a dial tone anymore.”

  “Dang! I’m going upstairs to see if the local news is covering this crisis. Maybe there’s a broadcast telling folks what to do.” Leroy left the main room. His weary footsteps could be heard as he slowly trudged up the stairs.

  “I’m going out back to check the grates on the windows—make sure they’re sturdy,” Gabe told Eden.

  Eden nodded and began piling the leftover wood in a corner. Next, she propped a shovel, an ax, a three-foot pipe iron, various-sized hammers, and a nail gun against the wall near the front door. Before joining Charlotte and Jane behind the counter, she gave the assemblage of weapons a last glance, and decided that the nail gun and the ax would be her weapons of choice if the biters tried to attack.

  Jane gurgled contentedly and Eden took her from Charlotte’s arms. “How’s my girl? How’s my baby?” she said, nuzzling Jane. “You smell so good,” she commented, and then covered the baby’s face with kisses.

  “She’s nice and dry and her tummy’s full,” Charlotte commented with a smile as she observed Eden lovingly interacting with the baby. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something?”

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “Where’s Jane’s mother?”

  Eden lowered her head. “She died,” she murmured uncomfortably.

  “How?”

  “Domestic abuse,” Eden said, deciding that Charlotte was too frazzled to handle the truth about Jane’s mother. In her current state of mind, Eden was pretty sure Charlotte would freak out if she knew that Jane’s mother had turned into a biter.

  “Was she murdered by her husband?”

  Eden nodded.

  “Did he beat her to death or did he shoot her?” Frowning, Charlotte shook her head briskly. “Never mind; I don’t want to know. Anyway, how did you end up with Jane? Are you a relative?”

  “Uh-huh, we’re cousins.”

  “How old are you?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes slightly. “You look barely out of high school.”

  “I’m almost eighteen.”

  “That’s so young to have the responsibility of an infant.”

  “I’m doing the best I can.”

  “You’re doing great, but seventeen is awfully young to be saddled down with a kid.”

  “Almost eighteen,” Eden reminded. She didn’t know what Charlotte was getting at, but she felt the urge to hold Jane to her chest and hug her possessively. She was growing attached to Jane, and the idea of handing her over to an adoption agency in New York no longer seemed like a good idea.

  CHAPTER 8

  The bedraggled man and woman Jonas had rescued from the cornfields were incapable of verbal communication. They had lost all of the traits that made them human, and could only make a series of grunting sounds that indicated ravenous hunger. Having the instincts of wild animals, they became crazed by the scent of blood.

  Keeping them away from people, Jonas guided them to the woods and allowed them to feed on small creatures until nightfall. And then, under the shroud of darkness, he led the awkwardly-moving pair to the isolated, old sugar mill that he and Zac had briefly used as a hiding place. While they munched on rabbit and squirrel, Jonas locked the unsightly pair inside, and then walked back to his hotel.

  Holland threw on a denim jacket and popped her head in the kitchen. “I’m going out, Mom.”

  With a worried expression, Phoebe looked up from her laptop. “The sun has gone down; it’s too late to go out.”

  “Vamps can’t hurt me; you know that.”

  “But what about the force field—how are you going to get through that?”

  “Easily. I’m a witch, remember? I’m gonna walk right through it. I’m bouncing off the walls, Mom. I need to get some fresh air and clear my head.”

  Phoebe gave her daughter a sympathetic look. “I guess you still haven’t heard from Jonas.”

  “Not a word,” Holland said glumly. “But don’t worry about me; I’ll be all right.”

  Phoebe rose and placed an arm around Holland’s shoulder. “I’m your mother; I can’t help from worrying about you.” She walked with Holland to the living room and grasped her hand. “Hon, I don’t know what’s going on with Jonas, but I don’t like seeing you like this.”

  “I said I’m okay,” Holland whined in annoyance.

  “No, you’re not. And if it’ll make you feel a little better, I want you to know that when Jonas set off on that impossible mission to get you out of Stoneham, I warned him about the power those witches possessed. Know what he said?”

  Holland lif
ted a brow.

  “He said . . . and I quote him: ‘Nothing is stronger than the power of love.’ I thought you needed to hear that.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Holland replied quietly. His confession of love was nice to hear, but didn’t change the fact that Holland was sad and lonely. She solemnly opened the door and easily walked through the force field. Looking back at her mother, she gave her a wave and a sad smile.

  Unable to penetrate the protective field that Holland’s mentor had put around their home as a vampire deterrent, Phoebe stood in the doorway and blew her daughter a kiss. “Please be careful, hon.”

  “I will,” Holland said, and trotted down the steps. Walking briskly in the early evening moonlight, her cell phone pinged. Hoping for a message from Jonas, she stared at the screen anxiously. She was instantly disappointed when she noticed that the text was from her classmate, Doreen.

  I have juicy gossip. Meet me at my locker in the morning.

  Holland wasn’t the least bit interested in gossip—not at the moment. All she wanted was to hear Jonas’s voice. Was that asking for too much?

  She had hoped that getting out of the house and feeling the crisp night air would lift her spirits, but gloom and loneliness continued to engulf her. Times like this, she would have headed straight down the path that led to Naomi’s house. But Naomi was gone forever, and Holland doubted she’d ever stop mourning the loss of her best friend.

  Thinking about the way that conniving vampire family, the Sullivans, had preyed on Naomi and her parents filled Holland with rage. The Sullivans had befriended Naomi and her parents, inviting them to exclusive social gatherings, knowing all along that their true intentions were to turn Naomi into one of the living dead. They wanted Naomi as an eternal mate for their vampire son.

  Infuriated, and wanting to take her anger out on a bloodsucker, Holland walked boldly in the night. Any stupid vampire that has the gall to sink its fangs into me will be in for a painful surprise. She was so irate, she was certain she could take on an entire gang of vampires, if she had to.