by M. K. Dawn
“What do you remember?”
Darrien savored his mouthful of steak. “All of it. The good, bad, and ugly.”
“After only a week. That is impressive.”
“Well, you know the saying: a vampire never forgets.” The quip felt off considering his current situation, but it also purged some of his anger, making him feel more like himself.
Nikko chuckled. “I thought that was elephants.”
“Ha.” Darrien searched his mind for a witty comeback but couldn’t think of one. There were too many other pressing things on his mind. “I thought you were dead, Nikko; killed along with…” he choked back a sob, unable to continue.
All these years he’d thought his wife and her family were human and had died from influenza after the Great Reveal. But that’s not the way it happened.
“When the vampires came for our family, I was out for a run. I could hear the screams from miles away, but I couldn’t get back fast enough. I found my entire family slaughtered—including a young boy who had just transitioned and we were helping adjust to the pack. You were gone.” Nikko rubbed his temple. “I spent months trying to track you down and then the Great Reveal happened.”
Tears streamed down Darrien’s face. “I killed a dozen before being staked in the stomach. Your father and brothers took down a dozen more, but there were too many. They came prepared for a fight. If I was stronger, if I had drunk human blood from the vein as Kasa had insisted so many times before, I could have protected them. Instead, they brought me to my knees and forced me to watch as each of their throats were slit and their hearts cut out.”
“A cruel way to stop an immortal from healing.”
Darrien wiped away the tears. “Their deaths are on my hands. I knew the consequence for fraternizing with wolves, yet still I pursued Kasa.”
“This was not your fault,” Nikko hissed. “We all knew the risks—Kasa especially. She didn’t care. None of us did.”
“I killed her,” Darrien roared. Her last breath left a scar that would never heal.
“No.” Nikko gripped the bars, face wet with tears. “You saved her.”
Darrien pulled his knees to his chest and wept. The memories were so fresh it was like it had happened a day ago, not a hundred years.
“Her entire life she was a hopeless romantic and after the attack, it crushed her to think she would never be loved. Then you came along and brought her back to life.” Nikko paused. “I know my sister, Darrien. Even if she knew her fate, she still would have loved you. A hundred happy, love-filled years. The sacrifice would have been well worth it.”
Darrien trembled as he lifted his head. “I’m so sorry.”
“There is nothing to apologize for. Every day you were with my sister I thanked the Gods for bringing you into our lives. She was happy and now she is at peace. That is all that matters.”
Darrien took a long swig of the amber liquid. “Thanks.”
“Remember, there is whiskey in that bottle. Might want to take it easy.” Nikko offered a bemused smile. “I know these memories are new to you, but I have waited a hundred years to find out what happened to you that night.”
He took another long drink. “They took and held me captive, forced me to fight, and then the Great Reveal happened and I thought you all died from the flu. I joined the Sanguine militia. Fought in the humans’ wars—the Blood War. Joined a radical group hell bent on destroying the Council to save my brother.”
Nikko beamed. “How is C.J.?”
Darrien hung his head. “I don’t know. We lost contact with them when the wolves attacked.”
“He was there?” Nikko stared up at the ceiling and swore.
“Yeah, in the city, in a van. Not sure of the exact location.” Darrien’s heart raced. “Why? Do you know what happened to him?”
“Someone killed several vampires dressed in combat gear.”
Darrien held a clenched fist against his mouth, trying to control the anger. “He would have been the only male with one arm.”
Nikko’s brow furrowed. “I’ll see what I can find out. The van was empty when we transported you and Samantha here. There were no clear signs of an ambush. He could have gotten out.”
“I think you need to go.” Without blood, he no longer had control over his emotions, and he didn’t want Nikko to see the monster within. “Now, Nikko. Go. Please.”
“Try not to let them see you out of control or you will never get out of here. I will see if I can get you some animal blood to calm the cravings.”
Get out of here? There wasn’t a chance in hell they were setting him free. Nikko had to know that.
Darrien’s fangs descended and his hands shook with rage. He needed to hit something, dispel the animosity coursing through him. “Nikko. Go. Now.”
As soon as Darrien heard the click of the lock, he let the monster take control.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Samantha tucked her bare feet beneath her and flipped to the next blank page of the journal she’d been keeping for the past five days. Journaling was never something she’d taken an interest in before; she’d found the whole process mundane. Why write about your feelings when you could talk about them, get feedback and advice from a trusted friend?
Now, alone in this house, this journal was one of the few things keeping her sane. Evie had left the compound six days ago. Her only other visitors had been Dr. Tavia, who did a quick re-examination to make sure she’d healed, and a male who had restocked her food. Neither stayed long; the male didn’t even acknowledge her existence. Not that she wanted to speak to him. His gruff exterior made her nervous. As he brought stuff in, she excused herself to the bedroom and locked the door as a precautionary measure that would not have kept him out, but it made her feel better all the same.
