Storm (Blood Haze: Book Two) A Paranormal Romance

by Tara Shuler

  word that we needed to get you out of here.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  “More than likely Barnabas and Dmitri had a

  discussion, and Dmitri left once he realized he no

  longer had his bargaining chip.”

  “But won’t he try to get me back?”

  “He will, of course. But not right now, I don’t

  think. He will probably wait until he thinks he

  has the element of surprise.”

  “How long do you think we’ll be stuck down

  here?”

  “I could think of worse places to be.”

  I looked up and smiled at him, understanding

  what he meant.

  “Me, too,” I confessed, and I felt his arm

  around my shoulders squeezing me.

  “Go get some more rest,” Alexi pleaded.

  “Fine, I’ll go,” I grumbled.

  This time, I got into my own bunk. I knew Kai

  would be disappointed to find me missing when

  he woke up, but I couldn’t bear to hurt Alexi

  again so soon. I knew it must have been tearing

  him apart to see all of the public displays of

  affection between Kai and me and between Max

  and me.

  I still couldn’t quite understand why Alexi had

  such strong feelings for me. I understood the

  basic premise behind him hearing about me from

  his father, but it just didn’t make sense to me.

  How could he fall in love with someone before

  he even met them? I guessed I might never

  understand it. I watched him standing there,

  strong and silent, and I slowly drifted off into

  dreamland.

  The next time I woke up, everyone except

  Liam was awake. Alexi still stood guard, and

  Max and Kai were sitting at opposite sides of the

  room. Kai had pulled a chair over near me, he

  was watching me sleep, and Max was sitting near

  Alexi.

  “Good morning, Sunshine,” Kai said to me,

  smiling.

  “Good morning,” I said, returning his smile.

  “Are you hungry?” Kai asked.

  “No, not really.”

  “You should eat,” Max said from across the

  room.

  “I’m fine, really,” I insisted.

  “Please eat,” Alexi pleaded.

  I sighed, and relented.

  “Fine, what is there?” I asked.

  A triumphant grin spread across Alexi’s face,

  but I couldn’t tell if it was because he’d simply

  been successful or because he had been

  victorious where Kai and Max were not. I shot

  him a frustrated look, and his smile turned into a

  twisted grin as he tried to suppress it.

  “There’s some energy bars, some canned soup,

  canned beans, chili, some ramen noodles…” Kai

  said, naming off things he found on the shelves.

  “Yuck,” I groaned. “It all sounds disgusting.”

  “The energy bars aren’t too bad,” Alexi

  suggested.

  “Alright, I’ll try one,” I sighed.

  Kai passed me a bar and a bottle of water, and

  motioned for me to sit in the chair he had

  occupied.

  “It’s okay, I’m fine on the bed,” I told him.

  I choked down the energy bar. Alexi was right,

  it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Still, I

  wanted real food. I also needed to recharge. I

  hadn’t fed in so long that I felt very weak. I rested

  my head in my hands and sighed. I was tired.

  Alexi must have understood, because he said,

  “Don’t worry. As soon as things are settled a

  little, they’ll bring us a few volunteers.”

  “Volunteers?” I asked.

  “Liam never explained volunteers to you?”

  Alexi asked quizzically.

  “No.”

  “How long has it been since you fed?” he

  asked, sounding concerned.

  “I don’t remember,” I answered honestly.

  “You don’t...” he began, but then he stopped.

  “Liam!”

  Liam sat up so quickly he banged his head on

  the bunk above him.

  “What? What’s going on?” Liam said

  groggily.

  “When was the last time Alice fed?” Alexi

  growled at him.

  “Huh? Umm… I don’t…” Liam stammered.

  “Liam…” Alexi snarled.

  “It’s been really busy,” Liam admitted. “I just

  forgot. Alice, I’m sorry.”

  “Father would not be happy to learn of this,”

  Alexi said. “She should never be allowed to be so

  weak she can’t defend herself!”

  Liam’s face fell.

  “I’m sorry. I never thought about that. This is

  my fault. It’s all my fault. Alice, I’m really

  sorry,” Liam said.

  “Don’t blame yourself,” I said to Liam. “It’s

  not your fault.”

  “Then whose fault is it?” Alexi snapped.

  “Well, it’s certainly not his!” I shouted, but I

  immediately regretted yelling at him and I

  lowered my voice. “We can’t blame anyone for

  this, Alexi. It happened, it’s over, and there was

  nothing anyone could do. Besides, I don’t think

  my powers would have worked against those

  things, anyway.”

  “What things?” Alexi pressed.

  “Those things that took me,” I said, and then I

  paused in confusion. “Didn’t Kai and Max tell

  you about them?”

  I looked at Kai and Max and they both looked

  confused.

  “The gray ghost things,” I explained. “You

  two saw them. They attacked you with those

  glowing orb things.”

