Almost Human

by Secret Cravings Publishing

  “What do you think about all this?”

  He grasped my hand and shook his head. “Well, I don’t like it. I’m worried about what this will do to you, but you and Dagger have both said we don’t have a choice, so it doesn’t matter what I want.”

  I sighed. “I don’t see another choice. If I did I’d take it, but Dagger’s weapons didn’t hurt her nearly enough.”

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He cleared his throat. “I think your sister would kick my ass.”

  I glanced away from the intense look in his eyes. Could he love me? It seemed too soon for that. But I’d been so worried when he’d almost died. Like I might perish with him. And then with our new strange psychic bond, I felt connected to him. If it wasn’t love, it was close. I stared at where our hands were joined before I glanced at his face for a second. “I don’t want anything to happen to you either. And it has nothing to do with your brothers killing me. I have to do this to save you.” I snorted. “And everyone else. Sherra’s zombie will keep killing after she gets you, and this demon…depending on the type, it could be trying for world domination.”

  I finally met his gaze. “If I don’t pull this off, I need you to take care of my sister.”

  He cupped my cheek. “She’s already family. You never had to ask. Misha would do anything to keep her safe, and that’s enough for her to win my loyalty. You should go feed.”

  I stood but he didn’t release my hand. “Kori, you won’t fail. You can’t. You shouldn’t even think about it.”

  He said it with complete confidence. There was absolutely no doubt.

  * * * *

  I stepped into Alaric’s room, thoroughly sickened with myself. Alaric turned around and frowned at me.

  “Did you feed? How is your back?”

  I swallowed the bile creeping into my throat. “Yes, I fed. And my back is healing rapidly.”

  He squinted at me, as if he were trying to read my mind. “You don’t look like you enjoyed taking someone’s blood.”

  The words rushed out of me before I had a chance to think. “Of course I didn’t enjoy it, Alaric. These people freak me out. They’re willing the let a vamp do whatever they want. And they don’t particularly care if they die. I almost couldn’t do it. I don’t think I ever want to again.”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but this is something you’ll have to get over. Be glad there is a willing food source. In my day there wasn’t, and you truly did prey on possibly innocent people. I’m actually surprised you fed.”

  I glared at him. “I don’t think I can get over it. It’s wrong, though, yes, in your day it would have been worse. The only reason I managed is because Pagan’s husband is an asshole.”

  Alaric chuckled. “He’s used to getting the unwilling to feed. It’s what makes him a good sire. He won’t let you give up and die. How did he manage with you?”

  “Pure guilt. That man can bully and manipulate anyone into anything. He nicked her with a knife and said if I wasn’t at my full strength we’d all die, and he’d merrily leave us to it if I didn’t feed.”

  Alaric shrugged. “Well, we could use his help. He’s incredibly powerful. Also, he’s more than likely right. And you would have to feed eventually anyway.”

  Dagger knocked on the door and poked his head in. “What’s up? Has everyone fed?”

  Alaric nodded. “We were talking about what a pain in the ass Nyx is.”

  Dagger stepped into the room. “Yeah, all my fledglings are like that. I don’t know why.”

  I snorted. “Maybe because you’re like that.”

  He shrugged. “Could be. So are you ready to take a little of my blood.”

  “I guess.”

  He pulled a shot glass from his pocket. “I think its best that you don’t take from the source, because that will probably make Alaric territorial. Also, I’m not sure either one of us could handle that. We need to control the dosage. Too much will probably drive you mad.”

  I bit my lip. This was starting to sound like a bad idea. I felt like a coward. “Are you sure I have to take your blood? If this is going to turn into a problem, maybe it’s not the best idea.”

  He sighed. “Yes, you have to. You don’t have enough power without it. And you won’t be able to stand up to the evil that we’re summoning. All possibilities seem better with this.”

  He slid his knife over his wrist, and then pressed on the cut to get more blood to flow. It seemed thicker than normal. The smell even seemed wrong. He offered me the glass. I took it and stared at the contents.

