Salish and Bear shot forward, the hair down their backs rose as they growled. Out of the shadows strode four men dressed in ripped jeans, tank tops, and leather biker jackets. The tallest had a lean body, greasy straw-colored hair, and cold, lifeless gray eyes. When he grinned, he had regular fangs.
“Well done, Lydia. You brought us a pretty one tonight.” The vampire made to approach them, jumping back when Salish snarled at him.
Alarmed that she had been setup, her concern subsided when Lydia placed herself in front of her, holding her hand in a bone-crushing grip. Terror radiated from Lydia straight into her.
“Garret, you will not touch her. She's my friend.” She looked at her. “Let me do the talking. They won’t hurt me.”
“How can you talk to me mentally? Are you a ghoul?”
“No, I’m a telepath. Garret wants me willingly to accept his ‘dark gift’ and become a vampire, like him. But I won't, not ever.” Garret had forced Lydia to watch as they hunted and tortured their victims before sucking them dry.
The lampposts went out. Only light to see by was the moon above. No people. They were on their own with four very hungry vampires wanting to make a meal out of her.
With confidence she didn’t feel, she stepped around Lydia, glaring at the vampires. “Leave us alone. We don’t want any trouble.”
Garret laughed. “You're a ballsy bitch. I like that in a woman. Instead of sucking you dry, I just might make you one of us. Whatcha think about becoming a vamp?”
“Sorry, buddy, someone already has.” Lydia flinched and made to run, but Mariah held her by her side.
“Don’t freak out, I’m not a vamp. A Borne vampire exchanged blood with me. I saved him from bleeding to death.” Lydia relaxed a little.
The vampires glanced at each other, confused. Garret studied her. “You’re still able to walk in the sunlight. Who is your maker? Hell, I don't care whose property you are, we’re hungry.” He snarled, exposing rows of needle-like teeth, his eyes glowing red.
An enormous shadow flew overhead.
Garret shouted at the dark sky, “I know you’re out there. Show yourself!”
Unable to find him, she heard Rathe say, “Perhaps you should take care, Undead. She belongs to me.”
“Santa Cruz is our hunting ground. Take your bitch and leave. Otherwise, you’re dead meat!”
Behind the vamps, she saw Rathe materialize. A predatory smile curved his sculptured lips. A dark-clothed man, several inches shorter than Rathe, appeared beside him. His long, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. When he smiled a wolfish grin, his fangs were exposed.
Rathe asked his companion, “What think you, Faeroes, a bad case of manners?”
The vampires whipped around and faced them.
“I suppose it is to be expected when one makes vampires out of scum. These children are not even worth the time it took to convert them.”
“Agreed.”
Pissed, Garret snarled, “We might not have the privilege of being born vampires, but we kill just the same, you and us.”
“Do we?” Rathe said with a dangerous edge to his voice, his eyes narrowing.
“Remember, the pact, Borne! Ordered to stand down when your Elders signed the peace treaty with our leader.”
“Where is your leader?” Rathe advanced on Garret. She felt him mentally pressuring the younger vampire, applying enough pain to make the kid clutch his head and scream at the invasion.
“I-I can't tell you! He'll hunt me down and kill me, like he did Murphy.”
She really had seen Murphy killed!
“What did Murphy do to upset him?” Rathe locked his gaze with Garret’s.
“When Murphy killed Rathe Romulus, there was a woman with him. She is special and our leader wants her brought to him.”
“Why is he interested in her?”
“Don’t know. He ordered us to find her and bring her to him. That’s all we know.”
What does the leader of the Damned want with me?
Rathe’s eyes blazed white-hot as he bore into the vampire. “Where is your leader?”
Screaming, Garret shook his head, as if he were trying to physically remove Rathe out of his mind. His men snarled at Rathe and Faeroes, unable to help Garret. Unnerved by the standoff, she thought she heard the tap-tap of heels on pavement. Glancing behind her, she saw a stunningly beautiful woman walking toward her and Lydia. Moonlight caught the reflection of her silver eyes as the woman placed a slender finger on her lush, red lips. Her golden-blonde hair was swept into a fashionable chignon, leaving long, curling tendrils to cascade down her slender shoulder. Dressed in black, leather pants, leather and lace corset, high-heeled boots, and a mid-thigh leather coat, she looked as deadly as she was beautiful.