  Kai and Max glanced at each other, and then

  back at me.

  “Oh, come on,” I pleaded. “Tell me you

  remember!”

  “Oh my god,” Alexi muttered under his

  breath.

  Liam looked alarmed.

  “Wraiths?” he asked Alexi.

  “It couldn’t be,” Alexi said, shaking his head.

  “What’s a wraith?” I asked.

  “You don’t think Dmitri is seriously using

  wraiths, do you?” Liam asked Alexi, ignoring my

  question.

  “What’s a wraith?” I repeated.

  “He could be, I suppose,” Alexi replied to

  Liam. “Dmitri is known for his eccentricity.”

  I was getting really irritated with being

  completely ignored.

  “Will somebody please tell me what a

  freaking wraith is?” I shouted, standing up and

  stomping my foot.

  Liam and Alexi turned to me, and Liam

  looked horrified at my outburst.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, sitting back down on my

  bunk.

  “No, I’m sorry, Alice,” Alexi said. “I just got

  absorbed in the conversation. I didn’t mean to

  ignore you.”

  “What is a wraith?” I asked more calmly.

  “They’re the souls of vampires that have been

  trapped and forced to do the bidding of their

  master,” Alexi explained. “They’re not inherently

  evil, but anyone who uses them cannot be good.

  Few people have the ability to trap and command

  them, though. Wraiths are no
toriously difficult

  to control.”

  “If anyone could do it, I guess it would be

  Dmitri,” Liam commented.

  “Alice, did you say they used magic?” Alexi

  asked.

  “Yeah,” I answered. “They shot these white

  orbs out at Kai and Max and knocked them out. I

  was afraid they were…”

  I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “That’s not good,” Liam said, looking at

  Alexi.

  “Why? What does that mean?” I asked.

  “Wraiths are not supposed to be able to use

  magic,” Liam explained. “I thought that was just

  a myth.”

  “It is,” Alexi said. “I mean, I thought it was.

  Alice, are you sure about what you saw?”

  “Yes, I’m absolutely certain,” I answered. “I

  saw it very clearly, and it happened twice. And

  they were speaking some kind of whispery

  language.”

  “Wait… what?” Alexi gasped. “You could

  hear them?”

  “Yes… why?”

  “No one can hear a wraith other than its

  master,” Alexi explained.

  “Well, I did,” I said confidently. “I’m not

  crazy or anything.”

  “What did you hear, exactly?” Liam

  demanded.

  “It was just this whispery sound. I wasn’t even

  sure they were talking at first, but I could hear

  the pitch rise and fall, and it was a little choppy –

  broken up like words. I just assumed they were

  speaking,” I answered.

  Liam’s mouth gaped open, and he shook his

  head. Then he looked at Alexi.

  “What are you thinking?” Alexi asked.

  “Can we talk privately?” Liam asked, grabbing

  his arm and escorting him down the tunnel.

  I strained to hear what they were saying, but I

  couldn’t hear a word.

  “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you before,”

  Kai told me, looking dejected.

  “It’s not your fault,” I told him, putting my

  hand on his arm.

  “I didn’t even see anything, Alice,” he said. “I

  saw the door open, and I tried to shield you,

  expecting someone to come in. But no one ever

  did. The next thing I knew, I was waking up to

  Alexi and Liam shouting.”

  “Same here,” Max said. “I came downstairs

  and I just got really tired all of a sudden. Then I

  woke up when Alexi and Liam got back and were

  calling your name.”

  “Couldn’t you use any powers again them?”

  Kai asked me.

  “I didn’t have a chance,” I said. “By the time I

  realized what was happening, they used some

  white gas on me and I passed out.”

  Alexi was suddenly standing in the mouth of

  the tunnel.

  “What did you say?” he asked very seriously.

  “Umm… I said they used a white gas on me

  and it made me go to sleep,” I repeated.

  “Oh, this is not good,” Alexi muttered. “Not

  good.”

  “I thought that was another myth,” Liam said

  quietly.

  “Me, too,” Alexi agreed. “Clearly, we were all

  wrong. But how much will it cost us?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Alice, if these are wraiths that can use magic

  and have the ability to gas, we’re in bigger

  trouble than I thought,” Alexi said, clearly

  anxious.

  “We have to warn the others!” Liam gasped.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Father said we were not to leave the bunker

  under any circumstances,” Alexi argued, ignoring

  my question. “We can’t put Alice in danger,

  either.”

  “If those wraiths come here, there won’t be

  anyone left to protect her,” Liam warned.

  “You’re doing it again,” I grumbled.

  “Sorry, Alice,” Alexi apologized. “This is just

  really distressing.”

  “Why? What’s going on? Liam, what did you

  mean there won’t be anyone left?” I asked.

