Just as Alexa reached the doorway to her bedroom she slowed, thinking she had heard something off to her left in the living room. Realizing her mistake too late, she felt the strange presence of the vampire’s mind just as he spoke.
“Ah, finally. I’ve been waiting a dreadful long time for you love.”
Alexa froze as the stranger’s strongly accented voice sent a chill up her spine that went as deep as the marrow.
Slowly turning to face the intruder, while simultaneously moving Chloe as far away as she could in the moment, Alexa straightened her spine and asked, “Who are you, what do you want? I don’t have much cash or jewelry in the house. Take anything you want and just leave. I won’t call the police if you leave now.” She knew he didn’t want money or any other material possession, but she needed to buy some time.
The responding laugh that echoed around the room was nothing short of sinister.
“Sorry, poppet, but what I’m after is right there in your pretty little arms.”
Instinctively, Alexa took a step back, her mind racing, trying to find a way to escape.
In a flash, the stranger was standing directly in front of her, moving the distance across the living room in an instant.
Alexa’s heart kicked into overdrive as the truth barreled down on her. This was a member of the race, too fast and strong for her to defend herself against on her best day. But this vampire was vastly different from Ethan and Elijah. The irises of his eyes the color of blood, and his skin was as pale as if he had never stepped into the sunlight.
“Why do you want my daughter?” She inquired, hoping to stall and give Ethan a chance to come a rescue them. Unfortunately, she then considered the possibility that the resulting altercation could cause her to lose Ethan and Chloe in one fell swoop.
“Listen ere love, I just have orders to bring back the lil’ one, but I wouldn’t mind having a bit of fun with you first. You choose, hand ‘er over now, or I’ll take my time enjoyin myself and tearin’ you to bits before I take ‘er anyway.”
The fear was washing over her as she closed her eyes, silently praying for courage. Alexa felt her legs starting to shake and she was powerless to control it, but no matter how afraid she was, no matter what would happen to her, she would never give up her child. She would die first.
Her thoughts turned to Chloe, to her first day of kindergarten, her graduation, her wedding, all the future moments that Alexa would miss if she gave up hope now. With those images strengthening her resolve she straightened her spine and looked the enemy in the eye as she spat, “Fuck you. You’ll have to pry her from my cold dead hands, and even then I’ll haunt you for eternity.”
The viciousness in Alexa’s tone surprised her.
The unnaturally handsome stranger’s mouth turned up into a devious and excited smile. “Have it your way, love. I’m going to enjoy this.”
In a blur, the intruder had his hand firmly clasped around Alexa’s throat as he groaned into her ear, “Best set the lil’ one down for this part, love.” He ran his tongue up the side of her face as a tear slipped from her eye.
Her mind was racing, trying desperately to find a way to spare her daughter as she moved to lay her down on the couch a couple of feet away. It was difficult to form any thought over the panic she felt with the monster’s hand confidently gripping her neck. She would die, but she would provide the distraction that would allow Ethan to save their daughter. Ethan would protect Chloe.
✧
Once Chloe was safely laid down on the couch, the stranger yanked Alexa up and pulled her tightly against him and used his free hand to grab her ass. Panic washed over her once again as she felt his apparent arousal through his pants.
He started dragging her towards the bedroom. Alexa didn’t fight, she didn’t want Chloe to wake up and experience any of this horror. All she could think about was keeping him occupied for as long as possible to give Ethan and Chloe a chance.
As they approached the closed door to her bedroom, he moved his hand up her neck, wrenching her head back to expose the vulnerable arteries. He opened his mouth wide as the razor sharp fangs dropped from hunger-swollen gums. He leaned around, making sure she could clearly see him. He wanted to shock her, he wanted to see her fear as she realized what he was. Knowing about vampires and seeing one in the violent throws of bloodlust were two totally different things. Despite her best efforts, Alexa couldn’t contain the whimper that passed her lips and the look of terror that flashed across her face.
Satisfied and desperate to taste her fear, the intruder wrenched her head back again as he kicked the door open, preparing to sink his fangs in, not to kill her, just to feed. He had great plans for how he would pass the evening with Alexa before he finally killed her and took Chloe. His master needn’t know if he had a bit of fun carrying out his mission.
Alexa heard her bedroom door slam against the wall, followed by a vicious growl unlike any she had ever heard. She squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for the pain that didn’t come. She felt her assailant fall back from her as the grip on her throat loosened, though she could feel the sting left by his nails as they slid away.
Opening her eyes she saw a flash of fawn-colored fur as Tilly landed on top of the intruder, giving Alexa a precious few moments to attempt an escape. She ran for the door, feeling a cavern open up in her heart at leaving Tilly alone with this monster. He was a vampire, there was only one way it would end, but she had to think of Chloe first.