  “Hurry, before it eats through the glass.”

  I must have looked horrified because they both burst out laughing and I scowled at them.

  Dagger sobered first. “Sorry, Kori. I had to.”

  I downed the shot and nearly choked on it. “Holy shit. That burns like cheap booze.”

  Dagger grinned. “And I’m told it can hit the system like ecstasy, which is something Alaric should enjoy.” He winked at him. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

  Heat roiled in my gut. I screamed as I tried to breathe past the pain. Something was wrong.

  “Alaric!” I grabbed his arm and he jerked back, a perfect imprint of my hand on his forearm. I wasn’t imagining this heat. It was really happening. I was cooking from the inside out. Burning in hellfire. Pain overwhelmed my senses and that’s when I felt it. Cool relief. A creature lurking under the surface, tempting me by offering me reprieve from this torture. Everything went white and it whispered to me, luring me to the darkness.

  “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I can save you from this pain. It’s not right for them to burn you like this.”

  I shook my head. “They’re not burning me.”

  It laughed. “Yes they are. Putting me in you where I’m not supposed to be. It was naughty. Well, I suppose it’s more like creating me, rather than putting me inside you.”

  I blinked, and when I opened my eyes I was sitting on the banks of a deep, still pond. I looked into the water and my reflection stared back at me. If I’d had pitch black eyes without a bit of white in them. The woman under the water wore a dress of deep blue silk that hugged her form, the deep V showing a generous bit of her breasts as it dipped to her naval. Her hair was a little wild and she radiated evil like a physical thing.

  “I was always in you. That little seed of darkness waiting to swallow you up. You should give in to me. You live on violence. Thrive on it. We could hurt the people who made you a vampire.” She smirked. “Don’t you want to hurt them? We could have a lot of fun with it. They’re torturing you after all.”

  Her alluring voice slid past the roaring in my head. It was the only thing I heard. She was right. I’d been turned into a vampire against my will. Had her put in me against my will. I should make them pay.

  Wait. That wasn’t right. I’d volunteered for this. It was the only way to save people I cared about. I shook my head. No, they had to do this. It was the only way.

  “The only way for what? Surely they didn’t have to put this fire in you? They did it on purpose.”

  I nodded. I understood now. They had. Alaric wanted to punish me. “How will we make them pay?”

  She shrugged. “Well, sit up, and reach into Alaric’s chest, and pull out his heart. It’s so easy to do. You can’t imagine how much power they’ve given you. Their mistake.”

  For some reason hurting Alaric felt wrong. “No.”

  She pouted her full, red lips. “No?”

  “I can’t hurt him.”

  Fire blazed through my body and I fell to my knees. Tears trickled down my face.

  “Then how about we start with Dagger. He’s evil. Truly evil. He needs to die. Do you know how many innocents he’s killed? The kinds of people he’s been around? He’s the devil and you know it. You could tear his head straight from his body.”

  I snorted. Somehow I doubted I was capable of hurting Dagger. Even if I could, I suddenly didn’t want to. Like some of my an
ger had washed away. Imaginary little needles forced themselves into my skin.

  She stomped her foot and I almost laughed. She was a petty, little child. That was my inner demon presence? I was almost ashamed. “I have to do something. I’m so restless. Let me out, Kori. I’m your real self. I’ve been trapped in here for so long. I need release.”

  I nodded. “Release sounds good.”

  “So let me hurt someone.”

  Everything became clear. She was trying to seduce me. She wanted me to kill. To go dark side. I couldn’t blame her. In a way, it was her job. But she didn’t have me convinced that she was a part of me. She might have access to some of my darker impulses, but she was playing with them. Would I battle her always?

  “How about another kind of release?”

  She growled. “No, that won’t work. I demand blood on my hands. The feel of entrails sliding through my fingers.”

  I smirked. “Well, I won’t let you have that, so suck it up, bitch.”

