When he pulled away I moaned in protest before I could stop myself. Slowly, my brain returned to me.
I had to swallow twice before I could speak. “I can see how people get addicted to that. It’s like hours of foreplay in sixty seconds.”
His tongue caressed the wounds, causing another erotic jolt to run through my body. “I can do more. I could bring you with one bite, and my powers. And if I bit you while I pumped into your body, it would blow your mind. I could demonstrate both methods.”
He raked his teeth gently across my throat. “N-no, thank you. You’ve gotten your blood. Now why don’t you leave me be?” My mind might be set against him, but it seemed to have very little control over my body. The idea that he had all the control was more terrifying than his bite.
He nipped my ear. “But we haven’t gotten off yet. That’s where the real fun is.”
“What happened to hating me? A few hours ago you were willing to kill me and now you want to be fuck buddies? Are you bipolar?”
He pulled back enough to meet my eyes. “I only wanted to kill you because you’ve tried to kill me and Casey, and want to butcher my family. Believe it or not, I don’t kill anymore, and I don’t actively hunt witches and vampire hunters like my brother Jairdan does. I want to be left alone.” He frowned. “However, I have no idea what I’m going to do with you now. If I let you go, you’ll simply come back with a larger force to try and kill us.” He shook his head. “I need to talk to my brothers.”
He levered himself off the bed before pulling on his pants and walking to the door.
“Wait. Alaric, let me go. I won’t come back for you. I swear.” It was one hell of a big lie, but I had to try.
He flashed me a sad smile. “I can smell the lie. Hell, I can feel it since I’ve had your blood. Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he left the room I started pulling on the handcuffs. With my increased witch strength I could probably break them, or the thin, wooden post in the headboard. The only problem was that the sound would go off like a gunshot and bring the vampires running.
Not what I wanted because I was pretty sure when I stood up I’d have a giant, blinding headache and sore muscles. Not to mention the hole in my leg. I craned my neck to try and get a look at it, but since it was on the back of my thigh, it was nearly impossible. There was a bandage wrapped around my leg that would cover it anyway.
I was in my tank top, underwear, and nothing else. None of my clothes were in sight. It seemed that even if I managed to get out of here without alerting the vampires, I’d certainly make an interesting spectacle for the neighbors.
I heard raised voices from somewhere nearby. I stilled and listened as hard as I could.
“We need to kill her. Alaric, go back in there and drain the bitch dry.”
Casey’s voice interrupted him. “Jairdan, no. That’s my big sister you’re talking about. She practically raised me.”
“I love you, sister-in-law of mine, but she would kill us all if she got the chance. Including you.”
“No. You’re wrong. She was hesitating. If I’d had a moment longer to talk to her, she probably would have left. Alaric, back me up.”
There was a long pause. “I can’t, Casey. She loved you, but now she thinks you’re a monster. I think she would have done it. She might have never been emotionally stable afterward, but she would have done it because she thinks she’s morally obligated to.”
“Misha, please, talk to them.” I could hear the tears in Casey’s voice and it hurt my heart.
“Casey, sweetheart—”
“No. Don’t ‘sweetheart’ me. And if you try to hug me again I’ll kick you. This is my sister you’re all talking about murdering. Alaric, surely you get family loyalty, if no one else does.”
There was a sigh. “I guess we don’t have to kill her. We could turn her. We’ll hurt Casey if we kill her.”
Someone growled loudly and glass shattered. “I don’t like that idea. She’ll have too much power.”
“Besides, she wouldn’t want that,” Casey said.
“Well shit, Casey! What do you expect me to do with her? Keeping her chained up in my bedroom isn’t an option. Well…no, no it’s not an option.” I could tell he was grinning from the tone of his voice.
“Alaric, are you attracted to this witch?” I could hear the disgust in Jairdan’s voice.
“There is something alluring about her, yes.”
Jairdan grunted.
“So what are we going to do?” Misha asked.
“I don’t know yet. Let me think about it. In the meantime, Jairdan, you’re not to touch her. You’re not even allowed in my room. Understood?”
“I hear you. I have my own problems to take care of.”
“Good. Now if you’ll all excuse me, I need to take a fucking walk.”
* * * *
I gave up trying to get out of the handcuffs. The house was way too quiet now. It seemed the boys had settled down in preparation for sunrise. Maybe when the sun rose I could break the cuffs and escape. Vampires were lethargic during the day, particularly in early morning.
A small, soft hand covered my mouth and I jumped and squeaked. The hairs on my arms stood on end as the creature’s magic brushed my skin. Vampire. I hadn’t heard or sensed anyone come into the room. It was pitch black, so I wasn’t surprised I hadn’t seen them.
“Shhh. Kori, be quiet. I have to get you out of here without them hearing.”
Casey’s hand moved, and I heard the jingle of keys.
“Casey McCormic, you scared the shit out of me.” I hissed under my breath.
Her apology was barely audible.
The cuffs loosened and she pulled them off. I sat up and rubbed the wrist without the cast on it. It was bruised and rubbed raw, but not cut. Casey grabbed my arm and pulled me from the bed.