Using the surge of adrenaline, Alexa dashed into the living room to scoop up Chloe who was now sitting up awake on the soft leather couch. Once Chloe was safely in her arms she sprinted towards the garage door screaming for Ethan and silently praying for Tilly. The door was open and Alexa felt a strong gush of air as she approached, followed by an ear piercing roar from behind her that stopped her in her tracks.
✧
She turned towards the source of the noise as she started backing out the door, expecting to see her attacker barreling down on her once again. Instead she was met with an image that was both terrifying and comforting.
Ethan stood just outside her bedroom, his body shaking with anger, his arm outstretched and covered in blood as he gripped onto the still beating heart of the intruder whose body slumped to the ground and grew still. In the doorway all she could see of Tilly was her giant paws scratching aimlessly at the air. Holding Chloe tight against her she rushed back to her dear friend’s side. Her hand shot up to her mouth and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she looked down. She knelt down beside her long time companion, covering her worn blue jeans with blood that was rapidly pouring from the gaping wound in Tilly’s neck. Alexa could see the panic in her dog’s normally calm and gentle eyes.
Lightly stroking Tilly’s head Alexa whispered, “Shh, shh, it’s okay. You are such a good girl, Tilly. Momma loves you so much.”
She felt Ethan’s strong hand on her shoulder as she let loose the sob that was rising in her throat. She knew Tilly’s injuries would take her soon. There would be no saving her brave companion from this tragedy. The grief washed over her as she saw the light in Tilly’s eyes dimming more and more with each labored breath she took.
Chloe struggled in her arms, trying to get down to her best buddy as Alexa always called her, making her sob even harder. She could only hope Chloe was too young to remember any of this. Alexa moved her arm attempting to adjust her grip on Chloe and prevent her from sliding down into the mess of blood. In that moment Chloe went entirely limp and slipped down Alexa’s side landing on her bottom right next to Tilly’s head. Before Alexa or Ethan could react, Chloe reached out and laid her tiny hand over Tilly’s heart.
The gesture was so sweet, neither Alexa or Ethan had the heart to move her away despite all of the gore that surrounded them.
Alexa turned towards Ethan, leaning against his leg as she waited and cried. Unable to make herself face this terrible loss.
“Mira, Amor. Something is happening.”
Wi
ping the tears from her face, she open her eyes and hesitantly turned to look over at Tilly. Her heart leapt as she saw Tilly struggling to stand as Chloe giggled, the wound on her neck miraculously closing before her eyes.
“I, I don’t understand. Ethan, what happened, how is this possible?” At that point a fresh round of tears began to flow, but this time they were tears of joy.
“I do not know, Amor. I have never witnessed anything like this in all my long life.”
Tilly ducked down and licked Chloe on the cheek, evoking even more giggles before she turned on her wobbly legs and nuzzled Alexa.
✧
“We must leave soon. I encountered three others outside and I imagine more will follow when they do not report back to their master. The rumors are true, these vampires are not like the rest of our kind. They are much more powerful.”
Ethan stepped into the bathroom to wash the blood from his hands before continuing. “I would guess that we have a few hours at most.”
“How could you possible fight three others like him at once?” She asked gesturing toward the body laying on the wood floor.
“I am blessed with strength, unlike any other of our kind. I’m told even the infected from so many years ago could not match me. I suppose that must be true, these vampires bear all of the signs of the infected, but they remain in control, they are not the beasts of the past I have heard described. Those vampires would not have been able to enter a human neighborhood and wait patiently with so many beating hearts nearby without giving in to their bloodlust and killing everyone within range of their senses.”
Alexa cringed, thinking of all of the people that lived around her who were so close to danger.
Jill and Jesse. What if they had come to check on me like they have on so many nights before? She couldn’t bear the thought, so she turned her mind to more practical matters.
“What are we going to do?” Alexa asked looking around at the mess that was now her house. There was blood everywhere, but she was beyond caring with everything that had happened. She was just so happy to still be alive and that her family was intact. Not that she was one-hundred percent sure how that was possible, Tilly should have died.
“Take Chloe and go get cleaned up, change your clothes and throw everything you are wearing into a trash bag. Then pack one bag for you and Chloe. The bare essentials, just enough clothes for one night and anything you feel you cannot leave behind. You will not be able to come back here to retrieve anything once we leave.”
“Never? But all of my clothes, our pictures, Chloe’s toys?”