Her pen hovered over the blank page; Samantha was unsure about what she wanted to write today. The first few entries were nothing more than pages and pages of her droning on about Ethan. Each day that passed without a visit from him broke her heart a little more. It wasn’t even about she and him, but the life they’d created and lost. Those weeks they’d shared, the love he expressed for their unborn child and for her, it was genuine; she was sure. For him to turn his back on her during this unbelievably painful tragedy was unforgivable.
Hot tears sprung from her eyes. She slammed the book shut and tossed it aside, not ready to relive the distress that came with that sort of thinking. She needed a distraction; something to get her mind off everything.
Evie had suggested gardening, which sounded ridiculous when she’d mentioned it, but now Samantha’s fingers twitched at the thought. She shouldn’t have dismissed the idea so easily. At one time, even the thought of dirt on her clothes and underneath her fingernails would have made her cringe. She blamed that on her mother, who never let her play outside as a child. A small twinge pierced her heart at the thought. Even though Samantha hated her mother, there was a part of her that wondered what had become of her now that Luther was dead and the synthetic blood center gone.
Samantha pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to go down that rabbit hole. Too bad Evie was no longer here to speak to about getting gardening supplies. The distraction would have been a welcome relief, and behind the house would have been a perfect place to start.
Opening the back door, she gasped. Stacked on both sides of the porch were piles of supplies: plants, pots, stepping stones, soil, and so much more. Taped to a gift bag was a note with her name.
Samantha,
I knew you would change your mind. Tito was not an easy man to convince, but as the yard desperately needs a makeover and free labor is free labor, he grudgingly agreed. Plus, a busy vampire is a vampire not consumed by the need for blood, so a win-win for both of you. Consider this space an empty canvas and you the artist who will bring it to life.
Love, Evie.
She chuckled at the gloves, apron, and matching pink polka dot tools. Evie had thought of everything and then some.
The ar
ray of flowers, succulents, and bushes set her mind ablaze even though she’d never designed a garden before. Samantha had experience with interior decorating and party planning. The concept wasn’t so different from either of those. Arrange the plants and accessories to create an ascetically pleasing view.
Samantha rushed inside for a paper and pencil and started an outline of what would go where.
Two nights she spent plotting and planning, moving pots and walkways around until she knew exactly what would go where. The process served its purpose well: taking her mind off all the horrible things going on in her life.
The tears that had fallen daily disappeared. The endless nights flew by. Sleep came easily and nightmares no longer woke her up. Even though she knew it was temporary, she felt at peace. It gave her a chance to remember what it was to be content.
Tonight, her focus was on planting, which she figured would be her least favorite part. After a couple of scoops, she tossed the gloves aside and used her bare hands to fill the large pot she was working on. There was something about the feel of soil against her skin she couldn’t describe. She couldn’t help but admire the beauty of her first potted plant standing tall in its new home.
From the corner of her eye, Samantha saw movement. She snapped her head and a sudden coldness hit her core. Three men stood in the open field and glared in her direction.
It wasn’t uncommon for wolves to lurk about. Guard duty, fascination, and disdain were a few of the obvious reasons.
But there was something different about the way these men watched her every move. A sinister vibe rolled off their gaze and shivered up her spine.
She understood the hatred between their two species; a feeling ingrained in their DNA, but this unnerved her in a way Samantha couldn’t explain.
Pushing her concerns aside, she continued gardening, trying to ignore them. There was no way she would allow them to scare her—at least she would not show fear. Even though she was strong, there was no way she could fend off three wolves at once.
Samantha kept her eyes downward, focused on the plants. Every nerve in her body fired, begged her to flee. Her eyes darted to the right, hoping to catch a glimpse of them without them knowing.
Her muscles went rigid as her heart raced. They were closer now and had spread out, one to her left, her right, and in front of her. The only thing between them was a white picket fence and a magic spell that prevented her from escaping.
She sucked in a breath through her nose and shook the dirt from her hands before standing. They were trying to frighten her and doing a damn fine job, but she wouldn’t let them see her fear. “Real funny, guys. Does Tito know you’re out here? Or Ethan? I don’t think either would appreciate your intimidation methods.”
The one to her left snorted, his large arms crossed over his broad chest, tattoos covering his bald head.
“Whatever.” Samantha started for the house. “Big bad wolves here to scare a poor, innocent female. You must be proud of yourselves.”
She slammed the door and threw the lock, a flush of adrenaline tingling throughout her body.
They wouldn’t hurt her—wouldn’t dare. Evie had said Tito made it clear she was off limits. This was just a game they were playing, and she’d be damned if she would let them win.
CHAPTER NINE
The heavy scent of soil and sweat stung Samantha’s nose. She desperately needed a shower and a clean outfit. After a quick peek out the back window, she secured both doors and headed to the back of the house.
Even though it appeared the stalkers had left, she also locked the bathroom door. It wasn’t much of a defense, but she figured it would buy her a few seconds if someone was stupid enough to break in.
Steam filled the cramped bathroom, inviting her to the shower. As much as Samantha wanted to bask in the water's heat, she quickly washed and was back out, wrapped in a towel in less than ten minutes.