“Casey, I can’t see a thing. I’m going to stumble into something.”
“You won’t. I can see perfectly, and when we get to the window I’ll open the shades and the moon will have to be enough for you to see by.”
She stopped moving. “Stay right here.”
I heard the rustling of fabric, and then I could make out some of my surroundings from the silver-blue light filtering through the glass.
She pushed open the window as silently as possible and the cold breeze hit my partially clothed body. “Fuck. This ought to be fun.”
She practically shoved me onto the shingled roof. “Hurry. It’s only a matter of time before Misha discovers me missing. He’ll know what I mean to do. Hell, I’m surprised he didn’t think of it before now and guard you.”
“What about my clothes?”
She shook her head. “I’ve got no idea where they are, and you don’t have time to dress.”
The shingles rubbed against my thighs like sand paper as I slid all the way out the window. “Why are you letting me go?”
“I can’t sit by while you’re killed. And if you were turned, you’d kill yourself. I couldn’t bear that either. Now go. Be careful when you jump to the ground. We’re on the third floor.”
I slid a little farther and hesitated. If Casey were some undead monster, wouldn’t she want me dead? Or at least not have a problem with the thought. Was everything I’d been raised to believe a lie?
“What are you waiting for? Alaric will be back soon. You have to go now.”
I turned around and clasped her hands in mine. “Come with me. We can get away from these vampires, and Mother. You’ll be safe.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she rolled her eyes. “Took you long enough to see the light.”
I brushed her bangs back from her forehead. “It’s probably a mistake, and if you kill me there will be one less idiot in the world, but I can’t leave you here.” I tugged on her hand. “Come on.”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “I can’t. The only reason I didn’t commit suicide is because I have Misha. I love him, and he worships me. If I killed myself, it would be like k
illing him, and I could never hurt him.” She shook her head. “If I left, he would never stop looking for me, and I don’t want to live without him.”
She kissed my knuckles and released my hand. “I love you, Kori. Now leave, and never come back. I won’t be able to free you a second time. I’m safe and happy here. Those are two feelings I’ve never had before.”
I understood that completely. I’d never been safe or happy at home. Mother was an ice block, who tended to bring the vampire hunting business to our doorstep. Even at home, we’d always been armed to the teeth. Even if I couldn’t understand how she could feel safe with these creatures, I had to leave her with them.
I sighed. “Mother will never stop gunning for you.”
“The boys will keep me safe. And Misha and I might move away until Mother dies. The time will be nothing for us, but…”
“But what?”
“I wanted to stay close to you. In case you ever needed back up. I know I’d feel if you were in trouble, especially now.”
I shook my head. “No, you can’t offer me back up. If you start hunting vampires again eventually they’ll kill you. Leave with Misha.”
She covered my lips with two of her fingers. “Did you hear that?”
I arched an eyebrow and she smiled. “Of course you didn’t. Hurry. I think Alaric is home.”
I took one last look at her. I’d probably never see her again, and that broke my heart.
I turned and slid slowly down the roof, cursing as the rough shingles scraped the backs of my thighs and made my underwear slip into the crack of my ass. I tried to keep the injured thigh from rubbing the roof. When I reached the lip of the rooftop and carefully dangled myself over it, I glanced down. It was still one heck of a drop.
I inhaled. There was only one way to get through it. I let go and tumbled to the ground. I landed on my feet, but my injured leg gave out from under me and I sprawled on my butt. The impact was jarring, but luckily it wasn’t enough to do any damage.
I rolled over and got to my feet. I walked along the tree line toward the street. Right before I made it to the sidewalk, there was a crunch of leaves to my right and I froze. Someone was hiding in the trees.
Throwing out my magic, I tried to sense what it was. Vampire. Fuck, was there a convention in town? His power choked me. This vampire killed—often. I stumbled away from him and landed on my knees on the sidewalk under a streetlamp.
A match flared and winked out. I could barely make out the smoldering end of a cigarette amongst the trees and then he stepped into the light.
This vampire didn’t even attempt to play human. His hair was pitch black. Thick, black eyeliner surrounded his eyes and he had several piercings. He wore a fishnet shirt and baggy, black jeans. His jacket was draped over his shoulder.
He snarled, baring his fangs at me. “I can’t believe Alaric didn’t kill your ass. He’s so weak.”
I stared up at him. I had a feeling he wouldn’t have a problem killing me here and now. And here I was, without a knife to defend myself. I should have asked Casey for one. She was always armed. I wouldn’t get a chance to make that mistake again.
“Who are you?”
He took a long drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled. “I’m Fallon.”
He flicked the cigarette from his fingers, and it went spinning into the street. He dropped his coat on the ground and grabbed the straps of my tank top, hauling me up. He slammed me back into the lamp post and I gasped as pain lit up my spine.
“I heard my brothers were having a little witch trouble. Imagine my satisfaction—” He slammed me against the post again and, before I could stop myself, he was rewarded with a short scream. “When I show up just in time to find you sneaking out of the house.”
“I didn’t know they had another brother.”
“Oh, yes. I’ve been ostracized. I’m a tad more violent than they like. But, I don’t give a fuck if they want me around or not. They’re in danger, and so I’m here.”