  “If they can use gas, they can kill a whole

  room full of people in seconds, and there’s

  nothing anyone can do about it,” Liam said

  gravely.

  “What?” I gasped. “We have to warn them!”

  “Alice, Alexi is right,” Liam argued. “We

  can’t risk you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” I shouted. “We can’t

  just leave them to die!”

  “Every single person up there would gladly

  give up their life to protect you,” Alexi insisted.

  “They all know who you are and what you can

  do, and they all understand how important you

  are.”

  “Everyone keeps saying that,” I said. “But no

  one has given me a valid reason why I’m so

  important that it’s worth risking so many lives to

  protect me!”

  “I can’t explain it just yet,” Alexi said. “I will

  when I can, I promise. But please, just trust me.”

  “Please, Alexi,” I pleaded with him, tears

  filling my eyes. “We can’t just let them die.”

  “I’ll go,” Kai offered. “I’ll warn them.”

  “No!” I shouted.

  “I’m the most expendable,” he explained

  somberly. “I have no powers, and I’ve already

  proven I can’t protect you.”

  “No!” I said. “You’re not expendable!”

  “She’s right,” Max said suddenly. “I am.”

  “What? No!” I screamed at him. “You’re not

  expendable, either!”

  “Of course I am,” Max argued. “I don’t have

  any powers, either. I didn’t finish my training, so

  I can’t even view like my father. And I’m not as

  physically strong as a vampire, so I can’t protect

  you.”

  “Max, you’re not expendable, and you’re not

  going,” I demanded. “End of story.”

  “Alice, be reasonable,” Liam begged. “Max is

  right. He’s the logical choice.”

  “This is not about logic!” I shouted at Liam.

  “None of you is expendable as far as I’m

  concerned. Do you understand that? None of

  you!”

  “Then our hands are tied, I’m afraid,” Alexi

  said sadly. “We can’t risk you, Alice.”

  “Alexi,” I reminded him gently. “Your father

  is up there.”

  “And my father is willing to give up his life to

  protect you,” Alexi said. “As am I.”

  “We all are,” Kai said.

  “This is not open for discussion,” I said

  firmly. “We have to warn them.”

  “Alice…” Alexi started to object.

  “Stop it!” I shouted. “I’m not open to hearing

  any further arguments on the matter. We’ll go

  together.”

  “No,” Alexi said quickly. “We can’t…”

  “Alexi, don’t you dare say you can’t risk me,”

  I growled, glaring at him stormily. “If you won’t

  come with me, I’ll go on my own.”

  “You know we won’t let you,” Alexi said

  softly.

  “And you think you can sto
p me?” I spat.

  “You wouldn’t,” Alexi argued.

  “Watch me,” I challenged. “So help me, I’ll

  put every last one of you to sleep and then lock

  you in here.”

  Alexi sighed.

  “You’re stubborn,” he mused.

  “Very,” I shot back.

  He sighed again.

  “Very well, we’ll go together,” Alexi finally

  conceded. “Before we go, can I speak to you

  alone?”

  “Sure,” I said, starting down the tunnel.

  Alexi grabbed my hand and said, “No, let’s go

  to the bathroom.”

  “Okay…” I said, a little confused.

  We went into the bathroom and Alexi gently

  closed the door.

  “I don’t have to explain to you how dangerous

  this is,” he said seriously.

  “No, you don’t,” I admitted. “I understand the

  danger, but I’m not willing to sit back and do

  nothing.”

  “I don’t know how this is going to turn out,”

  he said. “So I… I need to do something first. I

  don’t want… I don’t want either of us to die

  having never…”

  “What is it, Alexi?” I asked.

  He gulped.

  “I know you know this already, but I’ve never

  really…”

  “Spit it out,” I said impatiently.

  He took a deep breath, then slowly lifted the

  hood of his cloak and let it fall behind him. I

  stared in awe. I’d seen him once before, but I’d

  been so panicked trying to save his life that I

  hadn’t really been able to absorb it. Now, it was

  startling.

  His skin was the palest, purest white skin I’d

  ever seen. His hair was also snow white, and it

  flowed down his shoulders is silky waves. His

  violet eyes were striking, and they carried a level

  of emotion I’d rarely seen. The scar that crossed

  his face from above his eye to below his ear on

  the other side marred the delicacy of his face, but

  it was not frightening or disgusting.

  “Oh, Alexi…”

  I

  breathed.

  “You’re…

  beautiful…”

  I slowly reached out and touched his snowy

  skin, and he grabbed my wrist.

  “Alice…” he whispered, closing his eyes and

  feeling my hand against his cheek. “I know I

  promised that I wouldn’t do this. But I never

  thought… I didn’t expect… that I might lose you

  so soon.”

  “What is it, Alexi?” I asked, searching his

  violet eyes.

  “I love you, Alice,” he said at once. “I’ve

  loved you for so long, even before we met. And