Garret and his boys nervously watched her as she approached them. “Gentlemen,” her voice sultry and enchanting, “where is your leader now?”
The scrawniest of the four said, surprising his companions, “He’s in San Francisco, at his mansion.”
“Is there anything else you wish to tell me?” She locked her gaze on the young vamp.
“Besides us bringing in the woman, he-he sent orders for us to search and find the Romulas family. Wants them alive. Huge ass bounty for them. With Rathe dead, they should be easy pickings.” He licked his lips. “So, what’s your name, gorgeous?”
“Anya. Anya Romulas.” Lifting her hand to Rathe and Faeroes, she said with a grin, exposing her fangs, “And they are the Romulas brothers.”
“Shit!” Garret said to Rathe, “You’re the Slayer?”
Grinning, Rathe gave them a mocking bow. “As you can see, I am in fine health.”
“But he said you were dead!” Garret searched about him, most likely trying to figure a way to escape. “We promise not to say a word. Let us go, man. Please!”
“You feed on fear and murder the innocent. I cannot allow you to carry on.” Rathe reached into his coat, to her amazement, and drew his sword out. Faeroes did, too.
Stunned, she watched them kill the four vampires, dispatching them violently, effortlessly. Faeroes withdrew a silver flask out of his inner coat pocket. Unscrewing the top, Faeroes sprinkled the contents on the bodies as he spoke the same prayer Rathe had at the truck stop. He wore a ring similar to Rathe’s, but it was on his left hand, ring finger. The dead vampires ignited into flames and were ash in seconds. The ocean breeze swept away the evidence they ever existed. After they cleaned their swords, they opened their coats and it looked like they sheathed them inside the lining, except the blades vanished.
Lydia was the first to speak. “Wow! That was much cooler than in the movies. You blur your swords, don’t you?”
A throaty laugh escaped Anya Romulas. “I like her. Observant.”
Faeroes waved his hand and the lampposts illuminated, chasing away the dark. Shaking his head, he grinned. “Anya, you are incorrigible. Rathe, is that the young lady you seek?”
“No, the one beside her is the little hellion I’m after, the one who keeps getting into trouble!” Rathe strode up to her, looking furious. “Just once could you just obey me?”
She opened her mouth to reply when he interrupted her, “What the hell were you thinking coming into town by yourself?”
Furious at being reprimanded like a disobedient child, she piped off, “Actually, I was thinking I was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. Remember, you told me to eat so I’d get better faster.”
Anya’s laughter bubbled forth. “I really like her.” Curling her arm around Faeroes's, she grinned at Rathe, who glared back at her.
“Don't encourage her, Anya. She's trouble enough without you adding to it.” Disgruntled, he asked her, “Well, did you eat yet?”
“Yes, thank you for inquiring. Oh, this is Lydia.”
Rathe extended his hand out to her. When Lydia didn’t take it, he reassured her, “Rest easy, Lydia, we are not like those we destroyed. You are safe.”
Tentatively, she shook his hand. “Than
k you for saving us. I can't believe I'm finally free of Garret and his friends.” She was about to tell them more when Simon appeared.
Dressed like any other twenty-year old, Simon shoved his hands in his jean pockets as he approached them. “Evening,” he said with a smile to Lydia.
Cursing softly under his breath, Rathe demanded, “Simon, what’s wrong? Where are Mother and Mina?”
“They’re at the house, safe. I just thought you might need my help.”
Rathe looked like he was about to explode. Mariah stepped in and smiled at his youngest brother. “Simon, would you take my friend, Lydia, back to the house. I'd really appreciate it. She could use a shower and a safe place to stay for the night.” She could feel the vampires’ eyes on her, sensed their surprise at her request, except for Simon who squared his broad shoulders.
“I would consider it an honor to assist your friend. My lady?” He offered out his arm for Lydia to take.
Smiling at his antics, she warned him, “Be careful. Lydia can read minds.”
Laying his hand on his heart, he said, “I promise to be on my best behavior.” Lydia placed her hand on his forearm, blushing.