  She roared with fury. Agony shot up my spine, but I left her world. I was back on this rock hard bed, the touch of the fine silk sheets was ripping me apart. Cool hands were on my face. They were the only thing that wasn’t causing me pain. I opened my eyes. The bright lights stabbed into them, but his face was there.

  “Alaric?”

  His gaze darted to mine. “Are you with me? You tried to kill me. I had to hold you down.”

  I sat up and my head swam, black spots blurring my vision. “I did?”

  “Yes, you punched me so hard in the chest I think you broke something.”

  A sickened feeling crept into my gut. I’d tried to kill him. Was this creature something I could fight off? What if I fell asleep and she got to me again, while I was relaxed, and I tried to hurt him. I trembled as Alaric wrapped his arms around me.

  I tried to push him away but he wouldn’t let me. “I could have killed you.” He forced my head against his chest.

  I rubbed my face in his shirt, enjoying the soft feeling. It all felt incredible on my skin. “God, why do you smell so good?”

  I nuzzled the crook of his neck and nipped him with my fangs. He jumped, but when I started to suckle his throat he groaned. He moved my legs so I straddled his hips and ran his palms up to fondle the curve of my ass. His cock rapidly filled the space between us.

  I ran my hands up his chest and over his powerful shoulders. I’d never realized how much I appreciated his body. It was hard and perfect. Not too muscular. I balled my hands in his shirt and ripped it from his back. He growled, encouraging me. I ran my palms down his chest and abs. So perfect.

  I fumbled with his zipper and his hot, hard cock sprang out into my hands. I stroked up and down the length of him gently. Too gentle to do anything except drive him crazy.

  He groaned. “Are you just going to tease?”

  I smirked. “Well, not forever.”

  “Cruel woman.”

  Instead of letting me continue he grasped my wrists and gently pulled me off of him. Once I’d released him, he tossed me onto my stomach. I gasped and he placed himself between my legs, grasping my hips and tugging them to him before I could sit up.

  “Sorry, love. I think given the circumstances if I let you have the control, it would be a mistake. You did try to rip my heart out.”

  He was right. He needed to protect himself from me. I could hurt him if he wasn’t paying attention, and the thought made my blood run cold. I was glad one of us hadn’t lost our head in the heat of the moment.

  I nodded. “You’re right.”

  He kissed the back of my neck and pushed himself off me. His hands lingered on my body, sliding down my back to the curve of my ass before he stopped touching me. “On your hands and knees.”

  I pressed myself up and he sucked in a breath. “That is a pretty sight.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and smiled at him. “Thanks.”

  He rubbed his cock between my labia before pushing it inside me. I gasped at the feeling of being stretched by him. He slipped his hand around my body to rub my clit as he thrust faster. The pressure built in my pussy. I cried out and bucked against him, urging him faster.

  The knot of pleasure forming deep inside me broke and I screamed his name as my vagina pulsed around him.

  He growled through clenched teeth and I felt his warm come shoot deep inside me.

  He flopped down on the bed next to me, pulling me to him.

  I turned to face him and he kissed my forehead. “I don’t want to get up.”

  I chuckled. “I’m sure Dagger is waiting for us.”

  “Ugh, who cares?”

  I sighed and nodded. “I’m sure he wouldn’t begrudge us a few minutes.”

  “Bet he would. He’s not getting laid.”

  * * * *

  As soon as I set foot on the bottom floor Dagger was barking instructions about how to set up for the ritual and thrust a jar into my hands.

  I opened it and sprinkled the mixture of dirt and gods only knew what else in a small circle.

  “What is this stuff? It reeks.”

  When Dagger didn’t answer immediately I cleared my throat. “Dagger.”

  He glanced up from his project. He was drawing markings I’d never seen before on the floor in his own blood outside of the circle I’d created.

  “Sorry, I’m focused. Its sand from the last time I summoned Gideon, and dirt from his plane. It’s necessary to pull the whole demon through instead of his…soul, for lack of a better term. Without it, the demon has to inhabit a human, and their power is greatly diminished.”