He slammed me against the metal pole again and I cried out. “Now, if you ever come near my brothers again, I will kill you in some slow, incredibly unpleasant way. Do we understand each other? The only reason I’m letting you go this time is because of that touching little scene of family loyalty on the roof. But you see, I’m loyal to my family too, in spite of what they might think. Hurt my brothers, and you’ll find out how loyal I am.”
He tossed me to the ground and I scraped my hands and knees on the concrete. “Feel free to take the coat. You make a great peep show at the moment, but I’d hate for you to get picked up by the cops.”
“Thanks, asshole.” I glanced up to issue some threat, but he was gone. I shuddered and glanced around. I’d been scared for my life before, but I was terrified now. I believed every word he said to me. With some vampires the threats were all posturing, and they couldn’t do half the shit they said. But not that one.
I grabbed the coat and put it on. The damned thing was huge and hung well past my feet. At least I was well covered.
Chapter Five
My car was gone. Astra had probably taken it when she had to bug out. Luckily, I found a prepaid cell phone in one of the many pockets of the coat, along with a hand gun and a couple hundred bucks in cash.
The cab I’d called dropped me off in front of Astra’s house about an hour and a half after my escape from Alaric’s.
Reluctantly, I felt grateful toward Fallon. He could have left me stranded and unarmed and feel perfectly happy. Arming me right outside his house was a ballsy move. Then again, the tiny gun probably couldn’t kill one vampire, even if I pumped the whole clip into its brain.
Interesting though, I’d never known a vampire to use guns. They wasted too much blood. Not good if you were looking for a snack. Also, most vampires were technophobes.
I dragged myself up the steps of the porch. God, I could sleep for days. I didn’t knock on the door. Everyone let themselves in unless the door was locked.
It swung open and the barrel of a shotgun was in my face. Slowly, I started to put my hands up, but the business end of the gun was already pointed at the ground.
I glanced at Astra. “Holy shit, you trying to kill me? Should you even be up? I heard you were injured.”
She backed out of the way and I stepped over the thresh hold. “Where is everyone?”
She shook her head. “You mean the ones that are left? I told them to get hotel rooms after they patched me up. I’m waiting for that vamp I fought last night. He threatened to find me. I didn’t want to lose any more friends to him and his brothers.”
I nodded. “Well, hopefully it was an empty threat. I think if we leave them alone, they’ll leave us alone. Give it a few days before you call the others back.”
I followed her as she limped to the living room. She sank on to the couch with a relieved sigh.
“Damn, Astra. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Well, I’m not fine, I have a sprained wrist, some bruised ribs, twisted my ankle and I’ve lost a lot of blood.” She touched the bite mark on her throat. I shuddered. It mirrored my own. “But the rest of them. They’re not fine.”
“I know. They’re dead.”
The silence was heavy and seemed to stretch on for hours.
Astra took a deep breath. “What about you? How are you? I thought you were dead. Interesting jacket, by the way.”
I ran a hand through my hair and sat back on the couch. “I’m injured, upset, confused…I think everything I’ve been told about vampires is a lie, Astra.”
She straightened. “What do you mean?”
I told her everything that had happened to me since she dragged Jairdan away that night.
“Fine, so Casey is still the same person. But those vampires aren’t. They’re evil.”
I shook my head. “Think about it, Astra. We threatened them. We came into their house and picked a fight. We tried to harm their loved ones. God, maybe we deserved what we got.”
“But this Fa
llon? He’s evil. You told me yourself that he kills his victims. And I’m sure the others have killed, too. Just because it wasn’t recent enough for you to sense doesn’t mean they haven’t.”
“I threatened Fallon’s family, but yes I’d kill him if I thought I would survive the fight. But he had some of the most intense power I’ve ever brushed. I couldn’t even defeat Alaric, and he went easy on me because he was trying not to kill me. Fallon would have no such hindrance.”
Astra stared at me. “So…what does this mean?”
I shrugged. “For now, it means that we leave the brothers alone. I want to give my sister time to get out of town. Besides, we’re too injured to do much of anything.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You might believe that vampires aren’t what we thought, but I’ve had my friends and family killed. Those things are monsters, and Jairdan threatened me and my family. I’ll kill him if he comes after me.”
“I’d never say you shouldn’t defend yourself, but I wouldn’t hunt them anymore. They’re not the usual loners we deal with. If you go after them, you face them all.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going after him.” She clenched her fists to stop their nervous shaking. “He had me, Kori. It was the most disturbing thing that’s ever happened to me since I started hunting them. I’ll be staying right here, awake, waiting for him. So announce yourself next time you come up the stairs. I’ll be going on very little sleep and might shoot you by accident.”
I sighed and got to my feet. “Be safe, Astra. I have to go break this happy news to my mother.”
* * * *
I walked the ten miles to my mother’s house. I needed to clear my head and wasn’t looking forward to facing her. I watched the sun creep over the horizon and immediately felt safer. Vampires could come out in the daylight, but they didn’t like to. A lot of other creepy crawlies had an aversion to the sun as well.
Almost Human Page 4