Deftly catching the keys she tossed him, Simon asked, “Want me to take your dogs back with us? Mina is begging to play with them.” He rolled his eyes.
“I can imagine. Mina does seem a bit on the lonely side with so many adults around,” she said gruffly as she handed him the dogs’ leashes.
He straightened. “Yeah, I guess it does get kinda lonely for her, huh?” Simon asked Lydia, “Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving!”
“We’ll stop and purchase takeout for you.”
Watching them leave, she sighed and faced Rathe, who ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Anya and Faeroes just grinned.
“Rathe has a bad habit of not introducing me to his family. I’m Mariah Jordan.” She held out her hand to Anya, who grasped it in a friendly handshake.
“Mariah Jordan? I've read your books! I can't believe we have a real celebrity in our company.” Anya's smile broadened. “I am Anya. My husband, Faeroes — Rathe's other brother.”
Faeroes inclined his head. “What a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Jordan. My mother said you were an extraordinary woman. I must say, since you can handle our foul-tempered Rathe,” he added, winning a glare from his brother, “you are special indeed.”
“Faeroes, I hunger,” Anya pouted. “The night is young, let us enjoy it?”
“Rathe, will you need us?”
“Go on, I can handle one woman — I think.” He glared down at her. “See you at the mansion before dawn.”
“You need to feed, Rathe. I feel you weakening.” He nodded to Mariah before they left them.
“Is it true?” He made to leave, she stopped him. “But you fed last night? I-I saw you.”
Cursing under his breath, he steered her toward the Boardwalk. “Let’s just say between ambushes, machine guns, rocket launchers, and vampires wanting to make a meal out of you, it has left me in a serious bind. I’ve not had the opportunity to take in my body’s full requirement yet.”
“Oh really, perhaps you should take the time now and feed?”
“What and leave you alone? Woman, trouble finds you wherever you go.”
“Rathe, you eliminated all the vampires who hunt the Boardwalk, so I’m quite safe. Go and feed.” When he hesitated, she laid her hand on his chest, feeling the heavy thump-thump of his heart beating. “Rathe, please, for my sake, you must take care of yourself. Especially since we just learned a vampire is searching for me!”
“Oh, honey, he isn't just a vampire; he's the strongest, sickest, and most cunning of them all.”
“You know him?”
Rathe smiled sadly at her. “He was once my best friend.”
Stunned by his admission, she didn’t have the opportunity to question him when he fixed a stern eye on her. “Stay in the light, where I can see you.”
“Fine. After you’re done, we’ve got to talk.”
✝✝✝
God in Heaven, it was him haunting Mariah’s nightmares!
Already he had the Damned searching for her. There would be no place safe for her and her daughter to hide now.
Forcing himself back to his current problem, Rathe searched the beach for a donor. He found a surfer sitting in the sand, just far enough out of the lights to give him privacy to do what he needed to do. Hypnotizing the young man into compliancy, Rathe sank his teeth into his throat.
As it had since he turned sixteen, the monster arose inside him, demanding him to drain the boy. Clamping an iron will on his hunger, he slowed his intake of the boy’s blood. Hearing the slowing of the human’s heart, he released him and placed an illusion around the puncture wounds, keeping them hidden until they’d healed. Wiping the kid’s memory clean of his feeding on him, he sat him down on the sand to rest.
Seeking another donor, he found a young couple cuddling on a blanket. They easily succumbed to his will. After feeding on the man, he laid him back down, and made to take the girl. Seeing her hand in her boyfriend's, the look of trust on her youthful face, he could not bring himself to feed on her. He erased their memories of him and set them to sleep, too. Walking back to the Boardwalk, he pondered the two lovers.
Why hadn’t he found a woman to love like Faeroes had? Why didn’t any of the women he’d known spark life in him the way Mariah Jordan had? God, why was he always alone?
A little voice inside his mind whispered, You’re not alone anymore. Mariah is with you.
Not for long. She had to return to her daughter, to her life. To ensure she had a chance to have a normal life again, he had to kill the leader of the Damned, as he should have done thirty-five years ago,
“Rathe, what’s wrong?” Mariah's worried voice interjected into his mind, startling him. How in the hell did she keep breaking past his barriers?
Entranced at how her eyes sparkled like gems, he gazed into them, sinking deeper and deeper, losing his doubt and loneliness for a brief time.