  “Where did you get dirt from his world?”

  He cleared his throat and went back to drawing on the floor. “I was there. It’s kind of a long story.”

  Alaric growled. “Why don’t you shorten it for us? Explain what we’re doing. All of it.”

  He sighed and fell back on his butt, glaring at Alaric. “To accurately explain what I’m doing you would have to go through years of training in the religious sect I was raised in to understand. Unfortunately for you, my civilization and its practice are long dead. As for how I ended up in Gideon’s world, I did some dabbling that backfired. It tainted me and landed me on his plane.”

  Nyx licked his lips. “Are you the origin of the vampire species, D? Are we demonic?”

  Dagger snorted, and glanced down. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were concerned.”

  Nyx shrugged and leaned back. “Morbidly curious.”

  “Well the answer is no, I was already turned when this occurred. As far as I know, vampires always existed, preying on humans. Though, it wouldn’t surprise me if demons visited our world at some point and bred with humans to create us. However, I didn’t do that either.”

  He stood and extended his hand to me. “Okay, I’m done. Hop out, my dear, and we’ll do this.”

  I wound my fingers through his and skipped over the line to stand next to him. “What do I chant?”

  “Nothing, it’s best if I use your power to anchor and enhance mine. I’ll begin the incantation and you focus on me, and summoning Gideon. Think of nothing else.”

  He lifted our joined hands. “Gideon, we summon you. Come for—”

  Alaric whispered. “In English? Really?”

  Dagger growled. “Are you going to continue to interrupt? Because I could screw you over and go back to Penang. Sherra isn’t trying to kill my ass, and every second I spend here is a second I could be discovered by King Macon, not to mention the fact that I’m about to do something that will risk all your lives and my sanity. As for your question, yes, the incantation can be whatever I bloody well please, and the English is for Kori’s benefit. It will help her focus if she’s not wondering what the hell I’m saying and my words are reminding her what our goal is. So shut up.”

  “If this will drive you insane, we should find another way.”

  Dagger shouted and turned his reddening gaze on Alaric. “Silence.”

  Alaric flew across th
e room and slammed into the wall.

  I gaped at Dagger. I hadn’t known him long, but I had yet to see him loose his temper. Could he handle what he was about to do? I was starting to doubt it. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened painfully.

  He flashed me a crooked smile and softened his hold. “Relax, Kori. I can deal. Go back to concentrating.”

  Dagger continued to call for Gideon in English for a long while. I wasn’t sure when he switched to his native language. Our palms were slick with sweat, and I felt a bead roll down the tip of my nose. It was hard to breathe, like the air was slowly being sucked out of the room.

  The wind kicked up, blessedly cool on my heated skin. I could breathe again. And then the ground shook violently and I was startled out of my trance. The earth seemed to moan as the floor cracked in a circle under the sand I’d poured. Black slime oozed through the crack, sizzling as it ate away at the wood, causing acrid smoke to fill the air. A glowing, red sphere appeared with an ear-piercing whistle. The light was so blinding that I had to look away.

  When I could glance back, a man in a black suit knelt in the shallow smoking hole that used to be the floor.

  “There goes the expensive, floating hardwood floor,” Nyx muttered under his breath.

  Solid black eyes locked on the man standing next to me. “Dagger, you bastard, that hurt like hell.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dagger’s grip tightened on my fingers. “It’s going to hurt a hell of a lot more when I’m done with you.” His voice was deep. Too deep. The rush of his power crept over my skin, leaving me gasping on the ground. I yanked on my arm while trying to pry his fingers loose. In my gut I knew I had to get away from him.

  Gideon’s eyes narrowed. “Let her go and break the circle then. You can’t harm me while I’m in it, just like I can’t harm you. Face me.”

  Dagger’s gaze flick to me. “She’s mine. And you know I won’t let you out of the circle before I bind you. Or you’ll cart us both back. But when you’re bound to me, I can make this world mine. I’ll bathe in their blood.”