“Most of that can be replaced. Choose some photos to keep, but it must not look like you left. That will lead to many questions that cannot be answered. More of Lucias’ men will come when these do not report back to their master. It may buy us some time if they believe you may still return. When we are safely away you must call anyone who might come looking for you and make some excuse too keep them away. Perhaps that you went on vacation or had to tend to a family emergency out of town. Please understand, Amor. You cannot go back to your old life, it will never be safe for you now that the enemy has found you.”
Alexa nodded slowly as the gravity of everything started to push down on her making her body feel anchored to the floor with its weight. Through sheer force of will she pushed it back and started thinking logically, making a mental checklist of everything she needed to grab as she scooped Chloe up into her arms.
The lockbox under my bed has all of our important documents. There’s a box in the basement with all of the duplicate pictures and the spare diaper bag already has enough stuff for Chloe for the night. I think it’s in the back of my car. I’ll have to call Jesse and Jill right away, they’ll be worried about me.
“Here,” Ethan said as he entered the passcode and handed his phone to Alexa. “Put any contacts that you will need into my phone. Your phone could be used to track you, so it stays here as well.”
“Wait, my car has GPS, if we leave in it will they be able to track us?” Alexa asked with concern
“It is a possibility, but do not worry, I will take care of that.” He stepped towards them putting his arm around Alexa and placing his forehead against hers as he exhaled heavily. He moved back slightly, looking Alexa directly in the eye as he continued. “I know that I have hurt you, Amor. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you and to Chloe. I swear to you that I will do whatever it takes to protect you both from anyone or anything that threatens to harm you ever again. Whatever it takes.”
Alexa’s saw so much emotion, so much pain in his eyes that it nearly broke her heart. And there was something more. As always, she could not clearly hear his thoughts, but she could sense an intense conflict within him as he spoke these words.
But it was not the time for questions, so she moved to do as Ethan requested, preparing to leave her old life behind forever.
CHAPTER 15 - The Name's Cami
Ethan made a couple of brief phone calls and a black SUV with heavily tinted windows pulled into Alexa’s driveway about thirty minutes later. Ethan opened the back passenger door and much to her surprise, there was already a car seat in place for Chloe, though given everything she had learned, she wasn’t exactly certain it was even necessary for her somewhat immortal child.
As she leaned in to secure Chloe in the seat, she looked towards the front preparing to say hello and thank the driver for their help, but somehow, she assumed due to vampire speed, the driver had already stepped out and was apparently behind her speaking in Spanish to Ethan as he loaded Tilly into the back.
She finished putting Chloe in the seat and reached back to give Tilly a reassuring pat before she turned to see the ravened-haired beauty standing on her lawn talking heatedly with Ethan, her face only inches away from his as she spoke, her long curly hair swaying as she seemingly gave him a piece of her mind. Alexa struggled to remember some Spanish from high school, but the words were passing too fast for her to decipher.
She felt the jealously flare up and take over her mind, making her want to jump on the woman’s back and beat her to a pulp for being so close to Ethan, though she knew she was no match for her preternatural strength, not to mention the variety of weapons that were strapped to her body. From this angle, Alexa could clearly see what appeared to be two short swords crossing her back, along with a gun on her hip and a dagger handle coming up from her black combat boot. She stood there watching, different scenarios playing through her mind. The interaction seemed intimate. Was this woman an ex girlfriend, or, God, someone he was still involved with?
Alexa closed the door forcefully, drawing their attention. Seeing the irritation etched on her face, even in the darkness, Ethan swiftly moved to her side and gestured towards the stranger.
“Alexa, meet Camille. My baby sister.”
A small sense of relief washed over her at hearing who this woman was, but she was still leery as she extended her hand to the obviously lethal woman. “It is so nice to meet you, Camille.”
“The name’s Cami, and I’m no one’s baby,” she stated flatly, completely ignoring Alexa and her offered hand.
Her tone was like a slap in the face to Alexa. She could feel the animosity towards her pouring off of the woman who seemed so unlike her brother. Ethan was kind and gentle, at least when he wasn’t defending Alexa. This woman seemed hard, on edge, like she was always looking for her next fight. Based on her attire, Alexa assumed she must be some sort of soldier.
She didn’t know what she had done that was so offensive to Ethan’s sister, but she knew she was going to keep her mouth shut and stay out of the clearly dangerous woman’s way.
✧
As they stood there in awkward silence, Cami pulled a vibrating phone from her pocket and placed it to her ear. “Yes, sir. There are three bodies outside, I have not entered the house to check. No, no humans appear to have noticed anything yet. I understand.”
Alexa looked to Ethan who was watching his sister intently.
Choices of Fate (Fate Series) Page 14