It irritated her to no end that the behavior of those men had unnerved her to the point she didn’t feel comfortable behind a shower curtain. This was exactly what they wanted, and she’d played right into it without even knowing.
Samantha brushed and towel-dried her hair enough so it wouldn’t soak her shirt. It was too early for bed, but she dressed in pajama pants and a loose top, anyway. If she was going to be stuck in this house, at least she would be comfortable.
Her stomach growled and she realized she had eaten nothing since early evening. As she opened the bathroom door, the smell of wolf—a mixture of wet dog and mud—bombarded her senses.
Her heart pounded faster as she peered out into the dark bedroom. She had left the light on—had to since the switch was on the other side of the room next to the door. Someone had turned it off; the bulb going out was too much of a coincidence.
She scanned the bathroom, unable to find anything that could substitute as a weapon. There was a knife in the nightstand; she’d put it there when she first arrived, determined to arm herself when surrounded by the enemy.
Getting to the dresser would be the issue. It couldn’t be more than over ten feet away, so her speed would get her there in under a second. Would it be enough to outrun the intruder? Samantha wasn’t sure. Their speed in in wolf form was crazy fast. Though not as fast as her if what she’d witnessed while they sparred was any indication.
She sucked in a deep breath, still unable to pinpoint an exact position. With no experience in this sort of thing, she relied on her instincts—instincts she had never used.
Stepping back in the bathroom, Samantha readied herself for the sprint, picturing the handle on the drawer and the location of the knife. She’d only have one shot at this, and she didn’t want to waste it fumbling around in the dark.
Not giving herself time to chicken out, Samantha raced into the bedroom. Her hand clawed at the dresser until her fingers brushed against metal. She yanked on the drawer—adrenaline combined with her immortal strength—it ripped from its hinges, the contents scattering across the floor.
She dropped to her knees in search of the fallen blade, her only defense against the—
The scent of pine and earth filled the dark room. A sinister laughed followed.
Samantha jerked her head backwards. “Please don’t hurt me.”
The laughter grew. There wasn’t one, but multiple men inside the house. Her stomach turned. There was no way she could defend herself against them all—not with the small amount of watered-down blood she’d being living off these past few weeks.
“Never thought I’d see a vampire on its knees pleading for its life.”
Samantha rose to her feet. “Like I have a choice.” She inhaled, catching a whiff of each distinctive scent. “Three wolves against a single vampire, weak and deprived of blood. How admirable.”
The lights illuminated the room and the large, bald man—one of the wolves who had watched her outside—stood in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?” she managed without a hint of fear lacing her voice.
His eyes darted over Samantha’s shoulder.
Before Samantha had a chance to follow his gaze, two massive arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her off the ground.
Samantha screamed, kicked, and thrashed about, trying to break free to no avail. “Let go of me! Tito said no one would bother me.”
“We don’t answer to Tito,” the bald one snarled. “Bring her into the living room.”
“Why are you doing this?” Samantha stopped fighting against the stocky man, who half-carried, half-dragged her out of the room. If she was going to survive this, she would have to be smart; save her energy until an opening presented itself.
He tossed her onto the loveseat. “Sit down and shut up.”
The bald one pulled back the curtain of the front window. “Where the hell is he?”
Samantha looked between the three. “What do you want?”
“Your blood.” The tall, lanky man licked his lips.
“Enough, Adren,” the bald one snapped. “We
’re not here for that.”
Samantha leaned back in the seat and crossed her arms. “Then why are you here?”
Adren shoved a finger in her face. “Shut it, leech.”
“This isn’t working, Leo,” the stocky man growled.
The bald one—Leo—turned from the window. “It’s only been a couple of minutes. Have some damn patience, Diego.”
Diego paced around the room. “Funny coming from the man who couldn’t wait a few days to kick the little pup’s ass.”
Leo stalked forward and grabbed Diego by the neck. “Watch how you speak to me, boy. I am still your pack leader.”
“He’s not worth it, Leo.” Adren rifled through the refrigerator, seemingly unconcerned by the scuffle in the living room. “Last thing we need is a rift in the pack.”
Leo tossed Diego aside. “Just a small lesson in respect. Nothing more.”
Adren came back with a half-eaten apple in hand and plopped down on the chair.
Samantha looked between the three again. Their banter was unnerving, like they were enjoying this. “You asked where he was. Who?”
Leo’s dark eyes fell on Samantha. “I can’t tell if you’re being serious.”
“What do you mean?” She didn’t understand why they were there.
“Ethan, you dumb bitch,” Diego barked from the back of the room.
Samantha bit back the insults tickling the end of her tongue.
Leo whirled around. “Shut the fuck up, Diego.”
“Yeah.” Adren tossed the apple core and hit Diego square between the eyes before he could react. “Show the lady some respect.”
“Lady?” Diego scoffed. “She’s nothing but a walking, talking corpse.”
Samantha’s fangs descended. It was a sensation she’d never experienced before except when feeding from Ethan. However, this time it was different. Anger, not hunger, fueled her. She knew in that moment she could take him down with a single bite to the jugular.
“Enough!” Leo roared. “You will not speak again.”