“Mariah, come to me.” Focusing his will on her, he ‘encouraged’ her to comply.
Her husky, seductive laughter swirled within his mind as she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to her. Chuckling, he shook his head when she met him at the edge of the boardwalk.
“Woman, I must be getting soft. No other human resists me the way you do.”
With a wicked grin, she rose on her toes and whispered in his ear, “We can change the ‘soft' part, if you kiss me.”
His nostrils flared, his heart thundered in his chest as he grew hard at her suggestion. Everything in him wanted to kiss her, make love to her. Instead, he took a cautious step back and gruffly asked, “Are you still hungry?”
Disappointment drew her lush mouth into a frown. “No, but I am thirsty, especially for a latte.”
“What is a latte?”
“I'll show you.” She took his hand in hers, leading him to the coffee stand and ordered a latte called a Nutty Irishman.
When the girl handed her the tall cup with a lid on and two hot pink straws stuck in it, Rathe paid for it. Inhaling the rich, nutty aroma, he figured out what she had ordered. “Ah, so you are one of those who are addicted to espresso coffee.”
“Guilty. Do you want to try a sip?” She offered him the cup.
Cautious, he took a small sip. Rearing his head back when the caffeine hit his tongue, he made a face at the bitter taste. “It's all yours. Damn, that's got quite a punch to it.” Coughing, he tried to maintain his dignity while she happily sipped away. “So, what would you like to do for the rest of the evening?” They walked the paved path on the outer edge of the amusement park, meeting only a few people along the way.
She shrugged her shoulders. “What do you want to do?”
“Why don’t I take you to my favorite spot? It’s only a couple miles down the coast.”
Mariah looked around her and asked in a low voice, “Can we fly?
”
Startled by her request, he inquired, “Shall I change into an eagle or would you rather I stay as I am?”
Her voice sultry, desire shining in her eyes, she tossed her empty cup into the garbage and slid her arms around his waist. “As you are. Later, you can show me how you shape-shift.”
Swallowing hard, he ordered past the tightening of his throat, “Hold on tight.”
Resting his cheek against the silkiness of her hair, he held her as they ascended, rising higher and higher into the sky until the sea unfolded beneath their feet. Rathe flew toward his destination. The wind sent her hair streaming around him. Inhaling her delicate scent, mingling with the pleasant night air, rich with the smell of the sea and warm earth, he relaxed, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. A small cove, hidden in the cliffs, came into view. He landed on the sand, almost as breathless as she was.
Staring into each other's eyes, they stood. God, he wanted to strip off her clothes and take her on there, on the beach. Shoving the desire aside, he shrugged off his coat and laid it out. “Here, have a seat.”
“How do you make your sword vanish?”
Unbuckling the scabbard, he set his sword down and sat beside her. “We blur them so no one can see we are carrying them, not even metal detectors can sense them.”
“Cool. Can I do that?”
“No, only vampires can.” He rested his arms on his raised knees. For a long time, they stared out at dark water as waves crashed across the shore. Needing to break the silence, he asked, “So, how did you like your first flight with a vampire?”
She grinned at him. “It was wonderful. I felt totally weightless, like we were floating on the wind's current. One with the sky and stars.”
He laughed softly. “Spoken like a true writer.”
“Rathe, where did you get the cross?” Mariah trailed her fingers along the silver cross he wore. “It’s beautiful.”
“Mina was holding it for me, just in case I didn’t return.” Lightest of touch, and it still made him grow hard, wanting her to touch more than his cross.
As if she had read his mind — maybe she had, she leaned into him. The instant her lips touched his, he was lost. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her. Desire rippled through him, arcing straight into her. She held onto him as he left her delicious mouth, molding his lips to the curve of her throat. Licking her soft skin, he scraped his teeth against her, causing her to moan. She arched her head back, offering herself to him. Opening his mouth wider, he felt his fangs lengthen and slowly lowered them to pierce the tender skin below her ear. Realizing what he was about to do, he jerked back and leapt to his feet. Breathing hard, he jammed his hands deep into his jean pockets, needing to put them somewhere other than on her. Slowly, she rose to her feet, watching him.
Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) Page 9